PrimeTime Magazine November 2015

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N ove m b e r 2 0 15

Inside the VA

Nurses share insights from decades of caring for veterans health

Operation Stand Down

A candid conversation with Executive Director Erik Wallin

Registry of Remembrances

In Search of WWII veterans

honoring

veterans

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November 2015

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Pr i m e Ti m e November 2015 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Editor/ Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com WRITERS Michael J. Cerio, Don Fowler, Kelcy Dolan, Daniel Kittredge, Elaine M. Decker, Joe Kernan, Larry Grimaldi, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell, ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Alex Viscusi

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Screening of award-winning WWII documentary

PAGE 14

Inside the VA

Retired Nurses share their experiences

6 Honoring WWII Vets

Adding a loved one to the national data base

8

9

The Vet Center A place to call their own

12 Operation Stand Down

Common Knowledge

Once a Marine, Always a Marine

A candid conversation with Erik Wallin

15 Operation Stand Down

First Works Artistic Icons Series kicks off with Wynton Marsalis.

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Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com

Giving Veterans a helping hand

Senior issues

Retirement Sparks..............................15 Alzheimer’s Association..................18 RIHCA.........................................................21

PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.

LIFESTYLES Advice on traveling with your pets

PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.

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b y tim forsberg

inside the va

Nursing Our Nations Vets

“There’s a reason that you go in and you’re taking care of vets, you’re kind of like The profession takes a special kind of person, given that at any moment they may be called to help a patient battle for life. And it takes an extraordinary person driven to do it. My experience at Providence, I enjoyed that and I had a really good time, worked with great people, and the vets were very appreciative,” Mary Ellen to be a nurse for the nation’s veterans.

Recent news reports have highlighted a decline in the level of care provided said. “And I got a better focus when I worked in the VA in Georgia, but there were through the Veterans Health Administration (VA), citing extended wait times, mis- a lot of times where I was doing more than what was expected because my big thing was that vets need care, and we needed to get them to the care. I worked really hard diagnoses, lack of resources, and mismanagement, among other issues.

Hoping to get a better understanding of the care veterans receive in Rhode with the vets setting things up, getting them to where the shuttle busses would be, Island, PrimeTime recently sat down with two retired VA nurses and asked them to getting them to a point where this is where they needed to go. I think that that was one of the more frustrating aspects is that, there wasn’t enough time in the day for share their decades of experience attending to veterans.

“I’m very disappointed to hear that the care of the vets has not been up to me to do that because of my other duties.”

Changes in procedures, such as how long a patient can stay at the hospital after standards, and that it’s caused deaths,” said retired operating room nurse Laura Willkomm, who graduated in 1974 from nursing school, went into the private sec- surgery or length of time between appointments, have presented many veterans with hurdles. tor, and then joined the VA in Providence in 1989.

“When one day surgery evolved, and it was introduced into the veteran care, it “You become a nurse because you want to help people, you want to help make them better, you want to help them any way you can,” said Mary Ellen Ward, a didn’t work for the veterans. They weren’t the type of client that could come, have retired lieutenant colonel who served in the Army Nurse Corps and became a nurse surgery, and go home that day,” Laura said. “Sometimes they had no support system at home. We used to look for reasons in 1980 when she graduated from the to go against the progress of one-day surUniversity of Rhode Island. She served gery to keep these men overnight to try as a floor nurse, an ER nurse, a clinic to facilitate the type of care they needed. nurse, a triage nurse, and was the nurse

To have vets remember your name, It didn’t mirror the care that the private manager for the operation room surgisector had. The vets are special group with cal services for the VA. even years later, because you special needs.”

“I went into the service because I took care of them is an incredibly In other areas of the country, VA hosfelt that need to go in and do the papitals aren’t as accessible as they are in the triotic thing for my country,” Mary humbling experience.

Northeast, with veterans having to drive Ellen said. “When there was a chance – Mary Ellen Ward several hours to receive care due to the to move over to the VA, I jumped on distance between facilities. it because I know what it’s like to be “Their patient load is so phenomenal, a veteran, I know what it’s like to sit there and have different issues that are so different than on the civilian side. I have for primary care physicians it is phenomenal what their patient load is that they a better understanding of how they interact with things and how they are going to see. It’s a really bureaucratic, extremely difficult system to work your way through,” Mary Ellen said. “There’s just not enough resources. If you have an issue, you want process certain things that are said to them.”

Currently, there are 150 VA hospitals, 820 VA community-based outpatient to be seen within a week or two, you don’t want to be 30, 45, 60 days out, and clinics, and 300 VA vet centers, which offer counseling, suicide prevention, and god forbid you have to cancel at the last minute and start again, and that’s what’s other services nationwide. As of 2013, these hospitals served 5.69 million patients, happening.”

Both nurses said the majority of the veterans they served came from the Korea and there are currently 8.92 million people enrolled in VA health care system.

“I was working at Rhode Island Hospital and I was at the peak of my expertise and Vietnam eras, and were generally 50 years old or older. But Iraq and Afghaniin operating room nursing, and a surgeon suggested to me that I go to the VA stan veterans were being seen more frequently.

“It’s very important that we keep our VA in Rhode Island. Some say that we’re because the Rhode Island residency program and the Brown University Teaching Program was there, and they were doing remarkable work in the neurology area of so close to Boston, we’re so close to Hartford, but that’s not true. Our vets need the the hospital,” Laura said of the Providence VA hospital. “So that’s where I went, VA in this area,” Laura said. “When the market crashed in 2008, the influx of young because I knew I could spread my wings there. I knew the men needed help in that people into the VA was amazing. Being out of work or layoffs forced people into the area and there wasn’t a lot of expertise over there at the time, so I took the challenge hospital.”

“They need this VA in Providence because you need to have your healthcare close and went for it.”

Moving from the private health care sector into government-run facilities pre- by, especially for vets because a lot of the vets are disabled, and there’s group of them with very low income and don’t have the resources to travel,” Mary Ellen added. sented unforeseen challenges and required a unique level of care not seen elsewhere.

“

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November 2015

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Retired nurses Mary Ellen Ward (right) and Laura Willkomm provided insights into their decades long careers in VA system caring for our veterans.

Both also agreed that the cumbersome nature of paperwork and bureaucracy of the system hindered veteran care, and that nurses are always used as a resource with difficult situations.

“I think that the hardest things for the veterans is that it’s very difficult to negotiate that system, and most of the time the vet will get most of their information either from nursing staff or from veterans, because vets take care of other vets,” Mary Ellen said. “They will tell you how to do this and that, and they know the loopholes to get through because the system is extremely hard to negotiate.”

“We’d even go so far as to make sure their dogs or animals we would be taken care of while veteran patients were away,” Laura added. “Also, a lot of the providers don’t know the system, and the nurses that have been there try to clean up the messes that are left behind. We’re the advocate for the patient, and that’s a very heavy load.”

Through all the challenges the job at the VA provided, both Laura and Mary Ellen felt some of their best experiences came from interacting with their veteran patients.

“I took care of one man late at night who had a ruptured aneurysm, there was a general surgeon, myself, a surgical technician and an anesthesiologist, and a man on the table about to bleed to death. We all looked at each other before it all hit the fan and we got him through,” Laura said. “Years later, I happened to meet his son, who introduced me to my husband. When the man passed several years later and I went to the funeral, all five of his sons saw me come in and they got up and they escorted me to the coffin. It was incredibly moving.”

“To have vets remember your name, even years later, because you took care of them is an incredibly humbling experience,” Mary Ellen added.

For those who want to become nurses, both Mary Ellen and Laura absolutely recommend the profession, but believe a person should take time and get some experience in the private sector, as it provides invaluable knowledge for the vets.

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“Going to the VA as a nurse is a really good experience, but nursing is not a job, it’s not a place where you go and make good money. Nursing is a calling, your main objective should be taking care of people,” Mary Ellen said. “The vets are a very special group of people. They have a lot of issues that are different than the civilian sector. The things that they’ve experienced and seen, that greatly impacts on their emotional psyche, and someone that’s caring is needed to help them.”

“In the end, when that veteran walked into our surgical waiting area, and it was his tome to go, he got the very best and everyone concentrated on him, and vets can feel that,” Laura added. “We knew our patients, their problems, and we worried about them. It was a wonderful experience to take care of the veterans. They were a very grateful group of people. And if you kept your focus on taking care of the veterans and kept your focus off of all the administrative problems, you had a much better experience there.”

