October 2024 DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

Searching for new love mid-life

By Margaret Foster

When life gave writer Laura Stassi lemons, she didn’t just make lemonade; she hosted a podcast on WAMU, wrote a book, and created three radio specials, one of which will air on NPR stations this fall.

After her 29-year marriage ended in divorce, Stassi, then in her mid-50s, found herself alone and living in her first-ever apartment in Reston, Virginia, wondering how to start over.

“After the split, I started thinking about where my life was. I wanted to start dating again, but I didn’t know how to do it. The last time I’d been single, telephone answering machines weren’t even invented,” Stassi said in an interview with the Beacon.

While jogging on a North Carolina beach one day, a phrase popped into her head: “dating while gray.” With that tagline, Stassi started researching how older adults find love again.

Today, she hosts the podcast she created, “Dating While Gray: The Grown-Up’s Guide to Love, Sex and Relationships.” On it, she interviews older adults about their dating lives.

She retells some of those stories in her 2022 book, Romance Redux: Finding Love in Your Later Years, based on the first two seasons of the podcast as well as her own experience.

Stassi will be the keynote speaker at the Beacon’s 50+Expo on Sunday, October 20 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Stassi will be interviewed by Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal on the stage of the Silver Spring Civic Building at 1:30 p.m.

Northern Virginia roots

Stassi grew up in West Springfield, Virginia, and graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in communication studies. At 22, she married a man she had known

since sixth grade and raised two children with him in Richmond.

Since she had loved writing since she was a child, all the while she wrote, penning several nonfiction books for children (one about Pink Floyd), as well as articles for the Defense Health Agency and even the Beacon

Stassi and her husband moved back to Northern Virginia for another decade, but

by 2012 he made it clear he wanted a divorce. She said she was “naïve and in denial” that the separation was final, and continued to iron her ex’s shirts and help him look for real estate.

“Divorce was not something you did unless it was just awful. And I just didn’t realize how awful he thought it was,” she said.

ARTS & STYLE

What to expect of the creepy, kooky Addams Family musical; plus, women playwrights hone their craft, and Bob Levey talks about neighbors page

After Laura Stassi’s 29-year marriage ended in divorce, the Northern Virginia author wrote a book about finding love again. She hosts a podcast, “Dating While Gray,” interviewing guests about dating, sex, avoiding scams and more. Stassi will be the “keynote conversation” speaker at the Beacon’s 50+Expo on October 20 in Silver Spring, Maryland.

PHOTO BY JENIFER MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Exhibitors

123Junk

AAA Club - Alliance

AARP Virginia

Active Adult Residences at North Hill

Adventist HealthCare

Alate Old Town

American Red Cross

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Asbury Methodist Village

Assisted Living Locators/Humana

Brooke Grove Retirement Village Care at Home

Caring Transitions of Northern Virginia

Caring Transitions of Rockville, Bethesda and Annapolis

Carol R. Schifter, Esq.

(as of press time)

Fairfax County - CPRD

Fairfax County Adult and Aging

Fairfax County Consumer Affairs

Fairfax County Government Channel 16

Fairfax Hearing Center

Fairfax Memorial

Fit For a Star Travel

Giant Pharmacy

Griswold Homecare

Handicans LLC

HealthMarkets

Home Helpers Home Care

Homecrest House

Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP)

Humana

Ikon Health

Johns Hopkins Health Plan

Kinder-Realty

Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington

Montgomery County Recreation

Montgomery County SHIP

National Institute on Aging

Parkinson’s Foundation

Peak Custom Remodeling

Pepco

Personic In-Home Wound Care

Prevention of Blindness Society of

Metropolitan Washington

Quality Services LLC and Jenny Arias Realtor

Coldwell Banker

Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care Inc.

Senior Smile

Seniors Helping Seniors of Bethesda

Seniors Helping Seniors of Springfield

Sentrara Health Plans

Sibley Senior Association

SmithLife Homecare

Spirit Of Hope Home Healthcare

Cedar Creek Memory Care Homes

Cherished Hands Home Healthcare Services

Chesapeake Hearing Centers

Kitchen Saver

LeafFilter Gutter Protection

Leafguard

The Fairfax

The Leggett

Chesterbrook Residences

ClearCaptions

Collette

Compassion and Choices

MacNabb Funeral Home

Maryland Relay

Debbie Dogrul Associates brokered by eXp Realty

ElderSAFE Center

Empowering the Ages

Energy Assistance Program

Volunteer Fair Exhibitors

1st Stage

Department of Family Services

Maryland Insurance Administration

Mild Procedure

Mobility City of Fairfax County

Montage Health and Wellness

Montgomery Aging and Disability

ECHO, Inc

Thrive USA Home Care

UnitedHealthcare

Montgomery County Home Energy Programs

UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement

USA Marble & Granite

Vamoose Bus

Virginia Relay

WidowCare

Assistance League of No.VA.

Fairfax County, CERT

Adult & Aging, Volunteer Solutions, Fairfax County

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Arlington

Children, Youth & Families, Department of Family Services, Fairfax County

Children’s Science Center Lab

Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, DFS, Fairfax County

Aetna Medicare

Fairfax County, Volunteer Management Sytem

Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Fairfax Pets on Wheels

Community Partners

AAA Atrium Classic Assisted Living

Andrew Kim House

Arlington Agency on Aging

Arlington County Office of Senior Adult Programs

Arlington County Parks & Recreation

Arlington Mill Senior Center

Ignatian Volunteer Corp

Food For Others Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness

Lamb Center, The

Lions Club

Music for Life

Junior Achievement of Greater Washington

NAMI Northern Virginia

Arlington County Senior Community Outreach

Aspenwood Senior Living Community

Assisting Hands Home Care

Aurora Hills Senior Center

Bailey’s Senior Center

Brandywine Potomac

Benjamin Gaither Center

National Capital Area Council Scouting America

New Hope Housing

Neighborhood & Community Services, Fairfax County

Gum Springs Glen

Hampshire Village

Herndon Senior Center

Holiday Park Senior Center

Hollin Hall Senior Center

Home Eldercare

HomeWell Care Services

Burke/West Springfield Senior Center

Capital Caring Health

CaringMatters

Chesterbrook Residences

Chevy Chase House

City of Alexandria DCHS

City of Fairfax Senior Center

City of Rockville Senior Center

Claridge House Alexandria

Claridge House Arlington

Covenant Village

Damascus Senior Center

Family & Nursing Care

Gardens of Traville

Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery

Kensington Park Retirement Community

Kingstowne Center for Active Adults

Langston Brown Senior Center

Lee Community Center

Lewinsville Senior Center

Little River Glen Senior Center

Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol

Xfinity

Northern Virginia Long Term Care Ombudsman

Program, A&A, DFS, Fairfax County

OAR NOVA

Park Authority, Fairfax County, Farmers Markets

Pozez Jewish Community Center and NVRides

Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/ Falls Church, Inc.

Rising Hope Mission Church, UMC

Second Story

Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield

Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke

Travelers Aid International-DCA

Vecinos Unidos

Volunteer Fairfax / RSVP-Northern Virginia

Women’s Center, The Workhouse Arts Center

Lockwood Elmwood House Apartments

Long Branch Senior Center

Lorton Senior Center

Loudoun Senior Center at the Cascades

Lubber Run Senior Center

Madison Senior Center

Marywood Apartments

McLean Community Center

Manchester Lakes Senior Apartment Community

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center

Montgomery County Board of Elections

Montgomery County Senior Program

Mount Pleasant Village

Mount Vernon at Home

Montgomery County Home Energy Programs

New Era Care Providers

NV Rides

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection

North Potomac Senior Center

Office of 55+ Programs - Arlington County

Parks and Recreation

Olney Home for Life

Pimmit Hills Senior Center

Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia

Randolph Village

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County

Seabury at Friendship Terrace

Senior Medicare Patrol

Vienna Baptist Church

Silver Spring Village

Sommerset Retirement Community

South County Senior Center

Springfield Town Center

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna C/o

Suburban Hosp Com Hlth & Well

Sully Senior Center

Sunrise at Bluemont Park

Sunrise at Montgomery Village

The Carlin

The Jefferson

Synergy HomeCare

The Village at Rockville

Town of Garrett Park

Victory Court

Victory Square

Vinson Hall

Tysons Towers Apartments

Wakefield Senior Center

White Oak Senior Center

Willow Manor at Fairhill Farm

Woodlands Retirement Community

In Virginia:

oﬀering dozens of volunteer opportunities Venture into Volunteering Fair

Screenings

at both locations:

Free

• Blood pressure

• Cholesterol

• Glaucoma

• Blood glucose

Entertainment

Vaccines

at both locations:

• Regular flu/High-dose flu

• Latest Covid Vaccine and New RSV Vaccine

• Shingrix (shingles) (one of two shots)

• Pneumonia

• Tetanus

Bring your Medicare or insurance card. (Some vaccines may require a co-pay.)

In Maryland:

Bruce Thomas will return to sing top hits of the 40s, 50s, 60s and more.

Keynote Conversation

In Maryland:

Enjoy hearing author Laura Stassi interviewed by Beacon publisher Stuart Rosenthal

It’s Expo season again

For 25 years, the Beacon has been pleased to present free 50+Expos in both Maryland and Virginia to provide useful information and a great time to our readers throughout the area.

These events attract thousands of older adults and their families to obtain important health screenings, flu shots and other vaccines, hear an interesting speaker, and obtain valuable information from dozens of exhibitors and sponsors — including government agencies, nonprofits and area businesses providing products and services geared to older adults and their families.

Sunday, November 3, from noon to 4 p.m., at Springfield Town Center in Springfield, Virginia

month’s cover story. Stassi will also answer questions from the audience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Whether you’ve attended these for years or have never had the chance before, I hope you will join us to celebrate our 25th anniversary 50+Expo at either (or both) of this year’s locations:

Sunday, October 20, from noon to 4 p.m., at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring, Maryland, and

Prioritizing the health and well-being of attendees, the Expos will offer free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol tests, offered by Giant Pharmacy, and glaucoma screenings provided by the Prevention of Blindness Society.

Important vaccines will also be available, including the latest Covid-19 and RSV vaccines, regular and high-dose flu shots, Shingrix (shingles), pneumonia and tetanus vaccines — again all provided by Giant Pharmacy. Please bring your Medicare and/or insurance card with you.

In Silver Spring, Md., our keynote program will consist of a conversation I will have with popular writer Laura Stassi, author of Romance Redux: Finding Love in Your Later Years and host of the “Dating While Gray” podcast. You can read more about her in this

In Springfield, Va., we are pleased to partner for a second year with the Fairfax County Area Agency on Aging to offer “Ventures in Volunteering” — a collection of more than 35 agencies and nonprofits specifically looking for older adults to fill exciting volunteer opportunities.

As always, our exhibitors will include a wide variety of healthcare providers, retirement communities, home improvement contractors, home care agencies, financial and legal advisors, insurance providers, and travel, fitness and other services. Turn back to page 4 of this issue for a list of exhibitors as of press time.

There will also be a travel presentation at both events from Collette, showcasing special trips to Hawaii and Iceland tailored for Beacon readers. JC Hayward, former news anchor at WUSA-TV, will be participating in both trips and has recorded a special message that will be shared at the Expos.

This year’s 50+Expos are made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. Gold Sponsors include AARP Virginia and Giant Pharmacy.

Silver Sponsors are Adventist Health-

Care, Johns Hopkins Health Plans, Pepco, Asbury Methodist Village, The Fairfax and Collette.

Bronze Sponsors include Maryland Relay, Virginia Relay, Xfinity, Housing Initiative Partnership, The Leggett, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Jewish Council for the Aging, Montgomery County Recreation, Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services, and the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging.

While the Beacon staff will be out in force at both Expos to help everyone find what they are looking for, we would love to have some volunteers as well. If you are planning to come to either event and can spare an hour or two to help out, please contact us.

For more information, or to become an exhibitor, sponsor or volunteer, call (301) 9499766, email info@thebeaconnewspapers.com or visit thebeaconnewspapers.com/50expos. I look forward to seeing you on October 20 and/or November 3! Please be sure to look for me and say hello.

Beacon

FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

TheBeacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore and Howard County, Md. Readership exceeds 400,000.

Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below.

Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Publisher/Editor –Stuart P. Rosenthal

President/Associate Publisher –Judith K. Rosenthal

Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei

Managing Editor – Margaret Foster

Art Director – Kyle Gregory

Vice President of Operations – Roger King

Advertising Representatives –Dan Kelly, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel

Assistant Editor –Ana Preger Hart

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com

Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com

Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions.

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinions on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor:

Regarding your From the Publisher column in September, “Disability inability,” you did not mention one of the problems that impairs the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program: undeserved benefits. Every year, the Social Security Disability system must deal with persons who are receiving benefits but who have also rejoined the workforce.

By law, SSDI administrators must reclaim these excess payments. The problem is so severe that the television program “60 Minutes” recently devoted a segment to discussing it.

Grant Jacobsen Woodbridge, VA

Dear Editor:

I read your publisher’s column, “Disability inability,” last month and found it very informative.

However, what was not noted is that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available to people who have a disability as soon as they turn 18.

I realize, of course, that the Beacon is geared toward people “of a certain age,” but there may be a parent or a grandparent who is caring for an adult child and is not aware that there is funding available

through the Social Security Administration. I just wanted to add this to your article since I think it is very important that everyone gets the assistance that they need. My son was disabled from birth, and he received SSDI every month as soon as he turned 18.

Ilene Martin Via email

Dear Editor:

I just read Bob Levey’s column on older cars! I too miss my old Honda CRV. My daughter gifted me her 2004 Honda 10 years ago. I drove my baby accident-free and had to say goodbye when “Black Beauty,” as I called her, had 310,000 miles! I took care of her and traded her in for 2012 Honda Accord. Grateful for my CRV and felt bad to say goodbye, but it was time for her to rest.

My current car is a dream, and I still turn “Brown Eyes” on with a key. Like Bob said, understanding the bells and whistles is mind boggling to my 75-year-old brain. Praying I have “Brown Eyes” until I no longer drive and can pass it to my grandsons.

Bob Levey is awesome to read.

Catherine Swanton Silver Spring, MD

Fitness & Health

HEAR, HEAR

Get used to new hearing aids by wearing them in different environments

PROBLEM FOODS

Food allergies are dangerous; an intolerance or sensitivity is manageable

PROTEIN MYTHS

Do you believe five common myths about protein? We share the facts

NATURAL REMEDIES

Foods, vitamins and herbs that potentially reduce symptoms of depression

Surprising benefits from toothbrushing

By Maureen Salamon

Maybe we should add toothbrushes to the bouquet of flowers we bring to friends and family members in the hospital — and make sure to pack one if we wind up there ourselves.

New Harvard-led research published online in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that seriously ill hospitalized patients are far less likely to develop hospitalacquired pneumonia if their teeth are brushed twice daily.

They also need ventilators for less time, are able to leave the intensive care unit (ICU) more quickly, and are less likely to die in the ICU than patients without a similar toothbrushing regimen.

Why does toothbrushing help?

“It makes sense that toothbrushing removes the bacteria that can lead to so many bad outcomes,” said Dr. Tien Jiang, an instructor in oral health policy and epidemiology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, who wasn’t involved in the new research.

“Plaque on teeth is so sticky that rinsing alone can’t effectively dislodge the bacteria. Only toothbrushing can.”

Pneumonia consistently falls among the leading infections patients develop while hospitalized. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, each year more than 633,000 Americans who go

to the hospital for other health issues wind up getting pneumonia.

Air sacs (alveoli) in one or both lungs fill with fluid or pus, causing coughing, fever, chills and trouble breathing. Nearly 8% of those who develop hospital-acquired pneumonia die from it.

Compelling study results

The researchers reviewed 15 randomized trials encompassing nearly 2,800 patients. All of the studies compared outcomes among seriously ill hospitalized patients who had daily toothbrushing to those who did not.

• 14 of the studies were conducted in ICUs

• 13 involved patients who needed to be on a ventilator

• 11 used an antiseptic rinse called chlorhexidine gluconate for all patients: those who underwent toothbrushing and those who didn’t.

The findings were compelling and should spur efforts to standardize twice-daily toothbrushing for all hospitalized patients, Jiang said.

Study participants who were randomly assigned to receive twice-daily toothbrushing were 33% less likely to develop hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Those effects were magnified for people on ventilators, who needed this invasive breathing assistance for less time if their teeth were brushed.

Overall, study participants were 19% less likely to die in the ICU — and able to graduate from intensive care faster — with the twice-daily oral regimen.

How long patients stayed in the hospital or whether they were treated with antibiotics while there didn’t seem to influence pneumonia rates. Also, toothbrushing three or more times daily didn’t translate into additional benefits over brushing twice a day.

Study’s strengths and limitations

One major strength was compiling years of smaller studies into one larger analysis — something particularly unusual in dentistry, Jiang says.

“From a dental point of view, having 15 randomized controlled trials is huge. It’s very hard to amass that big of a population in dentistry at this high a level of evidence,” she said.

But toothbrushing techniques may have varied among hospitals participating in the research. And while the study was randomized, it couldn’t be blinded — a tactic that would reduce the chance of skewed results.

Because there was no way to conceal toothbrushing regimens, clinicians involved in the study likely knew their efforts were being tracked, which may have changed their behavior. “Perhaps they were more vigilant because of it,” Jiang said.

Why does toothbrushing prevent hospi-

tal-acquired pneumonia?

It’s not complicated. Pneumonia in hospitalized patients often stems from breathing germs into the mouth — germs that number more than 700 different species, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes.

This prospect looms larger for ventilated patients, since the breathing tube inserted into the throat can carry bacteria farther down the airway.

“Ventilated patients lose the normal way of removing some of this bacteria,” Jiang said. “Without that ventilator, we can sweep it out of our upper airways.”

Toothbrushing is good for all

In case you think the study findings only pertain to people in the hospital, think again. Rather, this drives home how vital it is for everyone to take care of their teeth and gums. About 300 diseases and conditions are linked in some way to oral health. Poor oral health triggers some health problems and worsens others.

People with gum disease and tooth loss, for example, have higher rates of heart attacks. And those with uncontrolled gum disease typically have more difficulty controlling blood sugar levels.

Why older adults need the RSV vaccine

By Family Features

Even though cold days may seem far off, now is the best time to plan ahead for a healthy winter. One common respiratory illness, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But it can be severe and even deadly for older people.

“As we grow older, our immune systems do not work as well, and we are more likely to have chronic conditions, which means we are at increased risk of getting very sick from common viruses as we age,” said Alison Barkoff, who leads the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Getting vaccinated is the best protection against fall respiratory viruses like RSV. It can help keep symptoms mild and

help keep people out of the hospital.”

Here’s what older Americans need to know about RSV and vaccines this fall, according to the “Risk Less. Do More” public education campaign.

Prevention is key

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 75 years and older get vaccinated for RSV.

“Getting the vaccine in early fall offers the best protection for late fall and winter, when RSV usually peaks.”

Also, people between 60-74 should get vaccinated if they have conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, obesity or a weakened immune system. The vaccine cuts the risk of hospitalization from RSV by at least half.

People living in nursing homes, assisted living or other long-term care facilities are at even higher risk. There are many people living together in these facilities who have medical conditions that make them more likely to get very sick. While vaccines may not always stop infection, they can prevent severe illness. So, vaccination is very important for residents of long-term care facilities.

RSV vaccines are available

Three RSV vaccines have been approved for older adults by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You only need a single dose

that you can get at any time of the year. But getting the vaccine in the early fall offers the best protection for the late fall and winter, when RSV usually peaks. Getting the vaccine early gives your immune system enough time to build up protection.

Vaccines are the best protection

The RSV vaccines have gone through extensive testing. Last year, more than 20 million older adults were vaccinated safely. Mild side effects — such as pain, redness or swelling at the injection site — sometimes happen, but they usually go away on their own in a few days. Serious allergic reactions from RSV vaccines are rare.

Prevention is the best option. RespiratoSee RSV VACCINE , page 9

Ultra-processed foods can sometimes be healthy

By Jonel Aleccia

Whether they know it or not, most Americans don’t go a day — or often a single meal — without eating ultra-processed foods.

From sugary cereals at breakfast to frozen pizzas at dinner, plus in-between snacks of potato chips, sodas and ice cream, ultraprocessed foods make up about 60% of the U.S. diet. For kids and teens, it’s even higher (about two-thirds of what they eat).

