FOR THE ACTIVE, EXPERIENCED CENTRAL OREGONIAN • HEALTH, LIFESTYLE, ENTERTAINMENT & ADVICE
Ageless FALL 2015
POWERFUL PETS The love of an animal brings great rewards
PICNIC! SISTERS SCIENCE CLUB INSPIRED BY NATURE THE SECRET TO LONGEVITY
In Partnership With
Sponsored By ADVER T I S ING SUPPLEMEN T
Page 2 | Ageless
Ageless
Fall 2015
Ageless Features Matched Fur Life ........................................................5 The unbreakable bond between seniors and their pets is more than just puppy love.
An Open Heart & A Loving Home ...............................8 Connecting aging and ailing homeless pets with fospice parents ensures that their remaining days are full of love and comfort.
A Helping Hand ........................................................ 12 With a passion for supporting the community around her, Barbara Wade dedicates herself to making a difference.
Strokes of Nature ..................................................... 16 From the seat of his dirt bike, local artist Dave Wachs journeys through the desert and the mountains, searching for inspiration.
Leading the Way .......................................................22 Sisters club is a model in the spirit of supporting the pursuit of science.
Information & Advice Contributors ................................................................................. 4
An award-winning magazine featuring health, entertainment, lifestyles and advice for the active, 50-plus Central Oregonian. Ageless
is a product of The Bulletin’s Special Projects Division, 1777 SW Chandler Ave., Bend, OR 97702, and printed by Northwest Web Press, www.northwestwebpress.com. Ageless is produced in partnership with the Central Oregon Council on Aging.
The Secret to Longevity ..............................................................14
All content is the property of The Bulletin/Western Communications, Inc. and may not be reproduced without written permission.
Out & About: Dillon Falls ...........................................................15
Ageless Staff Members
Reinventing the Perfect Picnic ................................................... 20
Martha Rogers, Special Projects Manager Kari Mauser, Special Projects Managing Editor Stacie Oberson, Special Projects Coordinator Kevin Prieto, Special Projects Graphic Designer & Photographer Clint Nye, Graphic Designer Jay Brandt, Advertising Director Steve Hawes, Advertising Sales Manager
Medicare Advice ........................................................................ 26 Legal Advice .............................................................................. 28
COCOA News Aging and Disability Resource Connection ............................. 30 Events Calendar ..........................................................................31
Story ideas may be submitted for consideration to Kari Mauser, managing editor. Contact her at 541-383-0379 or via email at kmauser@bendbulletin.com. For advertising, call 541-382-1811. Published Saturday, September 19, 2015
To subscribe or learn more about all our publications, please call 541-385-5800 or visit us at www.bendbulletin.com. Cover photo of Shirley Abbott and Molly by Kevin Prieto. Ageless | Page 3
Ageless CONTRIBUTORS DAVID CLEWETT is a writer and explorer based in Bend. Educated at Oregon State University and New Mexico State University, he publishes prose, poetry, and travel narratives in addition to operating a blog. David is frequently out hiking, biking, kayaking, and fly fishing.
KIMBERLY BOWKER grew up in Central Oregon under the shadow of the Cascade Mountains and between the scent of the ponderosa pines. She currently spends her time teaching and writing, exploring stories of the heart and discovering how our lives intertwine. You might find her sipping a pint of craft beer at a local pub, or out on the trail strolling beneath the sky. After three decades in Seattle, SUE STAFFORD returned home to Oregon to put down roots in Sisters. The “dry side,” with its beauty, weather and slower pace, affords her the opportunity to pursue her gardening, hiking, and movie going. Sue’s experiences with motherhood, teaching, fundraising, horticultural and expressive arts therapies, and hospice case management inform her writing. Creative wordsmith, media relations specialist and sponsorship coordinator, BEN MONTGOMERY brings years of experience in messaging and community journalism to The Bulletin’s Special Projects team. Ben’s favorite beer is Silver Moon Brewing’s Hob Knob IPA, and he enjoys exploring Central Oregon with his wife and two little girls. Enthusiastic and outgoing, BRIDGET MCGINN enjoys meeting new people and sharing their stories. She spends her days working as a marketing and advertising professional, making photos or documentary films and spending time with her family. She may also be seen being dragged along the end of the leash of her newly adopted beagle puppy. GREGG MORRIS is a local freelance writer and musician. You can find him around town finishing articles at the local tea shop, performing with his band Organic Music Farm or homeschooling his 10-year-old daughter. Supposed free time is spent in the woods with his wife and daughter or skillfully executing his duties as a member of the Deschutes County Search and Rescue team. ANNISSA ANDERSON, a freelance writer and PR consultant, also studied culinary arts and worked as a pastry chef in another life. She now writes regular food and nutrition articles for The Bulletin. When not researching food trends and recipes, she prefers to spend her time with her husband and young son exploring Central Oregon’s lesser-known natural spaces. An avid crocheter and origamist, JOHN CAL worked as a baker, head chef, ukuleleist and Sno-Cat driver before settling into writing. He enjoys filling his time with yoga, postcard writing and collecting bowties. John also collects candy from around the world — he has a 100-plus specimen collection (and counting) — and lives in Bend with his dog, Hank. Page 4 | Ageless
MATCHED Fur Life The unbreakable bond between seniors and their pets is more than just puppy love.
by Ben Montgomery, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photos by Kevin Prieto Shirley Abbott is blind in one eye, doesn’t see so well with the other, and her hearing isn’t what it used to be. Yet during a typical morning on Bend’s west side, not far from where OSU’s new campus is taking shape, Abbott can be found on a three-wheeled bike or pushing a rolling walker, her hand gripping a long leash from which a small, black and white poodle meanders through grass, sagebrush, and around parked cars. “This morning, she’s got her mind on hunting,” said Abbott, her East Coast roots detectable in her accent. “It’s terrible. She’s after the birdies and the chipmunks and whatever else she can find. Molly thinks she’s out hunting.” Molly is a 3-year-old parti poodle, 12 pounds at best, who Abbott adopted when she was just a pup. The pair live together not far from her walking route in a senior apartment complex called Mountain Laurel Lodge. Ageless | Page 5
“Pets encourage seniors to be playful and to exercise. And I guarantee there’s laughter when they’re playing with pets, and that’s very powerful.” As a senior living alone at the age of 80, Abbott said it’s difficult to imagine life without what’s become her most reliable companion. “Oh my goodness, I just don’t know what I’d do without Molly,” she said. Abbott certainly isn’t alone in her affection for her pet. Of the 71 million American households who have a pet, says the American Pet
at that point,” said Megan Gram, executive director of the Bend Spay & Neuter Project. “They’ve raised their kids, they’ve retired, they have a lot more time on their hands, and they even may have lost a significant other. A pet can give them that companionship that they don’t have as much of anymore.” Besides the social aspect, keeping dogs and cats as pets has prov-
discharged heart disease patients. “I credit the fact that I’m recovering so well on the fact that I have a dog in my life -- one that cares for me,” said Judy Solomon, 76, of Bend. Over the years, Judy has battled breast cancer and heart problems but remains an active owner to Rosie, a 31-pound you-pick-it mix. “No matter what happens on any given day, I know I always have to get home to take
Lynne Ouchida, community outreach coordinator for the Humane Society of Central Oregon. “And I guarantee there’s laughter when they’re playing with pets, and that’s very powerful whether that’s from a dog, a cat, a bird or a Guinea pig.” Getting out also opens the door to greater social interaction with not only other seniors, Ouchida said, but with people of all ages.
Judy Solomon credits the love of her dog, Rosie, for the healing in her life.
