PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
PA I D
Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081 P.O. Box 498 Sterling, IL 61081
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
SPRING 2015
BOOMERS
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Boomers Spring 2015
A history of caring.
Rehab/Skilled Care | Outpatient Therapy Senior Housing with Services | Affordable Housing To learn more about our community in Prophetstown, call (815) 537-5175.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. Some services may be provided by a third party. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Š 2015 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.
Boomers Spring 2015
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What’s inside Publisher: Sam R Fisher Advertising Director: Jennifer Baratta Advertising Sales: Jill Reyna Kelly Shroyer Editors: Larry Lough Rusty Schrader Page Design: Rusty Schrader
Sterling’s Yvonne “Kay” Wallin: Lost and found ............................ Page 4 Help is just a phone call away for area residents ............................ Page 8 Generators provide peace of mind for aging boomers ................Page 10 Franklin Grove care facility is getting bigger and better ..............Page 13 Remodeling rebound: Boomers feather their empty nests .........Page 15 In Rock Falls, relief is close at hand for cancer patients .............Page 17 Mortgages: Going in reverse isn’t always forward looking ..........Page 19 Growing number of older students head back to school ............Page 21 Baby boomers offer words of wisdom for millennials .................Page 23
Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media, P.O. Box 498, Sterling, IL 61081, 815-625-3600. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this guide is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
Ken Nelson Auto Group Recognizes Stephenitch Brothers’ Combined 75 yrs of Service
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Chuck Stephenitch
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1100 N. Galena Avenue - Dixon, IL - 815.285.4455 www.KenNelsonAuto.com
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Boomers Spring 2015
BY PATRICK MASON pmason@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5550 @pm222
Lost and found
Yvonne Wallin had lost her way in a life idled by turmoil. But now, she’s found her next buzz: sprinting toward all that life has to offer – and she’s not interested in reaching the finish line anytime soon ome know her as a cycling instructor at the Sterling YMCA – the lady spinning her legs while encouraging others to get through a tough morning workout. She has been called a mom, wife, daughter and friend. More recently, she’s been known as the lady from the triathlons. But for the longest time, Yvonne “Kay” Wallin didn’t know who she was. “When I hit 50,” said Wallin, now 65, “my whole world started unraveling a little bit at a time, and I was searching for purpose.” Her search led her around the world. She hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and then back up to the top. She obtained a sailing license, and spent days on the open ocean in a 50-foot boat. She even hiked in the Himalayan mountains, and spent time touring the crumbling stone and dirt paths in Nepal using only foreign-speaking Sherpas as guides. As Wallin spreads photographs that detail her numerous journeys across a waxed table, she leans
back and takes a breath before she starts to speak, as if the story she’s about to tell needed that extra pause for it to fully come out. She begins to speak about her travels, and shakes her head in amazement at how far she has come. Her travels and personal quests changed her life. Now she is preparing to compete at nationals on Aug. 10 in a sprint triathlon, for which she qualified by placing in the top 10 percent in her age group in qualifying races. She never had an interest to compete before, but now she can’t get enough. She is in shape. She runs, bikes and swims miles each day. She works out at the local armory alongside 20-something-year-old former members of the United States military. She wears leggings and a leather jacket as she explains her photos. Her dark brown hair is constantly being tucked behind her left ear as she speaks. WALLIN CONTINUED ON 6
When Sterling’s Yvonne “Kay” Wallin turned 50, she began to look for ways to expand her horizon. The journey led her around the world, and it’s continued with competing in triathlons. Submitted photo
Avonlea Cottage Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities
• Beautiful communities within a neighborhood-like setting. • Local Medical Director services available onsite. • A variety of enriching activities, social settings and wellness programs specifically designed to care for and support individuals with dementia and memory loss. • Covered porch, private courtyard and common sitting areas for peaceful retreats and family gatherings. • 24-hour secure and protective care by an attentive staff of licensed and certified nursing.
