2012 July / Boomer Buzz Magazine by BoomerBuzz Magazine

CHILD AT HEART Summer Time Barbeque! My American Heroes

When Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary boomers...living life to the fullest JULY 2012

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CONTENTS

JULY IN THIS ISSUE

EDITOR’S LETTER FEATURE HEALTHY BALANCE AT HOME THE EPICUREAN STYLE WATCH BOOM VOYAGE REDEFINING WEALTHY & WISE BOOMER BUZZ BLOG SPEAK MEDICAL MATTERS SENIOR SCENE

214.934.2616

6 10 12 16 21 22 28 30 32 34 41 46 49

Spring Introduction Child at Heart Safe, Healthy 4th of July & Summer Summer Decorating Ideas ABC’s of Summer Grilling Aphrodisiac ABC’s: Orange Blossom Family Vacation Puerto Rico When Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary Baby Boomer Women Control MOST My American Heroes Feelings of Joy What Stands Between You & the Surgery Budget Decorating Tips

info@boomerbuzzmagazine.com

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EDITOR

PUBLISHER’S LETTER We are proud to bring you the fifth issue of Boomer Buzz Magazine, July 2012, our salute to America! It is a time for celebration of family, friends and country and to us at Boomer Buzz a call for acknowledgement and recognition of all of you who make this publication possible. We are flooded with excitement and pride for all we have accomplished in a few short months and for what is to come the rest of the year. In this issue you will find uplifting features which will conjure up memories of summers long past, but clearly remembered. As a child growing up in Charlotte, N.C. we always knew Fourth of July would be packed with picnics and bar-b-ques, watermelon and fireworks, family and the whole neighborhood! Our issue offers one writer’s memories of her American heroes, her dad and grandfather, who were both recognized soldiers, while another writer remembers being a child at heart. She shares a fabulous summer watermelon recipe, too! And there is Summer Time Barbeque and the A,B,C’s of Grilling. You will gain a glimpse of Jeff Senour, whose rock band, CTS (Consider the Source) is on a constant journey to change the world and touch lives in a positive way with their music. And nationally recognized speaker and freelance writer, Scott Schilling, truly makes you think differently about one door closing! You will also find decorating ideas for summer - inside the house and out, exciting information on Sharon Young Originals, clothing for women, and wonderful family vacations. And each issue of Boomer Buzz Magazine now offers exceptional information on aging seniors, and even boomers, with features specifically geared toward this segment of our population. With boomers gaining in numbers, and aging parents to assist, it is our goal to provide the latest information on general topics of interest and concern. In August watch for our new series with pertinent information on everything from A to Z. As we turn the air conditioning down, start the patio misters and prepare to celebrate our freedoms, we at Boomer Buzz Magazine wish you a Happy 4th of July and a cool summer!

Let us hear from you on or about any topic and thanks for reading,

Robin Roberson Publisher

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PUBLISHER Robin Roberson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Micki Sander

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Linda Moncrief

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mariah Scott Rushing

CREATIVE DESIGN LiquidFly Designs

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Becca Menig Mariah Scott Rushing

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Julese Crenshaw Matt Barr Kathleen Corcoran Julese Crenshaw Ayo Fashola Sandra Faleris Dr. Burt Hayslip Michele Howe Michele Howe Jillian Jacks Jillian Jacks Beverly Jones Beverly Jones Sonja Kabell Sonja Kabell Becca Menig Dr.Beverly Andrew Larson Moore DeeDee Lowder

Becca Menig Erik Nep IreneOsentowski Olson Michelle Peter Ottowitz Jet Parker Jet Parker Micki Sander Theresa Payton Scott Schilling Micki Sander Ayala Sender Scott Schilling Cynthia Stock Cynthia Stock Emma Riley Sutton Lindsey Townsend Elana Wilson MaryLou Walston

ALL ALL RIGHTS RIGHTS RESERVED. RESERVED. REGISTRATION REGISTRATION ON ON OR OR USE USE OF OF THIS THIS MAGAZINE MAGAZINE CONSTITUTES CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE ACCEPTANCE OF OF BOOMER BOOMER BUZZ BUZZ MAGAZINE’S MAGAZINE’S USER USER AGREEMENT AGREEMENT AND AND PRIVACY PRIVACY POLICY. POLICY. THE THE MATERIALS MATERIALS ON ON THIS THIS SITE SITE MAY MAY NOT NOT BE BE REPRODUCED, REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED CACHED OR OR OTHERWISE OTHERWISE USED, USED, EXCEPT EXCEPT WITH WITH THE THE PRIOR PRIOR WRITTEN WRITTEN PERMISSION PERMISSION FROM FROM BOOMER BOOMER BUZZ BUZZ MAGAZINE. MAGAZINE.

FEATURE CHILD AT HEART

POSTED BY BECCA THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010 I live in Dallas but I left my heart In Florence, Italy. I’d like to thank you for reading.

DCI

Dimensional Construction,Inc. FEATURE CHILD AT HEART 11

from3906.blogspot.com

child at heart

Summer officially arrived a few days ago. It did not sneak through the screen door.....but slammed its way in, WAY ahead of schedule.

Watermelon & Red Onion Salad

Yessiree, we’re hitting record highs for June, here in Dallas.

half of a medium red onion 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 5 to 6 cups watermelon, cut into chunks salt & pepper mint black sesame seeds (optional)

Hot summers remind me of “the Betsy books” I read as a child. The stories revolved around a small group of neighborhood buddies and their mischievous adventures. Like the time they tried to fry an egg on the sidewalk.... Of course, I went out and tried it too.

Make an oil and vinegar dressing by mixing 1 measure of vinegar to 3 measures olive oil. Whisk together and set aside. (A ratio of 1 to 3 tablespoons should dress six cups of melon.) Peel the onion half and slice it very thin. In a small bowl, cover the onion slices with cold water and allow them to sit for about 20 minutes, changing the water several times. Drain, then pat the onions dry. Return them to their bowl (also dried) and pour the dressing over them, stirring to coat. Set aside. Cut the watermelon into chunks and place them in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the onions to the watermelon. Gently toss together. Tear fresh mint leaves over the salad and toss again. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.............just for fun!

In another story, someone in the group was having a birthday party and it was announced there would be a watermelon-seed contest. The kid who ended up with the most seeds from his or her slice of watermelon, would be declared the winner. That was a big deal back then. This one guy got smart and began eating as much watermelon as he could for days or weeks before the party, saving the seeds to assure himself a win. Problem was, he had the wrong color seeds tucked in his pocket. Cheater! These were the books that first made me consider there really might be something to this reading business. Paper and ink put me by Betsy’s side and I played with her and the gang all summer long. Admittedly, it’s been decades of summers since I read those stories. I now fry eggs in an All Clad skillet but don’t let that fool you; I’m still well prepared for a hot, playful summer. So, bring it on July; I double dare you! And hey June, don’t let that screen door hit you on your way out..........

HEALTHY BALANCE SUMMER SIZZLERS

SUMMER SIZZLERS SAFE HEALTHY 4TH OF JULY & SUMMER SPARKLERS SHELVED! Leave the fireworks to the professionals and put the sparklers on the shelf for a happy 4th of July celebration. As Boomers, you have wonderful memories of running around waving your sparklers in the air as your friends and family celebrated Independence Day. Now as you plan the 4th of July gathering, reconsider letting the kids play with sparklers. Fireworks are illegal in many cities, dry conditions contribute to fires, but most importantly those beautiful bursts of sparkling l i g h t exce e d 1 2 0 0 d e g re e s i n temperature – that is 300 degrees more than what it takes to melt glass! More fireworks related injuries were caused in 2010 by sparklers than any other consumer firework. Skip the sparklers and enjoy a safe healthy 4th of July!

THE HEAT IS ON! Exercise safely in the summer heat by understanding how best to avoid heat related illnesses such

as heat exhaustion, cramps and stroke. You MUST hydrate during your complete workout, not just at the beginning. H2O, electrolytes and supplements are not enough. Your body also requires sugar/ glycogen stores before and during your exercise regimen or you will physically crash! Kids are more s u s ce p t i b le t o h e a t i l l n e ss e s than adults because their central nervous system is not yet fully developed. During the summer months consider morning workouts, helping avoid the hottest part of the day and the late day ozone which can greatly affect breathing, or try indoor exercise like skating or mall walking. Add fitness to your workday by taking the stairs rather than the elevator, doing simple exercises at your desk, walking down the street for lunch or taking a walk around the office building for stress release and health benefits. Just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you have to get over-heated!

BEWARE OF SPF SPRAYS! It is important to take note sprayon aerosol sunscreen, and rubbed in to the skin – can catch on fire. While not flammable in its usual form, sunscreen sprayed out of an aerosol can - a la many brands of spray-on SPF protector – particles remain in the air, can burst into flames. So be sure if you have used these sprays on your children or yourself, you stay well away from the flames of the grill or campfire!

NO FOOD POISONING ON THE MENU One of the best ways to avoid food poisoning during the summer is to be sure foods that contain mayonnaise, milk, eggs, meat, poultry and seafood are not kept at room temperature for more than an hour or two (one hour max if it’s 90 degrees outside). Remember, raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems if not properly washed and stored. If you’re traveling with food, be sure to pack any raw meat separately from ready-to-eat foods to avoid contamination.

HEALTHY BALANCE FINDING HAPPINESS

Are You Finding Happiness Daily? by Elana Wilson

Finding happiness daily... In a continued effort to find a deeper and more lasting level of happiness living in Las Vegas, NV or anywhere…it is important to remain vigilant. Look for daily things in your life, even small amounts of joy. Include in your daily life things to bring you joy.

reacting to the ups and downs instead of accepting the downs and working on getting back to the ups. Find happiness in your life daily, especially in the down times.

We often get so focused on living our lives, dealing with stressors, trying to handle negative situations or just survival, time to “smell the roses” is all but impossible. So focus on the tiny little things through the day.

Remember...

