Senior Life Northwest Edition July 2021

Free

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Elder Law and Medicaid Planning

Dinner Workshops See Page 5

Happy 4th of July!

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(219) 462-0809

Advertising Material

Julyy 2021

Cliff Rice Elder Law Attorney

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Vol. 25, No. 4

Northwest Edition R Reaching Seniors In Illiana: Cook, Lake & Porter Counties

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7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU All it took was a conversation at a military ball in 2014 to inspire Mark Paul John’s artistic talents and patriotic feelings.

While at the dinner, John met Lt. Col. Justin Osberg, who asked if had John ever done any artwork related to the military. military Paul confessed he had not.

Later in the evening, John

‘Freedom Artist’

VDOXWHV WKLV QDWLRQ·V PLOLWDU\ couldn’t forget that question. He began questioning why he hadn’t created any military-themed artwork.

That got John thinking and painting, spending the next 11 months creating a collection of paintings to honor and pay tribute to America’s military and their families.

“I created these paintings with passion, which are all-inclusive and relatable to all branches of the Armed Forces,” John said. “It was thoughtfully created to recognize all soldiers, both male and female, no matter what branch, job or era served.”

John’s late father, a Korean War Army veteran, served as his inspiration for many of the paintings in this collection titled “Soldier Silhouettes.”

John used this series as a fundraising mechanism by donating prints to different military organizations across the country, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation, Operation Support Our Troops-America, and BBQ for the Brave, along with military museums and veterans groups nationwide.

“However, nothing gives me more joy than sharing this series with veterans across the country,” he said. “I never realized that this series would have such an emotional impact on many of our veterans and to witness the emotion that is displayed at times is sacred to me. I have been blessed and I am extremely thankful

to have had the opportunity to share these moments with our American heroes.”

A self-taught artist, this northwest Indiana transplant from Chicago’s south side has become known as the “Freedom Artist.” He may be best known for creating an image of the three FDNY firefighters hoisting the American flag after the attacks Sept. 11. He has donated hundreds of these to firehouses, police departments, military installations and charitable organizations across the world.

Recently, one of those Sept. 11 images was presented to the Cedar Lake Fire Department. John also donated an image of police service to

Cedar Lake Police.

However, the big presentation Memorial Day was the dedication of a 100-foot-long mural John did for the exterior of Cedar Lake American Legion Post 261. The images include military organization logos, an American flag and eagle, and a three-dimensional image of this country’s Middle East fighting, including scenes in the desert and Persian Gulf.

Even though that project started last November and was not completed just before Memorial Day, John is not resting on his paintbrushes.

His current project, hopefully to be completed by July 4, is a 92-by-12 foot American flag outside Cedar Continued on page 5

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2 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Key Positions

Munster man gives back through Rotary Club service %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU Subir Bandyopadhyay is someone who believes in giving back. He’s been doing so as a member of the Munster Rotary Club for more than 10 years.

He’s currently in his second term as president.

“I believe in giving back to society more than what I take from it,” he said. “Munster Rotary gives me the platform to live up to my personal belief.

Before I joined Munster Rotary, I had heard a lot of good things about the Rotary from my friends who were already Rotarians. Hence, when a Munster Rotarian invited me to join the club, I did not hesitate at all.”

Bandyopadhyay has been involved in many service projects over the years, but during the pandemic, the work the club was doing was particularly meaningful.

“The COVID-19 pandemic put many people in our region under tremendous economic stress. We donated $9,000 to the Salvation Army and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to buy food items for families who needed help,” he said.

In another recent project the club worked with the Munster High School. The club helped

to equip a resources room for a new program on entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Our grant enabled the school to buy audio visual equipment and furniture for the resource room,” he said.

Bandyopadhyay has also worked with the club on organizing a spaghetti dinner and a 5K/10K run to raise funds for projects.

“We’ve also sponsored many projects for the town of Munster, including the highly popular dog park at the Centennial Park,” he explained.

“Internationally, we funded a bike repair and rental shop in Kenya. People who do not have the resources to buy a bike can rent a bike from the shop at a minimum fee. We continue to support this bike shop financially.”

Bandyopadhyay is a faculty member at the School of Business at Indiana University Northwest, where he has been teaching since 2001.

“I teach courses in marketing and international business,” Bandyopadhyay said. “I have taught and conducted in many countries including India, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Croatia and many more.”

He is also actively involved with the Indian American

Cultural Center in Merrillville, where he serves as the secretary of the center’s executive board.

Bandyopadhyay finds his involvement with Rotary Club to be fulfilling and encourages others to get involved in their community.

“If you feel the urge to do something good for your community, I will strongly advise you to join a club like Rotary Club,” he said. “The most rewarding part about being a Rotary Club member is to be associated with a group of fellow Rotarians who are willing

to go the extra mile to help the community.”

He noted that Rotary Club is always seeking new members.

Bandyopadhyay and his wife have two daughters. Their older daughter is a corporate executive living with her husband in Indianapolis and his younger daughter is a senior at IU Bloomington. Beyond work and Munster Rotary Club, he enjoys taking long evening walks with his wife and watching sports (basketball, soccer and cricket are favorites). He is an avid reader of history, nonfiction and business topics.

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S. O. S. – Speaking of Seniors

Polluted Medicare file fixed %< :22'52: :,/&2; On March 29 and 31, I worked with a client to fix his Medicare file, which had been polluted with false information that gummed his medical claims for over a year.

At the end of my assistance to him, I wrote and sent a letter to all the medical firms that were sending him bills that had not been paid because of the false information in his Medicare file.

The following is part of the letter

that I sent to the firms that were sending bills to our client.

Recently, our client visited our office and asked for help to correct Medicare-related medical bill problems. I researched the problem with him. Here is what we found.

Your firm has been billing him for balances that should have been paid by Medicare or his secondary insurer. We learned that the secondary insurer was not getting many claims from Medicare.

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$50 monthly allowance for groceries The Healthy Foods Card provides money to purchase approved food at participating stores

For qualified members the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-054 (HMO D-SNP) includes a Healthy Foods Card to help pay for groceries at participating stores.

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His Medicare file was accidentally polluted with false information from Jan. 1, 2020, to March 23, 2021. During that time, any claim received by Medicare was processed incorrectly. That caused many claim balances to be unpaid. Medicare’s records were corrected on March 23.

If you have been sending a balance due bill to our client for any claim with a date of service between Jan. 1, 2020, and March 23, 2021, please resend the claim to Medicare for reprocessing.

On some of the bills, our client has been making payments.

Once the bill balance is paid by the correct secondary insurer, please refund to our client any payment(s) that he made to you on his account during the time that the false Medicare records were causing the problem.

Thank you for treating our client fairly in this matter.

(Note: Woodrow Wilcox is the senior medical bill case worker at Senior Care Insurance Services, Merrillville. He has saved clients of that firm over $2 million dollars by fighting mistakes and fraud in the Medicare system.)

• Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent dollars don’t roll over to the next month.

Shop at participating stores, including Walgreens, Walmart and others, • for approved foods and drinks.

• Scan the barcode on the back of the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases.

Call a licensed Humana sales agent Emmanuel Garza 219-501-3719 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MAKING BEST DAYS POSSIBLE Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H5619-054 (HMO D-SNP). At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711).  넑⚥俑 (Chinese): 岣 䠐㥴卓 䝟⢪ 欽넑⚥俑 䝟〳⟃ ⯝顤栻 䖤铂鎉⸔剪⹡ կ 荜ꨵ 1-877-320-1235 (TTY :711) կ Y0040_GHHKRMLTE21_M

H5619-054-000-2021

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+ W e Honor Veterans + Phoenix Center + Palliative Care

Call (219) 462-5195 Serving Lake, LaPorte, Jasper, Porter, and Starke counties

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 3

Turning 65 or Older?

Get the best in Medicare Supplement Insurance!

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4 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Spotlight

Volunteer coordinator does community outreach work %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU Volunteers are often at the heart of nonprofit groups.

Porter County Aging and Community Services may still be closed to the public, but that has not stopped volunteers, like Jill Pfister, from making a difference.

For the past several months, Pfister has coordinated the facility’s medical

loan closet. No medicines are distributed, but crutches, wheelchairs, walkers and other donated supplies are available.

“I enjoy volunteering,” Pfister said. “It’s just that sense of purpose. You’re doing something that makes a difference, no matter how little or big.”

A retiree from work that put her in touch with seniors, Pfister looks over donations, cleans and sanitizes them,

:LUPVY 3PML 5VY[O^LZ[ www.seniorlifenewspapers.com Main Office, P.O. Box 188 • 206 S. Main St., Milford, Ind. 46542-0188 (574) 658-4111 1-800-733-4111 Fax 800-886-3796

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and ensures they’re in working order.

Having worked in health care, Pfister learned that whether you’re in the kitchen or bathroom, “things need to be sanitized and clean.”

“When we started, we had a room full of ‘stuff,’ ” Pfister said. “So far, so good. Word is getting out. Sometimes we get stuff after someone has died.”

When people inquire about supplies, Pfister said, they are often surprised that the closet has other things they might need. These include: protective pads for beds, adult undergarments, shower chairs, bedside toilets, bed assist rails and elevated toilet seats.

These items are important, Pfister said, because “it isn’t cheap. In many cases, someone will hesitate to buy something. If they get it for free, they might be more apt to use the walker. Something like having a cane can make a big difference in someone’s life.”

Patrons may borrow items and keep them “as long as you need it,” Pfister said. “All we ask is that you bring it back when you’re done.”

Wheelchairs are popular items — any type, in good working order, the volunteer coordinator said.

A widow with two adult children and six grandchildren, Pfister retired from working in long-term care, retirement communities and home health care. She’s also worked with dementia patients at St. Agnes Adult Day Care and assisted at Banta Center, both in Valparaiso, taught classes at the Valparaiso Family YMCA, and arranged guest speakers on various topics at Liberty Bible Church near Chesterton.

This service taught Pfis-

0(',&$/ 6833/,(6 ² -LOO 3ÀVWHU LV D YROXQWHHU ZKR FRRUGLQDWHV WKH PHGLFDO ORDQ FORVHW DW 3RUWHU &RXQW\ $JLQJ DQG &RPPXQLW\ 6HUYLF HV ,W RIIHUV PHGLFDO VXSSOLHV WR WKH SXEOLF DW QR FRVW 3KRWR E\ 6WHYH (XYLQR ter the value of empowering seniors through connections to resources.

Taking on the closet, Pfister said, “It’s nice to get out and do something for the community. Plus, I’ve known Bruce Lindner (from PCACS), and they offer great programs.

This gets me out and reconnecting with people.”

Fortunately for Pfister, the PCACS provided both a staging area for clean supplies, but also a back room for temporary storage.

Looking ahead, Pfister is glad to see things coming out

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from under the pandemic.

“It feels good that things are finally getting back to normal,” she said. “You appreciate everything more.”

Among her concerns has been COVID-19 leaving older adults in isolation.

“I’m happy that programs are reopening,” she said, citing “horrific effects on older adults, like isolation. Now people feel more comfortable getting out and having fun.”

For more information, call Porter County Aging and Community Services at (219) 464-9736.

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 5

Having proper advanced planning helps to protect assets There are unique opportunities for married couples when it comes to protecting assets from nursing home spend %\ &/,))25' downs.

