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VOL.27, NO.1

An astronaut’s view of Earth

Launching a career The first astronauts had been test pilots, but in the mid-1960s, NASA put out a call for scientists to rocket into space as well. “I was 30 years old, and the space age had begun. I was curious, but you know what say about curiosity killing the cat,” Allen said of his initial enthusiasm for applying to NASA. “My wife was very upset. She didn’t like it at all.” Because Allen was one of 14,000 PhD scientists who applied to fly in space, he figured he didn’t have a chance. But in addition to his scientific credentials, Allen was a national wrestling champion and had been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was also fleet-footed, able to run a mile in just under five minutes. So in 1967, he was chosen to be one of 11 scientist-astronauts at NASA. “I was astonished I was selected. I think in large

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASA

By Barbara Ruben Joseph Allen didn’t pine to be an astronaut as a child. He never imagined himself blasting off into the dark unknown, peering back down at the round orb of the Earth and walking untethered outside of a space shuttle, unaffected by gravity. That’s because there was no such thing yet as an astronaut in 1940s Indiana, where Allen grew up. Allen, who flew aboard the space shuttles Discovery and Columbia in the 1980s, instead imagined he might become a cowboy or a race car driver or perhaps an explorer of the nearby Wabash River. “But I was too timid to be a race car driver, I was too small and couldn’t sing like the cowboys in the movies, and I just had no idea at the time I would end up being an explorer of sorts,” said Allen, who is now 77 and lives in Washington, D.C. Instead, he became a physicist, doing graduate work at Yale University, where he was when John Glenn first orbited the Earth. Later, Allen became a staff physicist at the university’s Nuclear Structure Laboratory. By the time he retired from the work world in 2003, Allen was chairman of the 8,000-employee defense firm Veridian. But sandwiched between were nearly two decades with NASA and two life-changing missions into space.

5 0 JANUARY 2015

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Housing & Homecare Options Magazine inserted after page 24

LEISURE & TRAVEL Joseph Allen (right) and fellow astronaut Dale Gardner, shown in 1984, walking in space outside the space shuttle Discovery as they retrieve two malfunctioning satellites, hence their humorous “For Sale” sign. Allen, a physicist who later went on to become chairman of defense company Veridian, flew space missions on two NASA shuttles in the 1980s. Allen is shown today in the inset photo.

part it was because I was in such good physical condition,” he said. Intense training followed, from which Allen emerged as the top astronaut in his class in acrobatics, instrument flying and academics. Allen worked as a member of the astronaut support crew for Apollo 15, the fourth flight to the moon, and on the flight tests for the space shuttle. He also served as NASA’s assistant administrator for legislative affairs in Washington.

A moving experience Finally, on Nov. 11, 1982, it was his chance to blast off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for six days on the first fully operational space shuttle, Columbia,

with three other astronauts. It was also the first shuttle flight that launched communications satellites into orbit. They also took their sense of humor into space, displaying a sign that read “Ace Moving Co.” Once in space, Allen was awestruck by the view back home. “It was the most glorious experience of my life. The beauty of the Earth takes your breath away,” he said. Orbiting the Earth at more than 17,000 miles an hour, Allen viewed a sunrise or sunset once every 45 minutes from the shuttle’s windows. “I felt as if I was flying in heaven. The atmosphere is so beautiful and delicate, and you can really understand that if something See ASTRONAUT, page 37

Escape to Aruba’s varied island culture and terrain; plus, Europe’s low-cost airlines page 34 TECHNOLOGY

FITNESS & HEALTH 10 k Generic drugs go through the roof k Get the most from your produce SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY 27 k Cheap oil’s risks and rewards k The outlook for bonds in 2015 ARTS & STYLE k World premier at Ford’s k Bob Levey remembers

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

Facing facts We might not be surprised when the CenPerhaps because so many readers have recently told me how much they’ve enjoyed ters for Disease Control tells us that Americans’ average life expectancy at my recent columns, I’ve debirth rose 1.9 years from 2000 cided to risk spending some to 2010 (from 76.8 to 78.7). But of that capital this month by did you know average life exsharing a number of statistics pectancy at the age of 65 rose that I think paint a rather trouby 1.5 years over the same bling picture and lead to some decade (from 82.6 to 84.1), and controversial conclusions. by 1.1 years for those who were Because I can’t possibly lay 75 (from 86 to 87.1)? out all the pertinent facts, These generally positive much less their ramifications, developments give rise to in one column, this will have some serious financial implito be continued next month. FROM THE cations. But let’s start with some PUBLISHER A 2009 study by the good news, which has been By Stuart P. Rosenthal MacArthur Foundation estiwell-covered in the Beacon and elsewhere: Americans are living longer mated that “adding 3.1 to 7.9 years to life expectancy by 2050 would add an estimatand healthier than ever before. In part due to that — and in part due to ed $3.2 trillion to $8.3 trillion to Medicare demographic effects set in motion by the and Social Security outlays above current baby boomers’ parents decades ago — our expectations,” Businessweek reported. That could be a real problem, given that population as a whole is aging rapidly. According to the Census Bureau, in 1970, even based on current funding streams, 9.8 percent of U.S. residents were 65 and Social Security is anticipated to be able to over. In 2010, 13 percent were 65+. By 2030, pay only 75 percent of promised benefits in when the remaining boomers will have 2030 unless significant changes are made, reached or passed 65, more than 20 percent and the Medicare program is in nearly as bad a shape. of the U.S. population will be 65 or older. This year alone, the two programs are Plus, as we continuously drive down death rates from the most common diseases, such already costing U.S. taxpayers more than as heart disease and cancer, we make $350 billion out of general revenues, according to the latest Trustees’ report. longevity gains every year at every age.

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The Beacon 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, Howard County, Md. and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. 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 • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President of Operations ....Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ................................................Dan Kelly, Cheryl Watts • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

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So with the prospect of reduced federal benefits in the future, are boomers in a position to self-fund their longer, more active retirements thanks to regular savings and judicious investments? On the contrary. Businessweek reports that, “until 2007, when the oldest boomers were staring down the barrel of retirement, baby boomers’ average annual saving rate was negative 0.5 percent. They weren’t just saving too little, they were piling on debt in what should have been prime saving years.” In contrast, earlier generations raised during or shortly after the Great Depression and living through WWII typically saved more than 10 percent of their income during their middle earning years. Fortunately, boomers are now saving about 11.6 percent per year on average, but given the importance of compound interest to building up a nest egg, it may be too little, too late. And their children, the millennials, are doing even worse, at least for the moment. Americans under 35 are currently spending 1.7 percent more than they are making each year. There is one group, however, that is sitting rather pretty: Americans 75 and over. Despite the fact that over the past decade median U.S. household net worth has declined from $115,000 to $81,200, according

to the Federal Reserve, among those 75 and up, median household net worth increased from $131,000 (in 1989) to $195,000 in constant 2013 dollars. No doubt we should be happy that the 65 and over age group — which had the highest rate of poverty in the country in 1959 (35 percent) — today has the lowest poverty rate of any age group (9.5 percent). But we might not be so happy to learn that the current poverty rate of children under 18 is more than twice as high (19.9 percent). We haven’t even begun to talk about Medicaid — the joint federal/state healthcare and long-term care program for the poor and those with disabilities — and how its fast-rising needs are straining that program in many states as well as on the national level. There are facts about that program and many others I could share, and next month I may do some of that. But I think you see where I am going with this. Please pick up the Beacon next month and give me a chance to finish my thoughts, because I feel there is an important discussion we need to be having in this country. It starts with facing certain facts. Who knows where it will end?

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Congratulations on your December 2014 front page feature on the U.N., World Health Organization’s “Age Friendly Cities” program, “Making aging easier in D.C.” In its 2014 summer study, the Montgomery County Commission on Aging (COA) explored the need to improve advocacy for older adults in the Montgomery County planning process, and strongly recommended that the county council and county executive take steps to fund, implement and engage the county in the AgeFriendly Cities program. Your feature article will be presented to the county executive and county council as part of the efforts to advocate for the adoption of this program. Although steps have been recommended to integrate the “Age-Friendly Cities” checklist in the planning process, the COA recommendations call for the same full engagement embraced by the District of Columbia, New York City and 40 other cities world-wide, and for the COA to lead this effort to enable Montgomery County to compete economically and to grow and develop as one of the world’s most attractive places to live and work. Chuck Kauffman Bethesda, Md.

Dear Editor: As a former Chair of the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, I was pleased to see the county executive’s Senior Initiative described in the December issue of the Beacon as being a significant step in integrating senior programs within the county. It is important to note, however, that the Commission on Aging developed a Senior Agenda that was embraced by Mr. Leggett, the county executive, and then adopted as county policy by the county council. Together, the Senior Agenda and the Senior Initiative constitute a plan to make Montgomery County a Community for a Lifetime — a place for older adults to live safe, healthy and vital lives. Elaine Kotell Binder Bethesda, Md. Dear Editor: In the December issue, Frazier Moore wrote “Sitcom pioneer Norman Lear looks back.” A friend is sending me the book soon while we wallow in nostalgia over the Golden Age of Television. A paragraph says Lear “landed a writing job on NBC’s ‘Ford Star Revue,’ one of TV’s original variety shows.” But this is incorrect. See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 45

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Technology &

Innovations Google plans pill to search for illnesses By Brandon Bailey Google is working on a cancer-detecting pill in its latest effort to push the boundaries of technology. Still in the experimental stage, the pill is packed with tiny magnetic particles, which can travel through a patient’s bloodstream, search for malignant cells, and report their findings to a sensor on a wearable device. As many as 2,000 of these microscopic “nanoparticles” could fit inside a single red blood cell to provide doctors with better insights about what is happening inside their patients. The project is the latest effort to emerge from Google’s X lab, which has been try-

ing to open new technological frontiers to solve nettlesome problems and improve the quality of people’s lives. The same division is also working on several other futuristic projects that have little to do with Google’s main business of Internet search and advertising: Self-driving cars, a computer called Glass that looks like a pair of eyeglasses, Internetbeam balloons, and contact lenses for diabetics that can measure glucose in tears. Some investors frustrated with the costs of financing X’s projects ridicule them as expensive flights of fancy, but Google CEO Larry Page likens them to moon shots that could unleash future innovation and money-making opportunities.

How pill would work At this point, Google believes the cancerdetecting nanoparticles can be coated with antibodies that bind with specific proteins or cells associated with various maladies. The particles would remain in the blood and report back continuously on what they find over time, said Andrew Conrad, head of life sciences at Google X, while a wearable sensor could track the particles by following their magnetic fields and collecting data on their movement through the body. The goal is to get a fuller picture of the patient’s health than the snapshot that’s obtained when a doctor draws a single sample of blood for tests that aren’t com-

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prehensive enough to spot the early stages of many forms of cancer. “We want to make it simple and automatic and not invasive,” Conrad added. Just as Google is doing in the contact lens project, the company is here looking for ways to proactively monitor health and prevent disease, rather than wait to diagnose problems, he said. Data from the sensor could be uploaded or stored on the Internet until it can be interpreted by a doctor, he said. That could raise questions about privacy or the security of patient data. But when asked if Google could use the information for com-

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

Spring Md. For more information or to register, call (240) 777-8085.

PRIVATE COMPUTER TUTORING Fairfax County libraries present free one-on-one computer tutor-

setting up an email account, and using basic software. For more information or to make an appointment, call the Aging, Disability and Caregiver Resource Line at

teer should be able to call you or visit your home within a week.

Virginia ❏ Ashby Ponds (See ad on page B11) ❏ Chesterbrook Residences (See ad on page B11) ❏ Culpepper Garden (See ad on page 19) ❏ Fairfax, The (See ad on page B3) ❏ Falcons Landing (See ads on pages B4 & B16) ❏ Greenspring (See ad on page B13) ❏ Gum Springs Glen (See ad on page B10) ❏ Herndon Harbor House (See ad on page B10) ❏ Morris Glen (See ad on page B10) ❏ Oaks of Wellington (See ad on page 15) ❏ Potomac Place (See ad on page B7) ❏ Sommerset (See ads on pages B5 & B13) ❏ Tyson Towers (See ad on page B3) ❏ Vinson Hall (See ads on pages B7 & B8) ❏ Virginian, The (See ads on pages B8 & 48)

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Feel free to mail this together with the theatre ticket drawing form on p. B-9.

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❏ Armed Forces Retirement Home (See ad on page B2) ❏ Friendship Terrace (See ads on pages B3 & B11) ❏ Knollwood (See ads on pages B2 & B11) ❏ Residences at Thomas Circle (See ads on pages B6 & B12) ❏ Robert L Walker House (See ad on page B10)

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Jan. 13+

District of Columbia

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The effort to develop a better way to detect cancer was inspired by the experience of Google engineer Tom Stanis. After getting hit by a car while bicycling, Stanis wound up in a hospital emergency room where a medical scan looking for internal bleeding alerted doctors that there was a tumor growing in his kidney. The diagnosis probably wouldn’t have been made at such an early stage if Stanis hadn’t been seriously injured, prompting Google’s X lab to explore better ways for doctors to keep watch for early warning signs. Stanis, who is now cancer-free, is

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From page 3

part of the team working on X’s nanoparticle technology. Conrad described the project during an appearance at a tech industry conference organized by the Wall Street Journal. He said the team working on the nanoparticle project includes a cancer specialist and other doctors, as well as electrical and mechanical engineers and an astrophysicist who has been advising on how to track the particles through the body. Google is looking for partners who would license the technology and bring products to market. “Our partners would take care of all that stuff. We’re the inventors and creators of the technology,” Conrad said. It could be a decade before Google’s nanoparticle research pays off, according to the company, based in Mountain View, California. — AP

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

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

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Beacon Links By Barbara Ruben

All about grandparenting The website of the American Grandparenting Association is chock full of tips and information for grandparents. Brush up on the hottest toys and parenting advice. Watch videos of celebrities, including Tim Daly and Bruce Willis, talking about being

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

grandparents. Join a forum with such reader-posted topics as “My daughter-in-law is having an affair” and “Empty nest no longer,” about adult children and grandchildren moving back home. www.grandparents.com

nia? EarthCam links to hundreds of live webcams throughout the world to give you an up-to-the-minute view of what’s going on. www.earthcam.com

Windows on the world

From a white baby bunny curled inside a teacup, to a girl reading a book to a miniature pony at a library, Attack of the Cute is, well, very, very cute. If you’re looking for a benign diversion or fodder for Facebook, this is the site to find it. http://attackofthecute.com

Wonder what Times Square looks like at this very moment? How about Jackson Hole, Wyo, or the neon-colored jelly fish swaying at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium in Califor-

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Meetup mania Do you ever wish you had a group of people to share an esoteric hobby with, or maybe ones who enjoy the same foreign movies as you do? Meetup may be the answer. Just go to www.meetup.com and plug in your city and interests to find groups planning activities near you. Some groups are age restricted, and there are many specifically for those in their 50s and older, or labeled “baby boomers.” www.meetup.com

BEACON BYTES BEACON BYTES

Jan. 14+

Jan. 8

VIRGINIA CHORUS SEEKING MEMBERS Leisure World of Virginia Encore Chorale is now open to the wider

community. The next 15-week session begins on Wednesday, Jan. 14. There are no auditions, and singers may be seated for rehearsals and performances. Chorale

Virginia residents are invited to attend a free training session on how to use Senior Navigator — an online program that introduces easier searches for resources and services in Virginia that focus on healthy aging. Senior Navigator representative Terry Swirchak will lead. The session will take place on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Walter Reed Senior Center, located at 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, Va. Free. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-0955.

rehearses are on Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. for 15 weeks starting Jan. 14 at the Leisure World Clubhouse, 19375 Magnolia Grove Sq., Lansdowne, Va. Non-Leisure World residents are welcome but must contact Encore and pre-register ahead for gate access. Payment can be made by check at the first rehearsal or online in advance. For more information and to register, visit http://encorecreativity.org, call (301) 261-5747, or email info@encorecreativity.org.

LEARN TO USE SENIOR NAVIGATOR

Jan. 9+

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY LECTURE

Doctor’s Community Hospital presents a series of free lectures on bariatric surgery, which often leads to weight loss. Dr. Hitesh Amin, medical director of the hospital’s Bariatric and Weight Loss Center, will present on Fridays, Jan. 9 and Feb. 6 at 8 a.m. Obesity is often linked to diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and arthritis. Losing weight may reduce or eliminate the need to use some of the medications taken to manage such conditions. The hospital is located at 8116 Good Luck Rd., Suite 210, Lanham, Md. Registration is required. For more information, call (301) 324-4968.

This New Year, give your brain a workout too. SM

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

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

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

COMPUTER BASICS WITH WINDOWS® 7 Prerequisite: Windows 7 or Vista PC Fee: $85 6 sessions # 254 Tues Jan 6 — Feb 10 # 255 Tues Mar 3 — Apr 7

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Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 256 Fri Jan 23 — Feb 6 9:30-11:30am

SECURITY 101

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent and access to the Internet Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 257 Mon Jan 26 — Feb 9 9:30-11:30am

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Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent and current access to the Internet Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 258 Mon Mar 2 — Apr 6 9:30-11:30am

TOTAL PHOTO WITH PICASA

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ASSISTED PRACTICE

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COMPUTER BASICS WITH WINDOWS® 7 Prerequisite: Windows 7 or Vista PC Fee: $85 6 sessions # 260 Thurs Jan 8 — Feb 12

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Limit: 8 1:00-3:00pm

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 8 #261 Wed Feb 18 — Mar 25 1:00–3:00pm

MICROSOFT WORD: INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 8 #262 Tues Jan 13 — Jan 20 10:00am-12:00pm

MICROSOFT WORD: THE NEXT LEVEL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 8 #263 Tues Mar 3 — Mar 24 10:00am-12:00pm

MICROSOFT EXCEL: SPREADSHEET

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 8 # 264 Wed Jan 7 — Jan 28 1:00-3:00pm

TECHNOLOGY TERMS FOR IPAD® BEGINNERS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 1 session Limit: 8 Fee: $ 20 # 265 Thurs Jan 22 10:00am-12:00pm # 266 Wed Mar 25 10:00am-12:00pm

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR IPAD® Prerequisite: iPad needs to be updated to

IOS 7 and have an Apple ID and password Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 8 # 267 Tues Jan 27 — Feb 17 10:00am-12:00pm # 268 Tues Mar 31 — April 2810:00am-12:00pm

10 AMAZINGLY USEFUL WEBSITES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 269 Tues Jan 27 1:00-3:00pm # 270 Tues Mar 3 1:00-3:00pm

LINKEDIN®, AN INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Solid computer skills and an active email account Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 271 Wed Feb 4 1:00-3:00pm

FACEBOOK, AN INTRODUCTION

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $ 20 1 session Limit: 8 # 272 Wed Feb 4 10:00am-12:00pm # 273 Wed Mar 18 10:00am-12:00pm

MEET THE TECHNOLOGY GURUS! BRING US YOUR PROBLEMS! Fee: $20

1 session

Limit: 8

Experts available to help individuals with hardware/ software issues. Minimum of a half to an hour meeting. Topics: iPhone®/iPad®, backing up the cloud, Laptop/desktop Issues, photos/videos, PowerPoint and more. All classes 10:00am-12:00pm. Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 274 Mon Jan 12 10:00am-12:00pm # 276 Mon Feb 9 10:00am-12:00pm # 278 Mon Mar 9 10:00am-12:00pm # 280 Mon Apr 13 10:00am-12:00pm

ASSISTED PRACTICE

FREE sessions: an integral part of your learning. Must be registered for at least one class to participate. All practice sessions 10:00am-12:00pm No Fee Thurs Jan 15, Jan 29 Thurs Feb 12 10:00am-12:00pm Thurs Feb 12, Feb 26 Thurs Mar 12, Mar 26 Thurs Apr 16

Limit: 8

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crystal City

1750 Crystal Dr Shops, Suite 1638B Crystal Square Arcade, Arlington, VA 703-941-1007

COMPUTER BASICS: INTRODUCTION TO THE PERSONAL COMPUTER USING WINDOWS® 7

Prerequisite: Bring a flash drive to class Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 282 Wed Jan 7 — Feb 11 10:00am-12:00pm # 283 Wed Mar 4 — Apr 8 10:00am-12:00pm

INTERMEDIATE PC, WINDOWS® 7

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 284 Tues Jan 6 — Feb 10 10:00am-12:00pm # 285 Tues Mar 3 — April 7 10:00am-12:00pm

EXCEL BASICS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent; bring a flash drive to class Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 286 Thurs Jan 8 — Mar 12 10:00am-12:00pm

EXCEL – BEYOND BASICS

Prerequisite: Excel Basics or equivalent Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 287 Thurs Mar 5 — Mar 19 10:00am-12:00pm

TOURING THE INTERNET

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 10 # 288 Mon Jan 5 — Feb 23 12:30-2:30pm # 289 Mon Mar 2 — Apr 6 12:30-2:30pm

GUIDE TO BUYING A PERSONAL COMPUTER (WORKSHOP) Fee: $20 # 290 Thurs

1 session Mar 26

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

UNDERSTANDING YOUR APPLE IPAD® (WORKSHOP)

Prerequisite: Bring a fully charged Apple iPad to class Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: None # 291 Fri Feb 27 — Mar 13 10:00am-12:00pm # 292 Weds-Fri Apr 29 — May 1 10:00am-12:00pm

USING YOUR APPLE IPHONE® (WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Ownership of an Apple iPhone. Bring fully charged iPhone. Fee: $20 1 session Limit: None # 293 Thurs Feb 19 10:00am-12:00pm # 294 Mon Apr 20 12:30-2:30pm

USING SKYPE® TO MAKE VIDEO OR AUDIO CALLS (WORKSHOP)

Fee: $20 # 295 Wed # 296 Wed

1 session Feb 18 Apr 15

TAMING WORD (WORKSHOP)

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

Prerequisite: Basic computer knowledge and mouse skills Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 297 Tues Feb 17 & 24 10:00am-12:00pm

GRAPHICS EXPLORERS

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Photoshop® Elements 10 or 11 software Fee: $35 Ongoing sessions Limit: 10 # 298 Mon Jan 5 — Feb 23 10:00am-12:00pm # 299 Mon Mar 2 — Apr 27 10:00am-12:00pm

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

JCA SENIORTECH

WORKSHOP: SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS USING THE ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM(OS)

LINKEDIN®, AN INTRODUCTION

KEEPING YOUR COMPUTER SECURE

10 AMAZINGLY USEFUL WEBSITES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED

Prerequisite: None Fee: $20 1 session # 300 Thurs Apr 9 Fee: $20 # 301 Fri

1 session Jan 9

Limit: None 12:30-2:30pm

Limit: None 10:00am-12:00pm

10 AMAZINGLY USEFUL WEBSITES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 10 # 302 Mon Apr 13 12:30-2:30pm

ORGANIZING, EDITING, AND SHARING PHOTOS WORKSHOP

Prerequisite: Basic computer and mouse skills Fee: $35 2 session Limit: None # 303 Tues Apr 14 & 21 10:00am-12:00pm

Prerequisite: Solid computer skills and an active email account Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 311 Wed Mar 11 10:00am-12:00pm Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 312 Thurs Feb 12 10:00am-12:00pm

Microsoft at Pentagon City 1100 S Hayes St, Arlington, VA 703-236-9140

USING APPLE IPHOTO® AND IMOVIE® (WORKSHOP)

All Classes at the Microsoft at Pentagon City are taught on the Surface Tablet (Microsoft) or you may bring a laptop computer. No Apple® products.

VIEWING MOVIES ON YOUR PC (WORKSHOP)

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 313 Mon Feb 9 10:00am-12:00pm

Prerequisite: Must bring your own iPad® or iPhone® Fee: $20 1 session Limit: None # 304 Thurs Feb 26 10:00am-12:00pm # 305 Mon Apr 27 12:30-2:30pm Prerequisite: Basic computer skills Fee: $20 # 306 Thurs # 307 Thurs

1 session Feb 5 Apr 2

10 AMAZINGLY USEFUL WEBSITES YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED

Microsoft at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Limit:10 12:30-2:30pm 10:00am-12:00pm

7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 301-765-3080

WINDOWS® 8.1 DEMONSTRATION

Prerequisite: None, you may bring your own laptop with Windows 8.1 Fee: $20 1 session Limit:10 # 308 Thurs Feb 12 12:30 - 2:30pm # 309 Thurs Apr 9 10:00am-12:00pm

ASSISTED PRACTICE No Fee

Limit: 10

FREE sessions: an integral part of your learning. Must be registered for at least one class to participate. All practice sessions 10:00am-12:00pm All practice sessions 10:00am-12:00pm Speak with your instructor for details.

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

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

MICROSOFT EXCEL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 6 # 310 Wed Feb 11 — Mar 4 10:00am-12:00pm

All Classes at the Microsoft at Westfield Montgomery Mall are taught on the Surface Tablet (Microsoft) or you may bring a laptop computer. Classes at this location will be taught by Microsoft personnel.

WINDOWS8: FUNDAMENTALS OF YOUR WINDOWS DEVICE

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 314 Tues Jan 20 8:30-10:00am # 315 Tues Mar 17 8:30-10:00am

EXCEL 2013: FUNDAMENTALS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 316 Tues Feb 3 8:30-10:00am # 317 Tues Mar 31 8:30-10:00am

POWERPOINT 2013: FUNDAMENTALS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 318 Tues Feb 17 8:30-10:00am # 319 Tues Apr 14 8:30-10:00am

WORD 2013: FUNDAMENTALS

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 320 Tues Mar 3 8:30-10:00am # 321 Tues Apr 28 8:30-10:00am

Looking for Volunteers

JCA SeniorTech

Are you a senior looking for volunteer opportunities? Do you have computer skills you want to share?

Jewish Council for the Aging® (JCA) is looking for senior volunteers to teach and coach computer classes in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia.

For more info, contact us at seniortech@accessjca.org or call 240-395-0916.

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

DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES

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

ATTENTION:

Instruction, course materials and all computer language settings are in

English.

