February 2014 Senior Spectrum Newspaper

February • 2014 • 3

page 3 - Preventive Carepage 4 - Opinion: CongressBreaks Promises for Veterans page 5 -Opinion: CongressNeeds to Work on Recovery page 6 - Second Home Meal for Low-Income Seniorspage 17 - National Health Spending Remains LowEvery Issuepage 20 - Calendar page 21 - Tinseltown Talkspage 22 - Biggest Little Citypage 23 - Eclectic Observer page 24 - Eydie’s Excerpts page 27 - Crosswordpage 29 - Resourcespage 30 - Seniors4Travelpage 31 - this ‘n that

Healthpage 10 - CMS: MedicareInformation Online David Sayen, Region 9page 12 - Fear of Aging: What Can Women Do?Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D.,Center for Healthy Agingpage 14 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D.page 15 - Nursing HomeMiracle, Dr. Steven Rubinpage 16 - AARP: SocialSecurity and Your Spousepage 18 - Caregiving MadeEasier: Strive for BalanceFinancial page 7 - Plan Your EstateBradley B. Anderson

2014

Senior Spectrum NewspaperP.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510

(775) 348-0717e-mai l : S eniorspectrumnv@aol . com

S eniorspectrumnewspaper. comPublishers: Chris & Connie McMullen

Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain.Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns

are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.

22Content s

The new health-care lawencourages people to get thepreventive services they needby requiring that most healthplans cover cancer screenings,contraceptives and vaccines,among other things, withoutcharging patients anything outof pocket. Some patients, how-ever, are running up againstcoverage exceptions and extracosts when they try to get thoseservices.

Advocates and policyexperts agree that more federalguidance is needed to clarifythe rules. Rebecca Hyde ofWoodstock, Conn., was angrywhen, after getting acolonoscopy to screen for can-cer in December, she got anotice that her insurer wascharging a hospital "facility fee"of $1,935 against her $6,000deductible. Such fees are notuncommon for hospital-basedcare

But since colonoscopies arerecommended starting at age50, the 53-year-old had notexpected to owe anything outof pocket. "I thought it was thebait-and-switch: They tell youit's going to be preventive andthen you get a really large bill,"she says.

Hyde discussed the problemwith hospital billing staff, whooffered to resubmit the billusing a different procedurebilling code. Hyde says shehopes the issue can be resolvedwithout having to appeal to herhealth plan.

Hyde's experience is notunique, says Mona Shah, associ-ate director of federal relationsat the American Cancer SocietyCancer Action Network. Otherpatients have reported beingcharged for services related to acolonoscopy, if not the actualscreening itself. Last year, feder-

al officials clarified that insurerscan't impose cost sharing if apatient has a polyp removedduring a screening colonoscopy,as Hyde did.

But the rules are murkier forother services. As in Hyde'scase, it's often a problem withhow a procedure is coded forbilling purposes, Shah says.Instead of a single code thatcovers a procedure and every-thing related to it, the tradition-al fee-for-service system assignsmultiple codes: one for thecolonoscopy, for example, andothers for the anesthesia andthe facility.

"We're trying to get [theDepartment of Health andHuman Services] to releaseguidance that says preventionshould cover all related servic-es," she says.

HHS spokeswoman JoannePeters says the agency contin-ues "to monitor how the pre-ventive services provisions arebeing carried out, and we areworking with stakeholders toensure they understand ourguidance and to offer furtherclarity to them when needed."

Lacking explicit federal guid-ance, "there may be some varia-tion in coverage," says SusanPisano, a spokesperson forAmerica's Health InsurancePlans, a trade group. But "ourplans are committed to doingwhat the [health law] says weshould do."

The system still has kinks towork out. Translating a set ofclinical recommendationsabout preventive services intoan insurance claim and describ-ing how it should be paid is"much more complicated thanjust pointing to a list and saying'that's covered,' " says KarenPollitz, at the Kaiser FamilyFoundation.

Uninsured Consumers ExpectingFree 'Preventive' Care Sometimes

Surprised By ChargesBy Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News

Virginia City Tourism Commission

In December,Congress chose tobalance the budget onthe backs of veteransand our nation’s hard-

working military menand women. Essentially, the budgetdeal relied on our veterans to providefor increased spending.

Our heroes have served this nationbravely, and do not deserve to havetheir benefits compromised in any way,which is why I joined seven of my col-leagues to introduce a bill to reversethese damaging cuts. Our bill repealsthe recent decreases in the militaryretiree cost-of-living adjustmentincluded in December's budget agree-ment. The legislation also includes athree-month extension of long-term

unemployment insurance benefits forthe nearly 17,000 Nevadans looking forwork.

This is a common-sense proposalthat will allow Congress to helpAmericans who were left desperatewhen their benefits were abruptly cut,as well as ensure that our nation keepsits promises to military retirees andtheir families.

More than 300,000 veterans callNevada home, and I am grateful for theimmeasurable sacrifices they havemade on our behalf. The character andcourage of our military men andwomen, past and present, are whathave made our nation so great.

It’s past time that the governmentprovides certainty to our militaryretirees and their families. Nevada vet-

erans don’t deserve this politicalbrinkmanship, and Congress must endthe detrimental cycle of inaction andindecisiveness. While it’s unfortunatethat the Senate majority is placing poli-tics ahead of good policy, rest assured,I will continue fighting to reverse theunfair military retiree cuts.

To all of Nevada’s heroes, thank youfor your service and everything youhave given.

Readers can contact Senator Hellerat: Bruce Thompson Federal Building,400 S. Virginia St., Ste. 738, Reno, NV89501. In Carson City write to: 305North Carson St., Ste. 201, CarsonCity, NV 89701.

4 • 2014 • February

Sen. Dean Heller

OpinionU.S. Senator Dean Heller Congress Breaks Promises

to Our Nation’s Veterans


Opinion

2014 has brought withit a chance to tackle thechallenges that our coun-try, and Nevada, continue

to face--including closing the income gap,reducing unemployment, increasing theminimum wage, and reforming our immi-gration system.

It’s no secret that lately, our governmenthas experienced gridlock and continuousbickering amongst those elected to lead.

The American people, and Nevadans,want results; they want us to do the jobthey sent us to Washington to do—seeksolutions for everyday problems. Over amillion Americans and 18,000 Nevadanshave seen their unemployment benefitshalted.

I am working with Nevada SenatorDean Heller on a solution to extend these

important benefits to those out of workthrough no fault of their own that recentlyfailed to overcome a procedural vote. Butthe Senate will bring this up again, as wehave not forgotten the thousands inNevada that rely on these benefits to sur-vive.

Raising the minimum wage so a motheror father working two jobs can afford therent and the electric bill in the same monthis a solution. Investing in job creation andeducation, so today’s workers can competefor tomorrow’s jobs, is a solution.Safeguarding every American’s access toour world class healthcare system, is a solu-tion.

Middle-class Nevadans around the statecontinue to struggle to make ends meet.Many have lost their jobs or have seen theirhours at work reduced significantly. Many

more have taken part-time work or a sec-ond job just to get by. And the rest havewatched their wages shrink at the sametime the richest few have tripled theirincome.

Meanwhile, wages for middle-class fam-ilies have remained stagnant, while the costof housing, food and gas has gone up.What beleaguered Americans need is to beable to pay their bills, and live with dignity.

