-ANY CANCER CENTERS TREAT CANCER /NLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THEM PROVIDE THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE AVAILABLE AT 7ILLIS +NIGHTON #ANCER #ENTER #ANCER IS AMONG THE MOST DREADED DIAGNOSES 4HE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER SOME OF THEM RIGHT HERE IN 3HREVEPORT AT THE 7ILLIS +NIGHTON #ANCER #ENTER 4HIS FACILITY WAS AMONG THE lRST SIX SITES TO USE 4OMO4HERAPY IMAGE GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY AND IT HAS BEEN NAMED A 4OMO4HERAPY #ENTER OF %XCELLENCE 0HYSICIANS IN THE 2ADIATION /NCOLOGY $EPARTMENT CONTINUE TO BE A RESOURCE FOR OTHER CANCER CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD 4HE 7ILLIS +NIGHTON #ANCER #ENTER OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN A SINGLE LOCATION 2ADIATION /NCOLOGY -EDICAL /NCOLOGY 'YNECOLOGIC /NCOLOGY )NFUSION 4HERAPY 0%4 3CANNER ,ABORATORY 0HYSICAL 4HERAPY %DUCATION AND 3OCIAL 3ERVICES 4HIS BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES SUPPORTS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF CANCER 0HYSICIANS REGULARLY DISCUSS CASES AND COLLABORATE TO SEEK THE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS 9OU DON T JUST HAVE A DOCTOR TO CARE FOR YOU YOU HAVE AN EXPERIENCED TEAM
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WWW WKHS COM  July 2008  THE BEST of TIMES
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008
Make Your Choice...
Retirement • Rehabilitative Services • Long-Term Nursing Care s 3TATE OF THE ART REHABILITATION lTNESS CENTER s NEW FULLY lNISHED GUEST QUARTERS s %LEGANT INTERIOR DESIGN WITH THE lNEST FURNISHINGS s 3ETTING A NEW STAND IN LUXURY EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND CARE
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 July 2008  THE BEST of TIMES
If you don’t think this month’s cover is as cute as all get out, something’s wrong with you, Bub. That adorable dog helps us to again promote the value of PET THERAPY for those who don’t or can’t have a pet. By the way, one of the things often overlooked in such stories is the benefit the therapy has on the dogs. When you see them arrive at a nursing home or other facility, they noticeably “perk up,” wagging their tails a little more eagerly, clearly looking forward to hours of focused attention. Yes, they love it, too! There are many other kinds of therapies, of course, and this month’s feature (see the centerspread) examines a good variety of them, including the unexpected and completely wonderful Wii “therapy.” This revolutionary device happily encourages everyone to get up, get moving, and love every minute of it. And if you’ve already found the fun in this wonderful device, you don’t want to miss the upcoming Wii Senior Olympics, sponsored by Sciport. (For details see our Get Up & Go! calendar section.) Speaking of massive popularity, the prize-winning recipe for Coconut Macaroon Pie, submitted by Margaret d’Aquin of Shreveport, is sure to receive just that. See ADRIAN!Cooks (page 40) for the first, second and third-place winners of our recent recipe contest. It seems the economy is going into a free-fall (it’s going to be much worse that anyone will admit), so expect The Best of Times to step up. Beginning with this issue, we will be featuring columns, articles and tips on how to economize, strategize, and survive the coming economic difficulties. It will be a no-nonsense, no-fluff continuing series that views your money as seriously as you do. In the meantime, have a happy 4th of July and enjoy this great issue. As always, we had a ball putting it together for you. -- Tina Calligas, Editor
John Gillespie Magee, Jr. was born in Shanghai, China in 1922 to an American father and a British mother, who were missionaries. He was educated at the American School in Nanjing, China. When he was nine, Magee moved to Britain to continue his education. The following year his family moved to the United States. He was graduated from high school with honors, earning a scholarship to Yale University, where his father was then a chaplain. However, he chose not to enroll and, at the age of 18, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1939. Like thousands of other young Americans, he was knowingly breaking the law --but with the tacit approval of the then officially neutral U.S. government. He was, after all, volunteering to fight the Nazis. On September 3rd, 1941, Magee flew a high altitude (30,000 feet) test flight in a new Spitfire Mk V. During the flight he was struck with the inspiration for a poem -”To touch the face of God.” In a letter to his parents he wrote, “I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed.” On the back of the letter he had written his poem, “High Flight.” Magee was killed three months later at the age of 19, three days after the U.S. entered the war. At an altitude of about 400 feet, his Spitfire (marked VZ-H) collided in the clouds with an Oxford trainer flown by Ernest Aubrey Griffin. At the inquiry afterwards, a farmer testified that he saw the Spitfire pilot struggling to push back the canopy. The pilot stood up to jump from the plane but was too close to the ground for his parachute to open. Both pilots died instantly. (See page 43 for his immortal poem.) THE BEST of TIMES July 2008
18 16 31 44 45 42 19 45 23 39 7 17
50 17 3 Acadian On Call All About Care Home 43 Services 19 ArkLaTex Home Health ArklaTex Window and Door 45 Ashley Medical Equipment and Supplies 31 Azalea Estates Assisted 12 Living 27 Balentine Ambulance 45 Better Hearing Systems 27 Bible Correspondence 46 35 Course 43 Black Post Farm Flea 13 Market 39 BluePrint Louisiana Brentwood Hospital - Senior 41 Care
July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Centuries Memorial and Hillcrest Certified Limb and Brace Community Hospices of America Craig Smith for District Attorney Cruises, Inc. Daniel C. Scarborough, IV, Attorney Dr. Bryan Vekovius Dr. Gary Booker Family Care Services Fix My PC Forest Park Funeral Home Golden Years Guide Gutter Helmet GWS Mortgage, LLC Healthy Choices, LLC Home Assistance Services Home Mortgage Protection Plan – Dana Pearson
50 Imperial Wok 43 IV Plus Pharmacy 17 Jeb Design/Build 25 Joe Gilsoul, Attorney 50 Judy Holland, realtor 14 Kingsley Place, Shreveport 37 KWKH 1130 AM 53 LATAN 23 Leslie Lakes Retirement Center 42 LifePath Hospice 32 Lil” Rascals Pet Care 11 Live Oak Retirement Community 27 Northwest INCS, Inc. 54 NurseCare of Shreveport 13 Odyssey HealthCare 56 Petrohawk Energy Corp. 41 Pierremont Eye Institute 32 ResCare Home Care 15 Sam’s Town Casino and Hotel 7,36 SciPort Discovery Center 9 Seniors Club 18 Serio Investments 46 ShoeBooty’s Restaurant 43 Shreve Hearing Aid Service 18 Skin Technology – Jeany Postel 36 Southwood Square Apartments 24 Spring Lake Assisted Living 45 St. Joseph Hospice 55 Sterling Health Plans 9 Susan Mead 39 T & W – EZ-Tilt-N-Tote 26 TES Regional Healthcare Federal Credit Union 4 The Bradford, LLC 16 The Center for Families 33 The Food Bank of NW Louisiana 46 The User Friendly Phone Book 31 The Waterford at Shreveport 22 Town & Country Total Wellness 15 United Home Health Care of Shreveport 47 Vision-Source – Dr. Larry Chism 32 Westwood Mental Health 41 Wilhite Solar Solutions 2 Willis Knighton Cancer Center
Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Al Bolton, Suzy Cohen, Judge Jeff Cox, Mirabai Holland, John Gillespie Magee, Jr., Tait Trussell, Betsy Williams
Louisiana ranked least healthy state in the United States* *United Health Foundation
Dear Tina, I have been reading your magazine for years now, and I’m so impressed that it keeps getting better and better. I’ve always enjoyed reading the columns written by your experts, but now you’re doing even more local stories. I was really fascinated with the June issue’s story on the ethnic markets--your focus is a wonderful and gentle way to introduce readers to the delicacies those markets provide. The spotlight article on the Thaxtons was inspiring and I loved the details in the restaurant review. The saddest part of reading your magazine is that I can’t take advantage of all the local tips and information your magazine provides because I live so far away! Congratulations on the continuation of a job well done. --Sandra Polizos, Montgomery, AL LETTER TO THE EDITOR re: LHCR and HospitalCompare During the last week of May, the federal government placed newspaper ads across the country that highlighted hospital quality. In select communities, the ads offered hospital-by-hospital comparisons of two quality measures. Ultimately, the goal of the ads is to direct people to the website: www.hospitalcompare. hhs.gov. At Louisiana Health Care Review, we support efforts by the federal government, the Louisiana Hospital Association and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to bring this type of transparency to medical care. Patients are better served when they have access to information they can use to make better decisions. Just as important as making this information readily available are the recent successful efforts by hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers to improve their patient care quality. Working closely with LHCR, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana, hundreds of these providers have made this commitment which has created powerful change in just a few years; these providers have reduced the number of nursing home residents in pain by 30% and improved care given to heart attack patients by 60%; they have reduced physical restraint use by almost 50% and pressures sores by over 20%. Louisiana even has the highest national rate for number of seniors immunized against pneumonia (71.7%).* These improvements are making health care healthier. They will get a further boost when pending legislation is passed by the Louisiana Legislature. SB 287 by Sen. Mount will result in a new state government website that expands upon information available on the federal site, and puts it in a user-friendly context. I urge people to go to the hospital compare website, become familiar with key quality measures, and then ask your legislator to make access to this information a reality in Louisiana. --Sincerely, Scott Flowers, LHCR
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It’s time to give our uninsured patients first-class access to health care. Blueprint Louisiana, with input from people like you, has developed a plan that improves access to local care and strengthens doctor training. And we need your help. Spend five minutes at www.blueprintlouisiana.org to learn how you can make a difference in improving not only health care, but ethics, education and roads, too. Together, we will make it happen. lll#WajZeg^ciadj^h^VcV#dg\ Paid for by Blueprint Louisiana
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*Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2007 State Snapshots & Medicare Quality Improvement Organization Data 2004-2007.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008
News k INFO
This just in
• Medicare spending is expected to rise to 9% of gross domestic product by 2032 as a result of the interaction between rising health care costs and population aging, with increased health care spending accounting for approximately 50% of the increase and the aging population accounting for approximately 30% of the growth. The remaining 20% growth comes from the interaction between the aging population and increased health care spending (“Accounting for Sources of Projected Growth in Federal Spending on Medicare and Medicaid,” Congressional Budget Office, May 2008). • 81% of all Americans ages 45 and older say the economy is in fairly bad or very bad condition, and 74% say their elected officials are not doing enough to help people caught in the economic squeeze. Retirees and 65+ Americans are more likely to depend on fixed incomes, which means they have less room to make spending changes and may be bearing the biggest burden of rising prices. Almost 59% of people 65+ in this group are having a harder time paying for food, gas and medicine, and 34% of all retirees have had to help a child pay bills in the last year. More than one-in-ten (11%) of retirees have had to seek help from loved ones or charity organizations in the last year. Almost 25% of people ages 45-64 are prematurely taking money out of their 401(k)s and other investments. Younger boomers (ages 45-54), in particular, are doing things like postponing paying bills (27%) and even cutting back on medications (17%). Almost two-thirds (63%) of those asked own stocks individually or through retirement plans like 401(k)’s or IRAs. More than 7 in 10 (72%) of these investors lost money on their portfolio in the last year. (AARP and AARP Bulletin,“The Economic Slowdown’s Impact on MiddleAged and Older Americans,” May 2008) July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Direct Express® Debit Card for Social Security payments introduced The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS) has announced that a prepaid debit card for Social Security payments and other federal benefits is now available. The Direct Express ® Debit MasterCard® card – designed as a safe, convenient alternative to paper checks that people without bank accounts may choose – is currently being introduced in 10 states, including Louisiana. The Direct Express ® card provides another option to choose from for federal beneficiaries who do not have a bank account, but are looking for a no-cost or low-cost alternative to using check cashing facilities and carrying large amounts of cash. Unlike other prepaid debit cards,
the Direct Express® card offers cardholders free access to their money. There is no sign-up fee, no monthly fee, and no bank account or credit check is required to enroll. Cardholders can make purchases, pay bills and get cash at thousands of ATMs and retail locations. Cards are FDIC-insured up to the maximum amount allowed by law, and offer a Personal Identification Number (PIN). If a card is lost or stolen, it will be replaced. Benefit payments are automatically deposited onto card accounts each month, so cardholders don’t have to wait for the mail to access their payments. People may sign up for the card by calling toll-free 1-877-212-9991 or visiting www.USDirectExpress.com.