Courses are taught with Windows computers.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

SENIORTECH REGISTRATION FORM

COMPUTER TRAINING

WAYS TO REGISTER: BY MAIL:

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

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

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

Student ID (Office use only)_______________

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR: Class #

Class Title

Location

Start Date

Start Time

Fee

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

TOTAL $ _________

PAYMENT METHOD:

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

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

For more information, call 240-395-0916.

WB1/15

❒ Master Card ❒ VISA ❒ American Express ❒ Check (Make Checks payable to JCA SeniorTech.) Name as it appears on card: ____________________________________________________________

____________ ____________ ____________ _____________

______ /______

__________

Card Number

Exp. Date

Sec. Code

OFFICE USE ONLY Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

NOTICE: WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS RESOURCES, JCA SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INDEED, WE TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN ALL THAT WE DO. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, JCA MAY DENY A PERSON OR GROUP THE OPTION TO ENROLL OR TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR PROGRAM OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON NOT PRECLUDED BY APPLICABLE LAW. Each contribution or remittance of payment by check is considered authorization to convert that particular check into an electronic fund transfer. If your check is unable to be converted, it may be processed as a Check Replacement Document drawn against your account. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day you make your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. You have the right to opt out of Electronic Conversion. If you choose to exercise this right, write the words ‘Opt Out’ in the memo field of your check and JCA will process it as a draft against your account.

✃

SeniorTech

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

Health Fitness &

MORE STATIN BENEFITS Taking statins for five years in middle age can lower risks later in life PRESERVING NUTRIENTS Try shorter cooking times and other ways to keep more vitamins in produce CLINICAL TRIALS ON TRIAL Few clinical trials publicize their results, but new rules may be coming CURTAIL COPPER? Does copper contribute to cancer or is it a necessary nutrient?

Precursors to blood cancers discovered By Marilynn Marchione Many older people silently harbor a blood “pre-cancer” — a gene mutation acquired during their lifetime that could start them on the path to leukemia, lymphoma or other blood disease, scientists have discovered. It opens a new frontier on early detection and possibly someday preventing these cancers, which become more common with age. The discovery was made by two international research teams working independently, decoding the DNA of about 30,000 people. The gene mutations were rare in people under 40, but found in about 10 percent of those over 65 and in nearly 20 percent of folks over 90. Having one of the mutations does not destine someone to develop a blood cancer, but it raises the risk of that more than tenfold. It also increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke, and of dying from any cause over the next four to eight years. “We are hopeful that someday we would be able to use this as a screening test and identify individuals who are at risk,” said

one study leader, Dr. Benjamin Ebert of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

No prevention method yet However, “nobody should go out tomorrow and look for these mutations,” because there’s no treatment for having one, or way to prevent cancer from developing, he said. The studies were presented in December at an American Society of Hematology conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. They were led by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard-affiliated groups, and mostly funded by the National Institutes of Health. Each year in the United States alone, about 140,000 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer. All cancers are caused by bad genes, but most of them are not inherited — they pick up flaws during someone’s lifetime for a variety of reasons. It usually takes several mutations for a cell to become so abnormal that cancer results. Researchers wanted to see if they could find the first step in that process, the initial mutation, and detect a pre-malignant state

long before cancer develops and symptoms appear. One group looked at more than 17,000 people in a study of diabetes and heart disease risks. The other looked at more than 12,000 people in a study of mental disorders. All of their genes had been sequenced, which takes about a week and now costs less than $1,000. That produced a trove of “big data” that can be mined to study new things, Ebert said.

Three genes of most concern The teams independently found three genes whose mutations accounted for most of the blood cancer risk they saw. About 1 percent of people with one of the mutations went on to develop a blood cancer within a year; 10 percent within a decade. “These are exciting” findings, because they reveal the origins of some of these cancers, said Dr. Janis Abkowitz, blood diseases chief at the University of Washington in Seattle and past president of the American Society of Hematology. But people who have their genes ana-

lyzed for other reasons and accidentally discover one of these mutations should not panic, because “the odds are they won’t develop cancer at all,” she said. The studies also found that people with one of the blood gene mutations had more than twice the normal risk of heart attacks and strokes. “That is a little bit of a surprise,” said Dr. Parameswaran Hari, a blood cancer specialist at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. “We don’t know why, but I think we’ll figure it out soon.” Dr. Wyndham Wilson, a senior scientist at the National Cancer Institute, said it is way too soon to consider screening certain age groups because there is no evidence it would do any good or prolong survival. “The number of people being harmed by all the tests, the anxiety, would far outweigh the benefits,” he said. It’s not like screening for pre-cancers like polyps, which enables surgery that can prevent or cure colon cancer, he added. “With blood cancers, you can’t take them out.” — AP

Soaring generic drug prices draw scrutiny By Matthew Perrone Some low-cost generic drugs that have helped restrain healthcare costs for decades are seeing unexpected price spikes of up to 8,000 percent, prompting a backlash from patients, pharmacists and now Washington lawmakers. A Senate panel met in November to scrutinize the recent, unexpected trend among generic medicines, which usually cost 30 to 80 percent less than their branded counterparts. Experts said there are multiple, often unrelated, forces behind the price hikes, including drug ingredient shortages, industry consolidation and production slowdowns due to manufacturing problems. But the lawmakers convening the hearing said the federal government needs to play a bigger role in restraining prices. “If generic drug prices continue to rise, then we are going to have people all over this country who are sick and need medicine and who simply will not be able to buy

the medicine they need,” said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging. Sanders is a political independent who usually votes with the liberal wing of the Democratic party.

Bill for drug rebates Sanders introduced a bill that would require generic drug makers to pay rebates to the federal Medicare and Medicaid programs when prices of their medications outpace inflation. Those payments are already mandatory for branded drugs, but have never applied to generics. Sanders and House Rep. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, sent letters to the makers of 10 generic drugs that have seen price increases of over 300 percent or more in recent months. The price for one of those, the antibiotic doxycycline hyclate, rose more than 8,280 percent during a six-month period from an average of $20 per bottle to $1,849 per bottle. (See “There are many

ways to cut your drug costs” on page 11.) The increases cited by the Senate subcommittee were calculated by the Healthcare Supply Chain Association using the average prices of the drugs and other price data. The Generic Pharmaceutical Association said in a statement that the 10 drugs cited by lawmakers do not reflect the broader U.S. market, which includes 12,000 generic medications that have reduced drug costs by billions. But pharmaceutical experts testifying said the price spikes reflect broader price increases for generics, which have traditionally fallen over time. An analysis of 280 common generic drugs by Professor Stephen Schondelmeyer found that roughly a third recorded prices increases in 2013. The University of Minnesota researcher said those numbers show that generic price increases are not limited to a few isolated cases. “The markets are broken, and we need

to do something to fix it,” he told the panel. “I think the government needs to step in and develop and monitor solutions.” Dr. Aaron Kesselheim of Harvard Medical School recommended several new government policies, including allowing the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate the clearance of generic drugs for which there are few manufacturers. He also said that federal officials should be notified of all drug price increases greater than 100 percent. In previous cases where drug shortages have led to price spikes, FDA has approved emergency imports of extra supplies from foreign sources. The lower prices of generic drugs make them the first choice for both patients and insurers. Generic drugs account for roughly 85 percent of all medicines dispensed in the U.S., according to IMS Health. See GENERIC DRUGS, page 11

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

There are many ways to cut your drug costs By Dr. Howard LeWine Q: Recently, my doctor prescribed a 10-day course of doxycycline. I always ask for a generic since I need to pay full price. I was shocked when the pharmacist said it would be almost $65. I took this medication three years ago and I think it cost me less than $8 then. How could that be? A: The prices of certain generic drugs have skyrocketed. Doxycycline is one of them. Reasons for the price hikes vary from drug to drug. The sharp increase for doxycycline was linked with shortages of raw materials needed to make the drug. Only two or three generic drug makers were able to continue to manufacture doxycycline. With less competition, those companies hiked their prices. The higher prices were passed on to the retail pharmacies and consumers. In some cases, the prices went from as low 7 cents per pill to over $3 per pill. The good news is that only a handful of generic drugs have become extremely expensive. You can almost always save by buying a generic drug rather than a brand name. So, ask your doctor whether a generic version of the same drug will work as well as the brand-name drug. Here are some other ways to help save money on drugs. As your doctor starts to write a prescription, ask: Are there lifestyle changes I can make to either avoid taking this drug or at least start at a lower dose?

Generic drugs From page 10 Typically, generic drug prices fall as more companies begin offering competing versions of the same drug. But recent examples suggest the market forces that have kept generic prices low are not working properly. The average price of albuterol sulfate, a common asthma treatment, shot from an average of $11 per bottle in October 2013 to $434 per bottle in April 2014, an increase of over 4,000 percent, according to the Healthcare Supply Chain Association’s calculations. The hearing followed requests for congressional action by the National Community Pharmacists Association, which said independent pharmacies are being squeezed by the price hikes. In some cases, pharmacists are losing money on drugs that are purchased at new sky-high prices but are still reimbursed at the older, lower rates by pharmacy benefit managers. “Community pharmacies are put in the untenable position of having to absorb the difference between the large sums of money that they spent to acquire the drugs and the lower amounts that they are paid,” said Rob Frankil, who testified on behalf of the pharmacist group. — AP

If no generic is available, is there another option that costs less and works as well as what you’re prescribing? Can I split this pill in half? For many drugs, the higher dose doesn’t cost much more than the lower dose. By splitting a higher-dose version in half, you can save a lot of money. After you have a prescription, you can save in other ways, too. Shop around, especially if you don’t have a drug plan and need to pay retail prices. I called a couple of nationallyknown pharmacies to ask about retail cost for 30 doxycycline pills. One quoted a cost three times higher than the other. Consider buying a three-month supply of drugs that you know you will take for a long time. Examples include drugs for high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. You may save on insurance copays if you do this and order by mail.

Talk with your pharmacist about ways to save money. Given the thousands of drugs on the market today, your doctor may not know about all the options. Howard LeWine, M.D., is a practicing internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital,

Boston, and chief medical editor of internet publishing at Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School.) © 2015 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

CONSIDERING HEARING AIDS? Get a free Consumer’s Guide Introduction to: • Hearing Aid Technology • Latest Features • Brand Comparisons

For a free copy call:

301-339-8583 Offered as a community service by

Auditory Services Inc. 9800 Falls Road, Suite 5 • Potomac, MD 20854

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

Assisted living - memory support

During the last 64 years, Brooke Grove Retirement Village has built a reputation of excellence in Montgomery County. Partnering with national leaders in the field, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve set a new benchmark in memory support. Our staff have specialized training in anxiety-reducing techniques that decrease the need for medication. Creatively designed programs stimulate memory and build independence and self-esteem.

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Independent living assisted living rehabilitation long-term care memory support

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Health Shorts Early statin use offers long-term benefits Taking a cholesterol-lowering drug for five years in middle age can lower heart and death risks for decades afterward, and the benefits seem to grow over time, a landmark study of men in Scotland has found. Doctors say it’s the first evidence that early use of a statin can have a legacy effect, perhaps changing someone’s odds of disease for good. “It might be a lifetime effect,” said one study leader, Dr. Chris Packard of the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Not only did original benefits of statins continue into late life, but researchers were surprised to see new ones become evident over time, he said. The results are from the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Trial, the first study ever to show that statins could prevent heart problems in people who had not yet developed clogged arteries but had high LDL, the bad type of cholesterol. The watershed trial led to these drugs — sold as Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor and now in generic form — becoming a mainstay of

treatment and one of the most prescribed medicines around the world. The long-term results were discussed at an American Heart Association conference in Chicago late last year. The study, which started in 1989, involved about 6,600 Scottish men, ages 45 to 64, with high LDL — around 190, on average. Half were given the statin Pravachol and the rest, dummy pills. Five years later, there were 35 percent fewer heart-related deaths and also fewer heart attacks in the statin group. Once the study ended, the men went back to their regular doctors, and about one-third of both groups kept or started taking a statin. This means any differences seen years later probably is due to whether they took statins during the fiveyear study, Packard explained. Twenty years after the study began, the risk of heart-related deaths was 27 percent lower among the men who took Pravachol for those first five years rather than dummy pills. The chance of dying from any cause was 13 percent lower in the statin group at the 20-year mark, a benefit not seen earlier on. “The big surprise” was a 31 percent lower risk of heart failure in the group initially assigned to take the statin, Packard said. Heart failure occurs when a heart damaged from a heart attack or other cause gradually weakens over time and can’t pump blood effectively. —AP

Younger patients more likely to get best kidneys New rules are bringing changes to the nation’s kidney transplant system that will give younger patients a better shot at a longer-lasting organ, and move others up the waiting list. The goal is to get the maximum benefit out of a scarce resource: kidneys from deceased donors. “Not everyone’s going to get the same

benefit out of a kidney transplant,” said Dr. Matthew J. Ellis of Duke University Medical Center, who is optimistic the new policy will help. “We’re trying to apply commonsense principles to address those issues.” The long-awaited changes from the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, come as the gap between who needs a new kidney and who gets one widens. Nearly 102,000 people are on the national waiting list for a kidney, while fewer than 17,000 transplants are performed each year. See HEALTH SHORTS, page 14

55+

Are you a 55+ homeowner? Have you thought of moving to: a smaller home,

Inderjeet Jumani, REALTOR® Alexandria Real Estate Specialist and HOST of 703.472.8804 ijumani@LNF.com www.IJumani.com

one-level living, active adult community, or an assisted living community? I can help you make this move without feeling overwhelmed.

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“I want to get back to my job, my grandkids, my life.” After an illness, injury or surgery, you need someone by your side more than ever—a team of professional caregivers whose sole mission is to help you return to the life you love most. You tell us your rehabilitation goals and we’ll partner with you to create a holistic wellness plan that is tailored to you.

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9701 Veirs Drive | Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-354-4600 | www.mypotentialrehab.org The Village at Rockville is sponsored by National Lutheran Communities & Services, a faith-based, not-for-profit ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving people of all beliefs.

Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health shorts From page 13 Roughly 11,000 transplants are thanks to kidneys donated from someone who just died rather than living donors. How long you’ve been waiting is the main factor

in deciding who gets the next available cadaver kidney. But since November, the fittest of those kidneys — based on donor age and medical history — are being offered first to patients who are expected to survive a transplant the longest.

Caring places. Healing spaces. Specializing in Skilled Nursing and Subacute Rehabilitation

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

Called longevity matching, the hope is that these typically younger adults won’t outlive their new organ and need another that could have gone to someone else. Nearly 15 percent of transplant candidates are awaiting a repeat operation, and “the potential here is that we will reduce return to the waiting list,” said Dr. Richard N. Formica of Yale University, who chairs UNOS’ kidney transplant committee. Another big change: People who started dialysis before getting in line for a transplant will be credited for that dialysis time, moving them up on the waiting list. The less time spent on dialysis, the better the prognosis after a transplant. Yet how quickly people are put on the transplant list varies around the country, and minorities and people who live in rural and poorer areas tend to spend more time on dialysis. Recalculating waiting lists and estimating patients’ life expectancy has been a big job for transplant centers. “We’re scrambling to get this done,” said Dr. John Roberts, transplant chief at the University of California, San Francisco, one of the nation’s largest kidney programs. But he called the changes necessary to begin dealing with rapid growth in transplant demand, mostly by people over age 50, which in turn has lengthened wait times. In parts of the country, the wait can average five years. Last year, 4,485 people died waiting. Children already get priority for transplants. — AP

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A new study shows daily moderate physical activity may mean the difference between older adults being able to keep up everyday activities or becoming housebound. In fact, moderate physical activity helped aging adults maintain their ability

to walk at a rate 18 percent higher than older adults who did not exercise. The researchers recruited 1,635 sedentary men and women ages 70 to 89 for the study. The participants could walk a quarter mile within 15 minutes, but were at risk of losing that ability. The participants were randomly separated into two groups and followed for an average of 2.6 years. The first group walked 150 minutes per week and did strength, flexibility and balance training. The second group attended health education classes and performed stretching exercises. The study — the first of its kind to look at frail, older adults — proves that physical activity can help these people maintain their mobility and dodge physical disability. What's more, moderate physical activity not only helped older adults maintain mobility, but also helped prevent the occurrence of long-term mobility loss. Co-principal investigator Jack Guralnik, Ph.D., a professor of epidemiology and public health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said there was a 28 percent reduction in people permanently losing the ability to walk easily. “The fact that we had an even bigger impact on persistent disability is very good,” said Guralnik. “It implies that a greater percentage of the adults who had physical activity intervention recovered when they did develop mobility disability.” Researchers showed that prescribed daily physical activity can prevent older adults' loss of mobility, defined in the study as the ability to walk 400 meters. “Four hundred meters is once around the track, or from the parking lot to the store, or two or three blocks around your neighborhood,” Guralnik said. “It's an important distance in maintaining an independent life.” Low physical performance can be a predictor of early death and higher hospitalization and institutionalization rates, researchers said. — What Doctors Know

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

How to preserve the nutrients in produce By Clare Tone, R.D. Food preparation techniques such as peeling, chopping and cooking make an impact on the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. Follow these tips to preserve more nutrients in your produce: 1. Fresh is best, frozen is next. Fresh, ripe produce in-season — with virtually no cooking required — will usually be highest in nutrients. But what about produce in the middle of winter? U.S. Department of Agriculture data indicates that freezing produce immediately after harvesting retains 95 to 100 percent of most vitamins and minerals, with the exception of vitamin C, which diminishes by up to 30 percent in frozen produce. 2. Be water wise. According to the USDA, up to 50 percent of vitamin C, thiamin, vitamin B6 and folate content in food can be lost to the water it’s cooked in. In order to retain water-soluble nutrients, try to use cooking methods such as steaming or stir-frying that use less water. Also reduce water used in steaming and boiling, and reuse cooking water in soups or sauces to capture escaped nutrients. 3. Cut cooking times. As a rule of thumb, the longer foods are exposed to heat, the more nutrients are lost. To reduce cooking times, cover the

pot to retain heat and avoid evaporation; place vegetables in already boiling water, and learn to enjoy vegetables with a crunchier texture. 4. Make friends with your microwave. Since it cuts cooking time and water use, the microwave is a nutrient-friendly kitchen appliance. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Food Science found microwaving preserved higher antioxidant activity in a majority of 20 vegetables studied compared to any other cooking method. 5. Chop less. Chopping foods into smaller pieces increases the surface area exposed to light, heat and water — three factors that degrade nutrients. One exception is garlic and other foods in the allium family (onions, leeks, shallots). Chopping these foods and allowing them to sit for 10 minutes before cooking increases their active components. 6. Preserve the peel. Keeping peels on foods like potatoes, yams and carrots preserves more nutrients, which tend to concentrate just near the surface. In place of peeling, opt for a good vegetable brush and scrub vegetables thoroughly. 7. Use it all. The next time you’re getting ready to throw away those beet or carrot tops,

think again. Many vegetables are entirely edible and rich in nutrients, so using the entire plant, from root to stem, is a sure way to add nutrients to your day. 8. Keep it cool. Nutrient loss in many fruits and vegetables can be decreased with cooler temperatures, high humidity and less air contact. Store produce in airtight containers in the fridge. 9. Cooking helps, sometimes. Not all vegetables need to be eaten raw. In fact, cooking methods such as baking, microwaving and stir-frying can increase the antioxidant activity of many vegetables, such as celery, carrots and green beans, according to a 2009 Journal of Food Science study. 10. Eat more produce.

No matter how we slice them, chop them, cook them — or not — simply eating more produce may be the best way to optimize nutrient intake. Nutrient synergy — how the total sum of nutrients in a food interact with each other and respond to cooking methods — helps explain why using a variety of cooking techniques and ingredients might be the best policy for optimizing the nutrient quality of your produce. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2014 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 22

EVENING GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP Montgomery Hospice presents a support group for those grieving

the death of a loved one. The next six-week session meets each Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hughes United Methodist Church, 10700 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Md., beginning Jan. 22. Registration is required. For more information,

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

Few clinical trials publicize their results By Lauran Neergaard Doctors and patients may soon find it easier to learn if clinical trials of treatments worked or not, as the government has proposed new rules expanding what researchers are required to publicly report. Thousands of Americans participate in clinical trials every year, to test new treatments or diagnostics, compare which older therapies work best, or help uncover general knowledge about health. Many of the studies are reported in scientific journals or trumpeted in the news.

Disappointing results not revealed But researchers don’t always publicly reveal their results, especially when the

findings show a treatment doesn’t work as initially hoped, said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. Collins cited one recent analysis that found less than half of studies had been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal within 30 months of completion. “This is simply not acceptable,” Collins said. “This dissemination of trial results is the way in which medical progress occurs.” The proposals aim to change that by increasing information available on a public database — www.clinicaltrials.gov — that already is a major source for patients and doctors seeking to find the latest studies that need volunteers. That site lists basic registration information — what’s being studied, in whom —

about more than 178,000 clinical trials here and abroad. Some are enrolling participants; some already are completed. By NIH’s count, just 15,000 of the listings include a summary of the findings, indicating whether the work succeeded or failed.

New rules proposed by NIH Under the new proposals, all clinical trials that receive funding from the NIH would have to start listing a summary of the study results within a year of completion. So would certain other studies, under an expansion of Food and Drug Administration rules that could require compliance even if they involve products not approved for sale. Some clinical trials would still be exempt from revealing results, and companies could request extra time to report

about unapproved treatments. But NIH estimated the proposals, if finalized, would mean the public could start seeing results of about 650 additional agency-funded studies a year. “These proposed changes should be good for patients, for scientists and for the taxpayer,” Collins said, noting that even failed studies are important to learn from — and so scientists don’t waste money repeating them. The proposals are open for public comment through Feb. 19. Written comments on the proposed NIH policy should be submitted electronically to the Office of Clinical Research and Bioethics Policy, Office of Science Policy, NIH, via email at clinicaltrials.disseminationpolicy@mail.nih.gov, via mail at 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20892, or by fax at (301) 496-9839. — AP

BEACON BITS

Jan. 17

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Senior Services of Alexandria presents a free program on caregiver support on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Immanuel Church on the Hill, 3606 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, Va. Participants will hear from local experts on the importance of making a plan, how caregivers can take care of themselves, in-home services available, and more. Participating organizations include AARP, Mediation Works, Griswold Home Care and Mt. Vernon Rehabilitation Center. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register, visit www.seniorservicesalex.org or call (703) 836-4414.

Jan. 22+

CHAIR HATHA YOGA

The Langston-Brown Senior Center is holding yoga classes designed for senior adults, adults recovering from injury or surgery, and adults with physical disabilities. It addresses all major muscle groups and joints, and adapts classic yoga poses in a safe and accessible manner. All work may be done seated or using the chair as a balance point for standing poses. The classes begin on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. at the Langston-Brown Senior Center, 2121 N. Culpeper St., Arlington, Va. The cost is $49 for 7 sessions. For more information or to register, call (703) 228-6300.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Free anti-flu treatments for those 65-plus By Barbara Ruben Every year, seasonal influenza, or flu, is responsible for many hospitalizations and deaths, despite the existence of effective antiviral treatments, such as Tamiflu. These treatments must be taken in the first few days after symptoms appear. This flu season is expected to be a bad one, even for those who were vaccinated, in part because the strains in the vaccine don’t match the type of flu that has become more prevalent this year. Some individuals have medical conditions, such as heart or lung diseases, that make them particularly at risk of severe influenza infections that may result in hospitalization or death. More than 225,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year due to complications from the flu, and between 24,000 and 50,000 will die. An international study coordinated by the National Institutes of Health is looking at whether combining Tamiflu with other antiviral medications may aid recovery and cut complications. Researchers are studying both the safety and efficacy of the drugs in combination. Volunteers with early flu symptoms will be needed for the study.

For higher-risk patients The trial is studying people who are at elevated risk for complications from the flu, including those who are age 65 and older. Researchers are also looking for those

with the following conditions that can lead to complications: asthma, chronic lung diseases like COPD, heart disease, kidney and liver disorders, weakened immune systems, neurological conditions including stroke and epilepsy, and obesity with a BMI over 40. In addition to being at risk for complications of the flu, to join the study, participants must be 18 or older and have an influenza-like illness. To be effective, antiviral medicine should be given as soon as possible after symptoms start, which is why those participating in the study must contact the study coordinators within 96 hours, or four days, of first getting a fever or respiratory symptoms. Those who have already taken more than two doses of an antiviral medication, have a low white or red cell blood count, or severe liver disease cannot take part in the study. Flu patients who would like to join the study will then be seen at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. They will be given a test with a throat swab to see if they have the flu.

The first visit may take two to three hours, but each subsequent visit should take approximately one to two hours. Additional blood samples and throat swabs will be taken at these visits. For more information or to volunteer for the study, contact Jocelyn Voell, RN, at (301) 435-7913 or email jvoell@mail.nih.gov.

Taking part in the study Participants will be randomly selected to take a three-drug combination or Tamiflu alone. In the combination drug group, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) will be combined with two other antiviral medications, Symmetrel (amantadine) and ribavirin, which has several brand names, including Copegus, Virazole, Ribasphere and Rebetol.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 6+

Participants will receive a study medication kit containing the medication to take at home twice a day for five days. They will return to the clinical center four times over the next month for exams and to have tests to measure how much flu virus is still in their body. They will also keep a diary to record their symptoms.

FREE COMPUTER BASICS CLASS

The D.C. Public Library offers free computer classes that provide hands-on training to adults. Overcome your fears and gain the skills that can get you ready for the workplace. There will be computer basics classes on Tuesdays, Jan. 6, 13 and 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the main meeting room at the William O. Lockridge/Bellevue Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW, Washington, D.C. Seats will be filled on a first-come, space available basis. Arrive on time to participate. For more information, visit http://dclibrary.org/bellevue or contact Desire Grogan at (202) 727-1298 or desire.grogan@dc.gov.

Concerned about MEMORY? Interested in free exercise training? Under a grant from the NIH/National Institutes on Aging, we are looking for MEN and POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN AGE 55 and OVER, who are relatively sedentary (low regular physical activity).

