December 20 19
In t his issue: Her e Comes Sant a Claus Life Changes Elder haus
Ber t houd
Est es Par k
Johnst ow n
Loveland
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THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding Towns December THRIVELoveland.com
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Impor tant Phone Number s Ber t h ou d Berthoud Area Transportation Sys. (BATS) Rural Alternative For Transportation (RAFT) Library Parks & Recreation Senior Center
970-344-5816 970-532-0808 970-532-2757 970-532-1600 970-532-2730
Est es Par k Estes Valley Community Center Library Estes Park Senior Citizens Center (EPSCC) VIA Transportation
970-586-8191 970-586-8116 970-581-2195 303-447-9636
Joh n st ow n Library Senior Center
970-587-2459 970-587-5251
Lovelan d Library SAINT Transportation Chilson Senior Center
970-962-2665 970-223-8653 970-962-2783
THRIVE Loveland Wr it er s Coming Soon!
Bob McDonnell Loveland
Phyllis Kennemer Loveland
Terry Rustin Estes Park
Danita Nixon Loveland
Mark Nixon Loveland
Virginia Huppe Berthoud
Cover Ph ot o by Ali Alm qu ist , AM A Divin e Ph ot ogr aph y
In This Issue..... Real Est at e M ar k et Repor t s........ 2 Im por t an t Ph on e Nu m ber s........ 3 Pu blish er s' Not es......................... 4 In dex of Spon sor s........................ 5 Ou t & Abou t .................................. 6 Upcom in g Even t s......................... 7 Ber t h ou d Sen ior Cen t er .............. 8 Ber t h ou d A&W.............................. 9 Her e Com es San t a Clau s............. 10 Est es Par k Sen ior Cen t er ............. 12 Rober t Bu r k h ar dt .........................13 Joh n st ow n Sen ior Cen t er ............ 14 Vet er an s Spot ligh t ....................... 15 Lovelan d Sen ior Cen t er ............... 16 Volu n t eer at M cKee..................... 17 Ask t h e Doct or .............................. 18 Elder h au s........................................... 19 Lif e Ch an ges.......................................20 Legal View s................................... 22
Š2019 THRIVE Loveland, 1635 Foxtrail Dr., Loveland, CO 80538 970-852-4900 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Advertisements contained within this publication do not represent endorsement by the publisher. Publisher may not be held liable or responsible for business practices of these companies.
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THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns was created to serve older adults (50+) in Loveland, Berthoud, Estes Park and Johnstown. We believe that people need THREE things in order to THRIVE: -
Someone to care about them. Something to do. Something to look forward to.
It is our mission to help meet these needs by creating meaningful, local connections through this monthly publication and local events. We invite you to participate! We are looking to feature the following types of articles that spotlight older adults (50+) or are of interest to older adults in our community: Local Heroes, Volunteers, Artists Senior owned businesses Home & Garden Organizations that serve seniors Senior Events Recipes Travel Pets Celebrations Auto Aficionado Resident Spotlight - Professional photos are taken for this article and used for the cover. If you are interested in being interviewed or submitting an article for the magazine, please email Danita@Thriveloveland.com or call Danita at 970-852-4900
Don't Miss a Single Issue
Meet t he Publisher s
Pick up har d copies of t he magazine at : Ber t h ou d:
Library, Senior Center, Hays Market, A&W
Est es:
Library, Recreation Center, Senior Center, MedX
Danita & Mark Nixon are residents of Loveland.
There are two ways to subscribe:
Mark is a native of Colorado, he was born in Ft. Collins. Danita was raised a Navy brat, and considers Colorado home.
Digit al Su bscr ipt ion : Free - Email your email address to Danita@thriveloveland.com
When they aren't working or serving
Joh n st ow n : Senior Center, Hays Market Lovelan d:
Library, Chilson Senior Center, Pizza Ranch, Perkins & Golden Corral
Have THRIVE Loveland deliver ed t o you mont hly!
