June 2012 Baltimore Beacon Edition

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Anne Tyler, still making it all up

I N S I D E …

See special pull-out section after p. 10.

A half century of storytelling For nearly 50 years Tyler has been making it up — and telling the truth — about love, family, work and death, while leaving current events for the nonfiction writers to handle. Readers and critics have welcomed her inventions. She is a consistent best-seller.

She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for Breathing Lessons, and this spring received a lifetime achievement award from The Sunday Times in London. Many remember her for The Accidental Tourist, adapted into the movie of the same name that featured Geena Davis in an Oscar-winning role as a quirky dog trainer who wins over an emotionally damaged travel adviser played by William Hurt.

“Among our better contemporary novelists,” Katha Pollitt once wrote in The New York Times, “Tyler occupies a somewhat lonely place, polishing brighter and brighter a craft many novelists no longer deem essential to their purpose: the unfolding of character through brilliantly imagined and absolutely accurate detail.”

She has not only succeeded in art and commerce, but kept her private life off the market. Her longtime rule has been that if something happens to her, she won’t put it in her books. So we’ll have to assume she never swallowed a yellow marble thinking it was a lemon drop (Searching for Caleb), or faked her own death (Morgan’s Passing), or carved a rock star’s name on her forehead, not realizing that by doing so in a mirror she had filled in the letters back-

JUNE 2012

P H OTO F O R A P B Y K N O P F, D I A N A W A L K E R

By Hillel Italie In Anne Tyler’s Baltimore living room, you could shelve virtually all the books under a single heading: fiction.

Eudora Welty. John Updike. Vladimir Nabokov. Reynolds Price. A rare brush with fact is More Matter, a collection of Updike’s essays and criticism. Otherwise, don’t expect any works of history or politics. Biographies? What’s the point? She knows how the story will end.

“It would be a better book if they just wrote a novel about that person,” Tyler reasons during a recent sunny morning, a mug of coffee in her hands, her gray-dark hair pulled back in a bun.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Tyler often writes about quirky characters in books set in Baltimore. She sat for a press interview for the first time in decades to promote her new novel, The Beginner’s Goodbye, which focuses on a widower whose struggle to move on after the sudden death of his wife are made easier by her frequent return visits from the dead.

ward (A Slipping-Down Life).

Meanwhile, Tyler has not talked to the media in person for decades, sharing through written correspondence her thoughts with reporters, but not her ready smile or warm, slightly husky voice. But at age 70, encouraged by publisher Alfred A. Knopf, she figures it couldn’t hurt.

Wearing dark slacks, a purple sweater and a white turtleneck, she sits comfortably on a couch looking out on the small yard in back of the attached brick house she has lived in for the past few years, since her two daughters grew up and her husband died after more than 30 years of marriage.

New novel about widowhood Her new novel is called The Beginner’s Goodbye, and its opening line appeared to her as if from the spirit world: “The strangest thing about my wife’s return from the dead was how other people reacted.”

The narrator is named Aaron. His wife, Dorothy, was killed suddenly when a tree crashed through their roof. Forced to move in with his overbearing sister, Nandina, he looks back on his marriage and remembers its bonds and strains and wonders “whether we find out what our lives have amounted to.”

See ANNE TYLER, page 16

ARTS & STYLE

Kick off the summer season with a celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, farmers markets, international festivals and more page 15

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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How we see ourselves This month, I am pleased to cede my usual “From the Publisher” space to a guest columnist.

Please feel free to share with us your thoughts about this topic through a letter,

email or phone call. Thank you.

Ageism affects everyone

By Leslie A. Morgan, Ph.D. Social scientists contend that we most typically engage in stereotyping and discrimination against groups to which we don’t (and won’t ever) belong.

The one major exception is ageism. We all will grow old, if we’re lucky, and face possible prejudice and discrimination because of our old age — we may even evaluate ourselves more negatively based on these views.

Consider: If you’re on the road behind a slow-moving silver-haired driver and you immediately label that behavior as due to the driver’s age, you are reacting in an ageist way.

You’re not alone. Much of our thinking about old age is negative, focusing on decline, dependency, dementia and, increas-

ingly, the demand being placed on the government and economy by the growing number of recipients for Social Security and Medicare.

Our culture encourages us to think about life in specific stages, and attributing traits and characteristics to each of those stages.

We have the “terrible twos” and expectations about the behavior of “teenagers,” as well as notions about those in middle age or later life that become stereotypes.

The stereotype for old age includes poor health, bad memory or (worse) dementia, holding outdated ideas, and being asexual, unable to learn new things and unproductive.

We learn these ideas from our culture, reinforced by the ageist humor in birthday cards, public discussion about older people, media and marketing images, and our

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County and Greater Washington and Palm Springs, CA. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), repaid with order. MD residents add 6 percent for sales tax.

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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.

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daily interactions with others.

So it’s not surprising that we hold negative attitudes toward this group, seemingly separating ourselves from “them.”

People in the United States have high levels of “age anxiety,” or fear of growing/being old. But what we fear is the stereotype, not the reality of aging.

While many think of this stage as a dreary, unhealthy, sad and isolated time of life, research consistently shows that most older people are living independently, married, able to support themselves financially, and socially engaged — even while dealing with chronic health conditions and perhaps a lower income.

So while the reality of aging differs from our stereotypes and anxieties, both the media and all of us persist in our negative views of later life.

We sometimes exempt specific individuals from this stereotype, insisting that our Aunt Barbara or Grandpa Ken somehow are distinct from other “old people.” This exception arises because we know them as

individuals, with specific histories, talents and experiences, or sometimes because we’ve known them before they became old.

So perhaps the key to breaking our ageist world view is to learn to see each older person as an individual. Social scientists suggest that we become more distinct from each other as we age, rather than more alike.

Rather than persist in grouping old people into one stereotype that is negative and rightfully feared, we need to understand that we all are growing older and that holding onto an ageist view will constrain each of us in our own futures.

Having a “better old age” isn’t just about health and money. It involves older people — all of us — having a positive place in society, meaningful things to do, and fewer negative attitudes directed at us by others — and by ourselves — as our hair grays, our years climb, and we all eventually enter the ranks of the old.

Dr. Morgan is a professor of sociology & gerontology at UMBC.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

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

Dear Editor: I read, with deep understanding, the column “No patience for politics” by your publisher Stuart Rosenthal. Mr. Rosenthal is exactly right. Many Democrat politicians are wont to whine and complain and berate the opposition at every turn.

Although I am a registered Democrat, I find this practice repugnant, and this has led me to vote the other party fairly consistently.

One such experience: As a volunteer for the American Diabetes Association and former president for Health Care & Education for the ADA Mid-Atlantic Region, I have been to a number of their national meetings.

At one meeting Congressman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) was an invited speaker.

Congressman Waxman spoke little of healthcare or diabetes, a disease that costs limbs, lives and untold healthcare dollars.

Instead he, like Pelosi, chose to berate Republicans and blame all funding issues upon them.

After the speech, I confronted the congressman and, politely, explained that this might not have been the place for partisan politics. His gruff response? “They get what they deserve!”

I believe that We The People deserve better!

Dr. Neil M. Scheffler Baltimore Podiatry Group Dear Editor: I read your recent article re: politics at

the annual meeting of the American Association on Aging. The fact is that who we vote for determine the rules and regulations we all must obey.

They also assure services that we expect from our government. I posit that you did not want to hear the truth about the Republican Party’s campaign against women and the elderly. They sneer at us for taking Social Security and Medicare as if we were on the dole. They say they are for less government but say that women are not able to make decisions about their reproductive health. There is a serious threat to the welfare of women and the elderly.

The American Association on Aging was correct in having these issues brought to the fore. Politics can be nasty, and many people don’t want to participate.

However, it is our only voice. I want my voice to be heard in your publication.

Patricia Kelly Perry Hall Dear Editor: Mr. Rosenthal is having a hissy over Nancy Pelosi’s address to the American Society on Aging. What did he expect her and others to say about the Republicans?

Of course, the Republicans are out to stick it up to the seniors. You bet we have a low opinion of Congress, especially the Tea Party regulars such as Eric Canter, et al.

See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 16

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

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MANAGING MIGRAINES A doctor shares his expertise on preventing and alleviating migraine pain NEW NATURAL PRODUCTS Good for you cookies, toothpaste, sunscreen, cleaning powder and more FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING Medicare offers free help for preventing heart disease and losing weight COPING WITH CANCER Seniors with chronic conditions and cancer are being sought for a study

Blood test may help predict heart attacks

By Lauran Neergaard Too often, people pass a cardiac checkup only to collapse with a heart attack days later. Now scientists have found a clue that one day may help doctors determine if a heart attack is imminent, in hopes of preventing it.

Most heart attacks happen when fatty deposits in an artery burst open, and a blood clot then forms to seal the break. If the clot is too big, it blocks off blood flow.

The problem: Today’s best tests cannot predict when that is about to happen.

“We don’t have a way to get at whether an artery’s going to crack, the precursor to a heart attack,” said Dr. Eric Topol, director of California’s Scripps Translational Science Institute.

Recently, Scripps researchers reported a new lead — by searching people’s blood for cells that appear to flake off the lining of a severely diseased artery.

Topol’s team measured high levels of those cells, deformed ones, floating in the blood of 50 people who’d just had a heart attack. The research is reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Next, Topol said his team will soon begin needed studies to learn how early those cells might appear before a heart attack, and if spotting them could allow use of clotpreventing drugs to ward off damage.

Some San Diego emergency rooms will study an experimental blood test with chest-pain sufferers whose standard exams found no evidence of a heart attack, he said.

Much more study needed Do not expect a test to predict heart attacks any time soon — a lot more research is needed, caution heart specialists not involved with the study. But they are intrigued.

“This study is pretty exciting,” said Dr. Douglas Zipes of Indiana University and past president of the American College of Cardiology. It suggests those cells are harmed “not just in the minutes prior” to a heart attack, he said, “but probably hours, maybe even days” earlier.

“It’s a neat, provocative first step,” added Dr. William C. Little, cardiology chief at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “But it is not a biomarker ready for prime time.”

About 935,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack every year, according to government figures. Doctors can tell who’s at risk: People with high blood pressure and cholesterol, who smoke, have diabetes, are overweight or sedentary.

But there’s no way to tell when a heart attack is imminent. Tests can spot that an artery is narrowing, or if a heart attack is under way or already has damaged the heart muscle. They can’t tell if the plaque inside arteries is poised to rupture.

So it’s not that uncommon for someone to suffer a heart attack shortly after passing a stress test or being told that their chest pain was nothing to worry about.

Looking for abnormal cells The published study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, investigated cells shed from the endothelium, or the lining of blood vessels, into the bloodstream. They’re called “circulating endothelial cells.”

First, Topol’s team paired with Veridex LLC, a Johnson & Johnson unit that makes technology used to find cancer cells float-

ing in blood. Could it find these cardiovascular cells, too?

The team took blood samples from 50 heart attack patients — before they had any artery-disturbing tests or treatments — and from 44 healthy volunteers. They counted lots of the endothelial cells floating in the heart attack victims’ blood, and very little in the healthy people’s blood.

The big surprise: The cells in the heart patients were grossly deformed. “Sick cells,” is how Topol describes them.

The study couldn’t tell when those abnormal cells first appeared — and that’s key, said Wake Forest’s Little. It’s not clear how many heart attacks happen too suddenly for any warning period.

But Topol theorizes there are plaques that break apart gradually and may shed these cells for up to two weeks before the heart attack. He cites autopsy studies that found people’s arteries healed several plaque ruptures before the final one that killed them.

Topol said Scripps and Veridex have filed for a patent for a blood test to detect the abnormal cells.

— AP

An ‘overdose’ of vitamins can hurt you

By Anna Miller Recently, on “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart’s guest, David Agus, a physician and author of the best-selling book The End of Illness, fretted about what could be called America’s vitamin abuse problem.

There have been 50 large-scale studies on supplements, Agus said, and not one has shown a benefit in heart disease or cancer. “I don’t get it,” he said. “Why are we taking these?”

Agus is not alone in his frustration.

Other experts liken buying vitamins to flushing money down the toilet. In some cases, they mean it literally: If the body gets more of certain vitamins than it needs, it often excretes the excess in urine.

That doesn’t stop Americans from spending about $28 billion a year on dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbal supplements. In some cases, people may be spending money only to put their health at risk.

“As Americans, we think more is better,

but that’s not the case with vitamins,” said Dee Sandquist, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, based in Chicago, IL. Here are three popular vitamin supplements that prove you can, in fact, get too much of a good thing:

Vitamin E Supplement skeptics often point to the story of vitamin E, which was once considered a promising tool for cancer prevention. The National Cancer Institute was so hopeful that vitamin E supplements would decrease rates of prostate cancer that in 2001 it funded a study designed to test the theory.

Instead, the findings revealed that the men who took vitamin E were 17 percent more likely — not less — to develop the disease.

While vitamin E is a key player in immune function and cell communication, it’s best obtained through diet — in foods like wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and broccoli

— and worst when taken regularly as a supplement in high doses.

Like many vitamins, it appears to lose its main benefits when taken in excess.

Vitamin A Vitamin A is what gives carrots their good-for-your-vision reputation. Found in both animal and plant-based products, it’s also important for reproduction, bone health and immune function.

Vitamin A supplements can be important for people with certain conditions that hinder fat absorption, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatic disorders. But vitamin A deficiency is uncommon among healthy Americans.

And partly because the nutrient can build up to toxic levels in the body, taking more than you need over time can lead to serious liver problems, birth defects and disorders of the central nervous system.

A form of vitamin A called beta-carotene is thought to help prevent cancer — but perhaps only when obtained through the

diet. In pill form, it seems to do just the opposite.

Much as the pivotal vitamin E study backfired, so did the Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study, which found that male smokers who took beta-carotene supplements were 18 percent more likely to develop lung cancer, and 8 percent more likely to die, than the ones who did not.

Gerard Mullin, director of integrative gastrointestinal nutrition services at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., and author of The Inside Tract: Your Good Gut Guide to Great Digestive Health, has cared for patients who developed liver fibrosis because they overdosed on vitamin A. “A lot of people don’t know it can be dangerous,” he said. “They think it fights infections.”

Vitamin C Infection-fighting prowess is often atSee VITAMINS, page 5

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Understanding and managing migraines Dr. Paul B. Rizzoli, director of the John R. Graham Headache Center at Faulkner Hospital, Boston, Mass., is an expert on migraines. Co-author of The Migraine Solution: A Complete Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Pain Management (Harvard Health Publications/St. Martin’s Press), Rizzoli shared some of his expertise with editors of the Harvard Health Letter.

Q: What is a migraine headache?

A: Migraine can be defined as a limiting headache — a headache that stops you from functioning. The pain is not a mild, insignificant thing you can ignore; you must actively decide what to do about it. Nausea is also a common symptom.

More and more, it seems like migraine is a separate illness. In the future, it’s likely

that we’ll be able to define migraine by its distinct genetic pattern.

Q: Where does the pain come from?

A: We think that migraine “lives” in the brain. The brain doesn’t have pain receptors, but it processes pain signals from other parts of the body. It’s the pain processing networks, or centers, in the brain that are overly reactive or dysfunctional in migraine.

Q: Isn’t there a theory that the pain comes from the dilation — widening — of blood vessels in the brain?

A: That was the dominant theory in the 1960s. But much of the evidence now is that blood vessel constriction and dilation is an epiphenomenon — something that accompanies the pain from migraine but doesn’t cause it.

I am a patient who had severe foot pain for 2 years, with no relief in sight....by the end of the 4 days I was 85% pain free in both feet. I thank God for Dr. Goldman and his passion for research in healing people with foot and leg pain.

– Alvin, Baltimore

How fortunate I feel to have found a doctor who could not only diagnose an underlying problem that many specialists missed, but who has been able to find a painless and rapid method of relieving the worst symptoms.

– Susan, Baltimore

Q: Where do triggers fit in?

A: The notion of triggers is central to the diagnosis of migraine. We look for patterns of reactivity and for events or circumstances that set off individual headaches. The problem is that even when you identify triggers, there’s frequently not a lot you can do about them. You can’t control weather changes, for example.

I think triggers have often been overemphasized in some of the self-help approaches to migraine. Advice on managing triggers can suggest a sense of personal control over migraines that often isn’t there.

Q: And dietary triggers?

A: They exist, but I also think that people can drive themselves crazy trying to identify them. We frequently hear patients report that when they are adequately treated, chocolate, alcohol and other dietary triggers disappear.

Q: Have drugs like Imitrex made a big difference?

A: Imitrex (sumatriptan) is one of the triptan drugs. The triptans have revolutionized treatment of migraine headaches once they start to occur — what we call abortive treatment. They allow people to take a specific medicine to target a specific condition and often get back to having a fairly normal day.

Q: People also take medication on an ongoing basis to keep the headaches from occurring, don’t they?

A: Yes, we have three major groups of preventive medications that we prescribe: anti-seizure medications, blood pressure drugs, and the older tricyclic antidepressants. It is a diverse set of agents, and why they work is not entirely clear, but they seem to reduce headache reactivity — the triggers may still be there, but they fail to set off the migraine event.

Botulinum toxin — Botox — injections into various places on the head also seem to help reduce headache reactivity in some people.

Q: Is there one drug that you prescribe more than the others?

A: I have found amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, others), one of the older tricyclics, to be particularly effective, often at a low dose: 10 milligrams a day compared with the 100to 150-milligram dose that was used for depression. Sedation and weight gain are side effects. Amitriptyline is long-acting, so I usually recommend that people take it around dinnertime so they don’t sleep too late.

Q: Are there any alternative approaches that work?

A: Complementary and alternative therapies are usually not strong enough to treat a tough migraine problem alone, but they might be helpful for a mild one. And a lot of these treatments are very hard to study in a double-blind fashion.

The technique for which there is the most evidence is biofeedback, but the problem is that biofeedback is not widely available and often isn’t covered by insurance.

