Successful Aging - Fall 2019

SUCCESSFUL AGING

Expo 2019

FREE admission TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 9:30 A.M. - 2 P.M. Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd, Longmont October 6, 2019

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October 6, 2019

SUCCESSFUL AGING

Expo 2019

Vendors

ACCEL AT LONGMONT

Accel is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility. Short term and long term comprehensive, personalized compassionate care with clinical oversight as you need it.

ALTAVITA SENIOR RESIDENCES

Three unique senior residences on one Longmont campus: Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.

APPROVAL REVERSE MORTGAGE

The specialists for reverse mortgages in Colorado.

BALFOUR

Balfour Senior Living’s vision is to provide world class senior care communities with the use of state-of-the-art innovations surrounded by comfortably elegant interior design inspired by local architecture.

BILL ALLEN, RE/MAX OF BOULDER

Real estate broker at Re/Max of Boulder specializing in senior real estate matters.

BRIGHT HEALTH PLAN

Medicare plans that give you a whole lot more. No hopps, no headaches, no nonsense.

CARLSON LAW OFFICE

Learn the “rules of the game” to help your family avoid a financial and emotional mess at death or incapacity.

CENTENO SCHULTZ

The first clinic in the world to use your body’s own stem cells to treat orthopedic problems. Their board-certified medical doctors have more experience and have treated substantially more patients than any other orthopedic stem cell provider or clinic across the globe.

DENTAL HORIZONS

Come see why we were voted a “Best Dentist in Longmont.” Serving Longmont for more than 10 years.

EXPERIMAX

Experimax is home to your local Mac® experts offering Certified Pre-Owned Apple computers, iPads® and iPhones - and every device includes the Experisure warranty.

They specialize in providing the Apple stuff you love at a price that you’ll love even more!

EYE CARE CENTER OF NORTHERN COLORADO

One of Colorado’s oldest and most advanced facilities for eye health, surgery and vision correction, with specialists in retina, cornea, glaucoma and oculoplastics.

GOOD DAY PHARMACY

An independently-owned company with nine retail pharmacies and one specialty pharmacy, they are experts in taking care of prescription medications, solving challenges, and improving the health of you and your family.

GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY LOVELAND VILLAGE

Good Samaritan Society Loveland Village provides housing and services to those 55 and over. Senior living, assisted living, rehab, long-term care and home health care are all available.

October 6, 2019

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HEARING HEALTH CARE CENTERS

Full service hearing centers serving the Front Range and staffed with doctors of audiology and highly trained hearing instrument specialists

HEARING Rehab

Hearing Rehab Center has been providing affordable hearing technology and personalized care in Colorado for 20+ years. They help people hear better!

HIGH PLAINS BANK

High Plains Bank is an authentic community bank in downtown Longmont

KATHERINE AND CHARLES HOVER GREEN HOUSES

A radically new, national model for longterm care that returns control, dignity and a sense of well-being to elders, their families and direct care staff.

LIFE CARE CENTER AND THE BRIDGE ASSISTED LIVING

Life Care of Longmont and The Bridge Assisted Living offer care and comfort for every stage of life. See what quality living is all about with our premier assisted living, skilled nursing, and inpatient and outpatient therapy services.

LONGMONT HEARING & TINNITUS CENTER

Longmont Hearing & Tinnitus Center provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for hearing loss and tinnitus, including hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Serving Longmont for 27 years.

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MEDICINE MAN DISPENSARY LONGMONT

A caring team trained to answer any question you may have with the goal of providing the most exceptional experience in an environment that is professional, safe, unrushed and educational.

MERTZ FAMILY DENTISTRY

A full service dental practice incorporating the latest technology to provide the best treatment and convenience for our patients.

RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN

Renewal by Andersen is the window replacement subsidiary of Andersen Corporation, a company that has revolutionized the window and door business for more than 110 years.

RONALD G. PESTINE & ASSOCIATES, ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW

Specializing in Estate Planning and Real Estate, Mr. Pestine is well known throughout the Chicago Metropolitan Area and is now establishing a presence in the Denver Metropolitan Area as well. He has personally created hundreds of Trusts and Estate Plans.

THE KAPSAK LAW FIRM, LLC Provides experienced, compassionate legal counsel in the areas of Estate Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Guardianships and Conservatorships, Medicaid Planning, and Business Planning.

TRU COMMUNITY CARE

TRU Community Care affirms life at every step of your journey with illness and loss.

Caring for our community since 1976.

TRU PACE

(Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) Coordinating and providing all needed preventive, primary, acute and longterm care services so that older individuals can continue living safely in their community.

VILLAGE COOPERATIVE OF LOVELAND

The Village Cooperative is a community for active adults 55+ who want home ownership without the hassles of maintenance or repair bills.

VITALIFE CHIROPRACTIC

Serving newborn through senior patients with neurologically based chiropractic corrective care.

YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO

YMCA is a nonprofit organization devoted to healthy living in the Longmont community. YMCA prevention and healing programs are data driven and led by certified staff.

Personalized wills & trusts.

Made easy.

Ronald G. Pestine & Associates, Attorneys and Counselors at Law have over 46 years of excellence and integrity in estate planning. A living trust is an excellent way to avoid probate and to allocate your assets after death. It can appoint the best person to manage your affairs and finances and preserve family harmony. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.

Ronald G. Pestine & Associates (720) 708-5358 Broomfield 390 Interlocken Crescent Suite 350

Longmont 1729 Terry St.

Hear Ron Speak At the Successful Aging Expo Oct. 8th at 10:00 am The Longmont Museum 400 Quail Rd., Longmont, CO 4 SUCCESSFUL AGING

Living Trusts

Probate

Estate Planning

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October 6, 2019

SUCCESSFUL AGING

Expo 2019

9:30 a.m.

SAMANTHA BLACK LCSW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRU PACE (PROGRAM OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY) TOPIC: Keys to Successful aging: Supporting the Caregiver

Samantha Black has worked with TRU Community Care as a hospice social worker and clinical leader since 2007, and she assumed executive leadership of TRU PACE in January 2018.

Sam possesses over 20 years experience as a medical social worker, with a deep passion for the support and care of the families who are journeying with their loved one through aging and end of life. Sam brings a sensitivity and compassion to this work, understanding that an older adult’s success in aging often relies on, the health and well-being of the caregivers who support them. Through her role at TRU PACE, she strives to develop programs that foster a sense of community, connection and care for those doing the important, heart-work of caregiving.

Hear for life.

Longmont Hearing & Tinnitus Center is dedicated to providing the highest level of medicallyoriented diagnostic and treatment services for hearing loss.

Schedule of Events 10 a.m.

RON PESTINE TOPIC: Understanding Estate Planning and Living Trusts

Ronald G. Pestine, received his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University Law School in 1973 and his B.A. Degree in accounting from Indiana University in 1968. He is licensed to practice in both Illinois and Colorado. Specializing in Estate Planning and Real Estate, Mr. Pestine is well known throughout the Chicago Metropolitan Area and is now establishing a presence in the Denver Metropolitan Area as well. He has personally created hundreds of Trusts and Estate Plans. Mr. Pestine has attempted to enhance public awareness regarding estate planning and related topics by conducting seminars on Living Trusts and Estate Planning for the Federal Government and in conjunction with various national brokerage companies, insurance companies, major corporations, park districts, school districts and retirement planning firms. He was the keynote speaker on WCIU-TV’s “Law Beat,” where thousands of viewers tuned in every week to participate in this fast paced live exchange of information.

Three unique buildings on one Longmont campus

(888) 745-8268 L

OUR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDE: • • • •

Hearing testing and consultation Tinnitus evaluation and treatment Hearing aids and repairs Earmolds and hearing protection 195 S. Main Street, Suite 8 Longmont, Colorado 80501 D’Anne Rudden, Au.D., CCC-A

Board Certified Doctor of Audiology

303-651-1178 PHONE • 303-651-0488 FAX October 6, 2019

call today for a tour. | www.altavitaliving.com

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 5

11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

JACKIE HAHN, APPROVAL REVERSE MORTGAGE

JOLEEN MCGEE, LIFE CARE CENTER OF LONGMONT

ment

TOPIC: Understanding How Your Insurance Benefits Cover Nursing Home Place-

Joleen McGee has devoted her adult life to helping those in the Senior Community. With over thirty years of experience, and the last thirteen of which have been with Life Care Center of Longmont. She is known throughout the Longmont Community for her passion and devotion and strives to make a difference in lives of everyone she meets.

She continues as a volunteer for Longmont Meals on Wheels and the Longmont Senior Center.

TOPIC: Reverse Mortgages

Jackie has 7 years experience processing Reverse Mortgages and in that time developed a love for what the product can do and population it serves. She and her Father-in-law, Duane Hahn, have joined forces and now originate Reverse Mortgages as a team.

Prior to earning her Mortgage Loan Originator’s license, Jackie received a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University and a Paralegal Studies degree. Other than her work in Reverse Mortgages Jackie was a paralegal in a prestigious Denver Labor and Employment firm.

Jackie loves the relationships that she has with her clients and helping them meet their reverse mortgage needs.

12 Noon

11 a.m.

