Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Edition, Apr. 2015 by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

Another Great Issue

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 2

Don’t Forget My Chariot

Dear Readers,

’m going to talk to you a minute about Qin Shi Huang. The first emperor of China? Yeah, that guy. There are more than Tracie Lukens, Editor a few stories about Emperor Qin, not least among them are that he helped unify China, started work on some wall or another, and that he was a notorious tyrant. But when it came to the afterlife, there’s no denying he had style. I’m not just talking about a fancy tomb; his port-mortem accoutrements would put a pharaoh to shame. He was buried in a scaled-down replica of his imperial compound, deep underneath Mount Li, an area renowned for its wealth of gold and jade. He was buried with the whole setup: palaces, towers, clay attendants and generals, riches and wondrous objects. The ceiling of the necropolis was decorated with representations of the heavens. Below it, a panoramic landscape—his kingdom in miniature—was modeled in clay complete with mountains, plains and flowing mercury rivers. Outside his tomb, he posted over 6,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry, all formed from terracotta, to guard it all. One would think that a man who spent such elaborate measures on his final resting place was prepared for his own death. However, the exact opposite was true; Qin Shi Huang was terrified of it. Everything he built was centered around the belief that he would live on, one way or another. During life, he commissioned alchemists to create an elixir that would grant him immortality. (Ironically, it was the mercury in these concoctions that killed him.) He refused to discuss death with his court or family, and died without ever creating a will. Try leaving a newly unified China to 30 sons!

Here’s one more story about another empire. Jack Eggers was a school janitor in Amo, Indiana. His kingdom was a modest two-bedroom house, where grew his own food and preferred to live simply. Jack didn’t have a family of his own, so he treated the students as if they were his own kids, and they respected and cared for him in return. In 2003, at the age of 68, Jack was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Todd Crosby, the principal of Mill Creek West Elementary School where he worked, along with other school staff members, neighbors and Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army friends, helped care for Eggers and drive him to doctor’s appointments. Probate China? I get where Qin’s coming from. No Jack had surgery, but it only briefly slowed one likes to think about their own death. the tumor’s progress. He took a leave of There’s a prevailing fear that to bring it absence from his janitorial duties, but later up in conversation is to summon it—to decided to retire. The students and staff all received frequent updates on his progress. make it more real or more close. While it’s not an easy thing to deal with, In winter of 2004, Jack died at age 69. A year after his death, however, Jack the truth is, talking about and planning for showed that his poor man’s life was realdeath—taking charge of one’s own morly a façade. Jack was saving every penny tality—can be empowering. It can help so that, someday after he was gone, he you face your fears, learn more about could do some good. He accomplished yourself and what you want to leave his wishes by leaving his small empire in behind, and bring you and your family sizeable bequests to the school, church, some peace of mind. And it goes without and community he loved. $80,000 went saying that the best time to do it is while to Mill Creek West Elementary, an unyou’re still young—when you can ask disclosed amount went to Amo Baptist yourself hard questions and make sound decisions about your wishes before and Church and another $120,000 went after you leave this mortal plane. (Heck, to the Hendricks County Community Foundation. Everyone was shocked. Emperor Qin started when he was 13.) “We don’t think about people when This month’s issue is about leaving a we’re with them. It always hits you when legacy—setting in motion a plan that they’re gone. But even in his passing, his will continue to positively affect others legacy will live on,” Crosby said. beyond the span of your years. There are Emperor Qin’s monument to himself plenty of ways to do it; some bequeath may have been impressive, but it never did money, others pass on their life story as much good as King Eggers did for his and some leave the gift of life by donatpeople. When it comes to leaving a legacy, ing organs. Inside you’ll find some tips how do you want to be remembered? on how to donate or start planning for (Jack Eggers’ story courtesy of Leave a Legacy) what you want to leave behind.

Pinellas/Pasco Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc

President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Tracie Lukens editor@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Emeritus Janice Doyle Ofﬁce Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104 Distribution Nancy Spencer: 941-244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

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FCOA Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved. As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law. Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 3

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Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 5

ondays O.S.C.A.R.S. Oldsmar Senior Citizen Art Recreation Social. Enjoy painting, crafting and socializing. $3. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Oldsmar Senior Center. 813-749-1155.

Military Order of the World Wars. Lunch followed by a short program. Retired, active duty or former military officers and spouses/widows invited. 11:30 a.m. Belleair Country Club. 727786-5578 for RSVP and/or membership.

Hear Austin-based Grammynominated singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson in concert.. $25. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Craftsman House Gallery & Café, St. Pete. 727-323-2787.

“Ain’t Food Wonderful.” A hilarious romp through fad diets, cravings, fast food and more. $25. 7 p.m./2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Jimmy Ferraro’s Studio Theatre, New Port Richey. 727-409-0293.

Park, St. Petersburg. Information at www.mainsailart.org/festival-info/.

Zumba Gold. This fitness program is designed specifically for older adults and uses Latin and International rhythms and easy to follow moves. $4. 10:45 a.m. Dr. William E. Hale Senior Activity Center, Dunedin. 727-298-3299.

Lifestyles After 50 Senior Safari & Fun Fest. Senior-friendly exhibitors, free health screenings, Brain & Body Challenge inside the Safari Lodge, animal encounters and more. Age 50 and over; $10 includes admission to the Fun Fest and Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 813-653-1988.

Farmers Market. Free admission and 2 hours free parking. 9 a.m. Cleveland Street, Downtown Clearwater. 727-461-7674.

Piano Concert with Elizabeth A. Baker. Celebrated for her “terrifying dynamic range” and cleanliness of sound. Free. 2:30 p.m. The Music Gallery, Clearwater. 813-618-7639. and 12 Springfest Garden Art and Fairy Festival. Live garden plants, garden art, flowers, herbs, Renaissanceperiod items, clothing, entertainment and more. Free admission. 10 a.m .– 8 p.m. Clymer Park, Gulfport. 727-322-5217. Pinellas County Republican Party monthly meeting. Registered Republicans welcome. New member orientation at 6 p.m. Banquet Masters, Clearwater. Info: 727-539-6009 or info@pinellasrepublicans.com. Tea Dance Series. Get some exercise and make friends in an afternoon of ballroom dancing. 11:30 a.m. $7/$10 dance and instruction. Coliseum, St. Petersburg. 727-892-5715.

Classic Car Show. Featuring Taste of Chicago food truck, girls from Pin Up America and a chance to win a ride on a Patton Tank. $15. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Armed Forces History Museum, Largo. 727-539-8371.

and 19 Mainsail Art Festival. Free. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Vinoy

Herb and Tropical Fruit Garden Tour. Free, but pre-registration is required. 9 a.m. Pinellas County Extension Service, Largo. RSVP/info at 727-582-2100. Downtown New Port Richey Art Gallery presents “Poetry Night.” Old Time Radio Players skit before audience poem reading. Free. 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. RSVP: 727-848-6500. and 26 The Green Thumb Festival. Environmental and horticultural exhibits and vendors, soil and water sample clinic, plant auction, free butterfly plants, Ask an Arborist, food court and more. Free admission/ parking. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walter Fuller Rec. Center, St Petersburg. 727-893-7441. “The Price Is Right Live.” An interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “Come On Down” to win. $38.50. 7 – 9 p.m. Mahaffey Theater, St. Pete. 727-893-7832. Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax 813-651-1989 or email calendar@srnewsconnection. com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. April 10 for May event.) Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 5

New Exhibits Coming To Armed Forces History Museum Quonset Hut, making for an impressive wall of distinguished veterans;

• Merchant Marines Case—the AFHM has received uniforms, memorabilia and artifacts from the American Victory Ship Mariners Museum in Tampa. A case is currently being created that will encompass the story of these brave men and women; • Korean-era WAC Case—this will feature an authentic Women’s Auxiliary Corps (WAC) Korean-era uniform along with memorabilia as well as information on the role of WAC;

xciting things are happening at the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo. Although packed to the brim in its 50,000 square feet of space with the largest military collection in the Southeast, the museum will be adding new cases, exhibits and dioramas, which will freshen the museum as well as bring its military history up to date. Here’s what’s in store: • USO Exhibit—inclusive of tour jackets, autographs, rare photographs and posters, and exciting memorabilia of entertainers and athletes who entertained troops overseas;

