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Superhuman abilitieS? With the da Vinci Si surgical system, it can happen. Superhuman features like intense microscopic vision and precision movements available with the da Vinci Si give surgeons at Willis-Knighton a distinct advantage. Some procedures that were once performed with large incisions can now be performed with small incisions. That means you’ll have a shorter hospital stay, smaller scars, less pain, and, most important, faster recovery. The da Vinci Si robotic surgical system is available at Willis-Knighton Medical Center so that you can get back to your life.
www.wkhs.com
November 2009
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November 2009
In case you didn’t know, I play tennis. It’s a game I know and love (along with Bridge, but that’s another column). So I take great pride in mentioning that my partner and I beat a pair of athletic “young things” who failed at the beginning of the match to hide their confidence that they could easily “whip up on” a couple of seniors. “Ma’am,” they repeatedly called us during a recent doubles match. When did I become a “ma’am”? We beat them in straight sets, thank you very much. I tell you, we’re not getting older, we’re getting better! On an even happier note, we are pleased to announce that our own Amanda Newton and her handsome hubby Donnie recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy - Porter Kennedy Newton . CONGRATS to them on their very first baby! We had so much positive feedback on the “Keeping Connected” issue last month that we’re preparing a new regular column on Media & The Internet, focusing on the interests of “Those of Us 50+.” We hope to have it ready by the New Year. It’ll be a good time and a novel approach. Speaking of a good time, just wait ’til you sink your teeth into this issue. You’ll find all of your favorite columns plus a centerspread feature that we feel is a perfect “Fall”fest of valuable information and fun. It‘s as jam-packed and jelly-tight as we could get away with, fearing that it would blow its staples at any minute! We hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as we did putting it together. See you next month.
November 2009
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November 2009
The art director’s cousin, the former Nancy Sylver, wife of Jim Wampler and only child of the late Jacques Sylver and his wife Alice, was delighted with the surprise of finding herself and Jim on a mock-up cover of the 2010 SILVER PAGES Directory we used back in September. Shown are the ever-radiant Nancy & hubby Jim at their Hawaiian-themed wedding. But somehow we overlooked mentioning their names. Sorry, kids! Special Note: Art director Mike Jameson says that his dad’s sister, Aunt Alice Sylver, (Nancy’s mom) is the nicest woman he’s ever known. “She’s a saint with a sense of humor,” he says. “Everyone has always loved her, especially me.” Oh, and she’s also a subscriber to The Best of Times! l
November 2009
We have given the 2010 issue of the SILVER PAGES an all-new, much easier to read format that makes so much sense you’ll wonder what took us so long to come up with it. Gone are the grey and white horizontal bars of basic information, replaced with colorful, E-Z quick lists and space for MUCH more info about the things and places you’re looking for. It’s bright, it’s crisp, it’s clean. It’s pure genius, I tell ya. Now if only we can sell enough ads to help bring it to you... But not to worry, our trusty advertisers and new ones too will come through as they always do and allow us to bring you the very best, most award-winning directory for “Those Of Us 50+” ever printed in Louisiana. Be looking for its colorful and GLOSSY self (see above) as the New Year dawns on progressively better times. As it will. Know a business that would benefit from advertising in the annual SILVER PAGES? (That would be ALL of ‘em, of course...) Ask them to call 636-5510. Gary says thanks. Every little bit helps. l
We hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Santa’s warming up in the wings! Bless us every one. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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November 2009
New driving laws Enacted
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secure flight program introduced The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
recently introduced a new program called Secure Flight, which is designed to enhance the security of domestic and international commercial air travel. When you purchase an airline ticket, you will be asked to provide the following information: full name (as it appears on your governmentissued photo ID that you will use when traveling), date of birth, gender and redress number (if applicable).
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online auto and homeowners rate guides now available
The 2009 online auto and homeowners rate comparison guides are now available for viewing on the Department of Insurance Web site. The rate guides provide premium quotes from top carriers of auto and homeowners insurance in the state. The automobile quotes reflect various rating situations such as driver and vehicle age, location and driving record. The homeowners quotes reflect rating situations such as location and the age and price of the home. It is important to remember that these rates are only for comparison purposes.. To access the guides, visit www.ldi.state.la.us, click on Publications, Guides and Forms located at the top of the home page, then click on Consumer Publications. For more information call 1-800-259-5300.
Louisiana Seniors to help Combat Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
Louisiana seniors may soon become the largest Medicare/ Medicaid fraud task force in the state. Louisiana Health Care Review, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Louisiana, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Insurance Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, has been awarded a federal grant funding the Louisiana Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a program that will recruit and train seniors to recognize and report health care fraud. According to Linda Harkey, Louisiana SMP Program Manager, trained volunteers will conduct group education sessions, community outreach events and one-on-one counseling to equip seniors with the information needed to protect themselves from Medicare fraud, errors and abuse. Seniors will also be able to call 1-877-272-8720 to report any activity they believe might constitute health care fraud.
November 2009
Effective October 1, Louisiana State Police will stop drivers who violate new changes to highway safety laws and issue them citations. The changes include: • The seat belt law has been revised to require the driver and passengers in both the front and back seats to buckle up. Fines are $25 for the first violation, $50 for the second, and $50 plus court costs for additional ones. • All drivers on multi-lane roads must travel in the right lane only, with the following exceptions: - If a driver must be in the left lane, he or she must go faster than the driver in the right lane. - Cars preparing for a left
turn at an intersection, private road or driveway. - When passing another car traveling in the same direction under the posted speed limit. - When the right lanes are congested. - When emergency vehicles are parked on or near the right shoulder with their emergency lights flashing. - When directed otherwise by law enforcement. • Drivers passing a bicycle going in the same direction must keep three feet between them and the bicycle until they pass it.
Recognize Foreclosure Scams before it’s too late The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are warning that foreclosure rescue scams are on the rise. If you’re having trouble paying your mortgage or you have received a foreclosure notice, contact your lender immediately. If you are looking for foreclosure prevention assistance, remember to avoid any business that: • Guarantees to stop the foreclosure process no matter what your circumstances. • Instructs you not to contact your lender, lawyer or credit or housing counselor. • Encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it
back over time. • Collects a fee before providing you with any services. • Tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it rather than your lender. • Tells you to transfer your property deed or title to it. • Offers to fill out paperwork for you. • Pressures you to sign paperwork you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand. If you believe you have been the victim of a foreclosure rescue scam, contact the Louisiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section at 800-351-4889 and the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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November 2009
new hope for heart failure patients
grown from skin cells could lead to treatment of liver disease cells Scientists at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have successfully produced liver cells from patients’ skin cells opening the possibility of treating a wide range of diseases that affect liver function. Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death among middle aged adults in the United States. Researchers were excited to discover that the liver cells produced from human skin cells were able to perform many of the activities associated with healthy adult liver function and that the cells could be injected into mouse livers where they integrated and were capable of making human liver proteins.
Weight loss is good for the kidneys
Losing weight may preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The findings indicated that weight loss attained through diet and exercise reduces proteinuria (excess excretion of protein in the urine - a hallmark of kidney damage) and may prevent additional decline in kidney function in obese patients with kidney disease.
Method to selectively kill metastatic melanoma cells id’d New
An international team of researchers has identified a new method for selectively killing metastatic melanoma cells, which may lead to new areas for drug development in melanoma – a cancer that is highly resistant to current treatment strategies. Researchers found that activation of a specific molecular pathway triggers melanoma cells to begin a process of self-destruction – through self-digestion and programmed cell death. (Cancer Cell).
Unhealthy Gums Linked to R.A. Periodontal disease is a gum disease characterized by inflammation that leads to separation of the teeth from the gums, loss of bony support, and possible tooth loss. In new research the risk of developing Rheumatoid Arthritis was over twice as high in persons with moderate to severe periodontitis, compared to those with no to mild periodontitis. The risk of developing RA was even higher among non-smokers.
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Both being more physically active and adhering to a Mediterranean-type diet appears to be associated with a reduced Alzheimer’s risk, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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A therapy called cardiac resynchronization can significantly delay the progression of heart failure, according to a major international study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. A device implanted in the upper chest delivers electrical impulses that help synchronize contractions of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. A control group received an
implanted defibrillator, and a second group received a defibrillator plus cardiac resynchronization. The cardiac resynchronization group had a significantly improved heart-pumping efficiency and a 41% lower risk of heartfailure events that required hospitalization or outpatient treatment with intravenous drugs. The Food and Drug Administration has approved cardiac resynchronization for patients with moderate and severe heart failure.
Electrical Nerve Stimulation May be Effective Complement to medications
Nearly half of those suffering from a spinal cord injury are at risk of developing neuropathic pain. This type of pain is often difficult to relieve and usually managed with drugs such as antidepressants or anticonvulsants. In a recent study published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, researchers assessed the short-term effects of high- and lowfrequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on neuropathic pain. Twenty-nine percent of patients reported a favorable effect from high-frequency TENS and 38% from lowfrequency stimulation on a global pain relief scale. Twenty-five percent of the patients were, at their request, prescribed TENS stimulators for further treatment at the end of the study.
Fat in the Liver - Not the Belly - Is a Better Marker for Disease Risk
New findings from nutrition researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggest that it’s not whether body fat is stored in the belly that affects metabolic risk factors for diabetes, high blood triglycerides and cardiovascular disease, but whether it collects in the liver. Increased fat inside the belly, known as visceral fat, might simply be an innocent bystander that is associated with liver fat. Researchers noted that those who are obese but don’t have high levels of fat in the liver should be encouraged to lose weight, but those with elevated liver fat are at particularly high risk for heart disease and diabetes. They need to be treated aggressively to help them lose weight. Fatty liver disease is completely reversible. Losing a small amount of weight, can markedly reduce the fat content in your liver. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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J,0*.V(')('08=L November 2009
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Food Doesn’t Fix Stress
fight the dreaded hangover
The amino acids and minerals found in asparagus extract may alleviate alcohol hangover and protect liver cells against toxins, according to a study in the Journal of Food Science. Asparagus officinalis is a common vegetable that is widely consumed worldwide and has long been used as an herbal medicine due to its anticancer effects. It also has antifungal, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Chronic alcohol use causes oxidative stress on the liver as well as unpleasant physical effects associated with a hangover. “Cellular toxicities were significantly alleviated in response to treatment with the extracts of asparagus leaves and shoots,” says Kim.
