New Horizons July 2021

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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389

July 2021 Vol. 46 No.7

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New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19

Cella Q. Cella Quinn – seen here at the Henry Doorly Zoo’s Owen Sea Lion Shores – was a newspaper reporter for the Lincoln Journal and the Associated Press before becoming an investment broker and financial planner who started her own Omaha investment firm in 1992.

Nick Schinker tells Quinn’s amazing story beginning on page 8. nba

Volunteers honored Larry Thompson played the street organ recently at a recognition event honoring RSVP volunteers from Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties.

See page 9.

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What’s inside Book takes unique look at Omaha ............ 2 Discover Volunteers Assisting Seniors ...... 3 Nancy Hemesath’s ‘Conscious Aging’ ...... 4 More Americans are going green .............. 5 Special accreditation for the ISC............... 5 A reluctance to address hearing loss ........ 6 Online aging event on Aug. 17.................10 Luncheons honor Senior Companions .... 11 Redeeming produce vouchers ................ 13 UNO offers age friendly programs .......... 15

Ralston Senior Center

Get vaccinated before you travel overseas

You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7301 Q St., Suite 100 this month for the following: • July 13: Bus trip to WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa @ 7:30 a.m. The bus will return around 4 p.m. The cost is $5. Contact Diane @ 402-885-8895 for reservations.

• July 14: Board meeting @ 10 a.m.

• July 14: The Merrymakers present music by The Links @ noon.

• Tuesdays and Fridays: Exercise class from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Exercise at your own pace. Stand-up or sit in a chair.

Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon on Tuesday. Play games and bingo after lunch. Contact Diane @ 402-885-8895 for reservations.

The center is closed on July 5 for Independence Day. Renew or obtain a Ralston Senior Center membership.

The cost for the remainder of 2021 will be $5. The annual cost will be $10 in 2022.

The center may be used for various activities such as weddings, memorial services, anniversaries, family reunions, birthdays, baby and wedding showers, etc. on weekends.

For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.

Millard Senior Center at Montclair You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • July 7: At 9 a.m. we’ll be making sun dresses that will be sent to Africa.

• July 8: Play dominoes @ 12:30 p.m.

• July 14: Board meeting at 9:30 a.m. If you have any suggestions or concerns, please contact Tamara Womack or a board member.

• July 21: Welcome back picnic. Sign up by July 19.

Bring a side dish or dessert. Chicken will be provided.

By Yoonjea Im, Pharm.D Candidate and David Kohll, Pharm.D

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ummer is here, the pandemic is nearly over, and more people are again considering traveling abroad. Though the risks of travel may be mitigated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends checking required/recommended vaccinations for countries you’re planning to visit.

It’s important to receive certain vaccines even though you may be up to date with the typically required varieties. If you’re traveling to countries with low social/personal hygiene or with certain diseases not prevalent in the U.S., there’s a much higher risk of falling seriously ill or dying.

Fortunately, vaccinations can greatly limit the health risks of international travel.

When you receive a vaccination, microorganisms in their weakest form (antigens) are injected into your body and introduced to the immune system. This enables your body to prepare for a battle with a future infection.

Different vaccines are required or strongly recommended before traveling to each country. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

You may be asked to submit your basic demographics, travel itinerary, immunization history, medication history, and other details. Once submitted, your healthcare provider or pharmacist will contact you to review the recommended vaccinations for your travel sites.

Most vaccinations need to be administered a minimum of 10 to 14 days prior to travel, which is why scheduling your appointment at least 30 days prior to your departure date is recommended.

• Thursdays: chair volleyball @ 10 a.m.

The center will be closed on July 5 for Independence Day. For more information, please call 402-546-1270.

A yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers to countries in South America and Africa. Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by transmission through infected mosquito bites. The most recent endemic outbreak was in 2017 and 2018 in eastern Brazil, including major metropolitan areas such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Several nations with chronic yellow fever outbreaks require mandatory yellow fever vaccinations for all international travelers.

Some nations require all travelers to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination before they enter the country. Other countries require proof of vaccination only if travelers have been in a high-risk area.

To prove you’ve been vaccinated prior to the visit, you need to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP).

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he FDA has recently approved Prevnar-20, Pfizer’s pneumococcal vaccine for persons over age 18. The pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent invasive diseases and pneumonia. Seven new serotypes (distinguishable strains of a microorganism), however, are the global causes of invasive pneumococcal disease and are associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and meningitis.

“Approval of Prevnar-20 marks a significant step forward in our ongoing fight to help address the burden on pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia in adults, and broadens global protection against more disease-causing serotypes than any other pneumococcal conjugate vaccines,” said Pfizer’s Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research & Development Kathrin U. Jansen, Ph.D. In August 2021, the Prevnar-20 vaccine will be available at Americans over age 18.

(Im and Kohll are with Kohll’s Rx in Omaha.)

Written by Ryan Roenfeld

New book uncovers Omaha’s secrets

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ow did Omaha get its nickname, “The Gateway to the West” and where can you gawk at the footsteps of the first human to walk in space? Just scratch the surface of a city best known for Warren Buffett, college baseball, and a great zoo and find far more than meets the eye.

Secret Omaha: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is just the book you’ll need to uncover all the stories of Nebraska’s lone metropolis.

Omaha rises up out of the low broken bluffs along the

The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753

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July 2021

west bank of the Missouri River and sprawls west across what was once the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains.

The buffalo wallows have been replaced by a more urban mix of grit and gentrification with tree-lined avenues, boulevards, and varied communities that hold on to their heritage for generations.

There’s a giant fork in Little Italy and stories told in stone around what was the world’s largest livestock market. There’s an old blues song by Big Joe Williams about an Omaha intersection that’s now on the National Register, and Irish Nationalists erected a grand monument to the Fenian who invaded Canada twice.

Anyone in Omaha can take a gander at Goose Hollow or visit a haven for herons, but now author and Omaha enthusiast Ryan Roenfeld takes you on your own behind-thescenes tour of the Big O. With his book as your guide, you’ll discover a whole new side to the city that’s inspired him for years.

Secret Omaha: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is available at bookstores and online bookdealers.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors Thanks to its network of dedicated volunteers, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) has continued providing benefits counseling for older adults remotely through phone assistance to ensure the health and safety of its clients and volunteers.

While the office is closed to the public, VAS is taking phone calls during office hours at 402-444-6617. VAS will return to in-person assistance through a phased implementation when it’s safe to do so.

In 2020, VAS helped 436 homeowners with their Homestead Exemption applications for an estimated savings of $1 million in property tax relief, an average savings of $2,294 per homeowner.

Be sure to file your Homestead application by June 30 each year. If you’d like VAS to help you with your application, call 402444-6617 to schedule a phone appointment with one of its trained volunteers.

VAS provides Medicare counseling by phone, including access to important Medicare resources by mail, email, or online.

If you’ll be turning age 65 or ending your employer insurance soon, please call VAS to speak with a certified SHIP counselor to help you understand your Medicare options.

It’s important to review your Medicare Prescription Drug or Advantage plan every year during Medicare’s Open Enrollment so you can have the best coverage at the lowest cost. Last year, during the pandemic, VAS helped more than 1,200 people review their Medicare plans over the phone.

VAS will be helping with Medicare Open Enrollment again this fall, keeping our client’s health and safety as our primary concern. VAS will begin scheduling Open Enrollment appointments for Drug and Advantage plan reviews in late September Please call VAS at 402-444-6617 to schedule an appointment for a plan review.

