FALL 2021 WESTCHESTER SENIOR VOICE

SeniorVoice

FALL 2021

WESTCHESTER

You're Invited to the

BOOMING BETTER EXPO For Ages 55 and Better October 24, 2021

at Reid Castle in Purchase See pages 24-25

SILVER DIVORCE: A WRINKLE IN ESTATE PLANNING

Out and About:

LOCAL FALL EVENTS ANNUAL MEMORY CARE SECTION: PAGES 33-47

ASK THE DOC What are the signs of a heart attack?

Dr. Roger Cappucci, Cardiologist at Scarsdale Medical Group and Chief of Cardiology at White Plains Hospital, answers your question and explains how heart attack symptoms may differ in women and in men. If you believe you are having a heart attack – be safe – call 911.

In a survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92% of respondents recognized chest pain as a major symptom of a heart attack. However, only 27% of respondents were able to identify all the symptoms and most didn’t know when they should call for help.

“A heart attack can present very differently for a woman than it does for a man, so it’s important to know the signs”, says Dr. Cappucci. Men commonly get that ‘Hollywood heart attack’, whereby he clutches his chest and has trouble breathing. But the signs are not always that obvious. Women often get obscure symptoms that wouldn’t necessarily make you think, “heart attack”.

In fact, chest pain is absent in 43% of women having a heart attack. More often, women will feel a little chest tightness or some weakness, shortness of breath, or pain anywhere in the upper body, like the back of the neck or jaw. They may also experience nausea, toothaches or pain in one or both of their arms.

“If something seems off to you, or you suspect you’re having a heart attack, play it safe and head to the ER immediately.”

KNOW THE SIGNS If you’re not sure - call 911

1. CHEST PAIN OR DISCOMFORT

2. UPPER BODY PAIN

Most heart attacks involve pain or discomfort in the center or left-center of your chest.

A person may feel tightness, heavy pressure, or a crushing feeling, with pain ranging from mild to severe.

When there is a problem with the heart, pain can be felt elsewhere as surrounding nerves are triggered. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

3. SHORTNESS OF BREATH Shortness of breath can sometimes be an accompanying symptom to unusual fatigue in women. During a heart attack or heart failure, fluid may leak into the lungs, causing a feeling of breathlessness.

4. NAUSEA OR DIZZINESS Nausea, indigestion, vomiting, or dizziness can occur during a heart attack. Night sweats are also a common symptom as pumping blood through clogged arteries takes more effort from the heart.

To find a cardiologist, call 914-849-MyMD or visit wphospital.org

A MEMBER OF THE MONTEFIORE HEALTH SYSTEM

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Contents

FALL 2021

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24

features and stories

33 columns and departments

24 booming better expo

10 community

28 medicare: enrollment and choice

12 out and about

33 special section: memory care

18 the essayist: curiosity

more articles 20 organize your finances

23 legal talk: silver divorce and estate planning 26 health & wellness: hip replacement 31 medicaid advisor: prepare for your care

30 one man's search for purpose 32 clutter: it's bad for your health

Ages 55 and Better: Mark your calendars for our October 24, 2021

Booming BETTER Expo

Please join me at our in-person day of engaging activities, presentations, workshops and more - all aimed at empowering you to live your strongest and best life! See pages 24-25 for details.

At Manhattanville College in Purchase. Pre-register by emailing your first and last name to Susan@boomingbetter.com to be eligible for the $500 raffle. See you there!

(All safety protocols will be followed.) www.westchesterseniorvoice.com/boomingbetter westchesterseniorvoice.com

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We AsWe WeCare Carefor forOur Our Patients WeNeed Needto toCare Carefor for Caregivers Caregivers As Patients Have you with your yourmembers membersofofyour your family yet: “who Have youhad hadthis thisconversation conversation with family yet: “who willwill take careofofour ourloved lovedones ones as as they age, prepared to to take on on thethe take care age,and andisisour ourfamily family prepared take additionalresponsibilities responsibilities of of caregiving?” caregiving?” additional In the United States,there thereare areapproximately approximately 61.6 providing carecare at home for for In the United States, 61.6million millioncaregivers caregivers providing at home family members.With Withan anincreasingly increasingly aging role ofof thethe caregiver becomes an an family members. agingpopulation, population,the the role caregiver becomes even more important one, both functionally and economically. even more important one, both functionally and economically.

Caregiving is the ultimate act of love. It requires strength, commitment, and sound judgment.

Caregiving the ultimate act ofresponsibility. love. It requires strength, commitment, and sound judgment.

Caregiversisbear a tremendous Phelps Hospital’s Care Connections Program and Caregivers bear a tremendous responsibility.

Phelps Hospital’s Care Connections Program and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services are collaborating to offer thecaregivers Westchester Public/Private Partnershipand forthe Aging Services are collaborating emotional support, counseling, resources necessary to navigateto theoffer health caregivers emotional support, and theto resources to navigate the voice; health care system free of charge.

If counseling, you need a shoulder lean on; anecessary good listener to hear your care system free of charge.andIfaddressing you need ahealth shoulder to lean on; aangood listener to hear your assistance in identifying system barriers; unbiased intermediary to voice; assistance identifying and addressing health barriers; unbiased intermediary to facilitate in communication between you and your system care recipient; or aan linkage to community resources, a care navigator is available assist you. facilitate communication between youto and your care recipient; or a linkage to community resources, a care navigator is available to assist you.

“With your supportive and kind guidance, I am much relieved and have hope. Thanks for your TLC.” Anonymous Satisfiedfor Caregiver “With your supportive and kind guidance, I am much relieved and- have hope. Thanks your TLC.”

- Anonymous Satisfied Caregiver

For more information, contact the Care Connections Program at 914-366-1199 For more information, contact the Care or e-mail us at caregiver@northwell.edu.

Connections Program at 914-366-1199 or e-mail us at caregiver@northwell.edu.

SeniorVoice WESTCHESTER

Learning In Retirement At Iona College

PUBLISHER Susan E. Ross publisher@westchesterseniorvoice.com 914.380.2990

29 YEARS OFFERING COURSES AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF RETIREMENT AGE

LITERATURE HISTORY SCIENCE PHILOSOPHY ART CURRENT EVENTS MUSIC

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rosemary Black Lauren C. Enea Krishna Horrigan Kim Kovach Isaac Livshetz, MD Donna Moriarty Colin Sandler

LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AT OUR OPEN HOUSE

CIRCULATION

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 AT 1 PM

Rare Sales, Inc. / Bob Engelman 914.661.3605

At Our Off-Campus Meeting Site: The Social Hall of the Greek Orthodox Church 10 Mill Rd, New Rochelle

ORIGINAL COVER ILLUSTRATION Kayla Oldham To our readers: We are able to publish and distribute this magazine through the support of our advertisers. Please let them know you reached out to them because of Westchester Senior Voice.

FOR INFORMATION OR TO REQUEST A CATALOG: SPAGE@IONA.EDU

914-633-2675

Caring for You & Those You Love, in Home & Hospital Settings

The Publisher is not responsible for errors in advertising or claims made by advertisers.

We do not knowingly accept any advertising that violates any law. Opinions, articles and advertising appearing in this magazine should not be construed as endorsement by the Publisher of any product, service, or person.

VOLUME 6.4 FALL 2021 Copyright © Voice Media LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Westchester Senior Voice Print ISSN 2469-5203 Online ISSN 2469-5211 Publishing Quarterly plus an Annual Guide and the Booming BETTER Expo

Concept: CARE

®

...bringing health care home

www.conceptcareny.com | 50 Main Street, White Plains NY 10606

914-682-7990 westchesterseniorvoice.com

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VOICE MEDIA LLC WESTCHESTER SENIOR VOICE PO BOX 301 WHITE PLAINS, NY 10605

ASSISTANCE TODAY AND OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE The Osborn's Assisted Living Program offers a safe, engaging environment for residents while allowing them to remain as independent as possible.

Should needs change in the future, The Osborn also offers: • MEMORY CARE • SHORT-TERM REHAB

• LONG-TERM CARE • OUTPATIENT REHAB

(888) 9-OSBORN 101 THEALL ROAD RYE, NY 10580 THEOSBORN.ORG The Osborn is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization accredited by CARF.

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from the publisher IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND

your vaccination card or NY Excelsior Pass. To pre-

of motion and emotion watch-

register for the event, email your first and last name

ing our community and the

to susan@boomingbetter.com. And make sure to

whole of New York state reopen

drop by the Westchester Senior Voice table to say

with such speed and vigor. Ev-

hello. I’d love to meet you!

ery day brings new challenges as we traverse what, hopefully,

On an altogether different note, this issue includes

will prove to be the waning pe-

our annual memory care section – because Alzheim-

riod of the pandemic.

er’s continues to devastate the lives of even more people – with over six million Americans currently di-

So many of us spent more time outdoors than ever

agnosed with the disease. For far too many, there is

before, walking with friends and family, waving to

the anguish of wondering and fearing what’s ahead.

neighbors we’d never even seen before, and chomp-

But there is some newfound hope. I’m referring to

ing at the bit to do more. Shut off from doing many

aducanumab, the first FDA-approved drug that de-

of the things that bring us pleasure, we showed tre-

lays decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. With this

mendous discipline and are now more than ready for

new drug, early diagnosis is more important than

our reward – and don’t we deserve it! But that doesn’t

ever, to enable people to receive the most benefit at

mean we have abandoned our good sense. As Lenny

the earliest point possible. Yet it’s not so simple, as

Kravitz sings... “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over.” With that

we learn from the Alzheimer’s Association (see page

caution in mind, a variety of venues and organiza-

35) that significant financial barriers exist to receiv-

tion in Westchester and nearby are set to deliver the

ing this treatment, which currently carries an annual

entertainment, activities and amusement we’ve been

price tag of $56,000 for one individual.

longing for. Our Out and About section, starting on page 12, includes some of the best places to go and

On pages 33 through 47, we acknowledge and hon-

things to do over the next few months. Be sure to visit

or those who are coping with an AD diagnosis, for

the listed websites for any changes or modifications

themselves or for a loved one, by sharing real life

before heading out. Other than that, enjoy!

stories of people in our community who face the challenges of this disease on a daily basis. And we salute

Speaking of making plans and getting out, I invite

the many family caregivers who selflessly step up to

you to our October 24 Booming Better Expo on the

provide all manner of support. You might consider

beautiful campus of Manhattanville College in Pur-

participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s (details

chase. Join me for a day of empowering us all to

on page 44). You can make a difference.

live our strongest and best lives, with a variety of workshops, presentations, fitness classes, and the

Wishing love, peace and kindness upon our world,

opportunity to meet local professionals and experts who are eager and ready to share their knowledge with you (more details on pages 24 and 25). You may even win the grand prize $500 gift card! Out

Susan E. Ross

of respect and safety, the event is open only to fully

Publisher and Certified Senior Advisor®

vaccinated individuals. Please be prepared to show

publisher@westchesterseniorvoice.com

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Good days are brighter and tough times are easier with the RIGHT COMPANION! Stay in the home you love with help from our skilled, senior-aged companions who can provide a little assistance or full-time help. Call us today!

