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– Governor’s Conference on Aging & Montana Gerontology Conference – Insights Into Alzheimer’s Disease: Lifespan Respite Care & other Aging Resources –

pages 61-67

Kirby Lambert Is Saving and Sharing Montana’s Stories By Connie Daugherty “I grew up listening to my grandparents tell stories about the olden days,” says award- winning historian, Kirby Lambert. That childhood experience set Lambert on his life’s path and passion. In February in the rotunda of the capitol building, Lambert received a Governor’s Humanities Award for his dedicated work at the Montana Historical Society as well as for co-authoring the recent MHS publication about Charlie Russell’s art. A soft-spoken man with a generous and engaging smile that invites conversation, Kirby Lambert came to Helena and the Montana Historical Society in May of 1985. He was young, recently out of graduate school, and just beginning his career after working for a time in Arkansas and at the Sam Huston Museum in Texas. Then the Montana Historical Society (MHS) offered him a job. “It was just one those things I didn’t even think about for a split second, I just said yes,” Kirby recalls. It felt like the right decision, at the right moment in his life. So he just jumped in his truck and headed north to a country he only knew about from Steinbeck’s Travels with Charlie. “My goal was to stay a year of two.” Then he got involved in his work and married his wife Becca who works in the photo archives at the Historical Society. “Now, I just can’t imagine not living near the mountains,” he says. Whether it’s researching Montana history, camping, or walking along the trails surrounding Helena, Kirby Lambert has allowed Montana to grow on him. He has even almost lost his southern accent. Raised in east Texas, Kirby recalls the summers spent at his grandparent’s wheat farm with extended family. There was the space to roam, there were aunts, uncles, and cousins, and there were the stories – always the stories. (Continued on page 50)

Gather the Hidden Eggs

Just for fun, we have hidden 8 Easter eggs throughout this issue of the Montana Senior News. Find them and mail or email to us a list of the page numbers on which you found them. We will award a $25 prize to the person who finds all of the eggs. If there are multiple correct entries, the winner will be determined by a drawing. None of the hidden eggs is located within an advertisement. Have fun!

PAGE 2 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Montana Senior News A Barrett-Whitman Publication

P.O. Box 3363 • Great Falls, MT 59403-3363 406-761-0305 or 800-672-8477 FAX 406-761-8358 montanaseniornews.com email: montsrnews@bresnan.net

Appraisers Needed

Do you know what would be a tremendous help? A list of good, respected appraisers in our state. The hardest part of being a senior are the valuable belongings we have acquired over the years and nowhere to have things appraised. If not for our own information, for our families, offspring, and for insurance purposes. This would be a fantastic benefit to all of us and a good start toward putting our lives in order. I know many people who would appreciate this. Johanna Rase, Deer Lodge

Questions About Montana History

It Is My Choice

This is a portion of the written testimony I submitted to the Montana House of Representatives on HB 477, which I see as an attempt by the government to take away a freedom that I believe the Montana Supreme Court has basically reaffirmed through the Baxter decision. We call ourselves the land of the free. We recruit, train, and pay young men and women to defend that freedom both here and abroad. We are free to choose where we want to live, to choose friends, to choose a spouse, to choose whatever level of education we wish to pursue, to choose a career path. We are free to choose. We tell people around the world that we are a democracy – not a theocracy – because as a democracy we are free to choose our own God, no God, or our own religion, with no one person having a moral imperative over another. Part of that freedom is a separation of church and state to be fair to all who live here. From my perspective, this is all about freedom. Here in the land of the free, some want to tell me that I am free to make decisions in my life until the end, at which point if terminally ill and wanting to die rather than suffer interminably, the government will intrude and make decisions for me that I may disagree with. More È

Jack W. Love, Jr., Publisher/Editor Colleen Paduano

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The younger Meeks were born in Tennessee and so I do wonder if there was a connection between the Tennessee and Virginia families. Jack Darlow, Stevensville

I read with interest Bernice Karnop’s review of Montana Territory & the Civil War in the Feb/Mar edition. She mentions a Black soldier, Joe Meek, who lived and died in Montana after the war. I recently read a biography of Joe Meek The Merry Mountain Man by Stanley Vestal, a wellknown western writer. Joe Meek was a mountain man, trapper, Indian fighter, and guide in the early days of westward expansion. He was born around 1809 in Virginia, was white, not a veteran of the Civil War, and he died at Hillsboro, Oregon on June 20, 1875. Being thoroughly confused, I wondered, “Could there be more than one Joe Meek?” So, I got Montana Territory & the Civil War by Ken Robison and solved the mystery. Apparently, several “Meek” men lived and died in the early days of Montana.

The Montana Senior News is published six times each year in February, April, June, August, October and December at 415 3rd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401 and is distributed free to readers throughout the state of Montana. The mail subscription rate is $10.00 per year (6 issues). The Montana Senior News is written to serve the reading interests of mature Montanans 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 Montana Senior News 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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PAGE 4 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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This leaves end of life options such as running a hose from the muffler into your vehicle and locking yourself into a garage, hanging yourself, or putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger – all of which would cause great trauma for anyone left behind to deal with aftermath. This is truly elder abuse. Having end of life choices leaves a person of sound mind the option of your physician prescribing the appropriate drugs, having your family by your side, and going peacefully to your death if you choose to do so and are able to self-administer the medication. Polls show that 70% of Montanans approve of physician aid in dying and I want us to keep this right in the land of the free, because this is all about freedom. Bob Zimorino, Missoula

People with Disabilities Want Choices Too

I am grateful that I live in a state where people have options at the end of their lives. I’ve faced death and it’s scary. I was in an accident that paralyzed me from T6 down in 2011 and I’ve lived wheelchair dependent ever since. I work every day to be an independent citizen, and to make my own choices. Death with Dignity (DWD) is a freedom that has existed in Montana for five years without any instance of abuse. The 2009 Montana Supreme Court ruling in the Baxter decision gave doctors a defense against legal prosecution for practicing death with dignity. Now some groups won’t stop until they take this freedom to choose away. The state of Oregon has allowed terminally ill Oregonians the option of DWD for seventeen years without any problems. Not a single person has been charged with a crime associated with providing Death with Dignity. No elder abuse has been reported. No doctor has been arrested for providing DWD. Nearly one third of those dying patients who choose to get the prescription, do not ingest it. Whether a patient does or doesn’t take the medication, the terminal disease they suffer from is listed as the cause of death. These facts are undisputable. Montana is a proud and rugged state that has always believed in privacy and independence. Freedom in our democracy enriches us as a society. My belief system is “to each his own.” Death with Dignity may not be a choice you would make for yourself, but I might. Death with Dignity and patient autonomy are freedoms I have the right to exercise at the end of my life. Montana needs to keep this medical practice open and authorized. Tell your legislators to vote against limiting our right to die as we choose. Bonnie Kelley, Frenchtown

It Is Almost Farmers’ Market Time

As president of the Big Fork Farmers’ Market I wanted to tell your readers that our market will be open from mid-May thru mid-October on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings across from Harvest Foods at the Masonic Temple, 8098 Highway 35. We provide a venue for vendors to sell and consumers to buy locally grown, manufactured, baked, and processed produce, foods, arts, and crafts. I encourage folks to call me for more information or visit bigforkfarmersmarket.com. Jamie Slivka, 406-249-4698

Enjoy The Paper

Great contest this month! It took a little extra time, but what fun. Keep them coming. What a great publication you have and so helpful. Pierre Petrau, Columbia Falls I really enjoy reading the Montana Senior News when it arrives. Keep up the good work with the excellent articles. I was particularly interested in the articles regarding funerals and also “Planning Ahead – Charitable Giving Can Support Your Values.” Charlotte Faust, Havre Now I know more than I ever needed to know about what day it is! Great contest and I bet the advertisers are overjoyed with it. They got a lot for their money since you have to study each ad carefully to find the observances – so I learned about businesses and happenings across the state. Great job! Helen Morris, Twin Bridges MSN

APRIL/MAY 2015

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 5

The Montana Legislature Is Worse Than I Predicted By Bob Campbell In my prior column I pointed out that Republican majorities in both the Montana House and Senate would prove that absolute power results in absolute corruption. True to form, they first changed the legislative rules to allow them to pass any bill they wanted and kill any bill they opposed. It would be their decision as to what was best for the people of Montana. The height of their contempt for the suffering of 70,000 low income Montanans was displayed to all when they had the hearing on HB 249 that would have provided essential health care for our neediest Montanans. Hundreds came to Helena to tell the House Human Services committee why this federally funded health care is a life or death factor in their lives. Chairman Rep. Art Wittich pretended that the committee would be fair. But after the crowd was gone and with the televised hearing still running, he asked his fellow Republicans for a “do not pass” motion and killed the health care bill. Another example of their attack on those who opposed them was when another committee voted to remove $100,000 from the office of the Commissioner Political Practices. They did this knowing it would result in the removal of the only lawyer in the office that could enforce election law violations. This was very convenient for Rep. Wittich and other Republicans that have pending charges against them from that office for violating laws identifying special interest money funding their campaigns. This tip of the iceberg is undermining confidence that the Legislature is fair in its deliberations and is committed to do what is best for all Montanans. This is the worst legislative session since 1899, when, after being bombarded with bundles of cash, the Legislature voted to seat copper king William A. Clark in the United States Senate. Let these legislators know how you feel. If they succeed, all of us will pay dearly for ignoring their self-interested agenda. MSN

What Is The Answer? Submitted by Julie Brantley A proud and confident genius made a bet with a simple-minded gent. The genius said, “Hey, every question I ask you that you don’t know the answer to, you have to give me $5. And, if you ask me a question and I can’t answer, I will give you $5,000.” The simple-minded fellow said, “Okay.” The genius then asked, “How many continents are there in the world?” The simple-minded gent did not know the answer and handed over $5. Then the slow fellow asked the genius, “What animal stands with two legs but sleeps with three?” The genius tried, thought, and searched his brain for the answer, but gave up and handed over $5,000. The genius then asked, “Dang, I lost. By the way, what was the answer to your question?” The simple-minded gent handed over $5. MSN

There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing and is glad to talk about that one thing. - Lord Chestefield

Montana

the nation to work with nursing homes to ensure that the residents in their care receive high quality care.

nts at the center of side e r all ur

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Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative

The following nursing homes join the 37 nursing homes already participating in the Montana’s Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative. Welcome: Dahl Memorial, Ekalaka  Gallatin Rest Home,

Bozeman  Genesis Healthcare: Butte Center, Butte  Laurel Health & Rehab, Laurel  Marias Care Center, Shelby  Missoula Health & Rehab, Missoula  Pioneer Medical Center, Big Timber  Polson Health & Rehab, Polson  St. Luke’s Extended Care, Ronan  Pondera Medical Center, Conrad  Teton Medical Center NH, Choteau  Valley View Estates Health Care Center, Hamilton  Village Health Care Center, Missoula 

And thank you to those facilities already participating in the Montana Nursing Quality Care Collaborative

Apple Rehab Cooney, Helena  Awe Kualawaachee CC, Crow Agency  Beartooth HCC, Columbus  Great Falls  Big Sandy MC, Big Sandy  Big Sky HCC, Helena  Brendan House, Kalispell  Cedar Wood HC, Red Lodge  Community Nursing Home of Anaconda, Anaconda  Copper Ridge Health & Rehab, Butte  Daniels Memorial Nursing Home, Scobey  Discovery Care Center, Hamilton  Elkhorn HC & Rehab, Clancy  Faith Lutheran Home, Wolf Point  Friendship Villa HCC, Miles City  Good Samaritan Society MVM, Eureka  Glacier CC, Cut Bank  Heritage Place HCC, Kalispell  Holy Rosary HRH RL, Miles City  Immanuel SCC, Kalispell  Kindred Healthcare Parkview, Dillon  Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab, Great Falls  Lake View HC, Big Fork  Madison Valley Manor, Ennis  Missouri River MCNH, Fort Benton  Montana Veterans Home, Columbia Falls  Mountain View Healthcare Community, Bozeman  Parkview HCC, Billings  Rocky Mountain HCC, Helena  Rosebud HCC Nursing Home, Forsyth  Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home, Plentywood  St. John’s Lutheran Ministries, Billings  Teton Nursing Home, Choteau  The Living Centre, Stevensville  Tobacco Root Mountains Care, Sheridan  Valle Vista HCC, Lewistown  Valley Health Care, Billings  Valley View Home, Glasgow. Under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), within the communities they serve to help improve the delivery of health care and the systems that provide it. To join the Montana Nursing Home Quality Care Collaborative please call Pamela Longmire 406.457.5885.

Islands, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and

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The Magic Of Montana Is In The Details

So many facts about Montana are unique that discovering them all is probably an insurmountable task, Janet Spencer, author of Montana Trivia (Riverbend Publishing $10 + $2 S & H; 866-787-2363) probably knows more than anyone, so we have reprinted a few for your enjoyment 1. In Montana, there are almost three times as many miles of snowmobile trails as interstate highways at 3,700 miles. 2. No states in the lower 48 have a greater number of grizzly bears than Montana. 3. Rocky Boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Indian Reservation was supposed to be named after Chippewa chief Stone Child but his name suffered in translation. 4. Beaverhead County with 5,542 square miles is Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest county and is equal to the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. It is the 40th largest county in the U.S. (San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles, is the biggest at 20,160 square miles.) 5. As a publicity stunt to honor NFL quarterback Joe Montana, the town of Ismay changed its name to Joe for the duration of the 1993 football season. Joe Montana never visited Joe, Montana. 6. Glacial Lake Missoula, a lake covering much of western Mon-

APRIL/MAY 2015

tana, was formed by dams of ice sheets over 10,000 years ago filled and drained 30 to 40 times as ice dams broke and reformed, resulting in floods that ran with a force ten times greater than all the world’s rivers combined. 7. Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Great Lakes, with 124 miles of shoreline and an area of 188 square miles. 8. In the 1880s, Helena had 50 millionaires, more millionaires per capita than any other town in the U.S. 9. Eighty-five people died in the state’s worst fire season in 1910, when three million acres burned across Montana and Idaho. 10. The Powder River is said to be “a mile wide, an inch deep, and run uphill.” It contributes about five percent of the water gathered by the Yellowstone River, but accounts for 50% of the silt; hence the name. 11. Ennis boasts that it’s the home of “660 people and 11 million trout.” 12. Cut Bank boasts a twenty-seven-foot tall concrete penguin standing on a base that reads “Coldest Spot in the Nation.”

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 7

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Warrior in the Ring: the Life of Marvin Camel Native American World Champion Boxer by Brian D’Ambrosio; Riverbend Publishing; Helena, Montana, 2015 Reviewed by Connie Daugherty “As human beings, we need to protect ourselves. We have to be snug. We have to feel that we’re somebody. We need to believe that the dreams we followed were the right ones,” writes Brian D’Ambrosio in his most recent book, Warrior in the Ring, which deals with all of these human needs in the story of one Montana man. For a few years “Indian” Marvin Camel achieved all those things. He was “Montana’s favorite boxer and sports personality.” In his recently released biography of Marvin Camel, D’Ambrosio writes, “Boxing is customarily credited with changing the lives of disadvantaged youths, Camel fit this paradigm.” Half-African American, half-Salish, Marvin was raised near Ronan on the Flathead Reservation. D’Ambrosio details the struggles – both in and out of the ring – of this once-famous-now-mostly-forgotten Montanan. Based on extensive interviews with Marvin Camel, his family, and friends, this well-researched book explores not only Marvin’s career, but also the sport of boxing throughout the world as well as in Montana. With references to familiar boxing greats, D’Ambrosio places Marvin’s story in the context of the bigger story of the glory days of boxing before pay-for-view TV. Like a good boxer, D’Ambrosio doesn’t pull any punches when telling Marvin’s story. He writes about the glory, but also about the pain, not only of Marvin’s life, but also of the sport of boxing. He writes about the controversies and the prejudices. He also writes about life on an Indian reservation and how that life – “lovely, rather magical as well as bitter, Draconian” – formed Marvin. “If there is one defining characteristic of Marvin Camel, it is supreme confidence in everything he does,” writes D’Ambrosio. “That trait arises naturally from an iron will, steely nerves, and a fierce determination.” Growing up in a culture that didn’t quite accept him – he wasn’t Indian; he wasn’t Black – Marvin Camel struggled to be accepted, yearned for a place to belong. He found that acceptance, and even fame, for a while in boxing. “To Marvin Camel, boxing was democratic, dynamic, glamorous, virile, and violent. It held all the addiction of a marvelous danger, and he moved toward the ring like a moth to the light.” In 1980, at a celebration of his achievements, a special naming ceremony was held. Marvin was given the name, Yoah-Ilimi Nenemay, the First (Strong Leader). He was also presented with a war staff, “a

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bearskin-wrapped spear with thirty-nine feathers, one for each of Camel’s professional fights.” From that day on, he would carry the staff into the ring with him. This was the acknowledgement that he was accepted by the Salish as one of their own, which he had been craving since childhood. However, he had to leave the reservation and achieve fame beyond Montana before he was accepted in his home. Only three years later, “Marvin Camel made a decision that would change the rest of his life and change the way his own family and others on the Flathead reservation viewed him.” It would also affect how he viewed his home. Before all of that, in 1973, “Marvin Camel was twenty-two and he could sense success. For the first time in his life people were paying attention to him, admiring him, complimenting him.” Six years and several bouts later, Marvin “won the regional North American cruiserweight belt by technical knockout.” The cruiserweight division (176-190 pounds) had been created in the early 1970s just as Marvin was becoming known as a skilled amateur boxer. It was the perfect place for him. As D’Ambrosio covers Marvin’s career from those early days through to his retirement from boxing, he includes detailed descriptions of each significant bout. Who the competitor was and a bit about his skills. How Marvin trained, what happened in each round in the ring, and why the fight ended the way it did. These details bring the reader into the world of boxing not seen since the movie, Rocky. “Marvin was a boxer whose great-

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 9

est strength was his tunnel vision: train, fight, win, train, fight, win.” But unlike the movies, there are no guarantees, no assured happy ending. All too often Marvin did not win, either in the ring or in his personal life. There were exhilarating highs when anything was possible – even probable – and excruciating lows when it seemed impossible to go on. Still Marvin did go on. Along the way, he made life-long friends and a few enemies. He pushed himself to his full potential and beyond. He came away with both physical and emotional scars. He influenced the sport of boxing and the lives of those who followed him. He experienced success and failure and D’Ambrosio’s biography documents all of it as though he was there sharing in the action. Warrior in the Ring is Marvin Camel’s story, a tribute to the spirit of one man—”a remarkably unaffected, decent, considerate, humorous man.” It is about the evolution of boxing as a sport. It is also a story of survival – of being knocked down by life’s blows and of finding a way to get up and go on. Even if you are not a boxing fan, Warrior in the Ring has something for you. Brian D’Ambrosio lives in Helena where he works as a media consultant, writer, and instructor. His many articles have been published in local, regional, and national publications including Montana Magazine and Backpacker Magazine. His most recent EBook chronicled the trial and conviction of exonerated murdered Ryan Ferguson. MSN

The Gunslinger And The Prospector She walked up and tied her old prospecting mule to the hitching post. As she stood there, brushing some of the dust from her face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old woman and said with a laugh, “Hey old woman, have you ever danced?” The trail-worn woman looked up at the gunslinger and said, “No, I never did dance... never really wanted to.” A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, “Well, you old bag, you’re gonna dance now!” And he started shooting at the old woman’s feet. The old woman prospector not wanting to get her toe blown off – started hopping around as everybody laughed at her. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon. The old woman turned to her pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks cut through the desert air, and the crowd stopped laughing. The young gunslinger heard the sounds, too,

and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old woman and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels. The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old woman’s hands, as she quietly said, “Son, have you ever kissed a mule’s behind?” The gunslinger paused, swallowed hard, and said, “No m’am. But, I’ve always wanted to.” This story can teach us all a few lessons: • Never be arrogant. • Don’t waste ammunition. • Whiskey makes you think you’re smarter than you are. • Always know who has the power. • Finally, do not mess with old women; they didn’t get old by being stupid. MSN

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Spring is finally here. Smell the sweet aroma of blossoming flora, invigorated by subtle drops of rain. Listen to the bird’s floating melodies as they flutter about in the sky. Spring brings with it a sense of renewal and refreshment. What a perfect season for new love and friendship. To respond to any of these personal ads, simply forward your message and address, phone number, or email address to the department number listed in the particular personal ad, c/o Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. We will forward your response, including your address, phone number, and/or email address 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 true love! Responses to personal ads appearing in this column may be submitted at any time. However, to place a personal ad in the June/July 2015 issue, the deadline is May 7, 2015. SM 74, 6’ slender build, seeks trustworthy, kind soul, which would be great. I like fishing and walking in the park. Am looking for a companion that can be a best friend. Reply MSN, Dept. 31401, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403

SWM seeks lonely or handicap lady for longterm relationship. Looks are unimportant. Send photo and phone number. I will answer all replies. Reply MSN, Dept. 31402, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWM, 64, 165 lbs, seeks true Christian lady. Interested in the outdoors, including gardening, country life, herbal healing, and alternative medicine. Also someone who is interested in learning about the people behind the scenes who are undermining our rights, freedoms, and national sovereignty. Reply MSN, Dept. 31403, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF seeking SWM who is gentle, kind, honest, Christian, with a sense of humor, enjoys family, and between ages of 75–85. Would appreciate a photo, will send one in return. Preferably in the Billings area. I enjoy cooking, traveling, entertaining, and dining out occasionally. I’m a non-smoker, and no drugs. I have an active lifestyle. Love meeting new people. Waiting for your response. Reply MSN, Dept. 31404, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF. Widow in early 70s, 5’9”, slender build. Seeking gentleman 70–78. I raise a large garden, like to cook and bake, enjoy the great outdoors, dancing to country music, a cold beer, or a glass of wine, and a good BBQ. I also have a small dog. If you are this person who enjoys life, fun, and laughter, I would love to hear from you. Please enclose a picture. Reply MSN, Dept. 31405, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403

