50 Plus December 2012

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Memory Medic

What happens to an aging brain Pg. 2

Holiday recipe

Chef Diane Lestina creates Pepper Jelly Bites

Pg. 3

December 2012 • Vol. 5, Issue 8 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Ways to brighten the holidays for local seniors PAGE 10

How tax changes can affect you PAGE 4

50plus December 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com 2

What happens to an aging brain

Deterioration of the brain sneaks up on most of us. The first clue might be hearing loss, especially in the higher frequencies. We may be forced into bifocals, even trifocals.

But the most serious signs of deterioration occur in the brain.

As we age, our reflexes slow. We walk and act slower. We even talk slower.

Our memory starts to fail, especially the short-term form of memory ability that is so crucial for learning new things.

Brain-scan technology reveals aging can cause the brain to shrink. Nerve tracts in the brain shrivel, making the cerebrospinal fluid cavities larger and even leaving gaping holes in the brain. Shriveling occurs in the neuron terminal branches that form the contact points among neurons. People may lose 40 percent or more of dopamine neurons, causing Parkinson’s disease.

These are brutal truths.

Whole societies are being affected in major economic and social ways in countries where the population is aging rapidly, such as Japan (23 percent over 65), Germany (20.5 percent), Italy (20.4 percent) and the U.S. (13 percent). The countries that show that fastest rate

of change in population age, in order, are Iran, Vietnam, Mexico, India and South Korea. The obvious consequences are a shrinking labor force and shifting of a nation’s wealth to health care.

The challenge for aging individuals is to reduce the rate of their decline. This has created a growth in the antiaging industry focused on vitamins and supplements, fad diets, gym facilities, mind training programs and books like mine on Dr. BiLL KLeMM memory. The the memory meDiC good news is that these things can work, if they are begun while people are in early middle age.

A likely cause of mental decline in most people is diminished blood flow in small vessels that are easily plugged by cholesterol and fats or ruptured by high blood pressure. These undetected “mini-strokes” are probably quite common as we age, yet they cause cumulative, progressive damage. Another source of damage is the lifetime cumulative effect

See Memory Medic page 18

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CONTENTS Chef Diane: Pepper Jelly Bites Financial Literacy: Tax changes Bradway: What to do with a frozen shoulder Cover: Remembering seniors during holidays Calendar Travel: Biking tours

3 4 5 10 19 17

Use electric mixer on medium speed to beat cheese, butter, paprika and cayenne until blended. Add flour and blend just until mixture forms a dough.

Shape into 36 small balls and place in mini-muffin pans. Press dough up the sides to make a tart shell shape and spoon about 1 teaspoon pepper jelly into the center of each one.

Bake at 375 degrees Farenheit for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes in muffin tin and then remove to cool on rack. Serve at room temperature.

If making ahead, place cooled tarts on a cookie sheet and freeze. When frozen, remove from cookie sheet and place in covered container with the layers separated by waxed paper.

To reheat, place frozen tarts on cookie sheet, then pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. When oven is to temperature, place bites in oven for eight to 10 minutes.

Diane Lestina, a certified personal chef, holds cooking classes and cooks for residents in the Bryan-College Station area. To learn more, visit www.chefdiane.com

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Senior Circle is out to expand your horizons with an exciting calendar of events scheduled around town and around the world. If you’re 50 or better, want to meet new people, learn more about your health, travel and just have fun, then Senior Circle is for you. Dues are just $15 a year. Call Mandy Williams today at 979-764-5107 and become part of the Circle.

Chef Diane Lestina created a Pepper Jelly Bites recipe to serve as an appetizer for holiday gatherings.

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Pepper Jelly Bites Makes 36.

Ingredients: 2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter 1 teaspoon paprika 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper Dash salt 1 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup hot pepper jelly – red or green or both

December 2012

It’s the holidays, and whether you are hosting a party or are asked to bring an appetizer to a pot luck gettogether, these Pepper Jelly Bites will be sure to please.

Pepper jelly always seems to get put over cream cheese, but here we dress it up a bit by putting a dab into a cheese tart.

By using both green and red pepper jelly, you Diane Lestina can make it feel Cook it Simple more festive. www.ChefDiane.Com Another plus is that these can be made ahead and frozen, and if you are planning a party, you know how important it is to have some make-ahead recipes.

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Pepper Jelly Bites make a festive dish

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How tax changes can affect you

We have all heard that significant tax provisions will expire on Dec. 31 unless Congress takes action before then. Exactly how will this problem affect your wallet?

And what, if anything, can you do about it? Nearly all income levels will be touched in some way by this situation.

We’ll discuss some of the ways you might see the effect, but first a warning.

Tax software warning Certified public accountants (CPAs) are staying on top of the moving target of last-minute tax laws. However, the consumer tax preparation software companies might not be able to respond as quickly to late changes in the law. If you use such software to prepare your 2012 tax return, be careful to get an up-to-date version that includes all the last minute tax tracY stewart law changes. finanCial literaCy If you have ever considered working with a tax CPA, this would be the year to do it.

Smaller take-home pay If you receive a W-2, you have a paycheck. If Congress does not act, the tax withholding on your paycheck is going up. Thus your take-home pay in 2013 could shrink. Payroll tax rates are increasing by 2 percent. For example, if your 2012 gross salary of $70,000 stays the same in 2013, your take-home pay will decline by $1,400 solely due to this payroll tax increase.

Affordable Health Care Act affects tax on investments Buried in the 1,990 pages of the Affordable Health Care Act is a provision that increases income tax on investments by 3.8 percent.

No act of Congress will change this. Jodi Jones, CPA with Seidel, Schroeder & Company, advises that, with careful tax planning and action on your part, you may be able to minimize the 2013 tax law impact. It would involve “acceleration of capital gain transactions.”

The dreaded Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Congress intended Alterative Minimum Tax (AMT) for high-income taxpayers. The tax was never indexed for inflation. This may seem like a minor point, but when it affects your tax liability, it can be a big deal. Over the years, more taxpayers have been paying AMT. A range of factors causes you to qualify for AMT, including your income level (between $100,000 and $200,000) and the number of children you claim as dependents. The more you claim, the more likely you are to pay AMT, because of the complex AMT calculations that include claiming children as dependents.

You can’t do anything about the number of children in your family, but you can time certain deductions that could affect when you will pay the higher taxes via AMT. For example, you might be able to reduce the impact of AMT this year by paying your property taxes before yearend. James Larkin, CPA with Thompson, Derrig & Craig, said more than 26 million taxpayers will pay AMT for the first time this year. The increased tax for them will average $3,700. If you want to try to avoid AMT, seek the advice of a tax CPA soon.

Estate taxes Let’s set the stage with a broad definition of what is in an estate and what is not. In general, an estate includes all assets owned by the decedent. As with all tax topics, you should consult a CPA to determine how estate taxes relate to your unique situation.

Generally speaking, a taxable estate includes: • Cash • Personal residence • Other real estate • Securities • Family business • Mineral interests • Investments in non-family businesses, partnerships and the like • Undivided interests in partnerships, land, mineral interests and the like • Life insurance policies

Know the size of your estate Do you really know how large your taxable estate is?

“Mineral interests are often not considered’” Jones said. “In parts of Texas, the market value used in determining estate value can be quite large.”

So don’t assume the estate tax changes don’t apply to you because your estate is too small. It might be larger than you think. Check with a CPA this week and find out what, if anything, you need to do before Dec. 31 to come up with the taxable value of your estate.

Possible estate law changes and how they might affect you Under current law through 2012, if your estate is valued at more than $5 million, the amount over $5 million would be taxed at 35 percent when you pass on.

This is called a $5 million exemption. As of Jan. 1, 2013, if your estate is worth more

than $1 million, the amount over $1 million will be taxed at 55 percent when you pass on. This is called a $1 million exemption. There are ways to reduce your gross taxable estate, such as through gifting or giving your children property. These are beyond the scope of this article. See a certified public accountant for details of how this could apply to you.

