October 2019 | DC Beacon

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VOL.31, NO.10

Try stand-up for a second act

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 22

LEISURE & TRAVEL

Cruising for art and history on the Danube River; plus, kicks on Route 66, and fall foliage by train page 23 Comedian Sally Love, 75, often performs stand-up at the Try It Out Comedy Showcase in Columbia, Maryland. Launched last year by Howard County resident Rich Madzel, 81, the comedy venue gives comedians of all ages and experience a chance on stage.

in the street as a kid” in Brooklyn, he said.

On the other hand, he added, “we are not quite Sunday school, and our audience appreciates our level of comedy. We have been fortunate to perform before sell-out

crowds of 75 people, mostly older than those attending typical comedy shows. “At a recent show, we had in the audience four See STAND-UP, page 33

Discover the alue of an Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, or Riderwood retirement.

13779731

OCTOBER 2019

PHOTO COURTESY OF SALLY CRAIG

By Robert Friedman A funny thing happened to Rich Madzel on the way home from Brooklyn one night: He decided to open a comedy club.

The idea came to him about a year ago on the New Jersey Turnpike, as he and his wife were returning to Columbia, Maryland after visiting their daughter.

“It occurred to me that I was bored and needed more to do,” said the now 81-year-old businessman and theater impresario. For the past 20 years, he has been producing the “Try It Out Theater” in Columbia, where readings of new 10-minute plays are given.

So last September, Madzel opened the “Try It Out Comedy Showcase.” Its monthly 90-minute shows feature stand-up comedians from throughout the Washington/Baltimore region.

The comedians who take to the stage, located in the 18th & 21st supper club on Grantchester Way in Columbia, are of all ages, Madzel said — from teenagers to 70plus jokesters. Their routines last from three minutes for the newcomers to 30 minutes for the headliners.

Madzel has found stand-up comedians to be a breed apart.

“Stand-up is an art form,” he said, “and the people who do it are fascinating. I have one woman comedian who drives 150 miles from Delaware to do a three-minute bit. It’s like a drug for them. They have to get people to laugh.”

First the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me. — Steve Martin One big difference between the routines performed at Madzel’s club and in many other comedy venues: The comics are required to tell clean jokes.

“There is enough funny stuff going on in life, and I do not want to hear language I used

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Music, in theory I was never more than a day camper as a When I was in grade school, the year nearly always began with writing the same kid. But I now understand much better what a bonding experience it can be report: “What I did last sumto spend a week living with a mer.” It was usually a simple group of like-minded people. recital of the fun activities From early morning lec(and boring ones) we experitures to evening performances, enced with our friends and from breakfast to dinner to family. nightcaps at the hotel down the I don’t remember ever being asked to draw lessons from the block (unlike camp), we spent experiences, or even to think the long days sharing interestseriously about them. But it ing times and making new was grade school, and the friends. point I suppose was to give us FROM THE This was also my first exan assignment to improve our PUBLISHER perience participating in a

By Stuart P. Rosenthal “master class,” where I writing.

Well, this past summer, I played a piece I love rather went to sleepaway camp for the first time. badly (a case of nerves, I like to think), Granted, it was for less than a week and it and got a kind critique from the teacher. was “piano camp” for adults. But I can’t He said something along the lines of, help feeling an urge to write about it now.

“What good would it do for me to be teachThe program at the Peabody School of ing here if you played everything perfectMusic in Baltimore brought together ama- ly?”

One day, I was playing a jazz number by teur pianists from the East Coast and Midwest to learn from Peabody faculty and the late Billy Taylor in front of some new award-winning performers in both classi- friends in the jazz workshop room when in cal and jazz repertoire. walked our teacher, Larry Willis, former Some readers may recall the cover story keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears. “Go I wrote about this program in 2017. Spend- on,” he said, as I froze mid-chord.

He went on to give me some basic but ing a day there in order to write that story made me want to experience the whole important pointers about playing jazz. thing. I finally signed up to go this summer. “Keep the beat going throughout.”

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One lecture that I expected to be a snooze turned out to be among the most interesting. It was billed as a “refresher” session in what is known as “music theory.”

All through my 12 years of piano lessons as a kid, my teacher included theory lessons. I never really understood what was theoretical about it: either it’s music or it isn’t, right?

But music theory, it turns out, does have some interesting elements. The lecture reminded us about key signatures (what sharps or flats apply to a scale to make it a particular key). For example, the key of C major has no sharps or flats, while the key of C-sharp major is nothing but sharps.

The insight that really took my breath away, however, was the one about “relative minors.” (The term has nothing to do with how much older some campers were than others, though we ranged in age from our early 30s to mid-90s.)

Rather, the relative minor is the minor key that shares the same key signature as a major key. Every major key has a relative minor key that starts on the note exactly one and a half steps down from the major key’s first note. So, for example, the key of A minor has the same key signature (no flats or sharps) as C major.

When a performer sees a new piece of music, the first thing to notice is the key signature, so we know what notes to make sharp or flat. And then we generally look to see where the piece (or first theme) starts and where it ends. That usually tells us which key the piece is in: whether the major key or its relative minor.

I had learned this as a kid, but suddenly, I found myself facing a huge question.

How can it be that a minor scale — which most listeners can identify immediately upon hearing — uses exactly the same notes as a major scale? The only difference in the scale is where we start: on the A or on the C. Why should the way we perceive a scale

or feel about pieces written in a minor key depend solely on where we decide to start and stop playing?

And then it hit me. This is a metaphor for life in general. Where we start and where we stop has an inordinate effect on how we evaluate nearly everything in life.

Start a day feeling great and end it angry, anxious and with a headache, and it was a very bad day. Start a day with a backache and end feeling like a million bucks, and it was a great day.

This goes for stages of life all the more so. Looking back, how do you feel about your childhood? Your teenage years? Your early career? Your parenting years? Your more recent years?

In so many cases, the overall flavor of those time periods depends on how you were feeling as you exited them. Was the overall trajectory onwards and upwards?

Or the opposite?

How much of this perception do we have in our control? In some cases, at least, we can decide where to start and stop our own music.

Are we primed to begin each day in A minor? Or can we jump up a few notes, and decide today will start (or at least stop) in C major? I’m still wrestling with this concept and with my newfound appreciation for music theory.

There are a number of other interesting things I learned about — or learned again — at camp: augmented intervals, seventh chords and bluesy notes, for example.

Each one of them can jazz up a tune.

But to continue the metaphor, it seems to me we are all making our own music every day. Each note and chord we “play” in life can either keep the jazzy beat going or bring us down. What counts is knowing that it’s all in our hands.

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.

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Dear Editor: I just read [your September Generations Together column] “Social Media: the good, the bad, the ugly,” and I wanted to write you and tell you how good I thought it was. It was very informative and thought-provoking.

I appreciate this writer Alexis Bentz (I have grandchildren her age), and I hope she continues her column when she goes to college next year!

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Dear Editor: I wish to publicize the snail-paced progress of women Marines in the Corps as compared to males, and the absence of military women’s stories from Veterans’ Day recollections. I hope you can peruse the evidence and publicize this long-overdue appreciation.

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Technology &

Innovations Electric bikes coming to a park near you

By Ellen Knickmeyer and David Sharp Motorized electric bicycles may soon be humming along serene trails in national parks and other public lands nationwide.

It’s part of a new Trump administration order — hotly opposed by many outdoors groups — that will allow e-bikes on every federal trail where a regular bike can go.

Sales of the bikes, powered by both pedals and battery-driven small motors, are booming, and some aging or less fit people have sought the rule change. It will allow them to whir up and down biking trails in the country’s roughly 400 national parks and other federally managed backcountry areas.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed the order without fanfare in August,

classifying e-bikes as non-motorized bikes.

The e-bikes “make bicycle travel easier and more efficient, and they provide an option for people who want to ride a bicycle but might not otherwise do so because of physical fitness, age, disability or convenience,” National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith said in a statement.

Welcoming the change in Bar Harbor, Maine, Gordon Goodwin, 69, said he and his wife look forward to riding the 57 miles of carriage paths that meander throughout Acadia National Park.

The paths, offering stunning views of lakes, mountains, forests and the ocean, are popular with bicyclists, but e-bikes have had to stay on the park’s roads instead.

“We’re really stoked,” Goodwin said.

“There’s just too much traffic on the main park roads that you can’t enjoy them. It’ll be great to get in the park and see nature and all that stuff.”

But more than 50 hiking, horse-riding and other outdoor and conservation associations, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Pacific Crest Trail Association, objected in a July letter to the Interior Department. They say the administration is fundamentally changing the nature of national parks with little or no public notice or study.

“If you’re hiking on a trail in Utah and you’re rounding a bend and something’s coming at you at 20 mph, that really changes the experience,” said Kristen Bren-

gel, a vice president of the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit that advocates for the national park system.

“It’s pretty jarring” to those who take to public lands to escape city noise and stress for nature, Brengel said. “You’re adding significant speed and a throttle to those trails.”

An expanding industry E-bikes are the fastest-growing segment of the bicycle industry, with U.S. sales jumping 72% to $144 million last year, according to the NPD Group, which tracks bike sales. The motorized bikes are popular with commuters and older adults who See E-BIKES, page 6

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Let’s say you have to move something large. Something heavy. And you don’t have a truck or even a friend to help you.

Do you rent a moving van and sweat it out on your own?

A new app for your smartphone called Bungii can help. Think of it as Uber, but for trucks. “No couch left behind” is the company’s motto.

First, download Bungii to your phone.

Then you can schedule a pickup or request a truck right away. You’ll be asked to upload a photo of the item to be transported. Then you’ll get an immediate estimate and pickup time. A vetted, background-

If you’re taking care of an aging parent who lives alone, Tochie, an app and related devices, can help send reminders to take medicine, visit the doctor or even turn off the stove.

A caregiver can download the app and record a personal reminder with their own voice. Then you can schedule automatic reminders, which will be relayed in the parent’s home from a small speaker.

The service starts at $89 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. For more information, visit http://www.tochtech. com/tochie.

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Does Medicare cover that? The feds have a new app to help determine what your costs will be.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “has launched a new ‘What’s Covered’ app that lets people with Original Medicare, caregivers and others use their mobile device to check whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service,” according to the agency.

It’s a great way to compare costs, get price transparency and avoid surprises. The What’s Covered app is available for free in both Google Play and the Apple App Store.

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By Margaret Foster

checked driver will come to help you haul that new Ikea sofa, junk or antique table you found on Craigslist. (You follow the truck in your own car.)

The average move costs about $40, depending on the time spent. It’s about $1 per minute and $1 per mile per driver, with a $39 minimum. For a little extra money, you can hire two helpers with a truck and save your own back.

Bungii, which started in 2014, is now in the Washington, D.C. area. For more information, visit bungii.com or download the app from the Apple App store or Google Play.

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E-bikes From page 4 might not otherwise get out on a bicycle.

The bikes, which can cost $2,000 or more, combine the frame of a regular bike with lightweight batteries and electric motors.

In parks and other public lands, as on city streets and sidewalks, people moving on vehicles powered by electric or gasoline engines frequently jostle for the right of way with people on foot or traditional bikes.

In the National Park Service, officials over the decades have tried to carefully sort out rules and systems to minimize conflicts.

In their letter, the outdoor groups complained that the decision to allow motorized bikes on bike trails breaks with policies dating back to the early 1970s confining cars, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and all other

motorized vehicles to roads and designated areas or trails on public lands.

Interior’s order allows motorized bikes that can go up to 28 mph to be classified as regular bikes. “Parks are already having a shortage of staffs and rangers,� said Randy Rasmussen, whose organization, Back Country Horsemen of America, opposes the rules. “And now what: they’re supposed to be out there with radar guns? It’s unenforceable.�

He suspects riders will create dangerous encounters with spooked horses.

Interior said riders must use the motor only to boost their pedaling on the trails, and not zip along on motor power alone.

Bernhardt’s order gave agency officials 30 days to come up with public guidance on how the new policy will be carried out by the National Park and National Wildlife

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Refuge systems, and on land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation.

The National Park Service said in a statement that public comment would be sought as it works to develop a revised rule on bicycle use.

Pros and cons Ashley Korenblat, an advocate for preserving public lands and CEO of Western Spirit Cycling in Utah, saw several upsides.

E-bikes could lead to fewer cars at congested national parks, she said. The bikes are quiet, not much faster than regular bikes and allow people who otherwise couldn’t physically ride to go cycling. “You can bring grandma and a 7-yearold and the whole group will be able to stay together,� said Korenblat.

Adam Gariepy, manager of the Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, said he’s “tentatively

happy� about the new rules. But he has reservations because some e-bikes like his can reach around 28 mph, he said. That speed could be dangerous on trails that have a mix of bicycle riders, horses and carriages, hikers, families and pets. “It’s a two-edged sword. It’ll be great for older folks who are afraid of the hills and want to continue riding. But there should be some speed limit with them,� he said.

Park Service Deputy Director Smith said the parks “should be responsive to visitors’ interest in using this new technology wherever it is safe and appropriate to do.�

But Brengel, the parks conservation association official, noted the order comes in a season when thousands of volunteers with trail groups have been in the parks all summer improving trails. “You put a policy out like this, and it’s a slap in the face,� she said. —AP

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More should get breast cancer gene test

By Lauran Neergaard More women may benefit from gene testing for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer, especially if they’ve already survived cancer once, an influential health group recommended in August.

At issue are genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. When they’re mutated, the body can’t repair damaged DNA as well, greatly increasing the chances of breast, ovarian and certain other cancers.

Gene testing allows affected women to consider steps to lower their risk, such as when actress Angelina Jolie underwent a preventive mastectomy several years ago.

Most cancer isn’t caused by BRCA mutations — they account for 5% to 10% of breast cancers and 15% of ovarian cancers — so the gene tests aren’t for everyone.

But mutations cluster in families, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has long recommended that doctors screen women who have relatives with BRCA-related cancers, and refer those who might benefit from gene testing to a genetic counselor to help them decide.

The task force recently expanded that advice to doctors through the Journal of the

American Medical Association (JAMA). It is telling primary care doctors they should also assess women’s risk if: — they previously were treated for breast or other BRCA-related cancers including ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal cancers, and now are considered cancer-free.

— their ancestry is prone to BRCA mutations, such as Ashkenazi Jewish women.

Helps family members Why screen breast cancer survivors?

After all, they already know there’s a risk of recurrence.

Take, for example, someone who had a tumor removed in one breast in their 40s a decade ago, when genetic testing wasn’t as common. Even this many years later, a BRCA test still could reveal if they’re at risk for ovarian cancer — or at higher than usual risk for another tumor in their remaining breast tissue, explained task force member Dr. Carol Mangione of the University of California, Los Angeles.

And it could alert their daughters or other relatives to a potential shared risk.

“It’s important to test those people now,” Mangione said. “We need to get the word

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out to primary care doctors to do this assessment and to make the referrals.”

Private insurers follow task force recommendations on what preventive care to cover, some at no out-of-pocket cost under rules from former President Barack Obama’s healthcare law.

Cancer groups have similar recommendations for BRCA testing, and increasingly urge that the newly diagnosed be tested, too, because the inherited risk can impact choices about surgery and other treatment.

Not routine yet Identifying BRCA mutation carriers “can be lifesaving, and should be a part of routine medical care,” Drs. Susan Domchek of the University of Pennsylvania and Mark Robson of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who weren’t involved with the new guidelines, wrote in an editorial accompanying them in JAMA. But too few high-risk women ever learn

if they harbor BRCA mutations, they wrote. For example, cancer groups have long recommended that all ovarian cancer patients be tested, but several studies have found testing is done in less than a third.

Don’t skip the genetic counseling, said the task force’s Mangione. BRCA testing can cause anxiety and sometimes gives confusing results, finding mutations that might not be dangerous — things the counselors are trained to interpret.

There’s a shortage of genetic counselors, particularly in rural areas, and she said counseling by phone can work.

There’s a wide array of gene tests, some that search just for BRCA mutations and others that test dozens of additional genes at the same time. There’s even a direct-toconsumer kit sold by 23andMe — but Domchek and Robson warned it only detects the three mutations found most in women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, not dozens of other mutations.

—AP

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Arthroscopy less common for knee pain

By Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. When knee arthroscopy became widely available in the 1980s, it represented a major advance. Today orthopedists evaluating and treating common knee problems often recommend arthroscopy, during which they insert an instrument into the joint and, with a light and camera on its tip, directly inspect the knee from the inside.

While there, he or she can diagnose and treat common painful knee problems, such as arthritis or torn cartilage. The risks are much lower and recovery times much shorter than standard “open” knee operations.

As with any technology or other advance in medicine, years of research were required to understand when best to use

it. Not surprisingly, arthroscopy turns out to be much more helpful for some conditions than others.

For example, if you have a sports injury in which the medial meniscus (a crescentshaped, shock absorbing wedge of cartilage) is torn and blocking the motion of the knee, arthroscopic surgery can provide dramatic relief in a short period of time.

But studies have demonstrated convincingly that for many other common causes of knee pain — including osteoarthritis and many instances of torn cartilage that do not block joint motion — medications and physical therapy may work just as well as arthroscopic surgery.

Despite these recent data, some ortho-

pedists continued to recommend arthroscopic surgery for these conditions. Now, that seems to be changing.

A recent study says the number of knee arthroscopies is falling. Data recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrate that between 2002 and 2015, the rate of arthroscopic surgery in Florida: — decreased from 449 to 345 per 100,000 people (a 23% decline) — dropped more among adults under age 65 (24% reduction) than among those over 65 (19% reduction) — fell most dramatically after 2008 (after a second important trial showed no benefit of arthroscopy for osteoarthritis of the knee).

Is decline for good reason?

Reducing the number of unnecessary operations is certainly a good thing, especially for one that is so common. However, we don’t know if the reduction in arthroscopies occurred for the right reasons.

While it’s possible that the reduction was because orthopedists are recommending them more selectively (and more appropriately), it’s also possible that people are not getting the surgery due to lack of insurance, trouble finding an orthopedist, or because they just prefer not to have surgery.

We don’t know about patients’ health or outcomes: Are some people suffering because they didn’t have an arthroscopy they needed? How many had arthroscopies they did not need and had complications, or simply didn’t improve?

We also don’t know whether rates are falling in other states. Still, it’s reasonable to assume that knee arthroscopies are being performed less often because we better understand when they are likely to

help and when they are not.

Why are doctors slow to change?

At the risk of gross over generalization, doctors tend to avoid change. That’s true of many — but certainly not all — of my colleagues. So, some of the reluctance of orthopedists to change their practice in the face of studies questioning the usefulness of knee arthroscopy may be this tendency to resist change.

Another reason might be financial considerations: surgical procedures tend to generate a large income stream for the doctor and the hospital or surgical center.

But it’s also true that a single study is rarely enough to change medical practice — doctors are, with good reason, a skeptical bunch. Subsequent research must verify and confirm a new finding.

Perhaps that’s why the rate of knee arthroscopy dropped most significantly after the publication of a second trial regarding knee osteoarthritis.

You can expect to hear much more about studies that challenge standard practice, especially when that practice is invasive (including surgery) and expensive. My guess is that the number of knee arthroscopies will continue to fall for some time, until only the most appropriate ones are being done.

When it comes to standard treatments being called into question, the big question is, “What’s next?” The answers will come once high-quality research is performed by skeptical researchers willing to question the status quo.

Robert H. Shmerling, M.D., is faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

9

Summer diet tips to stick to this autumn

By Health.com Over the summer, it’s easier to fill your diet with fresh produce (hello, farmers’ markets) and fit in your daily workout (thanks, longer days). Once the fall rolls around, however, a lot of those healthy summertime habits go by the wayside.

But they don’t have to! Here are some warm-weather dieting tips that you should stick with all fall.

set yourself up to make better choices all day long.

Take advantage of the weather Fall is a great time to exercise outdoors and enjoy the cooler temperatures and fresh, crisp air.

Walking, running, biking and hiking will get your heart pumping and also treat your senses to vibrant foliage, crunchy leaves underfoot and fresh fall smells in the air.

Get up and get moving Summer heat can be a powerful motivator. If you know that you’ll have to take your workout indoors if you don’t exercise first thing in the morning, you might be more motivated to get an early-morning run in.

Carry that motivation on into the fall: being a first-thing exerciser means you’re less likely to get derailed by a busy schedule later that day.

Plus, when you exercise in the morning, not only do you burn calories, but you also

Many root vegetables are in season, and they’re an inexpensive and nutritious way to add variety to your diet.

Eat a healthy breakfast In the fall, eating a healthy breakfast should remain part of your morning routine. Starting each day with a nutritious meal jump-starts your metabolism and gives you energy. It also holds off your hunger between meals, so you don’t overeat later on.

Think outside the box Always wanted to take a ballet class or learn how to play soccer? Fall is a great time to learn something new.

New exercise classes get started at gyms, and local teams start to form, so look around for something that piques your interest.

Plus, a good workout doesn’t have to seem like exercise. If you thought spending a day at a water park was a fun way to burn calories in the heat, tr y walking around an orchard picking apples this fall!

Visit the farmers’ market Lots of farmers’ markets stay open well into November, so drop by to stock up on fruits, vegetables, herbs and local meats.

Please patronize our advertisers; they keep the Beacon free!

Leaving money on the table?

If you’re a D.C. resident, you may qualify for a homeowner or renter property tax credit.

AARP Foundation Property Tax-Aide is hosting events to help you determine whether you qualify. If you do, we’ll help you apply.

Call 833-263-9014 or visit aarp.org/propertytaxaide

In collaboration with

Head outside for lunch Taking a walk on your lunch break is a great way to fit in some exercise.

Don’t let this healthy habit fall by the wayside as the weather cools. Just be sure to dress in layers, so you can remove the outer ones once your body warms up.

Drink up During the summer, you need more water than usual because of the heat, so it’s easy to chug it down. It also fills you up between meals.

Drinking more water can help you lose weight, so make sure you stick with this diet tip into the fall and all year long. © 2019 Meredith Corporation. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Issues facing the sandwich generation In my previous columns, I have written homework only to race over to check on my a lot about the younger and older genera- grandparents’ condominium while they tions and how they can better were away on vacation or to understand and interact with visit my grandfather in the each other. hospital when he was sick.

But there is another generAt the same time, she was ation that I have not disswamped with work and needcussed before that very much ed to care for her own needs. deserves to be recognized: “I am fortunate,” my mom the sandwich generation. admitted to me, “that even The sandwich generation is though I am in the sandwich so named because members of generation, grandma and that generation are the “filling” grandpa are relatively healthy GENERATIONS between the younger and older and you are not a little kid; TOGETHER generations. As such, they you’re independent.

By Alexis Bentz must balance the responsibili“What’s hard is that you are ties of caring for their children not driving, so I have to manas well as their aging parents, which has the age my schedule and your schedule and capability to be quite challenging. After all, get you where you need to be. When there juggling work, marriage, childcare, and is an issue with grandma or grandpa, it can parental care combine to create a rather long be very difficult to deal with.” to-do list.

She continued, “The biggest issue on “These kinds of stressors contribute to top of all that is that I am an only child and mental health problems and physical prob- I don’t have siblings to share the load. So, I lems, such as hypertension, overeating, have to make sure that if I go to the hospibeing too busy to exercise, and simply not tal to be there for my dad or help grandma, attending to [one’s] own needs,” said Clau- that you are covered. I can’t be in multiple dia Fine, former executive vice president places at once, and that’s hard.” and chief professional officer at the professional geriatric care management compa- Not entirely a new problem ny, SeniorBridge.

My grandmother can relate to my mother because she remembers being pulled in A personal experience different directions, too.

I have seen in the context of my own “When your mom was little, I was in the family how members of the sandwich gen- middle dealing with her and my parents. eration attempt to balance their equally When my parents got older, it became pressing responsibilities of care for their harder to keep that balance. children and parents.

“The tricky part comes when both My mother made time to attend my See GEN SANDWICH, page 11 school functions and help me with math

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Gen sandwich From page 10 ‘pieces of bread’ are needy at the same time. You end up having to prioritize, and sometimes that’s really challenging.

Then you may also be working, so you’ve got your kids, work and parents that you’re forced to juggle. When everybody needs you…that’s the tough part.”

She also commends my mom for handling her role as the caregiver so well.

“Your grandfather and I have always been made to feel that we are important. Your mother recognizes that we can be independent, yet when we need help, she’s available,” she said.

Coping with the stress With all of this responsibility and, at times, stress, it is essential that members of the sandwich generation accept help from siblings, significant others, professional caretakers, doctors, etc. to manage the care of parents and children.

