Generations - May 2019

May 2019

Youth from St. Peter's Catholic Church in Park Rapids and elders from the Living at Home project worked together to make 16 fleece blankets for the Park Rapids Police Department. Both groups hope to do more projects like this in the future. (Photos by Lorie Skarpness/Enterprise)

Blanket project bridges generations Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area (LAH) was looking for a way to bring elders together with youth in the community, and the youth group at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Park Rapids was planning a service project to make blankets for the Park Rapids Police Department to give comfort to people at accident scenes and other stressful situations.

“I called Annette Haas, who is the youth group leader at St. Peter’s Church, and she had just learned about the need for blankets for the Park Rapids Police Department,” said Tara Huber, LAH elder care services coordinator.

The two groups decided to join forces and plan an after-school event to work on the blankets.

“I chose a handful of elders I thought might enjoy hanging out with the youth and sent them invitations,” Huber said. “Some elders were just so excited to get invited to something we needed them for, rather than them calling Living at Home for something they need.”

Nine of the elders responded saying they wanted to attend the event.

Huber said one elder told her, “I will feel like a teenager again.”

Volunteer drivers with LAH provided transportation for those who needed it.

LAH provides services to elders in all of Hubbard County as well as northern Wadena County.

“We choose the term elders instead of seniors, care recipients or clients,” she said. “It’s dignified. We

can all learn from our elders.”

Socializing with youth while making the blankets and sharing a meal was the emphasis of the event.

First intergenerational event

Elders from Park Rapids, Menahga and Nevis areas attended the intergenerational event, which is LAH’s first one. Tables at a classroom in the parish hall at St. Peter’s were soon filled with the elders and more than 20 youth. Everyone listened attentively as Haas and Huber demonstrated how to turn two sheets of fleece into colorful blankets.

Youth and elders worked together to cut and tie strips to make fringes on the ends of the blankets.

One elder admitted her eyesight was not good. “But I can still tie knots,” she said.

Other elders offered encouraging words to the youth who were making one-inch cuts up to the line. “You’re doing good, cutting really straight,” a woman said to the teenage boy sitting next to her who was estimating how far apart to put the cuts used to make fringes.

Some blankets shed a lot of fuzz, leading to laughter as it stuck to hands and arms.

Working together, the blankets were completed quickly. After an hour, 16 blankets in sizes for children through adults were piled on a table by the door so everyone could see what they had accomplished together when they went into the parish hall for dinner.

BLANKETS: Page 4

Inside this issue...

2 What to know when you're Looking for hearing aids 3 Pharmacist warning 6 RECIPE: Lemony Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach 8 Beyond keto

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By Lorie Skarpness lskarpness@parkrapidsenterprise.com

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Ma y 2 01 9

! r a e H ! r Hea What to know when you’re looking for hearing aids

By John Lundy Forum News Service Don’t think you need hearing aids? Listen up.

“I would just really encourage people to get the damn hearing aid,” said Denette Lynch, whose husband and other family members use them. “Their life with their family would be a whole lot better. It would be a lot less frustrating. So even if they don’t do it for themselves, do it for their spouse and kids and grandkids and those they interact with. Because it is really annoying to be with somebody who should have hearing aids and doesn’t, and you’re having to yell and scream.”

Your loved one needs hearing aids and isn’t listening to you? Denial is a common thread, said Kathi Mestayer, who for two decades has been an advocate for people with hearing loss.

“One of the main driving forces behind denial is that nobody wants to feel like they have a disability,” said Mestayer, who lives in Williamsburg, Va., and writes for Hearing Health Magazine. She also uses hearing aids. “Nobody wants to feel flawed. The other thing is that there’s a stigma associated with aging that … is associated with hearing loss.”

Suggest getting a hearing check to establish a “baseline” for future reference, Mestayer advised.

Suggest it’s no different than a routine checkup on dental health or vision health.

You are ready for hearing aids, but money could be an issue? That is a problem, said Shaeleen Fagre, an audiologist and clinical supervisor at the University of Minnesota. Generally, the cost is between $1,000 and $3,000 per hearing aid, said Fagre (more on that later). For the most part, health insurance doesn’t pay for that. Medicare doesn’t cover hearing aids; nor does it cover testing for the purpose of getting hearing aids.

