LIFE's Vintage Newsmagazine - July 2023

Drill into wellness at ArchWell Health

The healthcare professionals at our Tulsa center are here to help seniors like you get the most out of life. We provide transportation assistance to and from appointments if needed, same-day appointments, telehealth visits and more. We’re truly a one-stop shop for all your primary care needs.

For more information call (918) 203-7006 or visit ArchWellHealth.com

14

Mind-Body Wellness Therapies

The wellness industry is booming as many of us focus on living our best lives post-pandemic. Research shows considering the mind-body link can have great health benefits.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

22

The Latest Dental Options for Seniors

Problems with oral health including ill-fitting dental replacements can have a big impact on the quality of life for older adults. See what modern dentistry has to offer and which local programs can help.

BY KELSEY HOLDER AND DEE DUREN, MANAGING EDITOR

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The Eyes Have It: Vision Care

If you’re not seeing the world quite as clearly as you used to, you may be experiencing age-related changes to your vision. Experts tell us what can happen and what can help.

BY LINDSAY MORRIS

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Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo

LIFE Senior Services presents Oklahoma’s premier senior event, the 2023 Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo. You’ll find everything you need for living your best life under one roof. This exclusive Event Guide previews the free event that will include health screenings, entertainment, and more than 150 exhibitors.

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Hearing Technology: Enhancing Communication & Quality of Life

New legislation and technological developments have changed the hearing aid industry. Learn how these changes affect the average person struggling with hearing loss.

BY JOEY MECHELLE FARQUE

LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine in June incorrectly stated the Temi robot was created at Oklahoma State University. Temi is being tested at OSU but was developed at Temi robotics company.

Games Begin Let the

Senior living, with promise.

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To schedule a tour today, call (877) 478-8455, or visit us online at CovLivingInverness.org

Covenant Living of Bixby | Bixby, OK 7300 East 121st Place South

Available now! • Independent & Assisted Living Excellent service, worry-free living • No buy-in fee!

To schedule a tour today, call (877) 312-3248, or visit us online at CovLivingBixby.org

eileen.bradshaw@LIFEseniorservices.org

Letter From Eileen

Dear Vintage Reader,

Happy July. To me, this is the month in which summer hits its stride. It’s hot. We celebrate Independence Day. And … the Senior LIFEstyle and Wellness Expo happens!

In this issue you will find a special insert about the Expo, and I hope it entices you to come out and join us. There is absolutely no charge to attend, and if parking at the fairgrounds is daunting to you, fear not! We have chauffeured golf carts to carry you to and from your car. We will have booths representing a huge variety of services for seniors and/or caregivers. It is a great place to explore solutions and get your questions answered. I certainly “Google” a lot, but sometimes it is just so much more efficient to talk to a person, face to face. And more fun.

The stage features a variety of relevant guests. This year, we will again be joined by Lori Fulbright, who will give her presentation helping us to avoid being the victim of scammers. The Assistance League of Tulsa will host a style show, highlighting looks both chic and affordable. The Antique Sideshow will feature an appraiser to help discover whether your Aunt Jane’s lamp is a sentimental trinket or a valuable treasure.

This issue of Vintage also highlights mind-body wellness. We all know that nutrition is key to health, and I am here to make a shameless plug for the Tulsa Farmers Market as a facilitator of mind-body wellness. The Market moved to Kendall-Whittier a couple of years ago, and the location is great

and offers lots of parking. From April to October, it is open from 7 - 11 a.m. on Saturdays and has a second Sunday market each month. I believe that the mere experience of wandering the Farmers Market is good for our physical and mental health. There is always live music, and it sets the tone for an enjoyable morning of exploration.

I have gained so much from visiting with the merchants. Rae from Blakely Farms visits with me about the best way to cook a tri-tip, or why my purple sage isn’t flourishing. We buy bread from the sweet young family who operate Backyard. If we are early enough, we can get the jalapeno cheddar. My high school biology teacher, Ms. Harris, operates her farm in a large residential lot in midtown Tulsa. She has forgiven me my high school transgressions and supplies me with wonderful lettuce, garlic scapes, and shishito peppers. These are but a few of the folks who are there each Saturday. Selecting carrots still dusted with a bit of earth and stems attached is fun, and it makes me more intentional than I tend to be normally in a store. I am more adventurous in my selections and have been rewarded with wonderful, fresh food.

I hope to see you this month at the Senior LIFEstyle and Wellness Expo and the Farmers Market. Please say hello!

Vol. 38, No. 1

EILEEN BRADSHAW

President & CEO of LIFE Senior Services, LIFE PACE & Vintage Housing

KELLY KIRCHHOFF

Senior Director of Communications

DEE DUREN

Managing Editor dduren@LIFEseniorservices.org

BERNIE DORNBLASER Advertising Director bdornblaser@LIFEseniorservices.org

LEAH WEIGLE

Graphic Designer

PAULA BROWN Assistant Editor pbrown@LIFEseniorservices.org

CAROL CARTER Copy Editor

DICK MCCANDLESS

ESTEBAN VALENCIA Community Distribution

LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine accepts advertising to defray the cost of production and distribution, and appreciates the support of its advertisers. The publisher does not specifically endorse advertisers or their products or services. LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine reserves the right to refuse advertising. Rates are available upon request by calling (918) 664-9000.

© LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine and LIFE Senior Services, Inc., 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction without consent of the publisher is prohibited.

Volume 38, Issue 1, July 2023

LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine (ISSN 2168-8494) (USPS 18320) is published monthly by LIFE Senior Services, 5950 E. 31st St., Tulsa, OK 74135. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK.

Eileen Bradshaw, President and CEO

Photo by Jessica Karin Trout

This Month in History

JULY 2,

1937: Amelia Earhart Disappears

The aircraft carrying pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan was reported missing while they were attempting to fly around the world. Earhart’s radio messages stated that she was lost and running low on fuel. Her last known location was near Howland Island in the Pacific. While there are many theories as to what became of them, no traces of either aviator have been found.

JULY 4, 1826:

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams Die

On the anniversary of the founding of America, two former presidents passed away. Jefferson and Adams had a complicated history as the patriots became adversaries that ran against each other for president in a slanderous campaign. The duo rekindled their friendship later in life. Adams’ final words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” However, Jefferson had died just five hours earlier.

JULY

11, 1960: "To Kill a Mockingbird" is Published

The novel, written by Nelle Harper Lee, offered a view of life in the Jim Crow South during the Great Depression from the perspective of a young girl. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction the next year and sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Lee did not release another book until the sequel "Go Set a Watchman" was published in 2015.

JULY 20, 1969: First Humans Walk on the Moon

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” were the famous words spoken by the first man to walk on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Around 240,000 miles away, more than one billion people watched this historic moment live on television. Buzz Aldrin joined Armstrong to take photographs, run tests, and plant a U.S. flag on the surface of the moon.

JULY 16, 1995:

Amazon Opens for Business

Founder Jeff Bezos launched Amazon as an online bookselling service. By the end of 1996, Amazon had made $15.7 million in revenue. The Seattle-based company eventually evolved into the e-commerce colossus we know today. Amazon surpassed Walmart as the world’s most valuable retailer in 2015. Amazon has become more than a shopping hub with products and services including the Kindle Fire and Amazon Prime Video.

JULY 25, 1978:

World’s First Test Tube Baby Is Born

Louise Joy Brown was born on this day to parents Lesley and Peter Brown in Manchester, England. The healthy baby girl was the first human to ever be conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF). The birth was controversial at the time, raising many ethical questions. IVF is now a common medical treatment for infertility with millions having been conceived through this procedure.

Two women at the Variety Club Health Center demonstrate handwashing techniques, circa 1940.The Variety Club Clinic was built on Greenwood Avenue in 1947 to make polio and tuberculosis vaccines more accessible, according to the University of Tulsa.

A physician demonstrates the use of equipment in an operating room during an open house tour of Doctors' Hospital in 1966.

In a photo believed to be related to a 1926 typhoid outbreak in Tulsa, eight children pose with signs that read, "Modern Health Crusaders."

Anne Stewart, who operated the X-ray machine at the Health Department, takes an X-ray in 1954.

All photos courtesy of Tulsa Historical Society & Museum

CAREGIVER TOOL BELT Care Planning

BY ERIN POWELL

This month let’s explore the essential questions of care planning. Care planning may seem like an extremely complicated topic for a one-page article, and it is. Every single person needing care has different preferences, different support systems, different financial situations, and different physical and mental issues requiring different types and frequencies of care.

What does my loved one want?

What can be a little simpler are the initial questions you – as a caregiver –need to ask yourself when beginning the journey of care planning. These questions are tools in your caregiver tool belt that can help you refocus, revisit, and clarify the care planning discussion. Let’s go back to the basics and make sure we aren’t missing the forest for the trees.

What does the frequency of care need to be?

It’s critically important to start here, even if this can’t always be where the answers are found. Be cautious of making sweeping promises, but don’t hold back from active listening, showing empathy and compassion. Remember that few ever ask to be in the position of needing care.

Does the care come to them, or do they go to the care?

Depending on the diagnosis or issues, care needs may change over time. A set-up that may work perfectly well early in a diagnosis may shift dramatically a year from now. If a care situation is feeling strained, this question may need to be readdressed.

Can care continue to happen at home? AKA: the long-term care discussion.

include what support systems exist already, including family and friends willing and able to help with care needs. If resources are sparse, consider Medicaid. Veterans Administration resources should be explored if the person needing care is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran. If there’s longterm care insurance, that policy should be read closely to see what it will cover and for how long.

What are our options?

For help with resources, contact LIFE Senior Services' SeniorLine at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1184.

I regularly pull families back to this core question. When someone needs care, there are only two ways that can happen. Either the care comes to them, or they go to the care. This can take a huge variety of forms – family, friends, home health, adult day healthcare, and care in facility settings. You may start one way and later switch to another, or you may find a hybrid way of providing care. Ultimately, the core question can be helpful to refocus attention on immediate needs.

Most people I speak with want to stay in their homes. This regularly starts as a primary (and worthwhile) goal for families, but for some, this can’t always be the case. Thinking through the “ifs, whens, and wheres” of long-term care is a discussion worth having – preferably before the need becomes critical.

What are the resources?

This is more than a discussion of finances. Though finances and assets are certainly a part of the discussion, resources should also

A combination of many of the questions above, this is the point where you sort through the resources and the care needed and see what possibilities exist.

Should we get help with care planning?

If care planning questions seem overwhelming, it helps to talk about the options with others. Talk to friends, consult with a support group, attend a caregiver conference, or get one-on-one care consultation support. For help with resources, contact LIFE Senior Services' SeniorLine at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1184.

So no, it’s not a simple topic.

When someone needs care, there are only two ways that can happen. Either the care comes to them, or they go to the care.

Buried in Mail?

BY KATHY JONES Medicare Assistance Program Manager

It seems like the older we get, the more mail we receive. It can be hard to know what to open and file away for your records, what to save to review on a rainy day, and what to discard immediately. You may see mail from marketing organizations, scammers, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and many more. It can be overwhelming. So, what should you know about all this mail, and what actually deserves your attention?

All mail from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) deserves your attention. Remember that physical mail is the only way that Social Security and CMS will contact you, so these items need to be opened and reviewed when received.

SOCIAL SECURITY NOTICES

Types of mail you might receive from SSA may include a Social Security Benefit Rate Change Notice (BRI) mailed in December. This notice tells you about benefit payment changes for the coming year due to cost-of-living increases, variations in the premiums withheld, and other factors.

Another mailing to expect is the Initial Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) Determination which can come at any time of the year. You’ll get this notice if you have Medicare Part B and/or Part D, and Social Security determines that any income-related monthly adjustment amounts apply to you.

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES MAILINGS

Mailings from CMS, you may notice, come more frequently and consistently. If you have Original Medicare, you’ll get a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) in the mail every three months for Medicare Part A- and Part B-covered services. The MSN notice shows all of your services or supplies that providers and suppliers billed to Medicare during a threemonth period, what Medicare paid, and what you may owe the provider. The MSN notice is not a bill.

If you have a Medicare ADvantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), or Medicare Part D, as opposed to Original Medicare, you will not receive an MSN. Instead, you will generally receive the plan's version of the MSN, called an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Like the MSN, the EOB is not a bill and gives you information on the charges and payments related to the healthcare services you received. The EOB will come directly from your plan provider for your Medicare ADvantage Plan or Medicare Part D Plan and will be received monthly.

BE A MAP VOLUNTEER!

Another mailing from CMS to watch for is the yearly "Medicare & You" handbook. The "Medicare & You" handbook is mailed to households each fall unless you have opted to receive it electronically.

Sources: www.medicare.gov, www.ncoa.org

If you have questions about something you have received in the mail, please don’t hesitate to call LIFE’s Medicare Assistance Program at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189, or toll-free at (866) 664-9009.

If you enjoy helping people, the Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at LIFE Senior Services offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit your skills and interests. Call MAP at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1168 to learn how you can make a difference.

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

Emerging from a pandemic, many of us are more aware than ever of the connection between our minds and our bodies when it comes to health. Simply being physically free of illness or injury doesn’t guarantee an overall state of well-being. While conventional medicine has predominantly treated the mind and body as two separate entities, that approach has begun to change.

As more research demonstrates the link between our physical and mental health, mind-body wellness therapies, such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi – which were once on the fringe of biomedical science –are moving into the mainstream.

SHOW ME THE SCIENCE

The global wellness industry is booming as consumers spend more on products that claim to improve health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, and sleep. Valued at an estimated $4.4 trillion+ in 2020, it encompasses all activities that promote physical and mental well-being: from yoga and nutrition to meditation and spa retreats.

As the industry grows, so does the number of businesses hoping to profit. As a consumer, it’s important to be aware that many of the products and therapies available are not well-regulated by reputable agencies, such as the Federal Drug Administration. Exploring wellness therapies is definitely a situation that calls for a dose of skepticism and a caveat of “buyer beware.”

Many wellness therapies are backed by solid research, but others aren’t. It’s important to separate the science from the snake oil before purchasing a product or therapy that could be ineffective, or even harmful to your health. Don't place your trust in social media influencers and celebrity endorsements. Instead, consult your physician or a vetted resource such as the National Institutes of Health (nih.gov) or the World Health Organization (who.int).

THERAPIES

MOVEMENT AS THERAPY

The benefits of exercise for physical and mental health are well documented. Gentle, low-intensity exercises such as certain types of yoga or tai chi have been shown to be beneficial for older adults by improving balance, flexibility, strength, mobility, mood, quality of life, range of motion, reflexes, and thinking skills.

A testament to the efficacy of movement for mind-body wellness, 53-year-old Tulsan Nicole Peltier has the energy and appearance of someone considerably younger. According to Peltier, practicing and teaching yoga for over two decades has kept her healthy.

“My skin loves yoga; it keeps my skin tight and fluid. My muscles love the stretching. My heart loves the soul work. My brain loves the break. My lungs love the surplus. My social life loves the connections,” she said.

By almost every measure, Peltier feels yoga has allowed her to stay mentally and physically fit.

“My aging process has been improved with yoga by literally reversing it. I’m not kidding,” she said. “Yoga improves circulation, therefore, my digestion, skin, and organs have been ‘younged up’

Mindful movement and meditation are increasingly mainstream as science proves the vital link between mind and body to promote optimal health.

"Yoga's focus on 'what is' and 'what is now' gives us an opportunity to start from where we are, not where we think we should be."