That’s concerning because ultra-processed foods have been linked to a host of negative health effects — from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, depression, dementia and more. One recent study suggested that eating these foods may raise the risk of early death.

know what practical advice to give when ultra-processed foods account for what one study estimates is 73% of the U.S. food supply.

The Associated Press asked several nutrition experts, and here’s what they said.

What are ultra-processed foods?

Most foods are processed, whether it’s by freezing, grinding, fermentation, pasteurization or other means.

Whole-grain bread, yogurt, tofu and infant formula are all highly processed, but they’re also nutritious.

Nutrition science is tricky, though, and most research so far has found connections, not proof, regarding the health consequences of these foods.

Food manufacturers argue that processing boosts food safety and supplies, and offers a cheap, convenient way to provide a diverse and nutritious diet.

Even if the science were clear, it’s hard to

RSV vaccine

From page 8

ry virus vaccines, including RSV vaccines, can help protect older adults from serious illness.

In 2009, Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro and colleagues first proposed a system that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo — not by nutrient content.

At the top of the four-tier scale are foods created through industrial processes and with ingredients such as additives, colors and preservatives that you couldn’t duplicate in a home kitchen, said Kevin Hall, a researcher who focuses on metabolism and diet at the National Institutes of Health.

“These are most, but not all, of the packaged foods you see,” Hall said.

See PROCESSED FOODS , page 10

Talk to your doctor and visit cdc.gov/RSV to learn more. —Centers for Disease Control RSV is one of several vaccines that will be available at the Beacon’s upcoming 50+Expos on Sunday, October 20 in Silver Spring, Maryland and on Sunday, November 3 in Springfield, Virginia. Bring your Medicare or insurance card.

MAIL OR EMAIL FOR FREE INFORMATION

For free materials about area housing communities, just complete and clip this coupon and mail, or take a picture and email it to the Beacon

Housing Communities

District of Columbia

❏ Chevy Chase House (See ads on pages B4, B13)

Maryland

❏ Asbury Methodist Village (See ad on page 17)

❏ Brooke Grove (See ads on pages 11, B10, B11, B12)

❏ Cascades at Frederick (See ad on page B8)

❏ Charles E. Smith Life Communities (See ad on page B2)

❏ Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 15)

❏ Grandview, The (See ads on pages B5, B14)

❏ Homecrest House (See ads on pages B6, B12)

❏ Leggett, The (See ad on page 14)

❏ Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page B15)

❏ Park View Columbia (See ad on page B15)

❏ Park View Emerson (See ad on page B15)

❏ Park View Laurel (See ad on page B15)

❏ Residences at Forest Glen (See ad on page 12)

❏ Riderwood/Erickson (See ads on pages B5, B12)

❏ Ring House (See ads on pages B2,B11)

❏ Willow Manor at Cabin Branch (See ad on page B6)

Virginia

❏ Ashby Ponds/Erickson (See ads on pages 1, B5, B10)

❏ Culpepper Garden (See ad on page 15)

❏ Falcons Landing (See ads on pages B10, B16)

❏ Fairfax, The (See ad on page 20)

❏ Greenspring/Erickson (See ads on pages 1, B5, B13)

❏ Harmony at Chantilly (See ad on page B3)

❏ Harmony at Spring Hill (See ads on pages B3, B11)

❏ Residences at North Hill (See ads on pages B7, B14)

❏ Sommerset (See ad on page 13)

❏ Vinson Hall (See ads on pages B8, B14)

❏ Woodleigh Chase (See ads on pages B5, B13)

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 or take a picture and email to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Feel free to return this coupon together with the coupon found on page B-9 of this issue.

Such foods are often made to be both cheap and irresistibly delicious, said Dr. Neena Prasad, director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program.

“They have just the right combination of sugar, salt and fat, and you just can’t stop eating them,” Prasad said

However, the level of processing alone doesn’t determine whether a food is unhealthy or not, Hall noted. Whole-grain bread, yogurt, tofu and infant formula are all highly processed, for instance, but

they’re also nutritious.

Here’s the tricky part: Many studies suggest that diets high in such foods are linked to negative health outcomes.

But these kinds of studies can’t say whether the foods are the cause of the negative effects — or whether there’s something else about the people who eat these foods that might be responsible.

At the same time, ultra-processed foods, as a group, tend to have higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat and sugar, and tend to be lower in fiber and protein. It’s not clear whether it’s just these nutrients that are driving the effects.

on Question 1

A small, interesting study

Hall and his colleagues were the first to conduct a small but influential experiment that directly compared the results of eating similar diets made of ultra-processed versus unprocessed foods.

Published in 2019, the research included 20 adults who went to live at an NIH center for a month. They received diets of ultra-processed and unprocessed foods matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and macronutrients for two weeks each, and were told to eat as much as they liked.

When participants ate the diet of ultraprocessed foods, they consumed about 500 calories per day more than when they ate unprocessed foods, researchers found — and they gained an average of about two pounds during the study period.

When they ate only unprocessed foods for the same amount of time, they lost about two pounds.

Hall is conducting a more detailed study now, but results aren’t expected until late next year. He and others argue that such definitive research is needed to determine exactly how ultra-processed foods affect consumption.

“It’s better to understand the mechanisms by which they drive the deleterious

health consequences, if they’re driving them,” he said.

What it means for you

So, how should consumers manage ultra-processed foods at home?

In countries like the U.S., it’s hard to avoid highly processed foods — and not clear which ones should be targeted, said Aviva Musicus, science director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocates for food policies. “The range of ultraprocessed foods is just so wide,” she said.

Instead, it’s better to be mindful of the ingredients in foods. Check the labels and make choices that align with the current U.S. Dietary Guidelines, she suggested.

“We have really good evidence that added sugar is not great for us. We have evidence that high-sodium foods are not great for us,” she said. “We have great evidence that fruits and vegetables which are minimally processed are really good for us.”

It’s important not to vilify certain foods, she added. Many consumers don’t have the time or money to cook most meals from scratch.

“Foods should be joyous and delicious, and shouldn’t involve moral judgment,” Musicus said. —AP

M E N G BER–NOCT NG SEMIN R & 4 ember 202 ARS & v CL S S CLASSES S

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Getting an audiologist-fitted hearing aid

By Mayo Clinic

Ed. Note: Last month, we published an article about selecting an over-the-counter hearing aid for mild hearing loss. This article is about getting a professionally-fitted one, for those with greater needs. See also the article on the facing page for suggested ways to get used to wearing hearing aids..

Perhaps you’ve thought about getting a hearing aid, but you’re worried about how it will look or whether it will really help. It may help ease your concerns to know more about:

• The hearing aid options available to you

• What to look for when buying a hearing aid

• How to get used to a hearing aid

Keep in mind that hearing aids can’t re-

store normal hearing. They can, however, improve your hearing by amplifying sounds that you’ve had trouble hearing.

How hearing aids work

All hearing aids use the same basic parts to carry sounds from the environment into your ear and make them louder. Most hearing aids are digital, and all are powered with a traditional hearing aid battery or a rechargeable battery.

Small microphones collect sounds from the environment. A computer chip with an amplifier converts the incoming sound into digital code. It analyzes and adjusts the sound based on your hearing loss, listening needs, and the level of the sounds around you.

The amplified signals are then converted back into sound waves and delivered to your ears through speakers, sometimes called receivers.

Hearing aids vary a great deal in price, size, special features and the way they’re placed in your ear.

Hearing aid designers keep making smaller hearing aids to meet the demand for a hearing aid that is not very noticeable. But the smaller aids may not have the power to give you the improved hearing you may expect.

Before you buy

When looking for a hearing aid, explore your options to understand what type of hearing aid will work best for you. Also:

usually get a hearing aid with a trial period. It may take you a while to get used to the device and decide if it’s right for you. Find out the cost of a trial, whether this amount is credited toward the final cost of the hearing aid, and how much is refundable if you return the hearing aid during the trial period.

• Think about future needs. Ask whether the hearing aid you’ve chosen is capable of increased power so that it will still be useful if your hearing loss gets worse. Hearing aids do not function indefinitely, but they should last about five years.

• Get a checkup. See your doctor to rule out correctable causes of hearing loss, such as earwax or an infection. And have your hearing tested by a hearing specialist (audiologist).

• Seek a referral to a reputable audiologist. If you don’t know a good audiologist, ask your doctor for a referral. An audiologist will assess your hearing, help you choose the most appropriate hearing aid, and adjust the device to meet your needs. If you have hearing loss in both ears, you will get best results with two hearing aids.

• Ask about a trial period. You can

• Check for a warranty. Make sure the hearing aid includes a warranty that covers parts and labor for a specified period. Some dispensers may include office visits or professional services in the warranty.

• Beware of misleading claims. Hearing aids can’t restore normal hearing or eliminate all background noise. Beware of advertisements or dispensers who claim otherwise.

• Plan for the expense. The cost of professionally-fitted hearing aids varies widely, from about $1,500 to more than a few thousand dollars each.

Professional fees, remote controls, hearing aid accessories and other hearing aid

Ways to get used to OTC hearing aids

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: I want to try an over-thecounter hearing aid. What are some ways to get used to wearing one?

A: Hearing aids for mild or moderate hearing loss are more accessible and affordable than ever, thanks to a new category of FDA-approved devices. You can buy

Hearing aid

From page 12

options may cost extra. Talk to your audiologist about your needs and expectations.

Some private insurance policies cover part or all of the cost of hearing aids — check your policy. Medicare does not cover the cost of hearing aids for adults. Medical assistance covers hearing aids in most states.

If you’re a veteran, you may be able to get your hearing aid at no cost through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Getting used to them

Getting used to a hearing aid takes time. You’ll likely notice that your listening skills improve gradually as you become accustomed to amplification. Even your own voice sounds different when you wear a hearing aid.

When first using a hearing aid, keep

over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids without seeing a doctor, going through hearing tests, or getting a prescription.

Scoring a pair of these devices is just the first step toward better hearing, however. It takes time to learn how to use, wear and adjust them.

The first two weeks you wear hearing

these points in mind:

• Hearing aids won’t return your hearing to normal. Hearing aids can’t restore normal hearing. They can improve your hearing by amplifying soft sounds.

• Allow time to get used to the hearing aid. It takes time to get used to your new hearing aid. But the more you use it, the more quickly you’ll adjust to amplified sounds.

• Practice using the hearing aid in different environments. Your amplified hearing will sound different in different places.

• Seek support and try to stay positive. A willingness to practice and the support of family and friends help determine your success with your new hearing aid. You may also consider joining a support group for people who have hearing loss or are new to hearing aids.

• Go back for a follow-up. Specialists may include the cost of one or more follow-

aids can be a little bumpy. Your voice may sound different to you, like it has a different volume or quality (an echo or tinny sound) when you speak. And soft sounds, such as running water or shoes brushing along carpet, may sound louder than normal and even a little irritating.

up visits in their fees. It’s a good idea to take advantage of this for any adjustments and to ensure that your new hearing aid is working for you as well as it can.

Your success with hearing aids will be helped by wearing them regularly and taking good care of them.

In addition, an audiologist can tell you

To cope during the adjustment period, wear the hearing aids at home (where there are a lot of soft sounds) for at least a few hours per day, and longer if possible. Also, try not to fiddle with the volume too much. Allow soft sounds to be louder

See OTC HEARING AIDS , page 14

about new hearing aids and devices that become available. He or she can also help you make changes to meet your needs.

The goal is that, in time, you find a hearing aid you’re comfortable with and that enhances your ability to hear and communicate.

Shingles are not just a band of blisters

By Jeffery Wheeler, M.D.

Dear Mayo Clinic: A friend recently went through a bout of shingles. I really don’t know much about this condition, but I know it was painful. How do you get it? Is there a treatment or vaccine for it?

A : Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a common condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Not everyone who has had chickenpox will develop shingles. However, after years of lying dormant in nerve tissue near the spinal cord and brain, the virus can reactivate in some people.

As it becomes active again, the virus

causes pain, tingling and, eventually, a rash of blisters that doesn’t last long.

The reason for shingles is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you age.

Preventing shingles

Vaccines reduce the risk of developing shingles. The Shingrix vaccine is approved and recommended for people 50 and older, including those who have had shingles or previously received the Zostavax vaccine, which is no longer sold in the U.S.

Studies suggest that Shingrix protects against shingles for more than five years. The vaccine is given in two doses, with two to six months between doses.

Signs and symptoms

Shingles usually affects only a small section on one side of your body and may include:

• Pain, burning, tingling, itching, numbness or extreme sensitivity to touch

• Red rash with fluid-filled blisters that begins a few days after the pain and lasts two to three weeks before scabbing over and healing

• Fever, headache and/or chills

• Sensitivity to light

• General feeling of unease and discomfort

Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense.

Depending on the location of the pain, sometimes it can be mistaken for a symp-

than normal, so the brain will get used to them more quickly.

restaurant or party, background noise will likely prevent you from getting 100% clarity understanding speech.

Once soft sounds don’t seem as loud, try wearing the hearing aids in other environments, such as the grocery store, the car or a noisy restaurant.

Unlike many prescription hearing aids that can automatically adjust the volume when there’s a significant change in noise around you, OTC hearing aids must be adjusted manually.

For example, you might need one setting for watching TV, another for doing yard work, and one for being in a noisy environment, like a restaurant.

Some situations can be particularly difficult for hearing aid use. For example, at a

You want the hearing aid to pick up sounds in front of you and the background noise behind you. So don’t sit with a wall behind you at a restaurant; sit with the loud tables behind you.

Using a hearing aid outside on windy days can be challenging. Wind blowing over the hearing aid microphones creates excessive noise. Wear a hood or a hat to help block the wind and reduce noise.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit health.harvard.edu. © 2024 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Is it an allergy, intolerance or sensitivity?

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

Q: My gut seems to be more sensitive to a variety of foods. Does this mean I have developed food allergies?

A: Many people confuse food sensitivity with a food allergy or food intolerance. While these conditions can have similar symptoms, they are quite different.

Food allergy: A food allergy happens when the body mistakes a food ingredient as harmful and defends itself by turning on your immune system, such as producing high levels of a type of antibody called immunoglobulin E. Sometimes a food allergy

Shingles

From page 14

tom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash. The shingles rash commonly occurs on one side of the torso. It often appears as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of the back to the breastbone, following the path of the nerve where the virus has been dormant.

However, the rash can occur around one eye, or on the neck or face.

Shingles generally lasts between two to six weeks. Most people get shingles only once, but it’s possible to get it two or more times.

It’s important to see a doctor

See a healthcare professional as soon as symptoms of shingles appear, especially if:

• The pain and rash occur near an eye — if left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage

• You’re 60 or older — because age significantly increases the risk of complications

• You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system due to cancer,

is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

Common food allergies include immune reactions to shellfish, nuts, fish and eggs. A person with a food allergy may have symptoms similar to an intolerance or sensitivity, but he or she can also experience hives, throat swelling and shortness of breath.

Food intolerance: A food intolerance usually means you lack or have an insufficient amount of one or more enzymes needed to break down certain ingredients.

For example, the inability to digest lactose — the sugar in dairy products — is a

medications, chronic illness or other conditions

• The rash is widespread and painful

When identified early, shingles can be treated with prescription medications to shorten the infection and reduce the risk of complications.

Shingles normally isn’t serious, although the rash can cause an eye infection. Another complication, called “postherpetic neuralgia,” causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or years.

While shingles cannot be cured, getting vaccinated and seeking prompt treatment with antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications.

Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

The Shingrix shingles vaccine will be available at the Beacon’s 50+Expos on Sunday, October 20 in Silver Spring, Maryland and Sunday, November 3 at Springfield Town Center in Virginia.

common food intolerance. When lactose is not absorbed, it ferments in the colon and leads to symptoms like gas, bloating, nausea and intestinal pain.

Food sensitivity: This is an individual’s adverse physical response to a certain food, beverage or ingredient. The symptoms might be only digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas. However, you may also have fatigue, headache or “brain fog.”

For example, some people have digestive problems and other symptoms after eating too much gluten — a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This is different from celiac disease, which is caused by an immune reaction to gluten that requires complete avoidance of the protein.

A good approach to manage food sensitivity is to adopt a short-term elimination diet. It works like this: You eliminate a particular food for about two to four weeks to see if your symptoms recede. Then you reintro-

duce the food gradually, according to your tolerance, to see if your symptoms reappear. Elimination diets are trial-and-error, and you may have to try different foods and amounts until you find the right combination. While it’s possible to follow an elimination diet on your own, consider requesting consultation with a nutritionist or dietitian.

These professionals can guide you through the process and help you track your progress, as well as offer support tools like creating a food diary and symptom chart.

A dietitian or nutritionist also can make sure you don’t cut out foods that provide necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Once you’ve identified the problem food (or foods), you are guided on whether to adjust portions, change your eating habits — like when, and how fast, you eat — or switch out the food entirely.

Primary Care At Home

Providing primary care medical services in the comfort and convenience of your home for patients who have difficulty traveling to an office.

Ikon Health offers:

• Care coordination with specialists.

• Access to services such as x-ray and blood work, at home.

• Close communication with patients and their loved ones.

• Accepting Medicare, Medicaid and most major supplemental insurance plans.

October is Fire

This message is brought to you by

Fire Chief Corey Smedley of the Montgomery County Fire and Resc Service. Chief Smedley is honored bring you invaluable information to help keep you and your family safe during Fire Prevention Month and throughout the year.

This year’s Fire Prevention Theme is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for

Prevention Month

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Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are designed to alert us to the presence of toxic levels of smoke or poisonous carbon monoxide. Each alarm has sensors that will cause a loud, repeating BEEP if it detects certain amounts of those hazards

Alarms will only work if they have power (battery or wired to your electricity), if they are clean from dust, and if they have been tested by

dust,adteya ebeetestedby pushing the test button. Just like you k now your seat belt will work when you hear it click , so you can trust your smoke alarm when you test it and hear it beep.

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Facts to counter five myths about protein

By Matthew Kadey

Your body needs protein — that’s a fact.

“Protein does a lot of great things for us. It helps build and repair muscle and other tissues, moves oxygen and nutrients around our bodies, and is involved in many important bodily functions, including digestion,” said registered dietitian Caroline Susie, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

But many of us are confused about everything from how much protein we need, to whether all sources are created equal.

Let’s clear up some common myths.

Myth 1: We all need the same amount.

For adults, the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. “This should not be considered an optimal amount for many people,” said Susie. “The RDA is the lowest bar to prevent deficiency.”

Susie said that our ideal intake depends on many factors, including our activity level, age and whether one is pregnant or lactating.

“As we age, we start to lose muscle mass, so we can benefit by eating more protein,” Susie said. All this is to say that you need to individualize your protein intake based on

your specific needs.

Myth 2: All plants are created equal.

With the rising popularity of plant-based eating, you may have heard that foods like beans and nuts are great sources of nonmeat protein. Not necessarily.

A cup of cooked black beans has 15 grams of protein, but 41 grams of carbohydrates, so it should be considered as more carbs than protein.

An ounce of almonds has 6 grams of protein, yet double that amount of fat, so should be thought of primarily as a fat source and protein secondary.

“You need to be more careful with plantbased eating that you are getting all the protein you require,” Susie said. There are plant options like tofu, tempeh and seitan that tend to be more protein-dense.

But as long as you are meeting your individual total protein requirements, Susie said it does not matter much if they mostly (or all) come from plants.

Myth 3: Eat only lean protein.

You’ve probably heard that if you are eating animal-based proteins you should focus mostly on “lean proteins.”

The loose definition of a lean protein is one that has no more than three grams of

fat per ounce. That would include items like chicken breast and pork tenderloin.

Salmon, full-fat yogurt and eggs, on the other hand, would not be considered lean proteins.

Some of the focus on lean proteins is a holdover from the days when fat was the enemy.

“You want to limit your intake of saturated fat from meats like beef, but you still can eat animal-based protein foods that are higher in fat,” Susie said.

For instance, she zeroes in on salmon, a serving of which has three times as much fat as a serving of ham. But some of those fats are in the form of heart-healthy omega-3s.

Eggs provide not just fat and cholesterol, but also a range of essential micronutrients as well as very high-quality protein.

“Fat in yogurt can make it more satiating,” Susie noted. You need to look at the whole nutrition picture of non-lean proteins.