“That’s something that we hear a lot — that it’s frustrating for people to not have those benefits,” Fagre said.

You’re ready for hearing aids and want to do it right? We asked Lynch, who lives in West Duluth and is best known as an advocate for dog parks, for her advice, and also checked with Fagre and Mestayer.

Here’s what we came away with:

Real ear measurement

Insist on it, Fagre said.

Two people with the same kind of hearing loss, the same amount of hearing loss and the same hearing aid will need different programming based on the size and shape of their ear canals, she said. The only way to know what programming is best for you is with real ear measurement, which involves placing microphones in the ear along with the hearing aid to test its output.

“The sad, sad part of that is as an industry, I think the last statistic I heard is only a third of audiologists are doing that measurement,” Fagre said, “which is just abysmal.”

Telecoil loop

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If you have a telecoil loop, or T loop, in your hearing aid and the theater or courtroom or public building you go to has an induction loop, your hearing aids function as headphones, and you get clear sound through the sound system, Fagre said. Although she has normal hearing, she has worn hearing aids to Park Rapids Office 618 1st St. E., Park Rapids a play because the sound Tuesdays 10 am - 3 pm, other times by appt. was so much better, she BRIAN HILLESLAND, NBC-HIS added.

National Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist “If I was shopping for Toll - Free 1-800-631-4946 hearing aids, I would ask 218-631-4966 for a device that has a

telecoil loop,” Fagre said.

And let the people in charge of the courtrooms/ theaters/public buildings know that induction loops are valued.

As you’ve gathered by now, these are not your father’s hearing aids or even your uncle’s. Today’s hearing aids can be Bluetooth-compatible. Denette Lynch’s husband, Bill, can hear their television through his hearing aids, even when he’s out of the room, she said. He carries a tiny remote control with which he can mute the sound if they want to talk during commercials.

Expect choices

You’ll see aggressive marketing from sellers that offer only a single brand. Don’t buy from them, Metsayer advises.

“I sat next to a guy that I know who has hearing aids from them, and they cost $10,000,” she related.

“That’s usurious. That’s just really, really wrong...

They’re taking advantage of people who don’t know to shop around.”

You should have the option to try at least three brands of hearing aid, Metsayer said — not three models of the same brand.

Whom should you see?

You can go to an audiologist or certified hearing instrument dispenser.

“I would always want a real audiologist,” Metsayer said.

Fagre, the audiologist, isn’t as definite.

“Statistically, hearing instrument dispensers perform (real ear measurements) 5 percent more than audiologist do,” Fagre said. “There are good and bad providers in every walk of life.”

Whomever you go to, don’t leave without a paper copy of exam results, Metsayer said. You don’t have to buy at the place where you got the exam.

What should you spend?

But both she and Lynch gave props to Costco. The wholesaler has credentialed personnel, multiple brands and significant discounts, Metsayer said.

What you should spend varies depending on your needs, Fagre said. Someone who is active and wants to communicate in group settings will want a higher level of technology, which will cost more. Someone with a quieter lifestyle can do well with a more basic model. Ask about returns You should ask if the seller has a no-fault return policy, Metsayer said. In some states, that’s required.

In Minnesota, the buyer must be provided with a 45-calendar-day written money-back guarantee, said Christine T. Morgan, president of the Hearing Loss Association of America Twin Cities chapter, in an email.

Costco offers a 180-day window during which the hearing aids can be returned and adjusted or replaced or the total amount refunded, according to a statement from the company.

Got ’em? Use ’em

Mestayer jokes that there are three kinds of hearing aids: behind the ear, in the ear canal and in the dresser drawer.

That may have something to do with unrealistic expectations.

“They think the hearing aids are going to bring their hearing back to normal, and they don’t,” Mestayer said. “In many cases, it’s a huge improvement in quality of life and all kinds of other things.

But it does not bring your hearing back to normal.”

When Denette first knew Bill Lynch, he used his hearing aids sporadically, she said. But that was a long time ago, and he wears them first thing in the morning until last thing at night now.