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SWF young lady in her 70s. Looking for a special friend in 70s or 80s, a country gentleman who can make me feel special, loved, and needed, a sincere, honest fella, who likes the simple things in life. Moonlight walks, quiet moments, holding hands, being there when needed. Clean, no smokers, chewers, drinkers, or druggies. Must love animals. I have RA, but still do my own work. Love gardening and being outdoors. Would like to find someone in Plains or Thompson Falls area. Reply MSN, Dept. 31406, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF, 82, look younger, 5’2”, 130lbs, good health. I’m seeking a non-smoking companion in the Butte area. I like traveling, staying home, cuddling, and watching TV, eating out occasionally. Respond with your phone number. Let’s meet for coffee and see what happens. Reply MSN, Dept. 31407, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 Would like to buy a Dodge Explorer RV van in operational or not running condition, and locate a widow who loves to drive and see the countryside beside the Redwoods with a tall not so dark haired 78-year-old widower, who loves to laugh, kid around, and talk with 19 year olds about jobs. Reply MSN, Dept. 31408, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF would like to meet a SWM, age not important as character, for friendship, fun, possible long-term relationship. Active and in good health, non-smoker, no drugs, but do enjoy an occasional glass of wine. Interests, include long walks, listening to music, good conversation, exploring junk stores, antique shops, travel and visiting interesting places in our beautiful state. I have a good sense of humor and feel that every day should be interesting. If you are a gentleman with similar interests, or interests of your own to share, please feel welcome to respond, a picture would be nice, but looks are not all that important as being active and interested in life. I’ll reply to all letters and will send a picture. Reply MSN, Dept. 31409, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWW Seeking friendship with SWM, nonsmoker, non-drinker, a Christian, and horseman. Love westerns. I am an avid horsewoman, have owned, raised, and trained horses for years. Love to work with them, but do not keep one. I have all original parts, most of my own teeth, color of my hair – have wrinkles. I am active and healthy, 70 years old. Wear a size 6/8. I have a home in Utah, but visit my niece and sister in Montana. I would love to talk horses with you. Reply MSN, Dept. 31410, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 SWF, 5’5”, youthful 60s ND/NS, soft and cuddly, attractive, faithful, fun, outspoken, opinionated, and tenderhearted. Own home in Hamilton and can’t relocate. Have disability so sleep later, but enjoy, camping, singing, dancing, my 12-step meetings, church, movies, plays, cards, TV, chivalry, family, laughter, and mutual TCL. ISO slim to med build, honest, affectionate, stable, dependable, considerate, man who doesn’t drink, smoke, drug, or gamble, for a special friend, companion, and possible life mate. Age, height, race not important, but must be a conservative and truly love Jesus. Photo and address with letter please. Reply MSN, Dept. 31411, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 Southwest Montana lady gardener seeking gardening friends, men, or women. And maybe, somewhere along the way, a prince charming to help me grow the pumpkins! A man who is good, a non-smoker and non-drinker, active, a gardener, happy, healthy, 60s-70s would be just right. Someone who loves nature, lives in a simple and natural way, and is spiritual, but not fanatically religious. Years ago I could grow pumpkins, but I cannot grow them where I presently live. Seek life in a rural

area where it is peaceful, quiet, beautiful, clean, and where one can grow pumpkins! I’m healthy in mind, body, and spirit, very active, do not look or act my age. When younger, I was a beauty queen, and now I’m older and wiser, perhaps! Am full of life and love and down to earth and live a simple, healthy lifestyle. I am a writer, artist, good cook, and love fine literature and spiritual books such as A Course in Miracles, books by Edgar Cayce, etc. How about you? Please send me your information and let us see what happens. Good luck my friend. Reply MSN, Dept. 31412, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 Slender Blonde 72 would like to meet a man about the same age. Someone who still enjoys life. Someone from the Billings area. I like fishing, dining out, and dancing. Reply MSN, Dept. 31413, c/o Montana Senior News, Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403 MSN

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Surprises Waterton Park Visitors -

cont’d from pg 44

Development Company, braved the wilderness and brought in drilling equipment. Using a wood rig powered by a 35 horsepower steam engine, they drilled to 1,020 feet and found oil. Not only was it the first oil well in Western Canada, it was only the second oil well in all of Canada. Today the well, marked by a small wooden derrick and the National Historic Site signs, is in a rocky gorge along Cameron Creek, about five miles outside of Waterton Townsite on the Akimina Highway. At the turn of the century, of course, there was no town and no road. It produced about 8,000 barrels before the bore jammed with debris and the casing failed, reducing the output to a drizzle. Great plans were made to build a town, bring in a railroad, and to get rich on oil. They explored around Waterton Lakes and Cameron Falls in what is now Waterton Townsite, but failed to find oil. Geologists explain that the oil seeps are misleading. Oil was trapped along a fault plane where the older rock of the Lewis overthrust slid over the younger oil-bearing rock. Because the ancient rocks are on top, it’s not a likely place to find oil, they say. Oil was found later in the Turner Valley Field in 1914 and in the Pincher Creek Field in 1948. It’s hard to imagine today that they were poking around for oil, even after this area became Waterton National Park in 1895. Imagine how this irreplaceable treasure of bio-diversity would be different had they found an abundance of oil at the turn of the century. We can be grateful that there’s oil enough for the bears to roll around in, but not enough to tempt those slightly lower on the food chain. MSN

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Submitted by Julie Hollar I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma on the wall, which bore his full name. Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 40 years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then? Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Garfield. “Yes. Yes, I did. I’m a Mustang,” he said beaming with pride. “When did you graduate?” I asked. “In 1966. Why do you ask?” “You were in my class!” I exclaimed. He looked at me closely. And then, that old, bald, gray-haired man asked, “What did you teach?” MSN

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Whether you are one or you remember a special one from when you were a child, grandpas (and grandmas, too) are very special sources of insight, wisdom, humor, and habits that live fondly in our memories. Do you remember sitting and listening in awe on grandpa’s lap or at the foot of his chair as he regaled you with stories of different times and places? Remember how in your play you would reenact as best you could with your friends those enthralling stories? This issue’s winning Remember When selection is by Therese Cowdery of Havre, who does nice job of telling us about Grandpa Charlie. Thank you, Therese. Remember When contains our readers’

personal reflections, 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 Montana Senior News features the contributions deemed best by our staff. The contributor of the winning entry receives a $25 cash prize. We look forward to receiving your contributions for our June/July 2015 issue. Mail your correspondence to Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403; email to montsrnews@bresnan.net; or call 1-800672-8477 or 406-761-0305. Visit us online at montanaseniornews.com.

Grandpa Charlie By Therese Cowdery, Havre My father, to whom I am referring as Grandpa Charlie, has entertained many with his tales that usually start out, “I remember when…” Stories ranged from riding a pony at age five to the river to fish, to riding the rails as an engineer on the Great Northern Railroad. He has told stories to friends, complete strangers, and relatives. Grandpa Charlie’s children, grandchildren, and most recently great grandchildren, have all been spellbound listening to his recollections of past adventures. Most recently, his story started out with, “I remember when if you had a nickel in your pocket you thought you were rich!” Grandpa Charlie remembers a time when the family hired a man to help on the farm. Remember, during the depression, if you had a roof over your head and food in your belly, you were rich. The family hired man had a bit more. His pay included a roof over his head, perhaps a house, a room, or a bunkhouse, seven dollars per week pay, two hogs to butcher each year, and two gallons of milk each day – it was the hired man’s responsibility to milk all the cows, both morning and night. This chore was done before the actual workday began and after it ended. One of Grandpa Charlie’s first “off the farm jobs” – you know the one he actually was paid to do – was making cement blocks at wages of sixty-five cents per hour. He found he could not

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pay all his expenses, so he made a huge decision, to quit to look for a better job. His boss asked him, “What are you going to do, starve to death?” Grandpa Charlie’s reply was, “Well, I might as well starve fast as slow!” His next job paid $1 per hour. Good news, the bills were paid and his belly was full. I asked him if he remembered how much things actually cost. Without hesitation, he answered gasoline; 8 gallons for a dollar; overalls, $1; Brown Mule chewing tobacco for four cents – it had to last a week because he only went to town once a week; a candy bar, 5 cents – much bigger than those little ones today; soda pop, 5 cents; and a package of cigarettes, fifteen cents. On the rare occasion, he was able to eat in town, a great hamburger and a bowl of soup was 15 cents. However, he rarely had that much so it was only the hamburger for 10 cents. Grandpa Charlie was able to supplement his income by trapping animals to sell their skins. Again, without hesitation, he immediately recalled just how much each was worth. Rabbit was 33 cents; possum, 45 cents; skunk, $4; raccoon, $6 dollars; mink, $20. Grandpa Charlie recalled asking my mother to go to a show on a Saturday night. They took the back roads to town, searching for rabbits. One rabbit meant they could see a show, two rabbits

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meant popcorn too. He claims they never had to miss a show and always had popcorn! There was one story my mother never let Grandpa Charlie forget. Mother was given a runt pig to raise. It required endless hours of care including bottle-feeding at all hours of the day and night. The conditions had to be just right for a

single pig to survive. After months of tender, loving care, the pig grew to weigh two hundred thirty pounds. Mother had dreams of a new dress, earrings, or something else that there was little money for. Her husband – my father, now Grandpa Charlie – had the nerve to take that pig to town, selling it for 13 cents per pound. He then proceeded to buy

Submitted by John Early, New York City Written by Regina Brett, 90 - Cleveland, Ohio To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 recently, so here is the column once more: 1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short – enjoy it. 4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself. 7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone. 8. It’s okay to get angry with the universe. It can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present. 12. It’s okay to let your children see you cry. 13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don’t worry, God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways. 18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special. 22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, “In five years, will this matter?” 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

Life’s Lessons

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a radio. That meant no extra money, no new dress, no earrings, and no dreams come true! Grandpa Charlie was reminded of that mistake his entire life! Yes, the Grandpa Charlies of the world and their stories… are there to help us who were not there understand times when a nickel was a fortune. MSN

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. MSN

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13. Chet Huntley, the famous newscaster born in Cardwell, was the driving force behind the construction of the Big Sky ski resort town, but he died three days before the grand opening ceremonies. 14. Seventy-four miners died at the Smith Mine near Red Lodge when an explosion ripped through it on February 27, 1943, making it Montanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst coal mine disaster. Most of the bodies were removed at night to avoid spectators. The mine was never re-opened. 15. Cowboys and Indians customarily wear garments with

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fringes because fringes wick rainwater away from the garment, helping it dry faster. 16. Dead since 1910, Big Red, the last ox to pull freight over Bozeman pass is on display at the Powderhorn sporting goods store in Bozeman. 17. A cow spends 6.5 hours/day eating, consuming 25 pounds of hay and ten gallons of water. 18. When six prospectors dipped their gold pans in Alder Creek in 1863, leading to one of historyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest placer gold discoveries, they were just hoping to find enough gold to pay for their tobacco. 19. The beaver is the largest rodent in Montana, weighing up to ninety pounds, and the second largest is the porcupine, weighing up to forty-five pounds. 20. Twenty percent of the steamboats that left St. Louis bound for Fort Benton via the Missouri River never made it back down the river. MSN

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Mickey Kunnary Celebrate Survivors at the Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure By Bernice Karnop Mickey Kunnary from Helena says the Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure, which has attracted as many as 4,000 participants, is about women supporting each other. Enthusiasm, hope, and caring are more than words here, she says. “You can feel them in the air.” Seeing all these breast cancer survivors, both men and women, and the friends and family running in their honor is empowering. Mickey ran her first Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure more than ten years ago when her workplace helped advertise it. She brought her husband, her kids, and her mother-in-law. “Usually we just showed up, wandered around, talked to the people we knew, got in line, and went for a nice walk on a beautiful spring day,” she says. The race took on new meaning in April 2013. That’s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of her years of participating in the race, Mickey knew that there are many possible treatments for breast cancer. She knew Komen and the Race for the Cure was part of the reason so many survive. She underwent surgery, chemo, and radiation, and was thankful for support of a special friend who was a survivor herself. Mickey received a clean bill of health December 31, 2013, and she’s doing very well. Cancer, she says is wake-up call. Although not unhealthy, she and her husband realize that lack of exercise and extra pounds are linked to getting cancer. They have made lifestyle changes, and now go to the gym regularly and diet to lose weight. In 2014, she participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for the first time as a

survivor. “The Race for the Cure was already dear to my heart prior to diagnosis,” she says. “Then all of a sudden it was even more so.” Survivors are given a string of beads for each year since their cancer, and she proudly wore her single strand. “Seeing others there with 20 to 30 strings of beads around their necks was an awe-

some visual, showing how long they have been cancer-free,” she said. “It was pretty cool and very awe inspiring.” Everyone is touched by cancer in one way or another. If they have not had it themselves, they know a loved one or friend in the battle. At the Race, people see that there is hope because of the things being done to help survivors and find a cure. “It is so empowering,” says Mickey. “If it is possible to drive to Helena and participate, I just highly recommend it because it’s such a positive, uplifting thing.” Anyone can participate, not just women. Children, men, older people, babies in strollers, and serious runners all are welcome. One does not have to be a runner. In fact, most people walk at their own pace, visiting and enjoying the sunshine. Participants honor their loved ones by putting names on the backs of their shirts. There are tears for those who lost the battle, but there are even more smiles and laughter. In the 2015 Race for the Cure, Mickey takes her race experience up another notch. She’s been asked to chair the Survivor Café and she is looking forward to giving as a volunteer. Fundraising is also important. “The money we raise here helps take breast health care to rural and impoverished areas,” she says. It funds breast health education, access to mammograms, early screening, support to individuals and more. “Cancer can be an overwhelming and depressing thing,” says Mickey. “It’s a big deal that Komen raises money and helps the citizens of our state and takes care of our people.” MSN

Sign Up Now For The 2015 Susan G. Komen Montana Race For The Cure By Bernice Karnop Breast cancer, which randomly strikes both men and women, is an unwelcome guest in any household. Montanans universally wait to see a cure for it, and the Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure provides a way for them to put feet under that hope. This springtime event insures that no one needs to fight this battle alone. When thousands join to support this cause, participants feel the encourage-

ment and energy it generates. The Montana Komen Race for the Cure is Saturday, May 16, 2015, in Helena. Registration starts at 8 a.m. in front of the Capitol, or register early online at komenmontana.org. Fees depend on factors such as whether the individual is running the 5k or walking the mile, and are different for adults, teens, and children. Children 5 and

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under are free. Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, according to its web site. It provides money for research as well as help for those with the disease. The organization was formed in 1982 by Nancy Brinker with a goal to help end the disease that took her sister Susan Komen’s life. The Montana affiliate was organized in 1999. Since then, it has had a big impact on Montana. It raises awareness, funds mobile clinics for the underinsured and the uninsured, and supports

survivors. According to Nancy W. Lee, executive director of Komen Montana, 75 percent of the money raised stays in Montana and 25 percent goes towards research for a breast cancer cure. In Montana, over 65 programs have received grants from Komen totaling over $1.5 million. They are used for breast health education, early screening, access to mammograms, and for support to those with the disease. The Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure provides everyone – men, women, young

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and old – an opportunity to support the important cause of eradicating breast cancer. Individuals may walk, run, volunteer, donate, or stand at the finish line and cheer. As a bonus, they go home feeling the tremendous encouragement, positive energy, and the hope and joy that come from being together with thousands of other supporters. There is no cure yet, but progress is encouraging, thanks to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. To donate or for more information, visit komenmontana.org or phone 406-495-9337. MSN

Montana Senior Olympics Coming Soon to Helena By Bernice Karnop It’s time to dust off the tennis rackets, power up the pickle ball skills, shoot some hoops, oil that road bike, and put a little more muscle into the swim routine. The Montana Senior Olympics is scheduled for June 18-20, 2015 in Helena. Competition inspires men and women 50 years and better to put more effort into their workouts and it makes the workouts more fun. The benefits

don’t stop there. Socially, it’s an opportunity to make new friends, maintain social connections, and interact with other people. Physically, the increased activity helps prevent falls through improved flexibility, balance, and muscle tone. In addition, aerobic exercise maintains cardiovascular health and keeps the mind sharp! Montana Senior Olympics moves to Helena this year, after several years in Great Falls. Participants can pick up their packets, meet old friends, and

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attend the opening banquet on Friday night at the Senior Olympics Headquarters in the Red Lion Colonial Hotel. The fees this year are $20 for registration and $4 for each event. The registration fee includes a free t-shirt and medals for top finishers in each 5-year age group. Last year they added pickle ball to the Montana games. Long-time event leader, Kay Newman from Bozeman, says, “Pickle ball brought in more entrants than any sport we ever had, any year.” There were around 300 senior athletes at

the games in Great Falls last year and she expects even more this year. For a list of events and more information, visit the MSO website montanaseniorolympics. org. There is no on-line registration this year, and at press time, there was not a downloadable registration PDF. In this section on page19 clip and mail the request for information form to get into the system. More information will become available, as it gets closer to the event. MSN

Smarter Vehicles Could Save Your Life – New Technologies Promise Safer Driving For People Of All Ages Provided by AARP Q: The other day I turned on the TV and caught the tail end of a segment showing five new vehicle technologies. I was wondering if you had more information about this list. We are currently in the market for a new car and this list might be helpful as we consider our choices. A: When shopping for a new vehicle, there is a lot more to consider than four-wheel drive and heated seats. With the variety of new tech offerings available in today’s vehicles, now is a good time to reference a recent study conducted by AARP Driver Safety’s partners at MIT Age Lab and The Hartford. The study determined the most helpful vehicle technologies for drivers 50 and older, and how well these technologies meet the unique needs, concerns, and priorities of experienced drivers. So the next time you upgrade your vehicle, refer to this list of top vehicle technologies: • Smart Headlights: Finding a safe balance between the intensity of your headlights and the darkness of the night is a difficult task. However, smart headlights can now help you adjust the range and intensity of light based on the distance of traffic. This reduces glare and improves night vision. • Emergency response systems: While many drivers expect to use their cell phones to contact emergency personnel, it might not be the best option in every situation. Thankfully many vehicles are now equipped with emergency response systems that offer quick assistance to drivers in the case of a medical emergency or collision, often allowing emergency personnel to get to the scene more quickly. Some systems even turn on interior lights, unlock doors, and shut off fuel when airbags deploy.

• Reverse monitoring systems: These systems – often composed of rearview cameras and sound alerts – help a driver judge distances and back up safely. These tools are especially helpful for drivers with reduced flexibility who may have trouble turning their bodies around to see out of rearview mirrors properly. Additional research from The Hartford and MIT Age Lab reveals that exercises like chest and shoulder expansions can help drivers maintain their flexibility. Although drivers shouldn’t solely depend on this reverse monitoring system, along with rearview mirror checks it can help the driver better assess the environment around his/her vehicle. • Blind spot warning systems: Blind spots create challenges for all drivers, especially when trying to change lanes on major highways or park in a crowded lot. These systems help you consistently monitor your blind spots without taking your eyes off the road. However, you should also take steps to limit your vehicle’s blind spots. Make sure your rearview mirror is properly adjusted so that you can see your entire rear window. You will know your left and right mirrors are properly adjusted when you can barely see the left and right back of your vehicle as you look through the mirrors respectively. • Drowsy driving alerts: Did you know drowsy driving could be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol? According to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 60% of adult drivers admit to having fallen asleep behind the wheel. Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports that drowsy driving is responsible for over 100,000 crashes each year. For this reason, drowsy driver alerts are premiering in new vehicles to prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel. This new technology monitors drivers’ inattentiveness and alerts them when they might be dozing off. For the full list of top technologies and to watch demonstrations of how they work, visit AARP’s Driving Resource Center online at aarp.org/DRC. MSN

Every day I get up and look at the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work. – Robert Orben

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Why Don’t You Improve? By Dalton McCrary Why aren’t you getting any better at this game? Golfers spend thousands of dollars on technologically advanced equipment, books, videos, and gadgets all based on the latest instructional techniques. We play and yes, we even practice, to no avail. We still don’t improve. Why? From my observations, there are three main reasons First, you take the off-season, totally off! Your clubs are growin’ dust in the closet, the garage, or the trunk of your car, and they don’t see light of day for months. I say keep a club around the house, and place your hands on it every day so you won’t lose the feel of the weight of the club in your hands, and you can work on bettering that grip – every day. Remember, Harvey Penick said, “If you have a bad grip you don’t want a good swing.” Profound! Second, when you do find time in your busy schedule to practice (sad but true, folks), you practice dumb! If you only go to the range once a month, it had better be productive! Most of you, after a layoff of 4-6 months, just go out and hit a few balls before you play your first round of the year. Most of you practice only when you have a problem. Dumb again. You’d have a much better chance to improve if you worked out while you’re playing well. This way, you can work on the things you need to improve on, while you’re in a positive frame of mind. Remember, your wedge and your putter make up 80% of your shots. Your driver comes out only 14 times a round – maybe less. Now, how often do you practice your short game? Should be two-thirds of your practice time. Third, since you take the off-season totally off, and you practice dumb, I suggest that the main reason you don’t improve is you don’t know your own golf swing. Get to know it! To recap, if you really want to improve your game, keep a club handy to practice your grip and feel. When you practice, practice intelligently. Spend two-thirds of your time on your short game. And in the process, get to know your own golf swing. ISI

