Senior Times -- February 2018 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

February 2018

Volume 6 • Issue 1

Bleyhl Co-op plans to open new Pasco store in fall BY JESSICA HOEFER for Senior Times

DSHS introduces new caregiver support programs

Page 3

Trios cuts more staff as financial crisis continues

Page 7

Health care predictions for 2018 Page 14

save the date

Vintage at the Ridge antique show March 9 - 10 Southridge Sports & Events Complex 509-585-4279

Bleyhl Co-op plans to break ground this spring on a new 20,000-square-foot store in Pasco and share the space with True Value Hardware and Great Harvest Bread Co. The $4.5 million to $5 million project at Road 68 and Chapel Hill Boulevard will replace the current Pasco store at 1126 W. Ainsworth St. Russ Ward, Bleyhl’s vice president of retail, said the company has outgrown the site, which is about 4,000 square feet. “It’s been a temporary location for almost 20 years. We rented the building with the plan to build a bigger location,” he said. “We were waiting for the right time and place and found a piece of land on Road 68.” Along with Pasco, Bleyhl Co-op has locations in Sunnyside, Zillah and its headquarters in Grandview at 940 E. Wine Country Road. The company also operates fueling stations throughout the Yakima Valley. Bleyhl Co-op is probably best known for its livestock feed and supplies for orchards, vineyards, lawns, gardens and pets. But Ward said the new store will be a flagship for change, and that all of the Bleyhl Co-op locations will undergo a facelift this year. “We really want to make this a whole new customer experience. Our vision is about the true hometown farm and ranch and hardware store that we remember when we were kids. You’d visit farmers in there and see your neighbors. We want to capture that, but people want a modern store—bright with big aisles,” Ward said. “When I was brought on with the company, we were looking at building a new store and what we needed to do to grow as a co-op and grow in retail. How could we gain market share?” uBLEYHL, Page 6

Connie Wormington, 69, of Kennewick, wears the bronze medal her team earned during the Huntsman World Senior Games last fall. The owner of Just Roses Flowers and More shops in Kennewick and Pasco is an avid softball player.

Love of softball keeps Kennewick senior fit, healthy and focused BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

When Connie Wormington isn’t running one of her three businesses, she can usually be found on the softball field. A love for the game has helped keep the 69-year-old Kennewick woman fit, healthy and focused over the years. “It’s the thrill of hitting the ball and making a base hit. It’s tough to get a base hit for a woman. It’s hard to catch a grounder to the gut and throw it. It’s the thrill of doing it and being excited about doing it,” she said. Her love of the sport — and, she admits, her age — caught the attention of a Washington team bound for the

Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, last fall. Wormington said the event is the world senior Olympics. Fifty countries were represented and 11,000 athletes competed. She joined two teams and played 16 games in two divisions. She played second base in the 65-and-over division with the Wet Socks, with the team earning a bronze medal. “At the practices we had in Seattle, when they saw me play, they said, ‘We could use you in the 60-and-over team,’” so she also competed with the Women Who Run team at the Utah games. uSOFTBALL, Page 2

Kennewick’s Hallmark store closes doors after 41 years BY LAURA KOSTAD for Senior Times

Crest Hallmark Shops closed its Kennewick Plaza store last month amid declining sales. The Richland store on George Washington Way in Washington Plaza will remain the sole Hallmark Gold Crown store in the Tri-Cities of the five started by the Jilek family in 1968. Patrick Jilek, a second generation owner, said five to six years ago he didn’t foresee this happening, but in a rapidly changing retail world, external marketplace forces have been shutting down Hallmarks nationwide.

“We’ve held on longer than most,” he said. However, declining sales over the past couple of decades culminated in a massive drop-off last year, prompting the decision to close. “You can only sustain so many losses,” he said. Longtime customers like Joe Gallegos, who’s shopped at the Kennewick Plaza Hallmark for the past 20 years, lamented the closure. “I hate to see (Hallmark) leave, but I understand,” he said. Gallegos said he has a lot of friends and family “so, I’m always buying cards.” uHALLMARK, Page 9

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Senior Times • February 2018

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SOFTBALL, From page 1 She traveled to Palm Springs, California, at the end of January to play in a senior tournament with a Las Vegas team who recruited her. It’s part of her plan to qualify for this year’s Huntsman games. “I’m in the 70-and-over division now,” said Wormington, who turns 70 in September. “I want to see how competitive I can be in that division.” Wormington and her husband Sandy own Just Roses Flowers and More flower shops in Kennewick and Pasco, as well as Columbia Wholesale, which supplies flowers to other shops, and Just Storage, a selfstorage facility in Kennewick. The Wormingtons launched Just Roses in 1989, offering a “do it in style” tuxedo delivery of a dozen affordable red roses. Wormington said the shop owns 35 tuxedo suits for its team of drivers. The Kennewick shop also offers a drive-up window. In 1996, the Wormingtons bought out their former partners. Customers liked their floral delivery service so much that the company expanded and offered franchise opportunities, and at its heyday, operated 18 shops in the Northwest until the Great Recession took its toll on the business. Wormington said her shops are already anticipating the Valentine’s Day rush with plans to order 40,000 roses. Then 30,000 more will need to

be ordered for Mother’s Day. Twelve people work between their two stores. Wormington lives a busy life, but said when she’s playing softball, the rest of the world drops away. “You’re focused. You don’t think about anything else,” she said. “Softball — it’s a world you’re thrown into it. Coaching, batting or hitting, you just go and it’s total immersion and you don’t think of anything else. It’s how I made it through all these years.” Wormington’s been playing softball since she was a girl. “It’s been in my blood since I was 11 years old,” she said. “My mom played softball when she was young and that’s how I got hooked on it.” She played in high school and then during college in Nebraska. She serves as vice president of the Mid-Columbia Senior Softball League, a 110-member strong group. She’s served on the 14-year-old old league’s board for about five years. The co-ed league welcomes men ages 50 and up, and women 45 and up. The league starts up in mid-April and plays 26 games through the end of July, culminating in a playoff “to see who is king of the hill,” Wormington said. Wormington has five children, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson. She’s been married to Sandy for 36

Connie Wormington holds the bronze medal she earned playing second base in 65-and-over division at a world senior competition last fall.

years and they share a love of softball. It’s also how they met. “That’s kind of our glue,” she said. The couple also play volleyball Monday nights in Pasco. Connie said she tries to get to a yoga class three times a week as “stretching your body is an important thing to do.” She also hangs upside down daily on an inversion table and recently eliminated sugar and dairy from her diet in addition to choosing mostly organic produce. It’s all a part of her plan to keep her body healthy so she can get out on the softball field in the warmer weather. “I plan to play until I drop,” she said.

