ISI April May 2016 by Montana Senior News

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Sense of discovery lures Leo Hennessy to explore Idaho trails

Leo Hennessy and his Corgi, Forest, explore Leslie Gulch near Boise. [Photo courtesy of Leo Hennessy]

By Dianna Troyer Even in a lifetime, Leo Hennessy realizes with a twinge of remorse he will never see Idaho’s entire outdoor splendor. But he’s giving it his best shot anyway. Since moving to Boise 25 years ago from North Dakota, Leo has worked for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. “There are so many places to go, so I try not to do the same trip twice,” says Leo, 59, who manages the state’s non-motorized trail system and oversees the rental and maintenance of the Idaho City Yurts and Trails program. Leo not only hikes in postcard perfect scenery for work, he also explores the Idaho outdoors for pleasure after clocking out of his day job. Wanting to showcase the state’s most scenic and serene places, Leo and friends founded the Idaho Outdoors Yahoo Group in 2001. “Since then we’ve done countless trips,” says Leo. He estimates about 2,000 people have logged on to the website with about half of them being 50 years old or older and still active. Many who log onto the site use it to get ideas for trips to take. “One of the best trip planners is a 65-year-old retiree,” says Leo. “For all of us, it feels great to be physically active. Wherever we go, there’s a thrill of being totally immersed in what we’re doing.” Depending on the time of year, the group has gone mountain biking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, canyoneering, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. “We do it all,” says Leo. Some meeting groups on the Internet specialize in one activity such as hiking or mountain biking or skiing. “We tend to do some more difficult and complex multi-day or weeklong trips,” says Leo. “Each person contributes to the effort, so we rely on each other to bring certain things. It’s worked well.” Some of the most memorable trips have been off trail. “We’ve hiked over a mountain pass in the Sawtooths and explored canyons in the Owyhee Desert. In certain canyons, you think of the area’s amazing history and realize only a handful of people have probably been there in the past 100 years. There’s always a sense of discovery and anticipation, wondering what’s around the next bend. We’ve had some mind-blowing experiences.” Some of the more complex, extreme trips are not for everyone because occasionally there are plenty of imperfections even in an Idaho paradise. “In some places in a canyon, you’re jumping from rock to rock because there’s no trail,” he says. “There can be poison ivy, snakes, and drenching unpredicted afternoon thunderstorms. But we know what we’re doing and mitigate the risks.” Due to weather, Leo and others don’t plan their trips too far in advance. “We’re flexible,” says Leo. “Each trip has been rewarding on its own. During the past decade through our trips, we’ve all made some new and long-lasting friendships.” The group’s website may be found at groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ idahooutdoors/info. ISI

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Did You Know These Interesting Facts About Idaho?

By Bernice Karnop In the convoluted terrain of Idaho, one can access the great outdoors, literally, by just stepping out the door. We’ve picked a few Idaho facts that grabbed our interest and that we hope will interest our readers as well. • The Gem State produces 72 different types of precious and semi-precious stones. Some are found only in Idaho. • Idaho’s state gemstone is the star garnet. • One of the largest diamonds in the world was found near McCall. It was nearly 20 carats. • The main crop grown in Idaho’s Gem Valley is potatoes. • Idaho’s state flower is a fragrant posy with four white petals called syringa (Philadelphia lewisii). Motorists may notice it along the roadways as a flowering shrub that grows up to 12 feet tall. The blossoms are similar to mock orange and grow at the ends of short, leafy branches. • Idaho City, a mining boomtown, was the largest town in the Pacific Northwest for a time in the 1860s. • Lava Hot Springs was a sacred gathering place for the Bannock and Shoshoni tribes. • Highway 12 follows the Lewis and Clark Trail along the Lochsa (say “lock saw”) River and the Clearwater River until they merge with the Snake and continue to the Columbia River and then on to the Pacific Ocean. • The area around Lewiston is known as Idaho’s Banana Belt. In a state scattered with high mountain peaks, Lewiston’s elevation is only 734 feet. ISI

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 3

Idaho Senior Independent A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3341 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3341 208-318-0310 • Toll Free: 1-866-360-5683 Fax: 406-761-8358 www.idahoseniorindependent.com E-mail: idahoseniorind@bresnan.net

Private foundations are the fabric of America. Medical research has made blood typing, genetic research, penicillin, yellow fever vaccine, kidney transplants, and many more things practical for the first time. This also applies to science in America: astronomers, discoveries of the universe. Consider what donors, who give to schools, are doing and have done to break the cycles of poverty and human failure more than welfare ever could. This brings to mind: Medicare, socialism, distribution, and production by the government. This is a question of how private funding compares to government funding. The former is superior in its ability to be individualized and pluralistic. What do I mean by this? Many of the world’s charitable causes – alcoholics anonymous, mentoring programs, and college dropout programs – all rely heavily on one-to-one accountability where more information is available when a person knows with whom they are working. By creating personal transactions, they use the power of relationships to change behavior. Government programs by necessity focus on

the crowd. Far from having different approaches and rules for different kinds of people, they are about a uniform approach being applied to all participants. Although these programs can be praised for being consistent, one-size-fits-all standardization is not really how humans thrive. Sally Howard Ovid

Which Are Safer – Sugars Or Artificial Sweeteners?

Your February-March issue includes an article (Are Artificial Sweeteners Good For You? page 20) that cites as absolute facts a number of unsubstantiated, antiquated, or otherwise misleading criticisms of sucralose and other artificial sweeteners. It omits the fact that most respected sources, including the FDA, National Cancer Institute, and the Mayo Clinic, have concluded that sucralose is safe... or at least as safe as any other material we ingest. Bruce Bradberry Moscow ISI

You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you. If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. - Joseph Campbell

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano Lisa Gebo Jonathan Rimmel Sherrie Smith

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The Idaho Senior Independent is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October, and December by Barrett-Whitman, 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Idaho. The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Idaho Senior Independent is written to serve Idaho’s mature population of all ages. Readers are encouraged to contribute interesting material. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles, and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. All copy appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent is protected by copyright and may be reprinted only with the written permission of the publisher. Advertising copy should be received or space reserved by the 5th of the month preceding the month of publication.

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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Scribner; New York, 2014 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty The story is in the details, and Idaho author Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See, is built on intricate details – of sounds, smells, sights, sensations, perceptions, impressions – and of these sound is the most powerful. Doerr’s sentences are so exquisitely and delicately constructed that you fear they may break – like the model village constructed for Marie-Laure by her father. Yet in that delicate construction is hidden power, strength, metaphor, and realism. Reading All the Light We Cannot See is like staring at a close-up photograph – not quite pixilated, but almost. It is a picture of a girl and a boy and a pretty blue stone in the foreground with soft, but important, details in the background. Amazingly, Doerr does not once zoom out to show the full picture but still manages to tell the big story of France and Germany during World War II. Occasionally a novel is written that is both exceptionally literary and intensely readable. All the Light We Cannot See is one of those books. I often read a novel that I hate to have end. I seldom read a book that I want to begin again the minute I

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finish the last page. Anthony Doerr’s novel is that sort of book. The year is 1934. First, there is the girl living with her father in Paris. Marie-Laure LeBlanc is sixyears-old when she loses her sight to congenital cataracts. “What is blindness? Where there should be a wall, her hands find nothing…cars growl in the street; leaves whisper…blood rustles through her inner ears.” Her life is forever transformed. Then there is the boy, an orphan living in the desolate mining town in Germany. Werner Pfennig is eightyears-old when he manages to repair a broken radio from the trash heap. “He blinks; he has to swallow back tears. The parlor looks the same… Yet now there is music.” His life is transformed. And there is the stone, “a blue stone [plucked] from a dry riverbed because…it was pretty.” The stone turns out to be a priceless diamond, the Sea of Flames, and it is locked away in the Paris museum where it has been for 196 years. The story is that the stone carries a curse or a blessing. Marie-Laure learns to deal with her handicap by counting the steps of familiar places. Her father builds a miniature of their Paris neighborhood and she studies it until she can find her way to the museum and back. She studies Braille and eventually discovers the freeing joy of reading. She makes friends of the scientists in the museum where her father is the locksmith. Her life is not perfect, but she is happy, safe, and loved. After he repaired the broken radio, a completely new world opened up for Werner. A world beyond the dirty mining town where he was born, orphaned, and seemingly destined to die. He discovers a world of music, of science, of light, and of hope. He develops his unique mechanical abilities and he determines to escape. He is loved and cared for, but he is restless, yearning for more. The year is 1940. “No one laughs at the Hitler Youth now.” In fact, it might be Werner’s way out. Although he is an orphan, his eyes are brilliantly blue and his hair so blonde it’s almost white. If he can be accepted into the National Political Institutes of Education, he might have a chance to study science, to enter the world he has dreamed. “Werner is succeeding. He is being loyal. He is being what everybody agrees is good. And yet every time he wakes and buttons his tunic, he feels he is betraying something.” Something is going on in Paris in the museum; hardly anyone visits anymore, but there is frantic activity. Then one night her father stuffs a few of their belongings

and a treasure rescued from the museum into their knapsacks and then leads his blind daughter to the train station. “Parisians continue to press through the gates… no trains have arrived or departed in four hours.” Like so many others, Marie-Laure and her father are fleeing the German invasion. No trains come so they begin walking. Walking along unfamiliar roads toward an unfamiliar sanctuary. Marie-Laure’s reclusive uncle, “who is seventy-six percent crazy” lives in Saint-Malo, a small town on the Brittany coast. He is their last resort. Marie is thrown into a world of uncertainty, of strangers who may not be trustworthy. She has to learn about the world around her all over again. So her father builds her a new miniature. “Twenty-two paces to the intersection with the rue d’ Entrées. Forty more to the little gate. Nine steps down and she’s on the sand and the twenty thousand sounds of the ocean engulf her.” She comes to love the sounds of the ocean. Her father goes away, but Marie forms a relationship with her crazy uncle who is not so much crazy as he is frightened and lost. He shows her a side of himself nobody else knows. She makes friends with the women in this town by the sea and finds her way to the bakery alone. “Twenty-two paces down the rue Vauborel. Then right for sixteen storm drains…one ordinary loaf, please.” But nothing is ordinary anymore. She is young, but not a child, and always she is hopeful. Because he is smart, because he can figure out things, Werner is given special assignments. At first, those assignments keep him safely away from Russia and other places where soldiers are being killed. As the war goes on things change. Werner’s unique talent is needed everywhere. On paper, he ages two years and is sent out with the special unit. “It strikes Werner just then as wondrously futile to build splendid buildings, to make music, to sing songs… why bother to make music when the silence and the wind are so much larger?” Werner’s intelligence helped him escape the mines and led him out into the world. Although none of it is what he expected, he knows he can’t turn back. “That is how things are…in this army, in this world, they do as they’re told, they get scared, they move about with only themselves in mind. Name me someone who does not.” The year is 1944. “D-day was two months ago.” The Americans will be in Saint-Malo soon, but what will that mean? “Marie-Laure LeBlanc stands alone in her bedroom smelling a leaflet she cannot read.” Beneath the lobby of the Hotel of Bees in a cellar “hacked out of the bedrock…Werner Pfennig sits on a folding chair…down here Werner hears only the radio voices of his childhood.” In the kitchen of Number 4 rue Vauborel, “a purple fringe flutters around von Rumpel’s vision.” He needs to find the stone. “Clamp it to his heart…he will be saved.” In the last hours of the German occupation of France, three people come together in Saint-Malo. Anthony Doerr authored several prize-winning short story collections and novels before he completed his Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See. He lives in Boise with his wife and two sons. ISI

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There is no escape from the trials and tribulations we face as we go about our daily lives. Some are likely, some are complete surprises, and they can happen when we are a child or an adult. There are also the inevitable events that we all must face – our own or a loved one’s mortality – sometimes with warning and but also unexpectedly. And of course, it’s not unusual that these events happen to us, because they will. The important issue is how we respond and grow when faced with them. How will we handle our losses and sorrows? This issue’s Remember When winner is Phyl-

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 5

lis Saxton of Meridian, whose reflection, Nobody Tells You About The Five-Letter Words!, sensitively considers those inevitable life changes that we all will face. Thank you, Phyllis, for your heartfelt article with so many good ideas that can help us get through life’s challenges. Remember When contains our readers’ personal reflections and contributions describing fictional or non-fictional accounts from the “Good ol’ Days” or reflections on life in general. Contributions may be stories, letters, artwork, poetry, etc. Photos may be included.

Each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent features the contribution deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry will receive a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our June/July 2016 issue. Mail your correspondence to Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to idahoseniorind@ bresnan.net; or call 1-866-360-5683 or 208-3180310. Visit us online at idahoseniorindependent. com.

They Never Tell You About the Five-Letter Words! for over thirty-five years and raising a large family with him leaves me struggling to cope with that one. But cope I must. The daily reminders are also difficult. For example, the senses: touch – brushing against his old coat as I close a closet door; sound – how he loved the sound of his crowing banty rooster; the sight of glorious Idaho sunsets that he never took for granted; the smell of his freshly brewing coffee – anytime; and taste – of what else but his favorite ice cream! I know I will encounter many five-letter words as time passes, and brave is one of them! I understand that pain is a necessary part of the healing. As I ponder how to speed up this process, I recall again Mother’s methods. “When you fall down, don’t just sit there! Get up!” she would say. And we did! And so, today I am starting a new list of fiveletter words, but positive ones that will direct me on a path of rejuvenation. The first is value and coming to an understanding of my personal worth, a portion of which I feel was diminished by the loss of my lifelong partner. It has been strange to feel vulnerable and to ques-

tion my decisions when I have always been a confident and self-assured person. As the person who handled family finances and participated in farm decisions, I was sure this would not happen to me, but I was wrong. Although this is not unusual, I must work hard to move forward confidently. Adapt is the next word – learning to enjoy change and doing things alone. Eating in a restaurant or going to a movie by myself is okay! Learning to like my own company – I really can entertain myself! Another good word is relax – easier said than done, but I know I can do it!

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By Phyllis Saxton, Meridian When I was small, a bar of soap liberally applied to the mouth by Mother quickly followed any use of four-letter words. Now many years later as my life has changed, I am learning about fiveletter words. The soap is gone, as is Mother, but the affect from these words is just as severe and perhaps more memorable. Prompting me is that ugly word widow. Although dramatically associated with a lovely operetta and a poisonous black arachnid with a red hourglass on its belly, I have come to dislike this word. But here it is… every hour of the day and I am stuck with it! I belong now to the ranks of a group no one looks forward to joining. This society requires no dues, does not hold meetings, and certainly has no respect for age, religion, wealth, or political persuasion. And its members are legion. Death is of course, the most dreaded five-letter word of all. Although, everyone knows that it is the inevitable – the grand finale – we still deny it. Alone is also on this blacklist and a companion to widow. This word was indescribably foreign to me. Living with a fun loving, caring, and loyal friend

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Common sense will insure that I keep things in perspective and behave rationally despite the emotional turmoil. And of course, that old friend humor is good to have around to avoid dwelling on the unpleasant

Creston, B.C., a fun town for a short vacation, plus the Selkirk Loop

8 Hotels in the heart of the Canadian Rockies

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Article By Jack McNeel Photos By Jackie McNeel We don’t normally think of going north into Canada to find extraordinary orchards and vegetable gardens – that’s what California and Arizona do, right? But, orchards, vineyards, and massive gardens fill the Creston Valley of British Columbia, with innumerable roadside stands offering a wide selection of produce all grown within minutes of the stand and often right at the stand. One stand had nearly 25 different varieties of squash, a huge selection of peppers – big peppers, little peppers, peppers of various colors – plus countless other vegetables. It would be difficult to find such a variety in border states like Idaho and Montana. Cherries are abundant in the early summer and peaches, plums, apricots, and apples fill the bins in the fall. Corn, tomatoes, and many other vegetables compete for space as well. Vineyards and wineries invite travelers to stop and sample their local wine from local grapes, and you will probably leave with a bottle or two. You can sign on to a wine and art tour to tease your palate, please your eyes, and satisfy your hunger. Visit with vintners and artists to learn their methods and what drives their creativity. It will take you several days to sample the various restaurants – places like the Skimmerhorn Bistro and Blueberry Patch Country Kitchen. We

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enjoyed dinner one evening at Jimmy’s Pub & Grill in downtown Creston, dining outdoors on and outstanding Greek steak and spinach flour wrap along with a glass of wine – not normal pub fare

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by any means. Another interesting tour is the Columbia Brewery, home to Kokanee Beer, popular in Canada and the U.S. Their ads invite you to the brewery to see how they make their beer, but also warn, “This is

Sasquatch country... but the Columbia Brewery is well-protected so you and your fellow visitors should be safe.” They remind you to bring your cameras, “just in case. It’s happened before!” Another favorite stop is the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, just west of town, which offers a visitor center plus short and long walks through marshlands with abundant bird life and the possibility of seeing everything from turtles and skunks to moose. Some trails are boardwalks and one leads to a three-story bird watching platform. Guided canoe trips through the area are another opportunity. Hikers will find a number of trails in the area, and several bicycle routes add another way to see the countryside. While you are in the area, plan to add a day or two and drive the International Selkirk Loop. From Creston you can head west over the densely timbered slopes of Kootenay Pass to Salmo where the loop turns north to Ymir which once was a mining town of 10,000 with 13 motels. It’s now a small, quiet little town of about 250 but worth a stop. A rest stop just beyond offers views of a spectacular waterfall plus picnic tables – a perfect place to enjoy the fruit you brought from Creston. Then continue northward to Nelson, a much larger city (population 9,200) that overlooks Kootenay Lake.

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and to maintain perspective. Finally ahead is where I must move to resume my life, which may be different but I will look forward to it and not be afraid. ISI

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Escape to Logan, Utah a few degrees cooler!

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90 minutes north of Salt Lake City • On the edge of Wasatch Cache National Forest

• Old Lyric Repertory Theatre season

• Internationally renowned Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre

• Farmers Markets

• Free concerts Mon-Fri

• Festivals • So much more

1-800-882-4433 | explorelogan.com This former mining and logging town dates to the 1800s and features more than 350 heritage buildings plus many shops – a great little city to spend a day or two. Continuing northward, you will pass the magnificent Blaylock Mansion, now a B&B, and on to Ainsworth Hot Springs where you can soak and swim in their beautiful pools. Then stay on the main highway to Balfour and enjoy the free ferry ride across the northern end of Kootenay Lake to the eastern shore. The 30-minute ride is billed as “the longest free ferry ride in the world.” As you turn south near Crawford Bay, be sure to stop and peruse the creations of numerous artisans – potters, blacksmiths, weavers, glass

blowers, and more. Southward the road twists and turns through beautiful dense forests and cars generally stay under 45 mph. It’s been called B.C.’s best motorcycle ride. As you continue southward, make sure you have time to stop and tour the Glass House. Built from more than 500,000 embalming bottles, it was started in 1952 as the home of a retired funeral worker. Located on a rock shelf overlooking Kootenay Lake, it is highly unusual and in a spectacular location. You will then arrive back in Creston, the “Valley of Produce” and an opportunity to stock up on fruits and produce before returning home.

Creston is ideal for a weekend vacation or longer, and it is only eight miles from the border crossing at Porthill, Idaho – just a 2.5-hour drive north from Coeur d’Alene. During the summer months, it’s advisable to make reservations. To plan for what can be one of the most enjoyable and scenic vacations you will ever take, visit crestonvalleybc.com or call the Chamber of Commerce at 250-425-4342. Log on to discovernelson.com for information about Nelson and that portion of the Selkirk Loop. And of course, a thorough Internet search will reveal the endless opportunities available to you in this spectacular region. ISI

River of Bats Wows Austin Visitors By Liz Larcom Few wildlife spectacles happen in downtown America. But in Austin, Texas, hundreds of humans gather each evening to gaze on the largest urban bat colony in the world, as the Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their daytime roost. Within half an hour of sunset, the million and a half winged creatures begin to stream from their colony, eventually spreading across the countryside where they will voraciously dine on 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects before dawn. Visitors and residents have plenty of opportunity to stand agog looking at Austin’s bats. Migration from central Mexico brings them north in late March, and they don’t begin to scatter from their nursery until well into September. Center of attention for the bats, and therefore the humans, is the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, ten blocks from the state capitol building. Apparently the spaces underneath look like the perfect place to raise a bat family, because the female bats pile in, roosting in densities of 400 to 500 bats per square foot. (Males roost in smaller colonies elsewhere.) Not that the Texas highway department intended to welcome bats when it rehabilitated the bridge in 1980. No, they just happened to create a multitude of bat-perfect crevices as a byproduct of adding elements such as expansion and contraction joints. Nevertheless, the bats knew prime real estate when they echolocated it, and within three years the population skyrocketed to the impressive numbers it hosts now. While the humans gather above, the pregnant female bats beneath the bridge progress through the colony’s annual birthing cycle. At each step of the way, the female will fuel herself and the “pup” she will bear by catching insects such as moths, beetles, and flying ants on the wing. By the time she delivers her single pup in early June, the pup’s weight will amount to a third of its mother’s. In human proportions, bearing such a big pup would be the equivalent of a 120-pound mother bearing a 40-pound baby. At this point, the bat mother must add nursing her pup to her daily schedule, both before and after her nightlong foraging excursion. Amazingly, by the time she weans the youngster in August,

A crowd begins to gather to watch the mass exit of Mexican free-tailed bats from their colony under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Within a half hour of nightfall, bats will stream like a river from this largest urban bat colony in the world. (Photo by Craig Larcom)

she will be producing as much as a quarter of her bodyweight in milk each 24 hours. August also marks peak numbers for the bats as the pups take to the air with their mothers. Come October, many free-tails have moved from the bridge altogether and later in the month will begin migrating to Mexico on their exceptionally long wings. The 100,000 folks who come each year to see the bats have little trouble finding them, unless perhaps they didn’t allow time to find a parking space. A phone call to the Bat Hotline at 512327-9721, extension 16, forecasts the time the bats will make their mass exit each night. Viewing options abound. Landlubbers can pick between the south side of the Congress Avenue Bridge and the Austin Statesman-Observer’s Bat Observation Center, at the bridge’s southeast corner. On the bridge, visitors can see the stream

of bats for more distance, light permitting, but they will have heavy traffic behind them, and may need to stake out a space near the middle an hour before the bats depart. Those who go to the Bat Observation Center will find a grassy slope to stand or sit on, with a good view of the bats, though the trees at the edge of Lady Bird Lake will block the view of the stream as it moves farther to the east. Getting beyond these cheaper choices, visitors could also choose from Viator’s evening Segway tours, an hour afloat with Capital Cruises or Lonestar Riverboat Cruises, or a kayaking trip from Live Love Paddle. Whew! When it comes to an over-the-top batty evening, no city can compete with Austin. ISI

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The National Park Service – with 22,000 employees and more than 220,000 volunteers – turns 100 years old in 2016. National Park Week is April 16-24, a president-proclaimed celebration of our national heritage. In 2015, more than 300 million recreation visits were made to our National Parks. The centennial will kick off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks and engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs. This month’s quiz was submitted by Gary Bores of Boise to test your knowledge of America’s greatest treasures, our National Parks. Thank you and congratulations to Gary, winner of the special $50 cash prize. Thank you to all who participated in our Famous Relatives of Famous People quiz in the February/March 2016 issue. The winner of the $25 prize for submitting the correct answers is Susie Taylor of Glenns Ferry. Congratulations, Susie!

