FALCONS LANDING
Luxurious Living After A Career Of Service
Tour our Community!
• Cottages & Apartments • Dining, Activities & Clubs • Health & Wellness Services • Assisted Living, Healthcare
Falcons Landing Retirement Community call 877-446-1185 to schedule an appointment www.falconslanding.org 1883343
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Fairfax County Times SENIORS | July 2014
FairfaxTimes.com
Fairfax County Times
SENIORS
Editors
Tiffany Arnold, Anna Joyce
Graphic Designer
Lorraine Walker, Anna Joyce
Contributing Writers
Karen Finucan Clarkson Ellen R. Cohen Katherine Heerbrandt Jim Mahaffie
Advertising Manager
Marta Wallace
Prepress Manager
John Schmitz
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Fairfax County Times Seniors is produced by Post Community Media’s Special Sections and Advertising departments. It does not involve the company’s newsrooms.
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COVER PHOTOS: COUPLE: GEORGE DOYLE/STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK INSET PHOTO: BERNIE STAMM, COURTESY OF NORTHERN VIGINIA SENIOR OLYMPICS
Do you know someone in Fairfax County 50 or older with an interesting story to tell? Do you know of an organization that provides entertainment, travel or arts opportunities for older adults? We want to know about it! Email us at seniors@gazette.net.
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SIGN ME UP
THE THRILL OF
VICTORY
PHOTO COURTESY OF NVSO
u Seniors
Prepare for Local Olympics
I
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEL WILSON
TOP LEFT: Helen White of Arlington ABOVE: The Virginia Creepers 75+ in Cleveland last year RIGHT: The Virginia Creepers 75+ basketball team participated in the National Senior Games last summer. L-R: Del Wilson, Bob Stroud, renowned recording artist and team member Pat Boone, Jim Martin and Del Moon, publicity director for the games
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Fairfax County Times SENIORS | July 2014
BY KATHERINE HEERBRANDT
t’s all fun and games at the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO). Now in its 32nd year, the 2014 event planned for Sept. 13–24 is co-sponsored by eight cities and counties. Since its inception in 1982, with Fairfax County as one of the founding sponsors, the number of seniors participating has increased from 70 to more than 800. The co-coordinator of the 10-day competition, Judy Massabny, has been involved for 13 years. Massabny, the communications director for the Office of Senior Adult Programs in Arlington County’s parks and recreation department, said the No. 1 reason the event is increasingly popular is that more people are interested in keeping fit. “To use our slogan, they believe in ‘living healthy longer,’” Massabny said.“There’s a lot of emphasis now on nutrition and just general well-being. More people are out there running, cycling, walking, swimming, playing tennis—anything to keep themselves active.” The Senior Olympics committee wants everyone to be able to join in, so for those who are into more sedate competitions there are games like Americanstyle mah-jongg, bunko and the ever-popular bridge. It’s all about staying active physically or mentally, Massabny said. “NVSO offers events from track and field to tennis and handball to Scrabble and dominoes,” said NVSO chairman David Jerome of Burke in a press release. “Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded after each event.” Spread over 19 venues in the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier and Prince William, the 2014 NVSO offers more than 50 events. Mahjongg and a 5K road race were added this year. New venues in 2014 are the Northern Virginia Badminton Club in Ashburn; Old Hickory Golf Club in Woodbridge; South Lakes High School in Reston, for the 5K race; and Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn for field events. FairfaxTimes.com
“All of our jurisdictions who co-sponsor lend us their facilities, and by doing so, give people who participate an opportunity to see the facilities available in their counties that they might not know about,” Massabny said. The NVSO is open to people who will be 50 or older by Dec. 31, 2014, and who live in one of the sponsoring locations. A registration fee of $12 covers multiple events. Beginning July 1, register online at nvso.us or by mail.
As the games have grown and changed,
interest in various events has waned. “As things drop off, we add something new,” said Del Wilson, a longtime member of the NVSO committee and enthusiastic competitor. “We used to have checkers; nobody plays that anymore.We had Frisbee throwing, and that kind of went by the wayside, too.” Casting and fly fishing is another event whose popularity ebbed, as did yo-yo competitions. But people still want to see experts present yo-yo demonstrations just for the “fantastic show,”Wilson said. Wii bowling is popular, and a number of people with disabilities engage in
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that competition, according to Wilson. One competitor who uses a wheelchair competes in the javelin throwing contest by standing up, throwing the javelin and sitting back in his chair. Although the NVSO does not have specific accommodations for those with disabilities, most of its venues are accessible.