This study will Evaluate the Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Memory You will undergo testing at no charge to you, including: • general physical/cardiovascular exams • brain imaging and memory assessment • cholesterol and diabetes tests You will also receive fully supervised and individualized aerobic exercise training as well as nutrition education.

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

Terminal illness tests us, young and old Ed’s. note: As part of our effort to encourage greater intergenerational communication and interaction, we present another column written by 12-year-old Alexis Bentz, a student at Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville, Md. Are you or a loved one suffering from a terminal illness such as cancer? If you answered yes, you are not alone. After heart disease (which is first), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. One of every four deaths is, unfortunately, from this illness. Cancer and other terminal illnesses are often associated with older adults, but it is important to remember that children can get them, too. I love to read, and one of the many books

that I read last year was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This book is about the life of Hazel, a 16-year-old girl who has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. This story was a real eye-opener to me about how much of an impact cancer has on people’s lives. Hazel has to wheel an oxygen tank with her wherever she goes, can’t go to school, and can’t do any extreme physical activity. She also has to go to the hospital often because of her cancer-struck lungs. And the cancer doesn’t impact her alone; it also has effects on everyone in her life, mainly her mom and dad. But what amazes me about cancer patients like Hazel is not how little they can

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do, but how much they can do. Cancer propriate for kids 12 and older (middle and kids are strong. There is no denying it. high schoolers). In the story, despite her battle with canYou can ask your local librarian if you cer, Hazel still lives a normal can have the book club at the life: She loves her parents, library and invite students of though they still drive her those ages to participate. Or crazy; she loves going to the you could go to your local mall and hanging with friends; middle or high school and ask and most of all, she loves her to sponsor a club there. Then, boyfriend Augustus, who is you can read The Fault in Our also a cancer patient. She Stars together and discuss the stays strong through thick effects of terminal illnesses and thin, and never gives up. on patients and their families. I recommend reading this And if you or a loved one GENERATIONS book. It is truly amazing to see TOGETHER are a cancer patient — thank inside the life of Hazel and to By Alexis Bentz you for staying strong. understand what life is like for To ask Alexis Bentz a quespeople with cancer. tion or suggest a topic for her A great idea for some multi-generational column, please write her c/o: Generations bonding is to start a book club. Based on Together, The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver its content, The Fault in Our Stars is ap- Spring, MD 20915-2227.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 13+

JOIN THE YIDDISH CLUB

The Yiddish Club, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at Holiday Park Senior Center. The next meeting will be on Jan. 13. The club welcomes new members, whether they speak Yiddish or not, for conversation and cultural presentations. Holiday Park is located at 3950 Ferrara Dr,, Wheaton, Md. For more information, call Fanny Aizenberg at (202) 362-1628.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Your body needs copper for many reasons Once zinc is depleted, copper levels rise. If you love someone with a mental illness, you can have their pyrroles measured with a simple urine test. Copper is needed to make melanin, so deficiencies are often seen in people with premature gray hair. Cardiac arrhythmias can result from low copper status. Copper helps you make elastin and collagen, components of bone and connective tissues. Copper may be useful for

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osteoporosis. Resveratrol supplements are drug muggers of copper. That is, they remove copper from the body. Copper can help you manage cholesterol. 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. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

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The other day I was eating lunch with a might be copper deficient. You cannot absorb friend and colleague and he mentioned iron without copper, and you need iron to that copper can increase the risk of cancer. make hemoglobin, the main component of This was not the first time I red blood cells. Long story had heard something scary short, copper deficiency is about copper. Last year, ansometimes at the heart of reother friend (a medical docsistant iron deficiency anemia. tor) also mentioned copper’s An “RBC copper” blood test can association with cancer, espereveal this. cially hormonal types. Symptoms of copper defiHow could something so inciency include pale skin, gray tegral to our body be so bad, I hair, skin lesions or dryness, wondered? dizziness, weakness, poor imI researched it. Just like I susmunity, shortness of breath DEAR pected, copper is essential to PHARMACIST and malabsorption issues. Low good health. We don’t need a lot By Suzy Cohen copper is associated with low of copper, but certain healthy white blood cells, leukemia amounts are vital and essential to and other blood irregularities. our health and well-being. It’s all about balance! Here’s what else you should know: Zinc supplements lower copper levWhy we need copper els. If you’ve been consuming zinc suppleCopper is required for the formation of ments for a long time, you might be copper about 50 enzymes, and it’s needed for our deficient. Ask your doctor about the zinc to transporters, which shuttle hormones and copper ratio, but it’s about ten to one. neurotransmitters all over the body. Elevated copper can cause neuroCopper protects the inner lining of your logical problems, possibly schizophreblood vessels. Deficiencies can make them nia, phobias and panic attacks. But the relose elasticity and rupture easily. search isn’t clear. This is a good time to Copper supports energy production. How teach you that some of you make large many of you suffer with chronic fatigue? amounts of “pyrroles.” In excess, pyrroles If you have iron deficiency anemia that irreversibly latch onto zinc and vitamin B6 doesn’t respond to iron supplementation, you and take them out of the body via urine.

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

Why warm up and stretch before exercise Q: How important is it to warm up and stretch before exercise? A: Warming up before exercise is very important for people of all ages to reduce the chance of soreness or injury, and to prepare your cardiovascular system for exercise. Older adults and those who have been inactive should be especially sure to make time for this vital element of physical activity. You can do a slow and easy version of whatever type of exercise you’ll be doing as your warm-up, whether that means walking, swimming, dancing, tennis or working with weights. Pay special attention to warming up when exercising outdoors in cold weather. Even if your body as a whole feels warm,

make sure the muscles in your arms and legs, which may be exposed to the wind and cold, have moved enough to feel warm. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, muscles are more elastic and ready to be stretched when they are warm, so warm up first and then stretch. As one option to stretch the muscles you’ll be using, simply move them through the full range of motion you’ll be using during your exercise. Another option is called a static stretch; you gently stretch each muscle you’ll be using to the point of feeling slight tightness, and then hold that position for 10 to 30 seconds without bouncing. In addition to the pre-exercise warm-up

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Sweet potatoes are richer in natural sugand stretch, the cool-down and after-exercise stretch are important. Take five to 10 ars and starches than most vegetables, makminutes of low-intensity movement to help ing them higher in calories. One-half cup of sweet potatoes has about 90 your body settle back down to calories compared to 30 to 40 its normal state. calories in one-half cup of Then, while your muscles pumpkin or winter squash. are loose, general stretching Many recipes with these with focus on the muscles you vegetables include so much just used will decrease butter, margarine, sugar or chances of muscle soreness, syrup, that they become and help improve and mainquite high in calories. Howevtain the flexibility that makes er, those additions are not all life activities easier. necessary to enjoy the vegTry these flexibility exercise etables’ wonderful flavor. from the NIH SeniorHealth NUTRITION For a quick-and-easy way to website (http://bit.ly/flexibili- WISE boost nutrients and color to ty_exercises) that show 12 By Karen Collins, your meal, add puréed frozen major muscle areas that all ben- MS, RD, CDM or canned winter squash or efit from stretching regularly, from neck and shoulders, through back, pumpkin to soup, stew or even smoothies. (Just be sure the canned pumpkin is pure, arms and each area of the legs. Q: How do pumpkin, winter squash unsalted pumpkin and not sweetened and sweet potatoes compare nutrition- pumpkin pie mix.) Cubes of fresh squash, pumpkin or ally? What are healthy ways to prepare sweet potatoes are delicious in stir-fries them? A: Pumpkin and winter squash (includ- and stews, and mix well with many differing acorn, butternut and hubbard) are in ent flavor combinations. All three choices are also terrific roasted the same plant family and their nutrient content is similar. As with sweet potatoes, in the oven, either alone or with other vegthe deep orange color of pumpkin and win- etables, drizzled with just a bit of olive oil. ter squash signals that they are very high You can cook them by steaming as well. The American Institute for Cancer Rein compounds called carotenoids. In laboratory studies, carotenoids func- search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-843tion as antioxidants and aid in controlling cell 8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through growth, which could mean they help reduce Friday. This free service allows you to ask cancer risk. Human studies link higher con- questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A sumption of foods containing carotenoids registered dietitian will return your call, usually within three business days with lower risk of some cancers. Courtesy of the American Institute for All three vegetables are also packed with potassium, which seems to promote Cancer Research. Questions for this column good blood pressure control. All are good may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., sources of vitamin C, too, with sweet pota- NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally. toes containing the highest amounts.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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

Sweet potato bean soup hits the spot Homemade soup fusing sweet potatoes, chickpeas and cannellini beans makes for an unexpected winter treat. Sweet and nutty flavors mingle with delightful textures and warm, inviting colors. Easy to make, this delicious soup is loaded with cancer-protective nutrients. Columbus and other early explorers discovered sweet potatoes, first cultivated by the predecessors of the Incas, in Central and South America. From there, sweet potatoes were carried back to Europe where they gained popularity. Although sweet potatoes contain plenty of other nutrients, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of nature’s unsurpassed sources of beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes mixed with

lycopene-rich tomato paste give this brothbased soup its beautiful peach color. Cream-colored chickpeas and cannellini beans accent the warm color of the soup broth, and their nutty bean flavors complement the sweet flavors of sweet potatoes, onion and celery. Chickpeas and cannellini beans both offer satiating protein and complex carbohydrates, not to mention cancerprotective fiber. The word chickpea is derived from the Latin word cicer and has no connection with chickens. Around the world, chickpeas also may be called garbanzo beans or ceci beans. Based on their pleasant aroma when roasted, they have been used as a substitute for coffee beans in some countries.

Cannellini beans and chickpeas both contain soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps stabilize blood sugar, while insoluble fiber helps with intestinal health

See SOUP RECIPE, page 22

Our Mission: To secure the well-being of Montgomery County Seniors through the shared strength of diverse organizations and individuals.

Professionals working with seniors are invited to our Monthly GROWS meetings on the first Thursday of the month at 8:15 a.m. usually at Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md.

Networking Extravaganza: Speak 1-on-1 with at least 30 professionals! Thursday, March 5, 2015 • 8-11 am Margaret Schweinhaut Center • 1000 Forest Glen Road • Silver Spring, MD

BEACON BITS

Jan. 26

and regularity. Sweet Potato Bean Soup is hearty enough

EARLY SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER’S This month’s Dupont Circle Village Live and Learn seminar fea-

tures Robin Lawrence, a nurse practitioner with Georgetown University’s Memory Disorder Program, who will explain how to look for signs of cognitive decline. The program will be held at the DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. The talk is free for village members and $10 for others. The building is wheelchair accessible. For more information or to register, contact Linda Harsh at (202) 234-2567 or lindajkh@mac.com.

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

Does granddad or mommy know best? Dear Solutions: tivity without adults telling them how. I I don’t know whether my problem is would advise your daughter to back off for with my daughter or with my grandson. a while. He can get in the swim later when My daughter and my 4-yearhe’s ready. old grandson have to live Dear Solutions: with us for a while, and she My wife died recently, has him enrolled in every and my next door neighbor activity possible. He has has been very kind. I’m resports class dates, tutoring tired and home all day and dates, swimming dates, play so is she, but her husband dates and more. is still working. Now he’s refusing to go Because she’s been so to the swimming class, but kind to me listening to my my daughter insists he need to talk and ever ySOLUTIONS should go. When he gets thing, I’ve gotten her a few By Helen Oxenberg, there, he won’t go in the small gifts. I’m beginning MSW, ACSW water. She thinks if he to get a bad feeling from doesn’t go, he’ll never get her husband, though. over his fear. I think she should leave He doesn’t say anything, but I can him alone. What do you think? sort of feel his annoyance, and he’s — Her Dad acting very cold to me. Dear [Grand]Dad: I’ve been giving his wife gifts because It just goes to show –— you can lead a she has such a warm heart. Do you think child to water, but you can’t make him I should explain to him that I’m not after swim! I think your grandson is over- his wife? What am I doing wrong? whelmed and may be too young for this in— Tom tensive dating game. He could probably Dear Tom: benefit from a “do nothing” date. His cold shoulder must take precedence Children’s imagination and creativity over her warm heart! Cool it. It feels flatterhave a chance to develop when they have ing to you that she pays attention, and it some time to just invent their own play ac- feels flattering to her that you give her gifts.

But it obviously feels threatening to him. What are you “doing wrong?” You’re around all day, and he’s not. That’s enough. Start looking elsewhere for single women friends. I assure you there are many who also have warm hearts and are willing, even eager, to share. Dear Solutions: My sister has five children. Four of them are doing very well — doctors, successful business people, good marriages, etc. One, the middle daughter, is struggling along. As my sister says, “nothing ever works out right for her,” and that’s all my sister concentrates on now. She keeps talking about it and is depressed and gloomy all the time. She doesn’t know what to do about it, and I don’t know what to do about her. I keep telling her to feel good about how well her other children are doing, but she doesn’t seem to get any joy out of that. I’m afraid she’ll make herself sick. What do you think? — Ellie

Dear Ellie: I think that a mother is only as happy as her unhappiest child. The first thing you can do is express your understanding of that, because that’s where she’s at. She doesn’t worry about her other children because she doesn’t think she has to do anything for them. But she thinks she does need to fix things for this one, and that’s the problem. She’s feeling powerless. Unless there’s some practical way she can change things for this daughter, she needs help to accept that she can’t fix things. She can only be supportive. Perhaps she can help her daughter get professional help. She should also get some counseling for herself. That would let both her and you off the hook. © Helen Oxenberg, 2015. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 6553684.

Soup recipe

rinsed 1/3 cup fresh basil or parsley, coarsely chopped In large pot over high heat, pour in broth and add sweet potatoes, onion, celery, tomato paste, paprika and cumin and bring to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in beans and chickpeas. Cover and simmer until beans are heated through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Gently stir soup until well mixed and ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve. For creamy soup, purée a portion of the soup, return to the pot and combine well before serving. Makes 8 servings. Per serving: 250 calories, 3.5 g. total fat (<1 g. saturated fat), 42 g. carbohydrate, 15 g. protein, 10 g. dietary fiber, 480 mg. sodium. Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research.

From page 21 to stand alone, but for a full meal, serve it with whole-grain croutons or multi-grain or dark pumpernickel bread. Add a side salad of field greens topped with apple slices, purple onions, chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans, and a simple vinaigrette.

Sweet Potato Bean Soup 2 cartons (32 oz.) low-sodium chicken broth 1 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into ½inch pieces 1 medium onion, chopped 3 stalks celery, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste ½ tsp. paprika ¼ tsp. ground cumin Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 cans (15.5 oz.) cannellini (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed 1 can (15.5 oz.) chickpeas, drained and

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

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 1

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

January 2015

Intergenerational Volunteers

By John M. Thompson, Ph.D., CPM, FAAMA In this issue of “Spotlight on Aging,” we focus on volunteerism. According to the United Nations, “volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges worldwide.” Such development challenges include inadequate or health and human services infrastructures in less developed countries and communities. In our communities here in Washington, D.C., there are numerous opportunities to shape development in ways that could improve the quality of life of fellow residents. One opportunity that I would like to present to you is the D.C. Office on Aging’s (DCOA) Ambassador Program. The purpose of the Ambassador Program is to educate citizens about all of the programs and services offered by the DCOA, and those offered by other agencies, that could help seniors, persons with disabilities, and family caregivers improve their quality of life. By acquiring this knowledge, ambassadors are fully prepared to refer people who could benefit from the array of services to the appropriate agency. Another program that may be of interest to you is our Intergenerational Program, which is a partnership between D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), Jump Start and DCOA. Through this partnership, Jump Start trains senior volunteers interested in working with children in the Pre-K programs in selected DCPS schools. According to research, there are mutual benefits for both the seniors and the children when connected through intergenerational programs. For seniors, it is an opportunity to combat social isolation as they are working in the school system. Moreover, it gives the seniors an opportunity to give back by con-

tributing to a greater good of helping children, while being a huge help to the teachers. For the children in intergenerational programs, studies show that they improve their social and academic skills, which means better success as they matriculate through the school system and interact with their peers. This is a win-win situation! There are also volunteer opportunities available through the many senior villages in the District. Senior villages add tremendous value to the District as they are designed to help seniors with aging within their communities. As these seniors remain in their communities, senior villages provide them with assistance in accessing a variety of discounted or free resources. These resources include, but are not limited to, handyman services to fix a hot water heater, furnace or light fixture; lawn service; transportation; companionship services; cooking; and light duty house cleaning. The services are discounted or free as a result of the generosity of community stakeholders willing to give of their time and resources. As the number of seniors continues to grow, the demand for a number of these services will continue to rise in the District of Columbia. Consequently, there are plenty of opportunities for citizens to volunteer their time in a meaningful way. I trust that as you make your New Year’s resolutions that you would seriously consider an opportunity to join me in serving our fellow citizens. If interested, please contact us at 202724-5622 to learn more about our volunteer programs. I am confident that once you get connected through volunteerism, you will see how you are making a tremendous impact in our communities.

Congratulations! DCOA Intergenerational Volunteer participants earn a certificate for completing their pre-service training with Jumpstart. They will be working with students in the classrooms at Langdon and Noyes Education Campuses.

At the White House

Congress Heights Senior Wellness Seniors visited the White House for the holidays. Several of the members pictured are more than 80 years old and are visiting for the first time.

Help the Homeless and Animals Stay Warm Hypothermia season has begun, so please look out for the homeless. When the actual or forecasted temperature or wind chill is 32˚F or below, the District issues a Hypothermia Alert. When the temperature is 15˚F or 20˚F with precipitation, the District activates the Cold Emergency. To request support for DC residents who are homeless and on the street

now, contact the Shelter Hotline at uposh@upo.org, 202-399-7093, 211, or 1800-535-7252 (for toll-free calls from a pay phone). Pets should be brought indoors during Hypothermia and Cold Emergency alerts. To report cruelty, neglect and animal emergencies 24 hours a day, call the Washington Humane Society at 202-723-5730.

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

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month Glaucoma is a very misunderstood disease. Often, people don’t realize the severity or who is affected.

Four key facts about glaucoma 1. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness Glaucoma can cause blindness if it is left untreated. And, unfortunately, approximately 10 percent of people with glaucoma who receive proper treatment still experience loss of vision. 2. There is no cure (yet) for glaucoma Glaucoma is not curable, and once

vision is lost, it cannot be regained. With medication and/or surgery, it is possible to halt further loss of vision. Since open-angle glaucoma is a chronic condition, it must be monitored for life. Diagnosis is the first step to preserving your vision. 3. Everyone is at risk for glaucoma Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, from babies to senior citizens. Older people are at a higher risk for glaucoma, but babies can be born with glaucoma (approximately 1 out of every 10,000 babies born in the United

States). Young adults can get glaucoma, too. African Americans in particular are susceptible at a younger age. 4. There may be no symptoms to warn you With open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, there are virtually no symptoms. Usually, no pain is associated with increased eye pressure. Vision loss begins with peripheral or side vision. You may compensate for this unconsciously by turning your head to the side and may not notice anything until significant vision is lost.

Be Smart About Safety. Be prepared for your future.

SSmart911 mar t911 iiss a ffree ree 9 9-1-1 -1-1 se service r vice aavailable vailable iin n yyour our ccommunity. ommunit y.

No No one one plans plans to to call call 9-1-1, 9-1-1, but but now now you you can can plan plan ahead. ahead. A ge - Friendly DC is focused on making DC a bet ter and easier place in which to grow up and older,, especially in those unexpec ted tough moments. One impor tant way to become bet ter prepared for dif f icult times is to register with Smar t 911. Sign up for Smar t 911 by recording key information — about yourself, family members, your home, pets and even vehicles — that will be immediately available to 9 -1-1 when you make an emergenc y call. These details can save valuable time during an emergenc y. Just like signing up for other benef its, Smar t 911 is about being prepared.

Seconds count when… A c h i l d go e s m i s s i n g. dŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ Ă ĮƌĞ͘ You experience a medical emergenc y. You have an accident in a vehicle, at home, or on the job.

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Smart911 is private and secure and provided free to residents by your local 9-1-1 and public safety agencies.

The best way to protect your sight from glaucoma is to get tested. If you have glaucoma, treatment can begin immediately. Please make sure you have your eyes checked regularly. For more information, consult your primary care physician.

Mayor Gray Releases Age-Friendly DC Strategic Plan At his final bi-weekly press briefing in December, Mayor Gray released the Age-Friendly DC Strategic Plan. The plan’s release marks a significant step on the District’s journey to become an age-friendly city under the terms of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-Friendly Environments initiative. In October 2012, Mayor Gray announced that the District would seek the WHO designation as an Age-Friendly City, which indicates that the District is livable and accessible for aging residents, that the services the District delivers take the needs of aging residents into account, and that service-delivery agencies and staff demonstrate an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the needs of older residents. The Mayor’s designation set in motion a five-year process where the Age-Friendly team spent the better part of two years listening to residents and organizing key stakeholders to develop recommendations for this strategic See AGE-FRIENDLY D.C., page 26

Spotlight On Aging continues on page 25, following the Housing & Home Care Options magazine at the right Please pull out and keep the magazine. You may also pull out and keep Spotlight on Aging.

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

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Say you saw it in the Beacon

B-1

B-2

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

CCRCs pair housing with health benefits By Pat Mertz Esswein and Sandra Block When Monica Rotchford couldn’t handle the stairs in her house anymore, she knew it was time for a change. She and her husband Charles had lived there for many years, but the house just didn’t make sense for them anymore. In their 90s, the Rotchfords were still very independent and didn’t require assisted living or skilled nursing care. They decided to look into continuing care retirement communities. Such communities, known as CCRCs, provide a continuum of housing and healthcare intended to provide residents with a place to live for the rest of their lives, with access to healthcare as they need it. Housing and services range from inde-

pendent living, to assisted living, to skilled nursing and memory care. All are offered on the same campus or in the same building. Payment includes monthly fees and, typically but not always, a sizable entrance deposit or buy-in, that may or not be refundable. After doing some research and talking to friends, the Rotchfords decided to move to the Virginian, a CCRC located in Fairfax, Va. “We looked into several places,” Monica Rotchford said. “They have a good exercise program...We also knew several people who lived here.” Unlike most other CCRC’s, the Virginian doesn’t require a large entrance fee. “Most places you have to buy. Here it’s rental,” she explained.

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Varied amenities and services To entice residents who might otherwise choose to remain in their homes, many CCRCs offer country club-like amenities, including restaurants, fitness facilities and organized activities. They also offer safety backups, such as monitoring systems that let security staff know whether a resident has fallen or is otherwise unable to move around their apartment. CCRCs also relieve the household burdens that grow more difficult with aging, such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves, shoveling snow and home maintenance. “If there’s any problem — for instance, electrical, plumbing, or whatever — our call is usually answered quite promptly,” Rotchford said. Richard DePoto, 75, moved to the Virginian to be closer to family. “I feel like I’m not at a retirement place. I feel like I’m on vacation,” he said. “This feels like I’m down at the beach.” Many CCRCs also provide scheduled transportation, since many of their residents cannot or choose not to drive. When he first came to the Virginian, DePoto brought along his car. But he said he found the shuttle service so convenient, he soon donated it to charity. As CCRCs have caught on as a senior living option, they have often been built “on golf courses and mountaintops in the

middle of nowhere,” said Andrew Carle, executive-in-residence and founder of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. More recently, however, CCRCs have been developed in the heart of communities, such as in city centers and populous suburbs. They are also now looking to attract niche or affinity groups, so CCRCs may be university based, focused on the arts, or geared toward the lesbian-gay-transgender population. [For more info, see “More communities serve growing niches,” on page B-12.]

Paying for it As for cost, the Virginian requires a $2,500 entrance deposit that is returned to residents when they move out or to their heirs. They also have a one-time community fee, which is used for “upkeep and maintenance of common areas,” explained John Autry, director of sales and business development. The non-refundable community fee is $7,500. For comparison, at CCRCs where a buyin based on the size of one’s apartment is required, and that includes the option of a 100 percent refund upon move-out, can be $500,000 or more in some communities. Residents at the Virginian also pay a monthly service package that is fixed for the See CCRCs, page B-3

The nation’s first military retirement community has provided more than 50 years of service to those who experienced the unique life of the military family. Knollwood is built on the cornerstones of personal attention, superior care and camaraderie.

There’s a better way to weather winter. ®

At an Erickson Living retirement community, winter is always warm and wonderful. With predictable bills, an abundance of activities, and no maintenance concerns, you can relax and enjoy the season.

Change the way you react to winter. Call 1-800-989-8331 today for your free brochure.

FREE BROCHURE

EricksonLiving.com 10505692

Knollwood, bordering Rock Creek Park, is convenient to all Washington, D.C., has to offer. Our affordable continuing care retirement community features modern independent living apar tments from 500 to 2,900 sq. ft., assisted living apartments, skilled nursing and memory care.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

CCRCs From page B-2 entire calendar year. The monthly package includes breakfast and dinner, housekeeping, maintenance and repairs, heating/air conditioning, scheduled shuttle service, fitness center, 24-hour security, emergency first response and more. Depending on the type of apartment home, the monthly service package ranges from $3,928 to $5,907. Monthly fees at communities that require more significant entrance fees tend

to be lower. According to Larry Minnix, president of LeadingAge.com, a membership organization for aging-services nonprofits, while prospective residents of CCRCs look carefully at the apartments and common spaces, they often don’t tour the healthcare facility. “They should, but they think, I’m glad it’s there, but I hope to God I won’t need it,” he said. But vetting the nursing home should be a key part of shopping for a CCRC.

Use the Nursing Home Comparison tool at www.medicare.gov, which rates facilities based on various criteria and lets you compare up to three facilities at a time. Note the total number of licensed-nurse staff-hours devoted to each resident per day. The more, the better, especially for registered nurses. When you take the tour

in person, look for positive interaction between staff members, as well as between staff and residents.