- 5,&( If ad(OGHU /DZ vanced $WWRUQH\ planning is 9DOSDUDLVR done with an experienced attorney in the field of Medicaid law, the assets of the first spouse to die can be placed in a special type of trust, which has sometimes been referred to as a “safe harbor trust.” The technical term is an irrevocable testamentary special needs trust. Assets passing to provide for the care of the surviving spouse in this way can be fully protected from nursing home spend downs. They are available for care and needs during the lifetime of the surviving spouse. They may also be better protected from death taxes and probate fees when they pass to the children at the time the surviving spouse passes away.

Think about the implications of this — with proper advanced planning, a married couple can shelter forever hundreds of thousands of dollars of assets from the effects of long-term

catastrophic illness.

Other techniques, notably the Medicaid asset protection trust, can be available not only to married couples, but also to single persons. This type of proactive planning is extremely valuable and offers an incredible return on investment.

Do you have a long-term care policy? The average person age 65 will have to pay almost $2,940 per year for long-term nursing care coverage. For married couples that is almost $6,000 per year. If each lives to life expectancy, and there are no increases in premiums, that total payout could exceed $120,000 or more.

Many clients either cannot afford such an investment or they are not eligible at all because of medical conditions. For perhaps 1/10th or 1/20th of that amount, estate planning and Medicaid planning can give substantial protection not available through any other means.

Because we are an elder law firm, we can even help save you or your life savings from nursing home spend down. Want to learn more? Come to a seminar at 6 p.m. July 20, at Gino’s Steakhouse, 1259 Joliet St., Dyer, or 6 p.m. July 21, at Lighthouse Restaurant, 7501 Constitution Ave., Cedar Lake. Reservations required; seating is limited. Call (800) 303-7423 or visit www. riceandrice.com.

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‘Freedom Artist’ Continued from page 1 Lake Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2529.

Mission One, a service organization for the military and first responders, helped fund the Post No. 261 artwork. Johnny Boersma, the group’s founder and president, noted, “It’s incredible.

Mark’s not a painter, he’s an artist.”

John said he hopes these patriotic murals bring in some younger members.

“These Korea and Vietnam veterans are getting older and the younger guys are the future,” he said.

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219.462.0809 www.riceandrice.com 100 Lincolnway, Suite 1 • Valparaiso, IN 46383

FREE WORKSHOPS: Wednesday, July 21st 6:00 p.m.

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25

Wednesday, July 28th 6:00 p.m.

Gino’s Steakhouse 1259 Joliet Street Dyer, IN

Reservations Required Call Today to Reserve Your Seat!

219.462.0809

For Persons 65 or Older. Seating is Limited. Join Us! Advertising Material

6 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Finance

A scam a day keeps crooks in play

%\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV

While the COVID shutdown kept seniors off the streets, it didn’t protect them from crooks.

Some observers opine it may have aided schemers because it kept the elderly at home, where they were targeted for theft by telephone, internet, mail and plain old-fashioned door knocking.

Consumer fraud experts estimate fraudulent telemarketers steal as much as $40 billion a year. More than half of that is from retirees living on limited incomes and finite savings.

The 70-79 age group is the hardest hit phalanx, with an average loss of more than $49,000 each.

Furthermore, not all scams, cons and frauds are reported to law enforcement because the victims are either ashamed or unaware they’ve been bilked.

That means many billions more are lost to con artists in “pigeon drops,” home repair schemes, bank examiner scams and the like.

Almost half of the 65,000 cases reported each year by the elderly are perpetrated by family members or fiduciaries who

take advantage of their position in charge of seniors’ finances.

The other half is stolen by strangers who drum up scams, cons and frauds designed to convince targets to hand over their money willingly. As the nation’s senior population increases, so does the pool of available victims.

Telephones are the most common and most successful approach. Wireless technology allows scammers to call victims from anywhere in the world without fear of detection.

The lottery or sweepstakes scam, countless “phishing” scams and credit card ploys lead the way.

To protect yourself, first of all know that it is illegal to require prize winners to pay up front to receive their winnings.

But more importantly, never, ever give personal information such as your Social Security number, credit card account number or banking information to anyone who has called you. Just hang up.

Never contract with or allow unsolicited door-to-door sales or repair people inside your home without independent verification of who they are and who they work for. Check

Seniors warm to working from home %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV A major cultural change emerging as the COVID shutdown slowly opens up is that both employers and employees have seen the benefits of working from home.

Almost three-quarters of the workforce that held their jobs during the pandemic maintained their positions by telecommuting from home.

The bulk of these employees reportedly are 50 years of age and older and enjoy avoiding

commuter traffic as well as unstructured work schedules.

Companies scrambled to provide these workers with computers, cyberspace links and remote connections so staffers could maintain their level of production, report progress and problems, and attend meetings seamlessly.

Some 60% of these workers vote to remain on the job at home and corporations see the economy in downsizing office space as well as moving it from expensive downtown high-rises.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

references and ask neighbors who they use for service.

Shred all your personal and financial information — anything that has your name, address and any financial information.

Always be wary of anyone who says you must decide now, you have to wire money or they’ll send a courier to pick up your check immediately.

And check on your senior neighbors, particularly those living alone, to keep them informed about scams and learn if they have any information to

help you.

If you suspect you are being scammed, call the police. If you have been conned, make a police report, no matter how embarrassed you may feel.

The Attorney General’s Office offers the following suggestions for protecting yourself.

Any of these warning signs should make you think twice before you provide personal information or send money: • Unsolicited mail, email or telephone call.

• Any effort to obtain per-

sonal financial information.

• A promise that you will receive a large sum of money.

• Requiring you to pay money before you get money.

• Being told to wire money instead of using the U.S. mail.

Whether it’s mail fraud or telephone fraud, chances are it will begin with an unsolicited contact from somebody you’ve never heard of.

There is never a good reason to give any caller your bank account, credit card, PIN or Social Security number.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Understanding Social Security —

Happy birthday, Medicare! What happens when you turn 65? %\ '$1,(/ 6800(5 6RFLDO 6HFXULW\ 3XEOLF $IIDLUV 6SHFLDOLVW This July marks the 56th anniversary of Medicare. Did you know you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits?

Applying online can take less than 10 minutes. There are no forms to sign and we usually require no additional documentation. We’ll process your application and contact you if we need more information.

Knowing when to apply for Medicare is very important.

You have a limited initial enrollment period to apply.

If you miss the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium.

If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday. Visit www. ssa.gov/benefits/medicare to apply for Medicare and find

other important information.

Some Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. To qualify, a person must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Read our publication “Understanding the Extra Help with Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan” for more information; it’s available at www.ssa.gov/pubs/ EN-05-10508.pdf.

The official Medicare website at Medicare.gov offers many online services. You can find answers to each of these questions by typing in the address that follows: What does Medicare cover? www.medicare.gov/ what-medicare-covers Where do I find forms for filing a Medicare appeal? www.medicare.gov/claims-appeals/how-do-i-file-an-appeal How can I let someone speak with Medicare on my behalf? www.medicare.gov/

claims-appeals/file-an-appeal/ can-someone-file-an-appealfor-me What do Medicare health and prescription drug plans in my area cost, and what services do they offer? www.medicare.gov/plancompare Which doctors, health care providers and suppliers participate in Medicare? www.medicare.gov/ forms-help-resources/find-compare-doctors-hospitals-otherproviders Where can I find out more about a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) and enroll? www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/ how-to-get-prescription-drugcoverage Where can I find a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy in my area? www.medicare.gov/ medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans Please share these helpful resources with friends and family today.

LAW OFFICE OF

BARBARA M. SHAVER • Estate Planning Including Wills and Trusts, Health Care Powers of Attorney • Elder Law/Medicaid Planning • Estate Administration and Probate • Special Needs • Guardianships 9013 Indianapolis Blvd.

Highland, IN 46322

219/838-9200 www.attorneyshaver.com

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 7

A ‘Strange’ way to make big money Have you ever heard of musician Billy Strange?

Born William Everett Strange in 1930 in Long Beach, %\ 5$1'$/ Calif., he & +,// became an in demand session guitarist/ arranger in Hollywood and recorded with such top drawer artists as Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Cher and Nancy Sinatra.

One afternoon in the early ‘60s, Strange received a huge royalty check for a throwaway ditty he had created previously on a whim. He felt certain that a mistake had been made and called the issuing office. That’s when he was told, “Mr. Strange, the money is all yours.”

His quirky tale began at an all-night Hollywood diner, where he and a musician pal gulped black coffee in attempts to become sober enough to drive home. Eventually, they climbed into their car and cautiously motored off. Fighting to stay awake, Strange twirled the car radio dial for a while before settling on a local country station that

was playing a tune that he detested. “Man, I can write a song better than that in five minutes,” he boasted with a slur. That’s when his equally inebriated companion slapped a $100 bill on the seat between them and said, “Okay, Billy, you’re on!”

With a chortle, Strange reached into the car’s back seat for a blank score pad, which he used to sketch out arrangements for his sessionmusician work. He quickly came up with a catchy song that he laughingly dubbed “Monotonous Melody.” He then sang it, tossed the pad back and — unchallenged — stuck the money into his pocket.

A few weeks later, Strange found himself at work in a recording studio. A friend there, a music composer named Basil “Buzz” Adlam, had just started a small-time music company and announced that he was on the lookout for some fresh material to record.

“Buzz, you know, I might have one,” Strange responded half-seriously as he recalled his silly “Monotonous Melody” tune.

Strange and some other session pals tried a few different tempos and styles before settling on a calypso approach to the foolish work. By

the time the musicians had repeatedly sung “What a monotonous melody,” they were all in hysterics. After hearing the playback tape, Strange himself admitted, “That’s just about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

A few weeks later, Strange got a phone call from Dave Burgess, who led the instrumental group the Champs (of “Tequila” fame). Burgess wanted to put “Monotonous Melody” out as the next Champs 45, but with a title change. Strange didn’t care, saying, “It never really had a name anyway.” Only later did the musician find his tune become a Top 40 instrumental under the name “Limbo Rock.” (Dancing under a limbo bar was a popular party activity back then.)

Then Chubby Checker’s manager, Jon Sheldon,

6(66,21 *8,7$5,67 $55$1*(5 ³ %LOO\ 6WUDQJH EHFDPH DQ LQ GHPDQG VHVVLRQ JXLWDULVW DUUDQJHU LQ +ROO\ZRRG DQG UHFRUGHG ZLWK VXFK WRS GUDZHU DUWLVWV DV (OYLV 3UHVOH\ WKH %HDFK %R\V &KHU DQG 1DQF\ 6LQDWUD 0LFKDHO 2FKV $UFKLYHV *HWW\ ,PDJHV phoned to ask permission to add lyrics to “Limbo Rock” and release it as hitmaker Chubby’s next 45.

Strange’s check was for

$63,000 — about $450,000 today. Not a bad payday for five minutes’ work from a tipsy tunesmith trying only to win a bet.

Jewelry fundraiser at St. Mary Medical Center July 15-16 St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to the HCI $7 sale from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15 and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 16. This fundraiser will feature a variety of jewelry and other accessories.

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale will go to the auxiliary in support of the 2022 scholarship fund, which benefits students pursuing a career in the medical field.

The HCI $7 sale will be held in rooms 3 and 3A near the west entrance at St. Mary Medical Center, 1500 S. Lake Park Ave., Hobart. For further information, call (219) 947-6011.

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8 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Sports

PE teacher competing in pickleball tournaments around the country %\ &$55,( 67(,1:(* )HDWXUH :ULWHU As someone who has always been active and thrived on competition, Shannon Krzeminski was meant to be a physical education teacher. As a teen in Chicago, she first got started in working in the field and has now been teaching at the high school level for over three decades.