Social Security announces improvements to the Ticket to Work Program The Social Security Administration issued final rules designed to improve the Ticket to Work program. The changes will improve the effectiveness of the Ticket program in assisting beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work. The new Ticket to Work program rules: • Include more beneficiaries under the Program - The population of individuals eligible for a Ticket is expanded to include beneficiaries who are expected to medically improve. • Increase incentive payments for Employment Networks (ENs) - The new rules modify the EN payment systems to create greater financial incentives for service providers to participate, which will improve beneficiary access to services and expand the pool of quality providers available to serve beneficiaries. • Increase the value of the Ticket - The rules for Ticket assignment are changed to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to take advantage of a more effective combination of services from both State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies and ENs.
• Synergize efforts - The new rules promote better alignment of the Ticket to Work Program, the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program, the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Program, and other Social Security work incentive initiatives. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program. The purpose of the Ticket to Work program is to expand the universe of service providers available to beneficiaries with disabilities who are seeking vocational rehabilitation, employment and related support services. These service providers are available to assist beneficiaries in obtaining, regaining and maintaining self-supporting employment. The final rule can be accessed through the Federal Register online at www. regulations.gov .
UPDATE
Diabetic Screenings, Cancer Screenings, and Insurance Marketing Fraud Marci’s Medicare Answers
Dear Marci, My doctor just told me that I am pre-diabetic, and need to come back for another screening in six months. Will Medicare pay for it? --Frank Dear Frank, Yes. If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, Medicare will cover two diabetes screening tests every calendar year. People who are considered at risk of diabetes are eligible for one screening every 12 months. You are considered at risk if you have hypertension, dyslipidemia (a metabolism disorder) or high cholesterol, have a prior blood test showing low glucose (sugar) tolerance or are obese (a body mass index of 30 or above). You are also considered at risk if you meet two of the following conditions: are overweight (body mass index between 25 and 30), have a family history of diabetes, have a history of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) or have had a baby weighing over nine pounds, or are 65 or older. Medicare will pay for 100 percent of its approved amount for the tests even before you have met your Part B deductible. ~Marci
Dear Marci, My mother’s friend, who has both Medicare and Medicaid, was told that she would lose her Medicaid if she didn’t join a particular insurance plan. My mother has both Medicare and Medicaid, too, and we don’t know what to do. Is this true? --Arlene Dear Arlene, No. If the person who told this to your mother’s friend was an insurance broker, he or she was acting illegally and committing marketing fraud. There are rules that insurance plans and brokers must follow when selling their plans. For example, they are not allowed to enroll you in a plan over the phone if they called you, and they cannot visit you in your home without an invitation. If you suspect marketing fraud, save all proof (such as a business card or marketing materials) and report the activity to your State Insurance Department
or State Attorney General Consumer Helpline. ~Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www. medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” MRC’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how Medicare works with Medicaid, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.
“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” -- Harriet Beecher Stowe, author
Dear Marci, I get sunburned very easily, and have been getting screened for skin cancer since I was young. I will be eligible for Medicare this summer, and would like to know if it will cover these screenings. --Bill Dear Bill, No, Medicare will not cover screenings for skin cancer. If, however, you see a suspicious-looking mole, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Medicare will cover a diagnostic doctor’s visit and any diagnostic tests your doctor considers medically necessary. You may be able to find a doctor who will give you a free skin cancer screening by visiting the American Academy of Dermatology’s web site (www.aad.org/public/exams/ screenings/index.html). ~Marci THE BEST of TIMES July 2008
Area
News k INFO
BCOA opens “Senior Café”
The Bossier Council on Aging (BCOA) recently announced winning the Meals on Wheels sustainability grant for $10,385. BCOA was selected as one of ten winners in the nation for an innovative idea to reduce senior hunger. BCOA was the only winner in Louisiana. The proposal was to refurbish its current kitchen in order to sell breakfasts daily and dinner at their Thursday Night dance to senior citizens at reduced prices. Mary Anne Rankin, Executive Director, stated: “We are very pleased with the response and success of this project, especially since it helps feed seniors who live on fixed incomes.” The “Senior Café” is located at 706 Bearkat Drive, Bossier City, and is open to the general public. Breakfasts are $1.50 – $2.00. Dinner prices vary according to the menu. For more info, call 741-8302.
Fan donations requested
The Bossier Council on Aging (BCOA) is requesting donations of fans for Bossier Parish senior citizens. Between 300–500 fans are needed each year to fulfill the request of those seniors who have no air conditioning or cannot use it because of the costs involved. Donate fans or cash towards the purchase fans to the Bossier Council on Aging, located 706 Bearkat Drive, Bossier City, LA. 71111. For additional information call 318-741-8302.
10 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Louisiana selected for major Medicare demonstration of electronic health records On June 11th, Governor Bobby Jindal welcomed HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt to Louisiana and joined him in announcing that the state has been selected as one of the first four states to take part in a national Medicare demonstration project that provides incentive payments to physicians for using certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care. The five-year, first-of-its-kind project is expected to improve the quality of care provided to an estimated 3.6 million Americans. The administration has worked with the Louisiana legislature to invest more than $18 million to assist physicians and rural hospitals with the implementation of
electronic health records. These electronic health records allow for better privacy and security of health information, and fewer medical errors. Studies have Governor Jindal is joined shown that up to (from l to r) by HHS Secre100,000 Ameri- tary Mike Leavitt and DHH cans die every year Secretary Alan Levine from avoidable medical errors, and that nurses spend an hour filling out paperwork for every hour they provide care, in many hospital settings.
The offices of Centerpoint Community Services/2-1-1 relocate and updated website launched Centerpoint Community Services/21-1 recently moved into a larger, more convenient location to better serve their client base. Since 1987, Centerpoint™ Community Services has been serving as the source of information and referral for human services including; housing and/or shelter, utility assistance, healthcare/prescriptions, food distribution, and crisis intervention in Northwest Louisiana. The new offices for Centerpoint are located in Suite 130, at 2121 Fairfield Avenue, in the Highland area near Christus Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport.
Concurrent with the relocation, Centerpoint 2-1-1 released their newly updated website: www.centerpt.org. The website provides a comprehensive list of services and agencies serving the Northwest Louisiana area. Clients can “mouse over” the various website buttons for more news and information about Centerpoint 2-1-1, and their partnering agencies. Centerpoint’s phone numbers, web and e-mail addresses remain the same, and the public can still dial “2-1-1” from anywhere in the state of Louisiana to connect to a 2-1-1 Call Center Representative.
For those who have wondered what to do in Shreveport-Bossier, a surprising new interactive website is going to make it easier to find out. ShreveportBossierFunGuide.com, a colorful and “Fun to use” online event calendar recently launched in the area. The website features the latest information on hundreds of places to go, things to see and do in Northwest Louisiana’s ten parish area.
Visitors to the website will find photos and highlights of events, and will be able to search for events and attractions by date, area of interest such as Music, Theatre, or Family Fun, geographic region and highlighted events. Each event will have it’s own web page with photos and information, as well as easy maps and directions and the Buy-Now ticket link, when available.
Announcing northwest Louisiana’s new online event calendar
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#ALL THE BEST of TIMES ï&#x192;¼ July 2008 ï&#x192;¾ 11
NUTRITION
EAT
Like your life depends on it
Here’s to your good health
l Fresh spinach is a nutritional powerhouse, but don’t let it linger in the fridge. The best way to use your leafy greens is during the first 4 days after purchase. After that, the antioxidant and folate levels of spinach plummet, turning it into a wimpier green. l Presliced fruit sure saves time. But research shows that presliced fruit may have less vitamin C by the time you eat it than if you’d bought whole fruit and sliced it yourself. Kiwifruit, pineapple, and cantaloupe seem particularly prone to vitamin C loss. l Looks like there may be yet another reason to kick sugar and white flour out of your diet: eye health. Cutting back on processed carbs could lower your risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in people 60 and older. What makes refined carbs so bad for your peepers? Seems their high glycemic index may be partly to blame. High-glycemic-index foods boost a whole bunch of bad things linked to AMD -- like increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood-fat levels.
12 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Agent in red wine found to keep hearts young How do the French get away with a clean bill of heart health despite a diet loaded with saturated fats? Scientists have long suspected that the answer to the so-called “French paradox” lies in red wine. Now, the results of this new study bring them closer to understanding why. Researchers from industry and academia, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Florida, report that low doses of resveratrol -- a natural constituent of grapes, pomegranates, red wine and other foods -- can potentially boost the quality of life by improving heart health in old age. The scientists included small amounts of resveratrol in the diets of middle-aged
mice and found that the compound has a widespread influence on the genetic causes of aging. Specifically, the researchers found that low doses of resveratrol mimic the heart-healthy effects of what is known as caloric restriction, diets with 20 to 30 percent fewer calories than a typical diet. The new study is important because it suggests that resveratrol and caloric restriction, which has been widely studied in animals, may govern the same master genetic pathways related to aging.
Peter Piper picked the red pepper
Bell peppers are brimming with age-fighting antioxidants. But which color pepper has the most -- red, orange, yellow, or green? If you must pick just one, you might be better off red. A recent study showed that reds were the bell of the ball when it came to disease-fighting phenol content. Phenols aren’t the only advantage that red bell peppers have. According to another study, red bells are also highest in vitamin C - that mighty antioxidant that helps keep your skin and blood vessels young.
Popeye’s got a secret
Could sweet red peppers, sunflower seeds, and mango chunks atop a bed of spinach make you strong like Popeye? According to research, it very well might. Especially if you’re over 65. Each of those salad ingredients is rich in vitamin E. And seniors who get the most E test best on physical tasks, like how fast they can walk or how quickly they can get up out of a chair. Vitamin E helps protect against the damage to the cells of the body by certain by-products released during daily body functions -- including damage to muscle cells. That may partly explain why not getting enough E puts physical function and strength at risk in seniors.
