Senior Times January 2016 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

January 2016

Volume 4 • Issue 1

Tri-Cities gains National Park

Audiologist helps around the world

Tri-Cities Community Health receives renovations

Don’t miss it Jan. 5-6 Eastern WA Ag Expo TRAC, Pasco easternwaagexpo. com

Physical therapy can restore quality of life— physically and mentally By Loretto J. Hulse Before Glenda Higgins discovered the benefits of physical therapy, her world often spun out of control. The 64-year-old Kennewick resident suffered from bouts of vertigo for nearly five years before seeking help from Therapeutic Associates. “It was horrible. I couldn’t lay down, the room just spun and spun around and around,” she said. The worst feeling for her was when everything looked like it was spinning up and over like a Ferris wheel, Higgins added. “That just makes you nauseous,” she said. “You can’t walk, you can’t do anything.” Once at a beauty salon, her stylist was washing her hair. Higgins, whose head was tipped back over the salon sink, experienced such an acute attack of vertigo she had to be taken to the emergency room. “It was crimping her neck that caused it,” said Ken Call, a physical therapist and doctor of physical therapy. Call is the clinic director for Therapeutic Associate’s two Kennewick offices: Southridge Physical Therapy at 4303 W. 27th Ave., Ste. C and West Kennewick Physical Therapy, 1408 W. Louisiana St., Ste. 104-A. “Vertigo is all about nerves. It’s caused by a number of vestibular disorders which affect the inner ear,” Call said. After Higgins’ trip to the emergency room, her doctor prescribed drugs to help ease her symptoms. “I took them for three months, but one was Valium, which can be addictive. I didn’t want to be on Valium the rest of my life,” Higgins said. Higgins has been a longtime patient of Therapeutic Associates for various health issues, so was aware of the help they could offer. In addition to finding help to control her vertigo, Higgins wanted to rebuild her physical strength and lose weight. uTHERAPY, Page 6

Few could resist the lure of dancing the tango, Lindy hop and jitterbug to music from the 1930s to the 1960s at Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s annual Healthy Ages Christmas party held Dec. 10 at TRAC.

Healthy Ages members enjoy annual luncheon and dance By Loretto J. Hulse Dressed in their holiday glitz, couples glided and twirled across the dance floor during the annual Healthy Ages Christmas party in December at TRAC in Pasco. Watching their footwork, few would guess that most of the dancers sashaying by were well past retirement age. Kadlec Regional Medical Center has sponsored the event for the past 25 years for members of its Healthy Ages program and their guests. “For some, this party is their only holiday event,” said Jim Hall, Kadlec’s director of government and community relations “We had about 500 people sign up this year, nearly 100 more than attend-

ed last year,” said Janet Artzer. Artzer and Corey Wakeley co-manage the Healthy Ages program that offers monthly classes on topics of interest to retirees, like managing diabetes, recovering from heart attacks and strokes and weight management. They also oversee the Mall Walkers program, keeping track of walkers’ miles and handing out rewards. This year’s party was the first Sandie and Dean Boyce of Kennewick have attended, even though she’s been a Mall Walker for quite a while. However, after winning a $100 VISA gift card at the party, Dean Boyce said they will likely make the holiday dance an annual event. uHEALTHY AGES, Page 9

Lourdes Medical Center invests in 3D technology for earlier cancer detection By Jessica Hoefer for Senior Times Lourdes Medical Center is now offering 3D mammograms to help doctors detect breast cancer earlier. The machine, which came with a $395,000 price tag, arrived in late summer and patients are already seeing the benefits. “The technology has been out for about three years, but it’s really taken off this year,” said Dan Ellsworth, ancillary service director at Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco. “The 3D image gives more information we can use. It’s saving lives.” According to the American Cancer

Society, more than 230,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. Ellsworth said 3D mammograms, also known as tomosynthesis, increases breast cancer detection by 41 percent. A 2D mammogram takes images from the front and side of the breast, which may create images with overlapping breast tissue. Ellsworth said the 3D image goes 15 degrees from one side of the breast to the other, giving the doctor a better picture of the breast from different angles to find abnormalities. uLOURDES, Page 2

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Senior Times • January 2016

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CONTRIBUTORS

Edward Jones................................ 15 Jessica Hoefer.................................. 1 Cathy MacCaul............................... 8 Elsie Puig........................................11 Senior Times accepts original columns from local professionals, educators and business leaders. The goal of these pieces is to share useful tips and knowledge helpful to seniors. It is best to contact the Senior Times office for a copy of contributor guidelines before submitting anything. Although we cannot publish every submission we receive, we will keep columns that best fit the mission and focus of Senior Times for possible future use. Senior Times also accepts original letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submissions must include the writer’s full name and daytime contact information for verification. All submissions will be edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation and questions of good taste or libel. If there is news you’d like Senior Times staff to report on, or there are any topics you’d like to read about, please contact the news staff via email at editor@tcjournal.biz or (509) 737-8778. Senior Times, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly. Subscriptions are $20 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and January not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Senior Times staff, other contributors or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by Senior Times staff, other contributors or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

LOURDES, From page 1 “We’ve seen amazing results,” said Ellsworth. “In the first two months we started providing this service, we found four invasive breast cancers.” Ellsworth said Lourdes has the only certified breast surgeon in the Tri-Cities — Dr. Laurie Evans — and it also has a board-certified breast reconstruction surgeon, Dr. Karen Vaniver, on staff. With a strong focus on women’s health, he said the hospital wanted to make sure it had the best breast cancer detection technology available. Mammograms have evolved tremendously in the 14 years Ellsworth has been with Lourdes. He remembers using what was called film-screen mammography. The pictures would have to be processed and then analyzed by radiologist. “If there was any motion at all, you had to retake the exam. It would be a week to two weeks before we got a report out of the patient,” said Ellsworth. “It was very labor intensive.” Because 3D mammograms are relatively new, not all insurance companies will cover the costs. The patient either has to pay out of pocket or can choose not to have the 3D equipment used during their mammogram. The costs are covered for Medicare patients, said Ellsworth,