Please come visit us for a tour & welcome our new Executive Director and Director of Nursing
Please come visit us for a tour & welcome our new Executive Director
Avonlea Cottage of Dixon
Avonlea Cottage of Sterling
503 Countryside Lane, Dixon, IL Phone • 815-288-6044 Cell • 815-499-1682 www.avonleacottage.com
2201 E. LeFevre Road, Sterling, IL Phone • 815-626-5439 Cell • 815-590-6582 www.avonleacottage.com
Alma Wood
Julie McCormick
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Boomers Spring 2015
Today is not the day for can’t WALLIN
CONTINUED FROM 4
“My marriage of 30 years was falling apart,” she starts. “I lost a job I held in Northbrook around the time my sister had died. There were a lot of things that were happening to me that were very hard to get through.” During her time of turmoil, she stumbled across a women-only trip to Nepal while surfing online, and booked it. Upon further investigating the trip, she realized she would need to get in shape in order to endure the continual high altitude hiking required to explore the landscape. It was the fall of 2002 when she flew to Nepal, just 1 year after the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. She was told to keep secret that she was an American for safety reasons. But all of this intrigued her. She went in search of herself, looking for a break from the real world, and that’s exactly what she got. She entered Nepal with a pack stuffed with clothes, and left with only the clothes on her back, leaving the rest for the poverty-stricken locals. Some of the Sherpas, her guides, traversed the trails without shoes because they couldn’t afford the luxury. The Sherpas bartered for food each day for the group of women, and even carried rifles throughout the night, keeping watch over the tents the group slept in, keeping their eyes peeled for Chinese militants who crept into Nepal. Food was scarce, but hearty. Most days Wallin ate a bean gravy mixture with rice. Other days – lucky days – she would eat fresh chicken that the Sherpas would proudly carry alive under each arm to their tents to cook and prepare. Sometimes goat was on the menu. “You had no idea what you were going to eat each day,” Wallin said. “But the food was amazing. It was so fresh.” She saw Buddhist temples, and devoted monks. She saw a lifestyle unconnected from the real world. When she sat in on a service, she
More about ‘Kay’
Age: 65 Hometown: Grayslake Resides: Sterling Children: Susan McGinn, Jason Wallin, Ellie Wallin, David Wallin, Molly DeGroh had to cover her skin, and was required to stay for the entire service, out of respect – even if it lasted 3 hours. The trip lasted for 3 weeks, and when she returned home, her newly acquired thrill-seeking attitude followed her. Soon, her name was penned on as many races, marathons and triathlons as she could handle. “You’re always looking for that next buzz,” Wallin said. “You’re looking for that next high and that thrill of crossing the next finish line. I think looking at those mountain peaks every morning gets to you, and you want more of that.” She entered herself in triathlons, despite the fact she had no idea how to swim with her face in the water. Before her first race she began hitting her training hard in the pool, and swam laps via the dog paddle, feeding the laugh track of local kids watching her. But determination prevailed. She completed her first marathon, and started churning out triathlons that soon filled her weekends. “I came to realize that there are so many positives in this world,” Wallin said. “There was an older lady holding a sign at a race that read, ‘Someday you won’t be able to do this. Today is not that day.’ I thought that applied perfectly to my life, and how there is so much living left.” Wallin found she can get that feeling right here in Sterling, too. She rides her bike down the hilly roads leading from Sterling to Milledgeville in the morning, and watches the sun begin its slow rise over the cows and horses grazing in the open fields. “There are some truly great places here,” Wallin said. “The peace and calm of it when you’re out there by yourself is amazing. It sounds hokey, sure, but every time it frees your mind.”
‘‘
’’
I came to realize there are so many positives in the world. Yvonne “Kay” Wallin
Boomers Spring 2015
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SENIOR SHOWCASE
Just for the fun of it for those 55 years and above
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH
10AM - 3PM • Northland Mall • Sterling, IL
FREE ADMISSION • VENDORS • DOOR PRIZES • GIVEAWAYS AND LOTS OF FUN
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this FREE, FUN event! BINGO • SENIOR SHOWCASE STYLE For more information contact Ed Bushman 815-625-3600 ext. 5681 Email: ebushman@saukvalley.com
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Boomers Spring 2015
Help is just a phone call away People with communication issues can get a free phone STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5501
Do you have trouble hearing, or speaking? Does it make it hard to stay in touch and engaged with your loved ones? Did you know that you may qualify for a free, amplified phone or other equipment to help with those all-important communication issues? For example, the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp., the nonprofit state distributor of specialized telecommunications equipment for people with hearing loss and speech disabilities, offers a new amplified phone at no cost to seniors and anyone else with hearing or speech issues. The XLC3.4, an easy-to-use cordless phone with talking caller ID, amplifies incoming sounds up to 50 decibels. It also has a caller ID screen, and large, high-contrast buttons that are easy to press and see. It’s one of four free phones available.
To qualify, a person must be a legal resident of Illinois with a working landline phone service in the residence. An application must be signed by a medical professional stating that the applicant is unable to use a standard phone. There are no income requirements. Locally, you can try out the phones to see which best suits your needs at RAMP, 2155 W. Galena Ave. in Freeport, at the Lee County Council on Aging, 100 W. Second St. in Dixon, or the Whiteside County Senior Center, 1207 W. Ninth St. in Sterling. Applications for a free phone also are available at the sites. Call 815-233-1128 in Freeport, 815-2889236 in Dixon or 815-626-7707 in Sterling for more information. There are more than 2 million Illinois residents who have some degree of hearing loss. Amplified phones can help. The ITAC also provides a range of other phones to meet different hearing needs. Go to www.itactty.org or call 800841-6167 to learn more about the services offered to the hard of hearing, the deaf and the blind.