Regrettably, too many of my Republicancolleagues in the Senate and in the Houseof Representatives are more interested inplaying politics than helping middle-classNevadans and Nevada's seniors.

With just a little cooperation, we canwork to continue down the road of eco-nomic recovery, and work to create jobs forevery Nevadan.

Sen. Harry Reid

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid Washington Needs to Work on Economic Recovery


Washoe County SeniorServices is launching aSecond Meal Program tomeet the growing demandfor food sought by needyseniors.

On February 10, 2014,Senior Services will begindelivering a 2nd home deliv-ered meal to eligible peoplewhenever it is requested. Inorder to do this, Valley

Services, Washoe County’snutrition services provider, isadding staff and routes toreach people. Eventually, newapplicants eligible for theHome Delivered Meals pro-gram will automatically beincluded in the Second MealProgram if needed.

This year, Senior Servicesplanned on delivering127,000 Home DeliveredMeals. The Second MealProgram will increase thenumber of meals served byalmost 68,000 to 195,000meals. Additional programexpansion is planned to meetthe growing demand. “Todaythere are about 83,000 sen-iors in Washoe County.Because of the aging of the

baby boom generation, therewill be 100,000 by 2020, and130,000 by 2030. The agingof our community is a per-manent change, and we needto be prepared,” said SeniorServices Director GradyTarbutton.

A recent Washoe Countysurvey found that 37 percentof Senior Services home-bound seniors that receiveHome Delivered Mealsreport that the meal is theironly meal for the day.

Seniors who are home-bound may qualify for thisprogram. For more informa-tion and to schedule an inhome assessment, callWashoe County SeniorServices at (775) 328-2575.

Washoe County Senior Services BeginsSecond Meal for Low-Income Seniors

The New Year brings with ita renewed outlook and freshresolutions. We vow to getorganized, eat healthier, andlose those last stubborn 10pounds. But many of usoverlook one simple andpractical resolution thatcould have a profound effecton our lives, not to mentionthe lives of those we love.What’s that resolution?Create a basic estate plan.

It’s not hard to get started.First, find an experiencedestate planning attorney. Youcan start by checking with

the American Academy ofEstate Planning Attorneys oravvo.com. Call to make anappointment, and then relax.The attorney’s office will letyou know what to expect,and what you need to bringwith you to your consulta-tion. The meeting is essen-tially a conversation aboutyou, your family, and yourgoals. The attorney will askmany questions, listen care-fully to your answers, andgive you time to ask ques-tions of your own. After yourconcerns are addressed, theattorney will suggest a plan

to meet your needs.

The plan will be tailored toyour specific situation, but itwill likely include these basicdocuments:• Living Trust – This is thecornerstone of your estateplan. You transfer most ofyour assets into the Trustand retain control of theTrust during your lifetime.The provisions of the Trustallow for the assets to bemanaged by a Trustee select-ed by you in the event ofyour death or disability. TheTrust provisions also dictate

how the Trust assets will bedistributed after your death.One of the advantages of aLiving Trust is that Trustassets are not subject to pro-bate.

• Pour-Over Will –“Catches” any assets omittedfrom your Trust and “pours”them into your Trust afteryour death, allowing theterms of your Trust to deter-mine how these assets aredistributed. You will alsoname guardians for yourminor children.

(Your Estate Plan page 8)

Brought to you byBradley B. AndersonAnderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.


This New Year, Resolve to Plan Your Estate

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneyswww.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com


• Financial Power ofAttorney – Allows you toappoint an agent to manageyour financial accounts andany property not included inyour trust in the event ofyour disability.

• Durable Power of Attorneyfor Health Care – Allows youto appoint an agent to makemedical decisions on yourbehalf if you are unable to doso yourself.

• HIPAA Power – Permitsyour agent and the lovedones you list to access yourhealthcare information.Without this, confidentialityrules could prohibit therelease of any Medicaidinformation.

Planning your estate is aneasy and important resolu-tion to check off your list.

With the peace of mind andconfidence you’ll gain fromputting your estate plan inorder, who knows what you’llbe able to accomplish nextyear? Maybe you’ll even ban-ish those last 10 pounds forgood!

About Our Law FirmThe Law Firm of Anderson,Dorn & Rader is devotedexclusively to estate plan-ning. We are members of theAmerican Academy of EstatePlanning Attorneys and offerguidance and advice to ourclients in every area of estateplanning. We offer compre-hensive and personalizedestate planning consultations.For more information orattend an upcoming seminar,please contact us at (775)823-WILL (9455) or visit usonline at www.wealth-coun-selors.com

Estate Plan/ page 7



Getting Medicare Information OnlineDavid Sayen

Regional Administrator, Medicare Region 9

Our website iswww.Medicare.gov,and it has a wealth of

information that you mayfind helpful.

One terrific feature is our“Compare” websites, whichprovide quality of care infor-mation on hospitals, nursinghomes, home health agen-cies, and dialysis centers inyour area.

Take Hospital Compare.This tool has informationabout the quality of care atmore than 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals across the

United States.Hospital Compare gives

you a snapshot of the qualityof hospitals in your area byallowing you to comparetheir performance on differ-ent quality of care measure-ments.

For example, you’ll findinformation on how oftenand quickly each hospitalgives recommended treat-ments for certain conditionsincluding heart attack, heartfailure, and pneumonia.

You can also learn howeach hospital’s readmission

and death rates comparewith the national rate, andhow likely patients in thathospital are to suffer compli-cations.

To check out HospitalCompare, and our otherCompare tools, go to www.Medicare.gov.

Medicare.gov also letsyou search for doctors andother healthcare providers,including medical suppliers,near where you live.

You can also searchonline for Medicare healthand prescription drug plans

in your area.Just click the “Find health

& drug plans” button. You’llsee a list of local plans, pre-mium and other cost infor-mation, contact information,and how many stars the planreceived under Medicare’sFive Star Rating System.

In addition, Medicare.govlets you see what Medicarecovers, including preventivehealth services.

Thanks to the AffordableCare Act, co-pays anddeductibles were eliminated for many of the tests, screen-

As 2014 gets under way, I wanted to give you a quick overview of the Medicare information you can now get online.

David Sayen

ings, and immunizations thatMedicare covers to help youstay healthy.

Preventive screenings forcancer, heart disease, andother problems can helpdetect them in their earliest,most treatable stages.

Another helpful new toolis our www.MyMedicare.govwebsite, which lets you cre-ate a secure, online accountfor accessing personalizedinformation regarding yourMedicare benefits and serv-ices.

Once you’ve registered atMyMedicare.gov, you can:• Complete your “InitialEnrollment Questionnaire”so your Medicare claims canget paid correctly;• Manage your personalinformation (like medicalconditions, allergies, andimplanted devices);• Manage your personaldrug list and pharmacyinformation;• Search for, add to, andmanage a list of your favoriteproviders and access qualityinformation about them;• Track your OriginalMedicare claims and yourPart B deductible status;• Sign up to get the annual“Medicare & You” handbookelectronically. You won’t geta printed copy in the mail ifyou choose to get it electron-

ically.

MyMedicare.gov also fea-tures our new Blue Button,which allows you to down-load your Medicare claimsdata to your computer ormobile phone.

Why would you want todo that?

