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Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
GAZETTE
SENIORS Editor
Kimberly Bamber
Graphic Design
Anna Joyce
Contributing Writers
Karen Finucan Clarkson Mary Wade Burnside Ellen Cohen Scott Harris Jim Mahaffie
Advertising Director
Katrina LaPier
Prepress Manager
John Schmitz
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January 2013 | Gazette SENIORS
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HEALTH
&
ALCOHOL AGING BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON
C
an’t hold your liquor like you could in your 20s or 30s? That’s not unusual. “As we age, we may well metabolize alcohol less efficiently,” said Thomas N. Wise, M.D., chair of the department of psychiatry at Inova Fairfax Hospital. “When we drink, the alcohol goes into the stomach and immediately gets sucked into the liver, where it is detoxified. This process doesn’t happen as efficiently when we’re older,” which means alcohol stays in a senior’s body longer. “The elderly achieve a higher blood alcohol concentration than a younger person even though they’ve had the same amount to drink,” said Beth Kane Davidson, director of the AddictionTreatment Center at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. “With age comes a decrease in the amount of body water, so the alcohol is not as diluted.” Aging lowers the body’s tolerance for alcohol, so older adults might experience the effects of a drink—such as slurred speech and lack of coordination—sooner and to a greater extent than when they were younger, according to the National Institutes of Health. As a result, seniors can develop problems with alcohol even if their drinking habits haven’t changed. Because seniors “get a more intoxicating effect with lower levels of alcohol intake, they are subject to falling and other injuries,” said Davidson. “...If you find your spouse, mother, father, grandmother or grandfather falling or having bumps and bruises, consider alcohol use among the issues to look at.”
Drinking can exacerbate existing health
problems or hasten the onset of certain illnesses. “As we get older, we become vulnerable to systemic disease, things like hypertension, liver and coronary vascular disease, and diabetes,” saidWise. “Alcohol taxes the liver and elevates blood pressure.” It also can bring about low blood sugar levels in diabetics, he noted. As a result of such afflictions, seniors take more drugs than any other age group. “The elderly often are taking more than two medications a day, but many don’t realize that alcohol can reduce a medication’s effectiveness or have an adverse effect,” said Davidson. That goes for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.“For example, aspirin in combination with alcohol can irritate the stomach lining,” said Wise. “Alcohol and statins [drugs used to lower cholesterol] don’t always mix and alcohol can lessen the positive effects of digitalis [a drug used to treat certain heart patients]. Alcohol and Dilantin [a drug used to control seizures] can interact to produce a toxic state.” 4
Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
Why They Often Don’t Mix Well
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Alcohol can still interact with a medication hours after the drug was ingested. “Certain medications have a longer half-life,” said Davidson, “and remain in your system for hours. It’s important that people understand a medication—what it is, why they’re taking it, and how it interacts with alcohol and other drugs.”
Drinking can impair memory and cognition.
“Alcohol is toxic to the brain,” said Wise, “and as we age we have fewer brain cells. While alcohol use generally shouldn’t lead to a dementing illness, research does show that alcohol causes difficulty with problem-solving tests.” It had been thought that light to moderate alcohol consumption had some health benefits, including a reduced risk of cognitive decline.Two new studies, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in July, purport to cast doubt on that theory.
In one, San Francisco-based researchers followed some 1,300 women 65 and older for 20 years. They found that women who drank earlier in life, before the start of the study, had a 30 percent higher risk of developing cognitive impairment. Those who were moderate drinkers in the late phase of the study were 60 percent more likely to become cognitively impaired. But it was nondrinkers who began drinking during the course of the study who experienced the greatest increase—200 percent—in their risk of developing cognitive impairment. Meanwhile, researchers in Great Britain found that binge drinking in the 65-and-over population leads to cognitive decline. Those who reported heavy episodic drinking once a month were 62 percent more likely to be among those experiencing the highest decline in cognitive function and were 27 percent more likely to be in the group experiencing the highest level of memory decline. Those percentages jumped to 147 and 149 for older adults who reported binge drinking twice a month. Outcomes were similar for men and women. “The 65 to 70 age range is a peak time for alcohol dependence,” said Davidson. “Why does it pop up now? There are a variety of reasons that make the elderly more vulnerable—the loss of a spouse or friends, retirement, increased isolation, reduced mobility and chronic pain.” “You can call it depression, but a better term is demoralization,” said Wise. “These physiological changes and psychosocial factors are more pronounced among the elderly and can lead to selfmedication with alcohol. Alcohol is quite cheap and less prone to inflation.”
For those who wonder whether they have a
drinking problem, Wise suggested “the CAGE test. C is for cutoff. Do you ever feel you should cut down? A is for annoyed. Do you feel annoyed when someone criticizes your drinking? G is for guilt. Do you feel guilty about drinking? And E is for eye-opener. Do you ever find yourself drinking first thing in the morning to steady yourself?” Because denial often is a factor in elderly drinking and the effects of alcohol can mimic age-related changes, identifying seniors who develop a drinking problem later in life can be difficult, according to West Virginia University’s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center School of Public Health website. But identification is critical. “The sooner you intervene, the more likely treatment will be successful,” said Davidson. “There is help for somebody who is elderly and struggling with alcohol dependence. Treatment does work.”
