Prime Living - Eagle News - November 2021

prime health Crouse Health named agefriendly health system.

prime community It’s showtime at St. Camillus!

ask rusty Is taxing Social

Security fair?

Living!

PRIME To read more see page 10.

To read more see page 10.

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A supplement to Eagle News

NOVEMBER 2021

From the editor:

Precipitation positives

enjoy blooms year-round

Growing Moth Orchids indoors Tips for drying flowers Prime health:

Free lung cancer tests offered Prime advice:

Medicare tips from the experts

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EagleNEWS

Prime advice

Choosing a Medicare plan that fits your life

By Sophie Goldstein Customer Experience, Excellus BCBS

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hen 81-year-old Joanne Yacovella became eligible for Medicare, a friend told her to not look any further than Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. And even after 16 years as a member, she has never looked back.

Forever young

Yacovella prides herself on being Forever Young—a song she sings masterfully, and the name of her program promoting mental sharpness and physical fitness for older adults.

“Aging is inevitable. Getting old is a choice. Hold your body like a young person. Think like a young person,” said Yacovella.

“Keep engaged. At every age, we can repurpose [ourselves].

We maybe cannot do what we

could at age 40, but we can do something.”

The right coverage

Though Yacovella’s disposition is incredibly positive, she acknowledges that “it is very frustrating getting old.” In 2012, she suffered congestive heart failure, leaving her heart muscle with only 55% function. Though Joanne’s doctors credit her attitude as the reason for her survival and continued good health, she is adamant that good coverage helped get her through.

“Excellus BCBS paid for the hospitalization, all of it [pacemaker, defibrillator],” she said.

“I get my device checked every three months, and soon I am due for a replacement.” She is comforted in knowing that Excellus BCBS will cover that, too.

Find your creative purpose

Perhaps most important in Joanne’s graceful aging

Joanne Yacovella prides herself on being forever young. regimen—meditation, spiritual readings, talk therapy, creative projects, journaling, and dancing in the kitchen—is music.

“Song has always saved me,” she said.

Earlier in her singing career Yacovella sang for children as Mother Goose. She then sang in nursing homes, engaging residents in song and percussion, and plans to do so in her

newest venture, too. Yacovella’s advice is to enjoy the aging process and find creative work that fulfills you, like music does for her. She also says that it’s OK to let people help you. She spoke of a young man who, upon noticing her shoe was untied, offered to tie it for her. Yacovella’s instinct was to politely decline.

She realized, though, that while she could tie her own shoe, she

submitted photo

didn’t have to.

“I put my foot out like Cinderella, and he got on his knee like Prince Charming and tied my shoe,” she said.

Ready to learn more about Medicare? Local Medicare Customer Care Advocates are available to answer questions and help you understand your options. Visit MyExcellusMedicare.com to get started.

Syracuse resident inducted into Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame John Spradling, a piano teacher from Syracuse, has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame, a prestigious designation recognizing the work of North America’s most committed and passionate piano educators. Artist Pianos Syracuse, nominated Spradling for the honor.

Spradling began teaching private piano lessons in 1971 during a graduate assistantship at the Indiana University School of Music. Since then, he has held teaching assistantships at The Juilliard School, where he earned his master’s degree, and The Eastman School, where he began doctoral studies and served as teaching assistant to his professor, Barry Snyder.

He offers classes ranging from beginner to advanced, and he teaches children and adults.

His students have won international and regional competitions, and many, upon high school EagleNEWS

graduation, have been accepted at the largest conservatories on a scholarship basis.

This fall, 44 teachers from the United States and Canada were inducted into the Steinway Teachers Hall of Fame with special events hosted at the historic Steinway factory in New York City. The teachers’ names are now displayed on a commemorative display wall inside the iconic factory.

“Music education has been a cornerstone of our historic company since the late 1800s, and today is no different,” said Gavin English, president of Steinway & Sons Americas.

“We are very proud to work with the talented music educators inducted this fall into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame.

These teachers foster passion, creativity and discipline in the next generation of piano artists. Their work deserves the highest praise.”

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Prime health

Free lung cancer screening for uninsured smokers held Nov. 13 in East Syracuse, Syracuse and Auburn

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ith November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY and CRA Medical Imaging are offering uninsured individuals FREE lung cancer screenings on Saturday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. in three locations: • HOA Offices: -5008 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse, NY 13057.

-4900 Broad Road, Syracuse, NY 13215.

• Diagnostic Imaging Center, 37 West Garden Street, Auburn, NY 13021.

Appointments are required by calling (315) 472-7504 extension 1300. Walk-ins are not allowed. Each patient will require a COVID-19 precautionary screening and must comply with safety protocols, including wearing a mask.

