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Vol. 50 | No. 3 | March 2022

There’s more to Rockport than its most famous building page 6

Forecasting New England weather is a lifelong passion for

Harvey

LEONARD page

Boston meteorologist Harvey Leonard recently celebrated 50 years of forecasting the weather.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF WCVB

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Family Caregiving

8 questions to ask if a loved one is in a nursing home

By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts

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mericans living and working in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, accounting for roughly a quarter of all U.S. COVID-19 deaths. If you have a spouse, sibling, parent or other loved one in a nursing home, here are 8 key questions to consider asking their facility, as recommended by experts:

1. What is the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the facility?

• What proportion of residents and staff are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot?

• Is the facility tracking when residents and staff are due for boosters?

Mike Festa • Is the facility having trouble accessing or administering vaccines or boosters as residents and staff ask for them?

• What is the facility doing to educate residents and staff on the vaccines’ effectiveness and safety?

2. Is the facility screening and testing residents and staff for COVID-19 in line with government recommendations and regulations?

• Are residents and staff, being screened at least daily for COVID-19 symptoms, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?

• Is the facility testing residents and staff as specified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?

3. If COVID-19 is detected, is the facility ready to respond quickly to prevent further spread?

• Is there a dedicated person planning and managing the facility’s infection control program, as required by the CMS? • Is the facility able and ready to implement the correct infection prevention and control protocols, as established by the CDC, to prevent COVID-19’s spread?

• Has a positive case been identified at the facility in the past two weeks?

• If so, is the facility performing an outbreak investigation, as required by the CMS? • How many residents and/or staff have tested positive?

• Are all visitors entering the facility being screened for COVID-19 symptoms?

4. How is the facility helping residents stay connected with their loved ones virtually?

• Does the facility have tablets or other technologies to enable virtual calls/ visits?

• Is the facility offering to schedule — and assist — residents in calling their loved ones?

5. Does the facility have sufficient levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) — masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, gowns and gloves?

• If not, what is the plan to obtain more and what safety measures are in place in the meantime?

• Are staff, residents and visitors trained on how to properly use PPE? Is PPE available for visitors?

6. How is the facility communicating important COVID-19 information?

• How can family members and resident representatives stay informed on COVID-19 case rates, community transmission rates, vaccination rates, changes to visitation and other issues? Is the facility using phone, email, a website, a newsletter or another platform to provide regular updates?

How often are the updates being issued?

• How are residents and staff staying informed?

7. Is the nursing home currently at full staffing levels for nurses, aides and other workers?

• If not, how are the care needs of residents — bathing, feeding, medication management, exercise, social engagement, etc. — being met?

8. Are healthy-living programs back up and running?

• How are communal activities like dining, exercising, socializing and entertainment being adapted in order to follow infection-control practices?

Have any services been cut?

For more information, visit: www.aarp.org/nursinghomes.

Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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Westborough’s Kate Donaghue announces campaign for new state representative seat

By Dakota Antelman Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - Westborough resident and community activist Kate Donaghue recently announced a run for State Representative running in the new 19th Worcester District.

Created in the state’s recent redistricting process, that district includes most of Westborough and Northborough, all of Southborough and part of Framingham.

“I’m running for State Representative to make a difference on issues that impact my neighbors,” said Donaghue, who is running as a Democrat, in a press release.

Donoghue boasts long record in Westborough Donoghue has long been an active Westborough community member.

She has served as a member of the Westborough Open Space Committee and a board member for the Westborough Community Land Trust.

She has chaired the Long Trail Protection Fund Committee and coled a fundraising effort to protect

Kate Donaghue is a longtime resident and community activist from Westborough.

25,000 acres of land from development. She’s also been on the board of the Green Mountain Club.

Donaghue pushed for change in Massachusetts’ addiction treatment systems particularly after her son, Brian Simpson, died due to a drug overdose in 2018.

As part of that effort, she organized lobbying days at the state capi-

tal and was a member of the Attorney General’s Family Advisory Council, focusing on opioids.

Her husband, Kimball Simpson, meanwhile, passed away due to cancer this past December.

“I have experience and insights into the challenges with our healthcare system that plague too many families in Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, and Framingham,” Donaghue said, noting her experiences with her loved ones’ illnesses.

Donaghue has cited healthcare, climate change and support for public education as key campaign issues.

Within her spotlight on healthcare, she noted a focus on substance use disorder and supporting family caregivers.

“Protecting our environment and supporting public education are very personal to me,” Donoghue said, recalling experience volunteering with her husband to support “the invaluable natural resources of our community.”

“As long as the federal government fails to take action, I believe Massachusetts must be a leader in fighting climate change,” she said.

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She celebrated the Westborough Public Schools while recognizing current pressures facing them.

“Our children received excellent education in Westborough, but our school districts are under tremendous strain,” she said. “We need to support their work, and expand opportunities — including through universal Pre-K.” District includes area communities State legislature district maps changed last year following the release of new census data.

Among several changes impacting the region was the introduction of this new 19th Worcester District.

The change will mean Carolyn Dykema will no longer represent Southborough. Likewise, the new district will simplify representation in Westborough, which has been split between Dykema and representatives Hannah Kane and Danielle Gregoire.

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Forecasting New England weather is a lifelong passion for Harvey Leonard

By Jane Keller Gordon Contributing Writer BOSTON - Harvey Leonard, then a mere 25 years old, remembers saying “Hamina-hamina-hamina-hamina” when he was offered his first chief meteorologist job by WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island.

“I was like Ralph Kramden from The Honeymooners,” he joked, referring to Jackie Gleason’s signature response when his famous TV show character was stressed out. “I thought to myself, I self-hypnotized during my audition. They think that they are getting that person, but they were going to get a basket case.” Five decades later, Leonard is completely at ease in front of a television camera, the recipient of numerous awards, and known to many as Boston’s weatherman.

Early forecasting in the Bronx Leonard’s fascination with weather — especially winter storms — began at an early age when he was growing

Harvey Leonard, then working at WHDH (Channel 7), was the only Boston meteorologist to correctly forecast the Blizzard of 1978.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WCVB

up in New York City in the Bronx. “It was in my blood ever since I was a little boy,” he recalled. “When I was seven- and eight-years-old, I use to play 45 RPM records on my Victrola and make believe that I was a disk jockey. I was doing the sports, and I was doing the weather.” He remembered overhearing his parents talking about him, saying, “We don’t know what’s wrong with him. We try to watch the news at night, and he keeps on changing the station to get every different weather forecast. Then he changes all the radio stations.”