The XLC3.4 is one of 4 free phones available to people who have difficulty using a standard telephone.
IF YOU’RE 50+ Sterling Federal’s Four Seasons Club is for you. Have fun, enjoy friends on Four Seasons daytrips and tours. Join us for monthly card parties and special Four Seasons events.
Only Sterling Federal’s Four Seasons Club offers… • Travel Points Program. Members earn valuable points redeemable for free travel. • Free Trips to selected members on each trip. • Special Opportunities and benefits you deserve from your bank.
UPCOMING EVENTS June 11-14 New York City Tour: Broadway, 9/11 Memorial & More
Saturday, April 11
Monday, May 11
Wednesday, June 24
Wednesday, July 1
July 7-10
What Women Want (Women’s Expo) Dubuque, IA
The Lettermen Circa ’21 Dinner Theatre, Rock Island, IL
Chicago: New City in a Garden Chicago, IL
Guys on Ice Fireside Dinner Theatre, Ft. Atkinson, WI
Calgary Stampede Alberta, Canada
C’mon, join the club today! “Put yourself in the Four Seasons Picture!”
There’s no membership fee.You simply need to be age 50+ & have total deposits of $20,000 or more with Sterling Federal Bank. For details, call one of our Club Directors: Betty Snitchler 815-622-3362, Pam Stange 815-288-3327, Lynn Todtz or Dawn Alm in Clinton 563-242-9111
Sterling Pavilion, Ltd. SINCE 1974
105 E. 23rd St., Sterling 815- 626-4264 www.sterlingrehab.com
Private One Bed Suites • 24 Hour Skilled Nursing Care
Let us be your stepping stone...from hospital to home.
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Boomers Spring 2015
Peace of mind is a fuel’s errand As baby boomers age, keeping the current flowing becomes increasingly important NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE
As thousands of baby boomers turn 65 each day, some 90 percent of them (according to the AARP) hope to remain in their homes as long as they can, relying on modifications to improve safety and accessibility, as well as advancements in home-based medical devices to make that dream possible. But modifications like stair lifts and medical devices take power – and that can be lost in an instant during a power outage. For some people, the outage can be little more than an inconvenience; for others, it can be a matter of life and death. Generators can help provide a gas-powered safety net for people with home-based medical devices, such as oxygen pumps, for example. From smaller units with a manual start to whole-house units with an automatic start, generators can offer peace of mind and safety for people who choose to stay in their homes as they age. This added protection is needed as aging in place is becoming just as much a necessity as it is a desire. Rising costs of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, coupled with a still recovering housing market, have made it difficult for some seniors to leave their homes. GENERATORS CONTINUED ON 12
“ L e t U s L i f t Yo u ”
Maintain Your Independence
with the help of these Nu-Trend Accessibility Systems Residential stairway chair lift
Scooter lift for auto/vans
Residential elevator (309)797-4647 • 1808 34th Street, Moline, IL 61265 • www.nutrendaccess.com • Illinois Licensed
Enjoy the worry-free lifestyle seniors deserve! Heritage Woods is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their families. Not just any supportive living community, but one that provides exceptional care, support and dignity to all of our residents. Affordable for all incomes, call Denise Garcia for more information.
To arrange a visit contact Heritage Woods 815-625-7045 marketing@hw-sterling-slf.com
2205 Oak Grove Ave., Sterling (3 Blocks N. of W. LeFevre) Managed by BMA Management, Ltd. www.bma-mgmt.com
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Boomers Spring 2015
Determine your need first, generator size second GENERATORS
CONTINUED FROM 10
Yet, the relief of staying at home brings a new set of worries for people who’ve made their home more senior-friendly. Powered lift beds, chairlift rails, automated alarms, and a place for medicines that require refrigeration can bring the world of technological health care into even the most well-equipped home. While nursing homes and assisted living centers have the staff and expertise to handle power failures, people living at home must be prepared to handle a power outage on their own. Before you run out and buy a generator, first determine what kind you’ll need. There’s no sense spending more than you need to on a generator. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to
several thousand. Smaller generators, which can handle a few electrical devices, must be pull-started, similar to a push mower. These could suffice for people who don’t need a lot of current to keep things running, and who are still able to crank up the power with a pull. Larger generators can be started with a key or a remote fob, like a car. These require less effort and can keep more items running for longer periods of time. Large, whole-home backup generators are much more expensive, but will come on automatically in the event of a power loss, and keep the whole house running,as if nothing has happened. Automatic home backup generators are permanently connected to a home’s electrical system and run on a home’s natural gas or LP fuel supply.