Hearing “I love you” from your significant other, child or relative; getting a note from a friend or watching a great movie. Sometimes in the dark times it is hard to see these small positives and focus on the happiness. Then create your own - listen to a music station you enjoy and helps you feel calm, allow yourself dessert or take-out when stressed. Call a friend and vent. It is important to grab the opportunities when presented. Happiness is easy to find and catch ,it is very difficult to maintain. Life is a roller coaster, the ups and downs can start running together until life is

1. Know what makes you happy 2. Set your priorities 3. Change your mind-set to something positive 4. Change your perspective of situations or people. All of these things are linked together and will help you move towards happiness.

Elana Wilson is a freelance writer living in Las Vegas. Her calling has been in social services andshe has professionally helped individuals and families dealing with mental health and developmental disorders since 1996.

HEALTHY BALANCE LETTING GO

recently spoke to a group of caregivers both family and professional on the topic of Letting Go and Letting Do. My aim was to help caregivers see the value of empowering the person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia rather than do everything for them. Think of what you’d feel like if someone took away your control of your life in ways you knew with a bit of help you could stay in charge of by yourself. Some of us would be saddened; others angered. This can be the response of people with dementia. One might just give in, lacking the ability to resist verbally. Another might react angrily, demanding control. Whatever the person’s coping style was when they were well is what they will use when cognitively impaired. This is exactly what happens when caregivers, seeking to be helpful, or in the service of saving time, disempower a person by taking over tasks now a bit harder to accomplish. Acts of aggression are most often caused by the person with dementia feeling someone is taking away control. People need to feel in control of their life and their things. Let’s take dressing or bathing for example, two activities that usually take some thinking through, so the person with dementia needs more time to figure out the steps. If a caregiver ‘takes over’ and decides what the person will wear or when they will bathe, the act is taking over rather than aiding the person to do it themselves. Giving them a choice of what they want to wear (limiting the choice to two to make it easier for them), or asking if they want to bathe before or after breakfast can eliminate resistance and give back a sense of control. Setting up a place with visual cues helps. Clothing laid out on a bed in the order they go on can help a person dress independently longer. Having the shower ready in a warmed room with items needed in full view can ‘jump start’ a person to do what is requested. This letting go of control, and letting them do is respectful. All caregivers need to learn how to respectfully take charge of the caregiving but give as much control to the person as is safely possible. Caregiving then becomes easier and more enjoyable for both the caregiver and the care recipient. Personhood is preserved. So is the relationship between care giver and care recipient. Beverly Moore, RN, MA, CS - Beverly is owner and manager of Sweet Grapes, Inc. dbaStilMee, the leader in Alzheimer coaching. Beverly is a psychiatric nurse, family therapist and author of Matters of the Mind…and the Heart by Strategic Book Publishing, New York 2009. Go to www.StilMee.com for information, resources and writings on Alzheimer’s disease.

AT HOME SUMMER DECORATING IDEAS

Summer Decorating Ideas Summer is a great time for your interior decorating to reflect the change in seasons. Create a seasonal feeling in your homes with a few simple steps. Just changing your table cloth, your door decoration and your flower pots will reflect a feeling of the summer season. Remember you aren’t staging your home to sell and you are not decorating for HGTV, you want to show who you are; let your personality shine! Your home is your nest, comfort zone and very own spot in this world that is uniquely yours. Home should be all about you and your family. Buy things just because they feel good. Surround yourself with pieces you love. Americana themes are popular for summer, to get that feeling use items found around the house or purchased locally. Have you seen the stars at the home decorating stores? They are great for adding Americana touches. Designed to hang on the wall; try hanging three or five in assorted sizes. Drape one on a porch wall and proudly fly a flag for summer commemorative days, like 4th of July. Change out your throws or pillows with a summer colors like white or blue, peach or yellow. Throw in these color then drape it on the couch or use as a table cloth. Place accessories around your home to remind you it is summer. I like to focus on decorating with all of the senses. Think about changing your home scent to pick up the season; burn apple pie scented candles or use them in simmering pots. Have some cinnamon sticks in your cupboard? They will do just as well. Not a fan of apples scent? Select a scent like Summer Breeze or Fresh Linen. Candles are another great way to show color too. Let home be an extension of your summer adventures. Hang art purchased at a favorite location you visited or make a collage of vacation photographs for family and friends to enjoy. Most importantly, enjoy your summer home. Summer goes by quickly!

by Jillian Jacks

Change Up Ideas Store Firewood Uniquely Out of season stack your leftover wood — artfully — in your fireplace. Create a Decorative Outdoor Space Hang a mirror in your outdoor room. Use a Different Kind of Vase Arrange your flowers in anything but a vase: Go through your pantry and find a pitcher, a tureen, a mug, a teacup. Bring the Outdoors In Bring your favorite piece of outdoor furniture indoors. Spray Paint a Chandelier Find a tired old bargain brass chandelier at a thrift shop or antiques shop. Spray paint it white. Or a color, if you are brave enough. Split Up Matching Lamps Split up the pair of lamps on either side of your sofa. Buy a floor lamp for your sofa and use the pair in different corners of your room. Arrange Bouquets on a Budget Pull apart a big inexpensive mixed bouquet from the supermarket. Group similar flowers and put them in small vases. You’ll have some for every room.

AT HOME PATIO TRENDS

Trends in Patio Design by Erik Nep

Think Fire and Water for an up-to-the-minute patio. The hottest upgrades to outdoor rooms right are fire pits and water features. The American Society of Landscape Architects says” homeowners are redesigning their patios to make them more comfortable to use all year long”

TEN changes to make your patio your favorite room at home: 1. Light the night. Manufacturers have upped inventory of patio and deck lights to offer an array of lowvoltage fixtures, as eye-catching during the light of day as they are after dark. Think function: Lights near stairways, steps, deck edges and on railing posts will help you and your guests navigate the area safely once the sun goes down while shedding plenty of light on your cooking and dining areas. 2. Fire it up. Pits and fireplaces are becoming must-haves for ambience and warmth on chilly late fall evenings. Save the expense of building an outdoor fireplace or barbecue by installing a pre-fab version that looks just as nice as custom-built. Stone-look fireplaces and outdoor ovens come in kits that allow you to install them in just a couple of hours. 3. Go for a grill- almost every deck has one. Opt for a built-in version or save a few bucks with a portable, store-bought barbecue. Price range from $90 for a kettle-style charcoal grill to $4,200 for a top-of-theline gas grill with an infrared burner and double side burners. Choose a model with some space for food prep. 4. Have a seat. If you like to eat and entertain outdoors, a table with a few chairs won’t give everyone a place to sit. Consider building in some benches, adding perimeter walls that are sturdy enough to sit on and picking out an outdoor “living room” set—a couch, chairs and coffee table—built to withstand sun, heat and rain.

5. Turn on the water. Decorative water elements like ornamental pools, splash pools, waterfalls, hot tubs and swimming pools have gotten popular as Americans take more “staycations” they use their patios more often. 6. Minimize maintenance. Choose low-maintenance landscaping, including native plants that need little or no watering, You can spend your weekends enjoying your patio and yard rather than working it. Select pavers for your patio floor, and you won’t need to spend time and money sealing it. For decks, consider composite boards that never need painting. 7. Save the Earth. Native, drought-tolerant plants will help you save water. When you upgrade your patio and surrounding landscape invest in drip irrigation targeting just the plants needing water. Permeable pavers allow rain water to filter through to the ground instead of run-off into the street. Use solarpowered or LED patio lights; and recycled materials for benches and the patio floor. 8. Cover it up. Shade is needed to benefit using your patio year round; add an awning, put up a pergola or plant some leafy trees around your outdoor room to block the heat and the sun. 9. Get wired. Patios are for both indoor and outdoor activities. Upgrade your indoor modem to a wireless system so you can get a signal on your laptop or iPad while you’re sitting outside, and consider investing in a TV or theater system made from durable materials and designed with safety features that make it suitable for outdoor use. 10. Build a fence. Protect your private backyard oasis by building a fence or wall to keep prying eyes and curious animals from intruding on your open-air refuge. The “walls” you create will make the space feel more like another room of your house. With more than 15 years experience writing for print, online and broadcast media, Erik Nep is the Staff Writer for a home improvement show based in Phoenix, AZ. He’s also worked for FOX, CBS, ABC, the Tribune Newspaper and Scripps News.

AT HOME PATIO TRENDS

THE EPICUREAN BARBEQUE

THE EPICUREAN BARGEQUE

Summer Time Barbeque!

ummer is the time for fun in the sun, relaxing by the pool and family gatherings. Great news! You can have your summer barbecue and still enjoy healthy foods. Here’s the healthy twist on the family barbeque. Let’s talk about the main course first. When selecting meat, choose options like lean beef, pork, chicken and turkey. Buy lean cuts – loin, round or leg cuts. For chicken and turkey, remove the skin before grilling to avoid temptation. If eating ground meat, like your classic hamburger or turkey burger, go for lean choices 93% or 96% fat free. Buying lean will give you the entire flavor you want, just not all the fat and calories! You can also minimize the calories in your hamburger by buying flat hamburger buns. A regular bun is 240 calories verses flat buns for 120! Half the calories and still have all the flavor. Load it up with vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, bean sprouts and more! Fish is a great grilling choice – salmon, trout, tilapia, tuna, full of healthy omega vitamins, low in calories and fat. Cut out or minimize using oil to keep all your good intentions in tack. Using a cooking spray with 5 calories or less will work just as well as oil. A shrimp kabob loaded with vegetables like baby potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and onions is a great alternative to the traditional barbeque flair. You could add pineapple to your shrimp kabob for a refreshing summer taste! Keep it healthy - no fat or skin. Avoid sausages, hot dogs, chicken wings and meat marbled with fat like brisket… think lean. Grilling vegetables like corn, squash, zucchini, onions, asparagus, peppers, portabella mushrooms, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes are great choices to fill you up, taste great and help with the waistline.

by Sonja Kabell

What about the sauce? Dry seasonings are a better option versus high sugared sauces. For the side item, potato salad is a good choice, minimize high fat mayo with a lower fat version or non-fat Greek yogurt and mustard. Cole slaw is great filler, full of fiber and low fat as well as making swaps with the mayo, instead of adding sugar to the sauce, use stevia. The great thing is by making a few changes to the family barbeque; you can still uphold your pledge to be healthy and have fun with the family! Sonja Kabell, Weight Loss and Wellness Consultant, Founder, Creating Healthy Lifestyles, USANA Health Sciences, Reach her at: kskabell@ verizon.net.