Such a big event calls for a lot of
volunteers in addition to the 30-member NVSO committee, Massabny said.Track and field events require between 60 to 75 volunteers, while swimming competitions require about 20. Between one and three helpers are needed for each event. “It’s a massive undertaking,” Massabny said. The only other regional Senior Olympics in Virginia is in the Tidewater area. The NVSO is not a qualifying event for theVirginia state or national senior games, but many participants, including the basketball and pickleball teams, as well as the track and cycling competitors, go on to state and national competitions. Pickleball is a modified tennis game played on a badminton court. Older people who
PHOTO COURTESY OF NVSO
Bernie Stamm of Ashburn does the long jump in prior senior games.
loved tennis may migrate to pickleball, Wilson said. Wilson, 78, a retired school administrator, has been involved in the NVSO for more than 20 years and has served in various capacities, including chairman. It’s been so long, he said, he can’t recall exactly when he joined. An athlete in
high school and college, Wilson said the NVSO was a natural match for someone who wanted to compete and stay active. “It’s a great place for those who like to compete and for the camaraderie that comes out of it.The friendships and conSee OLYMPICS, 17
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SIGN ME UP
FINDING NEW SATISFACTION IN
VOLUNTEERING BY ELLEN R. COHEN
A
fter retiring from jobs or careers, many seniors look for meaningful activities. For example, my husband Harvey Cohen and I, both enthusiastic cooks, have taken many cooking classes.We love watching demonstrations and creating gourmet dishes from take-home recipes. Several years ago, we discovered the recreational cooking program at L’Academie de Cuisine (LADC) in Bethesda, Md., known as a place where “good cooks become great.” While the professional branch of the school trains chefs in Gaithersburg, Md., the recreational branch in Bethesda attracts people like us who enjoy home cooking.When our grown children began giving us LADC gift certificates for birthdays and anniversaries, Harvey and I happily enrolled in nine classes between 2000 and 2013.There was a note on the recipe packet from the last class: “Would you like to be a volunteer?” I did, and a new world opened to me. Since March 2013, I have volunteered about twice a month at LADC, enjoying my new knowledge. “Volunteers come from Montgomery and Fairfax counties,” said Emily Worth, volunteer coordinator. Each class lasts three hours and has three assistants who arrive an hour early and stay an hour late.We prep before class, measuring the ingredients students will need for their dishes. We assist during demonstrations, answer questions and help students with equipment and supplies. After class,we dry and put away utensils, wipe counters, sweep floors and prepare the class area for the next group.Assistants earn points used for discounts on future classes and are often invited to enjoy lunch or des-
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PHOTO BY ROBIN BURKETT, COURTESY OF FAIRFAX PETS ON WHEELS
Ruth Benker of Fairfax Pets on Wheels Inc. and her dog Teddy visit long-term care facilities and health centers in Fairfax County.
sert “final exams” made by the professional school students. There is a large array of volunteer activities available to those who are interested. Sometimes a group seeks volunteers who would benefit from learning new skills and are willing to work for free— which benefits the group.
Fairfax County Times SENIORS | July 2014
“I have always been fascinated by language and appalled by statistics of how much illiteracy there is in affluent Montgomery County,” said Martin Shargel, a retired physician. Board-certified in internal and geriatric medicine, Shargel has been involved with the Literary Council of Montgomery County for the
past year. He works with a student once or twice a week, meeting at public places such as libraries, and working to perfect his student’s reading and writing skills. “She works hard,” said Shargel about his current student, a woman from Ethiopia who has recently achieved citizenship and wants to improve her competency in FairfaxTimes.com
English. “This is rewarding work,” said Shargel, “and I feel good doing it.”
For seniors in Fairfax County, the Literacy
Council of Northern Virginia, a sister organization (www.lcnv.org), has the same mission: “To teach adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English in order to empower them to participate more fully and confidently in their communities.” Carolyn Shargel, who is Martin Shargel’s wife, volunteers at a totally different venue: the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence (OPC). Now in her fourth year with OPC, Carolyn Shargel reads emails sent to the president and forwards them for appropriate attention. If someone needs help with an issue, the response includes a link to a website, or perhaps a letter will then be written by a staff person to address the issue. “I have known about this office for years and always wanted to work here,” said Carolyn Shargel, who volunteers once a week for four to six hours. In existence since the early 1900s, the OPC originally dealt with letters addressed
"THIS IS REWARDING WORK, AND I FEEL GOOD DOING IT.” - Martin Shargel, retired physician to theWhite House. Now emails are included, as are other types of communications to the president, such as gifts to the first family and calls coming into the White House. Volunteers may also handle requests for milestone birthdays to be acknowledged. About 480 volunteers from Maryland, Virginia and the District work in OPC departments. “This is totally different from every other part of my life and I love it,” Carolyn Shargel said.
Elihu Leifer, a retired attorney, has been
a volunteer with Food & Friends for about five years.This nonprofit organization, founded in 1988, distributes meals to people with HIV and AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses. Approximately once a month, Leifer and a colleague pick up food at designated locations and
deliver food to addresses provided by Food & Friends, which is based in Washington, D.C. The organization delivers as far north as Hagerstown, Md., and as far south as Fredericksburg, Va., for a total delivery area of nearly 5,300 square miles, according to the nonprofit’s website, foodandfriends.org.There is no economic qualification for recipients. “These people depend on us, and I enjoy chatting with them,” said Leifer.