Good news for coffee lovers Good news for coffee lovers: Drinking up to six cups a day of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee daily won’t shorten your life span, a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows. In the study, the team looked at the relationships between coffee drinking and the risks of dying from heart disease, cancer, or any cause in almost 42,000 men and more than 84,000 women. At the study start, all participants were free of heart disease and cancer. The participants completed questionnaires every two to four years, including information about their coffee drinking, other dietary habits, smoking and health conditions. The research team looked at the frequency of death among people with different coffee-drinking habits, comparing them to those who didn’t drink the brew. They also controlled for other risk factors, including diet, smoking and body size. Researchers found that women who
drank two or three cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 25% lower risk of death from heart disease during the follow-up (from 1980 - 2004) than non-drinkers. Women also had an 18% lower death risk from a cause other than cancer or heart disease compared with non-coffee drinkers. For men, drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily was a “wash” -- not associated with either an increased or a decreased risk of death during the follow up. The relationship did not seem to be directly related to caffeine, according to the researchers, since those who drank decaf also had a lower death rate than those who didn’t drink either kind of coffee. Researchers stressed that the findings may only hold true for healthy folk. People with any disease or condition should ask their doctor about their risk, because caffeine still has an acute effect on short-term increase of blood pressure.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 13
“STAT”
Vertigo can be treated
MEDICAL
NEWS & INFO Medical briefs
l Over 375,000 older Americans become ill or die from medication errors each year, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers found that miscommunication among patients, physicians and pharmacists over drug regimens, incompatible use of both overthe-counter and prescription drugs, and patients’ failure to follow directions are the most common causes for medication errors. l Botulinum toxin, known to many as Botox, is safe and effective to prevent excessive sweating of the armpits and hands and to treat many involuntary muscle disorders. But while it may rid your brow of unwanted wrinkles, it probably does not help combat migraines and chronic tension headaches, newly published guidelines suggest. l In a research study reported during the 68th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco, hundreds of patients facing the prospect of developing type 2 diabetes, the oral drug pioglitazone (brand name: Actos®) reduced the rate of conversion to the disease by 81% in the active therapy group compared to those taking a placebo.
14 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology found that the best treatment for vertigo is the easiest and quickest one. The guideline on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), an inner ear disorder that is a common cause of dizziness, is published in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The disorder causes a feeling of spinning or whirling when the head is moved in certain ways, such as looking up or bending. The feeling lasts a short time but can be severe. The guideline determined that in many cases the vertigo can be treated with simple maneuvers - a series of head and body movements performed by a doctor or therapist while the patient sits on a bed
or table. Several maneuvers are in use for vertigo. The guideline found that canalith repositioning procedure, also called the Epley maneuver, is safe and effective for people of all ages. The Semont maneuver is possibly an effective treatment. The disorder is believed to be caused by loose calcium carbonate crystals that move in the sensing tubes of the inner ear. The maneuvers move the calcium crystals out of the sensing tube and into another inner chamber of the ear, from which they can be absorbed.
Music hath charms to calm hypertension
Italian researchers have some advice for those with high blood pressure: Breathe slowly. Turn on some quiet, rhythmic music. And watch your high blood pressure take a little tumble. But researchers aren’t suggesting anyone turn to breathing exercises and music instead of medicine. Still, easy and enjoyable daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing may help people naturally lower their blood pressure. The study authors also found that restriction of salt intake, exercise and limits on alcohol consumption had about the same effect. Researchers have previously found that relaxation can relieve people’s cardiovascular symptoms. But the researchers behind the new study discovered that relaxation significantly affected blood pressure only if it was combined with quiet music. Researchers suggest the findings, which were presented at the American Society of Hypertension’s annual meeting, are useful as a complement to existing treatments. There’s a lot to be said for being faithful to one thing, but not when it comes to exercise. In a study of people 65+, those who engaged in four or more physical activities a week were less likely to develop dementia than those who did one or none (assuming they hadn’t inherited a gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease).
Drug cocktail extends lives of breast cancer patients
Researchers using a new cocktail of cancer treatment drugs are reporting the best survival rate to date in patients with an aggressive type of advanced breast cancer. Results were announced at the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The study, primarily funded by the National Cancer Institute, included 76 patients from 28 centers who had HER-2 positive breast cancer, in which the cancer had spread to distant sites such as bones, liver, lungs or brain. Patients received trastuzumab (Herceptin®) which targets HER-2 positive cancer cells, in combination with two chemotherapy drugs: docetaxel (Taxotere®) and vinorelbine (Navelbine®). Ninety-three percent of these patients survived for at least one year. The median time the spread of cancer was held in check was 21 months, and the median survival was 39 months. By comparison, in previous studies on similar patients, median survivals ranged from 18.4 months to 38 months, and the median length of time the cancer was held in check ranged from 3 months to 13.8 months. Side effects included high blood sugar, low white blood cell count, fatigue and infections. But overall, the regimen was well tolerated. The study regimen also included a self-administered daily shot to boost the white blood cell count and keep infection rates low. (Newswise)
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 15
LEGAL
The Taxman Cometh to Church and the Hospital Lee Aronson
I have to pay taxes. And you probably do too. But some organizations don’t have to pay taxes: they are tax exempt. Churches, for example, can be tax exempt organizations. But because of a 1954 law, in order to receive tax exempt status, there are some things that a church must agree not to do. For example, in order to remain tax exempt, a church can not “directly or indirectly participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.” In other words, a Church can’t tell you how to vote. Or even endorse candidates. Back in 1992, one church in New York placed a couple of newspaper ads urging Christians not to vote for Bill Clinton. The IRS didn’t like that and revoked the church’s tax exempt status.
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However, it is OK for churches to support causes or ballot initiatives as opposed to candidates. And it’s OK for churches to hold an event where all the candidates are invited or to distribute voter guides as long as they are for education and not an attempt to favor or oppose candidates. What about this? The Sunday before the election, a church invites one of the candidates to preach at the church. During his sermon, the candidate asks the congregation for their votes. Is that OK? Not according to the IRS. If a church is only going to invite one (or some but not all) of the candidates to speak and not provide equal access to the others candidates, then the candidate “nor any representative of the church” may make “any mention of his or her candidacy or the election.” But what about a religious leader? Isn’t he or she, in their individual capacity, allowed to support a specific candidate? Yes, but the IRS says “religious leaders cannot make partisan comments in official
organization publications or at official church functions.” In addition to churches, hospitals can also be tax exempt. But if a hospital is tax exempt, should it have any special duty to provide medical care to patients who can’t afford to pay? Not necessarily. Because of a law passed in 1969, hospitals can be tax exempt as long as they “confer a public benefit” or “provide a community benefit.” Unfortunately, the law doesn’t do a very good job of defining those terms. One case has held that “a nonprofit hospital will qualify for tax-exempt status if it primarily benefits the community. One way to qualify is to provide emergency room services without regard to patients’ ability to pay; another is to provide free care to indigents. A hospital may also benefit the community by serving those who pay their bills through public programs such as Medicaid or Medicare.” Lee Aronson is an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana.
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Pharmacy
Blood Pressure Medications Can Multi-Task Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.
I have high blood pressure. I don’t believe in vitamins, but my medicine makes me feel terrible. I’ve tried four different prescriptions but I always get sick, dizzy or tired from these drugs. Can you teach me more about blood pressure medicine so I can find one that’s right for me? – D.S., Tulsa, Oklahoma Blood pressure meds actually multi-task, so finding one with the right ‘personality’ is sort of like playing matchmaker. For example, men who are balding might want ‘minoxidil’ because it lowers blood pressure and spurs hair growth. Minoxidil is sold over-the-counter as a liquid solution for hair growth called Rogaine. Consider Clonidine (Catapres) which works in the brain to reduce blood pressure, and also helps attention deficit and withdrawal symptoms from nicotine, alcohol and addictive drugs. Then there’s propranolol, which lowers blood pressure and prevents migraines. And two drugs, doxazosin and terazosin, are great for older men because they lower blood pressure and relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate. I’m a natural pharmacist who thinks outside the pill, so I urge you to reconsider your position about vitamins and dietary supplements. I also recommend taking up exercise and avoiding fried fatty food. In the meantime, here’s some information about the most popular blood pressure medications at the pharmacy. Bear in mind that all blood pressure drugs can make you tired, spacey and very dizzy when you stand up. Diuretics or Water Pills: These force your kidneys to dump salt (and water), making you go to the bathroom more frequently. It reduces the amount of fluid coursing through your blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure. Take these every morning so potty trips won’t interrupt your sleep. These include hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and furosemide (Lasix). Beta-blockers: These slow down your
Finding the right blood pressure medicine is a lot like playing matchmaker heart rate and widen the arteries, taking some pressure off your pipeline. Popular ones include metoprolol (Lopressor/Toprol), atenolol (Tenormin) and propranolol (Inderal). The side effects are lengthy, including dry mouth, tiredness, nightmares, cold hands and feet, dry eyes, wheezing and decreased libido. Calcium channel blockers: These are drugs that prevent calcium from getting inside arterial cells and squeezing them off. Because they widen blood vessels, including those that surround the heart, these drugs are perfect for chest pain (angina). They can cause dizziness, swelling of the ankles, constipation and headache. Popular ones include amlodipine (Norvasc), verapamil (Calan), nifedipine (Procardia) and diltiazem (Cardizem). ACE inhibitors: ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) is a powerful hor-
mone that raises blood pressure so any drug that inhibits or blocks ACE is great. Popular ones include captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Zestril), enalapril (Vasotec) and benazepril (Lotensin). A newer group of drugs –but similar in action- came out and these “ARBs” are known as Cozaar, Diovan, Avapro, Atacand and Micardis and Benicar. Generally speaking, drugs affecting ACE are preferred for people with kidney compromise. Side effects include swelling of the tongue or lips, metallic taste, swollen feet, drowsiness and a persistent, dry cough. This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist.” For more information, visit www.DearPharmacist.com. © 2008 Suzy Cohen, RPh. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 19
By Tait Trussell, to The Best of Times via Seniorwire
New rules to bar “unfair or deceptive credit card practices” are in the works. In early May, the Federal Reserve proposed regulations which could be final before the end of this year. In the House of Representatives, “The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights,” sponsored by 110 members of that body is being pushed by its author, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y,). For many seniors, it’s hard to believe that in bygone days it was practically a sin to go into debt. Today, credit card debt is a fact of life, among seniors as well as younger spenders. Many consumers between the ages of 65 and 69 are up to their ears in credit card debt – $6,000 on average, according to the National Consumer Law Center. The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights is aimed at reforming major industry “abuses” and improving consumer protections. The bill: * Protects cardholders against arbitrary interest rate increases on a borrower’s existing unpaid balance. * Protects cardholders from “due date gimmicks” such as charging late fees when cardholders aren’t given enough time to make a payment. * Shields cardholders from misleading terms in the contract between cardholder and issuer. * Protects cardholders from double-cycle billing - the practice of reaching back to earlier billing cycles when figuring interest rate charges for the current cycle. * Empowers cardholders to set limits on their credit. In other words, banks that offer credit limits would have to disclose what factors determine whether a consumer will qualify for the lowest rate and highest credit limit. Some lowincome cardholders set a limit and ask that the issuer inform them so they won’t spend above that limit one it has been reached. * Protects consumers from “fee-heavy subprime cards.” In other words, limit the charges that automatically reduce available credit for cards issued to people who really can’t afford them. Requires Congress to provide better oversight of the credit card industry. The new proposed Fed regulations include some of the Maloney bill’s provisions. The Fed proposals would: * Block banks from using earlier billing cycles when figuring the amount of interest-rate charges in the current cycle - “double-cycle billing.” * Keep a card issuer from increasing the annual interest rate on a borrower’s existing unpaid balance. * Prohibit banks from applying payments over the minimum in a way that maximizes interest charges. * Make banks give consumers the full benefit of discounted promotional rates on credit cards by applying payments in excess of the minimum to any higher-rate balances first, and providing a grace period for purchases where the consumer is otherwise eligible.