“I wanted to share my joy and love of being active with everyone I met. When in college I was recreating full time my junior and senior year and was encouraged by my counselors to get the teaching degree,” she said. “So I did and was recruited to teach in the Chicago Public Schools for a year or two before taking a position on the south side and maintaining my position as lead instructor for a large and very successful program of Chicago Park District. I was forced to pick one and the rest is teaching history. I’ve been teaching movement and physical education since I was 13.”

With a degree, she has over 30 years of teaching, she said, “the joy of lifetime fitness through my field of physical education.”

In recent years, she has racked up a number of medals and awards in tennis and pickleball.

“I’ve been playing tennis since

I had Tyler, my youngest. He’s now 15. I’ve been socially and recreationally playing pickleball for three years. This last year, I had an opportunity to compete as my schedule opened up in remote working and both of my sons were no longer competing or practicing due to COVID restrictions. Mom had the green light to enter the tournament cycle.

I’ve been competing in pickleball tournaments for nine months,” she said.

Krzeminski started off playing pickleball on indoor and outdoor courts in Illinois and in northwest Indiana, where she still plays in recreational groups.

Krzeminski has competed in the Midwest and as far away as Florida and Las Vegas. One of her regular doubles partners has a home in Naples, Fla., and they’ve played together there often. Krzeminski also continues to play in higher-level U.S. Tennis Association groups. She also enjoys recreational off-road mountain biking and noncompetitive volleyball, bean bags, weight training and Zumba.

Among her tennis titles are McGuane Park Chicago City Tennis Champions in 2020 and runner-up in 2019. This past year, she has played doubles in pickleball and won a silver medal at the PPA championship

in Las Vegas in both women’s and mixed. She got gold in the women’s open and silver in mixed open at the Veterans Day Tournament in Naples. She also got gold in women’s and mixed at the Northwest Indiana Pickleball Championships, and gold in women’s in the APP Tour at Punta Gorda, Fla. Also, she got gold in women’s and a bronze in mixed for Winter Classic in East Naples, Fla., and silver in the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples. In addition, she got bronze in Women’s USA Mountain Regional Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., and bronze in Great Lakes Regional Pickleball Tournament in Fort Wayne, and gold in mixed at Simone Grand Slam in Tampa, Fla. Krzeminski has also been a top 10 triathlete, competed in halfmarathons, duathlons and 10Ks and played on championship and coed competitive volleyball teams in Chicago and Chicago suburbs. Of all the sports she’s participated in, pickleball is now her favorite.

“The games are fast-paced, fun and all levels of players can play, but I enjoy playing higher levels as I feel like I’m in boxing match at times then just playing mini tennis and ping-pong. It’s a great combination of slow and fast pace,” she said.

:,11,1* *2/' ³ 6KDQQRQ .U]HPLQVNL ULJKW LV SLFWXUHG ZLWK 5DFKHO 6XPPHUV DIWHU ZLQQLQJ JROG LQ GRXEOHV ZRPHQ·V SOXV FDW HJRU\ DW WKH :LQWHU 3LFNOHEDOO &ODVVLF LQ 1DSOHV )OD 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ 6KDQQRQ .U]HPLQVNL Krzeminski is a mother of two — a college sophomore, who is now coaching volleyball, and a high schooler, who is a gifted and

driven athlete, like his mother.

She also loves spending time on her family’s horse farm in Schererville.

Professional Forum EXPANDING — Interested Businesses Call Becky Berggren At 1-866-580-1138, Ext. 2430 A Monthly Question And Answer Advertorial Column Professional Forum . . .

Dermatology Q: An independent laboratory is calling on the FDA to issue a recall after detecting benzene, a known human carcinogen, in 78 sunscreen and after-sun products. As a dermatologist, what was your reaction to this report?

A:

• While this report raises concerns, it’s important to note that this is one report, and the claims need to be validated.

• As the authors of the report point out, the majority (73%) of the sunscreen products tested did not have benzene contamination.

• I see the impact of overexposure to the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays every day in my office. It’s the most preventable risk factor for skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form.

• I tell my patients who are concerned by this report and may not be comfortable wearing sunscreen right now to choose a sun-protection option they are comfortable with.

Your exclusive opportunity to present common questions or concerns “Adults 50 Years And Better” may have relating to your product(s) or service.

Advertising with us is a Breeze A. David Soleymani M.D., F.A.A.D. Board-Certified Dermatologist

* Seek Shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. * Dress to protect yourself from the sun by wearing a lightweight and longsleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection, when possible. For more effective sun protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.

Call 219.228.4200 to schedule your appointment. www.dermiodermatology.com We Have Convenient Hours From 7 A.M. To 7 P.M. To Accommodate You

Offices in Munster, Dyer, Valparaiso and DeMotte

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!

Becky Berggren, Account Executive Lake & Porter Counties (219) 254-2345 slwest@the-papers.com

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 9

83'$7(6 +$33(1,1*6 ,1 7+( $5($ Send listings of events, hosted by nonprofit organizations, to Senior Life, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542 by July 26 for August events. With listing, include contact person and a phone number.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The calendar is listing regularly scheduled events. Due to COVID-19, events may be cancelled or postponed. Please reach out to the sponsoring agencies to verify if the events are still being held.)

Maria Reiner Center — Monday: Pickleball intermediate 8:30 a.m., stretching class level 1 9 a.m., ukulele 9 a.m., bocce ball open play 10 a.m., walking club 10 a.m., pickleball advanced 10:30 a.m., pickleball open play 12:30 p.m., oil painting 12:30 p.m., tech class (Zoom) 2 p.m. Tuesday: Pickleball beginner 8:30 a.m., cardio with Janice 9 a.m., walking club 10 a.m., bocce ball open play 10 a.m., dominos 10 a.m., pool tournament 10 a.m., jam session 11 a.m., senior cha cha cha 11 a.m., pickleball open play 11:30 a.m. Wednesday: Pickleball intermediate 8:30 a.m., experienced art class 9 a.m., stretch plus level 2 9 a.m., bocce ball open play 10 a.m., hand and foot 10 a.m., Zumba gold 10 a.m., walking club 10 a.m., pickleball advanced 10:30 a.m., movie noon, beginner’s art class 12:30 p.m., pickleball open play 12:30 p.m.

Thursday: Pickleball beginners 8:30 a.m., cardio with Janice 9 a.m., pool tournament 10 a.m., bocce ball 10 a.m., dominos 10 a.m., pickleball open play 11:30 a.m., The Bible as literature 12:45 p.m., Happy Hookers and Naughty Knitters 1 p.m.

Friday: Pickleball intermediate 8:30 a.m., yoga 8:30 a.m. (see website calendar for specific dates), senior cha cha cha 9:30 a.m., bocce ball 10 a.m., pickleball advanced 10:30 a.m., bingo (every second and fourth Friday) 12:30 p.m. Plus many special classes and presentations. $3 daily visitation fee for nonmembers. Interested in a membership? Call (219) 9471864 or visit 705 E. Fourth St., Hobart. For more information, visit www.hobartseniors.com.

Hot Rod and Custom Bike Show — Noon to 3 p.m. July 8, at Wolf Lake Memorial Park, 2324 Calumet Ave., Hammond. Entry is $15 per vehicle; registration is from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be a DJ, dash plaques, door prizes, awards and concessions. Call (219) 853-7705 for more information or visit www.festivalofthelakes. com.

Senior Day — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14, at the Emerald Green on Lost Marsh Golf Course, 1001 129th St., Hammond. Seniors age 55 and older can come and enjoy an afternoon of dancing, a free lunch provided by Emerald Green and music by the Pete Carlo Three. This event is free and offering goody bags to everyone in attendance, while supplies last. Vendors will also be available with information pertaining to various senior services.

Visit www.festivalofthelakes.

com or call (219) 853-7705 for more information.

St. John Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop-off sites: Community Outpatient Clinic, Route 41; St. John Library; Boric Religious Store, Thiel Street; St. John Town Hall, 93rd Avenue; VFW Post 717, 93rd Avenue; Clear

Vue Eyecare; Dr. Weisman Ophthalmology; Kolling School; Metropolitan Eye Care; Moses Eye Care; Strack and VanTil; Vision Boutique; Welch’s Stop and Shop. Monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month (September to June) at Roma Grill, 9543 Wicker Ave., St. John.

Questions, contact Lion Al at

(219) 201-9103.

Whiting Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids. Drop off in yellow collection box on 119th Street, Whiting.

Highland Lions Club — Seeking donations of old eyeglasses. Drop-off sites are: Town Hall, 3333 Ridge Road;

Lincoln Center, 2450 Lincoln St.; Centier Bank, 9701 Indianapolis Blvd.; McColly Realty, 2002 45th St.; Dr. Ligget, 2940 Highway Ave.; Family Eye Care, 8417 Kennedy Ave.; and Johnson Opticians, 8128 Kennedy Ave., Highland. If interested in becoming a Lion, contact Tim Tintor at (219) 838-8756.

Set yourself up for a good night’s sleep %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV When you’ve been caught napping, it could mean you’ve been sleeping on the job, missed the moment of decision or were just flat-footed unprepared.

But to many in the know, naps are good for you. A short midday “nooner” can shed stress and restore your strength to face the rest of the day.

An unanticipated result of the COVID pandemic is that many people who were shut out of their workplace found that a quick nap during the day at home — something they couldn’t do under the eyes of their bosses — helped them remain alert and more productive.

Much of the world claims napping spoils their ability to sleep at night. Many medical experts concur and support the practice of getting a good

eight hours’ sleep every night to maintain your mental health and physical stamina.

Insomnia is a well-known term covering a wide range of sleep issues. Surveys blame lack of sleep for costing several billions of dollars in decreased economic output because of memory lapse, dulled concentration and inability to complete everyday tasks.

Sleeping poorly is not a sign or symptom of getting old.

Studies indicate poor sleep is a

result of poor sleep habits.

A widespread cause of a wrecked night’s sleep is noise that can startle you awake. A cure for this is white noise — a constant, comfortable sound, such as bubbling water or the whir of a fan.

Setting the room temperature at a constant and comfortable level also helps you get a good night’s sleep. So does darkening the room with blinds and curtains to keep out the Continued on page 10

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10 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Dining/Leisure/Entertainment

Traveling Smithsonian Water/Ways exhibit in North Webster %\ 1257+ :(%67(5 38%/,& /,%5$5< Lakes are an important part of life in northern Indiana.

The lakes provide recreation, beauty, a means of income for many and an abundance of wildlife, as well as drawing thousands of visitors to the area each year.

Because the lakes are so central to our lives, North Webster Community Public Library, in partnership with The Watershed Foundation, is proud to host a traveling Smithsonian exhibit called Water/Ways.

This museum-quality, interactive exhibit will be on display inside the library through Aug. 7. It examines the role water plays in our lives environmentally, culturally and historically. In addition, two local companion exhibits will highlight

our local area’s unique water story and history. In conjunction with the exhibit, a series of public educational programs for adults and families will be offered that examines water’s impact on our lives and local environment. A list of these programs is available at www. nweb.lib.in.us/waterways/ or www.watershedfoundation.org/ waterways/.

The Water/Ways exhibit is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street, a collaboration that partners with state humanities councils to bring quality exhibits and programs to rural communities. North Webster is the first stop on the exhibit’s six community tour through Indiana.