Neena Cockrum, Lead Mammography Tech for Lourdes Medical Center, examines the 3D machine used to improve breast cancer detection.

adding that commercial insurance companies are slowly coming on board. “It costs a little more, but you have to stay on top of your health,” he noted. Roughly 40 million mammograms are performed each year in the U.S. Ellsworth said the Tri-Cities is lucky to have the 3D technology, and if a patient wants the 3D mammogram and their insurance does not cover the service, Lourdes offers a 20 percent cash discount. Ellsworth said women over the age of 40 should be get mammograms

annually, regardless of the type of mammogram. Those with a history of breast cancer should start even earlier. “In fact, the worst cancers are for women in their 30s,” he said. “The cancer is more aggressive due to hormones and metabolism. There’s a lot of biological factors that make it more aggressive.” Ellsworth had a high school friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at the age of 16. His mother also had the disease and receives 3D mammograms from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. “I was a big advocate for [my mom] to go. She said, ‘I have this lump’, and I said, ‘Go get it checked out and treated,’” said Ellsworth. “One of eight women will have it. We’ve had ladies come in and say, ‘I’ve had this lump for six months’, and literally it’s the size of a golf ball. By then, it’s metastasized.” Late stage breast cancer kills about 40,000 women a year. To rein in those numbers and take insurance bills out of the equation, Lourdes Medical Center offers free mammograms four or five times a year during special events. The free mammogram days are usually announced on the hospital’s website. The last one was in October and Ellsworth said they saw more than 300 people. With a second 3D mammogram machine arriving in February 2016, Lourdes expects to see even more patients in the coming months. The first machine is at the hospital, at 520 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco. The second machine will be at the company’s west Pasco office at 7425 Wrigley Dr. “I’ve seen what cancer can do, and it motivated me to go into medicine,” said Ellsworth. “Get yourself checked and your loved ones—and don’t wait.”

Senior Times • January 2016

Hanford’s B Reactor site dedicated as part of new national park By Loretto J. Hulse news@tcjournal.biz A new flag is now flying over Hanford’s B Reactor. It’s the flag of the National Forest Service, signifying Hanford’s inclusion as one of the three sites creating the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The other two sites that are part of the National Park are Los Alamos, N.M., and Oak Ridge, Tenn., which during World War II, also contributed to research into the new science of atomic energy. Nearly 300 public officials, former Hanford workers and others gathered at the front face of the deactivated B Reactor National Historic Landmark in November for the dedication ceremony marking Hanford’s inclusion as part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Among the crowd were fourth graders from White Bluffs Elementary School in Richland. The students were the first youths under the age of 12 allowed to visit B Reactor. Before coming under the umbrella of the National Park Service, only those 12 and older were allowed to tour the facility. Also attending the ceremony were several founding members of the B Reactor Museum Association. The group worked tirelessly for more than a decade to obtain public access to the historic site and save the B Reactor, the world’s first full sized nuclear reactor, said Colleen French. French is the program manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Site and a

Day Trips

Chip Jenkins, acting director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region, hoists the NPS flag for the first time at B Reactor on the Hanford site in November.

Department of Energy employee. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park became the 409th park in the National Park Service’s system on Nov. 10. That’s the day Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz signed the agreement making the National Park Service and the Department of Energy partners overseeing the new park. “I don’t have to tell any of you what an amazing opportunity this is,” French said during the dedication. “(The National Park Service) is the gold standard. They are the best in the business and we’re thrilled to have them here. Because, as you all know, the DOE is not in the business

of parks and museums.” The park will be managed as a partnership between the National Park Service and the Department of Energy. The DOE owns the land and buildings while the park service will provide the interpretative center, visitor information and help preserve the buildings and other artifacts. At Hanford, the former town site of

White Bluffs will be included in the National Park. They’re part of the story, said French. The town’s residents were forced to give up their farms, businesses and homes when the government seized their property to create the Hanford site. More than 51,000 workers at Hanford constructed and operated a massive industrial complex to fabricate, test and irradiate uranium fuel and chemically separate out plutonium. “Only a handful of workers knew what they were creating,” said French. B Reactor was built in 11 months and used to produce plutonium used in the world’s first atomic explosion, a test in the New Mexico desert, and in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, that helped end World War II. uHANFORD, Page 12

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Senior Times • January 2016

Calendar of Events Tuesday, Jan. 5 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Washington Ag Expo Pasco Chamber of Commerce TRAC Center, Pasco www.easternwaagexpo.com

Home Computer Security: Protecting Yourself Online Mid-Columbia Library, Union Street Shelby.kadinger@pnnl.gov Saturday, Jan. 16 Noon Polar Plunge Tri-Cities 5111 Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick

Wednesday, Jan. 6 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern Washington Ag Expo Pasco Chamber of Commerce TRAC Center, Pasco www.easternwaagexpo.com Thursday, Jan. 7 11:30 a.m. Living to 100-Wellness Seminar Affinity Theatre, Affinity at Southridge RSVP 509-222-1212 Wednesday, Jan. 13 7 – 9 p.m. Monthly meeting Tri-City Genealogical Society 8264 W. Grandridge Blvd. 509-554-1050

Tuesday, Jan. 19 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Trios’ Mental Acuity Class Dilly Dally Pub, Affinity at Southridge RSVP 509-222-1212 Thursday, Jan. 21 5:30 p.m. 2016 Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame Pasco Chamber of Commerce Red Lion Hotel, Pasco 509-547-9755 Friday, Jan. 22 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. 22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman Show

Thursday Jan. 14 7 p.m.