– Nicole Peltier, yoga teacher

Photo by Callyn Francisco

Photo by Hayden Sides

by constantly getting flushed, twisted, and replenished. When I feel younger, I feel younger. I know I said ‘feel younger’ twice, but I mean it. Feeling younger allows me to move as if I am younger. The breathing practices have made my lungs bulletproof and energized. I rarely get sick. I have loads of energy like I did when I was just a pup.”

Peltier emphasizes that this ancient practice is about much more than moving your body.

“I’m a big proponent of holistic – whole and holy – and integrated approaches to health that invite yoga into the equation. Yoga's focus on ‘what is’ and ‘what is now’ gives us an opportunity to start from where we are, not where we think we should be,” she explained. “The breath is the starting point. Focusing on ‘this breath’ brings everything into the now, and that is really where change can happen.” You can get more information about Nicole at ravenyoganation.com.

Tulsa photographer and artist Anitra Lavanhar has been practicing White Crane Silat (WCS), a form of Indonesian martial art with roots in Chinese Kung Fu, since 1987. Before moving to Tulsa in 2000, she was a senior student/assistant teacher of this dance-like system of movement she describes as having both "hard" and "soft" styles. Unable

MIND-BODY WELLNESS THERAPIES, continued on page 16.

LIFE EDU

Virtual & In-Person Programming

JULY 2023

Silver Linings

Join us most Wednesdays on LIFE’s Facebook page for short segments on a variety of topics including upcoming events, Caregiver Tool Belt, Crafting with Roxanne, and living your best life.

“Smart Solutions for Photo Organizing"

Wednesday, July 12

"Crafting With Roxanne"

Wednesday, July 19

This week, Roxanne is making paper lanterns. Materials needed are a balloon, white tissue paper, Mod Podge, dried flowers or leaves, a paintbrush, jute or heavy string, and a battery-operated tea light.

"Caregiver Tool Belt: The Essential Questions of Care Planning”"

Wednesday, July 26

Community Education

All classes are at Legacy Plaza East Conference Center, 5330 E. 31st St. in Tulsa, unless otherwise noted.

Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo

Tuesday, July 11 • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Exchange Center at Expo Square

Don’t miss out on the largest senior event in Oklahoma! See full details in the Event Guide beginning on page 29.

“Basics of Medicare”

Wednesday, July 19 • 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

“Basics of Medicare” is designed specifically for those newly eligible or soon-to-be eligible for Medicare. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling LIFE’s Medicare Assistance Program at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189.

“Photo Organizing: Smart Solutions + Where to Start”

Thursday, July 20 • 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Organizing your photos can be a daunting task. Not only because you have lots of them in different formats (digital, prints, slides, and videos), but also because they evoke so many precious memories. Lisa Mast of Scissortail Digital and Kristin Switzer of 2B Organized will provide practical tips and smart solutions to help you develop a system for all your photos to be safe, organized, and shareable. The goal is for you to ENJOY your memories and have your photos at your fingertips.

" I feel like I am doing something meaningful that has ancient roots and many layers of application."

– Anitra Lavanhar, martial arts teacher

to find a trainer in Tulsa, she created her own WCS group. Currently, she teaches a small, informal class out of her home in midtown Tulsa.

“It has definitely helped keep me in shape, and for someone like me who doesn't like the gym, it is a great way to exercise,” Lavanhar said. “I feel like I am doing something meaningful that has ancient roots and many layers of application. Now that I am in my late 50s, the focus is less on falling and throwing, and more on really developing the internal focus while doing the movements.”

Because the movements associated with WCS are so varied, everything from physical “animal movements” to simple movements designed for internal organ health, as well as a system of meditative breathing, Lavanhar has experienced many benefits from her practice.

“Unlike most sports or activities, it exercises your whole body and mind by incorporating a wide variety of movements and movement styles so you gain strength and flexibility all over,” she said.

According to Lavanhar, WCS is a great form of mind-body wellness for everyone.

“Anyone can start at any age, but certain injuries and limitations may make it more challenging,” she said. “I have one student in my class now who is 81. She doesn't do everything, but she can do most of what we do. I am hoping to learn more about the health system called Tao Kung which is designed for people over 40 when I attend our International Retreat in Indonesia this summer.”

TAI CHI FOR FALL PREVENTION

Mark Hoskins teaches tai chi for people with arthritis and to help with fall prevention. Tai chi is a series of low-impact movements based on martial arts that engage the mind and body.

"Because the movements are so slow and gentle, people can be skeptical at first that it helps with strength and flexibility," he said. "The tai chi I teach was developed by Dr. Paul Lam in the 1990s, and it has been shown to help improve balance and reduce falls." Since falls are the leading cause of injury death among seniors, tai chi is recommended by organizations like the Arthritis Foundation of America and INCOG Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Hoskins teaches for Ability Resources which partners with INCOG AAA to offer free classes in tai chi for arthritis and fall prevention.

Hoskins meets with a group of active seniors twice a week at Prairie Village, one of LIFE Senior Services' Vintage Housing properties. They practice the movements in progressive steps over 10 weeks to learn a routine. Tai chi has also been found to decrease stress, reduce high blood pressure, ease pain and stiffness, and improve sleep.

Hoskins can attest to the healing properties of movement through his own experience. After an unexpected layoff at a major Tulsa employer in his mid50s, he became more active and gradually lost 50 pounds, turned his Type 2 diabetes around so that he no longer needs insulin, and no longer suffers from sleep apnea.

For more information about Ability Resources, a community-based agency that assists people with disabilities, go to abilityresources.org.

MEDITATION AND SOUND

An ancient practice with benefits for brain health and overall well-being, meditation is an easily accessible, affordable, and effective mind-body wellness therapy. In a nutshell, meditation is a practice that involves focusing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques. Benefits include decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as an improved ability to think, concentrate, problem-solve, and overcome emotional problems. Those mental health benefits also have a strong impact on physical health, bringing improvements in sleep, blood pressure and heart function, and more.

Nicole Pearl of Tulsa-based At EASE Meditation & Movement has been teaching meditation for six years. You can find her every Saturday at 10 a.m. at Philbrook Museum (philbrook.org) where she leads a meditation and sound bath session.

Peggy Parker and Glenda Albritton of Vintage Housing's Prairie Village practice tai chi for arthritis and fall prevention. The classes are offered at no charge through Ability Resources.

Photos by Dee Duren

Instructor Mark Hoskins (left) poses with tai chi students Jean Clarkson, Suzanne Steinman, Maria Valdillez, Peggy Parker, Glenda Allbritton, Robyn Curtis, and Joyce Whittamore.

A sound bath is a full-body meditative experience where people lie down and listen to resonant, immersive sounds. The bath most often involves singing bowls, which are small bell-like instruments that create a resonant tone when struck. It’s a good way to dip your toes into the meditative waters.

“A ‘sound bath’ is a funny term for being ‘bathed in sound and vibration.’ Some people call it sonic sound meditation,” Pearl said. “Meditation is highly beneficial for everyone, no matter what kind of techniques are practiced.”

MINDFULNESS

Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated. Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Mindfulness practicies can be as simple as slowing down and noticing things in a busy world – experiencing the environment with all your senses – or focusing on your breathing when you have negative thoughts. The great thing about simple mindfulness exercises like these is that they can be practiced anywhere at any time. This concept even applies to the way we eat.

Lilian Cheung is the Director of Mindfulness Research and Practice in the recently established Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health in the Nutrition Department of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In 2012, Cheung co-authored “Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life” with the Center’s namesake, Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, global spiritual leader, scholar, and peace activist. The book uses mindfulness as a tool to achieve a healthy weight and well-being.

Cheung first experienced the benefits of mindfulness at a retreat led by Thich Nhat Hahn years ago, when she was a stressed young mother juggling a demanding career with a growing family.

“I was intrigued why all the participants, about 600, were from the health care sector – physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses – I couldn't figure it out,” she said.

The retreat was focused on three simple things: mindful breathing, mindful walking, and mindful eating. For Cheung, who experienced an enormous decrease in stress, it was transformative.

“Having a taste of mindfulness like that, I wasn't going to let it be lost,” she recalled. “It’s so incredible. It’s just really about how the entire lifestyle, everything you do, you do it with mindfulness.”

Cheung emphasized that, while the concept of mindfulness meditation is ancient, the scientific study of it is a relatively new field. However, according to Cheung, the stress reduction aspect is well documented. And as a wellness therapy, mindfulness has the great advantage of being fundamentally cost- and risk-free.

“It can improve the immune system and the symptoms of anxiety and depression,” she said. “It’s also been used to help with substance abuse treatment and has been applied in studies for improving the management of chronic pain.”

“That’s why this whole field is kind of exciting because there are no side effects. You just have to practice,” she said.

Improving our overall health and well-being is a lifelong journey that we’re never too old to undertake. Mind-body wellness therapies, such as yoga, tai chi, and meditation, can be important and effective tools in our pursuit of a healthier, happier life. While many therapies, such as mindfulness, are science-backed and have few if any risks associated with them, others aren’t. When in doubt, do your research and consult with a physician or other expert before spending your money or your time.

THE EYES HAVE IT Vision Care

BY LINDSAY MORRIS

As you age, your vision may become blurry, especially when reading. Night vision may become reduced, and color vision may be reduced as well, says Anthony Battese, O.D., of The Eye Institute’s Broken Arrow location.

KEEPING YOUR EYES HEALTHY

The first step to keeping your eyes healthy is to have a regular dilated eye exam performed by an eye care professional, according to Dr. Battese. “They can detect any potentially serious conditions and help correct some aging changes,” he said.

A balanced diet and regular physical activity are also important for maintaining eye health. Did your parents encourage you to eat carrots to improve your eyesight when you were growing up? While carrots are not bad for your eyes, other foods may be even better for your eye health.

“People sometimes associate eating carrots with healthy eyes because they have beta carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A,” Dr. Battese said. “Vitamin A deficiency can cause serious eye problems, but this is not usually a problem in a normal diet.”

Antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to help slow the progression of macular degeneration, for example, says Liz Batchelor, O.D., of Triad Eye Institute. “These are found naturally in green leafy vegetables, such as kale, spinach, and broccoli.”

A recent study from Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Scott Plafker, Ph.D., found that sulforaphane, a compound in cruciferous vegetables shows the potential to prevent age-related macular degeneration. Sulforaphane is found in cauliflower, radishes, broccoli, and other members of the cabbage family.

Other important foods for eye health are citrus fruits, which have vitamin C, avocados and sweet potatoes for vitamin E, salmon, and tuna for omega-3 fatty acids, and nuts high in zinc, says Dr. Battese. “Highly processed foods or foods high in saturated fats can

increase inflammation in the eyes and may contribute to certain diseases.”

In addition, omega-3 fish oil may help eye health and improve dry eye symptoms, says Dr. Batchelor.

COMMON EYE DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

Some conditions, such as glaucoma, you cannot easily feel, but your eye doctor would be able to find them in a routine exam, Dr. Batchelor says.

Glaucoma comes from damage to the optic nerve. It can slowly steal your peripheral vision. It can be treated with eye drops, lasers, or surgery, but if left untreated, it can lead to vision loss or blindness.

Cataracts are essentially cloudy areas in the lens. More than 24 million Americans have cataracts. By age 75, more than half of us will have had them, according to newsinhealth.nih.gov.

INTERESTING FACT

You may barely notice it at first. But gradually, you find yourself reaching for your glasses more often. Changes to eyesight occur over time, so it’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam every year after age 50.

Dr. Anthony Battese, O.D. The Eye Institute

Dr. Liz Batchelor, O.D. Triad Eye Institute

The eyes are the only place in the body we can observe the vessels functioning in their natural state.

By Lindsay Morris

The development of cataracts is considered a normal process that happens over time. “The most common symptoms of cataracts are decreased quality of vision and trouble with night vision and glare,” Dr. Batchelor said.

If you are diagnosed with cataracts, your eye doctor may recommend cataract surgery, a very common procedure that typically provides a significant improvement in vision with a quick recovery.

Macular degeneration occurs when cells die, causing blind spots and blurry or distorted central vision. It can worsen over time, affecting a person’s ability to read, drive, and recognize faces. For adults 75 or older, the risk of developing macular degeneration is 1 in 3, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

DIABETES

AND

EYE HEALTH

Did you know that diabetes can affect your eye health?

“Diabetes affects the small blood vessels of the eyes as high blood sugar damages the vessel walls and causes inflammation,” Dr. Battese said. “If left untreated, it can lead to complications such as bleeding or swelling in the retinal tissue which may require injections and/or surgeries.”

This swelling can lead to blurred vision.

Blood sugar fluctuations throughout the day related to diabetes can cause intermittent shifts in your glasses prescription that would cause you to feel that your glasses are incorrect, says Dr. Batchelor. It’s important to work with healthcare professionals to maintain blood sugar levels to protect your eye health.

Interesting fact: The eyes are the only place in the body we can observe the vessels functioning in their natural state. “This gives eye care professionals the opportunity to find signs of diseases in the eyes that may be missed elsewhere in the body,” he said. “Diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune conditions, and some neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis have links to the eyes and can be detected first in a dilated eye exam.”

EYE EXERCISES AND SUPPLEMENTS

Unfortunately, no eye exercise has been proven to reduce the amount of correction someone has in prescription glasses, according to Dr. Battese. However, certain conditions can benefit from eye exercises or vision therapy: for example, if the eyes are misaligned or have trouble working together.

Supplements for eye health can be useful if your normal diet lacks needed vitamins. “AREDS 2 supplements are one of the best ways to prevent macular degeneration,” he said.

The number of vitamins and supplements on the market can be overwhelming. “It is best to talk to your eye doctor about what supplements may be best for your eyes,” Dr. Batchelor said.

CHOOSING the Right Glasses for You

There are many styles of eyeglasses out there, and you can find them just about anywhere: your optometrist’s office, online, and even Walmart. Popular styles for 2023 include geometric frames with sharp angles, cat-eye frames, round frames, square retro frames, and frames made from eco-friendly materials. Clear frames are still popular, and metal frames appear to be making a comeback. Here are a few of the current styles with recommendations for different face shapes.

Rectangle Glasses

Rectangular glasses are not literally rectangles because the lenses are rounded. This style is typically best for people with oval, round, or heart-shaped faces.

Cat Eye Glasses

Cat eye glasses are a popular style that tilt up at the outer edge of the frame near the temple arm. They’re flattering to most face shapes.

Oval Glasses

This style offers a relatively slender, modest look compared to some other options. Typically, these work best for people with square, diamond, or heart-shaped faces.

Round Glasses

This is a classic, retro look that works especially well with wireframes. They tend to work best for people with square, diamond, heart-shaped, and round faces.

Square Glasses

Square glasses offer a retro, intellectual look. They tend to work best for people with oval or round faces.

Large Glasses

These glasses are a classic trapezoidal shape that has been popular since around the mid-20th century. They have made a big comeback in recent years and can work for almost all facial shapes.

Browline Glasses

Browline glasses emphasize the upper portion of the frame and may use different materials for the bottom. Browline specs work well for oval, square, diamond, and pear faces.

Aviator Glasses

Aviators offer one of the most popular shapes in glasses, especially for sunglasses. Part of the reason for their popularity is that people with all shapes of faces can wear these glasses.