Thank you also to the many people who tracked down the baker’s dozen Easter eggs that we hid throughout the February/March 2016 issue. The winner drawn from the many correct answers submitted is Ron Diekemper or Arimo. Thank you, Ron! Two $25 cash prizes are normally awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Idaho Senior Independent. One prize goes to the person who submits the winning answers to the featured quiz from the previous issue. The second prize goes to the person who submits the entry that our staff selects as the featured quiz or puzzle in the “Contest Corner” for this issue. Be creative and send us some good, fun, and interesting puzzles! Please mail your entries to the Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3343, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to idahoseniorind@bresnan.net by May 7, 2016 for our June/July 2016 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website at idahoseniorindependent.com.

National Parks Trivia – Celebrating Our Nation’s Treasures Submitted by Gary Bores, Boise This month’s quiz was created to focus your attention on our national parks, to test what you might already know, and to stimulate you to research the facts you don’t know in order to complete the quiz. Below are 25 numbered clues related to particular national parks. Match the lettered name of the park to the numbered clue and send them to us. Mail or email is fine. You may win the $25 cash prize. Good luck! 1. 1928 Bill proposing this park originally used another name to avoid a negative impression. 2. Great White Throne stands out. 3. Hiding place for the Seminole. 4. A 16-year-old ranch hand was first thoroughly to explore this park’s complex maze. 5. The Bluegrass State. 6. Roosevelt elk roam here. 7. America’s most visited national park. 8. The Colorado River runs through it. 9. Going-to-the-Sun road runs across it. 10. America’s first national park.

11. Includes an arch named for an outlaw. 12. This park’s name means “House of the Sun.” 13. Bike one way, ride scenic railway back. 14. Smallest national park by area. 15. Benjamin Franklin fought to include area T as part of U.S. in a certain treaty. 16. Eminent domain secured land for this park. 17. First park to preserve works of man. 18. Javelinas inhabit this park. 19. “Cowboy of the Dakotas” considered nation’s conservation leader. 20. America’s first sunrise seen here. 21. French trappers named this park after part of female anatomy. 22. Basque sheepherders used area in 1800s and 1900s. 23. El Capitan is located here. 24. Sacred site of Klamath people. 25. Its name means “The High One.” A. Denali B. Grand Canyon C. Hot Springs

D. Yosemite E. Mesa Verde F. Everglades G. Haleakala H. Mammoth Cave I. Acadia J. Isle Royale K. Glacier L. Great Basin M. Carlsbad Caverns N. Theodore Roosevelt O. Cuyahoga Valley P. Great Smoky Mountain Q. Big Bend R. Badlands S. Capitol Reef T. Shenandoah U. Olympic V. Grand Teton W. Zion X. Crater Lake Y. Yellowstone ISI

Idaho Senior Independent

Answers to At a Distance: Famous Relatives of Famous People

Created by ISI Staff 1. Q – Sarah Palin 2. L – Jamie Lee Curtis 3. S – Dick Cheney 4. W – Kate Middleton 5. F – Goldie Hawn 6. B – Norah Jones 7. A – Carrie Fisher 8. I – Ingrid Bergman 9. U – Martin Sheen 10. C – Angelina Jolie 11. P – George Bush 12. H – Johnny Carson

13. T – Hillary Clinton 14. D – Katharine Hepburn 15. M – Prince Albert II 16. O – Melanie Griffith 17. E – Franklin D. Roosevelt 18. Y – Abraham Lincoln 19. J – David Eisenhower 20. K – Shirley McClaine 21. G – Judy Garland 22. X – Jerry Lee Lewis 23. V – Crystal Gale 24. R – Albert Schweitzer 25. N – Miguel Ferrer ISI

23rd Annual

Answers to Gather the Hidden Eggs 1. 4 2. 6 3. 10 4. 13 5. 15 6. 20 7. 27

8. 31 9. 33 10. 38 11. 40 12. 41 13. 43 ISI

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The Roaring 1920s

ACROSS 1. Incited 6. Presidents’ Day month

9. Pig trough stuff 13. The Stars and Stripes Forever composer

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 9

14. *Happy Days Are Here Again, ____ Reisman and His Orchestra 15. *Josephine Baker’s turf 16. Blood fluid 17. Will Ferrell’s Christmas character 18. Conical dwelling 19. *First Winter Olympics country 21. *Female pioneer 23. Uh-huh 24. Classic sci-fi video game 25. Boxer’s punch 28. Hoodwink 30. Noble gas 34. Exclamation of sorrow 36. Lord’s servant 38. Muslim ruler honorific 40. Central Time ____ 41. North Pole workforce 43. Dwarf buffalo 44. Some sorority girls 46. South American monkey 47. Like gum after Novocain shot 48. Poisonous plant 50. Fill beyond full 52. Epitome of easiness 53. Satellite TV provider 55. Final, abbr. 57. *Black day 61. *Lindbergh’s ____ of St. Louis 64. “Round up the ____ suspects!” 65. Major network 67. Healer 69. Capital of Switzerland 70. India’s smallest state 71. In an unfriendly manner 72. Greek god of love 73. It often goes with “flow” 74. Magnetic field strength unit DOWN 1. Sixth sense 2. Subject of A Good Walk Spoiled

Take A Chance And Help North Idaho College Students The North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle is a great way to support student scholarships and program needs... and possibly win BIG! With a good cause at stake and prizes that include a brand new park-front home in Post Falls, a car, and a boat, the event is a winning combination. In its 23rd year, NIC’s largest annual fundraiser is now underway with only 5,500 tickets being sold for the upcoming July 13, 2016 drawing where over $300,000 in prizes will be given out. Tickets are sold for $100 each. Located in Post Falls, Idaho, the grand prize is

a three-bedroom, two-bath, single-level home with nearly 2,000 s.f. of living area. Features include granite kitchen counters, skylights, central A/C, and a large, fully landscaped lot. The home is constructed by the college’s Carpentry program students, offering them a learning lab for their trade. The raffle is a fun event that typically generates around $200,000 in support for NIC students. For more information call 208-769-3271 or visit nic.edu/rbr. ISI

Explore The Wonders Of North Idaho Visit the Museum of North Idaho to discover the fascinating history of the Coeur d’Alene Region. Discover the people and history that make the Coeur d’Alene area what it is today through exhibits on steamboats, railroads, communities, recreation, the Forest Service, Farragut Naval Training Station, the Ice Age Flood, and the Coeur d’Alene Indians. Since 1968, the Museum of North Idaho has been collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of the region to foster an appreciation of the area’s heritage. In the theatre, watch Portraits of Coeur d’Alene a 20-minute presentation. Our Museum Store features local history books and gifts. A one-hour free parking voucher is available at the front desk.

The Museum is open April 1 to October 31 Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children 6-16, and a family rate of $10 for a family of two adults and children under 16. Members and children under 6 are free. The Museum is located adjacent to Coeur d’Alene City Park at 115 Northwest Blvd in Coeur d’Alene. Regarding special openings, group tours, or general information, call the Museum at 208-664-3448 or visit museumni.org. ISI

A beautiful woman looking at her imagine in the mirror may very well believe the image is herself. An ugly woman knows it is not. - Simone Weil

3. ____ gum, food additive 4. Literary composition 5. *F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and the ____ 6. What refugees do 7. Snakelike fish 8. Very successful 9. Take one of these at a time 10. Nordic native 11. Curved molding 12. Jurist 15. Pollen producer 20. Malaria to Bill Gates, e.g. 22. Salmon on a bagel 24. Ascetic Muslim monk 25. *____ Age 26. Healing plants 27. Swahili or Zulu 29. Fox’ coat 31. Indian restaurant staple 32. Come clean 33. One of the Judds 35. Clothes line 37. Cheese on Peloponnese 39. *Iconic baseball player 42. Abdominal exercise 45. Equestrian’s seat 49. Foreign intelligence service 51. Provoke 54. Irish playwright John Millington ____ 56. Cease-fire 57. Toothpaste holder 58. Consumer 59. Eurozone money 60. “Without,” in French 61. Striker’s foe 62. Part of eye 63. Be a snitch 66. *Hairstyle 68. Shag rug ISI

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Spring! It’s finally that glorious season we call spring! Flowers clothed in vibrant colors, their fragrance so fresh and welcoming. Birds’ melodies float on the wind as they gather twigs and fiber for their nests. Bees busily buzz between flowers gathering the beginning of the year’s sweet nectar. This is clearly the season of life... and love. Everything is so full of life. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to share all of this with someone special... but where can you find him or her? One good start would be to send in your personal ad for publication or to reply to one listed below. Just pick up your pen or dust off your keyboard, start writing, and who knows what surprises await. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone

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number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, P.O. Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including the address, phone number, and/or email address that you provide to the person placing the ad. When you respond to an ad in this section, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. That is up to the person who placed the ad. Please submit your correct address plainly printed, so you can promptly receive replies. Respond to the ads in this issue, and also sit down now and prepare your own ad to run in our next issue. There is no charge for this service, and your ad may lead you down the path of companionship and true love! You may submit your responses to personal ads appearing in the Idaho Senior Independent at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the June/July 2016 issue, the deadline is May 7, 2016. Single man wants to meet with single gal for a date & relationship. I like holding hands and kissing, camping, dinning out, and candle light dinners. Must be able to drive. 40s or 50s. Let’s get together. I would like your company. Either blonde or dark hair is fine. Reply ISI, Dept. 12101, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. I am SWM, 72, looking for a single female 70-75 years young. I like camping, fishing, yard sales, and pets. I don’t smoke or drink. Send pics and phone. Hope to hear from you! Reply ISI, Dept. 12102, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. Do you have a zest for life? Do you know how to give and receive? Do you understand that true, lasting happiness and peace can only be found within?

Are you in good health and physical condition? If so, please read on. I am a retired, single man 67, 5’9”, 180 lbs, and young at heart. I have two grown daughters and four grandchildren in Portland. I live in Coeur d’Alene. love nature, and have a dog and a cat. My hobbies include walking, reading, biking, music, dancing, camping, boating, and more. I value independence, individuality, honesty, integrity, and kindness very highly. I am active but enjoy quiet time as well. I am comfortable with myself, but seek pleasant, intelligent, enthusiastic, female companionship for fun, adventure, and more. If you want to explore the possibilities between us, please contact me. Carpe diem!! Reply ISI, Dept. 12103, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF 66 years old. 5’2”, 145lbs. I speak English and Spanish. I’m in fairly good health, physically and emotionally. Active, good manners, romantic, happy with myself, nonsmoker, nondrinker. I enjoy swimming, walking, and yoga; have a zest for life and sense of adventure. If you are a gentleman with similar values, please contact for further info. Let’s get to know each other! Reply ISI, Dept. 12104, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. SWF, retired, own my home in NID. Seeking Mr. Personality with a good sense of humor, plus a clean man, financially secure, kind, loving, and non-religious. NS, ND, ND. I am somewhat overweight and don’t mind if you are. I like fishing, camping, road trips, music – a plus if you play a string instrument. I prefer old-time country and bluegrass. You play and sing for me, I’ll cook for you. Take a chance; let’s have fun! Photo please. Again, must have good sense of humor. Reply ISI, Dept. 12105, c/o Idaho Senior Independent, Box 3341, Great Falls, MT 59403. ISI

2016 Senior Games: Idahoans Can Compete In Three Senior Games In 2016

By Bernice Karnop The purpose of senior games is to encourage men and women over 50 to lead an active lifestyle, and the games are fun to the point of being addictive! Participants return year after year. With games scattered around the state and across the summer calendar, it’s easy to find games near you. Lewis-Clark Summer Games, Lewiston, June 8-11, 2016 That’s right, they’ve changed their name and polished up their games, so instead of Senior Games they’re Summer Games, and they’ve lowered the starting age to 40. Folks in this age group, who tell director Cathy Robinson they’ll start as soon as they have a few more birthdays, will wait no more. And they’ve added a new event, trap shooting. Cathy says, “We aren’t a qualifier for the National Senior Games so we don’t have to adhere to their standards. We are community games, and we want to inspire those 40-year-olds to stay active and healthy.” People who are 50+ won’t notice much difference, and Lewiston, with its low elevation and pleasant weather, is a great place to get ready for the later competitions. Some individuals use Lewiston as the place to test their skills and see where they need to improve. And then it’s two months for polish before the Idaho Senor Games in Boise, where they can qualify for Nationals. Director Cathy Robinson expects an uptick in participation, important because the event is a fundraiser for the Washington-Idaho Volunteer Center, a non-profit “employment agency for volunteers.” They recruit and interview volunteers and refer them to agencies where their talents best fit. Registration forms are due by June 3, 2016. Register in person at the WA-ID Volunteer Center, 1424 Main Street, Lewiston ID 83502; by mail after printing the forms from the web site; or online at lewisclarkgames.org (crobinson@lewisclarkgames.org). More information is available by calling 208-746-7787. Southeast Idaho Senior Games, Pocatello, July 8-16, 2016 The weeklong Southeast Idaho Senior Games are hard to beat for creative and diverse events. Along with all the usual games, they have bridge, line dance, and shuffleboard, chess, croquet, and mahjong. And they play darts and Wii® bowling and draw 300-400 participants mostly from Idaho but also from Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and travelers from just about anywhere.

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Croquet players at the Southeast Idaho Senior Games in Pocatello enjoy a light moment photo op. L to R Glenn Yearsley, Barbara Callison, Jerilyn Mecham, Steven Dahms, Carolyn Fulton, and Dale Raburn. [Photo courtesy of Southeast Idaho Senior Games]

“Come have fun with us,” invites Dana Olson, executive director. People compete in their main sport and then hang around to try something new just for fun. Dana says that last year a couple of competitors tried to do as many events as possible during the week. One participant decided she’d try a new sport a few years ago – chose archery, took a class at ISU, and now it is her main sport. “The Southeast Idaho Senior Games give people a chance to get out of the box a little bit and try something new,” says Dana. Coordinators walk people through if it’s a brand new event for them. People, who want to try a swimming competition for the first time, can start with a 25-yard event. Dana says that putting on so many events is a huge project; they have an awesome base of volunteers. Clubs or individuals who coordinate events have remained consistent since the games started in 2003, and they bring in new people. The board of directors is very active, and corporate sponsors stay reliable from year to year – Portneuf Medical Center, the naming sponsor, has been on board since the start. Dana’s mother, Jody Olson established the Southeast Idaho Senior Games, bringing to Pocatello what she’d learned when she lived in New Mexico. She’s 86 now and still participates in the games, but has turned the directing over to Dana. “It’s just neat to see all this energy that week,” Dana says. Register by June 15 or late register by June 30 online or download forms to mail. Visit seidahoseniorgames.org or call 208-233-2034 for more information.

WDaniel Packham, an Idaho Senior Athlete, overcame throat cancer to win the bronze medal for the triple long jump at the National Senior Games in 2013 in Cleveland. With him is his wife, Cheryl. [Photo courtesy of Daniel Packham]

Idaho Senior Games, Boise, August 6-27, 2016 The Idaho Senior Games in Boise usually sees more than 500 athletes competing in 18 different

sports. Director Mike Thornton always hopes for more, because he knows exercise is one key to good physical and mental health. He knows that the person who ties their exercise to a game or competition is motivated to get fit because it is fun. Recently he shared a story of one Idaho senior athlete who saw a dramatic result from his involvement with the Idaho Senior Olympics. His name is Daniel Packham, and his story appeared in the 2015 Senior Games Souvenir Program. “For Daniel Packham, competing in the Idaho Senior Games starting in 2009 gave his workouts purpose and goals. In 2011 he finished 4th in the long jump at the National Senior Games in Houston. “Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer and began chemo and radiation treatments. He credits his fitness level for giving him the strength to complete his treatment. As his wife predicted, 7 months later Dan won the bronze medal in the triple jump at Nationals in Cleveland. Hence, his comment, “Thank you

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 11

Cheryl, and thank you Idaho Senior Games! On to Minnesota!” Dan competed with distinction at the National Senior Games in 2015.” For the person who finds him or herself slacking even a little bit, the Idaho Senior Games is a great motivator. Check out the web site for a list of events and start preparing in your favorite sport. The games in Boise are the only games in the state that are qualifiers for the National Senior Games, held in odd numbered years and in Birmingham, Alabama in 2017. Register early starting May 1, and because events are labor intensive, anyone interested in volunteering should sign up. Visit idahoseniorgames.org; email idahoseniorgamesinfo@gmail. com; or call Michael Thornton at 208-861-8000. ISI

IdahoSeniorIndependent.com

PAGE 12 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

Race For The Cure® Dedicated To Saving Lives And Ending Breast Cancer Forever! Komen Idaho and Komen Montana have joined forces to become Komen Idaho Montana! Although the Affiliate has a large service area, your fundraising dollars still make a local impact. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised by Komen Idaho Montana stay local to provide mammograms, diagnostic services, patient assistance, and breast health education programs to uninsured and underserved women and men in Idaho and Montana. Twenty-five percent is invested in global breast cancer research to better diagnose, treat, and ultimately find the cures for breast cancer. To see how your dollars are being used locally visit komenidahomontana.org/grants/currentidaho-montana-grants. To date Komen Idaho Montana has raised more than $6.9 million in the fight against breast cancer. We need your help to keep this work going – Let’s Race for the Cure! Join us in Boise on May 7 and in Helena on May 14 as we honor survivors, remember those we have lost, and raise money to find the cures. You can be a part of these phenomenal events by visiting komenidahomontana.org or calling 877665-9088 today and registering for the Race for the Cure®. ISI

APRIL/MAY 2016

In Every Corner Of Idaho There Is Something Fun To See And Do With spring just beginning and summer on the horizon there are plenty events coming up to keep you busy and entertained. Here is a sampling of fun things that may pique your interests, and with a little searching on the web, you can fill in the gaps. To start, we would suggest readers contact the following resources: Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau at boise.org or 800.635.5240; Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau at visitlcvalley.com or 877-7747248; Idaho Division of Tourism at visitidaho.org or 800-847-4843; Lewis Clark Valley - North Idaho Tourism Alliance at visitnorthidaho.com; and Pioneer Country Travel Council at seidaho.org or 888201-1063. These are just a few of the regional and community resources that you can consult in order to make this a most memorable spring and summer 2016! Date Event Phone Web Address Apr 9–> Boise Farmer’s Market 208-345-9287 boisefarmersmarket.com Apr 9–> Hagerman – Busy B’s Market 208-358-1409 Apr 9-10 Nampa Gun Show 208-746-5555 sites.google.com/site/ lewisclarktraderllc Apr 10–> Pocatello – Titanboa – Monster Snake 208-282-3168 imnh.isu.edu Apr 14 Pocatello – Fab Four Beatles Tribute 208-282-3595 isu.edu/tickets Apr 15 Twin Falls – Fab Four Beatles Tribute 208-732-6288 fineartscenter.csi.edu Apr 15–> Boise – Idaho Motorcycle Show 208-340-1855 idahomotorcycleshow.com Apr 15–> Riggins – Salmon River Jet Boat Races 208-628-3743 rigginsidaho.com Apr 15–> Pocatello/ISU – Waiting For Godot 208-282-3595 isu.edu/tickets Apr 16 Coeur d’Alene Wine Extravaganza 208-415-0116 cdawinefest.com Apr 16 Pocatello – The Charlie Daniels Band 208-282-3595 isu.edu/tickets Apr 22–> Boise Little Theater – 37 Postcards 208-342-5104 boiselittletheater.org/ Apr 23 Boise – Idaho Green Fest facebook.com/idaho-green-fest Apr 30–> Nampa Farmers Market 208-846-7829 nampafarmersmarket.com/ May 7–> Moscow Farmers’ Market 208-883-7036 ci.moscow.id.us May 7–> Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 208-597-3355 sandpointfarmersmarket.com May 11–> Coeur d’Alene Downtown Farmer’s Mkt 208-415-0116 cdadowntown.com May 14 Bonners Ferry – Hospital Health Fair 208-267-3141 boundarycommunity hospital.org May 14 Dog d’Alene… in Coeur d’Alene 208-415-0116 cdadowntown.com May 14–> Coeur d’Alene – Northwest Spring Fest 208-765-4969 northidahofair.com May 21 Pinehurst – Senior Health & Fun Fair 208-784-1221 shoshonehealth.com Jun 3-26 Boise – Idaho Shakespeare Festival 208-336-9221 idahoshakespeare.org/ Jun 4 Riggins – Big Water Blowout River Fest 800-992-3484 rigginsidaho.com Jun 4–> Jerome Farmers Market farmersmarketcr.org Jun 8-11 Lewiston – Lewis Clark Summer Games 509-758-7489 visitlcvalley.com/events/ lewis-clark-summer-games/ Jun 11 Paint the Town – NeighborWorks Boise 208-258-6222 paintthetownboise.org Jun 17–> Car D’Lane... in Coeur d’Alene 208-667-5986 cdadowntown.com Jun 18–> Rigby Farmers Market 208-745-0166 rigbyfarmersmarket.org Jul 3-> Hope – Sun. Music Lake Pend Oreille 208-264-5251 beyondhoperesort.com Jul 7–> Craigmont – Jammin’ In The Park 208-924-5432 craigmontareachamber.com Jul 8-16 Pocatello – SE Idaho Senior Games 208-233-2034 seidahoseniorgames.org Jul 16 Burley – WARP Sprint Boat Race 208-670-1935 warpracing.net Aug 6-27 Boise – Idaho Senior Games 208-861-8000 idahoseniorgames.org ISI

Scott Nilsson Heeds The Call To Build Bamboo Fly Rods

RACE FOR FUTU RES 75% of funds raised by Susan G. Komen Idaho Montana STAY LOCAL to provide mammograms, diagnostics, patient assistance and breast health education programs to uninsured women and men in Idaho and Montana. 25% is invested in global breast cancer research to better diagnose, treat and ultimately find the cures for breast cancer. We need your help to keep this going...Let's Race for the Cure!