KATE GRANT, VILLAGE COOPERATIVE

LAUREN MAXWELL, MEDICINE MAN DISPENSARY, LONGMONT TOPIC: CBD Oil for Seniors

TOPIC: Hassle-Free Home Ownership You Can Enjoy

Lauren has a BA in Education, a BA in English, and a Professional in Human Resources Certification from HRCI. She serves on the Young Professionals Board for the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She was a teacher who took a leap into the cannabis industry.

Her passion for education motivated her to embark on a career as a high school Language Arts teacher in her home state of Ohio. During this path, she learned the importance of opening students’ minds and teaching them to think outside the box. As her love for the mountains brought her to Colorado, she herself had her mind opened to a new world of health and wellness.

Lauren now works for Medicine Man as the Human Resource Director and Community Outreach Director.

Medicine Man is a prominent marijuana company leading the way for the industry. Since working in the cannabis industry, Lauren has seen the focus shift from intoxicating marijuana to CBD for health and wellness. She has witnessed the demographic of cannabis users expand to an older population who used to think of it as taboo. Lauren has taken part in product development and marketing that now includes people who would have never opened their minds to using marijuana. She has enjoyed being a part of this shift to make cannabis and specifically CBD accessible to all demographics and shed the stigma of what it used to hold. Seeing marijuana improve the lives of countless people around her has been her biggest joy working in the industry. She loves to share her antidotal experience to help others consider this path of health and wellness.

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Kate Grant is a successful entrepreneur, transformational life coach, and motivational speaker. She has been inspiring people of all ages for over 30 years. Her intuition, ability to establish deeply personal connections and vibrant positive energy is contagious and has influenced countless others to reach their highest expression. An award-winning published author of the book “Before You Were You,” Kate is the Sales Manager for the Village Cooperative of Loveland, an exciting new senior community that is coming for active adults (55+). She lives in Windsor, Colorado surrounded by her five children and eight grandchildren.

12:30 p.m.

DR. MATT KOVACH, DMD, MERTZ FAMILY DENTISTRY

TOPIC: What Happens to Your Teeth Over Time – How to Care for Your Teeth and Options for Replacing Teeth

Dr. Matt Kovach earned his DMD degree from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He continued his training at Ellis Hospital in upstate New York, where he practiced for the majority of the past decade. The hospital’s General Practice Residency program included advanced training in all areas of dentistry. Dr. Kovach is currently a member of the Metro Denver Dental Society, the Colorado Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He enjoys making his patients feel comfortable while working together to improve and maintain oral health.

When not in the office, Dr. Kovach enjoys creating art, playing guitar, volunteering at Maxfund Animal Shelter, and exploring the culture and wilderness of Colorado.

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October 6, 2019

1 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

TOPIC: Stem Cells and Regenerative Treatment Options for Orthopedic Conditions

TOPIC: Pros and Cons of Wills and Trusts

MARC CARLSON, CARLSON LAW OFFICE, LLC

DR. CHAZ FAUSEL, MD, CENTENO-SCHULTZ CLINIC

Marc Carlson is a 5-Star Google Rated attorney. Without proper estate planning, you can leave your family with a financial and emotional mess. Unexpected events can happen at any time to anyone. I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. My mission is to encourage and help people and their families to be prepared in advance if a tragedy were to strike because of a car accident, fall, stroke, illness or death. I’ve seen first-hand what happens when folks are either prepared or not prepared with proper lifetime mental disability planning and asset transfer planning at death.

Dr. Chaz Fausel grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Being the first in his family to graduate college, Dr. Fausel obtained his Bachelor of Science at the University of Georgia, in Athens. Dr. Fausel was then admitted to the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where he obtained his Medical Doctorate. Looking for a more holistic approach to caring for patients, he pursued a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Fausel is excited to continue his lifelong journey of learning and is passionate about the opportunity to treat patients at the highest level possible by performing procedures that are only offered here at the Centeno-Schultz clinic.

State of the Art Dental Services Designed for Patient Comfort

Voted a favorite Dentist in Longmont’s Readers’ Choice!

• General • Digital X-Rays • Cosmetic • Implants

Peter Mertz, DDS, Guy Mertz, DDS, Mathew Kovach, DMD, Colleen Bock, DDS Providing personalized dental care in Longmont since 1985 October 6, 2019

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1325 Dry Creek Drive, Suite 304 Longmont 80503

303-678-1111

SUCCESSFUL AGING 7

How hearing implants for the elderly can

IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE CENTENNIAL/ PRNewswire/ -- If you or your loved one is over 65, straining to hear even when using powerful hearing aids, unable to understand what is being said in conversation and pulling away from once treasured personal and family activities, it may be time to explore a different hearing solution.

A cochlear implant is one option of hearing implants for the elderly to treat hearing loss.

Cochlear implants are different from hearing aids. Hearing aids only amplify sounds, and unfortunately as hearing loss progresses, sounds need not only to be made louder, but clearer. Cochlear implants can help give you that clarity because they are designed to help you hear better and understand speech in all situations, including noisy environments.1 A recent study found 93 percent of people who had received

cochlear implants improved their speech understanding compared to their hearing aid, 70 percent demonstrated significantly improved hearing in noise compared to hearing aids, and 83 percent reported a statistically significant improvement in quality of life after receiving their cochlear implant.2

The good news is the sooner hearing loss is addressed with the appropriate hearing solution, the sooner impacts to everyday life can be overcome. For those with severe to profound hearing loss, studies show people with cochlear implants experience reduced anxiety and depression and see improvements in their

overall health.3 Gay Miller, 73, regained her confidence and enjoyment of life when she got her cochlear implant, including being able to hear her grandchildren, drive them around and be part of their activities.

“There’s nothing I can’t do. There is nothing I can’t hear,” says Gay. “I can go to games, I can go to meetings, I can hear people talking across the street, and it’s wonderful.”

You are never too old to hear. Take the first step to better hearing with hearing implants for the elderly at www.

Cochlear.com/US/HearingImplants.

1. Hirschfelder A, Gräbel S, Olze H. The impact of cochlear implantation on quality of life: The role of audiologic performance and variables.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008

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October 6, 2019

Mar;138(3): 357-362.

2. Clinical Evaluation of the Cochlear Nucleus CI532 Cochlear Implants in Adults.2019 Jan; Data on file.

3. Manrique-Huarte R et al (2016) Treatment for hearing loss among the elderly: Auditory outcomes and impact on quality of life. Audiol Neurotol, 21S1:29-35.

Cochlear Limited 2019. All rights reserved. Cochlear, Hear now.

And always, Nucleus, Baha, the elliptical logo and marks bearing an ® or ™ symbol, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB or Cochlear Limited (unless otherwise noted). ©

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors, which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information. Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.

If you have concerns about hearing loss or would like more information on solutions, visit one of these hearing care professionals for information about all of the options available to you.

Hearing HealthCare Center

1515 Main St #15, Longmont (303) 963-9637, hearinghealthcarecenters.com

Hearing Rehab Center

2318 17th Ave, Longmont (303) 485-9720, hearingrehabcenter.com

Longmont Hearing & Tinnitus Center 1146 Francis St., Longmont 303-651-1178, longmonthearing.com

Visit with all three hearing experts at the Successful Aging Expo.

SOURCE Cochlear

t’s about helping I the whole person live the whole of life.

To learn more about Good Samaritan Society – Loveland V illage, call (970) 669-3100.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

October 6, 2019

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 9

Ask the expert:

VISION HEALTH AS YOU AGE float across the gel-like substance between your eye’s lens and retina.

Usually there is no need to worry if you notice these spots occasionally and they disappear after a few minutes, but only a dilated eye examination can determine the cause of the “floaters.”

If your vision is overcome by these specks or you notice vision loss, contact your eye doctor, as it could be a symptom of a sightthreatening condition.

3. What are some common vision-related diseases that come with age?

(BPT) - Many people expect their eyesight to decline with age - perhaps requiring a stronger eyeglass prescription or “readers.”

Some vision changes are linked to age, but there are steps to consider to help our eyes stay as healthy as possible.

Dr. Linda Chous, OD, chief eye care officer, UnitedHealth-

care, answered the following questions:

1. Are my eyes going to keep getting worse as I age?

While your eyesight is not guaranteed to deteriorate with age, it is normal to notice changes to your vision as the years pass,

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including: • Minor adjustments to your eyeglasses prescription or needing to use “readers” for the first time; • Trouble distinguishing colors, such as blue from black; and • The need for more light to see well.

Although these changes are often normal, they can also be signs of conditions like cataracts or even diabetes. It is important to maintain regular appointments with your eye doctor to help identify pressing concerns. If you experience sudden vision loss or any rapid change to your eyesight, contact your eye care provider immediately.

2. What are the tiny spots or specks that float across my vision?

These tiny threads of protein

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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 65.

AMD causes damage to the macula, the small spot on the retina that enables people to see clearly and view things straight ahead of them.

Common symptoms are distortion and blurring of the center of your field of vision. If caught early, there are potential benefits from certain prescription medications and nutritional supplements.

Late-stage AMD is much more difficult to treat.

Certain factors like heredity, ultraviolet light exposure and smoking may increase the risk of AMD. Consult with your eye doctor to determine if a preventive treatment plan is right for you.

Cataracts

A cataract is the clouding of the lens in your eye, blocking the flow of light to the back of your eye (retina), which ultimately October 6, 2019

causes loss of sight. Most form slowly and do not cause pain.

Significant clouding can form in some people and, ultimately, negatively impact vision.