Extra virgin olive oil may help prevent & Treat Alzheimer’s
Oleocanthal, a naturally-occurring compound found in extra-virgin olive oil, alters the structure of neurotoxic proteins believed to contribute to the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. This structural change impedes the proteins’ ability to damage brain nerve cells. Known as ADDLs, these highly toxic proteins bind within the neural synapses of the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and are believed to directly disrupt nerve cell function, eventually leading to memory loss, cell death, and global disruption of brain function.
soy may reduce diabetes risk
Nutrition scientists led by Young-Cheul Kim at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified the molecular pathway that allows foods rich in soy bioactive compounds called isoflavones to lower diabetes and heart disease risk. Eating soy foods has been shown to lower cholesterol, decrease blood glucose levels and improve glucose tolerance in people with diabetes.
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For emotional eaters, food is a best friend, there to boost spirits and calm stress. Emotional eating often leads to eating too much, especially high-calorie, sweet, salty and fatty foods. Women are especially prone to emotional eating. The Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers these suggestions: • Learn to recognize true hunger. • Identify food triggers. Keeping a journal can help identify patterns in emotional eating. • Look elsewhere for comfort. Instead of grabbing a candy bar, take a walk, call a friend, listen to music, read or treat yourself to a movie. • Manage stress with healthful strategies, including regular exercise, adequate rest and support from friends and family. • Practice mindful eating: Mindfulness is a way of paying focused attention without judgment. Applied to eating, this technique can help increase awareness of the sensations, feelings and thoughts connected with food and eating. • Toss out unhealthy foods: Consider more healthful comfort foods: a bowl of tomato soup or a cup of tea. • Eat a balanced diet and between meals, opt for low-fat, low-calorie snacks such as fresh fruit and unbuttered popcorn.
Cutting Salt Isn’t the Only Way to Reduce Blood Pressure Most people know that too much sodium can increase blood pressure. A new study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Potassium seems to be effective in lowering blood pressure and the combination of a higher intake of potassium and lower consumption of sodium seems to be more effective than either on its own in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Foods that are rich in potassium include potatoes and sweet potatoes, fat-free milk and yogurt, tuna, lima beans, bananas, tomato sauce and orange juice.
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November 2009
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Medicare Rights Center www.medicareinteractive.org
Original Medicare or a Medicare Private Health Plan? What You Need to Know
Are you overwhelmed by your Medicare coverage options? Do you want to be sure you choose the “right” plan? Every year from November 15 to March 31 you can change how you receive your Medicare benefits - through Original Medicare or through one of the private health plans (also known as “Medicare Advantage” plans). It is important to understand your options because after March 31, you will probably be locked into your new plan for the rest of the year. Original Medicare is the traditional fee-for-service coverage offered directly through the federal government. Under Original Medicare, the government pays directly for the health care services you receive. You can see any doctor who takes Medicare (and most do) anywhere in the country, and you go directly to the doctor or hospital when you think you need care. You do not need to get special permission (prior authorization) or a referral. Medicare does not cover the full cost
of your care. You pay monthly premium fees, and you pay coinsurance (a percentage of the charge) for each service you receive. However, in Original Medicare, there are limits on how much doctors and hospitals can charge you. To fill gaps in Original Medicare coverage, most people have additional insurance, called supplemental insurance. You can get supplemental insurance from an employer (often as a retiree plan) or you can buy it from an insurance company in the form of a Medigap policy that specifically fills gaps in Medicare. If you have low income, you may qualify for “Medicare Savings Programs” (MSPs) that can help pay for the out-of-pocket costs. If you have Original Medicare and want Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), you must get a standalone Medicare private drug plan (PDP). Whether you should take Part D depends on whether you have drug coverage now (for example, from a current or former employer) and the quality of that coverage. While most people keep Original Medicare, some people choose to get their
It Runs in theFamily
by Ray Cooney NOVEMBER 6 - 15, 2009 Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm
Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz DECEMBER 3 - 13, 2009
by Bernard Slade JANUARY 8 - 17, 2010 Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm
For more information or to purchase tickets, call our Box Office at
424-4439
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November 2009
Medicare benefits through a Medicare private health plan instead. These private health plans contract with Medicare and are paid a fixed amount to provide Medicare benefits. They are generally “managed care plans.” The most common types are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), and Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans. You may also see Medicare Advantage plans called Special Needs Plans (SNP), Provider Sponsored Organizations (PSO) and Medicare Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs). You still have Medicare if you join a Medicare private health plan. These plans must provide all Part A (inpatient) and Part B (outpatient) services, but can do so with different rules, costs and restrictions that can affect how and when you can get care. In most cases, you must still pay your Part B monthly premium (and your Part A premium, if you have one), but these plans often charge a premium in addition to the Medicare Part B premium, and generally charge a fixed amount called a “copayment” whenever you receive a service. If
MORE SHOWS... MORE FUN 2009-2010 Music & Lyrics by Roger Miller Book by William Hauptman FEBRUARY 11 - 21, 2010
by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten MARCH 5 - 14, 2010 Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm
by Marc Camoletti adapted by Robin Hawdon APRIL 30 - MAY 9, 2010 Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm
SLT Lagniappe SERIES
A CHRISTMAS CAROL Based on the Novel by Charles Dickens DECEMBER 17 - JANUARY 2, 2010
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you want Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, in most cases you must get it as part of your health plan’s benefits package. If they choose to do so, private plans can provide additional benefits that Original Medicare does not cover, such as general checkups, routine vision or dental care. Private health plans generally have a network of providers that you must use in order to be covered, so it is important to make sure that the plan’s network includes the doctors, hospitals and pharmacies you prefer to use at a cost you can afford. Always check with a plan directly to find out how coverage works, and you should remember that private health plans can change their rules, provider networks and costs every year. So even if you are happy with the coverage you have now, review how your plan will be changing to make sure it will still cover your health needs at a cost you can afford next year. Remember that each private health plan’s rules, costs and coverage restrictions can affect how, where and when you can get care. If you have health coverage from your union or current or former employer when you become eligible for Medicare, your
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coverage may automatically convert into a Medicare private health plan. You have the choice to stay with this plan, choose Original Medicare, or switch to another Medicare private health plan. Be aware that if you switch to Original Medicare or another Medicare private health plan instead, the employer or union could terminate or reduce your health benefits, the health benefits of your dependents, and any other benefits you get from your company. Talk to your plan before switching to find out how your health benefits and other benefits will be affected. l
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Part three of a 3 part series by amanda Newton Shreveport-Bossier City Hospitals Are On the Cutting Edge of Medical Technology and Treatments Therapeutic Hypothermia Treatment
Shreveport-Bossier City is known for its casinos, great fishing and friendly people, among other things. When someone thinks of the area, they can be forgiven if being a hotbed of cutting-edge technology is not one of descriptors that come to mind. But it might surprise you to know that right here at three of our major hospitals, amazing, cutting-edge technology is being used to diagnose and treat a number of health issues. This is the last of a three part series where you will be introduced to some of the newest techniques being used locally. Hopefully this information will serve to open the eyes of the community to the fact that top-notch care doesn’t always require a trip to Atlanta or Houston, but can be found right here at home.