• Official Veteran Portrait Wall— veterans representing all conflicts joined together at the AFHM for individual photo shoots. The initial intent was to have these portraits displayed in Congressman David Jolly’s offices. In addition to his location, Congressman Jolly will be donating additional copies to the museum which will be placed in the museum’s Officers’ Club

• Holocaust Exhibit—in addition to the already impressive German Third Reich collection on view at the museum, the AFHM recently acquired an actual POW uniform, as well as additional rare artifacts showcasing some of the darkest days in history; • Chuck Yeager’s Bell X1 Jet—a replica of Chuck Yeager’s Bell X1 jet, the jet that broke the sound barrier, will be displayed from the museum’s ceiling and will be accompanied by a video screen as well as a static display;

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• African-Americans Evolution Through Military History Case—along with some very eager and bright middle school students from Tampa’s Legacy Preparatory School, a case will be built that will highlight the roles of AfricanAmericans throughout military history. This will take guests from the beginning of conflicts all the way through to the successes of Colin Powell and President Barack Obama. Legacy Prep’s students are currently researching stories, factual information and more. The AFHM is proud to be in partnership with these young men and women as they lead the way to this new case. This month’s special event: 3rd Annual Classic Car Show, Apr. 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. See around 40 vintage and classic cars, pin-up girls from Pin-up America, museum tours, photo opportunities and the “Taste of Chicago” food truck. The AFHM will also conduct a raffle for a lucky guest to win a ride on a Patton tank. Tickets are discounted at $15 for all ages. The Armed Forces History Museum is located at 2050 34th Way N., Largo. To learn more, call 727-539-8371 or visit http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com/

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Online Dating Part 3: 8 Rules For Powerful Profiles Your profile photos are windows into your life. Ask yourself: would your mate want to be in these photos with you?

By Elle Layne

kay, now that you’ve picked a site and learned how to spot the false arrows in Cupid’s quiver, it’s time to make your profile pop! Here are 8 tips:

1. Be honest, and be yourself. This is the golden rule of dating. Ultimately, the goal is to meet someone who will accept you for who you are, flaws and all. This is difficult to do if you are pretending to be someone else, or are exaggerating certain qualities, just to impress a potential mate. (You may end up impressing the wrong type of person!) Use current pictures and be truthful about who you are and what you want, and your mate will appreciate it and respond in kind.

3. Be confident, positive and brief. Being honest doesn’t mean you have to focus on your flaws or write a lengthy autobiography. Bitter tales of past relationships or hard dating luck? Leave those at the door! Nothing turns a potential date off faster. Make your profile short and sweet, and highlight your best qualities. You only have a few seconds to make an impression online—your profile should be just enough to entice a mate to get to know you better.

2. Tell a story with your photos. Profiles with photos are nine times more likely to get communication, according to dating site Eharmony.com. For the best results, use four or more photos and include at least one medium shot and one closeup shot of you. Photos that show you participating in social activities or a favorite hobby, sport or other activity are the most effective. Avoid: poorly taken, blurry or unflattering shots; overly revealing photos; pictures of just your kids/grandkids; photos with exes (or with exes obviously cut out!) and the like.

4. Invite the other person into your life by avoiding too many “I” statements. If you met a date at a bar and all he talked about was himself, would you stick around? Rather than write a laundry list about who you are and what you want, be conversational. Talk about what would you share with your potential mate. How would you like to get to know them better?

5. Make your words count. Do you like romantic dinners and long walks on the beach? So does everyone else! Try to avoid lists or cliches that are common in other people’s profiles. Instead, pick one or two of your favorite activities and describe why you enjoy doing them, or tell a story about an experience. For example: “On weekends I take my dog Shelby on a beach walk because connecting with nature brings me a sense of peace.” 6. Call to action. What makes you stand out? Narrow it down to three words and use them as your profile heading. Don’t

be afraid to get flirty, humorous or quirky. Are you a Southern BBQ Diva or a Frisbee Golfing God? Own it! It’s all about getting readers to click your profile and look deeper. At the end of your profile description, leave a hook—an invitation to open communication. “Did you like the picture of me ziplining in Costa Rica? I’d love to tell you all about it. Gimme a call.” Or... “If you’re like me, and you want someone to share life’s adventures with, write me back...”

7. Have a friend give you a hand. Sometimes they know you better than you know yourself, and can offer suggestions or let you know if you’re going overboard. Having someone double check your profile’s spelling and grammar can also help you make a good first impression. 8. Update regularly: Make the effort to renew your profile on a regular basis to keep it fresh. And if you can, remove a profile you don’t use anymore. It can be discouraging to write in and hope for a message from someone who is no longer using the service. That’s all for now, web-crossed lovers. I wish you safe and happy hunting!

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 9

Free Tax Assistance

here’s good news for taxpayers looking for a safe way to save money at tax time. Thanks to a public-private partnership between the IRS and a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies, there’s a program that provides qualified taxpayers with free, online, name-brand tax preparation software products. Called the IRS Free File program, it’s designed to make tax time easier by walking taxpayers who qualify through the filing process online and ensuring that they capture all the credits and deductions they deserve. To take advantage of the program, taxpayers must have an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less. By using the program, eligible taxpayers can easily and accurately complete their federal tax return with trusted namebrand tax preparation software products. Since its creation in 2003, the Free File program has donated 40 million federal tax returns. That translates to a total savings for taxpayers of more than $1.3 billion in tax preparation costs donated. Approximately 70 percent of U.S. taxpayers are eligible for the Free File program. SOCIAL SECURITY Q&A

Dust Off Your Financial Plan By Daryl Rosenthal Public Affairs Specialist, Tampa

pril is National Financial Literacy Month—the perfect time to spring into action when it comes to planning your financial future. If you already have a plan, this is a great opportunity to take another look at it and make sure you’re still “on track” to reach your financial goals. According to a 2013 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the past few years have seen a sharp decline in Americans’ confidence about their retirement savings. Only 13 percent of workers feel very confident about having enough for a comfortable retirement and 28 percent are not at all confident. More than half of workers have less than $25,000 in total savings and investments. Twenty-eight percent of workers have saved less than $1,000. If you haven’t begun saving for retirement, now is a good time to start—no matter what your age. If retirement is near, you’ll want to jump into the fast lane right away. Don’t just take our word for it. You can check out the numbers yourself. A great way to start figuring Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 10

out how much you will need for retirement is to use Social Security’s online Retirement Estimator, which offers an instant and personalized estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefits based on your earnings record. Try it at socialsecurity.gov/estimator. We encourage saving for retirement, but there are reasons to save for every stage of life. A great place to go for help is www.mymoney.gov (the official U.S. government’s website dedicated to teaching the basics of finances.) Whether you are looking for information about buying a home, balancing your checkbook or investing in your 401(k), the resources on mymoney.gov can help you. The Ballpark Estimator at www.choose tosave.org/ballpark is another excellent online tool. It makes complicated issues, like projected Social Security benefits and earnings assumptions on savings, easy to understand. If you have to choose between scrubbing down the house or scrubbing your budget to get your financial house in order, we recommend putting off the cleaning one more day. Get started on future planning right now at www.socialsecurity.gov.

The Power Of Technology Ed Black, president and CEO of the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), said that the Free File program is a great example of the power of technology to improve the lives of all Americans. Black added that CCIA is proud to support Free File and will be working this year to help ensure all eligible taxpayers are aware of this “important program.” Additionally, 20 states plus the District of Columbia sponsor a state-level Free File program, allowing eligible residents to easily and accurately complete both their federal and state taxes for free.

For more information, visit the websites at www.irs.gov/freefile and www.taxprephelp.org. (NAPSI)

Other Resources AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free, individualized tax preparation for low-to moderate-income taxpayers— especially those 60 and older. Here are a few locations near you: (for a complete list and info about which documents you need to bring with you, visit www. aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/ taxAideLocations.action) Palm Harbor Community Center 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor Tue. and Fri., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Walk-in.

On Top of the World East Rec. 2069 World Pkwy. Blvd., Clearwater Tue. and Thu., 8:15 – 11:30 a.m. Walk-in. Seminole Community Library 9200 113th St., Seminole Tue. and Wed., 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Thu. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk-in.

Gulf Beaches Library 200 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach Tue., Thu., 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Walk-in. South Branch Library 2300 Roy Hanna Dr. S., Pinellas Point Mon. and Wed. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Walk-in. Sunshine Senior Center 330 5th St. N., St. Petersburg Fri. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Walk-in.

