BEACON - Winter Health & Wellness (January 2014)

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Your Guide to a Healthy Mind & Body

Health &WellnessWinter 2014

2 health & wellness www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Winter 2014

By Marsha Kearns & Liesl Greathouse

Millions of people practice an ancient

Chinese martial arts form called T’ai Chi Ch’uan, or Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”). Science is beginning to confirm the belief—and the reality—that us-ing the power of the mind along with carefully structured body movements can help maintain optimum mental and physical health.

“This gentle form of exercise can pre-vent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life,” a Har-vard health newslet-ter read.

Particularly im-portant for seniors, this art form is low-impact and relaxing, emphasizing slow, fluid movements. No equipment is required but it’s best to wear loose cloth-ing that is easy to move in.

Mark Posey, owner and instructor of Colorado Tai Chi in Grand Junction, affirms the multiple benefits that practicing Tai Chi can provide.

“No matter what your age or state of health, Tai Chi can provide signifi-cant improvements in many aspects of your mind and body,” Posey, 59, said. “It can make you happier and healthier and help you live longer.”

Tai Chi is designed to relieve stress, helping you relax your muscles and your mind. It works to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, greatly im-proves balance, reduces blood pres-

Heal your mind, body and spirit naturally through Tai Chi

sure, and improves your ability to concentrate.

“I’ve seen amazing chang-es in people’s posture, bal-ance, and range and ease of motion, as well as dramatic

reductions in their pain lev-els,” Posey said. “Reducing stress

levels is key to improving quality of life.”

Lee Burkins, 65, is a Vietnam vet-eran and Tai Chi instructor in Mon-trose.

Burkins entered the U.S. Army at 19, became a para-trooper, and earned a green beret. He began studying Tai Chi in the military and has studied it for 40 years since.

“I heard that Tai Chi is a healing martial art and as a combat veteran with PTSD, I was trying to heal myself,” he said.

Burkins has taught Tai Chi all over the world. Now he helps Montrose residents heal through free Tai Chi classes he offers to veterans, their families and volun-teers at the Warrior Resource Center in Montrose.

“Tai Chi is way beyond what people think it is,” Burkins said. “It is about what the mind, body and energy is. By playing with it, you get to know yourself. I teach people to relax, and let go of tension and stress. They feel better and find breathing space.”

Burkins’ favorite part of teaching is watching people grow and change their body, heart and mind.

“It is no small thing to relax, espe-cially today,” he said. “It takes a lot

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Lee Burkins is a renowned Tai Chi instructor that teaches in Montrose.

Winter 2014 www.BeaconSeniorNews.com health & wellness 3

of work being angry and upset. I get a little bit of joy by helping people lighten up.”

Posey learned his art from several high-level Tai Chi instructors, includ-ing Burkins.

“I was incredibly fortunate to study privately with Lee for many years,” Posey said. “His remarkable level of skill, together with his exceptional teaching abili-ties, is a rare and ideal combi-nation.”

Sue Zanol, 59, is retired, an Air Force veteran, and an avid stu-dent of Tai Chi. She has trained for about five years.

“I’m more relaxed and less intense but very aware,” Zanol said. “I find I don’t need any medications for blood pressure or other aging issues. I believe it’s because I practice Tai Chi. The Tai Chi movements are naturally healing and calming, releasing ten-sion and restoring good circulation. Over time, our bodies become child-like again, in a good way. We relearn proper body alignment and how we once moved with suppleness as chil-dren but which changed because

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of societal pressures.”Zanol takes classes from Burkins

and Posey, traveling back and forth between Grand Junction and Mon-trose. She does it because their teach-ing styles are different but comple-mentary.

“I get incredible instruction from two highly experienced teachers,” she said. “Practitioners come from

around the world to study with Lee. And both are right here on the western slope.”

Zanol empha-sizes that quiet-ing your mind and relaxing are

key benefits of Tai Chi. In addition, the slow, gentle movements gently open and close your joints, which naturally lubricates joints, keeping them healthy and minimizing pain.

To seniors, Zanol said, “Take Tai Chi. It’ll just plain make you feel better.”

Class times and dates vary. Posey can be reached at 261-9295 or through www.coloradotaichi.com. Reach Burkins in Montrose at 765-2210 or through www.energyarts.com. ■

“No matter what your age or state of health, Tai Chi can provide significant improve-ments in many aspects of

your mind and body.”

Burkins has taught Tai Chi all over the world. Now he helps Montrose residents heal through free Tai Chi classes he offers to veterans and volunteers at the Warrior Resource Center.