SeniorS Helping SeniorS weStcHeSter/putnam nY 914-263-7716 www.seniorcarenorthwestchester.com

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COMMUNITY

And They Carried On...

A social organization counting a membership of about 100 retired and semiretired men who are committed to enriching their lives and the lives of others, The Old Guard of Westchester has been active here for 67 years and is involved in a number of volunteer service efforts including A Day of Service, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and 9/11, bell ringing for the Salvation Army Christmas Drive, and food pantry support, to name a few.

When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, along with the rest of the country and much of the world, a drastically new way of holding weekly meetings was in order.

The Old Guard effected a quick changeover to communicating via Zoom. As members learned how to use the online platform to check in with one another, the organization’s traditional group camaraderie continued, with the sharing of significant life events, milestone birthdays and anniversaries – all helpful in overcoming the isolation brought about

The Old Guard of Westchester

by the pandemic.

Old Guard board member and leader of their photography group, Stephen Loewengart says, "Retirement is well spent when filled with possibility and exploration as it leads to new avenues of personal growth. The best results happen when the experiences and accompanying satisfactions flourish by being shared with others."

Today, The Old Guard of Westchester is working to safely restore leisure and charitable activities that had been put on hold. Members participating in photography, bowling, golfing, lawn bowling, hiking and current events discussions have met on a limited basis, as the organization looks to reinstate lunch gatherings following the meetings and restore westchesterseniorvoice.com

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bridge games for its card players.

The Old Guard expects to return soon to community service activities for the food pantry, Salvation Army bell ringing, and its reading buddies program (above photo). The membership is looking forward to bringing back their coffee social hours, annual barbecue and the semiformal dinner dance (photo this page).

For more information about joining The Old Guard, visit oldguardofwestchester.org or email membership@oldguardofwestchester.org

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Millenium Medical & Rehab 1075 Central Park Ave., STE 107 Scarsdale, NY 10583 Tel: (914) 472-2700 Fax: (914) 472-0986 info@mmrclinic.com www.mmrclinic.com

OUT AND ABOUT

Lyric Resumes In Person

Open House: September 17

No tests! No grades!

Just lifelong learning for retirees craving intellectual stimulation.

week sessions (fall and spring), meeting four days a week, as well as two four-week intersessions (in January and July) – meeting one day each week. A day usually consists of three classes, sometimes more.

Learning in Retirement at Iona College (LIRIC) is pleased to announce a return to fully in-person classes, with the expectation that trips and luncheons will also resume.

During the pandemic, the program ran on a hybrid model: small in-person classes with all lectures recorded and sent to members via a Zoom link. For the coming year, that will convert entirely to in-person classes.

LIRIC will be hosting an open house on Friday, September 17 at 1 p.m. at their offcampus meeting site: the social hall of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 10 Mill Road in New Rochelle. At the open house, the roster of fall courses and the LIRIC teachers (who are LIRIC members along with experts from the community) will be introduced. Attendees will have a chance

Says Program Director Dr. Suzanne Page, LIRIC is “the best deal in lifelong learning that I’ve ever heard of!”

to chat with other members.

LIRIC is a membership organization. Members pay $190 for the year (or $110 for the spring and summer only), which allows them to attend as many courses as they choose – even deciding at the last minute whether they want to go or not. The full year consists of two eight-

In a normal year, LIRIC hosts four trips, requiring additional fees and four luncheons. Former trips have included visits to Boscobel, The Cloisters, Gracie Mansion, the Norman Rockwell Museum in the Berkshires, and the Norwalk Aquarium, to name a few destinations.

For more information about the program, leave a voice mail for Dr. Page at 914-633-2675 or email (preferred) her at spage@iona.edu. You can also visit https://www.iona.edu/new-rochellecommunity/learning-retirement-iona-college

Through November 8:

The Crisis

Storm King is awash in arresting largescale installations at their 500-acre New Windsor, NY outdoor museum, where the bond between art, nature and people thrive for much of the year.

Artist Sara Sze has created Fifth Season (running through November 8, 2021), an immersive installation running 50 feet in length and designed to create a portal through the gallery that houses it. Her epic panorama reflects the current awareness of climate change and a time when nature’s existence for human enjoyment and consumption is no longer something that can be taken for granted. westchesterseniorvoice.com

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Also on exhibit through November 8 is Rashid Johnson’s The Crisis, a gridded, 16-foot tall yellow pyramid-like steel sculpture (shown here) set within one of Storm King’s native grass fields. The work is titled after Harold Cruse’s 1967 study, The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual. As Johnson comments on his current work, “We are in a moment of peril and fear.”

During its season, Storm King is open every day except Tuesdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Go to StormKing.org/tickets to book your timed-entry ticket (still in place at press time).

At Rothman Orthopaedics, we are exceptionally specialized. We not only specialize in orthopaedics, each of our physicians only focuses on one area of the body. Which means you can have the confidence that you can get past pain and be what you were.

RothmanOrtho.com | 888.680.0176

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[MORE] OUT AND ABOUT

Fine Crafts, Food & Fun September 17, 18, 19

Soak in the beautiful and sprawling grounds of the Neo-Gothic Lyndhurst 67-acre estate (tours are available), with breathtaking scenic views of the Hudson River, at this fall’s craft festival.

Shop for original fashions, accessories, jewelry, home décor, furniture, sculptural works, ceramic, mixed media, fine art – all and more will be presented at this year’s event. Your stomach will also be satisfied with a variety of gourmet foods, barbecue, vegetarian options, tastings from local distilleries, wineries and cider houses.

Children/grandchildren can view interactive puppet theater, participate in a hands-on craft workshop, be recipients of colorful face painting, marvel at stilt walkers, listen to storytelling, and even make their own hand-painted silk scarf.

admission is $12, ages 62 and older are $11, children 6-16 are $4 and children under 6 are free. Group rates are available and tour buses are welcome. Mansion tours are an additional fee.

Show hours are Friday, September 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, the 18th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, the 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General

Crafts at Lyndhurst is held at Lyndhurst, located at 635 S. Broadway in Tarrytown, NY. Parking is free and the show is outdoors, rain or shine. Please respect that pets are not allowed within the show site.

Taconic Opera Presents:

Puccini's Manon Lescuat

Taconic Opera is back with its first indoor mainstage production since 2019: Puccini’s Manon Lescuat, with performances on October 30 and 31, in Yorktown Heights.

the enjoyment of a live audience. Supertitles above the stage will make enjoyment of the performances even greater.

September 12

Nyack Street Fair

Now in its 24th season, Taconic Opera is celebrating the return of fully-orchestrated and staged opera with performances of this Puccini favorite. The general director of the company Dan Montez says, “We feel so grateful to be bringing professional, live opera back to the public as we emerge from such a difficult period. The arts are a vital part of our communities, and we have taken every step as an organization to bring our singing back safely for performers and audience alike.”

All performers and crew will be fully vaccinated; masks are not required for vaccinated audience members.

Matinee performances will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021, and on Sunday, October 31, at the Yorktown Stage. Maestro Jun Nakabayashi is delighted to provide the downbeat to a live orchestra for

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the company website at taconicopera. org or call the toll-free number: 855-8867372. The Yorktown Stage is located at 1974 Commerce St. in Yorktown Heights.

The street fair is alive and well: returning to Nyack in Rockland County with SeptemberFest.

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Over 300 vendors will display (and sell!) jewelry, art, collectibles, antiques, handmade crafts, and more. Count on live entertainment, food and outdoor dining, and a visit to any of the shops along the way.

The event will center around downtown Nyack. We suggest you enter Broadway and Main Street, Nyack into your GPS for directions. Organized by the Nyack Chamber of Commerce, visit nyackchamber.org for updates.

Fab, Funny & Female Fall Festival

September 24 & 25

October 16

Two days filled with music, the arts, food and activities await you on Friday and Saturday, September 24 and 25 at Wartburg in Mount Vernon.

Four fabulously funny women will be performing at The Tarrytown Music Hall in October: NPR's Ophira Eisenberg (NPR's Ask Me Another, plus the Late Late Show, Comedy Central, The Today Show), Kerri Louise (The Oprah Winfrey Show, Comedy Central, Nick Mom Night Out, The View), Karen Bergreen (Comedy Central, Nick Mom, The View) and Leighann Lord (Comedy Central, HBO).

Kicking off the festivities is Friday’s Music Under the Stars, featuring Doo Wop music and a classic car show. Light refreshments include beer, wine and soda.

Next up is the Saturday annual festival, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring live entertainment, a farmer’s market, vendors and Wartburg’s Alumni Homecoming.

(Free to the public)

Covid regulations will be in force at the venue. Visit tarrytown.musichallny.org for ticket information.

Completing the two-day celebration is Saturday’s Coffee House Music Festival, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.: another night of music – alternative rock and indie music.

Hang out at the coffee bar or bring a blanket and settle in the meadow to appreciate some favorite local artists. ($25 per person)

Brian Wilson on Stage October 6

I Get Around, California Girls, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Good Vibrations… and the list of iconic songs from The Beach Boys goes on. Founding member of the band, Brian Wilson, will be performing at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester this coming October 6.

Wilson now tours with his own band and counts 11 albums as a solo art-

ist. In 2015, he was the subject of an award-winning biopic Love and Mercy, starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti.

The film examines his personal voyage and success.

Wilson's night at The Cap will include special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin.