Raised in a rowhouse with his brother, sister, father — a bakery distributor, and mother — a homemaker, Leonard’s parents instilled a love of family and willingness to work very hard. He has carried this message throughout his life.

with 11 other students, including three named Harvey and one female, Leonard worked hard, studying math and physics. “It was very tough for me, and it’s miraculous that I made it,” he said.

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Shaken confidence Leonard’s happy childhood changed when he scored high on a battery of aptitude tests as a sixth grader. “Back then if you did well, you skipped the eighth grade. I was already young when I started kindergarten. Socially, middle school and high school were not good for me,” he said.

In addition, he did not gain entrance to the Bronx High School of Science. Leonard said that put him at a disadvantage when he entered the meteorology program at the City College of New York (CCNY). Along

Turning point Leonard credits his Master of Science in meteorology from New York University (NYU) with deepening his mastery of the field. He was successful in lobbying a professor to teach a course in synoptic meteorology, which focuses on predicting large-scale weather systems. “That’s the most useful course I ever took,” he said.

While at NYU, Leonard had his first radio experience in NYU’s meteorology lab. “I had to do it in one breath because I was so nervous. I wrote everything out,” he explained.

Airport job created take-off After NYU, Leonard worked for the Universal Weather Service, Inc. at the Westchester County Airport, where he advised pilots on weather. He said, “One day there was fog. We had a rotary phone system with four lines. I was talking to four pilots but had to speak live on the radio. I had no time to write anything up or think about it. I did it fine and I was never scripted again.”

After working in Westchester, Leonard spent three years broadcasting in Providence. When he began, he said, “I was so nervous I thought that my heart was going to come out of my

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There was bitter cold air, and the ocean water temperature was cold. Not only did I expect a strong storm, but it was going to stall.

My confidence grew larger and larger.

— Harvey Leonard

chest. I did not smile for two months on the air.” By time he became staff meteorologist at WHDH (Channel 7) in Boston, Leonard had overcome his jitters.

A historic storm The deadly blizzard of 1978 was a huge turning point for Leonard. Days before, Fred Ward, Ph.D., WHDH’s chief meteorologist, was called away to his full-time job as a physicist at Hanscom Field. Leonard was on the air on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night before the storm, which hit on Monday and Tuesday. “I was able to see this unique thing happening in the atmosphere,” he noted. “There was bitter cold air, and the ocean water temperature was cold. Not only did I expect a strong storm, but it was going to stall. My confidence grew larger and larger,” he explained, that his forecast would be correct.

None of the other Boston meteorologists forecasted the storm. By the Saturday night before the storm, Leonard said on air, “You won’t find something more classic than this in a textbook.” And he was right. That Sunday night, Leonard said goodbye to his wife, who was six months pregnant, and headed into Boston. He made it home a week later.

Move to WCVB In 2002, Leonard became WCVB (Channel 5) Storm Team 5’s co-chief meteorologist with his colleague and friend Dick Albert, up until Albert’s retirement in 2009. As the network’s chief meteorologist, Leonard continues to forecast the weather for his faithful followers. “It’s all about probability and risk,” he said. “If you are planning an outdoor celebration, for three-quarters of the days in the warm time of year I can’t give an absolute answer. There may be showers and thunderstorms, but I can’t tell exactly where that will be. So, what you do with the information depends on how you roll the dice.”

He added, “When I am reasoning out a forecast, I stress what I know and what I don’t know. It’s important to communicate uncertainty.”

Personal forecast Leonard has no plans to stop forecasting, especially in the winter months.

He now forecasts for NewsCenter 5’s early evening and late newscasts, and the station’s website (www.WCVB. com). “I’ve always known that I’d have difficulty with my personal forecast,” he explained. “I’m not going to work forever. Nothing is worked out, so there’s nothing to talk about,” he said. Except the next winter storm.

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2019 Broadcaster of the Year by the Massachusetts Broadcasting Association (MBA)

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2018 Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame

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2016 Boston/New England Emmys, Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement

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2015 Boston Magazine “Best” Weatherperson

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2003 National Academy of Arts and Sciences New England Chapter – Silver Circle Award

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Four New England Emmy Awards for outstanding achievement in television weathercasting

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There’s more to Rockport than its most famous building

By David Wilkening Contributing Writer ROCKPORT - Artists paint it. Photographers shoot a picture. Everyone else just enjoys a look at it.

It’s “Motif No. 1,” Rockport’s famous symbol. The weathered-looking red shack is often referred to as the “most painted and photographed building in America.”

PHOTO/RICHARD CORREALE

Beating the crowds It’s not the only reason for visiting the town, located about 37 miles from Boston. But the off-season colder months may be as good a time as any for the trip here.

“It’s a quieter time with no crowds. The pace is a little bit slower,” said Peter Webber, senior vice president of the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

Located at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula, the seaside village of Rockport is known in the summer for its beaches and water activities. The town that was named for its “rocky” surroundings was best known in its earlier days as one of the nation’s leading suppliers of granite ― as seen by its remaining ruins of old quarries.

The weathered-looking red fishing shack in Rockport known as “Motif No. 1” has captured the imagination of countless artists.

In modern times, Motif No. 1 has appeared in popular movies like “Finding Nemo,” as an award-winning parade float, on magazine covers, on a postage stamp, in a 1960s Winston cigarette ad and on a Kentucky bourbon bottle. It has also been

featured in advertisements for many New England tourist destinations.

How the shack became a star Erected in the 1880s as a utilitarian shed, the 1,008-square-foot wooden structure served as a simple storage

space for lobstermen and fishermen.

On the first floor, seafarers stocked their bait, lines, and other supplies, and mended their nets. A fish broker’s office occupied the partial second story above.

But the mundane fishing shack had another destiny.

It caught the eye of painters in the area’s burgeoning artists’ colony. They loved it mainly because of the way the natural light struck it. In the 1920s, it became a popular model. Too popular, in fact, much to the vexation of a local art teacher named Lester Hornby. After receiving one more painting of the shack, he replied: “What? ‘Motif No. 1’ again!” Supposedly, the nickname stuck with the building ever since.