People who love animals can volunteer
with them to bring joy to the lives of those who are unable to take care of pets. “Some us who have lovable pets enjoy sharing them with people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities,” said Ruth Benker, director of communications and board member of Fairfax Pets on Wheels Inc., which has been in existence since 1987. Volunteers involved in this program donate more than 8,000 pet visitation hours annually, according to the organization’s website, FPOW.org. Animal visitors are mostly dogs, but there are See VOLUNTEER, 17
HOW TO GET INVOLVED •Inova Fairfax Medical Campus 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church 703-776-3447 adult.ifh.volunteers@inova.org
•Fairfax Pets on Wheels
703-324-5424 www.FPOW.org dfspetsonwheels@fairfaxcounty.gov
•Food & Friends
219 Riggs Road, NE, Washington, D.C. Main number: 202-269-2277 info@foodandfriends.org Volunteer services: 202-269-6824 volunteer@foodandfriends.org
•L’Academie de Cuisine
5021 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, Md. 301-986-9490, ext. 303 Emily Worth, volunteer coordinator eworth@lacademie.com assistants@lacademie.com
•Literacy Council of
Northern Virginia 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church 703-237-0866 www.lcnv.org
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SIGN ME UP
A SPORT FOR A LIFETIME u Seniors Reap the
Benefits of Pingpong BY KAREN FINUCAN CLARKSON
F
orget sitting on the sidelines. “Watching isn’t for me. I want to participate and create experiences. Table tennis lets me do that,” said Ernie Byles. As the 53-year-old Rockville resident prepares to defend his table tennis titles at the Maryland Senior Olympics in Pikesville this September and the National Senior Games in Minnesota in 2015, he pays homage to a sport that helped give him the courage and stamina to fight cancer and bring balance back to his life. Byles’ prostate cancer diagnosis five years ago forced him to reevaluate his priorities. “When I found out about the diagnosis, I decided I wanted to survive,” said the father of two, “and the key to survival is preparation … I knew my immune system would be compromised and challenged by the cancer and surgery, so I started thinking about what would increase the probability of my surviving and recovering.” Table tennis, a vegetarian diet and stress reduction topped the list. Having watched older adults play at the Potomac Community Recreation Center, Byles knew pingpong was a lifelong sport. “They are 60, 70, 80 and still able to compete. They may walk up to the table with some difficulty but, once there, they are in control of the ball,” he said.“As you get older, yes, you can’t move as well, but you can place the ball more; yes, you don’t have as much power, but you can change up the strategy. So at any age, you can play table tennis.”
And that holds true even for people who have
never played the game, according to Tom Norwood, president of the Northern Virginia Table Tennis Club (NVTTC). “One of my favorite opponents started when he was around 55,” said the McLean resident. Norwood, who played through college, returned to the sport in 2003 when his sons gave him a pingpong table for his birthday. “It rejuvenated my interest,” he said. And it helps him stay in shape. “If you play seriously, not just batting the ball in the basement, you put out a lot of sweat and exercise a whole lot of muscles. And it’s good for those of us who are aging, as there aren’t issues, like with weightlifting, with strains and such.” While anyone can join NVTTC, the membership is predominantly made up of older adults.The club sponsors five weekly drop-in practice sessions—Monday
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Fairfax County Times SENIORS | July 2014
TOP,PADDLES: JUPITERIMAGES/LIQUIDLIBRARY/THINKSTOCK. ABOVE: COURTESY OF ERNIE BYLES
Table tennis champion Ernie Byles stands on stage during a medal parade at the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland. Byles earned gold in men’s singles and mixed doubles and earned a silver medal in the men’s doubles. FairfaxTimes.com
through Thursday from 5 to 8:45 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arlington’s Madison Community Center & Park—and newcomers are welcome. “We don’t have formal coaching, but we have some members who enjoy helping people learn the game,” Norwood said. Each weekday at 9 a.m., a group of men gathers at the James Lee Senior Center in Falls Church,Va., to play pingpong. “There are various ages and skill levels, but they make it work. And it gives them an opportunity to socialize.That’s one of the biggest draws—the ability to socialize,” said Greg Williams, the center’s director. As Fairfax County’s representative on the NorthernVirginia Senior Olympics Committee, Williams encourages the players at his center to join the competition. “Last year we had five guys sign up, and they came back amazed, saying, ‘Wow, we really can compete.’”This year’s table tennis competition is Sept. 18 at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria,Va.
The Maryland Senior Olympics came to Byles’
attention a year after his cancer diagnosis.“It’s really hard to maintain the discipline of exercising unless you have something you’re working toward. I thought the games would be something cool to aim for and train for,” he said. See PINGPONG, 18
COURTESY OF ERNIE BYLES
Byles and his wife Woan-Yi Byles
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TRAVEL
EASY BREEZY TRAVEL No Airports, No Driving, No Hotels, No Hassle
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCIE AND TED SEWARD
ABOVE: Lucie Seward joined the Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas cruise from Port of Baltimore to Canada and back. Behind Seward is the rugged, rocky coastline of Mount Desert Island in Maine. RIGHT: Seward and her husband Ted Seward, who was with her on the cruise, spotted this lighthouse.
