19 minute read
celebration.............................. pages 4,12 16th-20th Holiday Happening 24th Thanksgiving Day
Seeds of Hope
www.SowerMinistries.org GUIDO EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION
There once was a dog named Nipper, a terrier who was devoted to his master, Mark Barraud. The two were best friends and were rarely seen apart. When Mark died, his brother Francis adopted him, and after a lengthy period of mourning, Nipper became attached to Francis, who was an artist. Eventually they too developed a close relationship.
Mark and Francis lived in the latter 1800s and at that time phonographs with wax cylinders were used for recording voices and music. Some of Francis’ cylinders contained recordings of his voice, and each time he played one of his recordings, Nipper would place his head near the phonograph and look intently into it as though he was looking for his new master to appear. Nipper’s pose inspired the artist, and he painted a picture of it that became one of the most famous and recognizable brands in the world, called “His Master’s Voice.”
In Psalm 99:7 we read, “He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud.” What an unusual means of communication. Imagine walking through a fi eld and suddenly hearing a cloud call you by name and give you a special message. Seems improbable, but that’s what God did to Moses and Aaron. And he can do that today.
Our God is constantly speaking to us in diff erent ways at diff erent times and from diff erent places. He will do everything he can to get our attention and share his message with us.
Merciful pardon
A soldier in a combat zone learned that his wife was desperately ill and not expected to live. He applied for emergency leave but was denied. After a sleepless night, he decided he would desert his post and fellow soldiers and go to her bedside. As he was leaving his barracks, he was apprehended and placed in the stockade. A few weeks later he was ordered to stand trial. After the evidence was presented to the judge and jury, he was found guilty and condemned to death for leaving his post. “I understand, Sir,” he said to the judge “that I left my post and deserted my colors. I deserve the verdict of the court.” The judge asked, “Do you have anything more to say?” “No, your honor,” came the reply. “Well, I do,” said the judge. “There is something more to say.” And he read the soldier a pardon.
Standing tall and fi lled with gratitude, he began to weep violently for the mercy the court off ered him.
In humility he off ered his gratitude, and saluted the judge. He was then restored to duty and returned to combat.
But because of God’s great love, he off ers a pardon through the death of his son. It was his son, who on our behalf, accepted punishment, rescued us, and set us free from the penalty of death.
Holiday Happening is set for Nov. 1620, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. It off ers a festive way to kick off the holiday season. The fi ve-day event, always held the week before Thanksgiving, features more than 130 merchants, specialty ticketed events, silent auctions, and more. Holiday Happening serves as the primary fundraiser for the Junior League of Lubbock. For more information call 806-7948874 or email info@jllubbock.com.
Funding by Newby Family
John W. Culberson, MD
Assoc. Professor of Family & Community Medicine Texas Tech Health Sciences Center Wednesday, November 2nd, Noon 6630 S Quaker Ave., Suite G All sessions are in person and open to the public.
For ZOOM please use the link... https://ttuhsc.zoom.us/j/93712419544 Available by computer, tablet or phone
Hidden injuries cause pain in more places than sports
It’s well known that athletes hide injuries, but they’re not the only group known to do this.
Performers like dancers keep injury secrets, and so do workers in all types of jobs.
These groups might seem diverse, but they have a lot in common when we look at the reasons they hide injuries.
Stigma is the first reason people hide injuries. There have been big improvements in the culture around sports, performing arts, and worker’s comp, but some people still have the old “no pain, no gain” attitude. To some people, reporting an injury is an act of weakness, or a way of letting the team down.
In addition to this internal pressure, there can also be external pressure from coaches, parents, teammates, supervisors, or fans to keep playing or working.
The second reason people hide injuries is because they’re afraid of what they’ll lose. With the focus on head injuries in recent years, athletes who get hit in the head know if they report concussion symptoms, they’re com-
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.
ing out of the game. Workers who get hurt on the job fear loss of pay, or loss of their job. Performers who get hurt might fear that their replacement will outshine them on the stage and take their place.
When it comes to reporting injuries, athletes have a third incentive not to report being hurt - competitive advantage. If an opposing team knows a player is injured, and what the injury is, they might be able to take advantage of it. For example, if a football team has a running quarterback that has an ankle injury, it will change how the opposing defense plays.
These reasons all make some sense, but they’re also all shortsighted. Finishing a game, dancing tomorrow night, or working one more shift are never worth your long-term health. Hiding a minor injury can turn it into a major one. It’s never weak to report an injury, and you’re not letting your teammates, or co-workers down.