Call 402-444-6536

ENOA is recruiting volunteers to become Ombudsman Advocates

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he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women age 21 and older to join its Long-term Care Ombudsman Program which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program.

ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, well-being, and quality of life.

Long-term Care Ombudsmen must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training every two years. The next training is scheduled for August 18 and 20.

During the training, the volunteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate the residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and about the federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s long-term care facilities and assisted living communities.

Before being assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community, new volunteers will make four visits to a site with an experienced Ombudsman Advocate to learn more about what the program entails. After a three-month probationary period, the new volunteers are certified as Ombudsman Advocates.

Certified Ombudsman Advocates will be assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community where they’ll visit for two hours a week to meet with administrators, residents, and the residents’ family members to address concerns.

For more information about ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, please call Beth Nodes at 402-444-6536.

Move In Special 1 MONTH FREE WITH 12 MONTH LEASE

New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the five-county region may subscribe for $5 annually.

Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822.

Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076.

E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@enoa.org Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 9,000 through direct mail .

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers.........Nick Schinker & Leo Biga

Utilities paid | 2 meals a day | Transportation | Housekeeping FREE laundry facilities | Beauty shop | Computer lab and MUCH MORE!

Call 402-572-5750 to schedule a tour. www.keystonevillasliving.com | 7300 Graceland Drive | Omaha, NE 68134

July 2021

ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, secretary; Pat Tawney, Dodge County, & Angi Burmeister, Sarpy County.

The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.

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Douglas County Health Department

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he Douglas County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to educate Nebraskans about COVID-19.

The DCHD, working with colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine, has created a COVID-19 information line at 402-4443400.

The information line will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Callers will be able to have their questions answered in Spanish and English.

Please support New Horizons advertisers.

As masks are removed, remember the face is the ‘mirror of the mind’ “It is beautiful to see each other again.” I read this quote and am reminded of one of the delights of the past few weeks. Seeing unmasked faces, fully viewing the smiles (or frowns) without barriers lifts my spirit.

In reading John O’Donahue’s lovely book, Anam Cara, I was drawn into his reflection on human faces. He describes the face as the “mirror of the mind.” The face reveals the soul of the person or as O’Donahue says “the mysteries of the life stories.”

It’s the face that expresses the sadness or anxiety that belies the often-spoken words, “I’m fine.” It’s the joyous face that gives credibility to words like “welcome” and “thank you.” When there’s a disconnect between words and the facial expression, it’s the face that’s telling the truth.

For those we love, a fundamental way of communicating and connecting is through a loving gaze. The gaze isn’t a stare that objectifies the other but an opening of our hearts with compassion to the being of another. A loving gaze puts preconceptions and judgements aside in order to allow others to be themselves in our presence.

In Africa there’s a lovely greeting that’s translated as “I see you.” What a powerful way to acknowledge another’s presence. Don’t we all desire to be truly seen?

In my workshops and book studies for those living their Third Chapter, I ask the question, “What is the most difficult thing about aging?” Inevitably someone in the group

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New Horizons

By Nancy Hemesath

expresses the pain of becoming invisible, overlooked, or dismissed. They feel they’re no longer “seen.” A society that doesn’t cherish older adults doesn’t even “see” its older men and women.

How do we older adults respond to this? I propose we’re more likely to be seen if we truly see others. By practicing “looking” at one another’s face, “seeing” what underlies their words and connecting to their true selves makes it difficult for others to dismiss us. When others feel “seen” their barriers come down. The loving gaze of compassion has enabled a deeper connection.

Here’s a scenario that illustrates this point. An adult daughter with her family stops in for a visit with her mother. This young lady has lots of stress from the demands of work and family. Her visit may have been motivated by a sense of duty since there are so many demands on her time.

The mother may try to prolong the visit out of loneliness, thus creating more stress for the daughter. Or the older person could look, see with a loving gaze, and acknowledge the daughter’s unspoken emotions.

Instead of demanding more time, the older adult provides words of support and gratitude for their short time together.

The daughter feels seen and sees the parent with more appreciation. Another visit in the near future becomes more likely.

In this time of removing physical masks, we have the opportunity to reduce interpersonal masks and to see others as we ourselves would like to be seen. As we reconnect after this year of separation, let us truly see one another connecting at a soul level. Like the Africans, let us greet one another with a silent but sincere, “I see you.”

(Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching. She’s dedicated to supporting people in the Third Chapter of Life.

Contact her at nhemesath@cox.net.)

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July 2021

Americans adopting greener lifestyles

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hether you drive an electric car or have a compost bin in your yard, Americans are transitioning to greener lifestyles. The rising global temperature and changing weather patterns persuade individuals to take action.

Society is making strides to shrink its carbon footprint, but our power cables are the umbilical cord we have trouble cutting.

Rather than turning off our screens for good, we can simply charge them using an eco-friendly energy source.

Renewable energy systems convert non-depletable natural sources like the sun and wind into electricity.

You can see these devices in use when you pass a turning wind turbine on the side of an urban highway or solar-powered roofs in the suburbs.

We source the majority of our energy by burning fossil fuels. Our homes’ electricity and cars’ fuel derive from coal, oil, and natural gases.

When we burn these materials, air pollutants invade the atmosphere causing the enhanced greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is an organic process that heats the Earth’s surface to sustain life. Elements in the atmosphere retain the sun’s energy for a brief period while the planet warms to an appropriate temperature.

When air pollutants consume the atmosphere, they absorb this energy, convert it to heat, and trap it in the air for extended periods.

Over time, this process raises the global temperature.

Installing a solar panel on your roof or a wind turbine on your property is a costly investment. It requires a large upfront payment and access to assembling resources. It may be difficult

to transition away from conventional energy sourcing in rural communities that lack these resources or funds. There are ways to adopt green power even while on a budget.

Many individuals believe homeowners with wind or solar energy devices are the only ones who can source the energy they produce. If you have a renewable energy sourcing appliance, you can share that energy with your community.

A non-profit organization, GRID, utilizes this shared accessibility to bring renewable energy to under-served communities. The company finds homes with optimal sun or wind exposure and installs renewable energy devices for no homeowner cost.

They can then distribute the energy produced on their property throughout the community.

GRID creates accessible and affordable green energy in rural areas and creates jobs. As more systems arrive in these regions, the company must find additional employees to perform installations.

This eliminated the upfront costs associated with renewable energy system purchases while still providing access to clean power.

Cooperatives (co-ops) can provide affordable energy to rural areas because they only source residents’ power demands. When co-ops source renewable energy, they can provide clean, inexpensive electricity to an entire community. These companies also developed a way for low-income individuals to invest in small shares of solar projects.

Community solar programs allow residents to source their energy from renewable sources without purchasing a green device.

When community members buy a share of the solar project, they benefit from the power it generates. This system also helps homeowners that live in shaded or windless regions.

Recent advances to renewable energy technology are decreasing the cost of devices. The current silicon-based solar cell panels are expensive and less efficient at turning sunlight into energy. New perovskite crystal panels use cost-effective technology that also increases their efficiency by 1,000 times over conventional systems.

Drones have also found a place in the world of renewable energy. The new airborne wind turbine utilizes drone technology to fly in place, creating wind for power. These devices use minimal resources compared to conventional turbines, significantly reducing their cost.

Whether you’re on a budget or live in a shaded and windless region, you can access affordable renewable energy.

These systems create new jobs, improve air quality, and save residents money over time.