HEARING TECHNOLOGY Enhancing Communication and Quality of Life

BY JOEY MECHELLE FARQUE

When I was 38, I lost 100% of my leftside hearing. I ignored it for months and often isolated myself because I couldn't understand my friends and family anymore, and I was tired of saying, "Huh?" Little did I know that hearing loss is a common condition affecting millions worldwide. Later, I also learned that it takes an average person five years of experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss before seeking help. Fortunately, technological advancements have made it easier for individuals with hearing loss to communicate and interact with the world around them. Modern hearing aids are smaller than even five years ago, more discreet, and offer a wide range of features that improve sound quality, ease of use, and connectivity.

A GAME-CHANGER FOR ACCESSIBILITY

One of the most significant changes in recent years is the availability of hearing aids in various retail outlets, including pharmacies and big-box stores. In 2017, Congress passed

The Importance of Early Intervention

What to Do When Losing Your Hearing

If you start to notice signs hearing loss, such as difficulty understanding conversations, frequently asking people themselves, or having trouble hearing in noisy environments, crucial to take action. Here some steps you can take:

1.

Schedule a Hearing

The first step in addressing loss is to get a hearing test a licensed hearing healthcare professional. They can evaluate hearing and determine the severity of your hearing loss.

2.

bipartisan legislation requiring the Federal Drug Administration to create a category of over the counter (OTC) hearing aids, allowing hearing aids to be sold directly to consumers and making it easier for individuals to access and afford hearing aids. It wasn't until late 2022 that consumers could purchase OTC hearing aids.

While this change has made hearing aids more accessible, it's important to note that OTC hearing aids may not be as effective as custom-fit hearing aids prescribed by a hearing healthcare professional. Getting a proper hearing test and diagnosis is critical in determining the best treatment for hearing loss. A hearing healthcare professional can help you find the right hearing aid, customize it to your specific hearing needs, and provide ongoing care and maintenance to ensure optimal performance.

COOL HEARING TECHNOLOGIES FOR EVERY SITUATION

Modern hearing aids offer many features that enhance sound quality

and convenience. Wireless audio streaming allows you to connect your hearing aids to your smartphone or other devices, listen to music, watch TV, and take phone calls directly through your hearing aids. Some hearing aids even come with different modes (like restaurant mode), foreign language translation, fall detection, and heart rate monitoring features, making them an excellent option for individuals who want to stay connected to their health and wellbeing and embrace the empowerment that comes with it.

Hearing aids have come a long way in recent years, and modern hearing technology offers a wide range of features that enhance sound quality, ease of use, and connectivity. If you're experiencing hearing loss, the first step is to get a proper diagnosis from a licensed hearing healthcare professional. You'll be able to communicate – with the right hearing aid and a little patience.

3. 4. 5.

Discuss Treatment

Based on your hearing test your hearing healthcare professional can recommend treatment including hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other assistive devices.

Seek Support

Hearing loss can be isolating frustrating, but it's essential support from family, friends, support groups. Talking about hearing loss can help you alone and more empowered

Take Care of Your Overall Health

Some types of hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, are part of aging. However, taking your overall health, such as regularly and eating a healthy help prevent or slow the progression of hearing loss.

Protect Your Hearing

Exposure to loud noises can your hearing, so protecting in loud environments is important. Wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones and take breaks noisy environments.

You Start

Hearing

notice signs of such as difficulty conversations, asking people to repeat having trouble environments, it's action. Here are can take:

Hearing Test

addressing hearing hearing test from healthcare can evaluate your determine the type and hearing loss.

Treatment Options

hearing test results, healthcare professional treatment options, aids, cochlear assistive listening

1.

Innovative Hearing Technologies

In addition to traditional hearing aids, other innovative hearing technologies can help people with hearing loss live a less isolated and more communicative life. Here are a few examples:

TIPS for Successfully Adapting to Wearing Hearing Aids

be isolating and essential to seek family, friends, and Talking about your help you feel less empowered to act.

Your Health hearing loss, such as hearing loss, are a natural However, taking care of health, such as exercising eating a healthy diet, can slow the progression

Hearing

noises can damage protecting your ears environments is important. noise-canceling take breaks from environments.

Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that bypass the damaged part of the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. They can provide a sense of sound to individuals with severe or profound hearing loss.

2.

Bone Conduction Hearing Devices

Bone conduction devices use bone conduction to transmit sound directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. They can be helpful for individuals with conductive hearing loss or single-sided deafness.

FM Systems

FM systems use radio waves to transmit sound from a microphone to a receiver worn by an individual with hearing loss. They can be helpful in noisy environments or for individuals with difficulty hearing at a distance.

Loop Systems

Loop systems use magnetic fields to transmit sound directly to hearing aids or cochlear implants. They can be helpful in public spaces, such as theaters or places of worship.

3.

Wearing hearing aids for the first time can take some getting used to, but with patience and practice, you'll soon find that they significantly enhance your quality of life. Here are some tips for successfully adapting to wearing hearing aids.

Start Slowly

Wear your hearing aids for short periods, gradually increasing the time as you get used to them.

Adapt Through Practice

Practice wearing your hearing aids in different environments. Start by wearing them in quiet surroundings and gradually introduce them to noisy environments like restaurants and public places.

Communicate

Communicate with your hearing healthcare professional. If you're experiencing discomfort or have difficulty adjusting to your hearing aids, speak to your hearing healthcare professional for guidance.

Proper Maintenance

4.

Take care of your hearing aids. Proper care and maintenance can extend the lifespan of your hearing aids and ensure optimal performance. Clean your hearing aids daily and store them in a dry, cool place when not in use.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices, such as amplified telephones, TV listening devices, and personal amplifiers, can help individuals with hearing loss hear more clearly in everyday situations.

Apps

Several smartphone apps can help individuals with hearing loss, such as speech-to-text apps that transcribe spoken words into text and sound amplification apps that enhance sounds in the environment.

1. 2.

The Latest Dental Options for Seniors

BY KELSEY HOLDER AND DEE DUREN, MANAGING EDITOR

When our teeth aren’t right, nothing is right. Whether it’s appearance or discomfort, ill-fitting or damaged dental replacements make life a challenge on many levels. Modern dentistry has come a long way from the world of two options: dentures or partials. While those options are still often a good route, tweaks to the old and inventiveness for the new now offer those needing repairs or replacements options and hope.

OLDER ADULTS AND DENTAL HEALTH

Rachel Ostberg is an associate professor at Tulsa Community College (TCC) and the program director for the college’s Dental Hygiene program. Supervised students working toward their degrees in dental hygiene provide cleanings, non-surgical periodontal therapy, and other dental hygiene services at no charge for qualifying patients. About 32% of their active patients are aged 60 or older.

“Poor oral health can have a major impact on the quality of life for older adults beginning with a change in diet, more specifically, how or what an older adult can eat causing nutritional consequences and malnourishment,” she said. “Tooth loss and lack of proper replacement also cause low self-esteem and can often limit an older adult from communicating with others or leaving their home.”

The most common problems they see at the TCC Hygiene Clinic are irritations and infections from removable appliances that are ill-fitting or not cleaned regularly. They also see secondary problems from older or lowerquality restorations as well as tooth loss from periodontal disease.

Students at TCC’s Dental Hygiene program receive 15 hours of lectures on topics that include the older adult population’s needs. Those lessons are put into practice with around 500 hours of clinical training treating qualifying patients including vulnerable older adults who may be experiencing homelessness, chronic diseases that compromise the immune system, and poverty.

BARRIERS TO DENTAL CARE

“There are a variety of barriers to accessing dental care for older adults including cost in general, along with rising costs of treatment, lack of insurance, and transportation limitations,” Ostberg said. “In addition, as individuals age, caring for their own health may not be viewed as important, and we would certainly want to emphasize the need to maintain good oral health and dental care throughout an individual's lifetime.”

Osberg said that although the dental workforce is prepared to treat older adults because of the rigorous training they receive, there is a great national shortage, especially for dental hygienists.

“This shortage greatly hinders the ability of the dental workforce to treat all patients seeking care, including older adult patients.”

A student at Tulsa Community College's Dental Hygiene program.

Dental Replacement Options

Though most of us have 32 teeth by the time we’re 21 (including wisdom teeth), seniors 65 and older have an average of 20.7 remaining, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and just over 17% of seniors 65 years or older have no remaining teeth. Dental replacements offer the health benefits we need, like improving nutrition and alleviating oral pain. They also offer the peace of mind we need to comfortably share a meal with friends or smile without feeling self-conscious. You need an option that works best for you because the world most certainly needs your smile.

Traditional dentures are constructed from porcelain, acrylic resin, metal, plastic, or some combination of materials. They are removable and can replace or cover damaged teeth. However, flexible dentures, made of thermoplastics (think “nylon”), deliver exactly what they promise: flexibility and a more comfortable fit, as they are thinner and more pliable. They are also quicker to manufacture and require fewer visits to reach the final fit.

In addition, they typically have a more natural look, don’t absorb stains as easily, and – maybe best of all – don’t require adhesives. While they come with a higher price tag and need more of a light touch when caring for them, flexible dentures offer a fit worth looking into.

2. Tooth Supported Overdentures

While traditional dentures are fitted directly onto the gums, overdentures are affixed to an implant and then click in place with a mechanism that locks them securely. This option comes in different varieties to accommodate the patient’s individual needs. Implant-retained, gum-supported overdentures are used for those with complete teeth loss and can be removed. The overdenture sits on the gums and is supported by implants into the jaw. Bar-retained, implant-supported overdentures, also removable, use a retentive attachment that locks onto a bar, connecting the dentures to the implants in the jaw. Finally, fixed implant-supported overdentures lock into place permanently using a single framework bar with the screws attached to affix to the implants. This option can only be removed by a dentist. Because fixed-implant-supported overdentures do not sit on the gums, they offer a more natural look. Overdentures require good oral health before the procedure, so a dental consultation is essential.

3. Mini Implants

Dental implants, or “partials,” have also seen new and innovative developments. The traditional route still exists as a way to replace missing teeth, inserting a post directly into the jawbone, then placing an abutment to which the crown is screwed. Now, though, the same issue can be solved with mini dental implants. Rather than the more intrusive set into the jawbone, minis are placed directly into the gums with no incision required. Since the screw is part of the implant, the crown rests atop it. This option is half the size of a traditional implant, requires no incision, and has a shorter recovery time.

4. Lower-Cost Options

Cost can be a major factor, and even a deterrent, to seeking an alternative to traditional dentures or repairing ill-fitting dentures. Several online companies offer affordable solutions for flexible dentures, providing kits you can order to take your own impressions. These sites offer color and gum matching, plus instructions to help take your impressions. If this seems too daunting, the sites also suggest ways to work with a dentist for just the impression part of the process.

LIFE SENIOR SERVICES

LIFE Senior Services is celebrating 50 years of promoting and preserving independence for Oklahoma seniors. Read about one of LIFE’s diverse programs each month in LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine.

LIFE EDU

LIFE Senior Services has long recognized the value of offering seniors opportunities to learn more about topics important to their health, safety, and well-being. It’s the primary purpose behind both the Vintage publications and the LIFE EDU department.

Today, those educational opportunities are presented both inperson and online. The online activities are offered primarily through Silver Linings, a weekly Facebook video segment that shares information about upcoming events, the Caregiver Tool Belt, Crafting with Roxanne, and other topics of interest. The segments are posted most Wednesday mornings and can be accessed through LIFE Senior Services’ Facebook page.

While online information certainly has its place in all LIFE offers, most older adults still prefer the face-to-face learning that happens best in person. To fill that need, LIFE EDU presents more than 50 community education programs throughout the year, reaching hundreds of Tulsa area seniors and family caregivers.

LIFE EDU topics range from the serious (think legal, health & wellness, family caregiving, and monthly Medicare seminars) to fun, interactive programs on things like genealogy, the arts, home organization, and photography. Experts including attorneys, museum curators, healthcare professionals, and authors teach the classes.

To learn about upcoming seminars and classes, go online to LIFEseniorservices.org/education or read the monthly LIFE EDU column in LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine. LIFE EDU is always looking for new topics and presenters, so if you have a suggestion about a future topic, contact Carol Carter at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1219, or ccarter@LIFEseniorservices.org.

1. Flexible Dentures

SINUS AND ALLERGY HEALTH

Here

BY STEVE CLEM SINUS

AND ALLERGY HEALTH

When it comes to the changes in our bodies as we age, we may give little thought to our nasal passages and sinuses. However, if you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from nasal allergies, asthma, or other sinus conditions, you may have a daily reminder of the important role sinus health plays in your quality of life and well-being.

AGE-RELATED CHANGES

A runny nose or nasal congestion may be a minor irritant. Sinusitis with nasal polyps can make you miserable, while severe asthma has the potential to be life-threatening. Dr. Weyman Lam, M.D, a board-certified specialist with Warren Clinic Allergy and Immunology, outlined the latest in causes, prevention, and treatment of sinus and allergy conditions in seniors.

“The lining of the nose may become thinner and drier with age, which can make it more

Prevention Measures

The good news is that there are measures older adults can take to lessen the impact of sinus and allergy-related health concerns. Here are Dr. Lam’s recommendations:

Pass the Kleenex

The following sinus-related conditions are common in older adults and can affect their quality of life, according to Dr. Weyman Lam, Warren Clinic Allergy and Immunology.

1. Sinusitis

susceptible to irritation and inflammation,” Lam said. Older people often take more medications which may complicate and contribute to allergic reactions, he said. Changes in our immune system as we age can also play a role in the development of these conditions.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Lam stresses the importance of being aware of the potential health concerns related to sinuses and allergies, as they can have a significant impact on quality of life.

“Individuals should communicate their symptoms and concerns with their healthcare provider to receive a personalized treatment plan,” he said. “If symptoms are not improved with over-the-counter medications or initial therapy from your primary doctor, advocate seeing the local allergist-immunologist for better options.”

Allergen Avoidance

Keep the windows closed and use HEPA air purifiers in the home to relieve symptoms related to outdoor pollen, mold spores, and pet dander. If you are allergic to dust mites, using a HEPA vacuum, washing bedding in hot water weekly, and keeping the humidity levels in the home low may reduce symptoms as well.

Sinusitis is a condition where sinuses become inflamed and swollen, often due to an infection or an allergic reaction.

2. Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is an allergic reaction to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or animal dander. Symptoms can include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

3. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that can be triggered by allergens and irritants in the air. Asthma can cause symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Asthma can be particularly troubling for older adults, who may have reduced lung function and be more susceptible to respiratory infections.

4. Medication Interactions

Some medications can interact with each other or allergy treatments including allergen immunotherapy. The interactions can increase the risk of side effects with some treatments.

Get Vaccinated

Older adults should make sure they’re up to date on vaccinations, including those for the flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia. Older adults who have allergies combined with inflamed sinus linings are at higher risk of respiratory infections. Getting vaccinated can help reduce the risk of complications, Dr. Lam said.

If you’re spending more time looking for the tissue box or find your sense of smell has diminished, you’re not alone.

are some tips for the care and tending of your nasal passages.

Personalized Treatment Options

Dr. Lam says the treatment of sinus and allergy-related conditions depends on each person’s health needs and concerns. Here are common interventions used at Saint Francis Warren Clinic Allergy and Immunology:

1. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications

OTC medications are a great first step for managing mild allergies. Oral antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, and intranasal antihistamines can help manage sinus and allergyrelated issues. Fluticasone and Azelastine nasal sprays can help with more significant symptoms like congestion and post-nasal drip.

2. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy may be recommended for older adults who have severe allergies that are not controlled well with OTC medications. Immunotherapy involves being exposed to small amounts of allergens over time, usually through injections or tablets that dissolve under the tongue. This process can help desensitize the immune system and reduce the severity of allergic reactions. Dr. Lam said this is the most effective therapy for uncontrolled allergies.

