Mature Lifestyles

MATURE

Lifestyles

January, 2013

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2 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

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Elderly at risk in extreme cold

By Skip Brown Home Instead Senior Care

Local Senior Care Company Advises Family Caregivers to Keep a Close Eye on Older Adults during Frigid Temperatures The extreme temperatures and snow of winter can be particularly dangerous for older adults. The elderly and those with heart disease are at special risk, according to the American Heart Association.

As people age, their ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases. Because elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they’re in danger, the Heart Association reports (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4570).

Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below normal. It occurs when your body can’t produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough and the condition can kill. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia, the American Heart Association notes.

The following tips, from the local Home Instead Senior Care® office, will help you safeguard a senior loved one or neighbor.

Fill the cupboard. Help your senior stock the staples and groceries they’ll need in the event of a large snowstorm or cold spell.

Maximize energy. Encourage your senior to make sure they have adequate insulation and to check and clean the fireplace and furnace. Replace furnace filters monthly.

Minimize drafts. Help your senior

fill old socks with sand and use them in drafty windowsills and door jams.

Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors closed to unused rooms and close curtains at night.

Stay toasty. Advise your senior to add an extra blanket to the bed and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use electric blankets. A senior may not be able to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjusted in the night.

Dress warmly. A senior’s circulation decreases with age. Encourage your senior to wear an extra sweater or sweatshirt, and sweat pants during the winter.

Monitor the thermostat. Check with your senior to make sure that they’re keeping the thermostat above 65 degrees during the cold weather.

See “CoLD” on page 7

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4 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

Tips on receiving home health care for seniors

By LEonArD BErG

Your home is your castle. You know the location of your pots, pans, medication, telephone, bedroom and bathroom.

You know your friends and neighbors and how to get in and out of your house with or without assistance. Your home has many memories. But sometimes you need help to stay at home.

Paying for that help can be expensive.

However many services should be available through original Medicare.

Many Senior Citizens know that a physical therapist or registered nurse can come to the house if you are home bound. In the past these services were terminated if the Medicare contractor determined that you were no longer showing improvement. Also, the Medicare provider did not include all of the services that were available.

The Medicare law and regulations never required a patient to show improvement as the sole condition of receiving care.

Instead the law always declared that the test was whether you needed skilled care for treatment for quick improvement or the maintenance of your chronic condition. For example, a patient with multiple sclerosis may need the services of a physical therapist once or twice per week just to keep the limbs from experiencing atrophy. Recently Medicare was sued and the court declared that this need for improvement should no longer be a determining factor in providing Medicare benefits.

Medicare has published a booklet about Medicare Home Health Care Benefits for people with original Medicare. It is simply titled “Medicare and Home Health Care.�

Medicare has several conditions or

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2. The doctor must certify that you need a skilled service. Including intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech or language pathology services or continued occupational therapy.

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According to a consumer survey on self-medication by CHPA (Consumer Healthcare Products Association), 73 percent of Americans would rather treat themselves at home with over-the-counter (OTC) products than see a doctor. That isn’t a terribly surprising statistic because most of us don’t think of OTC products as being a drug.

But the truth is that many OTC products contain active drug ingredients which means that reading OTC labels is extremely important.

Did you know that there’s over 100,000 FDA approved OTC products and over 1,000 active ingredients in those OTC products? Have you considered that these active ingredients may interact with other medicines or dietary supplements you may be taking? Do you analyze the label of every OTC product you purchase to know exactly what and how many you should be taking?

SIUE School of Pharmacy Clinical Assistant Professor Miranda Wilhelm emphasized the importance of reading OTC labels every time we purchase or take an OTC product. “There are drug interactions involved with these that I think patients typically don’t think about because people see pretty much anything over the counter as safe,” Wilhelm said.

And in some cases, reading and following the label’s directions can keep us from harming ourselves. “We kind of have that “more is better” philosophy,” Wilhelm added. “So if two Tylenol doesn’t relieve your pain, four might. And four could cause liver damage. Liver damage with Tylenol occurs with overdose – when too much is taken.”

OTC labels have come a long way thanks to FDA regulation. Prior to 1999, there were no standards for manufacturers’ labels on OTC products. “This meant that a lot of times the information on packaging wasn’t very easy to read, wasn’t patient friendly language,” Wilhelm said.

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6 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

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Cold Continued from page 3 Older adults are particularly susceptible to hypothermia, which can develop over a few days and weeks even in the mildly cool indoor temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees.

Beware of budget problems. Make sure your senior isn’t trying to save money by keeping the thermostat down. Many communities have energy assistance programs for low- and fixed-income households.

Avoid slips. Make sure your senior has made arrangements to have driveways and walkways cleaned. Salt and sand should be available to speed melting.

Stay in touch. Check on your neighbor or loved one frequently during periods of cold and snowy weather.

Build a network. You can’t always be around to help your elderly loved one. Call on neighbors, family and church members to help. Or contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office.

For more information about the cold, visit the National Weather Service Web site at http://www.noaa.gov and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site at www. fema.gov. Or, to learn more about Home Instead Senior Care, log on to www.homeinstead.com/351 ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE Skip Brown opened his first Home Instead Senior Care

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8 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

MSCC announces January events Main Street Community Center, located at 1003 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, recently announced their upcoming events for January, 2013. For more information or to register for any of these events, please call 656-0300 or email info@mainstcc.org.