“We are proud to offer this Water/Ways exhibit to our community and surrounding

:$7(5 :$<6 ³ 1RUWK :HEVWHU 3XEOLF /LEUDU\ LV KRVWLQJ D IUHH 6PLWKVRQLDQ H[KLELW WKURXJK $XJ 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ 1RUWK :HEVWHU 3XEOLF /LEUDU\ neighbors and give them the opportunity to experience a Smithsonian quality exhibit close to home,” stated Beth Smith, adult services director for North Webster Community Public Library.

The Watershed Foundation Executive Director Lyn Crighton agrees, “We are honored to have been selected by Indiana Humanities Council through a very competitive process and excited to partner with North Webster Library in this oppor-

tunity to showcase this exhibit and to share the story of our outstanding water resources and community.”

The Water/Ways exhibit is open to the public free of charge at the library located at 110 E. North St., North Webster. It is available for viewing 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; plus 1-3 p.m. Sunday, July 11 and Sunday, Aug. 1.

Set yourself Continued from page 9 light of passing vehicles and the rising sun.

When it comes to your bed, think of the three bears’ beds: one was too soft, the other too hard and the third “just right.”

Getting a good night’s sleep depends on your bed being “just right.” Today’s array of pillows, cushions, mattresses and adjustable beds will help you find your most comfort-

FREET EVEN

able sleep.

Your daytime lifestyle also affects your night’s sleep.

Discuss your issues with your family doctor before making any changes, but your schedule and diet can affect how you drop off at night.

Waking up at the same time every day may help solve your sleep problem. Is dropping off to sleep — taking a nap — in front of the television set affecting your ability to get a good night’s sleep? Late night snacks also could be keeping you awake.

Physical exercise is a good sleep-inducing practice. A walk, swim or bike ride, tai chi or yoga session, or a visit to a local gymnasium for a light workout all help loosen up your muscles so you can fall into relaxing sleep at night.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 11

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

DR. SEUSS ACROSS 1. On a cruise, 2 words 6. Horse poker 9. Deadly slitherers 13. Way to curl hair 14. *Today is gone.

Today was fun. Tomorrow is another ____.”

15. Islam’s Supreme Being Grilled zucchini is one of the great food joys of summer.

16. Subway coin In this easy recipe, the crunchy, bright breadcrumbs offset 17. Salve for Tin the sweet, soft zucchini in the most delightful way. Serve Woodman this healthy side with grilled chicken, fish or shrimp or as 18. Grim Reaper part of a vegetarian summer meal. This recipe is easily 19. *”A ____’s s Finedoubled or tripled if you have a bumper crop of zucchini. Something-That-AllPeople-Need.”

4 servings; Active Time: 20 mins; Total: 25 mins 21. *”Christmas Day will always be, Just INGREDIENTS: as long as we ____ 1/4 cup olive oil ____.”

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 23. Structure named 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste for 31st President 1/2 cup whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs 24. Indoor allergy 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup) trigger 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried 25. Ship pronoun thyme, crushed 28. H. H. Munro’s pen 1 teaspoon lemon zest name 1/4 teaspoon salt 30. Something or 2 large zucchini, halved lengthwise anything 4 wedges Lemon wedges for serving 35. Madam, to a cowboy DIRECTIONS: 37. Dr. Jones, to his Step 1 Combine oil, garlic and crushed red pepper in friends a small skillet over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until 39. Best not the garlic is softened and light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. mentioned Remove from heat; let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in panko, 40. Not in favor of Parmesan, thyme, lemon zest and salt.

41. Myths and Step 2 Preheat grill to very high (at least 500 degrees legends, e.g.

F). Oil the grill grates, using tongs to hold an oil-soaked 43. Maître d’s list 44. France’s longest paper towel. Place zucchini, cut-sides down, on the river oiled grates; grill, uncovered, until tender-crisp, about 5 46. *”I Can Read ____ minutes per side. Flip the zucchini so they are cut-side up; spoon the panko mixture evenly on top. Grill, covered, My Eyes Shut!” until the topping is golden brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. 47. Use a beeper 48. In direct line of Carefully transfer to a serving platter. Serve with lemon descent wedges.

50. Italian car maker NUTRITION FACTS: 52. Equinox mo.

Serving Size: 1 Zucchini Piece 53. Coral barrier Per Serving: 233.6 calories; protein 6.4g; carbohydrates 55. Not a friend 2.6g; exchange other carbs; dietary fiber 1.6g; sugars 57. *”From there to here, From here to 3.9g; fat 17.6g; saturated fat 3.6g; cholesterol 8.6mg; there, Funny ____ are vitamin a iu 481.9IU; vitamin c 30.6mg; folate 39.7mcg; calcium 116mg; iron 1.1mg; magnesium 33.6mg; potas- everywhere.”

60. *”Unless someone sium 450.5mg; sodium 350.5mg; thiamin 0.1mg.

like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. ____ ____.”

63. Canine foe 64. However, poetically 66. Full 68. Up and about 69. Porridge grain 70. Say something 71. Start of a conclusion 72. Parental involvement org.

73. Popular garden flower

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you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is ____ than you.”

36. Bog down 38. Sasquatch’s Himalayan cousin 42. Elevator passage 45. Breadwinner

49. Race part 51. 50-50 54. Bar by estoppel 56. Related on mother’s side 57. Baloney 58. Rwanda’s majority 59. a.k.a. The Islamic State

60. Itty-bitty bit 61. ___ von Bismarck 62. Not quite an adult 63. Latissimus dorsi, for short 65. *”It’s a shirt. It’s a sock. It’s a glove. It’s a ____.”

67. Wine quality

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DOWN 1. *”Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing ____.”

2. Turkey dance 3. Punjabi believer 4. Correct 5. Pause in breathing, pl.

6. *”If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is ____.”

7. “Wheel of Fortune” request, 2 words 8. Indian metropolis 9. Sheltered, nautically 10. BBQ side 11. Toupee spot 12. “Zip it!”

15. Countdown to Christmas 20. Inbox item 22. Chowed down 24. Middle of a torso 25. *”A person’s a person, no matter how ____.”

26. Capital of Vietnam 27. Dine at home 29. *”You’re on your own. And you know what you ____.”

31. Pipe smoker’s tool 32. Letter-shaped girder 33. Polynesian kingdom 34. *”Today you are

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12 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Faith

Former choir director remains active in faith community %\ 67(9( (89,12 )HDWXUH :ULWHU Wanda Samuelson of Portage First United Methodist Church believes she is blessed.

“I have wonderful friends,” she said. “I have wonderful family.”

She also has good genes, thanks to her mother. Before Peg Trostle died in 2010 at age 101, she left her daughter this advice: “Don’t let the old people in because they’ll never leave your body.”

At age 89, Samuelson may have retired seven years ago after 50 years as her church’s choir director, but she is not slowing down.

On Tuesdays, she participates in a prayer gathering at church. Wednesdays, she helps prepare meals for her church’s weekly community meal. Her mornings are spent in Bible study and her afternoons include prayer meetings. Her Thursday mornings include a prayer breakfast at the Portage Schoop’s.

Also a board member for the Portage Township Historical Society, she volunteers as receptionist at the group’s museum.

Having lived in Portage nearly all her life, Samuelson is the mother of three adult sons. She has five grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A stay-at-home mom while her sons were growing up, she

supported her children as a scouting den mother and later as a band mother during high school years. Her late husband, Norman, was running an oil business.

Regarding her church, Samuelson is willing to do whatever it takes. A former president of the United Methodist Women, she served on the church board and its worship and staff committees.

“I like the friendships and especially my denomination,” Samuelson said. “I like the caring, loving fellowship. I’ve always enjoyed working in the church. You feel like you’re doing stuff for others and there’s a lot to be said for that.”

Working with choirs, Samuelson fondly recalls the combined community choir that featured 40 to 50 members from different faiths in the community.

“I enjoyed working with people and I enjoyed what we could do together,” she said.

“We were praising the Lord in music. Music helps people.

It was a blessing for the choir and for me to direct that many people.

“Getting that many people together, you could just do more. You had a group of people working together, which is good.”

The choir averaged 15 members, Samuelson said, but that number usually grew around Christmas and Easter.

Samuelson believes living one’s faith means “striving to

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0$1< 0,1,675,(6 ³ :DQGD 6DPXHOVRQ LV VKRZQ DW WKH SLDQR LQ WKH VDQFWXDU\ RI 3RUWDJH )LUVW 8QLWHG 0HWKRGLVW &KXUFK ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR PDQ\ RWKHU PLQLVWULHV LQ ZKLFK VKH LV VWLOO LQYROYHG 6DPXHOVRQ GLUHFWHG WKH FKXUFK FKRLU IRU \HDUV 3KRWR E\ 6WHYH (XYLQR do what God is calling us to do. Love people, help people.

Care about them. Do things for them.”

She continued, “Faith means caring about others. Show them respect, honor them and do for them, no matter who or what

they are. It would make the world a much better place if we could do that.”

Also important, she said, is to “understand where people are coming from. Most people have a story.”

Turning to Scripture,

It pays to be skeptical %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV A boyhood friend learned early in his life how unlucky life can be if you don’t pay attention.

A carnival arrived in his town for a weeklong stay, offering exotic dancer shows, amusement park rides and gambling booths.

He’d just cashed two weeks’ pay from his summer job and was

feeling flush and fortunate. So he decided to toss a few bucks at the test-your-luck tents.

He thought he hit it right when he was approached by a gentleman who informed him he could probably make more money at the behind-the-scenes card game going on at that very minute. It sounded adventurous with a tinge of possible profit.

He lost his bundle in less than

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Samuelson cited 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

“It means people are important and I need to understand who they are,” she said. “I need to love them, no matter what.”

20 minutes.

He still talks about that long ago incident and how it’s affected his behavior over the years.

The lesson he walked away with: Never, never participate in anything without checking it out.

And, he told himself, he should have walked away from that invite without a second thought.

He’s never been scammed since.

No one, as far as he is concerned, is truly interested in making him a winner. Those offers of financial gain that tumble through the mail and telephone line are meant to enrich only the sender or caller.

What has been irking him lately is that these offers, along with charges of fraud and solicitations for help, are growing more frequent.

While technology has opened the world to us through computers and cell phones, they also have become open doors for crooks to invade our lives. Hackers can break into our private lives and steal our identity so they can wipe out our bank accounts, charge our credit cards to the limit and destroy our credit.

The growing number of senior citizens is a fertile field for these schemers who never sleep as they prowl cyberspace in search of prey.

Like the lad who lost his pay to friendly card sharks, adopt a healthy paranoia rather than Continued on page 13

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 13

Sum, sum, summertime veggie wraps

Welcome to summer — farmers markets, fruit picking, backyard gardens, outdoor events and lots of gatherings. There are so many good things about summer; we walk more and our activities rise in many ways, like trail walking, festivals, vacations, swimming and fun in the sun.

Summer eating is all about “what’s fresh now.” It is a true farm to table time and real red, vine grown, juicy tomatoes that are perfect as a sandwich or an ingredient.

An easy and yummy meal is a veggie wrap using just about any

kind of veggie you have on hand.

You can make them with grilled veggies or raw. Raw does have some health advantages such as maintaining more water-soluble vitamins because they are not leached out in cooking, plus a high vitamin content, more enzymes than cooked, improves digestion, healthier skin and a range of antioxidants that benefit your health. A tortilla is the base of the wrap which comes in wheat, corn, spinach, tomato basil, along with many other varieties. You can leave it at room temperature or heat it up.

Next spread with mayonnaise, mustard, hummus or my new favorite — cauliflower/white bean hummus.