Products Association, many claim to consider their pets as members of the family. Such a bond is no doubt positive at any age, though the physical, social and emotional benefits of pet ownership are considered by some to be most essential during one’s so-called twilight years. “The bond is unique for seniors because they often have much less going on in their lives Page 6 | Ageless
en physical benefits that lead to a reduction in doctor visits -- benefits such as lowering a senior’s blood pressure and stress, and reducing depression. Organizations such as The Pets for the Elderly Foundation even point to a clinical study at Brooklyn College, NY -- a study from all the way back in 1980 -- that concluded “the presence of a pet was the strongest social predictor of survival” for
care of that dog.” According to Solomon, Rosie is an incredibly active dog, one that requires 3 miles of walking every day -- “no matter what,” she added. Whether walking, cycling or pushing a wheeled walker, such exercise serves as the ideal yin to the yang that is the bliss of athome companionship. “Pets encourage seniors to be playful and to exercise,” said
“Pets promote social interaction, which decreases the feeling of loneliness and isolation some seniors may feel, all while increasing morale,” she said. Such happiness and morale, Gram pointed out, can turn even the most unlikely characters into nurturers. To illustrate this, she spoke of a World War II veteran who never missed a check-up for his dog.
“The bond between those two was extremely strong,” she said. “He would call to set an appointment for his dog, saying, ‘Oh, this is Peanut’s daddy here, and we need to bring Peanut in for a nail trim and his shots.’ It was so funny. Peanut was a chihuahua.” And yet such attachments, especially for seniors, can be a godsend for some and a lifesaver for others. Just ask Abbott about the night Molly woke her up when the fire alarm went off in her apartment building, or listen as Solomon tells you how Rosie supported her through breast cancer treatment.
For seniors such as these, dogs, cats, birds and Guinea pigs truly are members of the family -- beings that they can count on for attention, support, love and laughs. Any amount of positive research that confirms their value is met with a shrug, then quickly replaced by a personal story (or two) that essentially leads to the same conclusion. “Just knowing there’s someone else breathing in the house beside you -- someone waiting for you to come home when you’re out -that’s what I truly love about the companionship you get from having a pet,” Solomon said.
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Ageless | Page 7
An Open Heart
&
A Loving Home
Connecting aging and ailing homeless pets with fospice parents ensures that their remaining days are full of love and comfort. By Bridget McGinn, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photos courtesy of Karrie Schalk Tied to a tree for all 10 years of his life, Rex the retriever was basically immobile because of muscle loss. Surrendered to an animal shelter and deemed “unadoptable” because of his age and health issues, Rex was scheduled to be euthanized. That’s when the Schalk family stepped in to offer fospice — a Page 8 | Ageless
combination of foster and hospice care — for the neglected dog. Dane Schalk put Rex in a life jacket and swam with him everyday in their pool. They worked on rehabilitating his leg muscles, and Rex soon gained enough strength to not only stand without falling, but to enjoy walks
around the neighborhood. “All he wanted was to be loved,” said Karrie Schalk. “I think he forgot about the life he lost while still living, he was just so thrilled to be part of a family. He was able to live a lovely life for his last nine months.” For dogs like Rex, elderly and often
in ill health, fospice volunteers can offer an end-of-life experience filled with love and compassion. BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond has one of the area’s only fospice programs, and generally has an animal available for fospice every few months. The shelter remains responsible for any costs as-
sociated with medicine, medical care and euthanasia that may ultimately be needed to end suffering. Treatment of medical conditions is not pursued and instead the animal is spoiled with extra love and attention, food treats, grooming and time spent just enjoying life. “The beauty of our fospice program is that it allows us to keep to our mission of being a high-save shelter,” said Sana Hayes, event director and volunteer coordinator at BrightSide. “We cannot stop the natural progression of life and death, but we can certainly give animals — even those with tumors or ones who are quite elderly and frail — the opportunity to complete their natural lifespan in a loving home, while maintaining their dignity and comfort.” There are no special skills required to become a fospice volunteer, only compassion and the ability to be a kind caretaker until the end comes, said Hayes. Typically, animals at the end of life sleep a great deal, do not need
thanked for inviting a homeless animal into their home to spend their final days, weeks or months, and sometimes years.” Cindi Farmer, a volunteer at BrightSide, had recently lost her pet Samoyed, Jasmine, when a small Pekinese at the center caught her eye. “I couldn’t stand to see the sweet little dog watching everyone who walked by her to see if they were ‘her person,’” said Farmer. “She wasn’t barky or yippy, she was just waiting for someone to love and take care of her. She had such a sweet, patient look about her.” Lulu had a softball size tumor, breast cancer, only one eye and was partially deaf. Farmer brought her home, telling her husband Joe that the elderly dog had only a few weeks to live. Lulu settled right in, adapting to their routine and enjoying daily walks in her own special cart. The little dog who had been given a life expectancy of four to six weeks lived happily for one year with the Farmer family. Karrie Schalk enjoyed every bit of her special time with fospice dog, Rex.
Dane Schalk welcomed Rex into his life with open arms.
much exercise and appreciate a warm safe place to rest, eat and enjoy human companionship. BrightSide volunteers have easy access to the team leader and the center veterinarian, and are greatly respected by the center staff. “It takes a unique personality to do this kind of work, and I would encourage anyone who feels they might be able to do this kind of care to come talk with us about what is involved,” said Hayes. “At our shelter, fospice families are greatly respected, supported and
Despite Teddy’s health issues, Dane and Karrie Schalk loved the dog with all their hearts.
“We have seen a number of animals placed into fospice for real conditions that obviously are life-limiting,” said Hayes. “However, we have also seen a number of animals live well beyond what their medical condition would have led us to believe. Often the animal will rally, even thrive, for a time — sometimes much longer than expected. And sometimes the end does come as expected.” Letting go is the hard — and inevitable — part of fospice care. Schalk
Rex lived nine happy months with the Schalks.
Rex got to enjoy bike rides from the seat of his own carriage.
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wishes more people would focus on what they stand to gain as a fospice volunteer versus what they fear they might lose through saying goodbye to an animal they have become attached to. The rewards of providing a safe, loving home to a pet at the “sunset” point of their life far outweigh the pain of finally saying goodbye, say fospice volunteers. “People should think about the fact that they can heal a heart, and not worry about breaking their own heart,” said Schalk. “Fospice is usually a short commitment. It is a limited amount of time, but the investment and impact on your heart is forever. It is endless, eternal love.” The Schalk family has provided fospice care for several animals in addition to Rex over the years. One was a Great Dane surrendered to the shelter because his owners were being sent to jail for an extended period of time. The only thing anyone could remember about him was that his name started with the letter “T.” The Schalk’s gifted him with the name of Sweet Tea, and spoiled him for the remaining few months of his life. Teddy was another pet the Schalks provided fospice care for. A deaf and seizure-prone senior dog, Teddy was too much for most prospective adop-
Rex found plenty of joy with his fospice family, even having fun with toys.
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Sweet Tea, a lovable great dane, enjoyed naps and endless love for the last months of his life.
tive families to take on, but the Schalk family stepped up. “Each and every one of our fospice dogs has changed me and my family,” said Schalk. “They teach forgiveness, for one. They forgive wholeheartedly. And they have taught us to only look forward, not to look back. They’ve also taught us that family are the people that surround you and love you and are there for you, it doesn’t have to be the family you are born into.” While the fospice program at Brightside has a few dedicated individuals and families who are willing to do endof-life care for animals in need, and the staff often take animals that they know are not adoptable home to care for, there is a need for more fospice volunteers. “The most challenging part is finding people willing to accept death and welcome those nearing this point into their homes,” said Hayes. “As a culture, we tend to be afraid of death. Death can actually be a beautiful and peaceful time to cherish and nurture, but it does tend to bring emotions with it
that are often very difficult for humans to handle.” Fospice volunteer work is more about what’s best for the animal, and not about how sad the human is going to be when the time comes to say goodbye, said Farmer. “You have to remember what and how much you’ve given the animal and what the alternative might have been,” said Farmer. “A few sad tears are so worth it in the end because they are also happy tears that you were able to have that special time together.” “I feel like we are the ones who gain so much, it is a big gift and very rewarding to be part of their journey,” said Schalk. “When they give you their heart at the end of their life it is unlike any other kind of love I’ve ever experienced. There is nothing else like the love from a fospice dog.” To learn more about becoming a fospice volunteer, visit www.brightsideanimals.org or contact Sana Hayes at (541) 923-0882. During a family camping trip, Lulu got her first, and only taste of ice cream. Photo courtesy of Cindi Farmer.