Senior Times • February 2018

DSHS introduces new caregiver support programs

More than 450 people have enrolled statewide, with 117 signed up in southeast Washington

BY LAURA KOSTAD for Senior Times

Washington state’s Department of Social and Health Services recently added two new support programs intended to make more services available to more than 850,000 unpaid family caregivers statewide and the loved ones they care for. The two new programs, Medicaid Alternative Care, or MAC, and Tailored Supports for Older Adults, or TSOA, aim to broaden eligibility for state- and federally-supplied services to help enable the elderly to remain at home and their caregivers to continue to care for them. “We’re not only providing the support, but the tools so they can keep going every day,” said LeAnne Turnbull, lead at the Southeast Washington Aging and Long-term Care office in Kennewick, the local DSHS affiliate. MAC’s target group are caregivers 18 and older caring for someone 55 years and older who is eligible for full Medicaid (Apple Health) benefits. TSOA’s recipients are age 55 years and older who don’t qualify for Medicaid. TSOA can be pursued regardless of whether the individual has a caregiver. Both programs require the care receiver needing help with some activities of daily life, such as reminders to take medication, bathing, walking, dressing and surface-to-surface transfers. The difference between the two new programs and existing ones provided through general fund dollars is MAC and TSOA take into consideration the $10.6 billion’s worth of services provided every year statewide by unpaid family caregivers and the needs of those caregivers. “Caregiving is something that touch-

es every family in some way,” said Bea Rector, director of home and community services within the aging and longterm support administration of DSHS. “The service provided by family caregivers is of incredible value to the state, the family and community.” As the general population ages, the number of family caregivers in the state of Washington is skyrocketing. Long-term care isn’t getting any cheaper either. Rector reported that in the next 20 years, the 65-and-older population is projected to double, which will increase demand for these services. Rector said that on average it costs $2,000 per month for in-home care through a private provider and $6,000 to $10,000 for care in a nursing or assisted living facility. Meanwhile, the value of care provided by a family member amounts to an average of $550 per month — about a quarter of the cost of hiring out inhome care. MAC and TSOA introduce valuable services and supports for these otherwise uncompensated family caregivers and qualified applicants. “We want to be able to bring those supports and services to caregivers to help them be a success,” Rector said. “It’s reminding them they need to care for themselves—it’s a care plan for the caregiver too. If the caregiver isn’t healthy, it really impacts the person who needs care,” Turnbull explained. “It’s why area agencies on aging and resource centers are so important, because they can identify the resources for the caregivers. The end goal is to provide them care, so they don’t feel like their only option is other care options.” Under the new programs, DSHS can serve three unpaid family caregivers for the same cost of one person receiving in-home care from outside providers or living in a long-term care facility. Due to increasing pressure on their

Monica Kinsley is an information specialist who assists with the state’s new caregiver support programs through the Aging and Long-term Care/Aging and Disability Resource Center in Kennewick.

budget, Rector reported some states have had to cut services or maintain waiting lists. Through MAC and TSOA, “we’re trying to avoid this,” she said. The goal of MAC and TSOA is to preserve access to all care service options by delaying commitment to more expensive, long-term intensive care. “It’s a way of serving more people with limited funds,” Rector said. “We want to reach these people before they’re calling and requesting a list of local caregivers and facilities,” Turnbull said.

Rector said “it’s figuring out how to serve a person in the setting they prefer and the most cost-effectively” when state and federal budgets are already stretched thin. Half the battle, it turns out, is helping family members realize they are caregivers who qualify for these services. “Most people see it as just something you do; they don’t see themselves as caregivers that need help,” said Colleen Keltz, a communications and media representative for DSHS Aging and Long-term Care. uDSHS, Page 16

Senior Times • February 2018

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7

• National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association lunch meeting: 11:30 a.m., Red Lion Hotel, 1101 N. Center Blvd., Kennewick. Visit: narfe1192.org.

THURSDAY, FEB. 8

• Annual Valentine Bingo: 1 – 3 p.m., Kennewick Senior Center, 500 S. Auburn, Kennewick. RSVP: 509585-4293. • Lymphatic Problems – Managing Swelling, Pain and More with Compression presentation: Noon – 1 p.m., TriCities Cancer Center, 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-737-3427. Free event.

FEB. 9 & 10

• O Black and Unknown Bards concert: 7:30 – 9 p.m., GracePoint Church, 1915 N. Road 84, Pasco. Tickets: mcmastersingers.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

• Winter Birds: 9 a.m. – noon, McNary National Wildlife Refuge, 64 Maple St., Burbank. Visit: Friendsofmcrwr.org. Free event. • Benton REA Annual Meeting and Health Fair: 8:30 a.m., Housel Middle School, 2001 Highland Drive, Prosser. Visit: bentonrea.org. Free event.

SUNDAY, FEB. 11

• O Black and Unknown Bards concert: 3 p.m., GracePoint

Church, 1915 N. Road 84, Pasco. Tickets: mcmastersingers.org.

MONDAY, FEB. 12

• Parkinson’s Disease: Beyond Motor Symptoms presentation: 5 p.m., Kadlec Healthplex, 1268 Lee Blvd., Richland. Register: 509-9438455. Free event.

TUESDAY, FEB. 13

• Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics presentation: 1:30 p.m., Kadlec Healthplex, 1268 Lee Blvd., Richland. Register: 509-943-8455. Free event.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

• Tri-City Genealogical Society monthly meeting: 7 p.m., Benton PUD Auditorium, 2721 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. Contact: tricitygenealogicalsociety.org.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

• Naturopathic Flu Fight presentation: Noon – 1 p.m., TriCities Cancer Center, 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-737-3427. Free event. • Community Lecture Series “The Good Game: On the Moral of Value of Sports:” 7 p.m., Mid-Columbia Libraries, 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick. Free event.

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

• One Stop Neurological Services Community Discussion: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Mid-Columbia

www.tri-cu.com

That’s what friends are for

Libraries, 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick. Visit: tconestop.com. • A Night with Cougar Football: 5:30 p.m., Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: 509-335-0220.

TUESDAY, FEB. 20

• Dessert Social Series: 1:30 – 3 p.m., First Avenue Center, 505 N. First Ave., Pasco. RSVP: 509545-3459. Free event.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21

• Trios Foundation annual breakfast: 7:30 a.m., Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-221-5776. Free event.

THURSDAY, FEB. 22

• Dine Out for United Way: Various Tri-City restaurants. Visit: unitedway-bfco.com/DineOut.

Contact: 509-942-7529. Free event. • Heart for the Arts, benefiting The Academy of Children’s Theatre: 6 – 9 p.m., Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock St., Richland. Tickets: 509-9436027. • Three Rivers Craft Brew & Bacon Festival: 6 – 10 p.m., Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: threeriversconventioncenter. com. • Tri-City Americans Pink Ice Night, benefiting the Tri-Cities Cancer Center: 7:05 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets: 509-737-3413. • Aeolus Quartet, presented by Camerata Musica: 8 p.m., Battelle Auditorium, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland. Visit: cameratamusica. com. Free event.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

• Regional Home & Garden Show: 10 a.m., TRAC, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco. Visit: hbatc.com.

• Community Lecture Series “Reading Betty MacDonald in the Age of Memoir:” 7 p.m., East Benton County Historical Museum, 205 Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick. Free event.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

MARCH 9 – 10

FEB. 23 – 25

• Discover the Reach: Washington’s Amazing Agriculture: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Reach Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland. Contact: 509943-4100. • Richland Family Bingo: 3 – 5 p.m., Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Road, Richland.

