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Featured Stories Entitlements on borrowed time 6 Peace Corps allowing more choices 6 Insurers still avoiding sick? 7 Retirement homes catering to foodies 7 Study questions need to cut salt 8 Temporary jobs gaining popularity 8 Breakfast Group serves up friendship 8 On borrowed Temping time 6 trends 8 Softball attracts seasoned athletes 15

Departments Caregiving Tips 16 Feeling Healthy 9 Healthy Lifestyle 10 Home Improvement 22 Just My Opinion 5 Legal Briefs 21 Money Matters 20 Discriminating Grandkids and Resource for Caregivers 16 insurers 7 inheritance 21 Reverse Mortgages 19 Travel 12 About The Cover Inside This Month Viewpoint 18 Aging together, new living options p. 4 n I n d e x o f S e r v i c e s i n t h is I ss u e n

Advocacy Hearing Services Melrose, Middleboro, Norwood, Plymouth, AARP...... p. 5 Tobias Hearing Aids, Quincy ...... p. 2 Taunton, West Newton Affordable Senior Housing Home Care Services Wingate Healthcare, Brighton, Haverhill, Sherwood Village, Natick ...... p. 23 ABC Home Healthcare, Wakefield ..... p. 12 Kingston, Lowell, Needham, North Andover, Reading, Sudbury...... p. 13 Assisted Living Intercity Home Care, The Residences at Wingate, Needham. p. 11 Lowell, Malden, Salem ...... p. 14 Real Estate Services Attorney, Elder Law Old Colony Elder Services, Brockton ... p. 9 Sell Mom’s House.com —­­ Estate Preservation Law, Worcester.... p. 21 Home Improvements Prudential Realtors...... p. 14 Ingle Law, Southborough...... p. 23 Creative Shelf, Weymouth ...... p. 6 Rest Home remation ervices C S Hospice Oosterman, Melrose ...... p. 20 Casper Cremations, Massachusetts ...... p. 2 HopeHealth, Cape Cod ...... p. 22 Oosterman, Wakefield ...... p. 20 Debt Services Medical Research Studies ...... p. 7 Subsidized Housing Debt Counsel for Seniors/Disabled.... p. 20 Study on Emotional Processing p. 13 Eye Care Services Bixby Brockton, Brockton ...... ~ Boston College Eye Care and Laser Surgery, Congregational Retirement, Melrose . p. 13 Mortgage Financing Newton, Wellesley ...... p. 14 Lamplighter Village, Canton ...... p. 13 Nielsen Eye Care, Quincy ...... p. 11 Direct Finance Corp...... p. 23 Mt. Pleasant, Somerville ...... p. 13 Funeral Services Nursing Homes Urgent Walk-in Medical Services Peck Funeral Home, Golden LivingCenters ...... p. 24 Braintree, Weymouth ...... p. 9 Attleboro, Chestnut Hill, Cohasset, Doctors Express, Andover ...... p. 2 SCS Memorials, Everett, Framingham .. p. 6 Dedham, Gloucester, Lexington, Malden, Doctors Express, Natick ...... p. 2 If you use any services listed above, please mention you saw their ad in the Fifty Plus Advocate. Boomers reinventing life, living communities By Brian Goslow watch the Oscars or a sporting event, maybe 20 people can community. “They’re really doing great work and meeting sit around together.” the same needs and going beyond some of the Villages f she ever hears the term “Silver Tsunami” again, Beth While the past decade has been filled with warnings because they’re bringing some more nursing type services Baker said she’s going to scream. about the large number of retiring boomers, and their and making them available to people in their homes,” she I “I’m so tired of this view that the aging population desire to live at home as long as possible, even when com- said. is going to sweep everybody out of the way and we’re all munities have recognized the need to prepare, “They’ve hired one person they call a com- going to be paying Social Security and Medicare for these most communities have not made the munity resource advocate and her job is geezers who refuse to die,” said Baker, author of With a investment. The general inclination basically to serve the older people in Little Help from Our Friends: Creating Community as We Grow is to point towards the recession the town of Greenbelt, but she’s Older (Vanderbilt University Press). “We have to shift our coinciding with the influx of done it really creatively in a thinking to see older people as a community resource.” retiring baby boomers, Baker low cost way and they have a Many members of Baker’s generation — she’s 62 — are said, but a larger problem is a lot of cultural and education working hard to establish new ways of living in their older lack of planning because of a and exercise programs, all years. The array of living options allows individuals to live cultural tendency to deny the completely affordable when life to the fullest, regardless of physical challenges: aging process. “One of the you’re 60 and older.” There There is the traditional home setting with the support of things I’m hoping to do with is also a “really rich volunteer friends, family and services; Village or NORCs (Naturally my book is push back against program where 70 percent of the Occurring Retirement Communities); or planned cohous- that denial and make the argument volunteers are older people.” ing, a trend known as “Golden Girls” living. that it’s not in our self-interest to be in While it’s commonly believed that Widespread investment and development of these new denial. The more we don’t prepare, the more programs benefiting older Americans were ideas depends, in great part, on boomers reversing the vulnerable we become to either living isolated and alone Baker more likely to be put into place when the economy perception that they’re going to be a non-stoppable drain in our homes or ending up in more institutional settings rebounded, Baker doesn’t think financial investment is on the country’s financial resources, Baker said. It’s up to that might not be our first choice.” the be-all answer. When it comes to programs that benefit the boomer generation to prove they’re worth the invest- Independent living, which depends on making the nec- older Americans, creative use of technology can play a key ment — and the best way to do that is to be involved with essary home improvements to promote safety, is lagging, role in keeping folks at home in their latter years. all segments of their community. Baker said. “I hope, people start to take it seriously and Full Circle America, based in Nobleboro, Maine, was the “If you think about the volunteer hours that older people make their homes accessible before they need it, not when creation of Dr. Allen Teel, who combined in-home webcam can give, and should be encouraged to give — I would they’re there with a broken hip.” technology with a volunteer component to create a cheap like it if as we grow older, there Two programs play a key role in and efficient way to monitor at risk residents. would almost be an expectation assisting residents to stay in their homes. “This is a population who would be in a nursing home, of, ‘How are you helping your The Village format offers easy access otherwise,” Baker said. ‘They’re quite frail or they have community?’” Baker said. “We to household repairmen, health-driven cognitive loss. “Their option really is do I want to go to a have to — it’s a cultural shift, activities, transportation and social nursing home or do I want to have a webcam?” too — to view older people as opportunities. The first Village began Full Circle America establishes a care team comprised contributors.” in 2002 on Boston’s Beacon Hill. Today of family, friends and members of local community institu- Age restricted housing tends to there are 125 nationwide with 100 tions and installs cameras, unobtrusively, in the bedroom isolate the older population from more in the planning stages. and bathroom, often at foot level, so the resident can be the general population, Baker said. “It’s a steady growth with both the monitored but not observed when he or she undresses. “Keeping older people in the mix is Villages and cohousing. There is a “Obviously, the monitors need to be folks that are carefully really important for both the older fairly high failure rate where people screened,” Baker said. people and the younger people.” give up because it’s not easy,” she said, Baker said, “I think that’s the way of the future … and While age-restricted communi- noting, “It’s fairly sophisticated when the beauty of this is, it’s actually an option that is cheaper ties offer a safe living environment, you think about forming a non-profit (than institutional care), better and helps the quality of life.” the long-term result has been that and raising enough money to pay a The one form of boomer-age community living Baker some are now having a hard time director,” which most of them do. thinks might eventually become the most successful is attracting younger boomers (in their Those that go the all-volunteer route house sharing between friends or individuals. 60s). Because long-term residents have found that sustaining the orga- HomeShare Vermont, which has served Northwestern have successfully aged in place, when nization after its initial enthusiasm Vermont since 1982, helps people looking for a place to prospective residents visit, they see a and excitement period can be a chal- live and people looking for the right housemate to share group of people pushing 90. lenge and takes a lot of leadership. their home with. “Communities really need to pay To succeed, she said, a Village There’s also the “Golden Girls” phenomenon that is attention to keeping a mix of ages, community needs a core of com- flourishing, in which friends or people that don’t neces- even if it’s age restrictive — say 55 mitted natural leaders who are in it sarily know each other will live together. The Golden Girls and older.” for the long haul — and who realize long-term success is Network website (goldengirlsnetwork.com) promotes “liv- ElderSpirit, a senior cohousing community in Abingdon, not going to happen just through the money raised from ing life like it’s golden” inviting the curious to “imagine a Virginia, went one step further. “When they built it, they dues. Beacon Hill membership is currently $975 for a house filled with friends.” were aware that they were a block away from the community household and $675 for an individual, annually, with some Three Pittsburgh women, Jean McQuillan, Karen M. Head Start program,” Baker said. “A lot of the people who assistance available. Bush and Louise S. Machinist, pooled their resources and live there volunteer with the Head Start kids.” “If you pay for it (the organization) all with dues money, bought an old house in 2004, making the living arrange- Partnerships like these don’t cost a lot of money to put in you’re going to be too expensive. You’re not going to attract ments up as they went along. They’ve put their experience place. “They’re things that grassroots people can organize on many members,” Baker said. “You have to think about how into book form — My House Our House: Living Far Better for their own for a pittance, if anything,” she said. “Sometimes else will we raise the money.” Far Less in a Cooperative Household (St. Lynn’s Press) — to it’s just paying attention and thinking about it.” NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities), share their story and give people an idea how a cooperative Cohousing communities are built in a way that provides provide many of the same services as Villages, but are either household works. a welcoming environment, especially for people who are paid for by a town or city’s local government or non-profit “They’re very sharp and what impressed me about them single or shy and not outgoing by nature, but don’t want to organization. “Everybody in that given locale, older or is they anticipated all the potential pitfalls and complexities live in full solitude. “Everyone has their own household,” disabled, can avail themselves of these services,” Baker said. and wrote about how they would solve them before they Baker said. “You have your privacy — but there are com- The NORC in Greenbelt, Maryland, Baker wrote in her even moved in together,” Baker said. “They had a plan and mon spaces where everybody who wants to can eat dinner book, is an example that could be adapted by any munici- it was so farsighted and they’ve been very happy together. together. And there are big rooms where, if you want to pality with a critical mass of elders and a strong sense of They have a lot of lessons others could learn from.”