Pinellas Park Library 7770 52nd St., Pinellas Park Tue. 2:30 – 7; Wed. 9 – 2; Sat. 9 – 1. Walk-in. Asbury Methodist Church 4204 Thys Rd., New Port Richey Mon., Thu. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Wed., Fri. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Appointment required at 1-877-828-8929

Largo Community Center Readers Theater Seeking Members

nterested in joining a fun, improv-style theatre group? The Largo Community Center’s Readers Theater group is looking for new members. Readers Theater is a style where the actors do not completely memorize their lines, but rely on scripts throughout the show. Actors only use vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather that visual storytelling such as stage

sets, customs, blocking and movement. Readers Theater is held on Mondays from 1 – 2:30 p.m. and is open to both men and women. No acting experience is necessary. Cost is $1.25 for residents, $1.75 for nonresidents and $3.75 without a recreation card. Location: 400 Alt Keene Rd., Largo. For info, visit LargoCommunity Center.com or call 727-518-3131.

When I’m Gone, What Happens To... E

ver wonder what happens to your credit card after you die? What about your Facebook account? Here are a few questions that you might not have asked when creating your will, as well as some advice on how to plan for them:

What happens to my online accounts? The boomer generation will be one of the first to leave behind a vast and varied digital footprint—including social media accounts, emails, tweets, images, videos and more. But most of us have yet to consider just what it is we are leaving behind, and what we want others to do with it. Here are four suggestions for digital legacy planning: Make a will and add a digital codicil, which is a simple document that amends your will to include your digital assets. Make a list of your digital assets, passcodes and avatars, if you have them. Archive content you want to preserve. Today’s technology will be obsolete in the future, and when it disappears so will anything—photos, recordings, written material—that isn’t available in hard copies or a contemporary format. Digital services can provide a bundle of plans, such as archiving, notifying and transferring information to an executor, and data deleting.

Once your digital affairs are in order you may want to consider to what extent you will or won’t retain an online presence after death. Facebook, for example, allows you to keep a memorial page for friends and family to post to after you’ve passed. For helpful info, visit NoLo at nolo.com /legal-encyclopedia/a-plan-your-digitallegacy.html.You’ll learn how to leave instructions for your executor about your social networks, blogs, presence in online communities, music, photos or other files, seller accounts and access to bank accounts or utilities. (Info from AVG.com)

My credit card? For individual accounts: When you die, your estate is responsible for paying off your card balance, as well as other debts. If the assets don’t cover the bills, creditors are notified that the estate is insolvent. They write off the bills, and often that’s the end of it. Children, friends or relatives can’t inherit debt. A card company can’t legally force someone else to pay. For shared accounts: If a spouse, family member or business partner signed the card application as a co-signer (joint account holder), then that person will be

held liable for the balance on that card, along with (or instead of) the estate. If that second cardholder is merely an authorized user (didn’t sign the application, isn’t liable for bills and merely has charging privileges), then he or she isn’t responsible. (Info from creditcards.com) My rental storage unit? Typically, the contents of a deceased tenant’s storage unit become part of the tenant’s estate, and a judge decides what happens to them. If the deceased renter didn’t have a will or trust, most self-storage facilities will require that a small-estate affidavit be filed before survivors can enter the storage unit. This affidavit is a legal form used by an heir to collect the property of a dead relative. However, if a tenant dies and no one claims the contents of the storage unit, they could be auctioned off. If rent is being paid automatically each month and a storage facility has no idea that a tenant has died, the contents of the unit conceivably could be untouched for months or even years. (Info from SpareFoot.com) My pet? Many assume that a family member can

take care of a pet after they pass. However, sometimes survivors are unable to care for your pet properly. Pets that are unclaimed after an owner’s death are typically sent to the nearest shelter. It is wise to make provisions for your pet early on: Find a caretaker: Get a commitment in writing from a family member, friend or temporary home, and leave them feeding and care instructions and information about the permanent care provisions you have made for your pet. Have a backup. If you decide to entrust the care of your pet to an organization, choose one that is well-established and has a good record of finding responsible homes quickly. Work with an attorney to draw up a special will or trust to provide for the care and ownership of your pet as well as the money necessary to care for it. For example, you can designate the trustee of your pet trust as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or a bank account that’s payable upon your death. This ensures the trustee has immediate cash for your pet’s welfare. A well-crafted will can help ensure that this money goes directly to the care of your pet. (Info from humanesociety.org).

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 11

The Florida Orchestra: Go for Gershwin, Garland and More By Kelly Smith

onsider the next morning Coffee Concert as a “greatest hits” show for the new 2015-16 Florida Orchestra season. The program includes Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica,” Themes from The Godfather and John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare. And along with complimentary coffee and doughnuts, there’s another treat: Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, who will talk about the music and composers in a lighthearted setting. Concerts are 10 a.m. April 8 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater and 11 a.m. April 9 at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. Kicking off two Raymond James Pops programs in April is “A Gershwin Celebration,” a salute to the genius of George and Ira Gershwin featuring highlights from Porgy and Bess with soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme, bassbaritone Kevin Deas and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, on April 10 in Tampa, April 11 in St. Petersburg and

April 12 in Clearwater. In the second Pops program, get happy with Hilary Kole’s tribute to Judy Garland, including “The Trolley Song,” “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” Concerts are April 24 –26 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. In the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks series, go off into the Arabian Nights with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. You’ll also get a smart take on Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with soloist Jeremy Denk, winner of a “Genius” Fellowship, and a mystical work called Blue Cathedral by Jennifer Higdon, featuring unexpected notes from Chinese meditation balls—and even tuned wine glasses. Concerts are April 17 – 19 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Individual concert tickets as well as series packages are available at www. floridaorchestra.org or by calling 1-800-662-7286 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Most concerts offer affordable single-ticket prices of $15, $30 and $45.

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EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

L E A V I N G

L E G A C Y

M a k i n g a D i f f e r e n c e I n Yo u r C o m m u n i t y In 2009, retired banker David A. Straz donated around $25,000,000 to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Because of his generous contribution, future generations will be able to share in his love of music, theater and the arts. The quiet benefactor was reluctant to have the center— now known as the David A Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts—named after him, but he believed it might encourage others to donate as well. Straz said, “This is a result of my hard work and, at the same time, we’ve been able to do something for others.” In large ways or small, anyone can leave a legacy that can change their community for the better. We hope you enjoy this special section on planned giving.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 13

Leave A Legacy...Make A Difference

When considering donation, many people think only about the major organs, such as the heart, liver or kidneys. However, there are more than 25 different transplantable organs and tissues, including: • Corneas for preserving or restoring sight • Bone marrow for treating certain types of leukemia and anemia • Skin grafts for burn, accident and disease victims • Bone for reconstructing lost, destroyed or deformed limbs or facial features • Heart valves for correcting birth defects • Tendons, ligaments and cartilage for correcting congenital defects

By Janice Doyle

Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man … should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.”

o one wants to feel they have left this earth without leaving something of themselves behind. While many spend a lifetime accumulating wealth to leave for heirs, others die broke and yet leave a rich legacy in other ways. When we leave any kind of legacy to benefit others, we leave a powerful message that will be heard for decades. A planned gift reflects the ideals, values and beliefs that are important to us as individuals. Often a legacy is the accumulation of a lifetime of finances, but just as often, a legacy of lifestyle demonstrates itself as those left behind take up where the deceased left off. Generosity clearly is a sign of dedication. Among the various ways to leave your legacy, there may be some vehicles especially suited to your wishes. A legacy of financial means Many people today are planning for retirement and investigating ways to preserve their estates. An estate planning program integrates family wealth planning and philanthropy. Leaving a financial legacy means leaving money or financial assets to your favorite charity through wills and estate plans. Legacy gifts come in all sizes, from just a few dollars to much larger bequests, and can be in the form of money, property, securities, insurance policies or other assets. While these gifts are often bestowed as a way to say “thank you” or to support ongoing efforts of a specific organization, planned giving often provides the benefactor with tangible tax benefits and a sense of self-satisfaction. This kind of giving is not just a privilege of the wealthy because an estate of any size can greatly assist organizations that are making a difference in our communities. According to National Philanthropic Trust, 95 percent of households contribute to charitable or religious causes each year, but only around six percent of these givers plan a charitable bequest. Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 14

A donor could potentially save and enhance up to 50 lives and take eight people off the national organ donor waiting list.

How do you go about leaving a financial legacy? Step one: Select a professional advisor. Most often, the charity you want to give to will have such an advisor on its staff.