• Vintage at the Ridge antique show: noon, Friday, March 9 and 9 a.m., Saturday, March 10, Southridge Sports and Events Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. Contact: 509-585-4279.

Senior Times • February 2018 uBRIEFS School districts launch joint senior gold card program

Senior citizens can now show their support for students across the TriCities. The Kennewick, Pasco and Richland school districts are offering a Tri-Cities Senior Citizen Gold Card that provides free admission to district and Associated Student Body events, including athletics and activities, at middle and high schools in any of the three districts. To qualify, individuals must be 65 years of age or older and live in either the Kennewick, Pasco or Richland school districts. An application must be filled out and presented in-person with photo identification at any of the three district offices. “We frequently receive requests for gold cards from supporters living outside of the district who want to show their support for their grandchildren and now we can tell them yes,” said Dave Bond, superintendent for Kennewick School District, in a news release. Any older gold cards in circulation will be honored in any of the three districts. Current cardholders also can exchange their old card for a new card at the district offices. The cards are not valid for tournaments, playoff games or sold-out events. Cards do not expire and are non-transferable.

Washington is fourth fastest growing state in country

Washington is ranked the fourth fastest-growing state over the last year. Idaho took the No. 1 spot. Washington’s population increased from 7.28 million to 7.4 million from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s national and state population estimates released in December. Idaho’s population increased 2.2 percent to 1.7 million. Following Idaho for the largest percentage increases in population were

Nevada (2 percent), Utah (1.9 percent), Washington (1.7 percent), and Florida along with Arizona (1.6 percent). The Tri-Cities’ population mirrored the state trend with the population growing by 1.7 percent in 2017 to 283,830 people. That’s up from 279,170 in 2016, according to state Office of Financial Management’s data released last summer. The U.S. population grew by 2.3 million between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, representing a 0.72 percent increase to 325.7 million. In January 2018, the United States is expected to experience one birth every 8 seconds and one death every 10 seconds.

Tri-Citians invited to join backyard bird count

Backyard birders are sought to help better define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs during this year’s annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs from Feb. 16-18. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada and the National Audubon Society, the bird count is sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, a franchise of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 300 locations, including a store that recently opened in the Tri-Cities. David and Hanna Goss, the Richland store’s owners, are encouraging the public to get involved in this international project. Participating individuals, families, schools and organizations will count birds at bird feeders and in backyards, local parks or other locations. Those tallies are then reported online through the BirdSource website at birdcount. org. Scientists will use the data to analyze bird populations, migration patterns, habitat needs and identify birds at risk of becoming endangered. Newcomers to the bird watching hobby can visit the Wild Birds Unlimited of Richland store, 474

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Keene Road, in the Yoke’s Fresh Market shopping center, to learn how to get involved. The store will provide details on how to participate from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers offer free tax prep help

Volunteers for AARP Foundation Tax-Aide are ready to help make sure those 50 and older get all the tax deductions and credits they deserve. The free service is for low- to moderate-income taxpayers — especially those 50 and older — and is individualized. AARP membership is not required. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will provide free tax preparation and electronic filing at sites throughout the state through April 17. Whether you are a first time taxpayer, just starting retirement, or someone who simply needs a bit of help to get through your tax returns this year due to life changes that make your taxes a little more complicated, AARP’s team of IRS-certified volunteers stands ready to help. Among the items and forms to bring to an appointment are last year’s tax return, official identification for yourself and every person on your return, and a checkbook, if you want to direct deposit a refund, W-2 forms, unemployment statements, SSA-1099 Form

and forms showing mortgage interest. For more information, visit www. aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call 1-888-2277669. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS. • Richland Public Library: 955 Northgate Drive, 509-942-7454. When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays. • Richland Community Center: 500 Amon Park Drive, dial 211 for appointments. When: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays. • Mid-Columbia Libraries, Kennewick branch: 1620 S. Union St., 509-783-7878. When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and noon to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays. • Mid-Columbia Libraries, Keewaydin Park branch: 405 S. Dayton St., Kennewick. When: 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. • Mid-Columbia Libraries, Pasco branch: 1320 W. Hopkins St. When: 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Spanish language assistance available • Pasco City Hall Activity Center: 525 N. Third Ave., 509-545-3459. When: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays. Appointments required; walk-in appointments available on spaceavailable basis.

D� Y��... • love meeting new people? • enjoy working with senior citizens? • want to make a diﬀerence in someone’s life? Your skills are needed! The Southwest Washington LongTerm Ombudsman Program is seeking volunteer advocates. Volunteers are asked to devote four hours per week visiting residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family homes. Get to know residents and become an advocate for resident rights and quality care. Volunteers receive 32 hours of training which includes 8 hours of face-to-face time and 24 hours of independent study. For an application or more information, contact

Elizabeth Claridge (509) 520-5162 elizabethc@bmacww.org

Senior Times • February 2018

BLEYHL, From page 1 To answer that question, the company considered the Tri-City housing market and local homeowners’ growing needs. Then Bleyhl Co-op reached out to True Value Hardware, Ace and a few other distributors as it looked at expanding the company’s hardware selection. “And True Value was the right fit for us. They treated us like family; they’re a co-op; and we felt a connection with them,” Ward said. All four of the Bleyhl Co-op locations will include True Value Hardware by the end of the year, said Ward, but the Pasco location also will lease space to Great Harvest Bread Co. “We wanted something else besides just a retail experience. I reached out to the local Great Harvest franchisee in Kennewick—he has a fantastic site. And we went to him and said, ‘We want to create something new and unique.’ Maybe people want to have lunch or stop in for a sandwich, and then they can walk over and visit our retail site,” Ward said. “It’s a farm-totable healthy brand. Everything is made fresh. We thought it was a good fit with our farming co-op.” The retail floor that includes True Value Hardware will take up about 20,000 square feet, and the Great Harvest Bread Co. will add another 1,800 square feet to the floor plan. Ward said there will be a common area where customers walk in and possibly

a coffee bar. “We’re still deciding what to do there,” he said of the plans. “We want to make it an area for people to come in and hang out and visit.” Collaborative Design Architects of Billings, Montana, is working with the company to finalize the layout and design, and Mountain States Construction of Sunnyside is the general contractor. Pending weather, the company expects to break ground in March and complete the project by late fall. “Our goal for the new Pasco store is that it will be the destination for any and all who live to roll up their sleeves and get mud on their boots, and more importantly, have fun sharing their successes—and laughing about the failures—with their neighbors,” said Bleyhl CEO Dan Morano. “(The new location) will significantly increase our capacity to offer more products and services, including a greater selection of farm supplies, animal health and pet products, workwear and True Value Hardware just to name a few.” Ward said customers and employees are excited about the future, and the response on social media since the announcement has been positive. Customers visiting the new Road 68 store also will be able to use a selfservice dog and animal wash bay, said Ward, adding with the growth, the company plans to expand its feed and

A sign for the new Bleyhl Co-op store is located south of Interstate 182 and across from Maverik.