Let’s look at a simplified example for a $6 million estate. If you pass away on Dec. 29, 2012, your taxable estate would be $1 million and your resulting estate tax could be $350,000. Under the 2013 rules as they currently stand, if you pass away on Jan. 2, 2013, your taxable estate would be $5 million and your resulting estate tax could be $2,750,000.

Jones has some clients whose wealth is in land.

“This causes some clients significant stress. If their wealth is in land, they might have to sell assets to come up with the cash to pay estate

taxes,” Jones said.

To minimize the effect of this significant tax increase, Jones is consulting with her clients to reduce or eliminate their estate tax hit by considering gifts between generations before Dec. 31.

“They must gather their facts and think through all aspects and consequences of the decision,” Jones said.

“The same is true if they have a family business.

Their decisions have to make sound business sense and coordinate with their estate planning. The tax tail should not wag the dog.”

Larkin explains a second estate tax issue that might be of benefit. It’s called portability. Larkin best explains it with an example.

Husband and wife have a combined community property estate of $2 million.

Husband dies in 2012 and leaves his $1 million to wife.

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many years.

Because treatment for a frozen shoulder involves treating both pain and stiffness, various treatment methods are needed. As a physical therapist who specializes in musculoskeletal pain, I typically see patients in the first stage and thus the initial focus is minimizing or eliminating pain. I use trigger point dry needling, manual therapy, manipulation, therapeutic massage and heat. As the pain begins to decrease, I add gentle stretches. From the beginning the patient is also given a home exercise program, as it is important to keep the joint mobile.

In addition to physical therapy, the following treatments are also used: • Pain medication – This might include over the counter medicines and/or prescribed pain medication (i.e., aspirin or ibuprofen - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

• Corticosteroid injections – can help relieve pain and improve the movement in your shoulder.

However, injections will not cure your condition and thus your symptoms can recur. Further, repeated injections can damage your shoulder capsule lining and thus are limited and spaced out several weeks between each injection.

• Treatment for pain without

medication – As noted, because I have advanced credentialing in trigger point, dry needling is a treatment method to eliminate and reduce pain that does not involve pain medication.

A thin filament needle is inserted into a “trigger point” or a tight muscle band. The insertion of the needle into the tight muscle causes the muscle to grab the needle and then release it. This creates immediate blood flow back into the area, initiating a renewed healing effect. Nothing is injected into the skin.

• Targeted exercises to stretch out the tight muscles and work on stiff joints. This may involve passive and active exercises to move the joint in all directions (please see our website BVphysicaltherapy.com for examples of some exercises that you can do – as long as you do not experience pain. If you experience pain, stop immediately and talk to your doctor or physical therapist).

• Manual therapy and/or therapeutic targeted massage are used to loosen the muscles around the shoulder, which is important for recovery.

• Hot and cold therapy

See Bradway page 18

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has been immobilized for a period of time due to surgery, fracture or other injury.

With a frozen shoulder, the more quickly you seek medical attention, the better. This is because pain is most intense initially, and delays in treatment can result in a longer period of time to heal. With Frozen Shoulder, you often experience three stages: 1. “Freezing” - You experience increasing pain, and as the pain worsens your shoulder becomes stiff to the point of immobilization in some cases. This stage can last several months to a year.

2. “Frozen” - Your shoulder becomes stiffer but the pain remains the same or may decrease some.

However, daily activities may be difficult if not impossible and the pain can be quite intense at night, particularly if sleeping on the painful shoulder. This stage lasts four to 12 months.

3. “Unfreezing” - You gradually regain movement in your shoulder and the pain begins to fade, but it may recur from time to time as the stiffness recedes. Patients do not always regain full range of motion in their shoulder but can usually do most normal daily activities without pain. This stage lasts five months to

December 2012

My shoulder has been hurting so badly that I can’t lift my arm to brush my hair or pull a sweater over my head. In addition, I can’t sleep through the night as the pain wakes me every few hours. I’ve tried heat and gentle stretches, but it’s getting worse. I don’t know how I could have injured it. Should I see the doctor or is there something else I can do? SB (College Station) Likely you are describing a condition called “frozen shoulder” or pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint such that you have trouble moving Leon BraDwaY your shoulder. phySiCal therapy The medical term is adhesive capsulitis. While the cause of this condition is not fully understood, risk factors include: • Age and gender – Women and anyone over 40 appear to be at greater risk.

• Certain medical conditions – Diabetes, hypo/hyper thyroidism, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and chronic inflammatory arthritis of the shoulder.

• Past injuries/surgeries – frozen shoulder can develop after a shoulder

50plus

What to do about a frozen shoulder

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What to do with your retirement account before the next economic turndown Metro Creative Services - A struggling economy can have both instant and longterm consequences.

When the economy is suffering, consumers tend to spend less in the short term while making financial decisions that affect them over the long haul.

One of the biggest quandaries men and women face during a recession or economic downturn is how to approach their retirement accounts, most notably a 401(k).

When the economy begins to struggle, men and women may notice their 401(k) plans are struggling right along with it, losing money that most were counting for their retirements. This can induce a certain degree of panic, as account holders worry about their financial futures and how they are going to get by should the recession last and their retirement accounts continue to shrink.

But such panic might be unwarranted. According to the investment management firm Vanguard, participant saving and investing behavior had returned to prerecession levels by 2010, and participant account balances actually rose 13 percent between 20052010, despite the considerable market shock that occurred during the recession of 2008-2009. Those figures illustrate that even during a particularly bad economic swoon investors will return to their typical behavior sooner rather than later. Therefore it pays to avoid overreacting at the onset of a downturn and maintain your peace of mind.

While some people manage to maintain a cool head during times of economic struggles, others may lose sleep when the next recession or downturn rears its ugly head. To avoid succumbing to such stress, consider the following tips to protect your retirement accounts should the economy once again take a turn for the worse.

• Pay attention to your portfolio. Young people just beginning their professional careers are often told to enroll in a 401(k) program

as soon as possible, but to avoid making any changes in the near future once the account has been set up.

While no investors, young or old, should allow a knee-jerk reaction after a bad financial quarter to dictate how they manage their retirement accounts, that doesn’t mean you should ignore an account entirely. Pay attention to your portfolio, examining it at least once per year so you can make adjustments to your investments if need be. Just don’t allow a sudden reaction to a bad quarter dictate these adjustments, which should only be made after a careful examination of your retirement account’s portfolio and its performance. If you’re happy with the performance, don’t change a thing.

• Reduce your risk as you age. Financial experts can often predict when the economy will thrive and when it will struggle. But unless you are such an expert, avoid playing with fire. As you age, reduce your risk with regard to your investments. Young people can afford to take on more risk because they have more time to make up for a risk that doesn’t work out. Men and women age 50 and older have no such luxury and should reconfigure their retirement accounts as they age so their investments are less risky and more conservative. This strategy should be put to use even if you lost a substantial amount of money during a previous recession or downturn. It might be tempting to try to make up for lost money, but that strategy carries considerable risk, and you might end up depleting your retirement savings a second time.

• Spread the money around. When contributing to a retirement account such as a 401(k), the standard is to deposit 6 percent of each paycheck into that account. If you’re depositing more than 6 percent into your retirement account, consider decreasing your retirement contribution to the standard amount and depositing the extra money into a high-interest savings account. The savings account

won’t put your deposits at risk, and if the economy is faring well, you will still be doing well with your 401(k) while ensuring some of your money won’t suffer should the economy suddenly take a turn for the worse.

• Don’t cash out too early. When the economy struggles, many investors have discovered they simply don’t have the stomach for investing. That’s perfectly understandable with certain investments, but a retirement account should not be one of them. Cashing out a retirement account too early could incur substantial penalties that, if your retirement account was affected poorly by a bad year, may only further deplete an account you likely spent years building. Avoid the temptation to cash out early if your retirement account is struggling. It’s often not worth the steep price.

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gourmet coffee. Read more about Bonnie Tempesta’s handcrafted biscotti at www.BoncoraBiscotti.com.