Shuyler Productions www.shuylerproductions.com 7:30 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tribute to the Divine Miss M ACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland 509-943-6027 Saturday, Jan. 23 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman Show Shuyler Productions www.shuylerproductions.com 7:30 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tribute to the Divine Miss M ACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland 509-943-6027 8 p.m. Camerata Musica Concert Cosi Quartet Battelle Auditorium 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland 509-375-0898

Sunday, Jan. 24 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsman Show Shuyler Productions www.shuylerproductions.com 2 p.m. The Best of Bette: A Tribute to the Divine Miss M ACT 213 Wellsian Way, Richland 509-943-6027 Thursday, Feb. 11 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Valentine’s Bingo Kennewick Senior Center RSVP 509-585-4303 Friday, Feb. 19 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 2016 Regional Home & Garden Show Home Builders Association of TriCities TRAC Center, Pasco 509-735-2745

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Cascade increases rates Cascade Natural Gas filed a natural gas rate increase request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in early December. If approved, it would increase residential customers’ monthly bill by an average of $4.87 a month. Scott Madison, executive vice president and general manager of Cascade, said the main reason for the rate increase request is to recover the cost of the increased investment in natural gas facilities and increased operating expenses. As of June 30, Cascade’s total gross investment for Washington natural gas operations is $619 million, which is $156 million more than the total gross investment in 2006 when the last general rate case was filed. The proposed increase is for $10.5 million annually over current rates, or a 4.17 percent overall increase. Cascade serves 204,000 customers in 65 Washington communities. The 2006 rate case resulted in a 2.7 percent increase. Based on rate class studies, the increase is proposed to be allocated only to the residential rate class in order to bring rates more in line with the cost of service. The allocation results in a proposed 8.93 percent increase for residential customers, or $4.87 per month, on average. Conservation tips, information on energy assistance and information on

In Brief the company’s budget payment plan can be found on Cascade’s website at www.cngc.com.

More seniors, disabled qualify for property tax relief Recently enacted legislation lifts the income limit to qualify for a property tax exemption from $35,000 to $40,000 for property owners ages 61 and older, or those retired due to a service or jobrelated disability. The exemption applies to a person’s principal residence and depends on the combined disposable income of the applicant, spouse, partner and/or co-tenants occupying the same home. The legislation also raised the income limit to $45,000 for the deferral program, which delays property taxes for seniors and the disabled until a later date. Under the deferral program, the Washington State Department of Revenue pays the property taxes and any special assessments on the property owner’s behalf. The deferred amount, plus interest, becomes a lien on the home until the total amount is repaid. To be eligible, the homeowner must be either at least 60 years old, unable to

work because of a disability, or be at least 57 years old and the surviving spouse or partner of someone who was receiving a deferral at the time of death. The counties administer property taxes on behalf of the state. Interested homeowners should contact the county assessor’s office to apply.

State unveils new aging website The Department of Social and Health Services has partnered with Area Agencies on Aging to create a new website for Washington residents that features information about longterm care services and support. The website, which can be found at Washingtoncommunitylivingconnec tions.org, offers a one-stop, online location to find options for in-house assistance and community services for older adults and individuals with disabilities. It features a directory of local, state and national resources to help people remain in their own homes, as well as information about alternative living options. Individuals can explore and connect to services and plan for future needs. The website is HIPAA

Senior Times • January 2016

compliant and meets state and federal regulations for privacy and accessibility. From the website, individuals can create and manage their own healthcare information, request help and share information with others.

Sportsmen Show at TRAC The 22nd Annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen show will be Jan. 22-24 at TRAC in Pasco. The event will include the latest in outdoor equipment, a trophy antler collection, kid’s fishing pond, free air rifle range, free hourly hunting and fishing seminars, retriever demonstrations and more. There will also be an indoor 3-D archery shoot and an outdoor cooking camp hosted by Cee Dub Welch. Exhibitors include retail merchants, factory representatives, outdoor clubs and organizations, taxidermists, wildlife art, fishing boats and fishing and hunting guides. Door prizes are given away hourly. The cost is $9 for adults, $4.50 for children ages 6-12 and children under 6 are free. Friday is seniors day and those ages 60 and older receive admission for $4.50. The one-time admission gets you into the show for all three days. Those who show military I.D. receive $1 off admission. The event hours are 1 – 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday. uBRIEFS, Page 6

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Senior Times • January 2016

THERAPY, From page 1 “My doctor wanted me to have my knees replaced, but I didn’t want to go that route,” she said. Instead, the staff at Therapeutic Associates tailored a series of exercises to Higgins’ needs. She’s been doing them twice a week for nearly two years, enabling her to build up strength and lose 25 pounds. “My diabetes is under control and the weight lose has helped my sore knee. I was never happier than the day I was able to carry the groceries into the house myself,” Higgins said. Call explained that for each pound of weight lost, you reduce the force on your knees by four pounds. One of the exercise machines Glenda Higgins of Kennewick works out Higgins doesn’t need to attend on is called a TRX. It uses a person’s body weight to build muscle physical therapy sessions at the clinic strength. anymore; she could do them at a gym. But she says she prefers the privacy and the one-on-one time with cent of people never return to their they want or need to live.” Exercising does more than build her trainer, Jessica Albertson, an former condition, putting them at risk for falls.” up physical strength, it also helps exercise physiologist. People visit physical therapists for with mental acuity. “The difference between going to a Exercising for physical strength gym and coming here is you’re doing a variety of reasons. One woman told Call she just wanted to pick up her also helps you mentally. prescribed medical exercises with grandbabies safely. Others want to be “After all, the brain is a muscle supervision,” Call said. Many people seek out physical able to get in and out of bed, rise too,” Call said. “As you’re walking therapists to improve their muscle from a chair, get in and out of a car count backwards from 84 by threes. strength and balance, oftentimes after and on and off the toilet safely, so Do crossword puzzles, sukudo or go having been in the hospital for days they’re able to continue living in to a website called Lumosity, www. their homes. lunosity.com, where you’ll find all or weeks. “They don’t want to run marakinds of games designed to challenge “It doesn’t take long to lose muscle strength when you’re in ICU flat thons,” Call said. “It’s our job to your core cognitive abilities.” Therapeutic Associates was foundon your back,” Call said. “Forty per- return them to as an active lifestyle as