Then start adding your vegetables either scattered or in ribbons across the tortilla. Some choices that work well are: • Lettuce.

• Spinach.

• Carrots.

• Cucumbers.

• Corn.

• Tomatoes.

• Peppers.

• Red Cabbage.

• Red Onion.

• Blanched asparagus.

• Sprouts.

• Radishes.

And if you like, add some seeds such as pumpkin or ground flax and maybe black beans for extra protein. Then gently rolled up the wrap and serve. I would not add raw mushrooms, though. Dr. Andrew Weil advises, in agreement with other experts, that mushrooms must be cooked. “Mushrooms have very tough cell walls and are essentially indigestible if you don’t cook them. Thoroughly heating them releases the nutrients they contain, including protein, B vitamins and minerals, as well as a wide range of novel compounds not found in other foods.

Many people choose to eat raw until dinner and the summer makes it especially easy to accomplish this. You could change this wrap up daily and practically feel the nutrients enter your body. But whether raw or grilled, these wraps are a quick and easy way to get a few servings into

9(**,( :5$36 *5($7 ,1 6800(5 your day and that is never a bad plan. Enjoy.

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetar-

It pays Continued from page 12 thinking you’re too smart to be conned.

Check your bank and credit card accounts regularly to make sure thieves have not gained ac-

Some good old advice I just received my 304th copy of the AARP Bulletin. This publication has arrived in my mailbox every month since ,1 $ I turned 50.

1876+(// I never read %\ ',&. the Bulletin :2/)6,( when I was in my 50s because I resented being seen as a senior in those days. Now I’m in my 70s and, quite frankly, I still don’t want anyone telling me how to eat healthy, boost my brain power, sleep well, soothe my gut or improve my memory, or how to choose the best walk-in tub and chair lift.

In the May issue, I glanced at the lead article: “60 Ways To Live Longer, Stronger, Better.”

Here are some of the actual entries, with a few snide comments by me, added in parentheses: Make your bed every morning. According to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation, people who make their bed every morning sleep better. (I told Mary Ellen that I was willing to let her make the bed from now on. She told me it isn’t who

makes the bed, it’s the fact the bed is made. I was hoping to get away with that.)

Change your sheets every Sunday. People who change their sheets every Sunday are less likely to develop allergies that disrupt sleep. (No wonder I can’t sleep. We always change sheets on Saturday.)

Take a do not disturb break.

Close your eyes for five minutes and don’t open them for anyone. (I tried that this past Friday just before I heard the Amazon delivery truck pull up.

I raced outside to get my new headphones and collided with my mailbox.)

Store fruit in the front of the fridge. You will be more apt to eat a healthy snack that way. (Great idea, but now I’ve stepped on the quart of blueberries that scattered all over the kitchen floor when I jammed my arm to the back of the fridge to reach the Oscar Mayer bologna.)

Do the dishwasher boogie. Do what you hate and turn it into a party. For example, dance in front of the dishwasher as you load it. This will remind you both how much fun you can have together. (Mary Ellen and I waltzed around the recycling bin after we rolled it to the curb Sunday night. The neighbors all laughed at us because

they knew that pickup wasn’t until next week.)

Choose fragrance-free products. (For Mother’s Day, I bought Mary Ellen a fragrancefree perfume. Did she ever wear it? I’ll never know.)

Bring plants into your home.

Plants make you feel relaxed and free of stress. (Wait a second, aren’t those plants illegal in Indiana?)

Take time to appreciate your partner’s skin. (I thought that sounded very romantic. Then AARP added, “Be on the lookout for moles.” Well, that kind of ruined the mood.)

Once a week, try to learn

ian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at cwilson@thepapers.com.

something new. (I did this over the last month and now I have four new things I’m lousy at.)

Decorate healthfully. If you generally keep chocolates on the cocktail table, hide them.

(AARP is assuming if you are old enough to get their AARP Bulletin, you won’t remember where you hid them.)

Finally, do an hourly posture check. Sit or stand tall with your feet flat on the floor. Look straight ahead, bringing your shoulders back and slightly tuck in your chin. (Then take a selfie. But trust me, it won’t matter. You’ll still look 30 years older than you really are.)

cess to them.

Never give any personal information by mail, internet, telephone or in person to anyone you do not recognize. If someone claims to be a family member or friend in need, get a number and tell them you have to call them back. Then check with other family members or friends to check out their story.

It might sound scary to be informed by a government agency that you’re going to be fined for something you’ve done or not done. But keep a level head. Get the name of the department and caller. Then call the agency listed in the phone book to verify whether the call or letter you received is legitimate.

And don’t ever send money to anyone who says they need money up front before they can send you the grand prize or lottery winnings they claim you just won.

To save yourself and your savings, it’s wise to become suspicious rather than a Samaritan.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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14 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Meals on Wheels launches new volunteer campaign Meals on Wheels is launching a new volunteer campaign called Deliver Summer. Help deliver nutritious meals to those in the community and Meals on Wheels will provide the food. Be a part of something bigger than yourself and discover how to help serve others with only an hour and a half of time as little as twice a month.

The increased number of clients and meals it’s serving means Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana urgently needs volunteer meal delivery drivers throughout Lake and Porter counties, with the most

urgent need in Merrillville, Highland, Griffith, Hobart, Miller, Munster and Whiting.

Volunteers pick up meals at lunchtime at a meeting spot in the community and deliver to local people in need.

Additionally, volunteer van drivers are immediately needed to deliver food containers to designated locations.

All van routes originate at the Merrillville facility.

Volunteers are the heart of Meals on Wheels. They establish a relationship with each client. Volunteers are trained to deliver a personal connection and wellness check with

every single meal. Turn your compassion into action and become part of the Meals on Wheels team making a difference in the community.

Register for an upcoming volunteer driver training by contacting Charlie Misovye, volunteer manager, at (219) 756-3663 or charlie@mownwi. org. Attendance is limited.

Founded in 1977, Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana delivers 1,700 nutritious meals each day with a wellness check and friendly visit to people in Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, with the support of community volunteers.

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‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ John Denver A leisurely drive on a country road can offer a chance to leave city stresses behind for a while and enjoy nature’s scenic %\ 5$1'$/ wonders. & +,// Some$ %RRPHU %ODVW times, 7R 7KH 3DVW though, such a usually ordinary event can prove life-changing.

Near the end of 1970, musicians Bill Danoff and his girlfriend/future wife Taffy Nivert motored along a picturesque two-lane Maryland highway called Clopper Road.

To pass the time, they batted about some lyrics that they felt might fit into a melancholy ode for Johnny Cash. When they got to “almost heaven,” Bill injected the word Massachusetts, which is where he was from. And while Massachusetts did contain four syllables — what Danoff wanted — he thought the state’s name somehow wasn’t “musical” enough. Back home in Washington, D. C., that night, he and Nivert chose a better-flowing four-syllable state name: West Virginia.

It was a place neither had ever been.

On Dec. 29, 1970, the 163-seat Cellar Door music club in the Georgetown area of Washington, D. C., offered two relatively unknown acts onstage that evening — Bill and Taffy (who performed as Fat City) and a struggling folkie friend named John Denver. His lone claim to music world fame had been his creation “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” which had become a chart-topping single for Peter,

Paul and Mary but had left Denver’s name unknown to most music fans.

After Fat City and Denver had finished their Cellar Door sets that night, they agreed to rendezvous at Bill and Taffy’s place for an impromptu jam.

Later, at one point, Nivert said to her partner, “Get out that song you’re writing for Johnny Cash.” Danoff did as he was told and showed Denver the tune that, at the time, consisted only of one chorus and one verse. But Denver was bowled over by what he heard and asked to have first crack at recording it. The three worked throughout the night, Denver adding the bridge and more words of wistful nostalgia.

By dawn, they pronounced the future classic finished.

The next night, Denver played his entire set and an encore, but the enthusiastic crowd demanded one more tune. When the applause died down, he told the audience, “We just finished a brand new song and I haven’t even learned the words yet.” He then unfolded a sheet of paper and taped it below the mic head.

Danoff joined Denver onstage, along with Denver’s lead guitarist and his bass player, and the foursome launched into the first public performance of “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

The audience rose collectively for a thunderous five-minute standing ovation when the tune ended. That verified to Denver what he had felt since the night before, when he had first heard the unfinished song: this one — for sure — is a winner.

One month later, Denver recorded it as an RCA Victor single, with his Fat City friends providing backup. Upon release, the radio-friendly 45 rocketed to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and finally gave Denver the breakout hit he had spent years searching for.

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 15

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From peanuts to a pagoda: roaming through Reading %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Like prime real estate, Reading, Pennsylvania’s major attractions are location, location, location.

Reading forged its place in history as an industrial center and a major player in the formation of this nation: a source of the Conestoga wagons that played a vital role in the drive to develop the West.

Its geographic position on the shoulder of Mount Penn on the banks of the Schuylkill River is an hour’s drive or less from the fecund and food-filled Lancaster County, capital of Amish country; the glitter and gourmet seafood of Atlantic City and the New Jersey shore; the historic sites of Valley Forge and Gettysburg; and Independence Hall, the cradle of our constitution in Philadelphia.

This manufacturing city designed in 1748 by William Penn’s sons, Thomas and Richard, is to outlet shopping what

Bethlehem is to Christendom.

It brags that it’s the Outlet Capital of the World, citing the opening of its first manufacturer’s outlet surplus shop more than half a century ago.

“America’s Oldest Brewery” is just up the road in Pottsville, the boyhood home of author John O’Hara. Here the Yuengling family has been fermenting barley and hops at the foot of the Appalachian Trail since 1829.

Brewery tours are offered without charge year-round.

The free samples that follow are especially welcome on hot summer days.

On the other side of Reading is one of several haunted houses peppered throughout the Schuylkill Valley. Brinton Lodge on a leafy riverbank boasts an economically exquisite menu as well as a handful of friendly phantasms.

This cozy complex opened in the early 1700s as a food stop for muleskinners hauling barges along the Schuylkill River canal system. It is still

Worried about warts? %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV It’s always best to get medical treatment for anything that attacks your body.

This includes warts, which seem to appear and disappear willy-nilly on various parts of your body.

A common remedy is to have them frozen so they fall off or can be cut out by a doctor.

There are several aroundthe-house remedies that have been successful in some cases.

For one, you can cut a small potato in half and rub the cut side of the potato on the wart twice a day until it disappears.

Or you can rub the wart daily with a piece of pineapple or the inside of a banana peel.

Some folks report daily application of the gel from the leaf of an aloe vera plant works.

A garlic clove crushed and mixed with water, applied to the wart daily and covered with a bandage, reportedly works in three to four weeks.

Another solution to try is two

parts apple cider vinegar to one part water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and wrap it over the wart for three or four hours every day.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

home to the ghosts of at least one of the owners, an owner’s mistress, a Revolutionary War soldier and a young girl who died of a respiratory ailment.

“We’ve had waitresses who’ve seen these ghosts and think they’re customers,” we were told.

A network of riverside walking and bicycle trails links the heart of this city of 80,000 with the countryside and much of its history. Donald Linderman, a nearby resident pedaling with a local group through a covered

bridge leading to a former wagon works transformed into a museum, informed the group why there are no windows on covered bridges.

“They were built to get horse-drawn wagons across the river and horses get skittish when they see anything moving under them. There are no windows so horses wouldn’t see the water rushing under them.”

After that lesson, it was time for a stop at downtown’s best known watering hole and pow-

er-lunch stop: Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar. It’s on Penn Street across from the city’s daily newspaper, the Reading Eagle.