Step two: Write down your goals and objectives. These may include ensuring that your heirs and beneficiaries are cared for, preserving the value of your estate and being remembered for your actions. Step three: Take an inventory of your assets; often we overlook assets such as life insurance policies and retirement benefits. Step four: Develop and implement your plan. This combines the previous three steps and forms the basis for maximizing your personal and social capital. Directing a portion of your estate to your chosen charity actually can reduce your taxable estate.

Leaving the gift of life Research shows that many people over 50 years of age believe they are too old or too unhealthy to qualify as a donor and, in some instances, are removing themselves from their state registry due to this misperception. In reality, almost two-thirds of all donations come from people above the age of 50, and the oldest person to donate was 93 years of age when he died, according to Donate Life (donatelife.net). With more than 123,000 patients waiting for a transplant, it is important to know that everyone has the potential to save and heal lives through donation. While medical advances have increased the success rate of using organ transplantation to treat diseases, the need for donated organs continues to grow. An average of 21 people die each day because an organ was not made available for transplant.

To express your wishes to become a donor, indicate your intent to donate on your driver’s license and carry a donor card with you at all times. Most importantly, make your family aware of your intent to be a donor as they are often the ones who must make the crucial decision.

Make Your Donations Count By Tracie Lukens

f charitable giving is part of your legacy plan, here are a few tips to help you make an informed decision so your donation can go the extra mile:

Choosing a Charity 1. Chose the cause that is nearest to your heart. Are you interested in the arts? The environment? Mission work or humanitarian efforts in other countries? Curing a disease or making a difference locally in your community? Check out topnonprofits.com/lists/types-of-charities. 2. Narrow your list down by doing a little research. Ask friends, family or coworkers for their favorite charities. Consider volunteering at a charity to see firsthand how effective it is. Always ask questions: How will my gift be spent? How many people did you help last year? In what way? 3. Ask yourself: what or how much can I give, and which organization would benefit from it the most? Consider this: a $100,000 donation might not go as far in a large international organization with hundreds of staff and multiple expenses as it would for a local school or a food bank in your community. 4. Check to make sure your potential charity is legitimate and handles funds responsibly. Resources like Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org); GuideStar (guidestar.org); and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org) can help. They rate charities and offer details on their goals, results and how donations are put to use. 5. Never accept solicitations for charities or give away personal or credit card information. Donate on your terms.

Think Small Gifts do not have to be monumental to make an impact. A simple donation of $100 would be appreciated by any nonprofit. Items like furniture, clothes, vehicles and even land can be left to charities like ReStore, Goodwill, United Way, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the Nature Conservancy and others. Books or artwork can be donated to libraries, museums or community centers depending on worth and condition. Finding homes for items your heirs do not want (or items that might cause a conflict) can benefit small organizations now and reduce estate burdens later.

Giving and Tax Relief Giving not only feels good—deductable donations can also lower your tax bill, as long as you keep the following guidlines in mind: • The donations you make must be to qualified organizations. To find out if a charity qualifies, visit http://www.irs.gov/Charities&-Non-Profits/Search-for-Charities. • You must have documentation of your contributions. Make sure to keep an itemized list of what you donate and what it’s worth, and file the long Form 1040 and Schedule A at tax time. • Deductible expenses can include cash, non-cash items like clothing and household goods, and mileage driven on behalf of a qualified charity. • Contributions are limited to 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). • Also, you can’t write off a portion of a contribution if you get something in return. For example, if you buy a $50 ticket to a fundraising dinner at a church but the value of the dinner is $20, you can only deduct $30. Other ways to give: In the case of large estates, it can be in your best interest to distribute your wealth before you pass on to prevent a large portion of it from going to the IRS instead of your beneficiaries. Here are two ideas: Gifts: You can distribute tax-free gifts up to a certain amount during your lifetime. The federal estate tax exemption, or the amount an individual can leave to heirs without having to pay federal estate tax, is currently $5.43 million. There’s also an annual gift tax exclusion that allows an individual to give away $14,000 a year to whomever they want, tax-free, without going against their lifetime limit. Education: A 529 College Savings Plan can be used to put aside funds for your child or grandchild’s college education, tax-free, as long as the money is used solely for educational purposes. Like the annual gift tax exclusion, you can make yearly gifts of $14,000 to the plan, (or $28,000 for joint couples) with one added benefit: every five years, it lets you put five years worth of gifts into the plan at once, for a total of $70,000 (or $140,000/couples). (Info from IRS.gov and other sources)

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 15

RETIREMENT LIVING

Write A Memoir For Future Generations

By Meghan Streit, Kiplinger

hink of all the memories that make up the story of your life. Preserving those stories in a memoir can be a tremendous gift for your children and grandchildren, who may be eager to understand their family history. In his late eighties, Stan Zabka looked back on the many exciting chapters of his life: serving in World War II alongside his seven brothers, working as associate director of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and composing iconic songs such as “Christmas Eve in My Home Town.” He decided he had a story that was worth telling. Zabka, 89, spent a year and a half toiling for up to ten hours a day to write his memoir, “Razz Ma Tazz: My Life in Music, Television and Film.” Zabka documented his life, not only for his children, but also for people with careers in the entertainment industry who might benefit from his many years of experience. “Instead of talking about the wars or my big family, I talked about music,” says Zabka, who self-published his memoir. “All of those other things like family and war had music woven throughout them. That is what I learned: You can do a lot of things in your life, but you can only be an expert in one.” Zabka is one of many older people who are leaving a record of their life stories to future generations. Memoirists can find plenty of help. You can take a course at a local workshop—or go online for instruction.You can even find a ghostwriter to pen your memoir after Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 16

extensive interviews. Or you can seek the help of a company that will compile the stories of your life on video, an audio recording or a personalized website. Rosanne Gulisano, who founded Lifestories: Creating a Memoir (www.lifestoriescreatingamemoir.com) and runs workshops in Illinois, says many people think their lives aren’t extraordinary enough for a memoir. But she says most of us have a very captive audience: our children and grandchildren. “Everyone’s life is interesting to their own future generations,” Gulisano says. “If you were to find a stack of old diaries in your grandmother’s trunk, it probably wouldn’t be a bestseller, but it would be a precious document to you.” Many people find the process of documenting their lives to be rewarding, even therapeutic, Gulisano says. “You kind of find out who you are because you’re digging up things you might have forgotten,” she says. “For most people, it’s a very happy process and they get so much joy out of reminiscing about their past.” Use Technology for Storytelling The written word is a popular format for preserving personal history, but it isn’t the only medium. You can hire a service that can create video or digital histories. Bank executive Linda Beerman, 64, and her three siblings used an online service called Umenta (www.umenta.com). A “legacy concierge” interviews various family members by phone and edits the interviews into discrete stories. The service posts both written and audio versions of stories to a private family website.

On a conference call, Beerman says, she and her siblings reminisced for an hour about parties their parents hosted and the houses where they lived as children. “The four of us were just laughing so hard,” she says. “It was a wonderful thing for us to do together.” Beerman, who lives in Lewisville, N.C., says they can add content to the site, including photos, so she plans to e-mail her siblings questions each month to solicit more memories. You can instead opt for a video biography of your life. Forever Studios (www. foreverstudios.com), in Boca Raton, Fla., is one company that creates professionally produced DVDs narrated by the client. Co-founder Zachary Goldberg says the process begins with a “discovery session” between the client and a journalist, videographer and producer. They discuss stories the client wants to tell. Then the journalist conducts a series of on-camera interviews with the client. The company gathers photographs, home movies, period newsreel footage, memorabilia such as Purple Heart medals, and music to incorporate into the video. You can produce your own online memory book by using Memloom (www.memloom.com). You can use tools to lay out photos and scanned memorabilia such as handwritten recipes. You can include videos, audio narration (you call into a telephone line to make a recording) and music. The end result—in a magazine-like format—can be shared with people you choose. Memloom’s basic functions are free, and there is a fee for premium features. Ruth Baudhuin, 66, uses Facebook to keep up with her children and grandchildren, but she says she doesn’t feel comfortable displaying photos

and personal information on the social networking site. So Baudhuin recently began using Memloom to share memories of her late husband with her children. Baudhuin compiled photos from one of the last holidays the kids spent with their dad and sent the album to the entire family. “The first Thanksgiving he was sick, a lot of the kids came from all over with their little ones,” she says. “There were a lot of pictures from that day, and Memloom is a nice way to share something like that.” Consider Your Audience Younger generations tend to consume information in short sound bites and are less likely to commit to long narratives. Tom Cormier, chief executive officer of Legacy Stories (www.legacystories.org), based in Knoxville, Tenn., has created an app for Apple and Android mobile devices that people can use to record audio stories to accompany old photographs. Cormier says recordings are limited to three minutes so they appeal to users’ grandchildren. “If you send an e-mail to a teenager with a recorded story, and it’s only a minute or two, they learn some incredible things they wouldn’t have otherwise known,” he says. If you’re writing in print form, you can simply make photocopies to share with relatives. Or you can use a self-publishing service to create a bound book that includes photographs. Gulisano recommends 48Hour-Books. com and Lulu (www.lulu.com). To find someone to help you with your memoir, go to the website of the Association of Personal Historians (www. personalhistorians.org). Debbie Marks, the association’s marketing director, recommends checking credentials and references before hiring a personal historian.