Make Memories on Main Street Fundraiser All-Day Scrapbook Crop on January 26 Bring your scrapbook materials, photos and meet friends for an all-day scrapbook crop, “Make Memories on Main Street” on Saturday, January 26th from 12noon – 11pm. Cost of registration is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Price includes table/space, delicious dinner, snacks, homemade dessert bar and drinks. Proceeds will benefit Center programs and activities.

Rules of the Road Review Class at MSCC AARP will be offering a Rules of the Road review course at Main Street Community Center on Wednesday, January 23rd from 1:00-3:00pm. No registration is necessary for the class.

MSCC Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day Main Street Community Center will be closed Monday, January 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.

Main Street Community Center Announces New Hours in 2013 Effective January 2013, Main Street Community Center’s regular operating hours will be Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact MSCC: 618-656-0300 or info@

mainstcc.org.

Shop Year ‘Round at the MSCC Resale Shop The Main Street Community Center Resale Shop has a variety of gently-used resale items for sale throughout the year.

The Resale Shop is open during regular operating hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm.

MSCC’s Inclement Weather Policy ‘Tis the season for inclement weather!

Please remember that MSCC is closed when Edwardsville District 7 schools are closed for inclement weather.

MSCC Seeking Those Who Need Home-Delivered Meals The Main Street Community Center is currently seeking seniors and disabled adults who would benefit from the Meals-on-Wheels program. This program offers a balanced meal, prepared by Anderson Hospital, Monday through Friday, for just $3.50 per day.

The meals are delivered to the participant’s home by volunteers. Recipients must live within the corporate limits of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. To register or to receive more information about the Meals-on-Wheels program, contact the Center at 656-0300.

Visit MSCC’S Game Room!

The Center's Game Room is open at all times during regular MSCC business hours. The Game Room has board games, puzzles, card games, and even Wii Bowling!

MSCC E-Newsletter is Free The monthly electronic newsletter of Main Street Community Center is free.

Email info@mainstcc.org or call 656-0300 if you wish to subscribe and learn more about Center programs and activities.

Care Continued from Page 4 3. Your doctor must establish a plan of care that is regularly reviewed.

4. The services must be provided by a Medicare certified home health agency.

If you meet these conditions, particularly if skilled medical care is part of the plan, then home health aid services can also be part of that plan. These services may include: bathing, dressing, using the bathroom. Special circumstances may also include cleaning and laundry.

Providing these services for even a few hours per week

Stay in Shape at MSCC Main Street Community Center offers a variety of workout classes to fit all needs, young and old! Jazzercise occurs three times per week: every Monday and Wednesday, from 5:30 to 6:30pm, and every Saturday, from 8:30 to 9:30am. Stretch and Move, a seniorbased class, is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8 to 9am.

Chair Yoga is offered Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30-10:30am starting January 8th. New Beginnings Movin’ and Groovin’ is offered on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:00pm starting January 9th.

Please note that each class may have a minimal cost to attend.

Health Screenings at MSCC Main Street Community Center hosts health screenings that are provided courtesy of several area health providers. Following are a list of the dates, times, services and providers: Every Monday, Blood Pressure, provided by Dorothy Cruse, 12:00pm; First Tuesday of each month, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar, provided

by Edwardsville Nursing and Rehab at 10:30am; Second Tuesday of each month, Blood Pressure, provided

by Rosewood Care Center, 10:30am; First Friday of each month, Blood Pressure, provided by LSS Home Health, 10:30am; Second Friday of each month, Blood Pressure, provided by Eden Village, 10:30am; Third Friday of each month, Blood Pressure, provided by University Nursing and Rehab, 10am; and Fourth Friday of each month, Blood Pressure, provided by VNA Tip, 11 am.

might make the difference in the ability of the senior to remain in their home.

Similar benefits should be provided to patients who have Medicare Advantage plans instead of original Medicare.

Patients and their advocates under a Health Care Power of Attorney will find it necessary to push for these benefits. It may take some time for the medical establishment to become accustomed to the change and emphasis away from the need for improvement. You have a right to a fast appeal if these services are denied to you.

Leonard Berg is an attorney in East Alton, Illinois. Many of clients are persons who are elderly or have special needs, or their family members. Mr. Berg can be reached at 618-258-4800 or www.lbergelderlaw.com

TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 9

Laura Scaturro/Intelligencer

Frank and Judy Wood hold some of the produce they received from their home garden last summer. Judy, a member of the Holiday Shores Garden Club, enjoys both the fruits of her labor and the continual learning and experiences shared at the club meetings and programs throughout the year.

Staying young in the garden

By LAURA SCATURRO lscaturro.edwi@gmail.com

Judy Wood, vice president of the Holiday Shores Garden Club, loves digging in the dirt both inside and outside her home. Inside her home, she has a variety of plants and flowers on display including seven African Violets which have been divided a multitude of times, all of which came from one plant given to her by a friend who was moving more than seven years ago.

“I love to see things grow,” she said. “It’s an obsession.

It’s very gratifying. I honestly believe there are cells of living things all around us and it keeps us healthy to come in con-

tact with those cells. That’s what you’re doing when you’re digging in the dirt. You’re touching the plants and touching the flowers and vegetables. You’re coming into contact with those living cells. I think it adds to our good health.”

Wood, who retired in 2006, said that the garden club recently held their pot luck Christmas party, the club’s last program of the year and by all accounts was a tremendous success.