First-timers tend to shuck peanut shells back into the bowl on their table. “Throw ’em on the floor!” sang out our server.

Before leaving this seat of Berks County, we headed up Mount Penn to The Pagoda on Skyline Drive for a bird’s-eye view of this food- and fun-filled historic corner of our world.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

16 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Student volunteer designated as two-time recipient of service award Two years ago, when Morton High School student Alexandra Medina was looking for future career experience at a “wellrounded place where I could obtain skills needed in the health care field,” she didn’t need to look far. She found what she was looking for by volunteering at Community Hospital.

Over the past two years, Medina has racked up more than 250+ service hours between 2019 and 2020, making her eligible to receive HOSA’s Barbara James Service Award for her efforts.

HOSA Future Health Professionals (formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America) is an international career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of ACTE. The Barbara James Service Award provides members with the opportunity to become contributing members of their communities by performing worthy volunteer community service hours related to health.

The Barbara James Service Award is in memory of James, 1982-83 HOSA Inc. board chairman. The award aims to inspire members to be proactive future health professionals and recognize individual HOSA members who have a commitment to community service in health.

“Alexandra completed more than 250 hours of volunteer service to receive the Barbara

James Service Award at the state level,” said Kerri A. Clark, manager of volunteer services for Community Hospital, who helped Medina verify and log in her service hours. “She completed 109 of them at the front desk since returning to service Nov. 10, 2020. Since she started in December 2019, she has completed 383 service hours at the hospital. For reference, most volunteers earn roughly 200 hours per year. For the award, bronze level equals 100 to 174.9 hours, silver level equals 175 to 249.9 hours, and gold level equals 250-plus hours per year.”

“From my understanding, Alexandra, in June, will be considered for her efforts at the International Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., to receive national level recognition,” Clark explained.

At Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital, St. Mary Medical Center and specialty hospital Community Stroke and Rehabilitation Center, volunteers and their unique talents are carefully matched with innovative work opportunities to extend the system’s mission of providing quality health care.

Whether working directly with patients to help them find their way through the hospital hallways or working behind the scenes, volunteers enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, keep active while providing important services and experience personal satisfaction that comes from helping others.

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*2/' /(9(/ ³ 6WXGHQW YROXQWHHU $OH[DQGUD 0HGLQD VHDWHG UHYLHZV YLVLWDWLRQ JXLGHOLQHV ZLWK .HUUL $ &ODUN OHIW PDQDJHU RI YROXQWHHU VHUYLFHV IRU &RPPXQLW\ +RVSLWDO 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ &RPPXQLW\ +RV SLWDO “Volunteering has many benefits,” said Teresa L. Pedroza, system director of volunteer services, Community Healthcare System. “While our volunteers help to support the hospitals, they also receive personal satisfaction in giving their time and talents.”

Medina is currently aiming for certification in emergency medicine as an EMT, but has an end goal of working in the surgical field. She chose Community Hospital because there are so many different positions in the hospital setting that an individual can start by gaining experience in one field, but easily progress to other areas as well.

“Volunteering has allowed me to grow at a professional and personal level,” Medina said. “I have met a lot of new people who each have contributed to my development.

I have gained many skills, for instance, self-discipline, stress management, attention

to detail, decision making and initiative. I encourage other students to start contributing to their communities through volunteer service hours.”

Individuals, 18 years of age and older, who are interested in greeting, directing, escorting and transporting patients are

encouraged to apply.

To learn more, contact the department of volunteer services at (219) 703-1031 (Munster); (219) 392-7031 (East Chicago) or (219) 947-6011 (Hobart and Crown Point), or visit COMHS. org/donate/volunteer-opportunities.

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Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and, if caught early, can be treated with prescription eye drops or a laser procedure.

The leading cause of vision loss once you turn 50 is macular degeneration, which is a progressive deterioration of the part of the eye that focuses on central vision. Treatment ranges from lifestyles changes, such as quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet, to having medication injected painlessly directly into the eyeball.

Regular vision checks should be atop everyone’s medical checklist.

Look to eye care The thought of having anyone poke, prod or cut into your eyeball probably makes you shudder. Yet thousands of people, most of them elderly, have learned that saving their sight has become as easy as, if not easier than, a visit to the dentist.

Cataracts begin diminishing most people’s vision in their 50s. Replacing the clouded lens in your eye has become a simple remedy.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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Our team of experienced professionals, affiliated with Community Healthcare System®, helps patients recover from surgery, injury or illness.

OUR PERSONALIZED CARE FEATURES:

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• Game Ready® cold compression therapy • Orthotic & splinting therapy • Mobility & balance training Joint Commission with Post-Acute Care certification

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 17

Master gardener program seeking new crop of volunteers If you want to sharpen your gardening skills and have an interest in sharing knowledge with others, Purdue University has the ideal program.

Beginning Aug. 30, Purdue Extension’s master gardener basic training course will be offered for residents of Lake County and surrounding areas.

Purdue’s master gardener program is a volunteer training program that provides a learning framework for participants to increase their knowledge on a wide variety of horticultural subjects. In turn, participants volunteer by representing Purdue University.

As volunteers, participants )$,7+)8/ 92/817((56 ³ -RH DQG 1DQF\ 6WDUNH\ KDYH YRO XQWHHUHG DW 0HDOV RQ :KHHOV IRU RYHU VL[ \HDUV 3KRWR SURYLGHG E\ grow by sharing knowledge, while providing leadership and 0HDOV RQ :KHHOV service in educational gardening activities within their communities.

The next training will be 6-9 p.m. from Aug. 30 to Dec. 13, excluding Oct. 11, Indigenous People’s/Columbus Day. Interested garden enthusiasts can register at https://tinyurl. com/88s3cpb6 to receive adFor over six years, Joe and on delivery routes throughout ditional information about the northwest Indiana. To learn Nancy Starkey have been volapplication process. more, contact Charlie Misovye, unteering at Meals on Wheels.

It’s offering the program in volunteer manager, at Charlie@ Joe is a volunteer van delivperson at Purdue Extension’s ery driver. Nancy is a volunteer mownwi.org or (219) 756-3663.

Lake County Office, 2291 N. Visit mownwi.org for further meal delivery driver. Both are Main St., Crown Point. Particiinformation. retired teachers. Joe coached pants will be exposed to a wide Founded in 1977, Meals on volleyball, softball, basketball range of subjects including soil Wheels of Northwest Indiana and taught algebra. Nancy and plant science, diagnosis delivers 1,700 nutritious meals taught fourth and sixth grades of plant problems, pesticide each day with a wellness check in Merrillville. Not only are safety and culture of vegetable, and friendly visit to people they each other’s companion flower, landscape, and fruit in Lake, Porter, Newton and in life, they often accompany plants. Materials and expenses Jasper counties. each other on their delivery for the series of classes cost The mission of Meals on routes. When asked, “How did $170 per participant, includWheels of Northwest Indiana you get involved with Meals on ing spiral-bound manual, and is to deliver nutrition to those Wheels?” they replied with the $195 for a spiral-bound and in need with the support of volfollowing: digital manual. The fee will not unteers and partners.

Funding • Mom received Meals on be collected until after applicafor meals is provided by people Wheels. tion is accepted. Discounts are • They needed to get out and receiving meals, private founavailable for two participants dations, grants and individual do something after retiring. sharing materials. donations. More information • Really like the connecWhile participants can creabout Meals on Wheels can tion between the clients and ate new educational outreach be found at mownwi.org, or volunteers.

Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn programs, there are already • Clients appreciate the atand Twitter. Meals on Wheels plenty of opportunities for tention of the wellness checks. is located at 8446 Virginia St., which volunteers are needed.

• The clients are so grateful.

Merrillville.

Some of these projects include Are you and your companion looking for something to fulfill your life after retiring? Join the Meals on Wheels team of volunteer meal delivery drivers and discover how great you can become by serving others. An increase in clients and expansion of service locations presents an immediate need

Meet Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers Joe and Nancy Starkey

the staffing information booths at gardening events, teaching public education classes, speaking to local clubs and organizations, and hands-on demonstra-

tion gardens.

For questions about the program, contact Rena Wielgus at rmwielgu@purdue.edu, or call (219) 755-3245.

Home equity offers financial options %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV More than 70% of most retirees’ wealth is comprised of the equity in their home.

Among the questions so many seniors in this position face is whether to sell the house and move to smaller digs or a senior community, borrow money against that equity or seek a reverse mortgage.

Selling is a no-turning-back solution. An equity loan has to be structured so it can be repaid without difficulty — you may have to borrow enough to be able to repay it with some of the money you borrowed.

A reverse mortgage offers options but requires careful scrutiny.

First of all, you can live in the house and don’t have to repay the mortgage until it’s sold. You do have to pay all taxes and insurance and maintain it properly until that happens.

You can take the money in a lump sum, monthly income or as a line of credit.

While a reverse mortgage offers tantalizing financial freedoms, an attorney advised a long time ago: If you don’t need the money, don’t even think about a reverse mortgage.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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18 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Historical Hindsight —

Pandemics are nothing new %\ 720 02552: 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Global infectious disease outbreaks, or pandemics, have been logged all through recorded history.

Most seniors have survived several, whether they’re aware of it or not.

Over the past century

alone, the world has endured no less than seven pandemics.

The first and most deadly was the 1918-20 epidemic known as the Spanish Flu. It was so named because Spain is generally regarded as its starting point. The virus killed more than 500 million people — more than 25% of the world’s population at that time and more than were killed in World War I. Things were quiet after that until 1956, or early 1957, when the first cases of the so-called Asian Flu were reported in Guizhou, southern China. An estimated 4 million people died around the globe from this flu and the U.S. stock market lost 15% of its

value in the second half of 1957 as the nation sank into a recession. In the United Kingdom, the government paid out some 10 million pounds in sickness benefits and several factories and mines had to close.

The Hong Kong Flu hit our shores a decade later. It was followed by the Russian Flu, which emerged in 1977, killing more than 500,000 worldwide.

The Bird Flu and Swine Flu lasted about 19 months in 2009 and 2010, claiming up to 700,000 lives worldwide.

The varied strains of what we know as the “traditional” flu kills as many as 650,000 people annually, but that

figure goes more or less unnoticed in the news media.

Many folks have become accustomed to dodging the flu by getting an annual shot to get through flu season, which runs from late fall to early spring.

More than 25 million deaths around the globe have now been attributed to COVID-19 — still a low figure compared to the 500 million victims of Spanish Flu. The first confirmed death of the present pandemic was Jan. 9, 2020, in Wuhan, China. The first reported U.S. death was a month later: Feb. 6.

Reports indicate outbreaks are still serious in some

South American and African countries as well as India, which recently had been reporting as many as 12,000 deaths daily.

The coronavirus shutdown has resulted in significant social and economic disruption around the globe, including the largest worldwide recession since the Great Depression. It has brought widespread commodity shortages, exacerbated by panic buying and agricultural and supply disruption.

If there’s any good news from this pandemic, it might be that there’s been a decrease in emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Phone 219.254.2345 To Join Our

HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES

RESIDENCES AT COFFEE CREEK See Our 2300 Village Point Ads In This Chesterton, IN 46304 Issue (219) 921-5200 www.ResidencesSeniorLiving.com Assisted Living and Memory Support at the Beautiful Watershed Preserve.

RESIDENCES AT DEER CREEK 401 E. U.S. Highway 30 Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 864-0700 www.ResidencesSeniorLiving.com Assisted Living and Memory Support in a Residential Setting.