Your claims informationgives you a better picture ofyour overall health. This canhelp you make moreinformed decisions aboutyour care and can help yougive your healthcareproviders a more completeview of your health history.Having your claims data on acomputer file makes it easyto share with your doctors,caregivers, or anyone elseyou choose.

I always urge people withMedicare to check theirclaims and make sure theyreflect services you actuallyreceived, and were onlybilled once for. If you sus-pect possible fraud or abuse,call us at 1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227).

And if you don’t havecomputer access, just call 1-800-MEDICARE and ourcustomer representatives willhelp you.

David Sayen is Medicare’sregional administrator for

Arizona, California, Hawaii,Nevada, and the PacificTerritories. You can alwaysget answers to your

Medicare questions by call-ing 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).


Medicare / page 10

Given that womenlive an averageof 6 years longer

than men (82 vs. 76), what fears ofaging do women have and what can bedone about it. According to research,the first and foremost fear of aging of awoman is the loss of attractiveness orappearance. This explains the billions ofdollars spent on anti-aging products,including surgeries. Isolation or beingleft alone is next, with concern aboutfinances or becoming a bag lady a closethird. The fear of cancer and beingdependent on others are prevalentamong women as well. In short, thesefears can shorten our lives, create stress,and reduce the quality of life.

How do we combat these fears ofaging? Women can combat fear andanxiety about growing old throughknowledge, planning, and better health

habits. It is important to recognize thefear, know the facts, plan for change,and adopt healthy behaviors. It is nevertoo late to address one’s health andfocus on prevention. In addition, weneed to stay active and engage in regu-lar physical, social, and emotional activ-ity.

Self-care and self-perception is criti-cal, especially when it comes to physicalbeauty or loss of attractiveness. Awoman’s attractiveness needs to bedetermined by her inner beauty whichtranscends the outer package. You can-not control others’ views, societalnorms, or stereotypes about aging, butyou can do a lot to stave off illness, dis-ability, and negative images of self.When you cultivate an inner beauty ofyourself, it transcends the outer packag-ing. Plan for and act on getting enoughsleep, eating a healthy diet, engaging in

physical exercise, laughing a lot (at leasteight times a day), and staying engagedwith the world.

Negative images, myths, and stereo-types of aging are very pervasive in ourculture:• To be old is to be sick• You can’t teach an old dog new tricks• The horse is out of the barn• The secret to successful aging is tochoose your parents wisely• The lights may be on, but the voltageis low• The elderly don’t pull their ownweight

These negative stereotypes areimplicit ageism and have significanteffects on our lives.

Another fear women have of aging isbeing left alone and isolated. Spousesand loved ones die and family moveaway, so there may be fewer relation-


Larry Weiss

Dr. Larry Weiss • Center for Healthy Aging

Fear of Aging: What Can Women Do?Adding Life to Years

ships as we get older.However, the important ele-ment is quality of the socialand loving relationships, notthe quantity. We need toaccept change, includingdeath, and reach out sociallyto new encounters. Churchgroups, political activities,and other social experiencesenhance our health. Womenare able to accomplish thisbetter than men, hence con-tributing to their increasedlongevity.

Know that even if youhave fewer overall relation-ships as you get older, theones you have gain intimacyand importance. Healthyrelationships, especially inold age, involve less self-cen-teredness and more close-ness.

The fear of not havingenough money to live or ofbecoming a bag lady willdiminish as more boomersgain skills and confidenceabout managing their money.Unfortunately, we still do notsave enough for living intoour eighties and nineties. Theearlier we start the better andeven saving a small amounteach month will have animpact later. Financial plan-ning is critical. If you are notcomfortable, seek profession-al help.

Cancer, especially breastcancer, is the greatest healthconcern women fear most,according to a 2005 study bythe Society for Women'sHealth Research. Other can-cers are more deadly, such aslung cancer, but not morefearful. Cancer is scary.However, if we have a healthylifestyle, get routine screen-ings, and put the disease inperspective we will be health-ier. An example of puttingbreast cancer into perspec-tive is that heart disease(feared by only 10%) is actu-ally the number-one killer of

women in the U.S. One final fear women

have of growing old is losingindependence and beingdependent on others. It iscritical to plan and commu-nicate what your wishes arewhen you are unable to carefor yourself. Ironically, manywomen who don't wish to bea burden become exactly thatbecause they haven't donetheir basic health careadvance planning, living will,and health care power ofattorney. About one-third ofus have our advanced direc-tives and about one-fifth areused. Therefore in addition topreparing our advanceddirectives, we need to regu-larly communicate our wish-es to our significant othersand professionals, such as ourphysicians. Assign someonenow to have health carepower of attorney in theevent you become incapaci-tated. Talk about your wishes,plan for living a portion ofyour life not having full func-tion.

This article only raisessome fears and some possiblesolutions that will help youprepare for healthy aging.Many causes of death anddisability are preventable andtreatable. The four major fac-tors to aging well are:Understanding/Wisdom;Belonging/Social Support;Forgiving; andServing/Helping. The poweris within you. As Dr. Dyerstates, “If you change the wayyou look at things, the thingsyou look at change.” This willadd life to years!

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D.is CEO of the Center forHealthy Aging. Dr. Weisswelcomes your comments.Write to him [email protected] c/o Center for HealthyAging, 11 Fillmore Way,Reno, NV 89519.



The FDA recent-ly approved anew drug for

the treatment of“open-angle glauco-

ma,” which is the most common form ofthe eye disease.

Sometimes referred to as “chronicglaucoma,” open-angle glaucoma is par-ticularly dangerous because it canprogress gradually and go unnoticed.

Affecting 70 to 80 percent of those

suffering from the disease, open-angleglaucoma typically occurs among indi-viduals over the age of 50, and its risk ofoccurrence increases with age.

It is characterized by a cloggeddrainage system in the eye, whichresults in a buildup in aqueous fluid andrise in intraocular pressure. The newdrug for treatment of this form of thedisease, tafluprost, works by reducinginner eye pressure.

It should be noted that open-angle

glaucoma is known as “the silent thief ofsight” because it may not presentnoticeable symptoms; an eye exam isnecessary for diagnosis.

If you would like further informationon today’s topic or an appointment,please call my office at (775) 882-2988.We are located at 3839 N. CarsonStreet, in Carson City. Hours: 8-5 p.m.,Mon. - Fri. by appointment. M/C, Visaand Medicare Assignment accepted.

Michael Fischer

Playing the AngleMichael J. Fischer, M.D.

Eye Physician & Surgeon

Ophthalmology

Neighbors discov-ered the middle-aged man uncon-

scious in his mobilehome. He was treated at the hospital fordehydration and malnutrition. His condi-tion of encephalopathy (malfunctioning oraltered state of the brain) was resolved andhe was transported to a nursing home forrehabilitation. His only medications at thetime of transfer were newly initiatedaspirin and a blood pressure agent.

Upon admission to the extended carefacility, one of the many antidepressantsknown for weight gain side effects was ini-tiated. Due to the medication’s other sideeffect of agitation, the patient was startedon an antipsychotic medication, and then Iwas consulted to offer treatment advice.