The Last 20 Years of Life Long Term Care & Estate Planning
E
state planning in the past tended to address mainly the disposition of your property and assets following death. Today, our “Baby Boomers” are living longer than anticipated. With their extended lifespans, the need for planning for the last 20 years of life has eclipsed the focus on after-death planning. With the proliferation of dementia, Alzheimer’s and a host of other crippling diseases, many boomers are faced with deterioration of life for years prior to death. They face serious decisions about who will take care of them, who will make their medical and financial decisions and how they will pay for long term care costs. Those decisions must be made while you are still
competent and capable of understanding what you are doing. If time runs out and you have not made those decisions, you then have to turn to the court for the appointment of guardians and conservators.
All too often, boomers wait until there is a crisis before addressing the planning. A simple rule is that you will have more planning options and solutions the earlier the planning is addressed.
Today, many boomers are without long term care insurance and will not qualify. The insurance rates are rising steadily making it unaffordable for all but a few. Many are concerned that without long term care insurance, their assets will be consumed by catastrophic long term care expenses. Planning for Medicaid long term care benefits is essential. This is especially true for married couples when one of the spouses is likely to well outlive the other. Assets need to be protected to provide for the well spouse.
Planning for the last 20 years of life includes, long term care planning, as well as, estate planning. In today’s “boomer world”, the long term care planning conversation must be addressed any time you are considering estate planning. I focus my practice on planning for the last 20 years of life through long term care and estate planning to provide my clients with solutions for the obstacles to come. —Will Dennis, AAL
Contact Will Dennis Today! 541-388-3877 www.WillDennisLaw.com 438 NE Irving Ave Bend, Oregon 97701 Ageless | Page 11
A Helping Hand With a passion for supporting the community around her, Barbara Wade dedicates herself to making a difference.
by David Clewett, for The Bulletin Special Projects
“The great thing about volunteering with Newberry Habitat is that it is directly people helping people. You get to know the families you are helping and see change in their lives.” At 85 years young, Barbara Wade is still very active in volunteering her time to causes she believes in, and, more than anything, she enjoys helping others. Wade has made quite an impact through her volunteer contributions and through encouraging others to help their neighbors and communities. Although she is very modest about her accomplishments, there is a glimmer in her eyes as she talks about helping build homes for hard-working families. While she won’t boast about her Page 12 | Ageless
contributions, since assuming the volunteer position as Newberry Habitat for Humanity’s (NHFH) grant writer in 2004, Wade’s dedication to the cause has produced more than $250,000 to support building homes for families in south Deschutes County. Wade enjoys seeing hard-working families become homeowners. As a former teacher of 25 years, helping people accomplish their goals and pursue their dreams has long been a trait that Wade embodies. It warms her heart to know she is helping local fam-
ilies build their futures; and she is particularly happy knowing that community contributions through the ReStore help fund the new homes. Wade had realized early on that grant funding was not substantial enough to support buying land and building new homes for families in need. She saw the demand for a more stable source of income for the nonprofit and suggested that a ReStore in south Deschutes County was the best opportunity, anticipating a steady stream of income from community support through do-
nations and purchases. Wade took the lead in the effort to build the La Pine ReStore, which opened in March, 2010. It was her first major accomplishment as a volunteer with NHFH, and continues to be the one making the longest lasting financial contribution. The La Pine ReStore has seen steady growth every year since opening and has helped raise significant funds for NHFH to build many homes. Her lead-by-example approach has earned the respect of her peers and
they voted her NHFH Volunteer of the Year and later elected her NHFH President. “Volunteers like Wade are indispensable,” said NHFH Executive Director, Dwane Krumme. “Not only her volunteer work, but her help finding other volunteers that can help build homes and work in the ReStore. It is a volunteer-dependent organization and it is hard to overstate the value she brings.” Wade has also been very active in the Sunriver community, most notably as past president of the Sunriver Owners Association and founder of the Sunriver library. As a former teacher, avid reader and past librarian she has always loved libraries and saw the need for one in Sunriver to enhance the community. So, she led the fundraising initiative to build a library in 1998, an effort that was was quickly embraced and supported by the community. She is lovingly referred to as the “Mother of the Sunriver Library” for her role in fundraising and bringing the idea to reality that year, and for continuing to volunteer her time there. Even with her busy volunteer schedule Wade still makes time to play bridge and golf with her friends and takes her golf game seriously. In fact, Wade’s involvement with NHFH began one evening while she was playing bridge at a friend’s house. One of her friend’s husband walked in carrying a box full of paperwork. Wade asked about the box, and the man explained that his replacement for the grant writer position at NHFH had fallen through. He briefly shared details of the job then encouraged Wade to take the paperwork home to look over. After taking the evening to consider,
Wade decided that her skill-set and desire to help her community could serve well in the NHFH grant writer position. She jumped on board and never looked back. “Wade becoming the Newberry Habitat grant writer was perfect timing and good matchmaking,” Krumme said. “She had the set of skills that we needed and the open position was a perfect fit for her.” Since accepting the position, Wade has been able to serve the community and help provide homes for families who are in need of that community assistance. “The great thing about volunteering with Newberry Habitat is that it is directly people helping people,” Wade said. “You get to know the families you are helping and see change in their lives. It holds a special place in my heart.” While Wade’s volunteerism has had a significant impact her ability to encourage others to volunteer, she is concerned that not enough people are getting involved. “We don’t seem to have that same spirit of people willing to step up and make changes,” Wade said. “More people need to make time to help and do good. We need community involvement in government, libraries and schools. We need to help people learn how to volunteer.” As Wade prepares to step away from the grant writing position she has held for 10 years, she is focused on encouraging other people to get involved in their communities. “Make that first contact; that is most important,” Wade advised. “Anybody can volunteer, but the key is making
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that first contact. There are things for everybody to do. We need more people who are willing to help and there is a place for each of them to have an impact. Everybody has something to share.” Wade has not yet decided what she will get involved with next, but says
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THE SECRET TO LONGEVITY
Since before Ponce de Leon searched for a fountain of youth in what is now Florida, people have been looking for ways to live longer and happier. Advancements in medicine have helped, but your lifestyle goes a long way in determining your health as you grow older. While there may not be a fountain of youth, there are plenty of things you can do to extend the length and quality of your life. by Gregg Morris, for The Bulletin Special Projects Eat Well Eating better and in moderation as you get older can not only make you feel good, it can help stave off disease. Nutritionist Gina Bailey of Health Connections in Bend suggests always eating foods that are produced in nature and not manipulated by large corporations. Foods such as dark leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains are best for your diet, while cutting back on unhealthy fats, processed sugars and preservatives is also beneficial. Because our metabolism slows as we age, it’s important to remember to try to never be hungry, and never be full. “Most people cannot out-exercise their fork,” Bailey declared. Exercise Your Mind and Body Memory games, reasoning activities and speed-of-processing exercises all help increase your cognitive abilities. Even maintaining social networks, such as Facebook, helps keep your mind sharp as you get older. For your body, exercise at least three times a week, with both low- and Page 14 | Ageless
high-impact activities. Try joining a gym, going for regular walks, or keeping up with sports such as swimming or tennis.
time with the young ones gives you a chance to teach what you know and leave a legacy for future generations.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep It is just as important to get a good night’s sleep as we get older as it was in the early years. Seven to eight hours a night are still required to ensure the proper REM sleep to ensure you wake feeling refreshed and renewed. As a bonus, Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley recently concluded that sleeping together with your partner can reinforce good sleep habits.
Know your Genetic Code Understanding your genetics is important to prevent disease and long term illnesses. By knowing your family history, you can take steps in your lifestyle to ensure a longer life. For example, if cancer is prevalent in your family, routine and extra screenings can spot trouble areas early, thus increasing your ability to fight it. Once you understand what genetic issues run in your family, you can work toward eliminating the illness from your life.