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Exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia and that is usually considered a bad thing. However, a new treatment being used at LSUHSC-S intentionally induces hypothermia and, in this case, it can be a very good thing. Therapeutic hypothermia treatment is used most often in patients who have experienced a cardiac arrest due to ventricular arrhythmia. It has also been used in patients with spinal and closed brain injuries. “Once you reestablish circulation, you start to worry about reperfusion injury,” explained Dr. Laurie Grier, professor of emergency medicine and anesthesia at LSUHSC-S and the medical director of the medical intensive care unit. “(When a patient’s normal heart rhythm has been restored) we immediately initiate the therapeutic hypothermia treatment. We try to get them from their normal temperature down to 32-34 degrees Celsius (89.6-93.2 Fahrenheit). We try to get them cold. By doing that you decrease the metabolic rate in the brain, allowing some patients to have better recovery. Basically whenever you get in a stressful situation, such as ventricular arrest, when you are being aggressively resuscitated the brain
functions at a higher activity level.” “By slowing down the metabolism, by cooling the body, you slow down the metabolism, decreasing the demand for certain entities such as glucose and ATP. By decreasing the demand, the body is better able to meet the supply. In doing such, you have a better chance of patient recovery than if you don’t.” LSUHSC-S has been using the treatment for several years on patients who arrested in the hospital. For a little over a year now, they have been offering the treatment to patients in the community. When they decided to offer the treatment community wide, they met with the fire chiefs from Shreveport and Bossier. Grier said both fire departments were very excited to learn about and offer the treatment in the field. “The sooner you do it, the better off you are,” Grier said. “Any delay increases the risk of brain damage for the patient. We have both fire departments involved and when they begin resuscitating a patient in the field, if they see it is a ventricular arrest, and they are able to resuscitate the patient and get them back into a normal rhythm, what they will do then is initiate the therapeutic hypothermia treatment in the field. They should have iced down saline and special blankets so they can start bringing the patient’s temperature down. Then they transport to the closest facility
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that offers therapeutic hypothermia.” The use of hypothermia to treat the injured actually goes back as for as Hippocrates, said Grier, when they packed injured soldiers in ice and snow and saw outcomes improve. There was also a surgeon during the Napoleonic Era that found that soldiers kept closer to the fire in an effort to improve their chance of survival actually had a lower survival than the similarly injured soldiers that were treated further out in the field that were allowed to get cold. “It has actually been around for a long time,” Grier said. Approximately 900 Americans have a cardiac arrest everyday, and on average, about five percent of them survive to go home and do well, Grier said. Of those that do survive the original arrest, 75 percent of them don’t have complete recovery. So this treatment has the potential to benefit many people. The first modern study of modern day therapeutic hypothermia treatment came out in 1997. Two major studies were published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” in 2002, and those are the ones on which LSUHSC-S bases its protocol. The first study found that by dropping cardiac arrest patients’ temperatures to 32-34 degrees Celsius as quickly as possible, the mortality rate dropped by 14 percent in six months. In hospitalized patients, the outcome improved in 16 percent. The second study showed the treatment resulted in a 23 percent improvement in outcome. The use of the treatment in Shreveport
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has shown some pretty marked results, as well. “The first six months of 2008, the Shreveport survivor rate was 10 percent, compared to only about five percent of cardiac arrests in the United States that are discharged alive. We are double the national average,” Grier said. When a cardiac arrest patient arrives at the LSUHSC-S emergency department and the treatment has not been initiated, it will be started immediately. Usually the patient is then moved to the heart catheterization department and from there, on to the medical ICU. Therapeutic hypothermia is continued to keep them between 32-34 degrees Celsius somewhere between 24-48 hours. (The timing begins from the point where the patient reaches the target temperature.) At that point, the patient is assessed and warmed over a 12 to 24 hour period, and not any faster than a half degree per hour. “The reason for that is there is no hurry. There is very little harm to cooling people. Some people think, ‘oh no, they are hypothermic,’ but there are degrees to hypothermia: mild, moderate and severe. These are mild. We are monitoring them very closely,” Grier explained. Once back to normal temperature, any sedatives are stopped and the patient’s neurological status is assessed. Grier said some patients wake up immediately, some wake after a few days, and some may never wake up. (continued on next page)
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continued from previous page “The ones who wake up right away we think ‘man this thing really works’. Some have multi-organ failure and they pass away. But at least we are giving them a shot they wouldn’t have had originally,” she said. “By keeping them cool and re-warming slowly, you decrease reperfusion injury and hopefully improve sur-
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vivability of the brain. That is the biggest deal. These people come in after a cardiac arrest and you fix the heart, but if you can’t fix the brain you haven’t done them any favor.”
Insulin Pumps
Diabetes is a disease that not only affects many people, but also requires daily diligence to control. Insulin, discovered in
1921 by Dr. Frederick Banting, was first used to treat a diabetic patient in 1922. Today, one of the newest ways to administer insulin to a diabetic is via an insulin pump. Dr. Robert McVie, a pediatric endocrinologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveport (LSUHSC-S) uses insulin pumps with some of his young patients. He said many adults wear them and that for a dedicated patient, there are many benefits. “Insulin pumps are a way to deliver insulin that allow for a lot of flexibility, but require a lot of dedication, education and intelligence,” he said. “For a patient that is faithful to it, it can produce some pretty marked improvements. For the patients that have severe problems, I think the pump can be very beneficial.” While the pumps provide patients with freedom, they are also a mechanical device, Vie points out, and like all mechanical devices there might be machinery problems at times. So, it is always important to check the performance of the pump and watch for any problems with insulin delivery. One of the biggest benefits to the pump is its ability to deliver very small doses of insulin, much smaller than a traditional injection. Doses can be programmed to be given every half-hour and in tiny amounts, five-one hundredths of a unit an hour or even two and a half-one hundredths of a unit. Pumps are usually covered very well by insurance and costs run around $6,000, McVie said. Insurance also usually covers supplies, which cost $10-$15 every three days in addition to the cost of insulin. There are some very tiny disposable pumps coming onto the market now that are programmable and about the size of a few silver dollars stacked on each other. McVie said these are pretty rare and still being studied. The typical pump is about the size of a beeper or a deck of cards. There are several options as to where on your body you wear the pump, McVie said. “You have a thing that looks like a beeper somewhere on your body but it can be pretty discreet,” he said. McVie stressed that in order to fully enjoy the benefits of the pump a patient must be very dedicated. “(A pump) doesn’t remove the work, it just makes it easier to give insulin and control insulin amounts,” he said. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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November 2009
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By The Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org)
Medicare and Dental Problems, Part A’s Benefit Period, and Federally Qualified Health Center Eligibility Dear Marci, I have struggled my whole life with dental problems, and now I need dentures. Does Medicare cover dental care? -Joyce Dear Joyce, Unfortunately, Medicare will never pay for dentures. Medicare also does not cover dental care that you need primarily for the health of your teeth. For example, Medicare will not cover routine checkups, cleanings or pay for you to get fillings. However, Medicare will cover some dental services if they are required to protect your general health, or if you need dental care for another Medicarecovered health service to be
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November 2009
successful. Medicare will also pay for some dental-related hospitalizations. Some Medicare private health plans offer routine dental coverage as part of their benefits package. If you are in a private health plan (such as an HMO or PPO), call your plan to find out what dental services, if any, it covers. If you are considering joining a Medicare private health plan, make sure it covers the doctors and hospitals you prefer to use and the medications you take at a cost you can afford. ~Marci Dear Marci, What does the term “benefit period” mean in Part A of Original Medicare?
-LaVonne Dear LaVonne, A benefit period (sometimes called a “spell of illness”) is the way that Original Medicare measures your use of inpatient services in a hospital. A benefit period begins the day you enter a hospital and ends after you have been out of the hospital for at least 60 days in a row. You pay different amounts depending on where you are in the benefit period. In a hospital benefit period, you pay a deductible and then Original Medicare will cover you in full for days 1 to 60 of your hospital stay. You pay daily coinsurance for days 61-90. Once you have used up your 90 days of hospital coverage in a benefit period, Medicare pays for up to 60 additional hospital days in your lifetime with a high daily coinsurance. If you go into the hospital and are discharged and out for less than 60 days and then readmitted, you are still in the same benefit period. For example, if you go into the hospital on May 1st and go home on May 15th (14 days in the hospital), but you need to go back into the hospital on June 30th (after 46 days out of the hospital), you are still in the same benefit period. You do not have to pay another hospital deductible and, since you will be on day 15 of your hospital benefit, you will not have to TheBestOfTimesNews.com
pay any coinsurance. If you had been out of the hospital for more than 60 days, a new benefit period would begin, and you would have to pay the hospital deductible for a new admission. There is no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have. ~Marci Dear Marci, I am over 65 and living on a fixed income. A friend told me I can receive discounted care at a “federally qualified health center.” What is that? -Raymond Dear Raymond, There are hundreds of governmentfunded health centers around the country that provide medical care and charge based on your income. Some of these are referred to as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which are located in areas defined as “medically underserved areas.” People with Medicare are eligible to receive services from these centers. FQHCs provide some Medicare-covered services (they may waive the annual Part B deductible) and some preventive services that Medicare does not cover. Some health centers may also provide dental services. These clinics may also
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waive or reduce the 20 percent coinsurance for Medicare-covered benefits based on a sliding fee scale. People with an annual income of up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($21,672 for an individual, $29,160 for a couple in 2009) qualify for some discount. To find the FQHC nearest you, visit the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) website at http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ or call 888-ASK-HRSA. ~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 speak with a counselor, call (800) 3334114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@ medicarerights.org. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.
November 2009
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By Lee ARonson, an attorney
with Legal Services of North Louisiana 80 acres of vacant land, they started to farm on it. The family planted 30 Years of cotton, corn and milo Squatting on all 80 acres. Two years later, in 1938, the family put a fence around the 80 acres and started to use the Back in 1936 a family land for raising cattle as well moved into a home in a ru- as planting crops. ral area near a big piece of Over 60 years passed and vacant land totaling approxi- the family and its descendants mately 80 acres. Although continued to farm the property. the family did not own the The descendants then went to
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court and asked the Judge to officially declare them to be the owners of the land. Does this seem fair to you? The family and their descendants were never the official owners of the land. They never bought it from anyone. In fact, someone else, long ago, had bought that land. But whoever that long ago purchaser was didn’t use the land at all and never objected in any way as the family used the land for decade after decade. So if you were the Judge, what would you do? In Louisiana, we have a law that says if you are in possession of land for 30 years or more then you can become the official owner of the land. You do not need to be in good faith or have any type of ownership interest in the land. However, you must intend to possess the land as an owner. In other words, if you rent some land and live on it for over 30 years, you are living on the land as a renter. You do not intend to possess the land as the owner and therefore long term tenants do not become owners merely by renting a place for 30 years. But, at least according to one court, “openly maintaining property to which one does not have record title by raising crops or using the property for pasturage is evidence of intent to possess as owner.” That’s because Louisiana law says that unless you “began to possess in the name of and for another,” then the Judge will presume, without you having to prove anything, that you intended to possess the property as its owner. However, even though the Judge is legally required to make this presumption, the presumption can still be proven false. For example, suppose someone from the family had testified that “we never thought we owned those 80 acres. We just thought we would use them until somebody told us to stop.” Such testimony would rebut (or prove false) the presumption that the family intended to possess the land as its owner. And if the family didn’t intend to possess the land as its owner, then they would not TheBestOfTimesNews.com
have the right to be declared owners of the land, even after 30 years of possession. But the mere intention to possess as the owner is not enough. The law goes on to require that the person in possession not only intend to possess the property as an owner, but must also possess the property continuously, uninterrupted, peaceably, publically and unequivocally. So if your possession is “violent, clandestine, discontinuous or equivocal” then you are out of luck. In the case of the family of farmers, there were three witnesses who grew up in the area. They all testified that they remembered the family using the property continuously starting in 1936 and building the fence around the 80 acres in 1938. In fact, one witness testified that he had assisted the family in building the fence. On the other hand, the of-
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ficial owners of the property argued that they didn’t know that the family had built the fence. Nor did they know that anyone was using their land without their permission. And without any notice, they argued, the 30 year timeline should not have run. The Judge did not go for this argument. He pointed out that under Louisiana law, “the mere fact that a non-owner has physical possession of the land provides sufficient notice to the record owner and the public at large that a non-owner intends to possess the property for himself as owner.” The fact that the family “openly fenced and possessed the property” was all the notice that was necessary. And as a result, the Judge made the family the official owners of the 80 acres. Lee Aronson’s practice areas include consumer protection law, housing law and health care law.