Rise & Shine at The Emelin Following a summer of free outdoor concerts at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, the Emelin Theatre will be reopening this Fall to host an exciting line-up of performers.

Bria Skonberg, a New York City-based trumpeter, singer and songwriter, will take the stage on October 2 at 8 p.m. Lisa Loeb will be at the Emelin on October 14.

And on October 15, Artie Tobia Band and Kevin McIntyre will entertain the audience with an evening of rock, folk, Ameri-

cana, R&B, alt-country and swingy blues.

The Emelin is also looking to the community to support their Rise & Shine Renovation campaign, which will enable them to reopen with upgraded facilities and maintain their commitment to world-class performing arts.

View the full performance calendar at fall 2021

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Emelin.org. The Emelin is located at 153 Library Lane in Mamaroneck. To order tickets, call 914-698-0098 or email boxoffice@emelin.org

[MORE] OUT AND ABOUT

Tea Ceremony

October Storm

and Garden Stroll

In 1960’s Southside Chicago, a troubled war veteran moves into an apartment building and the residents become caught in an emotional whirlwind that threatens to change their lives forever. This is the premise of the provocative new play by Joshua Allen, The October Storm. It will take to the stage October 8 through 23 at Whippoorwill Theatre, North Castle Public Library in Armonk, marking the reopening of the venue for live performances from Hudson Stage.

The Hammond Museum in North Salem has reopened and is offering a variety of unique ongoing programs including guided tours of its Japanese Stroll Garden, tai chi classes (reservations required), tea ceremony demonstrations (Elements of Tea, pictured here), along with artist workshops - some of which are live while others remain online.

After a year of hibernation, during which the Hammond lost most of its staff, key positions at the cultural institution are being filled, and now the view is forward-looking. Located at 28 Deveau Rd. in North Salem, the Museum is open from May to November, Wednesdays through Saturdays. For more information, visit hammondmuseum.org

You may recognize Joshua Allen (shown here), a Chicago native

seen in From Scratch on Netflix and In Treatment on HBO. The show's director Cezar Williams is a Yonkers resident and award-winning director.

For tickets and more information: hudsonstage.com

Armonk Art Show In Its 59th Year

The Armonk Art Show will take place on September 25 and 26, rain or shine, and returns with inspiring one-of-a-kind fine art and crafts. Now in its 59th year, juried artists showcase their work across every medium and price range. Net proceeds from the show benefit the North Castle Public Library and fund its educational and entertainment programs, The Armonk Players local theatre group, library enhancements, and more.

October 2-3

Craft Crawl

The Westchester Craft Crawl is back!

This free artist-organized studio tour in Westchester will feature close to 50 professional craft artists on October 2 and 3. The hosted stops on the Crawl are at 125 Maple St. in Crotonon-Hudson; 70-71 Stone Ave. in Ossining; Lauren Maron Ceramics at 26 Beach Rd. in Ossining; and the Gerber & Peckay Residence at 55 Van Cortlandt Ave. in Ossining. westchesterseniorvoice.com

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Meet artisans specializing in wood, metal, ceramics, mixed media, textiles, jewelry, and glass. Tour sponsors include Melita’s Home, The Hat Factory, Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Baked by Susan, Peekskill Coffee House and Birdsall House, among others.

Visit westchestercraftcrawl.com/ fall-2021 for a complete listing of artists and participants.

November 2-20:

Doubt

In-person theatrical productions will resume this fall at Westport Country Playhouse with a live staging of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama, Doubt: A Parable, playing November 2 through November 20. In addition, the play will be filmed before a live audience for ondemand streaming at home.

Doubt is written

by John Patrick Shanley and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director.

Visit westportplayhouse.org to purchase tickets, call the box office at 203-227-4177, or email boxoffice@ westportplayhouse.org.

The Isadora Duncan Dance Company

A sprawling former estate overlooking the Hudson River, the core part of Untermyer Gardens was acquired by the City of Yonkers in 1946. Today, you will find a dazzling array of vistas and walks, including the Rock and Stream Garden, the Rhododendron Walk, the Temple of Love and the Walled Garden.

The world-famous Isadora Duncan Dancers will perform with Lori Belilove on Saturday, September 25 (September 26 rain date), when you can enjoy groundbreaking modern dance of the early 20th century set to beautiful classical music. The perfor-

mance will be in the Untermyer amphitheater overlooking the Indo-Persian garden.

(Ticket price is $50.)

Untermyer also hosts workshops, classes and tours, including a President’s Tour of the gardens on September 19; the Garden Photowalk on September 25; Drawing and Painting in the Garden with Shelley Haven on October 5; a Sunset Tour on October 9; and a Garden History Tour on October 31.

Untermyer Park and Gardens is located at 945 N. Broadway in Yonkers.

Visit untermyergardens.org for more programs and details.

Relax. Reinvent. Retirement.

If you’re ready for more, The Knolls is ready for you.

•

More authenticity – come as you are and be who you are

•

More comfort – bright, spacious, maintenancefree apartments

•

More amenities – live your best life

•

More peace of mind – a secure plan for your future

Call 914-821-6552 to set up your personal visit today.

55 Grasslands Road | Valhalla, NY 10595 | TheKnolls.org

The Knolls is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) sponsored by Bethel.

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THE ESSAYIST

Curiosity

BY KIM KOVACH

Curiosity in learning a new skill or participating in new experiences activates several parts of the brain promoting positive feelings like pleasure and happiness while enhancing memory.

Did you know that people who are naturally curious are more positive, energetic and interesting?

Many people are born with a sense of curiosity, a desire for knowledge and new experiences. If you’re a curious person, you are open to finding new ways to discover, learn and explore.

Researchers have found that curious people stayed more positive and productive during the pandemic lockdown.

That innate sense of inquisitiveness and wonder encouraged those of us who are curious to learn how to use Zoom, take new classes, try new hobbies, and explore new interests to bring the outside world into our homes and stay socially connected.

Curious people tend to be more creative, imaginative, insightful, eager to learn new things, and open to expanding their areas of interest. Curiosity enables us to make social connections more easily and maintain relationships with people who share similar interests.

It also opens the doors to new opportunities and leads to the joys of discovery and a sense of accomplishment.

CURIOSITY IN MANY FORMS Bronxville resident Julia Murphy believes that a sense of curiosity makes life more fun. “You have to be open to trying something new,” says the retired attorney. “The universe sends you opportunities all of the time.” Before the pandemic, Julia enjoyed traveling around the world to destinations including Ireland, the Channel Island of Jersey, and Cuba. A self-described “adventuresome” person, she was able to stay positive and active at home by using her imagination and taking a variety of virtual classes: from yoga to fiction writing to the history of the French Revolution. “I started learning Spanish by watching a Spanish language soap opera on TV,” laughs Julia.

Ray Morse, a retired IBM management development trainer in South Salem, has always been curious about the world around him. “I had to be curious growing up,” says Ray. “My brother was 15 years older and already out of the house so I had to entertain myself.” Ray adheres to a “keep moving and keep excited to explore new interests” philosophy. He stays mentally and physically active by going for walks outside and playing golf, as well as taking virtual poetry and exercise classes. “I was a physics major at Purdue University,” says Ray, “So I keep up with the science section in the New westchesterseniorvoice.com

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York Times, and watch programs on science and nature on PBS.” ADD CURIOSITY TO YOUR LIFE A curious person is never bored. You can add a sense of curiosity to your life by intentionally looking at your surroundings with “fresh eyes.” Curiosity generates positive benefits for mind and body. Add a new experience each week or month to promote curiosity. Try taking a class in art, writing or photography. Explore international cuisines by trying new recipes. Read books in a different genre or by authors from around the world. Listen to a variety of music or take ukulele lessons.

Curiosity extends to staying physically active. Take a walk at an outdoor nature center or botanical garden, or explore a new hiking trail. Take lessons in a sport you’ve never tried. Sign up for a dance, tai chi, or yoga class: virtually or in person.

Why not aim your curiosity in a different direction and start online research to fill in the missing branches of your family tree? You may want to spark your curiosity by searching for a childhood friend or first sweetheart. Taking that first step and reconnecting with a special person can be incredibly rewarding!

Stay positive and stay curious! n n n

Kim Kovach teaches fiction writing and narrative nonfiction writing classes for adults via Zoom. Kim talks with her favorite high school teacher every week! www.kimkovachwrites.com

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Many older adults are not familiar with how to ride the Bee-Line and overlook the bus as a viable transportation option. So, here are some helpful facts about the BeeLine System:

can “kneel,” meaning that the entrance can lower to shorten the distance to step boarding the bus. Each bus is also equipped with a wheelchair lift or ramp. The driver will be happy to kneel the bus and make it easier to step on board. If you cannot use stairs, the driver can deploy a ramp or lift to help you board. You must ask the driver to use the lift or ramp. If you’re standing, using a wheelchair or in a scooter, the driver will tell you how to use the lift, based on your needs. For safety, remember to hold the handrails.

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GETTING INFORMATION:

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FINANCIAL ORGANIZING

Organize Your Finances

BY KATHERINE A. WELCH

If you’re like me and have spent the last few months enjoying the beautiful outdoors, you may be facing a pile of papers that need attending. While it’s tempting to push off the inevitable, now is actually a great time to get your household finances in order.

Here are some tips on what to look out for and how to get started.

ORGANIZE AND ELIMINATE First, gather all your bills and documents in one place, and put anything that can be tossed into a shred pile. Utility and credit card bills, and explanations of benefits for processed medical claims (if you do not itemize for taxes) over a year old can all be shredded.

Then start to organize what must be kept. With my clients, I’ve found setting up broad filing categories, such as banking, insurance, medical, tax and current year’s paid bills, is an easy way to start.

You can always drill down more specifically later on. Most accountants suggest you hold onto copies of at least three years of monthly/quarterly bank and investment statements, along with the rest of your supporting tax documentation (capital improvements, donations, medical claims if itemizing, etc.).

This brings me to my next tip: CONSOLIDATE! You may have a number of bank accounts because of the gifts or incentives offered for opening them. By now, that perk is likely gone. Do you have several accounts with a low balance? Are there any accounts you haven’t accessed in over a year? Decide which bank you use most often and stick with that one, un-

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

- Abraham Lincoln less there is good reason not to.