Who qualifies for free screening?

Our free Lung Cancer Screening is intended for people who are uninsured AND at high risk for lung cancer from smoking. They must meet all the following criteria: • Are 50 to 80 years old, and • Are currently smoking or have quit within the last 15 years, and • Have a history of heavy smoking such as: - two packs of cigarettes per day for 10 years -three packs of cigarettes a day for

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seven years - one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years What does the screening involve?

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT).

During an LDCT scan, the patient lies on a table and the CT scanner uses a small amount of radiation to make detailed 3-D images of their lungs.

The scan only takes a few minutes and is not painful. While this scan will expose you to a low-dose of radiation, LDCT uses 75% less radiation than a traditional CT scan and shows more detail than a standard chest X-ray.

Why get screened?

“Lung cancer screening is a regular preventive health check, like a mammogram or a colonoscopy, and most people who get screened do not have cancer” explains Nicole Taylor, DO, from CRA Medical Imaging. “The low-dose CT checks your lungs while you are healthy and looks for any changes from year to year. With that information we can intervene with any necessary medical care as soon as possible.”

What happens after the screening?

All screening patients will be encouraged to share results with their primary care physician. With permission, the HOACNY and CRA Imaging staff can directly send a patient’s results to any

physician they choose.

“A lung cancer screening may find nothing, or it may find something before a person has any symptoms,” explains Aref Agheli, MD, from HOACNY. “The value of annual lung screenings is the opportunity to find unusual results in an early stage, when survival rates are much higher.”

Based on results, patients are welcome, but not required, to seek followup care with a HOACNY physician and Thoracic Nurse Navigator (TNN).

The TNN supports the care of any lung disease patient from pre-diagnosis through all phases of treatment. She works with patients and their families to help overcome healthcare system barriers and facilitate access to quality medical and psychosocial care.

The TNN can also facilitate referrals for smoking cessation programs at HOACNY. “TNN is just one of the ways we continually evaluate and address needs and changes in the healthcare landscape to provide the best medical care,” states Agheli. “To further ensure our patients with lung disease and cancer receive the highest level of care, David Wormuth, MD, a board-certified thoracic surgeon, recently joined our family of physicians.

According to Drs. Taylor and Agheli, joining to offer this free screening during Lung Cancer Awareness Month is evi-

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dence of HOACNY’s and CRA’s commitment to the health of their community.

“We want to increase knowledge of lung cancer treatment options and smoking cessation programs, to ultimately save lives,” adds Agheli.

About HOA Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY was established in 1982 with a vision to serve the community by providing the highest level of quality care to patients dealing with cancer and blood disorders.

With locations in Auburn, Camillus, East Syracuse and Syracuse, HOA continues that vision with a multi-faceted team dedicated to holistic, patient-centered care.

The only cancer practice in CNY Certified for Quality by The American Society of Clinical Oncology, HOACNY also serves as an oncology medical home.

About CRA Medical Imaging CRA Medical Imaging (CRA) is one of the largest radiology groups in Central New York providing imaging services and procedures in a range of specialties.

Continually investing in the latest technologies, CRA offers care in Syracuse, Auburn, Fulton, Hamilton and Oswego with certified and experienced staff. All CRA facilities are accredited by the American College of Radiology in Mammography, Computed Tomography (CT), Nuclear Medicine and digital PET/CT, providing patients a higher standard of imaging quality, care, and radiation dose protection.

EagleNEWS

Prime opinion

Precipitation positives

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ooking out at the rain, trounced the Houston Texans.

I can’t help but feel Rain “shmain,” right? If I had depressed. The past few let the forecast dictate what weeks have been really I did that weekend, I would wet, the skies have been hahave missed out on a great bitually gray and the temperamemory with my family. In ture has hovered somewhere true Bills Mafia fashion, I sufbetween warm and cold fered for (and rejoiced in) my (lukewarm, maybe?) fandom.

Many will say fall is their fa2. There’s no way I can go vorite season – I am not one of out and weed and do other Jennifer Wing them. The pretty colors are too yardwork. I don’t even need to Editor fleeting, the decision of what to come up with an excuse – bad wear on a daily basis when the weather back, I don’t have the right tools, it’s not can turn on a dime is aggravating and the week for brush pickup – I can just the beginning of cold and flu season is point out that it makes no sense doing upon us. work in a slippery, muddy mess.