“Don’t do them in and out,” she said. “Don’t have them part time. Just submerge yourself in them.”

A couple years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter hearing aid sales from people who are neither audiologists nor certified dispensers, Metsayer said. As a result, you can get hearing aids for $50 from Amazon.com.

She doesn’t recommend it.

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May 2019

Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist

Pharmacist warns family about drug interaction Dear Carol: I recently had an experience that I’d like to share with your readers. My dad has several serious physical and mental conditions so his medical file is complicated. Recently, a new drug to help with breathing problems was released, and his doctor, who is outstanding in all ways, saw no reason for Dad not to try it. We left the clinic in good spirits, but had barely gotten Dad home when my phone rang. It was the pharmacy telling me that an information update had just then alerted them that Dad’s newly prescribed drug could seriously interact with one of his other medications. I asked the pharmacist to follow through with the doctor and a different medication was then prescribed. My point is that even the best doctor may not have up-to-the-minute information about a drug, so having a pharmacist double-check our prescriptions is important to our health management. Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to thank the pharmacists in our community. ~ LC. Dear LC: I’m happy to have another opportunity to sing the praises of community pharmacists.

Doctors are required to stay on top of an enormous amount of ever-changing information so that they can offer the best advice to their patients. Most of them are also well-informed about new medications that can help their patients, as well as the American Medical Association guidelines for prescribing them.

Additionally, most doctors have the electronic capability to screen for reactions and interactions com-

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mon to each drug.

However, unlike doctors, it’s the pharmacist’s job to focus solely on medications, including breaking updates and how they could impact their individual customers. This makes them our mainline defense when it comes to drugs.

I’ve seen similar situations like the one that you describe in my own family. In one case, a family member was prescribed a drug at a walk-in clinic that contained an ingredient related to one for which he had a potentially serious allergy.

Another family member has, like your dad, a complicated medical history, and a physician who was unfamiliar with his complete background had prescribed a potentially harmful medication change.

In both instances, the pharmacists caught the errors.

Pharmacists do more than check for safety, though.

Our local pharmacists work with insurance companies to push much-needed medications through the

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system without undue delay. Additionally, I’ve experienced times when they’ve rushed filling a prescription because they knew a customer was in acute pain.

Our pharmacists also used their valuable time tracking down a vital but generic medication that one manufacturer had without warning ceased making so that the prescription could be filled.

For these reasons as well as more general ones, such as recommending over-the-counter medications if a person has a cold or flu, pharmacists need to be considered a vital part of our health care team.

We leave them out of the loop at our own risk.

Thank you for stepping forward to give me this opportunity to again emphasize their important contribution to our health.

Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.” Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www.mindingourelders.com. She can be reached at carolbradleybursack@mindingourelders.com.

Eye Injury

It’s all fun and games until someone gets poked in the eye!

In the United States, there are over one million eye injuries every year. Over half of these injuries occur in/around the home.

Nearly 100% of these injuries can be prevented with the proper safety eyewear.

With summer arriving, many of us will be working or playing outdoors – yard work, gardening, home improvements, etc.

These activities put us at increased risk for eye injuries, so we need to make sure that we are properly protected.

Safety glasses and/or goggles are a simple way to protect yourself from most eye injuries. There are very stylish and comfortable frames available to wear alone or over your current glasses. If you work in an environment where eye safety is constant concern, you should have your glasses made with safety lenses and put in a safety frame. There are many stylish frames that are ANSI approved for protecting your eyes. Normal dress eyewear is NOT a substitute for safety glasses!

So as you prepare for a busy summer of work and play, pick up a pair of safety glasses and be sure to wear them for all dangerous activities. It only takes a second to put them on, but they may help prevent an injury that could last a lifetime.

If you do find yourself with an eye injury, we normally have doctors on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week!

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Park Rapids Police Officer Austin Rittgers stopped by to thank the youth and elders for the blankets. He is pictured here with St. Peter's Youth Group members, from left, Megan Offerdahl, Abby Felt, Jacob Zinniel and Jada Renneberg. (Lorie Skarpness/Enterprise)

Working together, Cyprian Little, Frank Donnay, Zach Heath, Chloe Tretbar and Brenda Tretbar tie fringes on a sports-themed blanket.