Texas Dry Rub Courtesy of the Weber Big Book of Grill 2 T. paprika 2 T. light brown sugar 1 T. chili powder 1 T. kosher Salt 1 T. cracked black pepper 2 t. granulated garlic 2 t. granulated onion 1 t. ground cumin In a small bowl combine ingredients. Press the rub into both sides of the meat and refrigerate for 1 hour prior to grilling to intensify flavor. freelance writer.

STYLE WATCH ORANGE BLOSSOM

“When Adar comes in - happiness is increased” (mi’she’nichnas Adar marbinbe’simcha). Adar is the 6th month of the Jewish calendar (or the last... Depending if you start counting from Rosh Hashana or Passover!), and it’s when Purim is celebrated. It also has a very close name to the Hebrew name for citrus - Hadar. And - low and behold - it’s also the season for citrus to bloom in the Mediterranean region where I come from. At this time of the year - end of March and all through April - orange flowers and all things citrus permeate the air with their euphoric aroma, making even the gloomiest of souls feel all cheerful and optimistic. Orange Blossoms are a long-known aphrodisiacs, and they are the only flower I’ve chosen for the series this year, because although they are an exquisite and costly perfume, they are also readily available in their edible version: orange flower water. These are be readily sought at most Middle Eastern, Greek and Persian as well as East Indian grocers, and should be stored in the fridge of every foodie and perfumista and anyone seeking for pure natural beauty. I use these beautiful waters to spritz on my face every night (and also in the morning or during the day when it’s really dry - for example: when traveling by air). The fragrance is reviving, soothing and will make you feel 400% better than before applying it... Use it on its own after you cleansed or simply washed your face with water; or before applying your usual hydrating concoctions. All citrus blossoms smell heavenly, the species used for perfume are from Citrus Aurantium - the same tree that provides us with bitter orange peel oil (through expression of the zest), petitgrainbigarade (steam distillation of the leaves, twigs and often also the buds), and Neroli (the steam distilled essential oil of the same flowers). Furthermore, the distillate water (orange flower water) which I have just mentioned are processed with a solvent to produce an unusual product called orange flower water absolute. It’s a most resourceful tree, as you can see!

The absolute is floral and citrusy all at once, but richer, sweeter and warmer than the fresh and innocent, honeyed Neroli. It is opulent, intoxicating and considered one of the “white florals” along with tuberose, ylangylang, jasmine and narcissus. Orange blossom absolute shares some qualities with jasmine absolute (due to presence of both indole and methyl anthranilate) and is round, soft and slightly tart in my opinion is very true to the fresh orange blossoms, with some herbaceous and rich, honeyed undertones. It is an extremely versatile essence, and is used in both Oriental and floral compositions for women, where it’s luscious, narcotic floral qualities are accentuated; and is also a wonderful floral for masculine scents as well as fresh and dry Eau de Cologne types. Orange flowers have been traditionally used to scent bridal bouquets, and Neroli perfume was “prescribed” to brides on their white-wedding night to reduce the stress and anxiety before losing their virginity. It’s relaxing and stress-relieving qualities are also put into use with children - in the south of France children drink a concoction of steamed milk with honey and orange flower hydrosol to induce a restful sleep. At another time, neroli was used so often by Italian prostitutes, that the smell became extremely associated with promiscuity (similarly to how White Musk has become in the 80’s and 90’s)... Thankfully, those days are over and we can enjoy orange blossom’s seductive qualities with no negative associations. There are countless recipes for orange flower water in desserts and beverages. It is widely used in various Middle Eastern pastries (baklava) and spoon desserts (Malabi). Another creative way to use orange flower is in fruit salads (try it over strawberries or cantaloupe!) and even in vegetable salad vinaigrette for a refreshing yet surprisingly floral aroma. No matter how you use it, the orange blossom will definitely spice things up!

STYLE WATCH ORANGE BLOSSOM

Aphrodisiac ABC’s: Orange Blossom

By Ayala Sender

STYLE WATCH COLOGNE, FOR HER

It Is All for Her! Cologn

Men, let’s face it! We wear cologne for one reason… to impress the ladies, who all agree they like their men to smell good. Taking care of your scent is one of the most important grooming basics, you should always smell your best. The best way to test cologne is to simply go to the Mall and test them. However, cologne smells differently on different people, and it is important to know which cologne mixes well with your body scent. So it is not as simple taking a whiff then going directly to the cash register. The scent of most men’s cologne only works well with your natural body scent. Some cologne sends a strong scent and don’t work well on all guys, while others are too soft and fade quickly. Cologne has three stages which will give you different smells for each. They are top, middle and base notes. In the first stage, the fragrance is strong and will usually

disappear after 15 minutes, while the base note will still be smelled after 3 hours.You need to narrow your choices and test them before purchasing. Remember, the scent of cologne only works well with our natural scent. So because it smells good on your best bud doesn’t mean it will smell good on you! Keep that in mind and test your selections. Never apply the cologne on your clothes because the smell will easily fade away. Your clothes don’t have pheromones like your body does. If you spray your cologne on the right spot of your body, you will get a slightly different smell because it has mixed with pheromones creating your original smell. Cologne will smell different from one person to another, because we have slightly different pheromones. The best spots to apply your cologne are on warmer spots because it will increase the smell of the cologne and

STYLE WATCH COLOGNE, FOR HER

ne, That Is!

by Jet Parker

make it last longer. The body parts you should apply the cologne are armpits, wrists, neck, and behind your ears.

are sweating, the fragrance will be naturally enhanced and it will be too strong.

There are several scent bases for making up cologne. The most common bases used in cologne: citrus, fougere, floral, woody, chypre, leather and oriental. Men’s fragrances are usually made of fougere, which has a mossy scent and leather. Consider those bases when you buy cologne.

And now, what do you do if you put on too much cologne? Here are several easy tips for lightening the scent: 1. You can use moist wipes to wipe your body. You can dilute the smell, but not completely remove it. 2. Make a paste by using baking soda and water, the baking soda will pick up the scent while the water will dilute the alcohol contained in your cologne. 3. By using alcohol and cotton balls you can remove some of the scent, only use this tip if your skin is not sensitive.

Different occasions may lead you to choosing different scents of your cologne. During the day, you usually are close to other people in the work place. Therefore, you should not wear cologne that is overpowering. At night you may go to a club or bar and need to wear something stronger to compete with the other scents in the room. You also have to keep in mind it is never a good idea to wear a strong fragrance when you are going on your first date because your date may be sensitive and when you

Most men enjoy smelling good and having good hygiene on a daily basis, other men just don’t care and will go out looking like they just rolled out of bed. Which are you? Which will your lady like? Jet Parker is a freelance writer of men’s issues. He lives with his family in Plano, Texas.

STYLE WATCH UNDERGROUND COUTURE

our

times a year there is a Ladies Designer Brand Sale, of private label women’s clothing held in the Dallas area. The over 15,000 pieces offered are for women of all sizes. This incredible clothing is sold to boutiques and top of the line fashion shoppe’s. When a golfing friend of mine invited me to the sale, I could not refuse to see what wonderful pieces were open to the public. Women what a find, and such delightful people who work with you to help you as you go through the racks to select your perfect outfits. Kay Fries, Director of Sales for Sharon Young Originals, manages their private labels. She has been with the organization for six years and truly knows just about every piece of clothing available for sale. The company is uniquely family owned and operated. The staff is headed by Sharon Young along with her husband Tom Young , the IT guru for the company. Oriented towards team building and working with the many new labels being developed, the fairy godmakers (sales staff) make sure they know both the merchandise and their customers. The original label was Sharon Young Originals and it has now expanded the manufacturers to include City Girl, recognized for “wearable art”, Multiples and their newest division - Tru Luxe featuring missy fitting bling jeans. Kay Fries, Director of Sales

Each division has a road force traveling throughout country to specialty stores who are fortunate to carry these well made beautiful lines. They also have permanent showrooms at Dallas, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles. The company also participates in shows located around the country and especially the Las Vegas show - Magic. The warehouse sale is four times a year, once each season and customers are invited by friends , through a data base of email customers and postcards A save the date notice to their 6,000 friends on constant contract goes out two months in advance. Women are anxious to introduce their friends to this very special warehouse sale. They come from long distances and make a gals weekend trip around the sale event. The actual sale is managed by Sharon Young’s sister Zelma McKenzie and Kathy Rayford. They set up a training session for the Fair Godmakers before each sale to insure each sales person understands the lines and gets fitted to wear the clothing during the sale. Many of these gals work to have this special clothing for their own wardrobes. Across the walls of the warehouse is an artfully produced fashion show of about 30 outfits. The display showcases the variety of outfits giving customers the ability to visualize putting an outfit together. Designers of each label put their ideas for merchandise collections together a minimum of six months in advance. The 2013 product is already on the drawing table and the next warehouse sale is right around the corner. Females have fun with new fashion and the Ladies Designer Brand Warehouse Sale is on the top of my list to visit each season.

BOOM VOYAGE FAMILY / PUERTO RICO

Exploring the archipelago of Puerto Rico is an amazing experience for families of all generations. As grandparents, we were thrilled to find a destination in the Caribbean where United States passports were not required and there is no customs check, Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States. The island offers a variety of recreational options from ocean activities, hiking in a forest or exploring the Rio Camuy Caves. The beaches on all sides of the island are beautiful many have shallow waters, soft sand, colorful reef fish and numerous cays and inlets.

Fly into San Juan, the oldest city under the U.S. flag, and spend a few days visiting the waterfront, the Shoppeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and beautifully colored homes of the city. Then walk the steps to Fort San Felipe del Morrow and view an incredible landscape, check out the cannons that kept the island safe from invaders then enjoy an evening of watching the cruise ships arrive in San Juan Bay while you are dining at a casual restaurant on or near the beach. On your way to your next destination take a guided tour of the tropical El Yunque Rain Forest. With more than two dozen miles of trails, you will see spectacular views of the eastern shoreline of the island and a climb to the peak will leave you breathless with the beauty of the birds, the mangroves and especially the floral umbrellas of the trees.