4 healthy geezer www.BeaconSeniorNews.com Winter 2014

How to hold on to your hair!By Fred Cicetti

Q. I’ve lost some hair, which is no surprise for an old lady, but is there any-thing I can do to hold on to what I have?

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern baldness, is the most com-mon type of alopecia, affecting about one-third of individuals.

We lose hair as we age. Men start to get pattern baldness at the hair-line and crown, and can eventually lead to complete baldness. About 25 percent of men begin to bald by the time they reach age 30, and about two-thirds have at least a balding pat-tern by age 60.

Women’s hair loss is usually just limited to thinning. Rarely do they go completely bald.

There are about 100,000 hairs in the average scalp. About 100 hairs are lost from your head every day. Each individual hair survives for an average of 4-1/2 years and grows about a half-inch per month. In its

fifth year, the hair usually falls out and is replaced within six months.

Androgenetic alopecia is hereditary. Medicines may help

slow or prevent common bald-ness. Rogaine is available without a prescription and can be used by men and women. Propecia is available with a prescription and is only for men. It may take up to six months before you can tell if either of these medicines is working.

Hair transplants and scalp reduc-tion surgery is available to treat androgenetic alopecia when more conservative measures have failed. During transplantation, a dermatolo-gist or cosmetic surgeon takes tiny plugs of skin, each containing one to several hairs, from the back or side of your scalp. The plugs are implanted into the bald sections. Scalp reduc-tion is decreasing the area of bald skin on your head. ■

Send your questions to the Healthy Geezer in care of the BEACON, or email [email protected].

1. Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the hair. Forget braids, pony-tails, cornrows and tight hair rollers. This type of hair loss is called traction alo-pecia. If the pulling scars the scalp, it can cause permanent hair loss.

2. Brushing or comb-ing too much can break hair. Use combs with wide teeth and brushes with smooth tips. Wet hair is more frag-ile than dry hair, so show care after a shower.

3. Shampooing too often is bad for your hair. Use a cream rinse or conditioner after shampooing to make it easier to comb. Don’t dry your hair by rubbing it with a towel.

4. Don’t use hot oil hair treatments or chemicals. These may cause inflam-mation of the hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss.

Here are a few steps you can take to preserve your hair.

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We’re not no. 1 anymore. Mexi-co, according to the U.N. Food

and Agricultural Organization, has surpassed the U.S. as the fattest na-tion in the world.

An estimated 70 percent of the population is overweight, and about one-third of Mexicans are obese. Diabetes accounts for nearly 70,000 Mexican deaths per year.

“But this doesn’t mean our health to the north has gotten better,” Dr. James L. Hardeman said. “It just means others have gotten worse, and the dubi-ous distinction of who is the world’s most obese nation is debatable.”

For one, we’ve been fatter longer than Mexico has.

“Yet we still haven’t sufficiently dealt with our national epidemic of fat-based disease,” Hardeman said. “Our overweight and obese per-centages are neck and neck with Mexico’s, and some of this is due to misinformation.”

Hardeman, author of “Appears Younger than Stated Age,” a pragmat-ic guide to looking younger, debunks

No longer the fattest nation, but we’re still too fat some of the myths that aren’t helping dieters.

• Myth: 30 minutes of exercise three times a week is sufficient. Moderate exercise may work for the 25 year old with a reasonably healthy diet. When we are young, our basal metabolic rate (BMR) rages like a furnace. Unfortunately, our BMR

decreases 2 to 3 percent each decade after age 25. That means we have to make up for that decrease with either better eating habits, more exercise, or both if we want to maintain a healthy weight. For those who are older, overweight or obese, a stron-ger commitment is necessary, includ-ing an hour’s worth of exercise at least five times a week.

• Myth: Gaining weight with age is healthy because it’s natural. Metabo-lism slows with age, causing many to put on the pounds. However,

going back to old habits. This has created an entire genre of literature, as well as videos, gear and meal plans that have become a multibillion-dollar industry. Really, it all boils down to the I&O (Intake and Output) prin-ciple. People who stick to Atkins, South Beach and the Sugar Busters diets lose weight because they limit the intake of calories.

