June 2013 Baltimore Beacon Edition by The Beacon Newspapers

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They chose happiness over fame

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PHOTO BY FRED NAGEL

By Carol Sorgen “You can be happy, or you can be a star,” a long-ago manager in essence told Baltimore jazz singer Ethel Ennis. For Ennis, the decision was easy, both then and now. “I’d rather be happy,” said the 80-yearold native Baltimorean who, despite never having actually sought the spotlight — “I can advise people on how not to be a star!” she laughed — has nevertheless enjoyed enough of its glow throughout the years to have no regrets. “Happiness is success,” Ennis declared, sitting alongside her husband of almost 47 years, former journalist and author Earl Arnett. The two met when Arnett, working on an article for the Baltimore Sun, went to interview Ennis. The article never got written, but five months later, they were married. (More about that later.) On June 13, the couple will be honored for their contributions to music and culture in Baltimore at a gala fundraiser for Concert Artists of Baltimore.

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT on Housing & Homecare Options following page 14

Getting started Music began as a hobby for Ennis when she took piano lessons as a young girl. Then she started playing in a local band. It wasn’t until she was asked to sing one evening at a gig the band was playing in Randallstown that Ennis’s life changed course and her long, if unorthodox, career as a singer began. (Along the way, she attended business college with the idea of becoming a business secretary.) After graduating from high school in 1950, Ennis began touring with a number of jazz and rhythm-and-blues artists throughout the United States and in London. Her first full-length LP, “Lullabies for Losers,” was released in 1955. Two more albums, A Change of Scenery and Have You Forgotten?, followed in 1957 and 1958, respectively. In 1958, she became internationally known when Benny Goodman selected her as his female vocalist for an “all-star band” that toured Western Europe and appeared at the Brussels World’s Fair. Over the course of her long career, Ennis performed with such accomplished jazz and R&B artists as Louis Armstrong,

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L Jazz singer and recording artist Ethel Ennis and Earl Arnett, her manager and a journalist, have been married for 46 years. The couple will be honored in “A Night at Ethel’s Place,” a benefit for Concert Artists of Baltimore, on June 13.

Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis and Ray Brown, and continued to record albums.

A star-spangled innovation In 1973, following the release of her album, 10 Sides of Ethel, Ennis, a lifelong Democrat, was invited to sing the national anthem at the second inauguration of President Richard Nixon. Her a cappella rendition of “The StarSpangled Banner” — the first time it was sung without musical accompaniment at an inauguration — was cheered by many but decried by others. “But now, that’s the way it’s done,” said Ennis, speaking with a mixture of pride and humility.

One might think singing at a presidential inauguration would be a highlight of one’s career, if not one’s life. Not for Ennis. “A car picked us up, took us to Washington (the couple hasn’t owned a car in years), brought us home, and Ethel cleaned out the refrigerator,” Arnett recalled, laughing. That’s just one example of how the couple has followed through on a conscious decision to live modestly and simply. They know “it goes against the American grain, and we don’t have a lot of resources,” they acknowledged. But as Ennis said, “I have to be me.” They also continue to live in the same Mondawmin rowhouse where Arnett first See ENNIS, page 14

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Who will win this lottery? Recently, a friend brought to my attention may come to an end due to a bipartisan coma relatively minor change being proposed to promise that seeks to transfer those green card slots to higher skilled current immigration law that workers and immigrants with could have a significant impact high-tech knowledge. on the daily lives of older Many businesses in AmeriAmericans and their families. ca today say they are unable to As I write, the Senate is find enough new employees marking up new legislation with the education and skills to that would, among other things, eliminate the annual perform sophisticated work. green card (or “diversity”) lotToo few American students tery that allows into the U.S. up excel at math and science or to 55,000 people from a group pursue those fields as a career. of nations with otherwise low FROM THE So we need to import the rates of immigration to the U.S. PUBLISHER labor, the argument goes, and The lottery is for workers By Stuart P. Rosenthal save our green cards for those with a high school degree or with these qualifications. two years’ work experience (and without a But don’t we also hear from industries at criminal record) and their immediate fami- the other end of the spectrum — those lies. The vast majority admitted are un- that hire less skilled laborers and workers skilled or low-skilled workers from African who care for our sick and elderly — who nations and the Caribbean, though some say too few Americans are willing to take jobs paying low wages and involving deare from the Middle East and Asia. These green cards are highly sought manding or disagreeable physical labor after. Nearly 8 million people abroad apply (think: helping people with toileting or careach year for these 55,000 slots, and those ing for a combative Alzheimer’s patient)? who get one really do feel as if they have We need to import this labor force as well, “won the lottery.” it is said, or we will have no one to perform But this opportunity for ordinary people to the relatively menial (and demandingly comcome to America to work and start a new life passionate) work of child and elder care.

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington DC and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail for $12 or via first-class mail for $36, prepaid with order. MD residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin, ........................................................................Jill Joseph • Publishing Assistant ....................Rebekah Sewell

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A significant portion of green card lottery winners, I am told, go into the latter jobs. I certainly have seen anecdotal evidence of that in meeting many certified nurses’ aides and home care aides hailing from African and Caribbean countries. Visit any skilled nursing facility or assisted living community in this area and you will see what I mean. Not only do these immigrants fill a great need, they do so at a price that, while often beyond the means of those who need it, is still considerably less than the pay of the average American worker. Certainly the availability of inexpensive labor is an issue for industries other than elder care. And it is debatable whether having a class of immigrant workers earning such low salaries is a good thing. (Of course, many do gradually work their way up the income ladder, as immigrants to America have done for centuries.) But even viewed through this narrow prism, we can see that ending such a source of workers is likely to decrease the supply of home care workers even as demand for them increases, leading to a spike in costs and hardship for thousands who need the services. Keep in mind that Medicare does not cover custodial long-term care expenses.

When these services are needed — and the need is growing leaps and bounds as our longevity increases — they must be paid for out of pocket. It is sad to me that, with a 7.6 percent unemployment rate in this country, we have to go abroad to find people willing and able to perform the highest and lowest paid jobs that keep our nation and families afloat. But this does seem to be the case. I am guessing the companies looking for hightech workers are investing more in lobbyists to expand immigration slots for their needs than are those companies that hire the less- or unskilled. So if we want to protect this source of essential labor — while also offering the opportunity of a new and better life to a diverse group of people who seek to escape crushing poverty, civil war or worse — I think we ordinary individuals will have to speak up. I encourage you to contact your political representatives. And please also send your thoughts to us as a letter to the editor via mail, email, or through our website, www.theBeaconNewspapers.com.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: Your publisher’s thoughtful editorial in April on the virtues of automated, driverless cars for seniors must be attracting a lot of attention. There is no doubt they would make a huge improvement to the quality of their lives. Yet one cannot help feeling nervous about how helpless a frail, elderly person would be if one of these automated systems went wrong. And if a drunk, hit-andrun driver smashed into one of these cars, [a driverless car passenger] could take no avoiding action. Too awful to think about! The concept is brilliant. The question is: Will time perfect it? David Wiesenberg Baltimore Dear Editor: Your May article, “Mediterranean-style diets beats low-fat ones” in prevention of heart disease, based on research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, needs clarification. What constitutes a low fat diet? Dr. Dean Ornish (who has pioneered the low fat diet in reversing coronary artery disease), rebutted the research you wrote about in a blog post on April 20 in the Huffington Post. Excerpts from his “Does a Mediterranean

Diet Really Beat Low-Fat for Heart Health?” are below. His blog can be read at www.huffingtonpost.com/dr.../mediter ranean-diet_b_2755940.html. “In the ‘low-fat’ group, total fat consumption decreased insignificantly, from 39 percent to 37 percent. This doesn’t even come close to the American Heart Association guidelines of a low-fat diet (<30 percent fat) or ours for reversing heart disease (<10 percent fat)…. “Also, the researchers appear to have done everything they could to bias the outcome in favor of the Mediterranean diet by encouraging the “low-fat” diet to increase consumption of foods that are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including bread, potatoes, pasta, and rice, and not to limit their intake of sodas (which also increase cardiovascular disease risk).” Dilip Ray, M.D. Baltimore Dear Editor: I have to tell you, your May cover article, “The secrets to healthy aging,” by Barbara Ruben was outstanding! It was not only interesting, but got right to the subject of aging and Dr. Ferrucci. Great job! Elizabeth O’Connor Towson

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Health Fitness &

FEELING FORGETFUL? Alcohol, medications and thyroid problems can lead to memory lapses END GERD FOR GOOD A bracelet of magnets implanted around the esophagus can stop GERD FIX YOUR KNEE WITH PT Physical therapy can be just as good as surgery for many knee woes CUT SIDE EFFECTS NATURALLY Supplements like CQ10 may help minimize hypertension drug side effects

New tools fix hearts without major surgery By Marilynn Marchione Have a heart problem? If it’s fixable, there’s a good chance it can be done without surgery, using tiny tools and devices that are pushed through tubes into blood vessels. Heart care is in the midst of a transformation. Many problems that once required sawing through the breastbone and opening up the chest for open heart surgery now can be treated with a nip, twist or patch through a tube. These minimal procedures used to be done just to unclog arteries and correct less common heart rhythm problems. Now some patients are getting such repairs for valves, irregular heartbeats, holes in the heart and other defects — without major surgery. Doctors are even testing ways to treat high blood pressure with some of these new approaches. All rely on catheters — hollow tubes that let doctors burn away and reshape heart tissue or correct defects. They are inserted into the body through small holes and threaded through blood vessels. “This is the replacement for the surgeon’s knife. Instead of opening the chest, we’re able to put catheters in through the

leg, sometimes through the arm,” said Dr. Spencer King of St. Joseph’s Heart and Vascular Institute in Atlanta. “Many patients after having this kind of procedure can go home in a day or two” rather than staying in the hospital while a big wound heals, he said. It may lead to cheaper treatment, although the initial cost of the novel devices often offsets the savings from shorter hospital stays.

Safer for frailer patients Not everyone can have catheter treatment, and some promising devices have hit snags in testing. Others on the market now are so new that it will take several years to see if their results last as long as the benefits from surgery do. But already, these procedures have allowed many people too old or frail for an operation to get help for problems that otherwise would likely kill them. “You can do these on 90-year-old patients,” King said. These methods also offer an option for people who cannot tolerate long-term use of blood thinners or other drugs to manage their conditions, or who don’t get enough help

from these medicines and are getting worse. “It’s opened up a whole new field,” said Dr. Hadley Wilson, cardiology chief at Carolinas HealthCare System in Charlotte. “We can hopefully treat more patients more definitively, with better results.” For patients, this is a crucial point: Make sure you are evaluated by a “heart team” that includes a surgeon as well as other specialists who do less invasive treatments. Many patients now get whatever treatment is offered by whatever specialist they are sent to, and those specialists sometimes are rivals.

newer treatments for them: Heart valves. Millions of people have leaky heart valves. Each year, more than 100,000 people in the United States alone have surgery for them. A common one is the aortic valve, the heart’s main gate. It can stiffen and narrow, making the heart strain to push blood through it. Without a valve replacement operation, half of these patients die within two years, yet many are too weak to undergo one. “Essentially, this was a death sentence,” said Dr. John Harold, a Los Angeles heart specialist who is president of the College

New fixes Here are some common problems and

See HEART REPAIR, page 4

A HOME-STYLE RESIDENCE WITH A FAMILY FEEL Family Operated Since 1952 Spacious private rooms Nutritious and delicious meals Compassionate Staff Gorgeous 11-acre campus Stimulating fun activities

Please accept my personal invitation for a complimentary lunch and a personally guided tour of College Manor.

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You can reach me by calling 410-376-7088 My mother has been a resident of College Manor for over seven years. It has provided a warm, loving, caring, activity-filled atmosphere and is truly an “extended family” assisted living home. – Daughter, Judy

300 W. Seminary Avenue Lutherville MD, 21093 | 410-376-7088

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Forgetfulness can have multiple causes By Dr. Daniel Pendrick Worried that you’re getting more forgetful as you age? Ironically, worry itself can trigger memory slips. It might take a conversation with your doctor to pinpoint the cause of your memory lapses — especially if the change is sudden or uncharacteristic. “If it’s worse than it was a few months ago, or somebody is asking you about it, that would definitely be something to see a doctor about,” said Dr. Anne Fabiny, chief of geriatrics at Cambridge Health Alliance and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Some ordinary reasons If you consult a medical reference on

possible causes of memory loss, you’ll find an assortment of possibilities — from brain tumors and infections to syphilis and migraine headaches. But hiding among them are a few ordinary causes worth serious consideration: 1. Alcohol Having more than the recommended number of daily drinks can contribute to memory loss. For men, the recommended limit is no more than two standard drinks per day, defined as 1.5 ounces (1 shot glass) of 80-proof spirits, a 5-ounce serving of table wine, or a 12-ounce serving of beer. The limit for women is one drink per day. 2. Medications Tranquilizers, certain antidepressants

and some blood pressure drugs can affect memory by causing sedation or confusion, which interfere with your ability to pay close attention to new things. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you suspect that a new medication is taking the edge off your memory. 3. Thyroid disorder Faltering thyroid hormone levels could affect memory, as well as cause sleep disturbance and depression, both of which contribute to memory slips. Although thyroid function is usually not the cause, your doctor may want to rule it out. 4. Stress and anxiety For older adults, disturbances in mood are among the most common causes of

memory problems. The cause of the problem could be an illness in the family — or something with more positive overtones, like moving to a new home. In either case, the new life stressor can make it harder for you to keep on top of things. Stress and anxiety affect memory because they make it harder for you to concentrate and lock new information and skills into memory. You may end up forgetting something simply because you were not really paying attention or had too much on your mind. 5. Depression The symptoms of depression often in-

Heart repair

valves also are in testing. One for the mitral valve — Abbott Laboratories’ MitraClip — had a mixed review by federal Food and Drug Administration advisers recently; whether it will win FDA approval is unclear. It is already sold in Europe. Heart rhythm problems. Catheters can contain tools to burn off or “ablate” bits of heart tissue that cause abnormal signals that control the heartbeat. This used to be done only for some serious or relatively rare problems, or during surgery if a patient was already having an operation for another heart issue.

From page 3 of Cardiology. That changed just over a year ago, when Edwards Lifesciences Corp. won approval to sell an artificial aortic valve flexible and small enough to fit into a catheter and be wedged inside the bad one. At first it was just for inoperable patients. Last fall, use was expanded to include people able to have surgery but at high risk of complications. Catheter-based treatments for other

See FORGETFULNESS, page 7

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Now catheter ablation is being used for the most common rhythm problem — atrial fibrillation — which plagues about 3 million Americans and 15 million people worldwide. The upper chambers of the heart quiver or beat too fast or too slow. That lets blood pool in a small pouch off one of these chambers. Clots can form in the pouch and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Ablation addresses the underlying rhythm problem. To address the stroke risk from pooled blood, several novel devices aim to plug or seal off the pouch. Only one has approval in the U.S. now — SentreHeart Inc.’s Lariat, a tiny lasso to cinch the pouch shut. It uses two catheters that act like chopsticks. One goes through a blood vessel and into the pouch to help guide placement of the device, which is contained in a second catheter poked under the ribs to the outside of the heart. A loop is released to circle the top of the pouch where it meets the heart, sealing off the pouch. Heart defects. Some people have a hole in a heart wall called an atrial septal defect that causes abnormal blood flow. St. Jude Medical Inc.’s Amplatzer is a fabricmesh patch threaded through catheters to plug the hole. The patch is also being tested for a more common defect — PFO, a hole that results when the heart wall doesn’t seal

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the way it should after birth. This can raise the risk of stroke. In two new studies, the device did not meet the main goal of lowering the risk of repeat strokes in people who had already suffered one, but some doctors were encouraged by other results. Clogged arteries. The original catheter-based treatment — balloon angioplasty — is still used hundreds of thousands of times each year in the U.S. alone. A Japanese company, Terumo Corp., is one of the leaders of a new way to do it that is easier on patients — through a catheter in the arm rather than the groin. Newer stents that prop arteries open and then dissolve over time, aimed at reducing the risk of blood clots, are also in late-stage testing. High blood pressure. About 75 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide have high blood pressure — a major risk factor for heart attacks. Researchers are testing a possible long-term fix for dangerously high pressure that can’t be controlled with multiple medications. It uses a catheter and radio waves to zap nerves, located near the kidneys, which fuel high blood pressure. At least one device is approved in Europe and several companies are testing devices in the United States. “We’re very excited about this,” said Harold, the cardiology college’s president. It offers hope to “essentially cure high blood pressure.” — AP

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Heart repair

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Implanted device relieves GERD for good By Dr. C. Daniel Smith Dear Mayo Clinic: I saw a story on the news about magnets being used to treat patients with GERD. Is this treatment safe? How does it work? I’ve taken prescription drugs for GERD for years and would love to not need it anymore. Answer: The treatment you heard about is a new therapy now available for people with persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It involves placing around the lower end of the esophagus a device that looks like a bracelet and is made up of magnetic beads. The device allows food to pass into the stomach, but prevents acid and other digestive juices in the stomach from getting

up into the esophagus. Normally a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter, located at the bottom of the esophagus and the top of the stomach, stays closed when you’re not eating. This keeps the acid that’s in your stomach out of your esophagus. If those muscles become weak or relax when they shouldn’t, acid can work its way into the esophagus. This acid reflux leads to the painful burning and regurgitation symptoms known as heartburn. The combination of acid reflux with heartburn, when they last over time, is GERD.

When drugs don’t help In the past, treatment for GERD has relied mainly on medicine to reduce stomach

acid. But that’s not always effective in controlling the disorder. This new treatment is intended for people whose GERD symptoms continue to flare up even when they take a daily dose of medication. Effective control of GERD is important because, if left untreated, excessive acid can damage the esophagus and lead to a precancerous condition known as Barrett’s esophagus and, eventually, to esophageal cancer. The purpose of putting the bracelet device around the esophagus is to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter. The device is placed in the same area as that ring of muscle. The magnetic force between each bead holds the bracelet snug around the esophagus.

How it works

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term relationships. Mary came to ManorCare Health Service – Woodbridge Valley debilitated from an infection. Mary couldn’t even get out of bed! didn’tknow know She told us,‘Ididn’t what to expect. I’ve never been hospitalized.’

“Everyone was so wonderful. I’m glad I came here.” - Mary

After our rehab team worked with Mary, she was up on her own two feet, managing all of her own needs and, in no time, was discharged and back to her regular routine. As an added bonus, ManorCare’s exercise regimen jump-started a weight loss which helped her to resolve her diabetes. Mary says, “Thanks to ManorCare, I feel great!”

When a person implanted with this device swallows food, pressure within the esophagus pushes the food down. When the food reaches the bracelet of magnetic beads, the pressure causes the magnetic force between each bead to lessen. The bracelet then pops open, food passes into the stomach, and the magnetic force pulls the bracelet closed again. Surgery to implant the device usually lasts one to two hours. The procedure is minimally invasive and typically requires

only an overnight hospital stay. Recovery takes about a week. Some individuals report difficulty swallowing with the device in place. But for most people, that fades over time. The bracelet is designed to be a permanent solution for GERD. So unless there are problems, it is not removed. A recent study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, followed 100 people who had this treatment for three years. Ninety-two of the people in the study reported fewer GERD symptoms. Eightyseven percent of the study participants were able to completely stop using acid-lowering medications, and 94 percent reported being satisfied with the treatment. In March 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the device for treatment of GERD in the United States. If you have GERD and daily antacid is not enough to control your symptoms, this treatment may be a good fit for you. Talk to your doctor or contact a physician who specializes in GERD to learn more. — C. Daniel Smith, M.D., Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. To submit a question, write to medicaledge@mayo.edu. © 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Treating Difficulty Standing or Walking, attributed to Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Neuropathy, Poor Circulation or Poor Balance I am a patient who had severe foot pain for 2 years, with no relief in sight....by the end of the 4 days I was 85% pain free in both feet. I thank God for Dr. Goldman and his passion for research in healing people with foot and leg pain.

How fortunate I feel to have found a doctor who could not only diagnose an underlying problem that many specialists missed, but who has been able to find a painless and rapid method of relieving the worst symptoms.

– Alvin, Baltimore

For more information, please call the location nearest you or visit www.manorcare.com: Dulaney

Ruxton

410.828.6500

410.821.9600

Roland Park

Towson

410.662.8606

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Rossville

Woodbridge Valley

410.574.4950

410.402.1200

– Susan, Baltimore

As a podiatrist with over 30 years experience, I have always focused on non-surgical treatment of foot and leg pain. I find that most people with foot or leg symptoms (arthritic, aching, burning, cramping or difficulty walking) , even those who have had other treatments, including surgery of the foot (or back), can be helped, usually in 1or 2 visits.