Publisher: Philip Davis Art Director: Susan J. Clapham Fifty Plus Advocate is published monthly, 12 times annually by Mar-Len Pub­li­ca­tions, Inc. 131 Executive Editor / Research Study Advertising: Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605. Assistant Publisher: Sondra Shapiro Donna Davis: ext. 130 Fifty Plus Advocate accepts­ no responsibility for Staff Reporter: Brian Goslow: ext. 135 Boston Metro / Boston South Sales Manager: unsolicited manu­scripts or materials and does not Travel Writer: Victor Block Reva Capellari: ext. 5 return them to sender. Re­trac­tions for any inaccuracies Eastern Massachusetts Edition will be printed when necessary. Unsolicited letters to Bookkeeper: Stacy Lemay: ext. 6 Sales: 131 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605 the editor become the property of this newspaper and Donna Davis: ext. 130 can be reprinted in part or in whole unless otherwise Serving the Fifty Plus Commu­ ­nity since 1975 Cara Kassab: ext. 126 stated. Fifty Plus Advocate columnists writing under a (508) 752-2512 • FAX: (508) 752-9057 byline are express­ ­ing their personal opinions­ and not Bookkeeping: ext. 6, Circulation: ext. 7, Sales Manager: ext. 5 Members of the Associated Press. necessarily those of the newspaper. Read more at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com Trips down memory lane inspire a longing for the past By Sondra Shapiro lucky we didn’t. The adventures awaiting us outside were so much better than what Plant a Sound ou know you are getting old when a video or TV screen could offer us. The you begin longing for the good old options were endless: kickball, hopscotch, Ydays. Red Rover, hula hoop and jump rope con- Financial Future When I began working at this news- tests, fort building, fallen chestnuts and paper 34 years ago, I was a youngster pine cone hunts or tag. catering to an elderly readership. I used •Penny candy — when it really did cost to publish nostalgia pieces done by local a penny. Unbridled excitement awaited us seniors but found it difficult to wrap my kids at the corner grocer. For me it was head around the idea that a passage of time Sam’s on Main Street, a stone’s throw from could make someone long for something my house. I could go in with a nickel in that no longer exists. my pocket and come away with a small, Well, now I relate all too well. Lately, I’ve brown bag of scrumptious treats — bull’s been lamenting my good old days when: eyes, Squirrel Nut Caramels, a Mary Jane. •Yard work was a silent endeavor — a I was partial to the two for a penny pieces task performed with manual rakes, hedge like malted milk balls and red jelly coins. clippers and lawnmowers — tools that •Double feature movies. OK, so this is allowed for quiet contemplation and an not an outdoor activity, but one that was appreciation for the great outdoors. Open reserved for rainy Saturdays. The idea windows on warm spring and summer that we could get two, first-run flicks for days permitted indoor dwellers to enjoy 50 cents was an economical way for our the sounds of birds singing, gentle breezes parents to get rid of us for an afternoon, and the aromas of flowers and freshly not to mention allowing us kids to escape mowed grass. into a fantasy-filled experience of faraway places like the old west or a post apocalyptic earth where apes ruled. Parents never had Just My to worry about movie ratings since foul language and nudity was a rarity. Opinion •Letter writing — a truly-missed form of communication. Recently my husband Instead, as I sit here was going through boxes of mementos trying to concentrate on when I spotted a stack of letters he wrote writing this column, I feel a headache com- to his parents when he was in college. ing on as I suffer through the daily ritual Since I didn’t know him then, these letters taking place in the yards of my neighbors introduced me to the young man he was — the cacophony of grinding, piercing and helped me to better appreciate the noises from electric- and gas-powered lawn- man he is now. mowers, leaf blowers and hedge clippers. Today he is a devoted son to his elderly Even with the windows closed, the harsh parents; as a college student he looked up to sounds filter in. I wonder how such sound- them, sought out their advice and appreci- polluting contraptions can be more efficient ated and thanked them over and over again than their people-powered predecessors? for their financial and emotional support. •The days before indoor and strip malls My husband often mentions his col- — when the square in each community lege days — the stories clouded by the was the central gathering place to social- passage of time. So his letters are a virtual ize and shop. No one used a car, instead time machine where ordinary and special part of the adventure was the walk to the days are brought to life. Angst over a test square where we would pass the homes of or finding a job after graduation, requests friends and relatives, and if we were lucky, for simple items like toothpaste and tooth- they would be outside and we could stop brushes, thanking his dad for helping him for a quick visit. find his first car … and most poignant, a For me, it was Malden Square. The walk special paragraph to his dad telling him might result in a stop at Hunts Drugstore how much he appreciates and loves him. — which eventually became an imagining Letter writing forced us to live in the equipment store — for a frappe or Triple- moment with our thoughts and emotions. Decker candy bar, a sinfully delicious Helped us articulate feelings and describe confection consisting of a layer each of experiences. Brought us closer to friends white, milk and dark chocolate (I still find and family because we took the time to sit myself craving them). Or I might part with down, gather our thoughts and share them. Start by using the AARP a nickel for a large, sour pickle at Santoro’s Letters preserve a moment in time in sub shop. a way that an email, text or tweet can retirement calculator today. Malden Square was a shopping Mecca never do. For those of us who saved these that included Jordan Marsh, Woolworth’s, priceless treasure, they provide us with Malden Jewelry, Bakers Shoes, Kotzen’s reminders of forgotten, mundane events How much do you need to live comfortably Furniture, two movie theaters and numer- and long-gone friends. They are remind- through your retirement? It’s a complex question. ous restaurants and clothing stores. We ers of the people we once were, what was Thankfully, AARP can help you get the answers rarely drove, so we bought only what we important to us at the time and how we could carry home. And since there were are the same or different. you need with its retirement calculator. no credit cards, only layaway, we rarely I think I miss the art of letter writing overspent. most because the practice exemplifies a Visit www.aarp.org/moneyblooms or call •Outdoor socializing. The front porch slower time when few of us were in a hurry was the gathering place where moms would or in search of immediate gratification — 1-866-448-3621 to get started. share a cup of coffee and gossip with a aptly recounting a lifestyle that is lost, but neighbor, and we kids would play on rainy lovingly recalled. days putting on plays and musicals or just playing with our dolls or plastic army men. Sondra Shapiro is the executive editor of the When it wasn’t raining, playtime took Fifty Plus Advocate. Email her at sshapiro@ place outdoors, with no exceptions. We fiftyplusadvocate.com. Follow her online at would never think to stay inside unless we www.facebook.com/fiftyplusadvocate, www. were sick. Sure, we didn’t have computer twitter.com/shapiro50plus or www.fifty- and video games to entice us, but we were plusadvocate.com. Fifty Plus Advocate September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com 5 Medicare, Social Security living on borrowed time By Stephen Ohlemacher and Ricardo unchanged for 2015, at $104.90. Average economist Charles Blahous III, one of two Experts debate whether the health- Alonso-Zaldivar premiums for prescription coverage are public trustees. spending slowdown is the result of a slug- expected to increase by less than $2 a “What is changing is that we are rapidly gish economy or represents a dividend WASHINGTON — month. running out of time,” Blahous said. from the health care overhaul, which cut edicare’s financial future is looking Medicare’s hospitalization deductible is If Congress acts quickly, Social Security program spending to finance coverage for brighter despite a growing wave of projected to rise to $1,248 in 2015. On could be shored up for several generations the uninsured. Congress and the adminis- Mbaby boomers reaching retirement. balance, the report could help Democratic through relatively modest changes to bene- tration later agreed to more cuts. Getting relief from a slowdown in health candidates in the midterm congressional fits and revenues. However, many Medicare The health law also tried to restructure care spending, the program’s giant hospital elections. Republicans won the House in advocates oppose any cuts to benefits, while Medicare to create incentives for doctors trust fund won’t be exhausted until 2030, 2010 campaigning many Republicans and hospitals to keep patients healthier by the government said recently. That’s four hard on a message in Congress oppose closely managing those with chronic health years later than last year’s estimate. that President Barack any increase in taxes. conditions. But the effects of those changes As for Social Security, its massive retire- Obama’s health law “The president may take years to discern. ment program will remain solvent until would gut Medicare. will not support any At the same time, private insurers 2034, although disability benefits are in But that’s not what proposal that would have been shifting more costs to patients. more immediate danger. The disability trust has happened. White hurt Americans who That’s happening with employer coverage fund now is projected to run dry in just House spokesman depend on these and with private plans through Medicare, two years. At that point, unless Congress Josh Earnest point- programs today, and including its prescription drug program. acts, the program will collect only enough edly noted that he will not support When faced with higher costs out of payroll taxes to pay 81 percent of benefits. Medicare’s hospital any effort that slash- their own pockets, patients often will switch Trustees issued their annual report trust fund has gained es benefits for future to less expensive generic drugs, or maybe recently on the financial health of the 13 years of solvency retirees,” Lew said. postpone a test or an elective procedure. government’s two largest benefit programs, since Obama took In 2030, when How all those trends converge, “no one which together accounted for 41 percent of office. the hospital trust knows and there is an active debate going all federal spending last year. Though both Still, both fund is expected