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* Require banks to give consumers a “reasonable” time to make payments. * Make banks limit the fees that reduce the available credit, thus addressing subprime credit cards. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said: “The proposed rules are intended to establish a new baseline for fairness in how credit card plans operate. Consumers relying on credit cards should be able to predict how their decisions and actions will affect their costs.” On the Senate side of Congress Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, has introduced legislation not unlike the Maloney measure, to rid the credit card industry of “suspect” practices. This being an election year, lawmakers want to please constituents, especially since they have been accused of being too soft on the banking industry where subprime mortgages were concerned. Many homeowners got into a financial fix struggling to pay increased mortgage charges. Rep. Maloney, commenting on the Fed’s proposed rules changes put out a statement saying: “The Fed has clearly seen the momentum building for my legislative reforms. I’m pleased the Fed seems to have taken a page from my bill...and proposed curtailing abusive practices like retroactive repricing...and giving subprime credit cards to people who can’t afford them. “I believe it is a much needed correction to a market that has gotten wildly out of balance. A credit card agreement is a contract between a card company and a cardholder. But what good is a contract when only one party has any power to make decisions.” Americans have run up an estimated $850 billion in credit card balances. But, despite the hubbub over debt, the majority of U.S. households have no credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances. Although 14 percent of Americans hold more than 10 credit cards, about 25 percent of us own no credit cards. Another 30 percent pay off their balances every month. Banking executives have complained that the Maloney bill is so restrictive it would bring higher costs to all borrowers because companies would no longer be able to properly judge an individual’s potential risk. Edward Yingling, president of the American Bankers Association, said about the Fed proposal and Congressional measures: “Regulatory responses such as these are effectively price controls, which have never worked in the past, and we do not believe they will work here.” High costs of all kinds are forcing some seniors to resort to credit cards and the possible ensuing debt. For some seniors, the burden of credit card debt stems from having inadequate savings when they retire and being on a fixed income. Officials from Citi Cards, American Express and Discover Financial Services have acknowledged that some reform was needed. Last year, Citi Cards, for example, quit raising customers’ interest
rates because of delinquent actions with other creditors, a practice called “universal default.” It also stopped so-called “any time, any reason” repricing. Senior credit card debt has not reached the peaks of what’s owed by younger spenders. But the potential danger for seniors is greater because they may have only a few more years when they can work or already be in retirement. A national survey last year by CreditCards.com about the nation’s bill-paying priories looked into which bills they would pay first, and which they would pay last - utility bills, their mortgage payment, an auto loan, or a credit card bill - if they faced financial trouble. Some 54 percent said their mortgage would come first. Utility bills ranked second in their priorities. Only 6 percent said they would pay their credit card bill first if they were falling behind. And 64 percent said they would postpone paying their credit cards. A small minority clung to their credit cards even if it meant letting their monthly mortgage payment slip. Part of the reason may stem from the number of people whose adjustablerate mortgage has gone up while the value of their home plunged in the turbulent housing market. The first plastic card was issued by American Express in 1959. Within the first five years, some 85,000 establishments accepted credit cards. And a million cards were being slipped out of people’s wallets and plunked down to pay for a variety of transactions. In 1959, the revolving balance was introduced. This meant that cardholders had the risky option of not having to pay off the full amount of their credit card bill at the end of each cycle. It gave cardholders greater flexibility and card companies the opportunity for big profits through high finance charges. While plastic cards probably won’t disappear, newfangled gadgets are appearing, such as chips that can be implanted into cell phones and used to pay for whatever the heart desires. THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 21
financial
Vacation Planning in a Tight Economy Jason Alderman
Sharply rising gas prices are taking their toll on almost every aspect of our lives, from filling up the gas tank to shelling out more for food and other commodities. If you’ve started planning your next vacation, you’ve surely noticed that airfares and other travel–related costs have gone up as well. So what can you do to keep vacation costs down? Try these tips: Be flexible. During “shoulder seasons” (from Easter to summer and Labor Day through Thanksgiving), flights, hotels, rental cars and tourist attractions often are much cheaper than during peak seasons. Flights departing on Saturday and midweek are often cheaper than the days most business travelers fly. Conversely, hotels often are cheaper on weekends, when business travelers have returned
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home; however, locations catering to leisure travelers are usually less expensive during the week. Airfares are usually cheaper if you book online rather than by phone or travel agent. Websites like www.travelzoo. com, www.kayak. com and www. cheaptickets.com let you compare fares from various airlines (plus hotels and rental cars) although some lownd–cost airlines like Southwest don’t participate. If you can drop everything for a spontaneous getaway, you’ll often find great last-minute deals on airfares or packages that include a hotel and rental car. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite airlines,
hotel chains and car rental companies. Also consider using out-of-the-way airports, which frequently offer less expensive flights than those at major airports. Rental car rates at these smaller airports may also be less, but factor additional fuel costs and road time into your plans. Don’t automatically rule out early-morning flights. Instead, investigate the “park and fly” options many motels near airports now offer. For a set rate, you can stay overnight, park your car for free and then catch a free airport shuttle. A family might save hundreds of dollars in reduced airfares. Just make sure the shuttle operates when you need
it and verify the parking policy. If you’re taking a driving vacation, careful planning can lower costs. Get detailed, updated maps so you don’t get lost and waste gas (AAA provides them free to members). Or plan your itinerary using online services like MapQuest, Google Maps or Yahoo Maps – keeping in mind that they don’t necessarily provide the most direct routes. If you’re renting a car, you may want one with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that gives driving directions. Once you know your route, visit sites like www.gasbuddy.com and www.gaspricewatch.com, where motorists share tips on where to find low–priced fuel. Of course prices change constantly, but you may be able to find gas stations that routinely charge less than ones only blocks away. Stations directly off the highway are usually the most expensive. A few other quick tips: • Be aware of airline charges for extra or heavy checked bags, which offset higher fuel costs.
• Factor in sales and hotel taxes, rental car add–on charges and other fees that can add 20 to 40 percent to your tab. Ask for a full breakdown before booking a reservation. • Do a Web search for discount information on your destination’s local transit, museums, restaurants and other attractions. Most importantly, create a vacation budget. Visa Inc.’s free personal financial management site, Practical Money
Skills for Life, features a summer travel budgeting center filled with tools to help you wisely plan your vacation (www. practicalmoneyskills.com/vacation). You’ve earned your time off; just make sure your vacation doesn’t hamper your other financial goals. Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 23
advice
Sing Me a Song
Music makes a great therapy for depression, anxiety, stress, memory-loss, and overall well-being Betsy Williams, Psy. D.
So many times, music has soothed the soul, communicated love and peace, and brought us to a time when things seemed a lot simpler. When we hear our favorite songs, either sung or played, we move back to the moment when we first heard them, loved them, and considered them a part of us. There is so many types of music; pop, classical, jazz, religious, rock, country, mood music, soul music, etc. The human ear can enjoy tones and rhythms of every kind and can find just the right fit for an enjoyable listen. I remember my grandma telling me after church one Sunday that music makes her heart and soul feel better. In other words, music makes a great therapy for depression, anxiety, stress, memory-loss, and overall well-being. So, what are some of the tools and techniques for music to wash away stress, bring back the spring in your step, and rejuvenate your heart. To wash away stress: Try taking a 20minute “sound bath.” Put some relaxing music on your stereo, CD player, or IPOD, then lie in a comfortable position on a couch or a reclining chair. When possible, use headphones in order to avoid distractions and to feel the flow of the music upon you. You may want to choose music that has a slow rhythm. Some music therapist recommend that you listen to music with a
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slow rhythm that is lower than the natural heart rate of 72 beats a minute. As the music plays, allow it to wash over you, rinsing off the stress from the day. Focus on your breathing, letting it deepen, slow and become regular. Concentrate on the silence between the notes in the music; this keeps you from analyzing the music and makes relaxation more complete. Bringing back the spring in your step: Take walks with your favorite music playing on a tape player, walkman, or IPOD. Inhale and exhale in tune with the music. Walk with the music, whether it is slow or brisk. Imagine that the music is walking beside you as a trusted friend. You will find, not only do you feel better mentally and emotionally, but also physically. You may even find that one dance step that you lost a while back. Now, if walking is difficult, find a nice, comfortable chair. Turn on the music, and let it move through your body down to your feet. Tap those feet to the rhythm. You may even find yourself moving those shoulders and hips to the beat of the tune. Rejuvenate your heart: When you are sad or anxious, go with the music you know. Maybe you have a childhood favorite, an oldie but goodie, or just that favorite song that plays in your head ever so often. Take the time to listen and remember. Was
this song the one you sang in the shower so many years ago, or the one you danced to with the love of your life, or, maybe the one you sang with your best friend off-key? These are the songs that you carry in your heart. When you listen to them again, feel free to sing along. If you can’t remember all the words, sing what you know and hum the rest. You find your heart takes in the memories and keeps the beat at a much happier pace. So, what are you waiting for!! Dig out those recent favorites or old familiars and start listening. Remember; • Wash away the stress by just taking the time to relax and let the music flow over you like a nice warm bath. • Take that walk with that favorite tune playing. Watch how your step springs forth with every beat. If walking is difficult, tap those feet in a nice comfortable chair. And • Listen to those songs that are familiar to you. Sing along, even if you do sing offkey. We all need a lift in our hearts and, maybe, laughter in our voices. Betsy Williams, Psy.D., was recently named Executive Director for the Center For Families, a non-profit agency providing counseling on a sliding fee scale. She is an avid music lover and, by her own admission, quite frequently sings off-key.