IDAHO MONTANA AFFILIATE Race with us! 05.07.2016 | Boise Register: komenidahomontana.org

An avid angler, Scott Nilsson handcrafts bamboo fly fishing rods at his home in Pocatello. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

By Dianna Troyer A friend’s dare to build a bamboo fly rod nagged at Scott Nilsson. “My friend George Harrington was a fisheries biologist in Boise and dropped by my house to visit,” recalls Scott, who at the time was building graphite rods. “He watched and then challenged me to build a bamboo rod. I couldn’t stop thinking about that and decided to take up his challenge.” That dare a decade ago has led Scott on a quest that still consumes him, to meticulously build customized supple yet durable bamboo rods to fish for trout and even steelhead. “The feeling when you cast a well-made handcrafted bamboo rod is indescribable with its accuracy, lightness, responsiveness, and strength,” says Scott, 68, a retired businessman. “It doesn’t pay a lot, but I get so much satisfaction from making a rod that might someday be a family heirloom.” He lives in Pocatello where he has made countless casts at blue ribbon fisheries on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and the South Fork of the Snake River. “After my wife died of cancer, I realized how short life is and that I wanted to leave a legacy and help others feel the joy I’ve had fly fishing with a bamboo rod,” says Scott. To share his expertise, he offers classes and wrote a book, Crafting a Bamboo Fly Rod. After Scott built that first rod, friends who tried it were so impressed they asked him to build one for them. From his home, he started High Desert Fly Rods and now sells rods nationwide. Before accepting his friend’s challenge, Scott was aware of the criticisms of bamboo rods. “You think of the ones your grandfather used and how they cast like a pool stick,” says Scott. “They were usually mass produced and weren’t heat treated correctly. Before I started making these, I’d always used a graphite rod myself.”

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IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 13

Scott started fishing because he enjoyed the outdoors. Growing up in southern California, he often hiked the Sierra Nevada Mountains until trail congestion prompted him to look for less crowded wilderness venues. “A co-worker told me about Stanley, Idaho, so we went there,” recalls Scott, who at the time was working at Dun and Bradstreet in San Jose. “That was in 1972, and my wife and I fished the Salmon River near Stanley. It’s still one of my favorite places.” Dissatisfied with a corporate lifestyle, Scott quit his job. In 1976, he moved to Davis, California, where he bought a swimming pool business. After his wife died in 1997, he sold his business and began looking for an ideal place to raise their son, Tor. “We moved to Boise in 2001, and I started making the bamboo rods four years later,” he says. “I’ve always been mechanical and a bit of a perfectionist, so this suits me.” To Scott, constructing a bamboo rod is an art and science. “There are no short cuts, and I use only the finest nickel silver fittings and silk wraps,” he says. He precisely planes the bamboo shafts,

glues them together, heat treats the rod, fits ferrules for the line, seats the reel, and varnishes it. The length and tapers vary, depending on a customer’s needs. Scott finishes a rod in about three weeks. “Once I start, I can’t quit working on it,” says Scott. He says the rods are not to be pampered. “They aren’t museum or display pieces; they’re made to be used. I love hearing people’s feedback because they’re getting so much enjoyment from fishing. One man said his rod casts like a laser and is perfect for small bluegill as well as good-sized bass.” When he has a lull from fishing or making rods, Scott enjoys any woodworking project, bird hunting, or skiing. “I’m grateful to be able to do so many things,” he says. “I remind people all the time to live well.” ISI

Mr. President

By Mike McGough On the afternoon of April 30, 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States. Everyone on hand at Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan congratulated him, but no one knew what to call him. There was no precedent, and the Constitution did not designate a title. After much debate, Washington settled on the simple title, “Mr. President.” This unpretentious yet distinguished moniker is one of many enduring contributions Washington made to the American presidency. Although the presidents have shared the title, “Mr. President,” and several have shared surnames, their given names have been as unique as the men who have held the office, and several presidents even changed their given names. The first to make a name change was Grant who changed his name from Hiram Ulysses Grant to Ulysses Simpson Grant. Grover Cleveland dropped his given first name, Stephen. Thomas Woodrow Wilson dropped the name Thomas, and Calvin Coolidge dropped his given first name, John. President Eisenhower inverted his given first and middle names to become Dwight David Eisenhower. Because of a divorce and a fatal car accident, two presidents changed their given names. The 38th president was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., in 1913. His mother divorced his father shortly after his birth and remarried in 1916. Leslie’s name

was informally changed to Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. shortly after his mother’s marriage to Gerald Rudolph Ford, Sr. The younger Ford formally changed his name in 1935 when he was 22. William Jefferson Blythe, Jr. died in a car accident in 1946 months before his son William Jefferson Blythe, III was born. Young William’s mother married Roger Clinton in 1950, and in time, William changed his name to William Jefferson Clinton. The most common presidential first name is James (Madison, Monroe, Polk, Buchanan, Garfield, and Carter). John (Adams, Quincy Adams, Tyler, and Kennedy) and William (Henry Harrison, McKinley, Taft, and Clinton) each have four. George is third with three (Washington and both of the Bushes). Harry Truman was the only president with a middle initial but no middle name. John Quincy Adams was the first president to have a middle name, and George Herbert Walker Bush is the only president to have four names. Presidents with the longest last names were Washington and Eisenhower.

Camas Festival

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ISI

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PAGE 14 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

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Rules of Golf – Some for Seniors... Some for Real?

Confidence is 10 percent hard work and 90 percent delusion. - Tina Fey

By Tait Trussell Considering that golf is often called the most frustrating game on earth and is played according to a 264-page book, why are more than 37 million men and women – many over 65 – spending millions of dollars a year? Could it be the thrill of seeing a drive take flight from the tee box and land in the center of the fairway, or sinking a 25-foot putt? Neither is always true, because the average golfer shoots over 100. Golf has been played since its origin in Scotland in the 11th century. And, according to a National Golf Foundation study, there has been a 5 percent rise in the number of rounds played each year. Seniors have a large advantage over the pros in one respect. They have a chance to shoot their age – considered one of the most difficult feats in the game. Obviously, no 25-year-old or even 45-year-old professional has a chance of shooting that figure in the regulation 18 holes. But a good golfer who is 75 or 80 has a fair chance of shooting his or her age on occasion. “It’s an exciting day when and if it happens,” related Arnold Palmer, one of the gods of the game. “I remember the day I first did it in a tournament – on my 66th birthday in the Champions Tour event in Seattle in 1995, and it was touch and go right up to the last putt. It’s been easier every year since then,” the aging Palmer added with a chuckle. Compared with most sports today, golf is a genteel game, where players are expected – if they break a rule – to call it on themselves. Meaning they usually have to take an extra stroke or sometimes two strokes depending on the severity of the violation. Among the 34 main rules of the game, for example, Rule 32-2 on Disqualification Penalties says, “A competitor is disqualified from the competition for a breach of a host of regulations, including undue delay or slow play under rule 6-7,” which says, “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the committee (local golf committee) may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.” Then a variety of penalties is listed for a breach of rule 6-7, including references to other rules. Or, “Every player is entitled and obliged to play the ball from the position where it has come to rest after a stroke, unless a rule allows or demands otherwise (Rule 13-10). Some rules are so onerous and complex, that many golfers are unfamiliar with, or overlook, them. A few golfers carry a copy of the rules book with them and dispute a violation by their competitor – usually in a friendly manner. But rules are broken by the scratch player. For example, many golfers take a mulligan, or second drive, on the first hole, if their first drive goes array. A former college fraternity brother and fellow golfer has taken this to the limit. He jokingly suggested that “fantasy golf” be allowed. According to his theory of such a game, “When you don’t like your shot, plop down another ball and hit it. If you do not like that, plop down another ball. Eventually a ball will go where you want it to go. Do not score any of the lousy balls. They must have been faulty in their manufacture.” Golf rules for seniors should be modified, according to one humorist, as follows: “Rule 1.a.5: A ball sliced or hooked into the rough shall be lifted and placed in the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with no penalty. The senior should not be penalized for tall grass that greens keepers failed to mow. “Rule 2.D.6 (b): A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. The senior must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play the ball from there. “Rule 6.a.9 (k): There is no penalty for so-called “out of bounds.” If penny-pinching golf course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. The senior golfer deserves an apology not a penalty.” Yes, it is easy to see how changing the rules could change the game. ISI

APRIL/MAY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 15

The Greatest Gift In The World Is To Play With Your Kids Article By Jack McNeel PhotoBy Jackie McNeel Marye Barker has spent her life building her family, so when she says “the greatest gift in the world is to be able to play with your kids,” it’s coming from the heart. Of French Basque heritage, Marye was raised in Reno, attended several colleges, and graduated from Lewis and Clark State College in Lewiston with a degree in elementary education. She then spent a fifth year at the University of Idaho. “I taught everything from preschool to college. Even then many college students couldn’t write well so they had to do remedial English and many couldn’t read well so this was to bring them up to speed.” She married John Barker in 1962 and moved to Lewiston in 1966. John worked as a river guide for a few years and then started the family river guide business in 1973 offering rafting trips on the lower Salmon and Grande Ronde Rivers. With three children, sons Jacques and Jon, and daughter Devon, there was plenty of help in the family business and the boys at ages 8 and 10 could hardly wait to help. Devon was too young and had to stay home that first year, just as she was left at home when the rest went skiing. “But by the time she was three she went on every single river trip. She would dance on the tubes and John would say, ‘make her sit down, make her sit down!’ But a three year old can’t spend the whole time without moving around,” Marye says with a laugh. “She loved it and now she’s a white water and ocean kayak competitor.” John passed away nearly five years ago. “Much too young,” Marye reflects. “We thought he’d live to be 90 and we weren’t expecting that at all. He was a mover and shaker and was on the city council for fourteen years.” Today family members operate three companies. Jon has Barker River Expeditions, plus he also owns Barker Trophy Hunters. Jacques runs Barker River Trips with his sister Devon. At 73, Marye remains active in the business in a variety of ways. “I’ve done everything – shopping, cleaning, cooking, and paperwork – but I don’t row anymore. The body just won’t let me do it. I can’t take a

boatload of people down.” But that doesn’t keep her off the water. “I’ll still get in the kayak and take kayak groups through. I still love it.” As a resolute river rat, Marye doesn’t enjoy all the paper work and tax preparation. “But once we get the boat packed I’m a happy person.” she adds with a big smile. “When my son takes groups out, if they need a guide for the kayaks, I get in the kayak and guide. If they need a hand in the kitchen, I help out. Maybe I make hors d’oeuvres and have cocktails with the guests. That’s my job that evening.” The company now offers many trips for women. As Marye explains it, many TV ads show wild, rough river rides, but, “The guys would always be gung ho but many times the wives or girl friends were in tears. I would tell them that they’re going to go through the first wave and afterwards they would say, ‘Oh, that’s all there is to it!’ The ones that were scared usually love it the most. You have to wear your life jacket and then afterward there are pools of quiet water and great beaches on the lower salmon, one after another, great places to swim, eat, and just relax.” When rafting the lower Salmon, trips start anywhere from Riggins down to Whitebird, and go downstream to Lewiston. It’s about 60 to 70 miles, depending on the starting point and can take 3-5 days depending on water flow. Life isn’t all about whitewater rafting for Marye. She was preparing to leave for McCall ski trip on the day we talked. She started skiing when she was 12, began riding horses at age 4, and owns a couple of horses today at her home on the outskirts of Lewiston. “There are lots of places to ride right outside my barn, and great trails out of Hellsgate State Park.” She also loves dogs, especially Labradors, which she enjoys walking. “I can’t remember when I started that. I don’t mind walking but I wouldn’t walk nearly as much if I didn’t have those dogs.” Marye has accompanied her daughter Devon all over Europe and to Mexico where she has competed in kayaking events. One of her sons made

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a first descent down a river in Chile. It is easy to see the strong family bond that has come from their connection to water and adventure. Reflecting on the adventure lifestyle, Daughter Devon once said to Marye, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think your generation was the first generation that really played and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still playing.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My parents, when we kids came along, they quit playing. But John and I kept on playing with our kids. I never would have wanted to miss that.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the greatest gift in the world to be able to play with your kids. We played tennis, hiked, biked, skied, rode horses, and did all the things together. It was delightful for parents and kids. I did not have to worry about those teenage years because our kids were on the river with us and though it was challenging, they loved it. The kids learned they had to help and contribute to the family, and they are still doing it in their 40s and 50s!â&#x20AC;? ISI

The Magruder Murder: One Idaho Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quest for Justice By Bernice Karnop â&#x20AC;&#x153;All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.â&#x20AC;? The gold rush town of Lewiston, Idaho where the Snake and Clearwater Rivers come together in a giant T was flooded with gold-seekers in the 1860s. The only thing more difficult than finding gold was knowing how to hang on to it once you had it. There were no banks and few good hiding places. Evildoers could take oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gold â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with little worry of facing justice. The country was just too big, too wild, and too unsettled. When Lewistonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first hotel owner, Hill Beachey, suspected that his friend, Lloyd Magruder had been murdered, he could not let evil triumph. He pursued the outlaws for thousands of miles on horseback, buckboard, stage, and ship. He caught up with them and painstakingly brought them back to Lewiston to face a trial that resulted in the first legal hanging in Idaho Territory. The nefarious murder, the discovery of the crime, and the epic pursuit could not be more dramatic if it were fiction. It was October 1864, and Beachey watched uneasily as his friend, successful freighter Lloyd Magruder, left town with a string of 60 mules, loaded with supplies for the miners in Virginia City. The rugged Southern Nez Perce Trail was the shortest distance between the two gold mining towns, which in 1864, were both in Idaho territory. Today, Virginia City, 300 miles from Lewiston, is in Montana. Beachy knew Magruder was a good man and

successful merchant who had agreed to represent Idaho Territory in Congress when he returned. A short time after Magruder left, Beachey took note of a trio of rough-looking men who left in the same direction. Later he would learn that the men, James Romaine, David Howard, and Christopher Lowery, met up with Magruder, and joined his party. Mountain man and trapper Billy Page also joined the party. They arrived in Virginia City where Magruder sold the goods and cleared around $25,000 in gold dust. Magruder hired Romaine, Howard, Lowery, and Page as guards for the trip home, never suspecting that they had a plan for getting more than their wages. Far from either town, they set up a remote camp on the Little Clearwater where Romaine, Howard, and Lowery murdered Magruder with a hatchet in his sleep, and killed four others in the party with knives and rifles. They threw the bodies over a cliff, and burned and buried the evidence. They herded the pack mules into a gorge and shot every one. Snow soon buried the crime scene. They threatened to kill Page unless he would stay with them. They needed his help to get through the mountains. Meanwhile, back in Lewiston, Beachey had a vivid nightmare in which he saw his friend murdered. The murderous trio meant to bypass Lewiston, but they had problems crossing the rivers so they went into town and spent the night at Luna House. Beachey noticed their trying to hide their faces and realized that they were the men who followed Magruder out of town. They had left their horses, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to be kept â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til called forâ&#x20AC;? at a ranch just out of town. A suspi-

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cious Beachey rode out to the ranch to see what he could learn. He found Magruder’s horse and saddle. He hurried back to town but the men had left on the stage. Beachey determined he would not let them get away with murder, but he was no vigilante. He obtained a commission as a deputy sheriff, a warrant for their arrest, and with partner, Thomas Pike, took off after them. At Walla Walla, they learned that the murderers had gone on to Portland. By the time Beachey arrived in Portland, the men were on a steamer to San Francisco. No new departures were scheduled for ten days. Desperately the pair traveled night and day 400 miles south to Yreka, where there was telegraph service to San Francisco. They telegraphed the names and aliases of the guilty men and the warrant for their arrest. The law was waiting when the murderers got off the ship. Beachey and Pike continued to San Francisco, took custody, and brought the prisoners back to

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 17

Lewiston. William Page was also arrested but they found out he had no prior knowledge of the plan to murder and rob Magruder. His testimony clinched the case for the prosecution. Lowery, Romaine, and Howard were hanged in Lewiston on March 4, 1864. Later, Page led them to the scene of the crime, validating his story. Beachey brought Magruder’s body and the four others who were with him back to Lewiston for burial. Part of the stolen gold, about $17,000, was returned to Magruder’s widow. A grateful territorial legislature voted to give Beachey $6,200 for expenses. It is hard to imagine that this murder would have been solved except for the determination of a man who was unwilling to let evil triumph, even though it cost him time and hardship. Beachey’s hotel, Luna House, was built in 1862 and torn down in 1890. The Art Deco building that now occupies the lot was constructed by the WPA in 1937 for government offices. The Nez

Tom and Jo Ann Trail Are Idaho Treasures

Article By Jack McNeel Photo by Jackie McNeel When I inquired about Tom and Jo Ann Trail, the universal description was “Idaho treasures” – affirmed by their receipt of the Idaho Treasure Award by the University of Idaho last November. After their interview, I understood the reason considering their dedication to education in Moscow, Idaho, and throughout the world. Tom was born and raised on a farm near Moscow and Jo Ann came from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. They met through an International Youth Exchange in the mid-50s, the first of their numerous trips abroad. Tom went to Nepal and Jo Ann to Sweden but that first meeting led to marriage in 1959. Afterwards Tom studied at Montana State University, Bozeman through a Carnegie Fellowship. Then he was off to Ecuador where he supervised agricultural volunteers for two years. Jo Ann had her master’s degree, but they returned to Bozeman for a year while Tom finished his doctorate. There followed a threeyear assignment in Chile where Tom worked as a livestock specialist followed by a stint in Columbia where he worked as an extension social science specialist. During this time, Jo Ann worked raising their three children. Finally, Tom and Jo Ann settled at the family farm in Moscow in 1971 and Tom taught at Washington State University, Pullman (WSU) for 25 years as an extension specialist and professor in adult continuing education. This allowed extensively international travel. “I went on 28 overseas short term assignments, and from 1986-90 we were on assignment in Malawi, Africa where I was senior advisor to the Minister of Agriculture,” Tom declares. In all, Tom

has traveled to 132 countries. During that period, Jo Ann taught at a British international school with about 40 countries represented. Then back home in Moscow, Jo Ann worked at WSU as the International Friendship Association Coordinator where she started the International Flag Collection. “There were 160 countries and we always had to have a flag up if there was a student from that country in residence,” she explains. Another of Jo Ann’s notable projects is the “Culture Kit Loan Program.” ”It’s a group of items, a collection in a box if you will, of artifacts of a country that teachers, 4H groups, Girl Scouts, etc. can use to get a feel for a particular locale. For example, they might try on the shoes, hats, or clothes from the region. Or they might listen to music or cook using recipes from that country. They can also learn about festivals, religions, stamps, currency, and many aspects of the culture by using photos and other items in the kit. It’s been very successful,” Jo Ann explains. The kits are available for loan through the State of Idaho. Last year, as a gift to herself on her 80th birthday, Jo Ann updated all the kits. Jo Ann and a team of volunteers spent over 900 hours replacing worn items in the kits and making sure everything was in the correct kit for each area. As one Girl Scout leader wrote, “These culture kits send out understanding and education all across the state like ripples on a pond. I really hope this wonderful learning/teaching tool will continue to be available to students and adults alike!” A request for a culture kit can be made online by visiting www.uidaho.edu/academic-affairs/ipo/ intercultural-programs-events-and-activities/pro-