Stuart Goldman, DPM

410-235-2345

4419 Falls Road, Suite A, Baltimore 4000 Old Court Road, Suite 301, Pikesville

— Dr. Stuart Goldman Fellow American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Marquis Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare Author, multiple articles on Foot & Leg Symptoms

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Forgetfulness From page 4 clude forgetfulness. Most people think of depression as a stifling sadness, lack of drive, and lessening of pleasure in things that you ordinarily enjoyed. But the signs can change with aging. “Depression in older people often presents with physical symptoms,” Fabiny explained. “People don’t come in and say they are really depressed. They say my shoulder hurts, I have a headache, I have stomach pains, I don’t sleep very well.” 6. Sleep deprivation Lack of restful, high-quality sleep is perhaps the greatest unappreciated cause of memory slips. Sleeplessness can become more of an issue with aging. “Older adults spend less time in the deep stages of sleep, which are the most restful,” Fabiny said. “As a result, they may not feel as rested upon awakening in the morning because they haven’t slept well.” Lack of restful sleep can also trigger mood changes. Anxiety is one possibility. “It’s not uncommon for people to become anxious because they can’t sleep, or to not sleep well because they are anxious,” Fabiny said. “Both can leave you in the same place.”

When to seek help If you think you are sleep deprived, see a doctor about it. Don’t succumb to the myth that older people need fewer hours

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of slumber, Fabiny said. “If you were a 9-hour-a-night sleeper when you were 29, you will still be when you are 79. But sleep quality may change with aging,” he said. You may wake more often, for example, and find it more difficult to get back to sleep. It can also help your memory to give your brain a break. “As you get older, it may become more difficult to maintain a high level of attention for several things at once,” Fabiny said. “Dividing your attention can definitely cause you to think you are having memory problems.” Finally, remember that fatigue that interferes with memory — and life in general — is not normal. Inadequately treated pain, sleep disorders, or low thyroid hormone levels in your blood could be at the root of a pooped-out and forgetful demeanor. “If you are feeling fatigued or lacking in energy, it’s important to have a conversation with your doctor,” Fabiny said.

“It’s possible that an existing medical problem needs more attention or that an evaluation for a new condition is warranted.”

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Health Studies Page

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study testing clot prevention medication The Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research, under the direction of Dr. Paul Gurbel, has been actively fighting heart disease by designing and conducting clinical trials investigating novel drug therapies and devices. The center is currently conducting a clinical trial with the support of the National Institutes of Health to examine the effects of an investigational drug called PZ128 on patients ages 18 to 75 with a documented history of vascular disease (peripheral vascular disease, carotid artery

disease or coronary artery disease) or two or more coronary artery risk factors. Coronary artery risk factors for this study include the following: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, current smoking and obesity.

Intravenous drug benefits PZ-128 was designed to prevent the blood from forming clots, which can block vessels in the body and lead to heart attack or stroke. Existing drugs like Plavix, Brilinta and Prasugrel, all tested at Sinai, are given orally

Diabetes Research Study 50-80 year old men & women with Type 2 Diabetes are needed to participate in an exercise research study at the University of Maryland/Baltimore VA Medical Center. Call 410-605-7179. Mention code: EPC-DM.

to patients undergoing coronary stenting for a blockage in the heart arteries. These drugs remain in the body for days, posing a potential bleeding risk. Conversely, PZ-128 is administered directly into the bloodstream, allowing it to be immediately active and reversible within a few hours. On a microscopic level, the drug works to block a receptor by passing through blood cell walls, something no competing drugs on the market currently do. While it’s not clear whether that will mean more effective treatment, it does explore a drug delivery method that is new to coronary artery disease therapy. In this initial phase of clinical trials, researchers at Sinai will look first and foremost for evidence of the drug’s safety, along with signs of effectiveness. Approximately 34 participants are being recruited for the study.

Overnight visit required The study will include a screening visit, a hospital stay for one night, one follow-up visit at the study site, and a telephone call approximately 30 days after the last hospital visit. Study participants will receive: • Reimbursement of up to $590 for time and expenses. • Specialized platelet function testing (These tests are not part of routine studies that can assess your risk of forming blood clots.) • Physical exam with cardiologist and complete laboratory blood work-up. The information learned about the study drug and how it works may be helpful to patients with heart disease in the future. For more information, or to see if you qualify to participate, contact the Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research at (410) 601-4795 or email Kevin Bliden at kbliden@lifebridgehealth.org.

BEACON BITS

June 12

HOW TO AVOID ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION The Maryland Department of Aging and Baltimore City Health

Department Office on Aging present a free all-day workshop on Elder Abuse at the Waxter Senior Center, 1000 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Speakers will address the full spectrum of abuse and exploitation, how to protect older adults, dealing with family violence, neglect in long-term care facilities, legislative protections and more. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 12. For more information or to register, contact Aisha Ross at (410) 396-4932 or aisha.ross@baltimorecity.gov.

June 12

HEART HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE SCREENING LifeBridge Health will offer a heart health and lifestyle screening at the Catonsville Senior Center, 501 N. Rolling Rd., on

Wednesday, June 12, at 9 a.m. The screening is for men and women over age 18 and includes blood pressure, cholesterol/triglycerides, comprehensive metabolic panel blood profile, body composition analysis, personal lifestyle questionnaire, and brief health education counseling with a registered nurse. Appointment required. Cost is $20. If interested, call (410) 601-9355.

Have You Fallen? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland & Veterans aﬀairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals.

you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or ﬂexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit

CaLL Today!

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Health Shorts Fix your knee with PT, not surgery You might not want to rush into knee surgery. Physical therapy can be just as good for a common injury and at far less cost and risk, the most rigorous study to compare these treatments concludes. Therapy didn’t always help, and some people wound up having surgery for the problem, called a torn meniscus. But those who stuck with therapy had improved as much at six months and one year later as those who were given arthroscopic surgery right away, researchers found. “Both are very good choices. It would be quite reasonable to try physical therapy first because the chances are good that you’ll do quite well,” said one study leader, Dr. Jeffrey Katz, a joint specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Results were published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. A meniscus is one of the crescentshaped cartilage discs that cushion the knee. About one-third of people over 50 have a tear in one, and arthritis makes this more likely. Usually the tear doesn’t cause symptoms, but it can be painful. When that happens, it’s tough to tell if the pain is from the tear or the arthritis — or whether surgery is needed or will help. Nearly half a million knee surgeries for a torn meniscus are done each year in the U.S. The new federally funded study compared surgery with a less drastic option. Researchers at seven major universities and orthopedic surgery centers around the U.S. assigned 351 people with arthritis and

meniscus tears to get either surgery or physical therapy. The therapy was nine sessions on average, plus exercises to do at home, which experts say is key to success. After six months, both groups had similar rates of functional improvement. Pain scores also were similar. Thirty percent of patients assigned to physical therapy wound up having surgery before the six months was up, often because they felt therapy wasn’t helping them. Yet they ended up the same as those who got surgery right away, as well as the rest of the physical therapy group who stuck with it and avoided having an operation. — AP

Heart-lung machines safe for older adults One of the scariest parts of bypass surgery — having your heart stopped and going on a heart-lung machine while doctors fix your clogged arteries — is safe even in those 75 and older and doesn’t cause mental decline as many people have feared, two landmark studies show. Bypass surgery is one of the most common operations in the world. There is

great debate about the best way to do it, and patients often are given a choice. Usually doctors stop the heart to make it easier to connect new blood vessels to make detours around blocked ones. But some patients later complain of “pumphead” — mental decline thought to be from the heart-lung machines used to pump their blood while their hearts could not. So surgeons started doing “off-pump” bypasses on beating hearts. Nearly one quarter of bypasses are done this way now. But that brought a new complaint: Results See HEALTH SHORTS, page 11

Time for another whooping cough vaccine You might have assumed that you no longer need to be vaccinated for diseases that normally strike in childhood, including pertussis, or whooping cough. Yet a study published in the December 2012 journal Clinical Infectious Diseases underscores the need for older adults to also get vaccinated, as rates of this disease have risen in all age groups. When researchers in Australia looked at a database of pertussis records, they found that the incidence of this disease was about 30 percent higher in women — and older adults who are infected are more likely to need hospitalization. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the actual number of adults over age 65 with pertussis may be much higher than we realize, because many cases go unreported. As of February 2012, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices began recommending the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine for all adults age 65 and older. — Harvard Women’s Health Watch

STUdIES oN aNEMIa Are you 65 years or older? Have you been recently diagnosed with anemia? OR Have you had anemia in the past? en you may be interested in: “THE JOHNS HOPKINS registry of older adults with anemia” • Several new research studies are being designed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University speciﬁcally for older adults with anemia. • By volunteering to join our anemia registry, you will be kept up to date on anemia research studies that match your situation.

Call us at 410-550-2113 to join the Anemia Registry today! We can conduct the study in your home. No travel is required. If you choose to come to Bayview to participate, your parking will be paid.

We look forward to hearing from you! Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeremy Walston, MD. IRB application No: NA_00035307

at 410-601-4795

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JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Reducing medicine side effects naturally Dear Pharmacist: I keep having to stop my blood pressure medications because of side effects — mainly fatigue, dizziness and leg cramps. Please help me solve this problem, or recommend different medicine. —A.P. Dear A.P.: This is a great question, especially since high blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension) now affects one in every three American adults. That’s a staggering 78 million people, and the American Heart Association says this number will continue escalating. Please don’t stop your medicine “cold turkey” because there can be backlash.

Rather, ask your doctor if it’s better to wean slowly. As a pharmacist for 23 years, I’ve watched my customers endure uncomfortable side effects while trying to control blood pressure with various medications. Fortunately, there are affordable solutions that should bring relief and allow you to stay on your medication more comfortably. I’ve categorized the information based on medication category. Discuss everything with your physician. Beta blockers. As implied by their name, these drugs block “beta” receptors on cells of your heart, arteries and all over, causing symptoms head to toe. Two of the most popular beta blockers are atenolol

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and propranolol. it’s often magnesium or potassium loss. A common side effect of beta blockers is CoQ10 is also reduced. vivid dreaming or nightmares. The side effect solution inThat also happens to people cludes potassium, CoQ10 and who become deficient in melaa magnesium supplement. tonin, a sleep-promoting comAlso coconut water, which repound you make in your brain. stores electrolytes. Guess what? Beta blockers ACE Inhibitors and Ansuppress melatonin levels, giotensin II Receptor Blockshown in 1999 by a study pubers. Medications in these two categories ultimately dilate lished in the European Journal blood vessels, thus reducing of Clinical Pharmacology. pressure. Enalapril and losarCoQ10 is also depleted, tan are examples. which may cause chronic fa- DEAR PHARMACIST A common side effect is tigue, depression, restless legs By Suzy Cohen dizziness. It can be caused by or cramps. Beta blockers are the sheer drop in blood preswhat I call “drug muggers” of sure, so try taking your medicine at night melatonin and CoQ10. Hence, restoring levels may be your so you can sleep through the wooziness. side effect solution. Take CoQ10 in the Get up very slowly in them morning to morning (it’s energizing) and melatonin at avoid feeling faint, sometimes termed “orbedtime. thostatic hypotension.” Diuretics. These include loop, thiazide Body aches and pains are common side and sulfonamide diuretics. They cause you effects, too. That’s because these medicato urinate more fluid, reducing pressure in tion categories are drug muggers of magyour ‘pipeline.’ Furosemide and HCTZ are nesium. You become deficient. Try magnesium malate (or aspartate) about 300 mg. popular ones. This drug category causes side effects taken twice daily, or whatever your practiof fatigue, weakness and leg cramps, tioner says. I have helped millions of people feel well twitches or muscle spasms. It happens due to the loss of an important mineral or electrolyte from all that excessive urination; See DEAR PHARMACIST, page 11

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The Green House Residences is the perfect place to get you back on your feet following orthopedic and cardiac procedures. Our goal is to get you back home! Offering the following amenities: •All Private Rooms•All Private Bathrooms•Home-Style Dining•Occupational Therapy•Speech Therapy•Physical Therapy•24/7 Nursing Coverage•TV, Cable, wireless Internet•Lovely Screened-In Porches For your personal tour, call 443-414-6218

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

From page 9 on the blood vessels seemed not as good. The new studies were aimed at testing all these factors in a rigorous way to see which method was best. Dr. Andre Lamy of Canada’s McMaster University led a study of 4,752 people in 19 countries. They were randomly assigned to have bypasses with or without the use of heart pumps. After one year, there were no big differences in the rates of death, heart attack,

Dear Pharmacist From page 10 again by restoring the right vitamins and minerals when medications rob your body of what it needs. More can be found in my best-selling book, Drug Muggers, available on my website.

stroke or kidney failure in the two groups. Slightly more people who had bypasses without a heart-lung machine needed a follow-up procedure to open clogged arteries, but the difference was so small it could have occurred by chance alone. Mental sharpness and quality of life also was similar in the two groups. That suggests that whatever decline people experience is temporary or a result of anesthesia or something other than the way the operations were done, said Dr. Timothy Gardner, a surgeon and an American Heart AsThis information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

BEACON BITS

June 14

ANNUAL SENIOR LUNCHEON

sociation spokesman. That was true even in people 75 or older, a group most worried about going on a heart-lung machine. The second study tested the two bypass methods in 2,539 of these patients in Germany. Again, the methods proved equally safe and effective a year later. — AP

ECG? There’s an app for that People with heart disease will soon be

able to provide vital information about their heart rhythm to their healthcare provider without making a visit to the doctor’s office. Last December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) device that attaches to an iPhone 4 or 5. To record an ECG, the user simply presses the fingers of both hands onto the electrode pads. The information is analyzed by an app, then transmitted digitally for storage on the company’s website, where it can be accessed by a doctor. — Harvard Heart Letter

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Join the Baltimore County Association of Senior Citizen Associations (BCASCO) on Friday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m. for its 35th annual luncheon. The keynote speaker is Joanne Williams, director of the Baltimore County Dept. of Aging. The cost is $30 per person. Checks must be mailed to BCASCO, Attn: Melody Burton, 34 Tearose Dr., Baltimore, MD 21220 and received by Monday, June 3. The lunch will be held at Columbus Gardens, 4301 Klosterman Ave. To receive a registration form or more information, call Beth Wiseman at (410) 484-6866 or email bwiseman84@hotmail.com.

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You’re on top of your medications. But we make a good back up. You know it’s important to stay on your medications exactly as prescribed. However, if you miss a dose, want a lower-cost alternative, or experience any side effects, we can answer any questions. Speak to your local CVS Pharmacist to learn more. Find a store near you at www.cvs.com

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Careers Volunteers &

Does your organization use senior volunteers or do you employ a number of seniors? If you do and you’d like to be considered for a story in our Volunteers & Careers section, please send an email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Volunteers cook casseroles for homeless By Carol Sorgen More than 30 years ago, Liz Turnbaugh first heard about the Classic Casserole Program at Our Daily Bread (ODB), Maryland’s hot meal program that serves more than a quarter million meals to hungry Baltimore City residents each year. A program of Catholic Charities, ODB serves nutritious lunches every day of the year, and breakfast each weekday, to seniors and individuals with disabilities. The program is located in the Our Daily Bread Employment Center at 725 Fallsway, which houses a number of Catholic Charities programs, including job training and employment counseling, case management, and an intensive residential program combining all the nonprofit’s services.

Calling cooks and non-cooks alike The Classic Casserole Program has been the backbone of ODB’s feeding program serving the poor and homeless since 1981. Individuals and groups alike make casseroles (recipes are available online; if you don’t cook, a family-size frozen meal, such as macaroni and cheese, is also welcome) and deliver them to the center. Turnbaugh started out decades ago making five casseroles a month, along with other members of her parish, St.

Charles Rectory in Pikesville. She will be 89 in July, and has now cut back to making two casseroles a month. But she still goes down to ODB once a month to deliver the meals and help out in any way she can. “Daily Bread is a big part of my life,” said Turnbaugh. “I just thank God that I am as fortunate as I am and that I can help those who are less so.” Turnbaugh is so dedicated to ODB that several years ago she held a pre-funeral party for herself. “If I’m going to pay for my funeral, I want to enjoy it,” said the Pikesville resident. She asked her guests to make contributions to ODB, and she raised $2,600. “Everyone knows how I feel about Daily Bread,” said Turnbaugh. “Helping others means so much to me. I keep praying that I can continue going down there.” Jack Nolan feels the same way. “It’s a privilege,” he said of his efforts serving meals at the center. The 87-year-old Baltimore City resident began volunteering at ODB 20 years ago, and “one week led to another.” A retired teacher, Nolan has impressed his children and grandchildren with how many people he has served on his weekly Wednesday trips. “People will come up to me on the streets of Baltimore and give me a hug,” he said, adding that when he’s not able to

go, “they miss me.” In addition to serving meals, Nolan has also begun collecting gently used magazines and bringing them to the people served at Our Daily Bread. “I bring 90 to 100 magazines every week,” he said. “They read everything I bring.” Volunteering is a “humbling” experience, said Nolan, who is troubled by those who turn their back on the homeless. “There are people who will cross the street rather than walk by a homeless person,” he said. Nolan said he was first inspired by two volunteers, one of whom was 89, the other 90. “If they can come, I can make it too,” he told himself. “Everyone has to have a pur-

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUR DAILY BREAD

Volunteers at Our Daily Bread put the finishing touches on meals for the homeless. Our Daily Bread is a project of Catholic Charities.

pose in life, and this is my contribution to society.”

Become a volunteer To become a part of the Classic Casserole Program, either on a one-time basis or as a regular participant, call the volunteer line at (443) 986-9031 to let them know when and what casseroles to expect. In addition to Our Daily Bread, Catholic Charities runs 80 programs serving more than 160,000 Marylanders each year. More than 15,000 volunteers serve the organization in a variety of ways. You can volunteer as an individual, family, business or group. All faiths and ages are welcome. For more information, visit www.catholiccharities-md.org.

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Ennis From page 1 interviewed Ennis (“and kept coming back and coming back,” Ennis chuckled). Keeping things in perspective is a guiding principle of the couple’s life. “I’ve never been very adventurous or ambitious,” said Ennis. “Things just happen.” Yep, things like singing before the president of the United States!

Working as a team Ennis has continued to record sporadically through the years and is currently putting together a compilation of her favorite songs. They both consider Arnett as Ennis’ partner, not as her manager. “She sings, and I take care of the logistics,” said Arnett. In 1984, the couple opened Ethel’s Place, a supper club across the street from the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The club not only gave Ennis herself a place to perform, but brought a wide range of interna-

tional talent to town, including Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Stephane Grappelli and Doc Watson. Though the musical entrepreneurs did some live TV and radio broadcasts from the club, it never turned into the production facility they had envisioned. So in 1988 they closed it down. “We ran out of both energy and money,” said Arnett. Which is not to say they’ve been sitting idly by since then. “Ethel’s still singing (“here and there, now and then,” she interjected, laughing), and I’m still writing,” said Arnett. Arnett, who will be 73 in July, left the Sun in 1980, and is the author of Maryland, A New Guide to the Old Line State, and a fictional companion, Lovely Lady. He has also taught writing, liberal arts and music criticism at the University of Baltimore and Peabody Conservatory. He’s currently working on a book on the couple’s life within the context of their times. A mixed race couple, Ennis and Arnett were married in 1967 when interracial

BEACON BITS

June 1+

EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Interested in helping bring together a fun, family-oriented event that helps save lives? Help the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Parkville-Carney this year on Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2. Volunteers are needed to help develop the event, as well as set up on event day. For more information, call Katie Weber at (410) 933-5101 or email Katie.weber@cancer.org. More information is available at www.relayforlife.org/parkville-carneymd.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

unions were still illegal. (The law was struck down later that same year). Despite having grown up as an Army brat in a liberal household, Arnett’s father disowned him for nine years, “much to everyone’s surprise,” Arnett recalled. Ennis was eventually welcomed by her father-in-law into the family. “I think he finally saw that none of his predictions were coming true, and that it was time to get his son back,” Arnett said. These days the couple lives a quiet life, enjoying their projects (“We’re never looking for something to do!”), their music and their books, cooking, watching films on television, and occasionally traveling. Arnett is also active in community affairs, and the couple has served as Baltimore’s cultural ambassadors to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Xiamen, China.

