PrimeTime Magazine January 2015

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jan uary 2 0 15

A Happy Retirement • • • •

Control Finances Avoid Internet Scams Stick with Financial Resolutions Catching Energy Thieves

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Financial Wellness

Q & A with Jennifer Flynn of Money Management International

6 New Year New You

Sticking with financial resolutions

7 Save Energy & Money

Catching invisible thieves

8

Securing Retirement

How to make sure you have enough money for retirement

17 Internet Scams

Keep your money out of the

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18 Senior Living

Making it affordable

Senior issues

Alzheimer’s Association..................16 Your Home..............................................19 Hypothermia a problem for seniors.................20 Community outreach for WWII Vet in need............................21

Food & Drink

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LIFESTYLES

What Do You Fink..................................8 Retirement Sparks.................................9 Avoid Winter Blues.............................10 Oscar Season Preview......................14

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PrimeTime |

b y M ichael C erio

financial Q &A wellness with

Jennifer Flynn

– Money Management International

Happy New Year! – If you’re anything like me, or millions of others across the country this time of year, you’ve probably made a few New Year’s resolutions—those tricky promises of change that too often fall by the wayside a few months from now. For many, common resolutions include losing weight and exercising more, spending more time with family, to travel to new places, and going back to school.

Each of these is certainly admirable and can help improve quality of life. But, there’s another frequent resolution made when the calendar turns the page, one that I feel is not only important, but goes hand-in-hand with realizing other resolutions: To get out of debt and do a better job of managing money.

It’s no secret that Rhode Island’s economy was hard hit during the recession. Thousands of jobs were lost (fortunately, many have returned), cost of living increases outpaced the growth of wages for those still employed, and near countless residents tapped what savings they had to make ends meet. Yet, these challenges don’t tell the entire story. Many more leaned on credit cards to pay bills, unexpected home or car repairs, and even medical emergencies, and now find themselves in what feels like insurmountable debt. Perhaps no population is at greater risk than our seniors, many of whom live on a fixed income with few extra dollars to spare.

To kick-off a new year of PrimeTime, we spoke with Jennifer Flynn, Senior Director of Education, Community Relations and Grant Management with Money Management International (MMI), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial education agency to learn how the organization’s Rhode Island office helps people take control of their finances and escape debt.

q Despite being the country’s largest nonprofit financial education agency, some may be unfamiliar with your services—what does MMI offer and how long have you been helping the community?

MMI has been around nationally since 1958, and in Rhode Island since 1991. Our mission is to improve lives through financial education by providing community-based financial literacy programs, professional budget and credit counseling, debt management services, bankruptcy and housing counseling, and much more. All of our programs are meant to help consumers overcome obstacles and plan for financial success.

We provide services in every state, and have 78 locations in 31 states, including Warwick, where we offer in-person credit counseling. Our counseling services are also available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by phone and online. Every day, we assist financially-distressed consumers, seniors, individuals struggling with poor money management, and students and parents considering a loan to finance higher education. We also help individuals—predominantly seniors—unable to manage their financial affairs due to a disability or illness and receive payments or benefits through Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Pension Boards, and other Federal or state income-support programs. One of the ways we do this is through our recent merger with CRISSCROSS, a West Virginia credit counseling agency, which has provided the expertise to launch an organizational representative payee program nationwide. The representative payee establishes a budget for the client, pays their primary bills on their behalf, and works with them to manage their remaining funds. Through this service, we’re able to help reduce issues like unpaid rent and utilities, while also relieving family members and caregivers of the burden of financial management.

| PrimeTime

q What are some of your largest programs? Are there specific services that are requested more than others?

MMI’s free Budget and Credit Counseling for those who need help developing a budget and with basic money management skills and credit problems is the largest service we offer. For this program, our counselors are available 24/7 by phone, online and at local community branches. Last year, we assisted 70,965 consumers through budget counseling. During the sessions, a certified credit counselor works with a consumer to assess their current financial situation, develop a realistic spending plan, establish achievable financial goals and create a personal action plan.

Along with our free Budget and Credit Counseling service, we offer a Debt Management Plan that can help consumers resolve credit problems and repay outstanding debt. Managing one’s debt through this service may offer additional benefits such as reduced interest and smaller monthly payments. While there are fees associated with this additional service, they can be waived based on a consumer’s income and federal poverty guidelines.

Additionally, MMI has robust community education programs that use certified educators to provide financial workshops throughout the communities we serve to further help consumers on their financial journey. In 2013, we offered more than 2,300 community-based education programs and educated over 65,000 consumers through workshops and webinars.

January 2015

your money

Through Rhode Island Location, Nation’s Largest Nonprofit Financial Education Agency Helps Seniors Escape Debt, Take Control of Finances q Is there a fee for people to turn to MMI for help?

Our Budget and Credit Counseling services are available to consumers free of charge. Other services we offer may carry a fee, but no consumer is ever turned away for their inability to pay.

q What percentage of people you serve are seniors?

Have you seen in increase in requests from seniors over the past few years as a result of the economy?

Another issue for some seniors facing financial struggles results from continuing to care for children, grandchildren, and great great-grandchildren.

We also see with seniors an inherent responsibility to keep current with their bills, even if it means not paying for food or medicine. At this stage in life, there should be a level of comfort and not insecurity. But, when living on a fixed income, there can be a concern about difficult choices no one should have to make.

When seniors are delinquent on bills and get calls from a creditor, that’s where their focus goes instead of paying for food or medicine.

Seniors have definitely been a growing population among those we help. In 2011, seniors accounted for around 11 percent of the clients we served. This number grew to 16 percent last year. We’ve also seen a slight increase in the number of seniors we’ve helped with delinquent housing issues; growing from 11 percent of those served in 2012 to 12 percent last year.

We’re also finding, both locally and nationally, that as a result of the economic downturn, adult children who have lost a job will often turn to their parents— many of which are seniors—for financial assistance.

Parents always want to help their children, but sometimes their financial situations are also stressed. The other issue contributing to this growth is that seniors are a primary target for financial fraud, which is why we’re putting additional attention in this area.

q When someone comes to MMI in a difficult situation, what is the first thing MMI does to help

q Oftentimes, seniors, particularly those living on a fixed income, find themselves in difficult financial

how dangerous can this be?

situations when unexpected expenses or medical emergencies come up—what are some of the circumstances you see that put seniors in debt?

We find that the majority of Americans lack basic financial literacy training, which is an issue that can pose an even greater problem for seniors living on a fixed income. Seniors struggling to make ends meet often turn to non-traditional financial services that can be predatory. According to the FDIC, among the 24 million under-banked households, 39 percent are age 55 and over.

In addition to the difficulties of living on a fixed income and managing debt, seniors are at a higher risk of victimization from financial fraud. A recent study by the Federal Trade Commission showed that financial fraud victimizes around 13 percent of the adult population in a given year. Further, a 2011 National Victim Profiling study, underwritten by AARP, revealed the average age of victims was 69 years-old. The consequences of these crimes can be serious, resulting in both monetary and personal trauma for elderly victims.

January 2015

them begin to resolve their issue?

As a full service credit counseling agency, consumers can easily connect with our counselors to assess their particular needs. From there, counselors work with our clients from start to finish, ensuring they have an action plan and tools in place that address their specific situation. Our counselors are also equipped to connect consumers with other resources in their community that might be able to further assist them.

q People sometimes turn to a credit card to cover expenses and pay bills when there’s a lack of money— Credit is a valuable financial tool if used properly.

It can come in handy in the event of an emergency, however, it can also lead to additional financial crisis if a consumer continues to rely on that credit to supplement their monthly budget and income. Unexpected but inevitable financial crises can be difficult to overcome when debt levels are high and savings levels are low. If you are facing a financial setback, it is time for planning, not panic.

When in financial crisis, it’s important to learn how to assess your situation, identify available resources, set priorities, create a plan, and communicate with your creditors. But most importantly, work with someone to develop a budget that will minimize the need to rely on credit on a monthly basis. This is where Money Management International comes in. If you must use credit, try to choose the card with the lowest interest rate and try to pay the statement balance in full before the next month to avoid interest charges that often complicate the situation and amount of debt. If someone has a circumstance with one or two creditors, we’ll often suggest they call them and see if there’s a way to have late fees waived or negotiate a lower interest rate that can help get an account current.

q Do you find that people come to MMI when they’re just starting to experience tough times, or when they’ve already found themselves in debt? What should people be aware of?