But I digress. I was talking about rain 3. It’s not snow. I know, I just said that and how it bums me out. I can’t take my I’d prefer snow over rain, but that was daily walk, or if I decide to brave the in a more of a “if I have to stand outside showers, I need to either bring an umfor an extended amount of time, I’d brella or suit up in rain gear. I’ve done rather be in snow” kind of way. Although both, but no matter what is in place, rain can make roadways, driveways there’s just that feeling of dampness that and sidewalks slippery, there’s no ice finds its way into your bones, not to men- involved. Which brings me to my next tion your footwear. point: I’ve been to a few Buffalo Bills games 4. You don’t have to shovel rain. You in the rain. I’m not trying to be ungrateful can’t argue with that fact. for the opportunity to root on my favorite 5. It cleans your vehicle. No car wash team, but it’s tough when you’re trying needed – just keep it out and, voila! to be comfortable in a poncho. Last 6. Then there’s the obvious. It waters month, my family attended just such a crops, it keeps us out of a drought, it game, with seats that were in the second replenishes our water supply, keeps our row up from the field. Great seats, but boats afloat, etc., etc. etc. all of the water from the stadium has to 7. And then the not-so-obvious: It flow somewhere, which meant we were gives us a good excuse to bring out a not just getting it from above, but were board game, have a movie day, get the standing in water. I’d sooner go to a housework done, enjoy some tea and game during a snowstorm, as you can at conversation – in-person, online or by least shake the snow off. Rain just, well, phone. It’s oftentimes a chance to reconseeps. nect, sitting around the kitchen table with Now that I’m done with my negative your loved ones, complaining about the rant, let’s try to find some positives when weather and recapping the day’s events. it comes to precipitation. I’ll list a few So maybe, just maybe, as Luke Bryan examples: sings, sometimes “rain is a good thing.”

1. I was able to retell the story of I just wish there wasn’t so much of it standing in rainwater while the Bills lately in Central New York.

‘Rain is a Good Thing’

By Luke Bryan

My daddy spent his life lookin’ up at the sky He’d cuss, kick the dust, sayin’ son it’s way too dry It clouds up in the city, the weather man complains But where I come from, rain is a good thing Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky Back roads are boggin’ up, my buddies pile up in my truck We hunt our hunnies down, we take ‘em into town Start washin’ all our worries down the drain Rain is a good thing

Ain’t nothin’ like a kiss out back in the barn Ringin’ out our soakin’ clothes, ridin’ out a thunderstorm When the tin roof gets to talkin’ it’s the best love we’ve made Yeah, where I come from, rain is a good thing Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky Back roads are boggin’ up, my buddies pile up in my truck We hunt our hunnies down, we take ‘em into town Start washin’ all our worries down the drain Rain is a good thing

Farmer Johnson does a little dance Creeks on the rise, roll up your pants Country girls, they wanna cuddle Kids out playin’ in a big mud puddle Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey Whiskey makes my baby, - ha ha ha Back roads are boggin’ up, my buddies pile up in my truck We hunt our hunnies down, we take ‘em into town Start washin’ all our worries down the drain Rain is a good thing

Prime short takes How to potty train your cow

Did you know you can potty train your cow the same way you might potty train your toddler? According to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC], scientists at New Zealand’s University of Auckland have done just that. Cows can produce as much as eight gallons of urine in the course of a day and urine contains a lot of nitrogen, which can, when mixed with their feces, be bad for the environment.

And so, the Auckland scientists and colleagues in Germany to create a MooLoo, a specially designed pen, in which to do their business. They let the cows roam in an enclosed area in the midst of which was a MooLoo, which the animals were urged to use when the need arose. The cows that opted for the facility were given a treat; if they didn’t they were squirted with cold water. Most of the cows used in the experiment ultimately decided to use the MooLoo when they had to go.

A new meaning for ‘hometown’

Why buy a house when you can buy a whole town? The AMAC reports that the town of Water Valley, Maury

EagleNEWS

County, TN is up for sale.

Think about it, not only would you be a homeowner, you’d also be the mayor and the chief of police, if you’ve a mind for that. The asking price is $725,000 -- not bad when you consider that not so far away homes are selling for $400,000 to $800,000.

But Water Valley consists of four general stores, a barn and a circa1900 creek-side home with updated wiring and plumbing

A rude awakening

It happened in the town of Golden, British Columbia. Ruth Hamilton was fast asleep when her dog started barking. Then, says the AMAC, she heard “ a huge explosion and [felt] debris all over my face.” She got out of bed and called 911.

“Talking to the operator, she was asking me all kinds of questions, and at that point, I rolled back one of the two pillows I’d been sleeping on and in between them was the meteorite. I was shaking like a leaf. You’re sound asleep, safe, you think, in your bed, and you can get taken out by a meteorite, apparently.”

The Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] is a senior advocacy organization. For more information visit amac.us.

Jennifer Wing

Fans wait in line to get into the Bills/Texans game on Oct. 3. The rain couldn’t dampen fans’ spirits as they later celebrated a 40-0 shutout.

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Prime health

CNY agency makes Medicare simple The DMA Medicare Team at the Don Marsh Agency Inc.,takes a holistic approach to the process of Medicare planning.

They know all facets of the complicated Medicare process and make it simple for you so that you may make an informed decision choosing the best plan for you. This is especially important when your health situation changes.

A recent example was a 69-yearold man who was on a Medicare Advantage Plan that worked well for him until he was diagnosed with bile duct cancer requiring extensive surgery and post-hospital chemotherapy.

He now needed the coverage a Medicare Supplement Plan provides.

Unless he was eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP), coverage for a Supplement Plan would not begin until January 1.

He needed surgery right away and so was advised to apply for EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) which would provide his SEP eligibility and allow him to change his plan immediately.

He was approved for EPIC, and he switched to a Medicare Supplement plan that covered his deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pays. Although he

will pay a higher monthly premium, by making the switch to the Supplement Plan, he saved thousands of dollars the Advantage Plan would not have covered.

The drector, Paul Holgate, and his team are passionate about helping their clients and serve them in many ways that others do not.

Their clients are not a transaction – they are there to serve them all year round. When a DMA client has a question or a concern about their plan, they call Paul and his Team first.

Talking with someone who knows who they are is more comfortable and effective than talking to a 1-800 number.

Paul and his team are licensed and certified Medicare agents and represent many of the top Medicare insurers.

Paul has worked in health care his entire career most recently having created a Medicare Program for a financial institution and built up a customer base of over 450 happy clients.

He and his Team are ready to make Medicare simple for you!

The DMA Medicare Team are passionate about helping their clients. submitted photo

Are you a patient of FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) & Need to change your Medicare Advantage Plan so you can keep your Doctor?

Prime short takes They made it to the church on time

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Your window of opportunity is already open:

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) October 15 - December 7 The DMA Medicare Team will:

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Don’t let the window close and be a coulda, woulda, shoulda!

Take action today!

Call 315-498-4642 x115 or email: medicare@donmarshagency.com www.donmarshagency.com/medicare

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India can get pretty wet during monsoon season when five feet or more of rain can fall, says the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

So, if rain is considered good luck for newlyweds, it’s a good place to tie the knot.

In fact, it was pretty lucky for Akash Kunjumon and his betrothed, Aishwarya.

Their trip to the altar in the town of Thalavady was interrupted by a particularly heavy rainfall that caused flooding and, for a while there, it looked like they would have to postpone their ceremony for lack of suitable transport.

They tried to find a proper boat to take them, but none was to be found. No problem.

Their neighbors didn’t let them down; they provided them with a cooking pot -- a very big cooking pot -- to “get them to the church on time,” as the song goes.

An ancient find

A Knight Templar lost his sword in the Mediterranean Sea off of what is now Haifa, Israel during the Crusades 900 years ago.

It was retrieved recently by a hapless diver who came across came across a treasure trove of ancient artifacts, including the sword, by mere chance, according to AMAC. The Israel Antiquities Authority’s Robbery Prevention Unit says, “The sword, which has been preserved in perfect condition, is a beautiful and rare find and evidently belonged to a Crusader knight.”

No, it’s not a houseboat

Daniele Penney her boyfriend, Kirk Lovell, had found their dream house on the shore of the Bay of Islands inlet in Newfoundland.

The good news was that it was available; the bad news was that it was about to be torn down, reports the AMAC. It appeared to be impossible to haul the structure over land to their own property in the coastal town of McIvers. The road was had too many obstacles. So, they decided to float it to their parcel on a raft made of barrels and a metal frame loaded with old tires, using small boats for propulsion. It worked.

They got the house to its new location, a bit wet but in one piece and now they are waiting for it to dry out.

The 2.4 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. For more information visit amac.us.

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Center for Wound Healing promotes diabetes awareness to improve healing The Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health is raising awareness of diabetes-related wounds as part of the Healogics 8th Annual Diabetes Awareness Campaign.

Throughout November, the Center for Wound Healing will educate the local community about the importance of awareness, early intervention and specialized care for diabetes-related chronic wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers. Local team members will also visit healthcare providers in surrounding areas to provide important information to help at-risk patients living with diabetes. These resources include the 2021 Diabetes Awareness Infographic and posters designed to encourage patients to take off their socks and shoes for foot exams at every appointment.