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LEGAL
It’s Time to Check Your Homeowners Policies Judge Jeff Cox
Welcome to Louisiana and the Hurricane Season! I was reminded that we are entering Hurricane Season the other day when I received my new Homeowner’s Policy. In my policy, a deductible amount was listed for damage caused by a named Hurricane. Imagine my surprise in Northwest Louisiana to learn that if damage is caused to my home by a named Hurricane, the insurance company will deduct a certain amount before they will be responsible for any damages. Homeowner’s Policies have been changed tremendously since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana. Insurance companies have paid millions of dollars in damages with no end in sight. Lawsuits have been numerous against the insurance companies trying to decide if the hur-
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ricanes did the damage or the floods did the damage to the homes and businesses affected by the storms. In recent months, lawsuits have been decided in the U. S. District Courts of Louisiana and Mississippi which will have dramatic impact on future litigation with the insurance companies. Needless to say, it is time for you, the homeowner, to review your policy. You need to be informed of any deductible amount listed in your policy regarding named Hurricanes. You need to know your insurance company’s definition of what the insurance company considers to be damage caused by a named Hurricane. In most policies that I have seen, damage caused by wind or rain from a named Hurricane within 72 hours after the storm hits land is usually subjected to the deductible amount under the policy. Depending on the value of the home, the
deductible amount can be a large sum. In addition to checking your Homeowner’s Policy for the above stated deductible amount, it is a good time to check your policy for damages covered and not covered under the policy. Most policies now exclude mold contamination or remediation. In checking your policy, you may want to add coverage or increase the amount of liability insurance you carry. Liability insurance is the amount of insurance you carry in case someone is hurt on your property or while visiting your home. A good thorough review can help you determine the amount of coverage you may need in the future and will hopefully protect you against a surprise you did not expect when a Hurricane moves through Northwest Louisiana. Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial District Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Par., Div. C.
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Many people are familiar with service animals, such as Seeing Eye dogs, but therapy dogs provide a different service. Therapy dogs provide emotional support. They do what dogs do best: love on people and let people love on them. The positive effects of therapy dogs are well documented and more places like nursing homes and hospitals are allowing volunteers and their therapy dogs access. The results are unmistakable. Wendy Lowery, activities director at The Waterford in Shreveport, said Caddo Caring Canines (CCC) comes
out and brings therapy dogs to the facility. Everyone is allowed to love on the pets and the results are positive. “They love it,” she said. “I think some of them (residents) do come out of their shells a little more. CCC comes out and lets us enjoy the animals and they enjoy us.” LeeAnn Blaufuss, president of CCC, said the volunteers with the organization go “pretty much anywhere anyone invites us to.” The dogs are the volunteers’ personal dogs. The dogs go through a basic obedience course so they know how to sit down and stay, give their paws without being rough, and not get alarmed by loud noises. They then go through a certification test with Therapy Dog International. “Everybody pretty much knows us with the red shirts and the red leashes,” said Blaufuss. “We bring our dogs in there and it just turns their world around - just rocks their world. It makes them feel so good to be able to pet these dogs. You know dogs, their love is unconditional.” Studies have shown that petting a dog lowers a person’s blood pressure. It is difficult to feel agitated when petting a dog and hard to feel sad when watching a dog’s tail wag. Beverly Merritt, activities director at The Bradford, said they invite
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Music therapy, as defined by the American Music Therapy Association, “is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” Music therapy as it is used today got its start after World War I and World War II when musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals to play for veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma. The patients showed noticeable physical and emotional responses to music. Hospitals began hiring musicians, but soon realized the musicians needed some prior training before entering the facilities. A college curriculum was established and the first music therapy degree program in the world was founded at Michigan State University in 1944. Live Oak Retirement Community recently hired a music therapist, said Mary Ann Wade, health center administrator. She is excited about the positive responses the residents have to music and how a staff therapist will be able to expand on that. “Music is the universal language and it can be so calming and so soothing,” said Wade. “Even if you have someone that is agitated and anxious, you can let them hear piano music or singing and it is better than any pill you could give anybody. Their whole being just responds to it.” Marlin Dickerson, the new music therapist at Live Oak, said he has seen wonderful things happen with music therapy. “We use music to accomplish a non-musical goal,” he said. “Music therapy is used for things as simple as making eye contact. Some of our residents will hesitate to make eye contact. If you make eye contact with them, it causes their self-esteem to increase.” When they are singing a song like “Irish Eyes are Smiling,” he will insert someone’s name into the song so they will look up and make eye contact. “It gives them specific attention and increases self esteem,” Dickerson said. He also uses music therapy during daily fitness. The residents might do an exercise where they hold a weighted bar and row to develop upper arm range of motion. Using songs like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” Dickerson is able to make the exercise less of chore. “They get, not distracted, but their thoughts get redirected into the side of the brain that deals with music so they are not so preoccupied with their pain or the fact they are doing a new exercise,” Dickerson said. (Continued from the column to the left) CCC out about once a month. The dogs are first taken to the living area and then will go into the rooms of those that are bed bound or room bound. “We have daily pet therapy,” said Mary Ann Wade, health center administrator at Live Oak Retirement Community. “We own a dog, a chocolate lab named Rudy that lives here.”
Art therapy is beginning to catch on outside of large cities. It is much more involved than just drawing a picture and has benefits for a wide range of ages. It is a nonverbal way for people to be seen and heard and is an alternative form of communication for people with language impairment, such as someone who has suffered a stroke. The creation of art in art therapy allows someone to deal with emotions or memories in a non-direct manner, making it less threatening to address those issues. Additionally, the small group format of art therapy usually used in nursing homes improves social connection between people.
Dr. Rebecca Thomas, a board certified registered art therapist, said art therapy is new in Shreveport. She moved back to Shreveport about two years ago after working for 20 years in New Jersey and California, where art therapy is very well known. In larger cities it is used in most hospitals, she said. Thomas has worked in nursing homes and said a lot of work is being done with Alzheimer’s patients and art therapy. She said there are several benefits to using art therapy in nursing homes. For some people, art therapy can help with reminiscing and going over parts of their lives, and possibly coming to some resolutions about parts of their lives by doing art about it. If a person has had a stroke or injury, art is something that they can still do and get pleasure and relaxation from. (More ) THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 29
“It can be stimulating,” said Thomas. “There is a lot of research a b o u t doing art therapy with people with Alzheimer’s and that it helps to stimulate (the brain)…it can’t cure it but it can help keep the mind active and engaged.” When she works in nursing homes, Thomas works with groups of usually eight to ten people. She will ask them to draw a picture about a meaningful event in their life. The session usually lasts about and hour to an hour and a half and at the end everybody shows their picture and the group talks about it. “In that case,” Thomas said, “it is really about getting people to engage with each other.” Thomas said she often hears participants say that they can’t draw. She quickly assures them that that is not an issue when it comes to art therapy. “For one thing, in art therapy the product is not the important thing,” she said. “We are not looking for high aesthetics. It is the process of making the art that is important. I introduce different materials, and I try to find something that the person is comfortable with. I encourage them that the product is not important, it is how you feel doing it that makes the difference.” One thing she likes to do with older people is to work with old photographs. She Xeroxes old photographs and has participants cut them up, or color them, and do various art projects with them. She said that is a nice way for people who feel a lot of anxiety about their drawing skills to participate. Those projects aid in reminiscing. Additionally, it helps in changing the way that the participants tend to hold certain memories in themselves and the emotions they attach to the memories. “Those (emotions) can really change by doing art therapy,” said Thomas. Thomas said art therapy offered in a group setting is very affordable. In Louisiana, art therapists aren’t licensed, so they can’t get third party payments. Thomas said it was also important to know that to be an art therapist a person must have at least a master’s degree in art therapy. #
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Doll therapy is used primarily with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. A baby doll is given to the patient/resident and it becomes theirs to keep. The role the doll plays varies, but most patients begin to think of the doll as their child. While this
type of therapy can make people uncomfortable, it does produce real results. Some people use their doll as a tool to explain how they are feeling. By transferring their emotional state onto the doll, it is easier for them to discuss what they are feeling. If someone has been repressing emotions, a doll might be able to relieve some of that emotional pressure and let the person communicate their emotions in a safe way. Doll therapy also provides a way for dementia a n d Alzheimer’s patients to feel an attachment to something. Although they might not remember friends or family members, these patients still want to feel a connection to something. The dolls help meet that attachment need, allowing the patient to feel safer and more secure. Most people define themselves by their family or their job. A person with dementia may still desire a role in order to make them feel useful. By caring for a doll, the person can gain a sense of purpose again. As those with dementia or Al-
zheimer’s regress back to an earlier period in their life, it is often the period when they were caring for their young family. They have very maternal and paternal feelings and caring for a doll can fulfill their need to parent. Loving and caring for the doll can bring about positive memories and feelings of loving others and being loved by them. Merritt said there is one female resident at The Bradford that uses doll therapy. “She pretty much thinks it is her child and she takes care of it,” said Merritt. At Live Oak, doll therapy is primarily used with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, said Wade. “When one particular resident arrived here she wasn’t speaking or responding in any way,” Wade said. “She wasn’t eating well and just did not have quality of life at all. We let her adopt a baby and it is absolutely amazing. The woman’s daughters feel like they have their mother back.” That woman is now talking and when her daughters visit she wants them to treat the doll as one of their siblings. “It is amazing what this (doll therapy) has done for people,” Wade said. “Somebody needs them and needs them to care for them. Often times, that is a lot of the problem; they feel like they are spent and nobody needs them anymore.”
(See page 33 for the conclusion of this article)
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Video games are hugely popular with teens and young adults. Opponents have said for years that they served no beneficial purpose and led to inactivity and possibly obesity. Well, the critics may have to rethink their stance. The Wii (pronounced “we”) video game was released almost two years ago and was immediately popular with the youth sector. Surprisingly, it soon caught on with senior citizens and is now being used in retirement communities and nursing homes across the country. Most of these new players of the Nintendo Wii have never used a video game before but that is not slowing them down. The game is played with a handheld remote control (called a “Wiimote”) that is mounted to the wrist and includes a motion sensor. Players press buttons and move to translate their actions onto a television screen. That may sound complex but it is actually user friendly. Unlike most video and computer games, Wii involves mental and phy s i c a l exercise, in addition to social interaction. There are several game versions such as bowling, tennis, golf, and baseball. The Bradford has had the Wii game for four or five weeks, said Merritt. The residents love it. They have the bowling game and have a packed house on game day. It is easy for a first time user to play, said Merritt. “It is giving them exercise that they would not normally participate in,” she said. “I could say we are going to exercise today and I am not going to have anybody to come. They just aren’t going to exert themselves. But it is real funny now, having this game, they are exercising without
knowing that they are. They are moving body parts.” Even people in wheelchairs can bowl using the Wii game. Merritt said 25 to 30 people turn out for game day and they are “gung-ho into bowling.” Merritt said a few residents even get competitive and want to know what their score is. She said for the most part they just let everyone play and don’t worry about the score. “We have heard about it (Wii) and have tried to purchase a couple and have been unsuccessful at this point,” said Wade. “We are going to get two as soon as we can: one for our health care side and one for independent living.” (Due to their popularity, a Wii console can be hard to come by.) “Our medical director was recently talking about a facility he had seen that had one,” said Wade. “At this place, people used to just sit in their rooms or sit and stare into space. Now they are up and out and bowling or playing tennis. Their nutrition level is better; they are eating better and moving around more. They are drinking more and socializing more. The rate of falls decreased because they were exercising and getting more active and feeling more secure with themselves.” The therapy department at Live Oak recently told Wade they want one too, so their wish list has grown to three.