• Include unusual flavor combinations that can be used for snacking as well as cooking. Sahale Crunchers almond snacks can be eaten out of hand or used for holiday meal prep. Plus, they’re gluten free. Find delicious recipes at www.

SahaleSnacks.com.

• Use colorful, recyclable paper, like tissue paper or shredded paper, to fluff up the contents of your basket.

• The finishing touch on a gift basket is not the shrink wrap; it`s the note. Tell your gift recipient why you chose what you did!

With these tips, you’re sure to create a gift your friends and family will appreciate.

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box, a flower pot. The possibilities are endless -- and inexpensive.

• Fill the basket with higher- and lower-priced items to keep overall costs down. Include items of varying heights to add visual interest.

• Arrange the contents around a theme, such as all things red or everything handmade or all chocolate!

• Choose foods you love or products you`re excited about trying.

Chances are, if you were wowed by a treat, your gift recipient will be too.

• “Go for edibles that don’t need to be eaten right away,” says Edmond Sanctis, co-founder of Sahale Snacks.

“Treats that can be nibbled and shared all season long are ideal gift basket additions.”

• Splurge on indulgences your recipient normally wouldn`t buy for him or herself, like limited-edition holiday chocolate from Seattle Chocolates. You can find a wide range of such products in all colors and styles to suit any gift basket theme at www.SeattleChocolates.com.

• Add a food item that’s new or hard to find. For example, Boncora Biscotti, available only online, are handmade to order. Plain or dipped in chocolate, they go great with a cup of joe, so pair this gift with some

December 2012

(StatePoint) Looking for a thoughtful gift this holiday season?

Give a gift basket.

Don’t be intimidated by the task -- it`s easy to create the perfect gift basket for even the fussiest person.

“A food basket is a welcome gift for all occasions,” says Bonnie Tempesta, founder of the cookie company Boncora Biscotti. “You can make it as elegant, whimsical or celebratory as you want -- and at whatever cost your budget allows.”

Gift baskets also offer a chance to inject some personality into a gift.

“What you choose to put in a gift basket is a reflection of who you are as a gift giver,” says Jean Thompson, Owner and CEO of Seattle Chocolates, maker of premium chocolate bars and truffles. “It`s a great way to share your good taste.”

Follow these simple tips to make unique gift baskets for everyone on your list: • Decide what you want to include before you buy the basket so you can pick the right size. No matter what size basket you use, it should be overflowing.

• If a traditional wooden basket isn`t your style, look for other vessels: a colorful paper bag, a pretty pastry

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Gift baskets make inexpensive, thoughtful presents

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MONEY MATTERS

Christmas spending gets naughty or nice

By CECIL SCAGLIONE

The Eagle • theeagle.com

December 2012

Mature Life Features

8

To save or to splurge, that is the seasonal question.

It’s been tough keeping economic ends in sight over the past few years. You may have just completed paying your credit-card bill from last Christmas -- or from the Christmas before that.

If you think you can salve your psyche by going on a seasonal spending spree, all you’re going to do is shatter your savings.

The holidays give us a guilt-free pass to shop till we drop, according to Leslie Greenman, a financial advisor who’s written “Dating Our Money: A Women’s Guide to Confidence with Money & Men (AuthorHouse, $14.95).

“You don’t have to feel bad about spending because you’re not buying things for yourself,” she said.

This gift-giving psychology that can cause a fiscal fever is not good for your financial well-being.

That warm feeling you get from watching loved ones merrily tear open their gifts turns to cold shivers

when the bills arrive.

Careful planning can help you fulfill your need to give while protecting your need to save.

One thing you should have done to save money this year is buy your wrapping paper and Christmas cards at last year’s day-after-Christmas sales.

You also could have picked up a scarf for your spouse during this year’s spring sales or a used bike for a grandchild at a yard sale.

Greenman suggests you begin your savings plan at home. If you’re having a party, make it pot luck so you don’t have to bear the total cost of all the food and drinks.

Make a gift list and think about where you’re going to buy, said Greenman. And finish your shopping early in the season.

“As the holiday gets closer and you realize you haven’t even made a dent in your list, you’ll start to get desperate. You’ll think you have to get whatever is available.”

So make a list, check it twice and take cash. How many times have you

walked into a store and immediately found the perfect gift for your granddaughter? You hadn’t planned on spending that much, but she would love it. So you just put it on your credit card. Don’t stray from your list.

Cash helps keep you in line so you don’t ruin your credit line. This is the time of year you can look at ways to redeem any credit-card points you may have accumulated.

Set a holiday-shopping curfew.

Putting a time limit on your shopping will help you stay on budget and prevent you from lingering in sections of a store that may have caught your eye but don’t contain any items on your list.

Because holiday shopping should be fun, take a moment to reward yourself if you finish by your deadline. Buy yourself a cup of hot chocolate or, better yet, make some for yourself and your family when you get home.

Remember, the less time you spend shopping, the more time you’ll have to spend with friends and family.

It’s the thought, not the cost, that counts. For example, a photo of you

and a friend in a frame with a special note about how much you enjoyed the time you spent together is a great gift.

Then there’s online shopping.

There’s less hustle and bustle as you compare prices that are “almost always better,” Greenman said.

“You have a greater selection and, usually, free shipping is offered around the holidays. When you use specific search terms, you can avoid being distracted by all of the other items you might want to look at or be tempted to buy if you were shopping in the store.”

Credit-card discipline is required here, so don’t shop for yourself.

The best deals will emerge after Christmas. Wait until then to get more bargain for your buck.

You might suggest a secret Santastyle gift exchange for your family. To plan for next year, have everyone pick a name out of a hat.

When you’re shopping for just one person, you have a lot more time to think about what would make the best gift. You can set a price limit to avoid one-upmanship and competition when the gifts are opened.

Layaways ease credit-card crunch

By CECIL SCAGLIONE Mature Life Features

Layaways are back.

Several major householdname retailers, in an effort to boost holiday sales, have reinitiated the practice that had almost disappeared before the economy flopped a few years ago. It was so simple to swipe your plastic through the credit-card reader and walk out of the store with your acquisition that you were going to pay later.

The recession changed that. As folks lost their jobs, many lost their credit and some forfeited their credit cards. So shopkeepers saw the need to allow customers to lay gifts aside and set up a payment schedule.

But, because there’s paperwork involved, you have to determine if the documentation is worth the devil in the details, said Andrea Woroch, a consumer

and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. First of all, there’s usually an origination fee tacked onto the price of the product when you sign the layaway-payment contract.

And the penalty for deciding not to buy the item, should you change your mind during the payment process, usually hovers around 30 percent of the price.

These two issues alone should make you take time to consider such a transaction.

Some layaway plans also have time limits, so you must make sure you have enough time to make all the payments or you’ll lose both the product and all the money you paid if you miss a deadline.

Some credit analysts figure you probably will pay less using your credit card

See Credit page 17

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that less than 5 percent of advertising dollars are targeted toward adults ages 35 to 64.

Overcoming the learning curve as well as the lack of attention from marketers has shown just how much boomers value the latest technology developments. But for those who don’t yet have their hands on the latest gadgets, organizations like AARP are making it easier for boomers to get connected.

“AARP’s goal is to provide value to its members, and our research has shown that many AARP members are early adopters of technology,” says Angela Jones, senior vice president of Business Development and Lifestyle Products for AARP Services.

“Through AARP’s relationships with retailers and manufacturers, our nearly 38 million members receive discounts on their favorite technology products.”

For example, members can get discounts of 5 to 12 percent on a range of HP products, 10 percent off Amazon’s Kindle e-readers, including the popular tablet Kindle Fire, and even discounted phone service from Vonage.

Whether they’re keeping up with the new pace of work at the office or simply looking for a better way to connect with family, there’s no doubt that boomers are demanding technology that helps to improve their lives.

As they grab each new opportunity to connect, the

December 2012

(BPT) - Even though they’re still common, jokes about clueless baby boomers calling their kids to figure out how to use technology are starting to feel outdated.