Har d copy m agazin e by M ail: $24.00 for 12 issues. Mail a check to THRIVE Loveland 1635 Foxtrail Dr, Loveland, CO 80538
in the community, Danita & Mark can be found spending time with friends and family, (5 grandkids), "sampling" craft beers, geocaching,
Or , call 970-852-4900 t o set u p you r su bscr ipt ion traveling or soaking in hot springs! 4
THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding Towns December THRIVELoveland.com
Index of Sponsor s Adult Day Car e Elderhaus
970-221-0406
At t or ney Jorgensen, Brownell & Pepin, P.C.
800-598-4348
Aut o Glass Prime Time Auto Glass
970-305-0476
Chir opr act or Beukelman Chiropractic Center
970-667-7159
Cof fee & Smoot hies Maui Wowi
Our Sponsors make it possible to provide this monthly publication to our community. When you have a need for our sponsors' products or services, we ask that you give them a chance to earn your business. Please tell them you found them in the THRIVE Loveland magazine!
Who do you k now t hat you would r ecommend t o your neighbor s?
116 Peridot Ave
Comput er All-In-One Computer Services
970-667-8800
Financial Advisor Edward Jones, Art Aldrich
970-663-0554
Gr aphic Design Lotus Design
970-412-1283
Heat ing & Air Condit ioning Aire Serv
970-282-7220
THRIVE Loveland is looking for introductions to the following businesses: Audiologist Orthopedic Doctor Auto sales Roofer
Optician Auto repair Remodeler Mover
Denturist Auto body Handyman
Please sen d in f o t o dan it a@t h r ivelovelan d.com or call 970-852-4900
In Home Car e - Medical & Non-Medical Phoenix Home Care 970-667-2273 Insur ance - Aut o, Home, Medical & Business Secure American Insurance 970-663-9197 Massage Northern Colorado Massage
970-817-5835
Medical Equipment Mobility & More
970-461-8400
Mor t gage Mortgage Contract Services Family Mortgage CO
970-532-9896 970-203-0284
Phot ogr apher AMA Divine Photography
970-412-5742
Plumbing Community Plumbing, Heating & Air 303-901-5211 Real Est at e Kimberly Caldwell
970-980-1671
Senior Living Advisor s Senior Living Advisors of Colorado
970-541-4592
St or age - Household, RV & Boat Freedom Self Storage
970-219-0690
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Out & About
Advantage Bank - Advantage 50 Club members enjoyed lunch at the Cracker Barrel in Loveland. To find out more about this program and to see all the great activities the club has scheduled go to: advantagebanks.com/advantage-50-club/. Contact for the Advantage 50 program is Flo Mikkelson 970-353-0171.
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THRIVE Loveland Monthly Pizza Dinner in November Greg Kelley with Phoenix Home Care called Bingo!
Thrive Loveland Monthly Pizza Dinner serious Bingo players found here!
THRIVE Loveland & TLC at their monthly lunch at The Hokkaido Buffet in Loveland.
Event s in December Weds. 12/ 4
An n u al Pr im e Rib Din n er f or Sen ior s 11:30 am -1:00pm 533 Grant Ave., Loveland - enter on west side of church. Look for signs. M UST pr e-pu r ch ase t ick et s by 11/ 27 at 970-852-4900 or h t t p:/ / bit .ly/ 2019APRD
Su n .
M ou n t ain Air es Ch r ist m as Con cer t , Est es Par k 1700 Brodie Ave, Estes Park Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies No t ick et s n eeded.
12/ 8
Tu es. 12/ 10 TLC - Th e Lovelan d Con n ect ion - Holiday Celebr at ion Lu n ch Hokkaido Buffet . 11011 E Eisenhower Blvd, Loveland. Please RSVP at 970-852-4900 or h t t p:/ / bit .ly/ t h r iver svp
2:00pm
11:30 am
Event s in Januar y M on . 1/ 6
THRIVE Fr ee M on t h ly Pizza Din n er f or Older Adu lt s (50+) 2500 N. Garfield Ave, Mountainview Pres. Church, Loveland RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversvp
4:00 pm -5:30pm
Tu es. 1/ 14
TLC - Th e Lovelan d Con n ect ion 9:00 am -10:30pm All Saints Episcopal Church, 3448 N Taft Ave, Loveland Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversvp
Wed. 1/ 15
Savvy Sen ior s First Advantage Bank 1475 N Denver Ave, Loveland - east door, 2nd floor Please RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversv
Wed. 1/ 22
THRIVE Lovelan d Sen ior Lu n ch Bu n ch at Hok k aido Bu f f et 11:30 am 11011 E Eisenhower Blvd, Loveland. Join us for our monthly lunch meeting. Lunch is under $10; getting to know other "seasoned adults" in the community is priceless! Please RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversvp. Look for us in the back room.