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T
BY JIM MAHAFFIE
he problem is, in order to eat real Maine lobster and wild blueberry pie on the rocky shores of Kennebunkport, Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia, there are a lot of hassles to go through to get there: airports, parking, security, waiting at the gate, flying to Maine, rental cars, hotel reservations … not to mention navigating to the lobster pound. “It’s just so much trouble to travel these days,” said Marian Cromley, 86, of Lake Barcroft. She recently returned from a trip to her home state of Oklahoma, and she said all the waiting, red tape, delays and security “have taken a lot of the joy out of traveling.” Comfortable senior travel with no airports, no driving and no hotels is the idea behind the Easy Breezy Lake Barcroft Village Travel Group. In October 2013, Cromley joined 17 residents, neighbors and friends from Lake Barcroft on Easy Breezy’s first trip, an eight-day cruise on the Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas from Port of Baltimore to Canada and back.True to their mission, the travelers took a large van from their homes to and from Baltimore. The ship was their transportation and living quarters, and it took them up the coast to Portland, Maine, where they toured the beautiful little seaside village of Kennebunkport. In Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, the group went ashore in smaller boats and toured Acadia National Park and then ascended Cadillac Mountain. FairfaxTimes.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIAN CROMLEY
The Grandeur of the Seas is the cruise ship that took the Easy Breezy crew to Nova Scotia and back in October 2013. 8.24.14
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Celebrating our 50th Year!”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LUCIE AND TED SEWARD
Lucie and Ted Seward each posed with a sizable souvenir from a gift shop in Maine.
In Canada, the ship stopped at the city of Saint John in New Brunswick on the Bay of Fundy. It also docked in Halifax, an historic cultural center and the capital of Nova Scotia.There the group toured a public garden that dates to 1866, and some travelers visited the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, where more than 100 victims of the Titanic’s 1912 sinking are buried. Easy Breezy’s Travel Agent Richard Meyer arranged for a block of eight oceanview staterooms on the ship.The price was FairfaxTimes.com
$832 per person, and some people upgraded to balcony rooms.With the price of shore trips, the bar bill and van transport added in, the total cost was about $1,142 per person. “That’s pretty cheap for an eight-day cruise,” said Cromley. The cruising itself was fun, too, said Cromley, with beautiful fall weather and a huge, well-equipped ship to enjoy. The Grandeur of the Seas accommodates up See TRAVEL, 19
Join us on Motorcoach trips from Rockville or Vienna RCCL cruises from Baltimore As well as day trips, socials and trips that cover the world! Come to one of our Open House events at the Shillelagh Travel Club office... visit www.shillelaghtravelclub.com/ for details Carolyn McKenna • Shillelagh Travel Club or Call 703 242-2204 100 East Street #202 • Vienna, Virginia 22180 Phone: 703.242.2204 • Fax: 703.242.2781 for a Brochure! www.shillelaghtravelclub.com
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LIVING
TYSONS TOWERS
INDEPENDENT
LIVING
in a Comfortable, Quiet Setting
S
BY ELLEN R. COHEN
eniors who live at Tysons Towers enjoy comfortable, attractive apartments in a convenient location just off Interstate 495 and Leesburg Pike in Vienna. Close to Tysons Corner shopping, dining and entertainment, the building has excellent access to major roads and public transportation. “We have a good group of tenants here,” said general manager Rosslyn Long. Tenants returned the compliment when talking about the management. “I am very lucky to be here,” said Shirley Brown, who has lived atTysonsTowers almost three years. TysonsTowers is a federally subsidized senior community owned by Fairfax Education Association Retirement Housing Corporation and managed by Polinger Shannon & Luchs Company. The 37-year-old community was established “to offer a source of quality,
PHOTOS BY BOB NAROD, COURTESY OF TYSONS TOWERS
Tysons Towers is a 37-year-old affordable housing community for seniors that boasts 274 units. Located in Vienna, it is managed by Polinger, Shannon & Luchs Company.
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Fairfax County Times SENIORS | July 2014
affordable housing for retired Fairfax County educators and others eligible to reside at the community.” Long said residents don’t have to have been teachers. Eligibility includes people with disabilities and those who are 62 years or older, Long said. The rent atTysonsTowers is based on tenants’ incomes. “What they pay is based on 30 percent of their gross income,” said Long. TheTysonsTowers building has six floors, with elevators at each end of the hall.There are 274 rental apartments: efficiencies (550 square feet); one-bedroom units (602 square feet); and two-bedroom units (783 to 866 square feet).
‘I AM JUST HAPPY TO LIVE HERE’ Residents offer different reasons for moving toTysonsTowers. Some were attracted by the location, some appreciated being close to family, while others liked the affordable rent. Brown said she wanted a peaceful, quiet place when she downsized from her Vienna townhouse. She loved Vienna, which was her home for 17 years, and did not want to leave the area. She has children in New Jersey and North Carolina. “I’m right between them,” Brown said. She spoke highly of Tysons Towers’ cleanliness and well-kept grounds. She said she also appreciated the railings in the hallways. Brown said she’s looking forward to taking computer courses and making an appointment with the building’s hairdresser. She said she feels very safe atTysonsTowers. Ruth Fortman moved to Tysons from Michigan 14 years ago in order to be closer to family. She said the office help was “absolutely great. People would love it here.” Lyudmila Naritsina, who lives atTysons Towers with her husband Boris Naritsin, has been a tenant representative for three years, working with building directors and helping to resolve tenant issues. FairfaxTimes.com
Naritsina came to the U.S. from Russia 19 years ago in order to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She said she liked Tysons Towers’ fitness equipment and the computer room, which has five computers. She also spoke well of the building’s management. “We are just surprised by how much they do for us here,” Naritsina said. “It’s hard to work with older people who don’t speak English well. Rosslyn is very patient with us. I am just happy to live here,” she said. Valdorise Ellis moved to Tysons Towers from Alexandria in May 2011. “The community was selected by my daughter who lives in Annandale,” Ellis said. A widow, she retired from the government, where she worked as a program assistant for 30 years. She said she likes the cleanliness of the building, the friendliness of the residents and the many available activities. An early riser, Ellis said she enjoyed the 9 a.m. exercise classes and the exercise room’s fitness machines. She said she particularly liked the monthly residents’ birthday parties, the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, the crochet classes and bingo games.