November 2009
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By Judge Jeff Cox with Suzy Stinson You, the Juror One receives a summons for jury duty by certified mail, and oftentimes the responses are mixed. A lot of apprehension is due to lack of understanding of the jury system. Suzy Stinson, our Court Administrator and I wrote this article and hope it will help clarify the role of a juror and allay some fears. The role of a juror is that of a fact finder in jury trials. There are civil trials that can involve litigation dealing
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with issues such as vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, and other issues where one party sues another party. There are petit juries, or criminal juries, dealing with trials of defendants that are alleged to have committed certain types of crimes. The jurors hear evidence based on the law and make a determination in civil cases of negligence and/or monetary compensation, and in criminal cases a determination of guilt or innocence of the accused. The history of jury trials can be traced back to the Magna Carta. It is a not only a civic duty to serve when summoned for jury duty, but it is a privilege to serve in that capacity as citizens of our nation.
There are qualifications that one must have, however, in order to serve as a juror. You must: • be a citizen of the United States and this state and have resided within the parish in which you would serve for at least one year immediately preceding jury service • be able to read, write and speak the English language • be at least 18 years of age • not be under interdiction or incapable of serving as a juror because of a mental or physical infirmity, provided that no person shall be deemed incompetent solely because of the loss of hearing in any degree • not be under indictment for a felony or not have been convicted of a felony for which you have not been pardoned. There are only two exemptions one can claim to not serve on a jury, and those are persons who have served as a grand or petit jurors in criminal cases or as trial jurors in civil cases during a period of two years immediately preceding their selection for jury service, or persons who are seventy years of age or older. However, these are exemptions that one has to claim if they desire
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to do so, but one certainly is eligible and encouraged to serve if they so choose. If one wants to be excused from jury duty for any legitimate reason, he or she must send a letter with supporting documents explaining the reason for the request. Our Court Administratorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, Suzy Stinson, is on the jury summons if one has a disability that requires accommodations, but she does not have the authority to grant excuses to anyone if you call her with that request. It is also very important to note that one can be found in contempt of court for failing to appear for jury service and ignoring the jury summons, so your summons for jury duty should not be taken lightly. Sheriffs deputies can be sent to your home to force your appearance in court. The court does understand that times are tough and jury service can be a burden. But if you or a loved one were on trial, you would want as many of your peers to choose from in order to receive a fair hearing. Judge Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial District Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Parishes, Division C. Suzy Stinson is the Court Administrator.
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November 2009
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Making Your Home a Safer Place Does moving into your golden years mean moving out of your house? Should you stay put and make improvements so you can stay as your needs change or sell; downsize, go to a facility, or ? Decisions, decisions! According to a new survey by the Home Safety Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing home-related injuries, most older folks settle on staying put in home-sweet-home. While staying in the comfort of one’s home might be cozier, it’s not always safer. Every year in this country more than 2 million seniors are treated in hospital emergency departments for broken bones, head wounds, cuts and other injuries caused by falls. In fact, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among Americans aged 65 and older. According to the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, 40% of people hospitalized from hip fractures do not return home and are not capable of living independently again and 25% of those who have fallen pass away each year. For those who want to make their own home or an older relative or friend’s home a safer, more supportive place to live, here are a few suggestions to the most efficient and safest approaches. (continued on page 28) The Best Of Times
“Falling all over” a pet usually refers to indulging or pampering a four-legged companion, but a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that many Americans, particularly the elderly, are falling over their dogs and cats literally…and hurting themselves. More than 21,000 elderly Americans are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for falls associated with their pet dogs and
cats, and their injuries account for nearly onefourth of all the fractures, contusions, sprains, and lacerations caused by falls associated with pets. (continued on page 29) November 2009
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TRAVEL TIP: Fall is New England’s most wonderful time of the year! Here are 10 reasons to love it: 1. Apple Picking 2. Scenic Driving 3. Corn Mazes 4. Hot Mulled Cider 5. Hay Rides to the Pumpkin Patch 6. Beautiful Fall Leaves to Photograph 7. Fall Foliage Train Rides 8. Day Trips 9. A Room with a Fireplace 10. Weekend Festivals and Events One reason NOT to love the Fall Season: 1. Raking!
Making Your Home a Safer Place
(continued from previous page)
Assess
Look around the house for potential dangers. The AARP website has a home safety checklist that can help you look for trouble areas. Enlist the help of family members and go room-to-room or, if you have multiple health issues, ask your physician to refer you to an occupational therapist (OT) who can come to your home and assess possible dangers.
Act
Many relatively small home modifications can make a big difference in preventing falls. • Keep stairs and well-travelled areas free of electrical cords, shoes, clothing, and other clutter. • Remove small throw rugs and replace with those that have rubber, non-skid backing. Replace or repair loose carpeting. • Keep most frequently used items at levels that can be easily reached. • Have grab bars installed next to the toilet and in the tub or shower. A seat can be added in the tub or, in more
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extreme cases a walk-in tub can be added. • Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors. • Improve the lighting in your home. Add additional light and brighter bulbs. Always turn on lights when entering a room or using the stairs. • Use night lights to light the path between the bedroom and bathroom. • Have handrails and lights put in on all staircases. • Wear well-fitted, lowheeled shoes that give good support and have thin nonskid soles. • If stairs are a problem, create a bedroom on the first floor or install a stair lift. • Add handrails to outside steps. These can be especially treacherous in inclement weather. • Keep flashlights throughout the house in case of a power outage. • Take your time. Being rushed or distracted increases the chance of falling.
consult
During a routine doctor visit ask for a risk assessment for falling. Some potential problems that could contribute
to falling are osteoporosis, changes in balance and walking patterns, or changes in sensation particularly in the feet and legs. Tell your doctor if you have had a recent previous fall, have difficulty walking or getting our of bed or chairs, have problems with balance, feel weak, experience dizziness, or have a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s. Have your doctor review all of your medications (including non-prescription medications). At times, the combination of certain drugs can lead to dizziness or light-headedness which could result in a fall. Schedule an eye exam. Conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma, scratched glasses, or an outdated eyeglass or contact prescription strength can limit vision which increases the risk of falls. Once you have an idea of potential risks, work with your physician and other health care professionals to determine what factors can be modified to reduce any potential risk.
ing improve mobility, but also reduce the risk of falling. Lack of physical fitness can lead to muscle weakness which increases the chances of falling. Exercises that improve mobility and balance are particularly helpful. Ask your physician if you are healthy enough for an exercise wellness program.
paying for it
Those who have health problems that necessitate home modifications and who have long-term care coverage should call their insurance agent to see if home modifications are covered in their policy and what documentation is necessary. Other possibilities for substantial modifications include home equity loans, reverse mortgages, and home modification loans. Medicare will pay for some durable medical equipment but not structural changes. l
get physical
Studies show that balance, flexibility, and strength trainTheBestOfTimesNews.com
(continued from page 27) “Pets, particularly dogs and cats, can be wonderful companions that provide many health benefits for older adults,” said Dr. Thomas A. Cavalieri, a geriatrician and dean of the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine. “At the same time, falls are a particularly serious health hazard for the elderly. When an older person falls, there’s a one-in-three chance that the result will be a fracture, which could mean an extended period of convalescence or even permanent disability or premature death.” Cavalieri noted that several studies have shown potential health benefits when older adults interact with pets. Walking a dog provides good cardiovascular exercise and having a pet in the house appears to have a positive effect on blood pressure and stress. Pets can also ease the sense of loneliness that some elderly experience, which helps to stave off depression. Other studies report that individuals with Alzheimer’s were less agitated and more socially interactive when therapy dogs visited. “Some pets, though, will present a hazard just because they are so attached to their owners,” Dr. Cavalieri warned. “A dog or cat that likes to nap at its owner’s feet can present a tripping hazard, especially for older individuals who have less of the strength and flexibility needed to ‘catch’ themselves when they begin to fall.” Dr. Cavalieri offered these tips: Make sure pets – especially dogs – are obedience trained to walk calmly on a leash and to not jump on visitors. Don’t leave pet toys in the middle of the floor. If you have an older friend or relative with a dog, offer to go along on walks so that you can handle the leash. Discourage pets from lying next to beds at night or at the foot of chairs. (Newswise)
Hank Locklin passed away on March 8th at 91. Following WWII, he often appeared on the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport. He was a 50- year member of the Grand Ol’ Opry. Thank you, Hank, for “Send Me The Pillow You Dream On,” “Geisha Girl,” and especially 1960‘s unforgettable “Please Help Me I’m Falling.” It’s still great music. The Best Of Times
Van Gogh had Ménière Disease and this is his painting titled “Starry Night” which is his perception of his dizziness.
A full third of American adults, 69 million men and women over age 40, are up to 12 times more likely to have a serious fall because they have some form of inner-ear dysfunction that throws them off balance and makes them dizzy, according to Johns Hopkins experts.
Among the other key findings of the three-year survey and study on the subject by the Johns Hopkins team are that a third of this group, or more than 22 million, were unaware of their vulnerability, having had no previous incidents of disequilibrium or sudden falls to suggest that anything was wrong. In the survey, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine online, these asymptomatic people were six times more likely to suffer a potentially fatal fall than people with a healthy sense of balance, whereas people already experiencing symptoms
of imbalance had a 12-fold increase in risk. Accidental falls are among the leading causes of death in the elderly, killing an estimated 13,000 seniors each year in the United States and resulting in more than one and a half million visits to hospital emergency rooms, experts say. “Vestibular imbalances need to be taken seriously because falls can be fatal and injuries can be painful, lead to long hospital stays and result in significant loss in quality of life,” says Lloyd B. Minor, M.D., the Andelot Professor (Continued on page 30)
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(continued from page 29) and director of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Minor says that recent government reports estimate that fatal falls in the elderly cost the U.S. Medicare program nearly $1 billion in hospital charges, and those injured with broken bones cost an additional $19 billion.
