Vol 39 • No. 9
www.theactiveage.com Kansas’ Kansas’Award-winning Award-winningTop Top55+ 55+News NewsSource Source
August 2018
Change When dividing family possessions in store for the active age Who gets what?
ACTIVE AGING PUBLISHING, INC 125 S West St., Suite 105 Wichita, Ks 67213
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wichita, KS 67276 Permit 1711
By Amy Geiszler-Jones When Wichitan Tara Czepiel saw two sisters in her extended family turn on each other and end up in court over their mother’s possessions, she set about to make sure that wouldn’t happen among her children. The family rift “was a massive disaster,” ending with the sisters no longer on speaking terms, she said. “It was gut-wrenching to see this happening in my own family.” That’s when Czepiel, still in her 40s, gathered her four adult children to meet about who would receive what. The list is now part of her will. “My life and relationships are not about my possessions…so I can’t have my children torn apart by that.” Possessions – from Grandma’s favorite pie plate to Dad’s tools to a favorite holiday ornament – can trigger lots of emotions: sentimental memories, a desire to hold onto a
Photo by Rob Howes
Teresa Hatfield offers 10 tips. piece of the past and yes, even greed. “Everybody thinks ‘my family is so good and squabbles won’t happen,’ but they do,” said Teresa Hatfield. As the family and consumer sci-
ence agent on adult development and aging with the Kansas State Research and Extension Office – Sedgwick County, Hatfield gives a presentation on the process of distributing one’s possessions. She said the Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate program was created about 20 years ago by the University of Minnesota extension office and is used by extension offices across the country. Creator Marlene Stum, a K-State alumnus, also turned it into an award-winning book. “Families get weird when someone dies,” said John Boldenow. During his career as a certified and licensed appraiser in the Wichita area he has seen many scenarios play out with family possessions. Because of the emotional – and even financial – issues involved in See 10 Tips, page 6
10 early signs of Alzheimer’s Memory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stage, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, and increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to han-
Questions about services?
dle on their own. What’s a typical age-related change? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What’s a typical age-related change? Making occasional errors when
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging or call your county Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372
See Signs, page 8
By Fran Kentling All good things must come to end. I have edited the active age for more than five years. We’ve had some ups and downs, yet I have never loved a job as much as this one. You are the most responsive Kentling audience I’ve experienced in my more than 30 years as a journalist. When I tell you how important you are and how much we appreciate your input and support, I mean it. My last day is Friday, Aug. 24. I’ll rest easy when I leave because it’s in good hands. Tammara Fogle is the office veteran: She’s the business manager, seller of classified ads, overseer of our website and the person who puts the newspaper together to send to Valley Offset. Valley has printed this newspaper for more than 30 years. Even though newspapers and journalism are under increasing criticism, you continue to ask to receive the paper. The more the merrier. Joe Stumpe, our new editor, and Mike Parker, our new ad manager, will introduce themselves. This is my second retirement. I think it will stick this time. Contact me at fran@kentling.net-
See New, page 3
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800- 279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655