Senior Life - NorthWest Edition - February 2023

February 2023

bruar y 2023

23

Thanks to a public art grant program by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation, more than 40 public art projects in 33 counties in Indiana were initiated in 2022. It was announced in January that additional grant funding will be made available to continue the program this year.

One of the projects was a mural painted on the south wall of the main building of Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting by artist Felix Maldonado.

“The mural produced through the Visit Indiana Public Art Grant not only enhances the exterior of Calumet College and provides a vibrant piece of artwork for those that bike and walk the trails through Hammond, but it really reflects the unique characteristic of an Indiana region that combines natural resources, heavy industry and a strong and diverse community,” said Dr. Amy McCormack, president of Calumet.

At the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center in Porter, you’ll find two murals by artist Ryan “Arcy” Christenson of RC Murals. The murals are part of the Indiana Dunes Indigenous Cultural Trail, said Christine Livingston, vice president of Indiana Dunes Tourism. “Our artist is a talented graffiti artist and the content was developed in collaboration with both the Miami and Potawatomi tribes.”

In Munster, a mural was painted by artist Lindsey Harris on the west-facing wall of Water’s Edge Gift, Garden & Pond Center, which sits at the state line on Ridge Road as a project of the Munster Civic Foundation.

The town was working on a public art project in 2022 with large, painted tulips throughout town, and one artist brought to the attention of the foundation was a muralist. The foundation soon learned of the grant program and took advantage of it to highlight Harris’s work and enhance the entry point into Munster coming from Illinois.

“Not only would we beautify this location, we would be supporting Water’s Edge, a local business that relocated to this location, and we could also promote the tulip theme to support the public art tulips,” said Wendy Mis, clerk-treasurer with the Town of Munster.

The IN Indiana Public Art Activation Grant is a non-matching grant of up to $10,000 to fund public art projects. The initial round of the grant provided more than $200,000 last May.

This year $500,000 has been allocated between that grant and a new IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant, which will allow for matching grants of up

to $25,000. More information on the grant program and an application can be found at VisitIndiana.com. The application deadline is March 17.

“These public art projects help tell the stories of our local communities in beautiful and enriching ways,” Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said. “I hope

first-time visitors and long-time residents alike will be able to enjoy these new assets and feel a sense of pride and belonging in Indiana.”

Key Positions

Biancardi working to bring art to community

Carole Biancardi of Valparaiso grew up in Gary and attended Emerson High School, where a teacher recognized her artistic ability and encouraged her to apply at the Art Institute of Chicago.

“I had never been there or even knew it existed,” she said. Biancardi attended the school full time for a year-and-a-half, studying painting and drawing before she had to quit to go to work.

She continued part time at the Art Institute and took what she thought was going to be a temporary three-month assignment with the Gary Public Library. She ended up being there 18 years, becoming the head of art and public affairs. During her employment there she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Indiana University Northwest in Gary, and then a bachelor’s in fine arts from the school, as well.

“They were so supportive of my ideas for everything,” she said. “That’s when libraries were just starting PR programs.”

Biancardi coordinated two art galleries within the library system in Gary, which at one time had seven branches. She also wrote a column for the Post Tribune for seven years called “More Than Books,” which focused on library programs and services. One year she booked a speaker for the library’s African American History Month program who at the time was a host of a local talk show. She paid the speaker, Oprah Winfrey, $1,500 for the gig, and during her presentation Winfrey announced she had just learned that her show was going to be syndicated.

Biancardi’s busy job with the library left little time for

her to create art, which was her first passion, so she moved on to a job in health care. She thought her job in the marketing department at Methodist Hospitals would give her more time do her own artwork.

“I didn’t want to be a manager anymore and went in as a staff member,” she recalled. “I didn’t know anything about health care. But within six months they made me a director.”

Biancardi spent the next 21 years there as director of marketing and corporate communications. She quickly jumped back into a pivotal public relations role.

“I learned a bucket full — from administrators, nurses, doctors and staff,” she said.

“When you’re charged with communicating, you have to know what you’re talking about. You have to ask a lot of questions and figure out what people want to know and give it to them.”

Biancardi eventually took advantage of a retirement buyout. Finally, she thought she’d have a creative outlet in the form of a business making gift baskets. When the recession hit, she gave it up and took on a nine-month job as volunteer coordinator for a hospice agency. Then she was asked to help with marketing for a new home health care company, and then another home health care company.

“When I left the hospital, I knew about state and national level hospital issues and then learned hospice care and home health care,” she said.

When her son, Nathan, graduated from Valparaiso University, they leased a building to start an art studio. In 2019, Biancardi and her son became business partners of Painted Palette Studio where they host classes and art camps for kids. They’ve also done events at

which Nate offers caricatures and she leads painting projects for kids.

“We also accepted the responsibility for continuing All About Art Camp, a nonprofit initiated by art educators from the school system and Valparaiso University,” said Biancardi. They also do classes at assisted living facilities and work with Alzheimer’s patients, for whom painting and other artistic

activities can be therapeutic.

“I love being able to work with so many people from the community on all different levels,” she said. “I look at different ways to use art to kind of build community and introduce people to the fact that they can do things they never expected or thought they couldn’t do. They’re always surprised at what they can achieve.”

In addition to running the

art studio with her son, she also continues to do contract work in the health care field, creating content for newsletters. Writing is something she still enjoys, stemming all the way back to her days as high school yearbook editor. She is a member of St. Paul Church in Valparaiso where she volunteers. She has been married to her husband, Andrew, who also is an artist, for 28 years.

Placebo power works

Your mind is a powerful tool. If you set your mind to do something, you’re likely to get it done. If you set it to cure you when you’re sick, your chances of feeling better are multiplied. This is where placebos come into play. A placebo is a

substance or treatment with no therapeutic value but the patient is told it has. It can be inert tablets, inert injections, and even sham surgery.

A placebo cannot cure you but it can make you feel better. It can’t reset a broken bone, but it can make you believe it takes the pain away.

There’s a report of a World War II surgeon who ran out of morphine and substituted a pre-surgery injection of a saline solution. It worked because his patients believed they were being injected with an anesthetic.

This placebo effect is effective in up to half of the cases in which it is applied, but depends on several factors.

The more bells and whistles involved, the more effective the response, according to a recent Annual Review of Clinical Psychology report. According to the report, placebo pills and injections were effective in about one-quarter of the cases in which they were applied compared with a 50% response rate to placebo surgery.

The condition being treated also is a factor. Placebos work best for treating pain, itching and fatigue and are not as effective for symptoms such as fever, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rate.

Mental health disorders such anxiety, depression and

panic attacks respond well to placebos. While they can reduce the pain from a tumor, they can’t stop it from growing.

Medical research indicates more patients are experiencing relief from placebos, even when they know they’re being given placebos. A 1996 clinical-trial group reported a 27% difference between the effectiveness of placebo and active drugs. The difference reported in a 2013 test was less than 10%.

Despite this seeming effectiveness of placebos, doctors cannot prescribe them without telling their patients what they are. Studies show when patients are told they are getting a placebo and also told what placebos work, they get a positive placebo response. A solution is what’s called openlabel placebos, which have been used to successfully treat migraine headaches, knee pain, cancer-related fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, among other ailments.

The placebo power is in our minds — we don’t need to be hoodwinked into using it, we just have to start believing in it.

Modern medicine has come to believe in what Hippocrates knew: “The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force for getting well.”

Dependable store clerk on the job for two decades

It’s Thursday afternoon and Debbie Phillips is at work. A utility clerk at the Chesterton Strack & Van Til Food Center, Phillips bags groceries, recovers carts and returns loose food to its right spot.

Phillips has been doing this for 22 years. During that time, the Valparaiso woman also has been a client of Opportunity

Enterprises. The Valparaisobased nonprofit works with individuals with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.

“I like talking to customers and meeting new people,” Phillips, 61, said. “I like working with the people I work with and I get along with my coworkers.”