Unfortunately, most consumers don’t recognize the warning signs of a financial setback, therefore, are forced to be reactive rather than proactive with their finances. Just like there are warning signs for many things in life, there are also warning signs when it comes to finances, particularly a credit crisis.

Some of the warning signs people should look for include, borrowing money or using credit cards for items you were previously able to purchase with cash; paying bills with money intended for something else; near, at, or over the limit on your credit cards; and habitually paying bills late.

It is important for people to remember that there are agencies, like MMI, available to help them. Unfortunately, consumers sometimes wait to reach out for assistance, which can make a situation more challenging.

q How can people in Rhode Island connect with Money Management International?

Certified counselors are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by phone by calling toll-free (866) 5152227. People can also visit www.MoneyManagement. org to get started with counseling by clicking the “Get Help Now” button. Also, we have a local office in Warwick at 501 Centerville Road. I’m also happy to speak with anyone who may need help; it’s what we’re here for. My number is (401) 468-7119.

q If there was one piece of information you’d want readers to know about MMI, what would it be?

What I’d really want people to know, is that besides being proactive with their financial situation, all of our information is appropriate and applicable to people at all stages of life. The programs we offer to help people manage expenses and debt can work for a young adult, as well as those in their 60s and 70s.

PrimeTime |

Stick With Your Financial Resolutions With the new year underway, there is a heavy focus around resolutions. Whether you are making a resolution to celebrate a fresh start or looking to make a change no matter the time of year, maintaining resolutions can be difficult. In fact, a recent survey from Bank of America found that 49 percent of respondents don’t make New Year’s resolutions because they prefer to set goals throughout the year.

Goals tied to the new year, and those set at various points in the year, are all aimed at making significant life changes. According to the survey, 81 percent of resolutions involve health and fitness, 45 percent involve personal finances and 30 percent are targeted toward making changes in social life and relationships. With the large number of people planning to make changes in their finances, it is helpful to determine how to best ensure you achieve your goal.

“I’ll be the first to admit keeping to a financial resolution takes a lot of hard work. It takes good behavior and good habits,” said Farnoosh Torabi, a consumer finance expert. “With life being so complicated, stressful and complex, we often abandon them. Get the systems in place - the small steps you need to take now - to help you get on the right track.”

Research shows that consumers who understand their behaviors and motivations are more likely to build and keep positive habits for the long term. That’s why it’s so important to have strategies to keep those financial resolutions throughout the year. A few pointers to stick with your financial resolutions include:

Prepare before your resolution begins Putting thought into your resolutions before you

spring into action can put you on the path to change. Starting early with a few small changes can also improve your odds of staying the course to achieve your goals.

For example, if you’re looking to improve your financial health, begin by imagining a debt-free life.

Visualizing how things may change can provide additional motivation you may need to move forward.

Think about having more money available each month and how it would change your stress levels.

Imagine what it would be like to not worry about meeting your payments, or saving more for retirement, education or emergencies. Thirty percent of survey respondents said they identify their New Year’s resolutions early as a way to stick with them throughout the year.

Develop an action plan It’s fine to make a resolution, but the odds of sticking with it improve

dramatically if you create an action plan of smaller steps to support your goals. If your number one resolution is to lose weight, your plan might include budgeting money for a gym membership and cleaning out any junk food from your pantry. Creating a budget? Start by tracking your spending to see where the money is going. Then create a budget that’s tight but workable, to give you more flexibility to pay down debt, increase savings or invest for retirement. If have to carry a balance, but want to responsibly manage your credit card, consider a card that helps build positive habits. For example, Bank of America’s Better Balance Rewards card pays you to manage your credit card use. Every quarter that you pay more than your minimum balance on time, you earn $25 cash back. If you have at least one other qualifying account with Bank of America, you can receive another $5 bonus, totaling up to $30 a quarter. You’ll be eligible for up to $120 a year toward your balance, and you’ll feel better knowing how much you can spend each month.

Write it down Forty percent of survey respondents say they use written reminders to help stay

on track with their resolutions. Try writing your resolutions on Post-it notes, in Evernote, in calendar reminders or on notes stuck to the refrigerator - whatever you’ll look at regularly - to keep yourself committed and on track. Research shows that a written goal is more likely to be achieved. If your goal is managing your finances better, write a reminder on your daily calendar to check your credit card statements as they come in - it’s the best way to spot transactions you don’t recognize.

Get a little help from your friends Sometimes a gentle reminder from a family member or

friend can work wonders. Share your resolutions with a trusted person and ask for occasional reminders. Some 23 percent of survey respondents plan to enlist help this way. A friend may be able to coax you to going to the gym, or even talk you out of buying that handbag you’ve been eyeing that’s out of your budget. The key to cutting debt is to stop adding to it. If you’re in a hole, stop digging.

Partner up Find a friend or loved one with the same resolution and agree to motivate and support

one another to stick to your goals. It’s easier to manage a diet, exercise plan or budget if you have support. Twenty percent of respondents plan to partner up to keep to their resolutions.

Start your New Year’s resolutions thinking today, and keep the big goals in mind every day, whether they aim for better health, sounder finances or better relationships. With the right attitude and commitment, 2014 could be a very good year. For more information, visit www.bankofamerica.com.

| PrimeTime

January 2015

your money

Save Energy & Money

Catch Invisible Energy Thieves

Saint Elizabeth Community Where RI seniors come first

(BPT) - Today’s consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever before.

They understand that making eco-friendly choices not only creates a positive impact on your surroundings, it can also translate into actual savings on monthly energy bills.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and make your home part of the “green” initiative, Christine Ackerson, head of sustainability at LG Electronics USA, offers the following tips to help you protect both the environment and your bottom line.

• Get the most out of your refrigerator. Most consumers

focus on keeping the inside of their refrigerators clean, but keeping the outside clean is just as important. Dusty coils actually can impact the refrigerator’s overall efficiency, because when dirty, they trap heat and prevent the refrigerator from cooling efficiently. The grills and coils should be cleaned once or twice a year and more often if you have pets.

Use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment to clean the condenser cover and vents of your refrigerator. You can also use a soft bristled brush to access some of the hard-to-reach areas.

Also, older refrigerator models can use a lot of energy. Consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR(R) qualified refrigerator, which is 20 percent more energy efficient than the federal minimum energy standard. You can also look for refrigerators with energy-saving technologies like a linear compressor. New refrigerator features like LG’s Door-in-Door can actually reduce cold air loss by up to 47 percent. The convenient door-within-a-door compartment on the fridge door allows quick, easy access to commonly used snacks and beverages without requiring you to open the entire refrigerator door.

• Insulate your home. Heating and cooling your home is one of your biggest

energy costs, and if your home isn’t properly insulated, you’re losing money. Start by closing your windows and sealing any drafty areas you find. Hire a professional to insulate drafty areas of your home if you don’t feel you can handle them on your own.

• Turn it off. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power

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Saint Elizabeth Manor

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Saint Elizabeth Terrace

strips. Turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use as equipment still uses several watts of power when they are in standby mode. And be sure to unplug your cellphone charger when your device is fully charged.

Affordable apartments for seniors Warwick: 739-7700

• Cold is the new hot. A quick tip when it comes to laundry is washing clothes

Saint Elizabeth Community offers a full spectrum of

with cold water whenever possible. Look for washers equipped with “cold wash” technology, which achieves cold water savings with warm water washing performance. Another way to save water is to try to wash full loads, or if you must wash a partial load, reduce the level of water appropriately to avoid usage of extra water.

• Do your research. Finding home appliances and electronics that are energy

efficient is not difficult. Look for the ENERGY STAR “Most Efficient” designation when shopping for your next appliance, like LG’s mega-capacity washer that allows you to wash more clothes with fewer loads. This distinction recognizes the most energy efficient products among those that already are ENERGY STAR qualified.

Or look for an ENERGY STAR refrigerator that’s earned the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, an emblem given by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute in recognition of brand’s demonstration of environmental responsibility.

Percent reduction in exchange rate of air between opening the door-in-door compared to one French door for 10 seconds. Results based on testing of comparable LG model with same Door-in-Door design.

January 2015

care and services for older adults in Rhode Island, ensuring they receive the right care in the right place at the right time. To learn how we can help you or someone you love, call us at 471-6060 or one of the numbers above.

www.stelizabethcommunity.org www.facebook.com/SaintElizabethCommunity A non-profit, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) charitable organization and CareLink partner.