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Simple Steps to Seed Starting Success By Melinda Myers Get a jump on the growing season by starting your favorite or hard to find plants indoors from seeds. Starting hard-to-find plants, like many of the heirloom or newly introduced varieties, from seed may be the only way you will be able to add these to your garden. Plus, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be extending the growing season and bringing the fun of gardening indoors. All you need is a little space, a few supplies, and of course seeds to get started. Check the back of your seed packets for planting directions. Most recommend when and how to start seeds indoors as well as any other special care the seedlings will need. Purchase, recycle, or make your own containers from newspaper. Sanitize used pots by dipping them in a one part bleach and nine parts water solution and then rinsing them with clean water. Fill the containers with a sterile well-drained potting mix or seed starting mix. Once the containers are filled, plant the seeds according to the seed packet directions. For most seeds, plant them twice their diameter deep and gently water. Continue to water often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Extend the time between watering and increase your seed starting success by covering the container with plastic. Or purchase a seed starting kit from your local or online garden supplier. Move your containers to a sunny window as soon as the seedlings emerge from the soil. Turn plants often to encourage even growth. Or increase your success by growing seedlings under artificial lights. You can make your own light system or purchase tabletop, shelf units, or easy to assemble light systems. Keep the lights four to six inches above the top of the seedlings for best results. As the seedlings grow, be sure to maintain this distance by simply raising the lights or lowering the containers. Move overcrowded seedlings to larger containers once they have two sets of true leaves. The first leaves that appear are rather indistinct and are called seed leaves. The next set of leaves look more like the mature plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaves and are called true leaves. Once the next set of true leaves forms, it is time to transplant overcrowded seedlings. Use a fork or spoon carefully to lift out the seedling. Clusters of seedlings can be dug and carefully teased apart before planting in individual pots. Be careful not to pinch and damage the young tender stems. Place seedlings in their own clean container filled with moist sterile potting mix. Plant the young plants at the same depth they were growing in the original container. Thin seedlings started in individual containers as needed. If you planted several seeds in each small container, remove all but the healthiest one. Prune the weaker seedlings to ground level, so

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the remaining seedling can develop into a strong transplant for the garden. Continue to grow your plants in a sunny window or under artificial lights and water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. And before you know it, the weather will be warm enough to move your homegrown transplants into the garden. Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist

and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips. MSN

Are You Ready To Sell? Consider Factors That Affect Home’s Value

(StatePoint) It may seem like the size of your home is the be-all and end-all of your home’s value. But there are many other factors that come into play when determining the listing price of a particular home. A new report offers some insights. The Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report, the most extensive home price comparison tool currently available in the

country, ranks the average listing price of fourbedroom, two-bathroom homes in nearly 2,000 markets across the country. Analyzing more than 51,000 similar-sized listings, it addresses how much a home in one market would cost if the same home were located somewhere else in the United States. For example, the report reveals that for the price of the average home in Los Altos, California, you could purchase 30 similar-sized homes in Cleveland, Ohio, nine homes in Charlotte, North Carolina, eight homes in Chicago, Illinois, five

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homes in Miami, Florida or two homes in Seattle, Washington. But why are there such discrepancies? “It’s amazing how much location impacts a home’s value,” says Coldwell Banker Real Estate consumer specialist Jessica Edwards. “Typically, urban markets are more expensive, while suburban and rural areas tend to be more affordable. However, many factors contribute to the average price of a home, such as commute time or proximity to the waterfront. The Home Listing Report is a helpful reference, so you can gauge how your area compares to other parts of the country.” Local industry plays a role as well. In the case of Los Altos, which is ranked as the most expensive market in America, the continued success of many tech companies contributes to the boom. This information can be useful, whether you’re planning to put your property on the market or you’re looking to relocate. For example, if you are scoping out a neighborhood where home prices are on the verge of increasing, area features to

Downsizing Dilemma – What to Save, What to Toss

By Tait Trussell The older we get the more we accumulate. What to hoard and what to dispose of becomes an ever-enlarging question. One of my sons has said he eventually wants everything I have written. I’ve disposed of a library’s-worth already. What I do have left is in some files that are already beginning to yellow. Only one or two copies of the books I have written still exist, aT least in our home. I have moved from one house to another the various awards and pictures of me with Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan and Chief Justice Burger. (It was just because I was a journalist in Washington that I was fortunate enough to have them.) Probably more importantly, I have saved pictures of children and grandchildren as well as parents and grandparents, some of

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look out for include cultural institutions – such as art galleries and performance spaces – as well as such factors as unique architecture and proximity to mass transit and other trendy areas. Edwards also recommends doing some quantitative research, including talking to your Realtor about how fast properties are selling in your area and whether business owners are investing in the neighborhood. “Buying or selling a home is a huge emotional and financial decision,” says Edwards. “By doing your homework beforehand, you will be able to take some of the uncertainty out of the process.” Remember, while this information is very useful for homeowners and prospective home buyers, it’s by no means a replacement for a professional real estate agent who understands local conditions. For more details about the report, or to see how your area stacks up, visit hlr.coldwellbanker.com. For many people, a home is their biggest investment and largest asset. Be savvy and stay informed about the ins and outs of its value. MSN

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which are duplicates of photos other members of the family have. My wife recently had the bright idea of having copies made of the Pulitzer Prize certificate that my father won in 1949. She made them for all the grandchildren, believing this should be of special significance. All the grandchildren are now old enough to appreciate its importance, even though not all of them were old enough to have known Dad when he was alive. As for photos of some significance or personal treasure, my wife plans to put stickers on the backs of the frames with names of children or grandchildren who have expressed an interest in owning them in the future. I have taken dozens of tote bags full of books – many of them best sellers – to our local library. They seem to appreciate this enough to give me, in each case, a receipt that I have used for income tax purposes. As for financial reports from our brokerage,

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they are filed in ever-increasing file folders, while monthly bank and credit union statements bulge in my file cabinet until they are old enough to shred. I finally disposed of a mortgage to a home we owned a couple of generations ago and insurance statements on cars long ago sold. When it comes to clothes, we seem to accumulate enough old or unwanted clothing to fill bags a couple of times a year for Good Will or the Salvation Army. Less clutter, more tax deductions. Nowadays, many organizations want to send information electronically rather than on paper. Citigroup, for example, says that about 37 percent of its customers get electronic statements, up from 25 percent three years ago. The Vanguard mutual fund group says 46 percent of its investors get paper statements. We still get monthly statements on paper from our bank, even though my wife checks the figures online before the report comes in the mail. One of the essential reasons to keep much of the paper is for tax purposes. We send a large package of receipts to our tax accountant every year. The IRS expects you to keep records of income, expenses, deductions, and charitable contributions for three years. You need to keep records of the cost basis of securities, even if bought many years ago. Records of home renovation costs on your home need to be kept three years after you sell your home, although state laws vary. If you are in

a flood area, back up important data to be stored in a safe place. Old hard drives on your computer should be destroyed to avoid identity theft. As for that extra set of golf clubs, that old sofa, and duplicate sets of tools, there are always yard sales to dispose of them. Most important to keep in a safe place are wills, trusts, and be sure your doctor and family have seen your living will and understand your instructions. Because a living will cannot give guidance for every possible situation, you want to name someone to make care decisions for you if you are unable to do so for yourself. You might choose a family member, friend, lawyer, or your pastor or priest. You can do this either in the advance directives or through a durable power of attorney for health care that names a health care proxy, who is also called a representative, surrogate, agent, or attorney-in-fact. “Durable” means it remains in effect even if you are unable to make decisions. A durable power of attorney for health care is useful if you don’t want to be specific – if you would rather let the health care proxy evaluate each situation or treatment option independently. A durable power of attorney for health care is also important if your health care proxy, the person you want to make choices for you, is not a member of your family. Of course, you should make sure the person and alternate(s) you have named understand your views about end-of-life care. MSN

Grow Your Best Tomato Yet

By Melinda Myers Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes. Make this your biggest and tastiest tomato harvest yet with proper planting and care. Reduce pest problems and increase the harvest by growing your tomatoes in a sunny location with well-drained soil or in a quality potting mix for container gardens. Improve your garden soil by adding several inches of organic matter to the top eight to twelve inches of soil prior to planting. Compost, aged manure, and other organic materials help improve drainage in heavy clay soil and increase the water holding ability of sandy soil. Add a slow release organic nitrogen fertilizer according to label directions at planting. Slow release fertilizers provide a constant diet that is better for your plants and less work for you. Save yourself more time by mixing the fertilizer into the soil when incorporating the organic matter. Then give your plants a midseason boost as needed. Once the soil is prepared, wait for the air and soil to warm to plant your tomatoes. Planting too early when the soil is still cool and the nights are chilly can stress the plant and delay your harvest. Plant your tomatoes slightly deeper or in a trench for better rooting. Trench tomatoes by digging a shallow trench about 3-4 inches deep. Remove the lower leaves and lay the plant on its side in the hole. Roots will eventually form along the stem. Carefully bend the stem, so the upper leaves will be above the soil. Fill the trench with soil and water. Stake or tower your tomatoes to reduce insect and disease problems and make harvesting easier. The type of tomato and your schedule will help determine the training system that works best for you. Determinate tomatoes (look for the “D” on the tag) grow a certain height and stop. They work well in towers, containers, or even hanging baskets. Indeterminate tomatoes, labeled with an “I”, keep growing taller, producing more flowers and fruit until the end of the growing season. These do best when grown on tall sturdy stakes or extra tall strong towers. Towering tomatoes is easy. Simply place the tower over the tomatoes at planting. Tomatoes grown in towers produce a larger, but later harvest than staked tomato plants. Allow a bit more time if you decide to stake your plants. Place the stake in the ground at planting. Be careful not to injure the roots. As the plants begin to grow prune off all side branches and suckers that develop between the main stem and leaves. Loosely tie the remaining one or two stems to the stake. Cloth strips, twine, or other soft ties work well. Keep tying up the plants as they continue to grow. Staked tomatoes produce the earliest and smallest harvest. Check new plantings every few days and water often enough to keep the developing root system moist. Reduce frequency as plants become established. Water established plants thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are slight-

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ly moist. Mulch the soil with evergreen needles, shredded leaves or other organic mulch to keep the soil consistently moist and suppress weeds. Consistent soil moisture encourages more flowering and fruiting, while reducing the risk of blossom end rot, cracking, and misshapen fruit. Harvest your tomatoes when fully colored. Leave them on the plant an extra 5 or 6 days for even better flavor. Unfortunately, the animals often move in and feast on the ripening fruit. In this case, you may need to finish ripening tomatoes indoors. Once you taste that first red ripe tomato, you will be looking for more sunny spots for contain-

ers or to expand your garden. Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips. MSN

Antiques – The Modern Day Treasure Hunt By Tom Murphy In today’s world, everything that’s old can be described as an antique and generally, that’s quite true. A product is considered an antique if it is over 100 years old or is rare enough to have some value. In other words, these old items are in limited supply. An antique is something collectible. It may be a piece of antique furniture that you want to collect to enhance the look of a room, a piece of antique pottery to decorate a corner cupboard, books, a camera and photographs, antique jewelry, antique money, an antique car, antique clocks, old documents, or an antique watch that you want to hand down to your grandchildren – but the items must be rare enough to be considered an antique. The others are just secondhand goods junk. Most people have a common misconception about an antique: the older it looks, the more antique it must be. Appearance has nothing to do

with it, just because a piece looks like it came out of grandma’s attic does not necessarily mean that it’s an antique. The value of an antique is based on demand due to suitability and limited supply. Most people become fascinated with an antique for two reasons; either they have an interest in collecting antiques purely for personal enjoyment and are willing to shell out money for antique restoration or they inherited it from a family member. However they came about it, everyone wants to be sure that what they buy or inherit will appreciate over time. That is what antique collection is all about. There are two main principles that apply when collecting an antique: The first is to know everything that you can about the antique that interests you and second is to obtain them at the lowest possible price. Doing so will not only give you satisfaction and enjoyment, but also you will be assured that your investment will appreciate.

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Some people only develop an interest in an antique because they inherited an item or a whole house full of antiques from a relative. The dollar signs started to appear and they began their search for antique appraisals and antique auctions. But what most failed to consider is that much of what great grandmother had is probably just junk, unless she was a seasoned and knowledgeable collector. It’s true that people could have bought a

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piece of furniture to decorate their home a long time ago and that furniture, if it were of fine quality, would now be worth something. But only a professional appraiser can accurately assess the value. So if you are keen on bringing your item to an antique auction and contemplating asking someone how much an item is worth, be

prepared to pay a fee for the appraisal. Appraisers charge fees because their opinions form the basis for insurance coverage and estate valuations. Although appraising is not an exact science, it does require a certified appraiser to do the research and prepare a detailed report that’s acceptable in a court of law. MSN

Don’t Miss April’s 49th Creston Auction It’s time for the Creston Fire Department’s largest annual fundraiser: the Creston Auction & Country Fair, held every spring. This benefit for the all-volunteer fire department is the largest spring event in Montana and draws thousands of people from throughout the region and Canada annually. Here are some of the details for this year’s event: • The 49th Annual Creston Auction & Country Fair and the accompanying RV, Marine, Auto & Equipment Sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12 in Creston – 12 miles east of Kalispell on MT Hwy 35. • Friday, April 10 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. is consignment day. At the sales grounds, items can be consigned, with the largest portion of the sale price going back to the seller; or donated, meaning all proceeds of the sale go to the Creston Fire Department. • Saturday, April 11 at 9 a.m., the general merchandise auction begins. Attendees can also purchase locally made arts and crafts, rummage

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sale items, and homemade baked goods. • The vehicle and equipment sale begins at noon on Sunday, April 12. • There is no entrance or parking fee and No Buyer’s Premium at this weekend event. The bid ticket charge goes entirely to pay for 24-hour security. Hot food and drink are available on both days. • Last year’s auction netted over $45,000. All proceeds are used for additional training programs and firefighting equipment. • Local organizations are encouraged to use this venue as a fundraiser. Collect items at your school or church and bring as one load to the sale on Consignment Day. We’ll send the proceeds (minus the fire department’s commission) to your organization. For more information, call 406-250-7396, visit our website at crestonfire.org, or find us on Facebook. MSN

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Smartphone Options for the Tech-Shy By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in getting my 72-year-old mother a smartphone, but want to get one that’s very easy for her to use. What can you recommend? Shopping Around Dear Shopping, There are several different ways you can go about getting a simplified smartphone that’s easy to use. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, here are some different options to consider. Simplify a Used Phone. The cheapest way to an easy-to-use, uncomplicated smartphone is to get a second-hand android phone, and install a “launcher app” on it, which is a user interface software application. This type of launcher will turn the appearance and performance of most android smartphones into a simplified phone with big understandable icons for commonly used features (phone, text messaging, camera, contacts, etc.) and no excess clutter. Most launchers can also be customized to fit your individual needs and preferences. There is a variety of launcher apps available today that provide this type of technology and are completely free to use. Some popular options include Necta Launcher (launcher.necta.us), Wiser (wiser-me.com), Seniors Phone (seniorsphone.mobi), Fontrillo (fontrillo.com), and Big Launcher (biglauncher. com), which also offers an upgraded version for $9. Or, if you have an old Apple iPhone that you’d like to convert, check out Silverline Mobile (silverline.mobi) that converts both Apple and androids free. Purchase a New Phone. If you’re interested in purchasing a new smartphone, you have options here too. For starters, you could purchase a smartphone that’s specifically designed for seniors, like GreatCall’s Touch3 that costs $150 (with no contract) at greatcall.com or 800-918-8543. This is an android phone made by Samsung that has a 4-inch touchscreen and provides a simple menu list to often-used features like the phone, text messages, camera, pictures, email and Internet, along with your contacts and apps. It also offers a variety of health and safety features like the “5Star app” that would let the caller speak to a certified agent 24/7 that could identify location and get needed help. “Urgent Care” that provides access to registered nurses and doctors for advice and diagnoses. And “MedCoach,” which sends medication reminders. Another way you could go is to purchase a standard/mainstream smartphone that provides a built-in “Easy Mode” or “Simple” feature in the settings. This will let you convert the phone into a much simpler mode of operation that provides larger, well-labeled icons, to only commonly used functions like the phone, camera, messaging, Internet, pictures, contacts, and favorite apps. Smartphones that offer the “Easy Mode” or “Simple” feature include the Samsung Galaxy phones, which are available through most cell phone carriers at prices typically ranging between $400 and $850 without a contract. Or, for a more budget-friendly option, the Huawei Vision 2 and Huawei Ascend Mate 2, which you can buy as an unlocked phone or through Consumer Cellular (consumercellular.com, 888-345-5509) for $80 or

Garden Of Daily Living Submitted by Leona Carpenter Princeton, Idaho For the garden of your daily living, plant three rows of peas: 1. Peace of mind 2. Peace of heart 3. Peace of soul. Plant four rows of squash: 1. Squash gossip 2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness. Plant four rows of lettuce: 1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another. To finish our garden, we must have thyme! 1. Thyme for each other 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends. Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There will be much fruit in your garden because you will reap what you sow! MSN

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$225 without a contract. Consumer Cellular is a top-rated no-contract service provider that also offers discounts to AARP members. One nice advantage of buying mom a mainstream phone is that if you master the Easy/Simple mode (or get bored with it) you can always switch the phone back to the standard operation mode exposing more options. You can also add any number of health and safety features to the phone, like what the Touch3 offers, by downloading apps at greatcall.com/medical-apps. 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. MSN

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Taps: Signaling The End Of The Day, The End Of A Life By Tait Trussell There are 1.7 million of us World War II veterans still alive. Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s 23.4 million living veterans are 65 or older, according to the VA. And any of us who wants a military funeral gets a bugler to blow Taps. There is a touching story about the origin of Taps. One night during the Civil War, Army Captain Robert Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier. Not knowing whether it came from a Union or a Confederate soldier, Ellicombe crawled toward the wounded man and dragged him to his own lines. Once there, he lit a lantern. The soldier was now dead. Suddenly, Ellicombe went numb with shock. The soldier was his own son. He had been studying music in the South and had not told his father he had joined the Confederate forces. The next morning, the father asked permission to give his son a military funeral, although a member of the Confederate Army. The father asked a bugler if he would play the notes the Captain had found on a sheet of paper in his dead son’s pocket. The music was the haunting notes of Taps now played at all military funerals. A dramatic story that has been told for many years… but it is untrue. The truth is that Taps was composed in 1862 at Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. General Daniel Butterfield of the Army of the Potomac became dissatisfied with the traditional firing of three rifle volleys at the conclusion of burials. One evening, Butterfield summoned the bugler to his tent, and together

they composed a melody that is the present Taps. As the bugler, Private Horton later wrote about the occasion. “General Butterfield, showing me some notes written on the back of an envelope, asked me to sound them on my bugle. I played the notes several times. He then changed it several times lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as first given to me. He directed me to sound that for Taps thereafter. “The music was beautiful that summer night. It was heard far beyond our brigade,” Horton wrote. “The next day, I was visited by several buglers from nearby brigades, asking for copies of the music. I think no order was issued from headquarters authorizing the substitution of this for the regulation call. But as each brigade commander exercised his own discretion, the call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac.” Within months, the new Taps was being sounded by buglers of both Union and Confederate forces. And now Taps is played at all military funerals. Bugles Across America has more than 7,000 volunteers who play Taps at military funerals, but that still leaves many funerals dependent on ceremonial bugles and Taps recordings. “Buglers to play Taps are in short supply at a time when the need for people who can perform this solemn duty is very high,” says Tom Day, founder of Bugles Across America. In addition to casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam who have died has peaked in the past few years. “About 656,000 veterans died in fiscal 2009, according to Census estimates,” says Jo Schuda, a spokeswoman for the Department of Veterans Affairs – about 1,800 a day. In fiscal 2008, about 657,000 died, according to the VA. MSN

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Author Unknown Submitted by Julie Brantley There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound will still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later. MSN

We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance. - Harrison Ford

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Could This Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes By David Stauth, Oregon State University Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new way selectively to insert compounds into cancer cells – a system that will help surgeons identify malignant tissues and then, in combination with phototherapy, kill any remaining cancer cells after a tumor is removed. It’s about as simple as, “If it glows, cut it out.” And if a few malignant cells remain, they’ll soon die. The findings, published in the journal Nanoscale, have shown remarkable success in laboratory animals. The concept should allow more accurate surgical removal of solid tumors at the same time it eradicates any remaining cancer cells. In laboratory tests, it completely prevented cancer recurrence after phototherapy. Technology such as this, scientists said, may have a promising future in the identification and surgical removal of malignant tumors, as well as using near-infrared light therapies that can kill remaining cancer cells, both by mild heating of them and generating reactive oxygen species that can also kill them. “This is kind of a double attack that could significantly improve the success of cancer surgeries,” said Oleh Taratula, an assistant professor in the OSU College of Pharmacy. “With this approach, cancerous cells and tumors will literally glow and fluoresce when exposed to near-infrared light, giving the surgeon a precise guide about what to remove,” Taratula said. “That same light will activate compounds in the cancer cells that will kill any malignant cells that remain. It’s an exciting new approach to help surgery succeed.” The work is based on the use of a known compound called naphthalocyanine, which has some unusual properties when exposed to near-infrared light. It can make a cell glow as a guide to surgeons; heat the cell to kill it; and produce reactive oxygen species that can also kill it. And by adjusting the intensity of the light, the action of the compound can be controlled and optimized to kill just the tumor and cancer cells. This research was done with ovarian cancer cells. However, naphthalocyanine isn’t water-soluble and also tends to clump up, or aggregate, inside the body, in the process losing its ability to make cells glow and generate reactive oxygen species. This also makes it difficult or impossible to find its way through the circulatory system and take up residence only in cancer cells.