Feelings for Baltimore Though Baltimore has been home for all these years, they’re contemplating moving someplace where the lifestyle is even simpler and less expensive. “We just haven’t found where that might be!” Were it up to Ennis, she’d probably be content to remain in Baltimore. “This is a good pace for me,” said the lifelong Baltimorean who, apart from her travels, has never lived more than two miles from where she was born. “You can bloom where you’re planted,” she said by way of explaining why she never felt the lure of bright lights and big cities. Was it possible for her to have the kind of musical career she wanted in Baltimore? She gives a simple one-word response: “Yes.” Though, of course, Ennis acknowledged that she never really wanted the trappings of show business that appeal to so many performers in the first place. Many critics faulted her for that deci-

sion. Even now, online comments accompanying her many recordings suggest that Ennis could have/should have been a much bigger star than she was (with many perhaps assuming that racism was the explanation). But what people don’t seem to understand is that Ennis herself never sought stardom. “It’s hard to maintain that kind of musical career,” she said, adding that she wanted more artistic and logistical control over her work, her schedule…indeed, her life. Instead, Ennis calls herself an “infotainer.” “I like to inform people through my music,” she said. “I want to teach them to be kind to themselves, not to be dazzled by outside forces. To think about what’s within…If I can ignite that spirit in someone, then I’m happy.” For Arnett, who was headed out West when he first met Ennis, his wife has always been, and remains, the attraction of Baltimore for him. “And they said it wouldn’t work,” Ennis laughed, adding, “We complement each other in so many ways. And we still like each other, even after all these years. We’re fortunate that way.” They’re also happy that the latest recognition to come their way — being feted by Concert Artists of Baltimore in a musical evening, “A Night at Ethel’s Place” — is a tribute to both of them. “We’ve never been honored together,” said Ennis, reaching for her husband’s hand with a smile. “This is a first for us.” The benefit for Concert Artists of Baltimore will take place on Thursday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Doubletree Hilton in Pikesville. The event will include cocktails, light dinner, dessert and a musical tribute to the honorees. For tickets, which are $125 per person, visit www.cabgala.com or call (410) 6253525.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Say you saw it in the Beacon

B-1

B-2

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Ellicott City 410-203-9501 8720 Ridge Road Ellicott City, MD 21043 parkviewellicott@sheltergrp.com Park View at Ellicott City I and Park View Ellicott City II extends an invitation to those 62 or better to enjoy a carefree lifestyle. The communities are conveniently located near shopping, Historic Ellicott City, and local senior centers. The buildings have electronically controlled access, elevators for the residents’ convenience, plus many amenities for social and recreational activities. Call 410-203-9501 or email parkviewellicott@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Laurel 301-490-1526 9000 Briarcroft Lane Laurel, MD 20708 parkviewlaurel@sheltergrp.com Park View at Laurel is newly renovated and simply offers the best in carefree living for those 62 or better. Located just off of Route 198 in Laurel, this community is convenient to everything you want and need. Residents enjoy a spacious community room, mail delivery lounge and media room with library, as well as a computer center, fitness center, salon, and many social activities including bus trips. Our apartment homes feature stylish kitchens, new baths, and Energy Star appliances. Our controlled-access elevator community has so many amenities to enhance your living experience you need to call today and see for yourself. Call 301-490-1526 or email parkviewlaurel@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

Weinberg Village Campus 410-581-7878 3430 Associated Way Owings Mills, MD 21117 www.weinbergvillage.net This lovely campus of five buildings offers you the opportunity to maintain your healthy and active lifestyle. While living in one of the spacious apartments, you will have access to many amenities, which include a convenience store, hair salon, and community rooms that are supplied with computers, games, community garden, televisions and books. In addition, residents take part in daily activities planned by resident volunteers and staff members. Located in a quiet corner of Owings Mills, you will have easy access to many shopping, dining and entertainment businesses. Weinberg Village has a community shuttle bus that makes regular trips to many local attractions.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Village model brings neighbors together By Carol Sorgen When Pauline Watson needed help with her computer, she could have called a technician and paid the going rate for the repair. Instead, the Upper Park Heights resident called Northwest Neighborhood Connecting (NNC), and a volunteer came to her home, spent four hours, and got her technological life back on track. “Without NNC, that could have cost me a couple of hundred dollars at least,” said Watson. That’s just one of many scenarios that NNC is hoping to address in its mission to help seniors “age in place.” NNC is based on a growing national grassroots movement of do-it-yourself senior living that’s friendlier, more autonomous and less expensive, and designed so that seniors can age with dignity in their own homes and communities. Through nominal membership fees that encourage membership across all economic spectrums, the grassroots “village” model provides everything from social activities to transportation, grocery shopping and home repairs. Seniors who become members of NNC pay a small annual fee, based on a sliding scale (currently, that works out to $5, $25, or $50 a month), to help fund programs and services. NNC is only the second such model in Baltimore, and will serve the Glen, Cheswolde, Cross Country and Fallstaff neighborhoods.

Roland Park area village The other village in Baltimore, Village at Home, which is unrelated to NNC, serves 23 neighborhoods bounded by Mt. Washington to Oakenshawe and Roland Park to Ruxton. Members of Village at Home pay $800 a year for an individual membership, or $1,200 for a household (the fee can be paid in monthly installments). There is no paid staff. The organization, which started in 2011, is run completely by volunteers, who provide help with grocery shopping and menu planning, rides to appointments, taking out recycling raking leaves, light gardening, organizing papers and technology assistance. There are also walking and exercise groups. Vetted vendors provide commercial services to Village members at a discounted rate, including a car service, medical transport, prepared meals, handyman services, house cleaning, bill paying and many other services. Transportation and computer help have been the two most popular volunteer services, said Village at Home’s Executive Director Susan Newhouse. “It’s been lovely to see the relationships that develop with the volunteers and older residents,” she said. “People are really looking out for one another.” For some residents, it’s the accumulation of little problems that may keep them

from staying in their own homes as they age, Newhouse said. “Maybe there’s a leak somewhere, but you don’t know where, or [you don’t have] a plumber to call who’s going to get it fixed right. It’s a great boon to people to know there’s somewhere to call to get a plumber whose been vetted by the Village and who’s not going to rip you off.”

Getting started Since forming about a year and a half ago, Village at Home has slowly built up a cadre of volunteers to help the residents who need it. But it is looking for ways to let more people know of its existence. NNC is even newer. The idea for NNC came about almost a year ago when 30 residents of the Upper Park Heights area met to plan an initiative for their community. They came up with the following mission statement: “Northwest Neighbors Connecting is a support system comprised of individuals offering and seeking support in the Northern Park Heights community. We engage each other, professionals, volunteers and community organizations, to provide a “round-the-clock” network to assist us and our neighbors with social interaction, transportation, household upkeep, and day-to-day activity. We envision an interdependent community in which all residents are safe, secure and connected.” Officially launched in March, NNC is getting the word out to grow its membership (200 people attended the launch party). Members drive each other to appointments, teach each other skills, hold social events, make friendly check-in calls, prepare for emergencies and more. “NNC wants to be the force in Northern Park Heights that transforms the way we care for one another,” said Lane Levine, Community Network Director of CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc., which is overseeing the initiative. (Unlike NNC, Village at Home has no institutional support.)

Promoting diversity and cooperation Though CHAI is an agency of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, NNC serves all members of the Upper Park Heights community, which is predominantly a mix of Jewish and African American residents. The goal is for NNC to be the first of a series of organizations in Northwest Baltimore that will serve as an interdependent support system to help seniors age well in their community by getting support from their neighbors. According to Levine, a lot of the support people need as they age is the kind best See VILLAGE MODEL, page B-4

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

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How to decide whether to sell your home By Helen L. Flynn Selling a house one has lived in for 15 or 50 years is a major event. It is not like relocating for a job or moving up to a larger home. There are emotional, physical, spiritual, financial and social ramifications. And, it comes at a point in life when one’s physical and/or emotional strength may be depleted. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are considering a move: 1. Is my home safe and convenient for my current and expected physical needs? Stairs: Do you have a steep flight of steps to enter the house or multiple steps in the house that are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate? Perhaps you are living only on one floor of your home or in a couple of rooms because it is difficult to move around. By the way, check that the railings are secure and that stairways are well lit. Sometimes our glasses create a hazard with steps, not to mention the dangers of snow and ice. Bathrooms: They can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of water and possibility of slipping on hard surfaces. Can you maneuver in the bathroom if you should need a walker or other assistance? Showers can be retrofitted for safe-

ty, but perhaps the danger lies in using the bathroom alone without an emergency call system. Access: What is the proximity to neighbors and to emergency help? Living in the country or in the woods is lovely, but can someone get to you easily if necessary? How close are you to your doctors, church, friends, etc.? Is driving something that is becoming an issue? 2. What is the age and condition of your home? If major systems such as heating and air or the roof and windows need to be replaced, the cost can be considerable. Maintaining the lawn and garden may have been a joy at one time, but it may become a burden. Likewise, cleaning and maintaining the interior of a home can become increasingly difficult, especially during times of illness or other incapacity. Little by little the house may deteriorate and its value diminishes. Do you get out of the house and interact with other people frequently and have regular physical activity? So often I see people gradually becoming prisoners in their homes; not being able to get out and not wanting visitors to come in. Loneliness can be a major problem for seniors, especially if they are living alone, and it has real physical consequences.

When should you move? People often wonder if they should wait until the market is better before they sell. You should consider selling when the answers to the above questions indicate that change is necessary. The answer also depends on when you purchased your home and how much equity you have. Most mature sellers have been in their homes for a number of years. Disregard the false equity of 2004-2006. It will be several years before we see a significant increase in home prices, even though

the market at this time is improving. Discuss your options with family, doctors, lawyers and accountants or financial planners to make the decision that is best for you. Then be aware that your decision may change in a month, a year or a moment. Thinking and planning ahead is so important. It puts you in control of your future circumstances, rather than letting circumstances control you. See SELL YOUR HOME, page B-5

Senior Apartments LIVE WELL FOR LESS Roland View Towers • One- and Two-Bedroom as well as Efficiencies • Rents from $443-$744* Utilities Included! • 24/7 on-site Maintenance and Reception Desk • Beauty/Barber Shop on premises • Bus Trips and Social Events and many more amenities! • Only 2 blocks from Hampden’s ‘The Avenue’

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Towson 410-828-7185 20 Dunvale Road Towson, MD 21204 parkviewtowson@sheltergrp.com Park View at Towson offers carefree living for those 62 or better. Located in the heart of Towson, this community is convenient to Dulaney Plaza and Towson Town Center, as well as the specialty stores and restaurants Towson offers. Residents enjoy many social, recreational and educational activities including bus trips. Our controlled-access community offers lounge areas for socializing, multiple clothing care centers, and a lending library. Our residents receive up to four hot, nutritional, low-cost meals per week in conjunction with the on-site Baltimore County Eating Together Program. Call 410-8287185 or email parkviewtowson@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Glen Forest Senior Apartments 410-969-2000 7975 Crain Hwy Glen Burnie, MD 21061 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com Glen Forest is centrally located to the numerous conveniences of the region, including Baltimore Washington International Airport, the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail and North Arundel Hospital. This independent living community for persons 62 years of age or better is also convenient to local shopping and dining that can be found throughout the Glen Burnie and Baltimore area. A shopping mall is located right across from the property which includes grocery, clothing and other shopping stores, banks and restaurants. While living at Glen Forest, you will enjoy many activities hosted by the resident association, a senior center nutrition site that serves a hot lunch Monday through Friday for a nominal fee and carefree 24 hour emergency maintenance service. Come visit and see why our residents love it here at Glen Forest.

ASSISTED LIVING

Charlestown 1-800-554-9865 715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ericksonliving.com

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Considering assisted living? Shop around You’re healthy enough to live in your own apartment, but perhaps you still need help with your medications, bathing or dressing. If you’d like such help whenever needed plus the added benefits of a full social life and meals in a comfortable dining room, an assisted-living facility may be a good fit. But navigating the assisted-living maze can be a challenge. First, there are all the options to consider. Some facilities house as few as 10 older adults in a home-like setting, while others are home to several hundred residents in a high-rise building. Care services can vary, as well. Facilities may offer advanced services such as physical therapy and skilled nursing — or provide little care at all. Even the names differ from place to place: adult homes, retirement residences, board and care, and congregate care. Regulatory oversight also varies by state, leading to quality problems at some facilities. Issues range from outright abuse to medication errors. “I’m seeing some excellent quality of life and quality of care in assisted living, but we see some serious problems, as well,” said Alice Hedt, Maryland’s long-termcare ombudsman. Given the disparity in quality and services, prospective residents and family members must conduct their own due diligence before choosing a facility. That means visiting several places, reading the fine print of residential agreements, and asking numerous questions of managers, aides and residents.

Assisted living basics One million Americans live in assisted living — a midway point between independent living and a nursing home. Typically, residents lease apartments — from a studio to a two-bedroom — by the month and eat in a common dining area. Facilities also offer healthcare monitoring and assistance with activities of daily living, and residents can participate in recreational and fitness programs. Even if a person doesn’t need much

Village model

Charlestown has a brand new look!

From page B-2

The best destination for a vibrant retirement just got even better. Charlestown has now been Catonsville’s premier location for a maintenance-free retirement for 30 years—and we’re celebrating with a multimillion-dollar renovation! Discover the beautiful new apartment homes in the Edgewood building—plus a newly renovated clubhouse featuring a pool, fitness center, marketplace and restaurant opening later this summer. Don’t wait to experience Charlestown’s stunning additions. Call 1-800-554-9865 to schedule a tour or request your free brochure today.

provided by neighbors — a favor here and there, rides to appointments and some social connection. Pauline Watson not only appreciates the services, such as computer repair, that her NNC membership has made possible, but also the opportunity to build relationships, especially with neighbors she might not otherwise have met. “This isn’t just a relationship-building effort,” she said, “but a diversity-building one as well.” Watson, who is African American,

daily attention, “they benefit from the overall support — not having to cook, social contact, someone to notice if something is wrong,” said Suzanne Modigliani, a geriatric-care manager. After a stroke at age 80, widower Donald Campbell could manage fairly well at first but needed help with eating and household chores, said his daughter Elizabeth Campbell of Denver, Colo. “He could no longer stay at home, but didn’t need nursing-home care,” she said. Her father moved from North Carolina to an assisted-living community near Campbell’s home and lived there for nearly five years before he died in 2008. When her father became ill, Campbell didn’t have much time to check her options. She visited several nearby facilities, relying on gut feelings. “Most of the places I went to didn’t feel good,” she said. Although her father was comfortable at the facility she chose, Elizabeth said she wishes she’d consulted a local geriatric-care manager for guidance and an elder-law attorney to sort out “a lot of the technicalities.” For instance, said elder-law attorney Michael Amoruso, contracts could give “the landlord more rights than tenants in terms of eviction,” compared with typical rental agreements. Another legal issue: If an adult child without a power of attorney signs an agreement on behalf of the parent, the child could be financially liable.

Ask the right questions When you start your quest, look only at facilities with a state license. Ask each center for its agreement outlining services, prices, extra charges and staffing. “Ask how much help is available, at what time and to what level,” Modigliani said. Facilities may differ on the amount of help they can offer with using the toilet, eating and other activities of daily living, for example. Seniors who have a particular concern with falling should make sure they can get See ASSISTED LIVING, page B-5

said she has felt “embraced and included” by NNC’s Jewish members. She was even invited to the recent wedding of the son of NNC project volunteer Risyl Edelman. “I’ve gotten so much love from everyone in NNC,” said Watson. “They’ve become like family.” For more information about NNC, email nncbaltimore@gmail.com or call (410) 662-6620. For more information about Village at Home, see www.villageathome.org, email info@villageathome.org, or call (410) 2253171. Additional reporting by Barbara Ruben.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Assisted Living From page B-4 extra help while they’re dressing or bathing. Make sure all special requirements and wishes, including favorite social activities, are documented in a personalcare plan. Eat a meal, and ask whether there are menu choices. Also note if staff members are attentive and kind to residents. Speak with residents and their visiting family members about their experiences. Find out about the training the center provides for its staff, and make sure the facility conducts criminal background checks on employees. Because of low wages, turnover is typically high industrywide. Compare the turnover levels for each center as well as the staff-to-resident ratio. Still, there are no hard-and-fast rules on staff levels. “Assisted-living communities are staffed based on the level of care and service needed by the residents,” said Jamison Gosselin, a senior vice-president of the Assisted Living Federation of America. For example, he said, there will be fewer

Sell your home From page B-3

Potential benefits of selling There are a number of benefits to selling your home that enter into the equation. • You may be able to diversify funds and receive a greater return on your money for the future. • You may be spending less without property taxes and insurance. You may reduce expenses for maintenance and upkeep of the property, not to mention the re-

caregivers per resident in a community that “serves a pretty independent group of seniors” than at one where residents need more assistance. Review the contract’s provisions on the facility’s discharge policies. After a resident leaves for a stint in a hospital or rehabilitation, the facility will decide whether the resident can return. The resident could be charged for food or other services if gone for an extended period. “Even for death, a resident may owe a few months,” Modigliani said.

How much does it cost? Because assisted-living arrangements don’t provide round-the-clock skilled-nursing care, they typically run about half the cost of nursing homes. In 2012, the average “base rate” — a one-bedroom unit, at least two meals a day, housekeeping and minimal personal-care assistance — in Baltimore was $4,307 a month, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute. But costs vary widely. Most facilities offer several pricing tiers, each with its own set of services. A resident needing little assistance would be at the lowest tier, duction of physical exertion and stress due to snow and leaf removal and yard work. • You may have more free time. • You may have less need to drive. • You may have more security in a medical crisis. • Your family members will have less worry. • You may have more freedom to travel. Excerpted from Selling Your Home: A Guide for the Mature Seller and Their Families. Helen L. Flynn is a real estate agent with Real Living Evergreene Properties in Ashburn, Va.

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Looking for a Skilled Nursing/Rehab Facility? Here is just some of what we offer. Orthopedic Surgery Rehab • Cardiac Surgery Rehab Dialysis and TPN therapies for Long-term care • Therapy Gym Mental Health wing for younger people • New Renovations New Fine Dining Program • Family Reception Areas TV, cable, wireless Internet • Private bathrooms. Social events Locked dementia and Alzheimer's care • Buffet-style dining Private bathrooms • Private and 2 person-only rooms Call Julie today to schedule your personal tour at 410-979-4822.

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or base price. You will need to find out what services are included in each tier, such as the number of meals each day, and how much it will cost if your relative needs more care in the future. As her father’s needs grew over five years, his monthly costs rose to $6,000 a month, from the initial $3,000, said Elizabeth Campbell. Eventually, her father needed help dressing and managing his medicines, and took his meals in his apartment. Because Medicare doesn’t pay assistedliving costs, most residents pay the entire tab out of pocket. Elizabeth said her father’s long-term-care insurance policy covered most of the costs. Regulatory oversight varies by state. Ask to review complaints made to state agencies, as well as all state-inspection reports. For information on your state’s reg-

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ulatory agency, contact the Assisted Living Federation of America at www.alfa.org or (703) 894-1805. You can also find a state’s ombudsman at the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, www.ltcombudsman.org or (202) 332-2275. Information on assisted living regulation in Maryland can be found at http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq/SitePag es/Home.aspx. The Maryland state ombudsman’s office can be reached at (410) 767-1108 or www.aging.maryland.gov/Ombudsman.ht ml. For Baltimore City, call (410) 396-3144; Baltimore County, (410) 887-4200; Anne Arundel County, (410) 222-4464. — Kiplinger’s Retirement Report © 2013, Kiplinger. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

St. Mary’s Roland View Towers 410-889-8255 3888/3939 Roland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21211 www.smrvt.com Located in the heart of Hampden, St. Mary's Roland View Towers is a complex of two, high-rise apartment buildings exclusively for households that are 62 years of age or older. Since 1964, SMRVT has provided affordable, comfortable and safe apartment living. There are 360 apartments at the property, including efficiencies, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, at a rent structure that is lower than comparable apartments in the Baltimore area, and utilities are included in the rent! SMRVT is within walking distance to grocery shopping and pharmacies. An impressive list of features include- 24/7 on-site maintenance, library, beauty/barber shop, social activities, church services, rooftop restaurant, and 24/7 reception desk. Call Arthur or Laura Ruby for your personal tour.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Dundalk 410-288-5483 103 Center Place Dundalk, MD 21222 parkviewdundalk@sheltergrp.com Park View at Dundalk offers carefree living for those 62 or better right in the heart of historic Dundalk. Just a block from Dundalk Avenue, this community has easy access to public transportation, shopping and restaurants. East Point Mall and Johns Hopkins Bayview are just minutes away. Residents enjoy many social, recreational and educational activities including bus trips. Our residents receive up to four hot, nutritional, low-cost meals per week in conjunction with the on-site Baltimore County Eating Together Program. This controlled-access elevator building offers such amenities as a community room, clothing care center, and fitness center. Call 410-288-5483 or email parkviewdundalk@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. Come see what you’re missing!

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

North Oaks 410-486-9090 725 Mt. Wilson Lane Pikesville, MD 21208 www.northoaks.net North Oaks is a warm and welcoming, newly renovated Life Care living community conveniently located in Pikesville, Maryland. When you live here, you are thoroughly connected in all the ways that really matter. Connect to a rich cultural, social and intellectual environment that distinguishes life at North Oaks. Connect with a community of interesting neighbors and a skilled and supportive professional staff. Expect to remain wonderfully connected to family and friends, and to the broader community outside North Oaks. Expect to make many new friends right here. When you live here, you enjoy not only a comfortable, secure and maintenance-free apartment home, but also the security of our Life Care program, offering peace of mind and financial predictability should your care needs ever change. Call today for your tour.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Change is one constant with assisted living By Leslie Morgan Among my favorite truisms is, “All that remains the same is change.” In many dimensions of our lives, we expect — and sometimes even welcome — change. In contrast, our views about change shift in our roles as consumers. When we buy a car or select a cable service, we expect consistency in that product or service; we expect the features or options we chose at the time will not change. However, this sort of consistency cannot be expected in another important and costly “product” some of us purchase — assisted living care. While assisted living seems like a stable, known service with a set of listed services and options, research conducted by the Center for Aging Studies at UMBC in 18 varied assisted living settings shows that change, not stability, is the norm. As a result, assisted living consumers, whether residents, family members or friends, may be taken aback when changes occur. Based on more than nine years of research, this article shares some insights unlikely to be addressed if you tour assisted living communities trying to find the right place for Mom, your Uncle Bill or yourself. When the time comes to move, often because remaining at home is no longer practical or safe, an alternative must be identified — sometimes in a hurry. The learning curve is steep when the end of a hospital or rehabilitation stay, or a problem at home, triggers a search for an assisted living (AL) community. Searching involves reviewing lists of options, identifying those with available space, quickly followed by tours intended to see rooms, observe care, and ask questions. The choice is based on the best fit to the person, the location, the cost and other personal preferences (e.g., religiously oriented, homey or “glitzy,” small or large, quiet or busy).