Perce County Historical Society Museum moved into the building in the 1970s. In addition to being a repository of historical artifacts, it is a research library, educational resource, and home to historical photo collections. Today the site of the Magruder murder is marked by a sign on the primitive Magruder Road Corridor that runs for about 100 miles from Elk City, Idaho to Darby, Montana over Nez Perce Pass. According to Forest Service literature, the corridor was created in 1980 by the Central Idaho Wilderness Act. This unique road enables travelers to drive between two wilderness areas, the 1.2-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness to the north, and the 2.3-million-acre Frank ChurchRiver of No Return Wilderness to the south. Together they represent the largest roadless block of land in the lower 48 states. The one-lane road is rough, steep, and winding with few turnouts for passing and no services. Anyone considering driving it should research conditions and make sure they are prepared. The solitude, the pristine beauty, and the expansive mountain views are much the same as when Magruder and his mules crossed it. And hopefully a bit less dangerous to travelers not carrying large quantities of gold dust. ISI

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grams/culture-kits/request-a-culture-kit or calling 208-885-8984. Tom and Jo Ann also serve as the friendship family for girls from the Isle of Man. The program is to help international students adapt to life in Moscow by having more contact with an American family and the assistance that family can provide such as meeting their arrival at the airport, helping set up bank accounts, and showing them around the community and region. In 2000, because of her contributions to international understanding Jo Ann was among 32 people nationwide to receive the Millennium International Volunteer Award from the U.S. State Department for her contributions to international education and cultural exchange. President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter were among the recipients that year. Tom retired from teaching in 1998 and then served 16 years in the Idaho House of Representatives, five years as Chair of the Agricultural Affairs Committee. Tom is proud that during that time

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Idaho enacted a minimum wage for migrant farm workers and implemented the Promise Scholarship, which for Idaho high school graduates with a 3.0 GPA “I think the latest statistics show that over 80,000 students have received help from this group of scholarships. There is also a needsbased scholarship for students with financial need where none in their families had ever gone to college. At last count over 5,000 students had received help,” Tom explains. “The bill I had the most fun with was with a fifth grade class about ten years ago. I talked to them getting a bill through the political process. The next day the class called with a bill they wanted to establish a specialty license plate honoring the appaloosa as Idaho’s official horse. That was neat! “I asked them to contact the Appaloosa Society in Moscow and the Nez Perce Tribe. Later, the en-

tire class of 14 came to Boise and made a Power Point presentation to the Transportation Committee. When it passed, Governor Kempthorne came to Moscow and signed the bill in the kids’ classroom. That was one of the real fun things.” Not ones to rest on their laurels, Tom and Jo Ann are involved with a number of other community activities including the restoration of the Kenworthy Theater on Main Street and working with the Hope Center to give people training and job skills. “As my dad said when he turned 90, ‘It’s a good day when you can get out of bed and know where you are and who you are,’” Tom says with a laugh. “We’ve had a remarkable life and are really grateful to God for all the opportunities that have been given to us and things we have been able to do in helping other people,” Jo Ann adds. Indeed, these are Idaho treasures! ISI

Article By Jack McNeel Photo By Jackie McNeel Paul Hill repairs stringed musical instruments but that’s like saying Michael Jordan bounced a basketball, Frank Sinatra could sing, or Marilyn Monroe was attractive. In each case, the reality is much greater than the casual statement. Paul Hill does more than repair instruments; he adapts the instrument to the owner after talk-

it just a tool. Then I try to make the thing behave itself for them.” Paul works on all kinds of stringed instruments from the violin and guitar families: mandolin, sitar, ukulele, etc., and has been doing so for 40 years. His shop has always been in his home, and he has considered it to be part time. “Although I’ve made my living at it,” he adds. “I probably put in 15 to 20 hours a week.” Paul’s shop is small, but has become very well equipped over the decades – filled with all the tools required to fix the myriad of instruments he encounters. “Nowadays you can buy good tools but I’ve made a lot myself over the years, especially little jigs, special clamps, and tiny little delicate tools.” He has an electronic ukulele, not frequently seen, and a 175-year-old Martin guitar, one of the world’s best guitar makers, plus an assortment of other instruments on racks and in cases throughout his workshop. Most of what Paul does is by hand, using his specialized little tools to get into spaces and do specific things. His machinery is basic – “just a basic band saw, sander.” The balance of Paul’s work time is spent at the Renaissance Fine Woodworking shop in Pullman, a custom cabinetry, furniture, and remodeling contracting firm established a dozen years ago and where he is half owner. As in his home repair shop, everything at Renaissance is designed to fit the ideas and visions of the customers so no two jobs are ever alike, which appeals to his creative side. Paul grew up in Colorado but moved to Nashville to marry his wife, Laura. He was doing instrument repair work in the Music City before the couple decided to move west to Moscow in 1999. But Paul doesn’t just repair musical instruments; he also plays violin, guitar, bass, mandolin, and harmonica. He spent many years playing these various instruments in a band, and although he is no longer in a band, but keeps busy performing; Paul now sings barbershop with The Palouse Harmony Chorus. “It’s a pretty good little chorus,” he says. “It’s located in Moscow and musters 18-20 guys on any given night. I am directing it at this point, and we have a lot of fun. “We’re trying to sing real barbershop harmony, which is tough and pretty demanding,” Paul adds. “The quartet is called Four Names in a Hat and has performed for the last five years throughout the area. It is clear that Paul Hill is a true craftsman whether he is repairing the connection between a musician and their instrument, creating custom furniture, or perfectly blending harmonies in a barbershop quartet. ISI

Paul Hill Build Connection Between Musicians And Their Instruments

ing to that person and learning how they use their instrument and their relationship with it. Not until he understands the owner’s connection does he start work on the instrument. “Most of what I do is called set up work. It means taking an instrument and making it play better, so it doesn’t buzz for example – making it work better and the way it should work.” This task can be accomplished by most repair people. But then there’s the work that rises to an entirely different level. “The other part is making them sound better. That’s more involved; more complicated, and involves that relationship between the musician and the instrument. I need to really understand that relationship and make that instrument conform to that relationship. “Anybody who is good at anything develops a relationship with the thing they’re good at,” Paul explains. “Musicians are the same way. When they’re becoming a good player, they know they have a relationship with their instrument. It’s not one of the instrument’s being just a tool. It’s part of their musical soul. If they have the right instrument for them, they will become in love with it. It’s more than like; it’s a very special love. My goal is to make the instrument worthy of their love.” And how is this accomplished? “We talk about what kind of things they like and how much they play,” Paul explains. “I have them play for me, and I have them play something loud and something very sensitive. I want to hear them sing if that’s what they do. I watch them with their instrument, how they hold it. When they take it out of the case, are they reverent about it, or is

APRIL/MAY 2016

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 19

You Need to Know This About Home Appraisals By Bryce Witherspoon A home appraisal is a critical component of any real estate transaction that involves a mortgage loan. If you are refinancing you will need an appraisal, if you are selling your home to someone that needs to get a mortgage, he or she will need to have an appraisal done. What Is a Home Appraisal? A home appraisal is an opinion on value by a qualified, unbiased third party. Mortgage lenders require an appraisal to be completed when you are refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage Lenders require appraisals to ensure that homeowners are not over paying for a property because if the borrower stops paying for the mortgage the lender will take action to remove the borrower from the home and sell it to recoup their money, which is why it is important for the home to be worth more than the money loaned. In essence, a home appraisal is a layer of protection for the mortgage lender. The Appraisal Process and How Appraisal Values Are Determined These are the main factors that influence your home’s appraisal value: current market trends which are reflected in the comparable properties the appraiser selects; the house’s features (square footage, number rooms/bedrooms & bathrooms, condition, is the property considered up to date, landscaping and exterior condition, and parking – garage). The appraiser will do an interior and exterior inspection and will make note of any deferred maintenance that will be included in the report for the lender. The appraiser will complete his report on a standard report form that is required by the appraisal jurisdiction. The information that has to be included in an appraisal report will not vary much from Canada to the United States.

A standard report includes the following: comparable sales; a street map; building sketch; square footage; photos of the front, back, and street scene of the home; photographs of each comparable property used; a map showing the location of the comparables in relation to the subject property; plot map; description of intended users of the appraisal report; and photos and descriptions of every room in the house. The cost of a residential appraisal report ranges from $250-$500 and the homeowner is typically responsible for paying the appraiser. What Homebuyers Need to Know When you’re buying a home, an appraisal could potentially sink your deal. If you make an offer to purchase a house, then your mortgage lender will require that the home being purchased be appraised. If the home appraises for less than your offer to purchase, the lender will not provide the loan according to the offer. This could be good for a buyer, because you may be able to negotiate a lower purchase price. If a bad appraisal is standing between you and your home purchase, look into getting a second opinion via a second appraisal. Appraisers are not perfect and it is possible for them to make mistakes. Depending on your resources, you may be able to increase your down payment to satisfy the lender. What Home Sellers Need to Know As a seller, a low appraisal means that you may have to lower your home’s price to get it sold. Lenders won’t approve loans for more than a home is worth, and holding out for an all-cash buyer who doesn’t require an appraisal as a condition of completing the transaction is unlikely to net you a higher sales price. No one wants to overpay for a home but more importantly a mortgage lender will not over lend on the value of a property. Therefore, if the appraisal comes

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Paint The Town™ 2016

Over 1,200 volunteers from all over Ada County will come together on June 11, 2016 to paint the homes of over 50 low-income seniors and disabled individuals for NeighborWorks Boise’s 34th annual Paint The Town™ event. This event helps alleviate the choice many seniors have to make between food and medicine or home maintenance, boosts their morale and dignity, and enhances their independence. Paint The Town™ impacts more people than just the recipients. The program positively affects the entire community by restoring neighborhood pride, increasing property values, and bringing community members together to improve our neighborhoods. Objectives for 2016 Paint The Town include: • Building fences, replacing windows, mowing yards, and providing other physical improvements for those residents who are physically and/ or financially unable to, in order to beautify our neighborhoods. • Supporting our senior and disabled neighbors in maintaining their independent living status. • Raising sufficient sponsorship donations to sustain the programs. • Providing a quality volunteer opportunity for residents to support their neighbors and communities. For more information about Paint The Town™ or Rake Up Boise™, NeighborWorks Boise’s other community event benefiting senior and disabled residents, visit nwboise.org or call 2586222. ISI

in lower than what your buyer is offering this can sink your deal unless you lower the price or the buyer puts more money down. What Refinancing Homeowners Need to Know If you’re refinancing your mortgage and looking to access some of the equity in the home, the appraised value is very important. Mortgage lenders will have a maximum loan to value ratio that they require, so the larger the difference between what you owe on your current mortgage and what the home is appraised, the more you can borrow. Having a better loan to value ratio will also make obtaining the lowest possible mortgage rates possible. Lenders put a lot of emphasis on this ratio so a high appraisal value is very important. The Bottom Line The home appraisal is a very standard element in any real estate transaction involving a mortgage loan and it should be taken seriously. It is important to know how the appraisal works and what the details are so that you are in the best financial position, whether you are a seller or buyer. ISI

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Is It Moving Time? Relocation For Many Reasons By Lisa M. Petsche As people age, and especially if they have one or more chronic health conditions, there’s a good chance their home will no longer suit their lifestyle or their needs. As you can see, there are many reasons to relocate and living options when you do. Reasons for Moving • Freedom – To reduce responsibilities associated with home ownership – particularly property maintenance – to allow more time for recreation and leisure activities, such as a hobby, spending time with family, volunteering, or traveling. • Independence – To offload as many responsibilities of daily living as possible in order to live independently despite decreased physical functioning. People in this situation may wish to eliminate not only property maintenance tasks but also housecleaning, laundering, and meal preparation. • Climate – Desire for a moderate climate (not too hot and not too cold),

for health and safety reasons or for comfort and convenience – for example, to be able to engage in favorite outdoor activities year-round. • Home design – To increase the accessibility of one’s home by making it easier and safer to enter, exit, and access all areas and use rooms for their intended purpose. A one-floor, open concept plan is typically desired. People who use a wheelchair, for example, may need a setting designed for the physically disabled. • Finances – To reduce expenses associated with shelter, including mortgage or rent, property taxes, utilities, and maintenance. Another reason some people move is that the cost of home adaptations to improve safety and accessibility is beyond their means or is not a wise investment from a real estate perspective. • Socialization – To increase opportunities for social contact. Specifically, the goal might be moving closer to family members, especially children and grandchildren, or relocating to a community of peers. • Security – To reduce the risk of victimization. Those who are anxious about answering the door, leaving their home unattended, or returning home to an empty house may experience increased peace of mind living in a gated community with security patrol or an apartment building with a security desk and locked mailboxes. • Community Access – To improve access to shopping and other businesses, medical resources, places of worship, and amenities such as parks and recreation centers. Those with a driver’s license who live in the suburbs or a rural area may seek a more central location to reduce travel time. • Transportation – Non-drivers or those who anticipate being unable to drive in the foreseeable future may desire a home with easy access to public transit or within walking distance of various amenities. • Health – To ensure that health care needs are met. Needs may include: medication management, medical monitoring, a special diet, skilled nursing care, personal care (assistance with washing, dressing and grooming), and supervision or assistance with mobilizing. Residence Options There are many possibilities for alternate living arrangements depending on a person’s needs and preferences. Options include: moving in with a relative or friend for companionship and perhaps practical assistance and to share expenses; moving to a similar-sized home with a more suitable design; downsizing to a smaller house, condominium, or apartment (some seniors apartments may be geared to income and have disabled units); moving to an adult lifestyle community; and moving to a long-term care setting such as an assisted living facility or nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility). If you are considering a long-term care residence, it’s important to go beyond location, curb appeal, and advertisements and take personal tours. Plan to visit several places, and take a relative or friend along for a second opinion. Planning Ahead Because a move in mid to late life usually involves downsizing, it is wise, if you anticipate changing residences in the next few years, to begin sorting through your possessions and selling or giving away unneeded items. Typically, it takes much longer than expected to go through this tedious and emotion-laden process. If you intend to relocate in the near future, consider hiring a professional organizer to assist with the paring-down process or a senior move specialist who can help with everything from planning to setting up in your new residence. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in senior lifestyles. ISI

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By Geno Lawrenzi, Jr. If you are one of the few people on planet Earth who has never been owned by a cat, I feel sorry for you. Admittedly, I have not always been a fan of cats. Growing up in a wooded area 20 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I was much more interested in dogs than cats. My grandmother was terrified of cats. Being from the “Old Country” – she was born on the Russian border – she was superstitious of anything feline and was afraid if she had one in the house it would attack her like a vampire while she was sleeping and drink her blood. Seriously. Our neighbors were coal miners and steel mill workers. They looked at cats as creatures of the night that would prey on young pheasants, rabbits, and quail eggs. This did not set well with families living on a coal miner’s salary. I remember many family and neighborhood feasts that would add a spicy dish of rabbit stew or pheasant under glass to our evening meal. It wasn’t until I began dating Grace, a flight attendant who owned six cats that I learned to appreciate this exquisite purring creature that has long mystified mankind. I still love watching a cat cleaning itself meticulously with its rough tongue or one that lets me rub its tummy while it is stretched languidly on its back. If people trusted like that, we would have a better world and there would be no wars. Grace lived in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and flew for Delta Airlines. She was a native of Warsaw, Poland, – blond, beautiful, and brilliant enough to qualify as an astronaut. Instead she chose to emigrate to America and became an airline stewardess. I met her while flying back to oversee the family at my father’s funeral. She saw me sitting alone, nursing my grief, and comforted me with a steady supply of glasses of wine. When I disembarked from my plane at Pittsburgh International Airport, I was feeling no pain and had her phone number. After I returned to Naples, Florida, where I lived and worked as associate editor of a magazine, we

The Cat’s Meow

began dating. Grace was very special, and I didn’t mind the long scenic drive across the Everglades as I followed Alligator Alley on Friday nights after work. It was worth it to spend the weekend with Grace and her cats. In her charming Polish accent, Grace introduced me to all six of them. Her favorite was Blackie. Cuddling the beautiful black cat, she stroked it, eliciting purrs that indicated its pleasure. “This is Blackie,” she said. “He has cancer. The veterinarian said it would cost $500 for an operation. I told him to go ahead. The operation is next Tuesday. Please pray for my cat.” Blackie survived the operation. Grace kept the cats in self-cleaning cages while she was on her flights to San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta, Honolulu, and other exotic destinations. Her apartment was always immaculate and had a delicious smell because of the scented candles she left burning while she was gone. I developed affection for all of her cats, and it wasn’t just because of my attraction to Grace. Each cat had a unique personality. They would not come up to you like a dog and fawn for your attention. A cat was much more independent. You had to earn a cat’s respect before it would even think about trusting you. But once that trust was won, it was a forever friendship. Grace eventually was transferred to San Francisco, ending our relationship. Today I still have a great admiration for cats. My daughter, Rossana, for example, has three cats – a big grey, a cat with mottled colors of black, white, and brown, and a small black cat that loves toying with bugs, pieces of string, garter snakes, or anything that moves. Although I love all three cats, my favorite is the grey. It has this habit of leaping into my lap when I am sitting down and licking the crook of my arm with its rough tongue. It does this continuously, probably because of the salt. It is a very pleasant experience, and I never tire of it. Judy, a member of our church who teaches our Sunday morning Bible class, came by for a visit the other day. She was impressed when she saw the cats and our Siberian husky, Sadie, playing in

Low Maintenance Vegetable Gardening for a Bountiful Harvest By Melinda Myers Increase your harvest without increasing the size of your garden or workload. All you need is

Intensive planting and low maintenance techniques can increase a garden harvest, but not the size of the garden or the workload. [Photo provided by Bonnie Plants]

a bit of intensive planting, along with some low maintenance techniques. Invest some time upfront to prepare the garden soil. This will save you time throughout the growing season. Add several inches of organic matter and

a slow release fertilizer into the top 8 to 12 inches of soil. The organic matter improves drainage in clay soils and increases moisture retention in sandy soils. The slow release fertilizer feeds the plants for several months, reducing the number of applications needed. You’ll have healthier plants that are better able to fend off pests and compete with weeds. Match the plants with the right growing conditions. Tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables that produce fruit need full sun. Leafy crops like lettuce are more tolerant of shade. Check plant tags and seed packets for planting details or download a free gardening app, like Homegrown With Bonnie Plants, for plant information, maintenance tips, weather reports, and more. Plant seeds and transplants in blocks with fewer pathways. Give each plant enough room to grow to its full size. Your rows will be closer together with just enough paths for weeding, watering, and harvesting. You will be growing more plants and pulling fewer weeds with this strategy. Interplant to maximize your planting space further. Plant short-season vegetables like lettuce and radishes in between properly spaced longerseason vegetables like broccoli and tomatoes. By the time the longerseason plants start filling the space, the shorter season plantings will be ready to harvest. You’ll be pulling radishes or cutting lettuce instead of weeds. You’ll harvest two crops from one row.

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 21

the living room. “That’s amazing,” she said. “Three cats and a big black dog. Don’t they fight?” “They love each other,” said Rossana. “Sadie is very protective of them.” I smiled and picked up the grey. “We may own the dog,” I said, stroking the grey, “but the cats own us.” Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author, and ghostwriter who lives in Springfield, Missouri with his daughter, three grandchildren, three cats, two laying hens, and dog. Contact him at email address is laurenzigeno@gmail.com. ISI

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Plant successive crops throughout the growing season. Plant cool weather vegetables like spinach, radishes, and lettuce in spring. Once these are harvested, replace with warm weather vegetables like beans, tomatoes, or cucumbers. Finish off the season by filling any voids with a fall crop of cool weather vegetables. Go vertical to save space, reduce disease, and make harvesting easier. Growing vine crops on supports lifts the fruit off the ground and increases the amount of light and airflow the plants receive, reducing the risk of disease. Plus, you’ll do less bending when it’s time to harvest. Mulch the garden with pine straw/evergreen needles, shredded leaves, or other organic matter.