Cataracts are treatable via surgery that replaces the clouded lens with a clear plastic lens. Cataract surgery is generally safe and one of the most common surgeries in the U.S. Once a cataract is removed, it cannot grow back.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure inside the eye, which can cause permanent vision loss and blindness if untreated.

The most common form usually has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages - the only way to detect it is routine testing.

Treatment may include prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment surgery or a combination of any of these. It is important to find glaucoma early

because once vision is lost, it cannot be regained.

are less active.

•Eat a healthy diet. Colorful fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that can keep your eyes healthy and reduce AMD risk.

4. What are the best ways to keep my eyes healthy as I age?

Some of the best ways to protect your eyes include: •Stop smoking. Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop AMD and may contribute to development of cataracts.

•Maintain a healthy weight.

Conditions associated with being overweight, like diabetes and heart disease, increase your risk of vision loss from cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy.

•Wear sunglasses. Help protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.

•Be physically active. People who are physically active experienced less vision loss over 20 years compared to those who

5. Do sunglasses really protect my eyes?

Sunglasses act as a buffer between your eyes and the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to these rays can put you at greater risk of cataracts and AMD. Look for a pair that blocks 99% to 100% of UV rays.

Note that polarization is different from UV protection; however, most polarized sunglasses also provide UV protection. Check the product tag or ask for assistance in choosing the right pair.

6. How often should I see my eye care doctor?

Eye exams are crucial to maintaining eye health as you age.

Many eye diseases, like glaucoma, have no symptoms in early stages.

And many systemic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can be first found during a routine eye exam. Aim to see your eye doctor annually even if your vision hasn’t changed, so your doctor has a record of your eye health. See your doctor immediately for sudden changes.

For UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members, many plans include routine vision services as well as additional services not covered under Original Medicare.

It’s helpful to learn how to take advantage of these and other benefits.

Plans insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract.

Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

A WELCOMING SPACE TO CALL YOUR OWN

The Y is a place of community, wellness and healing, providing people of all ages with warm smiles, expert instruction and opportunities to support the spirit, mind and body. Find your strength in our many fitness classes, including SilverSneakers®, Moving for Better Balance and Fit After 50. Find your community among numerous clubs and social groups.

NOW HIRING! Find meaning, purpose and satisfaction while contributing to your community and the Y cause. We have parttime and full-time opportunities in a variety of areas. Visit ymcanoco.org/careers.

YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO • ymcanoco.org Boulder • Lafayette • Longmont • Johnstown (coming in 2020) October 6, 2019

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 11

Key Questions and Answers about

ESTATE PLANNING wills and trusts. There are many considerations to make, such as whether a minor child is a beneficiary, whether you are married, and whether you want to distribute property before death, at death or afterwards.

Q. What happens if I don’t have an estate plan?

By Lucy Ewing for Successful Aging It’s a step that is essential to your peace of mind and providing for your loved ones, burden-free. Yet, many people put off estate planning because they think it can wait, or that they have few assets, or that the process sounds daunting. None of these are reasons to delay.

“If you have any assets whatsoever, you need to sit down with an estate lawyer to decide what documents you need to protect yourself in the event you are incapacitated or pass away,” says Ronald Pestine, an estate planning attorney with offices in Longmont and Broomfield.

Estate lawyers have the expertise to guide you through the process, which can take fewer than eight hours. Here are some basics to help prepare for the conversation.

Q. What is an estate?

An estate is all the money and property you own. This includes homes, cars, bank accounts, and investments/retirement accounts, also known as assets.

Q. What are estate plans?

Estate plans help ensure that your wishes for yourself and your family are carried out in the event of your mental incapacity or death.

They provide the legal documents to transfer your assets to your beneficiaries, with the goal of creating the smallest possible tax burden for them. They also set forth your decisions about medical care and treatment at end of life or in the event of incapacity, designate a legal representative to act on your behalf, and provide for guardianship of any minor children. Estate plans begin with a will or trust.

If you are ever incapacitated or when you die, the absence of an estate plan will lead to your assets and heirs being settled through probate court, a court that deals with your property and debts. The probate judge will make sure that creditors are paid, and that any remaining assets are distributed to the proper beneficiaries. A simple probate will run $5,000 in fees. Additionally, in probate court, there is a lack of privacy. Anything in your estate becomes a matter of public record. And, your wishes for certain beneficiaries can be contested.

Q. When should a person start estate planning?

Your beneficiary is the person or organization you designate to receive something from your estate upon your death.

When you acquire assets, even as young as the age of 18, you should have plans in place. Wills can be updated; trusts can be actively managed. So, estate plans should be as regular as other provisions you make as an adult.

Q. What’s the difference between a will and a trust?

Q. What can I expect from the estate planning process with an attorney?

Q. What is a beneficiary?

You should seek a legal advisor for a complete comparison of

Good preparation can save you time and money. You will be asked

to gather information on your assets and potential beneficiaries for your first meeting, where your attorney will provide you with the information you need to decide whether to a will or a trust best serves your needs. After this initial meeting, your attorney will start preparation of documents. If you have chosen a will, you will have a signing and review meeting. If you have chosen a trust option, you will have an in-depth meeting to structure your trust and then a followup meeting for signing, review meeting and funding of your trust, which transfers some or all of your assets in the trust that you or an appointee will control. There are also “ancillary” documents you will sign that safeguard your financial affairs in the event of mental incapacity, medical and health care decisions (such as advance health directives or “living wills,” guardianship designations for minor children, and financial power of attorney.

When you’re ready to take steps toward securing your estate and planning for your legacy, there’s one consideration to keep in mind above all.

“Your family is the most important part of your ‘estate.’ If you love someone and want to provide for them in the best possible way, incapacity planning and death planning are essential,” says Marc Carlson, Estate Attorney at Carlson Law Office in Longmont.

No retirement plan is complete without estate planning and these professionals can help.

Ronald Pestine, Ronald G. Pestine & Associates

Marc Carlson, Carlson Law Office 2030 Terry Street, Suite 201, Longmont (303) 775-1112, carlsonlawoffice.org

1729 Terry St., Longmont (720) 708-5358, livingtrustsolution.com

Visit with them both at the Successful Aging Expo.

12 SUCCESSFUL AGING

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October 6, 2019

Social Security: 5 useful online tips

By Nicole Tiggemann Tribune News Service (TNS)

Social Security is here for you, not just when you need us financially, but when you need accurate information about our programs, retirement, and more. There are many online sources for Social Security information, but you need to make sure you’re getting the right information.

By using www.socialsecurity.gov, you know that what you’re reading and watching is approved by our experts and specifically created for you. Here are five of our resources that can offer you invaluable information.

-- Want access to our latest news, retirement planning tips, and helpful information? Social Security Matters is our blog at blog.socialsecurity.gov. From there, you can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, where you can watch our popular videos.

-- Our online calculators, such as the Retirement Estimator, the Life Expectancy Calcula-

Stop in today!

We’re fast & friendly with shortest wait times in town!

Medicare & Medicaid Billing

tor, and the Early or Late Retirement Calculator, can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/ planners/calculators.

-- Have you lost or misplaced your Social Security card? Find out how to get a new, replacement, or corrected card at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. In fact, you may be able to quickly request a replacement card online with a my Social Security account, if you meet certain qualifications, at www.socialsecurity.

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-- Verify your annual earnings and review estimates of your future Social Security benefits when you access your Social Security Statement, one of the many services available with a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

-- Do you have to pay taxes on Social Security benefits? How do you apply for Social Security retirement benefits? What is your full retirement age? Discover the answers to your Social Security related questions at our Frequently Asked Questions page at www. socialsecurity.gov/faq.

With so many services available online, Social Security is here for you when your schedule allows. And we’re the authority for Social Security program and benefits information. Be sure to tell friends and family about all the business they can do with us from the comfort of their home or office at socialsecurity.gov.

——— Nicole Tiggemann, Social Security spokesperson.

600 S Airport Rd Ste 200A • Longmont, CO 80503 www.dental-horizons.com Times-Call — TimesCall.com

SUCCESSFUL AGING 13

RELUCTANT TO SMILE?

You could be paying a higher price than you realize laugh or kiss. You can enjoy all of your everyday activities without worrying about your teeth. You’ll also find your speech is more natural. Simply put, you just won’t have any excuses not to smile.

(BPT) - For millions of individuals who are missing teeth, smiling is no easy task. The decision to get dental implants can prove to be life-changing. Several years ago, Dr. Natalie Wong, president of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), treated a shy 18-year-old man whose front teeth were knocked out in a bullying incident - and she still feels grateful for the opportunity.

When the young man first came to her office, he wouldn’t even look up or speak to her. Working slowly over many months, she earned his trust and replaced his missing teeth with dental implants.

“The expression on his face when he smiled, looking at his final teeth, it was amazing,” says Wong, who practices in Toronto and is also the founder and director of the Toronto Implant Institute.

“We change people’s physical state all the time. But when you can change someone’s mental state, that’s something impactful.”

5 reasons dental implants will make you smile

If you’ve been hesitant or unwilling to smile as often as you would like because you’re missing 14 SUCCESSFUL AGING

teeth - either from birth, as a result of injury, infection or decay - dental implants could be just what you need to start working those smile muscles a lot more. Here are five reasons dental implants will bring a smile to your face and renewed joy to your life: • You’ll look and feel great.

Dental implants feel, look, fit and function like healthy, natural teeth. Whenever you smile, you’ll know you look your best.