HEALTH
Why you need to pay attention to
FOOT HEALTH BY SHARON NAYLOR
W
DAILY CARE
KPHO TO/EV EMIL LA
• Wash feet carefully. Clean between all toes and dry feet thoroughly to prevent fungal infections and athlete’s foot that can create more serious foot infections down the road. • Rotate footwear; never wear damp shoes or socks, as they encourage fungal and bacterial growth.
ISTOC
hile many seniors pay special attention to their blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, they can neglect the care and well-being of their feet. Foot care is important because, after all, feet support your body weight and allow you to enjoy a mobile, active lifestyle. When your feet feel good, you feel good; when they’re achy and painful, it may slow you down. In some cases, foot problems can indicate or even cause serious health problems. “Aging can naturally increase the risk of certain foot ailments,” said Joseph Caporusso, D.P.M., podiatrist and president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). “It’s important to know the symptoms of age-related foot ailments and take steps to minimize their impact on your overall health.” If you have diabetes, foot care is especially essential. Daily inspections will help you retain the healthy use of
your feet and avoid painful, debilitating and costly surgeries. Foot-related complications are common among the nearly 26 million Americans who have diabetes. Proper diet, exercise, medical care and careful daily care can help people with diabetes avoid the most serious complications of the disease, including amputation. The APMA, the International Council on Active Aging and the Institute for Preventive Foot Health suggest the following steps to take for smart foot care:
See FEET, 20
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SIGN ME UP
Interest in Volleyball
SPIKES BY JIM MAHAFFIE
A
Offered as a year-round class, senior
volleyball fills up in a heartbeat, said Providence RECenter Program Director Leeanne Russell. Fifteen players meet on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. 6
Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
PHOTO COURTESY OF STANLEY WAY
ville, who organizes the competition. Teams are formed each day and they play with the goal of having balanced competition. They like to have enough players to fill two courts and can usually use more players, he said. “Having both men and women playing together is not a very significant consideration as some of the women are better players than some of the men,” said Way.
Volleyball is an easy game for any age
and physical ability, but it’s an especially great ABOVE:
sport for seniors, said Cathy Moxley, fitness director at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg. “It requires you to stretch, reach, balance, focus and aim, so it’s good for the body and the brain.” She agreed that one of the best aspects of the game for seniors is the camaraderie and spirit of a team sport. “For many, the fun and competitive aspect of keeping score and interacting with others spurs them on to continue [using] a whole lot more than a treadmill or stationary bicycle, for instance,” she said. The sport is not just a wintertime activity; it’s catching on year-round with people who want to play games and have a good time. “It’s a great sport and we have some very loyal participants,” said Jim Ganz, president of the Montgomery County Senior Sports Association (MCSSA). “You will have a lot of fun once you get involved.” MCSSA is a nonprofit organization established to organize and administer sports programs for seniors in the Montgomery County area. Volleyball is just one of the several sports leagues and drop-in play schedules that it organizes for seniors. For more information on senior volleyball in Montgomery County, call 301-4608117 or visit mc-ssa.org/volleyball.
This Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center team represented Maryland in 2011 in one of the Spike for Life volleyball tournaments, which are held throughout the country. RIGHT: Elaine Sellman hits the beach ball while playing at the Providence RECenter in Falls Church, Va.
CURRY Y OF LINDSAY PHOTO COURTES
t 83, Asbury Methodist Village resident George Huson is a regular on the volleyball court at the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center in Rockville, where his league meets on weekdays. He has played volleyball at the Maryland Senior Olympics since 1992, and several times has gone to the National Senior Games. Huson loves the game, and unlike some other recreational leagues for seniors, his senior league still plays with a regulation ball, court and net. He’s been playing since the 1960s and competed regularly with a company team while working at Comsat Laboratories in Germantown. At the Providence RECenter in Falls Church, Va., senior volleyball is played with a beach ball on a racquetball court and the rules are relaxed, according to Fitness Director Lindsay Curry. “Not only is it good exercise, (but) with two teams, it gives people a sense of community and some friendly competition,” she said. Classes begin with a brief warm-up and end with a cooldown. “The comradeship among us all is so much fun,” said Joe Petrosky, 81, of Fairfax, Va., who is a regular at Providence. He credited coach Rosemary Reca for making them all feel like superstars. “She has given us an opportunity to enhance our well-being [and] physical ability to play, laugh and enjoy where we are today,” said Petrosky. “Senior volleyball has a way of making people of all ages stop and watch us in awe as to how and why we’re having so much fun.They enjoy seeing us seniors smacking that colorful beach ball over—and sometimes under—the net!”
According to Russell, they use beach balls of different weights to change things up and ensure that participants work harder. In Montgomery County, male and female volleyball players meet three times a week—at the Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center in Rockville—on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Fridays at the Mid-County Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring at the same time. “We play what is called drop-in rather than fixed teams,” said StanleyWay of Rock-
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SIGN ME UP
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F
irst things first: You’re not a Luddite, and you’re never too old to learn. So stop making excuses or being fearful. You can learn basic computer skills—how to write, research and read online—and how to use that new iPhone or iPad or your other smartphone or tablet.There are dozens of places to turn. The joke has always been to ask a kid, and it’s actually true. They seem to intuitively know about computer processes and how to use the machines. But you want someone experienced with teaching what you want to learn—things like emailing, managing photos or tracking stocks.