Talk to your local government officials about installing communal solar panels or wind turbines to decrease your rural community’s carbon footprint.

(E: The Environmental Magazine provided this information.)

Men and women age 55 and older are needed to become Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents

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en and women age 55 and older who want to earn a taxfree stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program.

Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of AmeriCorps Seniors, formerly the Senior Service Corps.

Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc.

Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and

social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers.

SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks.

In exchange for volunteering 10 hours or more per week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $3 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical examination, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon.

The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits.

For more information on the FGP and SCP, please call 402-444-6536.

July 2021

Intercultural Senior Center receives national accreditation from NCOA’s National Institute on Senior Centers

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he Intercultural Senior Center (ISC), 5545 Center St., has earned accreditation from the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) National Institute on Senior Centers (NISC). The ISC becomes one of more than 200 accredited senior centers across the country and the first center in Nebraska to earn this national recognition.

“This has been a goal of the ISC for several years,” said the ISC’s Executive Director Carolina Padilla, who founded the ISC in 2009. “It’s a rigorous process and reflects the hard work the board of directors and staff have put into building a strong and resilient organization for diverse older adults.”

The Intercultural Senior Center actively welcomes older adults from around the world for education, fitness and wellness, social services, and friendship. With transportation and interpretation services, the ISC reduces barriers of mobility and language, so older adults can live more independently and connect across cultures and generations.

The ISC is also an Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging congregate meal site.

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he ISC submitted documentation for nine standards of excellence such as governance, fiscal management, and program planning. The accreditation process also included interviews with board members, staff members, ISC participants, and volunteers.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual tours replaced the site visit component of the review.

“We consider this a model program,” said Malia Fox, head of the NISC’s accreditation team for the ISC. “The individualized personal relationships with and among participants is admirable, with cultures coming together, learning English, making friends, and learning each other’s language for conversation.”

“Coming to the ISC you feel like you’re traveling the world,” Fox said was her favorite quote from a stakeholder.

Accreditation acts as a seal of approval for senior centers, and the ISC stands out among accredited centers nationwide for its success in welcoming older adults from different backgrounds and cultures. The accreditation process helped build connections among the ISC’s stakeholders and improved internal operations.

“Under Carolina’s leadership, the ISC has become a unique and vibrant place dedicated to helping seniors from all backgrounds thrive in the community,” said Shannon Peter, president of the ISC’s board of directors. “This accreditation is a recognition of the fantastic work of the ISC staff and will open doors for continued growth and expansion.”

“With this accomplishment, the ISC has a strong foundation to continue high-quality services and to innovate for the future,” said Padilla. “The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the needs of isolated older adults, and this is the right moment to envision how to design our community so older adults can enjoy independent, joyful, and healthy lives.”

Visit interculturalseniorcenter.org or call 402-444-6529 for further information.

UPCOMING 2021 TOURS

Famous Nebraska Authors’ Tours Discover the hometowns and works of famous Nebraska Authors.

• Wright Morris: July 28 • John Neihardt: Aug. 24 • Willa Cather: Oct. 15 • Bess Streeter Aldrich: Nov. 5

Midwest Fall Tours

• Rural Iowa Mystery Tour: Aug. 31 • Footsteps of Lincoln: Sept. 13 – 15 • Swedes & Sheep Dogs of Kansas: Oct. 5 – 7 • Branson Family Christmas Shows: Nov. 9 – 12 VIEW MORE TOURS ON OUR WEBSITE: Travelcattours.com

For reservations, call 531-777-2124 or register online at Travelcattours.com Email: info@travelcattours.com

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Transitioning your plants indoors to outdoors

By Melinda Myers

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ncrease your growing success by giving your transplants a good start with a few simple planting techniques. Preparing them for the transition outdoors and planting properly will help you grow your best garden yet.

Transplants started indoors from seed or purchased at a local garden center or greenhouse need time to prepare for their outdoor home. Gradually toughen them up with a procedure called hardening off. This process helps them adjust to the outdoor growing conditions, so plants will suffer less transplant shock and establish more quickly.

Start by moving the plants outdoors to a sheltered shady location about one to two weeks before the recommended planting date.

Stop fertilizing and water thoroughly when the planting mix is starting to dry.

Move plants into an hour of direct sunlight the first day, increasing the time by an hour each day. Make this easier by placing transplants in a wagon, old saucer sled or Gardener’s Supply Garden Cart (gardeners.com).

Keep frost protection handy or move plants indoors when frost is in the forecast.

Once the plants are hardened off, move them into

the garden. Water the planting mix thoroughly the night before planting. Plant in the morning or on a cloudy day to reduce moisture loss and stress on the plants.

Follow spacing recommendations on the plant tags to save money and time. You’ll need fewer plants to fill the space and allow each plant to reach its full potential.

Press on the sides of the pot to loosen the roots and carefully slide the plant out of the container. Don’t pull the plant out by the stem or you may end up with all stem and no attached roots.

Gently loosen any encircling and tightly bound roots.

This encourages the roots to explore the surrounding soil and establish a strong root system. Use fingers to tease apart the roots or a knife to slice through the surface roots.

Plant tomato transplants several inches deeper or set long leggy plants in a trench. This encourages roots to form along the buried stem. Remove the lowest leaves that will be covered by the soil and loosen the roots on the hardenedoff transplant.

Dig a shallow trench two to three inches deep. Lay the leggy tomato in the trench and carefully bend the stem so the upper portion remains above ground. Cover the stem with soil and water. Set stakes and towers in place at the time of planting to reduce the risk of damaging roots and stems when trying to secure tall plants.

Make sure the support is strong and tall enough for the plants. Gardener’s Supply Vertex tomato cages and supports are flexible, lightweight, and can be installed around established plants without damage.

Remove any flowers and fruit on the transplants at the time of planting so plants can direct energy into forming roots, resulting in more flowers and fruit over time. If you can’t bring yourself to do this, try removing flowers on every other plant or row at planting. Do the same to the remaining flowers the following week.

Water new transplants often enough to keep the soil moist, but not soggy wet. Water thoroughly and gradually extend the amount of time between watering to encourage deep, more drought-tolerant roots. Adding a layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles, or other organic mulch will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve the soil as it decomposes.

These strategies will help increase your enjoyment and reduce maintenance throughout the growing season.

(Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books.)

Poll: Americans unlikely to treat hearing loss problems

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ith hearing loss ranking as one of the most common chronic health conditions adult Americans experience – affecting an estimated 48 million people nationwide – the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recently released new polling results that reveal an overwhelming disconnect between the high value Americans said they place on their hearing and their low willingness to be treated for hearing loss.

The poll of nearly 2,500 Americans ages 18 and older indicated: • 80% of Americans said maintaining their hearing health is extremely important or very important to their quality of life.

• Only 20% of adults have had a hearing test in the past five years, compared with 61% who have had their vision tested.

• 51% of adults reported having hearing problems, but only 11% have sought treatment.

• 78% of those with hearing problems have had these difficulties for one or more years and 35% have had trouble for five or more years.

• A 42% plurality of Americans understand mild hearing loss can impact a person’s life or daily functioning. Yet 56% said they’d be unlikely to treat it unless it was severe.

“These results are extremely concerning,” said 2021 ASHA President A. Lynn Williams, PhD, CCC-SLP. “We know and are consistently learning more about how untreated hearing loss can not only impact a person’s quality of life and mental health, but it can also be associated with cognitive decline, dementia, preventable hospitalizations, and more.