• Myth: Taking vitamin supple-ments every day makes you healthy. Dietary supplement sales represent a $20 billion-a-year business, yet the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act allows for significantly more lenient rules for supplements than medications from pharmaceuti-cal companies, which are carefully scrutinized by the FDA. Manufactur-ers are not required to substanti-ate the supposed benefits of their products. A balanced diet generally provides all required vitamins and minerals needed, with the possible exceptions of vitamin B12 for those who eat no animal products, folic acid for women of childbearing age, and, if blood tests indicate deficiency, vitamin B12 and vitamin D in the elderly. ■

maintaining your Ideal Body Weight (IBW), which factors in height, gender and frame size, will keep you feeling and looking younger if you do not slowly gain weight over time. Also, casually accepting some weight gain over time can lead to massive weight gain, considering our largely sedentary lifestyles and easy availabil-

ity of quick, fatty meals.• Myth: You should

drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Humans posses a sensitive thirst center in a part of the brain called the hypothal-amus, which responds to

dehydration and tells us to drink wa-ter. The amount of water needed for each person varies, so we don’t need to target a set amount because our thirst will tell us. However, drinking plenty of water may decrease ap-petite, and water should always be chosen over sugary beverages for saiting thirst.

• Myth: Diet books keep you slim. “Going on a diet” is one of America’s favorite pastimes. Diets typically entail temporarily altering eating pat-terns, losing a bit of weight, and then

“The dubious distinction of who is the world’s most obese nation is debatable. For one, we’ve been fatter longer than

Mexico has.”


By Allison St. Claire

Remember President Hoover’s fa-mous slogan, “A chicken in every

pot?” (Actually King Henry the IV said it several centuries earlier.)

In the midst of these dark winter days, miserable flu season, and the even darker times of a sluggish economy, a chicken in your pot and the health-ful, delicious broth it creates is one of the brightest foods you can make.

Easy: all you really need is a chick-en or its carcass, and water.

Hundreds of recipes call for chick-en broth or stock. Only the ratio of bones and meat used differentiates them. I can’t think of a single vegeta-ble or grain I cook that isn’t infinitely more flavorful and nutritious with some added chicken stock. There’s no need to buy store-bought, which is far more expensive and unhealthy.

Unfortunately, homemade broth has been replaced with bouillon, which is perhaps the worst item in the market, as it is full of sodium and

MSG. Some pre-made liquid broths also have added MSG and “natural fla-vorings” which are a negative. They are not cooked in the traditional way to gently extract the minerals, col-lagen and gelatin from real bones and have very little nutritional value.

Plus, soup cans, as well as other food cans, are lined with an estrogen-like chemical called bisphenol (BPA) to help prevent rust. But this chemi-cal doesn’t just sit there in the can lining. It breaks free and leaches out into the soup. That means you’re get-ting a secret burst of hormones with every spoonful. Mmm? Yuck!

Starting simpleUse a whole chicken (preferably

organic, pasture-fed or from a reputa-ble supplier) or parts, such as backs, necks, wings and especially feet. Yes, the feet are an extremely nutritious gelatin provider. Note: Every meat purchase does at least double duty if you buy it bone-in. Meat closest to the bone is more flavorful, and bones

A chicken in every pot, broth for every daymake excellent soups and stocks.

Really basic: Put chicken and a splash of vinegar (to help extract minerals from the bones) in a large pot and cover with water. Cook on the stove top at a low simmer, or uncovered in the oven at 170-180 degrees for six to 24 hours. Espe-cially with factory-farmed chickens, you may want to quickly boil first to release scum that you will skim off.

Stock 1.0: Add a large onion, chopped, at the beginning.

Stock 2.0: Additional vegetables. If you plan to toss mushy vegetables away or blend them as a base for soup and gravy thickeners, add two carrots, peeled and chopped, and three celery ribs, chopped, at the start. If you plan to include them in a bowl of chicken soup or casserole later, add during the last hour.

Stock 3.0: If you have them and like additional layers of flavor, at the start, add peppercorns for spiciness, garlic for added sweetness, two bay

leaves for savory depth, and parsley and/or thyme at the very end for floral, herbal notes.

Store broth in your refrigerator for several days, or save space by freez-ing it in an ice cube tray. Each cube would nicely flavor a couple of serv-ings of cooked vegetables, provide a steaming cup of drinking broth, or provide a rich base for rice, quinoa, couscous, wild rice or other grain.

Building healthAlmost 1,000 years ago, physician

Moses Maimonides prescribed chick-en broth as a treatment for colds and asthma, thus the name “Jewish penicillin.” Recent scientific studies confirm what we’ve known all along. Meat stocks contain the minerals (especially calcium, magnesium and potassium) of bone, cartilage, mar-row and vegetables as electrolytes that are easy to assimilate. The gela-tin produced allows the body to use the complete proteins you consume. Gelatin also helps in treating many chronic disorders such as diabetes, muscular dystrophy, gut problems and even cancer. ■

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By Tait Trussell

Menopause, or change of life—as women become too old to bear

children—can frequently be an ago-nizing and stressful time. But it’s just one more cross that women have to bear. Right? Right. But did you know there is male menopause? Yes, male menopause.