More Info Portable generators – As the name would indicate, portable generators are mobile and can be moved into place wherever needed. These generators – which are great for work sites, tailgates and camping – can power several items, such as a plug-in appliance or lamp using properly rated extension cords. They run on gasoline or diesel and are manually operated. Portable generators must be operated outdoors away from a home due to carbon monoxide issues. Standby generators – A standby generator monitors utility power and automatically takes on your home’s electrical load if power is lost, usually within 10 seconds. A standby unit is installed outside the house, much like a central air conditioner, and runs on propane or natural gas, so there’s no refueling. It powers critical appliances and systems such as lights, furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators, sump pumps, home security systems, office equipment and sensitive electronics, including TVs and computers. An 8-, 10- or 12-kilowatt standby generator will power a few key items during an outage, such as a refrigerator, lights and sump pump. Some of the newer models can even start a 5-ton central air conditioner while still powering other items.
All the Comforts of Home
Private Suites Available
• Skilled Care • Short Term Rehab • Traditional Care • Speech • Occupational and Physical Therapies We care for your loved ones like family.
612 W. 23rd Street, Sterling, IL 61081 • 815-626-9020 • www.coventrylivingcenter.com
Boomers Spring 2015
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Living larger Continuing care facility is getting bigger and better
BY KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5535
FRANKLIN GROVE – Franklin Grove Living & Rehabilitation Center is expanding. The for-profit continuing care retirement community is adding a 3,300-square-foot therapy gym; six private Medicare suites adjacent to the gym, for another 3,300 square feet; and a 2,200-square-foot dining room, according to Kathy Clark, the resident services coordinator. Thanks to the addition of the gym,
the facility will be able to offer outpatient therapy for new and continuing patients, Clark said. The state-of-the-art gym will have a homelike feel, with a kitchen and a laundry room, she said. One of the neat features will be an indoor car, to be used to help patients practice getting in and out. New bathing suites are part of the package. There also will be a patio and courtyard off the new dining room, she said. EXPANSION CONTINUED ON 14
This artist’s rendering shows the new therapy gym that is part of the massive renovation at Franklin Grove Living & Rehabilitation Center.
Submitted
WIERSEMA CHARTER SERVICE, INC. 30-56 Passenger Coaches Gift CertificatesAvailable!
2015 DAY TRIPS
2015 DAY TRIPS
May 14 July 1 July 10
Nov. 21 Dec. 2 Dec. 5
July 24 Aug 1 Aug 7 Aug 13 Sept. 23 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 21 Nov. 6 Nov. 7 Nov. 14
“Match Maker”, Old Creamery Theatre - Amana “Guys on Ice”, Fireside Dinner Theatre NHRA Nationals (Drag Races), Route 66 Raceway - Joliet Wildlife Cruise, Mississippi Explorer Boat Old West & Spirits, Potosi, WI “Do As You Wish”, Chicago Downtown “Pump Boys & Dinettes”, Fireside Dinner Theatre “West Side Story”, Fireside Dinner Theatre “Fall Festival of Crafts”, Sandwich Fairgrounds (inside & outside) Big Things, Water & Apples, Peoria “Legacy Girls ‘50’s - ’60’s”, Starved Rock Lodge Fall Colors - IL, IA, WI, Lunch in Balltown, IA Fall Colors - IL, IA, WI, Lunch in Balltown, IA “Scarecrow Festival & Crafts”, St. Charles, IL “Route 66”, Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg “A Wonderful Life”, Fireside Dinner Theatre “Christmas in the Country”, Craft Show Sandwich, IL (indoors)
Visit our website for complete list of trips & tours www.wiersemacharter.com
Gurnee Outlet Mall, Gurnee, IL Downtown Shopping, Chicago Downtown Shopping, Chicago
2015 TOURS & OVERNIGHT TRIPS Sept. 19 &20 Nov. 2-7
NASCAR, Joliet, IL Branson at Holiday Time, 11 Shows, 13 Meals
2015 CUBS GAMES June 12 June 25 July 11 Aug. 21 Sept. 19
vs. Cincinnati Reds (FULL) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox vs. Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Call to reserve your Chicago Cubs Tickets NOW!!! Watch for our November Branson Tour!!! 15049 Lyndon Rd., Morrison 815-772-2232 • 800-829-2130
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Boomers Spring 2015
Growing demand for services drives expansion EXPANSION
CONTINUED FROM 13
Construction is expected to be done by the end of October. “We are so excited,” said Clark, who has worked at the for more than 40 years. “We just think this is so positive, for the community for the area.” The facility, in business for more than 45 years, is owned by Skokie-based Kathy Momentum, and Clark provides “a continuum of care” – everything from The Meadows, apartments for seniors who live independently, to assisted living, to short-term respite care, to hospice care. There are more than 100 residents, not counting those who live in the 44-unit apart-
Submitted
ment building, she said. The expansion is being fueled by growing demand, Clark said. “There’s a need. We’ve always been looking to the future, and more and more people need therapy, and we want to be here for them.” The company also owns Oregon Living & Rehabilitation Center, 11 S. 10th St. Expansion plans for that facility, on a smaller scale, are awaiting state approval,
regional administrator Dana Payton said. It’s part of a growing trend nationwide to meet the needs of an aging population. Locally, Resthave Nursing and Retirement Home in Morrison is nearly finished with its 2-year, $8 million expansion that includes a 20-room assisted living wing, a new skilled nursing wing with 70 private rooms with baths, a garden, a therapy room, and five rooms for
Franklin Grove Living and Rehabilitation Center, 502 N. State St., is undergoing a major expansion.