Five new couples, four new to the Holiday Shores community, were interested in joining. This will bring the membership close to 30 members for 2013. At present, two members are master gardeners - Chris Pretti and Kathy Wilhite.

See “GARDEN” on Page 10

10 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

Garden Continued from page 9 As Wood reviewed the 2012 club booklet produced annually for members, it was apparent that the club attracts mostly retired individuals. Along with membership information, the booklet also contains upcoming programs, points of interest and events that are scheduled for the upcoming year.

Wood believes the garden club is a perfect way for gardeners of all ages and expertise to grow. When asked the average age of members, Wood just laughs.

“We keep the birth days, but we don’t ask for a year,” she said.

Wood even had to calculate her own age on paper.

“I don’t keep track,” she said. “What difference does it make? I always have to figure out the year. My birth date is in February and it’s always cold. So I celebrate in April, May or June.

“The garden club is many things,” she said. “It’s the beautification of our surroundings and the maintenance of those items. It’s helping each other to be healthier and happier.

We’re outside, we’re digging and sharing plants, were taking care of the memorial at the fire department or the entry gates.

It’s a way to connect with people and to celebrate events or show memory to our friends and relatives.”

Wood is reminded of the recent passing of garden club member Laura Carnes.

“When Laura Carnes passed we bought a plaque that has

been placed at Gate A the main entrance. If you look down in the flowers and the bedding you’ll see it. So, the garden club extends our friendship into all the different groups.”

Along with guest speakers, the club members bring their own subject expertise to the monthly meetings.

“The master gardeners know different things about the area,” Wood said. “Nan Adams is connected to the Heartland Prairie near Gordon Moore Park. Others know about herbs or fall plants or the transition of plants – just unusual things.

Questions always come up at our monthly meetings and we learn a lot from each other. It keeps our minds active.”

Wood, who has gardened all her life, shared her latest endeavor into vertical gardening when the club staged a garden tour in July and her home was one of three stops for the tour.

“I found a unique way to grow things vertically,” Wood said. “Like squash and cantaloupe - I grow them on a trellis. I bought some trellis material and planted cantaloupe - three on each side. Once they start growing you fasten the vine to the trellis and once the vines get to the top of the trellis I trimmed them. You can’t let the fruit hang or they would break the vine. I created a sling, made out of a light mesh and wired it to the trellis then I sit the cantaloupe in the sling, so it’s not pulling on the vine at all. When it’s ripe the vine falls off and the cantaloupe is ready to carry into the house. Two years ago was the first time I did it. I went on the internet to find out how to take care of cantaloupe and I found this picture of cantaloupe growing on the trellis. I bought all the stuff, did it and it worked great. It’s a space saver and you can do it with squash, too. It was fun to show the other members.”

See “GArDEn” on page 11

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Garden Continued from Page 10 Wood, along with her husband Frank, have been members of the club since they moved into the community in 2005.

Wood said, “The garden club is a good spot for me because I like to be outside.”

Wood, who was chair of the annual plant sale for the past two year’s, recently submitted the order for the plants to be sold at the sole fundraiser for the club to be held May 3 at the Holiday Shores Firehouse.

Wood indicated that she will be stepping down from the

From the Veterans Gardening Tips from the Holiday Shores Garden Club: Always water at the roots of vegetables not the leaves.

Remove the bottoms and tops from plastic or metal coffee cans and use them when planting starter plants to reduce bug infestation and to help keep frost from harming the plants Surrounding your garden with orange Marigolds will help keep the bunnies out of your garden.

Creating your own organic bug spray: Mix two tablespoons of mouth wash (any kind) to a quart of water and a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Spray it on in the late afternoon or after it rains (the rain washes it off) board in 2013 so someone else can take a turn in the leadership role.

“I recently submitted the order for the plants to be sold,” Wood said. “We have such a good supplier now. A few new things will be added for the 2013 sale, but it will be a surprise to club members and attendees. Combination baskets were new last year. Abby Dillon of La Bella Fiori created them with three different kinds of flowers, some stood up, some hugged the basket and some trailed down, but there was a theme by color or texture for each. They were snapped up just like that.”

The plant sale is the club’s only fundraiser. Along with the

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Cantaloupes grow in slings on the trellis created by Judy Wood in her garden in Holiday Shores. Vertical gardening is a space saver and also keeps the fruits and vegetables from destruction by rabbits and bugs. variety of plants ordered, members divide their own plants and donate them to the event to bring a wide variety of plants to the event.

Meanwhile, after experiencing the drought conditions this year, the Garden Club members will continue to learn from guest speakers and visit local gardens and nurseries to keep abreast on how to keep our plants and trees healthy in the midst of these challenges thrown at us by Mother Nature.

“Some plants that are heavy water drinkers but didn’t get it this year simply died. They will have to be replaced.

Hydrangeas are a good example.

“Some plants were fooled in thinking it was Spring after they died at the end of the summer and then got some rain.

They tried to grow again amongst their dead branches as if they had gone through a winter season. Those are plants that should definitely not be pruned. We really don’t know which ones will make it through the “real” winter and which ones won’t.”

Whatever the outcome, you can bet that Wood, along with her fellow club members, will be sharing their stories and tips in the effort to create healthy gardens and overcome beautification challenges in the community.

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TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 13

Casey man puts old wood back to work CASEY (AP) — It’s good to touch the Green, Green Crafts of Home.