on,” Blahous said. “That debate is certainly are “fundamentally secure,” said Treasury Medicare and Social to be depleted, not one that the trustees are going to settle.” Secretary Jacob Lew, “the reports also Security continue Medicare will collect The trustees are the secretaries of the remind us of something we all understand: to face long-term enough payroll taxes Treasury, Health and Human Services, and We must reform these programs if we want financial problems. to pay 85 percent of Labor Departments, as well as the Social to keep them sound for future generations.” Benefit reductions, inpatient costs. Security commissioner and two public Meanwhile, the trustees are projecting tax increases or a Medicare is add- trustees — a Democrat and a Republican. a 1.5 percent increase in monthly Social combination of both ing 10,000 new ben- Social Security’s disability program could Security payments to beneficiaries next will be needed to eficiaries a day as be shored up in the short run by shifting year. That would be among the lowest since avoid sharp cutbacks in the future. baby boomers reach age 65. But the report tax revenue from the much larger retirement automatic adjustments were adopted in There is little appetite in Congress to said that costs per beneficiary were essen- program, as Congress has done in the past. the 1970s. The increase will be based on a tackle such big issues. However, the longer tially unchanged in 2013, for the second However, that would slightly worsen the government measure of inflation. Congress waits to act, the more difficult year in a row. That is a contrast with previ- retirement program’s long-term finances. Medicare’s Part B monthly premium it will become to avoid either large tax ous years, when both per-person costs and Lew endorsed such a move. for outpatient care is expected to remain increases or significant benefit cuts, said overall enrollment were growing. If the two trust funds were combined, they would have enough money to last until 2033, the report said. That’s the same Peace Corps allowing its applicants more choice exhaustion date as in last year’s report. About 58 million people receive Social By Connor Radnovich in which they want to serve applicants,” Hessler-Radelet Security benefits, including 41 million — such as education or health said. retired workers and dependents, 11 million WASHINGTON — — will help align their service The updated online appli- disabled workers and 6 million survivors he Peace Corps has launched a with personal and professional cation will also reduce the of deceased workers. new online application that allows goals, Peace Corps Director time it takes to apply, from More than 50 million retirees and dis- Tapplicants to choose the countries Carrie Hessler-Radelet said in about eight hours to an esti- abled people get Medicare. The hospital and programs where they want to serve an interview. Applicants can mated one hour, by removing trust fund is only part of the program. and removes red tape that was dissuad- also search for programs by repetitive information and Premiums and other government spend- ing people from completing the interna- a country’s language, mak- only asking for the informa- ing cover coverage for outpatient care and tional service organization’s application ing it easier for them to use tion needed by each specific prescription drugs. process. any additional languages they Hessler-Radelet program or country. Because The trustees cautioned that the outlook Previously, applicants could only might speak. of the length of the old appli- for Medicare could change rapidly if health identify preferred countries, meaning “We really want to make Peace Corps cation, more than 60 printed pages, costs start to take off again, or if hospitals, they could be sent to a country of little the international service opportunity of many people who started the application doctors and insurers succeed in reversing interest to them. Being able to pick spe- choice and in order to do that it needed some of the recent cuts to program spend- cific countries to serve in or programs to be a modern, efficient process for our CHOICE page 7 ing. — AP

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3x3 FPA eastern ma Slotnick_11.13 Have insurers found new ways to avoid the sick? By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar The advocates also say they are disap- HIV drugs, certain cancer medications, pointed by how difficult it’s proved for and multiple sclerosis drugs are among WASHINGTON — consumers to get a full picture of plans them. nding insurance discrimination sold on the new insurance exchanges. Although the law sets an overall against the sick was a central goal Digging is often required to learn cru- annual limit on what patients are Eof the nation’s health care overhaul, cial details such as drugs covered, exact required to pay, the initial medication but leading patient groups say that prom- copayments and which doctors and cost can be a shock. ise is being undermined by new barriers hospitals are in the network. The insurance industry trade group from insurers. An HHS spokeswoman said the America’s Health Insurance Plans says The insurance industry responds that department is preparing a formal there’s no discrimination because critics are confusing legitimate cost-control response to the advocates and stressed patients have many options on the with bias. Some state regulators, however, that today’s level of consumer protection insurance exchanges. Gold and plati- say there’s reason to be concerned about is far superior to what existed before num plans feature lower cost-sharing, policies that shift costs to patients and nar- President Barack Obama’s law, when an but have higher premiums. Standard row their choices of hospitals and doctors. insurance company could use any exist- shop for lower premiums, while people silver plans generally require patients With open enrollment for 2015 around ing medical condition to deny coverage. with health problems look for access to to pay a greater share of medical bills, but the corner, the Obama administration is The law also takes away some of the specialists and the best hospitals. some have fairly robust drug coverage. being pressed to enforce the Affordable motivation insurers have for chasing Before Obama’s overhaul, insurance For 2015, the administration says it Care Act’s anti-discrimination provisions. healthy patients. Those attracting a healthy plans sold on the individual market could will identify plans that require unusually Some regulations have been issued; others population must pay into a pool that will exclude prescription coverage. Now the high patient cost-sharing in states where are pending after more than four years. reimburse plans with a higher share of debate is over what’s fair to charge patients. Washington is running the exchange. More than 300 patient advocacy groups patients with health problems. But that Some plans are requiring patients to Insurers may get an opportunity to make recently wrote Health and Human Services backstop is under attack from congres- pay 30 percent or more for drugs that changes. Regulators will collect and ana- Secretary (HHS) Sylvia Mathews Burwell to sional Republicans as an insurer “bailout.” go for several thousand dollars a month. lyze data on insurers’ networks. — AP complain about some insurer tactics that Compounding the uncertainty is that “are highly discriminatory against patients Washington and the states now share Fancying up the fare at retirement communities with chronic health conditions and may responsibility for policing health plans ... violate the (law’s) nondiscrimination sold to individuals. By Stacey Burling than 500 people. Average age at entry: 80. provisions.” Although the federal government is run- The menu at the Fireside Grille included Among the groups were the AIDS ning insurance markets in 36 states, state PHILADELPHIA — marinated salmon on sautéed fresh spinach, Institute, the American Lung Association, regulators are still in charge of consumer any of us think of food aimed at topped with sliced peaches; sweet and bitter Easter Seals, the Epilepsy Foundation, protection. A few states refuse to enforce the elderly as the bland, dated stuff grilled cheese (three cheeses with Spanish the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the any aspect of the law. Mthat might show up on an early- onion marmalade, tomatoes, and baby aru- National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Much of the concern is about coverage bird-special menu: meat loaf and mashed gula); and grilled chicken marinated with National Kidney Foundation and United for prescription drugs. Also worrisome potatoes. So, it may be a bit of a surprise to smoked paprika and ancho pepper, served Cerebral Palsy. All supported the law. are the narrow networks of hospitals and learn what dinner was like on a recent week- with crispy sweet potato and roasted corn- Coverage of expensive drugs tops their doctors that insurers are using to keep night at Normandy Farms Estates, a Blue Bell concerns. premiums down. Healthy people generally retirement community that is home to more FANCYING page 17 ➤ Choice ping over the last few years because of modernize, which began in 2010. The barrier to Peace Corps service,” Hessler- economic instability and subsequent bud- update to the application is largely pos- Radelet said. Cont. from page 6 get cuts. Hessler-Radelet said they expect sible because of the Peace Corps new The new application also gives appli- more applicants, enabling the program to website, Hessler-Radelet said. cants a definite date by when they will never completed it — 30,000 people be even more selective in filling spots in To shorten the process, the new know if they were accepted into the in the nine months prior to the new the 66 participating countries. application only asks for one essay and Peace Corps, allowing them to better application alone, according to the Peace As of June, there were more than is geared toward the specific country plan ahead. Hessler-Radelet said some Corps. 7,000 volunteers and trainees around to which the person is applying. Some applicants used to describe applying to About one in three applicants get the world, with the most, about 46 per- applications do not require transcripts or the Peace Corps as a “black box” where accepted into the Peace Corps for the typ- cent, serving in Africa. all information up front. they had no idea when they would hear ically two-year experience. The number The updated application is the most “We want to make sure that our back about their application or when of volunteers worldwide has been drop- recent result of the Peace Corps’ effort to application process doesn’t become a they might be leaving. — AP