Myth 4: You need protein powder.

While protein powders are a great protein source, Susie stressed they shouldn’t act as a substitute for whole food sources, both animal and plant alike.

“Food is so much more than protein, and can provide valuable nutrients that you don’t get in powders,” Susie said.

- Terry Murphy

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And she believes most people can meet their protein needs without using powders.

Myth 5: High protein diets are best for weight loss.

By increasing both the thermic effect of eating — the energy (calories) you need to spend to process what you eat — and satiety, protein is often heralded as the macronutrient you need more of to shed pounds. And, yes, some research suggests that focusing on eating a bit more protein can help with weight loss efforts.

But Susie cautioned that there is a limit to this effect, and simply adding a lot more protein to your diet is not a weight loss guarantee. “Too much of anything is excess calories that can contribute to weight gain.”

She recommends taking a more personalized approach to your nutrition, and finding what works for you instead of just eating large amounts of protein.

And, yes, it is possible to lose weight and keep it off on a diet that contains a good balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384. EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2024 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

- Kathy Sloan

Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Can a healthy diet impact Alzheimer’s?

By Margaret Foster

In recent years scientists have been looking at the link between the gut microbiome and cognitive function.

They’ve discovered that the bacteria that live in our intestines can influence our hormones, neurotransmitters and proteins, which affect our brain.

Now there’s a study at George Washington University underway to look at the connection between the food we eat and Alzheimer’s disease — one of only two such studies so far.

The first study, published last year, found that people with Alzheimer’s have different gut microbiomes than people with healthy brains.

First, though, what’s a microbiome?

“The microbiome is the microbes, or

bugs, that live on us and in us and are an important part of our ecosystem,” said Dr. Leigh Frame, principal investigator of the study and associate professor of Clinical Research and Leadership at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Without them, we wouldn’t function properly.”

The current trial, Frame said, is a proofof-concept study that will help shape a larger, international trial aimed at a discovery that could potentially lead to the prevention of — or maybe even cure — Alzheimer’s.

“The goal of this study is to find out if there’s anything in the gut microbiome that may help us come up with a plan to prevent cognitive decline, slow the progression or — this is our hope — to reverse it,” Frame said. “If people improve their diet, does

their microbiome improve?”

You can participate in the study if you’ve been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s.

If you’re experiencing memory loss but haven’t been diagnosed yet, Frame’s team can connect you with doctors who can test your cognition and give you a diagnosis.

“We are willing to help people get that diagnosis if they suspect they have it,” Frame said.

Virtual study from home

There are no in-person visits for this study; everything is done from home.

First, Frame’s research team will interview participants by phone or Zoom and give them a quick, online dietary assessment and cognitive test.

“The cognitive test is an interactive video game. There’s nothing particularly difficult about it,” she said.

The dietary assessment is easy to take, too, because it’s an interactive, imagebased test rather than an arduous, multipage survey, Frame pointed out.

Next, Frame’s team will give tailored suggestions to participants about their eating habits.

“We’re just providing them with examples of how to improve their diet,” she said. They’re basic dietary suggestions, such as “Take a probiotic” or “Eat more vegetables,” Frame explained — “the type

of things you hear all the time anyway.”

However, participants are free to eat whatever they want, and they don’t have to take the recommended probiotic, she said. They simply have to report that at their threemonth and six-month remote check-ins.

Since this is a home-based study, Frame’s lab will mail a package with a prepaid return label for three stool samples over six months (one at baseline, one at three months and one at six months).

International researchers ‘excited’ Frame presented her lab’s interim findings in June at the International Human Microbiome Congress in Rome.

“Everyone is so excited about this work, and they understand how difficult it is to do this type of work with this patient population,” Frame said.

Her colleagues were particularly impressed with the study’s innovative online dietary assessment.

“This is something people who have mild cognitive impairment can do. It’s not too hard,” Frame said.

The study is still recruiting. Frame said it’s a good opportunity to learn more about your microbiome and to contribute to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.

To find out more about the study, called “Brain Health and the Microbiome,” visit bit.ly/microbiomepamphlet, email aalqalam@gwu.edu or call (843) 801-2008.

Choosing next year’s Medicare drug plan

Dear Savvy Senior,

What’s the easiest way to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans? My Part D premium is increasing again in 2025, so I would like to use the fall open enrollment to find and sign up for a cheaper plan.

—Shopping Around

Dear Shopping,

I’m happy to hear you’re comparing your Medicare coverage options this fall!

Research shows that many Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage can lower their prescription drug costs by shopping among plans each year during the open enrollment season, which runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

There could be another Part D plan in your area that covers the drugs you take with fewer restrictions or with lower costs. You never know until you look.

You’ll also be happy to know that, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, in 2025, annual out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000 for all Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

Here are some tips and tools to help you shop and compare Part D plans.

Plan Finder Tool

If you have internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare drug plans in your area and enroll in a new plan online, and it only takes a few minutes.

Just go to Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at

Medicare.gov/find-a-plan. You can do a general search on the right side of the page, under the title “Continue without logging in.”

If you wish to save your drugs and pharmacy information (for future ease in returning to the site), you can log into or create your Medicare account on the left side of the page.

Next, type in your ZIP code and choose the type of coverage you’re looking for, enter the drugs you take, choose the pharmacies you use, and indicate whether you are interested in a mail order option.

The plan finder will then display results for plans available in your area.

Be aware that a plan may not cover all the drugs you take, but it may cover alternatives. It will also tell you if the plan has a deductible and how much the monthly premium is.

Initially, the plans will be sorted by “lowest drug + premium costs.” This is the closest estimate to what you may pay out of pocket for your Part D coverage for the year.

You can select “plan details” to find out more specifics about coverage, including any coverage restrictions that might apply to your drugs.

Before enrolling, it is a good idea to call the plan directly to confirm any information you read on the plan finder, as information may not be completely up to date.

If you need help, you can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and they can do this comparison for you over the phone.

“Phil

— Cynthia R

Or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. To reach SHIP in Montgomery County, call (301) 255-4250; Prince George’s County: (301) 265-8471; Washington, DC: (202) 994-6272; Arlington, VA: (703) 228-1700; Alexandria, VA: (703) 746-5999; Fairfax, VA: (703) 324-5851.

Any changes to coverage you make will take effect Jan. 1, 2025. If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year.

Extra Help

If you’re lower-income and having a hard time paying your medication costs, you may be eligible for Medicare’s “Extra

Help” program. This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments.

To be eligible, your annual income must be under $22,590 ($30,660 for married couples living together), and your assets (not counting your home, personal possessions, vehicles, life insurance policies or burial expenses) must be below $17,220 ($34,360 for married couples).

For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help. Send your senior 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.

EARLY VOTING CENTERS

Activity Center at Bohrer Park 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center 14625 Bauer Drive, Rockville, MD 20853

Damascus Community Recreation Center 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus, MD 20872

Germantown Community Recreation Center 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown, MD 20874

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866

Mid-County Community Recreation Center 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring, MD 20906

101 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850

Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Rec. Ctr. 13850 Travilah Road, Rockville, MD 20850

Potomac Community Recreation Center 11315 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854

Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Station 4 17921 Brooke Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Silver Spring Civic Building 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Wheaton Community Recreation Center 11701 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

White Oak Community Recreation Center 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20904

For nearby Early Voting locations, driving directions and wait times, text EV + Zip Code to 77788 (example: EV 20879) or visit

SAVVY SENIOR By Jim Miller

Sheet pan panko honey mustard chicken

By The Associated Press

Plain ol’ boneless, skinless chicken breasts are given new life in this sheet-pan meal by Caroline Chambers.

The chicken gets coated in a honey mustard sauce, then topped with buttery breadcrumbs that get crunchy and browned in the oven.

Her kids love this dish — they call it giant chicken nuggets (feeding kids is all about the marketing, right?).

The broccoli gets the frico (melted cheese) treatment — crisped up with Parmesan.

Then dunk everything in the extra honey mustard sauce — that’s what it’s there for.

Panko Honey Mustard Chicken (with Frico Broccoli)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ cup grainy Dijon mustard

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1½ teaspoons garlic powder

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Kosher salt

4 (6- to 8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter

¾ cup panko breadcrumbs

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound broccoli florets

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the mustard, honey, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder, the red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt. Reserve 3

tablespoons of the sauce in a serving bowl.

3. Add another ½ teaspoon salt to the sauce in the large bowl, then add the chicken and turn to coat evenly. If you have time, let the chicken marinate at room temperature for up to 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the refrigerator). But don’t worry if you need to cook it right away!

4. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe medium bowl in 20-second bursts, stirring after each, or in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the panko, ¼ cup of the Parmesan, the remaining ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a big pinch of salt (do this right in the skillet if you used one to melt the butter).

5. On the prepared baking sheet, toss the broccoli florets with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and ¾ teaspoon salt to coat evenly. Nestle the chicken breasts among the florets. Top with the panko mixture, pressing firmly to adhere.

Discover an unmattcched retirement

liffeestyle

6. Roast for 12 minutes, then gently toss the broccoli and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan on top. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 160°F, 5 to 7 minutes more.

7. Serve the chicken and broccoli with the reserved honey mustard sauce alongside for dunking.

Swap: Use finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts instead of breadcrumbs for a gluten-free spin. Swap in asparagus or green beans for the broccoli.

Shortcut : Use store-bought honey mustard instead of making your own.

extensive amenities and stunnin e campus. Y 60-acr Yoou can also p ahead for your health and ﬁnan with our convenient LifeCare pl

Nov. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. at 900 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, MD. Registration not

call (240) 773-9420.

Six nutrients that may lessen depression

Depression, a pervasive mental health issue, often leads people into a relentless cycle of medication adjustments without addressing underlying causes.

The prevalent use of antidepressants, although beneficial for some, has drawn criticism due to side effects and the inability to address root causes, such as nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances.

levels, potentially reducing depression symptoms.

SSRI antidepressants can increase serotonin activity, but only temporarily. And this comes at a cost. Common side effects include nausea, insomnia and sexual dysfunction, among others.

By Suzy Cohen

Despite these drawbacks, the medications are not designed to correct fundamental biochemical imbalances, which are often the precursors to mood disorders.

These meds don’t provide any minerals or vitamins, which are required to make serotonin and norepinephrine — two key neurotransmitters involved in producing “happiness” and mood stability.

Serotonin is predominantly made in the gut, not your brain. Foods rich in tryptophan — such as dates, papaya and bananas — can naturally enhance serotonin

On the supplement front, several nutrients play crucial roles in neurotransmitter synthesis:

1. Vitamin C is essential for the metabolic pathways that produce serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

2. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) influences the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, impacting mood and energy levels.

3. The active form of folic acid called 5-MTHF facilitates the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters. The prescription drug called Deplin is made of this B vitamin.

4. Magnesium plays a multifaceted role in mental health, affecting serotonin regulation and helping prevent migraines, a common comorbidity with depression.

5. Nutrients that support the thyroid, such as tyrosine and iodine, are essential for the production of thyroid hormones. Additionally, mood instability is commonly associated with hypothyroidism.

6. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng) is an adaptogenic herb that supports adrenal health and helps the body cope with stress, enhancing overall well-being.

Seek a holistic strategy

While it’s tempting to seek a simple solution through medication or natural remedies alone, the most effective approach to managing depression involves a comprehensive strategy that addresses dietary, biological and psychological factors.

It’s crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to tailor treatment — whether through dietary adjustments, supplements or conventional medications.

The conversation around depression treatment is evolving, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that respects both the complexity of the human body and the individual experiences of those affected by mood disorders.

Millions of people are searching for alternatives that tackle the root causes of depression beyond just managing symptoms. And you will probably agree that mental health concerns have become more preva-

lent in the post-pandemic season…not to mention the constant social media “irritations” that never let our brain shut off.

This shift towards a more integrative perspective broadens treatment options and aligns more closely with the body’s natural processes. I’m a big believer in holistic approaches and nourishing the body’s metabolic pathways.

Does this topic interest you? I have a more comprehensive version of this article with additional treatment options. To have it emailed, please sign up for my free weekly newsletter at suzycohen.com.

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

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe.

Dear Seniors,

By Charon P.W. Hines

Falls Prevention Awareness Day DIRECTORS MESSAGE

As we welcome the crisp air and vibrant colors of fall, we are reminded that this season symbolizes new beginnings. It’s a time to embrace change, reflect and prepare for the months ahead as the year ends. In September, we celebrated Healthy Aging Month with a focus on embracing aging and the tools necessary to do so with grace and vitality.

One of the highlights was Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 38th Annual Centenarian Salute, where we honored more than 50 remarkable centenarians in our city. These individuals have lived long lives and profoundly impacted their families, communities, and history here in the District. Each centenarian was presented with a medallion and certificate on behalf of Mayor Bowser and DACL.

Hearing their life stories was truly inspiring, as they shared insights into how they reached the incredible milestone of 100 years or more. Whether through weekly church attendance, regular exercise, or staying socially active, one common theme stood out: they remained engaged with life. Their commitment to staying physically and socially active has contributed to their longevity.

This serves as a reminder to us all — whether you’re approaching your golden years or supporting a loved one as a caregiver — that staying connected to your community and continuing to do what you enjoy are key components of healthy aging.

We also participated in Falls Prevention Day, holding awareness events in all eight wards. Falls are a significant health concern, with one in four individuals over 65 experiencing a fall each year. Sadly, falls are one of the leading causes of loss of independence for seniors. Thankfully, there are proven strategies to reduce the risk. We can prevent falls and protect ourselves by staying active, getting regular vision checks, making homes safer, and speaking with healthcare providers about potential health issues.

As we move forward into October and beyond, let’s focus on active aging, community engagement and embracing all the changes this season offers. Let’s also remember to care for our bodies and minds as we age, ensuring that we live long, fulfilling and healthy lives.

In Service, Charon P.W. Hines Director, Department of Aging and Community Living

In partnership with Home Care Partners and George Washington University, DACL held Falls Prevention Awareness Events in all eight wards, keeping older adults informed and healthy. The day focused on fall prevention, balance, holistic health tips and more, empowering seniors to lead healthier, safer lives.

7th Annual Brain Games

In partnership with DC Public Library, DACL brought District seniors the 7th Annual Brain Games! Seniors from all eight wards competed in a Jeopardy-style trivia game to see who would bring home the prize. After 7 rounds of trivia, the Ward 6 Cerebrals took home the trophy as the 2024 Brain Games winner! Congratulations Cerebrals!

Ms. Senior DC Coronation Luncheon

H Street Festival Mayor Bowser’s 38th Annual Centenarian Salute

The District’s oldest residents enjoyed an incredible experience at Mayor Bowser’s 38th Annual Centenarian Salute! The event was filled with lively music, a delicious lunch, and warm welcoming remarks from DACL Director Charon P.W. Hines, who beautifully acknowledged the wisdom and resilience these centenarians embody. Each honoree received a special medallion and certificate from Mayor Bowser, honoring their immeasurable impact on both the DC community and the world at large. Happy Centenarian Day 2024!

Members of the DC Cameo Club and the DC community gathered to shower the newly-crowned Ms. Senior DC, Janet Corbitt, before she is set to compete at the National Ms. Senior America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in early October.

Celebrating holidays in a new community

By Margaret Foster

When some people consider moving to a retirement community, they worry that the holidays won’t be the same. No yard decorations, no parties, no feasts at the dining room table.

As communities in the area gear up for Thanksgiving and the December holidays, though, there’s plenty of reason for cheer. From “ugly sweater parties” to early-bird New Year’s Eve parties, there are many ways to catch the holiday spirit.

“There’s a ton of hustle and bustle within the community,” said Faith Edwards, director of resident Life at Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Ashburn, Virginia. “You can definitely feel the holiday spirit just walking around campus.”

At Ashby Ponds, the holiday season ramps up this month with a Halloween masquerade ball around a new fire pit. “Halloween has always been a very big deal on our campus,” Edwards said.

For Thanksgiving next month, residents won’t have to cook unless they want to. Instead, they can reserve tables for up to a dozen family members at any of the community’s nine restaurants.

“Thanksgiving is a full Thanksgiving spread — more than we would probably have at our dining room tables at home,” Edwards said.

For a little more privacy and a homelike feel, there are also a few private dining rooms residents can reserve (no cooking required). Each one has an adjacent living room. One even has a pool table and shuffleboard court.

If you still want to cook that turkey and mashed potatoes yourself, there are private conference rooms where you can serve friends and family.

“Our residents will reserve some of these spaces, and their guests will bring an amazing potluck,” she said.

If you want your family to stay overnight, many communities offer guest rooms for rent to out-of-town family members. These rental apartments are limited in number, so residents need to book early.

The Christmas season kicks off with a tree-lighting ceremony with Victorian carolers, hot chocolate and, of course, a visit from Santa.

Perhaps Ashby Ponds’ most unique traditions are its gingerbread house contest and “ugly sweater party,” where staff “decorate this whole pub with ugly holiday decorations.”

Holidays occur year-round

At Homecrest House in Silver Spring, Maryland, there’s a holiday celebrated almost every month.

“We celebrate anything and everything here,” said Ileana Lopez, marketing coordinator. “[Our residents] love to celebrate all the holidays.”

Of course, food takes center stage at any party. For Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving and other holidays, Homecrest House — an affordable, non-denominational rental community serving kosher meals — invites residents’ family members to an early afternoon supper, served at 2 p.m.

That way, Lopez said, residents “are able to dine with their family, and then go out later with friends from the community if they want to.”

At Chevy Chase House, a boutique assisted living community in upper Northwest D.C., residents celebrate almost every holiday, year-round.

There’s a Cinco de Mayo party in May with colorful decorations, peppy music and Mexican food. A six-foot-tall Easter Bunny visits in the spring. In the fall, there’s a special Yom Kippur break-fast with traditional favorites.

And in December, residents can get into the Christmas spirit on an excursion to the decked halls of Hillwood Gardens, Marjorie Merriweather Post’s mansion.

Some places have their own unique celebrations. Every November, Churchill Senior Living, an independent living communi-

ty for people 62 and older in Germantown, Maryland, throws an anniversary party and Resident Appreciation Night.

“It’s a great time of year to reflect and appreciate all who help make Churchill Senior Living a great community to call home,” said Matthew Parreco, director of the community, which opened in 2001. Then, in December, the property is transformed with holiday décor. “At Churchill, we try to make our residents feel that the entire building is their home, not just their apartment,” Parreco said. “We have caroling for the residents and try to make it very festive for all to enjoy,” he said.

When it comes to the Jewish holidays, many communities, including Erickson properties and Homecrest House, serve Passover dinner to all of their residents.

Ashby Ponds adds latkes, matzoh ball soup and other traditional foods to the menus of its dining halls for Jewish holidays. In addition, its Jewish community takes a role in crafting the menu for special meals.

“They’ll work with our catering department and come up with a meal and have a full, catered meal one night during Hanukkah,” Edwards said.

After downsizing, should you buy or rent?

By Evan T. Beach

I grew up in a Red Sox household. The mere sight of the Yankees’ logo caused a gag reflex until my early 30s when I realized just how ridiculous that was.

People tend to have similar feelings about renting vs. owning a home. They pick a side and stick with it. Logic be damned.

For retirees, there are many more fans of owning than there are of renting, with Vanguard estimating that 80% of retirees are homeowners.

In the first half of this article, I’ll side with the majority and give you the four reasons it may make sense to buy a property again in retirement. In the second half, I’ll point out four reasons to rent (or move to a retirement community) as a retiree.

Reasons to buy

1. You’ll have stability. Homeowners don’t have rent increases. Homeowners don’t have landlords who decide to sell their house. The homeowner is ultimately the one who gets to decide whether they stay.

Moving in your 20s with a friend’s pickup truck is not fun. Moving in your 70s after trying to get rid of 40 years’ worth of stuff is much, much less fun.

Buying your retirement home increases the odds you’ll stay put.

2. You could benefit from possible tax advantages. Prior to 2018, I would have deleted the “possible” above. Under the current tax code, the Tax Foundation estimates that only 13.7% of filers itemize their deductions.

If you fall in that group, or would because of a purchase instead of a rental, then there are tax advantages to homeownership. You can deduct property taxes and mortgage interest, subject to various significant limits, from your gross income.