Which happens to be the name of a business in Casey that takes the well-worn and weathered wood of everything from old junk furniture to discarded wooden house siding and turns it into new tables, bookshelves, cabinets, wallhanging organizers and just about anything else you can think of.

The miraculous transfigurations are handled via the skilled laying on of hands by retired preacher Dan Smith.

He used to build houses for a living when he wasn’t corralling souls for God and believes the divine caressed his fingers to give him the talent for a new ministry that has consumed his latter years: recycling stuff so the resources of creation aren’t condemned to a landfill. By Tony Reid. (Decatur) Herald & Review.

And what he makes really does feel good to the touch, and it’s easy on the eye, too, as the time-smoothed and warm visual tones of old wood create much more pleasing sensations than the plastic and faux wood grain that so often seems to replace it. Smith, who hops around his little store with a speed that belies his 66 years, is eager to show off what he can do.

Worried about their

There’s an ancient wooden ironing board that now forms the narrow door on a 4 1/2-foot-tall pantry cupboard with sides made from a former closet door: price, $125. An old drop leaf table has dropped its leaves for fall and is now converted into a neat little desk: price, $80. An “S” curve dresser drawer front is upended to become the serpentine top for a 19-inch tall, 26inch-wide shelf unit: price, $90. A former chunk of waterbed headboard is now a stylish coat rack and knick-knack holder: price, $40.

Smith dances on, and the items keep coming: A 3-foot-long kitchen wall organizer is fashioned from the frame of an old door with a wood siding middle that has a holder for pens and pencils made from a metal flour sifter, while a bent vegetable scraper becomes a hanger for towels, etc.

Smith has adorned the middle with an erasable glass marker board fashioned out of a junk picture frame and, among many other features, there’s a rolling stream of jotting paper that uses the paper roll from an adding machine: organizer price, $100.

And he’s not shy of adding a dash of pure whimsy here and there, either. “I’ll show you this little table,” he says with pride.

See “wooD” on page 14

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Drugs Continued from Page 5 There are six required components that must be included on every drug facts label located on the back of all OTC products: active ingredients, the purpose, uses, warnings, dosage instructions – also sometimes referred to as directions - and inactive ingredients.

Active ingredients are what works in the body to relieve symptoms. “It’s important when comparing products to make sure that you aren’t taking two products with the same active ingredients at the same time,” Wilhelm emphasized.

The “Purpose” component of a drug facts label identifies the class of the drug. For example, whether it is an antacid, antihistamine, nasal decongestant, pain reliever, or fever reducer.

The “Uses” heading on the label identifies the only symptoms that the medicine is approved to treat.

The “Warning” section – usually one of the biggest sections on the label – lists all the potential drug warnings. This section warns patients about what other medicines, foods or situations the patient should avoid while taking the medicine.

Wilhelm pointed out that it’s especially important to review warnings on labels – even products that you may have used for years – because they can change. She provided an example of how warnings can change over time by explaining how the packaging and drug facts label on Tylenol (acetaminophen) has undergone several changes in the past few years.

According to a 2011 FDA drug safety document, “From 1998 to 2003, acetaminophen was the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, with 48 percent of acetaminophenrelated cases associated with accidental overdose.”

As a result, Tylenol has added a warning to its label about the potential of liver damage due to accidental overdose, but

Wood Continued from Page 13 And he’s not shy of adding a dash of pure whimsy here and there, either. “I’ll show you this little table,” he says with pride. “Somebody brought it to me, and it didn’t have any legs on it. Well, I had three legs for it but what do you do when you don’t have four? You put a crutch under it.”

And indeed he did, with leg No. 4 created from a child’s wooden crutch, as Smith just happened to have a couple standing idle and waiting for the chance to hop into a supporting role. “Somebody had been throwing a pair of them crutches away, and I got to thinking, ‘Hey, I could use those someday for something .’ “ he recalls.

Some of his raw material is found dumped by the side of the road, but he suffers a lot of it to come unto him.

if you’ve used Tylenol for say, 20 years, and didn’t read the label every time you use it, you might not be aware of the new warning.

“Dosage” instructions on a drug facts label tells consumers how often to use the medicine which is important with drugs such as acetaminophen due to its effect on the liver or ibuprofen which can be problematic on the stomach.

The “inactive ingredients” part of the label identifies the ingredients contained in the OTC product that don’t treat the symptoms. These could include things like preservatives, binders, dyes and flavorings. “This is really important for patients with allergies or intolerances,” Wilhelm said. “In particular, Celiac disease patients need to be aware of these.”

There’s many times an “other information” section is also included on drug facts labels although it is not required to be on OTC labels. This section contains information that the manufacturer deems is important such as how to store the product. Wilhelm pointed out that this area may also contain “sodium content” which is important to patients on sodium restrictions.

And don’t think that checking the back of products is only for OTC products. Wilhelm noted that you might be surprised to learn that your antiperspirant also has a drug facts label while your deodorant does not because it is considered a cosmetic.

“I don’t think that a lot of people think of an antiperspirant as a drug. Same goes for medicated shampoo and regular shampoo,” she added. “Medicated shampoo will have a drug facts label but regular shampoo won’t.”

The bottom line is that while many OTC products do an excellent job treating symptoms when self-treating minor ailments, it’s very important to know what you’re actually taking. And that means reading the label on the back of the OTC product each and every time you purchase or take it.