CCRCs: the fine print Don’t let the bucolic grounds and pool See CCRCs, page B-4

Selected area CCRCs In Maryland Asbury Methodist Village, Gaithersburg, Md., (301) 216-4001, www.asburymethodistvillage.org Brooke Grove, Sandy Spring, Md., (301) 260-2320, www.bgf.org Kensington Park Retirement Community, Kensington, Md., (301) 946-7700, www.kensingtonretirement.com Riderwood Village, Silver Spring, Md., (301) 495-5700, www.ericksonliving.com/riderwood/welcome-riderwood Village at Rockville, Rockville, Md., (301) 424-9560, www.thevillageatrockville.org

In Virginia Ashby Ponds, Ashburn, Va., 1-800839-3496, www.ericksonliving.com/ ashby-ponds/welcome-ashby-ponds-retirement-community Culpepper Baptist Retirement Community, Culpepper, Va., 1-540-8252411, www.culpeperretirement.org The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods, Fort Belvoir, Va., (703) 799-1200,

www.sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/the-fairfax/overview.aspx Falcons Landing, Potomac Falls, Va., (703) 404-5151, www.falconslanding.org Greenspring Retirement Community, Springfield, Va., (703) 436-4515, www.ericksonliving.com/greenspring/welcome-greenspring-retirement-community Vinson Hall Retirement Community, McLean, Va., (703) 536-4344, www.vinsonhall.org The Virginian, Fairfax, Va., (703) 385-0555, www.thevirginian.org

In Washington, D.C. Armed Forces Retirement Home, Washington, D.C., (202) 541-7501, www.afrh.gov/afrh/wash/washcampus.htm Ingleside at Rock Creek, Washington, D.C., (202) 363-8310, www.ircdc.org Knollwood, Washington, D.C., (202) 541-0149, https://armydistaff.org The Residences at Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C., (202) 628-3844, www.thomascircle.com

Meeting the High Standards of Military Families It’s all about maintenance-free living at The Fairfax, one !"# $%&'$(")*$+*(*,-."/('.%"$'%*$'0'(%"1 002(*%*'.3" Located adjacent to Fort Belvoir, our gorgeous 60-acre 1,042."*."%&'"4$'0*'$"1& *1'"! $"$'%*$'5"0*6*%,$7" !/1'$." ,(5"%&'*$"!,0*6*'.3"8'"4$ 9*5'"4',1'" !"0*(5:. "7 2" 1,("'(; 7"'9'$7"5,7"% "%&'"!266'.%3 '"!266'.%3

faces fa aces of of f friendship r ie nd ship Life is

Much Friendlier with these Faces

“This This is a a… very congenial environment environment. We love our neighbors.” –BG Leo Brooks and Naomi Brooks

–Anne Arnhart

Our team of friendly faces makes life easier, rr, more exciting, g g, spontaneous and much friendlier. r r. Friendship Terrace offers affordable senior apartments and is part of the Seabury Resources for Aging family of services in Washington, D.C. Come meet Chuck at Friendship Terrace. Call 202.244.7400 today to schedule your personal tour.

“My son said to me, ‘Thanks, Mom. You took a lot of worry off of me.”

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Friendship Terrace—Redefining Retirement

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CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR. 9140 Belvoir Woods Parkway, Fort Belvoir, VA 703-799-1200 | TheFairfaxRetirement.com/Beacon Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care

B-4

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

ASSISTED LIVING

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

CCRCs From page B-3

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org This community hums with warmhearted 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 selfesteem. 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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Covenant Village (301) 540-1162 18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874 www.qpmgmt.com • Spacious 2-bedroom plans with washer/dryer in each apt. • Covenant Village shuttle bus for shopping and local trips • Fitness room, billiard room, game/crafts room, movie theatre • On-site beauty salon, garden plots It’s all about our residents, says Kathy the Property Manager. The staff ensures that the residents always have interesting and exciting activities going on. Some of the fun includes movie nights, new resident meet and greet, holiday parties, fashion shows, and community dinners. Attendance at the wine and cheese and ice cream socials is close to 100%. Covenant Village was recently awarded a trophy by the Property Management Association for being Maryland’s Best Affordable Community in their category! Please call today to make an appointment for a tour.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Falcons Landing (855) 333-6327- Toll-Free 20522 Falcons Landing Circle Potomac Falls, VA 20165 www.FalconsLanding.org/DreamsComeTrue Luxurious Living after a Career of Service. Nestled near the Potomac River in scenic Northern Virginia, Falcons Landing Military Retirement Community is a vibrant hub for residents who have retired from work, but not from life! We continually strive to provide the best experiences for our residents. Our dreams came true in 2014 as we completed the anticipated expansion that includes our new Wellness and Fitness Complex, contemporary Woodburn Café and stylish Compass Club! Falcons Landing is a community of retired military officers of all branches of service, senior-level federal employees, their spouses and surviving spouses, as well as those honorably discharged with any length of service. At Falcons Landing, the adventure continues! Call us to schedule a lunch in our new Woodburn Cafe!

at a CCRC distract you from investigating the finances and the quality of healthcare. Here’s what to consider: 1. Type of contract. You usually have a choice of four types of plans. Communities with life care contracts, also known as Type A plans, typically provide unlimited access to assisted living or long-term care, with only modest increases in monthly fees. Unless it is a rental community like The Virginia, for this security, you’ll pay a substantial fee up front. The average entrance fee was $284,373 in the first quarter of 2014, which includes the cost of the home, according to the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry. With modified, or Type B, plans, residents pay a lower entrance fee than for a life care contract, but they may receive only a specified number of days of assisted living or skilled nursing care or be responsible for a percentage of healthcare costs. Fee-for-ser vice, or Type C, plans usually charge lower entry and monthly fees than A and B plans, but the fees don’t include the cost of assisted living or skilled nursing care. Unless you have long-term care insurance, you’ll pay the full cost for those services at market rates. The median annual rate for a semiprivate room in a nursing home in Maryland is about $98,370, according to the Genworth 2014 Cost of Care survey. The median annual cost for assisted living is $40,800. With rental contracts, residents pay no entrance fee, but monthly fees are usually higher than those for Type A and Type B contracts. If you need skilled nursing care, you cover the cost. Finally, some CCRCs allow residents to buy their units and pay monthly service fees plus the cost of any care. 2. Terms of the refund. Most CCRC contracts allow a full refund of entry fees if

you move or die during the first two to four years, said Brad Breeding, author of What’s the Deal With Retirement Communities? (People Tested Publications). The percentage of the fee that’s refundable will gradually decline until you’re no longer eligible for a refund. Some contracts guarantee you or your heirs a refund of 50 percent to 100 percent of the entrance fee no matter how long you live in the community. In exchange, you’ll pay a higher entrance fee. 3. Tax deduction. The percentage of your fees that covers healthcare is a deductible medical expense. The CCRC should tell you how much of its fees are allocated for medical costs, said Twila Midwood, an enrolled agent in Rockledge, Fla. If you’re 65 or older, you may deduct unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. You must itemize on your tax return to claim this deduction. 4. Long-term-care insurance. A fullservice CCRC offers many of the same benefits as a long-term care insurance policy, so if you already have the insurance, you may be better off choosing a modified or fee-for-service contract. If you do opt for a full-service contract, don’t drop your LTC coverage. Your CCRC contract may not cover all of your healthcare costs. 5. Financial stability. Ask for the CCRC’s audited financial statements, and review them with an accountant or financial adviser versed in retirement communities. The CCRC should be able to cover expenses out of operating income. Also look at the CCRC’s occupancy: Debt-rating agencies prefer a rate of 90 percent or more. Ask the CCRC what provisions it has to assist residents who run out of money. Many have a benevolent fund for that purpose. © 2014, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Additional reporting by Rebekah Sewell.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

Housing Notes By Barbara Ruben

Tenant survival guide From protecting security deposits to appealing evictions, the “Washington, D.C. Tenant Survival Guide” offers a clear explanation of tenant law for District renters. The booklet’s contents are printed in both English and Spanish. The guide includes rights and responsibilities in such areas as leases, repairs, renter’s insurance, evictions, rent control and mediation. There is also information on public housing, federally subsidized housing, condo and coop conversion, forming a tenant organization and more. In addition, the guide includes a listing of District agencies and additional resources. The guide is published by the Harrison Institute for Housing and Community Development of the Georgetown University Law Center. Call (202) 662-4232 for more information about ordering a hard copy. The full guide is also available online at bit.ly/tenant_survival_guide.

Affordable housing in Germantown, Md. Phase II of Churchill Senior Living in Germantown, Md. broke ground in December. The project will feature 133 independent living units, 121 of them affordable housing and 12 market-rate units. Thirty units will be one-bedrooms, and 103 units will be two-bedrooms. Including the Phase I apartments, constructed in 2001, Churchill Senior Living

will consist of 254 units when completed, all but 12 for those earning incomes not exceeding 50 to 60 percent of the Washington-area’s average media income. In 2014, income limits for single people making 50 percent of the median income were $37,450 for singles and $42,800 for two-person households. Residents must be age 62 and older. For more information, call (301) 528-4400 or visit www.churchillseniorliving.com.

Make a plan to age in place The National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC) recently published a detailed template to help older adults who want to remain in their homes age in place. The 20-page document includes questions on home modifications you might need, access to public transportation, and social and community resources. It also includes forms for creating a budget. To download a copy of the document, visit www.ageinplace.org. Website visitors may also search for service providers, from adult day care to remodelers, on the website, or submit a summary of their needs to NAIPC to receive helpful suggestions. For more information, call (202) 939-1770.

Challenges ahead for housing America is not prepared to meet the housing needs of its rapidly aging population. That’s the conclusion of a recent report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and AARP Foundation. High housing costs mean a third of adults 50 and over pay more than 30 percent of their income for homes that may or may not

fit their needs, forcing them to cut back on food, healthcare, and, for those 50 to 64, retirement savings, according to the report. Much of the nation’s housing inventory also lacks basic accessibility features (such as no-step entries, extra-wide doorways, and lever-style door and faucet handles), preventing older persons with disabilities from living safely and comfortably in their homes. Many older adults also live in locations where having a car is necessary, but a safety concern. Of special concern are the younger baby boomers who are now in their 50s. With lower incomes, wealth, homeowner-

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ship rates, and more debt than generations before them, members of this large age group may be unable to cover the costs of appropriate housing or long-term care, according to the report. “As Americans age, the need for safe and affordable housing options becomes even more critical,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation. “High housing costs, aging homes, and costly repairs can greatly impact those with limited incomes. “The goal in our support of this report is See HOUSING NOTES, page B-6

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ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE

Olney Assisted Living Memory Care by Design

301-570-0525 16940 Georgia Avenue Olney, MD 20832 www.olneymemorycare.com A memory care specific community, Olney Assisted Living offers compassionate care in an environment designed specifically for those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Each building trait and feature has been selected to foster independence and freedom. This includes cozy interior “neighborhoods,” a central Town Center featuring a beauty/barber shop, and individual memory display cases outside of each resident’s room to help with recognition. Daily life enrichment programming is provided with the goal of enhancing cognition, feelings of accomplishment, and quality of life. Licensed, on-site nursing care is provided 24 hours a day by a team of experienced professionals. Families seeking memory care will feel right at home in this brand new community, which is filling quickly. For more information, call 301-570-0525 today.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

The Residences at Thomas Circle (202) 626-5761 1330 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20005 www.ThomasCircle.com The Residences at Thomas Circles is an exceptional senior living community located in the heart of the district in Washington, DC. Here, residents enjoy a stimulating lifestyle filled with activities and entertainment as well as the company of a diverse group of interesting people. The excellent location means residents can easily visit area attractions, museums, theater, special events and more via the Metro or a short walk. In addition to Independent Living, The Residences at Thomas Circle is the only in-town senior living community to offer an on-site continuum of health services: Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, or Memory Care. Ask about our new respite program, Circle Stays: special savings in Assisted Living and Memory Care. Visit www.ThomasCircle to learn more or call 202.626.5761.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

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

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

Housing notes From page B-5 to address the most critical needs of these households, and it is AARP Foundation’s aim to provide the tools and resources to help them meet these needs now and in the future.” To read the report, go to www.jchs.harvard.edu/research/housing_americas_ol der_adults.

Where (not) to retire Washingtonians know they pay a high price to live in the nation’s capital. High cost of living means that more savings are

needed for a comfortable retirement. In its recently released 2014 survey of best and worst places to retire, financial analytics company Wallethub ranked Washington, D.C. at 128 out of the 150 largest cities in the country with respect to retirement. Baltimore also came in near the bottom at 142. The study looked at cost of living, job prospects for workers 65 and older, quality of life and healthcare. Coming in at the top five best places to retire were Tampa, Fla.; Grand Prairie, Tex.; Orlando, Fla.; St. Petersburg, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz. The worst were Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Newark and Providence, R.I. To read more about the rankings, see http://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-toretire/6165.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BLOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS

The American Red Cross is seeking volunteer donor ambassadors for reception and hospitality at blood drives in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. During four- to six-hour shifts, volunteers will be helping provide customer service to blood donors. This volunteer position is open to people who have transportation, enjoy working with people, and have superior customer service skills. A required two-hour training session is offered at American Red Cross offices throughout the area. Volunteers must have weekday/daytime availability. For more information, contact Terry Ann Karloff at 1-800-272-0094 or email TerryAnn.Karloff@redcross.org.

Jan. 8

TEACH ADULTS ENGLISH

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold two information sessions for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write and speak English on Thursday, Jan. 8 at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. at 10:30 a.m., and another at the Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, Md. at 7:30 p.m. Once volunteers have completed the information session, they may select a two-part training session that fits their schedules. No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors work one-on-one or with small groups, and typically meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times. For more information, call (301) 610-0030, email jennifer@literacycouncilmcmd.org, or visit www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.

Senior Living,in the Heart of f it All An affordable alternative to traditional assisted living, our unique Enhanced Living program provides seniors with personal care services in an active com mmunity close to all that downtown Silver Spring has to offer. ff

Call today to schedule your tour and see the results of our recently completed $5 million renovation!

Residential Living • Enhanced Living • Assisted Living

301-587-0190 (TRS 711) www.springvaleterrace.com 8505 Springvale Road ¥ Silver Spring, MD

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

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How to choose the best walk-in bathtub Dear Savvy Senior: I’m interested in getting a walk-in bathtub for my wife that’s easy for her to get into and out of. Can you offer any consumer tips? — Need Help Dear Need: A walk-in bathtub is a great option for seniors with mobility problems who have trouble getting in and out of a traditional tub. But with so many options available today, choosing one can be challenging. Here are a few tips that can help. Walk-in bathtubs are specialty products that have a watertight, hinged door built into the side of the tub that provides a much lower threshold to step over (usually 3 to 7 inches) versus a standard tub that’s around 15 inches. In addition to the low threshold, most walk-in tubs also have a built-in seat, grab bars, anti-slip floors and a handheld showerhead. Many higher-end models also offer therapeutic spa-like features that are great for seniors with arthritis and other ailments. The kind of walk-in tub you choose will depend on the size and layout of your bathroom, your wife’s needs and preferences, and your budget. Prices for a good walk-in tub typically run between $3,000 and $10,000 installed.

What to look for Quality check: The best walk-in bathtubs on the market today are made in the USA. Also, make sure the company you choose has a lifetime “leak-proof” door seal warranty and lengthy warranties on both the tub and the operating system. Tub size: While walk-in bathtubs vary in shape and size, most models have high-walls (three feet or higher), are 26 to 32 inches wide, and will fit into the same 60-inch long space as your standard tub without having to

reconfigure the room. If the walk-in tub doesn’t quite fit your old bathtub space, extension kits are available to ensure a good fit. Door options: Most walk-in tubs have an inward opening door, but if your wife uses a wheelchair or is a large person, an outward opening door may be a better option because they’re easier to enter and exit. But be aware that swing-out doors require more bathroom space. One other style to consider is the “risingwall” bathtub made by Kohler, which sits about two feet off the ground and has a side panel that slides up and down. These tubs can be entered from a seated position, which makes it a nice option for wheelchair users. Tub type: Most companies offer several different types of walk-in tubs. The most basic type is a soaker tub, or you can get a therapeutic tub that offers either whirlpool water jets or bubble massage air jets, or a combination of the two. Fast fill and drain: One drawback to using a walk-in bathtub is that the bather must sit in the tub as it fills and also as it drains, which can make for a chilly experience. To help with this, choose a tub that has fast-filling faucets and pump-assisted drainage systems, which significantly speed up the process. Where to shop: While there are many companies that make, sell and install walk-in bathtubs, some of the best in the industry are Safe Step (www.safesteptub.com, 1-800-346-6616), Premier (www.premiercare bathing.com, 1-800-934-7614), American Standard (www.americanstandard.com, 1866-423-0800) and Jacuzzi (www.jacuzzi.com, 1-800-288-4002). Many big box retailers like Lowes, Home Depot and Sears sell walk-in bathtubs too. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover walk-in bathtubs, but many companies offer

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financing with monthly payment plans. To get started, contact a few companies that will send a local dealer to your home to assess your bathroom and give you product options and estimates for free.

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.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LONG-TERM CARE ADVOCATES

The Arlington Commission on Long-Term Care Residences needs advocates who work or live in Arlington, Va. Advocates enhance the quality of care and life, and support access, availability and affordability in Arlington’s long-term care residences. As County Board appointees, commission members advise the board about Arlington’s long-term care needs. The commission is currently seeking prospective members and volunteers willing to serve as liaisons to long-term care residences. For more information or to apply, visit http://commissions.arlingtonva.us/ltcr, call (703) 228-1700 or e-mail ArlAAA@arlingtonva.us.

Voted #1 in Prince William County

DIGNITY

SECURITY

FRIENDSHIP

EW 75 N dent pen Inde ving Li nts tme r a p a are N OPE W O N

VINSON HALL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Vinson Hall Retirement Community !"#"$%$&'%()"*%$) $+ $,"*#'-".-) '-/-$)"*%//+$ )0" located in idyllic McLean, VA and offers independent residential living 1%'"/ 2 )#'0"%1(3-'!4")5- '" //-6 #)-"1#/ 204" and select government employees of equal rank. Arleigh Burke Pavilion Assisted Living and The Sylvestery Memory Support !"#!$"%&'()%&"*)+)$,%-",./+),$)!#0

VINSON HALL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY supported by Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation 6251 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101 Please Visit Us at www.vinsonhall.org 703-536-4344

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CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

The Virginian 703-385-0555 9229 Arlington Boulevard Fairfax, VA 22031 Welcome to the Virginian – one of Northern Virginia’s most respected Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Since 1980, our community, located on 32 wooded acres, has been home to hundreds of residents from all walks of life. With accommodations of one- and two-bedroom apartments in Independent, Assisted, and Enhanced Assisted Living, The Virginian also offers Long Term Nursing, Rehabilitation, and now, Home Health Services. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the many amenities offered. We offer age in place apartments ideally suited for mixed level of care couples. Call today to schedule a tour and enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner. The Virginian offers surprisingly affordable luxury living in the heart of Fairfax. Come see why our residents are proud to call The Virginian home.

INDEPENDENT/PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

Seabury at SPRINGVALE TERRACE 301-587-0190 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.springvaleterrace.com The team at Springvale Terrace is excited to debut a new look and feel, thanks to a recently completed $5.4 million renovation project. Located in the heart of Silver Spring, Springvale Terrace blends affordability with convenience, style and quality care. Independent apartments are available and enhanced senior living is complemented with personal care services including three meals a day, housekeeping, laundry, and medication administration. And, if additional care is needed, Springvale Terrace also has beautiful assisted living apartments. This range of services—combined with low monthly rates—provides just the right amount of assistance to meet your needs while allowing you to live in an apartment you’ll love. Call today to learn more and schedule your personal tour.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-4344 6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org Our nonprofit continuing care retirement community enhances the lives of our residents through person-centered care and services while fostering dignity, security, and friendship. As an innovative retirement community, we attract leaders in the field of aging who pilot new initiatives and technology to improve the lives of our residents and seniors everywhere. Vinson Hall Retirement Community provides all levels of care. Our independent living is open to commissioned military officers and their immediate family. Everyone is welcome at Arleigh Burke Pavilion, where we provide assisted living, skilled nursing, and private pay nursing care services; and at The Sylvestery Memory Support, where we offer assisted living care for those with memory impairment or other forms of dementia

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

What to know if you rent out your home By Melissa Rayworth Cynthia Kent and her husband, John, didn’t set out to be landlords, but career choices made it necessary. “We have rented out our home in Florida for nine years because we move all over with the military,” said Kent, who recently relocated her family from Nevada to Alabama for yet another posting. Some people become accidental landlords because of a job change or difficulty selling a house. Others find they need to rent out the home of an elderly parent who has moved into a care facility. More than 3 million owner-occupied homes were converted to rental properties between 2007 and 2011, according to a 2013 report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Here is some advice for those taking on this challenging new role:

Finding the right tenant A credit check and legal background check can help you find reliable, honest tenants, said real-estate agent Gail Carpenter of Northwood Realty in Pittsburgh. “Sometimes a credit check alone” will rule out an applicant, she said. Personal references can be useful if the applicant is local and you have mutual acquaintances. Otherwise, be wary. “Do not take ‘personal’ references too seriously,” said New York City condo owner Sharon Lynch, who rented her home to tenants while spending a year in California. “Anyone can get a friend to write something nice about them.” Lynch suggests using an online directory to search for an applicant’s current address and get contact information for their neighbors. Then talk to them. “Not only can these people tell you if your applicants are good neighbors, but they can also supply you with the landlord’s contact information,” she said, “just in case your potential tenant is faking you out, pretending a friend was his or her landlord.” Meet applicants in person and really talk with them, Carpenter said. And request a rent that doesn’t price good applicants out of the market. You might earn more over time with a slightly lower rent, she said, because “that can help you keep your property occupied, versus asking for the moon and then it sits there vacant.”

Prep the house Once you’ve found your tenant, clean your home thoroughly and “make the property as safe as it can be,” Carpenter said. You may also want to tackle any looming home improvement jobs now, rather than leave your tenant to handle (or ignore) them when they become larger problems. If you plan to return to the home eventually, it can be practical to drop the rent slightly and fill one room with belongings you’re leaving behind, rather than paying

for a storage space. Put a new lock on that door and take the key with you.

Document condition in detail “It helps to take pictures of the house inside and out,” Kent said, to document its condition and cleanliness. Don’t skip anything, and don’t assume one panoramic shot of each room will do. If you’re leaving furniture, also photograph the condition and cleanliness of each piece. When Lynch returned to find her tenant had damaged the kitchen countertop, such “before” photos were key in being able to use the tenant’s security deposit to help pay for repairs. When your tenant arrives to inspect the home before moving in, Kent said, “have tenants sign a document of the pictures, showing the condition at move-in.” That walk-through inspection is vital for both parties. “Always be present for the move-in and move-out inspections,” said Babette Maxwell, who has rented her home to tenants several times during her husband’s Navy career and founded Military Spouse magazine to advise other military families about challenges like this one. Also, Maxwell suggests, “Provide your renter with a baggie of ‘approved’ nails, screws, picture hangers.” And if you “have specific [cleaning] products you want used on your counters, cabinets, floors,” she said, “list them in the lease.” As you negotiate the lease, don’t forget to have a detailed discussion about outdoor space, too. Will you or the tenant pay for lawn cutting? Who will keep up with pulling weeds and trimming bushes? Is the tenant permitted to plant flowers and do other gardening? You may want to do an outdoor cleanup before you leave, and then have the tenant agree to maintain that level of neatness. Scan the property for any trees that could fall on the house and assess their health. Better to pay now to have a sick tree removed than worry about the outcome of a storm.

Plan ahead If there are repairs or upgrades that you promise your tenant, set a schedule in your personal calendar for completing them in the weeks after they move in. Kent also recommends leaving a “welcome binder that stays with the house, with local information, cleaning requirements and other details.” Make sure your tenant knows how to contact you and how to handle problems that might arise. Have a reputable contractor or other professional on-call in case something needs to be repaired, said Carpenter. Things will inevitably happen. Then, stay in touch. If you won’t be living close enough to check on the property yourself, arrange for a friend or hire a property manager to do so. — AP

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies have an equal chance to win. To be eligible for Wolf Trap tickets, your reply must arrive by February 1, 2015.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Armed Forces Retirement Home . . . . . . . . .B-2 ❑ Friendship Terrace . .B-3 & B-11 ❑ Knollwood . . . . . . . .B-2 & B-11 ❑ Residences at Thomas Circle . . . . .B-6 & B-12 ❑ Robert L Walker House . . . .B-10

MARYLAND ❑ Brooke Grove . . . . . . .B-4 & B-6 ❑ Covenant Village . . .B-4 & B-10 ❑ Emerson House . . .B-10 & B-15

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REAL ESTATE SERVICE: ❑ Swan Properties . . . . . . . . . . .B-14

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

WB1/15

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Affordable Senior Communities Discover how great senior living is at one of our affordable apartment communities. Many of our communities feature 24-hour emergency maintenance, full activities programs, spacious floor plans, affordable rents, caring and dedicated staff, and much more. We are conveniently located near shopping, including grocery stores and pharmacies. Let us help you live life to the fullest. Call or visit our web site to view these communities:

Lockwood House 600 North Madison Street, Arlington, VA 22203

7010 Schoonmaker Court Alexandria, VA 22310

703-538-6000

703-719-7268

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From $791

873 Grace Street Herndon, VA 20170

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7837 Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22306

703-780-9072 From $920

Wingler House Apartments 20900 Runny Meade Terrace Ashburn, VA 20147

703-858-9507 From $893

5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710

301-779-6196 Rent based on income

Mrs. Philippines Home for Seniors, Inc. 18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874

6428 Bock Street Oxon Hill, MD 20745

301-540-1162

301-567-9537

From $704 for 1 bedroom

Rent based on income

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

Coping with clutter and hoarder disorder By Stephanie Watson Many of us have trouble parting with our possessions — even when we no longer need them. I have a collection of greeting cards I’ve been storing since childhood and will probably never look at again. My husband owns a few pieces of clothing older than our 17-year marriage. Yet some people take their keepsakes to the extreme, holding onto decades’ worth of receipts, newspapers and other seemingly useless items. They have hoarding disorder — a mental health condition characterized by a compulsive need to acquire and keep possessions, even when they’re not needed. Exactly when a “pack rat” crosses the line into true hoarding has to do with “the intensity with which they’re saving, and the difficulty getting rid of things,” said Dr. Jessica Rasmussen, an instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and assistant in psychology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. A wave of TV shows like “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive” has publicized the rarest and most extreme form of hoarding — homes filled floor-to-ceiling with piles of boxes, books, knick-knacks, and rat- and bug-infested garbage. Severe hoarders can accumulate so much that they render their living spaces unusable and dangerous.