During the early morning hours, we spent time on the beach swimming, snorkeling and seashell collecting, then off we went exploring. Our first adventure was to the Arecibo Observatory, it is the both the largest single telescope ever constructed and we were amazed at the amount of research in radio, astronomy and aerononomy were being conducted. Viewing the Solar System was truly a fun learning experience for all of us and we left with literature for evening readings and discussion. The beach once again attracted us for a sunset picnic. Whether your day is filled with horseback riding, whale watching - during winter months - or visiting Mona Island, with the countless varieties of giant iguanas, sea turtles or red-footed boobies, Puerto Rico is a unique opportunity for families to spend time away from the hustle and bustle of school and business. Staying in Puerto Rico where the weather was almost always a perfect 75 to 85 degrees with soft breezes is a vacation we will always remember. You can explore the islands charming Paradores, stay in a guest house or the islands many very special resorts including the Hilton Ponce, the Dorado Beach or Rio Mar resorts and their staffs speak both English and Spanish to insure your stay is best of class.

REDEFINING EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY

When Extrao by Scott Schilling

Have you ever wondered why th be a big deal anymore? What ha These thoughts popped into my mind earlier today as I was listening to some great wisdom being shared by Joyce Meyer. Joyce has grown a worldwide ministry by sharing from her experiences in life…much the same way I have grown my speaking, training and coaching business. It’s through sharing our experiences you create life-long relationships bound together with bonds of trust and respect. What am I referring to in suggesting the extraordinary becomes ordinary? It seems as if so many of my “Boomer” friends have lost what Austin Powers so eloquently described as their “Mojo”. They’ve lost the special little something that gave them a perceived advantage over someone else. In thinking about it…I may be on to something. You be the judge! You’re going to have to think back to a time; in some cases may be quite a number of years ago. If you can’t get there in your own mind, then maybe think about this in relationship to your kids or even your grandkids lives and what you observe them experiencing. Each and every one of us was born with an insatiable curiosity for…everything! Each new experience was exactly …a new experience. We were in a perpetual state of excitement. Everything was so new and so shiny. You had to find out more…how it felt…how it smelled…even for a period… how it tasted (kind of glad we grow out of that stage!). Everything in our lives was extraordinary! Not because it actually was…rather it was our childlike amazement with it. We were naturally excited, naturally curious, naturally enthralled with the possibilities. It is only through years of our individual life experiences we learned to consider things as only ordinary these days. Time has dulled many peoples’ senses.

REDEFINING EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY

ordinary Becomes Ordinary

hings used to be so darn exciting in the past…just don’t seem to appened? So many things used to be so special! So…why not now? I recently finished reading a great book by Dr. James Richards entitled, “Wired for Success – Programmed for Failure!” The crux of the book is we were all born perfect and designed to succeed It is through our many life experiences we (individually) determine we can’t accomplish what we originally dreamed of accomplishing most of our lives. We’re dulled! One of the reasons I am so excited about writing for BoomerBuzz, and sharing messages, is because we as Boomers have a tremendous opportunity…and to a certain degree responsibility to use our “Real World” wisdom to help those not as fortunate to experience everything we have experienced. Fortunate…are you kidding me? You have no idea what I’ve been through. You’re right…I don’t know what you have been through… I do know what I have been through…and I bet it’s all fairly similar. If you’ve made it to being officially called a “Boomer”, you’ve experienced a bunch…the good…the bad and the ugly! Has it tainted you? Or inspired you? Are you consistently discouraged? Or encouraged? The only difference becomes…”How are you using it?” Are you wide-eyed and open to the possibilities? Or do you know for a fact the world is unfair and you’re never going to catch a break? Are you still seeking to learn and grow? Or are you the master of disaster? Do you believe you’re only one event away from reaching your dream? Or is it a nightmare? The words Joyce Meyer spoke this morning rang out to me when she suggested, “Stay Amazed!” It sounds like such a simple concept…and yet how many Boomers really maintain that posture? There is no doubt we are living in an ever changing world. The exciting part (yes I believe it to be exciting!) is because of technology, because of advances in science, because we were all born

to grow and expand, new and even more exciting things are popping up daily…for our benefit! It seems the real question becomes, “Are you looking at these developments as “the same ole-same ole”, or with true amazement and childlike excitement of how it can positively impact your life…and the lives of those around you?” I choose to believe the world is conspiring for my good! The old axiom I share in many of my trainings just popped to mind, “When you’re green you’re growing…and when you’re ripe you’re rotting!” The green and growing seems far more attractive! How much better can life be for you if you gain back some youthful exuberance you used to have? (Hey…I’m on your side…I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt!) For those who haven’t had it for a long time (or never had it to begin with), know there are a tremendous number of people that naturally look up to you. You could have a significant positive impact on their lives. We’ve all experienced a little bit of everything. I’m certainly not suggesting everything has been or always will be perfect…far from it in many cases. No matter what your experiences have been to date…they are your experiences. Doesn’t it make sense to glean the good and make it better if at all possible? Don’t be simply ordinary…use what you have learned to live a life that is truly extraordinary! Boomers…be loud…and be proud! We’ve earned these stripes…let’s put them to good use! Scott Schilling is a Business Growth Expert and host of Access to Experts Radio who speaks, trains, coaches and writes on topics specifically designed to help others make positive improvements in their thoughts, actions and success. To learn more please visit www. ScottSchilling .com or www.AccessToExpertsRadio.com.

WEALTHY & WISE BOOMER WOMEN

Baby Boomer Women Control MOST of the Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wealth By Sandra Faleris

Between 1946 and 1964 over 76 million babies were born in the U.S., which is the largest population increase in history.

Sandra Faleris, successful entrepreneur and writer, is a contributing writer for numerous online publications. Sandra holds a BBA with an emphasis in marketing/advertising.

WEALTHY & WISE BOOMER WOMEN

According to the National Association of Baby Boomer Women: • By 2030, 54 percent of the 78 million American Boomers will be women. Used to shaping our own lives, marching, picketing, campaigning and protesting, we will have the power to speak out and take action as never before. • Women have stepped to the forefront as the force in making consumer purchasing decisions, from 91 percent of homes, 60 percent of cars and 51 percent of electronics; an estimated $20 trillion annually. • Baby Boomers hold more than 90 percent of the country’s net worth and account for 78 percent of all financial assets. • Netting out to the fact Boomer women control over 60% of the nation’s wealth. Since we outlive men by an average of five years, we can expect we will live to see a time when 80-90% of women will be in charge of their family’s financial affairs. • As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, women are on the verge of attaining economic parity with men—something our great-grandmothers and grandfathers would never have imagined. • With this new economic fortitude, women have the opportunity to take previously untapped power into their hands to influence the direction of the marketplace, the workplace, the family, and worldwide leadership. • By the year 2030, there will be 71.5 million Americans age 65 or older, more than double the number currently within the demographic, more than half of them will be women. Couple this information with the following baby boomer trends, also supplied by the NABBW, and it’s enough information to come up with a plethora of new business ideas. • Work, Money & Avocation – Postponing retirement, or changing its face • Creativity & Learning – Colleges are seeing the return of the boomers. • Passion, Play, Travel& Adventure – We don’t work all the time. • Fashion & Beauty – Botox is just the beginning of our impact. • Family & Friends – We realize their importance. • Caregiving & Grandparenting – Yep, now we’re the “sandwich generation”. • Romance/Love & Sexuality – We’re not too old. • Giving Back, Volunteering & Philanthropy – Who said “me generation?” • Religion & Spirituality – We’re open to the Universe. • Health, Vitality & Wellness – Call it the desire to be “forever young”. Research shows marketing to us, women, is still based on the products are sold, such as beauty and travel products, which is short-sighted. Check out the reality of who is doing the purchasing and it isn’t the male of the species!! She-conomy.com reports the following as an example of some of the more surprising purchases made by women. Although some are not so surprising, the marketing for those products doesn’t speak to us and that is surprising. • • • • • • • • • •

94 percent the wealth acquired in the next four years, will be acquired by women 69 percent of household health decisions are made by women 74 percent of all NBA & NFL apparel is purchased by women 91 percent of new home decisions are made by women 81 percent of grocery decisions are made by women 60 percent of the online population are women 62 percent of all workers are women 66 percent of PCs purchases are made by women 92 percent of vacations destinations are made by women 65 percent of new car purchases are made by women

While Baby Boomer men are not to be excluded from the marketing mix; it does appear to exclaim loud and clear making sure women feel included in your message, it is likely they will respond. Overall, Baby Boomer women will stay in this prominent position for the next twenty to forty years. Think about it. Act on it. You may as well get ahead of the game!

BOOMER BUZZ MY AMERICAN HEROES

Many of us can say: “I never knew my grandfather.” I am one of those people. As a child, I remember watching the old black and white television with my mother. The news showed the excitement of a military parade. Hand held flags waved. Women reached to touch the sleeves of soldiers marching in unison. The jumpy, flickering quality of the newsreel dated what I saw. The camera swept over face after face of uniformed men. I noticed Mother’s eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “I think that was my father.” Through decades of war, children have lost parents. Their children have been denied knowing grandparents. My grandfather died when my mother was ten years old. Sudden loss of a parent at that age has been identified as a source of PTSD. I looked at the picture of my Grandfather in uniform. It was taken during the homecoming of the 32nd Division American Expeditionary Force in June 1919. He appeared the way I imagined a military man. He boasted a strong, square chin, lean waist, a mouth caught between a smile and military propriety. Although the picture is fuzzy and black and white like the old T.V., two rows of ribbons are identifiable on his chest. Grandfather had been in the National Guard, but resigned prior to WWI, when the war broke out, he enlisted as a private. Commissioned on the field of battle, he rose to the rank of Major. Ultimately he was Adjutant to General Pershing. My grandfather received the Croix de Guerre, the highest military honor awarded by France. American and French troops were pinned at the front without ammunition. Defying orders, he commandeered a truckload of ammunition and transported it to the front. How many lives he saved is unknown. Grandfather earned bars for three major battles. He died from exposure to mustard gas, and even after death, helped his fellow soldiers. My grandmother allowed the exhumation of his body to study the effects of the gas on humans. If I had known him, I wonder, would have been afraid of him? Would I have trembled in the shadow of a person so driven to bravery?