Today, you probably won’t find a local shop that does not have some replica of the famous red shack.

The shack is not open to visitors.

“But it’s very picturesque and it draws photographers and artists who appreciate the light off the water. They can look at it from different angles, and it’s a nice centerpiece for photos where you can see a number of vantage points around the harbor,” Webber said.

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + MARCH 2022 + fiftyplus advocate Other attractions Other sights worth seeing include Halibut Point State Park, a former granite quarry that today is part of the Massachusetts state forest and parks system. It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean with stunning views. On a clear day, visitors can see Mount Agamenticus, located 40 miles away in Maine, and the Isles of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. If you’re ambitious enough to climb the 60-foot renovated World War II fire tower, the reward is a panoramic view. Both self-guided and group tours are offered at the park, open every day.

For older visitors, the park’s trails are often flat and easily walkable. But the bird life is the major reason for a visit ― particularly during certain times.

“One thing we’re promoting in the colder months is birding. Birders are calling the area one of the most important anywhere,” Webber said.

Migrant loons, grebes, and diving ducks can be seen year-round. But some species are only seen in the winter here, such as purple sandpipers and wintering harlequin ducks.

Walking the streets of the town is an attraction in itself, Webber said. “People who like history have a lot of homes to see. Many of them are from the 16th and 17th century. You can stroll around town and see classic a New England community in the private homes.”

And don’t miss the Rockport Art

Pre-planning instead of pre-paying for your funeral

By David Wilkening Contributing Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUE ANN PEARSON

Association and Museum at 12 Main St. The museum celebrated its 100th birthday last year. It sponsors programs year-round. It’s housed in two historical buildings with seven art galleries, featuring mainly American art. You should be able to buy a “Motif No. 1” reminder at the Old Tavern Gift Shop.

For the musically inclined, Rockport Music opened the Shalin Liu Performance Center in 2010. It’s since become known for its spectacular views and superb acoustics. The center hosts the Rockport Jazz Festival, as well as a diverse series of classical, jazz, folk, and pop music concerts.

As for that little red shack being the most photographed and painted, some skeptics question it. Webber won’t make that claim. “Well, maybe at least in New England,” he said.

BOSTON - The Boston-based Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern Massachusetts ― which has a lot of credibility because it is a non-profit, all-volunteer, educational consumer organization ― offers a nicely rhymed pamphlet titled, “Before I go, you should know.” And yes, it’s about a subject almost everyone tiptoes carefully around — your own demise.

Its subject, of course, is “everything” family and friends should know when planning a funeral. It also addresses the issue of prepaid funeral plans. Should you have one or not?

Pros and cons There are arguments for it. Mainly made by representatives of the industry, such as the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). “You know what it’s going to cost. You are paying for your own funeral. So, you know what services you want, and that you’ll get them,” said Linda Earl, a spokes-

Pre-planning | 19

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There are other reasons as well.

Pre-paying offers inflation protection.

The cost will not go up. The money can go into an account only accessible on an individual’s death, available with a minimum of formalities.

Another important reason: sparing a family from hard choices during a difficult time.

“It also helps those who are left behind to grieve and to heal. They have so many decisions to make in a very short time period such as even finding a funeral home, and others,” Earl said.

Of course, there are disadvantages.

Consumer groups cite them.

“We definitely suggest people not pay in advance but to plan in advance,” said Paula Chasan, membership secretary for the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern Massachusetts. The organization cites other issues, such as funeral homes going out of business prior to a planned future funeral date, among other reasons. Instead, it rec-

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Irish Heritage Trail pays tribute to Boston’s largest ethnic group

By David Wilkening Contributing Writer

Irish history since the 1700s That’s mostly because its 20 stops are a critical part of the city’s history since the 1700s. It’s a place to find the stories of poets, patriots and politicians. You’ll find evidence here of the influence of the Kennedys, and occasionally some larger-than-life figures who were immortalized by Hollywood movies. At the end of the trail, there’s Fenway Park. And that’s still another story of Irish influence―and perhaps a surprising one.

This is after all, a very Irish city, where more than one-fifth of Irish Americans live. People of Irish descent are the largest single ethnic group in Boston.

Boston changed dramatically

PHOTO/BERNARD GAGNON, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

BOSTON - You don’t have to wait for St. Patrick’s Day in Boston to celebrate it. You can go any time through the three-mile-long Irish Heritage Trail.

Boston is known as a ”walking city” and the Freedom Trail has its most famous stops, visited by four million people every year. But the Irish Heritage Trail’s recommended time of three hours is also an apt destination.

Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, was built in the winter of 1912 by Irish immigrant Charles E. Logue’s company, making it an enduring testament to Irish craftsmanship.

in the 19th century with the arrival of European immigrants. The Irish dominated the first wave of newcomers during this period, especially following the Great Irish Famine. Their arrival transformed Boston from an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant city into one that has become progressively more

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diverse. The early arrivals were often workers and servants. In the 1860s, many Irish immigrants fought for the Union in the American Civil War, and that display of patriotism helped to dispel much of the prejudice against them.

Since it opened in 1994, the trail has taken visitors through landmarks in downtown Boston, and Back Bay, as well as stops in neighborhoods like Charlestown, South Boston, Dorchester and Jamaica Plain.

Since 2000, the trail has been managed by the Boston Irish Tourism Association. They stopped doing guided tours during the pandemic, but plan to start up again in March 2022 during Irish Heritage Month.

Rose garden honors JFK’s mother The tour starts with a Kennedy.

In this case, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. It’s an easy-to-miss rose garden in Boston’s North End that honors the mother of JFK and others who lost children in World War II. Her

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father, John Francis Fitzgerald, was an early politician here, as a member of Boston’s Common Council, elected in 1891. “Honey Fitz” became the first American-born Irish Catholic mayor of Boston in 1906. Rose was born in the city’s North End. She became the wife of ambassador to England Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., and mother of three famous U.S. statesmen: President John F. Kennedy, and Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy.

Another downtown stop is right across the street from City Hall, for the statue of legendary politician James Michael Curley, the four-term mayor of Boston. He is best described as an old-fashioned and beloved “ward heeler and party boss.”

“He was the most colorful of the big-city Irish Catholic and paternalistic bosses,” said historian Kenneth T. Jackson. Curley liked to think of himself as “Mayor of the Poor.” He was clearly the model for the 1956 novel The Last Hurrah, by Edwin O’Connor.