skilled-care patients who need physical rehabilitation, a chapel and more assisted living rooms. The project more than doubled the size of the facility. Windsor Manor Assisted Living Community opened in Morrison in July; it has 30 assisted living apartments in addition to The Gardens, a 10-unit area for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairment issues.
THE UNITY DIFFERENCE Customized Care: Our patient-centered approach to care means that no two patients are treated the same.
Consistent Care: Our clinicians don’t just get to know your medical needs - they get to know you!
Compassionate Care: Our 24/7 on-call service provides experienced
professionals who will be there for you and your family every step of the way, whenever you need us.
Rapid Response to referrals with same-day admissions 24/7.
Unity Hospice
of Western Illinois
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866-568-6489 Visit Unity Online!
www.unityhospice.com
Medicare and Medicaid Certified
Specialty Programs A Time Together: Unity Hospice volunteers and
staff who attend to those who are alone in their final hours.
We Honor Vets: A beautiful, caring ceremony
honoring and thanking the Unity Hospice patients who are veterans for their legacy of freedom and sacrifice to our country.
Palliative Care: Patients living with advanced
illness can continue their active treatment and receive consults at home.
Comfort Touch Massage: Gentle touch helps soothe and nurture the patient.
Cardiac, Dementia & ALS Programs Certified Grief Recovery Specialist Paws for Patients
Boomers Spring 2015
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Boomers feather their empty nests The remodeling industry is bouncing back in a big way, thanks in part to an aging population that wants to grow old at home BY JIM WEIKER Tribune News Service
The remodeling industry is on pace for a record year, thanks to homeowners such as Donna and Dennis Stevens. The Plain City couple have been spending time interviewing contractors about repaving their driveway, rebuilding their entrance walk and landscaping their front yard. They’ve lived in the home 35 years and, although in their late 60s, they’re looking to make improvements they’ve pondered for a while. The Stevenses represent the driving force behind a robust recovery in the remodeling industry, which was hammered during the housing recession but has recovered with the economy and home sales. Home-improvement spending has steadily grown the past 4 years, from $281 billion in 2011 to an estimated $315 billion last year, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. REMODELING CONTINUED ON 16
www.serenityhospiceandhome.org Created by the Community, Supported by the Community, Serving the Community since 1984
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Boomers Spring 2015
Money, longer lives open the door to remodeling REMODELING
CONTINUED FROM 15
This year, the Harvard center forecasts that number to rise by an additional 1.6 percent through the third quarter. Harvard estimates that 63 percent of home-improvement dollars will be spent by baby boomers, who are 51 to 70 years old, empty-nesters, and looking to stay put. “On average, baby boomers have more wealth and greater longevity and remain in the workforce longer than previous generations,” according to Harvard’s report. “But like those that preceded them, the overwhelming majority prefer to age in place.” In the past 2 years, baby boomers have helped double the business for Joel Walter, owner of N.J.W. Construction in Lancaster, Ohio. “It’s tremendously busy,” Walter said. “Everybody you talk to is pleasantly surprised. It’s January and February and people are already receiving a lot of calls about good projects.”
While his company’s growth has come across the board, Walter said much of it is due to empty nesters. The company, for example, just installed an elevator in a Lancaster home owned by a couple in their early 60s who are planning to remain in the home. “They’re healthy now,” Walter said. “This is just in case, so they’re not forced to leave in the future.” Remodelers have also benefited from a tepid recovery in home construction. Instead of buying new homes that require no renovation, central Ohioans are instead buying existing homes and putting money into them. Urban areas or inner suburbs, where homes are older and more likely to need attention, have been especially hot real-estate markets the past few years. Bryce Jacob, a vice president at Dave Fox remodeling company in Columbus, Ohio, believes the recession left some homeowners more attached to those homes. “After the recession, homeowners didn’t want to uproot to go to the outskirts of Columbus for a new house,”
Jacob said. “They developed friendships they didn’t want to sacrifice.” Sharply rising home values in places such as Upper Arlington, Bexley, Grandview Heights, Clintonville and Victorian Village have helped those homeowners pay for remodeling projects. “The appraised values of the homes have improved in those inner areas, and they can borrow against that,” Jacob said. While kitchen and bath remodeling continues to drive the industry, baby boomers are also looking at room additions, master suites and outdoor living spaces, remodelers say. Guy Klosterman, a senior vice president at Davidson Builders in Galena, Ohio, said his firm has pulled out a lot of big jetted tubs in master suites and replaced them with sleeker stand-alone models coupled with no-threshold shower stalls that can be accessed by those in wheelchairs. “We’re getting a lot of people who really want to stay put but are looking for higher-end finishes,” Klosterman said. “A lot of people in this economy are spending money.”