ed in the 1950s in California and since then the company has spread throughout the West coast, with offices in California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. “The company was founded by three friends who liked to take care of people. Their idea was to bring in like-minded, hard working people and enable them to set up independent offices under the Therapeutic Associates brand,” Call said. Once an office is established the owner becomes a shareholder in Therapeutic Associates. Shareholders number about 42 now and somewhere around 12 have retired out of the company, Call said. In the Pacific Northwest, there are more than 60 independently-owned Therapeutic Associates offices. Call owns the two in Kennewick and has 10 employees between the offices. The West Kennewick office has been open since 1997 and the Southridge office opened in 2013. Washington is a “no-referral” required state. So you can simply pick up the phone and make an appointment for an evaluation. “However, there are some insurance companies that require a referral before they’ll pay any claims. Tell us which insurance company you’re with and we can tell you up front if you’ll need a referral,” Call said. BRIEFS, From page 5

BBB warns of scheme

The Better Business Bureau has received complaints about a timeshare purchasing business called All Business Consulting Services, which claims to be based in Dalton Gardens, Idaho. A consumer was contacted by phone by a representative of the company who offered to purchase the consumer’s timeshare in Mexico. The caller claimed to have a buyer who was interested in purchasing the timeshare and willing to pay more than face valued. The caller said they already had cash in an escrow account for the purchase. It sounded good to the consumer, until they received a call from the supposed escrow agent, who explained that the contract included a $4,100 fee to pay the new owner up front due to Mexican government taxes. Another consumer reported that ABCS transferred the sale to an escrow agent with Epic National Title and Settlement Services in Lakewood, Colo. She paid $4,000 in taxes and fees and has heard nothing since then. Epic National title has an F rating with the Colorado BBB. BBB’s investigation revealed the address listed as ABCS’s physical local is a postal store. The Mexican government does not require any kind of tariff, title or change fee up front from a timeshare seller.

Senior Times • January 2016

Kennewick audiologist offers the joy of hearing across the globe By Loretto J. Hulse news@tcjournal.biz Some consider the world full of annoying sounds — buzzing cell phones, honking cars, kids playing and people chattering. For others the world is silent. Imagine if you’d never heard the first cries of a newborn or children’s laughter — any noise would be welcome. “I consider hearing the most important social sense. Without hearing, you’re disconnected from the world,” said Dr. Neil Aiello, owner of Columbia Basin Hearing Center, which has offices in Kennewick, Richland and Walla Walla. He and his wife, Shannon, are both doctors of audiology at Columbia Basin Hearing. For decades, Dr. Neil Aiello has devoted his life to helping the deaf and hearing impaired here in the MidColumbia. In 2013, he started volunteering for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which goes to third-world countries where people do not have access to modern health care to give them the gift of sound. Starkey Hearing Technologies, based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is the only American-owned major hearing aid manufacturer in the world. Its philanthropic arm is the Starkey Hearing Foundation that travels the globe to fit more than 100,000 free hearing aids annually on people in need. To do it, Starkey relies on volunteers like Aiello. In the past three years. Aiello has traveled to Mexico, Africa and most recently Peru, traveling each time with groups of other Starkey volunteers from across the

U.S. “Even though I’m volunteering my time, the trips are not free,” said Aiello. The two-week trip to Peru cost Aiello about $10,000. Aiello and his group flew into Lima and visited five small towns, fitting children and adults with hearing aids. As an audiologist, Aiello’s days are normally spent evaluating people’s hearing and fitting those who need them with hearing aids. “The unusual thing about this Starkey program is the volunteers don’t have to be a doctor of audiology to fit these hearing aids in third-world countries. They’re trained, but aren’t necessarily medical personal,” Aiello said. Aiello said there are about 10 to 12 volunteers fitting hearing aids at any one time. They begin about 9 a.m. and finish around 4 p.m. “In one day, we can fit anywhere from 300 to 600 people,” he said. Conditions where they work are usually primitive. Often Starkey volunteers set up in a tent in a sports arena. Before the volunteers are sent to fit the hearing aids, Starkey sends teams to the various countries to contact the government agencies. “Usually they’re puzzled and the first question the government officials ask is, ‘What do you want?’ The Starkey representatives have to explain that all we want to do is help. It’s what we do,” Aiello said. The initial teams scout out the deaf and hearing-impaired in each region of each country. They do the silicon impressions of their ears, which are

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Dr. Neil Aiello, a volunteer for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and owner of Columbia Basin Hearing Center, fits a young Peruvian youth with his first hearing aids. Aiello spent two weeks in Peru with a group of Starkey volunteers who traveled to five cities fitting hearing aids to children and adults. The group fitted anywhere from 300 to 600 people in any single day.

sent back to Starkey headquarters, where hearing aids are custom built for each individual. The hearing aids that Starkey provides are basic analog-type hearing aids, much different that what is available in the U.S., Aiello said, but still very useful. “I still get that heart-warming feel-

ing of having helped someone hear for the first time or to hear better,” he said. “I consider this mission work 101. It’s my passion and what I enjoy doing.” The Starkey Hearing Foundation has programs in approximately 100 countries. uAIELLO, Page 15