How about free computer training
at a public library? On given weekdays at locations such as the Rockville Memorial and Aspen Hill libraries, volunteers are available for one-hour sessions. Beth Chandler, coordinator of adult and teen programs at the Aspen Hill branch, said that the library has to limit people to 8
Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
one hour a week because the one-on-one tutoring is so popular. It’s open to anyone, and people generally come in for help with email, word processing, Internet training and printing. Chandler recommended making an appointment, as drop-in opportunities are limited. At the Rockville Memorial Library in Rockville Town Square, volunteer tutors are usually available by appointment from 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays. Drop-ins are welcome on Fridays at the same time, though signing up beforehand will save you a spot.
How about learning in a group?
At Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, George Stosur is president of Asbury’s computer club, which now has 263 members. Another 65 residents are in Apple Corps, a club dedicated to Apple computer users.The computer club holds classes every day for beginners and advanced users, starting with the very basics, “including how you turn on the machine,” said Stosur. He said people want to learn email, how to download and manage pictures of children and grandchildren, and how to use their new iPads. “Some people are quite
advanced, and surprisingly so,” said Stosur. “I walk around and see people checking stocks and making travel reservations.” The Asbury computer classes are open to all, residents and nonresidents alike. Cost of classes ranges from $15 for one class to $80 for a series of six classes, and includes assisted practice after each lecture. Courses range from basic to advanced, using Microsoft Windows and Apple operating systems. The club also has an informational newsletter and monthly meetings with lecturers who speak on various topics. “Best value in town!” said Stosur. More class information can be found at amvresidents. org/computerclub. Stosur was born in Poland 75 years ago, and still has family there. He keeps in touch with them via Skype, an Internetbased phone system that lets you make phone calls and video chat with people near or far. “I have a friend in Switzerland that I talk to all the time now,” Stosur said. Skype is a hot topic for seniors. “Grandparents can converse with grandchildren. It’s a great way to keep in touch and develop bonds that otherwise might be lost.”
G IN E C L N B A A N IL FI VA A
GRACIOUS SENIOR LIVING
PHOTO COURTESY OF HAL GAUT
Bob Nisbet teaches computer courses for the Jewish Council for the Aging, which offers six two-month class sessions in four locations in Montgomery County.
The Jewish Council for the Aging
(JCA) offers six two-month class sessions in four locations in Montgomery County. “Our next session begins in March,” said Chief Operating Officer Richard K. Stanley. More information and the catalog can be found on JCA’s website, accessjca.org, under the “Learn Computers” link. Email your address to seniortech@accessJCA. org to get on their mailing list or call the JCA Senior Helpline at 301-255-4200. OASIS educational programs promote continued lifelong learning, healthy lifestyles and civic engagement for people age 50 and older. Classes are offered at the Macy’s Home Store in Bethesda. “Computer classes here at OASIS are extremely popular,” said Leah Russi, office manager at Washington Metropolitan OASIS. “This semester, we’re offering 18 different classes ranging from an introductory to classes on creating digital scrapbooks and using various Web browsers.” Popular classes, said Russi, include using the iPad and a class on photo-editing software. Lessons are taught primarily by volunteer instructors and take place in an on-site lab with 10 computers. For more information, visit oasisnet.org. In continuing education classes at Montgomery College, anyone can take open-admission, noncredit courses, some of which are only two weeks in length. They include computer basics and popu-
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lar software programs, such as Microsoft, Word for writing. There are also more specialized courses in digital photography, Facebook, social media and personal accounting programs like QuickBooks. Call 240-567-5188 for more information.
JCA’s Stanley said that first-timers
want to know the basics, “but now basics include email, sending and receiving pictures, social media, and surfing the Web.” There’s also growing interest in smartphones, tablets and Skype, he said. Seniors also may want to remain active in the workforce and are looking to acquire or enhance computer skills for their jobs. Fear prevents some from taking to the computer, and that’s completely understandable, said Stanley, as you hear about security breaches, identity theft, cyberstalking and viruses. “Often, the message is that these things happen without the users’ knowledge and with no ability to prevent them,” he said. And learning to use computers is akin to learning a foreign language, said Stanley. “We see children take to computers seemingly naturally and think it’s easy. But it really isn’t. Visualizing processes, understanding what’s happening behind the screen—none of it is intuitive to someone who has had no exposure to computers before.”
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SIGN ME UP
SINGLE
&
READY TO MINGLE? u How the over-50 crowd can explore dating options BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON
“D
ating when you’re 50-plus has a different feel,” said Amy Schoen. “Not everyone has the same agenda—marriage is not always the goal—and dating strategies, particularly online, can be harder for some older adults to embrace.” Schoen, a North Bethesda-based certified life coach, works with clients on dating and relationship issues. As the number of unmarried older adults edges upward, interest in dating appears to be growing. There were 29.1 million single adults 55 or older in 2011, up from 26.6 million in 2008, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. And, people over 60 are the fastest growing demographic in online
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Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
dating, according to researchers at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Schoen, who admits some seniors find online dating intimidating, recommends it nonetheless. “Over two-thirds of my clients have successfully met partners online,” she said. Nearly half of people over 50 who use online dating are interested in a serious relationship, according to a recent AARP survey. About a quarter are seeking friendship or companionship, and 14 percent are interested in casual dating. Both Schoen and Toni Coleman, a licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach in McLean, Va., suggest some of the more well-known sites—PlentyofFish, eHarmony and Match.com—for those new See DATING, 22
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TRAVEL
FUN IN THE BY JIM MAHAFFIE
SNOW
G
ene Granof had a few memorable ski trips before he graduated beyond the beginner stage. His wife Helene, who skied a few times herself, had introduced him to the sport before they were married. She had brought Gene along with her to a conference in New York, and while she was in meetings, he ventured to a local hill that was essentially for weekend skiing and normally deserted during the week. As Gene was skiing down a beginner slope with increasing speed—he hadn’t yet learned to turn or stop—he saw to his horror that he was headed right for the only other skier on the entire hill, who happened to be riding up the lift. That skier looked up, saw Gene heading for him, let go of the lift, threw up his hands and dropped to the snow. “He was undoubtedly thinking, ‘There’s just two of us on this entire slope and that idiot is headed directly at me,’” said Gene. Fortunately, Gene fell a good 50 feet away, “mercifully out of close conversation range,” he said.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HELENE AND GENE GRANOF
Gene Granof skis at St. Moritz, a resort town in the Alps in Switzerland, during an excursion with the Temple Micah Ski Club in 2011.