Consolidating credit card debt to one or two low-interest options can help you stay on top of bill payments, avoid late fees and stick to a budget (just watch out for balance transfer fees). If you have a slew of store credit cards, pay off any remaining balances and put them aside.

One late payment can quickly undo any promotional savings you received.

(Note: You do not necessarily need to close these cards, as that could impact your credit score.)

Are you in possession of individual stock certificates from an inheritance or longago purchase? If so, it is in your best interest to deposit them into a brokerage account. Doing so will streamline your paperwork, as all of the stocks in a single brokerage account will be reported on a single 1099. You also might consider rolling over a 401(k) account into an existing IRA if you are satisfied with the fund options and professional advice available to you where your IRA is custodied.

As you go through the above process, make sure your accounts are properly titled and have the correct beneficiaries. westchesterseniorvoice.com

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LOOK AHEAD Now that you have a handle on the state of your personal finances, review your net worth and current budget.

Also, check that your homeowner’s, auto and life insurance policies are up to date and reflect your current circumstances. Then, inform a trusted family member of where and how to access any information they might need in the event something happens to you. This extends to wills, proxies, deeds, titles, birth/marriage certificates, government IDs, etc. If you want to be especially prudent, also scan these documents onto a password-protected drive.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS If you are age 72 or older, note that RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions) are back this year for traditional IRAs. You can call your account provider to get an estimate of what yours will be.

Finally, mark your calendar for Medicare Open Enrollment (begins October 15) to make sure your existing plan will work for you next year.

It is never too late to get a handle on your household finances. If doing so this fall seems overwhelming, set a future date with yourself to address them and stick to it. You’ll gain peace of mind that everything is in order, and save time, money and potential headaches down the road! n n n

Katherine Welch is a personal financial administrator and owner of KWD Personal Financial Concierge. She helps people save time and money by navigating the management, organization and preparation of their household finances. She can be reached at 631-793-5097 or kwdconcierge@gmail.com

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Learn more at

ny529collegeplan.org Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in the Direct Plan.

For more information about New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, obtain a Disclosure Booklet and Tuition Savings Agreement at nysaves.org or by calling 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). This document includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information. You should read and consider them carefully before investing.

Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in that state's 529 plan.

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No guarantee: None of the State of New York, its agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Vanguard Group, Inc., Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, Inc., nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment portfolio.

New York's 529 College Savings Program currently includes two separate 529 plans. The Direct Plan is sold directly by the Program. You may also participate in the AdvisorGuided Plan, which is sold exclusively through financial advisors and has different investment options and higher fees and expenses as well as financial advisor compensation. © 2020 New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan.

LEGAL TALK

Silver Divorce and Estate Planning

BY LAUREN C. ENEA, ESQ

A divorce almost always comes with emotional, personal and financial complications. And, divorcing later in life adds a level of complexity to your estate and tax plan. Here are a few items to consider:

1. DIVISION OF ASSETS Older adults are more likely to have an assortment of financial assets and real property from varied sources, including a retirement plan(s). A “silver” divorce can have the added negative effect of costing money at a time when future earning capacity is limited. In addition to allocating assets to each spouse, maintenance may need to be paid, or a spouse may need to remain the beneficiary on a retirement account or a life insurance policy. Spouses with pensions may want survivor benefits to extend to former partners. Couples in their 50s and 60s are more likely to have inherited property from their parents or other relatives and may have comingled these assets into marital property. This can create an issue during a divorce when the assets each individual has inherited have not been kept separate.

2. TAX ISSUES Transitioning from filing jointly to filing single can affect your income taxes and will impact the personal residence exclusion, which provides a tax exclusion from the sale or exchange of a principal residence of up to $250,000 for individuals filing single and $500,000 for those filing jointly.

In a silver divorce, one of the largest assets a couple has is often their home, which may

have been purchased 30 or 40 years ago at a significantly lower cost than its worth today. If the property is transferred to one of the spouses pursuant to the divorce, this may negatively impact the capital gains tax if the property is later sold, as the personal residence exclusion for a couple of $500,000 will be reduced to the single individual personal exclusion of $250,000.

Additionally, if the couple has an estate over the New York Estate Tax Exemption (currently $5.93 million for 2021) or over the Federal Estate Tax Exemption ($11.73 million for 2021), a divorce can significantly impact the tax planning options available, as the couple will lose the unlimited marital deduction, portability elections and the ability to utilize Disclaimer and/or Credit Shelter Trusts.

3. LONG TERM CARE PLANNING A couple in their 60s or 70s may be engaging in long term care planning techniques that include transferring assets out of their names in order to start the “five-year look back period” for nursing home Medicaid (to protect assets from the cost of long-term care). As such, if divorce is contemplated, it may be important to engage in long term care planning as part of the divorce settlement. This planning may include transferring marital assets to adult children or to an Irrevocable Medicaid Asset Protection Trust.

Additionally, in New York, a married spouse can execute a Spousal Refusal so the other spouse can receive Medicaid benefits. If one is single, this option is no longer available.

4. ESTATE PLANNING In New York, a final judgment of divorce automatically revokes all provisions and bequests in a Last Will and Testament to a former spouse. It also revokes any appointments of the former spouse as agent under a health care proxy or agent under a power of attorney. Because of this, it is extremely important to have new estate planning documents drawn up during the pendency of a divorce and possibly after the divorce is finalized as well. Additionally, in certain circumstances, such as an amicable divorce, the spouses may still want to act as each other’s agents, and having the law automatically revoke these documents can cause serious consequences in the event of a health emergency or incapacity of a spouse.

With silver divorces on the rise, it is more important than ever for divorce attorneys to consult with financial advisors, estate planning attorneys, elder law attorneys and other professionals to ensure their clients’ estate plan and financial future is as secure as possible. n n n

Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is an Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice in Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Guardianships and Special Needs Planning and Probate/ Estate Administration. Ms. Enea believes it is never to early or too late to start planning for your future. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida and is an active member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association (NSYBA) Elder & Special Needs Section. She can be reached at 914-948-1500 or at L.Enea@esslawfirm.com. Please visit www.esslawfirm.com for more information.

What steps have you taken to protect your life savings from the cost of long term care? . Elder Law . Asset Protection . Medicaid Applications (Nursing Home/Home Care) . Guardianships (Contested/Non-Contested) . Wills, Trusts & Estates WHITE PLAINS

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PLEASE JOIN US! Baby Boomers and Seniors: You're invited to attend this FREE lively and engaging event on Sunday, October 24, 2021.

Free Presentations, Workshops and Small Sessions Including: n What's Good for Your Heart is Good for Your Brain (Host: Phelps Hospital/Northwell HealthDr. Dina R. Katz and Dr. Cathryn Devons)

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n Say Goodbye to Senior Moments: Learn what may be causing your memory lapses and what you can do now to delay, stop or even reverse memory loss. (Host: Sharp Again Naturally)

n Understanding Probate... and other essential estate and trust matters. (Host: Lauren C. Enea, ESQ., Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP)

n Fashion Dos and Don'ts n Conflict Resolution: Learn how to resolve family/sibling/adult children, political, neighbor conflicts (Host: Talking Alternatives)

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Right Time for

Hip Replacement Surgery

BY DR. ISAAC LIVSHETZ

as well as weakening of their muscles.

It is estimated that more than 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, which is the breakdown of cartilage and bone in the joint. While this can be related to sports and overuse, especially in younger people, aging is the most common cause of this condition.

Osteoarthritis often leads to pain, stiffness and decreased mobility.

Some patients are able to effectively manage these symptoms through a combination of exercise, medication, and targeted injections to relieve inflammation and strengthen the supporting muscles.

When these methods no longer offer relief, it may be time to talk to an orthopedic specialist about hip replacement surgery.

Hip replacement is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries today. It’s also one of the highest for postsurgical patient satisfaction, as patients are usually able to bounce back and resume the activities they love very quickly. Even patients with osteoporosis, who are at increased risk for bone fractures, can get a hip replacement performed safely, though additional considerations are taken and sometimes a special implant is used to decrease fracture risk.

The surgery involves removing the damaged cartilage and bone, and replacing

CHOOSING THE MOST ADVANCED CARE FOR YOUR SURGERY. Today, advanced technology such as the MAKO Robotic Arm-Assisted System used at White Plains Hospital, has been a game-changer for many people who are on the fence about surgery. Robotics allow surgeons to perform extremely precise hip replacements, offering patients less pain and faster recovery times.

them with durable implants made from a combination of metal, plastic and ceramic. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, over 400,000 hip replacements are performed every year in the United States.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING when making the decision to have joint replacement surgery.

Today, the average hip replacement lasts several decades. You don’t want to go through the surgery too young, but you don’t want to wait too long, either. Waiting until the damage is severe can hinder your ability to bounce back as quickly - and with the best possible results. Also, people who are unable to maintain an active lifestyle due to hip pain are at higher risk for conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, westchesterseniorvoice.com

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HOW TO KNOW WHEN to take the next step toward surgery?

1. Your X-rays show significant joint

damage 2. You avoid doing the activities you enjoy 3. You’ve tried everything, but nothing relieves the pain 4. Your quality of life has deteriorated No one should have to suffer from chronic pain. Talk to your doctor to see if joint replacement surgery is the right choice to help you get back to an active lifestyle. n n n

Dr. Isaac Livshetz is a fellowship trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacement of the hip and knee, including complicated initial joint replacements as well as revision surgery. To schedule an appointment at the Center for Advanced Medicine & Surgery in White Plains or at the New Rochelle office, please call 914-946-1010.

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The 3 Medicare Open Enrollment Periods You Don't Want to Miss!

1.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period From October 15 Through December 7 Every Year WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1) Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) to Original Medicare Parts A and B – with option to select a supplement plan (Medigap), as New York State is a guaranteed issue state (underwriting not required).

2) Go from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP).

3) Change from one MAP to another.

4) Switch to a new insurance plan through your current carrier.

5) Sign up for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

6) Change from one Part D plan to another.

7) Cancel your Part D prescription drug coverage.

WHEN IT TAKES EFFECT: January 1, 2021

r: Reminde Change my e Medicar Plan by Dec. 7!!

WHY YOU MAY WANT TO CHANGE PLANS: 1) Your premiums are increasing.