A great resource for additional information about OTC products is the CHPA Web site at www.chpa-info.org.

After five years of successfully resurrecting cool stuff from junk, his salvation gospel has spread far and wide and won many converts.

“I do get commissions,” he says. “A lot of people will leave me things and say, ‘Just surprise me, make me something.’ “ While he’s speaking, the shop door opens and in comes Mary Ellen Long, her husband, Jim, and two friends who have made the pilgrimage all the way from their homes in Terre Haute, Ind. They thought they’d make a day of it with a visit to Casey to see the town’s new claim to fame, a 55-foot-tall wind chime that is now officially the biggest in the world. And then they thought they’d grab a bite of lunch just as soon as they sampled the Green, Green, Crafts of Home. Again.

“It’s our third visit, and no one around this area does the stuff that he does,” said Mary Ellen Long, 73, nodding at Smith. “He can take anything and make

something out of it.”

Her husband collects baseball caps from all over the world and has commissioned the reformation maestro to construct a display case for them out of whatever he deems suitable. Smith has an easygoing rule on commissioned work that states if he gets it done and you don’t like it, you don’t have to buy it.

Jim Long, 77, looks around the store and doesn’t believe customer satisfaction will be a problem.

“I imagine if he gets it built, I’ll take it,” he says with a smile.

Smith said that Long might be the exception to a rule he’s discovered dictating that to have a prayer at making a decent sale, the customer should be female. “Women have one-third of the money in the world,” he explains with an almost-straight face. “And they control the other two-thirds.” He then eyes some of his bulkier furniture resuscitations and adds: “My very best customer is a woman driving a pickup truck.”

TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 15

Report: Disabled parents face loss of kids, bias

By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer Millions of Americans with disabilities have gained innumerable rights and opportunities since Congress passed landmark legislation on their behalf in 1990. And yet advocates say barriers and bias still abound when it comes to one basic human right: To be a parent.

A Kansas City, Mo., couple had their daughter taken into custody by the state two days after her birth because both parents were blind. A Chicago mother, because she is quadriplegic, endured an 18-month legal battle to keep custody of her young son. A California woman paid an advance fee to an adoption agency, then was told she might be unfit to adopt because she has cerebral palsy.

Such cases are found nationwide, according to a new report by the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency. The 445-page document is viewed by the disability-rights community as by far the most comprehensive ever on the topic — simultaneously an encyclopedic accounting of the status quo and an emotional plea for change.

“Parents with disabilities continue to be the only distinct community that has to fight to retain — and sometimes gain — custody of their own children,” said autism-rights activist Ari Ne’eman, a member of the council. “The need to correct this unfair bias could not be more urgent or clear.”

The U.S. legal system is not adequately protecting the rights of parents with disabilities, the report says, citing child welfare laws in most states allowing courts to determine that a parent is unfit on the basis of a disability. Terminating parental rights on such grounds “clearly violates” the intent of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, the report contends.

Child-welfare experts, responding to the report, said they shared its goals of expanding supports for disabled parents and striving to keep their families together. But they said removals of children from their parents — notably in cases of significant intellectual disabilities — are sometimes necessary even if

wrenching.

“At the end of the day, the child’s interest in having permanence and stability has to be the priority over the interests of their parents,” said Judith Schagrin, a veteran child-welfare administrator in Maryland.

In the bulk of difficult cases, ensuring vital support for disabled parents may be all that’s needed to eliminate risks or lessen problems, many advocates say.

The new report, titled “Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children,” estimates that 6.1 million U.S. children have disabled parents. It says these parents are more at risk than other parents of losing custody of their children, including removal rates as high as 80 percent for parents with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities.

Parents with all types of disabilities — physical or mental — are more likely to lose custody of their children after divorce, have more difficulty accessing assisted-reproductive treatments to bear children, and face significant barriers to adopting children, the report says.

One of the cases it details involved Erika Johnson and Blake Sinnett of Kansas City, whose 2-day-old daughter, Mikaela, was taken into custody

by Missouri authorities because both parents were blind. The action occurred after a hospital nurse reported that Johnson seemed to be having trouble with her first attempts at breast-feeding — which Johnson said happens with many first-time mothers.

During a 57-day legal battle, before the couple regained custody, they were allowed to visit Mikaela only two to three times a week, for an hour at a time, with a foster parent monitoring.

Since then, the family has been left in peace, said Johnson, who tries to offer support to other disabled parents facing similar challenges.

“Some parents just give up or don’t have the resources,” she said in a telephone interview.

A Windsor, Colo., woman with disabilities says the prejudice she encountered prompted her to go to law school, to better defend her own rights and

those of other disabled parents.

Carrie Ann Lucas uses a power wheelchair and is reliant on a ventilator due to a form of muscular dystrophy. She is a single mother of four adopted children, ages 22, 17, 13 and 11, all of whom also have disabilities, including two who use wheelchairs and three with intellectual disabilities.

Lucas says she’s been the subject of several investigations by child welfare officials that she attributed to bias linked to her disabilities.

“Each one of these referrals that gets accepted for investigation causes a great deal of stress, not only for me, but for my children,” Lucas wrote in an email.

She said the investigations dated back to her first efforts to adopt Heather, her biological niece, in 1999, after the girl was placed in foster care. At one point in a long procedural struggle, a social worker told a judge that “there was no way that handicapped woman could care for that handicapped child.”