Apartments at Tysons Towers come with fully equipped, all-electric kitchens.
INDEPENDENT LIVING In general, there are only a few couples at Tysons Towers: 90 percent of the residents are single. Long said the oldest resident was 99. Man QrngTong came to the U.S. from China and has been aTysonsTowers resident for almost seven years, attracted by Virginia’s weather. She has a son in Connecticut and a daughter in Ohio, but said those places were too cold. Tong lives at
Tysons Towers alone. She said that she enjoys her independence. “I help volunteer with party decorations and kitchen things. I enjoy English classes here and at church,” said Tong, who also likes to sing opera. “I am very busy and very happy.” Long said Tysons Towers staff can help residents in need of special services find help.The community has a full-time service coordinator who aids tenants with fuel assistance applications, Medicare issues and other services.
The apartments have fully equipped, all-electric kitchens—there is no meal plan at Tysons Towers. Meals on Wheels service is available for tenants who require it. Transportation to the grocery store and other destinations is provided by Fairfax County’s Fastran service, Long said.There is also a public bus stop on the property. Tysons Towers 8500 Tyspring St., Vienna 703-281-2080 tysonstowers.net
A Community Built Around You
Senior Apartment Community
Enjoy All That Life Has To Offer At Forest Glen we combine the comforts of home with the retirement lifestyle you have always wanted. Sit back, relax and let us take care of the details. • Desirable Centreville Location • Walk to Shops, Banks and Restaurants •Maintenance-Free Living • Move In Specials on Select Units • Free Gas Heat • Emergency Response System • Active Social Calendar • Adults 62+ or Disabled
14400 Woodmere Court Centreville, VA 20120
1883395
703-802-9501
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1340 Old Chain Bridge Rd Suite 100 McLean, Virginia 22101 703.862.0303 www.onthgonursing.com
HEALTH
DEDICATED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AT YOUR SERVICE DURING TIME OF NEED • • • • • •
Diabetic Management/Patient Teaching Medication Management Physical Therapy Personal Care & Private Duty Wound Care Nursing Assessments & Monitoring
FIRST 20 CLIENTS WILL RECEIVE FREE: • Physical Therapy • Skilled Nursing and • Patient Teaching (For a Limited Time Only)
We accept Private Pay, Long-Term Care Insurance & Virginia Medicaid Virginia Home Care Organization (HCO) License Number 141030 1907971
C
aring Matters HOME CARE 703-541-8360 703-541-8231
Proudly offering services to Fairfax and Arlington Counties at Affordable Rates: • Personal Care • Housekeeping • Meal Preparation • Medication Reminders • New Mother Care • Safety Tech Services
• Respite Care • Alzheimer’s Care • Parkinson’s Care • Veterans Care • Shopping • Escort to Appointments
• Ambulation Assistance • Companionship Services • Morning and Night Care • Round-the-Clock Care • Personalized Care • Special Needs Care
4009 Williamsburg Court, Suite 300 | Fairfax, VA 22032
WWW.CARINGMATTERSHOMECAREFAIRFAXVA.COM
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STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK
SUN SAFETY Why It’s Critical for Older Adults
M
ore men over 55 and women of all ages are getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to the AARP. There are many ways to be physically active outdoors—swimming, gardening, walking, dancing or playing tennis. No matter which activity you choose, be sure to play it safe in the sun. Go4Life has the following tips to keep your skin healthy: l Limit your time in the sun.Try to stay out of it between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when its rays are most potent. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies; the sun’s rays pass right through them.You also can get sunburned if you’re in the water, so be careful when in a pool, lake or the ocean. l Under all circumstances, use sunscreen. Apply it 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protective factor) of 15 or higher. It’s best to choose sun-
l
l
l
screens with “broad spectrum” on the label. “Water resistant” sunscreen stays on your skin even if you get wet or sweat a lot, but it isn’t waterproof. Reapply sunscreen about every two hours.You need to apply it even more frequently if you’re swimming, sweating or rubbing your skin with a towel. During application, pay special attention to your face, nose, ears and shoulders. Your lips can burn as well, so apply lip balm with sunscreen. Wear protective clothing. A hat with a wide brim can shade your neck, ears, eyes and head. Plus, look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If you have to be in the sun, wear a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Drink plenty of liquids, especially if it’s hot outside. Water and fruit juices are good options.Avoid caffeine and alcohol. -National Institute on Aging FairfaxTimes.com
FINANCES
Giving grandkids the gift of
COMMON STOCKS BY MALCOLM BERKO
Dear Mr. Berko: The grandmothers and great-grandmothers at our bridge club were trying to select the most useful birthday gifts for our youngsters. We all agree that it’s a waste of money to buy toys, which are mostly plastic, or clothing, which is soon outgrown and often not made in the U.S. We want to give a lasting gift that could grow in value. None of us have much money, but we’re thinking about buying a few shares of a good stock and reinvesting the dividends, which we hope would enable us to buy a few more shares for other important events during the year. What stocks would you recommend, and how should we do this? - EE, Syracuse, N.Y. Dear EE: I earnestly applaud this wonderful idea. Frankly, I believe that our younger generation would be considerably better off if more folks would think like you gals. So many gifts are a stupid waste of time, money and intentions— and are thoughtless, too. Common stocks are gifts that last a lifetime and also provide a wonderful learning opportunity for those youngsters who are lucky to have thoughtful, thinking grandfolks like you and your bridge club ladies. Meanwhile, I’ve sent you a list of stocks that I think your kids might enjoy owning. Each pays a decent dividend, and each company is an American icon that the youngsters will readily recognize. Coca-Cola, General Electric, Pfizer, AT&T, McDonald’s, Microsoft Corporation, Revlon, Mattel and Dow Chemical Company are a few classy issues that should continue to increase their revenues, earnings and dividends, and their well-known branded products are easily identifiable.These stocks, each of which trades on the NewYork Stock Exchange, will make great starter issues for your grandkids.They can easily follow the daily changes in stock prices and read about economic events in the news that affect their companies. Best of all, they FairfaxTimes.com