Fine, of SeniorBridge, suggested that if individuals of this generation feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities, they should seek the counseling of an eldercare professional to reduce stress and improve care for their parents.

“A geriatric care manager looks at the entire constellation of factors that contribute to problems and stressors, and considers each individual’s assets and strengths…and can link you to the right resources, and ultimately partner with you to coordinate them,” Fine said.

It’s also important to proactively consider potential aging-related problems. For example, grown children could hire a professional to do a home assessment to decrease the likelihood of an older parent

BEACON BITS

Oct. 9

WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE CLASS

Learn how to defend yourself. The Montgomery County Commission for Women is sponsoring a seminar called “Introduction to Women’s Self-Defense” on Wed., Oct. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Ross Boddy Neighborhood Recreation Center, 18529 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring, Md. There is a $10 charge for the class. For more information, call (240) 777-8050 or register online at https://bit.ly/2kqA9pk.

Oct. 5+

NEUROPATHY SUPPORT

The Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group for greater Washington meets the first Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. The next meeting on Oct. 5 will host guest speaker Dr. A. Gordon Smith of Virginia Commonwealth University, who will discuss clinical trials as well as lifestyle management. Call (301) 263-0616 for more info or visit dcpnsupport.org.

tripping, have someone manage a parent’s medication, arrange an automatic bill payment system, etc.

You and a younger buddy can brainstorm about ways to lighten the load for others in your families. Don’t resist working with professionals who could devise ways to alleviate some of the pressure your sandwiched caregiver feels.

Not only will it benefit you, it will allow those struggling to manage care of kids and parents to take a breath.

Most importantly, however, you and your younger friend can express appreciation for the help and devotion of the busy people in your life. Take the time to show your gratitude for all that they do to be the filling that holds your family sandwich together.

Alexis Bentz is a 12th-grade student at Thomas Wootton High School in Rockville, Md. This is the sixth year she has been writing this intergenerational column for Beacon readers.

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Ongoing

TRY TAI CHI Artist Norman Greene teaches Tai Chi on Fridays at the Palisades Neighborhood Library, 4901 V St. NW, Washington, D.C. The free

classes from 2 to 3 p.m. can strengthen muscles and improve balance and posture — and even help you relax and think more clearly. For more information or to register for a similar Tai Chi class in Van Ness, call (202) 895-9448.

12

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Harvard Q & As on metabolism and a-fib

By Howard LeWine, M.D. Q: My friend complains that she keeps gaining weight no matter how little she eats because she has a slow metabolism. How much does a person’s metabolism really affect body weight?

A: There is a lot of misunderstanding about the impact metabolism has on our health, especially in terms of weight loss.

In simple terms, metabolism is the internal process by which our body expends energy and burns calories. It runs 24/7, even when we’re resting or sleeping, by converting the food and nutrients we consume into the energy our body needs.

This process works at different intensities in different people. How fast your friend’s metabolism works is determined

mostly by her genes. People might have fast, slow, or average metabolism, regardless of their body size and composition.

Age also affects metabolism, as it can slow over the years, even if a person starts out with a fast metabolism.

Differences in metabolism speed are evident in how easy or hard it is for people to gain or lose weight.

A slow metabolism burns fewer calories, which means more get stored as fat in the body. That’s why some people have difficulty losing weight by just cutting calories. A fast metabolism burns calories at a quicker rate, which explains why some people can eat a lot and not gain extra pounds.

But you can’t entirely blame a sluggish metabolism for gaining weight. The reality is that metabolism often plays a minor role. The factors that always will matter the most are diet quality, total daily calorie intake and level of activity.

Ways to boost metabolism While it may only be a small change, a person can speed up a naturally slow metabolism, or rev up one that has become sluggish over time. Here’s how: Add some high-intensity intervals and weight training to your regular exercise routine.

After a period of interval training, your metabolism can stay revved up for as much as a full day. Weight training builds muscle mass, and that extra muscle will require more calories, turning up your metabolic rate.

Your metabolism increases whenever you eat, digest and store food, a process called the thermic effect of food. Protein has a higher thermic effect than fats and carbohydrates, so eating more healthy protein-rich food sources might also help speed metabolism a bit.

Some studies suggest that drinking green tea can also rev up metabolism.

Q: I have atrial fibrillation and take Coumadin to prevent a stroke. I have not had any problem with it. But I wonder if I should switch to one of the newer drugs instead of Coumadin?

A: For 50 years, warfarin (Coumadin) was the only choice for people that needed

to take an oral anticoagulant drug. While warfarin is inexpensive, it has downsides.

People taking it require regular blood testing to be sure the dose is correct. The blood test, called an INR, needs to fall into a predetermined range.

A result within the proper range means the person’s blood is “thin” enough not to clot easily but not “too thin” to cause a high bleeding risk.

Studies have shown that many people on warfarin frequently have an INR out of the desired range. This makes their blood clot prevention ineffective or puts them at risk for significant bleeding.

Taking the wrong dose and missing doses clearly affect the INR test result. But even when a person takes the dose exactly as prescribed, dietary changes and interactions with other medications can change the INR dramatically.

Now new oral anticoagulants are available that are just as effective as warfarin at preventing a stroke in people with atrial fibrillation and normal heart valves. These drugs are known as direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

The advantages of DOACs: they don’t require regular blood tests, have no food restrictions, and have fewer drug interactions. But they are much more expensive than warfarin.

To consider switching to a DOAC: you need to have adequate kidney function.

This is determined by a blood test for creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

People with a very lower GRF cannot safely take these new drugs.

Here’s what I discuss with patients like you who are thinking of making a switch from warfarin to a DOAC. Let’s make sure you can afford it. This may take some investigation by you to determine if insurance covers a DOAC or if you can get the drug at a substantial discount.

If your insurance only covers dabigatran (Pradaxa) and apixaban (Eliquis), it means you need to faithfully take the drug twice per day rather than once a day for warfarin.

The other DOACs, rivaroxaban (XarelSee A-FIB, page 13

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

13

Try this technique for moist, buttery salmon

By America’s Test Kitchen Cooking en cocotte — cooking beef, lamb, pork and poultry in a covered pot with little to no liquid — concentrates flavor.

We were skeptical, however, that the technique would successfully translate to fish. Fish cooks quickly. Would the fish dry out in the dry pot?

We gave the technique a shot with fatty salmon fillets and were more than pleasantly surprised. By passing on searing the salmon fillets first, we found that we got just what we wanted: perfectly cooked, moist salmon, basted in its own jus, that flaked apart in large buttery chunks.

Leeks sautéed and then layered first in the pot contributed their onion-like sweetness and protected the fish from the heat of the pan bottom. A quick sauce made with white wine and butter added some more dimension and richness.

To ensure uniform pieces of fish that cook at the same rate, we prefer to buy a whole center-cut fillet and cut it into evenly sized individual fillets ourselves. If buying individual fillets, make sure they are the same size and thickness.

If the fillets are thicker or thinner than 1 1/2 inches, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly. If you can find only skin-on fillets, remove the skin before cooking or the sauce will be greasy.

Salmon en cocotte with leeks and white wine

A-fib

to stick with warfarin.

Staying on warfarin is a fine option if your INR blood tests stay in the desired range (2.0 to 3.0) at least 70 percent of the time, meaning you don’t need frequent dose adjustments, and getting regular blood tests is not a hassle. © 2019 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 12 to) and edoxaban (Savaysa), are once-aday drugs. Missing a dose puts you at risk of stroke.

The DOACs are short acting drugs, while warfarin keeps acting for well over 24 hours. So if you tend to miss doses of your medications often, you probably want

Servings: 4 Start to finish: 50 minutes

Ingredients: 1 (1 ¾ to 2 pound) skinless salmon fillet, about 1 ½ inches at thickest part Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin and washed thoroughly 2 sprigs fresh thyme 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ cup dry white wine 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces

of leeks. Place large piece of aluminum foil over pot and cover tightly with lid; transfer pot to oven. Cook until salmon is opaque and flakes apart when gently prodded with paring knife, 25 to 30 minutes.

Transfer fish to serving platter and tent with foil. Stir wine into leeks in pot and simmer over medium-high heat until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Off heat, whisk in butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon sauce over salmon and serve.

Another option: Salmon en cocotte with celery and orange Add 2 thinly sliced celery ribs and 1 teaspoon minced orange zest along with garlic in step 2. Substitute ½ cup orange juice for wine, and add 1 orange, peeled and segmented, when thickening sauce.

Nutrition information per serving: 450 calories; 228 calories from fat; 25 g. fat (7 g. saturated; 0 g. trans fats); 124 mg. cholesterol; 389 mg. sodium; 8 g. carbohydrate; 1 g. fiber; 2 g. sugar; 40 g. protein.

Directions: Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 250° F. Trim any whitish fat from belly of fillet, then cut fish into 4 equal pieces. Pat salmon dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add leeks, thyme and a pinch of salt, cover and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove pot from heat.

Lay salmon, skinned side down, on top

vol • un • teer It’s a person who changes a child’s life forever Join Us. Experience Corps volunteers – people age 50 and older – help children in Pre-K through third grade learn to read. Join us at one of the following information sessions to learn how you can become a reading tutor and transform the lives of students in the DC Metro Area.

Upcoming Sessions:

October 9, 2019 | 11 a.m. – noon October 24, 2019 | 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Information sessions held at 601 E. St. NW Washington, DC 20049 Register online at: aarpfoundation.org/ecdcmetro or contact Denise Fraction at 202-434-6349

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Health Studies

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Help NIH develop a powerful flu vaccine

By Margaret Foster With flu season on the way, the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center is busy. This fall, researchers are testing an investigational flu vaccine that could eventually help develop a universal influenza vaccine.

The study, which is currently enrolling healthy adults ages 18 to 70, will test the safety of and response to the vaccine. It requires two vaccine visits lasting about four hours each, after which participants will be asked to keep a diary for a week to record their body temperature and any

changes or symptoms.

They will report back to NIH’s Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland, periodically, checking in about 10 more times over 12 months to give blood samples and/or nose and throat swabs.

“We’re trying to develop a vaccine that will cover more influenza flu strains than are currently covered in seasonal vaccines,” said Grace Chen, the study’s principal investigator and deputy chief of the Clinical Trials Program at the Vaccine Research Center.

The investigational vaccine, which has

been approved for research, is “different from what’s typically in the seasonal influenza vaccine,” Chen said. “It’s been safe and well tolerated so far.”

Flu shots are an effective way to protect health, particularly if you are over 65. Doctors encourage that age group to get a high-dose flu shot called Fluzone, which contains about four times the amount of antigens as a normal flu shot.

That precaution is due to the danger of hospitalization — and even death — as a result of flu complications in older adults, whose immune systems have weakened over the years.

“During most seasons, people 65 years and older bear the greatest burden of severe flu disease” according to the Centers for Disease Control. “In recent years, for example, it’s estimated that between about 70 and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older.”

You’re not eligible to participate in the clinical trial if you have asthma, diabetes or some other chronic medical conditions.

Compensation ranges from $1,875 to $2,600. For more information or to volunteer, call (301) 451-8715 or email vaccines@nih.gov. Mention NIH study #19-I0032.

Another flu study A different flu study at NIH, open to anyone over 18 (no upper age limit), is evaluating immune response over time and across seasons to an approved seasonal flu vaccine.

To participate, you must have no

known allergy to vaccines of any kind, and may not have already had this season’s flu vaccine.

To volunteer for this study, call 1-800411-1222 or email prpl@cc.nih.gov and refer to NIH study #19-I-0126.

BEACON BITS

HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED • Healthy adults ages 65 & up are needed for a RSV research study.

• Compensation may be provided.

Oct. 29

FORGETFUL?

Attend a free seminar on Dementia vs. Normal Aging. Come and learn the difference between forgetfulness and memory loss, and signs of dementia, presented by Seabury Resources for Aging. The free event will take place on Oct. 29 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, Md. For more information, call Seabury Resources at (202) 364-0020 or e-mail cbitzer@seaburyresources.org.

Oct. 11

SLEEP WELL, FEEL WELL

Still tired when you wake up in the morning? When did you last get a good eight hours of sleep? Learn how to identify behaviors that may signal a problem and practical strategies for developing better sleep habits. The free presentation is scheduled for Fri., Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Walter Reed Senior Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, Va. To register, call (703) 228-0955.

Oct. 21+

FREE CAREGIVER CLASS

If you’re caring for an older adult, you might need tips or support or both. Free classes take place on Mondays at 10 a.m. from Oct. 21 to Nov. 25, at Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd., Reston. Va. Find out more at fairfaxcounty.gov or call (703) 324-7210, TTY 711. Respite services are available if requested three weeks in advance.

Call 1-844-RX-STUDY or visit www.RSVResearch.com

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

15

Fantastic reasons to eat pumpkin seeds

By Suzy Cohen Not all pumpkins are orange. They can also be white, yellow or green. They also grow just about everywhere. (Antarctica is the only country where they can’t grow!)

One average-sized pumpkin contains about a cup of seeds (about 500 of them). I like to roast mine and sprinkle them with a little dried lime powder and sea salt. These are also excellent when roasted with olive oil and garlic/onion powder.

[Editor’s note: you can eat the entire seed, with shell, especially if toasted and chewed thoroughly. Some choose to crack open the shell and eat only the seed inside.]

Pumpkin seeds are not only delicious but also nutrient-dense. Here are some health benefits from eating pumpkin seeds.

Diabetes control Thanks to their high fiber content, pumpkin seeds help regulate blood sugar and improve satiety. One study showed that animals who received a combination of ground flax and pumpkin seed powder exhibited better lab values and fewer problems as they pertain to diabetes.

Thanks to their alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content, the seeds can help with heart attack risk. Other foods with ALA content include flaxseed, walnuts, chia and hemp.

Blood pressure regulation Pumpkin seeds are particularly high in magnesium. Both magnesium and potassium are essential for healthy blood pressure and cardiac rhythm.

Immune system boost Zinc will help with both immunity and prostate health. An ounce of pumpkin seeds contains enough zinc to help you with immune function, prostate health and even testosterone production.

Sleep aid A handful of pumpkin seeds at dinnertime might improve your ability to relax and sleep. The reason is because of their magnesium, which helps create more serotonin, a hormone that quickly breaks down to melatonin, a sleep hormone.

May reduce bladder infections Pumpkin seeds contain zinc and other compounds that support bladder and kidney health. There isn’t enough data to say whether it helps UTIs but I would guess that it probably helps reduce incidence.

Libido improvement Pumpkin seeds contain leucine, and also minerals that help our bodies make testosterone. This is great because it improves energy, endurance, libido and strength. Testosterone is needed for both men and women’s health.

Bone health Zinc, magnesium and selenium deficien-

cies are harmful to bones. Without these minerals, your risk for osteoporosis goes up. Eating pumpkin seeds can help you if you have osteoporosis.

Vision protection Pumpkin seeds are ver y high in carotenoids and zinc, which protect your vision.

Pumpkin seeds also contain squalene, which protects your skin from UV light damage and other forms of potentially dangerous radiation.

Like any food, there is the risk for allergy.

If you’re sensitive to pumpkin seeds, you might experience stomach pain after eating them, swelling or itching of the throat, or skin rashes, hives or eczema-like irritations.

You can buy pumpkin seeds at any health food store or supermarket. Storebought pumpkin seeds can be stored in a

container for about three or four months.

Pumpkin seed oil is great for salads and soups. It is usually sold online or at health food stores.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your con-

dition. 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 SuzyCohen.com.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

PHOTO BY JONATHAN KRIZ

Money Law &

Sould Rover have his own insurance? See story, page 18.

How to submit a complaint and get results

By Pat Mertz Esswein Taking a complaint to customer service can be maddening. No one wants to deal with endless phone trees, outsourced representatives reading from inflexible scripts, automated responses or chatbots.

“Despite saying they provide more ways than ever to contact them, companies are building fortresses around themselves so that no one has to interact with you,” said Christopher Elliott of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit consumer group.

To breach the walls and successfully resolve your complaint, Elliott said, use the three Ps: patience, persistence and politeness.

Don’t expect an instant fix; give the company’s complaint process time to work. Be prepared to tell your tale repeatedly, taking your complaint up the chain of command if necessary.

And even if you’re frustrated and furious, make nice. Being polite will help your complaint go to the top of the pile and get you a better response every time.

Here are steps you can take to get the results you want: Document everything. It’s still called a paper trail, even though much of the information may be digital. For any product or service for which you pay a sizable sum, keep copies of your order confirmations, receipts, contracts, work orders, warranties, service agreements and billing statements.

If you opt to get a receipt by email or text, save it. Before you dispose of product packaging, remove enclosed paperwork that may include a warranty, customer-service phone number or even a bar code, which you may need to obtain a replacement item.

Keep copies of emails and take screenshots of online chats. In your first exchange with customer service, write down the reference number if one is assigned to your case.

Recording the call would be ideal. But if you can’t, take notes, including the date, time, name of the person with whom you

spoke, the substance of your conversation and any promises made.

Make your point. It pays to complain as soon as you know you have a problem.

The more recent your experience, the greater the weight your complaint will carry. Plus, memories fade, records get buried, and staff changes, said Nelson Santiago of Consumer Action, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.

A face-to-face visit with a local seller may quickly fix your problem. But if you’re dealing with an online retailer or a corporate office, you usually must follow its complaint process.

Go to the next level. If you’re not getting results, take your complaint up the corporate ladder. Ask a customer-service rep, “If you can’t help me, who can I call or write who has the authority to help?”

Visit company websites or LinkedIn to search for contacts. Try clicking on “about us,” “terms and conditions” or “privacy statement.”

On the website of the Better Business

Bureau, search by the company name and look for contact information for owners and executives under “Business Details.”

To bypass corporate phone trees, go to gethuman.com and search by company for phone numbers and shortcuts to reach a real person.

Keep all communication brief, professional and unemotional. Avoid including too much detail or shouting (which includes writing in all caps), Santiago said.

Limit a letter to 250 words or four short paragraphs. Clearly state what you want, and keep your request reasonable.

Ask yourself: What solution would be acceptable, even if it isn’t ideal? Don’t inflate your demands. For example, if you stayed five nights at a hotel and didn’t have air conditioning for one night, you can’t expect a refund for five nights.

Give the recipient a deadline to respond. Ten business days is a reasonable See HOW TO COMPLAIN, page 17

Understand the risks inherent in bonds It’s important for investors interested in For example, you can buy Treasury bills dibonds to understand the potential pitfalls. rectly with varying terms (typically four For example, some don’t reweeks, eight weeks, 13 weeks, alize that there is an inverse 26 weeks or 52 weeks), or you relationship between interest can invest in a mutual fund or rates and bond prices. When exchange-traded fund (ETF) interest rates increase, the that only invests in T-bills. value of bonds decreases in Although you would be value, and vice versa. minimizing interest rate risk, Regardless of the quality of the interest you would rethe bond or bond fund you inceive would be small in comvested in, if interest rates inparison to what you would recrease significantly, the value of ceive with a long-term Treayour bond portfolio, even if you THE SAVINGS sury bond.

GAME only have invested in U.S. TreaYou should invest in T-bills sury bonds, will decrease in By Elliot Raphaelson only if your primary investvalue. If the portfolio is primariment objective is to avoid any ly long-term bonds, such as those with matu- capital loss while also receiving some inrities of 30 years, the decrease will be much come. greater.

Investment risk Interest rate risk There’s a term for this: interest rate risk.

And it’s a significant factor to consider.

The only way to avoid or minimize interest rate risk is to buy short-term securities.

A second type of risk is investment risk.

This is the risk that you won’t get your principle back in full when the bond matures.

If you buy a U.S. Treasury security, you can be sure that you will receive your prin-

cipal back at maturity. Because of this certainty, the U.S. Treasury does not have to pay interest rates as high as other lenders.

You can buy bonds issued by a corporation that pay more interest than the U.S. Treasury with the same maturity length. However, no corporation has an equivalent ability to promise repayment of principal.

During the period you own the bond, the corporation may face financial problems or even bankruptcy. If that happens, the value of your bond in the market may fall significantly. For this reason, if you wish to buy corporate bonds, you should consider buying a diversified mutual fund or ETF.

Finding a good fund Some mutual funds and ETFs manage portfolios of high-yield or “junk” bonds — bonds issued by corporations whose ratings are not considered investment-grade.

The payoff for the greater investment risk is much higher interest than investmentgrade corporate bonds pay.

Some mutual fund managers, such as

Vanguard, have relatively conservative high-yield portfolios that have performed well over the long term.

If you are going to invest in corporate bonds, I recommend bond funds or ETFs. If you have a diversified portfolio, you minimize investment risk.

There are many reliable choices of funds with low annual fees, reinvestment options and check-writing capabilities. If you are conservative, you can restrict yourself to only investment-grade mutual funds.

However, if you are a long-term investor looking for high income and willing to take some risk, you may consider devoting some proportion of your bond portfolio to conservative high-yield funds or ETFs. If you are very conservative, not concerned with income and risk averse, you can restrict your bond investments to short-term Treasury investments.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2019 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

How to complain From page 16 length of time, Santiago said. Let the business know that you’ll pursue other solutions if you don’t hear back by then.

Attach only copies or scans of relevant documents, not the originals, and send your letter by certified mail. (Go to consumer-action.org for a sample letter and email and a free guide titled How to Complain.)

Try social media. Should you apply leverage by complaining on social media, also known as “Twitter shaming” or “Yelp blackmail”?

It’s worth a shot, especially if the company is worried about its reputation. At a minimum, you may feel better by airing your complaint or commiserating with other aggrieved consumers.

To avoid exposing yourself to accusations of defamation and a potential lawsuit, be completely honest, don’t exaggerate, and back up your assertions with documentation.

If your efforts don’t get results, file your complaint with an intermediary that can assist or advise you, such as the BBB, Consumer Action or Elliott Advocacy.

As a last resort, you could sue a business in small-claims court. States set different rules and dollar limits (see Nolo.com’s 50-State Chart of Small Claims Court Dollar Limits).

However, many companies insert arbitration clauses in their contracts, which may require you to take a dispute to a third party for resolution rather than going to court.

If all else fails If you’ve hit a wall with customer service, contact an intermediary. Some groups will intervene on your behalf; others collect complaints to spot trends and combat fraud for all consumers.

— Contact your state’s consumer protection office or regulatory agency (search by state at usa.gov/state-consumer).

— If you’re dealing with a licensed professional or tradesperson, you can complain to the state or local licensing board with jurisdiction over the person.

— If you think you’ve been the victim of fraud or deceptive practices, complain to your state’s attorney general, your district attorney or the fraud division of a local law enforcement agency.

— Ask for help from the feds. Look for complaint strategies for specific categories of products and services with third-party contact information at usa.gov/complaints-by-product.

— At the federal level, you can also complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about a financial product or service; the Federal Communications Commission about a telecom billing or service issue; the Federal Trade Commission about fraud or an unfair business practice; Medicare about your Medicare health plan or prescription-drug plan; and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about problems with brokers, brokerage firms, investment advisers and other market participants. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Is pet insurance a costeffective purchase?

Dear Savvy Senior, I own two dogs and a cat that I would do almost anything for. But expensive veterinary bills put a strain on my budget. Is pet insurance a good idea?

—Older Pet Owner Dear Pet Owner, If you’re the kind of pet owner who would do anything for their furry family — including spending thousands of dollars on medical care — pet insurance definitely is an option to consider. Here’s what you should know.

ASPCA, Embrace, Healthy Paws, Nationwide, PetFirst, Petplan and Trupanion. To help you shop and compare coverage and costs from pet insurers, go to PetInsuranceReview.com.

If you’re still working, one way to pay lower premiums, and possibly get broader coverage, is to buy pet insurance through your employer, if available. Eleven percent of employers in the U.S. offer pet health insurance benefits, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, and these plans are usually discounted.

Rising vet costs

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The cost of owning a pet has gone up in recent years. New technologies now make it possible for pets to undergo sophisticated medical treatments for many life-threatening diseases, just like humans.

But these treatments don’t come cheap.

That’s why pet insurance has gotten more popular in recent years. More than 2 million pets are currently insured in the U.S. and Canada, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.

Should you self-insure?

How pet plans work

Ways to save

Pet insurance is actually very similar to human health insurance. Pet policies typically come with premiums, deductibles, co-payments and caps that limit how much will be paid out annually.

But unlike people coverage, you usually have to pay the vet bills in full and wait for reimbursement from the insurer.

Pet policies vary greatly from basic plans that cover only accidents and illness, to comprehensive policies that provide complete nose-to-tail protection, including annual checkups and vaccinations, spaying/neutering and death benefits.

You should also be aware that pet policies typically don’t cover pre-existing conditions, and premiums are generally lower when your pet is young and healthy.