PrimeTime |

LIFESTYLES

Your Money

b y S usan P omfret

Securing Your Retirement A Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Report states that 51 percent of households are “at risk” of not having enough to maintain their living standards in retirement and if they do not tap into home equity that percentage increases to 61 percent.

More than 10,000 people turn 62 every day. The Northeastern states in general have the oldest population.

So what is a senior to do to help afford retirement and to “Age in Place” on a fixed income? Well there are a few answers to that question: 1. Downsize and move to smaller home or a senior apartment complex 2. Refinance their current mortgage to a lower rate and payment 3. Take out a reverse mortgage to eliminate current mortgage payment all together and/or to help supplement their income if they don’t have a mortgage We know that older American’s homes are their biggest asset. But being house rich and cash poor is not going to pay the bills nor make retirement less financially stressful.

Having been a senior advocate for over 15 years, I have been able to help guide many seniors with the resources and facts necessary to help them make decisions that have improved their quality of life! It is the most rewarding feeling knowing that I can help them and help make their life much easier!

The best advise that I can give to help you make a decision about which choice works best for you is TALK to your fam-

ily, your adult children, your personal or financial advisor. Having more resources and the facts will only help you make a more educated decision. I know that most seniors are private about their financial struggles and other personal issues but it is most important to talk to your family or a trusted advisor to help guide you through the maze of opportunities out there to help you enjoy your golden years.

Sometimes just paying day-to-day expenses, property taxes, home health care services and products as well as afford much needed home improvements, to name a few is difficult on a fixed income but there are choices out there to help you be able to be financially stress-free throughout your retirement years.

Susan Pomfrets volunteer work includes the Co-Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Senior Agenda Coalition and past Board member for the RI Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. She covered the 2005 White House Conference on Aging, a conference that is held in Washington, DC every 10 years. She is also member of the Older Women’s Policy Group and most recently the Lt. Governor’s Long Term Care Coordination Council’s Aging in Community Act Subcommittee member. She is the Reverse Mortgage Sales Manager for Great Plains National Bank located in Cranston, RI.

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

by MIKE FINK

2014 Redux Look. I mean, Wait. I mean to say, listen, folks. I flip through my pocket engagement calendar to check out the triumphs and defeats, the high and low points of the bygone year. I file the following report. My wife went to a conference in the summer of ‘14, and I thought, whee, I’ll hang out at the bars and pubs and catch up with friends. The phone sat still in silence. I took lots of naps and went to sleep incredibly early. That’s the “nadir.” But then, I took one single ukulele lesson, just strumming on a cute little dwarf guitar and through that connection I met a 15 year old girl with many talents. Leah can play the pretty mini-mandolin but also draw! I invited her to bring her ma to my tiny summer shack in Narragansett and sketch some designs on the asbestos wall behind my wood-burning Franklin stove.

She penned a butterfly and a few curlicue “soutache” calligraphic swirls and then signed her name. Turns out her middle initial “F” stands for “Fabre.” “I collect the books by Henri Fabre, the 19th century scientific poet of the pests---the bugs and vermin most of us seek to destroy.” I gathered up my hoarded trove of “The Life of the Ant” and “The Story of the Wasp” and sure enough, my Leah is the direct descendant of the renowned romantic entomologist. Now, is that a coincidence or what?

That constituted the acme of my equinoctal debriefing journal. Came the autumn and along followed the birthdays of my siblings. My eldest bro was born in mid-November, just at the edge of Armistice Day. And, sure enough, he is a Korean Conflict Vet. My middle brother--the French call it the “cadet”--was a Leo, a midsummer changeling. And I am a late autumn fledgling, where fall meets early winter before the solstice. This year, as we are all senior citizens with common bonds of a shared cultural generation, we decided to share a single birthday celebration. My wife baked one cake with all our intials inscribed in sweet frosting print. It was a rather poignant event, touching, cheerful, and just a bit melancholy to boot.

I am the baby of the brood. By now, however, I am the record-keeper, the storyteller, the lamplighter. My job, as I see it, is to remember, recall, and register, the fine details of our evolution. I recall the names of our grandparents and our cousins. I can more-or-less amuse a small crowd with ancient nostalgic anecdotes, most of them humiliating to me in person, but, I hope, flattering to my brothers.

You are not confined by your family, as time goes by. You have your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues at work, your own children and grandchildren, and your intimate personal memories. Your secret romances. The strangers you have confided in, or whose confidences your have heard and hoarded. Nevertheless there is no honest denial of the power of those who sprang from identical roots-your mother and your father.

The first-born brought into the wider family the first three grandchildren. He was, and remains, the solitary soldier among us. A suitable honor, but don’t forget, the Korean episode was never a declared war, only a “conflict.” It is popularly labeled “the forgotten war.” The second son had the talent, the charm, the wit, to beguile the clan. The aunts and uncles believed he might bring fame of some sort to the last name--temporary though surnames so often are: they survive only superficially in our land of the free.

As for the burden of the runt of the litter, he, or she, or I, must merit the medal of....what? In my case, it was what you, dear reader, have before you--words! We learn early to weave sentences and learn by heart the lyrics to old songs. We sing them quietly to ourselves or we chant them, or twist and turn them into jokes.

And thus, we three sat at the table, munched the cake, clinked glasses of apple cider, and hoped we might get through the winter of 2015 and beyond!

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lif e st y l e s

retirement sparks b y elaine m . decker

Budgeting Tools

O

ne of the most important skills a recent or soon-to-be retiree must master is budgeting. First you have to determine how much income you can reasonably count on after you stop working full time. Then you have to figure out how you will spend it. Alternately, you can decide what you need (or want) to spend in retirement, and then wrack your brain over where the heck that amount of money will come from. Which generally leads to rethinking how much you really need to spend.

There are many books and websites to help with this planning. But few provide tools to help you sequester your funds into the categories you’ve identified in your retirement budget. A commercial from the financial services company ING (now Voya) offers an unusual suggestion. Money earmarked for retirement is colored orange (the same as ING’s logo). That doesn’t seem practical. Plus U.S. Code Title 18 Section 333 tells us it’s illegal to deface U.S. currency.

Specifically: “Whoever mutilates,… disfigures, or… does any other thing to any bank bill… issued by… the Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such… unfit to be reissued, shall be fined… or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.” There’s room for interpretation about what rendering money “unfit to be reissued” means, but I don’t think Uncle Sam would look kindly on dying our money orange.

That left me pondering other tools to help retirees set aside income earmarked for specific expenses. I’m reminded of something from my childhood. When I was 3, we moved from a suburb of Newark, New Jersey to live year round in the summer cottage my father had built in northern Jersey. He winterized it gradually and for years we had a potbellied stove in the living room to provide extra heat.

At the time, my father’s method of budgeting was manila envelopes. Every payday, he put cash into “files” labeled mortgage, groceries, oil, etc. The stove was still with us in the early 1950’s when he finally opened a checking account.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s website tells us: “Checking accounts in the United States almost doubled between 1939 and 1952,” so my father was a late adopter. The FRBA site credits the growth after 1952 to the advent of MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition).

MICR not withstanding, I’m not sure what led to the switch from cash to checks in our household. We lived in God’s country, with just a Catholic Church and a bar (the neighborhood essentials) in our hamlet. My father commuted to work by car about three hours a day round trip. Perhaps a bank branch with

January 2015

convenient hours opened en route. What I do know is that, once he had the checking account, he ceremoniously burned the now-obsolete manila envelopes in the potbelly.

I must have been around 7 then and I was thrilled to be allowed to help out.

My father retrieved any important contents from the envelopes and gave the empties to me to bundle for him to burn. Imagine my excitement when I discovered a five-dollar bill still inside one! I didn’t get to keep the money, but I never forgot the “attaboy” from my father. (He did not bestow praise gratuitously.)

Looking back, I realize my mother was probably behind the switch to checking. She might have had her eye on one of those toasters that banks gave out in the early fifties for newly opened accounts. More likely she decided she wanted to free up space in the living room, because the stove disappeared soon after the burning ritual.

This brings me to some tools for sequestering money into budgeted slots.

One solution (an improved version of my father’s manila envelopes) is to put the cash into see-thru Ziploc bags marked for each item. You can also use empty pill bottles. Match the vitamin letter to the budget category: E for electric, C for cell phone, Multi for mortgage. Or prescriptions: Hydrocodone for house repairs, Lipitor for lawn care, Plavix for physicians. You get the idea.

I especially like the Sock Solution, because it takes care of another problem: mismatched socks. The ones whose mate disappeared, but the minute you throw it out, the lost one will show up. Stuff your cash into socks labeled for each budget category. Knot the ends and stow them in a drawer marked “Budget.”