Opportunities Enterprises provides children and adults having disabilities with a sup-

portive environment where they can learn, continually increase their skills and reach their maximum potential. OE offers residential programs, respite, curriculum-based day program, daily living skills and enrichment.

Phillips is part of OE’s JobSource program, linking clients with potential employers and providing training.

As Phillips’ JobSource coach, Kim Adams advocates for her and the other OE clients working at the supermarket. Adams used the word “phenomenal” to describe Phillips.

“She’s an efficient, hard worker, dependable and always here,” Adams said. “She makes sure every checkout order is a carry out. She’s really, really diligent. You never see Debbie just standing around. She’ll find something to do.”

When she’s not working, Phillips works on crafts, including painting on canvas. Her favorite subjects include cats and dogs.

Phillips, who lives with her son Bruce, also enjoys watching old TV shows. Her favorite include MacGyver, The Price is Right and General Hospital.

“I enjoy living independently,” she added. “I have my own apartment.”

Phillips’ husband, Ben, died five years ago. She still recalls her late husband making her laugh by texting her that he was hungry. Other important people in her life now include her mother and siblings.

“They support me when I need something,” said Phillips, who relies on family and friends. “They encourage me.”

Having grown up in Michigan City, Phillips is a fan of Chicago sports teams, including the Bears, Bulls and Cubs.

the client guidance to perform the job more efficiently and with the site supervisor to help create the accommodations needed to do the job better.

Chris Rogers, Phillips’s supervisor at Strack’s, noted, “Debbie’s a joy. She’s a reliable employee and has a great attitude. She never complains,

she’s always willing to help, and she goes above and beyond.”

Rogers also described Phillips as highly self-motivated. “Everyone loves her — staff and customers.”

For more information on OE’s JobSource, call (219) 4649621, ext. 213.

S. O. S. – Speaking Of Seniors — In person better than on phone

have a problem with a bill, are you going to call the salesman at a call center and get help? Doing business with a local agent allows you to go to someone to get help with a problem.

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publications dedicated to inform, serve and entertain the senior citizens in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Each of the four editions focus on local information for each area. Senior Life is privately owned and published by The Papers Incorporated.

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Phillips wants people to see her as a “nice person.” Coming home from work, she might prepare a dinner of popcorn chicken and baked french fries.

OE’s JobSource division connects employers and job candidates and provides ongoing support for both employee and employer throughout the process, which boasts a 93% retention rate.

Once a position is filled, OE clients work with a job coach, such as Adams, who occasionally visits the work site to check in with the employer and client. Coaches may offer

Editor’s note: Woodrow Wilcox is the medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services in Merrillville. He has saved clients of the firm over $3 million by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system. Also, Wilcox wrote the book “SOLVING MEDICARE PROBLEM$” which is available through book stores and online.

Whether you buy Medicare related insurance through our agency or not, I recommend that you do business in person and not over the phone.

If you buy a Medicare related policy over the phone and you

Our agents are trained in the differences in different policies. They listen to the client and try to match what the customer wants with what is available. This firm does not charge customers for advice. Insurance companies pay our firm to let customers know what the insurance company offers. There are so many different types of Medicare Advantage plans that it is difficult to keep things straight — especially over the phone. I believe it is better to meet with someone face to face and get your questions answered so that you understand what you are getting.

Walk among the giants on California’s redwood coast

From Big Sur to the Oregon border, groves of towering redwoods stand in misty silence, pillars among fern-fringed aisles carpeted with moss. Those who walk among these trees often experience a peace and reverence befitting a natural cathedral. Perhaps primary among

the groves are those found in California’s Humbolt County, especially Redwood National and State Parks and Humbolt Redwoods State Park.

Some of these giants have been standing since before the birth of Christ. Those in the Redwoods National and State Parks help make up vast tracts of old-growth and second-growth forest, together with scenic riv-

ers, open prairies, oak woodlands and 37 miles of pristine Pacific coastline.

Hiking, biking and camping are among the recreational activities along with ranger-led walks.

Amateur naturalists can register online to join seminars and field trips with a range of experts.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

How much do you REALLY love your family?

According to a 2021 survey conducted by Caring.com, only 33% of adults in the United States have estate planning documents such as a will or trust. Many respondents attributed their lack of estate planning to procrastination, but many others indicated a mistaken belief that estate planning is not necessary because they do not have many assets.

Why Should You Have An Estate Plan?

An estate plan can provide significant peace of mind by ensuring that your money and property are protected, and plans are in place for the day when you become ill or die, and your accounts and property pass down according to your wishes. Did you know that the biggest fights in fami-

lies aren’t about money, stocks or real estate? They are about the little things that hold memories. Your family can be torn apart over something as seemingly minor as “Who gets Grandma’s car or Grandpa’s tools!”

What Key Elements Of An Estate Plan Should You Consider?

• Do you have a last will and testament or a trust? If you do not have these important documents, state law will determine who will inherit your property — and it may not occur in the way you would have chosen. In addition, someone appointed by the court, instead of a trusted person of your choosing, will be in charge of caring for any children or pets and winding up your affairs. Spelling out

your wishes in a will or trust will also prevent unnecessary confusion, anxiety and expense for your loved ones when you are gone.

• Are the proper powers of attorney in place? A financial power of attorney designates an individual to make financial and property decisions (e.g., opening a bank account, signing a deed, getting your mail, etc.) should you become unable to handle your own affairs. An advance directive designates a person you trust to make medical decisions for you when you are otherwise unable to speak for yourself.

• Ensure that you have a living will, which memorializes your wishes concerning your end-of-life care, such as whether you want to receive life support if you are in a

vegetative state or have a terminal condition.

• You should also have HIPAA authorizations in place with medical professionals to ensure that your loved ones can obtain needed information.

• Pass your personal belongings according to your wishes with memorandums for distribution of personal property. Learn more about the benefits and protections of an estate plan by attending our estate planning/medicaid planning seminar at Pesto’s, 3123 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28; or Kelsey’s, 2300 Morthland Drive, Valparaiso, 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Call now: (800) 3037423, or visit riceandrice.com.

Dollar-cost averaging pays off

You’re probably tempted to opt out of those low-performing stocks whenever Wall Street slumps. You may even have given in and funneled your money into a morepromising portfolio. But if you didn’t and if you continued to

make regular purchases — $100 a month or $500 a month or whatever — of shares of stock you’re probably sleeping better now.

This process of investing the same amount in the market at regular intervals is known as dollar-cost averaging. It and diversification are considered the two vital supports of a

sturdy portfolio to survive the rises and falls, no matter how severe, of the stock prices.

By sticking to your plan of pouring a fixed amount of money in a regular basis, you won’t be traumatized by television’s talking heads reporting on market slumps and surges like it was the weather.

When the XYZ stock you

began buying in the 1980s began climbing from the $1 purchase price to a high of $3 you felt good. But when it slid to 30 cents a share as the market toppled, you most likely had a sinking feeling in your stomach. But look at what dollar cost averaging did for you.

At $1 a share, $100 bought

you 100 shares. When it rose to $3, your regular $100 investment garnered about 33 shares. But when the price sank to 30 cents, your regular $100 input picked up more than 330 shares. And as the market struggled back up, so did the total value of your increased holdings. Mature

Jasper Newton Foundation expands ‘Level Up’ services

The Jasper Newton Foundation, Inc. and the Second Chance Fund has committed $375,000 over the next three years to expand United Way Northwest Indiana’s Level Up and community navigator services to Jasper and Newton counties.

“We’re really excited about this partnership opportunity to

bring Level Up to the residents of Jasper and Newton counties,” said Brienne Hooker, executive director of Jasper Newton Foundation. “We need great partners like United Way to help our residents break barriers and thrive. Funding through the Second Chance Fund, established by one of our generous donors, will sustain

this critical support opportunity for residents in both counties to realize their potential, obtain necessary training and education, and then launch into the next part of their lives.”

Targeted to help working residents who are struggling financially and one emergency away from disaster, Level Up provides customized one-on-one

United Way announces revised giving campaign

Following the launch of its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, United Way Northwest Indiana is kicking off a giving campaign to address challenges for residents in the region.