Spend Time with a Loved One Spending time with a loved one helps boost immunoglobulins for immune strength and estrogen and testosterone that reduce inflammation. Playing with your grandkids has benefits for both your body and mind. Running around with them provides much needed exercise, while the time spent with your family brings happiness to the mind. Plus, spending
Get Vaccinated A yearly flu shot can help stop influenza and the potential for a hospital stay. But, flu shots aren’t the only important vaccinations as we age. Shingles, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Pneumonia shots are all recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ageless OUT & ABOUT
by Annissa Anderson, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photo by Kevin Prieto
DILLON FALLS: A Deschutes River trail highlight
Just a short jaunt from Bend is Dillon Falls, and a particularly scenic section of the Deschutes River Trail. The falls itself, just a couple hundred yards down river from the parking area, is a stunning 15-foot cascade, followed by a series of smaller rapids which turn around a bend in the river. Dillon Falls is named after a homesteader involved in large scale timber claims in the early 1900s, when Bend was being settled as a logging town. Just off the main trail are paths that lead to a side viewing of the falls, and the mossy lava rocks adjacent. A short walk upriver reveals a smattering of the best of Central Oregon. A large, grassy meadow appears on the right, over which looms Mount Bachelor on a clear day. On the left is the slowly meandering Deschutes River, and across it, a craggy lava flow. A grove of aspen trees offers a burst of unexpected color when seen in early autumn. From Bend, drive 7.9 miles west on Cascade Lakes Highway (46), then 2.6 miles south on Forest Road 41 to a junction where a sign directs you to Dillon Falls. The Deschutes River Trail offers out-and-back hikes in either direction, with clearly marked signage for distances. Difficulty level: Easy | What to wear: Good walking shoes and layered clothing for varying temperatures. Parking fees: $5 per day through September 30, or display a valid Recreation Pass in vehicle windshield. For more info: www.fs.usda.gov (Deschutes National Forest) Ageless | Page 15
STROKES
OF NATURE
From the seat of his dirt bike, local artist Dave Wachs journeys through the desert and the mountains, searching for inspiration. by Kimberly Bowker, for The Bulletin Special Projects For Dave Wachs, accelerating on a dirt bike through the open western landscape is the next best thing to flying. He smells the earth and the air and the sagebrush; he feels the details of the weather in his breath.
75 MPH selfie on the Black Rock Desert headed south for fuel in Gerlach, Nevada
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Ridge top cruising in Northern Nevada outside of Austin. Photo by Jim Thomson
He travels through the shifting angles of nature on his dirt bike, and then something catches his eye. It could be clouds collecting over a hill, or the line of the horizon, or the curve of rocks. Or, like last summer, it could be a patch of green grass framed between charred trees. “All these fires. It’s horrible and tragic,” Wachs said, “but wait until you see what happens next, and what comes up.” The green grass was not visible years before, hidden by thick branches of big trees. It was the Two Bulls Fire that exposed the patch, to be seen, framed, and translated into a timeless piece of art. Dave Wachs is an artist. His dirt bike transports him through terrain where he notices the unexpected. He experiences nature as he traverses the land, sometimes during day-long outings and other times through multi-day excursions. Then he returns to his studio,
to express nature’s chaotic structure and rhythmic patterns in paint. He captures it in acrylic brush strokes across canvas, paper, and wood panels. Through Wach’s 58 years, his adventurous path has continually shown him
how to see and express nature and life – all in stunning paintings that reflect his perspective. It’s a perspective that emerges from continuous and intimate exposure under the sky, whether it be skiing off volcanoes or embarking on thou-
sand-mile bike journeys. Traveling at such high speeds, Wachs cultivates how to see, pause, and recognize moments of repose that reappear in his paintings, and his life. “At this stage in my life, if I’m feeling negative I know that there has to be a positive, too,” Wachs said. “And I find the positive.” Sometimes the positive is in a green patch of grass. Wachs recreates such unforeseen landscapes at a studio on his 20-acre Tumalo ranch. The studio, once an old dairy barn, now lets in light for the artist to paint by. Acrylic bottles are scattered on a desk near a shelf where worn bike helmets and boots rest. When beginning a piece, Wachs references the photographs he captured during his outing, as a color palette. Sometimes his photos are accompanied by notes and basic sketches of lines and compositions that he may have recorded at night in camp. Some Ageless | Page 17
“It’s a cross between impressionism and expressionism for me. Up close it is a mess and makes little sense, but when you step away you get to see it and there’s a magic there.” -- Dave Wachs paintings come quick -- within a few hours -- while others require months to complete. “I’ll have a goal, an image in mind and a plan,” Wachs said. “I don’t always get where I’m meaning to go, and I’ll be surprised by that journey.” Wachs’ own journey began growing up in Tucson, Ariz., surrounded by striking rock formations and dramatic mountains. He learned basic backpacking and rock climbing in the scouts, and his family ventured together into secluded places while camping or riding dirt bikes. It inspired Wachs to immerse himself in the outdoors growing up -- he felt a sincere connection with nature that truly moved him. During his time attending high school in Beaverton, Wachs recognized his calling. “I made this formal commitment to nature,” Wachs said. “This is my subject, and what I will paint the rest of my life.” Wachs’ schooling continued at Portland Art Museum School, Indiana State University, and ultimately Montana State University, where he double majored in fine art painting and graphic design. Wachs worked as a graphic designer for Nike, ranched a few summers in Montana, lived as an artist in Taos, N.M., met and married his wife – and rode dirt bikes throughout the years as a vehicle for painting the raw moments he encountered in the world. “It’s a cross between impressionism and expressionism for me,” Wachs said, reflecting on his artistic style. “Up close it is a mess and makes little sense, but when you step away you get to see it and there’s a magic there.” Such movement and magic in Wachs life led he and his wife, Lisa, a fellow artist and once graphic designer, to Central Oregon in 1992. Then, 20 years ago, Wachs built his house and art studio with the help of Bend architect Eric Meglasson, who now owns Pique Architecture. The house is framed like one of Wachs’ landscape paintings, Meglasson explained. The windows and views are cropped to resemble the artist’s compositions – with windows looking to the fields, the horizon Page 18 | Ageless
beyond, and the mountains beyond that. It was designed in the thread of taking something relatively traditional and adding a new perspective, parallel to how both Wachs and Meglasson view architecture and art. Like Wachs, Meglasson attended Montana State University where he took art classes within the architecture program while pursuing his degree. The connection between the two was realized during the designing and engineering of Wachs’ house. When the home was done, Wachs presented Meglasson with two paintings, one which he created specifically for the architect’s home of a scene just north of Bozeman, Mont., detailing rolling hills and a disappearing fence line under a storm passing over the Bridger Mountains. Meglasson knew the place immediately, as he had often ridden his mountain bike through the area during college. It was a memory etched in his mind, and the painting is a reminder that now rests on his wall. “When somebody abstracts something and twists it a little bit, it gives some insight into who they are and how they see the world around them,” said Meglasson. “That’s what I love about Dave’s paintings – that it is the same landscape I see, but I can see it through his eyes.” Wachs’ paintings hang in buildings around Central Oregon, including Bend Brewing Co., Bank of the Cascades in The Old Mill, MODA, and the Bend Police Station. Avid collectors in cities including Indianapolis, Seattle, and San Francisco follow his work. Wachs also enjoys painting pieces on commission for specific spaces in people’s homes, which lends an additional connection to the paintings for both the artist and his clients. Counting on his artwork, however, is a financial roller coaster with ups and downs, said Wachs. Therefore, through the decades, Wachs has also worked as a graphic designer as well as within facets of the biking industry. A handful of years ago, a difficult business relationship in the biking world left Wachs remembering what is re-
ally important to him, and reinstating the role of dirt bikes in his life as a tool for adventure rather than a primary business endeavor. “The main thing is to get back to where you started,” Wachs said, referencing not only bike trips, but also life. “You have this fantastic adventure, but you have to take it easy because you’ve got to get home.” Home is still in Tumalo, where he and wife raised their son Lucas, who is now traveling the world as a professional skier and is often featured in ski movies and magazines. Lucas inherited his father’s outdoor spirit, first taking in the view from Mt. Bachelor’s summit when he was just a toddler, and first feeling the sensation of gliding and floating through snow from his perch in his dad’s backpack as together they skied down the mountain. It was the beginning of something that would continue to grow within Lucas as he spent his childhood winters carving the local slopes, learning the sport from his dad. An avid skier himself, Wachs has skied on every volcano from Rainier to Shasta with the exception of the Middle and South Sisters. The high desert
winters are sometimes less than optimal for exploring the open landscape by dirt bike, but the mountains offer a similar type of adventure immersed in nature. Wachs averages about 75 ski days each winter, relishing the chance to enjoy the slopes with his son, his buddies or sometimes even solo. A lifetime of adventures -- mountaineering, rock climbing, windsurfing, skateboarding -- has only spurred Wachs on. Nothing seems to slow him down. Wachs continues to wander off the pavement at great speeds into the open air, exploring the potential of surprise in those beautifully imperfect moments, witnessed over years and time. It is how he sees the world anew, and how he shares it. “For me, it’s moving through the environment and what inspires me. It may just be a glimpse; but I know when I see those paintings,” Wachs said. “I have to see them - and find them.” For more information and to view paintings, please visit www.wachsstudio.com
“When somebody abstracts something and twists it a little bit, it gives some insight into who they are and how they see the world around them. That’s what I love about Dave’s paintings – that it is the same landscape I see, but I can see it through his eyes.” -- Eric Meglasson Ready to meet all your pharmacy needs. Bubble packing available.