Alternately, open new checking accounts earmarked just for each specific need.

(Good luck keeping them straight.) The bank might even give you a thermal mug.

Or a polar fleece blanket. But don’t expect a toaster.

Copyright 2015 Business Theatre Unlimited

Elaine M. Decker’s books—Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks and CANCER: A Coping Guide—are available at SPECTRUM-INDIA, on the East Side of Providence, on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions, and by special order through your local bookstore. One of her essays appears in the recently published anthology: 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.

PrimeTime |

by K AT H Y T I R R E L L

LIFESTYLES

how to avoid the

Winter Blues

So the holidays are over. The decorations are coming down, the Christmas ornaments are getting tucked back into their boxes, the tree is laid to rest at the curb, and the long, cold winter months will begin. Now that the hustle and bustle is over, some may find things a little mundane as winter paints the world white and life goes back to normal again or at least routine.

Since winter usually means staying in the house for more hours of the day, it’s often hard to find something interesting or out of the norm to do. TV is probably going to be a steady stream of reruns until the February sweeps come sweeping in—so how to fill those extra hours every day and night?

One of the best solutions is to find a fun, new project to work on such as putting together a scrapbook. Did you know that scrapbooking is the third most popular craft in the United States, with over 4 million women scrapping away? (hobbyists of this craft are sometimes known as scrappers) The industry doubled in size between the years 2001 and 2004 with over 1600 companies making scrapbooking products, to the tune of 2.5 billion dollars.

A little history is in order. Back in the 15th century people in England enjoyed putting together “commonplace books” which were compilations of recipes, quotations, letters, poems, proverbs, prayers and more. Each book would be unique, based on the person’s particular interests. Later, in the 16th century, people began putting together “friendship albums” which were similar to modern day yearbooks, filled with short texts and illustrations supplied by friends of the owner of the albums. And by the nineteenth century, since photography had been invented, photos began appearing in people’s scrapbooks.

Fast forward to the twentieth century and we can thank Marielen Christensen of Elk Ridge, Utah for turning her scrapbooking hobby into the industry it is today. She is credited with starting the craft of scrapbooking, opening a scrapbook store in Spanish Fork, Utah in 1981. That same year Christensen and her husband, AJ wrote and published a how-to book called “Keeping Memories Alive”. In addition to this helpful book (available on amazon.com), you can also check out www.scrapbooks.com, which has tons of useful information about scrapbooking, including forums and classes to help you get started.

Preserving personal and family history in a scrapbook can be done with various materials. You can use all kinds of colored paper, stickers, photographs, printed media, fabric, ribbon, drawings and other artwork. A scrapbook is thought of as a visual diary, so it’s 10 | PrimeTime

up to you to decide what to put in it.

Michaels (the Arts and Crafts Store), with locations in Seekonk, Smithfield, Woonsocket and Middletown, has everything you need to get “scrapping”. They’ve also published a book called “The Michaels Book of Paper Crafts” filled with lots of helpful information.

A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and Craftland are just a few of the other area stores selling scrapbooking items.

If scrapbooking isn’t your thing, there are lots of other activities that can help pass the time this winter.

The following are a few suggestions.

Snuggling up with a good book. What could be better on a cold winter day (or night) than spending a few quiet hours reading something informative, scary, entertaining or thoughtprovoking. If you need some suggestions, The New York Times lists the current top 10 best-selling novels as: Hope To Die by James Patterson The Escape by David Baldacci Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Gray Mountain by John Grisham The Burning Room by Michael Connelly Captivated by You by Sylvia Day Revival by Stephen King Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter If you prefer non-fiction, a few suggestions are: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, 41 by George W. Bush, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, and Wild by Cheryl Strayed.

Along the same lines as reading a book is writing one. If a novel seems too daunting, you could try writing short stories or personal essays. Just keeping a daily journal will keep the words flowing as you jot down your observations, snippets of conversation, or thoughts about life and subjects that interest you.

If you are patient and like to use your hands, there is knitting, sewing, crocheting, quilting, drawing and painting, etc.

Puzzles are always fun to do no matter how old you are. A nice 1000-piece puzzle will keep your mind focused and your hands busy for hours at a time.

Build something! A birdhouse, model car, airplane, sailboat, train set, bookcase—whatever you like.

And if you really can’t take staying indoors for the whole month of January, here are a few local events to check out: • Winter Rarities Eco Tour at Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown on Saturday, January 10 at 6:30 a.m.

• The Illusionists—Seven illusionists performing their magic at The Providence Performing Arts Center from January 16 through the 18th.

• Beatles Tribute “1964” at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket on Saturday, January 17 at 8 p.m.

Recycle Christmas greeting cards The Greeting Card Association says Americans purchase some 6.5 billion greeting cards every year. Of those, around 1.6 billion are Christmas cards. Exchanging cards is a great way for people to show their loved ones that they’re thinking about them, and such cards make for festive ornaments to display around homes. But when the holiday season ends, recycling those cards into other items can make good use of the paper resources and turn what’s normally a singleuse item into an enduring trinket. · Turn this year’s cards into next year’s gift tags. Cut out circles, rectangles or any shape you desire. Otherwise, visit the scrapbooking aisle of your favorite craft store and purchase a paper punch to make easy work of cutting those shapes. · Transform a greeting card into a mini puzzle for a youngster. · Glue silly characters from Christmas cards onto a sheet of magnet. Then use these magnets for decorations next year. · Frame favorite cards so their messages can endure year after year. · Turn a beautiful card into a keepsake. Use a decoupage medium to attach a card to a ceramic or wood backing. Coat with a polyurethane top coat to protect it. · Use greeting cards to make wine charms for holiday entertaining. Guests can keep track of their glasses with ease. · Use cut-outs of cards to improve the appearance of plain gift wrap or bags. · Insert cut rounds of greeting cards into the inside of can lids to create crafty ornaments. · Make a paper Christmas tree from cutouts on greeting cards. · Encourage kids to make a photo collage from the cards they like. Mount their efforts on poster board and save for next year. · Donate used cards. St. Jude’s Ranch recycles greeting cards by reselling them to help fund programs.

January 2015

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January 2015

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PrimeTime | 11

food and drink

Delightful Ham Dishes to Warm Up Winter While winter brings chilly temperatures and longer nights, there’s nothing that can bring a family together like a warm meal.

In the hopes that everyone has a meal to share with loved ones, country music star Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town, has teamed up with Smithfield, encouraging others to lend a ham to those in need. For more information, visit www.Smithfield.com/LendAHam.

Ham and Apple Butter Biscuit Sandwich Created by Kimberly Schlapman • Servings: 6

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For the Cheddar Bacon Biscuits: 8 strips Smithfield Thick Cut Bacon 1 cup onion, small dice 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon paprika 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded

For the Cheddar Bacon Biscuits: Preheat oven to 425°F. Cook bacon until crispy. Remove from pan and drain on paper-lined tray. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and reserve.

To remaining bacon fat, add onion and sauté until caramelized, about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and paprika. Mix to blend then make a well in the center of the bowl and add buttermilk, butter, bacon, onions and cheese. Mix gently with a wooden spoon until dough is combined. It will be wet and sticky.

Using a 1/2 cup measure portion the batter onto a baking sheet, leaving an inch or so around each biscuit.

Brush some of the reserved bacon fat on the top of each biscuit. Bake in oven until biscuits are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes.

For Granny Beck’s Apple Butter: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 pounds assorted apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces 3 cups apple cider Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon allspice For the Sandwich: 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 3 tablespoons maple syrup 6 slices Smithfield Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham, sliced in half Apple butter (store bought or recipe at right) 6 cheddar bacon biscuits, sliced in half (recipe right) 10 ounces arugula

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For Granny Beck’s Apple Butter: In a dutch oven over medium heat melt butter and add apples. Cook until apples are slightly soft about 5 minutes. Add cider, lemon zest and juice, cloves, cinnamon and allspice. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally for about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours until it is reduced and thickened.

Mash mixture with a potato masher until uniform.

Let cool before serving.

For the Sandwich: Preheat grill or grill pan to medium high.

In a small pot over medium heat, melt butter, brown sugar and maple syrup until sugar dissolves. Brush mixture on ham and grill slices until charred, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Baste the ham with more maple syrup mixture.

Spread apple butter on the halved biscuits and top with grilled ham and arugula. Top with other half of biscuit to make a sandwich. Serve with more apple butter on the side.