There are 34.2 million people in the United States currently living with diabetes. And, diabetes-related wounds are a leading cause of limb loss, accounting for 65,000 amputations annually. Early detection and specialized care from a Wound Care Center can reduce healing times and significantly reduce the risk of amputation.

Risk factors for diabetes include age, diet, activity level, obesity,

and heredity. Factors that may increase the risks of developing a chronic wound, such as a diabetic foot ulcer, include high blood sugar levels, poor circulation, immune system issues and nerve damage.

The Center for Wound Healing recommends the following to help prevent diabetic foot ulcers: Stop smoking immediately Comprehensive foot examinations each time you visit your healthcare provider (at least four times a year) Examine your feet every day or have a family member inspect them Take good care of your feet and clean your toenails See your healthcare provider to care for corns and calluses Choose supportive, proper footwear (shoes and socks) Take steps to improve circulation such as eating healthier and exercising regularly Contact the Center for Wound Healing at Oswego Health to learn more about diabetic foot ulcers or if you have a wound that will not heal. No referral necessary. To schedule an appointment, please call 315-326-3780 or visit oswegohealth.org.

About Healogics, Inc.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., Healogics is the nation’s wound healing expert. Last year over 350,000 patients received advanced wound care through a nationwide network of over 600 Wound Care Centers®. The Healogics team is made up of almost 3,000 employees, 4,000 affiliated physicians and a Healogics Specialty Physician practice group of nearly 300. In addition to the company’s network of outpatient Centers, Healogics partners with over 300 skilled nursing facilities to care for patients with chronic wounds and provides inpatient consults at more than 80 partner hospitals. As the industry leader, Healogics has the largest repository of chronic wound-specific patient data in the country. The Healogics Wound Science Initiative, an effort launched in 2017 to provide peer-reviewed research, recognizes the value and relevance of big data and advanced analytics to drive continuous, collaborative learning towards a better understanding of how to efficiently utilize healthcare resources for patients with wounds.

For additional information, please visit Healogics.com.

Are you Eligible for a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan?

By Amanda Frederick Vice President Health Plan Operations, Nascentia Health Medicare open enrollment is here and seniors have a lot of choices when it comes

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to their healthcare plans. Many seniors are eligible for what are known as special needs plans (SNPs), which are Medicare Advantage Plans specially designed to serve people with certain conditions or qualifications. These plans cover everything that all

Medicare Advantage Plans cover, but offer additional services to meet specific needs of the population they serve, often at no extra cost, such as money for food and over-thecounter healthcare products; allowances for hearing aids, vision, and dental; or more hospital stay days. Some plans offer resources such as a care team who makes it simpler for members to navigate their eligible benefits and ensure they are receiving the care they need. This additional coverage and better coordination of services can improve quality of life and help you remain as healthy as possible.

The types of special needs plans Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP)—covers individuals who have specific severe or disabling chronic conditions such as chronic heart failure, diabetes, or stroke. Each plan will indicate the specific chronic or disabling conditions for eligibility.

Dual Eligible SNP (D-SNP)—covers individuals who have both Medicare and Medicaid.

Institutional SNP (I-SNP)—covers individuals who need, or are expected to need 90 days or more of any of a skilled nursing facility, nursing facility, intermediate care facility (including for intellectual disabilities), or an inpatient psychiatric facility.

Special needs plans require certain

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qualifications be met before an individual is eligible—for example, living in an institution such as a nursing home, needing nursing care at home, having specific chronic conditions, and/or being eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Each SNP has its own criteria, so be careful to closely evaluate whether you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you qualify for one of these special needs plans, choosing the right one requires asking specific questions to determine if the plan’s benefits are right for you.

Multiple private insurers offer SNPs, all of which have different benefits. To help identify which plan is the best fit for you, come up with a list of items that are most important and valuable to you. For example: Is the plan available where I live?

Is there coverage if I am outside the plan service area?

Is there a plan in my area specifically designed for members with my chronic medical condition?

Do I need to choose a primary care physician, and get referrals to see specialists?

Are my preferred doctors participating in the plan? If not, is there an option to see doctors that are not in the network?

Are my prescriptions on the Rx formulary?

Does the plan provide a care manager/ Nascentia l Page 9

EagleNEWS

Prime advice

Growing Moth Orchids

by Melinda Myers

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righten your indoor décor with beautiful blooming orchids. These living bouquets provide months of beauty with minimal care. Just provide the proper growing conditions and success is sure to follow.

Start with a Phalaenopsis, moth orchid, that is best suited to the home environment making it the easiest to grow. Purchase a healthy plant with green leaves, a few open flowers, lots of buds on a firm green flower stem and no signs of neglect.