My own personal favorite for patients is yoga, because it is so widely available and affordable, and it probably has other health benefits.

Q: How has your own understanding of migraine evolved over the years?

A: Certainly our knowledge about migraine has improved. But if I had to pick one thing, it would be my appreciation of just how much of an impact migraines can have on people’s lives.

It took me 15 to 20 years to really understand what migraine patients are going through and what a huge impediment migraine is on their lives. I’ve also come to understand that it often takes a lot for people to come in for care. Many patients have some level of shame about their migraines.

Q: Shame? Really?

A: Shame is a strong word, but I think it’s appropriate. They have shame because they think they should be able to handle it on their own. And shame because they have often made an effort to talk to doctors about migraine and have been passed off as complainers.

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tributed to vitamin C, as well. From orange-flavored chewables to Emergen-C packets, mega-doses of vitamin C are staples in many American medicine cabinets.

While the natural form of the vitamin supports immune function, there’s only a weak scientific link between regular use of vitamin C supplements and shorter or less severe colds. There’s no good evidence that vitamin C pills can prevent a cold altogether.

Unlike vitamin A, vitamin C is water soluble, which means that if you take more than your body can use, the excess is usually excreted without causing harm. However, Sandquist said, adverse reactions like diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea can occur.

“In high-enough doses, vitamin C can cause kidney stones,” added Mullin. Any amount larger than 500 milligrams per day can be enough to cause a problem, he said. That’s only half a 1-gram packet of Emergen-C. “It rarely happens, but there have been case reports.”

Sandquist recommends that healthy people abide by the Institute of Medicine’s “Tolerable Upper Intake Levels,” which indicates the maximum daily intake of a vita-

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min you should consume through a combination of diet and supplements. Taking more than that amount means the risks likely outweigh the benefits. The recommended amount is often less than the limit.

“When the IOM makes their recommendations, they look at all the available research,” she said, so its conclusions are more reliable than any single study, even one that gets a lot of publicity.

Because taking supplements is second nature for many consumers, vitamins are often overlooked as a potential culprit for symptoms like headaches or diarrhea, Sandquist said. It’s important to be conscious of what you’re consuming — in natural, supplement and fortified forms — and to tell your doctor about every last one.

“The best strategy is to follow the ‘choose my plate’ method,” she said, referring to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s healthy food guide. If people do that, she said, “then they probably wouldn’t have to worry about a vitamin supplement unless they have a specific medical condition.”

For the Institute of Medicine’s charts showing tolerable upper intake levels, visit http://bit.ly/upperlimit. © 2012 U.S. News and World Report

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Health Shorts Free Medicare counseling benefit If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, you can get one “intensive behavioral therapy” session aimed at preventing heart disease, and weekly sessions for a month or more for help dealing with obesity — no co-pay required.

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Both benefits are available only in a “primary care setting.” For Medicare’s purposes, that means the office of a general or family practitioner, internist or geriatrician. Cardiologists don’t seem to qualify as primary care physicians according to this definition, although some perform primary care functions.

Medicare also won’t pony up if these services take place in a hospital, outpatient surgery center, nursing home or diagnostic testing facility.

Both programs focus on changing behavior to achieve agreed-upon goals. The car-

diovascular program is a one-shot deal, and includes counseling about healthful eating.

While it’s aimed primarily at people with cardiovascular risk factors, if you already have heart disease, no conceivable harm could come from taking advantage of this free session.

The obesity program is more extensive but is restricted to people with a body mass index of 30 or higher. It offers weekly visits for one month, followed by every-otherweek sessions for another five months.

Medicare will pay for additional monthly sessions for up to a year if the beneficiary loses at least 6.6 pounds during the first six months.

For more information about these Medicare freebies, visit http://MyMedicare. gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. — Harvard Heart Letter

Shrub’s secrets could fight aging

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A flowering Tibetan shrub that tricks cells into thinking they are starving could become a weapon against multiple sclerosis and even old age.

The roots of the blue evergreen hydrangea (Dichroa febrifuga) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat malaria. Now Tracy Keller and colleagues at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston have found that halofuginone — a chemical based on the roots’ active ingredient — blocks immune reactions that can cause disease.

Cells stop the synthesis of non-vital proteins when amino acids are in short supply. Keller’s team discovered that halofuginone mimics such a shortage by blocking an enzyme that feeds one amino acid to the protein-making machinery.

Keller found that the drug triggers a chemical cascade that responds to amino

acid scarcity. This inhibited the growth of malaria parasites, stopped blood cells from making proteins that cause inflammation, and stopped the development of specific white blood cells that trigger conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis, according to a study in Nature Chemical Biology.

This could make the drug effective against autoimmune disease. But as halofuginone mimics nutrient deprivation, there is another possible use.

Animals that receive only just adequate nutrition live longer because diseases that involve inflammation are prevented. That, said Keller, means halofuginone might work as an anti-aging drug.

— New Scientist

Best meds for resistant high blood pressure If you have resistant high blood pressure (hypertension), you’re probably already doing a lot to lower it. But a study suggests that people with resistant hypertension rarely get two particularly effective drugs, and often they get a drug combination that’s not very helpful.

Resistant hypertension occurs when blood pressure stays high despite taking three or more drugs, or when a person needs four or more drugs to reach blood pressure goals.

Colorado researchers reviewed insurance claims for more than 140,000 such people.

Only 3 percent were receiving chlorthalidone (Hydone, generic), a diuretic (water pill) that several studies suggest is more effective at reducing blood pressure and curbSee HEALTH SHORTS, page 9

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New all-natural products to try and enjoy Dear Readers: would be fine.” Earthpaste comes in three I attended the 2012 Natural Products flavors, wintergreen, peppermint and cinnaExpo West trade show in Calimon. www.earthpaste.com fornia to scout out new Inner-Eco to Go: It’s cohealthy, delicious or unique conut kefir, so if you can’t products. The companies menhandle dairy but still love tioned below did not know that kefir, here’s your dream I was with the media as I was come true. This is a 100 persampling their goodies, and I cent pure and natural, dairyreceive nothing from this. free, sugar-free, gluten-free, Caveman Cookies: I like soy-free and certified vegan the “Alpine” and “Original” flaliving food! This kefir prodvors; they are gluten and grainuct provides probiotics. It free (and therefore Paleo diet DEAR tastes like coconut soda!

PHARMACIST compliant). Made with nuts, www.inner-eco.com

By Suzy Cohen honey and berries. No preservAll Purpose Cleaning atives or table sugar. These are Powder by Poppy’s: It conchewy and delicious, and I grabbed a hand- tains only natural ingredients, such as ful of their samples when the rep turned plant-derived surfactants, sodium bicararound! www.cavemancookies.com bonate, and essential oils of tea tree and Earthpaste Amazingly Natural Tooth- peppermint. This company makes toxinpaste by Redmond: They mean it! Earth- free dishwashing soap, laundry detergent paste only contains their famous “Real salt” and more. www.poppysnaturallyclean.com along with Redmond clay, xylitol and natuMineral Sunscreen SPF 32 by Dolral essential oils. That’s it. Their label even phin Organics: This company makes a says, “Earthpaste is safe to eat. Rinse or line of personal care products targeted at swallow at your discretion, either way babies and young children, but I believe

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

Maqui Berry Antioxidant Powder: Mix the powder with fruits, juice, yogurt or ice and make a smoothie. Contains maqui berries, acai berries, vanilla flavor, stevia and brown rice (emulsifier). It’s organic. www.organicmeetsgood.com.

Dear Readers: The most wonderful thing about our planet is that it grows good medicine. Making herbal teas is one of my secret passions.

You can drink teas, and in some cases apply them to your skin.

I’ve been playing with herbs for years. It’s fun and I honestly think it’s a wonderful adjunct to other medical treatments.

See DEAR PHARMACIST, page 9

Gentle Foot Care in Your Home Diabetic foot exams Corns/calluses Wound/infection care Toenail fungus Dr. Richard Rosenblatt DPM

FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

The Pro Bono Counseling Project assures that all Maryland residents requesting mental healthcare, regardless of income, are linked with volunteer licensed mental health professionals. For more information, call (410) 825-1001, ext. 102.

Ongoing

everyone should use toxin-free products on their body! This sunscreen contains natural, organic ingredients to protect you from UVA and UVB rays. See their entire line: http://dolphinorganics.com Bambooee Reusable Towels: This is a cleaning towel made from bamboo, which is a fast growing tree, and it requires no pesticides or fertilizers. You use these all over the house; they are machine washable. Best when slightly damp. http://www.bambooee.com Yogavive Apple Chips: No sugar added, just USDA certified organic Fuji apples that are dried and “popped” so the fruit is a little crunchy. These are addictive, with all sorts of fruity flavors. www.yogavive.com.

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TAKE CHARGE OF A CHRONIC DISEASE

If you live with a chronic disease or diabetes, Baltimore County Department of Aging sponsors self-management workshops to help you better care and advocate for yourself or a loved one.

These free workshops take place throughout Baltimore County. To register or get more information, call (410) 887-2594.

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Health Studies Page

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Studying the effect of a cancer diagnosis

By Carol Sorgen More than 60 percent of cancers in the United States develop in individuals age 65 and older. The most common cancers among those in this group are prostate, breast, pancreas, bladder, stomach, lung and colorectal cancers.

As our population ages, and as more people are living longer, healthcare professionals expect the number of new cancer diagnoses in older people to rise.

Older adults with cancer and their families often have different needs from those

of younger adults and children. Older people, for example, often have or are at higher risk for developing chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis or high blood pressure.

These health conditions — known as comorbidities or co-existing conditions — can affect the treatment of and recovery from cancer. In addition, older people may not always have access to transportation, social support or financial resources, which can affect their care and recovery from cancer.

Improve Your Health with Vitamin D Supplements e University of Maryland and Baltimore VA are seeking men and post menopausal women ages 40-85 to participate in Vitamin D supplement study with and without an exercise program to reduce blood pressure, glucose and lipid risk factors.

Call 410-605-7179 to participate and mention the Vitamin D study.

Do You Have Knee Arthritis and Difficulty Sleeping?

Volunteers NEEDED for a Clinical Trial on New Non-drug treatment for problem sleeping Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine are looking for volunteers to participate in a research study examining new ways of treating insomnia, in people with osteoarthritis in their knee.  To participate in this study, you must be: • At least 50 years of age OR 35 years of age and older with prior diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis • Have frequent knee pain • Interested in sleeping better  This study involves: • Sleep studies conducted in your home • Sensory testing and knee exam at Johns Hopkins • Meeting with sleep specialist to discuss ways to improve sleep • Additional optional medical tests • All examinations, parking, & tests are provided at no cost.  Compensation up to $870.00

Understanding the challenges

Who may participate?

Little research has been done about how older individuals with chronic conditions accept a cancer diagnosis, what it means to them emotionally, and how it affects their daily life.

“The lack of research on this topic hinders the ability of healthcare professionals to effectively help older individuals manage their overall health and well-being,” said Susan M. Hannum, with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Center for Aging Studies. “Closing this gap could enhance illness management by realizing common areas of stress for the older individual.”

To add to knowledge on this topic, the center is conducting in-depth interviews with older adults who have been diagnosed with certain types of cancer during the past 12 months. Participants will each be interviewed three times, for approximately one hour per interview.

The overall goal of the project is to add to the basic knowledge of how older adults with pre-existing, chronic health conditions react to a new cancer diagnosis and how this might affect their notions of self, identity, healthcare and care management.

The study is funded by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The study is open to individuals 65 and over who have received a diagnosis within the past year of stage I-III solid tumor cancer, and who have not had a prior cancer diagnosis within five years.

In addition, participants must have at least one moderate to severe chronic health condition that has a negative impact on the person’s daily level of functioning.

The interviews will be conducted at a location of the participant’s choice, most typically in his or her home. The interviews are generally scheduled one week apart, though that can be changed to fit each person’s care schedule.

During the first interview, a life history will be collected that includes information about the participant’s childhood, middle years, etc.

The second interview will focus on preexisting chronic conditions and how these have affected the participant’s daily life and relationships.

The third, and final, interview will address the participant’s cancer, the diagnosis, and how they have affected his or her everyday life.

Participants who complete the interview series will be paid $60 for their time.

For more information, call Susan Hannum at (410) 455–8729 or email her at s.hannum@umbc.edu.

Please tell our advertisers, “I saw you in the Beacon!”

STUDIES ON ANEMIA Are you 65 years or older?

Have you been recently diagnosed with anemia?

OR Have you had anemia in the past? en you may be interested in: “THE JOHNS HOPKINS registry of older adults with anemia” • Several new research studies are being designed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University specifically for older adults with anemia.

• By volunteering to join our anemia registry, you will be kept up to date on anemia research studies that match your situation.

Call us at 410-550-2113 to join the Anemia Registry today!

Approved 8/16/10

Michael T. Smith, Ph.D., Principal Investigator Protocol: NA_00011802 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

For information, please call (410) 550-7906

We can conduct the study in your home. No travel is required. If you choose to come to Bayview to participate, your parking will be paid.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeremy Walston, MD. IRB application No: NA_00035307

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Health shorts From page 6 ing bad cardiovascular consequences than the most-often-prescribed diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril, generic).

Also, only 6 percent of the people were prescribed an aldosterone blocker such as spironolactone, which guidelines recommend for resistant hypertension.

Meanwhile, more than 15 percent received an ACE inhibitor plus an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB), a combination that evidence indicates is not very effective. In late 2011, the U.S. Food and

Dear Pharmacist From page 7 Here are the basics. Use 1 tablespoon of herbs per cup of water. Consider brew time, as you will lose some health benefits over brewing certain herbs.

An “infusion” is best when using delicate parts of the plant, like the leaves, flowers and aromatic aerial portions (I’m thinking rose petals or wood betony).

Infusing means you steep the herbs in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, as opposed to simmering them on the stove. Some herbs take a cold water infusion versus boiled water.

Roots, bark or seeds are tougher parts of the plant and therefore require a “decoction.” You simmer them for 20 to 45 minutes in gently boiling water.

Experiment with combinations of various herbs to find the best taste and physiological effect.

Herbs are medicine, so do some research on them first to make sure they are safe for you. My favorite book on teas is Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health.

It’s amazing that some herbal teas improve heart rhythm, reduce blood pressure, clear brain fog or ease hormonal concerns. Most herbal teas are safe for people with kidney stones. Talk to your doctor about any possible interactions with medications you are taking.

Health food stores sell herbs, or look online, or Google “herbal apothecary.” I in-

Drug Administration approved the first chlorthalidone-ARB combination (Edarbyclor), which could make taking this effective combo more convenient.

If your blood pressure is stubbornly high and you’re not taking chlorthalidone or spironolactone, or if you’re taking the ACE-ARB combination, ask your doctor why. There may be good reasons, but you should know what they are.

Keep in mind that people who have both kidney disease and high blood pressure should take a loop diuretic like furosemide (Lasix), which is easier on the kidneys.

— Harvard Heart Letter

sist on organic herbs.

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, herb or supplement.

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

RESEARCH STUDY PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

9

BEACON BITS

June 5+

MOURNING A PET

The Nicodemus Memorial Park at the Baltimore Humane Society has a monthly bereavement group to help those coping with the loss or extreme illness of a pet. This free, non-denominational group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be June 5. Call (410) 833-8848, ext. 219 for information or to RSVP.

May 30

GET FIT!

On Wednesday, May 30, participate in National Senior Health & Fitness Day events at branches of the Y of Central Maryland. All local Family Center Y’s (excluding aquatic centers) will participate in this nationwide event with free, fun senior activities, demonstrations, classes, community vendors and more. For more information, contact your local Family Center Y about event offerings and specific event times (times vary slightly by location).

This event is free and open to the public.

Exercise Research Study Healthy men & women 50-80 years old are needed to participate in an exercise research study at the University of Maryland / Baltimore VA Medical Center. Participation involves medical evaluations, blood draws, fitness tests and 2 weeks of exercise sessions. Compensation for your time is provided. Call 410-605-7179 Mention code EPC-X.

The Johns Hopkins University is currently recruiting men and women for a study examining the relationship between sleep apnea and glucose metabolism.

Eligible participants will receive a sleep study, blood test, EKG and other medical tests.

Participants will be compensated up to $860 for their time.

Subjects must be between 21 and 75, and in good health.

Please call 410-550-4891 and ask for Kelly Devine, Project Coordinator, for more information.

The

Study Principal Investigator: Naresh Punjabi, M.D., Ph.D. Application Number: NA_00036672

Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly?

Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland &Veterans Affairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals.

You will receive:

• Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT at Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit

CALL TODAY!

Do you have more trouble than usual remembering things?

People 50 and older with memory problems are needed for a research study to find out if mentally stimulating activities can improve memory.

You may participate at: Johns Hopkins Bayview or Mays Chapel Ridge Participation involves 1 screening visit, 4 visits lasting 5 hours, and 17 visits lasting 1 hour.

You will be paid $620 for the study.

For more information, please call Christina at (410) 550-2688.

Principal Investigator: Miriam Z. Mintzer, Ph.D. Protocol #: NA_00039100

Approved December 23, 2011

10

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You’re on top of your medications.

But we make a good back up.

You know it’s important to stay on your medications exactly as prescribed.

However, if you miss a dose, want a lower-cost alternative, or experience any side effects, we can answer any questions. Speak to your local CVS Pharmacist to learn more.

Find a store near you at www.cvs.com

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

New, home-like models of long-term care

By Carol Sorgen Prior to moving into the newly opened Households at Levindale, 95-year-old Thelma Rustin lived in the more conventional nursing care area of the Northwest Baltimore long-term care facility.

Now, said her son, Walter Harris, his mother likes being able to shut the door to her own suite and relax by herself, while still being able to enjoy the company of other residents in a comfortable common area when she wants to. “My mother loves living in the Households,” said Harris. “It’s nice for her to know that there are people around.”