In case you hadn’t heard, it’s officially the “FALL BACK” part of “Spring Forward, Fall Back” daylight savings time thingie. Until you do this, you’re going to be an hour late everywhere you go. My friends wouldn’t notice.
More than 5,000 men and women over age 40 participated in the survey. The chance of having a balance problem, survey results showed, increases with age and diabetes. Eighty-five percent of men and women over age 80 had an imbalance problem, 23 times more than people in their 40s. And people with diabetes were 70% more likely to suffer from vestibular problems. Researchers say this is likely due to damage done by high blood sugar levels to the hair cells in the inner ear that facilitate balance control and to the long-term damage from diabetes to the inner ear’s small blood vessels. “Our survey shows that bal-
ance testing needs to be part of basic primary care, and that all physicians need to be monitoring and screening their patients for vestibular dysfunction so that we can take preventive measures to guard against falling,” says Minor. Lead study investigator Yuri
Agrawal, M.D., says one reason for the large numbers of undiagnosed and untreated
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Brentwood Senior Care Unit (318) 678-7500
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Warning Signs That May Indicate the Need for Treatment
• • • • • • • •
Depression, extreme sadness Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating Hallucinations; hearing voices Misuse of alcohol or medications Disorientation Numerous unexplained physical ailments Difficulties coping with daily living Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness TheBestOfTimesNews.com
individuals is that balance testing requires specialized training and the tests take more time and effort to perform than other diagnostic or screening procedures. Minor points out that physical rehabilitation exercises can aid people with vestibular dysfunction. Balancing and walking exercises can be used to train the brain to compensate for inner-ear deficits and episodes of dizziness. Minor adds that people with vestibular dysfunction can take preventive steps to avoid falls in their homes, such as installing guard rails along stairs or hallways where a fall might occur, making sure rooms are well lit, and removing carpeting in places where people are more prone to trip. ď §
TO TINA CALLIGAS, EDITOR: Last year was the first time I had to get involved in Medicareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plan D. Even Medicareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explanation of how it worked seemed vague and misleading. It was only through The Best of Times that I was able to figure out just how it worked. To my knowledge, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the first publication to inform seniors of changes being made (or to be made in the future). It answered many questions that AARP either glossed over or ignored entirely. Your information is always up-to-date, correct and so very, very helpful. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refreshing to find any publication that helps Seniors, let alone one as fun and informative in all ways as yours is. Thank you. - Connie Wagner, loyal reader Thank you for your email, Connie. It seems more and more people are, um, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;fallingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for The Best of Times and our plot to inform and entertain readers. We hope you enjoyed this Feature! ď&#x192;Ş
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November November2009 2009 31 31
BY Suzy Cohen, R.Ph.,
author of “The 24-hour Pharmacist” listen to your wife. Fish Oil - An When you supplewith fish oils Inexpensive ment (or cod liver oil), Fix for Many over time, your body should start behavConditions ing more efficiently. Undertake this with your physician’s blessings and Dear Pharmacist, I take medications for supervision, because at some blood pressure, diabetes point, the combination of your and arthritis, five drugs in fish oil supplements with your all. My doctor is happy with medications might cause dizzimy progress but my wife is ness or light-headedness. This urging me to take fish oils could mean an unusual drop in to lower my blood pressure. blood pressure, or blood sugar I am not a vitamin type of has taken place. It’s your cue person, but I don’t like some that a drug dosage needs to be of the side effects I’m expe- reduced, or a drug eliminated riencing on the medications. by your physician. Omega 3 fatty acids are one What should I do? --G.S. of the most well-researched diTampa, Florida Answer: Stay on your etary supplement in the world. medications until your physi- It’s the EPA (eicosapentaenoic cian tells you otherwise and acid) and DHA (docosahexae-
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noic acid) in fish oils that improve the way your cells ‘talk’ to one another and suppress paincausing chemicals. In some people, fish oils help to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol ratios, thin the blood, and reduce pain. Other conditions that may benefit from fish oil include depression, constipation, and eczema. Omega 3 fish oils could be the number one simplest, most cost-effective fix for someone with heart disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disorders and arthritis. The American Heart Association hasn’t advocated that people buy fish oil supplements yet, but they do concede that eating certain types of seafood which contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. And speaking of food, if you eat a lot of fried goodies, meats or vegetable oils, you will need bigger doses of omega 3 fish oils to compensate for the bad fats in your diet. So how do you get more of these beneficial omega 3s? Eat wild-caught seafood such as mackerel, herring, tuna, Arctic
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char, cod or salmon. Farm-raised seafood does not contain the same amount of healthy omega 3s that wild-caught does. Buy natural fish oil supplements overthe-counter. Krill or Cod liver oil are two other incredible sources of omega 3s. Always take these with food to enhance absorption. I know of two companies that assure their products are free of ocean contaminants: Udo’s Choice and Nordic Naturals brand. You can also take a prescription drug called Lovaza, but this is last on my list because it’s just an expensive, patented version of regular natural fish oils; this drug form may have more side effects than regular fish oils sold without prescription. Did You Know? Acetaminophen is found in many cold remedies, sleep aids and pain medications. Be careful not to combine those because it could damage your liver. This information is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose your condition. For more information visit www.DearPharmacist.com. ©2008 Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.
The Best Of Times
November 2009
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By mirabai holland, M.F.A., www.MovingFree.com
tribute infection fighting antibodies and make you less susceptible to infection in the near term. In his 2005 study, Dr. David Nieman of Appalachian State University found that participants walking at 70-75% of their VO2 Max (the maximum amount of oxygen you can use in one minute) for about 40 minutes daily had 50% fewer colds and sore throats compared to those who didn’t exercise. (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise) And, a long term regimen of moderate exercise may in fact keep you healthier during your lifetime. So you might want to
Can Moderate Exercise Keep You From Getting Sick? Autumn is a busy time. Its also the time that we start slacking off on our exercise program because its harder to fit it in. But Autumn also heralds the beginning of cold and flu season and if the experts are right this year promises to be a doozy. Research suggests that regular moderate physical activity tends to bolster your immune system. Moderate exercise helps your body dis-
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think twice before you quit exercising. But more is not more. Research with athletes suggests that intense exercise has the opposite effect; it tends to suppress your immune system for several hours afterwards. (Journal of Athletic Training) So it seems Aristotle was right; everything in moderation. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for people. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. www. easyexercisevideos.com. Mirabai Holland © 2009
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First, a look back at last November’s weather. The warmest temperature of record was 80° on the 5th. The coldest temperature was 28° on the 22nd. Rainfall measured 4.98 inches. Normal November rainfall is 4.68 inches. The average date for our first freezing temperature of 32° or less is around November 15th. During the Fall season last year, our first freezing temperature was 30° on November 16th. Our earliest freeze date of record was on October 19, 1948. The low temperature was 32°. As for our November weather records, the warmest temperature was 88° on the first in 1984 and again on the 12th in 1955. The coldest temperature of record was 16° on the 29th in 1976. It’s quite possible we could be hearing about the wind chill factor before the end of November. The wind chill factor measure the cooling effect of the wind on exposed skin. It’s derived from a combination of the current air temperature and the wind speed. For example, a temperature of 30° and a wind speed of 20 mph produces a chilling effect of 17° on exposed skin. Do you think a sweater and a wind breaker would come in handy? This footnote: The hurricane season will end on November 30th. Each year the hurricane season begins on June 1st and continues for six months through November. Indeed, this season has been a very quiet one. August, September, and October are typically the most active months for hurricane development. Al Bolton, a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association, began reporting with KSLA-TV in February, 1954 and for The Best of Times in February, 2002. The Best Of Times
November 2009
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by the award winning
Amanda Newton
Roy and Liz Curran are technically retired, but their volunteer schedule keeps them as busy as many working people. They actually treat it like a job. “We take our volunteering seriously,” Liz said. “We are reliable.” “The main part of volunteering is reliability. If they can rely on you, then you are accomplishing something,” Roy added. Both of the Currans, Bossier City residents, had impressive careers. In fact, Roy had two. Liz retired from a 27 year career as a nurse, most of that spent in surgery. Roy retired after 20 years in the United States Air Force and then went on to retire after a 20 year career with the United States Post Office
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(where he was actually credited for 21 a half years, since he never took any sick time). Liz only took three sick days in all of her 27 years of nursing. “We just got up and went to work,” Liz said matter-of-factly about their incredible record. The couple, parents to three sons and grandparents to two, met when Liz was working at a restaurant in Colorado Springs following high school. Roy was stationed there and came in as a customer. While in Colorado Springs, Roy asked Liz to marry him and she turned him down. “I had all this ambition and things inside me I wanted to do,” she said. “I knew I wanted to go to nursing school.” Living in the country growing up, Liz never got into town much and because of work, never participated in extracurricular activities. When she applied to nursing school, she was told she was too immature and had to do some growing up. She admits that was true, but she didn’t let that end her dream. “My sister was in Florida and I got a bus ticket and went down to Florida. I worked in the hospital for a year saving
my money and then a nursing school opened up and I applied there. I was accepted and my sister and I got this doctor to (sponsor) me and pay my tuition through school.” A year later, she didn’t know where Roy was stationed but knew where his mother lived so she sent him a birthday card to his mother’s house in Kansas and he got it. “We started writing each other and a year later, in 1961, we got married. He came to Florida and we got married and I had a year of nursing school left. So, he went back to Denver, where he was stationed, and I stayed in Florida for a year and finished school. Then after I graduated I moved up to Denver and worked at a hospital there. (It was an adjustment living together after the first year of marriage living apart), but you just go with the flow. It is all part of growing up.” A laid back retirement wasn’t in the cards for either Curran. Liz retired on a Friday and the next Monday began volunteering with Bossier Volunteers at Bossier Specialty Hospital. Bossier Volunteers are “a group of diehards” who formed their own volunteer organization and “needs volunteers.” Liz told Roy she wanted one year to just do what she wanted, but after six months she told him to find her something to do. Now they both spend a lot of their time volunteering at the VA Hospital and they brag about how well the volunteer program is run there. Liz works in the clinics, runs the popcorn machine in the lobby and spends one day a week going around serving coffee and doughnuts to the patients. “(I like) the satisfaction of helping people,’ she said. “That is the nurse in me. That is my character.” From 1995 until a few months ago, Roy was a volunteer van
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driver for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), getting veterans to and from their appointments at the VA Hospital. He was recently told his hearing was too poor to continue driving. But, not deterred, he has sent his hearing aids off to Denver to “have them beefed up” so he can hopefully get back behind the wheel soon. His hearing hasn’t hindered his work other work with the DAV. He volunteers two days a week at the Veteran’s Bingo Hall and he also puts in one afternoon a week volunteering at the pharmacy at Barksdale. The little bit of free time he does have, he spends playing pool and billiards. Shelves at his home full of his trophies are a testament to his skill, one he has honed over many years. “I started playing when I was about fifth grade,” he said. “I was working in the pool hall before I would go to school. I would clean the tables and take the covers off. (The owner) let me play on Saturday. I just like to play and I play a lot. I play for three hours everyday at the Randle T. Moore Center.” “When he is gone they get to win sometimes,” Liz said with a laugh, highlighting
The Best Of Times
the fact her husband wins just about every game. Liz jokes that her proudest accomplishments is that she lived to be 70. When serious, she said that she accomplished the two goals she set for herself. “One of my goals was to get a college education, which I did. The other goal was to raise my three boys where they were independent and on their own. And, I did that.” Roy said he is most proud of the fact he always worked. That is kind of an understatement for a man with two full careers. Roy was awarded the State Farm Good Neighbor of the Year award for 2006. He claims they gave him that “for his exercise.” He goes out on a walk early each morning and picks up all his neighbors’ newspapers and places them beside their front doors. “He is the cat’s meow here,” Liz said. “All the old ladies love him.” A lot of people probably love the Currans. By giving freely of so much of their time, they make a real difference in the lives of others.