Changes to expect While you can learn a lot by visiting, the “purchase” of an assisted living setting is unlike other product selections you make, because you should expect the product to change. Change can affect the physical environment, the ownership or leadership, the turnover of staff, the change in the traits of other residents, or the type of services offered. A few of these change areas are detailed below. 1. Change in the business environment. Growth in the AL sector has, until recently, meant increasing competition. Competition drove a number of ALs in our studies to change their focus to specialize in dementia care. Others, in an effort to keep rooms filled, permitted people to remain longer with more fragile states of health or cognition, putting greater de-

mands on limited numbers of staff. Future economic upturns may bring more potential clients, which then might prompt the ALs to push those with higher needs into nursing homes. This most recent recession has meant fewer people are able to afford AL housing, shrinking the ALs’ bottom lines, and in turn the number of staff or range of services provided. 2. Changes in ownership or leadership. A linchpin in many of the AL settings we studied was a leader or key staff person who made a great deal of difference in how daily life unfolded. For example, a “hands on” executive director, who knew staff members’ jobs and made herself widely available to everyone, differed dramatically from one who managed from an office and worried more about the bottom line. Any AL, if it is part of the dominant forprofit sector, can be bought by new ownership, which may change leadership, the list of services, or significantly alter daily routines for staff and residents. Sometimes these changes bring improvement, but in other cases, they are disruptive and their outcomes are mixed or negative. During the time of our studies, many ALs in our sample changed ownership, leadership, or both — sometimes more than once. 3. Changes in the social context of everyday life. As each resident spends months or years in AL, they witness people arriving and leaving, sometimes including ones who’ve become friends. For those who remain, physical and cognitive health may change their vigor, social engagement, or capacities in ways that reshape the experience of life. If those with dementia, whose families often prefer for them to age in place, remain for a long time, it may leave a mentally vigorous resident with few people able to converse or share in a card game. The social environment that seemed suitable when it was chosen may gradually transition into one that may be less suitable. As “people-intensive” organizations, ALs bring together many groups of people (residents, care staff, administration, etc.), each with diverse backgrounds and ages, and diverse roles and goals. Given this diversity, as well as the unpredictability both within and beyond AL, users should anticipate and prepare for changes to take place during an AL stay and work with staff and family to make the most of the changes that will come. Leslie Morgan, Ph.D., is a professor in the UMBC Department of Sociology and Anthropology and co-director of the UMB/UMBC Ph.D. program in Gerontology. Morgan is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and charter fellow of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. This article is based on research funded by the National Institute on Aging.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Before you consider living with your kids Folks write poems about Mom, name their kids after her, and even sport tattoos praising her glory — and now the results of a new national survey should make moms feel even more special. The poll, commissioned by home care agency Visiting Angels, surveyed more than 1,100 adults, age 40 and older with both living parents. It reveals that 70 percent of adult children do not want their parents moving in with them. But if they had to choose, 67 percent would prefer to move in their mom over their dad.

• Not enough room (55 percent) • Lack of privacy (49 percent) • It would cause conflict (46 percent) • They fear they’d have less intimacy/sex with partner (21 percent) Forty-one percent say they would prefer their parents remain in their own home with a caregiver, over moving them in to their home (31 percent) or moving them to an assisted living facility (17 percent) or nursing home (2 percent). More than half (58 percent) believe their aging parents would prefer to stay in their own home.

Sorry, Dad

Money concerns

Most say Mom would: • Help more than Dad with cooking and cleaning (86 percent) • Help more than Dad with the kids (79 percent) • Be neater (73 percent) • Be a better listener (64 percent) Most say Dad: • Has worse hygiene than Mom (75 percent) • Is more likely than Mom to say inappropriate things (75 percent) • Is sloppier than Mom (70 percent) • Is lazier than Mom (68 percent) • Would want to control the TV more than Mom (69 percent) When asked what they fear about one or both parents moving in, respondents say:

Two-thirds (66 percent) of those polled say they cannot afford to move their parents in with them. Yet more than half (51 percent) say they would move them in anyway. And here’s some heartwarming news — 85 percent say money is no motivator; that they would NOT be more inclined to move parents in if they got more of the inheritance. And more than three-quarters of those polled (76 percent) say they would pay out of their own pocket if their parents needed care. “This survey shows children don’t want their aging parents to move in, but they will do whatever it takes to take care of them, even if it means picking up the tab,”

said Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels, one of the country’s largest in-home senior care franchises. “People prefer their parents stay in their own home surrounded by the things that make them feel comfortable and safe.”

(72 percent) say they don’t have a plan for how they’ll care for their aging parents. More than half (54 percent) say they haven’t even had a conversation with their parents about the type of care they want as they age. Why? Many respondents say this question could cause a family feud. Forty-six percent predict some kind of conflict when deciding how to care for aging parents.

Little planning The survey reveals children mean to do well by their parents, though many have no game plan whatsoever. Almost three-quarters of respondents

PICKERSGILL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

See FAMILY SURVEY, page B-9

Discovery Day

Value. Independence. Confidence.

at Broadmead

Open House

Common threads in the fabric of retirement freedom

Friday, June 14 (

For more than two centuries, Pickersgill Retirement Community has had one vision—providing value, independence and confidence for seniors.

We are the area’s only rental, continuing care community, with no entrance fee or turnover of assets, and a not-for-profit mission that allows us to deliver extraordinary value.

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Access to onsite rehab and two levels of assistance promotes ongoing independence, with the confidence of knowing that higher levels of care are available right here on campus, if and when needed. Value. Independence. Confidence.

Call us at 888-920-2447 to arrange a personal tour. 615 C H E S T N U T A V E N U E , T OW S O N , MD 21204 W W W.P I C K E R S G I L L R E T I R E M E N T. O RG • 888-920-2447

13801 York Road Cockeysville, MD 21030 www.Broadmead.org PKRGLBN

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CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Augsburg Lutheran Home and Village 1-888-347-7008 6811 Campﬁeld Road Baltimore, MD 21207 www.Augsburg.org Augsburg is a nationally accredited, non-profit, continuing care community, featuring independent living, assisted, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Nestled on a beautiful 52-acre campus in Baltimore County, we have been a leader in providing affordable quality senior living since 1892. Our apartment-style independent living allows you to enjoy the comforts, privacy and independence of your own home without the concern of home ownership. We offer spacious studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments with a variety of floor plans. For those needing assisted living, Augsburg residents enjoy private rooms, an individualized care plan and a bed-and-breakfast style setting. Skilled nursing services with various levels of care are also available in a progressive neighborhood style model designed with comfort in mind. Call today for your tour!

SKILLED NURSING AND REHABILITATION

White Oak Health Care 410-979-4822 921 E Fort Avenue Baltimore, MD 21230 White Oak Health Care is a premier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center consulting company. The company manages seven facilities in Maryland and West Virginia. Blue Point, Northwest, and Holly Hill are conveniently located in the Baltimore region. These facilities specialize in short-term nursing care after hip, knee, and any joint surgeries. They can also assist in rehabilitation after a stroke or accident. These centers pride themselves on the great therapy and nursing care given to their patients. If you are considering a joint surgery, or find that it becomes necessary, call the admissions department for more information on scheduling a tour, selecting your room, and meeting the therapy staff prior to your surgery. For a rapid response, please call Julianna Hawthorne at 410-979-4822.

HOME CARE

Progressive Home Care 410-337-5200 1407 York Road, Suite 207 Lutherville, MD www.progressivecareathome.com Progressive Care at Home is a private duty non-medical home care agency serving seniors in Harford, Baltimore and Howard counties with Companions and Certified Nursing Assistants. Care at Home is a division of Progressive Nursing Staffers, offering compassionate, quality health care services for 25 years under one committed owner. Our caregivers are screened beyond industry standards. Our employees must pass rigorous screening and recruitment processes. We are available 24/7/365 and can customize schedules to meet your unique needs. Call today to set up your FREE consultation with a Registered Nurse so you can see firsthand the quality and integrity we bring to your home and to your life. There is no obligation. Call for an appointment at 410-337-5200. Let our family care for your family.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Another option for you: communal living By Craig Smith A generation of Americans who embraced communal living in the 1960s is again considering that concept and other ways to coexist as they near retirement. This time, they’ve traded peace signs for dollar signs. “By force of sheer volume, the [baby boomers], who in 1968 thought they would change the world by 2028, actually will,” said Andrew Carle, founding director of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Over the next three decades, one in five U.S. citizens will turn 65 or older, Carle said. They’ll control more than half of the discretionary income, influencing entertainment, travel, food, retail, technology and housing. Even now, seniors are redefining their living arrangements through cohousing communities, cooperative households and niche communities, experts said. Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, might be more open to such ideas, having tried similar arrangements when they were younger, said Robert Schulz, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban Research. And there’s a practical side. “As baby boomers age, getting appropriate support will be a challenge,” Schulz said. “Traditionally, children supply that support for their parents, but baby boomers had few children, so group housing has the potential for people to provide for and support each other.”

Cohousing communities One option is cohousing, which can be multi-generational and emphasizes privacy but with social contact among members, advocates say. Residents live in private homes but share facilities such as a common house, courtyards, playgrounds or gardens. People typically gather at least once a week for a meal. There are about 100 such communities up and running across the country. “What’s the best thing about cohousing? We know our neighbors really, really well,” said Joani Blank, 75, of Oakland, Calif., a former board member of the Cohousing Association of the United States “What’s the worst thing? We know our neighbors really, really well.” There are at least a dozen cohousing communities in the Greater Baltimore and Greater Washington areas, according to the Cohousing Association of the United States. A directory of such communities across the country can be found at www.cohousing.org/directory. Most are mixed ages, but some include only older adult residents. One such community, ElderSpirit in the southwestern

Virginia town of Abingdon, offers a nondenominational spiritual environment for its members. “We knew what we wanted, and we wanted to live in a self-managed community. It has worked out better than I ever thought it could, said Dene Peterson, 83, a founding member. She said she sought to create an environment where, “You know all your neighbors. You know them well. You feel secure.” Residents are encouraged to live simply and share their belongings, both to foster community and save money. ElderSpirit opened in 2006 and features 29 homes, a common house and a spiritual center. Another reason Peterson said she is drawn to cohousing is the ability to age in place with like-minded people, and “the possibility of dying at home” rather than in an assisted living or other traditional community. Others opt for mixed-age communities. In 2004, Joan and Ed King sold their home in Takoma Park, Md., to their daughter in favor of cohousing at Eastern Village in Silver Spring. They were the eighth couple that joined. Ed, 73, explained that they were drawn to cohousing because, “We have always been interested in the idea of community, being surrounded by people who would bring energy and joy to our lives.” As part of a 56-unit neighborhood, neighbors are never in short supply. Many cohousing communities have opted for going green. Joan, 73, said this was a motivating factor because “we wanted to leave a smaller carbon footprint.” Eastern Village was named Green Project of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders in 2005. The community does not currently have “internal arrangements for aging in place,” but strategies are in the works to accommodate their aging residents, Ed said. Carroll County’s Liberty Village, in Libertyville, Md., is the closest cohousing community to Baltimore and the oldest in the region. The 15-year-old multigenerational community includes 18 energy efficient homes so far, with another 20 planned. Weekly optional community dinners take place in a common house, along with other social activities. Other Washington-area cohousing communities include Potomac Valley Cohousing in Gaithersburg, Md.; Takoma Village in Washington, D.C.; and Blueberry Hill in Vienna, Va.

Cooperative householding The concepts behind cohousing can also be scaled down to small groups sharSee COMMUNAL LIVING, page B-9

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; JUNE 2013

Communal living From page B-8 ing a single house. For three women from Mt. Lebanon, Pa., helping one another started with a cat. Louise Machinist, Jean McQuillin and Karen Bush began their experiment in cooperative householding eight years ago when Bush, 64, a consultant, needed someone to watch her cat during a trip to the West Coast. Machinist, 66, a psychologist, volunteered to watch Beardsley. A one-month trip stretched into a year, and Bush began repaying her friend by taking her on trips. Before long, the three divorced, professional women â&#x20AC;&#x201D; McQuillin, 67, is a nurse â&#x20AC;&#x201D; established their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Biddies Commune.â&#x20AC;?

Family survey From page B-7 Twenty-eight percent expect conflict with a parent, 25 percent with a sibling, and 11 percent with a spouse or significant other. So who bears the most responsibility for aging parents? Thirty-two percent say the child that lives closest, 27 percent say the child with the fewest other responsibilities, (e.g., no spouse or children), and 19 percent say the child with the most money. Surprisingly, only 3 percent said the child who got the most growing up.

They bought a house together and share the costs of maintenance, utilities and other bills. They hope their unique â&#x20AC;&#x153;intentional communityâ&#x20AC;? becomes a model. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want people to learn from this,â&#x20AC;? said Bush, 64. So the women wrote a book, My House, Our House: Living Far Better for Far Less in a Cooperative Household. An updated, expanded edition of their book, published by St. Lynnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Press, originally published in 2011, will be available June 15.

Academic community living University-based retirement communities offer people a chance to return to their alma maters or another campus where they can participate in school programs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from classes to concerts and sporting events. Perhaps 50 to 75 such communities currently exist across the country, said Carle,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There can be a lot of conflict in families over how to care for aging parents. Part of the problem is that most families decide about their parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; care in crisis, when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too late; emotions take over, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to think logically and clearly,â&#x20AC;? said Meigs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You need to meet now with your parents and siblings to decide on a solution that appeals to everyone involved. Often the family will agree that the best solution is in-home care, where parents can stay at home and get the care they need without overly burdening anyone in the family.â&#x20AC;?

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

TUTORS NEEDED Pathways is a community outreach tutoring program of Towson United Methodist Church dedicated to serving youth in the

Greater Baltimore area. The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary mission is to provide for the academic betterment of young people, with an emphasis on tutoring, encouraging and mentoring. To learn more, visit www.pathwaystutoring.org or call (410) 592-5442.

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who is trying to confirm the number. The potential for their growth is large, since there are about 4,400 colleges and universities in the U.S. The Village at Penn State, an apartment and cottage complex within walking distance of the State College campus, caters to people in their 70s. It is the closest such community to Washington and Baltimore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is an active, vibrant community. The residents are so busy,â&#x20AC;? said Lucille DeFronzo, vice president of sales and marketing for owner Liberty Lutheran. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great camaraderie here.â&#x20AC;?

B-9

Learn about some of the college-based communities built by the Kendal Corporation at www.kendal.org/living/communitiesincollegetowns.aspx. Niche communities are another emerging concept for which experts see potential. Grateful Dead fans? Someone could build a retirement community just for you. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These are not goofy ideas,â&#x20AC;? Carle said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you have 78 million [baby boomers], you have critical mass to do whatever you want.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; AP with additional reporting by the Beacon

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

JUNE 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

How long do a houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major systems last? By Patricia Mertz Esswein Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a corollary of Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law: When you are least able to afford a major expense, something big is bound to break down. The solution: Take preventive action before a breakdown turns into an emergency. To help you plan ahead, we give you an overview of what to expect for six major items. (Note: Total cost is for a 2,000-

square-foot home or to install a single unit.)

Furnace/boiler Expected life: Boiler, 13 to 21 years; furnace, 15 to 20 years. Total cost: Forced-air furnace, $1,693 to $2,020; split system, $1,604 to $2,290; oil boiler, $2,773 to $3,069. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time if: You need frequent repairs

or have rising energy bills, rooms that are consistently too hot or cold, humidity problems, or excessive noise. If your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, an energy-efficient replacement will cut your utility bills. Where to start: Use search tools at the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (www.acca.org) and Plumbing-HeatingCooling Contractors Association (www.phccweb.org).

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

DONATE YOUR CAR TO SUPPORT KIDNEY HEALTH

Donate your outdated automobile to Kidney Cars and become eligible for a tax deduction while helping the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland get more mileage out of its education and prevention programs. All donated vehicles are either sold at auction or for parts. The foundation will pick up used cars, trucks, motorcycles or boats in almost any condition free of charge. To make a donation, visit www.kidneycars.org or call 1-800-488-2277.

Hot water heater Expected life: 10 years for gas or electric; 20 years for tankless. Total cost: $548 to $915 for energy-efficient model; $739 to $1,240 for tankless; $2,658 to $3,443 for heat-pump water heater. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time if: The unit is 10 years old or more, leaks around the base, or works erratically.

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At North Oaks, we never stop improving on our ability to keep the people who live here connected to the best in life. Now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the midst of some exciting renovations that will add a new look and an exciting new dimension to daily living at this LifeCareâ&#x201E;˘ retirement community. Other features, including new amenities, are being added to help promote health and wellness, which are, of course, hallmarks of life here. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true that many things are changing, the important things are staying the same. Visit www.NorthOaks.net/Rejuvenation to download a copy of our successful aging brochure or call (410) 486-9090 today to schedule a personal appointment.

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Where to start: Use the guide at EnergyStar.gov to determine what type will work best for you and to get buying guidance. You can buy from home-improvement retailers or plumbing contractors.

Roof Expected life: 20 for asphalt shingles. Cost per square foot: $5.43 to $7.05. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time if: You have cracked, curled or missing shingles, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re losing mineral granules (look in your gutters). In the attic, check the underside of the roof for stains or wet spots. Inside, you may see discolored plaster or drywall and peeling wallpaper. Where to start: Use the search tool on the website of the National Roofing Contractors Association (www.nrca.net) to find contractors who are members.

Central air conditioning Expected life: 10 to 15 years. Total cost: $2,460 to $3,245; split system (with interior and exterior components), $1,604 to $2,290. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time if: You need frequent repairs or have rising energy bills, rooms that are consistently too hot or cold, humidity problems, or excessive noise. Note: If your AC uses your furnaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blower motor, you may also have to replace the furnace for your new AC to achieve its rated energy efficiency. Where to start: Look for equipment rated by Energy Star. Seek contractors who are certified by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America or who are members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Patricia Mertz Esswein is an associate editor at Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. ÂŠ 2013 Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Finance

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

B-11

FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you, and mail this entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies will be entered into a random drawing for Toby’s Dinner Theatre tickets to be held July 19, 2013.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES:

❑ Glen Forest . . . . . . .B4 and B13 ❑ The Greens at Irvington Mews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B12 ASSISTED LIVING ❑ Maples of Towson .B18 and B19 ❑ Charlestown Assisted Living .B3 ❑ Meadows of ❑ Charlotte Hall . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 Reisterstown . . . . .B13 and B14 ❑ Maples of Towson . B18 and B19 ❑ Oak Crest . . . . . . .B16 and B17 ❑ Oak Crest Assisted Living . . . .B3 ❑ Overlook at Monarch ❑ Weinberg Assisted Living . .B20 Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B16 ❑ Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . .B3 CONTINUING CARE ❑ Park View Dundalk . .B6 and B15 ❑ Augsburg Lutheran Village . .B18 ❑ Park View Ellicott City B2 and B15 ❑ Broadmead . . . . . . .B7 and B18 ❑ Park View Fullerton .B14 and B15 ❑ Heartlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 ❑ Park View Laurel . . . B2 and B15 ❑ North Oaks . . . . . . .B6 and B10 ❑ Park View Rosedale .B15 and B16 ❑ Pickersgill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B7 ❑ Park View Taylor . .B12 and B15 ❑ Roland Park Place .B17 and B18 ❑ Park View Towson . .B4 and B15 ❑ St. Mary’s Roland View INDEPENDENT/ACTIVE LIVING Towers . . . . . . . . . . . .B3 and B6 ❑ Aigburth Vale . . . . .B7 and B14 ❑ Walker Mews. . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 ❑ Bay Forest . . . . . . .B12 and B13 ❑ Westminster House Apts. . . . .B9 ❑ Charlestown . . . . . .B4 and B17

❑ Weinberg Independent Living . . . . . . . . . . .B2 and B20

HOME CARE SERVICES ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Absolute Companion Care . .B12 Bayada Home Care . . . . . . .B17 Comfort Keepers . . . . . . . . . .B9 Options for Senior America .B13 P-B Home Care . . . . . . . . . .B19 Progressive Home Care . . . . . . . . . . . .B8 and B15

NURSING/ REHABILITATION ❑ Charlotte Hall . . . . . . . . . . . .B9 ❑ White Oak Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .B5 and B8

MISCELLANEOUS ❑ Junk It All . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B10

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may also include the free info coupon on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing. BB 6/13

B-12

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

The Greens at Irvington Mews 410-644-4487 4300 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21229 The Greens at Irvington Mews offers charming new, affordable oneand two-bedroom apartments for seniors 62 and over located in beautiful historic Irvington, Baltimore City, Maryland. Our professionally managed community features exciting amenities, as well as a convenient location near parks, shopping and medical services. Our residents enjoy the many amenities we have to offer, such as a Community Room overlooking Mount St. Joseph High School Football Field, Inviting Hospitality Suite, Relaxing Library and Business Center. Residents can also enjoy Shuttle Van trips to local retail shops and restaurants and numerous and diverse activities with the community, including seasonal celebrations, arts & crafts, and much more. Please join us for Coffee Hour on May 20th @10:30a.m. An Equal Opportunity Community

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Taylor 410-663-0363 4102 Taylor Ave. Baltimore, MD 21236 parkviewtaylor@sheltergrp.com Park View at Taylor simply offers the best in carefree living for those 62 or better. Located just north of 695 off of Belair Road, this community is minutes away from everything you will want and need. Our residents appreciate our community room with fireplace, computer center with free Internet access, fitness center, salon, and many social activities including bus trips. Spend an afternoon chatting with friends on the veranda, reading a book in the library or join an exercise class. You have so many choices. Our controlledaccess elevator community is designed for you. Call 410-663-0363 or email parkviewtaylor@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to serving you!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Bay Forest Senior Apartments 410-295-7557 930 Bay Forest Ct. Annapolis, MD 21403 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com Love to be close to the water? Then you will love it at Bay Forest Senior Apartments. An affordable independent community for persons 62 years of age or better! A beautifully landscaped country setting with plenty of parking for you and your visitors. Only 10 minutes from Annapolis Historic City Dock, which offers a variety of stores, restaurants, banks and the Watermark Cruises boat tours. Just a few minutes’ drive from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and walking distance to the Quiet Waters Park. You’ll love the 24-hour emergency maintenance service, many activities hosted by the resident association and the convenience of joining fellow residents at the nutrition site located in the community room for a hot lunch Monday through Friday. Come visit Bay Forest soon. We’re waiting for you!!