3. Inhalers and Biologics

For patients with asthma, inhaler therapies can markedly improve symptoms. Advanced treatments called biologic therapies may be used to treat moderate to severe asthma when inhalers aren’t enough. Biologic treatments involve using antibodies against allergic signals and are safe and effective, with little to no adverse effects, the doctor said.

4.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes recommended to manage sinus-related health problems. For example, an abnormal sinus anatomy called deviated septum may contribute to sinus pressure, headaches, and sinus infections. Endoscopic sinus surgery may help improve breathing and reduce the frequency and severity of sinus infections.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating the right foods can help support the immune system and reduce inflammation. A healthy diet helps lessen the impact of sinus and allergy-related health concerns. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Stop and Smell the Coffee

Many seniors experience a diminished sense of smell and taste. “When loss of smell and taste occurs, it can be concerning if it affects an older adult's ability to enjoy food or detect dangerous odors, such as gas leaks or smoke,” Dr. Lam said. Lam explained why these changes happen.

1.

Age-related changes

As people age, smell and taste receptors in the body gradually decrease, and the remaining receptors become less sensitive. This can make it more difficult to detect and distinguish different smells and flavors.

2. Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can cause loss of smell and taste. Sinus infections, nasal polyps, head injuries, brain tumors, long-haul COVID-19, and Alzheimer's disease can all affect the sense of smell and taste.

3. Medications

It’s rare, but some medications can cause loss of smell and taste as a side effect. Certain antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, and blood pressure medications can affect the senses.

4. Treatments

The loss of smell and taste may be reversible with medications like biologics and intranasal sprays. Surgery may be recommended if the loss is caused by an abnormal sinus anatomy. Smell training, or exposure to scents like coffee, citrus fruits, or essential oils, is another intervention.

Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can help improve lung function and reduce inflammation, which helps lessen the impact of sinus and allergy-related health concerns. Aim to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity exercise each week, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Simple lifestyle choices like walking the dog and taking the stairs can make a difference in symptoms as well.

Tulsa County Fair Held July 20-21

Everyone knows about the Tulsa State Fair: rides, foods, and attractions for 10 days! But this is all about the Tulsa "County" Fair which has happened every year since 1903; all 77 counties in Oklahoma have a county fair. Years ago, exhibits that won at the County Fair went to the State Fairs for competition – now only the 4-H exhibits compete in State Fairs against other 4-Hers from other counties.

The Tulsa County Fair will be July 20-21, 2023, at the lower level of the Sage Net Expo at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds, 4145 E. 21st, Tulsa. The county fair is open to Tulsa County residents and members of 4-H, FFA, OHCE (Oklahoma Home and Community Education), and Master Gardeners of Tulsa County. This summer is an opportunity to enter items you have grown, canned, baked, sewn, quilted, drawn, crafted, or photographed – all under one roof which will be judged and seen by the public. Exhibits are accepted on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 4 - 7 p.m. All entries must be picked up Friday, July 21, 2023, 7 - 8 p.m.

You can also hear about becoming a 4-H member and embodying their motto: "To Make the Best Better." And of course, the fair is indoors and air conditioned. There are no concessions open but come to the Ice Cream Festival, Friday 5 - 7 p.m. and get a free bowl of ice cream.

For a schedule of events, go to extension.okstate.edu/county/tulsa/ tulsa-county-fair.html, or for more information contact OSU Extension at (918) 746-3700 or 4-H Office at (918) 746-3709.

To submit a Noteworthy event, contact Paula Brown at pbrown@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000, ext. 1207.

night from now until August 3, 7 - 9 p.m. Several stores stay open late if you want to start off your night with a little shopping or dinner before relaxing to the tunes.

It’s a great way for family, a group of friends, or that special loved one to make this a summer to remember.

• July 6

Bossa – Latin Jazz

• July 13

Annie Ellicott & The Lucky 7 – Swing Jazz

Utica Square Summer’s 5th Night Makes Music Through August 3

There’s nothing quite like a free, open-air concert! Take advantage of the so-far-so-good, not-toohot-yet summer weather at Utica Square’s “Summer’s 5th Night” in Midtown Tulsa. The summer night air is awash with music all around as this treasured Tulsa tradition continues on the Utica Square lawn. You can relax with friends and family while listening

to an eclectic, fantastic lineup of local musical acts. Musicians are ready to entertain you with everything from Latin and Swing Jazz, to Dance and Country Rock, and even Funky Rock ‘N’ Roll to Power Funk.

Mark these dates on your calendar now and join these FREE concerts every Thursday

Laugh Until You're Blue at Blue Whale Comedy Festival

Since 2014, the Blue Whale Comedy Festival’s mission has been to put Tulsa at the top of the national comedy map. They didn’t let the pandemic sideline them for long! Bringing more

than 200 comedy acts to Tulsa over the last six festivals, Blue Whale introduces local talent to some of the most gifted and successful acts in the country, helping local comedians to

• July 20

Weston Horn and the Hush – Funky Rock ‘N’ Roll

• July 27

Grady Nichols – Jazz/Pop

• August 3

Charlie Redd – Power Funk

Event is held at 1709 Utica Square, Tulsa. For more information, call (918) 742-5531 or visit uticasquare.com under “events.”

network and create opportunities that can expand their craft beyond our beautiful state.

The 2023 festival runs July 2729 at various times throughout the event (from 5 - 9 p.m.). Several ticket packages are available. A $100 VIP Pass lets you skip the line for shows with reserved seating in the first few rows, and gives admission for all festival shows all weekend long (that’s 18 shows). The pass includes an official lanyard and poster. Day passes are $50 each which gives access to all shows and festival activities on a select day; or a three-show pass for $75 each. Pick your top three shows on any day at any venue. To see the line-up of comedians scheduled, and to confirm dates and times or purchase tickets, go to bluewhalecomedyfestival. com/schedule2023.

SHARE

YOUR TIME & TALENT

If your organization needs help promoting its volunteer program, contact Paula Brown at pbrown@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000, ext. 1207.

Use what talents

LIFE Senior Services' Holiday Project

The Holiday Project for LIFE Senior Services will kick off in July, and help is needed. Volunteers will assist in planning and executing this annual gift drive for the wonderful seniors LIFE serves in various programs. You may help build teams for gift collecting, stocking drives, and other Holiday Project activities. To get involved or for more information contact Carrie Clevenger, Volunteer Manager, at 918-664-1200, x1255 or by email at cclevenger@LIFEeniorservices.org.

Youth Services of Tulsa

Youth Services of Tulsa (YST) has been helping Tulsa area youth and their families since 1969. They consistently adapt to stay abreast of the increasingly complex needs of young people age 12 - 24. Compassionate volunteers 21 years and older are needed, whether an individual or a group, who can share their time, energy, and talent to help vulnerable youth. Volunteers may offer a safe ride to the adolescent emergency shelter (volunteers are subject to background checks and training); be a coffee house assistant; help to organize and run events like Taste of Brookside or Blues Brews & Barbecue; and help assemble gift bags for Gifts of Hope to give to youth in need (December only). For more details, call (918) 582-0061.

Porta Caeli House

Porta Caeli House relies on volunteers to fulfill their mission: extending love to those in need. They provide compassionate end-of-life care in a dignified environment when dying at home is not an option. Guests receive individual rooms, meals, and personal loving care, at no charge. Volunteers help with the front desk reception area; prepare and serve lunch or dinner; housekeeping; companionship; caregiver assistants; and maintain gardens and grounds. Porta Caeli is open to anyone, regardless of religion, race or financial status. Contact Catholic Charities at cceok.org/volunteer or call (918) 949-4673.

Tulsa Spotlight Theater

Tulsa Spotlight Theater is a leading theater that’s played a defining role in Tulsa’s cultural life. They have showcased The Drunkard & the Olio Saturday nights since 1953 and especially need help with several July events:

• Set up the auditorium before guests arrive

• Cashier to welcome and check in patrons

• Move set pieces during scene changes

• A bartender and servers

• Spotlight operator for each night

• Actors and actresses

• Experienced piano players, singers, and a master of ceremonies

Email

For more information about these volunteer needs, call (918) 664-9000 and ask for LIFE’s volunteer program.

you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

– Henry Van Dyke

Bunkering With Books

QUIET ARKANSAS GENIUS

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

“Collected Works”

Arkansas has a fine list of renowned writers including Maya Angelou, John Gresham, and C. Vann Woodward, but my favorite is Charles Portis. Although he isn’t as well-known as some literary Arkansans, critics and other writers declare him “a singular American genius.”

Portis was a modest newspaperman and novelist who kept out of the public eye, first from a desire for privacy and finally from illness. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, to a Southern family (great grandfathers on both sides of the family fought for the Confederacy), majored in journalism at the University of Arkansas, and died in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2020 at age 86 after eight debilitating years with Alzheimer’s disease. Now the Library of America has issued a definitive collection of Portis’s work including nonfiction stories and his five short novels: "Norwood” (1966), “True Grit” (1968), “The Dog of the South” (1979), “Masters of Atlantis” (1985), and “Gringos” (1991).

The collection’s chronology details the author’s life and work from small Arkansas newspapers to director of the London bureau of the New York Herald Tribune, a coveted job he quit cold one day in 1964 and returned to a fishing shack in Arkansas to write comic novels. His agent was Lynn Nesbit and his editor was Robert Gottlieb, the legendary team that has worked with Robert Caro on biographies of Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson.

“True Grit”

Gottlieb said he couldn’t remember any editing needed for “True Grit,” “Talk about pitch-perfect voice!” Portis is known for creating colorful characters and writing prose and dialogue with deadpan humor.

“True Grit” is rightly considered Portis’s masterpiece. The novel is set in 1873. Fourteenyear-old Mattie Ross from Yell County, Arkansas, hires the one-eyed, drunken U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn to take her into Indian Territory to track down the hired man who killed her father. Mattie is a fearless, Scripture-quoting country girl out for vengeance. Portis captures her old-fashioned, formal, and downhome dialect accurately because he had worked on small-town Arkansas newspapers editing copy submitted by country women who wrote like they spoke. There are no contractions. Mattie’s description of the hired hand says volumes. “He had no [hand] gun but he carried his rifle slung across his back on a piece of cotton plow line. There is trash for you. He could have taken an old piece of harness and made a nice leather strap for it. That would have been too much trouble.”

Tough Guys

It seems to me that many popular post-World War II novels were guy books – written by men for men. There were war books (Herman Wouk’s “The Caine Mutiny” and James Jones’s “From Here to Eternity"), adventures such as John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series and crime

stories from Evan Hunter/Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct Series. They wrote about tough guys. Portis slides into this timeline as a U. S. Marine who saw combat during the Korean War, but often his male characters are guileless, wideeyed young men who think a lot about cars and auto maintenance as they set out on adventures, meeting ordinary people (salesmen, mechanics, schoolteachers), oddballs, con men, and even a trained chicken. His favorite format is the road trip genre.

In "Norwood," Norwood Pratt travels from his home in Ralph, Texas, to New York to collect a $70 debt. In “The Dog of the South,” Ray Midge drives from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Mexico in search of his wife who has run off with another man, his Ford Torino, and his credit cards. Ray has to drive a junker 1963 Buick Special, with a broken radio and leaking transmission fluids. But gas is cheap – 22.9 cents a gallon – and $6 motel rooms are to be had.

Portis has one character say, “A lot of people leave Arkansas and most of them come back sooner or later. They can’t quite achieve escape velocity.” The author might have been speaking for himself, but he left us a treasure trove of entertaining novels.

WELCOME TO THE SENIOR LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS EXPO

Exchange Center at Expo Square • 4145 E. 21st St., Tulsa Tuesday, July 11, 2023 • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Oklahoma’s premier senior event is designed especially for you! The primary focus is on active aging, senior lifestyles, and retirement interests. We hope that you will gain new insight into aging in place; take advantage of the free health screenings; learn about the community and volunteer organizations that you might enjoy joining; and discover how to live more safely and securely in your home and in the community. There will be many programs and services to explore that will help you live your best life.

8:30 a.m.

Event Opens With More Than 150 exhibitors

You’ll find information about healthy aging, senior centers, and lifelong learning; fitness, social, and volunteer opportunities; legal services, investments, and estate planning; medical services; LIFE PACE; rehab options; Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and Veterans Administration benefits; adult day health services, disability programs; in-home services; housing and senior living options; rescue pets for adoption, and much more.

• New This Year! Blind Date With a Book

Come visit the LIFE EDU booth and pick a secret read from all the wrapped and labeled books we’ve collected. There are works of fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, romance, and more. For just $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardbacks, you’ll be “matched” with the mystery book of your choice.

• Rx Take Back in cooperation with the Coalition Against Prescription and Substance Abuse of Tulsa (CAPSAT) and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) Bring in your unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications for safe disposal. **Please no liquids, inhalers, or syringes.

• Seek, Find, WIN!

This game has been a hit with people searching out our top sponsors, getting their cards stamped, and then entering to win one of 10 Reasor’s $100 gift cards! Gift cards are compliments of Memorial Park Cemetery.

• Free Health Screenings

Take advantage of free health screenings from Saint Francis Health System, Triad Eye Center, and Clear-tone Hearing. Visit the Indian Health Care Resource Center booth for not only blood pressure checks but also blood sugar checks for the first 100 people. The Saint Francis Health Zone booth will also offer blood pressure checks.

8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Expo Stage Education and Entertainment

Emceed by News On 6 Anchor Lori Fullbright, the Expo Stage offers free seminars and entertainment throughout the day. Highlights include Lori’s “Cons, Frauds, & Scams” presentation, a cooking demonstration by Chefs for Seniors, the always popular Assistance League Fashion Show, and LIFE’s Antiques Sideshow. See the complete schedule on page 18 of this Event Guide.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

AARP Oklahoma Free Shredding Event (East Side of the Exchange Center)

NOTE: Event ends when the truck is full

Drive through and drop off up to three boxes of your old tax, medical, and banking records, prescription tags, or any paperwork with your private information. Materials will be shredded on-site by Shredder’s Inc.

COMING SOON!

The brand new 2023-2024 LIFE’s Vintage Guide to Housing & Services will be available later this month. LIFE’s Vintage Guide is northeast Oklahoma’s most comprehensive catalog of senior housing, home, and community-based resources. Get your free copy at any LIFE Senior Services location starting July 31.

Free event bags will be available for the first 500 people!

Oklahoma Insurance Department: Consumer Complaints

Our Mission Is To Protect Oklahoma Consumers

When you’re unhappy with your insurance company or cannot reach an agreement regarding a claim, you can get help from the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID), a state agency regulating the insurance industry and enforcing insurance-related laws. At OID, our mission is to protect the people of Oklahoma. We strive to provide exceptional service while efficiently regulating the insurance industry. Insurance may seem complicated and confusing but with the right help, it can help you navigate financial challenges and mitigate future risks. Here are some ways we can help:

Medicare Assistance

The OID’s Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) Division is funded by three federal grants: the Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIP) grant, the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) grant, and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) grant. MAP provides one-on-one counseling and information for Medicare beneficiaries. All services are free,

unbiased, and confidential. Consumers can attend free educational events hosted by MAP to learn more about their Medicare options. If you need help or have questions, please contact MAP at (800) 7632828 or visit www.map.oid.ok.gov.