November 2015

PrimeTime |

honoring veterans

b y joe kernan

honoring those who served

In search of World War II veterans

T

he World War II Memorial’s completion in 2004 was a welcome development for the veterans of that war. The down side of it was that many veterans had already died by the time the memorial was completed and many of the survivors of those veterans who, for any number of reasons, may have not been listed in the Memorial’s Registry of Remembrances. Joanne Nadeau said it was a trip to Washington that her son, Joe Nadeau and his family took a few years ago that made her aware of the situation.

“My son and daughter-in-law found out about the registry when they were in Washington,” said Nadeau.

“They were very impressed with the memorial and looked for my father’s name and couldn’t find it. That’s when my son learned about the Registry.”

The memory of the World War II generation is honored in the World War II Registry of Remembrances, a listing of individual Americans who contributed to the war effort.

Nadeau’s father, Joseph Francis Cogswell, was a member of the Marine Corps. But, like many veterans, he was reluctant to share his war stories with his family. It has been only recently that aging veterans began to open their memories.

“My father served as a Marine on the USS Bon Homme Richard, an aircraft carrier,” said Nadeau. “He didn’t tell many stories about his time in the service, at least not to me. Although he did talk about being lucky, and a time when he and a few other men were told to stay on the ship and not go ashore with his outfit. He said every man that went ashore was killed.”

The National WWII War Memorial World War II Veteran Joseph Francis Cogswell

WWII Veteran Joseph Cogswell with his wife Anna and daughter Joanne.

| PrimeTime

Photos by Nancy Nadeau

November 2015

The Freedom Wall (above) is on the west side of the memorial, with a view of the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial behind it. The wall contains 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war. (photos by Nancy Nadeau)

Joanne Nadeau (left) reminisces about her father, WWII Veteran Joseph Cogswell, while looking through his WWII scrap book. (PrimeTime photo)

National World War II Memorial

Adding a loved one to the registry is rewarding and easy There were only two years of war left when Cogswell enlisted.

“Most of his friends were getting drafted,” said Nadeau. “That helped him to decide to enlist.”

Joe Cogswell never told stories but he was a Marine at the invasion of Okinawa, and it would be hard to imagine any Marine left on the ship during that epic campaign. That was when the dreaded Kamikaze pilots began in force, and carriers were their main targets. Being on a carrier at Okinawa was certainly not out of harm’s way. It may have been modesty, or perhaps grief, that prevented Cogswell from speaking in detail about Okinawa and other campaigns he participated in. But he was very proud of being a Marine.

Unfortunately, Cogswell died in his 50s and any stories he saved went with him to the grave.

Cogswell enlisted in 1943 and was off the shores of Okinawa in 1945.

Whether he ever went to shore on Okinawa, which was to be the last battle before the invasion of Japan and was fought with singular ferocity, he never told, but anyone who was even near Okinawa deserves to be in the Registry. As it is, anyone who had helped win the war, soldier or civilian, is eligible for the Registry.

Nadeau said she learned that the process is surprisingly easy.

“It only took a few days to get my father accepted,” said Nadeau. “They sent an e-mail saying they had checked their records and saw that my father was eligible and could have a photo accompany the name. The listing is free for the name. There is a fee to include a photo.”

Once a name is submitted, with the dates of his or her service, their records are checked from the vast files of names of people who served.

“That didn’t take more than a couple of days,” said Nadeau.

If you want to submit a name, visit www.wwiimemorial.com. You may also learn more about the Memorial itself. For instance, a lot of people are not aware that the design of the Memorial is the design submitted by Friedrich St. Florian, an architect based in Providence. The construction team also included George E. Hartman of Hartman-Cox Architects; landscape architect Oehme van Sweden & Associates; sculptor Ray Kaskey; and stone carver and letterer Nick Benson.

“My son said it was very, very impressive,” said Nadeau.

The Memorial was dedicated in 2004. The dedication was the culmination of an 11-year effort that started when Congress authorized it on May 25, 1993.

President Clinton signed the bill the same day. It is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II.

November 2015

It is the first national memorial dedicated to World War II. The Registry has four databases that can be searched for names, which include: Buried in American overseas military cemeteries; names on the official service rosters by the National Archives and Records Administration; or people listed who were honored by public enrollment in the Registry.

“If you have someone who qualifies, it’s really very easy to do,” said Nadeau.

“It’s really worthwhile.”

PrimeTime |

b y kelcy dolan

honoring veterans

Common Knowledge

I always knew Pop-Pop was a Marine; it was just as much a part of who he was as being my grandfather. It was common knowledge.

Ken Johnson, jokes that he’s not home when I visit, preaches nothing is worth doing if it doesn’t put a smile on your face, and he has served not only our family, but our country as well.

When I was younger, my mother would mention he had been in the military, and when I visited my grandparents’ home I could see the shadows of his time in the service, memorabilia with the Marine insignia and a photo of my Pop-Pop as a young man in uniform above their fireplace. After high school, when several of my friends enlisted in the Marine Corps, I knew Pop-Pop would make a point to speak with them. Whenever we go out as a family he must bring a service magnet, immediately attracting others who have served in the military at some point in their lives.

Despite being common knowledge, his time in the service wasn’t something we often talked about and it wasn’t something he brought up either. That is, until my younger cousin, Michael Ferris, enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school in 2013. There was obvious pride for my grandfather who was happy to see one of his grandchildren join like himself. My cousin has since been promoted to corporal and served a tour in the Middle East.

“If he was going to join the service I was happy to see he joined the Marine Corps,” he said.

Pop-Pop traveled to see my cousin’s graduation from boot camp in South Carolina.

“The base itself was a lot different than I remembered, but watching around 500 graduates, one of them my grandson, in the same parade I had once been a part of, I won’t lie it brought tears to my eyes,” he said.

During his own graduation in 1952, my grandfather’s platoon, 296, was the “Post Honor” Platoon, performing better than the others in the graduating class.

He joined the Corps at age 20 on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1952, the “tail end” of the Korean War. He spent the day in his brand new olive green uniform.

He continued on to Cherry Point, North Carolina and to Jacksonville, Florida for airmen prep school.

He spent 4 months in Pensacola, Florida getting qualified for both aerial and combat photography. He was sent to California as part of a helicopter outfit and was shipped to a small village in Japan with the 2nd Air Wing 2nd Division.

During his time in Japan, there was a ceasefire in North Korea for a prisoner exchange. It wasn’t until after the exchange was complete, my grandfather was told | PrimeTime

had it gone awry, he would have been involved in an invasion of Korea just below the Chinese Border.

In 1954 he was released from active duty as a corporal. He was torn, considering whether or not to re-enlist and even possibly making his career in the Marine Corps.

Thankfully for me, he rejoined the workforce and went back to college with “the help of Uncle Sam,” but admits there were many times he wished he had stayed in.

Although, he didn’t remain in the Corps, his time in the service had a strong influence on my grandfather; he continues to keep in touch with friends from the Corps and attends a dinner at the Marine Ball every year, November 10th. These are small ways to keep connected with the Corps for my grandfather and a means of “reliving” the camaraderie he experienced while in the Marines.

“We meet up and share stories. I think in any branch of the military you feel a strong connection to those who serve with you.”

More than anything he believes the Marines helped him become disciplined and enhanced his decision making skills.

“It was such an important part of my life,” he said. “I think some of the principles were already part of my nature, but they were really engrained into me through the Corps. I don’t regret a single moment of my service.”

My grandfather has seen a lot of changes since he was in the military, mainly development of new technologies, but is proud to say that the military is still, “first and foremost dedicated to the defense of this country.”

For that, especially in times when veterans are having a hard time readjusting to civilian life, my grandfather believes both the American government and its people have a responsibility to provide for vets coming home, to thank and honor them for their service.

“Whether it’s a short time served or someone’s made a career in the military, it is an entirely different life when you are taken away from friends and family,” he said.

“This country I think owes veterans at least their thanks and their patience.”

As a veteran himself, he is proud to have served this country as a Marine and doing his part in defending the nation.

Even though he never bragged, never pointed out his military history, the pride that my Pop-Pop has for serving his country is always evident; it was common knowledge.