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OSU experts overcame these problems by use of a special water-soluble polymer, called a dendrimer, which allows the napthalocyanine to hide within a molecule that will attach specifically to cancer cells, and not healthy tissue. The dendrimer, an extremely tiny nanoparticle, takes advantage of certain physical characteristics that blood vessels leading to cancer cells have, but healthy ones do not. It will slip easily into a tumor but largely spare any healthy tissue. Once in place, and exposed to the type of light needed, the cancer cells then will glow – creating a biological road map for a surgeon to follow in identifying what tissues to remove and what to leave. At the same time, a few minutes of this light exposure activate the naphthalocyanine to kill any remaining cells. This one-two punch of surgery and a nontoxic, combinatorial phototherapy holds significant promise, Taratula said. It’s quite different from existing chemotherapies and radiotherapies. “For many cancers, surgery is a first choice of treatment,” Taratula said. “In coming years we

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may have a tool to make that surgery more precise, effective, and thorough than it’s been before.” Before attempting human clinical tests, OSU researchers hope to perfect the process and then collaborate with Shay Bracha, an assistant professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, to test it on live dogs that have malignant tumors. The technique has already been shown successful in laboratory mice. Worth noting, the researchers said, is that even as phototherapy was destroying their malignant tumors, the mice showed no apparent side effects and the animals lost no weight. Systems with technology similar to this are also being tested by other researchers, but some of them require several imaging and therapeutic agents, repeated irradiation, and two lasers. This increases cost, may lessen effectiveness, and increase risk of side effects, OSU researchers said in their report. This research was supported by the OSU College of Pharmacy, the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon, and the PhRMA Foundation. MSN

Race dedicated to saving lives and ending breast cancer forever The 21st annual Susan G. Komen Montana Race for the Cure® in Helena is more than a race; this event brings people together in many unimaginable ways. Of course, the most obvious people are the participating survivors and their families. Each year we recognize those women and men who have won their battle against breast cancer and their families who were with them every step of the way. The Race for the Cure® is also a way to pay tribute to those who lost their battle. Participants will travel hundreds of miles and raise thousands of dollars in memory of someone they lost. The money raised here in Montana has a huge impact on our state. Seventy-five percent of the money stays right here in Big Sky Country to help our friends and neighbors, and 25% goes towards research to find the cure that we all want. Upwards of $1.5 million have been spent in Montana on more than 65 programs to help with breast health education, early screening, access to mammograms, and to provide healing and support and so much more. You can be a part of this phenomenal event by calling 406-495-9337 or visiting komenmontana.org today and registering early for the Race for the Cure® on May 16, 2015, in Helena. MSN

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By Renée Henning I am a volunteer in the neonatal and pediatric wards of a major hospital. I sing, sometimes offkey, to infants and toddlers. Having crooned to hundreds of small children one-on-one since the late 1980s, I know that many youngsters would benefit from live music. Therefore, I propose that more people offer to serenade the little ones and that hospitals welcome such volunteers. The demands of this charitable activity are not great. A hospital ward requires neither full command of the lyrics nor a beautiful voice. I am the proof! Normally the baby or toddler never heard the song before, so the performer can forget words and miss high notes for all his listener knows. However, there is one harsh requirement. After growing fond of a youngster, the singer may arrive one week to hear that the child died. The volunteer must accept that not every patient survives. In my experience, toddlers and babies, including preemies that should still be in the womb, respond positively to many genres of music. They particularly appreciate upbeat, bouncy tunes sung softly several times over. The performer should avoid for these listeners sad songs and inappropriate lyrics. When the parents arrive, nobody should be serenading their little darling with “You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time!” I suggest three tests for judging a hospital recital for these children. If the performer handed a howling baby satisfies one, the concert is a success. The first test is snoozing. Particularly prized in a hospital is the singer who puts his audience to sleep! My best performance under this test took place in a crowded ward. That day a baby and I were assigned a small space between two mothers breast-feeding their infants. When my recital ended, all three babies and one of the two mothers were sound asleep! The second test is relaxing. A performer for infants tries to send the child into the alpha state.

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Under this test, the baby, though awake, is so mellow and “boneless” after the concert that he appears to have turned into Jell-O. The third test, the medical improvement test, requires some sign, even small or temporary, of an improvement in the child’s physical condition. Numerous patients are attached to oxygen, tubes, and wires. Often their monitors show wild swings in the vital signs. Frequently I have seen the swings lessen or the baby’s breathing become more regular during a gig. This improvement cannot be solely attributable to hugging because sometimes the patient was lying in a crib. Another common area for medical improvement involves food. Many newborns need to gain weight to be discharged. With music, I have often jollied underweight infants into drinking more baby formula than usual. I first realized the connection between music and food intake in the early 1990s. One day, after feeding and serenading every infant in the pediatric ward in turn, I overheard a nurse say, “I don’t know what’s going on today! All of the babies are eating incredible amounts!” Singing can have a positive nutritional and medicinal affects even on infants fed through a tube. Based on my observations, a concert can sometimes prevent a child from spitting up food and the medication provided with it. A baby born addicted to cocaine and heroin starred in one of my better performances under the medical improvement test. Like other infants experiencing withdrawal, she was agitated and jittery. After I held and crooned to her awhile, she was calm. I have had similar experiences with other infant addicts. Intrigued, her nurse decided to administer a test while having me sing and cuddle the child. Despite the girl’s poor showing (50%), the nurse was delighted. That was the highest the baby had ever scored. Some minors, including patients hospitalized for months, have parents who seldom visit. They could use someone to dispense music and cheer.

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In fact, music therapy is a recognized profession. The therapist meets with clients in a hospital, prison, office, or elsewhere. Unfortunately for cost reasons, a hospital may assign the professional few children and only fifteen minutes per youngster. In contrast, I spend up to three hours of my threehour session singing to a child. Some studies indicate that infant patients receiving music therapy eat more, cry less, and leave the hospital sooner. Amateur recitals present a “win-win” opportunity for the volunteer and his audience. The singer expands his song repertoire, gains the satisfac-

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tion of helping youngsters, and has fun in the process. His listener profits from the cheery break. Indeed, women over the centuries who sang to their grandchildren were wise. Based on my experience and that of professional music therapists, many young patients would benefit physically and emotionally from a private concert. For all these youngsters, I hope there is somebody willing to sing. MSN

Marci’s Medicare Answers Provided by Medicare Rights Center medicarerights.org Dear Marci, My Medicare Summary Notice says that Medicare is denying payment for a service that I received last month. Is there any way that I can get Medicare to pay for this service? I cannot afford to pay for its full cost. – Shelly Dear Shelly, Yes, you have the right to appeal Medicare’s denial if you feel that this service should be covered. An appeal is when you ask Medicare to reconsider its coverage decision. Before you start your appeal, read carefully your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) and any other letters you receive. Be sure to contact Medicare for the denial reason if it has not already been provided. The steps for filing an appeal will be listed in your MSN; make sure you follow them closely, and stick to any deadlines that the letter outlines. It is helpful also to include any relevant medical records and a letter from your doctor in your appeal to verify that the service you received was medically necessary. If you are confused or

unsure of what to do, you can call 1-800-Medicare or your provider for help. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also appeal your plan’s decision to deny coverage for a service. Your Explanation of Benefits notice (EOB) will list any denied services and will contain instructions for filing an appeal. Your plan may also send you a separate notice called the Notice of Denial of Payment, stating that a service was denied. It will also give more instructions about appealing your plan’s decision. Know that there is more than one level of appeal, and you can continue appealing if you are not successful at this first level. – Marci Dear Marci, I’ve been receiving physical therapy for my knee for several weeks. My doctor told me that I’m getting close to the therapy cap and that we might have to stop the treatment. What is the therapy cap? – Ann Dear Ann, A therapy cap is a limit on how much outpatient therapy Medicare will cover in a given year. In

general, Medicare limits the amount of outpatient speech, physical, or occupational therapy that a beneficiary can receive. Therapy caps only apply to people with Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan may have therapy caps, but the plan is not required to do so. In 2015, Medicare will cover up to $1,940 worth of physical therapy and speech therapy combined. Medicare will also cover up to $1,940 worth of occupational therapy. Note that physical and speech therapies are combined when reaching the therapy cap, but occupational therapy is counted by itself when reaching the therapy cap. If you reach the $1,940 therapy cap and you and your doctor feel you need additional therapy, your doctor can tell Medicare that it is medically necessary for your therapy to continue. If Medicare denies the claim, you can appeal this decision. You should have a conversation with your provider about the therapy cap and your medical needs. You can also contact Medicare by calling 1-800-Medicare or by going online to medicare. gov to learn more about therapy caps. – Marci MSN

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Fat Soluble Vitamins vs. Water Soluble Vitamins By Susan Frances Bonner, RN, BSN Vitamins are a vital component of human existence, but what are they? Further, what are the different types and why do we need them? A vitamin is an organic compound and a vital nutrient that an organism requires in limited amounts. An organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when the organism cannot synthesize the compound in sufficient quantities, and thus must be obtained through the diet. Thirteen vitamins are universally recognized. They are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each “vitamin” refers to a number of vitamer compounds that show the biological activity associated with a particular vitamin. For example, vitamin A includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and four known carotenoids. Vitamers by definition are Now there is help convertible to the active for balance form of the vitamin in the body, and are sometimes and dizziness inter-convertible to one another, as well. problems The research to discover these vital nutrients We are the ONLY clinic in Western Montana that offers the took years of work by different scientists in differSMART EQUI-TEST system by NeuroCom® to identify the ent countries. So many source of your imbalance. We also use state of the art VNG in fact, that the Noble goggles to evaluate and treat your dizziness. Using this equipPrize committee selected ment, we will evaluate your entire balance system or dizziness thirteen individuals within problems and tailor a treatment to meet your needs. four different categories. One fact has been Call for an appointment today! established – there are two types of vitamins – fat-soluble and watersoluble. The differences 2455 Dixon Ave Ste A are well documented and Missoula important to the homeoElementPT.com stasis of all living things.

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Fat-Soluble Vitamins. Vitamins that are classified as fat-soluble are A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are important if you have a healthy digestive system, because they are stored in our bodies once they are ingested. The fat-soluble vitamins are soluble in fats. These vitamins are usually absorbed in fat globules that travel through the lymphatic system of the small intestines and into the general blood circulation within the body. Fatsoluble vitamins, especially vitamins A and E, are then stored in body tissues. It is important to note that a low fat diet, as well as some medications, may hamper the absorption of these vitamins, which means that intake of foods that contain these vitamins might have to be increased or a supplement might have to be added. But always check with your health care professional, first. Vitamin A helps your eyes adjust to light changes, and plays an important role in bone development, tooth development, cell division, gene expression, and reproduction. Vitamin D is required for your body’s use of calcium and phosphorous. Vitamin D helps to form and maintain your teeth and bones, and increases the amount of calcium that your small intestine absorbs. Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant, protects vitamin C, vitamin A, red blood cells, and essential fatty acids from being destroyed. Vitamin K is produced by your body naturally and plays an important role for blood clotting. Vitamin K also contributes to healthy bones and teeth. Most people take these vitamins in supplement form, but there are foods that contain these vitamins as well. Fish and liver are sources of vitamin A, which can also be converted from beta carotene found in most fruits and vegetables, including dark green vegetables, pumpkins, carrots, and apricots. You can add vitamin D into your diet with milk and other vitamin D-fortified dairy products, as well as cod liver oil, fish oil, and oily fish including herring, salmon, and sardines. Sources of vitamin E include vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fortified cereals. Good sources of vitamin K include broccoli, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, olive oil, soybean oil, and canola oil.” Vitamins D & K are the two vitamins that our bodies can produce on their own. Water Soluble Vitamins. They are not stored in our bodies. These vitamins dissolve in water when they are ingested and then go into the blood stream. The body keeps what it needs at that time, and excess amounts are excreted in the urine. Since they can’t be stored, everybody needs a continuous supply of them in order to stay healthy. The discovery of water-soluble vitamins was as complicated as it was with fat-soluble vitamins. Their discovery arose from researchers’ and scientists’ trying to cure beriberi, rickets, and scurvy. Eight B vitamins play an important role in assisting enzymes in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism and in the making of DNA and new cells. They also are needed for healthy skin, good

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vision, a healthy nervous system, and the formation of red blood cells. The B-complex vitamins include thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, biotin, niacin, and pantothenic acid. The last vitamin to discuss here is watersoluble vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It forms an important protein used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels, to heal wounds and form scar tissue, and to repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth. Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage

caused by free radicals. Free radicals are made when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation. The buildup of free radicals over time is largely responsible for the aging process. Free radicals may play a role in cancer, heart disease, and conditions like arthritis. Sources of the B-complex vitamins include pork and ham as well as yeast, liver, whole grains, nuts, sunflower seeds, peas, watermelon, oysters, oatmeal, and wheat germ. Dairy sources include milk and milk products such as cheese. Then there are green leafy vegetables such as

By Mark M. Havens Director of Community Relations Wedgewood Terrace Assisted Living Does anesthesia cause or accelerate demen-

The study examined evidence over a nine-year period involving 1,754 residents of Olmstead County, Minn. This study is considered the most comprehensive one ever done on this topic, and the most authoritative. Still, the perception persists among some people – and even some medical professionals – that anesthesia can trigger Alzheimer’s disease in some people. Dr. Charity said that what some people are calling dementia is actually one of two conditions that science knows a lot about but that do not conform to the elements of dementia: either post-operative delirium or post-operative cognitive dysfunction. Post-operative delirium subsequent to exposure to anesthesia is not uncommon, and is most often seen in older patients, ages 70+. Between 30-50% of major surgery patients may develop this disturbance, while up to 60% of cardiac patients will develop this disturbance. Other risk factors for developing this delirium include alcohol abuse, urinary tract infection, vision or hearing impairment, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and depression. Symptoms are usually seen on day one or two after surgery and can be worse at night. Recovery is usually within a few days, however in older patients it can persist for weeks or even months. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is

Dementia and Anesthesia: is there a connection?

tia? That question brought Dr. Lynette Charity to Wedgewood Terrace Assisted Living Community in Lewiston, Idaho recently to teach a public seminar on the aftereffects of anesthesia used in surgery. Dr. Charity is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has anesthetized over 25,000 patients in her 35 years of academic and clinical experience. Having earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Dr. Charity completed her anesthesiology residency at the Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. Her training in neuroanesthesia was completed at the University of San Francisco’s Moffitt Hospital. After her training, Dr. Charity joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps. She completed her military service with the rank of Lt. Colonel at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. For the past 14 years, she has maintained a practice in Richland, Wash. where she is a past Chief of Anesthesiology at Kadlec Medical Center. Dr. Charity covered the history of anesthesia and the differences between local, regional, and general anesthesia. Then she shared with the audience that, no – contrary to popular belief – anesthesia does not trigger or advance Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. She based her conclusion on a study released by the Mayo Clinic in 2013 that found “there was no association between exposure to procedures under general anesthesia after age 45 and an increased risk of dementia.”

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broccoli, asparagus, and spinach. Meat, poultry, and fish are also good sources, as are enriched breads and cereals. Other sources are potatoes and purple fruit. Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively found in animal flesh and animal products. Food sources that are found rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits, broccoli, greens, cabbage, cantaloupe, and strawberries. There you have it. Both fat-soluble and watersoluble vitamins are vital substances for life. Whether you are a meat eater or a vegetarian, vitamins are essential to your survival. MSN

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a decline in cognitive performance (as measured by standardized testing of memory, concentration, or fine motor skills) from before surgery to after surgery. Unlike delirium, these symptoms may arise – if at all – from one to two weeks after surgery. Risk factors for POCD encompass all the same ones as for delirium, but the risks are increased if the patient already has cognitive or physical impairments or acute pain before surgery, or if the surgery is of long duration or orthopedic in nature.

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Up to 30% of major surgery patients in their older years may experience POCD, with up to 50% of cardiac surgery patients exhibiting the impairments. Dr. Charity explained that these impairments are not caused by anesthesia but are most likely caused by micro-bubbles or micro-clots introduced into the blood stream during surgery despite the best efforts of the surgeon and anesthesiologist. Post-operative cognitive impairment is not Alzheimer’s, Dr. Charity insisted, which is a degenerative brain disease. POCD usually resolves itself in 3-6 months in patients who experience it, but in 10% of patients it can last for up to two years.

Less than 1% of surgery patients may still exhibit POCD more than two years after their surgeries. Dr. Charity reassured the audience that they should never avoid necessary surgery due to fears of the anesthesia. Patients should schedule a pre-operative consultation with their surgeon and anesthesiologist to get all of their questions answered. You need to provide a complete medical history along with a list of all the medications you take. This list needs to include all herbal remedies and dietary supplements you take, some of which can interfere with anesthesia. Discontinuing such over-the-counter supplements two weeks prior to surgery is advised. MSN

Uncover The Root Cause Of Your Depression By Suzy Cohen Dear Pharmacist: I was saddened by the suicide of Robin Williams last year. I have dealt with depression on and off for most of my life, and I was wondering if you have any natural suggestions for me to ask my doctor about? – L.C., Gainesville, Florida Answer: When I hear a person say they have battled depression “on and off” for a long period, I ask the question: Why it is on and off? Something you are eating, doing, or taking is influencing you enough that your mood is affected. Hormone imbalances are frequently the problem, especially estrogen and testosterone. Thyroid hormone is my specialty, and if it drops too low, you get depressed. When it moves into a healthy range, you feel happy and content. When I say “normal range,” I don’t mean the normal reference range indicated on your lab test. My opinion is that the so-called normal range is based upon a sick and hypothyroid population. This may explain why you feel terrible but your levels are “normal.” I do not go by labs, I go by clinical presentation. I adored Robin Williams; he was brilliant, and behind his smiling eyes and hysterical jokes, he battled depression for years. You may feel the same way as you read this today, and I am glad you are still holding on. Depression is one of those conditions that people judge. Here are some reasons for depression that you might explore with the help of your physician:

• Hypothyroidism and hypoadrenia. I have mentioned this one already; however, I want you to get a copy of my Thyroid Healthy book so you learn how to test properly. Testing and treatment is the key to your happiness. Also, do not take thyroid medicine until your adrenal glands are strong and healthy. You may need to be supported by adaptogenic herbs, a healthy diet, relaxation, and other stress reducers. • The Pill. Synthetic hormones for birth control or menopause can reduce your body’s levels of B vitamins and minerals to the point where you cannot manufacture happy brain chemicals. A reduction in key neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin causes depression. It could be on and off as you describe. • Statins and binders. We know these drugs reduce CoQ10, but do you realize they crash your ability to activate vitamin D? Ever heard of seasonal affective disorder or SAD? That is often related to low D levels so you might need vitamin D if you take cholesterol reducers. • Medications. Drugs mug life-sustaining nutrients. Ibuprofen steals folic acid, and diabetic drugs steal B12. Read my Drug Muggers book for more drug-induced nutrient depletions. If you take medications periodically, then you cannot make neurotransmitters. • Infections. Last on my list, but huge news, is that certain infections in our body can affect the brain. You can be bipolar, have depression, insomnia and/or anxiety because of Bartonella, Lyme, syphilis, HIV, fungal infections (and their mycotoxins), herpes, and many others. Clearing the infection improves mood better than any prescribed antidepressant. MSN

Coping With Arthritis By Tait Trussell Snake venom is not recommended for arthritis – at least not by the National Institute on Aging. Neither are those copper bracelets you see some people wearing hopefully. Almost anyone who is in the category of a Medicare beneficiary has arthritis. If you don’t, you undoubtedly will eventually. “Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in the United States. Older people most often have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout,” says the Institute on Aging. Osteoarthritis (OA) is most common. It begins to make your acquaintance when the cartilage, the tissue that pads bones in a joint, begins to wear away. When this happens, you wish that you hadn’t been a jogger when you were younger. But it’s not confined to the knees, of course. Symptoms range from stiffness to mild pain to worse pain that just won’t go away. There are means of relief, however, which you may have found. If not, I’ll list a few later. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – as contrasted with osteoarthritis – is a kind of disease that makes the body attack itself. It causes stiffness, pain, and Offering outpatient mental health services in: Anaconda Bozeman Butte Dillon Kalispell Hamilton Libby Livingston Missoula Ronan Superior Thompson Falls

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swelling and can affect many locations at the same time. You can even run a fever with it. Women – misfortunate in other ailments – are victims more often than men are. RA also can cause heart problems, troubles with your muscles and nervous system, even your eyes. Gout is quite painful. It occurs most often in the big toe, which becomes red or purple and very tender. Eating liver, dried beans, peas, and anchovies can lead to a gout attack, as can certain blood pressure medicines. Some medicines can help with arthritis. Acetaminophen is one. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are another. But beware of side effects of NSAIDs. Using a cane when walking can ease the pain in the knees and hips. But the NIOA says to “make sure the cane is fitted by a professional. Don’t just borrow one from a friend.” Professional cane fitters are not prevalent. But your doctor might help. Daily exercise, such as walking or swimming can help. It makes the muscles around the joints stronger. Suggested exercises include strengthening exercises, such as weight training; aerobic exercises, such as bike riding, and dancing (I picture myself when I was in the Navy in World War II and won a jitterbug contest at a USO. Those days are gone forever.); and stretching such as yoga or Pilates. NIA’s Go4Life campaign is an excellent way to help you start a safe exercise program. You can learn about it by going to nia.gov/Go4Life. Acupuncture may help some people. Glucosamine and chondroitin may help, but they seem to have no effect on changes to cartilage in the knee. Work with your doctor safely to lessen the pain and stiffness. Also make use of Internet information by visiting rheumatology.org and arthritis.org. In the meantime, keep moving. MSN

Times Have Changed — and So Have Hearing Aids By Dr. Jessie Dimmick Americans put off treating health conditions. On average in fact, a patient will wait seven years to treat hearing loss. While the reasons may differ, the consequences are the same. The result of untreated hearing loss affects quality of life and cognition. In other words, hearing loss has the potential to change you. Like many other health conditions, early treatment of hearing loss is key to long-term success. So what’s holding you back? Why do people wait to seek treatment? Many patients say the fear of having a negative experience is the most common barrier to getting help. “My mother/friend/brother/neighbor had hearing aids, and they didn’t work.” “What if I don’t like them?” “Hearing aids are for people worse off than I am.” Times have changed, and so have hearing aids. The whole experience of fitting a hearing aid has changed too. It’s time for a different point of view. To gain a better understanding of the journey to better hearing, I interviewed a baby boomer and retired professional, Gary — who, like many others, waited to treat his hearing loss. Dr. Dimmick: What spurred your realization that hearing difficulties were affecting your life? In other words, what was your motivation to improve your hearing? Gary: Communication was poor with my wife, friends, acquaintances, patients, and staff. I found myself repeating what was just said; I’d miss hearing specific important things; and I would say yes to and agree with things that I would not have otherwise. I was missing what was being said, and I was missing out on life. My wife was very tired of loud volume on the TV and radio. When we watched movies, she was missing things because of having to tell me what I had missed. There was a lot of “Huh?” Dr. Dimmick: If you could start the hearing aid process over, what would you do differently? Gary: In hindsight, I would have taken steps much sooner than I did. I would not try to save money on less expensive technology, and I would not compromise care with concerns of vanity as I did. Dr. Dimmick: What do you feel made your experience with hearing care positive? Gary: I was able to hear things I had not heard in many years! The kind, concerned way I was greeted and treated made a big difference too. Service matters. Hearing care involves having an ongoing relationship with your hearing care provider – it is not just a transaction. Dr. Dimmick: What encouraging advice would you give to individuals who haven’t yet taken steps to help with their hearing loss? Gary: Have your hearing checked early! Hearing aids come in many colors, and aesthetics are much better now. I recommend that folks discover and treat their hearing concerns early, because it is easier for the brain to adapt early on. Ears and hearing aids are a lot like eyes and glasses. The stigma of wearing hearing aids is changing, especially with baby boomers and the younger population. If you are still apprehensive about having your hearing evaluated, consider taking a step in the right direction by starting with an evaluation. A no-cost, extensive evaluation of your hearing will answer your specific concerns. The hearing loss is not going away, but your participation in life might. Don’t limit yourself by doubt. Set up a meeting with your audiologist and hearing provider to start a conversation about how to improve your life through better hearing! MSN

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Follow Individualized Cholesterol-Targeted Therapy By David Stauth, Oregon State University A recent guideline for using statins to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has wavered too far from the simple cholesterol goals that have saved thousands of lives in the past decade, and doesn’t adequately treat patients as individuals, experts said today in a national report. An expert panel coordinated by the National Lipid Association has created its own outline for how best to treat people at risk for cardiovascular disease – reducing cholesterol to an appropriate level, and puts less emphasis on whether or not a patient fits into a certain type of group. “We continue to believe in cholesterol targets that are easy for patients to understand and work toward, first using changes in lifestyle and then medication if necessary,” said Matt Ito, one of two lead authors on the report, an expert in cardiovascular drug treatments and a professor in the

Oregon State University/Oregon Health & Science University College of Pharmacy. “We’re also concerned about treating people just because they fall into a group that’s supposedly at risk,” Ito said. “There are ways more accurately to treat patients as individuals and understand their complete health profile.” A report issued last year by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association identified four general groups that would primarily benefit from statins and dramatically increase the number using these drugs. By contrast, the new report from the National Lipid Association has outlined what their experts believe to be a more individualized set of recommendations that practitioners could use to treat people at risk of cardiovascular disease; more information is available online at www.lipid.org/recommendations. They are intended to complement the guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, Ito said. Among the conclusions in the report: • A root cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is cholesterol-containing particles attaching to the walls of arteries. • A healthy lifestyle that incorporates diet, weight management, and exercise should be the first approach to lowering high cholesterol levels. • Control and reduction of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol is important, but an even better overall marker of risk is “nonHDL cholesterol,” which is total cholesterol minus its HDL component.