Leave a Message From Beyond

inding a letter from a recently deceased loved one can be an unexpected source of comfort. Recently, services have emerged that allow you to plan messages to be sent to loved ones after you have passed. Here are a few:

White Owl Messaging (www.whiteowlmessaging.com): Arrange for cards, flowers, gifts or other personal messages to be delivered to your loved ones after you have passed. Offers one-time or multiple year deliveries, or you can assign a guardian to a gift to be released at the appropriate time. Dead Social Messaging Service (www.deadsocial.org): Create a series of messages that are published to social networks once you pass away. You can also release unseen video and audio messages—and the service is totally free. My Wonderful Life (www.mywonderfullife.com): Leave letters for loved ones, share memories, upload favorite photos and make your final wishes known.

The Giving Guide G

iving is great. It feels great, and it can do great things. Human beings are hardwired for generosity, even in spite of ourselves. Participants in a 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted their happiness more than spending it on themselves (despite their own prediction to the contrary). Giving has health benefits, as well. That warm glow following a good deed comes in part from a release of oxytocin, a hormone that induces feelings of warmth, euphoria and connection to others. Giving is often reciprocated in unexpected ways, and best of all, it’s contageous. When one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously later, toward different people, suggests another study by Harvard and the University of California, San Diego. ‘Paying it forward’ spreads exponentially, researchers found, and one person can ultimately influence hundreds of people whom they have never even met. The boomer generation, in particular, is a generous bunch. They give the largest

share of donations to charities and represent 43 percent of total U.S. giving, according to “The Next Generation of American Giving,” a report by Blackbaud (a software provider to nonprofits). To those who may want to leave a monetary legacy to charity, but are unsure of the best way, CNN Money breaks down a few options:

Leave a bequest: A bequest is a gift to charity at your death, typically made through your will. Making a bequest reduces the size of your estate, effectively leaving less money subject to estate taxes. Another advantage: You can change the provisions in your will, including how much to donate and to whom, anytime before your death. When making a bequest, donors can attach strings, such as asking the charity to use the money to fund a certain project. Charitable gift funds, which are offered by Fidelity, Vanguard and others, permit you to make a tax-deductible donation, grow your investment taxfree, and then direct a contribution—in your name—to nonprofits of your choosing whenever you like.

Community foundations are regionally based charities that take donations of as little as $5,000 in cash, stock or property. The foundations invest that money, pool the gains and allocate grants, usually to local nonprofits. In most cases, you may either have the foundation give money to organizations you choose or ask the foundation to locate a worthy recipient for a cause you like.

In charitable remainder trusts, a donor transfers assets to an irrevocable trust, which then pays the donor or his family income for a set period of time, or until the donor dies. At the end of the trust’s term, whatever money is left goes to a charity designated by the donor. The donor receives an upfront tax deduction for the money expected to be received by the charity, while the income stream that donors receive is taxable. You also can set up a charitable lead trust, (think of a charitable

remainder trust in reverse) from which acharity receives the income and your heirs receive whatever is left after you pass away. Give Wisely Generosity is a virtue, but so is good planning. Rushing to act can mean the difference between a well-executed gift and one that could put your own long-term financial position in jeopardy. Always seek advice from a financial advisor before donating large amounts of money or property, and never give more than you can afford. It may mean some up front costs, but a good legacy plan is well worth it in the end.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 17

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VETERANS CORNER

Every VA Volunteer Has a Story!

By Janice Doyle

Emily Murtha, VA volunteer

olunteers play a major role in the VA Healthcare System. From transporting patients in wheelchairs to answering phones and from handing out filled prescriptions to feeding patients breakfast, volunteers are important. C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center (formerly Bay Pines VA Medical Center) in Pinellas County has 1,800 volunteers, each with a unique story to share about why they commit so much of their time to help veterans. Some do it because they too are veterans and want to give back to their brothers and sisters. Others do it out of respect for the men and women who honorably served the nation, or to stay busy after retirement or fulfill a community service requirement for a high school, college or university program. For Emily Murtha, a 76-year-old patient transport volunteer at the healthcare system’s Medical Center, her connection to VA came in 1997 after being reunited with her high school sweetheart, Don, after more than 41 years apart. Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, Emily (then Emily Kovacs) and Don Murtha dated through high school but went their separate ways shortly after Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Emily said, “We were so young, and I really didn’t see how we could make it work with him going away.” They never fathomed the thought of one day being reunited. On August 23, 1997, Emily’s phone rang. “It was Donny,” she said. “I was lost for words. He told me he had been searching for me for the last 30 years.” They were married the next year in Wilkes-Barre, Penn.

VA Health Care and Volunteerism Emily described Don as the “ultimate soldier” and a stern advocate and client of the military and the VA health care system. When Emily retired in 2001, the couple moved to Tampa Bay where Don transferred his care to the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. “Because he enjoyed his time in the military and the military culture so much, it became part of what I enjoyed as well,” she said. “When he visited the VA hospital, I was always by his side. We both loved the VA so much—it was very much part of our lives together.” In April 2005, Don passed away. In January 2008, Emily became a registered volunteer at the medical center two days per week. “Becoming a volunteer was probably the best thing I’ve done in my life—second to my time with Don, of course,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to give back to veterans and also continue to spend time in a facility that meant so much to Don—to us. When I am here, I very much feel his presence.” Emily has amassed more than 5,400 hours of service. “There really isn’t a unit of measure for what Emily brings to Veterans and the volunteer program. You can count the hours she serves but you can never measure the heart,” said Nathan Witt, Chief, VA Voluntary Service Director at the facility. “She embodies everything good about VA Voluntary Service and giving back to those who served,” he said. To learn more about becoming a volunteer at the Young VA Medical Center, call 727-398-9394. To volunteer at James A Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, call 813-972-7533. Also consider volunteering at one of the area’s local VA clinics. Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 19

RE ! U’ ED YO VIT IN

THE NEXT GENERATION OF COPD TREATMENT IS HERE.

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Learn how the Lung Institute uses stem cells from a patient’s own body to regenerate healthy tissue, improving lung function and quality of life.

Call (855) 313-1150 for more information, or visit lunginstitute.com/lifestyles Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 20

Challenging the Status Quo with Stem Cells By Cara Tompot, Staff Writer

ooking back on history, we remember a time when women didn’t have the rights that they do now. Prior to 1919, women didn’t have any way to express their thoughts and desires through public policy. Thanks to first-wave feminists questioning the status quo, 1920 marked the first year that women could vote. This social change marked a moment in history when women finally had the right to take control of their own life. In many ways, the history of women’s suffrage is similar to the road to regenerative medicine advancements. Much like women fighting for equality, patients have been fighting for a new way to treat their chronic lung disease. Now, with the advancement of stem cell therapy, sufferers of chronic lung disease are no longer limited to the confines of traditional medicine— which involve managing symptoms rather than the disease. Stem cell therapy, like women’s voting rights, helps people take control of their life by giving them a voice.