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Selling long-time home can be emotional By Helen L. Flynn Your home may hold precious memories of a family growing up. Sometimes the growth charts are still visible on a wall. Every room and everything in each room tells a story of one kind or another about the people who lived in the house. Visitors may see old-fashioned goldflocked wall paper, but to the homeowner it reflects a time of hope and family celebration as well as perhaps a dream fulfilled. The home may be a reminder of the presence of a deceased spouse. Pictures may be extremely important, not to mention burial flags. Usually there is a mixture of happy and sad memories; both are difficult to leave. If it’s time to sell, you might find it beneficial to video the house room by room, narrating stories as you film and then storing these on a CD. Moving may feel like, or be, a surrender to the fact of declining health or mobility. Depending on the reason for the move, the seller may feel a tremendous loss of control. There may well be a great deal of fear associated with moving to a retirement community, a smaller residence, or in with adult children. The “what if’s” are tremendous. The move also involves letting go of “stuff,” which may have little or no monetary value, but much sentimental value. Each piece disposed of feels like another bit of life slipping away.

For the family member How do adult children or grandchildren deal with these emotions experienced by their parents? • Recognize and acknowledge the fear, sadness or loss of control. Telling a parent how happy they will be in their new home

will not help. It eventually may be true, but you need to acknowledge the feelings they have right now. • Be patient. You may be dealing with a health crisis, dementia or a death. Your parent is not going to reorganize and proceed at the pace you are. • Be respectful of their dignity. They may have always been in charge of their own affairs, and not to be so now is painful. • Ask for help. It just may not be practical for you to be in charge of downsizing or the move. It will likely require much more time than you have and result in frustration for all involved. There are professionals available to assist in every aspect of the transition. • Carefully assess options for the move. Involve your parents in the discussions and research as much as possible. • Listen to what your parents are saying. They may be adamant about staying in their home. If so, help them to do so as long as possible, if this is a safe option. • Visit communities of all types and consult when necessary with professionals who can assist in finding the right residence. There are companies that specialize in this service. Geriatric care managers can be invaluable. • Seek help from an elder care attorney for important documents such as living wills, guardianships, powers of attorney, etc., as well as guidance on a variety of legal issues. • Seek help from a geriatric-care manager if you are dealing with serious health issues and multiple care providers. • Maintain balance in your personal life so you have the mental and physical resources to help your parents. Excerpted from Selling Your Home: A Guide for the Mature Seller and Their Families.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER WITH PRO BONO COUNSELING PROJECT

The Pro Bono Counseling Project assures that all Maryland residents requesting mental health care, regardless of income, are linked with volunteer licensed mental health professionals. For more information on volunteering, call (410) 825-1001, ext. 102.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

B-13

How to buy and rent a home for extra income By Alex Veiga Low mortgage rates have made buying a home more affordable and turned rentals into an attractive option for investors. Throughout the downturn in the housing market, average investors, sometimes pooling their money, have bought foreclosures at a sharp discount and turned them into rentals. Many homeowners have also purchased a second home and rented out their first property. Although the housing market is showing signs of recovery, demand for rental housing is expected to remain strong. The national unemployment rate remains high at 7.6 percent, banks are still working through a backlog of foreclosures, and tight lending requirements prevent many renters from becoming homeowners. And the Federal Reserve has said it will keep its short-term interest rate, the federal funds rate, at a record low until U.S. unemployment falls below 6.5 percent, something many economists don’t expect to happen until late 2015 at the earliest. “In this market, at this point, it’s a sweet spot,’’ said Chris Princis, a senior executive at financial advisory firm Brook-Hollow Financial and owner of two rental properties in Chicago. “You’re getting the market where it’s just starting to rebound, but still at the bottom, with what’s looking to be a great recovery.’’ Here are six tips on becoming a landlord or investor in rental property: 1. Understand what it means to be a landlord Residential real estate generally provides three possible ways to get a return on your investment: when it’s sold, assuming it has grown in value, by collecting rent, and through tax savings, such as the mortgage interest deduction.

So, if you elect to buy a property for the long-term investment potential, the goal should be to ensure that the rental income covers the cost of your mortgage and monthly maintenance costs. If you buy a foreclosed home, you’ll have to factor in the cost of repairs to get the home ready to rent. And if you have a mortgage on the property, you’ll need to be prepared to cover the costs for however long it takes to find a tenant. “Real estate is a great investment if people are paying their rent,’’ said Princis. “If they’re not paying their rent, it’s a horrible investment.’’ 2. Buy in an area with a history of strong rental demand Neighborhoods near universities are a good option. For homes in residential areas, proximity to schools can be a good draw for families. Condominiums and similar properties in communities with a homeowners’ association can be a great option because the association arranges for upkeep on the property. But check the fine print on your mortgage and homeowners’ association rules to make sure turning your property into a rental isn’t forbidden. If you’re going to buy a foreclosure, be prepared to compete with other investors, many of them paying in cash. And because many properties require upgrades and repairs, expect that it will take longer until you’ll be generating rental income. Websites like Zillow.com and Trulia.com list foreclosures, as well as rentals in a given area. Foreclosure tracker RealtyTrac Inc. recently ranked U.S. metro areas with a population of 500,000 or more according to the supply of available foreclosures for sale and their discount versus other homes,

among other criteria. Among the top 20 cities deemed the best places to buy: Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, El Paso, Texas, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Claire Thomas, a retiree in Phoenix who owns 10 rental condos in Las Vegas, said that landlords looking to keep their properties as income-generating rentals for many years should look into areas that are not too expensive. “I would rather have a middle-of-theroad rental that stays rented than a higherend (property),’’ she said. 3. Consider using a management firm Determine whether you want to select the tenant and handle property issues or hire a company to do it for you. If you take on the responsibility, you are obliged to fix any problems (leaky faucets, broken fur-

nace, etc.) or find professionals to do it. “Are you prepared to do all of this on your weekends or evenings or get calls while you’re at work because a pipe burst and it’s flooding?’’ asked Jim Warren, chief marketing officer for property management company FirstService Residential Realty. Hiring out the hands-on landlord job also makes sense if your rental property is not in the same city where you live. Property management firms can charge a percentage of the rent, sometimes 10 percent or more. 4. Do the math Although prevailing rental prices will go a long way toward determining what you See BUY FOR INCOME, page B-15

ONE MONTH FREE RENT AVAILABLE at The Meadows of Reisterstown

The Meadows of Reistertown offers the maintenance-free, independent lifestyle you’ve been looking for in a retirement community. • Social, Educational and Recreational Events • Patios or Balconies • Individual Climate Control • Convenient to Shopping, Banking and Restaurants

• Emergency Response System • Controlled-Access Entry • Hair Salon • Elevators • Smoke Free • Small Pets Welcome

Live the carefree life you’ve been waiting for, and let us take care of all the details!

For more information call

410-526-3380

300 Cantata Court • Reisterstown, MD 21136

www.firstcentrumcommunities.com

930 Bay Forest Ct. • Annapolis, MD 21403

410-295-7557

7975 Crain Hwy. • Glen Burnie, MD 21061

410-969-2000

B-14

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Fullerton 410-663-0665 4300 Cardwell Ave. Fullerton, MD 21236 parkviewfullerton@sheltergrp.com Park View at Fullerton is newly renovated and simply offers the best in carefree living for those 62 or better. Located just north of 695 off of Belair Road in Fullerton, this community is convenient to everything you want and need. Residents enjoy a stunning community room with fireplace, computer center with free Internet access, fitness center, salon, and many social activities including bus trips. Our apartment homes feature stylish kitchens, new baths, and Energy Star appliances. Our controlled-access elevator community has so many amenities to enhance your living experience, you need to call today and see for yourself. Call 410-6630665 or email parkviewfullerton@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY

Meadows of Reisterstown Senior Apartments 410-526-3380 300 Cantata Court Reisterstown, MD 21136 www.ﬁrstcentrum.com Enjoy carefree leisure living at The Meadows—an affordable senior apartment community for seniors 62+. Each spacious one- and twobedroom apartment features a fully equipped kitchen, roomy closets and a balcony or patio. You can exercise the mind in the library and media room or the body in our fitness area. Keypad entry and the emergency response system provide peace of mind. The atmosphere is filled with gracious living. Here, you will appreciate not having to worry about maintenance chores. At the same time, you can take advantage of nearby shops, library, banks, postal services, grocery store and convenience to I-695. We invite you to tour The Meadows of Reisterstown.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Aigburth Vale Senior Community 410-698-4749 212 Aigburth Road Towson, MD 21286 Looking for convenience in a peaceful setting? Aigburth Vale Senior Community is nestled on a quiet neighborhood street ideally located in the heart of Towson. We offer modern onebedroom apartments for moderate income seniors aged 62+ renting for only $743 per month. All units in our secure building feature fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, carpeting and walk-in closets. Residents have access to laundry facilities, a game room and a party room. Professionally managed by St. Ambrose Housing and subject to annual income limitations of $36,000. Call us today for your tour.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Resources help fill driving need for rides By Rebekah Sewell While the vast majority of people want to remain in their homes as they age, one of the key factors keeping them from aging in place successfully is the lack of ability to get out and about. Maybe glaucoma has narrowed vision to a point where driving is dangerous, or arthritis limits the dexterity needed for safely navigating behind the wheel. Fortunately, a network of volunteers, discounted taxi service and public transportation can help people find a ride when they need one. Here is an overview of such services in the Greater Baltimore area.

Elderly & Handicapped Taxicard Program The Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE)’s Elderly & Handicapped Taxicard Program provides low-cost “taxicards” for taxi transportation to city residents 60 and older. Adults under 60 with disabilities are also eligible. Fares are calculated based on income. There is a low monthly fee for services, and money can be added to the card each month for fare. Wheelchair accessible taxis are available. Visit www.caretaxicard.com for more information or call (410) 664-1123.

CountyRide In Baltimore County, the Department of Aging offers CountyRide, which provides specialized transportation services to Baltimore County residents 60 and older and persons with disabilities ages 18 to 59. Destinations include medical appointments, shopping and other general purpose trips. CountyRide’s buses have easy, low-step entrances, and all can accommodate wheelchairs. Escorts may accompany riders needing special assistance at no additional cost. Ticket books are used for payment and should be purchased ahead of time. Each book contains six tickets and costs $15 ($2.50 per ticket). Trips within the county cost one ticket each way. Trips crossing the city/county line cost two tickets each way. Books of tickets may be purchased at the office, at any Baltimore County Senior Center or by mail. Riders may also pay by cash, check or money order, but at a higher rate. Within the county, each way costs $3. Outside of the county, each way costs $6. Exact change is required. CountyRide does not accept credit cards. For inquiries, email countyride@baltimorecountymd.gov or call (410) 887-2080. Registration forms may be faxed, mailed or hand delivered to the CountyRide office at 611 Central Ave., Towson, Md. 21204.

features a reduced fare program for seniors. Those 65 and older can ride local bus, light rail and metro subway routes for approximately one-third the regular fare, and approximately one-half the regular fare on MARC Train service. A valid ID card is required for participation. Call (410) 767-3441 or apply at http:// mta.maryland.gov/disabled-reduced-fareprogram. The MTA Taxi Access Service is available to MTA-certified mobility customers who meet the eligibility requirements. The cost includes a fixed $3 fare per trip, as well as the amount over $20 on the taxi meter. Registration is required. Call (410) 764-8181 for more information or visit www.taxiaccess.org/. MTA’s Mobility/Paratransit is a specialized, wheelchair-accessible, curb-to-curb service for people with disabilities who are unable to use local bus, metro or light rail service. This service is provided within threequarters of a mile of any fixed-route service in Baltimore City as well as Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties. An application is required. Trips cost $1.85 each way. Call (410) 764-8181 for more information or go to http://mta.maryland.gov/mobility/.

Medical Assistance transportation The Office of Field Health Services at the Health Department provides help with transportation so that Maryland Medical Assistance recipients who live in Baltimore City can receive needed health services. Baltimore City residents who have an active red and white Maryland Medical Assistance card are eligible. The appointment must be for a “covered medical service” under the Maryland Medical Assistance program. This free service is meant to be a last resort if there is no other means of transportation. To enroll, call (410) 396-6422. A similar program exists in Baltimore County. The Medical Assistance Transportation Grant Program coordinates transportation services for Medical Assistance recipients who reside in Baltimore County and are in need of transportation to access medically necessary services. This program provides no cost, “last resort” transportation for ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher-bound recipients who have no other means available of transport to get to and from medical appointments. For more information, call (410) 887-2828.

FreedomCar FreedomCar offers chauffeured passenger transportation services to individuals and groups, for both local and out-of-state trips. Among other services, FreedomCar

MTA programs The Maryland Transit Administration

See TRANSPORTATION, page B-15

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Buy for income From page B-13 can charge, getting the best return on your investment starts with making sure you’re going to get enough rent to, ideally, cover expenses and costs. Princis’ formula is charging 15 percent above monthly mortgage and maintenance costs. So if those costs add up to $1,000, he’ll look to charge $1,150. Of course, flexibility might be called for if you’re unable to get a tenant in for months and months. Experts recommend starting with popular rental listings in newspapers or on Web sites such as Craigslist.com, Trulia and Zillow, to see what comparable apartments or rooms are going for. Another option is rent analysis website Rentometer.com. The good news: Rents for single-family homes rose 2.3 percent last year from 2011, according to Trulia. 5. Screen tenants thoroughly Once your rental starts drawing inquiries, it pays to screen prospective tenants by asking for previous landlord references and running a credit and a criminal records check. Experts also recommend asking for a deposit equal to one month’s rent, plus extra if the tenant has pets. That will help cover any damage to the property, and pro-

Transportation From page B-14 provides medical transportation for nonambulatory passengers to any medical facility. This commercial service has no eligibility requirements and is not wheelchair accessible. Fees are calculated based on time, but also vary according to type of vehicle and location. For a local trip by car, FreedomCar charges $58 per hour. No gratuities are accepted. All costs are included in the hourly rate, except parking and toll fees. For details, visit www.freedomcar.net.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER AT THE ZOO

Taking care of the animals may seem like the only job at the Maryland Zoo, but volunteers can be superstars doing other work too, keeping gardens beautiful, helping staffers stay ahead of the paperwork, or leading tours. The zoo takes special pride in the education and interpretation program, giving every guest the chance to ask questions and learn about animals and conservation. For more information, call (443) 552-5266 or email volunteers@marylandzoo.org.

tect you if a tenant moves without paying rent. Also, have a walkthrough of the unit with the tenant, and ask that they sign off on the condition of the property before they move in. That will help avoid conflicts over the security deposit if there are damages once they’re ready to move out. 6. Get familiar with landlord laws As a neophyte landlord, it’s important to know your exact responsibilities under the law. Two good resources for rental rules are the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Web site (www.hud.gov), and the Landlord Protection Agency (www.thelpa.com), which includes state-specific rental guidelines and standardized forms for rental agreements. An attorney or the Landlord Protection Agency also can help you craft a well-written lease, which is crucial to protect your property. It will help you evict a tenant or hold them accountable for damage if necessary. — AP

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BEACON BITS

Ongoing

LEGAL SERVICE FOR NURSING HOME ISSUES Free legal information and representation in cases involving nurs-

ing homes is available through the Nursing Home Program, Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., 29 W. Susquehanna Ave., Ste. 305, Towson. For more information, call (410) 2966705 or (800) 367-7563.

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Oak Crest 1-800-986-0859 8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com Retire in style at Oak Crest! We have floor plans to match your taste and budget. When it comes to maintenance-free retirement living, one size doesn’t fit all! Oak Crest offers over 20 unique apartment designs with a variety of exciting features. Looking for a cozy studio or one bedroom home? We’ve recently upgraded several floor plans with gleaming granite countertops, stackable washers and dryers and other premium finishes.Is a large, luxurious home more your style? Then tour our spacious two bedroom, two bath apartment homes, featuring elegant hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, crown molding and more. Only a handful of these larger homes remain. Call 1-800-989-0859 for your free brochure and schedule a personal tour!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Overlook at Monarch Mills 410-381-0769 7570 Monarch Mills Way Columbia, MD 21046 Overlook at Monarch Mills offers those 62 or better a beautiful and convenient place to call home. Residents can enjoy musical entertainment at Merriweather Post Pavilion, shop at The Mall in Columbia, and dine in the most popular local restaurants. This amenity-rich facility has an exercise room, beauty salon, arts and crafts room, library and cyber-center, as well as a community room featuring a fireplace and kitchen. Call 410-381-0769 or email monarchmills@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Park View at Rosedale 410-866-1886 1315 Chesaco Ave. Rosedale, MD 21237 parkviewrosedale@sheltergrp.com Park View at Rosedale is newly renovated and offers tremendous value in carefree living for those 62 or better. Our residents appreciate acres of greenery in a quiet residential neighborhood, yet are just minutes away from everything they want and need. You too can enjoy a stunning community room with fireplace, computer center with free Internet access, fitness center, salon, and many social activities including bus trips. Our apartment homes feature stylish kitchens, new baths, and Energy Star appliances. Our controlledaccess elevator community has so many amenities to enhance your living experience, you need to call today and see for yourself. Call 410-866-1886 or email parkviewrosedale@sheltergrp.com today to arrange for your personal visit. We look forward to meeting you!

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

The challenges and rewards of living alone Living on your own can be empowering, but you need to stay safe and socially involved. Many of us have always shared a home with someone else. We grew up with our parents and siblings, moved in with friends during college, and then created a household with our spouse or partner. Later in life, living arrangements change. Nearly 40 percent of older women (8.1 million) live alone — more than twice the number of older men in the same living situation, according to the Administration on Aging. Much of the reason for women’s solo habitation is longevity. “A lot of the women I see live alone because women live longer than men do,” said Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate chief for clinical geriatrics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “But I also see a lot of divorced women and women who have never married.” No matter why you’re living by yourself, this lifestyle has its ups — and downs.

The pros and cons of solo life After sharing everything from your bed to your meals with at least one other person for much of your life, living alone can be a wrenching change. But it can also feel empowering to be on your own. “Most women I see do not complain about being lonely. They rather enjoy their independence,” Salamon said. You can eat when and what you want, sleep when the urge strikes you, and have total control over the TV remote, just to name a few benefits. There are also downsides to being on your own. Safety is an issue for any woman who lives alone. Staying healthy can become a problem, too. A couple of recent studies noted increased health problems among people who live alone. In the REACH (Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health) study, which was published last July in Archives of Internal Medicine, people with or at risk for atherosclerosis (the cause of most heart attacks and many strokes) were more likely to die if they lived alone than if they shared a home. Another study in the same journal found that people who were lonely — regardless of their living situation — were less able to care for themselves and more likely to die. There are a couple of reasons why living alone can be detrimental to your health, said Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and senior author of the REACH study. When you live alone, it’s easier to forget or neglect to follow the treatment regimens your doctor prescribed. You can also miss the signs that your health is starting to fail.

“If there’s someone else at home — a caring spouse, child, or even a roommate — they can say, ‘Something must be wrong. I’m taking you to the doctor,’” Bhatt said. Not everyone who lives alone is lonely, but those who are lonely can become anxious and depressed. “And those things aren’t good for overall health. They also aren’t good for mental health,” he added.