The two psychiatric drugs were stopped.The man continued to regain his mentaland physical fortitude by means of time,proper nutrition, and physical therapy. Hestarted to look less thin and much healthi-

er, and voiced his improvement.Then, less than two weeks later, he

developed significant trembling, was men-tally ill-focused and distressed, and lookedto be in active physical decline. A surgicallyplaced feeding tube was delivering nutri-tion directly into his stomach. What hadhappened?

The man had slipped and fallen, andhad been sent back to the hospital forobservation. He was assessed as not havingany acute injuries but was diagnosed by aspecialist as having Parkinson ’s disease,based on a mild hand tremor. High-dosagesof a medication meant to alleviate tremorswere initiated, but it had side effects oftremors, confusion, hallucinations, anxiety,gastrointestinal problems, and more. Inaddition to the feeding tube, he wasreturned to the nursing facility with ordersrestricting him from swallowing anythingthrough his mouth. He was also prescribeda steroid medicine (side effects includehigh blood pressure, blood clots, and

encephalopathy) to promote his appetite.There were no directives for follow-up byany specialists.

I discontinued the latest two medica-tions. One week later, our man was againmentally stable, without tremors, andregaining ability to swallow his nutritivesubstances. He was regaining his compo-sure, and preparing to return to his homewith prescribed aspirin and blood pressuremedication. Hopefully, some form of fol-low-up outpatient community or home-health personnel would be arranged tosupplement his care.

The miracle? A patient within the med-ical system regained health as a result ofsensible healthcare interventions and quali-ty care delivered by facility staff. Now, he’sonly on two medications, and not 10, 20 ormore, as has become too common.

Steven Rubin MD is a board certifiedpsychiatrist and independent medicalexaminer, specializing in senior health caredelivery, consultation, and education.


A Nursing Home MiracleSteven Rubin M.D.

Dr. Rubin

Let’s start with the basics.Normal retirement age forSocial Security is currently 66

if you were born between 1943 and1954. (It rises to 67 if you were bornin 1960 or later). But “normal” does-n’t always mean “best.”

To get the highest benefit from SocialSecurity, you can delay retiring up untilage 70. Now, you might not end up in aposition to do this, but it’s well worth itif you can. Your benefit goes up 8 per-cent a year until age 70.

On the other hand, you’re permittedto take Social Security beginning at age62. But this can reduce your benefit by25 percent or more. Here’s an examplefor someone with a $1,000 monthlybenefit at normal retirement age:

So now you know how decidingwhen to claim affects you. Here’s how itaffects your sweetie:

#1. You’ll have higher annual incomeas a couple. The longer you wait tobegin taking your Social Security retire-ment benefit (up to age 70), the moreincome you’ll have as a couple. A fewhundred dollars a month in additionalincome during retirement can have ameaningful impact on your budget.

#2. Her survivor benefit will behigher. If you die first, your spousegets 100 percent of your retirementbenefit. If you take your benefitsearly, you’re leaving her with less

monthly income for life. If you retirelater, you’re giving her a monthly giftthat keeps on giving. And, if you outliveher, you still have the higher benefit.

#3. She can start claiming before youretire. Here’s a neat option if yourspouse has lower lifetime earnings thanyou – it’s called the “file and suspend”strategy. You can file for your retire-ment benefit at your normal retirementage, but ask to receive it later. Whenyou do this, the love of your life can filefor spousal benefits on your work

record. Then, when you turn 70,you can start receiving your higherbenefit.

Social Security has a built inway of increasing retirement bene-fits for your spouse if she hasearned less income than you overher lifetime. If her retirement ben-efit will be less than yours by 50percent or more, she’ll get thehigher amount. She can wait untilher full retirement age to claim this“spousal benefit” to maximize hermonthly income.

There’s a lot for couples to con-sider when looking at SocialSecurity retirement benefitoptions. It’s not the easiest thing todo in the world, but then again,neither is love! But everythingworthwhile is worth working on.Hmm. Social Security claiming iskind of romantic after all.

To learn more, head on over towww.aarp.org/work/social-securi-ty. 16 • 2014 • February

Social Security and Your SpouseJean C. Setzfand

Jean C. Setzfand

This Valentine’s Day, do you want to do something really special for your spouse? Thenskip the chocolates and flowers, and let’s talk Social Security. Okay, it’s not the mostromantic topic, but if you plan well, your Valentine will feel your love for years to come.

Overall national healthexpenditures grew at anannual rate of 3.7 percent in2012, marking the fourthconsecutive year of lowgrowth, according to theCenters for Medicare &Medicaid Services (CMS)Office of the Actuary. Health spending as a share ofthe gross domestic productfell slightly from 17.3 percentin 2011, to 17.2 percent in2012.

The entire report fromCMS’ Office of the Actuaryfound that the continued lowgrowth in 2012 was drivenby slower growth in pre-scription drug, nursinghome, private health insur-ance, and Medicare expendi-tures. It also found that theAffordable Care Act (ACA)contributed to the slowgrowth for the Medicare pro-gram in 2012, but had a lim-ited impact on overall spend-ing as reforms were stillbeing implemented in 2012.

The report’s findings said: • Private health insurancespending growthremained low. Privatehealth insurance spendingcontinued to grow at a lowrate, increasing 3.2 percent in2012 compared to 3.4 per-cent growth in 2011.

• Medicare spendinggrowth continued to below. Despite a large uptick inMedicare enrollment,Medicare spending growthslowed slightly in 2012,increasing by 4.8 percentcompared to 5.0 percentgrowth in 2011. TotalMedicare spending perenrollee grew by only 0.7percent in 2012.

• Prescription drugspending growth was low.Retail prescription drugspending slowed in 2012,growing only 0.4 percent asthe result of numerous drugslosing their patent protec-tion, leading to increasedsales of lower-cost generics.

• Nursing home spendinggrowth slowed. Spendingfor freestanding nursingcare facilities and continuingcare retirement communi-ties increased by only 1.6percent in 2012, down from4.3 percent growth in 2011,due to a one-time Medicarerate adjustment for skillednursing facilities.

• Medicaid spending con-tinued to grow at a his-torically low rate. TotalMedicaid spending grew 3.3percent in 2012. While an

increase over 2011, thisincrease still represents his-torically low overall growthrates tied to improved eco-nomic conditions, as well asefforts by states to controlcosts.

The report also foundaccelerated growth in hospi-tal and physician and clinical

services spending, and slight-ly faster growth in out-of-pocket spending, 3.8 percentin 2012 compared to 3.5 per-cent in 2011. (Find report at:http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-andReports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.html)


National Health Spending Growth Remains Low for 4th Consecutive Year

Working caregivers everywhereneed to strive for balance intheir lives. You have to try

and eat right, exercise regularly, main-tain a social life, be productive at work,and set aside the right amount of timefor your family, all while being a care-giver. I get dizzy just thinking about it,but you can do it. It’s not hard to spotwhen a working caregiver is out of bal-ance. They might gain or lose weight,abuse alcohol or drugs, perform poorlyon the job, and even neglect their ownfamily. Being conscious of this will helpyou avoid the dangerous pitfalls.

Sit back and think about what youlike to do. What makes you feel good?Then go do it. Maybe it’s buying a newsuit, getting your hair cut, going hikingor fishing in the wilderness. Many peo-ple like to go for a bike ride. Whateverit is, you have to set aside time for your-

self or you risk becoming sorun down that you will not beable to be there for your elderloved one or your family andco-workers.