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large international study questions the conventional Yusuf’s is observational, rather roughly 4 grams a day. wisdom that most people should cut back on salt, than a strict experiment, and has Guidelines from various groups Asuggesting that the amount most folks consume is big limitations in its methods. But for heart disease prevention recom- OK for heart health — and too little may be as bad as too its size lends strength — more than mend 1.5 to 2.4 grams of sodium much. The findings came under immediate attack by other 100,000 people in 17 countries. It’s a day. scientists. also from a general population, not The second study in the journal, Limiting salt is still important for people with high blood just people at high risk of heart dis- on how much sodium contributes pressure — and in fact, a second study estimates that too ease, as many past studies have been. to heart-related deaths, was led by much sodium contributes to up to 1.65 million deaths each Researchers found: Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts year. The studies both have strengths and weaknesses, and •Sodium levels generally cor- University and the Harvard School come as the U.S. government is preparing to nudge industry relate with the risk of high blood of Public Health, and funded by the to trim sodium in processed and restaurant foods. pressure. But this link is strongest Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The first study’s leader, Dr. Salim Yusuf of McMaster when sodium intake is high and Researchers looked at dozens of University’s Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, wasn’t seen at all when consumption studies around the world on sodium Ontario, urged keeping an open mind. is low. The link also is stronger as people age. intake, calculated its relationship to high blood pressure, “There are those who have made a career out of promot- •A different nutrient — potassium, found in vegetables and then the relationship of high blood pressure to cardio- ing extreme sodium reduction that will attack us,” he said. and fruits — seems to lower blood pressure and heart risks, vascular deaths. It’s better to focus on healthy lifestyles and overall diets and offsets sodium’s effect. There were 1.65 million deaths from intake over 2 grams instead of a single element, “and that is something everyone •People who consume 3 to 6 grams of sodium a day of sodium a day, they estimate, and half a million deaths can rally around.” (about 8 to 15 grams of salt) had the lowest risk of heart based on current worldwide consumption of 4 grams a No one should view this as permission to eat more salt, problems or death from any cause during the nearly four-year day, said Mozaffarian, who has consulted for some food he said. study. More or less sodium raised risk. Americans average makers. — AP Temporary jobs on rise in today’s shifting economy By Tom Raum home-care and food service-workers to contingent-worker nation. But it’s some- ers or freelancers because it is less computer programmers, freelance pho- thing to keep an eye on,” said Heidi expensive than hiring full-time workers. WASHINGTON — tographers and illustrators. Many are Shierholz, an economist with the labor- “Workers increasingly serve busi- hile the U.S. economy has involved in manufacturing. Many others oriented Economic Policy Institute. nesses that do not officially ‘employ’ the improved since the Great are self-employed, working under con- “There’s definitely been an increase in worker — a distinction that hampers WRecession ended five years tracts that lay out specific responsibili- the share of those working part time.” organizing, erodes labor standards and ago, part-time and “contract” workers ties and deadlines. Part-time and contract jobs in the dilutes accountability,” said Catherine are filling many of the new jobs. Labor leaders and many economists past tended to rise during recessions Ruckelshaus, general counsel for the Contract workers made up less than worry. Contract workers have less job and recede during recoveries. But maybe National Employment Law Project, half of one percent of all U.S. employ- security and don’t contribute to the no longer: Part-time workers have which advocates on behalf of low-wage ment in the 1980s but now account for economy through spending as much as accounted for more than 10 percent of workers. 2.3 percent. Economists predict contract permanent, full-time workers. Nor do U.S. job growth in the years since the Many business leaders have a differ- workers will play a larger role in the they have the same job protections. Few recession officially ended in June 2009. ent take. years ahead. are union members. Meanwhile, union membership has been “Some people don’t want to be a They are a diverse army of laborers, “It is not hugely clear that we’re com- sliding steadily since the mid-1980s. ranging from janitors, security officers, ing into a temp-worker, contract-worker, Businesses often hire contract work- JOBS page 19 Weekly breakfast group serves up camaraderie

By Sue Loughlin or world events. Over eggs, fruit and coffee- attendance records. members of the breakfast group sent her cake, “we solve the world’s problems,” said That’s what initially drew Martin to cards and contacted her by phone. Their TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — member Eileen Prose told the Tribune-Star. join many years ago. “It was a chance to concern and support meant a lot, she said. hey’ve met for breakfast each week Members include Dorothy Jerse, Dorothy relax with other women and not have any When meetings began 30 years ago, for the past 30 years — no small Drummond, Becky Buse, Betty Martin and responsibilities. You could come, or not about eight people attended, ranging in age Taccomplishment. Char Minnette — women who’ve been com- come,” she said. from 30s to 70s. Now, about 10 to 14 people Members of the Wednesday Breakfast munity leaders. The group is an outgrowth “I think it was that freedom we gave each attend breakfast, and members’ ages range Group celebrated their 30th anniversary of the “Women’s Breakfast at the YWCA” other; that really was special at that time from about 60s to 80s. One member is 90. recently at Crossroads Cafe, where they’ve started by Jerse, former YWCA executive and what has kept us together,” said Martin. While some members have attended gathered for the past 20 years. director. The friendships are what bring Martin from the start, others have come and gone They share friendship and conversation, The group meets informally and there back week after week. Years ago, when her whether about the Terre Haute community are no dues, rules, officers, committees or husband was ill and at the Cleveland Clinic, BREAKFAST page 15

8 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com Feeling Healthy Fitness equipment maker helping fight battle of boomers’ bulge By Diana Mastrull Among those that have felt the burn was Smooth Fitness’ first boomer product, and supplements. InternetFitness.com Inc., the predecessor to SitNCycle, launched in June 2012 to robust A second generation of the SitNCycle, KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Smooth Fitness. InternetFitness.com was sales on television, the Internet and through more recumbent and with a better-padded ake heart, all you baby boomers who created in 1996 and was believed to be the direct advertising, Hebert said. Unlike a typi- seat and wider pedals, premiered in February have let the years pass without a com- first online retailer of fitness equipment. cal stationary bicycle, the patented SitNCycle on QVC for $219, and is available at www. Tmitment to toning your abs and thighs In 2011, Hebert, who had spent 25 years is lightweight, has no handles (so the rider is getsitncycle.com. or challenging your cardiovascular system. in direct retailing, was hired by NewSpring forced to use his or her core to stay balanced) Smooth Fitness also has worksites in its In a Montgomery Capital in Radnor to posi- and has relatively low resistance settings. sights. Because there are plenty of boomers County office park, a small tion InternetFitness.com “We’re selling hundreds of thousands of expected to be working for years to come, band of product devel- for sale. Larsen MacColl these,” said Hebert, as he pedaled through the company will soon hit the market with opers at Smooth Fitness Partners, a Radnor invest- a recent interview, attributing a 10-pound a low-speed treadmill desk for $999. L.L.C. have your back. ment firm, acquired weight loss over six weeks to “just using this “We predict . . . you will see workplaces Your glutes, too, and any- the assets in December when I’m on the phone.” over the next 10 years totally transformed thing else on your aging 2012 for an undisclosed As part of its new fitness-health-wellness with workstations that facilitate physical frame that might need amount, creating Smooth platform, Smooth Fitness also will be manu- activity,” Hebert said. some help. Fitness and staking its facturing and selling home environmental In the future that he envisions, conference “It’s not because I’m future on the generation products, such as air purifiers and portable 54,” said Rich Hebert, of an estimated 76 million, heaters, as well as direct marketing vitamins FITNESS page 10 the 6-foot-3, 195-pound whose oldest members are CEO of the King of Prussia now 68. Big insurance rate hikes in the future? exercise-equipment com- SitNCycle TV spot featuring Along with tradi- pany that trades as Smooth Dorothy Hamill tional high-end fitness By Tom Murphy political weight, since they will come out Fitness & Health. “This is equipment — elliptical before Republicans and Democrats settle their a great target market and this is an under- machines, treadmills — Smooth Fitness has he wild hikes in health insurance rates fight for Congressional control in next fall’s served market.” begun rolling out lower-priced items such that blindsided many Americans in midterm elections. Republicans are vowing And, Hebert contends, it is a promising as stationary bikes and a push-up device Trecent years may become less frequent to make failures of the law a main theme of route to one of his company’s primary goals: “to help people who have been inactive, or because of the health care overhaul. their election push, and abnormally high improving its own fitness in an industry that no longer have strength and flexibility for Final rates for 2015 won’t be out for premiums might bolster their argument. most definitely is not for wimps. traditional equipment,” Hebert said. months, but early filings from insurers suggest In addition to insuring millions of unin- Can a treadmill desk save your life? The company, which once employed 50 price increases of 10 percent or more. That sured people, the other great promise of the It’s a fad-oriented business, where alterna- or 60, is down to a payroll of 15. Call center, may sound like a lot, but rates have risen as massive health care overhaul was to tame the tive functional fitness forms such as Zumba, warehousing and logistics operations have much as 20 or 30 percent in recent years. rate hikes that had become commonplace in Beachbody and P90X have “cut in half” the been outsourced. Manufacturing is done The rates that emerge over the next few traditional fitness market, Hebert said. in Asia. months for 2015 will carry considerable BIG page 10