My father served in the Air Force. One time during the war, he knew he was scheduled to a secret location. When he went to his barber, Dad overheard a conversation about his “shipment,” a blatant breach in security. His deployment was cancelled and he never left the states. Dad taught Airplane Mechanics to enlisted men. He also trained crews for the B-29. He trained commissioned officers as a sergeant. Dad’s greatest service to his country occurred after the war while he was a graduate student in Ames, Iowa. He worked for the AEC and the Manhattan Project doing research experimenting with radioactive materials. To me he was always just “Dad” until recently, when it was brought to my family’s attention that Dad’s death may have been related to his work. Many forms of cancer have been linked to exposure, albeit controlled, to radioactive chemicals. I pulled out the faded hand-typed copy of his thesis and read it for the first time. I remembered the hundreds of times he patiently read the Little Golden Book version of The Wizard of Oz to me. I couldn’t put together the brilliance of his work with the gentle, handson father he was. While he didn’t battle on the front lines, he, like so many others, made what we now call the “ultimate sacrifice” for the security of his country. While Dad was in the Air Force, Mom supported the war driving government vehicles. She drove semis, 1 to ½ ton trucks, jeeps, staff cars and transported celebrities like Jimmie Stewart or GI prisoners My Dad didn’t live to see his granddaughter graduate from Annapolis and serve two tours overseas. My niece, Melanie, first went to Afghanistan, one of two women over there helping search the caves for the enemy. In the Afghan culture, strange men did not touch women and children. They were separated from the native men and searched by my niece and the other female assigned with her. Those of us who loved her wanted to believe she wasn’t under fire, but she was. In such a place, how could she not be? The books and care packages seemed paltry gestures to one so bravely putting her life at risk for our country. Many families heaved a cross-country collective sigh of relief and murmured a prayer of thanks when they were certain a family member had touched down safely on American soil. I know my American heroes are those who fought, drove, experimented, doctored, and served. Thank you all and Happy Fourth of July.

BOOMER BUZZ MY AMERICAN HEROES

BOOMER BUZZ JEFF SENOUR - CTS BAND

eff Senour has been a pilot with Southwest Airlines

for 19 years and during this period of his life he has expanded his professional music career with the formation of the CTS Band (Consider the Source). The name reflects Jeff ’s curiosity and provides food for thought about who we hang out with and where we obtain information. For the past 20 or more years Jeff has been writing both the lyrics and the music for the songs he and his band perform. Music has been his passion since he selected his instrument of choice - the Guitar, at the age of 8. Through high school and college Jeff has played in rock bands, yet there was always a dream of flying because he flew with his Dad, who was also a pilot. Sometimes Jeff feels he has done things in reverse as his flying career has been his stability and music his passion. When Jeff realized he could touch people’s hearts, he knew music was the future. Married to wife, Allison they have 4 children Matthew, 28 an engineer for Northrop, Julia- Claire 16, is in high school and follows her Dad’s interest in music both playing the violin and singing during his Freedom Rock Experience Concert. Silvia, 15, adopted from Bulgaria, was born without a right hand. Friends had adopted a child and Silvia was at same orphanage. They brought her picture back and Jeff and Allison were charmed and concerned about her destiny. It was a difficult time to work through the process of adopting a child from another country. While Syliva loves music her area of interest is in athletics, karate and skate boards her specialty. She is an amazing child never feeling pity or a “feel sorry for me” attitude. She gets out there and does what she loves, takes life by the hand she goes for it. Parker, 11, is a typical boy with interest in both sports, skateboarding, getting started in football and karate. Music is in his blood as he plays on his drums. He is an absolutely y cool World War II buff writing a short story about a bomber pilot on D day. Jeff has created his dream band, written over 60 published songs listed on iTunes and Amazon, performing several of them at his July 4th Concert. His gets attached to songs as he writes them and his favorites are Here I Am, Reach for the Sky and Snowball Express. His favorite album is No Turning Back. His mission now is to inspire youth in America to perform music while motivating them to work hard and follow their dreams. The July 4TH show honors our real American Heroes the military, firemen, teachers and others who are the future of our country helping to keep the American way of life alive.

BOOMER BUZZ JEFF SENOUR - CTS BAND

The CTS Band has evolved over time and attracts top-notch musicians. Tony Lugo a Vietnam Veteran played music his entire life and backed the name bands of Steppenwolf, Tony Orlando and 3 dog night. Joe McGinnity the drummer won numerous awards - raised 3 kids and has a son who just received his wings as a Navy fighter pilot. Frustrated in the music industry Joe asked for the right mission or he was going to lay his sticks down, 20 minutes later Jeff called. Paul Ludenia is the bass vocalist, guitarist, writer, loves the concept of being a multi facet musician and singer. Jerry Nuzun on keyboard is an elementary music school teacher and has dedicated life to working with children. He sings, writes, drums and plays harmonica. As a DJ he produced radio shows for Clear Channel prior to become music teacher. Five years ago, Jeff experienced his first Snowball Express and was deeply touched by the mission of the charity,” creating hope and new memories for the children of our fallen military heroes since Sept 11, 2001”. The experience touched his soul and prompted Jeff to write the song “ Snowball Express” to honor the families. He had no idea what to expect when 5 busloads of Snowball Express families heard the words “you won’t be forgotten”. The song has become a pivotal point in his career thinking. Jeff knows you can do anything you put your mind to and America is one country where you can achieve your dreams. You can listen to the song on ITunes and download a copy; this will be a benefit and donation to the Snowball Express organization. He lives the American Dream when he flies Hollywood Lear jets with a vector vision camera under contract to Hollywood movies and is listed in the credits in True Lies and Silence of the Lambs along with several others. Innovative in the fields of music and flying, Jeff Senour is a rarity in our world as his is blessed with a caring heart and soul.

BOOMER BUZZ BUZZ WITH BEVERLY

Double Datting On The First Date

Double dating is a fun way to go out and have a good time with someone you met online and are getting to know; you may appreciate a more comfortable experience than being on a one-to-one date. It is an excellent idea if you want to meet someone new, get to know them and are nervous about the initial encounter. Realizing, you may have done this when you were a teenager or in your twenty’s, it worked then and it works now. When dating online or meeting someone you did not meet through a mutual friend, it is a way to be at ease with a stranger. Recently, I met a friend after talking online for several months. I was traveling in his area and we decided to meet. He had two wonderful people join us on this “date.” We had a fantastic time and I felt relaxed and safe. His friends were great company and even though we decided to be just friends, the encounter was a pleasant and interesting first meeting. By inviting a couple to join you, it provides the opportunity to get to know this new person in your life while enjoying your time together. Make sure the couple you choose, are accustomed to making others comfortable. Select people with whom you share common ground. However try to avoid co-workers or childhood friends as you may end up talking about work or reminiscing while your date sits there with nothing to say so select your friends wisely. Let the couple you are inviting know about your date, just enough to allow for good conversation but not anything embarrassing. Going on a double date gives your date the opportunity to get to know you through your friends. Your date can get an idea about the type of person you are by who you are spending time with and the things they say about you.

Double dating provides an excellent way for you and your date to see how both of you interact with your friends and is an excellent way to get another perspective on the person you are dating. The decision about what to do on the double date should include both your date and the couple joining you. Please consider your date and your friends budget, diet and time. As always, schedule your date a week or more in advance, so you can coordinate schedules and in case you need to make reservations. Discuss how the bill will be handled before the date. Double dating can lead to knowing your date in ways you would not have otherwise. It is a good way to be comfortable on a first date and a way to be safe with someone you met online. So, my advice is to go for it and have a good time. To receive your copy of my book “From Prude to Siren, 3 Stages to Fantastic Sex and a Rewarding Relationship” available from Authorhouse.com, Barnes and Noble and Amazon, send your relationship questions to askbev@boomerbuzzmagazine.com

BOOMER BUZZ BOOK REVIEW

July is Awareness Month for over twenty worthy causes and issues. Some you probably aren’t even aware of, but may be interested in being involved with. For starters the whole month of July is Bioterrorism/ Disaster Education and Awareness Month. With all of the unexpected happenings in the world, 9-11, tornadoes and hurricanes it is imperative we are prepared for an emergency disaster. It is important to educate yourself and be prepared, so take time this month to educate yourself and your family on what to do in any type of disaster. Get a plan ready and have needed supplies on hand, if you ever need them. The month of July is National Make A Difference To Children Month. We should always strive to make a difference in a child’s life. The main purpose is to bring a smile to a child’s face and be a shining light in their life. Just reading to a child can be enlightening! On a lighter and fun side, July is National Grilling Month. Grilling is great! The food tastes better, and the cleanup is simple and easy! So get grillin! Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Get into the mood, enjoy your local parks and recreation! Everything from madcap workouts and wellness to getting wet and wild at the pool or just enjoying nature – you just can’t help but have fun this July, with a visit to this Nations abundance of parks. It is also Contact improvisation (CI) Month. CI, “jam” is a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for exploration through movement improvisation. It is one of the best-known and most characteristic forms of postmodern dance. National Vehicle Theft Protection month is July. We can always be a little safer when it comes to our vehicles. Sometimes we get a little lax when it comes to being safe, especially when living in a small town. We get into a routine where we take safety for granted and stop being aware of dangers. This month make it a point to be aware of your surroundings and take the necessary steps to protect your vehicle.

BOOMER BUZZ TECH TIPS

Q: I was recently talking to a client about a bit of trouble they were having with software. In order to help them further I needed to know which version they had. How do I know what version of a program that I have? A: Answer: Make sure you open the program, then select HELP, then select ABOUT. This will then display the version information. Q: What are your 2 favorite shortcuts when using the computer?

Q: My vision is decent; however, it will still be nice to be able to increase the size of the font of my screen. How can I do this? A. There is a simple solution to this. Hold down the CTRL button then at the same time press the + button. Every time you press the + button the font will increase by one. When you would like to decrease the screen, hold down CTRL and then press the - button as many times as you need to get it to the appropriate size.

A: My clients just love learning computer shortcuts during our tutoring sessions. On a PC, press CTRL and P and you will get the shortcut to PRINTING. On Mac, use the Command button instead of CTRL. Voila!

My clients love the simplicity of this one!