It’s one of the most under-diag-nosed ailments among older men, according to Dr. Charles Cartwright of Urology Associates of Lake County, Florida. Cartwright is part of a group of central Florida urologists who have been trying to find new and better treatments for male menopause.

He has diagnosed and treated hundreds of cases in his practice. As men age, their production of testosterone drops off, which can lead to a decline in sexual drive or erectile quality.

But male menopause “has effects other than sexual,” Cartwright pointed out.

For example, several studies in Europe have found that testoster-one therapy provides an increase in mental processing ability. This would counteract one of the characteristics of male menopause, which can be a decrease in intellectual acuity.

An article published in the “Ameri-can Foundation of Urologic Disease” found that some of the traits of male menopause, or andropause, are quite similar to those suffered by women when their reproductive cycle ends.

In contrast to menopause symp-toms in women, andropause pro-gresses slowly and often may be seen by the unpracticed eye as an unavoid-able and untreatable result of aging.

Similar to female menopause, male menopause can cause mood swings, depression and anger. Other symptoms of male menopause are a decrease in intellectual acuity and spatial orientation, fatigue, decrease in lean body mass, an increase in fat,

a decrease in muscle strength and a decrease in body hair. The traits need not all be present. But the combina-tion may well point to male meno-pause. The problem can be detected in about 10 percent of men over age 60.

Health problems affecting elders—both men and women—today, in order of frequency, are heart dis-ease, cancer, respiratory conditions, Alzheimer’s disease and other demen-tias, arthritis and diabetes.

A large proportion of men with any of those diseases also will need urological treatment, the Urologic Disease Foundation predicted. And as the population of elder men increas-es we can expect to see more cases

of male menopause across the U.S.

Current treatment options, Dr. Cart-wright explained, include skin patches and gels. Also men-

tioned are oral tablets and implanted slow-release pellets.

Unimed Pharmaceuticals, which makes Androgel, states that as many as five million American men may have testosterone levels below nor-mal, and only five percent of these men are currently treated.

Injections of testosterone tend to provide uneven results. In contrast, Androgel, according to Cartwright, has the advantage of feeding tes-tosterone into the blood at a steady pace. But it is more costly than testos-terone shots. And Medicare doesn’t pay for any portion of its cost, as it does for injections.

Testosterone levels vary greatly among men. In general, however, older men tend to have lower testos-terone levels than do younger men. Testosterone levels gradually decline throughout adulthood—about 1 percent a year after age 30 on aver-age. By about age 70, the decrease in a man’s testosterone level can be as much as 50 percent, according to the Mayo Clinic. ■

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By Paula Reece, Crossroads Fitness

An active lifestyle may mean dif-ferent things to different people.

I like the idea of a road map. You begin at one point—the beginning! This is where you are in your life right now. The great thing is that you get to decide where that path will lead. Where will your road map go? Here are a few ideas to keep your goal for a healthy lifestyle on track and moving down the road.

First, consider: What are the things you enjoy doing in life? Can you do them? If you are just beginning, you may want to take the road that has a sign with the lower speed limit.

Try going to a health club that caters to beginners. Learning how to exercise is an important first step. Learning what things are available to you and the proper way to use them is crucial.

Do things you enjoy. Going down a road that is bumpy without any scenery isn’t one you would choose and if you do, you probably won’t choose it again. Try an exercise class that appeals to you. When you have a great experience, you will keep do-ing it. By trying a variety of exercises and activities, you will find those that interest you the most. You may not know what you like until you try it.

Keep a routine. It is true that life gets in the way of our best laid plans. By making a commitment to yourself that you will go to an exercise class or walk each day, you will begin to make it part of your life. Obstacles will come along your route. You may have a change in your routine, such as traveling. If you go on vacation, try to find a hotel with a fitness center. Walk and see the sights whenever possible. Perhaps you come down with the flu. Take care of yourself and get well. When you start feeling better, get back on the road.

Ask for help. Follow your fitness journey down a path with direction. There are many areas that can aid in your successful journey. Don’t do it alone. Choose a health club that is filled with knowledgeable and help-ful people. They are trained and pas-sionate about helping people attain a healthy lifestyle. There are other tools to keep you going. It’s no fun to travel alone! Choosing an exercise buddy will help you stay accountable to your goals. Consider them your travel guide.