“In northwest Indiana, one in three households can’t afford basic needs such as childcare, housing, food and transportation,” said Adam O’Doherty, president and CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “We’re working to expand our services to meet residents where they are at.”

To best address the need across the five counties they serve, United Way gathered extensive data and engaged

citizens, donors, volunteers and other stakeholders to create a plan to address northwest Indiana’s greatest challenges including workforce readiness and access to economic opportunity and employment.

United Way Northwest Indiana’s strategic plan details several tactics to help resolve urgent community needs and the root causes behind them. By end of 2025, the team looks to reduce the number of region households living below financial sustainability levels by graduating 1,000 residents through its Level Up program, providing customized one-on-one financial education and career support

to help working residents build sustainable financial futures. In addition, United Way will establish a new Community Navigator resource referral service to guide at least 3,500 households to the immediate help they need.

To provide hope to our struggling community members, United Way Northwest Indiana invites donations of all sizes to make these programs sustainable.

“Together, we can harness the power of caring to make every life in northwest Indiana better today and tomorrow,” said O’Doherty.

Learn more and donate online at unitedwaynwi.org/donate.

financial education and career support to help clients break barriers and achieve financial stability.

“In northwest Indiana, one in three households can’t afford basic needs such as childcare, housing, food and transportation,” said Adam O’Doherty, president and CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “We’re working to expand our services to meet residents where they are at.”

United Way Northwest Indiana serves Jasper, Lake,

Newton, Porter and Starke counties and by the end of 2025, they look have 1,000 Level Up graduates from across their five-county footprint.

To become a Level Up client, residents must be working, live in one of the counties United Way Northwest Indiana serves, be 18 years old or older, have reliable transportation and meet the minimum income requirements. For more information about Level Up and to apply, visit unitedwaynwi.org/ level-up.

Shirt happens

Next month, Mary Ellen and I will take our first vacation out of the country since the start of COVID.

We’re very excited about this cruise. I’m already shopping, hoping to update my wardrobe — a word I just realized I have never used for my clothing. Mary Ellen has a wardrobe; I have two drawers and a closet.

I had to buy a dress shirt for one of the special dinners on the ship. I don’t like to wear a white shirt, preferring one with a bit of color, but Mary Ellen was adamant that I go traditional. I purchased an additional shirt for the more casual nights.

After a short stop at Kohl’s, I came home with the two shirts. I opened the package and tried the first one on. It fit perfectly. My wife was in the room watching me. She had a smirk on her face.

“You have a stain on your shirt already,” she said.

“That’s impossible. I just put it on,” I said.

“They must really know their customers at Kohl’s,” she said.

“What do you mean?” I asked her.

“They pre-stained it for you,” she said to me.

Yes, right next to the third button were brown blotches, nothing I was familiar with, despite my extensive experience with the telltale signs left by every condiment I have ever slathered on a fast-food sandwich.

“I guess I can’t wear that to dinner,” I said, about to unpack my second option.

“Why not?” she asked. “It’s gonna look like that anyway, right after you finish your appetizer.”

I reached into the shopping bag and dug out the blue button down. I carefully removed all the pins from the folded shirt before I put it on. I thought it looked great and said to Mary Ellen, “As long as I’ve got it on, let’s go out for a nice dinner.”

“You can’t wear that shirt, either,” said Mary Ellen.

“Why not?” I asked.

“It has a smudge under the second button,” she said.

Sure enough, once again I had purchased a brand new piece of apparel that had somehow anticipated its unavoidable destiny and went ahead and self-stained.

“Wait a second, Mary Ellen. I’ll wear a tie. That will cover it,” I said.

“Super idea. Too bad every tie in your closet has ketchup on it,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll button my sport coat. That will cover the mark on the tie,” I said.

Mary Ellen walked over to the closet and pulled out the one sport coat I still wear. She looked at it carefully and shook her head.

“This is not going to work. It has mustard on the lapel. Do you own a raincoat?” she asked.

After we returned home from dinner, I washed both shirts and successfully removed the original soiled areas, but the shirts were destined on the trip to be become a kaleidoscope of tasty tidbits from our buffets.

Recently, we were going over final plans for the vacation. I asked Mary Ellen questions about the reputation of the cruise line we were using.

“Do you really think I will like the food, Mary Ellen?” I began.

“Oh, yes. For you, Dick, it will be spot on,” she said.

It was 50 years ago — ‘Dueling Banjos’ was a powerhouse instrumental duo

Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell

In the early months of 1973, Top 10 recording artists included such hipsters as Carly Simon, Elton John, War, Steely Dan and Roberta Flack.

In their midst, though, appeared the unlikely duo of Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell, a powerhouse instrumental duo behind the million-seller “Dueling Banjos,” which for four straight weeks locked in the No. 2 position on the Billboard singles chart.

Weissberg and Mandell supported themselves as session musicians, working with such leading lights as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins and John Denver — until a request arrived one day for the pair to record a track for the upcoming Burt Reynolds movie “Deliverance,” a horrific tale of four Atlanta businessmen who canoe down an isolated Georgia river (that’s about to become dammed and made into a lake), with dangerous, churning rapids and mayhem and murder awaiting downstream.

Five minutes into the film, at a dilapidated backwoods gas station, we experience a spontaneous jam session between city slicker Drew (former stage actor Ronny Cox) and a provincial lad — apparently mute — named Lonnie (local high-schooler Billy Redden).

“Dueling Banjos” unfolds

between the pair as a musical conversation. Lonnie, initially reticent, slowly picks up the tune, tosses in a bit of “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” then, much to Drew’s delight, shifts into high gear. The musical pace builds to a high-octane finish as a grinning local man dances an ad libbed jig.

Cox was a good guitarist but Redden couldn’t play a note. During the filming, Billy had to wear a customized shirt that allowed a local musician named Mike Addis to play the banjo while hiding his own arms in Redden’s sleeves.

Weissberg and Mandell didn’t write “Dueling Banjos.” That honor went to ace instrumentalist Arthur Smith in 1954 when he composed “Feudin’ Banjos,” which he recorded later with fellow banjoist Don Reno. Smith’s original work — a forerunner of the rapid-

fire rock ‘n’ roll instrumental — was appropriately named because the track seemed to be just that: an argument of sorts between two banjos. The 1973 hit single, though, featured not two banjos but a banjo and a guitar.

“Dueling Banjos” on Warner Records rose next to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 5 on the country charts. Its placement in the latter might have been the impetus that helped Weissberg and Mandell garner a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance the following year.

But not everybody appreciated the success of “Dueling Banjos.” Arthur Smith had not given permission for the usage of his creation nor did he receive the credit for writing the hit. Eric Weissberg was listed as the sole creator.

Smith filed a lawsuit, which was settled two years later in his favor when he received the abundant royalties that were due him. Just how abundant?

The first thing Arthur purchased was a 42-foot yacht.

Smith’s creation was parodied when comedian Martin Mull released his own instrumental argument called “Dueling Tubas.” The silly single sold enough copies to send it soaring to No. 92 on the Hot 100 chart.

Active lifestyle continues for ‘Silver Sneakers’ instructor

From running up a Colorado mountain to sailing on Lake Michigan to directing road races, Mike Jones always has been a fit adult. At 74, he’s still working and working out, training other seniors to live healthy lifestyles. For the past 30 years, Jones has worked at the Valparaiso Family YMCA as both a certified Silver Sneakers instructor and a personal trainer.

“I enjoy helping people,” said Jones, a Valparaiso resident. “If I can be an example and help people, that’s what I want to do.”

Silver Sneakers is a national fitness program geared toward seniors. The Valpo YMCA offers several of its programs. Jones teaches Silver Sneakers Classic and is also certified to teach the Stability course.

Classic involves exercises taught from a standing or seated position. Usually set to music, the program is designed to increase muscular strength, range of motion and activities for daily living. Stability, designed for fall prevention, improves balance and

increase reaction time.