Senior Times • January 2016

The clock is ticking on important issues this legislative session By Cathy MacCaul for Senior Times The Washington State Legislature’s first day of the 2016 session is Jan. 11 and, since it is a short session ending on March 10, the clock is ticking. Last year’s 176-day session focused primarily on the development of the state’s biennial budget and meeting the mandated requirements under the McCleary ruling to fund education. It was a long and difficult session. And this session will present its own set of challenges. First the legislature needs to wrestle with the impact of Initiative 1366, which was passed by a very small

number of voters during the November election. A little more than 19 percent of registered voters in the state cast ballots to require legislators to have a two-thirds majority vote on all tax issues, and if not, the sales tax would drop by 1 percent. That equates to $1.5 billion less money in the budget each year for programs and services for our communities across Washington. Second, many of the legislators are up for reelection. With such weighty issues as funding education, finding new sources of revenue and preparing for their election campaigns, it will be difficult to introduce extensive amounts

of new and complex legislation while still ending the session on time. AARP’s work for this legislative session began months ago by building and strengthening relationships with our partner organizations and coalitions and focusing advocacy on three main areas: The CARE Act, financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and restoring hearing aid coverage to Medicaid. • The CARE Act AARP is working in states across the nation to enact the “Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act,” which would help family caregivers as

their loved ones go into the hospital and transition h o m e . Recognizing the critical role family caregivers play in helpCathy MacCaul, ing keep their AARP loved ones at home and out of costly institutions, the CARE Act features three important provisions. First, the name of the family caregiver is recorded when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. Second, the family caregiver is notified if the loved one is to be discharged to another facility or back home. And finally, the facility must provide an explanation and live instruction of the medical tasks – such as medication management, injections, wound care and transfers – that the family caregiver must perform at home. • Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults The incidence of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults is on the rise. AARP is working with the State Long Term Care Ombudsman’s Program, the Attorney General’s Office and the King County Prosecutor’s office to amend the criminal statutes giving stiffer penalties to those who financially exploit vulnerable adults. • Restore Hearing Aid Coverage in Medicaid Hearing loss is a public health issue, as untreated hearing impairment increases the risk of costly health outcomes from falls, disability, cognitive impairment and dementia. Nearly 25 percent of those 65 to 74 and 50 percent of those who are 75 and older have disabling hearing loss. AARP will push to restore the Medicaid adult hearing hardware and services benefit discontinued in 2010. AARP’s advocacy and outreach efforts are not possible without you. Last year, your support helped us pass and create the Washington Small Business Retirement Marketplace, which will give more than 1.1 million Washingtonians a chance for a more secure and independent retirement. Your voice is important so I urge you to get involved. Visit www.aarp. org/wa for the latest on what’s happening at the state capitol. If you are interested in attending hearings in Olympia, volunteering your time or contacting your legislator, please email us at aarpwa@aarp.org or call us at 1-866-227-7457. Cathy MacCaul is AARP’s Washington Advocacy Director.

Senior Times • January 2016

Get out and play in the snow with Pasco Parks & Recreation By Mary Coffman editor@tcjournal.biz The Pasco Parks and Recreation Department is offering a snowshoeing trip in the Umatilla National Forest on Feb. 27. Those who would like to go on the trip are required to attend a special snow show lesson from 7-8 p.m. Feb. 23. The lesson will include information about the equipment needed, proper clothing, physical fitness requirements and other snowshoeing tips. The bus will leave Pasco at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 and travel to Woodland Sno-Park, near Spout Springs ski area south of MiltonFreewater, Ore. Participants will snowshoe across a three-mile route that climbs about 600 feet. The cost of the trip is $18 for Pasco residents and $23 for non-residents, which does not include snowshoe rental. The snow shoe rental is $12, plus deposit, which is due at the lesson prior to the trip. Keep moving and exercising through the winter months with the Pasco Senior Center’s Enhance Fitness pro-

gram which is designed specifically for those over the age of 40. It focuses on stretching, flexibility, balance, lowimpact aerobics and strength training. The program starts monthly and is from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The cost for January is $28 for Pasco residents and $35 for all others. If you are a water lover, try the Wavemakers Aqua Fit class, which is held in a warm water pool at Oasis Physical Therapy in Pasco. The classes are led by Oasis staff and are especially helpful for those who suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, muscle weakness and more. The class includes use of an underwater treadmill, upper body strengthening exercises, leg strengthening exercises and more. Classes take place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are available either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. The cost for January is $80 for residents or $100 for nonresidents. The December AARP Smart Driver Course will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan.

HEALTHY AGES, From page 1 June Ella Ottenberg, 79, of Pasco has been a member of Healthy Ages for more than 10 years. “I joined when I was diagnosed with diabetes and have found their monthly classes to be very helpful,” she said. Ottenberg often attends the annual holiday party, sometimes with friends, sometimes she goes alone. “They’re always a fun time and I enjoy meeting new people,” she said. The dancing is what draws JoDella Sargent, 84, to the holiday party. Her late husband, Elden Sargent, played in one of the first live bands booked for the Healthy Ages parties in the 1990s. She too is a long-time member of Healthy Ages and agreed this year’s party was one of the best. “The DJ played a lot of the songs we

grew up dancing to,” Sargent said, adding that dancing is the healthiest form of exercise for seniors. “It keeps you active, it keeps you young,” Sargent said. In addition to the monthly classes, Artzer and Wakley also offer free “Welcome to Medicare” workshops once a month. During the two-hour workshop they cover Medicare benefits and how Medi-gap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D Prescription Plans and Retiree plans work. The free classes are held at Central United Protestant Church in Richland, said Artzer. There’s no charge to join Healthy Ages. To sign up, call 509-942-2700. Or go to www.kadlec.org/community/ community-outreach/healthy-ages.

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Pasco Senior Center (509) 545-3459 1315 N. Seventh Ave. • Pasco

5 and Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Pasco Senior Center. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for all others and those who complete the course may receive a discount on their auto insurance. Keeping your feet healthy is essential as you age. Those 60 and older can participate in the Pasco Senior Center’s Foot Care Program, Happy Feet. The program is designed to provide preventative maintenance and education to Franklin County and Burbank residents. Through the program, a registered nurse will inspect your feet for early detection of corns, calluses, ingrown toenails and other minor foot problems. The nurse will also trim your toenails, apply lotion to your feet and give you instruction on properly caring for your

feet at home. The service is free, but there is a suggested donation of $12 - $15 per person. The Happy Feet foot care program is available by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Call 509-543-3459 for an appointment. The Pasco Senior Center has plenty of great activities to help you meet new friends, learn new skills and stay active. The Senior Center has Dial-A-Ride tickets, passes and applications available, as well as photocopy services, a computer lab, library and puzzle room, multi-purpose room, television room, pool tables and a craft room. For more information about activities at the Pasco Senior Center, call 509-545-3456.