“This inaction on hearing health is especially unfortunate because there are effective treatment options that can enable adults with hearing loss to live fuller and more satisfying lives.”

The polling was conducted during a time of unique focus on hearing. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization released the first-ever World Report on Hearing which projected one in four people worldwide will experience hearing loss by 2050.

As the world navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures that help curb the spread of the virus – such as wearing masks and maintaining safe physical distance – also have made hearing each other more challenging. This has shed an unique and compelling light on how our hearing can affect our ability to communicate effectively.

Hearing difficulties can impact personal relationships and almost every daily interaction with others including matters that could endanger a person’s physical safety and health such as misunderstanding first responders or medical staff.

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or those with existing hearing loss masks, physical distancing, and other safety measures have made navigating daily life especially difficult in many cases.

Some other noteworthy poll findings include: • 64% said they would be much more or more likely to seek treatment for hearing difficulties if they knew it could help lower the risk of developing dementia later in life.

• 44% of employed adults worry hearing loss would reduce their effectiveness at work. Of that group, 37% worry it could hurt their ability to remain employed.

• Americans are more likely to seek treatment if encouraged to do so by a loved one. Roughly six in 10 said they’d likely seek help if they were asked to do so by either their spouse/partner (59%) or child (61%).

In the wake of these results, ASHA’s consumer affiliate, the National Association for Hearing and Speech Action (NAHSA) is launching a public service campaign Act Now on Hearing. NAHSA intends to encourage the public to take action on their hearing difficulties by visiting a certified audiologist for a hearing evaluation.

The campaign illustrates how hearing may decline gradually over a long period of time, further disconnecting us from moments we treasure such as interactions with a grandchild. It will air nationwide for at least a year, driving the public to actnowonhearing.com to learn the signs of hearing loss and to find care from a certified audiologist.

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Diner’s Choice

Omaha Fire Department

he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners.

To have a free smoke and/ or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

Funds available for licensing your pets

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he Nebraska Humane Society has received a grant to help men and women over age 65 in Omaha, Gretna, and Ralston with the cost of licensing their pets. For more information, call 402-905-3474.

Men and women age 65 and older in Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion, Springfield, Unincorporated Sarpy County, and Waterloo may license their altered pets at no charge. For more information, call 402-905-3474 Pets must be licensed every year by March 15. For safety reasons, pet owners are asked to license their pets by mail, at participating vet clinics, or online at nehumanesociety.org.

A mail slot also will be available at the Nebraska Humane Society – 8929 Fort St. – for persons who want to drop off their pet license payments.

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he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is expanding its Diner’s Choice program to all HyVee grocery store locations in Omaha and Papillion.

The Diner’s Choice program is designed to provide a nutritious meal to persons over age 60 at a time that fits their daily schedule.

ENOA will have registration sessions at various locations.

Please call Christina Ochoa in ENOA’s Nutrition Department at 402-4446513 for sign-up times and more information.

Participants needed for UNO research study into exercise, food choices

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en and women are needed for an exercise and food choice research study through the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Department of Gerontology. The study is designed to better understand the relationship between exercise and food choices.

Participants must be ages 65 to 75, a healthy non-smoker of stable weight, able to bicycle for 45 minutes, provide blood samples, attend one Zoom session, and make three lab visits in Omaha including two overnight fasts and two supervised exercise sessions.

Compensation is available for participants who will also receive free foodBe simply confident and an explanation of fitness and body onfat. the go To learn more, visit gerontology.unomaha.edu/eatfc or contact Sarah at shubner@unomaha.edu.

Going somewhere?

Get a travel vaccination. www.KohllsRX.com/travel

River City Theatre Organ Society The River City Theatre Organ Society is hosting its annual concert at the Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., on Sunday, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m.

Theatre pipe organist Dave Wickersham will be the featured guest performer.

Through Aug. 15, prepaid and discount tickets for older adults are available via mail for $15 by sending a check made out to the RCTOS to RCTOS, 8825 Executive Woods Dr., #85, Lincoln, Neb. 68512.

Tickets are available at the door the day of the concert for $25.

For more information, log on to rctos.com (Events) or call 402-421-1356.

2915 Leavenworth, Omaha 5002 Dodge Street, Omaha 12741 Q Street, Millard 1413 S. Washington Street, Papillion 808 N. 27th Street, Lincoln 403 Main Street, Malvern, Iowa

www.KohllsRx.com

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Cella overcame obstacles to build an incredible life, career

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

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f all the titles that fill Cella Quinn’s resume – journalist, financial advisor and account executive, teacher, business owner, civic leader, and organization founder – one of the most impressive isn’t even listed: trailblazer.

Throughout her difficult and challenge-filled life, Quinn faced the male-dominated obstacles met by so many women of her generation and became a role model for others to follow.

Once told that “women don’t belong on Wall Street,” Quinn went from being among the first female account executives with Merrill Lynch to becoming a sales vice president with Smith Barney, and then on to found her own successful business, Cella Quinn Investment Services in Omaha.

Not that it was ever easy.

“It wasn’t that I was doing anything wrong,” Quinn, 81, recalls.

“It was the culture at the time, and it really didn’t change for a few decades. When it did change, I think it was because women demanded it.”

Cella Quinn faced adversity beginning the day she was born.

Her parents, Conrad Lindholm and Marjorie Quinn Lindholm, were tenant farmers in Polk County, Neb. They already had two boys and a daughter, and on the heels of the Great Depression 10 years earlier and in the midst of a drought that was making it difficult for all farmers, another baby wasn’t the most welcome news her father could hear.

Then it got worse.

“I was born with a major cleft palate,” Quinn recalls. “My aunt told me that everybody at the hospital was crying. The nurses were crying; my mother was crying. And my father said, ‘Well, I can’t afford to pay for that.’”

Ultimately, he didn’t have to.

“Immanuel Lutheran Hospital in Omaha had a whole surgical wing dedicated to cleft palates,” Cella says. “The hospital needed $250 to get me in, and after that, there

Cella was raised on a farm in Polk County, Neb.

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would be no charge. The Elks Lodge in York donated $125, and the Nebraska Society for Crippled Children donated $125.”

Quinn was taken to the hospital in Omaha and underwent a series of surgeries before her release – 16 months later. “For 15 months, my parents never saw me,” she says.

“They didn’t have the money to come up here.”

Their absence led to feelings and emotions Cella would later identify as attachment trauma and attachment disorder. “It has very subtle effects on one’s emotional health,” she says. “Kids become vulnerable.

They feel damaged, and it is difficult for them to bond with others.”

The fact she had trouble speaking didn’t help, Quinn says. “In grade school and even into my high school years, I would carry a tablet and write things down for other people to see.”

And yet, she persevered. In 1957, she was one of 22 young people to graduate from Polk High School.

She left the farm and her family the next morning with $44 in her pocket.

She changed her outlook, and she changed her name. “I was named Rocella when I was born,” she recalls. “But for children with a cleft palate, R, S, and L are the most difficult letters to say. I had an Irish grandfather, and though I never knew him, people said I looked like him. So, I took my mother’s maiden name.”

Then she set out to change her life.

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rom Polk, Quinn moved to Lincoln, where she got a job as a dishwasher at the lunch counter at Walgreens at 13th and O streets. The Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation program stepped in and Quinn received a scholarship to earn a nine-month secretarial degree from the National Business Institute.