After working 37 years for NIPSCO, Jones retired in 2009. He then worked fulltime 10 years at Ivy Tech Community College. Today he described himself as “sort of” retired, still serving as an adjunct instructor at Ivy Tech.

Jones’ Silver Sneakers classes draw 25 members for the 45-minute sessions. Silver Sneakers training, he explained, “teaches you how to provide exercise programs that seniors can do. You also learn what you should and should not do with seniors.”

Benefits of Silver Sneakers, Jones continued, include balance, strength and flexibility.

“A lot of things we‘re doing is improving quality of life for seniors, and for these seniors quality of life is a big deal.”

Jones has run 56 marathons, including the Pike’s Peak race. Running while in his 50s and 60s, he has also been in three 50-mile races and some 50-kilometer runs.

Jones, who ran track in high school, resumed running at age 40. “I just wanted to become more active,” he said.

“Running seemed like the easy thing to do — go outside and do it.”

Q. Is a Revocable Trust right for you?

A. You’ve probably seen the advertisements touting the creation of a revocable trust as a good way to avoid probate. And for some people it is. However, having a revocable trust as part of your estate plan may not be appropriate for everyone.

Probate is a court-supervised proceeding which transfers the ownership of your assets after death. With a revocable trust, after your death your trustee, with-

For 24 years, Jones directed the Ringing in Spring 5K benefit for the Valpo YMCA. He stopped running around age 65.

“I feel I’m in really good shape,” he said. “Except for running, I feel I can do next to anything.”

A boater, Jones took part in 35 Mackinac Island races. He and his wife Ann have three children and three grandchildren.

Jones said staying fit means he is not limited physically. “I feel good practically all of the time,” he said. “Fitness is something that helps you out in everyday life.”

Through his instruction, Jones added, “I hope people meet the goals they set and enjoy what they’re doing.”

As a personal trainer, Jones works one-on-one with 15 clients. Some, he said, want to lose weight, while others are focusing on increased strength and improved balance.

“They want to go out and do the things they want to do, like snow skiing,” Jones said. “Everything is tailored to what the individual wants.”

For more information on Silver Sneakers at the Valpo YMCA, call (219) 462-4185.

out court supervision, follows the instructions in your trust for how your assets should be handled. One of the reasons a trust can be a practical strategy is if you own out-of-state property. Adding the property to a trust allows you to avoid the second probate that’s ordinarily needed to transfer outof-state property.

Having a revocable trust as part of your estate plan may or may not be the best decision for you. Only your specific financial and family circumstances can determine the answer. Please contact TCU Trust Services to discuss your individual situation. We are here to help.

Advertising with us is a Breeze Advertising with us is a Breeze

Q. Isn’t your paper only read by older senior citizens on limited incomes?

A. According to audit statistics, 80% of our readers are under the age of 75. 65% of our readers have a household income of over $50,000 per year. Nearly 40% of these readers earn more than $75,000 per year. Are households with an income larger than $50,000 your target market? If so, consider advertising in Senior Life! Call or send me an e-mail today!

Faith

Faith helps Carr through cancer journey

Melinda Carr grew up in West Virginia where her parents raised her in the church. That faith has carried her through both good and bad times throughout her life, including a cancer diagnosis. The Hebron resident is thankful for a caring church community at Lake Hills Baptist Church in Schererville, where she has been a member since 1991.

“The people there they are family,” she said. “They are truly caring, loving people who are givers.”

Over the years, Carr has found ways to lend a hand at church. She served as a junior high Sunday school teacher, AWANA game leader, AWANA secretary, ladies’ Sunday school teacher, choir member and Bible study leader among her church activities.

“I loved working with teenagers and then got talked into the ladies class teaching,” she said. “I really loved the older ladies and I probably taught this class for 15 years. I love teaching God’s word and the ladies are encouragers and prayer warriors. Many of them are my best friends.”

Over the years, Carr has made a difference in countless lives as a teacher and coach. “I worked at a Christian school as substitute teacher, athletic director, fundraising coordinator and volleyball coach, and worked there for 30 years.”

Family is everything to Carr. She and her husband of 52 years, Galen, have five

children and 19 grandchildren, ranging in age from 4 to 24. “Two of our sons are in Iowa and are lead pastors,” she said. “We have three daughters in northwest Indiana — two in the finance world and one is a stay-athome home-schooling mom.”

Carr always enjoyed being able to volunteer through church. And her church work as well as her grandchildren are what she’d call her “hobbies.” She’s able to spend a lot of time with some of her grandchildren. Eight of them live very close, including four who are home schooled and live one door down.

In May 2019, Carr was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She has done two conventional chemotherapy rounds and her cancer has metastasized to her stomach three times. “I had surgery in June 2019 to remove half of my pancreas and spleen, then surgery in November 2022 to remove one-third of my stomach, and will start treatment again this month. The Lord is faithful and because his people have prayed, I am still alive by his mercy.”

Her strong faith has been central to her journey with cancer. “Being a believer is what has carried me through, especially these last 3 1/2 years with pancreatic cancer. God has given much grace and mercy. He is my foundation on which all is built. Without Jesus I would not have weathered the storm,” said Carr. “Now faith is substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Community Healthcare System and Aetna reach agreement

Community Healthcare System and Aetna have agreed on an amendment that will avoid the coverage termination that was scheduled last month. As a result, there was no disruption of services for patients with Aetna insurance who sought care with Community Healthcare System.

The new amendment extends the existing agreement until at least Oct. 1.

The extension includes services at all Community

Healthcare System entities, including Community Hospital in Munster; St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago; St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart; Community Stroke & Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point; Community Care Network Inc.; Hartsfield Village; Community Home Care; and St. Mary Home Care.

Patients with additional questions should contact Aetna at the number on the back of their ID card.

NWI Airport Express

— Providing professional transportation throughout the region

NWI Airport Express LLC is a private car for hire service based in northwest Indiana. As a local, family owned business, areas of service include northwest Indiana, southwest Michigan and the Chicagoland area, providing service for all Chicago, South Bend and Indianapolis airports, with a proven reputation of providing reliable, affordable quality service, staffed with experienced, professionally licensed and friendly drivers 24/7/365.

Founder and principal Michelle M. Searer is a former corporate marketing, nonprofit and higher education execu-

tive who started NWI Airport Express to help fill the void for affordable transportation options in the region.

In 2019, when Coach USA discontinued the service, there was a need for mid-level-priced airport transportation service. Recognizing that need and the fact that most do not need a limo or want to pay top dollar for airport transportation, NWI Airport Express was born.

A lifetime resident of northwest Indiana, originally from Valparaiso, Searer has been very involved in the community throughout northwest Indiana and the Chicago area, having previously served in executive roles with area universities

Blue Collar Antiques —

and nonprofit organizations. Searer has held a chauffeur license or “license for hire” for more than 20 years and has experience driving sports team shuttles when she served as a university coach.

With a great appreciation for high-quality service, Searer has created a sustainable network of professional drivers to provide top-notch service. From corporate executives, business and family travelers and the occasional celebrity client, NWI Airport Express provides outstanding service at an affordable price.

Expanded services also include wine tours, concerts, weddings, night or day out on the

town, medical appointments, sporting events, bachelor and bachelorette parties and weddings.

If you are planning an upcoming trip or have a special event for which you need transportation, check out NWI Airport Express. Call or text (219) 226-6506 (office) or (219) 741-5601 (cell), or email nwiairportexpress@gmail.com for further information.

Before you throw it away, check to see if it’s valuable

My company, Blue Collar Antiques, buys and sells a variety of antiques and collectibles. We also purchase entire estates.

Holiday decorations have

been selling very well lately. Old Christmas decorations are very popular. Also, I am always looking for military items, old toys, advertising items, coins and jewelry. Check your attics and basements for anything weird or unusual. Old photographs and postcards have been selling

very well for the last couple of months. Old comic books and baseball cards are still going strong. Over the past couple of years they have gone up a lot in value. Now may be the time to sell.