January 2015

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There is nothing more closely identified with how we feel about ourselves than how much we weigh. Extra and unwanted weight can impact every aspect of our lives, from our sense of well-being and social/emotional lives to our physical health and longevity.

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PrimeTime | 13

b y alex viscusi

To Win Or Not To Win? As we start the new year, my favorite season is in full swing – Awards Season.

At this time of year, A-list actors, directors and writers come together to campaign to win awards that are actually more about politics than performance. With that being said, I’ve gathered a list of the most-likely to be nominated for an Academy Award in the major acting categories. In a year of physical transformations, it will be interesting to see who picks up the statues during the Oscars this year, which air on Sunday, February 22.

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January 2015

A preview of what you may see during Oscar Season Best Actor in a Leading Role: Steve Carell, Foxcatcher: Carell stunned audiences and critics alike with his unrecognizable transformation. He plays John Du Pont, a wealthy but isolated man who trains Olympic wrestler Mark Shultz. In this true story, their relationship begins to become strange and eventually ends in the death of Shultz. It’s an eerie performance that has Carell proving to all that he is not only a comedian but a worth Oscar contender.

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game: The story of the closeted mathematician Alan Turing who helped crack the Enigma code during World War II is a compelling one and Cumberbatch brings his consistent urgency to the role. With such a tough category this year it’s doubtful that he’ll take the trophy but it’s a good start to his relationship with the Academy.

Michael Keaton, Birdman: He’s been deservedly winning most awards this season and gives one of the best performances of his career as the washed-up action star Riggins who is trying to rejuvenate his career by starting a Broadway play. It’s a role of a lifetime for the criminally underrated & underused Keaton. The true Best Actor Race is between Carell and Keaton and Redmayne.

Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything: Along with Carell, Redmayne has one of the most stunning physical transformations to play Stephen Hawking throughout his relationship with his ex-wife, Jane. Redmayne is reported to have worked with a ballet instructor on how to isolate his body to show the decline in Hawkings’s health. His performance is being buzzed about later in the game because of the film’s release date, so that may help his chances for push over Carell or Keaton.

lifestyles in with a police officer and reported egotistical behavior. She needed a movie like this to remind people of her acting chops. She’ll definitely get the nomination but I’m not entirely sure she’ll get the win despite her campaigning.

Julianne Moore, Still Alice: Moore plays Alice, a linguistic professor that is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the film then follows her struggle along with her family’s to cope with her diagnosis and battle the disease. Moore has won Best Actress at the Gotham Awards, Hollywood Film Awards and the National Board of Review.

She’s been nominated three separate times since 1998 and is in direct competition with Witherspoon, she may pull ahead for the win though.

Amy Adams, Big Eyes: The Academy loves Amy Adams, not enough to give her an Oscar but enough to nominate her five times. Big Eyes tells the story of painter Margaret Keane and her husband. Adams will likely get a nomination in this category, especially with the film’s timely release on Christmas Day. She stars opposite two-time Academy Award Winner Christoph Waltz so the Academy will be paying close attention to Big Eyes.

Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything: Jones and Redmayne will both get nominations for carrying the remarkable story of Stephen Hawking and his ex-wife Jane’s courtship as they began to grapple with his diagnosis. Both actors deserve nominations as they both throw emotional punches, whether it’s Redmayne’s physical transformation throughout the film or Jones’s heartbreaking nuances—they both make you weep.

Jennifer Aniston, Cake: Aniston is garnering some buzz for her raw performance as Claire Simmons, a woman who is experiencing physical and mental pain and becomes fascinated by the suicide of a woman from her support group. The audience at the Toronto Film Festival gave it a standing ovation. However, it has limited reviews that are mixed and is being released in select theaters in December in order to be eligible for the awards but will not be wide released until January which can hurt her chances.

Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl: It was one of the most talked-about films of 2014 & she perfectly captured Amy Dunne’s porcelain exterior and vengeful, raging undercurrent. In Aniston’s case, her chances are hindered because of the late release of Cake, but in Pike’s case it’s the opposite. Gone Girl was released on October 3rd, the very beginning of what’s considered award season whereas Wild was released in December—a better time to gain Oscar momentum.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

The last nominee is a wildcard; we have David Oyelowo for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma.

He was nominated for a Golden Globe but not a Screen Actor’s Guild Award (SAG because of the film’s release date and Jake Gyllenhal for Nighcrawler. The movie underperformed at the box office but critics were impressed with Gyllenhal’s weight loss and so far he has been nominated for both a SAG and a Golden Globe.

We’ll have to keep guessing up until the nominations are announced.

Patricia Arquette, Boyhood: Critics are obsessed with this movie, and rightfully so. Richard Linklater’s impressive tale illustrates the life of a child over 20 years.

What makes this movie interesting is that it truly spans 20 years-the actors would film periodically to give snapshots into the life of Mason. Arquette plays his mother.

As the story unfolds we see her happily married, then divorced, finally with an abusive husband. Arquette will most likely get the nomination, and is the front runner in her category right now.

Best Actress in a leading role:

Keira Knightly, The Imitation Game: Knightly has been doing award worthy work for quite a few years now. The Imitation Game is no exception; I’m just not sure if it will be enough to secure a win in this particular category. She and Benedict Cumberbatch work really nicely together and so far all their press interviews have been charming, which is honestly half the battle with the Academy. The Weinstein Company produced this

Reese Witherspoon, Wild: Witherspoon unites with Dallas Buyers Club director Jean-Marc Vallée to tell the story of Cheryl Strayed who goes on a 1,000 mile hike in the Pacific Crest Trail as a way to heal herself after personal tragedy and recklessness. In the last couple years Witherspoon’s stock has fallen because of her runJanuary 2015

movie, and they have a history of campaigning hard for awards so that may push her over the edge.

Emma Stone, Birdman: I cannot stress enough how great Birdman is, everyone is great in it. Even so, Stone elevated every scene she was in. She plays the recovering addict daughter to Michael Keaton’s character and enters into an affair with Edward Norton’s character. Personally, I’ve found with some of Stone’s performances I feel like I’m watching Emma Stone act, however in this case I was so absorbed in the movie and her seamless performance I didn’t even think about “Emma Stone” until the credits rolled.

Jessica Chastain, A Most Violent Year: This movie hasn’t even come out yet and it’s already getting a lot of attention. Chastain is coming off of a couple “snubs” for Zero-Dark Thirty and The Help. I don’t know much about this movie but if the trailer is any indication it’s going to be intense and powerful; it tells the story of an immigrant trying to keep his business together during 1981, New York City’s most violent year. Chastain plays the wife to Oscar Isaac’s main character. You may recall him from Inside Llewynn Davis from 2013.

Meryl Streep, Into the Woods: Because well, Meryl Streep.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Edward Norton, Birdman: Norton has been circling awards season with his performances for years and I think he may get the nomination this year with his honestly nasty and complicated performance. Norton plays a Broadway vet who antagonizes Keaton’s Riggins at every turn and enters into an affair with Stone’s character. Going into Birdman I was excited about Keaton and was thoroughly happy with his performance, it was as good as everyone says it is. But I left the theater thinking about Norton’s performance for days.

Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher: Another case of always the bridesmaid but never the bride. Once you get past the shock of seeing Steve Carell’s transformative performance, you start to pay attention to Ruffalo and Channing Tatum who are both doing incredible work. But it will be Ruffalo who gets the nomination.

J.K Simmons, Whiplash: A theater veteran who is best known at the moment for the State Farm Commercials and J. Jonah Jameson in the original Spiderman trilogy is a lock for a nomination. He’s been honored with numerous independent and critic awards in 2014 for Whiplash. He simultaneously terrifies and intrigues the audience; I would not be shocked if he took home the Oscar.

Ethan Hawke, Boyhood: Like Arquette, Hawke delivers a heart wrenching performance as Mason’s father.

If Boyhood can retain the momentum they’ve gained throughout all the festivals, it’s likely that Hawke will score a nomination.

Robert Duvall, The Judge: Nominated for both a SAG award and a Golden Globe it’s looking like Duvall’s sturdy performance in an otherwise mediocre movie.

He’s a longshot to win it, but if these recent nominations are any indication, he could be a dark horse Oscar candidate.

We will see what happens come February 22nd as there are sure to be surprises and snubs. One thing is for certain, it’s a great time to go to the movies.