Costs for pet insurance will also vary by insurer and policy, but premiums typically depend on factors like the cost of veterinary care where you live and the age and breed of the pet.

The average annual premium for basic accident and illness coverage was $516 per pet in 2017, while the average claim paid was $278, according to the pet health insurance association.

If you can’t afford pet insurance or choose not to buy it, there are other ways you can save.

For example, many local animal shelters offer free or low-cost spaying and neutering programs and vaccinations. And some shelters work with local vets who are willing to provide care at reduced prices for low-income and senior pet owners.

There are also a number of organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. To locate these programs, visit HumaneSociety.org/PetFinancialAid. To save on pet medications, get a prescription from your vet (ask for generic if possible) so you can shop for the best price. Medicine purchased at the vet’s office is usually more expensive than you can get from a regular pharmacy or online.

Most pharmacies fill prescriptions for pets inexpensively, and many pharmacies offer pet discount savings programs too.

You can also save by shopping online at a verified pharmacy like 1800PetMeds.com, DrsFosterSmith.com and PetCareRX.com.

Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Shopping tips

Call (301) 255-4215

Major pet policy providers include the

or e-mail Career.Gateway@AccessJCA.org Made possible by Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Adventist HealthCare, and the Jewish Council for the Aging.®

Many animal advocates think most pet owners are better off forgoing pet insurance and instead putting the money you would have spent on premiums into a dedicated savings account to pay for vet care as needed.

Depending on the policy, pet insurance can cost $1,500 to $6,000 over the life of an average pet, and most pet owners will never spend that much for treatment.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 12

PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT Montgomery County Maryland’s Office of Consumer Protection will

present a free class on “How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft” on Sat., ®

Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. The class will take place at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. To register for the free class, call (240) 777-0140.

Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA)® www.AccessJCA.org

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

19

Earn higher yields while doing good

By Eleanor Laise What if you could measure your investment performance not only in terms of yield and total return but also by the number of small businesses financed, tons of waste reduced and affordable homes created?

A growing number of “impact” investments allow investors to do just that — while also earning decent yields.

Impact investments belong to a broader principles-based investment universe that also includes mutual funds focusing on companies with strong environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) track records.

Rather than simply encouraging socially responsible corporate practices, however, impact investments aim to have a direct and measurable impact on society or the environment.

Retirees are increasingly drawn to these vehicles, which held more than $500 billion at the end of 2018, according to the Global Impact Investing Network.

Many older investors are thinking about the legacy they want to leave future generations, “and that type of long-term thinking is very much in line with what motivates impact investors,” said Amit Bouri, GIIN’s chief executive officer.

While many of these vehicles are conservative fixed-income instruments, they’re not without risk. Check liquidity restrictions carefully: Some products are designed to be held to maturity.

Investing with an impact One of the more established impact investments available to individual investors is the Calvert Community Investment Note, launched in 1995.

The note’s portfolio consists of intermediaries and funds that finance affordable housing, community development, education and other initiatives. The minimum investment is just $20, and investors can currently choose maturities ranging from 2020 to 2034, with interest rates of 1.5% to 4%.

Although the product doesn’t offer any guarantees, it has repaid 100% of principal and interest since inception, said Justin Conway, vice president of investment partnerships at Calvert Impact Capital.

CNote offers similar fixed-income products but focuses on economic inclusion.

The firm’s flagship note yields 2.75% and invests in federally certified community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which fund loans for small businesses and support sustainable economic growth and affordable housing.

Early this year, CNote launched the Wisdom Fund, which invests in CDFIs that lend to female entrepreneurs. To close the gender wealth gap, “we have to focus on lending to women, and particularly women of color,” said Catherine Berman, CNote’s chief executive officer.

The minimum investment is $25,000, and the fund is designed to generate a 4% annual return over a five-year term. The

fund is currently available only to accredited investors — those who have $200,000 in earned income or a net worth of more than $1 million, excluding the value of their home — but CNote may open the fund to nonaccredited investors in the future, Berman said.

Avoiding fossil fuel The firm Aspiration takes the impact concept a step further, urging customers to think not only about the impact of their investment dollars but also their everyday spending.

In the Aspiration Spend & Save Account, customers who make a deposit of at least $1,000 each month earn a 2% yield.

Aspiration is not a bank, but it sweeps customers’ cash to institutions that offer federal deposit insurance and do not lend any money to oil and gas companies.

The firm also scores thousands of companies on how they treat their employees and the planet, so customers can “make spending decisions based on that,” said Andrei Cherny, Aspiration’s chief executive officer.

The account fee is “pay what is fair,” meaning customers can set their own fee — even if it’s zero. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE 10

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living

The Department of Aging and Community Living has a new look! As I mentioned last month, you’ve been the most essential part of the process in creating our new brand and identity — and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

Mayor Muriel Bowser often reminds us that our role as government is to serve at the pleasure of our community, be a part of our community, and keep community at the core of all we do.

So when Mayor Bowser signed legislation officially designating us as a Department, we knew that creating a new brand and identity would be a huge responsibility — one that that we couldn’t take lightly! We wanted our new brand to connect with you, to represent our history, and to fulfil the vision our former Mayor Marion Barry had in 2013, that you pushed forward and Mayor Bowser made a reality.

Many of you have been connected to our agency for decades (and just like you, we’ve only gotten better with each passing year!). You’ve been with us when we were a small office of 26 staff members — you’ve seen us grow, you’ve seen our budget grow, and you’ve seen our network grow. You’ve forged great relationships with me and my team, you’ve advocated for the needs of your neighbors and friends, and you’ve been with us for Holiday Celebrations, Symposiums and Salutes to Centenarians.

So we knew that when creating our new brand, we needed to incorporate your experiences, the lessons you’ve taught us, and most of all, your opinions.

I want to thank all of you for helping us create a new brand that represents our agency and especially who we are as a community. During this process, we received feedback through interviews with residents, staff members and stakeholders. You helped create our new logo, our vision and our values, and I hope it will make you as proud as it makes us.

DACL Vision and Values: We believe in the power of good government to transform our lives at every age and ability.

We believe every individual is needed to create strong communities that support, inspire and love.

We believe in the power of community to allow all of us at every age and ability to live boldly!

In the coming weeks, you’ll see the new DACL logo appear in various locations. Starting October 1, all DACL-owned vehicles will reflect the new DACL logo. This includes all Seabury-operated vehicles such as buses, vans and meal-delivery trucks.

You may still see materials reflecting our old DCOA logo in the upcoming months — but whether you see our old logo or our new logo, know that we’re still here for you. We’ve changed our look, but not our commitment to our community.

If you’re interested in connecting with us and learning more about our new brand, make sure you join us in the community at one of our outreach events. Give us a call at 202-724-5626 to find out where we’ll be this month.

My team is excited to tell you all about how we’re working hard every day to make D.C. a place where you can live boldly!

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

October 2019

We have a winner!

Teams from across the city participated in the Third Annual D.C. Senior Brain Games Competition, a trivia-based game for D.C. seniors. Runoffs took place in each ward of the city, and the finalists participated in the finals at the UDC Student Center.

The Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center’s “Team Challengers” were victorious in a very lively competition, with trivia questions in categories including: Words Starting with “S,” Name That Artist, Billboard’s All-time Top 100 Songs 1-50, Name the Invention, Slogans, U.S. State Landmarks and D.C. Trivia.

Second Place was awarded to the team from Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, and the Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center team was awarded third place.

Congratulations also goes out to the Downtown Cluster’s Geriatric Day Care Team in winning Phase II of the D.C. Senior Brain Games Competition against the Genevieve Johnson Day Care Center.

We thank all of our teams for working hard studying and preparing for this year’s competition, and hope that you come back to compete again next year!

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Spotlight on Aging

Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

Get Involved Thursday, October 3 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Wednesday, October 16 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Canaan USP The Department of Aging supports the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs Workshop for soon-to-be-released D.C. Inmates 3057 Eric J. Williams Memorial Dr. Waymart, PA

The Department of Aging and Community Living and partners graciously supports theAARP Chapter #4751 Southwest Waterfront 8th Annual Community Health, Fun & Resource Fair River Park Cooperative Community Room 1301 Delaware Ave., SW – Ward 6

Saturday, October 5 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

We are happy to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the fabric of our city. A special thanks to our Latinx community of elders for sharing your rich culture with us.

Tax-free Diapers for D.C. Did you know that as of October 1, diapers will be tax free in D.C.? Mayor Muriel Bowser repealed taxes on these products for children and adults, and it is now in effect in stores throughout the District of Columbia. There is no more #DiaperTax even on leak-proof and odor-free disposable/washable under wear and pads for adults.

“Diaper” is defined by the statute as

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

500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 724-5626 www.dcoa.dc.gov

Director Laura Newland

Editor Darlene Nowlin

Photographer Richard Williams

“an absorbent incontinence product that is washable or disposable and worn by a person, regardless of age or sex, who cannot control bladder or bowel movements.”

The diaper tax repeal is just one of several District of Columbia tax changes that take effect October 1. To find out more, contact the Office of Tax and Revenue’s Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829).

The D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in collaboration with the East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc. Ward 7 Pastors & Faith Leaders’ “Clergy Resource Fair” St. Luke Catholic Church 4295 East Capitol St., SE – Ward 7

Monday, October 7 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Department of Aging and Community Living with partners graciously supports Ingleside at Rock Creek Provided by Vista Community Health, Fun & Resource Fair 3050 Military Rd., NW – Ward 4 Contact: Olayinka Oyekoya, 202-596-3122

Tuesday, October 8 11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Department of Aging and Community LivingAnd partners Community Presentation Brookland Union Baptist Church 3101 14th St., NE – Ward 5

Saturday, October 12 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Department of Aging and Community Living and partners Lowes’s Home Improvement Store Safety Event 2438 Market St., NE – Ward 5

Tuesday, October 15 7 – 9 p.m.

The Department of Aging and Community Living will provide information on our resources and services Anacostia Neighborhood Library 1800 Good Hope Rd., SE – Ward 8

Thursday, October 17 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Train to Become a DACL Ambassador 500 K Street, NE To register, email dacl.communications@dc.gov or call 202-727-0374.

Friday, October 18 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Department of Aging and Community Living Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center Annual Community Health, Fun and Resource Fair 324 Kennedy St. NW – Ward 4 Contact: Teresa Moore, 202-291-6170

Wednesday, October 23 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Quilt Exhibition and Workshop Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center 324 Kennedy St. NW – Ward 4

Saturday, October 26 12 – 4 p.m.

Halloween Safe Haven for Families Rosedale Recreation Center 1701 Gales St., NE – Ward 6 Contact: Sondra Gilbert, 202-397-7228

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Say you saw it in the Beacon

B-1

B-2

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Villages help residents to age in place

By Audrey Partington As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. Three out of four adults over 50 want to remain in their homes as they age, according to AARP’s 2018 Home and Community Preferences Survey.

Furthermore, a majority of adults surveyed said they would be interested in joining a so-called “village” — a nonprofit supported by volunteers who provide services that help residents “age in place” rather than having to move from a familiar neighborhood.

Free rides for seniors are the most requested service provided by villages. In the village model, volunteer drivers provide doorto-door service or arrange rides through referrals to county-subsidized transportation.

Volunteers may also perform a variety of tasks, from decluttering, to technology assistance, to grocery shopping, to friendly calls and visits to isolated seniors.

Villages may be structured as concierges (providing referrals to vetted service providers), membership organizations with annual dues and paid staff, or as non-fee, all volunteer organizations.

Beacon Hill, a neighborhood in Boston, is credited with creating the country’s first such village 20 years ago. The idea sprang from a conversation among neighbors in 1999 about their desire “to stay engaged in our own neighborhood in this vibrant city.”

The nonprofit Beacon Hill Village enrolled its first members in 2002. Today, the group has more than 400 members and is

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a model for many others.

Nationwide, there are nearly 300 villages in 45 states and the District of Columbia, plus an estimated 150 additional ones in development, according to the Village to Village Network, founded in 2010 to foster collaboration among the nation’s villages.

D.C. area has many groups In 2014, the Washington Post called our area the “epicenter” of the village movement. Since then, the number of operational villages has nearly doubled to 75.

Of these, 18 are in the District, 17 in Virginia, and 40 in Maryland, according to the Washington Area Village Exchange (WAVE), a nonprofit that “encourages the growth and improvement of the village movement within the Washington area.”

Nearly all of Maryland’s villages are located in Montgomery County. As of this month, 27 are operational and 10 are in development, according to Pazit Aviv, the county’s Village Coordinator. The number of villages in Montgomery County has nearly doubled in the past five years.

Part of the reason is that the county has a critical mass of active, experienced volunteers eager to make a difference in their communities.

“Many area seniors are federal retirees, having worked in public policy, public

health, leadership development, or nonprofit management,” Aviv said, explaining the growth in the county’s villages. “But it’s also a mindset. Montgomery County people are community oriented.”

Each village is unique to the community it serves.

“Villages come in all shapes and sizes,” Aviv said. “Some charge a membership fee, others provide free services with the help of volunteers. Some focus on social events, others on transportation. Some have paid staff, some are managed solely by volunteers.”

Membership dues vary among the nation’s villages, ranging from under $500 a year for an individual to $1,000 a year for a household. The fees at many villages are on a sliding scale, based on income, and a growing number of villages subsidize lowincome members.

Learning from other villages Shortly after several residents of Olney, Maryland, agreed to form a local village in 2011, they applied for nonprofit status.

Barbara Barry, one of the organizers, contacted Bethesda’s Burning Tree Village Board of Directors for assistance.

“Our founding documents are heavily based on theirs. Because of their willingSee VILLAGES, page B-3

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From page B-2

Virginia’s villages More than half of Virginia’s villages are in Fairfax County. In 2014, the county issued its 50+ Community Action Plan, with many recommendations that support such villages.

These include the Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) model for establishing a volunteerbased senior village, and the creation of a ride scheduler system that organizations can use to match riders with drivers. Launched in 2016, Northern Virginia Rides (NV Rides) is being used by many of the county’s villages.

Reston for a Lifetime adopted the county’s N2N program in 2016, and developed RCC Rides in association with NV Rides.

Like many senior villages, Reston for a Lifetime is partnering with one of the area’s homeowner associations (Reston See VILLAGES, page B-4

Award-Winning Senior & Assisted Living Community

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ness to help, I was able to adapt them to our village in a few days,” Barry said.

Within a year, Olney Home for Life (OHFL) was incorporated as a Maryland nonprofit, established a board, and enlisted a cadre of volunteers to provide free transportation to senior residents of Olney, Sandy Spring, Ashton, Brookeville and Brinklow.

Its volunteers also transport residents from other parts of the county to MedStar Montgomery Medical Center for cancer treatment. Located in Olney, the hospital, as well as county government, are two of the organization’s largest funders.

In the spirit of collaboration that characterizes senior villages, three D. C. villages — Dupont Circle, Palisades and Northwest Neighbors — partnered several years ago to share the services of a social worker, with funding from the D.C. Department of Aging.

“People are living longer and will require more extensive services,” said Eva Lucero, executive director of Dupont Circle Village (DCV).

To address that need, DCV has since hired its own social worker as well as a registered nurse who serves as a “healthcare navigator” for area seniors.

The positions are supported by the organization’s 250 dues-paying members, corporate and government grants and individual donations. The organization also subsidizes

lage Connections program, under Katie Garber, director of volunteer and care services.

“There’s a shortage of care workers,” said Garber. “It’s hard for agencies to place them in the District if it requires commuting into the city for a four-hour shift. Our Advocacy Corps is working on the issue of affordable housing for care workers as well as for seniors because the two issues are connected.”

more than 30 low-income members.

“We’ve been proactive in implementing ‘Care Groups,’ which are networks of volunteers who provide a range of services to one person,” Lucero said. The groups often address short-term emergency situations following a hospitalization.

“The human touch given to me by each one of my care group members has been extraordinary beyond words,” said a DCV member who asked to remain anonymous.

“The Dupont Circle Village and the way it cares for its members is one of the most extraordinary finds in my 79 years of life.”

On any given day, DCV offers members an array of activities such as docent-led tours of museums, exercise classes and book clubs.

Held in members’ homes, the village’s “CelebSalons” present neighborhood notables in fields such as politics, healthcare and the arts. Most recently, the group hosted radio talk show host Kojo Nnamdi.

“I’m inspired by the talents and wisdom of our members,” Lucero said. “They are ‘shattering the stereotype’ of aging, which is our village’s tag line.”

With more than 500 dues-paying members, Capitol Hill Village (CHV) is the oldest and largest village in the District of Columbia. With two licensed social workers on staff, CHV offers three levels of care, including referrals, short-term and longterm support.

They work closely with a group of multigenerational, trained volunteers in their Vil-

!

Villages

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4435 N. Pershing Drive Arlington, VA 22203 703-528-0162 VA Relay # 800-828-1120 www.culpeppergarden.org

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I Look Forward to Meeting You! Hello, I am the rental manager at Wilshire Estates, Silver Spring’s newest and best option for independent retirement living. Wilshire Estates is currently under construction and scheduled to open soon.

Visit me at the information office which is located next to the Giant on Randolph and New Hampshire, Unit 31. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 6 pm, Friday from 8 am to noon, Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm, and by appointment.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Finding the right home healthcare aide

By Eleanor Laise When it comes to home-care workers — the aides who provide in-home personal assistance and healthcare support to seniors — Brenda Case has seen it all.

Case, age 55, a real estate agent in Grand Junction, Colorado, was for several years a full-time caregiver for her mother, who had severe rheumatoid arthritis. And in that time, a constantly rotating cast of home care workers came in and out of the home that Case shared with her mother.

There was a nurse who was wonderful.

There was a bath aide who never came to work at all. And there was an occupational therapist who insisted that Case’s mother should practice job skills such as moving coins from one bucket to another — even

though the patient had no intention of returning to work.

“My 70-year-old mother didn’t need to go out and get a job — she needed to lift her arms to the microwave and get a cup of tea,” Case says. “But that was never part of the regime.”

Turnover was high, Case said, and she sometimes switched agencies in order to retain the aides she liked — or avoid the ones she didn’t. In the three years leading up to her mother’s death in 2015, Case said she worked with seven different home care agencies.

A shortage of workers Seniors and their families are struggling to find in-home help as a growing aging

population — combined with the low pay, physical demands and irregular hours of home care jobs — have led to a severe shortage of home care workers.

Between 2016 and 2026, home care work is projected to be the fastest-growing U.S. occupation, with more than 1 million new jobs expected, according to PHI, a research and consulting organization focused on the direct-care workforce.

Home care agencies are already having trouble hiring and retaining enough workers to meet the demand.

“The impact on families is enormous,” said Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI. Even if they surmount the initial challenge of finding a worker who can meet their specific needs, consumers face low odds of hanging on to that worker for any length of time, according to Espinoza, because turnover in the industry tends to hover around 60%.

All too often, family members have to cut back their work hours or quit their jobs completely to fill in the gaps.

Villages

Services Exchange (USE) operates in the same way, according to Patricia Rohrer, the county’s Long-term Care Program Developer and Village Liaison.

“USE is unique in that it’s the most intergenerational of the Fairfax County villages and also the only ‘time-bank’ variety,” Rohrer said. “When you volunteer to give a service to someone, you bank the hours and can get any volunteer service back in exchange.”

Anyone can establish a village if there’s enough interest. Local governments can provide guidance to residents wishing to form villages. But ultimately, it’s a grassroots movement.

“Look around [your] neighborhood and see if there are some older folks that might be in need of something,” Rohrer said.

“Then begin to have the conversation with others about trying to address those needs.”

From page B-3 Association) to encourage more neighborhoods to establish villages.

Time banks Some villages have begun to adopt an older concept called a “time bank.” Under this arrangement, the village keeps track of how many hours residents volunteer to help their neighbors. In return, they qualify to receive help from other residents for the same amount of time if and when needed in the future.

In Maryland, volunteers at the Silver Spring Time Bank give rides to the airport, help with taxes and even assist with car-buying research.

In Fairfax County, the Reston Useful

How to find the right help Here are four steps to help you find and retain the right in-home help.

Pin down your caregiving requirements.

Before you start your search, “it’s so important to take a step back and think about what you really need,” said Leah Eskenazi, operations director at the Family Caregiver Alliance.

If your mother would feel most comfortable with a female, Spanish-speaking caregiver who has a driver’s license and experience in dealing with dementia patients, for example, it’s best to be clear about that at the outset.

See HOME HEALTHCARE, page B-7

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Falcons Landing is proud to announce our latest expansion project, The Terrace Homes. With the best features of apartment and cottage living, The Terrace Homes offer a new take on Independent Living for military officers who have honorably served and senior-level federal employees. Whether your passion is serving up aces both on the court and in the pool, or popping open the perfect wine with friends, you can experience it all here at Falcons Landing.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Should you move or stay once retired?

By Janet Bodnar Now that I’m retired, people often ask me if I’m planning to move. The short answer: Not anytime soon. My husband and I live in a location that’s easily accessible to activities, friends and family members, both near and far. Our house is large enough to accommodate out-of-town guests but not so big that we rattle around in it. Our mortgage is paid off, and I don’t have a burning desire to live anywhere else — at least for now.

That makes me pretty typical of retirees, according to a study by Age Wave and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Their research shows that 36% of retirees do not anticipate moving in retirement. But more than onethird (37%) of retirees have moved, and 27% expect to move at some point.

Among those who have relocated, about half downsized. But a surprising 30%

moved up to a larger home. “That stunned us,” said Ken Dychtwald, CEO of Age Wave. Those who upsized “wanted a house where they could add an office or where grandchildren could come and spend the summer.”

Respondents in the Age Wave study said their primary reason for moving was to “be closer to family.” But no single reason — and no single destination — makes sense for everyone.

“Decades ago, people thought of relocating to places where they vacationed, such as Phoenix and Miami,” Dychtwald said.

“Now, they look for somewhere that’s stimulating, has access to excellent healthcare and a community of folks to interact with.”

Before you make a move, make sure that you and your spouse agree on the destination. It’s not uncommon for one of you to dream of being closer to the grandkids

while the other prefers to bask in a warmer clime. Ask yourself if you’d still be happy if the temperature soared or the grandkids didn’t visit often.

And consider your finances. If you’re hoping to unlock your home equity, Fidelity estimates that transaction and moving costs can eat up as much as 13% of the sale price of your home. “Do your homework and learn from the successes and failures of others,” Dychtwald said.

Reality check A good place to start is with the experience of Kiplinger’s readers such as Mark and Sharon Koenig. The Koenigs agreed on several criteria for a retirement location when they moved from South Carolina: a climate with less heat and humidity, a place their scattered kids would visit, proximity to a major airport and a community

Mealtime at Kensington Park: where palates are pleased and memories are made, every single day

that would allow them to meet new friends.

They settled on an active living community near Denver, and “things couldn’t have worked out better for us,” Mark said.

A number of people turn into reverse snowbirds as they get older. After a “wonderful, 20-plus-year vacation in Florida,” Joe and Ginger Cissell said, they moved back to Wisconsin to “reconnect with old friends, be closer to the family we love and start a new adventure.”

Sometimes a retirement move hits a speed bump. Together with another couple, Tom and Gayle King bought a home in Belize. The other couple decided almost immediately that an ex-pat community wasn’t for them and returned home.

The Kings traveled back and forth for several years before selling the house and returning to New Mexico because, Tom said, “I didn’t have enough to keep me busy.” Before retiring overseas, he advises, “rent for at least one year, or one season, to see if you like it.”

That’s good advice wherever you decide to go. And be prepared to adapt. One New Jersey couple, Nancy and Garry, had always planned to spend time at their Florida condo when Garry retired. But when the time came, it was hard for Nancy to step away from her volunteer activities, including a youth group and a basketball program.

The solution: During the couple’s initial 3½-month stay in Florida, Nancy returned home for a basketball fundraiser. And she is stepping up her volunteer time over the summer.

“The best thing is to talk it through,” she said. “I figured out a way to spend time with my husband in Florida and still get joy from my volunteer work.”

Janet Bodnar is editor-at-large at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. ©2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

T

easy for residents to invite company as often as possible—their guests always eat free.

We believe that tabletime togetherness is a meaningful opportunity for families and friends to slow down, share laughs, strengthen bonds and make memories. As a result, we make it

Mealtime at Kensington Park is good for the heart, in more ways than one. Our top-notch chef creates beautifully prepared dishes, all made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Our servers indulge diners with bend-over-backwards attention. We treat everyone at our table as someone important, because they are.

he dining experience at Kensington Park is not only a taste sensation but also a special occasion, every time residents and their guests gather—whether they’re celebrating or not.

Visit Kensington Park today!