Lee County Council on Aging Founded as a non-profit organization in 1974, Lee County Council on Aging provides services and programs to Lee County seniors which help seniors to remain independent.
Assisting seniors to better quality of life
Medical Screening Programs - Flu Shots & Blood Pressure Checks Computer Classes • SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) Tax Counseling (February, March & Early April) Every Day - Coffee & Conversation with old & new friends
Many activities are available at the center:
Lifescape Meals • Exercise Classes Zumba • Bridge Games Pool Tables • Bowling • Wii Fun
Summer Luau Supper Fundraiser
August 20 • 4:30-6:00pm
Please join us!
100 West Second Street, Dixon, IL • 815-288-9236
Boomers Spring 2015
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Relief can be close at hand Massage does more than just relieve aches and pains; it can be part of the healing process in the treatment of cancer BY CASSANDRA ZIMMERMAN Special to Boomers
The battle against cancer changes everything, and for many people, the stress involved can greatly impact their mental health and well-being. Licensed massage therapists Carol Wright-Kielsmeier and Leslea Wallace understand how much relaxation can aid in the healing process, and using a licensed massage therapist with certification in oncology is the best way to receive a relaxing, safe experience, they say. MASSAGE CONTINUED ON 18
Carol Wright-Kielsmeier, a licensed massage therapist at Karma Salon in Rock Falls, has special training in techniques to help people battling cancer. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
This summer Walnut Manor Nursing Home will have a new name:
Our name is changing, not our mission. The health care needs of today’s seniors are changing. And, we are changing too! For more details call Dennis Grobe, Administrator, at: (815) 379-2131 HeritageofCare.com/walnut • Facebook.com/HeritageofCare 308 S. Second St. Walnut, IL 61376
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Boomers Spring 2015
Client: Think massage isn’t manly? Think again MASSAGE
CONTINUED FROM 17
Oncology massages employ different strokes and techniques, but the goal is the same: to give clients a mentally grounding experience, and alleviate their pain. “Massage releases endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. It also removes toxins through the body by stimulating the lymph nodes to filter lymphatic fluid,” Wallace said. A person “can fight better if they feel better,” Wright-Kielsmeier added. That’s a philosophy cancer survivor Dave Sherrick now understands well. Sherrick was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in December 2011. After undergoing Interferon treatment, doctors found a malignant tumor on his right groin. Removal of his lymph nodes in his right leg left him cancer-free, but with severe swelling, numbness and no way for the lymphatic fluid in his right leg to move or be filtered. He decided to try something new, something he never thought he would try. “My wife, Laurie, had been seeing Carol for massage occasionally for some time.
I began going for massage occasionally as a relaxing ‘escape’ from the physical and emotional stress of the whole cancer thing,” Sherrick said. “I soon discovered that each time following an appointment with Carol, my leg’s swelling was less. Additionally, I was regaining feeling, which was something my surgeon told me would likely never happen. “As a guy, I used to think massage could be a little weird or uncomfortable,” he said. But no more. “Don’t hesitate because you think you’re too manly to benefit,” he advises his fellow men. Wright-Kielsmeier and Wallace have taken the first of a three-part course, taught by Institute of Integrative Oncology in Chicago, on the proper techniques to help cancer patients. Part two begins in October. The knowledge gained so far helps them give effective massage without hurting or injuring the lymph nodes, Wallace said. They recommend that clients talk about massage treatments with their doctors before signing up. They also suggest that clients talk to their massage
To learn more
Licensed massage therapists Carol Wright-Kielsmeier and Leslea Wallace practice at Karma Salon and Spa, 1512 Fifth Ave. in Rock Falls. Call 815-622-7500 for an appointment or more information. therapists about the treatment they have received or are receiving, if they have had surgery and where, and if they have had any lymph nodes removed. Those details will affect how the massage is rendered. For example, if more than three nodes have been removed, the technique used to help lessen swelling and damage to compromised areas is different, Wright said. Clients with high red blood cell counts bruise easily. Still, for those battling cancer, just being touched can be a benefit in itself. “Many people are worried about hurting someone who has cancer, or worried about spreading germs,” and so don’t want to touch their loved ones, Wright said. “It feels good to just have someone touch you after going through so much pain.”