At age 19, she began her first speech therapy classes. Cella saved her money and about that time obtained pharyngeal flap surgery on her palate, which significantly improved her speech by eliminating almost all nasality. She followed that up with rhinoplasty, lip, and cheek surgeries. “Tablet tossed,” she says. “Others could understand what I said, and I looked a lot better.”

She went on to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 1971 with a degree in journalism and political science. During college, she worked as a secretary and then as a reporter for the Lincoln Journal and the Associated Press.

In January 1972, while in New York, she saw an advertisement in a women’s magazine that said the average stockbroker earned $24,000 a year. “That was a lot of money,” she says. “So, I went to Merrill Lynch and said I wanted a job.”

The hiring manager, a man, was not impressed. “He told me women

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Quinn and a new wildlife friend she made recently at the Henry Doorly Zoo’s Owen Sea Lion Shores. don’t belong on Wall Street,” she recalls. “I told him, ‘I can make you money and I’m not leaving here until you hire me.’ He said, ‘I have some big men out there and they’ll come in and carry you out.’”

Seeing that Quinn truly refused to leave, the man instead sent her to company training at the World Trade Center offices.

“He thought I’d flunk out, but I didn’t,” she says. “I made it through. But, out of my class, they sent 79 guys out who began making money, and they didn’t know what to do with me. They just wanted to get rid of me, and seeing I was from Nebraska, they sent me to Omaha.”

That’s when she, too, started making money. For herself, and for her clients. But it wasn’t easy. “The guys would get all the referrals,” she says. “Being one of the first women, you were not only watched, you were scrutinized. Women have always had to work a little harder.”

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uinn learned powerful lessons from her experiences, all of which fueled her commitment and ambition.

“Some of it came from watching my mother,” she says. “She was a woman who had no control. Not over her time. Not over money. My high school years, I vowed I would have control. As I got older, I saw that people who had money had

July 2021

control. When I started at Merrill Lynch, I learned how to create wealth, and then I knew that I could get comfortably rich, and I could teach it to others.”

She began by starting a class at the Omaha YWCA. Her first students were three women.

“One was a woman with nine children,” Quinn recalls. “She had no money to invest. But the other two had the last name Kiewit. They were cousins to Peter Kiewit (the late CEO of Kiewit Corporation, one of the largest construction and engineering organizations in North America). They were retired schoolteachers who had saved their money. They wound up investing $100,000 together. And they did quite well.”

Having proved she could teach investing, Quinn went on to develop “How the Comfortably Rich Get & Stay That Way™,” methods and advice that are the basis of classes she taught at Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College and Iowa Western Community College.

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uinn stayed as an account executive at Merrill Lynch until 1979, when she was recruited by Smith Barney. Over 13 years and three months, she rose to become sales vice president and --Please turn to page 16.

Street organ, goody bags, lunch highlight RSVP recognition event

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n a beautiful, sunny day last month, volunteers from the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s RSVP program in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties were honored during a special event at the DC Centre, 11830 Stonegate Dr. RSVP volunteers age 55 and older work to enhance the community impact made by public and non-profit organizations, health facilities, food pantries, and ENOA nutrition sites.

Most years, ENOA honors these men and women at a sit-down luncheon, but the 2021 event had to be adjusted because of COVID-19, according to Mary Parker, director

of ENOA’s Volunteer Services Division.

On June 3, the RSVP volunteers were handed a delicious lunch and a goody bag as they drove by members of the ENOA staff and the RSVP Advisory Council.

Advisory Council member Larry Thompson provided the entertainment as he played a selection of songs on a wooden street organ which featured a hand crank and 64 pipes.

“I’m so happy we were able to honor the

volunteers this year despite the pandemic,” Parker said. “We had to be creative, but it was well worth the extra effort.”

She said the last in-person RSVP recognition event was held in November 2019 for volunteers in Dodge and Washington counties.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, please call Parker at 402444-6536.

Joanna Mondragon (left) – who volunteers at the Millard Senior Center – with ENOA staff members Tia Schoenfeld (middle) and Mary Parker.

ENOA staff and RSVP Advisory Council members who handed out lunches and goody bags to the RSVP volunteers were (from left): Mary Parker, Michal Hume, Lori Beck, Larry Thompson, Tia Schoenfeld, and Tom Lynch.

e m o c l Salem Village!

We

our website here:

m/product/salem-village-at-miami-heights/

to

We are a 55+ community located in North Omaha; less than a mile from the North Freeway.

Our Residents Enjoy...

• Underground parking garage • Secured entries • Elevator • Trash chutes on every floor • Community room where we host bingo, monthly get togethers

• Health awareness speakers,

and immunization assistance

• Resident council

Conveniently located on the North 33rd Street bus route, we also have a park and playground within walking distance.

Want to get involved? Join our resident council!

Call us at

402-614-0414 to schedule a tour!

https://www.npdodgeapartments.com/product/salemvillage-at-miami-heights/

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Call 1-844-268-5627

Disaster Relief Hotline has free legal advice

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ebraskans who have questions or who are experiencing legal problems due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 public health emergency can get legal advice and help through the free COVID-19 Disaster Relief Hotline.

Hosted by Legal Aid of Nebraska, working closely with the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), this hotline aims to make key legal assistance easy and accessible.

If you’re a Nebraskan facing legal issues related to the virus, or the owner of a small, locally-owned business (less than 50 employees, and not a franchise) that’s closed, in risk of permanent closure due to the virus, and where the payment of fees would significantly deplete your resources, the hotline may be reached at 1-844-2685627.

Callers will be connected to the hotline’s voicemail.

Callers should leave their name, phone number, brief details of the problem and the assistance needed, and in what county they’re located.

Callers will receive a call back from an experienced Legal Aid staff member. Individuals and businesses that don’t qualify for Legal Aid’s free services will be directly referred to the VLP. The VLP will work to place cases with Nebraska volunteer lawyers who will provide free legal assistance.

The types of legal issues associated with COVID-19, and focused on by the hotline include: • Tenants with rent issues, including those facing eviction.

• Debt problems, including debtors with garnishments or who are ordered to appear at a debtor’s exam.

• Mortgage foreclosures, including advising on options for delinquent payments.

• Unemployment insurance denials.

• Employee rights, including sick leave and wage payments.

• Government benefits available to low-income persons such as ADC, SNAP, AABD, and SSI • Medicaid and medical insurance claims.

• Drafting wills, health care power of attorney, and transfer on death deeds.

• Domestic abuse and safety issues.

• Elder abuse and exploitation.

• Access to education.

• Helping small, locally-owned businesses with business and employment related matters, including human relations issues, unemployment benefits, and contracts.

More information on these legal issues, including ways you can directly help yourself, are available at legalaidofnebraska.org.

CopperJoint offers ideas for handling arthritis symptoms Arthritis is one of the most widespread health conditions in the United States, affecting about one in four adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The inflammation of one or more joints, arthritis can make doing everyday tasks unbearable due to the pain and stiffness it can cause.

People living with arthritis don’t have to give up their active lifestyle if they know how to manage their symptoms.

CopperJoint shares these tips that can help alleviate the discomfort caused by arthritis.

• Pump up the 3s. There are specific diets that can help with the symptoms associated with arthritis. Oily, omega-3 fatty acid rich fish like tuna, salmon, or mackerel can help your body fight off inflammation. Ginger is another great, natural anti-inflammatory and can help with blood circulation. Avoid inflammation-triggering foods like sugar, trans fats, and gluten.

• Stay active. While the pain may keep you from doing much physically, do what you can within your threshold.