Healthy lifestyles are more than just staying physically healthy. You must maintain your sense of purpose, keep an active mind and keep your zest for life going strong. Let’s get moving down the road to healthy and active lives. ■

Your road map to an active life

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DOCTOR of AUDIOLOGY

Gift of Better Hearing ProgramBeginning January 2nd, applications are available through our office for the Gift of Better Hearing Program from Starkey. Please bring a non-perishable food item to receive your application. Non-perishable food items will be donated to a local food bank after all applications have been received. Application deadline is 1/31/2014. For questions about this program, please call 970-549-4660.

The new year is here and Western Colorado Hearing Clinic is looking for your help to help give the gift of better hearing. Dr. Jennifer Bebee will be helping (5) five people whom are financially unable to purchase digital hearing aids on their own.

Hear for the New Year!

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Phone 970-549-4660 • Fax 970-549-4658

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By Dr. William D. Merkel, Plastic Surgery Specialists, PC

In the over 36 years I’ve spent treat-ing varicose veins, I’ve noticed

that most patients do not realize the risk they take by not addressing the problem of varicose veins and getting it corrected.

The visible, enlarged, puffy, snake-like veins are not where the cause is. The cause is located near the groin crease area, where the thigh meets the lower abdomen and pelvis. That is where the saphenous and the femoral veins meet, and where an abnormal valve can be located. When blood escapes through this valve, it is termed “venous reflux” and the veins are identified externally by being blue and bulging. Spider and enlarged veins seem minor but are a sign that the condition has progressed and is pushing blood out to the skin level. All varicose veins can eventually start

Treating varicose veins is more than just cosmetic

hurting and swelling, and are subject to dangerous clotting.

Serious vein aneurysms happen when the vein wall thins out and has a balloon effect. Since the blood is stagnating in these enlarged veins, the blood can form what is called a thrombus. If a thrombus breaks loose and travels inside the vein, towards the heart and lungs, that is called an “embolus,” which can be lethal.

A venous ulcer can also form on the inside of the lower leg above the anklebone, which is where the tissue rots away due to loss of oxygen.

Don’t consider varicose veins a simple cosmetic problem. It is a seri-ous medical problem that should be diagnosed and treated. We currently treat this condition with a safe, inva-sive laser inside the vein.

For more information about treat-ing varicose veins, call Plastic Sur-gery Specialists at 242-9127. ■

January is Cervical Health Aware-ness Month, and women across

Colorado are encouraged to start the year by talking with their health care providers about scheduling a pap test. A pap test is the first line of de-fense against cervical cancer. When it’s found early, more than 92 percent of women survive cervical cancer.

“When you find out can be just as important was what you find out,” a Women’s Wellness Connection spokesperson said. “Cervical cancer usually doesn’t have any signs or symptoms, so a routine pap test will tell you if you have a problem.”

Under health care reform, insur-ance plans are required to cover women’s preventive health services, like pap tests, without charging co-pays. The Women’s Wellness Con-nection offers free cervical cancer screenings and any necessary follow-up treatments to Colorado women

A pap test is the first line of defense to prevent cervical cancer

between the ages of 40 and 64 years who have little or no health insur-ance and meet income requirements. To find out details, call the local hotline at 356-5059 or visit www.womenswellnessconnection.org.

Every year in the U.S., approxi-mately 13,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 4,000 women die of the disease. Latinas and African-American women are at higher risk for developing cervical cancer. A routine pap test can pre-vent most of these deaths.

Women’s Wellness Connection provides free, confidential breast and cervical cancer screenings, clinical breast exams, Pap tests and mam-mograms to eligible women at more than 120 sites through cooperative efforts with multiple statewide pro-viders. For questions or to schedule an appointment, call 1-866-951-WELL (9355). ■

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By Ron Pollack

The new year is a time of review and reflection for many people.

It’s also a good time to look at the Medicare changes that will happen this year, and a good time to talk about Medicare as an important source of health coverage for readers who’ll be turning 65.

Q. What will 2014 bring for Medicare beneficiaries in terms of changes in out-of-pocket costs?

While prices for everything seem to go up every year, the good news

for Medicare beneficiaries is that premiums for Medicare Part B will remain the same for 2014, holding steady at $104.90 a month. The Part B deductible also remains unchanged at $147 a year.