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Ageless | Page 19
Reinventing the Perfect Picnic
With a little planning and prep, the meals we take on our adventures can be delicious and nutritious. by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects Photo by Logan Mauser
Page 20 | Ageless
Kale. Quinoa. Organic. Whole-grain. These are all terms we’ve become accustomed to, and for the most part have at least some handle on. These days, it’s not so foregone to start our mornings at home with a green smoothie spiked with chia seeds, or invite the likes of roasted brussel sprouts and local free range chicken to our dinner tables. Then somehow, on the road, we revert to our old habits — potato chips, gas station burritos, and offerings of fast food. But the healthy eating that we practice at home is also possible on the go, and with a few easy tweaks, road trips, day trips, and afternoon picnics can easily incorporate the healthful eating habits we’re all striving for. Whole wheat pasta salads, vegetable salads — it can all be reinvented according to Lori Brizee of Central Oregon Nutrition Consultants. “Potato salad can be fine [too],” she said. “Try adding lots of vegetables — celery, onion, grated carrots, and/or zucchini, chopped cauliflower. Make a dressing with plain yogurt and a little mayo. Add onion and garlic powder, dry mustard, paprika and dill weed.” Most food, even when prepared at home, is made to be eaten immediately, so some assembly at the last minute will help keep your food fresher, longer.
“Keep dressing separate,” advised Gina Bailey, nutritional therapist at Health Connections in Bend. “When you’re at the grocery store, look for organic natural dressings, think about olive oil vinaigrettes with lots of spices instead of something creamy, or start making your own dressings at home,” Bailey continued. Avoiding mayo- or sour-creambased dressings will help your food to not spoil, even in the warmth of the afternoon and while being stored in the car throughout the day while traveling. Using vinegar-based dressings is another easy way to reinvent classic portable faire. While your salads with creamy dressings need to be kept in a cooler along with any meat, there are many portable options that don’t. Brizee also suggests simplifying meals while traveling. “Cut up fruit and vegetables and put in a hard sided plastic container,” she suggested. “Cheese can go without refrigeration for a few hours without spoiling, [and get] crusty breads. Think French breads from local bakeries, Sparrow Miche & Village Baker’s whole wheat levain.” “You can also rethink classics like the sandwich by letting lettuce take the place of bread or tortillas,” said Bailey. “We’ve begun to load up on carbs and sugar for taste. While not all fats are
Recipe: Salmon with Summer Roasted Potato Salad (Serves 4) This salad is delicious hot, cold, or at room temperature, and best of all, all the ingredients can be held for a few hours at room temperature. The salmon in the salad comes in the form of store bought salmon pouches, which don’t need to be refrigerated, so the salad offers the vegetables and protein of a full meal and the roasted potatoes are hearty and satisfying. Without the salmon, it makes a great side dish at any picnic, and the salmon could also be easily replaced with marinated chickpeas or lentils to make the dish completely vegetarian, but still chocked full of protein.
Ingredients: 1 lb. red potatoes 1/2 lb. green beans 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes 1/2 of a medium red onion 1/2 c basil 2, 5 oz. pouches of cooked salmon (found in the canned seafood aisle)
bad … in my mind, all grains are sugar.” Bailey suggests putting anything you’d put in a sandwich or wrap in between lettuce leaves, again assembling at the last minute to prevent things from going soggy. Beans, rice, cheese, meats seasoned with thai flavors, anything goes … and added greens boost nutrition. But with all food and eating, a big part of meals on the go is being conscious about what you’re eating. “Really, we want to stop and have a picnic at a rest stop or park, NOT eat while driving in the car — that is a recipe for mindless eating,” explained Brizee. And when packing on-the-go snacks Brizee says to make your choices easy
while being realistic. “Have fruit and cookies so people don’t just eat cookies for dessert,” she offered. “[Pack] raw veggies — carrots, snap peas, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, etc. Try chilling cans of plain seltzer instead of pop. Often the fizzy water is just as satisfying as sugared pop.” Much like making healthy choices at home, planning is the key. “Grilled veggies can be prepared ahead of time,” said Bailey. “Water bottles can be frozen to help keep the cooler cold. Pre cook proteins and eat those cold as well.” But overall, Bailey concluded, “Balance is optimal.”
3 large lemons, juiced 1/2 c + 2 T, extra virgin olive oil 1 T dijon mustard Salt and Pepper to taste
Method: 1. Cut potatoes into 2 inch chunks and toss with 2 T olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place on a sheet pan and roast in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until just tender. Set aside and cool. 2. Cut green beans into 2 inch lengths, blanch for 2 -3 minutes or until just tender but still crisp. Drain. Set aside. Cool. 3. Halve grape tomatoes, and slice red onion thinly. 4. In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste. After dressing is combined, toss in cooled potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, and red onion. You can do all of this in advance and keep unrefrigerated for a couple of hours or up to two days in the fridge. The longer the salad sits the more intense the flavoring will be, as the potatoes absorb the dressing. 5. Right before serving, tear in basil and empty in salmon pouches, give another toss and re-season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Ageless | Page 21
Leading the Way Sisters club is a model in the spirit of supporting the pursuit of science. by Susan Stafford, for The Bulletin Special Projects / Photos courtesy of the Sisters Science Club Two retired scientists – a chemical engineer and a neurologist – walk into a wine bar one January evening in Sisters. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, but this is a true story with a continuing plot that just keeps getting bigger and better. Bob Collins retired as chairman of neurology at the UCLA Medical Center in 2004, after 35 years as an academic neurologist. Cal Allen was a chemical engineer with Chevron for 35 years, retiring in 1994, after working in research, chemical, and upstream operating companies. Page 22 | Ageless
It was over a glass of wine in 2011 these two men were lamenting the most recent lackluster statistics regarding science education in schools across the country. Perhaps, they discussed, there was something they, and others like them, could do locally to improve things. IN THE BEGINNING Their first stop was a meeting with Jim Golden, the Sisters School District Superintendent at the time, to explore possibilities and set some goals. They determined that holding a
district-wide science fair the following school year would be a great start. Next came a meeting with all the science teachers in the district, to solicit their ideas. That meeting led to sending the teachers to the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) annual meeting. That winter, through one-on-one conversations over coffee with other retired scientists, engineers, ecologists, educators and interested citizens in Sisters, Collins and Allen shared their plans for promoting interest in science in Sisters. People started coming out of the woodwork.