The new Bleyhl Co-op store at the corner of Road 68 and Chapel Hill Boulevard in Pasco will be about 20,000 square feet and will include True Value Hardware and Great Harvest Bread Co. (Courtesy Bleyhl Co-op)

pet supplies. A bigger store also means more employees will be needed, and Ward expects the company will need to hire about 10 to 15 people in retail, warehousing, office and potentially management positions. Once the Pasco store is completed and the three other locations have been

remodeled, Ward said the company will turn its attention on expanding to other communities. “We don’t have anything concrete, but once this opens, we’ll start looking for the next one and keep growing,” said Ward. “It’s going to be a big year for us.”

Mardi Gras Masquerade Party Tuesday, February 13 2 - 4 p.m. Join us at Parkview for an afternoon of fun and enjoy the tastes of Bourbon Street! Don’t forget to wear your beads and masks!

RSVP by calling 509-734-9773 7820 W. 6th Ave., Kennewick www.parkviewslc.com Your home away from home

Senior Times • February 2018

Trios Health cuts additional staff, services amid financial crisis BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz

More Trios Health employees have lost their jobs amid continued financial challenges throttling Kennewick’s public hospital district. Among the most recent issues are: • Elimination of some outpatient therapy staff and services. • Nine employees laid off on Jan. 19. • Declining patient volume. • Delayed reimbursement for services to the tune of $11 million over five years. • Resignation of Trios’ chief financial officer. Despite the financial crisis, Trios officials are imploring the public to continue to get their health care from Kennewick Public Hospital District providers. “We need our community. We need our community not to turn its back. If we don’t have patients, we’ll lose more people,” said Lisa Teske, Trios Health’s director of marketing and development. “We are here; we are ready to serve; we have enough staff. We have very qualified staff to deliver excellent patient care.” Trios Health, which operates two hospitals and multiple outpatient care centers throughout Kennewick, filed for bankruptcy protection in June as it works to reorganize $221 million in debt. The nine January layoffs — which included non-patient and patient care departments — were initially expected to total 20 and save $4 million. They come on the heels of 23 layoffs and reduced work schedules announced in the spring that totaled about 95 full-time equivalent positions. “When we did reductions in April, we had savings from that, but they were negated by our union contracts, which had mandatory raises in them,” said Trios Health CEO Craig Cudworth.

As a result, Trios has suspended raises across the health system since September for a savings of about $2.2 million. Declining patient volumes that came in the wake of last year’s announcements about Trios’ financial crisis and a massive medical records data breach by a former employee over a period of more than three years only created additional setbacks. “Patient volumes have dropped because of public fears about the bankruptcy,” Cudworth said. This combined with significant reductions to reimbursements related to the Affordable Care Act continue to erode Trios’ financial health. A threemonth gap exists between when patients receive service and when Trios gets paid for it “hit our cash pretty hard. We’re maxed out on our payables,” Cudworth said. The reimbursement issue is why Trios is eliminating some outpatient therapy services. The department lost $450,000 annually, or “pennies on the dollar” from lower reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid, Cudworth said. “The challenge has been — and continues to be — that the service line’s revenues, which include reimbursements from insurances, do not

cover the cost of delivering the services. And, they haven’t for years,” Cudworth said in a statement. “Despite our best efforts to find ways to cover the losses and preserve these outpatient services, we have arrived at a point that we must make a difficult change or suffer further consequences to Trios Health at a time when we cannot afford to lose ground.” Trios Health will discontinue physical, occupational and speech-language therapy services on Feb. 28. Outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services will continue. All inpatient therapy services will not change. Therapy services department staff were notified Jan. 25. The elimination of some of the department’s programs will affect eight employees. “Four of them are eligible for other positions within Trios and we hope to retain them. The other four we are working with to find other opportunities with other local organizations,” Teske said. Trios mailed letters to patients about the change at the end of January. Teske said Trios has been trying to be transparent about the challenges with its staff by offering a video update from the CEO each week, as well as a communication tool called The Loop in which employees can ask

administrators questions anonymously. Teske said 400 questions have been answered in less than a year. “As soon as we can share something, we do,” Teske said. One rumor Trios hopes to put to bed is that CFO Tony Sudduth is fleeing, Cudworth said. Sudduth, who has been with Trios since 2014, took a job with a startup corporation Michael Rolph in Florida that Trios interim CFO buys and manages hospitals, an opportunity too good to pass up, Cudworth said. His last day was Feb. 2. The Kennewick Public Hospital District agreed to bring on an interim CFO on Jan. 22, as part of the Quorum Health Resources contract. Michael Rolph, a Quorum employee, has been appointed to the position that oversees financial, accounting and budgetary functions, information technology, facility maintenance, patient financial services, and health information management. uTRIOS, Page 8

Senior Times •February 2018

AARP lobbies legislators on issues affecting state’s seniors This legislative session the state House and Senate both have slim Democratic majorities in Olympia, changing committee leadership and impacting the kinds of bills that move forward. There are many challenges facing lawmakers including large investments in school funding, along with increased spending for housing and mental health. Additionally, the state may have to quickly respond to federal decisions affecting health programs under the Affordable Care Act, like continued funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. AARP Washington continues to lobby for an increase in Social Security’s personal needs allowance and restoration of Medicaid funding for hearing devices which were included in the governor’s budget. Also on the docket is exploring financing options to help people save for future long-term care needs and a proposal which would allow Washington counties to adjust the qualifications for the senior property tax exemption program. The Social Security personal needs allowance, or PNA, is a set amount of money that people living in a medical

facility — like a nursing home, adult family home or rehabilitation health centers — are allowed to retain for clothing, personal items and other incidentals. New federal guidelines for home- and community-based services require that all states ensure residents in community residential settings have access to the community activities. While Washington has modified our assessments, care plans and reimbursement to providers to ensure this is happening, the limited PNA of only $62.79 remains a significant barrier for residents to have meaningful access to the community. AARP will continue to pursue increasing the monthly PNA amount, as well as consolidating our two-tier payment structure into one set amount for all ligible residents. Older homeowners on fixed incomes are struggling to stay in their homes because of rising property taxes. Washington state does have a senior property tax exemption program, but it is underutilized in high cost areas of the state because most applicants exceed the maximum household income of $40,000 to qualify or find the application process overly complicated. This legislative session, AARP will explore changes to

the eligibility of the program to ensure more seniors receive tax relief. Studies have shown that people with hearing loss have a higher risk of depres- Cathleen MacCaul AARP sion, social isolation, serious falls, and an overall reduced quality of life. With an average price tag of $2,363 per device, hearing aids are increasingly unaffordable for a large segment of low and middle-income seniors. Washington discontinued Medicaid coverage of hearing aids in January 2011. More than half of our United States offer coverage for hearing aids under Medicaid. We made progress on this issue in 2017 and will continue to press legislators and the governor to include hearing aids in the legislative budget. Long-term services and supports, or LTSS, provides aging adults and adults with disabilities the support they need to live independently, including help with personal care, medical assistance, transportation, meals and more. Seventy percent of