It tells the story of the end of an era of American politics characterized by the “big-city politician” as exemplified by Frank Skeffington. The movie version starred Spencer Tracy. It portrays him as a great but flawed man who helped the poor in many ways. After reading the book, Curley threatened to sue but changed his mind after meeting the author. Curley died in 1958.

Fenway Park credited to an Irishman Other sites along the trail include a more unlikely one: Fenway Park. The home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox is hardly a heroic or perhaps not even an inspiring location no matter how the Red Sox perform this year. But it is the oldest surviving ballpark in America. And it’s included here because it was built in the winter of 1912 by Irish immigrant Charles E. Logue’s company, making it an enduring testament to Irish craftsmanship.

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Oral health is key to overall well-being

The official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

•9

Reverse Mortgages Conquer Inflation Alain Valles, MBA, MS 781-724-6221

Inflation. It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s here.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced inflation hit 7%.

A new high since June of 1982. That means the cost of life’s necessities — food, fuel, medicine, housing — are increasing.

Yes, for many, their incomes have also been increasing but those living on a fixed income or limited retirement savings face the most economic risk. This may translate to a lower standard of living and the pressure of making hard choices. And there is no surprise that older people will face the greatest financial challenges.

A reverse mortgage may be the antidote to inflation by providing needed immediate cash as well as peace of mind if money is needed in the future.

Above: Having untreated periodontal disease can make the most common diseases of aging — cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and arthritis — worse.

Right: “The link between oral and whole-body health is very real,” says Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, vice president for clinical and translational research at the Forsyth Institute and professor of oral medicine, infection and immunity at Harvard University in Cambridge.

By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer CAMBRIDGE - Inside your mouth is a little universe: a microbiome, as scientists call it. If all’s going well, the species of bacteria that live inside your mouth are living in harmony ― especially if you floss and brush.

However, problems can arise when plaque ― colonies of bacteria ― build up on our teeth and gums. Too much plaque can create serious problems for our teeth, gums and even the bones in our jaws. But even more unfortunately, the problem can spread and cause other illnesses.

“It seems that something as benign as not removing plaque from your teeth can have severe consequences over time in susceptible people,” said Dr.

What is a reverse mortgage?

Thomas Van Dyke, vice president for clinical and translational research at the Forsyth Institute and professor of oral medicine, infection and immunity at Harvard University in Cambridge.

From local to all over Van Dyke is part of a group of scientists working on understanding why oral diseases cause problems well outside the oral cavity ― in other words, why does local inflammation cause systemic ― throughout the body ― inflammation? From the teeth and gums to other organs, systems and even our bones, seems like a big jump, but when inflammation happens in the mouth, it can go to other places in the body.

“Chronic inflammatory disease like periodontitis is not just local. It is Oral health | 13

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‘DIY’ healthcare is changing the industry and people’s lives

By Brett Peruzzi Managing Editor REGION - It’s been increasing in recent years due to technology enhancements. The shortage of medical staff and available appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated it dramatically. DIY (Do It Yourself) healthcare is here to stay and may represent a good portion of the healthcare of many people in the future.

So what is it? Essentially, it’s taking a more active role in your healthcare, using everything from smartphone apps to at-home electronic medical devices and tests.

Apps compile data for easy recordkeeping and analysis Most of us are carrying around very powerful little computers in our pockets or purses: smartphones. People are using smartphone apps (sometimes paired with electronic devices) to record, track, and analyze everything from their medications to their exercise, migraines, foods eaten, to record allergy symptoms or digestive ailments, to glucose levels, for diabetics. It’s certainly a lot easier and more efficient than using a pencil and paper, and at your

Robyn Gold of Framingham is monitoring and treating her sleep apnea, with her doctor’s approval, using a smart ring and phone app that measures her oxygen levels.

Nurse practitioner Karen Ashworth of Somerville has seen patients “reclaim their lives and feel so much better,” by taking a more active role in their own healthcare.

next medical appointment you’ll have the data readily available to share with your provider. Many apps are free; some may cost a few dollars to download, and a few sophisticated ones may have a monthly subscription fee.

cal device you might find in the average household was a thermometer to measure body temperature if you felt feverish. No longer. Fitbit wrist monitors and the Apple Watch can not only check your heart rate, but your oxygen level as well. During the pandemic, many COVID-19 patients have been sent home from the hospital with fin-

At-home devices proliferating Not too long ago, the only medi-

gertip pulse oximeters to monitor their own oxygen levels as they recover. Other devices monitor not just your oxygen levels at night but also the overall quality of your sleep.

Blood pressure monitoring has become much easier too, with more compact devices, digital displays and the ability to store readings over time.

Checking glucose levels has long been part of the daily routine of diabetics, but new devices that don’t require pricking your finger for a blood sample bring ease and convenience for those who aren’t diabetic but want some insight into their blood sugar levels. You can even perform your own heart EKGs at home, using a fingertip device like KardiaMobile, which, paired with your smartphone, can detect six of the most common arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms, which may be indicative of a serious cardiac issue.

More at-home test options Nearly all tests to detect infection or disease have typically been performed in medical facilities, often an outpatient lab for blood draws. But the pandemic has changed that too in the past year, as millions of people have self-tested at home for COVID-19. And rather than

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Nowadays, in addition to doing home blood tests for your glucose level, you can also test for everything from cholesterol and thyroid levels to vitamin deficiencies. And while younger women have been able to do home pregnancy testing with urine samples for decades, you can now screen your urine with a home test for an affliction common with older adults: urinary tract infections.

ic serv

— Karen Ashworth

Medical professionals see benefits as well Nurse practitioner Karen Ashworth of Somerville has seen DIY healthcare strategies work particularly well for

people with food sensitivities.

“I’ve seen people reclaim their lives and feel so much better, ” she said. She referred an adolescent patient with multiple symptoms to an allergist who diagnosed her with food sensitivities.

“She felt miserable and was missing a lot of school,” Ashworth explained.

The patient took control of her diet and avoided foods she was sensitive to, essentially healing herself, now that she had the right information to work with. “A year later I saw her for her well check,” said Ashworth. “She said she felt like a new person.”

