Issuu

Lebanon County Edition

December 2013

Vol. 8 No. 12

A Colorful Marriage On Canvas and Off Couple Blends Artistic and Domestic Living By Alicia Morrissey Something about Barbara Pillette caught Robert Buchanan’s eye at an art show in Mount Gretna in 1981. Maybe it was her beautiful artwork, or perhaps it was her kind smile. Either way, neither of them had any idea what was in store for them at the moment their eyes locked. “She was in one booth and I was in another,” Robert reminisced. “I helped her carry her work out to her car.” After that sweet gesture, Robert and Barbara began dating, despite the two-hour commute it took to see each other. A couple of years later, they tied the knot. After that, the two artists had to figure out how to mesh not only their lives, but also their artistic styles and habits. “I always have to have music on—Barb doesn’t,” Robert said. “I enjoy music, but I do like complete quiet,” Barbara agreed. Laughing, Robert added, “Barb cooperates. She just acquiesces.” Despite their differing preferences for work environment, Robert and Barbara have found they coexist quite well. They both continued to thrive in their artwork, often asking each other advice on how to improve a piece. please see CANVAS page 12 Robert and Barbara Buchanan in the studio in their home.

Inside:

Chicago’s Christmas Magic page 8

Salute to a Veteran page 14

Savvy Senior

Simple TV Remotes Designed for Seniors Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some easy-to-use television remote controls for seniors? I got my 74-year-old mother a new HDTV for her birthday, but the remote control is very confusing for her to operate. – Shopping Son Dear Shopping, It seems like most television remote controls today come with dozens of unnecessary buttons that make them very confusing to operate. Add in the fact that many people use two or three remotes to operate their home entertainment equipment (TV, cable box, VCR, DVD player, etc.) and it compounds the problem even further. Fortunately, there are several universal TV remotes available today that are specifically designed for seniors and the technically challenged. These remote controls have bigger buttons and fewer

December 2013

options that make them much easier to see, program, and operate. Simplified Remotes Two popular seniorfriendly products to consider are the Flipper Remote and the Super Remote SR3. The Flipper (www.flipper remote.com) works all major TVs, including cable, satellite, and digital TV receiver boxes with only one remote. Available for $25, it offers a tapered design that makes it easy to hold, and for simplicity it has only six large, colorcoded buttons that are exposed (on/off, channel up and down, volume up and down, and mute).

50plus SeniorNews

All other buttons are accessed by sliding the top panel down, so they won’t get in the way during day-to-day TV watching. Flipper also has an optional feature that lets you program up to 30 of your mom’s favorite channels for easy access. The Super Remote SR3 from Universal Remote Control, Inc. (sold through Amazon.com for around $13) is a slightly more sophisticated, user-friendly remote that can control three devices: TVs, cable or satellite boxes, and DVD players. It offers a lightweight, ergonomic design; large, easy-to-see numeric buttons, each in the shape of the number

it represents; and a centrally located “my button” that gives your mom the ability turn on the TV and set the tuner to her favorite channel with a single button press. It also provides four “favorite” buttons for one-touch access to her favorite channels and an “all off ” button that lets her shut down the entire homeentertainment system with a single button press. Super-Sized Remotes There are also a number of oversized TV remotes that are ideal for seniors with vision problems. The Tek Partner, Big Button, and Tek Pal remotes, all made by the Hy-Tek Manufacturing Company (www.bigbuttonremotes.com, (630) 4667664) in Sugar Grove, Ill., are three solid options to consider. please see REMOTES page 4

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Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222

Hearing Services Hearing & Ear Care Center, LLC 200 Schneider Drive, Suite 1, Lebanon (717) 274-3851

Housing Assistance Hope (Helping Our People in Emergencies) (717) 272-4400

Melnick, Moffitt, and Mesaros 927 Russell Drive, Lebanon (717) 274-9775

Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328

Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401

Hospitals Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500

Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

Salvation Army (717) 273-2655

Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500

Legal Services Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715

Health & Medical Services Alzheimerâ€™s Association (717) 651-5020

Hotlines Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462

American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582

Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050

Food Resources Food & Clothing Bank (717) 274-2490 Food Stamps (800) 692-7462 Hope/Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400 Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262

American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310 American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (717) 207-4265

IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040 Medicaid (800) 692-7462

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Retirement Communities

Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Northern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 Senior Center of Lebanon Valley (717) 274-3451 Southern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 274-7541 Veterans Services Governorâ€™s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

StoneRidge Retirement Living (717) 866-3204

American Lung Association (717) 541-5864

Medicare (800) 382-1274

Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754

PA Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500

PennDOT (800) 932-4600

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

Recycling (800) 346-4242

Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000

Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787

Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262

Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796

Thank You, Volunteers! On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus Senior News would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and senior group volunteers who donated their time and efforts at our 2013 50plus EXPOs. Because of your assistance, we were able to bring the contents and the mission of 50plus Senior News to life for the residents of Central Pennsylvania!