Life Insurance Policy Locator

Each year, tens of millions of dollars in death benefits still go unclaimed because beneficiaries lack basic information about their deceased loved one’s life insurance policies. The Life Insurance Policy Locator (LIPL) through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is a way for Oklahomans to find missing life insurance policies or annuity contracts left by a deceased loved one. Since 2016, OID has assisted with almost 5,000 requests, which led to 1,389 matches with a total claim amount of $18,844,127. If you believe you are a beneficiary of a life insurance policy but don’t have the information you need to collect, the LIPL might be able to help. The LIPL requests are secure, confidential and free. Visit www.oid.ok.gov/lipl for more information.

Consumers can contact us and request mediation or file a complaint online if they have issues with their insurance company. OID processes and investigates all complaints lodged against insurance companies by the public. In 2022, our Consumer Assistance team answered over 12,000 consumer calls and resolved more than 2,000 complaints and requests.

OID recovers millions of dollars for Oklahoma consumers every year.

Visit www.oid.ok.gov/ complaint/ to file a complaint.

So, what can a person do if they experience fraud?

It's a Scam!

Here’s what you need to know about the two primary ways people are defrauded using gift cards.

Gift card sales rose from $130 billion in 2015 to $173 billion in 2021, and while they are popular with consumers, they are also popular with criminals. In fact, researchers estimate that $40 billion to $50 billion is stolen from fraud victims in any given year.

1. Criminals have several ways of claiming gift card balances so that the money is gone before the card is even delivered. In fact, a 2022 AARP survey found that one in four respondents to the AARP survey said they had given or received a gift card that turned out to have no value on it. To combat this, purchase cards directly from the business that issued them, preferably by ordering them online. If you do purchase them in a store, check to make sure that the packaging hasn’t been tampered with, and register your card with the retailer if that option is offered.

2 . Lastly, criminals prefer gift cards as a form of payment from their victims because they are readily available and hard to trace. If anyone asks you to pay for a debt or obligation with a pre-paid gift card it, is a scam and you should cut off communication.

One resource is the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Every weekday, trained AARP volunteer fraud fighters are helping victims and their families understand what happened, report the crime, and start to put their lives back together. If you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at (877) 908-3360 for support. And make sure to file a report with local police; you will have this as evidence in the event restitution becomes possible down the line.

Fight fraud. Shred it!

AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM can help you protect yourself against identity theft. Join us for a free document-shredding event at the LIFE Senior Services’ Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo.

Scan the QR code to request a free fraud prevention kit from the Fraud Watch Network and enter to win a $50 gift card.

Join us for a free drive-thru shredding event and get up to three boxes of sensitive documents shredded on-site: July 11 - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (or until the shred truck is full) Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St., Tulsa

For more information or to register, visit aarp.org/ok.

aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork | /aarpfraudwatchnetwork | @aarpfraudwatch

Financial & Medical Powers of Attorney

Getting Your Affairs in Order

Elder Law is an area of law that focuses on issues that affect seniors and their families. It encompasses a wide range of legal topics such as estate planning, Medicaid planning, guardianships, and long-term care planning.

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to have our legal affairs in order. One of the most important things that you can do for yourself and your family is to make sure that you have a power of attorney for finances and a power of attorney for medical care.

A power of attorney for finances is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial affairs in the event that you become incapacitated. This can include paying bills, managing investments, and selling property. Without a power of attorney, your family may have to go through the time-consuming and expensive process of obtaining a guardianship in order to manage your finances.

A power of attorney for medical care, also known as an advance directive or living will, allows you to specify the medical treatments that you want to receive or refuse if you become incapacitated and are unable to communicate your wishes. This can include decisions about life support, resuscitation, and pain management. Without a power of attorney for medical care, your family may be forced to make these decisions without knowing your wishes.

It's important to note that these documents should be tailored to your individual needs and preferences. At Oklahoma Senior Law, we are experienced elder law attorneys that can help you create documents that reflect your wishes and protect your interests.

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to make an appointment with an elder law attorney to discuss your legal affairs. Don't wait until it's too late. Planning ahead can give you peace of mind knowing that your affairs are in order and your wishes will be respected.

At Oklahoma Senior Law, we are dedicated to helping seniors and their families navigate the complex legal issues that come with aging. Our Certified Elder Law Attorneys have the knowledge and experience to create a customized plan that meets your unique needs and goals. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your future.

There are many avenues to get a financial power of attorney but we recommend you reach out to a trusted elder law attorney to get your documents in place.

Have grocery prices been getting you down?

Then come play with us, and you might win $100 in free groceries!

Special thanks to Memorial Park Cemetery and Ronnie Felts for making the game possible and providing the Reasor’s gift cards!

Senior LIFEStyle & Wellness Expo

HERE’S HOW TO PLAY

As you enter the Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo, you’ll receive a Seek, Find, WIN! game card. Find as many of our top sponsors listed on the game card as you can. As you visit, each sponsor will stamp your card. After you collect all 24 stamps, turn your game card into the registration table. Your card will be entered to win one of ten Reasor’s gift cards.

Why Going Outside is Good for You

Prescription: Nature

Haikey Creek Park

11327 S. Garnett Ave. • Broken Arrow

Haikey Creek has more than 170 acres of lush, shaded green spaces including a 2.3-mile walking trail. It’s the only park in Tulsa County where you can stand in two places at one time – both Bixby and Broken Arrow.

Chandler Park

6500 W. 21st St. • Tulsa

This 100-acre park is the second oldest park in Tulsa County and has recently been enhanced with a splash pad. Stroll the nature trails and enjoy the amazing views of Tulsa and Sand Springs.

Mack Taylor Park

9707 N. Peoria Ave. • Sperry

This green space in Sperry has picnic areas around a marker commemorating a Civil War battle site.

Hunter Park

5804 E. 91st St. • Tulsa

In addition to a fishing pond, dog park, and walking paths, look for the labyrinth on a high sunny spot in sight of the Creek Turnpike.

BY J.B. NICHOLSON

When our mothers told us to play outdoors on sunny Saturday afternoons, they weren’t citing the current scientific literature. But they knew it was good for us. Today, we have research to show that as little as 20 minutes outdoors most days can improve our moods, bodies, and brains.

Noticing the weather and the wildlife can help lower our blood pressure even if we’re not the outdoorsy type. This is not a selfimprovement plan that requires increasing exercise. This is simply being in nature in your neighborhood or other greenspace.

Being outside can change our perspective in both big and small ways. Scientists report that as little as 120 minutes – about two hours – each week spent in nature can lower the risk for cardiovascular disease and even diabetes. It has also been found to help with cognitive functioning, attention, anxiety, and depression.

The benefits appear to increase the more we fully engage our senses. Listen to the geese as they fly over at sunset and watch where they land. Observe the bees busily

pollinating and breathe deeply as you enjoy the fragrant smells of flowers. Take a few moments to observe and notice your stress level decreasing.

Explore a park that is new to you or go for a walk at one of the areas listed here. Make this the week that you explore the great outdoors with new eyes.

Sources: National Institutes of Health, The TAPS Institute for Hope and Healing, North Carolina State University

Turkey Mountain Urban

Wilderness Area

6800 S. Elwood Ave. • Tulsa

Turkey Mountain continues to increase with land acquisitions and is currently more than 220 acres. New trails, including some paved, have recently been added.

Veterans Park

1028 E. 6th St. • Tulsa

Veterans Park is a neighborhood-style 11-acre city park near downtown Tulsa. It has flat walking paths, beautifully landscaped around a pond.

O'Brien Park

6149 N. Lewis Ave. • Tulsa

O’Brien Park covers 140 acres and was the first park in Tulsa County. There are walking trails, green spaces, and the North Tulsa Victory Garden.

Honor Heights Park

1400 Honor Heights Dr. • Muskogee

Known for abundant azaleas, this 132-acre park has lushly landscaped paths for strolling, with small waterfalls and five fishing ponds.

Keystone Ancient Forest

160 Ancient Forest Dr. • Sand Springs

This forest area has more than 1,300 acres with trails of various activity levels, including a paved trail that accommodates wheelchairs and strollers.

Gathering Place

2650 S. John Williams Way • Tulsa

Enjoy more than 100 acres for walking, butterflywatching, and even dining, all within the city. The park has activities for all ages.

No week-long road trip to the Grand Canyon is required to experience the healing benefits of being in nature. There are parks, nature trails, and even waterfalls nearby.

“Go outside and play!”

Keystone Ancient Forest Sand Springs, OK

The VIPcare Difference Specialized Care Just

Specialized Care for People With Medicare

At VIPcare, you'll notice a lot of differences between the model we follow and the more traditional model. We refer to it as healthcare versus sick care. The technical terms for these models are value-based healthcare and volumebased healthcare.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They're also the largest factor in constantly rising healthcare costs.

Because of that, there's a shift in some of the healthcare industry and support for more widespread adoption of the value-based care model. That's because it puts more emphasis on preventive care for individuals instead of just treating ailments as they arise.

Quality Not Quantity

VIPcare uses a model that puts quality time spent between a doctor and a patient at the forefront. Where you may be used to spending 10 - 15 minutes with your doctor, at VIPcare, you can expect to spend 30 minutes or even up to an hour with them if needed. By spending more time with the physician, VIPcare believes patients will get more thorough care, leading to a better quality of life and less time spent in the hospital. And unlike some other healthcare providers, VIPcare encourages patients to see their physicians often.

In efforts to guide patients to better health, VIPcare helps to eliminate potential healthcare burdens by offering services including same-day appointments, transportation assistance to and from clinics, and virtual visits when needed. VIPcare physicians are dedicated to always doing what needs to be done to provide a better experience for their patients.

for You!

VIPcare primary care physicians walk side-by-side with their patients, providing them access to comprehensive healthcare services, thus allowing them to take a proactive role in their own healthcare journey. Services include:

• Routine Physicals and Checkups

• Care Coordination

• Lab Work and Diagnostics

• Diabetes Management

• Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases

• Osteoporosis and Arthritis

• Chronic Disease Management

• COPD and Pulmonary Diseases

• Depression and Anxiety

• Wellness and Nutrition

• Dentistry and Oral Care

• Flu Vaccination and Prevention

Get the 5-Star VIPcare Treatment

Experience the VIPcare experience for yourself. Get the high-quality care you deserve when you need it. Start your journey to better health today by calling (918) 731-2344 or visiting www.getvipcare. com to schedule an appointment.

Saint Francis Paints Expo Pink

Attendees at the 2023 Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo

will find a new feature this year as Saint Francis Health System hosts 10 booths highlighting their services.

Explore their comprehensive family of programs including the Saint Francis Stroke Center, the Cancer Center, Laureate, CommunityCare, Saint Francis Volunteers, and more. Learn about some of their newer programs including partnerships with Tulsa Rehabilitation Hospital and DispatchHealth.

1

Saint Francis Hospice

Saint Francis Hospice is dedicated to providing quality and compassionate end-of-life care for each of our patients and their families. They also offer grief support to help individuals and families navigate life after the loss of a loved one.

2

Saint Francis Stroke Center

Saint Francis Stroke Center is a Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and is prepared to care for complex stroke patients from across the region. Learn more about the signs of stroke and the care they provide at saintfrancis.com/stroke.

3

Tulsa Rehabilitation Hospital

Tulsa Rehabilitation Hospital, a partner of Saint Francis Health System, is a state-of-theart inpatient rehabilitation facility benefiting patients who may have had a stroke, orthopedic surgery, trauma brain injury, spinal cord injury, or another limiting health condition.

4

Saint Francis Volunteers

Saint Francis Health System volunteers work in many areas across the health system, enhancing patient care. No matter what your skills and expertise, they can use your caring, understanding and generosity. Apply to volunteer at saintfrancis.com/volunteers.

5

Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital

Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital offers a comprehensive range of mental healthcare services including specialized senior behavioral healthcare.

6

Health Zone/Blood Pressure Screenings

Health Zone is a medically-based, state-ofthe-art 70,000-square-foot fitness facility offering an array of exercise equipment, with an extensive selection of classes and programs.

7

CommunityCare

CommunityCare is dedicated to providing high-quality, cost-effective, health insurance. It is proudly owned by two of the region’s premier health systems, Saint Francis and Ascension St. John.

8

Saint Francis Cancer Center

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Oklahoma. Early detection is key. Stop by the Cancer Center booth to learn if you qualify for this important screening.

9

Grail

Saint Francis and Warren Clinic have partnered with Grail to provide the innovative Galleri test. This simple blood test uses advanced capabilities to detect early cancer signals of more than 50 types of cancer. Stop by the booth to learn more about this innovative test.

10

DispatchHealth

Saint Francis Health System is proud to team with DispatchHealth to bring urgent care and additional healthcare services to the convenience and comfort of your home. Learn more and request a visit at saintfrancis.com/ dispatchhealth.

Blood Pressure Screenings

Stop by the Health Zone booth to take advantage of their complementary blood pressure screenings.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FOR OLDER ADULTS

Saint Francis Health System provides behavioral health services for adults aged 55 and older throughout eastern Oklahoma. Our compassionate team of mental health professionals provides inpatient care for depression, dementia, anxiety, and many other behavioral health issues that impact your daily life.

For more information, please call one of our locations listed below.

LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND HOSPITAL

Senior Behavioral Health Services 6655 South Yale Avenue | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136 918-502-5000

SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL VINITA Renaissance Program 735 North Foreman | Vinita, Oklahoma 74301 918-256-9201

SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE

Senior Behavioral Health Services 211 South 36th Street | Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401 918-681-6835

Fitness for Your LIFEtime

The desire to help seniors live their lives to the fullest and maintain independence as long as possible is the founding vision behind the new Roma Berry Center for Seniors. The new LIFE Senior Services location will offer programming to help seniors, caregivers, and families – all in a first-class campus set in midtown Tulsa.

The Sanford and Irene Burnstein Family Foundation Active Senior Center will be part of the Roma Berry Center, located near East 51st Street and South Sheridan Road. The new active senior center will offer robust opportunities to encourage healthy aging. It will combine the two senior centers LIFE currently operates.

The Burnstein Family Foundation Active Senior Center will include an auditorium and stage for performances, a cafeteria and dining space, a dedicated art studio, kilns for pottery classes, and classroom spaces that can be used for a variety of programs and activities. The center will have weekend and evening hours, so the socializing cherished by senior center members won’t have to end when the sun goes down.

The A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Gymnasium and Activity Center will be located just north of the main active senior center building. This 8,500 square-foot space will host line dancing, pickleball, yoga retreats, and many other special events to enrich Tulsa’s vibrant and growing senior community.

The 9-acre Roma Berry campus will also be home to the William S. Smith Gardens, a nearly 30,000 square-foot outdoor program space, the Raymond Tullius LIFE PACE Center, and the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation Adult Day Health Center. LIFE will continue to operate its CARF-certified Adult Day Health programs at its north Tulsa and Broken Arrow sites.

LIFE has been a part of Tulsa for 50 years, and the new Roma Berry Center for Seniors will serve as a hub for seniors and caregivers for years to come. This extraordinary space for seniors is expected to open in early 2024.

While you’re attending the 2023 Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo, don’t miss the chance to sign up for the chance to win a LIFEtime membership to the new Sanford and Irene Burnstein Family Foundation Active Senior Center.

Entry forms will be available at the Senior Center booth in front of the Expo Stage. The winner will be announced at the end of the Expo. You do not have to be present to win, but you will need to attend the Expo to sign up for this opportunity of a LIFEtime!