Preventing loneliness Even if you’re very independent, coming home to an empty house and spending hours on end by yourself can eventually make you feel lonely — and that’s exactly what you want to avoid. Salamon offers several suggestions for staying active and socially engaged when you live alone: • Join a senior center. Many senior centers host day-long activity programs that include social gatherings, as well as exercise and art classes. Often they will pick you up at home so you don’t have to drive. Your local library and community center might also have special programs for older adults. • Volunteer. Donate your time to a cause that’s important to you. Not only will volunteering get you out of the house and help you meet new friends, but it’s also a rewarding way to spend your time. Senior Corps is one organization that can help match you with volunteer opportunities that fit your skills and interests. For more information, call 1-800-942-2677 (or visit seniorcorps.gov). • Ask for help. Have someone come in to help you cook or clean for a few hours a week, or hire a driver to take you to the store. If money is an issue, ask friends or family to stop by, or turn to a volunteer organization such as Meals on Wheels (mowaa.org). • Buy a computer. When you live alone, your computer can become a vital connection to the outside world. On the web, you can learn ways to improve your health, find job and volunteering opportunities, and connect with friends living all over the world via targeted social media sites like Gen Kvetch (genkvetch.com). • Get out of the house. Every day, try to get outside and exercise. Taking a 30-minute walk will help keep your body — and mind — in better shape. Find a workout buddy to provide some companionship along with your walks. Make a daily call. “Try to talk to somebody every day on the phone,” Dr. Salamon recommended. Just hearing the sound of someone’s voice can help you feel less lonely.

Staying alone safely Safety is a big issue, especially as we age. “I think it’s very important for anyone See LIVING ALONE, page B-17

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Living alone From page B-16 living alone to have a medical alert system,” said Dr. Salamon. “If you fall down — which any of us can do in the shower — and you can’t move, you can literally lie there for many days without anyone finding you.” She recommends getting a medical

alert system that you wear around your wrist or neck. If you fall or feel sick, you can summon help at the push of a button. Other safety steps you can take: Turn on a nightlight. Plug in nightlights upstairs and downstairs. They’ll help you find your way if you have to go to the bathroom or kitchen in the middle of the night. Install non-skid surfaces and grab bars. Reduce slips by adding these safeguards

Local resources

to your shower, tub and toilet. Keep a three-day supply. Stock your pantry and cabinets with everything you’ll need to sustain yourself if you get stuck at home in a storm or other emergency — including canned food, bottled water, granola bars, flashlights, batteries, extra blankets, and your medicines. Get a pet. Having a pet is a big responsibility, but it’s one that can really pay off. For example, dogs provide love and companionship, and their bark can warn off potential prowlers. Have a family member or friend watch out for you. “It’s sort of a buddy system,” Dr. Salamon said. Arrange for your “buddy”

Living alone and looking to get involved in the larger community? Try one of these resources.

timorecountymd.gov/Agencies/aging/p ublications/resources.html.

Volunteer Join a senior center For a list of Baltimore City Senior centers, visit www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/aging/centers/ce nters.html. For Baltimore City Senior Centers, visit www.baltimorecity.gov/Residents/ Neighborhoods/PublicFacilities/Senior Centers.aspx. For Anne Arundel County Senior Centers, visit www.aacounty.org/Aging/ or call (410) 222-4464. Baltimore County and Baltimore City have partnered to create “Community Resources 2013,” a single directory for seniors in the Baltimore area. This resource is now available online at www.bal-

ROLAND PARK PLACE

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to call or email you every day to check how you’re feeling and make sure you’ve taken your medicine. “This method can go a long way toward making sure that somebody who is living alone isn’t just dwindling away until it’s too late,” Dr. Bhatt said. Stay on top of your own health. Make sure you’re seeing your doctor and specialists for all of your regular check-ups. Also be sensitive to any changes in your health. “Be aware that if you’re starting to have symptoms, no one else is going to call the doctor,” Dr. Bhatt said. Don’t feel embarrassed to call 911 if you’re feeling very See LIVING ALONE, page B-18

With BAYADA Home Health Care…

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) may be a good way to donate time and energy to a good cause, while meeting new friends. To learn more about volunteering in Baltimore County, call (410) 887-3101 or e-mail volunteers@baltimorecountymd.gov. RSVP also provides volunteers throughout Baltimore City. To contact them, call (410) 361-9400.

“Vida helps me in so many ways.” – Virginia S., Client BAYADA Home Health Aide Vida Okine with client Virginia S.

With a broad range of services and a team of professionals who are committed to keeping people of all ages safe at home, BAYADA provides: UÊ ÃÃ ÃÌ ÛiÊV>ÀiÊ> `Ê ÕÃi `ÊÃÕ«« ÀÌÊÃiÀÛ ViÃÊ

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Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland serves the Baltimore area to provide nutritious meals for homebound individuals. It can also help with grocery shopping. For more information, call (410) 558-0827. — Rebekah Sewell

Bayada Nurses is now BAYADA Home Health Care. BAYADA specialty practices include Home Health Care, Pediatrics, Hospice, and Habilitation.

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Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Roland Park Place 410-243-5700 830 W. 40th St. Baltimore, MD 21211 www.rolandparkplace.org Roland Park Place is the only fullservice CCRC in Baltimore City. Located in a beautiful park-like setting in northern Baltimore, just minutes away from Johns Hopkins University, Centerstage, the Meyerhoff, Camden Yards and so many of the other wonderful attractions Baltimore has to offer. The intimate size of Roland Park Place means never having to walk too far to reach any part of the community for dining, exercise or stimulating conversations. Offering beautifully renovated Independent Living apartments, full-sized private Assisted Living apartments and all private Health Care Center rooms for skilled nursing or rehab, Roland Park Place has everything you need just where you want it.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Broadmead 410-527-1900 13801 York Road Cockeysville, MD 21030 www.broadmead.org Nestled amid 94 acres in the picturesque Hunt Valley countryside, Broadmead offers gardenstyle courtyard homes with a variety of floor plans, including private patios or patio enclosures and personal gardens. Broadmead offers exceptional dining venues, a vibrant lifestyle and community amenities, including a fitness and aquatic center, trips and transportation, entertainment, activities and more. We offer an all-inclusive healthcare program, including an onsite medical center with physicians available 24 hours a day, pharmacy services and continuum of care for the ultimate peace of mind.

ASSISTED/INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

The Maples of Towson 410-296-8900 7925 York Road Baltimore, MD 21204 www.themaples-towson.com

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Hoarding: When keeping stuff gets out of hand It’s good to keep essentials on hand for the future. But some people take this to an extreme, acquiring and accumulating objects of dubious value (to others) in such large and disorderly quantities that their living space is filled and normal use of the home becomes dangerous or impossible. The problem is known as compulsive hoarding. Paper is an especially common object of this stockpiling — vast stacks of old newspapers, magazines, books, mail and lists that may leave no space to cook or sleep comfortably. Worse, people are occasionally injured when papers catch fire or piles of them shift and topple. In the past, this problem often remained out of sight, partly because compulsive hoarders tend to avoid having visitors and rarely seek help. More recently, television shows such as “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive” have increased public awareness by presenting a vivid picture of hoarding to millions of viewers. Mental health professionals have also taken a fresh look at the problem and decided to make “hoarding disorder” a distinct category in the diagnostic manual used by psychiatrists. Until now, hoarding has been classified psychiatrically as a symptom affecting up to 20 percent of people who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). But more than 80 percent of hoarders lack the compulsions and repetitive behaviors that characterize OCD, and sometimes hoarding becomes a problem for a person with no psychiatric illness (as currently defined) or psychiatric history. So in the new edition of the manual, to be classified as having hoarding disorder a person would need to have the following symptoms: persistent difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of their actual value; strong urges to save items and distress when discarding them; an accumulation of possessions such that living areas are no longer usable as intended; impaired functioning in areas such as safety and social interaction because of the hoarding; and the absence of any other medical or

mental disorder that would account for the symptoms. To help diagnose compulsive hoarding, researches at Yale University School of Medicine and Smith College developed a brief questionnaire called the Hoarding Rating Scale Interview (HRS-I). In a 2010 study, HRSI showed promise in distinguishing hoarding participants from those with OCD; it was also useful in determining the severity of compulsive hoarding. (To see the questionnaire, go to www.health.harvard.edu/hoarding.)

Living alone

home, move in with family or friends, or consider a community setting. A continuing care retirement community can be a good bridge between your home and an assisted living facility. “You can go into your own apartment, and as the need arises you can move into the assisted living or nursing home part of the facility,” Dr. Salamon said. She recommends going to a place where some of your friends already live. Or, move when you’re still relatively young, so that you can start building a network of friends that you can take with you into the years to come. © 2012 Copyright Harvard Health Publications

From page B-17 sick. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Upon walking through the door at The Maples one can see that it’s a superior community – beautifully decorated, impeccably maintained. “What really makes us unique is our dedication to personalized care, customized to each resident’s needs and preferences,” says owner and founder Kelly Cook Andress. Setting their sights beyond simply “assisted living” has been the key to their success. With gourmet meals and room service, a programs calendar tailored to residents’ needs and desires, and a physician on call around the clock, The Maples continues to earn its spot as Towson’s premier senior community. We're big enough to count on and small enough to care. Call to schedule a visit today.

When it’s time to move on You want to stay independent and in your own home for as long as possible, but eventually you might need to look at other options. Start to consider a move if your house is getting too big for you to handle, you’re less able to care for yourself, or you’re not in good health — for example, if you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke. As a first step, hire someone to come in for a few hours each day to help you out. The next step may be to downsize your

What’s behind hoarding? It’s unclear where compulsive hoarding comes from; research has shown that it isn’t correlated with material or emotional deprivation earlier in life. Psychologists have identified a pattern of cognitive and emotional difficulties that underlie hoarding symptoms. These include: Indecisiveness and fear of making mistakes. By never choosing to throw anything out and constantly accumulating things “just in case,” the hoarder tries to avoid making wrong decisions or having regrets. Difficulty categorizing. A person who has a hard time sorting objects into categories can find it difficult to decide which drawer something belongs in. For a person who has difficulty distinguishing between valuable and worthless items, keeping old supermarket flyers may seem as sensible as keeping last year’s tax return. Concerns about memory. A hoarder may have unjustified doubts about the reliability of her memory and therefore avoid putting things away for fear of not being able to find them again. Dresser drawers remain empty while clothes pile up on furniture and the floor. Old newspapers and magazines are saved for fear the information in them will be forgotten if they’re not kept on hand. Emotional attachment to objects. A hoarder often comes to see beauty and value in clutter and develops a sentimental attachment to it. This heightens her enthusiasm for acquiring things and reluctance See HOARDING, page B-19

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Hoarding From page B-18 to discard them. Need for control. The hoarder usually doesn’t want anyone else to make decisions about her possessions, so it can be difficult for the family to help.

An escalating problem Over the years, compulsive hoarding takes an increasing emotional, financial and sometimes physical toll. The home becomes unsafe. The stove may be piled with junk and the hallways blocked. Accumulated dust and mold may trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. Guests may be forbidden. “Family members are much more likely to seek help than the hoarder. Hoarders are reluctant to change. And they’re usually upset about their hoarding only if people are putting lots of pressure on them to change,” said Dr. Michael Jenike, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of the hoarding clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital. Family interventions don’t always help. The hoarder may resist efforts to get her to hire a professional cleaner. Extra storage units may simply be filled up. Relatives or friends may try to strong-arm a hoarder into getting rid of her stuff, but that tactic often ends disastrously, causing lifelong resentments. “You need someone to negotiate for you,” said Jenike. “In some cases, a person isn’t going to deal with this until the Board of Health gets involved.”

Treating hoarding What to do? A lot depends on whether the hoarder wants to change. A motivated person with relatively mild symptoms may be able to use a self-help program or work with a professional organizer. But most hoarders need professional therapeutic help. Treatment can be difficult and lengthy and may require several approaches. First, it’s important to find a good physician, mental health professional, or neurologist who can determine whether the hoarder has any underlying or contributing conditions that can be treated along with the hoarding itself. As we noted earlier, OCD is

one such condition. There are others. In a 2011 study published in Depression and Anxiety, researchers found that 28 percent of compulsive hoarders have a form of attention deficit disorder, which can make it difficult to focus long enough to make headway in clutter removal. Half of hoarders suffer from major depression, which saps their energy and makes it difficult for them to do anything about the problem. Hoarding can also result from several other conditions, including schizophrenia, dementia, eating disorders, head injuries and certain personality disorders. There are no specific anti-hoarding medications. Drugs that are used to treat OCD may help, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants or tricyclic antidepressants. But compulsive hoarders often don’t respond to these medications. Studies show that people with OCD are less likely to respond to SSRIs if hoarding is one of their symptoms. On the other hand, these drugs may be useful for treating the depression and anxiety that often accompany hoarding.

is almost never a long-term solution. To find a therapist with experience in the treatment of hoarding, check the treatment provider listing in the hoarding section of the International OCD Foundation Web site. — Harvard Women’s Health Watch © 2012 President and fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Changing thoughts, behaviors Traditional cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) hasn’t worked well either, often because patients are reluctant to participate. Therapists have been getting better results with specially designed behavioral therapy programs. In a controlled trial based at Boston University (published in Depression and Anxiety, May 2010), a CBT intervention for hoarding showed substantial benefit. After 26 sessions, three out of four patients were rated as “much” or “very much” improved. The therapy helps hoarders identify and confront distorted thinking or beliefs, bolster their organizational and decision-making skills, and cope with (and lessen) their anxiety about discarding or organizing possessions. Therapists may also make home visits to help with sorting, organizing, and discarding. “We learned that the therapy works pretty well for many people, but at the end, they aren’t symptom-free, and the process is long. Twenty-six sessions was much better than 12 sessions, but 12 sessions beats

How to help a hoarder 1. Listen. Let the person tell his/her story. Respect the person’s perspective and attachment to the possessions. Don’t tease or criticize. 2. Go slow. There’s no need to rush changes unless the person’s living situation is unsafe or she needs to move to smaller quarters or a nursing facility. 3. Engage. Involve the hoarder in decisions about where to put things and what to throw out. 4. Notice other changes. If there are signs of other cognitive or emotional problems, arrange for a professional evaluation. For example, hiding belongings or spending a lot of time rummaging

doing nothing or reading a self-help book. With a book, you’re presented with the same skills, but you may not practice them,” said Dr. Gail Steketee, dean of Boston University’s School of Social Work. TV shows — particularly those that emphasize cleanup services rather than therapy — can present a distorted picture of the serious work involved. Cleanup alone

B-19

through stuff can be a sign of dementia. 5. Provide structure and emotional support. During the de-cluttering process, keep the person company and help him/her stay focused on one area at a time. 6. Lift and tote. An elderly hoarder may need family, friends or professional cleaners or movers to help with handling the clutter. 7. Work with others. More than 75 communities have hoarding task forces that address psychiatric, legal, geriatric and housing concerns. One possible source of information is your local Area Office on Aging. — Harvard Women’s Health Watch

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Money Law &

FUNDS THAT BEAT THE MARKET Small-cap foreign funds have consistently posted larger returns than index funds LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP If you’re returning to the stock market, buy into stocks gradually, and consider target date and balanced funds ARE YOU A TREND TRACKER? Startup company Motif Investing enables customers to buy groups of stocks that follow a trend

A way to higher returns at moderate risk Readers continue to ask how they can characteristics of both bonds and equities. invest without a great deal of Preferred stocks pay a fixed risk and still obtain reasoninterest, generally at a higher able income. rate than bonds issued by the I have often pointed out that same company. The current investors who need income yield of preferred stocks is cannot expect high income about 6 percent. Corporations from investing in Treasury issuing preferred stock cannot bills, money-market instrupay dividends on their comments and short-term savings mon stock without paying the accounts. Such investments interest due on the preferred preserve capital but do not stock. keep up with inflation. Preferred stock prices genTHE SAVINGS Alternatives that provide GAME erally fluctuate based on their more income include real-es- By Elliot Raphaelson dividend yield, credit rating tate investment trusts and maturity date (where ap(REITs), Treasury inflationplicable). Increased interest protected securities (TIPS), intermediate- rates generally will depress the value of term bonds, master limited partnerships preferred stock, since investors could pur(MLPs) and high dividend common chase new issues of preferred stock and stocks. These provide more income than bonds at higher interest rates. Also, if a the most conservative investments, but corporation’s financial condition or they are certainly are not risk-free. prospects deteriorate, the value of its outstanding securities will fall. Consider preferred stock Corporations that issue preferred stock Another alternative is preferred stocks. are those that require substantial capital. These are more like bonds than a common Most issuers are financial institutions, utilstock. They are hybrid securities with ities and communications companies.

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Not all of these companies have stellar credit ratings. As a result, there is not a large supply of high-quality preferred. For that reason, in order to minimize risks, investors should consider buying a diversified portfolio of preferred stocks through ETFs rather than purchasing individual company shares.

Advantages and disadvantages An advantage of preferred stocks is that they have a low correlation to other fixedprice securities such as TIPS, REITs and MLPs. A major disadvantage, according to Josh Peters, equity strategist of Morningstar, is the risk of recall. Most issues may be recalled within five years. If interest rates go down, the issuer will likely recall the stock. Another disadvantage is there is no guarantee you will receive the price you paid for the stock. With individual bond purchases, at maturity, you will receive the face value of the bond back. Corporate bonds have maturity dates; most preferred stocks do not. Another disadvantage is the lack of an active market. When you do decide to sell, there may be a large gap between the bid

and ask price for an individual security. That is another reason to buy preferred stocks in an ETF. The price of preferred stock will generally not increase when the income of the corporation increases. Income growth will benefit common stock holders. You do not purchase preferred stock in order to obtain capital growth.

Some recommendations Abby Woodham, an analyst at Morningstar, recommends ETF iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index (PFF), indicating it has the lowest expense ratio of the ETFs at 0.48 percent. Over the last five years, the fund returned an average of 5.5 percent. The return for the last year was 18.2 percent. The current yield is approximately 6 percent. If you hold your account outside of a retirement account, you should consider the tax implications. For example, some preferred stock dividends are qualified, which means that they are taxed at no more than 20 percent. If the dividends are not qualiSee HIGHER RETURNS, page 16

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Startup helps DIY investors buy cheaply By Mark Jewell Think you can tell the difference between a fad and a trend with staying power? Look around, and you might come up with some decent investing ideas. If you’ve noticed that lots of your friends are using tablet computers instead of PCs, it might be a good time to consider stocks of companies driving the tablet revolution. See evidence that Americans are getting more serious about their weight problems? Consider stocks of fitness center

chains and weight-loss clinics. On the other hand, if you’re convinced that we’ll never get disciplined about our diets, try the opposite approach and invest in fast-food chains. For average investors hoping to beat the market, buying several stocks fitting a broad investment theme is probably a better option than assessing which individual companies to buy. Few have the know-how to routinely make good stock picks, let alone the patience to do the required research.

Do-it-yourself, sort of With those realities in mind, a Silicon Valley startup last year launched a website aimed at do-it-yourself investors who consider themselves savvy trendspotters. The company, Motif Investing, enables customers to buy baskets of up to 30 stocks that fit various “motifs,” as the company calls them. The bigger player a company is in that investing theme, the larger its weighting is in the basket of stocks. For example, WalMart makes up nearly one-quarter of the portfolio in a retail stock motif called “Discount Nation.” The website has a menu of more than

Higher returns From page 15 fied, the marginal tax rate can be as high as 39.6 percent. Woodham points out that the PowerShares Financial Preferred (PGF) ETF produces 100 percent qualified income. Its expense ratio is 0.66 percent, higher than iShares EFT; however, if you hold the shares in a non-retirement account, the PowerShares ETF may provide a higher return due to tax savings. Too many investors still invest too much in money-market instruments and savings

100 motifs. Some are fairly conventional, such as offerings focusing on dividend-paying stocks and diversified bond portfolios. But most are trend-oriented, such as a “Tablet Takeover” motif geared toward tablet computing, a “Fighting Fat” basket of weight loss-themed stocks, and a “Junk Food” motif of fast-food and soft drink stocks. If social change is important to you, a “No Glass Ceilings” motif owns stocks of corporations run by female executives. Another invests in companies with gay-friendly workplace policies. See DIY INVESTING, page 18

accounts. You have to accept some risk to get high income. I do not recommend that a significant portion of your fixed income portfolio should be in preferred stocks. However, if a significant part of your portfolio is currently earning less than 1 percent, consider adding a preferred stock ETF to your fixed-income portfolio. You should earn close to 6 percent without a great deal of risk. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2013 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Small-cap foreign funds beat the market By Mark Jewell An annual scorecard of mutual fund performance is in, and it’s generating more of the negative headlines that fund managers have become accustomed to in recent years. The key finding: Two-thirds of managed U.S. stock funds failed to beat the market in 2012, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. For all their stock-picking skills, the vast majority of managers couldn’t claim an edge over low-cost index funds and exchangetraded funds that seek to match the market. It was the sixth time in the last 10 years that average annual returns of managed funds fell short of the market’s overall performance. Faced with such persistently disappointing results, it’s understandable that an investor might consider giving up and rely exclusively on index funds. But look deeper into the latest annual scorecard, and there’s a positive takeaway for investors. Funds specializing in stocks of small foreign companies have beaten their market benchmark year after year. In 2012, 85 percent of this small group of funds posted larger returns than an S&P index of stocks from foreign developed countries. Returns for the five-dozen funds in the international small-cap category averaged 21.7 percent, compared with 15.4 percent for the index.