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

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50plus SeniorNews

December 2013

The Green Mountain Gardener Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL VICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee McWilliams PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Jessica Johns

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Karla Back Angie McComsey Jacoby Valerie Kissinger Susan Krieger Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR Eileen Culp

CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Herbs with a Holiday History Dr. Leonard Perry lthough any aromatic herb is ideal for holiday decorations, wreaths, and table centerpieces, four have biblical links with Christmas. Many crafts shops and florists carry these dried herb plants along with the baskets, bowls, and other trimmings needed for decorating. You may find live, cut sprigs of them at florists and garden stores during the holidays, perhaps even plants in pots. English pennyroyal, a perennial herb, was said to have been placed in the manger on the night of the Christ child’s birth and burst into bloom the moment the child was born. English pennyroyal adds a fragrant aroma to wreaths but can be toxic if ingested, so keep out of reach of pets and children. It is often used in potpourri and cosmetics and is native to southern Europe and western Asia. Rosemary is one of the most beautiful and fragrant of the seasonal herbs. According to folklore, rosemary will bring happiness for the coming year to anyone who smells it on Christmas Eve. During the flight into Egypt, Mary is said to have spread her child’s garments on a rosemary plant to dry. The flowers, originally white, turned blue and acquired the sweet scent they have today. Another legend claims that at midnight on Jan. 5, the “old

Christmas Eve,” rosemary plants will simultaneously burst into flower in celebration of Christmas. Rosemary plants add attractiveness and fragrance to holiday wreaths and are especially suitable for tussie mussies, which are small bouquets made with dried flowers, doilies, and ribbons for use at individual place settings on the holiday dinner table.

Rosemary plants are one of the most common holiday herbs you can find in pots, often trained into various shapes, such as wreaths, hearts, or topiaries. Look for the trailing or pendulous selections, which you can try training on a wire or support into such a shape. Given a cool location with light— such as a minimally heated hallway with windows or an unheated room or garage (but not freezing, around

50 to 60 degrees F is ideal)—they can be kept indoors over winter. You’ll be rewarded with their lightblue flowers through much of fall. Put your potted rosemary outside in summer, gradually increasing the amount of light over a period of weeks to help them acclimate. Keep watered but not too wet. Wild thyme, a pungent herb and member of the mint family, was collected from the fields outside of Bethlehem to make a soft bed for Mary during the birth of her child. It is thought to have antiseptic properties and was burned as incense later in history by the Greeks. Today thyme is a popular culinary seasoning but can be used in dried-flower arrangements, bouquets, and potpourri during the holiday season. Plant thyme next spring in raised beds or rock gardens. It is said the Virgin Mary dyed her newborn’s swaddling clothes by spreading them on a bed of wild lavender. This herb, also of the mint family, grows as a small evergreen shrub (but isn’t hardy outdoors in much of the cold North). It has gray-green leaves, lightpurple flowers, and a sweet, floral scent. When dried, it can be used whole for wreaths and centerpieces or crushed to use in sachets for closets or drawers or to scent a bath. Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extension professor at the University of Vermont.

Awards

REMOTES

Winner

50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. 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. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

December 2013

50plus SeniorNews

from page 2

If you’re interested in an extralarge remote control, the $40 Tek Partner—which is 5.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches long—is their biggest. It offers huge, brightly lit buttons with big, readable characters and a narrowed center (3.5 inches), which makes it easy to handle for a big remote. It also contains only the essential functions, making it easy to use and program, and it operates any S

combination of TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cable boxes, and satellite dishes. If you’re looking for something a little smaller (2.5 by 9.5 inches) there’s the $25, rectangular-shaped Big Button remote that offers the same large and illuminating buttons as the Tek Partner and the exact same features. Or, if you only want a basic remote for the TV, there’s the Tek

Pal that comes with just six large buttons (on/off, mute, channel up and down, and volume up and down buttons) that light up when pushed. Available for $19, the Pal will only work with televisions that have cable wired directly into the TV. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