These materials suppress the weeds, conserve moisture, and add organic matter to the soil as they decompose. You’ll have fewer weeds to pull and not have to water as often. Save time and water with the help of soaker hoses or drip irrigation. These systems apply the water directly to the soil where it is needed. Less water is lost to over spray, evaporation, and runoff. They also reduce the risk and spread of disease by preventing water from settling on the leaves. Try a few or all of these strategies this season for an abundant harvest without a lot of extra work. Melinda Myers has 30+ years of gardening experience has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. ISI

By Judith Remington Q: I received this sewing stand from my mother, who received it from her mother. They Furniture That Blows Your Mind, both passed away in their 90s.The only marks Not Your Budget! I can find on the stand is a mark on the bottom Bring in of the lower shelf that says “Wakefield” and the this ad for 20% OFF* number 3808. Can you tell me about my basket Your Next Purchase! and if it has any value? *Expires 04 See store /30/16 for details A: Yes, I can tell you a bit about your basket. The Wakefield Rattan company made it about 1860. Cyrus Wakefield was a Boston grocer who 3175 E. Copper Point Dr. | Meridian realized that discarded rattan was a suitable mate(208) 855-9885 10–5 Mon–Sat or by appt. rial for furniture. He became known as one of the www.heritagereflections.com best wicker manufacturers in America. Cyrus died in 1873, just after incorporating his business known as the Wakefield Rattan Company. In 1897, the Heywood Brothers merged their company with the Wakefield Company. The company is now known as Heywood and Wakefield Company. Your basket was made before the combining of the two companies; which dates the basket about 1860. From the picture, it looks to be in excellent condition and its value is in the $750 Coins & Paper Money-US & Worldwide to $1,200 range. Gold • Silver • Bullion Q: My sister Coin Collecting Books & Supplies picked up this bowl Metal Detectors & Prospecting Supplies at a yard sale for two dollars. She knows We now carry food storage supplies I love old-fashioned 10-5 Mon - Fri or Call for an Appointment pottery and cook210-C Triangle Dr. • Ponderay 208-263-6060 ware. The bottom of (Behind PampurredPetStore) 609426S-0815 the bowl is marked

R. Ransbottom, USA, Roseville O. Is this bowl made by the Roseville Pottery Company? What do you think the age and value of this bowl are? A: You have a wonderful sister. Stir up a batch of cookies in your new bowl and have her over for coffee and cookies. Your bowl is a vintage Robinson Ransbottom bowl. In the late 1890s Frank Ransbottom was one of the area’s best-known and most successful jobbers of the stoneware and earthenware products made in Roseville, Crooksville, and Saltillo, Ohio. Many people get the mark mixed up with the Roseville Pottery Company. Your bowl is a keepsake. Two reasons, nice bowl, nice sister. Treasure them both. The value of your bowl is in the $18-$25 range. Use and enjoy. Q: My daughter and I were exploring yard sales and we found this sweet little glass. I paid $1 for it. It stands 4 inches high and 3 inches wide. I just thought it was pretty. It has some marking on the cranberry colored glass that says souvenir glass from St. Louis, MO. What is the history on this type of glassware? You hit my heartstrings with this glass. I love the cranberry and cut glass designs. They sparkle so in the sunlight. This type of glassware was popular around the turn of the century. Many times you will find some in the antique stores or estate sales. This is really called a Ruby Stained pressed glass and they run in value from $15-$25. The value varies according to the inscriptions and the dates inscribed on the glass. Do not put the glass in the dishwasher. You may lose some of the color and all of the value. Put the glass on a windowsill so the sun can send sparkles into your home. Enjoy. ISI

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Everyday Is Mother’s Day For These Kids Submitted by Julie Hollar Is anything about your mom perfect? 1. Her teeth are perfect, but she bought them from the dentist. 2. Her casserole recipes. But we hate them. 3. Just her children. What would it take to make your mom perfect? 1. On the inside, she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d dye it, maybe blue. If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be? 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that. 2. I’d make my mom smarter – then she would know my sister did it and not me. What’s the difference between moms and grandmas? 1. About 30 years. 2. You can always count on grandmothers for candy. Sometimes moms don’t even have bread on them. Describe the world’s greatest mom? 1. She would be able to make broccoli taste like ice cream. 2. The greatest mom in the world wouldn’t make me kiss my aunts. 3. She’d always be smiling and keep her opinions to herself. What’s the difference between moms and dads? 1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just work at work. 2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power because that’s who you have to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s. What does your mom do in her spare time? 1. Mothers don’t have spare time. 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. Why did your mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on. What makes a real woman? 1. It means you have to be really bossy without looking bossy. Who’s the boss at your house? 1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because Dad is such a goofball. 2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad. What kind of little girl was your mom? 1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice. ISI

PAGE 24 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

APRIL/MAY 2016

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Copyright©2015 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4801 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-877-699-0353. All rights reserved. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement. Not all customers will qualify. Information, rates and programs are subject to change without notice. All products are subject to credit and property approval. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. Equal Housing Lender. FIMC is not affiliated with any government agencies. These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. Reverse mortage borrowers are required to obtain an eligibility certificate by recieving counseling sessions with a HUD-approaved agency. Must be at least 62 years old. Loan proceeds are not considered income and will not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. Your monthly reverse mortgage advances may affect your eligibility for some other programs. Consult a local program office or your attorney to determine how, or if, monthly reverse mortgage payments might affect your specific situation. Owners are still responsible for property taxes, insurance and maintanance.

By Dianna Troyer John Lonkey marvels at the stamina and speed of his racing pigeons and their ability to fly nonstop at more than 40 miles per hour for hundreds of miles to return home. “It’s amazing how fast and strong they are and how they navigate,” says the 66-year-old Parma resident who retired from working for a concrete company. A pigeon fancier since childhood, he breeds and cares for more than 100 racing pigeons at his loft in preparation for the region’s spring and fall racing seasons. A founding member of the Western Idaho Invitational Pigeon Racing Club in 2010, John serves as treasurer of the organization. “I belonged to a club in Boise from 1993 to 2010, and then there was enough interest for us to start a club here, too,” says John of the club’s dozen members who live about an hour northwest of Boise. “We have about seven or eight who race their birds regularly. It’s a lot of fun and is familyfriendly. We have a great time with people of all ages coming to races.” To compete, John joined the American Racing Pigeon Union to register his birds. Five to eight days after a pigeon is born, the owner places a lightweight band with number identification on the bird’s ankle and registers it with the union. He also registered the location of his loft, pinpointing it with GPS on a survey map. He installed an electronic grid on the deck of his pigeon loft to record the time a bird has crossed the threshold and returned home. To help his pigeons build their stamina for the racing season, he drives them 40 to 50 miles from home twice a week and releases them. John flies his pigeons in six to seven races a year in spring and fall. During the hot summer, pigeon fanciers give their birds a break. Racing categories are based on the pigeons’ ages and distances of 100 to 500 miles. In the region, 11 races for birds older than the year in which they were banded are scheduled from April to June. In September and October, six races are set for young racing birds hatched that year. At the start of the racing season, electronic bands are put on the birds by the owners at their lofts, and the bands are registered into the club’s computer software. As John’s birds cross the deck of their loft dur-

ing a race, the data is stored in his data module. The club’s computer reads and downloads each flier’s data and computes the race results. “Mine usually fly at about 1,300 yards per minute or about 40 miles an hour,” he says. “The fastest ones worldwide with tailwinds can fly more than 90 miles an hour.” Members of the club take turns volunteering to drive the birds to the start of a race. “Sometimes at the Western Open race in Nevada, as many as 1,500 birds will be released. It’s impressive to see. Birds fly in all directions.” Race winners in the western United States are generally rewarded with bragging rights instead of monetary prizes, explains John. After the Winnemucca Western Open 2013, John had plenty to brag about. He won the overall blue ribbon for the 100199-mile category with a bird that flew 198.8 miles at 1,612 yards per minute or about 55 miles per hour. While nothing more than bragging rights are at stake in the western U.S., “it’s different in South Florida, Oklahoma, and other parts of the world where it’s a seriously competitive sport with big purses,” says John. For example, in Taiwan, rivals are accused of kidnapping competitors’ birds, holding them for ransom, and doping birds. In the Belgium and Great Britain, pigeon racing is as popular as horseracing is in the U.S. Pigeons of certain racing bloodlines are extremely valuable. In 2013 at an auction in Belgium, a racing pigeon with a good pedigree and many race wins was sold for $400,000 to a Chinese businessman. John’s interest in pigeons started in childhood. “When I was a boy, I started out catching some in a barn and keeping them as pets,” he says. “Then my dad bought fancy roller pigeons for me as a pre-teen. In high school, he bought racing homers.” As he learned about pigeon racing, John was impressed with their worldwide historical significance. For centuries, pigeon racing has been the passion of royalty as well as the working class. During the world wars, homing pigeons were relied on to transmit vital messages. After high school, John put his avian avocation on hold while working and raising a family. With more time in the early ’90s, the soothing cooing of pigeons returned to his life.

APRIL/MAY 2016

“They all have personalities and certain quirks,” he says. “Some do best at certain racing distances.” One of John’s favorite pigeons, one he named Big Guy, was imported from Belgium. “He lived to be 22 and produced some great offspring,” says John. “I was his third owner and bought him when he was 8.” John houses his birds in several lofts, categorizing them according to gender, breeding pairs, surrogates, and non-competitive birds. “I have one loft for my 23 breeding pairs,” says

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 25

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John. He maintains records to keep track of which pairs produce the most competitive birds. “Then there’s the geezer loft for older birds to live out their lives here.” Once a race has started, John knows about 5541 Overland Boise, ID 837 what time his racers will come home to roost. 5541 Overland Road “A 500-mile race starts at about 6:30 a.m.,” Boise, ID 83705 you want simple, dignified, inexpensive servic he says. “I know they’ll be home about 6 or 7 that When (208) Call the322-3590 Treasure Valley’s First Cremation Society evening. I’ll go stand in my yard and look for them. Saveyou hundreds on services and merchandise. When want simple, inexpensive services... Then I’ll see a cock coming in, stalling in mid-air, locking up, and dropping into the loft like a bullet. CALL 322-3590 for Free, no-obligation details Save hundreds on services and merchandise. Their instinct to return home is unbelievable.” ISI

Dave Ottens Visits With Those On The Other Side

By Dianna Troyer Tending bar at his Boise business, Dave Ottens had grown to expect the unexpected but never imagined a talking apparition would appear one evening. “A man was sitting there with a young woman standing behind him who told me to tell him, ‘I didn’t mean to do it.’ Well, at the risk of his thinking I was nuts, I talked to him and described her and her message.” The man told Dave it was his sister who had committed suicide and he’d come from her funeral that day. Apologetic, she showed Dave the consequences of her action, so he could share that with people who might be contemplating suicide. “She showed me what appeared to be a big screen TV and said she had to watch the people she had hurt because of her suicide and feel their sadness and the emotional pain her death caused them. She died in her 20s but originally had intended to live until she was 82. If those she had hurt forgave her, then she could cross over.” Dave first realized he had the ability to communicate with those who have died after his sister passed on in 1993. “She dropped dead out of the blue,” he says. Dave Ottens was asked to confirm the presence of ghosts dwelling at the Glenns Ferry Historic Opera “After her funeral, I could Theatre and other businesses and schools in town. The still see her at different theatre was part of a downtown ghost walking tour, a times of day, but it wasn’t Halloween activity organized by the Chamber of Com- scary. Then in about merce. [Photo by David Payne] 2001, the gift of being able to talk to spirits came after a woman in the bar talked to me.” Since then, Dave has aided police detectives with investigations, helped people communicate with ghosts in their businesses or homes, and has talked to those who have died and would still like to visit with family members and friends who are still alive. “I don’t charge or advertise because for me it’s not about money. I’m retired after being self-employed and am financially stable,” says Dave, 59. “It’s about offering some comfort and helping people understand their lives and what happens in death. People hear about me by word-of-mouth.” One of his recent projects was helping the Glenns Ferry Chamber of Commerce organize a ghost tour of its downtown businesses in celebration of Halloween. In the town’s historic theater, several ghosts linger. “They have no intentions of leaving because they love it there,” says Dave. “When they were alive, that theater brought so much joy to their lives. Ghosts generally don’t want to pass away from Earth into a spiritual setting because they’re content where they are. Spirits, on the other hand, have passed on to another realm but can come back to visit.” Dave says spirits come to him with certain messages they want him to convey. “It sounds crazy, but that’s my life,” he says. “To me, they look like regular people in clothes except I can see through them. Spirits have shown me what death is like and how we choose to live our lives.” In death, the spirit leaves the body, transitions to darkness, then moves toward light. “You get to feel the pain you’ve caused people, yet you also feel the love you’ve given people coming back to you,” says Dave. “You feel an unconditional loving force, God, whatever you want to call that presence. You see your friends and family who have passed before you. Here, time is meaningless.” In this realm, spirits get to decide what lessons they want to learn in their next life on Earth and pick spiritual mentors to guide them. “You also get to choose your gender, race, sexuality, your family, friends, how and when to die, and whether you even want to have human form or be a tree or butterfly, whatever,” says Dave. “Whatever you pick, it will help you learn certain lessons you want to learn. Pain in this life often occurs because you wanted to gain wisdom about an issue.” Dave advises those who naturally feel sorrow (Continued on page 39)

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Idaho Hot Air Balloon Rides

By Bernice Karnop One windless summer morning Sandi O’Shea, balloon pilot and owner of All About Fun Balloon Rides of Boise, took her 87-year-old dad for a ride. On impulse, she gently landed the balloon in a retirement village. Curious residents emerged from their houses, some still in pajamas and robes, and some barefooted, to see the colorful conveyance up close. “Everyone was having the best time,” Sandi says. She offered them “tethered rides,” a chance to get into the basket without going anywhere. This sparked a lot of laughing, hooting, and teasing. “Come on, George. We need some more hot air over here!” Sandi says it was like in the movie, Cocoon, where a group of aliens move in next door to a retirement community. Some residents sneak into Balloon rides in this colorful conveyance called Wind

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the aliens’ pool and are supernaturally rejuvenated by the cocoons stored there. Seeing the retirees having fun with the balloon. Sandi says, “was like watching them come alive.” Sandi’s been taking people from Idaho and all over the world up in her colorful hot air balloon for more than 25 years. In her experience, people over 50 have the most fun and appreciate the balloon rides most. For most of human history people could only dream of floating through the air like birds on the wing, but flying now is an everyday experience. And balloon rides are nothing like anything a person has done before, according to Sandi. Guests don’t even know when they’ve left the ground because there is no torque or push like an elevator or carnival ride. Most landings, she says, “are like a feather.” One trip she was extra careful to land smoothly because she had a 90-year-old man aboard. His reaction surprised her. “I thought landing would be more exciting than this!” he commented. Most customers book their ride through her website or by phone. All rides launch just before sunrise, and all rides are weather dependent. Sandi doesn’t fly if it’s windy or rainy. She doesn’t fly if the temperature is above 80 degrees because the balloon is more difficult to handle. She will reschedule the ride rather than take any risks, and customers appreciate that. “I’d rather disappoint you than hurt you,” she says.

APRIL/MAY 2016

Her balloon holds two passengers, three if they are small people, plus the pilot and equipment. Early morning flights are ideal for several reasons. It’s a beautiful time of day and the wind has not yet come up. It’s breathtaking to watch the long shadows shorten as the sun gets higher in the sky. Riders watch the balloon’s shadow glide across the grass, or experience “eclipsing” where another balloon passes between theirs and the sun. Often they see a rainbow-like halo around the balloon’s shadow on the wet grass or see the colorful balloon reflected in small ponds. They fly over dogs and cats, cattle and horses, foxes, pheasants, deer, and more. “Describing the experience is difficult because it’s different each time,” Sandi says. After the initial roar of the burners, the flight is as silent as an owl. It’s one of the things people most remark about. They love the quiet, the tranquility, and the grace of the drifting balloon accompanied by the sweeping views of lovely Idaho scenery gently unfolding beneath the basket. The goal of All About Fun Balloon Rides is to

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 27

give people a special experience. For most, it will be their only ride and Sandi wants it to be perfect. A man from Norway texted her all winter and finally booked a ride when he and his girlfriend planned a ski trip to Sun Valley. They drove all night to Boise, and because they got separated from their luggage, they wore borrowed coats that were much too large. The glorious spring sunrise was the perfect backdrop to an unforgettably romantic moment. Of course she said yes to his marriage proposal! Some riders feel nervous about riding in a hot air balloon. One of her most jittery riders was an F-16 pilot. It bothered him not to be in control. Another fellow, an Englishman, grew wide-eyed with terror as they launched. In stereotypical British fashion, he politely inquired, “Is it customary to be a bit apprehensive?” “I guess he couldn’t be apprehensive if it wasn’t customary,” Sandi says with a laugh. Sandi has never had a bad accident but she had one harrowing ride at a Twin Falls rally when “they” told her it was safe to fly in the canyon. Now

Nancy Zurcher Collects Hundreds Of Vintage Hats By Dianna Troyer A classic 1940s wide-brimmed black felt hat in a thrift store beckoned to Nancy Zurcher 25 years ago. “It was so elegant with black feathers and big bow,” she says. “I didn’t know a thing about vintage hats. I just knew I liked it.”

she does all her own weather research and makes her own determination about what is safe. All About Fun Balloon Rides start at the fairgrounds in Boise. They launch just before sunrise and the balloon is in the air for about an hour. The ground crew picks up the passengers and returns them to the fairgrounds where they celebrate the ride with a simple outdoor breakfast, toasting the event with either champagne or sparkling cider. Guests should plan about three hours for the total experience. One doesn’t have to be athletic to go for a hot air balloon ride. They’ll help you in and out of the basket. Individuals do need to be able to stand for the hour’s ride, since there are no seats. Grandchildren should to be tall enough to see over the basket and have a long enough attention span to last through the hour-long trip. For more information or to book a flight or if you are interested in being on a volunteer crew visit balloonsidaho.com or call 208-322-8626. ISI

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senior living She also collects historic bonnets. ~CALDWELL~ “I have some dating to the Civil War,” she says. • A Loving Family Atmosphere “Others are Amish bonnets.” • On Site Beauty Parlor & Laundry Units Fascinated with vintage hats, Nancy began • Home Cooked Meals Every Day doing research about their history and learned 208-454-0004 • 612 W Logan St they reflected attitudes of an era. LoganParkSeniorLiving.com “I love them all,” says Nancy. “The ’60s were wild, the ’50s flirtatious, and the ’40s were stylish. I’ve had a hard time finding hats made in the ’20s because many were made of perishable silk. Even though they’re older, Victorian hats hold up well because of the materials used to make them.” Her hats range in value from $6 to several hundred dollars, depending on their condition and uniqueness. Through her research, Nancy learned how hats are made and considered making a few. “I bought some hat forms, thinking I’d like to make a hat for myself one day. But it’s a complicated process best left to a professional. Hat-making is a dying art.” Highest Over 3 Her fascination with Prices Turn Your Years S 5 In d erv ai P Old Forgotten hats eventually extended the Trea ing Decades Treasures sure to vintage clothing and Into Cash!!! Valley compelled her to open Estate Jewelry an apparel shop, In RetWe Pay Top Prices For Gold, Silver & Platinum Items. 9k, 10k, 14k, Dental 18k, 22k, 24k rospect. All Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry Any Condition New, Used, Or Damaged We Buy From All Time Periods. “It’s amazing how one Diamonds 1/2 Carat & Larger Loose Or Mounted All Shapes & Quality little thing, like a hat, can lead you down a career Sterling path,” says Nancy. Silver She displays her hats at home and at her shop, a house built in 1940. U.S. Silver Coins “I’m careful with them Buying 1964 and put them where the Coin Collections & Older light won’t hit them and make them fade. They’re beautiful to display in Equal Opportunity Provider & Employer

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PAGE 28 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT

groups of two or three. People see them and remember the hats their mother and grandmother wore.” Some people drop in the shop and tell her they have kept an heirloom hat along with a family photograph showing a relative wearing the hat. “I’m glad to see some people are sentimental about the hats in their family,” she says. To share her insights, Nancy has organized vintage hat shows as fund-raisers to help nonprofit organizations, including The Friends of The Bishops’ House and Ballet Idaho and Academy. She has also been asked to judge contests at the Idaho State Historical Museum. “For special events like that, I’ll wear vintage clothes and a hat,” she says. “When you wear a dressy hat from the past, you feel like a different person, like your alter ego from decades ago.”

APRIL/MAY 2016

She often tells her audience at shows how hats evolved as a fashion statement. “In the ’40s, women used never to leave the house without a hat,” she says. “They were always worn to church, too. It’s fascinating to see how a hat topped off an outfit.” Women’s dress hats are still in vogue in some places. Extravagant hats with a wide brim are a must at the Kentucky Derby. Women in the British royal family have always worn fashionable hats. Queen Elizabeth wore her iconic pillbox hats, while Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is setting fashion trends with fascinators, small hats held in place with a hair comb. Nancy’s daughter, Emily, 22, always wears a hat. “She grew up with them and still thinks of them as an essential accessory,” says Nancy.

Nancy says wearing vintage clothes and hats is becoming a popular trend nationwide with young people. “It’s slowly catching on in Idaho,” she says. Nancy wishes she still owned that first classic black hat that launched her collection. “I sold it in a store I owned in an antique mall I also owned,” she says. “Someone saw it and wanted to buy it. I still regret selling it.” After selling the mall and her store, Nancy opened In Retrospect six years ago. “Who knows,” she says, “maybe one day someone will bring in that first hat I bought.” Advice about collecting hats, their history, and value can be found at hatatorium.com. For more information on In Retrospect visit vintageclothingboise.com or call 208-994-3153. ISI

Adrenals: The Stress and Energy Gland

By Dr. Holly Carling Too little attention is paid today to the adrenals, a couple of small glands that are a part of the complex endocrine system of interdependent hormoneproducing glands that control nearly every metabolic function in the body and provides an intricate feedback response to any chemical changes in the body. When the adrenals are not working up to par, many systems are impaired. The adrenals (aka supra-renals – because they sit on top of the kidneys) are small, yet powerful little guys that are separated into two structures, the adrenal cortex and medulla. Each produces hormones critical for function, especially in response to stress. The adrenal cortex mainly produces or synthesizes corticosteroid hormones such as cortisol, corticosterone, and androgens (testosterone, DHEA, and aldosterone). It is regulated by hormones secreted by the pituitary and hypothalamus. The adrenal medulla mostly produces epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which are important catecholamines necessary for the fight-or-flight (or stress) response. It is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.