The Benefits of Reading

Read Something Every Day

Have a Blind Date With a Book At

the Senior LIFEstyle and Wellness Expo

In the age of the internet and streaming services, it can be hard to find the time to slow down and enjoy one of the oldest forms of media: reading. Reading books is fun, of course, but studies show that it’s more than just a pastime. Reading can actually improve your mental, physical, and emotional health.

In a United Kingdon survey of over 4,000 participants, regular leisure readers reported fewer feelings of stress and depression and even experienced stronger feelings of relaxation than with other activities such as watching television. Too much stress can lead to physical health issues relating to the immune and cardiovascular systems. Reading books doesn’t just ease your mind and body; it helps preserve your brain’s cognitive function. As we age, our mental abilities slowly begin to decline. This leads to problems relating to learning, memory, attention, reasoning, and motor functions. Poor cognitive function is associated with an increased risk of death from causes such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and respiratory disease in older adults.

The “use it or lose it” theory suggests that a lack of mentally challenging activities in dayto-day life can lead to faster deterioration in cognitive function. A 2013 study found that those who frequently take part in mentally challenging activities later in life had a 32% slower decline in cognitive function compared to those with an average amount of mental stimulation. On the other hand, study subjects

with infrequent mental activity in their later years had an increased rate of mental decline – by 48%.

Mentally stimulating hobbies like reading are especially important in preserving memory. Just last year, a team at the Beckham Institute published their research on how regularly engaging in leisure reading can strengthen memory skills in older adults. Episodic memory is the ability to recollect past events or experiences. The study found that this type of memory improves while reading since readers have to remember what happened in previous chapters to keep up with the ongoing story. Working memory, or the brain’s capacity to hold information in our minds while doing other things, also strengthens as readers must remember what they just read in recent paragraphs as they continue the book.

A 2010 Johanna Briggs Institute systematic review looked at the effectiveness of mentally stimulating activities in preventing Alzheimer’s and dementia in older adults. Those activities include reading, playing musical instruments, and board games. Researchers say six out of seven observational studies showed a positive association between participating in these cognitive recreational activities and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementia types, but also said more research is needed.

Still, it’s clear that readers get more from books than a good story – it's good for our health too!

Ready to pick up a book, but don’t know where to start? LIFE Senior Services has got you covered! Join LIFE for its annual Senior LIFEstyle and Wellness Expo on July 11 to find your next read. LIFE is mixing it up this year by adding a book sale for attendees.

If you read Vintage Newsmagazine’s March article on the subject, then you’ll know how Blind Date With a Book works. Donated fiction and nonfiction books will be wrapped in brown paper, so there will be no judging a book by its cover! There will be stickers on each book with a corresponding category such as mystery, sci-fi, cookbook, etc. Beyond that, you’ll be getting no hints as to what kind of story you’ll be diving into. No matter what novel you end up unwrapping, it’s sure to stimulate your brain and boost your mental, emotional, and physical health!

Meet Your Match

Celebrating 50 Years of Helping Families

By Paula Brown, Assistant Editor

Photo by Beth Hawkins

A SAFE PLACE

Sisters Diana and Juanita found help at LIFE Senior Services not once –but twice in a lifetime. They first encountered LIFE when they needed help with their mother, Goldie. “Mom lived with me and my husband after we had to move her from her home in Muskogee due to safety concerns. I would get calls daily from her neighbors out of concern for Goldie,” Diana said.

“People don’t understand how difficult it is living with someone who has Alzheimer’s, and how important it is to have somewhere safe to take them,” she said. “LIFE was a lifesaver. It was somewhere safe to take her where the staff was really kind and helpful to each of us.”

“LIFE’s Adult Day Health program permitted me to be able to sustain my own life while continuing to help my family. Honestly, LIFE helped me keep my sanity.”

Goldie attended ADH three times a week until she eventually passed away at age 84. Diana and Juanita went on with their busy lives.

SECOND GENERATION

Juanita became the second generation of their family who found a safe place with LIFE Senior Services after an unexpected event. She experienced a diabetic stroke resulting in memory loss and moved in with her sister Diana and her husband in 2018.

Diana knew exactly where to turn for help.

“My husband takes Juanita to LIFE’s Adult Day Health in Broken Arrow around 8 a.m., and I pick her up around 4 p.m.,” Diana explained. Juanita said she loves going to the day center, smiling as she exchanged fist bumps with the other participants at ADH. “I made great friends here,” she said. “I get to color and play bingo and dominoes – lots of games.” LIFE Senior Services celebrates 50 years of service in 2023. It is the only organization in the state that offers such a full range of services for seniors and the caregivers who love them.

LIFE Senior Services is honored to have helped two generations of this family and many others through challenging life experiences.

“LIFE was a lifesaver. It was somewhere safe to take mom where the staff was really kind and helpful to each of us."

– Diana

Senior Services be there for generations of families to come.

Our mission is your vision.

The Eye Institute is the most experienced and most comprehensive Ophthalmology group in Nor theast Oklahoma. With a team of 19 providers including 12 Board Certified and Fellowship trained M.D's and 7 OD's , you can trust the eye care you receive. The Eye Institute cares for patients with General Ophthalmology & Optometry needs as well as sub-specialties including Cataract & Refractive, Cornea & E x ternal Diseases, LASIK, Glaucoma, Orbital, Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Pediatric & Adult St rabismus and Retina & Vitreous Treatment & Surgery.

The Eye Institute providers are not only expert clinicians, but they are passionate about caring for their patients. The entire team is committed to of fering you the finest individualized care possible, including outstanding medical and surgical outcomes in a compassionate and caring environment.

Laser and surgical techniques and diagnostic equipment are always changing and The Eye Institute is on the forefront of these improvements, as their ophthalmologists are often involved in the research that brings these advances to the world. All patients can expect state of the art care by the most trained physicians in our region.

Northeast Oklahoma's Most Experienced and Most Comprehensive Eye Care Center

918-747-3937 • eyeinst.com

LIFE’s Adult Day Health is a friend indeed to older adults and their caregivers. Family members can relax knowing their loved one is in caring, capable hands while they work, attend to other responsibilities, or simply have a day off from caregiving.

LIFE’s professional staff is on hand to provide individualized care, including medication administration, health monitoring, diabetic care, simple nursing services, fully-assisted showers, a full-service hair salon, nutritious meals, socialization, arts and crafts, group exercise, and more.

COME JOIN THE FUN!

Here’s just a sampling of the entertainment you’ll find at the 2023 Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo

"One Foot In"

8:55 a.m.

These guitarists from LIFE’s Senior Center at East Side love to play and will get our day off to a toe-tapping start!

Cooking Demonstration

9:30 a.m.

Chefs for Seniors will make a delicious Blueberry Lemon French Toast Casserole.

"Cons, Frauds and Scams" with Lori Fullbright

11:05 a.m.

News On 6 anchor Lori Fullbright speaks to groups across the state about crime safety and how to avoid the latest cons and scams. Don’t miss her eye-opening presentation.

Assistance League Fashion Show

12:10 p.m.

Come meet some of the fabulous volunteers from the Assistance League as they model stylish and affordable ensembles from their Bargains Thrift Shop at 5350 E. 31st St.

Antiques Sideshow with Rocky Randolph

12:45 p.m.

Join Rocky as he assesses treasures brought in by area seniors. All participants must be pre-registered. See page 53 of this issue for more details.

Line Dancing

1:45 p.m.

The line dancers from LIFE’s Senior Center at East Side will help close out the day. Stick around and you’ll be invited to join them for an easy dance lesson

Seek, Find, WIN! Drawing

2:15 p.m.

We will close out our day drawing for the winners of the ten $100 Reasor’s gift cards. The gift cards are courtesy of Memorial Park Cemetery.

Senior LIFEStyle & Wellness Expo

2023 Expo Stage Schedule

8:45 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Eileen Bradshaw, LIFE Senior Services CEO, and Lori Fullbright, News On 6

8:55 a.m. “One Foot In”

Guitarists, LIFE’s Senior Center at East Side

9:30 a.m. Cooking Demonstration

Alicia Urban, Chefs for Seniors

9:55 a.m. “Aging in Dog Years”

Cherie Mann, Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

10:20 a.m. “Osteoporosis: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment”

Dr. James Webb

11:05 a.m. “Cons, Frauds & Scams” Lori Fullbright, News On 6

12:10 p.m. Assistance League Fashion Show

Karen Larsen, KJRH-2 and volunteers from Assistance League Tulsa

12:45 p.m. Antiques Sideshow

Rocky Randolph, antique collector and appraiser

1:45 p.m. East Side Line Dancers

LIFE's Senior Center at East Side

2:15 p.m. Seek, Find, WIN! Winners Announced

Eileen Bradshaw and Bernie Dornblaser, LIFE Senior Services

**Subject to change without notice**

C o m f o r t

Short-Term Rehabilitation in Tranquil Comfort

The Saint Simeon's Medical Resort is a serene wellness oasis offering exceptional care, rehabilitative therapies, and peaceful, private suites with private bathrooms

Our beautiful, secure 50-acre community also offers:

Assisted Living Memory Care Parkinson's Care

Long-Term Care

Assisted Living Memory Care

For more information, call Mary today: 918-794-1900

EVENT SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors who make this event possible.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

• AARP

• Griffin Media (News On 6 / The Drive / Big Country)

• Oklahoma Insurance Department

• Oklahoma Senior Law

• VIPcare Clinics

LIFELONG

• Central States Research

• MedicarePrepare

• Memorial Park Cemetery

• OLLI-Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at OSU

• Saint Francis Health System

• The Eye Institute

• Dr. James Webb & Associates

• Wellcare

THE GOOD LIFE

• Country Club at Woodland Hills

• Cox Healthcare

• Indian Health Care Resource Center

HAVE YOU HEARD?

LIFE’s Vintage Guide to Housing & Services now has a Central Oklahoma edition!

The most trusted catalog of information, resources, and services for seniors is available now in the Oklahoma City area. The 2023 Central Oklahoma Guide to Housing & Services can be found at select 7-Eleven, CVS, Homeland, Cash Savers, and Crest Foods in the Oklahoma City area as well as Metro Library branches.

TO ADVERTISE

Bernie Dornblaser bdornblaser@lifeseniorservices.org

REQUEST A FREE LISTSING Alyssa Dillard okceditor@lifeseniorservices.org

View a fully searchable, digital copy of the new Central Oklahoma Guide at www.LIFEseniorservices.org.

Wellness Expo

LIFELINE

• Good Shepherd Hospice

• Miller Hospice

• Saint Simeon's Senior Community

• Seasons Hospice

• Senior Helpers

• UnitedHealthcare

• University Village Retirement Community

MIDLIFE

• Brookdale Senior Living

• Cornerstone Caregiving of Tulsa

• HearingLife

• Integrity Insurance Group

• Sand Plum Assisted Living

• The Courtyards at the Ambassador AL/MC

• Tulsa Bone & Joint

• Virtual Dog & Gray Matters

FRIEND OF LIFE

• ABC Medicare

• American Amicable Life Insurance

• Archwell Health

• Atlas Homes

• Barber & Bartz

• Bixby-South Tulsa Funeral Services

• BlueCross BlueShield of Oklahoma

• Chefs for Seniors

• Clear-tone Hearing Aids

• Community Resource Associates

• Corrie Egge & Associates

• Couch Pharmacy

• Craft Bodyscan

• Dillon Funeral Service

• Edward Jones

• Electronic Caregiver

• Emerald Care Center

• Enhabit Home Health

• Entrusted Transport

•Faith Home Care Services

• Floral Haven Funeral Home

• Foot Solutions

• Gentiva Hospice

• GlobalHealth

• Grace Hospice

• Heartwood Commons

• Home Instead

• Humana MarketPoint

• LeafFilter Gutter Protection

• Littleton Legal

• Maple Law

• Millennium Home Health & Hospice Care

• Moore/Fitzgerald Funeral Homes

• My Choice In-Home Senior Services

• NanoPac, Inc.

• Oak Street Health

• Oklahoma State University

• Parkside Psychiatric Hospital & Clinic

• Perfect Fit Home Care

• Ready to Fight - Parkinson's Program

• Reliant Insurance Agency

• Rock Steady Boxing

• Sand Plum Assisted Living

• Sibley Insures

• Suncrest Hospice

• Triad Eye Institute

• Tulsa Transit

• Utica Park Clinic

LIFE SAVER

• Ability Resources

• Adult Protective Services

• Alzheimer's Association

• Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)

• Assistance League Tulsa

• Better Business Bureau

• CAPSAT & Rx Take Back

• Centenarians of OK

• Charles Schusterman Jewish Community Center

• Clarehouse

• Claremore Indian Hospital

• Dementia Friendly Tulsa

• Eastern Oklahoma Donated Dental Services

• Food Bank of Eastern OK

• Hearts for Hearing

• Hospice of Green Country

• INCOG Area Agency on Aging

• LIFE EDU

• LIFE PACE

• LIFE Volunteers

• LIFE's Adult Day Health

• LIFE's ADvantage Case Management

• LIFE's Senior Centers

• LIFE's SeniorLine

• MAP at LIFE

• Meals on Wheels

• Morton Comprehensive Health Services

• NAMI Tulsa

• OK Assistive Technology Foundation and ABLE Tech

• Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services

• Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI)

• Oklahoma Human Services

• Oklahoma Library for the Blind

• Oklahoma Parkinson Alliance

• Oklahoma State Dept. of Health

• Operation New Day

• Oxford HealthCare

• Paw Pals

• Quilts of Valor, Northeast Oklahoma

• Reading Partners

• Rx Oklahoma (CARD)

• Social Security Administration

• Southwest Dairy Farmers

• The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges

• The Metropolitan Environmental Trust

• The Villages at Southern Hills

• Tulsa & Creek Counties Senior Nutrition

• Tulsa CARES

• Tulsa City-County Library

• Tulsa County Assessor's Office

• Tulsa County Social Services

• Tulsa Performing Arts Center

• Tulsa Police - Senior Services Unit

• Tulsa Police - Victim Services Unit

• Veterans Administration

• Vintage Housing

MINDBENDER & PUZZLES

HINK PINKS

Hink Pinks are fun rhyming word riddles. The answer to the riddle is a pair of words that rhyme with each other. For example: Large Feline would be Fat Cat. These will make you think! Answers on page 59.

Household hair tool Impoverished shop King Bozo's head gear

Just purchased loafer

COMMONYM

A commonym is a group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example, the words Ice – Sugar – Rubik’s – are all cubes. Answers on page 59.

Car – Tree – Elephant

Salad – Coin – Ball

Doughnut – Cavity – Gas Tank

America – Crunch – Columbus

Brain – Lung – Ear

Basketball Court – Highway – Bowling Alley

Finish – Fishing – Dotted

Bear – Hammer – Lobster

Alarm – Cuckoo – Grandfather

Person – Watch – Mountain

A bamboozable is a saying/phrase that is made up of a display of words in an interesting way. The goal is to try to figure out the well-known saying, person, place, or thing that each bamboozable is meant to represent. There are six bamboozables below. Answers on page 59.

A special needs trust is a powerful tool that allows seniors to provide for their loved ones with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for government benefits like SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid. By placing assets in the trust, seniors can safeguard their assets, avoid probate, and ensure their loved ones’ future care.

Assets deposited into a special needs trust can be used to provide for the beneficiary’s needs and comforts, such as housing improvements and medical equipment. However, the funds cannot be paid directly to the beneficiary to protect their eligibility for assistance programs.

This type of trust also helps seniors protect their assets, ensuring they won’t count against eligibility for government benefits. It can be particularly useful for seniors who may require Medicaid to cover long-term care expenses in the future.