PrimeTime | 15

s e n i o r iss u e s

b y C amilla F arrell de ve l o p m e n t d i re c to r , a l z h e i m er ’s association r hode island chapter

A Caregiver’s Journey The Alzheimer’s Association RI Chapter Caregiver’s Conference

The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter is pleased to announce the return of our annual Caregiver’s Conference. The 2015 all-day free conference for caregivers, named “Caregiver’s Journey” will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick on March 5 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. A fee will be charged for health professionals and attendees seeking contact hours.

Caregiving is a long-term commitment when caring for someone with a progressive disease. “If you are a family caregiver seeking assistance for your own health and well-being or that of your loved one, this conference is for you,” said Alzheimer’s Association Executive Director, Donna McGowan.

This year along with our annual Caregiver’s Conference the first Rhode Island Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease Research will bring together health care professionals across all fields to learn about the most recent development in Alzheimer’s disease and to discuss the future of our vital research efforts within Rhode Island.

The conference will consist of multiple working sessions on topics like the changing role of neuroimaging ethical issues relevant to the use of amyloid imaging in clinics update on current secondary prevention trials opening in Rhode Island; novel biomarkers and early detection and introductions to the Living Registry; Early Detection Registry and others; as well as a juried poster session. This one day event will conclude with the keynote speaker, Dr. Sid O’Bryant, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Interim Director of the Institute of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research, University of N. Texas Health Sciences Center.

Dr. O’Bryant is one of the world’s leading experts on the development of blood-based diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment and he will present an update on the state-of-the-art efforts to develop rapid diagnostics for point of care clinical use. CME/CE credits (physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers) will be provided. The Research Conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at 7:00 p.m.

16 | PrimeTime

In addition to the Keynote address, there will be 21 workshops with topics ranging from “Challenging Behaviors” to “Access to Local Resources” and conclude with a Panel of Experts Question & Answer session. There will also be more than 40 exhibitors related to Alzheimer’s care. If you are a caregiver or healthcare professional, or want to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, please join us. On-site respite is available for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

The conference addresses the need for more education about living with Alzheimer’s disease, person-centered care, and ways to cope. Family caregiving issues like health and wellness are addressed during the workshops. The demands on a person taking care of elderly parents, spouses, or friends can result in a great deal of stress. There are several workshops focused on how to improve stressful situations associated with caregiving and support for caregivers.

Conference brochures will be available to the public in January and on our website, www.alz. org/ri or by calling the RI Chapter office at 800 272-3900. Although the conference is free to family caregivers, advance registration is required. The

fee is $75 for healthcare professionals and $100 for professionals who wish to receive contact hours.

There are also opportunities for sponsorship of the conferences and exhibit space available – please visit our website or call the Chapter office at 1-800-2723900.

The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, an affiliate of the National Alzheimer’s Association, is a private, non profit organization started in 1989 by family caregivers and interested community healthcare professionals. The Chapter programs and services include a 24/7 Helpline, Support Groups, Training for Families, Early Stage Engagement, Newsletter, Advocacy, Resource Library, Conferences, Lectures, and special fundraising events.

If you are interested in receiving more information about Chapter programs and events, please contact Outreach Coordinator Annie Murphy mmurphy@ alz.org or Development Director, Camilla Farrell, cfarrell@alz.org

January 2015

Your Money

b y joe kernan

Watching out for

scams

Keeping up with internet crooks Imagine you are one of the many unemployed people in America these days. You have been out of work and you have been sending your resumé to potential employers.

Your savings are drying up and you are feeling desperate.

Then you get an e-mail like this: “Hello ____: Thank you for submitting your information for potential employment opportunities.

We look forward to reviewing your application, but can not do so until you complete our internal application.

The pay range for available positions range from $35.77 per hour to $57.62 per hour.

Prior to begin able to be considered, you will first need you to formally apply.

Please go here to begin the process: http://widg.me/f4NY8 Please take the time to follow the directions and complete the entire application process.

Best Regards, Rock Cruit Management It sounds too good to be true, and it is. It’s just one more Internet scam to get people to divulge personal information that a “phishing” criminal can use to drain your bank account. This one is pretty transparent in that the syntax and the way English is used gives the writer away as a non-native speaker, which should be a red flag for most consumers who are familiar with English. But there are many people in this country who are not native speakers and grammatical mistakes would go unnoticed.

An unsuspecting job applicant submits the information requested and finds that whatever was left in his or her January 2015

bank account is gone by the next business day.

“When the economy makes people desperate, the scammers come out of the woodwork with new ways to take advantage of it,” said Tammy A. Miller, the Director of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit.

Not surprisingly, scammers have taken to the Internet like ducks to water, inventing new scams or adapting old standbys to the new medium.

By now, just about everyone is aware of the “Nigerian money scams” that have been around even longer than the Internet. Nevertheless, people still fall for it and have lost more than their savings in pursuit of the elusive bank funds.

“People have been killed,” said Tammy A. Miller, the director of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. “After they have been strung along and invested their money, they went to Nigeria to collect their money and just disappeared.”

The Consumer Protection Unit investigates and mediates consumer complaints concerning business practices and misleading advertising arising out of alleged violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Miller admits that, when it comes to the Internet, there is not always a lot her office can do, other than warn consumers.

Unlike the typical Nigerian scheme, the employment agency scam relies on desperation and not greed to pull its victims in. In that respect, the phony employment agency resembles the many mortgage mitigation scammers who have been preying on people who are desperately trying to save their homes and fall for

scammers who are all too willing to take whatever is left of a homeowner’s money for doing next to nothing.

Miller said her office has had some success on a local level in closing down mortgage modifiers that actually put homeowners in an even bigger hole than the one they claim to pull them out of.

“There is plenty of legitimate government help and advice out there for people who need it,” said Miller.

“The first thing to remember is that it is illegal for a mortgage modifier to ask for a fee up front. These are people who say they can stop a foreclosure or get mortgage modification but they really just want your money. If they ask for a fee up front, don’t deal with them.”

In general, the Internet is not a good place to conduct your banking or financial transactions and most legitimate banks have secure sites for their customers and never solicit them with e-mail, which is why you should not reply to e-mails telling you that your account information needs to be updated before you can get any money out of your account. You should, however, call your bank and ask them if they are aware of the scam.

“Once you reply to them [the scammers] they will use the information to hack into your account and empty it,” said Miller. “And, they can fix it so that, when you attempt to check your account online, there is nothing unusual going on and the online statement looks normal - until you get the hard copy of your statement in the mail and find out you have been robbed.”

Miller’s office boasts that it has had some success in coping with scams across borders, such as working with Crooks – Page 20 PrimeTime | 17

your money

Making senior living affordable Kathy Hesselgrave’s 90-year-old mother’s health declined to the point where she was no longer able to live in her home by herself. Because her mother needed help cooking and taking her medication, Hesselgrave found herself taking care of her mom, splitting the days and nights with her niece. Other family members pitched into help, too, but it became too much.

“We didn’t have the money in the bank for her to move into assisted living,” says Hesselgrave, who lives in Sussex, Wis. “So we worked with a company that helps in this kind of situation and took a loan against her home to help pay for care until her house is sold.”

Hesselgrave’s situation is becoming common among the “sandwich generation” - middle-aged Americans who are caring for their parents and their children. This year, the youngest baby boomers turn 50 and, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, people 65 and older are expected to represent 20 percent of the population by 2030, nearly a two-thirds increase in percentage from 2010. As America’s “silver tsunami” draws near, more seniors and their

children are searching for options to pay for retirement living and quality care.

“When making plans for the future and looking for a senior living community that’s right for you or your loved one, it’s important to find a community that will work with you and care about your unique needs and abilities,” says Greg Richard, chief operating officer of Brookdale, a leading senior living company that operates more than 1,100 communities in 46 states. “Finding a community that will partner with you and help find solutions to financial, social and health care needs makes a transition easier and more enjoyable.”

Even with the best financial planning, seniors and their families are looking for a creative, smart and advantageous way to pay for retirement living and quality care in the future. Most don’t think they can afford living in a retirement or assisted living community, until they find out that a wide variety of financial options is available to them.

For instance, for veterans who need assistance, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs offers benefits in addition to a monthly pension through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Program. This sup-

port allows veterans and their surviving spouses who require a caregiver to assist in various aspects of daily living - including eating, bathing, dressing and medication dosing - to receive money to help pay for long-term care in their own home, a skilled nursing community or an assisted living community. The benefit is not dependent upon service-related injuries. A veteran married to a non-veteran is eligible for approximately $2,000 per month while a married couple who are both veterans is eligible for nearly $2,800 per month. Benefits are also available to veterans who are independent, but who have an ill spouse.