I have always enjoyed antiques and have a deep appreciation for history. I go

to several auctions each week, which helps me stay current with what people are buying and how much items are selling for. I also subscribe to many research sites. I am able to find the market value for almost any item you may have.

I have been in business for

Strength training strengthens older bones

at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Healthy seniors who can still exercise may also be able to lengthen the life of their bones with strengthening exercise, according to results of a six-month study conducted

The men and women aged 60 to 83 who participated in the resistance training showed signs of greater bone density in their hips as well as bone metabolism shifting toward generating more bone

than was being lost. Participants were divided into three groups, one that engaged in high-intensity resistance training, one that went through low-intensity training, and a control group that did not change lifestyle habits during the six-

month study.

The high-intensity group showed the most significant bone-density gains. Leg presses, overhead presses and certain back exercises appeared to have the most impact on bone density.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

almost 15 years. I believe in treating people fairly. Because of this, a big part of my business comes from referrals or repeat clients. Often when people call me to look at their collections or estates, they are pleasantly surprised to learn that items they considered worthless are actually very valuable.

I would recommend to anyone that before items are discarded or given away, please give me or someone with experience in antiques the opportunity to take a look at it for valuation.

Since I have been in business for so long, I have established many contacts in the industry. Even if you have something I do not buy, many times I can at least give you a value for it, put you in contact with someone who would buy it or tell you the best way to go about selling it.

You can contact me at (219) 794-6500.

IIt’s easy! Simply find the groundhog on another page in this edition. Go online to www.SeniorLifeNewspapers. com and enter your information, the edition, date and page number you found it on. This will enter you for a chance to win a gift of $25.

(Online Entries Only) Entries Must Be In By Monday, February 13, 2023.

I Spy January winner is Mary Ehinger. The snowman was located on page 2 in Senior Elko, on page 12 in Senior St. Joseph, on page 6 in Senior Allen and on page 4 in Senior Northwest.

For Information On How To Advertise Call 219-254-2345

TV HOSTS

Slow-Cooker

What’s not to love about this easy dump-and-go slow cooker recipe? It has potatoes and ooey-gooey cheese, all combined with a can of condensed cream of chicken soup! Whip up this kid-friendly side dish anytime you have a crowd to feed.

16 servings; Active 10 minutes; Total 3 hours, 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 (32 ounce) package frozen cubed hash browns, thawed, or 7 cups cubed peeled potatoes

1 (15 ounce) can reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup (such as Healthy Choice)

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 cup thinly sliced scallions, plus more for garnish

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 ½ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

1 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1

Coat a 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Combine hash browns (or other potatoes), condensed soup, sour cream, scallions, garlic powder, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup Cheddar in the slow cooker; stir well. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup each mozzarella and Cheddar.

Step 2

Cover and cook on Low until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is bubbly, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Garnish with additional scallions, if desired.

NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Serving Size: about 1/2 cup

Per Serving: 163 calories; protein 7.3g; carbohydrates

16.2g; dietary fiber 1.7g; sugars

1.1g; fat 7.8g; saturated fat 4.5g; cholesterol 24.7mg; vitamin a iu 453.6IU; vitamin c 14.2mg; folate 22.4mcg; calcium 180.1mg; iron 0.7mg; magnesium 24.3mg; potassium 418.1mg; sodium 253mg; thiamin 0.1mg.

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 high-fat protein, 1/2 medium-fat protein

ACROSS

1. Big splash, in the audience

6. Diminish

9. Miss America’s accessory

17. Poetic “even”

18.

36.

Sixties Flashback —

Monkee business held a two-year reign

In September 1965, both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter ran an attentiongrabbing advertisement:

“Madness! Auditions. Folk and Roll Musicians — Singers for acting roles in new TV series. Running parts for four insane boys, age 17 – 21.”

From the 437 hopeful applicants, coveted roles were assigned to Mike Nesmith, 22; Peter Tork, 23; Mickey Dolenz, 20; and Davy Jones, 19.

The Monkees were created to ride the slipstream of Beatlemania and were hired to mimic the Beatles’ zany antics in “A Hard Day’s Night,” their 1964 semi-documentary debut flick. “The Monkees”’ TV plotline involved a struggling rock quartet in search of their big break.

A well-received TV pilot was filmed in late 1965, and in early 1966 NBC-TV picked up “The Monkees” as a weekly prime time series. The four young men then embarked on a grueling schedule of improv classes, band rehearsals and filming. Early on, the Monkee members were limited to vocal work, with only professional session musicians providing the instrumental music.

“The Monkees” half-hour show hit big when it debuted in September 1966. Tunesmiths Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote the band’s first 45 (a No. 1 winner). “Last Train to Clarksville” featured a chord structure, jangly guitar lines and vocal harmonies lifted directly from the Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.”

The Boyce-Hart team would

eventually create three more winning singles. Other professional songwriters (including Neil Diamond and Carole King) were rushed in to keep the hits flowing. The Monkees’ eponymous debut album also skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard charts.

The Pre-Fab Four (as sneering cynics often labeled them) were off and running.

By that December, growing pressure led the Monkees to begin touring, with each member hurrying to master his instrument well enough to perform onstage. No problem, as it turned out, since, akin to the Beatles’ shows, much of the music played was lost to the eardrum-piercing screams that tsunamied in nightly from the vast teenybopper audiences.

Making music was better than faking music, and the Monkee men worked hard to improve. In January 1967, a mere four months after “Clarksville” introduced them to the world, the Monkees held their first recording session as a fully functioning, self-contained band.

“The Monkees” TV show,

though, was another issue entirely. By the end of the second season, the quartet had tired of the filming grind and pronounced the third-season scripts monotonous and stale. When they suggested a format change to a one-hour variety show, their idea was quickly squelched and the series

was axed, which undoubtedly crushed countless teenage hearts.

During their two-year reign, though, when the foursome often successfully challenged the almighty Beatles, the Monkees sold more than 75 million records around the world.

Had they been just a bubble-

gum fantasy quartet, one that was never quite real, undeserving of any real respect? Not to everybody. Vanity Fair writer Mark Rozzo once opined, “They were a pop culture force. … They created joy and wonderment and introduced the whole realm of pop music to a huge audience of young people.”

Focus on the step in front of you – not the whole staircase

money per capita on chronic lifestyle diseases than any other country in the world.

One of the biggest culprits is type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, 37.3 million people in the U.S. have diabetes (11.3% of the population). With rare exceptions, this is a food-related disease caused by eating the Standard American Diet. Americans eat way too much fat, sugar and processed foods and this can result in diabetes.

Dr. Neal Barnard, who also wrote “The Cheese Trap,” and then talk to your doctor and ask why they didn’t tell you all this. There is a mountain of good information to be gained by deep diving into what causes this food-related disease and what you can do to take control.

I read on a lot of different subjects so it may be true to say I know a little about a lot, but I was floored to read the United States spends more

If you have diabetes and you haven’t researched and know just about everything about diabetes, I would suggest you read “Reversing Diabetes” by

For now, start writing down what you are eating each day and record the time you eat it. You may be eating better (or worse) than you thought. Are you seeing a lot of cheese, bread, meat, sugar and processed foods instead of whole foods? This may help you see what you are leaning on instead of a big salad, fruit, beans or any whole food. It is not about moderation of unhealthy food, but you already knew that.

You will find many groups and pages on different online platforms for support and meal suggestions, not anything you have to pay for, just a group of people who are trying their hardest to achieve better health. Search “plant based” on YouTube and you will have found your new best friend. You can’t hang at the Burger Barn and expect to find a lot of whole foods.

Wake up and say, “Today, I am going to eat for health.” At night ask yourself, “Did I eat for health today, and if I didn’t, what caused me to falter?” One day, after one day, after one step, after one step.

To your health.

Air-Fryer

Portobello Burgers

Forksoverknives.com

1/3 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

1/3 cup non-dairy milk

4 portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees. In a shallow bowl stir together first five ingredients. Place non-dairy milk in a second shallow bowl.