By May, 2011, the two retirees had the beginnings of the Sisters Science Club. Now, four years later, the club is a part of the Sisters School Foundation, there are 350 people on their email list and there are well-developed programs of all kinds throughout the schools and the community. COMMUNITY SPEAKERS SERIES “We can’t change the attitudes in school unless we bring the community along,” explained Collins. One way to do that was to establish a monthly Frontiers in Science
numbering 800, participate in events that include exploding gasses, solar energy, photosynthesis and much more. In addition to the students’ exhibits, outside exhibitors and local science-based businesses provide interactive displays such as robotics and rockets, 3D printers and flight simulators. Some 80 Science Club volunteers not only put on the fair, but they also make interactive exhibits, such as the reaction time experiment, which are fun and demonstrate scientific principles. The fair is capped off by the Design–Construct-Compete event in which ‘physicists’ of all ages design speakers series for the community, which features professionals speaking on a wide range of topics. Retired COCC education administrator Carol Moorehead coordinates the programs and secures the speakers. Collins tells the story about one of the very first talks held at the local library on President’s Day, which turned out to be a snowy 28-degree day. Organizers knew they were onto something when, despite the weather and the holiday, 50 people showed up and filled the room to capacity. Several months later in a larger venue, while they expected 50, 250 people attended the talk. The series now includes eight monthly talks during the school year and are held at The Belfry Community Center. Talks, which are often delivered to standing-room-only crowds, have covered topics such as: Global Warming, Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act and Juniper – Tree or Weed? ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR The annual science fair was conceived and is overseen by Allen. The club took their inspiration from the Sisters Folk Festival Americana Project in the schools, in which students are able to showcase their talents and projects by performing for the community. “The fair was initially designed to allow students and teachers to show the community the science and math being taught in schools,” explained Allen. Families and kids of all ages,
and build pieces of equipment based on calibrations and physics and then use them in competition with each other. Projects have ranged from tennis-ball catapults to cannons, to last year’s mousetrap powered car. “It’s not about whose car goes the farthest or the fastest,” explained Allen. “Rather, it’s about who can go the ‘right’ predetermined distance. It’s all about calibrating the spring to power the car the proper distance. The goal of the competition is to provide practical experience in construction using math and physics.” Mark Thompson, a retired engineer who designed manned systems for the NASA space program, oversees the Design – Construct - Compete competition and works with the students throughout the process. “It’s really rewarding to see light bulbs go off,” Thompson said. VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS Thompson’s wife, Bunny, also a retired engineer, worked directly with NASA astronauts designing equipment for extra vehicular activities -- anything that occurs outside the shuttle. Bunny shares her expertise and love of science as the Sisters Science Club liaison to the elementary school.
Through events including the annual science fair, the Sisters Science Club gives students and teachers a chance to showcase the math and science projects they explore in school. The club enjoys monetary, program, and volunteer support from Kiwanis, Rotary, The Roundhouse Foundation, The Sisters Garden Club, Energyneering Solutions, Saint Charles Medical Center and Cascades East Area Health Education Center, as well as individual support from within the community. The Club has been awarded grants from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Meyer Memorial Trust.
Ageless | Page 23
“The kids are so invigorating when they are interested in something like science,” she remarked. Bunny sees one of the challenges for the club is to devise ways to get and keep girls interested in science. “I see the fallout occur somewhere between junior high and high school … In the physics and engineering classes there are usually only two or three girls at the most,” she noted. The Thompsons accompanied 12 high school students to Seattle last spring when their biology teacher Rema Givot took them for three days of intensive research training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Each year biology students compete for the opportunity by writing an essay explaining why they want to go. The Science Club pays for the students’ transportation, rooms, and meals. Additionally, the club provides $5,000 to each school’s science program. Club volunteers provide assistance to teachers throughout the district at each level, bringing professional scientific and engineering experience
Bob Collins and Cal Allen, co-founders of the Sisters Science Club, examine an interlocking Mobius strip made by high school teacher, Jon Renner, on a 3-D printer donated by the club.
to the classroom – experience that can teach, motivate and inspire. At the elementary school the club has provided ‘boxed science lessons’ for use in the classroom. The lessons started in the club’s after-school Discovery Lab and are now incorporated into the curriculum. Students use chemistry to create green slime and physics using levers and pulleys to lift their teachers. The K-4 teachers have also started their own Einstein Day for celebrat-
ing science, and the club volunteers assist. Middle school math and robotics teams have attended and won competitions with support from club volunteers. The club even provided the pre-engineering class with flying drone kits for students to build and fly. Club volunteers support the high school in science classes, bringing hands-on experience for groups of students in biology, ecology, physics and applied engineering.
ASSISTING OTHER SCIENCE PROGRAMS Flight Science and Applied Engineering programs at the high school also receive various forms of support from the Science Club. Students can complete their ground school training and earn hours of flight instruction toward their private pilot’s license. Applied engineering takes place in the computer animated design (CAD) and the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes, where students design and produce solar powered model cars, jewelry casting molds, inlays for guitars in the luthier program, components for robots, and containers for high altitude balloon experiments. Agricultural science is learned in the Seed-to-Table program at Mahonia Farms. Hands-on planting, harvesting, composting, and food preparation are offered in all three schools, including during the winter months in a greenhouse. The Sisters Science Club is working with the school district to construct a new, modern greenhouse at the high school. Under the leadership of teacher
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Heather Johnson at the high school, and with financial assistance from the club, health education programs occur in all the schools. These include a MindUP curriculum in the elementary school, health fairs in the middle school, and a four-year medical science track in the high school. There are teaching and training partnership with the Camp Sherman Fire Department for CPR certification, Saint Charles Medical Center for job shadowing opportunities, and CEAHEC for instructional programs with computerized mannequins. The club has also brought mobile dental health and eye care programs to Sisters. WORD IS SPREADING Other areas of the country are taking notice of what is happening with science in Sisters. The Sisters Science Club is now being used as a model in other communities. The National Center for Science Education recently started a program to create science clubs in other communities. Collins provides some long-distance consulting for them. “It’s going to be fun or we won’t do it,” was the sentiment of Collins at the start of this endeavor. It is safe to say, everyone is having a blast.
The Sisters Science Club brings hands-on experience to students.
Ageless | Page 25
Ageless MEDICARE ADVICE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
for People with Medicare to know for 2016 OCT. 15 – DEC. 7, 2015 IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO REVIEW YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY, 1, 2016. by Lisa Emerson Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) annual enrollment is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Don’t miss your opportunity to compare and switch plans. It’s worth it to take the time to review and compare. The cost, coverage and participation of MA and Part D plans changes on an annual basis. If you have one of these plans you may receive an Annual Notice of Change letter in early October detailing any changes to your plan. Central Oregon Medicare Beneficiaries can get one-on-one help comparing plans from your local Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. SHIBA is part of the Oregon Insurance Division and sponsored locally in Central Oregon by the Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA), also known as an Area Agency on Aging. To schedule an appointment with a certified SHIBA counselor contact COCOA SHIBA at 541-678-5483. Some other important facts to know for 2016: People with Medicare Part D will receive approximately 55 percent off the cost of brand name drugs, and 42% percent off the cost of generic drugs, in the donut hole.” The donut hole is scheduled to be closed by the year 2020. For more information on Page 26 | Ageless
the gradual closing of the donut hole refer to Medicare publication 11493 available online at http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11493.pdf People with Medicare may have questions about the Health Insurance Marketplace and wonder if it affects them. The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to help people who don’t have any health insurance. You
have health insurance through Medicare. The Marketplace won’t have any effect on your Medicare coverage. Your Medicare benefits aren’t changing. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have always had. The Marketplace provides health insurance
options for many Americans. If you have family and friends who don’t have health insurance, tell them to visit HealthCare.gov to learn more about their options. Medicare’s Open Enrollment isn’t part of the Health Insurance Marketplace. It’s against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan. The Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there’s a higher risk for fraudulent activities. DO NOT share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who knocks on your door or contacts you uninvited to sell you a health plan. The SHIBA and it partner program the Senior Medicare Patrol are teaching people with Medicare how to detect and report fraud, and protect themselves from fraudulent activity and identity theft. To learn more about health care fraud and ways to protect against it, visit StopMedicareFraud.gov or the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. In Central Oregon the SMP program is sponsored by the Central Oregon Council on Aging Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. For more information about the SMP and how you can volunteer, visit http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/spwpd/Pages/SUA-SMP.aspx
Other ways to get help: • Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare
• View the 2016 Oregon Guide to Medicare Health
your current coverage with all of the options that
Insurance Plans on the state SHIBA website at www.
are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if
oregonshiba.org. This guide is produced annually by
you decide to make a change.
SHIBA staff of the Oregon Insurance Division and is a trusted and valued resource.
• Review the Medicare & You 2016 handbook. It is mailed to people with Medicare in September.
• If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get Extra Help paying your prescrip-
• Call the SHIBA state central office at 1-800-722-
tion drug coverage costs. For more information, visit
4134, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
www.SocialSecurity.gov or call Social Security at
for help with any of your Medicare questions.