2) Your MAP doesn’t cover the doctors you want to see.

3) Your Part D plan drops your medication from their list of covered drugs (their formulary).

2.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Open Enrollment Period WHEN: In New York State, you are allowed to switch your Medicare Supplement Plan (also called Medigap) at any time during the year, as long as you have not had a gap in supplement coverage. Changes are effective the first of the following month. If you're signing up late or had a break in coverage for over 63 days then you might be in for up to a six-month waiting period. You must sign up for Part B to enroll in a supplement policy. For more info on this, visit: www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/health_insurance/ information_for_medicare_beneficiaries

3.

Medicare Advantage (MAP) Open Enrollment Period: WHEN: January 1 through March 31 every year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1) Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) to another.

2) Go from a MAP to Original Medicare.

3) Go from a MAP to Original Medicare and add a Part D policy – and in New York, which is a guaranteed issue state, you can add a Medigap plan.

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MEDICARE

What You See is Not Always What You Get In 2019, more than 60 million Americans enrolled in Medicare. Many who were already enrolled changed their coverage at some point in the year. This is especially true from October 15 to December 7, Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, when enrollees can freely switch plans for health and drug coverage.

You are probably already familiar with the ads on TV, the internet and radio that promise all sorts of wonderful benefits like dental care, transportation, and even home-delivered meals if you just switch your Medicare coverage. These perks are called supplemental benefits and they are unique to Medicare Advantage Plans, but celebrities who tout these plans on the airwaves are not hired to paint the full picture.

Before we dive into supplemental benefits, it is important to address the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare, often referred to as “Part A” and “Part B,” provides coverage for your health needs with payments managed federally through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare Advantage, sometimes referred to as “Part C,” provides coverage through a different pricing model and is handled by private health insurance companies.

Coverage through both Original Medi-

care and Medicare Advantage entails monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-pays. Drug coverage is acquired by enrolling in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan if you are on Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.

Understanding the nuances of Medicare coverage can be a daunting task but there are websites like Medicare. gov and MedicareInteractive.org where you can learn more. The Westchester Library System also operates a volunteer senior benefits individual counseling program to help county residents explore coverage options (SBIC@wlsmail. org, 914-231-3260).

So where do supplemental benefits come into all of this? Medicare Advantage plans must provide coverage for everything that is covered under Original Medicare, but Advantage plans are free to provide additional benefits for their enrollees. These benefits can be health-related (dental, vision, hearing) or non-health-related (transportation, meals, and more). Here’s what you need to know when you see or hear advertisements for plans with these supplemental benefits: 1) COVERAGE OF SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS IS LIMITED. A Medicare Advantage plan promising dental benefits obviously won’t cover everything - the plan rarely describes the services,

procedures, and amounts they are willing to cover.

2) YOU MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS. Some plans limit supplemental benefits to people with chronic conditions, low income, or other specific criteria.

3) SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS ARE SOMETIMES ATTACHED TO RIDERS. In some cases, you will need to pay an additional fee to add supplemental coverage to your plan.

4) SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS MAY BE OPTIONAL OR MANDATORY for a given Medicare Advantage plan.

With those four points in mind, it’s easy to see how two people on the same Medicare Advantage plan might have different benefits. The key takeaway from all of this is that you should be careful about accepting these extra benefits at face value; always call the private insurance company to confirm details about supplemental benefits. If you have signed up for Medicare coverage that was not what you expected or not what you need, there are opportunities to change that coverage at specific points in the year. n n n

For help comparing your Medicare coverage options, you can always reach Westchester Library System volunteers at SBIC@wlsmail.org or 914-231-3260.

Got questions about Medicare and senior benefits?

Get expert answers. Free!

FIND OUT WHERE: seniors.westchesterlibraries.org | SBIC@wlsmail.org | 914-231-3260 fall 2021

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One Man's Search for a Purposeful Life The following is an excerpt from Ken Dychtwald's book Radical Curiosity: One Man's Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life.

I vividly remembered a weekend in 1971 when I rode my motorcycle from Allentown, Pa. to visit my folks in their new home in Springfield, N.J. At that point, I had already tuned in, turned on and dropped out; grown my hair and beard; started wearing an earring and cultivated many viewpoints about life that were far more “alternative” to ones my father strongly held. He must have thought I had lost my mind — while I believed I was finding it.

Late that Saturday night in 1971, my mom had gone to bed and my father and I were arguing about something. He started barking at me with criticisms about my life and friends.

I squared off with him, nose to nose. I felt: “You don’t know who I am — you don’t get me!”

I don’t remember what we were fighting over, but I do remember it’s the closest I’d ever come to telling him to go screw himself and punching him in the face.

So things wouldn’t get completely out of control, I turned on my heels, went to the bedroom and slammed the door. Feeling I had to get out of there and not wanting to confront him again in the living room, I jumped out the bedroom window. Okay, it wasn’t that high — maybe six feet above the ground. It was a dark and rainy winter night, and all I had on were my jeans, a T-shirt and a trench coat. With sheets of rain pouring down, it was going to take me about two hours to ride my motorcycle back to my apartment in Pennsylvania.

As I careened down the highway, I was crying and furious. I was thinking, “The hell with you — I’m going to do what I’m going to do with my life.” The road was wet and slippery, and riding the motorcycle was a harrowing experience. Finally, at around 2 in the morning, I pulled off Highway 78 at the Fifteenth Street exit in Allentown and took the back road to my apartment. Exhausted, I parked my motorcycle in front.

Although it was pitch black, I noticed there was a car way down at the corner. It was moving slowly, but the lights weren’t on.

As I walked across the street to get to my apartment, I looked at this car as it was turning around.

It was my dad. He had followed me all the way to Pennsylvania to make sure I was safe, and now he was silently turning around to drive all the way home.

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Now nearly 50 years later, wanting to show him proper respect and kindness but not knowing how I should handle the situation with my dad nearing his death, I called one of my closest friends, Stuart Pellman, who was a bit older than me and had already dealt with the death of both of his parents.

He wisely told me, “Get oneon-one time with your dad and tell him everything you need to tell him. Even if he’s unconscious, tell him you love him, ask him to forgive you for anything you may have ever done to trouble him. Tell him you forgive him for anything he might have ever done to upset you, and then tell him you’ll always remember him.”

And that’s what I did.

MEDICAID ADVISOR

Preparing Early for Your Care

BY COLIN SANDLER Another important reason to do some preemptive planning is to make sure you have essential, yet simple, planning documents in place, including a power of attorney and health care proxy. Not having these items when you need them can be devastating.

In life, we do so many things to protect ourselves against potential adverse events. We buy health insurance in case we get sick. We buy car insurance in case we have a car accident - and homeowners’ insurance for the many things that can go wrong with our home.

Still, even in a society where these insurances are something most of us buy in to, so few people do any planning for their longterm care needs. Many people find the cost of longterm care insurance profunded with property, life insurance polihibitive. Or they may not qualify for it by cies, annuities, or other financial assets. the time they seek it out. So what else can we do?

You would not place any kind of retirement assets into an irrevocable trust but Meeting with a Medicaid specialist and/ those assets can be exempt once you or an elder law attorney while you're still are taking income from them. in good health is an important first step.

You can do some strategic planning with A primary reason people push back on your assets to ensure you will be eligible the idea of an irrevocable trust is it refor benefits when the time comes. The quires you to give control of those assets earlier you do this planning, the more to your trustees, which are often your likely you will be able to shelter your as- children but can be anyone you trust. sets. Moreover, getting educated and understanding your options will make Although technically the person who you better prepared for certain possible creates the trust can no longer directly eventualities. access the assets, the trustees can access most trusts if needed. More often The most common tool for sheltering as- than not, assets placed in a trust, such sets in advance is an irrevocable trust. as property or life insurance, are sitting Typically, an irrevocable trust can be there - accumulating value for the future. fall 2021

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If you seek to obtain a power of attorney for a loved one when she/he no longer has the capacity to appoint you, then you cannot get a power of attorney. In these types of cases, most likely, you will be forced to go to court and have a guardian appointed.

And there is no guarantee that you will be appointed the guardian. It could be somebody outside the family who will then be able to make decisions about your loved one even if you don't agree with those decisions.

Planning tools such as a power of attorney and irrevocable trusts need to be completed by a qualified attorney. However, exploring the options and understanding what type of services are available for long-term care as well as how the Medicaid program can potentially help you in the future is invaluable. n

n n

Colin Sandler, LCSW, CCM, is the owner of Medicaid Solutions and has been providing advice on aging to seniors and their families for over 20 years. Call 914-924-2566 or email Colin@Medicaidsolutions.com; 2127 Crompond Rd, Cortlandt Manor, NY.

HOME

Clutter: It's Bad for Your Health!

BY JOCELYN KENNER

safety hazards including tripping and falls.

Fire safety is also a concern; when there’s excess clutter, there’s increased flammability in the home - and exits may be impeded by clutter.

What do you experience when you walk into your home? Do you feel “Ahh, this is my sanctuary,” or “Ugh, I really need to straighten the place up!”

How comfortable we are with clutter varies from person to person. Each of us has our own unique awareness of what is organized enough.

It’s important to identify your personal threshold for clutter and to share that with the people you live with.

No Place Like Home, a study conducted by Darby E. Saxbe and Rena Repetti (first published in 2009 in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin), concluded that women, more so than men, whose homes did not feel restorative due to clutter or things being out of place, experienced higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol than women who lived in restorative homes. Higher stress levels can, over time, lead to serious health problems. Strong emotions such as guilt, indecision, fear, aspiration, and the need for perfection can all interfere with the ability to let go of things.

Simply put, an unorganized home may not be good for your overall health and wellbeing.

The most organized people you know manage clutter on a regular basis. They do it as part of their household routine and find it energizing and worthwhile. Many others feel the opposite: finding the ongoing task of de-cluttering either difficult, boring or unnecessary. All of these reac-

tions are fair and valid. When you start to feel your space is no longer soothing, but bothersome and even overwhelming, that’s your cue to tackle the mess. Devoting just five minutes a day to decluttering will result in progress. So set a timer (on your smart phone, a kitchen appliance or a simple wind-up timer) and you will be pleased – perhaps even joyful - with the positive changes you can achieve in those five minutes. Remember, when the timer goes off, you are done for the day!