Harris is also pleased with his mother’s new home. “As her son, I want her to enjoy life, and I think she does here. The staff is so nice, and they take good care of her.”

About the cover: Visitors to the new GEDCO Green House dine at the communal table that 12 residents will share on their own floor of this new long-term care facility. It is designed to feel like a luxurious home, with specially trained live-in caregivers who treat residents like family.

Photo courtesy of GEDCO

Harris especially likes the atmosphere in his mother’s “household,” which is made up of only 14 suites. “It’s calm and quiet…with a home-like quality.”

The Households are located in two new Levindale buildings that create neighborhoods of six households with 14 rooms each.

Harris is able to visit as often as he likes and sees his mother at least five days a week. They sometimes take short walks together to enjoy the landscaped grounds around the Households, which will soon feature a garden that residents may work in.

The recent opening of the Households is the completion of the first phase of an expansion of Levindale’s Northwest Baltimore campus, which has been renamed the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus.

The Households are a further development in the implementation of Levindale’s Neighborhood Model philosophy, which emphasizes resident-directed care, where the needs and desires of the residents are put first — from when they would like to get up in the morning, to what and when they would like to eat, to what activities they would like to take part in.

Resident-centered care The home-like atmosphere of the Households at Levindale is what long-term

care is turning toward, according to Heather Wojcik, Households’ operations manager.

“Giving the residents a lot of freedom and choice — even when it comes to when and what they have for breakfast — gives them a sense of ownership,” said Wojcik.

Among other features, the Households provide private rooms, private bathrooms, a country kitchen, home-style meal service, and “town centers” where residents can gather.

The more relaxed atmosphere also helps reduce anxiety and improve the residents’ self-confidence. Wojcik relates the story of one resident who was afraid of elevators and wouldn’t get out of her wheelchair. But since moving into the Households, she has become a “completely different person,” said Wojcik, visiting other residents, walking, and being more engaged in her daily life.

Room and board in the Households is $330 a day, and the population is made up of a mix of residents on Medicare, Medicaid, or paying privately. (Regular Levindale room rates are $285/day private and $265/day semi-private.)

unheard of features as pets and gardens.

Green Houses are part of a movement called “culture change” or “patient-centered care” that is changing the way nursing homes look, feel and deliver care. Nationwide, there are 124 Green Houses, 30 under construction and 78 in development, according to the nonprofit Green House Projects, a division of NCB Capital Impact.

The patient-centered care movement also supports the idea of more informal interaction between residents and staff.

Rather than following a rigid daily routine designed for the convenience of the staff, patient-centered aides give residents more control over their lives, with staff members tasked with responding to residents’ wishes and needs within reason.

It takes a special kind of person, as well as a lot of training, to work in this type of facility, but aides seem to like it just as much as the residents, reports Wojcik.

Even facilities that can’t add on to existing buildings or build entirely new campuses are moving toward a more residentcentered, resident-directed standard of care. “We’re getting away from the uniform, institutional model,” said Wojcik.

Based on Green House model

Maryland’s first Green House

Levindale based its Households on several well-known innovative programs in long-term care, including the Green House Project, the Eden Alternative, the Neighborhood Model, and the Household Model of care.

One of the most well-known of these models, the Green House Project, was founded by geriatrician Dr. William Thomas, founder and president of the Eden Alternative (www.edenalt.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more home-like atmosphere in longterm-care facilities, with such previously

Also turning to this new model of care has been GEDCO (Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation) and Catholic Charities of Baltimore, which have partnered to create GEDCO Stadium Place, on the former site of Memorial Stadium.

GEDCO is the owner/developer of the property, while Catholic Charities runs the operational side.

Each of the four floors has 12 individual suites, with a common kitchen, dining and living room area called a “hearth,” dens for See NEW LTC MODEL, page B-5

Looking for a Skilled Nursing/Rehab Facility?

Here is just some of what we offer.

Our beautiful apartment homes always sell fast and continue to have long waiting lists. Currently, only a small number of available apartments at both Charlestown and Oak Crest remain! When you experience the lifestyle that Charlestown and Oak Crest offer, you’ll soon see why they’re the most popular destinations for healthy and active senior living. Don’t miss out on this engaging lifestyle that offers the security and peace of mind you deserve.

Call 1-800-647-0317 for a free brochure and get the latest information on the very last of our available homes.

Orthopedic Surgery Rehab • Cardiac Surgery Rehab Dialysis and TPN therapies for long-term care • Therapy Gym Mental health wing for younger people • New Renovations New Fine Dining Program • Family Reception Areas TV, cable, wireless internet • Private bathrooms • Social events Locked dementia and Alzheimer's care • Buffet-style dining Private bathrooms • Private and 2 person-only rooms Call Julie today to schedule your personal tour today 410-979-4822.

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Universal design for all ages and abilities

By J.W. Elphinstone When her husband Arthur underwent several spinal surgeries last year and was recuperating in the hospital, Mariam Eisenberg knew she had to make some design changes to her home before he returned.

Her wheelchair-bound husband wouldn’t be able to navigate the two sets of stairs in her house, so he would need to live on the first floor, which only offered a small half-bathroom.

With the help of a knowledgeable contractor, the 64-year-old Eisenberg converted the half-bathroom into a fully accessible bathroom by eliminating a laundry room and taking space from the garage. “I wanted something that was attractive to my husband. I didn’t want it to look like a hospital bathroom,” she said.

The finished product: an elegant bathroom that could star in an interior design magazine. It doubles as the guest bathroom, and visitors have no idea it’s universally designed, Eisenberg said.

Sean Vance, the acting director at North Carolina State University’s Center for Universal Design, explains, “Universal design is the design of products and environments to be useable by all people, taking into consideration varying physical differences and capabilities.”

A timeless concept As it relates to homes, universal design creates a home with features that give independence to a wide range of people in a household, even as a family grows, Vance said.

For example, a young married couple should consider who will be coming in and out of their home as time wears on: young children, teenage children with sports injuries, grandparents and others.

Often, universal home design conjures up images of handicap bathroom handles and sterile hospital rooms. But proponents say it can improve the lives of all people regardless of age or ability.

And it can still look good.

“A lot of people think that making a house more accommodating will make the house less stylish, but there are many [universally designed] homes that are beautiful and still work well for people young or old, tall or short, or if they have any kind of limitations,” said Wendy Jordan, author of Universal Design for the Home: Great Looking, Great Living Design for All Ages, Abilities, and Circumstances.

Homeowners are starting to warm to the concept, especially baby boomers of which 10,000 are turning 65 every day.

Last year, an American Institute of Architects survey of 500 architecture firms found that nearly three-quarters said that homeowners were asking for greater accessibility within the home through wider hallways, fewer steps and single-floor design. That was up from 66 percent the year before.

The National Association of Home Builders also reported that 63 percent of upscale builders and 56 percent of average home builders believe they’ll see a growing trend toward universal design over the next decade as boomers advance in age and decline in health.

While many homeowners start taking universal design elements into consideration as retirement nears, AARP suggests making these changes as soon as possible.

“There’s no time like the present,” said Elinor Ginzler, formerly senior vice president for livable communities at AARP. “All of these changes will make your life easier starting immediately.”

Quick fixes A homeowner can start with quick, do-ityourself fixes. For example, replace all round doorknobs with lever handles ($15$70 each). Not only will this accommodate young children or those suffering from arthritis in the hands, it also will come in handy for a mom carrying too much laundry or a dad weighed down by several grocery bags.

Similarly, swap out cabinet knobs in the kitchen and bathrooms with pull handles ($2-$30 each), which are easier to grip.

Add under-cabinet lighting ($10-$50) to brighten countertops in the kitchen and office.

In general, minimize shadows that obscure vision and maximize light everywhere. Install adjustable rods and pullout shelving in closets ($100-$300 for closet systems) and cabinets ($30-$80) so persons of any height can use them.

To avoid slip-and-falls, eliminate area rugs or secure them with double-sided rug tape ($12). Also arrange furniture and belongings so there are no obstructed pathways. Place a bench in your shower (shower bench $39-$75) and inside and outside of your entryway. It can be used as a seat, or as a spot to rest supplies or packages.

Outside, grade the yard to slope up to the house, so there’s no need for steps. If you’re a gardener, build raised flower beds

so they can be reached easily.

For heavy duty renovations like building wider doorways and halls or renovating a bathroom or kitchen, call an expert.

Finding expert help The NAHB offers a searchable directory of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) nationwide at www.nahb.org/directory.aspx?directoryID=1415. The list includes remodelers, builders, architects, consultants and suppliers.

When talking with your expert, consider countertops of different heights in the kitchen and bathroom to accommodate a person sitting or standing.

Add handle bars ($40-$60) in the bathrooms that can double as towel racks, and install toilets that are at seat height ($108$400). Swap out the regular showerhead ($10-$75) for a handheld one, so anyone regardless of age, height or ability can maneuver it.

Put railings ($11-$15) on both sides of the staircase, which will even help those suffering from a temporary injury like a dislocated shoulder. And replace old windows that require lifting to open with ones that can open with a crank or slide to the side.

“By making these changes now, if you end up with an unfortunate accident, you See DESIGN, page B-4

There’s something happening at Springwell Senior Living! ± N P ± G G ±!< M P J O ± AJM±<

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Drop preconceptions about assisted living

By Dave Carpenter Assisted living may be in your future.

That may not be an ideal scenario for most retirees, given its association with a loss of independence. But it’s becoming a reality for many as living in retirement for decades becomes more common.

There are close to a million residents in some 38,000 assisted living facilities across the country, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

That population is expected to soar as the number of retired baby boomers continues to grow.

The best time to do some homework on this residential option — an intermediate step between independent living and nursing home care — is well before you need it. But first that means casting aside some preconceived ideas about assisted living.

“The name has a connotation of ‘I can’t live by myself any more,’” said Ellen

Eichelbaum, a Northport, N.Y.-based gerontologist whose company, the SpeakEasy Group, consults on aging issues. “But an assisted living facility provides a lot of the social and security issues that seniors are worried about.”

It takes away the burden of having to care for your home and allows you to be part of a community, she said. And if you don’t feel well, help is just a button away.

“You can still be near your kids,” Eichelbaum said. “You can still go food shopping, you can go to the movies. You just won’t have the burden of your house.”

Here are some things you should know about assisted living facilities.

What they are: Assisted living facilities are residential communities that offer different levels of health or personal care services for seniors who want or need help with some daily activities — anything from cooking to transportation to dressing and

SKILLED NURSING AND REHABILITATION

Holly Hill 410-979-4822 531 Stevenson Lane Towson, Maryland 21286 www.hollyhillnursing.com Holly Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation in Towson, Maryland is an elite 75-bed short-term rehabilitation center.

The BRAND NEW building has private rooms, television, cable, and wireless Internet for all patients. There is a grand dining room with buffet service available, as well as the opportunity to dine in room. The views are spectacular and may be enjoyed from the multiple common areas complete with sofas and television, in case the family wants to stop in. The therapy team works with their patients to build strength and gain confidence after orthopedic surgeries. If you are considering having knee, hip, or any joint surgery, call Holly Hill today to schedule a tour of the facility, select your room, and meet your therapy team in advance!

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Atrium Village 410-363-0330 4730 Atrium Ct Owings Mills, MD 21117 Atrium Village, now celebrating 10 years of exceptional service to Baltimore seniors and their families, is conveniently located just minutes from Pikesville, Resiterstown and Randallstown. Our caring staff will cater to your individual needs in our Independent, Assisted Living, or Memory Care community. Enjoy our spacious apartments while surrounded by intellectual, spiritual, and social programming. Our family at Atrium Village has access to award winning outpatient rehabilitation on site. Other amenities include delicious dining prepared by our executive chef, vibrant entertainment, exciting trips, and transportation to personal appointments. We are LIVING LIFE at Atrium Village.

bathing.

What they’re not is nursing homes that address major medical needs. They are designed to provide a home-like setting for residents who want to live independently with minimal assistance.

Who lives there: The average age of residents in assisted living facilities in 2009 was about 87, according to the National Center for Assisted Living, an organization representing long-term care providers.

Three-quarters of the residents are female. They stay at the assisted living residence for an average of about 28 months, and the majority then move on to a nursing facility.

Ser vices provided: Services offered vary widely but typically include 24-hour emergency care, some medical services and help with medications, limited assistance with personal care, meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation and recreational activities. Large facilities may have private apartments as well as shared and private rooms.

Finding information: AARP suggests checking with your state or local agency on aging, the yellow pages, the Assisted Living Federation of America and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (now called LeadingAge), as well as with friends, neighbors and books on retirement.

If looking on behalf of your parents, check your own local neighborhoods first.

Most residents of assisted living facilities in urban areas who have children live with-

in five to seven miles of them, according to Eichelbaum.

[For additional resources, see the sidebar at the conclusion of this story.]

What it costs: The cost of assisted living facilities varies greatly depending on size, location and services. The median rate for a private room is $3,698 a month, or just over $44,000 a year, in the Washington, D.C. area, according to Genworth Financial Inc., which compiles an annual costs survey among long-term care service providers. If you need a home health aide on top of that, the median cost is $19 an hour.

Neither Medicare nor health insurance policies pay for assisted living. Medicaid covers only some services, and not in every facility or every state.

Long-term care insurance may cover most of the costs, depending on your policy. But if you haven’t bought coverage well ahead of time (ideally in your 50s or 60s), you may not be eligible and able to afford it once you get close to needing it.

AARP said four out of five residents pay for assisted living out of pocket. Veterans who need assistance can qualify for up to $1,949 a month if married, $1,644 if single or $1,055 for surviving spouses through the Aid and Attendance Pension.

Continuing care: an alternative: There are three basic types of living options for older adults as they age: independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing.

Design

half, [the remodeled bathroom] was the nicest thing I had done,” Eisenberg said. “It made him feel comfortable to come home.”

For more information on universal design, visit http://aarp.us/universaldesignbasics and www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/.

—AP

From page B-3 won’t have a problem getting around your house” Ginzler said.

“My husband told me that of all the things I’ve done for him over the last year and a

See ASSISTED LIVING, page B-5

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View Towson (Timothy House) 410-828-7185 20 Dunvale Road Towson, MD 21204 timothyhouse@sheltergrp.com Timothy House offers carefree living for those Seniors 62 or better.

Located in the heart of Towson, this community is convenient to Dulaney Plaza and Towson Town Center, as well as specialty stores and restaurants. Residents enjoy many social, recreational and educational activities. Our controlled access community offers such amenities as lounge areas for socializing, multiple clothing care centers, and a lending library. Our residents receive up to four hot, nutritional, low-cost meals per week in conjunction with the on-site Balto. Co. Eating Together Program. Call 410-828-7185 or email timothyhouse@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

New LTC model From page B-2 watching TV and socializing, therapeutic spa rooms and group porches. The facility also features floor to ceiling windows offering residents views of the city skyline and the stadium fields.

At least 60 percent of the rooms in the Green House homes are reserved for older adults who are eligible for Medicaid.

Stadium Place has also been built in an environmentally friendly manner to obtain LEED Silver certification.

According to GEDCO Stadium Place Executive Director Mitch Posner, Green House residences such as Stadium Place fill a need for lower-income seniors who

Assisted living From page B-4 To avoid needing to move every time more assistance is needed, continuing care retirement communities are worth considering.

They offer a variety of services for all three levels of care within one community.

Entrance fees can range from $100,000 to

can’t function independently and need long-term care, but whose options are limited to being cared for by their families or in traditional nursing homes that accept people with private insurance in multi-patient rooms.

“We’re trying to create a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) for people who can’t afford one,” he said.

Stadium Place is the first certified Green House project in Maryland. It is also the first in the U.S. to take advantage of special financing for Green House projects aimed at low-income elders under a joint initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and NCB Capital Impact.

The Stadium Place project received additional support from the Harry and

Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the state of Maryland, the city of Baltimore, and private donors, according to Posner. Before starting the project, he traveled to Michigan to see an early example of Green House living and came away thinking, “If our moms needed long-term care, we’d want them in a Green House.”

“In the Green House Residences, as in all of the programs of Catholic Charities, we work to provide the highest level of care without ever losing sight of the humanity and the fundamental dignity of all people,” said Catholic Charities of Baltimore Executive Director William J. McCarthy.

According to Stadium Place Administrator Nate Sweeney, Green House residences “look, feel, smell and work like a real home.”

“They’re totally different from institutions,” he said. That extends beyond the resident-directed approach to the staff as well. Each residence has a shabazz (a Persian word) who cares for the residents as he or she would in their own home.

“The relationship between the residents and the individuals who care for them is much more family-oriented,” said Sweeney. “This is a much more dignified, respectful way to live.”

For information about the Households at Levindale, call (410) 601-2400 or visit .

For information about GEDCO Stadium Place, call Stephanie Hill at (443) 414-6218, or visit .

To learn more about Green Houses, see or call (703) 647-2311.

$1 million, and monthly charges can range from $3,000 to $5,000, increasing as needs change.

Plan ahead: Do the research before you have an immediate need. Having an idea of the cost and availability of options in your community is essential. If local facilities aren’t appropriate or affordable, it may be worth considering relocating to a

community with one that fits you (or your parents) better.

If you have elderly parents, getting siblings to agree ahead of time to a plan for them, and discussing how to finance it, is

important too, said Amy Goyer, AARP’s family expert. “If you wait until the crisis time, often the burden just falls on who’s closest,” she said. “That can be much harder and unfair for some family members.”

BEACON BITS

June 9+

FREE LIVING HISTORY EVENT

On Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can enjoy this living history event with craftsmen, tradesmen, music, children’s activities, food and a tour of Benjamin Banneker’s log cabin.

Walk the grounds where Banneker walked and see how he lived. The event is free (though donations are appreciated) and open to the public. The museum and park are located at 300 Oella Ave. in Catonsville.

June 9-10

B-5

WELCOME TO HONFEST, ‘HON!