Ongoing

WIDOWED SUPPORT GROUPS

The Widowed Person’s Outreach group will meet for a “Next Steps Luncheon” at noon on Fri., Sept. 27 at Clyde’s of Chevy Chase, 5441 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Chevy Chase, Md. RSVP to jebrainard@yahoo.com or (301) 365-3647. Similar meetings are scheduled throughout the fall: an ongoing grief support group meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 2 p.m. That group will

(301) 946-7700 | 3620 Littledale Road | Kensington, MD 20895 | www.KensingtonParkSeniorLiving.com INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE

meet on Oct. 9.

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Home healthcare From page B-4 For seniors who primarily need companionship and basic help around the house, a personal care worker (who may have minimal training) may be the right fit.

If you need a worker who can perform some clinical tasks such as wound care, however, look for a home health aide who has more training.

Training requirements can vary from state to state, but home health aides working for agencies that accept Medicare must have at least 75 hours of training.

Weigh an agency versus direct hire.

A home health agency can offer some key advantages. If the worker gets sick, an agency will send over a replacement, whereas if you hire someone directly, you’re on your own.

If you need a variety of skills — perhaps a worker with nursing skills for a short period but a personal care aide thereafter — an agency will make it easier to coordinate that.

An agency will also check the worker’s background, verify his or her training and handle the employment paperwork, taking some administrative tasks off your hands.

You’ll need to work with a Medicare-certified home health agency if you want Medicare to cover your care. To qualify for that coverage, you must need skilled services such as nursing or physical therapy and be “homebound,” meaning leaving

home is difficult or not recommended because of your condition.

For consumers paying out of pocket, however, the higher cost of an agency may be a deal-breaker. If you go through an agency, you may pay $20 to $40 an hour, depending on where you live, whereas if you hire someone directly, you’ll negotiate the wage, which in many cases could be about $10 to $15 an hour, Espinoza said.

Start your search engine.

To find home health agencies, contact your Area Agency on Aging or use Medicare’s Home Health Compare website (medicare.gov/homehealthcompare).

Caregiver support groups and local chapters of organizations focused on specific conditions, such as the Alzheimer’s Association and American Cancer Society, may offer referrals to home health agencies.

Consumers hiring workers directly often rely on recommendations from friends and co-workers — but technology can make the search process a bit more sophisticated.

Care.com and CareLinx, for example, connect consumers with home care workers in their areas.

And in 19 states, “matching service registries” match consumers with home care workers based on needs and availability.

Some registries require workers to have a background check and a certain level of training, while others have no such requirements. You can find details and links to the registries at phinational.org.

No matter how you find your in-home help, check candidates’ background and references, “preferably from past employment situations or people who have been under the individual’s care,” said William Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. For tips on checking an aide’s background, see the Family Caregiver Alliance’s fact sheet at caregiver.org/hiring-home-help.

Monitor the situation.

When you’ve found the right caregiver, check in frequently to make sure the relationship is working for both parties.

Lynette Whiteman, executive director of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, has engaged multiple in-home workers for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s. She had to let go of one aide who was caring for her mother overnight, after her mother said the worker had slapped her.

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Another aide repeatedly asked her mother for money, saying she needed cash for car repairs or to buy a new watch. “If we were not on top of this, I don’t know how much money would have gone out the door,” Whiteman said.

Technology can help far-flung family members check in on their loved ones and ease the burden on caregivers, Eskenazi said. “Smart home” technology, including smart speakers, can provide medication reminders and reassure families that a senior is getting proper care.

Or you can go the low-tech route: “Have a neighbor or friend stop in unannounced,” Whiteman said. “Make sure someone is checking in on the situation if you can’t be there.” © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Assisted Living and Memory Care that’s fit for a … well, you know.

Isn’t it about time you were treated like royalty? You bet it is. Come see for yourself just what assisted living and memory care with A Whole Lotta Heart is all about.

Please call 301.200.0928 for more information or to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.

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13908 New Hampshire Avenue • Silver Spring 301.200.0928 • TheLandingOfSilverSpring.com

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Housing Notes

By Susan Ahearn

Community opens in Silver Spring The Landing of Silver Spring is one of the newest communities providing assisted living and memory care services in Montgomery County.

Located in the Colesville area, the Landing includes 138 apartments: 79 for assisted living and 59 for memory care. The community began accepting residents in July and will hold a grand opening on October 24.

The Landing is operated by Leisure

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Care, which is based in Seattle. “This is their first community in Maryland, and we’re also just starting to grow on the East Coast,” said Connie Miller, the community’s general manager.

The new community, which includes studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, provides meals, activities and transportation for residents. Amenities include Opal, Leisure Care’s memory care program, as well as fitness and wellness programs and onsite physical and occupational therapy.

A unique feature of The Landing is the connection to the parent company’s travel agency, Travel by Leisure Care. “A resident could sign up to go on a cruise with our company, and we would supply them with a caregiver that would go with them,” Miller said.

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Miller said The Landing of Silver Spring also wants to assist its neighbors by offering events for the public.

“We are having a ‘Lunch and Learn’ with the Montgomery County Police Department. They’re going to do a presentation on keeping seniors safe,” said Miller.

The Landing of Silver Spring is located at 13908 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, Maryland. For more information, call (301) 200-0928.

viduals. The nonprofit organization said more than 20,000 of those residents live in Wards 7 and 8, and have the least access to healthcare and other services in the city.

“There is a real urgency to opening an adult day center in Ward 8,” according to Iona’s website.

Developed in partnership with WC Smith, Iona East will be located at Stanton Rd. and Alabama Ave., SE. Iona currently operates Iona Senior Services in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Northwest D.C.

New day center coming to SE D.C. A room with a view “Twice a week, Grace Jones, who has moderate Alzheimer’s disease travels 11 miles by bus from her home in Southeast D.C. to Iona’s adult day center in Northwest Washington. Some days, the bus ride takes 90 minutes,” according to Iona Senior Services, a social service agency for older adults and their caregivers in D.C. “But, says her daughter Kimberly Morris, it’s worth it because, ‘My mother deserves the very best.’”

To help residents of Southeast D.C. like Jones, Iona is in the process of building the first adult day health center in Ward 8, located in the Congress Heights neighborhood.

Iona East, as the new facility will be known, is designed to assist residents of Wards 7 and 8 who have Alzheimer’s disease or other chronic conditions. Scheduled to open in spring 2020, it will provide healthcare and social activities as well as lunch, art therapy, musical performances and field trips.

According to Iona, which has provided services and programming for older adults in Northwest D.C. for decades, the number of Washington residents over the age of 60 has increased in the past 10 years by nearly 15,000, to more than 117,000 indi-

Pointe View at Aspen Hill is a new 62 and older community that is coming soon to Silver Spring, Maryland. It is located in a wooded setting off Bel-Pre Road.

The community’s one- and two-bedroom apartments are intended for independent adults, and include a full kitchen, large closets and an open floor plan. Monthly rents range from $854 to $1,900.

Construction on this mixed-income community by Pennrose Properties LLC is expected to be completed in mid-October.

Pre-applications for the 120 one- and twobedroom apartments are currently being accepted by mail.

Amenities will include on-site parking, controlled-access entry, on-site management and maintenance with 24-hour emergency call service.

Weekly community activities will also be available at Pointe View. Other amenities include a community room, fitness and business centers, a hair salon, and laundry facilities on every floor.

Pointe View at Aspen Hill is located at 3136 Bel Pre Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call (410) 403-3185. See floor plans and pricing at pennrose.com/ apar tments/mar yland/pointe-view-ataspen-hill/.

Choosing Chesterbrook Residences

Opens a Whole New World of Possibilities

Discover a community that not only provides the support you need, but also creates excitement for daily life! Delicious dining, on-site entertainment and activities, and new friendships and adventures await around each corner. Schedule your tour today! Call 703-531-0781.

A Caring Assisted Living Retirement Community

2030 Westmoreland St. | Falls Church 703-531-0781 | chesterbrookres.org Coordinated Services Management, Inc.—Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ashby Ponds 877-575-0231 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 EricksonLiving.com Ashby Ponds is Loudoun County’s most popular retirement community—and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Ashby Ponds apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more. Call 1-877-575-0231 today for your free Ashby Ponds brochure.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org This community hums with warm-hearted camaraderie and a zest for life shared by residents and staff alike. Experience all that makes assisted living at Brooke Grove extraordinary. Cozy, homelike dwellings with easy access to beautiful courtyards and walking paths. Caring staff trained in using memory support techniques, building independence and lifting self-esteem.

Innovative LIFE® Enrichment Programming with meaningful activities and off-site adventures. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing care retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Victory Housing 301-493-6000 Six Maryland Locations www.victoryhousing.org Assisted living begins with a conversation. For more than thirty years, Victory Housing has been a leader in this discussion. Together we will have an upfront talk about lifestyle at our community including resident needs and wants, resident suite options, and the peace-ofmind that comes from individualized care. We’ll also address financial considerations including our no-surprise pricing. Unlike other providers, we do not charge extra for additional care services—ever. We understand that considering assisted living is an important decision. Discover Victory Housing’s straight-forward approach and our non-profit, award-winning communities. Call or visit us today, let’s talk.

PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

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LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-4344 6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org We are an active, vibrant senior living community located on 20 acres in a suburban setting where residents are encouraged to live life “their way.” Vinson Hall Retirement Community is in McLean, Virginia convenient to the theaters and restaurants of Washington, DC. Our community offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, nursing care, rehabilitative care, and respite care. Visit our website to learn more: www.vinsonhall.org.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Seabury at Springvale Terrace (301) 587-8717

Riderwood Retirement Community 877-575-0231

8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.seaburyresources.org/springvaleterrace

3140 Gracefield Road Beltsville, MD 20904 EricksonLiving.com

Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace inside and out. Our Assisted Living offers a price and lifestyle you will love, with personal care subsidies for those who qualify. Affordable value that can only be found at our community, providing personal care, exercise, music, a host of daily activities and social events. Starting at only $2,294/month including private apartment with private bathroom, three nutritious meals a day, medication administration, Nurse oversight, housekeeping and laundry services. Come take a look at Springvale Terrace. Assisted Living Apartments are available now (Medicaid accepted). Call Nicole at (301) 587-8717 or email nsterling@seaburyresources.org to schedule your visit today.

Riderwood is Silver Spring’s most popular retirement community— and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Riderwood apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more.

Call 1-877-575-0231 today for your free Riderwood brochure.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Greenspring Retirement Community 877-575-0231 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield, VA 22150 EricksonLiving.com Greenspring is Springfield’s most popular retirement community— and for good reason! Few senior living destinations have such a wide variety of apartment home options. The community offers cozy one bedroom floor plans, spacious two bedroom options, and deluxe apartments with special features like sunrooms, dens, and extra storage. Regardless of the home size and style you choose, your Greenspring apartment home includes quality fixtures and finishes, like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Our custom interiors team can also help you create your ideal living space with custom window treatments, closets, built-ins, and more. Call 1-877575-0231 today for your free Greenspring brochure.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Emerson House 301-779-6196 5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710 Our community features bright onebedroom apartments in a nine-story elevator building for today’s active and independent seniors who are 62 or older. Emerson House is subsidized for low- to moderate-income households. Activities are yours to choose from: gardening, Bingo, Wii bowling league, movie night, parties, bus trips, exercise classes, learning to line dance — it’s all waiting for you and more! Emerson House offers an in-house Resident Service Coordinator to assist with finding helpful resources.

Please call today for an appointment to tour our community or request an application; 301-779-6196 Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00.

INDEPENDENT/ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE

Falcons Landing 703-404-5100

Kensington Park 301-946-7700

20522 Falcons Landing Circle Potomac Falls, VA 20165 www.falconslanding.org

3620 Littledale Road Kensington, MD 20895 www.kensingtonparkseniorliving.com

Common Bonds and Extraordinary Living is what you find when you move to Falcons Landing! Nestled near the Potomac River in scenic Loudoun County, Falcons Landing is a vibrant hub for residents who have retired from work, but not from life! Falcons Landing is embarking on an exciting new project with the addition of The Terrace Home Apartments, 24 new units that fuse the best aspects of apartment and cottage living. Residents will enjoy generous square footage in private corner units with social spaces to gather with neighbors.

The Terrace Homes provide a fresh and exciting new take on senior living and are ideal for those that enjoy natural lighting, open floor plans, indoor/outdoor living and entertaining family and friends.

Friendship and fun. Activities and companionship. Family and support. You'll find it all at Kensington Park, a senior living community that features Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care on one beautiful campus. The variety of lifestyle options makes it easy for residents to live the way they want and need in an environment that reflects deep understanding of seniors. Independent Living offers a lively calendar of events, a sophisticated dining experience and cocktail hours. Assisted Living provides enhanced care programs that include a full spectrum of clinical support and end-of-life care. Three levels of Memory Care address challenges unique to each phase of progressive change. Please call us at 301-946-7700.

INDEPENDENT & PERSONAL CARE COMMUNITIES

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

B’nai B’rith Homecrest House 301-244-3579

Covenant Village Senior Apartments 301-540-1162

14508 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 www.homecresthouse.org

18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874 www.qpmgmt.com

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

• Spacious 1 and 2 bedroom plans with washer/dryer in each apt.

• Shuttle bus for shopping and local trips • On-site fitness, game, and craft rooms, movie theatre, library, beauty salon, and courtyard garden plots.

It's about our residents, said Management staff, Debra and Trisha.

They always ensure that they have interesting and exciting things going on. Some of the fun includes: Garden Party Cookouts, Trips to Washington, DC to see the Cherry Blossoms, the Franciscan Monastery, and the National Zoo, Black Hills Pontoon Boat Ride, Low-Impact Fitness Classes, Resident Birthday Celebrations, Craft Classes and Potlucks. Also, many guest speakers are invited to speak to our residents on topics that are relevant to them.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

B-11

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies have an equal chance to win. To be eligible for Wolf Trap tickets, your reply must arrive by November 1, 2019.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Chevy Chase House . . . . .B-2 & B-18 ❑ Friendship Terrace . . . . .B-18 & B-19 ❑ West Half Apartments . . . . . . . . . .B-8

MARYLAND ❑ Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . .B-9, B-19 & B-20 ❑ Covenant Village . . . . . .B-10 & B-16 ❑ Emerson House . . . . . . .B-10 & B-16 ❑ Gardens of Traville, The . . . . . . . .B-12 ❑ Homecrest House . . . . . . .B-4 & B-10 ❑ Homewood at Frederick . . . . . . . .B-2 ❑ Kensington Park . . . . . . . .B-6 & B-10 ❑ Landing of Silver Spring, The . . . .B-7

❑ Riderwood . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9 & B-13 ❑ Springvale Terrace . . . . .B-4, B-8, B-9 & B-19 ❑ Victory Housing . . . . . . . .B-9 & B-17 ❑ Wilshire Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3

VIRGINIA ❑ Ashby Ponds . . . . . . . . . .B-9 & B-13 ❑ Chesterbrook Residences . . . . . . . . . . .B-8 & B-19 ❑ Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 ❑ Falcons Landing . . . . . . . .B-5 & B-10 ❑ Greenspring . . . . . . . . . .B-10 & B-13 ❑ Gum Springs Glen . . . . . . . . . . .B-16 ❑ Herndon Harbor House . . . . . . . .B-16 ❑ Lockwood House . . . . . . . . . . . .B-16 ❑ Morris Glen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-16

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Sommerset Retirement . .B-15 & B-19 Sylvestry, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-17 Vinson Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9 Wingler House . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-16

HOME CARE SERVICES: ❑ Attenda Home Care . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7 ❑ Family & Friends Home Care . . . . .B-7

REAL ESTATE: ❑ Weichert/Sue Heyman+Friends .B-12

REHABILITATION: ❑ Brooke Grove Rehabilitation . . . .B-19

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227.

You may also include the free info coupon on page 5.

One entry per household please.

Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

WB1019

B-12

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Back yard ‘granny pods’ address a need

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nate a path from the bed to the bathroom, cameras that alert a caregiver if the resident falls, and a computer system that reminds forgetful individuals to take their medication from a dispenser. There’s even a toilet seat that can track a person’s weight, temperature and urine content.

Pod pioneer Dr. Soccorrito Baez-Page of Alexandria, Virginia, made headlines in 2012 when her family became the first in the country to install a MedCottage in their back yard. They did it for her aging mother, Viola Baez, who refused to move into a nursing home.

The granny pod proved the ideal solution. “It was wonderful. It did everything it was supposed to,” Baez-Page said.

Constructed just six feet from BaezPage’s kitchen windows in the yard, the cottage allowed Baez to live near her daughter while still maintaining her independence.

“It was very convenient,” she said. “It gave my mother her space. It was attached to our deck, so we were in an out of there all the time.”

And since the house was a portable, prefabricated structure, it was relatively easy to remove. After her mother died last year, Baez-Page sold it to another family, who moved it to North Carolina.

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A growing trend

PHOTO BY DREAMSTIME

By PJ Feinstein Remember the above-garage apartment Fonzie rented from the Cunninghams on TV’s “Happy Days”? Today that would be termed an “accessory dwelling unit” (ADU), or a small residence with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom located on the same single-family lot as a larger house.

Accessory dwelling units have been around for centuries, starting perhaps with carriage houses. In recent years, guest cottages, “she sheds” and in-law suites — all different types of ADUs — have been gaining popularity in the area, as many communities are looking for affordable and flexible housing options.

One type of ADU is nicknamed the “granny pod.” An example would be the MedCottage, designed almost a decade ago

by Virginia-based company N2Care and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering as a temporary family healthcare structure.

Each MedCottage has a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette along with a variety of safety features, making them suitable for older adults who might need special care but still want to live on their own.

Some MedCottage safety features are low-tech, such as safety rails and special rubber floors to minimize injury from falls.

Others rival state-of-the-art hospital rooms, including floorboards that illumi-

In its 2018 Home and Community Preference Survey, AARP found that 84% of people over the age of 50 said they’d consider creating an ADU in order to provide a home for a loved one in need of care.

So why aren’t there more of them?

First, they’re relatively expensive. Detached ADUs range from $30,000 to over $100,000, and can exceed $150,000 after installation.

In addition, residents Tiny houses, garage apartments and back yard cottages have to contend with resi- are examples of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), often dential zoning codes that used to provide flexible, affordable housing for older typically allow only one adults who want to live near family members. home per lot.

“This important change allows homeGranny pods are currently legal in Washington, D.C., as well as Virginia, owners to build housing that works for which passed a state law in 2010 permit- their families, and to create better options ting temporary medical dwellings on resi- for renters in communities across Montdential property as long as they are re- gomery County,” Riemer said.

Under the new regulations, residents can moved when no longer needed. build a back yard cottage or any type of ADU on any sized lot even if they already have a Maryland encourages more Montgomery County, Maryland, is in shed or other outbuilding. If the ADU is built the process of issuing new, relaxed stan- within a mile of a Metro stop, the county no dards for ADUs. While there are 16,000 longer requires an on-street parking spot.

Last January, Riemer proposed the upowner-occupied single-family detached homes in the county, only 414 licensed dates to what he believed were antiquated zoning laws. As he said in an email to the ADUs are on record.

Last July, the county council voted unani- Beacon, “The opportunity to provide a somously to loosen ADU regulations. “The lution for families that want to remain tohigh cost of housing in Montgomery County gether as they age is one of the highest is pricing people out,” Councilmember Hans goals for this legislation.”

For a list of ADU laws in your area, visit Riemer, chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, said in a statement announcing https://accessorydwellings.org/adu-regulations-by-city. the 9-0 vote.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

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Planning too early beats failing to plan ing room set, a sofa bed that guests used, the couch in the living room and an end table.

Then I thought I should thin out my clothes because I would not need a lot of different outfits in a senior community. I started searching in my garment bags for things I would never wear again. This turned out to be many more than I had imagined.

Then I decided that some of my clothes from the old days when I had pitch black hair would not look so good with white hair. And I started pulling out more clothes to give away.

Perhaps this advanced planning was getting out of hand.

For many years when I was growing up, my parents sent me to a psychiatrist — probably thinking it would help them with their problems, too. It didn’t work well at the time, but in a much later stage of life it has been very helpful.

I now talk to a psychiatrist once a month by phone. When I told her I was selling my furniture and giving my clothes away to charity, she was speechless. Then she hammered me with, “You are nowhere near ready for a senior living facility. Planning too far in advance is like letting go of the reins and not knowing where to go.�

I guess planning too early is as bad as planning too late. We all have a lot to learn.

Aging seems to foster accumulation,

when in fact it should inspire the opposite.

There is, in fact, a growing tendency to hold on to things, not in case we should really need them, but more perhaps in blocking out the thought of dying and not needing anything ever again.

Growing up, I remember my aunts going through a deceased aunt’s closet and saying, “What the hell did she need this for — a night on the town with her cane and her heating pad?�

It’s important to save things, special things, objects of beautiful memories, love letters, necklaces, pocket watches and the like. Aunt Maybell did not mean for you to save her garters and underpants.

Some things are treasures, but many have the status I call “pile-up.� Pile-up is anything that could possibly be useful in the future, but just as possibly not.

Many of us also become collectors of fine paintings, maps or jewelry that perhaps even museums might want.

There are still things left that have meaning or worth, especially to grown children or grandchildren. This is where the trouble often arises that causes family disputes.

Something as small as a unique set of coasters from Italy, a hand-carved pipe from New Zealand or a beaded Indian necklace from New Mexico can become a battlefield.

Our children and their children are often quite attached to these items and their history. When we die, some of the grief that loved ones express gets played out in angry competition for these items.

This behavior can even create permanent schisms in a family.

A workable solution to avoid these troubles after your death is something I tried when I was in my mid-seventies. At a holiday meal at my apartment with my sons and their children, I made this announcement: “After dinner, go around the apartment and list the items you would like to have. I will save these pages until I’m ready to move to a senior living facility. Before my move, I will send each of you your choices.

If there is competition for an item or a piece of furniture, I will decide, trying to be fair.�

As I write this, I am planning to move within five weeks. I have mailed most of the items and furniture already. It has worked out extremely well, and I have had the joy of seeing all these things in my children’s homes. There was never a moment of dissention.

This is an excerpt from the book, An Invitation to the Country Called Aging, by Patricia Garfinkel and Myra Sklarew. To order a copy, go to politics-prose.com.

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13779731

By Patricia Garfinkel When we were growing up, we were always told to be prepared. Do your homework when you get home from school instead of waiting until midnight, and many other logical preparations.

I had a very unstable childhood. We moved around a lot. I was always adjusting to a new school, trying to make new friends. My parents both loved me, but they didn’t love each other.

Being prepared ahead of time was a wellingrained habit for me. It gave me some stability where it did not exist in my daily life.

Now that I am 80, there is even more truth in that; at least I thought so.

I live far from any family and thought that moving closer to one of my sons would be a good idea, so I started the process with great vigor. I began before even visiting senior living facilities.

I made a list of furniture that I would like to sell or give away, and I put notes on the actual items. I mentioned this to a few friends who live in my huge apartment building in northern Virginia.

Before I knew it, people were asking to look at the furniture. I wasn’t quite prepared for that enthusiasm but thought it was a good thing. After all, you can only sit in one chair at a time.

As I write this, I have already sold my din-

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Making retirement safer for LGBTQ elders

By Ivey Noojin Moving into an assisted living facility can be a difficult transition. It is even harder, however, for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer) older adults, who have faced discrimination all of their lives.

Cecelia Hayden Smith, a retired drug and alcohol counselor from Essex, hasn’t moved into a continuing care community yet. She’s heard stories about friends in nursing homes who were raped or weren’t allowed to go to the funeral of their same-sex spouse.

Having been with her wife for 32 years, Smith is familiar with hostility from others due to her sexuality, and is wary of staff members in assisted living facilities. “They say they’re welcoming,” Smith said. “Welcoming, my foot.”

This fear is the reason only 20% of LGBTQ older adults in long-term care facilities are open about their sexual orientation, according to a 2016 report by Justice In Aging, a national organization that fights senior poverty through the judicial process.

Many older LGBTQ adults are estranged from their family members, and therefore must rely solely on contracted caregivers. Without family support, they are more likely to delay obtaining healthcare, according to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law — a think tank dedicated to studying issues of gender

identity and sexual orientation.

she said, “it can never be denied from you.”

Overcoming the stigma

Baltimore gets training

SAGE, an advocacy organization based in New York City, has launched a training program for retirement communities around the country aiming to create more understanding for this marginalized group. Its program addresses the specific difficulties LGBTQ older adults face, including abuse, neglect and hurtful comments.