“We are nearly 13 years later, and Heather is still doing very well,” Lucas wrote.

As a lawyer, Lucas has represented many other parents with disabilities.

“I have had parents with paralysis be threatened with removal of their children, deaf parents punished for using sign language with their hearing children, and blind parents told that a social worker can’t possibly fathom how they could parent a newborn,” Lucas said. “When families do need intervention, it is often because the services they need are not available outside a punitive social services case.”

The lead author of the new report, disability-rights lawyer Robyn Powell, says her goal was to challenge presumptions that disabled people can’t be effective parents.

“Of course there are going to be some parents with disabilities who would be lousy parents — that’s the same with parents without disabilities,” she said.

“If there is neglect, is it due to the disability? And can it be rectified by providing the necessary support?”

See “DISABLED” on Page 17

16 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

BPT photo

Take care of your hearing so you won’t miss any of the conversation.

Prevention is crucial for long-term hearing health (BPT) - Conversations going unheard, volume settings on electronics pushed to the max, constantly asking speakers to repeat themselves - these are all common signs of hearing loss.

Hearing loss affects one in five Americans age 12 and older, according to a Johns Hopkins study. It is also the third most common health problem in the United States - with millions of Americans missing out on the important sounds of their life.

Hearing loss can create troubles with relationships, workplace efficiency and can even develop into emotional issues for individuals who are unable to participate in or hear conversations.

Exposure to excessively loud noise is the main cause of hearing loss in the world today, and it affects all ages, not just the elderly. A variety of sources produce loud noises that can induce hearing loss, including machinery, electronics set at higher volumes, sporting events and concerts.

Knowing what causes hearing loss is the key to protecting your hearing. October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, designed to help educate Americans on how they can protect their hearing. Here are some tips to follow to keep hearing damage at a minimum so that you’re not missing out on any of life’s sounds.

• Wear hearing protection when around loud noises.

Remember to bring hearing protection with you when going to concerts or sporting events. Keep ear plugs handy in your car, your wallet or your purse in case you happen upon loud environments unexpectedly.

• Turn down the volume when you can. Keep music at a comfortable level on your mobile phone, in your car and on your home stereo.

• Walk away from loud noises whenever you are able.

You’ll know that noise levels are too high when it’s impossible to hold a normal conversation without shouting.

Prevention is key to good hearing health, but the good news is that everyone with hearing loss can be helped. The first step is to see an audiologist or physician who can help you determine the cause and extent of damage to your hearing. This expert will also help determine the best hearing instruments or the best medical procedure available for your condition, so you can comfortably interact with conversations again.

If you do receive a hearing aid as treatment for your condition, get the right power for this device so you can rest comfortably knowing that your device is working and you will never miss the sounds of life around you. Duracell’s new Easy Tab Hearing Aid Batteries with Duralock Power PreserveTechnology are easy to use. Guaranteed to stay at full power for up to four years in storage, you’ll know that these batteries will work anytime you pull them out of your utility drawer. To learn more visit Duracell.com.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of hearing loss, see an audiologist or physician for a diagnosis and treatment so you can once again hear the conversations happening and participate in socializing with friends and family.

TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 17

Disabled Continued from Page 15 Ella Callow, a lawyer with the National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families, said the report raises fundamental questions about America’s social priorities — given that state and federal laws value both the well-being of children and the rights of disabled people. The ultimate goal, she said, would be to promote both values by expanding support for disabled parents.

“If we really believe that families are the key unit on which society is built, then we have to enable these families to be healthy and functioning, even at public expense,” Callow said. “We know foster care isn’t a good place for children to be — they do better with their own parents, at their own home.”

Callow, who is based in Berkeley, Calif., said child welfare agencies need to provide more funding and specialized training with the aim of improving services for disabled parents.

“Child welfare is so incredibly underfunded, and the workers are so incredibly overwhelmed, their attitude is, ‘Really, you want my attention on this?”’ Callow said. “There’s a tendency to think these families aren’t the same as our families.

But these children, when they lose their families, have the same type of grief.”

Schagrin, the Maryland child-welfare official, said she found parts of the report troubling because they seemed to suggest children were sometimes removed from their families only on account of parental disabilities.

“That’s not why they are taken away,” she said. “They are taken away because the disability has continued to the point where there’s an episode of maltreatment or neglect.”

She said one recourse is to find members of the extended family — or other types of support — to help a parent with psychiatric or intellectual disabilities care for a child. But she said this approach could be taken too far, for example if a mother with intellectual disabilities was placed in a group home with other disabled parents.

“What kind of way is that for a child to live — being raised by a shift of caregivers in a mom-and-child group home?” she asked. “Is that really better than an open-adoption agreement?”

Andrea Bartolo, a senior consultant at the Child Welfare League of America, said there is no question that some disabled parents encounter discrimination in the child welfare

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system, “sometimes inadvertently, sometimes very overtly.”

Under current practices, Bartolo said, an expert assessment of a child’s home life and the possible provision of services to the disabled parents might occur only after the child has been removed and “the damage has been done.” Going forward, she hopes child-welfare agencies will try harder to provide support before a problem worsens, potentially reducing the need for foster-care placements.

The report praises a few states — including Idaho, Kansas and California — for modifying child-custody laws to the benefit of disabled parents. It urges Congress to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act to add protections for parents, and it calls on state lawmakers to eliminate disability as a distinct ground for terminating parental rights.