Dip portobello mushrooms in plant milk and then panko mixture, lightly coating all sides. Place mushrooms gillside down in a single layer in air fryer for 7 to 9 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and breading is crisp.

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at cwilson@the-papers.com.

Residential Opportunities

Residences

Senior Living —

Less hassle, more happy in assisted living

shine or snow.

For Your Long Term Care, Choose Sheffield Manor Assisted Living

Our Continuum-Of-Care Campus Combines

Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, Long Term Care, Repite And Assisted Living All In One Location

Sheffield Manor Assisted Living Residence offers gracious living with a professional staff that is dedicated to providing the assistance you need to remain active and as indepedent as possible.

• Beautiful and Spacious One or Two Bedroom Apartments

• Life Enrichment Programs

• Full Service Salon

• Beautifully Landscaped Outdoor Patios

• Chef Prepared Meals

• 24 Hour Medical Care

• Chapel

• Ice Cream Shop

Seniors live as independently as they choose at Residences Senior Living, whether in Residences at Deer Creek, 401 E. US 30, Schererville; or Residences at Coffee Creek, 2300 Village Point, Chesterton.

Assisted living means living your way, every day. It’s like a hotel for those who have decided to leave cooking, cleaning and home maintenance behind. For those who need support for activities of daily living such as getting dressed and getting around, it’s having personal assistance when you need it. Moreover, there’s a nurse available 24/7 and an emergency call system for every resident. That’s peace of mind.

Winter is an ideal time to consider the benefits of living hassle-free. No worries about groceries, power outages, slick roads, medical appointments, waiting for family or friends to provide care. No risky shoveling or driving. Dining is an important highlight of every day, rain,

Residents enjoy meals together or privately as they wish. Meals are chef-prepared, nutritious as well as delicious, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are snacks and drinks available all day at the Bistro.

Transportation to medical appointments, regular rounding by physicians and outpatient therapy are serious considerations for senior living and there are important opportunities for social connections, as well. There’s always something to do and someone to talk with in senior living. Whether it’s Tai Chi or other movement exercises for physical health, art and crafts and games for stimulating the intellect, or just fun entertainment, holiday celebrations and outings to restaurants and area attractions, all contribute to that important sense of well being for residents.

Residents and families often tell us they wish they had made the move sooner. Begin today — schedule your personalized tour at ResidencesSeniorLiving.com to enjoy safety, security and more happy.

Not all all-inclusive vacations include everything you want

is included.

Several resorts have adopted a package-resort philosophy designed to include everything in one price. The idea is that, once you arrive, you can put away your traveler’s checks, credit cards, and cash. Your room, meals, drinks, and recreational activities are all pre-paid.

In some cases, you never need leave the grounds, unless you want to find out more about the area and its people.

All-inclusives have a lot of appeal for people who don’t want to worry about spending their holiday paying for the things they do.

But not all all-inclusives are the same.

Before you sign up for such a holiday, find out what really

Ask if there are any additional charges, such as tips, you will need to pay. You should not have to tip on an all-inclusive vacation.

Are the meals served buffet style or a-la-carte by a waiter?

Are there additional charges at the resort’s restaurants?

Are cocktails and beer local or premium brands? What activities are included in the package?

How extensive is the water-sports equipment — how many sail boats or sail boards are available?

Are motorized water sports, such as jet skiing and water skiing included?

Are the rooms furnished with a refrigerator so you can store food or drinks? Is there a charge for food stocked in it? You’ll probably think of more questions as you pursue the matter.

Aging is more than a numbers game

Claiming age is just a number doesn’t add up.

What number is it? Do you pick a favorite number and use it forever? Or is it the number of days you’ve been alive and alert? A sizeable number of folks wonder what age they’re going to be in heaven. A wrong number could be hell.

No matter how we regard our age, we have come to understand that aging increases the risk factor for many diseases, including cancers and degenerative disorders such as dementia, and the likelihood of suffering several chronic illnesses.

Committee inspired by Hospice of the Calumet Area

Last month, Hospice of the Calumet Area Development Director Joan McInerney was delighted to open her email and read a surprise message from Peoples Bank.

Peoples Bank’s Community First Committee Chairperson Sarah Ricciardi contacted McInerney with wonderful news,

calling their work “inspiring.” The bank’s employee philanthropic committee coordinates fundraisers throughout the year and distributes the funds at the end of the year to a non-profit of choice.

“We are grateful for the work that Hospice of the Calumet Area does in our community,” said Ricciardi. “I know this is a small testament to the big stuff you guys do, but we are happy to have you as a partner and look

forward to the future with you.”

Several Community First committee members were in attendance to present the $1,500 check to McInerney and CEO Adrianne May.

“We are so grateful, and I think it’s even more meaningful when it’s from the staff,” said May. “You guys choosing to support us means a lot to us and our staff. What keeps us going is when we know people like you are out there supporting our team and our work.”

Genes have long played a role in how we age. If your parents lived relatively healthy lives and edged close to the century mark before dying, your chances of living a lengthy and relatively healthy life are pretty good. If you take care of yourself.

While the global search for the Fountain of Youth is still in full force, diet and lifestyle are a couple of traditional tools you can use to stretch out your time here on Earth.

Not everyone agrees on what attributes contribute to successful aging. Some are vegetarians, others sweat through regular gym sessions. Many work as long as they can and keep busy by volunteering when they leave the labor force.

Science has opened up several doorways we explore to slow down the process that changes our body as we age.

Fasting has become one of the most popular. The benefits of intermittent fasting have been found to be favorable in tests and studies among both animals and humans. Varying the times and types of one’s food intake has shown signs of slowing own the attacks of metabolic disorders and some common age-related liver diseases.

A word of caution to everyone. Before making any changes to diet or daily-living habits, always discuss your situation and plans with your primary-care physician.

Researchers also are delving into ways to revitalize one’s immune system, which diminishes over time. They’re targets are cells that can be replenished to combat everything from wrinkles to cancer.

Maintaining healthy bones slows down the aging process. Folks past their 50s should test their bone measurement and mass regularly. Ask your doctor about dietary supplements and foods that can slow down bone loss.

As you read this, scientists, lab workers and researchers are working diligently in such exotic fields as tissue rejuvenation and cellular senescence and regeneration to keep us, as well as themselves, aging gracefully.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Environment affects exercise

Pleasant surroundings and convenience to sites for walking, running, and biking are positive influences on senior exercise.

“Public-health strategies to promote physical activities are now strongly emphasizing the role of environmental influences to create opportunities to remove barriers to people being more active,” according to a report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Among the factors that matter most to people considering outdoor activity are accessibility, opportunities for exercise, and pleasing surroundings.

Major ingredients mixed into the decision associated with exercising regularly are

convenience and easy access to bikeways, footpaths, health clubs and swimming pools. Safety also plays a role in the exercise equation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered Americans who perceive their neighborhood as unsafe are more likely to be inactive. When urban women were compared with their rural counterparts, they were more likely to report lack of street lights, high crime rates, and lack of a safe place to exercise as barriers to physical activity.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2023

Life Care Center of Valparaiso

3405 N. Campbell, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 462-1023 • www.lcca.com/Valparaiso

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Ready Set Go Rehab Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Physical, Occupational, Speech, Respiratory, Therapy, Wound Care, Respite And Hospice Care, Private/SemiPrivate Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Facility Van, JCAHO Accredited, Medicare, Insurance, Medicaid Accepted

8380 Virginia St., Merrillville, IN 46410 (219) 769-9009 • www.lincolnshirehrc.com

7935 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN 46321 (219) 836-8300 • www.munstermed-inn.com

Brentwood at Hobart

1420 St. Mary Circle, Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 945-1968

www.BrentwoodHobartSeniorLiving.com

Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s Unit, Therapies: Speech-OccupationalPhysical, Temporary Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pets Allowed, Private Dining Room, Enclosed Courtyard, 14 Passenger Van