For years, people accepted the status quo, and for people suffering from chronic lung diseases like COPD, the status quo meant a constant struggle for oxygen. As an incurable disease, most sufferers felt that they didn’t have any options. But now, everything has changed. One state-of-the-art clinic, the Lung Institute, developed an alternative. Stem cell therapy helps sufferers finally breathe easier. People are no longer forced to accept the fate of continual disease progression or an invasive lung procedure. Stem cell therapy harnesses the healing power of a patient’s own stem cells to help regenerate damaged lung tissue. Today, lung disease can be treated with adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s own fat, blood or bone marrow to replace damaged lung cells with healthy ones. According to the clinic’s website, www.lunginstitute.com, this innovative procedure slows the progression of the disease

in addition to restoring lung function and reducing inflammation. The result is the ability to breathe easier. Similar to the fight for women’s rights, doctors and patients have been diligently looking for a new way to treat lung disease. Now, with the advancement of stem cell therapy, patients can finally combat disease progression. As with any change, some physicians and patients may be slower to adopt new ideas while clinging to traditional approaches; however, just as social change made it possible for women to have a voice in the government, clinical advancements like stem cell therapy make it possible for patients to have a voice in their healthcare. If the fight for equality is any sign of the future of stem cell therapy, there is no doubt that stem cells will become the status quo for treating lung disease.

MEDICARE ANSWERS

Is My Doctor Visit Covered Are you or a loved one By Medicare When I Travel? diabetic and have

ear Marci, I live in New York but will be visiting family in California this month. Will Medicare cover the costs if I need to visit a doctor while I am there? —Christina

Dear Christina, This depends on how you receive your Medicare benefits. If you have Original Medicare, the traditional Medicare program administered directly through the federal government, you can travel anywhere in the United States and its territories and get medical care from almost any doctor or hospital. This includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. In order for medical services to be covered by Medicare, make sure that you see a participating doctor who accepts Medicare and will take Medicare

assignment. A doctor who takes Medicare assignment agrees to accept the Medicareapproved amount as full payment. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan may not cover your care while you travel in the United States unless you need emergency or urgent care. If your plan does allow you to see providers that are outside of your network or area, you will usually need to pay more for the care, except for emergency or urgent care. You may also need to follow other plan rules like obtaining prior authorization. Contact your plan to see what rules and costs apply when you travel within the United States. —Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www. medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare.

Medicare Part B?

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Open Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. *Insurance Plans and Medicare may provide coverage for select therapeutic shoes and arch supports (inserts) for diabetics, subject to the terms of the Insurance Plan or Medicare coverage guidelines. Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 21

Stroll Through St. Petersburg’s History

n 1888, a locomotive train named Mattie brought a single passenger to St. Pete. The shoe salesman came from Savannah, Georgia. Much has happened since that day. Did you know that famous slugger Babe Ruth made St. Petersburg his own playground? Ever wonder how long a building you see has been there or what it used to be before it is was turned into what it is today? The guides on the The St. Pete Historical Walking Tour can take you

n Brand New Renovated Building n Large One Bedroom Apartments n 540 Café with Restaurant Style Dining n Pet Friendly n Wellness Center n Outside Covered Dining Patio n Large Entertainment Room with Computers, Internet Access and a Flat Screen TV n 24 Hour Front Desk Staff

on a memorable trip through the city’s past. Each trip is an easy two-hour stroll with several stops along the way. Discover new things to do and places to eat around town. The tour, held every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m., begins at the Sundial located at 153 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Cost: $15/adult; $5/ children 6 – 12. Advance reservations are required at 727-786-0515. Put on your walking shoes and take a few hours to experience the history!

n 24 Hour Front Desk Staff n Keyless Entry System n Assigned Parking n Laundry Room n Water, Sewer and Trash Service Included n Maintenance Staff available n Housekeeping Service at nominal cost n Active Resident Council & Activities

Are you 62 years old or mobility impaired on a limited income? Find your new home at 540 Town Center Rent based on income

Call (727) 823-1575 FLA Relay Service 1-800-955-8771 Let us give you a tour of our wonderful community. 540 Second Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701

How To Sneak Healthy Living Into Your Routine By Dale Noelle

or today’s active older adults, the demands of balancing work, physical fitness, family and fun can be a challenge. But there are ways to improve your overall wellness that can be incorporated into quick and simple daily routines. Exercises, stretching, breathing deeply and healthy eating can be infused into everything you do, so getting to the gym or having a specific daily workout is not as crucial to your health and wellbeing. Simple adjustments to the way you approach daily tasks can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel. Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you become more fit and increase energy while juggling hectic schedules: DO: • Take stairs instead of elevators • Take slow, deep breaths • While standing still or waiting in line, try this simple exercise: Keep even weight on your feet with your hips and shoulders level. Tighten all muscles as much as you can and then release and repeat. • Walk home from the office/grocery/ shopping and lift and lower bags to tone your arms and back • Do squats while washing your hair or cleaning the shower with a squeegee • Stretch before you get out of bed every morning and before you go to bed at night • Park farther from building entrances and walk briskly to your destination • Carry a refillable glass bottle of water with fruit or herbs inside (add a spring

of rosemary, mint leaves, cinnamon stick, lemon or orange slices, etc.) • Join a sports team for fun (even if you never played the sport before, most organized leagues offer beginner options) • Carry at least one healthy snack in your bag (nuts, apple) • Choose exercises that are easy on your joints and strengthen without causing bulk; yoga is a great option.

DO NOT: • Eat if you are not hungry, or impulsively grab empty calorie and/or sugary snacks • Sit if you can stand • Deny yourself your favorite fattening foods (but do limit portions and/or only eat them once a week) It is possible to maintain a healthy body and youthful glow without going to extremes. Drinking plenty of water, eating greens, eating less pasta, bread, sugar, red meat and dairy are other simple lifestyle changes that can improve your metabolism, increase your energy and boost your mood. Dale Noelle is a modelling and fitness expert from True Model Management. To learn more, visit truemodel.net.

“Uproarious interactive theatre!” — The NY Times

FRI-SUN • MAY 1-3 JAEB THEATER

WITH SISTER MARY Z

STRAZ CENTER IT’S MORE THAN JUST A SHOW. 813.229.STAR (7827) • STRAZCENTER.ORG Group Sales (10+ get a discount): 813.222.1016 or 1018 Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice. Handling fees will apply.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 22

Springtime Fun Facts

efore spring was called spring, it was called Lent in Old English. Starting in the 14th century, that time of year was called “springing time”—a reference to plants “springing” from the ground. In the 15th century this got shortened to “spring-time,” and then further shortened in the 16th century to just “spring.”

• Earth Day, April 22, is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Over 175 countries throughout the world participate.

• In Panama, 100 endangered species of orchids were planted and maintained to prevent their extinction in honor of Earth Day. • American householders spend approximately $131 on decorations and candy each year, dumping a total of about $14.7 billion into the nation’s economy each Easter season.

• The number one Easter food is hard-boiled eggs, with chocolate bunnies in second place. Every spring, Americans also consume about 700 million of those little yellow marshmallow chicks called Peeps.

• Easter bunnies have their roots in old German pagan traditions celebrating the goddess Eostra, who was honored for bringing spring and fertility on the spring equinox. Because of their fecundity, rabbits were used as her symbol.

• In ancient Greece, Persephone was the goddess of spring. During winters, she was known as the Queen of the Underworld, and she would return to the earth in spring to preside over growth. • Every year, the U.S. president conducts an Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. The tradition was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878 and the practice has been followed by every president since then.

Question: When was the first Earth Day celebrated in the U.S.? Your Answer: Send in the correct answer to be entered in a drawing to win a prize valued at $25 or more each month. Deadline for entries Apr. 16, 2015. Drawing held Apr. 20, 2015.

Name Address City

State

Phone

Zip

Mail to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL, 33583

March’s answer is “New York City in 1762 on March 17.” Beatrice Van Brunt from Ocala is March’s winner.

Play more trivia online and win more prizes at www.lifestylesafter50.com

Click on the Trivia Palooza button and answer a Trivia question each week for a chance to win a prize at the end of each month. Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 23

HOUSING

Get Inspired by Outdoor Living Ideas

nspired by neighbors, home improvement shows and social media channels like Pinterest and Houzz, today’s homeowners are entering the deck planning and building process more informed than ever before. But sorting through this wealth of information and inspiration can make it hard to decipher what’s really hot for today’s outdoor spaces—and to choose what’s right for your home. Surveying the wide variety of options is the first step in deciding how you’ll approach designing your outdoor space. Start by considering some of the top influences expected to dominate the outdoor living landscape this season, according to the experts at Trex Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing.