Christine Waters, an attorney with Legal Services of Central New York, based in Syracuse, worked with colleagues in 2008-09 in a bid to change the state law specifying that parental rights can be terminated if a parent has psychiatric problems or is intellectually impaired. Some legislators expressed support, Waters said, but the effort ultimately failed.

“Everything would look like it was going fine ... and then there would be some well-publicized, awful incident where someone who had a mental illness — without support — did something shocking and horrible, and a child was seriously harmed or died and we’d be back to square one,” Waters said.

Waters said some child-welfare officials resisted any change, wary of being held responsible if something went wrong.

The assumption that people with disabilities can’t parent “is bad for society and heartbreaking for families,” Waters said. “The easy thing is to terminate the parental rights. We need to do the right thing, not the easy thing.”

Disabled parents whose parenting ability comes into question often are placed at a disadvantage by parenting assessments that are inappropriate or unfair, the report says.

It calls for better research to improve assessment standards and gain more knowledge about how various disabilities affect the ability to be an effective parent.

One topic worth further study, it said, is “parentification” — the phenomenon in which children of disabled parents take on various caregiving responsibilities, even at a young age.

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TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 19

BPT photo

The right packaging for prescriptions can prevent seniors from asking, “Did I take my pills today?”

Simplified prescription packaging has advantages (BPT) - “Drugs do not work in patients who do not take them,” said former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.

This simple statement points to one of largest and most serious health problems in the United States. Data suggests that roughly half of the 3 billion prescriptions filled each year in America are not taken correctly resulting in increased hospitalizations and admissions to nursing homes, and billions of dollars in avoidable health care costs.

According to experts, the causes of poor medication adherence vary. Some blame it on high out-of-pocket costs for medications; others blame it on concerns over potential side effects.

However, all experts agree that confusion and general forgetfulness are primary contributors to medications being taken incorrectly.

Ian Salditch, CEO of Medicine-OnTime thinks the solution to adherence comes down to something quite simple

- better packaging. “In my view, dispensing multiple different medications in a series of very similar little containers is a recipe for mistakes,” he says.

“Then we wrap each little container with its own unique set of little printed directions, each with varying dosages and times. It’s no wonder we so often get it wrong.”

There are a variety of solutions aimed at improving adherence from hi-tech monitoring systems to consumer financial incentives. Some offer promise. But, Salditch has focused on customized packaging of multiple medications.

His company developed a lower-tech common sense approach that offers a smarter way for people to take multiple medications. Using Medicine-OnTime, pharmacists sort and organize medications into personalized pill cups labeled with the day, date and time to take them. Pharmacists provide all the pill cups to the patient organized

into colorful calendar cards. It’s convenient, easy-to-use and, most importantly, proven effective to help people maintain independence and enjoy better health.

In addition to free trials and background information, the company’s website, sortmymeds.com, offers consumers the ability to find the closest pharmacy offering the Medicine-OnTime service. There are 250 pharmacies around the country participating in the program which has been used to fill more than 50 million prescriptions.

Additional pharmacies will be added as the program grows in popularity.

“This website is part of our broader efforts aimed at helping people maintain their independence and enjoy better health,” Salditch says. “We encourage consumers to ask their pharmacists if they offer Medicine-On-Time, as it will answer the age old question of, ‘Did I take my pills?’”

20 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

BPT photo

Americans 50 and over account for 62 percent of new car sales.

Older drivers and new cars (BPT) - You’ve spent a lifetime carefully saving your dollars and cents for important life moments - college tuition, a new house and retirement. But as you age, it’s more important than ever to make smart spending and lifestyle decisions.

This doesn’t mean that you have to resign yourself to driving a vehicle that was new when you opened your first 401(k) account, though.

In fact, people age 50 and older now account for 62 percent of buyers of new vehicles sold in the U.S., according to a study from AARP and J.D. Power.

If you plan on driving in style after you retire, here are some smart spending and lifestyle tips to help put you behind the wheel of the right ride.

It’s all in the timing You may already know that the end of the month - any month - is a better time to go car shopping than the beginning or even middle. That’s because sales people are eager to sell as many vehicles as possible before the month ends in order to qualify for bonuses from manufacturers.

The same principle is in play at the end of the year - times five. Reducing inventory at the end of the year is essential for dealers to increase their revenue, and the final quarter of the year is their last chance to secure a spot in the black for

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the year. Dealers are also challenged to keep your attention at a time when many people are being bombarded with sales messages while they holiday shop.

Timing your purchase for the end of the year, or the end of a month, can help ensure you find the best deals available.

Safety pays You’ve been working hard to make good investments your entire life, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that following safe driving practices is one investment that will pay off in the long run. In addition to helping to keep you and your car safe, safe driving insurance discounts can add up quickly.

Additionally, in some states, taking a driver improvement course may help lower your insurance rates. AARP Driver Safety offers a course specifically designed to help drivers 50 and older refresh their driving skills. Taking a course can also help you manage health-related changes that are a natural part of the aging process. To find an AARP Driver Safety classroom course near you, visit www.aarp.org/drive, call 888-227-7669, or enroll in an online course - available in both English and Spanish. Participants may be eligible for a multiyear insurance discount upon completion of the course. Other restrictions may apply so they should consult their insurance agent for details.

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TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 21

Boomerang kids: When your empty nest fills up again (BPT) - With a slowly growing economy and a still sluggish job market, there has been a continued increase in children moving back home after having lived independently on their own.