They’re so comfortable, you don’t have to think about them or care for them any differently than you do your natural teeth.

You just brush and floss them - no need to remove them for cleaning.

• They’re built to last. When properly cared for, dental implants can last decades. Many other tooth replacement options, including certain types of bridges and dentures, may need to be replaced as often as every five to 10 years, requiring a more significant investment of time and money.

• You can live life with confidence. Dental implants don’t slip or click when you talk, eat,

• They protect facial bone and healthy teeth. Leaving empty spaces in your mouth after losing one or more teeth can lead to jawbone deterioration and other health issues. When dental implants are placed in your jawbone, they bond with your natural bone. They’re the only tooth replacement option that stimulates bone growth and prevents bone loss, as well as keeps your facial structure intact.

Another advantage is that they don’t require grinding down adjacent teeth as is required to anchor bridges or attach partial dentures.

• They’re more affordable than you might imagine. At first glance, dentures or removable bridges might seem like a better deal than dental implants, given their lower upfront costs. But the full financial and emotional cost of dentures or bridges can run much higher than dental implants when you factor in ongoing maintenance costs, the

inconvenience and time-consuming hassle of removing dentures for cleaning, and the need for frequent replacement. Add in health costs if your jawbone starts to deteriorate, and the social costs of simply not being confident about chewing, laughing, talking or living your life, and compare the costs again.

Dental implant surgery is one of the safest, most predictable procedures in the dental field.

But dental implants are complex, sophisticated devices that require deep knowledge and specialized expertise to fit and place properly, so it’s important to choose a dental implant dentist with experience and knowledge you can trust. Be sure to ask about his or her training, specializations and credentials.

You can also find plenty of additional helpful information on the AAID’s consumer website at www. aaid-implant.org, including a Find an Implant Dentist tool to locate an AAID-credentialed dentist near you.

You deserve many reasons to smile. Don’t let missing teeth prevent you from getting all the physical and emotional benefits that come with exercising those smile muscles frequently and confidently.

For questions about dental health, or to schedule an appointment, visit:

Dental Horizons

600 S. Airport Rd., Longmont (303) 776-3320, dental-horizons.com

Visit with Dental Horizons at the Successful Aging Expo.

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October 6, 2019

Mayo Clinic minute:

IS CBD SAFE TO USE?

Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS) CBD has surpassed all other supplements in history in terms of rapid rise in sales and use in the U.S., says Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Integrative Medicine and Health Research Program. It’s being marketed to help with a myriad of aliments and diseases.

Before considering CBD, Dr.

Bauer says it’s important to speak with your health care provider as CBD may interact with other medications that you’re taking, such as blood thinners.

“CBD comes from Cannabis sativa, which is the plant from which we get marijuana, which has THC, which is the effect that gets people high,” says Dr.

Bauer.

CBD is being touted to help treat nausea, anxiety, cancer, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s. But does it work?

“We know in animal studies and some test-tube studies, it seems to be pretty good for anti-inflammatory, may have some anti-pain (properties), and it certainly has some effect on mood,” says Dr. Bauer.

Patients, such as those being

treated with cancer, should talk with their care team before using CBD. “It can interfere with the metabolism of some chemotherapy agents,” says Dr. Bauer.

He says there needs to be more research on CBD. Early indicators show that it’s safe, but many questions remain.

“If it’s strong enough to help

you, it’s strong enough to hurt you,” says Dr. Bauer.

So does this mean avoid it? Dr. Bauer says that he tells his patients to do their homework and be sure to talk with their health care provider.

“I’m very optimistic that there will be something beneficial there. I don’t think it’s going to be magic,” he says.

Curious about what CBD can do for you? Discuss all the CBD options available to you and how to use them with Medicine Man Dispensary in Longmont.

Medicine Man Dispensary

500 E Rogers Rd, Longmont, (720) 204-7500 medicinemandenver.com Visit with Medicine Man at the Successful Aging Expo.

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Times-Call — TimesCall.com

SUCCESSFUL AGING 15

Your guide to

PAYING FOR SENIOR LIVING Long-term care insurance plans vary and apply to some expenses depending on the need and the plan.

Joleen McGee, director of admissions and marketing, Life Care Center of Longmont: Insurance can be utilized after a hospital stay for short-term rehabilitation after an acute illness.

Medicare requires that you have a three-night inpatient stay to use benefits. Medicare advantage plans work the same as Medicare but do not require the hospital stay.

What are the options for those who need financial assistance or a financing alternative?

Securing the right living scenario for a senior can come with a variety of challenges and questions. Families must weigh numerous considerations to ensure the wellbeing of a loved one. But often the most pressing concern is money.

Private and long-term care is expensive. So it’s important to leave no stone unturned when

looking at offsetting senior living expenses. Knowing every option can put everyone at ease. Likely you’ll be evaluating Medicaid/ Medicare options, long-term care insurance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), lines of credit, and individual alternatives such as veteran’s benefits, life settlements and private funding.

To get some answers, we asked

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16 SUCCESSFUL AGING

When does insurance kick in versus out-of-pocket fees?

Adam Santistevan, marketing director, AltaVita Memory Care Centre: Medical insurance does not cover the cost of senior living.

The only insurance that will cover this is a long-term care insurance plan. The amount covered depends on what the policy states, as everyone has a different policy much like care insurance.

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Bright Health plans are HMOs and PPOs with a Medicare contract. Our plans are issued through Bright Health Insurance Company or one of its affiliates. Bright Health Insurance Company is a Colorado Life and Health company that issues indemnity products, including EPOs offered through Medicare Advantage. An EPO is an exclusive provider organization plan that may be written on an HMO license in some states and on a Life and Health license in some states, including Colorado.

Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal.

people working in senior living organizations right here in our community about the most pressing concerns among families.

What they have to say is insightful for anyone navigating the senior living landscape today.

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Holly Turner, director of senior living, Good Samaritan Society Loveland Village: Insurance, i.e. Medicare or an advantage plan, usually kicks in when there is a medical need.

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

JM: For long-term care placement an individual may qualify for Colorado Medicaid, which is based on financial and clinical needs. There are some facilities that are not Medicaid-certified, and when you can no longer financially afford the cost you have to move to a Medicaid-certified facility.

AS: There are a few different resources such as a reverse mortgage, VA aid and attendance funding, Medicaid, among others.

The best way to find out what resources are available is to meet with a financial planner, a senior living representative, or the senior advocates within Boulder County.

HT: Most communities along the Front Range offer housing options for those with a financial need. One must apply and costs are based on income. But be aware that there is often a waiting list for availability, so it’s better to be proactive and know your options.

October 6, 2019

What are some possible unexpected costs one might incur with different senior living options?

AS: There are always going to be additional costs for healthcare, incontinence supplies, and things like the beauty salon, massages, and other services that are not covered by the cost of rent or that are not directly supplied by the community.

HT: Someone may need extra help with dressing, running errands, housekeeping, or companionship. These costs are generally not included in monthly fees.

JM: When admitting to a skilled nursing facility there is a daily rate. The rate includes 24-hour nursing care, which is based on the patient’s needs for daily living, including dressing, hygiene, toileting, transferring, eating, grooming, etc. Some facilities include toiletries, incontinent supplies, wheelchairs, etc. Or there may be an added cost for these items.

Medications and oxygen are usually extra.

Decision-making around senior living can be overwhelming. Any tips for keeping things less stressful during this time?

AS: Don’t wait. The longer you wait the harder the decision gets

and the fewer options you have.

This is where you may run into more complications with placement. As soon as there is a need for additional help within your home environment, make the move to a senior-living community. The sooner you get help the better your adjustment period will be, the more likely you are to have an improvement in your conditions, and the greater the potential cost savings with care. And, most of all, you will have a choice in where you go.

HT: Be prepared ahead of time. Learn the various options and discuss with loved ones what

More senior living resources

You can start gathering baseline information on senior living from the comfort of your own home.

For example, medicare.gov lists all Medicare facilities in your community so you can narrow your

sionals will be delighted to speak with you.

Life Care Center of Longmont 2451 Pratt St, Longmont (303) 776-5000 lifecarecenteroflongmont.com

AltaVita Senior Living 1001 AltaVita Court, Longmont (720) 745-8250 altavitaliving.com

The Bridge at Longmont 2444 Pratt St, Longmont (303) 774-8255 centurypa.com/senior-living/ bridge-longmont/

Good Samaritan Society Loveland Village 2101 S Garfield Ave, Loveland (970) 669-3100, good-sam.com

Visit with them at the Successful Aging Expo.

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JM: Tour facilities to get a feel for the culture and to see if you or your loved one would be happy in the environment.

search. You can also read up on the Seniors BlueBook (seniorsbluebook.com), a helpful guide to aging well.

Additionally, each county has an office on aging with a great deal of resources. Local senior centers and medical offices usually have resource guides as well. And, of course, the Successful Aging Expo is an excellent and informative annual event.

When you do get face time with a professional, come prepared with questions so you can gather all the information to make the best decisions for your family and senior in need.

Are you interested in learning more about area senior living options? These profes-

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 17

An aging family member is struggling with their chronic condition

- WHAT CAN YOU DO?

(BPT) - As we get older, the ones we love inevitably age too.

For many, there comes a time where you are no longer just a son, daughter or family member - you’re a caregiver. Ensuring your aging parent or loved one is able to manage and afford their medical treatments can have an

enormous impact on their health and quality of life.