[Ed. Note: However, you may have to pay capital gains taxes if you don’t reinvest in another home.You can exclude up to $250,000 of gains ($500,000 if married filing jointly) if you have owned and lived in the home you sell as your primary residence for two out of the last five years.]

3. You’ll have control. If modifications are necessary in order to stay in the new home — a ramp, hand railings, etc. — there is no landlord who has to approve that decision.As a homeowner, you control pretty much every aspect of the interior.

4. Your home would be an inflation hedge. Ah, the “i” word. Inflation hedges today are as beloved as the Macarena was in the 90s. Unfortunately, homeownership as an inflation hedge was much more powerful when mortgage rates were at 3% instead of over 6%.

The idea here is that the principal and interest portions of your monthly payment are fixed so long as your mortgage is fixed. Your payments should not increase by as much as rent can.

The decision to downsize, followed by

what you downsize into, can be a make-orbreak moment for many retirees. Do it properly, and you’ll be financially secure as you sail into the sunset. Make a location mistake or overextend yourself, and you could be in a very precarious position. Start with location. Social circles are especially important in this decision. From there, establish both rental and purchase budgets. Knowing where you’re going to go and what you can spend makes the other parts a lot easier. Happy hunting!

Reasons to rent instead

I know: You’re a homeowner. You’ve owned a home for 40 years. You’d rather pay your mortgage than someone else’s. I have heard it before. And, sometimes, I agree.

When I finished college, I moved to Philadelphia. It was a city that I knew very

little about outside of its snowball-throwing football fans. A year later, I moved again. A year after that, my company moved me to Virginia.

The point is that when life is shifting quickly, it makes sense to have housing that is flexible enough to shift with it. I find the retirement downsize to be one of those times.

1. You can try (the neighborhood or new city) before you buy. If you’re moving to a new location, a Google search of “best neighborhoods in (fill in the blank) for retirees” probably isn’t sufficient. My retired dad loves the walkability of his neighborhood. My retired father-in-law loves the privacy his neighborhood offers him.

I worked with two couples who bought and sold, sold and bought, all during Covid. It turned out that the places they loved to vacation weren’t as appealing when they moved there. This eliminated almost 25% of

the equity they originally had.

The option to rent is admittedly easier in urban locations than in rural ones. It’s possible that the home style, layout or location is only available for purchase.

That said, there are a number of companies, such as AMH (formerly American Homes 4 Rent), that are attempting to institutionalize single-family rentals. In the future, the rental experience may be more consistent across the country.

2. Your costs are more predictable. Initial homeownership costs tend to be unpredictable. The third home I bought required three new basement floors within the first year due to flooding.

When you rent, you can reliably plan your costs during your lease term. The flip side of this is that you have no control

BEACON BITS

Nov. 7

ZOOM TO HAWAII WITH JC HAYWARD

Collette, the travel company, has designed a 10-day trip to Hawaii for Beacon readers. A virtual travel presentation for those interested in the trip to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island will take place Thursday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. JC Hayward, former WUSA-TV news anchor, will be helping lead the trip and will be present on the Zoom with others from Collette to answer questions. To participate, go to tinyurl.com/45aashrh at the scheduled time. For more information about the trip, call 1-800-581-8942 and refer to trip #1278994, or visit gateway.gocollette.com/link/1278994.

LEARN HOW TO MAKE MINIATURES

Oct. 19

Learn how to craft a tiny world by participating in a group project for beginning miniaturists. Supplies will be provided. This free workshop takes place Sat., Oct. 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Damascus Library, 9701 Main St., Damascus, MD. Register at tinyurl.com/MiniaturesWorkshop. The Miniaturists Club, for experienced crafters, meets from noon to 4 p.m. that day at the same location. For more information, call (240) 773-9444.

LIVE STRONGER. LIVE Better

Reap the Benefits of Exercise Physiology — Included in Monthly Rent

At Chevy Chase House, we know that when your body doesn’t feel up to par, it makes it difficult to participate in the activities you enjoy most. At our community, enjoy the services of an exercise physiologist included in the monthly rent, making it convenient to attend daily classes designed to strengthen muscles and improve mobility.

Holidays

From page B-2

Family-free holidays

What if you don’t have any family nearby to celebrate with? Each retirement community goes to great lengths to make sure no one is left alone.

One group of residents at Ashby Ponds launched a special club so they can stick together, Edwards said.

“The Solo Club is for residents who really don’t have anybody in the area. They meet all the time throughout the year, but especially around the holidays. They do a good job of supporting one another.”

For the big kahuna of all holidays,

Buy or rent?

From page B-3

upon renewal of the lease and may find yourself moving again.

3. Your home is turnkey or move-in ready. We often think of turnkey in terms of moving in. You “turn the key,” and your move-in is complete. I view the benefit of renting as being turnkey more based on the fact that you can “turn the key” and leave. It is rare that I come across a retiree who doesn’t have travel as a major line item in their annual budget. When I leave my own home for vacations, I check the HVAC, sump pump and outside drains, and I make sure my dog is taken care of. Renters only have to think about their dog.

4. Your kids won’t fight (as much). Several years ago, I was teaching a course to a local group of estate attorneys. One of the attendees, a well-respected trust and estate attorney, claimed he had never handled an estate with three or more children where there wasn’t conflict.

The center of the conflict is often the real estate. Michael wants to hang on to the property so all the grandkids have a

New Year’s Eve, streamers, balloons and cocktails (or mocktails) are de rigueur , but carousing until after midnight is optional.

At Ashby Ponds, residents have three galas to choose from and a popular buffet. Partygoers wrapped up early last year, Edwards said.

“They pretended at 9 p.m. that the ball dropped. It’s a fun chance to get dressed up and go out, but you don’t have to stay up all night.”

For more information, call Ashby Ponds at 1-877-211-6289, Chevy Chase House at (202) 905-0708, Churchill Senior Living at (301) 528-4400 or Homecrest House at (301) 244-3579.

place to gather. Katie wants to turn it into a rental to increase passive income. Sean wants to sell it because he needs the cash.

People incorrectly assume that real estate is more tax-friendly to inherit than a more liquid taxable investment account. This is incorrect. Both are considered capital assets that should receive a “step-up” in basis at death.

Of course, your financial situation and the life you want to lead should dictate whether you rent or own. The Financial Planning Association published extensive research in six different markets to try to figure out which was more advantageous. It was inconclusive.

To be clear, I am not for one over the other. I am for being open-minded.

I am against the idea that all of us should count on this scenario: “You get married, you buy a house, you have kids, you die happy.” Life is more complicated than that.

Evan T. Beach is a certified financial planner.

Housing News

By Beacon Staff

Chef at Falcons Landing wins top award

Falcons Landing, a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Potomac Falls, Virginia, has won an award for its cuisine.

Its executive chef, Jeffrey Potter, was named the Best Chef in Loudoun County as part of the Loudoun Times-Mirror’s Best of Loudoun contest in June.

This isn’t the first award for Falcons Landing; it has received many since it opened in 1996. So far this year alone, it has won awards from U.S. News, Newsweek and

Virginia Living’s Best of Virginia Northern Region, including Best Retirement Community, Best Independent Living, Best Continuing Care Retirement Community and Best Short-Term Rehabilitation Center.

“Thanks to Chef Jeff, Falcons Landing’s dining program is genuinely exceptional, significantly enhancing our residents’ quality of life,” Gary Handley, CEO/President, said in a statement.

Potter oversees the property’s three restaurants. “Having a personal connection with our residents, their families and guests makes this more than a job,” Potter said in a statement.

“We are a community of foodies dedicated to having the highest quality and variety in our culinary program throughout all our restaurants and dining options.”

Falcons Landing’s independent living units are open to anyone who served in the

military or U.S. government for at least four years.

They are also open to people or spouses with “a significant special relationship with the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, federally funded research and development centers or other government agencies associated with the national defense.”

Falcons Landing’s long-term care, rehab, nursing, assisted living and memory care units are open to the general public. For more information, visit FalconsLanding.org or call (703) 293-5054.

New rental community opens in Clarksburg, Md.

A new rental community that caters to older adults has opened in Clarksburg, Maryland. Willow Manor at Cabin Branch is open to people 62 and over and their younger family members. Pets are also welcome, including large dogs.

The community offers residents a fitness center, café, computer room and yoga room, and there are walking trails nearby. Willow Manor at Cabin Branch, which is managed by Habitat America, LLC, is an equal housing opportunity community. Applicants must meet maximum and minimum income level requirements. For more information or to schedule a personal tour, visit WillowManorCabinBranch.com or call (301) 528-4000.

Help for caregivers of people with dementia in N. Virginia

In July, a new government program became available in Northern Virginia to help older people with dementia and their caregivers.

Located just south of Clarksburg Premium Outlets, Willow Manor’s four-story building includes 125 studio, one- and twobedroom units. The development was built with the help of tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, which makes prices more affordable. One-bedroom rents start at $1,499; two-bedrooms at $1,899.

Through the program, known as GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience), families are assigned a free care navigator to coordinate the patient’s care, improve quality of life for them and their family caregivers, and help patients remain in their homes or retirement community.

Before the program launched on July 1, “You were on your own” in managing care,

Methods to fund long-term care at home

By Mario Hernandez

Several years ago, when I was helping care for my parents toward the end of their lives, they were adamant they wanted to stay in their home for as long as possible.

I quickly realized we would need lots of help to honor their wishes. Finding quality and reliable in-home long-term care (LTC) was expensive, but fortunately, they had the resources to pay for it.

Witnessing how important it was to my parents to stay in their home, I encourage clients to plan ahead for LTC expenses be-

Housing News

said Jodi Lyons, chief care officer at CareBrains, a care management practice in Northern Virginia that is authorized to provide services under GUIDE.

“If you wanted to really get information and referrals and make a care plan — somebody to help talk to your lawyer, help you pick a home care agency or an assisted living or memory care facility — you had to do it yourself” and pay for it privately.

Now, patients and their caregivers can get much-needed guidance, education and even respite care (up to $2,500/year), all covered by Medicare.

cause many of us are living longer and need specialized care more often. It is estimated that half of all Americans age 65 and older will require at least some long-term facility care.

Today, LTC costs have continued to rise. According to Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, the median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home in the DMV area was nearly $165,000.

Fortunately, the options to help pay for these expenses have also expanded. The earlier you start planning, the more control you have over your future, empower-

So far, however, the program is only available to people with Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage. Long-term nursing home residents are not eligible, either.

“The goal is to support the family caregivers so the loved one can stay in the community — which could mean a memory care unit, though not a nursing home — and keep the family caregiver healthy as well,” Lyons said. She noted that unpaid caregivers often develop “horrendous” health problems due to stress and fatigue.

For more information, Virginia residents can go to CareBrains.com or call (703) 436-0150. GUIDE services are scheduled to be available in D.C. and Maryland starting in July 2025.

ing you to make informed decisions and feel more secure.

Following are some options to help pay for these costs:

Cash reserves

Similar to saving for college costs, you can estimate future costs and what you need to save each month. Although selffunding is possible, it is usually prohibitive. You would need significant savings to cover potential LTC costs.

Long-term care insurance

This is a more favorable option than selffunding. Long-term care insurance provides financial security for long-term care costs.

Similar to car or home insurance, you pay

a premium regularly. While there’s no return if you don’t use the insurance, the peace of mind it offers can outweigh the cost.

Hybrid cash value life insurance

This form of permanent life insurance includes a savings component. Over time, the savings can grow, and most policies allow you to add an LTC rider. This rider provides a monthly benefit that is a percentage of the death benefit.

For instance, a $500,000 death benefit policy could provide a $10,000 monthly income benefit for 50 months.

This option is advantageous as it combines LTC benefits with potential life insur-

Ask an At-Home Care Expert

Alex Petukhov, Owner Best Senior Care

Q: We want to stay in our home but need some help. What should we consider when hiring a caregiver?

A: That’s a wonderful choice! Many seniors prefer to age in the comfort of their own home—and who wouldn’t?

When looking for a caregiver, it’s important to focus on three key qualities: compassion, reliability, and experience. Ask yourself, “How would I want my caregiver to treat me?”

At Best Senior Care, our caregivers aren’t just workers—they’re family. Many have been with us for years and have cared for their own loved ones. We respect, support, and take great care of them, so they can focus on providing exceptional care to you.

All our caregivers are carefully screened, trained, insured, and bonded. They’re dedicated professionals who find personal fulfillment in helping others. This is much safer and more reliable than hiring someone informally.

Let us help you find the perfect caregiver who will treat you with the respect and compassion you deserve.

ance proceeds for your loved ones. Keep in mind that you need to qualify for life insur-

ance to take advantage of this option.

Asset-based LTC annuity

For a lump-sum premium, this annuity provides a monthly LTC benefit for a cer-

Learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it’s being used in everyday tasks, such as voice assistants, customer service and healthcare. Find out how to take advantage of this technology in a free lecture from Senior Planet on Mon., Nov. 4 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, MD. Registration not required. For more information, call the library at (240) 773-9410 or Senior Planet at 1-888-713-3495. ORDER FREE COVID TESTS

The U.S. government’s free at-home Covid-19 test program reopens in late September. Get up to four nasal swab tests mailed to your home for free via USPS when you visit COVIDTests.gov. While supplies last.

tain number of months. If you do not use the benefit, these annuities can also offer a death benefit.

This type of annuity product can be better than the long-term care insurance and life insurance options since, in most cases, you are accepted based on minimal qualifications.

The qualifications will depend on the life insurance company sponsoring the product. This means that you can receive LTC benefits while also having a potential death benefit for your loved ones.

Fixed index annuity

Some fixed index annuities offer LTC income benefits. These annuities typically have minimal qualifications for the product and require a lump-sum premium. It might be a good alternative if you cannot qualify for insurance or an asset-based annuity.

Home equity line of credit

This can be a good option for funding LTC costs if you have sufficient equity in your home and can make the required monthly payments.

Reverse mortgage

Selling an asset

This is how my parents funded their LTC costs. This can be real estate, an investment account, etc. It can be an effective way to fund expenses; however, you need to have assets set aside to fund this cost.

Selling your home

In some cases, selling your home and moving into a care facility could be a way to cover potential long-term care costs. This can be a good option if you feel comfortable with the idea of moving to a care facility instead of receiving home care.

However, it’s important to consider the emotional impact of leaving your home. For couples, selling your home may not be feasible unless it can fund both a care facility and cover the costs of alternative housing for the other spouse.

The above list is not all-encompassing. Insurance may be the best way to maximize the LTC benefit and get the highest value for the lowest cost.

However, it is crucial to speak with a financial planner who can assist you in determining the best method to cover these potential expenses based on your circumstances.

This can be better than a home equity line of credit since you do not have to make payments on the loan during your lifetime. However, the initial and ongoing costs are typically more expensive than a home equity line of credit.

Complete and return this coupon to be eligible for our drawing!

One lucky winner will receive a $100 cash prize courtesy of

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION

Check off advertisers of interest and mail this entire coupon to the Beacon with your contact info. Or you may take a picture of your completed coupon and email it to housing@thebeaconnewspapers.com. All coupons received by November 8 will be entered into a random drawing to win $100 cash. You need not request information to win.

HOMEHEALTHCARE

r Best Senior Care

HOUSING

.B7

r Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . . .B5, B10

r Brooke Grove Retirement Village

.B10, B11, B12

r Cascades at Frederick

r Chevy Chase House

r Cohen-Rosen House

.B8

.B4, B13

r Grandview, The/Erickson .B5, B14

r Greenspring/Erickson . .

.B5, B13

r Falcons Landing

r Harmony at Chantilly

.B10, B16

.B3

r Harmony at Spring Hill . .B3, B11

r Homecrest House

r Housing Initiative Partnership

r Park View Bladensburg .

r Park View Columbia .

r Park View Emerson

r Park View Laurel

.B6, B12

.B4

.B15

r Residences at North Hill . .B7, B14

r Riderwood/Erickson . . . . .B5, B12

r Ring House . .

r Vinson Hall

.B2, B11

.B8, B14

r Willow Manor at Cabin Branch . .B6

r Woodleigh Chase/ Erickson

.B5, B13

REHABILITATION/ SKILLED NURSING

r Brooke Grove Retirement Village

r Hebrew Home of Greater Washington .

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 return the free info form on page 9 together with this coupon.

.B12

.B2

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village

301-321-8707

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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ashby Ponds

877-664-5445

44795 Audubon Square

Ashburn, VA 20147

AshbyPonds.com

Ashby Ponds Introduces Brand New Senior Living

There’s even more to love at Loudoun County’s premier destination for vibrant senior living. Our newest residence building with brand new apartment homes, is now open. This is the last independent living residence building planned for Ashby Ponds. Don’t wait to act so you can enjoy a vibrant retirement with:

•More Amenities like on-site dining, multiple fitness centers, two pools, 100+ clubs and activities, and much more

•More for Your Money with our inclusive Monthly Service Package

•More Peace of Mind with an on-site medical center and full-time security staff

Call 1-877-664-5445 today for your FREE brochure!

LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

Falcons Landing (703) 293-5054

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

Located in scenic Loudoun County, Falcons Landing is a nonprofit, CARF-accredited Life Plan Community. The award-winning community is pleased to announce Independent Living eligibility now extends to any person who has served at least four years in the uniformed services or a U.S. government agency, as well as those connected to the national defense community. As always, direct admission to health services is available to those seeking a higher level of care, regardless of military or government service.

Offering an array of resort-style services and amenities, Falcons Landing provides older adults with a unique opportunity to retire in style among peers. Call to learn more about eligibility options and to schedule a tour.

How to save on energy bills: Get an audit

By Patricia Esswein and Donna LeValley

With extremes of weather and inflation hitting your budget — not least the rapidly rising energy costs — you may want to reduce your utility bills. To maximize savings and increase your comfort, an energy audit — a.k.a. a whole-house assessment — and home retrofit may be in order.

Think of an energy audit as a physical for your home. Are you suffering from any of these common symptoms?

• One room is always too cold or hot

• Your house quickly gets dusty

• You suffer from frequent sinus or respiratory problems

• Dank smells rise from the basement or crawl space, or smoke from wildfires creeps inside

• In winter, you feel cold drafts

• In summer, your second story feels hotter and more humid than the rest of the house, although your air conditioning runs all the time

• You’ve compared your energy costs with your neighbor’s, and yours are much higher for similar homes

Benefits of an audit

A whole-house assessment recognizes that each of the components or systems in your home — the exterior shell, insulation, heating and cooling systems, ductwork and ventilation — work together, and recommends fixes to optimize efficiency and comfort.

Most houses have inefficiencies. Correct them and you can cut your energy usage and bills by as much as 25%, according to Home Performance with Energy Star, a national program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“If you reduce energy cost, you can increase comfort, and vice versa,” said Jonathan Waterworth, a certified energy auditor in Phoenix, Arizona. He said some of his clients cut their energy use by 30%.

An energy audit and recommended improvements have other benefits besides saving money, including:

• You can maximize the life of your current heating-and-cooling system, and when those components ultimately fail, you’ll be ready to replace them with higher-efficiency electric ones, such as a superefficient heat pump.

• You’ll reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re thinking about going solar, reducing your home’s energy demand first will allow you to install a smaller, less expensive system.

• When you sell your home, proven energy efficiency will appeal to buyers, and they may be willing to pay a premium.

How does an energy audit work?

Energy auditors will visually evaluate your home inside and out. Their diagnostic tools include a blower-door test, which measures the draftiness of your home, and thermal infrared scans to locate drafts and missing insulation.

They’ll identify problems, prescribe solutions and, after any work is completed, test again to ensure the problems have been solved.

Your energy auditor should be trained and certified through one of two organizations: The Building Performance Institute sets standards for residential energy auditing and upgrading, and certifies the contractors it has trained and tested.

Home Performance with Energy Star assists local program sponsors — typically a state energy agency, utility company or nonprofit organization — to train contractors in the whole-house approach.

Waterworth suggests looking for energy auditors with at least five years of experience. “The more [audits] you do, the more things you can identify and know how to deal with in the most beneficial and cost-effective way,” he said.

What does an energy audit cost?

An assessment typically costs $200 to $600, depending on the location, age, size and design of your home, and could take several hours, according to homeguide.com. [Ed. Note: An assessment from Pepco for its customers costs $100 (after a $300 rebate); an assessment from Dominion Energy is free after rebate.]

You can offset the cost of a home energy audit up to 30% (a maximum of $150) with the federal home energy audit tax credit.