VNA OF NWI LIFELINE PROGRAM 501 Marquette St. See Our Valparaiso, IN 46385 Ad In This Additional Offices In: Issue Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax https://www.vnanwi.org/services/in-home-services A not-for-profit organization for over 50 years.

The VNA Lifeline program provides dependable, fast access to help when you need it. Live an independent and active lifestyle with the VNA Lifeline program’s medical alert pendant or wristlet.

Making Best Days Possible

DENTAL DENTAL HOME HEALTH Serving Lake County We will come to those who can’t come to us.

Visits by appointment only.

(219) 718-6684 Dr. Eric Compton dentalhomehealth@gmail.com www.munsterdentist.com

FUNERAL HOMES SMITH BIZZELL WARNER FUNERAL HOME 4209 Grant St. Gary, IN 46408 (219) 887-1852 www.smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome.com : smithbizzellwarnerfuneralhome

HOME CARE SERVICES NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville & Hammond By appt. or walk-ins welcome.

(219) 763-8112 or (888) 459-2349 www.northshorehealth.org Affordable dental care regardless of ability to pay. Medicare and Medicaid accepted.

Discounted self-pay option.

HEART 2 HEART HOME CARE, INC. Non-medical caregiver, CNA at the comfort of wherever you call home. Assistance with hygiene, meal preparations, reminding medications, household tasks, escorting to activities center or therapies.

LICENSED - BONDED - INSURED Serving all Lake County areas.

200 Russell Street, Suite 103 Hammond, IN 46320 (219) 501-7015 www.heart2hearthomecareinc.com

HOME CARE SERVICES VISITING ANGELS HOME CARE 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 2340 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375 (219) 322-6100 www.visitingangels.com

HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES COMMUNITY HOME HEALTH SVCS. Munster Community Home Health, St. Catherine’s Hospital, E. Chicago, St. Mary’s Hospital, Hobart (219) 440-5400 Our nurses offer home health services with expert compassionate care for your medical needs in your home!

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 19

Housing and your health: think it through in advance %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV It wasn’t all that long ago when grandma and grandpa hung around the house until one day he didn’t return from the back forty or she was found in bed unresponsive.

Life was a lot simpler back then because many families still lived down on the farm.

The growth of city life and our lengthening life expectancy changed all that.

While the expected lifetime of folks born in 1900 was into their late 40s, that age limit has almost doubled into the late 70s for those individuals born in 2000. There are more than 45 million people age 65 or older now and that number is expected to double within the next three decades.

That puts a burden on where the elderly are going to live and who’s going to take care of them.

Construction of senior-only communities and complexes is booming. The care and costs vary from high-end luxurious living spaces wrapped around eye-pleasing golf courses and artificial lakes, to squared-off multistory centers housing seniors with physical and mental disabilities.

Despite all these choices, surveys show that more than three-quarters of seniors would rather maintain their independence by aging with dignity in the comfort of their own home. This option has gained some traction recently with the growth of the home care industry, some of which may be covered by

Medicare and supplemental health insurance coverage.

Complications occur when you fall, slip steadily into dementia or have a body that begins to fail and requires attention to issues such as liver, kidney or eyesight failure.

This increases the pressure on both the oldsters and their caregivers to determine whether the required level and quality of care can be maintained at home.

If the illness that strikes is terminal, it makes hospice care a consideration for maintaining the person’s comfort and quality of life as they dwindle away.

If you haven’t faced any of these issues with members of your family or discussed the probabilities and possibilities for yourself, now

is the time to look at your options.

Making a list of how and where you would prefer to live makes it much easier for

you and your loved ones to live with what does happen without warning as you grow old.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Fitness tips for travelers %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Getting the shots required by the countries you plan to visit is not enough to keep you healthy on your travels.

Nor do you get enough exercise by manhandling your luggage through airports and into overhead bins and signing up for every group tour on your itinerary.

Before leaving home, rehearse a 15 minute travel workout that includes squats, abdominal crunches and stretching all parts of

your body.

Pack a swimsuit and use it wherever there’s water — pool, lake or ocean — included on the stops along your way.

And make sure your shoes are comfortable, not only so you can see the sights without getting footsore, but to make it easier to hike around the airport between flights.

Taking a few exercise tools, such as a stretch bands and hand strengtheners, also helps maintain your health and strength on the trip.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Phone 219.254.2345 To Join Our

HEALTH AND SERVICES DIRECTORY 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 CHAP Accredited www.HTOHH.com Compassionate care from our heart to yours.

Volunteers needed.

HOSPICE OF THE CALUMET See Our AREA MUNSTER Ad In This • Serving Lake, Porter and Bordering Issue 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 www.hospicecalumet.org (219) 922-2732 / (219) 736-2422

UNITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE Family owned & operated hospice Offering premier end-of-life care For over 25 years at no cost to you, Because we care.

Serving Porter, Jasper & Newton Counties in Indiana.

219.769.8648 Greater Illinois area 312.427.6000 www.unityhospice.com See Our VNA OF NWI Ad In This 501 Marquette St. Issue Valparaiso, IN 46385 Additional Offices In: Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, 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 and Starke Counties.

Making Best Days Possible

HOUSECALL DOCTORS See Our HOUSECALL DOCTORS, PC Ad In This At-Home Medical Care for Issue Elderly & Homebound Patients Providing at-home care from Medical doctors and Nurse Practitioners.

Serving NW Indiana, Indianapolis & Plymouth/So. Bend areas www.housecalldoc.org Toll Free: 800.945.4654

MEALS ON WHEELS VNA OF NWI MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM 501 Marquette St. See Our Valparaiso, IN 46385 Ad In This Additional Offices In: Issue Crown Point, IN and LaPorte, IN (219) 462-5195 (219) 531-8181 Fax https://www.vnanwi.org/services/meals-on-wheels 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

MEDICAL CLINIC NORTHSHORE HEALTH CENTERS Locations in Portage, Lake Station, Chesterton, Merrillville, Hammond & LaPorte 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 HARTSFIELD VILLAGE See Our REHABILITATION CENTER Ad In This 503 Otis Bowen Drive Issue Munster, IN 46321 (219) 934-0590 (800) 297-6188 (219) 703-6568 Fax www.hartsfieldvillage.com Post-Acute Rehab Center Bridging the gap from Hospital to Home.

VALPARAISO CARE & REHAB 606 Wall St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-4976 www.AmericanSrCommunities.com/vcrc

RETIREMENT LIVING HARTSFIELD VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING 10000 Columbia Ave. See Our Munster, IN 46321 Ad In This (219) 934-0750 Issue (800) 934-6188 www.hartsfieldvillage.com We are a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community). We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Support and Nursing Care for our residents coming through the continuum of care. Living Well - Living Wise!!

TELEPHONE SERVICES RELAY INDIANA - INTRAC See Our 7702 Woodland Drive #130 Ad In This Indianapolis, IN 46278 Issue (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.

20 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

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Brentwood at Hobart

0XQVWHU 0HG ,QQ 7935 Calumet Ave., Munster, IN 46321 (219) 836-8300 • www.munstermed-inn.com

1420 St. Mary Circle, Hobart, IN 46342 (219) 945-1968 • www.meridian.com/hobart

1RUWKZHVW ,QGLDQD·V &KRLFH IRU 3RVW $FXWH 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ 6KRUW 7HUP 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ RIIHULQJ 3K\VLFDO 2FFXSDWLRQDO DQG 6SHHFK 7KHUDS\ 6HUYLFHV 0HPRU\ 6XSSRUW 6HUYLFHV ZLWK 6SHFLDOL]HG 8QLW ZLWK &HUWLÀHG 'HPHQWLD 3UDFWLWLRQHU RQ 6WDII 5HVSLWH &DUH DQG /RQJ 7HUP &DUH 3ULYDWH 3RVW $FXWH 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ 6XLWHV &OLQLFDO H[SHUWLVH LQFOXGH 3RVW -RLQW 5HKDELOLWDWLRQ &DUGLDF &DUH 3XOPRQDU\ &DUH :RXQG &DUH DQG ,9 7KHUDS\

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

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

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

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

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Hammond-Whiting Care Center

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

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

Hartsfield Village Continuing Care Community

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

10000 Columbia Avenue, Munster, IN 46321 (800) 297-6188 • www.hartsfieldvillage.com Skilled Licensed Nursing Care, Long Term And Rehabilitation, Physical, Occupational, And Speech Therapies, Specialized Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care Unit, Private And Semi-Private Rooms, Certified Medicare And Medicaid Provider, Assisted Living And Independent Living Apartment Homes Also Available

Lake County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

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Saint Anthony 203 Franciscan Drive. Crown Point, IN 46307 (219) 661-5100 MajesticCare.com

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

Advertise Your Community Here!

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.

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4410 W. 49th Avenue, Hobart, IN 46410 (219) 947-1507

Reaches YOUR Target Market Adults 50 Years and Better Contact Becky For More Details!

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Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

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www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 21

How secure is your password? %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV As hackers break through firewalls protecting our nation’s facilities, such as the Colonial oil pipeline, the rest of us are reeling and wondering how to protect our assets from internet thieves.

While few of us are worth the $5 million ransom Colonial paid to have its system restored, crooks roam cyberspace and pounce on bank and credit card accounts to fatten their finances.

So passwords become increasingly important in the armor protecting our possessions.

Make your passwords (yes, you need more than one) as complex as possible.

There are several methods and places to shelter them.

Included are the cloud, software programs and password manager or protection service.

These usually involve a fee.

Or you can store them on a simple-to-keep thumb drive.

A prime rule to call to mind when thinking password: having a password that’s easy for you to remember — an old address or your father’s birth date — makes it easier for hacker hounds to sniff out and attack your data.

And using the same password for everything you work at in cyberspace makes it simpler for these same hackers to scramble through all your secured sites.

You can keep your system simple, but your passwords should be complex and different for every site.

So the doorway to your email should be different than

that of your bank account, which should be different than that of your medical data, which should be different than ….

You get the idea.

So what happens if you lose your thumb drive?

First of all, you should store your passwords on two or three such drives.

You also should keep them in a safe and secure place, such as a safety deposit box.

As difficult as you think all your passwords are to figure out, you should add an extra shield by placing them all in a single file that is given a mindboggling password. You can have fun with this one.

Internet security experts suggest you begin with a Shakespeare quote, a song lyric or a phrase you make up yourself.

falling off a cliff or tall building. Most falls happen at home from sliding on a rug, slipping down the stairs, getting tangled with a pet, tripping over a step stool or tumbling from a ladder.

Most falls can be prevented.

To begin with, oldsters have to quit being do-it-yourselfers.

An elderly neighbor was rushed to the hospital recently after he fell off a chair he was standing on to replace a light bulb. He never returned home.

Maintaining balance lowers your chance of falling.

Leg strength and eyesight combine to strengthen your sense of balance. Make sure you can see clearly so you don’t

stumble over things, such as dirty clothes tossed on the floor, newspapers dropped by the reading chair, a napping cat, curled up rug or water spilled on slippery flooring.

Keeping your legs strong is as simple as taking a short walk every day. Hiking and biking also help, as do exercises that call for standing on the balls of your feet or sitting down on and getting up from a chair repeatedly.

And footwear is important.

While slippers and sandals may be more comfortable because they’re soft and loose, they also can cause you to Continued on page 23

‘Fall’ is a four letter word %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV Falls have been blamed for killing three times more people than guns. They’re the leading cause of death for anyone who’s observed their 65th birthday.