Q: I am worried about leaving my coffee next to my laptop; is there anything to help prevent dangerous spills? A. Keyboard covers such as this one from Apple http:// store.apple.com/us/product/TW462LL/A

Becca Niederkrom - Where ALL boomers & seniors learn the computer with joy and ease . . . guaranteed. becca@ConversationCounts.org

Feelings of joy...

BLOG SPEAK FEELING OF JOY

I just finished my usual newspaper column in the South Shore Senior News for April. The editor Greg always gives columnists ideas on what to write about. This month’s idea struck me as a good subject to explore here too; laughter and positive emotions. Research shows even if a person with memory loss doesn’t hold on to the content of a pleasant movie, the positive feelings last for hours. The opposite is true of negative movies. In the hospital I work in, we are promoting sensory modalities; those evoking calm and pleasure through the senses. This treatment is especially helpful for persons who have experienced trauma through life (many if not most with mental illness have continuously experienced trauma) and persons with cognitive disorders. For the person with trauma, it taps the amygdala (a-mig-dil-a) to respond to positive experience instead of the negative ones remembered. For the person with dementia, who now often cannot initiate, plan or execute a formerly pleasant activity,sensory experiences calm and bring joy. We use music, rhythm like dance and exercise, smells like lemon or lavendar (even baking cookies),visual items like pictures and tactile sensory items like fur, suede or velvet (maybe a puppy or kitten). These therapies reduce psychiatric symptoms, confusion and restlessness by inserting positive emotive experience into the patient’s life. Have you used these activities, especially in the late afternoon when persons with dementia often are feeling lost, confused and sometimes slip into delirium? When my father in law was restless and confused in the evening due to his Alzheimer’s disease, we put a can of coins in front of him to sort. He was a ‘candy man’ so quite used to handling coins. Within minutes, he was ‘remembering’ the positive memory of his work and doing something very familiar, humming a tune as he did. This replaced the confusion and prepared him for sound sleep.

Beverly Moore is owner of Sweet Grapes, Inc. a licensing company for StilMee Alzheimer coaches, a psychiatric nurse educator and freelance writer who wants to teach people about mental health and illness and how to work respectfully and effectively with this population. She lives in Quincy, MA. www.stilLmee.blogspot.com

MEDICAL MATTERS HEALTH REFORM

The new health reform law is the most far-reaching health legislation since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The following is a look at the impact of the law, which will extend insurance coverage to 32 million additional Americans by 2019, but which will also have an effect on almost every citizen.

Premium subsidies will be available for individuals and families with incomes between 133 percent and 400 percent of the poverty level, or $14,404 to $43,320 for individuals and $29,326 to $88,200 for a family of four.

Here are some commonly-asked questions about how you might be affected:

Q: I don’t have health insurance. Will I have to get it, and what happens if I don’t? A: Under the legislation, most Americans will have to have insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. The penalty would start at $95, or up to 1 percent of income, whichever is greater, and rise to $695, or 2.5 percent of income, by 2016. This is the individual limit; families have a limit of $2,085 or 2.5 percent of household income, whichever is greater. Some people can be exempted from the insurance requirement, called an individual mandate, because of financial hardship or religious beliefs or if they are American Indians, for example. Q: I want health insurance, but I can’t afford it. What do I do? A: Depending on your income, you might be eligible for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor and disabled, which will be expanded sharply beginning in 2014. Low-income adults, including those without children, will be eligible, as long as their incomes didn’t exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four, according to current poverty guidelines. Q: What if I make too much for Medicaid but still can’t afford coverage? A: You might be eligible for government subsidies to help you pay for private insurance that would be sold in the new state-based insurance marketplaces, called exchanges, slated to begin operation in 2014.

The subsidies will be on a sliding scale. For example, a family of four earning 150 percent of the poverty level, or $33,075 a year, will have to pay 4 percent of its income, or $1,323, on premiums. A family with income of 400 percent of the poverty level will have to pay 9.5 percent, or $8,379.

In addition, if your income is below 400 percent of the poverty level, your out-ofpocket health expenses will be limited. Q: How will the legislation affect the kind of insurance I can buy? Will it make it easier for me to get coverage, even if I have health problems? A: If you have a medical condition, the law will make it easier for you to get coverage; insurers will be barred from rejecting applicants based on health status once In the meantime, the law will create a temporary high-risk insurance pool for people with medical problems who have been rejected by insurers and have been uninsured at least six months. This will occur this year.

Starting later this year, insurers can no longer exclude coverage for specific medical problems for children with pre-existing conditions nor deny coverage to children with pre-existing illnesses.

Insurers later this year will also be barred from setting lifetime coverage limits for adults and kids. In 2014, annual limits on coverage will be banned.

New policies sold on the exchanges will be required to cover a range of benefits, including hospitalizations, doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity care and certain preventive tests.

MEDICAL MATTERS HEALTH REFORM

Q: How will the legislation affect young adults? A: If you’re an adult younger than 26, you’ll be able to stay on your parent’s insurance coverage as long as you are not offered health coverage at work. This provision officially takes effect in September, but insurers may not have to comply until the beginning of a new health plan year - which often happens in January. In addition, people in their 20s will be given the option starting in 2014 of buying a “catastrophic” plan that will have lower premiums. The coverage will largely only kick in after the individual has $6,000 in out-ofpocket expenses Q: I own a small business. Will I have to buy insurance for my workers? What help can I get? A: It depends on the size of your firm. Companies with fewer than 50 workers won’t face any penalties if they don’t didn’t offer insurance.

Companies can get tax credits to help buy insurance if they have 25 or fewer employees and a workforce with an average wage of up to $50,000. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of the cost of premiums will be available this year and will reach 50 percent in 2014. The full credits are for the smallest firms with low-wage workers; the subsidies shrink as companies’ workforces and average wages rise. Firms with more than 50 employees that do not offer coverage will have to pay a fee of up to $2,000 per full-time employee if any of their workers get government-subsidized insurance coverage in the exchanges. The first 30 workers will be excluded from the assessment.

Beyond that, drug company discounts on brand-name drugs and federal subsidies and discounts for all drugs will gradually reduce the gap, eliminating it by 2020. That means that seniors, who now pay 100 percent of their drug costs once they hit the doughnut hole, will pay 25 percent. Beginning in 2011, drug companies will be required to give a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs for prescriptions filled in the doughnut hole.

And, as under current law, once seniors spend a certain amount on medications, they will get “catastrophic” coverage and pay only 5 percent of the cost of their medications.

Meanwhile, government payments to Medicare Advantage, the private-plan part of Medicare, will be frozen starting in 2011, and cut in the following years. If you’re one of the 10 million enrollees, you could lose extra benefits that many of the plans offer, such as free eyeglasses, hearing aids and gym memberships. To cushion the blow to beneficiaries, the cuts to health plans in highcost areas of the country such as New York City and South Florida — where seniors have enjoyed the richest benefits — will be phased in over as many as seven years. Beginning this year, the law will make all Medicare preventive services, such as screenings for colon, prostate and breast cancer, free to beneficiaries. Q: How much is all this going to cost? Will it increase my taxes?

Q: I’m over 65. How will the legislation affect seniors?

A: The package is estimated to cost $938 billion over a decade. But because of higher taxes and fees and billions of dollars in Medicare payment cuts to providers, the package will narrow the federal budget deficit by $143 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

A: The Medicare prescription-drug benefit will be improved substantially. This year, seniors who enter the Part D coverage gap, known as the “doughnut hole,” will get $250 to help pay for their medications.

If you have a high income, you will face higher taxes. Starting in 2013, individuals with earnings over $200,000 and married couples earning more than $250,000 will pay a Medicare payroll tax of 2.35 percent, up

from the current 1.45 percent. In addition, high-income taxpayers will face a 3.8 percent tax on unearned income such as dividends and interest over the threshold.

Starting in 2018, the law will also impose a 40 percent excise tax on the portion of most employer-sponsored health coverage (excluding dental and vision) that exceeds $10,200 a year for individuals and $27,500 for families. The tax is often referred to as a “Cadillac” tax.

The law also will raise the threshold for deducting unreimbursed medical expenses from 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income to 10 percent.

The law also will limit the amount of money you can put in a flexible spending account to pay medical expenses to $2,500 starting in 2013. Those using an indoor tanning salon will pay a 10 percent tax starting this year.

Q: What will happen to my premiums? A: That’s hard to predict and the subject of much debate. People who are sick might face lower premiums than otherwise because insurers won’t be permitted to charge sick people more; healthier people might pay more. Older people could still be charged more than younger people, but no more than three times as much.

The bigger question is what happens to rising medical costs, which drive up premiums. Even proponents acknowledge that efforts in the legislation to control health costs, such as a new board to oversee Medicare spending, won’t have much of an effect for several years.

Reprinted with permission from Kaiser Health News. Please learn more consumer Health information: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org

MEDICAL MATTERS SURGERY YOU NEED

“What Stands Betw

Truth is, it’s none of the above. The unhappy expression found on the faces of your doctor, his surgical team, and the surrounding hospital staff, aren’t due to anything within the realm of their control. Rather, yours. What was once an isolated event has grown into a burgeoning problem in hospitals and medical clinics across the country. In more ways than one, a patient’s weight (excessive weight, that is) is causing more surgeries to be cancelled last minute because of the potential (and frequently life-threatening) risk to the patient.

magine yourself lying on a bed in the pre-op area in

your local hospital awaiting members of the surgical team to transport you into the operating room. Those final few minutes are generally filled with minor chitchat and maybe a hug from a loved one before they’re ushered back out into the central waiting area as you’re ushered in to the OR. You might be a little anxious, but overall, you’re simply ready to get fixed and on your way to feeling better, healthier. Then, the worst-case scenario occurs. Instead of a nurse arriving to escort you into the operating room, you receive a visit from the anesthesiologist who is there to inform you that your surgery has just been cancelled. You’re shocked and your immediate thoughts wander naturally through various possible snags. Is there a problem with the surgeon? The attending staff? Some type of equipment failure? Maybe a sudden emergency situation that’s taken priority over your scheduled procedure?