MARILI FORASTIERI/GETTY IMAGES/THINKSTOCK
can actually become owners of American industry. The dividends can be reinvested quarterly, and each quarter, these companies will send the youngsters reports on how well the stocks are doing. Once a year, the companies will send the grandkids colorful annual reports discussing their customers, their products and new products
being developed while summarizing the important company events of the past year. The presidents of these companies will invite the juniors to their companies’ annual meetings. It can be a fascinating experience to watch corporate autocracy at work. And many of those meetings are held in NewYork City. Now, none of the large brokerage firms—such as Merrill Lynch, UBS, Morgan Stanley and Prudential—have the slightest interest in helping you establish a small account for grandkids. They will discourage this business and don’t care to be bothered because this is an unprofitable transaction. Even if you do prevail at Merrill, UBS or any of the wire houses, they’ll apply annual account fees between $50 and $100 a year, and commission costs that will exceed your share purchases. So, I suggest that you ring Charlie Schwab or Fidelity Investments or Vanguard to open an account under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act. You’ll the grandkids’ Social Security numbers, and you’ll have to sign a boatload of papers (always paperwork), which may drive you bonkers. Then you’re ready to purchase popular yet non-blue chip companies, such as Brinker International, Abercrombie & Fitch and Foot Locker. And if you enter the order personally on the brokerage’s platform (without using a representative), the commission costs will be only about $9. If you’re not computersavvy, you can use the firm’s help desk, which can give you clear instructions. Use the children’s addresses so all the mail will go to them. Few companies still issue stock certificates, so the brokerage will mail quarterly statements to the kids, showing the current share position plus the new fractional share positions acquired by the quarterly dividend payments. Malcolm Berko’s column,“Taking Stock,” can be found at creators.com. - Creators.com July 2014 | Fairfax County Times SENIORS
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FINANCES
VIATICAL SETTLEMENTS SHOULD YOU SELL YOUR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY? BY KRISTEN CASTILLO
If
you’re terminally ill and need cash, you might consider a viatical settlement, which is selling your life insurance policy to a third-party investor. “The life policy owner receives cash today in return for transferring the face amount of the policy due on his death to the investor,” said Ed Grebeck, CEO of Tempus Advisors. “The cash settlement today is the face amount of the life policy, discounted over the years of the policyholder’s expected death.” The buyer becomes the beneficiary and has to pay the premiums or else loses some of the investment. After the original policy owner dies, the buyer collects the face value of the policy. “A viatical settlement typically means the client has less than one year to live, and the value of their policy increases dramatically, sometimes as high as 80 percent of the face amount,” explained Barry Waxler of Universal Financial Consultants.
SETTLEMENT HISTORY Viatical settlements rose to popularity during the 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic surged. Many AIDS patients, who didn’t have traditional beneficiaries such as wives and children, had short life expectancies and wanted to cash in on their life insurance policies. “In principle, policyholder sellers and investors are in conflict,” said Grebeck. “As life expectancies of AIDS and other terminally ill patients increased due to advances in medicine, viatical settlement investor returns declined.” PROS AND CONS The good thing about viatical settlements is the tax-free cash, what Waxler said is considered an advance or a loan against the ultimate death benefit. “They can use that cash for anything they want or need,with no restrictions,”he said. The downside? Sellers and investors pay commissions on the transactions. Plus, when you opt for a viatical, you’re selling your policy at a deep discount. “Many firms that buy viaticals prey on the terminally ill, and as such, see a desperate need for cash,” saidWaxler. He suggested holding out for the death benefit, if possible, or asking friends or family to loan you money, using the policy as collateral. “This is done by using the carrier’s collateral assignment forms, and the loan is paid at death at far more reasonable terms than the viatical institution will pay for them,” he said. 16
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TOP LEFT: HEMERA TECHNOLOGIES/ABLESTOCK.COM/THINKSTOCK; ABOVE: COMSTOCK/STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK
ALTERNATIVES Viatical settlements can be risky deals and are not necessarily the only option. One of Waxler’s clients recently contacted him about selling her life insurance policy and using the money to pay for medical care not covered by her health insurance.When he reviewed the policy,Waxler found an “accelerated death benefit” rider, which entitled the client to “an advance on the death benefit of 25 percent of the face amount.” The client was able to get $250,000 of tax-free benefits to use right away, while she was still alive. “Most people sell their policies while in a terminal state because of financial hardship,” saidWaxler.“If you check the accelerated benefits riders that most policies come with, you may find a better solution.” BLESSING OR CURSE? Viatical settlements may seem morbid, but they’re often a viable option for seniors in need of cash.