Get out your teasing comb and Aqua Net, hon! Baltimore’s annual celebration of all things “Bawlmer” takes place along 36th St. in Hampden the weekend of June 9-10, and pays tribute to the neighborhoods, distinctive dialect and people of Baltimore. Enjoy live music, classic Bawlmer foods and Hampden’s eclectic merchants, and indulge your bouffant cravings and inner hon at the Glamour Lounge. For more information, visit www.honfest.net.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 410-665-2222 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com Ideally located in Parkville, Oak Crest offers maintenance-free 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 Oak Crest’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.

HOME CARE

Comfort Keepers - Towson 410-339-7056 1055 Taylor Ave., Suite 302 Towson, MD 21286 www.comfortkeepers.com/office-667 When you or someone you love needs assistance to stay in the comfort of their own home, Comfort Keepers of Towson can provide high quality, compassionate care on a temporary or long-term basis.

Our commitment to safeguarding and enhancing the lives of seniors is the underpinning of everything we do. We hire Comfort Keepers (certified nursing assistants and companions) who love working with seniors! And it's their Interactive Caregiving® that sets us apart from other agencies. We empower the client to make decisions and participate in activities so they can control their environment as much as possible. Owners Caroline Cowdrey and Anita Read are happy to talk to you about your situation and to develop an individual RN-supervised Care Plan to meet your needs.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Meadows of Reisterstown Senior Apartments 410-526-3380 300 Cantata Court Reisterstown, Maryland 21136 www.firstcentrum.com Enjoy carefree leisure living at The Meadows—an affordable senior apartment community for seniors 62+. Each spacious one- and twobedroom apartment features a fully equipped kitchen, roomy closets and a balcony or patio. You can exercise the mind in the library and media room or the body in our fitness area. Keypad entry and the emergency response system provide peace of mind.

The atomosphere is filled with gracious living. Here, you will appreciate not having to worry about maintenance chores. At the same time, you can take advantage of nearby shops, library, banks, postal services, grocery store and convenience to I-695.

We invite you to tour The Meadows of Reisterstown.

B-6

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

It can be hard to admit you need more care

By Erin G. Roth & J. Kevin Eckert Aging in place — the concept of aging (and eventually dying) in one’s private home — has become an often-used catchphrase. It has come to include places like assisted living and continuing care retirement centers (CCRC) and other multilevel institutional housing.

The idea is that someone could move in to one place while still independent with the expectation that extra support would be available when or if needed in the future. The transition to an assisted living or perhaps nursing care would be made easier because they were adjacent or nearby. But adjacent or nearby still involves making a move.

The purpose of senior housing with services is to protect and care for the people who reside there. Rules and practices are put in place to guide the decision-making around when or if someone should move to a higher level of care. In this respect, safety is often the number one priority for the institutions providing care.

And so because of this, there is a certain amount of vigilance. Staff as well as fellow residents watch for signs of decline and will

report changes out of concern and safety.

Fear of being moved Our current research in several of Maryland’s multi-level senior housing settings has brought to light one of the biggest challenges to living in a place where progressive levels of care are provided — that is, the movement from one level to the next. Though a move within the same building or complex may seem insignificant to those on the outside, it is quite significant to those who have to make the move.

Residents who are struggling to maintain their current level of functioning may be fearful and anxious. They are often well aware of the triggers that might cause them to be moved, and may forgo help to avoid being found out. For example, someone who is having difficulty keeping his or her balance may choose to hide the fact that they’ve fallen and not seek the help they need.

Administrators and staff know that residents hide conditions or avoid asking for help because they are afraid of being

See useful links and resources at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com

moved to a higher level of care. The staff members try to reassure residents that they simply want to help. Many have a hard time understanding why residents are so fearful of moving to the next level of care.

These staff members fail to recognize just how difficult a “short” move around the corner or to the next building can be from the resident’s perspective. For example, a move forces the residents to adjust to a new social environment and social activities.

They may be leaving behind friendships with fellow residents and staff, and suffer a loss of independence and status.

Moving to the “dark side” Our research indicates that there is definitely a stigma attached to the places that provide a higher level of care and, by extension, to the people who live there. Residents in independent living in one setting are known to refer to assisted living as “the dark side.” Meanwhile, someone in assisted living in another setting referred to the nursing home wing as “the loony bin.”

It is in this context that some residents choose to conceal a change in their health or memory. Families too are often complicit in the hiding — sometimes out of denial of their relative’s decline, and sometimes because of the added cost of moving to a higher level of care.

The good news is that for those resi-

dents in multi-level senior housing who are settled in the level of care best able to meet their needs, they no longer feel the need to conceal their condition. They feel safer and more settled. We have also found that residents living in the nursing care portion of a facility may be more tolerant and accepting of others.

Aging in place can mean many things.

The concept deeply resonates with our culture of independence and autonomy. Lately, more and more emphasis is on finding ways to stay put by bringing services into the home rather than moving into senior housing.

Demonstration projects through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are testing a variety of programs, with a shift in public policy likely to follow. The Affordable Care Act’s Balancing Incentive Program is one such example of new policy supporting staying in one’s home.

New senior housing models may be on the horizon that will minimize the number of moves one must make, getting us closer to the ideal of true aging in place.

Erin G. Roth is a senior ethnographer at the Center for Aging Studies at UMBC. J. Kevin Eckert is the chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UMBC. For additional information, see http://bit.ly/centerforagingstudies or contact Roth at eroth@umbc.edu.

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More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-7

How you can live large in a small space

By Fiona Morrissey I live with my husband Brian and our two dogs in one of the smallest houses in Silver Spring, Md. Two bedrooms, three tiny closets, a nine by seven kitchen — you get the picture.

Yet visitors and guests don’t seem to notice it’s below average size. Warm, cheerful and welcoming are the words I hear most to describe our home.

This is not an accident. The reason my house looks good is because I am a hoarder — I hoard empty space! I am very protective of my empty space.

I am wary of bringing any object into my home that might diminish it. When I walk through my pokey little rooms, I like to be able to swing my arms without knocking things down.

As a homemaker and professional organizer, I have learned that space hoarding is all about good habits. Here are four of mine.

Habit #1: Love and let go Every year on the first of January all my Christmas cards go straight in the recycling. No exceptions. The same applies to other greetings cards I get during the year.

After a short stay, out they go.

The purpose of a card is to make me feel appreciated and loved. When it has lived in my house for a week, it’s job is done. I’ve got the message.

The trouble with things like cards is that if they are not disposed of in a timely manner, they turn into clutter. And not just any clutter. Something much more lethel. Sentimental clutter.

There is a tendency in all of us to preserve our past, and while there’s no harm in keeping a few things, after that it gets tricky. Where do you stop? How much stuff do you need in order to prove to yourself that you lived a life?

All my sentimental clutter, 50 years’ worth, fits inside a shoebox. Its contents include a drawing I made when I was three and my mother’s diary the year I was born.

I don’t need these things and I probably wouldn’t miss them, but I’m glad they are there.

Now and then I go through my box and weed stuff out. One thing is for sure. I am not starting a second shoe box. This is it for the next 50 years.

Pull out and save this section or share with a friend

Habit #2: Just say no!

On the bottom shelf of my bedside table I keep a stack of decorating magazines.

This stack is eight inches tall. If it gets any taller, I throw out a magazine or two so the stack remains the same height.

I selected each magazine with care and paid full price for it in the store. That way I have complete control over which magazines enter my home.

Although subscriptions may seem cheaper, you pay dearly for them in the long run. Once a month they appear on your doormat, whether you have time for them or not. Soon, solicitations for other magazines start arriving, pleading with you to sign on at seductively low prices.

Six years ago, my unfortunate friend Susan became addicted to National Geographic in this way. Six years later it’s running wild all over her house. Susan won’t part with these magazines because she

hasn’t finished them yet. Neither will she cancel her subscription because she likes getting discounts. This situation could have been avoided if Susan has practiced Habit #2: Just say no!

Habit #3: Beware of books I have only one bookcase. It contains every book I own. If I wish to buy a new book, I have to part with one of my old ones. This is always hard because I love books. But I do it because my books belong on my bookcase, not on a chair, under the bed or on the bathroom floor.

Over time, books will drastically reduce your living space. Give them a foot and they’ll take not only a yard, but your entire house if you let them.

Habit #4: Surrender! I have to share my house with a packrat. But then in my opinion most people are packrats. My husband’s vices include vintage instruction manuals, broken TV sets, and anything

else that is old, useless or downright ugly.

You may well wonder how Brian and I are still married, and the answer is that we don’t keep guns in the house.

Seriously, my husband and I manage to stay together because he has two areas in the house to abuse any way he pleases: the garage and the basement. The rest is mine!

If you and your spouse are unevenly yoked in this manner, and the only alternative is divorce or murder, surrender part of the house — but make sure it’s the worst part.

There are other things I do to keep my little house up and running, but if you adopt these four habits you’ll be well on your way to having a home you’re proud of and that your family and friends will love.

Fiona Morrissey is a professional organizer in Silver Spring, Md. She can be reached at (301) 593-4026. For more information, see www.happyroomsbyfiona.com.

Your New Lifestyle Begins Here

Designed and managed for today’s seniors at these locations: ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY "#$%&'(!)$&%'*!410-761-4150 ! "#$%&'( +(,($%&!-&$.!410-544-3411 ! +(,($%& )/0123456!7218 )/0123456 ! /9*:&%;!1($$&'(!410-276-6440 ! 7<:;9=$>%?!410-542-4400 )/0123456!74@A18 ! 7&B<%9,>::(!410-719-9464 ! C#%;&:.!410-288-5483 ! "#::($B<%!410-663-0665 ! 3>$&D&$!0&%;>%?!410-391-8375 ! 5&%;&::9B<E%!410-655-5673 ! 5<9(;&:(!410-866-1886 ! 1<E9<%!F1>D<B*G!H<#9(I!410-828-7185 ! 1&G:<$!410-663-0363 ! J<<;:&E%!410-281-1120

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EEEP-&$.Q>(E+(%><$0>,>%?P'<D Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email seniorliving@sheltergrp.com.

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

B-8

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Long-distance caregiving is challenging

By Matt Sedensky Kristy Bryner worries her 80-year-old mom might slip and fall when she picks up the newspaper, or that she’ll get in an accident when she drives to the grocery store.

What if she has a medical emergency and no one’s there to help? What if, like her father, her mother slips into a fog of dementia?

Those questions would be hard enough if Bryner’s aging parent lived across town in Portland, Ore., but she is in Kent, Ohio.

The stress of caregiving seems magnified by each of the more than 2,000 miles that separate them.

“I feel like I’m being split in half between coasts,” said Bryner, 54. “I wish I knew what to do, but I don’t.”

A growing problem As lifespans lengthen and the number of seniors rapidly grows, more Americans find themselves in Bryner’s precarious position, struggling to care for an ailing loved one from hundreds or thousands of miles away.

The National Institute on Aging estimates around 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers. Aside from economic factors that often drive people far from their hometowns, shifting demographics in the country could exacerbate the issue: Over the next four decades, the share of people 65 and older is expected to rapidly expand while the number of people under 20 will roughly hold steady. That means there will be a far smaller share of people between 20 and 64, the age group

Adults 62+ – Make Your Move!

The Meadows of Reistertown offers the maintenance-free, independent lifestyle you’ve been looking for in a retirement community.

• Social, Educational and Recreational Events • Patios or Balconies • Individual Climate Control • Convenient to Shoppings, Banking and Restaurants

• Emergency Response System • Controlled Access Entry • Hair Salon • Elevators • Smoke Free • Small Pets Welcome

Live the carefree life you’ve been waiting for, and let us take care of all the details!

that most often is faced with caregiving.

“You just want to be in two places at once,” said Kay Branch, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, but helps coordinate care for her parents in Lakeland, Fla., about 3,800 miles away.

There are no easy answers.

Bryner first became a long-distance caregiver when, more than a decade ago, her father began suffering from dementia, which consumed him until he died in 2010.

She used to be able to count on help from her brother, who lived close to their parents, but he died of cancer a few years back. Her mother doesn’t want to leave the house she’s lived in for so long.

So Bryner talks daily with her mother via Skype, a video telephone service. She’s lucky to have a job that’s flexible enough that she’s able to visit for a couple of weeks every few months. But she fears what may happen when her mother is not as healthy as she is now.

“Someone needs to check on her, someone needs to look out for her,” she said.

“And the only someone is me, and I don’t live there.”

Many long-distance caregivers say they insist on daily phone calls or video chats to hear or see how their loved one is doing.

Oftentimes, they find another relative or a paid caregiver they can trust who is closer and able to help with some tasks.

Dealing with emergencies Yet there always is the unexpected: Medical emergencies, problems with insurance coverage, urgent financial issues.

Problems become far tougher to resolve when you need to hop on a plane or make a daylong drive.

“There are lots of things that you have to do that become these real exercises in futility,” said Ed Rose, 49, who lives in

Boston but, like his sister, travels frequently to Chicago to help care for his 106-yearold grandmother, Blanche Seelmann.

Rose has rushed to his grandmother’s side for hospitalizations, and made unexpected trips to solve bureaucratic issues, such as retrieving a document from a safedeposit box in order to open a bank account.

But he said he has also managed to get most of the logistics down to a routine. He uses Skype to speak with his grandmother every day and tries to be there whenever she has a doctor’s appointment.

Aides handle many daily tasks and have access to a credit card for household expenses. They send him receipts so he can monitor spending. He has an apartment near his grandmother to make sure he’s comfortable on his frequent visits.

Even for those who live near those they care for, travel for work can frequently make it a long-distance affair. Evelyn Castillo-Bach lives in Pembroke Pines, Fla., the same town as her 84-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. But she is on the road roughly half the year, sometimes for months at a time, both for work with her own Web company and accompanying her husband, a consultant for the United Nations.

Once, she was en route from Kosovo to Denmark when she received a call alerting her that her mother was having kidney failure and appeared as if she would die. She needed to communicate her mother’s wishes from afar as her panicked sister tried to search their mother’s home for her living will.

Castillo-Bach didn’t think she could make it back in time to see her mother alive once more. “I won’t get to touch my See LONG-DISTANCE CARE, page B-10

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-9

Who pays for the cost of home care?

Depending on what type of care is needed in the home, benefits programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid, may pay for services.

But often care must be paid for out of pocket by those receiving care. These questions and answers provide more details on paying for home care.

Q. What is the current cost for home care?

A. The cost depends on a number of factors, including where you live and the type of care you need. Based on the 2011 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs, the average cost in Baltimore of either a home health aide from an agency or homemaker averages $19 per hour.

Because agency rates can vary, it is best to call multiple agencies and get quotes regarding billing and rate structures, such as hourly or shift rates or minimum hourly requirements.

Q. Is there a minimum charge per visit?

A. Ask the agencies whether they provide a set fee per visit for a specific care task, such as a bath visit. A regular visit might require a four-hour minimum, but the agency may also provide bath visits.

These typically last from 45 minutes to 2 hours and might include bathing, dressing and routine daily and personal care for a set fee.

Q. Does private insurance cover home care?

A. Health insurance and managed care organizations will pay for certain home care services, but this varies from plan to plan. Services usually need to be medically necessary or skilled, sometimes need preapproval, and may or may not cover general personal care.

Q. Does Medicare pay for home care?

A. Yes, however the care being provided must be skilled and intermittent, and the individual must be homebound while receiving services under a plan of care ordered by a physician. The services must be provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.

If the person meets all of these criteria, Medicare will pay for home healthcare services and 80 percent of pre-approved durable medical equipment needs. The home health aides who provide care under Medicare need to have specialized training to provide Medicare home care services.

Q. Does Medicaid cover home care costs?

A. Medicaid, a joint federal-state assistance program for low-income individuals, covers medically necessary care, longterm care, and some other personal and homemaking care at home depending on the situation. Each state has individual requirements. Check with your local Medicaid office.

Q. Do veterans receive home care benefits?

A. Some veterans may be eligible to apply for benefits called the Aid and Attendance (A&A) Special Pension. Veterans and surviving spouses who require assistance with eating, bathing, dressing or toileting, and who are eligible both medically and financially, can apply for this special assistance.

Q. Are there other organizations that will help defray costs?

A. Local chapters of organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society, or Alzheimer’s Association may sometimes assist with funding for home care services. Some local Area Agencies on Aging may provide funding for respite services to support family caregivers.

BenefitsCheckUp.org is a free online re-

source developed by the National Council on Aging that can help you find federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for a variety of services at home.

Q. What does long-term care insurance cover?

A. Long-term care insurance is privatepay insurance that can assist in reimbursement for home care costs if an individual meets the eligibility criteria in the policy.

The insurance must be purchased before the care is needed, for example, before long-term care becomes necessary.

There are many different plans and it is always prudent to check with your carrier regarding eligibility criteria, deductibles and reimbursement.

Q: What can I do to prepare for having a caregiver in the home?

A. Here are some items that should be reviewed with caregivers when they begin their employment: In a notebook placed next to the phone, list the name of current doctors, pharmacies, local hospital, cell phone and work numbers for close family members, and the name, address and phone number of a neighbor or friend.

In the notebook, include a local street map and write down the phone number, street address and directions to your home.

Note the location of your home’s water

shut off, breaker boxes, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in the notebook and acquaint the caregiver with their locations.

Some items to remember as an employer are: Protect all valuables by moving them to less conspicuous places or placing them in a safe. Make an inventory list with pictures and dates for future reference.

Be sure that payroll records, which include Social Security and other taxes, are kept current and accurate. You may want to consult your attorney or tax advisor for payroll requirements.

If you are a family caregiver, be prepared to make unannounced and unexpected visits to the home when the caregiver is there. Watch for any signs of abuse or neglect, and take action immediately.

All the checklists, interviews, and resumés you can gather cannot ensure safe, quality care. Personal references from other caregivers and your own instincts are ultimately the best indicators of the appropriate person for you.

Even so, once the caregiver is in your home, it may take some time before you are able to determine whether the caregiver meets your needs, and you may have to hire a number of people before you find the perfect fit.