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Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 3x6 FPA Easternwww. MAfiftyplusadvocate.com 9 3x3 FPA filler PeckFun_3.14 FPASupport Adv.3x3 ➤ Big And it could have a lasting impact once the insurance plans, which make up a small the long-term implications of the overhaul. new markets for coverage stabilize in a few slice of the insured population. And some He noted that insurers entered 2014 without Cont. from page 9 years, said Larry Levitt, an insurance expert experts aren’t convinced of any one outcome a good feel for what their competitors would with the Kaiser Family Foundation, of the law. charge, so price swings are inevitable as the market for individual insurance coverage. which analyzes health policy Industry consultant Bob companies adjust. No one expects price increases to go away, issues. Laszewski called the idea that the Charmaine Piquette, 60, said she’s “petri- but some nonpartisan industry watchers say “Now if a plan tries to raise exchanges will reign in prices fied” of a big increase for next year. “I finally they do expect the big hikes to hit less fre- premiums a lot, people can vote by promoting competition an feel like in my life I have a break and can quently in the years to come, even though it’s with their feet and move to “unproven theory.” afford to take care of myself, even though still early in the law’s implementation. They another plan,” Levitt said. “No one has any idea what I’m not living on very much a month,” said point to competition and greater scrutiny Greater scrutiny by regulators this risk really looks like yet and Piquette, who lives outside Milwaukee. fostered by the law as key factors. could also keep rates from sky- probably won’t for two to three Piquette used Wisconsin’s public health Public insurance exchanges that debuted rocketing. The overhaul requires a years,” he said. insurance exchange in March to get coverage last fall and were created by the law make it mandatory review of rate increases larger Karen Ignagni agrees. The CEO from the nonprofit insurance cooperative easier for customers to compare prices. The than 10 percent, which can lead to public of the trade association America’s Health Common Ground. The plan costs her only overhaul also prevents insurers from rejecting attention that insurers don’t want. Insurance Plans, which represents insurers, about $177 a month thanks to a $500 tax customers because of their health. “Nobody’s going to get a rate increase said competition between insurers will mean credit she receives as part of the overhaul. That means someone who develops a unless they truly deserve it,” said Dave Axene, little if too many sick people sign up for cover- She lives mainly on about $1,200 a month health condition like high blood pressure a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, who is age on the exchanges. Insurers need a balance in Social Security disability payments, but her isn’t stuck in the same plan year after year working with insurers in several states to between sick and healthy people to avoid health coverage helps her afford things like because other insurers won’t take him or her. figure out pricing. “The rigor that we had to big claim hits that lead to future rate hikes. visits with a diabetes counselor to get her He or she can now shop around. go through to prove that the rates were rea- Laszewski expects some plans to seek blood sugar back under control. The Urban Institute, a nonpartisan policy sonable, it’s worse than an IRS audit at times.” either big premium increases or decreases “I said, ‘Praise the Lord’ every single time research organization, said in a recent report To be sure, insurers and others in the field in 2015, but he said that says nothing about I use this,” she said. — AP that competition will help restrain individual say it’s too early to fully understand what insurance prices next year. pricing trends will emerge for individual Don’t let bugs take a bite out of your fun By Dr. David Rideout sense to see a physician. ➤ Fitness who has advised Smooth Fitness on condi- Mosquito bites — Mosquitoes bite because tions it needed to keep in mind in creating ew Englanders they feed on human blood. They inject a small Cont. from page 9 products for use by baby boomers. They are blessed with amount of their included orthopedic problems and arthritis. Na varied land- Healthy saliva into your tables won’t be piled with doughnuts, but He also helped the company develop a scape of lush gardens, skin that causes an rather lined with SitNCycles. cross-training program. beautiful forests and Lifestyle immune reaction in Victor Tringali, a former champion body- The end result should not only be trim- pretty seashores. With this your body. You may builder, said he is pleased with the company’s mer waistlines but smaller health-care bills, incredible landscape comes first notice a white and puffy lump, soon focus on baby boomers. Tringali is the Tringali noted. some unwanted visitors: biting insects. followed by itching. Everyone’s response is director of an initiative promoting healthier “Anything we can do to encourage being Most bites are harmless, but sometimes different to the bite. For some, the reaction choices among students, faculty and staff at well and suppress illness of any kind is they require a visit to a doctor in order to can be very intense, with large welts forming Drexel University. certainly going to have a positive impact ensure they don’t become a health concern. and intense itching. To relieve the itching, “It’s a large demographic and it makes on our medical costs,” he said. AP/The Here is a guide to the most common insect sense to target that audience,” said Tringali, Philadelphia Inquirer bites, how to self-treat and when it makes BUGS page 18

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By Victor Block buildings and get a feel for the setting. The journey can begin at the light rail COLORADO — depot, a Victorian-style stone building tepping off the train after a short ride from a mod- constructed in 1875. ern metropolis, I entered a world that no longer The Columbine Mill, built in 1901 Sexists. A smattering of houses, business establish- as a grain elevator and storage facility, ments, churches and other buildings serve as reminders looks out over the town from its lofty of small-town America during the 19th and early 20th height. The charming Louthan House centuries. (circa 1905), named for its builder, is A tiny log home stands near a general store. Colorfully occupied by the Café Terracotta, one of named establishments from the past include the Rough & several outstanding local restaurants that Ready Flour Mill and the First and Last Chance Saloon. make Littleton a mini-magnet for foodies. That setting could be in western Maine, but isn’t. Instead, Shopping also has a local focus, with it greets passengers disembarking from commuter trains an array of small stores that fill many that connect Denver with aptly named Littleton, 20 minutes a whim and fancy. Reinke Brothers is away in time but over a century removed in atmosphere. a Halloween and costume shop with The experience is akin to entering a Norman Rockwell a focus on ghosts, goblins and ghouls. painting of life as it used to be — and, in ways, still is, in Countless skulls, skeletons and other this time capsule of history. merchandise, ranging from fun to fright- ening, fills the tangle of narrow aisles. A supermarket meat counter is stocked with replicas of “lady fingers,” “rump roast” and other aptly named body parts. Louthan House A much sweeter experience awaits at Lola’s Sugar Rush, where more than 700 and the largest hog I’ve encountered anywhere, enhance kinds of candy in every imaginable color, shape and flavor the realistic setting. Also adding authenticity are livestock, are on display. Treats that were popular from the 1940s to crops and plants that were common during the time period 1970s provide a touch of sugary nostalgia for anyone whose represented. sweet tooth can recall that time A different setting awaits at the Hudson Gardens, with Walking in town also provides introductions to public art extensive plantings devoted to roses, herbs, fragrance and that transforms sidewalks, streets and other settings into an nearly two dozen other floral themes. Adding interest are outdoor showcase. Some three dozen sculptures, paintings some 20 bee hives that are maintained by locals who are and other works of art adorn sidewalks, buildings and parks. happy to share their knowledge about those fascinating A different experience awaits visitors to the Littleton flying insects. I learned more than I thought possible about Light Rail Station mural Museum. Exhibits trace the area’s history from the time the lifestyle of bees, and found descriptions of their highly when Native Americans passed through to the pioneer era structured society intriguing. A 40-foot-wide mural at the station greets people arriv- to more recent days. Its two living history farms are but two If learning that there are nearly 20,000 species of ing in Littleton by train. The colorful folk art composition reasons why it’s ranked among the bees isn’t your cup of honey, per- depicts more than 50 historic structures, some long gone most outstanding history museums haps indulging your sugar craving and others still standing. in the country. at Lola’s offers a sweeter appeal. The seeds of the settlement portrayed in the painting They recreate farm life in the Maybe strolling through a town were planted in 1859 when the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush 1860s and 1890s. The earlier spread with its feet planted firmly in the attracted miners to the community, along with merchants represents a pioneer homestead past and reliving farm life from a and farmers who came to supply and feed them. Two years during the area’s settlement period. bygone era will grab your atten- later, an engineer from New Hampshire named Richard Exploring a modest cabin and log tion. Whatever your interests, you Little arrived and laid out the plan for a town, which was barn, sitting at a desk in a one- probably can find enough to fulfill given his name. room school house and chatting them only a short train ride from Since that modest birth, Littleton has expanded into an with a blacksmith as he toils at his downtown Denver. inviting suburban community. For visitors, the interest is trade, provide realistic touches of centered around Main Street, which richly deserves its list- yesteryear. For more information about ing on the National Register of Historic Places. A virtual zoo of farm animals, Littleton, Colorado, log onto www. A walking tour is a good way to view the historic including oxen, sheep, chickens Museum blacksmith littletongov.org or call 303-795-3700.