1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-3250778. SHIBA counselors can also help you apply for
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
this benefit.
Lisa Emerson is the statewide coordinator of the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. SHIBA is part of the Oregon Insurance Division within the Department of Consumer and Business Services. She has served in her current role since 2006. She began her public service career in 2003 as a Senior Human Resources Analyst. Prior to her public service career, Lisa worked for State Farm Insurance from 1991- 2003 as a Senior Auto Claims Representative and Senior Human Resources Specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Oregon.
Ageless | Page 27
Ageless LEGAL ADVICE
Caregivers Rights and Responsibilities by Melissa Lande, for The Bulletin Special Projects
As an attorney that specializes in estate planning and elder law, I am often contacted by people who currently are or would like to be caregivers for their loved ones. What is a Caregiver? A caregiver is a person who provides assistance to another person so that person can maintain an independent lifestyle. A caregiver often supplies emotion support, physical assistance, financial assistance and many other types of care. There are informal and formal caregivers.
Informal Caregivers. Informal caregivers are typically people who assist family members or friends without pay. The amount of care ranges from a few hours a week to full time 24 hour care depending on the situation.
Formal Caregivers. Formal caregivers are typically family members who are qualified and paid by the state to care for their loved ones or third party caregivers that have been hired by family members.
Caregiver Responsibilities. Whether you are an informal or formal caregiver, the person has a responsibility to make sure that they are providing a good level of care. Caregivers need to be aware that the physical and emotional challenges of caregiving can lead to depression, stress and fatigue. If that is the situation, they need to either get other family members or friends to assist them with the care or hire a third party caregiver to provide respite care or temporary assistance. There are adult daycare and respite care facilities available if the caregiver needs some assistance. Caregivers also need to recognize that care in the home may not be possible due to significant medical or other needs such as if you are caring for a loved one with dementia and they have started wandering from the home; it may no longer be safe for them to remain in that situation.
Page 28 | Ageless
Caregiver Support Groups.
Family caregivers can find support and assistance within caregiver support groups. The Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) (www.councilonaging. org or 541 647-2689) offers many resources for caregivers and those in need of care as well as caregiver support groups. If the person is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, the Alzheiemer’s Association in Bend (541-317-3977) offers support groups for those caregivers. There is also a support group for caregivers of persons with Parkinson’s Disease (541-317-1188).
Caregiver Rights.
Caregivers are often not aware that they have rights as caregivers. The primary rights include 1) the right and responsibility to take care of themselves, 2) the right to leave from employment under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) and 3) the right to stop acting as a caregiver if the situation is no longer workable.
Caregiver Bill of Rights.
The Oregon Department of Human Services and Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon publishes a Caregiver’s Handbook which includes useful information regarding the rights and responsibilities of caregivers: https://adrcoforegon.org/ forms/Family%20Caregiver%20Handbook%20Final.pdf?t=Family%20Caregiver%20Handbook. Any person acting as a caregiver should review these rights to ensure that they are balancing the needs of the person they are caring for with their own needs.
A Caregiver Bill of Rights was written by Jo Horne in the book Caregiving: Helping an Aging Loved One (AARP Books 1985): •
I have the right … to take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capability of taking better care of my relative.
•
I have the right … to seek help from others even though my relatives may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength.
•
I have the right … to maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do some things just for myself.
•
I have the right … to get angry, be depressed and express other difficult feelings occasionally.
•
I have the right … to reject any attempts by my relative (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate me through guilt and/or depression.
•
I have the right … to receive consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance from my loved one for what I do, for as long as I offer these qualities in return.
•
I have the right … to take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to meet the needs of my relative.
•
I have the right … to protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me in the time when my relative no longer needs my full-time help.
•
I have the right … to expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired persons in our country, similar strides will be made towards aiding and supporting caregivers.
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). If you are required to miss work to handle caregiving responsibilities, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) affords you certain rights. The FMLA provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year. The FMLA applies to care of an immediate family member including a parent with a serious health condition. The FMLA applies to certain employers including public agencies, schools and private employers with more than 50 employees during 20 or more workweeks and who are engaged in activity affecting commerce. To be eligible, an employee must have worked for the employer for more than 12 months, have worked 1250 hours over the previous 12 months and have worked in the US or in a territory of the US where at least 50 employees are employed in a 75 mile range.
Terminating a Care Relationship. If the care relationship is too much for the caregiver to handle or no longer beneficial or the right type of care for the person in need, the relationship should be ended. The caregiver is responsible to ensure that the person in need of care is placed in an appropriate care situation whether that is with another relative, a paid inhome care provider or in a longterm care facility. The caregiver often steps into a new and different role with the person they are caring for. For example, a child who has typically deferred to their parent may now be responsible for determining where the parent lives and the medical attention that the parent receives. As described above, the caregiver should get as much education and assistance that they can to make sure that they are performing their role in a manner to best assist the person for whom they are caring while at the same time taking care of their own needs.
Melissa P. Lande is a partner at Bryant, Lovlien and Jarvis in Bend. She focuses her practice on assisting her clients with estate planning, elder law, wills, trusts, probate, asset protection, guardianships and conservatorships. Melissa is a graduate of New York University and Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia. She is a member of the Oregon State Bar Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections. She and her husband, Mark, have a son, Griffin, and a daughter, Lila. Contact Melissa at 541-382-4331 or lande@bljlawyers.com.
Are You Ready for
RETIREMENT?
Learn How to Get the Most from Your Retirement Savings
RECEIVE YOUR FREE RETIREMENT INCOME ANALYSIS This information will help you enjoy your retirement to its fullest. If you have questions or would like more information, call our Central Oregon office at 541-204-0696.
Charles Tompkins, CFP
For a personal consultation,
Securities & Advisory Services offered through KMS Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC
www.tompkinswealthpresents.com
call 541-204-0696
info@tompkinswealth.com
Or download the presentation at
Charles Tompkins, CFP
Ageless | Page 29
COCOA NEWS
Aging and Disability Resource Connection in Oregon (ADRC) As of August 1, 2015, Central Oregon Council on Aging became the lead ADRC agency for Oregon’s central region. What is the Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon? The ADRC is a highly visible, trusted source for unbiased information and assistance as well as decision support for seniors and people with physical disabilities, their families and caregivers. ADRC professionally trained Information and Assistance Specialists not only provide the information, but actually connect consumers directly to the agency or service and follow up to insure they are satisfied. ADRCs also provide options counseling to consumers to assist them in determining what care options best fit their needs and preferences. Together consumers and Options Counselors weigh the pros and cons of each option based on the consumer’s circumstances, preferences, and resources. The consumer can then make an informed decision about long term services and supports that meet their personal goals.
Will it cost any money to use the service? No, ADRC core services are provided at no charge. Donations are accepted. At some point, there may be fees assessed for services beyond the core set of functions available from the ADRC.
What difference will an ADRC make? Having a highly visible, well promoted and trusted resource for individuals and families both in crisis, as well as for those who are planning for life changes will be invaluable. Consumers can trust that there will be uniform and consistently applied quality standards and assessment of the services delivered by the ADRC. The ADRC will fill the gap for a variety of people who are not currently served by the existing system, for example, guidance to successfully transition between a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay and home.
Who will be served by the ADRC?
Where will the ADRCs be located?
The ADRC serves individuals and families facing or anticipating that someday they will need information about services to support living independently. Regardless of income, services provided by the ADRC will be available to all. Information Specialists and Options Counselors will provide information and support for both public benefits and private pay service options.
The ADRC will be both hi-touch and hi-tech with information available via a website, by phone and in-person. ADRCs must be located in the most practical and accessible places for consumers. Locations may include: hospitals and medical clinics, store fronts, malls, faith-based facilities, senior centers, existing social services access points and co-housed with other like services. The website for ADRC of Oregon is www.adrcoforegon.org and the toll free phone number is 1-855-ORE-ADRC. In the Central Oregon area, consumers can call directly at 541-678-5483.