Why do people hoard? Anywhere from 2 to 6 percent of adults have hoarding disorder. The condition tends to run in families, although a specific “hoarding gene” hasn’t yet been found. Women seem to hoard more than men, but that gender distinction still needs to be proven.

People hoard for many reasons, said Dr. Gail Steketee, a leading hoarding researcher who is dean and professor at the Boston University School of Social Work. One reason is sentimental attachment. “There is some specific association to an object, or an object is seen to represent a person’s identity in some important way.” For example, a woman who views herself as a cook might hold on to every conceivable kitchen implement, to the point where her kitchen becomes too cluttered to use. In other cases, people feel a sentimental attachment to certain possessions — like a shell they found on their first trip to the beach. They fear that if they throw away the object, they’ll lose the memory or experience. And there are people who see the usefulness in everything, even in items many of us would regard as junk, like an old nail or a broken shoelace.

The dangers of hoarding As piles of hoarded items grow, dust can collect on them, leading to COPD and other respiratory issues. Those piles can also block hallways and stairways, hampering mobility — especially for older adults who already struggle to get around. “If the person has arthritis and is having trouble navigating the house, they can be at greater risk for falling,” Rasmussen said. Clutter can contribute to other health hazards as well, including bug and rodent infestations and fire hazards. Hoarding also takes an emotional toll on families and friends. “Sometimes people See CLUTTER, page B-11

BEACON BITS

Jan. 14

INSIDE THE CRIMINAL MIND The Workhouse Prison Museum presents a free lecture series de-

tailing life at Lorton Prison. January’s lecture, “Inside the Criminal Mind,” features retired chief of the FBI’s Behavior Science Unit and master criminal profiler Roger L. Depue and takes place in the W-3 theater, located at 9601 Ox Rd., Lorton, Va. from 7:30 to 9 p.m. $10 donations are suggested. Advance registration is required. For more information or to register, visit www.workhousearts.org/events/general-events/prison-lecture-series-2015.

Jan. 17

CANAL WALK The Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch presents a free walk on the C&O Canal Towpath on Saturday, Jan. 17 with a start time

from 10 to 11 a.m. The walk must be completed by 2 p.m. This 10 km trail, with a

5101 River Road, Suite 101 • Bethesda, MD 20816

5 km option, is an easy walk on relatively flat, natural surfaces. An optional 1 km

301-941-8040

trail will take you out to Olmsted Island to view the Great Falls of the Potomac

www.qpmgmt.com

the Carderock Recreation Area at the C&O Canal Towpath, 11710 MacArthur

Professionally managed by Quantum Real Estate Management LLC T/A Quantum Property Management

River. The terrain is suitable for strollers but not wheelchairs. The walk begins at

Blvd., Potomac, Md. For more information, contact Jone Parr at (301) 385-0054 or Jone.P@comcast.net.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding, which also can help hoarders dig out from the clutter.

Clutter From page B-10 are frustrated and want to know, ‘Why can’t my loved one just throw this away?’” Rasmussen said. Often it’s a family member who finally makes the call for help, either because the person who is hoarding doesn’t recognize the problem or isn’t comfortable talking about it. “There is a lot of shame people have, a lot of embarrassment,” said Rasmussen. “There’s still a lot of stigma around it.”

Help for hoarders Though families fed up with hoarding might be tempted to get a dumpster and start cleaning house like they do in the hoarding TV shows, a full-scale cleanup can be emotionally distressing for the hoarder. Instead, experts recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help the person better understand why he or she is hoarding, and to improve decision making, organizational and problem-solving skills. CBT can be done one-on-one with a therapist, or in a group or workshop setting. It’s helpful to find a therapist who’s trained in hoarding, Steketee suggests. You can find a database of providers in your area by visiting the International OCD Foundation’s website, http://iocdf.org/finding-a-therapist/. Steketee co-authored the book Buried in

FRIENDS

•

DELICIOUS

CUISINE

Help for pack rats Even many of us who aren’t true hoarders could do with a little downsizing, said Rasmussen. She suggests setting aside time on a regular basis — 20 or 30 minutes — to go through and clean out your stuff. To simplify the process, sort items into one of three categories: • I’m definitely going to keep this item. • I’m definitely going to throw away or give away this item. • I’m not sure. Then follow through. “If you have a keep pile, everything should have a home or a place,” Rasmussen said. Get rid of the discard pile as soon as possible. With the unsure pile, ask yourself some simple questions like: • Do I really need this? • Am I going to use this? • How often have I used this? • Could I get something like this again if I need it? Once you have an organizational system in place and can distinguish between what you need and what you want, you’ll have an easier time cleaning house and won’t feel as overwhelmed, Rasmussen said. — Harvard Women’s Health Watch © 2014. President and Fellows of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

•

QUALITY

•

AFFORDABILITY

What will you !"#$%# ####################&'()%(*+*,,-#.()/"(!0()1

“A caring staﬀ encourages residents to ﬁnd the best ways to realize their full potential while maintaining their independence.” Hamilton Brown, resident since 2011

B-11

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Seabury at FRIENDSHIP TERRACE 202-244-7400 4201 Butterworth Place NW Washington, DC 20016 www.friendshipterrace.com Active, affordable senior living close to stores, restaurants, transportation and entertainment can be found at Seabury at Friendship Terrace! Located in a quiet, tree-lined northwest Washington neighborhood, Friendship Terrace is just two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro station. The community offers affordable senior living with subsidy assistance to those who are eligible, as well as exciting on-site events including performances, lectures, holiday observances, socials, and more. A rooftop deck, greenhouse, library, lounges, and a dining room overlooking an outdoor courtyard are highlights of the community. If needed, additional on-site care can be arranged. Come for a tour and learn how to make Friendship Terrace your new home.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Ashby Ponds 703-723-1999 or 1-800-564-0155 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 EricksonLiving.com Ashby Ponds in Ashburn offers maintenance-free retirement living combined with a vibrant lifestyle--all in a beautiful, private and gated community. Without the worries of a house and yard, you can spend more time pursuing your passions. Travel, volunteer, take a college class and explore some of Ashby Ponds many clubs and interest groups. Campus restaurants offer a variety of delicious dining options, while security offers protection and peace of mind. Enjoy the stability of predictable monthly expenses and look forward to a healthy future with our health care and wellness services. Whatever your passions in life, you’ll find the freedom and opportunity to follow them at Ashby Ponds. Continuing Care at Ashby Ponds is now open and features assisted living, nursing care, post-acute rehabilitation, and memory care.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Knollwood Call or visit today and see why our residents love living at Chesterbrook Residences.

703.531.0781

Assisted Living Community

2030 Westmoreland Street • Falls Church www.chesterbrookres.org Coordinated Services Management, Inc. - Professional Management of Retirement Communities since 1981

H A PP Y N EW Y EA R

from your friends at Chesterbrook Residences

202-541-0149 or 1-800-541-4255 6200 Oregon Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20015 www.armydistaﬀ.org Knollwood is a continuing care retirement residence managed by the Army Distaff Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Located in Washington, DC , the continuum of care includes independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care and memory care. Knollwood is home to approximately 300 residents. The community offers floor plans ranging from 500 sq. ft. to 2800 sq. ft. apartments for independent living, and handicapped accessible apartments for assisted living. It also features a café, dining room, swimming pool, salon, library, several music rooms and art studio. Wellness care includes physical therapy, fitness classes and a wellness clinic. As the first military retirement community of its kind, Knollwood has provided quality retirement living to military officers and their relatives since opening in 1962. Fees depend on the level of care.

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

More communities serve growing niches By Mike Schneider Ram and Geeta Chandran, who moved

from Mumbai to the United States as young adults, lived in Virginia for decades.

Ram, 75, was a manager for a Swiss manufacturer, and Geeta was a teaching physician. Most of their friends were either U.S.-born or Swiss. So when they retired three years ago, they initially put a deposit down on a traditional retirement community in Virginia. But then they heard about ShantiNiketan in Florida, the first retirement community in the United States catering to people born in India. The community, whose name means “House of Peace” in Bengali and Hindi, is one of a number of growing niche retirement communities aimed at people of specific ethnic or religious backgrounds, hobbies or college allegiances. The Chandrans chose to live there because of the opportunity to be with others from a similar background.

The best of both worlds “We have common things to talk about.

We understand each other a lot better,” said Geeta Chandran. When she visited the retirement community near her in Virginia, other residents asked her repeatedly about India and Indian culture, she said. “Here I don’t have to answer any questions. Everybody knows everything.” Similarly, when Arun and Usha Pancholi were deciding where to spend their retirement years, they wanted a place that combined the culture and camaraderie of life in India with the comforts and conveniences they had grown accustomed to after nearly five decades in America. They found both at ShantiNiketan. “It is the best of both worlds,” said Arun Pancholi, 72, who retired with his wife from Ohio. “We would like to go back to India, but we are so used to this life, we’re spoiled. We like football, beer and apple pie.” Niche retirement communities are growing particularly popular as the some 76 million baby boomers reach retirement age. “They are demanding more choices. They have more money,” said Dan Owens, director of the National Active Retirement Association. See GROWING NICHES, page B-14

BEACON BITS

Jan. 9

——————————

WHERE

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PEACE OF MIND —————

COMES FULL CIRCLE

The Kentlands Mansion is holding an open mic night on Friday, Jan. 9 from 8 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 7:45. Sing, tell a joke, recite poetry and more. Concessions will be available for sale. The cost is $10 to attend or perform. Instrumentalists and groups that need time to set up should call one to two days ahead to schedule a performance time. All others may sign up at 6:45 p.m. on the night of the show. The mansion is located at 320 Kent Square Rd., Gaithersburg, Md. For more information, visit bit.ly/MansionOpenMic or call (301) 258-6394.

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Jan. 21

Senior living at The Residences at Thomas Circle has everything you are looking for –– now or in the future: everyday comfort and luxury, a diverse and vibrant neighborhood, awesome amenities, and all with no entrance fee. Plus the priceless peace of mind of having all levels of care on site, including the newly renovated City Club Memory Care. Never has peace of mind been this satisfying. And you’ll only find it in the Circle.

Call us at 202-626-5761 or visit www.ThomasCircle.com.

Where senior living comes full circle. 1 3 3 0 M A S S A C H U S E T T S AV E N W | W A S H I N G T O N , D C 2 0 0 0 5 | T H O M A S C I R C L E . C O M NP/Beacon

OPEN MIC OPPORTUNITY

TEA SEMINAR

The Schweinhaut Senior Center at Forest Glen presents “Taking Tea – Teatime Across the Centuries” on Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn about the history and the specifics of the tea drink and the tradition of taking tea as an afternoon snack or evening meal. The presentation will be followed by the opportunity to taste hot tea, scones, 19th-century Lady Newport teacakes, and lavender shortbread. There are 20 spots available, and pre-registration is required. Sign up at the reception desk. The center is located at 1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring Md. For more information or to register, call (240) 777-8085.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

Some niche retirement communities Here are some additional niche retirement communities found locally and across the United States:

For veterans & gov’t. retirees Falcons Landing, in Potomac Falls, Va., www.falconslanding.org: Originally founded as a retirement community for retired air force officers, Falcons Landing is now home to retired military personnel from all the service branches as well as senior-level federal retirees, their spouses and surviving spouses. Several levels of care are offered, from independent living cottages and apartments to assisted living, as well as nursing and rehabilitation. The community recently completed a new wellness center, dining bistro and business center for residents. It is a nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and is accredited by CARF-CCAC. For information, call (703) 439-1521 or visit falconslanding.org. Knollwood in Washington, D.C., Knollwood was the nation’s first military retirement community. The independent and assisted living sections of this CCRC are reserved for retired officers from all U.S. Uniformed Services who receive military or government retirement pay, and their spouses, surviving spouses, parents, children, siblings and select other family members. Nursing care is open to anyone. Knollwood borders Rock Creek Park in upper Northwest Washington. For information, call (202) 541-0149 or visit www.armydistaff.org/Knollwood. Vinson Hall in McLean, Va., This nonprofit CCRC is supported by the Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation. Vinson Hall provides apartments for independent seniors who are commissioned military officers, as well as their immediate family and government workers of an equal rank from select agencies. On the Vinson Hall campus, Arleigh Burke Pavilion provides assisted living and healthcare, while the Sylvestery offers memory support assisted living. Military affiliation is not required for these services. For more information, call (703) 536-4344 or visit www.vinsonhall.org.

For LGBT seniors Mary’s House in Washington, D.C., This independent living community for LGBT older adults is currently under construction in the Fort Dupont Park neigh-

borhood. It will be the first such community for LGBT seniors age 60 and older in the Washington area. There will be room for eight to 10 residents, who will have private rooms and baths, sharing the kitchen, living room and porch. Anticipated opening is November 2015. For more information, call (202) 269-5736 or visit www.maryshousedc.org. Fountaingrove Lodge in Santa Rosa, Cal., http://fountaingrovelodge.com/: This luxury retirement community located in the heart of California wine country caters to gay and lesbian residents. The grounds have a fitness center and outdoor walking paths. Classes in yoga, water aerobics and tai chi are offered.

Academic environments University Commons in Ann Arbor, Mich., www.universitycommons.org The 92 condos in this retirement community border the north campus of the University of Michigan, and the development caters to residents who want to live in an academic environment. The community has classrooms for continuing education courses and a recital hall for lectures and concerts. Other communities with similar college affiliations exist at Duke University in Durham, N.C.; Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, in Indiana; Kendal at Oberlin, in Oberlin, Ohio; The Village at Penn State, in State College, Penn., and elsewhere around the country. While these may be affiliated with various colleges, the facilities may or may not be adjacent to the main campus.

Chinese residents Aegis Gardens in Fremont, Cal.: This assisted living community in the San Francisco Bay area caters to Chinese residents. Staff members speak Chinese and English, and the facility is designed according to Feng Shui principles. Tai chi and calligraphy classes also are offered to residents.

Greenspring 703-913-1200 or 1-800-788-0811 7410 Spring Village Drive Springﬁeld, VA 22150 EricksonLiving.com Situated in beautiful Springfield, Greenspring is the perfect place to enjoy an active lifestyle now, with added peace of mind for the future. Everything you need is right on campus, including continuing care services, should your health needs ever change. Greenspring is supported by the nation’s largest integrated health and wellness system for seniors. Nestled on 58 acres and bordered on three sides by wooded parkland, Greenspring is home to more than 2,000 residents. A refundable deposit guarantees there is no financial risk and the monthly service package includes utilities, maintenance, and flexible dining plans you can use in any of the four on-site restaurants. On-site amenities include restaurants; stores; medical center with full time physicians; an all-season swimming pool; a fitness center with full-time trainers; barber shop and hair salon; bank; and a full-time, interfaith pastoral staff.

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 community offering two options: independent and personal care services. PERSONAL CARE offers: assistance with bathing, daily meals, weekly housekeeping and laundry services with optional medication administration. Homecrest is nestled on ten beautiful acres with its own pond and neighbors Leisure World. Residents may qualify approximately 30% of their adjusted income for rent, and personal care subsidies. Homecrest offers a full array of activities both in-house and around the metro area via our van service. Our computer lab, beauty shop, exercise room, library and social halls are just a few amenities our residents enjoy at Homecrest House. Call today for a personalized tour or visit us on the web at www.homecresthouse.org.

INDEPENDENT LIVING Nalcrest in Polk County, Florida: At more than five decades old, Nalcrest is one of the oldest niche retirement communities, catering to former postal carriers. It is operated by the foundation arm of the National Association of Letter Carriers. It has 500 garden-style apartments and is located midway between Tampa on the Gulf Coast and Vero Beach on the Atlantic Coast. No dogs are allowed. — Mike Schneider and Barbara Ruben

ARE YOU FLUENT IN SIGN LANGUAGE? Fairfax County is looking for volunteers who are fluent in sign lan-

guage in Reston, Herndon and Vienna, Va. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions or call (703) 324-5406, TTY 711.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Professions

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

B-13

Sommerset 703-450-6411 22355 Providence Village Dr. Sterling, VA 20164 www.sommersetretirement.com Your Search is Over for Premier Retirement Living! At Sommerset Retirement Community, located in the heart of Sterling, Virginia, you’ll experience exceptional independent living at its best, with a comfortable, fulfilling, secure and active lifestyle. Our residents enjoy the privacy of home, without the burdens of home ownership. Sommerset’s unique amenities include restaurant style dining, housekeeping, 24-hour front desk personnel, private transportation, and a calendar full of exciting and fun activities. Enjoy the convenience of being just minutes from medical services, shopping, banking and entertainment. Call us or visit our website to request more information or to schedule your tour and complimentary lunch. Also be sure to see our video, our commercial and many testimonials.

B-14

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Growing niches

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

Indian and Hindu amenities

From page B-12 As a result, popular retirement communities and national chains in places like Florida, Arizona and California will be competing with smaller, targeted developments.

ShantiNiketan’s opening was timed for the retirement of a major wave of Indian immigrants who came to the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, said Jeffrey Ignatius, president of the company that built the community about 35 miles from Walt Disney World.

W hat Makes

iar with their foods, languages and religious tradition. Others seek a Hindu spiritual life rare in a traditional U.S. retirement community. The first phase of 54 one-story condos is almost sold out, and a second phase of almost 120 units is under construction. An assisted living facility also will be built, and a similar community is being planned in New Jersey, which has the largest concentration of Indians in the United States. The major downsizing involved in moving from a five-bedroom home in New Jersey to a two-bedroom condo at ShantiNiketan wasn’t a problem for Arvind Patel, 73, and his wife, Ranu, 69. Patel, a former electrical engineer, said they’re now in the “fourth phase” of their lives — past childhood, schooling and raising a family — when they want to concentrate on spiritual matters not material goods. “The last phase is when you grow spiritually,” Patel said. — AP

BEACON BITS

Jan. 13

Olney Assisted Living

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PERSPECTIVES ON SLAVERY Author and historian James Johnston will speak on “Differing His-

U nique? Olney Assisted Living is a

The idea for the resort was born after Ignatius’ father, who emigrated from around Chennai in India, couldn’t find an Indian-themed development for his own retirement. So he built one. A clubhouse in the center of the condos holds a dining room, kitchen, a worship room with an enormous shrine holding icons of the Hindu gods Shiva and Ganesh, and an exercise room. The dining room serves dishes such as toor dal and chola masala, and hosts karaoke on weekends. In their homes, residents get 20 Indian channels on cable TV, and outside is a community garden filled with marigolds (used to decorate Hindu temples in India) and tomatoes, which are popular in Indian cooking. Hindu holidays are celebrated with parades and prayer services. Most of the residents are Hindus, although there are also Muslims and Christians. Some residents choose ShantiNiketan for the comfort of being with people famil-

torical Perspectives on Slavery in Maryland and D.C.” on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. The lecture will take place at the Gaithersburg Community Museum, 9 S. Summit Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. The cost is $5. For more information, call (301) 258-6160.

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seniors with dementia. We provide &" )'((*"-'.!%&'#! and daily life enrichment programming with the goal of enhancing cognition, feelings of accomplishment, and /,'0*.$%"1%0*1!2

EXPERIENCE THE

Solana Difference

Ask the Expert Join us for our next educational event.

Essential Truths About Dementia: The Importance of Managing Family & Staff Expectations Presented by Dr. William Mansbach

Thursday, January 15 • 6:00 ! - 7:00 ! {registration at 5:30 !}

Free event. Light hors d’oeuvres.

Call (301) 570-0525 to RSVP. Take a tour while you’re here and learn more about our new community or call us to schedule your personal visit.

The Solana® Olney, a Brookdale® managed community, offers senior living solutions from the nation’s leader in senior accommodations and related services. Stop by and discover all the places life can go at The Solana Olney.

Stop in for a personalized visit today or call (301) 570-2611 for more information.

Memory Care 16940 Georgia Ave., Olney, MD • olneymemorycare.com Coordinated Services Management, Inc. Professional Management of Retirement Communities Since 1981

Assisted Living Alz zheimer’s & Dementia Care 2611 Olney Sandy Spring Road | Olney, M MD 20832 | brookdale.com !!"#$%"&! '%("!)*%"' +",-"./"0"#10234015"67"816652093"(3:.61"!.;.:<"):=>?"+0/@;.993?"#+?"A( >"B"C3<>"A>(>"&0D3:D"0:2"#E"-7F=3>"GHIIJKC%(JLKJIGM"(N

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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

B-15

Heated driveways: Goodbye to shoveling? By Diana Marszalek While the rest of the neighborhood was digging out, Alex Geier had little problem leaving his house around 7:30 a.m. each morning last winter, no matter how much snow had piled up during the night. No, Geier didn’t pay some kid to shovel at the crack of dawn, and he didn’t hire a private plow service. He and his family were able to navigate even snowy mornings with relative ease thanks to a heated driveway, which melts snow as soon as it hits. “It’s a classic example how you can’t put a price tag on peace of mind,” said Illinois resident Geier, who put in the (pricy) heated driveway when his house was built in 2005. As posh as it sounds, a whole lot of people are looking into heated driveways after last year’s unusually harsh winter in much of the country.

Rising popularity “It’s becoming more and more popular because of an aging population of boomers who are just tired of shoveling,” said Bryan Morris, director of sales for Warmzone, a Utah-based company that designs and supplies radiant heat systems. “We sell a great deal to whoever gets snow.” David Veron, who owns the Veron Co., a landscape and design business in Massachusetts, sees the popularity of heated driveways as part of a larger trend: Homeowners are trying to build outdoor spaces they can use year-round. In addition to driveways, his customers are heating walkways that lead to amenities such as hot tubs and fire pits. “It’s nice to sit around those in the winter,” Veron said. “But if you have to shovel first, it’s too much of a chore.” Morris said the uptick in business started last winter: “People were calling us say-

ing, ‘I can’t keep up.”’ Installing heated driveways generally entails ripping up the existing driveway and laying down snow-melting cables and mats, which can then be covered with asphalt, concrete or pavers, Morris said. You can zone a driveway so that one part of it is heated and another isn’t. And heated driveways can be programmed to turn on automatically when the temperature drops to a certain level.

Expensive to install Although heated driveways unquestionably qualify as luxury items, Morris said there are so many ways to design and build them that they don’t have to be costprohibitive. Prices range from, say, $6,000 for a small driveway that’s about 30 feet long to the $50,000 that Geier paid for his 200-foot-long driveway. The cost of electricity is also a factor. Again, it depends on the size of the driveway, although Morris said that heating a small driveway for the duration of a typical six-hour storm could cost as little as $13. A driveway heated by electricity is also cheaper than one heated by hydronics, or hot water systems. The choice often depends on the house’s heating system, Morris said. And many homeowners, he said, heat just enough of the driveway to drive their car out. Despite his peace of mind last winter, Geier, who is selling his house, said he doesn’t think he’ll put a heated driveway in his new home given the cost and other issues, like having to still shovel walkways and sidewalks. But you never know. “We haven’t been through winter in our new home yet,” he said. — AP

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Emerson House 301-779-6196 5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710 Emerson House Apartments is conveniently located on Emerson Street, just off of Rt. 450 and 57th Ave in Bladensburg, Md. A quaint residential setting, just minutes from neighborhood shopping, the community is convenient to Prince George's Hospital, a local library, public transportation and parks. Activities within Emerson House include: exercise classes, a Wii bowling league, arts and crafts classes, bingo, movie night, parties, bus trips and much more. Emerson House is a nine story, community designed for today’s seniors (62 and older). Our 220 one-bedroom units offer Section 8 rent subsidy for low- to moderate-income households. Please call today to request an application or make an appointment to tour our community. 301-779-6196. Monday – Friday 8:30 to 5:00.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Riderwood 301-495-5700 3140 Graceﬁeld Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 EricksonLiving.com Ideally located in Silver Spring, Riderwood offers maintenancefree retirement living combined with a vibrant lifestyle―all in a beautiful, private community. Without the worries of a house and yard, you can spend more time pursuing your passions. Travel, volunteer, take a college class and explore some of Riderwood’s many clubs and interest groups. Multiple campus restaurants offer a variety of delicious dining options, while 24-hour security offers protection and peace of mind. Enjoy the stability of predictable monthly expenses and look forward to a healthy future with our full continuum of health care and wellness services.

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Housing Options

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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

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

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Spotlight On Aging, continued Continued from page 24, preceding the Housing & Home Care Options magazine at the left. Please pull out and keep the magazine. You may also pull out and keep Spotlight on Aging.

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

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar January Events

1333 Emerson St. NE. Call Grace Lewis at 202-5267696 for details.

5th+ • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. or noon to 1 p.m. Start the new year out right with a strength, balance and posture class with Iona. The eight-week class meets every Monday and costs $80, or $13 per class on a dropin basis. Other Iona fitness classes start the week of Jan. 5 as well. To register, see http://www.iona.org/documents-library/forms/107-winter-2015-fitness-classschedule/file.html or call Darryl Simpson at 202-8950238. Iona is located at 4125 Albemarle St. NW

7th • 9 a.m. Seabury Resources for Aging will hold a Ward 5 advisory meeting at 2900 Newton St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701.

8th • 10 a.m. to noon Join the Ward 4 Mini Commission on Aging at its monthly meeting held at the Fourth District Police Precinct, 6001 Georgia Ave., NW. For more information, contact Alice Thompson at 202-535-1321.

10th • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11th • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get healthy ideas from dozens of exhibitors at the NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW. The District of Columbia Office on Aging will be participating. For more information, see http://bit.ly/nbc4healthandfitness.