All of the above therapies, whether new or old, have continued to grow in popularity because they produce results. Thinking outside the box can mean new practices that can accomplish what older therapies couldn’t. Sometimes the old and the new can coexist. So don’t be surprised if you visit a nursing home and some residents have dolls, which have been around since the beginning of time, while other residents are in the game room enjoying a spirited bowling competition. THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 33
Nursing Home Care After a person is admitted to a nursing home, how long will they stay there and will they ever return to their home? Length of stay varies and is generally dependent on 3 things: 1) the potential for improvement to the point that the individual is able to resume caring for themselves and meet their own vital needs (this is frequently the case after health management and rehab), 2) the ability of the family to provide the care themselves in a home environment, and 3) the comfort level of the physician that the person’s needs can be met outside a medical setting. Vicki Ott
NurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center 1736 Irving Place; Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 221-1983 Please see our ad on page 54.
Neurosurgery My daughter has epilepsy. Are there new treatments? Epilepsy affects 1 out of 100. While many have seizures controlled by medications, one-third don’t. For those who still have seizures, they can’t drive, be employed in unsupervised positions, or enjoy independence (because a seizure can occur at any time). For these people, two more common procedures are options. With careful screening and a multi-disciplinary team, we have cured about 8 patients recently using temporal lobectomy, some of who have had seizures for over 30 years... none of these have any permanent problems otherwise. Another option is vagus nerve stimulation, which reduces seizures by about 30 - 60% but rarely cures them. This involves putting a pacemaker-like device around a nerve in the neck.
Dr. Ravish Patwardhan
The Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network 8001 Youree Drive, Suite 970 Shreveport, LA 71115; (318) 797-5543 www.neurosurgery.ws; www.theins.net
Social Security If I retire at age 62 will I be eligible for Medicare at that time? No. Medicare benefits based on retirement do not begin until a person is age 65. If you retire at age 62, you may be able to continue to have medical insurance coverage through your employer or purchase it from a private insurance company until you turn age 65 and become eligible for Medicare. For more information about who can get Medicare see Medicare, publication number 05-10043. Many of our other publications are available on the Internet. Dora Miller, Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration 318-676-3173; fax 318-676-3141 dora.miller@ssa.gov
34 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Opthalmology
My father has glaucoma and is blind in one eye. When should I be checked, even though I see fine? A family history of glaucoma is a very strong risk factor for the disease. Other risk factors include advancing age, AfricanAmerican race, and nearsightedness. If you have a first or second degree relative with glaucoma, you should be evaluated as soon as possible. Glaucoma is a painless progressive disease which, left untreated, causes irreversible blindness. If you have a family member with glaucoma or have other risk factors, schedule a screening at 212-3937. Christopher Shelby, MD
Pierremont Eye Institute 7843 Youree Dr., Shreveport, LA 1105 318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.com Please see our ad on page 41.
Orthopaedics (Bone and Joint) I broke a bone last year. Do I have osteoporosis? This is a question that should be asked after a fracture? In certain high risk groups the risk of a serious fracture can double after a first fracture. Those who experience an osteoporotic hip fracture have a 24% increased risk of dying within one year following the fracture. This is not only a disease of aging white women. Osteoporosis occurs in all racial groups and men have a 1:8 chance of having an osteoporotic fracture. Although there is no specific cure, you can: Get enough Vitamin D and Calcium. Get regular exercise (weight bearing and low impact). Do balance exercises to avoid falls (Tai chi decrease falls in older individuals) and if you have a broken bone talk to your doctor about a bone density test.
John J. Ferrell, M.D.
Mid South Orthopaedics 7925 Youree Drive, Suite 210 Shreveport, LA 71105 (318) 424-3400
Food Bank How does the Food Bank help seniors? The Senior Lagniappe Program is designed to help the elderly s-t-r-e-t-c-h their food dollars. Low income seniors who are 65 and older or 55 and older and disabled receive 40-50 pounds of non-perishable groceries each month, A $100 donation helps support a senior receiving a food box for the entire year. Our recipients must reside in one of the following seven parishes: Caddo, Bossier, Red River, Webster, DeSoto, Claiborne or Bienville. Food Bank of NWLA
2307 Texas Avenue Shreveport, LA 71103 Phone: (318) 675-2400 Email: info @ foodbanknla.org
FITNESS
Moving Free with Mirabai® Take the Aqua Exercise Plunge Mirabai Holland, M.F.A.
With the dog days of summer upon us, it’s time to get your fitness wet. Yep, nowadays you can get in a pool or a lake, stay cool, have fun, and get as challenging a workout as you want. We all know swimming is great aerobic exercise and a superb muscle toner, but that’s just a beginning. Water has 12 times the resistance of air yet aqua exercise is easy and fun to do. There are lots of ways you can jump in and get an impact free cardio and strength workout that rivals the gym without breaking a sweat. A great place to start is water walking. It’s simple, and it’s a terrific cardio and toning workout. Stand in water between waist and chest deep. Walk across the pool swinging your arms as you would on land using your flat-
tened hands as paddles for added resistance. Walk normally. Don’t lean over and don’t walk on tiptoe. The water provides a gentle but powerful resistance against your whole body. Walk across several times. As you get used to it you can build up your speed. But, stay in your target heart rate zone. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to barely carry on a conversation while water walking. There’s some great, reasonably priced, aqua resistance gear out there and using it can give you quite a workout. Your local sporting goods store should have a good selection. Here’s a simple exercise using foam dumbbells that works your arms, shoulders, chest and back all at once. Stand in water a little over waist deep with one dumbbell in each hand. Keeping the dumbbells just below the surface and using the broad side for resistance, push one dumbbell straight out in front of you while pulling the other straight back behind you. Then switch directions keeping the dumbbells in the water the whole time. Stay in
your comfort zone. Build up to 12-16 reps over time. And while on vacation be on the lookout for aqua classes at your resort pool. They’re often free and a great way to get your feet wet. By the way, if you’re nursing an orthopedic injury, exercising in the water will help you rehab while you keep your fitness level together. So I hope you’ll take the plunge and do some Aqua exercise outdoors, this summer. You may find it’s one of your new favorite things to do, and as our population ages, exercising in the water is clearly “the wave” of the future. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. ©2008 is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for women. Her Moving Free™ approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. Mirabai can be reached at www.movingfree.com.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 35
This thick issue, with its bright pink 1958 Chevy Impala convertible (current auction value: $150,000+) on the cover, took official notice of the growing popularity of mood enhancers, including the newly-introduced and growing field of therapies of all kinds. We also nervously reported on the “1958 Recession” and the effects increasing unemployment was having on the citizens of Shreveport and Bossier
City. What with the minimum wage at $1.00 an hour and gasoline now costing 24-cents a gallon and milk $1.01, how’s a family man with an expectant bride at home to keep up? PEACE SYMBOL INTRODUCED; WARMONGERS SNEER English philosopher Bertrand Russell introduced it at an Easter Sunday protest march in Europe. The design, by commercial artist Gerald Holtom, and based on the Royal Navy semaphore code letters ND (nuclear disarmament) turned upside down, is visually simple and caught on quickly. Later, those not wishing to give peace a chance call it a “chicken foot.” TOPPS GUM ISSUES CARD #150: MICKEY MANTLE. (Current value, $500+) His favorite song: “Over the Rainbow.” Really.
MONDAYS IN JULY (JULY 7, 14, 21, & 28)
9 A.M. - NOON The creed of the modern Olympic Games is alive and well at Sci-Port in an event for seniors aged 50 to 150. Reserve your spot now for the first annual WiiTM Senior Olympics! Each participant will enjoy a buffet breakfast or boxed lunch, an IMAX movie, entry into the discovery areas located on the first floor, and a friendly competition using the Nintendo® WiiTM video game. All this for the low price of $20 per person. Please RSVP to Visitor Services to reserve your spot a week in advance by calling (318) 424-8660.
Clyde Fant on Shreveport Riverfront
36 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
PAN-AM announced what some flyers are calling an outrageous price increase on roundtrips between New York to London. The new fare is $453. The airline said the modest increase would be used to upgrade food service, passenger comfort, and to help make flying a more pleasant experience for their customers. (Sounds like some kind of a foreign language now-a-days, doesn’t it?) ELVIS passes Army physical and is inducted. The “British Invasion” begins to take shape.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 37
PlAces2GO
Get Up & Go! Tournaments
Bossier Council on Aging Seniors Tournament - Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - Dominoes & Skip BO. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Dominoes Winners. Trophies will be given out to each winning Senior Team. Tournament Registration begins on June 23. Last date of registration: July 22. Registration fee $2.00. You may contact Cathy @ 741-8302 for information. Nintendo Wii Senior Olympics - Mondays in July. 9 a.m. - noon. Participants will enjoy a buffet breakfast or boxed lunch, an IMAX movie, entry into the discovery areas, and friendly competition. $20 per person. RSVP 424-8660 to reserve your spot a week in advance. IMAX/Wii Schedule: • July 7 - Grand Canyon/Wii Bowling • July 14 - Lewis and Clark/Wii Tennis • July 21 - Hurricane on the Bayou/Wii Golf • July 28 - Mummies/Wii Boxing
Silver Screenings “Some Like It Hot” - Monday, July 14 at 10:30 AM. The Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport, will host the 2nd installment of its Silver Screenings program, designed especially to provide culturally-enriching entertainment for area seniors, on the hit 1959 comedy starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis will be screened from a rare, archival-quality 35mm film print, followed by lunch at Abby Singer’s, a full-service bistro located upstairs at The Robinson Film Center. To reserve tickets – which are $14.00 for lunch and the film or $5.75 for film admission only – contact Clare France at (318) 459-4117. Seating is limited and reservations are required. No free admission passes issued by The Robinson Film Center will be accepted. “Some Like It Hot” will screen daily for one week, July 11 - July 17.
38 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Author! Author!
Exhibits
Author! Author!, Shreveport’s Celebration of the Written Word - an event promoting reading and literacy that will also raise funds for Friends of the Municipal Auditorium, is scheduled for July 18-19 at the historic building, 705 Elvis Presley Ave., Shreveport.. Authors will present their latest releases, discuss their books, sell them and sign autographs. There will also be a children’s area. • Friday, July 18 - Meet and Greet PreOpening Event for Sponsors and Special Guest, 6pm to 9pm. Limited tickets available - $25 • Saturday, July 19 - Book Festival, literary panels and discussions, and a children’s area. 9am to 5pm. Tickets: $5 Adults, $3 Children 12 and under, military and those over 50. • Saturday, July 19 - Fais Do Do Grand Ball featuring “Cookie and the King Cakes”, 8pm to 12 am. Corporate Tables - 8 tickets and a table - $200; Limited tickets available - $25. www.authorauthorshreveport.com
Blossom: Art of Flowers - Through Sunday, Aug. 3. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat. and Sun., 1-5 p.m. R. W. Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Ave., Shreveport. This juried traveling exhibition of 61 artworks depict and interpret flowers of all kinds. Free. 318-865-4201.