Washingtonians over the age of 65 will require some type of LTSS. Complicating this issue is a reduction in the number of caregivers available to assist this demographic. In 2010, Washington’s ratio of caregivers to persons in need was 7.9 to 1. By 2050, that ratio will be 2.8 to 1. The average lifetime cost of LTSS for those turning 65 today is $260,000, far more than many families have saved. One potential solution to help offset the cost of care and provide additional support for caregivers is called the Long Term Care Trust Act, which would help finance LTSS via a payroll tax. AARP will focus on raising the issue of cost with state legislators, as well as provide input for potential policy solutions. Other issues continue to rise to the surface, including changes in reverse mortgage rules and regulations, addressing the opioid crisis, prescription drug transparency, defined benefits and pensions and medical debt. AARP Washington continues to advocate for our members, Washington’s 50-and-older population and their families to help you live your best life. Cathleen MacCaul is the advocacy director for AARP Washington.

TRIOS, From page 7 The hospital board hired Quorum, a Tennessee-based consultant firm, to address Trios’ financial problems in 2016. The board recently renewed its Quorum contract. Trios officials declined to release information about the contract, citing

bankruptcy protection providing a “breathing spell” from “undue distractions.” The initial $395,000 Quorum contract was for one year with an option to renew. Quorum issued a 400-page report last year recommending the elimina-

tion of 115 full-time equivalent positions, among other measures. Teske said the hospital district got creative by asking people to reduce their schedules and shifting around hours. “Unfortunately, our attempt to do this more gently, given all other things, didn’t work,” she said. With the recent layoffs come a renewed focus on better managing staff with new productivity software. The new program measures the balance between patient volume and staff based on national standards for similar-sized hospitals. Trios’goal is to monitor these standards to hit 100 percent productivity to ensure appropriate employee staffing. The new system generates clearer reports for department heads, who will be held responsible for meeting the parameters. Teske noted patient safety and quality won’t be sacrificed. Cudworth pointed to Trios Health’s recent three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission for how seriously the health organization takes patient quality and safety. Trios Southridge Hospital, Trios Women’s & Children’s Hospital and its Home Health Care service received re-accreditation last July.

The independent organization certifies health care organizations in U.S. for meeting performance standards. As the hospital district winds its way through bankruptcy court, Cudworth reports reaching an agreement with two of its three largest creditors, but that it has been sued in bankruptcy court by an equipment lessor owed $24 million. Until that case is resolved, finalizing a sale of the health district remains on the back burner. “In order for Trios to emerge from bankruptcy, we have to pay our debts. The only way to pay our debts is a sale,” Cudworth said. Trios Health is exploring a relationship with RCCH HealthCare Partners, a Tennessee-based health care system, and UW Medicine that could reorganize Trios’ existing rent and debt obligations. “This process has taken a lot longer than anyone expected. But we firmly believe that we will soon come to agreement and be in a position to move forward — out of bankruptcy and as a stronger asset for this community,” Cudworth said in a statement. “The service adjustments we’re making in the interim — such as those to our therapy services department — will better position us to achieve that.”

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Senior Times • February 2018 HALLMARK, From page 1 Jilek cited the greater availability of greeting cards in grocery and drug stores and changes in buying habits as the major factors leading to the closure. “I like your cards better,” Gallegos told Jilek. Online shopping played a role in this shift, though Hallmark Gold Crown stores typically performed well when located in the same shopping center as a grocery store, Jilek said. Customers running in for groceries often would make a stop to pick up cards, he said. “Eight out of 10 of my customers are women,” Jilek said. “The average family makes two to three trips to the grocery store per week, and two to three trips to drug stores per month.” But over the years, grocery and drug stores have diversified, significantly expanding their selection of greeting cards and enhancing their one-stopshopping experience. “It doesn’t sound like a big deal — people buying a few cards at the grocery store instead of coming to us — but when you multiply that all across town, it has a big impact,” he said. Jilek said Hallmark’s signature greeting cards were the major reason people frequented his stores. As for the other merchandise the store carries, Jilek said “the majority of Hallmark stores are independently owned and operated, so we’re free to choose non-Hallmark branded gifts.” However, Jilek said it didn’t really make a difference what products the stores carried because “if traffic counts for the core product line declines, there’s less chance of selling other products.” So, when greeting card sales started to drop off, so did the sales of every-

thing else. Hallmark Gold Crown stores debuted in the United States in the mid1960s as specialty gift and party supply shops, and were popular well into the early 1990s, even as the company began selling its card line in the grocery and drug stores that eventually eroded their customer base, Jilek said. In the late 1950s, Jilek’s parents, Spence and Carolyn, independently owned several Rexall drug stores throughout the Tri-Cities, which sold Hallmark cards. In 1968, after the Hallmark store concept was introduced, the Jileks decided to open a store in Columbia Center mall, in the space now occupied by Coach. “I remember being 8 years old running around on the concrete slab of the original mall,” Jilek said. After the 10-year lease was up, the mall opted not to renew it, and the Jileks moved the store across the street into what is now Bed, Bath & Beyond. The central Kennewick Hallmark store opened in 1976 in the Highlands Center, where the Albertsons used to be. The shop operated there for 20 years. When that lease was up, the Jileks moved the store to Kennewick Plaza to be close to Safeway. The Jileks eventually came to own and operate five Crest Hallmark shops throughout the Tri-Cities: two in Kennewick, two in Pasco and one in Richland. Jilek and his siblings grew up working in his parents’ stores. He said he remembers running the register at age 13. He took over management of the shops in 1990 when his father died. According to Jilek, there were more than 5,000 stores throughout the United States at Hallmark’s peak in the mid-

Owner Patrick Jilek holds old photographs from when his parents owned Crest Hallmark Shops in the Tri-Cities. The Kennewick Plaza store closed in January. Jilek plans to keep the remaining Richland store open on George Washington Way.

1980s. But in the last five to 10 years, two out of three of those stores closed their doors. Today, fewer than 1,700 stores remain. Jilek said as leases ended in the ’90s, he closed stores until Crest Hallmark Shops was down to one store in each city. Then, in the early 2000s, he closed the remaining Pasco shop on Court Street near what is now a Goodwill.

Another aspect of the store’s demise is what Jilek refers to as “how people do things.” For example, Crest Hallmarks used to devote 28 feet of wall space to photo albums, but reduced this to two to three shelves in recent years as photography moved from prints to digital images. “We lost a huge niche in the marketplace,” he said. uHALLMARK, Page 10

Senior Times • February 2018

Former Pasco Senior Center transforms into Early Learning Center BY SENIOR TIMES

The former Pasco Senior Center was turned into an Early Learning Center for students ages 3 to 5 at 1314 N. Seventh Ave.