In addition to clutter inducing stress, many nutritionists and health professionals claim that higher amounts of clutter in the home negatively affect weight and healthy eating habits, as well. People who struggle with clutter are 77 percent more likely to be overweight or obese.

Clutter is also a repository for dust and can compromise your home’s air quality. What’s more, clutter poses serious westchesterseniorvoice.com

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In fairness to us all, we live in a consumer driven society and the enticements to buy, acquire, and collect are everywhere. We need to be mindful about acquiring more stuff. Ask yourself, Where will this live in my home?

Do I need this? Is this an upgrade for something I already own, and will I give away, toss, or sell the item it’s replacing? What is the ‘why’ behind my desire/need to have this?

“Normal” household clutter shouldn’t be confused with a hoarding disorder, which is a mental illness estimated to affect between two to five percent of the population. If you would like to identify your level of clutter, check out the Clutter Quality of Life Scale and the Clutter-Hoarding Scale on the Institute for Challenging Disorganization’s website or request a consultation with a professional organizer. n n n

Jocelyn Kenner is a Professional Organizer and Coach and the owner of See Your Way Clear.

She works with people of all ages to help them overcome organizing challenges and live an easier life.

Contact her at 914-907-6712 or jocelyn@kenner. org; www.seeyourwayclear.com

SPECIAL SECTION:

MEMORY CARE

brought to you in partnership with the

HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER

more than SIX MILLION americans are living with Alzheimer's

over ELEVEN MILLION Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias

in 2021, Alzheimer's and other dementias will cost the nation $355 BILLION

Alzheimer's and dementia deaths have increased 16% during the COVID-19 pandemic

EDUCATIONAL & SOCIAL PROGRAMS PLUS SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS The Alzheimer's Association Hudson Valley Chapter has a variety of educational programs for the general public including Healthy Living for your Brain and Body, which offers information from the latest research to help plan for healthy aging.

Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia explains the basics about dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as resources that can help.

Legal & Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease offers tips on how to put legal and financial plans in place as one gets older.

Virtual social programs include ALZ Across New York: an ongoing series of virtual trips to various destinations around the state; AlzWell Social Club: an ongoing series featuring creative interactive activities and support sessions; Memory Cafes: virtual social activities for people with early-stage dementia and their family caregivers involving musical entertainment, meditation and more; Something for ALZ: A series of online interactive sessions to include art, music, movement and other creative activities.

For specific dates and times when these and other programs are being offered, visit alz.org/hudsonvalley.

You can also register for programs or obtain more information by calling the Alzheimer’s Association at 800.272.3900.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s isn’t easy.

Reaching us is.

If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss or dementia, you are not alone. We’re here day or night — whenever you need us — offering reliable information and support.

Free 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center: alz.org/care This advertisement is supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

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FDA Approves Aducanumab In June of this year, the FDA approved the drug aducanumab for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

“This approval is a victory for people living with Alzheimer’s and their families,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association president and chief executive officer. “This is the first FDA-approved drug that delays decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. This means individuals may have more time to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence and hold on to memories longer. We can experience longer the relationships we hold most dear — our families and friends.”

Aducanumab addresses Alzheimer’s in a new way compared to previously approved drugs. This therapy slows progression of the disease, rather than only addressing symptoms. It is the first approved therapy of this type, demonstrating that removing amyloid from the brain may delay clinical decline in people living with Alzheimer’s.

Amyloid is the protein that clumps into

sticky brain plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug’s manufacturer Biogen has announced a price of $56,000 per year for the treatment, which the Alzheimer’s Association considers unacceptable. For many, it will pose an insurmountable barrier to access. It will also complicate and jeopardize sustainable access to this treatment and could further deepen issues of health equity. As a result, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on Biogen to lower the cost.

“Eliminating barriers to access is our highest priority,” said Joanne Pike, Alzheimer’s Association chief strategy officer. “The Alzheimer’s Association will do everything in its power to ensure access to the drug for all who will benefit. We know that infusion therapies have been made available under Medicare and insurance for conditions like cancer and multiple sclerosis, so it is reasonable to expect this for aducanumab.”

Early diagnosis has demonstrated better

health outcomes for individuals and their caregivers. The approval of this new therapy makes early detection and diagnosis even more critical to ensure individuals receive the most benefit at the earliest point possible.

“This therapy will be of great interest to many, but it is not the only important element of Alzheimer’s treatment and care.

The Alzheimer’s Association has made it a priority to partner with health care systems, physicians, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure early and accurate diagnosis, and access to treatment, care management and care planning,” said Pike.

If you or a loved one is experiencing memory changes, the Alzheimer’s Association strongly encourages speaking with a health care provider for a thorough evaluation, diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. For more information on diagnosis or to find a local health care provider, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz. org or the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

AS YOUR PARTNER IN DEMENTIA CARE, WE’RE RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

O

ur promise at The Kensington is to love and care for your family as we do our own. And we do. As specialists in all aspects of dementia, our programs of care and service are clinically comprehensive, highly personalized and tender. We are skilled and prepared to address the predictable changes that come with progressive memory loss.

To better meet resident needs, we offer two distinctive “neighborhoods”— Connections and Haven. In Connections, residents are able to actively participate in daily routines and activities that help them feel safe, secure and successful. In Haven, residents require a higher level of clinical assistance and care that increase comfort and reduce agitation. In both neighborhoods, support for caregivers and families is generous and ongoing, because after all, memory loss is a family affair. Please let us share in your caregiving experience. We will make every effort to improve your loved one’s quality of life to the greatest extent possible. We will also do our best to give you time to recharge — guilt-free — so you can freely enjoy the pleasure of togetherness.

Schedule a visit or call to talk. We’re here for your family, and we’re here for you, too.

(914) 390-0800 | 100 Maple Avenue | White Plains, NY 10601 | www.TheKensingtonWhitePlains.com fall 2021

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THE 10 SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 1

Raffaela NICK CICHETTI’S 85-YEAR-OLD mother Raffaela is fading. As the family member overseeing her care, he knows what he must do. And he does it willingly and lovingly, viewing his responsibility as an honor. Never mind that this path is marked by sadness and disappointment.

Raffaela has been a resident at Wartburg, a senior living residence in Mount Vernon, since 2019. When neighbors reported seeing the once-lively and dignified Raffaela picking through their garbage bins, Nick finally admitted his mother’s behavior had reached a critical point. “The disease had taken over,” he says.

Cicchetti, 60, has lived in Mount Vernon all his life. The second of three sons born to Raffaela and Salvatore Cicchetti, Italian immigrants who settled there in 1958, Nick grew up in the large home the family still owns. Salvatore worked for the City of Mount Vernon and Raffaela stayed home until the youngest started school.

When his brothers moved away, Nick readily assumed responsibility for his aging parents’ care. But a few months after Salvatore’s death in 2010, Nick began to notice changes in his mother—changes so slight other family members barely noticed.

In 2016, Nick brought Raffaela to a neurological evaluation. Several more assessments and rounds of testing resulted in an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The doctors recommended she remain in her home. “I didn’t agree,” says Nick flatly.

The forgetfulness grew worse, followed by lapses in Raffaela’s personal hygiene. On long walks around the city, she began getting lost. Still hoping to keep

memory loss that disrupts daily life 2 her at home where she felt safe and happy, he enrolled her in Wartburg’s adult day program and engaged a home care agency to provide care until her bedtime.

Although Nick’s job kept him busy, he stopped by his mother’s home twice a day to supervise her medications and coax her to eat. “She’d say she wasn’t hungry, so I’d leave the food for when she got hungry,” he says. Days later he might discover the meal under her bed.

One of the aides reported Raffaela was sometimes combative. She became more cantankerous and less easygoing. She started to revert to her native Italian. She began calling her son at all hours. Many nights Nick would be on the phone, soothing her fears and coaxing her back to bed.

Eventually, the family decided on Wartburg’s residential memory care program so Raffaela could remain in Mount Vernon. She is happier now, Nick says, and he and other family members visit often. Hardest to accept, though, is that, “The person sitting in front of me is not my mom. She doesn’t converse. She doesn’t recognize me. It’s totally heartbreaking.” He blames the forced isolation during the pandemic for his mother’s latest decline.

“For a vibrant, talkative woman who sacrificed everything to raise three boys, to see what she’s become…” He trails off. “I call it [Alzheimer’s] a monster. It’s taken away my mother. But I keep doing what I can to keep her happy. Not because I have to but because it’s a pleasure.” westchesterseniorvoice.com

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challenges in solving problems 3 difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure 4 confusion with time or place 5 trouble understanding visual images and spacial relationships 6 new problems with words in speaking or writing 7 misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps 8 decreased or poor judgment 9 withdrawal from work or social activities 10 changes in mood and personality

HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER

hotline: 800.272.3900

Live Your Best Life

Live at Home. Live at Wartburg. The choice is yours.

Wartburg Home Care

Wartburg Nursing Home Care

Wartburg Memory Care

Wartburg Rehabilitation Center

Wartburg Independent and Assisted Living

need new ad and move to memory care One Wartburg Place Mount Vernon, NY 10552 914-699-0800

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INDEPENDENT LIVING ❘ ASSISTED LIVING ❘ MEMORY CARE ❘ NURSING HOME ❘ HOME CARE INPATIENT REHABILITATION ❘ HOSPICE CARE ❘ CAREGIVER SUPPORT ❘ SPIRITUAL CARE fall 2021

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Linda and Bob ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, LINDA KATZ started having difficulty teaching her social work classes and, soon thereafter, resigned her position. Within months, Linda – who holds a PhD from New York University – started experiencing hallucinations, recalls Bob, her husband of nearly five decades.

“The hallucinations and the fact that she could no longer control the class were the signs that something was wrong,” he says.

Prior to the pandemic, Bob had employed an aide to help. But once the pandemic was underway, the aide was no longer able to come. She worked in a nursing home and it would have been too risky for her to continue to come to the Katz’s.

The couple visited various psychiatrists and neurologists. And at age 68, Linda was diagnosed with frontotemporal disease, a type of dementia often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease.

Following the diagnosis, Bob continued to care for Linda at home.