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My 22 Cents’ Worth

Silver Linings on Our Aging Shadow Walt Sonneville o mark the International Day of Older Persons in 2012, several organizations, including some United Nation agencies, collaborated in a report entitled “Ageing in the TwentyFirst Century: A Celebration and a Challenge.” That intriguing title provokes one to question: What is there to celebrate about aging, and what are the challenges? The report limited examination of celebration and challenge to a single perspective: “access to, and enjoyment of, the full range of human rights.” Let us look at a broader spectrum of challenges and the silver linings on the shadow of aging that we care to celebrate. Human rights, which we seniors generally enjoy as Americans, are left aside. From our own personal experiences we can easily identify several physical, mental, and social challenges commonly associated with aging, some of which worsen as age increases. What we recognize less easily is that most elderly Americans are self-reliant, leading content and productive lives. The American Psychological Association’s report (April 1998), from its “Working Group on the Older Adult,” states that only 9 percent of those between ages 65 and 69 need personal assistance, while up to 50 percent of those over 85 need assistance with everyday activities. The implication is that fewer than half of those over 85 may not need personal assistance. The comforting data for those under 85 are supported in detail by the federal government’s Administration on Aging in

its report “A Profile of Older Americans – Prevention in its study “The State of 2011.” The profile shows that for nonMental Health and Aging in America: institutionalized elderly ages 65-74, 6 Life Satisfaction” (2006). percent have difficulty bathing or Nationally, 5.8 percent of respondents showering, 5 percent have difficulty in the 50-64 age group said they were dressing, 2 percent eating, 9 percent “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with getting in/out of their life. Only 3.5 bed, and 17 percent of percent walking. “... emotional happiness respondents For those ages among those 65 improves with age.” 75-84, the years or older said respective they were percentages are 14, dissatisfied or very 10, 4, 15, and 28 dissatisfied. percent. The The two states statistical odds having the highest significantly favor the absence of such percentages of dissatisfied or very dependencies for those under the age of dissatisfied respondents, among those 65 85. years or older, were California (4.7 Before our celebration carries us too percent) and New Jersey (4.6 percent). far, one should acknowledge the Hawaii (1.8 percent) and Iowa (2.1 commonly reported challenges of aging. percent) had the lowest percentages for They include diminished hearing and this age group. vision, higher blood pressure, diabetes, a In every state, the 50-64 age group had decrease in muscle mass, and, on average by the age of 80, a loss of 2 inches in height and almost half of our sense of smell. For most of us, these are limitations with which we can function adequately, thanks to prescribed health products and services and to an increased capacity to cope with routine adversities. Seniors 65 years of age and older apparently are more satisfied with their As On-Line lives than those in the 50-64 age group. Publishers, Inc. This is the conclusion of a survey asked of sees the conclusion of respondents, aged 50 years or older, in all yet another year, we are 50 states, conducted in 2006 by the grateful to our dedicated Centers for Disease Control and staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue to grow in our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of 1BR 840 Sq. Ft., 2BR 1050 Sq. Ft, 3 BR 1200 Sq. Ft. the 50+ community. We wish to thank each of you for Rent includes gas for heating and helping to make 50plus Senior News cooking, sewer, and trash. Central a fun, interesting, and unique source heat and air. Laundry in each building. of information and entertainment Maintenance free. Close to a shopping for our readers in Central center, resident manager on premise, Pennsylvania. 24-hour maintenance. Near Hershey At this special time of giving and VA Hospital. Large dog park. thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our Please call 717-273-8559 for more information. friends, warmest holiday wishes. Summit Square Apartments • 1201 W. Crestview Dr., Lebanon

higher percentages of those dissatisfied than the 65 or older group. The elderly may have more health issues than those younger, but they find more satisfaction with life. A United Kingdom publication, The Telegraph, cited research that “the elderly brain has the ability to let negative memories fade more quickly than the young.” Other studies, reported by the same source, found that “older adults report less distress than other age groups … and emotional happiness improves with age.” It seems true, as John Webster wrote (Westward Ho) in 1607, “Old wood does burn brighter.” Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, books of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at waltsonneville@earthlink.net.

Spacious Apartments

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December 2013

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Bethany Village — Maplewood

Homeland Center

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.bethanyvillage.org

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 50 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: 1-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Exemplary care in a caring, beautiful environment has been provided for more than 140 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program.

Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood

Homewood at Plum Creek

301 Victoria Gardens Drive • Kennett Square, PA 19348 484-734-6200 • www.brandycare.com

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 98 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

On-call Medical Service: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: At Brandywine Senior Living – life is beautiful!