Pasco’s former senior center opened as an Early Learning Center for students last month. The Pasco School District’s newest school features 10 classrooms, offices and a multi-purpose room. Renovations cost $3.9 million. The senior center moved out of the building at 1315 N. Seventh Ave. at the end of 2016. City officials said declining use of the center over the past 15 years prompted the sale of the building to the school district for $1.26 million. The 19,000-square-foot building houses some of the district’s Early

Childhood Educational Assistance Program, or ECEAP, classes, and special education preschool classes for students ages 3 to 5. ECEAP is an income-based, state-funded preschool program. ECEAP and the special education program used several classrooms at elementary schools throughout the district, and consolidating them frees up classroom space and provides inclusion opportunities for students, as well as allows for better collaboration between educators, district officials said. Senior programs now share space with other city recreation programs inside a triple-wide modular building at 505 N. First Ave. HALLMARK, From page 9 At the company level, Jilek said Hallmark has been forced to adapt its business model to survive. He said Hallmark now sells directly to Amazon and through its own website. It’s also in the process of creating a line of cards specifically for the Dollar Tree chain, Jilek said. The Richland store has maintained a steady customer flow, thanks to its location along a stretch of the Hanford commute that’s traveled by people living throughout the TriCities. Jilek said when other Hallmarks closed in nearby Yakima and Oregon, many customers began making the trek to the Tri-Cities, especially for the brand’s signature Keepsake Christmas ornaments. The Richland store is about the same size as the Kennewick store, and what remains of the core greeting card inventory after the closing sale will be moved to Richland. Jilek said letting his Kennewick store employees go hurts him most. Each Crest Hallmark store employs three to four part-time employees in addition to the store manager. And there aren’t any open positions at the Richland store to absorb the Kennewick employees. Melissa Hendricks, the Kennewick store manager of 30 years, said retirement isn’t an option for her, but she hopes to find a way to be involved in the community at her next job. She said she’ll miss the customers most. So far, there’s no word on what might be moving into the vacated space. Jilek noted the suite next door, a former state-run liquor store, has been vacant for the past three years. As Jilek looked around the store wistfully last month, he said, “We’ve had many, many loyal customers over the past 20, 30, 40 years. We’ll miss being here, and I wish it wasn’t the case.”

Senior Times • February 2018

Kennewick Senior Center

500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick • 509-585-4303 All activities are at the Kennewick Senior Center unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-585-4303. • Bunco: 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. • Woodcarving: 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: 75 cents per day. 9 a.m. to noon Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. Bring your supplies or borrow

from the class. • Dominoes: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: 50 cents per day. • Party Bridge: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: 50 cents per day. • Bridge Tournament: Second Sunday of each month, 2 to 6 p.m. Cost: $1. RSVP 509-586-3349. • Pinochle: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost: 50 cents per day. 5 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $1 per day. • Chinese Mahjong: 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Sewing: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Winter Crafters: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $2 per day. Bring your own supplies. • Indoor Walking: 9 a.m. to noon

Monday through Friday. Cost: $1 per day. Location: Southridge Sports Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. • Hair Cuts and Clips: Hair cuts provided by Pam Eggers. Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 9 to 11 a.m. by appointment only. Cost $1. Call 509-585-4303. • Taijuquan: 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Call 509-430-1304 for cost and to register.

First Avenue Center 505 N. First Ave., Pasco • 509-545-3459

Most of Pasco’s senior services programs take place at the First Avenue Center, unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-545-3459. • Basin Wood Carvers: 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: Free. • China Painting: 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays. Cost: Free. Bring your own project and supplies. • Cribbage: 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost: Free. • Drop-In Snooker: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost: $1 per day. • Mexican Train Dominoes: 12:30

to 3 p.m. Mondays. Cost: Free. • Pinochle: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: Free. • Wavemakers Aqua Fit: Class for those with arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, muscle weakness, those who use a cane or a walker and anyone who loves the pool. Location: Oasis Physical Therapy, 6825 Burden Blvd., Suite D, Pasco. This class is offered on various days/times. Call 509-545-3456 to register. • Enhance Fitness (40+): Class focuses on stretching, balance, low impact aerobics and strength training. 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call 509-545-3456 to

register. Location: Pasco City Hall Activity Center, 525 N. Third Ave., Pasco. • Happy Feet program (60+): Get your feet cared for by a licensed, registered nurse. By appointment 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. Cost: Free with suggested

donation of $12 to $15 per person. Call 509-545-3459. • Foot Care for Adults (18+): Get your feet cared for by a licensed, registered nurse. By appointment only, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $30. Call 509545-3459.

Senior Times • February 2018

Richland Community Center

500 Amon Drive, Richland • 509-942-7529 All activities are at the Richland Community Center unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-942-7529. • Cribbage: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Billiards: 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost: $2 per day. Location: pool room. • Golden Age Pinochle: 6 to 8:30

p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. Location: game room. • Duplicate Bridge: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. Location: game room. • Party Bridge: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. Location: game room. • Bridge Buddies: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $1. Location:

game room. • ACBL Bridge: Various groups. For a schedule of each group, visit the Richland Community Center or call 509-942-7529. • Birthday Club Social: Second Tuesday of each month, noon to 12:30 p.m. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Pie Socials: Third Tuesday of each month, noon to 12:30 p.m. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Greeting Card Recycling: 9 to

West Richland Senior Center

616 N. 60th, West Richland • 509-967-2847 All activities are at the West Richland Senior Center. For more information, call 509-967-2847. • Bunco Luncheon: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Friday, Feb. 16. Come at noon for a potluck luncheon. • Valentine Luncheon: 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 13. Sponsored by Family First Senior Care. Entertainment by Pat Dunn. • Bingo: 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19. Hot dog luncheon at noon. $3 suggested donation. • TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Fitness: 11 a.m.

Thursdays. • Exercise: A co-ed, light cardio class, led by a certified trainer, is 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. A donation of 50 cents for members and $1 for others is appreciated. • Art: 1 p.m. Saturdays.

11 a.m. Mondays. Cost: free. Location: meeting room. • RSA Dance: Third Friday of the month, 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: $6 per person. Location: Riverview room. • Mardi Gras Dance: 6 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. Cost: $7 per person. Location: Riverview room. Call Betty at 509-946-5385 for information. • International Folk Dancing: 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (location: Riverview room) and 6 to 9 p.m. the first Saturday of the month for a potluck and dancing (location: activity room). • Fitness Room: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $2 per day or $8 per month. Location: Fitness room. • Foot Care for Fabulous Feet: Have a licensed registered nurse specializing in geriatrics care for your feet. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $30. Location: wellness room. Call 509-942-7529 for an appointment.

uBRIEFS Dutch Bros. raising money for food bank Feb. 14

All Dutch Bros. Coffee’s Tri-City locations will donate $1 of every drink sold on Wednesday, Feb. 14 to Second Harvest. The “Dutch Luv Day” is an annual Valentine’s Day event when the coffee company partners with local community resources to raise funds for hunger-relief programs.