As a working caregiver, youhave to focus on what keepsyou physically, mentally, spiri-tually, and emotionallycharged. If you neglect evenone of these four areas, youcan become out of balance andbegin to break down. Youcan’t expect other people to take care ofthese needs for you. Most people aretrying hard just to meet their ownneeds. So take a long, honest look atyourself and move forward. Set realisticnew goals and try to meet them. Youcan do it. Correct any problem areasstarting today, and caregiving willbecome an easier challenge.

Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.)is the author of "Elder Care MadeEasier" and has over 40 years of experi-ence as a geriatric care manager, care-giver, speaker, and expert in all thingselder care. She offers practical tools,solutions, and advice to help caregiverseverywhere. For more information, visitwww.DrMarion.com.


Caregiving Made Easier

Dr. Marion Sommers

I know I’m out of balance because I’m now a caregiver for my father, 78, on top of being a boss and a parent and a mother. What can I do to get things back in line? Sheila, 50, in CaliforniaMarion Sommers

STRIVE FOR BALANCE


February 3-14 - Reno-Tahoe Senior Games,participants 50+, venues around Reno/Tahoe,call Alan Roney, (775) 657-4644. Feb. 14,Valentines Day Dance.

February 4 - RTC 5-Year Paratransit PlanOpen House, 10-1 p.m., Reno Senior Center,(775) 335-1908, or contact Tina [email protected].

February 4 & 7 - Ageless Repertory Theatre(ART), The Hotel on Marvin Gardens by NagelJackson, Circle’s Edge, 1117 California Ave.,Reno, 1 p.m., free, webpages.charter.net/ageless-rep/ Also Feb. 25 & 28 - The Silver Whistle,by Robert E. McEnrol.

February 5 - Washoe County Senior CitizensAdvisory Board, 3:30 p.m., Reno Senior Center,(775) 328-2575.

February 6 - Helping Caregivers and ProvidersAdvocate for Resident Care, 8-5 p.m., BestWestern Airport Plaza Hotel & ConferenceCenter, Reno, (775) 682-8470.

February 7 - Video Conference on SeniorIssues, Commission on Aging and NevadaAssociation of Counties, contact WashoeCounty Commissioner Bonnie Weber at (775)328-2006.

February 8 - Reno Youth Jazz Combo, 7p.m., Bartley Ranch Regional Park’s WesternHeritage Interpretive Center, 6000 BartleyRanch Rd., (775) 828-6612 or visitwww.washoecountyparks.com. Also Feb 22,Richard Elloyan, 7 p.m.

February 11 - City of Reno, Senior CitizensAdvisory Committee, 3 p.m., Neil Rd. Rec.Center.

February 11 - AARP Driver Safety Classes,$15 members, $20 non-members, pre-registra-tion required, (775) 786-3509, 9:30-2 p.m.,Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive.Also Feb. 17, 1-5 p.m., National AutomobileMuseum, Reno. Feb. 29, 9:30-2 p.m., Neil Rd.Rec. Center, Reno.

February 18 - Dr. G. Allen Power, author of“Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing theCulture of Care,” 3:45-4 p.m., William N.Pennington Health Sciences Bldg., UNR,

Lecture Hall 103, Sanford Center for Aging,RSVP to (775) 784-8072.

February 20 - Facts and Fiction Behind theMargins Tax Initiative, NAIOP, The Grove inSouth Reno, 95 Foothill Rd., 11 a.m., $30 mem-bers/$45 non-members, Andie at (775) 888-6168 or (775) 721-2057.


Calendar

Nevada Senior Citizen of the Year Award

Nominations for the Nevada SeniorCitizen of the Year for 2013 will be accept-ed from February 1 to March 31, 2014.Recipients will be selected for significantcontributions made at the local, state,and/or national level, must be a resident atleast 5 years, and 60 years of age as ofDecember 31, 2013.

Nominations for the year 2013 must besubmitted no later than March 31, to theNevada Delegation of the National SilverHaired Congress, 2116 Inverness Drive,Henderson, NV 89074. Guidelines andnomination forms may be obtained by e-mailing [email protected] or calling (702)860-6349.

How much mileage could a stu-dio expect from a 1950s filmstarring a biologist with a fas-

cination for a secluded fishpond?Quite a bit, when the scientist isbeautiful Julie Adams wrapped in askin-tight white latex bathing suit andthe fish turns out to be an angrypiscine amphibious humanoid – aka“Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

Premiering 60 years ago thismonth, the success of the now cultfilm continues to astound Julie who,at age 87, remains a popular guest atfan conventions and film festivalsacross the country. In March, she willbe appearing at the WilliamsburgFilm Festival, WV (see http://wff5.tri-pod.com).

“It’s amazing the life this moviehas,” said Ms. Adams, from her LosAngeles home, who portrayed scien-tist Kay Lawrence abducted by theinfatuated Gill Man towards the endof the creature feature. “It’s a classic

beauty and the beast story, with stun-ning underwater photography filmedat Wakulla Springs, Florida, becauseof its clear waters. The lagoon sceneswere shot at the Universal Studiosbacklot where ‘Gilligan’s Island’ wasfilmed.”

Underwater, Julie was doubled byGinger Stanley, while Ricou Browningdonned the rubbercreature suit forswimming scenes.On land, the creaturewas played by BenBrowning. “Benbegan going to fanconventions in the1990s and convincedme to attend my firstone in 2003. It’s won-derful to meet somany people who stillenjoy your work.”

Fans have also (Adams page 25)


Tinseltown TalksBy Nick Thomas

Julie Adams Revisits The Black Lagoon

Julie Adams on Halloween at the Spooky Empire in Orlando, Florida.

As 2014 marks Nevada’ssesquicentennial ofstatehood, it was very

fitting to spend New Year’s Evesaying farewell to 2013 andwelcoming in 2014 at theCrown Point Restaurant withinthe Gold Hill Hotel located onSR 341 in the ComstockMining District.

More than 150-years-old,the Gold Hill Hotel buildingwas constructed in 1861, thesame year Nevada became aterritory. Originally known as“The Riesen House,” the GoldHill Hotel is the oldest operat-ing hotel in Nevada and is cur-rently owned by ComstockMining.

As I travelled to the GoldHill Hotel up scenic GeigerGrade on New Year’s Eve, I wasgreeted by several majestichomes with Christmas lights

and a stunning view of theTruckee Meadows and all of itslights. Driving through VirginiaCity at night is a real treat and Iwas welcomed by an endlessarray of Victorian style blackstreet lamps on both sides of CStreet. However, the truenighttime surprise on this jour-ney was the Christmas lightsplaced on structures through-out the towns of Gold Hill andVirginia City by ComstockMining-especially the lightshung by the ComstockGeology Department on theNew Yorker Head Frame.

Arriving at the Gold HillHotel, I entered the GreatRoom and was greeted byClayton Mitchell, the Gold HillHotel Manager, who immedi-ately made me feel welcome.The Great Room features alarge fireplace, projection TV

on a bigscreen anda well-worn, solidwood floorsuitable fordancing and hosting a live bandduring the New Year’s Eve cele-bration. Behind the large fire-place is the Gold Hill Bar,which also features a fireplacein the corner surrounded byseating, or you can belly up tothe bar and choose yourfavorite spirit. Be sure to sign adollar bill and pin it to the ceil-ing for good luck!