Signals to Look for:
• Social circles will dwindle with age. This can have profound effects on our loved ones. • Does your parent no longer engage in their regular social activities? • Is your loved one worried about living alone?
Know there is a Solution!
Moving in to Assisted Living provides the benefit of being around others. It removes isolation that can lead to depression and other health issues in older adults. Residents are loved, inspired and thriving at Windsor Manor!
Call us, we know there is a lot to talk about. 1-815-772-4031 403 Scenic Street Morrison, Illinois 61270 Windsor-Manor.com
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Boomers Spring 2015
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Going in reverse? Follow directions As more baby boomers turn to reverse mortgages, misunderstandings and problems will likely follow BY PATRICIA SABATINI Tribune Content Agency
A recent government report shows many seniors are taking out reverse mortgages on their homes without fully understanding the ramifications, leading to foreclosures among borrowers and a tangle of problems for heirs after the borrower dies. “Consumer complaints tell us that the complex terms of reverse mortgages continue to be misunderstood,” said Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which released a report highlighting the top complaints the agency received about reverse mortgages over the past 3 years. A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that allows homeowners age 62 and older to tap a portion of the equity in their homes. The money typically is paid out in a lump sum or in regular fixed payments, with fees and interest added to the balance each month. Unlike a home equity loan, the money does not have to be repaid until the borrower dies, moves out or sells the home. MORTGAGES CONTINUED ON 20
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Boomers Spring 2015
Mulling a reverse mortgage? Do your homework MORTGAGES
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But problems and confusion are expected to continue as more baby boomers retiring with little or no savings turn to the loans for help getting by. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cited a 2010 Federal Reserve report concluding that in the 55-to-64 age group, 41 percent had no retirement savings. Even among those who had a nest egg, the average balance was only $103,200, the report said. “Many consumers struggle with understanding how quickly their loan balance will go up and their home equity will fall,” the report said. As a result, many borrowers who wanted to refinance their loans were frustrated because there wasn’t enough remaining equity in their homes. One of the most common types of complaints involved the inability of a borrower’s family members to assume the loan in order to keep the house when the borrower died, according to the report. Reverse mortgages prohibit loan assumptions because actuarial tables are used to help determine the loan
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amounts. Adult children may keep the home only by paying off the loan or by paying 95 percent of the current appraised value of the house. Those rules can present problems for multigenerational households when family members are living in the home at the time of the borrower’s death. Heirs also complained about what they believed were inflated appraisals that required them to pay more than they expected, the report said. Another common complaint involved the shock of having to sell a home or face foreclosure when a spouse died because the surviving spouse’s name was not on the reverse mortgage. To help more seniors stay in their homes, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented a new rule allowing surviving spouses who meet certain conditions to remain in the home regardless of their borrowing status. The rule applies only to reverse mortgages originated through HUD’s program after Aug. 4, 2014. The financial protection bureau also reported complaints from borrowers who faced foreclosure or who lost their homes because they didn’t keep up with
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Reverse Mortgage Tips The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has an advisory, “Three Steps You Should Take If You Have a Reverse Mortgage,” available at consumerfinance.gov/blog. The advisory also has links to a consumer guide for people considering a reverse mortgage and a question-and-answer tutorial. Consumers can submit a complaint to the protection bureau at ConsumerFinance.gov, or by calling toll-free 1-855-411-2372. payments for property taxes and homeowners insurance, which under terms of a reverse mortgage must be kept current. “Some consumers describe unsuccessful attempts to halt foreclosure proceedings by paying overdue taxes in full or through payment plans,” the report said. In an effort to stem such defaults, lenders making loans under HUD’s program after March 2 will be required to make certain financial assessments of a prospective borrower. Currently, loan qualifications primarily are a borrower’s age and the amount of equity in a home.
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Boomers Spring 2015
21
There’s more gray matter in college A growing number of older students are heading back to the classroom THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Getting a college degree has always been on Nancy Rudnick’s bucket list. Life, however, had a way of intervening along the way. “I really wanted to do it a long time ago, but circumstances didn’t allow it,” Rudnick said. “But I told my husband, ‘That’s it, I’m doing it.’” Now 74, Rudnick in December completed her liberal arts associate degree from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. In May, she will don the traditional mortarboard and gown and walk across the stage during the spring graduation ceremony. COLLEGE CONTINUED ON 22
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Boomers Spring 2015
Community colleges ideal for older students COLLEGE
CONTINUED FROM 21
Each year, the college enrolls more than 300 students who are 50 or older and another 700 to 800 students who are in their 40s. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, which includes Clinton, Muscatine and Scott community colleges, has expanded its efforts to recruit more older students through its Plus 50 Initiative, which aims to help baby boomers earn a degree or noncertified certificate, program adviser Pat Cawiezell said. “The research says that there’s a huge population of people out there over 50 that really want either a change of career or to go back to work,” she said. “One of our challenges right now is that most groups are geared toward much older retired people.” The program is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges, a national association for all community colleges across the country. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges is one of 100 districts chosen for the program, which is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies.