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Senior Times • January 2016

Start the New Year with something new at the Richland Community Center By Mary Coffman editor@tcjournal.biz It’s a new year and that’s a great time to start learning a new language. The Richland Parks & Recreation Department is offering a Spanish for Beginners class from Jan. 5 through Feb. 4. The class, which takes place from 7 – 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will introduce participants to vocabulary, grammatical structures and cultural considerations. The goal is to provide a dynamic, structured and fun learning environment with a focus on developing speaking and listening

comprehension skills. By the end of the class, participants should be able to tell others about themselves using words and phrases in Spanish. The cost is $50 for Richland residents and $62.50 for all others. Yoga is a great way to build strength, gain better balance and flexibility, while reducing stress. The Richland Parks & Recreation’s Yoga Joy class is a great way to learn the proper yoga postures. The classes take place from 5:45 – 7 p.m. each Thursday in the activity room at the Richland Community Center. The cost for January is $30.75

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for residents and $38.50 for all others. The January AARP Smart Driver defensive driving course will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Thursday, Jan. 21. The course focuses on age-related changes and teaches you how to compensate for those changes. Participants must attend both days. The cost is $15 for AARP members, who must show their AARP card, and $20 for all others. Participants may receive a discount on their insurance for completing the course. Geocaching is a great hobby for those who like to explore, regardless of age — and it’s a great way to use that Smartphone for something other than phone calls and Facebook. Learn the basics of Geocaching during a free introductory session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5. The instructors will show you how to use the geocaching website and a GPS unit, and then you’ll get to practice what you learn by taking a short geocaching adventure in Howard Amon Park. Space is limited, so register online or by calling the Richland Community Center. Tax time is right around the corner, but there’s no need to panic — and plenty of time to prepare. AARP Tax Aide volunteers can help. They will be available at the Richland

Community Center to provide free, confidential advice to help seniors and low-income taxpayers prepare their tax returns properly and to answer questions. The volunteers will be available from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday from Feb. 2 through April 14. Appointments are not necessary. You will need to bring a copy of your prior year’s tax return, as well as documents supporting information to prepare this year’s return, including real estate tax statements. The Richland Community Center is an electronic filing site and will not prepare returns for paper filing. For quicker and safer tax refunds, it is recommended that taxpayers have refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts, so you will need to have your bank account information. Don’t forget, the Richland Community Center has plenty of daily activities and social opportunities. Play Mahjong, cribbage, pool, bridge, dominoes or pinochle. For a full list, view the Richland Parks and Recreation’s Fall Activity Guide at richlandparksandrec.com. For more information about upcoming events or to register for any of these events, call 509-942-7529 or go to richlandparksandrec.com.

Senior Times • January 2016

HRSA grant allows TCCH to continue with renovations and expansions By Elsie Puig for Senior Times Tri-Cities Community Health is expanding services and renovating its facility, with the help of a $1 million grant awarded by the Human Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Although the renovations and building improvements started with savings from TCCH, the grant will allow the health center to finish upgrades sooner. “We were fortunate to receive this grant,” said Martin Valadez, TCCH’s director of business development and public affairs. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the grant, or it would have taken us longer.” Valadez said TCCH’s goal with the project was to provide a quality setting for the patients and the community. “We hadn’t done updates in some time,” Valadez said. “It not only looks better, but it provides better access and increases comfort for the patient so they know they are getting quality healthcare — as good as anybody else.” Most of the renovations are being made at the Pasco clinic to centralize services and improve the patient experience. Other changes include extended hours for urgent care and integrating the behavioral health program with the rest of their medical staff. TCCH’s behavioral health program is currently in a separate building across the street from the Pasco location. “When you have behavioral specialists collocated with medical staff, they can better serve the patient and (patients) get better treatment,” said Valadez. Earlier this year, TCCH also opened an optometry clinic. “It’s a beautiful setup on the second floor,” said Richard Ballard, TCCH director of operations. The reception area has also undergone a major facelift, he added, and

it now features seven reception lanes, new millwork, LED signage and new flooring. “That was our biggest undertaking,” said Ballard. TCCH is relocating all administrative and support functions to a 21,000-sq.-ft. facility at 800 W. Court St. This will allow the health center to centralize clinical functions at 515 W. Court St. and expand urgent care services, lab and pharmacy. In addition, TCCH’s dental services are being expanded. In October, the health center expanded its dental office by adding three new dental chairs. Previously it had four. In Kennewick, TCCH is expanding its behavioral health services and adding more suites to the space. The pediatrics unit is also being renovated and expanded to improve flow of services and reduce wait times. “We expanded to more suites,” said Valadez. “We’re trying to meet the needs of community and increase access, so they have shorter wait times.” TCCH, originally named La Clinica, was founded in Pasco in 1981 by a small group of women in the Pasco community who saw the need to serve low-income community members who could not afford to pay for health care services. In 1990, the nonprofit clinic met the requirements to become a designated Federally Qualified Health Center, which made it eligible to obtain financial support from the federal and state governments to expand services. As a FQHC, TCCH can receive funding to partially cover the cost of providing primary medical care, mental health, vision, and dental services to persons and families with no health insurance, limited health insurance or Medicaid recipients. Since then, TCCH has evolved into a network of community health centers. Through the past few years, TCCH has received federal grant

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The reception area underwent a major facelift earlier this year, which included renovations and expansion to a seven-lane reception area, new millwork, flooring and LED sign. Funding from a HRSA grant will allow TCCH to continue with renovation and expansion of services.

funding to build a 40,000-sq.-ft. medical office in Pasco, relocate its small Kennewick clinic into a 7,000-sq.-ft. facility and set up a new 6,000-sq.-ft. health center in the city of Richland. TCCH also operates two schoolbased clinics. “Our mission is to serve the underserved and underinsured,” said Valadez. “In order to better do that, we had to invest in modernizing and expanding our facility.” Ballard said he credits the improve-

ments TCCH has made over the past three years to Al Cordova, TCCH’s CEO and Jennifer Henry Robinson, TCCH chief operations officer. “TCCH has experienced outstanding growth and we have undertaken new services, that has a lot of to do with Al and Jennifer and the vision that they have for healthcare in the Tri-Cities,” said Ballard. For more information about TCCH, go to www.mytcch.org.