The family never had to brag or point out my grandfather’s military history, because how proud we are of him was always obvious; it is common knowledge.

November 2015

b y kelcy dolan

The Vet Center

honoring veterans

“

After his return from Vietnam cently where current and pos The Vet Center War, Henry Caparco, an active sible clients and their families Marine from 1963 to 1967, said he could peruse not only the Vet saved my life avoided, almost boycotted, governCenter’s programs and services – Henry Caparco ment services for nearly 50 years. but also those of other local vetNow, Carparco says more vetereran focused community groups. ans need to know about the services Rochelle Fortin, team leader for available to them, especially the Vet Center. the Vet Center, said services include, vocational, mental, “When we came home we didn’t have the same wel- educational, and housing services. come most other troops do,” he said. “We felt unwelThe Center provides several forms of counseling for come.” various concerns from family to substance abuse and Finally in 2013 he reached out to the VA Hospital and trauma with seven onsite clinicians. Annually, the center heard about the Vet Center in Warwick. sees a caseload of around 400, but also has daily walk-ins “The Vet Center saved my life,” Caparco said. that have a few questions or are in need of referrals.

On his first day the center got the veteran painting, “Even if a veteran isn’t eligible for our services, we can a hobby he now says he wouldn’t give up for the world, usually point them in the right direction,” Fortin said. but more importantly, he spoke about his experiences in “Our job is to identify needs and barriers because each the service for the first time. veteran is unique and will require different services.”

“I had never talked about it with anyone,” Carpaco The center can also see the immediate families of desaid. “At the center, though, I just felt safe and everyone ployed soldiers and active duty soldiers. here listens to you.”

“After four or five tours some people just need to talk He came to find that he wasn’t alone in struggling with about it in a protected setting,” Fortin said. “We are just stress and anger after his time in the service. a whole lot of folks that want to help our local and deCarpaco said the training and experiences in the ser- ployed vets.” vice don’t just “go away” when you come home but stick For more information on the Vet Center and their serwith you for the rest of your life. vices visit their website at www.vetcenter.va.gov or call The Vet Center hosted their annual Open House re- at 739-0167

Ken Gellerman, Paul Metivier, Emil Desmarais and Henry Caparco are pictured painting at the Vet Center on Warwick Ave. Caparco said he had never painted before the Vet Center but wouldn’t give it up for the world now. Painting is one way the Vet Center uses to help relieve stress in veterans.

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L I F EST Y L ES

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

by MIKE FINK

November

It’s named for the 9th month on the old Roman calendar, but the 11th and next to last on the calendar we use these days.

It holds, for me, three major holidays. Armistice Day, as I persist in calling it (the “cease-fire” war dedicated to peace: the war to end war). The Thanksgiving Thursday Tribute to theTurkey. And for me the most personal of the trio of toasts, the birthday, on the 14th, of my eldest brother, Ed. I can find the name of the first-born of the three Fink boys carved on a brick beside the statue of the Korean soldier. Ed served overseas, the same year his two “kid” brothers went off to college.

Now, there was both a plus and a minus in being the only child, then displaced and usurped by newcomers. Our nation has no tradition of primogeniture. He did, though, nevertheless have his own room, and freedom from hand-me-downs.

We “kids” got the gifts he left behind as he outgrew his toy trucks and tin soldiers.

I remember everything! When I grew old enough to go out sometimes on “dates” with pretty, all-dressed-up girls, I might venture to invade his inner sanctum and “borrow” his polished loafers or silk necktie. He always discovered the theft, alas. I inherited the abandoned objects of his hobbies, even a collection of historic newspapers--Projos--from the big events of his, and my, generation. The big headlines leading year by year up to the Korean conflict.

I remember seasons later his bachelor party on the eve of his wedding, and smoking a cigar at the bar and sipping at a “manhattan” cocktail. I carried his own first-born son in my arms and showed him the design work of my RISD students.

The years flew by and I attended the weddings of his two boys and one daughter.

Among those decades, Ed and I had our shared moments and also our separate epochs. After the passing of our parents, we divided the mementos. The large portrait of our mother greets him at the top of his stairs, which he must now negotiate with one of those chairs that goes up and down the steps. I like to imagine the spirit of that portrait surveying him with love and concern and taking note that I am visiting him and that we are together under her benevolent gaze.

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Ed taught chemistry, retired, maintained many friendships and sustained interests that ranged from music to crossword puzzles and was an admirable father and grandfather, and we all celebrate his birthday--indeed the birthdays of all three of us on separate occasions--and this is the principal day of November that I await with the prospect of particular pleasure. We have formed a family filled with loyalty and love, and devotion.

It will come three days after Armistice, or Veterans Day, and I can salute both dates also at the memorial garden on North Main Street, opposite the Court House.

Thanksgiving, of late, we in my house have enjoyed down in the Deep South, in West Palm Beach, in “Frenchman’s Creek.” In my heart I will give my thanks for many blessings. For the concept of “Armistice,” of the Victory of Peace for which, ironically, we must fight patriotically. For my brother Ed’s leadership as the “trusted guardian” the translation my naming thesaurus claims, and in hopes for his health and happiness. And for the turkeys, once a symbol, to Benjamin Franklin, of wilderness and of natural wisdom, of all things. He thought it should be the very symbol of the new nation, not the imperial Eagle!

The gemstone for November is the Topaz. I looked it up: it was described in my Oxford English Dictionary, there on its mahogany stand by a front window, as a “citrine” or yellow stone. I had thought it was a brown jewel with glints of red or orange. Like the color of eyes that contain a bit of gold or even a hint or glint of ruby. There is a Topaz hummingbird, iridescent but borrowing the hue called “brown study” at twilight times. The squirrels in the oak trees, come November, have that topaz tint at sunset.

Pick up an acorn and study its colors, and you will see how rich is this only superficially melancholy month. I had a student in ceramics some semesters ago who collected the dead oak leaves and capped acorns and cast them in clay and fired them in her kiln, and that taught me a lesson in the beauty and meaning of everything! You can see the shapes of all life among these thirty days ahead.

Super Dog Adoption Day Always Adopt, a not-for-profit organization that brings together community leaders, dog adoption agencies and volunteers to host super-sized dog adoption events is pleased to announce their next Super Dog Adoption Day, Saturday, Nov. 7 at Clark Farm in Matunuck, RI. The Corn Maze, hayrides and concession will be open to the public as well.

All adopters must be approved for adoption before they are permitted to walk away with a dog on the day of the event. An app. available online at AlwaysAdopt.com, allows potential adopters to be screened and approved prior to the event. The first few hours of the event are then open to approved adopters who can choose their new family member prior to the admittance of the general public.

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November 2015

business Spotlight

Scandinavian Home

For Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living

 She is petite; she is sprightly; she is witty, she is engaging, she is smart as a whip...

AND she is 95 years young! Full of life and vigor, Barbara Cartwright is evidence that, for many, age is more than a number, it is merely a mindset! Now, as one of Scandinavian Home’s Assisted Living Community’s residents, she has stories to tell of a life well-lived, and well-loved.

Barbara Cartwright was born in Rhode Island in 1920 as the only child of parents Benita & Charles Gardner. When Barbara was nine, her parents welcomed a Swedish foster child into their home. Ironically, the little girl’s name was also Barbara which was the source of endless questions (and delight!) for these two age-mates!

For as far back as Barbara can remember, she wanted to be a school teacher.

That dream was realized when, in 1942, she graduated from what was then Rhode Island College of Education. At that time, RICE only trained teachers for grades 1 through 8. Barbara, a slight woman with a wide set of arms, was initially chagrined because it had always been her desire to teach kindergartners; but this was where the education was offered, and so she put her whole heart and soul into her schooling ~ just as she would everything else in her life.

Barbara started out her teaching career as a fifth grade teacher, and recalls with glee how the children loved their new teacher – not only because she was kind and clever, but because she actually wore lipstick and nail polish! It is no wonder that now, many decades later, her former students still remember and speak of her with a fondness that transcends time and geography. To this day, the beloved Miss Gardner (who became Mrs. Fiske, and later Mrs. Cartwright), is in touch with many of those students, even one as far away as Hawaii. Children never forget their first favorite teacher. To generations of students, that teacher was Mrs. Barbara Cartwright.