Excerpted from “Receiving Care at Home” by the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Long-distance care From page B-8

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Broadmead offers exceptional dining venues, a vibrant lifestyle and community amenities including a fitness and aquatic center, trips and transportation, entertainment, activities and more.

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mother again,” she thought.

She was wrong. Her mother pulled through. But she says it illustrates what long-distance caregivers so frequently go through. “This is one of the things that happens when you’re thousands of miles away,” Castillo-Bach said.

When a job gets in the way Lynn Feinberg, a caregiving expert at AARP, said the number of long-distance caregivers is likely to grow, particularly as a sagging economy has people taking whatever job they can get, wherever it is.

Though caregiving is a major stress on anyone, distance can often magnify it, Feinberg said, and presents particular difficulty when it must be balanced with an inflexible job.

“It’s a huge stress,” she said. “It can have enormous implications not only for someone’s quality of life, but also for someone’s job.”

It can also carry a huge financial burden.

A November 2007 report by the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare, a division of United Health Group, found annual expenses incurred by long-distance caregivers averaged about $8,728 — far more than caregivers who lived close to their loved one. Some also had to cut back on work hours, take on debt of their own, and slash their personal spending.

Even with that in mind, though, many long-distance caregivers say they don’t regret their decision. Rita Morrow, who works in accounting and lives in Louisville, Ky., about a six-hour drive from her 90year-old mother in Memphis, Tenn., does all the juggling too.

She has to remind her mother to take her medicine, make sure rides are lined up for doctor’s appointments, rush to her aid if there’s a problem. She knows her mom wants to stay in her home, to keep going to the church she’s gone to the past 60 years, to be near her friends.

“We do what we have to do for our parents,” she said. “My mother did all kinds of things for me.”

— AP

Additional assisted living resources AARP has two publications focusing on assisted living — “Assisted Living: Weighing the Options” and “Assisted Living Facility Evaluation Checklist.”

These and other housing publications are available online at http://aarp.us/assistedlivingoptions or by calling (888) 687-2277.

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is a national organization of for-profit and not-for-profit providers of assisted living, continuing care retirement communities, independent living and other forms of housing and services. Its website has a consumer checklist and articles of consumer interest about assisted living.

Call (703) 894-1805 or see www.alfa.org.

The Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living (CCAL) is a national consumer advocacy organization dedicated to the needs and rights of assisted living consumers. You can order their book, “Choosing an Assisted Living Facility: Considerations for Making the Right Decision,” for $14.95 at www.ccal.org or by calling (703) 5338121. A short video on choosing a facility is available free of charge on the website.

Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116, www.eldercare.gov, is a toll-free directory of services available for seniors throughout the country. It can connect you to resources at Area Agencies on Aging in any county.

LeadingAge, formerly the American Association of Homes and Services

for the Aging, is a national organization of not-for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, senior housing facilities and community service organizations. Their website can help you find assisted living residences in your community. Contact LeadingAge at (202) 783-2242 or www.leadingage.org.

The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) is the assisted living arm of the American Health Care Association, a national organization representing long-term care providers. Call (202) 842-4444 to obtain a free copy of NCAL’s brochure, A Consumer’s Guide to Assisted Living and Residential Care. This brochure has a checklist and a “Cost Calculator” worksheet to record the estimated costs of assisted living services.

You can also obtain the brochure through their website, http://longtermcareliving.com/assess/al.

The Long-Term Care Community Coalition publishes a 24-page guide entitled, “Thinking of Moving to an Assisted Living Residence?” The group also offers other assisted living publications. Copies can be downloaded free of charge from the group’s website at www.assisted-living411.org or requested by calling (212) 385-0355.

The National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center (ORC) provides support and training to ombudsman programs nationwide.

Contact (202) 332-2275, www.ltcombudsman.org.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

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B-11

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check those that interest you and mail the entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested.

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The ombudsman answers your questions

By Allison de Gravelles Q. I am beginning to look for a group home for my mother, who has mild memory loss but is still able to make many of her daily decisions.

She has lived alone for some time and has some strong likes and dislikes. How do we go about finding the right fit for mom, and what are her rights with regard to preferences like meal choices and bed times?

A. Of course, each group home will be unique in terms of size, layout and general atmosphere. As such, it is important that you visit a number of different facilities and ask lots of questions of the owner or manager. Consider also bringing a friend or family member along, and making a second visit at an unscheduled or off-peak time.

Concerning your mom’s likes and dislikes, we strongly advocate for her right to self-determination with regard to room decoration, dress, meal selections and other individual preferences. Irrespective of your mother’s cognitive changes, she is an adult with the right to be treated with respect and dignity. As this next residence will be her new home, your mother’s comfort and ease with her surroundings should be of paramount importance.

Once you’ve narrowed your search, you should meet with the manager and discuss

your mother’s daily routine, interests, activities and food preferences. If you learn that a particular group home has an 8 p.m. “in-room” policy, for example, you should know that your mother has the right to set her own schedule and have visitors at times that work for her.

Assisted living providers are also required to try to accommodate dietary requests that are within their capabilities.

Request a copy of the facility’s resident contract and review it carefully before making a decision.

As you begin your search for the right continuing care facility for your loved one, there are a number of websites that might be helpful to you: For a list of licensed assisted living facilities in Maryland, you can visit the Maryland Health Care Commission’s website at http://mhcc.maryland.gov/. The National Caregivers Library, at http://www.caregiverslibrary.org, offers a list of questions to ask and details to consider in your search.

For nursing home comparisons, Medicare provides a 5-star rating system at http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.

Q. My brother was transferred from the hospital to a nursing home following a serious car accident about three months ago. While his rehabilitation is

going well, he has lost a few personal items that we fear might have been stolen. Does he have any recourse with the nursing home?

A. Unfortunately, loss or theft of personal property is not uncommon in a nursing home, and the experience can add to a resident’s feelings of insecurity, loss of dignity and lack of control.

When an item goes missing, it is important not to immediately assume that it has been intentionally taken. Just as at home, lost items often turn up after a thorough search by the resident with the help of staff or family members. Other times, we find that another resident who may be disoriented has mistaken a cell phone or watch for his or her own.

If your brother suspects a theft, he or his representative should file a report with the administrator of the nursing home. Depending on the item’s value, he might also consider filing a police report. Even if the police investigation is inconclusive, their involvement creates a record of suspected theft at the facility and may help to deter future problems at that location.

Hopefully, your brother will have completed an inventory of personal items upon arrival at the facility and kept a copy of the inventory for his records. Wherever possible, all items (such as clothing, eyeglasses and electronic equipment) should also

have been permanently marked or engraved with his name.

With regard to the missing items, your brother has a right to ask the facility to replace them or to provide reasonable monetary compensation for his loss, particularly if they appear on his inventory sheet. It is also most helpful to report the loss immediately, in writing, and with as many specifics as possible.

For example, dentures left on a tray are more likely to be recovered if the resident reports the loss quickly and can identify the time the tray was cleared.

If your brother is displeased with the outcome or would like assistance and support in resolving his complaint, the local Long Term Care Ombudsman program is a resource available to all residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes, as well as their family members.

Under the Older American’s Act, every state is required to establish and maintain an ombudsman program that provides advocacy services for residents of long-term care facilities.

In addition to helping individuals like your brother resolve his theft complaint, ombudsmen are trained and prepared to address a host of resident issues and concerns, including admission, transfer and See OMBUDSMAN, page B-13

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-13

Good reasons (and ways) to downsize

By Leanne Italie Carol Gilbert remembers well the heartache and hassle of watching her aging parents struggle to remain in their house of 45 years — the desperate, lastminute calls for help and her dad’s isolation as her mom’s health declined.

She also remembers the frustration of going through their things once they finally agreed to relocate to a senior care facility nearby.

“I must have gone up to the house every Saturday for a year helping them sort through their stuff,” Gilbert said. “I couldn’t get my mother to make decisions or really do much each visit.”

Once settled in the smaller space, surrounded by peers, her father’s burden lifted. He got his wish to remain with his wife, and began enjoying life again at 86.

Gilbert is now 72 herself and her folks long deceased, but their rocky transition in 1992 motivated her and her husband, David, to consider retirement housing at a much earlier stage. She was only 64 and he 67 when they moved into a full-amenity complex about 20 miles from the rural, ranch-style home where they had spent 35 years and raised their daughter.

There’s a chef, a pool, a fitness center, a TV lounge with surround sound, and a music room with a grand piano. There’s a housekeeping service, a balcony for a small garden, and entertainment at least once a month.

“I’ve never looked back,” Gilbert said.

“At that time we were the kids here. We certainly weren’t candidates for God’s

waiting room.”

As Americans live longer, many people find themselves navigating a confusing web of interconnected services for themselves or their parents when it comes time to shed possessions and relocate. Some, like the Gilberts, use hard-won lessons from their parents’ experience to take control of their own late-life downsize while they still have time to enjoy it.

Ombudsman

at: www.ltcombudsman.org.

Telephone numbers for the programs in the area are as follows: Anne Arundel County (410) 222-4464 Baltimore City (410) 396-3144 Baltimore County (410) 887-4200 Howard County (410) 313-6423 Allison de Gravelles is a University of Maryland graduate student in social work. Jan Hamill, acting program manager with the Montgomery County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, assisted with this article.

From page B-12 discharge; quality of care; suspected abuse or neglect; and exercise of personal preferences and choices. All services are free and confidential.

Federal regulations require nursing homes to prominently post a telephone number for the nearest Ombudsman office. You can also find contact information for your local ombudsman program online

Helping seniors with transitions Others have created a new industry, becoming “senior specialists” to help make those transitions less troublesome.

Such specialists span business worlds, from real estate and financial planning to moving, home staging, personal organizing and “late-life coaching.” Roughly 25,000 have sought training and education to focus on senior logistics, said Nan Hayes, a senior relocation specialist who is also a trainer.

In addition to logistics, such third parties provide emotional breathing room between grown children and aging parents, Hayes said.

“Moving mom and dad doesn’t have to be a nightmare. If your parents feel comfortable with the process, if they feel they have some control over it, things will run much more smoothly,” she said.

“If you have to argue to make your point or force your opinions and decisions on your parents, you will find yourself up against a roadblock. No one will feel good.”

John Buckles went through a troubling

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transition with his parents. Determined to enjoy their retirement and hold on to their house, they were forced by ill health into a senior care facility instead, leaving him to sort through decades of their possessions.

“I had no clue what they owned,” he said. “I remember being pissed off because there were thousands of books. I must have gotten rid of 2,000 before I realized there was stuff [hidden] inside of them, like a little story my mother wrote about me, and money.”

The experience prompted him to cofound Caring Transitions. With about 130 franchises around the country, the company provides “general contractors” who do what faraway relatives often can’t: make sure that moving companies, real estate agents, liquidators, charities, disposal companies, appraisers, cleaners and home stagers are working together with the older person’s best interest in mind.

Buckles and Hayes encourage a “sooner-rather-than-later” approach to sifting through possessions, whether the person is moving or looking to “age in place” through home modifications such as handrails and stair lifts. That approach to late-life housing doesn’t negate the value of a good home clean-out, they said.

“If you want to remain independent longer, you must start making the decisions and acting now to preserve that inde-

pendence,” said Hayes, who launched a network called MoveSeniors.com that works with organizations around the country to provide reliable specialists and advice.

“I’ve witnessed too many situations where adult children are forced to make tough decisions about mom’s home and possessions because she kept putting it off,” she said.

The emotional toll on an older person can be heavy, bringing on anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and short-term memory loss, said Hayes and Tracy Greene Mintz, a social worker who specializes in a body of symptoms known as “relocation stress syndrome.”

“It’s a train, and everybody gets on the moving-mom-and-dad train, and it’s easy to focus on the logistical details because they don’t require you to address the emotional aspects of the move,” Mintz said. “Then mom and dad get to their place and they just shut down.”

How to make the move easier There’s a lot that families can do to destress a late-life downsize: Slow it down: Sometimes, Buckles said, resistance to shedding that grandfather clock or box of old aprons is driven by See DOWNSIZING, page B-14

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B-14

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Trying to sell? Boost your home’s appeal

By Patricia Mertz Esswein, To hook buyers and reap the highest possible price, you must clean, declutter and stage your home, inside and out.

Cotty Lowry, an agent with Keller Williams, tells his sellers that they should expect to spend two to four weeks preparing their home for sale, and be ready to spend as much as 2 to 3 percent of its list price on improvements.

As a first step, Lowry says, you should hire a home inspector for a “pre-inspection” to identify all the issues that would otherwise turn up in a buyer’s inspection.

Get a termite inspection, too. (The report would count toward any closing requirement.) Each will cost you $300 to $400.

The inspections give you the opportuni-

ty to make repairs so buyers won’t reject your home out of hand or use problems to negotiate against you.

Upgrades may be mandatory Realtor Leigh Brown says that you may also need to invest in improvements that buyers now expect as standard features. In many markets that means granite countertops and hardwood floors, even in starter homes. All other things being equal, those two features will put you head and shoulders above your competition.

Ask your agent to check the features of recently closed and pending sales. You’ll know what amenities you need to match, or what you can do to sell faster, even if you can’t raise your price.

Pull out and save this section.

Expect to get advice about spiffing up your home from agents and their stagers. But you can begin preparing your home using the checklists in the Home Sale Maximizer Guide

by HomeGain, a home-marketing website (www.homegain.com/sellertools).

Stagers declutter if you haven’t, rearrange furniture to improve traffic flow and create a sense of spaciousness, and make sure your décor doesn’t shout your personal tastes. Home sellers spend an average of $1,800 staging a home, but the cost can be $5,000 or more. Agents may provide the service as part of their fee.

Four things buyers hate If buyers spot these things in an online listing, they may not even visit your home.

Downsizing From page B-13

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

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Just a block from Dundalk Avenue, this community has easy access to public transportation, shopping and restaurants. East Point Mall and Johns Hopkins Bayview are just minutes away. Residents enjoy many social, recreational and educational activities including bus trips. Our residents receive up to four hot, nutritional, low cost meals per week in conjunction with the on-site Balto. Co. Eating Together Program.

This controlled access elevator building offers such amenities as a community room, clothing care center, and fitness center.

Call 410-288-5483 or email parkviewdundalk@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. Come see what you’re missing!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Overlook at Monarch Mills 866-429-1266 7570 Monarch Mills Way Columbia, MD 21046 Overlook at Monarch Mills offers Seniors 62 or better a beautiful and convenient place to call home.

Residents can enjoy musical entertainment at Merriweather Post Pavilion, shop at The Mall in Columbia and dine in the most popular local restaurants. This amenity-rich facility has an exercise room, beauty salon, arts and crafts room, library and cyber-center as well as a community room featuring a fireplace and kitchen.

Call 866-429-1266 or email monarchmills@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

the owner’s desire to tell the stories behind them. “Once that’s done, once somebody took the time to listen, they can give it up,” he said.

Gifting possessions: Planning to pass down something once you’re gone? Don’t wait. “I’ve comforted hundreds of clients who have had to watch their possessions being donated, sold or tossed in a dumpster,” Hayes said. “Take the time to decide what you really need or love, and take steps to get rid of everything else NOW.” False spin: Nobody wants to be the emotional downer, and that can lead to stiff, empty attempts to stay positive when everybody’s hurting, Mintz said. “Ask mom or dad, ‘Does any of this make you feel anxious? Does any of this make you feel a little bit sad?’ That tiny nudge goes miles toward a better outcome in the new place,” she said.

Home staging: Mom has always stored

• Brass fixtures. From switchplates to chandeliers, builder-grade brass is out.

• Unique granite. Meaning granite in hard-to-live-with colors, such as green.

Even black can be a turnoff.

• Vanity light strips. That is, globe bulbs above the bathroom mirror. Buyers prefer fixtures with sconces or glass shades.

• “Crystal” faucet fixtures. Replace acrylic with chrome, brushed nickel or oilrubbed bronze.

Patricia Mertz Esswein is an associate 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 www.Kiplinger.com. © 2012 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

the silverware in the top drawer to the right of the fridge. Make sure that happens in her new home. Bring along her favorite beat-up ottoman that you wanted to toss, and have her new place set up with pictures on the wall and slippers bedside when she moves in.

Spouses: Jo Magnum twice downsized her parents with the help of her three siblings. They made a pact: no spouses involved. “They weren’t allowed in on the conversations over who took what, where our parents went, who took care of the money.

They weren’t even allowed in the room,” she said. “We just didn’t need them there.”

Downsize the downsize: Organizer Vickie Dellaquila wrote a book, Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Seniors Downsize, Organize and Move. Her advice? Don’t give up everything in a set if it means that much.

Save six rather than all 12 place settings of the good china or silverware. The same goes for treasured books.

— AP

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-15

Before inviting your parents to move in

By David Horgen There is a rising trend of parents moving in with their adult children. All across the country unexpected problems that arise from this dubious living arrangement are causing family arguments, financial stress and increased divorce.

Before moving a parent in and making a life-altering change to the family harmony, there are many things to consider. Inviting a parent to move in has far-reaching implications on every aspect of your life — from financial impact to changing family dynamics, from role re-assignment to safety issues, from power struggles to eroding privacy.

Here are some suggestions to make the move work for all of you: Be open: Have a clear and open discussion with your family, siblings, spouse, kids and, of course, your parent, to decide if making the move is the right decision for all parties involved. Discuss: • The pros and cons • The different ways this move will affect the family • The ways each family member’s routines may be disrupted.

• Expectations that may differ from “the way things have always been” • Any possible monetary issues that could arrive • Compromises that each family member will have to make Medical management: As an older adult, a parent is apt to have a litany of doctor appointments, medication, and needs.

With the help of medical and geriatric care professionals, assess your parent’s medical needs and gain a clear understanding of how those needs will affect you and your family.

Gather all possible medical resources, containing both specific people and organizations, to minimize frustrations as well as possible mistakes.

Use your support network to create and implement a plan as well as back-up plans.