While today’s youngest generations are practically born with tablets, smartphones and laptops in their hands, grandparents are also adopting technology at a startling pace.

Boomers’ enthusiasm to consume new technology is growing and changing as fast as the field of new products available. In fact, a 2012 Forrester Research technology survey found 78 percent are online, and of those, 54 percent own laptops. Tablet use among boomers is growing too; 11 percent already own one and another 15 percent plan on buying one soon.

While the boomers’ generational trait of progressiveness helps to explain this tech rush, more practical reasons demystify it as well. Many among the generation are at the peak of their earning power, with more money to spend on technology than other age groups.

A 2012 survey by Nielsen showed that within five years, approximately 50 percent of the U.S. population will be 50 or older, and they’ll control 70 percent of disposable income. For this generation, a forward-thinking mindset has always been a common trait, so crossing the digital divide was bound to happen.

Despite their proven purchasing power, many advertisers are leaving these consumers in the lurch.

Although boomers account for 49 percent of total sales of consumer packaged goods, Nielsen estimates

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Boomers connect at rapid pace

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Remembering seniors over the holidays How to make the season brighter for local elderly residents

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Early this month a group of 50 to 60 local seniors will deliver more than 600 holiday gift bags to nursing home residents and home-bound seniors, filled with requested items like warm clothing, blankets, house slippers and bath towels.

Launched in 1997 with items crafted and donated by volunteers with the Brazos Bluebonnet Guild, Senior Christmas has grown into an annual event serving nursing home residents and homebound meal clients of the Area Agency on Aging.

As many seniors enter the holiday season facing economic and health challenges – and even loneliness – coordinated community outreach programs like Senior Christmas or even small acts of kindness can have a major impact on how many local seniors spend their holidays.

According to the American Geriatrics Society, small gestures – such as inviting a senior out and to get-togethers, taking into account their needs, such as transportation or special diets – can be a great help.

The AGS also suggests offering to help them with their cleaning, shopping, cooking and other preparations for get-togethers in their homes, as well as being a supportive listener, encouraging discussions about their feelings and concerns.

Opportunities to help seniors Opportunities abound for helping seniors this holiday season.

Senior Christmas Senior Christmas collects donations year-round for its annual gifting to nursing home residents and homebound seniors.

Carolyn Kraus, RSVP Senior Corps program manager, said donations of new and gently used clothing – specifically in sizes that are not often donated (like sweatshirts or pants in size 5X) – are welcomed, as well as monetary donations, which help volunteers to purchase specifically requested items.

Seniors can still donate to Senior Christmas for this year’s program by mailing a check made out to BVCOG-RSVP (noting “Senior Christmas” on the memo line) to P.O. Drawer 4128, Bryan, Texas 77805-4128. Checks should be sent by Dec. 10.

Volunteer teams will begin sorting and packaging gifts in the first two weeks of December, laundering items that are in need of freshening up, repairing items in need of buttons or a new hem, packing candy for gift recipients, shopping for specially-requested items, sewing dusters and nightgowns and making simpler items such as fleece scarves.

Kraus said one area of need this year is volunteers with SUVs or vans who can help deliver bags to nursing homes within the 14-county region.

To volunteer or find more information, contact RSVP at 979-595-2800 ext. 2026.

Senior Circle Senior Circle, a senior organization at College Station Medical Center, is working with Texas Home Health Hospice, Texas Home Health and the Brazos Valley Area on Aging to provide a Valentine’s Day card to every nursing home resident in the Brazos Valley. Senior Circle meets once a month for a potluck lunch and valentine project party.

“We make homemade cards using construction paper, stickers, glitter, etc, and inside each card is a special note such as, ‘You are blessed,’ or ‘Someone is thinking of you’ and others along those lines” said Mandy Williams, Senior Circle advisor. “We sign the cards, ‘Love, Senior Circle.’”

Williams said Senior Circle has been working on the project since January.

Benefit counselors Kraus said a handful of year-round opportunities exist for local residents who want to pitch in. The Area Agency on Aging of the Brazos Valley and the Department of Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of

Insurance, Texas Legal Services Center and Senior Medicare Patrol will sponsor a HICAP (Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program) Benefits Counselor Level I training Dec. 17-19 at the Brazos Valley Council of Governments, at 3991 E. 29th St. in Bryan.

HICAP benefit counselors are trained in the areas of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance and will provide information, counseling, assistance and advocacy to people who are 60 and older and others who are Medicare-eligible, regarding their benefits, entitlements and legal rights. Area Agency on Aging staff benefit counselors will train interested individuals and provide guidance and support to all volunteer benefit counselors.

“The Medicare/ Medicaid system can be overwhelming to understand, and with more Texans becoming Medicare beneficiaries than ever before, the need for benefits counselors is growing,” said Kraus.

“With the help of volunteer counselors, more eligible Texans can be helped to acquire benefits and maintain their rights.”

The training is a 25-hour course. For more information, contact the Area Agency on Aging of the Brazos Valley at 979-595-2806 ext. 2022.

Elder-Aid Elder-Aid is in need of handy men to help with client home repairs. Some typical home repairs include repairing/ replacing wheelchair ramps, roof repairs and exterior and interior painting. Volunteers with knowledge of plumbing and flooring are especially needed. Not able to do repairs but understand the work, a construction coordinator can help to call and check things out on a project before assembling a volunteer team and other repair jobs.

“Elders are sometime unable to clean their house due to disabilities, back problems or illness,” Kraus said.

“Volunteers can help out by cleaning ceiling fans, washing windows, mopping and vacuuming.

For more information, contact, Heidi Jenkins, Elder Aid Volunteer coordinator, at 979-823-5127.

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Special to The Eagle

December 2012

December 2012

By Holli L. Estridge

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Remembering senior

How to make the s for local elderl

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December 2012

By Holli L. Estridge

10

Special to The Eagle

Early this month a group of 50 to 60 local seniors will deliver more than 600 holiday gift bags to nursing home residents and home-bound seniors, filled with requested items like warm clothing, blankets, house slippers and bath towels.

Launched in 1997 with items crafted and donated by volunteers with the Brazos Bluebonnet Guild, Senior Christmas has grown into an annual event serving nursing home residents and homebound meal clients of the Area Agency on Aging.

As many seniors enter the holiday season facing economic and health challenges – and even loneliness – coordinated community outreach programs like Senior Christmas or even small acts of kindness can have a major impact on how many local seniors spend their holidays.

According to the American Geriatrics Society, small gestures – such as inviting a senior out and to get-togethers, taking into account their needs, such as transportation or special diets – can be a great help.

The AGS also suggests offering to help them with their cleaning, shopping, cooking and other preparations for get-togethers in their homes, as well as being a supportive listener, encouraging discussions about their feelings and concerns.

Opportunities to help seniors Opportunities abound for helping seniors this holiday season.

Senior Christmas Senior Christmas collects donations year-round for its annual gifting to nursing home residents and homebound seniors.

Carolyn Kraus, RSVP Senior Corps program manager, said donations of new and gently used clothing – specifically in sizes that are not often donated (like sweatshirts or pants in size 5X) – are welcomed, as well as monetary donations, which help volunteers to purchase specifically requested items.

Seniors can still donate to Senior Christmas for this year’s program by mailing a check made out to BVCOG-RSVP (noting “Senior Christmas” on the memo line) to P.O. Drawer 4128, Bryan, Texas 77805-4128. Checks should be sent by Dec. 10.

Volunteer teams will begin sorting and packaging gifts in the first two weeks of December, laundering items that are in need of freshening up, repairing items in need of buttons or a new hem, packing candy for gift recipients, shopping for specially-requested items, sewing dusters and nightgowns and making simpler items such as fleece scarves.

Kraus said one are SUVs or vans who can within the 14-county To volunteer or fin 979-595-2800 ext. 2026.

Senior Circle Senior Circle, a se Medical Center, is wo Hospice, Texas Home Aging to provide a Va home resident in the once a month for a po party.