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N rev Sout EW h No epor east wO tO PE ffice N!
Sh
Reaping What You Sow Some see an empty field of dirt. Robbie Brown sees bushels of homegrown tomatoes, foot-long zucchinis and some of the sweetest peas your teeth have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When he’s not driving his tractor or guiding his tiller through the garden, you’ll find him living life to the fullest in some other way. “I do anything I want to do with the legs I get from Snell’s,” Brown says confidently. “I don’t back up for nothing.” It is that same type of commitment that Snell’s licensed practitioners and technicians make to our patients every day. Our staff members take the time to attentively listen to the patient to determine what his or her needs truly are. Then, after careful consultation with the patient’s physician, we begin the design and fabrication process. Once the prosthesis or orthosis has been fitted, we work tirelessly with the patient to make sure that it functions correctly. Our investment in new technology and in specialized training for our staff allows us to deliver prosthetic and orthotic devices of the highest quality. Because, as Mr. Brown will attest to…what you invest in today will yield abundant returns tomorrow.
Returning independence to our patients since 1911
ORTHOTICS • PROSTHETICS
,INE !VENUE s 3HREVEPORT s s 4OLL &REE 9OUREE $RIVE "UILDING ! s 3HREVEPORT s (ALL 3TREET s -ONROE s s 4OLL &REE *ACKSON 3TREET s !LEXANDRIA s s 4OLL &REE
www.SnellsOandP.com Serving Shreveport (2 locations), Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Minden, Natchitoches, Coushatta, and Mansfield.
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The Broadmoor Kitchen & Tavern
4460 Youree Drive, Shreveport, LA 11:00 a.m. until closing up for the night. (318) 550-0583 Certain commercial properties go through many idealistic hands before the “right team” comes together resulting in a firm “keeper.” Such is The Broadmoor Kitchen & Tavern. Memory recalls the long-popular Clancy’s where this place is. Then a few others came and went. Lately, Mary’s Thai Kitchen tried to make a go of it. John Cariere is in charge here now, he who co-founded Monjunis and Bella Fresca and currently also helms the Cotton Boll Grill. (Impressive street cred, sir. And it seems your magic touch continues.) Mr. Cariere had the great fortune to install the powerfully talented Chef Horatio D’Agostino in the kitchen and to find and hire excellent professionals like Michelle, who waited on us on a recent Saturday afternoon. The building features three distinct sections. The generously-spaced restaurant is in the front, followed by a coutyard space and then the tavern. And don’t you love the word tavern? No namby-pamby “lounge” or “club” or even bar. The very founders of our great nation gathered in taverns to begin hammering out health care legislation. Current politicians report they’re still working on it. (Ok, just kiddin’, but our forefathers did gather in taverns.) A wise suggestion is to “come hungry” to this welcoming spot because you’re going to be fed well. The unexpectedly eclectic menu lists a large variety of appetizers, soups, salads, Southern and Cajun comfort food, vegetarian items, pastas and grilled meats. The four of us ordered two appetizers to share, the comforting, down-home south-
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ern Korean BBQ Beef Skewers (4 for $7.95) and a cute cast-iron skillet of Jalapeño Cheese Cornbread ($3.50). I knew we were in for an eye-opening meal when first I tasted the Skewer. In five words: It. Could. Not. Be. Better. Crispened edges gave way to juicy and tender interiors subtly coated with sauce. The absolutely required accompanying slaw was light and gently sweet. This is a delicious combination! (Yes, it gets an exclamation mark!) We were surprised then to find the cornbread was a tad toasty and fast approaching dry. Good flavor, however, and a nice little kick to it. We did eat it all. Our entrées included Grits & Grillades ($9.95). This Cajun masterpiece is perfectly realized. Oh-so tender, juicy and flavorful pieces of round steak luxuriating in a thick gravy, ladled over a small mountain of astonishingly wonderful “grits” that really reside at that elusive confluence where Southern grits meet a nirvana of perfection. Exaggeration? No. I’m not a salad guy. They’re ok, but I usually only grudgingly put up with them. So it surprised my tablemates when I ordered the Asian Duck Salad ($10.95). You see, it’s the duck I fall for every time. Having failed to read menu details, I was expecting a bed of lettuce (yawn) sprinkled with sliced duck (yum!). Instead, I was rewarded with a large bowl heaped with a tangle of carrots, Nampa cabbage, cucumber, peanuts and cilantro. It was generously lavished with julienned duck and featured a sweet chili dressing. It wasn’t just good, it was taste-bud-dancing delicious, a mouthfilling burst of delicious with each bite. I love it when I discover such wonders. Speaking of comfort food, the Pot Roast entrée ($11.95) a tablemate ordered was
melt-in-your-mouth tender, with no gristle or fat. A choice of potato & veg came with it. He ordered sweet potato fries & broccoli. Sweet potato fries usually suffer from sogginess if not handled correctly. These were crisp, hot, cooked just right and not greasy. They’re an impressive display of technique and a grasp of timing. The family recipe Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($9.95) with a tablemate’s selection of San Marzano sauce was topped with fresh basil and shaved imported Parmesan cheese. The sauce was perfectly paired to the gnocchi; not overly sweet and with a rich tomato-y flavor. But first, there was a “situation”: When Michelle served three of us our entrées she also apologized, saying that there had been a mixup. She promised the 4th entrée, your favorite editor’s Sweet Potato Gnocchi, would soon appear. Just when we were about to think “uh-oh,” Michelle then gracefully offered an in-hand and ready cup of Tomato Basil Soup to tide her over. For those of you rubbing your eyes in astonishment, this rare thing is called gracious service. Hats off to Michelle! From the first spoonful it was so delicious that Tina was actually happy that a glitch happened. And her entrée arrived before she could finish the soup. Très impressionnant. For dessert we shared one (hey, we’re trying to diet over here!) Crème Brûlée Cheesecake. ($3.95) The top was torched and crunchy-glazed like Crème Brûlée. It was dense and even more tasty than trusty Michelle said it would be. Treat yourself. From the beautiful and antique stamped metal ceilings to the warm “sports club feel” of the tavern at the back, this delightful place is a needed and welcome addition to the Shreveport dining scene. Be patient should you encounter crowds of those who are just now discovering it. That should include you. We highly recommend The Broadmoor Kitchen and Tavern. You’re going to enjoy this great place as much as we do. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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“You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers” Ophthalmology
Nursing Home Care
When should I have cataracts taken out? Cataracts are a normal part of aging. Not everyone who has cataracts will need to have them removed. As cataracts progress, they cause decreased vision, glare problems, trouble reading, and loss of contrast sensitivity. We suggest having cataracts removed when your best corrected visual acuity drops to 20/50. They should also be removed if other symptoms are causing problems with daily activities of life such as driving, reading, or seeing fine details. Call us at 212-3937 for an evaluation TODAY. For more info log on to www. ShelbyEye.com
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.
Chris Shelby, MD
Pierremont Eye Institute 7843 Youree Dr. Shreveport, LA 71105 318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.com See our ad on page 45.
Vicki Ott, Administrator
NurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center 1736 Irving Place Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 221-1983 See our ad on page 55.