Presentation on protecting kids against pornography set

A free presentation on protecting children against pornography will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Kennewick High School auditorium. Speakers for the include BentonFranklin Superior Court Judge Joe Burrowes, Richland Police Department’s police chief and member the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Chris Skinner; and Kristen A. Jenson, author of “Good Pictures Bad Pictures” and founder of ProtectYoungMinds.org. Tools and information from multiple organizations also will be available to families. For information, call 509-579-1176, email rodcindy0211@gmail.com or go to facebook.com/SafeguardAlliance.

Senior Times • February 2018 soups, sandwiches and salads without a reservation. Hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The café is located at 1834 Fowler St. in Richland and can be reached by calling 509-736-0045. • Tuesday, Feb. 6: Hamburger, baked beans, potato salad, apple cabbage slaw and a rice crispy treat. • Wednesday, Feb. 7: Dijon chicken, rice, peas and onions, dinner roll and chocolate cake. • Thursday, Feb. 8: Pork loin roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, glazed baby carrots, bread and a lemon bar. • Friday, Feb. 9: Chicken salad sandwich, coleslaw, lettuce and tomato slices, dinner roll and spiced apples. • Monday, Feb. 12: Chili stuffed potato, mixed vegetables, salad, dinner roll and a brownie.

Meals on Wheels February menu Meals on Wheels is a program of Senior Life Resources Northwest and is supported by donations. For those 60 and over the suggested donation is $2.75 per meal. Meals may be purchased by those under 60 for $7.15. Menu substitutions may occur. For reservations, call between 9 a.m. and noon the day before your selected meal. For reservations in Richland, call 509-943-0779; Kennewick 509-585-4241; Pasco 509-543-5706; Parkside 509-545-2169; Benton City 509-588-3094; Prosser 509-786-1148; and Connell 509-234-0766. The Senior Dining Café serves

uBRIEFS Wine village to celebrate completion of ﬁrst phase

A Feb. 9 ribbon-cutting is planned to celebrate the completion of the ﬁrst phase of the Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village. The public event takes place at 2:30 p.m. at 421 E. Columbia Drive in Kennewick. The project’s ﬁrst tenants are Bartholomew Winery, and Palencia Wine Co. and Monarcha Wines. Their winemakers will be on hand and the tasting rooms will be open immediately following the ceremony. The wine village is a Port of Kenne-

wick and city of Kennewick project to transform a long-neglected waterfront into a pedestrian-friendly, regional waterfront gathering place. For more information, call 509-5861186.

and oatmeal cookies. • Thursday, Feb. 22: Fiesta chicken, refried beans, Spanish rice, steamed corn, bread and poke cake. • Friday, Feb. 23: Herb chicken with mushroom sauce, wheat roll, au gratin potatoes, brussel sprouts, salad and cherry oat bar. • Monday, Feb. 26: Beef tacos with ﬂour tortillas, Spanish rice, refried beans and chilled apricots. • Tuesday, Feb. 27: Chicken fried steak, country gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and chocolate chip cookies. • Wednesday, Feb. 28: Tuna noodle casserole, carrots lyonnaise, salad, wheat roll and blueberry crumble. For more information about Senior Life Resources Northwest visit seniorliferesources.org.

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Edward Jones holding seminar on fraud protection

Edward Jones is holding a free seminar about how to protect seniors from fraud and resources available from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at 767 Williams Blvd., Richland. Register by Friday, Feb. 9, by calling 509-946-7626 or emailing Shasta. meyers@edwardjones.com. The seminar is open to the public.

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• Tuesday, Feb. 13: Scrambled eggs and peppers, chuck wagon potatoes, sausage patty, blueberry mufﬁn and chilled pineapple. • Wednesday, Feb, 14: Valentine’s Day. Shepherd’s pie, broccoli, spinach salad, wheat roll and hot spiced apples. • Thursday, Feb. 15: Teriyaki chicken, rice, oriental vegetables, bread and cherry crumble. • Friday, Feb. 16: Birthday day. Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian vegetables, dinner roll and ice cream. • Monday, Feb. 19: Closed for Presidents Day. • Tuesday, Feb. 20: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli, bread and yogurt with berries. • Wednesday, Feb. 21: Beef lasagna, green beans, salad, bread sticks

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Senior Times • February 2018

Providence St. Joseph CEO offers health care prediction for coming year BY DR. ROD HOCHMAN for Senior Times

Leaders at Providence St. Joseph Health, the nation’s third largest nonprofit health system that operates Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, predict no let-up in the massive changes in American health care, which will be defined in 2018 by continued debate in Washington, D.C., intensified efforts to address mental health and broad leaps in genomics, population health management and consumer-focused innovation.

There will be continued critical policy discussions at the federal and local levels that will dramatically impact health care in this country. This means that health care providers will become much more proactive, taking the future into our own hands on behalf of the communities we serve. Together we’ll drive toward better, more affordable services for everyone. This will require a continued focus on innovation, personalized medicine, collaboration among diverse partners, and stability and support for not-for-profit health care,

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which serves as a vital resource for communities across America. What are the major health care predictions for 2018? We foresee these developments ahead: • Policy and politics: Health providers will lead a push to preserve Medicare and Medicaid. As lawmakers consider shrinking Medicare and Medicaid spending to help manage the national deficit, the country’s health care providers will take the lead in speaking out about the critical role these programs play for millions of Americans. This year will see increased national dialogue to ensure awareness about these safety net programs, the wide range of beneficiaries, the serious implications of program reduction and new and ongoing solutions to make care more costeffective for taxpayers while also improving quality and access to care. • New revenue streams: Digital health will create revenue diversification opportunities and speed value-added health care technology to consumers. Expect more hospitals and health systems to make innovative digital offerings a new source of revenue to offset declining reimbursements from traditional payers. Look for health

systems to get directly involved in developing new technologies and ultimately be quicker in bringing new capabilities to Dr. Rod Hochman Providence St. the primary Joseph Health care setting. Also, there are many new opportunities to offer value-added products and services directly to the consumer to keep them healthy and enhance their care. And, as health systems innovate, they will offer new platforms to other health care organizations so that they, too, can achieve solutions to health care delivery issues. • Technology: Empowering patients to become more involved in their care. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon will leverage their investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence/machine learning, supply chain, and consumer engagement platforms in health care. Technology startups will leverage these scaled cloud computing and artificial intelligence/machine learning platforms into health care specific innovations as well. With cloud computing and regulatory changes making it easier for patients to access and share medical information, we can expect to see more apps and technologies that help patients track everyday health habits and share them with their care teams. All of this is good news for patients, especially millennials, who continue to be frustrated by oldschool processes for accessing care and their health information. Finally, creating an ongoing dialogue between physicians and patients using realtime data will lead to better managed and preventive care and more effective, customized health regimens. uPREDICTIONS, Page 15