• Patients at very high risk, such as those who have already had a cardiac event, should try to achieve non-HDL cholesterol levels below 100, while those at lower risk levels should try to achieve levels below 130. • Drug therapies specifically aimed at lowering triglyceride levels may not be necessary unless they are very high, over 500. • Use of more potent statin drugs, at moderate to high doses if necessary, should be the first approach to reach cholesterol goals if lifestyle changes have not been adequate. • Use of other medications or therapies, such as fibrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and niacin or omega-3 fatty acids can be considered if cholesterol and triglyceride goals are not reached with statins alone. “Cholesterol is still a primary factor in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” Ito said. “If it’s too high, the levels should be brought down by changes in lifestyle and medication. And in general, the lower the cholesterol, the better.” Statins have proven themselves as one of the most effective way to reduce cholesterol, Ito said, and are now comparatively inexpensive with limited side effects. Proper medication management and reducing the potential for drug interactions can address some types of side effects, and any problems should be weighed against the risk of heart attack or stroke, he said. Factors known to raise the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease include age, family history, smoking, high blood pressure, overweight, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels, especially those caused by genetics. MSN

How Times Change

Submitted by Julie Hollar A group of chaps, all aged 40, discussed where they should meet for a reunion lunch. Finally, they agreed to meet at Hooters because the waitresses had big breasts and wore mini-skirts. Ten years later, at age 50, the friends once again discussed where they should meet. Finally, they agreed to meet at Hooters because the food and service was good and the beer was excellent. Ten years later, at age 60, the friends again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, they agreed to meet at Hooters because there was plenty of parking, they could dine in peace , and it was good value for money. Ten years later, at age 70, the friends discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, they agreed to meet at Hooters because the restaurant was wheelchair accessible and had a toilet for the disabled. Ten years later, at age 80, the friends discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally, they agreed to meet at Hooters because they’d never been there before. MSN

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The Black Hills Rock with Stones and Fossils By Bernice Karnop The usual reason to go to the Black Hills is to see the great Stone Faces of four presidents and the great Native American tribute to Crazy Horse that’s being carved into the mountains. However, the Black Hills of South Dakota are scatter sown with many attractions surrounding these major features. In fact, many of them, too, are about stones and other things in the earth of the Black Hills – natural rock formations, gold, fossils, agates, and minerals. Take gold. That’s what drew the early nonnative settlers and it’s certainly plays a part in the more intriguing history of the area. Today one

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can visit the Broken Boot Gold Mine, Upper Main Street in Deadwood, for tours of its underground gold mine and a chance to pan for gold. The Big Thunder Gold Mine, 6004 Blair Street in Keystone, also gives underground tours and a free sample of gold ore. They entertain guests with dinner theater, cowboy poetry, a mining museum, an ice cream parlor, and more. Finally, visit the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead, near the Homestake Gold mine, which they claim is the oldest, largest, and deepest gold mine in the western hemisphere. In addition to the exhibits, take a simulated tour of this underground maze. The family-owned Badlands Petrified Gardens, of I-90 at exit 152 near Kadoka, highlights the largest collection of petrified trees and logs in the Badlands. Open from April through October, treesturned-to-stone appear in outdoor displays, and the museum features a collection of mammal and sea fossils, a florescent display, agates, and crystals. Trees were not the only living things that turned to stone in South Dakota. Paleontologists have found the bones of 60 woolly and Columbian mammoths at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, a National Natural Landmark. The huge working paleontology site is covered with a building and visitors walk around the bones on wooden paths. They say the mammoths slid into a spring fed sinkhole and couldn’t get out. They weren’t alone. Eighty other species were also trapped here. The Museum@Black Hills Institute overlooking Hill City has fossils, rocks, and minerals not only from the area but also from around the world. Visiting rock hounds enjoy seeing all the pretty rocks that collectors gather and enjoy. Guests are invited to touch and learn. “If you (Continued on pg 44)

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(Cont’d from pg 42) aren’t a natural history fan when you arrive, you will be by the time you leave!” they boast. The Museum of Geology on the campus of

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South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City is another great stop for the rockhound. They have dinosaurs, giant fish, and prehistoric mammals. Collections include agates, minerals, ores, and more. The Journey Museum, 222 New York Street in Rapid City, as the name indicates, takes visitors through five collections, each of a different journey through time. It moves from geological rock formations, to dinosaur days, to Lakota Native American times, pioneer life, and, finally, into space science. Many Black Hills tourists enjoy seeing the fascinating underground formations of the naturally occurring caves. Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park are the most prominent. Private caves that are developed with lighting

and guided interpretation include Rushmore Cave near Keystone; Beautiful Wonderland Cave near Nemo; Black Hills Caverns near Rapid City; and Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns on Mount Rushmore Road 16A. Finally, and just for fun, one can visit the Dinosaur Park, 940 Skyline Drive, Rapid City, one of the oldest of the Black Hills attractions. It opened in 1936! The life-sized concrete dinosaurs are perfect for kid climbing while grandparents will enjoy the spectacular views. Speaking of grandchildren, don’t miss their giggles at Flintstones Bedrock City Theme Park at Custer. Here one can enter the Stone Age – and childhood – with old buddy, Fred Flintstone and his pals. Tour Bedrock City, ride the Flintmobile, play on

Monument of First Oil Well in Western Canada Surprises Waterton Park Visitors By Bernice Karnop Who discovered oil in Western Canada? It wasn’t native people, early settlers, or prospectors. According to the signs at the National Historic Site of Canada commemorating the first oil well in Western Canada, it was the bears! Oil seeped naturally from the rocks near Oil Creek, which today is called Cameron Creek in Waterton National Park. The bears were attracted by the smell and rolled in it, covering themselves with a wonderful nature-made bug repellant. The signs go on to theorize that native people observed the crusty looking bears and followed them to the oil. They, too, harvested it for medicinal uses. Early settlers learned where the oil was – one, Kootenai Brown, soaked the oil up with gunnysacks and used it to lubricate his wagon wheels in addition to other uses. Cardston settler William Aldridge was first to develop the oil. He dug seepage pits and used sluice boxes to reduce the oil so he could sell it to ranchers for lubrication and insecticide for their livestock. In the 1870s, prospectors became interested in the black gold. By the early 1880s, they’d filed as many as 150 mineral claims in the area. Most of the claims went nowhere because they were in rugged country and there were no real roads. In 1902, John Lineham, J. Larson, and A.P. Patrick of the Rocky Mountain Cont’d on pg 13

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 45

Montana Talking Book Library Volunteers Provide Great Service to Patrons

Something exceptional is happening at the demands of Talking Book Library patrons. Their Talking Book Library, a program of the Montana work ensures that over 8,130 machines and accesState Library. Specialized workers come together sories remain in good repair to circulate to 4,000 to volunteer time and knowledge, combining efforts registered Montanans in the program. to provide a window to the world for non-traditional Frank, a former engineer and a Pioneer for over readers. 20 years, started by The Montana repairing headsets Talking Book Library in his own shop. offers its patrons a His former employunique library exer – Bell Telephone perience through an Company – emphaever-growing colsized volunteerism. lection of digital auFellow volunteer dio and Braille maTom Tompkins also terials. The Talking started volunteerBook Library voling with previous unteers are real-life coworkers. superheroes who “Everyone I troubleshoot and started working with repair talking book has passed away,” machines for those says Tompkins. “I who are unable to like to come in and read due to low viFrom left to right, Chuck Flynn, Erin Harris, Frank Flynn, visit with former sion, blindness, and and Gloria Purcell work as a team to make literature workers like Frank.” physical or reading Frank’s son, available to non-traditional readers. [Photo provided by disabilities. Chuck, has also Talking Book Library] Pioneers, forjoined the volunteer merly known as the Telephone Pioneers of Amer- group and appreciates spending time with his dad. ica, started servicing talking book machines for the “Dad has been a fixer his whole life. Growing National Library Service in 1960. As the largest up, neighbors would bring their televisions over industry-related volunteer organization, Pioneers for him to fix. We work on motorcycles, take on volunteer 15 million hours of service across the home repair projects, and repair these machines nation. In Helena, Tom Tompkins works to keep together,” declares Chuck, who enjoys working cassette book machines working as the Talking with these specialists. “These guys have experiBook Library transitions to digital players. ence. When I am not sure how to fix something, “Some of the machines can be challenging, but I will call my dad and he has the answer. He is a after working on them for so long, you get a good mentor to me.” idea of what could be wrong,” says Tom. The work brings them The group in Helena, Montana is small, but together weekly. Chuck its accomplishments are not. Longtime volunteers compares the investigaFrank Flynn, Tom Tompkins, Chuck Flynn, Gloria tive part of the machine Purcell, and Jim Brown help meet the equipment work to being a detec-

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tive, while Frank feels that he is doing something worthwhile because the Montana Talking Book Library patrons often tell him that their access to talking books significantly improves the quality of their lives. Along with digital books on cartridges, Talking Book Library patrons can access downloadable books to play on the digital machines. The service is free to eligible patrons and provides selections from 75,000 books in-house or online and access to 47,500 more books through interlibrary loan.

The Montana Talking Book Library is always seeking volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks and can be reached at 1-800-332-3400 or online at tbl.msl.mt.gov/. Through its statewide programs, the Montana State Library empowers Montanans; enhances learning in families and communities; builds 21st Century skills; and provides opportunities for civic participation. For more information about the Montana State Library, visit msl.mt.gov. MSN

Helena’s Renaissance Man

Article & Photo By Connie Daugherty Helena’s Joe Munzenrider is generally known around the region as an exceptional organist and harpsichordist, but there is so much more to this distinguished intelligent man. The definition of a renaissance man is “an outstandingly versatile, well-rounded person” and that definition certainly fits Joe Munzenrider. From music to woodworking, gourmet cooking to teaching, downhill skiing to mountain bike riding, Joe does it all and does it with passion and enthusiasm. Music – specifically the organ – is Joe’s first and most lasting love. Born and raised in Helena, “the oldest of eight kids from a good Catholic family,” Joe started music lessons in fourth grade simply because his mother who played parlor piano, insisted that all of her children take some sort of music lessons. Joe, who was singing in the boys’ choir at the Helena Cathedral, immediately fell in love with the organ. “I even stalked the organist – I would walk on the opposite side of the street about half a block behind her,” he jokes. She eventually agreed to give the determined young boy lessons, but not until sixth grade – not until his legs were long enough to reach the pedals. A few short years later when that same teacher had a heart attack; Joe was asked to step in as her replacement. He was still in high school when he began playing the majestic pipe organ at the Helena cathedral. “It was very exciting. I was young and it’s amazing what you can pull off when you don’t know any better,” Joe remarks. Still that experience was the beginning of a long career that continues today. “It’s an instrument that I

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still am as crazy about as I was when I sat down at it for the first time.” Joe went on to major in music at the University of Montana and earned a bachelor’s degree in organ performance. Because he had been playing the chimes at the cathedral since eighth grade, he also became pretty accomplished on the 47-bell carillon while attending the University. When he went to Ann Arbor for his graduate degree, he made a surprising discovery. “The University of Michigan had the only formal academic program in campanology (bell ringing) in the country at the time,” he explains. “I was still terribly interested in bells.” Therefore, he earned several graduate hours on the carillon. Joe eventually found himself back in Helena and teaching at Carroll College. “I got my liberal arts education teaching at a liberal arts school,” he says, as he taught music appreciation, American pop music, and organ to a few interested students. In addition, Joe directed the Carrolleers, the “often rehearsed and often traveled choral group” that performed around the state, and he taught other classes as needed and as his interests expanded. He was passionate and enthusiastic about teaching until he retired and that enthusiasm is still obvious when he talks about working with the students. Although he was originally hired to teach music, over the years he taught many humanities courses and even dabbled in computer programming with FORTRAN. Whenever an opportunity to move elsewhere came along, Joe found himself staying at Carroll. “I liked the freedom and diversity available at a small college,” he explains. Joe began playing organ solos and concerts with the Helena Symphony orchestra soon after he moved back to Helena. He played harpsichord – after he built one – with the symphony as well. He built two more harpsichords. “They require a lot of maintenance so it’s best you build it yourself,” he explains.

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For many years, his life revolved around music instruction and music performance. “I never play for relaxation,” he says. “That’s when my highest level of critical thinking is going on. I only enjoy playing when I’m at the top of my game ready to give a recital,” he declares. Joe’s life was full, busy with teaching and performing, and he was content. Then he went on sabbatical. During the months he spent touring Europe, he learned that “everything in my life was centered on work and I had to have a life and interests that were independent of the job.” He discovered skiing. He connected with some Carroll students in Switzerland, “I was thirty-three and got tricked into trying downhill skiing. Within an hour I went from terror to an absolute total love affair with it.” Back in Montana, Joe began skiing as often as he could. He became very good at it and he eventually offered to teach beginning skiing at Great Divide Ski area near Helena. “I knew I could do it. I’d been teaching people who knew nothing about music or art,” he reasoned. A late-comer to skiing himself, he also had an understanding of what beginning skiers most needed to learn. So for ten years, he taught young children and new-to-the-sport adults. He also taught some Carroll ski classes. “It was a great way to interact with the students,” he recalls. Although he no longer teaches, at seventy-five, he still manages to ski 30-40 times a year. It was also during his travels in Europe that Joe discovered and became intrigued with unusual and diverse cuisine. Back home he determined to recreate some of his favorite taste experiences. One of the first things he made was gelato – before it was popular here. He perfected his favorite flavors and even made it commercially for a while. Now, it’s a great fun hobby, a way to meet other people who are in the business. He also enjoys “doing fussy recipe dinners” for friends. “Cooking is only fun when you have unlimited time to do it,” he insists. Although he has experimented with different dishes from places he has traveled, Italian cooking remains his favorite.

Joe was searching for something to replace the winter skiing, when he discovered mountain biking. Then he discovered all the trails around the Helena area – trails that allowed him to explore along old mountain roads. He was as instantly hooked on the mountain biking as he had been on skiing a few years before. Like skiing, mountain biking is both solitary and social – a perfect balance for Joe. So when the snow is gone from the mountains and his skies are tucked away for another season, the bike comes out. Life is good for Joe Munzenrider, at seventyfive he insists that he has done everything along the way that he seriously wanted to do. And he continues to do everything he wants to do including studying Italian. Joe travels to Europe about twice a year with family or friends – France and Italy are still his favorite countries to explore. “I know the countryside of France better than Montana – at least the small towns,” he jokes. He is on the ski slopes as often as possible, rides mountain bike along the miles and miles of trails in the Helena area, and of course enjoys cooking for friends. And always there is the organ. He still enjoys performing, especially at the Helena Cathedral where he started as a teenager. “Big pipe organs and gothic cathedrals just go together,” he says. He will be presenting a concert with an internationally known violinist friend at the Cathedral on April 17. Likewise, Joe Munzenrider’s renaissance personality seems to go well with big pipe organs and gothic cathedrals. MSN

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Helena: Another Chance At The Gold in the Gulch

By Bernice Karnop The rich gold strike attracted the first settlers to Last Chance Gulch. While the glory days of mining may be over, visitors at the Governor’s Conference on Aging (GCA) will find that Helena is still rich, if not in ore, then in other things of value. The following are a few veins we’ve exposed that will help readers and those who come to the GCA find the treasures of interest to them. Driving into the Helena Valley from the north, one is treated to a breathtaking view of the capital city. Helena is like a gem set in the mountainside. The panorama includes both the mountains of the Continental Divide, the broad Missouri River Valley, and Canyon Ferry Lake. The crown of the Queen City is Mount Helena City Park, which rises more than 1,000 feet above the Last Chance Mall. The 360-acre park with 360-degree views is one of the largest and most unusual city parks in the nation. It has no manicured lawn, no sprinkler system and no petunias. The terrain looks much as it did when Lewis and Clark passed by two centuries ago. By making it into a Natural Park in 1979, city leaders protected the prominent landmark and created something citizens and visitors will enjoy now and forever. It has multiple well-used trails that take hikers and bikers past amazing land formations, various wildlife, and abundant wild flowers to the top and its amazing view. If they had not protected Mount Helena as a city park, it’s not hard to imagine that today it would be covered with ugly urban sprawl. Helena sparkles with unusual architecture, starting with the capitol building, which spreads its Greek-renaissance style wings across the height of land on which it sits. The inspiring Cathedral of St. Helena’s twin spires bring a touch of old world beauty. Patterned after the Votive Cathedral in Vienna, and paid for by Tom Cruise of the Drumlummon mine, the Cathedral is one of the

most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in the country. The Civic Center is arguably the most unusual building in town. Built in 1920 as a Shrine temple, it adds a colorful, Middle Eastern touch to Helena. Victorian Helena boasted a host of millionaires who got rich through mining, livestock, timber, and banking. They tried to outdo each other with their multi-storied mansions, the likes and numbers of which will not be found in other Montana cities. It’s fascinating to drive past them and imagine the secrets they hold. For a peek inside one of them, tour the Original Governor’s Mansion, a three-story brick home with 20 rooms and 7 fireplaces. The Arts thrive in Helena and are represented in three distinctive old buildings. The Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts makes its home in the historic Lewis and Clark County Jail in downtown Helena. The Grandstreet Theater was built in 1901 by the Unitarian church and was given to the city in the 1930s. The city used it as a library until 1976, when it became the Grandstreet Theater. This community theater is known for excellent performances as well for teaching young people the skills they need to pursue careers in the performing arts. The Civic Center also hosts performances and various events in its 2,000-seat auditorium and large ballroom. Helena’s fine galleries make use of historic venues. The Holter Museum of Art, the Archie Bray Foundation, and the Carroll Art Gallery in St. Charles Hall on the Carroll College campus are high on the list for those interested in art. Visitors may also check out contemporary western art at the 1+1=1 Gallery. The Montana Historical Society museum is home to Montana’s memories; the heart of Montana’s treasured past. What’s not to love about Montana’s past, with its collection of heroes and villains, often under the same skin? No one should

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miss the Montana stories and the changing displays here. In May, the Montana Historical Society features Eloquence in Wood: The Art of John L. Clarke. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park’s Montana WILD center near Spring Meadow Lake State Park, highlights Montana’s fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Go here to get a good look at a large exhibit of taxidermy where these wild animals can’t run away before you get a good look, plus two tanks of live fish, videos, and more. Montana’s considerable military history is housed at the museum at Fort Harrison. One interesting section is about Camp Remini, a nearby ghost town, which was the War Dog Reception and Training Center for the Dogs for Defense program during World War II. While Helena is fascinating through the lens of history, never fear, it’s not stuck in the past. It’s also a contemporary city full of new ideas. The city transformed the decaying structures at the south end of the gulch into a snappy pedestrian mall, complete with statuary, park benches, and its own stream. Lucca’s Italian restaurant at the north end of the mall was recently named the best restaurant in Montana. Few visitors can resist a stop at the legendary Parrot for some home crafted candy in a funky historic setting. Other places of interest on Last Chance Gulch include Mountain Spun Yarns where knitters hang out, and Birds and Beasley’s, which sells nature-themed art, and second-hand stores with great names like the Sleepy Rooster, and Golden Girls Antique Mall. The Great Northern Town Center a few blocks north of historic Last Chance Gulch transformed an old railroad yard into an upscale area with a brick office building, retail shops, restaurants, and motel. It’s anchored by a Montana-themed, handcrafted