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

Chapel Pointe

Lakeview at Tel Hai Retirement Community

770 South Hanover Street • Carlisle, PA 17013 717-249-1363 • www.chapelpointe.org

1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-4602 • www.telhai.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 53 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: No Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: No Pets Permitted: No

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Come discover a wonderful, faith-based community that has been voted No. 1 retirement community by readers of the Daily Local newspaper!

Colonial Lodge Community

Mennonite Home Communities

2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519 717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A veteran-approved “home for heroes” facility all in a beautiful, rural setting.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

December 2013

50plus SeniorNews

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community

VibraLife

1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 • www.normandieridge.org

707 Shepherdstown Road • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-591-2100 • www.vibralife.net

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 46 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Private or shared living in spacious rooms with private baths. Friendly staff assist where needed to help maintain your independence.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Gorgeous new construction. Short-term rehabilitation center and personal care apartments including secured memory care.

St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Such is Life

The Help Was a Source of Love Saralee Perel llen, the woman who raised me, had live-in quarters in our 15room, red-brick house. I do believe that my mother would have enjoyed tending to me, but she conducted herself in ways that Caucasian women in her society were taught to behave. Nonetheless, I don’t think she liked it. Within five minutes of Ellen serving dinner in the formal dining room, I’d become such a whiny irritant that my mother would let me leave the table and eat supper with Ellen in the kitchen. We’d talk and laugh and put together cardboard puzzles while we ate. I bet Mom would have loved to be excused from the table and have had her meals with us instead. In the night, I’d run, frightened, to

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me giggling while having Ellen’s room. I’d be afraid me perform a pirouette. to go back to sleep after Then I’d do a goofy, long, having a bad dream. She’d drawn-out bow to which say, “Baby, God gave us she’d respond by dreams so he’d have a enveloping me in her place to talk to us. When arms. God talks to us, there’s I think Mom would nothing to be scared of.” I would then fall asleep have gotten a big kick out next to her in her bed. of dressing me for parties. Whenever my mother I also bet she would have Saralee and Ellen discovered me there, she wanted to be the one who never made me go back to my bedroom. I put Mercurochrome on my constantly think she not only loved Ellen, but was scratched knees or who’d raid the also happy for me that I received maternal refrigerator with me in the night and eat love from someone so wonderful. the tuna noodle casserole right from the Ellen put up with my fidgeting when baking pan. she’d dress me to go to girlfriends’ My mother’s main undoing was that birthday parties. When done, she’d get she was convinced her lot in life was laid

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out for her. And that there was not a damned thing that she thought she could do about it. I married someone who was not like my relatives—not Jewish, not wealthy, not even employed. What did I have that my mother didn’t? Love. Happiness. And society’s support that it was OK to make my own path. I know that Mom would have been just as nurturing as Ellen. I wish for her sake she had known that too. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com. S

December 2013

Traveltizers

Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

Chicago’s Christmas Magic department stores in the world. It offered the first bridal registry, he day is frosty cold, and I the first personal shopping say a silent thanks to the assistants, the first department-store unknown goose that restaurants, and the first escalators donated his feathers to fill my and was the first store to create parka. holiday window displays for the My husband hands me a mug sole purpose of spreading joy. filled with Glühwein. The hot, This holiday tradition, which spicy drink burns my throat in a began in the early 1870s, holds true nice, cinnamonny way and, as the today. There are no windows filled name implies, makes me glow with with glitzy clothes, new appliances, holiday cheer. or tempting foods, no attempt to We, along with several hundred lure folks to the cash register. The other folks, are braving the weather displays are meant to bring smiles, Bugles herald the holiday Diners at Macy’s historic The mall at Water Tower Place at Christkindlmarket, Chicago’s not to extract cash. Now how nice season on State Street. Walnut Room sit under a draws crowds with a largest open-air Christmas festival. is that? 45-foot-tall tree. combination of festive decorations and popular stores. The atmosphere is distinctly When, in 2005, after a series of European, with chalet-style stalls corporate changes, the iconic store offering a mind-boggling selection was acquired by May Company, the of the Christkindlmarket crowd, I’m theaters, public art, parks, restaurants, of Alpine delicacies and crafts. skyscrapers, and, yes, retail establishments terms included the requirement that more interested in having fun than in We taste-test a variety of wursts, many Marshall Field’s traditions be seriously shopping. both big and small. schnitzels, strudels, and chocolates and continued. Afterward, well fortified with another But again, we’re not here to shop. gaze longingly at the imported cuckoo So although the Chicago store, which We’re here to see the former Marshall mug of Glühwein, we move on to “The clocks and nutcrackers. I buy a small is the third largest department store in Field’s, which was once one of the most Loop,” where we walk along streets lined ornament for my brother, but, like most renowned and most innovative with government buildings, museums, please see CHICAGO page 10