“All in all, a viatical can be a blessing to a family in need, or it can be a curse, hinged on what the client needs today,” said Waxler. “A terminally ill patient, or their family, should always consult a financial planner to see all of the options available.” The Federal Trade Commission offers consumers the following advice: l Contact several viatical companies to make sure you’re getting the best value. l Don’t be lured by high-pressure sales tactics. l Check with your state’s insurance regulators to make sure your viatical company meets state licensing requirements. l Confirm your viatical company isn’t planning to sell your policy to a third party. l Make sure the company will protect your privacy. l Consult with your attorney about probate and estate implications. -Creators.com FairfaxTimes.com
VOLUNTEER, continued from 7 “a few extraordinary cats and some very soft bunnies,” said Benker, who goes on visits with her dog Teddy, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Most Fairfax Pets on Wheels volunteers are from Fairfax County. Many are seniors who typically go to long-term care facilities and other care centers for adults. Volunteers are encouraged to visit once a week, but at least once a month. “Even residents with memory issues remember the pets and look forward to the visit and the joy that animals bring,” said Benker.
Hospitals have a big need for volunteers
to help with a variety of programs and tasks. A volunteer frees up a professional for more specialized work. “Inova Fairfax Medical Campus has a very active volunteer program,” said Anne Coffey, director of volunteer services. “Our program is over 50 years old. We have 20 to 25 different assignments for volunteers, who will number about 1,100 by the end of the summer.” Assignments include errands around the hospital, hands-on work and clerical work, such as filing patient literature prior to an initial appointment for a procedure. “Volunteers in the cardiovascular operating room pre-op area help patients get ready for surgery and provide support to patients who have completed surgery,” said Coffey.“These volunteers have had this type of surgery, so their insights and experiences are valuable.”
OLYMPICS, continued from 5 tacts you make in the process [are] a very big part of senior athletics and competition,” he said. When Wilson first joined the NVSO committee, the group had few resources. “We didn’t have the money behind it to purchase equipment like pingpong tables. We were using rickety tables and the very good pingpong players didn’t want to play under those conditions,” he said. Things changed when Massabny came on board, Wilson said. A tireless worker, she’s been the key to getting more sponsors, and as a result, more funding. In addition to helping organize the games, Wilson, who recently broke his thumb playing softball, is the event director for basketball and pickleball. His basketball team, the Virginia Creepers 75+, has competed in the Maryland, Virginia and Delaware state Senior Olympics, as well as the national games. The Creepers FairfaxTimes.com
Other volunteers work in the newborn nursery doing non-medical tasks such as feeding and holding babies, and changing their diapers.Volunteers in the pediatric unit ease children’s anxieties, helping to distract and settle fearful little patients. “We also have three thrift shops in the community and three gift shops on campus,” said Coffey. “Those volunteers make an enormous contribution by working to raise funds for the hospital.” Sandi Goldman started a crafts program for high-risk pregnant patients at Inova about three-and-a-half years ago. Her group now has a number of seniors who teach women on bed rest how to quilt, knit, crochet and scrapbook. “This program lends itself to all ages,” said Goldman, who also teaches quilting at theWorkhouse Arts Center in Lorton. She volunteers four to five hours a week, seeing two to eight patients each day. “Numbers vary from week to week,” said Goldman, noting that some of the women can be at the hospital for four months or longer. Esther Mensh said she has been “doing a little bit of everything” as a volunteer at Inova for 28 years. Active in patient support services, she performs hospital errands, transports items between departments, pushes people in wheelchairs,escorts people to tests and carries flowers. “No two days are ever alike,” said Mensh, who works fourhour shifts twice a week. She said she enjoys giving back: Her husband was a patient at Inova. “I look forward to my Mondays and myWednesdays,” she said. boasts a fellow septuagenarian and wellknown crooner: Pat Boone. Although Boone lives in Beverly Hills, he travels to play with the team for the annual national senior games. Boone is a friend of Creepers’ team member Jim Martin. He’s also the national spokesman for Martin’s 60 Plus Association, a conservative lobbying group for older adults. When he’s in town visiting pal Martin, Boone will play some pickup ball with the team. In the end, though, it’s not all about winning, according to Massabny. “It’s about getting out there and trying and doing your best and having fun,” she said. Competitors make it a family affair, bringing their spouses, children and grandchildren along to cheer them on. For more information, call 703-2284721 or email nvso1982@gmail.com. Results and photos from last year can be seen on the website at nvso.us.
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Pingpong:
PLACES TO PLAY Many community and senior centers throughout Fairfax and Montgomery counties offer recreational pingpong programs. In addition, several private groups (listed below) offer practice sessions or instruction.