Dan Klein, president and CEO of the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation, the largest independent charitable organization dedicated to helping people pay their out-of-pocket costs for prescribed treatments, offers five simple ways you can help an aging family member manage their treatment - so you can both live healthier and happier lives.

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1. Meet with their doctor or healthcare provider.

Building a relationship with their healthcare provider will help lay the groundwork for future communication and care management. Before attending an appointment, talk to your parent or family member about their needs and concerns, make a list of the medications they are taking and the renewals they may need and determine together what you’d like to accomplish. If drug costs are a financial burden, don’t be shy about asking for samples or if there are less expensive generic equivalents available.

2. Check in with the pharmacist.

Connecting with your parent or family member’s pharmacist is an excellent way to become familiar with their treatment plan and ask questions about potential side effects and interactions of prescribed drugs. Be sure to ask about mail order options offered by some insurance plans and specialty pharmacies, which can save money and time by delivering a three-month supply of medication directly to their home.

3. De-clutter the medicine cabinet.

It is common for those struggling with chronic or multiple illnesses, particularly in old age, to have multiple prescriptions from different healthcare providers, each with complicated regimens that may make it difficult to keep track of what pills to take and when. You can help by ensuring their medicines are organized, accessible and stored appropriately.

Auditing their medicine cabinet is a good place to start. Make note of anything that is running low and order refills where needed.

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

You can visit fda.gov for information on how to appropriately dispose of medications that have expired or are no longer necessary.

A pill organizer box can help keep track of complicated treatment schedules and reduce the risk of missing a dose or doses.

Free pill reminder apps, such as Medisafe Pill & Med Reminder, allow you to manage the accounts of multiple family members.

4. Review Medicare or insurance coverage.

Diagnoses and treatments can frequently change and it’s therefore important to ensure your parent or family member’s Medicare or insurance plan still meets their needs. It is worth paying particular attention to their prescription drug plan, which can differ year to year. Online tools, like The National Council on Aging’s Benefits Checkup Tool and Medicare Interactive sponsored by the Medicare Rights Center can help you review benefits and find the best option for them.

They may also be eligible for other Medicare programs - like a Low-Income Subsidy - that can lower out-of-pocket costs.

5. Find out if charitable financial assistance is available.

The PAN Foundation is one of several charities that provides financial assistance for out-ofpocket costs. You can learn more about patient assistance charities at panfoundation.org. You can also download FundFinder, a free app developed by the PAN Foundation that notifies you when assistance becomes available from any of the major charitable patient assistance foundations.

October 6, 2019

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Times-Call — TimesCall.com

SUCCESSFUL AGING 19

Making health insurance coverage easier

AS WE AGE

As we get older, our healthcare needs are often dictated by the insurance we are provided through commercial insurance and Medicare. Seniors might have questions about what insurance will cover when they visit a facility for short term health care needs like Accel

at Longmont. Or when they’re searching for the right insurance with a private insurance company like Bright Health.

Accel at Longmont provides skilled nursing services, respite care, rehabilitation, short term rehab and outpatient rehabilita-

tion. Family members are allowed to stay for brief times, and patients to participate in therapy up to five times a week. Their mission is to provide excellence in clinical care, rehabilitation, wellness and supportive services that meet the wants, needs and expectations of the patients and residents”(accelatlongmont.com/).

Bright Health offers individual and family plans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans, to people who have needs for health insurance other than through an employer. Bright Health began just three years ago and sells healthcare plans to individuals and families, as well as Medicare Advantage plans for those over age 65. The company has over 26,000 members. The company has a goal of curating

a network of doctors, clinics and hospitals that will provide the best healthcare experience possible.

“We’ve created meaningful partnerships with healthcare providers that we trust to pass savings,” says their website, brighthealthplan. com/about-us.

How do I know what will be covered?

When patients come to a facility like Accel at Longmont, they will often have that conversation with the patient or patient’s family with a liaison in the hospital at bedside, according to Melody Pinz with Accel at Longmont. Patients might stay in the facility for a short time to receive skilled nursing services in infection management, pain management or wound care, etc.

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Pinz said patients might use their commercial insurance or their Medicare insurance to pay for coverage, depending on the situation, which are two different areas of conversation.

Who qualifies for Medicare?

Patients over age 65 who are citizens of the United States and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years usually qualify for Medicare services. Visit www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and- medicaid/ index.html for more details about eligibility.

For Medicare, patients have to be in a hospital for three midnights to use the Medicare benefit of an inpatient rehab stay at a facility for skilled nursing services.

If a patient was in a hospital for those three nights and decided they wanted to go home and didn’t need skilled nursing services, they have 30 days to change their minds

October 6, 2019

and go to a skilled facility, Pinz said.

With other insurance, for those under age 65, the patient might need authorization from their insurance company for skilled services.

What is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage plans are used frequently in Colorado, said Jodie Uhl, Colorado Market Lead with Bright Health. Bright Health provides private insurance when patients are between jobs, self-employed or working part time. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare. If you join one of these plans, you will still have Medicare, which includes hospital insurance, medical insurance and usually Medicare prescription drugs (www.medicare. gov/)

What other questions should I ask my insurance provider?

Uhl said that two common questions to ask, whether you’re over 65 and using Medicare Advantage, or under 65 and have other insurance, is, 1. Are the doctors in the network for the plan? And 2. Are their medications on the formulary for the plan, which is the list of medications allowed in the plan? Uhl said that the problem would be if a patient signs up for a particular plan without knowing the answers to these questions, they may have to choose another doctor or get a different prescription. If a patient goes to a doctor outside the network, that doctor might take Medicare assignment, which means the patient will still only pay the same as they would for an in network doctor. Uhl said that for a lot of Medicare Advantage plans, patients have to get permission to go outside the

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

network but once they do, it’s still the same price.

For patients under age 65, the plan is driven a lot more by the cost, but the questions are the same. Are the doctors in-network?

Are my prescriptions covered?

Navigating the world of insurance after retirement can be intimidating. If you have questions, these professionals are here to help.

Accel at Longmont

1960 S Fordham St, Longmont (720) 494-2624 accelatlongmont.com

Bright Health

brighthealthplan.com Visit with them at the Successful Aging Expo.

SUCCESSFUL AGING 21

For passion or for money,

MORE SENIORS KEEP WORKING

By Tim Henderson Stateline.org (TNS) ASHBURN, Va. — At 76, Anne Doane is still stocking shelves in a Wegmans here, leaning to fill a display with hairbrushes as Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” plays over the store’s sound system.

“I never saved throughout my life, so therefore I have to do this,” Doane said. “And because I like it.

I want to get out of the house. I want to talk to people. And I need the money.”

More U.S. workers are working after turning 65, both out of financial necessity and to stay busy, a trend the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees increasing over the next 10 years. The bureau projects the share of seniors working or actively looking for jobs to rise from 19.6% in 2018 to 23.3% in 2028, nearly double the rate of 1998, when it was less than 12%.

More than 165,000 seniors are working in grocery stores, earning an average of about $31,000 a year. About half of the more than 9 million workers 65 and older are in retail, health care, business services or education, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data and a Stateline analysis of Current Population Survey microdata.

Some of the highest-paying jobs for seniors are in colleges and universities, where the average sal22 SUCCESSFUL AGING

ary for the age group is more than $93,000 a year, and in charity and advocacy groups, where the average for the age group is more than $107,000 a year.

It may be a shock for people to find that they can’t get by on Social Security alone, especially for those who claim their benefits before they turn 70. Social Security currently maxes out at $2,209 a month for those who file at 62 and $3,770 for those who file at 70.

It’s particularly tough when the cost of living is high in areas such as Ashburn in Loudoun County, a fast-growing Washington, D.C., suburb where more than a quarter of people 65 and older hold jobs, according to recent census data. “(Working) by older age groups bottomed out in the mid-1990s, when Social Security was more generous and defined-benefit pensions were more common,” said Brian Asquith, an economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research in Michigan.

Growth in the number of older workers since then has been slower than expected, he said.

Even union jobs may not provide much of a pension now.

Venorica Tucker, 70, has had a union job as a banquet server for 30 years, commuting from suburban Maryland to the U.S. House of Representatives.

She works for a catering

contractor, putting in long days that extend from early-morning breakfasts to evening receptions.

Her Food and Beverage Workers Union has a pension plan but it’s a lump sum of less than $20,000, she said.

“I had all these ideas about how one could live well (after age 65), but those ideas didn’t pan out,” said Tucker, who’s been working similar jobs since the early 1960s, when she was 12, and currently holds a second job as a bartender.

“I should have saved more — I always saw people in my family who were in a needy situation, and my friends. They needed help and I could do it, so I did do it,” Tucker said. “Sometimes I did that at the cost of paying my own bills and saving.”

Immigrants often have little choice but to keep working after 65, said 67-year-old Wilber Ruiz, who works retrieving carts at a Giant supermarket in Ashburn, Virginia. He had once hoped to be retired at this age in his native Peru, reading literature and writing poetry.

“Possibly for a certain type of worker, when they’re older they need to do something to stay occupied,” Ruiz said in Spanish. “But under the conditions that most Latinos are in, it’s to pay for an apartment, pay for a car to get to work. They survive. That’s all.”