Moving day: Moving is stressful under any circumstance. Moving in an aging parent entails a permanent lifestyle change and one that may be met with resistance, which can make it even more difficult.

Plan for every detail upfront to minimize the potential strife.

Ready yourself for volatile emotions and

flaring tempers from all parties.

Use your utmost compassion and support when you decide what stays and what goes.

The move may not have been a parent’s first choice. Avoid sweeping decisions, such as throwing away Grandma’s 50 yearold collection of National Geographics, without discussing it with her first.

Decide ahead of time on furniture placement.

Make a disbursement plan for who gets items that cannot fit into your house. (Storage, give away, other siblings.)

House rules: Your parent is used to running their household with his/her own rules. Everyone must openly acknowledge that each family member must compromise to make the new living arrangement successful.

It is important to create a plan that is respectful to all parties, so your parent does-

n’t feel slighted and uncomfortable as the “newcomer” to your home. You also want to make sure that you and your spouse do not feel like outsiders. Decide on: Chores: • Who waters the plants and feeds the cat, etc.

• Who helps and who doesn’t help in the kitchen • How you like laundry done • Bathroom etiquette • What you make for dinner and what time • When are lights out, and television off David Horgan is an award-winning medical educator, filmmaker and director from CaregiverVillage.com who shares his firsthand account of what to do, what not to do, and what can happen (the good and the bad) in his book, When Your Parent Moves In. Visit www.whenyourparentmovesin.com.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oaks at Liberty 410-466-9267

BEACON BITS

TDD: 800-545-1833 x647

Ongoing

3501 Howard Park Avenue Baltimore, MD 21207 www.OaksAtLiberty.com

VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH SCREENINGS Northwest Hospital needs volunteers to help participants register

at community health screenings. Call (410) 521-5974 for more information.

Ongoing

B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS The Ellicott City Station of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum is seeking volunteers of all interests, abilities and skill levels.

Positions are available for greeters, docents and interpreters. The station is a living history site and volunteers are invited to dress in period clothing. The station is located at 2711 Maryland Ave. in Ellicott City. For more information, call (410) 461-1945 or visit www.ecborail.org.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Weinberg Village Campus 410-581-7878 3430 Associated Way Owings Mills, MD 21117 www.weinbergvillage.net This lovely campus of five buildings offers you the opportunity to maintain your healthy and active lifestyle. While living in one of the spacious apartments, you will have access to many amenities that include a convenience store, hair salon, and community rooms that are supplied with computers, games, televisions and books. In addition, residents take part in daily activities planned by resident volunteers and staff members. Located in a quiet corner of Owings Mills, you will have easy access to many shopping, dining and entertainment businesses. Weinberg Village has a community shuttle bus that makes regular trips to many local attractions.

Oaks at Liberty boasts a charming and relaxing setting for seniors ages 62+ to call home. Whether you choose a spacious studio, one or two-bedroom apartment, you’ll find a tranquil Baltimore home where everything you want is brought together: fully equipped kitchens, huge windows, walk-in closets and a community that was designed with you in mind. Whether you are an active senior who loves to attend social events and exercise or a more relaxed adult who prefers to sit fireside with a great book, Oaks at Liberty has the amenities to meet your needs. Make Oaks at Liberty your home today! *Income Restrictions Apply.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Easton 410-770-3070 640 Mecklenburg Avenue Easton, MD 21601 parkvieweaston@sheltergrp.com Park View at Easton offers maintenance-free living for those Seniors 62 or better. This community is nestled in a park like setting yet is close to The Shops at Easton, Memorial Hospital at Easton and the local senior center. Residents enjoy plenty of opportunities for entertainment, education and socializing with neighbors. This controlled access elevator building offers such amenities as a spacious community room with a kitchen, salon services, laundry facilities, lending library and fitness room. Call 410-770-3070 or email parkvieweaston@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

B-16

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Finally, a cell phone that’s… a phone

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

with rates as low as $3.75 per week!

“Well, I finally did it. I finally decided to enter the digital age and get a cell phone. My kids have been bugging me, my book group made fun of me, and the last straw was when my car broke down, and I was stuck by the highway for an hour before someone stopped to help. But when I went to the cell phone store, I almost changed my mind. The phones are so small I can’t see the numbers, much less push the right one. They all have cameras, computers and a “global-positioning” something or other that’s supposed to spot me from space. Goodness, all I want to do is to be able to talk to my grandkids! The people at the store weren’t much help. They couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want a phone the size of a postage stamp. And the rate plans! They were complicated, confusing, and expensive…and the contract lasted for two years! I’d almost given up until a friend told me about her new Jitterbug® phone. Now, I have the convenience and safety of being able to stay in touch…with a phone I can actually use.”

Sometimes I think the people who designed this phone and the rate plans had me in mind.

The phone fits easily into my pocket, and flips open to reach from my mouth to my ear. The display is large and backlit, so I can actually see who is calling. With a push of a button I can amplify the volume, and if I don’t know a number, I can simply push “0” for a friendly, helpful operator that will look it up and even dial it for me. The Jitterbug also reduces background noise, making the sound loud and clear.

There’s even a dial tone, so I know the phone is ready to use.

Affordable plans that I can understand – and no contract to sign! Unlike other cell phones, Jitterbug has plans that make sense. Why should I pay for minutes I’m never going to use?

And if I do talk more than I plan, I won’t find myself with no minutes like my friend who has a prepaid phone. Best of all, there is no contract to sign – so I’m not locked in for Monthly Minutes Monthly Rate Operator Assistance 911 Access Long Distance Calls Voice Dial Nationwide Coverage Friendly Return Policy1

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Call now and receive a FREE gift when you order. Try Jitterbug for 30 days and if you don't love it, just return it1. Why wait, the Jitterbug comes ready to use right out of the box. If you aren’t as happy with it as I am, you can return it for a refund of the purchase price. Call now, the Jitterbug product experts are ready to answer your questions.

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IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc.Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated. There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will apply for each minute over 30 minutes. The activation fee and shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug is a registered trademark of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and/or its related entities. Copyright © 2012 GreatCall, Inc. Copyright © 2012 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. All rights reserved.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-17

Save money by refacing kitchen cabinets

By Carole Feldman The kitchen in Abe Abuchowski’s home needed updating, but he didn’t want the expense of replacing the cabinets. So he chose a less costly option.

“The old cabinets were in really good shape,” he said. “They were high-quality cabinets, solid wood. It was the doors that really needed to be replaced.”

Replacing the doors and covering the cabinets’ remaining exposed parts with a matching veneer can be done for about half the cost of buying new, said Kit Selzer, senior remodeling and projects editor at Better Homes and Gardens. The process is called refacing.

Abuchowski said there’s another advantage to refacing. “There’s a minimum amount of disruption,” he said.

“It’s a simpler and quicker installation,” agreed Brett Bacho, president of Kitchen Magic, the company that did Abuchowski’s kitchen. Bacho said that cabinets typically can be refaced in three to five days.

Some limitations For refacing to be a viable option, however, the cabinets must be in good shape.

“If we had bad cabinets, just putting the new fronts on them wasn’t actually where we wanted to go,” said Claudia Phelps, who had the cabinets in her Washington, D.C., home refaced about 10 years ago.

She said her cabinets were “very well built” and worth saving.

Refacing also might not be a good choice if you want to do major changes to

your kitchen’s layout. “You do nothing to improve the function or the convenience of the kitchen [with refacing alone],” said David Alderman, owner of Dave’s Cabinets in Chesapeake, Va. Nor, he noted, does refacing increase storage.

It is possible, however, to add cabinets that match the refaced ones. Both Abuchowski and Phelps did that.

Many people also choose to replace their countertops at the same time the cabinets are refaced. That, obviously, adds to the cost.

Cabinet companies say it’s impossible to estimate the cost of refacing cabinets without seeing the kitchen and talking to the homeowner about the job.

“We’ve refaced kitchens for as little as $4,000 to $5,000, and for as much as $80,000,” Bacho said.

Doors can be made of a variety of woods, for example, such as cherry, oak or maple, or of an engineered material like laminate, including some that look like wood.

Abuchowski chose a laminate. “It’s very easily cleaned and will stay looking newer longer,” he said.

How the job is done In refacing, the cabinet doors are removed, and the sides and exterior face of the cabinet are prepared for the veneer covering. After that covering is measured and applied, the new doors — made to fit the existing cabinets — are installed.

Some companies replace the full drawers,

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

TUTORS NEEDED

PATHWAYS is a community outreach tutoring program of Towson United Methodist Church, dedicated to serving youth in the Greater Baltimore area. The group’s primary mission is to provide assistance young students, with an emphasis on tutoring, encouraging and mentoring. To learn more, call (410) 592-5442 or visit www.pathwaystutoring.org.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Glen Forest Senior Apartments 410-969-2000 7975 Crain Hwy Glen Burnie MD 21061 www.firstcentrum.com Glen Forest is centrally located to the numerous conveniences of the region, including Baltimore Washington International Airport, The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail and North Arundel Hospital. This independent living community for persons 62 years of age or better is also convenient to local shopping and dining that can be found throughout the Glen Burnie and Baltimore area. A shopping mall is located right across from the property, which includes grocery, clothing and other stores, banks and restaurants. While living at Glen Forest you will enjoy many activities hosted by the resident association, a senior center nutrition site that serves a hot lunch Monday through Friday for a nominal fee and carefree 24 hour emergency maintenance service.

Come visit and see why our residents love it here at Glen Forest.

others just the fronts. But the inside of the cabinet usually is not changed during the refacing process.

“You could definitely paint the inside to go along with the outside,” Selzer said.

She advises going with a professional unless you’re a very skilled do-it-yourselfer.

For those who want to try it themselves, there are how-to videos on YouTube or step-by-step instructions on the Web. Otherwise, many companies do refacing, from big ones like Sears to smaller ones like the one Alderman owns.

Of course, there is an even cheaper way to give the cabinets a fresh look. “Virtually any cabinet can be painted,” Selzer said. “It just takes the right product to do it.”

She said there are kits on the market that provide the materials you need, from preparation to stain to glaze, along with step-by-step instructions.

“Really what you want to do is be patient with it and give yourself time,” she said.

That means giving each coat enough time to dry.

When people paint cabinets, Selzer said, they are likely to choose white. “For new cabinetry,” she said, “people are looking for the wood look.”

A good reason to paint, she said, is for the enjoyment of a fresh-looking kitchen.

Upgrading cabinets, either by replacing or refacing them, can make your house more marketable if you’re considering selling it.

“Just a few years ago,” Selzer said, “people were buying houses with rundown kitchens knowing they were going to replace them. Now there’s a little more conservative attitude about it. People look for a kitchen and a house that has move-in qualities.”

— AP

SKILLED NURSING AND REHABILITATION

White Oak Health Care 410-979-4822 921 E Fort Avenue Baltimore MD 21230 White Oak Health Care is a premier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center consulting company. The company manages seven facilities in Maryland and West Virginia. Blue Point, Northwest, and Holly Hill are conveniently located in the Baltimore region. These facilities specialize in short term nursing care after hip, knee, and any joint surgeries.

They can also assist in rehabilitation after a stroke or accident. These centers pride themselves on the great therapy and nursing care given to their patients. If you are considering a joint surgery, or find that it becomes necessary call the admissions department for more information on scheduling a tour, selecting your room, and meeting the therapy staff prior to your surgery. For a rapid response, please call Julianna Lau at 410-979-4822.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Ellicott City 410-203-9501 8720 Ridge Road Ellicott City, MD 21043 parkviewellicott@sheltergrp.com Park View at Ellicott City I and Park View Ellicott City II extends Seniors 62 or better to enjoy a care free lifestyle. The communities are conveniently located near shopping, Historic Ellicott City, and local Senior Centers. The buildings have electronically controlled access, elevators for the residents’ convenience plus many amenities for social and recreational activities. Call 410-203-9501 or email parkviewellicott@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

B-18

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Refills just got easier. Call the Pharmacy number on your prescription bottle, enter the prescription I.D. number printed on the label and we will tell you when it will be ready.

With Internet Refills, you can order your prescription without ever leaving the house. Just go to www.riteaid.com and click “Refill Now”, select Store Pick-up or Mail Delivery and simply enter prescription information.

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With every prescription, you will receive written information on the dosage, side effects and potential drug interaction.

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We make children’s medicines a lot less yucky. Ask the pharmacist to add any of our 20 great flavors to any of your liquid medications.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

B-19

Garden’s stars can be leafy, not flowery

By Sean Conway After years of landscape projects, I have come to realize that the areas of my yard I like most are those that require the least amount of work.

That is not to say these areas are dull, boring and devoid of interesting plants. On the contrary! The areas I am talking about tend to be some of the most dramatically planted areas of my yard, always noticed by visitors, and are filled with perennials and shrubs that are bold and hard to miss.

And they look good throughout the season.

One feature these preferred spots have in common is that almost all the plants were chosen for their foliage rather than for their flowers. That is not to say that some of these plants don’t flower, but rather that the flowers take a back seat to the leaves.

Plants grown for their foliage don’t require nearly the amount of maintenance that plants grown for their flowers do.

They don’t require staking, deadheading and cutting back. And best of all, they don’t get overlooked when their flowers fade.

As with blooming plants, there are multitudes of choices for interesting foliage.

Trees, shrubs and perennials each have

their foliar superstars that rival their blooming counterparts.

Some prefer shade, such as the glossy, heart-shaped leaves of ginger or the silver and red Japanese painted ferns. Others, such as the variegated red-stemmed dogwood or the deep burgundy leaves of a crimson frost birch, prefer full sun.

When I plant areas with perennial foliage plants, I tend to plant them densely so their leaves shade the soil beneath, making it difficult for weeds to grow. This trick works especially well with large foliage plants such as hosta.

I have also had great success employing this technique to cover bare ground in an area of my garden that is both shady and damp, conditions few plants are happy with.

The variegated form of Petasites japonicus, commonly called butterbur, loves these conditions. Although it spreads very quickly forming a big colony, in areas where it can easily be kept in check it works like a charm. Its large cream and green leaves really brighten up a dark spot.

Foliage plants can also be used as accents to highlight particular spots in the garden.

One of my favorites for this is the pagoda dogwood, Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea.’

BEACON BITS

May 26+

appear black.

It spreads slowly but will eventually form a nice wide patch. In late spring racemes of white bell-shaped flowers are borne on black stems slightly above the foliage. These flowers give way to black glossy berries in the fall.

Hardy to zone 6, black mondo grass make the perfect companion to silver leaved plants, and recently I planted some in front of a silver leaved olive for just that reason.

When you are considering what to plant in your yard this season, why not let a few foliage plants do some of the heavy lifting?

Sean Conway’s book Sean Conway’s Cultivating Life (Artisan Books, 2009) describes 125 projects for backyard living. See www.cultivatinglife.com.

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This small tree reaches 10 to 15 feet in height and 12 to 20 inches in width. Its distinctive horizontal branching is why my kids call this tree the “wedding cake tree.”

Hardy from zone 3 to zone 7, it forms distinctive layers of branches covered with leaves that are green, white and tinged with pink, giving an overall appearance of a white-frosted cake.

This lovely tree makes a perfect accent to the end of a bed, or in a mixed woodland area. Its form and color help it stand out against ordinary green backgrounds.

Foliage plants need not be flashy to be noticed. One spot in my garden that gets a lot of attention is a planting of Ophiopogon ‘Nigrescens,’ or black mondo grass. This low-growing herbaceous perennial sports narrow, deep purple, grass-like leaves that

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B-20

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JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

PERFORMANCE. PEOPLE. PRIDE.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

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Money

11

Law &

There’s a huge gulf between three- and five-year stock mutual fund return rates because of the market meltdown in 2008.

How to evaluate the rates? See page 13.

Reliable and readable investment advice

By Elliot Raphaelson Readers ask me all the time for reliable sources of information on personal financial topics. So many books and periodicals are available that it would be impossible for anyone to read everything. It can take a lot of time just to figure out what is worth reading.

I have spent more than 25 years in the personal finance field in various capacities — as a faculty member, a consultant, and a writer of books and articles. I read as many new books as I can, as well as all the major magazines and newspapers that cover personal financial planning. Below I cite the ones I have found the most reliable.

Every individual and every family has different investment objectives, and not every subject is equally interesting to everyone.

My list doesn’t include every worthwhile book or subject area, but I believe these selections are reliable — and readable.

Comprehensive guidebook: Making the Most of Your Money Now, by Jane Bryant Quinn (Simon and Shuster, 2009). This book, a revision of Quinn’s 1991 best-seller of a similar title, has more than 1,200 pages and covers every important personal financial planning topic. Quinn writes clearly and accurately on a broad range of topics, including how to get the most out of a bank while avoiding fees, the simplest

ways of getting out of debt, and how to select a competent financial planner.

Investment primer: A straightforward investment primer with a sense of humor is The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need, revised ed., by Andrew Tobias (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011). He has good advice about how to outperform most stock market investors and how to prepare for a comfortable retirement.

I also recommend his daily blog, “Money and Other Subjects” (andrewtobias.com/column), in which he suggests some speculative short-term investments.

Tobias clearly states that these recommendations are speculative and should be bought only with money you can afford to lose. If you are a conservative politically, you may not like his blog.

Retirement planning: If you have significant retirement savings, you should read the books written by Ed Slott. A good one is Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map (Ballantine Books, 2007). His books are readable and informative.

His advice can save you thousands of dollars in taxes. He points out common mistakes investors make regarding naming beneficiaries. He also makes a persuasive case that many attorneys are not sufficiently knowledgeable about retirement

account issues. I can’t recommend his books highly enough.

Index fund investing: Most investors don’t have the time or the expertise to make individual selection of common stocks and bonds. I am a strong believer that most investors will be better off with a portfolio that consists primarily of no-load index funds of common stocks and bonds.