Krewe of Elders Barbeque/Dance - Sponsored by the Krewe of Elders. July 12 at the American Legion Hall located at 5315 South Lakeshore Drive in Shreveport from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Cash bar, raffle, door prizes. Music from A.J. and the Two Tone Blues Band. Outside/Inside event. Open to Public. $10.00 per person at the door. Barbeque, Hot Dogs, Nachos for sale. Dance - Sponsored by the Krewe of Elders. July 20 at the American Legion Hall located at 5315 South Lakeshore Drive in Shreveport from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Cash bar, raffle, door prizes. Music from Bill Bush Combo. $10.00 couple, $5.00 single.
Support Groups
The Caregivers Support Group will meet July 14 in the ARK at Noel Memorial United Methodist Church, 520 Herndon St., 12 noon. The speaker will be Ross Githens from the Samaritan Counseling Center on “How to Give without Giving too Much”. Light lunch available for $3. Call 221-5207 for reservations no later than Friday, July 11 or email skamm@ noelumc.org.
Curious-Mysterious-Strange Secrets of the Sideshow - June 27 - August 30. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Artspace at the West Edge, 710 Texas St., Shreveport. Come explore the secret world of the circus in this curious-mysterious-strange exhibition. Free. 318-673-6500/6535. William Dunlap: Hypothetical Realism - June 29 - Aug. 31. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, 3015 Greenwood Rd., Shreveport. Surreal and humorous interpretations of the American landscape in paintings, sculptures, constructions, and mixed media installations. Free. 318-632-2020. An Improvisation in Art - July 1 - 31. Tues.-Fri. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Southern University Museum of Art, 610 Texas St., Ste # 110, Shreveport. 27 pieces in acrylic, oils and mixed media. Dorsey Summerfield describes his style as creations of fantasies in abstract. Free. 318-678-4634.
Expo
Everything Green Expo – Shreveport Convention Center, August 22-24. Would you like to save money on your electric bill, gasoline bill, utilities, water or other normally fixed expenses? And, at the same time, learn to be more energy efficient then plan to attend the You can get more information at www.EverythingGreenExpo.com, or call (318) 424-0880 or (318) 455-3351 for details.
Tours
“TNT” - Thursday Night Trolley Tours - Thursday, July 17. 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Artspace at the West Edge, 710 Texas St., Shreveport. An “explosion” of culture! Come and discover the Downtown Arts District. Enjoy a narrated tour, live music, and art. Third Thursday of each month. Free. 318-673-6500/6535.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 39
40 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 41
Weather
Weather Facts for Thought
When thunderstorms are in our area, here are lightning safety tips to keep in mind. Go indoors if at all possible. Don’t seek shelter under a lone tree. Don’t be the highest object around, that is don’t stay on a hilltop, in an open field, or on a boat. Don’t stay in the water. Get off and away from motorcycles, bicycles, farm and construction equipment. Don’t get near wire fences as they might conduct electricity to you from a distance. Don’t use golf clubs or other metal objects when thunderstorms threaten. A severe thunderstorm watch means that there is a possibility of one or more severe thunderstorms developing within a designated area. The time period involved is given in the watch. A severe thunderstorm warning means that a thunderstorm has reached severe intensity and is capable of producing very heavy rain, strong gusty winds, hail and possibly a tornado. The storm’s direction of movement and speed is given in the warning. The outline of a severe thunderstorm watch area is shown on television weather broadcasts as is a tornado watch area. What do you think July has in store for us? The average daily normal high temperature is 93°. The average daily normal low temperature is 72°. Normal July rainfall is 3.7 inches. Last July the hottest temperature was 95° on the 12th. The coolest temperature was 67° on the 23rd. Rainfall measured 10.6 inches. Normal July rainfall is 4 inches. Our hottest July temperature of record was 107° on the 31st in 1998, on the 13th in 1901 and on the 17th in 1875. The coolest temperature of record was 58° on the 7th in 1972.
42 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings. Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 43
Judy Strait loves her dogs and they love her. Wherever she goes in her house, the sound of sixteen dog feet follows her. Not much could pull her attention away from them, except maybe a baby. The day she was interviewed, she was babysitting her first grandchild, three-month-old Emma. Emma, “a precious little package,” may have diverted the attention of Strait away from her dogs, put her dogs are so well behaved they just take it in stride. Strait, 62, lives in Blanchard and has a lot of experience with dogs, specifically with American cocker spaniels. She has always liked the breed and for Christmas in 1989, her husband bought one. She was a “very bossy cocker,” said Strait, so she put her in
44 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
obedience school. “I got bit by the dog training bug and competed in competitions with them,” said Strait. “One day a gentleman was set up by a confirmation show grooming a cocker spaniel and Strait inquired as to how she could get another cocker spaniel. The man had one he said he would give her because the dog was an escape artist who kept getting out of the kennel. He gave her the dog and the rest, as they say, is history. She began showing and breeding American cocker spaniels. Strait is currently a member of Caddo Caring Canines (www.caddocaringcanines. org), a volunteer organization that brings therapy dogs to places including nursing homes, hospitals and juvenile detention centers. Strait began training her dogs as therapy dogs before the organization was ever formed. Now, when someone is interested in having a therapy dog visit a location, they can place one call to Caddo Caring Canines and it can send members and their dogs out. Strait has three cocker spaniels right now, but only two of them are therapy dogs. Sophie and Scooter are therapy dogs, but Cindy doesn’t have the right temperament, Strait said. Cindy is shy and would rather sit in a corner and not attract attention. A therapy dog has to want to be shown attention and be petted, and Scooter and Sophie are ideal in that regard. “If you are a breeder and you know how
to evaluate your litter you usually can tell pretty quickly (which puppies would make good therapy dogs),” Strait said. “You don’t want the aggressive puppy…or the most timid puppy either. (You want) the one that is easy going and nothing bothers him. Being a therapy dog really doesn’t have anything to do with the breed or the size. Mixed breed can be therapy dogs. It basically has to do with the dog’s calmness. Scooter is an excellent therapy dog. He loves people and he just loves to be paid attention to. He has got the ideal temperament. He is perfect with children. Children just don’t bother him at all.” Although Scooter and Sophie are champion, pure bred dogs, Strait said breed and size have nothing to do with what makes a good therapy dog. She said people in Caddo Caring Canines have everything from Great Danes to Chihuahuas and pure bred to mix bred. Strait said having a dog registered as a therapy dog is not a complicated process. The dog needs to have basic obedience, such as the ability to walk next to the owner on a lose leash, come when they are called, sit and lay down when they are told, and be able to spend time calmly away from the owner. The dogs must take a certification test to be registered as a therapy dog and two people in Caddo Caring Canines are therapy dog testers who administer the tests two or three times a year. The tests make sure the dog can walk in a crowd of people in wheelchairs and on
walkers, that loud noises don’t bother them, and that they can basically be under control in a wide variety of circumstances. “For me it is especially rewarding because I have been doing this for a long time and you form relationships with the people,” said Strait. “The dogs mean a great deal to them. It is very rewarding because you know it makes a difference in people’s lives. The dogs really look forward to a visit and it is like they know when they are going on a visit. They perk up.” Strait has many touching stories of how the dogs have connected with people. At one nursing home, a new resident had been crying for days. As soon as the woman started petting Pumpkin, Strait’s therapy dog at the time, she stopped crying and started laughing and smiling. Another time, Strait and Pumpkin walked up to a man who was non- responsive to everyone around him. He reached out a hand and began petting Pumpkin. Strait said she is always sure to ask before approaching anyone with one of her dogs, since not everyone is comfortable around dogs. “People who like animals, animals have a comforting and calming effect on them,” said Strait. “If you like animals, you are drawn to them and want to touch them. On some level, you connect with them in a positive way that is beneficial to both the person and the animal. It is a give and take.” “There are a lot of therapeutic benefits to what the dogs can do to aid the emotional well being of the patients. There have been tests run and we do know that petting dogs and holding dogs can lower your blood pressure. This is my own personal opinion as a dog trainer, (but I believe) there is a connection between the thinking processes of a dog and the thinking processes of people that are very similar. I think because of that we understand one another and relate to one another and help each other that way.”
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 45
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46 ď&#x192;ž July 2008 ď&#x192;ź THE BEST of TIMES
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East Texas Eye Doctor Helps Legally Blind to See Again Diplomate in Low Vision Care trains Dr. Larry Chism to help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving. By Elena Lombardi Freelance Writer
Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.” Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquerque, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more easily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. California Optometrist, Dr. Richard J. Shuldiner and East Texas optometrist, Dr. Larry Chism, are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration or other eye conditions. “Some of my patients consider us the last stop for people who have vision loss,” said Dr. Chism, a low vision optometrist who has just completed training with Dr. Shuldiner in California. “Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the television better!” Dr. Shuldiner also provided special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read. Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree
Carole Buckels wearing bioptic telescope driving glasses. of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images. When it degenerates, Macular Degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it impossible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test. The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and improper nutrition. Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of progression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins. A new, proprietary supplement based on the scientific studies is available from these doctors. Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be sealed with hot or cold laser. Unfortunately it’s a temporary fix. Newer treatments, such as Macugen injections try to prevent leakage. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person functioning,” says Dr. Chism. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watch-
ing television, seeing faces, playing bridge…we work with whatever is on the persons “wish list”. Even if it’s driving. Louisiana and Texas allow the use of telescopic glasses for safer driving. Carole Buckles, 71 of Arcadia, California came on the advise of a friend. “I wanted to be able to keep driving and do the fun things in life.” One of those fun things is baseball. “I love going to baseball games and now I can see those close plays again,” she says. Bioptic Telescopic glasses were prescribed to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. As Carole puts it, “These telescope glasses not only allows me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. Definitely worth the $1975 cost. I don’t know why I waited two years to do this; I should have come sooner.” “Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000”, says Dr. Shuldiner, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass”. Not all low vision devices are that expensive. Reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. Dr. Chism also provides special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read. Dr. Larry Chism speaks to every patient on the telephone before scheduling the one hour low vision evaluation appointment.
Call Dr. Chism, toll free, at 1-888-243-2020 for a FREE telephone interview. THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 47
Have a safe 4th
Aerial Bottle rocket Cone Firecracker Fountain Mine Missile Mortar Parachute Phantom Popper Repeater Roman candle Shell Skyrocket Smoke ball Snapper Sparkler Spinner Strobe Wheel
Sudoku
You are a True Louisianan if...
Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9. (Solution on page 50)
48 July 2008 THE BEST of TIMES
• You can properly pronounce Lecompte, Lafayette, Ponchatoula, Natchitoches, Opelousas, Shongaloo, Tangipahoa, Pontchartrain, Avoyelles, Lafourche, Ouachita, and Atchafalaya, and you know that New Orleans doesn’t have a long ‘E’ sound anywhere in it. • You think other people who complain about the heat and humidity in their states are sissies. • Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor or a sugar cane truck on the highway. • You’ve had to switch from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ all on the same day. • People you know have used an LSU or Saint’s football schedule to plan their wedding date. • Red beans and rice are ALWAYS served on Mondays. • Finally, you are a 100% Louisianan if you have EVER had this conversation: “You wanna Coke?” “Yeah.” “What kind?” “Dr Pepper.”