Speaking of spirits, back inthe Great Room, en route tothe Crown Point Restaurant, Ipassed a wooden staircase thatleads to the hotel rooms on thesecond and third floors.Purportedly and not surprising-ly, considering the age of this

historic structure, amiable spir-its occupy some of the morepopular rooms. In fact, severalof the rooms feature fireplacesand/or balconies and the entireproperty has 18 rooms tochoose from, including adja-cent free-standing lodges withmany amenities.

The crown jewel of thisproperty is definitely theCrown Point Restaurant. Onthis past New Year’s Eve, I hadthe pleasure of dining withComstock Mining CEOCorrado De Gasperis as well asseveral other dignitaries. Therestaurant feels original with aVictorian motif that is comple-mented by Squeek Steele play-ing live tunes on the piano.Service was superb from HeadWaiter Vic and his staff. Themeal was delicious and repletewith a table-side visit fromSarge, the Executive Chef.This entire property will appealto all of your senses: sight,sound, smell, taste and touch.And if you have a sixth sense,this property can accommo-date that as well from several ofthe long-term “residents”.

The Gold Hill Hotel canhost your special event includ-ing weddings. A picturesquedrive on SR 341, the Gold HillHotel is only 27 miles fromReno or just 14 miles fromCarson City. For additionalinformation, you can call 775-847-0111, visit www.goldhillho-tel.net and Facebook for morehistory and great photos fromthe past and present.


BIGGESTlittleCity

by Harry Spencer

COMSTOCKDINING


My personal choices for the bestreads for 2013 are heavilyweighted toward mysteries

and fiction, but my top-of-the-listfavorite is a work of nonfiction titled(perhaps appropriate-ly) The End of YourLife Book Club byWill Schwalbe.Published in 2012,currently available intrade paper,Schwalbe’s bookrecounts the finalyears of his mother’slife and their mutual enjoyment of ashared passion for reading. It’s a tender,bittersweet story for all book lovers.

Number two of my favorite reads isWally Lamb’s masterful work of fiction,She’s Come Undone. Published back in

1992, Lamb tells the story of a youngwoman’s struggle to overcome a rape atage 13, her disastrous teen years andeventual stable life. What sets this bookapart is Lamb’s ability to speak in a fem-inine voice and do it credibly.

I do read book reviews, but avoidthe plot descriptions on dust jacketspreferring to find my own way into abook. Because of that idiosyncracy,you’ll find the rest of my choicesdescribed with as little information aspossible; that’s so you can come to abook without many preconceptions.

Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Dane whowrites about a Copenhagen police offi-cer and his unusual crew in AConspiracy of Faith (2013).Scandinavian mysteries tend to the darkside and this one is no exception.

There were two books of the same

title published in 2013, but it’s the oneby Kate Atkinson (Life After Life) I’mrecommending. Atkinson is British andwrites about the dual lives of one youngwoman, leaving the reader to wonderwhat is the “true” story.

Michael Connelly is a favorite LosAngeles, California, crime writer andhis latest, The Black Box (2012), againfeatures his detective Harry Bosch.This time Bosch attempts to solve a 20-year-old crime.

Two writers combine their efforts asNicci French to produce a thriller set inLondon as a psychotherapist becomesinvolved with murder in Tuesday’sGone (2013).

Great Britain is again the locationfor part of Elizabeth George’s latestInspector Lynley novel. (Having lived

(Eclectic Observer page 28)

ECLECTIC OBSERVERJanet Ross Great Reads for Book Lovers

Februaryhardlyhas a

chance to debut before SuperBowl Sunday ups the ante forthe shortest month. Eyes on

the big game, glued to TV’s athome and in bars. Betsexchange hands. The annualsuper bowl is here and now.Our favorite teams are out buthey, we’ll have more time forbathroom breaks and eating sowe don’t miss a single commer-cial. Isn’t that what people talkmost about the following day?What commercial hit theheights? Besides, the gametakes place in our favorite areaof the country. The stadium isactually in nearby New Jersey,not New York.

Strange things are happen-ing. Our oldest is wearing aPatriots jacket? Never! This isa kid born and raised in NewYork and weaned on theYankees, Giants and the Jets.Where did we go wrong?Okay, so he lives in and worksin the Boston area but once aNew Yorker, always a NewYorker, except for this onetime…..Take it away Greg. It’syour story although I’m reserv-ing the right to add my com-mentary and delete anythingyou write.

The call came in while atwork asking if I wanted to trav-el with the NE Patriots on theteam plane and hotel for theweekend in Cincinnati. This islike asking the Pope if he’sCatholic. So off I went with afriend on short notice.

Scott and I left our Bostonarea homes for Gillette StadiumSaturday a.m. to meet thegroup we were travelling withand team. Upon entering thestadium, we were escorted to abuffet in the Executive Suitesoverlooking the field whilewaiting to board the bus. Prior

to boarding, we went throughsecurity. No lines, but still thereal deal. Sort of nice and easylike before 911 when weweren’t as worried about ter-rorists. There would be noother check-ins needed on theway.

There were 5 busses in total,with the team and team per-sonnel on the other 4. Whilewaiting, the broadcaster fromPatriots All Access TV came into talk to us about his take onthe upcoming game. Each seathad its own flat screen TV.The ride to Providence airporttook about 45 minutes.

We drove right up to theBoeing 757 and the playersboarded followed by us. NowTHIS is priority boarding!While boarding, the barrage offood began and I took a sand-wich prior to finding my seat.From there, it was like being ona cruise with food non-stopand the quality of it improvingwith each round. When themain dinner came, I had topass which is probably a firstfor me.

Upon arriving in Kentucky(yes, the Cincinnati airport isactually in Kentucky), weboarded our busses. About 8police escorts on motorcyclesescorted us stopping traffic onthe entire highway for us to getto the hotel. This was clearlythe way to travel. I don’t knowif the fear was towardsCincinnati fans or if that’s whatcomes with having a near infi-nite amount of $. Either way, Iwasn’t complaining.

The Patriots and theirentourage, which I guess I waspart of, took over the hotel. I

(Patriots page 26)24 • 2014 • February

Eydie’s Excerptsby Eydie Scher Is This Really My Kid?

By Greg Scher with an explanation by Eydie

shared some interestingadmissions with Julie. “Sometold me they became zoolo-gists or paleontologistsbecause of the film. And Imet a little girl who wasnamed after my character!”

In 2011, the Arkansas-raised actress self-publishedher autobiography, “TheLucky Southern Star:Reflections from the BlackLagoon,” coauthored with her

son, Mitch Danton. Thebook contains some 200photographs, many unpub-lished from her personal col-lection, with a chapter devot-ed to the Black Lagoon.

Of course, the Creaturewasn’t the only biped Juliecostarred with during hercareer. She received topbilling with less scaly charac-ters such as William Powell,Glenn Ford, CharltonHeston, Elvis Presley, RockHudson and many others(see www.julieadams.biz).“Rock and I were about thesame age, so we becameclose friends and often

played bridge.”One of her favorite

costars was JimmyStewart, with whom sheappeared in “Bend of theRiver,” two years beforethe Black Lagoon. Twodecades later, she reunitedwith Stewart in 1971 forthe “Jimmy StewartShow.”