By Andrea Gross

Three Lifestyles to Meet Your Needs

Hearing and Ear Care Center, LLC Supported with Trust

Independent Living Entrance fee or monthly plans available Linda Gonya-Hartman, Au.D. Audiologist

• Comprehensive audiologic evaluation • Featuring the most advanced hearing products • Accessories, batteries and ALDS • Custom earpiece for iPods and cell phones • Home Visits • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Your one-stop shop for all your hearing care needs! Most insurances accepted. Major credit cards accepted. Payment plans offered.

Personal Care

200 Schneider Drive, Suite 1 • Lebanon

717.274.3851 www.HelpingUHear.com

Long-Term Nursing Also Offering Short-Term Rehab and Skilled Memory Care

Call 717-866-3200 and Start Living Today! www.StoneRidgeRetirement.com 8

December 2013

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December 2013

CHICAGO

from page 8

the world, now goes by the name of Macy’s on State Street, their Christmas windows continue to delight hundreds of onlookers. We walk slowly, carefully admiring each animated scene, and then enter the store to view the celebrated domed ceiling that’s made of more than 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass. Designed by Louis Tiffany in 1907 and hand-set over a two-year period, it’s a glorious mosaic of serpentine swirls and graceful ovals in tones of amber, blue, and gold with touches of red. I stare in awe until my neck begins to hurt, after which we take the escalator up to the fifth floor, where I can see the details more clearly. Eventually we make our way to the historic Walnut Room, known for the classic chicken potpie that was first served in 1907. As always during the Christmas season, a 45-foot tree festooned with more than 1,000 ornaments brightens the room. We try to get a table, but no luck. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and the wait, according to the very nice hostess, will be more than an hour. Instead we satisfy our hunger by purchasing—and devouring—some Frango chocolates. The minty truffles

Please join us for these events! • Exhibitors • • Health Screenings • • Seminars • • Entertainment • • Door Prizes • Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Hot spiced wine helps people stay warm as they enjoy Christkindlmart.

The display at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry features trees that represent Chicago’s—and the world’s— various cultures.

Macy’s window displays capture the magic of Christmas.

have been associated with the store since Marshall Field’s acquired the original candy company in the late 1920s. Although they are no longer made instore, in my mind there’s no doubt about it: Chocolate beats chicken potpie any season of the year! Our final stop is at the Museum of

Two of your favorite events, together!

26th Annual

FREE!

May 5, 2014 May 5–9, 2014 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports (Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)

11th Annual

DAUPHIN COUNTY

CHESTER COUNTY

May 27, 2014

June 10, 2014

FREE!

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

NEW LOCATION!

2913 Spooky Nook Road, Manheim

15th Annual

FREE!

Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

Thank You,Columnists!

Lancaster

Celebrates Seniors

15th Annual

Science and Industry, which hosts Christmas Around the World, an annual exhibit that celebrates the world’s—and Chicago’s—cultures and traditions. The first such display took place in 1942 when Chicagoans of all ethnicities wanted to show that they supported America’s World War II allies.

The museum placed a single pine tree in the rotunda, and volunteers representing various nationalities changed the decorations on a daily basis. The result: a rotating display that honored diversity as well as community. In the 70-plus years since then, that single pine has morphed into a 50-tree exhibit that lasts from mid-November until the end of December. We walk slowly, admiring the ornaments on each tree. The tree representing Kenya is adorned with wood animal carvings. The one from Denmark is laden with woven hearts, while the one from Bosnia-Herzegovina has miniature dolls and skis. And on it goes … Russian matryoshkas (nested dolls), Romanian snowmen … an international display for an international city. As we head back to our hotel, a gentleman who is sitting behind me on the train begins humming an old Frank Sinatra lyric, “Chicago is my kind of town.” My sentiments exactly. For the latest information on Chicago’s 2013 Christmas activities, go to www.choosechicago.com

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Church Farm School

50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News: Mike Clark (The Way I See It) Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry) Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield ) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques) Gloria May (NurseNews) Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Clyde McMillan-G Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Victor Parachin (Fragments of History) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener) Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two) Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth) Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran) Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

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December 2013

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Christmas Traditions: The Real Story The December holidays are a time to honor traditions handed down over the centuries. You might be surprised to learn that many Christmas customs actually originated in older traditions and pagan celebrations. Here’s a quick look: Christmas Day. Dec. 25 was designated as Christmas Day by Pope Saint Julius I in the fourth century, reflecting a decision to combine several pagan festivities into one Christian celebration. Dec. 25 previously marked the Roman Saturnalia, as well as the purported birth date of Mithra, the Persian sun god, and the mythical first appearance of the Norse god Odin to the world.