Subsequent to that memorable
experience, the Granofs skied with their three children in tow at Killington and Sugarbush resorts in New England. Then they discovered the soft powder snow of ski resorts in theWest—Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Aspen, Snowmass and Steamboat in Colorado, as well as Park City, Alta and Snowbird in Utah. These proved to be wonderful places for family vacations, said Helene. “Pretty soon the kids passed us by. They would ski with us in the morning and then go off on their own,” she said. Not surprisingly, their children—now adults—became far better skiers than either Helene or Gene, who mostly stick to blue intermediate slopes and an occasional, not-so-difficult black expert run. The Granofs now have three grandchildren who are just beginning to ski. “In the not-so-distant future
Granof, second from the right, poses on the slopes with other members of the Temple Micah Ski Club in Megève, France, in 2010.
they are likewise expected to leave their grandparents behind in a blur of snow dust,” said Gene. Two of their children spent college semesters in France and introduced the Granofs to European skiing at Courchevel and Val d’Isère. After that, the Granofs joined theTemple Micah Ski Club through the synagogue in Washington, D.C., that they have been members of for years.With that club, Gene has been on 13 trips to Europe and one to Canada; Helene’s work schedule prevented her from making all
The Granof family—from left, Helene, Daniel, Julie, Gail and Gene—skied together for many years at resorts around the U.S.
but two of those trips. Gene said he enjoys the excursions not only for the skiing, but also for the time spent in the gateway cities to the resorts—Venice, Milan, Barcelona, Lyon, Munich, Zurich and Geneva.
This winter, Helene and Gene are
headed to Snowbird, Utah, for this year’s trip with the Temple Micah Ski Club. It’s the group’s first trip to a resort in the U.S. Helene had a knee replacement last June and is uncertain whether she is up to facing the slopes. Cleared to ski by her orthope-
dist, she’s hopeful. “I love the sensation of skiing.You never have to worry about anything but getting to the bottom gracefully.” Helene, 72, is a recently retired Montgomery County schoolteacher. Gene, 76, is a retired attorney for the Air Line Pilots Association, International, headquartered in Washington, D.C.They live in Bethesda, where they like to swim, socialize, and volunteer in local and state politics. Gene still runs road races, which he said he does at his age like a dancing bear—not very well, but you’re amazed he does it at all. January 2013 | Gazette SENIORS
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FINANCES
What Happens if You Die Without a Will? might not have been your choice—to handle those tasks. “Your spouse or children might sound like logical choices” to the court, said Ruprecht, “but you may have someone else in mind,” such a friend or other relative, better suited to the job of executor. A will allows you to make those wishes known. “Absent a will that specifies who you want your property to go to, your estate is subject to the laws of the state in which you are deemed to be domiciled on the day of your death,” said Ruprecht. “The specifics of the laws vary [by state] and may or may not reflect who you want to receive your property.”
BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON
“W
hen people tell me they don’t have a will, I tell them they actually do—it’s just that the state has written it for them,” said Jean Galloway Ball, principal of Jean Galloway Ball PLC, a Fairfax, Va.-based elder and estate-planning law firm. Dying without a will, also known as dying intestate, means that state law will dictate the distribution of assets to your heirs. “It’s your money, your assets.You ought to leave a document that controls where everything goes.” A will is a legal document that stipulates who should receive which of your assets after your death. There are some limitations. For example, a will does not affect jointly owned assets or those with a right of survivorship, and it cannot supersede the designation of a beneficiary on financial accounts or insurance policies. “A lot of people say, ‘I don’t have anything in my name, everything’s joint. Do I need a will?’” said Richard N. Ruprecht, an estate-planning attorney and principal with Lerch, Early & Brewer Chtd. in Bethesda. His answer is yes. Depending on the circumstances of your death, “you
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could be entitled to a recovery in a tort suit. Or, you may receive an IRS refund” posthumously.Without a will, the state will determine to whom those assets will go. A will also allows you to name an executor, the person who will distribute your property, file tax returns and process creditors’ claims. “You must have a will to name an executor,” said Elizabeth L. Gray, a certified elder law attorney with Matsen, Miller, Cossa & Gray PLLC in Fairfax, otherwise the court will appoint someone—who
Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
It is a mistake to think that because you are
married all of your assets will go to your spouse if you die intestate. Other factors, such as whether you have living children or parents, may influence what percentage of the estate your spouse will inherit. Both Maryland and Virginia have a tiered system of property distribution based upon an individual’s relation to the deceased. See WILL, 21
LIVING
OMBUDSMEN HELP Nursing Home, Assisted-Living Residents BY MARY WADE BURNSIDE
J
anet Forlini juggles her job as a lawyer who focuses on public policy and aging with being the mother of two daughters, ages 7 and 11. And when she decided she also had time to volunteer, Forlini chose an organization very close to her heart and her skills—the Montgomery County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. “I knew about the program through my work,” said Forlini, who lives in Bethesda. “It was something I wanted to do both to inform me professionally but also personally.” Although the Montgomery County LongTerm Care Ombudsman Program has four fulltime staff and one part-timer, about 50 volunteers are at the heart of the program, visiting licensed nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to build a connection with residents, work with issues that might arise and help them when needed.