“After I read forthe part of Jimmy’swife, he gave me a lit-tle nod as if to say‘you’ve got the job’ –and I did. Jimmy waswonderfully informal

but professional, so itwasn’t hard to pretend tobe in love with such alovely man and talentedactor.”

However, critics and

audiences were not so enam-ored with the show, whichwas cancelled after the firstseason.

“It was quite a charmingshow, but came out the sametime as more edgy sitcomslike ‘All in the Family,’” saidJulie, who still remembers itfondly. “My idea of heavenwas going to work withJimmy Stewart every day forsix months!”

Unlike the little-remem-bered TV show, “TheCreature from the BlackLagoon” continues to gainfans from new generations.“Some projects just take on alife of their own,” says Julie.“The Creature still walksamong us.”

Nick Thomas is a freelance writter. He can bereached at his blog:http://getnickt.blogspot.com


Julie Adams and Creature

Julie Adams / page 21

Julie Adams with Jimmy Stewart in 1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show.

rode the elevator alone with one of thePats, whom I didn’t recognize. He was afoot taller than me, easily twice my weight,built like a truck, and was wearing a Pats

jacket. At a loss for words, Iasked him if he played forthe Pats as if he might havebeen randomly just stayingat the hotel. What was I

thinking? Of course hedid!

On the bed was aPatriots gym bag packedwith everything you canimagine with the Patslogo from M&M’s, to ajacket, signed helmet, t-shirts, hand lotion, andrazor (which at leastmakes sense). Aboutthe only thing in the room without thePatriots logo was the toilet paper, andprobably only because they hadn’tthought of it.

That night, one of my best friends,Mike from nearby Louisville, joined usand we were taken to the top of a rotat-ing restaurant in Cinci. Of course, themenu had the Pats logo.

We left for the game on the 5 bussesat about 9 a.m. This time there were

close to 10 policeescorts. I’m surethe diehard Cincifans didn’t mindhaving to wait forus to go through.We were evensaluted by theBengals fans!

The weather inthe morning wasterrible and so weexplored PaulBrown Stadium. Iguess there’s still anNFL stadium notnamed for a cablecompany or bank.Compared toGillette, there wasvery little advertis-ing. The stadiumopened in 2000,holds about 65,000people, is nick-named the “jungle”given the Bengalslogo, and wasnamed after the

Bengals founder. In a 2007 survey, it wasthe only NFL stadium ranked in the top150 buildings and structures.

Prior to the game, we were taken ontothe field during practice. Bob Kraft, theowner of the Patriots, briefly joined us for apicture. On the way back to our seats, aPat’s fan in the stands went berserk tryingto get his autograph. Kraft’s security per-sonnel didn’t seem to appreciate it, but toKraft’s credit he stopped and accommodat-ed the request.

The game itself was close but the Patslost their first game of the season while theskies opened up with a few minutes left inthe game with the Pat’s driving. That’swhat you call a home field advantage.

The trip back mirrored the trip therewith escorts, except the plane ride waseerily quiet. We arrived back to Gillettelate Sunday night.

The Pats organization is all class and nota single detail was overlooked. Yeah mom,I kept my New York preferences to myselfand tried my best not to speak in my NewYork accent. No, not a single trace ofanother team’s allegiance touched my bodythe entire trip. I took it like a man andwent along with the acclaim the Patriotsgave me. It was worth every minute.

When you read this, the Super Bowlmight be but a memory just like all the hol-idays and the year that was. Greg turns 50this month. I know it seems impossiblebut there it is, on his birth certificate.Football season comes and goes. Baseballis still a ways out. What’s a TV to do? It’soff to Sochi, Russia. Bring on the Olympicsor maybe golf!


That’s me at the end next to Owner Bob Kraft of the Patriots!

Patriots / page 24



in GB, I find it fascinatingthat George is an Americanwho writes so well about lifein another country.) JustOne Evil Act (2013) featuresLynley’s sidekick, BarbaraHavers who follows a kid-naping to Italy.

Khaled Hosseini haswritten a third novel aboutlife in Afghanistan that Ifound equally as good as hisfirst two. And theMountains Echoed (2013)provides a fascinating jour-ney into another countryand its culture.

Capital (2012) deals withthe financial crisis andinvestment banking inLondon. What might be adry subject is enhanced byauthor John Lanchester’scharacters and their interac-tion.

John LeCarre’s latestnovel is partially set onGibraltar and involves acounter-terrorist actiongone wrong. A DelicateTruth (2013) is typicalLeCarre, insightful andscathing.

For a disturbing look at

the effects of India’s parti-tion on individuals, in thisinstance a Sikh and Muslim,Amit Majmudar’s Partitions(2011) is an enlighteningread.

Canadian author LouisePenny has an entire seriesabout Chief InspectorGamache of Quebec and thelatest, How the Light GetsIn (2013) is another winner.(Suggestion - begin with thefirst book in the series ifyou’ve not read this talentedwriter previously.)

The title (almost) tells allin Saima Wahab’s In MyFather’s Country: an AfghanWoman Defies HerFate(2012). This work ofnonfiction makes a goodcompanion for Hosseini’sfiction.

Last, but surely not theleast, is Robert Wilson’sLondon thriller, CapitalPunishment (2013). This isanother author with multi-ple titles to his credit, wor-thy reads for those who likeadventure fiction.

(All books are available atthe Washoe CountyLibrary.)

Eclectic / page 23


• NEVADA INFORMATION.....................211• Aging and DisabilityServices ........................................................688-2964• ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION1301 Cordone Ave, Suite 180, Reno........786-8061• CARE CHEST7910 N. Virginia Street, Reno.....................829-2273• COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY,1090 East 8th, Reno.........................................786-6023• ELDER PROTECTIVE SERVICESADSD.…................................................................688-2964• FOOD BANK (TRUCK)....................331-3663• FOSTER GRANDPARENt........358-2768• HAWC CLINIC, 1055 S. Wells,Reno........................................................................329-6300• MEDICATION MANAGEMENt,Sanford Center for Aging.............................784-1612• NV STATE WELFARE.....................684-7200• CENTER FOR INDEPendent LIVING, 999 Pyramid Way, Sparks......353-3599• RTC ACCESS TRANSPORTATIONInformation.........................................................348-0477• RENOWN MED. LOW INCOMECLINIC, 21 Locust, Reno..........................982-5270• RSVP, Reno...................................................784-1807• RSVP, Rural CountiesCarson City..........................................................687-4680• SANFORD CENTER FOR AGING,UNR........................................................................784-4774• SENIOR COMPANION.................358-2322• SENIOR Community Services Employment, AARP, 1135 Terminal Way,Reno........................................................................323-2243Job Connect, Reno...........................................284-9600Sparks....................................................................284-9520• SENIOR LAW PROJECT....328-2592• SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES.........................................................................784-7506• SENIOR SAMPLER (Assist. League)1701 Vassar St., Reno...........................324-2003• SHIP (State Health Ins. Adv. PGM)...............................................................800-307-4444• SilVER COLLEGE, 5270 Neil Rd.,Reno…….....................................................829-9010• Social Security1170 Harvard Way, Reno..........888-808-5481• Veteran’s Administration1000 Locust Street, Reno...................328-1293• Veteran’s Benefits5460 Corporate Drive, Reno....688-1653, X1

RESOURCES

One advantage of havingfamily spread outacross the United

States – from Alaska toArkansas, California to theCarolinas – we have reasons

aplenty to travel. Over the Christmas and

New Year holidays we were inCharlotte, North Carolina visit-ing Robert’s daughter and fami-ly. During the 1960s Robert andfamily often went throughCharlotte on family road trips.“A little hick town” is the way heremembers it then. Today, witha population of 580,000,

Charlotte has grown into ournation’s second largest bankingcenter. High-rise office build-ings dot the city’s skyline. Wewere impressed by the fact thatdowntown Charlotte is immac-ulate. And, unlike other urbancenters of note (which shallremain nameless), nowhere arepeddlers and homeless peopleto be found in this metropolis.