BLANKETS

All smiles, Kayla Montzka and elders Jan Carson and Bernice Hanson from the Living at Home program show the blanket they made at the intergenerational event held at St. Peter's Church in Park Rapids.

Youth and elders connecting

Youth who attended the event also had positive things to say about the experience of doing a project with community elders.

“I really enjoyed this experience,” Athina Hjermstad said. “It was so fun to listen to everyone’s stories and see everyone laughing and having fun. It was definitely a moment to remember!”

“It was fun to spend time with and talk to the elders while helping out the community,” Jada Renneberg added.

“I thought that it was nice to talk to all the elders and making the blankets was fun, too,” Zach Heath said.

“Everything fell into place beautifully,” Haas said.

“We had a great time, helping the children who will receive the blankets and spent time with some wonderful people! This is what community service should look like, everyone working together and having fun in the process. I definitely can see doing something together again. I have ideas but will need to do some thinking and planning as to the how and when.”

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child in some of these situations.”

Huber has children of her own in the youth group and said she believes intergenerational contact benefit both young people and adults.

“Many youth don’t have a lot of interaction with elders in the community,” she said. “There are lessons they can learn from their elders. We moved here two years ago and there is an elder who lives two doors down from us. My kids have learned so much from her. I love seeing that relationship they have with her. If they didn’t have that, my kids would be missing out on something special. Now they know elders are just like them.”

Huber said she hopes more intergenerational events will be held in the future.

“It was heartwarming,” she said. “If any other groups or schools have an idea for another project involving elders and youth, they can contact Living at Home. It can be as simple as a youth group coming to rake an elder’s yard or another group project like this one. We have people with needs, but also people who want to get out and interact in the community.”

She said they have also considered having youth bring elders as guests to school events, such as concerts or plays.

Youth group member Megan Fuller and elder Lyle Oien work on tying fringes on a blanket while Megan's grandmother, Betty Fuller, watches their progress.

Side by side, hands of elders and youth tied fringes on the soft fleece blankets that will be given out by Park Rapids police officers to those who need comfort in a stressful situation.

From Page 1

As guests of the event, elders were seated first.

Youth group members served them a meal of wild rice soup, sloppy joes and vegetables with dip while others went around serving coffee and water. “My, that looks good,” said Bernice Hanson of Nevis.

Once the elders were served, the youth got their plates and joined them, springing back into action to serve the elders Rice Krispie bars and more coffee for dessert.

Park Rapids Police Officer Austin Rittgers surprised the group by stopping in to thank them for their work on the blankets.

Police Chief Jeff Appel said the blankets will make a difference in the community.

“We often see people or families in need, and can provide them with temporary lodging or small comfort items, like these blankets,” he said. “In the course of our duties, we also see many children who are in need of comfort after dealing with a traumatic event. A new, warm blanket can help in comforting a

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May 2019

Good nutrition is essential for health Studies show that a good diet in later years helps both in reducing the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and some cancers.

While eating well contributes to a higher quality of life, eating poorly can prolong recovery from illnesses, increase the costs and incidences of hospitalization, and lead to a poorer quality of life.

Many older people, because of chronic medical problems, require special diets, such as low-fat, low-cholesterol diet for heart disease, a low-sodium diet for high blood pressure or a low-calorie diet for weight reduction.

Unfortunately, many seniors are daunted by the extra effort that is required to prepare such recipes and may instead settle for foods that are quick and easy to prepare, such as frozen dinners, canned foods, lunch meats and others that may provide too many calories or contain too much fat and sodium for their needs.

Participating in a congregate meal program is the perfect solution for many older adults. It allows seniors to gather at a local site – often the senior citizen center, other public building or a restaurant – for a nutritious meal and activities, such as games, presentations on nutrition and other topics of inter-

Generations on the Move

BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist est to older people.

Each meal provides at least one-third of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for nutrition.

Congregate dining sites are designed to accommodate the needs of those persons 60 and older. If you are a spouse under 60, you may also participate in the meal program.

The meals not only provide good nutrition, they also give older people a chance to socialize – a key factor in preventing the adverse nutritional effects of social isolation.