Provide your orchid with proper care, similar to that of an African violet, for the best results. Water thoroughly with room temperature tap water just as the planting mix is beginning to dry. This is usually once a week in most indoor gardens. Pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer to prevent root rot.

Grow your moth orchid in a bright location near an east-, west- or slightly shaded south-facing window. Plants do best when they receive 12 to 14 hours of bright light.

Give plants growing in low light locations a boost with artificial light. Keep lights 4 to 10 inches above the plants. Placing the plants on a reflective surface helps bounce light back up into the lower parts of the plant. Look for one of the many economical, energy efficient and attractive options for sale. Keep the lights on for 14 to 16 hours if this is the only light the plant receives. You can reduce the time to five or six hours for plants receiving natural light.

Boost the humidity around your orchid while creating a beautiful display by placing it among other indoor plants. As one plant loses moisture from its leaves, it increases the humidity around the neighboring plants.

Use gravel trays to further increase the humidity around all your indoor plants. Fill the saucer or plant tray with pebbles. Set the pots on the pebbles, elevating them above any water that collects in the saucer.

When you water thoroughly the excess collects in the saucer. As it evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plants right where it is needed.

Tips for drying flowers

By Melinda Myers

Enjoy and share the beauty of your flower garden all year long. Pick and dry a few flowers to use in flower arrangements, craft projects or as gifts for friends and family.

Pick the flowers when they are at peak bloom and blossoms are dry. Cut flowers for drying mid-day when they contain less moisture to reduce the dry time.

Use a bypass pruner or garden scissors to cut the stems above a set of healthy leaves. Remove the foliage and gather them into small bundles. Secure the stems with rubber bands that contract as the stems shrink and continue holding them tight.

Use a spring-loaded clothespin to hang the bundles from a hanger, clothes line or nail.

Allow the flowers to dry in a warm, dark, dust-free location.

Flat-faced flowers like daisies tend to close a bit when dried upside down. Try laying them face down on a flat surface.

Simply cut off the stem and place the flowers face down on newspaper in a warm, dry location. Once dried, you can glue them in place or use florist wire to create stems for arranging.

And don’t forget to pick a few seedpods from perennials and ornamental grasses.

These have dried, for the most part, on the plants and make great additions to your dried flower arrangements and projects.

Consider taking a trip to your local florist or craft store for more ideas and materials for drying delicate flowers. Silica sand works well for delicate blossoms like iris as well as roses, mums and more. Simply fill the bottom inch of a container with silica sand. Remove all but an inch of the flower stem. Place the flower, stem side up or on its side, on the surface of the silica sand.

Gently pour silica sand over the flowers until

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From page 8

care coordinator to help ensure the I get the most out of both the Medicare and Medicaid benefits?

How do the dental, vision, hearing aid, and telemedicine benefits compare between plans?

Is there a benefit for healthy food?

How do the “extra” benefits compare between plans, and which ones are most important to me? For example, one person may find the over-the-counter benefit card to be very important, where another person may be more interested in higher dental benefits.

EagleNEWS

Moth orchids are the easiest to grow in a home environment.

Fertilize actively growing plants when the soil is moist. Use a dilute solution of a complete fertilizer such as a 20-20-20 labeled for use on orchids or flowering houseplants. Avoid excess fertilization that can cause damaged black root tips, green floppy growth, and prevent flowering.

Once your orchid finishes flowering, continue growing it in a brightly lit location and water and fertilize as needed. You can either remove the faded flowers, leaving the flower stem intact and wait for a flush of smaller flowers at the tip of the stem or cut the flower stem back above either the second or third node, the thickened part of a plant stem where new growth appears, from the bottom. A third option is to cut the flower stem back to one half inch above the leaves. This is better for the health of the

MelindaMyers.com

plant. It results in the best reblooming and allows the plant to restore energy used for flowering and focus on growing roots.

If forcing your orchid to produce a second flush of flowers seems like too much work, just treat it like a long blooming bouquet. Ease your guilt by gifting the plant to a fellow gardener that would be happy to accept the challenge. Then invest in a new and different orchid to brighten your indoor garden.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is melindamyers.com.

Melinda Myers, LLC

Lavender dries relatively quickly and retains the best color when dried in a low humidity, dark location. completely covered. Follow label directions. Most flowers dried this way maintain their beauty when dried in silica sand. Just use a small paint brush to gently remove any remaining sand.

Test flowers for dryness before putting them in an arrangement or storing for future use. Carefully rub a piece of the flower between your fingers. If it feels dry, it is ready to use. If it still feels moist, continue letting them dry.

Store extra dried flowers in a location with low humidity and away from direct sunlight. Consider loosely wrapping with newspaper or kraft paper to prevent crushing and place in a box until needed.