“We make homem stickers, glitter, etc, a such as, ‘You are bles and others along thos Circle advisor. “We si Williams said Seni project since January

Benefit counselo Kraus said a hand exist for local residen Agency on Aging of t of Aging and Disabili

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rs over the holidays

season brighter ly residents

enior organization at College Station orking with Texas Home Health e Health and the Brazos Valley Area on alentine’s Day card to every nursing Brazos Valley. Senior Circle meets otluck lunch and valentine project

ors dful of year-round opportunities nts who want to pitch in. The Area the Brazos Valley and the Department ity Services, Texas Department of

Elder-Aid Elder-Aid is in need of handy men to help with client home repairs. Some typical home repairs include repairing/ replacing wheelchair ramps, roof repairs and exterior and interior painting. Volunteers with knowledge of plumbing and flooring are especially needed. Not able to do repairs but understand the work, a construction coordinator can help to call and check things out on a project before assembling a volunteer team and other repair jobs.

“Elders are sometime unable to clean their house due to disabilities, back problems or illness,” Kraus said.

“Volunteers can help out by cleaning ceiling fans, washing windows, mopping and vacuuming.

For more information, contact, Heidi Jenkins, Elder Aid Volunteer coordinator, at 979-823-5127.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

made cards using construction paper, and inside each card is a special note ssed,’ or ‘Someone is thinking of you’ se lines” said Mandy Williams, Senior ign the cards, ‘Love, Senior Circle.’” ior Circle has been working on the y.

Insurance, Texas Legal Services Center and Senior Medicare Patrol will sponsor a HICAP (Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program) Benefits Counselor Level I training Dec. 17-19 at the Brazos Valley Council of Governments, at 3991 E. 29th St. in Bryan.

HICAP benefit counselors are trained in the areas of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance and will provide information, counseling, assistance and advocacy to people who are 60 and older and others who are Medicare-eligible, regarding their benefits, entitlements and legal rights. Area Agency on Aging staff benefit counselors will train interested individuals and provide guidance and support to all volunteer benefit counselors.

“The Medicare/ Medicaid system can be overwhelming to understand, and with more Texans becoming Medicare beneficiaries than ever before, the need for benefits counselors is growing,” said Kraus.

“With the help of volunteer counselors, more eligible Texans can be helped to acquire benefits and maintain their rights.”

The training is a 25-hour course. For more information, contact the Area Agency on Aging of the Brazos Valley at 979-595-2806 ext. 2022.

December 2012

ea of need this year is volunteers with n help deliver bags to nursing homes region. nd more information, contact RSVP at .

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Manage stress and focus During the holidays, people tend to try to do too much. This quickly leads to stress, which can have many unhealthy consequences, including overeating and weight gain. Being extremely busy also can lead to convenience eating, where you hit up the nearest fast food restaurant to save time, rather than head home to cook a nutritious meal.

‘Remember to stay focused during the holiday season and take breaks,’ reminds Mohr. ‘If you’re too stressed, you will be more likely to

Support a healthy metabolism ‘In order for your metabolism to function as efficiently as possible, you need to fuel your body regularly,’ Mohr explains.

‘That means you need to eat balanced meals and take supplements that support your metabolism.’

He advises to never skip breakfast, no matter how busy you are. Breakfast jumpstarts your metabolism and helps it function well all day.

Additionally, consider taking a fish oil supplement that supplies the body with essential omega-3 fatty acids.

“Studies show that omega-3s support a healthy metabolism,” Mohr says.

“People generally know about the health benefits of omega-3s to brain and cardiovascular health, but they are surprised to find out a high-quality fish oil supplement helps keep your metabolism functioning well.”

Indulge strategically ‘Deprivation isn’t a good weight-loss strategy, and it certainly isn’t much fun during the holiday season.

Instead of avoiding all the candy, cookies, and rich foods served at festive gatherings, think of your own personal strategy before you go to an event,’ Mohr says.

He suggests picking just one item you love, such as Granny’s apple pie or Aunt Jude’s stuffing, and let that be your one-time noguilt holiday indulgence.

In exchange, cut out other extras you don’t like as much.

Remember, just because it’s being served doesn’t mean you need to eat it.

Cut out high-calorie items like sauces and gravies, and holiday beverages like cocoa and eggnog.

You’ll get to enjoy that one item you look forward to all year and, by avoiding others you care less about,

you won’t risk holiday weight gain.

Celebrating the season to

the fullest doesn’t mean you need to end the year with a few extra pounds.

Follow these expert tips and you’ll enjoy the holidays and start 2013 looking and feeling healthy.

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Eat quality calories ‘Too many people think that to avoid weight gain you need to avoid calories.

In reality, you need to eat calories to stay healthy, but you need to focus on quality calories,’ says Mohr. ‘Choose foods that are packed with vitamins and nutrients, rather than just empty calories.’

Seek out ‘real’ foods for snacks and meals over processed junk foods full of salt, unhealthy fats, and sugar. The fresher the better, because when foods are minimally processed, they typically retain higher levels of vitamins and minerals.

For example, skip the bag of chips and snack on fresh fruits and veggies.

When possible, cook meals at home where you can control the ingredients and reduce unhealthy extras like butter, salt and oil.

eat unhealthy foods and get less sleep. That combination may compromise your immune system. The last thing you want is a few extra pounds and a bad cold at the conclusion of the holidays.’

December 2012

(BPT) - The holidays are full of fun activities, tasty treats and plenty of celebration, but being busy and eating all the extras can quickly lead to weight gain.

With a few key strategies, it’s surprisingly easy to enjoy the season to the fullest and still avoid Santa’s extra bulge.

Dr. Christopher Mohr is a fitness and nutritional expert who consults for television, print and radio outlets throughout the country. He understands the difficulties of staying health-focused during all the festivities. Mohr offers some good reminders and unique insights on how to avoid gaining extra weight during the holidays.

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Simple tips for dodging holiday weight gain

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Diabetes can affect hearing

By JAMES GAFFNEY

December 2012

Mature Life Features

Most people are familiar with the fact that diabetes poses several health risks.

Now add, according to a recent study at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, another potential health problem and lifestyle issue: hearing loss.

Diabetes-related hearing loss is greater among women as they age, especially if the metabolic disorder is not well-controlled with medication.

“A certain degree of hearing loss is a normal part of the aging process for all of us, but it is often accelerated in patients with diabetes, especially if blood-glucose levels are not being controlled with medication and diet,” said Dr. Derek J. Handzo, with the

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at the hospital between 2000 and 2008. Patients were categorized by gender, age (younger than 60 years old, between 60-75 years old and older than 75 years old), and if they had diabetes. Those with diabetes were divided into two groups: wellcontrolled or poorly controlled, as determined by American Diabetes Association guidelines.

Handzo noted that previous studies about diabetes and hearing loss had not focused on blood-glucose levels, nor did they include such a diverse population based on age and gender.

Research revealed that women between the ages of 60 and 75 with poorly controlled diabetes had significantly worse hearing than the control group and those whose diabetes was well-controlled.

Among women younger than 60, those with diabetes -- regardless of whether or not it was being controlled – had worse hearing than nondiabetic women.

For men in the study, there was no significant difference in hearing between those with diabetes that wellcontrolled or poorly controlled and those who did not have diabetes.

Men had more hearing loss across the board compared with women in the study, regardless of their age or whether or not they had diabetes.

“Younger males in general have worse hearing, enough to possibly mask any impact diabetes may have on hearing,” said Handzo. “But our findings really call for future research to determine the possible role gender plays in hearing loss.”

Family companion at doctor visits enhances senior health care

By JAMES GAFFNEY Mature Life Features

14

hospital’s Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery department at Henry Ford. “Our study really points to importance of patients controlling their diabetes, especially as they age, based on the impact it may have on hearing loss.”

Nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes. Another 34.5 million have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Diabetes Association.

Signs of hearing loss include difficulty hearing background noises or hearing conversations in large groups, as well as regularly needing to turn up the radio or television volume.