Sat .
1/ 25
Righ t -sizin g Reim agin ed Wor k sh op 1:00 pm - 2:30pm Loveland Public Library - Gertrude Scott Room, 300 N. Adams, Loveland RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversvp
Fr i.
1/ 31
Cof f ee an d Don u t Social 3415 N Lincoln Ave., Loveand. Affinity 2nd floor dining room All are welcome . Please RSVP at 970-852-4900 or http://bit.ly/thriversvp.
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2:00 pm -3:00pm
9:30 am
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Ber t houd Senior Cent er Ber t h ou d Sen ior Cen t er 248 Welch Ave., Ber t h ou d, CO Re-open in g in Jan u ar y 2020!
Larimer County Volunteers of America (VOA) is starting their Smiling Spoon Lunch Program at the Berthoud Senior Center in January! This program will give local seniors (60+) the opportunity to have a warm, healthy meal, while spending time with others in the community. Volunteers of America will begin taking reservations for lunch at the end of December. Reser vat ion s n eed t o be m ade by 1:30pm t h e day bef or e you w ou ld lik e t o eat . Gr ab a f r ien d, m ak e a r eser vat ion , an d exper ien ce t h e Sm ilin g Spoon f ir st h an d. Call (970) 472-9630 t o sign u p. The VOA is also looking for volunteers to help serve the meals. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jill Liken at 970-472-9630 ext 12
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Ber t houd A&W a Local Icon
Berthoud Business
by Vir gin ia Hu ppe
This year, A&Ws around the world are celebrating their 100 Year Anniversary. What other business can you name that has lasted that many years? The locally owned Berthoud A&W Drive-In is one of the very few community businesses that has lasted through the years. The A&W is owned by Randy Hamann. He, his wife, Judi, and his daughter, Geordian, work with a great staff to keep this unique place open.
many times, when working with her, she would tell him, "I have a bone to pick with you." He said with a smile, "She fired me three times when I was in high school. She was strict and was a good business women." The business grew and, in her words, "I can get on that Harley anytime and it blows my cares away."
In 1995, Randy took over the business. He has added a great deal to the drive-in, including the cute "Papa Burger " statue that tops the building. Randy has a In 1949, Chet and Joyce Van great group of chefs and waiters Amburg purchased the place and the business is really thriving and owned it through the 70s. Randy, Judi & Geordian Hamann in spite of bypass 287 not going The business was still small back through downtown Berthoud. Of course the menu then, it had about six stools. They added a canopy has changed as well, along with the prices. In 1995 to the building along the way. a cheeseburger cost $1.09, French fries were $.99, In 1971, Randy Hamann's mother and father, Vi and a root beer cost $.89. and Milt, purchased the drive-in. They quadrupled Today Vi would be proud to ride her Harley up to the size of the business by adding two dining the A&W in Berthoud, and see how her family is rooms and expanding the menu. Randy's mother, keeping this 100-YEAR-OLD business alive! Vi, aka Hamburger Honcho, was quite the woman for her time. She enjoyed going to Sturges, South Dakota on her 1950 Harley motorcycle and being St op in at 802 M ou n t ain Aven u e t o a part of the Dixie Ramblers. In fact, she and her con gr at u lat e Ran dy an d h is st af f , an d en joy new husband rode off into the sunset after their som et h in g t ast y f r om t h e m en u . Th ey h ave wedding reception on her third motorcycle! They A&W 100-year m u gs f or sale. Wh at a gr eat even played baseball on motorcycles! k eepsak e or gif t ! Randy said his mother ran a "tight ship," and 9
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Ph ot o by Ali Alm qu ist , AM A Divin e Ph ot ogr aph y 10 THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding 10 December THRIVELoveland.com Towns
Her e Com es San t a Clau s
Ber thoud Resident
by Phyllis Kennemer