21st • 10:30 a.m. There will be a Ward 5 mini commission on aging meeting at 2900 Newton St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701.

21st • noon to 2 p.m. Current and prospective members are welcome to attend the Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter #4751 luncheon meeting. The first part of the program will be the annual business meeting. Part two is “The State of Aging in Washington, D.C.,” with speaker John M. Thompson, PhD, FAAMA, executive director of the D.C. Office on Aging. The lunch, which costs $5, will be held in River Park Mutual Home’s Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. For further information, call chapter president Betty Jean Tolbert Jones at 202-554-0901, or email her at bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com.

15th • 11:30 a.m. 7th • 7 to 8:45 p.m. The North Michigan Park Civic Association will meet at the North Michigan Park Recreation Center,

The Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will hold a town hall meeting at 2900 Newton St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701.

Start the New Year off Right Visit one of the citywide senior wellness centers to begin living a healthier lifestyle. For your convenience, they are now open on Saturdays and some evenings. The wellness centers are FREE for District residents age 60 and older. Call or stop by for more details.

Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center 3531 Georgia Ave. NW 202-727-0338

Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center 3500 Martin Luther King, Jr Ave. SE 202-563-7225

Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center 324 Kennedy St. NW 202-291-6170

Hayes Senior Wellness Center 500 K St. NE 202-727-0357

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

From page 25

plan. The release of the plan signifies a shift into the implementation phase of this process. “The District needs to be a welcoming place for all of our residents, regardless of their

age,” Mayor Gray said. “This strategic plan will assist all aspects of the District government and our partners in ensuring that our older residents can age here with dignity and maximum livability.” For more information, visit www.agefriendly.dc.gov.

Model Cities Senior Wellness Center 1901 Evarts St. NE 202-635-1900

Washington Seniors Wellness Center 3001 Alabama Ave. SE 202-581-9355

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

Age friendly D.C.

or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action. The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

DC Office on Aging Employment Opportunity The Department of Human Resources has posted the position of Statistician, Requisition Number JO-1412-786, for the D.C. Office on Aging. The incumbent initiates and implements plans to strengthen data collection, data analysis and data reporting activities of DCOA. Incumbent’s primary responsibilities for DCOA reporting include: • Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness. • Develops approaches and prepares analytical reports using SAS and/or SPSS on performance measures, core indicators and program benchmarks. • Conducts program evaluation for various components of the DCOA, clients’ satisfaction surveys, and provides professional development assessments, social and small media activities and council hearings, including preparing data collection instruments, keying, analyzing and reporting on evaluation data. • Prepares comprehensive annual DCOA data analysis report of program results and disseminates results in a wide range of venues including publications, dashboards, summaries and special reports for DCOA, its stakeholders, government liaisons and sister agencies and members of the public. For complete details or to apply, visit www.dchr.dc.gov.

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

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

A SMALL FORTUNE Small-cap stocks didn’t gain much in 2014, but the improving economy and more buyouts may boost them this year WHICH FUNDS DO BEST? Expenses limit the gains of actively managed funds, helping index funds come out on top WHEN ONE OF TWO RETIRES When couples retire at different times, issues can arise from varying income and leisure time. How to avoid conflict

Why oil is so cheap; what it means for us By Jonathan Fahey The price of oil has fallen by nearly half in just six months, a surprising and steep plunge that has consumers cheering, producers howling, and economists wringing their hands over whether this is a good or bad thing. The price of a barrel of oil is just under $55, down from a summer high of $107, and lower than at any time since the U.S. was still in recession in the spring of 2009. So what’s going on? A global imbalance of supply and demand that is rippling across the world economy, for better and worse.

elsewhere. A balance was struck: Increasing supplies from outside of OPEC and from Iraq’s recovering oil industry helped meet rising demand around the world as other OPEC supplies waivered. But now those OPEC supplies look more certain despite continuing turmoil, and those non-OPEC supplies have swamped the market. OPEC estimated last month that the world would need 28.9 million barrels of its oil per day this year — the lowest in more than a decade. At the same time, OPEC countries plan to produce 30 million barrels of oil per day next year. That supply surplus is sending global prices lower.

Supplies go boom Years of high oil prices, interrupted briefly by the recession, inspired drillers around the world to scour the earth’s crust for more oil. They found it. Since 2008, oil companies in the U.S., for example, have increased production by 70 percent, or 3.5 million barrels of oil per day. To put that in perspective, that increase alone is more than the production of any OPEC member other than Saudi Arabia. As U.S. production was ramping up, turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa reduced supplies from Libya, Iran and

Demand goes bust Global demand is still expected to grow this year, but by far less than many thought last year. The economies of China, Japan and Western Europe — the top oil consumers after the United States — all appear to be weakening. Oil demand falls when economic growth stalls. The U.S. is still the world’s largest consumer, but more fuel-efficient cars and changing demographics mean demand for oil and gasoline is not increasing. The Energy Department predicts a slight decrease in gasoline demand this year even though the price is expected to be sharply lower and

the economy is expected to grow.

Consumers are happy For drivers, shippers, airlines and other consumers of fuel, there’s nothing not to like about the drop in oil prices. The national average gasoline price has fallen for 97 straight days to $2.30 a gallon, its lowest level since October of 2009, according to AAA. It’s $1.40 a gallon less than at its high last year, saving U.S. households more than $100 a month. Diesel and jet fuel prices have also plunged, helping boost the profits and share prices of airlines and shippers. Heating oil is the cheapest it has been in four years, reducing home heating prices just in time for winter for many in the chilly Northeast.

Economists, producers worried Falling fuel prices act like a tax cut and help boost consumer spending, which in turn accounts for 70 percent of the U.S. economy. But economists are growing concerned that there are other, more troublesome forces at play. The depth of oil’s plunge could be a signal that the global economy is struggling even more than economists think. A weak global economy could hurt the U.S. econo-

my by reducing exports, employment and spending, which together could outweigh the economic benefits of cheaper fuel. For oil companies, oil-producing states, and oil-exporting countries, the oil price collapse is painful. Oil companies generally keep producing oil from wells they’ve already drilled, but lower prices sharply reduce revenue and force them to cut back spending on new exploration projects. BP announced last month it would try to trim $1 billion in spending in 2015 in a move that analysts say could result in thousands of job cuts. States that rely on taxes from energy production, such as Alaska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas, will see lower revenues. Some have already had to trim budgets. Major oil exporters such as Iran, Iraq, Russia and Venezuela rely heavily on revenues from state-owned oil companies to run their governments and are struggling under major budget shortfalls. For example, Bank of America estimates that every $1 drop in the global price of oil costs Venezuela $770 million in annual revenue. Current prices are now $47 below 2013’s average, putting the country on pace for a $36 billion reduction in revenue. —AP

What does 2015 hold in store for bonds? By Stan Choe Don’t expect much from your bond mutual fund this year. The bond market will likely produce modest returns, if they’re positive at all, according to many bond-fund managers. It’s a matter of math: Bonds are offering very low interest rates following a decades-long drop in yields. That means they’re producing less income. It also means bonds have less protection from rising interest rates. When rates climb, the price for existing bonds falls because their yields suddenly look less attractive than those of newly issued bonds. If bonds were yielding 8 or 10 percent, they could more easily make up for a decline in price with their interest payments. But a 10-year Treasury note offers a yield

of just 2.25 percent. Less income coming in means it takes a smaller price decline to saddle bond investors with losses. “We’re getting to the point where it’s really dangerous,” said Bill Eigen, manager of the JPMorgan Strategic Income Opportunities fund. He says he’s the most nervous about the prospect of rising rates that he’s been in his career. Investors got a taste of what bond losses feel like in 2013, when the average intermediate-term bond fund fell 1.4 percent due to a rise in rates. It was the biggest loss for the bond market in nearly two decades. Managers say that, at the very least, it’s best to prepare for big swings in bond returns this year. To be sure, many managers predicted bond losses a year ago, and they were

wrong. Interest rates unexpectedly fell, and last year the average intermediateterm bond fund returned nearly 5 percent. But even the more optimistic bond fund managers say returns will likely be lower in 2015. Virtually all economists expect the Federal Reserve to raise short-term interest rates this year, which would be the first increase since 2006. The central bank already ended its bond-buying stimulus program, shuttering it in October. “Given where bonds are, you should not be thinking about a return like last year,” said Matt Freund, chief investment officer of USAA mutual funds. “It could happen, but I wouldn’t want to base my financial plan on it.” Here are some questions set to shape the bond market in 2015:

— Rates are rising, right? Nearly everyone is planning for the Fed to raise rates this year because the economy may have finally caught enough momentum. The unemployment rate hasn’t been this low since 2008, and the economy just delivered its strongest back-to-back quarterly growth since 2003. Many fund managers forecast the Fed will begin raising rates in mid- to late-2015. It has kept the federal funds rate at a range of zero to 0.25 percent since 2008. — But maybe not too much? Even though the economy is improving, it’s still fragile. That could lead the Fed to move more slowly in raising interest rates than many investors expect, said USAA’s See BONDS, page 28

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Bonds From page 27 Freund. Inflation also remains low, with the price of oil close to a four-year low and the dollar at its strongest level in years. That gives the Fed more leeway to take its time in raising rates.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury could be around 2.5 percent at the end of 2015, according to Joe Davis, Vanguard’s global chief economist. That’s only a little higher than its current yield, and Davis expects the taxable bond market to return 2 to 3.5 percent annually over the next several years. — Aren’t short-term bonds safe? Long-term bonds lock investors into

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Jan. 10

PIANO CONCERT

The Washington Conservatory Piano, Plus! presents a free classical piano concert on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. at the Westmoreland Congregational UCC Church, located at 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda, Md. Donations are welcome. A reception with wine and Q&A will follow. Pianist Alexander Paley will play Franz Liszt’s transcription of the Polonaise from the opera Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky and more. For more information, contact Kathy Judd at (301) 320-2770 or kjudd@washingtonconservatory.org.

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

yields for a longer time period, so rate increases can hurt them more than shortterm bonds. That’s pushed many investors to pile into short-term funds, hoping to reduce their risk. The $22 billion that they put into shortterm bond funds over the last year is 10 times what they put into intermediate- and long-term bond funds combined, according to Morningstar. But short-term bond investors aren’t getting a free lunch, said Karl Dasher, cohead of fixed income at Schroders asset management company. Yields are so low that they’re in danger of losses when the Fed begins raising short-term rates. Longer-term bonds may actually be in a better position, Dasher believes. Longterm rates may not rise as much for several reasons. Pension funds and other big in-

stitutional investors will continue to buy long-term bonds to cover their liabilities, for example, and that demand should help to support prices for longer-term bonds. — What about credit risk? Interest rates have been so low that investors searching for yield have reached into areas they may have avoided before. Junk bonds, for example, are issued by companies with poor credit ratings. They pay higher yields to attract investors, but they’re riskier. Default rates have been low recently and are expected to remain so. But prices for junk bonds can swing more widely than others, and volatility looks set to rise with interest rates. The fear is that many of the newbies in the junkbond market will rush to sell at once, which could cause even sharper price declines. —AP

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DAYTRIP TO POSTAL MUSEUM

Jan. 22

Arlington County presents a daytrip to the National Postal Museum on Thursday, Jan. 22. Stamp collectors and history buffs will enjoy strolling through the Postal Museum’s galleries that trace the history of mail from Colonial times, to Pony Express, to air mail. Lunch is included at Hills Country BBQ. The trip may require a lot of walking. You must be registered with the Office of Senior Adult Programs to participate in this program. The buses will depart from Lubber Run Community Center, 300 North Park Dr., Arlington, Va. at 10:15 a.m. and will return at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $60 for residents; $63 for non-residents. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/ArlingtonTrips or call (703) 228-4744.

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HOLOCAUST MUSEUM DAYTRIP

Jan. 29

The Evelyn Cole Senior Activity Center presents a daytrip to the Holocaust Memorial Museum on Thursday, Jan. 29. Take a step back in time for this very moving and educational visit through history. The three-floor permanent exhibition tells the story of the Holocaust through artifacts, photographs, films, and eyewitness testimonies. Lunch is at your own expense at a local restaurant. The cost is $10 for residents and $12 for non-residents. There will be no refunds unless the trip is cancelled, or your spot is resold. The bus will depart from the center, 5720 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, Md. at 10 a.m. and will return at 2 p.m. For more information or to register, call (301) 386-5525, TTY, (301)-446-3402.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

What’s the outlook for small-cap stocks? By Stan Choe 2014 felt like a hangover for owners of small-cap stock funds. On several occasions, small-cap stocks dipped by more than 7 percent in just a matter of weeks. All told, they were close to flat for the year, a letdown from 2013 when they surged 37 percent. And the performance looks even worse when compared with large-cap stocks, which were up 11 percent in 2014. The last time small-caps had this bad a year relative to large-caps was when Google was still operating out of a garage in 1998. The stall for small-cap stocks isn’t a big surprise. Many fund managers early last year called them overpriced following their heady performance in 2013 and much of the decade before. Small-caps

also often lag the rest of the market when the economy moves out of the early stages of recovery and begins to gain momentum. But the underperformance has also raised optimism for some mutual-fund managers because it has made small-caps relatively less expensive. To be sure, no one argues that smallcaps as a group are cheap, whether they’re valued based on their earnings or other measures. But managers point to several factors that could help small-caps in 2015. Since hitting a bottom in mid-October, the Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks has risen faster than the broader market. Consider Drew Weitz, one of the managers of the Weitz Hickory fund, which focuses on smaller companies with a market

value of less than $10 billion. Weitz considers himself a value investor, and if he can’t find any attractively priced stocks, he’s comfortable not buying anything. Bargains were so tough to find at the end of 2013 that the Hickory fund had more than 30 percent of its assets in cash, versus its norm of 10 to 20 percent.

Prices have since dropped enough to grab his attention. By the end of September the fund was down to about 20 percent in cash. In the first two weeks of October, small-caps had another jagged drop, quickly losing nearly 5 percent. Weitz pounced See SMALL-CAP STOCKS, page 30

BEACON BITS

Jan. 5+

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BUDGET FORUMS Montgomery County, Md. Executive Isaiah Leggett is holding five

budget forums in January to seek input from residents about the Fiscal Year 2016 Operating Budget priorities. The sessions begin at 7 p.m. The first forum on Tuesday, Jan. 5 will take place at the BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Dr., Germantown. The second will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the Silver Spring Civic Center, One Veterans Pl., Silver Spring. The third will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center,

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Small-cap stocks From page 29 and bought more, including stock in Allison Transmission. He had been watching the maker of transmissions for trucks and other vehicles since last January, waiting

for it to get cheap enough to buy. Allison Transmission now trades at 27.5 times its earnings per share over the last 12 months. In February its price-earnings ratio was above 42. Here are some other factors managers say could help small-cap stocks:

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

— Buy American Companies that do most of their business at home appear to have the advantage heading into next year. That would favor small-cap stocks, which depend less on foreign sales than their bigger rivals. The U.S. economy finally seems to have reached a higher gear. Employers have added more jobs than in any year since 1999, and economic growth just had its best backto-back quarterly performance since 2003. Other countries around the world, meanwhile, aren’t doing as well. Japan’s economy is back in recession. Europe’s is growing, but only barely. China is trying to navigate a slowdown in its growth. Small-cap companies generally get about 15 to 20 percent of their revenue from abroad, said Christopher Beck, chief investment officer of the small-cap value team at Delaware Investments. Large-cap companies, meanwhile, get closer to 50 percent of their revenue from outside the U.S. — Stick with the dollar Small-cap stocks offer greater protection from not only weaker economies abroad but also their weaker currencies. Procter & Gamble, for example, sells its razors and detergent around the world. It gets about 65 percent of its revenue from outside the United States. Last quarter, it would have reported a 9

percent rise in its core earnings per share if currency values around the world had stayed flat. But the dollar is close to its highest level in years against the Japanese yen and other currencies. That made each yen of sales worth less in dollars than a year earlier. Procter & Gamble reported growth of only 2 percent last quarter. — Ride the rise in buyouts CEOs are growing more confident, and they’re more willing to make deals to boost growth. The total value of mergers and acquisitions this year is on track to be the strongest since at least 2007. Buyouts can offer a quick way to jumpstart revenue growth, something that’s been tough to deliver since the recession. Companies certainly have the financial strength to make the purchases. They’re sitting on a near-record amount of cash, and low interest rates make it cheap to borrow. A boost in buyouts should help smallcap stocks, which can make for attractive targets, said Delaware Investments’ Beck. Last month, two of the companies in his Delaware Small Cap Value fund announced they were getting bought. And such deals generally mean a quick surge in price: Susquehanna Bancshares jumped 32.5 percent the day it said it was being acquired by BB&T. —AP

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Jan. 17

INVESTMENT CLUB MEETING

The Washington Metro Investment Club (WMIC) is having an open house meeting on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. in the McCourt Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge, Va. WMIC meets once a month to discuss investments in the stock market and is comprised of a small group of novice investors interested in learning about current trends in investing. Through a monthly plan of investing directly with companies and participating in their respective dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs), club members hope to reap a steady and respectable return while learning more about financial planning for the future. For more information, contact Ken Wright at (703) 801-1465.

Feb. 2

POETRY CAFE

The next session of Cafe Muse, a free monthly poetry reading, will take place on Monday, Feb. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. Poets Bill Yarrow and David Keplinger will read from their work. The evening starts with classical guitar and includes refreshments. An open mic follows the featured readers. For more information, call (301) 656-2797.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

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

Do you need an actively managed fund? Not all experts agree whether actively & Cox fund). However, you will be just as managed funds can outperform index funds. pleased by its performance. Some do in the short term, but it is certainly Let’s compare. not easy to select actively manDodge & Cox Stock Fund aged funds that will outperform (DODGX) Expense Ratio: 0.52 index funds in the long term. Trailing total returns (acAn index fund manager cording to Morningstar) buys all of the securities of a 1-year: 13.47 percent specific index, such as the S&P 3-year: 24.93 percent 500, or at least a representative 5-year: 15.31 percent sample. The objective is to 10-year: 7.48 percent track the index’ performance Vanguard Total Stock as closely as possible. Market Index Fund (VTSAX) Index funds are commonly THE SAVINGS Expense Ratio: 0.05 described as “passively man- GAME Trailing total returns (acaged.” An actively managed By Elliot Raphaelson cording to Morningstar) fund, by contrast, is one in which the manager selects in1-year: 14.61 percent dividual securities in an effort to outper3-year: 21.32 percent form specific indexes. 5-year: 15.66 percent One of the most important factors to 10-year: 8.32 percent consider is the annual cost associated with An investment of $10,000 made 10 years an actively managed fund you are consid- ago would be worth $20,576.80 if you ering in comparison to the annual cost of chose Dodge & Cox. It would be worth the indexed mutual fund or exchange-trad- $22,233.13 if you chose the Vanguard fund. ed fund (ETF) you are comparing it to. (Those figures are from Morningstar.) Morningstar has done extensive research in this field and has pointed out that Expenses make a difference the annual cost of the fund is one of the There is no question that the Dodge & best predictors of long-term performance. Cox fund is an excellent fund and is well managed. However, no actively managed A tale of two funds fund can compete with index funds on a What follows is a comparison between cost basis. the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Note the difference in expense ratios: Fund (VTSAX) and the Dodge & Cox 0.52 for the Dodge & Cox fund vs. 0.05 for Stock Fund (DODGX). the Vanguard fund. On a long-term basis, it The Dodge & Cox fund is in the top per- becomes very difficult for any well-manformance echelon for long-term value aged active fund to outperform an index funds. Morningstar gives it a four-star rat- fund in the same category. ing; in terms of trailing total returns, it’s Index funds also have one additional adranked No. 1 in three-year and 15-year re- vantage over actively managed funds — turns. It has fairly consistently outper- savings on income taxes. There will be formed the S&P 500. If you chose this as more “turnover” in actively managed funds your single managed stock fund, you can than there would be with index funds. For congratulate yourself for being an astute any investments other than retirement acfund picker. counts, you will have more of a tax liability The Vanguard Total Stock Fund is also with actively managed funds because you an excellent fund. It’s a standard index will incur more capital gains taxes. fund of a large, well-known company. If In my opinion, most investors will be you buy it, you won’t exactly impress your better off in the long-run by investing the friends for your originality (it has assets majority of their common stock investmore than six times larger than the Dodge ments in index funds. You can still diversi-

fy within index funds, investing in smallcap, mid-cap, large-cap, value and other types of index funds. You can do this with both mutual funds and ETFs, but you should limit your investments to those

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Jan. 24

BACH CONCERT

The National Philharmonic will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. A free pre-concert lecture will be offered in the Concert Hall at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday; and at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets start at $28 and are free for children ages 7 to 17 accompanying a paying adult. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call (301) 581-5100.

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

Spouses make staggered retirement work By Jane Bennett Clark A growing number of couples are planning to retire separately. For some, job loss or disability has forced the decision; for others, age disparity (men are three years older than their wives, on average) has played a role. The closing gap in earning power is another factor, said Richard Johnson, director of the program on retirement policy at the Urban Institute, an independent research group in Washington, DC. As women bring home bigger paychecks, “we’re seeing more of them staying in the labor force after their husbands retire.” Staggering retirement dates allows each of you to choose the date that works best for your career — say, to get the full value of a

pension. The one-two approach also allows the retired spouse to take stock and prepare for when both are out of the workforce. And watching one spouse make the transition to retired life can help the other spouse navigate those waters when the time comes. Retiring separately also involves challenges, including negotiating financial and personal priorities and adapting to new roles. All that can be tricky, given that about one-third of couples disagree about how they will spend their time in retirement, according to a 2013 Fidelity study.

Income inequity One potential source of conflict: The difference between two incomes and one can be a shocker, especially if the retired

spouse pursues an expensive hobby or travels. In that case, discussing the costs up front with the working spouse and carving out money in the budget for a “playcheck” is crucial, said Stephen Oliver, who specializes in retirement planning at Manhattan Ridge Advisors, in New York City. “You need to discuss what your life is going to look like. No one likes surprises.” When each spouse claims Social Security is another issue. If you delay to age 70 to collect, you receive a benefit equal to 132 percent of what you were due at full retirement at the age of 66. But waiting to claim doesn’t make sense for everyone. If you need the money now or don’t expect to live for many more years, claiming at 66 or even as soon as you’re eligible at age 62 (for a reduced benefit) is the logical choice. Or your reason for claiming might be more personal. Gil Armour, a certified financial planner in San Diego, said that when his wife, Karen, retired at age 66, she wanted to keep contributing to the family income. So she claimed her Social Security benefit, which replaces her part-time income almost exactly. Armour plans to work several more years (he’s 63) and wait until 70 to start taking his Social Security.

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Verizon Washington, D.C. Lifeline Plans: Verizon Washington, D.C.’s Lifeline service, known as “Economy II,” offers reduced rates on Verizon’s monthly telephone bill and one-time discounts on the cost of installing phone service. Additionally, toll blocking is available to Economy II customers at no charge. Economy II Service*: $3.00 per month for unlimited local calling. Value-added services are not included (e.g., Call Waiting, Caller ID). No connection charges apply. Also, customers will not be charged for the federal subscriber line charge. Economy II customers who are 65 years of age or older can have this service at a further reduced rate of $1.00 per month. • Full terms and rates for these services, including terms of eligibility, are as set forth in federal and in Verizon’s tariffs on file with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. All rates, terms and conditions included in this notice are subject to change and are current at the time of printing. Contact Washington, DC Lifeline Program at 1-800-253-0846 to apply To learn more about the Lifeline program, visit www.lifelinesupport.org.

Economy II is a Lifeline supported service. Lifeline is a government assistance program. Only eligible consumers may enroll. You may qualify for Lifeline service if you can show proof that you participate in certain government assistance programs or your annual income (gross and from all sources) is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you qualify based on income, you will be required to provide income verification. Proof of participation in a government assistance program requires your current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state or federal program; a notice letter or other official document indicating your participation in such a program; and/or another program participation document (for example, benefit card). Proof of income requires your prior year’s state or federal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; a statement of Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement, pension, or Unemployment or Workmen’s Compensation benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; a divorce decree; a child support award; and/or another official document containing income information. At least three months of data is necessary when showing proof of income. In addition, the Lifeline program is limited to one discount per household, consisting of either wireline or wireless service. You are required to certify and agree that no other member of the household is receiving Lifeline service from Verizon or another communications provider. Lifeline service is a non-transferable benefit. Lifeline customers may not subscribe to certain other services, including other local telephone service. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the Lifeline benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or can be barred from the program.

The concept of retirement has become increasingly fluid, said Johnson. About 25 percent of retirees are working again in some capacity within five years of leaving the workforce, he said. At the same time, people 50 and older often downshift to less demanding types of work before ending their careers. Carolyn Prosak, a recently retired registered dietitian, hopes eventually to return to work part-time. She has taken classes to assess her skills, developed her LinkedIn profile, and investigated new career opportunities. Like many new retirees, she said

she feels guilty not working. “I’ve worked all my life.” After almost 30 years at the U.S. Geological Survey, Jerry McFaul of Reston, Va., said “getting up at 5:30 started to get old.” Looking to kick back, he retired from his full-time gig three years ago, at age 66. Now, he spends about 10 hours a week consulting on database development, his specialty at USGS. The rest of his time is devoted to managing household projects, doing chores and playing the drums in a classicrock band called The Second Expedition. His wife, Lucy, 63, has been easing into retirement slowly. A dental hygienist, she has cut back her schedule from three or four days a week to a few shifts a month. “Somebody’s got to work to pay his beer and wine bills,” she joked. In fact, Jerry’s federal pension — built over decades — almost replaces his preretirement income and would keep them comfortable even if neither of them worked. Still, Lucy has no intention of retiring altogether. “I love my patients, so it’s almost like not working,” she said. Blurring work and retirement means blending roles and accommodating two schedules. When Lucy was working more evening shifts, said Jerry, “I had a couple of nights a week when I had to fix my own dinner.” (He often resorted to takeout, he admits.) She had to adjust to having him around in the mornings, when she was used to being alone. Still, neither is complaining about the sort-of-working, sort-of-retired arrangement. “We’ve slowly gone into retirement, so the shift isn’t as dramatic,” said Jerry. Jane Bennett Clark is a senior editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com. © 2014 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Wolftrap presents The Iguanas, a Bourbon-street band that combines New Orleans jazz, Chicago blues and Mexican conjunto music, on Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Barns of Wolf Trap. General admission tickets cost $25 plus a service charge. The barns are located at 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Va. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wolftrap.org or call 1-877-965-3872.