The college district received $7,500 last year and $7,500 this year. That money goes toward retaining Cawiezell as a parttime adviser and marketing materials. Since taking the position nearly 3 months ago, Cawiezell has met with about 40 people older than 50 who are interested in taking classes. The majority of those who decide to attend the college lean toward business and health care, she said. With their wide array of short-term class options, community colleges are ideally suited for older adults who are looking for additional training for the workplace but who don’t want to commit 4 years or more of their time to earning a bachelor’s degree, Cawiezell said. “Especially for this age group, 2 years might seem like a lot,” she said. “I’ve met with a lot that maybe went for a year and want to finish an associate’s degree.” Rudnick graduated from St. Katherine’s/St. Mark’s, now Rivermont Collegiate, in 1958 and went on to study education at the Colorado Women’s College, now the University of Denver. She moved back to the Quad-Cities in 1960 after the death of her grandfather,
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whom she was close with. She later received a certificate in medical records and worked for several years at a hospital. She married her husband, Sherman, and had three children, and for many years, she concentrated on raising them. Still, getting her degree was something that stayed in the back of her mind. She took a couple of online classes and took speech and computer classes last summer. The computer class was the trickiest, she said. “It was a whole different life,” she said. “I didn’t know how to do Excel, didn’t know how to use PowerPoint, but I had to learn how to use it for speech class.” Rudnick, who turns 75 in May, said that just finishing her degree is good enough for her. “At this point in my life, I will probably continue to volunteer,” she said. Rudnick has been asked to join the Plus 50 Initiative advisory council. “I just think it’s important at any age that we keep active, keep our brains active,” she said. “It’s a wonderful experience, and I don’t think anyone should be afraid of it because there’s so much help out there. The college has people to help.”
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Boomers Spring 2015
23
Boomers offer words of wisdom for millennials STAFF REPORT news@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5501
“If I knew then what I know now ...” It’s a familiar refrain as we get a older. We look back on the mistakes of our youth and wonder what it would have been like to have a crystal ball to peer into and see our older selves looking back, telling us, “Don’t do that!” There’s no crystal ball, but older generations do have pearls of wisdom to offer those who are following in their footsteps. And while younger generations sometime think older folks can be full of hot air, Blimpie felt what they had to say was worth a listen. The sandwich chain, in conjunction with its 50th anniversary, commissioned a survey of more than 300 people over 50 – the baby boomers – to see what words of wisdom they had to offer the generations that will follow: the millennials. The survey included responses from 191 women and 113 men and asked boomers what they wish they had known when they were 25. It was conducted by a third party, and the respondents had no connection to the sandwich chain. At right are some top answers in 10 categories, both serious and a little on the lighter side.
H
Love Love the inside, the outside will change. The person you marry will change – change with them or without them. Take a honeymoon every year. Work Know technology – you need it for your job. Who you know gets you in the door, what you know opens the next one. Behave at the work holiday party. Use your vacation time. Money Save for a rainy day; it may pour when you least expect it. Spend money on experiences – not things. You will not win the lottery. Style Models look that way in magazines because they’re
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Where they raised you... Where they want to stay
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models – and because they’re airbrushed. Wear a watch. Crocs don’t look good on anybody. Health Wear sunscreen; it’s the one thing that really does help you look young. Smoking … seriously? Eat your cheese fries now; they’re harder to get rid of later. Friends Good friends lift you up; toxic friends bring you down. Work at keeping your friends; making new ones is hard when you’re older. Family Cherish every moment you have with your mom and dad. Call your grandparents more. You will become your parents.
Media Read more books instead of Tweets. Dinner with friends does not mean dinner with phones. There is nothing real about ‘reality’ shows. Real books will still be there when your cellphone or tablet battery dies. Write a real letter, in your own handwriting, so you don’t forget how. Words of wisdom It’s OK to change your mind. Work hard for everything; no one owes you anything. Know when to speak up and to shut up. Goals and aspirations Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is not. Give to charity; don’t become a charity case. Your big idea can become a reality.
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TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM... Lee-Ogle Transportation System will take you where you need to go in the area Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.
Provides Transportation for all residents in Lee and Ogle County Regardless of age, ability, or disability
Lee-Ogle Transportation System is a not-for-profit public agency that welcomes donations to keep the wheels on the road.
Call 815-288-2117 to schedule a ride or to provide a donation today! Lee-Ogle Transportation System is located at the Reagan Transit Center at 210 E. Progress Drive in Dixon!
Joint Academy
Tommy Hernandez, MD