Bill Schabinger grew up in West Virginia and attended college in Utah. A college road trip during a break took him through Berthoud, Colorado. It was love at first sight. Bill determined then and there that he would be back to stay. Bill personifies Santa Claus. He has the white hair and beard; he has the quick wit and sense of humor; and he has the twinkle in his eye. According to Bill, all the men in his family have gray hair by the age of 30. For 15 years he drove a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Denver. During the holiday season, Bill transformed himself into the Santa Claus of the 16th Street Mall. He was amazed to discover that he could be paid for his looks. Santa was a big hit and people of all ages started telling him what they wanted for Christmas. Some of their wishes put him on the spot. A 5-year-old boy asked for a house for his grandmother. A teen-age girl whispered that she yearned for world peace. A woman wanted to know the sex of her unborn grandchild. Bill started working for John Deere's 4 Rivers Equipment in Fort Collins, but he did not give up being Santa. He takes leave from his job during the holidays and rides the Georgetown Train, walking the aisles to dispense bells to children and Christmas cheer to everyone. He bought acreage near Berthoud in 1983 and has planted a crop of Christmas trees, which he will sell when he retires in a few years. Retirement will allow Bill to expand his role as Santa. He occasionally teams with photographer Ali Almquist of AMA Divine Photo to offer pictures with Santa. He looks forward to increasing the number of sessions and to having more opportunities to appear as Santa throughout the community. 11 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
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Est es Senior Cit izens Cent er 1760 Olym pian Lan e, Est es Par k
970-581-2195
Hou r s: M on day - Fr iday 9am - 2pm Sat u r day & Su n day Closed Est espar k sen ior s.or g
M on , Wed, Fr i:. 10:30am-11:15am Tri-Fit: Cardio, strength & flexibility workout for all levels of fitness. Tu es & Th u r s:
All exercise classes are FREE to EPSCC members, Silver Sneakers and MedX members!
9:15am?10:15am Elements of Balance: Gentle chair & floor yoga. Tu es: 10:00am?2:00pm Mah Jongg: Learn to play and enjoy this ancient Chinese game.
Lunch Ser ved Monday-Fr iday at 11:45 am Reservations MUST be made by 1:00 pm at least one business day in advance. For reservations please call 970-581-2195 COST: M em ber - $5, Non -M em ber : $8 To see t h e m en u f or t h e m on t h , st op by t h e cen t er or go t o Est espar k sen ior s.or g Members enjoying a game of Maj Jongg!
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Estes Par k Resident
Rober t Bur k har dt Leads The Way by T. A. Ru st in
Robert Burkhardt has devoted his life to improving the lives of others through innovative approaches to education. ?'What are you doing for others?' is the question I ask people,? he said, ?and if I ask that question of others, I ought to be able to say, 'This is what I'm doing for others.'? In 1976, Robert was on the team that started the California Conservation Corps, modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, to help young adults reshape their lives through teamwork, hard work, and education. ?That program was a crucible for leadership,? he said, noting with pride that "many of those young people, who had been on the margins of society, became leaders in their communities". A few years later, he created an urban version for the City of San Francisco. Both programs continue to fulfill their missions today. In 1990, The American Honda Motor Company asked Robert to bring his ideas and experience to Estes Park and create a school to develop the minds and the character of young men and women who were floundering in the traditional educational system. He joined the team charged with building a facility, developing a curriculum, and establishing a program that took troubled and disadvantaged kids and helped them find a direction in life. ?We asked ourselves, 'How do we get kids to re-engage with their own learning?'? he said. Today, the Eagle Rock School not only teaches and empowers students, it provides training and mentoring for hundreds of young teachers and consultations for schools seeking to improve their curricula. 13 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
Robert Burkhardt finds the time to play tenor horn in the Village Band.