If you’re not up to your best, you owe it to the people counting on you to let them know. Letting a healthy player, performer, or worker take your place is the right thing to do. If you’re injured, don’t hide it! Let the right people know, then go to the right person for help - your physical therapist.
Call Physical Therapy Today at 806-771-8008.
Need a doc? www.LubbockMedGuide.com
Lubbock & area physicians - by specialty & alphabetically + hospitals & related medical services Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle
ACROSS
1. Second letter of the
Greek alphabet 5. Antiaircraft fire 9. Pertaining to sound reproduction 14. Greek goddess of the rainbow 15. Solitary 16. Pry 17. Deities 18. Youthful 20. Eccentric 21. Momentous 22. Column in the form of a man 24. Fairyland 28. Primordial giant in
Norse myth 29. Lees 31. Conclusion 32. Pitcher 33. Commmunication medium 34. Magazine 35. Ireland 36. Leg of lamb 37. Sector 38. Hurried 39. Peculiarity 40. Dreadful 41. Inquire of 42. Robust 43. Metal containers 44. Stanza of six lines 46. Hide 49. Remains of a ruin 52. Monetary unit of
Romania 53. Outward show 56. Web-footed aquatic bird 57. Chirp 58. Horse of mixed color 59. Continent 60. Containing tin 61. Springing gait 62. A person that uses
DOWN
1. Intolerant person 2. Become eroded 3. Children’s game 4. Donkey 5. Taste 6. Water-repellent cloth 7. Soon 8. Salmon that has spawned 9. Relieve 10. Aunt’s husband 11. Female deer 12. Electrically charged atom 13. Choose 19. Result 21. Islamic chieftain 23. So be it 25. Merciless 26. Silly 27. Verge 29. Motherless calf 30. Public disturbance 32. Efface 33. Phial 35. Periods of history 36. Abrading tool 37. Bluish white metallic element 39. Treatment of disease 40. Inhabitant of Denmark 43. Believable 45. Between 46. Source of cocoa 47. Lofty nest 48. Pertaining to the moon 50. Vehicles 51. Gnarl 53. Statute 54. 21st letter of the
Greek alphabet 55. Writing instrument 56. 19th letter of the
Greek alphabet
Golden Gazette • November 2022 • Page 19 What happens when older adults struggle to make ends meet?
By Katherine G. Giefer & Michael D. King
The vast majority of the nation’s 54 million adults ages 65 and over participate in Social Security (86%) and Medicare (93%) — social insurance programs designed to provide nearly-universal coverage of the older population.
But what happens when these social insurance benefits, along with retirement payments and savings, are not enough? What about those not eligible for Social Security or Medicare?
They rely on needs-based assistance that support people with limited resources.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 6 older adults participated in a wide range of needs-based assistance programs, according to an analysis of recently released data from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).
These numbers reveal the importance of the social safety net for economically vulnerable older adults, a need that may be amplified by the economic fallout of the pandemic.
These findings provide context about the experi-
The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. Chocolate is vital for our survival. Dinosaurs didn’t eat chocolate and look what happened to them.
ences of adults ages 65 and over prior to the pandemic and will serve as a baseline for comparisons as additional data become available.
Benefit sources
We examined formal government assistance, as well as assistance offered through nonprofits, churches, and other local programs and found that older people piece together benefits from different assistance programs to meet basic needs.
These needs-based assistance programs fall into four categories: • Health insurance through Medicaid. • Nutrition assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other food assistance programs. • Shelter assistance in the form of rental subsidies, energy assistance or other housing assistance programs. • Cash assistance through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or state- and county-level General Assistance (GA) programs.
Who are the older Americans receiving needs-based assistance?
Among older adults getting both Social Security and Medicare in 2019, 16% received needs-based assistance from one of the four categories, an indication that social insurance programs may not be enough for some older adults.
However, 9 million adults ages 65 and over did not receive both Social Security and Medicare, relying on only one or the other — or neither.
Almost a quarter of these adults participated in at least one type of needs-based assistance, highlighting the value of these benefits to those without the support of both Medicare and Social Security.
Among all adults ages 65 and over, those living alone, women, and racial and ethnic minorities were more likely to rely on needs-based assistance: • 27% of those living alone received at least one type of needs-based assistance compared to 13% of those who lived with other people. • 35% of older non-Hispanic Black adults and 39% of older Hispanic adults received needs-based assistance from at least one category compared to 11% of older non-Hispanic White adults.
What needs-based assistance programs are older Americans benefiting from?
Medicaid was the most common type of needs-based assistance received by those ages 65 and over. About 10% received Medicaid, either as a supplement or an alternative to Medicare.