And Ashworth has applied the same DIY techniques to her own healthcare, after suffering from a variety of inflammatory symptoms. “I was frustrated with the care I received as a patient,” she said. “Medicine has become very specialized. Sometimes patients get lost in the cracks, and continuity of care can

Not without risks There are several risks with DIY healthcare. These include misinterpretation of at-home results, self-misdiagnosis, and not seeking treatment for a condition when it is needed and missing other problems entirely.

While it can be helpful to research your symptoms on the web, relying too much on “Dr. Google” has its pitfalls.

First, you can worry yourself needlessly about having an affliction that you don’t have, and worse, you could get false assurance that you’re fine. It’s always a good idea to seek professional medical help to get a definitive diagnosis of any potentially serious health conditions.

DIY healthcare has changed the landscape of the industry forever, with many positive improvements. In some ways it may harken back to the days of folk remedies and home treatment before modern medicine, but it has more scientific backing because of technological advancements. While it’s obviously far from a cure-all, it’s another tool in the box to managing your health.

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Patients like having more options for treatment Robyn Gold has embraced one particular DIY healthcare device. The 62-year-old Framingham resident was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago after undergoing an overnight sleep study at a medical facility.

She tried and couldn’t adjust to using a CPAP machine while sleeping, which involves wearing a mask that delivers air pressure through the nostrils to keep the airway open.

“I discovered the Wellue 02Ring and immediately decided to give it a try,” she said. “What makes sleep apnea harmful is that it deprives your body of oxygen. The 02Ring enables me to monitor my oxygen levels overnight and it buzzes me awake when they go below

be lacking. I realized that if I wanted to feel better, I needed to learn as much as I could on my own.” Ashworth’s issues also were related to food sensitivities.

“After I removed the foods I had become sensitive to from my diet, my symptoms resolved,” she noted.

Medicine has become very specialized.

Sometimes patients get lost in the cracks, and continuity of care can be lacking. I realized that if I wanted to feel better, I needed to learn as much as I could on my own. a pre-set threshold,” she explained. “It stores sleep data in an iPhone app so I can pore over last night’s sleep records and review sleep trends over time.”

She noted that her oxygen levels stay high most nights and the 02Ring never wakes her up. When it does go off, the act of waking up restores her normal breathing, and she goes back to sleep.

“So, although I bought the device to monitor the state of my medical problem,” Gold explained, “for my mild case, it is able to treat it as well. I am very happy with my device! I even discussed the plan with my doctor, and she approved.”

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Millis resident’s journey to citizenship guided by music groups, while still living at home.

By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer MILLIS - Lelia Tenreyro-Viana of Millis was born in Buenos Aires and started dreaming about coming to the United States as a young girl. She credits her father, jazz musician Nimar Tenreyro, and a private English tutor, Helen Jackson, with planting the seeds for this journey. A journey that would take 20 years to complete.

PHOTO/SERGIO R. REYES

Early roots in music The Tenreyro name is well known in Argentina. All five members of her father’s family are professional musicians. Her paternal grandfather, a composer and pianist, played for silent movie audiences.

“I grew up listening to my father’s idols — Artie Shaw, Gerry Mulligan, and other big name sax players — and dreamed of coming to the States one day,” Tenreyro-Viana stated.

From age seven to 15, Tenreyro rehearsed four days a week and sang in the National Children’s Chorus, receiving a stipend that went into a bank account set up for her. As a senior in high school, she subbed for her music teacher.

Lelia Tenreyro-Viana loves teaching voice, rhythm, and movement to her members of the Charles River Children’s Chorale in Millis.

The big break At age 17, as part of her English studies, Tenreyro entered and won a writing contest which provided her a one-month stay to learn English in a college environment anywhere in the United States. In 1988, she chose to travel to Philadelphia for the one-

month language immersion, and at the end of her stay, swore to return one day to continue her studies.

After graduation, she became a back-up singer, going on tours and singing commercials and jingles on television as she continued her involvement with several choral

Moving stateside It took Tenreyro six years to achieve her dream of getting stateside. She landed in New York City in 1994 and took her first non-musical job as a coat check girl in an Italian restaurant where she worked her way up to assistant manager. An older family friend suggested that her credits from the Conservatorio Municipal de Musica Manuel de Falla in Buenos Aires, where she studied French horn, might be transferable to Brooklyn College. The credits were accepted, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1998. During her senior year, she’d met her fiancée, Antonio Massa Viana. Her original tourist visa became a student visa.

Overcoming obstacles Brazilian native Viana, after marrying his fiancée in 1999, accepted a position with the Brazilian Voice in Framingham, which precipitated a move to the Boston area. His wife secured a position as director of music ministry with St. Cecilia’s Church in Ashland, which required a reliMillis resident | 15

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Indifference is too great a burden to bear

By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes

W

hen I was 11 years old, I finally convinced my parents to let me try sleepaway camp. I chose a girl scout camp in New Hampshire and, although it was awkward and I did not make any friends, I must have had enough fun that I asked to go again the following year.

That time, I made a ton of friends. Looking back, I had the quintessential experience of young girls away from home. My bunkmates and I were inseparable. We walked to and from the canteen arm in arm. We were up all night giggling and we told each other everything.

One day, I woke up and I was not well. I told my bunkmate, but I made her promise not to tell the counselors

I believe empathy is the most essential quality of civilization.

— Roger Ebert because there was a campfire that night and I did not want to miss out.

Later that day, we were walking to the canteen and we stopped in front of the nurses’ station. I was confused.

I looked up and the counselors told me to go in. With sorrow, I looked at my bunkmate and she told me, “I couldn’t not tell.” I felt betrayed. I was going to miss out on the evening events. But there was a small amount of relief in me. I did not have to pretend anymore that I was okay.

I was reminded of this story tonight when one of my residents called me over because her neighbor was not feeling well. Nancy told me that her tablemate, Karen, was off.

She was shaking, couldn’t eat, and in general did not seem herself. I spoke to Karen and she insisted she was fine. She did not want me to push further, she just wanted to go back

Oral health is key to overall well-being Oral health | from page 9

now well known that local inflammation causes systemic inflammation,” said Van Dyke. “Having untreated periodontal disease can make the most common diseases of aging ― cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and arthritis ― worse. Severe periodontitis has been associated not only with these diseases, but also premature low birthweight babies and Alzheimer’s disease.”

Scientists now also know that some diseases elsewhere in the body can affect diseases of the mouth. Type 2 diabetes is such a disease.