Frozen meals that are locally prepared are available for seniors living far from a meal site or for seniors who are physically unable to dine at a congregate dining site.

Hot, home-delivered meals on wheels are available from most sites. Homebound seniors may receive meals after returning from a stay in the hospital.

Diners are given the opportunity to confidentially contribute towards the cost of the meals, but no one is denied a meal because of inability to donate.

Are you looking for a gift idea for an older person? Gift certificates for meal tickets are available for purchase. This makes a great gift for those seniors who have everything, for those seniors in need of good nutrition and social interaction or for those seniors who need a helping hand.

It is never too late for us to make nutrition changes. If you have not been to your local congregate dining site, give it a try!

This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® One Stop Shop at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp.info. MinnesotaHelp. info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help.

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Embrace spring with Lemony Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach Pasta is a staple in our Italian home, and how we prepare it varies by the season. As we transition from winter to spring, rich and hearty pastas like lasagna and baked ziti give way to lighter dishes, like this Lemony Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach.

A medium-sized noodle that roughly matches the size of the mushrooms and spinach works best for this dish. In our local grocery stores, where I do most of our shopping, the variety of available pasta noodles is woefully lacking, offering only a basic selection of medium noodles like penne, rigatoni and, on occasion, medium shells.

However, a recent visit to a Costco store yielded a happy discovery: a variety six-pack of Italian pasta, featuring three different medium-sized noodles, including cassarecce (featured today), gemelli (a spiral noodle) and, of course, the ubiquitous penne. All three will work with this recipe.

The pasta is boiled until almost al dente, drained and set aside to be sauteed with the mushrooms and spinach.

There are several ingredients that are used twice in this recipe, which is indicated by the word “divided” next to the ingredient.

For example, this dish lemony goodness of both lemon zest, which in sepaments

gets a burst of from the use juice and are added rate installto enrich the depth of flavor.

Seasonings like salt and pepper are added at various stages throughout the recipe, and a half-cup of olive oil is divided into quarter-cups to toast the panko breadcrumbs and to saute the garlic.

A little advance preparation goes a long way to ensuring success with this dish and prevent any missteps with the divided ingredients. Take time to thoroughly read the recipe, prepare and measure all the ingredients and lay out your equipment (like measuring cups and spoons) before you begin. This is a technique the French call “mise en place,” which means putting everything in its place, and it is especially useful for quick-cook dishes like this one.

The flavor in this dish is built in layers, starting with six cloves of thinly sliced garlic which are sauteed over low heat in olive oil for eight or nine minutes, just until the edges start to brown. While this may seem like a lot of garlic, slicing it paperthin and slowly cooking it over a low temperature will mellow its bite while gently infusing the oil with flavor.

For added texture and color, a generous dusting of toasted panko breadcrumbs tossed with lemon zest and fresh basil is sprinkled atop the pasta just before serving.

This vegetarian alternative is the perfect main course for a meatless Monday or Lenten Friday and will also work well as a side dish for fish, pork and chicken. Light, savory and delicious, Lemony Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach is a springtime staple in our home.

Home with the Lost Italian

BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO

Columnist

Lemony Pasta with Mushrooms and Spinach

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 pound pasta, medium-size noodles best (like cassarecce, penne, rigatoni or medium shells) 2 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, divided 6 garlic cloves, sliced paper-thin (a food mandolin is ideal, if available) 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 6 ounces baby bella mushrooms, cleaned and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, divided 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped 2 tablespoons lemon zest, divided 8 ounces fresh baby spinach 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish Line a large plate with paper towel and set aside.

In a medium pan, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over

medium heat. When hot, add the breadcrumbs and toast over medium-low heat, stirring often, until evenly golden, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Transfer breadcrumbs to the papertowel-lined plate to drain; set aside to cool.

Fill a large stockpot with water, add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt and bring to a boil over high heat.

Add the pasta and cook until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than amount recommended on package.

Before draining the pasta, reserve and set aside 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain remaining water and rinse pasta with cool water to stop the cooking process; set aside.