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carousel and ice cream parlor – a favorite place for kids of any age. Next door to it is Exploration Works, a science museum that provides hands-on learning to rival anything like it in the country. While there’s too much “pure gold” to enjoy in Helena for just one trip, we hope our readers will discover some of it and come back for more. There’s always a second chance to visit Last Chance Gulch! MSN

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Article & Photo By Connie Daugherty I don’t often meet the writers whose work I review in the book review column, but occasionally an opportunity presents itself. That is what happened a few weeks ago. I met with Brian D’Ambrosio in a coffee shop in Helena one Sunday morning. We drank coffee and chatted about writing, and about books – specifically about Brian’s most recent book, Warrior in the Ring. Brian grew up in Yonkers, New York and was around boxing from an early age. “My grandfather was a boxing fan,” he recalls. He remembers watching boxing on TV with his dad and his grandfather and how that was a sort of bonding time for them. He also loved reading biographies as a child. So this most recent book connects Brian not only with his subject’s past and family but also with his own past and family. In a way, it becomes a tribute to both families. Brian D’Ambrosio is a tall, thin, soft-spoken, unassuming man with a quick smile who is more comfortable telling other people’s stories than talking about himself. It’s the story behind the person, event, or activity that really interests him. Just out of high school, he got a job working for a newspaper in Lake Placid, New York. It was there that his interest in journalism germinated. So he went to college at SUNY Plattsburgh in Plattsburgh, New York, “just because that’s what you’re supposed to do – go to college,” he says. He earned a degree in public relations and journalism. But even before he went to college to earn the appropriate credentials, Brian sensed that his chosen career was the sort where most of his education would take place on-the-job or in the field. Even though Brian had the appropriate degree and some professional experience, he discovered that journalism is not always an easy field to break into. He tells about applying for a job at CNN as a finance reporter. “It was one of those situations where you know somebody Cont’d on page 67

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“At college I majored in history because I just liked history, especially Western American history,” he explains. He planned to go to law school but… with a completed BS in history. “One day I woke up and decided this is probably not for me.” Then Kirby discovered that Texas Tech offered a masters degree program in Museum Studies. “I didn’t spend a lot of time in museums as a kid, but those times he did visit museums, made a memory,” he recalls. He admits that he really had no idea how or where he would turn the degree into a career, he just felt drawn toward it much as he felt drawn to Montana when the opportunity arose. During his years at the Montana Historical Society, Kirby has discovered, developed, and distinguished himself in many aspects of, not only museum work, but also Montana history. “Starting as registrar doing the physical care of objects, the paper work, and storage made me familiar with some of the unique Montana artifacts. Then as curator I did more research and writing and exhibits,” he explains. This allowed him to delve deeper and deeper into the detailed factual history of Montana. Kirby loved the research, working with a team to set up exhibits, and of course writing a story line that would be succinct, informative, and entertaining.” Instinctively, he knows that it is the story that draws people, just as he was drawn to history by listening to his grandparent’s stories. “The only hard part was deciding what to leave out,” he adds. Donations of interesting artifacts come into the Historical Society from all over the state. When preparing an exhibit he would always keep his audience in mind – including the children. Providing a memorable experience for the children who visit the museum, could encourage the next generation’s curators, much as Kirby had been affected by his own museum visits. After several successful years as curator, Kirby became manager of the Outreach and Interpretation programs that include the Education program providing resources like “footlockers” for teachers and activities like tours. “One thing I like is the variety,” Kirby explains. And in this position as coordinator of programs, every day brings something new from the weekly presentations at the Historical Society – which are recorded and broadcast on YouTube – to the

annual State History Conference. Because different communities host the history conference, Kirby gets to explore the corners of Montana and meet people who are doing research on a variety of topics. “Montana history is close and personal,” he says. “I’m always finding somebody who knew somebody who was there. It’s vivid and alive.” Making history come alive and maintaining that sense of personal connection as he coordinates programs and publications are what excite him, and it is what he does so well. One such project is the Charlie Russell book he co-authored, Montana’s Charlie Russell: Art in the Collection of the Montana Historical Society. The project, which began many years ago as a simple pamphlet, was resurrected in 2014 due in part to a generous donation from a MHS supporter to commemorate Russell’s 150th birthday. Then the work began. The result is an amazing book with color pictures and personal memories of Montana’s most renowned artist. It definitely was a labor of love by all involved. Lambert readily admits that, although he liked art, he didn’t know much about western art, or Charlie Russell before he began working at the Montana Historical Society. But that changed. “As curator, probably half of what I did was answer questions about Russell,” Kirby says. Now he is celebrated as a Charlie Russell scholar. Because MHS boasts one of the most significant Russell collections in the world – papers as well as paintings – including the only painting, York, donated to a museum by Russell himself, Kirby found himself immersed in Charlie Russell. “It was kind of hands-on learning,” he says. “It’s hard not to just fall in love with Charlie. I love his artwork, but even more than that, I appreciate his sense of humor and his personality.” The stories behind the paintings and sketches – still alive in letters and journals by and about Charlie Russell – and the man himself contribute to why his art is still so popular. From reading Steinbeck’s Travels with Charlie and from a young boy in Texas listening to his grandparent’s stories, to embarking on his own Montana journey with Charlie Russell, Kirby Lambert has become a leader in the preservation and dissemination of the stories that are Montana history. MSN

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Essential Legal Documents By Jim Miller Every adult should have at least four essential legal documents to protect them and their family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear, and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them. A Will: This document lets you spell out how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends, or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out, and allows you to name guardians if you have minor or dependent children. In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy. Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to make financial, tax and legal decisions on your behalf if you lose your decisionmaking capacity. Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will” which tells your doctor what kinds of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable. Do-It-Yourself. If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, several good do-it-yourself guides

can help you create all these documents for very little money. For creating a will, a top resource is the Quicken WillMaker Plus 2015 software (available at nolo.com) that costs $50, works with Windows personal computers, and is valid in every state except Louisiana. If you use a Mac, nolo.com offers an online will maker for $35. Or, if you only need to create an advance directive you can do it free at caringinfo.org (or call 800-658-8898), where you can get state-specific forms with instructions. Or for only $5, an even better tool is the Five Wishes document (agingwithdignity.org, 888-594-7437), which is valid in 42 states and will help you create a customized advance directive. Get Help. If however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will, or $1,200 to $5,000 for a living trust. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (actec.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see findlegalhelp.org) to find lowcost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral. 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. MSN

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By Jordan Niefeld, CPA It’s no surprise that there is confusion and misinformation surrounding the United States tax code. With deductions, credits, adjusted gross income, exemptions, who can possibly follow it all? Since there is so much to know about taxes and also an appetite for taxpayers to learn, many make assumptions about how they think the IRS tax code works and they turn out to be false. Below are a few important myths that all taxpayers should understand: 1. A taxpayer can audit-proof his/her tax return. This is a major myth. The IRS estimates that there is over $300 billion tax dollars owed but unpaid. Sadly for the IRS, they will not be able to audit every single tax return. Only about 1% of all tax returns are audited each year. Keep in mind the more money earned and reported the more likely they will get a call from the IRS in the form of an audit. 2. A tax audit = scary IRS men in glasses at your doorstep. This is a major myth. The IRS would like to keep the audit process as easy and painless as possible. Of the approximately 1,500,000 individual income tax returns examined (audited) in fiscal 2012, only 25% were examined in the “field,” as the IRS puts it. The rest were conducted through correspondence. However, it is worth noting that when businesses are audited, they are way more likely to get a visit from the IRS in person than not. Of the over 32,000 corporation income tax returns examined in fiscal 2012 (1.6% of total corporation tax returns filed), over 95% were examined in the field. Furthermore, 100% of estate tax returns that are audited are audited in the field as well. Go figure! 3. The home office tax myth. The common myth that by running a home-based business, you can deduct all expenses related to your residence is false. It is true that many expenses are allowed; for example, you can claim some of your home maintenance and other homeownership costs as business deductions. So in other words, you may not take your entire home as a home office deduction. The IRS has implemented a new $1,500 flat home office deduction to keep it simple for those that qualify. IRS publication 587 has all the details. 4. Woo-hoo! As soon as I retire, I will be free from taxes! This is a major myth; while there are many benefits to retirement, leaving

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the workforce and entering your nest egg years doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t free you from all the requirements of paying your taxes. In some cases, even your social security benefits may be taxed. Here is the skinny. Chances are once you retire you will fall into a lower tax bracket. Keep this in mind; many financial experts will suggest that a retiree will want at minimum 65% of your pre-

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 55

retirement income in retirement to live comfortably. Some ways to combat the tax exposure one may face in their golden years is to set up a Roth IRA. There are many tax advantages in doing so. With a Roth IRA (as opposed to a traditional IRA), one may pay their taxes upfront rather than when they withdraw. Keep in mind that you may be subject to required minimum distributions laws come the

age of 70.5. You can face tax penalties up to 50% of the amount you withdraw if you fail to take the minimum amount required from your retirement account each year. As you plan for your retirement, consult a qualified tax advisor to help you minimize the tax impact of this important transition. MSN

Tax Strategies for Large Estates By Jonathan J. David Dear Jonathan: I am a retired widower who has the good fortune of having invested very wisely over the years, and as a result, I have built up quite a substantial estate. The one negative is that even with the new $5,430,000 exemption from taxes the government is giving to everyone, if I died this year, my estate would still have to pay estate taxes. That is why I have decided that I should start an aggressive gift-giving program now. My goal is to give away enough so that my estate is no larger than $5,430,000, which will allow my estate to avoid estate tax. Does this strategy make sense? If so, what is the best way to go about making the gifts? I understand that I can make annual gifts of up to $14,000 per person without having any gift tax consequences, but making those types of gifts will not significantly reduce the size of my estate. Do you have any other suggestions? Jonathan Says: Your analysis is correct and yes, based on the information you provided; it would be a good idea to make an effort to bring your estate down to the $5,430,000 level or below. As you stated in your question, you can make annual exclusion gifts of $14,000 per person without

any gift tax consequences. Consequently, your goal should be to make as many of these annual exclusion gifts as possible. In addition to making annual exclusion gifts, you can make gifts in excess of that amount and although the excess will be considered a taxable gift, your $5,430,000 exemption can be used to offset that portion of the gift that is taxable. In other words, the $5,430,000 exemption from taxes that each individual gets applies not only to gifts made at death, but to gifts made during lifetime as well. For example, if you give away $1,000,000 during your lifetime, then your $5,430,000 exemption will be reduced by that amount, so that upon your death you will have $4,430,000 remaining of your exemption. If you decide to make these types of gifts, you should focus on gifting assets that are most likely to appreciate because by removing those assets from your estate, you will also be removing all of the potential appreciation from your estate. You should also consider making gifts to charities, either during lifetime or at death. So long as those gifts are made to a qualifying charity, those gifts are both gift tax and estate tax free and will serve to reduce the size of your taxable estate,

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dollar for dollar. For example, if your estate is valued at $10,430,000 and you give $5,000,000 to a qualifying charity, you will receive a charitable deduction for the full amount of that gift, which will leave you with a $5,430,000 taxable estate, which is offset by the $5,430,000 exemption from estate taxes. The combination of using the charitable deduction and the $5,430,000 exemption from estate tax effectively reduces any federal estate taxes, which would have been due and owing to

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zero. There are other strategies you can employ to reduce the overall size of your estate or reduce the amount of federal estate taxes that would be due and owing at your death. I encourage you to visit with a knowledgeable estate-planning attorney in

your area to explain further not only the concepts I have discussed herein, but also any other concepts he or she might recommend to you based on your goals and your overall circumstances. Good luck. MSN

Facing Those Difficult Financial Conversations With Parents

By Mike McCormick Talking about money with an elderly parent is not easy. With more than 10,000 baby boomers turning age 65 every day, most have experienced the emotional trauma of losing a family member. Adding to this pain is the difficulty of settling a loved one’s financial affairs once they are gone or incapacitated. Jane Client, a 58-year-old business owner and mother, is a prime example. We met through an introduction from her CPA and she was now trying to make sense of their family’s financial web after the death of her father. It came as a complete surprise to learn that she and her mother were beneficiaries of a substantial trust, and now Jane was in my office seeking help. The most terrifying part for her – she had to talk about money with her mother. Jane’s mother was of the “Greatest Generation” and that meant all finances were left to her husband. Jane was not even sure if her mother

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knew what she owned, who managed it, or what they were getting charged! “Dad taught me to make smart decisions by asking questions, but the trouble is, I don’t even know how to talk to mom about money. She just smiles and says that everything will be all right! It drives me crazy how she does that!” Fortunately, Davis Solie’s book, How to Say it to Seniors, offers helpful insight and poses several solutions as to how Jane can bridge this communications gap. Solie explains people’s need to maintain control of aspects of life in the face of almost daily losses of strength, health, friendships, and mental capacity. Another concern is a person’s discovery of his or her own legacy, and how they want to be remembered after they are gone. Solie suggests that Jane’s questions could be phrased to value the decisions made by her parents and provide the opportunity for her mother to conduct an important step in her “life review” process at the same time. For instance, initiating a conversation such as, “Mom, we’ve been discussing the idea of getting our finances in order like you and Dad. How did you go about selecting your advisors? What were the steps he took you though in planning? What were the important considerations you had in designing the plan?” By pursuing a series of open-ended questions, you are granting your mom authority and acknowledging her success and control of her financial situation. Further, it gives her the ability to pass along her wisdom and experience to the younger generation, increasing her feeling of self-worth. Solie does caution against expecting immediate results. It is important to allow parents to decide at their own pace and to remain flexible and patient once we have planted the seed of a decision. If done properly, addressing these questions with mom has many potential benefits, whether or not she eventually agrees with the final decision. The conversation that ensues and the ability for mom to reflect on important decisions and share what she has learned with her daughter is a powerful tool. In the case of Jane, the potential benefits of discussing her family’s financial issues can even lead to an improved relationship. What could possibly be a better legacy than that? Mike McCormick is a licensed Wealth Advisor with Cascade Financial Management, Inc. in Bozeman He can be reached at www.mccormickinvestmentadvisor.com or 406-219-3984. MSN

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How to Find Affordable Cremation Services By Jim Miller Cremation is definitely one of the most affordable ways to go, when you go. Costs usually run between $600 and $3,000, which are significantly lower than the average full-service funeral that averages around $10,000 today. Cost is also one of the big reasons why the popularity of cremation is soaring. Roughly 40 percent of Americans now choose cremation, up from 27 percent just a decade ago. Here are some tips for locating low-cost services. Compare Providers – Because prices can vary sharply, start by calling the funeral homes in your area (most funeral homes provide cremation services) and ask them how much they charge for a “direct cremation,” which is the least expensive. With direct cremation, there is no embalming, formal viewing, or funeral. It only includes the essentials: picking up the body, completing the required paperwork, the cremation itself, and providing ashes to the family. If your family wants to have a memorial service, they can have it at home or your place of worship after the cremation, in the presence of your remains. To locate nearby funeral homes, look in your local yellow pages under “cremation” or “funeral” or visit cremation.com. You may also be able to get help and referrals through your nearby memorial society or local funeral consumer alliance program (see funerals. org/affiliates-directory or call 802-865-8300 for contact information). These are volunteer groups that offer a wide range of information and prices on local funeral and cremation providers. If, however, you are not up to calling around, there are also a number of free websites – like funeraldecisions.com and efuneral.com – that you or your family can use that can do the work for you. With these sites, you just answer a few questions, and your nearby funeral homes will provide estimates based on your request. Low-Cost Urns – The urn is another item you need to be aware of that can drive up costs. Funeral home urns usually cost $50 to $300, but you are not required to get one. Most funeral homes place ashes in a plastic bag that is inserted into a thick plastic box. The box is all you need if you intend to have your ashes scattered. But if you want something to display, you can find a nice urn or container online. Walmart.com, for example, sells urns for as little as $25. Or, you may want to use an old cookie jar or container you have.

Financial Help – If you cannot afford your cremation costs, there are a number of places you can turn to that may help. For starters, many towns or counties provide assistance through their social services department. Your family should also be able to get some aid from Social Security, which pays a survivor a one-time death benefit of $255. And if you are a veteran, the VA provides a burial benefit that includes a free burial at a national cemetery and a free marker. But, it does not cover funeral provider or cremation costs. Debbi Royer Free Cremation – Reverse Mortgage Specialist Another option to consider that provides free NMLS #583044 cremation is to donate (406) 223-8941 your body to a universitydroyer@oppbank.com affiliated medical school. After using your body Reverse Mortgage Specialist, Debbi Royer, for research, they will cremate your remains is available to meet with you to discuss free, and either bury or your options. scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, usuO F M O N TA N A ally within a year or two. opportunitybank.com To find a medical * For homeowners 62 years old and older. facility near you that accepts body donations, the University of Florida maintains a directory at old.med.ufl.edu/anatbd/ usprograms.html. Or, call the National Family Service Desk, which operates a free referral serContact the experts at vice at 800-727-0700. the Roger L. Daniel Send your senior Insurance Agency questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit We represent multiple SavvySenior.org. Jim carriers and products. Roger L. Daniel Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The SavYou Have Questions... We Have Answers vy Senior” book. MSN Roger L. Daniel Insurance Agency Inc.

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Spring Traditions: Dust Off Some Memories At A Montana Car Show By Bernice Karnop Spring is the start of the car show season, and they pop up all over the nation, and all around Montana. There are stand-alone car shows and car shows that piggyback with festivals and benefits of every kind. There are general car shows with all makes, models, and years and shows that are specific to one brand, such as all Chevrolets, or Fords, for specific years, like the 1950s and ‘60s, and shows that highlight one car, like Mustangs, Corvettes, or Model Ts. Shows might be all antiques, original, modified, motorcycles, or trucks. So what does it prove? That we love our wheels! People who own beloved cars are anxious to pull them out of the garage, polish them up, and show them off. Others love to stroll through the lines of cars, admiring the elegance and beauty engineered into vehicles of the past. They check out the upholstery, inspect the engine, and admire the chrome and paint. Viewers like to see how the owner personalized it, customized it, or gathered memorabilia like art or ads or classic photos to add to their display. Old cars universally take us back to the happy days of youth. Has anyone ever forgot the first car they ever bought? Or those nights cruisin’ the drag? Or that nearly gone-forever experience of watching a drive-in movie in your car? Here are the names and dates of few shows around the state where you can renew some old memories this summer. Take a friend or take the grandkids and share a few of your stories. • May 3: Cruisin’ the Drag Classic Car Show, Great Falls • June 6: Blast from the Past Car Show and Drag Races, Helena • June 6: Superior Old School House Rock Car Show • June 13: Deer Lodge Powell County Territorial Day Classic Car Show on Main Street • July 24: Hamilton Daly Days, Bitterrodders Classic Car Show • July 25: Billings 62nd Annual Mexican Fiesta at South Park • August 1: Virginia City Road Agent Rally • August 15: Manhattan Potato Festival • August 16: Cruisin’ on Main Car Show, Bozeman • September 6: Ramble in the Bay, Big Fork. MSN

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Is This Story True Or Is It A Gangster Legend? Submitted by Jim Meade Hours after Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, the Secret Service found itself in a bind. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was to give his Day of Infamy speech to Congress on Tuesday, and although the trip from the White House to Capitol Hill was short, agents were not sure how to transport him safely. At the time, Federal law prohibited buying cars that cost more than $750, and since they would have to get clearance from Congress, there wasn’t time for the process. One Secret Service agent discovered that the U.S. Treasury Department had seized the bulletproof car that

mobster Al Capone owned when he was sent to jail in 1931. With utmost efficiency, they cleaned it, made sure it was running perfectly, and had it ready for the President the next day. Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac V-8 “Al Capone” Town Sedan became the President’s Limo in December 1941. Mechanics are said to have cleaned and checked each feature of the Caddy well into the night of December 7, to make sure that it was set the next day for the Commander in Chief. And run properly it did! It had been painted black and green to look identical to Chicago’s police cars at the time. To top it off, Capone’s Cadillac sported 3,000 pounds

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of armor and inch-thick bulletproof windows. It also had a specially installed siren and flashing lights hidden behind the grille, along with a police scanner radio to keep Capone apprised of police activity and to throw them off if necessary.