Food and drink. Parties, overeating, and general mayhem are also related to the Saturnalia. This Roman festival was named for Saturn, an agriculture god, and was celebrated with feasting and general revelry. Christmas pudding. The Celts celebrated their god of the harvest by

making a pot of porridge and stirring it for him. Later, plum pudding was made by adding prunes to the porridge, which evolved into what we now know as Christmas pudding. Tradition says that each member of the family should stir the pot in an east-west manner (as the sun moves across the sky). Flaming brandy poured onto the pudding is also a

symbol of the sun’s energy. Christmas stockings. The first Christmas stocking was supposedly derived from the charity of a kindly Turkish bishop, who slipped a bag of gold into the stocking of a girl in need of a dowry. Christmas trees. Decorating Christmas trees has its origins in Germany. During the winter, the populace wanted to encourage tree spirits to return to the trees and reawaken them in the spring. The practice originally focused on oak trees but later came to be associated with fir trees by Christians, who associated the triangle outline of the firs with the Holy Trinity.

Calendar of Events

Lebanon County

Senior Center Activities

Annville Senior Community Center – (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. – Christmas Party at Heisey’s Diner Dec. 27, 9 a.m. – Covered Dish Brunch and Ugly Sweater Day Dec. 31, 11 a.m. – Noonday Party

Palmyra Senior Community Center – (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m. – Christmas Party at Hometown’s Dec. 13, 10 a.m. – Brunch at Funck’s, Christmas Concert at Hershey Founder Hall Dec. 23, 10:30 a.m. – Christmas Special Meal and Gift Exchange

Maple Street Community Center – (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon Dec. 6, 11 a.m. – Ham Christmas Dinner Dec. 13, 9 a.m. – Christmas Breakfast Dec. 23, 8:30 a.m. – Mel’s Diner Christmas Breakfast, Visit from Santa

Southern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 274-7541 Midway Church of the Brethren, 13 Evergreen Road, Lebanon

Myerstown Senior Community Center – (717) 866-6786 51 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown Dec. 13, noon – Center Christmas Party at Hebron Banquet Hall Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m. – Holiday Luncheon at Light’s Victorian House Dec. 31, noon – New Year Celebration at Harper’s Tavern

Privately Owned Centers Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. – (717) 274-3451 710 Maple St., Lebanon Washington Arms – (717) 274-4104 303 Chestnut St., Lebanon

Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center – (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown – www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html

Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.

Lebanon County Library Programs

Lebanon County Department of Parks and Recreation

Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802

All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted.

Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624

Dec. 1, 1 to 4 p.m. – Christmas Music by the Fire

Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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December 2013

CANVAS

from page 1

Occasionally, Robert and Barbara combine their distinctive skills and create a work of art together. When they do this, Robert does the basic painting before letting Barbara take over with the details. Robert prefers to work in watercolor and oil; Barbara prefers to work in pastel and oil. They both do a lot of realism and frequently paint general scenes, such as farmhouses or nature scenes. They have found people have a connection with those pieces because the scene reminds them of their childhood home or a place they used to vacation. Even though Robert and Barbara are both successful painters now, their journeys to their success were quite divergent. In his undergraduate years, Robert studied illustration at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Later in 1990, he got his master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. Robert has truly been making a name for himself through his work. He has received numerous awards, has been published countless times, and is included in many collections, such as his pieces in the corporate collection at The Eastman-Kodak Corporation and in The

Harley-Davidson Art Institute of Museum. Pittsburgh. In addition to It wasn’t until creating pieces 2000, when the for others to York Art enjoy, Robert Association has also been contacted her to sharing his teach drawing knowledge classes, that she through began doing art on Various examples of Robert’s sketches. teaching. For a regular basis. more than 30 Once she started, years, he has taught courses in fine art, she didn’t rest. She stopped doing graphic illustration, painting, and life drawing at design and began teaching and painting the Art Institute of York. full time. His teachings and work have not gone Barbara taught at the Lancaster unappreciated; the school’s art studio was Museum of Art for a few years and has recently named the Robert E. Buchanan done a great amount of commission work Illustration Studio. for a variety of clients, including It is his work as a teacher, out of all Pfaltzgraff and the Hope Lodge in the honors and recognitions, that Robert Hershey. deems his greatest accomplishment. He “Art is the focus of my life now,” feels pride in knowing he helped students Barbara said. “The older I get, the get a start to a successful career by stronger my desire to create in the form increasing their knowledge of the field of painting becomes.” and honing their skills. Aging seems to have had a great effect Barbara’s background, on the other on Barbara’s confidence as well. As her hand, hasn’t always included painting. interest in painting has increased, so has For 24 years she worked in graphic her knowledge of the field. design, and before that, she took a two“You have to keep growing and learn year course in fashion illustration at the new things,” Barbara said. “There’s always