Sticking with low-impact activities that won’t stress the joints will help keep your muscle mass together and prevent further irritation. Water aerobics, walking, and yoga are a few examples of low-impact activities.

• Squeeze out the aches and pains. Compression gear is known to help alleviate the stiffness, swelling, soreness, and pain associated with arthritis. These garments are commonly available for elbows, hands, wrists, knees, and feet, and provide support to the ailing area as well as help stimulate oxygen delivery to muscles.

• Keep up with doctor’s orders. Your doctor may recommend regular massages or physical therapy appointments. Make sure to stick to your appointments and be proactive at home by doing the exercises you’re taught at physical therapy as well as by using ice compression and anti-inflammatory meds when needed.

For more information, visit CopperJoint.com.

On Nebraska Public Media

Online presentation on caregiving, end-of-life planning set for Aug. 17

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f you could see your future, what steps would you take now to prepare for your next chapter? Join us on Tuesday, Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. on Nebraska Public Media for an online virtual conversation about aging focused on caregiving and end-of-life planning, with information about resources available in Nebraska.

This event – titled Aging in Nebraska: Planning Your Future – will feature clips from Fast Forward, a new PBS documentary that takes a proactive look at aging.

The panelists are Michael Eric Hurting, Director/ Producer of Fast Forward; Susan Woodruff, a nurse and caregiver featured in Fast Forward; Margaret Schaefer, Managing Attorney of the Centralized Intake Unit for Legal Aid of Nebraska; and moderator Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, a Gerontologist and Caregiver Advocate for Home Instead Senior Care.

Representatives from Nebraska’s eight Area Agencies on Aging, including the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, will be available in the chat during the online event to share information on local resources and to answer your questions.

To watch this event and explore more resources for seniors and caregivers, visit NebraskaPublicMedia.org/engage.

The event is hosted by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Nebraska Public Media, and the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Department of Gerontology, with additional support from Nebraska’s eight Area Agencies on Aging.

ENOA honors its SCP vols “We can’t mask our appreciation for everything you do” was the theme of the 2021 recognition luncheons that honored 46 Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteers last month.

A national program of the Corporation for National Service through AmeriCorps Seniors, SCP has been sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging since 1976.

Senior Companions offer support and friendship to frail, sometimes isolated older adults in the clients’ homes.

As a way to limit crowd size and promote social distancing, small groups of Senior Companions were honored at three luncheons this year at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 5410 Corby St. For more information about the SCP, call 402-444-6536.

Lucille Frizzell has been a Senior Companion Program volunteer for 20 years.

Fremont Friendship Center

Flaherty Consulting is offering free Caregiver Solutions Group meetings

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field) for the following: As of July 1, participants will have a choice of a hot meal or a deli meal weekdays @ 11:30 a.m.

Reservations can be made for one day at a time or for the entire month by calling 402-727-2815 by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal.

Music will be offered: • July 14: Billy Troy @ 10 a.m.

• July 21: Pam Kragt @ 10:30 a.m.

• July 28: Tim Javorsky @ 10:30 a.m.

Volunteers – who will need to fill out an application form – are needed to wrap silverware, wash tablecloths, take the kitchen towels home and wash them on Fridays, serve lunch, and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The center will be closed July 5 to 9 for the 4-H Fair.

For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

eing a family caregiver can be difficult. Challenges may include balancing work and family life with caring for a loved one, feeling isolated, navigating senior care and medical systems, caring for a loved one who isn’t the same person as before their disease arrived, and more. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Join a free Flaherty Consulting Caregiver Solutions Group.

Group members discuss topics of their choice and receive input from the facilitator and individuals in the group. Participants learn how to deal with different caregiver issues, obtain skills and knowledge, and engage in great discussions with a special focus on caring for loved ones with dementia.

While there’s no charge, registration is required to attend these sessions which meet approximately every other month.

CDC guidelines will be followed. Masks are mandatory and social distancing will be observed.

Although no food is allowed, you can bring your own beverages.

There are four active Flaherty Consulting Caregiver Solutions Group sites in Omaha:

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• The Servite Center of Compassion 72nd Street & Ames Cr. • St. Vincent de Paul Church 14330 Eagle Run Dr. • St. Timothy Lutheran Church 510 N. 93rd St. • Faith Westwood United Methodist Church 4814 Oaks Ln. Contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 to register for a meeting or for more information. Flaherty is also is available for private consultations.

Visit flahertyconsulting.net to learn more about available resources and programs.

Arlea Lebahn is in her third year as a Senior Companion Program volunteer in Fremont.

Charles E. Dorwart Massih Law, LLC 40 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • Medicaid Planning • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 226 N. 114th Street • Omaha, NE 68154 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 933-2111 chuck@massihlaw.com www.dorwartlaw.com

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Intercultural Senior Center

Visit Lighthouseguild.org

You’re invited to visit the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC), 5545 Center St. The facility – open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

– offers programs and activities Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Persons attending the ISC are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and bring their vaccination card with them the first day they attend the facility.

The ISC offers a light breakfast, lunch, fitness classes, programs, and activities. Lunch reservations are due by 9 a.m. A voluntary contribution is suggested for the meal.

Please call 402-444-6529 for reservations.

Monthly food pantries are available for adults age 50 or older.

Older adults are invited to visit the ISC’s new Grandparents Boutique.

ISC’s SAVE bus can bring case management services to your doorstep.

For more information, please call 402- 444-6529.

Early diagnosis, treatment keys to recognizing symptoms of cataracts, preserving your vision

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ataracts are a common eye condition that often affects people as they age. In fact, more than half of Americans age 80 and older have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. With symptoms of blurry, dim vision that gets worse over time, cataracts can cause

Caregiver support programs

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ngels Care Home Health is offering a series of monthly caregiver support programs for persons caring for a loved one with dementia. The sessions are held the third Monday of each month through February 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at Amelia Place, 57 W. Ferndale Dr. in Council Bluffs.

Lunch will be provided.

For more information, please call Amber at 402616-2561.

We’re here to help you stay healthy!

The men and women of Midwest Geriatrics are dedicated to keeping you happy, healthy, and living life to the fullest.

Call 402-827-6000 to learn more about : • Florence Home Healthcare • Royale Oaks Assisted Living • House of Hope Assisted Living • House of Hope Memory Care • Gerimed & Unimed Pharmacies

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blindness if left untreated.

Lighthouse Guild is spreading the word that early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve vision and offering tips to help people recognize cataract symptoms so they don’t delay in getting effective treatment.

“Early intervention is key,” says Lighthouse Guild Chief of Low Vision Services Dr. Bruce Rosenthal. “The best way to know if your symptoms are caused by cataracts or another eye disorder is to see an eye care professional for a vision test and comprehensive dilated eye exam.”

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cataract is a clouding of a lens in your eye. Leading causes are age, smoking, and diabetes, with increased risk from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight and a family history of cataracts.

Cataracts may also develop after eye surgery or an eye injury.

Symptoms of cataracts include cloudy or blurry vision, seeing faded colors, glare with headlights, lamp, or sunlight appearing too bright, seeing a halo around lights, worse vision at night, double vision/seeing multiple images, and having to change your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription often.

“The early symptoms of cataracts may improve with new glasses, antiglare sunglasses, magnifying lenses, or brighter lighting,” Dr. Rosenthal explains. “But if you don’t see enough improvement in your vision, you may need surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens. Surgery needed on both eyes is usually done separately about four weeks apart.”

For more information, visit Lighthouseguild.org.