If you want to learn how to follow this strategy, and how to do periodic rebalancing, I recommend A Random Walk Down Wall Street, 10th ed., by Burton Malkiel (Norton Press, 2012). Other excellent guides are Winning the Losers Game, 5th ed., by Charles Ellis (McGraw Hill, 2009), and The Only Guide to a Winning Investment Strategy You’ll Ever Need by Larry Swedroe (St. Martin’s, 2004).

Diversified investment: David Swenson managed Yale University’s endowment very successfully for many years.

His books discussing diversified portfolios are excellent, and I recommend Unconventional Success: A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment (Free Press, 2005).

Swenson provides sample portfolios to suit different investors’ objectives and stages of life.

Buying individual stocks: I recognize that many investors prefer to select their

own individual investments rather than use mutual funds. For common stock investors, I recommend Stocks for the Long Run, 4th ed., by Jeremy Siegel (McGraw Hill, 2007). For investors who want to concentrate on common stocks that pay significant dividends, I recommend The Strategic Dividend Investor, by Daniel Peris (McGraw Hill, 2011) and The Ultimate Dividend Playbook by Josh Peters (Wiley, 2008).

Periodicals: I always read Barron’s weekly. I especially like the issues when investment experts from various disciplines are interviewed together, and make specific recommendations of individual common stocks, bonds and mutual funds. I also read the Wall Street Journal daily, and especially like the Saturday issue for its additional section on personal finance topics.

Many individuals prefer using financial planners or depend on their stockbrokers.

Not everyone wants to be his own financial planner. However, I believe that if you read reliable publications, you will become a better investor and will be able to have comprehensive, worthwhile discussions with your financial advisors and attorneys. © 2012 Elliot Raphaelson. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Don’t overdo Treasury bonds in portfolio

By Mark Jewell Take a close look at your bond portfolio, and you might be in for an unwelcome surprise. The Federal Reserve’s attempt to revive the economy by buying up government debt has left many mutual fund investors with huge stakes in Uncle Sam’s IOUs. Owning more Treasurys is sticking investors with disappointing recent returns, and in some instances losses.

To be sure, Treasurys are super-safe investments that can help minimize losses when stocks decline. So they have a place in any well-diversified portfolio.

Yet yields remain so low that investors with substantial Treasury stakes could suffer modest losses when interest rates eventually creep up from their current super-low levels.

Higher interest rates pose risk With the economic recovery regaining momentum, that risk is growing. When interest rates rise, bond prices decline because investors can get newly issued bonds paying higher interest.

A recent uptick in rates is one reason why the worst-performing mutual fund categories this year are those specializing in government debt. Funds primarily investing in short- and intermediate-term government bonds are earning a paltry 0.2 percent on average this year, while those specializing in long-term government debt have lost 5.5 percent, according to Morningstar.

It’s also been a rough year for broadly diversified index funds that passively track the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Most are barely breaking even, re-

turning about 0.3 percent.

The Barclays index, the most widely used bond benchmark, has undergone a makeover in recent years, with Treasurys making up an increasing share of the index.

At the end of 2007, just before the financial crisis, Treasurys made up about 22 percent. That’s the Treasury weighting that index funds tracking the Barclays Aggregate sought to maintain.

Fast-forward to the end of 2011, and the index’s Treasury component jumped to more than 35 percent. Consequently, higher-yielding corporate bonds make up a comparatively smaller piece of the index.

The main reason? “It’s the Treasury market that has been the most manipulated by the Fed,” said Warren Pierson, comanager of the Baird Core Plus Bond

Fund (BCOSX).

The Federal Reserve has spent trillions of dollars buying government bonds since the financial crisis, hoping to stimulate the economy and encourage investors to venture into higher-risk investments.

The purchases, and the government’s increased issuance of Treasurys to keep up with its growing debt, have kept Treasury yields artificially low. They’re so low that it’s hard to get a decent return unless you accept more risk and invest in stocks or riskier categories of bonds.

Plenty of investors have done that, and stocks have recovered most of their losses since the market peaked in late 2007. Yet Treasurys continue to hold appeal for many nervous investors seeking refuge See TREASURY BONDS, page 12

12

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Treasury bonds From page 11 from stock volatility. That high demand has also kept yields low.

Index or managed funds?

Modest exposure to Treasurys is appropriate, but Pierson said an index approach isn’t wise now. It risks leaving bond investors overexposed to investments that he believes are likely to underperform, and possibly suffer losses.

Of course, index funds offer cost advan-

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

tages over managed funds like the one that Pierson helps run. For example, Vanguard Total Bond Market Index charges an expense ratio of 0.22 percent, compared with 0.55 percent at Baird Core Plus Bond.

Those are the ongoing charges for operations, expressed as a percentage of assets.

The Baird fund recently held about 16 percent of its portfolio in Treasurys — about half the Treasury weighting in the Barclays Aggregate index.

That’s not unusual. Actively managed bond funds held an average 14.5 percent weighting in Treasurys at latest count, ac-

BEACON BITS

May 24

MARYLAND’S STATE PLAN ON AGING

Secretary of Aging Gloria Lawlah has announced public hearings to solicit input for the State Plan on Aging for FY 2013-2016. The Central Region hearing will be held on Thursday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Randallstown Community Center, 3505 Resource Dr. Interested individuals are welcome to testify in person or to submit written comments about the services they are currently receiving, or to suggest new services that are needed. Written comments should be forwarded to Casey Brown, Chief Administrator of Federal Programs, Maryland Department of Aging, Suite 1007, 301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 or email comments to cmb@ooa.state.md.us.

Ongoing

FREE LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE

Program staff and volunteer attorneys for the Baltimore Bar Foundation provide advice and consultation, direct representation, and education/outreach services to older adults. Volunteers who speak Spanish, Hebrew and Yiddish can speak to senior groups. Program staff and volunteers handle pro bono, non-fee generating civil cases, involving public benefits and pensions as well as consumer, healthcare, housing and credit-related problems. For more information, call (410) 396-5277 or email info@baltimorebar.org.

SERVING

THOSE WHO

SERVED AND THEIR ELIGIBLE NON-VET SPOUSES

cording to Morningstar. Many managers, like Pierson, are discouraged by the meager Treasury yields.

Losses can occur when a fund generates less interest income than going market rates. A fund’s returns will vary because the fund manager must continually reinvest as bonds mature. A recent modest rise in Treasury yields means previously issued bonds paying lower interest are worth less than they once were. A fund with too much invested in those older bonds can end up with losses.

While the Fed continues to keep shortterm interest rates near zero, pressure to raise them is mounting. Recent economic strength has pushed Treasury yields up slightly higher. For example, newly issued Treasurys maturing in 10 years are yielding around 2.2 percent, up from 1.8 percent a couple months ago.

Of course, Treasurys aren’t the only

types of bonds that could deliver disappointing returns, or losses, when the Fed eventually raises rates, or if inflation begins to spike. Plenty of other lower-risk, lower-yield bond categories share that vulnerability.

But the Treasury components of many investors’ bond portfolios deserve special scrutiny now, and may be in need of some careful trimming. Treasury yields remain historically low, and the Treasury component in the overall bond market has spiked.

The bottom line: Take a look at the latest holdings data for your bond funds, and check how much is invested in Treasurys. If it’s substantial, be aware you could be facing losses if the economy continues its recovery.

They won’t be as painful as the hit you could see from a sharp decline in the stock market. But any loss from a supposedly safe investment like Treasurys is a disappointment.

— AP

BEACON BITS

June 15

FIGHT ELDER ABUSE

The nonprofit group Baltimore County Restoring Elder Safety Today will host a public rally on elder abuse issues at noon on Friday, June 15 in the Towson Library Meeting Room, 320 York Rd., Towson. Kicking off the free event will be Jamie Costello, of ABC2 TV. Keynote speaker is Marceline White, executive director of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, who will focus on financial scams and frauds that victimize older adults. Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Myers will discuss the revitalization of Project Safe, a statewide education program that teaches bank personnel to identify and report suspected financial exploitation of seniors. The Sweet Adelines, a female a cappella group, will perform. For more information, call (410) 887-4200.

May 25

LEARN HOW TO AVOID SCAMS

Baltimore County Department of Aging invites you to attend a free workshop on “Steps to Avoiding Scams,” on Friday, May 25, at 12:45 p.m. at the Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Rd. Receive a free handbook and learn how you can budget, save, set financial goals, and see if you qualify for benefits to help you pay your bills. The workshop is free, but registration is requested. Sign up at the front desk of the center or call (410) 887-2002.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

13

Recent mutual fund returns can mislead

By Mark Jewell Investing is all about numbers. Portfolio returns are critical, details about how they were achieved secondary. But numbers sometimes confuse more than they inform.

Understanding that reality is essential to make sense of current 3- and 5-year returns for stock mutual funds.

Current gaps between those common performance benchmarks are so huge that they don’t seem credible. For example, most index funds tracking the Standard & Poor’s 500 have delivered 3-year annualized returns around 28 percent a year — phenomenal, if those numbers could be sustained.

Yet over five years, returns averaged less than 2 percent, roughly keeping pace with inflation.

The index fund results are on par with the 26 percentage-point difference between 3- and 5-year returns for diversified stock funds, the type that make up the bulk of most investor portfolios.

October 2007 to March 2009.

The gaps are even larger at many funds using high-risk strategies unsuitable for most investors. Among more than 5,000 diversified stock funds, the biggest gap is 92 percentage points, belonging to Direxion Monthly Small Cap Bull 2x (DXRLX).

Its annualized 3-year return is a dazzling 75 percent per year, while it has lost an average 17 percent over five years. The fund tracks an index of volatile small-company stocks, delivering double the average monthly gains — or losses — of the Russell 2000.

And there’s no shortage of mainstream, large funds whose volatile returns have resulted in 3- vs. 5-year gaps far wider than the 26 percentage point average. For example, Legg Mason Capital Management Opportunity (LMOPX) has a 48-point gap, while Vanguard Capital Value (VCVLX) has a 42-point spread.

The bottom line for investors is that it’s crucial to put current 3- and 5-year returns in context. They’re a quirk of the calendar, and an illustration of the market’s bust-toboom cycle the past few years.

The huge gaps are mostly noise for long-term investors who stay on track with a well-designed plan. But over a volatile stretch like the past five years, the damage can be long-lasting for investors who got

5-year returns include meltdown The reason the numbers are so disparate? Funds are now wiping their 3-year records clean of the stock meltdown that ended March 9, 2009. Five-year records look comparatively awful because they include the market’s 57 percent plunge from

scared and sold investments as the market was hitting bottom, missing the recovery.

How to choose a fund Here are a few tips for keeping current 3- and 5-year fund returns in proper context: • Seek steady returns: Funds with unusually volatile returns frequently outperform peers over brief periods, and in some cases for several years.

But such volatility can often bring out the worst in investors prone to making short-term moves based on emotion. Fear bred by market declines often causes investors to miss eventual recoveries, and greed during rallies can lead to buying into

a market that’s near its peak.

Consider a low-volatility approach. Tom Roseen, a Lipper Inc. fund analyst, puts it this way: “Find a fund with a good steady manager at the helm who can hit doubles and triples, even if they don’t hit many home runs.”

Several funds that aim to deliver smooth returns currently have small 3- vs. 5-year gaps, with strong overall returns. One example: Forester Value (FVALX), with a 3year average return of nearly 17 percent, and a 5-year average of 3 percent.

Credit manager Tom Forester’s defensive style, emphasizing stable dividend-paying See MUTAL FUNDS, page 14

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Mutual funds

BEACON BITS

Fall 2012

QUICK ESCAPES

From page 13

Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) will offer a num-

stocks. This fund also frequently maintains a large cash position in its portfolio, providing a cushion when stocks are declining.

• Be mindful of the difference a year can make: Many funds with the best records of recent years stand out because they limited their losses in 2008, when stocks plunged 38 percent. Outperformance during market declines can be crucial, because losses have a bigger impact on long-term results than comparable gains.

If stocks lose 50 percent in value, it’s important to remember that you’ll need a 100 percent gain — not 50 percent — to get back to where you started.

It’s a reality that led to standout performance from Reynolds Blue Chip Growth (RBCGX). Sensing trouble in the housing market, manager Frederick “Fritz” Reynolds began selling stocks and holding on to cash as subprime mortgage troubles rippled into the stock market.

His fund lost just 5 percent in 2008, among the smallest losses that year for large-cap growth funds. As the market

ber of quick trips this fall, such as day trips to New York City, the International Spy Museum, Peddler’s Village, the Barnes Foundation and more. For information or a brochure, call (443) 840-1717 or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/travelstudies.

May 30

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

CRUISE ANNAPOLIS HARBOR Make your reservations for a cruise of the Annapolis harbor and past the Naval Academy on the Harbor Queen at 10:45 a.m. on

Wednesday, May 30. The cost is $13 per person, with a box lunch available for an additional $6.75. For information on this 40-minute narrated sighting cruise, stop by the center desk at the Brooklyn Park Senior Center, 202 Hammonds Lane, or call (410) 222-6847.

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Must be outgoing, love selling, be comfortable with computers, e-mail and contact management software (such as ACT!), and be willing to follow direction, complete required paperwork, and work from our office in Kensington, MD. Inside sales or telemarketing experience a plus.

If you love the Beacon — and would be excited to call potential advertisers — send your resume and cover letter to Alan Spiegel, Director of Sales, at: alan@theBeaconNewspapers.com.

turned in March 2009, Reynolds was shifting back into stocks. Reynolds’ 5-year record, with an average annualized gain of 14 percent, is best among hundreds of funds in its category. Reynolds achieved that distinction with just 9 percentage points separating its 3- and 5-year returns.

• Invest based on performance over long periods: Quirks like the current 3- vs.

5-year gaps crop up from time to time after the market has gone through a volatile stretch. Volatility is likely here to stay, so don’t overemphasize those 3- and 5-year numbers when assessing a fund’s record.

Give more weight to a fund’s 10-year record, or even a longer period if data are available.

• Diversify: For most investors, diversification — spreading holdings among several types of investments, across a broad swath of the stock and bond markets — pays off.

It means an investor will rarely outperform the market by a significant margin. But diversification can limit losses in downturns, and usually results in stronger long-term returns. To stay truly diversified, rebalance holdings periodically to restore an appropriate balance of stocks to bonds.

— AP

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15

Arts &

The Baltimore Farmers' Market & Bazaar offers produce, fresh baked goods, dairy products and more.

Festivals and fun kick off summer season

Star-Spangled Sailabration 2012 More than two dozen majestic tall ships and grey hulls from around the world will sail into the Baltimore Inner Harbor and Chesapeake Bay Wednesday, starting June 13 for Star-Spangled Sailabration 2012, an international maritime festival lasting through Tuesday, June 19.

Sailabration 2012 launches Star-Spangled 200, Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three-year celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and penning of the National Anthem.

Among the highlights of the week is the performance of the Star-Spangled Symphony, featuring Gov. Martin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Celtic rock band and the United States Navy Sea

Chanters chorus, on Sunday evening, June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The Star-Spangled Symphony is a 90-minute musical celebration that pays tribute to the start of Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration and features a BSO world premiere performance of Philip Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Overture for 2012, conducted

by BSO Music Director Marin Alsop.

Glass, a Baltimore native, has composed 20 operas and eight symphonies during his prominent career. The evening includes BSO renditions of other patriotic musical selections. Tickets for the Meyerhoff concert are $15 and available online at the BSO web site, www.bsomusic.org.

During Sailabration week, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also be able to enjoy free on-board public tours of ships, official visits by international dignitaries and Navy leadership, fireworks, crew sporting competitions, community service projects, living history displays, educational activities, public art projects, and an exciting air show featuring the famed Blue Angels.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BALTIMORE OFFICE OF PROMOTION AND THE ARTS

By Carol Sorgen Summer doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t officially begin until June 20, but we all know that the long Memorial Day weekend is when the season really gets underway.

What do you have planned for the summer? Sure, there will be steamed crabs and snowballs, Orioles games and trips â&#x20AC;&#x153;down-yâ&#x20AC;? ocean, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a few other suggestions to add to your summer of fun.

Hope you enjoy!

Baltimore Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market & Bazaar This is the time of year to take advan-

To commemorate the War of 1812, more than two dozens ships will sail into Baltimoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harbor in June. The 2012 Sailabration will feature free tours of the ships, an airshow, as well as events on land.

tage of the freshest produce in the area, and to support your friends and neighbors by â&#x20AC;&#x153;buying local.â&#x20AC;? Now through Dec. 23, every Sunday between 7 a.m. and noon underneath the Jones Falls Expressway

and Holliday and Saratoga Sts., you can enjoy this one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

See FESTIVALS, page 17

16

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Anne Tyler From page 1 No plot will be spoiled by revealing the novel’s conclusion: “We go around and around in this world, and here we go again.” Tyler has long left questions considered but unanswered, and lives transformed but not completed.

The titles themselves — The Beginner’s Goodbye, Breathing Lessons, The Amateur Marriage, The Accidental Tourist — suggest that life is a job assigned without warning, a body of water into which we’re thrown, fully clothed. Parents and children, men and women. Everyone is winging it, including the author.

“My daughters always tell me that with every book I say [of my drafts], ‘This is not going well, and nothing is going to come of it,’” she said. “In that sense I’m still unsure.

I think, though, an almost opposite problem is I get to have written so many books I’m worried about the temptation to, I love that phrase, ‘phone it in.’”

An adopted hometown The people change, but one constant is Baltimore — her residence for 45 years and the setting for virtually all of her 19 novels — in which the street names have been changed, but a real hardware store or grocery is likely to appear. Baltimore, a city of tradition and acting out, of roots and displacement, where characters might argue whether they belong to the South or

the North.

“It’s a city with grit and sort of a feisty spirit to it. I think it’s a very funny city and I love it,” she said. “But I always feel that I’m an impostor when people talk about ‘Baltimore writers’ and feel I can pronounce upon Baltimore. Any Baltimorean can tell you I’m not a real Baltimorean.”

Tyler was born in Minneapolis and raised in rural North Carolina, moving to Baltimore at age 25.