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going to be more to learn, and I’m never going to learn it all. “Every time I do a painting, I try to do it better than I did before. Doing the artwork has made me very content and happy in my life.” Robert has found that aging has given him a new drive to produce artwork. When he was younger, he was impatient; he always wanted to be doing something and going somewhere. He was not as motivated to paint as he is now. “You know you don’t have forever,” Robert explained. “[Age] drives you a little harder to realize you want to make a statement.” When they got married, Barbara and Robert combined not only their love for each other, but also their love for art. And through their marriage, they saved each other emotionally. “My greatest satisfaction,” Robert said, “is I’ve changed and helped one life on this earth, which is my wife.” Barbara and Robert will be showing their work in December and January at the Blue Moon Restaurant at 361 W. Market St., York. For more information, email Robert at rbuchanan@aii.edu, call at (717) 2240973, or visit www.robertebuchanan.com.

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CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 14

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

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Salute to a Veteran

The Viet Cong Kept Finding New Ways to Kill You Robert D. Wilcox om McInnes served two tours in Vietnam … and found out that no one was ever really safe there, not even chaplains. Of course, there was the everyday reality that the Viet Cong wore no uniforms and looked like every other Vietnamese person, while their fondest wish was to slit your throat if they ever had the chance. That was enough to give you the feeling that every day might be your last. But for McInnes, something else occurred that was not at all expected. On his first Vietnam tour in 1963, he was a chaplain assigned to the 9th Assistance Advisory Group. One of his main efforts was to help the Vietnamese people in any way he could—which, as it turned out, didn’t help him a whole lot. One day, he was to help in taking food to the Vietnamese in a small, nearby village. He was to travel by “Jeepster” (an enclosed Jeep that carried people and cargo) with a GI driver, a gunner, and a Green Beret medic officer who could speak French and thus could speak to some of the Montagnard people they intended to help. Four 100-pound sacks of rice were squeezed into the Jeepster and held the quantities of rice that were to be distributed to the ill-fed Montagnard people, who were our allies. McInnes explains that, although the Montagnards were Vietnamese, they were a lot like our Native Americans. “Just as the Apaches were separate from the Cherokees,” he says, “so were the Montagnards from each other, with

that on his “dream list,” he had said that he would like to serve in exotic places like Hawaii or Thailand. “The interviewing officer said, ‘I see you said you’d like to serve in Thailand. Well, you’re getting your wish. We’re sending you to Vietnam, just a little east of Thailand, where you picked to be.’” So he was off to Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 9th Assistance Advisory Group … and where his career almost ended in the sabotage to his Jeepster. After his one-year tour there, he was glad to be back in the U.S., where he spent two years at Fort Dix before being returned to Vietnam for his second oneyear tour. After returning to the U.S., he then shipped to Germany for duty during the occupation. Returning to the U.S. in 1972, he entered the chaplain’s school at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., to earn his master’s degree. And after service at other bases, he was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for two years and retired as a colonel in 1979, having served his country for 33 years. McInnes now lives in a retirement community in Central Pennsylvania, after a man he taught in a Bible class gave McInnes a ton of material extolling the wonders of the area. “My wife, Ruth, and I came to look it over and couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to live,” McInnes grins. “So, we came here, and we wouldn’t trade it for any other place in the world.” Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.