It’s been reported that falling kills an elderly person every 20 minutes.

If a fall doesn’t kill you, it can leave you permanently disabled with an assortment of crippling injuries, such as a smashed hip, twisted back, torn knee, dislocated shoulder or a head injury that damages the brain.

We’re not talking about

We’ll use, “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

Write down the first letter of each word. Keep the punctuation and use capital letters for stressed words and you get W,WeaNaDtD. You might add the date you first visited the ocean, which made you think of this quote.

You can split it up with half in front and half at the end. If it was July 4, 1954 — 7,4,1954 — you can wind up with 741W,WeaNaDtD954.

Looks complicated, doesn’t it?

But you know what it means.

It also follows the advice offered by password pros: use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

The longer the phrase you

pick, the longer the password and the more difficult it is for hackers to crack.

Remember that these computer crooks have developed the savvy and technology to crack the most complicated codes.

Password security experts also recommend padding the password to make it longer, but warn against using the shift key for padding or adding symbols. They suggest adding a short string of letters, such as jkjkjk, strengthens your password against assaults by hackers.

If you make the process fun, you’re more likely to remember the formidable password you’ve developed to protect yourself out in the cyberspace world.

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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22 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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Travel

Vietnam Memorial Wall finds permanent home in Fort Wayne Fort Wayne has a new attraction that will be of interest to Vietnam War veterans, their relatives and friends and par*5($7 ticularly to (6&$3(6 those who %\ 52' .,1* had service men or women who made the ultimate sacrifice during that conflict. It was completed in mid-May and dedicated Memorial Day weekend. The wall is located on the grounds of the Veteran’s National Memorial Shrine and Museum on O’Day Road at the northwest edge of the city.

The wall, which is an 80% replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., is actually the one that traveled across the country

6($5&+,1* )25 1$0( ³ 9HWHUDQ VHDUFKHV IRU QDPH RI IULHQG OLVWHG RQ WKH ZDOO 2I WKH VHUYLFH PHQ DQG ZRPHQ :$// 819,(/(' ³ &URZG DW WKH GHGLFDWLRQ RI WKH 9LHWQDP 0HPRULDO :DOO LQ )RUW :D\QH RQ 0HPR OLVWHG DUH IURP ,QGLDQD DQG ULDO 'D\ ZHHNHQG YLHZV WKH ODVW SLHFH RI EODFN SODVWLF VKURXG EHLQJ UHPRYHG 7KH ZDOO LV DQ UHSOLFD RI IURP $OOHQ &RXQW\ WKH RULJLQDO :DOO LQ :DVKLQJWRQ ' & for many years. Despite the fact that it’s not full size, its 70 anodized aluminum panels stretch 360 feet from north

to south and rest on a black colorized concrete base that is constructed to withstand 120 mph winds.

Names of those service men and women who died during the war are listed starting in the middle of the wall on the

Kim Strnad of Fort Wayne packed an Allen County Senior Life on her trip to the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

In an attempt to bring more tourists and retirees to Lake Havasu City, the governor in the 1960s, Robert P. McCulloch, purchased the original London Bridge which spanned over the River Thames in England. Built in the 1930s, the bridge was deteriorating and not sound enough for increasing levels of traffic.

The bridge was then cut apart into 10,276 granite blocks, numbered and transported to its new home. From there, workers reconstructed and reinforced the bridge on land on the edge of a peninsula brandishing Lake Havasu to the north and the Colorado River to the west and south. Subsequently, the land was intentionally flooded under the bridge, creating Pittsburgh Point, essentially a new island.

Prospective buyers were attracted to the transformed area.

The $2.46 million purchase price of the bridge, was well reimbursed by the influx of new homeowners.

Lake Havasu City also received ornate bridge lampposts, included in the sale, fashioned from melted-down cannons, in which the British confiscated from Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. These remarkable lampposts still line the bridge today.

The historic, and possibly haunted, bridge is the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona, next to the Grand Canyon. In ,I \RX DUH WDNLQJ D YDFDWLRQ DQG SODQ WR WUDYHO WDNH DORQJ 6HQLRU /LIH DQG WDNH D SLFWXUH 2018 Lake Havasu City celebrated the 50th RI D IULHQG RU \RXUVHOI UHDGLQJ 6HQLRU /LIH 7KH SKRWR PD\ EH WDNHQ DQ\ZKHUH LQ WKH 8QLWHG anniversary of the purchase of the bridge.

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OLVKHG PRQWKO\ 5HPHPEHU WR LGHQWLI\ \RXU SKRWR LQFOXGH QDPHV RI SHRSOH LQ SKRWR IURP Another, grand adventure for Senior OHIW WR ULJKW GDWH WDNHQ DQG VSHFLÀF ORFDWLRQ IRU RXU SXEOLVKLQJ SXUSRVHV SOXV DQ\ LQWHUHVWLQJ Life! Thank you, Kim, for taking us with you LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKH ORFDWLRQ

on your trip to the infamous London Bridge.

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tallest panels by the date they died and going down to the smallest panels at the south end. They restart on the small panels at the north end and go toward the middle with those who died at the end of the war listed in the panel next to those who died at the beginning of the war.

Two podiums on the 8-foot wide walkway in front of the monument contain lists of all 58,320 service men and women who lost their lives in the war. The list tells exactly where to locate any particular veteran on the wall. Signs along the walkway also advise visitors how to use their cell phones to find a name. Among those who died are 1,534 from Indiana and 79 from Allen County, where the monument is situated. Docents are available to help visitors locate their veteran and grief counselors are also available.

Atmosphere at the wall is solemn, respectful and often very emotional. People can be seen on hands and knees tracing a name with paper and pencil, while others are searching intently for a name. Urns of flowers have been left all along the walkway.

The wall is the latest permanent addition to the VNMSM. In addition, it has a small museum which is scheduled to be replaced with a much bigger facility. Its collection includes uniforms, weapons and memorabilia from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Also the American Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and the conflicts in the Gulf and Middle East.

One of the exhibits is a 40 foot by 8 foot box car that was donated to the state of Indiana by the French after World War I. The box car, which is very rare, was originally designed to carry 40 men and eight horses.

Also on the grounds is a Pathway Through the History of War, which has a plaque for every conflict the United States has ever been involved Continued on page 23

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July 2021 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ 23

Have COVID vaccine, will travel %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV

Americans and Canadians have been told they can travel to any country that allows them in, but will have to self-quarantine for a couple of weeks when they return home, vaccinated or not.

Tourism and travel regulations were tangled enough before this pandemic pandemonium. They’re currently pretty well as unintelligible as a foreign language.

Because the travel guidelines are so disparate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. State Department still recommend against nonessential travel — despite the CDC’s updated advice that vaccinated Americans can safely resume travel at low risk to themselves.

As individual countries reopen, the timing and terms are up to each government. So Europe-bound travelers face a patchwork of entry rules.

Another factor to consider is what system used to provide

Receiving the COVID vaccine was supposed to be your armor against attacks by the virus that shut down the world. Not only did countries slam shut their borders, states and cities also closed their borders, businesses, schools, churches and everything else.

Coronavirus confusion still reigns as muddled medical experts and pompous politicians dictate where you can or cannot wear a mask depending on whether you’ve been vaccinated or have already been downed by the disease. Governments are still arguing with each other on when to allow people to leave the country and when to allow which travelers in.

While the 27 members of the European Union are opening ports of entry to international visitors, not every one has the same lists.

proof of vaccination.

Some countries, including Greece, Croatia, Iceland, Italy, France and Germany have announced plans to reopen to vaccinated visitors and/or those with a negative coronavirus test. Specifics vary by country.

As the European Union scrambles to lower barriers and revitalize its travel and tourism business, it has established

a list of countries considered “good epidemiological” sites (meaning their citizens don’t need to have received the COVID vaccine to visit). Eight countries are on the current list and reports indicate the EU is considering expanding the list to include the U.S. Keep in mind that travel to the Britain is a separate matter since it no longer is a member of

the European Union.

Rules are changing without warning around the globe as variants erupt and shutdowns are imposed.

Travel has always been considered an adventure, but the pandemic can turn it into a misadventure. Be sure to do your homework well before departing.

Continued from page 21 stumble and fall.

Get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes that allow you to feel the surface you’re walking on, whether it’s grass or gravel.

If you live where there’s ice and snow in winter, be extra careful. You might consider getting some cleats to clamp onto your shoes in order to manage ice and snow.

Some medications can cause dizziness. Check with your

doctor if you experience any lightheadedness.

A good rule to follow as you age is “never do anything quickly.” Even if you still run a few miles a day, that’s no reason to scamper around the house or supermarket.

Take your time getting from room to room. Install hand rails in the bathroom, bedroom, hallways and stairways.

Now look around the house for perils.

Start by eliminating clutter.

Pick up those dirty clothes and newspapers. Push furniture out of the way to make clear pathways to move around the room.

Tuck those electrical extension cords out of the way.

Wipe up any spills immediately.

And get rid of those throw rugs. Colorful and comfortablelooking as they may be, they’re very likely to throw you for a fall.

‘Fall’

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

Mature Life Features, copyright 2021

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Vietnam the property to ensure that “no veteran will ever be forgotten.”

For more information on the Veteran’s National Memorial Shrine and Museum, visit honoringforever.org or call (260) 267-5022.

Continued from page 22 in. In addition, there is a Golf Star Family area and a Purple Heart Monument.

Eric Scott, a veteran of World War I, and his wife Cleo founded VNMSM and donated

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24 ■ SENIOR LIFE ■ July 2021

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World War II —

Johnny Bushemi: Gary’s hometown hero %\ 3$6725 *5(* /$:621 0 0LQ 06: *XHVW :ULWHU John Bushemi grew up in Gary, where he developed a love for his camera and photographing anything of interest.

Fast forward to World War II as he ended up in the Pacific War Theater. It was in the Pacific, where he followed the GIs through the battles and risked his own life photographing the GIs in action.

We must learn that in the Pacific, “the New Georgia campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan.”

Bushemi was present at most of these battles and photographed the GIs as they fought to regain control of the islands from the Japanese enemy.

The number of islands are too many to include in this story, but New Georgia was a main island in the Soloman Island chain.

It was in 1942 when the Japanese had captured New Georgia “and built an airbase at Munda Point which began operation in December 1942 to support the Guadalcanal offensive. The battle of Guadalcanal came shortly after as the Marines captured this island at the cost of many lives on both sides.

Guadalcanal was only one of many battles in which Bushemi was present to photograph the GIs in combat as they captured the enemy and the islands.

Many photos were sent back to Yank, Life and several other publications that gave readers an opportunity to see what the GIs encountered in the Pacific War Theater.

Bushemi became one of the

most famous combat photographers of World War II. To this day, he is not forgotten by the city of Gary and the people who live there. They remember him as their own hometown boy and hero.

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Opting out of air travel %\ &(&,/ 6&$*/,21( 0DWXUH /LIH )HDWXUHV “Pack your patience” has become an air traveler’s mantra.

A couple who returned recently from a pandemic-postponed gathering for birthday celebrations as well as their first view of grandchildren made one vow: their next trip will be to the afterlife.

Their experience with airports and airplanes convinced them they no longer enjoy flying.

Lengthy lines, continued COVID rules, last-minute flight cancellations, tightened seating, muddled pricing and an array of disappearing comforts such as meals and alcoholic beverage service are driving people away from air travel.

Travelers around the country are returning home with decisions to drive the next time they want to see family, friends or tourist attractions.

At the same time, motor home sales have been soaring.

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