But her friend John Waters, a native Baltimorean, insists she is a proper citizen.

The director notes that they present very different parts of the city — you won’t read about drag queens and serial killers in a Tyler novel — but both have an affinity for outcasts and oddballs.

“We concentrate on the eccentrics,” said Waters, the creator of Hairspray and other Baltimore-based films. “I always am interested in people who think they’re normal and yet are totally insane. She writes about people who think of themselves as normal, and are normal, but also eccentrics who don’t know it.”

The writing life Her books are not inspired by her own life. Never! But she does acknowledge an indirect influence — how having children might have helped her write about parenting, or how the death in 1997 of her husband, Taghi Mohammad Modarressi, added to the insights of her new book.

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

“The preoccupations of certain stages of life — child-rearing, adolescent-rearing, empty nest, aging, death of a spouse — are clearly mirrored by the novels I wrote at the time I was going through those stages,” she said. “Or shortly after I went through them, since things often seem to need to settle in my mind before I can write about them.”

When a character’s voice doesn’t speak to her, Tyler turns to her research. She keeps a box of index cards with notes and ideas, perhaps observations about someone she spotted in the dentist’s office or a sentence overheard. Like the retired teacher in Noah’s Compass, she studies life “like a language” and remains fascinated by how we live and behave.

“Nobody does the same thing twice. You keep seeing new variations in people, families particularly,” she said. “I think the interesting thing [about families] is that unless you do some kind of violent wrenching you’ve got to stay together. You don’t have a choice.

‘Friendships don’t particularly interest me. Lots of interesting things can happen, but you don’t have to get along just to get together. The compromises people make for another and the lifelong wounds and all that stuff is just fascinating to me.”

The world remains fresh in part because

it differs so from her childhood. Tyler is the daughter of Quakers and social activists who lived for years on communes.

The author was 11 before she went to school, where she was stunned when classmates asked if she had a boyfriend. She enjoyed reading but never considered creating her own stories until she came across a sentence in Eudora Welty’s short story “The Wide Net”: “Edna Earle could sit and ponder all day on how the little tail of the C got through the L in a Coca-Cola sign.”

“I was 14 and read that line,” Tyler said.

“That was the summer I worked on a tobacco farm, handling tobacco, and I thought, ‘Oh, I know people like that.’ But I didn’t know you could write about people like that.”

Tyler majored in Russian at Duke University, but also studied creative writing under Reynolds Price, who died last year.

Known for such novels as A Long and Happy Life and Kate Vaiden, Price inspired her with his enthusiasm and grounded her with common sense. Tyler remembers a short story she wrote in which a poor black woman looks at her hands and likens them to an India ink drawing.

“And he [Price] said, ‘That would not happen. She would NOT think about an

Letters to editor

more Beacon. I suggest you send a copy of it to the politicos mentioned.

I’m a registered independent who is disgusted with the behavior of both political parties when it comes to these issues. Neither side is trying to come to a solution for the serious financial problems.

At any rate, again, thank you for a reasonable analysis of a sad situation at the conference.

Mary P. Felter Annapolis, Md.

From page 2 Perhaps Mr. Rosenthal should have attended the N.R.A. convention instead. Perhaps he should not be publishing the Beacon if he feels so conservative.

Tony Buechner Baltimore Dear Editor: Thank you for your thoughtful and analytical editorial on page 2 of the May Balti-

See ANNE TYLER, page 17

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

Festivals From page 15 Stroll through Maryland’s largest direct-from-the-producers market, and take in the vast quantity of foods, including seasonal fruits and vegetables, poultry, seafood, beef, pork, lamb, bison, goat, rabbit, fresh baked goods, herbs and organically raised and produced milk, yogurt, butter, eggs and cheese products.

If you don’t want to wait till you get home to eat, there is a multicultural feast available from vendors selling everything from pit beef sandwiches to burritos, dumplings, crepes and more. Vegan items are sold as well.

And if you’re in need of a gift, the bazaar offers a variety of unique crafts and collectibles including jewelry, handbags, hair accessories, clothing, rugs, pottery and wooden items, stained glass and photographs.

Anne Tyler From page 16 India ink drawing,’” Tyler said. “That was the first time I had to think about really getting into another life. I may know a lot about India ink drawings, but she doesn’t.”

Tyler was in her early 20s when her first novel, If Morning Ever Comes, was published. She had been signed up by one of the business’ most revered editors, Alfred A. Knopf’s Judith Jones, who also worked with Updike and had recently helped discover Julia Child. Jones, who retired last fall, said Tyler is a “great social observer,” part of a tradition dating back at least to Jane Austen.

“There’s something very special about her,” Jones said. “She has a wonderful sense of humor, but it’s never mean. It’s always very sympathetic and understanding, and she takes risks that an established writer often doesn’t. With the new book, she’s dealing with a new subject for her: ‘Do the dead come back?’”

But editors and writers do disagree,

Showcase of festivals One of Baltimore’s many charms is its distinct ethnic neighborhoods, showcased every year in local festivals. The St. Nicholas Greek Folk Festival kicks off the season from June 7-10 with traditional dancing, costumes, Greek foods, crafts and tours of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 to 10 p.m., at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 520 S. Ponca St., (410) 633-5020, www.greekfolkfestival.org. Free.

On June 23-24, LatinoFest hosts a funfilled weekend of Hispanic culture featuring live musical performances, costumed dancers and traditional foods, Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., at Patterson Park, Linwood and Eastern Aves., (410) 563-3160, www.latinofest.org. Admission fee.

The African American Festival celebrates black history on July 7 and 8 with even ones as close as Tyler and Jones.

Jones said she “fell in love” with Tyler’s work from the start and sees continuity to the present. Tyler is embarrassed by her early novels, which suffer, in her opinion, from an attitude of “Let me tell you what my view of the world is.”

She is so disdainful of If Morning Ever Comes that she has forgotten about a passage near the end of the book, in which the narrator, a college student visiting his home in North Carolina, wonders about a girl he knew there and the “myriads of other people” she had been during her life.

His thoughts are echoed in Tyler’s work over the decades, like the wife in Breathing Lessons who thinks about a date she turned down and how she might have become a “whole different person.” Tyler still wonders whether we change entirely over a lifetime, or not at all.

“I’m constantly aware of the fact, for instance, if I look back on my children as little people, they basically died. It’s very sad when I think about it. And I’m so happy to have them as grown-ups, but they’re other

17

an eclectic mix of regional and nationallyknown entertainers, including top soul and R&B recording artists, educational exhibits, arts and crafts, foods and children’s activities, Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., at M&T Bank Stadium (Lots B & C), (410) 2448861, www.africanamericanfestival.net.

Free.

From July 13-15, the Caribbean Carnival Festival brings island traditions to the states with the popular carnival parade, live reggae and soca music performances, colorful costumed dancers and authentic Caribbean cuisine, Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., Clifton Park near Harford Rd. and St. Lo Dr., (410) 362-2957. Admission fee.

The International Festival on August 4 and 5 showcases the diverse cultures of Baltimore City with international performers, multicultural foods, children’s activities and an annual soccer competition, Sat-

urday and Sunday, from noon to 9 p.m. at Poly/Western High School near Falls Rd. and West Cold Spring Lane, (410) 3963141. Free.

On Sept. 8 and 9, the Ukrainian Festival captures the essence of Ukrainian culture with traditional arts and crafts, songs and dances, a beer garden, assortment of food specialties, children’s activities and storytelling, on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., at Patterson Park, Linwood and Eastern Aves., (410) 967-0501, www.ukrainianfest.net.

Free.

The Russian Festival closes the season on October 19-21 with traditional foods, live bands, imported crafts and more, Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 1723 East Fairmount Ave., (410) 276-6171, www.russfest.org. Admission fee.

people, totally other people,” she said.

“It’s paradoxical, too. I often have the feeling that I’m 7, which seems to be the age of reason, when you first start saying, ‘Oh, I’m me and there’s the world there.’ I

turned 70 on my last birthday, and I thought, just looking out through my own eyes, not at myself in the mirror, ‘I’m 7, how did this happen?’”

— AP

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD S M O R E

T I M I N G

A C A N O E

I M P L A O L O L L I F S M E T P E E S T R

E C A T N G O O L A O R G E E O R T U S L A P O T J O E O R W E E E S S

G R I F F E Y

G O L F L O O

R A S H

B U R N T A S

C Z A I R A N M R E D A N L O I B .

A N B E A T

A C H A B R A S C A N E F D A E T M I N D M E C O R Y R O T E O Z A S R O B O T G O O D E M U I R S T U N A M S H E R E S Y

From page 18.

AN INTERACTIVE DAY DESIGNED TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE A MORE BALANCED, HEALTHY AND FULFILLED LIFE!

Don’t Miss this Year’s Exciting Changes!

Now a weekend event by popular demand!

Tell them you read it in the Beacon!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

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

9:00 am - 3:00 pm Gary J. Arthur Community Center at Glenwood 2400 Route 97, Cooksville, MD 21723 NEW for 2012... Deanna Bogart in Concert!

Plus, a great offering of...

• Dynamic Vendors • Engaging Seminars • Important Screenings

PHOTO BY BET

TE BITTING

Lunch available for purchase • Bring a lawn chair for the Deanna Bogart concert PREMIER SPONSORS

Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 6:30-8 a.m. on 680 WCBM

SIGNATURE SPONSORS

ADVANCED RADIOLOGY • BATH FITTER • CAREFIRST BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD • CURVES OF GLENELG ELIZABETH COONEY CARE NETWORK • HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE • HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE • PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSOCIATES MEDIA SPONSORS

HER MIND MAGAZINE

•

HOWARD MAGAZINE

Call 410.313.5440

OR

•

WOMEN’S JOURNAL

•

THE BEACON

Visit us at www.howardcountyaging.org/womenfest

JUNE 2012 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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Puzzle Page

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Fabulous

by Stephen Sherr 1

2

3

13

4 14

17 20

5

6

7

15

16

18

19

21

26

29

36

37

39 42

46

JUMBLE ANSWERS

57

44

32

45 48

49

53

58

50 54

59 63

64

65

66

67

68

61

31

27

62

60

Scrabble answers on p. 17.

43

52

56

12

40

47 51

55

11

34

38

41

10

30

33 35

9

23

25 28

8

22

24

Answer: Training for submarine duty has to be -UNDERTAKEN Jumbles: CRACK TESTY BARREN PUNDIT

18

Across 1. Acela stopping pt.

4. Future turtle 7. Cuban dance 13. Flaky mineral 15. ___-Magnon 16. Refs 17. Easternmost part of the Arabian Peninsula 18. “Shop ___ you drop” 19. Esoteric 20. Fab song recorded the same year as I Want to Hold Your Hand 23. Tobacco regulator, since 2009 24. Word painted on a famed B-29 25. Closest state to St. Thomas 26. Complete group of baseball cards 28. Fab song that hit #1 9 years before and 9 years after Come Together 33. Pooh pal 34. Group that recorded the Star Wars theme 35. Bring across the border 39. Decay 41. Cambodian neighbor 42. Sophisticated 46. Fab festivals that debuted 22 years after the Beatles’ rooftop concert 51. Park place 52. ___ Lanka 53. C3PO, for one 55. Partner of “ands” and “buts” 57. Fab song released a decade before Back in the U.S.S.R. 60. Dinosaur decimator 62. Bather’s reward, in 25 Across 63. Sierra Club founder 64. Youth sports division 65. Grampa Simpson 66. Phaser setting 67. Emphasize 68. Humpty Dumpty’s first verb 69. Breakfast times

69

Down 1. Campfire treat 2. Comedian’s forte 3. An outdoorsman’s purchase 4. Prefix meaning “outer” 5. Reds All-Star 6. Facility at the British Open 7. Presidential advisor 8. Blasphemous opinion 9. Where The Love Boat could be found 10. More like Martha Stewart than Jimmy Stewart 11. Hokey Pokey offering 12. Where The Love Boat could be found 14. WASP part 21. Member of a rowing team 22. Scattered RAIN 27. Award Susan Lucci won on her 19th try 29. Stop hitting the snooze bar 30. Rx identifier 31. Sgt., for example 32. First square in 59 Down 35. Nauseated 36. The only person named in Revolution 37. Questioning one 38. Site of the Nobel Peace Prize award 40. Shuffle the office chairs 43. Diaper difficulty 44. ___ a witch (executed) 45. He said “Open Sesame” 47. “Eat ___” 48. Streaks ahead 49. “How ___ nice game of chess” (The War Games computer’s last line) 50. Half a portion of salt 54. Endearing seabirds 55. Brats 56. Pool measure 58. Miner quest 59. Web address ending 61. “___ and Me” (story about Dolly and her clone)

Answers on page 17.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2012

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

A National Trade Association we belong to has placed some of the above classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license ID, or credit card numbers.

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 & Employment Opportunities AIRLINE CAREERS begin here - Become an Aviation Maintenance Tech. FAA approved training. Financial aid if qualified - Housing available. Job placement assistance. Call AIM (866)453-6204.

DRIVERS! Driver Resource Services accepting applications 16 day company paid CDL training.

No experience needed. 1-800-991-7531www.DriverResourceServices.com.

EARN UP TO $50/HR!! Get paid to Shop and Eat! Start Now. Training Provided. 1-888-7500193.

Caregivers I WILL DO CHORES, shop, walk the dog, take you to doctor appointments, make lunch, read to you. Call Nancy 410-625-5937. Excellent references.

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Caregivers

Miscellaneous

Wanted

EXPERIENCED/bonded/insured Nursing Assistant available Live-in/out, Monday – Friday.

Long term. 443-559-2987

FINISH HIGH SCHOOL at home in a few weeks. First Coast Academy, 1-800-6581180x130. www.fcahighschool.org.

STAMPS! Small collector buying singles, sets or collections. Fair price paid. Southwest Stamp Club meets Friday June 15th, 2012. 1-2:30PM. Arbutus. 410-247-4169.

Financial Services OWNER WILL FINANCE. Bank or Seller won’t finance? We Help! No qualifying. No credit! Low Down. Call Today! 1-800-563-2734. kanthony@cigrealty.com.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. WIN or Pay Nothing! Start Your Application In Under 60 Seconds. Contact Disability Group, Inc. Licensed Attorneys & BBB Accredited. Call 1-888-606-4790.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate THINKING OF MOVING? – Let a caring professional senior housing expert assist you.

LONG & FOSTER R.E. ‘Specially for Seniors group. Joan Hemingway-Mezoff, 410-446-3658 or 410-825-6400. EHO Realtor.

For Sale 2 SALVADORE 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.

FOUR CEMETERY PLOTS in Gardens of Faith in Sermon on the Mountain. $2000 each 410-866-4115.

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? You choose from families nationwide.

LIVING EXPENSES PAID. Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6292, 24/7 Void/Illinois.

CA$H PAID- up to $26/Box for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. Hablamos Espanol. 1-800-371-1136.

Personal Services LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational.

Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

E-BAY AND CRAIGSLIST LISTING SERVICE AND CLEARING. We also clean-out homes that are cluttered, vacant, from estates, and for people who are downsizing. We also clean-out sheds, barns, basements, attics, garages, and out buildings. Call Dave 443-5148583.

PIANO LESSONS: Summer is a great time to start. Patient, experienced teacher. All ages 5 thru senior. Near Towson. Call Linda at 410532-8380.

Wanted CASH BUYER SEEKING WATCH MAKER’S TOOLS & PARTS, wrist & pocket watches (any condition), costume jewelry and antiques, coins. 410-655-0412.

STEEL BUILDINGS: 4 only 25x30, 30x38, 40x52, 45x82. Selling For Balance Owed! Free Delivery! 1-800-462-7930x131.

BUYING NUMISMATIC COINS and most gold or silver items including coins, sterling, jewelry, etc. Will come to you with best cash offer. Call Paul: 410-756-1906.

STOP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR TV! Satellite is cheaper than cable! Packages from $19.99/mo.-FREE movies, FREE upgrades & FREE HD: Limited Offer-CALL NOW! 800-2599178.

WE BUY MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, Musical Instruments, recreational Items, Motorcycles and Minibikes, Collections, Memorabilia, Vintage Items, Electronics, Toys, Cars, Jewelry, Tools, and More. Call Dave 443-514-8583.

Health CANADA DRUG CENTER. Safe and affordable medications. Save up to 90% on your medication needs. Call 1-888-734-1530 ($25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.)

Home/Handyman Services RELIABLE WIRING Your electrical handyman with over 30 years experience adding comfort, convenience, and safety to homes and businesses. Expert installation and repair of fans, outlets, security lighting and security systems. Quality work at a fair price. Call Art for your free estimate at: 443-525-4954. MHIC# 71419.

$$OLD GUITARS WANTED$$ Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gretsch. 1920’s to 1980’s. Top Dollar paid. Toll Free: 1-866-433-8277.

CASH FOR CARS, Any Make or Model! Free Towing. Sell it TODAY. Instant offer: 1-800-864-5784.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Any Car/Truck, Running or Not. Call for INSTANT offer: 1-800-4546951.

WANTED UNEXPIRED DIABETIC TEST STRIPS UP TO $26/BOX. PAID SHIPPING LABELS. HABLAMOS ESPANOL! 1-800-2679895 www.selldiabeticstrips.com.

WANTS TO PURCHASE MINERALS and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201.

YEARBOOKS “Up to $15 paid for high school yearbooks1900-1988. yearbookusa@yahoo.com or 972-768-1338.”

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.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from the 20s through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections preferred. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

Thanks for reading!

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

CALLING ALL ARTISTS Artscape, Baltimore’s own free arts festival, is looking for visual

and performing artists for the 31st annual event, to be held July 20-22 on Mount Royal Ave. and North Charles St. Arts organizations, artisans, opera, theater and classical music companies, and children’s entertainers may apply. For more information, call (410) 752-8632 or visit www.artsape.org.

Miscellaneous ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800494-3586 www.CenturaOnline.com.

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

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