“People with periodontitis are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if they have other risk factors and people with type 2 diabetes have more severe periodontal disease,” explained Van Dyke.

How does it happen?

Van Dyke explained that tooth decay can lead to infections of the center part of a tooth ― the pulp, which is made up of tissue, blood vessels, and cells. This decay can cause systemic infections. It can even cause sepsis, which is when bacteria infect the bloodstream ― a very dangerous condition.

Some mysteries remain Researchers looking into this problem don’t have all the answers

your corner is deafening.

So, I implore you. Listen to your sister’s concerns about the safety of your home. Install handrails and remove scatter rugs just to make sure she knows you care. Hear your son out about internet safety and install a antivirus program. It may never be needed, but again, he will know that you know he is watching out for you. Talk to your older neighbor about using her walker on the stairs.

It may be none of your business, but she will know you are thinking about her. Do anything you can to encourage people to care about you and for you. They are not taking away your independence, they are flexing their empathy muscle and our society needs quite a bit more of that.

yet. But they do understand the key to treatment is preventing excess inflammation. The research focuses on how to do this on the molecular level.

One area of exploration for researchers in this field is the question of why some people develop oral chronic inflammation and others don’t.

“Not everyone is equally affected by not removing plaque,” Van Dyke admitted. “But we still don’t know how to predict who will be or won’t be affected.”

Another area most puzzling is that the removal of plaque doesn’t stop the inflammation for some people ― the inflammation becomes chronic.

“This is an area of intense investigation,” said Van Dyke.

Scientists have learned more about the inflammatory process since a major discovery was made in the 1990s about how inflammation is controlled naturally by our bodies.

More recent discoveries could lead to a solution for chronic periodontitis.

But in the meantime, don’t let up on the flossing and brushing.

“I think the take-home message is that the link between oral and wholebody health is very real,” Van Dyke affirmed, “and that people should pay attention to their oral care.”

to her apartment and rest. Nancy started getting emotional with worry. I amplified this concern and convinced Karen to at least let us call 911 and get checked out by the EMTs. After she finally relented, Karen turned to Nancy and said, “I’ll never let you forget this.” Nancy said, “I know, you can be mad at me all you want but I couldn’t live with myself if you were really sick and I did nothing.”

Remembering my first year at camp and the experience with my friends the second year, I noted, “Friends may sometimes be a pain in the neck, but just imagine how bad it would be if nobody cared.”

And so it is in most communities and families. We may get sick of hearing how worried some people are for us. It may get old hearing the concern in their voice. But the silence of not having loved ones in

Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement. com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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viewpoint

Cold weather inspires invention

By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer

E

armuffs. This month formally marks 145 years since the earmuff as we know it was invented.

The story goes that 15-year-old Chester Greenwood of Farmington, Maine, grew tired of having cold ears while he was ice skating.

He could wrap his wool scarf around his head, but it was itchy and bulky. He bent some wires to the correct springy shape and asked his grandmother to sew fabric to the crucial spots. On March 13, 1877, he was granted a patent for what he called “improvement in ear-mufflers.”

Because his invention was labeled an “improvement” I suppose that earmuffs of some sort were already in use, but his were better, and people have been wearing them ever

since. Earmuffs might go in and out of fashion, but they never go away. A quick Internet search shows that you can buy a warm-looking pair of earmuffs for around $15, or you can go all designer-crazy and buy gray fox fur muffs, with crystal, for $350, which would probably scandalize Mr. Greenwood because, being a New Englander, he would think this was a waste of a good $335.

Chester Greenwood’s inventiveness demonstrates the ingenuity that can result from being cold – not to mention the kindness, helpfulness, and patience of grandmothers, but that’s another story.

Clothes, for example. I’m pretty sure clothes — at least, serious clothes — were invented by cold people. In tropical climates, people do not need clothes. If you travel to an equatorial getaway, you will pack clothes because that’s the convention. But you will not really need them to main-

tain your desired level of comfortable body temperature.

One of my favorite cold-weather inventions — after central heating — is the airplane. That’s because you can hop on an airplane (except the security people probably won’t allow you to hop, they will pull you aside for suspicious behavior) — that is, you could “board an aircraft” in the frigid north and hop off — that is, “deplane” — in some sunny, cozy climate.

I have done that because I have visited my dear Philadelphia friend at her winter place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is almost as far south as you can travel and still be on the continental east coast of the U. S. of A. I can attest that any cold-weather ingenuity you might possess in a New England winter evaporates into warm vapors when you find yourself lounging in the hot sun, reading a novel, wearing your t-shirt and shorts even though you don’t really need them but being

clothed is the convention. You realize it’s a good thing that you bought a return ticket and feel obliged to use it, because you could easily stay there in the sun and turn into a warm blob of laziness and languor with no ingenuity at all.

One day, my friends and I visited the Everglades and rode an airboat.

Floating lazily in the wooded waterways, we scanned the muddy banks for alligators. I happened to glance to the treetops where I spied swarms of dragonflies. I dearly love dragonflies. How many months would pass before my beloved dragonflies would venture to fly north to me? (Dragonflies, as I have observed, possess neither clothes nor earmuffs.)

That, of course, reminded me that I would, indeed, be coming home — home to the reality of winter — back to cold, back to snow, back to trying to exercise what little ingenuity I could muster, back to giving thanks for people like Chester Greenwood for whom cold is not merely a condition to be endured, but an inspiration for inventiveness.

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Millis resident’s journey to citizenship guided by music Millis resident | from page 12

PHOTO/DEBORAH BURKE HENDERSON

gious-worker visa which would last five years. However, applicants’ papers were put on hold by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) as officials had apparently discovered some cases of fraudulent activity across the country and stopped processing religious-worker visas during their investigation.

The Vianas were told to move back to their home countries. With two American-born children, ages five and three, and a third on the way, they persevered to stay, not wanting to lose their immigration status. Viana filed a class action suit and ultimately won. Tenreyro-Viana was granted a green card in October 2009.

This provided immigration benefits that included permission to reside and take employment in the United States.

“Many people came to our aid during this time,” Tenreyro-Viana said emotionally. “We were humbled and in awe of the goodness we saw in a community of people who have since become our closest friends, and I thank God for them. When we thought we were most alone, we realized we were not.”