Veterans can get monthly financial assistance not only for themselves if they need care, but also for a spouse who needs assistance.

Richard says that Brookdale partners with several companies that offer reverse

mortgage loan options, life insurance solutions and home equity loans. Financial counselors are available to assist seniors and their families in determining the best financial option to help pay for home care, assisted living or retirement community needs. Many of these companies, like Elderlife Financial Services, can get families the money they need in less than 24 hours to help with funding gaps. Others, like Life Care Funding Group, can take an existing life insurance policy and set up a long-term care benefit plan.

“Planning for the future is difficult, especially for those of us who didn’t start saving early enough during our main bread-winning years,” says Richard. “Regardless of your age, it’s never too late to research the financial options available for your future or your loved one’s needs.” (BPT)

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your home

s e n i o r iss u e s

by BRUCE LANE

Everyone wants to stay in their own home as long as possible but more often than not, our homes don’t “fit” us as well at 80 as they did at 30. The stairs that were climbed two at a time in earlier years become daunting; the bathtub that was once easily accessible, can come to be absolutely treacherous. But, that doesn’t mean that a ‘for sale’ sign has to be put up in the front yard. Usually, a few minor modifications can help keep people in their homes longer. The trick is knowing what modifications to make, who to hire to do them, and how to pay for them.

Common home adaptations include ramps, stair lifts, grab bars and widened passage ways but a careful home evaluation may add to that list. If you’re worried that you may miss something, the American Association of Retired Persons – AARP – has an extensive library of tips and information to help you enhance safety and accessibility throughout the home. AARP’s room by room checklist covers just about everything and anything that may become a barrier to aging in place.

If you still don’t trust your own judgment, you can also hire an occupational therapist (OT). An OT is a health professional who understands health and disability issues and is trained in home assessments. You can also consult with a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). The CAPS designation was developed by AARP and the National Association of Home Builders to provide designees with a keen understanding of the unique needs of older adults and aging in place home modifications. Your doctor should be able to provide the names of OTs in your area and the National Association of Home Builders has a directory of members with a CAPS designation on their website at www.nahb.org.

Whether going it alone or with the help of a professional, it’s important to identify and prioritize the primary barriers to living comfortably and safely at home.

Home modifications run the gamut from simple to complex and inexpensive to costly, so an analysis of present and future needs will help homeowners make an informed decisions about whether to stay or move to another setting, such as an assisted living facility. If home modifications are too pricey, financial help may be available. Some adaptations are covered by health insurance, low income loans or financial assistance grants. The Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs is a good place to start to see what may be available to you.

When you’re ready to proceed, choosing the right contractor is essential. As previously mentioned, a CAPS builder is specially trained in home modifications for seniors but there are builders adept at working for older adults as well who have not gone through CAPS training. As in any building requisition, you have to do your homework to make sure the professionals that you’re considering are licensed and experienced. Check out their past projects and referrals and get estimates from several. When you choose someone, spell out the deliverables and payment terms in a written contract so that all details are spelled out clearly.

If plans to sell your home in the future factor into your retirement income stream, the Realtor in me advises that whenever possible, adaptations should be easily reversible when it’s time to sell. Stair lifts or counter tops that have been lowered to allow for sitting while working, may be just what an older adult needs but such modifications can deter younger buyers. In other words, adapt your home for your needs today with an eye to the future. If you keep all of these tips in mind, chances are, you’ll be able to enjoy your home for years to come.

Aging in YOUR Place

A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way

Bruce Lane is the President of Senior Real Estate Solutions, a non-profit referral service for seniors looking for reliable home repair & maintenance services.

If you have home maintenance questions, send them to Bruce@BruceLane.com or via the Senior Real Estate Solutions website at www.seniorrealestatesolutionsri.com January 2015

PrimeTime | 19

Crooks – From Page 17 the Canadian Mounties to close down a mortgage modification scammer in the Yukon.

“It’s hard to believe that all this woman had was a desk and a computer in a remote place called Yellowknife but she was offering $10,000 loans and collecting $4,000 in fees before she was through,” said Assistant Attorney General James R. Lee, the Chief of the Civil Division. “But, for the most part, when you send money out of this country, you may as well forget about ever seeing it again.”

Just as common in e-mail these days are the lottery winning notifications. You are told, out of the blue, that you have won a lottery you never entered in a country you have never been to and all you have to do is send some money to cover taxes and a nominal fee to have the money sent to your account. People who do that have not only given the scammers money up front, but have also given account information so the scammers can get you again on the way out.

The Consumer Protection Unit has lots of advise about buying online from legitimate websites as well.

“You should always be sure that you are using a secure site and you should never, never click onto a link in an e-mail to go to a store,” said Miller. “’Phishing’ scams can use e-mail to get you to go to them and use your credit card. Once you have done that, they have got you. You should always go directly to the store’s site to buy anything. And you should always make sure it is a secure site.”

You will sometimes get e-mails that tell you your credit score has changed or your Paypal account is frozen, or your package delivery is being held up because they need more information. These are all ways to lure an unsuspecting person to open his or her account information for a scammer. Be especially cautious about prizes or special discounts or other unsolicited bonuses from people you haven’t done business with before.

“I hate to say it because it sounds like a cliché, but it’s true,” said Miller. “If it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely isn’t true.”

For Miller and her office, it often must seem like an unending battle. They no sooner warn consumers about one scam than someone come up with yet another. But they keep making the rounds at senior centers, libraries and schools to make people aware of them. They have complied the Rhode Island Consumer Protection Guide: A How-To Guide For Today’s Consumer. To get a copy of it, or to arrange a presentation for your community, contact tmiller@ riag.ri.gov or call 274-4400 ext. 2397.

In the meantime, our Nigerian friends are relentless in their pursuit of new victims with emails like this: Sorry for the inconveniences that was rendered to you in your line of Inheritance Payment transaction with some impersonators some while ago.

I know that this letter will hit you by surprise, but firstly I will like to introduce myself; I am (Hon. Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola) the Legal chairman of “ICPC”, (Nigeria’s AntiFraud Unit).

Please Read The Attached Message For More Details Regards, Justice Emmanuel Olayinka

That’s right folks, Justice Olayinka wants to make things right for all the people that got ripped off by his countrymen over the years. Just sent him your account number, plus a modest fee, and your money is a good as in the bank...

20 | PrimeTime

senior issues b y L arry G rimaldi

c h i e f , p ro gr a m d e ve l o p m e n t r i depar tment of human ser vices , division of elder ly affairs

Hypothermia

A Health Threat For Seniors BRR! We’ve already had a taste of winter, snow, and the cold to come. And while it’s an American tradition, particularly in New England, to complain about the weather, hypothermia is no joke. Extreme cold can pose a significant risk to seniors, persons with chronic health conditions, and those with compromised immune systems. Hypothermia can be a life-threatening consequence of prolonged periods of arctic weather.

Normal body temperature is 98.6 F. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature goes below 95 F. Hypothermia sets in when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat.

When hypothermia takes over, the body temperature drops and vital organs, such as the heart or nervous system, do not work efficiently. If not treated quickly, hypothermia can lead to heart failure, respiratory failure, and can affect the functions of other organs as well. These consequences are very serious and can be fatal. While shivering is the body’s automatic defense against the cold, constant, uncontrollable shivering is symptomatic of hypothermia.

For more information, contact the state chapter of the American Red Cross at 831-7700, or go to www.riredcross.org.

You can minimize minimize the risk of hypothermia by using these simple, tips:

• Have a winter emergency kit that includes flash lights, a portable radio with extra batteries, bottled water, a first aid kit, non-perishable food and a manual can opener.

• Do not go outside unless it is necessary. If you do have to go out, dress in layers of loose, lighter weight clothing instead of one heavy jacket.

• Wear hats, mittens, and boots. Put on waterproof boots if it’s raining or snowing.

• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

• If your heating system fails, call your heating supplier immediately to repair your equipment as soon as possible. In the meantime, seal off unused rooms and minimize drafts by stuffing towels under the Other symptoms of hypothermia may include, but door. Place blankets over the windows at night to are not limited to: cut down heat loss, if necessary.

• Clumsiness or lack of coordination; • The Rhode Island Emergency Management • Stumbling or unsteady gait; Agency also reminds you to check on elder neighbors, • Slurred speech or mumbling; friends, and persons with disabilities. For additional • Confusion or difficulty thinking; information, call the RIEMA at 946-9996; or go to • Drowsiness or very low energy; www.riema.ri.gov.