Senior Times • January 2016

Kennewick Senior Center plans trip to Northern Quest in March By Mary Coffman editor@tcjournal.biz The Kennewick Senior Center is planning a day trip to Northern Quest Casino in Spokane on Mar. 15. The bus will leave the Senior Center at 8 a.m. and travel to Northern Quest Casino and Resort, where those ages 55 and older can take advantage of the casino’s special Senior Day deals. You’ll have five hours of free time at the casino, which features 1,800 slot machines, live poker and gaming tables, as well as 14 restaurants and lounges. The cost of the trip is $58 for Kennewick residents who register prior to Mar. 1 and $78 for all others. The trip fee covers the cost of the

motor coach only. All meals, snacks and beverages are out-of-pocket. If you would like to learn to crochet, knit or tat, there is an ongoing class from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday. Newbies receive instruction by volunteer teacher Donna Gier. The cost is $2 per day. Work on your winter craft projects at the Kennewick Senior Center. There’s lots of space and all crafters and ages are welcome. Bring your supplies and work on your projects in the company of other crafters. Drop-in Winter Crafters Create takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Kennewick Senior. The cost is $1 for Kennewick residents and $2 for all others. If you don’t have a hobby, winter is

HANFORD, From page 3 “This is where the nuclear age began. It’s important to preserve it for the future,” said Doc Hastings during the dedication. For years, Hastings, a former U.S. representative and Sen. Maria Cantwell worked to get B Reactor named as a historic site and included in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Hanford is an important part of the trio of sites that make up the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The new park, even as spread across the country as it is, tells the story of how the Manhattan Project ushered in a new era of scientific discovery, said Chip Jenkins, acting director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region. He’s responsible for all the national parks in Washington, Oregon

and Idaho. “Of the three sites, Hanford is the can-do site. Hanford is the place where a massive amount of scientific research and technological innovation was brought together and implemented. It’s where theory met practical reality,” said Jenkins, during the dedication. However, all three sites are incredibly important. Each tells a unique story of its own, and together, the sites tell the story of an incredible period of American history and about the development and utilization of the atomic bomb, said Jenkins. “There are deep stories here — deep lessons to be learned. The park service is committed to telling the complete and complex story of the Manhattan Project including the impact of the use of nuclear weapons and the remaining

Kennewick Senior Center (509) 585-4303 500 S. Auburn St. • Kennewick

the perfect time to take up woodcarving and the Kennewick Senior Center is the perfect place. There are Drop-in Woodcarving sessions from 1 p.m. 3 p.m. each Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon each Friday. The cost is 75 cents on Wednesdays and $1 on Fridays. Students provide their own wood, tools and supplies, but if you don’t have any, there are some to borrow. Other woodcarvers will help you get

started and get you in the groove. Don’t let the nip in the air dissuade you from your daily walk. You can always get your exercise in at the new Southridge Sports Complex, which is heated and available to walkers and runners from 9 a.m. to noon on weekdays. The fee is $1 per day. For more information about activities at the Senior Center or for questions, call 509-585-4303 or go to go2kennewick.com/seniorcenter.

ethical questions,” Jenkins said. The park service has already reached out to the Japanese government to include the stories of those who suffered the devastation created when the two atomic bombs were dropped on their country. Jenkins said that moving forward, the park service will work with the three communities in the new park to develop a plan for access and operations at all three sites. The agency will also seek input from the public. “There will be a park service superintendent, but that person will be based in Denver, Colo.,” Jenkins said. “There will be a site manager at all three locations and, if budget permits, we will be setting up additional staff with additional expertise. One of the primary services of the site manager will be to continue to nurture and grow the partnerships that are already in place.” The National Park Service estimates it will take about two years to complete plans for the park and another three to five before the sites are prepared for public visits. However the DOE already offers tours of the B Reactor and the former White Bluffs’ town site

on a seasonal basis. “If we can establish some type of climate control in B Reactor we’ll be able to offer tours year round, which will be good for the schools,” Jenkins said. Currently B Reactor has neither air conditioning nor heat. Free B Reactor National Historic Landmark Tours are offered April through September. Registrations are accepted by internet or phone. The four-hour tours will be on a Department of Energy sponsored bus. The DOE also offer tours of the preManhattan Project landmarks at the same time. They include the Hanford High School in the town of Hanford and the Hanford Construction Camp Historic District, Bruggermann’s Agricultural Warehouse Complex, the White Bluffs Bank and the Hanford Irrigation District Pump House. More tour information is available at manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov. For more information about the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, go to www.nps.gov.