Regardless of whether the auditor you hire will perform the assessment alone or do some of the retrofit work as well, they should recommend all the appropriate improvements and prioritize them by costeffectiveness.

Waterworth said the most typical issues he encounters are air leakage in the outer shell of the home, air leakage and resistance to airflow in heating and cooling ductwork, negative air pressure in the home that invites outside air (including polluting particulates) to infiltrate, and poorly installed insulation that doesn’t meet its performance rating (R-value). He said his customers’ typical cost to retrofit is $9,000 to $12,000.

At a starting point for budget-conscious homeowners, some utilities provide free “audits,” but they are typically limited in scope. Or you can try online tools, such as Energy Star’s “Home Ener-

Consider an electric leaf blower (or rake)

By Jessica Damiano

When I was a kid, I used to help my mother clear leaves the old-fashioned way — with a rake.

These days, I don’t see many rakes in my neighborhood. It seems everyone has a leaf blower or a landscaper who uses one, often at ungodly hours, which disrupts humans as well as wildlife.

The near-constant cacophony has led many communities around the country to restrict or completely ban gas blowers, which typically are louder than electric or battery-operated models and pollute more, too. Gas-powered leaf blowers expel fumes and pollutants like carbon monoxide.

Some municipalities offer residents rebates or trade-in programs to replace their gas equipment with electric.

Health, environmental woes

The noise isn’t merely a nuisance. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prolonged exposure to noise louder than 70 decibels may damage your hearing. Gas-powered leaf blowers can register as high as 100 decibels at the source (the levels decrease with distance).

Most electric models range from 59 to 70 decibels. For context, a motorcycle engine registers at about 95 decibels; normal conversation is around 50.

And it’s worth noting that each 10-decibel increase is not merely 10 points louder but 10 times louder, so 80 decibels is a tenfold increase over 70.

Both gas and electric blowers stir up particulate matter, dust, mold, pollen and pathogen-containing bird and animal feces into the air that we (and insects and wildlife) breathe. Folks with respiratory issues or allergies may be especially sensitive.

Both types also blow away mulch, contribute to soil erosion, and disrupt delicate ecosystems. The soil depletion makes

Energy audit

From page B-10

Rebates and tax credits

With massive funding provided to the states by the Inflation Reduction Act, lowto-moderate-income households can get rebates covering half or even up to 100% of the cost of installing new high-efficiency electric appliances, such as induction cooktops or heat-pump clothes dryers. All households, regardless of income,

plants more vulnerable to disease and infestations, which could lead to higher pesticide usage.

The machines’ forceful blasts, which travel up to 200 mph, can displace, injure and kill pollinators and other insects. Birds, too, can become startled into changing their feeding, nesting and mating habits.

Go electric or go natural

Share this information with your friends and neighbors. If you hire a landscaper, express your concerns and ask them to use electric equipment. If enough people do that, the demand will hopefully effect change.

If you have the time and inclination, rake. On hard surfaces, use a broom. Those are sustainable alternatives that also provide good exercise and some peaceful time alone with your thoughts.

Clear the lawn, but consider leaving leaves where they fall in beds and borders.

Leaf sweepers, which operate like push mowers, capture and collect leaves, twigs and other garden debris in an attached bag. This offers an additional advantage over blowers, which simply move debris out of the way or into a pile that needs to be gathered before reuse or disposal. Electric models of sweepers are also available.

If you must use a blower, opt for an electric or cordless rechargeable model as a cleaner, quieter compromise. The initial price tag might be higher, but you’ll quickly recoup the cost with savings on gas and oil.

And if a gas-powered model is truly your only option, do yourself, your neighbors, and the birds and bees a favor by running it sparingly and only at half-throttle.

Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up at jessicadamiano.com/newsletter for weekly gardening tips and advice.

can take a tax credit that will deduct from your tax bill 30% of the cost to install solar panels and battery storage systems, make home improvements to reduce energy leakage (with an annual limit of $1,200), or upgrade HVAC equipment.

For more information, visit DSIRE, dsireusa.org, “the database of state incentives for renewables and efficiency,” searchable by ZIP code. See homeenergysavings.pepco.com or 1-866-353-5798 to schedule an appointment. In Virginia, visit domsavings.com or call 1-888-366-8280.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ring House 301-816-5012

1801 E. Jeﬀerson Street Rockville MD 20852 www.smithlifecommunities.org

Ring House has been the ideal choice for those who want a vibrant and care free retirement since 1989. Ring House is located in the heart of Rockville — easy access to entertainment, shopping, family and friends.

From the elegant setting as you walk through the door to the variety of attractive apartments, Ring House has everything you need to make the most of your retirement living. Rent includes breakfast and dinner, housekeeping, a fitness center plus an award-winning activities program. A full range of services is available on the Ring House campus, including a medical clinic and therapy services. Make Ring House your home.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Brooke Grove Retirement Village

301-321-8707

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 • MEMORY CARE

Harmony at Spring Hill (571) 348-0575

8350 Mountain Larkspur Drive Lorton, VA 22079 www.harmonyatspringhill.com

Imagine a senior living community that feels more like home, where the dining is always delicious, the apartments are spacious and inviting, and your days are filled with activities that are meaningful to you. Harmony Senior Services at Spring Hill is designed to offer residents an unparalleled living experience, surrounded in comfort, free from the burdens of home maintenance, and always supported to their highest level of independence. Take the first step toward a brighter future. Schedule your visit today.

Brooke Grove Retirement Village

301-321-8707

18100 Slade School Road

Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org

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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood Retirement Community

877-742-4390

3140 Graceﬁeld Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 Riderwood.com

Discover Riderwood, Silver Spring’s Favorite Senior Living Community

Active seniors agree: Riderwood is Silver Spring’s premier continuing care retirement community, for so many reasons.

1. Maintenance-free Living

Apartment homes are big on style, budget-friendly, and maintenance-free.

2. Resort-Style Amenities and Activities

Dine with friends, work out or swim, take a class, or watch a performance. It’s all just steps from your door.

3. Health and Well-Being Services

The on-site medical center is staffed by full-time providers. Should your needs ever change, multiple levels of care are available on-site.

Get your FREE brochure today! Call 877-742-4390 or visit Riderwood.com.

INDEPENDENT & PERSONAL CARE COMMUNITIES

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

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

Homecrest House is a non-profit, affordable, subsidized senior adult community nestled amidst 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with its own lake, neighboring Leisure World. The three residential buildings on the B’nai B’rith Homecrest campus provide 235 apartments for Independent Living, some designed for adults with physical mobility challenges, and 42 apartments offering Enhanced Care Services. We are excited to have you come and see our elegantly renovated community buildings. You’re invited to tour this incredible transformation.

For a personalized tour now, call 301-244-3579 or visit us at www.homecresthouse.org

Kitchen modifications for aging in place

Dear Savvy Senior,

My 77-year-old mother, who loves to cook, has had several kitchen-related accidents over the past year.

What tips can you recommend for making a kitchen safer and more practical for people like her without doing a big, expensive remodel?

—Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring,

There are a number of small improvements and simple modifications you can do that can make a big difference in making your mom’s kitchen safer and easier to maneuver.

By Jim Miller

Depending on her needs, here are some tips for different aspects of her kitchen:

Lights: If the lighting in your mom’s kitchen needs improvement, replace the old overhead fixture with a bright new ceiling light, and add LED lighting under upper kitchen cabinets to brighten up her kitchen countertops.

Floors: If she has kitchen throw rugs, to reduce tripping or slipping, replace them with non-skid floor mats — or consider gel mats, which are cushiony and more comfortable to stand on for long periods. GelPro.com and WellnessMats.com offer a nice selection.

Cabinets and drawers : To reduce bending or reaching, organize your mom’s kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items she most frequently uses are within comfortable reach.

You can also make her lower cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or lazy Susans.

Consider installing pull-down shelves in her upper cabinets (see Rev-a-shelf.com) so she doesn’t have to get on a stool to reach things on high shelves.

I also recommend replacing her cabinet and drawer knobs with “D” or “C” shaped pull-handles because they’re more comfortable for arthritic hands to grasp than knobs.

Faucet: If your mom has a twist-handle kitchen faucet, replace it with an ADAcompliant single handle faucet, or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucet. They’re easier to operate, especially if she has hand arthritis or gripping problems.

And for safety purposes, set her hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent possible water burns.

Microwave and cooktop safety: If your mom’s microwave is mounted above her stove, consider moving it or get her a small microwave for the countertop so she doesn’t have to reach over a cooktop to insert or remove food.

And if you’re worried about your mom forgetting to turn off the stove, there are automatic shutoff devices you can purchase and install to prevent a fire.

For instance, iGuardStove (iGuardFire.com) makes one of the best smart shutoff devices for gas and electric stoves.

And to guard against microwave fires, there’s the SmartMicro microwave shutoff made by Pioneering Technology (PioneeringTech.com).

Shopping for appliances

If you’re looking to upgrade some of your mom’s appliances, here are some different features to keep in mind:

Refrigerator: French-door refrigerators that open in the middle are great for older adults because they make it easier to see and reach what’s inside.

Pullout adjustable height shelves and a water/ice dispenser on the outside of the door are also very convenient.

Stove or cooktop: Look for one with controls in the front so your mom won’t have to reach over hot burners to turn it off, and make sure the controls are easy to see.

Flat surface electric or induction burners, or continuous grates on gas stoves, are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next. And ask about automatic shut off burners.

Oven: Self-cleaning ovens are a plus. And consider an oven with a side-swing door. They’re easier to get into because you don’t have to lean over a hot swingdown door.

Also consider a wall-mounted oven, installed at your mom’s preferred height to eliminate bending.

Dishwasher: Consider a drawer-style dishwasher that slides in and out for easier access and, if possible, have it installed on a platform raised 12 to 24 inches above floor level so it can be loaded and unloaded without bending over.

Washer and dryer: Front-load washers and dryers with pedestals that raise the height around 24 inches are also back savers and easier to access.

SAVVY SENIOR

Retire abroad to expand your horizons

By Kathleen Peddicord

Traditionally, retirement has been about withdrawing from the rest of the world and a formerly busy life.

I’ve never understood why anyone would want to do that. After decades of working hard, paying taxes, raising kids, and deferring what you wanted to do because you had no choice but to spend your time doing what you had to do, this phase — no matter at what age you’re fortunate enough to embrace it — is your chance to be more engaged than ever in the world, in life and in the pursuit of happiness.

Retirement is an opportunity to think big and act boldly, a chance to broaden your perspective and your world, to leverage your decades of experience to take control of your future. Retirement is your chance to add a dose of swagger to your lifestyle.

As you prepare for this critical juncture, don’t let geography get in the way. Looking beyond your borders is the key to ensuring yourself the richest retirement possible.

I made my first international move from Baltimore, Maryland, to Waterford, Ireland, with the support of my longtime employer. He sent me off to establish an EU base for his publishing firm.

When I left Maryland bound for a job in Ireland in 1998, I had no idea where that move would lead. No idea that seven years later I would swap Waterford for Paris...then, four years after that, Paris for Panama City. Had I tried to plan for the long term, I might never have left Maryland. Looking too far into the future can be overwhelming.

Taking the all-important first step requires a leap of faith.

Whatever nest egg you’ve got — shoestring or luxe — that budget will buy you a more engaging, more satisfying, and more adventure-filled lifestyle in many, many places around the world than wherever you’re moving from.

Retiring overseas equals retiring up. A Pacific beach home in Panama costs a fraction as much as one on the coast of California, and a penthouse in Medellín, Colombia, one of the most fully appointed cities in the world, can cost less than a singlestory duplex outside Des Moines.

Meeting new people

Another concern for people considering an overseas move is whether they’ll find like-minded friends, a welcoming community, and in some cases, love.

One of the most unexpected and welcome surprises for many senior expats is the discovery that in their adopted country, their age earns them a level of respect not found back home. Western culture places a higher value on youth than most other cultures. The overall trend in elderly care in the United States has most older folks re-

moved from society at a certain point. This is not how things operate elsewhere.

Other cultures, particularly in Asia, have traditions of treating older people with more consideration. Seniors are recognized for the unique contributions they can make to society at this stage.

As an older woman living overseas, you might find yourself on the receiving end of acts of chivalry such as having the door held open for you. Some Americans may view this as a form of sexism, but in many cultures it’s a sincere form of courtesy and respect.

The family is still the center of society across many Latin American, Asian and European cultures, and older people are visible participants in that society. Communities across Portugal provide programs for seniors at schools, libraries, plazas, churches and civic centers. In Spain, it’s common to see groups of elegantly dressed elderly ladies socializing over drinks in the town plaza.

And in Vietnam you’ll see groups of seniors gathering for exercise and dance classes in local parks. Such activities are a great way for seniors, especially single seniors, to make connections.

Health Insurance

The next important practical issue you should address early in your retire-overseas planning is health insurance. You have four options: an international policy, a local policy, a travel policy, or no policy at all.

The final option can be more reasonable than it may seem. In some places — Thailand, for example — medical care is so affordable that it can make sense to pay for it as you need it rather than insuring against it.

Local insurance is cheap but limited in its coverage. International insurance is more expensive — though less expensive than comparable coverage in the United States — and can cover you anywhere you roam.

One of the main advantages of an international health insurance policy is that it can cover you under all circumstances anywhere in the world, making it a good option if you plan to move around among two or three countries. It’s also perfect if you intend to divide your time between your chosen overseas haven and the United States because it can be possible to purchase an international health policy that will also cover you when you return or pass through Stateside.

This is the kind of coverage my husband and I carry through Azimuth. Our policy covers us anywhere in the world, including in the United States. It’s a relative bargain at $400 or $500 a month or less.

Local medical insurance is even more affordable. Coverage can cost less than $100 a month. In some countries, depend-

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Woodleigh Chase 1-877-211-6968

4595 Burke Station Rd. Fairfax, VA 22032

WoodleighChase.com

Woodleigh Chase Is Now Open!

For distinctive retirement living, look no further than Woodleigh ChaseSM, the premier senior living community now open in Fairfax. Enjoy a variety of stylish floor plans, exciting amenities, and services to enhance your health and well-being—all in a location you love!

Stay active and enjoy countless opportunities to explore hobbies, entertainment, education, and more. The on-site medical center is just steps from your door and security staff trained in emergency response is just moments away.

Don’t wait to learn more!

Only a limited number of apartment homes remain. Call 1-877-211-6968 or visit WoodleighChase.com for your free brochure.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Chevy Chase House 202-905-0708

5420 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015 www.chevychasehouse.com

Chevy Chase House provides boutique assisted living for older adults looking for personalized care without compromising lifestyle and active living. In addition to 24-hour nursing available, the community features Life Inspired, the daily activities program that promotes overall wellness, socialization, and a Chef-prepared dining experience. Unique to the Chevy Chase House is its partnership with FOX Rehab to not only provide on-site physical, occupational and speech therapies, but also employs a full-time exercise physiologist to help residents with improving balance and mobility, strength training, and fall prevention programming.

Conveniently located on Connecticut Avenue in D.C.

Call 202-905-0708 to schedule a tour or stop by Chevy Chase House to learn more.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Greenspring Retirement Community 877-589-9570

7440 Spring Village Drive • Springﬁeld, VA 22150

GreenspringCommunity.com

Greenspring. Vibrant Senior Living. Unmatched Peace of Mind.

An active lifestyle, with peace of mind awaits you at Springfield’s premier continuing care retirement community.

Stylish Homes. A Wealth of Amenities.

Choose from a variety of stylish apartment homes to suit your needs and budget. You’re just steps from the fitness center, pool, clubhouses, and seven restaurants.

Exceptional Financial Value

We make life predictable and simple. Your Monthly Service Package covers all utilities, home maintenance, and amenities in a single bill. Health and Well-Being Services

Receive convenient care when you need it at the on-site medical center. The community also includes higher levels of care If your needs ever change.

Get your FREE brochure today! Call 877-589-9570 or visit GreenspringCommunity.com.

Retire abroad

From page B-13

ing on your age, it can cost less than $50 a month. However, local insurance providers accept new policyholders only through a certain age that is typically younger than the cut-off age for an international policy. You should speak with an expert to decide what makes most sense for you.

Take a test spin

So don’t sell your home. Keep your car if you like it. Lock the lawn mower in the garage. Pack a few bags and head off to some place that’s got your attention for a month or two. Don’t even think about buying a house or anything else. Rent small and modest or arrange an extended stay in a B&B or guesthouse. Keep it low-key and low pressure.

Because this doesn’t have to be like jumping off a cliff; you can ease into the

idea. Then, if you find the place you take for a test spin disappointing in some way, you can return home (remember, your car’s waiting for you in the driveway) and begin planning your next “go-overseas” holiday. Give someplace else a chance. You could continue like this for years. You’d be enjoying some of the benefits of a new life in a new country (maybe a dramatically reduced cost of living, better weather, cheaper medical care, new friends, grand adventures, plus little luxuries you probably can’t afford now like full-time household help), but you’d have a safety net.

What you’ll find is that with each gooverseas foray your confidence will build and your plan will evolve.

You could begin renting out your place back home when you’re not using it. This income would help to subsidize the expense of your adventures abroad. You could, eventually, invest in new digs in a place you decide you like well enough to

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want to return to regularly.

Take it one step at a time and let your retire-overseas plan develop organically. Just as there’s no one-size-fits-all overseas haven, neither is there a go-overseas plan that suits everyone.

Retired overseas, you’ll become a better you. Everything and everyone will be different. Every day will present discovery. Your brain will work overtime to connect

grow more resourceful, more self-assured, and quicker on your feet in real time. Six months after you’ve made your move, you might not recognize yourself.

Excerpted from At Home Abroad: Retire Big on Little. Reprinted with permission. Kathleen Peddicord is co-owner of Live and Invest Overseas. She wrote her first book on retiring abroad at the age of 24 and has spent time in 75 countries since then. She divides her

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Conceptual Rendering

Former Marylander Kathleen Peddicord, pictured here outside the Louvre at her new home base in Paris, divides her time between France and Panama. Peddiford has been writing about traveling, living and retiring overseas for more than 30 years.

Best states to live as a retiree in the U.S.

By Kathryn Pomroy

Florida, Colorado and Virginia top the list of the best places to retire in the U.S. in 2024, according to a new survey from WalletHub.

The survey compared the 50 states across 46 key indicators — from tax rates and the cost of living, to access to quality medical care and fun activities.

Regardless of the reason for moving in retirement — living closer to family, cheaper cost of living, downsizing, better healthcare or just wanting a different view out of the kitchen window — being informed before you change your address is a smart move.

So, which are the best states to retire in? We’ve highlighted the top 10.

Among the top 10 states to retire, Florida comes in at number one, followed by Colorado, Virginia, Delaware, Wyoming, Idaho, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Montana and Pennsylvania.

The next 15 states also earn the distinction of being good states to retire in 2024: South Carolina, Utah, South Dakota, Arizona, North Carolina, Massachusetts, California, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska, Maine, Alabama and Ohio.

“Being retired brings freedom, but it also naturally comes with financial constraints, with many seniors living on a fixed income,” said Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst.

“To make the most of your retirement savings, you should retire in a state where the cost of living and tax rates are friendly to retirees if you have the resources,” Hope said.

“You should also consider factors like the quality of the state’s healthcare system and the abundance of activities that you enjoy.”

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Worst states

The worst states for retirees, according to WalletHub, are those that lack those factors as well as those that have a high cost of living. These 10 worst places to retire in 2024 generally have higher taxes and

crime rates and inadequate healthcare facilities.

Of the 10 worst states to retire in, Kentucky holds the unfortunate distinction of being No. 1, followed by New Jersey, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New York, Washington, Arkansas and Illinois.

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It’s time to review your Medicare coverage, especially if you’re in an Advantage plan. See page 26.

2.7 billion IDs hacked in recent breach

You are probably affected

the Dominion Post Editorial Board

National Public Data (NPD) is a private company based in Florida that collects information for background checks. Its databases held 2.7 billion people’s full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, alternate names and birth dates and email addresses.

NPD was hacked in April, and possibly again this summer, and all that information became available for purchase on the dark web — the seedy underbelly of the internet where criminal activity thrives. [Ed. Note: In addition, the personal information of almost one million Medicare beneficiaries was exposed during a data breach in May 2023.]