Whichever drying method you choose, the result is the same – year-round enjoyment of your garden’s beauty.

Selecting the right SNP plan can be time consuming; however, if you follow some of the guidance here, you should be able to identify which benefits are most important to you. Look at plans available in your area through Medicare.gov/plan-compare and make notes about which ones offer the benefits that meet your needs. You can call individual insurers to speak with a representative and find out the details about their plan before making a decision. Consider contacting local independent insurance agents who work with Medicare Advantage Plans and can help you identify available plans. You can also engage trusted friends, family, and advisors to help sort through the details of the plans and make the best decision.

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It’s Showtime at St. Camillus!

This past summer the CEO of Upstate Shredding, Adam Weitsman, pledged to donate one million dollars to local charities in the upstate New York area when Boeheim’s Army won the 2021 TBT Championship.

Charities submitted requests for donations specifying how the money would be spent and ensuring that the donation would fill a specific need for their organization. The Centers at St. Camillus was the grateful recipient of $1,500 to purchase 10 flat screen TVs and wall mounts for residents in their long term care program. With many of their residents unable to bring in television sets from home, this donation increased the number of rooms complete with TVs to assist those in need.

During these trying times with the COVID-19 pandemic,

residents and patients are still experiencing limited visitation from their loved ones due to state regulations. Therefore, they turn to their TV sets for entertainment more than before – enjoying their favorite shows, movies, news and church services.

St. Camillus stated in a press release that “Adam Weitsman is the star in this scene, for his generous support and for brightening the day of many, many residents.”

“We’d also like to extend a special thank you to our nearby neighbors, the Wegman’s Care Team on Onondaga Boulevard in Syracuse, for reaching out and asking if there was anything they could do for us,” St. Camillus stated. “Since our Recreation Team was planning a fun cheese tasting event for the residents, Wegman’s graciously donated

Submitted photo

St. Camillus resident, James Tallerino, is all smiles when he sees the latest donation from Adam Weitsman. cases of sparkling grape juice to create a “wine” and cheese event. The residents had a blast

sampling the different types of fromage while sipping their delicious bubbly! A special thank

you goes out to Michael Esposito for coordinating the beverage donation – cheers to you!”

Crouse Health named age-friendly health system Crouse Health is one of just 37 New York State healthcare facilities — and the only one in Central New York —to be designated an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) recently announced the

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hospitals, ambulatory practices, post-acute care facilities and federally qualified health centers that earned this designation after participating in the first cohort of the HANYS-led New York State Age-Friendly Health Systems Action Community.

“Crouse is proud to be recognized as an age-friendly hospital,” says Chief Operating Officer/Chief Medical Of-

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ficer Seth Kronenberg, MD. “This recognition reflects our commitment to improving outcomes for older adults.” The IHI designation compliments the recognition Crouse had previously received from the American College of Emergency Physicians for best practices in treating geriatric patients in the hospital’s Emergency Department.

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Prime advice

Ask Rusty - Is taxing Social Security fair?

Dear Rusty:

Taxing Social Security benefits isn’t fair. It would benefit everyone if seniors could earn as much as possible without having their Social Security taxed. We would still be paying into Social Security which would help the fund. I also feel that all people earning over $100,000 should pay into Social Security because they can afford it.

This would help fund Social Security without hurting anyone financially.

Many seniors are struggling financially and should be able to earn as much as we can without a portion of our Social Security being taxed.

Signed: Overtaxed Senior

Dear Overtaxed Senior: would exacerbate Social Few would argue that Security’s now tenuous Social paying income tax on Social financial condition (income Security Security benefits is fair. Nevtax on benefits added $41 Matters ertheless, Congress enacted billion to Social Security’s Russell Gloor taxation of Social Security revenue in 2020). Thus, calls benefits in 1983 as part of a reform package today for repealing income tax on Social which restored Social Security to solvency Security benefits go largely unheeded. It’s at the time. When the law was first enacted, worth noting that 13 U.S. states also levy a 50% of SS benefits were taxable for single state income tax on Social Security benefits. tax filers who earned more than $25,000 Although the payroll taxes you pay into and for married couples who earned more Social Security while working are different than $32,000. That was the law until 1993 from income taxes on your benefits, people when Congress added another threshold earning over $100,000 today do pay into for both single and married filers. The 1993 Social Security through a FICA tax (or selflaw allowed up to 85% of SS benefits to be employment tax) on their earnings. Paying taxed for single filers who earned more than this tax is what entitles you to receive Social $34,000 and for married filers earning more Security benefits. The 2021 threshold after than $44,000. which SS contributions are no longer taken Ever since enacted, those laws have been from earnings is $142,800, and this amount viewed as unfair by many senior organizagoes up a bit each year. But even completely tions and especially by the individuals who removing that payroll tax cap and further paid income tax on their benefits. The untaxing higher earners would not fully fortunate reality is that eliminating income resolve Social Security’s current financial istax on Social Security benefits without also sues. Social Security’s Trustees predict that implementing other offsetting reforms monthly benefits are at risk of reduction