Today Barbara, who taught for 30 years as a Cranston school teacher and who was also a world-wide traveler, lives a comfortable life in that same city’s Scandinavian Home. She has a cozy apartment here ~ complete with her favorite swivel armchair, collections of family photographs, a drop leaf table perfect for two, and, perched on a side table, her lifelike Rhode Island Red rooster (to add a touch of whimsy to her already remarkable life) . She reports that she loves everything about her home, not only because her doting son lives nearby, but because of the way she is treated here. In her words, “They do everything here but breathe for you!� At 95, she breathes life and joy into every conversation.

Scandinavian Home’s Assisted Living Community is located at 50 Warwick Avenue in Cranston. To schedule your personal tour or for more information, call the Assisted Living Community at 461-1444 or the Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 461-1433. You can also visit them at www.scandinavianhome.com. Â

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Scandinavian Home, inc. skilled nursing & rehabilitation center 1811 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905

401-461-1433

~

assisted living community

50 Warwick Avenue, Cranston, RI 02905

401-461-1444

A Community Built with Care!

www.ScandinavianHome.com

Non-Profit - Founded in 1930

West Shore Health Center is part of the Health Concepts, Ltd family of homes, serving the needs of the community for over 45 years.

Services provided include short term rehabilitation, long term care, Alzheimer’s care, and Hospice care.

2015

Barbara is seen here, surrounded by some of her beloved former students who visit her each time they come for their high school reunion.

November 2015

SILVER

2015 Recipient of the AHCA/NCAL Silver Quality Award for demonstrating a commitment to quality care.

109 West Shore Rd., Warwick

401-739-9440

www.healthconceptsltd.com and like us on Facebook PrimeTime | 11

o

th

a worthy cause

b y M ichael j . cerio

In Service of Others For All They’ve Done in Service, Extending Helping Hand to Veterans an Easy Decision

Many of my grandfather’s service stories are etched in my memory. Perhaps none of them bigger than him being aboard the U.S.S. Missouri when Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945, ending World War II. His generation has long amazed me; how so many young Americans risked and gave their lives to protect our freedom at an age it would be illegal to buy a sixpack of beer today. It’s probably why his was dubbed The Greatest Generation in our country’s history.

But there is something else that has come to amaze me. And that is the struggle Veterans encounter when transitioning back to civilian life following their service.

From the Vietnam War, the Invasion of Panama and the Gulf War, to the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, more than 49,000 Veterans in our country are homeless on any given night. That’s to say nothing of the tens of thousands more fighting post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each and every day.

With the month of November home to Veterans Day, I thought it appropriate to cast light on a local veteran who spends his days reaching out and working with fellow veterans that have fallen on hard times: Erik Wallin, Esq. Captain USAF (Fmr.), Executive Director and General Counsel for Operation Stand Down RI. Much like myself, Erik’s grandfather was one of the most influential people in his life. While Erik has memories from his childhood of his grandfather’s Navy stories, it was during the final months of his life that he spoke most openly about his experiences, passing away shortly before Erik graduated from Law School.

“My grandfather inspired me to put service before self,” says Erik. “And the Air Force offered me the perfect opportunity to utilize the education I had been blessed with in service of others.”

Erik calls his military service the greatest experience in the world, and while he always had a tremendous amount of respect for men and women in uniform, it was serving alongside them that led to an even greater appreciation of the sacrifices made. He was in Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, and watched neighbors who worked at the Pentagon return home injured and covered in soot. For nearly a year, he had an upclose look at our military gearing up for deployments.

His mind was ever-active.

“When our armed forces get deployed, entire families pay the heavy cost; life for those who remain behind becomes extremely difficult,” he says. “ My military service allowed me to better understand how and why veterans face difficulty transitioning back to civilian life and why they are susceptible to the issues we see today.”

Having completed five years of active duty in the Air Force in 2002, where he served in the Department of the Judge Advocate General, Erik returned to Rhode Island and was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General. After years as a prosecutor in the Rhode Island 12 | PrimeTime

Department of the Attorney General, Erik left his position to run for the office of Rhode Island Attorney General.

Fast forward to 2010.

Erik’s campaign took him to a local radio station for an interview where an unexpected introduction would later impact the trajectory of his career.

It was there that he met Dee DeQuat- Operation Stand Down RI owns and operates 64 units of permanent and transitro, the daughter tional housing for low-income disabled veterans throughout Rhode Island. On of Operation Stand any given night, more than 49,000 veterans are homeless in our country. (photos Down RI’s Founder, courtesy of OSDRI) President and Chairman Tony DeQuattro. She insisted that Erik speak with her father and also encouraged him to volunteer at the organization’s annual “Stand Down Weekend.”

Sponsored by Operation Stand Down RI (OSDRI), “Stand Down Weekend” is a three-day outreach event that gathers homeless and low-income veterans from across the Ocean State and brings them together at a military-style encampment. While there, veterans have access to services provided by OSDRI and a variety of federal, state Held annually by OSDRI, “Stand Down Weekend” is a three-day outreach and local community part- event that brings together homeless and low-income veterans at a militaryners. There’s assistance with style encampment, providing them with access to a wide-range of services. housing, employment and job-training, health screenFor the past four years, Wallin has been OSDRI’s ings and optometry, the ability to have legal counsel and Executive Director. He leads a staff that has a combined go before the Rhode Island District Court and Traffic 162 years of military service, and for the few staff that Tribunal, and more. are not veterans themselves, they are family members of “The experience of that weekend was something I veterans. cannot describe,” says Erik.

“Veterans are extremely proud and rarely ask for Wallin lost the election for Attorney General short- help or admit they are suffering,” he explains. “Being ly after. Perhaps it was fate. Tony invited Erik to join the that we’re veterans ourselves and understand the culture, OSDRI Board of Directors. challenges and types of risks they have when transition“Looking back, this all allowed me to continue what ing from the military, I believe it sets us apart from every had become a life dedicated to public service,” continues other veteran service provider.”

Erik. “I truly believe that God closes one door and opens Erik highlights that when in the company of others the one you are meant to go in.” who served, veterans are more likely to open up. Among

November 2015

honoring

veterans

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Winemaking Notes: In June 2014, Operation Stand Down RI brought the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Providence. Here, Erik Wallin, Esq. Captain USAF (Fmr.), Executive Director of OSDRI, addresses a group community members during one of three days of ceremonies organized by the organization. the most difficult things veterans struggle with and share with Erik and his staff are PTSD, alcohol and drug dependency, a sense that their best and proudest days are in the past, an extreme guilt for having been away from their families and children for long periods of time—failing as a parent or spouse. While the stories can be heartbreaking, the ways in which OSDRI can turn them around is equally inspirational.

Three years ago, Erik hired Rhode Island’s most recently retired State Command Sergeant Major John McDonough as OSDRI’s Director of Supportive Services. Almost as if divine intervention, shortly after his arrival, they received a call that a veteran and his pregnant daughter were spending their nights in a van. An OSDRI case worker sought them out, bringing them back to the office, where the veteran described his years of on-and-off homelessness and lack of money to support himself or his daughter. McDonough spoke with him about his military service, learning that he had served in two separate branches. While he did not qualify for a military pension based on either period of service alone, together, he did. OSDRI staff spent nearly a month gathering the records needed to qualify the veteran for a full military pension. Back on his feet, the veteran spent several years volunteering with OSDRI before buying a home and moving to northern New England.

“The work I do at Stand Down and the individuals I’m privileged to have as colleagues in this mission to give veterans a hand up, not a hand out, is the most rewarding I have ever experienced,” says Erik. “Seeing a family housed, a veteran with a new and meaningful job, or a person having access to the treatment they need to overcome obstacles is an incredible feeling.”

For every success story that Wallin and OSDRI are involved with, sadly, there are many more veterans still to be reached. It is this need that fuels the organization’s dedication to move forward.

Wallin points out that veterans account for approximately one-third of the entire homeless population, yet only one percent of the population serves in the military. With the Army alone slated to reduce its numbers by nearly 25 percent in the coming years, Wallin, and others, are concerned that these disturbing numbers will only grow.

OSDRI – Page 14

November 2015

The wine opens with a ruby red color with violet tinges. It has a ull and intense fragrance with hints of red fruit which bring to mind cherries and raspberries. On the palate the wine is smooth and well Ǥ ϐ is characterized by gentle tannins and the ϐ grapes which make is so delicious and easy to drink.