“Most people work with older adults because they have a caring orientation,” said Tim Johnston, director of national projects at SAGE. “We are giving them the tools they need to help older adults feel more comfortable.”

SAGECare training targets the staff and administrators of assisted living facilities with online and in-person education about the needs and concerns of LGBTQ older adults.

SAGE shares the history of LGBTQ discrimination and invites advocates in the area to personalize this issue with stories about their own experiences. The training is only one hour per year for staff, and four hours every three years for managers and executives.

A former volunteer with SAGE, Smith visited retirement communities to share her own experiences with discrimination. “If you tell your story and you tell your truth,”

The Baltimore area is among those learning from SAGECare. The Edward A. Myerberg Center, a community center for older adults in Baltimore, received a bronze certification in 2017. That means that 25% of its employees have received the training.

Nikki Barr, center director for Myerberg, described it as an “educational opportunity” that they embarked on “so we would know how to communicate in a respectful way,” she said.

The Myerberg Center is now attempting to expand on its SAGECare training. Barr hopes to hold events with LGBTQ speakers in the future to demonstrate that the center is “a warm and welcoming place.”

A safe space Washington, D.C. will soon have its first affordable housing residence specifically designed for LGBTQ older adults: Mary’s House.

Imani Woody, former chair of SAGE for the D.C. area, started working on the project in 2012 to address the issue of LGBTQ discrimination in retirement homes. “I wanted to create a space for all [older adults] to feel comfortable being old,” Woody said.

The new community is part of the 2015

National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative, a SAGE program that helps build LGBTQfriendly living communities for older adults.

Construction of Mary’s House is scheduled to begin in January with the 15 units available for lease by October. The project has already received over a million dollars in funding from the city.

What makes Mary’s House different from other LGBTQ communities across the country is its communal basis. Instead of individual kitchens in each of the 15 suites, there will be a single dining room for all. In addition, a walled garden will allow residents to grow flowers and food together.

“We’re building family in these units,” Woody said.

Smith is excited that she will be able to live with her wife in the same unit at Mary’s House, which other retirement communities wouldn’t necessarily allow.

“People really don’t value what this could mean to our community yet,” Smith said. There’s a great need for communities like Mary’s House, she said. “This is just the first house,” she said. “We’re going to get 20.”

To learn more about SAGECare training for your retirement community, visit sageusa.care.

For more information about Mary’s House, visit maryshousedc.org.

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More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a personal electric vehicle that’s truly unique. They created a battery that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one while pulling the other to turn to either side. This enables great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right up to tables or desks. The controls are right on the steering lever so it’s simple to operate, and its exclusive footrest swings out of the way

when you stand up or sit down. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller.

Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to 275 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 miles on a single charge.

Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your independence and quality of life

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The Zinger Chair is a personal electric vehicle and is not a medical device nor a wheelchair, and has not been submitted to the FDA for review or clearance. Zinger is not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. It is not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2019 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

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Just think of the places you can go: • Shopping • Air Travel • Bus Tours • Restaurants– ride right up to the table! • Around town or just around your house

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

B-15

How ‘solo agers’ can stay happy and safe

By Liz Weston Retirement coach Sara Zeff Geber visited several Northern California assisted living facilities to interview “solo agers” — people, either single or coupled, who don’t have children to help them as they grow older.

At many facilities, she couldn’t find any.

That puzzled her until she realized that adult children are often the ones pushing the move into long-term care facilities.

“Who is it that gets mom or dad to move out of the two-story, single-family home?” said Geber, founder of LifeEncore coaching service in Santa Rosa. “The kids badger and cajole.”

Many people won’t have grown children to look after them as they age, either because they didn’t have kids or the ones they have aren’t available or reliable.

Without that help, they face greater risks of isolation, financial exploitation, malnutrition and other ills, said Geber, author of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers.

For instance, who will let them know when it’s time to stop driving? Who will notice signs of physical or cognitive decline and find appropriate help? Who will pay their bills, vet their financial advisors and monitor their bank accounts? Who will hire and supervise caretakers or research nursing facilities when they can no longer care for themselves?

Thinking about these realities is hard but necessary, especially for boomers in or approaching retirement, Geber said.

The rate of childlessness doubled with boomers, with 20% of women ages 40 to 44 being childless in 2005 compared to about 12% in 1986, when the first boomers hit their 40s, according to Pew Research Center. (The childless rate had declined to 15% by 2014.) “[Solo agers] need to be thinking about how to stay safe and happy and satisfied with their life and connected throughout their life,” she said.

Step 1: Build a community People who don’t expand their social networks can find themselves isolated and lonely as friends die or move closer to their grandkids.

Strengthening ties with relatives and making new friends, particularly younger ones, can counteract that trend. So can cultivating relationships with neighbors, coffee shop buddies and other acquaintances.

A 2014 study found people with more of these “weak tie” relationships reported being happier.

Step 2: Choose your home carefully Your current home may not be the ideal place to grow older, especially if you won’t have many opportunities to socialize after you stop driving.

But not everyone wants or can afford 55-plus developments, assisted living or continuing care retirement communities, which require residents to be healthy when they move in but then offer skilled

nursing or long-term care to those who need it.

Some areas have organized “villages,” nonprofit associations typically created and staffed by residents of a neighborhood to provide services such as transportation and access to vetted service providers.

(See “Villages help residents to age in place” on page B-2.)

“Cohousing,” where people build clusters of homes around shared spaces that encourage interaction, is another model available in some cities. (See the Beacon’s April 2019 Housing issue for more about cohousing.)

Or you could look for “naturally occurring retirement communities” where residents socialize and informally look out for each other. These communities can crop up in a variety of locations, including apartment houses, condos, mobile home parks

and even tightknit neighborhoods of single-family homes.

Other possibilities include sharing a place with other solo agers — “Golden Girls” style — or renting a room to a younger person.

Step 3: Enlist or hire your future guardians Estate planning attorneys recommend all adults have documents in place that allow someone else to make decisions should they become incapacitated. These documents include powers of attorney for finances and for healthcare. (The medical power of attorney may also be called an advance healthcare directive).

Without this paper work, solo agers could become wards of the court with strangers making decisions for them, Geber said.

Finding someone trustworthy to take

over can be a challenge. A responsible younger friend or relative may be one option. In California and Arizona, people can hire licensed fiduciaries for this role, Geber said. Other states don’t have licensing for fiduciaries, she said, but people may be able to contract with professional guardians.

An estate planning attorney or financial planner may be able to put you in touch with the appropriate professional.

Geber urges solo agers to take care of these tasks without delay. A health crisis or other disaster could upend their lives and they won’t have an adult child to help sort things out.

“The biggest problem I see for solo agers and all baby boomers is the denial” of what aging can bring, Geber said. “Open your eyes, do some planning.”

—AP/Nerdwallet

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Protect your home from deed, title theft

By Patricia Mertz Esswein Q: I keep seeing ads for services claiming to protect people from home title fraud or deed theft. Is this even a prevalent problem? Is there an easy way for me to confirm that my title is clean rather than paying for a service?

A: In 2008, the FBI identified “house stealing” as the “latest scam on the block.”

Since then, it has popped up periodically in cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City and Philadelphia.

Is it a growing problem? That’s hard to know because the FBI doesn’t break it out separately in its crime statistics. The American Land Title Association doesn’t have data on the problem, either.

“I suspect that companies that offer title-monitoring service use that [claim] as a marketing strategy,” said Jeremy Yohe, vice president of communications at the association.

The scheme works like this: Fraudsters pick out a house — often a second home, rental, vacation home or vacant house — to “steal.” Using personal information gleaned from the Internet or elsewhere, they assume your identity or claim to represent you.

Armed with forged signatures and fake IDs, they file paperwork with the county’s register of deeds to transfer ownership of your property to themselves or a third party. They then sell the home or borrow against it, stealing your equity.

When they fail to make payments on a loan secured by your property, you could end up in foreclosure or be unable to sell, refinance or pass the home on to heirs.

Home Title Lock is one of the services that says it will monitor your home’s deed 24/7 to prevent title fraud. It costs $15 a month ($150 annually, two years for $298).

DIY title protection is free But you can protect yourself — for free — simply by periodically checking your

property record on the website of your county’s register (or recorder) of deeds.

Look for deeds that you or your attorney didn’t prepare or sign, or loans you didn’t take out, as well as court filings or liens of contractors, subcontractors, real estate brokers or attorneys whose services you didn’t hire.

Make sure the appropriate authorities have the correct mailing address for you or the person who should receive notices about your property.

In your absence, have mail forwarded or ask someone you trust to pick up mail or visit your home. Visit a vacant house periodically to ensure that no one has taken up residence illegally.

You may get clues when title fraud occurs: You stop receiving your water bill or property tax assessment or bill, for example. Utility bills on a vacant property rise. You stop receiving your tenants’ rent payments and learn that they’ve been making the payments to another person and location. You receive payment books or other information from a lender with whom you haven’t done business. Or you find yourself in default on a loan or notified of foreclosure proceedings.

If you experience or find something amiss, notify the register of deeds and local law enforcement.

In New York City, for example, homeowners who think they are victims of deed fraud are urged to act quickly to report fraud to the city’s sheriff.

Get a certified copy of the fraudulent document from the city register’s office; report the crime to the district attorney’s office in the borough where the property is located; and consult an attorney to help confirm ownership of the property.

Legal action known as “quieting the title” may be required to resolve any questions about ownership of the property. © 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER OPS IN MD AND DC Do you have a few free hours? Mary’s Center, a nonprofit in Mary-

land and D.C., is seeking weekday volunteers to talk to lonely older adults, help out clinic front desk staff, or sort clothing donations. To learn more and get involved, please contact Maria-Lynn Okanlawon at (202) 483-8196 or email MOkanlawon@maryscenter.org.

Oct. 10+

MID-DAY MOVIES Get together with friends at an afternoon movie every Thursday at 1 p.m. The next screening is Thurs., Oct. 10 at the Capitol View

Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. After the movie, vote on next week’s choice. For more information, call (202) 645-0755 or email capitolviewlibrary@dc.gov.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

B-17

Home equity can become your safety net

By Eileen Ambrose [Introductory note: A reverse mortgage allows homeowners 62 and over to borrow against the equity in their home while retaining the right to remain in the home as long as they live.

The money can be made available in the form of a lump sum, an annuity or a line of credit with a guaranteed rate of growth, and never needs to be paid back by the homeowner.

The lender will recoup the loan when the homeowner leaves or dies and the home is sold, or the loan can be paid off by heirs if they want to retain the home.]

Reverse mortgages have often been branded as a way for older retirees to raise money only when other sources of retirement income have dried up.

But a growing group of financial planners and academics say that taking out a reverse mortgage early in retirement could help protect your retirement income from stock market volatility and significantly reduce the risk that you’ll run out of money.

Here’s how the strategy, known as a standby reverse mortgage, works: Take out a reverse mortgage line of credit as early as possible — homeowners are eligible at age 62 — and set it aside. If the stock market turns bearish, draw from the line of credit to pay expenses until your portfolio recovers.

Retirees who adopt this strategy should

be able to avoid the pitfalls of the Great Recession, when many seniors were forced to sell stock from severely depressed portfolios to pay the bills.

The standby reverse mortgage strategy can be effective “both from a practical and a behavioral perspective,” said Harold Evensky, a certified financial planner. “If people know they’ve got resources when the market collapses, they don’t panic and sell.”

A traditional home-equity line of credit could also provide a source of emergency cash, but you can’t count on the money being there when you need it, said Shelley Giordano, founder of the Academy for Home Equity in Financial Planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

During the 2008-09 market downturn and credit crunch, many banks froze or closed borrowers’ home-equity lines. “Just when people needed money and liquidity, the banks needed liquidity, too,” Giordano said.

That won’t happen if you have a reverse mortgage line of credit. As long as you meet the terms of the reverse mortgage — you must maintain your home and pay taxes and insurance — your line of credit is guaranteed.

Favorable interest rates now Several factors make a standby reverse

Suites le!

Availab 5

mortgage particularly attractive now.

Homeowners age 62 and older have seen the amount of equity in their homes increase sharply in recent years, to a record $7.14 trillion in the first quarter of 2019, according to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association.

Low interest rates are another plus. Under the terms of the government-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (or HECM, the most popular kind of reverse mortgage), the lower the interest rate, the more home equity you’re allowed to borrow.

Which leads us to one of the most counterintuitive — and potentially lucrative — features of reverse mortgages. Your untapped credit line will increase as if you were paying interest on the balance, even though you don’t have to pay interest on money you don’t tap.

If interest rates increase — and given current low rates, they are almost guaranteed to move higher eventually — your line of credit will grow even faster, Giordano said.

You won’t have to pay back money you tap as long as you remain in your home — a comforting thought if you take money during a bear market. A HECM reverse mortgage is a “non-recourse” loan, which means the amount you or your heirs owe when the home is sold will never exceed the value of the home.

For example, if your loan balance grows to $300,000 and your home is sold for $220,000, you (or your heirs) will never owe more than $220,000. The Federal Housing Administration insurance will reimburse the lender for the difference.

If you have an existing mortgage, you’ll have to use the proceeds from your reverse mortgage to pay that off first.

You have plenty of flexibility: Funds left over can be taken as a line of credit, a lump sum, monthly payments or a combination of those options.

Even if there’s not a lot of money left over, paying off your first mortgage means you won’t have to withdraw money to make mortgage payments during a market downturn, Giordano noted. “A regular mortgage that requires a monthly principal and interest payment can be a real burden, especially when the value of your portfolio is under stress,” she said.

The drawbacks One of the biggest downsides to reverse mortgages is the up-front cost, which is significantly higher than the cost of a traditional home-equity line of credit.

The FHA allows lenders to charge an origination fee equal to the greater of See HOME EQUITY, page B-18

Let’s Talk Assisted Living

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B-18

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Remodel for aging in place with style

By Patricia Mertz Esswein Your kids are successfully launched and, suddenly, you seem to have more disposable income. This could be a good time to tackle the remodeling projects you’ve been putting off.

And while you’re updating your house for style, consider adapting it so you can age in place comfortably.

Studies show that most homeowners age 50 and older say they want to remain in their house as they age, but most U.S. homes weren’t built to accommodate older people’s special needs.

For example, only one-third have basic accessibility features, such as a no-step entry and a bedroom and full bath on the entry level, according to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

If you want to remodel your house to fit

your future needs, begin with an inventory. Walk around your home and note the things that are already difficult for you to navigate.

If you’re in good health and it’s hard to imagine the loss of mobility, think of returning home after surgery on crutches or with a walker or in a wheelchair. Can you get into your house? Can you access your bathroom? In many cases, the answer will be no.

One of the most popular projects is to install a curbless shower, even if it means removing the home’s only bathtub. That has long been a no-no because it could reduce the house’s resale value. But that’s becoming less of a concern for homeowners today, said Dan Bawden, owner of Legal Eagle Contractors and a certified aging-inplace specialist in Houston.

Installing maintenance-free materials is also important, Bawden said. For example,

quartz countertops in the kitchen and bathroom are super-hard, scratch and stain resistant, and never need sealing, unlike natural stone. Quartz is also less expensive than it used to be.

For estimated project costs, the annual Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine is a good resource.

In 2019, the national average cost for a minor kitchen remodel is $22,507, $66,196 for a major remodel, and $131,510 for an upscale project. The average cost for a bathroom remodel is $33,374 for a midrange project that includes design features to fit any age; it’s $64,743 for an upscale remodel.

If you want to add a first-floor master bedroom, the national average cost is $130,986 for a midrange job and $271,470

for an upscale one.

However, if you want to widen a bathroom door, put in grab bars and add a curbless shower, that would typically cost about $11,800 to $14,000 (prices vary by region).

If you’re adding on to your home or building a multistory house, you could prepare for an elevator by stacking 6-footsquare closets. That way, when you’re ready, the contractor can just remove the floor between the closets.

For help designing and constructing larger projects, look for a Certified Agingin-Place Specialist who has completed a program developed by the National Association of Home Builders with AARP. Go to www.nahb.org and search for “CAPS Directory.� Š 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Home equity

And you’ll have to pay third parties for an appraisal, title search and other services. You can pay for some of these costs with the proceeds from your loan, but that will reduce the loan balance. Costs vary, so talk to at least three lenders that offer reverse mortgages, Giordano said.

Because of the up-front costs, it’s rarely a good idea to take out a reverse mortgage unless you expect to stay in your home for

at least five years.

Remember, too, that the loan will come due when the last surviving borrower sells, leaves for more than 12 months due to illness, or dies.

If your heirs want to keep the home, they’ll need to pay off the loan first. That may not sit well with children who expect to inherit the family homestead, so it’s a good idea to discuss your plans with them in advance.

Giordano doesn’t see this as a big barrier to a standby reverse mortgage — especially if it helps you preserve other, more liquid assets. “Kids would much rather split up a big fat portfolio than try to decide how to split up the house,� she said.

Yes, this new phase of life comes with a lot of uncertainties. And financial advisers say that many new retirees often hold back on spending because of all the unknown bills that may await years down the line.

But Keith Bernhardt, vice president of retirement income at Fidelity, said these retirees often discover a happy surprise. “They actually find out that they are in a pretty good spot. They are able to be happy and enjoy retirement,� he said. “It’s not quite as expensive as they thought it was going to be.� Š 2019 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page B-17 $2,500 or 2% of your home’s value (up to the first $200,000), plus 1% of the amount over $200,000, up to a cap of $6,000.

You’ll also be charged an up-front mortgage insurance premium equal to 2% of your home’s appraised value or the FHA lending limit of $726,525, whichever is less.

Regardless of the Weather Outside,

It's Always Cozy Here.

What will it cost?

BEACON BITS

Oct. 19

Stay warm and comfortable, regardless of the season! ,PDJLQH QR PRUH VKRYHOLQJ VQRZ RU GULYLQJ LF\ URDGV IRU JURFHULHV )ULHQGVKLS 7HUUDFH KDV 5($'< )25 029( ,1 12: DSDUWPHQWV WKDW DUH PDLQWHQDQFH IUHH IRU \RX RQ VLWH GLQLQJ RSWLRQV WKDW DOORZ \RX WR EH VDIH DQG VHFXUH LQVLGH UHJDUGOHVV RI WKH ZHDWKHU DQG EHVW RI DOO \RXÂśOO ILQG IULHQGO\ QHLJKERUV DQG D ZLGH YDULHW\ RI DFWLYLWLHV

Learn more about affordable, independent senior living!

Call 202-244-7400 (TRS 711) to schedule a visit.

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VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

End homelessness in Arlington. A volunteer orientation session is planned on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. by the Arlington Street Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistance Network (A-SPAN) at 2020a 14th St. N, Arlington, Va. For more information, email ggoodson@a-span.org.

ASSISTED LIVING

Chevy Chase House (202) 686-5504 5420 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20015 www.meridiansenior.com/chevychasehouse

Come visit the newly renovated Chevy Chase House on Connecticut Avenue in a vibrant NW DC neighborhood.

Enjoy all the city has to offer ; while we provide the services and amenities you may want or need. On site physical and occupational therapy is provided by Legacy Healthcare Services.

Select a spacious apartment starting at a base price of $4,499 for a studio. Join us for lunch and a tour by calling 202-686-5504.

Everyone deserves a great life; continue your next chapter with us at the Chevy Chase House.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

B-19

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Seabury at Springvale Terrace (301) 587-8717

Chesterbrook Residences 703-531-0781

8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.seaburyresources.org/springvaleterrace

2030 Westmoreland Street Falls Church, VA www.chesterbrookres.org

Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace, inside and out. Enjoy the benefits of Independent Living just steps away from downtown Silver Spring. Within blocks, you will have access to the Silver Spring Civic Center, pharmacies, movie theaters, library, shopping, & restaurants.

Come join us to dine and experience one of our chef inspired,delicious meals that are served restaurant style each and every single day. Enjoy a comfortable private studio apartment with care services available. Rents from as low as $1,190 per month with a signed lease before January 1st. A three-course dinner is included.

Additional meals are available. Call Nicole at (301) 587-8717 or email nsterling@seaburyresources.org for info and to schedule a tour.

Make the move to Chesterbrook Residences and enjoy all the freedom that comes with residing in a caring assisted living community! Comfortable one- or two-bedroom apartments feature great views of the wooded area surrounding our neighborhood.

You'll enjoy chef-prepared meals, many on-site activities, outings to great DC area attractions, and relaxing community spaces that feel like home. On-site rehab services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Plus, an on-site wellness center, visiting physicians, and maintenance-free living offer convenience that you can't find at home. Call today to schedule your tour of our nonprofit community!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org You’ll feel it as soon as you drive onto our 220-acre campus of lush pastures and hardwood forest—all that makes independent living at Brooke Grove different. Beautiful cottages in a truly picturesque setting. Maintenance-free living, with more time for what you really want to do. Personalized fitness programs, meals prepared by talented chefs, clubs and social events. Neighbors who share your interests and passions. Come for a visit and see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most soughtafter retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

Sommerset Retirement 703-450-6411 22355 Providence Village Dr. Sterling, VA 20164 www.Sommersetretirement.com At Sommerset Retirement Community, located in the heart of Sterling, Virginia, you’ll experience exceptional independent living at its best, with a comfortable, fulfilling, secure and active lifestyle. Sommerset’s unique amenities include restaurant style dining, housekeeping, 24-hour front desk personnel and private transportation. Enjoy the convenience of being just minutes from medical services, shopping, banking and entertainment.

Sommerset has been voted by the readers of Virginia Living Magazine as one of the best retirement communities in Northern Virginia! Call us or visit our website to request more information or to schedule your tour and complimentary lunch.

REHABILITATION

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Seabury at Friendship Terrace 202-244-7400

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320

4201 Butterworth Place NW Washington, DC 20016 www.friendshipterrace.org

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org

Active, affordable senior living close to stores, restaurants, transportation and entertainment can be found at Seabury at Friendship Terrace! Located in a quiet, tree-lined northwest Washington neighborhood, Friendship Terrace is just two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro station. The community offers affordable senior living with subsidy assistance to those who are eligible, as well as exciting onsite events including performances, lectures, holiday observances, socials, and more. A rooftop deck, greenhouse, library, lounges, and a dining room overlooking an outdoor courtyard are highlights of the community. Your new home awaits. Remarkable in town value!

Applications now being accepted. Call for your tour today!

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

B-20

Housing Options

PULL-OUT & SAVE THIS SPECIAL SECTION

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

DIFFERENT

... because what surrounds you really matters.

tuesday, October 22, 2019 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 p.m.

The meadows assisted living • 1635 hickory knoll road • Sandy Spring, MD 20860

For nearly 70 years, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has built a history of excellence in Montgomery County.

Explore our residential-style homes, gardens and secure walking paths.

Discover our innovative approach and programs including those designed to stimulate memory.

Meet our staff, trained in assisting those with Alzheimer’s and memory loss.

Enjoy our 220-acre campus and our live-in pets.

Please register with Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org by October 20.

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 301-260-2320 or 301-924-2811

www.bgf.org

Independent living Independent living assisted assisted living living rehabi rehabilitation rehabil ta at on long-term care long-term care memory memory support support

ASSISTED LIVING OPEN HOUSE

simply

Say you saw it in the Beacon

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Travel

23

Leisure &

Kitsch and dreams on America’s highway of hope. See story on p. 26.

Visiting European capitals via the Danube

Palaces and gardens Throughout the cruise, each city we ex-

plored was an architectural showcase spanning centuries and styles. We saw so many frescoes, sculptures and mosaics that it seemed we were wandering through outdoor art museums.

Some treasures stood out, particularly the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, built between 1696 and 1712 at the direction of Emperor Leopold I for his son, Joseph I. The emperor’s goal was to replicate the splendor of Versailles in the 1,441-room castle. We agreed that he accomplished that, albeit on a smaller scale.

Another emperor, Franz Joseph, ordered construction of Vienna’s 2.5-mile long grand main boulevard, the Ringstrasse, which is lined by monumental buildings constructed during the last half of the 19th century.

Many of them are ostentatious palaces built by noblemen anxious to display their wealth.

Even more impressive are much larger public structures, like the Parliament, Vienna State Opera and Museum of Fine Arts, which are as well known for their external architecture as for what takes place inside.

There’s so much to experience in Prague that we welcomed the three-night hotel stay there, which our itinerary included. That provided ample time to stroll along its maze of narrow cobbled walkways, find off-thebeaten-track chapels and lovely gardens, and explore quiet neighborhoods that few

PHOTO BY OLENA KOROL/DREAMSTIME.COM

By Victor Block “Now we’re heading toward Durnstein, one of the loveliest towns in Austria,” the voice over the ship’s loudspeaker intoned.