Designing outside the box. Gone are the days of simple squared-off decks and basic slab patios. Regardless of the size of the yard—or budget—homeowners today are thinking and building beyond the basic square space. Remodelers and architects report increased interest from customers in decks with multiple levels, curves, cantilevers, pergolas and even walls to create three-dimensional interest and define different functional areas. Bringing the indoors out. The lines between indoors and out will continue to blur as homeowners look to extend the style, comfort and function of their interior spaces to their outdoor living areas. More and more indoor activities are migrating outside with the addition of features such as outdoor kitchens, Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 24_R

dining nooks and fireplaces. Demand also is up for features like integrated benches with cushions and accent pillows, storage components and lighting, along with accessories such as ornamental post caps and railing with decorative balusters similar to those found inside the home.

Tropical staycation. From New England to Southern California, the look of the tropics will dominate as a top outdoor design scheme. Materials that evoke the ambiance of an exotic island getaway are all the rage, from tiki torches, cabanas and waterfalls to deck boards featuring warm colors and multi-colored streaking inspired by tropical hardwoods. High performance, low maintenance. While aesthetics drive many deckbuilding decisions, performance is just as important. Increasingly, homeowners are seeking high-performance, low maintenance materials that allow them to spend more time enjoying their outdoor living space than maintaining it. This motivation has contributed to the continued innovation and popularity of composite decking and railing. Unlike wood, high-performance wood alternative decking such as Trex resists fading, staining, scratching and mold. Upkeep is hassle-free with no sanding, staining or painting required, and food and drink spills wash off easily with just soap and water. To see examples of outdoor living settings featuring this year’s top looks, visit the Inspiration Gallery at www.trex.com. (Family Features)

Spring Build-A-Brunch Ideas E

ntertaining at brunch time can be much easier than a dinner party. Serve these mini quiches and cake bites with croissants, a fruit platter and mimosas or freshly squeezed orange juice. Recipes by McCormick: mccormick.com. Mini Ham and Egg Quiches Serves: 6

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium shallot, finely chopped 2 cups packed baby spinach leaves 4 ounces goat cheese (chèvre) 8 eggs, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon tarragon 1 teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon course ground black pepper 12 thin slices deli Black Forest ham

Directions Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add shallot; cook and stir 2 minutes or until softened. Add spinach; cook and stir 1 to

2 minutes or just until wilted. Remove from heat. Add goat cheese; stir until well blended and melted. Mix eggs, tarragon, thyme, sea salt and pepper in medium bowl until well blended. Add spinach mixture; mix well. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin generously with no-stick cooking spray. Press a slice of ham into each cup, pleating as necessary to fit cup. Pour egg mixture evenly into each cup. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until eggs are set. Run small knife or spatula around each cup to loosen mini quiches. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Decorative Egg Cake Bites Serves: 24 1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Lemon Extract 1 cup marshmallow creme 1 bag (14 ounces) white confectionary coating wafers Decorating Glaze: 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons water

Directions Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding lemon extract and desired food color. Bake as directed on package for 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Crumble cake into large bowl. Add marshmallow creme; mix until well blended. Shape into 1-inch balls then roll to form an egg shape. Refrigerate 2 hours. Melt coating wafers or white chocolate as directed on package. Using a fork, dip 1 cake bite at a time into the confectionary coating or chocolate. Tap back of fork 2 or 3 times against edge of dish to allow excess to drip off. Place cake bites on wax paper-lined tray. For the Decorating Glaze, mix confectioners’ sugar and water in small bowl until well blended. Tint with desired food color. Using a fork, drizzle glaze over cake bites. Let stand until glaze is set.

Tech Talk: Magic Opener W elcome to this month’s Tech Talk column, where we cover the latest apps, gadgets and websites that make life a little easier. This month, we’re giving away a Magic Opener—a device that combines the three most common types of beverage openers into one easyto-use product. It can open metal caps, stubborn twist tops and nail-chipping pull tabs. Magic Opener is handy for those with arthritis or limited hand strength. The ergonomic handle accommodates all hand sizes, and the device firmly grabs caps for even more leverage. The magnetic top makes it accessible—stick it on your fridge door, on the BBQ, bike frame or tail gate so it’s always at your fingertips. Plus, it’s small enough to fit in a purse, lunchbox or backpack. The Magic Opener retails for $19.99. For more information, please visit www.magicopener.com.

We’re giving away a Magic Opener to one lucky winner this month! To enter, just email editor@lifestylesafter50. com or snail mail us at:

Attn: Magic Opener News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 Send us your name, address and phone number by April 19. The drawing will be held on April 20, and the winner will be contacted and announced in the May issue of Lifestyles After 50. Look for more giveaways in upcoming editions. Good luck!

Congratulations! To last month’s winner:

Marianne Barnes of Sun City Center

She won the Pixstar FotoConnect XD!

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 25

Word Search April

In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions – forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Word Search Answers From March

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: News CoNNeCtioN UsA, iNC. P.o. BoX 638, seFFNeR, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on April 20 will win. Mystery Prize!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

June Lewis is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Mystery Prize!

(Puzzles must be received by April 20, 2015.)

April Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Apr. 20 will win. Good luck!

Last Month’s Answers

March Sudoku

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583 WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by April 20, 2015.)

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 26

Mystery Prize!

Corky Westfall is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

A Fabulous Day at the Kapok Pavilion!

Visitors enjoyed free health screenings, live entertainment, demos and much more!

he Lifestyles After 50 March Fun Fest was held at the beautiful Kapok Pavilion in Clearwater and was indeed a beautiful experience for all of Lifestyles’ guests. The fabulous chandeliers gleamed in each room and the Kapok Trees were in blossom along with all the other plants in the amazing gardens. The event, held inside, featured more than 60 vendors showcasing products from jewelry to health insurance programs.

As usual, we offered free health screenings, incredible entertainment, valuable information that seniors need, and giveaways to all that attended. “Just walking around and meeting people was fun because, everywhere you looked, there was something interesting to talk about,” said Terry Davidson from St. Petersburg.

The theme for the event was “a little Irish in all of us.” Lots of Irish music and, of course, some Frank Sinatra and Crystal Gail songs were played. The young dancers from the Highland Academy also reated us to some lively Irish dancing.

As usual, Bingo was a hit with the room overflowing to the sounds of Pat Zaidel and Maryann calling “B9, N40 … BINGO!” Lifestyles After 50 is committed to serving the 50 plus community through our publication and through these events. Our emphasis is to educate the community on services and information while having a little fun with people that will enhance their lives. Thank you to all the vendors and sponsors who made the day a wonderful success. Our next event will be held on April 21 at the Lowry Park Zoo.

See you there! To learn more, visit www.lifestylesafter50.com.

BRIDGE BITES

Careful Timing Is Everything Brian Gunnell and the American Contract Bridge League

est’s 2♠ (showing long Spades and not much else) pushed N-S into the precarious contract of 4♥. Look at what happened in actual play, and then figure out how you would have done better as Declarer. West led the ♠K, won by Declarer’s Ace. With six side-suit tricks it would be necessary to score four trump tricks, and as the trump suit was so weak it was apparent that some ruffing would be required. One line that would clearly not work would be to get the enemy trumps out of the way first, that would leave Declarer a trick short (scoring only three trump tricks). So Declarer cashed the ♥A at Trick 2, and then, leaving three enemy trumps at large, he played on the side-suits. His general plan was to let

the opponents take their trumps whenever they wished, but that was all they would get. He started with Dummy’s high Clubs, but West ruffed the third round and played another Spade. Dummy ruffed, East over-ruffed and cashed her high Heart, leaving Declarer with just 9 tricks. Declarer needed to time the play better if he was to score 10 tricks. At Trick 2 he must duck a trump! Now, he wins the Diamond return, plays the Ace of trumps and (leaving one enemy trump at large) goes about his business of cashing winners and cross-ruffing. Altogether Declarer has 11 potential tricks via the ♥A, four ruffs and six side-suit winners, but that enemy trump will rub out one of those tricks and reduce the total to 10. Making 4♥, thanks to careful timing. Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org /D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 27

Seniors Getting Together WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy & exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. 4445 SEEKING THE GOOD LIFE. DBF 62YO, 6’1”, thick, attractive, loving, caring, Steve Harvey books are my kind of a man. Seeking the same. I love God and have lots of interests. Largo area. 4400 SLENDER, ATTRACTIVE, AFFECTIONATE LADY ISO gentleman for possible LTR. Enjoy togetherness, day trips, dancing, dining, to be there for each other, share good times. Age open. St. Pete area. 4453 LADY OF TODAY with great value, emotionally and financially stable, healthy size 4 with curve, blonde, blue eyes, WW, W, NS, SD, RP. ISO man 69-76, NS, SD, TLC,SOH, open and honest. Like dancing and adventure. Wimauma area. 4462 LOOKING FOR A COMPANION. SWF, 74YY, 5’4”, hazel eyes, NS. ISO someone who enjoys dining out, movies, listening to music and sports. 4461 NEWLY RETIRED ATTRACTIVE FEMALE. If you like stimulating conversation, plus dancing, check out my way to love every day in Florida. This 70 year old guarantees this. St. Petersburg area.