The Henry Ford research team reviewed records for 990 patients that had audiograms performed

Older adults seem to experience overall better health-care quality and improvements when family members accompany them during doctor’s visits.

That seems like a no-brainer. But sometimes it takes a scientific study to prove something beyond a shadow of a doubt.

And that is precisely what researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health did recently when they conducted a study that revealed that family companions who routinely accompany older adults to physician office visits can be helpful to healthcare quality improvement efforts.

They also found that threequarters of older adults who attend physician visits with a family companion are consistently accompanied by the same companion over time.

“Continuity of care is a central tenet of an effective patient-provider partnership,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Wolff, lead author of the study and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Department of Health Policy and Management.

“Our study documents that the patient-provider relationship often includes a consistently present and actively engaged family member.

This work suggests that quality-ofcare improvements may result from more-productive communication and education that targets both patients and their companions.”

Wolff and her colleagues at the Johns Hopkins schools of Public Health, Nursing and Medicine, and Weill Cornell Medical College analyzed a national survey of

member, predominantly a spouse or illness care have typically focused on Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 years an adult child,” said Wolff. “Results improving health-care professional or older. from this study may help inform and patient competencies, and They found that 75 percent of the health reform initiatives that seek to have ignored the fact that Medicare 9.5 million older adults who attended improve care quality and lower costs, beneficiaries often manage their routine physician visits with a such as the Patient Centered Medical health conditions and attend routine family companion were consistently Home.” physician visits with a family accompanied at 12 months followup. Nearly nine out of 10 (87.9 percent) beneficiaries who were consistently accompanied over time were accompanied by the same companion.

Patients who were older, less educated and diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions were more likely to be consistently accompanied at one year follow-ups.

Nearly 35.5 percent of accompanied beneficiaries were physically disabled and received help with daily activities from their family companion.

Rehab to Home, Long Term Care, Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Companions of Services, Day & Short Term Respite, Medicare, Medicaid these patients were more active in visit Private Pay & Managed Care Insurance communication by providing information directly to the doctor (71 percent), asking the doctor questions (67 percent) and explaining the doctor’s instructions Take a drive to the country and visit...

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8. Don’t get hung up on averages.

Some studies have revealed that learning the average risk of a disease does not help patients make good decisions about what’s best for them.

Your risk is what matters, not anyone else’s. Focus on the information that applies specifically to you.

9. Less may be more.

Don’t get overwhelmed by too much information. In some cases, there may be many different treatment options but only a few may be relevant to you. Ask your doctor to narrow it down and discuss with you only the options and facts most relevant for you.

10. Consider your risk over time.

Your risk may change with time.

“What seems like a small risk over the next year or two may look a lot larger when considered over your lifetime,” said study author Dr. Brian Zikmund-Fisher, U-M School of Public Health, health behavior and health education assistant professor.

If you’re told the five-year risk of your cancer returning after a certain treatment, ask what the 10-year or 20year risk is. In some cases, this data might not be available, but always be aware of the time frame involved.

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impotence? Imagine a roomful of 100 people: 60 of them will have this side effect and 40 will not. Thinking of risk in terms of groups of people can help make statistics easier to understand.

5. Focus on the additional risk.

You may be told the risk of a certain side effect occurring is 7 percent. But if you didn’t take the drug, is there a chance you’d still experience that? Ask what the additional or incremental risk of a treatment is. “You want to make sure the risk number you’re being presented is the risk due to the treatment and not a risk you would face no matter what,” Fagerlin said.

6. The order of information matters.

Studies have shown that the last thing you hear is most likely to stick.

When making a treatment decision, don’t forget to consider all of the information and statistics you’ve learned.

7. Write it down.

You may be presented with a lot of information. At the end of the discussion, ask your doctor if a written summary of the risks and benefits is available. Or ask your doctor to help you summarize all the information in writing.

December 2012

Dealing with cancer is difficult for everyone involved: the patient as well as his or her family and friends.

As people live longer and face greater chances of developing the disease, it pays to understand the risks and benefits of treatment.

“People are making life-anddeath decisions that may affect their survival and they need to know what they’re getting themselves into,” said Dr. Angela Fagerlin, a University of Michigan Medical School internalmedicine associate professor and U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher. “Cancer treatments and tests can be serious. Patients need to know what kind of side effects they might experience as a result of the treatment they undergo.”

She outlined 10 things healthcare professionals can do to improve the way they communicate information about treatment risks to patients.

Patients can tap into these same practices to become fluent in the language of cancer care and better understand their options.

1. Insist on plain language.

If you don’t understand something your doctor says, ask him or her to

explain it better. “Doctors don’t know when patients don’t understand them.

They want patients to stop them and ask questions,” said Fagerlin, who is also a research scientist at the Veteran’s Administration Ann Arbor Healthcare Center.

2. Focus on the absolute risk.

The most important statistic to consider is the chance that something will happen to you. “It’s important that patients and doctors know how to communicate these numbers, and patients need to have the courage to ask their doctor to present it so they can understand,” she said.

3. Visualize your risk.

Instead of just thinking about numbers, try drawing 100 boxes and coloring in one box for each percentage point of risk. So, if your risk of a side effect is 10 percent, you would color in 10 boxes. This kind of visual representation, called a pictograph, can help you understand the meaning behind the numbers. Ask your doctor to draw it out for you, or do it yourself.

4. Consider risk as a frequency rather than as percentages.

What does it mean to say 60 percent of men who have a radical prostatectomy will experience

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MATURE TRAVEL SCENE

Cruise Log: Save on shore

By IGOR LOBANOVBANO BANOVROST STOVSKY OV

The Eagle • theeagle.com

December 2012

Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

The opportunity to visit interesting and exotic places is one of the principal reasons people take cruises.

Well aware of this, cruise companies make sure every person booking an itinerary receive cei s a list ceive of guided shore tours, along with the suggestion to sign up early ear to be guaranteed a “seat on the bus.”

Cruise lines look forward to plenty of passengers signing up for several shore tours because they are a major source of revenue beyond the basic price of the cruise.

Discretionary spending by cruise passengers for spa treatments, alcohol and soft drinks at the bars, wagering in the casino, pre- and postcruise hotel transfers, as well as shore tours reportedly accounts for about 30 percent of the cruise companies’ revenue.

And industry observers note that net profits from onboard purchases actually are higher than that from cruise tickets.

Shore-tour fees, which can range from around $50 to several hundred dollars, can add up quickly. Take a couple of the day-long outings and you may be out $1,000 or so.

Bicycle tour devotee’s pedal-power journeys

By IGOR LOBANOVBANO BANOVROST STOVSKY OV Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

16

Ha Having the cruise provider arrange for all your tour needs, and your flights from and to your home, may make it easier for you to enjoy your holiday, but it also can put a big dent in your pocketbook.

Fortunately, there are cost-saving cost-sa alternative ti s. tive Start by booking your own air transportation to and from the ship.

Then go online and check websites that will sign you up for tours you want at significantly lower prices.

Here are four such sites: Viator. com, tourdeals.com, shoretrips.com, and portpromotions.com Their offerings of also include preand post-cruise stays or extended visits, ground transportation between your hotel and the ship, and other services.

Viator, or Inc., which specializes in or, researching and booking tours and acti activities around the world, recently set up a website – shoreexcursions. viator.com – for cruise passengers to find and book shore excursions.

This and other sites list a selection of excursions offer of ed by major cruise lines in many popular ports of call. You are asked to enter the cruise line, name of the ship, and the date of your sailing.

The sites respond

Over the past decade and a half, 73-year-old George Byam of East Grand Rapids, Mich., has taken 20 bicycle excursions in foreign countries.

The retired businessman, who considers his cycling ability “minimal,” selects tours listed as leisurely or easy. “I probably go an average of nine miles per hour and stop about 60 times a day to take photographs.”

He generally rides about 35 miles a day. And he hates hills.