“So many artists have gathered at one spot to portray the magnificent surrounding landscape that it became known as the Painters’ Corner.”

As our vessel continued its journey on the Danube River, my wife and I joined other passengers in oohing and aahing at the beauty of other towns and villages along the way. We passed churches, castles and other historic landmarks, and marveled over scenery that made us wish we had the time, and talent, to capture what we were seeing on canvas.

The Danube flows through the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, past Prague, Vienna and Budapest, three of the grandest capital cities in all of Europe; little Bratislava, the miniscule capital of Slovakia, which replicates much of the splendor in a more compact setting; and smaller towns with their own charms.

We were traveling with Grand Circle Cruise Line, one of several companies that offer voyages along the fabled and fabulous Danube River. We chose the company because of its focus on “Learning and Discovery.”

Riverboats travel the blue Danube River, which divides the Hungarian cities of Buda and Pest. Floating past historic cities and villages on a modest-sized cruise ship that includes land tours as well can be a relaxing and informative way to see Europe.

PHOTO BY ROB HURSON

visitors seek out and find.

Prague Castle, built more than 1,000 years ago, is the largest in Europe. The Castle complex stretches over 18 acres, and encompasses chapels, residential quarters, galleries and gardens. The site served in the distant past as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia. We were told that the Crown Jewels from that time are kept hidden in a secret room.

When we reached Slovakia, we got a glimpse of the massive Bratislava Castle, perched on a rocky hill overlooking the Danube. Erected in 1430, its exterior walls and inside corridors contain fragments from Gothic and Renaissance times.

The white fortress-like structure, with a stocky tower at each corner, houses a museum that traces the history of the area from the Middle Ages to the present, as well as collections documenting the story of Slovak people throughout the world, and coins from the earliest times to today.

Art of all types

Tourists explore Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia, a city that resembles an outdoor art museum. From the four towers of Bratislava Castle (top right), visitors can get a view of Austria and Hungary.

All four capital cities on the itinerary have major museums with world-class art collections certain to attract discerning aficionados. But even those not drawn to classic art will find a number of other intriguing exhibits, like those in Bratislava Castle.

In the charming Czech Republic town

of Ceský Krumlov, museums deal with topics as disparate as the history of torture and marionettes. A museum in Krems, Austria, displays caricatures and cartoon drawings, and among the more than 100 galleries in Budapest, Hungary, we found some devoted to pinball machines, miniature bottles, and Asian art and curiosities.

A sobering historical awareness In Mauthausen, Austria, we visited a very different kind of place, a former Nazi concentration camp. Once known as “The Killing Facilities,” the site includes exhibits with titles like “Murder by Poison Gas” and “Disposal of the corpses.”

Located outside of the Austrian city of Linz, Mauthausen was one of the first large concentration camps built by the Nazis, and the last one to be liberated by American troops. It was populated largely by Jewish prisoners and captured Russian soldiers, along with convicted criminals, “gypsies” and others who were considered to be enemies of the Nazi regime or unfit to represent the ideal Aryan stereotype.

Prisoners toiled in a granite quarry, many literally working to death. They had to carry heavy stones up narrow, steep steps carved out of a hillside that became See DANUBE CRUISE, page 25

24

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

What happens aboard a cruise ship?

By Victor Block One evening during our cruise on the Danube River, my wife and I listened to a fascinating discussion about the cultures and customs in four Eastern European countries. Another presentation dealt with the present-day refugee situations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

During our cruise, time spent aboard the ship turned out to be more — much more — than just a way of getting to our next destination.

Nightly “port talks” described the next day’s adventures along with historic, sightseeing and other information about ports of call in four European countries.

As passengers relaxed on the spacious open-air deck, watching magnificent scenery pass by, a voice over the loudspeaker described the picturesque villages, identified grapes growing in terraced vineyards, and offered mini-history lessons about castles and abbeys that we spotted on hillsides.

growing that fruit. Yet another treat consisted of tasty Eastern European chocolates.

In addition to offering samplings of local fare, meals quickly became a greatly anticipated part of our experience. In terms of creativity, presentation, service and, of course, taste, they were among the high points of each day. My wife Fyllis and I concluded that the floating dining room aboard the Grand Circle Cruise ship well deserved a Michelin star.

We weren’t the only ones to make that decision. A sign-up sheet for passengers requesting copies of recipes of dishes they had just enjoyed was quickly filled after each meal.

The modest-sized offering of souvenirs available on board for purchase were, not surprisingly, representative of whichever country the ship was visiting. Many of them were more attractive, upscale — and therefore more pricey — than the usual tourist trinkets offered at many shops on land.

Onboard humor Meals are a centerpiece Each meal included popular specialties of the region. One day passengers were handed hazelnut cream wafers, a Viennese specialty. On another, we were given apricots from Krems, a town in Austria famous for

Adding to the appeal of the cruise experience was the fact that in addition to being very efficient, attentive and accommodating, members of the staff — kitchen, cabin attendants, tour leaders and the ship’s crew — took delight in

doubling as strand-up comedians.

Come evenings, they became the shipboard entertainment. This turned out be a far cry from the slick, at times homogenized, song-and-dance routines usually associated with mega-ocean cruise ships. Instead, it was casual theater that gave new meaning to the term down-home humor.

For example, karaoke night, rather than serving as a contest to judge the best singers, became an exercise — intended or not — in which group sounded the most hilariously awful. A crew talent show quickly devolved to resemble a bunch of 10-year-olds taking part in their first school production.

The highlight — or, more aptly, hysterical lowlight — for many audience members was a mock performance, and assassination, of the ballet “Swan Lake.”

Suffice it to say that upon its completion, to the extended applause and even lengthier laughter of the audience, the ship’s captain seized the microphone and, in a voice that conveyed both a directive and a plea, announced: “What happens on board, stays on board.”

Our Grand Circle Cruise vessel had a library, whirlpool, sauna, bar and lounge.

The staterooms were surprisingly efficient. The storage space provided plenty

of room for our clothes, each stateroom has its own temperature controls, and choices on the color TV included shipfront views from a bow camera.

One afternoon Fyllis and I accepted an invitation to join other passengers for a tour of the ship’s kitchen. We entered a gleaming stainless-steel, compact environment in which the marvelous meals were prepared.

It had not taken long for Fyllis and me, after first walking up the gangplank, to check out all of the shipboard amenities and activities. During the days that followed, we took advantage of most of them.

As our cruise neared its end, we agreed that Emerson was right when he wrote, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” Even without the fascinating stops along the way, the boat trip itself was a marvelous and memorable experience.

Several cruise lines offer European tours via the Danube. A 10-day Danube River cruise on Viking River Cruises starts at $4,500; an 11-day Danube cruise starts at $4,000 on Avalon Waterways. To find out more about Viking River Cruises, visit Vikingcruises.com; check Avalon Waterways at avalonwaterways.com. For more about Grand Circle Cruises, visit gcl.com.

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you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings. And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Danube cruise From page 23 known as “the stairs of death.” Many who managed to survive that ordeal were shot, gassed or forced outside in winter, doused with cold water and left to freeze to death.

While this very somber experience was far different from introductions to the countries we visited, we agreed with our fellow passengers that these stories must be remembered so they aren’t repeated.

One positive sign of the impact the camp tour has on people were hand-written messages left by visitors in a number of languages. Among those I spotted in English were “Never Again,” “You won’t be forgotten” and simply “Rest in peace.”

Also hopeful was the number of schoolchildren visiting the complex. Their quiet demeanor and solemn expressions, not the norm among teenagers, offered hope that the “Never again” message will be borne out.

Dinner with local families The setting changed completely during a home-hosted dinner in Bratislava, during which we had a basic education in many

things Slovakian, and the family members with whom we dined heard about our lives.

During the ride to our destination, before splitting into small groups assigned to different families, our program director encouraged us not to be shy about asking questions. Taking him at his word, we engaged our hosts in a discussion of politics in their country and ours, compared the education systems, and asked and answered questions about our respective situations regarding immigrants.

At their invitation we strolled through the lavish garden in the back yard, picked and sampled some of the vegetables, and then enjoyed a dinner entrée of chickens which, we learned to our dismay, had been scampering around the fenced yard earlier that day. The lucky rabbits that shared the compound had escaped that fate — at least for the time being.

Grand Circle offers five Danube River cruises, among other destinations. Prices begin at $2,195, including international air fare, all onboard meals with beverages, guided tours with headsets in every port, the use of e-bikes, and gratuities for local guides and drivers. For more information, call 1800-221-2610 or visit gct.com.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 7+

BEACON BITS

Oct. 11

MEET ALEXA AND SIRI

What’s a smart home? Technology can turn on lights, lock doors, play your favorite music and answer questions with encyclopedic knowledge. Tech guru Nick Englund will introduce the latest home automation devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. The free presentation is scheduled for Fri., Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Arlington Mill Senior Center, 909 S. Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va., To register, call (703) 228-7369.

Oct. 11

LEARN TO SCAN PHOTOS & MORE

Preserve and scan your family photos, slides and personal papers by taking “Intro to Digital Preservation” on Fri., Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Tenley Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Library staff will be on hand to help. Registration is required. For more information, call (202) 727-1488.

Oct. 20

CONVERSATION CONCERT

The music ensemble ChorSymphonica will host a bilingual chorus and orchestra concert (with introductions in English and Spanish) featuring Bach’s music on Sun., Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Hughes United Methodist Church, 10700 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, Md. Admission is free; $20 donation suggested. For more information, call (240) 888-1035 or visit chorsymphonica.org.

Oct. 19

FREE BALLET

Watch a free performance by the Washington School of Ballet in Southeast D.C. Taste of the Harvest is a community event celebrating the harvest of a local farm. Enjoy a meal outside, with activities inside the farm and live performances. Students from The Washington School of Ballet’s SE campus at THEARC will perform and faculty will lead a fun dance fitness class on Sat., Oct. 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. THEARC is located at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 889-5901.

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS

If you want to learn more about social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, check out a free course for adults over 55. The course begins on Mon., Oct. 7 from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, Md. Textbooks and iPads will be provided. For more info or to enroll, email mocoinfo@seniorplanet.org or call (240) 773-9420.

Oct. 7

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VOLUNTEERING IS VITAL

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center is scheduled to hold a free presentation called “50+: Vital Living through Volunteering” at the Twinbrook Public Library, 202 Meadow Hall Dr., Rockville, Md. on Mon., Oct. 7 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn about the 50+ Volunteer Network that provides help in finding the right volunteer opportunities. For details, call (240) 777-0240.

MURDER AT MT. HOPE, March 10 ........................................................................................$125pp A truly interactive, culinary who-done-it experience! Enjoy your 4-course luncheon in a Victorian Mansion while trying to “Solve the Crime”!

AMERICAN CANYONLANDS, May 14 – 21 .........................................................................$3545pp

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Price based on double occupancy

NEW ORLEANS, Mar 21 – 29 ..........................................................................................$1449pp Highlights include Motorcoach, Guided tour of New Orleans, French Quarter, Houmas House Plantation, 12 meals & MORE!

Price based on double occupancy

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

A journey in classic cars down Route 66 vapor lock whenever it got hot — fantasized often about taking the classic American road trip down the storied route.

Finally, just this past summer, that teenager — now a cooler, better-looking geezer (whose delusions are fueled by age) — had an opportunity to fulfill that fantasy on a Route 66 road trip hosted by a company called Two Lane America.

For 12 days, my wife and I traveled in a caravan of six cars, including a vintage 1966 Corvette, from Chicago to the route’s

terminus on Santa Monica Pier. Instead of driving our own car, as most participants do, my wife and I rode along with the owner of the company and his father in the lead van. We also got a lift from other drivers in the caravan to get their perspective on the trip and on America.

In his classic novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck called Route 66 the Mother At quirky roadside attractions like the 1960s Motel ShawRoad because it was an ford and Restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Route 66 escape route for desper- travelers can get a colorful impression of America. ate migrants heading west in search of jobs and new lives. The Model T made it possi- houses flying large American flags, and eating huge portions of grits, biscuits with ble; the Depression made it necessary.

For Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl in the gravy and red meat in various forms.

It wasn’t all light-hearted fun and rose1930s for the promised land of California, former soldiers heading west after the end colored nostalgia for a bygone era, though. of WWII, and beatniks and hippies search- We made at least one sobering stop along ing for enlightenment, artistic freedom the way: the Oklahoma City Memorial for and a joint in the 50s and 60s — Route 66 the 168 victims of the terrorist bombing of has been a highway of hope for anyone the Murrah Federal Building in 1995, including 19 young children. pursuing a better life.

The memorial is part of our American Ultimately, this trip gave me an appreciation for the American ethos. In many story, too. It was impossible to get through ways, Route 66 is symbolic of the Ameri- the museum with a dry eye, and I left with can character — a metaphor for the mag- a sense of foreboding that this was probanetic pull of the frontier and the freedom bly not the last such memorial we will ever have to build. and adventure of the open road.

And not just Americans get this. We ran into many foreign tourists, including a mo- A life-changing journey On the ninth day of the trip, we visited torcycle club from Hong Kong and another from Germany making their thunder- the Mineshaft Tavern, the oldest bar in New Mexico, in the former ghost town and ous way along the Mother Road. now booming tourist destination of Madrid, about 30 miles from Santa Fe. More than just roadside kitsch As I sat at the bar, I recalled my own jourAs we rolled down the highway day after day, layers of experience unfolded like the ney on the highway of dreams 44 years ago.

Most of my pilgrimage from Allentown, sedimentary strata of an archeological dig.

The top layer consisted of the kitschy, Pennsylvania to Venice, California was on iconic sites we saw along the way: old din- Interstate I-40, not Route 66 (though the ers, gas stations, motels, vintage cars, mu- routes often overlapped), and I wasn’t fleeseums, architectural landmarks and col- ing the Dust Bowl. I was fleeing my own personal depression brought on by losing lections of memorabilia.

We saw lots of oddities, roadside attrac- my job, my girlfriend and the publishing tions and noteworthy sites, including Mick- contract for my first book, all in the space ey Mantle’s childhood home, the Cadillac of just a few months.

During that trip, I paused for two Ranch, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and a huge statue of the Muffler Man, now hold- months to visit a friend in Santa Fe and ing a gigantic hot dog in place of the muffler. help him fix up a dilapidated miner’s shack Roadside Americana is just what you’d in Madrid. We usually ended our workdays expect on Route 66, but we also saw anoth- at the bar in the Mineshaft. That was the er layer of the country during our journey summer my luck turned around.

Sitting at that same bar, I understood at — small-town middle America, Main Street USA, that vast land between the a deep, personal level what Route 66 meant coasts that those of us who don’t live there for the millions of seekers and dreamers sometimes condescendingly refer to as who made their way west on that narrow, dusty road. I only hope that their dreams “flyover country.”

It was an eye opener. We visited places I worked out as well as mine.

Two Lane America’s 13-day tours of would have otherwise overlooked that filled Route 66 start at $2,399 per person. For in the picture of what the U.S. is all about.

For almost two weeks I was immersed more information, visit twolanetours.com. in the Heartland, passing through small More photos are on Don’s website, adventowns with friendly people and stately turetransformations.com.

PHOTO BY THOMAS HAWK

By Don Mankin In the 1940s, everyone was humming about how to “get your kicks on Route 66,” thanks to Nat King Cole and his hit.

In the 1960s, the road fed the fevered imagination of an entire generation due to the two cool, good-looking guys in their hot Corvette who starred in the TV show “Route 66” during those years.

Back in the day, yours truly — a decidedly uncool, homely teenager driving a vomit-green ‘54 Pontiac that seized up with

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

27

All aboard for fall foliage trips by train locomotives and heritage equipment on the famous narrow-gauge route. All-day and short trips.

—Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad operates several mountain routes from terminals in Cass, Durbin, or Options aboard Amtrak Elkins West Virginia (mounAmtrak’s top fall foliage trip tainrailwv.com/#), using a is the New York-Montreal mix of diesel and steam Adirondack, especially the power. All-day and short trips. segment between Albany and —Essex Steam Train (esMontreal through the valley sexsteamtrain. com), Essex, that separates the Adiron- TRAVEL TIPS Connecticut, operates trips dacks and the Green Moun- By Ed Perkins through the Connecticut tains. Amtrak usually puts its River Valley, with optional one East Coast full-length dome car on al- riverboat in one direction. Short trips. ternate trips north of Albany.

—Grand Canyon Railway (thetrain.com), Other trips with good fall foliage view- Williams, Arizona, runs excursions from ing during at least part of the trip include Williams (Amtrak connection) to the South the Chicago-Emeryville California Zephyr, Rim of Grand Canyon, through some nice between Denver and Salt Lake City; the aspen stands. All-day trips.

Chicago-Washington Capitol Limited, be—Great Smoky Mountains Railroad tween Pittsburgh and Washington; the (gsmr.com), Bryson City, North Carolina, Chicago-New York Cardinal, between operates diesel and steam excursions on Cincinnati and Washington; the New York- 53 miles of track through one of the naRutland Ethan Allen Express, between Al- tion’s most scenic areas. All-day and short bany and Rutland; the Boston-Chicago trips.

Lake Shore Limited, between Albany and —Green Mountain Railroad (railsWorcester; the New York-Pittsburgh Penn- vt.com), Burlington, Vermont, runs besylvanian, between Harrisburg and Pitts- tween Burlington and Rockingham burgh; and the St Albans-Washington Ver- through the Green Mountains. Short trips. monter, between St. Albans and Spring—Mount Hood Railroad (mthoodrr. field. com), Hood River, Oregon, operates diesel service along the spectacular Columbia Tourist trains River Gorge. Short trips.

Dozens of tourist train systems around —Mount Washington Cog Railway the country run fall foliage trips, including (thecog.com), Bretton Woods, New Hampboth regular runs through wooded areas shire, operates both steam and diesel trips and special excursions. Some operate on one of the country’s best-known tourist daily; most of those that run less frequent- railways. Short trips. ly offer special fall foliage excursions.

—Napa Valley Wine Train (winetrain.

Many include lunch or dinner dining car com), Napa, California, operates wine, lunch, service. Many operate vintage steam engines on some or all trips.

Here are some options generally favored by the travel press: —Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (brscenic. com), Blue Ridge, Georgia, operates through the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia and Tennessee. Short trips.

—Colebrookdale Railroad, in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, (colebrookdalerailroad.com) operates through the “secret valley” in Berks County. Short trips.

—Combres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (cumbrestoltec.com), crisscrosses the Colorado-New Mexico border with vintage steam equipment. All-day trips.

—Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (cvsr.org), Peninsula, Ohio, runs between Akron and Independence, Ohio, through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Short trips.

—Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (durangotrain.com), operates through the Rocky Mountains with steam

By Ed Perkins Leaf peeping is traditionally a windshield tourism activity, but lots of folks believe that a train ride is even better. Fortunately, you have lots of options.

To subscribe, see page 41.

and dinner excursions on an old line that runs right up the center of California’s most famous wine region. Short trips.

—Reading Blue Mountain & Northern (rbmnrr.com), Reading, Pennsylvania, operates fall foliage excursions on two subsidiary lines: The Reading and Northern, from Pottsville to Jim Thorpe, with stream or diesel options, and the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. All-day and short trips.

—Tennessee Central Railway Museum (tcry.org), Nashville, Tennessee, operates excursions with diesel and occasional steam power over an 84-mile stretch of track through the Tennessee mountains.

All-day trip.

Package tours Package tours featuring fall foliage are also available, and most last for a week or more.

Vacations by Rail (vacationsbyrail.com) runs a handful of fall foliage excursions, mostly in New England and the Appalachians. These tours stop at leading tourist railroads but involve very little intercity rail travel.

Great Rail Journeys (greatrail.com/us/holiday-destinations/north-america) runs three tour options featuring fall colors in New England. As with Vacations by Rail, most of the travel is by tour bus.

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or visit his website, rail-guru.com. © Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Style Arts &

Be a tourist in your own city. See our list of local guidebooks on p. 34.

These flawed, funny cabbies have character The nine characters in the play are flawed but funny, making decisions that complicate their lives and often the lives of those closest to them. Yet their spirit comes through as they try to deal with one another and with themselves.

Each of the characters — and they are real characters — is driven by a mini-drama, some more dark and brooding than others.

But their histories are often softened by a deep and comic self-awareness.

The lively, swinging production, under the expert directorial hand of Ruben Santiago-Hudson, runs two-and-a-half hours with an intermission.

Life on the other side Set in a slightly rundown, homey hangout-office, the play centers around hard times, both personal and economic, as cab drivers serve black residents in Pittsburgh neighborhoods where regular cab companies fear to go.

The unlicensed “gypsy” cab station is run

by Becker (an upright but damaged Steven Anthony Jones). Its drivers include Youngblood (Amiri Cheatom), a young Vietnam vet who can be as charming as he can be devi-

OPENING NOVEMBER 8

410-730-8311

TobysDinnerTheatre.com

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

By Robert Friedman August Wilson’s play Jitney takes Arena Stage audiences on a hilarious, heartfelt, soul-searing, tragic and deeply human ride through life, as lived by the drivers, and other frequenters, of an unlicensed cab station in the African-American Pittsburgh Hill District in 1977.

Jitney is the eighth play in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Wilson’s cycle of 10 plays about the lives of African Americans in 20th-century Pittsburgh. Among the playwright’s now-acknowledged theater masterpieces are Gem of the Ocean, Fences and The Piano Lesson, the latter two winning Pulitzer Prizes.

Jitney was written in 1979 and spent nearly a year off-Broadway 20 years later.

It didn’t make it to Broadway itself until 2017, when it won a Tony for best revival.

One of the play’s main themes is the looming gentrification of the area that will shut down businesses, including the “gypsy” cab location, forcing people out of their homes and workplaces in the name of development. Some may see similarities to the current situation in some neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.

2020 SUBSCRIPTIONS

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On sale through December 31, 2019

Due to the nature of theatrical bookings, all shows and dates are subject to change. • Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD

In August Wilson’s Jitney, Becker (Steven Anthony Jones), the patriarchal manager of a Pittsburgh jitney station, appeals to Youngblood (Amari Cheatham), a Vietnam veteran and cab driver. The play runs at Arena Stage through Oct. 20.

ous; Turnbo (Ray Anthony Thomas), an older, potentially violent complainer about the 1970s youth of “today;” Doub (Keith Randolph Smith), a mild-mannered veteran of the Korean War who is accepting of most other people and their situations; and Fielding (Anthony Chisholm), a onetime tailor to

the stars — he mentions once making suits for singer Billy Eckstine — whose battles with the bottle threaten his job.

Also making themselves emphatically known with their excellent acting are Rena See JITNEY, page 31

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

October/ November Events

Noseda conducts a danceinspired program Bar-Josef plays Piazzolla Tango. Ballet. Viennese waltz. Music and dance inspire each other and the audience in this diverse program of classical works connecting the two art forms. Noseda conducts Ellington’s jazz interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s lush ballet score, as well as one of Piazzolla’s most popular works, the tango-inspired Four Seasons of Buenos Aires with NSO Concertmaster Nurit Bar-Josef.

November 7–9 | Concert Hall

Noseda conducts Tristan and Isolde—Act II with Gould and Goerke Don’t miss your first chance to witness Noseda, one of the world’s leading opera conductors, and the NSO perform the stunning music from Tristan and Isolde, Wagner’s story of young lovers undone. A revolutionary work demanding singers of herculean vocal power, Act II of Tristan and Isolde features two masters of Wagnerian repertoire: tenor Stephen Gould and soprano Christine Goerke.

November 13–15 | Concert Hall

Fleming and Gilfry in an NSO co-commission Noseda conducts Also sprach Zarathustra Carmina Burana

NSO Pops: Nat King Cole at 100

“O Fortuna!” Carmina Burana’s towering first movement rolls in like thunder, announcing a celebration of spring, the humor of life, and the joys and sorrows of love.

Under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, the Orchestra is joined by two choruses and three remarkable singers for a symphonic experience sacred and profane.

Celebrate the centennial of the late, great American music legend with a concert showcasing his seminal talents as a vocalist, pianist, and trailblazing icon. Conductor Michael Butterman leads the NSO and an all-star band in timeless songs with a stellar cast of vocalists including Patti Austin, Eric Benét, Freddy Cole, Dulé Hill, and BeBe Winans.

Music direction by Grammy® Award-winning drummer, composer, and bandleader Terri Lyne Carrington.

October 3–5 | Concert Hall

Janowski conducts Bruckner’s Seventh Steinbacher plays Mozart Violinist Arabella Steinbacher returns to the Concert Hall to once again delight audiences in a dynamic performance of Mozart’s demanding Violin Concerto No. 4. Esteemed conductor Marek Janowski leads the program, which also includes Bruckner’s most celebrated symphony, the dramatic Seventh.