“By our mandate, we do problem-solving and complaint resolution,” said Eileen Bennett, program director of the ombudsman program. “It can run the gamut with the people who are in the facility, who are residents. Our term is not ‘patient.’ It’s ‘resident.’” The staff members and volunteers visit 34 nursing homes and 189 licensed assisted-living facilities in the county on a regular basis, interacting with the 7,876 residents. When a concern or complaint does arise, an ombudsman works with family members and/or facility management in order to address the issue. “We may potentially be serving with families or consulting with the facility on doing systematic improvements or doing an individual consultation with how someone can work with one individual,” Bennett said. See OMBUDSMAN, 14
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OMBUDSMAN, continued from 13
According to The National LongTerm Care Ombudsman Resource Center in Washington, D.C., the program grew out of initiatives during the administration of President Richard Nixon and was solidified in 1978 after amendments to the 1965 Older Americans Act were passed requiring every state to have an ombudsman program. In the Montgomery County program, the paid staffers serve mostly in a reac- Montgomery County’s program tionary mode, responding to specific com- is one of the state’s strongest, said Alice Hedt, Maryland’s state long-term care plaints, according to Bennett. “Our expectation of volunteers is that ombudsman. Hedt works in the Marythey visit residents in their assigned facil- land Department of Aging in Baltimore ity an average of once a week and main- and has served as director of The National tain a very regular presence for residents Long-Term Ombudsman Resource Center. The entire state to know that they can has 122 ombudsmen work with an ombudsvolunteers, according man at any time,” Bento Hedt, and about 50 nett said. of those are in MontComplaints can gomery County. range from common “Montgomery to complex. Often a County has had a volresident has a problem unteer focus from the with a roommate, noted beginning,” Hedt said. Bennett. “Perhaps one “It’s been one of the resident is up at night most outstanding voland wanders and the unteer programs in the other is complaining United States.” that they are afraid of ISTOCKPHOTO/CASDVM In Maryland, about this type of behavior 47,000 people live in and wondering ‘how do I “Volunteers ... visit nursing homes and deal with it to ensure my assisted-living facilities, safety?’” she said. residents in their according to Hedt. In Sometimes a Medicassigned facility an the past two-and-a-half aid application gets held average of once a years, there has been up and a facility begins proceedings to discharge week and maintain a a push to increase the state’s number of oma resident. very regular presence.” budsmen volunteers, “An ombudsman may be involved with that,” -Eileen Bennett, program director which has grown from 98 to the 122 under Bennett said. “We are not Hedt’s direction. an enforcement agency. “I would say it’s a very serious volWe are tasked with resolving issues at the lowest level necessary. There is no unteer job, but it tends to attract people enforcement. We only have the power of who want to make a commitment that will make a difference in their community,” negotiation.” Hedt said. “So when people realize there Ombudsmen are familiar with the is required training and required reportpolicies of long-term care facilities and ing, it helps people to understand that this is a serious role, a federally mandated role, the regulations of Medicaid. “We’re good at finding out what’s and it attracts these wonderful, very comthe glitch, what’s holding this up and fa- mitted volunteers.” A training class is 30 hours—five days cilitating that information, or, in polite a week for six hours a day, said Bennett. terms, twisting somebody’s arm,” Ben“And we have a monthly meeting with volnett said. “They are one of a large case in a bureaucracy, so how can we get Med- unteers,” she said. “That monthly meeting icaid to review this eligibility case before is a two-hour meeting. We have continureviewing another one? The threat of dis- ous education for volunteers (on) whatever charge may make it possible to move the the hot topic happens to be.” bureaucracy along.” See OMBUDSMAN, 19
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Ombudsmen also respond to environmental issues in a facility, according to Bennett. For instance, the heat might not be working. In one specific instance, there was no hot water. “That was brought to our attention by a resident,” said Bennett. “We don’t know that we would have known that, but because the resident brought that to our attention, we were able to ensure that the facility knew we were aware of it and they needed to fix it.”
Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
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TOO MUCH STUFF? u Downsizing becomes a trend in senior living BY SCOTT HARRIS
F
or the average person, the term “downsizing” may evoke images of a corporate housecleaning. But frequently, it’s a kind of literal housecleaning that applies to older adults. In that context, downsizing refers to the process of assessing, sorting and parting with the possessions accrued over the course of a lifetime in anticipation of a move into a smaller house, a family member’s home, a retirement community or some other location. “It entails going into a home to see what has been accumulated and making a determination,” said Robert Ray, CEO and owner of the Chevy Chase branch of Caring Transitions, a national company founded in 2006 that specializes in downsizing, senior moves and estate sales. “Maybe they have a doll collection or salt and pepper shakers and need to decide what to do with them. Maybe there are things that need to be donated, or simply thrown away. It’s about finding out what’s important as they prepare to make a move, then finding out what to do with the things that you are not able to take with you.”