Robert retired from Eagle Rock in 2012, but he has not stopped staying active and contributing to the community. He maintains a mentorship role with the Eagle Rock School. He teaches a literature class and a tai chi class at the Community Center. He wrote a column for the Estes Park News about the many extraordinary people who live here. In his spare time, he plays tenor horn in the Village Band and the Riverside Ramblers. Retirement has been an opportunity for Robert to lend his skills to new projects. For the last few years, he has been on the leadership team of the annual Lumpy Circus summer camp for kids. These boys and girls, six to twelve years old, learn juggling, clowning, and acrobatics. ?But they also learn teamwork and responsibility,? he added. At the end of the two-week session, the students put on a circus performance. ?I need to be actively engaged,? he said. Leading by example, Robert, now 78, encourages seniors to stay active, to expand their interests, and to share with others. His emphatic advice to other seniors: ?Get off your duff.? December 2019 THRIVELoveland.com
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Johnst ow n Senior Cent er 101 W. Ch ar lot t e St ., Joh n st ow n
970-587-5251
Hours M, T, W, F Open 8am - 4pm Closed noon to 12:30pm 1st & 3rd Monday - 1:30pm Shopping trip
Senior Pr ogr am Coor dinat or Shir ley Newsom-Gamez
by Dan it a Nixon
Shirley Newsom-Gamez has been a Johnstown resident for thirty years, and has been serving the Johnstown senior center for sixteen years. Her official title is ?Senior Program Coordinator ?, but in reality, she is the ?cruise director ? responsible for delivering FUN! Shirley develops and implements monthly programs and entertainment for the center, chauffeurs the seniors to events in the senior center bus, and manages the nutrition meal site called, The Friendly Fork. When asked what she likes about her job, she shares, ?I love the camaraderie, it?s a fun job, and I enjoy all the people I work for.? Shirley feels like she is right where she is supposed to be. Shirley has been widowed twice. When asked what has kept her going after these two losses, she explained, ?working, singing, friends and family?. Shirley?s family Shirley with the wagon full of toys which will be won in a drawing at the Christmas Boutique. consists of three children, all who live within twenty miles of her, and eight precious grandchildren ranging from five weeks old to 18 years old. Staying busy is easy for Shirley since she is a part of the Greeley Harmonics and the Greeley Chamber Choir. She started singing in 2007 when her son was a Karaoke D.J. Shirley supported her son by going to his gigs, which enticed her longing to sing. "Karaoke helped me to be comfortable singing in front of others, and one thing led to another," explains Shirley. The Greeley Harmonics will be performing their holiday show at the Mason building in Greeley on December 14th. Tickets are $15.00 per person and you can purchase them at the senior center from Shirley. One of the big fundraisers for the senior center is their annual Christmas Boutique. Th e bou t iqu e is bein g h eld on Decem ber 7t h f r om 9am t o 3:00pm at t h e cen t er . Som e of t h e of f er in gs w ill in clu de: Wagon of Toys $600 value tickets are $1 each or 6 FOR $5 Lunch will be available for purchase Santa will be visiting
Silent Auction Vendors
Sh ir ley in vit es you t o st op by, say h ello, sh op, eat , an d be M er r y on Decem ber 7t h ! 14 December THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding THRIVELoveland.com Towns
Veter ans Spotl ight To gain in sigh t in t o som e of ou r local vet er an s, w e ask ed sever al local season ed vet er an s (over 50) t h e below qu est ion s: 1. What years did you serve? 2. What was your specialty (job)? 3. Why did you choose the branch that you chose? 4. What would you tell young people today about serving in the military? 5. What did you learn in the military? 1. Served 1966-1970. 2. 0311, Rifleman (a grunt). 3. My father served in the Army during WWII. I wanted to show him I was tougher than he was. 4. I?d tell them thanks for serving our country, but I?d also tell them to join with open eyes because military life isn?t all it?s cracked up to be. I?d tell them to always remember they?re the cream of the crop for their generation, to hang onto that thought and never let it go. And I?d tell them that wherever their military careers take them, to please come home alive, and if they ever need someone to talk to, email me through my website.