(Lighthouse Guild provided this information.)

You don’t have to stop gardening just because you’re downsizing

By Jen Beck

and sustainable for all lifestyles.

It seems everywhere you turn, a succulent is hung as ownsizing and décor, planted as a centerpiece, or tucked in the corner of living in a smaller the patio. Succulents are a small way to make a big imspace provides a pact. They come in a variety of colors and sizes and can be great opportunity amplified by a lively pot or wall hanging. Because of their to purge, live among only shape and minimal size, succulents can fit any and all tiny the things most important spaces and pots. The bonus of succulents is the very real to you, and create a simpler appearance of their faux succulent friends. They can be life. However, if you’ve stored and exchanged seasonally for a minimal cost. lived in a larger home with If it’s the fresh veggies or spices you’re missing, visit access to a sizable yard, you your neighborhood may find yourself missing community garden. your area of growth; and These spaces are that’s your old garden. popping up all over Scaling back on space cities and coundoesn’t have to mean givties and are a great ing up your green thumb alternative to tending or fresh veggies, but it a massive garden all does mean finding new and alone. Community creative ways to implement gardens exist for felplants, flowers, and shrublowship, food insecuberies in a limited area. rities, and education.

Small spaces are great for Check in to your tall potted snake plants, esneighborhood for an pecially if you love the look opportunity to rent a of greens without the work. small space for your Snake plants are popular own garden. These programs often have a free area where for corporate buildings, neighbors can come and pick their own produce, one tobeginner want-to-be green mato at a time. Community gardens are a great way to find thumbs, and everyone in be- horticulture enthusiasts, companionship, and get your hands tween because it loves your dirty again. attention. They will survive, Whether you’re creating a wreath of colorful succulents even if you get busy. or hunting the best produce in the community garden, Couple that with some spending time with seed, soil, or sun is good for your menvivid perennials and it’s a tal and physical health. great way to brighten up If you find yourself in a position of downsizing, don’t be your tables, corners, and discouraged. Your new oasis of plants and flowers awaits. have color for more than With a little creativity and imagination, your inner gardener one season. Hardy plants will delight in oxygen and beautiful botany. like this are both beautiful (Beck is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. of Omaha.)

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T

Great Sarpy County Quilt Show

he Great Sarpy County Quilt Show runs Saturday, July 10 through Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Sarpy County Museum, 2402 Clay St. in Bellevue.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The quilt show features more than 60 historic and modern quilts either made or donated for display.

Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite quilts and enter a raffle to win a hand-made quilt.

For more information, please call 402-292-1880.

Please see the ad on page 3

NH Club gains new members $15 M.M. Elaine Zink $10 Bill Adams $5 Marlene Hodik Madge Cupich Kathleen Koons Jane Navrude Reflects donations received through June 25, 2021.

Redeem Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers at summer farm stands Whispering Roots and The Big Garden are offering a series of summer farm stands where consumers can get fresh, local fruits and vegetables using their Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers.

Whispering Roots and The Big Garden will match dollar for dollar every dollar spent in Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, allowing consumers to double their voucher values.

For more information, please call 402-444-6513 or go to http://biggarden.org/summer-farm-stands.

The farm stands will be held at the following locations on the dates and times listed.

July 21 Intercultural Senior Center 5545 Center St. 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Charles Drew Health Center 2915 Grant St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

August 10 Notre Dame Housing 3405 State St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sarpy County WIC Clinic 701 Olson Dr. Papillion 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

July 23 One World Community Health Center 4930 S. 30th St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

July 27 Notre Dame Housing 3405 State St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

West Omaha WIC Clinic 735 N. 120th St. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

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August 11 Charles Drew Health Center 2915 Grant St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Midtown WIC Clinic 1941 S. 42nd St. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

August 13 One World Community Health Center 4930 S. 30th St. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Go to getvaccineanswers.org

Make an informed decision about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine

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OVID-19 has changed how we live and how we feel. Vaccines are now widely available and getting vaccinated is an important step in a process that will get us back to doing what we miss most.

GetVaccineAnswers.org offers five things you and your family should know about COVID-19 vaccines so you can make informed decisions about being vaccinated.

• You won’t get COVID-19 from a COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccines are safe and effective. Researchers began developing vaccines for COVID-19 in January 2020 based on decades of understanding immune response and how vaccines work. Thousands of volunteers participated in clinical trials that started that spring, making sure we can trust the vaccines to be safe and effective.

• The federal government is providing the vaccine free of charge to all Americans. Insurance providers will cover the vaccine’s cost and the government has set up a system to cover the costs for those without insurance. No one can be denied a vaccine even if they’re unable to pay the administration fee.

• Health providers shouldn’t discriminate against undocumented individuals from getting the COVID-19 vaccines.

Some personal information – which will vary by site – might be requested.

Although fear is a reality for members of the undocumented community when giving out personal information, it’s important to seek information from community allies.

Speak with a local trusted source about how you can get a COVID-19 vaccine in your state and what personal information will be needed.

• Researchers made sure the trials included adults of diverse backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and geographic areas.

• Follow CDC guidelines for wearing masks, maintaining social distance, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands frequently.

For more information, go to getvaccineanswers.org.

Alzheimer’s webinars The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a variety of free educational webinars.

Topics include the warning signs of Alzheimer’s, dementia research, healthy living, legal and financial planning, early stage care

partners, late stage caregivers, and understanding and responding to dementiarelated behavior.

To register or for more information, please call 800272-3900 or go to alz.org/crf.

Custom-fitted diabetic shoes part of a plan to preserve foot health

By Justin Isaacson, Pharm D. Candidate & David Kohll, Pharm D.

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iabetes is a chronic health condition affecting more than 34 million Americans. If left uncontrolled, diabetes can cause complications in many of the body’s major systems. One of the most common complications of diabetes is development of calluses, sores, and ulcers on the feet. As many as one in four people with diabetes will develop some degree of foot ulceration in their lifetime without proper preventative measures. In severe cases, amputation of part or all of the foot may even be required. Thankfully, medical equipment specialists are here to help people with diabetes.

A comprehensive diabetes care plan includes several key components. Blood glucose lowering medications and a diabetes-friendly diet are at the center, but individuals can also take preventative measures to preserve their foot health. Foot ulcer development in people with diabetes occurs due to a combination of reduced blood flow, uneven pressure, and rubbing from nonspecialized shoes. Irritation sometimes goes unnoticed for long periods of time in people with diabetes due to decreased sensation caused by the disease, eventually leading to ulcer development.

Custom made diabetic footwear works by redistributing the wearer’s weight to relieve pressure in critical areas by 30% or more and preventing skin irritation, which reduces the chance of ulcer development and recurrence by up to half.

So how can you tell if the shoes are doing their job? “I still wear less supportive shoes or slippers around the house or for short trips, but when I go for walks or stand on my feet all day at work, I always wear my fitted pair,” said one consumer. She also uses extra inserts in tennis shoes for added safety.

The benefit of custom fitted diabetic shoes is clear, and everyone with diabetes should have a pair. Luckily, they’re covered by most insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.

Before bringing in a prescription, there are a few key steps that must be taken to ensure your new diabetic shoes will be covered by insurance. First, you must have had an in-person visit with the doctor that manages your diabetes within the last six months. At this visit, your doctor needed to perform a foot exam and document evidence of one or more of the following conditions in the medical record: Poor circulation in either foot, evidence of callus formation of either foot, foot deformity of either foot, a history of pre-ulcerative calluses or foot ulceration of either foot, or a previous amputation of either foot or part of either foot.