This is a sobering reminder that our personal data — everything from our usernames and passwords to our birth dates and Social Security numbers — is just a few keystrokes away from falling into the hands of criminals.

What you need to do

There are a few ways to check if your information was part of the leak. You can visit NPDbreach.com to see if you were part of this specific leak and, if so, which pieces of your personal information may have been compromised.

Even if you have no reason to think NPD

would have your information, it’s still important to check their site. Criminals can do a lot of damage to your credit, finances — even your reputation — with just your full name, date of birth and address, let alone your Social Security number.

If your information has been leaked, you can protect your credit by putting a freeze on it with the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The process is not difficult, but you have to contact each of these companies individually. [See box at right for more information.]

If you plan to make any major purchases (like a car or a house) or open any new accounts (like a credit card or with a new bank) that require a credit check, you will have to contact each agency to lift the freeze temporarily. Call it a “thaw,” if you will.

Scammers go phishing

One of the things that worries experts about the NPD hack is that it compromised not only identifying personal information but also people’s email addresses.

Those things in combination make it easier for scammers to impersonate someone (spoof their email) or create sophisticated phishing emails targeting specific users.

Phishing scams are designed to get people to voluntarily offer up personal infor-

Five tips to protect your ID

• Sign up for 24/7 credit monitoring and activate two-factor authentication.

• Never respond to unsolicited requests for information.

• Review credit card, bank accounts and loans on a regular basis.

• Place a free fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts.

• Freeze your credit reports with these three primary companies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. In this context, “freezing” means that you prohibit your credit reports from being ac-

mation — usually Social Security or credit card numbers — or click on malicious links, often by pretending to be legitimate companies or by scaring people into clicking links to avoid supposed late fees or other strange charges to their accounts.

Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for people’s email addresses to be leaked as part of — for lack of a better word — minor data breaches. So many apps and websites require us to put in our email addresses, even if we don’t set up an account with them. That information gets stored

cessed by most third parties. When you need to access your credit reports to open new accounts or obtain loans, contact all three companies to “unfreeze.”

You can open an account and freeze your credit reports at no cost at all three companies (though they offer paid plans for additional services).

Here are the websites you will need to visit: experian.com/freeze/center.html; transunion.com/credit-freeze; equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/.

and can be compromised. Same with usernames and passwords.

You can check to see if your email address — and related information — has been leaked in any data breach at haveibeenpwned.com. If your email address has been part of any known hack, this site will tell you, along with which data breach compromised your address and what other kind of information may also have been exposed by that hack.

Retirement survey’s surprising results

By Charlotte Gorbold

Retirement planning isn’t the most obvious hook for a love song. “We can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear,” sings Paul McCartney in the Beatles song “When I’m 64.” “We shall scrimp and save.” Things have panned out slightly different than McCartney, now 82, imagined. With a net worth of $1.3 billion, he’s pretty far from scrimping and saving.

Surprisingly, while few 80-year-olds can say they’re that wealthy, many older folks in the U.S. say they’re not struggling financially either.

In fact, three in four Americans who have retired (74%) say they have enough money to live comfortably. That’s according to a sur-

vey from Gallup, which has been tracking views on retirement in the U.S. since 2002.

In contrast, the survey reveals that nonretirees are far less positive about the road ahead: less than half (45%) of this group say they’ll have enough money to live comfortably when they retire.

What accounts for what Gallup calls “the disconnect between the retirement expectations of non-retirees and the more positive outcomes among those who are now retired”? In other words, why might many retirees be better off financially than they imagined?

Reality vs. expectations

Every April, Gallup surveys at least 1,000

U.S. adults 18 and older living in all 50 states, asking for their views on personal finance and the economy, including retirement.

Gallup says the results have consistently shown a “retirement reality versus expectations gap” since it began collecting this information 23 years ago. “Non-retirees’ outlook has been consistently lower and subject to swings based on the national economic climate,” it said.

For example, just over half of those who were 45-60 in 2002-2004 felt they would have enough money to live comfortably when they retired. But 79% of this same age group, who are now retired, say they have enough money to live comfortably.

“For this age cohort of Americans,”

Gallup said, “the reality has turned out to be significantly more positive than they anticipated two decades ago.”

Social Security helps

Undoubtedly, many retirees have lower living costs than when they were working. They may have downsized in retirement, for example, or relocated to a cheaper city or region. They may be finding that Medicare is covering more healthcare costs, too.

However, Gallup highlights the “unanticipated value of Social Security in retirement” as a key factor. Data from 2019-2024 show that an average of 58% of retired

Got Medicare? You have choices to make

By MedicareResources.org

Here are some tips for choosing insurance and prescription drug coverage for the coming year during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which opens October 15 and closes December 7.

In 2024, about 34 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans — more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries. That’s more than double the percentage enrolled in 2007.

“Medicare Advantage plans are growing in popularity because they are very good at communicating with consumers and offering benefits like dental, vision and hearing care that attract interest,” said Jenny Chum-

bley Hogue, an analyst for medicareresources.org.

“Ultimately, the choice is one that deserves careful consideration each year. A plan that appears attractive at first glance could end up costing you more down the road if it’s not the right plan for your needs. The devil is always in the details.”

During Medicare open enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries who are already enrolled have a handful of decisions regarding their coverage. Options include:

• Switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.

• Switching from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

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• Switching from one Part D (that is, prescription drug) plan to another.

“There are trade-offs depending on which option you choose,” said Chumbley Hogue.

“Advantage plans tend to have a more limited healthcare provider network, and coverage for specific services may not be as robust as you can get with Original Medicare plus a supplemental (Medigap) policy to fill Medicare’s gaps. But Advantage plans also tend to be less expensive.

“On the other hand, if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and have additional coverage through Medigap and stand-alone Part D drug coverage, that could end up saving you money in the long run if you develop a serious or chronic health condition.”

Weighing pros and cons

Medicareresources.org suggests consumers take into consideration several factors when deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage:

• Provider network: Original Medicare has a broader provider network with nationwide coverage. Medicare Advantage plans each have their own network, which may be more limited in terms of providers and coverage area.

• Premiums: The average total of premiums for Medicare Advantage (including the Part B premium that is also paid by Medicare Advantage enrollees) is less than the average total of premiums for Original Medicare plus Medigap and Part D drug coverage.

• Out-of-pocket costs: Original Medicare coupled with Medigap coverage may come at a higher monthly premium,

Data breach

From page 25

Prevention

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves: use unique passwords for every site (we know — much easier said than done), two-factor authentication, and specific online security services, including antiviral software, to safeguard our information, and credit moni-

but could result in little to no out-of-pocket exposure (other than the cost of medications, which are covered separately under Part D).

With most Medicare Advantage plans, you’ll pay coinsurance and copays that could total as much as $9,350 in 2025 for services that would be covered under Original Medicare with Parts A and B (plus the cost of medications).

• Prescription drug costs: Most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Part D drug coverage. Check it to make sure. Each Medicare Advantage plan will also have its own preferred drug list, which determines how much you will pay.

If you stick with Original Medicare, you will need to choose and pay for a standalone Part D plan if you need prescription drug coverage. [See "Choosing next year's Medicare drug plan" on page 19.]

• Extra benefits: Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits — like dental, vision, hearing aids and gym memberships — that are not offered by Original Medicare (or typically covered by a Medigap plan).

• Special plans: People with certain health conditions or applicants with low incomes (e.g., eligible for Medicaid) may be eligible for special types of Medicare Advantage plans with additional benefits.

Can you change your mind?

Consumers should also consider their ability to change their Medicare coverage later on.

toring to alert us when something has happened.

The hazard of modern life is that even the most basic things we do now require us to give up personal information that is then stored electronically. And unfortunately, that information is never as safe as we wish it to be.

“If the ability to easily switch back and forth among plans is important to you, a Medicare Advantage plan offers that flexibility,” Chumbley Hogue said.

“On the other hand, your ability to switch from Medicare Advantage altogether (and enroll in or return to Original Medicare plus Medigap) could be hindered by your medical history. That’s because enrollees who have had Medicare Advantage coverage for more than a year may be denied Medigap coverage for preexisting conditions,” she said.

[Ed. Note: The only times a Medicare bene-

Retirement survey

Americans say Social Security is a major source of their retirement income, making it “the bedrock of their financial security.”

In addition, most of those surveyed say they have major sources of income in addition to Social Security.

Of those retirees who have at least one major income source in addition to Social Security, 78% say they are financially comfortable. And 82% of those who have three or more major sources of income in retirement (which may or may not include Social Security) say they’re financially comfortable.

Falling through the gaps

The survey’s findings present a rosy snapshot of retirement that may strike a chord with many of the 55.8 million people in the U.S. aged 65 and over.

But there is a flip-side. Judging by the figures, one in four retired Americans (26%) may not have enough money to live comfortably.

And while six in 10 retirees say they’re

ficiary can be guaranteed a choice of any Medigap plan without regard to pre-existing conditions is during their initial enrollment period, which occurs around the time one turns 65 or if they qualify for guaranteed issue (for example, their Medicare Advantage plan stops offering coverage in their area).]

How to compare plans

If you currently are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, here’s how to evaluate your coverage during Medicare open enrollment:

• Check whether your preferred providers are still in-network.

• Review whether your prescription drug costs change in the upcoming plan

financially comfortable with Social Security as their only major income source, four in 10 say they’re struggling. That’s reflected in figures from the U.S. Census, which found that in 2021, roughly 8% of those 65 and above lived in poverty — that’s around 4.5 million people.

So, what happens next?

By 2050, it’s predicted that 22% of the population will be 65 and over. Couple that with a Social Security system that may not be able to pay in full in a few years, and the difficulties of saving for retirement amid a costof-living crisis, and it’s not hard to imagine many retirees facing a very different set of circumstances over the next 20 to 30 years.

If you’re worried about the cost of retirement, take a moment to consider the kind of lifestyle you’ll want in your later years, then use benchmark retirement saving guidelines to help plan for that, or speak with a financial adviser.

Your future self will thank you, as McCartney sings, “many years from now.”

year, and always check multiple pharmacies to determine the right plan for you.

• Consider all of the available Medicare Advantage plans — comparing premiums, provider networks and prescription drug costs. See Medicare.gov/plan-compare.

“You really need to pay close attention to the details,” said Chumbley Hogue. “Read the fine print and reassess your plan each year to make sure you understand your plan costs and your plan benefits.”

[The same holds true for those on Original Medicare, who may choose a new Part D prescription drug plan during Open Enrollment. Go to Medicare.gov and compare all your options.]

For additional information about Medicare open enrollment, and assistance in making your choice, visit the websites mentioned above, call 1-800-MEDICARE,

or contact your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program).

To reach SHIP in Montgomery County, call (301) 255-4250; Prince George’s County: (301) 265-8471; Washington, DC: (202) 994-6272; Arlington, VA: (703) 2281700; Alexandria, VA: (703) 746-5999; Fairfax, VA: (703) 324-5851.

Medicareresources.org, an online source of information about Medicare since 2011, is owned by HealthInsurance.org, LLC, a corporate affiliate of a group of insurance agencies and marketers. The site provides an overview of the basics of Medicare coverage options, enrollment and eligibility; coverage FAQs; state-specific Medicare information; and a glossary of Medicare terms. Medicareresources.org is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

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Leisure & Travel Leisure &

Visit Scottish Highlands aboard a barge

By Don Mankin

I leaned back in my deck chair, basking in the sun and enjoying the warm breeze. Languorously I gazed at the lush Scottish scenery slowly slipping by.

Wait, what? Sun? Warm breeze? Scotland?

It was August, and my wife, Katherine, and I were cruising down the Caledonian Canal from Inverness, through Loch Ness, to Fort William on a colorful, retrofitted barge during what passes for a heat wave in Scotland.

The Caledonian Canal was constructed in the early 19th century to connect the west coast of Scotland near Fort William to the east coast at Inverness on the Moray Firth.

About a third of the 60-mile length of the canal is manmade. The rest runs through several lakes, including Loch Ness.

In addition to lochs, there are locks — 29 of them — to raise the canal more than 100 feet at its highest point.

The canal is located along the Great Glen, a straight geological fault that runs through the highlands, featuring some of the most historic and beautiful scenery in Scotland.

The Ros Crana — the name of the red, green and yellow barge operated by Caledonian Discovery — contains six cabins with private baths, a lounge, dining area, and spacious outdoor deck where I spent much of the week-long cruise.

River walk and Old Town

Our trip started in Inverness, the largest city in the Scottish Highlands. This walkable city features an Old Town, with historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th century, and the River Ness flowing through the heart of the city to Loch Ness.

For three days prior to our cruise, we wandered leisurely through Old Town and along the Ness Walk, a leafy promenade that lines the river on both banks. Along the flat, peaceful walk are stately homes, cafes, restaurants, a botanical garden and the 19th-century Saint Andrew Cathedral.

One of my favorite sights was the 18thcentury Old High Church, the oldest church in Inverness, whose graveyard overlooks the river.

A series of Victorian footbridges less than a mile from the city center led to a cluster of small, wooded islands in the middle of the river, then across to the other bank.

On one of the islands, I sat on a fallen tree trunk that had been carved into an imagined likeness of Nessie (the Loch Ness monster). From my perch on the Nessie log, I contemplated the rivulets on the shallow river as it flowed past.

Through lochs and locks

After three days in Inverness, it was time to board the barge and begin our cruise. For the first couple of hours, the

boat glided down the narrow canal, the gentle put-put of the engine and the tinkling of water flowing past the bow were the only sounds.

Everyone sat on the deck, drinking beer or gin and tonics, soaking up the sun and gazing at the lush, emerald green countryside.

For the next several days, we cruised, basked in the sun and hiked. The hikes ranged from a few easy miles along the shore of a loch past a castle, to a more challenging trek up and down “Wee Hill,” which wasn’t anywhere near as “wee” as we expected.

We trudged through knee high heather and pointy, shoulder high gorse. Roots, weeds and underbrush grabbed at our boots. When we finally reached the crest of the hill, we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Loch Oich in the distance.

We also hiked up a gorge, alongside plunging falls, to a café at the top for ice cream. Then we took an easy stroll on shore to explore the ruins of Invergarry castle, stronghold of the MacDonells of Glengarry, built in the 17th century.

After the castle, we walked through the woods along the shoreline, then stopped for tea and scones at the Glengarry Castle Hotel, an elegant 19th-century baronial

Leisurely hikes

My favorite hike was up a gentle slope overlooking Loch Lochy to the estate of the Cameron Clan in Achnacarry. Besides being the historical home of such luminaries as David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and James Cameron, director of the movies Terminator, Titanic and Avatar, it was also the training site for WWII commandos from the U.S., Britain and other allied nations.

More of a leisurely walk than a hike, it was the most serene of all the hikes we took. It was just Katherine and I plus another couple, so the peaceful walk unfolded at our own pace.

The scenery was bucolic, the views of the bay and our colorful barge at anchor were sublime, and the weather was balmy and bright. The easy path took us past flocks of grazing sheep, the Clan Cameron Castle, a small clan museum, and an old, rustic church.

A sailboat, stand-up paddle boards, bikes and canoes were also available on board the cruise for use by the guests. Most every day, many of the guests rode

mansion.

A “Wee Hill” in the Scottish Highlands was a challenging hike for the author and his wife, Katherine, above. The couple spent six days cruising on a retrofitted barge down a 60-mile waterway with 29 locks, stopping for short hikes along the way.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

Visit Cooperstown, N.Y. for the baseball, but stay for much more. See story on page 31.

Inverness, Scotland, has a walkable historic downtown as well as a waterfront path along the Ness River.

From page 29

bikes along the canal path, meeting up with the barge at the next dock or lock.

A transcendent moment

This was a trip filled with memorable moments, but nothing matched the afterdinner light show on the fourth day of the cruise.

We were anchored in a secluded corner of Loch Oich, just offshore the castle ruins. There was little else around us, other than water, trees, sky and a couple of other boats. The slanting rays of the setting sun, filtered through patches of mist, turned the emerald hills to gold.

As we were finishing our dinner, we spotted a rainbow through the windows of the dining cabin. We rushed outside with our cameras to capture the most incredible rainbow I have ever seen.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

With a full 180-degree arch and brilliant sunbreaks illuminating the rainbow, ground and puffs of mist, it was a spectacular symphony of vivid color. All chatter stopped. We stood hushed, enthralled by the scene.

Then our guide, sitting on the roof of the wheelhouse, began to play a wistful tune on a recorder, followed by Martin, our skipper, playing a traditional Scottish tune on a tin whistle. A sweet sound of music to accompany a long moment of breathtaking beauty.

In the words of one of the guests, “I think we found God.”

If you go

Round-trip airfare with one stop to Inverness is about $1,000 on British Airways, American Airlines, KLM and Air France

Contact Caledonian Discovery, our hosts for the canal cruise, for more information: caledonian-discovery.co.uk.

FREE TUITION AT NOVA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Virginians 60 and over are eligible for a tuition waiver at Northern Virginia Community College. The waiver can be applied toward taking classes for credit, auditing credit classes, or taking non-credit courses through Workforce Development. To learn more about this program, visit nvcc.edu/admissions/apply/senior-citizens.html or call (703) 323-3000.

Oct. 15

VIRTUAL FINANCIAL SEMINAR SERIES

The first in a four-part series on financial health and wellness covers the basics of financial planning. This free seminar, presented in association with Montgomery County Commission for Women, takes place on Tue., Oct. 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register at bit.ly/MoCofinance. For more information, call (240) 777-0140.

A once-in-a-lifetime rainbow appears over Loch Oich, Scotland, as viewed from the barge on which the author traveled.

PHOTO BY DON MANKIN

BEACON BITS

Hitting a homerun in Cooperstown, N.Y.

By Victor Block

I recently got an up-close view of the types of World Series winner rings given to baseball players on the 1924 Washington Senators team and the 2019 Washington Nationals.

In a display case nearby was a glove used by Bucky Harris who, in 1924, played second base for and managed the Washington Senators when they won the World Series.

These almost sacred artifacts are part of the collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown — a mecca for fans of America’s pastime. It’s the main reason why many people visit the little village (population about 1,800) in the foothills of New York’s Catskill Mountains.

The museum showcases the popular game through memorabilia and exhibits that provide both entertainment and education. When I asked how much time most visitors spend there, I was told, “From two hours to two weeks.”

Beyond baseball

After my introduction to countless baseball-related displays, I did a little more exploring and came up with this marketing motto for the town: “Come for the baseball, stay for a lot more.”

Begin with Cooperstown itself. There are good reasons why it has been referred to as “America’s most perfect village” and included by Travel + Leisure magazine on lists of best places to visit and best road trips from New York City.

The setting is a magnet for those seeking breathtaking scenery: rolling farm fields tucked among pockets of forest, tranquil lakes surrounded by low mountains. The town could be a movie set. (Indeed, four movies were filmed in the area

in the past five years.)

The centerpiece of the landscape is Otsego Lake, a glacier-created body of water. Cooperstown’s walkable streets lead to a spectacular lakefront park, and other leafy parks add welcome touches of Mother Nature.

Adding to the storybook décor is an architectural mixture of stone, brick and wood-frame colonial buildings and gingerbread Victorian homes, many painted in vibrant eye-catching colors.

Historic Main Street

It’s not easy to escape references to the sport for which Cooperstown is most famous. While the Hall of Fame is the main attraction here, it’s only one of an eclectic plethora of other attractions related to the sport.

At the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, I came face-to-face with life-size replicas of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and other iconic players, along with surprises like Bud Abbott and Lou Costello of “Who’s on First” fame.

On historic Main Street, I dropped by the Cooperstown Bat Company to see their professional models. You can also tour its factory, a short drive away in Hartwick, where the wood bats are made for major league players, minor leaguers and college teams.

I stepped into Main Street’s other shops and became immersed in an avalanche of apparel, baseball cards and other collectibles. I spotted men wearing baseball uniforms who had just played a few innings at Doubleday Field, which is named for the man who has been credited (erroneously) with inventing the game.

Strolling into the Doubleday Café, I encountered walls plastered with baseball

paraphernalia and photos, including one myth-spreading picture titled “Abner Doubleday, Father of Dreams.”