A special needs trust can also be part of an overall estate plan, covering medical expenses, education, and daily living expenses for loved ones with disabilities.

By working with an experienced estate planning attorney, seniors can create a personalized plan tailored to their family’s unique needs, providing peace of mind, and ensuring their loved ones’ well-being.

DDDD

hands hands hands hands DDDD

A TULSA STAPLE Felini’s Cookies & Deli

BY ALYSSA DILLARD

This month, LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine is all about your head. What goes into your head – and body – is more important than you might think. Life moves so fast these days it’s easier to heat up frozen food on your lunch break than take the time to give your body the food it needs. Felini’s Cookies & Deli in Tulsa offers a fresh and healthy alternative. A few of us at LIFE Senior Services decided to take a break from the breakroom microwave and meet there for lunch.

We learned Felini’s started as a cookie shop downtown in 1986, owned by Vikki Martinus and her husband, Jim. Their shop moved to Harvard in the 1990s. It expanded to salad plates and then eventually to the baked fresh daily deli we know today. Their son, Seth, ran the restaurant for a few years until their daughter, Jeannie Reed, took over as the owner in 2018.

The deli has built a loyal clientele over the years which was apparent upon visiting. While waiting for our food, I noticed that some patrons knew each other and took the time to catch up a bit before eating. The sense of community extended to the friendly staff as they addressed customers by name. Even as newcomers, we all still felt just as welcome here as the regulars.

We all loved our cookie selection including chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and even peanut butter and jelly cookies.

Casual and Fresh Cuisine

Breakfast From $3- $8

Lunch From $4 - $12 Cookies From $1.75 - $3.50 Each (or $19.25 for a dozen)

feliniscookies.com

Eating fresh has never tasted so good at this locally owned deli!

DINNER BELLES’ LUNCHEON

The first thing our group noticed was the number of diners in the deli and we were lucky to be able to snag a table during the lunch rush. The restaurant has a light and cozy atmosphere with artwork on the walls and plants scattered throughout. The food counter features a salad bar as well as a variety of fresh salads in a big deli window. The other deli window showcases their selection of cookies.

The menu behind the counter was split between breakfast and lunch with breakfast including pastries, breakfast sandwiches, quiches, and more. We all opted for the lunchtime menu with your typical deli foods of sandwiches, salads, and daily soups. I was amazed at how many options there were, not to mention the rotating sandwich special. After ordering, we were pleasantly surprised to find our meals came with a choice of cookie. The deli also offers catering as well as curbside pickup.

Dee Duren described her red pepper bisque as delicious and similar to tomato bisque. She and Kelly Kirchhoff agreed that their egg salad sandwiches were tasty and tangy with the freshly baked bread as the highlight. Rickye Wilson loved her turkey sandwich and pasta salad, adding that Felini’s has always been consistently good. I had the Felini sandwich (turkey, provolone, pesto, and tomato) which tasted very fresh. It was one of the best pestos I’ve ever had. We all loved our cookie selection including chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and even peanut butter and jelly cookies. With such a positive experience on my first visit, I decided I needed to go back for seconds and invited my foodloving grandmother to join me.

BACK FOR ROUND TWO

It was so busy the first time I went, that my grandma and I agreed to eat a little later than we normally would to (hopefully) miss the lunch rush. While there were more open tables, the restaurant was still quite busy and filled with the sounds of people eating, talking, and laughing.

When our food was ready, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful Friday afternoon and eat at one of the few tables outside. As much as I wanted to get the Felini sandwich again, I figured it would be better to try something new. This time, I got chicken and wild rice soup and half of the Honeybear sandwich (ham, cheddar, and honey mustard). My sandwich was perfectly grilled, and the honey mustard brought a delicious hint of sweetness. The soup wasn’t too overpowering with flavor but brought the warmth that complemented the sandwich well.

My grandmother landed on The Answer (turkey, pepper jack cheese, tomato, red onion, and Dijon mustard) with pasta salad. She agreed with my thoughts on the sandwich, adding that the cheese was perfectly melted. She said her salad was seasoned well, but not too much, and tasted very fresh. She also loved her peach iced tea that came with a slice of orange.

We enjoyed our chocolate chip cookies very much, but she insisted that I add that no one can make cookies better than she can. Made with a grandmother’s love or not, our meals and cookies were delicious and fresh, and we will certainly be back. However, we may have to wait a little longer before our next trip as the restaurant is closed for summer vacation beginning early in July. Felini’s will open their doors to hungry customers again on July 24.

Give 5 is LIFE's "volunteer match-making" program designed to connect Tulsa area residents aged 55+ with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Learn about Tulsa's most challenging problems and uncover ways your skills and passions can be utilized to help make a difference Interested in joining? Scan the QR code, visit our website at LIFEseniorservices.org or contact Carrie at (918) 664-9000 ext. 1255.

Bring Your Treasured Antique to LIFE’s Antiques Sideshow

There are a few spots left for this year’s Antiques Sideshow at the 2023 Senior LIFEstyle & Wellness Expo!

You must be pre-registered to have your treasure appraised by expert Rocky Randolph.

PROTECTING YOUR LOVED ONES

The Benefits of Special Needs Trusts

For example, there are nearly one million U.S. households in which an adult with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities is living with caregivers 60 or older. According to a survey by the Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports, most caregivers have serious concerns about the future, for themselves and for their loved one with special needs.

BASICS OF SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST

need to qualify for government benefits in the future, such as Medicaid to pay for long-term care, will find this particularly useful.

AVOIDING PROBATE

A special needs trust can also help seniors avoid probate. Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate, and is notoriously slow, costly, and public. By placing assets into a special needs trust, those assets can bypass probate and be distributed according to the terms of the trust.

But how do special needs trusts benefit seniors specifically? For starters, seniors can use a properly drafted special needs trust as part of their overall estate plan to provide for a loved one with disabilities in a variety of ways. It can pay for medical expenses, including therapies and treatments that may not be covered by insurance. It can also pay for education, including tutoring and special programs designed for people with disabilities.

Seniors can also use their will to create a special kind of trust called a testamentary special needs trust. This trust is designed to provide for the surviving spouse, even if they are receiving Medicaid benefits while living in a nursing home. A testamentary special needs trust becomes active after the person who created it passes away. This can be very helpful during challenging times, as it allows seniors to effectively protect and provide for their loved one's needs.

PROTECTING ASSETS

BY BRIAN CRAIN, SOUTH TULSA LAW

For many seniors, providing for their loved ones is a top priority. For those who have a child or grandchild with special needs, ensuring their well-being and care is even more critical. Having a special needs trust can make a significant difference.

A special needs trust is a type of trust that is designed to provide for the needs of a person with a disability while preserving their eligibility for government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, and Medicaid. This is particularly important for seniors who are concerned about their child or grandchild's future care and well-being.

In its basic form, a special needs trust requires that assets be deposited into the name of the trust. That money can be used to provide for many needs and comforts of the beneficiary, such as housing improvements, transportation, and medical equipment. However, the money is in a trust that can never be paid directly to the beneficiary. This action protects the beneficiary from losing their eligibility for services because they have too much money to qualify for assistance.

In addition, special needs trusts can help seniors protect their assets. By placing their assets into a special needs trust, seniors can ensure that those assets will not be counted against eligibility for their own government benefits. Seniors who may

A special needs trust can even assist a senior in qualifying for long-term care through Medicaid's nursing home program. If the trust is structured properly, the senior may be able to transfer assets to the special needs trust for the sole benefit of the special needs individual without incurring a penalty. This is an important exception to the transfer of assets penalty and can help seniors afford the care they need while also ensuring their loved ones with disabilities are provided for. A special needs trust can be a powerful tool for protecting a child or grandchild with disabilities to ensure their continued eligibility for government benefits. It can also provide peace of mind for seniors and their families.

By working with an experienced estate planning attorney, seniors can create a customized plan that meets the unique needs of their family and provides for their loved ones for years to come.

A special needs trust can offer peace of mind while protecting assets for seniors who want to provide for a child or grandchild with special needs.

A special needs trust can be a powerful tool for protecting the assets of a child or grandchild with special needs to ensure their continued eligibility for government benefits.

Your Daily Diet

Giving the Aging Body What It Needs

BY DR. AMY LEE

You may have a retirement plan in place, a down-sized home, and volunteer commitments to stay active, but how much consideration do you give your daily diet?

Guest columnist Dr. Amy Lee is a medical nutrition specialist who is board certified in Internal Medicine and the head of nutrition for Nucific. Her work has been featured on PBS, HBO, UCLA’s “Vital Signs” series and published in the “Nutrition and Metabolism” medical journal.

The process of aging is no joke. Like it or not, everything breaks down or deteriorates. This could be hair loss, wrinkling of our skin, and most definitely, slowing of the various organs. When this happens, one would notice symptoms of fatigue, pain and aches, difficulty weight loss, loss of libido, and other changes.

MORE THAN COUNTING CALORIES

What one can do to “delay” the inevitable is to understand what the body needs when it comes to the intake of nutrition. What we eat and drink daily can truly impact our aging bodies. There have been studies that have shown that even restriction in caloric intake can prolong life; which gives the body a chance to rest from the workings of metabolism. But when it is time to eat, one has to realize what to focus on and what to eliminate.

PROTEIN IS KEY

One of the biggest macronutrients to focus on is taking in a good amount of lean proteins. Lean proteins are things that lack saturated fats oftentimes found in animal products. Proteins break down into 20 amino acids, including essential and nonessential, and each of them have impactful functions in the body.

against infections. Good levels of amino acids can also play a role in the makeup of our connective tissue and collagen. Collagen production slows down in later life which can result in wrinkling of skin, dry skin, and sunspots.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS

Now, on the other hand, the micronutrients we need can be a huge list. I always advise my aging patients to consider taking a multivitamin from a reputable supplement company to make sure it gives a higher level of bioavailability. Some important vitamins are the water-soluble B vitamins that are often found in lean meats and vegetables. If one’s diet is inconsistent, always make sure there is a good supplement in place. Another vitamin that is important is vitamin C which is a great antioxidant to boost the immune system plus a great cofactor to collagen to optimize production.

The next nutritional supplement that I would recommend is a good probiotic. For the same reason that as we grow older, we may not eat as consistently. American adults don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables which can provide both soluble and insoluble fiber to the body. An imbalanced diet with low fiber makes an impact on gastrointestinal health, and even disruption of the probiotics; the mixture of bacteria in the gut that plays a role in our overall metabolic and hormonal health. One should seriously consider a good probiotic with a good amount of good strains to help reset the gut to make the digestive process easier.

DR. AMY LEE Medical Nutrition Specialist

Skeletal muscles, which contribute to strength and balance, are impacted by protein intake. Amino acids to include in your diet are branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to help maintain lean muscle mass. Another important function of amino acids is boosting of one’s immune system which plays a role in the body’s defense

With this list of recommended vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, there should be a balanced diet focusing on lean proteins (yogurt, eggs, milk, proteins from animals, and plant-based proteins), and good amounts of fruits and vegetables. These are the food groups that would provide the body with all essential nutrients with minimal processed ingredients and sugar; which the body does not need.

LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine does not endorse advertiser products or services. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising.

BIBLE READING SESSION

For Seniors Sake

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for seniors to get together to read God’s words so that they may glorify God and have eternal life. This call is free. For more information call (918) 872-1400.

BOOKS

Missing Palm Tree

Missing Palm Tree: Stories From America’s Clandestine Service is a widely acclaimed book which tells with vivid language how dangerous clandestine work is. Written by W. Blaine Wheeler and is available on Amazon.com books/

CARPET CLEANING

ALL PRO Carpet Cleaning

Senior and caregiver discounts. Carpet, furniture, rug cleaning. Pet odor removed and Teflon protectant available. Emergency water extraction. Residential and commercial services. Professional truck mount steam cleaning. Carpet repairs and restretching. Prompt, professional, quality service at a fair price. Certified, insured. Veteran owned and operated. Call Thomas Fink, owner/technician, for free estimate (918) 636-6303.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Meadow Lake Ranch

Meadow Lake Ranch is a beautiful place to celebrate and to remember your loved one with family and friends. Indoor venues or woods and water patio. 15 minutes west of Tulsa. Call Susie at (918) 494-6000 for a personal tour. Visit www.Meadowlakeranch.com or email meadowlakeranch@cox.net

CEMETERY LOTS

Discounted Lots at Memorial Park Memorial Park Tulsa. Three adjoining spaces in Section 12, Lot 576. Located next to the sidewalk and directly across from Memorial Park Chapel. Bronze markers only. Will divide. Cemetery price $1870 each. My sale price $500 each. Phone (918) 740-1393.

FLORAL HAVEN CEMETERY

GARDEN OF PROPHETS

Lot 152A, Unit 1-2, Section 6-North. Two side-by-side, adult, single plots. Close to statuary, trees. Easy visitation access. $3,500 each (current Floral Haven retail $7,000 each). Deed transfer, required outer burial container, gravesite opening and closing fees not included. Sold as set only. Other offers considered. (541) 390-8483

Memorial Park

3 plots available in Memorial Park for $2,500 or best offer. Great deal! Call Elizabeth at (918) 230-8338.

Memorial Park Cemetery –Desirable Lots

Plots For Sale in Memorial Park. Four spaces, section 4, lot 42. Desirable established area with mature trees. $2,450 each or discounted further at $9,200 for all four. Transfer fees included. Serious inquiries please call (405) 887-2722

Memorial Park Lots Near the Lake

2 plots in section 50 lot 178 near the lake in the Field of Honor. Includes burial space and lawn crypt. Retail value $1,825 each, available for $1,200 each. Text (214) 682-1705 for a call back.

Memorial Park Mausoleum, Double Crypt

Lakeview Mausoleum, Unit 1, Companion Crypt E, Row 16. Space for 2 retails for $11,075. Will sell for $6,000. Also, seller will pay transfer fee. Great deal for pre-planners! Call Terri at (918) 284-2266.

Memorial Park Prime Cemetery Plots Section 26, Lot 157, Space 1 * Crypt included * Bronze or Granite approved. $2000. Section 43, Lot 46, Spaces 2 & 3 * Bronze or Granite approved. $1900 each. Contact: marphy3@sbcglobal.net

Peaceful Area in Memorial Park Peaceful, quiet, very nice area, views, Christian friends. Section 26, Lot 179, space 2. $1,770. Duane Murphy, 7255 Road 22.9, Cortez CO 81321 or call (970) 565-2707.

Plot by the Bell Tower Cemetery plot in Memorial park cemetery for sale. In the old section of the cemetery, the northwest corner by the bell tower. The plot is section 2A, Lot 17-D, Plot 3. $1,500 obo, for more info call Susan at (580) 447-6607

CLEANING

Live Beautifully! You Deserve It! Here at Moore Cleaning; we want your house to be beautiful. We have over 19 years experience; and references from our loyal customers. Also offering window cleaning and organizing. We customize our cleaning to meet your needs. Safely cleaning with masks and social distancing if preferred. Reasonable rates. Please call today to set up your appointment. Marybelle Moore (918) 671-5065. Marybellemoore111@gmail.com.

DAYTIME CARE

Daytime Care For Older

Loved Ones

LIFE’s Adult Day Health offers convenient, affordable daytime care at three locations in Tulsa and Broken Arrow. For more information, call LIFE’s Adult Day Health at (918) 664-9000.

ESTATE SALES

2MS Estate Sales...Tulsa’s Finest!