Ter r y Rizzu t i, M ar in e Cor ps
5. The Vietnam War was the highlight of my life, the time when I discovered just exactly who I am and what the full range of my capabilities are. That feeling doesn't hit most people until they're nearing retirement, so in a sense I retired at age 21. The only thing I felt good about at that age was the fact that I was still alive, and that I had somehow managed to survive an ordeal that the average American couldn't even begin to cope with. I also came home confident in my ability to survive anything else for the rest of my life. 1. Served I984-1992. 2. I struck Boatswain's Mate, then attended Class A school and became a Public Affairs Specialist. Then, after four years, I applied to Officer Candidate School and became a commissioned officer. 3. I chose the Coast Guard because I wanted to work in search and rescue and to do something unlike anything I would be able to do if I stayed home in Colorado. 4. I'd tell young folks that the military is a great way to get your feet on the ground, to learn skills, to get out of debt and to get a proud feeling of serving your country, which will stay with you your whole life. 5. Being in the service gave me self-confidence, veterans status and life skills.
Br ad Fit ch , Coast Gu ar d 15 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
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Loveland Senior Cent er 700 E. Fou r t h St , Lovelan d
970-962-2783
Hours: M - F 8am - 5pm Saturday & Sunday Closed Saturday Drop-in billiards Sept-May 9am-12Pm
Lunch Ser ved M-T-TH-F at Noon A healt hy meal is served t o t hose who are 60+ and t heir spouses at t he Chilson Senior Cent er every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 12:00 noon. Sponsored by t he VOA Senior Nut rit ion Program f or a suggest ed donat ion of $2.50. Mont hly ent ert ainment is provided.
Reser vat ions are required. Please call 970.472.9630 by 1:30 p.m. t he previous day. Check-in f or lunch is f rom 11:30 -11:45 a.m. at t he Chilson Senior Cent er.
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Making a Difference
McKee Volunteer Rusty Mathena likes driving the new golf cart to transport people to and from the hospital's parking lot.
Volunteers Shirley Conn and Christie Herrington welcome people when they enter the front doors of McKee Medical Center.
Volunt eer at McKee by Bob M cDon n ell
Becoming a volunteer in the community is a great way for seniors (and others) to spend their free time. Locally, there are many worthwhile places to volunteer. One of these spots is McKee Medical Center (MMC) in Loveland. The volunteer program at MMC has a rich history. It started in 1950 with the Loveland Hospital Guild at Loveland Memorial Hospital. In 1976, When MMC opened, the guild became McKee Medical Center Auxiliary. Since 1992 the group is called the McKee Medical Center Service League. In 2018, MMC had 259 volunteers in their program under the volunteer resources office. Almost one-quarter of these were males, and overall the age range was 16 to 80 years plus. There were 47 people in the 80+ age category.
Jim Duckworth, who is in his 14th year volunteering, says he keeps coming back because he ?likes to help people.? He added that showing up at the hospital every week keeps him active. Rusty Mathena, a long-time (10 years) cart driver enjoys taking people from the parking lot to the hospital. Rusty says, ?I enjoy the person-to-person contact.? He noted that he is usually the first person the visitors encounter at MMC. Manuel Maestas, a Berthoud resident, is a newcomer to volunteering with a few months under his belt. He decided to give it a try after he retired from IBM. An yon e w ish in g t o f in d ou t m or e abou t volu n t eer in g at t h e h ospit al m ay con t act M elissa Wieder span , Volu n t eer Resou r ce Coor din at or , via em ail at M elissa.w ieder span @ban n er h ealt h .com
Their assignments range from the gift shop, front desk, welcome desk, surgery center, breast center, Skyline information desk, Stepping Stones adult day care, the thrift store, and those that drive the golf cart shuttle. In 2018, more than 40,000 hours were donated at these locations. These MMC volunteers do one four-hour shift a week, with a few taking multiple shifts. Some have racked up an amazing number of hours. Joan Fenwick has 23,500 hours at the thrift store. Margaret Kaye has 13,000 hours at the front desk. Joyce Boston, from the thrift store, recently gained recognition for 10,000 hours. 17 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
Mckee Medical Center gift shop volunteers Sue Wall and Jean Jones stand by many of the items available at the gift shop.