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Travel Leisure &

Ryanair and EasyJet are Europe’s largest low-cost carriers. See story on page 36.

Aruba’s varied island culture and terrain

Dutch touches Evidence of Aruba’s Dutch heritage can be seen around every corner. Oranjestad, the capital and largest city

(the word translates to “orange town” in Dutch), is named for King William van Oranje-Nassau, the first heir to the royal family House of Orange. Many buildings sport pastel colored facades and whimsical architectural touches that have been described as Spanish Mediterranean, with overtones of Dutch influence. Streets with names like Nieuweweg and Arendstraat would not be out of place in Amsterdam. Adding to the cross-cultural blend is a distinctive landmark familiar to anyone who has visited the island. Looking out of place in a landscape of palm trees and cactus is an authentic windmill that once drained water from low-lying areas of Holland. Built in 1804, the structure was dismantled, shipped to Aruba, and reassembled in its unlikely Caribbean setting, where it has housed several restaurants and night clubs over the years. Despite these inviting hints of the “old country,” most people who visit Aruba come to enjoy its soft sand beaches overlooking crystal clear water. A magnificent seven-mile stretch of beaches backs up to the high-rise hotels that rim the sheltered southwestern and western coastlines. The windswept northern and eastern coasts, which are battered by the sea, have been left largely undeveloped. Each

PHOTO BY LEN KAUFMAN

By Victor Block A gleaming white sand beach that rims the azure sea is set off by an explosion of scarlet, purple and other vivid colors of lush tropical foliage. Nearby, stretches of rocks and pebbly soil interspersed with cactus comprise a very different terrain — bleak and desert-like. The dramatic variety of landscapes that greets visitors to Aruba is echoed by the equal diversity of its attractions. Together, they make the island an inviting winter destination for vacationers with a broad range of interests. Those seeking nothing more than a relaxing sun-and-sand getaway have a choice of magnificent white sand beaches that are among the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Others interested in something with a European flair will discover touches of it around the island. The continental influence dates back to times when both Spain and, for a brief period, Great Britain held sway over Aruba. The Dutch took the island over in 1636, and today it is an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Aruba’s capital and largest city, Oranjestad, features casinos, museums and Dutch colonial architecture.

PHOTO BY LEN KAUFMAN

stretch of shoreline, along with the arid island interior, has its own appeal. Rugged limestone cliffs that run along much of the northeastern coast mark one boundary of Arikok National Park, an ecological preserve that sprawls over nearly 20 percent of Aruba. Hiking trails crisscross the park, and those that lead through its more isolated areas offer opportunities to spot native parakeet, burrowing owls and other wildlife that makes it their home. Intriguing chapters of Aruba’s history come alive in this setting. Shallow cave formations recall a time when a branch of Arawak Indians inhabited the island. Brownish-red drawings that ornament walls and ceilings attest to their presence. Reminders of Aruba’s agricultural past in the park include a long-deserted adobe farm house, while abandoned mines recall a mini-gold rush that got underway in 1825 and lasted for nearly a century.

Casinos and museums Aruba’s arid, desert-like terrain, where cacti abound, contrasts with its tropical beaches, palm trees and turquoise water.

Speaking of gold, the 12 casinos on the island have earned it the nickname “Las Vegas of the Caribbean.” While most casinos are located in major resort hotels,

there are two in Oranjestad. The capital city also has other attractions. The Dutch colonial architecture and pastel hues of many buildings, some dating back to the late 18th century, impart a Disneyworld atmosphere. The busy port teems with the coming and going of boats, and sidewalks with crowds of sightseers and shoppers. Jewelry, designer fashions and perfumes are popular buys, along with blue Delft ceramics and Dutch cheeses. When not spending money on shopping or gambling, visitors have a choice of several small but interesting museums. The Archaeological Museum is housed in a cluster of colorfully painted homes that were occupied by a local family for nearly 130 years, beginning in 1870. The exhibits inside showcase the history of Indians on Aruba. They range from an ancient long house and native hut, to artifacts dating back as far as 2500 BCE. The Historical Museum of Aruba is tucked away in Fort Zoutman. That fortification was built in 1796-1798 to protect the island from pirates, and the town soon See ARUBA, page 35

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

Aruba From page 34 began to grow around it. The museum has exhibits describing farming, fishing and other aspects of island life, including interesting tidbits about villages that I explored. For example, I strolled through the small town of Noord, which began as an Indian community, and the hamlet of Rancho, that was established around 1855 as a fishing village. Visits to other communities also provided introductions to what locals call “the real Aruba.” San Nicolas is the second largest town after Oranjestad, but is worlds away in atmosphere. While it once jumped to the beat of workers from the now-abandoned oil refinery nearby, it’s usually on the quiet side these days. A mini-promenade along the main street is lined by several shops and restaurants, but the biggest draw in town is Charlie’s Bar. Beginning in the early 1940s, scuba divers who dropped by that establishment attached their underwater finds to the walls and ceiling, creating what eventually evolved into a bric-a-brac heaven. Today, virtually every inch of available space is adorned by automobile license plates, paper money and business cards from around the world, and other memorabilia too varied and numerous to list.

Ancient rock formations Very different is the main claim to fame of Paradera village, which is its location close to two natural sites that were sacred places to the Indians. The Ayo and Casibari rock formations consist of huge boulders that rise up from the sandy desert terrain. Over time, prevailing winds have carved the rocks into unusual shapes which, with a little imagination on the part of the viewer, resemble birds, dragons and other identifiable figures.

Steps have been carved into the rock at the Casibari site, and those who climb to the top are rewarded with a panoramic view over the island. Some of the stones at Ayo still bear petroglyphs scratched and painted onto the surface by Indian artists. Those boulders rising from a flat, stark landscape provide a setting very different from the white sand beaches of Aruba. The small, silent caves in Arikok National Park present an environment that contrasts sharply with the clamor and commotion of the island’s casinos. Yet these scenes and many more are among the something-for-everyone variety that makes Aruba an inviting destination to explore and enjoy.

If you go Restaurant meals can be a bit more expensive here than on some other Caribbean islands, but the over-sized portions served by a number of eateries are large enough to share. There also are early bird specials and other meal deals that can stretch your dining dollar. At Fusion, a sophisticated piano bar adjacent to Alhambra Casino, some of the hot and cold tapas ($6-$12) are ample enough to be an entrée. Main courses include rib eye steak with French fries, and paella, the typical Spanish seafood soup (each $19.50). For more information, call (297) 280-9994 or email marritf@megaresorts.com. A very different décor and cuisine are offered at the Pelican Nest, a casual outdoor café perched at the end of the pier in front of the Holiday Inn. One chef’s special is the excellent ceviche ($7.75), which is large enough to make a meal from. A merger of shrimp and chicken salad on greens is a land-sea entrée combination ($16), and grilled fresh-caught fish is served with French fries ($8.25). For more information, call (297) 586-2259 or log onto

www.pelican-aruba.com. The challenge when seeking a place to stay is narrowing down the numerous choices. The studio apartment at the Aruba Beach Club Resort validated the belief of my wife Fyllis and me that checking into a timeshare property can provide good value. It was surprisingly roomy, and the kitchenette offered the option of eating some meals in. The low-rise property lacks the hustle and bustle of much larger hotels, and sits on one of the finest beaches on the island. Basic rates begin at a reasonable $200 a night for a suite that can accommodate four people, although taxes and other charges add to the total. For more information, call (297) 524-3000 or log onto www.arubabeachclub.net. If you check into the Hyatt Regency Re-

sort, Spa & Casino you may never want to leave (that is, until your money runs out). As the name indicates, it combines Hyatt Regency excellence with a top-flight spa, in-house casino and other amenities one expects from that hotel brand. The landscaping alone is worth stopping by to see even if you’re staying elsewhere. Fields of flowers surround a massive three-level swimming pool with a slide and waterfalls, all leading to the beautiful beach. High-season rates start at $565 a night. (Low season starts April 20.) For more information, call (888) 591-1234 or log onto www.aruba.hyatt.com. The lowest roundtrip fare in late January is $381 on Delta and US Airways from BWI. For more information about Aruba, call (800) 862-7822 or log onto www.aruba.com.

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Flying around Europe on low-cost airlines If you’re heading to Europe next year, good chance of flying one or the other just and if you plan to move around a bit, you about anywhere you want to go. may consider some intra-EuFares are capacity controlled, ropean flights. You will quickand if you buy well enough in ly find that Europe hosts advance, they start out very low. more than 100 low-cost airService is probably closer lines, some huge, some tiny. to Spirit and Allegiant than any On my recent trip to Engother U.S. airlines. That is to land and Italy, I tested Eusay, seating is extremely tight, rope’s two largest low-fare almost everything is priced a lines, and came away with la carte, and you pay extra for some impressions that may buying with a credit card be helpful to you. (EasyJet does not take AmeriTRAVEL TIPS EasyJet and Ryanair, the can Express). By Ed Perkins largest and second-largest European airlines in terms of annual intra- Ryanair European passengers, operate from bases I flew Ryanair from London to Bari, spread around the continent. You stand a Italy, and EasyJet back to London a week

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later, about three hours each way: My flight to Bari cost $107, including a checked bag and an assigned seat. All Ryanair flights are on 737s, meaning very narrow seats; legroom, at 30-inch pitch, is a bit tighter than on large U.S. lines. Ryanair’s main London base is at Stansted Airport, which has no flights from the United States, but lots of European flights. You get to Stansted by an express rail service, which leaves every 15 minutes from Liverpool Street station at a cost of about $36. Ryanair also has a few flights from Luton, and a very few from Gatwick to Ireland. Its main bases in France are Beauvais (which it calls Paris/Beauvais) and Marseille. The main base in Germany is Hahn (Frankfurt/Hahn). In several cities, it uses nearby city airports rather than the main fields, such as Bergamo for Milan, and access to/from the nominal primary city may be difficult.

EasyJet My flight cost $183, including a checked bag and an assigned seat. All EasyJet flights are on A320s and 319s, with seats wider than Ryanair’s but, at 29-inch pitch, punishingly limited front-to-rear space. EasyJet runs large London operations from Gatwick and Luton, and limited operations from Stansted and Southend.

Flights from Gatwick give EasyJet an immediate $20 price advantage over Ryanair because of cheaper ($16) rail tickets to/from central London. Main bases on the continent include Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva, Milan/Malpensa, Paris/Orly and Rome/Fumicino. Although the flight crews always urge you to “enjoy your flight,” the only enjoyment on these lines is getting where you want to go, expeditiously, with your baggage, and at a good price. There’s no way you can actually “enjoy” a few hours on these cattle cars. For a humorous take on Ryanair, check the “cheap flights” skit on YouTube at http://bit.ly/youtube_cheapflights. On Norwegian, Europe’s third-largest low-fare line, I’ve flown only its long-haul service. Local services are based mainly in Scandinavia. It has been rated “best European low fare line” in several surveys. Unable to compete with the low-fare lines, Air France and Lufthansa are establishing their own low-fare subsidiaries.

Finding flights, trains If you’re considering an intra-European flight, you have a good chance of finding what you need on either EasyJet or Ryanair. Metasearch engines such as TripAdvisor See LOW-COST AIRLINES, page 37

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Astronaut From page 1 happens to it, that all of life will cease to exist. I think in the minds of every space traveler there is such a respect for the beauty and fragility of planet Earth and how imperative it is to preserve it.” Allen was supposed to have done a space walk on his first trip, but couldn’t due to a space suit malfunction. But on his second launch on the Discovery in 1984, he finally got to step off the space shuttle wearing a Buck Rogers-like jetpack. Handheld buttons controlled his movement. The beauty of being unfettered in space was tempered by the fact that it was “slippery,” and difficult to control his movements, he said. “Space is incredibly slick. There is no friction. You had a button to stop you. It was called the OJ button — the ‘Oh, Jesus’ button,” he recalled with a smile. Had there been an Apollo 17, Allen would have been in line to land on the moon. But further lunar landings “just weren’t in the cards,” he said with regret.

No fear of flying The sense of wonder Allen felt while in space obliterated any feeling of fear. Allen’s first flight came four years before the disastrous launch of the Challenger, which broke apart just over a minute into flight, and 21 years before the Columbia itself would disintegrate when it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. Allen said he didn’t even feel claustrophobic, noting the shuttle’s large windows to view the infinite space all around him. He attributes part of his success to his small size. At 5 feet, 6 inches he said the shuttle may have felt more spacious to him than to a 6-foot-tall astronaut. More importantly, in his compact body his brain is closer to his heart, giving him an advantage in how many g-forces he could withstand upon take-off and landing. A g-force is defined as a force acting on a body as a result of acceleration or gravity. As a child, the combination of his small size and indefatigable sense of curiosity led

Low-cost airlines From page 36 and Kayak show both lines. But if you don’t find the flights you want there, log onto www.attitudetravel.com or www.skyscanner.net for extensive “who flies where” information and airline links. For trips under 300 miles or so, also consider high-speed trains. These days, rail prices, like airfares, are capacity con-

Allen into a few mishaps. Once, he tried to figure out how Santa could fit down the chimney. He climbed into the chimney of a barbecue pit in his backyard and promptly became stuck so badly be could barely breathe, let alone call out for help. Finally, a neighbor found him, and the chimney had to be dismantled brick by brick to free him. That experience reverberated years later when it came time to put on his space suit. “The space suit is like a tortoise shell in the middle, and your head pops out the top. Every time I climbed into the suit, it took me back to being stuck in the chimney, and I’d get panicked,” he said As the smallest and smartest boy in his class, Allen would get picked on on the playground. “I was a nerdy little kid. The other kids must have hated me. I raised the grade curves. So they beat me up,” he recalled. That’s how he got into wrestling. His father initially tried to find him boxing lessons, but when he couldn’t, he enrolled Allen in wrestling instead. “Athletics changed my life. I was never again beat up on the playground — and it may have been the key to being selected by NASA.”

the potential to profoundly change anyone’s view of the world — and of the cosmos. “There is not one astronaut or cosmonaut who has gone into space who is not convinced there is some great ‘maker.’ Some might call it religion,” he said. “You cannot take a look at the beauty of the Earth and think this is just random. It’s impossible.” In 1984, Allen wrote the coffee table-size book Entering Space: An Astronaut’s Odyssey, which covers not just Allen’s contributions to the space program, but a history of NASA itself, as well as more than 200 color photos, many of which Allen took from space. Copies are available from amazon.com.

From astronaut to corporate CEO When he left NASA, Allen went on to found Space Industries International in Houston. He served as chief executive officer, initially planning to sell products to NASA with less mark-up than other companies. For some reason, that concept didn’t take off, but the Defense Department became a large client. Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was on the company’s board of directors. Allen moved the company to Washington, later changing its name to Veridian. Since its founding in 1985, the company grew from 10 to 8,000 employees, before Allen sold it to General Dynamics in 2003 for the astronomical price of $1.5 billion. Since employees owned a lot of stock in the company, many walked away as millionaires. “That was such a good feeling to see them benefit like that,” he said. But what hasn’t been good in Allen’s

trolled, and lowest ticket prices often match lowest air prices. But rail travel is much more comfortable than flying, terminals are in city centers, you have no security hassles, and you avoid the cost of airport access. Where schedules work out for you, taking a train is almost always a better choice than flying. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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book is the constant cutting of NASA’s budget, which has dwindled from 4.41 percent of the federal budget in 1966 to less than 0.5 percent today. The final space shuttle flight was in 2011. “We led the world in space exploration and let it fritter away,” he said, placing blame on the shoulders of Congress. “Our Congress is feckless. They are gutless wonders. “If you’re interested in going into space today, your best bet is to sign up with the Chinese or Russians,” which currently have more robust space programs than the United States. For Allen, traveling into space shouldn’t be the province of one or a few countries. It has

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A magical Mary Poppins at Toby’s Dinner Theater. See story on page 40.

World premiere looks at Lincoln’s widow

Finding Mrs. Lincoln Many questions, few answers. A good mystery needs a good detective, and Ford’s Theatre has one with playwright James Still. He has written The Widow Lincoln, unlocking the door to that room, opening the

shutters and casting light into the darkness there. Ford’s commissioned this world premiere as part of Ford’s 150: Remembering the Lincoln Assassination — a series of events marking the 150 years since Abraham Lincoln’s last night. Author Still, nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize, is familiar to Ford’s audiences. His play The Heavens Are Hung in Black reopened the theatre after its extensive renovations in 2009, and his Looking Over the President’s Shoulder was part of Ford’s 2003-2004 season. The Los Angeles-based playwright has seen his work performed throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, China and South Africa. He is reunited here with familiar Ford’s director Stephen Rayne, who staged The Heavens Are Hung in Black. The Widow Lincoln opens on Jan. 23. “I’m not a historian,” Still said. “I’m an artist, a writer. And this is an excavation, a dig into what might have been. I did start rooting around thinking, well, surely this has been written about, and people have been trying to figure this out. And I never found it.” Even Mrs. Lincoln, in her later life, offered scant insight into the 40 days, as if she retained no clear memory. There is one letter, however, and our detective/playwright found it in the hands of a collector of Lincoln memorabilia in Los Angeles, where he lives. “I didn’t come across it until I had written at least two drafts of the play, and I was relieved to read what she wrote because it felt like I had at least gone down a path that rang

true, how Mary wrote about it,” Still explained during rehearsals in late December. “It was like a little bit of permission for me.”

Melding fact with fiction So, is this historical fiction or fictional history? Is it a docu-drama? We know it isn’t pure history because there were few witnesses and little record of what transpired. This is where he finally lands when grappling with the question: “It’s kind of an opera that isn’t sung, is how I look at it, because of its theatricality and its deep study of this character — the way a great

PHOTO BY GARY ERSKINE

By Michael Toscano Washington loves a good mystery — something with hidden intrigues and with rich human drama and danger — especially in the ultimate high-stakes setting of the White House. There’s one real-life Washington mystery that has been shrouded for 150 years, not in secrecy but indifference, perhaps. What happened to Mary Todd Lincoln in the 40 days after her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated the night of April 15, 1865? She was in the White House, reeling with grief. We know that much. But most do not know that she locked herself in a room and remained mostly alone for 40 long days. Most accounts stop when she enters the room, and pick up her story 41 days later. But what happened within that shuttered space? Was it a refuge? Or a prison? Was she insane or just drenched in sorrow, unable to function in the world? Is this a mere footnote to the horrendous rending of America’s spirit in 1865, or something more meaningful? And what does it tell us about Mrs. Lincoln and, by extension, about her husband, whom we think we know?

See LINCOLN, page 41 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Still wrote The Widow Lincoln, a primarily fictional account of Mary Todd Lincoln during the days immediately following President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The show premieres at Ford’s Theatre, where the assassination occurred 150 years ago, on Jan. 23.

We’re Creepy and we're Kooky at Toby’s this February! Opening February 6 - April 19 Taking the world’s musical theatre scene by storm with some of the most beloved characters of all time. Wednesday Addams, the princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a ‘normal’ family. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents.

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Mary Poppins works her magic at Toby’s man wrote the original music and lyrics for such classics as “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Jolly Holiday,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” New songs and additional music and lyrics are by the team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, who also wrote music for productions of Peter Pan and other musicals. The book is by Julian Fellowes, who has since risen to acclaim as the creator of the television series “Downton Abbey.” Mary Poppins, which takes place in 1910 in London, has some of the same upstairs-downstairs flavor, but is buoyed by lightheartedness that at times borders on slapstick.

PHOTO BY JERI TIDWELL

By Barbara Ruben From medicine magically transformed with a spoonful of sugar, to tap dancing chimney sweeps, to the titular nanny floating down from the rooftop with the aid of a duck-head umbrella, Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s production of Mary Poppins is — as one of its introductory songs is titled — “Practically Perfect.” The splendid singing, magic tricks sprinkled throughout the show, colorful early 20th century costumes, and soaring musical score all blend to creative an enchanting evening of entertainment for all ages. Those who have fond memories of Disney’s 1964 Mary Poppins movie may be scratching their heads. “Practically Perfect”? Never heard of it. That’s because the production at Toby’s in Columbia, Md., through Feb. 1 is the stage version that melds the movie and elements of author P.L. Travers’ books on everyone’s favorite nanny with new songs and old favorites. The musical, which had more than 2,600 performances on Broadway between 2006 and 2013, was nominated for seven Tony awards, including Best Musical. Brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sher-

A familiar tale, to a point Mary Poppins opens as a nanny storms out of the house, leaving her sometimes ill-behaved charges ungoverned. Michael and Jane Banks aren’t really all that incorrigible; they are primarily begging for the attention of their father George, who works long hours at — where else? — a bank. They hide his spectacles and put toads in his pockets. Michael pines for him to take an hour off and just fly a kite with him. Instead, the children terrify a series of

Bert, played by Jeffrey Shankle, and Mary Poppins, played by Maura Hogan, take a spin on a carousel in a magical park where the statues come to life. Mary Poppins continues at Toby’s Dinner Theatre through Feb. 1.

nannies, until Mary Poppins drifts serendipitously into their lives. She seems to have all the requirements the children put on their wish list of ideal nanny qualities — and then some. She can pull a five-foot-high floor lamp out of a small carpet bag and imbue the taste of dreaded castor oil with the flavor of cherry cordials. She is, as the song goes, practically perfect. But perfection can last only so long. After making a mistake at the bank, Mr. Banks is suspended from his job without pay, and he becomes more annoyed than ever by the kids. Jane flies into a rage at being dismissed by Dad and fights with Michael. Mary Poppins packs up her carpet bag and decides to flee. The children’s mother, in a misguided attempt to appease her husband and find a new nanny, hires Mr. Banks’ dreadful old governess Miss Andrews (an amalgam of the Wicked Witch of the West and Miss Trunchbull, the horrible headmistress from Matilda). But Mary Poppins swoops in to again save the day, combining magic and common sense to help the family value each other again.

Magical music Magic is at the heart of Mary Poppins, and some of the most magical moments in

the show are the tuneful numbers that include much of the cast. In the song that added polysyllabic heft to the vocabulary of untold millions, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (it’s in the Oxford dictionary and on Dictionary.com!) pulls together numerous cast members in a giddy linguistic confection. “A Chimney Swept (Chim Chim)/Step in Time,” gathers more than a dozen chimney sweeps, led by Bert, the jack-of-alltrades, on the rooftops of London in a toetapping, tap dancing frenzy. In “Playing the Game,” Michael and Jane’s toys come to life at night, with dolls, ballerinas and toy soldiers cavorting in the nursery. Choreographer Mark Minnick keeps it all moving in the small center stage of Toby’s theater-in-the-round. But it is Maura Hogan as Mary Poppins herself who truly helps the whole show soar with her sparkling soprano. Hogan inhabits the part effortlessly, whether telling the children to get ready for bed “spit spot,” or putting evil nanny Miss Andrew (played a little too shrilly by Heather Marie Beck) in her place with a dose of her own medicine. Hogan harmonizes well with Jeffrey Shankle, who plays Bert. Shankle chanSee MARY POPPINS, page 42

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

Lincoln From page 39 opera can be so revealing about a character,” he said. The theatricality. Still weaves in several real-life figures connected to the event, including Mrs. Lincoln’s maid and confidante Elizabeth Keckley, and the actress Laura Keane, who was onstage when Lincoln was shot, and whose life and career were permanently affected. He also wrote a scene featuring Queen Victoria, who actually sent a letter to Mrs. Lincoln. There is a slightly surreal swirl of theatricality, with a choral motif and a stylized set. The setting features barriers of packing cases and trunks, a signal to the audience of Mrs. Lincoln’s distress at embarking on a post-White House life that was not what she and her husband had longed for. The choral motif has its roots in Still’s detective work, as he followed the path his research created for him, using it to inspire as much as inform. “One of the attending doctors in the Peterson House [across the street from Ford’s] during the night of Lincoln’s death kept a record of Lincoln’s pulse at various times. Just what it was, 68 or 99, whatever,” he recounted. “And just reading that list was so moving to me. And that became a kind of choral piece in the play, in a way.” A “Greek chorus of widows,” as he describes it, keeps Mary company in the room, intoning the pulse readings at times, moving the audience closer to inexorable loss. “It’s kind of shocking. It’s how Mary relived his dying moments, how she re-lived that night in the Peterson House. It’s also about how she was kept out of that room most of the time. I never would have imagined that, if my research hadn’t taken me to that document.” Tiny fragments of history, crafted into a narrative that helps us feel what it was like, helps us understand the real-life woman behind the strident, demanding image that has persisted through the years. For Still, it is all vivid and alive. “Her resentment at not being allowed to be at her husband’s side, especially in the last moments, the feeling she was robbed of that right, if you will, that collides with his pulse, and not having a pulse. That is something that really moved me,” he said, his voice thickening slightly with emotion. But this is Ford’s Theatre, sacred ground, and this is Washington, D.C. — less sacred, certainly, and with countless long knives about. Still knows his work will be dissected by history buffs and scholars as if it is a treatise and not a drama. His goal is to present the experience of the event, not a recitation of inert facts. Yet the dramatist has had to become a history detective. “To know as much as I can know, so at least if I decide to depart from the actual facts, I know that I’m doing that, that I have my reasons as a dramatist for doing that,” he stated firmly. “I’m absorbing facts, but I’m also looking at what makes my heart

race when I come across something.” And that is how audiences, hearts racing or not, will ultimately judge his look into the room behind that locked door, upstairs at the White House, long, long ago.