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6x6 FPA z-3 DowdSellMomsHouse_4K_6x6_9.14.pdf Seniors in softball league keep moving By Bill Doyle fly ball was hit in his direction. After of them, but it’s really good softball. he caught the fly for the third out, he “It’s also a really good time.” WORCESTER — resumed his phone conversation. “The teasing never ends here,” hortstop Don Basinsky picked up a “We do a lot of unusual things Gardella said. ground ball, stepped on second base around here,” he said. “I’m the only Obama man,” Sand underhanded a throw to first But they can still play. Shortstop McMahon said. “We have big argu- to complete a double play at Rockwood Ralph “Fuzzy” Fusaro still has soft ments.” Field. hands and a strong arm at age 81. Bobby Docimo, 73, of Auburn, You’d never guess that the Holden resi- “When Fuzzy goes in the hole, and all the pitchers pitch from behind dent is 79 years old. Does anybody tell makes the play and throws to first one. His glove represents what Worcester a batting practice screen, but he got Basinsky that he’s crazy to be still playing base,” said Rich McMahon, 67, of Senior Softball is about all — there’s still a hit with a batted ball in the ankle the softball at his age? Worcester, “you take it for granted. But I lot of life in these old gloves and old-time other day. “No,” Basinky said. “They just say I’m say, ‘Wait a minute, he’s 81.’ He makes it players. Sister Anne Marie Wildenhain, 84, crazy. Everybody says that. I tell them I look easy.” Pavini had a hip replacement in who still works part-time at St. Richard of have brains I haven’t used yet and they Former Worcester police chief Ed March, but resumed playing softball two Chichester in Sterling, is the only woman believe it.” Gardella, 74, calls Fusaro “Brooks months later. who plays. Basinsky is quite a character, and Robinson.” Fusaro can hit as well. In a “My wife’s not too happy about it,” “When I first came, I said no more Worcester Senior Softball is filled with recent game, he lined a home run over Pavini said. “She thinks I’m going to get dirty language,” she said. “It’s 25 cents them. They’re true old-timers who want the left-field fence. hurt, but my daughters and my grand- every time you swear, but they never give to compete and share a few laughs. The When the players sit on the bench children are all for it.” me any money. One guy owes me over league is open to anyone age 55 or older. wearing their shorts, you can see the His daughter is an intensive care phy- 300 bucks.” Many of the players are in their 70s and scars running up and down many of their sician in Vermont and she paid for the Bill Burnham, 85, of Holden, plays 80s. knees from replacement surgery. uniforms for the Old News Bears, the catcher or right field. At many games, Basinsky wears Carl Forsman, 78, of Hampton, N.H., 75-and-older travel team. That team won “I just like to play,” Burnham said. “I’m Superman socks with streamers attached has two artificial knees and an artificial the Cape Cod Classic two years ago. not good at it anymore, but I like to play.” to them, but not the day a reporter inter- left shoulder, but he extended his arm “I love the game,” Pavini said, “and The automatic sprinklers went off in viewed him at a game. parallel to the ground and kicked his you can’t be sitting on the couch all the the infield and the outfield a few times “This is the first time I’ve washed them hand with his right leg and then his left time.” this year, but they kept on playing. in three years,” he explained. “Otherwise, leg to show his flexibility. Gardella wore his Yankees T-shirt and “Nothing stops us from playing except I wouldn’t have been able to get them “My back is ready to go at any time,” his Yankees cap with “Yankees” written snow,” said Leo Quinn, 83, of Worcester. off.” Forsman said. “I don’t know if today’s my in Hebrew across the front of it. Even the The players had to yell to someone Each time Basinsky steps to the plate, last day playing or the next time is. I will floor mats in his car say Yankees. One of who was coaching third base that he was he points his left hand toward the outfield keep playing as long as I can.” his fondest memories was taking part in supposed to be batting. fence like Babe Ruth once did. Basinsky Gene Genese, 72, of Paxton has had a Yankees fantasy in Tampa, Fla., many “We all have senior moments about 25 said his wife, Isabelle, likes that he plays three knee replacements, including two years ago. He called it his own Field of times a day,” Quinn said. because it gets him out of the house. on his left knee, and has an artificial Dreams. Nearly all of the Worcester Senior “I haven’t talked to her the last three hip. His surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Metzmaker, “This is kind of the same thing,” Softball players are retired, but not months. I didn’t want to interrupt her,” signed Genese’s glove when he informed Gardella said of Worcester Senior Softball. Marshall Chervin. After a recent game, he deadpanned. him he planned to resume playing soft- “It’s kind of the Field of Dreams here. the 78-year-old Shrewsbury resident Worcester Senior Softball plays a game ball. One of the guys said, ‘The older I get, the went home to shower, then headed off to each Tuesday and Thursday morning at Bill Seaman, 73, of Spencer figures better I was.’ Whether we were good ath- work his shift selling furniture at Bob’s in Rockwood Field. Usually, enough play- his Spalding glove is about 45 years letes or not, we all come here and com- Natick until 9:30 that night. ers show up to field three teams, so they old. Frank Birch, 73, of Worcester and pete. Guys still run out ground balls.” “We have a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s rotate at bat, in the field and sitting out so Amadeu “Juni” Pavini, 80, of Worcester Most of them run out grounders faster nice to be out here.” they don’t overdo it. The travel team plays estimate their gloves are about 50 years than David Ortiz does. After the games, many of the players doubleheaders throughout the region on old. That makes their gloves older than “Guys still try to make a play. If you head to McDonald’s in Tatnuck Square for Mondays or Wednesdays. some guys who have already quit playing don’t, there are people who will scold coffee and, as Gardella put it, to tell lies. Ray Lauring of Worcester formed softball because they thought they were you,” Gardella said. “You’d better at least They play as long as the weather permits. Worcester Senior Softball in 1991 after too old. try. It’s OK if you don’t catch it, it’s OK if “If you show up one day and there’s playing in Florida. At 88, he’s the oldest Art Brockelman, 81, of Lunenburg has you didn’t get a hit, but you’d better at only seven people, then you say the sea- player in the league, a year older than been using the same Wilson glove since least try.” son is over,” Gardella said. Dudley Bowker of Worcester. his golden retriever found it and plopped Birch has played in the league for 10 Then they head to the Saint Gobain During a recent game, Lauring it on his welcome mat 25 years ago. years. gym to play volleyball and basketball answered a call on his cell — while he Brockelman bought a new glove about “It’s not what people think,” Birch said. throughout the winter. Some get together was playing in the outfield. He had to tell five years ago, but he keeps it in his trunk “They think it’s a bunch of old men with to bowl. — AP/Worcester Telegram & the caller to hold on a minute because a because he prefers the old, well-worn walkers with tennis balls on the bottom Gazette ➤ Breakfast long-lasting as the Wednesday Breakfast Considered” program interviewed Jerse caring people.” Group. The key to the group’s longevity? and the late Carolyn Toops. They were When they gather, they talk about “any- Cont. from page 8 “I guess the personalities involved,” Jerse interviewed about President Barack Obama, thing and everything,” Hood said. They also said. “We care about each other and are Jerse recalled. remember each other’s birthdays. — and new members have joined. Six have interested in each other.” The group also has participated in special Members come from varied backgrounds, died, and “each woman holds a special place The women who participate are inter- projects, including publishing a cookbook Jerse said. “What I like is we don’t all go in our hearts,” Jerse said. esting because they have a lot of interests, in 2003 and putting together a poetry col- to the same church. We don’t all belong to It’s not a static group, she said. Anyone and they care about what happens in their lection in 2009 dedicated to those members the same political party. We don’t all live is welcome. community and their world, Jerse said. who had died. in the same neighborhood. We come from Originally, members each worked for “That’s what makes it so neat. We don’t just The group also has contributed to the everywhere in town. This is what gives us different employers. Now, most are retired, talk about the weather,” she said. Tribune-Star Christmas Basket Fund, and the diversity that makes it fun,” she said. although many remain heavily involved in Group members have participated in this year, members are buying a brick for They may have vibrant political discus- volunteer activities. some memorable events. When George the Terre Haute Children’s Museum. sions, but “everyone is polite,” she said. When it started, “it was the most Stephanopoulos visited Terre Haute in Carol Heine Botros had joined many Jerse doesn’t see the fun ending anytime dynamic group I’ve ever been in,” Jerse said, January of 2000, he joined them for break- years ago but then stopped attending to soon. “Hopefully as some of us fade out, and she’s lived in seven states. “There was fast and interviewed some of them. raise two sons. Now, her sons are in col- there will be younger people taking our nothing going on in town we didn’t know ABC network television sent lege and she has retired — and rejoined places,” she said. about. We kept up with everything.” Stephanopoulos to Terre Haute “to try to the breakfast group. “I never lost the Member Suzanne Van Reed put together Not gossip, Jerse emphasized, but com- find out why — and how — Vigo County friendships. I’ve still been in touch with a commemorative flier marking the 30th munity happenings. voters have picked the (U.S.) president in everybody,” she said. anniversary, incorporating words or phrases Now, the Wednesday Women provide all but two elections since 1900,” accord- Longtime member Mary Hood keeps submitted by members. each other with camaraderie and support. ing to Jerse’s “Looking Back” column that returning because “it’s just such a great One member wrote, “Now and a year Others have told Jerse they’ve tried to appears in the Tribune-Star each Sunday. group. You can depend on them for any from now, we will always be good friends.” start similar groups, but none has been as In March 2009, NPR’s “All Things help you might need. They are just loving, — AP/Tribune-Star Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com 15 Resource for Caregivers Study: US Alzheimer’s rate seems to be dropping By Marilynn Marchione men, but the difference was The estimates were revised based on so small researchers couldn’t studies in China and sub-Saharan Africa, he rate of Alzheimer’s dis- be sure of it. and the latest United Nations population ease and other dementias The trends corresponded projections. Tis falling in the United with fewer strokes and better Colombia — Researchers from the States and some other rich treatment of high blood pres- Universidad Icesi in Colombia used current countries — good news about sure, cholesterol and diabetes, population and other sources of information an epidemic that is still growing and more education, they said. to update a 20-year-old study on dementia simply because more people Asia, Africa — An updat- and determined that current projections are living to an old age, new ed study of dementia preva- might underestimate dementia cases by up studies show. lence by Alzheimer’s Disease to 50 percent. An American over age 60 International in 2009 con- In countries where dementia appears to today has a 44 percent lower cludes that its previous esti- be declining, the rise in obesity and diabetes chance of developing demen- mates for the disease world- threatens to undo progress. tia than a similar-aged person wide were too low. The group “It may be that what we have now is a did roughly 30 years ago, the now said dementia prevalence sweet spot,” where people with these prob- longest study of these trends appears to have increased from lems are still relatively young, said Anderson in the U.S. concluded. Compared with the first period, new cases about 5 percent to about 7 of the National Institute on Aging. “They’re Dementia rates also are down in Germany, were 22 percent lower in the second one, percent in East Asia, and in Sub-Saharan not in the dementia range yet, but what’s a study there found. 