Dyer Nursing & Rehab Center

601 Sheffield Avenue, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 322-2273 • www.dyernursingandrehab.com

Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-RespiratoryPhysical, Long Term Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Hammond-Whiting Care Center

1000-114th Street, Whiting, IN 46394 (219) 659-2770

www.hammondwhitingconvalescentcenter.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Therapies: Speech-Occupational-Physical, Long Term Care, Temporary Care, Respite Care, Hospice Care, JCAHO Accredited, Private/SemiPrivate Rooms, Pet Visitation Allowed, Medicare and/or Medicaid

Harbor Health & Rehab

5025 McCook Ave., East Chicago, IN 46312 (219) 397-0380 • www.harborhealth.com

Skilled Licensed Nursing, Semi-Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Unit; Therapies: Speech, Occupational and Physical; Long Term Care, Respite/Temporary Care, Hospice Care, Trach/Respiratory Care, Private/Semi-Private Rooms, Certified Medicare and Medicaid Provider

Life Care Center of The Willows

1000 Elizabeth Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46385 (219) 464-4858 • www.lcca.com

Rehabilitation Unit, Skilled Licensed Nursing 24/7, Ready Set Go Program for Rehab to Home; Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies; Exceptional Wound Care; Respite Care; Pallitative and Hospice Care; Long-term Care; Private/Semi-Private Rooms; Pet Visitation Allowed; Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances, Private Pay Accepted

Saint Anthony

221 W. Division Road, Demotte, IN 46310 (219) 987-7005 • www.oakgrovecrv.org

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 2300 Village Point, Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 921-5200 • www.ResidencesAtCoffeeCreek.com

Experience Our Unique Approach To Senior Living & Memory Support 401 E. U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 • www.ResidencesAtDeerCreek.com

203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100

MajesticCare.com

Assisted Living, Private Rooms, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Long Term Care, Respite Care, Rehabilitation Services (including Physical, Occupational, Speech and Respiratory Therapy), Pet Visitation, Accepts Most Payer Sources. *Saint Anthony is no longer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Gary or the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.

601 Sheffield, Dyer, IN 46311 (219) 865-5200 • www.assistedlivingdyer.com

606 Wall Street, Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976

Valentine’s Day —

Grandma and her 1910 postcards

I deviate from my regular columns’ topics of northwestern Indiana and Chicagoland area and take the readers on a journey back into some personal family history of my grandma who was born in 1898.

Grandma, who was a Zentz girl, lived in and around Argos and Bremen with her sisters, Ada, Chloe, Della, Dora, Grace and Hazel. I knew some of the sisters, my great-aunts in years to come, but some had passed on during my infancy.

I tell the readers this family history as it takes us back to the decade of the 1910s.

During this decade, Grandma was around 10 or 11 years old when she received colorful postcards from her sisters for every holiday, birthday and other events throughout the years. Some were even received from her brothers, Claude Zentz of Argos and Harvey of Bremen. My grandma, Eva Zentz at that time, later married Herb Lawson of Lakeville. Now Grandma saved all of the postcards and put them in an album that grew to over 300 over the coming years. Before she passed away in May of

AGING & WELLNESS RESOURCES

AGING CONNECTIONS

Serving Northern IN & Southwest MI

A free online directory for aging & wellness resources. Our members offer a wide variety of services and information for your specific needs. www.agingconnections.org

Hover over Chapters on the navigation bar, then select your area and click directory.

Aging Connections is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

ASSISTED LIVING

BRENTWOOD AT HOBART

1420 St. Mary Circle

Hobart, IN 46342

(219) 945-1968

www.BrentwoodHobartSeniorLiving.com

Assisted Living and Memory Care

Pet Friendly

We offer the Vibrant Life® program, Elevate® dining and a variety of assisted living services for our residents.

Come see for yourself why this is living ...

Senior Living

See Our Ad On The Back Page

1974, she gave me her precious childhood album as I was her only grandson.

The album and postcards are now over 110 years old and I take great pleasure in sharing a sample of those cards with the readers during the special month of Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day one and all.

Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Lawson is a long-time writer laureate of area history and human interest stories.

Email: barbkubiszak@gmail.com

Monday-Friday 8-5 p.m.

Structured Activities, Safe & Secure Surroundings, Health Monitoring “Help make their Golden Years shine a little brighter.”

A

531-8181

independent and active lifestyle with the VNA Medical Guardian program’s medical alert pendant or wristlet. Making Best Days Possible

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS

Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville & Hammond www.northshorehealth.org

By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349

Affordable dental care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare and Medicaid accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

Call Becky At 219.254.2345 To Join Our HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY

FUNERAL HOMES

SMITH BIZZELL WARNER

FUNERAL HOME

4209 Grant St. Gary, IN 46408 (219) 887-1852

www.smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome.com

Facebook: smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome

HOME HEALTH CARE

VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE

2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100

www.visitingangels.com

Nationally respected, non medical, home care service. Providing CNA’s, HHA’s & Companion Care.

* Assist w/Hygiene

* Meal Preparation

* Medication Reminders

* Light Housekeeping

* Transportation

* Hourly, 24-hour Care & Overnight

Alzheimer’s / Dementia Care / Palliative Care

LICENSED * BONDED * INSURED

HOSPICE CARE

HEART TO HEART HOSPICE OF NORTHERN INDIANA

402 Wall Street, Suite 22

Valparaiso, IN 46383

Phone: (219) 462-6529

Fax: (219) 462-9017

www.HTOHH.com

Compassionate care from our heart to yours.

Volunteers needed.

CHAP Accredited

HOSPICE CARE

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana.

219.769.8648

Greater Illinois area

312.427.6000

www.unityhospice.com

Family owned & operated hospice

Offering premier end-of-life care

For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

VNA HOSPICE NWI

501 Marquette St.

Valparaiso, IN 46385

Additional Office In: Crown Point, IN (219) 462-5195

(219) 531-8181 Fax

www.vnanwi.org

A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years. Accepts all hospice eligible patients, regardless of ability to pay. Veteran specialty hospice program. Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton and Starke Counties. Making Best Days Possible

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HOUSECALL DOCTORS

HOUSECALL DOCTORS, PC

At-Home Medical Care for Elderly & Homebound Patients Serving NW Indiana & Plymouth/So. Bend areas

www.housecalldoc.org

219-750-9497

Providing at-home care from Medical doctors and Nurse Practitioners.

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MEALS ON WHEELS

VNA MEALS ON WHEELS OF PORTER COUNTY

501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46385

MEALS ON WHEELS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA

8446 Virginia St. Merrillville, IN (219) 756-3663

www.mownnwi.org

A not-for-profit nutrition provider serving Lake, Porter, Newton & Jasper Counties. Offering hot lunches delivered daily Mon.-Fri., or 5 or 7-pack frozen meals once a week. All meals are heart healthy & low sodium. Specialized diets are available, homemade & prepared in our kitchen. For ages 3 & up.

MEDICAL CLINIC

NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS

Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesteron, Merrillville, Hammond, LaPorte & DeMotte

By appt. or walk-ins welcome. (219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349

www.northshorehealth.org

Affordable medical and urgent care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance accepted. Discounted self-pay option.

REHABILITATION SERVICES

VALPARAISO CARE & REHAB 606 Wall St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976

www.AmericanSrCommunities.com/vcrc

TELEPHONE SERVICES

HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET AREA MUNSTER

www.hospicecalumet.org

(219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

• Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Illinois Communities Since 1981

• Hospice Services Are Covered 100% For Patients Who Are Medicare Eligible

• Not-for-profit

• Care Provided In Your Home Or In Our Hospice House

See Our Ad In This Issue

Additional Office In: Crown Point, IN (219) 462-5195

(219) 531-8181 Fax

https://www.vnanwi.org/services/vnameals-on-wheels.php

A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years. Providing nutritional meals for individuals in Porter County delivered to your home. Meals are available both on a long-term basis and temporarily, meals are available for ages 3 years and up. Making Best Days Possible

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RELAY INDIANA - INTRAC

7702 Woodland Drive #130, Indianapolis, IN 46278

(877) 446-8722

Problems hearing on the telephone? We provide captioned telephones to assist you to read what the other person is saying. No more garbled or misunderstood conversations. Simply, READ what you’re hearing.