As Director of Music Ministry for St. Cecilia’s Church in Ashland, Lelia Tenreyro-Viana plays during worship services, sings at funerals and memorial services, and directs the teen and adult choirs.

Requirements for naturalization After waiting the mandatory fiveyear residency time period from securing a green card, Tenreyro-Viana

applied for naturalization. She would need to demonstrate being a productive, tax-paying resident throughout her entire stay in the States, provide letters from both professional and community leaders which would show her of strong moral character, pass a history and civics test, and prove to be proficient in English. And she did!

“In a memorable, tear-filled ceremony attended by family and friends at Faneuil Hall on March 18, 2015, I was awarded my long-awaited citizenship status, more than 20 years in the making,” Tenreyro-Viana stated proudly.

Music is her life Tenreyro-Viana continues to hold her directorship at St. Cecilia’s, which includes directing the teenage and adult choirs and organizing musical productions to help fundraise. Able to sing in many ranges, she sings at Symphony Hall throughout the year, her voice is part of the color of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in Lenox each summer, and during the holiday season, she sings with the Boston Pops. She loves teaching voice and piano privately when not

working full-time teaching Spanish to 450 students at the Clyde F. Brown Elementary School in Millis. Tenreyro-Viana is also the artistic director of the Charles River Children’s Chorale in Millis.

“I love how music touches the soul, everyone’s soul,” Tenreyro-Viana added. “It’s a way of communicating that is stronger than anything else, transcending languages and social classes. All the friendships I make through music are for a lifetime.”

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Demystifying your home selling costs

By David Wilkening Contributing Writer REGION - When selling your home in Massachusetts, what you will pay the realtor might be the initial expense that comes to mind. Some industry veterans say, however, the first cost concern is something else.

“It’s usually the transfer tax that surprises them. A lot of people don’t think about it and don’t know about it,” said longtime realtor Bill Gassett of RE/MAX Executive Realty, who has sold thousands of homes since 1986.

One reason for that: the state’s tax is often $4.56 per thousand dollars of the selling price. “So if a house sells for $500,000, it quickly adds up,” said Gassett, who has often been among the top ten RE/MAX sellers in New England and was number one in the state of Massachusetts in transactions in 2013.

There’s general agreement among those in the business that the major concern of most sellers is just how much it will cost to sell their home.

It can be confusing, mysterious, even mystifying. The costs explained here are based on selling a home on an “as

is” basis. That is, it does not include any costs of repairs and improvements to get a home prepared for the market.

Real estate commissions are varied when selling a home — they are not set in stone and can be negotiated.

“Going over all expenses is a regular part of my presentation when interviewing a seller — nobody likes financial surprises,” says Hopkinton realtor Bill Gassett.

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Resolving the mystery Gassett, whose company is based in Hopkinton, said his long-standing practice is to remove the mystery of home-selling costs. “Going over all expenses is a regular part of my presentation when interviewing a seller.

Part of being a great agent is doing that so there are no surprises. Nobody likes financial surprises,” he said.

It’s also not surprising that the cost of homes in Massachusetts surpasses many other states in their steadily-rising prices. The median price of a Massachusetts home has risen to $514,000, a 27.4% increase from $420,000 just two years ago.

That obviously means more money generated through the tax stamp, which is income given to the registry of deeds

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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + MARCH 2022 + fiftyplus advocate where a home is located and is turned over to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Revenue. “Most of Massachusetts is taxed at $4.56 per thousand dollars, including Middlesex, Worcester and Norfolk Counties,” Gassett explained. “It should be noted that in Barnstable County the tax rate is $5.70 per thousand so the cost involved with selling a property is slightly higher in that district.”

Dukes and Nantucket Counties also charge an additional 2% of the sales price that gets forwarded to the local land bank commission.

by buyer and seller agents, but contracts vary, according to Massachusetts realtors.

Other typical costs Other typical home selling expenses also are generally summarized by Gassett as attorney fees, Title V (septic system inspection) expenses, costs for state-mandated carbon monoxide detectors, new deeds and miscellaneous costs. A real estate attorney in a home sale is the next highest cost for sellers. It’s against the law for a realtor to give legal advice. Typical expenses for an attorney are in the ballpark of $300 to $1500 ― depending on the complexity of the contract and personal attendance. Gassett recommends hiring someone. “The expense of having a competent attorney representing your interests is cheap in comparison to dealing with the cost of problems that could arise without proper representation,” he suggested.

The Massachusetts Title V expense is one every seller in the state has to pay unless they are serviced by public sewers. That is expected to cost about $800 for an inspection but can be higher if the septic tank or distribution box is in an area that is difficult to service.

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Commissions vary Real estate commissions are varied when selling a home. They are not set in stone and can be negotiated with different firms. Individual realtors in one company might also have different rates. “Generally speaking, most full-service real estate companies will charge anywhere from 4% to 7% commission with the vast majority falling between 5% to 6%,” Gassett said. A discount brokerage often will charge less but not offer the same services.

The average real estate commission in the U.S. in 2020 was 4.94%, according to research firm RealTrends.

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Other miscellaneous fees can come up. Buyers are generally the ones paying appraisal fees that determine current market value, to name one. But that cost, that generally ranges from $450 to $650, may at times be paid by the seller.

That can happen when an appraisal of value is disputed by a lender, for example, and a seller is anxious to complete a deal.

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Green House Project offers an alternative to traditional nursing homes

By David Wilkening Contributing Writer CHELSEA - When Steve McAlilly left his Mississippi home for a Leading Age convention in Los Angeles more than two decades ago, he expected to hear a lot of talk about senior care. No surprise there, as Leading Age is a non-profit organization representing widely-ranging senior services.

What he did not expect, however, was that he would become one of the co-founders of the Green House Project, which would later open the Boston-area Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea. When the center opened its doors in 2010, it was the first urban model Green House skilled nursing facility in the country. It was also the only nursing home dedicated to residents for individuals living with ALS and MS (Multiple Sclerosis).

Celebrating its tenth anniversary in February of last year, the center named after the late Chelsea philanthropist Leonard Florence was widely praised as “innovative” and “revolutionary.” The designations were due to its basic existence. It’s unlike any other nursing home. The facility at 65 Captains Row was praised for provid-

involves partnering with nursing homes to help them change their culture, environment and approach to care to “create a habitat for human beings rather than facilities for the frail and elderly.”