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Ask the Doctor ?M y elder ly n ext -door n eigh bor h as been depr essed in t er m it t en t ly over t h e year s. Besides dr ivin g h er t o t h e doct or , w h at can I do t o h elp? Ter r y A. Ru st in , M D
Clinical depression affects people of all ages, from children to the elderly. In children and teenagers, depression is often mistaken for ?a phase? that they will ?grow out of.? In adults, depression may be ascribed to personal conflicts, grieving after a loss, or unhappiness at work. In seniors, depression is often not recognized at all. After a lifetime of work, a successful career, and many years of vigorous good heath, older adults experience a loss of vitality and the lack of an intellectual challenge. Many have lost a spouse and have become increasingly lonely. Depression causes people to be withdrawn and isolated. Because they keep to themselves, depressed seniors may not receive attention or medical treatment. Numerous research studies have shown that social isolation causes physical and emotional deterioration in the elderly. Depression worsens the course of diabetes, heart disease, and dementia. Depression alone is a risk factor for premature death. Suicide is the ultimate result of untreated depression. ?We need to do better for the many people who are not helped by current therapies,? wrote Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph. D, Director of the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) on the NIMH website. Doctors prescribe medication for depression, and psychotherapists offer counseling. But there are some things you can do to help as well. Your neighbor may be one of those people 18 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding 18 December 2019 THRIVELoveland.com Towns
who ?don't want to be a bother ? and therefore do not reveal to doctors how badly they feel. Encourage your neighbor to be completely open and honest with her medical professional how she feels. Any physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant can do a depression screening in a few minutes, and Medicare covers the cost. Depressed people tend to withdraw from the company of others, and this social isolation worsens the depression. It sounds like you know her pretty well; seek out social groups, clubs, or activities that match her interests. If she says she doesn't want to go, or is too tired, offer to go with her. People are more likely to try something new if accompanied by another person. Most communities have a ?senior citizens center ? or senior services provided through a local agency. For her first visit, go with your neighbor to a function that sounds the most welcoming: an ice cream social, a luncheon, or a musical event. If your neighbor spends a great deal of time alone, ask her if you can just sit with her for a while. It might seem like nothing is happening, because she won't say much, but your presence alone is reassuring. As Milton wrote, ?They also serve who only stand and wait.? Do not encourage, and do not join in the use of alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs. These chemicals may numb hurt feelings at first but then they stop helping and become part of the problem. Finally, assuming that the sedentary behavior and clouded thinking of some seniors is due to old age alone may be a serious error; after receiving proper care, many of these disabilities are likely to diminish.
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Local Resour ces Parkinson?s, traumatic brain injuries, and other needs.
?I already believed in Elderhaus, of course. After all, I am in my fifteenth year as a staff member here. Since my own dad became a participant, I?ve had a look from both sides. Now I?m even more thankful for the difference we make ? not only for the persons we care for, but also for the families who count on us for respite!? When Sally Walczyk started working as an Elderhaus activities team member back in 2005, she learned firsthand about the comprehensive scope of services Elderhaus provides. ?I especially enjoyed leading the wide variety of offsite activities for participants,? Sally said. Elderhaus is a day program for adults, not a residential facility. ?We are much more than adult day care,? says Tim McLemore, executive director. ?Our participants are out in the community hiking, fishing, swimming, enjoying trips to the museum, and much more!? Elderhaus also provides medication management, fresh house-made meals, supervision by occupational therapists and a registered nurse, transportation to and from home, a Veterans group, and programs to support family members and caregivers. After completing her Masters in Accounting in 2010, Sally became Finance Director at Elderhaus, where she helps the nonprofit serve about 50 individuals each weekday. Elderhaus provides active and engaging daytime care for persons with dementia, 19 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
?After my father unexpectedly had a stroke, I don?t know how my family would have managed without Elderhaus,? Sally said. ?The social engagement, cognitive stimulation, emotional support, and physical activities he enjoys here have made a huge difference in his recovery!? A day at Elderhaus costs about the same as an hour of home health care, or a half-day of non-medical home care, and only about 20% of the cost for a residential facility. Elderhaus is an authorized provider for Veterans and Medicaid recipients, in addition to offering affordable private pay options. ?We even have scholarship assistance for persons who don?t qualify for Medicaid but can?t afford the level of care their loved ones need,? said Dr. McLemore. ?Thanks to Elderhaus,? Sally observed, ?I can continue my full-time employment, even as Dad enjoys healthy, fun activities during the day while continuing to live at home with us.? For m or e in f or m at ion abou t Elder h au s, con t act Dr . M cLem or e: t im @elder h au s.or g, 970.221.0406.