States are scrambling to fund more job-training programs for seniors, especially in Vermont, where 26% of older people held jobs in 2018, the highest rate in the country, up from 23% in 2013, according to a Stateline analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Vermont has a combination of a labor shortage and a large senior population that draws more older residents into the workforce, said Mathew Barewicz, an economist

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

at the Vermont Department of Labor. Some are also working because they love their jobs.

“It is a passion thing for me,” said Diane Dalmasse, 71, director of the Vermont Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Waterbury.

She has a state pension that would allow her to retire, but she doesn’t want to do that yet.

“We make a difference and I just love the work,” Dalmasse said.

“Work is how people are measured in this country.”

The employment rate among older workers is increasing fastest in Colorado, Minnesota and Hawaii, where the additional numbers of older workers seeking jobs may be raising unemployment rates despite more job creation, as older workers see an opening in a tight labor market and possible higher wages.

“In Colorado people are working longer because they can,” said Brian Lewandowski, associate director of the research division at the University of Colorado. “We are healthier than average, and this is a state with a lot of white-collar jobs. If you have a desk job as an accountant or an attorney, you can easily keep doing this.”

State programs to train older workers with federal funds are overwhelmed by applications from people who can’t get in, said Pat Elmer, president of Associates for Training and Development, a nonprofit that operates training programs in Vermont, Maine, New York and Pennsylvania.

There are 2,000 trainees in those states. The program pays minimum wage to people 55 and older to work for nonprofits and public organizations, such as schools and hospitals, while they gain skills and references for the open job market.

Many more people want the October 6, 2019

training but can’t get in because of waitlists or income restrictions — the federal program that funds it, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, requires participants to have incomes no more than 125% of the poverty level, currently $16,910 for a twoperson family.

As the demand for job training among older residents grows, Vermont is considering other options. One program that could be expanded to help meet the need, Progressive Employment, allows workers of all ages to start working in new industries as trainees while they build skills, Elmer said.

“So many people are in this situation. They don’t feel like they can retire because they don’t have the funds,” Elmer said. “In the past, people could take minimum-wage jobs. Now people need updated skills, because they can’t get by on minimum wage and Social Security.”

In Washington, D.C.’s affluent Northern Virginia suburbs, some

government workers find they can extend their working lives with freelance work long after retirement age. David Balducchi, 70, retired from the U.S. Department of Labor at 62 but still has plenty of work as a freelance researcher and writer, including a study of policy needs for an aging workforce last year.

“For me it’s part of my own personal journey, working on projects that interest me, things that were important to me,” Balducchi said.

In Arlington County, Virginia, more than a fourth of people 65 and older hold jobs, according to census figures. About 7,000 of the county’s 31,000 older workers earn more than $140,000 in professional services and consulting, according to Kurt Larrick, assistant director of the county’s department of human services.

Another 1,500 are in retail, making an average of around $40,000.

“This is the new norm. People are going to continue working until they can’t, physically, or they can

afford to stop,” Larrick said. The area’s Regional Workforce Council provides training for older workers, offering up to $3,500 toward certification in any in-demand profession, such as the health care, technology or culinary fields.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that as older people return to the job market, younger people 16 to 24 are not seeking jobs as much as they once did — partly because they’re staying in school, as the long-term benefits of college degrees become more obvious. But part of the reason is that older workers now hold the kinds of jobs that entry-level workers once did, the retail jobs like those held by Ruiz and Doane.

When the recession hit 10 years ago, some younger people found it difficult to get jobs because entry-level positions were being filled by older workers displaced by layoffs. But in today’s tight labor market, experts see little damage to younger workers by the graying of the workforce.

“The mature workers are doing a lot of retail sales and customer service,” Elmer said. “These were jobs that were empty before the older workers showed up. The grocers and the tourism people were out there begging for people to take these jobs.”

Doane, the Ashburn grocery store worker, had a 26-year career in data entry for IBM after graduating from high school in Rochester, New York, in 1961. The type of machines she used, one for entering numbers, another for the alphabet, are now on display at a museum in Washington, D.C., where her children saw them on a visit and said, “Mom, are you that old?”

In high school in Rochester, she worked part-time as a cashier for Wegmans.

“When they (the Wegmans in Ashburn) asked me, ‘Why do you want to work here?’ I said, ‘I started at Wegmans and that’s where I want to finish,’” Doane said.

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PickuP & Delivery M-F 7-6pm • Sat 8-2pm SUCCESSFUL AGING 23

Active aging: 5 important questions to ask to

HELP PREVENT FALLS

(BPT) - Despite the common belief, falls are not a normal part of aging, and they are largely preventable. In fact, the best way to prevent falls is with a proactive, team approach.

Be empowered and engage your health care professionals, community providers and family by asking these five important questions recommended by the National Council on Aging.

1. What are my chances of falling?

When you visit your doctor, you likely bring up concerns about how your body feels physically. Be sure to also ask about your risk of falling - especially if you have fallen, have a fear of falling or are unsteady on your feet. By asking your doctor to assess your risk, you’ll learn more about what you can do to prevent an injury. These can include physical activity, medications and proper footwear. A doctor can help you understand any concerns and provide helpful advice.

2. What home updates can I make to help prevent falls?

Most falls happen at home, but there are simple changes you can make to reduce your risk. Increase lighting in dark locations, particularly at the top and bottom of stairs, bathrooms and walkways from the bedroom to the bathroom. For stairs, install a railing on both sides for balance. Many falls occur in bathrooms, so install grab bars in the tub/shower and near the toilet. For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand­held shower. Ask family or friends to assist with home 24 SUCCESSFUL AGING

modifications or consult with an occupational therapist who can do a home safety assessment. NCOA provides 18 steps to fall-proofing your home.

3. Do the medications I take impact my likelihood to fall?

The next time you pick up your medicines, take time to discuss the possible side effects with your pharmacist. Ask which ones might increase your risk of falling and what you can do to prevent accidents. Side effects to look for include dizziness, drowsiness, blurry vision and even confusion. Keep in mind, it’s not just prescription medications that can impact your fall risk. Other medicines, such as over-the-counter sleep aids, can make you drowsy or dizzy during the day, which can increase your likelihood of a fall. Keep a record of your medications and take the list with you when you visit your doctors and pharmacist.

4. When was my last eye

checkup?

Your vision is essential to keeping your balance and preventing falls. That’s why it’s important to have your eyes checked every year.

If you wear glasses, remember that tint-changing lenses can be hazardous when going from bright sun into darkened buildings. A simple strategy is to change glasses upon entry or stop until your lenses adjust. Bifocals also can be problematic on stairs, so it’s important to be cautious. Eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma can increase risk for falling, too. Talk with your eye doctor about these concerns.

5. How can I improve my balance and strength?

Ask your family physician about exercise programs that can help you build stability, strength and flexibility. While some exercises can be done at home, consider signing up for a local program.

Joining an exercise group is a lot of fun and a great way to meet new friends. Some exercise programs, like Tai Chi and Enhanc-

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eFitness, have been shown to improve balance and strength and reduce falls.

Contact your local senior center or Area Agency on Aging for more information.

September is a great time to make a plan to prevent falls. Every year on the first day of fall - this year, Monday, Sept. 23 - NCOA leads Falls Prevention Awareness Day to spread the word about staying safe. This year, Centene Corporation serves as the national sponsor of the event. To see what’s happening in your community, contact your state falls prevention coalition.

By being proactive, you can reduce your risk of falling and maintain your independence now and in the future. Learn more at www.ncoa.org/FallsTips.

YMCA of Northern Colorado

For many traditional and nontraditional fitness options that can help increase strength and balance, including SilverSneakers®, Moving for Better Balance and Fit After 50 visit the YMCA. 950 Lashley St., Longmont (303) 776-0370, ymcabv.org Visit with the YMCA at the Successful Aging Expo.

October 6, 2019

Simplify your kitchen with smart home gadgets with a simple voice command. To simplify everything from a quick breakfast on the go to a healthy family dinner, consider investing in devices like a smart oven and connected coffee maker to allow users to preheat and schedule brewing from a mobile device.

Track your kitchen inventory (BPT) - As the heart of the home, the kitchen is often the busiest room of the house - a perfect space to install the latest smart home gadgets. With “smart” sidekicks, you can solve kitchen challenges and simplify the overall cooking process.

Increase cooking efficiency

Whether cooking for one or hosting an elaborate dinner party, smart kitchen solutions can lend a

helpful hand in a busy kitchen.

The faucet has evolved from a standard two-handle to a single handle that can be turned on and off with a simple touch. This necessary kitchen assistant can streamline cooking tasks for seasoned chefs and novices alike.

Today, Delta VoiceIQ Technology takes this to the next level dispensing exact measurements and filling custom containers like baby bottles, dog bowls or pasta pots, all

Intuitive devices can help you shop smarter and reduce food waste. Instead of sniffing out mold and sour scents, apps help track pantry inventory. Simply take pictures of your groceries and input expiration dates. When the next shopping trip comes around, have a list of what items need to be tossed and which foods should remain on the shelf. If looking to make a substantial kitchen update, consider investing in a refrigerator that lets you view the inside of the

fridge from your phone.

Avoid cooking messes

When cooking with raw meat or messy ingredients, otherwise mindless tasks like opening the trash and turning on the faucet can become a challenge. Home cooks risk spreading the mess - and germs - in the cooking process.