An ongoing trend It wasn’t a one-year fluke: Ninety percent outperformed over three years, and 79 percent over five years. Those results are far better than the long-term numbers for other stock fund categories, suggesting that international small-cap is the go-to category for marketbeating fund performance. “It’s kind of like an overlooked child,” said Aye Soe, an S&P Dow Jones Indices re-

searcher who authored the company’s latest scorecard. “There are lots of opportunities there, and active managers can find them.” Stocks of small companies based overseas generate less attention from investment managers and stock analysts than the big U.S. names in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. That under-the-radar status creates greater opportunity to find stocks that are underpriced relative to their earnings potential. That’s reflected in the wide variations in returns among small-cap international stocks. The gap between the best and worst performers is typically larger than in other market segments. “That creates more opportunity for active managers to add value,” Soe said.

Some winning picks A couple examples of top-rated smallcap international funds, and stocks that have generated strong recent returns: Franklin International Small Cap Growth (FINAX) found a gem in Jumbo SA, which was recently the fund’s third-largest holding. Shares of the Greece-based retailer of children’s products have surged 43 percent over the past 12 months. For Invesco International Small Company (IEGAX), a key contributor has been Total Energy Services Trust. The Canadian energy services company is a longtime holding and the stock has more than doubled over the past five years. One word of caution: Investors who don’t have the stomach for volatile returns might want to avoid international smallcap funds. Sharp ups and downs are more likely with foreign stocks than with the U.S. market, especially among small-caps. But for consistency in generating market-beating returns, international smallcap funds stand out.

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Last year, just two out of 13 categories of managed U.S. stock funds posted average returns better than their market benchmarks. The two: funds specializing in large-cap growth stocks, and funds investing in property-owning real estate investment trusts. But going back over three and five years, the vast majority of funds in both categories failed to beat the market. Among managed U.S. stock funds last year, 66 percent failed to beat a broad measure of the market, the Standard & Poor’s

Composite 1500. Although that may sound bad, it’s a marked improvement from the 84 percent that underperformed in 2011. The last year that a majority of managed funds beat the market was in 2009. Such poor numbers are a key reason why investors have been pulling their money out of managed funds in recent years. Among all U.S. stock funds — the majority of them managed funds, rather See BEAT THE MARKET, page 18

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DIY investing

can exchange tips privately.

From page 16

Other creative websites

Motif launched last June, and recently announced a new feature enabling individuals to create custom motifs and share them with other customers. Eventually, Motif plans to adopt a royalty system, allowing someone creating a motif to earn small payments when other investors buy it. Customers can post investing ideas online for all to see, or friends or colleagues

Motif is among a small number of young companies trying to challenge traditional investment advisory firms through novel uses of the Internet and social networking. Others include Covestor, MarketRiders, Wealthfront, ShareBuilder and Betterment. Although none has become a significant player in the industry, some could eventually catch on with certain types of investors.

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“There’s room for these niche players if they can get some traction,” said David Schehr, an analyst at research firm Gartner Inc. Motif’s likely target audience, he said, is investing enthusiasts who actively trade small portions of their invested savings. Motif isn’t disclosing how many customers it has or how much money they’ve invested. The company raised $26 million in venture capital funding and has some big backers. Board members include Arthur Levitt, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Sallie Krawcheck, a former executive with Bank of America and Citigroup.

Low fees, easy to use Low costs are one of Motif’s chief selling points. After meeting a minimum investment of $250, there’s a $9.95 charge to buy a single motif of up to 30 stocks. That’s comparable to the commissions that traditional brokerages charge to buy a single stock (although some offer free ETF

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trades with certain restrictions). For $4.95, a Motif customer can buy additional shares of an individual stock or ETF in a motif, thus customizing holdings so they’re different from the default motif. And, in contrast with mutual funds and ETFs, there are no ongoing investment management fees. After getting a demo of Motif from cofounder and CEO Hardeep Walia, I’m impressed with how easy the site is to use. Information on the investment options is presented in user-friendly language. Photos illustrate each investing motif. Commands can be executed with a few mouse clicks or taps on a touch-screen. That said, investing isn’t a game, and there’s a potential negative to Motif’s ease of use. As you tap away, it could be easy to get carried away with money that you may be depending on for retirement. Also, some of the motifs are geared toward potentially short-term trends that are unsuitable investment ideas for anyone with long-term goals. For example, one motif called “Rebuilding After Sandy” invests in hardware store chains and utilities services firms that saw demand spike after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast last October. Stocks such as Home Depot and Lowe’s outperformed the broader market in the days after the storm, but its impact on the companies’ bottom lines will be temporary. With such potential shortcomings in mind, Gartner’s Schehr suggests that anyone considering Motif or rival websites invest only small amounts of their savings, reserving the majority for traditional diversified portfolios: “Just take a taste,” he advised, “and don’t sign up for the full banquet.” — AP

Beat the market From page 17 than index products — withdrawals have exceeded deposits for six years in a row. Last year, investors withdrew a net $95 billion from managed large-cap stock funds, according to Morningstar. In contrast, a net $61 billion was deposited into large-cap index mutual funds and ETFs.

Other standout funds Despite the overall performance numbers, there have been standout managed funds in recent years. Consider the top diversified U.S. stock funds of last year: Legg Mason Capital Management Opportunity (LMOPX) returned 39.6 percent and Fairholme Fund (FAIRX) gained 35.8 percent. Those results were more than double the 16 percent total return for the S&P 500. What’s more, a small minority of funds have delivered market-beating returns over periods of 10 years or longer. And Soe notes that several fund managers successfully executed defensive strategies in 2008, limiting their losses in a year when stocks plunged 38 percent amid the financial crisis. “Just because a majority of active managers underperform doesn’t mean active management is completely dead,” Soe said. “It really depends on market conditions, and how skilled those managers are at taking advantage of those conditions.” — AP

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

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Travel

Leisure &

Tired of schlepping your bags? Airlines and services will deliver them to you — for a price. See story on page 20

The Western wonders of Scottsdale, Ariz. by people from more than 50 tribal nations.

Cowgirl for a day

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

The Arizona Cowboy College in Scottsdale imparts such skills to visitors as rounding up cows, vaccinating livestock and branding. Here, Fyllis Hochman practices using a lasso to rope a calf.

Nor has the cowboy influence faded, as Fyllis learned while playing the role of a working cowgirl, at least for a few hours. She was a part-time student at the Arizona Cowboy College, which serves up a taste of life on the range without touristy frills. Most city slickers go through a two-day orientation followed by four days at a ranch rounding up cows, searching for missing steer, branding, vaccinating and doing other cowboy-like chores. Hearing that description prompted me to inquire, “And they pay for that?” The one-day introduction to life on the range that Fyllis attended included learning to clean hooves and groom and saddle Billie, the brown mare she was assigned. That was followed by instruction in riding on a Western saddle. As Fyllis and Billie circled a ring, Elaine Pawlowski, the ranch manager and teacher, shouted out reminders: “Heels down. Lighten up on the reins. Sink your butt into the saddle.” Later came a lesson in roping a wayward calf. Rather than a live animal, this exercise used a metal mini-cow on wheels which, after several errant tosses, my newly Westernized wife was able to ring several times in a row. The cowgirl experience ended with a ride over the rocky wasteland that surrounds Scottsdale and nearby Phoenix, loping over sandy, rocky terrain past cacti in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Desert denizens The trail in the Sonoran Desert over which Fyllis rode, and the somewhat larger area that I had explored, represented just a sliver of that vast wilderness. It stretches through Arizona, California and northern Mexico, covering an expanse eight times the size of Maryland. Descriptions of the desert often include words like bleak and drab. Fyllis reported that her horseback ride passed through a monochromatic panorama of gray and tan, broken occasionally by the muted green of a cactus. For anyone who favors that kind of plant, Arizona and its Sonoran Desert are cactus heaven. The majestic saguaro (pro-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SCOTTSDALE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

By Victor Block Bejeweled women dressed in the latest fashions strolled into the likes of Gucci, Neiman Marcus and Tiffany intent on adding to their chic wardrobe and collection of costly adornments. Not far away, my wife Fyllis — wearing blue jeans, boots and a cowgirl hat — was learning to lasso cattle. My afternoon was spent exploring a rugged wilderness of giant cacti, towering mesas and vast stretches of barren landscape. There I discovered that what appeared to be a dry, dead desert actually is home to thousands of plants and animals that have adapted to life in searing temperatures and an almost complete lack of water. The first impression that Fyllis and I had during a visit to Scottsdale, Ariz., was the diversity of attractions in and around that small city. The shopping experience alone provided an introduction to the somethingfor-everyone variety. World famous top-of-the-line stores are neighbors to one-of-a-kind specialty shops and boutiques. And in a city whose slogan is “The West’s most Western town,” it’s no surprise to pass store after store selling cowboy hats, boots and everything worn between them. Of course, where there were cowboys there usually were Native Americans, and their influence also remains strong. One shop alone, the River Trading Post, sells Native American art and artifacts created

Outside Scottsdale, Ariz., hikers in the Sonoran Desert pass numerous types of cactus, including the towering saguaro, which is unique to that locale. Surprisingly, the desert is also home to 60 types of mammals, over 100 sorts of reptiles and 350 kinds of birds that have adapted to its hot, dry environment.

nounced suh-WAHR-oh), the most familiar and identifiable kind, can grow to 50 feet and live as long as 200 years. They exist only in the Sonoran Desert, and the saguaro blossom is the official state flower. Numerous other species of cactus also have found the Sonora’s arid conditions to their liking. Their colorful names — like purple prickly pear, organ pipe and teddybear cholla — add to their appeal. One of many fascinating stories the desert has to tell is how both plant and animal life have adapted to its harsh environment. What appears to be a seemingly uninhabitable wasteland is home to some 60 mammals, 350 kinds of birds, over 100 types of reptile and even 30 species of fish. Their survival techniques are among nature’s more intriguing stories. For example, many cactus plants have a root system that grows outward rather than down in order to absorb surface moisture, and some have stems that expand to save rainwater for later use. The saguaro can store enough water to last as long as a year. Many animals sleep in shade during hot days and venture out to feed during the cooler nights. Some rabbits and other small mammals are able to survive primarily on water they get from what they eat. The Western Banded Gecko stashes away both food and water in its long tail for later use when needed.

human history, ranging from prehistoric ruins and remnants of Native American life to abandoned mining encampments. A wide choice of alternatives awaits visitors interested in exploring this other-worldly setting. On land, that can mean hiking, biking, horseback rides, and off-road guided tours via Jeep, Hummer and luxury SUV. Those who prefer to take to the air may choose a gentle hot-air balloon ride or clamber aboard an airplane, helicopter or even a seaplane for a flight that includes a lake landing. Some of the desert’s magic and magnificence is captured in several sanctuaries and museums that Fyllis and I took time to visit. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is a mini-wilderness that stretches over 21,000 acres and provides an excellent introduction to the entire desert. It’s home to hundreds of types of plants and animals, as well as 60 miles of trails. Entering the more formally organized Desert Botanical Garden, Fyllis and I glanced around, looked at each other and exclaimed “Wow” in unison. Never had we realized there are so many, very different kinds of cactus, each quite beautiful in its own way. Five thematic loop trails meander through an amazingly varied collection of arid plants from deserts around the world. Each path focuses upon one topic, including plants of the Sonoran, desert wildflow-

More outdoorsy adventures The desert is also a treasure-trove of

See SCOTTSDALE, page 21

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Airlines will schlep your bags for a price United Airlines is emulating rival Ameri- dius of each airport, with expected baggage can in featuring a baggage-dearrival within four to six hours livery service at your arrival after your flight’s arrival, deairport. pending on the distance. Although you have to get The standard rate for delivyour bags to the departure airery within a 40-mile radius is port and check them by your$29.95 for one bag, $39.95 for self, when you arrive at your two, and $49.95 for three to destination airport, you hand eight bags. Delivery beyond your bags over to a delivery 40 miles is at extra cost derepresentative and go past the pending on distance. baggage claim to your hotel, To arrange the service, inoffice or other local destina- TRAVEL TIPS dicate you want it either when tion, where a local service de- By Ed Perkins you reserve or later, and a link livers your bag. on the airline’s website directs The fine print: United says it already offers you to BagsVIP, the outfit that does the acthe service at Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, tual schlepping. Houston, Los Angeles and Orlando, and it American’s existing program is essenwill be available at 190 domestic airports tially identical. It’s currently available at “over the next few months.” Delivery service 200 domestic airports. is available to addresses within a 100-mile raAmerican adds that it’s available even on

international flights from the nine Bahamian, Canadian and Irish airports where U.S. Customs provides pre-clearance. The price of the service is in addition to checked baggage fees, if any. Although American and United are the only two airlines I could find that feature this baggage delivery through their own websites, BagsVIP actually “partners” with AirTran, Alaska, Copa, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet. You just have to arrange the pickup separately. It also offers similar services with several cruise lines, hotels, convention centers and other locations. For more information, log onto the BagsVIP website at www.maketraveleasier.com.

What about home pick-up? BagsVIP does not pick up baggage for your departure. If you want a completely

“no hands” door-to-door pickup and delivery service, you need to go with one of the several outfits that offer this service. Options include Luggage Concierge (1800-288-9818, ww.luggageconcierge.com), Luggage Forward (1-866-416-7447, www.luggageforward.com), and Luggage Free (1800-361-6871, www.luggagefree.com). Each company (or a subcontractor) picks up your baggage wherever you designate, does all the paperwork necessary for shipment, arranges for delivery to a designated address at your destination, and tracks the shipment’s progress. All have websites where you can enter trip and bag data for an immediate cost quote. All of the companies give you price options depending on how far ahead you can get your bags ready — delivery from overnight air to five days ground. Although the actual shipment is usually by UPS or FedEx, the baggage company makes all the arrangements.

Similar pricing Prices from all three are about the same. My standard test is for two medium suitcases (20 pounds each) from the SmarterTravelMedia office (02129) in Boston to Walt Disney World (32830) by the least expensive ground option. The lowest quote I found was $120 from Luggage Free, the same as two years ago. The others asked from $128 to $138. Overnight air was about triple those costs. This service is clearly more expensive than the airline deal of $39.95 for two suitcases. But if you fly an airline that charges for checked baggage, you’d save on those fees as well. That makes the door-to-door price not such a bad deal if you don’t mind either packing five days in advance or waiting five days for your stuff to arrive. Another option is to ship your stuff yourself by FedEx or UPS ground. Costs vary by weight and distance. A 20-pound package from a UPS Store near the Boston address to a hotel near Walt Disney World would cost about $25 for three-day delivery; more for a pick-up at an office or residence. All in all, whether you want to avoid schlepping just at your destination or at both origin and destination, someone will happily help you — for a fee. And given today’s airline checked-bag fees, the doorto-door option is looking better all the time. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

June 10+

NEW YORK BOUND!

Join the Liberty Senior Center on this trip to Pinegrove Resort in Kerhonkson, NY, from Monday-Friday, June 10-14. The $554 cost includes live entertainment, three meals daily, line dancing, karaoke, horseback riding and more. Call (410) 887-0780.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

Scottsdale

Reproductions of pit houses, mud and adobe-covered structures placed in a shallow depression, demonstrate how the dwellings provided insulation against the extremes of desert temperatures.

From page 19 ers and conservation. I found most interesting the exhibits of how people learned to live in the hostile environment. Native Americans learned to use a variety of plants, including cactus and mesquite, for food, medicine and other needs. Along the way, Fyllis and I paused at a grinding stone to pound mesquite beans into flour, a muscle-tiring exercise that gave us a new appreciation for store-bought bread. We also stooped to step inside a roundhouse of the kind constructed by Native Americans who once inhabited this area. Additional reminders of the native residents are everywhere. A vast collection of Native American art and artifacts is the main feature at the world-class Heard Museum (based in Phoenix, and with a satellite location in North Scottsdale). The lovely sculpture and native plant garden at the Scottsdale site is a perfect place to relax and rest following a sightseeing excursion. The Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park also is worth a stop and stroll. The complex sits atop remains of a village of the Hohokam people, who lived in the area from about 450 to 1450 CE. They were the first to cultivate the land of the Sonoran Desert, using a vast system of irrigation ditches. Some of those trenches, and an excavated ball court, are still visible today.

Old and new towns The neighborhoods in and around Scottsdale combine interesting historical tidbits with an array of shopping and recreational opportunities. The center of much action is the Old Town neighborhood. Located on the original site from which the community expanded, it‘s a hub of museums, historic structures, dining, night life and a shopper’s paradise. From cowboy wares to Native American jewelry to international brand-name handbags, any shopper who can’t find ways to spend money there just isn’t trying. Old Town is also crammed with many of the city’s estimated 125 art galleries. Even the streets serve as an outdoor museum, with dozens of works — including a giant lizard, a metal rider astride a bucking horse and a number of less identifiable abstract sculptures — on display. Very different in atmosphere and appeal are tiny enclaves on the outskirts of Scottsdale. Cave Creek (population about 5,000) was settled in 1870 by miners and ranchers, and served as a stopping point for U.S. Cavalry troops. The town clings stubbornly and proudly to its Western heritage, as home to shops selling cowboy gear, sever-

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al saloons and periodic rodeos. If Cave Creek keeps vestiges of the Old West alive, the adjacent village of appropriately named Carefree represents the present. It was built as a planned community of homes, some now valued at millions of dollars, which line streets with names like Easy, Tranquil, Ho and Hum. Locals describe this juxtaposition of Old and New West as the “home of cowboys and caviar.” That same comfortable marriage of old with new, casual with chic is experienced everywhere. It’s common in and around Scottsdale to see men and women wearing jeans and Western hats strolling out of shops

that would feel comfortable on New York’s Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, laden down with high-end purchases. Some residents refer to a gourmet hamburger restaurant, where the parking lot often is packed with top-of-the-line automobiles, as “Burgers and Bentleys.” For Fyllis and me, this combination of upscale life with a laid-back attitude added to the charm and appeal of Scottsdale.

If you go For more information about a visit to Scottsdale, call (800) 782-1117 or log onto www.experiencescottsdale.com.

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JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Style Arts &

The Spotlighter Theater has been the spot for intimate Baltimore productions for more than 50 years, including this production of Cinderella. See story on page 24.

Show takes American dream to new heights

Portrait of a neighborhood The show opens at dawn with the electrify-

ing title song, beginning three days in the lives of a neighborhood and its denizens. Bodega owner Usnavi (David Gregory) takes us on a tour of the street and its stories, highlighting the hopes and the dilemmas coloring daily life in a neighborhood on the cusp of change. With vigorous choreography from co-directors Toby Orenstein and Lawrence B. Munsey and choreographer Christen Svingos, the two-dozen-member company gives us a vibrant introduction to a series of intertwined vignettes. And the vigor of the performances never lets up. A mix of newcomers and Toby’s regulars, the cast immediately gets to the core of their characters in what is essentially a soap opera, and wins us over. That’s essential in overcoming the rather flawed book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, which relies heavily on exposition and broadly written characters and story lines. The vignettes all seem familiar, recycled through Latino-infused vernacular and attitude. Some of the exposition — telling, rather than showing a story — takes place in the songs, but any awkwardness there is offset by the hip-hop nature of some of the selec-

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tions, which allows characters to rap their way, more or less naturally, through plot details. Still, the stories are stale, enlivened primarily by the emotive music and vivid acting and choreography. Clumsily constructed emotional manipulation of the audience actually succeeds because each of the leading actors is able to reach within and offer us something that feels real. Usnavi and his grandmother, Abuela Claudia (Crystal Freeman), dream of returning to the Dominican Republic. Spirited college freshman Nina (Alyssa V. Gomez) is seeking both the nerve and the money to return to Stanford University after dropping out. Her hardworking parents Kevin (David Bosley-Reynolds) and Camila (Tina Marie DeSimone) face Benny (Marquise White), Sonny (Ryan Alvarado) and selling their gypsy cab compa- Usnavi (David Gregory) hang out at the neighborhood bodega in the Toby’s Dinner Theatre production of ny to help her. the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights. In Their African-American em- the show, store owner Usnavi takes the audience on ployee Benny (Marquise White) a tour of Washington Heights and its denizens. struggles to win their acceptance as he and Nina fall in love. Usnavi, ticket, and some other characters who meanwhile, loves Vanessa (Nadia Harika), mostly provide comic relief, and the overwho longs to escape the neighborhood, all effect — the blend of story, character along with her bad credit score and alcoholic and music — is a pleasing theatrical mural. mother. See IN THE HEIGHTS, page 23 Throw in a sub-plot of a winning lottery PHOTO BY KIRSTINE CHRISTIANSEN

By Michael Toscano Bam! In the Heights hits the stage at fullthrottle, a high-energy blast of Grammy-winning salsa and Latin pop, swirling choreography and quickly recognizable characters. Now at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2008 never lets up in its fervent attempt to ingratiate itself with the audience. And it usually succeeds. While the story is set in the ethnically Spanish-speaking enclave of Washington Heights in Manhattan’s upper reaches, and the sensibilities of its street setting is urban, the show’s themes resonate with anyone who has ever marveled at the American dream. The music (and lyrics) from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who conceived the show and starred in its long Broadway run, is superb. The score blends Latin pop with hip-hop and adds a layer of old-fashioned Broadway show tunes, perhaps making the Latin rhythms and mild hip-hop-inspired lyrics and delivery accessible and agreeable for ears not already attuned to them.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

In the Heights From page 22

Emotional and compelling songs “It Won’t be Long Now,” an Act One song featuring Vanessa, Usnavi and Sonny (Ryan Alvarado), a teenage employee at Usnavi’s bodega, is more schmaltz than salsa, but Harika’s outsized performance adds grit and emotional heft to the show tune. It’s intense, compelling and ultimately uplifting. “Paciencia y Fe” (“Patience and Faith”) is a stirring exploration of the clash of aspiration and struggle, as Freeman’s Abuela leads the company in a floorfilling mélange of melody and melodrama. Act Two opens on a somber note, following a somewhat cataclysmic ending to the first act. It seems like a bleak dawn after the festive first act. But we know the innate humanity of the people in this neighborhood will overcome tribulation, and we’re not disappointed. Soon enough, it’s time for “Carnival del Barrio,” another high-energy production number featuring Santina Maiolatesi in her happy Toby’s debut as Daniela, wisecracking owner of a beauty salon who is eager to re-locate her shop to a better area. I say production number, but here at Toby’s, that means a floor filled with dancing and singing, with just a few minimal props, as it’s theater-in-the-round, and that round space has to serve food just prior to the show. Still, the dance is so eye-catch-

ing and vibrant, and the singing so joyous, and the music so pulsating, that nothing else is really needed. The music, as always at Toby’s, comes from a small live band tucked away in a cramped room, augmented with synthetic sounds emanating from a keyboard. “Alabanza,” mourning the loss of a beloved character (more by-the-numbers emotional manipulation from writer Hudes), becomes an elegiac anthem and a highlight of Act Two. Also of note is the too-brief singing of Tobias Young, in the mostly walk-on role of Piragua Guy, who sells piragua, a frozen, syrupy concoction popular in Puerto Rico. He ends Act One with the song “Piragua” and reprises it near the end of Act Two, unleashing a sweet, soaring voice that we need to hear more of in future productions. The show’s story takes place July 3 through July 5, and Toby’s production runs right through the 4th of July holiday. It’s fitting, as this is an American tale, however often it has been told.

bage,” and “Arroz de la Vega,” which is fiesta rice with spicy tomatoes. In the Heights continues through July 21 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia. The show runs seven days a week with evening and matinee performances.