This complexity of hormones controls many systems such as response to stress or danger, sustained energy, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, inflammation, mineral salt regulation, and sex hormones. In fact, when a woman is menopausal, it is the adrenal glands that become the major source of circulating sex hormones. It is the adrenals’ job to regulate how well you respond to stress. The more stressed the adrenals become, the less capable of handling stress you become. According to Dr. James L. Wilson, who coined the term adrenal fatigue, “…how well you live depends a great deal on how well your adrenal glands function.” Adrenal fatigue is not a conventional medical diagnosis, nor a medicallyaccepted condition. It is not adrenal failure (Addison’s disease); it is suboptimal adrenal function – the gray area between good function and failure. True medical adrenal insufficiency can be a serious, life-threatening disorder. That is not what we are talking about here. We are referring to that gray area. There are many things that affect adrenal function. Stress is number one. The adrenals were designed for an occasional burst of cortisol and adrenaline when danger presents itself. The body goes into action, and then when

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all is safe, everything returns to normal. No harm done... hopefully! In modern life, however, stress is too often a chronic, long term condition resulting in unrelenting adrenaline and cortisol bursts. Secreted by the adrenals, cortisol has both good and bad effects, depending on its release. Sustained low levels of cortisol are beneficial as it is converted to cortisone, the body’s natural antiinflammatory hormone. But when it surges under stress or with the excess intake of sugar, it is now

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 29

harmful and becomes pro-inflammatory and tells the body to store more belly fat. When your adrenals are stressed, your body has a difficult time responding and adapting properly to emotional and physical stressors. You feel fatigued, sleep is fitful, and you tend to gain weight that is difficult to lose. Managing stress through exercise, meditation, yoga, and stretching will help reduce cortisol levels. Also consider more social interaction with

friends and in situations that produce laughter, which will reduce cortisol levels and stimulate the release of endorphins that elevate mood. Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. Dr. Carling offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic. Visit vitalhealthcda.com or call 208-7651994 to learn more. ISI

Nutrient Slowed Cancer Cell Growth In Early-Stage Breast Cancer By David Stauth One of the first clinical studies to look at the effect of sulforaphane on breast tissues of women diagnosed with breast cancer showed that this compound was well tolerated and slowed the growth of cancer cells, especially at early stages. Sulforaphane is a compound found in broccoli and many other cruciferous vegetables, and it has long shown evidence of value in cancer prevention, researchers say. This research suggests it may ultimately play a role in slowing cancer growth as well – along with other proven approaches such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The findings have been published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research by scientists from Oregon State University and the Oregon Health & Science University. “Our original goal was to determine if sulforaphane supplements would be well tolerated and might alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer,” said Emily Ho, a professor in the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences. “We were surprised to see a decrease in markers of cell growth, which means these compounds may help slow cancer cell growth,” said Ho, a co-author on the study. “This is very encouraging. Dietary approaches have traditionally been thought to be limited to cancer prevention, but this demonstrated it could help slow the growth of existing tumors.” When better understood and studied, it’s possible that sulforaphane or other dietary compounds

may be added to traditional approaches to cancer therapy, whether to prevent cancer, slow its progression, treat it or stop its recurrence, said Ho, who is also the endowed director of the Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventive Health, and a principal investigator with OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute. This research was done with 54 women with abnormal mammograms who were scheduled for a breast biopsy and were studied in a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. They received either a placebo or supplements that provided sulforaphane. The amount of sulforaphane they received would equate to about one cup of broccoli sprouts per day, if eaten as a food. A number of studies in the past have found that women with a high intake of cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, or kale – have a decreased risk of breast cancer. Research has also shown that sulforaphane, which is found at the highest levels in such foods, can modulate breast cancer risk at several stages of carcinogenesis and through different mechanisms. In particular, sulforaphane appears to inhibit histone deacetylases, or HDACs, which in turn enhances the expression of tumor suppressor genes that are often silenced in cancer cells. In fact, the intake of sulforaphane in this study did reduce HDAC activity, as well as cancer cell growth. Additional studies are needed to evaluate dose responses, work with larger populations, and examine the responses of other relevant molecular targets to either foods or supplements

As people age, it is natural to be more proactive about health. The multitude of recommended screenings and tests linked with aging milestones simplify making healthy aging a priority. However, for the majority, hearing health is too frequently left out of proactive health planning. For the 37.5 million American adults who report some trouble hearing, there is no time like the present to make hearing health a priority. Here are five tips to focus your attention on your hearing health: 1. Have your hearing checked. Annual hearing screenings should be as common as annual vision exams. Getting your hearing checked on a regular basis can help uncover early signs of hearing loss and identify possible treatment solutions. 2. Protect your hearing. Being proactive about hearing loss starts with adequately protecting your hearing in loud or noisy settings, such as concerts or on in a noisy workplace. 3. Speak up for a loved one. If you have a loved one who demonstrates signs of hearing loss, it is important to voice concern and encourage your loved one to have a hearing test and get more information. 4. Be mindful of others with hearing loss. Being sensitive to a friend’s or loved one’s hearing loss can make communication easier. If someone has hearing loss, make a point to speak slowly and face the individual so he or she can better understand you. 5. Remember your hearing changes over time. Sounds that were crisp and clear years ago may not be anymore. This is particularly true of high frequency hearing loss, which is why it is important to regularly monitor hearing for changes and learn about different treatment solutions. “Many of our older recipients, who either treated their hearing loss later in life or determined

their hearing aids were no longer enough, were able to get back sounds they didn’t even know they were missing,” said Patti Trautwein, Au.D., a vice president at Cochlear Americas. “Treating hearing loss can improve an individual’s quality of

containing sulforaphane, researchers said. Some other studies have also suggested that different types of broccoli extract preparations may be more bioavailable for uses of this type. This research was supported by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. ISI

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life, as they are more likely to take part in social activities and feel less depressed or sad when they’re able to hear adequately.” If hearing loss is discovered, early treatment may not only result in improved hearing outcomes, but may also help individuals reengage in their lives and with their friends and family. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that bypass damaged hair cells in the inner ear, or cochlea, and stimulate the hearing nerve directly and are a proven medical option for adults with moderate-to-profound hearing loss in both ears. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 58,000 adults and 38,000 children have received cochlear implants in the United States. Nearly two million Americans could be candidates for cochlear implant technology, but only 5 percent of patients who can benefit have been treated. For additional information visit cochlear.com. ISI

• Adult / Pediatrics Examinations

• Cataract Surgery Charles C. George, MD • Bruce D. Bellin, MD Board Certified Ophthalmologists

208-263-8501 or 1-800-881-8501 307 South First Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 eyeclinicofsandpoint.com

Research Participants Needed – Let’s Put an End to Cancer Together HAYDEN, ID- Panhandle Health District (PHD) is now recruiting adults who have faced any type of cancer to participate in a local research study. Cancer survivors, patients, parents of children diagnosed with cancer and other family members directly affected are invited to participate in individual interviews – sharing their experiences pertaining to cancer prevention services, diagnosis, and community support. Information collected is for the development of cancer prevention and treatment programs in northern Idaho. Interviews will require 20-30 minutes and any

Recovering From a Health Crisis Takes a Team By Lisa M. Petsche If you or a person you are caring for becomes hospitalized due to a health crisis – such as stroke, a hip fracture, or prolonged acute illness – an inpatient rehabilitation program may be recommended. Rehab may occur on site or at an acute rehabilitation facility or skilled nursing home. The goal of rehab is to help people who have experienced health setbacks regain their strength and endurance. The focus is on reducing disability and, where permanent disability remains, managing it in the best possible way. Rehab programs may be general or specific to a certain type of injury or diagnosis, such as stroke. They vary in intensity and duration, some being time–limited while others allow the patient to continue as long as progress is being made. Typical criteria for acceptance into a program include medical stability; physical potential for improvement; mental ability – including sufficient attention span and memory – to participate in therapy; and willingness to participate in the program and try new ways of doing things, including using adaptive aids if necessary – such as walkers or wheelchairs. Upon admission, staff assesses a patient’s abilities and limitations in order to develop an individualized care plan involving measurable goals and plans. Treatment usually includes individual and group therapies. Challenges patients may face during rehab include having to conform to a tight schedule; fatigue, especially if they are unaccustomed to physical activity; embarrassment at having to re– learn basic activities such as washing and dress-

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personal health information will remain confidential. PHD is seeking participants from each of Idaho’s five northern counties. Eligible volunteers can be men or women, but must be at least 18 years of age, and residents of Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, Boundary, or Bonner Counties. Interviews will be scheduled through April 2016 and may be conducted in person or over the phone. To participate or for more information, call Erin Whitehead at 208-415-5218 or email ewhitehead@ phd1.idaho.gov. ISI

208-359-6900

| 450 E Main, Rexburg | www.madisonhospital.org

ing; and frustration from unrealistic expectations. Moreover, progress may be impeded by medical conditions such as clinical depression, impaired cognitive function, pain, medication side effects (drowsiness, for instance), or concomitant illnesses or chronic conditions. Patient progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. Evaluation also occurs formally through frequent team meetings and periodic review conferences that include the patient and family. Staff adjusts goals and plans as needed and monitors patient readiness for discharge. Service is delivered by a team of health care professionals who consult and collaborate on a continual basis, ensuring a coordinated, holistic approach to assessment and treatment. Following is an overview of each member’s role. Case Manager – Team leader, responsible for overall planning, coordinating care, and evaluating outcomes. Physician – Diagnoses and treats medical problems, orders investigations and treatments and consults with specialists as needed. Nursing Staff – Assesses health status, administers medication and other physician–ordered treatments, and assists with personal care as needed. Physical Therapist (PT) – Evaluates patients’ functional ability and works with them to improve or maintain walking, balance, endurance, strength, and flexibility. Occupational Therapist (OT) – Teaches alternative ways of carrying out daily activities, including self-care skills and homemaking tasks. Performs home evaluations, recommending adaptations and special equipment to maximize safety. Dietitian – Evaluates nutritional status and recommends necessary dietary changes to help treat diet related health problems, such as constipation. Speech/Language Pathologist (SLP) – Assesses and treats difficulties related to hearing, speech, language, and swallowing. Social Worker – Helps patients and their families learn to cope more effectively with losses, emotional issues, family problems, and financial concerns, and links them with community resources. Recreation Therapist – Fosters quality of life by providing opportunities for fun, creativity, socialization, and learning. Together the various disciplines work with each patient to help them achieve the highest possible level of health, independence, and quality of life. Caregivers also play an important role, including supporting and motivating their loved one through empathy and encouragement; ensuring staff knows the patient’s needs, habits, and interests as they customize the plan of care; becoming

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familiar with the patient’s medical condition and treatment plan; learning what he/she is and isn’t capable of, so they can assist where needed and avoid helping with things he/she can do; attending therapy and learning exercises to perform together between sessions or following discharge; and ensuring delivery of necessary equipment and completion of home adaptations prior to discharge. Once a patient reaches his/her highest potential, the focus shifts to discharge planning. The team assesses patient and family needs and com-

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 31

munity resources available to meet those needs, and makes referrals as appropriate. For those returning home, a graduated discharge is encouraged, beginning with daytime visits and progressing to overnight stays of increasing length. These temporary leaves of absence help the patient, family, and team determine if special services or further home alterations are required (and sometimes if returning home to live is even feasible). Referral may be made to an outpatient rehab program or to home care physical or occu-

pational therapy if some therapeutic goals remain, or as a transitional measure. If discharge to home is not possible, the patient and family are provided with information on appropriate residential care facilities with arrangements for tours and the ultimate selection of an appropriate facility. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. ISI

How Retirees can Save on Prescription Eyeglasses Prescription eyeglasses today aren’t cheap. You can easily spend $200 for a basic pair, but if you want designer frames or need bifocal or progressive lenses the price can more than double. Here are a few different options that can help you save. Medicare/Insurance Coverage – If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you already know that original Medicare (Part A and B) and Medigap supplemental policies do not cover routine eye exams or eyeglasses (unless you’ve just had cataract surgery), but there are some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans that do. Many of these plans, which are sold through private insurance companies cover vision, as well as dental, hearing, and prescription drugs, in addition to all of your hospital and medical insurance. To locate Advantage plans in your area that provide vision coverage, visit Medicare.gov/find-aplan or call 800-633-4227. But before enrolling in a plan, check the benefit details to ensure the plan’s vision coverage includes routine eye exams, eyeglass frames, and lenses. You can switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan each year during the open enrollment period, which is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. If, however, you don’t want a Medicare Advantage plan, you can still get coverage by purchasing an inexpensive vision insurance policy – see eHealthInsurance.com. Policy costs vary depending on where you live, but they usually start at around $6 to $9 per month for an individual. Before signing up, make sure your savings potential is worth the cost of the premiums and copays. Discount Stores – Purchasing eyeglasses from discount retailers is another way to save. Costco is one of the best discount stores for good eye wear and low prices. Eyeglasses cost an average of around $150, but to shop there you have to pay a $55 annual membership fee. Some other good retail options for low prices include For Eyes Optical, BJ’s Optical,

Sam’s Club, and Walmart. You also need to find out if you are eligible for any discounts. Many retailers provide discounts to membership groups like AARP and AAA. AARP members, for example, can get 30 percent off a pair of prescription eyeglasses as well as discounts on eye exams at any LensCrafters, most participating Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, JCPenney Optical, and thousands of private optometrist offices. Look Online – Buying eyeglasses online can also offer huge savings. Some online stores like ZenniOptical.com, Goggles4u.com, and EyeBuyDirect.com sell prescription eyeglasses for as little as $7 plus shipping. These sites let you upload a photo of your face, so you can see what you’d look like in different frames. Or, for a fancier choice of frames see WarbyParker.com, which offers single-vision glasses for $95. They even offer a free program where you can request up to five pairs to try on at home for five days. To purchase glasses online, you’ll need your eyeglass prescription from a local eye doctor, plus your pupillary distance number, which is the distance, measured in millimeters, between the centers of your pupils in each eye. Low-Income Assistance – If your income is low, depending on where you live, there may be some local clinics that provide free or discounted eye exams and eyeglasses. Put in a call to your local Lions Club to see what’s available in your area. See directory.lionsclubs.org for contact information. You may also be able to get free eyeglasses through New Eyes (neweyes.org, 973-376-4903), a nonprofit organization that provides free eyeglasses through a voucher program to people in financial need. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

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Obese People Need More Vitamin E, But Actually Get Less By David Stauth A recent study suggests that obese people with metabolic syndrome face an unexpected quandary when it comes to vitamin E – they need more than normal levels because their weight and other problems are causing increased oxidative stress, but those same problems actually cause their effective use of vitamin E to be reduced. As a result, experts in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University say that a huge number of Americans may be chronically deficient in vitamin E, which could compound the wide range of diseases known to be associated with metabolic syndrome, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer ’s disease, and cancer. Metabolic syndrome affects more than one out of every three adults in the U.S. It is characterized in people who have at least three of five common issues that raise health concerns – excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, low “good” cholesterol, and/or high levels of blood sugar and triglycerides. Some of the findings of this study are counterintuitive, the researchers said, because vitamin E is a fat-soluble micronutrient and, in theory, should be available at increased levels in people who are overweight and eat large amounts of fatty foods. However, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that even though circulating vitamin E in the bloodstream may be high, in obese

people this essential micronutrient is not finding its way into tissues where it is most needed. “Vitamin E is associated with lipids, or the fats found in the blood, but it’s mostly just a micronutrient that’s going along for the ride,” said Maret Traber, a professor in the College of Public Health and Human Science at OSU, and a principal investigator in the Linus Pauling Institute. “What we found was that tissues of obese people are rejecting intake of some of these lipids because they already have enough fat,” Traber said. “In the process they also reject the associated vitamin E. So even though the tissues are facing serious oxidative stress, the delivery of vitamin E to them is being impaired, and they are not getting enough of this important micronutrient.” Fat generates oxidants that increase metabolic stress, Traber said. Vitamin E, along with vitamin C and some other antioxidants are natural dietary defenses against this problem. However, millions of Americans – more than 92 percent by some measures – eat a diet deficient in vitamin E, often about half the desired amount. It’s found at highest levels in some foods such as nuts, seeds, and olive oil. “Another concern is that when people try to lose weight, often the first thing they do is limit their fat intake,” Traber said. “This may make sense if you are trying to reduce calories, but fat is the most

common source of vitamin E in our diets, so that approach to weight loss can sometimes actually worsen a nutrient deficiency.” A reasonable approach, Traber said, would be to try to eat a balanced and healthy diet, even if attempting to lose weight, while also taking a daily multivitamin that includes 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin E, which is 15 milligrams per day. It’s also important to eat some food containing at least a little fat when taking a supplement, because otherwise this fat-soluble vitamin – in the form found in most dietary supplements – will not be well absorbed. In this study, the researchers made their findings with a double-blind study of adults, some of whom were healthy and others with metabolic syndrome. The authors concluded that its findings support higher dietary requirements of vitamin E for adults with metabolic syndrome. This work was done in collaboration with researchers at Ohio State University with support from the National Dairy Council. The Linus Pauling Institute at OSU is a world leader in the study of micronutrients and their role in promoting optimum health or preventing and treating disease. Major areas of research include heart disease, cancer, aging, and neurodegenerative disease. ISI

- - - An Antidote to the COBRA Trap - - By Janet Trautwein Medicare has strict rules for enrollment. Most people are automatically signed up for Medicare Part A, the portion of the program that covers hospital care, when they turn 65, as long as they’re collecting Social Security. Enrollment in Medicare Parts B and D – which cover physician services and prescription drugs, respectively – can be delayed if a person is still actively at work and covered by an employer-sponsored plan related to their employment. However, the enrollment process for those who delay can be confusing – and can lead to costly mistakes. Below are several examples of people

Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation?

Medications May Not Be Enough Atrial fibrillation is a serious condition that can sometimes require more than medication. If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you might benefit from electric cardioversion, cardiac ablation, or surgical ablation.

For the first time in our region, electrophysiology is now available at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Dr. Alejandro Perez-Verdia is a board-certified Cardiologist with exceptional skill and experience treating patients with heart disorders. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. PerezVerdia completed his Fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Missouri Kansas City/Mid America Heart Institute, and another fellowship in cardiology at Texas Tech University. He completed a residency of Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University, and earned his medical degree at the Universidad Anahuac in Mexico. Dr. Perez-Verdia speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, listening to music and cooking. Alejandro Perez-Verdia, M.D.

eirmc.com/hearts

who were forced to reckon with just those kinds of mistakes. • One is a 67-year-old schoolteacher who held off on enrolling in Medicare Part B to ensure that his younger, ailing wife could keep the health coverage they’d enjoyed for years. • Another is a cancer survivor who, having met her deductible under her employer-sponsored plan, wanted to complete her chemotherapy regimen before switching to Medicare. • Finally, there’s the widow who found herself uninsured for months after not moving quickly enough to sign up for Medicare Parts B and D in the wake of her husband’s death. These people all delayed enrollment in Medicare Parts B and D to stay on their employer-sponsored insurance under the terms of a federal law called COBRA, which permits people to extend their health benefits after leaving a job by paying the premiums themselves. Unfortunately, all three ended up facing significant financial penalties and delays in securing Part B coverage. That’s unfair and has to change. The number of people subject to this COBRA trap is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seniors have surpassed the young and middle-aged workers as the fastest-growing segment of the workforce. They now account for over 16 percent of U.S. workers – up from 12.1 percent in 1990. For workers with employer-sponsored plans, it may make sense to delay Medicare enrollment in Parts B and D to avoid paying premiums for coverage they don’t yet need. Others may defer enrollment so that a younger spouse can stay on an employer-sponsored plan. Medicare allows delayed enrollment without penalty so long as the worker is covered through their employer. However, once they retire and their coverage ends, they have an eight-month window – called a special enrollment period – to enroll in Medicare Parts B and D without incurring fines. Missing the eight-month window can trigger penalties of up to 10 percent per year of lateness and increase premiums for the rest of their lives. They could even have to go without insurance while they wait for the next sign-up period. Medicare does not recognize COBRA as the type of “creditable coverage” (coverage as good as or better than Medicare) that allows a worker to delay Medicare enrollment. So a person who continues his or her workplace coverage through COBRA begins racking up late enrollment penalties almost immediately. That makes little sense. The only difference between employer-sponsored coverage and that obtained through COBRA is who is paying the premium – the employer or the former employee. Medicare’s reasons for limiting enrollment periods to two or three months a year and imposing late penalties helps discourage patients from waiting to sign up for coverage until they’re sick and need care. But people using COBRA are not looking to pull one over on the system. They’re still paying premiums on the plans they were covered by through their employers. At most, they made an honest mistake – one for which they’ll pay for the rest of their lives. And it’s a mistake that will grow more common as people work later in life – unless Congress dismantles this COBRA trap. Janet Trautwein is CEO of the National Association of Health Underwriters. ISI