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Senior Times • January 2016

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Useful Phone Numbers and Addresses Senior Centers Kennewick Senior Center................................................... 500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick........................................................... 509-585-4303 Pasco Senior Center............................................................ 1315 N. Seventh Ave., Pasco.............................................................. 509-545-3459 Prosser Senior Center......................................................... 1231 Dudley Ave., Prosser................................................................. 509-786-2915 Richland Community Center............................................ 500 Amon Dr., Richland.................................................................... 509-942-7529 West Richland Senior Center............................................. 616 N. 60th, West Richland............................................................... 509-967-2847 Additional Resources Senior Life Resources/Meals on Wheels.......................... 8656 W. Gage Blvd., Suite 301, Kennewick..................................... 509-735-1911 Veterans Administration Medical Clinic......................... 825 Jadwin Ave., Suite 250, Richland............................................... 509-946-1020 RSVP-Retired Seniors Volunteer Program...................... 2139 Van Giesen St., Richland.......................................................... 509-943-2590 x2112 Senior Companion Program............................................. 516 W. Margaret, Suite 4, Pasco........................................................ 509-545-6145 Social Security Administration......................................... 8131 W. Klamath Ct., Suite A, Kennewick...................................... 866-269-6671 Useful Phone Numbers Medicare............................................................................... 800-633-4227 Medicare TTY...................................................................... 877-486-2048 Veterans Affairs Administration....................................... 800-827-1000 Alzheimer’s Association 24 Hour...................................... 800-272-3900 Fair Housing Enforcement................................................. 800-669-9777 Washington Information Network.................................... 211

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Senior Times • January 2016

Step-by-step approach can ease estate-planning process but you may be better off by working with a financial professional — someone who can evaluate your assets, goals and family situation, and then recommend an appropriate level of coverage. Draw up your will. For most people, a will is probably the most essential estate-planning document. Regardless of the size of your estate, you need a will to ensure that your assets and personal belongings will be distributed according to your wishes. If you die intestate (without a will), your belongings will be distributed to your “heirs” as defined by state laws — and these distributions may not be at all what you had in mind. Consider a living trust. Depending on your situation, you may need to go beyond a will when drawing up your estate plans. For example, you might want to create a living trust, which can allow your assets to go directly to your heirs, avoiding the public, timeconsuming and expensive process of probate. A living trust offers other

benefits, too, so you may want to consult with a legal professional to learn more about this e s t a t e planning tool. C h e c k Tom Steinert, beneficiary Edward Jones designations. T h e beneficiary designations on your insurance policies and retirement accounts, such as your IRA and 401(k), are powerful and can even supersede the instructions left in your will. So it’s in your best interests to make sure you’ve got the right people listed as your beneficiaries. Over time, you may need to update these designations to reflect changes in your family situation. Make final arrangements. Whenever you pass away, it will be a stressful time for your loved ones. To ease their burden, consider establishing a

Starkey Hearing Foundation’s Hear AIELLO, From page 7 “The really cool thing about the Now program in the United States. Starkey foundation is once they’re in Hear Now provides state-of-the-art a country, they don’t leave. They go Starkey hearing aids to people in back once a year and do after-care,” financial need. The staff at Columbia Basin Aiello said. Hearing Centers Also, as the foundation has grown, “The really cool thing volunteers its time about the Starkey and equipment for Starkey has been fitting and follow-up able to hire local foundation is once care for the first year staff in each region they’re in a country, to fine-tune the hearto work for the they don’t leave. They ing aids. foundation fullgo back once a year time providing The hearing aids and do after-care.” provided under after-care and Starkey’s Hear Now resolving any hear- Neil Aiello, program aren’t free. ing aid problems. Bringing the gift Columbia Basin Hearing Center There’s a $125 processing fee for each of sound to people one. Sometimes the is truly a labor of love for everyone associated with patient can pay the fee, other times the money is donated by Columbia Columbia Basin Hearing Centers. In addition to Aiello’s volunteer Basin Hearing Center’s local Hearing work, his practice also works with the Angels program.

Under the Hearing Angels program people can donate money towards paying the fees for Starkey’s Hear Now hearing aids. Between the Walla Walla and TriCity offices Columbia Basin Hearing Center fits 75 to 100 people a year with the Hear Now hearing aids from Starkey. “And we always have a waiting list of two to three people,” Aiello said. Columbia Basin Hearing Center also accepts used hearing aids. “I guarantee we’ll find a way to use them,” he said. For more information on the Starkey Hearing Foundation programs, go to www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org. For more information about the Hearing Angels program, or to schedule a hearing test, go to www. ColumbiaBasinHearing.com or call 509-736-4005.

By Edward Jones for Senior Times Like many people, you may enjoy investing. After all, it can be invigorating to put away money for your future, follow the performance of your investments and track the progress you’re making toward your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement. However, you might be less excited about doing estate planning, dreading the perceived time, effort and cost. Yet, you can make the entire process more manageable by breaking it up into specific tasks. What are these tasks? Everyone’s needs are different, but here are a few suggestions that may be applicable to your situation: Purchase life insurance. If something were to happen to you, would your family be able to stay in the house? Would your children be able to go to college? You should have sufficient life insurance to take care of these and other essential needs. You might hear about various “formulas” for how much insurance you should purchase,

Moving?

If you are planning to move, let us know in advance so you don't miss an issue! Email Shawna at ads@tcjournal.biz Puzzle answers from page 13 Str8ts Solution Str8ts Solution

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“payable-on-death” account at your bank, and then funding this account to pay for your funeral and related expenses. Share your plans. The most comprehensive estate plan in the world may not be of much value if nobody knows of its existence. Share your plans with your loved ones and heirs. It’s important that everyone knows their roles in carrying out your wishes. When dealing with any estateplanning issues, you’ll want to consult with your legal and tax professionals. And by taking a step-by-step approach, you can keep the process moving forward — without feeling that you’re being overwhelmed. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Tom Steinert, a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice.

7 6 9 5 4 1 2

9 6 8 4 7 2 3 5 1

8 9 3 6 5 4 7

6 4 9 2 8 5 1 7 3

3 7 2 1 6 4 8 9 5

5 8 1 3 9 7 2 6 4

1 5 8 6 4 2 9 3 7

7 9 6 8 5 3 4 1 2

4 2 3 7 1 9 5 8 6

9 6 4 5 7 8 3 2 1

2 1 5 9 3 6 7 4 8

8 3 7 4 2 1 6 5 9

For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

6 4 9 2 8 5 1 7 3

3 7 2 1 6 4 8 9 5

Senior Times • January 2016