Puzzles shown on page 13

Puzzle Solutions

troops, hearing their different tribes having complaints and serving their own language, their interests. dress, and culture. But, The year passed because of the previous rather quickly, and he French occupation of was returned to Fort their land, a few of Dix, N.J., where he them spoke a little served for two years French, and that’s before his second onewhere the Frenchyear tour in Vietnam in speaking medic came 1967. in.” Before joining the As their loaded military, McInnes had Jeepster started down graduated from high the steep hill from school in Buffalo and their camp, they Lieutenant Colonel then had two years at suddenly found they Thomas J. McInnes in 1972, Rochester University, had no brakes. During home from Germany where he was working the night, the Viet toward a degree in chemistry. And it was Cong had apparently severed the lines to the brakes, so they barreled down the hill, there that he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1946 and served for 18 months continuing to gather speed until they before being discharged in August 1947. came to a hairpin turn and an even He had remained in the Reserve, steeper drop at the bottom. however, and after he entered Houghton There the Jeepster took off, hurtling College for his junior year, he was recalled through the air and coming to a crashing for 21 months. He was then discharged as halt on its back, with men and rice bags a staff sergeant and was able to return to piled one on top of another. Houghton to finish his senior year. “There were plenty of strains and It was then that he felt the call to the bruises,” he says, “but, fortunately, ministry. So, in 1953 he entered Eastern nobody needed to be hospitalized.” Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, His tour of duty was for only a year, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity and he was the only Protestant chaplain degree. There he also became an Army in the 2nd Corps, which spanned an area about half the size of New Jersey. He second lieutenant before his graduation as routinely flew in helicopters of all kinds a chaplain in 1957. After serving as a first to hold services in the field and to work lieutenant in the Reserve, he was recalled to help the local Vietnamese. to active duty in 1962 as a captain and He did counseling and also advised the served as a chaplain at Fort Belvoir before commander on morale. He enjoyed going to Vietnam. serving as a sort of ombudsman for the He smiles as he recalls that they noted

December 2013

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Older But Not Wiser

I Have a Granddaughter Sy Rosen y daughter, Ann, gave birth last week to a beautiful baby girl. Ann was in labor for 29 hours, which is longer than I held my first job. In the middle of the night (while Ann was still in labor), my wife, Wanda, and Ann’s husband, Edward, fell asleep. Just my daughter and I were up. So in the semi-darkness of the room, where the only light was coming from the hospital monitors in the background, we talked. We talked about important matters: “So you’re having a baby,” I said. “You figured that out, huh, Dad?” OK, it wasn’t a great start, but this was my time to pass on some knowledge to my daughter, to share my years of wisdom. However, for some reason I went into this rambling monologue about just one event: “I remember when you were growing up, we always tried to make you feel very

special. We treated you like you were the center of the universe, but we couldn’t stop the world from sometimes changing that. “When you were about 5 years old, I took you to this children’s show where this guy, who was playing a guitar, was taking requests from the kids in the audience. And you kept yelling that you wanted to hear ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider,’ but he didn’t pay any attention to you and you started to cry. I mean cry so loudly they could hear you in outer space. “So I took you into the lobby and hugged you tightly. And Ann, I wanted to maturely explain to you that even though you were very special, there are people who won’t treat you that way and that maybe they’ll even ignore you, but

that’s OK; it’s not a big deal and it’s their loss. “Instead, I told you that the guy playing the guitar was a stupid, doo-dooheaded jerk. OK, that probably wasn’t the most mature thing to say, but I would do it again. “Anyway, Ann, the point is—and I do have a point; it just takes me a while to get to it—is that there will be times when you unfortunately can’t protect your daughter from the insensitivity of the outside world, but if you raise her right and love her enormously, she’ll be able to handle it. And your backup position is to call those insensitive people doo-doo heads.” It was a long-winded story, and it didn’t really make that much sense, but it

seemed to take Ann’s mind off of the labor. The next day, Ann gave birth. I, of course, wasn’t in the delivery room. Edward, the father, had that honor. Also, I was afraid I would faint. The next day, Ann and Edward officially named their daughter. After much debate, they decided to name her Summer. And it has become the season of Summer. Two days later, I held Summer for the first time. I was a little afraid because she is so small and fragile. She weighs 6 pounds, 15 ounces, which we rounded up to 7 pounds. I guess in a few years we’ll round up her IQ to genius level. I whispered in Summer’s ear that I’ll take her to the movies and the park, and I’ll feed her ice cream even though her parents tell me not to. And then I started singing to her. Of course I sang “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

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December 2013

One of America’s top hospitals.

The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality ® Measures 2012

Right here in Lebanon County.

• Heart Attack • Heart Failure • Pneumonia • Surgical Care

The Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for achieving excellence in performance on its accountability measures during 2012 for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia and Surgical Care.

Out of the 3,343 eligible hospitals submitting accountability measure data to The Joint Commission, The Good Samaritan Hospital was one of 1,099 to meet or exceed the target rates of performance. High-quality healthcare that cares for our community. That’s powerful medicine and comforting care. Only at Good Samaritan.

December 2013

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