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Taking the Right Precautions For A Family Member With Dementia Modifications Help Create A Home Environment That’s Safe and Supportive Not every person struggling with dementia lives in a nursing home or assisted-living facility. In fact, more than 15 million Americans – usually family members or friends – provide unpaid caregiving to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, according to a 2014 report by the Alzheimer’s Association. Although it’s wonderful so many are willing to assume that responsibility, it’s also important they take steps to make sure the home is a safe place, says Kerry Mills, co-author with Jennifer Brush of the book I Care: A Handbook for Care Partners of People With Dementia. (www.engagingalzheimers.com) Part of that is to focus on potential hazards. The concept is not unlike new parents making a house “childproof.” Many of the concerns are similar, such as stairs, electrical sockets, sharp objects, and swimming pools. At the same time, it’s easy to go too far, Mills said. Ideally, the environment for the person with dementia should be as unrestricted as possible. “For example, if your loved one enjoys cooking for a hobby and can safely cut and peel vegetables, then by all means, encourage it,” Mills says. Mills suggests several ways to make a home safer for someone with dementia. • For the front and back doors. Use bells on the doors, motion sensors that turn on lights or alerts, or other notifications that make the care partner aware when someone has gone out. Add lamps or motion-activated lighting so people can see where they are going when they are entering or leaving the house. “Another way to discourage someone from wanting to leave the house is to make sure that he or she gets plenty of outside exercise whenever possible,” Mills says. • For stairways and hallways. Add reflective tape strips to stair edges to

make stairs more visible. Remove obstacles, such as mats and flowerpots, to minimize risks of falls on or by the stairs. Also, install handrails in hallways and stairways to provide stability, and install a gate on the stairway to prevent falls. Improve the lighting around hallways and stairs by installing more ceiling fixtures or wall sconces. • For the bathroom. Install grab bars and a raised toilet seat to help both the individual with dementia and the care partners so they don’t have to lift the person on and off the toilet. Add grab bars inside and outside the tub, and a non-skid surface in the tub to reduce risks of falls. You can also add colored tape on the edge of the tub or shower curb to increase contrast and make the tub edge more visible. Lower the water temperature or install an anti-scald valve to prevent burns, and remove drain plugs from sinks or tubs to avoid flooding. • For the possibility the person becomes lost. Provide your loved one with an identification or GPS bracelet in case he or she wanders. Label clothes with the person’s name, and place an identification card in his or her wallet with a description of the person’s condition. Notify police and neighbors of the person’s dementia and tendency to wander. With a little foresight and planning by caregivers, risks to Alzheimer’s sufferers will be minimized. Kerry Mills, MPA, is an expert in best care practices for persons with dementia both in the home and in out-of-home health care residences and organizations. She is a consultant to numerous hospitals, assisted livings, hospice, home care agencies, senior day care centers, and nursing homes. In her twelve-year career in health care, she has served as executive director and regional manager for numerous long-term dementia facilities. She is an outspoken advocate for persons with dementia, lecturing in Hong Kong, Canada, China, Europe, and the United States. Her book, I Care… (engagingalzheimers.com) is the 2014 Gold Award Winner of the National Mature Media Awards. ISI

New Cause Discovered for Arterial Stiffness, a Contributor to Cardiovascular Disease Increased vascular stiffness has been identified as an important part of hypertension in aging adults. Previous studies of aortic stiffness have focused on changes in structural proteins that alter the properties of vascular walls causing them to become rigid. Now, a research team led by scientists at the University of Missouri has determined that smooth muscle cells that line the interior of vascular walls are a major contributing factor to vascular stiffness, one of the major causes of hypertension. Researchers believe that results from their study could help provide new possibilities for drug treatments for the disease in aging patients. “Arterial and vascular stiffness occurs through the normal process of biological aging and is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes,” said Gerald Meininger, director of the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center and a professor of medical pharmacology and physiology in the School of Medicine at MU. “As we age, the aorta, which normally acts as a shock absorber dampening the pulse associated with each heartbeat, tightens and becomes rigid, causing a host of problems including high blood pressure, increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, and even death.”

In the United States, the risk of developing hypertension due to aging is greater than 90 percent in both men and women. Recent studies have identified several mechanisms for arterial stiffness in humans. Research has focused on the structural matrix proteins, or non-living components that compose the outer walls of blood vessels, as well as endothelial cells which line the inner portion of the vascular walls. Meininger and his team focused on a new potential source – smooth muscle cells that are a major component of the “middle” of the blood vessel wall. Teaming with researchers at Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute for Technology, Meininger and his group isolated aortic cells from normal and hypertensive rat models in both young and aged animals. Then, using atomic force microscopy, an advanced microscope that incorporates a tiny probe that can interact with single cells and molecules, the team measured the compression force of the needle against the specimen and how the tip adhered to or “stuck” to smooth muscle cells. “We found that hypertension increased both vascular smooth cell stiffness and adhesion or

stickiness, and that these changes were augmented by aging,” Meininger said. “Our results are adding to our understanding and taking studies in a different direction. Although all cells are contributing to arterial stiffness, it’s important to identify the order in which they’re adding to the problem. Identifying smooth muscle cells as a contributor can help identify possible preventatives and potential drugs to counteract and reverse the disease and keep vessels healthier as we age.” The early-stage results of this research are promising. If additional studies are successful within the next few years, MU officials will request authority from the federal government to begin human drug development (this is commonly referred to as the “investigative new drug” status). After this status has been granted, researchers may conduct human clinical trials with the hope of developing new treatments for arterial stiffness and resulting hypertension. Meininger’s research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (Grant: P01HL095486) and was published in Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. ISI

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Why Does My Tinnitus Bother Me? By Dr. Jessie Dimmick If you suffer from tinnitus, you have likely had a conversation with another person who also has tinnitus. Is your experience the same or different? How about the degree to which the tinnitus is annoying or bothersome? Have you heard others say they simply “tune it out?” Discussion of tinnitus and comparison of experiences often leads to the question, “Why does my tinnitus bother me?” An estimated 50 million Americans experience tinnitus. For some, the experience has a profound effect on daily life. To understand why tinnitus can be bothersome, the mechanism behind the tinnitus must be unveiled. The peripheral hearing system contains the outer, middle, and inner ear. The central hearing system is comprised of the auditory nerve and the auditory cortex. A lack of input from the peripheral hearing system results in a weakened transmission of sound to the central hearing system. Generally, a lack of input comes from hearing loss that is either temporary (earwax, ear infection) or permanent (damage to the cochlea). A mechanism known as the sensory subconscious detects the lack of input to the auditory central system and decides to “tune” the sound to get a better understanding. The tuning adds the extra-perceived sound that we refer to as tinnitus. The sensory subconscious is more formally known as the limbic system. The limbic system is more than a sensory subconscious; it is also an emotion and memory center. For many tinnitus patients, the tinnitus becomes bothersome when they experience negative emotional reactions to the sound. The nature of the tinnitus system can cause the perceived sound and experience

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to be sustained and reinforced, just like a memory. People who experience bothersome tinnitus are not experiencing a louder or different sound quality from those who are not bothered by their tinnitus. The tinnitus becomes bothersome when you feel you cannot escape it because of the reaction of your sensory subconscious. The mechanism is there to keep you alive! When your subconscious experiences unknown stimuli, the conscious brain becomes involved in the search for a source. As you can imagine, these processes can be taxing on your enjoyment of quiet and time for relaxation. The impact of the tinnitus on many patients is difficulty concentrating or falling asleep, and the feeling that the tinnitus is inescapable. With an understanding of the underlying mechanism of the tinnitus system, can you see why a case of tinnitus can be bothersome? The bottom line is that it is a subjective symptom, not a disease, and the impact on your lifestyle is what makes it bothersome. It is not a weakness; you cannot simply “get over it.” Professional assistance from a tinnitus practitioner can help you find relief. Break the cycle of “bother” and take control of your tinnitus! ISI

Sufficient Nutrition Reduces Post Hospital Mortality Providing an oral nutritional supplement during and after hospital admission was associated with a 50 percent lower death rate in older malnourished patients with heart and lung disease, according to a clinical study conducted by Texas A&M University Center for Translational Research in Aging & Longevity (CTRAL) director Dr. Nicolaas Deutz. He said the results prove the necessity of proper nutrition during the recovery process. The study, titled “Nutrition Effect On Unplanned Readmissions and Survival in Hospitalized Patients” (NOURISH), is one of the largest clinical studies of its kind. It was conducted at over 70 different sites and tested more than 600 malnourished patients over the age of 65. “This study was set up by testing whether nutritional supplements reduced the re-admittance rates of patients,” Deutz said. “To study that, we tested patients with pneumonia, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had studied their readmission rates and mortality.” Throughout the study, Deutz’s primary goal was to reduce the incidence of death or non-elective readmission, he said, adding nutrition is critical to proper recovery – a fact that was a key component in his research. “Malnourishment is defined as the situation in which the requirements of the body are not matched with the nutrition that is taken in,” he said. “When you’re healthy and you don’t eat enough, fat and muscle mass is lost. When you are sick, your body actually needs more nutrients due to various factors.” In order to aid and offset malnutrition, patients were given a nutritional supplement twice a day for 90 days post-hospital discharge. “Specialized nutritional supplements can often times be better than regular food,” Deutz said. “We created a nutritional supplement that contained all of the best components you can think of: high-quality protein, sufficient calories, vitamin D, and we added HMB, a component that has been shown to stop muscle loss.” The results concluded that 20 patients should be treated to save one death and that mortality rates are reduced by 50 percent. “Nutrition is a very cheap intervention in malnourished patients,” he said. “People should understand that not eating enough when sick could lead to serious consequences.” Deutz’s continued research will transition further with the opening of the new Human Clinical Research Facility at Texas A&M next year. There, he said, he plans to conduct more clinical research similar to NOURISH. ISI

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Osteoarthritis Symptoms Could Be Treatable With Physical Therapist Tyler Ladenburg, DPT Working with very active older people, physical therapists (PTs) see daily the toll that osteoarthritis (OA) takes on our aging population. If you are experiencing symptoms of OA such as morning stiffness, decreased mobility, creaking and cracking of your joints, or pain, you are not alone. Currently, 30 percent of the US population has either been diagnosed by a physician as having OA, or is experiencing activity-limiting symptoms.1 This includes 50% of those over 65. The most common form of arthritis, OA most often affects the hips, knees, shoulders, spine, and fingers and can cause swelling and joint deformity. Simply knowing you are in the majority as a person with OA is probably not particularly comforting. The real question is, “What can I do to get back to the things I want to do?” There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that without surgery, OA cannot be cured and never “goes away.” The good news is that OA symptoms can be improved dramatically without surgery, using a combination of conservative treatments. These include various medications or injections for pain prescribed by your physician, proper nutrition/hydration, and exercise tailored to your specific needs and limitations. A physical therapist can develop an exercise program for a person with OA that includes strengthening, stretching for improved joint range of motion, and balance exercises. These can be done in a variety of settings, such as an outpatient physical therapy clinic, a warm water pool, or a health club. Strengthening the muscles around joints affected by osteoarthritis improves not only strength (measured by the amount of weight you can push/ pull) but also functional abilities (measured by the return to activities you enjoy2, 3). These exercises strengthen the muscles that surround an arthritic joint, as well as any other measured weaknesses. By strengthening these supporting muscles, stress placed on the joint can be altered or reduced, leading to reduced pain and joint wear. Your PT can give you options so your exercises can be performed with as little pain as possible. Exercises might include stair-stepping, walking on a treadmill, or traditional weight-lifting exercises in the gym. If these exercises cause increased pain, isometrics (in which muscles are exercised but joints do not move) or open chair exercises (during which the painful joint does not bear the weight of your body) may be used. If none of these exercises work for you, your therapist may suggest warm water pool therapy so that the water’s buoyancy reduces the stress your joints must absorb. Decreased range of motion (ROM) of an arthritic joint is another consistent symptom of OA that affects the ability of your joints to perform to their full function. PTs use hands-on techniques designed to stretch muscles and restore proper joint motions. These techniques, known broadly as manual therapy, consistently improve joint ROM, and therefore overall joint function.4 If needed, your PT can design a safe exercise program aimed at weight loss. Increased body weight puts you at a greater risk of developing OA. In fact, OA affects 21.7% of those classified as overweight, and 30.6% of those classified as obese.1 Only 16% of those classified as normal or underweight suffer from OA. A weight loss of only 11 lbs. can decrease the risk for OA in

some by as much as 50%.5 These numbers should be encouraging to those who are experiencing mild OA symptoms. Remember, a diagnosis of OA is not an automatic trip to the operating room. If you are feeling stiff and sore, or even if you have had long-standing painful symptoms, it is worth calling a physical therapist. He or she can help you take steps to reduce your pain and get you back to the active and busy lifestyle we all enjoy. 1. Arthritis Rheum 2008, 58(1):26-35; 2. Physical Therapy 2005, 85(12): 1301-1316; 3. Physical Therapy 2010, 90(4): 592-601; 4. Physical Therapy 2008, 88(1): 12-21; 5. Arthritis Rheum 1998; 41(8): 1343-1355. ISI

Ageism and Its End By Brendan Hare Until I turned sixty-six, retired, and officially joined the ranks of “the olds,” I lived for decades as an unreflecting and unapologetic ageist. I’m not a meanspirited person. I pride myself on being open-minded and progressive. I’ve always tried to guard against bias in my thoughts and actions, and to fight bigotry wherever it cast its sulphurous gloom. Somehow, my prejudices about old people seemed to be natural, to reflect the facts of life, to share in the universal consensus. Being old was simply bad, wasn’t it? This felt like a solid fact, an incontrovertible position and, in the U.S. also an uncontroversial one. In America – youth-worshipping, plastic-surgery-tweaked America – ageism stands as one of the last widely acceptable social prejudices. Everyone, it seems, indulges in it, even the most conscientious among us. It’s reflected in our workplaces, courts, laws, and public policies. In movies, on television shows, on the nightly news, and in pharmaceutical commercial after commercial, we chuckle and grin to see seniors portrayed as cute, helpless, and feeble, stumbling through what’s left of their lives in a fog of befuddlement. We’ve developed a whole vocabulary to express such prejudices: Uh oh, are you having a senior moment? Can you hear me? Where are your keys? Do they still allow you to drive? Maybe just in the slow lane, with one turn signal flashing for no reason? Well, be careful. Are you sure you can handle all this by yourself? Wow, you’re so capable and independent. So youthful! How inspiring. I mean, for someone your age. But you know what they say, “eighty is the new forty.” What are your plans for the time you have left? A little bingo? A few laps around the old mall? Or maybe you’ll stay in, catch up on your programs? Wait! Did you remember to take your meds? Are you sure? Good for you. The term “ageism” is an abstraction. It strains to capture a varied and complex phenomenon. As used here, ageism comprises systematic neglect, segregation, isolation, and bigotry. Like other preju-

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dices, it works by constructing artificial barriers. On one side of the wall, older people languish, mistreated and misunderstood, viewed less as persons than as ready-made types. On the other side, younger people lose access to a vast store of wisdom and experience, and are tempted to adopt a false vision of life – to live as if old age were something that only happened to other people. In this way, ageism acts like an environmental toxin. As it spreads, it imperils us all, old and young alike. It is probably impossible to measure how much society loses by tolerating prejudice against the old. But for seniors, the consequences of ageism are troublingly apparent. First, it sets up a dangerous loop: Age discrimination tells seniors, Time has made you infirm, obsolete, and worthless. In response – as is natural – seniors feel pressure to accept and internalize this view of themselves, with disastrous consequences for their mental and physical health. Studies have correlated experiences of ageism with memory loss, cardiovascular sickness,

and low self-esteem. One study suggested that experiencing age discrimination diminished older peoples’ will to live. Another reported that seniors who harbored negative views about old age faced life expectancies that were, on average, 7.5 years shorter than those of their peers. All of this is staggering when we consider how ubiquitous ageism is: In one study, seventy percent of seniors surveyed reported that they had been insulted or mistreated based on their age. Ageism, again like other forms of prejudice, is rooted in ignorance, lack of experience, and countless failures to exercise curiosity, imagination, and empathy. A couple of years ago, I began conducting research for a project about aging in America. One of the people I interviewed, a resident in an assisted-living facility, asked to arrange to put me up in a spare room for a night. He thought that spending a full twenty-four hours there would help my research. I declined as politely and as firmly as I could. To be honest, the prospect made me deeply uncomfortable, as if old age were contagious – as if I might lose twenty years in one night. I got over this eventually. But it made me realize that, for much of my life, I’d had relatively little exposure to the old. In this regard, I’m not alone. Our society has tacitly segregated ourselves based on age. We are educated alongside people who share our birth year. We spend our working lives with people who are, in most cases, about our own age, or within a decade or two of it. When it comes time to retire – and there’s a socially acceptable age for that too – many of us flee to

sunny places, to be close to other retirees, lest we get caught lingering in the noisy world of the whippersnappers. Consider if you are young, do you have a friend or acquaintance outside your family who is over seventy? If you are old, whom do you know under thirty? Life teaches us that nothing stays the same for long. I’m happy to predict that ageism, too, must change. I think it will be washed away, or at least significantly eroded, by the fast approaching “silver tsunami.” America will soon experience a demographic upheaval of a scale not witnessed since the Baby Boom. During the next two decades, as these Boomers age, the number of Americans over sixty-five will double. There will be approximately eighty million of us, and we’ll constitute about a fifth of the national population. Thanks to remarkable advances in medicine and technology, we can look forward to better health and longer average life expectancies. On average, we will also be wealthier than many of our younger cohorts. In short, we are primed to live long and live well, and to serve as the standardbearers of an idea whose time has come: ageism, in all its forms, is unacceptable. More than this, we’ll be able to demonstrate that it is possible, even natural, to lead a vibrant, engaged life well into old age. Indeed, it is our responsibility to do so, and not only for ourselves. We owe it to the youngsters to show them how it’s done. After all, with any luck, one day they’ll get to be old too. Brendan Hare is a retired attorney and the author of From Working to Wisdom: The Adventures and Dreams of Older Americans, available at Amazon. For more information, visit fromworkingtowisdom.com. ISI

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Submitted by Julie Hollar Following are questions asked by Banff Park Tourists in Alberta, Canada. And yes, these are actual questions that were heard by Parks Canada staff at information kiosks. 1. How do the elk know they’re supposed to cross at the “Elk Crossing” signs? 2. At what elevation does an elk become a moose? 3. Tourist: “How do you pronounce ‘E l k’?” Park Information Staff: “’Elk’” Tourist: “Oh.” 4. Are the bears with collars tame? 5. Is there anywhere I can see the bears pose? 6. Is it okay to keep an open bag of bacon on the picnic table, or should I store it in my tent? 7. Where can I find Alpine Flamingos? 8. I saw an animal on the way to Banff today – could you tell me what it was? 9. Are there birds in Canada? 10. Did I miss the turnoff for Canada? 11. Where does Alberta end and Canada begin? 12. Do you have a map of the State of Jasper? 13. Is this the part of Canada that speaks French, or is that Saskatchewan? 14. If I go to B.C., do I have to go through Ontario? 15. Which is the way to the Columbia Ricefields? 16. How far is Banff from Canada? 17. What’s the best way to see Canada in a day? 18. Do they search you at the B.C. border? 19. When we enter B.C., do we have to convert our money to British pounds? 20. Where can I buy a raccoon hat? All Canadians own one, don’t they? 21. Are there phones in Banff? 22. So it’s eight kilometers away... is that in miles? 23. We’re on the decibel system you know. 24. Where can I get my husband really, REALLY, lost? 25. Is that two kilometers by foot or by car? 26. Don’t you Canadians know anything? 27. Where do you put the animals at night? ISI

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Best Steps To Jump-start Your Financial Planning For Retirement By Doug Dubitsky The Guardian Life Insurance Co. Saving for retirement is one of the biggest challenges Americans will face in their life. However, with proper retirement planning and saving strategies, they can get the most out of their retirement years. Learning how to budget money wisely will prepare folks to survive on a reduced income when they retire. Following is a list of best tips to help Americans prepare for retirement, so they can more easily transition to living on a fixed budget. Calculate Debt to Income Ratio How does your debt to income ratio look? The amount of debt you can comfortably carry is unique to you and depends on your overall financial situation. A core question is whether you will have enough retirement income to cover your debt payments – mortgage, student loans (yours or your children’s), credit cards, etc. Work with a retirement planning professional to find out what your financial landscape looks like, and what you need to do to plan for your retirement. Get your financial life in order. Trim Expenses What can you do in order to save money? Cut your expenses! Do you really need to have a 200-channel cable TV or Satellite TV subscription? These are luxury things that you could easily do without if you are serious about saving money and putting more of your earnings toward your retirement savings. If it makes sense with your lifestyle, consider selling one of your cars and paying off the other one. A monthly car payment is a huge expense and one that can really hurt financially. If you need two cars, consider downgrading them as well. Purchase affordable used cars that can make it easier on your wallet each month. Consider a PartTime Job Obtain a part-time job to earn some extra retirement income. Having some income makes it easier to pay your tax bill, and can give you ad-

ditional money to live on, so that you do not start withdrawing money from your retirement savings account too early. If you do not want to go back to work part-time, search for jobs that allow you to work remotely. Having access to your job whenever and wherever can make it easier for you to get work done. If you have begun receiving Social Security benefits, keep in mind that if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, your benefit will be reduced until you reach full retirement age. This may affect whether you work or not. Downsize Your Home If you are close to retirement, downsizing your home and moving to a townhome or condo may make sense. You may reduce your maintenance costs as well as your monthly payment amount. Refinancing your own home is another option to consider if you need to focus your efforts on saving for your retirement. Mortgage rates fluctuate, so it is important to compare rates often to determine if you are getting the lowest possible rate. Remove Clutter Do you have a lot of unused objects or clutter? Why not sell off some of these items? You’d be surprised to see how much money you can bring in just by selling off some of that old sports equipment from your children or materials from an old hobby. You can choose to sell them on eBay where people bid on them, or you might try a faster method like listing them in your local paper, Craigslist, or even hosting a garage sale. Selling off old items is a great way to clean your home and to make some money while doing it. Rental Property Some people feel the best way to earn some extra money during retirement is by investing in a rental property. Other people may rent their existing home, or convert their basement into an apartment they can rent. Investing in real estate can be a smart business move if you are focused on effective retirement investment planning. Whatever your situation, don’t delay. By evaluating your situation sooner than later, you can ensure that you are making the best preparation for your retirement years. ISI