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Black cherry, tobacco and black pepper notes ϐ ǡ bolstered by integrated tannins, with a long ϐ Ǥ astringent now, but this should come together soon.

Sangiovese and Merlot.

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PrimeTime | 13

Screening of award-winning WWII documentary Victor Del Regno is the son of a World War II US Navy Seabee. After discovering an untold truth about his parents from a box of old war letters, Del Regno began a five year journey that took him half way around the world to the Solomon Islands and back home again. Del Regno was so moved by his parents’ experiences and letters that he ultimately produced and directed the documentary Till Then: A Journey Through World War II Love Letters.

A screening will be held at the Weaver Library, 41 Grove Avenue, East Providence, on Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm. Mr. Del Regno, a former Rhode Islander, will join us from Florida for a discussion after the film.

“I wanted people to realize the emotional cost of war and the sacrifices made for our freedom, not just by the soldiers, but by their spouses and loved ones at home too,” Del Regno remarked in a 2013 interview.

Invite a veteran and join us for this film, which is free and open to all. Call 434-2453 for more information.

Westbay Café…More than a Meal Making a luncheon reservation at our eight Westbay Cafes is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Special

november Meals

Bring A Friend Day – Tuesday, November 10 Split Pea Soup, Chopped Sirloin with Gravy, Egg Noodles, Roasted Corn and Dessert. Spa Option: Greek Salad Veteran’s Day Meal – Thursday, November 12 Fruit Salad, One Quarter Baby Back Ribs, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw and Dessert Pub Option: Seafood Salad Sandwich Thanksgiving Meal – Thursday, November 19 Italian Wedding Soup, Turkey with Gravy, Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Butternut Squash, Peas and Onions, Holiday Pie Our caterer provides the following three options (two each day) for your meal • Hearty Traditional Meal – Appetizer, Main Entrée with sides (potato, vegetables) • Pub Option – Delicious Sandwich • Spa Option – Lighter, healthy option for those on the go All luncheons include an appetizer, bread, dessert and coffee or tea

For more information, please call patty martucci, Assistant Director of Senior nutrition program

401-732-4666 ext. 142

Senior CenterS Charlestown 401-364-9955 East Greenwich 401-886-8638 Jamestown 401-423-2658 The Center–S. Kingstown 401-789-0268 West Warwick 401-822-4450 Westerly 401-596-2404 Senior ApArtmentS (you do not have to be a resident) Park View-Westerly 401-596-4918 Shalom Apartments 401-737-0180

We invite seniors age 60 and older and individuals with disabilities to join us at these Cafes for a nutritious lunch. The suggested donation is $3/person. Reservations are necessary and should be made by Thursday for the following week.

14 | PrimeTime

WaterFire

Salute to Veterans set for third year

The WaterFire Salute to Veterans is scheduled to take place on Nov. 7. This is the third year for this community-wide celebration of veterans.

This will be a full WaterFire event lighting and solely devoted to saluting and honoring our veterans and all military personnel of the United States and their families.

Much more than the bonfires, WaterFire presents a wide variety of experiences – traditional to avant-garde and experimental, bringing new audiences to art while filling the city with energy, vibrancy and a new vision for urban life.

Programming around this installation varies greatly and WaterFire prides itself on being able to celebrate, champion and highlight various other forms of art, causes, other local organizations and local history. This year WaterFire is proud to honor all of our veterans with an entire evening dedicated to their service, sacrifice and dedication.

This WaterFire event lighting will include many different activities and initiatives that highlight and celebrate, in both creative and literal representations, all Rhode Island veterans as well as current members of the armed forces from all branches. The goal is to use the WaterFire platform as a means to educate and bring awareness to the community at large about our veterans and veterans services, as well as serve as a celebration and thank you for the sacrifices that these men and women have made for our country and our community.

Throughout the WaterFire installation there will be many ceremonies and tributes planned over the course of the evening as well as many areas for displays and engagement from Waterplace Basin to Steeple Street to Memorial Park. WaterFire is excited to produce a Veteran’s Resource Fair at the heart of the installation.

For more information, visit waterfiresalutetoveterans.org.

■ OSDRI “It’s imperative that funding continues for programs that provide transitional assistance to veterans,” says Wallin. “We also need to make sure all veterans have access to mental health care in a timely fashion; twenty-two veterans take their lives every day and the rate of actively serving members committing suicide is up drastically, as well—this is unacceptable.”

Though some may see the work as an uphill battle, Wallin and his staff remain focused on helping every veteran they can, moving the needle in the right direction in the process.

At OSDRI, a veteran who, at any time, has been placed on active duty can receive up to nine months of rental assistance, help with a security deposit, child care, and more while the organization works with them to find employment or to secure the benefits they have earned. The organization can also help pay back rent for veterans on the verge of eviction. Equally as important as stable housing, employment and careertraining are critical keys to a veteran’s transition back to civilian life. As Wallin aptly states, “A job changes lives.”

When asked what we, as a community, can do to help veterans, Wallin didn’t hesitate.

“If you know a veteran in need, bring them to Operation Stand Down Rhode Island first because if it can be done, it will be done,” he says. “The type of assistance we can provide gives veterans the hand up they need to again pursue the American dream they fought for all of us to enjoy.”

Operation Stand Down Rhode Island has an office at 1000 Hartford Avenue in Johnston. They can be reached at (401) 383-4730 and online at www.osdri.org.

November 2015

senior

retirement sparks b y elaine m . decker

The Modern Septuagenarian Recently I celebrated one of those milestone birthdays that force you to stop for a moment and take stock. Admitting that I turned seventy didn’t rattle me too much.

However, when I realized that means that I’m now a septuagenarian, I suddenly felt very old. Inspired by a parody that’s traveling the Internet (of the “Modern MajorGeneral” song from Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance), I took ownership by declaring in verse that I’m the “Modern Septuagenarian.”

The Modern Septuagenarian à la Gilbert & Sullivan I am the very model of a modern septua’narian.

For seven decades now my body’s worked hard on preparian.

I take my daily vitamins from A thru E and minerals, Including one with label gray for senior ills quite general.

I’m very well acquainted, too, with how to exit with great speed From any public building if I’m bored or sick or feel the need.

I know the names of tradesmen for each job requiring special skill, But getting them to show up takes persistence and an iron will.

I’m teeming with such trivia as Medicare requirements, And all the hidden benefits that come with ones retirement.

In short, in matters newsworthy, including those contrarian, I am the very model of a modern septua’narian.

I do Sudoku daily but my solving time’s not up to snuff, And climbing stairs without a rest is noticeably getting tough.

But I can separate junk mail from missives with priority: My name is not Eli-an-e, despite how bought lists write to me.

My doctors have a record of how much I shrink from year to year, But I’m not fazed; I simply keep stepstools and grabbers ever near.

I try to get some exercise and count my calories each day, And once a week get on the scale to monitor how much I weigh.

I do my morning stretches so my toes remain quite reachable; My lessons on the saxophone are proof that I’m still teachable.

I check in with my Facebook friends to see whose kids are marryin’.

Let’s not forget I’m modeling a modern septua’narian.

My shoes are flat or chunky-heeled—my hinky balance is to blame; A paragon of fitness is a moniker I cannot claim.

I pluck my chin to keep it smooth and dye my roots to hide the gray; My hair is “older lady” short since other styles just fly away.

I volunteer my time and talent since I’m pretty short on treasure; The projects that I sign up for are ones I can do at my leisure.

My singing and my cooking skills are—simply put—inglorious; My sense of humor and my wit, however, are notorious.

You’ll say a septua’narian has never blogged so cleverly, With knowledge of pop culture that’s surprising at age seventy.

In short, when chronicling those burdens that we all are carryin’, I am the very model of a modern septua’narian.

Copyright 2015 Business Theatre Unlimited Elaine M. Decker’s books—Retirement Sparks Redux (published in December, 2014), 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 anthology: 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.

November 2015

l i f e s t yl e s

issues

b y L arry G rimaldi

Cooking with Mammie T

he bubbling echo and sweet aroma of gravy (pasta sauce to nonItalians born outside Rhode Island), simmering on the stove evokes memories of our Sunday family dinners.

As a Baby Boomer, I remember Sunday as a day when retail stores, grocery markets, offices, and hundreds of small and large jewelry manufacturing plants that dominated the state’s economy were closed. Youth sports did not invade a day of rest, religious observances, and family time. During baseball season, legendary Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy would paint vivid radio landscapes of both ends of a doubleheader.