Senior Times • February 2018 PREDICTIONS, From page 14 • Personalized medicine: Leveraging DNA and other personal data will improve wellness and prevent disease. Integrating genomic data with clinical labs and other personal health information will take center stage as the key to solving many global – and personal – health care mysteries. Discovering the secrets of the genome, proteome and microbiome will help providers realize the promise of precision medicine. And advances in technology such as direct-to-consumer tests are enabling people to delve into their genetic makeup and even wearable data-collection devices have now made more data retrieval possible – all of which is helping secure a much better reading of a patient’s health and wellness. Integrating this data into clinical care in innovative ways is also enabling a more personalized approach to medicine and moving us to the verge of preventing, delaying or curing diseases that confounded medical experts just a decade ago. • Population health: Providers will step up efforts to address the social determinants of health. Health systems help entire communities stay healthy and population health management will soar in importance this year. Ongoing improvements in analytics and care management are making it easier to prevent illness and care for those with chronic conditions, but declining revenues will challenge providers to be more effective than ever. Taking on an even broader platform, the social determinants of health – including access to care and services, reliable transportation, housing, education, and nutrition – will become the focus of many more health care systems and social service providers. For those providers truly committed to improving population health, we’ll see more partnerships that involve care management, housing (especially for the homeless), community services and increased access – particularly in ambulatory care, home, and virtual settings. More emphasis will also be placed on the measurable outcomes achieved through these important alliances. • Innovation: New partners will team up to address the growing mental health and substance abuse crisis. With mental illness and substance abuse now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50, it will be harder to ignore the problem hitting almost every community countrywide. We’ll see more community collaboration with health providers to help people get access to care and resources, and there will be more effort to get help earlier. Collaboration will take place across many sectors – including

health care, schools, the criminal justice system, churches, businesses, social service agencies and veterans’ groups. This is the year the stigma of mental health all but vanishes as efforts gain to find a realistic and effective solution. • Work force: Providers will invest in work force pipelines, and leadership diversity will increase. Finding a wide base of health care talent – especially nurses – who are prepared to meet the challenge of providing cost-effective and high-quality care is a challenge. With high demand for well-prepared new employees, providers will look to developing their own work force pipelines through partnerships with universities, medical schools and forming their own education programs, like the unique partnership PSJH just formed in Great Falls, Montana. This strategy allows for greater influence on training and expediting the hiring process, which creates a steady stream of employees ready to tackle next-generation challenges. • Ambulatory and home health: Care goes everywhere. Bringing care where people live and work isn’t new; however, CVS’s proposed purchase of Aetna will amplify this model on a national scale. Providers will follow suit by expanding their reach to places where people make choices that affect their health such as retail pharmacies, neighborhood well-

ness centers, grocery stores, and brick and mortar retailers. And convenient at-home services like telehealth via video, email, chat or text will finally go mainstream, especially as reimbursement policies push these capabilities into every day uses. Accessible services like these positively encourage patients to pay consistent attention to their health and wellness – and that’s good news for everyone. • Partnership: Health care will explore non-traditional partnerships to help establish greater stability. Look for traditional but also nontraditional pairings which can bring care to more people and improve the efficiency of delivery. With the threat of reimbursement deteriorating and more people losing coverage, health care organizations will need to shore up their ability to care for communities, especially those patients who are more financially vulnerable. Benefits for organizations that find the right partners will include lower costs for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to help stabilize what has been a skyrocketing expense. Dr. Rod Hochman is president and CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health, a health system of 50 hospitals, including Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, and 829 health clinics and a comprehensive range of services in Washington, Alaska, California, Montana and Oregon.

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uBRIEFS Native American records topic of genealogy talk

The Tri-City Genealogical Society will feature “Researching Native American Records and Regional Native American History” at its meeting Wednesday, Feb. 14. The program speaker is Richard Scheuerman. The beginning genealogy class is from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. at the Benton County PUD Auditorium, 2721 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick. The event is free. For more information, call 509943-9322.

‘James and the Giant Peach’ on stage at RHS

The show “James and the Giant Peach” will be presented by Richland High School’s drama department at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17 and at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 at the high school’s auditorium, 930 Long Ave. Tickets for the play based on the novel by Roald Dahl are available at the school’s office during school hours or at the door starting at 8 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults and $8 for children and seniors.

Puzzle answers from page 13

Str8ts Solution

3 4 7 2 1 3 6 9 2 1 8 3 4 2 7 5 2 4 6 7 3 8 9 7 1 6 8 5 4 8 9

6 8 3 5 1 4 2 9 7

1 9 5 4 7 4 5 6 6 8 3 2 1 3 4 7 2 3 6 2

8 9 7 6 5 4 3

Sudoku Solution Sudoku Solution 6 9 3 1 8 2 5 7 4

7 1 2 5 4 9 8 3 6

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9 7 8 3 2 4 1 6 5

3 5 6 7 9 1 2 4 8

5 6 9 2 3 8 4 1 7

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4 8 7 9 1 6 3 5 2

For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

Sudoku

6 9 3 1 8 2 5 7 4

7 1 2 5 4 9 8 3 6

8 4 5 6 7 3 9 2 1

Senior Times • February 2018

DSHS, From page 3 “We help them to understand it’s OK to reach out and seek help,” Rector said. TSOA and MAC program eligibility can be determined over the phone and services and support can be initiated right away. The customary full financial review through Medicaid still can take up to 45 days, but MAC and TSOA don’t have to wait for a determination to begin offering support. The phone screenings determine the most effective strategies for the caregiver, such as respite services in the form of massage therapy, or coverage so they can attend their own doctor and self-care appointments, additional trainings, or receive housekeeping and

assistance with errands. Representatives also can recommend self-care and point caregivers to relevant support groups, counseling and training in specific areas, such as how to cope with dementia in the person they’re caring for or how to safely transport them. For seniors qualifying for the TSOA program, information could be provided regarding area resources for home-delivered meals, medical emergency response systems, and personal care aids that assist with grocery shopping, bathing, medication reminders and other services. In-home assessments also are available. Though MAC and TSOA do not directly pay out stipends to caregivers,

representatives are able to offer an individualized support for caregivers equal to a set value, based on their assessment. Essentially, three tiers of service are available through MAC or TSOA for eligible applicants: a one-time service valued at up to $250, $500 per year or $550 per month. Since the programs’ launch in September 2017, more than 450 people have enrolled in either MAC or TSOA statewide, 28 of those being in Tri-Cities. Turnbull said Southeast Washington Aging and Long-term Care covers the area stretching from Ellensburg to Clarkston and 117 people are enrolled. DSHS officials said they hope to serve 8,000 people by the end of the

program’s five-year demonstration waiver. At that time, an evaluation of the programs’ impact will determine if intended goals were met and how the Legislature can work with the state agency to establish a sustainability plan for MAC and TSOA moving forward. DSHS said it hopes to obtain dollarmatching from federal funds, so for every dollar the state pays into the programs, the federal government will match. “We are excited to provide these services to the local communities and their people … so they can have the service they need, when they need it,” Rector said.

SENIOR TIMES EXPO April 17

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Red Lion Hotel Pasco

Calling all Vendors! Here’s an opportunity to meet and talk with hundreds of seniors from around the Mid-Columbia. As an exhibitor, this one-day event is designed to showcase your products or services to active and retired seniors, their families and caregivers. Booth space is limited. Call 509-737-8778 for more information.