Whether it’s conducted by paid
professionals or the son or daughter down
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the street, downsizing is likely to become a more common concept as the senior population continues to boom. According to the federal Administration on Aging, people 65 or older are expected to represent 19 percent of the population by 2030. And, according to the Pew Research Center, 49 million Americans, or 16.1 percent of the population, in 2008 lived in a multigenerational family household with at least two adult generations, or a grandparent and at least one other generation. In 1980, it was 12 percent. “We do know seniors are downsizing,” said Phil Smakula, a supervisor at the Holiday Park Senior Center in Wheaton. “A lot of it is economic and logistical. They can no longer keep up a single-family home.The senior population is the fastestgrowing segment of the population; even more than school-age children.”
Ray, who said his company handles
an average of two downsizings a week, employs special computer programs to get the job done. “We use software to assess the current living space and the new living space,” he said. “How much living space and storage space? We help them discern what to keep See DOWNSIZING, 19
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LIVING
THE SOLANA OLNEY
New Assisted-Living Residence Provides Personalized Care BY ELLEN R. COHEN
T
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SOLANA OLNEY
The Solana Olney is a community that can accommodate 94 residents in 79 apartments in a three-story building.
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Gazette SENIORS | January 2013
he Solana Olney offers senior residents a comfortable, pleasant lifestyle, as well as an inviting environment with numerous features and amenities. This new assisted-living community is located on Route 108—just east of Georgia Avenue and west of the Olney Theatre Center. The Solana, which opened Nov. 2, personalizes assistance
for residents’ daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing and medication administration. “Residents’ care can be further customized as needs change,” said Apple Blake, the community’s sales and marketing manager.The Optimum Life culture, according to the community’s website, is tailored “to help each resident live a lifestyle of wellness and fulfillment” as independently as possible. Optimum Life focuses on six dimensions of wellness: purposeful,
emotional, physical, social, spiritual and intellectual. “The Solana’s parent company, Brookdale Senior Living, is the largest senior living company in the U.S., with approximately 650 Continuing Care Retirement Communities nationwide,” said Blake. The Solana Olney, the only location managed by Brookdale in the state, offers its residents specially designed assisted living and memory care programs.
The Solana can accommodate
94 residents in 79 apartments in the three-story building.Two weeks after the community’s grand opening, there were 18 residents, with several people moving in each week. “By the end of December, we had 24 residents,” said Blake. Residents may choose one- or two-bedroom apartments, studios, or companion suites—two-bedroom apartments with private bedroom suites and shared common areas for two nonrelated people. “The Solana is a private pay community with no
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financial subsidies,” said Blake. “It does not accept Medicaid.” Meals are included in The Solana’s assisted-living program. The Choice Dining flexible meal plan allows residents to dine whenever they wish during dining room hours, which are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most utilities, except cable and telephone, are also included, as well as 24/7 attendant-call, 16 hours of nursing services and trained staff on-site 24 hours a day. Personal laundry and housekeeping and daily bed-making service make for fewer chores and keeps residents’ apartments clean. The free shuttle service transports residents to nearby doctor’s appointments, museums, the Olney Swim Center on Georgia Avenue and even The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C..
So far, most residents are from
Montgomery County, Blake said. Some have always lived in the area See SOLANA, 18
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The Solana’s services include memory care programs; this is the memory care dining area.
SOLANA, continued from 18
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and wish to remain here, while others moved there to be near family members. That the building is new was also especially appealing to some residents. When Ellen Salamat’s grandson realized that his school bus drove past The Solana’s building site, he told his family. After his mom came to look, she called her mother, who had lived in Florida with her husband for 20 years until he passed away in 2007. “I liked it right away,” said Salamat. “While I liked living in Florida, I had some medical problems recently and my family wanted me to come to Maryland,” she said. “This was perfect timing. I like the sing-alongs, card games, Netflix movies in our beautiful theater, interesting programs and the very friendly people. They feed us very well, too,” said Salamat, who moved in two weeks after The Solana opened. “I’m happy here.”
Most newcomers are impressed
with the comfort and convenience of The Solana Olney. “Residents like the formal dining room, the tavern for happy hour and casual gatherings, the movie theater, library and computer room, game station, Wii station, outside patios with fireplaces, gardening area, and walking path,” said Blake. Lorraine Brody moved in at the end of November. Also a widow, she relocated from Florida “because my family lives in Olney and thought I should live closer to them.” Originally from the NewYork met-
ropolitan area, she was a credit manager in Florida before she retired. Brody said she likes “living in a brand-new place,” appreciates the staff, and is looking forward to having more people move in soon, “especially card players.” She enjoys the movies and is investigating other community activities that will interest her.
“So far, the oldest Solana resident is
85 years old,” said Blake. “The minimum age is 62, but exceptions can be made for younger people if we can meet their needs. While residents are mostly singles, there are a few couples in the mix, with a few more moving in.” Pets—one dog or two cats—are permitted, as long as they meet breed and weight restrictions. “Of course, residents must be able to take care of their animals,” said Blake.
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DOWNSIZING, continued from 15 and then we help them pack and ship their heirlooms to others, or donate or dispose.” Becky Wodarczyk, owner of Moves by Design, an Ijamsville-based firm that handles about two downsizing cases each month for clients in Montgomery County and around the region, said downsizing can be easier said than done. “Sometimes people have been in their house for 40 or 50 years. Plenty of things get accumulated, and you have to decide what you really need and want,” she said. “There might be things you treasure, but you have to rid of them by selling them at auction.The process is based on what you need to live your life comfortably, but it’s also emotional.We see what they have and where they’re going. We get to know each other and work through it together.”