Sadly, today’s hectic, demanding, and over-scheduled lifestyle has forced families to abandon most of these traditions.

My wife Kathy and I are grandparents to Kailyn and Sophia, 12-years old twins and Nicholas, our five-year old grandson. Grandparents link the history, culture, and traditions of past generations to the promises, hopes, and dreams of their grandchildren. In her own way, Kathy has created a celebration that combines all of these roles into a weekly party we call “Cooking with Mammie” (the name Sophia gave her grandmother at age 2).

On Thursdays, we pick up the kids at school and Kathy takes the girls grocery shopping for a healthy evening meal, including a main course and dessert. The fixings for the meal must cost less than $25. Under the watchful eye of their grandmother, the twins are responsible for preparing and cooking the meal. Nicholas is slowly being indoctrinated into the tradition by getting out the pots and pans and helping to set the table. Sometimes, he washes the vegetables before retreating into the television room to watch Curious George.

Main courses have ranged from pasta e fagioli (macaroni and bean soup) to chicken cordon bleu. The menu has included beef stew, fourbean salad, artichokes, meatloaf, broccoli with lemon, tomato and mozzarella caprese salad, tacos, baked cod fish, and something I invented called Saturday stew.

The stew is a simple concoction of cut-up hotdogs simmered in a casserole of baked beans, barbecue sauce and ketchup. In the interest of full disclosure, we ordered Chinese take-out one night.

Nicholas and I are partial to the dessert menu, which has included the twins’ hand-decorated cupcakes, puddings, gelato, and fresh fruit. We have collectively decided that our Thursday dinners are the basis for a book of recipes titled (what else), “Cooking with Mammie.” Thus far, Saturday stew is my only contribution.

After offering grace, the banquet begins. Dinners are seasoned with conversations about school, music, softball, baseball, hockey (for our budding skater, Nicholas), family events, and other issues important to the children.

A few jokes are usually sprinkled throughout the chatter. In popular lingo, “It’s quality time.”

After supper, we play board

games, or their favorite card game, Apples to Apples. During the school year, game time is shortened because homework needs to be done. Even Nicholas, our kindergartener, has a little homework.

He’s not very happy about it, but I don’t bother to tell him that he has many years of homework ahead of him.

“Cooking with Mammie” subtly teaches skills such as budgeting, shopping, meal planning and preparation, and teamwork.

I doubt that Kailyn, Sophia, and Nicholas think that of our Thursday dinners as a course in practical culinary arts. Grandparents are amazingly clever and effective life coaches.

“Cooking with Mammie” is about creating memories. We are nurturing a relationship based on common experiences, texting-free personal conversations, humor, and most of all, love. We look forward to Thursdays. In our own corner of this noise-filled world, we are spending joyous moments re-creating Sunday dinners from a previous era. We are weaving a new quilt of traditions; helping them to understand the value of relationships, and keeping their cultural roots alive and vibrant.

Above all, it’s just fun!

PrimeTime | 15

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November 2015

professional perspective

Your Pet by shelby & smoke

BIRTHSTONE of the MONTH senior

SPONSORED BY:

The Jewelry Center

Traveling Pets

With the holiday season here, many lucky pets get to travel. Smoke and I are not frequent flyers but we do have some updates and tips for everyone out there.

There have been several changes recently with airlines and trains. They are trying to pass The Pets on Trains Act. This will allow for smaller dogs and cats that can fit into a carrier to ride on Amtrak. They will be designating a specific car for these pets and their parents. Right now the path from Boston to Washington, D.C. is the start of the program. Eventually this may be expanded.

Airlines have also made some recent changes to travel. Many airlines are allowing pets to travel under the seat in front of you. Service pets are given more ability to ride within the cabin so they can be the best assistant for their owner. My mom recently flew with a Labradoodle in the next aisle. John F. Kennedy Airport in New York is making a state-of-the-art facility with a large animal arrival and departure lounge. They will also have an overnight pet resort and an emergency center.

Before venturing off make sure your parents have assessed if you are comfortable with new places and experiences. Flying can be stressful if you are not even used to leaving the house. Make sure you fit in your carrier properly and have enough room for the ride. If you are like my sister Isabelle (a French Bulldog) then make sure your parents are being careful with the temperature changes as well as the stress. Brachycephalic breeds of dogs and cats (for example Pugs and Persians) can have a more difficult time with travel if they become stressed or hot. If you are concerned that you may get stressed let your parents know so they can talk to your veterinarian. In general sedation is not advised but we are all different so have you veterinarian discuss possible herbal therapies or medications that may help you during travel if they feel it is medically necessary.

Before you go make sure your vaccinations are up to date. Be sure you have plenty of any medications you need. Bring a copy of your health record just in case of emergency. Make sure your microchip information is up to date in case you get lost and need to be found. It is also a good idea to locate a veterinary facility near where you will be. A great site to look at is AAHA’s (American Animal Hospital Association) website and see if there is an accredited animal hospital near where you will be staying and what emergency facilities are near by. It is stressful enough when you are away from your family veterinarian but to have to find one during an emergency is even worse.

Although traveling can get busy there are ways to help decrease the stress.

Please remember to double check your plans before booking since not every airline is the same. Also make sure your accommodations and transportation at your destination are appropriate. Most of all have a good time. Enjoy the sun while the snow is here. Smoke will be inside a warm house and I promise to jump through every mound of snow I see!

A brief paws ‘till next time

Shelby & Smoke

Email your pet care questions to: shelbyandsmoke@westpaws.com Dr. Danielle Paradise and Dr. Clarissa Williams are from West Paws Animal Hospital, (formerly West Bay Animal Hospital) and NorthPaws Veterinary Center, northpaws.com.

issues

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Kibble of the Month The Beatles

song “A Day in the Life” contains a 15kilocycle whistling noise (the same as a police dog whistle) audible only to dogs.

It was recorded by Paul McCartney for his Shetland sheepdog.

November 2015

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The ancient Egyptians and Romans associated this golden gem with the sun god, giving it the power to protect and heal. Legend says that topaz dispels enchantment.

PrimeTime | 17

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 i chapter

senior

issues

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month After designating a National Alzheimer’s Disease Week in 1982, President Ronald Reagan helped to launch a national campaign against Alzheimer’s disease in 1983. President Reagan called members of the Alzheimer’s Association to the White House for the signing of a proclamation declaring that November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month (NADAM). President Bill Clinton named the week of Thanksgiving as a time to honor caregivers in 1997, and that has since expanded to National Family Caregivers Month.

During the end of the year, we will be focusing on the holiday season, a time when families gather and might notice changes in an individual’s cognitive function, as well as the impact of caregiving. Recognizing early signs of

Alzheimer’s is one of the first steps toward an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

Seeking information could lead to a diagnosis of a condition that is treatable or allow the person with the disease and family members to find appropriate treatment, begin care, support and financial planning and even participate in a clinical trial.

We offer a toll-free Helpline (1-800272-3900) and trainings for families and healthcare professionals – visit our website alz.org/ri to find the program closest to you.

Call the Chapter office or visit our website at alz.org/ri. If you would like to speak with a representative from the Rhode Island Chapter, please contact Annie Murphy for a consultation at 1800-272-3900, ext. 103.

Going Purple

Events: Research Symposium

Back row: Office Manager, Michelle LaFrance, former Alzheimer’s Board President, Chris Bush, Esq. Senator Jack Reed, Advocate William McGowan, Executive Director, Donna McGowan, Finance Director, Lisa Connell Front Row:Development Director, Camilla Farrell, Current Alzheimer’s Board President Jackie Waldon, CPA, Program Manager, Annie Murphy, Special Event Coordinator, Bella Garcia

Alzheimer’s Association Culinary Challenge

Senator Jack Reed, who served at the Honorary Walk to End Alzheimer’s Ambassador this past September, visited the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter recently.

“It is not everyday that a Senator visits our office. We are so honored that Senator Reed took the time to visit us. The Senator has been a strong supporter of Alzheimer’s funds for research serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee,” said RI Chapter Executive Director, Donna McGowan.

Senator Reed said, “I am ‘Going Purple’ to show support for those impacted

by Alzheimer’s disease and meeting with advocates to highlight the need to fund Alzheimer’s research. Thank you to everybody at Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter for their outstanding work.”