Orthopaedics
Neurosurgery
I have a rotator cuff tear. Do I need surgery? It depends. Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain, which increases in incidence with advancing age. A person can have a rotator cuff tear without experiencing pain. (The incidence varies from a reported 5% to 40%.) 40% of tears will enlarge, and of these, 80% will be symptomatic. 20% of patients remain symptom free for a 5 year period. There is no evidence that delaying surgery to attempt a non-operative treatment protocol adversely affects results. If you have significant weakness and/or a large tear, surgery may be advisable sooner. MRI’s are valuable tests to determine tear anatomy and degree.
My son has epilepsy. What are the latest 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 a number of 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 pacemakerlike device around a nerve in the neck.
John J. Ferrell, M.D.
Mid South Orthopaedics 7925 Youree Drive; Suite 210 Shreveport, LA 71105 (318) 424-3400
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Dr. Ravish Patwardhan The Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network 8001 Youree Dr., Ste 970 Shreveport, LA 71115 (318) 797-5543; www.neurosurgery.ws
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places2go, people2see, things2do health
tour
entertainment
LSUS Recreational Health & Wellness Fair - Hosted by LSUS Recreational Sports. Wed., Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Center Ballroom. FREE. Cholesterol testing, blood pressure measurements & body fat testing. The American Red Cross will provide flu shots for $20.00 (subject to availability) and pneumonia shots for $30.00. Shots are for those with a Medicare Part B card. Giveaways and door prizes. For more information contact Angel Martin, Director of Recreational Sports, at 318-797-5393 (angel.martin@lsus.edu).
First Saturday Tour Series - Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Ave., Shreveport. First Saturday of every month at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. All tours meet in the lobby. No reservation is required, though groups of 10 or more are asked to call ahead. This tour, like all tours and admission to the Norton, is free of charge. • Saturday, November 7 – It Runs in the Family Tour. Explores the artistic families on display in their permanent collection from the Bonheurs to the Borglums and beyond. • Saturday, December 5 – The Christmas Tour: Gifts of the Heart. Explore the gifts their artists have given to friends, family, and the world at large with this guided tour of their permanent collection. The tour reminds us that the cost of a gift is never the measure of its value.
Amahl and the Night Visitors - December 5. 7:30 p.m. Riverview Theatre, 600 Clyde Fant Pkwy, Shreveport. For tickets or more information call 227-9503 or visit www.ShreveportOpera.org.
“Heart Truth” Talk Saturday, November 21. 10 a.m. LSUS Theater. Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, founder of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic, will share her expertise about Women and Heart Disease. FrEe and open to the public, but reservations are required due to limited seating. For reservations, call 681-6645. Men’s Health Day - Saturday, Nov. 21. 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Southern Hills Recreation Center, 1002 Bert Kouns, Shreveport. Presented by Feist Weiller Cancer Center. Health screenings, door prizes, giveaways. Free continental breakfast and Free lunch. Motivational Lunch Speaker - Larry Proctor, Director M.O.V.E. Inc.: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. For more information call (318) 813-1461.
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trade days
Main to Main Trade Days - November 6 and 7. Rain or shine. Webster Parish, LA. 50 mile route travels from Springhill’s Main Street down to Cullen’s Main Street, then cross over to Highway 371 traveling South to Sarepta, then to Cotton Valley, and at Dixie Inn turning East on Highway 80 traveling downtown Minden then out Highway 371 to Sibley and to the parish line. Antiques, “junktiques”, flea markets, bake sales, church bazaars, original art work, clothes, furniture, toys, anything you can name. Garage sales and all types of food vendors. No cost to participate. For information call Jan at 318-539-5699 or Judy at 318-371-4258. For more info visit www.maintomain.com
Silver Screenings - “It Happened One Night” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. November 17 at 10:30 a.m. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport. Senior Admission: $5.75 for the movie only; $14 for movie and lunch. For reservations call 459-4122. Senior Day at the State Fair of Louiana - Thursday, Nov. 5. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Health screenings, door prizes, give-a-ways, flu and pneumonia shots, employment information. For those age 50+: Free admission to the health fair, Free admission to the State Fair Midway, Free parking.
expo Haynesville Shale Expo - Friday November 13 from 9 am to 6 pm, at the Shreveport Convention Center, located at 400 Caddo Street in downtown Shreveport. Citizens from the Ark-La-Tex are invited to attend the Free community event to learn more about the process of natural gas exploration and the impact it has on the region. Expert speakers will present information on leasing and royalties, benefits of natural gas, water usage, workforce development and much more. To learn more about the event, visit www. ShaleExpo.com.
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Autumn Bonfire Chilly Corn maze Cornucopia Fall Feast
Foliage Football Frost Gourds Harvest Hayride Haystack
Leaves Orange Pumpkins Raking Scarecrow Thanksgiving Windy
SUDOKU - 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 51)
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Across 1 Illinois-based brewery 6 Chilean cash 10 Crones 14 Magna __ 19 Correspond 20 Some antique radios 21 Share a border with 22 Haughty 23 Distinctive Farrah Fawcett feature? 25 Earth 26 “Really cool!” 27 “The Banger Sisters” costar 28 Fits to __ 29 Candlemaker’s monthly receipt? 31 One at a brayer meeting? 32 Where the uvea is 33 Coinage 35 Whole 36 Herbal array, perhaps 39 Son of Seth 40 Bluffing strategies 41 Rollerblading partner of movie camera pioneer Bell? 44 Sacramento’s ARCO __ 46 Actor McKellen 47 Key to getting out of trouble? 48 Big brass 53 On a liner, e.g. 54 Sharp barks 56 Sources of cabinet wood 59 Response to being cut off 60 Jalapeño feature 62 Returning lover’s question 64 Single show 66 __ Karate: old aftershave 67 Methods of separating chaff from grain? 71 Hindu honorific 72 Display case 74 Know somehow The Best Of Times
75 Frequently 77 Ted Williams wore it 78 What the heirs split 81 Conception 83 Diminishing returns 84 Entr’__: theatrical intervals 86 Proverb ending? 87 Bonding words 88 TV producer Norman and a tragic king 90 People afraid of playing the stock market? 95 1990s Toyotas 98 Copter’s forerunner 99 Tennis wear item 102 Trying experience 103 Search __: online aid 105 Scot’s cap 106 Corn Belt st. 108 Borders for oval paintings? 110 Laundry basketful 112 The Mideast’s __ Strip 113 As a friend, to Fifi 114 State as true 115 Including Monopoly money in a trousseau? 117 “__ Grows in Brooklyn” 118 Actor Santoni 119 Heaviest modern fencing weapon 120 Cara of “Fame” 121 Gardeners, at times 122 Nick and Nora’s pooch 123 Pills, briefly 124 Whimpered Down 1 Former Turkish title 2 Horrified
That hurts!
By Robert W. Harris; Edited by Rich Norris & Joyce Nichols Lewis
(Solution on page 51)
3 Use Google, e.g. 4 Hanging on by a thread 5 “Miss Pym Disposes” author 6 Mentor’s charge 7 __ homo 8 Fermented Japanese brews 9 “Wild Bill” Donovan’s WWII org. 10 Gets agitated, Bart Simpson- style 11 Put an end to 12 Deviousness 13 Normandy battle site 14 Ecclesiastical law expert 15 Warns 16 Behind-the scenes band worker 17 16-Downs, e.g. 18 “I shall be there __ you”: “King
Lear” 24 Alternative to immediate purchase 29 State bordering eight others: Abbr. 30 Prosperity 32 Black, to Blake 34 Menial worker 37 In front 38 Mention casually 40 Give fresh life to 42 Catch, as a dogie 43 Dubuque-to- Chicago dir. 44 Like some elephants 45 Dependent 49 Speech stumbles 50 Rocket stage 51 She played Honey Ryder in “Dr. No” 52 Yarn units 53 Greek goddess of wisdom 55 Identity crises?
56 Nitrogen compound 57 40-day period of penitence 58 Observe covertly 61 Barnyard female 63 Houlihan portrayer 65 Prefix with bar 68 Wrath 69 Former “SNL” character Father __ Sarducci 70 Spouses of sports nuts, facetiously 73 “Really!” 76 Hooch holder 79 Bit 80 Wheel correction 82 “Done so fast?” 85 Regular guys 87 Enduring symbol 89 Mild Dutch cheese 91 Massage deeply
92 Most populous African country 93 Pinot __ 94 Brightest star in Scorpius 95 “Now!” 96 Program producing pop- ups 97 Pretender 100 Dentist’s concern 101 Alter, as area boundaries 102 Island folk magic 103 House martins nest under them 104 Become a pair without an affair 107 Displayed openly 109 __ avis 111 Didn’t pay yet 112 Trusted adviser 115 Jackson was the first to become pres. 116 With it November 2009
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Bossier Council on Aging Bearkat Site (741-8302), 706 Bearkat Dr., Bossier City. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM; Plain Dealing Site (326-5722), 101 E. Oak St., Plain Dealing, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Info & referrals - 741-8302 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. One week notice required. $3 round trip suggested. Also through referrals from Medicaid.
Outreach - Home visits are made to help qualify seniors for services. Homemaker - Trained employees provide light housekeeping for seniors having difficulty maintaining their homes. $3/visit suggested. Caregiver - Support services are provided for family caregivers including in-home respite care for the caregiver, education for the family, and material aid and sitter services for the patient. Legal Services - Education on elder legal issues. 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, Monday - Friday. $1.50 per meal is suggested. Home Delivered Meals - Meals provided 5 days per week for elderly homebound in Bossier Parish, $1.50/ 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. Press the button for immediate help. $20 fee per month. Senior Centers - Recreation,
crafts, educational seminars, and health information. Also: day trips, extended trips, exercise/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. Drug plan assistance available. Medicaid Applications - Application center and assistance filling out the forms. By appointment only.