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Travel Springfield, Ill. — Abraham Lincoln’s hometown

replica of his office there.

He may have been born in Kentucky and grew up in Indiana, but there’s no doubt Abe Lincoln is Springfield’s bestknown resident and revered icon.

More than a million people come every year to soak up Lincoln’s history before he went to Washington in 1861 and events occurring during his presidency.

Everywhere people go in Springfield, Ill., they find the name of the 16th president of the United States. There are streets, hotels and apartment complexes named after him.

Downtown, one will find numerous Lincoln historic information panels, large replicas of Lincoln pennies on bicycle racks, murals on buildings featuring his face, and his image in bronze in parks. In addition, there’s the Lincoln Presidential Library and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

When visiting the Illinois capital, stop first at the Visit Springfield office across the street from the Old State Capitol where Lincoln served in the state legislature. It’s a great place to start because it’s the building in which he and his partner had their law offices. One can see a

The helpful people at the Visitor’s Center can direct you to the presidential museum, which should be your next stop.

Before tracing Lincoln from his rustic boyhood home to the presidency, take time to snap photos of yourself with the president and his family in front of the White House.

Then go into the two outstanding theaters utilizing amazing state-of-the-art technology featuring holographic techniques combined with ghostly images and live action. This might even turn out to be the highlight of your trip.

Witness the 1860 presidential election as if it were happening today, complete with TV coverage and campaign commercials of the candidates. There’s a room full of editorial cartoons that were as crude and sometimes vicious as those seen during the 2020 election.

The view of Lincoln’s law office shows him concentrating in a law book, while two sons play baseball with a broom and wadded paper. Another room offers a peek into a cabinet meeting, complete with some of the members dozing while Lincoln attempts to make a point.

It covers just about every aspect of Lincoln’s time in Washing-

ton and ends at Ford’s Theater April 14, 1865, where he and his wife, Mary, were relaxing and celebrating the end of the Civil War before his assassination. His body was returned to Springfield by train along the same route he took to Washington four years earlier.

Continued on page 19

VNA Hospice NWI

—

‘We Honor Veterans’ level 5 status achieved for third year

VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana has announced it has achieved Level 5 status of the “We Honor Veterans” program for the third consecutive year. We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, and Level 5 is the highest distinction. To be awarded Level 5, an organization must meet rigorous standards of veteran outreach, staff education and enhanced services for veterans and their families under hospice care. VNA Hospice is one of seven to achieve this status.

“We’re very proud to have achieved Level 5 status for

three consecutive years because it demonstrates our commitment veterans and their families,” said VNA Hospice Chief Executive Officer Bob Franko. “Not only do we host frequent ‘Vet-to-Vet’ cafés and events, but we gather each Friday at noon in our weekly ‘Salute to Veterans’ session to honor the service and sacrifice of a veteran and to share our collective gratitude.”

Franko credits We Honor Veterans Program Coordinator Erica Kerkes for her leadership in the program and enthusiasm for serving veterans.

“Erica sets a very high standard for our staff on how we treat and respond to veterans under our care, her passion and commitment is contagious, and everyone is proud to follow

Springfield, Ill.

Continued from page 18

The train station where he departed for the nation’s capital is just a few blocks south. Before boarding the train, he’s quoted as saying, “I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested on Washington.”

A few more blocks south is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site featuring the only home he

ever owned. The four-block area is full of period homes. During summer months, reenactors add life to the neighborhood.

Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery houses the body of the president, his wife and three of their four sons and a number of statues in various poses. Lincoln’s nose on a big bronze bust in front of the monument is shiny from rubbing by visitors from around the world.

her lead,” he said.

“It’s been my honor and privilege to lead the We Honor Veterans Program for the last three years,” said Kerkes. “Our committee of staff and volunteers have worked so hard to keep up with the standards set forth by NHPCO and we are so proud of the work we have done, especially over the past year.”

The public is welcome to join the VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana team each Friday at noon in the garden of its Arthur B. & Ethel V. Horton Hospice Center, 2404 Valparaiso St., Valparaiso, for its weekly, brief Salute to Veterans ceremony. For more information, visit vnanwi.org or call (219) 4625195.

Brentwood at Hobart —

Choosing the right type of senior living

Gone are the days of a onesize-fits-all approach to senior living. Now, communities everywhere are tasked with providing top-notch care that fits each resident’s unique

needs. Generally, there are four main types of senior living: independent living, assisted living, memory care and respite care.

Brentwood at Hobart offers assisted living, memory care and respite services, and we

can serve as a resource to help you make the decision to move to senior living an easy one.

Independent Living

Independent Living is best when you can still live independently but want to enjoy

Dementia by any other name is still debilitating

Everybody wants to live forever but few folks look forward to the aches of aging.

A lot of time and talent have been devoted to eliminating or finding cures for disease, developing drugs that diminish debilitation and producing prosthetics that help coping more comfortably with our lengthening lives.

Despite all the intelligence applied to the science of longevity, little has been done to enhance our brain’s power, particularly as it ages.

Dementia — its causes and cures — are still a mystery to the best medical minds.

Experienced experts even disagree on the best ways to avoid or alleviate the ravages of such neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s and Parkin-

son’s diseases.

Play mental agility games, such as crossword puzzles, some say. Learn a language to foster the brain’s flexibility. Travel. Join social groups. Stay active. Exercise to maintain a healthy blood flow to the brain.

Eat foods containing chemicals that stimulate brain activity and cells.

All of these are safe and sane advice for anyone wishing to stay healthy.

But there’s still no cure for such degenerative brain diseases as Alzheimer’s. The inevitable result is loss of memory, identity and mobility if death does not intervene.

Alzheimer’s disease ambushes one-third of everyone older than 85. More than 5 million people in this country reportedly suffer from it. That number is expected to triple over the next four decades as

the population ages.

No one is safe. It caught up to late President Ronald Reagan, actors Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Anecdotes and stories by friends, families and caregivers dealing with victims of this and other debilitating neurological diseases hurt the heart. With frustration, they watch the fading away of their loved one, all the while trying to rationalize what is happening.

The recurring theme is that these caregivers cannot realize, accept, come to grips with or face the fact that the person they once knew is disappearing. The once-witty wife becomes a slug. The oncecreative dad gathers dust in the corner.

amenities and live without the burden of chores like maintaining a yard or home, housekeeping and laundry. You also have access to care, if needed.

Brentwood at Hobart’s independent living provides a carefree, vibrant environment that encourages simplicity and pursuing activities that mean the most to you. Whether you’re looking to travel, volunteer in your community or visit family, independent living at Brentwood at Hobart makes life easy and pleasant.

Assisted Living

Assisted Living is best when you need some level of medical and personal assistance in your day-to-day life. This is a great option when you’re no longer able to live alone but may not need 24/7 care.

The assisted living program at Brentwood at Hobart is designed to help you live a vibrant life by connecting with the community around you. As needs change, our staff is readily available to help. We center our care around each resident’s specific needs, assisting with daily tasks while encouraging independence.

Memory Care

Memory care provides a more structured environment and is best for residents who may have Alzheimer’s or dementia.

With specially designed and dedicated Alzheimer’s and memory care accommodations like our Generations Memory Care program, Brentwood at Hobart ensures your loved one is comfortable and secure. We have resident care professionals on-site 24/7 to oversee the administration of medications and other basic care needs.

Respite Care

Respite Care is a temporary stay at a senior living community, often suggested when recovering from a hospital stay, surgery or other health circumstance. It’s also available for caregiver vacations, or simply to try senior living as a solution. Our respite program provides a fully furnished apartment with the peace of mind of 24/7 on-site care, chef-prepared meals, transportation and Vibrant Life daily programming. Visit BrentwoodAtHobartSeniorLiving.com to learn more about the care we provide and schedule a tour of our community.