As the pasta is cooking, in a large pan, add the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil, the sliced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic becomes fragrant and lightly golden around the edges, about 7 to 9 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and cook over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, once the breadcrumbs have cooled, transfer to a medium bowl. Add the chopped basil, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; gently toss until combined and set aside to use as a garnish when the pasta is ready to serve.

Add the fresh spinach leaves, in batches if necessary, and continue cooking over medium-low heat, tossing often, until the leaves begin to wilt. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

Add the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water (add more as needed), the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the pasta is hot and heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Parmesan cheese and toss to ensure even distribution.

Transfer pasta to serving bowl(s) and top with half of the toasted breadcrumbs. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and remaining breadcrumbs, on the side. Serves four.

Sarah’s tips ► The breadcrumbs may be prepared a day in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to use. Add the lemon zest and fresh basil just before serving. ► The pasta may also be prepared in advance and kept at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours before being added to the mushrooms and spinach.

“Home with the Lost Italian” is a weekly column written by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail. com.

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May 2019

FINDING HEALTH INSURANCE BEFORE MEDICARE KICKS IN The Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER Columnist Dear Savvy Senior, I will be retiring in a few months and need to get some health insurance for my wife and me until we can enroll in Medicare. What are my options? ~ About to Retire Dear About to Retire, There are several places early retirees can find health insurance coverage before Medicare kicks in, but the best option for you and your wife will depend on your income level and your health care needs. Here’s where to look.

Government marketplace If your yearly income falls below the 400 percent poverty level after you retire, the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka Obamacare) marketplace is probably your best option for getting health coverage because of the premium subsidies they offer, which will reduce the amount you’ll have to pay for a policy.

ACA health insurance is major medical insurance that covers essential health benefits with no annual or lifetime coverage maximums. And they can’t charge you more or deny you coverage because of a

pre-existing health condition.

To qualify for the subsidies, your household’s modified adjusted gross income for 2019 must be under $48,560 for an individual or $65,840 for a couple.

If your income is just above these thresholds, you should talk to a tax advisor about perhaps making a larger IRA contribution or strategically timing retirement account withdrawals to help you qualify. To see how various levels of income might affect your premiums and subsidies, see the subsidy calculator on the Kaiser Family Foundation website at KFF.org/ interactive/subsidy-calculator.

To shop for marketplace plans in your state, visit HealthCare.gov or call their toll-free helpline at 800318-2596.

If you find that you are not eligible for the subsidies and the premiums seem unaffordable, look into ACA-compliant plans that you can purchase off the marketplace directly from the insurance carrier or through a broker. In some states, you might find plans with lower premiums, especially on silver plans.

To find off the marketplace policies, see health insurance shopping websites like eHealthInsurance. com, or contact a broker or agent to assist you. See LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov to locate someone in your area.

may want to consider short-term health insurance, which is much cheaper. These plans, which are not available in every state, are bare-bones health plans that provide coverage for three, six or 12 months – depending on state/federal rules. But be aware that short-term plans don’t comply with the ACA so they can deny sick people coverage, they don’t cover preexisting conditions and they can exclude coverage essentials like prescription drugs.

To shop for short-term health insurance, visit eHealthInsurance.com or contact a local broker or agent via LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.

Short-term health insurance

Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

If you can’t find an affordable ACA plan, you

COBRA If you need health insurance coverage for less than 18 months, another option you may want to consider is COBRA, which allows you to remain on your former employer’s group health plan, but not every employer plan is COBRA eligible. Contact your employer benefits administrator to find out if yours is.

In most cases COBRA is expensive, requiring you to pay the full monthly premium yourself. But, if you’ve already met or nearly met your employer plan’s deductible and/or out-of-pocket maximum for the year, and don’t want to start over with a new plan; or if you find your employer’s health plan to be better or more affordable that the other options, it makes sense to keep your current coverage under COBRA.

New T ransitio na Our alternative living environment is designed for the Senior adult who finds difficulty in living alone.

Rose • Private rooms, double rooms are Haven available 37 - Sixth St. S.E. • • Nutritious meals Menahga, MN 56464 • Household service 218-564-4268 • Supervision as needed • Transportation A Caring & • RN on staff Supportive Assisted Living • Organized activities • A safe, protective environment.