But would President Roosevelt have actually used the car that belonged to the infamous mobster Al Capone? As a footnote, the car sold at auction in 2012 for $341,000. MSN

Where Are They Now – Louise Lasser? By Marshall J. Kaplan This former primetime soap opera parody star, known for her pigtails, is now known for her teaching abilities. Louise Lasser was born on April 11, 1939 in New York, the daughter of a tax expert. Although Louise attended Brandeis University and earned a degree in political sciences, it seemed that she had a knack for humor and wanted to bring some levity to the Lasser household. After graduation, she began appearing in improvisational and musical revues in the smaller clubs in Greenwich Village. Her talents were noticed and soon, Louise was the understudy for Barbra Streisand in the Broadway musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale. She also appeared on the soap opera The Doctors. She was soon noticed again – this time by Woody Allen. The two were married from 1966 until 1970. She reminisces about that time. “I was twentyone. When we met, I was seeing a friend of his. We immediately, immediately, just were meant to be in the same playpen. We just connected. So he would call me and he would say do you want to buy some music, I think there were records at the time, and we would go in his car and we just got along really great.” Lasser went on to

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appear in three of Woody’s early films, Take the Money and Run (1969), Bananas (1971), and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972). In January 1976, Lasser became a household name, as did her character (the show’s title), Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. The image of her character – a kooky, neurotic, redhead with braids has become iconic. The soap opera parody series was produced by Norman Lear and took place in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show’s title was stated twice, because Lear believed that everything that was said on a soap opera was said twice. There was neither live studio audience nor laugh track, to match the soap opera look. Lasser recalls, “The show was a parody, and it worked because there’s such sincerity on the part of the characters.” In 2004 and 2007, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman was ranked #21 and #26 on TV Guide’s Top Cult Shows Ever. Lasser found the filming schedule grueling and ended up with an addiction to cocaine. When she hosted Saturday Night Live in 1976, it was apparent that she was “off.” Now, clean and sober, Lasser has continued to act in films, television, and the stage – playing quirky, offbeat characters. Lasser felt fortunate in her soap opera casting. “Mary (Hartman) is me – I mean, she’s who I would be if I had grown up in a small town, married my high school sweetheart, and become a housewife instead of growing up in a big city, becoming an actress, and marrying a genius.” Her greatest role thus far is as a member and professor at HB Studio in New York, where she teaches acting techniques. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2015

By Bernice Karnop More Montana families are taking care of their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and that’s a good thing for the individual. It’s important for them to be with family as the disease accelerates and it gives them a better quality of life. The down side of this is that caring for a person with dementia is very stressful. Caregivers need a break, respite, but they have a hard time asking for help and they don’t know what services are available. In rural Montana, services may not be available. The Governor’s Conference on Aging, partnering with the Montana Gerontology Society, addresses these issues and provides helpful information to seniors and those who care about them. The theme this year is Insights into Alzheimer’s disease: Lifespan Respite Care and Other Aging Resources and Supports. Nationally recognized professionals will address the conference on advances in medical research, community based services, and creating dementia-friendly communities in Montana. They also want to get feedback from caregivers to learn how they improve services. Outstanding keynote speakers will bring fresh information. They include Martha Roherty, Executive Director, National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities; Jill Kagan, ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center; Traci Clark, Project Director, Money Follows the Person Project; Howard Federoff, Executive Dean of the School of Medicine, Georgetown University; Pat Coon, MD, Internal Medicine, Billing Clinic; Dr. Dena Shenk, Graduate Director, Gerontology Program and Professor of Anthropology, UNC, Charlotte. Dr. Howard Federoff, will speak on the topic, What will tomorrow look like? Dr. Dena Shenk will address Caring for and Communicating with People with Dementia: We’re All in This Together. Dr. Patricia Coon will talk on the topic Creating

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 61

Dementia-Friendly Communities in Montana. The Lifespan Respite Summit on Tuesday, May 12, 1:45-5 p.m., is part of the conference but it is free to anyone interested in attending only the summit. The goal of the summit is to increase awareness and expand respite for all ages. Register at respite.mt.gov. The public is also invited to an AARP hosted wine and cheese reception on Tuesday night 5:30-7 p.m. Nanette Whitman-Holmes will speak on Brain Health. On Wednesday evening, the Alzheimer’s Association hosts an Alzheimer’s Town Meeting from 6:30-8:30, which is also open to the public. Also on Wednesday from 5:30-7 p.m., individuals may tour St. Peter’s Behavioral Unit. This is the only adult behavioral health unit in Montana. The Centenarian Luncheon on May 12 acknowledges MonSince 1865 tanan’s who are 100 years old or better, and those who will reach 100 years of age by DeMake a gift and increase your income with a Salvation Army cember 31, 2015, even if they’ve been recogcharitable gift annuity. nized before. This year, Q Fixed income for life Q Income now or later the Council plans to honor the oldest World Q Relief from taxes Q Support your community War II veteran. Please let them know if you ONE-LIFE GIFT ANNUITY RATES fit these categories or Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate if you know someone 65 5.7% 72 6.3% 79 7.4% 86 9.2% who does. 66 5.8% 73 6.5% 80 7.6% 87 9.5% The Governor’s Ad67 5.9% 74 6.6% 81 7.8% 88 9.8% visory Council on Ag68 6.0% 75 6.7% 82 8.0% 89 10.1% ing, which sponsors the 69 6.0% 76 6.9% 83 8.3% 90+ 10.5% conference, developed 70 6.1% 77 7.0% 84 8.6% Two-life rates available. a mini-grant program to Rates subject to change. 71 6.2% 78 7.2% 85 8.9% Cont’d on pg 64

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Continued from page 61 assist rural communities where resources are limited. The grants range from $200 to $1,000 and are used for a range of services to seniors. The mini-grant applications are due on April 15. Individuals or businesses who wish to sponsor mini-grants should contact Aging Services for application forms, but don’t wait. Applications

are due April 15. Those who sponsor mini-grants may be acknowledged at the GCA or have ads in the conference program. Early registration for the GCA is helpful and there is a price break for those who register before April 14. Scholarships may be available including help with respite costs. Early registration is $75 for the three-day, twoconference event, and that includes all of the sessions, the generous coffee breaks, and three luncheons. Individuals may attend single days for $35. Stoeckle says, “This conference is wonderful opportunity for individuals to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers and family members will be encouraged by networking with others and learning about services available here in Montana.” Visit the Aging Services web page for information, dphhs.mt.gov/sltc. Click on Governor’s Conference on Aging to find the link to centenarian search. Or call Senior and Long Term Care at 406-444-4077 or 1-800-3322272. Email questions to jstoeckel@mt.gov. MSN

Annual Caregiving Costs Exceed $20,000 for Almost Half of Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers

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Nearly half (42%) of family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia spend $20,000 or more per year on caregiving, according to a new Caring.com report. Caregiving expenses include out-of-pocket costs for assisted living, professional in-home caregivers, medications and medical bills, incontinence products, wandering products, transportation, and more. In addition, a third of those spend $30,000 or more a year on Alzheimer’s caregiving. Only eight percent of Alzheimer’s family caregivers do not know how much they spend on caregiving. A startling 62% of family caregivers are paying for Alzheimer’s care out of their own pockets. “The numbers are staggering,” said Caring. com CEO Andy Cohen. “More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple as the population continues to age. The majority of family caregivers care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s for at least a few years, with some even extending over a decade.” In fact, 22% of family caregivers say that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia has put them in debt. But Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving doesn’t just affect one’s bank account: • 97% of family caregivers say their personal (marriage and friendship) relationships have suffered or even ended. • 76% say their emotional well-being has declined, and 55% say their physical health has declined. • 56% of caregivers have had to quit their job or say their career has been negatively affected. “Now is the time to talk to loved ones about future care, and for family caregivers to ask for and get support,” said Cohen. “As the numbers show, caring for Alzheimer’s is difficult on many levels, which is why it’s so important to have an open dialogue with trusted family and friends.” More information about the survey results and resources to support family caregivers is available at caring.com/research/alzheimers-care-costsindex-2014. About Caring.com – With more than two million visitors per month, San Mateo-based Caring. com is a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. Caring.com provides helpful caregiving content, online support groups, and a comprehensive Senior Care Directory for the United States, with more than 66,000 consumer ratings and reviews and a toll-free senior living referral line 800-325-8591. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 65

Brain Health Important To 93% of Americans AARP Staying Sharp, an AARP membership option that focuses on a holistic approach to brain health, announced new survey results indicating adults know the importance of brain health but are not as aware of how to improve it. All respondents believe it is important to improve or maintain brain health â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with 93% noting it is very or extremely important. But, when asked how to maintain a healthy brain, a Cedar Wood Healthcare Community startling low 18% cited socialServing the Red Lodge Community since 1991 izing with friends or family, 34% cited low stress, 44% cited physical exercise, and Available Services only 50% of survey responSkilled Rehabilitation: dents cited brain games. Short-term care after a hospitalization, we AARP Staying Sharp is workoffer physical, occupational and speech therapy ing to educate members Adult Day Care: about how a well-rounded, We can care for your loved one while you healthy-living approach can run errands or just take a day for yourself help improve overall brain health. Respite Care: Short-term 24 hour care for up to 7 days â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have found that brain health is not just a key conPalliative/Hospice Care: cern for our members, but Relationship with local Hospice groups also a concern for all AmeriLong-Term Care: cans,â&#x20AC;? said AARP Vice Presi24 hour care that allows your loved one to remain dent of Membership Lynn within the community. Dementia care, nutrition management, pain management, after stroke care and wound care Mento. â&#x20AC;&#x153;AARP Staying Sharp isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about brain exerWe offer private and semi-private rooms, beautician services, cises, but about promoting telephone and cable hookups, housekeeping and laundry services, healthier living as a holistic and internet access is also available way to support brain health, Payment Options by keeping physically fit, learning more by challenging your brain, managing your stress, eating right, and connecting with others.â&#x20AC;? Medicare Medicaid The Five Ways to Support Brain Health â&#x20AC;&#x201C; AARP Staying Sharp recogPrivate Insurance nizes that many people are proactively working to keep their minds sharp so Private Pay that they can continue to live active, fulfilling, and independent lives. AARPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VA analysis of current research suggests that people interested in maintaining Please call Margaret or Carrie at 406.446.2525 and improving their brain health should focus on five areas: for more information or to set up a tour! â&#x20AC;˘ Keeping Fit: Studies show that even small amounts of regular exer1118 ,1)) 0#&& 8 )'5R5g5 )/."5 % -65 5 ) ! 65 5kofln cise like walking can positively affect brain health. Only 44% noted physical exercise as a key factor. â&#x20AC;˘ Learning More: Everything from learning a new language or skill to participating in online exercises designed to challenge and test the brain. While 50% noted brain games could help maintain brain health, only 9% reported taking classes, 6% said watching educational programs, and 5% indicated watching the news. â&#x20AC;˘ Managing Stress: Several studies indicate sleep and stress management improve brain health. While 68% chose getting adequate sleep or rest to help maintain brain health, only 34% identified low stress as a factor. â&#x20AC;˘ Eating Right: Scientific research shows that tudios, one or two bedroom certain elements in food â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from omega-3 fatty acids apartments available for seniors. to vitamin E â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can positively affect brain health. For just 58%, a healthy diet was considered key to For more info please contact us at: 406-228-2208 or visit us on the web at: www.prairieridgevillage.com | Glasgow, MT maintaining brain health. â&#x20AC;˘ Being Social: Research shows that staying socially connected to other people supports a healthy brain. Only 18% noted being social as a key factor to brain health, the least likely factor to be noted as a way to help your brain. The AARP survey asked 1,200 Americans (age 34 to 75) about healthy living and brain health. Obviously, there is plenty Our BeeHive Homes of Great Falls assisted living services of room to educate on how to maintain/ BSF EFEJDBUFE UP QSPWJEJOH B IBQQZ BOE IFBMUIZ improve brain health. AARP understands FOWJSPONFOU GPS PVS SFTJEFOUT 0VS VOJRVF BQQSPBDI UP that people 50+ are active, engaged, and assisted living care focuses on creating a family focused on living life to the fullest. AARP FOWJSPONFOU JO XIJDI MPOH MBTUJOH SFMBUJPOTIJQT DBO HSPX is committed to helping members discover BOE EFWFMPQ 8F XPVME MPWF UP JOUSPEVDF ZPV UP #FF)JWF â&#x20AC;&#x153;Real Possibilitiesâ&#x20AC;? in life, by delivering Homes of Great Falls assisted living. Please contact us for membership options that have evolved to more information or a home tour. reflect where members are in life today. The AARP Staying Sharp membership 3 Memory Care Homes! Trained Staff in Dementia Care | Private Rooms with Showers | Courtyard with Fountain, Gazebo & Pergola costs $21 a year and provides people with information, tools and resources, and tangible steps to take every day to foster t *OEJWJEVBM BOE (SPVQ "DUJWJUJFT Our assisted living service includes: a healthy, holistic lifestyle in support of t %BJMZ )PVTF ,FFQJOH 4FSWJDFT t 1SJWBUF 3PPNT t "OE .VDI .PSF brain health. t )PVS 4UBÄ?OH t %JFUJDJBO "QQSPWFE )PNF $PPLFE .FBMT Along with all the benefits of traditional membership, Staying Sharp provides access to experts, tools, and resources PS WJTJU VT BU XXX CFFIJWFIPNFT DPN focused on maintaining brain health, including:

PAGE 66 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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• Staying Sharp Challenge from Brain HQ: Access to online brain training exercises selected for Staying Sharp members designed to improve cognitive ability, navigation skills, people skills, memory, and more. • Staying Sharp eNewsletter subscription: Access to up-to-date research and insights around brain health.

• Video Insights Series: Short, web-based video series with science-based tips and suggestions on physical exercise, online and offline activities, food, and approaches to support brain health in a holistic way. To learn more about the brain health Staying Sharp research, visit aarp. org/StayingSharpStudy. For more information about the AARP Staying Sharp membership, visit aarp.org/NewStaySharp. MSN

Taking the Right Precautions For A Family Member With Dementia

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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 Everything you want. dementia should be as unrestricted as possible. More than you expect. “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,” Mills says. • For stairways and hallways. Add reflective Enjoy the best of Bozeman! Bozeman n! tape strips to stair edges to make stairs more visMaybe it’s time to think about a retirement community ible. Remove obstacles, such as mats and flowerthat takes care of life’s hassles so you can enjoy the pots, to minimize risks of falls on or by the stairs. beauty that surrounds you! Also, install handrails in hallways and stairways to provide stability, and install a gate on the stairway Choose the community with a proven track record of to prevent falls. Improve the lighting around hallexcellence—Aspen Pointe at Hillcrest. ways and stairs by installing more ceiling fixtures • Spacious and affordable one- and two-bedroom or wall sconces. apartment homes with amazing panoramic views • For the bathroom. Install grab bars and a • Underground parking garage • Gracious dining in a lodge-style setting prepared by raised toilet seat to help both the individual with our executive chef dementia and the care partners so they don’t have • No hidden fees 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. MSN

APRIL/MAY 2015

Meeting The Writer

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 67

- continued from page 49

who knows somebody,” he says explaining how he managed to get the interview at all especially since he had no interest, or background in finance. After only the first few questions, the interviewer told Brian that the position was “probably not a good fit.” He laughs about it now – about the brashness of even going to the interview. But, he was young – twentyfive – and adventurous. It was that same sense of adventure, of youth, and free-spirit confidence that brought him to Montana. He was hiking in the woods in upstate New York when he “met a guy who worked for the Forest Service.” They got to talking and the Forest Service employee told Brian about Montana. He was intrigued. “Montana was a mystery and far away,” he says. Far away and so different from anything he had ever known. It was time for a change in his life. “I just wanted to get away,” he recalls. So he packed up and headed first for Missoula “because it was the only place I knew about,” he says. And it was a college town. Before long, he was settled in. He began working for the newspaper and consulting on marketing and public relations type projects. He explored the area and got to know people and their stories. “I’ve always been in a job where I was telling other people’s stories,” he says. “Even pitching is telling someone’s story.” He lights up with excitement and enthusiasm when he is telling someone’s story. And always he was writing. Writing, researching, and publishing another story – polishing a natural talent. He discovered Montana was a place where he could get away alone. He could hike or go backpacking or cross-country skiing. Or he could take his hockey skates down to a frozen pond and hit a puck around. Although he played hockey and lacrosse growing up, Brian came to prefer the “unorganized” and individual experience of a physical activity. He was also curious about the “psychology of a sport, or a position of play in a sport.” In other words, the story behind the obvious action – the often-untold story. Out of this curiosity came Warriors on the Ice: Hockey’s Toughest Talk and Life in the Trenches as well as Warrior in the Ring. Because Brian is an exquisite, patient, and dedicated interviewer with a passion to know and tell the whole story – the story beyond the headlines and 500-word article – his talent comes alive in these interview-packed books. “It’s important to get the story out there,” he says. And the only way you can get the story out there is if you find it, absorb it, and understand it – take it into your heart then breathe it out again. Brian likes to focus most on the “people on the fringes” and the generally overlooked or forgotten stories. “The stories that haven’t been given the proper attention,” he explains. A self-described “hybridized person,” he still works as media consultant with the Montana Film Office in Helena as well as for individual artists. He has taught classes at the Helena College. He continues to writes articles for everything from the Huffington Post to Montana Magazine. He writes about art, history, sports, and musicians. About “anybody who is ambitious enough to persevere, to keep at it.” Always there is another book in the works – more interviews, more research, more stories, and maybe even a little poetry. In Montana, Brian D’Ambrosio the young man from Yonkers blossomed. He discovered a place with more stories than people to tell them. He has written hundreds of articles, and five books dealing with Montana people and places, history, and current events. “And there are still things I want to do here,” he says. And he will. MSN

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APRIL/MAY 2015

The Month of May

By Neil Wyrick May I introduce you to the merry month of May again? I know you have met before and are good friends because how can anyone not like a month that is so friendly. I think people smile a lot in this time of gentle breezes and the warmth that rises from awakening cool morning air. The fiery tempers of a tempestuous August day are by comparison all the difference in the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three months away. It is the month of the optimist for it is a time for growing, and Mother Nature keeping once again her promise to elevate the lovely art of pure fun. It is time for getting a hit with a runner on base on a sun-filled afternoon, or chipping a golf ball straight and true, or taking a walk in an apple orchard, or turning your face toward the sun. Also, a month that says lazy is all right for

APRIL/MAY 2015

a little while. May speaks the language of welcome against the bitter, blizzardy, antisocial months. In northern climes, it is fickle, never sure whether it will speak the language of spring or find a taste of winter once again. It seems such a short time that the land was painted white but now its canvas is ablaze with color. And if the sun could dance, I believe that is what it would do because it is in this month it defeats the cold. That is why it smiles a lot – or hadn’t you noticed: “God’s in his Heaven – All’s right with the world!” as Robert Browning wrote. I was born in September, a nice enough month but I’ve always had a secret desire to be born in May. Everything else was coming alive. Why not I? I like that this is the skinny season – skinny limbs growing fat with leaves and small flowers that morph into large fruits and vegetables. Certain words fit so well with May: bliss, prosperous, confident. If June is the month for wedding then I think May may be the month for courting. I do not own spring. I only rent it for a while as did my father before me, and particularly my grandfather who made his living from the land. I used to plant a food garden every spring. I haven’t for several years but this year I have again and find the revival of this old habit quite pleasing. It is a time when hope revives as seeds burst open and color from flowers explodes from mother Earth. And vegetables are such gifts for soul and sight. Then there are the forests that completely take over a portion of the land. Where I walked this morning, the trail often led me to old tree friends with their various shapes expanding in the sun. I wax poetic, for if ever there was a month that deserves it, it is May. MSN

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 69

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Story by Andrea Gross / Photos by Irv Green Radisson Admiral Hotel. This location is perfect for sports enthusiasts. The elevator rises; my stomach drops. Zooming upwards at fifteen miles an hour, it takes only Athletes’ Village, the mini-city being built for par58 seconds to reach the observation deck of the ticipants, is less than a half-hour stroll along the waterfront, and we only have to CN Tower in Towalk across the street to get to ronto, one of the Rogers Centre, the large multiworld’s tallest purpose stadium that will be the buildings. Now, site of the most anticipated event from 1,465 feet of the Games, the opening cerabove street levemony, which will be produced by el, I get a wideCirque de Soleil. angle view of Meanwhile, we pay an early Canada’s most visit to the Centre, which is home populous city to both the Blue Jays (Toronto’s — a labyrinth major league baseball team) and of buildings inthe Argonauts (the city’s profesterspersed with sional football team). It’s the nextgreen parks, to-last game of the season, and traffic-filled freethe crowd goes wild as the Blue ways and, not The alleys of Kensington, one of Toronto’s most interJays beat the top-ranked Baltimuch more than esting and diverse areas, are filled with murals. more Orioles. a mile away, the A slightly longer walk gets us northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. This summer Toronto will gain international at- to the Distillery Historic District, an area that was tention when it hosts the Pan Am Games, the third once home to the largest distillery in the British Emlargest international multi-sport competition in the pire. We adworld. (Only the Olympic Summer Games and the mire the VicAsian Games surpass it.) Held every four years torian archisince 1951, the Games bring together amateur tecture that athletes from more than forty countries throughout has caused the Americas who compete in 36 sports. They are the neighborfollowed twelve days later by the Parapan Ameri- hood to be can Games, during which athletes with physical designated a National Hisdisabilities compete in fifteen sports. This means that during sixteen days in July toric Site and and another nine in August, Toronto and its sur- explore the rounding burgs will host upwards of a quarter trendy galmillion tourists as well as thousands of athletes, leries, boutiques, and coaches, and team officials. We figure we’d better learn how to navigate eateries that line the pethe city now, in preparation for then. Although the powers-that-be are spending destrian-only Toronto has several major Chinese megabucks readying the area for the Games, and streets. communities. I could while much of this is earmarked for transportation, we suspect that in many cases walking will still be happily spend the rest of my vacation right here, the easiest way to get around. Thus, we choose to but we’ve more, much more, to see. In addition to stay at the newly renovated and centrally located the Distillery District, there’s a Financial District,

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Fashion District, and Garden District, as well as a Greektown, Chinatown, Little India, and Little Italy. In fact, according to The Toronto Star, there are 239 separate enclaves in this city, which bills itself as “a city of neighborhoods.” We don’t know whether to be dazed or amazed, but we do know that we need help in order to visit even a few of them. We climb aboard a bright red bus where, from our seats on the upper deck, we can get an unobstructed view of street-level Toronto. A non-stop tour would take about two hours, but our ticket gives us hop-on, hop-off privileges for three consecutive days. Therefore, we hop off in the Theatre District (the third largest live theatre venue in the English-speaking world, after London’s West End and New York City’s Broadway); visit Casa Loma Castle, once the largest private residence in Canada and today a location site for movies such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, and

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 71

attend a neighborhood festival. Finally, we hook up with The Tour Guys to get a more in-depth look at two of Toronto’s most fabled areas, Chinatown and Kensington. Our guide entertains us with stories and peppers us with facts as he leads us down alleyways, past walls filled with murals and art-graffiti and into small shops we’d never have discovered on our own. But before we leave, we have to explore, the neighborhood by our hotel that houses some of the city’s top breweries. Steam Whistle Brewing is known for what many consider some of the best Pilsner in the world, while Amsterdam Brewhouse offers a variety of seasonal and experimental beers. I confess to not being an expert on beer, but the pretzels can’t be beat! For additional information visit seetorontonow.com, radisson.com, and toronto2015.org. MSN