October 10–12 | Concert Hall

Kennedy-Center.org

October 17–19 | Concert Hall

Urbański conducts Tchaikovsky’s Fourth De la Salle plays Chopin In his much-anticipated return to the NSO, electrifying young conductor Krzysztof Urbański unleashes the full force of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is performed by young French pianist Lise de la Salle, whose playing inspired a Washington Post critic to write, “For much of the concert, the audience had to remember to breathe... the exhilaration didn’t let up for a second until her hands came off the keyboard.”

November 21–23 | Concert Hall

NSO Pops: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ in Concert Year Five begins! Between crushing on Cho Chang, studying for his O.W.L.s, and the ever-growing number of detentions from Professor Umbridge™, Harry Potter™ must find the time to discover the secret of his terrible nightmares. Experience the film in HD on a giant screen with composer Nicholas Hooper’s score played live by the NSO. HARRY POTTER characters, names, and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros.

Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

October 31–November 2 | Concert Hall

November 29–December 1 | Concert Hall

Groups call (202) 416-8400

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales /\e <ßPR Na ! # %"!

The Blue Series is sponsored byUnited Technologies Corporation.

AARP is the Presenting Sponsor of the NSO Pops Season.

(202) 467-4600 The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed

by Roger and Victoria Sant.

Soprano Renée Fleming returns with Grammy®nominated baritone Rod Gilfry for the Thu. and Sat. concerts under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda for the D.C. premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts’s Brightness of Light, an NSO co-commission inspired by the letters between iconic American artist Georgia O’Keeffe and her husband, photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

The Friday concert features Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, “Prague.” Each program comes to a rapturous close with Also sprach Zarathustra, Strauss’s epic showpiece immortalized in pop culture by Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Mozart meets Maurice Sendak and a little magic.

The Magic Flute Photo by Cory Weaver

November 2–23 | Opera House Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder Sung in English with projected English titles.

Casting available at Kennedy-Center.org/wno

Kennedy-Center.org

Groups call (202) 416-8400

(202) 467-4600

Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of WNO.

WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales /\e <ßPR Na ! # %"!

WNO’s Presenting Sponsor

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Jitney From page 28 (Nija Okoru), Youngblood’s longtime girlfriend and mother of their son, who finally manages to bring out the more humane side of her partner; Shealy (Harvey Blanks), a snazzy numbers-runner who uses the station’s phone to collect his clients’ hopes and money; and Philmore (Brian D. Coates), a faithful hotel doorman and customer of the gypsy cab drivers he relies on to get him to work whenever his girlfriend throws him out of the house, which is often.

The rocky relationship between Becker and his son, Booster (Francoise Battiste), provides one of the deepest and saddest emotional moments of the comedy-drama.

Booster, just released from prison, is still locked up psychologically. The son killed a woman he loved, and his sentence to the electric chair (before a reprieve) killed his mother, leading to a life of damnation be-

tween father and son.

While the characters and their stories explore to one degree or another the turbulent relationships between father and son, husband and wife, and race in America, its strongest suit is the serio-comic relationships that are forever needed to keep people sane in the spinning world.

Joseph P. Salasovich created the justright period costumes (oversized collars and shades of brown and black), and David Gallo designed a wonderfully homey yet funky set, complete with a worn linoleum floor.

Director Santiago-Hudson also steered many of the current cast on stage during the play’s Broadway run. He is a Tony Award winning actor as well, for his role in Wilson’s Seven Guitars.

Though Jitney is about certain people in a certain time and place, the play is universal and timeless in its humor, understanding and suggestion of potential redemption

for the all-too-human race.

The play will run through October 20 at Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SE, Washington,

D.C. For tickets and a performance schedule, call the box office at (202) 488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 8

LECTURE SERIES Historian C. R. Gibbs will present a discussion on Tangled Web:

Race, Urban Renewal, & Gentrification in the Nation’s Capital on Tues., Oct. 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Prince George’s County Library’s Greenbelt Branch as part of the Fall 2019 African History and Culture Lecture Series. Call (301) 3455800 for more details or check https://pgcmls.info/event/2932105.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 31+

THROWBACK THURSDAYS Play bingo with friends, return to the games and songs you

remember and join in new activities like karaoke on Thurs., Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. at the Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave., Washington, D.C. The program is recommended for older adults. For details, call (202) 645- 0755 or email capitolviewlibrary@dc.gov.

2020 SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW ON SALE HURRY! Quanities are Limited!

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ECIAL until OCT . 15 -- $190

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Order by Mail: Fill out and return with payment to: Toby’s Dinner Th eatre 5900 Symphony Woods Road • Co lumbia, MD 2104 Order by Phone: 4 410-730-8311 or 1-800-88TOBY Order Online: To S bysDinnerTheat re.com

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Due to the nature of theatrical bookings, all shows and dates are subject to change. • Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Photo of Cade Martin

His deadliest enemy is his jealous heart.

Otello October 26–November 16 | Opera House Music by Giuseppe Verdi / Libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare’s Othello Sung in Italian with projected English titles.

Casting available at Kennedy-Center.org/wno

Kennedy-Center.org

Groups call (202) 416-8400

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales /\e <ßPR Na ! # %"!

WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.

Generous support for WNO Italian Opera is provided by Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello.

WNO’s Presenting Sponsor

Additional support for Otello is provided by the Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts and the Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation, Inc

(202) 467-4600

Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of WNO.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Stand-up From page 1 judges, 15 attorneys, and former Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman.”

One of the most senior stand-up comedians to have appeared at the club is Sally Craig (stage name: Sally Love). Craig, a longtime Washington, D.C. resident and a widow, started doing standup this January, not long after celebrating her 75th birthday.

What led her to the stage?

“A year ago, I took a friend who had been through a sad time to a stand-up show to cheer her up, and it just came upon me: I want to do stand-up!

“I like to make people laugh. I loved Lucille Ball, Sid Caesar, Ernie Kovacs, Carol Burnett, all the TV greats,” Craig added.

She only got the confidence to actually prepare a stand-up routine after taking a comedy writing class last summer with Alan Zweibal, an early writer for Saturday Night Live.

She recently appeared at the Columbia club, where she told the audience all about her current “social life.”

It’s fine and dandy she said, if she meets a guy with conditions such as sleep apnea, macular degeneration and even erectile dysfunction, as long “as he’s not a Yankee fan or goes full Anthony Weiner on me.”

Craig also performed on June 8 at the Wooly Mammoth Theater in downtown D.C. Hearing the laughter from the crowd “was certainly intoxicating,” she said.

Why can’t you explain puns to kleptomaniacs? They always take things literally.

If not an addiction, stand-up has certainly become “a passion” for Ken Watter, who lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland. When he’s not making them roll in the aisles at the Columbia club, he’s figuring out their finances as a CPA. Watter took to the stand-up stage in 2007, following his divorce. “I went into walk-in

comedy shows in the area, looking for laughs,” he said. “A lot of the stand-ups were horrible.

“I decided, ‘I can do that.’ When I started out, I was horrible, too.”

Then came classes at the famous DC Improv on Connecticut Avenue south of Dupont Circle, whose stage has hosted performances since 1992 by the likes of Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres and Jerry Seinfeld, among other headliners.

“I learned how really to do stand-up there, from holding audiences to constructing jokes,” Watter said.

Becoming a stand-up comedian has helped him in his CPA business, Watter said. “Now, I can actually make people laugh when I talk to them about the IRS,” he said.

Benjamin Franklin may have discovered electricity, but the man who invented the meter made all the money. — Johnny Carson Another comedian who hasn’t quit his day job is Bob Jeffers, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Like Watter, Jeffers also started doing stand-up later in life — a year ago, when he reached his 60th birthday. He did it, he said, “to fulfill an item on my bucket list. I’m not getting any younger, I told myself. Let me try it.”

The stand-up urge started when he was about seven years old, listening to Bill Cosby records. Now that he’s finally living his dream, Jeffers said he lives “a double life. I sell long-term care insurance by day, then I step into a phone booth at night and come out with a tight-fitting outfit with the letter C (for Comedian) on it.”

Why did the belt go to jail? Because it held up a pair of pants. — Laffy Taffy Errol Krass is a recent retiree who discovered a new life on the stand-up stages in the area. Krass, 68, who has been “telling jokes my whole life,” is also a recent graduate of comedy courses at DC Improv.

After retiring as a patent lawyer two years ago, the longtime Olney resident decided to start telling his jokes, if not for a living, at least for some extra change. His first stage appearance was in a Columbia warehouse, where Madzel was putting on his first comedy shows.

So far Krass has picked up a few tricks, he said. “For instance, the rule of three — it’s always funnier when a rabbi, a priest and a minister enter some place rather than just two of them.”

Krass, a Brooklyn-bred comedian, says his comedy has its roots “in the Borscht Belt,” the nickname given to a group of resorts located in New York’s Catskill Mountains that had their heyday during the 1940s and 50s.

33

The hotels catered to New York City Jews, and featured comedians such as Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar and Henny Youngman.

Krass said a lot of his routine for the older crowd in the audience is also geared to early TV shows, such as the Western Have Gun, Will Travel.

“I tell the audience, if they know of other possible gigs for me, ‘Have large prostate, will travel.’”

Tickets for Try It Out Comedy Showcase are $12 ($15 at the door) and are available at EventBrite.com. The next performance will take place on Nov. 4 at 18th & 21st Restaurant, 10980 Grantchester Way, #110, Columbia, Maryland. For more information or a schedule, call (443) 745-0332.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 12

HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION

The U.S. Army Band Blues Latin Music Ensemble presents a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sat., Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Arlington Mill Community Center, 909 S Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va. For more information about this free event, visit usarmyband.com.

Oct. 2+

FREE WEDNESDAY MOVIES

Catch free movies on the first Wednesday of every month at ArcLight Cinema at Westfield Montgomery through November 6.

Stop by for a 10 a.m. film and get police safety tips to prevent crimes that target older adults. Tom Hanks stars in Big on Oct. 2 and Forrest Gump on Nov. 6. The theater is located at 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda, Md. For more information, contact Montgomery County Police at (240) 773-6727 or Dana.Stroman@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Books to enhance your D.C. sightseeing Fall is the time of year to enjoy the com- pages. The photographs by Baltimorean parative solitude from the hordes of sum- John Dean enliven the guide.

When Seiger includes a famer tourists. Take a respite miliar Smithsonian museum, from the crowds to do some she highlights a specific item sightseeing on your own or attraction and its location home turf. inside the vast venue.

111 Places in WashingFor example, have you seen ton That You Must Not Miss, the fragment of wood from the

by Andrea Seiger, photooriginal Wright Flyer that was graphs by John Dean, 240 taken to the moon? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the pages, Emons Publishers Air & Space Museum. Free paperback, 2018 For those of us who have public tours of the National Public Radio studios (site numvisited all the familiar tourist THE ber 75) must be reserved in adattractions in the District, this BIBLIOPHILE By Dinah Rokach guidebook is heaven-sent. vance online, as walk-ins are not allowed.

Quirky, esoteric, fascinating At the back of the book, all entries are and off-the-beaten-track destinations, historic oddities, fun food, drink and enter- located on a three-page full-color map â&#x20AC;&#x201D; tainment venues are well represented the better to plan your outings. Discover among the 111 sites highlighted in this hidden treasures in a place you thought you knew well. book.

The Senate: An Enduring FoundaEach entry is represented by one page of text with a delightful color photograph tion of Democracy, by C-SPAN, 128 opposite the prose. Read the captions for pages, C-SPAN Publication softcover, websites, directions via mass transit, 2019 This visually arresting large-format hours and additional suggestions for book with more than 130 color photoplaces to visit nearby.

Seiger has lived in D.C. for three graphs captures, in words and pictures, decades. Her knowledge as a professional the ornate interior of the Senate side of the in the tour and hospitality business is on U.S. Capitol. prominent display throughout these Described in historical context and

through the camera lens are the renowned architects, extraordinary artists and craftsmen who created and continue to maintain the frescoes, statues, ceilings, walls, lunettes, carvings, upholstery, furniture and paintings. Flip through this book to gain access to rooms and corridors that are not accessible to tourists.

Turn the pages of The Senate and linger over photographs of the Old Senate Chamber and the Old Supreme Court Chamber.

Pore over the ornate carvings of the exterior of the Senate side of the Capitol and revel in the colorful flora and fauna of the interior Brumidi Corridors.

The website visitthecapitol.gov has details about reserved tours, special events and obtaining gallery tickets. All are free.

The Senate book can only be purchased online at c-spanstore.org.

A Literary Guide to Washington, DC: Walking in the Footsteps of American Writers from Francis Scott Key to Zora Neale Hurston, by Kim Roberts, 240 pages, University of Virginia Press paperback, 2018 District resident Kim Roberts, a poet and literary historian, has compiled this unique guide that can expand your mind as you exercise your body. Follow four walking tours to the residences and places of interest in the lives and times of D.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

W A K E

greatest writers, their spouses and social acquaintances.

Learn about the 21 writers selected â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some obscure and some you may not have realized lived in the District. Many earned their livelihoods as educators, soldiers, diplomats and civil servants.

The timespan covered in the guide is from the start of the 19th century through 1930, and excerpts of poetry and prose are included. The rich heritage of the local African American literary scene is explored in depth.

In addition to the walking tours, biographical sketches and photographs of the prominent writers are included. Maps also feature the closest Metro stations.

Trouble in Lafayette Square: Assassination, Protest & Murder at the White House, by Gil Klein, 144 pages, The History Press paperback, 2018 Veteran journalist and Arlington resident Gil Klein recounts the incidents that have occurred in the park across the street from the White House over the years.

Thomas Jefferson opened the sevenacre expanse to the public; it had originally been within the grounds of the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House.

Many notable and infamous citizens See BIBILOPHILE, page 36

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Lise de la Salle

Manfred Honeck

Akiko Suwanai

Coffee Concerts 6 Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

Our late-morning Coffee Concerts on select Fridays are more popular than ever! Skip the rush hour traffic and gather with friends beforehand for coffee and continental breakfast items available for purchase in our casual roof-level KC Café. Then head down to the Concert Hall to experience some of your favorite classical works together!

Janowski conducts Bruckner’s Seventh Steinbacher plays Mozart Violinist Arabella Steinbacher returns to the Concert Hall to once again delight audiences in a dynamic performance of Mozart’s demanding Violin Concerto No. 4. Esteemed conductor Marek Janowski leads the program, which also includes Bruckner’s most celebrated symphony, the dramatic Seventh.

October 11 | Concert Hall

Urbański conducts Tchaikovsky’s Fourth De la Salle plays Chopin In his much-anticipated return to the NSO, electrifying young conductor Krzysztof Urbański unleashes the full force of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is performed by young French pianist Lise de la Salle, whose playing inspired a Washington Post critic to write, “For much of the concert, the audience had to remember to breathe... the exhilaration didn’t let up for a second until her hands came off the keyboard.”

November 1 | Concert Hall

Lugansky plays Mozart Honeck conducts Dvořák

Kozhukhin plays Grieg’s Piano Concerto

Named 2018 Artist of the Year by the International Classical Music Awards, Manfred Honeck returns to conduct Resurrexit, a piece from Mason Bates, the Kennedy Center’s Composer-in-Residence and Musical America’s 2018 Composer of the Year. Nikolai Lugansky, praised by the New York Times for his “remarkable artistry,” performs Mozart’s stormy Piano Concerto No. 24. The program concludes with Dvořák’s Eighth, a joyous symphony influenced by the composer’s great love for traditional Bohemian music.

Following his celebrated NSO debut last season, acclaimed Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin returns to perform one of the best-loved concertos of all time, Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Conducted by incoming Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Gustavo Gimeno, the program also includes Shostakovich’s brilliant Symphony No. 1. Written at the age of eighteen, the work is already characteristic of Shostakovich’s trademark style: unafraid, exuberant, and delightfully dramatic.

April 3 | Concert Hall

January 31 | Concert Hall

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto The youngest-ever winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Akiko Suwanai joins Noseda for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, a work radiating Russian spirit. Thursday and Saturday’s program concludes with Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements and Friday’s performance concludes with Dvořák’s “New World Symphony,” two pieces that evoke the Russian and Czech composers’ enthusiastic immersion into American culture.

February 28 | Concert Hall

Kennedy-Center.org

Groups call (202) 416-8400

(202) 467-4600

Tickets from $15

The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by Roger and Victoria Sant.

The Blue Series is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation.

Beethoven at 250: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 Our tribute begins with an exciting concert featuring Beethoven’s Third Symphony, “Eroica,” a major turning point in musical history. The work illustrates the composer’s own spiritual quest towards heroism as he coped with deafness and found new triumph in his art and life. Also on the program are Beethoven’s First Symphony and his Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, a popular ballet inspired by another hero whose suffering ultimately helped humankind, the rebellious Greek Titan who stole fire from the Gods to give to mortals.

May 29 | Concert Hall

For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales /\e <ßPR Na ! # %"!

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Building bridges between generations

By Eleanor Laise Want to live forever? Marc Freedman can help.

No, he’s not one of the Silicon Valley “immortalists” seeking to prolong human life spans. He’s the chief executive officer of Encore.org, an organization that aims to help older Americans make meaningful social contributions and find purpose in later life.

In his new book, How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations (Public Affairs, $27), Freedman demonstrates how programs that build bridges between the generations benefit society as a whole and help older people leave a lasting legacy.

In this conversation with Eleanor Laise, senior editor of Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, Freedman reflects on his own aging process and the promise he sees in building intergenerational bonds.

Q: You’ve worked for many years to connect the generations. What prompt-

ed you to write this book now?

Some of it was crossing this personal Rubicon of turning 60 and thinking about what my priorities should be for the years ahead.

But also, as a society we’re crossing a Rubicon. For the first time in America, we have more people over 60 than under 18. And the only way to successfully navigate this demographic transition, I’m convinced, is older people focusing on the well-being of the next generation.

We need to spend less time trying to be young and more time trying to be there for those who actually are.

Q: You’re critical of efforts by some ultra-wealthy individuals to literally live forever. Can you talk about the type of immortality you’re advocating?

Our obsession over life extension is coming at the expense of why we want to live forever. In 1963, [President Kennedy] said, we’ve added “years to life,” and it’s

time to add “life to those years.”

Since then, we’ve added two months a year to the American life span, but we’ve really struggled to understand what all those extra years could mean to us. Society is awash with all this talent and wisdom and experience.

Some have argued the longevity revolution is a disaster in the making, that we’re becoming a society where old and young are at each other’s throats.

But I think if we follow our natural instincts and the true route to happiness, which is investing in younger generations, we can make the most of the extra years in our lives.

Q: Overall, How to Live Forever is a very upbeat book, but one of the more depressing points you make is that JFK’s plans for mobilizing older people to serve society “would be groundbreaking if unveiled today.” Why have we been so slow to change as a society?

This is the most vexing question for me: Why is it taking so long?

I think we have two major barriers keeping us from realizing the potential of the longevity revolution. One is the misguided conception of later life as a time for disengagement — “greying as playing” and recapturing our lost youth.

The second problem is the peril of age segregation. We’ve organized society so the generations have very little contact in their daily lives — in education, the workplace, in housing.

Social Security, a major step forward for older people, had the side effect of luring older people out of the workforce and into a set of institutions like senior centers and retirement communities. And the end result has been the loss of a sense of the wholeness of life.

One thing we need to do is be as creative in bringing people together as we were dur-

Bibliophile

catur, the widowed former First Lady, Cabinet secretaries and even a Confederate spy who resided there. Find out about the murder committed and attempted assassinations. Explore the tradition of protestors in the park, notably, the suffragettes.

If the book inspires you to visit Lafayette Square in person, be sure to tour the historic Decatur House; admission is free (details at whha.org).

Take a stroll in the park and sit on the Bernard Baruch Bench of Inspiration.

Although Pennsylvania Avenue will be

closed through March for construction of a new White House fence, a few steps to the west is the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, si.edu/museum/renwick-gallery.

Entry is free to view the exhibits of contemporary art — a bracing contrast to the historic surroundings of Lafayette Square.

From page 34 lived in the townhouses that form the square surrounding the park. Slaves lived in some of the buildings, too.

Read about Commodore Stephen De-

See FREEDMAN, page 39

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

37

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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

No memories are better than HS football Open a can of memories and old guys far more than it lost, including an undefeatwill rush in to say they were there. Busi- ed senior season with this correspondent ness. War. Politics. Travel. as the quarterback. We thus But perhaps more poignantforged lifelong friendships ly than most, football. (and yes, regular brag-a-thons As the calendar flips to the that cause youngsters to roll fall months, a young man’s their eyes and ask what’s fancy often turns to his gridgood on television). iron glories of yesteryear. As But what football will always the saying goes, they get mean to me is facing down obmore glorious with each passstacles and overcoming them. ing decade.

A life’s lesson? For sure.

It can be very hard for HOW I SEE IT Let’s begin before any calyounger people to imagine an By Bob Levey endar flips. The doggiest dog oldster streaking around end as days of August. Hot and he cradles the ball, or hauling in a pass over humid. But because football season always the outstretched arms of two defenders. starts in September, practice needs to start Even the oldsters themselves some- in August. times wonder if it all really happened. But So there we were, in full pads and helmets. streak and haul we did.

If you’ve never worn either or both of these, In my case, our high school team won take it from me: They make hot even hotter.

Today, when I hear whining on radio and TV about how dreadfully toasty it is, I scoff.

We young gladiators spent four hours a day on the practice field. It was routine to lose ten pounds each afternoon. But as our coach loved to say, “Nothing ain’t worth nothing if it don’t make you sweat.”

Then there was the game itself. Every other sport demands grace and speed.

Football demands those on every play, but also brawn and courage, maybe even a dose of foolhardiness.

How well I remember my first practice, as a sophomore. I might have weighed 160 pounds if you had put me on the scale right after dinner.

There I was, on the field with and against seniors, who were far bigger and far wiser in the ways of smashing their opponents into the turf.

The coach installed me in the defensive

We Turn Addresses

into homes

backfield. The offense started a play — a run around end, toward my side of the field.

I moved forward crisply. I evaded a blocker. About five yards in front of me, here came a runaway train — the star running back of our team.

I rushed up to tackle him. He lowered his shoulder into me. Boom! Senior met sophomore, and sophomore did not get the best of it.

I still remember lying on my back, the smell of grass all around me, my body ringing with the impact, utterly humiliated that I had been bowled over like so many ten pins.

But as our coach also loved to say, “Nothing don’t teach you nothing faster than your own mistakes.”

So, I stuck it out. And I bulked up. And like my teammates, I chug-a-lugged an entire quart of orange juice at each break.

Very slowly, but very surely, the fact that this was difficult made my steady improvement all the more enjoyable.

About two weeks into practice, here again came our star senior running back, carrying the ball around end. Here again See BOB LEVEY, page 41

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.)

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Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour. www.rhomecommunities.com PET-FRIENDLY

BEACON BITS

Oct. 7

TECH HELP

You can receive free one-on-one computer help on Mon., Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Fairfax County’s Great Falls Library, 9830 VA-193, Great Falls, Va. Call (703) 757-8560 to make an appointment for a one-hour session.

Oct. 14

HOSPICE VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Learn more about volunteer opportunities available at Holy Cross Home Care and Hospice during a hospice volunteer orientation on Mon., Oct. 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.at Holy Cross Home Care and Hospice, 10720 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Md. For more information, contact the volunteer coordinator at (301) 557-4663.

Oct. 17

VOLUNTEERING FOR RETIREES

Learn more about volunteering after you retire at a free seminar offered by RSVP Northern Virginia. “The Art of Volunteering in Retirement” is scheduled for on Thurs., Oct. 17 at 1: 30 p.m. at the Fairfax Central Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax, Va. To register for the seminar, RSVP at (703) 403-5360.

Freedman From page 36 ing the last century in separating them. And we’ll produce solutions to what ails us: conflict between generations, the epidemic of loneliness, the scourge of ageism.

Q: Among the intergenerational programs you’ve studied, what has been the greatest success story?

There are some wonderful international examples. Singapore has invested a little over $2 billion U.S. dollars in creating what they’re describing as a kampong for all ages — kampong being the Malay word for village — built around intergenerational harmony.

New senior centers and preschools are [located together]. New housing developments are built around the idea of “3Gen flats” where older people, people in the middle, and younger people have an opportunity to connect in daily life. They’ve launched a volunteer corps of older people to tap those assets.

Q: What do you say to older people who might live in a retirement community and feel that they really have no connection with younger people?

How can they begin to build a bridge

to the younger generations?