Sally and Frank Walczyk in the Elderhaus dining room
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Local Author
Life Changes by Ellen Javer n ick
Some people launch rockets, others launch ships. Recently Linda Osmundson launched her latest book, Papa?s Changes, before a supportive crowd at Elderhaus in Ft Collins. Before Linda became a writer, she taught elementary school and was a museum docent in the many cities where her husband?s work took the family. After she enrolled in a writing for children?s correspondence course at the age of fifty, she began writing for magazines? lots of them. But her dream was to have books published. She took the advice that?s always given new writers, ?Write what you know.? And that?s what she did. Combining her love of art and writing, Linda wrote about some of her favorite western artists and included fascinating facts about them and thought-provoking questions like the ones she often asked when she led museum tours. Linda?s first book How the West Was Drawn: Cowboy Charlie's Art was published in 2011? . When she was 72! This naturally led to a second book on the other prominent Western artist Frederic Remington. A few years later she added How The West Was Drawn: Women?s Art. She was on a roll. Then her husband, Bob, was diagnosed with dementia. Linda?s life changed forever. She became a caregiver. She educated herself on dementia and the resources available to help dementia patients and their families. Linda experienced first-hand the challenges and devastating effects of dementia until Bob?s death in 2018. 20 THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding 20 December THRIVELoveland.com Towns
Br ain Games
Linda's book launch at Elderhaus was a huge success. Friends and family gathered to celebrate her book launch.
?There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.? ? Rosalyn Carter
Since her Husband's death, she has devoted her time and energy to volunteering to teach and support others on the dementia caregiving journey. And once again she decided to write about what she knew. Her newest picture book, Papa's Changes, Dementia Through A Child?s Eyes was published in October of this year. It beautifully depicts how a little girl?s interactions with her grandfather change as his dementia progresses. The activities they share change, but the love they share remains strong. Five of Linda?s seven grandchildren helped out at her launch party. They took a bit of credit for some of the ideas included in the book. Her three sons joined the assembled group as Linda spoke about the caregiving lessons she?d learned. They listened proudly to the praise for their mom?s book, dedicated to their dad. Linda, herself, is already exploring what else she knows about, to use as the basis for her 21 THRIVE Loveland & Surrounding Towns
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Legal View s Legal View s
Wh y t h e On e-Year New Hou se War r an t y is a Wolf in Sh eep?s Clot h in g Residential construction project contracts typically have a one-year limited warranty. But, your warranty is statutory and is two years after the discovery of the manifestation of a defect and you have a full six years to make such a discovery. construction professional. A homeowner has two years to sue after the homeowner Warranties protect homeowners from bad discovers (or should have discovered) a workmanship. A warranty is not required to be physical manifestation of a defect and six in a contract, but often, a builder will mislead years to sue after substantial completion of buyers by including a one-year limited warranty the improvement to property. ?in lieu of an implied warranty.? You cannot If you believe you have a construction defect waive the implied warranty [two years from in your home, please contact Jorgensen, defect discovery / six years from occupancy Brownell & Pepin, P.C. today. date] in a contract with the builder? no matter what it says. Beware of the two tricks-of-the-trade. The first trick is to get you to complain about a construction issue during the one-year period so that the two-year statute of limitations kicks in and begins to run. The second trick is to get you to believe the warranty has already run out during the six-year period so that you won?t pursue the builder when you could have. The implied warranty of good workmanship is the reasonable expectation that a home will be constructed in a workmanlike manner. The implied warranty of habitability is the reasonable expectation that a home will be safe to live in. You automatically have these warranties when you purchase a new home in Colorado. In Colorado, the Construction Defect Action Reform Act (?CDARA?) governs these issues. CDARA preserves the homebuyer ?s implied warranties and makes any contractual provision to the contrary void as again st pu blic policy. CDARA also governs when you can sue a 22 THRIVE2019 Loveland & Surrounding 22 December THRIVELoveland.com Towns
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