One of the pleasures of bike touring, he says, is meeting locals and engaging in conve con rsations, even if he

can’t speak the language.

“One of my mottos is to never take a bike tour in a country where I can speak the language. It’s always fun to communicate with people when you don’t use the same sayings.”

Cycling, he believes, is the best way to tour because, “trains take you through the countryside too fast, and walking is too slow.” His preferred terrain is rolling hills and flat stretches with constantly changing scenery.

A great tour for Byam is one where things don’t go as planned. When something, such as a mechanical problem or poor directions,

See Tour troubles pa 17 page

with the ship’s itinerary and a list of tours available during that voyage along with the ship’s arriva ri l and riva departure times in each port, the time the tour takes, and the level of acti activity . You can choose one or more tours and send your selections to the site’s shopping cart to set up payment.

Prices listed are those of the of offering organization. To determine how much you will save, sa you will have ha to compare these prices with those on the cruise line’s shore-excursion list.

If you have ha not yet selected a cruise, you can search the Internet sites of your tours and excursions in your ports of interest. Some sites give gi you comparison pricing.

For examples, a Carniva ni l Cruise niva day trip in Naples that includes a visit to the island of Capri shows the cruise line’s price at $200 versus Viator’s price of $134. A Princess Cruises’ Whale Watching Adve Ad nture and Mendenhall Glacier Tour out of Juneau, Alaska, listed at $179 was of ed by Viator for $131. offer The online sites also promote small-group and customizable tours

for those who want to by-pass the large crowds that make up popular ship-arranged tours. Examples of the customized tours from Viator include a half-day limousine tour of New York City for $66, and a small-group tasting of Greek cuisine in Athens for $73.

Shoretrips.com lists three-port shore-tour packages for Alaska cruises.

A second money-saving money-sa approach is to make your shoretour arrangements directly during the cruise, perhaps in concert with like-minded passengers. Often, you and the others in your group can simply debark debar and you’ll probably find someone on the dock or nearby hawking local tours at prices below that at the ship’s tour desk.

However, er local tour operators may er, of offer fewer perks per and you may have ha to ride in a less-comfor less-comf table vehicle.

Finally, you may choose to tour by yourself or share the cost of a taxi with a few others. You and your shipmates can then go ashore when you want, where you want, and stop when you want.

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By IGOR LOBANOVROSTOVSKY Mature Life Features

from page 16

goes wrong, that trip becomes very memorable. “You learn more about yourself and how to cope with problems in those situations than any other time.”

Byam’s earliest biking journeys were guided tours, as he feared getting lost. Today he prefers the selfguided variety.

“I’ve come to love reading a map and trying to decipher what the locals really mean by what they are saying.”

He adds that most of the countries he has visited have excellent road signing. And European roads are far less dangerous than those in the United States.

When selecting a tour, he is

Credit

from page 8 rather than get stuck with an origination fee and nonpurchase penalty.

Most merchants prefer to set up automatic checkingaccount deductions for layaway payment, Woroch said, ostensibly to save you the hassle of visiting the store to make each payment. It’s just another way to make sure they get their money.

However, if one of those payments bounces, you’ll be

and receive a briefing from your escort on what tomorrow will bring.

Many, but not all, of your fellow riders probably ride bikes regularly back home to keep muscles in shape. If you haven’t ridden a bike for a while, it’s a good idea to take some short rides around your neighborhood in the weeks before you head out to join the group. Your fellow riders will probably range from about 40 to 70 years of age and older.

The cardiovascular and muscletoning health benefits of biking are well known. But a biking journey that requires several hours of pedaling daily can produce minor aches and pains such as saddle sores, leg and back aches, neck soreness and cramps, usually in the calf muscles.

To help prevent chafing of the skin that can be caused by constant pedaling, professional bike riders advise wearing cycling shorts that are long and close-fitting with no inner seams and lined with chamois. Wash them with a mild antiseptic soap.

Lower back pain can arise when you try pumping up a long hill before those muscles are in shape. Or when

your reach – the position of your handlebars – is not far enough to let your back stretch out to avoid putting too much weight on the hips and lower back.

Cramps, especially in the calf, can result from pushing too hard on muscles not sufficiently warmed up or from lack of use. To relieve them, press the middle of your calf firmly with your thumb for 20 seconds.

Wear a helmet anytime and anywhere you bike. Most bicycletouring companies require that and they usually provide one with your bicycle.

There are hundreds of organizations that offer escorted bicycling tours. A few examples are International Bicycle Tours at www. internationalbicycletours.com whose itineraries are marketed through Road Scholar (www.roadscholar.org), the 50-and-older educational program formerly known as Elderhostel; Backroads at www.backroads. com; and Cycle America (www. cycleamerica.com) whose focus is on national park tours in the United States and Canada.

mindful of the time of the year, local temperatures, and the outing’s required skill level.

His tips for the first-time bike tour participant include: • If the weather is questionable, keep your upper body dry and warm; • Pack three different weights of shirts: a T-shirt, longsleeved shirt, and heavy sweatshirt; • If you’re traveling on roads, wear a bright-colored windbreaker to be visible to motorists, and

•On warmer days, carry enough water for the full day because you

never know how far it will be to a filling station or store.

charged healthy overdraft fees from both the merchant and your bank.

Don’t lay away when you can pay, Woroch said. While it’s difficult to part with cash during the holidays, the fees you incur with a layaway plan aren’t always worth it if you can pay cash and avoid the hassle.

If you feel you really need a particular product, shop the Internet. Comparison shopping with your mouse is much easier on your feet and takes much less time.

And you can sleep on your decisions before you buy.

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Tour troubles

hotel or other accommodation. Or it might be a castle.

Van-supported inn-to-inn tours began in the United States in the early 1970s in Vermont, with its charming countryside boasting barns and grazing cows. Soon, groups were pedaling through France’s Loire Valley, England’s Cotswolds and Ireland’s Ring of Kerry.

Today, you can bike New Zealand, the Peruvian Andes, Hawaii’s Big Island, the U.S. and Canadian mountain regions, Amish villages and Louisiana plantations. Some tours combine biking with travel aboard a barge or other form of transport.

Also available are custom-designed itineraries tailored to your interests.

You probably will pedal about 25 miles a day, but that depends on your route and any historical or scenic stops along the way. If there are some steep hills, you can dismount and walk up. And if you feel you want to quit pedaling for a while, the luggage van is usually close by for a ride.

Dinner is a time to relax in the company of your fellow riders, trade stories about the day’s adventures,

December 2012

Maybe hanging on to handlebars as you bounce across a farmer’s pasture to the accompaniment of rattling cowbells on grazing cattle doesn’t sound all that appealing. Nor do you feel like recapturing your youth by banging your bike through the ruts and rises of a forest trail. But you might like pedaling quietly along a Dutch dike, or rolling along quiet streets of a friendly town or village.

Soaking in the countryside from the saddle of a bicycle can give you a fresh perspective. The breeze on your face and scent of flowers or grain in nearby fields can stimulate your senses in ways not possible when travel by car, train or motor coach.

There are escorted biking holidays that let you roll from one village or town to the next for several hours a day, stopping at regular intervals to catch your breath as well as take breaks for lunch or to enjoy some local attraction. By late afternoon, you arrive at your overnight destination, usually an inn, local

50plus

Biking tours can be beautiful

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50plus

Stewart

from page 4 Her estate is now $2 million. If the exemption were to stay at $5 million, she would not have an estate tax issue. But, if the exemption is down to $1 million when husband dies, wife has an estate tax issue because her estate at $2 million is greater than the $1 million exemption amount. Larkin explains that wife can avoid her estate tax issue by electing portability. As expected, there are a lot of details

Memory Medic

The Eagle • theeagle.com

December 2012

from page 2

18

of oxidative free radicals that result from energy metabolism. The brain consumes about 20 percent of all the body’s oxygen, even though it only weighs about 3.5 pounds.

When brain cells do die or are damaged for any reason, healthy neurons are assaulted by inflammatory chemicals, like cytokines, that are released by the brain’s immune cell system. Brain inflammation is commonly caused by infections such as colds and flu and by diets deficient in anti-oxidants.