Caddo Council on Aging 4015 Greenwood Road, (318) 632-2090. www.caddocouncilonaging.org Email-ccoa@caddocoa.org Info & Referral - 632-2090 Outreach/Individual Needs Assessment- Explanation of services and to enroll the elderly in service programs Home Delivered Meals - 5 meals/ wk delivered to homebound seniors. Suggested donation $1.25/day. Homemaker Services - Personal care and household tasks provided for homebound persons unable to perform tasks without assistance. $5/month donation requested. Personal Care - Personal care provided to homebound person. $5/month donation requested. Family Caregiver - Sitter and respite provided for full time caregiver of a senior. Donation requested. Telephone Reassurance - Volunteers make phone calls to seniors to offer comfort and support. Medical Alert - 632-2090 -Emergency response system that protects
seniors in case of accident or falls in the home. $20/month fee SenioRX Program - 632-5900 or 1-800-793-1198 - Assists seniors applying for pharmaceutical aid. Nursing Home Ombudsman - Professional visits to nursing home to investigate and resolve issues made by the elderly resident or the resident’s family. RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) 632-2113 - Provides volunteer opportunities for persons 55 years of age or older. Foster Grandparents (FGP) - 632-2199 - Seniors 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 - 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. 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. Confidential Call 681.0875 to register. No charge. Senior Centers and Meal Sites - 632-2080 - Area sites 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 Center - 4017 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 Mon-Friday 9:30am-12:30pm • Greenwood Library - Hwy 80, Downtown Greenwood. Open MonFri 9:30 am - 12:30pm • Mooringsport Community Center-Lattimer 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 Spring-ridge Texas Line Rd, Keithville Tue & Thurs 10am-1:00pm • Oil City Community Center - Savage Street, Oil City Open MonWed-Fri 9am to noon • Vivian Community Center - in the City Park 522 E. Tennessee Open Mon-Fri 9am-12noon
Webster Council on Aging Minden Senior Center (3713056 or 1-800-256-2853), 316 McIntyre St., Minden, LA 71055; 8 am to 4 pm Cotton Valley Senior Center (832-4225), Railroad Ave., Cotton Valley; 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Springhill Senior Center (539-2510), 301 West Church St., Springhill; 8 am to 4 pm Transportation – transporting older persons to and from community facilities and resources. Assisted transportation also provided and must be scheduled weekly in advance. The Best Of Times
Congregate Meals – nutritionally balanced meals for persons 60+ and spouses provided at senior centers, served 5 days a week. Home-Delivered Meals – Noon meal delivered to eligible homebound elderly (illness, disability or while caring for spouse who is), 5 days a week. Homemaker services – Provided to those clients meeting specific requirements. Recreation – Art, crafts, hobbies, games, and trips. Wellness – designed to support/
improve the senior’s mental/physical well-being through exercise, physical fitness, and health screening. Family Care-Giver Support – support services that provide a temporary break in the tasks of caregiving. For family caregivers who are providing care for an older individual who is determined to be functionally impaired because of inability to perform instrumental functions of daily living without substantial supervision and assistance. This service is provided to persons caring for a homebound relative 60+, for a
relative 60+ caring for a homebound child or grandchild. Information and Assistance – Provides the individual with current information on opportunities and services within the community. Legal Assistance – providing legal advice, counseling, and representation by an attorney. Lectures are scheduled on a quarterly basis. Medicaid enrollment center – take initial Medicaid applications Medical Alert – linking clients with in-home emergency response system. November 2009
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15 Shreve Hearing Aid Service (318) 797-7733 Home Maintenance Ambulance Services 50 Balentine Ambulance (318) 222-5358 Artificial Limbs and Braces 39 Snell’s Orthotics & Prosthetics (318) 424-4167 Associations and Organizations 11 BluePrint Louisiana (866) 483-3920 49 Bossier Council on Aging (318) 741-8302 49 Caddo Council on Aging (318) 632-2090 48 Robinson Film Center (318) 424-9090 14 Shreveport Little Theatre (318) 424-4439 48 Shreveport Opera (318) 227-9503 49 Webster Council on Aging (318) 371-3056 Care Providers 15 Comfort Keepers (318) 934-0090 21 Family Care Services (318) 671-1799 39 Home Assistance Services (318) 682-8182 46 Northwest LA INCS (318) 636-0390 31 ResCare Home Care (318) 678-1890 52 Seniors Club Personal Care Services (318) 635-0010
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Cemeteries and Funeral Homes 51 Centuries Memorial (318) 686-4334 51 Hill Crest Memorial (318) 949-9415 Complementary Medical Therapies 33 The Chiropractic Health Center Dr. Diane Sino (318) 687-0881 Counseling Services 42 The Center for Families (318) 222-0759 Courses 35 Bible Correspondence Course (318) 797-6333 14 Thru the Bus Radio Program (888) 777-5422 Emergency Response Systems 52 Acadian OnCall 1-800-259-1234 Financial & Estate Planning/Legal Services 17 Farm Bureau Financial Cheryl Andryco (318) 524-5200 37 Serio Investments Phillip Serio (318) 221-0889 41 The Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul (318) 222-2100 Flowers 37 Flowers Forever, LLC (318) 925-2323 Hearing Care Services 45 Better Hearing Systems (318) 747-9191
18 Gutter Helmet of N. Louisiana (800) 284-9777 22 Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner (318) 631-6655 Home Health Care (Medicare Certified) 11 Ark-La-Tex Home Health, Inc (318) 747-6180 23 Medistar Home Health (318)742-4026 32 Synergy Home Care (318) 550-0285 Hospice Care Providers
Insurance 11 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana 1-800-223-6830
51 Century 21 Judy Holland (318) 349-6983
56 Humana (800) 301-8998
Restaurants and Catering
54 Sterling Health Plans (866) 217-3666 5 Vantage Health Plan (888) 823-1910 Medical Supplies/ Equipment 25 FastServ Medical (318) 741-9586 8 Home Health Medical Supply (318) 631-1466 3 Medtronics – XSTOP Spacer (866) 580-5242
20 Hospice Compassus (318) 524-1046
Pet Care and Services
15 Odyssey Healthcare (318) 868-8788
33 Airline Animal Hospital (318) 747-9150
35 St. Joseph Hospice (318) 222-8723
23 Lil’ Rascals Pet Care (318) 573-6672
Home Infusion Services 35 IV Plus (318) 683-5139 Hospitals 30 Brentwood Hospital (318) 678-7500
2 Willis Knighton Medical Center – North Shreveport (318) 212-4000
2 Willis Knighton Medical Center - Bossier (318) 212-7000 2 Willis Knighton Medical Center – South Shreveport (318) 212-5000
2 Willis Knighton Medical Center – Pierremont (318) 212-3000
Real Estate Agents
Pharmacies 30 Medic Pharmacy (318) 222-8477 Physician Services 26 Cardiovascular Consultants Dr. Phillip Rozeman (318) 631-6400 31 Dr. Britain P. Auer (318) 798-4623 36 Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600 42 Mid South Orthopaedics (318) 424-3400 45 Pierremont Eye Institute Dr. Chris Shelby (318) 212-3937 Radio Stations 43 KWKH AM 1130 Radio Station (318) 688-1130
39 Cupcake Gallery (318) 752-2253 51 Imperial Wok (318) 687-6668 Senior Living Options 12 Azalea Estates Assisted Living (318) 797-2408 44 Kingsley Place of Shreveport (318) 524-2100 34 Leslie Lakes Retirement Center (318) 263-9581 55 NurseCare of S’port (318) 221-1983 24 Princeton Place Rehabilitation Center (318) 255-4400
9 Southwood Gardens (318) 682-4022
9 Southwood Square (318) 671-1888
25 The Waterford at Shreveport (318) 524-3300 Spas/Skin Care 17 Skin Technology (318) 347-3567 17 Mary Kay Cosmetics Cindy Dawson (318) 578-5965 Travel Services 21 Cruises, Inc (318) 746-3745 19 Fly Branson (888) 359-2541 52 Red River Coaches (318) 221-5797 Telephone Book 48 User-Friendly Phone Book (318) 865-1280 TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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Parting Shots 1 - Bistro Byronz hosted a fundraising event for the Caddo Council on Aging’s Meals on Wheels Program. Enjoying the evening are (a) Paula Houston, CCOA’s executive director Mary Alice Rountree, Doug Rountree, and Karol Fontaine; (b) Bridget Goldman, Angie McFarland, and Vicki Ott. 2 - The wait staff at Binion’s Steakhouse wish Helen Yampanis a Happy 84 th Birthday with a rendition of “My Girl” that would have made the Temptations jealous. 3 - The Shreveport Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours was held at Graphics Industries. Mixing and mingling are (a) Brett McCoy, Byron May, and Mike Whitehead; (b) Kelli Cooper, Meredith McLellan, and Philip Maxfield. 4 - The Community Healthcare Education Network (CHEN) 2nd annual Golf Tournament was held at Southern Trace Country Club on September 28th. (a) Pat Covington and Toni Camp display a poster listing the member organizations of CHEN. (b) Roger Black, Bart Vanderhoever, Raegan Lemaire, and Jason Humphries were the tournament first place winners. 5 - Tracy Pressly, Julie Dickinson, and Beverly Robertson sip on martinis at Les Bon Temps Fall meeting. 6 - Harold Slater, Don Webb, and Michael Hayek, who was visiting from Sydney Australia prepare to enjoy a catfish feast at the Willow Ridge Neighborhood Night Out event.. 7 - Kimberly and Tommy Nard, Frances Duran, Denny Duran & councilwoman Joyce Bowman at Word of Deliverance Outreach Ground Breaking Ceremony. 8 - (a) Dr. Thomas Arnold (left) was the speaker for the LSUHSC Lunch and Learn event at Ernest Orleans Restaurant. Here with Lois Jackson and Rosemary Murphreee. (b) Also attending Dot Kistler and Evelyne Taylor. 9 - Debbie and Robert Grand, Abby and Joe Everett, and Chloe and Bob Thornton at the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame dinner. 10 - Jim Lawrence and Francis Edwards at the Job and Health Fair for persons with disabilities on October 7th at Christ United Methodist Church.
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November 2009
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