November 12, 2015 • Radisson Hotel, Warwick • 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Guest Speaker is Peter J. Snyder, PhD, Senior Vice President & Chief Research Officer, Lifespan Hospital System, Providence. He serves as Senior Associate Editor of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

He is internationally known for his research on early detection in Alzheimer’s disease.

December 2, 2015 • 5:30pm, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Cranston.

Ring in the holidays, discover new menu ideas, sample gourmet dishes from ten local chefs and bid on items for your home or office. Join us for the healthcare cookoff and vote for your favorite chef. There will be a DJ and panel of celebrity judges including WPRI Anchor Mike Montecalvo and others. Cocktails 5:30 p.m., and tasting 6:15 p.m. Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. Tickets are $35 per person, and $30 for 10 or more. This is the 6th year for the Culinary Challenge and we hope to raise $10,000 to support local programs for families dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Holiday Season Holidays are a time for family and togetherness and memories, but can also be a time filled with stress and sadness for the person with dementia and the caregiver. The person may feel a sense of loss because of the changes he/she is experiencing and the caregiver may feel overwhelmed by caregiving responsibilities, and hesitant to invite others over because of the behavior changes with their loved one.

The holidays can also be a precursor for a possible diagnosis or at least a family discussion. Here are some suggestions to take home.

Tips for making the holidays easier: • Adjust expectations—do what you can reasonably and don’t pressure yourself to follow holiday traditions.

• Ask family/friends to bring a potluck meal.

• Have food delivered from a local restaurant, grocery store, or hire a caterer.

• Ask family/friends to host the meal at their home—you can leave if it becomes too loud or confusing for the person with dementia.

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Alzheimer’s disease the nation’s 6th leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number living with Alzheimer’s disease will escalate. In Rhode Island alone, there are 25,000 people living with Alzheimer’s, with as many as 100,000 caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s research, care and support.

Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.

Visit alz.org/ri or call 1-800.272.3900.

How the person with the disease can participate: • Involve your loved one with safe activities like wrapping packages, hanging decorations, table setting, etc.

• Focus on holiday activities that are meaningful like songs, reading scripture, favorite foods.

• Ask clergy if they would like to hold a brief service in your home.

• Try to maintain your loved one’s normal routine.

Attendings holiday events with your loved one: • Prepare the host for special needs like a quiet room to rest, finger foods, soft music and address behaviors that might be uncomfortable.

• Consider assigning someone to be with your loved one; this individual can cue the person as to who people are, provide assistance with eating and other activities, and support the person so he/she feels engaged.

• Arrange respite services if your loved one is not able to participate in holiday events.

November 2015

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

by DON FOWLER

First Works Announces Exciting Season First Works Artistic Director Kathleen Pletcher announced their exciting 20152016 season at a party at the Biltmore last week. And what a season it is.

“From the concert hall to the classroom, FirstWorks offers dazzling cultural performances and provocative discussions with legendary artists, world-class music and dance,” Pletcher told the large gathering.

The season is divided into two series, the first being performances by Giants in the Performing Arts.

ARTISTIC ICONS SERIES Four “artistic icons” will perform at Vets Auditorium, beginning with Wynton Marsalis playing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on December 4 at 7:30 p.m.

The Rhode Island premiere of London’s BalletBoyz, one of the most original powers in the dance world, will perform on January 31, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. The all-male company of ten dancers smashes the stereotypes of ballet with what Pletcher describes as “a fearless, crunching physicality”.

The World Premiere tour of Urban Bush Women comes to the Vets February 27 at 8:00 p.m. with their rendition of “Walking With ‘Trane”, a towering jazz masterpiece, complete with live music. The group, like many of the other performers, is involved in the community and schools.

Rosanne Cash brings her full band to Vets for a multimedia experience on April 10 at 6:30 p.m.

FRONTIER SERIES Groundbreaking firsts in the arts are featured in this new series, beginning with Cloud Eye Control, an astonishing mix of projected animation, live theatre and music. They will perform at the Columbus Theatre, a new partner with FirstWorks, on November 21 at 8:00 p.m.

A Community Renewal Event at the Southside Cultural Center (The former site of Trinity Rep and current site of Wilbury Theatre) will feature Urban Bush Women performing “dark swan”, which is described as “a sensual work celebrating the African female body, and a response to Russian masters of dance”.

The social evening will food, conversation, and the performance.

Bedroom Community, the Icelandic record label celebrating ten years, will join Rhode Island’s own Nico Muhly, plus Ben Frost and Sam Amidon in Bedroom Community, a mixture of modern compositions, electro-acoustics, “haunting noise-scopes” and “apocalyptic folk songs” at the Columbus Theatre on March 28 at 8:00 p.m.

Our own Aurea Ensemble will present their world premiere of “Chromatic Fantasy: The World of Ciurlionis”, inspired by the fascinating Lithuanian composer and artist. On April 24 at 2:00 p.m. at RISD’s Chace Center Metcalf Auditorium.

“With pre-show JumpStart performances in the lobby and Artist-Up-Close conversations in the theatre, every FirstWorks event becomes a celebrations,” Pletcher said.

Rhode Island puts itself on the world map for arts and culture with this tremendous year-long celebration of the arts. Get your tickets now and receive more information on line at first-works.org.

Twice Baked Potato Jackets with Rosemary Servings: 16

8 small Yukon Gold potatoes 1 cup Sabra Classic Hummus 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary extra virgin olive oil (for drizzling) salt and pepper sea salt Heat oven to 425 F. • Scrub potatoes and poke with fork 2-3 times to allow steam to escape while baking.

Place whole potatoes on rimmed sheet pan and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes (depending on size of potatoes) or until potatoes are soft; cool for 10 minutes.

Carefully slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop inside into bowl, leaving about 1/4-inch ring of potato around edges.

Lightly mash potato chunks in bowl; add hummus and stir until combined.

Season mixture with salt and pepper, taste and adjust if necessary.

Using spoon, divide potato-hummus filling evenly among potato jackets and broil for 5-7 minutes or until tops are golden and crispy; watch carefully as they burn quickly.

Remove from broiler and sprinkle with rosemary and a pinch of sea salt.

Serve immediately.

November 2015

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elderly Housing

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FEATURES InclUdEd in your rent: Heat, Hot Water, Appliances, Elevators, Emergency Pull Cords, Laundry Facilities, Parking, Intercom, 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Service, Cable Ready Apartments, Community Room equipped with Computer, Out Door Patio and Furniture, Flower Gardens, On-Site Management FEATURES NoT included in your rent:

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401-941-2900 www.wdchoc.org

But you don’t have to wait until January for a first look!

ImmedIate CrematIon ServICe

$1,095.00 Period costume is optional but encouraged

This service includes: Collation of information, one person transfer of remains to funeral home, use of facilities for mandatory waiting period, preparation of remains (not embalming), cremation container, transfer of remains to crematory, securing death certificate and filing of certificate with appropriate town or city, and crematory fee.

Route 44 • Greenville Common Greenville, RI (401) 949-0180 andersonwinfield.net

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November 2015

b y kerry park

Music Speaks

senior issues

bringing comfort through song An elderly woman lay in her bed at a Providence hospice center as a small bedside choir began to sing at the request of her granddaughter. At first it wasn’t clear if she even realized they were there but when “You Are My Sunshine,” filled the room, she began to mouth the words. She fell peacefully back to sleep when the song ended.

Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” Clearly, Jodi Glass agrees. Glass, a Rhode Island-based audiologist, shares her love of music to comfort those who are critically ill or near death. She and fellow volunteers, collectively known as the Grace Note Singers, bring comfort and solace to nursing home and hospice patients through song.

The original inspiration for of the Grace Note Singers came to Glass in 2004, during conversations with a hospice chaplain that took place while she was caring for her ailing Godmother. Soon thereafter, she discovered the work of the Hallowell Singers and the Threshold Choir, two bedside singing groups that comfort the sick and dying with music. Years later, Glass met Rick Gamache, the Administrator at Elmhurst Extended Care in Providence and told him about her goal of delivering a similar service to Rhode Island nursing home patients. He opened the door for the Grace Note Singers to begin offering their services to Elmhurst’s patients and their families. The group has been singing to Elmhurst patients on a regular basis ever since.