Sometimes, the equation becomes
even more complex when a senior has been hoarding. A 2008 study from Johns Hopkins University found that 4 percent of the general population could be considered hoarders. “Lots of seniors have a lot of stuff, so downsizing can become an overwhelming process for them,” Smakula said. “But hoarding might be an issue as well if there is so much stuff in the house that they can’t move through it safely anymore.” However, even if one is not a hoarder, clutter can readily build up, making downsizing a daunting prospect. It may be easiest to begin by picking off the low-hanging fruit. “Look at things like old brown grocery bags or newspapers,” Ray said. “Are
OMBUDSMAN, continued from 14 Advocating is not without its trials,
especially when a resident’s wishes do not necessarily seem to be in his or her best interest, said Bennett. Sometimes family members also are not on the same page as the resident. However, “if there is a conflict between what the resident wants and what a family member wants, we are the resident advocates,” Bennett said. Volunteer Forlini spends about four hours a week visiting her assigned assisted-living facility in Rockville. “I wanted a smaller home so I could get to know the residents and build relationships with them and have them build trust in me,” she said. Generally, Forlini visits people in common areas, such as the TV and activity room or dining room. “I purposely come
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they important to keep? If there are old books, could a library use them?” Over time, of course, people can become attached to their possessions.That’s why approaching a loved one about the possibility of downsizing should be done tactfully. “Approach it gingerly,” Smakula said. “Put it on the radar of them or someone close to them. Going in like gangbusters and saying ‘OK, we’re going to do this cleaning today’ may not work. Sometimes it’s a matter of just acknowledging that there’s an issue and offering to help. Just doing that can mean a lot.” Regardless of how it is done, downsizing is a delicate, though necessary, component of moving a senior citizen (literally) to the next phase of his or her life. “Start going through closets and drawers. Look around and see what you can part with. Have your children in and have them take their old things out of the house,” saidWodarczyk. “Break it down by room and do one room each week. Make a pile for donations, one for throwing away, and so on. Even if you don’t or cannot do it physically, you can do it mentally.”
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on different days and at different times so I can observe what is happening there,” she said. If a door is closed, she generally does not bother the resident, but if it’s open, she strikes up a conversation. In one instance, a resident was concerned that her son could not afford to pay for her care. “She asked me to speak to him and try to get an understanding that this was something he could do,” Forlini said. The facility’s staff has a low turnover and seems to be happy to have her there, Forlini said. “They are happy to have me talking with the residents, and I work with the staff to get a sense of what’s happening.”
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Erika Schwartz, D.P.M., of the APMA, to provide proper padding to the heel and ball of the foot. Check APMA.org to search for the brands and shoe types that receive the association’s seal of approval. • Avoid walking barefoot. Supportive shoes are essential. • Consider orthotics. Custom orthotics may be prescribed by your doctor to keep your feet feeling their best, said Schwartz.
FEET, continued from 5 • Inspect feet daily, checking for any sores, splits, dry heel cracks, splinters and other maladies that can become infected. When feet are left unchecked, seniors can often develop foot ulcers, or open wounds, that may require surgical fixes. • Pressing on different sections of feet on a regular basis will keep you familiar with the nerve sensations and health of your feet. If numb spots develop, consult with a podiatrist. • Practice good nail care by using clean nail clippers to cut nails in a straight line to prevent corners from growing into the skin. For an ingrown nail, see a doctor for care rather than try to cut or dig out the section. Such self-treatment can often lead to infections and pain. If any toenail appears discolored, see a podiatrist for care. • Avoid using commercial corn treatments and callous shavers, which may cause cuts and infections. Check with your doctor first about foot care products to use at home.
REDUCES CIRCULATION.
WHAT TO WEAR • Wear doctor-approved supportive footwear that provides good arch support and proper padding, as well as a roomy toe box that prevents pressure on nerves and joints. According to Podiatrist Mallory Eisenman, D.P.M., good fit is essential, since we have 26 bones in our feet. Continually jamming feet into shoes that are too small can cause corns, calluses or bunions, which
could lead to more serious problems—such as bone spurs, joint pain and arthritis. • Ask your doctor to recommend supportive shoe brands and styles, and perhaps order custom pairs. Also, have a doctor measure your feet for changes in shoe size caused by aging. • Use padded, removable insoles in your shoes. “Cushioned soles can be added to your existing soles,” said
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The Virginia statute sets out additional, contingent beneficiaries, including “…kindred of the decedent’s most recent spouse, if any, provided that the decedent and the spouse were married at the time of the spouse’s death, as if such spouse had died intestate and entitled to the estate.” If no living relatives can be located, the estate passes to the Commonwealth of Virginia. “People think if you don’t have a will that the state will get everything,” said Gray. “That’s actually rare.”
If a Maryland resident dies without a will and is:
• married with minor children, half of the estate passes to the spouse.The other half is divided equally among the children, but distributed to their legal guardian. • married with adult children, $15,000 plus half of the remaining estate passes to the spouse. The other half of the remaining estate is divided equally among the adult children. • married without children and has parents who are living, $15,000 plus half of the remaining estate passes to the spouse. The other half of the remaining estate goes to the parents. • unmarried with children, the estate is shared equally by the children. • married with no living children or parents, the entire estate passes to the spouse. The Maryland statute continues naming those of lesser relations to the deceased before ending with the absence of blood relatives and the existence of stepchildren. If no living relatives can be located, the estate passes to the board of education in the county in which the deceased resided.