Used to be when you heard the news that you’d need to undergo a surgical procedure, a patient would necessarily consider the who, what, where, when and how’s. Today though, it isn’t the physician, nor is it an insurance company, or even the technology that’s standing in the way of some surgeries. The question being asked nowadays is a weight-related one. It is troubling that for a growing number of patients the most problematic obstacle to getting better rests solely on their shoulders (and on the rest of their body). Unfortunately, it is their own excess weight that’s holding these overweight men, women, and children hostage from overall good health and even more criminally, from receiving urgent medical care of the direst lifesaving sort. There are some individuals who naively voice minimizing this issue of epidemic proportions [Two thirds of Americans are now either overweight (defined as a body-mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher) or obese (A 30plus BMI)], stating that it doesn’t affect them personally. These particular obese persons believe they can be simultaneously both overweight and healthy. However, no one can convincingly argue that if sudden urgent medical care is required that the obese are on a level playing field concerning surgical risks as their normalweighted counterparts and the statistics prove it. The fact is, none of us can anticipate when an emergency medical situation will occur requiring immediate surgery. Nobody plans on getting into an auto accident or injured on the job, but it happens every day, in every city across our nation. And in comparatively similar fashion, a frightening number of patient casualties occur when medical professionals are forced to refuse treatment to

MEDICAL MATTERS SURGERY YOU NEED

ween You and the Surgery You Need?”

people because the risk is simply too great pre-operatively, during surgery, and post-operatively. If you are now numbered among the two-thirds of Americans who are overweight, you’ll want to pay particular attention to the conversation you have with your doctor before scheduling surgery of any kind. As you sit in front of your physician and he informs you that you’ll need to undergo a surgical procedure consider closely what he’s telling you as well as what he isn’t. Your surgeon will explain that because of your excess weight you are at an increased risk for anesthesia complications, blood clots, wound problems and your rehabilitation experience will likely be more difficult and longer in duration than normal-weight persons. If you’re having a joint replacement surgery, you can almost count on the appliance wearing out prematurely as well (anyone seeing a follow-up surgery in their future?). As if these warnings weren’t tough enough to swallow, take this solemn conversation a step further and inside the real mind workings of your doctor. What he may not tell you because it’s so discouraging to him as the medical professional whose job it is to heal you (and as the primary directive from which he operates both literally and figuratively); is what he’s seen transpire in case after case in previous obese patients under his care. As your physician is speaking, remember he’s also running a mental dialogue though his mind of how your surgery (as an obese patient) will differ from a normalweighted patient. He, as the operating surgeon, knows the difference and you, as the patient, should too because this difference is huge. From your surgeon’s perspective, he has no choice but to accept the additional risks and challenges of operating on someone whose very weight makes it exponentially harder to perform his job (fixing you) from a purely technical standpoint. Doctors report that they frequently encounter morbidly obese people telling them, they (the patients), are willing to accept the increased risk for complication without a thought for the difficulty that their surgeons will encounter during the procedure as well as what this increased risk for complication means to the physician as the responsible party. There

by Michele Howe

appears to be a mistaken assumption among some obese patients that their weight is not a factor that might affect their surgeon’s ability to perform the intricacies required during any medical procedure. Similarly, some other patients falsely believe that their surgery can be executed with the same ease as a patient of normal weight. Patients must also understand that weight-related health risks are alive and well even before an individual enters the operating room doors. Excess weight puts a patient at a disadvantage even before surgery is scheduled as extra fat can render some clinical tests ineffective at detecting potential and existing health problems. Amy Parham, weight loss participant on The Bigger Loser television show, remembers her wake-up call after viewing her Dexa Scan for the first time. She recognized at that moment how her extra pounds were punishing her organs and lungs hour by hour, day after day. “It was eye opening to see that the fat was not something that was not only keeping me from buttoning my smaller pants, but it was also shoving my organs around and prohibiting them from working properly. Even my lungs were so compressed I couldn’t breath well.” Parham realized that as much as she hated how fat looks on the outside, “It is the fat that we don’t see, (on the inside) that is killing us.” Beyond the above risk complications already cited, your doctor knows that your surgical outcome may not be what you’re expecting because even with the most skilled surgeon working on your behalf, your excess weight will continue to hinder mobility and range of motion postoperatively. No matter what side of the surgery table you’re on, both doctor and patient enter the situation at a disadvantage because both are fighting to overcome weighty odds of the most costly kind. Obesity isn’t a lifestyle gamble worth playing with; it’s a risky venture whose stakes will continue to rise to life and death proportions with every pound gained. A life and death risk Parham came to understand, “I believe that many times vanity is the motivation for wanting to lose weight, but people need to wake up and realize that they are playing Russian roulette with their lives by the choices they make. I was slowly killing myself and didn’t even know it.”

MEDICAL MATTERS SURGERY YOU NEED

The Facts on Fat and Surgical Risks Obese patients suffer from more postoperative infection, thrombosis (formation of blood clots), and other circulatory organ complications. Overweight individuals are at a greater risk postoperatively for heart attacks (5 times higher), wound infection (1.7 times higher,) peripheral nerve injury (4 times higher), and urinary tract infections (1.5 times higher), than their non-obese counterparts. [WebMD] Compared to normal weight persons undergoing surgery, obese and morbidly obese patients require roughly double the dosage of intravenous antibiotics during surgery. There is generally an increased length of stay in the hospital after surgery, which also adds to a patient’s financial costs.

Reasons to Lose the Excess Before You Need To Surgeons use smaller incisions, thus less bleeding from the operative wound in lighter patients than obese ones. Potential problems with anesthesia are minimized because a lesser amount is required during surgery for smaller weighted individuals. Postoperative rehabilitation is shorter and easier on thinner patients. Joint replacement hardware such as knees and hips last longer on patients of normal weight.

What is a Geriatric Care Manager? A geriatric care manager is a professional who specializes in assisting elders and their families with crisis interventions, short-term and long-term care arrangements. Care managers have an advanced degree in gerontology, social work, nursing or counseling. Geriatric Care Managers can help:

• Conduct care planning assessments to identify problems, eligibility for assistance and need for services • Screen, arrange, and monitor in home help or other services • Review financial, legal or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assets • Provide crisis intervention • Act as a liaison to families at a distance, making sure things are going well and alerting families to problems • Assist with moving an older person to or from a retirement complex, care home, or nursing home • Provide consumer education and advocacy • Offer counseling and support to elder and family members

Geriatric care managers have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality and availability of services in their community. One call to a geriatric care manager will connect you with the services an older person may need.

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SENIOR SCENE TIPS FOR ALZHEIMER DECOR

Decorating Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers By Emma Riley Sutton

With thousands of Baby Boomers having Alzheimer’s, and younger Baby Boomers caring for parents with the disease, home life of many is drastically different from what they expected. Every aspect of their life is altered, including how they decorate their homes. These are a few tips to help Alzheimer’s caregivers enhance their homes:

Colors - Use calming warm colors, such as

Mirrors - Avoid mirrors as much as possible,

Wall Art and Accessories - Use items from

Safety and comfort are the most important aspects of decorating the home of Baby Boomers with Alzheimer’s. . With a little creativity, you can create a secure and snug home without sacrificing style or your budget.

muted yellows, chocolates and pale blues. Avoid “screaming colors” such as reds, purples and oranges. Although those colors can be used as accessories, they should be used as sparsely as possible because they can upset the patient.

an Alzheimer’s patients’ past as wall art and accessories. Family photos from days gone by work well. Create shadow boxes with antiques the patients will recognize. These threedimensional accessories will create visual interest and be a spark for a conversation.

Furniture - Work with easy to use furniture. Tables should be round to avoid injuries; corners can be painful. . Dining room chairs and kitchen chairs should be well padded for the greatest amount of comfort for the aging Baby Boomer with Alzheimer‘s.

patients do not always recognize the face in the mirror and often think someone else is in the home. This creates confusion, and also frightens the Alzheimer’s patient. Both confusion and fear can cause wandering and increase the frequency of “sundowning.”

Emma Riley Sutton is a freelance decorating writer who lives in Oklahoma City, OK

SENIOR SCENE AGING PARENTS

recent report from the Pew Research Center indicates that approximately 30 percent of adult children in the United States contribute financially to their parents’ care. On average, each year these children pay up to $2,400 a year on items ranging from uncovered medical expenses to groceries and gas money. Often, the parents in these situations diligently saved all their lives, but in the face of longer life spans and chronic illness, the savings is just not enough. The overwhelming emotional and medical aspects of caring for elderly parents can lead some adult children to ignore the consequences of spending large amounts of their own money on them, and even disregard their own savings and go into debt. Ricardo Nazario, Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Houston, reminds those adult children, “It is important to realize by jeopardizing your own finances now, you risk putting your children in the same tough spot down the line.” Here are some basic steps to care for your aging parent(s) without draining your own personal finances. Have “the conversation.” Although this conversation is potentially uncomfortable for both parties, children should talk to their parents about their current financial situation and the different avenues for care moving forward. It is also for children to understand what their parents’ wishes would be should the child wind up with the legal power and responsibility to make decisions for their parent. Nazario says the key is to reassure your parents you’re not trying to take control away from them, but you are simply trying to care for them by making sure they have everything they need and you understand everything they want. Examine your parents’ current financial situation.The first step you should take before determining the best path forward for your parents care is to figure out their current financial situation – the entire picture. Many parents do not share this information with their children and those children end up being completely surprised by how much – or how little - money their parents actually have. Be sure to have information on all of their bank accounts, investments, 401(k) and IRA plans, as well as health insurance and long-term care insurance plans. An honest assessment of the parents’ budget and balance sheet may also be a good idea. If the parents are not able to make ends meet with their current income, then adjustments need to be made as best as possible.