James Fenimore Cooper

As enjoyable as reliving the glory days of the Washington baseball team was, that only scratched the surface of the history

Cooperstown offers visitors. Some sites warrant a look-see. The 1790 House is the oldest in town, and the Nancy Williams House (1797) ranks as the oldest brick home. Pomeroy Place (1804) was built by William Cooper as a wedding gift

The Otesaga Resort Hotel overlooks Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York. The father of novelist James Fenimore Cooper founded the town. Cooper referred to the lake in his Leatherstocking Tales as “Lake Glimmerglass.”

Cooperstown

for his daughter Ann.

William, the founder of Cooperstown in 1786, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, the renowned author who spent his boyhood and last 15 years there.

Cooper is best known for his 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans as well as the earlier Leatherstocking Tales, historical novels of the frontier period that he wrote between 1823 and 1841.

Otsego Lake’s name was derived from the Iroquois word meaning “place of the rock,” which referred to a boulder known as Council Rock, a meeting place for Native Americans.

But the body of water is known as Lake Glimmerglass in Cooper’s books. So you’ll spot references to Glimmerglass all over town, in café names and an annual summer festival at the Glimmerglass Opera.

Among welcome surprises in a town so small is the Fenimore Art Museum. It houses world-class displays of American folk and Indian art, and offers a constant lineup of changing exhibits.

While hardly any of the historic sites related to James Fenimore Cooper have survived, there is one place that literary fans can visit.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

The Farmers’ Museum, a living history village that re-creates mid-19 th-century rural life, has been a working farm since 1813, when it was owned by Cooper. Collections run the gamut from an early 18thcentury plow to homemade hay rakes and a 19th-century milkfat tester.

If you go

My stay at The Otesaga, a luxurious resort hotel perched at the edge of Otsego Lake, was part of my immersion in the destination. The property transports guests back to a time of elegance and gracious hospitality.

When it was built, in 1909, it offered such then-modern amenities as an icecooled refrigerator, individually adjusted heating and a telephone in each room.

The hotel has an imposing front portico and broad veranda overlooking the 700-foot waterfront vista. Its high-ceilinged guest rooms feature chandeliers and oversized windows with views of the lake. Every detail combines comfort with opulence.

Adding to the mix is a golf course rated among the best on the East Coast, a heated swimming pool, and tennis and pickleball courts. Rooms start at $180 per night.

For more information about Cooperstown, visit thisiscooperstown.com. For The Otesaga, go to otesaga.com.

FREE ONE-ON-ONE TECH SUPPORT

Empowering the Ages, funded by AARP, provides free individualized technology support for adults 50 and older. The sessions are led by high school students who offer training in skills ranging from basic to more advanced on a first-come, first-served basis. All sessions take place in or around the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD. Pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/FreeTechHelpMD. For more information, email tech@empoweringtheages.org or call (301) 476-0186.

Peace of Mind is Priceless

A Cooperstown farm once owned by James Fenimore Cooper has been a living history museum since 1944. At The Farmers’ Museum, guests can peek into more than two dozen historic buildings, including a tavern, blacksmith’s shop, doctor’s office and general store where interpreters portray workers from the 1800s.

New rules for airlines — what they mean

You’ve probably seen some coverage of the Department of Transportation (DoT) big “New Rules” announcements this past spring. Some of the coverage has been a bit over the top, but overall the new rules are good (rather than great) news for consumers.

Refunds

Probably the most important new rule requires airlines that owe you a cash refund to make that refund fully, promptly and automatically.

the airline’s offer for any reason, it owes you a full refund.

By Ed Perkins

For years, a fundamental rule has been that when an airline cancels a flight or delays it significantly, the airline owes you its next available seat or some other voluntary accommodation. But if you don’t like

Typically, that principle applies regardless of the reason for the cancellation or delay. The company didn’t deliver what you paid for, so you get your money back.

That principle has been in airline contracts of carriage forever, and I suspect it dates from common law in times before there were airlines.

The new rule doesn’t change that principle. What it adds is a clear definition of a substantial or “significant” delay.

Many contracts are vague about this point, and DoT says that the new seat-orrefund rule will now kick in if the new schedule is three hours or more before

your original departure or gets you to your destination three hours or more after your original schedule for domestic flights (six hours in both cases for international flights).

That’s actually a bit looser than some airlines’ contracts specify, but it clarifies the situation for all of them. The refund rule also specifically includes ancillary fees paid along with airfares.

And it includes some new protections when airlines or travelers have to cancel because of communicable diseases contracted by passengers or rife at a destination.

A second part of the new rule requires airlines to make refunds promptly — within seven days for tickets bought with a credit card and 30 days for those purchased with cash or check.

When an airline facing a refund require-

ment offers you a seat on a different flight, if you don’t like their offer, the airline is free to negotiate some other arrangement with you. But once you say “no” to the airline’s final offer, it should initiate a refund without any further action on your part.

The rule also requires airlines to refund fees for checked baggage that is delayed: specifically, if an airline doesn’t deliver your mishandled bag within 12 hours after your arrival for a domestic flight or 15 to 30 hours for international flights depending on length.

To me, this misses the mark. Whenever your checked bag doesn’t arrive on the same flight you do, your hassle starts immediately, not after 12 hours. DoT could have done better.

Overall, this new rule is an improvement. It will be implemented within six months.

Junk fees

A second rule is designed to “Protect Consumers from Surprise Airline Junk Fees.”

This translates into a requirement that airlines fully disclose fees for checked baggage, carry-on baggage, and changes or cancellations by a consumer along with each fare quote.

This rule includes an interesting requirement. If you’re entitled to a “free” checked bag through your airline credit card or some other fee exemption based on frequent flyer or military status, airlines will be required to include your fee exemptions in their fare quotes and to pass that information to online ticket agencies.

This requirement imposes a substantial burden on airline data handling and software architecture. Despite a long lead time to implementation — six months to two years — I can foresee some glitches. We shall see.

Airlines are also prohibited from advertising “discounts” based on lowball fare quotes that omit stiff airline-imposed fees — fees that are really part of the fare. This rule is a no-brainer.

DoT’s releases crow about the administration’s record on consumer protection, which is pretty good, in general. Some key issues remain on the table, but these rules are steps in the right direction. DoT: Keep up the good work!

Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net or visit his rail travel website at railguru.com.

They’re creepy and kooky, but so funny

By Stuart Rosenthal

The iconic television show “The Addams Family” aired for only two seasons on ABC in the mid-1960s. But it influenced generations of viewers (in part due to decades of syndication), who to this day can chant the theme song with its finger-snapping syncopation.

To be fair, some of us got our first taste of the macabre humor of the Addams Family from the collections of New Yorker cartoons by Charles Addams that graced the waiting rooms of pediatricians and dentists from coast to coast.

But it was the television show, followed by several full-length feature films, that generated the popular interest that led to the successful Broadway musical production in 2010.

Starring Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, the show was nominated for multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Awards, including for outstanding musical, best original score and best actors.

The musical is now on stage at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, through November 10.

A familiar story line

For a show based on the, shall we say, unique characters created by Charles Addams, the musical’s plot feels familiar.

It centers around daughter Wednesday (Lydia Gifford) surprisingly bringing home to dinner a “normal” boyfriend (with whom she’s fallen in love) and his parents.

As in La Cage aux Folles, the tension is about whether the offbeat family hosting the meal can keep a lid on their eccentricities long enough for both sets of parents to agree to the match.

What turns out to be an even bigger part of the tension comes from Wednesday’s begging Gomez (played by Helen Hayes Award winner Jordan B. Stocksdale) to keep the pending engagement a secret from Morticia (well played by MaryKate Brouillet).

That puts him in an untenable position between the two women in his life — “Trapped,” as he sings in one of the show’s funniest numbers. Stocksdale does an excellent job portraying Gomez as both dashing and hen-pecked at the same time.

Almost Broadway

Despite the feelings of déjà vu from the plot, Toby’s pulls off the musical with both humor and heart. Much of that has to do with the excellent direction and choreography (yes, both) by Mark Minnick, who has worked alongside Toby’s founder and artistic director, Toby Orenstein, for some years.

The score, which as noted above was nominated for a Tony, doesn’t feature many tunes you are likely to start humming. But the major numbers manage to convey the spectacle of a big Broadway stage even on Toby’s intimate theatre-inthe-round.

That’s especially true of the numbers that feature a large cast of Addams Family

“ancestors” — ghosts who play a prominent role in the night’s events.

The principal cast members all have excellent voices and powerful delivery. But it’s the women who really get to show their chops.

I was particularly struck by Gifford (Wednesday), not only for her superb singing, but also her distinctive speaking

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

The stellar cast of The Addams Family, now playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland, brings plenty of morbid and physical humor to the Tony Awardnominated musical. The rather racy show runs through November 10.

playwrights focus on plays by women. See story on page 39.

voice. Call me crazy-with-a-z, but she kept reminding me of the young Liza Minelli in Cabaret . Perhaps it was the heavy eye makeup and black hair, but she really channeled Minelli.

Maybe I had Cabaret on my mind be-

BEACON BITS

Oct. 16

cause of the attire worn by Morticia. First, the neckline of her floor-length black gown extends “down to Venezuela,” as Gomez describes it. And for their “Tango De Amor” number near the end of the show, she removes the bottom of the dress to reveal a fishnet hose and garter ensemble worthy of Sally Bowles.

Then there’s Alice Beineke (Anna

POETRY WORKSHOP (VIRTUAL)

This free poetry workshop encourages participants to explore the writing style of Phillis Wheatley, the first African American published poet. It takes place on Wed., Oct. 16 from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom. To register, visit tinyurl.com/WheatleyPoetryWorkshop. For more information, call the National Museum of African American History and Culture at 1-844-750-3012.

Friday Morning Music Club

ENJOY OUR FREE CONCERTS

FMMC Chamber Series:

Fridays, October 4th & 11th, & November 1st & 8th at Noon

St. George’s Episcopal Church, Arlington

Thursday, November 21 at 7 p.m.

Dumbarton House, Washington, DC

Friday, October 11 & Thursday, November 7 at 1 p.m.

Strathmore Mansion, North Bethesda, MD

Friday, November 29 at 1 p.m.

Student Recital Series

Strathmore Mansion, North Bethesda, MD

Fridays, October 18 & November 15 at Noon

Live! at 10th & G, Washington, DC

Sunday, November 17 at 3 p.m. Lyceum, Alexandria

Thursdays, October 17 & November 21 at Noon

Old Town Hall, Fairfax, VA

Friday, November 15 at Noon

Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase

Musicians and music lovers are welcome to join FMMC. See FMMC.ORG for more information.

COMINGUP

AVANTI ORCHESTRA concert on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC, featuring Beethoven Fidelio Overture, Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26, with soloist Keng-Yuen Tseng, and Dvorak Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

ARIOSO CHORALE concert on Thursday, November 7 and Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill featuring Bernstein Chichester Psalms and Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem.

Phillips-Brown), the mother of Wednesday’s intended. Accidentally given a potion meant to bring out the beast in a person, she convincingly transforms from a ditzy, vapid middle-aged mom into a sex-starved tigress in the middle of the family dinner.

To make it clear, while you might have assumed young children (or grandchildren) would be the intended audience for an Addams Family musical, you would be mistaken. On the other hand, at least some of the constant sexual innuendo might go over the heads of tender youths.

As always, Toby’s live orchestra does an excellent job giving life to the score. And the make-up department deserves special accolades, particularly for the wardrobe of the ancestors, who include character types from throughout world history, all appropriately dressed for their time and powdered like the ghosts they are.

A special shout-out goes to Toby’s scenic and properties designer, Shane Lowry, for designing jaw-dropping set pieces and props, including the disembodied hand (“Thing”) that fences with Gomez, a walking skeleton pushing a cart, and the “mon-

FREE BAND CONCERT

ster under the bed” that helps little Pugsley sleep at night.

All in all, The Addams Family is a fun and funny Broadway musical, well suited for those who are into the macabre humor the characters are known for. On the other hand, if you’re usually (or currently) not in the mood for songs extolling pain and death, you might want to take a pass.

Ticket information

As always, Toby’s includes in the ticket price a multi-course, all-you-can-eat buffet: dinner prior to evening performances or brunch prior to Wednesday and Sunday matinees.

Depending on performance, tickets range from $84 to $92 for adults (those 65+ pay $74 for Tues. evening or any Wed. performance); children 4 and older are $64 to $67. Remember, the tips you leave for waiters also constitute the majority of the actors’ pay, so be generous.

Tickets are available from the box office by calling (410) 730-8311 or online via TicketMaster (with a service fee). Toby’s is located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. in Columbia, Maryland.

Hear lush tone poems, regal marches and everything in between at this free concert by the Rockville Brass Band and Maryland Winds. The event takes place on Sun., Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, MD. For more information, email pr@rockvillebrassband.org or info@marylandwinds.com, or call (202) 262-3030.

PRO BONO LEGAL CLINIC

The Bar Association of Montgomery County holds a free legal clinic for low-income residents of Mongomery County on Thu., Oct. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Sign-up begins at 6 p.m. at the Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg, MD. For more information, call (240) 773-9490.

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Women playwrights in their ‘second act’

By Ana Preger Hart

In fewer than eight years, five women over 50 have produced six full-length plays, two Fringe shows, staged scores of readings, led three playwriting courses, and established a mentoring program for new authors. They also managed to expand their audience during the pandemic.

This is the work of Pipeline Playwrights, a group based in Northern Virginia that is passionate about making space for women’s voices in the theater world. Their mission — to showcase work that reflects the experiences of women — results in stories seldom told.

“The vision of Pipeline Playwrights has always been to get women’s stories on stage,” Jean Koppen, one of the three founding members of Pipeline Playwrights, told the Beacon in a recent interview.

“There are as many women playwrights and as many plays being written [by women] as men. But men get produced far more,” she said.

Koppen noted that the canon includes a lot more plays by men because, for centuries, only men’s plays were produced.

“We have to be very conscious about it and do a lot of work to ensure that women’s plays are seen on the stage,” she said, “so that women, who are the primary audience members of theater, get to see

themselves.”

The collective also tries to hire as many female artists as possible for all levels of theater production.

Pipeline Playwrights’ work has appeared on several stages in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, as well as in Texas, New York and online, showcasing narratives that speak to today’s issues.

But its search for the perspectives of older women in particular is central to its identity.

“What we were seeing and experiencing in the bigger theater world was [that] women in their, let’s say, ‘second act,’ are not getting produced or considered much at all,” said Patricia Connelly, another cofounder of Pipeline Playwrights.

Gathering feedback

The group workshops new plays-inprogress to exchange feedback and refine the works.

“There’s something about confederating with other writers — for support, for ideas on where to apply for festivals, to get your plays done, where to find directors,” said Nicole Burton, a member of Pipeline Playwrights and producer of the play To Be Still, which runs through October 27. This collaborative process often includes the audience, either virtually or in person.

The playwright hears her work read while watching how the audience responds. Afterwards, the audience participates in

other Pipeliners, Burton explained. “We would find out from the audience what was confusing, what worked, which characters” they liked or didn’t like, she said.

Fostering an environment of creativity, encouragement and support, this collaboration is the backbone of the collective’s success.

“There’s something really different about playwriting, and so special because it is an intimate experience with an audience every single time,” said Crystal Adaway, the most recent member to join Pipeline Playwrights and author of To Be Still

For the audience, a play can be “a transformational experience a lot of times,” she said. “That’s what we all, as writers, strive for.”

A cooperative venture

At Pipeline, each member of the collective gets a chance to get their play produced and, in turn, be the producer for another member’s play.

“We made the very wise choice that no one person should produce their own play,” Koppen said.

This frees up the playwright to focus on refining the creative aspects of the play. At the same time, the producer manages the practical aspects, like securing a venue and hiring a costume designer.

The collective members also act as dramaturgs for each other, a role Burton describes as “a special mentor voice, advisor, listener for the other.”

The stories that Pipeline Playwrights tell aren’t just entertaining — they invite reflection and encourage conversations that

continue long after the performance ends. Panel discussions centered around the themes of their plays allow theatergoers to engage directly with the actors, director and playwright, as well as with each other.

For instance, to explore the themes of Adaway’s play To Be Still, which is about the loss of a child in a flash flood, the group will host a panel discussion titled “How Words and Rituals Help Us Deal with Grief” with artist Patricia Dubroof, a Death Café moderator, and Val Walker, an end-of-life doula, among others.

Expanding their reach

During the pandemic, the collective produced a play by Pipeline Playwrights cofounder Ann Timmons entirely online. The audience for A Very Present Presence grew to include people who could not go to the theater for a variety of reasons, including caregivers, people who don’t drive at night, and people who are immunocompromised.

After the theaters reopened, the collective “didn’t want to turn [their] back on that audience,” said Burton, so they adopted a hybrid model.

Now, a professional videographer films the live production and edits it. A couple of months later, the performance gets a second run on the group’s website. For very

modest ticket prices, audiences can stream it online for a period of time, usually a couple of weeks, without having to pay for parking or childcare.

The group also started adding closed captions to their plays for the hearing impaired. “The accessibility piece is very important to us, and it’s important to other people in our community as well,” Burton added.

Pipeline Playwrights would love to expand its audience, even virtually, to New York or even Portugal.

“We have a lot of resources that we have built and a lot of…institutional knowledge that we have developed. So we’re going to see what comes,” Connelly said.

In the meantime, the members of Pipeline Playwrights will continue to collaborate with each other and find newcomers through its mentoring program, Inspiring New Voices.

“It feels like incredibly important work because we are raising those voices of women [with] stories that don’t get enough telling,” Adaway said.

To Be Still runs Oct. 18 to 19 and 24 to 27 at Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier, MD. Tickets are $33. It will stream online in January. For more information, visit pipelineplaywrights.org.

BEACON BITS Oct. 27

FREE DANCE PERFORMANCE

Enjoy free traditional dance performances by the local Mixtec culture organization, Los Tecuanes, as part of the Day of the Dead celebration at the National Museum of the American Indian, 4th St. and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. Museum admission is free, and the performances take place at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Registration not required. For more information, call (202) 633-1000.

NOVELIST READING AND DISCUSSION

Oct. 29

Visit The Writer’s Center on Sat., Oct. 26 to hear novelist Wayne Karlin reading from his latest novel, The Genizah. He will be in conversation with radio host and producer Marc Steiner. This free event takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda, MD. Register at writer.org/event/wayne-karlin. For more information, email info@writer.org or call (301) 654-8664.

The five members of the Pipeline Playwrights are (clockwise from left) Nicole Burton, Ann Timmons, Jean Koppen, Patricia Connelly and Crystal Adaway. They collaborate to produce plays by women and mentor other female playwrights.

How private can a neighbor choose to be?

She was a nice lady who lived alone and always kept to herself.

She mowed her lawn regularly, shoveled snow when necessary, never played loud music, never caused any trouble.

Her neighbors knew almost nothing about her. Family? Career? Birthplace? Education? She never spoke of any of that — or spoke much at all.

happened to the woman. They wonder how they might have prevented her death (or at least forestalled it).

She exchanged hellos with her neighbors when they passed on the sidewalk, and she always wished Merry Christmas to the kids on the block.

HOW I SEE IT

By Bob Levey

But beyond that, she was silent. Not exactly secretive. But not eager or willing to blossom into connection.

The woman grew older — who doesn’t? — but her routines never flagged or varied. Neighbors began to wonder.

Does she have a family member who checks on her? Does she need help with kitchen chores or car repair?

But privacy is a wall that’s as high as a person makes it. This woman’s wall stayed high, year after year.

Then one morning last spring, an ambulance pulled into her driveway. Two uniformed techs stepped out and knocked on the door. They got no response.

Over the next two hours, a cascade of officials arrived. Police who picked the front door lock. More medical personnel.

Finally, the morgue wagon.

A woman who had wanted to be alone, and who had succeeded at being alone, had died — alone.

Her story comes to me via several neighbors, who remain upset about what

Sure, the neighbors say, she had a right to privacy, even when she had obviously passed her 70th birthday and vulnerability begins to be spelled with a capital V.

But how much privacy is too much? Was this woman wrong not to seek help from neighbors?

Would she still be alive if she had invested in one of those devices that alerts someone else if she falls?

Would it have been such a huge invasion of her privacy if she had allowed a neighbor to look in on her once in a while?

And even though she is now dead, her legacy is causing ripples.

Like all homes, hers rang up property taxes. The woman had always paid hers by writing a check.

But evidently she had been too sick — or too forgetful, or both — to write tax checks over her last several years. Officialdom had sent her many reminder letters, but she never responded.