If a Virginia resident dies without a will and is:
• married, the entire estate passes to the surviving spouse. An exception occurs if the deceased has children or descendants of those children who are not the children or descendants of children of the surviving spouse. Then, one-third of the estate passes to the spouse and the re-
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One complicating factor in the distribution of
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It is a mistake to think that because you are married all of your assets will go to your spouse if you die intestate. maining two-thirds is divided among those children. • unmarried with children, the estate passes to the children and their descendants. • unmarried with no children but with living parents, the estate passes to the deceased’s father and mother or the survivor. • unmarried without children or living parents, the estate passes to the deceased’s siblings and their descendants.
assets belonging to those who die intestate is when they had assets in their home state and owned real estate in another state. “In that case, you’ll end up doing probate in both states,” said Ball, as real estate is subject to the law of intestacy in the state in which it is located. Probate is the term for the judicial process that occurs after a person dies. It is the probate court, relying on state statutes, that determines who inherits what portion of the assets belonging to someone who dies intestate. It can be a more expensive process when an individual dies intestate, as certain fees can be waived in a will. Depending on the size and complexity of the estate, probate can take months or years. Dying intestate can “ruin relationships,” said Gray. “It opens the door to family fights over property and money. With a little preplanning, you can avoid that.” With a will, “you make life easier on your family,” said Ruprecht. “They will miss you enough. Don’t make it any harder for them.”
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DATING, continued from 10 to online dating. In December, AARP launched an online dating service specifically for those over 50. “Don’t jump into one or the other until you do a little research,” said Coleman. “Get a feel for the members before you commit. Many [sites] will let you look around before committing.” There are both free and fee-based online dating sites. “On free sites, you generally have to do a little more weeding out,” said Schoen. Both relationship coaches work with senior clients, helping them set up their online dating profiles. “It’s important to be true to your values, know yourself and your life goals, and put it out there in a very authentic way,” said Schoen. “Too often people try to meet others’ expectations.That doesn’t benefit anybody.”
The Internet has changed the way
many older adults meet each other. “Meetup groups are popular,” said Coleman. “They are organized around a common interest or sport.You name it, it’s there.” A meetup group hosts face-to-face meetings or outings on a regular basis. While there is no charge to join a meetup
group, which is done online, there can be costs associated with the outing—such as food, drinks or event tickets. There are meetup groups for hikers and bikers, gastronomes, Scrabble players, skiers, and aspiring authors, to name but a few. Schoen is the organizer of an all-ages meetup group for those looking to marry. “We’re not a huge group; there are about 700 of us,” she said. Her group’s members “aren’t interested in playing dating games. They are marriage minded.” Many singles locally subscribe to the Listserv known as Paul’s List, according to Schoen. The weekly email—which reaches some “3,000 40+ singles in the DC metro area,” according to the Listserv’s Dec. 20 post—contains a calendar of special and recurring events, as well as a few “friendly advertisements.” Speed dating is another way to meet people, according to Coleman. “While I like the idea, it isn’t all that successful,” she said. Think of it as the musical chairs of dating. With speed dating, each person spends a few minutes chatting with a prospective partner. When time has elapsed, a bell rings and the men move on to their next date. At the conclusion of speed dating, participants indicate whom they might like to meet again and, if there’s a
match, organizers put the two in contact with each other.
For a less structured approach,
Schoen and Coleman suggested getting involved in something you truly enjoy. “Pursue the stuff you love and have a passion for. Not only is it a great way to meet someone in general, but to meet someone who shares your interests,” Coleman said. •PLAY A SPORT: “There are many leagues just for seniors,” said Coleman. Some are coed. “Some are more organized with games, others are more like activities. Soccer and masters swimming are popular.” If you play golf or tennis, “join a club, especially if you’re a woman. It’s a great way to meet people.” •GET SPIRITUAL: Many churches, temples and synagogues sponsor events and activities for their older members. “The JCC [Jewish Community Center] has a midlife singles group for those 50-plus,” said Schoen. •TAKE A CLASS: Area colleges—including George Mason and Johns Hopkins universities and Montgomery College—offer lifelong learning programs geared to older adults. Washington Metropolitan OASIS holds classes for those 50 and older in Washington, D.C., and in Montgomery
County. It’s never too late to learn a language, discover your inner poet or take up photography. •VOLUNTEER: “Local hospitals use large numbers of volunteers, many of them older adults,” said Coleman. If that’s not of interest, “perhaps you’re passionate about animals; volunteer at the animal shelter. Or, consider delivering (for) Meals onWheels.” •DANCE: “You can waltz, swing or tango,” said Schoen. There are dances for the general public, like those at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park, or dances specifically for singles, such as ones sponsored by Bobby’s Promotions in Northern Virginia. •TRAVEL: Local recreation departments often offer day trips specifically for seniors. “If you’re an extrovert, a singles cruise could be a ton of fun,” said Coleman. Paul’s List recently organized its sixth annual cruise, a trans-Atlantic crossing from the U.S. to Italy. •KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN: “Pay attention to the people around you when you’re in line at the grocery store or deli,” said Coleman. “Don’t shut down when you’re out running errands or riding the Metro.You never know who you might meet … I know of two or three marriages that came from people sitting next to each other on an airplane.”
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Gazette SENIORS | January 2013