FAIRFAX COUNTY l
NORTHERN VIRGINIA TABLE TENNIS CENTER 4264-C Entre Court, Chantilly 571-354-5667 novattc.com
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NORTHERN VIRGINIA TABLE TENNIS CLUB Plays at the Madison Community Center & Park 3829 N. Stafford St., Arlington nvttc.org
MONTGOMERY COUNTY l
CLUB JOOLA ROCKVILLE 4931 Wyaconda Road, Rockville, Md. 301-881-3401 clubjoola.com
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MARYLAND TABLE TENNIS CENTER 18761 N. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. 301-519-8580 mdttc.com
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POTOMAC COUNTRY TABLE TENNIS CLUB Plays in two locations: - Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center 7425 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John, Md. - Potomac Community Recreation Center 11315 Falls Road, Potomac, Md. pcttc.net
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Ernest Byles with his mother, Pat Byles, and father, Ernest Byles Sr. Byles said his father was his travel partner and one of his biggest table tennis supporters. But a bout with cancer prevented Ernest Byles Sr. from joining his son at the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland.
PINGPONG, continued from 9 As he trained, however, Byles realized that his vision presented a problem. Due to eye surgery in his youth, it now took several hours after awakening for his sight to stabilize.While competing at the National Senior Games, Byles would wake at 4 a.m. so that his vision would be stable enough to play by 9 a.m. “What I realized is that you have to acknowledge your limitations but not accept that you are limited by them … So I began to listen to the bounce of the ball instead of focusing on just seeing the ball.That helped my timing.” Pingpong has been a game changer throughout Byles’ life. He and his three brothers began playing as kids at the YMCA in Kingston, Jamaica. “My mom wanted to keep us busy and off the
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streets,” he said. By 1973, when pingpong diplomacy found its way to the Caribbean island, Byles had honed his skills to the point that he was one of 20 selected for the national team.The work was hard—he trained four hours a day for four years— but it paid dividends. “In Jamaica, it was difficult to go from one social class to another,” Byles said. “One of the ways was through sports. Representing your country in table tennis enabled you to have opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise have.” After immigrating to the U.S. with his family in 1979, Byles continued to train and play in world-class tournaments while working and going to college.That changed when he married. “At 32, I decided to focus all of my energies and the discipline I had gained from table tennis on this new phase in my life—being a fa-
ther and husband,” he said. Still, he didn’t abandon the sport. “Someone told me if you love something, don’t give it up completely,” he said. “So, for 19 years I played every Sunday night for two hours.” Then came his cancer diagnosis. And, if that wasn’t enough, Byles’ National Senior Games travel partner, his dad, developed a brain tumor. In the course of treating that tumor, which was benign, doctors uncovered a lump in his father’s lung, which was cancerous. “The bad news was that he couldn’t go with me to Ohio.The good news was that he was able to survive,” said Byles. “Sometimes bad things happen that turn out to be good. Even with my own cancer, the long-term effect might be good if I can tell my story and, as a result, people make different choices.” FairfaxTimes.com
PHOTO BY J. LARRY GOLFER PHOTOGRAPHY
ABOVE: Lake Barcroft is home to many members of the Easy Breezy travel group. LEFT: Lucie Seward in Bar Harbor, Maine PHOTO COURTESY OF LUCIE AND TED SEWARD
TRAVEL, continued from 11 to 2,000 travelers with a crew of more than 700.The luxury ocean liner offers a theater, bars, restaurants, entertainment, swimming pools, a hot tub, a casino and more. The cruise made traveling, well, easy breezy. “Some of our people need help traveling,” said Cromley. “None of us really want to drive to destinations either or deal with airports and hotels. This way, it’s so much easier.” For Cromley, though, the high point of the trip was a sunrise. “I fulfilled a lifelong dream,” she said. “I saw not one, but two, emerald green flashes at a dawn sunrise over the north Atlantic.” Cromley has lived in Lake Barcroft for more than 50 years. She said she didn’t actually create the group, but she is the brains of the outfit, stirring up interest with flyers and recruiting Meyer to handle bookings. “It all started because I had been on previous cruises as a couple, and we envied the happy, laughing groups of friends,” she said. “So I decided to try to put together FairfaxTimes.com
a ‘table for eight.’ We ended up with two tables for eight.” “Easy Breezy” came from her son’s beach house of the same name in Cape Hatteras off North Carolina. This September, she plans to get Lake Barcroft residents and others together for a trip on the Potomac River on the Odyssey, a large riverboat that sails from the Gangplank Marina on the Washington, D.C., waterfront and offers scenic views of monuments, as well as brunch, lunch, dinner and dancing and live music. In January 2015, Easy Breezy is headed out of Port of Baltimore to Bermuda on another cruise. Lake Barcroft Village is a nonprofit organization established to allow senior residents of the community to age in place with a variety of support services and programs. The concept of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” is a national movement, and the village helps members with errands, transportation, household maintenance and other services. As part of the social, cultural and educational aspect of Lake Barcroft, Cromley said her travel group is an important part of the village’s mission.
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iscover why many people like you have come to call the Hermitage home—the chance to experience a new lifestyle with an array of services and amenities. Just ask resident John Mutchler, who appreciates the freedom from home maintenance and the opportunity to participate in clubs and social activities. Our residents also rave about our superb dining service, our courteous and helpful staff, and an overall feeling of caring and security that comes with living at the Hermitage. You’ll also gain peace of mind knowing that health care and supportive services are available right here, if you ever need them.
For more information, call 703-797-3814.
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