Consider upgrading your Touch2O Delta faucet with VoiceIQ Technology to pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to turn the water on and off. Not only do you contain the mess, but you also practice cleanliness in the kitchen while keeping the faucet spotless.

Voice-controlled trash cans are also handy investments, encouraging the rest of the family to join in on the cleaning process.

Next time you’re in the kitchen, consider the latest “smart” advances that can solve your kitchen hitches.

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 25

STAYING ON TRACK: 3 ways to kickstart a healthy fall

(BPT) - Lacking culinary inspiration as grilling season ends? Keep telling yourself that you will start going to the gym next week? Binge-watching TV rather than tackling a crossword puzzle?

We can often be our own biggest hurdle when it comes to making healthy decisions. But sometimes all it takes is a gentle nudge from a friend or a fun new idea to spark your motivation. Below, find three simple ideas to help you live your best life and boost your mental and physical health.

Staying active: Push-ups

While the thought of doing push-ups might be intimidating, there are plenty of ways to make the exercise simpler while still gaining strength in your arms, chest and back. Try a modification on the classic push-up that could even be done on a secure countertop in the convenience of your home.

1. Place your hands on top of a countertop or other firm surface. Make sure to spread your fingers wide.

2. As you lower yourself toward your hands, keep your shoulder blades down and back.

3. Once you have gone as low as you can,

come back up and repeat.

To take a more active role in your health, some health plans, including UnitedHealthcare, offer gym memberships at no additional cost. To learn more, visit UHCMedicarePlans.com. Consult your doctor prior to beginning an exercise program or making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine.

Staying mindful: Brain quiz

Keeping your mind active and engaged is a good way to help fend off memory loss. Brain games, like trivia, are fun ways to help keep your memory sharp.

1. Which is the biggest part of your brain? a) Cerebrum b) Cerebellum c) Brainstem 2. How much does the average adult human brain weigh? a) 1 pound b) 3 pounds c) 6 pounds 3. Which part of the brain plays an important role in long-term memory and spatial navigation? a) Hippocampus b) Hypothalamus c) Basal Ganglia Find more simple ways to help enhance your mental and physical health at newsroom.uhc.com.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

Staying healthy: Walk-in-the-park wraps

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Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors. Pack these protein-rich wraps for a picnic and marvel at the fall colors. Not a fan of pesto?

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Ingredients:

2 whole grain tortillas, 8” 2 tablespoons basil pesto 1 cup spinach leaves 4-6 thin slices tomato

1/2 avocado, cut into 6 slices 4 slices turkey breast 2 slices mozzarella cheese, cut into 3 pieces

Directions:

1. Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto on the center of each tortilla.

2. Layer each with the spinach, sliced tomato and avocado, and then the turkey and cheese.

3. Roll the tortilla into a snug roll and wrap with parchment paper (wax paper works, too).

4. Tie each end with string before cutting in half diagonally to serve.

Health facts: calories: 462; total fat: 20.8g; saturated fat: 0g; cholesterol: 33.4mg; sodium: 178.1mg; carbs: 48.8g; dietary fiber: 8.1g; sugar: 5.3g; protein: 23.7g

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October 6, 2019

Diabetes Quick Fix: Honey Soy Glazed Salmon with Asparagus Rice

By Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service (TNS) Add a savory, sweet flavor to salmon with this honey-soy glaze. Roasting in the oven intensifies the flavor of the ingredients but takes much longer than sauteing. Pan roasting is a great compromise. The salmon fillet is sautéed and then roasted in a covered skillet for 7 to 8 minutes for a 3/4-inch fillet.

Helpful Hints:

If salmon gives off oil when it is cooked, pour the oil off before adding the glaze.

Countdown:

• • • •

Place water for rice on to boil.

Prepare remaining ingredients.

Make rice.

While rice cooks, make salmon.

Shopping List:

To buy: 3/4 pound wild caught salmon fillet, 1 small bottle low-salt soy sauce, 1 small jar honey, 1 box 10-minute brown rice, 1/2 pound asparagus.

Staples: olive oil spray, olive oil, salt, black peppercorns.

HONEY SOY GLAZED SALMON 3/4 pound wild caught salmon fillet Olive oil spray 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon low-salt soy sauce Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Rinse salmon and pat dry with a paper towel. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray. Brown salmon 2 minutes, turn and brown 1 minute. Salt and pepper the cooked sides. Lower heat to low, cover and let cook 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix honey and soy sauce together.

Pour over the salmon, re-cover and let sit 1 minute.

Yield 2 servings. Per serving: 303 calories, 105 calories from fat, 11.6 g total fat, 1.9 g saturated fat, 4.6 g monounsaturated fat, 96 mg cholesterol, 366 mg sodium, 12 g carbohydrate, 0.1 g dietary fiber, 8.8 g sugars, 38.9 g protein Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate, 5 lean meat, 1/2 fat

ASPARAGUS RICE

1/2 pound asparagus (cut into 1-inch pieces about 2 cups) 1 cup 10-minute brown rice (to make 1 1/2 cups cooked rice) 2 cups water 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper Wash asparagus and cut off hard ends and discard. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Add water to a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add rice and asparagus.

Cover with a lid and boil 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Let sit 5 minutes. Toss with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.

Yield 2 servings. Per serving: 241 calories, 77 calories from fat, 8.5 total fat, 1.3 g saturated fat, 5.4 g monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 13mg sodium, 40.1 g carbohydrate, 4.8 g dietary fiber, 0 g sugars, 6.1 g protein Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 27

Are you a Maverick? A Dreamer?

FIND YOUR FINANCIAL PERSONALITY (BPT) - When it comes to managing your finances, are you more likely to be spontaneous and optimistic or stick to a formal plan? Understanding your financial personality can be important on the journey to reaching your financial goals, whether it’s something short-term like buying a home or longer term like your dream retirement. For some of us it’s simply about finding a better balance between spending and saving.

According to Charles Schwab’s Modern Wealth Quiz, designed to help people get a better grasp on their saving, spending and investing habits, about 43 percent of Americans are “Dreamers” when it comes to their finances - they tend to live in the moment but can also feel unprepared for certain life events.

Only 10 percent are considered financial “Architects” - they not only imagine the future but take pen to paper and map out a plan to make it a reality. Other personality types, according to the quiz, are Improvisers (18 percent), Organizers (11 percent), Mavericks (10 percent) and Philosophers (8 percent).

Here are some key themes the quiz explores to determine your

money personality and provide tips to help you achieve your goals:

1) Is juggling your monthly bills a breeze or a tornado?

Half of Americans say they’re able to pay their monthly bills on time and even put money into savings regularly, according to Schwab’s 2019 Modern Wealth Survey, but a third of Americans say they typically don’t have any extra cash to put into savings after their basic expenses. The remainder say they even struggle to pay those expected monthly bills and often end up with unpaid balances.

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Terri Kallsen, CFP®, head of Schwab Investor Services, said that automatically depositing part of your income into a savings account each month can help make it a habit.

“Our survey shows about 40 percent of Americans set up an automatic transfer into their savings or investment accounts each month,” she said. “That way, they don’t have to make a decision to ‘spend or save’ each month they’ve already made it.”

2) Do you set goals or go with the flow?

While most Americans say they’ve thought about their financial goals, only 28 percent have taken the time to put their goals in writing, the survey shows. Another 25 percent say they don’t have any plan at all.

“Planning can be a key indicator of your money personality, because how much you engage with your finances is often closely tied to how confident you feel about reaching your goals,” Kallsen said.

3) Are you an engaged investor or a sideline saver?

tional checking and savings account, according to the survey, but only about half have some kind of investing account.

“Savings accounts are often seen as a safe place to put your money, but to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living, it’s also critical to invest,” Kallsen said. “The sooner you start investing, the longer your money has time to gain from rises in the market and the power of compounding and to recover from any downturns.”

Once you’re invested, it’s important to stay engaged to stay on track. Keep an eye on your investment fees and make sure to rebalance about once a year, added Kallsen.

Take Charles Schwab’s Modern Wealth Quiz and learn more about your money personality and tips and tricks to help reach your financial goals.

This article is sponsored by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member SIPC. This sponsored article is presented by Brandpoint. (0719-998W)

Locally owned High Plains Bank in Longmont is ready and happy to help with your banking and financial needs.

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Visit with High Plains Bank at the Successful Aging Expo.

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October 6, 2019

RETIRING WITH A MORTGAGE — why it’s bad, how to avoid it

By Carla Fried, Rate.com TNS A generation ago, just 10% of households with someone at least 70 years old still had a mortgage.

Today, it’s close to 40%, and that spells certain trouble for millions of retired Americans. This column can help you avoid that fate.

Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that in the second quarter of 2019, households 70-plus had $1.16 trillion in total debt — $820 billion in mortgages — roughly double the $570 billion 10 years earlier. The 60- to 69-year-old crowd owes a total of $2.16 trillion, roughly three-quarters of it mortgage debt.

A big monthly payment can eat up retirement income faster than you intended. And that can make it hard to outlive your nest egg.

To date, the late-in-life debt hasn’t set off a wide-scale panic.

Rates have been so low, and many people refinanced in recent years to take advantage of that.

But a life-long mortgage payment, for all but the affluent, is a big strain on retirement finances.

Do you plan to stay in your current home after you retire? If so, paying off the mortgage sooner would be wise.