The Green House Project focuses on helping companies and individuals build or convert residential homes that can provide high levels of care in a nursing home setting.

The goal of Green House Project facilities like the Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea is to “create a habitat for human beings rather than facilities for the frail and elderly.”

ing the health care and other amenities for all residents for ALS and MS sufferers. And more importantly, perhaps, it allows older individuals to live as independently as possible.

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lilly remembers being impressed with hearing a speech by Dr. William H. Thomas. “He said the problem with nursing homes is loneliness, helplessness and boredom,” McAlilly said. “It is better to live in a house than a warehouse.” Thompson is the Harvard-educated founder of The Eden Alternative, a philosophy and program that de-institutionalized nursing homes in all 50 states and worldwide over the past 20 years.

The two became friends. Thomas went to Mississippi, where McAlilly was already planning the building of new nursing homes. Their collaboration led to the multi-million-dollar plans for a 140-bed facility being radically revised.

A different approach “What Bill said haunted me. He described smaller homes with 10 or 12 adults with private rooms and baths that also provided needed medical care. I told my board we were throwing millions away unless we make changes, and they had the courage to support the concept,” he said.

The result was that Mississippi Methodist Senior Services (MMSS), headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, became the first organization to actually implement the model.

McAlilly is CEO of the organization, which operates 12 retirement campuses in Mississippi, which includes 20 Green House homes. And along with Thomas, he is recognized as one of the co-founders of Green House, which now has 360 facilities in the U.S. The homes all share basic philosophies but are not just cookie-cutter copies.

The main difference between the two senior housing concepts is in the building and planning creation phases. The Eden Alternative

Leonard Florence an example of ‘urban’ model The Leonard Florence Center overlooking Boston Harbor consists of ten 7,000-square-foot condo-style “homes” on six floors. It is an example of how the model can adapt to urban areas, said Alex Spanko, Green House’s director of communications and marketing. “Because space was at a premium in Chelsea, the Leonard Florence team built vertically and made each floor its own ‘house.’ Each house has up to 12 residents, all in private rooms,” he said.

“A small but important tenet of the Green House model is that visitors can’t just burst into the front door.

Instead, they must ring the bell and wait to be welcomed inside, just like you would do at a private residence,” he added.

Small details such as that are often found in the Chelsea facility and other Green House models. Medical care is available but there are no nurse’s stations or medical carts; the atmosphere is described as warm and welcoming. “Green” in this case means living in a natural world surrounding, with an abundance of sunlight, greenery and outdoor access.

High ratings and favorable costs The Chelsea facility got the highest rating of five stars from CMS.gov, the official website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The rating compared to the state’s average of 3.36 and a national average of 3.32. The ratings are based on various factors that include pricing, resident activities and other factors.

Subsidized by Medicare and Medicaid as well as state programs, the costs for Green House homes compare favorably with traditional nursing homes, according to Green House officials such as Susan Ryan, senior director of the Green House Project at its national office at Linthicum, Maryland. “Published public research has compared the number of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates in Green House homes to their traditional counterparts in the same geographical area,” she said. The results were much lower infection and death rates at Green House homes.

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• 19

Pre-planning instead of pre-paying for your funeral Pre-planning | from page 7

ommends practices such as an interest-bearing bank savings account for a funeral in lieu of prior payments.

Family care used to be common In the history of funerals in early day America, they almost always involved care by families. Most people died at home. All that changed dramatically during the Civil War when hundreds of thousands of men died at unexpected young ages, often far from home. Smaller funeral parlors emerged, followed by national companies. But there were some instances of consumer abuses, sometimes endured by relatives using poor judgment and distracted by their losses. Funeral expenses also mounted.

A recent cost figure for a standard funeral home service was set at $7,000 to $12,000. Customary services included embalming, caskets, viewing and service fees, among others. That figure did not even include costs for a cemetery, monument, marker and other expenses such as flowers.

The NFDA reported that the national median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial in 2021 was about $7,848.

NFDA median figures for a funeral with cremation: $6,971.

Due to cost and environmental considerations, cremation numbers last year in the U.S. were projected to be 57.5 percent, while the burial rate was 36.6 percent, according to NFDA’s 2021 “Cremation and Burial Report.”

Cremation, while costing less, also offers greater flexibility. Cremated remains may be buried or scattered at a family’s convenience. They may also be incorporated into various art forms, placed in coral reef balls or even shot into space. On the other hand, cremations at temperatures of up to 1700 degrees also create a variety of air pollutants.

The so-called “Green burial” has gained a significant toehold as another choice. It uses only biodegradable materials. There is no embalming. Instead, a body is placed in a biodegradable container, such as a cardboard container and placed directly into the earth rather than a concrete outer burial container.

The practice helps protect land preservation and restoration. In fact, it goes back to the Civil War days as a common practice.

Funeral homes offer all types of services “Times are changing,” says the website at Boston’s Casper Funeral & Cremation Services. “While full, traditional funerals will always be sought and available, more and more individuals and families are turning to pre-planning a combination of cremation and a

“Country Living in the City” “We definitely suggest people not pay in advance but to plan in advance,” says Paula Chasan, membership secretary for the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Eastern Massachusetts.

meaningful celebration-of-life ‘service’ or an eco-friendly green burial.”

Owner Joe Casper’s facility is similar to others in offering all types of services, but he said cremation has been growing in popularity. He offers what is believed to be the lowest cremation price in the state: The “simplicity” service for $1395. “There are no other costs, and no hidden or other fees,” he said.

It is illegal for funeral homes in Massachusetts to operate crematories, so the price also includes the use of licensed crematories in the state.

Planning for your own funeral to maintain control, get lower prices and not get cheated is not an idea expressed just by consumer groups. It’s almost a universal notion.

“More and more people today are choosing to pre-plan their own or a loved one’s funeral as an alternative to having others make the decisions for them,” said the National Funeral Directors Association on its web site.

But other consumer groups, such as the national Funeral Consumers Alliance, make the point that not paying beforehand is a good practice in part because of another reason: possible dishonest practices.

Jim Couchon, a trustee and vice president of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts, can cite various abuses, such as a Boston man whose pre-paid funeral cost several thousand dollars. When he died, the funeral home could find no record of it.

But the issue was resolved when a cancelled check was found.

“No. that’s not common. But the family was upset about it. And you don’t want it to happen to you,” he said.

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