Q. What if I have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage?

Those with Medicare Part D will see a $15 drop in their deductible, from $325 in 2013 to $310 in 2014. And the “doughnut hole” (coverage gap), which has been getting smaller each year since 2011, will continue to

What you need to know about Medicare in 2014

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theBeaconSeptember 2012 Vol. 26 No. 9

Photo by Heidi Graf

What’s Inside

Advice and Ideas ............................ 7

Classifieds .................................... 40

Crossword .................................... 29

Delta/Montrose County ................ 35

Finance ......................................... 26

Garfield County ............................. 38

Health & Wellness ......................... 10

Laughing Matters ......................... 16

Local Lore ..................................... 20

Mesa County ................................. 30

Parks & Recreation ....................... 22

River City Singles.......................... 31

Travel & Recreation ...................... 18

Local LoreBlacksmiths have

a rich history in the

Grand Valley. Story

page 20.

Summer down under

A Montrose

woman crossed off

an item from her

bucket list when

she visited Bris-

bane, Australia.

Story page 18.

Western Colorado’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 31,510 Readers.

Zippity Do DogsThis fun club pro-

motes agility training

for both dogs and

their owners. Story

page 9.

Why do men

and women

experience pain

differently?

Find out in our

Health & Well-

ness insert.Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Produced by the BEACON’s

Advertising Team

Why do women hurt more? Pain and gender

differencespage 2

Your Guide to a Heal thy Mind & Body

Health &Wellnessfall 2012

Boomers and their bikes

Experience the freedom of the open road

and what it’s like to “let it all go!”

october 2012 Vol. 26 No. 10

Photo submitted by Terry Eakle

What’s InsideAdvice and Ideas ............................ 9Classifieds .................................... 44Crossword .................................... 40Delta/Montrose County ................ 36Gardening ..................................... 28Garfield County ............................. 41Health & Wellness ......................... 10Laughing Matters ......................... 18Local Lore ..................................... 22Mesa County ................................. 32Parks & Recreation ....................... 17River City Singles.......................... 33Travel & Recreation ...................... 20

Local LoreRead about how one local man keeps the blacksmith’s trade alive in the Grand Valley. Story on page 22.

Cruise to Alaska Join the BEACON

staff on our first reader cruise to Alaska. Read about what wonders await. Story on page 20.

Western Colorado’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 31,510 Readers.

Pickled pinkThese seniors are competitive but enjoy helping people learn the game of pickleball. Story on page 6.

2012 is the year for estate planning. Find out why in our Financial Planning insert.

Now on the web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Produced by the BEACON‘s Advertising Team

How do Alaskan trust laws benefit your Colorado

estate planning?page 2

William Kain and the estate planning experts at Kain & Burke, PC give great, little-known advice on why you should start planning today.

Trivia question: Is this photo of Colorado or Alaska?

Your Guide to Year End Financial Planning

Travel the world

Terry Eakle has led so many tours, she can’t keep track. At 72, traveling keeps her and her many repeat travelers active and loving life. Where will she go next?

wi th Terry

August 2011 Vol. 25 No. 8

Photo by Heidi Graf

What’s InsideAdvice and Ideas ............................... 9Classifieds .......................................36Crossword .......................................35Delta/Montrose County ................... 32Faith Moves ....................................... 7Fruita ...............................................22Garfield County ................................34Health & Wellness ........................... 10Kvetch ..............................................38Laughing Matters ............................ 14Local Lore ........................................ 20Mesa County .................................... 28River City Singles ............................29Travel & Recreation ......................... 16

Some friends have scalesRead about how this small reptile made an impact on one Mon-trose couple’s lives.

Long-Term CareWhat everyone needs to know about long-term care. Read more in this month’s special insert.

Western Colorado’s Monthly Newspaper for Adults 50+. Over 30,450 Readers.Give a pet a home! Adopt a furry friend from Roice-Hurst. Read more on page 26.

Local LoreThe library has had many faces and has been many places. Read more about its 110-year history inside this issue.

Now on the Web at www.BeaconSeniorNews.comProduced by the Beacon’s

Advertising Team

Family moments such as Pirate Day

at Eagle Ridge of the Grand Valley

impact quality of life more than

anything else. With a staff like this

to care for you, long-term care may

not seem so bad afterall.

Your Guide to Senior Housing & Long Term Care

Long-Term Care Birds of a featherCome with us as we take a closer look at local people and their pets. From everyday “pound puppies” to the exotic birds above.

get smaller, too. In 2014, the dough-nut hole will be $158.75 smaller than it was in 2013, another step closer to the goal of eliminating this coverage gap by 2020.

And while you’re in the doughnut hole, you’ll pay less than half (only 47.5 percent) of the cost of name brand drugs. The discount for generic drugs also goes up this year. People with Part D will pay 72 percent of the cost of generic drugs, down from 79 percent in 2013.