Community Public funds are available to assist those with limited income and resources.

l Care Unit

Providing care for over 50 years, located in Menahga, Minnesota, Greenwood Connections continues to provide several living options for seniors.

Green Pine Acres Skilled Nursing Facility Long Term Care & Short Term Stay Rehabilitation Woodside Manor Assisted Living Assisted Living with Services You can count on Greenwood Connections to provide only the highest quality of care for yourself or your loved one

427 Main St NE, Menahga, Minnesota 56464

218-564-4101 Visit our website for more information: www.greenwoodconnections.com

Ma y 2 01 9

8

BEYOND KETO TO LOW-CARB DIETS

By Teresa Farrell Licensed dietician, Essentia Health As a follow-up to my last article on the keto diet, I thought I would talk about low-carb diets this month.

Low-carb diets are similar to keto diets, but not nearly as restrictive in carb and protein intake. A low-carb diet does avoid bread, pasta, rice and cereal, among other grain foods. It also limits your intake of starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, fruit, milk or yogurt. As with the keto diet, people following a low carb diet do lose weight – as do people following many other types of reduced-calorie diets.

Low carb is an offshoot of the Atkins diet that was popular several years ago. There are many variations of low-carb diets. Some allow you to eat all the bacon and fatty meat you desire. Others are a bit more moderate, recommending lean meats and protein and an overall moderate protein intake versus being a high-protein diet as well as low carb. This is more prudent, as the evidence shows saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Saturated fats are found in animal fats and tropical oils that are solid at room temperature (such as coconut and palm oil).

Many people who lose weight on a low-carb diet (or other diet) do bring down their cholesterol, which may be due to the weight loss itself, not because of eating bacon cheeseburgers (no bun, of course!)

Depending on the source, carb intake recommendations can vary from 100 grams, 50 grams and as low as 20 grams a day, and anything in between!

Most often, the goal is to basically go as low as possible.

To help you visualize how restrictive this is, a small apple has 20 grams of carb, 1 slice of bread has 15 grams, 1 cup of milk has 12 grams, and 1 cup of plain yogurt has 20 grams. One of these foods would basically be your carb allowance for the day on a 20 gram carb diet.

So, the question becomes: what can you eat?!

Basically, meat and low-carb vegetables. Before embarking on this type of diet, ask yourself if you can stick with it for the rest of your life to sustain the weight lost. There are many different options for weight loss, and different approaches work for different people.

When carb intake is so low and entire food groups (three of the five) are limited so drastically, nutrient intake is also limited. A multivitamin and mineral supplement is recommended, with additional supplementation of calcium and folic acid, if they are not included. For adequate fiber, at least five servings of low carb vegetables should be eaten each day.

It’s also important to drink plenty of water to help prevent constipation and dehydration. The lower the carb intake, the greater the risk of dehydration.

With such a limited diet you may also be missing out on prebiotics, probiotics and phytonutrients.

There is still so much to be learned about nutrition and its impact on health, so it’s best to eat a wide variety of healthy foods each day.

Philly Cheesesteak Cabbage Wraps 8 large green cabbage leaves 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced 2 large bell peppers, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon d r i e d oregano

Black pepper 1 lb. skirt steak, thinly sliced 6 slices provolone cheese Salt and other seasonings (optional) In a large pot of boiling water, use tongs to dip cabbage leaves in water for 30 seconds to blanch.

Place on a paper towel-lined plate to dry.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of oil, then add onion and bell peppers. Season with oregano, pepper, and salt if desired. Cook, stirring often, until onions and peppers are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from skillet and add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet.

Add steak in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook until steak is seared on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the steak is seared on second side and is cooked to your liking, about 2 minutes more for medium.

Add onion and peppers back to skillet and toss to combine. Top mixture with an even layer of provolone and cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Cook until cheese is somewhat melted, about 1 minute.

Place a scoop of steak and peppers mixture onto center of a cabbage leaf. Fold short end of leaf over mixture, then roll up the long way, like a burrito. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Serves four.

Providing the quality care you deserve in the environment you choose for a life you enjoy.

Crystal Brook

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

by KNUTE NELSON

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