Consider all factors before quitting your job to care for parents. While it may seem that quitting a job may free up time and energy to care for elderly parents, it is important to factor in the loss of income, retirement savings, and potentially very helpful benefits such as your own health and life insurance policies and 401(k) plan. These would be crucial benefits to lose, so anyone considering this option needs to review their employer’s flex-time and family leave policies before deciding to leave their current position. Update account & estate planning documents. One of the most important aspects of helping parents with their finances is making certain that children have the legal authority to act on their parents’ behalf, if necessary. In some cases, children can add themselves onto their parents’ accounts as joint owners, which can allow them to write checks or pay bills on their parents’ behalf. This also allows children to catch potential problems such as late fees, missed mortgage payments, passed-due utilities bills, or large withdrawals without an obvious purpose. It is also important to make sure parents have the proper paperwork in place should something unforeseen happen. In an emergency, children will need legal authority to act on their parents behalf, so it is wise to make sure parents have signed a durable power of attorney authorizing the children or trusted advisor to take over financial decisions on their behalf should it become necessary. Learn about Medicare and Medicaid. Children should be knowledgeable of the Medicare coverage their parents currently have, are eligible for, or will soon be eligible for. Do they have a prescription drug plan? Be sure to know the co-pays, out-of-pocket limits and other financial aspects of their insurance, because those factors should all be considered when making the caregiving budget. Make a caregiving budget. Before making a lifestylealtering decision with financial consequences, children should put together a comprehensive look at what they are spending on caregiving and would plan to spend on those services for their parent(s). Then, take a look at the parents’ resources and see how they might be able to better help with certain expenses. Nazario says, “Ultimately, it will be critical to put a budget in place to be sure you do not spend all of your money on your parents’ care and leave you with no funds for your own care or retirement.” continued u

MEDICAL MATTERS AGING PARENTS

Watch out for financial scams. Unfortunately, financial abuse of the elderly has steadily increased these past few years during the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough economic times. It is critical to educate your aging parents on how many of these scams function and make sure they know what information they should and should not volunteer. Make your own retirement plan. Last, but certainly not least, be sure to take a good hard look at your own financial situation and how you are suited for retirement. Understand how caring for your parent(s) may affect your future financial situation and what steps you need to take now to prepare for that possibility. More and more adult children are becoming care takers for their parents, it is important for those children to take the necessary steps to care for themselves so they do not put their own children in a difficult situation down the road by ignoring their own finances right now. Matt Barr is a writer who couples his past experience with information from top financial advisors in the industry to address personal finance topics in addition to the effect current events around the region, state and nation will have on your finances.

MEDICAL MATTERS SENIORS DRIVING

In the United States today, there are about 38 million licensed drivers over age 65, and by 2024, one in four drivers will be aged 65+. As we age, our physical and mental capabilities tend to diminish, some more gradually than others. Unfortunately, at some point in time, older motorists will have to relinquish their keys for safety’s sake. Until that time arrives, there are ways in which to allow a senior driver the ability to operate their vehicle safely on the roads. Make Sure Your Car Fits

Consider a Safe Driving Screening Tool

Operating a car with senior-friendly features is the first step towards ensuring safer travels. The American Automobile Association and the National Older Driver Research & Training Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville suggest seniors make sure their vehicles meet certain safety and comfort criteria, which could in turn, increase their mobility in the community for a longer stretch of time. Important car musts such as adjustable pedals, power-operated seats, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, four doors at an accommodating exit/ entry height, large or wide-angled mirrors, lumbar support, brake assist, adjustable seat belt, keyless entry and start, and stability control are features, not be overlooked by seniors.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has developed the Roadwise Review online screening tool seniors can download to help them assess certain physical, visual and mental skills important for safe driving. The tool was specifically designed to point out weaknesses and areas needing additional monitoring or testing.

If you want to make sure the senior in your life has a right fit vehicle, check out CarFit®. The educational program will provide locations across the country where teams of experts such as trained technicians, or health care workers will make sure, a vehicle’s features are properly adjusted to comfortably fit an older driver. The entire process takes a mere 20 minutes.

Sign Up for a Mature Driver Safety Class Things change all around us every day and more than likely, if you’re age 50 and over, it’s been a while since you’ve actually brushed up on the rules of the road. Mature driver safety classes will put you in the know with regards to the current road rules, and refresh your driving skills. The courses also typically offer defensive driving tips, ways in which to safely maneuver your vehicle on today’s more challenging highways and byways. You can also learn how to more effectively manage the aging process and how to deal with your driving skills. AARP offers extremely affordable mature driver safety courses online and in classroom settings. Upon completing the course, you might also receive an insurance discount with your carrier. Safe travels!

SENIOR SCENE DIRECTORY

AARP 866-554-5377 Adult Protective Services 214-951-7902 Alzheimer’s Association 214-827-0062 American Cancer Society 214-819-1200 American Heart Association 214-373-6300 Area Agency on Aging (Dallas) 214-379-4636 Area Agency on Aging (North Central Texas)

800-272-3921

Arthritis Foundation 214-826-4361 Better Business Bureau 214-220-2000 Collin County Committee on Aging, Inc.

972-562-6996

Contact Crisis Line 972-233-2233 Dallas Area Parkinson Society 972-620-7600 Dallas County Older Adult Services

214-819-1860

Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind 214-821-2375 Jewish Family Service 972-437-9950 Legal Hotline for Older Texans 800-622-2520 Meals on Wheels Dallas 214-689-2639 Medicaid 214-767-6495 Medicare 800-MEDICARE (633-42273) Retired State Employees Association 512-451-0087 Senior Adult Services 972-242-4464 Senior Employment Program 214-823-5700 The Senior Source 214-823-5700 Social Security Administration 214-346-2381 Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services

800-458-9858

Veteran’s Administration Medical Center 214-742-8387

Senior Activity Centers Allen

Balch Springs

451 St. Mary Drive

214-509-4820

2919 Balch Springs Rd.

972-286-9317

Blue Ridge

200 W. Tilton

972-752-5686

Carrollton

1720 Keller Springs Rd.

972-466-4850

Celina

144 Ohio

972-382-4885

The Colony Coppell

5151 N. Colony Blvd. 345 W Bethel Rd

972-624-2246 972-462-5136

4009 Elm St.

214-826-8330

2525 Centerville Rd

214-327-4503

4500 Spring Ave

214-670-8203

East Dallas Brady

Golden Acres Juanita Craft

SENIOR SCENE DIRECTORY North Dallas Jewish Federation

7900 Northaven Rd.

214-739-2737

K. B. Polk United

6801 Roper St.

214-670-6308

Marcus Annex

2910 Modella Ave

214-670-6597

South Dallas lemeda Heights

2712 Lyola St

214-372-4620

1007 Hutchins Rd

214-941-7404

Cedar Crest Elmwood

1315 Berkley Ave

214-330-7144

Jefferson

1617 West Jefferson Blvd

214-943-3304

King New Beginning

114 West Hobson Ave

214-670-7595

Park South

2500 Romine Ave

214-421-5301

Southeast Dallas MLK

2901 Pennsylvania Ave

214-670-8169

Pleasant Grove

7224 Umphress Rd

214-398-5215

Sunshine

8341 Elam Rd

214-398-6619

Southwest Dallas Concord

6808 Pastor Bailey Dr

214-331-8522

West Dallas Marillac

2827 Lapsley St

214-638-4998

Wesley-Rankin

3100 Crossman Ave

214-742-6674

2828 Fish Trap Rd

214-670-6350

West Dallas

Mountain View

4849 W. Illinois Ave

214-860-8884

Denton

509 N. Bell Ave

940-349-8720

DeSoto

204 Lion St

972-230-5825

Duncanville Hopkins

206 James Collins Blvd

972-780-5073

14055 Dennis Ln

972-241-8636

Farmers Branch

Farmersville

209 Orange

972-782-8231

Flower Mound

1200 Gerault Rd

972-874-6275

6670 Moore St

972-292-6550

Frisco

Garland Carver

222 Carver St

972-205-3305

Garland

600 W Avenue A

972-205-2769

Grand Prairie The Summit

2975 Esplanade

972-237-4141

SENIOR SCENE DIRECTORY

Hutchins

500 West Hickman St

972-225-1032

Irving Heritage

200 S Jefferson St

972-721-2496

Lancaster

100 North Henry St

972-227-2650

Lewisville

1950-A South Valley Parkway

972-219-5050

McKinney

1400 S College St

972-547-7491

1116 Hillcrest St

972-285-6761

Mesquite Evans

Goodbar

3000 Concord

972-279-6881

Rutherford

900 Rutherford Dr

972-216-7791

401 W 16th St

972-941-7155

Plano

Richardson Richardson Hsu

2129 East Arapaho Rd

972-231-7969

Richardson

820 W Arapoho Rd

972-744-7800

Rockwall

108 E Washington St

972-771-7740

Royse City

107 Plum

972-635-2781

Sachse

3815 B Sachse Rd

972-495-6282

Seagoville

304 E. Farmers Rd

972-287-4113

Wylie

100 W Oak St

972-442-8119

WEBSITES Advocates for Residents of Nursing Homes, by State http://www.ltcombudsman.org/ombudsman Medicare.gov/ Nursing Home Compare http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare Health In Aging http://www.healthinaging.org/aging-and-health-a-to-z Elder Care Locator by State http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx Family Care Navigator by State http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/fcn_content_node.jsp?nodeid=2083 USA.gov/Health for Seniors http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Health.shtml

SENIOR SCENE DIRECTORY

WEBSITES continued Medicare.gov/ Home Health Compare http://www.medicare.gov/HomeHealthCompare/search.aspx National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization http://www.nhpco.org/custom/directory/main.cfm HHS.gov/Health and Human Services/Hospital Compare http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/hospital-search.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Dept. of Health and Human Services/National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information http://www.longtermcare.gov/LTC/Main_Site/index.aspx National Respite Network and Resource Center/National Respite Locator http://archrespite.org/respitelocator Disability.gov/Find Benefits Nationally and by State https://www.disability.gov/benefits Benefits.gov/Government Benefits/Benefit Finder http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-finder#benefits&qc=cat_1 Medicaid.gov/Medicaid Eligibility by State http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-State/By-State.html Medicare.gov/Eligibility http://www.medicare.gov/caregivers/caregiver-topics-basics.html Medicare.gov/Help to Pay Medical Bills http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11445.pdf USA.gov/End of Life Issues http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/EndofLife.shtml USA.gov/Writing a Will http://www.usa.gov/topics/money/personal-finance/wills.shtml NIH.gov/National Institutes of Health/Long Distance Caregiving http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/so-far-away-twenty-questions-and-answers-aboutlong-distance-caregiving National Caregivers Library/Checklists and Forms http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/caregivers-resources/grp-checklists-forms.aspx WomensHealth.gov/Caregiver Stress fact Sheet http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/caregiver-stress.cfm

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