We now know brain function need not decline with age, at least for people who stay healthy and mentally active. By the way, research shows that a lifetime of vigorous learning helps prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.

Level of education and lifetime of intellectual stimulus of research seem to protect brain against aging.

Here are some examples: • Leo Tolstoy learned to ride a bicycle at 67

Bradway

from page 5 • Manipulation while under general anesthetics –a doctor will stretch your shoulder while you are asleep. This may also be done in connection with a corticosteroid and local anesthetic injected into your shoulder.

• Surgery or arthroscopic capsular release may also be used if all other methods failed and you still have pain and stiffness interfering with your ability to do normal everyday activities.

Regarding what to do now, I recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor so he/she can rule out other conditions.

If the diagnosis is “Frozen Shoulder”, you’ll want to begin physical therapy treatments immediately. I

that I cannot go into here.

However, Larkin said, “We have clients who otherwise are not required to file an estate tax return who are filing just to elect this portability feature. Could be a great move if portability carries over in some form into 2013.”

Planning and predictions For years it has been standard advice to push income into next year and avoid paying income taxes now.

This year, that rule of thumb has been tossed aside. Both Jones and Larkin are advising their clients to

seriously think about pushing as much income as possible into their 2012 tax return instead of delaying to the 2013 tax return. There are many uncertainties about taxes in 2013.

Both Jones and Larkin are estimating their clients’ income taxes two ways: assuming laws change and assuming laws don’t change.

Larkin explained, “We don’t know exactly what 2013 taxation will look like, but it is not going to be better than 2012.”

Just the tip of the iceberg Folks, we have run out of room

here. I have left out more tax warnings than I have put in this article. I cringe to think what my fellow CPAs are saying as they read this column. “I can’t believe she left out ….!” If you want to know what those items are and whether or how you can plan to effectively deal with them, I recommend that you do what I have done: meet with a tax CPA pronto.

• Queen Victoria began learning Hindustani at 68 • Giuseppe Verdi was still composing operas in his 80s • Somerset Maugham wrote his last book at 84 • Frank Lloyd Wright designed his last building at 89 • In their 90s, Robert Frost was writing poems and George Bernard Shaw was writing plays, Georgia O’Keefe was painting pictures, and Pablo Casals was playing cello • Oliver Wendell Holmes was still dominating the Supreme Court until he retired at 91 • Linus Pauling was actively publishing just before his death at age 93.

• Leopold Stokowski recorded 20 albums in his 90s and signed a six-year contract at 96 Scientists are particularly noted for being sharp and productive long into the late 80s and 90s.

The National Science Foundation reports

that at age 69 more than 29 percent of scientists and engineers with PhDs still work full time, compared to 13 percent of scientists with a master of science degree or bachelor of science degree. Marion Diamond, an active senior scientist at 75, published data showing that brain cells can grow and learning can improve throughout life.

Of course, genes and luck have a lot to do with how well one ages.

Even so, things like exercise, diet and mental activity influence gene expression. Two genes have already been identified that become expressed as new memories are formed.

Too many seniors resign themselves to the ravages of age.

They will find, however, large benefits from challenging themselves in new experiences and competencies. Better

yet, learning new things makes you feel good about yourself, especially when accomplishing things other people think you can’t do.

Sources: 1. Discover Magazine (2012).

Special issue “2062 World Almanac.”

October.

2. Rupp, R. (1998) Committed to Memory. New York: Random House.

3. Diamond, Marian (1993). An optimistic view of aging brain.

The Free Library. http://www. thefreelibrary.com.

Dr. Klemm is author of a new memory improvement book, Memory Power 101 (New York: Skyhorse) and an e-book in multiple formats for students, Better Grades, Less Effort (Smashwords.com).

would recommend trying more natural methods of pain management first, such as trigger point dry needling, along with over the counter pain medicine.

If the pain is quite severe, you may talk with your doctor about injections. The sooner the pain is reduced the sooner you can work on the stiffness. You don’t want your shoulder to be immobile for too long because you shoulder will tighten and the pain will increase.

Make sure to explore options for physical therapy because not all physical therapist specialize in pain management nor have advanced credentialing in the newest treatment methods.

Leon Bradway is a physical therapist and director of the Sports Back and Pain Management Clinic. See www. bvphysicaltherapy.com.

Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, PFS, CFF, CDFA, CFP® through her blog at www.TexasDivorceFinance.com.

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Ongoing

Dec. 4

Dec. 5 Computer Club for Seniors – Monthly meeting is held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Carter’s Creek Training Room, at 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station. This month the group will be looking at “What is new in the world of electronic technology”. Best Buy will present computers, cameras, tablets, phones and more. Free and no pre-registration needed. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 8 Senior Pageant - All seniors ages 55 and older are invited to enjoy free food, entertainment and door prizes from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. The pageant will

honor the “Age of Elegance” with a fashion show. For more details, contact Lincoln Center at 979-7643779 or awilliams@cstx.gov.

979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 9

Dec. 13

Brazos Valley Symphony’s Holiday Brass and Organ Spectacular – Holiday concert will be held at 5 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, followed by a reception with cookies and beverages in the church foyer.

Tickets are $10 per child and $25 per adult, and can be purchased before the event at the MSC Box Office, located in Rudder Auditorium or online at www.boxoffice.tamu.edu; they will also be available at the door at the event. 979-696-6100

AARP Driver Safety Class – From 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Annex, 3030 E. 29th St., Ste. 100, in Bryan.

Call 979-731-1231 to register.

Dec. 12 Holiday Open House – People ages 55 and older are invited from 10 a.m. to noon to learn about the variety of activities and classes available at Southwood Community Center. There will be refreshments, entertainment, door prizes and photos with Santa. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at

Dec. 20 Movie and Popcorn - Seniors are invited to enjoy a movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Movie starts at 1 p.m. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Jan. 7 Free meditation class - Held the first Monday of every month, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at Brazos Healing Center, 1804 Brothers Blvd, Suite D, College Station. BrazosHealingCenter.com or 402-3595.

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Sunday Church School - 9:30am Sunday Worship Services - 10:45am 1100 Carter Creek Pkwy • 979-823-8073 www.fpcbryan.org

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Computer 101“Beginning Basic Computer Class” – Class that teaches basic computer skills will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on Dec. 4 and lasting three weeks, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Cost is $60. To register visit rectrac. cstx.gov, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information, call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

Computer 102 “Intermediate Computer Class” - Intermediate computer class will be held from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for three weeks starting on Dec. 4. Classes will be held at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

Cost is $60. To register, visit rectrac. cstx.gov, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department

at 979-764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@ cstx.gov.

December 2012

Sit and Fit – Seniors meet from noon to 12:45 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Southwood Community Center to enjoy a workout while sitting in a chair. The center is at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. every Friday. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bluegrass Jam Session – Held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Southwood Community Center, at 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All skill levels are welcome. Participants should bring string instruments and a friend. For more information, contact Southwood CommunityCenterat979-764-6351or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

42 dominoes - Seniors meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College

Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers bridge for seniors from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday. For more details, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351, College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

50plus

CALENDAR

Moisture Sensor Aqualift Hoses 19

50plus

Watercrest At Bryan

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December 2012

Join Us for...

Christmas Open House

December 19th, 5-7pm

We will be serving hors d’oeuvres & desserts from our chef and providing entertainment, music, door prizes, and dancing.

Join us for a Holiday Open House and find out why Watercrest at Bryan was voted Best Independent Living Community of the Brazos in 2010, 2011 & 2012!

Seating is limited, so please RSVP to 979-703-7088 or by email to marketing@watercrestbryan.com

by Monday, December 17th.

We will be collecting new toys for the Toys for Tots program 20

of the

Winner

2012

3801 E Crest Dr Bryan, TX 77802 (Near the intersection of University and Boonville Road) 979-708-7033 • www.watercrestbryan.com