ACROSS 1 Ancient Roman garb 6 Company 14 Superlatively senior 20 Jump for joy 21 Windflowers 22 Capital of Niger 23 Fix one’s laces 24 Start of Cleveland Amory quip 25 Viennese tongue 26 Replay type 28 Salinger title character 29 Big wheel 30 Valletta’s island 33 Infuriates 35 Part 2 of quip 41 EMT specialty 44 Courted 45 Cupid 46 Disencumber 47 Like Mother Hubbard’s cupboard 48 Shrinking inland sea 49 Cushion 51 Landing strip 54 “St. __ Fire” 55 November electees 56 Page 57 Converse competition 58 Shape up 59 Trawling equipment 60 Oafs 62 Part 3 of quip 65 Famous 67 Slayer of the Minotaur 68 Part 4 of quip 72 Desert green spots 73 Type of theater comp. 76 Brainiac 77 Felipe or Moises of baseball 79 Easily misled
person 80 Pub potion 81 Affix firmly 82 Making one’s selection 84 Brown with a big band 85 Bread and whiskey 86 Psyche subdivisions 87 Ewe’s call 88 K-12, in education 90 Merchandise on hand 91 Diffident 92 Part 5 of quip 97 Chili pepper 98 Low card 99 Atmospheric inhalations 102 Nightfall 105 Eliminate 110 Was vanquished by 111 End of quip 114 Crossbeam 115 Birthplace of Elvis Presley 116 Loss/damage word 117 Go in 118 Felt 119 Neighbor of Corsica 120 Old-time actress Ada DOWN 1 Garr of “Tootsie” 2 Span of a cart 3 Spunk 4 Touched down 5 Hot under the collar 6 Armed conflict 7 Granite State sch. 8 Comprehend 9 Nagy of Hungary 10 Refusals 11 Tooth covering 12 Tranquil 13 Opposite of NNW 14 Betrothed
YOUNG ADULTS
By Alan P. Olschwang, Huntington Beach, CA; Edited by Wayne Robert Williams
(Solution on page 50) 15 Feudal lords 16 Repairs socks 17 Madame Bovary 18 Act like an usher 19 Actress Daly 27 Styron’s Turner 29 Wizardry 31 Used a car as a down payment 32 Appendage 34 __ avis 35 Huck Finn’s creator 36 Singer Lena 37 Cook in dry heat 38 Sniggler’s prey 39 Jot 40 Cry at the
opera 41 Field in Italian 42 First: pref. 43 Put down new grass 47 Doldrums 49 TV tryouts 50 Idolize 52 Estrangement 53 Manly in Madrid 54 Ultimate purpose 56 Pantomime 58 Nods off 61 Attack 63 Newspaper screamer 64 Publish 65 Pens 66 Knish store 68 Fictional
monsters 69 Nicker 70 Delegate 71 Composition for nine 73 Synthetic fabric 74 Put in office 75 Nettlesome 78 Hideous 82 “Bellefleur” writer 83 Stooge 85 Highway abbr. 87 Green years, for some 89 Possessed 90 Suffer in the summer 92 Snitch 93 “Bewitched” witch 94 Sexless
95 Dan of “Peyton Place” 96 Fort Worth sch. 97 Actress Phoebe 99 Lettered sandwiches 100 Profligate 101 Armchair athlete’s channel 103 Roe source 104 Singer Dee 106 Sea bird 107 Swear word 108 Eye part 109 Sea bird 111 TV superstation 112 Took off 113 Fridays’ lead- in?
THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 49
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50 ď&#x192;ž July 2008 ď&#x192;ź THE BEST of TIMES
Puzzle Solutions {from pages 48 - 49}
Bossier Council on Aging Bearkat Site (741-8302), 706 Bearkat Drive, Bossier City 8 AM - 4:30 PM Plain Dealing Site (326-5722), 101 E. Oak Street, Plain Dealing, 9 AM - 1 PM Transportation - Vans available to seniors 60+ who have no means of transportation for medical appointments, grocery store, drug store and other necessary stops. Wheelchair accessible. 3 day notice required. $3 round trip suggested. Also provide medical transportation through referrals from Medicaid. Outreach - Home visits are made to help qualify seniors for services. Homemaker - Trained employees will come to your home to provide light housekeeping for those seniors having difficulty maintaining their homes. $3/visit suggested. Information & referrals - Call us if a senior needs assistance in any way. 741-8302
Caregiver - Support services are provided for family caregivers including in-home respite care for the caregiver, education for the family, and material aid and personal care for the patient. Legal Services - Education on elder legal issues provided at the sites. Counseling for individuals is accessible monthly with a local lawyer or by referrals. Congregate (Site) Meals - Hot, nutritious meals served at 11:30 AM at the sites, Mon - Fri . $1.25 per meal is suggested. Home Delivered Meals - Meals provided 5 days per week for elderly homebound in Bossier Parish, $1.25/meal suggested. Personal Medical Response System With a referral from BCOA, an auto dial unit is available for installation on your phone. Necklace, wristband, or pocket clip styles provided. Just press the button for immediate help. $20 fee per month.
Senior Centers - Fun and fellowship for the active senior! Enjoy recreation, crafts, educational seminars, and health information. Also provided: day trips, extended trips, exercise and dance classes, bingo, cards, dominoes, health screenings, exercise equipment room, Senior Games and Thursday night dances with a live band. Medication Management - Seminars, brown bag services provided by pharmacists and programs provided by health care providers so seniors know about their prescriptions and the proper way to take them. Drug plan assistance available. Medicaid Applications - We are an application center and provide assistance to seniors in filling out the forms. By appointment only. (AARP) Money Management - BCOA provides financial assistance to seniors: bill paying, balancing checkbooks, etc.
Caddo Council on Aging 4015 Greenwood Road, (318) 632-2090. Website-www.caddocouncilonaging.org Email-ccoa@caddocoa.org Info & Referral - 632-2090 Outreach/Individual Needs Assessment632-2090 - Visits are made to the home to explain services available and to enroll the elderly in our various service programs Home Delivered Meals - 632-2090 - Each week 5 meals can be delivered to homebound seniors. Suggested donation $1.25/day. Homemaker Services - 632-2090 - Personal care and household tasks provided for homebound persons unable to perform these tasks without assistance. $5/month donation requested. Personal Care - 632-2090 - Personal care provided to homebound person by trained staff once a week. $5/month donation requested. Family Caregiver - 632-2090 - Sitter and respite provided for full time caregiver of a senior. Donation requested. Telephone Reassurance - 632-2090 - Volunteers make regular phone calls to seniors to offer comfort and support. Medical Alert - 632-2090 -Emergency response system that protects sen iors in case of accident or falls in the home. $20/month fee SenioRX Program - 632-5900 or 1800-793-1198-Assists seniors applying for pharmaceutical aid programs. Nursing Home Ombudsman - 632-2090-
Professional weekly visits to nursing home to investigate and resolve issues made by the elderly resident or the resident’s family. Covering 7 parishes in NWLA. RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) 632-2113 - Provides volunteer opportunities in the community and nutrition sites for persons 55 years of age or older. Foster Grandparents (FGP) - 632-2199Seniors serve as mentor, tutor and caregivers to youth with social needs. FGPs that meet special requirements may serve 20hrs/wk and receive a stipend. Legal Services - 632-2090- Referrals for individual counseling. Emergency Blinking Light - Flashing light installed in your porch light by the Caddo Sheriff Dept. to help guide emergency medical personnel to the house during lifethreatening emergencies. No charge. SOS Program - Sheriff’s Operational Safeguard. Helps identify and reunite lost, memory-impaired persons with families. Participants are given a bracelet engraved with the name and phone number of the Sheriff’s Office and an ID number that corresponds to personal information. Confidential Call 681.0875 to register. No charge. Senior Centers and Meal Sites - 6322080-Area sites located in Caddo Parish that offer fun activities, recreation, wellness, exercise, safety programs, sewing, crafts, bingo, and just plain old fun. Lunch served at all sites for a $1.25 donation. Transportation is provided to sites, call 632-2080 to sign up
for a meal or transport to the sites. • Myrtle B. Pickering Senior Center4017 Greenwood Rd, Shreveport. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-3:30pm. • Blanchard Cross Roads Church - 356 Warriner, Blanchard. Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9:00am-12noon. • Broadmoor Methodist Church - 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport. Open 9:30 12:30. • Canaan Towers Apartments - 500 North Dale, Shreveport. Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9:30am-12:30pm. • Cooper Road Community Center - 1422 MLK Blvd, Shreveport. Open MonFriday 9:30am-12:30pm • Greenwood Library - Hwy 80, Downtown Greenwood. Open Mon-Fri 9:30 am - 12:30pm • Mooringsport Community CenterLattimer Street, Mooringsport across from the school. Open Tue-Wed-Thurs 9:30am to 12:30pm • Morning Star Baptist Church 5340 Jewella, Sport Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-12:30pm • New Hill CME Church - 8725 Springridge Texas Line Rd, Keithville Tue & Thurs 10am-1:00pm • Oil City Community Center - Savage Street, Oil City Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9am to noon • Vivian Community Center - in the City Park 522 E. Tennessee Open Mon-Fri 9am-12noon THE BEST of TIMES July 2008 51
1 - (Standing l to r) Diann Saffell, Mary Lou Kizzia, Pam Parsons, Pat LaBorde and (seated) Jan Glasgow enjoy lunch at Cantino Laredo in honor of Pam and Jan’s birthdays. 2 - The Food Bank held their Empty Bowls Fundraiser on June 5th at the Horseshoe Riverdome. (a) Relishing the success of the annual fundraiser are new Executive Director Martha Marak, CEO Jim Butler and Terri Brock. (b) Mary Jean Grant, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana volunteer of the Year for 2008 along with Coleman Robison, Development Coordinator. 3 - Winners of the beginners division of the Scrabble Tournament held by Literacy Volunteers at Centenary College were (l to r) first place finishers Tina Calligas and Van Johnston and in second place Meg Goorley and Debbie Grand. 4 - Jo Ann Blasingame (shown at left presenting a gold medal to a track competitor) is the winner of the 2008 Hazel Gay Memorial Award presented by the NWLA Senior Olympics. 5 - People’s Choice winning participants in Arts & Crafts in the NWLA Senior Olympics are (a) Sandi Cornelious (shown with friends) who won first place in Wildlife Flowers (b) Faye Scroggins won for her Necklace & Earring Set. 6 - Daryl Cooper recently celebrated his 60th birthday with friends and family. (a) Kevin Gamble, Walker Gamble, Daryl, Louie Ballis. (b) Kathleen Cooper with son Daryl. 7 - The 12th anniversary celebration of Azalea Estates in Shreveport. (a) The Silver Steppers Line Dancers who entertained are (l to r) Margaret Hughes, Elaine Ebarb, Edna Neill, Joann Lonadier, Doris Owen, and Charline Grace (seated). (b) Enjoying the Luau Party were (l to r) Opal Moore, Ima Kinbell, Mary Helen Tidwell, and Mary Ann Pennywell.
Celebrating a special occasion or out for an evening with friends? Share your photos with us. Email to Editor.Calligas@gmail.com or mail to Parting Shots, c/o The Best of Times, P.O. Box 19510, Shreveport, LA 71149
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