These so called “boomerang kids” are popping up more frequently and when this situation is managed improperly, it can cause serious tension in a family.

However, many parents are viewing this “boomerang” as an opportunity. It can allow youth to begin saving money for the future, continue a job search or to get out of debt, but only when expectations are clear and roles are known.

Patrick Egan, chief retirement spokesperson for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans says, “This is not necessarily the troubling scenario it was once thought to be and this can actually be a very productive time for both children and parents if it’s handled well. When children move back home a closer bond can form between young adults and their parents, and this can lead to the young adults receiving financial, practical and emotional support from their parents.”

In May, sociologists Karen L. Fingerman and Frank F. Furstenburg reported that “in 1988 less than half of parents gave advice to a grown child in the past month, and fewer than one in three had provided any hands-on help. Recent data show that nearly 90 percent of parents give advice and 70 percent provide some type of practical assistance every month.”

This type of increased financial codependence between parent and child can lead to strain when living together again after a separation. If you are a parent with a young adult at home, it is important to communicate about expectations and responsibilities and to help your child build a solid financial foundation for their future.

Egan says reviewing these tips can smooth the transition and can guide both the child and parent through a tough time: 1. Set expectations Discuss with your child how much he/she should contribute to household

BPT photo

It’s not uncommon for children and parents to reunite later in life. expenses and tasks. A key to making the transition easy on everyone is having clear expectations for everyone involved both financially and otherwise.

2. Review your insurance and taxes (and theirs) Save time and money by seeing if your boomerang child is covered by your health and/or car insurance. Also see if you are able to claim your child as a dependent.

3. Consider having them “pay rent” Consider having your child pay rent or at least a token amount for living expenses. This gets the child into the habit of paying a monthly amount. Or have a set amount of money go into a saving account monthly that the child could later use for a down payment on a house or car.

4. Help them keep busy While waiting to get hired, your child could continue to expand their resume.

For example, remind them to consider

volunteering, joining a professional organization, connecting with a networking group or participating in an internship, even if it’s unpaid.

5. Focus on your own finances first You may be tempted to use retirement dollars toward financial assistance for your child, but don’t derail your own financial plans. Make sure your savings and retirement plans remain intact. Not sacrificing your own livelihood and continuing to invest in important options like life insurance, disability income insurance and longterm care insurance is critical to maintaining your overall financial health.

Though you may not have planned on it, helping support your child after they’ve left home can be a springboard toward a healthy financial future for them.

Following these tips can help ensure that the boomerang experience remains positive and the relationship remains strong.

22 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

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TheIntelligencer.com - January, 2013 - Mature Lifestyles - 23

Gender differences play role in long-term care perceptions (BPT) - Apparently “in sickness and in health” can mean different things to men and women. As the population ages and the need for extended health care increases, a recent nationwide omnibus survey of 1,005 American adults shows that men and women approach the issue of long-term care planning and insurance from different perspectives.

Those differences, according to the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans survey, could have a significant impact on their retirement years - and their family relationships.

Men vs. women With women living longer than men, there should be some concern about who will actually foot the bill of the costs should a woman require long-term care. With married couples, the woman is more likely to need long-term care she will likely care for her husband during his final days, and then may rely on long-term care herself since she is likely to outlive him.

Despite that, according to Thrivent Financial’s survey, males seem more versed in the topic of long-term care insurance than females. The survey indicated that men are more likely than women to own or plan to buy long-term care insurance. For example: * 12 percent of females surveyed currently own long-term care insurance. * 19 percent of males surveyed currently own long-term care insurance. * 60 percent of females don’t intend to buy long-term care insurance in the future. * 53 percent of men don’t intend to buy long-term care insurance in the future. * 27 percent of both men and women surveyed plan to purchase long-term care insurance in the future.

In short, men seem to be coming around to the necessity of preparing for long-term care, while women appear to be slower to acknowledge the need.

The sandwich generation issue: stuck in the middle - but continuing to work?

When it comes to providing care, the differences between he sexes continue. When asked how they would care for both their children and one or both of their parents or another loved one at the same time, male and female respondents had differing opinions. * Twenty-six percent of women reported they would quit their job to be the primary caregiver for a loved one should the need arise. * Only 14 percent of men said they would consider that option. * Thirty-three percent of men said they would rely on the savings and assets of those needing care and continue working. * Only 21 percent of women would rely on the savings and assets of those needing care and continue working.

And what will you do in retirement?

Long-term care in retirement is an important issue fac-

ing both men and women but it is often overlooked during the retirement planning process. According to Thrivent Financial’s survey: * Only 10 percent of women considered the possibility of caring for someone else while retired. * Only 6 percent of men considered the possibility of caring for someone else while retired.

In contrast, 43 percent of women and 41 percent of men plan to retire fully and devote their time to travel, philanthropy and/or hobbies. Unfortunately, many don’t stop to consider the impact to those plans should the need for extended care arise. What will be given up to pay the expenses? Are family members trained to provide the type of needed health care? Who is willing to alter plans when push comes to shove?

“The disconnect between our expectations for a long, healthy and independent life and the reality of the chances of needing long-term care is staggering,” says Dean Anderson, product leader at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “Planning ahead is critical for both men and women, given the potential the consequences to the emotional, physical and financial well-being of your family.”

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24 - Mature Lifestyles - January, 2013 - TheIntelligencer.com

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