Reservations are required. Ticket prices range from $35.50 to $54, depending on which performance is selected. There is ample, free parking on the premises. For reservations and more information, call 1-800-88TOBYS (888-6297) or visit www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.

Ethnic buffet dishes Making this production a sensation for the palate, as well as the eyes and ears, Toby’s has mixed in some Dominican-flavored dishes to its usual evening buffet fare, included in the ticket price. These include “Abuela’s Pork Goulash,” Dominican Chicken, Pasta Del Dia, “Carnaval Corn Medley,” “Benny’s Broccoli Con Queso,” “Caribbean Braised Cab-

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JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Theater has been ‘spot on’ over 50 years By Dan Collins 817 Saint Paul St. That’s the spot. Or to be more exact, the Spotlighters Theatre, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in

downtown Baltimore this past year. An exceedingly intimate in-the-round (though technically square) stage, “Spots” as it is affectionately known, has played host to

Tony, Emmy and Obie Award winners, and even an Oscar nominee, Howard Rollins, Jr. While much has changed in the past half-century, much has stayed the same, both between the playhouse walls and without. Just ask Fuzz Roark, a staple at Spots for 13 years and currently the managing director. “There are so many stories: broken ribs during a performance, actors getting engaged on stage, tackling a cast of 36. I remember once when an elderly audience member started in on one of the actors who was smoking in a scene (non-tobacco, of course), asking if he could please do that someplace else, right in the middle of the show! “It’s all that and more, dealing with being three-quarters underground in an 80-plus year-old building. Still, nothing beats watching the audience during a per-

BEACON BITS

June 1+

EXPLORE CONTEMPORARY ART

Join the Big Table Connections at the Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr. on the first Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. for lively explorations of contemporary art. Each session is free and focuses on a different topic with activities, such as chats with artists, demonstrations of their work, and art projects you can make yourself. The topic for Saturday, June 1 is “Dangerous Language.” Future events will be held on July 6 (“Inside Signs”) and August 3 (“Walking Around Words”). For more information, call (443) 573-1832.

Ongoing

A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

Visit the Walters Museum Thursday night from 5 to 9 p.m. until June 2 for Constellation Thursday Nights to see special exhibitions for free. The Walters is located at 600 N. Charles St. No registration necessary. For more information, visit www.thewalters.org or call (410) 547-9000.

formance. When that connection happens, it’s magical,” Roark said.

Long thespian history Spots began as “Stagecrafters” when it was formed under the auspices of the Baltimore City Parks and Recreation department in 1955. When the city canceled that program, the Spotlighters was formed in 1962, thanks to the driving force of the late Audrey Herman, for whom the theatre is named. Located in what was originally the restaurant and ballroom of the old Madison Hotel — one of the first “high-rise” hotels to open after the Great Baltimore Fire of 1905 — Spots is a testament to what a lot of desire and (very) few dollars can achieve. “Like today, the economy was tight 50 years ago, so Audrey and her cadre of dedSee SPOTLIGHTERS, page 25

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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

From page 24 icated volunteers got creative,” Roark said. “We joked that the first lighting system was by Maxwell, as in Maxwell House coffee. They were coffee cans affixed with a porcelain base. And our seats came from the old Century Theater, which we got just a few hours before that building was demolished.” Spots opened with 108 seats, down to 86 in 2001, and 70 today as the theater added a tech booth, back walls, aisles and more leg room. “We raised about $30,000 in 2007 for the renovation of our backstage, creating modern dressing rooms, a prop and costume shop, and a designated paint-and-build shop. We also included a kitchenette and laundry, and a green room,” Roark said. Roark first came to Spots in 1996 to see a show with a friend. “During intermission I had the pleasure of meeting Audrey Herman who, upon hearing I was an actor, swept me up in her whirlwind fashion, down some back hallway and into the green room to meet the cast. “Though I never had the chance to work with Audrey directly, I have been told that she would never criticize with a negative. If you stunk, either on stage or in tech, her first response was to see what else she could find for you to do. “She also believed with a passion that theater…has the power to change people, actors and audience,” Roark said.

Roark takes the reins Born and raised in South Carolina, Roark says he was “always a performer” — singing in church, taking tap dance in first grade, doing local theater. He took the obligatory young actor’s crack at New York between college and graduate school. At university, he received

training in social work and counseling, skills he uses today as a director. “I often ask myself and the cast, ‘what makes your character do or say this?’ I want my actors to get into the heads of these people, to understand more than just where to stand, when to sit, and what to say.” Roark, who once participated in a master’s class in drama led by famed director John Huston, moved to Baltimore in 1993, performing with the New Wave Singers and serving as choir director and worship leader for the Metropolitan Community Church. There he also did the set, sound and lights for several theatre productions. In 2000, a friend from church, Terry J. Long, asked him to serve as musical director for a production of Terrance McNally’s Corpus Christi at Spots. “I went on to music direct other productions and to finally direct Tim Rice’s Chess at Spotlighters in 2004,” he said. Today, Spots has an operating budget of just under $165,000, up from $50,000 when the theater began operating as a nonprofit in 2005. Roark is the only full-time employee, though there are a number of part-time staff on contract, an arts administration intern and a costume intern. Local high schools and colleges are solicited for technical and administration internships, and volunteers assist with jobs like ushering. Roark credits Spots’ continued growth with the efforts of Mt. Vernon Cultural district and the City of Baltimore to make the local neighborhood a “destination.” “You’ve got restaurants on Charles Street, Centerstage, the Theater Project on Preston, various clubs, concerts, there’s something going on constantly,” he said.

Albee show up next For Roark, what’s going on now is fourdays-a-week rehearsals with the cast for

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPOTLIGHTERS THEATER

Spotlighters

Spots’ next production, Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance, scheduled to open May 24 and running through June 30. “[Albee’s] characters are bigger than life, but so very real at the same time. We can see people we know in all of them, and often ourselves. “I think audiences will enjoy characters Tobias and Agnes as they face an unnamed, unseen terror that Harry and Edna bring. As in life, there is some wonderful humor, both dark and light,” Roark added. And what does the next 50 years hold for Spots? “Many theaters shy away from producing a work that may be too current or too issue-based, but Spotlighters has always been willing and Fuzz Roark, the managing director of the Spotlighters eager to produce works Theater, says he uses his skills as a social worker in his that point out the 800- directing work at the theater, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. pound gorilla in the and youth to learn theater skills,” Roark said. room. For tickets to A Delicate Balance, visit “And Spots will continue to grow and expand the Young Actors Academy — an aca- www.spotlighters.org or call (410) 752demic, conservatory approach for children 1225.

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Puzzle Page

Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Pop Quiz by Stephen Sherr

Across

Scrabble answers on p. 24.

1. Bobbing barker 5. Gift cards are a liability on its balance sheet 9. Selected answer (c), perhaps 14. Damsel in Distrito Federal (Mexico) 15. Henry V has V 16. In love (or, maybe, just concussed) 17. Multiple choice listing for the first question of the Pop Quiz 20. Cuban coins 21. Bar sign 22. Crude dude 23. The CIA made it disappear 25. Use a paper clip 28. Pop Quiz choices for question number 2 34. French toaster 35. Prepare onion rings 36. Lead voice actor in Pixar’s Up 37. Kick into high gear 38. “Every Kiss Begins With ___” 39. Grp. that tracks slugging percentage 41. The closest airport to the FAA’s HQ 42. Discharge, bodily 44. Part of a book jacket blurb 45. Chasm 46. Alternatives for question 3 51. Spanish dance 52. Irritant (to a princess) 53. Start to carte 55. Marvin of Motown 57. On one’s toes 61. Possibilities for the final question 65. Some symptoms 66. “Step ___!” 67. Number of songs on Thriller 68. Member of Islam’s largest branch 69. Highways and byways (abbrev.) 70. Gin flavoring

Down 1. Crackle’s pal 2. Irish reversal of 56 Down

Answers on p. 24.

3. Uninvited dinner guests 4. “Gilligan’s Island” landing spot 5. Airport shuttle, often 6. A cursor may target it 7. Hot and cold 8. Fancy ties 9. Night bird 10. Kettle companion 11. In jeopardy 12. One Pound of poetry 13. Battled against the gray 18. German foe in WWII 19. Golden Rule word 24. Nap seducer 26. Qatari, for example 27. Small cul-de-sacs 28. His .388 average in 1977 was the highest since 1941 29. Alpha’s bookend 30. Drainage region 31. Take in a sad movie 32. Sum up the story so far 33. Snare and steel, but not conga 38. “As-Seen-On-TV” co. 39. Univ. near Harvard 40. Belt or beltway 43. ___-cone 44. Having low density 47. Rules and ___ 48. One on a soapbox 49. Derriere 50. Raven’s claws 53. Pumps up 54. Beach party 56. Midwestern reversal of 2 Down 58. Like a Bond villain 59. Clinton’s Attorney General 60. Hammock holder 62. Place to stay when out 63. 21st century cop show 64. Tie-breaking rounds (abbrev.)

Answers on page 24.

BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2013

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Personal Services PET CAREGIVERS – I will give your pet excellent care while you work, go on vacations or go out for an evening. Excellent references. 410625-5937. FUNERALS & CREMATION – Parkview Funeral Home & Cremation Service by Brent Francis, P.A. Family Owned & Operated “Celebrating Life.” Traditional burial, cremation, memorial services, pre-planning, affordable options for all budgets. 7527 Harford Rd. (2 block south of Taylor Ave.), 410-444-4683. www.parkviewfh.com. AREA’S BEST CLEANERS – DETAILS, Honest, Dependable, Reasonable. Residential and Commercial. Excellent References. The Difference is in the “Details.” Free estimates. Call Today: 443-253-5091. ARTISTIC SLIPCOVERS – UPHOLSTERY COMPANY. Steve Gulin. Your fabric or mine. 45 years experience. References available. 410655-6696 – Cell: 410-207-7229.

QUIET ROOM, MT. WASHINGTON, Share Kitchen & Bath. $375 (monthly). Security Deposit. References required. Near light rail. 410542-0550.

ESTATE SPECIALIST Experts in estate clean outs and preparing your house for sale. Trash removal, house cleanouts, light moving, demolition, yard work, cleaning. 410-746-5090. Free estimates. Insured. Call 7 days 7am - 7pm

For Sale

$$$$$ NEED CASH $$$$$ WE help clear out and conduct sales for: Estates, Down Sizing, Clutter Clearing, Divorce, Moving, Rental Properties, and More. We Buy, Sell, and Trade Items. Free Estimates. Call David @ 443-514-8583 davidbalt7@aol.com.

PRIDE JAZZY SELECT 6 Ultra Power with charger unit. Power elevating pan seat with synergy cushion. Like new – never used. $1,900 or best offer. 410-465-5647. TWO SIDE-BY-SIDE CEMETERY plots in Apostles Garden at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. $1500 or best offer. Call 410-484-8529.

LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.

AMIGO RD SCOOTER, batteries and charger. Model 31000. $300 or best offer. 410-465-5647.

Wanted

AD FOR MAUSOLEUM – Please be informed that a two-person vault mausoleum is on sale at the Druid Ridge Cemetery located at 7900 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore. The identification of the Mausoleum is Atrium Mausoleum X26D4. The current market price is $17,000 (Seventeen Thousand Dollars). Negotiable. Please call 443-416-6887.

HELP YOU SELL any type of large item. Don’t lose the sale we’re there when you can’t be. We run the ad. Meet with clients, and help with the transaction. Automotive, Motorcycles, RV’s, large vehicles, and Equipment, Boats, and More. Call Dave @ 443-514-8583.

MACULAR DEGENERATION READER – Retain reading enjoyment and independence. Magnifies newspapers, letters, books, medicine bottles. Aladdin 13-inch screen with glare shield. Originally $1,845. Now $659. 419-363-2151.

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201.

BEACON BITS

May 20

STOOP STORYTELLING THEATER

The Stoop Storytelling Series presents Eureka: Stories about Discoveries, Breakthroughs, and Brave New Worlds on Monday, May 20 at Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St.. Seven very different stories will explore the thrills, and unintended consequences, of discovery — scientific, political, and emotional. Cocktails and live music begin at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Advance tickets recommended; general admission is $20. Purchase at www.stoopstorytelling.com or call (410) 332-0033.

June 4

FALL CLASSES

A preview of fall classes of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Johns Hopkins University will be held on Tuesday, June 4, at 10 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 North Charles St. Osher at JHU offers classes during the day on Mondays and Wednesdays in Columbia; on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Baltimore. Classes explore art, music, history, literature, religion and politics in two 12-week semesters. There are no entrance requirements, tests or grades; social events and travel opportunities complement the courses. Join current members, faculty and staff for an overview of membership activities and sample presentations of course offerings at the preview. To register or gain more information, call (410) 516-9719.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Wanted

Wanted

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree] knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan 301-279-8834. Thank you.

$$$$$ WE PAY CASH FOR ITEMS $$$$$ We buy the following items and more: Toys, Collectable Glassware, Dolls (Barbies, Ceramic), Automotive and Motorcycle Parts and Related Items, Electronics, Musical Instruments, Trains, Items of Any Kind – Just Ask – Vintage or Current Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RV’s and More. Call Dave @ 443-514-8583. Davidbalt7@aol.com.

MILITARY ITEMS Collector seeks: helmets, weapons, knives, swords, bayonets, webgear, uniforms, inert ordnance, ETC. From 1875 to 1960, US, German, Britain, Japan, France, Russian. Please call Fred 301-910-0783, Thank you. Also Lionel Trains. BUYING OLD BASEBALL CARD COLLECTIONS Baseball Card Outlet at 7502 Eastern Ave near Eastpoint Mall is always in the market for buying vintage sports card collections & memorabilia from 1975 & older. 410284-4440 Open daily at 10AM.

WANTED: YOUR HOUSE! Get a fair price and fast cash. Estate sales, fixer-uppers, any house in any condition. Call David at 410-2743295. CASH BUYER for old costume jewelry, pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watch maker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410655-0412. BUYING NUMISMATIC COINS and most gold or silver items including coins, sterling, jewelry, etc. Will come to you with best cash offer. Call Paul: 410-756-1906.

Thanks for reading the Beacon!

BEACON BITS

May 28

REMEMBER ON MEMORIAL DAY

Each Memorial Day, Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens holds a public ceremony honoring members of the Maryland affiliated military who have been killed during service. In addition to honoring the recently deceased, the ceremony will also pay tribute to those who gave their lives in Korea, Vietnam and World War II. The event will begin at 1 p.m. and take place at 200 East Padonia Rd., Timonium. For more information, visit www.dulaneyvalley.com or call (410) 666-0490.

July 19

DAY TRIP TO EASTERN SHORE AND CASINO

Join Baltimore’s On the Go Seniors for a day trip to the Eastern Shore and the Casino at Delaware Park. On the Eastern Shore, enjoy a crab feast. From there, the group will travel to Delaware Park. On Friday, July 19, busses will depart from the Essex Park-and-Ride on MD-150 at the Back River Bridge, near Eastern Blvd. and Virginia Ave. Cost is $70 per person, which includes a $30 casino credit to Delaware Park. For more information and to register, call (410) 882-2920 or (410) 391-0482.

JUNE 2013 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

How Marylanders 50+ Fared in the 2013 General Assembly Left to right: AARP MD State Director Hank Greenberg, Mideast Regional Vice-President Rawle Andrews, AARP MD Advocacy Director Tammy Bresnahan and AARP MD President Clarence Davis finalizing strategy during 2013 Session.

There were a number of legislative victories for Marylanders 50+ during the 2013 Legislative Session, but there is still work to be done. Elder safety, single point of entry for Home- and Community-Based Services, expanding healthcare coverage, consumer protections, and retirement security, just to name a few, will make life easier for aging Marylanders. Victory for Home- and Community-Based Services in Maryland An alternative to current health care delivery, SB 496 Maryland Medical Assistance Program – Telemedicine, requires the Medicaid program, to reimburse a health care provider for a health care service delivered by telemedicine in the same manner as the same health care service is reimbursed when delivered in person.

Patients Have the Right to Know SB 512 Health Care Practitioners - Identification Badge requires a health care practitioner to wear a name badge or other form of identification when providing health care to a patient. The badge or other form of identification must display in readily visible type the health care practitioner’s name, title and/or role.

Strides Made to Address Elder Abuse in Congregate Care HB 57/SB 355 Office of Health Care Quality - Abuser Registry Workgroup reestablishes the Abuser Registry Workgroup by the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Currently, hiring managers in nursing homes, assisted living and other congregate care facilities are not alerted to past convictions or infractions for elder abuse by prospective staff.

Marylanders Gain Access to Health Insurance A high priority for AARP MD is access to health insurance and health insurance carriers at a fair and reasonable cost for all Marylanders. HB 228 Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013 expands Medicaid eligibility by modifying State law to further implement federal health care reform under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Older Marylanders Gain Clarity Around Costs and Billing Implications SB 195/HB 1062 Hospitals - Notice to Patients - Outpatient Status and Billing requires a hospital to provide oral and written notice to a patient regarding: the patient’s outpatient status, the billing implications of outpatient status, and the impact of outpatient status on their eligibility for Medicare rehabilitation services if that patient is not formally admitted. This bill will save 65+ recipients of Medicare thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. Single Point of Entry for Community-Based Resources A bill designed to provide access to home and community based resources, SB 83 Department of Aging - Aging and Disability Resource Center Program - Maryland Access Point classifies the establishment of the Aging and Disability Resource Center Program (ADRC) – known as the “Maryland Access Point” (MAP) – in the Maryland Department of Aging (MDoA). Palliative Care in a Hospital HB 581 Hospitals - Establishment of Palliative Care Pilot Programs requires the establishment of at least five, geographically based, palliative care pilot programs in 50+ bed hospitals. Palliative care offers patients an alternative to standard medical care with oversight by professional health care staff in a hospital setting.

Although it’s been a good legislative season for older Marylanders, there is more to be done, and AARP MD will continue fighting for important aging issues. Questions? Call us at 1-866-542-8163 or email mdaarp@aarp.org.

Advanced Directives Registry Becomes Law SB 790 requires the state to develop and hold an advanced directive registry accessible by both citizens and medical professionals to ensure that the wishes of the person in question should be easily accessible especially when that person is unable to make decisions due to unforeseen illness, accident or other situation that makes decision impaired. Vulnerable Adult Facilities Given Priority during Power Outages Safety in nursing and assisted living facilities is a necessity and when the lights go out—safety is an issue. HB 1159 Electric Companies - Service Restoration - Prioritized Facilities requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to adopt regulations that implement service quality and reliability standards relating to the delivery of electricity to a “prioritized facility” such as nursing homes, hospice and assisted living facilities. State Retirement and Pension System Enhancement SB 474/HB 496 State Retirement and Pension System - Funding Method and Amortization of Unfunded Liabilities or Surpluses modifies the funding model for the State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS). It phases out the corridor funding method over 10 years and replaces the current tiered amortization method with a closed, 25-year amortization period for all existing and future liabilities. Maryland is on course to a fully funded system, this will help sustain the state retirement system.

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