There are a number of artgalleries and museums inCharlotte.

Mint Museum Randolph Located in what was the

original branch of the UnitedStates Mint, Mint MuseumRandolph opened in 1936 inCharlotte as the state’s first artmuseum. Alerted by Robert’sdaughter (who is a docent atthe museum) we went to seethe exhibit titled “BearingWitness: The New York PhotoLeague and Sonia HandelmanMeyer”. It is comprised ofapproximately 100 photographsby members of The PhotoLeague, established in NewYork City in 1936 by a group ofphotographers concerned withmaking images that could affectsocial and political change. Bythe late 1940s of the McCarthyEra, the group was listed by theAttorney General as a “subver-sive organization.” In this hos-tile environment of blacklistingand accusations, membershipdeclined and the Photo Leaguewas ultimately forced to dis-band in 1951. However, in the15 years of its existence, thePhoto League revolutionizeddocumentary photography.While the photos were impact-ful for both of us, they were ofparticular interest to Robertsince it was during the mid-to-late 1930s that he lived in NewYork City and witnessed muchof what was captured in thephotos.

Mint Museum Randolph2730 Randolph Rd, Charlotte,NC 28207. Tel. (704) 337-2000

Discovery Place –Charlotte Nature Museum

One day during our holidaybreak, we bravely set out withRobert’s daughter and two ram-

(Seniors4travel page 32)30 • 2014 • February

Seniors4Travel By Carolyn Prusa and Robert Boyd

Charlotte, North Carolina

It is true lovebecauseI put on eyeliner anda concerto and make

pungent observations about thegreat issues of the dayEven when there's no one here but him,And becauseI do not resent watching the Green Bay PackersEven though I am philosophically opposed to football,And becauseWhen he is late for dinner and Iknow he must be either having anaffair or lying dead in the middle of the street,I always hope he's dead.It's true love becauseHe is willing to wear un-ironed undershortsOut of respect for the fact that Iam philosophically opposed to ironing,And becauseIf his mother was drowning and I was drowning and he had tochoose one of us to save,He says he'd save me.It's true love becauseWhen he went to San Franciscoon business while I had to stayhome with the painters and theexterminator and the baby whowas getting the chicken pox,He understood why I hated him,And becauseWhen I said that playing thestock market was juvenile andirresponsible and then the stockI wouldn't let him buy went uptwenty-six points, I understoodwhy he hated me,And becauseDespite tooth decay, acid indiges-tion, dandruff, and other fea-tures of married life that tend todampen the fires of passion,We still feel something we can call true love.

Judith Viorst

I have been enjoying Judith

Viorst’s delightful books observing thedecades since she wrote “It’s HardTo Be Hip Over Thirty and OtherTragedies of Married Life”.

True Love is among my favorites ofher poems and it came to mind recent-ly when my husband was recuperatingfrom minor surgery. After a week inthe role of caretaker, I could unques-tionably add to Ms. Viorst’s list of truelove proof.

Memories of a previous occasionwhen he was sick (what a grouch!)were vivid so I was determined to fore-stall a repeat of that by being an angelof a caretaker. I had everything I couldthink of for his comfort ready; plenty ofpillows, an extra blanket, a sturdy trayat his side with tea, juice, bottles ofwater, ice pack, TV remote, tissues,books, pain pills and the telephone. Isuggested he could reach me whenev-er he wanted to by calling my cellphone, which I would carry around with

me. After getting him settled I asked

whether he needed anything else andwas assured everything was fine, thathe was fine, and that he needed noth-ing except to sleep. So I believed himand left the room. Within minutes, thecell phone rang.

He: “Would you mind bringingthat magazine I was reading lastweek? It’s in the living room.”Me: “Of course. Is that all?”He: “Yes, just the magazine.” Me: “Are you sure? As long as Iam coming up, there may besomething else?”He: “No, that’s all.”

Up I went, magazine in hand, smileon my face. Down I went. The cellphone rang. He: “The tea doesn’t taste good.Could I have some coffee?”


this ‘n thatby Anne Vargas True Love

(this ‘n that page 32)

Me: (Trying not to gritmy teeth) “Of course”. He: “..the magazine fellon the floor and I can’tpick it up, can you help? He: “Don’t we have anygood books?” HE: “Could you arrangethe pillows under myleg?”

We live in a house with alot of stairs. When webought it twenty years agowe were foolishly captivatedby the multi-level open floorplan but that was before wereached the unanticipatedBody Part Problems chapterof life. Mutual artificialknees, arthritis, slipped disksand a variety of other issuesnecessitate limiting our tripsup and down so we haveworked out a system; stuffdeposited at both ends ofthe staircase and a lot oftossing. During thisFlorence Nightingale stint Iascended and descendedmore times in a matter of

days than in the previousthree months. Whenthoughtful friends called toask how the patient wasdoing, I wanted to say “whyaren’t you asking aboutme? My knees arekilling me and my backaches!”

How was it possible thathe only thought of some-thing he wanted or neededafter I left the room? Thatcell phone rang incessantly.My smile disappeared andFlorence Nightingale mor-phed into Nurse Ratchet.Sometimes he called with anurgent need, sometimesbecause he was being can-tankerousness, sometimesbecause he was bored. ButI eventually realized it wasmostly just because hewanted my company. Andthat’s pretty wonderful .

So despite petulantbehavior and mutual grouch-iness and medical messi-ness, we still feel somethingwe can call True Love.

this ‘n that / page 31

bunctious seven-year-old great-grandkids to spend the after-noon at Discovery Place. Ofinterest to all was the fifteentank aquarium featuring ecosys-tems from around the worldwith sharks, stingrays and otherfish. Live reptile and amphibiantanks, a rainforest exhibit,lizards and other reptiles avail-able for up-close viewing andpetting kept the seven-year-oldsriveted.

Discovery Place has anIMAX and a 3-D theater. Wewatched a fascinating docu-mentary, The Flight of theMonarch Butterflies, at theIMAX.

Discovery Place301 N Tryon St., Charlotte,

NC 28202. Tel. 704-372-6261

Levine Museum of the New South

Charlotte is truly anAmerican Historical City.Levine Museum of the NewSouth relates the story of thecity from 1865 into the future.The museum’s centerpiece isthe multi-media, permanentexhibit “Cotton Fields toSkyscrapers” which tells storiesof men, women and children,black and white, rich and poor,who shaped the area since theCivil War.

Levine Museum of the New South200 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC28202. Tel. (704) 333-1887.www.museumofthenewsouth.org

Seniors4travel / page 30




Documents

February 2014 Senior Spectrum Newspaper