Q. What else will 2014 bring for Medicare beneficiaries?

The Affordable Care Act added a strong emphasis on preventive care to Medicare. The start of a new cal-endar year means that a range of free preventive services is again available to Medicare beneficiaries. Annual services (those you get once every 12 months) include a wellness visit with your primary care physician, a mam-mogram or prostate cancer screen-ing, and a flu shot.

Other preventive services are avail-able for free, too, including screen-ings for abdominal aortic aneurysms, bone mass measurements, and diabetes screenings. A list of free pre-ventive services is available at www.medicare.gov.

Q. What if I’m turning 65 in 2014? How do I sign up for Medicare?

The answer to that question de-pends on whether you are getting Social Security benefits.

If you are getting Social Security, you should receive materials from the Social Security Administration (or from the Railroad Retirement Board, if you are a railroad retiree) about your Medicare options a couple of months before your 65th birthday. When you turn 65, you’ll automati-cally be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, with an option to decline Part B. If you want to decline Part

B, be careful. Unless you have other health insurance (such as coverage through a spouse’s policy), there’s a big penalty for signing up later. And you should research your options for Medicare Part D so you’re ready to

choose a drug plan.

If you are not receiving Social Secu-rity, you have to proactively sign up for

Medicare, with the same options for Part B as just described.

Whether you are receiving Social Security or not, you have an alterna-tive to signing up for traditional Medi-care: You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan instead. Medicare Ad-vantage plans are private plans that include the coverage you’d get under Medicare Parts A and B, and they may include drug coverage, too.

Your best sources of information on your options are:

• Social Security website: www.ssa.gov/medicareonly

• Medicare website: www.medicare.gov

You can also get free, in-person help from your State Health Insur-ance Assistance Program (SHIP). Call 1-800-MEDICARE to get a referral.

Q. What are key dates to keep in mind for 2014?

If you didn’t sign up for Part A or B when you first became eligible, you can sign up during the general enrollment period, which runs from January 1 to March 31, 2014. Remem-ber, you may pay a higher premium for enrolling late.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you have until February 15, 2014, to leave your Medicare Advan-tage plan and move to (or back into) traditional Medicare.

Between October 15 and December 7, 2014, you can change your Part D drug plan, join a Medicare Advantage plan, and exercise other Medicare coverage options. ■

While prices for everything seem to go up, the good news is that premiums for Medicare Part B

will remain the same.


By Tait Trussell

“Relish! That’s the name of it!”We had hot dogs for supper. I

couldn’t recall the name of that pick-led stuff and had to ask my wife.

Names of people and things some-times just can’t spring to mind. It’s generously called “a senior moment.” But you wonder if you are losing it.

Reassuringly, scientists have dis-covered that the human brain has a remarkable ability to adapt to change, even in old age. It’s called neuro-plasticity. With the right stimulation, what’s in your noggin can improve your memory and even learn new in-formation. You have to nurture your brain with the right diet and other wholesome habits.

Let’s start with physical exercise. It feeds oxygen to the brain. I know it’s not something to look forward to, but if you get in the habit, you will automatically put down your exercise mat each morning and go

Spruce up your memorythrough a series of stretching and strength-building exercises for about 15 minutes. At least that’s what I do. Exercise also stirs up chemicals in the brain that protects brain cells.

But that’s not the whole solution. Next, there’s the matter of sleep. Cre-ativity and problem solving depend on getting enough zs. Most older men have to rise two or more times dur-ing the night to go to the bathroom. Then sometimes the mind starts clicking about some matter.

The other night, for instance, I was awake from 12:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. I had too many thoughts rac-ing through my mind. Enough sleep is crucial to learning or preserving your memory. Memory research says that important memory-enhancing activity occurs during deep stages of sleep. Scientists at the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Sleep at City University of New York found through tests that a daytime nap en-

hanced memory performance.Another memory tip is to spend

some time with friends and have a little fun. Some people believe that struggling with “The New York Times” crossword puzzle or learning chess strategy will build brainpower. It may. But interacting with oth-ers could be the best kind of brain exercise, some scientists maintain. Several friends and I exchange jokes via email. Laughter is said to stimu-late several regions of the brain.

Psychologist Daniel Goleman says in his book, “Emotional Intelligence,” that laughter seems to help people “think more broadly and associate more freely.”

Share your embarrassing moments and laugh at yourself. Frame pictures of yourself and your family having fun. Spend some time with people who laugh readily and poke fun at crazy occurrences or comments.