Baird’s Steffen Cautions Taxpayers To Be Alert To Identity Theft Risk

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Tax time is a good time to take a step back and evaluate your finances – to rebalance your portfolio, to take a look at your financial plan and make sure you are saving enough, and if you’re older than 50, to increase your contributions to IRAs and retirement accounts. Also, with tax identify theft on the rise, it’s also a good time to take stock of whether you’re doing everything you can to protect your personal information from criminals. According to Baird’s Director of Financial Planning Tim Steffen, CPA/ PFS, CFP®, CPWA®, all taxpayers need to be aware of the risk of tax identity theft and steps they can take to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. Here’s an example of how it works: A criminal who has your or your spouse’s Social Security number files a fraudulent tax return in your name. In 2014, the IRS said they prevented more than $15 billion in fraud. One can assume that they also paid out billions in fraudulent returns. “We hear from clients who have had a false tax return filed in their name and the implications of becoming a victim are onerous,” Steffen said. Like any case of identity theft, it can take time to resolve the matter and may result in an extended wait for a refund if one is due. In addition to reporting the theft to law enforcement, victims will need to report it to credit reporting bureaus, and will be at increased risk for other security breaches such as bank or credit card account fraud. Steffen recommends taxpayers take steps to reduce the risk of tax return fraud: • File returns early if you can. “Even if you owe money, it makes sense to file a return before someone else can file one in your name,” Steffen said. • Protect personal information. Steffen recommends protecting your personal information at all costs. Do not leave personal information on your desk at work or at home, and take care to shred paper records before disposing of them. Do not carry your Social Security card or other documents that include your Social Security number. Use strong passwords and vary the passwords

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you do use for different portals. Be alert to Internet fraud and don’t click on links in emails if there’s any chance it’s not from a trustworthy source. • Limit sharing personal identification information in person or online. Specifically, don’t give out your Social Security number unless it’s absolutely necessary. • Be skeptical of anyone calling about your tax return. The IRS never makes a first contact with a taxpayer by phone. Suspicious calls should be

IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT PAGE 39

reported to the IRS. • Choose a tax preparer wisely. Tax preparers are increasingly vulnerable, so make sure the one you choose has appropriate data protection measures in place. “If you do become a victim, it’s important to act quickly to notify the IRS and complete the required documentation,” Steffen said. Victims of tax identity theft are required to complete IRS Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit. They are then assigned an

Identify Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) for future tax filing purposes and the IRS commits to monitoring their accounts. For more information, the IRS has published a Taxpayer Guide to Tax Identify Theft. For more tax and financial planning tips and insights, follow Tim Steffen on Twitter @TimSteffenCPA, and for other information visit rwbaird. com. ISI

How to Avoid Medicare Mistakes When You’re Still Working

Dear Savvy Senior, Should I enroll in Medicare at age 65 if I’m still working and have coverage through my employer? Almost 65 Dear Almost, The rules for enrolling in Medicare can be very confusing with all the different choices available today. But when you postpone retirement past age 65, as many people are doing, it becomes even more complicated. Here’s what you should know. First, the basics. Remember that original Medicare has two parts: Part A, which provides hospital coverage and is free for most people. And Part B, which covers doctor’s bills, lab tests and outpatient care. Part B also has a monthly premium of $104.90 in 2016 (though it’s higher for individuals earning $85,000 or more a year). If you are receiving Social Security, you will be enrolled automatically in parts A and B when you turn 65. If you aren’t yet receiving Social Security, you will have to apply, which you can do online at SSA.gov/medicare, over the phone at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social Security office. If you plan to continue working past the age of 65 and have health insurance from your job, your first step is to ask your benefits manager or human resources department how your employer insurance works with Medicare. In most cases, you should at least take Medicare Part A because it’s free. But to decide whether to take Part B or not will depend on the size of your employer. Small employer: If your current employer (or spouse’s employer if it’s providing your coverage) has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will be your primary insurer and you should enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period. This is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday.

If you miss the seven-month sign-up window, you’ll have to wait until the next general enrollment period, which runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 with benefits beginning the following July 1. You’ll also incur a 10 percent penalty for each year you wait beyond your initial enrollment period, which will be tacked on to your monthly Part B premium. Large employer: If your employer has 20 or more employees, your employer’s group health plan will be your primary insurer as long as you (or your spouse if the coverage is from his/her employer) remain an active employee. If this is the case, you don’t need to enroll in Part B when you turn 65 if you’re satisfied with the coverage you are getting through your job. But if you do decide to enroll in Medicare, it will supplement your employer insurance by paying secondary on all of your claims. Once your employment (or group health coverage) ends, you will then have eight months to sign up for Part B without a penalty. This is known as the Special Enrollment Period. Drug coverage – You also need to verify your prescription drug coverage. Call your benefits manager or insurance company to find out if your employer’s prescription drug coverage is considered “creditable.” (Creditable prescription drug coverage is one that is considered to be as good as or better than the Medicare prescription drug benefit.) If it is, you don’t need to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. If it isn’t, you should purchase a plan (see medicare.gov/find-a-plan) during your initial enrollment period or you’ll incur a premium penalty (1 percent of the average national premium for every month you don’t have coverage) if you enroll later. For additional help, visit Medicare.gov or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at Shiptacenter.org. The Medicare Rights Center also offers a free helpline at 800-333-4114. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of The Savvy Senior book. ISI

Dave Ottens Visits Those On Other Side continued from page 25

over the death of a loved one to try to understand how that death affected their lives or altered their outlook. “My sister’s death opened my eyes to spirits and ghosts,” he says. “Some people here on Earth get stuck in sadness after a death, so a lot of times the spirit who died has a message that will help the person still here move on.” He says he is often asked why a baby dies. “That’s what the spirit chose,” he says. “We don’t know why.” People also ask him about the fate of murderers and those who committed acts of hatred. “For some, it takes a little longer than others to learn to love.” In February, Dave’s mother died. “I helped her with the transition from here to what people call heaven. It’s a beautiful place that feels like home, and my spirit didn’t want to come back. But I’d agreed to a certain timeline for this life, and I’m happy to stick with it. When my death comes, I look forward to it because it will be the beginning of a new journey. I’ll be back at some point with a new life.” ISI

Everything I Need To Know, I Learned From Noah’s Ark Author Unknown – Submitted by Julie Hollar-Brantley 1. Don’t miss the boat. 2. Remember that we are all in the same boat! 3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. 4. Stay fit. When you’re 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 6. Build your future on high ground. 7. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs. 8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 9. When you’re stressed, float awhile. 10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals. 11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting. ISI

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2016 National Nursing Home Week By Bernice Karnop In observance of Nursing Home Week, May 8 to 14, 2016 nursing facilities across Idaho will be sponsoring events meant to encourage residents, families, and others to engage with their loved ones, family members, or neighbors. In fact, everyone can get set to enjoy the week as the American Health Care Association (AHCA) has designated it as the week to celebrate with the theme of It’s a Small World, with a Big Heart. Families, friends, businesses, and the public are encouraged to recognize and appreciate during National Nursing Home Week the million Americans who need assistance with daily living needs. This week is set aside to remember not only residents and rehab patients, but also their families, care providers, and staff.

One special way that the Big Heart theme may be implemented is by letting family and guests know the importance of touch. Hugs and kisses, hand holding, shoulder rubs, and a foot massage can feel like a party to an individual in a nursing home. Bring cookies, flowers, or other tokens of appreciation during National Nursing Home Week – or any time of year. A simple visit may be just the Big Heart a resident needs. Those things that brighten the day for the resident brighten the day for caregivers as well. National Nursing Home Week is an annual observance sponsored nationally by the American Health Care Association, based in Washington, D.C. For more information on National Nursing Home Week, visit nnhw. org. ISI

Learning To Live Alone After Loss: A Challenge And An Opportunity By Lisa M. Petsche When a loved one dies, many mature adults face the challenge of learning to live alone – often for the first time. For those who have been part of a couple, this is a particularly big adjustment. Loneliness may be profound and difficult to overcome. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some suggestions that can help. Be Kind To Yourself Give yourself permission to feel all of the emotions that surface, including resentment and frustration. Recognize that there will be good days and bad days, and be extra good to yourself on the bad days. Try not to dwell on the past – it only fosters self-pity and keeps you from moving forward. Prepare a list of things to do on the bad days. Include small indulgences to give you a lift, as well as tasks or projects that will give you a sense of satisfaction (for example, decluttering various areas of your home). Look after your physical health. Eat nutritious meals, and get adequate rest and exercise regularly. In addition to safeguarding your overall health, these measures will also help to ward off depression.

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Take things one day at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Plan your days so you don’t have too much free time on your hands. If you don’t like coming home to silence, leave the television or radio on when you go out. Nurture Your Spirit Write down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal, chronicling your journey of self-discovery and growth. Nurture your spirit by doing things that bring inner peace, such as meditating, praying, practicing yoga, reading something uplifting, listening to soothing music, or spending time in nature. If consistent with your lifestyle, getting a cat or dog can provide companionship and affection and give you a sense of purpose. A dog also offers a measure of security and ensures that you’ll get out of the house. And while walking the dog, you might meet new friends. Get Busy Get out of the house every day, and to combat isolation, join a dinner club, fitness center, or exercise class. Sign up for an adult education course or lessons that interest you – for example, gourmet cooking, pottery, or modern jazz. Be sure to check out any available programs at the local senior or recreation center as well as those offered by educational institutions. Learning something new is energizing and boosts your self-confidence. And you might make new friends in the process. Get involved in your community by volunteering for a neighborhood association, a charitable or environmental cause, an animal shelter, or a political campaign. Cultivate some solitary pastimes by taking up crossword puzzles, woodworking, gardening, writing, or sketching. Learn to enjoy your own company and learn that it’s possible to be alone without feeling lonely. Reach Out Take the initiative in calling friends and relatives to talk or get together. Instead of waiting for invitations, extend them. Do nice things for others, especially those who are also going through a difficult time. This takes your mind off your own situation, boosts your selfesteem, and strengthens relationships. Find at least one person you can talk to openly who will listen and understand, such as a close friend, spiritual leader, or mental health worker. Join a bereavement support group. If it’s hard to get out or you prefer anonymity, try an online forum instead. If feelings of isolation persist, you might take in a boarder, share accommodations with a relative or friend, relocate to a condominium or apartment in a senior living community or, if your health is frail, move into a retirement home. But don’t make such a major decision hastily – give yourself plenty of time. If you were a caregiver through your loved one’s illness and put your personal life on hold, now is the time to invest in yourself by resuming former interests and pursuing new ones. Don’t forget to nurture neglected relationships as well as expand your social network. Whether or not the death was anticipated,

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the reality of being on your own may initially seem overwhelming and perhaps frightening. But with time, patience, and trust in your resilience, you will successfully adapt to your new circumstances. You may even end up growing in ways you never

imagined. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. ISI

Celebrate Older Americans Month By Bernice Karnop When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. In April of that year, President John F. Kennedy, with the advice of the National Council of Senior Citizens, designated May as Senior Citizen’s Month. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter revised the name to Older Americans Month. The Idaho Senior Independent joins in celebrating Older Americans Month this May. The theme of this year’s celebration is Blaze A Trail. We have a front row seat to appreciate the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of Idaho communities. Their shared histories, diverse experiences, and wealth

of knowledge make our state what it is today. We also celebrate all the advances that help older Americans live longer, healthier, and more engaged lives. Older Idahoans are out and about, giving back and making a difference in their communities across the state. They mentor leaders of tomorrow and take time to volunteer in schools. They connect with others by delivering meals, helping with home repair, assisting with shopping, and offering companionship and care. Join us in celebrating Older Americans Month by not only recognizing those who have gone beyond the call of duty, but also by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging to find out how you can be part of this amazing volunteer force. Opportunities are so diverse, we are sure there is a perfect place for you! ISI

One Size Doesn’t Fit All Caregivers By Lisa M. Petsche Much is written about caring for aging relatives and offering general advice and specific tips to family caregivers. For any particular caregiver, some information and ideas may resonate and ultimately be more helpful than others are. That is because, although caregivers face many similar challenges, no two caregiving situations are identical, and many factors account for the differences among caregivers’ experiences. Caregiving Variables Interpersonal Issues: The nature and history of the caregiver’s relationship with their relative plays a key role in how caregiving unfolds. If personalities, habits, expectations, or values clash, the caregiver is likely to experience more stress than the average person in that role is. Caregiver’s Health: If they have physical or mental health challenges, caregiving is likely to be experienced as more difficult. Even if their health is initially good, this may change over time, especially if caregiving is prolonged, intense, or marked by complications and crises. Timing: Since some stages of life involve more responsibilities than others, the timing of the caregiving journey has a major impact on caregiver burden and coping. Caring for an older relative can be especially challenging when the caregiver is looking after multiple adult relatives, raising their own family, or employed, especially in a demanding type of work (involving long hours or being on call, for example). If more than one of these applies, caregiver stress is further multiplied. Care Receiver’s Needs: The more physical and mental limitations a care receiver has, the more time, energy and skills are required of the caregiver to meet the person’s needs. Caring for someone with dementia, for instance, may be mentally exhausting, because of the affected person’s poor short-term memory and impaired judgment, which may result in not only repetitive questioning and other behaviors, but also the need for continuous supervision to ensure their safety. The extent to which the care receiver’s health is stable is another significant variable in caregiver coping. Caregiver stress tends to be higher when the care receiver has a degenerative disease involving changes and losses that necessitate ongoing adjustments, including increased and perhaps more skilled assistance. Stress can also be higher when the relative has multiple major medical diagnoses such as Alzheimer’s heart disease. Available Supports: Caregiving is not meant to be a one-person job, but in some cases, the primary caregiver may be the only caregiver, which puts them at a high risk for burnout. Ideally, other family

members pitch in and regularly give the caregiver a break; however, this does not always happen, depending on whether other family members live locally and are able and willing to share the care. Community resources can also go a long way to support and supplement a caregiver’s efforts, but the availability of such resources varies from one community to the next, as does the cost. Finances: Personal financial resources of the caregiver and care receiver affect the quality of life of both care receiver and caregiver. If, separately or together, they can afford the cost of home renovations, medical equipment, and private healthcare services as needed, this is likely to make caregiving safer and less stressful. Furthermore, if the cost of a regular vacation for the caregiver and concomitant respite care for their relative is feasible, this can go a long way towards keeping the caregiver healthy in body, mind, and soul. Expectations: Care receivers vary in their expectations regarding caregiver availability, privacy (if they live together), outside help (whether or not they will accept it), and financial arrangements (who pays for what), among other things. Cultural factors may also play a role. For example, in some cultures it’s expected that elders will be cared for in the home of one of their children until their death. Consequently, arranging long-term care in a residential facility tends to be perceived as shirking of one’s familial responsibilities and the caregiver is judged harshly by those close to them. Such an expectation can place undue pressure on a caregiver who feels stretched to their limit and is wearing down. Sometimes, too, a caregiver can be their own worst enemy, expecting too much of themselves (due to perfectionism, for example) or the person for whom they are caring. Parting Thoughts If you are a caregiver, try not to compare yourself with others in this role. Their circumstances are likely to be different, although perhaps not evident. When you come across caregiving advice, whether it’s from another caregiver or a healthcare professional, know that it won’t always be applicable because, in some ways, your situation is unique. Take what you can use, and leave the rest without anxiety or guilt. In the end, you need to do what feels right and works for you. Because the best caregiver is a healthy caregiver – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior health matters. She has personal and professional experience with elder care. ISI

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Ten Common Signs Of Caregiver Stress

Provided by the Alzheimer’s Association 1. Denial about the disease and its effect on the person who has been diagnosed. I know Mom is going to get better. 2. Anger at the person with Alzheimer’s or frustration that he or she can’t do the things they used to be able to do. He knows how to get dressed – he’s just being stubborn. 3. Social withdrawal from friends and activi-

ties that used to make you feel good. I don’t care about visiting with the neighbors anymore. 4. Anxiety about the future and facing another day. What happens when he needs more care than I can provide? 5. Depression that breaks your spirit and affects your ability to cope. I just don’t care anymore. 6. Exhaustion that makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary daily tasks. I’m too tired for this. 7. Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns. What if she wanders out of the house or falls and hurts herself? 8. Irritability that leads to moodiness and triggers negative responses and actions. Leave me alone! 9. Lack of concentration that makes it difficult to perform familiar tasks. I was so busy I forgot my appointment. 10. Health problems that begin to take a mental and physical toll. I can’t remember the last time I felt good. Support is available all day, every day, and we’re in communities across the country. If you experience any of these signs, contact our 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 (TTY: 866-403-3073) or visit alz.org/care. The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center provides reliable information and easy access to resources, including: • Alzheimer’s Navigator® – Assess your needs and create customized action plans of information and support. • Community Resource Finder – Find local resources. • ALZConnected® – Connect with other caregivers who can relate to your situation. • Care Team Calendar – Organize family and friends who want to help with caregiving. • Visit alz.org/findus for more information. Ten Ways To Manage Stress And Be A Healthier Caregiver Are you so overwhelmed by taking care of someone else that you have neglected your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being? If you find yourself not taking care of your own needs, you may be putting your health at risk. 1. Find time for yourself. Consider taking advantage of respite care so you can spend time doing something you enjoy. Respite care gives caregivers a temporary rest from caregiving, while the person with Alzheimer’s disease continues to receive care in a safe environment. Visit alz. org/care to learn more. 2. Know what community resources are available. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association or use our online Community Resource Finder (alz.org/CRF) to find dementia care

resources in your area. Adult day programs, inhome assistance, companions, and meal delivery are just some of the services that can help you manage daily tasks. 3. Become an educated caregiver. As the disease progresses, new caregiving skills may be necessary. The Association offers programs to help you better understand and cope with common behavioral and personality changes that may occur. Visit the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center at alz.org/care to learn more and access care-training resources, including free online workshops. 4. Get help and find support. Seek the support of family, friends, and people who can relate to your situation. Use our online Care Team Calendar (alz.org/carecalendar) to organize family and friends who want to help. Our 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900), ALZConnected® online social networking community (alzconnected.org), and local support groups (alz.org/findus) are all good sources for finding comfort and reassurance. If stress becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. 5. Take care of yourself. Try to eat well, exercise, and get plenty of rest. Making sure that you are healthy can help you be a better caregiver. 6. Manage your level of stress. Stress can cause physical problems (blurred vision, stomach irritation, high blood pressure) and changes in behavior (irritability, lack of concentration, change in appetite). Note your symptoms and discuss with a doctor, as needed. Try to find relaxation techniques that work for you. 7. Accept changes as they occur. People with Alzheimer’s disease change over time and so do their needs. They may require care beyond what you can provide on your own. Becoming aware of community resources – from home care services to residential care – can make the transition easier. So will the support and assistance of those around you. 8. Make legal and financial plans. Putting legal and financial plans in place after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is important so that the person with the disease can participate. Having plans can provide comfort to the entire family. Many documents, including advance directives, can be prepared without the help of an attorney. However, if you are unsure about how to complete legal documents or make financial plans, you may want to seek assistance from an attorney specializing in elder law and/or a financial advisor who is familiar with elder or long-term care planning. 9. Know you’re doing your best. Remember that the care you provide makes a difference and that you are doing the best you can. You may feel guilty because you can’t do more, but individual care needs change as Alzheimer’s progresses. You can’t promise how care will be delivered, but you can make sure that the person with the disease is well cared for and safe. 10. Visit your doctor regularly. Take time to get regular checkups, and be aware of what your body is telling you. Pay attention to any exhaustion, stress, sleeplessness, or changes in appetite or behavior. Ignoring symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. ISI

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Where’s The Body? The city police officer pulled over a mature woman driving a vehicle that was speeding. The following conversation ensued. Woman: Is there a problem, officer? Officer: Yes ma’am, I’m afraid you were speeding. Woman: Oh, I see. Officer: Can I see your license please? Woman: Well, I would give it to you but I don’t have one. Officer: You don’t have one? Woman: No, I don’t. I lost it 4 years ago for drunk driving. Officer: I see. Can I see your vehicle registration papers? Woman: I can’t do that. Officer: Why not? Woman: I stole this car. Officer: You stole it?

Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner. Officer: You what? Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see. The officer looked at the woman and slowly backed away to his patrol car while calling for back up. Within minutes, five police cars circled the woman’s car. A senior officer slowly approached her, clasping his half-drawn gun. Senior Officer: Ma’am, would you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle and asked the senior officer, “Is there a problem sir?” Senior Officer: My colleague here tells me that you stole this car and murdered the owner. Woman: Murdered the owner? Are you serious? Senior Officer: Yes, would you please open the

trunk of your car? The woman opened the trunk, which was completely empty. Senior Officer: Is this your car, ma’am? Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The senior officer looked very stunned. Senior Officer: My colleague claims that you do not have a driver’s license. The woman dug into her purse, pulled out her wallet, revealing her driver’s license, which she handed to the senior officer. He examined the license quizzically. Senior Officer: Thank you ma’am, but I am puzzled. My officer here reported that you didn’t have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner! Woman: I bet that lying officer told you I was speeding, too. Do not mess with mature ladies! ISI

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