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PAGE 72 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Have Your Cake and Eat It Too The adage tells us we can’t have our cake and eat it too. The Montana Endowment Tax Credit, however, may just prove the saying wrong. Established in 1997 to encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to make lasting investments in their communities, the Montana Endowment Tax Credit creates an incredible incentive for residents to give to endowments. We’re lucky enough to live in one of very few states to offer such a credit. The credit allows donors to pay less in Montana state income tax when they make a qualifying planned gift to a qualified Montana charitable endowment. What exactly is a planned gift? Planned gifts are a way of giv-

ing that allows donors to maintain access to income during their lifetime, provide estate and tax planning tools, and build permanent wealth for Montana’s charities, nonprofit organizations, and local community foundations. Things like gift annuities, charitable trusts, and some estate gifts all fall into this category. How much can you save? The incentive is 40 percent of the gift’s federal charitable deduction, up to a $10,000 tax credit, per year, per individual, and a credit of 20 percent of a direct gift by a qualified business, up to $10,000 per year. You can create tremendous tax savings for yourself or your business and create a permanent way to benefit the community and causes you care so much about. Learn more by contacting Amy Sullivan at 406-4438313 or visit www.mtcf.org. MSN

Isabelle Johnson’s Montana The Bair Family Museum in Martinsdale will present the exhibition A Lonely Business: Isabelle Johnson’s Montana from May 22-August 31, 2015. The work is on loan from the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings. Isabelle Johnson (1901-1992) was a painter, rancher, and teacher and one of the first pioneering modernist painters in Montana. Her landscapes, particularly those of the Stillwater Valley and her Absarokee ranch, come to life in her expressive paintings of mountains, cattle, sheep, and grasslands. Johnson was born in Absarokee, attended public schools in Billings, earned a degree from the University of Montana, and a Master’s degree from Columbia University. In 1946, she was selected for an experimental school in Skowhegan, Maine, an experience that had a profound effect on her work. She returned to Montana to teach in the Billings schools and later chaired the Art Department at what is now MSU-Billings. She returned to the Johnson ranch, where she continued to paint until her death in 1992, at the age of 91. Isabelle Johnson produced a prodigious number of paintings and bequeathed her collection to the Yellowstone Art Museum. Her lifelong interest in the history of her home county led her to help found the Stillwater Historical Society. For additional information, contact the Bair Family Museum at 406-572-3314, visit bairfamilymuseum.org, or contact the Yellowstone Art Museum at 406-256-6804 or visit artmuseum.org. MSN

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By Bernice Karnop To get into the act means engagement, being part of things, and making a difference. May is Older American’s Month and the Administration for Community Living has chosen the inspiring motto Get into the Act for the 2015 theme. One purpose of Older American’s Month is to look back. Great progress has been made in senior programs in the more than half-century since President John F. Kennedy met with the National Council of Senior Citizens and created Older American’s Month. They faced the challenges of creating programs to focus on seniors and address their needs. Many things have

changed since that day in 1963, and seniors still face challenges, but they go forward on the foundation that was laid one-half century ago. In addition to remembering special seniors who got into the act in the past, May is the time to celebrate ordinary Idahoans who consistently engage in their community and make a positive impact on the lives of others today. It’s time to say thanks, and a time to acknowledge that community engagement has a profound effect on one’s well-being. Some may consider increasing their community involvement for the sheer joy of it. Readers can create their own celebration of Older American’s Month by getting in the act every day. Stay engaged with friends and neighbors, with one’s own health, and with issues like elder abuse. Be part of the action every chance you get! MSN

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By Bernice Karnop Bring on the Fiesta is the south of the border theme for National Nursing Home Week, May 10-16. “We hope you show how familia, vida, and amor (family, life, and love) thrive at your care center, irrespective of anyone’s age or physical or intellectual ability,” says their web site. The theme acknowledges the variety of ways that specific cultures do fiesta, whatever they may call them – joyous festivals, celebrations, or holidays. Specific music, small remembrance gifts, and favorite dishes can add to the atmosphere. Families, friends, businesses, and the public are encouraged to recognize and appreciate the million Americans who need assistance with daily living needs during National Nursing Home Week. This week is set aside to remember not only residents and rehab patients, but also their families, care providers, and staff.

APRIL/MAY 2015

One special way that the Fiesta 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.

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 75

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 Fiesta a resident needs. Those things that brighten the day for the resident brighten the day for caregivers as well. MSN

Caregiving Today: A Snapshot By Lisa M. Petsche In approximately thirty percent of American households, unpaid care is provided on a regular basis to someone who is chronically ill, disabled, or advanced in age, and whose ability to carry out the necessary activities of daily living is compromised as a result. In most cases, family members and friends – known as informal caregivers – provide all of the help that the care receiver needs. Without their assistance, the care receiver might otherwise have to move to some type of a residential care setting. It is not necessary to live under the same roof as the person one is helping, or to provide assistance with personal or medical care, in order to be considered a caregiver. Who Are The Caregivers? The typical caregiver is an adult child providing help to a parent or, less often, a parent-in-law. But a caregiver may also be, in order from most to least likely, a friend or neighbor, grandchild, sibling or other extended family member, spouse or parent. The majority of caregivers are female. On average, they spend up to 50 percent more time on caregiving-related tasks than their male counterparts do. Caregivers most often fall into the 45 to 65 age group and the majority is married. Those at the younger end of this group are likely to have children still at home and consequently have been labeled “the sandwich generation.” A significant proportion of caregivers are older themselves – in other words, younger seniors caring for older seniors. The older they are, the more likely they are to have health issues of their own, resulting in added stress and risk. Close to two-thirds of family caregivers are employed in a full-time or part-time capacity. These people are juggling caregiving with paid work, not to mention other responsibilities such as maintaining their own household and attending to other family members. It is no surprise therefore, that self-care is usually a low priority for caregivers, if it is even on their radar at all. Who Are The Care Receivers? The typical recipient of care is female, over 70 years of age, widowed, and living alone. The older the care receiver, the more likely they are to require personal care. Half of those over 85 fall into this category. The 85-plus age group is, of course, a rapidly growing segment of the population. The most common types of health conditions associated with care needs are age-related – for example, osteoporosis, arthritis, and vision loss. Other common medical diagnoses of care receivers are cancer, heart disease (such as stroke), neurological disease (such as Parkinson’s disease), dementia, and mental illness (such as depression). Types Of Caregiving Activities Caregiving tasks fall into two categories: basic activities of daily living (known as ADLs or BADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Activities of Daily Living are daily self-care tasks including feeding, toileting, dressing, grooming, bathing, and mobilizing. Less than 25 percent of caregiving situations involve helping with these needs. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are the more complex skills involved in living indepen-

dently – skills normally learned during adolescence and early adulthood. These skills include using the telephone, way finding, managing transportation (whether it is driving or using public transit), handling finances, shopping, preparing meals, managing medications, performing housework, and performing basic indoor and outdoor home maintenance. Typically, care receivers need help with IADLs before they require help with ADLs. In fact, the first indicator of cognitive impairment when someone develops dementia is difficulty managing IADLs, which demand a higher level of mental functioning than do ADLs. The most commonly provided type of caregiving help is transportation. This involves taking the person to medical appointments, social and leisure activities, and on errands such as shopping and banking. Other common types of assistance that relatives and friends provide are home and yard maintenance, house cleaning, and meal preparation.

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PAGE 76 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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Reflection To help ensure that informal caregiving is sustainable and remains a rewarding experience over time, it is important for those providing care to make use of available help. This includes obtaining assistance from family members and friends as well as taking advantage of community services that can help maximize the care receiver’s functioning and assist the caregiver with necessary tasks. Doing so improves the quality of life of not

only the caregiver but also the care receiver. Note: Statistics in this article were obtained from the National Alliance for Caregiving, the Family Caregiver Alliance, and the Caregiver Action Network. Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in boomer and senior concerns. She has personal experience with elder care. MSN

Busy BZZ Can Give You The Help You Need Busy BZZ provides a household shopping, delivery, and other services that facilitate the reintegration of the community through the young serving those in need, the elderly, and those that simply want the convenience of the Busy BZZ services. Busy BZZ is committed to being a benefit to the community that we serve. Utilizing college students with 3.5 or above GPA, Busy BZZ reintegrates the best of the community’s young at the service of those that want assistance. The interaction of multiple generations within the community brings it closer and makes it stronger. Examples of Busy BZZ’s services include: helping people that have been injured focus on

their recovery by utilizing Busy BZZ services; folks with permanent injuries or chronic conditions can avail themselves of assistance from Busy BZZ’s eager and energetic staff and reduce the stresses and discomfort from the challenges of their daily living; and for community members in general using Busy BZZ services attend to the time consuming details of their lives and thus maintain their busy schedules. Putting unity back into the community is our goal. We shop for you where you please. We organize for you so you can find it with ease. We provide home services that relieve. For more information visit busybzz.com or call 406-250-0827. MSN

Sex and Dementia Expert Provides the Answers To Your Questions

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The desire for sex and intimacy is a concept we prefer not to associate with our elders but the need for human contact and romantic relationships does not disappear with old age. In Sexuality and Dementia: Compassionate & Practical Strategies for Dealing with Unexpected or Inappropriate Behaviors, Dr. Douglas Wornell offers advice and support for both family members and professional caretakers who are confronted by the troubling, heartbreaking, and often isolating ways dementia affects personality, romantic

relationships, sexuality, and intimacy, including the exhibition of inappropriate and uncharacteristic sexual behavior, promiscuity, verbal abuse, aggression, grabbing, exhibitionism, and jealous paranoia. In Sexuality and Dementia, no situation is too embarrassing or shameful to discuss, including the true stories of: • Howard, a successful 61 year-old attorney whose hypersexual behavior prevented him from being admitted to a rehabilitation facility after stroke.

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Aging has enough difficulties. Getting the care you need shouldn’t be one of them. Highgate Senior Living offers full care for all, no matter what your age or ailment. Our team of compassionate professionals can handle almost anything, including complex medical issues and post-acute hospital care. In fact, we specialize in services normally provided in skilled nursing, such as diabetic care and oxygen management, injectable medications, wound care, feeding tubes, catheter monitoring, two-person transfers, and hospice. Just call any of our three Assisted Living/Memory Care communities in Montana, and we’ll make sure your move into Highgate is one of the easiest things in your life right now. Highgate at Billings 406-651-4833

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APRIL/MAY 2015

• Joan, whose dementia tipped her flirtatious personality over the edge, leaving her husband to buffer her predatory sexual advances. • Lucy, a dementia patient whose family was outraged to discover she had been allowed to have sex with a fellow dementia patient. • Ken, devastated by the fading of a 20 year romance with his partner, Kyle, who became emotionally absent after being diagnosed with HIV dementia. • Wanda, an eldercare nurse, learned to navi-

gate around the sexual advances of her dementia patients to avoid uncomfortable encounters. • Tim, who began dating another woman while still married to his wife of 30 years who had been diagnosed with dementia. These and other stories of the ravages of dementia and the coping techniques discussed make this a valuable resource for families struggling with the emotional toll of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Douglas Wornell, MD, is a geriatric neuropsy-

Humor For My Catholic Brethren Definitions Of Catholic Terms

Submitted by Julie Brantley Amen: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows. Bulletin: Your receipt for attending Mass. Choir: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync. Holy water: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY. Hymn: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation’s range. Recessional hymn: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left. Incense: Holy smoke! Jesuits: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with good basketball teams.

Lifes L ifesmemories

Jonah: The original Jaws story. Kyrie eleison: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava. It means “Lord have mercy.” Magi: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower. Manger: Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn’t covered by an HMO. (The Bible’s way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.) Pew: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches. Procession: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats. Recessional: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot. MSN

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 77

chiatrist with a large practice in the Seattle-Tacoma area, and he has participated in the treatment of over 20,000 dementia patients in the past 10 years and has given over 200 presentations on geriatric psychiatry. He is the medical director of the Behavioral Wellness Center at Auburn Regional Medical Center and the director of Wornell Psychiatry and Associates, a geriatric and neuropsychiatric consultative service through which he provides advice to 23 long-term care facilities. DougWornell. com. MSN

PAGE 78 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 79

PAGE 80 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS

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At first, advertising slogans and jingles were only in printed advertising – newspapers, magazines, on buildings, and along highways, (i.e. Burma Shave and billboards) – and then on the radio and finally on television. How powerful they were at catching our attention, attracting us to the advertisers’ products, and lingering in our minds – sometimes maddeningly! When you work this month’s Phrases of Popular Culture quiz, you will remember many of those advertisements and how you used (or still use) the products. Thank you and congratulations to Jim Meade for submitting this quiz. He is the winner of the doubled prize of $50. Thank you to all who participated in our Can You Find These Observances quiz in the February/ March 2015 issue. The three $50 winners selected from the answers submitted are Chloe Young of

Butte, Fran Latimer of Kalispell, and Nancy Oliver of Billings. Congratulations to you all! Two $25 cash prizes are awarded from the “Contest Corner” in each issue of the Montana Senior News. 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 Montana Senior News, P.O. Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403, or email to montsrnews@bresnan.net by May 10, 2015 for our June/July 2015 edition. Be sure to work the crossword puzzle on our website montanaseniornews.com.

Phrases of Popular Culture Submitted by Jim Meade Below is a series of questions/phrases that represent advertising jingles, song lyrics, television introductions, etc. from the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and later. Your job is to fill in the blank or whatever is required to provide the answer. Just jot down your answers on a numbered sheet of paper and send them to us. E-mail is fine too. Have fun with this journey into yesteryear. 1. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, “Who was that masked man?” Invariably, someone would answer, “I don’t know, but he left this behind.” What did he leave behind? 2. When the Beatles first came to the U.S. in early 1964, we all watched them on the ___________ Show. 3. “Get your kicks, _________.” 4. “The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to ___________.” 5. “In the jungle, the mighty jungle, __________.” 6. After the Twist, the

Mashed Potato, and the Watusi, we danced under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the ___________. 7. “Nestlé’s makes the very best.... _________.” 8. Satchmo was America’s Ambassador of Goodwill and this great jazz trumpeter entertained our parents and us as well. His name was _________. 9. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking? __________. 10. Red Skeleton’s hobo character was named ______________. 11. Red Skelton always ended his television show saying, “Good Night, and ________.” 12. The cute German VW with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front also was called _______ or ________. 13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, the day the music died. This was a tribute to ____________. 14. The Russians first succeeding in placing a satellite in earth orbit in 1957. It was called ________. 15. One of the big fads of the ‘50s and ‘60s was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist called a ______________. 16. One brand of cigarettes used the initials LS/MFT, which meant ___________.

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17. “Hey Kids! What time is it? It’s ___________!” 18. “Who knows what secrets lie in the hearts of men? Only the _______ knows!” 19. The name of the ‘60s song that was “a graveyard smash” was _________! 20. The name of the baby-faced character with a tablet on his head to promote Alka-Seltzer was _________. 21. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam War did so by burning their ________. 22. “You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with __________.”

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23. What service says “Let your fingers do the walking?” 24. This little candy “melts in your mouth, not in your hand.” 25. These are “M’m! M’m! Good!” 26. “__________” was the slogan of the company that was #2 but wanted to be #1. 27. “A little dab’ll do ya” was all it took of this product to keep hair in place. 28. There may have been a time when we would have walked a mile for a _______. 29. This product was so soft that we were admonished not to squeeze it. 30. What product made us wonder, “Does she or doesn’t she?” MSN

28. To give approval in writing 30. African tree 35. Hurts 37. Kind of bean 39. *Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin meeting spot 40. Genealogist’s work 41. Sign of cancer? 43. Unit of pressure named after Torricelli 44. Wife of Abraham 46. Muscle quality 47. ____-fry 48. Type of tax 50. *They officiated LeBron, Wade, and Bosh’s games 52. “I ___ with my naked eye” 53. Test choice 55. Denouement 57. *The Good, ___ ___, and the Ugly 60. *Chico, Harpo, and _______ 64. Skyward 65. Female forest ruminant 67. Continental divide 68. Recorded 69. “... ___ he drove out of sight” 70. Piquant 71. “Joannie Loves Chachi” actress 72. *___, blue, and yellow 73. Earl of _____

Down

Across

1. “_____ End,” retailer 6. Down Under bird 9. Obscenity 13. Hang around for 14. Bamboozle 15. Worn by some British soldiers on ceremonial occasions 16. Gang 17. Skirt’s edge 18. Gung-ho 19. *_______, José, and Luciano 21. *Athos, Porthos, and ______ 23. Bit of binary code 24. Again 25. Public health approver

1. Nordic native 2. Military no-show 3. *Employer of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins 4. *The Bee Gees’ most popular genre 5. Beer garden mugs 6. Reverberated sound 7. *___, Curly, and Larry 8. Unnerve

9. One who makes deceitful pretenses 10. *Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior 11. Luau strings, pl. 12. Craggy peak 15. Marine trade route 20. Of or relating to deism 22. Johnny ___, nickname for a Confederate 24. Twisted Sister: “We’re not gonna take it _______” 25. *_____, Stinky, and Stretch 26. English physicist who studied quantum mechanics 27. Make aware 29. Caused by defects in uric acid metabolism 31. Cereals or grains 32. Ink stains 33. A vacation or _ ____ 34. *Robin, Maurice, and _____ Gibb 36. Scorch 38. Steak condiment 42. Send to a specialist, e.g. 45. Situation that is ideal for rapid development 49. ___ Gershwin 51. Alarm button 54. Bovine milk dispenser 56. Italian title, pl. 57. Ski lift 58. Arizona Indian 59. Level 60. Turned to the right, like a horse 61. British tax 62. Passionate dislike 63. December stone 64. Downed a sub, e.g. 66. Miner’s bounty MSN

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Answers to Can You Find These Observances? Pg 1. 13 2. 17 3. 17 4. 17 5. 20 6. 22 7. 22 8. 26 9. 28 10. 28 11. 29 12. 29 13. 29 14. 29 15. 30 16. 32 17. 32 18. 33 19. 33 20. 36 21. 36 22. 36

Advertiser / Observance American Heart Association Women’s Heart Day: February 14 Herb Pharmer Marijuana Awareness Month: February Mental Health America Of Montana Listening Weekend: March 26-28 Mt Health Research Institute Optimism Month: March Great Falls Animal Shelter What if Cats & Dogs had Opposable Thumbs? Day: March 3 MT. Gems, Inc. Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day: February 11 The Lodge at Lone Tree Creek As Young as You Feel Day: March 22 Lewistown Eagles Manor Day of Happiness: March 20 Aaniiih Nakota College Education and Sharing Day: March 22 Mt Salute Members of Armed Services Iwo Jima Day: February 19 Copper Village Museum & Arts Center Museum Advocacy Day: February 23-24 Gold West Denture Center Bagpipe Day: March 10 Mark Rule & Company Clean Up Your IRS Act: March SW Mt Aging & Disability Services March Forth – Do Something Day: March 4 American Music Irish-American Heritage Month: March All In Stitches Quilting Day: March 21 Allstate – Cliff Plantz Car Insurance Day: February 1 Conner Grocery Store & Deli Oreo Cookie Day: March 6 Union Gospel Mission Have a Heart Day: February 14 Bob’s Sew & Vac Organize your Home Office Day: March 10 Director of Wildlife Biology Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month: February Molli School of Extended & Lifelong Learning Folktales & Fables Week: March 16-22

Pg 23. 37 24. 38 25. 39 26. 39 27. 41 28. 42 29. 42 30. 43 31. 43 32. 43 33. 43 34. 45 35. 45 36. 46 37. 46 38. 47 39. 48 40. 48 41. 48 42. 48 43. 51 44. 52 45. 53 46. 58 47. 58 48. 59 49. 66 50. 66 51. 67 52. 68 53. 68 54. 68 55. 70

Advertiser / Observance Missoula Family YMCA Well-Elderly Day: March 16 Chateau Rouge Plan a Solo Vacation Day: March 1 B&B Auto Parts Daytona 500: February 22 Montana Outdoor Legacy Curlew Day: March 16 Snyder Drug Tolkien Reading Day: March 25 Alpine Casino & Restaurant Potato Chip Day: March 14 Crooked Tree Coffee & Cakes Decorating with Candy Day: February 1 Little Timber Quilts & Candy American Chocolate Week: March 15-21 Main Street Quilting Day of Awesomeness: March 10 Montana Antique Mall Valentines Day: February 14 Rainbow Service St. Patrick’s Day: March 17 Exploration Works Nano Days: March 28–April 5 Feedlot Steakhouse Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day: February 18 Billings Studio Theatre Bubble Gum Day: February 6 Tamarack Brewing Drink Wine Day: February 18 Black Eagle Community Center Gum Drop Day: February 15 Dimitris Greek Restaurant Goof-off Day: March 22 Dos Machos Restaurant Margarita Day: February 22 Grub Stake Restaurant Bacon Day: February 26 Last Chance Casino Peanut Month: March Children’s Receiving Home Child Life Month: March Montana Independent Living Project Friendship Week: February 9-13 Allstate – Tammy Stubbs Be Electrific Day: February 11 Area IX Agency On Aging Spunky Old Broads Day: February 1 Jefferson County Museum Presidents Day: February 16 Montana Lineage Search Genealogy Day: March 8 Select Realty Medal of Honor Day: March 25 Soft Touch Designs, Inc. I Want You to be Happy Day: March 3 Glasgow Construction Women in Construction Week: March 1-7 Campbell’s Plumbing & Heating Care About Your Indoor Air Month: February Montana Marble & Granite Read in the Bathtub Day: February 9 Nemont Day of Action: February 27 Republic Services of Montana Companies that Care Day: March 19 MSN

APRIL/MAY 2015

President

MONTANA SENIOR NEWS PAGE 83

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