Always musical, Glass had started choirs many times and she drew upon her prior experience in recruiting members. Today the group is comprised of 50 members, age 40 to 80, who sing in groups of up to six. One member communicates with the family and another leads the group in song. They come from all walks of life – social workers, nurses, educators and more – but Glass says that their past training is left at the door. When they are together, their only goal is to bring comfort. They are care-

Volunteer Opportunity Looking for Master Trainers Chances are you know someone who has fallen, is afraid of falling, or is 55 years or older, and is looking to give back to the community by educating and volunteering.

Federal Hill House Association is looking for volunteers to help facilitate, A Matter of Balance, a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels.

Training dates are Tuesday, December 1 and Wednesday, December 2, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m at Casey Family Services, 1268 Eddy Street, Providence. You will receive Master Trainer certification upon completion of training.

As a Master Trainer, you will lead a minimum of 2 sessions a year in the community and help participants become more confident about managing falls, help identify ways to reduce falls, lead subtle exercises routines to help increase strength and balance.

Participants learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity and make changes to reduce fall risks at home. Registration deadline the the training session is November 6, 2015.

For more information please contact Cindy Gómez, cgomez@federalhillhouse.org or 401-421-1095.

Mittens Project kicks off early

To meet a higher demand this year, The Highlands on the East Side launched its 3rd Annual “Mittens Project” more than a month earlier than usual, to collect mittens, hats, scarves, gloves and gently used coats to warm RI’s homeless in the frigid months ahead. This year’s collection runs through November 30th.

Last year over 800 new or gently used articles of cold weather clothing were donated.

Items may be dropped off at The Highlands on the East Side, 101 Highland Avenue in Providence. All donors will receive an invitation to attend the assisted living and memory care community’s Dec. 3 “Mittens Party” party when the donations will be presented to shelters and agencies to distribute to the homeless in RI. For information, contact MaryEllen Lehman, 401-654-5259 or mlehman@hallkeen.com.

November 2015

ful to respect boundaries, never touching a patient or singing without being asked.

Each member goes through intensive training in dealing with death and dying and participates in three months of rehearsal before they are rotated into the group.

“It’s not for everybody. Not everyone is comfortable with it. I am because I see staff members become more comfortable while we’re there, and then I see family members come out in the hallway and ask us to sing. We just sang for a 37-year old and that’s never easy, but it’s a blessing,” said Glass.

In many cultures, bedside singing prior to passage is an ancient custom, but in America bedside choirs have become more commonplace in recent years. The development of the Threshold Choir approximately 15 years ago and advances in alternative forms of palliative care therapies for those who are terminally or critically ill have advanced the spread of bedside singing nationwide. Studies have shown that music is known to change heart rate, relieve stress and enhance better rest, all welcome responses by those who are critically or terminally ill.

“Their voices help create a peaceful and tranquil environment. Jodi and the Grace Note Singers set the example that death is sacred and should be viewed as such especially while in a long term care setting,” wrote Sharon Wolff, Director of Social Services at Elmhurst Extended Care in Providence in an application she wrote to nominate Glass for an industry-wide Volunteer of the Year award. Glass was honored with the award earlier this fall.

The Grace Note Singers cap their membership at 50, but Glass and co-director, Debbie Block, are always on the lookout for more volunteer talent. The group is available to sing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone interested in their services or in becoming a volunteer member, can find out more information on the group’s website at www.gracenotesingers.net.

your taxes

professional perspective

b y meg chevalier

Tax Effects of Divorce or Separation Income tax may be the last thing on your mind after a divorce or separation. However, these events can have a big impact on your taxes. Alimony and a name change are just a few items you may need to consider. Here are some key tax tips to keep in mind if you get divorced or separated. * Child Support. If you pay child support, you can’t deduct it on your tax return. If you receive child support, it is not taxable. * Alimony Paid. If you make payments under a divorce or separate maintenance decree or written separation agreement you may be able to deduct them as alimony. This applies only if the payments qualify as alimony for federal tax purposes. * Alimony Received. If you get alimony from your spouse or former spouse, it is taxable in the year you get it. Alimony is not subject to tax withholding so you may need to increase the tax you pay during the year to avoid a penalty. * Spousal IRA. If you get a final decree of divorce or separate maintenance by the end of your tax year, you can’t deduct contributions you make to your former spouse’s traditional IRA. You may be able to deduct contributions you make to your own traditional IRA. * Name Changes. If you change your name after your divorce, notify the Social Security Administration of the change. File Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. You can get the form on SSA.gov or call 800-772-1213 to order it. The name on your tax return must match SSA records.

Health Care Law Considerations * Special Marketplace Enrollment Period. If you lose your health insurance coverage due to divorce, you are still required to have coverage. Losing coverage through a divorce is considered a qualifying life event that allows you to enroll in health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace during a Special Enrollment Period. * Changes in Circumstances. If you purchase health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace you may get advance payments of the premium tax credit in 2015. * Shared Policy Allocation. If you divorced or are legally separated during the tax year and are enrolled in the same qualified health plan, you and your former spouse must allocate policy amounts on your separate tax returns to figure your premium tax credit and reconcile any advance payments made on your behalf. Publication 974, Premium Tax Credit, has more information.

For more on this topic, see Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals. You can get it on IRS.gov/forms at any time. Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. These are your Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect them on IRS.gov.

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BANKRUPTCY $

950

00

Atty. Fee

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Payment Plan Available

Attorney David B. Hathaway Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee

Senior Discounts

401-738-3030

ribankruptcy.net

Meals on wheels restaurant prograM Serving Seniors Across the State Since 1969

Meals on Wheels has expanded its restaurant program from Providence into other areas of the state. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible, for suggested donation of $5, to obtain a voucher to participating restaurants where they get a meal.

The restaurants offer a variety of meal options that meet nutrition standards. Participating restaurants are Newport Creamery locations, except for Barrington, Middletown, and Newport; and IHOP restaurants in Warwick and Providence.

To learn more or to obtain a voucher, visit Meals on Wheels, 70 Bath St., Providence or call Pauline Asprinio at 401-351-6700 Meals on Wheels of RI is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the Administration on Aging and state funds through the RI Division of Elderly Affairs.

Ocean State center fOr Independent LIvIng

OSCIL is your resource center promoting independent living and accessibility for people having disability.

This is The “Prime Time” To give us a call!

738-1013

Visit us: oscil.org • Email: info@oscil.org • Video Phone: 244-7792 • Toll Free: 866-857-1161

Buying Selling Renting

New and Pre-owned Power Wheelchairs and Scooters

“Get your liberty with mobility”

1542 Main St., W. Warwick, RI libertymobility@verizon.net

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November 2015

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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LABORATORY SERVICES

CEMETERIES

HOME CARE With BAYADA Home Health Care…

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They are like family to me.”

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Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery EST. 1902 ~ HISTORIC ~ NON-DENOMINATIONAL

Traditional and/or Cremation Burial ASK ABOUT FAMILY PLOT DISCOUNTS PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE

6365 Post Road, North Kingstown 401-884-7691 www.qmcemetery.org

REAL ESTATE

BAYADA provides: • CNA and homemaking services (from 1-24 hrs./daily) • Variety of payment options, including Medicaid, state waiver programs, and private pay Call 401-330-2525 www.bayada.com

DERMATOLOGY

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Call for your FREE CONSULTATION Laura Bittinger

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Products & Services Designed to Make Your Life Easier CALL 401-732-3100 FOR ADVERTISING DETAILS

November 2015

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

To Advertise, call 401-732-3100 for details

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Medicare Advantage plans that fit your life for as little as $0* a month.

Our BlueCHiP for Medicare sales team can help you find a plan that works best for you.

We’re here to help you understand your options. Go to bcbsri.com/Medicare to find dates and locations for a Blue Cross Medicare event near you and to RSVP. You can also reserve a seat by calling (800) 505-BLUE (2583) TTY:711. Space is limited — RSVP today.

Call 800-505-BLUE (2583) TTY:711

Click bcbsri.com/Medicare

Come by Your Blue Store™ in Warwick, Bristol or Lincoln (Opening Soon)

A sales representative will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, please call the number above.

*You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.Premium may change on January 1 of each year. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island depends on contract renewal. An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

08/15 BMED-16978 H4152_2016aepprintad49 Accepted

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November 2015