starting in 2034 unless Congress acts to reform the program. Eliminating income tax on benefits is one of many suggestions now being considered in reform proposals, as is increasing (or eliminating) the payroll tax cap. Whether Congress will include either of those suggestions in future Social Security reform legislation is anyone’s guess.

So, while we agree that levying income tax on Social Security benefits amounts to “double taxation” (because you also pay income tax on your earnings used to qualify for Social Security), taxing your Social Security income is, nevertheless, permitted under current law. As unpalatable as that law may be, and as unfortunate the effect is on struggling seniors, the AMAC Foundation can only offer guidance on how existing Social Security laws and regulations affect those who contact us. However, our parent company, the Association of Mature American Citizens, is very well aware that paying income tax on Social Security “isn’t fair” and regularly lobbies Congress on that topic.

What are the basics of applying for Social Security?

Dear Rusty:

I am planning to apply for Social Security in May of 2022 and would like to understand how to file.

I will be taking it when I am 62.

Signed: Ready to Retire Dear Ready to Retire: Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! You should apply for your Social Security benefits about 3 months before you wish benefits to begin (you will tell them the month you want benefits to start when you apply). Since you plan to apply at age 62, be aware that you must be 62 for an entire month to be eligible for benefits – you cannot get benefits for the month you turn 62 (unless you were born on the 1st or 2nd of the month). Rather you become eligible the following month.

Your benefit payment date will be either the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of the month, depending on the day of the month you were born. Born between the 1st and 10th of the month your payment will be received on the 2nd Wednesday; born between the 11th and 20th of the month, payment will be made on the 3rd Wednesday; born after the 20th of the month your payment will be received on the 4th Wednesday.

You can apply for benefits over the phone by calling Social Security at 1(800) 772-1213 (or by calling your local office) and requesting an appointment to apply. However, by far the most efficient way to apply is online at www.ssa.gov/applyforbenefits. Here’s a link to a short video about applying online: https://www.ssa.gov/hlp/video/ iclaim_r01.htm. To do the online application you will first need to create your personal

Crouse

From page 10 With support from the New York State Department of Health, the program launched in November 2020 and ran through August 2021; the designation of 37 participants to date has nearly doubled the number of New York facilities IHI has recognized for adopting evidencebased interventions to improve care for older adults.

“This Action Community kicked off at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but our cohort was undeterred,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, president, HANYS. “COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on older adults, magEagleNEWS

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“my Social Security” online account which is easy to do at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. When you have that online account set up, you will see your estimated benefit amounts at several ages. You’ll see that if you claim at age 62 your benefit will be 30% less than it would be at your full retirement age (FRA) of 67 (a permanent reduction), and you’ll also see that your benefit at age 70 would be about 75% more than your benefit at age 62.

Please also be aware that if you claim before your full retirement age and you continue to work, Social Security has a limit for how much you can earn before they take away some of your benefits. The 2022 earnings limit is not yet known, but it will be something a bit more than the 2021 limit of $18,960. If you exceed the annual limit, Social Security will take back benefits equal to $1 for every $2 you are over the limit (half of what you exceed the limit by). The earnings limit goes up by over 2.5 times in the year you reach your full retirement age and goes away entirely once FRA is attained.

Finally, your Social Security benefits may be subject to income tax if your combined income from all sources is high enough. The thresholds depend on your IRS filing status – if you file as “married/jointly” and your combined income (yours and your husband’s) is more than $32,000, then 50% of your SS benefits for the tax year becomes part of your taxable income. If your combined income as a married couple is more than $44,000 then up to 85% of your SS benefits will be taxable.

The thresholds are less if you file your taxes as a single – in that case income over $25,000 means 50% of your SS benefits are taxable, and income over $34,000 means up to 85% of your benefits will be taxed at whatever your normal IRS tax rate is.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions

nifying the importance of using practices tailored to that population.”

The members of HANYS’ initial New York State Age-Friendly Action Community cohort learned to identify and address common risks during hospitalization, discharge planning and care transitions, while optimizing their patients’ physical function and independence, supporting caregivers and strengthening coordination between settings and providers.

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and IHI, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.

and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA).

NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/ programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

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