Downsizing? Estate Liquidation?

Let us take the worry away and Maximize your return. No out of pocket expense. We specialize in senior transitions, with over 20 years in the senior housing market. My team includes realtors, moving company, senior housing and attorneys if needed. Please contact Michelle Reed (918) 691-5893 or Atulsa@aol.com also Facebook 2MSestatesalestulsa for a Free consultation.

FINANCIAL/INSURANCE

Medicare Assistance Program

The Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at LIFE Senior Services provides accurate information, counseling and assistance relating to Medicare benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives and persons soon to be eligible for Medicare. Call MAP at LIFE Senior Services (918) 664-9000 or toll-free at (866) 664-9009.

Mutual of Omaha

Life, Long Term Care, Medicare and Cancer/Heart Attack/Stroke Policies. Local Agent, Cindy Johnson, (918) 619-5919 cell. Need A New Medicare Plan? The Medicare Supplement Store at Promenade Mall is your “One-Stop-Shop” for Medicare Supplements, Advantage Plans, & Drug Plans. We can give you a quote from top-rated carriers like: Aetna, Blue Cross, Humana, GlobalHealth, UnitedHealthCare, Mutual of Omaha and others. For information, call Bob Archer today (918) 814-5550.

Need a Plan for Final Expenses?

You can easily apply for simple and effective life insurance that can help ensure your surviving loved ones aren’t financially burdened by expenses related to your death. Ages 45-85 eligible. Call or text Dian Peacock for more information. I will call back if unable to answer or leave a message at (918) 697-9415 today.

FOR SALE

Fostoria Crystal

Hand-etched chintz crystal. Over 150 pieces. Goblets, wine glasses, sherbets, plates, cups, saucers, torte plates, relish dishes, serving dishes, fruit bowls, cake plates, nappys, salt and peppers, double candlesticks, ice bucket plus more! Approximate 1945 retail cost $4,200. Make an offer. No individual sales. (918) 663-3528

GARDENING/LAWN CARE

AAA Lawns & More

Total lawn care. Lawn Mowing. Will remove or trim any size tree. Fence repair and installation. Dedicated to making your lawn look its best.

Insured, honest, experienced and dependable. Veteran-owned. We are a small company with personal service. References available. FREE ESTIMATES. Call Larry. (918) 361-1299.

Kimble Davis Tree Company

Family-owned and operated. Specializing in all aspects of tree care: restoration, pruning/ thinning, removal, stump grinding, hedge trimming, firewood available. Serving Tulsa for 25 years. References. Member BBB. Insured. ISA certified arborist. Check us out at www.kdtreeco.com. Call Kimble at (918) 853-5383.

Mower Repair / Maintenance

All brands – Riders, ZTRs, Walk-behinds, UTVs / ATVs. Top Quality work, ASE certified Mechanic. Pick-up and Delivery available. Tulsa and surrounding counties. Maintenance specials include pick-up and delivery 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call Scott (918) 519-3869.

New Season Lawn & Tree LLC

Now accepting new customers. Mowing, trimming, leaf and debris removal, fence line trim/cleanup, leaf mulching, flower beds. Tree pruning/thinning and removal. Shrub and hedge trimming/shaping of all sizes. Pressure Washing driveway, decks, siding. ISA Certified Arborist. Fully insured with verified references. Best rates, senior discounts. Free Estimates. Call Todd (918) 639-2262 www.newseasonlawnandtree.com.

HELP NEEDED

Senior Needs Caregiver

Senior needs caregiver. 11 ½ hours weekly. $15 an hour. Medicaid paid. Admiral and Sheridan area. References Needed. (918) 861-4364.

HOME REPAIR/REMODELING

Allen’s Handyman Services of Tulsa

“Your Home Improvement and Repair Specialist.” 23 years serving Tulsa seniors. “One call can do it all.” 10% senior discount. Insured. All work guaranteed in writing. No pay until job is completed. Plumbing, drain cleaning, grab bars, electrical, carpentry, painting, seamless guttering installation/repair/ cleaning. Dryer vent cleaning. Roof, tile and drywall repair. Wood siding/trim replacement. Deck repair, power washing, staining. Tree trimming. No job too small. For free estimate, call Allen at (918) 630-0394.

Big C’s Plumbing Services

Your one stop Plumbing Shop! Call us and I guarantee you will never have to call another plumbing company. Licensed, bonded and insured for your protection....Call (918) 855-9216, tell us you saw us in the Vintage

Newsmagazine and receive an automatic 10% discount....call us now.

Bumgartner Plumbing

Licensed, with over 40 years of experience. Rates are low and based on the job, not the hour. No service call fee or travel time charge. Senior and caregiver discount. Plumbing service and repair our specialty. Honest, professional service you can count on. Lic. #82750. (918) 355-4747.

Doc J’s Heat and Air LLC

Avoid costly repairs and breakdowns and save on service, repairs, and replacements with our Doc J Yearly Maintenance Plan. Mention this ad & get $25 off our Service Call Fee. Financing, free estimates, and senior discounts. Call Doc J today at (918) 921-4240.

Handyman & Construction Services

30 Years Experience! All Handicap Accessories – grab bars, handicap access abilities; Framing, Drywall, Tape & Bed; Texture & Paint, Plumbing, Electrical, Tile, Laminate & Wood Floors. Free Estimates, Competitive Rates, Professional Service. Call Craig (918) 892-4168. In a Jam? Services

Around the home repairs or replacements, inside and out. Fence Repair/Replacement, Power Washing, Gutter Cleanout, Garage/ Attic Cleanout, Haul-off, Leaf/ Snow Removal, Staining/Painting, Drywall Patching/Replacement, Tile/Flooring, Deck Repair, and much more! No job is too small, have any questions, please give me a call. Joe Moody (918) 740-7209

INAJAMSERVICES77@gmail.com

KMS Acquired Dave’s Heat & Air, Inc.

Locally owned since 1979, KMS is proud to be your new HVAC provider! Your comfort is our top priority, and our team of experienced technicians and staff are dedicated to providing you with prompt, reliable, and personalized service for all your residential and commercial HVAC needs. (918) 437-8101. www.kmshvac.com

Same Day Services

Light Hauling /Light Moving – help you rearrange room furniture, lawns-grass mowing/small paint jobs/cleanup/ fence repair/light construction/sheet rock tile repair – We are honest dependable. References. Call (918) 313-5230.

Scrap Metal Haul Off Free haul off/pick up of appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, hot water tanks and any scrap metal. Call John at (918) 313-4405.

LEGAL

75 Years Experience in Oklahoma Courts

Frasier Law Firm is a full-service Tulsa firm with decades of experience in all Oklahoma courts. We handle all matters, including probate, wills and trusts, personal injury and negligence cases. We have estate planning specialists. Reach us at (918) 584-4724 or frasier@tulsa.com.

Full Service Estate Planning Law Firm

Trusts, Wills, Gift and Tax Planning, Powers of Attorneys and more! With offices in Sand Springs and Tulsa. Discount to Veterans and Retired Teachers. Willing to meet you in your place for no extra charge! Call Penni of the Skillern Law Firm at (918) 805-2511. www.skillernlaw.com

Protect Your Family. Preserve Your Legacy. Whether you are planning your estate or need help with a loved one who may be financially exploited, South Tulsa Law will represent you effectively and compassionately. We work in all areas of estate planning and probate, trusts and trust litigation, guardianship, and elder exploitation. Call (918) 512-1800 or visit www.southtulsalaw.com

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

INVACARE Electric Hospital Bed Pkg

Convenient for both user and caregiver to adjust body position and bed height. Solace foam mattress. Full-length detachable rails. Like new. $650 Call (405) 473-8239 or (918) 850-3694.

WHEEL CHAIR For Sale

Like new INVACARE TRACER IV 22 X 18. Can be adjusted from 18 wide to 22. See to appreciate. South Tulsa. $295. CALL (918) 346-4505.

MOVERS

Tulsa Movers

Dependable Movers! Low Rates. Free Estimates. Senior Discounts. Call (918) 836-3225.

NOTARY

Notary Services Available

24/7 Notary available. Never closed. Will come to your home. Will go to hospitals, nursing homes, private homes as needed. Call Joanne at (918) 282-8230.

PERSONAL ASSISTANCE

AFFORDABLE ORGANIZING

Too busy to stay organized? Overwhelmed? Return harmony to your home and life. We help with: Downsizing, relocating (pack & unpack). Set up home office, nurseries, dorms. One room or entire house. Monthly maintenance. Disperse unwanted possessions, electronics, chemicals. Seasonal transitioning. Prepare for guests. Call Pat at Organize to Harmonize:

(918) 200-5991.

Home Health Services

Tulsa’s Affordable Home Care offer’s compassionate, quality home care services to individuals. We provide the following services: personal care, bathing and dressing, companionship, exercise, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal planning and preparation, oral and personal hygiene, respite care for family caregivers. Please call (918) 622-7820 and schedule a free consultation!!!

Ms PAC Ma’am

Need help packing or organizing? I can pack boxes for moving, downsizing or decluttering. I can help organize rooms, closets, attics or garages providing you more space. Flexible hours – day or evening. Lots of experience. References available. Jacki (918) 922-9558.

Warshaw Group Concierge and Personal Assistance

For the past 18 years, we’ve made life much easier for our clients. From running errands, personal shopping/delivery, organizing spaces, event assistance, research projects, increasing home safety, administrative/secretarial support, and much more ... we can do it! Bob and I would like to speak with you about ways we can simplify your life. Call Bobbi, (918) 852-5302. bobbi.warshaw@att.net

PERSONAL SAFETY

Safety Grab Bar Supply and Installation

Including handicap accessories for Residential, Commercial, Decorative, Indoor/Outdoor, Stairways, Bathrooms, and more. Secure your space, whether existing, remodeling or new construction, we handle it all. Call before you fall! Free Estimates. Licensed & Insured with over 20 years experience. Grab Bars of Tulsa, (918) 619-7324.

PERSONAL SERVICES

Affordable Hairstyling In-Home or My Shop

With 37 years’ experience, I can help with all of your hairstyling needs. I will come to your home or you can come to my shop. In-shop special: haircut $7 for first time customers only and perms for $50. Senior special pricing can’t be beat! Available Tuesday –Saturday. A Mane Event hairstyling, located near 11th and Yale at 937 South Canton. Call Mary Wilkinson at (918) 834-2686. Following CDC Guidelines – safe environment.

Salon Retro

Hair care for men and women, specializing in senior clients. This month’s special - First time customers receive one of the following for $15: Haircut or Manicure. $50 for one cut and perm. Pedicures are $25. Very Experienced Hairdressers! In

shop services only, come see us in Midtown at Highland Plaza, 5661 East 41st Street (corner of 41st and Hudson). (918) 742-3440.

PET CARE

Dog Walker

The Woof Pack Tulsa: Dependable dog walking services for your four-legged family in Tulsa. Helping you take care of your furry friends when you’re out! We offer dog walking and pet pop-ins. Insured. Call or text us at (918) 770-6699. Visit our website at www.thewoofpacktulsa.com.

Home Veterinary Care

Experience Tulsa’s most convenient veterinary service i n the comfort of your own home. Our goal is to develop a personal relationship with each of our clients and patients. Contact us today to schedule your house call appointment. Call (918) 892-9382 or email DrFielstra@gmail.com or visit us at www.homevetcaretulsa.com.

SENIOR MOVE

Imagine a Life Without Chaos

Downsizing, Decluttering, Move Management, Estate Sales, Selling the Family Home. Call today (918) 605-1480. www.MatureTransitionsofTulsa.com.

SOCIAL CHURCH START UP

Come to meetings at 2:00pm, Sunday afternoons, to help start up a church for Christian Evolutionists in Tulsa. We meet at Eduardo's Mexican Restaurant near 21st and Sheridan. Call Mona Put Put at (918) 370-6272 for details.

Single Seniors (50+)

Are you over 50, single, divorced or widowed? We are a fun-loving group of single seniors over 50. We meet every Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Buffet Palace, 10934 East 21st Street. We eat at 11:15, have a short meeting and then play cards. Join us for great fun and fellowship. Questions, call Linda at (918) 955-9180.

TRANSPORTATION

My Driver Transportation Service

Let me do the driving. To and from work, airport, shopping, errands, post office, appointments. Also, LIFT VAN transportation available. Able to assist getting to and from bed. Senior sitting. Also, small breed dog boarding. 20 years experience. CLEET certified and licensed. References. Member, Better Business Bureau. (918) 491-9929.

PREMIUM SENIOR TRANSPORT NOW AVAILABLE

Entrusted Transport provides non-emergency medical & senior transportation services throughout Oklahoma. Our drivers are courteous & highly professional. We assist riders all the way to check-in at your

appointment OR to home, just like family would! Wheelchair vehicles available. Call (918) 290-3400, Schedule Rides Any Date & Time. EntrustedTransport.com.

VACATION SPOT

Family Fun at Meadow Lake Ranch!

The ranch has everything from authentic log cabins (complete with private patios & waterfront views) to venues ideal for celebrations & family gatherings. Enjoy fishing, walking trails, ranch activities, & s’mores by the fire! We are located just 15 minutes from Downtown Tulsa, & 20 minutes from Keystone Lake. Call Susie at (918) 494-6000 for a personal event tour. Visit www.meadowlakeranch.com or email meadowlakeranch@cox.net.

VOLUNTEER

JUST DO IT!

If you’ve been looking for a way you can make a difference, consider joining the Millennium Hospice team as a volunteer. Caregiver relief is so important during this difficult time. Volunteers provide that by sitting with patients for an hour or so. Training is provided. (918) 493-6555.

Volunteer for LIFE

Discover the variety of volunteer opportunities that LIFE Senior Services has to offer. Whether you want to volunteer within the organization or with one of our local non-profit or public agencies, we can find the best fit for you. (918) 664-9000.

JULY ANSWERS

For puzzles, see pages 30-31

COMMONYMS

CLASSIFIEDS

TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT:

Bernie Dornblaser (918) 664-9000, ext. 1206 or bdornblaser@LIFEseniorservices.org

BAMBOOZABLES

IN MEMORY OF Phyllis

Aschim

In Memory of Gerry Yolz

Pat Atkinson

In Honor of Helen Jo Hardwick

Pamela Bonomi

In honor of LIFE Senior Services

Maxine T. Earnhardt

In memory of William R. Earnhardt

Ronald Gibson

In Memory of Sharon Gibson

Norma Hollaway

In Honor of W. Fred Hollaway

Joan McKeel

In Honor of Almeda Roach

Pat Morris

In Honor of all those that work at LIFE

Kathleen and Bardwell Moss

In Memory of Helen Jo Hardwick

Wayne and Geraldine Mouser

In Memory of Jane Hamilton

Nina E. O'Shaughnessy

In Memory of Dora and Ed

Anita Pancook

In Memory of Arthur Pancook

Robert and Mary Ann Perkins

In Honor of Richard F. Rodgers

John and Karen Ravenscroft

In Memory of Nancy Koons

Iva Reynolds

In Honor of John T. Reynolds – My darling husband

Robert Sears

In Memory of Steve Johnson

Christine Smith

In Memory of Troy and Irma Smith

Mrs. Barbara Sylvan

In memory of Dave Sylvan

Raymond Walker

In Memory of Helen Nichols And Dorothy Walker

Carmella Warburton

In Memory of Ruth Kaiser Nelson

Andrew and Nancy Wolov

In Memory of Helen Jo Hardwick

David G. Zucconi

In Memory of Toni