4459 SMALL BLONDE, GREEN EYES, loves life, very healthy, sweet, NS, good values. If you like to try new things, contact me and we can talk and get to know each other. Smile; life treats you better when you smile. 4457 WOULD YOU LIKE A COMPANION? Youthful Italian SWF, 67YY, NDrg, SOH, 5’2”, eye catching blue eyes, size 10, HWP, NS, considerate, respectful, likes outdoors, walks, exercises, music (50’s, classic country), sports, dancing, togetherness. ISO youthful, healthly, countryish SWM. Zephyrhills area. 4456 SEEKING FRIENDSHIP, MAYBE MORE. DWF with sense of humor, enjoys travel, adventure, music, etc. Height/ weight proportionate. ISO male, female companionship. Apollo Beach area.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4437 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE SIZE FOUR. This SWM, 6’2’, 183# would love to meet very slender, active, educated female, late 50’s to early 60’s for day trips, museums, concerts, art fests, biking, etc. Ambition is a LTR with that very special person. 4443 HOLIDAY AREA MAN. Nice, 65, looking for slim female, any age for intimate times who is also a nice person. No smokers, drugies or drunks. Holiday area next to Tarpon Springs. Remember phone # in your letter.

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER Personal Ad Placement

Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Only $6 to place an ad!

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Hillsborough & Suncoast (Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion Counties Southwest/Charlotte (Fort Myers/Port Charlotte)

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit Title (First 4 Words):

4441 INCESSANT, PASSIONATE, FAITHFUL, GENUINE Dare to think and be young again. Age is merely a number. Pure romantic (real) love is totally cerebral and emotional. I am building a home in the B.V.I. on the beach. Dare to be there with me! 4454 LOOKIN’ FOR OLD AND NEW fashioned lady. Love and sex both. 62 years old. Almost divorced white male. 150 lbs., 5’8”. Happy Christian. Warm, loving, romantic gentleman. No booze or drugs. 4455 M, C, ISO F, H, companion. I’m 63 years of age. 5’6”. I would love to meet the right lady. FF. From New Port Richey area, sincere, loyal and trustworthy. 4458 NICE LOOKING SWM, R, seeks SWL (Lesbian), trim, nice looking, NS, NDrg, for friendship only. Tampa area. 4460 FOREVER YOUNG AT 61. Retired professional SWM. 6’1”, husky 215 lbs with a good sense of humor seeking a sincere and passionate woman that likes dancing and going out to dine. Non Smoker, 50-65. New Port Richey area.

Commonly Used Abbreviations:

TO PLACE AN AD

Send your ad, stating what category you would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the address listed below. Make any checks out to News Connection USA, Inc. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge. TO RESPOND TO AN AD

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together P.O. Box 638,Seffner, FL 33584

F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

More Great Events

Butterfly Gardening class. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Free; register online at http:// tinyurl.com/n7ltess. Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor.

Capture the Moment – Photographing Nature. Professional photographers Kathleen and Karl Nichter share techniques. Bring your camera. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Free; registration required. Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. 727-453-6800.

Steps to Financial Health: Join Florida Master Money Mentors for a workshop on setting goals, building a spending/savings plan and using a money management calendar 6:30 to 8 p.m. Free; register at http://tinyurl.com/otvgbdq. Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St. N. 727-582-2104.

Star Party: Join the St. Pete Astronomy Club to observe the stars and enjoy an evening hike at Brooker Creek Preserve after dark. 7:30 p.m. Cost: $3; RSVP required at 727-453-6800.

HUdson NAPA Auto Parts .............. 727-862-8631 City (No Charge):

If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with $6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month). We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is conﬁdential.

Name: Address: City: Phone:

State:

Zip:

E-mail:

MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583 Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 28

Brandon Auto Clinic of Brandon ...... 813-654-8686 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 Brooksville Sunrunner Automotive ...... 352-596-2314 Master Auto/Air ................. 352-799-6444 Halo Autosports ................ 352-437-1999 Brooksville Transmission.. 352-796-6544 General Auto Parts ........... 352-796-2522 Clearwater LeSS of Tampa Bay..............727-873-6929 M & M Ultrasports ...........727-412-8020 Stouts Auto Service .......... 727-400-6955 dade City Reliance Auto Center ....... 352-567-5281 Holiday NAPA Auto Parts .............. 727-934-4651

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Miles Automotive ..............727-323-0180 J.C. Automotive ................727-866-0044 St. Pete Power Sports ......727-456-6088 Suncoast Auto & Tire .......727-520-1148 seffner Schembries Auto Serv...... 813-685-5654 sUn City Killingsworth Automotive .. 813-645-7220 tamPa John erb’s ......................... 813-908-3333 Storm Automotive ............. 813-469-0055 Atlantic Automotive ........... 813-936-1510 BNB Automotive ............... 813-416-8711 Franklin Car Care ............. 813-882-4230 Tony’s RamTech................ 813-877-6642 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 Mobile Auto Serv. ............. 813-892-3603

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 941-586-3853

Last Month’s Answers

Enter to Win!

Enter To Win!

This month’s Last Month’s Winner Is Daniel McDevitt winner is Congratulations! Myron L. Guisewite Congratulations !!!

Last Month’s Answers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Apr. 20 will receive $20 cash! Send to: News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 29

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 30

BOOMER BEAT

It May Be Time To Have “The Talk” (Not That One)

t age 70, you know you need to start thinking about end-of-life issues. Your children say you’re young yet and keep putting off the subject. How do you begin a serious discussion that your kids can’t ignore? Remember, when it comes to endof-life issues, you’re the key person. These are primarily your decisions and so you can go ahead and think about them without input from anybody. There are many resources that could help you put together something like a living will or advance directive. You can produce it and give it to the children. That will force the discussion. If they disagree with what’s in the document, it’s up to THEM to initiate a discussion. Appointing a power of attorney can also be a way to focus the discussion. If you want to do this, start with: “Judy. I know that stuff about dying is hard to talk about, but I am at an age when I really need to make some plans. I’d like you to have power of attorney if I ever get into a situation where I can’t make decisions for myself. Would you be willing to help me by doing this?” Maybe you’ve also begun thinking about the type of legacy that you’d like to leave your family. But you need more assistance to identify what you would want to pass on to your loved ones, both materially and historically. What can you say to enlist their help? When it comes to material items, this may depend on how well your family gets along, how good they are at compromising, and how much you know up front that particular items are going to cause problems. If you aren’t expecting huge conflict, it might be possible to avoid awkwardness by making this a party situation. Hold a silent auction

where everyone gets together and “bids” on certain items. You’ll get a good idea of who might be particularly attached to what, but it will be done in a fun atmosphere. However, it’s probably worth doing some informal inquiries up front; if one item seems particularly desirable to everyone, then the party might not get off the ground. If so, just have some individual conversations with people about their desires and reasons for those, and make the best decision you can. A good way to start such a conversation might be: “John, I’m not planning on dying soon, but I am working on my will. I’d really like to make sure that everyone gets something special and unique to remember me by. Is there anything from the house that you’d particularly like to inherit when I die?” If you’d like to pull together history items for your loved ones, why not make this a family project as well. Or, tape memories and other family history on an audio cassette and leave it in a safety deposit box. A grandchild or other relative may someday value this hidden treasure, even if no one seems interested now. On the flip side: Maybe your adult children are pressuring you to talk about end-of-life issues, and you are uncomfortable discussing it. Listen and put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Remember feelings you had for your parents when you were younger, and think about the trouble you might have had in raising difficult issues with them. Your child is feeling that same anxiety. It is important to make these decisions earlier, rather than later. 70 percent of conversations happen too late, being initiated by an event such as a health crisis or other emergency, which can increase the likelihood of family disputes and decrease the chances of your wishes being known and met.

Free Information Resources, including videos, conversation starters and aging plans, are now available at www.4070Talk.com to help jump-start that dialogue. (Info from Home Instead Senior Care)

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 31