• Loss of consciousness; • Weak pulse; and/or The Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Division of • Shallow breathing.

Elderly Affairs (DEA) is responsible for the development and When someone shows these symptoms, call for medical help immediately.

While waiting for medical help to arrive, first aid can be administered. Take care not to make any sudden jarring or vigorous movements as those actions can lead to cardiac arrest. First aid for hypothermia victims includes getting the person out of the cold or shielding the person from the cold and wind, and/or removing wet clothes (if applicable), and covering the person with blankets, (including the head with only the face exposed).

On-site first aid for hypothermia victims also includes insulating the person’s body from the cold ground; providing warm, non-alcoholic beverages; and applying warm, dry compresses to the neck, and chest wall, or groin.

Do not apply compresses to the victim’s arms or legs. This can force blood back to the heart, lungs or brain, and can actually cause the body temperature to drop. Do not apply direct heat because it can cause damage to the skin or trigger cardiac arrest.

Pay close attention to the victim’s breathing rate.

If it appears to be shallow or breathing stops, administer CPR, if you have been trained to administer this life-saving action. The American Red Cross offers information and training on the latest CPR techniques.

implementation of a comprehensive system of programs and services for Rhode Islanders ages 60 and older and for adults with disabilities. Questions or requests for additional information on the issues of growing older, or for issues concerning adults with disabilities in Rhode Island should be directed to Larry Grimaldi, Rhode Island Senior Beat, Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Division of Elderly Affairs, 74 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920 by calling 401-462-0509, or faxed to 401-462-0503. The e-mail address is larry.grimaldi@dea.ri.gov.

January 2015

b y daniel kittredge

senior issues

Community’s outpouring of support aids local WWII veteran

“I’m not alone” – Alfred Bettencourt

It was while responding to call this past December that Cranston Police Office Julie Furgasso met Fred.

She had been dispatched to check on the well-being of the 88-year-old World War II veteran – whose full name is Alfred Bettencourt – and found him in a difficult situation. His wife, Lucy, passed away roughly 15 years ago, and he has very little family remaining. He was also having a tough time making ends meet.

“He took 30 cents out of his pocket and said that’s all he had left [to buy] food,” Furgasso said.

Since then, she has “adopted [Fred] as basically my grandfather.” Along with her friend Capt. Chuck Pollock of the Cranston Fire Department, she connected Fred with services and programs through the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center, including transportation to VA Hospital appointments and other locations around the city.

The two also began an outreach effort dubbed “Friends of Fred” with a page on Facebook, sharing the veteran’s story and seeking help to provide him with day-today essentials such as food and clothing. The outpouring of support, they said, was immediate.

“It kind of just blew up,” Furgasso said.

Fred was on hand with Furgasso and Pollock at Mangia Mangia in Cranston recently to greet well-wishers and accept donations. The cause generated such support that after the gathering a truckload of food and several coats were taken to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island in Johnston, an organization dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk veterans find stable housing.

Fred, for his part, is moved by all the developments of the last several weeks.

“I never associated with such nice people,” he said. “I needed the help, and I’m getting it. I appreciate it.”

Fred has also recently returned to a former passion, one dormant for nearly seven

Alfred “Fred” Bettencourt is joined by Police Officer Julie Furgasso, Fire Capt. Chuck Pollock and many supporters during a gathering at Mangia Mangia in Cranston. decades after he had to turn down a scholarship to the Rhode Island School of Design as a young man in order to work for his family.

“I just picked it up again after 67 years,” Fred said of his drawings.

Some of those who donated to the cause gave sketchbooks and other art materials to provide Fred with the tools to pursue his work. Furgasso and Pollock said no monetary donations are being sought as part of the effort, with items such as gift cards, food and clothing instead requested to provide for Fred’s needs.

Donations can be sent to the Cranston Police Department to the attention of Officer Furgasso #446 at 5 Garfield Ave., Cranston RI 02920, or to the Cranston Fire Department to the attention of Capt. Pollock at 301 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI 02910. Donations beyond Fred’s needs will continue to be donated to Operation Stand Down.

In addition to the day-to-day assistance and connection with the senior center, Furgasso and Pollock have arranged for Fred to take part in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in May to visit the World War II Memorial. Furgasso will accompany Fred, while Pollock – also a veteran – will accompany Fred’s brother.

For Furgasso and Pollock, getting to know Fred has been a rewarding experience, and a reminder that many of those who have served the nation in uniform are in need of help.

“No one should be alone,” Pollock said.

For Fred, the new connections have made a world of difference.

“I’m not alone,” he said. “I have friends.”

your taxes

professional perspective

b y meg chevalier

Tips to help you choose a tax preparer

Many people look for help from professionals when they file their federal income tax return. If you choose to use a tax return preparer, you’ll need to share your most personal information with them, including details about your marriage, income, children and social security numbers — the details of your financial life.

Most tax return preparers provide outstanding service. However, each year, some taxpayers are hurt financially because they choose the wrong tax return preparer.

Here are 10 tips to keep in mind when choosing a tax return preparer: • Check the preparer’s qualifications.

All paid tax return preparers are required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number. In addition to making sure they have a PTIN January 2015

• Check on the preparer’s history.

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the preparer has a questionable history. Also check for any disciplinary actions and the status of their licenses.

• Ask about service fees. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers. Taxpayers should not deposit their refund into a preparer’s bank account.

• Ask to e-file your return. Make sure your preparer offers IRS e-file. Any paid preparer who prepares and files more than 10 returns for clients must file the returns electronically, unless the client opts to file a paper return. IRS has safely and securely processed more than one billion individual tax returns.

• Make sure the preparer is available.

Make sure you will be able to contact the tax preparer after you file your return, even after the April 15 due date.

• Provide records and receipts. Reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts. They will ask questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for deductions, credits and other items. Do not use a preparer who is willing to e-file your return by using your last pay stub before you receive your Form W-2. This is against IRS e-file rule.

• Avoid tax preparers who ask you to sign a blank tax form.

• Before you sign your tax return, review it and ask questions. Make sure you understand everything and are comfortable with the accuracy of the return before

you sign it.

• Make sure the preparer signs and includes their PTIN. A paid preparer must sign the return and include their PTIN as required by law. The preparer must also give you a copy of the return.

• Report abusive tax preparers to the IRS. You can report abusive tax preparers and suspected tax fraud to the IRS on Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. If you suspect a return preparer filed or altered a return without your consent, you should also file Form 14157-A, Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit. You can download or order the forms on the IRS.gov website.

If you decide to use a paid tax preparer, remember that you are legally responsible for what is on the return, even if someone else prepares your return.

PrimeTime | 21

CLUES ACROSS 1. Humbug 4. Meaningless talk 10. Conceit 11. Not studied 12. Megabyte 14. When born (abbr.)

15. Placed on a golf ball stand 16. Melekeok is the capital 18. Mischievous 21. MasonÕs mortars 23. SpainÕs former monetary unit 25. Small fries 27. Article 28. Capital of Yemen 29. Type of Theater companies 31. Plastic, paper or shopping 32. Electronic countermeasures 35. Language along the lower Yenisei River 37. Institute legal proceedings against 38. Beam 39. Old World buffalo 40. Latch onto 42. Physical therapy 43. Conditions of balance 48. Half pro 50. Resounded 52. Sales event 53. Separates seating areas 54. N.M. Pueblo people 55. Bridge building degree 56. Fullback 57. Peyote 59. Afflict 60. Rests on oneÕs knees 61. Having negative qualities

22 | PrimeTime

CLUES DOWN 1. Besmear 2. Genus dasyprocta 3. A male ferret 4. Unit of volume (abbr.)

5. Italian hors dÕoeuvres 6. N.W. German city & port 7. Signal sounds 8. Adult females 9. -__, denotes past 12. Gas usage measurement 13. Fishhook point 17. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano 19. In a way, thrusts 20. Grimm brothers birthplace 22. Withered; dry 24. Genus salvia 26. About senator 30. Livestock enclosure 32. Work units 33. Hebrew name meaning dog 34. A tumor composed of muscle tissue 36. Satisfy to excess 41. Third mast 42. A horseÕs strut 44. Tree producing gum (Arabic) 45. Armour carried on the arm 46. Winged goddess of the dawn 47. Ego 49. Hesitancy 51. Young woman of society 55. Founder of Babism 57. Mark (abbr.)

58. Jeans makerÕs initials

January 2015

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