I think through community involvement, volunteering at local schools, youth agencies and religious congregations, and seeking out opportunities [that] encourage contact with younger generations.

And in organizing community projects that go beyond the walls of their retirement community and make a connection to the surrounding area. All of us want to know that when our days come to an end, we left the world better than we found it.

Q: A few years ago, you launched the Generation to Generation campaign, aiming to mobilize one million older people to help children. What progress have you seen so far?

We’ve already had 100,000 people join in the campaign, and I think they represent a deep yearning on the part of many older people to invest in the next generation and to show that older people aren’t just concerned about their own interests, but equally about the interests of the broader community and generations to come.

They’re the embodiment of what we need to do now as we become a more-oldthan-young society — but also of timeless wisdom we’ve understood in many cultures since the beginning of time. There’s

To subscribe, see page 41.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

a Greek proverb: “A society grows great when older people plant trees under whose shade they will never sit.”

Q: You lament the segregation and separation created by retirement communities, assisted-living facilities and nursing homes. Can you talk about some of the more promising longterm-care models you’ve seen?

I was just visiting a remarkable senior living facility in west Seattle, Providence Mount St. Vincent — affectionately known as the Mount.

They have a preschool built-in, and they’ve conceptualized the floors as neighborhoods, not just with children, but parents of the children dropping them off and picking them up, interwoven into every aspect of life.

Visiting the Mount, you forget very quickly you’re in an institution for older people. You truly feel you’re in a neighborhood, and I think they’ve made what’s natural normal. © 2019 Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 40 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

T O U R

E D G E

S T I E N A G M E R I T

O X I D E

M P H O R L Y F A O P D S U P C A R Y E R D I N L E L E G A L N O P O I T J C H A E A B R M

I A M A P

S T I L L A S

L A I N L Y Y M C A

Y A L L O L Y A A B U L Y M E S A R S

C E L E B U B E N S A L D V E E B A R L L Y A T H O M S A S

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ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: GAUDY COURT KISSED THEORY Answer: The struggling young golfer wanted to quit, but her coach recommended she — STAY THE COURSE

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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

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Across 1. Hourly worker 5. Spanish island 9. Winner of 7 Tony Awards in 1983 13. Stench 14. Throw one’s ___ the ring 15. Linen color 16. Cinderella’s stepmother and sisters 18. Pastrami possibility 19. Color in 148 national flags 20. October birthstone 21. ___ Brockovich 22. Cater a New Year’s Eve party 26. Like The Exorcist 28. Communion conclusions 29. Colosseum section 30. LA’s region 31. Billy ___ Williams 34. What all the words in 16, 22, 47, and 57 Across do 38. What none of the words are 40. Stat for wine or cheese 41. Airline which only serves kosher meals 43. Eve’s grandson 44. Wine tycoon, Ernest or Julio 45. Lowest rank of British peerage 47. Temporary board game co-conspirator 51. Deplane 52. Blind as ___ 53. Composition of 52 Across (in MLB) 56. Having a huge calorie count 57. Sermon about Independence Day 60. Think tank product 61. “This house is such ___!”

62. Bad Driver of The Force Awakens 63. Jimmy Carter had only one 64. Common joke settings 65. Bound strongly, as a good book

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4. Try to get more gossip 5. AAA hand-out to help get one from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines 6. ___ the night 7. Start to many rappers’ stage names 8. “___ last words?”

9. Us Weekly subjects 10. Like a bit of bitter butter 11. “Follow the money ___” 12. Optimistic 14. On cloud nine 17. Count of Apocalyptic Horsemen (or Teletubbies) 22. Indian dress 23. VH1’s #7 dance song of the 20th century 24. Bracelet bit 25. School two miles from Caesar’s Palace 26. Perform in a musical 27. Surrender territory 29. All the ___ in China 31. Mr. Bond’s first film 32. Like 41% of a piano’s keys 33. Snaky curve 35. Semi-monthly tide 36. Slang acronym for “Let Live and Live On” 37. “You guys”, down South 39. Spooooky 42. More like a dog than a cat 44. Answer to one of Bruce Wayne’s password reset questions 45. Mild depression 46. Highest male singing voice 47. Deserve a Nicotine Anonymous chip 48. H2O or CO2 49. More likely to get presents from Santa 50. Vast depression 53. Member of the Congressional staff 54. Picnic sidedish 55. Song directed to a Greek god 57. Quick punch 58. Actress Thurman, who killed Bill 59. Second degrees

Answers on page 39.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Bob Levey

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

From page 38 came little old me, rushing up to try to tackle him.

I lowered my shoulder. He lowered his.

Boom again!

But this time, I felt him lurch and begin to fall. I wrapped my arms around his legs and held on for dear life. A few bucks, a few thrashes, and down he went.

“Nice hit,” the senior said.

“Where you been all my life?” the coach yelped.

Many good things happened to me when I was 15. An A in English. A first kiss. An after-school job. A new cat.

But when I close my eyes and reconstruct that moment of slam-bang impact, it’s still as fresh as if it happened an hour ago.

Football certainly has its downsides. It did even when I played. Concern over head injuries is very real, and long overdue.

Glamour heaped on those who score touchdowns is often misplaced (football is won in the trenches). And the macho code that surrounds the game can be somewhere between absurd and toxic.

How well I remember the practice during our senior year when my friend Tommy broke his leg. He was writhing on the ground in pain. A teammate stood over him and said, “Hey, Tommy, you’re OK. Get up, man.”

He wasn’t OK and he couldn’t get up.

And yet, it was all worth it. Mountains climbed. Obstacles overcome. Limits stretched. Lessons learned.

I don’t wish to make any more tackles, thank you. Not at my age. But I certainly intend to hold onto my memories of having made them, as tightly as I held onto a certain senior’s legs.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 8+

STARTING A BUSINESS A 10-week course on how to start a business is offered by Senior

Planet beginning on Tues., Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. at the Montgomery County Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. You’ll learn how to design a logo, the basics of branding, and social media marketing in this class. For details, call (240) 773-9490.

Going Home Cremation Service Beverly L. Heckrotte, P.A. Personalized

Professional

Dignified

Affordable

• Specializing in direct cremation • Return of the urn and memorial merchandise to your home • Serving Maryland, Washington, D.C., and N. Virginia

(301) 854-9038

or 1 (866) 728-4663 (toll free) call for your FREE information package

Visit us at www.GoingHomeCremation.com

WB1019

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 43.

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

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

Caregivers SEEKING PART-TIME CAREGIVER with 5 years experience to take care of 80 year old elderly man with Parkinson’s. Male preferred, assist with daily bathing and restroom breaks, physical therapy, ensuring medication is taken and light housework. Must have a vehicle to transport to and from class and like dogs. Please contact Linda (301) 520-6937.

ASSISTANCE WITH APPOINTMENTS, scheduling, errands, med reminders, meal prep, downsizing, or organizing. Experienced in non-medical care. Studying Universal Design/Home Modification. Clean background, don’t drink or smoke, get along with most pets. Instructor; CPR/AED & First Aid. Reliable, punctual, efficient, great attitude.

Bonded/Insured. (301) 371-2210 ASSISTING YOU with non-medical care. I will help you prepare meals, do laundry, transportation, appointments, and errands. Companionship with good conversation. Experience and references available. Please contact Angela: havewellnow@gmail.com AMERICAN ROYAL HOMECARE. Excellency is Our Specialty. Serving the State of Maryland and its Metropolis. CALL US — 301-257-2831.

Fax: 301-779-1291. Email: americanroyalhomecare@gmail.com. Website: americanroyalhomecare.com. OUR SERVICES: Skilled and NonSkilled Nursing, Personal Care, Companion Care, Respite Care, etc. License by OHCQ - #R4396.

LET ME GIVE YOU A HELPING HAND with your loved one’s care. 14 years of experience, honest and reliable. Contact Dee, a Certified Nursing Assistant, 703-677-2216.

A HOME HEALTHCARE - Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care flat rate. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599 HELPING HANDS: I provide first class care for your loved ones. My services include household chores, general housekeeping and transportation as needed. I have a varied background working with all types of issues and aging concerns. Please call Mrs. Paul (240)898-7956 or email hands2help@gmail.com

Computer Services

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Personal Services

COMPUTER LESSONS — Personal Computer training in your home at your convenience.

Windows PC and Mac. Learn Email, Internet, and General computer use. Print Digital photos, search with Google. Word processing, Excel, Outlook. Troubleshoot PC issues. Setup new computers, printers, internet. Setup and train on all consumer electronics — Smartphone, Smart TV, Tablet, Digital cameras, and Alexa.

Gentle & patient teacher using plain English.

Since 1996. Call David, 301-980-5840. COMPUTERTUTOR.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP to a retirement community, try our newly announced Real Estate Partnership: Sue Heyman, Rick Winkler, and Sudha Baxter.

Rely on our combined strengths: Top Weichert Producers, plus backgrounds in Teaching, Tax, and Business. We are located at the Leisure World Plaza Weichert Office and have personal knowledge of the Community from the investor and resident perspective. We will take you on a tour of the Community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities & offer how best to coordinate your move. We will set up an automated search for you, preview units, and contact you to arrange a showing when there is a match. We also offer exceptional service selling your current home. Call for your free Community booklet. You can see our current listings in this issue. Office 301-681-0550, Sue 301-580-5556, Rick 301-404-3105, Sudha 202368-8536.

FOR YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD, teacher of academic and/or social skills. My academic background includes studying psychology and law and teaching sociology. I have worked for over twenty years providing direct care to adults diagnosed with mental illness and/or developmental disability. $20/hr. You may contact me at 301-589-4040; Steve Rosenberg

Financial PUT YOUR $MONEY$ TO WORK! Earn 5% on your cash. 90-day demand return. ABC Capital Investing Corp. 240-863-2033.

For Sale JUDEAN MEMORIAL/NORBECK MEMORIAL PARK in Olney, MD. 2 Sites C - 21 - 5 & 6.

Vaults included. 1 site for $4,000 both for $7,500 call 301-331-2945 or email troheb@gmail.com CEMETERY PLOTS FOR SALE - 301-9841109. Mt. Lebanon Cemetery - Jewish Section. 4 Plots - $850 each - includes transfer fees. Perpetual Care.

I BUY CARS AND TRUCKS. I am in the Montgomery county area. Licensed dealer with many years experience. I will come to you. Convenient and easy. Please call Tom . 301-8068140.

CEMETERY PLOT FOR SALE in Garden of Honor in Parklawn Cemetery, Rockville, MD. Includes “C” Bronze Memorial 24x14 with vase & granite. Perpetual Care is included. Consists of 1 unit, 2 chambers, tier type (2 burial rights). Current value is $12, 995. Owner selling for $9,000 OBO. Call 540-247-7933 (M-F after 5:30 PM) or 540-667-3000 (M-F 8:30-5:00 PM).

KING DAVID MEMORIAL GARDENS — 1 choice site, block 24, lot 48, Jewish family plot, reg price $6400, asking $2995, contact Shirley, (804 )363-2823

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate BEAUTIFUL BRAND NEW TOWNHOME FOR RENT. Located in the Brand New Trotters Knoll Development in Ellicott City (Columbia/Elkridge area). 3 levels, 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, Garage. Awesome setting on a hill. Convenient to Route 100 and I-95. Easy commute to Baltimore or DC. Looking for primarily a mature 50+ individual/couple or working professional. Start Oct or Nov. $2,990/month.

HOA fee is paid for you. Call Mike at 443-472-0041 for more info.

SILVER SPRING BASEMENT RENTAL APARTMENT. The apartment has windows for natural light. NO EXCEPTIONS! ONE PERSON ONLY! Fully furnished, Internet included, private entrance, private washer/dryer. All utilities included! Dishwasher/garbage disposal.

Close to metro, bus. Parking steps away from door. $1,200.00 per month with One Year Lease.

Call Gina @301-587-1144.

SENIOR REALTOR HELPS SENIORS. Harry Fang, Evergreen Properties (broker of 30 years in metro area) 240-478-0250. EISDOM@GMAIL.COM Commission 1.5% , buy or sell. Like to help seniors in Maryland / Virginia to locate (purchase) or sell your properties. Senior helps seniors. Harry is a senior, and like to assist other seniors in regards of real estate. If you purchase, Harry will collect 1.5% of commission paid by the seller and return rest to you. If you sell, Harry will charge only 1.5%. (Separately, you need to pay to the buyer’s agent.) Harry also handles rental properties. Harry is specialized in entire Montgomery County (Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg, etc) plus Hyattsville & College Park. Phone 240-478-0250 Harry Fang. EISDOM@GMAIL.COM

Computer Services

SEEKING A QUIET BUT FRIENDLY woman between ages of 55-70 to share my lovely home in Silver Spring, Md. Must be vegetarian, employed and easygoing. Please call Carol at (301)754-1289.

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

A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-855-502-4495

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

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for [350] procedures. Call 1-844366-1003 for details. www.dental50plus.com/320.

6118-0219.

Home/Handyman Services EHRLICH PEST CONTROL EXPERTS: providing pest control solutions since 1921. Protect your home from termites, ants, spiders, fleas, roaches and more? 365 days a year! Call 1-855338-8198 to schedule your FREE Pest Inspection. **STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS** Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250 OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-855-8503183.

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-844-359-6933.

STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation!

Call us at 1-877-240-2061 or visit www.walkintubquote.com/beacon

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys, 1-866-970-0779! FREE Consultations. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] PARALEGAL/RESEARCHER: will run interference for your task, knowledgeable about federal and local government(s), trade and professional associations, public and private libraries. e-mail rushresearch@comcast.net, call 301-5652917.

Personal Services SELL YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD JEWELRY. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694.

Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all military veterans (and their spouses). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home based business.

Personals ENCHANTING LADY, 50s - young looking, voluptuous woman seeks to meet/date an attractive gentleman, SWM, 50s or 60s, with husky build, 200+ lbs, who is sincere, compassionate, dependable, affectionate. Enjoys the great outdoors, movies, dancing, dining out. Seeks friendship, possible relationship. 240-316-6152. Please leave a nice voice message for reply.

TV/Cable GET NFL SUNDAY TICKET FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand.

FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1-888-5724953 or satellitedealnow.com/TBN DISH NETWORK $59.99 For 190 Channels!

Add High Speed Internet for ONLY $14.95/month. Best Technology. Best Value.

Smart HD DVR Included. FREE Installation.

Some restrictions apply. Call 1-844-560-5837.

Wanted CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883). $$$ CASH $$$ FOR MILITARY USMC ARMY USAF USN ITEMS - Buying Military Uniforms, Patches, Medals, Insignia, Flight Jackets, Weapons etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. Call or Text Dan at 202-8413062 or email MILITBUFF@AOL.COM. BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 through 1990. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae, Punk, Blues, and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

BUYING OLD COMIC BOOKS, old magazines, Presidential Inaugural material, antique Asian items and more. Polite and professional.

Call anytime. Keith 240 994-0941.

PAYING CASH merchandise pre 1980. Old toys, silver, records, books, photographs, smoking pipes and lighters, fountain pens. If you have old stuff to sell cal Carl 312-316-7553. Sorry no furniture or glassware. Located Silver Spring MD. I BUY MILITARY ANTIQUES. I have an MA in History & buy American and foreign military medals, documents, uniforms, insignia, books & historic firearms - Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. I offer fair prices for single items or collections. Trusted for over 30 years in the Washington, DC area. Call me first or for a second opinion. My biography and testimonials from veterans and their families are on my website. www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Tim Frank 703-447-7243.

SEEKING FULL/SEALED BOTTLES of Vintage Bourbon and Rye (Pre-1990). Examples include, but are not limited to: Old Grand Dad, Pikesville Rye, Wild Turkey, Old Fitzgerald, I.W. Harper, Fairfax County, Old Forester, Old Overholt. Call Alex 443-223-7669 BUYING OLD STEREO/Audio Components from 1940’s - 1980’s Speakers, Receivers, Amplifiers, Turntables, etc. working or not. Also interested in parts. (540)999-1486 COINS, JEWELRY, ESTATES, antiques, silver, gold, art, wristwatches, old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, baseball cards, memorabilia, military, firearms, knives, old golf, Halloween. Call Tom 240-476-3441.

Classifieds cont. on p. 43

Say you saw it in the Beacon

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

Classifieds cont. from p. 42 Wanted

Wanted

TURN YOUR SILVER AND OLD GOLD JEWELRY INTO CASH. Gold 4 Good (8241 Georgia Ave., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910) buys gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver and silver flatware, gold watches and gold and silver coins. I will come to your house and give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. If you decide to sell, I can buy your items at that time, but there is no obligation. Licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Call Bob, (240) 938-9694. Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all military veterans (and their spouses).

Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership, not a pawnshop or private home-based business.

TOP PRICES PAID for fine antiques, artwork and high quality decorative items including decorated crocks and jugs, rare antique clocks, music boxes and antique phonographs ,unusual lamps, slot machines, country store and advertising items, great old toys and dolls to name a few. I am 66 years old with over 40 years in the antique business, well educated and financially capable . Why pay expensive auction house , estate sale, or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces immediately? If you have something unusual and interesting, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834 .

No calls after 7 pm please. Thank you.

LADY WHO LIKES CHINA and other pretty things would like to buy yours. Favorites include Herend, Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Shelley and Villeroy & Boch. Some Lenox and Johnson Brothers. I love English bone china cups and saucers. Baccarat and Lalique too.

Paintings and pottery. I’ve collected antique Christmas and Halloween for thirty years and am always looking to add to my collection. Sterling and jewelry. MD license no.

2753. Call, 301-785-1129.

CASH FOR RECORDS, CDS AND DVDS. Best price guaranteed. No collection too large. Free appraisals. All types of music {33, 45, 78 & CDs.} Also buying turntables and stereo equipment. Will make house calls. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403.

STAMP COLLECTIONS WANTED. CHINA, U.S., JAPAN, CONFEDERATE, WORLDWIDE. I buy Stamps, Covers, Sheets.

Mint or Used. No Collection Too Big! Top Prices Paid. I will come to you. Call Glenn.

301 641-5744. Glennthen@comcast.net.

ESTATE LIQUIDATION/ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: One call solves it all when you hire us to handle your estate liquidation, down-sizing and/or home cleanout.

We sell your treasures, take care of charitable donations and provide junk removal. We also purchase partial estate contents/collections.

Always buying antiques, jewelry, fine art, vintage toys, collectibles, advertising, sports memorabilia, military, vintage cars, Mid Century Modern furniture, vinyl records, gold and silver coins and more. Based in Silver Spring, we serve Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore Counties, Washington D.C., NOVA and beyond. No home, outbuilding or storage unit too packed for us! Friendly, conscientious staff. Call Chris on cell (202) 731-9447. www.OrionsAttic.com.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions).

Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you.

Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number.

• Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

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

COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, knives, swords, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars & countries. Also Lionel Trains, & slots/coin operated machines. Will pay top prices. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783

BEACON BITS

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES, ETC. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158.

during a free session on Mon., Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. at the Rockville Memorial Library,

CASH FOR ESTATES; moving, etc. I buy a wide range of items. Buy out/clean up. TheAtticLLC.com Gary Roman 301-520-0755.

Oct. 7

WORK FOR MOCO Find out how to get a job with Montgomery County Government

21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. A recruiter from the County’s Office of Human Resources will discuss how to apply for positions with Montgomery County Government. For more information, call (240) 774-0410.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE

Clinical Studies

Housing

Legal Services

Subscriptions

Flu Vaccine Research Study................15 Hearing Research Study .....................14 RSV Research Study...........................14 Speech Comprehension Study ............15

AlfredHouse..........................................8 Ashby Ponds .......................1, B-9, B-13 Brooke Grove Retirement Village............................B-9, B-19, 44 Chesterbrook Residences ...........................B-8, B-19 Chevy Chase House ................B-2, B-18 Churchill Senior Living ......................13 Covenant Village.............................B-10 Culpeper Garden...............................B-3 Emerson House...............................B-10 Falcons Landing .....................B-5, B-10 Friendship Terrace.................B-18, B-19 Gardens of Traville, The .................B-12 Greenspring.......................1, B-10, B-13 Homecrest House....................B-4, B-10 Homewood at Frederick....................B-2 Kensington Park......................B-6, B-10 Landing of Silver Spring, The ..........................B-7 Quantum Property Mgmt ...................B-16 R Homes Communities...........................38 Riderwood...........................1, B-9, B-13 Ring House ...........................................6 Sylvestry, The .................................B-17 Sommerset Retirement..........B-15, B-19 Springvale Terrace..................B-4, B-8, B-9, B-19 Victory Housing......................B-9, B-17 Vinson Hall ......................................B- 9 West Half Apartments.......................B-8 Wilshire Estates ...............................B- 3

Farr Law Firm .....................................19 Law Offices of Lee Holdmann ...........19 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman ..........18 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof ..............17

Beacon Newspaper .............................41 Washington Jewish Week....................36

Dental Services Friedman, Stephen, DDS ....................12 Oh, Judy, DDS ......................................9

Events Beacon 50+Expo...................................3 Brooke Grove............................B-20, 44

Financial/Insurance Services Children’s National Hospital...............17 Health Markets....................................14

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation......................41

Government Services DC Dept of Insurance .........................17 DC Office on Aging ......................21-22 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services.............................7

Home Health Care/ Companion Services Attenda Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7 Family& Friends Home Care . . . . . .B-7 Options for Senior America ..................7

43

Medical/Health Allied Pharmaceutical Services ..........12 Arya Wellness Center .........................11 Health For Life Dispensary.................10 I Hate Knee Pain .................................11 Lesner Hearing....................................13 Medical Eye Center ............................12 Silver Spring Medical Center .............12

Miscellaneous City of Rockville Mansion..................27 Green House H St. ................................6

Real Estate Long & Foster/Eric Stewart ..........10, 34 Weichert/Sue Heyman ....................B-12

Retail/Auction McKay Used Books ..............................5 Quinn’s Auction Galleries...................31

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Brooke Grove Rehabilitation ..........B-19 Manor Care Health Services.................8

Theatre/ Entertainment F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre ..................28 Ford’s Theatre......................................33 Kennedy Center ................29, 30, 32, 35 Robert Parilla Performing Arts Center....................33 Senior Zone.........................................36 Toby’s Dinner Theatre...................28, 31 Wolf Trap ........................................B-11

Tour & Travel Almost Heaven Vacations ...................27 Eyre Travel..........................................25 Martinsburg, WV Travel .....................25 Shillelaghs...........................................25 Two Lane America ..............................25

Utilities Pepco.....................................................4

Volunteers & Careers AARP Foundation.................................9 AARP DC ...........................................20 Beacon, The ........................................26 Career Gateway...................................18

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O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

October 2019

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke Grove retirement village

As experts in senior care and memory support, Brooke Grove Retirement Village is pleased to offer seminars and events that promote physical, spiritual and mental well-being.

All seminars and events will be held at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, located at 18131 Slade School Road on the Brooke Grove Retirement Village campus, unless otherwise noted. Please register with Toni Davis at 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org. caregiver connection: “Nine to Ninety”

assisted living open house

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 2-3 P.M.

1635 Hickory Knoll Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Nine to Ninety is the love story of Phyllis and Joe Sabatini, who at age 89 and 90 live in the home of their daughter, son-in-law and young granddaughter. As the family struggles to make ends meet and Joe’s health problems escalate, Phyllis becomes determined to free her daughter from the burden of caretaking. Their surprising decisions ignite bigger conversations on how to age with dignity.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 • 10:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.

FREE. Register by October 13.

FREE. RSVP by October 20.

Living well seminar: “How to Improve Your Health by Strengthening Your Core”

Parkinson’s Communications Club

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16 • 1-2:15 P.M.

TUESDAYS • 12:30-1:30 P.M.

All movement stems from — or moves through — your core.

So, it’s not surprising that a strong core can provide a variety of health benefits, such as pain relief and improved posture and balance. Determine why a strong core is key to living a vibrant life, and learn specific, senior-friendly exercises that you can do at home to keep you moving.

This weekly wellness and prevention program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners focuses on the maintenance of communication skills, with an emphasis on strengthening breath support and improving the ability to project and speak loudly enough to be heard in social settings.

Preceded by complimentary lunch at 12:30 p.m.

FREE with a $30 annual Parkinson Foundation registration fee.

FREE. Register by October 14.

Explore our residential-style homes, gardens and secure walking paths. Discover our innovative approach and programs including those designed to stimulate memory. Meet our staff, trained in assisting those with Alzheimer’s and memory loss.

18100 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

301-260-2320 · www.bgf.org Independent Ind Independent ependent living living

a assisted ssisted living living

reh rehabilitation abilitation

long-term long-term care care

memory memory support support