Once an in-person foot exam has been performed and evidence of a foot-related condition has been documented, the next step is obtaining a prescription. The requirements for a medical equipment prescription are slightly different than a typical medication prescription, so be sure to remind your doctor to include the following information: Your name, your doctor’s name, a detailed description of the items ordered (i.e., one pair of depth diabetes shoes and three pairs of inserts), a dated physician’s signature, and the date of the order/diagnosis.

Your new diabetic shoes supplier will also need a copy of the chart note specifying which of the conditions listed affect you. Requesting the chart notes ahead of time and bringing them along with the prescription will speed up the paperwork process significantly.

Once your medical equipment provider has acquired the proper documentation, you’ll be contacted to set up a fitting for a brand-new pair of custom diabetic shoes. It may take up to 17 days to process the fitting and construct the shoes, but they’ll be well worth the wait.

If you have questions regarding insurance coverage for diabetic footwear, contact a medical equipment specialist.

(Isaacson and Kohll are with Kohll’s Rx in Omaha.)

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To be added to our mailing list, please call 402-444-6654 or send an email to jeff.reinhardt@enoa.org Please provide your name and complete mailing address with zip code when ordering.

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July 2021

211 telephone network

T

he 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services.

By dialing 211, consumers can access information about human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, physical and mental health resources, employment support, support for older Americans and persons with a disability, volunteer opportunities, and donations.

The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at ne211.org.

As Nebraska’s only Age Friendly University, UNO offers opportunities for older students

N

ebraska’s population is aging and it will continue to get older for quite a while. That’s the latest report from the 2020 United States Census which shows the distribution of Nebraskans age 60 or older is rapidly climbing as more Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) reach retirement age. In fact, analysis from the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research shows the population of Nebraskans age 60 and older will match the population of those age 20 and younger by 2040 and surpass it by 2050.

Julie Blaskewicz Boron, Ph.D., associate professor of gerontology at UNO, said these trends highlight the important role UNO will play in Nebraska as the state’s only Age Friendly University according to the Gerontological Society of America.

“From a purely statistical standpoint, educational opportunities for non-traditional students are going to be the rule rather than the exception for many campuses,” she said. “While we may think of that group as primarily those in their 30s and 40s looking to finish their undergraduate education, it also includes graduate school, certificate programs, professional development programs, and single-course audits for retirees who aren’t necessarily looking to earn a degree.”

As part of the Age Friendly University Global Network, UNO is recognized as a campus that provides access, support, and programming that meets the needs of students of all ages, in particular older adults.

While this age friendly designation was recently approved, UNO’s history of supporting non-traditional students and older adults goes back decades.

In the 1950s, UNO had its own School of Adult Education, which became the College of Continuing Studies in 1965. During this time the average student was age 25, close to today’s average age of 24.5.

However, as more Americans entered the workforce in the 1980s, UNO became a beacon for adult learners with the average closer to age 27 through the 1990s. While the average age of students has fallen in recent years, hundreds of adults age 50 and older are still part of UNO’s student body, including nearly 300 students this past fall.

“UNO’s history of supporting learners of all ages is what makes our campus truly unique as a metropolitan-serving institution,” Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sacha Kopp, Ph.D., said. “This recognition for our campus will only strengthen our efforts and commitment to making sure lifetime learning can be accessible and exceptional.”

The 2020 Census data also shows not only are Nebraskans aging, these older men and women are less likely than the national average to have a college degree, more likely to still be working, and more likely to be living by themselves. This is exactly why, as an Age Friendly University, UNO has several programs and resources for older adults.

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Metro Women’s Club

he Metro Women’s Club is hosting a Social Noon Luncheon on July 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Tiburon Banquet & Golf Club Facil-

ity, 10302 S. 168 St. The speaker will be humorist Mary Maxwell.

Tickets, which are $15, are available by calling Ginny at 402-319-1121.

The Senior Learning Passport Program is available to men and women at least age 65. Senior learners may attend and sit-in on undergraduate classes (courses numbered 1000 to 4999) on a space available basis and with the instructor’s permission. Online courses aren’t available for Passport Learners.

The Learning Passport may be used for up to two classes per semester and is valid for one year from the date of the non-refundable $25 fee payment.

If you have questions about UNO’s age-friendly resources, please contact Julie Blaskewicz Boron at jboron@unomaha.edu.

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Quinn has taught others how to make money, seize opportunities

As part of a recent visit to the Henry Doorly Zoo, Cella stopped by the Garden of the Senses to view its beautiful flowers. and Equity).

In 2014, she received the University of Nebraska Alumni Achievement Award.

two: walking into Merrill Lynch and not leaving without a job, and learning how to talk.

“I had a dysfunctional infancy and childhood,” she says. “I faced uinn and her husband, rejection. I was bullied. Having photographer Mac McCalgone through all that, I had a pretty lum, have been married 40 tough exterior. But I still had to years. They met on the tennis courts learn how to talk. So, I took courses at Hanscom Park when they were in public speaking, and I joined randomly paired in a tennis event Toastmasters. sponsored by the Omaha Sports “All along, I’ve done what I had Club. Though she had never played to do to get where I am.” tennis before and Cella and Mac And though she is officially had never played tennis together, retired, Quinn has one parting bit of they beat the opposing couple and financial advice. went on to redefine the tennis scor“Oct. 29, 1929 was the market ing term, “love.” collapse that we all came to know as She also loves animals, a carrythe Great Depression,” she says. “I over of her childhood on the farm. was born 10 years later on Oct. 29, “I was able to bond with the ani1939. If you look at a chart since mals, and the cats and dogs at a time 1939, the market has had some when I couldn’t bond with people,” ups and downs, but overall there she says. “They didn’t need to has been a lot of climbing. Tongue understand me. They gave me love, in cheek, I like to say that since I and that was it.” was born, the market has generally Of all her accomplishments, increased.

Quinn says she is most proud of “Considering that, when I die, sell.”

Q During Quinn’s tenure as its president, the Rotary Club of Omaha-Downtown raised $42,000 to help establish the Garden of the Senses display area at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

--Continued from page 8. the first woman in Smith Barney’s Chairman’s Club.

In March 1992, Quinn founded her own business, Cella Quinn Investment Services, which she sold in 2017 to Justin Gibson, president of Silverleaf Wealth Management.

An active member of the local business community and a civic leader, Quinn has served as a board member of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, where she was named Businesswoman of the Year in 2011. She was the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Omaha –Downtown and also served as its membership and program chair. She was president of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Omaha in 2003, and was on the board of the Nebraska Safety & Health Council for nine years.

Intent on doing all she can to help other women find and seize opportunities for success, Cella co-founded Omaha Network in 1979, GOG (Good Old Girls Business Network) in 1992, and in 2001 started Women of Ten, an invitation-only organization of approximately 60 C-suite women executives who originally met for dinner and networking on the 10th of each month.

Quinn is also a member of Nebraska Wildlife Rehab, Nature

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Conservancy, Nebraska Chapter; the Joslyn; Kaneko; Mensa; Omaha Free Speech Society; R.E.A.S.O.N.; Omaha Watch & Learn; Citizens Climate Lobby, and CODE (Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity,

Cella and her husband for 40 years, Mac McCallum – a licensed pilot – near a Cessna airplane at the Henry Doorly Zoo’s Glacier Bay Landing. The couple met playing tennis.

New Horizons

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July 2021