Approximately 9% participated in some form of nutrition assistance. SNAP was the most common type, either alone or in combination with other food aid.
Nearly 8% of older adults received some type of shelter assistance and 5% received cash assistance from SSI or GA. (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is not included because older Americans rarely have children under age 18.)
Some of these differences reflect varying availability of each needs-based assistance program.
For example, SNAP is available to all who meet eligibility requirements, but not everyone who is eligible applies. On the other hand, not all eligible applicants receive rental assistance because the number of rental subsidies available is limited.
Other programs, like Medicaid, have eligibility guidelines that vary by state.
Older Americans piece together combinations of needs-based assistance
Of the 1 in 6 older Americans who received needsbased assistance, half received just one type.
The other half received support from multiple types: 16% got three of the four types and 8% participated in programs across all four areas of needs-based assistance.
Among the older adults receiving any needs-based assistance, Medicaid was the most common with 57% participating, either alone or in combination with assistance from other categories.
Additionally, 54% received nutrition assistance, 44% received shelter assistance and 27% received cash assistance.
Needs-based assistance received from each category was at least two times more likely to be received in combination with other types of assistance than to be received alone.
Some older adults’ needsbased assistance packages may indicate difficulty affording health care, food, shelter and other necessities.
These findings highlight the value of SIPP for analyzing patterns of program participation in the United States. More information about the data can be found on the SIPP website.
- Katherine G. Giefer and Michael D. King are survey statisticians in the Census Bureau’s Program Participation and Income Transfers Branch.
Page 20 • November 2022 • Golden Gazette New surgical technologies benefit patients at Covenant
In 2022, Covenant Medical Center, in partnership with Covenant Medical Group, added several new surgical services to enhance patient care.
Ion technology
When it comes to lung cancer detection, patients now have the option for a safer and minimally invasive biopsy. With Ion technology, physicians can perform robotic assisted bronchoscopy with an ultra-thin catheter, reaching all 18 segments of the lungs.
This biopsy can help physicians determine if a nodule or lump is benign or cancerous. With early detection, survival rates of lung cancer are about 50-60% higher than cancers detected at an advanced stage.
“Ion robotic bronchoscopy provides us a new way to safely sample suspicious lesions at an earlier stage,” Covenant Medical Group Pulmonologist and Critical Care Specialist Dr. Brian Williams said. “It’s precision, stability, and small diameter allows us to reach areas of the lungs that previously we have not been able to access.”
Ion procedures started at Covenant Medical Center in September.
Aquablation
Aquablation therapy is a new process/procedure that Covenant Medical Group urologists use when treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is when the prostate is enlarged, but non-cancerous, causing a blockage of the urinary tract, sometimes resulting in bladder, urinary tract, and kidney infection.
It is estimated around 40 million men in the U.S. suffer from BPH, and the condition is the number one reason men visit a urologist.
Aquablation is an imageguided system that allows the surgeon to map the areas of the prostate that need to be resected using a heatfree water jet to precisely remove the excess prostate tissue without damaging the remaining tissue.
Aquablation procedures started at Covenant Medical Center in June.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Covenant Medical Group is also upgrading its Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at Covenant. The machine, a 1.5T, is now the most advanced of its kind in the region. The upgrade makes for clearer imaging and faster imaging time, allowing more patients to be treated each day.
The upgrade allows for motion-correction and freebreathing exams, meaning patients don’t have to lie incredibly still or hold their breath during the procedure.
In addition to 3-dimensional MRI imaging of the head, neck, spine, and torso, upper and lower extremities can now also be imaged.
WATCHMAN FLX
Finally, in 2022, Covenant Medical Group cardiologists at CMC started inserting permanent heart implants to help reduce the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Blood thinner medication is typically the treatment for those with atrial fibrillation. While effective, blood thinners can have some significant side effects. By using the WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) device which is an alternative to blood thinner medication, patients still see a significant reduction in their risk of stroke, without the side effects that come along with medication.
Watchman procedures started at Covenant in early 2022.
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Looking for voLunteers
University Medical Center is looking for volunteers to work as messengers, pop popcorn, and work at the information desk. If you would like to meet new people, socialize, be appreciated, and have all the free popcorn you can eat, call, 806775-8760. 6/17
resthAven Lot
Great location. Section AA, Lot 190. Space 3. Retails for $5,195. Our offer $3,500. We pay transfer fee. Call 806-5005281.
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And from the church bulletin:
This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
Back in Business!!
Professional ironing at reasonable rates.