COCOA UPDATE
It is with sadness that we bid farewell to Christina Butler, La Pine and Sisters Case Manager, who is heading off to new adventures in Arizona. However, it is a pleasure to introduce Michelle Mayo, the new COCOA Receptionist / Admin Assistant. Michelle will take over the front desk in mid-September when current receptionist Melissa Melby moves into the Information Specialist role. Nicole Corey, current I&R Specialist, will move into the vacated case manager position.
Michelle Mayo, of Bend, holds an Associate Degree of Applied Sciences Emergency Medical Services and has experience in public relations, bookkeeping, and administrative support. Michelle says, “I am very much looking forward to being that first point of contact to help people find resources and live independently.” In her spare time, Michelle enjoys bowling, the outdoors, and the occasional game of pool. Page 30 | Ageless
Ageless EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR SATURDAY SEPT. 19
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 23
20th Annual Family Fun Day-Model Railroad Show: Featuring an open house with Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club and Central Oregon Live Steamers; 10 a.m.; Eastern Cascades Model Train Club, 21520 Modoc Lane, Bend; 541-317-1545.
Bend Farmers Market: Featuring food, drinks and more; 3 p.m.; Brooks Alley, NW Brooks St., Bend; 541-408-4998.
Madras Saturday Market: Featuring food, drinks, live music and more; 9 a.m.; Sahalee Park, 241 SE Seventh St., Madras; 541-546-6778. NWX Saturday Farmer’s Market: Featuring local organic artisans in produce, meats, baked goods, skincare and more; 10 a.m.; NW Crossing Drive, Bend; 541-350-4217. Uncorked Sunriver Style: Featuring a two-day showcase of wines, food, live music and comedy; noon; $18 per person, $23 for two-day pass, $20 for comedy show; Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center, 57250 Overlook Road, Sunriver; 541-585-2938. Walk to End Alzheimer’s: The world’s largest event to raise funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research! 10 a.m.; Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend; 503-416-0213.
SUNDAY SEPT. 20 20th Annual Family Fun Day-Model Railroad Show: Featuring an open house with Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club and Central Oregon Live Steamers; 10 a.m.; Eastern Cascades Model Train Club, 21520 Modoc Lane, Bend; 541-317-1545. Arts Central’s Black & White: Featuring dinner, live and silent auctions, to benefit Arts Central’s mission to enrich the cultural community and bring arts education to Central Oregon schools; 4 p.m.; $95 per person, $950 for table of ten; Tetherow Golf Club, 61240 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend; 541-633-7242. Geology Hike: Rimrock Ranch: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Derek Loeb for a geology hike around privately-owned Rimrock Ranch; 9am; Rimrock Ranch, Private, Sisters; 541-330-0017. Introduction to Labyrinths Workshop: Come learn about the history and purpose of the walking Labryrinths; 12:30 p.m.; $10 donation suggested; Nativity Lutheran Church, 60850 Brosterhous Road, Bend; 541-388-0765.
TUESDAY SEPT. 22 For the Health of It! Health & Wellness Fair: Featuring more than 40 health and wellness providers, free health screenings, give-a-ways, flu vaccines and free community barbecue; 12 p.m.; Bend Senior Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Road, Bend; 541-388-1133. Green Drinks: Become inspired with keynote speaker Eric Corey Freed as we learn why this Challenge matters, to kick off Bend’s Energy Challenge Week; 6 p.m.; Bend Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 224 NE Thurston Ave., Bend; 541-385-6908.
Brews with View: Metolius Preserve: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Bridge 99 Brewery to enjoy the best of Central Oregon; 4 p.m.; Metolius Preserve, Forest Service Road, Sisters; 541-330-0017. Lunch and Learn: Come learn about the Bend Energy Challenge, bring your lunch; 12 p.m.; Bend Senior Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Road, Bend; 541-388-1133.
FRIDAY SEPT. 25 Eighth Annual Kiwanis Club of Redmond Oktoberfest: Featuring beer, activities, bratwurst, live music, a silent auction and more, to benefit Kiwanis youth projects; 4 p.m.; Wild Ride Brewing Co., 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond; 541-516-8544. Sisters Farmers Market: Featuring fresh vegetables, fruits, locally made goods and more; 2 p.m.; Barclay Park, Hood Street, between Ash and Elm, Sisters; 541-719-8030.
SATURDAY SEPT. 26 Bird Walk — Camp Polk Meadow: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Bill Mitchell for a bird walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, 9 a.m.; Camp Polk Meadow, Camp Polk Meadow Visitor Access Road, Sisters; 541-330-0017. Creating A Blueprint For Retirement: Explore ideas and dispel misconceptions about the personal side of retirement; 12:30 p.m.; $59, $39 for spouses; Bend Senior Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Road, Bend; 215-917-0032. Eighth Annual Kiwanis Club of Redmond Oktoberfest: Featuring beer, activities, bratwurst, live music, a silent auction and more, to benefit Kiwanis youth projects; 12 p.m.; Wild Ride Brewing Co., 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond; 541-516-8544. Last Saturday: Featuring local art and culture with art openings, live music, food carts, workshops and more.; 6 p.m.; The Old Ironworks, 50 SE Scott St., Bend; 347-564-9080. Ninth Annual Festival of Cultures: Featuring an international affair with live music, ethnic food, activities, games and more; 10 a.m.; Centennial Park, corner of SW Seventh Street and Evergreen Avenue, Redmond; 541-382-4366.
SUNDAY SEPT. 27 Lake Creek Hike: Metolius Preserve: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and David Miller for a hike on the Lake Creek Trail at the Metolius Preserve; 9am; Metolius Preserve, Forest Service 600, Sisters; 541-330-0017.
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 30 Bend Farmers Market: Featuring food, drinks and more; 3 p.m.; Brooks Alley, NW Brooks St., Bend; 541-408-4998.
Shaping Our City: Bend’s UGB and You: Join us to learn how your input can help create the city you want to see; 6 p.m. free, registration required; Downtown Bend Public Library, 601 NW Wall St., Bend; 541-647-2930. Author! Author! Timothy Egan: Join Timothy Egan, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and the author of seven books, most recently “Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher”; 7 p.m.; $25-$80; Bend High School, 230 NE Sixth St., Bend; 541-312-1032. First Friday Gallery Walk: Art exhibit openings, artist talks, live music, wine and food in downtown Bend and the Old Mill District; 5 p.m.; throughout Bend. Geology Hike: Alder Springs: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Derek Loeb for a geology hike to Alder Springs and the confluence of Whychus Creek and the Deschutes River; 9am; Alder Springs, Holmes Road, Sisters; 541-330-0017.
SATURDAY OCT. 3 Fall Colors Hike: Whychus Canyon Preserve: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Jane Meissner on a fall hike at Whychus Canyon Preserve; 9am; Whychus Canyon Preserve, Goodrich Road, Sisters; 541-330-0017.
SUNDAY OCT. 4 Trail Journaling: Metolius Preserve: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and long-distance hiker and journaler, Kolby Kirk; 9am; Metolius Preserve, Forest Serivce 600, Sisters; 541-330-0017.
WEDNESDAY OCT. 7 Bend Farmers Market: Featuring food, drinks and more;
3 p.m.; Brooks Alley, NW Brooks St., Bend; 541-408-4998.
THURSDAY OCT. 8 -SUNDAY OCT. 11 BendFilm Festival: BendFilm celebrates the voice of independent cinema through films, lectures and education; 5 p.m.; $250 full festival pass, $150 film pass, $12 individual tickets; Various Locations, Bend; 541-388-3378.
SUNDAY OCT. 11 Trail Journaling: Metolius Preserve: Join the Deschutes Land Trust and long-distance hiker and journaler, Kolby Kirk; 9am; Metolius Preserve, Forest Serivce 60 0, Sisters; 541-330-0017.
WEDNESDAY OCT. 14 Bend Farmers Market: Featuring food, drinks and more; 3 p.m.; Brooks Alley, NW Brooks St., Bend; 541-408-4998. Lunch and Learn: The Many Lives of Klondike Kate: Featuring The Many Lives of Klondike Kate presented by Nate Pedersen, Deschutes Public Library, bring your lunch; 12 p.m.; Bend Senior Center, 1600 SE Reed Market Road, Bend; 541-388-1133. Ageless | Page 31