He installed cameras, put in new locks, replaced the glass front door with a solid wood door, and put shades on all the windows to block out the outside. “When she saw the lights outside, it activated the hallucinations,” he said. “She would see a car or a shadow pass by and think it was a witch or dancing people.”

One of their sons and his wife, living in Scarsdale, helped, unpaid caregivers too - visiting frequentprovide an estimated ly and giving Bob a chance to run errands 15.3 billion hours of or shop for groceries. care, valued at nearly “My son in Scarsdale came three or four $257 BILLION times a week, for several hours, so I could get a break,” he recalls. “It allowed her [Linda] to be home another year. It kept her happy and she was doing more… and, then, the disease continued its path.”

“The type of dementia that Linda has is walking dementia, which means that the illness creates the compulsion to walk - night and day,” Bob explains. “She would refuse to come upstairs to go to sleep. I was getting no sleep. I lost 30 pounds.”

“As Linda’s condition worsened, I was getting older and more tired,” Bob says. (He is now 82 and Linda is 73.) “During the day, she was agile,” he says. “She had spent years working out, doing yoga and meditation, so she is in really good physical shape.”

But with the constant nighttime wandering and the need for round the clock monitoring, it was becoming harder and harder for Bob to care for Linda at home. And then, in March of this year, Linda fell and broke her nose, prompting Bob to seek out a residential community for her. He ultimately chose Artis Senior Living in Briarcliff Manor and Linda moved there in May. “It is an incredible place, just wonderful,” he says. “There are beautiful gardens for Linda to walk in and she can sit in the sun.”

In June, his son, daughter-in-law, and their two children moved in with Bob. “It’s a challenge but it is incredible - just wonderful to have them here,” he says. “I go see Linda every other day. I can get out now and I know she is not in danger.

But it is just incredibly sad. Emotionally it is very tough. We were married for 46 years.”

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DEMENTIA SHOULD NOT DEFINE HER. Artis helps her be who she’s always been.

914-432-2999 TheArtisWay.com/SeniorVoice Artis Senior Living of Briarcliff Manor: 553 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 Check out our other nearby communities in Chestnut Ridge and Somers.

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10 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR BRAIN

Big Jim call a niece who lived nearby and then called an ambulance. At the hospital, Big Jim was treated for dehydration and released. But when the episodes of disorientation grew more frequent and severe, Big Jim moved in with his son in New Jersey.

“He was safe under my roof and had a full-time aide, but he couldn’t take care of himself,” says Heatherly.

FATHER AND SON are each named James Heatherly, but everyone calls them Big Jim and Little Jim. Now 88 and living at the Hebrew Home [RiverSpring Living] in Riverdale, N.Y., Big Jim has a reputation for being the life of every party. “He’s always loved dancing,” his son says.

“If you put on Donna Summer, he’d be dancing in his wheelchair.”

Little Jim grew up in suburban New Jersey. His parents married in 1957 and split in 1964 when Big Jim came out as gay. The elder Jim moved to Manhattan where he worked for an insurance company before relocating to California with his partner Bill.

Heatherly vividly recalls the day several years ago when he first recognized a change in his dad, who had moved to Arizona. The phone rang at three in the morning. On the line was Big Jim, “completely confused and in a panic.” The son instructed his father to

The Heatherly family medical history is rife with cognitive decline.

Big Jim was one of eight siblings - all but two have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Although most of his dad’s decline took place over the span of a decade, Heatherly was unprepared for the abrupt change that occurred just days after his father turned 88. The cheerful, gregarious guy who could captivate an entire room with his storytelling and his infectious, cackling laugh, was unable to speak or recognize anyone around him.

For Jim Heatherly, caring for his father is a joy he calls “the easy part.”

The hard part, he says, is “watching him disappear.” Still, he has hope. “My dad’s still in there, but we can’t reach him at the moment,” he says. westchesterseniorvoice.com

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1 hit the books: take a class 2 break a sweat: engage in regular cardiovascular activity 3 butt out: quit smoking!

4 follow your heart: taking care of your heart is good for your brain 5 heads up: protect your head by wearing a seatbelt or using a helmet when playing contact sports 6 fuel up right: follow a diet low in fat and high in fruit and vegetables 7 catch some ZZZs: get enough sleep 8 take care of your mental health 9 stump yourself: challenge your brain 10 buddy up: stay socially engaged

HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER

hotline: 800.272.3900

"What you've done for my father is nothing short of a miracle. His medical care and managing his medications has improved his health dramatically. He eats regular well balanced meals and has activities to be a part of." - Karen B.

At the Chelsea residents enjoy living each day to the fullest, they are treated with compassion, dignity and respect by our experienced and dedicated staff.

Individualized service plans coupled with our enhanced care certification ensure our residents get the support they need.

For over 30 years Chelsea Senior Living has been dedicated to providing a HEALTHY, SAFE and HAPPY community.

Call for information and schedule a visit (914) 275-0010 715 Dobbs Ferry Road

chelseaseniorliving.com fall 2021

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Shelley and Bob

SHELLEY’S HUSBAND BOB HAS been at The Greens at Greenwich for over three years. She and her family visit often and are active participants in his life. She says, “The benefits to him at The Greens are extraordinary, deep and wide. When he was at home, I think he was under stimulated and under socialized.

When he came here, there’s something happening all the time. He has made friends. They enjoy groups, walking outdoors, eating meals together and going on trips. You will often find them informally chatting in the beautifully landscaped Greens' Garden.”

Shelley participates in family Zoom, visits Bob often, and comes to all The Greens' events. During the pandemic, Bob’s son Joe began weekly

family Zooms.

They include: Joe and his husband; Bob’s daughter and husband; Bob’s baby grandson; Bob’s sister and Shelley. Each shares photos of their week or photos from the past, which makes for a special slide show for Bob, who is always intrigued. It is difficult for a person with memory impairment to follow Zooms.

The photos provide a true emotional connection.

“This place is 1,000 percent better than being at home because it provides so much for Bob.” Shelley continues, “At home I had programs but nothing like what The Greens has. This is an extraordinary place. It is hard to imagine a place that would be better for people with dementia.” Shelley says the two main reasons The Greens is exceptional is because of the creative arts therapies and the staff. When words fail him, you will find Bob playing his harmonica relating to the group. Bob can easily express his feelings through music, and it is one of his favorite means of communication.

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Maria Scaros, Executive Director at The Greens at Greenwich has an open door for residents and families alike. Every Monday she holds a Zoom with family members. It offers in-house information, education, support, and time together for families to share their journey with others who truly understand.

She also facilitates interfaith services and drama therapy groups.

Beth and Caroline are creative arts therapists on staff at The Greens.

Following the latest research in neuroscience, The Greens recognizes that the arts benefit our health and well-being mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. “The creative arts therapies are at the core of care at The Greens. They are the new best medicine providing comfort, joy and a sense of purpose to those with memory impairment,” says Maria.

The staff at The Greens go above and beyond to care for residents and their families who they have come to love. Shelley says, “The staff is joyous, warm and loving. They know the name of every single resident and family member.” Shelley concludes, “This is a wonderful place for my husband, and he is thriving here.

The truth is this is a wonderful place for me too. The notion that he can be safe and happy, and I can get some of my life back without feeling guilty is an extraordinary thing.”

[SPONSORED CONTENT]

A Helping Hand

AS A GERIATRIC CARE MANAGER WITH Geriatric Care Consultants, LLC in Larchmont, NY, Amy Lazar, LMSW, works with many families who are trying to coordinate care for an aging family member. It’s never easy. Often the burden of responsibility falls on one person: the spouse, the child who lives closest, the one who feels most obligated. Even in families where the load is shared more equitably, very few understand what they’re in for.

Among Lazar’s cases is a couple in their 70s, still in good physical health except for the wife’s Alzheimer’s disease. Their four married children live close by or visit often. The family is kind, close-knit, and committed to working together to help their parents as their mother approaches the later stages of dementia.

Though mom struggles for words and often forgets the front door alarm code, she claims her memory is good. Dad insisted on the couple’s independence until he had a fall, requiring several weeks of rehab. It was clear the couple needed more help, and the siblings rallied around their parents to make the hard decisions together.

Celebrating

The Greens at Greenwich Families

With Lazar’s guidance, the family hired a physical therapist and a housekeeper to come in several times a week. A registered nurse periodically pours the couple’s meds.

The children have learned to how to be tactful and evasive with their mother. When she says, “Why do I need a housekeeper?” they’ll reply, “It’s such a big house.” When she questions a decision to move the laundry room from the basement to the ground floor, they’ll say, “Let’s not wait until something bad happens.”

There are many kinds of families, and The Greens is one kind.

Together as family, we take the journey to a new normal.

Our People and Our Home We recognize that home is a feeling, and it lives here at The Greens at Greenwich.

Our staff continues to go above and beyond to care for residents and the families they have come to love. Most of our staff have been with us for more than 10 years and 100% are vaccinated.

Discover The Greens at Greenwich Difference Twenty years ago, The Greens at Greenwich opened its doors providing a small residential assisted living community nestled on the Greenwich/Westchester border. Over the years we have been privileged to care for extraordinary people of diverse ages and cultures who have become compromised by Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory impairment.

“There’s no shame in deciding that caring for an aging parent is too much to handle,” Lazar says. Offspring have full-time jobs, growing families and multiple responsibilities. The care of an aging parent, especially one with memory issues, is extraordinarily challenging.

Discover for yourself how The Greens at Greenwich may be your silver lining to exceptional care for your loved one.

“My goal is to help the family find the safest, most affordable solution,” Lazar says. At the appropriate time, she will assist them in their next set of decisions. fall 2021

20Years

SCHEDULE A TOUR TODAY Maria Scaros, Executive Director • 203.531.5500 mscaros@thegreensatgreenwich.com • thegreensatgreenwich.com

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Abuela

Ramonita, 78, was a working single mother who emigrated from Puerto Rico and settled in Yonkers, raising her two children to be conscientious and hard-working. Even after Janette and her brother were grown and gone, Ramonita never wanted to leave Yonkers, where her sisters and all her history remain.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE runs in Ramonita Breban’s family - three of her siblings have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia: two of her sisters, one of whom is in a nursing home, and a brother, who lives with his wife, grown

daughter and her husband in Puerto Rico.