Show times and discussions The Widow Lincoln runs Jan. 23 to Feb. 22 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW, Washington, D.C. It is recommended for ages 12 and older, due to its complex language and ideas. Show times: Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. (no Sunday evening performances in Feb.); Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. (except Jan. 24 and 25); noon matinee on Thursday, Feb. 5. Ticket prices for the play range from $15 to $62. Discounted matinee tickets are available for patrons 60 and over ($31 for weekdays, $34 for weekends). There will be audio-described performances on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. A captioned performance is scheduled for Saturday, Feb.21,

YO U R

at 2 p.m. A sign-interpreted performance will occur Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Following the 7:30 p.m. performance Thursday, Jan. 29, audience members can talk with each other and with playwright James Still at a Meet and Mingle event. This free event takes place at the restaurant Bistro D’Oc, located across the street from Ford’s Theatre, at 518 10th St. NW. A

New

cash bar will be available. Tickets are available at www.fords.org and Ticketmaster: 1-800-982-2787. Ford’s Theatre is accessible to persons with disabilities, offering wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms, and audio enhancement. For more information, call (202) 3474833 or visit www.fords.org.

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

Remembering a dad who was taken young On the actual day, nothing will feel very ed about what FDR was really like, to have different. He’ll still be gone — long, long his white hair mussed by a squadron of gone — and I’ll still feel that familiar com- playful granddaughters. But it wasn’t to be. Heart bination of dull grief and disease is a great leveler, and muted helplessness. it leveled him. But on December 22, 2014, Near the end, he knew I will have spent the day rewhere he was headed, but he membering him — my father, was not especially brave of blessed memory. He would about his impending death, or have been 100 years old on especially gloomy and doomthat day. y. He was too sick in his final Alas, he never came close to weeks to articulate much of living that long. He died at 56. anything. He missed out on every HOW I SEE IT He died in surgery, at a president from Ford to By Bob Levey hospital in downtown WashObama, every classic battle between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, ington that has since been replaced. I only every technological breakthrough that wish that the same real estate developer now seems so commonplace (computers, could replace a certain man with two buck teeth, horn-rimmed glasses and a great cell phones, microwaves). He missed a ton of important family belly laugh. The old pictures prime lots of memostuff, too — the marriages of his children, the births and achievements of his grand- ries. There he is, holding me as a newchildren, the thawing of various icebergs born, and looking as panic-stricken about that had formed between various cousins. fatherhood as he often told me he was. There he is, when I was 3 and my brothHe missed his own golden time, too — that late-in-life period where a man can er was 1, frolicking on a beach in Rhode Iskick back and cavort a little, possibly write land. Then we jump forward 14 years or so, to that silly screenplay he has been carrying around in his head for decades. He de- a high school graduation, where a very served more down time than he ever got, young version of guess-who is clutching a more freedom from making the mortgage diploma — and my Dad is clutching me. payment than he ever got. He deserved to grow old, to be consultSee BOB LEVEY, page 45

Mary Poppins From page 40 nels a shorter Dick Van Dyke, who played the part in the movie, right down to the Cockney accent and tap dance prowess. David Bosley-Reynolds and Elizabeth Rayca also shine as Mr. and Mrs. Banks, who eventually embrace their children as treasured members of the family, and not just troublemakers pawned off to the nanny du jour.

Poppins’ young stars Caroline Otchet plays Jane, by turns petulant and precocious, with vocal range beyond her years. (Seen in this production, Otchet alternates the role with another young actress, Samantha Yakaitis.) She has also performed in other Toby’s productions, including 2013’s Les Miserables. Anderson Franco (alternating with Gavin Willard) plays little Michael with aplomb. The part requires memorizing numerous lines, lyrics and dance steps, and the second grader doesn’t flag through the two-hour production. Sets and costumes also play a starring role. From Mary Poppins’ coat and dress ensembles with their poufy mutton chop sleeves to Bert’s straw boater hat, the costumes include lovely period details. Backlit silhouettes of the London skyline set the scene around the walls of the the-

ater. Projected images on screens also help establish a varying sense of place, from the rooftops, to a verdant park, to birds flitting by in the lovely “Feed the Birds.” Sets change numerous times, with four poster beds and an enormous dollhouse wheeled in to illustrate the nursery, while Mary Poppins magically restores a fallen kitchen table laden with baking supplies and a collapsed cake (it’s unclear exactly how that bit of sleight of hand was accomplished). Diminutive rooftops on wheels slide into place for chimney sweeping scenes. It takes until the very end of the first act to see Mary Poppins aloft, rising ceiling-ward perched on a swing. Bert somersaults midair in the second act with the help of two wires. But in end, this Mary Poppins doesn’t need any artificial props to soar. Mary Poppins continues at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Dr., in Columbia, through Feb. 1, seven nights a week, with matinees on Wednesdays and Sundays. Tickets range from $53 to $58 for adults and are $39.50 for children. Ticket prices include a bountiful all-youcan-eat dinner or (at matinees) brunch buffet. Alcoholic and specialty drinks, and waiter tips (all actors also serve as waiters) are extra. For more information or to purchase tickets, see www.tobysdinnertheatre.com or call (301) 596-6161.

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

Fantasy & Fate: Tchaikovsky Masterworks

Symphony No. 1, Sérénade mélancolique, ee, & more Christoph Eschenbach, conductor Nurit Bar-Josef, concertmaster

2014–2015 SEASON Join the NSO for an extraordinary new season of music to live by in the Concert Hall.

January & February Concerts Berlioz Symphonie fantastique Barto plays a U.S. premiere Christoph Eschenbach, conductor Tzimon Barto, piano DVORÁK: Carnival Overture RIHM: Piano Concerto No. 2 (NSO CO- COMMISSION / U.S. PREMIERE) BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique

THU., JAN. 15 AT 7 | SAT., JAN. 17 AT 8 Part of the Green Series.

TCHAIKOVSKY Hamlet Overture Sérénade mélancolique Valse-Scherzo Symphony No. 1 “Winter Daydreams”

THU., JAN. 22 AT 7 | FRI., JAN. 23 AT 8 | SAT., JAN. 24 AT 8 AfterWords: Thu., Jan. 22 performance followed by a free discussion.

Symphony No. 4, the Violin Concerto, & more Christoph Eschenbach, conductor Arabella Steinbacher, violin TCHAIKOVSKY Fate Violin Concerto Symphony No. 4

THU., JAN. 29 AT 7 | FRI., JAN. 30 AT 8 | SAT., JAN. 31 AT 8

Symphony No. 5 & Bruch Violin Concerto Juraj Valcuha, conductor Vilde Frang, violin STRAVINSKY: Pulcinella—Suite BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1 TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

THU., FEB. 5 AT 7 | FRI., FEB. 6 AT 8 | SAT., FEB. 7 AT 8

Beyond the Score —Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique

Part of the Green Series.

Ankush Kumar Bahl, conductor (Beyond the Score r ®) re Christoph Eschenbach, conductor (full work) Take your musical appreciation to the next level with this new NSO initiative that’s half concert, half multimedia educational experience. BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique

FRI., JAN. 16 AT 8 Part of the Green Series.

Pintscher conducts Ravel, Fauré, and his latest work for violin and orchestra Matthias Pintscher, conductor Karen Gomyo, violin Washington Master Chorale, Thomas Colohan, artistic director FAURÉ: Pelléas et Mélisande—Suite PINTSCHER: Mar’eh (U.S. PREMIERE) RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé—Complete Ballet

THU., FEB. 19 AT 7 | FRI., FEB. 20 AT 8 | SAT., FEB. 21 AT 8 AfterWords:: Thu., Feb. 19 performance followed by a free discussion. Part of the Blue Series.

All-Beethoven: Ax & “Eroica” Herbert Blomstedt, conductor Emanuel Ax, piano BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” No late seating.

THU., FEB. 26 AT 7 | FRI., FEB. 27 AT 8 | SAT., FEB. 28 AT 8 ESCHENBACH

BARTO

(202) 467-4600 nationalsymphony.org Tickets also available at the Box Office Groups (202) 416-8400 The Kennedy Center welcomes patrons with disabilities.

Organ Postlude: Thu., Feb. 26 performance followed by a free mini-recital on the Rubenstein Family Organ.

David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by Roger and Vicki Sant. The Blue Series is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation.

The Green Series is sponsored by

Beyond the Score is produced by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Gerard McBurney, Creative Director; Martha Gilmer, Executive Producer.

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Puzzle Page

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

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Fairy Fails by Stephen Sherr 1

24 26

11 16

25 28

39 42

49 56

Scrabble answers on p. 46.

7 14

Answer: What the deadbeat hobbyist collected -PAST DUE BILLS Jumbles: STAID BALMY PESTLE OUTLET

Across

Down

1. Molecule part 5. Place for a Swiss stake 8. 6/6/44 12. 1/100,000th of a newton 13. Ransack 15. “Sanity and happiness ___ impossible combination” (Mark Twain) 17. Scandinavian capital 18. Drop anchor 19. Manicurist’s canvas 20. Callow canine cook 23. Nixon’s start and end 24. Olympic chant 25. Competes in the Winter Olympics 26. C, C+, and C32. Pandemonium 34. ___ for help 35. Amal Clooney, ___ Alamuddin 36. “___ leads to suffering” (Yoda) 37. Quarterbacks Ryan, Schaub, and Leinart 39. (hey, you) 40. She was naked, but not ashamed 41. Garden-variety 42. Most actors in Harry Potter movies 43. She ate the food, instead of delivering it 47. Garden ideal 48. Van Gogh’s gift 49. It’s bottled in Cannes 52. Ingredients in a fruit cupcake 57. The largest city in northern Israel 58. Bloodhound’s pride 59. Interstellar actress, Hathaway 60. Obey a door sign 61. Fragile traits 62. End of Jenn or Luc 63. Foe of Howard Hughes 64. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character in A Bug’s Life 65. Down times

1. Brick made of mud 2. ESPN ranked him the hardest hitter in heavyweight history 3. Not written down anywhere 4. Feline tagline 5. Just about 6. Body scrubber 7. Impoverished 8. Dress-up all fancy 9. ___ blank 10. Its not complete without U 11. “You guys”, down South 14. Divide into thirds 16. Bank stamp 21. Shades 22. Those who just barely get by 27. Garden tool 28. Turn state’s evidence 29. Good dirt 30. Use a Barcalounger 31. Distributes silverware 32. Food Network show host 33. One of the elites 37. Tiny airplane 38. Moronic 39. Sunday football player 41. Colt .45, for example 42. Force to yawn 44. ___ Madness (1930’s propaganda film) 45. Boards a train 46. Least sickly 50. Veep before Ford 51. Readers of a guide 52. Most common English word 53. Punish, permanently 54. Baptism or bris 55. Roman-themed party attire 56. Botch a fairy tale (in this puzzle)

Answers on page 46.

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

Letters to editor From page 2

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

I began working for the show, called “Four Star Revue,” as program assistant/script girl in September 1950 at the NBC studios in the RCA Building. The four stars (NOT called the “Ford Star Revue,”) were my bosses (Martha Raye and Danny Thomas), while another gal had the job for Jimmy Durante and Ed Wynn. Time passed, and the show became the “All Star Revue,” and we gals, not the male stage managers, were able to join the Radio and Television Directors Guild, now the Directors Guild of America. (I’m a pensioner.) Wonderful years! A “Jeopardy!” tidbit: Danny and Thomas are the stage names of the “Wailing Lebanese” nightclub entertainer; his real name was Amos Jacobs, and I sometimes dated his brother Paul when he was in NYC. I believe Paul died in an auto accident. Rosemary McPhillips Silver Spring, Md. Editor’s note: Thanks for sharing such fascinating memories from the early days of television. It turns out, however, that in 1950 both “Four Star Revue” and “Ford Star Revue,” starring Jack Haley, were on the air. Lear wrote for the latter.

Bob Levey From page 42 But no snapshot can ever give you the sounds, the smells, the grace notes. The way he would try — and perpetually fail — to sing “White Christmas” on key. The way he would douse his face in acrid after-shave each morning. The way he walked — always a lumber, never an amble, as if his shoes hurt (perhaps they did). And then, my memories that will never show up in any album: Visiting him at work when I was still in grade school (what were all those men in white shirts and ties doing?). Picking ticks out of the ears of a beloved pet alongside him. Sinking the go-ahead basket in the big game of our senior year, against our archrivals, and catching his eye in the grandstand as I ran back down the court. He was the Great Legitimizer. If he was there, it all mattered; it all worked. Of course, there were never any guarantees that he would have had a much longer life. If he hadn’t died in 1971, he might well have died in 1972. Only one-third of one percent of all babies born in 1914 celebrated their centennials in 2014, according to the Census Bureau.

But that daunting statistic will not keep me from wondering what his 100th birthday might have been like. Would he have been saluted, live and in color, by Willard Scott? Would he have told some reporter that the secret to his longevity was a shot of good bourbon every night? The mind wonders — and wanders. But mine never wanders very far from this: Time can blunt the sting, but it can never erase it. He may have been gone for 43 years, but he still matters. Happy 100th, Stan Levey. I knew you. I loved you. And I will always miss you. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

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Jan. 4+

SOLO ART EXHIBIT

Ninety-one-year-old Bethesda artist Gladys Lipton is holding her first solo exhibit, showcasing her colorful, abstract work. The exhibit will be open at the Friendship Heights Gallery in the Village Center, located at 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. from Sunday, Jan. 4 to Sunday, Feb. 1. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The opening reception will take place on Sunday, Jan. 11 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. For more information, email flestarlipton1@gmail.com.

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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 47. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business and Employment Opportunities GET FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE today! www.myfes.net/MMccollum1 or 202-734-2555. Watch Video (Career Opportunity). Select Products. FES Protection Plan. Enroll. STAY ACTIVE AND EARN EXTRA income. Fetch! Pet Care is hiring mid-day dog walkers. Make $9 for a 30 min walk. Please email hrfetchsilverspring@gmail.com to request an application. Contact info: Linda O’Neal ph: 301828-8475 or 301-850-1274.

Caregivers “A” Home Health Care – Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years experience. 240-533-6599. I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES night/day. Own transportation. Good references. Lots of experience. 301-502-2258. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CARING, experienced caregiver to care for your loved ones? Look no further; call Blema @ 301-908-3238. References available upon request. CHEVY CHASE HOME CARE – reliable certified caregivers at time of illness, infirmity, loneliness. Personal assistance, ALL AGES, 4- to 24-hour shifts, homes, hospitals, nursing homes. MD, DC, No. VA. Tel.: 202-374-1240. www.ChChHomecare.com. JOBS WANTED: RN, RETIRED, seeks position of caregiver relief. References available. $15 per hour. Mornings, evenings, weekends. Call Kay, 301-445-3778. NANNY – BABYSITTER, Montgomery County, 20 years experience, excellent references, originally from Thailand. Please call Sommai O’Connor at 301-933-2404. KIND, DEPENDABLE, EXPERIENCED caregiver for live-out care or live-in care for a flat rate. Hygiene care, Meal preparation, Housekeeping, Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders. Call 301-490-1146.

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

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

Entertainment

For Sale

Wanted

THE SHALOM SIGNATURE CLUB: If you like Bagels and Lox, Matzah Balls and Kugel, then you need to try our activities. We’re a dynamic social club geared to folks 50 and up. Many of our activities have a Jewish theme; most are free of charge and take place in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of Chevy Chase. Currently, our regular monthly schedule features two afternoon activities (at 1 p.m. and includes lunch) and two evening activities (usually 7 p.m.), plus a monthly Friday-eve Shabbat Dinner. For further info, visit www.ShalomSC.org or call 240-200-4515.

VINTAGE FULL-LENGTH MINK COAT and hat. Lovely dark brown. $650. Laurel, MD. Call 301-741-1451.

CASH FOR RECORDS & CDs. BEST PRICE GUARANTEED. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301646-5403. Will make house calls.

Events SQUARE DANCE LESSONS – Where can you get great aerobic exercise and enjoy doing it? Where can you meet friendly people of all ages? The answer is square dancing! No experience necessary. We welcome singles, couples, and families for a free evening of fun on Wednesdays, Jan. 7 or 14, 2015, at the Lincolnia Center, 4710 North Chambliss St., Alexandria, Va. For more information, visit our website at www.boomerangssquaredance.org or contact Nancy at 571-210-5480.

Financial Services AFFORDABLE ACCOUNTING & Tax Solutions, Automation, Bookkeeping, Payroll Compliance Tax Planning, Preparation & Representation. 301-608-2248, inforequest@bai-tech.com.

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

Health MOBILE MD AVAILABLE – Licensed physician, Family Medicine and Urgent Care. 24/7, where you are. Accept: Medicare, Medicaid. Call: 703-303-2543. Fax: 703-641-8321. Email: dr.zhousclinic@gmail.com.

Miscellaneous PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT ON CLUTTER – Looking for participants. Do you struggle with clutter? I am a photographer looking for people who are willing to have their cluttered or messy living spaces anonymously photographed. Compensation provided. Call 571-331-9316 or visit everittclarkphotography.com for more information. THE GOLDEN NETWORK offers Jewish seniors and retirees a variety of engaging programs, including lectures, classes, one-on-one learning in person and by phone, concerts, singalongs and more! For more information and details about upcoming events, call 301-338-4810, email info@goldennetwork.org, or see goldennetwork.org.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Personals

LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will preview units & contact you with a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident! You can see my current listings on page 20. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert, Realtors.

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

LEISURE WORLD ® – $190,000. 2BR 2FB “J” model in “Villa Cortese.” Table space kitchen with window, separate dining room, enclosed balcony. 1136 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $210,000. 2 BR 2 FB “J” with Garage in “Greens.” Table space kitchen with pass thru, mirrors to reflect light from enclosed balcony with great golf course view. 1317 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $325,000. 2 BR 2 FB “Royal Aintree” patio home with update kitchen, enclosed sunroom addition, 1 car garage. 1394 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-9283463. LEISURE WORLD® – $179,000. 2BR 2FB “C” model in “Overlook” with fully appointed kitchen with pass-through to living room, enclosed balcony. 1090 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $375,000. 2BR 2FB “Huntington” with 2-car garage. Patio home with dual owners’ suites, Florida room addition, updated kitchen and baths, new carpet. 1410 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-598-9325. LEISURE WORLD® – RENTAL - $1295. 1 BR 1FB “Raleigh” model. Enclosed balcony overlooking green space, extra storage, reserved parking. 877 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $78,000. 2 BR 1 FB “Hampton” model coop. Updated kitchen with recent appliances and raised counters. Washer and dryer in unit. Enclosed patio. Move-in condition. 1200 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463.

For Sale $5,000 FOR TWO ADJACENT, IN-GROUND, burial sites at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, Virginia. Sites located in “sold-out” Garden of Time. Call Dom, 703-242-0427. FRENCH HOME DOWNSIZING – 2 Russian samovars + tray + pot, French records + books, tapestry, painting, 2 living room leather chairs, black diamond mink coat. 703-591-6321. Va.

EUROPEAN-AMERICAN, LATE 70S, would like to meet a non-smoker, non-drinker lady, for friendship, etc. Call Mr. De., 301-559-5961.

WANTED: ANTIQUE ELECTRONICS, engineer’s estates, Hi-Fi Stereo, huge old loudspeakers, ham radios, records, professional quality musical instruments, antique computers, scientific curiosities. 202-527-9501, vcvdc@msn.com. WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, etc. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack, 301279-2158. VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, ESTATES. I have been advertising in the Beacon for 20 years. Montgomery County resident – will travel to D.C., MD, VA. Buying following items: Furniture, art, jewelry, gold, sterling silver, old coins, vintage pocket and wrist watches, old tools, books, camera, military items – guns, rifles, knives, pocket knives, swords etc. Also buying: old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, photographs, autographs, musical instruments, guitars, violins, etc. Also old sports memorabilia and equipment – baseball, golf, football, fishing etc. Please call Tom at 240-4763441. BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958. MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838.

Personal Services

Classifieds cont. on p. 47

READY TO DE-CLUTTER? I can help. Sort, donate, discard. Reasonable rates. Call Jan, 301933-7570. FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED. Math and more for GT.com. jim4nv92@verizon.net.

FROM PAGE 44

JUNIOR/SENIOR ERRAND GUY – for any reasonable errand. Walk dog, feed cat, pick up prescriptions, grocery shop, house watch while you are away, dept. store returns, wait in line at MVA, take care of oil change, wash, shop, schlepp, serve. Joe Rice. H: 301-947-4933. C:301-944-4924. Gaithersburg/Kentlands resident 17 years.

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

VIRGINIA PARIS – PICK UP & DELIVERY. If you need furniture, packages or other items delivered to you or to another location, please contact me at 703-896-2545. www.TheRosieNetwork.org. virginiaparisshuttle@gmail.com. Veteran Owned-Sgt Penn VAN MAN – For your driving needs. Shopping, appointments, pick-up and deliver – airport van. Call Mike, 301-565-4051.

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts, etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854. CHERYL’S ORGANIZING CONCEPTS LLC – Professional Organizing Services. Help with all aspects of home organizing. Experienced – References – Member NAPO. All work confidential. Licensed – Bonded. $25 discount on initial appointment. www.CherylsOrganizing.com. 301-916-9022.

Wanted WE BUY OLD AND NEW JEWELRY, Coins, Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets, Single Pieces of Silver, Large pieces of Silver Plates, Fountain Pens, Lighters, Tools, Cameras, Art Work. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

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Classifieds cont. from page 46. Wanted STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-3622. Stampex1@gmail.com. FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Wanted CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate clean-outs, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole state. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301520-0755.

BEACON BITS

Jan. 24

FORTY+ DANCING SHOWCASE

Forty+, a dancing showcase by dancers age 40 and over, will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24. Forty+ shares the expressive and rehabilitative power of dance with its participants and audiences. The concert takes place at Theatre on the Run, located at 3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington, Va. on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4 pm. Tickets cost $20. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.janefranklin.com or call (703) 933-1111.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies Aerobic Exercise Memory Study . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 IDEAL Healthy Aging Study . . . .17

Computer Classes

Care Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 Classic Caregiving . . . . . . . . . . .B12 Elder Caring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Old Dominion Home Care . . . .B15 Options for Senior America . . . .B5 Virginian Home Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Housing

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

Dental Services IDC Dental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Friedman, Stephen, DDS . . . . . . .20 Oh, Judy, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Employment Sales Person Wanted . . . . . . . . . .28

Financial Services Children’s National . . . . . . . . . . .29 James Magno, CPA . . . . . . . . . . .30 USA Financial Planning Parters . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Funeral Services Fram Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Going Home Cremation Services . .36

Government Services D.C. Office on Aging . . . . . . .23-26 Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services . . . . . . .16 Montgomery County Information & Services/311 . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Hearing Services Auditory Services . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Sound Hearing Centers . . . . . . . .14

Home Health Care Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7

Armed Forces Retirement Home . .B2 Ashby Ponds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Aspenwood Senior Living Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . .12, B4, B6 Charter House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Chesterbrook Residences Assisted Living . . . . . . . . . . . .B11 Churchill Senior Living . . . . . . . .20 Covenant Village . . . . . . . . .B4, B10 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Emerson House . . . . . . . . .B10, B15 Erickson Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2 Fairfax, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 Falcons Landing . . . . . . . . .B4, B16 Friendship Terrace . . . . . . .B3, B11 Greenspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B13 Homecrest House . . . . . . . .B4, B13 Knollwood . . . . . . . . . . . . .B2, B11 Oaks at Olde Towne, The . . . . . . .22 Oaks of Wellington . . . . . . . . . . .15 Olney Assisted Living . . . .B6, B14 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . .41 Potomac Place Assisted Living . .B7 Quantum Property Management .B10 Residences at Thomas Circle . . . . . . . . .B6, B12 Riderwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B15 Ring House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Solana of Olney . . . . . . . . . . . . .B14 Sommerset Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . .B5, B13 Springhouse Senior Living . . . . .15

Springvale Terrace . . . . . . . .B6, B8 Tyson Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 Vinson Hall Retirement Community . . . . . . . . . . . .B7, B8 Virginian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B8, 48

Long & Foster - Inderjeet Jumani . .13 Swan Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . .B14 Weichert Realtors - Sue Heyman . .20

Legal Services

Original Pancake House . . . . . . . .35 Wrap2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Eleff Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Law Firm of Evan. H. Farr . . . . . .28 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . .29

Retail/Pawn/Auction

Medical/Health 2 Fitt Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Advanced Wellness . . . . . . . . . . .11 Doctors First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Horizon Vascular Specialists . . . .19 Low Vision Specialists of Maryland & Virginia . . . . . . .16 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . .22 Misler Adult Day Center . . . . . . .30 NeurExpand Brain Center . . . . . . .6 Stem Cell Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Miscellaneous Alz Pals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 GROWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Seven Corners Medical Center, PAD Screening . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Shelf Genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Pharmacy CVS/pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Rite Aid Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Real Estate Services Eric Stewart - Long & Foster Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 HC Custom Homes . . . . . . . . . . .29

Restaurants

Boone & Sons, Jewelers . . . . . . . .28 Four Sales LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 G&G Pawnbrokers . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Quinn’s Auction Galleries . . . . . .30

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Arden Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . . .14 Manor Care Health Services . . . .21 Village at Rockville, The . . . . . . .13

Subscriptions Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . . .45 Washington Jewish Week . . . . . . .36

Theatre/ Entertainment Bruce Thomas Music . . . . . . . . . .41 National Symphony Orchestra . . .43 Publick Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .39

Tour & Travel Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . . .35 US Navy Memorial . . . . . . . . . . .42 Vamoose Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Utilities Verizon DC Lifeline Program . . .32

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

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

The

irginian

Welcome Home!

“Age in Place” luxury community living with 1- and 2-bedroom apartments that can accommodate couples with diﬀerent levels of care. Call TODAY and ask for LeeAnn to schedule a tour and lunch on us!

703-385-0555 www.thevirginian.org NOW OFFERING Home Health Care

For All Northern Virginia! Tell your doctor or Social Worker you choose e Virginian for your HOME HEALTH SERVICES. We cover ALL of Northern Virginia. Get the same quality care IN YOUR HOME.