$150 per item usually. Larger items rate will vary. Call 806-748-6266 leave a message (I will be ironing)
resthAven Lots
Resthaven lots Section No. F, spaces 3 & 4. Two lots $6,000 or best offer. Call 806-795-5123, Leave a message 2/22
Cemetery PLots
3 cemetery plots for sale in Seminole. $300 each. Call 432788-7322.
6/21
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2 Resthaven adjoining burial plots. $4,000 for both. Call 806785-1991.
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Frame repairs, new lenses, new frames and/or adjustments. Serving West Texas since 1977! midwest optical, 253334th, 806-797-5534 1/22
voLunteering?
Covenant Health and Covenant Children’s are in need of volunteers. Donate a morning or afternoon each week to help serve patients and families! If interested, call Lauren Orta, 806-725-3309, or email ortalh1@covhs.org 3/19 BALAnCe trAining system
New 60up Balance board training system $125. More info available at www.60up. com. Improve balance & help prevent falls. Located NW (Shadow Hills) Lubbock. Text or call 940-207-0373 if interested. 6/22
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Professional manicures & pedicures. Top quality products & services. Promoting healthy nails. 20 years experience. Call Alicia at 806-317-5226. 2/17
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Page 22 • November 2022 • Golden Gazette
Common factors affecting retirement income
When it comes to planning for retirement income, it’s easy to overlook some common factors that can affect how much you’ll have available to spend.
If you don’t consider how your retirement income can be impacted by investment risk, inflation risk, catastrophic illness or long-term care, and taxes, you may not be able to enjoy the retirement you envision.
Investment risk
Different types of investments carry different risks. Sound retirement income planning involves understanding these risks and how they can influence your available income in retirement.
Investment or market risk is the risk that fluctuations in the securities market may result in the reduction and/ or depletion of the value of your retirement savings. If you need to withdraw from your investments to supplement your retirement income, two important factors in determining how long your investments will last are the amount of the withdrawals you take and the growth and/or earnings your investments experience. You might base the anticipated rate of return of your investments on the presumption that market fluctuations will average out over time, and estimate how long your savings will last based on an anticipated, average rate of return.
Unfortunately, the market doesn’t always generate positive returns. Sometimes there are periods lasting a few years or longer when the market provides negative returns. During these periods, constant withdrawals from your savings combined with prolonged negative market returns can result in the depletion of your savings far sooner than planned.
Reinvestment risk is the risk that proceeds available for reinvestment must be reinvested at an interest rate that’s lower than the rate of the instrument that generated the proceeds. This could mean you have to reinvest at a lower rate of return, or take on additional risk to achieve the same level of return. This type of risk is often associated with fixed interest savings instruments such as bonds or bank certificates of deposit. When the instrument matures, comparable instruments may not be paying the same return or a better return as the matured investment.
Interest rate risk occurs when interest rates rise and the prices of some existing investments drop. For example, during periods of rising interest rates, newer bond issues will likely yield higher coupon rates than older bonds issued during periods of lower interest rates, thus decreasing the market value of the older bonds. You also might see the market value of some stocks and mutual funds drop due to interest rate hikes because some investors will shift their money from these stocks and mutual funds to lower-risk fixed investments paying higher interest rates compared to prior years.
Inflation risk
Inflation is the risk that the purchasing power of a dollar will decline over time, due to the rising cost of goods and services. If inflation runs at its historical long-term average of about 3%, the purchasing power of a given sum of money will be cut in half in 23 years. If it jumps to 4%, the purchasing power is cut in half in 18 years.
A simple example illustrates the impact of inflation on retirement income. Assuming a consistent annual inflation rate of 3 percent, and excluding taxes and investment returns in general, if $50,000 satisfies your retirement income needs this year, you’ll need $51,500 of income next year to meet the same income needs. In 10 years, you’ll need about $67,195 to equal the purchasing power of $50,000 this year. Therefore, to outpace inflation, you should try to have some strategy in place that allows your income stream to grow throughout retirement.
Long-term care expenses
Long-term care may be needed when physical or mental disabilities impair your capacity to perform everyday basic tasks. As life expectancies increase, so does the potential need for long-term care.
Paying for long-term care can have a significant impact on retirement income and savings, especially for the healthy spouse. While not everyone will need long-term care, ignoring the possibility of such care and failing to plan for it could leave you or your spouse with little or no income or savings. If you buy long-term care insurance, don’t forget to factor the premium cost into your retirement income needs.
A complete statement of coverage, including exclusions, exceptions, and limitations, is found only in the long-term care policy. Carriers have the discretion to raise their rates and remove their products from the marketplace.
The costs of catastrophic care
As the number of em-