Janette Licastrino, Ramonita’s only daughter, doesn’t think about the chances she might develop the disease. She is too busy caring for her mother, who shares her apartment in Carmel.

WHERE THERE’S A WALK, THERE’S A WAY. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is full of flowers, each carried by someone committed to ending this disease. Because like flowers, our participants don’t stop when something’s in their way. They keep raising funds and awareness for a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. It’s time to add your flower to the fight.

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Single and working full-time for a private luxury plane service at the Westchester County airport, Janette, 54, feels she has the time and inclination to shoulder the lion’s share of her mother’s care. Her brother José Breban stays in close touch. In 2011, after Ramonita retired from her job at a nursing home, Janette began to notice that her mother’s grip on life seemed to loosen. On a hot summer day, she’d be wearing winter clothing, or she’d ask the same question over and over. “I started getting sick after eating food she prepared—like maybe she’d added soap by mistake,” Janette recalls.

Although her mother never married, she lived with a partner for 20 years. When Janette offered to hire an aide for a few hours a day, Ramonita was willing but her partner refused.

That is, until the night he called at one in the morning, reporting he’d found her mother in the kitchen with a knife in her hand.

After that, Janette took charge: hiring an aide, assuming power of attorney and becoming her mother’s health proxy.

The arrangement worked for a while, but eventually took its toll. “I was driving to work, then to see Mommy in Yonkers, and

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then back up to Carmel every night,” she says. Janette had her mother move in with her, a decision she has not regretted, as Ramonita’s hallucinations began to worsen. “She was seeing people coming out of the fireplace,” says Janette.

“It still takes her an hour every night to check all the windows and doors because she thinks people are watching her.”

Two years ago, Janette began volunteering at the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, raising tens of thousands of dollars for research. Now, as co-chair of the Westchester Chapter, she often talks to others who are in the shoes she walked in a dozen years ago. “My advice is to surround [their loved one] with love, family and simple activities.” Today, she plays simple card games with her mother, and uses an iPad to play word search games. Every night, they sit down to dinner with a friend or relative tuned in on FaceTime. “She won’t know their name, but she knows the face, and I’ll remind her who it is and what they mean to her.”

Their shared domesticity in the confines of the apartment soothes Ramonita, who has become too fearful of strangers to permit outings - with one exception: “My niece’s five-year-old twins play soccer and sometimes I’ll take my mother to their games,” Janette says. “She’ll sit on the sidelines with her chair and umbrella, and the twins will bring her ice cream. They know that Abuela doesn’t understand the game, but they like having her there.”

Is Your Memory as Sharp as it Used to Be?

As we get older, we may experience difficulty in finding the right word or recalling a name. Very often, the word comes to us a few moments later. However, if lapses like these have become more frequent, it’s time to pay attention. These early signs of memory loss are the best time to take steps to keep your brain sharp.

What causes memory loss? Unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, infections and toxins that cause inflammation, and untreated sleep and trauma all may play a role. Research demonstrates that addressing these issues early can have a powerful effect in reducing and reversing cognitive decline.

Most current neurological tests are not sensitive enough to pick up subjective cognitive impairment – the medical term for memory loss in its earliest stage. You

There is

HOPE

know something is not right, but others don’t yet notice. Your doctor may say you are fine and tell you not to worry.

But if you have a persistent feeling that your memory is faltering, what do you do? It’s not easy to know where to start.

Education is the first step. When you understand what causes cognitive decline, you can look at your own risk factors to determine what might be contributing to the problem.

Sharp Again Naturally is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides education about the causes of memory loss and, more importantly, the tools to improve brain health. Our Webinars and Small Group Programs set participants on a path to maintain and restore health for the body and the mind. Participants in the Small Groups work with health coaches to identify issues and set goals,

and group members provide support and share their own experiences.

Let’s face it: the ability to improve brain function and stop memory loss is a new idea; neuroplasticity, the growth of new brain cells and connections, is something only recently discovered. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not a natural part of aging, and if you are worried about your memory, there is hope. Go to sharpagain.org for more information.

[SPONSORED CONTENT] n

n n

Lisa Feiner is a board-certified health coach and co-founder of Sharp Again Naturally. She envisions a world where dementia can be prevented, treated and reversed and where everyone has the ability to remain cognitively healthy throughout life.

Dementia is NOT an inevitable part of aging.* • Learn more about the causes of cognitive decline Understand the risks and discover ways to improve cognition

• Attend information-packed webinars Hear about new approaches & research to optimize brain function

• Join small groups to boost your brain health Work with health coaches to gain education, motivation & support

Sharp Again Naturally is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering everyone to take charge of their cognitive health and general wellbeing.

Learn more at sharpagain.org

Preserving Memory | Restoring Minds

info@sharpagain.org | (914) 281-1404

Small Groups are forming now!

Learn more and sign up at sharpagain.org

Show your support! Donate online at sharpagain.org/donate. *Source: CDC

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A Balancing Act DIAGNOSED FIVE YEARS AGO WITH ALZHEIMER’S disease, Linda* is still physically fit and attractive at age 80, says her daughter Jennifer.* Jennifer grew up in New Jersey. Her father George was a physicist; her mother taught school to children with disabilities.

Jennifer knows she is fortunate. “My parents were planners,” she says. They set aside the funds that now pay for her mother’s care at The Osborn, a senior living community in Rye. Shortly after her parents moved to Westchester in 2006, Jennifer started noticing something amiss with her mother. “She would ask the same question over and over and seemed a little checked out,” Jennifer shares. Her concerns met with resistance from both parents. She recalls, “My mother refused to go to the doctor, and my dad enabled her. She’d say, ‘I don’t pay attention because you’re boring,’ and he’d say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with her, stop worrying.’”

Jennifer kept raising the issue. Finally, in 2016, Linda agreed to undergo a full workup. Her diagnosis didn’t change anything. “They kept living the way they always had,” Jennifer remarks, as her dad began dealing with worsening eyesight from macular degeneration. “They liked to say, ‘He’s the memory and she’s the eyes.’”

One day, Jennifer entered their apartment and, for the first time, noticed things weren’t being taken care of. On top of that, her parents were increasingly isolated. Her mother refused to allow aides or housekeepers into their home.

On one occasion, Linda called an ambulance because she claimed George was “acting weird.” Hours later, she called the police to report him missing.

By then, Jennifer was running a daily circuit between her own family, her business and her parents’ home, “with a huge tote bag full of their meds and groceries.” She knew the situation was unsustainable.

When George suffered a stroke in the spring of 2018—the result, Jennifer believes, of their “getting sloppy with their medications”— she started making arrangements for residential care. Weeks after her father passed away that winter, Jennifer moved her mother to assisted living at The Osborn. The isolation and disruption of the pandemic took an additional toll and earlier this year, Linda entered The Osborn’s H.O.P.E. Center for Memory Care.

Jennifer believes her mother is where she belongs. “It’s a good place. She’s well cared-for.” She pauses and then continues, “She was a tough cookie my whole life. We were never close, and she wasn’t that involved with her grandchildren. Still, she’s my mother. I feel a strong obligation. My husband is very supportive and encourages me to be a little more hands off. You need a break sometimes.”

THANK YOU TO OUR MEMORY CARE SPONSORS LISTED HERE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, SERVICES, RESPITE CARE AND MANY HELPING HANDS PROVIDED TO WESTCHESTER FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY. REACH OUT TO THEM FOR NEEDED HELP!

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER 800-272-3900 Alz.org/HudsonValley -------------------------------

ARTIS SENIOR LIVING OF BRIARCLIFF MANOR

553 North State Rd., Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 914-432-2999 TheArtisWay.com/SeniorVoice -------------------------

BETHEL NURSING & REHAB CENTER

67 Springvale Rd., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 914-739-6700 BethelWell.org --------------------

THE CHELSEA AT GREENBURGH

715 Dobbs Ferry Rd., Greenburgh, NY 10607 914-275-0010 ChelseaSeniorLiving.com ----------------------

CONCEPT:CARE

50 Main St., White Plains, NY 10606 914-682-7990 -----------------------

GERIATRIC CARE CONSULTANTS, LLC

2001 Palmer Ave., Larchmont, NY 10538 914-833-0288 GeriCareConsultants.com -----------------------

THE GREENS AT GREENWICH

1155 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 203-531-5500 TheGreensAtGreenwich.com

(*Last names have been removed for privacy purposes.)

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THE KENSINGTON WHITE PLAINS

100 Maple Ave., White Plains, NY 10601 914-390-0800 TheKensingtonWhitePlains.com --------------------------------

MEDICAID SOLUTIONS

2127 Crompond Rd., STE 105, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 914-924-2566 MedicaidSolutions.com -------------------

THE OSBORN THE H.O.P.E. CENTER FOR MEMORY CARE

101 Theall Rd., Rye, NY 10580 888-9-OSBORN/ 888-967-2676 TheOsborn.org ------------------------------

RIVERSPRING LIVING (HEBREW HOME) 5901 Palisade Ave., Riverdale, NY 10471 929-203-2028 RiverSpringLiving.org/ learn-more ------------------------------

SENIORS HELPING SENIORS WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM, NY

914-263-7716 SeniorCareNorthWestchester.com --------------------------------------

SHARP AGAIN NATURALLY 914-281-1404; SharpAgain.org ------------------

WARTBURG

One Wartburg Place, Mt. Vernon, NY 10552 914-699-0800 Wartburg.org

T:7.5"

AGING IS CHANGING FOR THE BETTER, AND SO ARE WE.

To learn more about all that we offer older adults, call 929-203-2001

ZELDA, Hebrew Home resident

Senior Voice Finding Solutions Together

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Approvals

Client RiverSpring Job RSH 6978

At the Heart ofLive Senior None Living

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Round: FINAL_REV

 Assisted Senior Living  Continuing Care Retirement Community  Sub-Acute and Outpatient Therapy  Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

914-739-6700 Ossining - Croton-on-Hudson - Valhalla bethelwell.org

The Only Not-for-Profit, Full Continuum of Care in Northern Westchester Serving the Community for Over 100 Years

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At RiverSpring Living, we’re constantly expanding our offerings across the full spectrum of aging. From our awardwinning Hebrew Home at Riverdale to creating New York City’s first Life Plan Community, we’re helping redefine what aging today looks like.