Working past 65 can help boost retirement savings and delays tapping into those accounts. It can also make it possible to wait until age 70 to start claiming your Social Security benefit, which is the single best way to boost the guaranteed income you will have in retirement.

But working in your 60s isn’t a sure thing. Maybe you want to downshift to something less demanding, or perhaps you get pushed out the door before you’re ready. Either likely means earning less. (When people 50+ are laid off, it is rare for their income to October 6, 2019

ever fully recover.) A mortgage payment will only make work life more stressful.

Taxes are a consideration, too.

If your plan is to rely on withdrawals from traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts to pay the mortgage at age 70-plus, keep in mind that all withdrawals will be as income. Let’s say your monthly mortgage is $1,500. That could require withdrawing $1,800 or more to cover the tax bill and leave you enough for the payment.

As your taxable income rises with larger withdrawals, you could find yourself in a higher tax bracket in retirement. It may also increase the portion of your Social Security that is taxable, and the premiums for your Medicare Part B coverage. The cost of both are dependent on your taxable income.

HOW TO PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE FASTER

Set a deadline of age 60 or 65 to have the mortgage paid off.

Contact the company currently servicing your mortgage and ask for a fresh amortization schedule that will get the loan polished off by your new end date. There are also online calculators that will run the numbers for you.

Spend less today.

Resist the knee-jerk reaction that there is no way you can afford that higher monthly payment. It is the rare household that can’t find ways to cut. Start in the garage: Drive a car longer before trading it in, to free yourself of car payments.

celerate your mortgage payment.

Or, might you be able to take on some part-time work, maybe consulting or tutoring?

Scale back your retirement saving.

If you’ve been diligently saving for retirement for decades, it might be worth considering reducing your current contributions to use the money to pay off your mortgage, but only if you are on track with your savings. And if you have a workplace plan that offers a match, you should most definitely continue to contribute enough to snag the maximum matching contribution. But beyond that, temporarily reducing what you’re socking away each month in retirement accounts can

make financial sense. While you will have less set aside in savings, the valuable tradeoff is in eliminating the mortgage expense in retirement.

If you decide to accelerate your mortgage payments, be sure to arrange with your loan servicer that 100% of your extra payments will be applied to the loan principal.

You don’t want one penny of your extra payments going toward interest. Indeed, an added benefit of prepaying your mortgage is that you will likely shave off thousands of dollars in interest payments.

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 29

GETTING A GRIP

on essential tremor for a new beginning (BPT) -

Meyer struggled to tie her child’s shoe, Dopher longed to remain independent and Ley wanted to continue working in his profession.

They all learned about focused ultrasound through social media.

Focused ultrasound was able to help pave a new path for their lives by treating their ET with no incisions, no anesthesia and no hospitalization. Today, they are not missing out on the things they love doing - they have a new beginning.

Hit the alarm.

Get dressed.

Tie your shoes.

Drink coffee.

Eat breakfast.

Imagine for a moment not being able to do this morning routine because your hand is shaking, and you can’t make it stop.

These everyday tasks that we take for granted are very difficult for an estimated 10 million Americans living with essential tremor (ET). ET is the most common movement disorder, causing involuntary shaking in different parts of the body, but most often affecting the hands. The physical and emotional effects of ET take their toll not only on patients but on their family and friends as well. Jodi Meyer has been affected by it for 18 years. As the mother of three children, her essential tremor made it very difficult for her to care for her family. Preparing meals, putting on her daughter’s makeup for her cheer competitions or pouring a glass of milk was almost impossible to do with her hand shaking uncontrollably. “I would love to cuddle with my children ... and not think ... are they uncomfortable because of the shaking?”

Depending on others for help is common with ET, but when you have people who rely on you, the dynamic changes. Karen Dopher has always been the caregiver for her family. She took care of her husband during his battle with cancer and came when her son called and said, “I need you,” during his double lung transplant. Her role as caregiver for her family was challenging as her ET became more severe. There were days when she was not able to cook or draw with her granddaughter.

Precise work-related tasks are another problem for people with ET. Electronics technician Gregg 30 SUCCESSFUL AGING

Ley struggled with the day-to-day duties of his profession which required excellent motor skills to work with nuts, bolts and other tools. “I couldn’t put a Phillips screwdriver on a screw.” Ley lived with ET for over 20 years, with the condition worsening over time.

When the medications prescribed by his neurologist stopped working, Ley’s wife, Cathy, began researching treatment options for his tremor online.

While essential tremor is not fatal, it can take away a person’s independence, self-esteem and the freedom to live an active lifestyle.

As awareness for ET grows, it is crucial that people speak with their general practitioner about their tremor symptoms and if needed, get referred to a movement disorder specialist for diagnosis.

Before diagnosis, some people may be concerned that their shaking is Parkinson’s disease. It has been reported that ET may be misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.

In fact, a study published in JAMA Neurology August 2006 found that one-third of patients who were initially diagnosed as ET were misdiagnosed, most commonly with Parkinson’s disease.

One key distinguishing factor is that tremors from ET occur during an action, while tremor from Parkinson’s disease is usually when

the hands are at rest. While the only symptom with ET is tremor, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition that presents with other symptoms besides tremor.

ET can affect people at any age, but it is most common among those 50 years of age and older.

There are medications prescribed to treat essential tremor, and often, after one medication fails, a second will be tried and then possibly a combination of medications. They are only effective for 35-50% of patients according to an article published in Neurology November 2011.

Advancements in ultrasound and MR imaging technology have led to the availability of an incisionless treatment for patients with essential tremor that has not responded to medication. During the focused ultrasound treatment, sound waves pass safely through the skull to heat a precise target deep in the brain that is responsible for the tremor. The treatment is monitored by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). For many patients, the results show immediate improvement in their hand tremor with minimal complications. This treatment is FDA-approved to treat one hand and is covered under Medicare, in certain states, and through many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

Learn about the symptoms of essential tremor

Does your tremor occur when your hands are at rest or during movement? Essential tremor is characterized by an “action tremor,” occurring when attempting to do a task. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a “rest tremor,” present when no muscle is being used.

Does ET run in your family? If you have a parent with the genetic mutation for essential tremor, then you have a 50% chance of developing the condition yourself according to the Mayo Clinic.

Is your handwriting large and shaky? While large and shaky handwriting is a hallmark sign of ET, slow and small handwriting is usually seen with Parkinson’s disease.

Does your tremor worsen in certain situations? Patients report that stress, fatigue and caffeine can cause their tremor to be more pronounced.

A neurologist who specializes in movement disorders should be consulted for diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. For more information on essential tremor, visit GetaGriponET.com.

For complete safety information, visit INSIGHTEC.com/us/ safety-information.

October 6, 2019

Alzheimer’s: Early diagnosis can make a big difference (BPT) - After 30 years of painting commercial buildings, Mario Martinez of San Jose, California, was used to grueling hours doing back-breaking work. He loved his job, but after spending hours outside he was ready to go home.

Mario bent down to pick up his paintbrush, roller and can. Turning back to look at his day’s work, he paused. His heart sank. He knew something was wrong.

“Mario came home and told me he had painted the wrong side of the doors on the building,” said his wife, Veronica. “It was alarming because he’s been painting buildings for years and never made this kind of mistake. It worried us both.”

The couple had noticed that he seemed to be more forgetful recently, but neither had shared their concerns. Now that Mario’s memory lapses were interfering with his work, it was time to talk.

Action through conversation

“Veronica told me I was asking for more and more help,” Mario said. “I told her that I was forgetting a lot of the things she asked me to do. The more we talked, the more I realized I had a problem. I was forgetting many moments in my life and not enjoying activities that I had enjoyed before.”

The difficult conversation led Mario to his doctor’s office, and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mario is one of more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s - a fatal brain disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease and it’s the country’s sixth-leading cause of death.

Despite Alzheimer’s growing impact, many families struggle with discussing the issue. A recent Alzheimer’s Association survey October 6, 2019

reveals that 72 percent of Americans say that talking to close family members about cognitive decline would be challenging for them.

However, having these difficult, but important conversations sooner can prevent a crisis and improve health options and outcomes.

WE CARE FOR THE HEALTH OF YOUR EYES.

Reach out for help

To encourage more families discuss cognitive problems sooner, the Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with the Ad Council, has launched the “Our Stories” campaign. “Our Stories” features real stories of people who noticed cognitive changes and took the first step to initiate a conversation.

“It’s understandable that many families are reluctant to express their concerns and start a conversation, but there are good reasons to do so,” said Ruth Drew, director of information and support services, Alzheimer’s Association.

“Initiating conversations sooner can enable early diagnosis, which offers many important benefits, including allowing more time for critical care planning, better disease management and providing diagnosed individuals a voice in their future care.”

The “Our Stories” website (alz. org/ourstories) offers families tools and resources, including customizable conversation starters, a list of early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, benefits of early diagnosis, a downloadable discussion guide and other resources.

Whether you’re noticing changes in yourself or a loved one, starting a conversation about Alzheimer’s can be difficult, but it can make a big difference. When something feels different, it could be Alzheimer’s - now is the time to talk.

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SUCCESSFUL AGING 31

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303.776.5000

2444 Pratt Street

TheBridgeAtLongmont.com

2451 Pratt Street

LifeCareCenterofLongmont.com

Call today to schedule your personal tour.

32 SUCCESSFUL AGING

Times-Call — TimesCall.com

October 6, 2019