So, after much wrangling — more cars with official markings pulling into her driveway — the county confiscated her house for failure to pay back taxes.

That has led to exactly what the woman would have dreaded. Her lawn became overgrown. The house’s paint began to chip and fray. The concrete in her driveway cracked from a water leak.

She had become the neighbor from hell.

There’s a lesson here, and it needs to be heeded by every lives-alone older person who thinks it’s too messy, too fraught, too

emotional, too difficult, to open a small peephole into one’s private life.

Privacy is sacrosanct. If you want to live by yourself, no one will stop you.

But others have lives to live, too. You are not a hermit living in a cabin somewhere. You are part of a grid. You are roped into that thing we call society.

You may not share potlucks or Monday Night Football with your neighbors. But neighbors are still there. And neighbors might have been a lifeline for this woman. A timely call to 911 (or a friendly discussion of her tax bills) might have prevented trouble.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 9

FREE GUITAR CONCERT

As it is, her neighbors are determined not to see a repeat. They have knocked on doors in their immediate neighborhood to let elderly residents know that help is just down the block. They want to be there for solo older people.

But the door has to be cracked open by the older people themselves.

Otherwise, privacy takes on a new meaning. It becomes reclusiveness. It becomes dangerous. It can become a death sentence.

Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

Join Guitar Renegades, an innovative guitar ensemble, for an afternoon of multi-genre exploration that includes Bach, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and more, on Sat., Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center, 14715 Good Hope Rd., Silver Spring, MD. The concert is free or pay what you can. RSVP at tinyurl.com/GuitarRenegades or by calling (301) 581-5100.

Ongoing

FREE PAPER SHREDDING

Arlington County residents can take advantage of the monthly shredding event on the first Saturday of each month at Earth Products Yard, 4300 29th St. S, Arlington, VA. On a holiday weekend, the event is rescheduled for the following Saturday.

“I come from a long line of married people, so you didn’t really think about divorce. You were expected to soldier on in the marriage forever.”

A new beginning

From her new apartment, Stassi began her new life as an unattached single woman. She decided to do what she knew best: She researched this new world of dating over 50, in hopes of one day writing a book.

When she asked her Facebook friends how they met people, she began gathering stories, which she posted on a blog she started. Stassi’s blog became fodder for a podcast, thanks to a combination of hard work and good luck.

One day in the car, she happened to hear on the radio that WAMU — the NPRaffiliated news-talk station at American University — was looking for new podcasts.

“It was competitive, but they were looking for diversity,” Stassi remembered. “They had alphabetized the list of diversity categories, and ‘age’ was the number-one

thing…So I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got a good idea, and I’m older.’”

Stassi applied and was one of five people chosen from more than 500 applicants. The producers, she said, were impressed with the range of stories she had collected, including one from a woman who was trying to date while living with her ex-motherin-law.

“They said they really appreciated my fresh approach,” Stassi said.

With a stipend of $2,500 and guidance from WAMU, Stassi bought podcasting equipment and got to work. Her first episode aired in 2020.

Favorite programs

Each episode of “Dating While Gray” focuses on several people’s true-life stories, which they recount on the air.

Sometimes, if the stories are too embarrassing, the interviewee speaks anonymously or even through a voice actor. That was the case with one woman who fell for a scam (that episode was titled “Pants on Fire”).

Stassi’s breezy, empathetic style makes the podcast seem like you’re overhearing a conversation between friends. Some segments are about trends — such as couples

Tell them you saw it in the Beacon!

who live apart, couples who find a partner from their past (a phenomenon Stassi calls “boomerang love”), and how grown children may impact a new relationship.

What was Stassi’s favorite episode of her podcast? That would be the one about “The Golden Bachelor” reality TV show, she said, “because who knew that some people take ‘The Bachelor’ so seriously?”

This fall, Stassi will co-host a “finale watch party” with Slate to view the final episode of the debut season of “The Golden Bachelorette.”

She also created three one-hour broadcast specials with American Public Media. “Older Brains and Bodies in Love” aired in 2021, and “Beyond Reality TV: Inside the Lives of Older Singles” in 2023.

This fall, “Love Across the Divide” will air on NPR member stations. In it, Stassi interviews couples with different political viewpoints.

Supporting each other

After dozens of on-air interviews, Stassi has found solace, inspiration and support with her fellow singles.

“One thing I’ve learned is we are all in this together,” Stassi said. “There are so many of us out there, over 50, becoming single as we get older.”

Indeed, the number of older people getting divorced has doubled since 1990. More than one-third of divorces today are among those 50 and older, and 10% of peo-

ple getting divorced are 65 or older, according to AARP.

Stassi receives emails and voicemails from listeners all over the world, including England and Israel. Each wants to share their story with others, either as a cautionary tale or hopeful anecdote.

“Overall, in the ‘Dating While Gray’ community, there’s very much a spirit of camaraderie and helpfulness,” Stassi said. “People want to help each other out.”

‘Just waiting’

Now, Stassi says often, she’s “grateful for the ‘divorce wings’” she had to develop while learning to fly solo.

She lives alone in an apartment in Richmond near her grown children and her grandchild. She plays pickleball, reads novels, and travels now and then, mostly to her beach property in Emerald Isle, North Carolina.

After years of discussing dating, Stassi has a few date-night ideas of her own: tapas at Jaleo or dinner at the Indian restaurant Rasika and a concert at Wolf Trap, the 9:30 Club or the Birchmere.

“But for a getting-to-know-you-type date,” she said, “I vastly prefer something like a pickleball game, jog or a hike.”

So far this year, Stassi hasn’t seen any sparks in her personal life.

“At the moment, I am not on any dating sites. I’m just waiting. I am joining what I can join — and keeping my eyes open.”

Three interesting nonfiction books for fall

By Andrew DeMillo and Krysta Fauria

These recently published books are perfect reads for fall.

Secret Life of the Universe: An Astrobiologist’s Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life

By Nathalie A. Cabrol

Scribner, 320 pages

This book is a primer on the search for life beyond Earth.

As director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute, astrobiologist Nathalie A. Cabrol’s work is focused on answering the question of whether we’re alone in the universe.

In The Secret Life of the Universe: An Astrobiologist’s Search for the Origins and Frontiers of Life, readers won’t walk away with a clear-cut answer to that question. But they’ll have a newfound appreciation for the massive scientific undertaking that is moving closer toward finding one.

Cabrol writes that we’re in the midst of a “golden age of astrobiology,” and her book is an awe-inspiring and lucid primer for the general public on her field.

That golden age is highlighted by images captured by the Webb Space Telescope that have transformed the public’s understanding of the universe.

From the moon to planets that mirror settings from Star Wars, Cabrol takes read-

ers on a descriptive tour of the universe and the building blocks of life that scientists continue to chase.

Her writing and effort to broaden the public’s appreciation of the universe’s jawdropping vastness is unsurprisingly reminiscent of Sagan, the popular astronomer and namesake of the center she leads. And, like Sagan, she makes a compelling case for why we may not be alone in the universe.

Cabrol also offers a fascinating preview of future space missions that may help answer that question.

But, most importantly, she illustrates how understanding the nature of life in the universe may help underscore the need to address the challenges facing what for now remains a lonely, pale-blue dot.

Andrew DeMillo

On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything

By Nate Silver

Penguin Random House, 576 pages

By the time you finish Nate Silver’s new book, you’ll probably want to do something risky.

Not for the sake of adrenaline or to the point of being reckless, but because you might be convinced that the occasional gamble — more than most people are comfortable with — is worth it.

In On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything, Silver compellingly theorizes that humans are in general too risk averse, and that those who can discerningly fight that impulse often benefit greatly in life.

In addition to his day job as a forecaster, statistician and writer — which made him a recognizable name — Silver is an accomplished poker player. He fittingly, then, begins his analysis of those with high tolerances for risk through a detailed look at the game and those who play it.

It turns out, Silver argues, poker players, astronauts and hedge fund managers have more in common than people may assume, even on a physiological level.

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk,” Mark Zuckerberg famously said — a widely-held sentiment in Silicon Valley that Silver explores at length in this book.

Given his knowledge of and affinity for poker, Silver tends to belabor that lens through which he looks — perhaps to a fault. Those uninterested in stats or strategies may have a hard time getting through this book.

But if you don’t mind, or are intrigued by, the game, Silver eventually broadens his cohort, notably in what might be his most interesting chapter discussing the “habits of highly successful risk-takers.”

Although Silver admittedly spends a lot

of time talking about poker, On the Edge is a thought-provoking interdisciplinary book that covers a host of timely topics from artificial intelligence to political theory and what happens when risk takers go too far.

—Krysta Fauria Kent State: An American Tragedy By Brian VanDeMark

W. W. Norton & Company, 413 pages More than a half century has passed since Ohio National Guard members opened fire on college students during a war protest at Kent State University, killing four students and injuring nine others.

In Kent State: An American Tragedy, historian Brian VanDeMark recounts a country that had split into two warring camps that would not and could not understand each other. The description of the nation leading up to the 1970 tragedy echoes today’s politics and divisions in many ways.

“It was a tense, suspicious, and combustible atmosphere that required only a spark to ignite a tragedy,” VanDeMark writes.

VanDeMark succeeds at helping readers understand that atmosphere, creating a chilling narrative of the spark and ensu-

See BOOK REVIEWS , page 45

Scrabble answers on p. 47.

Jumble answers on p. 47.

Crossword Puzzle

Downtowning

Across

1. Piece of ancient pottery

6. Music teacher of Prince and David Bowie

10. Classic slot machine feature

14. Guy in multiple nursery rhymes

15. Cop Eddie Murphy played for the fourth time in 2024

16. Game theory game

17. Some of the best ones come in the shower

18. Stead

19. Facts and figures

20. “Goodness gracious!”

21. Louisville Slugger product

22. Pull out all the ___

24. Mortal, with a promotion

26. Finish in the money

27. Next most popular after .com and .org

28. Estrange

32. Lexicographer’s interest

35. A secret evil one is often called a scheme

36. A digital thumb-up, for example

37. Ticket remnant

38. “Sorry, ___ number”

39. Hermione Granger or Napoleon Dynamite

40. Prefix with -scope or -meter

41. Weightiness

42. Shrek and Fiona’s triplets

43. Dopey, of the Seven Dwarfs

45. Possesses

46. Uses “alternative facts”

47. Taylor Swift song inspired by her freshman year

51. Release oil into water

53. Part of 27 Across’ clue

54. Take another stab at

55. It has eight phases

56. Homophone for idle and idyll

58. Type of badge or pay

59. Give a shoutout

60. Yuletide

61. Make the wings safe for flight

62. Mix of spicy toppings

63. Like any movie in the I Spit on Your Grave series

64. Leaves in, as text

By Stephen Sherr

Down

1. Worked for the CIA

2. Living fence

3. 1980s TV mercenaries

4. Good towns for accounts payable clerks

5. M*A*S*H officers

6. Pittsburgh ___ (veggies and french fries)

7. Visible word in a dark theater

8. Writer Stan or Harper

9. Good NY town for plumbers

10. Appropriately placed vacation address for this puzzle’s characters

11. Stat!

12. Unproductive habits

13. Sport often battled in an octagon

21. Autonomous program

23. Last body part in the pool for a diver, usually

25. It is silent in design, but not in designation

26. It is usually about 8 degrees for italic letters

28. Towards the heavens

29. Serena Williams, 70 times in the 1999 US Open

30. Suffered an Achilles injury

31. Burn the candle at both ___

32. Letter carrier’s letters

33. Boutonniere attachment spot

34. Ambience

35. First Amendment word

38. Good WV town for a motorcycle gang

42. Stumblebum

44. Rapper Wayne or Kim

45. the Road Jack (Ray Charles #1 hit)

47. Foolishness

48. Goosebumps inducing

49. Official proclamation

50. Do, re and mi

51. Skywalker’s pal

52. Make a sulky gesture

53. One who walks the walk

55. Dashboard info.

57. ___-wop (1950s musical style)

58. ENTs and OB/GYNs

Book reviews

From page 43

ing tragedy at Kent State. In less than 13 seconds, 30 guardsmen fired 67 shots at protesters in an event where “the Vietnam War came home and the Sixties came to an end,” he writes.

With a straightforward writing style, VanDeMark provides both a micro and macro look at the events leading up to the shootings — examining the growing dissent against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and how it rippled across Kent State’s campus.

VanDeMark relies on a host of new material, including interviews with some of the guardsmen, to reconstruct the protests on campus and the shooting. He also recounts the investigations and legal fights that ensued following the shooting.

Kent State portrays a campus that grappled for years with its legacy, with no official memorial to the slain students erected on campus until two decades later, in 1990.

A new visitors center devoted to the shooting that opened in 2012 suggested an emerging consensus about the tragedy, writes VanDeMark, whose work may contribute to that consensus as well.

Andrew DeMillo

ONE BIG HAPPY

By Rick Detorie

MASTER GARDENERS FESTIVAL

WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-464-0958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com).

STAMP AND COIN COLLECTIONS

WANTED. China, US, Worldwide. Fair prices paid. Call Glenn. 301 641-5744 OVERFLOWING BOOKSHELVES? Donate gently used books, magazines, CDs DVDs! Free same-day pickup, any genre. Declutter support literacy! Call 703-980-7421 mdbookpickup@gmail.com

This fall festival is about all things plants, gardening and nature. Enjoy guided walks, check out the nature and wildlife table, visit outside vendors and the Alexandria City Art Truck, and more. The free event takes place on Sat., Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Ave., Alexandria, VA. For more information, visit mgvn.org or call (703) 228-6426..

HOME TREE CARE 101

Every fall, the nonprofit Conservation Montgomery teaches county residents how to maintain healthy, mature trees on their properties. The 2024 classes take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, and Nov. 9. The cost is $25. Sign up at tinyurl.com/MontgomeryHomeTreeCare, and a volunteer will contact you.

Partnership for Animal Welfare (PAW) regularly holds adoption events on the first weekend of the month at Kensington Petsmart, 5145 Nicholson Ln., Kensington, MD, and on the second weekend of the month at Rockville PetCo, 1507 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. They run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organization also needs people to foster animals, as well as volunteers to help at adoption events. For more information, visit paw-rescue.org/contact or call (301) 572-4729.

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY

Celebrate the book launch of Peter Levenheim’s Gift Shop of Gratitude: A Journal to Explore the Journey of Your Life. The book is filled with prompts to help you remember and write down what you’re most grateful for in your life. This free party — with mimosas — takes place on Sun., Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. at The Blue House gift shop, 7833 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, MD. For more information and to RSVP, email peter.lovenheim@gmail.com.

CLASSIFIEDS

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the follow ing headings: Business Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Obituaries; Personals; Person al Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For sub mission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 47.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

The Beacon does not know ingly accept ob scene, of fensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. How ev er, we do not in vestigate any advertisers or their prod ucts 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 prohib iting discrim ination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business & Employment Opportunities

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REDZONE FITNESS STUDIO. We would like to offer you a free fitness evaluation. Call 410-739-3318 space is filling up fast. We offer personal training and assisted stretching. We are also looking for massage therapists and personal trainers.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE CAREGIVER? Check out this Agency with high ratings for its cultural sensitivity, excellent customer service responsive and attentive to the needs of clients. Call us 24/7 at 301-364-6699 for information.

A COMPASSIONATE HOME CARE COMPANION - Providing loving, reliable, trustworthy, dedicated, devoted care for your loved one. Available now part time in Montgomery County, MD area. HOSPICE trained, 20+ years experience Seniors concierge services. A+ references. CALL SADIE (240) 522-9591, please leave voice message for reply.

A HOME HEALTHCARE - Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599.

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I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES. have lots of experience, very good references, and my own transportation. (301) 502 2258.

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LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company 866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

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NEW WINDOWS FROM WINDOW NATION. Special money saving offer zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy windows and get FREE! Offer is valid for select models. Labor not included. Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 855-909-2278.

FOR SALE NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK, choice sites in desirable Block A, a $14,000 value. Includes Vaults and Markers an additional $6,000 value. Total package of $20,000 discounted to $7,400 or OBO. Call Joe 703-969-5111.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

TODAY with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-301-960-3174 today to schedule a free quote. It?s not just a generator. It?s a power move.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK — choice sites in very desirable Block E, with tier vault and a companion marker. Regular $29,000. Sale for both $12,995 OBO. Call, 843-884-1452.

JOIN US AT SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER FOR THE MARGARET

SCHWEINHAUT SENIOR CENTER. 1000 Forest Glen Rd. Silver Spring MD 20901. Monday, October 14 from 11 am to pm. Place your bids on our exciting selection of antiques, contemporary treasures, stylish clothing, fabulous housewares, unique decor, crafts, linens, and books and prints. Payments are by check or cash. Funds raised will support new and ongoing programs for our active seniors. Donations are welcome until Friday, October 11. Please leave them at the Center’s front desk. Organized by the Friends of the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center (FOMSSC).

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT - “GET THE BOOK” - Contact us at McConkeyTeam@Aol.Com or 202-255-1900 and we will provide you with a customized binder containing a) the latest price information on similar neighboring properties, b) what we would do specifically to get you the best price in the shortest amount of time, and c) all the necessary legal forms to get started to rent and/or manage your property. “NO cost, NO obligation” Sell DC Real Estate.

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FREE FITNESS EVALUATION. This helps us set up a workout plan to help you reach your goals. We treat our clients like family. We are up on all of the latest workout techniques. We offer personal training and assisted stretching. Call 410-739-3318.

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SAFE STEP. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-866-478-2363.

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SLOWING DOWN AFTER 42 YEARS of contracting. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial work. Will work all over DC area. $45 dollars from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

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MOVING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE?

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I PERSONALLY COLLECT AND WANT TO BUY old Christmas and Halloween decorations, Herend and Royal Copenhagen porcelain, costume and fine jewelry and other pretty things. also buy out estates, full or partial. Or, can send items to auction for you. Please call Susan, (301) 785-1129. Maryland license #2753. ALWAYS BUYING OLD COSTUME JEWELRY, sterling silver flatware holloware, school rings, unwanted jewelry, gemstones broken jewelry, old comic books (pre-1990), old toys/games and other old items. Text or Call Alex at 571-426-5363 DMV area.

CASH FOR ESTATES; Estates, Moving, Downsizing, Etc. buy Gold, Silver, Art, Quality Glass, Historical Items, Cultural Items, and a wide range of other categories. Collections, Accumulations. Website: TheAtticLLC.com, Gary Roman, 301-520-0755.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883).

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CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-833-742-1303.

I BUY GUNS: Military/Civilian Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols MILITARY MEMORABILIA from all wars. am a licensed Firearms Dealer and can legally purchase from you. Call Tim Frank 301-201-0241. historian1975@gmail.com. www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com

ESTATE LIQUIDATING? MOVING? - cash paid for gold, silver, jewelry, old coins, watches, guns, knives, old comic books, toys old baseball cards, sports memorabilia, christmas, halloween decorations, books, records, etc. Call Tom 240-476-3441.

Services

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

PETER

EGAD

USAGE

SMALLEST

SPILL

MOON

PLUG

Advocacy/Elections

Health Not Harm .

.10

Mont. Co. Board of Elections .19

Auto Dealers

Genesis of Rockville

Employment/ Volunteers

Career Gateway Classes

Cascades at Frederick

Charles E. Smith Life Communities

.48

.26

JCA 50+Employment Expo . .27

JCA Interages

NVRides

Events

Beacon 50+Expos

Brooke Grove Seminars & Classes

Funeral Services

Cremation Society of Maryland

Going Home Cremation

MacNabb Funeral Home

Home

Health/ Adult Day Care

Best Senior Care

JCA Kensington Club

Housing

Asbury Methodist Village .

Ashby Ponds/ Erickson

.33

.31

.11

.33

.43

.40

.B8

.B2

Chevy Chase House . . . .B4, B13

Churchill Senior Living . .

Culpepper Garden

Grandview, The/ Erickson

Greenspring/ Erickson

Fairfax, The

Falcons Landing

Harmony at Chantilly

Harmony at Spring Hill

Homecrest House

Housing Initiative

Partnership

Leggett, The

.15

.B5, B14

.1, B5, B13

.20

.B10, B16

.B3

.B3, B11

.B6, B12

.B4

.14

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 edition).

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

Insurance

Anthem BCBS