Try to avoid stress. Psychologist Richard O’Connor says today we’re working 25 percent longer and harder than 25 years ago to attain the same standard of living, and few

people know how harmful stress can be to the brain. In recent years, ad-vances in technology have provided studies showing considerable loss of gray matter, the information-process-ing center of your brain, resulting from depression and anxiety.

You can avoid some stress by be-lieving that you have some control over your life.

Then you also want to eat a brain-supporting diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables with their antioxidants. Omega-3s, found in cold-water fatty fish boost brain power. Green tea protects brain cells. Stay away from sugar and white bread.

Regarding a name or word you can’t remember, associate a visual image with the word or name. For example, to remember the name Rosa Parks, and what she’s known for, picture a woman sitting on a park bench surrounded by roses, waiting for her bus.

Or run through the alphabet. Some-times you’ll arrive at the letter that starts the name and brings to mind the name you were seeking. ■

• Specialist Implant Surgeons with Advanced Training• Most experienced implant team in our area• Implants for denture stability &

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970.240.4485 • 600 S. Park Avenue • Montrose, CO 81401

Craig T. Cayo D.D.S.,Dorcha W. Boisen D.D.S.

MONTROSE ORAL SURGERY ANDDENTAL IMPLANT SPECIALISTS

www.montroseoms.com


The Fruita Community Center (FCC) and Family Health West

(FHW) invite you to attend the third annual Winter Speaker Series at the FCC, 324 N. Coulson St. This free se-ries is open to community members of all ages.

Experts from Family Health West, the Health Department, and other local businesses will speak about current health-related topics from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. every Tuesday, January through March. Attendees can ask questions and find local resources related to each topic.

The speaker series is in conjunction with the launch of the Race Across America at the Fruita Community Center. Club members will log miles completed at the center and receive prizes along the way. Guests do not have to be signed up for the Race Across America to attend presenta-tions.

For more information, call Angela Ash at 858-0360, ext. 6402 or [email protected].• January 7 - “Are you running

right?” For new and experienced runners. There is a right and wrong way to run. Learn how to prevent injuries.

• January 14 - “We’ve got your back.” Treating low back pain.

Winter Speaker Series on health• January 21 - “Oh, my aching

shoulder!” How to know if you need surgery.

• January 28 - “Healthy, happy kids.” Is your child a couch spud? Kids and obesity. How to keep them moving.

• February 4 - “Myofacial release with foam rolling.” The benefits of foam rolling…you can do it at home.

• February 11 - “Anatomy and diagnosis of the low back.” Sciatica, disc and nerve disorders.

• February 18 - “Oh, my aching knee!” Treating knee pain. How to know if you need surgery.

• February 25 - “Your core foundation…promoting a healthy back at home.” Preventive exercises/stretches you can do at home for back pain.

• March 4 - “Arthritis is all the same, isn’t it?” Different types of treatment.

• March 11 - “Arthritis in the knee.” Treatments available.

• March 18 - “Psychology of weight loss.” Changing your beliefs about weight and food.

• March 25 - “Promoting a healthy neck at home.” Preventive exercises/stretches you can do at home for neck pain. ■

By Scott VanDusen, DDS

Now that we’ve completed our fifth year of practice, I want to

thank my awesome staff for their hard work and loyalty.

Becky, Danielle and I started the practice, just the three of us. Now our staff has grown to seven wonder-ful employees, as we added Cindi, Katherine, Denise and Diane. It’s fun to come to work every morning. No turnover in my staff is a great benefit and I know my patients appreciate this as well.

I would also like to recognize another important group of people in my practice: my patients. We have the best. We take the time to get to

Dental dreams do come trueknow them and they become part of our family. It’s rare that we lose pa-tients from our practice unless they move. With new patients coming in almost daily, our practice continues to grow and our family keeps getting bigger. Their continuous referrals help us continue to grow.

If you are in need of dental care, whether it is an exam, cleaning or restoration of teeth, give us a call at 255-7070. Our office is a contracted provider with most insurance com-panies, and we can help you under-stand your needs and benefits.

Please visit our website at www.drscottvandusen.com or stop in to say hi. We look forward to meeting you. ■

Get your Free copies!Call 970 243-8829

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“It’s our yellow pages for seniors”

• Mesa County• Montrose-Delta• Garfield County

NEw 2014 EDITION AVAILABLE

“I have had many of my clients tell me that they have seen my ad in the Beacon’s Senior ReSouRce Directory. I feel the continuity of being in the Beacon every month along with the yearly ReSouRce Directory, which stays with most people’s telephone books, gets me the best bang for my buck!” – Valerie a. Begalle, Reverse Mortgage Specialist

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Documents

BEACON - Winter Health & Wellness (January 2014)