38 percent lower in the third and 44 percent African from between 2 percent and 4 going to happen? We know they’re all in “For an individual, the actual risk of lower in the fourth one. percent to nearly 5 percent. the pipeline.” — AP dementia seems to have declined,” prob- The average age at which dementia was ably due to more education and control diagnosed also rose — from 80 during the New brain protein tied to Alzheimer’s disease of health factors such as cholesterol and first period to 85 in the last one. blood pressure, said Dr. Kenneth Langa. During that time, there were declines in cientists have linked a new protein Researchers from Massachusetts General He is a University of Michigan expert on smoking, heart disease and strokes, factors to Alzheimer’s disease, different from Hospital described the tau work. Scans on aging who discussed the studies recently at linked to dementia, and a rise in the number Sthe amyloid and tau that make up 56 older people believed to be cognitively the Alzheimer’s Association International of people using blood pressure medicines the sticky brain plaques and tangles long normal showed that tau buildup in sev- Conference in Copenhagen. and getting a high school diploma, which known to be its hallmarks. eral brain regions correlated with memory The opposite is occurring in some poor reduce the likelihood of developing the The discovery could give a new target decline. countries that have lagged on education and condition. for developing drugs and other treatments Dr. Keith Josephs of the Mayo Clinic health, where dementia seems to be rising. “The results bring some hope that per- for Alzheimer’s, the most common form of led work on the new brain protein, called More than 5.4 million Americans and 35 haps dementia cases might be preventable, dementia. It also might help explain why TDP-43. Everyone has it, but the abnormal million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s, or at least delayed” by improving health and many people have plaques and tangles in form is found in different parts of the cell the most common form of dementia. It has education, said the study leader, Claudia their brain yet show no symptoms of the and in ball-like deposits in certain areas in no cure and current drugs only temporarily Satizabal of Boston University. disease. Autopsies on 342 brains revealed the brain. It’s already been linked to amyo- ease symptoms. Dallas Anderson, epidemiology chief at that people who had the new protein were trophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s A drop in rates is a silver lining in the the National Institute on Aging, agreed. 10 times more likely to have been men- disease, and frontotemporal dementia. so-called silver tsunami — the expected “For those who get the disease, it may tally impaired when they died than those Researchers looked for it in brain sam- wave of age-related health problems from come later in life, which is a good thing. without it. ples from 342 people in a study of aging an older population. Alzheimer’s will remain Getting the disease in your 80s or 90s is a The study was discussed recently at at Mayo. All had amyloid plaques in the a major public health issue, but countries very different thing than getting it in your the Alzheimer’s Association International brain, but many showed no dementia where rates are dropping may be able to early 70s,” he said. Conference in Copenhagen, where research- symptoms before they died. Of the 342 lower current projections for spending and Germany — Researchers from the ers also described a new type of brain participants, 195, or 57 percent, had the needed services, experts said. German Center for Neurodegenerative imaging that can show tau tangles in living abnormal protein. Less than 5 percent of Recent studies from the Netherlands, Diseases say that data from Germany’s people for the first time. the healthy general population would be Sweden and England have suggested a largest public health insurance company For many years, the only sure way to expected to have it. decline, and the new research extends this suggest that new cases of dementia declined diagnose Alzheimer’s disease was after Of those with the protein, 98 percent look to some other parts of the world. significantly between 2007 and 2009 in death, when brains could be examined for had dementia symptoms at the time of The United States — The federally men and women. amyloid and tau. Several companies now their death, versus only 81 percent of those funded Framingham study tracked new Dementia prevalence — the proportion make imaging agents that can reveal amy- without the protein. dementia cases among several thousand of people with the disease — also declined loid on brain scans, and the new research The next step is to find a way to image people 60 and older in five-year periods dramatically in women ages 74 to 85. There shows an experimental product from Eli it in living people, as is being done now starting in 1978, 1989, 1996 and 2006. was a trend toward a smaller decline in Lilly & Co. can do the same for tau. with amyloid and tau. — AP Learning about the benefits of vitamin D as we age By Jeannette Sheehan exposure to the sun’s UV rays, primarily and prostate cancers. According to the American Cancer UVA rays. This makes it more difficult to How much direct sun exposure do we Society, much research continues to be ur bodies do some incredible obtain those useful UVB rays considering need to convert our own Vitamin D into done on the importance of Vitamin D and things. One thing you might not be they’re most prevalent during the peak sun its active form? That answer varies by sun exposure. They suggest that whenever Oaware of is the ability of our body hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. individual. While our bodies’ own form of possible you should obtain your levels of to convert its own supply of vitamin D into How important is Vitamin D to us? Vitamin D is more easily absorbed into the vitamin D through diet and supplements. a usable form that is easily absorbed into Our bone and muscle strength decrease as bloodstream compared to supplements, These sources do not increase your risk for our bloodstream with help from the sun. we age. Vitamin D, along with adequate sun exposure might not be an option to skin cancer. Be sure to ask your doctor if amount of calcium, plays a lead role in those with elevated risk of skin cancer vitamin D is right for you. Caregiving Tips maintaining strong bones and muscles. or those with limited availability to get When we are stronger we have greater outdoors. Jeannette Sheehan, MSN, RN, board certi- balance and are at less risk for falls, and In addition, as we age, our bodies’ abil- fied nurse practitioner, is founder and owner The conversion happens when a fair in turn, osteoporotic fractures. Vitamin D ity to convert our own source of vitamin of ABC Home Healthcare Professionals, 233 amount of our skin is exposed without ensures our bodies absorb the calcium we D begins to falter. This raises the value to Albion Street, Wakefield and provides medi- sunscreen to UV radiation; more specifi- take in. They work hand in hand. Together each of us for maintaining a well balanced cal and non-medical home care services to cally UVB rays from the sun. However, the calcium and vitamin D can help reduce diet including foods rich in vitamin D such the Metro Boston, North Shore and Cape Ann American Cancer Society reports that each our risk for osteoporosis. Vitamin D has as fortified milk and cereal, liver and fish. communities. She can be reached at 781-245- year more than 3.5 million skin cancers also been linked to other health benefits When diet alone doesn’t support our need 1880 or online at www.abchhp.com. Archives are diagnosed in the United States alone. such as helping prevent heart disease and for vitamin D, supplements are a viable of articles from previous issues can be read on Most skin cancers are a result of extended numerous cancers including breast, colon alternative. www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

16 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com ➤ Fancying smaller cafés or grills when they remodel. “Why would you suddenly assume that CliftonLarsonAllen, said improved choice Some have hired professionally trained someone is 70 and they don’t enjoy any of was a trend across all sectors of the industry. Cont. from page 7 chefs who proudly cook from scratch. Many the activities they’ve enjoyed their entire It’s more important to people under 75 — menus have vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose- life?” asked Millisa Tierney, executive direc- those on the cusp of senior-living choices and-pineapple salsa. free, healthy, ethnic, and locavore options. tor. The livelier atmosphere, she said, has — than it was to their elders. Around the corner, three dining rooms “It’s been coming on strong the last 10 boosted volunteerism from students at a The changes in food service coincide with offered 11 entrées, including coconut shrimp, years because the public is demanding nearby college. increasing emphasis on maximizing control seared pork cutlet with warm raspberry com- options and choices,” said Larry Minnix, for seniors instead of staff convenience, pote, and a grilled vegetable plate with pesto president of LeadingAge, an organization for Some have hired professionally said Lynda Crandall, executive director of drizzle and herbed farro salad. The Lafayette nonprofits that work with seniors. It’s not the Pioneer Network, which advocates for Room was BYOB, a recent development for surprising, he said, because “the meal is the trained chefs who proudly more flexibility and choice in long-term which some residents fought hard. most important part of many people’s day.” care. The organization’s new dining stan- “We can bring wine to our dinners. That Retirement centers are also recognizing cook from scratch. dards call for giving elderly residents more is good,” said Ingrid Rivel, who lives at that people don’t stop liking a drink now choice and better-quality food while easing Normandy Farms with her husband. She and then when their hair turns gray. This doesn’t come cheap, though con- diet restrictions. still cooks a mean Black Forest cherry cake Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, an upscale tinuing-care retirement communities like The changes make elders happier and from her native Germany, but not much else. retirement community on the Main Line, will Normandy Farms argue that their costs are healthier, she said, but also have marketing This demanding crowd — not everyone soon open its new bistro. It will have TVs, comparable to owning a home. Normandy consequences. can afford this lifestyle in late life — doesn’t a working bar, and a game room next door. falls in the middle range, Smith said, with “If you’re not offering this choice,” she praise everything on the menu, but gives Willow Valley Communities near an entry cost of $222,000 for a single person said, “there are others down the street who cooks high marks for upping their culinary Lancaster already have 11 dining areas and monthly fees of $2,600. That includes are.” game. for their 2,550 residents, and offer brick- prepayment for increased services that resi- Doris Henning, a dietitian and nutrition- “Particularly in the last three years, the oven pizza and cook-to-order options. dents need when their health fails. ist with Erickson Living, said her company’s food really has improved tremendously,” said Soon, Willow Valley will add alcohol to Greg Zebolsky, a consulting actuary for competitors include local restaurants. Senior Mary Anne Van Blarcom, a six-year resident. the mix with the opening of a bar in its Milliman, who specializes in continuing-care communities also want their resort-like Michael Smith, corporate director of new 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. A full- communities, said there were still places atmospheres to offer a better life than home. public relations for ACTS Retirement-Life service restaurant, Local Table, will follow in that have only one dining room and give Not all retirees embrace culinary cre- Communities, which operates Normandy October. “It’s going to rival the best restau- residents few food choices. But others are ativity. Farms, said the locally based company has rants in town,” said chief marketing officer taking widely varied approaches to dining J.J. Landy, a Sodexo dietitian who man- made upgrading food a priority in recent Kim Daly Nobbs. that include multiple venues and much ages food services at Artman in Ambler, years to keep residents of its 23 properties Chris Trendler, a sommelier with res- bigger menus. said residents there love meat loaf and beef happy and to attract new ones. taurant experience, is setting things up. Zebolsky said continuing-care commu- stew. Couscous and quinoa were not a hit. “One of the first things people ask when He’ll feature updated cocktails like the nities, which provide independent living Residents told her, “I can’t even pronounce they’re visiting our communities,” he said, Ruby Collins, a mixture of gin, local honey, through skilled nursing, were competing it, so don’t expect me to eat it.” “is, ‘How’s the food?’ ” raspberry puree, egg white, and rosemary. with each other, as well as with other forms Patrick Picciocchi, culinary director at Senior dining is evolving, as the genera- “I never thought I would say I’m working of senior living and companies that provide Normandy Farms, knows that attitude. His tion willing to don a jacket for dinner gives at a retirement community,” he said. services to people in their own homes. customers are quite willing to try new things, way to younger folks who love cooking NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, They “are always trying to think of a way but unfamiliar names scare them. So he tells shows and are adventurous enough to try Iowa, created a main street that included to get a competitive edge,” he said. them what’s in the dish: “Descriptions, I find, quinoa. Elm’s Pub, a place to meet for drinks (it closes Mike Slavik, who serves more than 1,000 are extremely, extremely important.” — AP/ For years, facilities have been adding at 8 most nights) and live music. senior-living providers at financial consultant The Philadelphia Inquirer

Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com 17 Viewpoint Status of the Social Security and Medicare programs By Mike Festa span fueled by drops in healthcare spending. The latest challenges facing Medicare along with the overall high projections push the life of the Medicare trust fund back cost of health care. With 64 million Americans expected he Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare trust four years later than a year ago. to be enrolled in Medicare by 2020 and 80 million by funds recently issued a report on the current and The trustees’ new projections found fewer changes for 2030, we must do more to reduce wasteful spending Tprojected financial status of the two programs. While Social Security, projecting that reserves for the retirement throughout our health care system. Social Security remains strong overall and can continue to and disability trust funds will run dry in the mid-2030s — AARP believes that by improving care coordination pay full benefits for nearly two decades, modest changes the same as last year’s estimates. However, Social Security’s and better use of technology, controlling high drug costs, must eventually be made to ensure current disability trust fund faces a dire financial shortfall when reducing unnecessary services and other wasteful spend- and future generations of Social Security reserves are estimated to run out in 2016 — that is, unless ing, and targeting fraud and abuse, we would improve beneficiaries receive what they’ve earned. lawmakers rebalance the combined resources of the Social our health care system as a whole while saving money Security Trust Funds. in Medicare. To ensure full benefits over the long term, AARP That’s why AARP advocates for common sense changes AARP and You believes we must begin with a national debate on growing that can ensure affordable health care for American fami- retirement insecurity and the critical role of Social Security lies while improving the quality and delivery of care for The newly-released annual reports in the retirement income framework. Social Security has today’s seniors and future generations. for 2014 paint an uncertain picture of the been in place since Aug. 14, 1935 and recently celebrated programs’ future when a projected large number of baby its 79th anniversary. We strongly urge Congress to hold a Michael E. Festa is the state director of AARP boomers enter retirement in future years. By 2033, the separate debate on the solvency and adequacy of Social Massachusetts, which represents more than 800,000 mem- number of older Americans will increase from 46.6 mil- Security, as it is a separate, self-financed, program that bers age 50 and older in the Bay State. Connect with AARP lion today to over 77 million. people pay into throughout their lives and count on for Massachusetts online at www.aarp.org/ma; Like us at www. Medicare is strong and will avoid insolvency until each generation of our families. facebook.com/AARPMA and follow us on www.twitter.com/ 2030, the program’s trustees said, a longer projected life The Medicare Trustees report illustrates the financial AARPMA. ‘One Care’ plan: Many questions, no answers By Al Norman covers long term supports, like home care assignment. In these counties, the highest benefits paid out; by health care and long and nursing facility care, as well as mental enrollment of eligible enrollees is under 8 term supports; long term support coordina- ast October, the Commonwealth health services. percent, showing that unless they are auto tor referrals by plan; completed long term embarked on a new health care plan •Every enrollee has the right to an enrolled, MassHealth members do not join supports assessments; long term supports L— one of the first in the country to independent long-term supports coordina- this plan in large numbers. expenditures per plan; and how much in combine Medicare and Medicaid funds tor, who is not a plan employee, but is the •The auto assigned counties, (Hampden, profits each plan has made. into an integrated plan for adults with ‘agent’ for the enrollee. Every enrollee is Hampshire, Suffolk and Worcester) have In short, other than enrollment numbers, disabilities ages 18 to 64. supposed to be assessed for long-term sup- between 25 percent and 40 percent of eligible the state and federal governments have People who enroll in the plan can stay ports by these independent agents. Very few residents enrolled. No county has broken the invested millions into this new plan — but in One Care when they turn actually are. 50 percent enrollment level. issued no data about what services people 65 — so over time more After 10 months, here is what we know One plan, Commonwealth Care Alliance, in the plan have received. and more seniors will be about the program: has 51.6 percent of the enrollees (9,714); There are many questions about how the enrolled in One Care. Push •Out of 94,589 Fallon Total Care has 40 percent of enrollees One Care initiative has performed, and not There are three plans eligible people, a (7,551); and Network Health has 8.4 percent one of them has been answered. that offer One Care ser- Back total of 18,838 (20 of enrollees (1,571). vices. Here are some key percent) of those What we don’t know is more than what Al Norman is the executive director of Mass features of this plan: eligible have enrolled in One Care as of we do know. After 10 months, the state Home Care. He can be reached at 978-502- •It is only for people on July 1. has issued no data on plan revenues vs. 3794. Medicare and MassHealth, the so-called •A total of 23,880 people have opted “dually eligible.” out. More people have decided not to join, ➤ Bugs surface of the sting. A wasp sting is different •In any county where there two or more than enrolled. in that the insect retains its stinger but can plans, the potential enrollees are “auto- •Of the 42,716 people who have been Cont. from page 10 sting multiple times and inject venom with assigned.” If an eligible person does not solicited to join, 56 percent have declined. If each of its stings. Regardless of whether it is voluntarily enroll, the state will send them a this opt out rate continues, a total of 52,879 apply a cold pack. Use over the counter a bee or wasp sting, the following measures letter “assigning” them to a plan. If they don’t would be projected to decline, leaving a total hydrocortisone creams. Try not to scratch can help with your discomfort: Ice the area want to be in the plan, they can “opt out.” enrollment of 41,710. the bites, as this just increases the immune to bring down the swelling. If you were stung •One Care is available everywhere in the •There are five counties (Essex, Franklin, response and itching. in your arm or leg, elevate it. Remove any state except Berkshire County and the Cape. Middlesex, Norfolk and Plymouth) with only When to seek medical attention — jewelry from the area of the sting because •The plan covers health care, but it also a single One Care plan, and thus no auto- Mosquitoes in New England can carry blood- as the area swells, rings or bracelets may be borne diseases like West Nile disease and difficult or impossible to remove. For pain, Eastern Equine encephalitis. If you develop take an over-the-counter pain medication like You can enjoy the convenience a fever, redness and swelling around the acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For itchiness, Enjoy Home of having your bite areas, headaches, body aches or swollen take an antihistamine. Fifty Plus lymph nodes, seek medical attention. Also, When to seek immediate medical attention Advocate delivered to you if the area is not healing, you may have a — Allergic reactions can be life threatening. Delivery of at home, insuring you that secondary skin infection that needs a doctor’s Call 911 if the person stung has trouble you will never miss an issue. attention. If you are planning a vacation in a breathing, feeling of faintness or dizziness, tropical area, obtain a travel consultation to hives, a swollen tongue or throat, or a history Just fill out this coupon and prepare for other mosquito-borne diseases, of severe reaction to insect stings. You should enclose payment. such as malaria and yellow fever. also see a physician if you have incurred Bee and wasp stings — When you are multiple stings. ❍ 1 year - $18 ❍ 2 years - $34 ❍ 3 years - $48 stung by a bee, the insect leaves a stinger in Name:______your skin, which continues to release venom. David Rideout is the lead physician at Doctors Express in the Saugus Center, one Address:______The venom causes an immediate immune reaction resulting in swelling and inflamma- of 10 Eastern Massachusetts offices, offering City:______State:______Zip: ______tion around the site of the sting. seven-day walk-in urgent medical care. He If you are stung by a bee and are not can be reached at 781-233-1000. For more Mail to: information visit www.DoctorsExpressBoston. if change of address or renewal, allergic, immediately remove the stinger place mailing label here with a straight edged item like a credit card com. To read additional articles visit fifty- and your new address. plusadvocate.com. 131 lincoln St., Worcester, Ma 01605 by swiping the card side to side across the

18 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

3x3 z-3 FPASUBSCRIP_Z-3_10.09 The new reverse mortgage: A wise decision By Alain Valles the last remaining homeowner no longer uses the home or the property is sold. Do You Want ou’ve worked hard, sacrificed for the What’s “new” about the new reverse kids, tried to save for retirement and mortgage? Ychipped away at your mortgage. But There have been several significant FREE Housing information now you need additional cash for the next changes to the reverse mortgage program chapter of your life. The new reverse mort- that should prompt you to take a look to gage may be your best option for see if a reverse mortgage is right for you. mailed to you? converting your home equity Spouses under the age of 62 are now into cash so you can afford protected. Before Please check off all the facilities that you would like to receive the lifestyle you desire. Reverse this rule change, free, no obligation information from. You can check off as many What is a reverse mort- a younger spouse gage? Mortgage was at risk of locations as you like. Your name will not be used for any other Reverse mortgages are a being forced to purpose. Fill out the coupon, cut out and mail back to us at the government insured loan pro- sell the home if the older spouse died. Now gram that allows homeowners younger spouses may live in the home for the address below. age 62 and older to gain access to the equity rest of their lives without ever being required in their home in the form of cash, a monthly to make a monthly mortgage payment. check, line of credit or any combination of Maximum loan limits have been adjusted the three. to help maintain home equity and increase Central Massachusetts Currently there are no income, asset or the possibility of a greater inheritance. Assisted Living Facilities: credit requirements. It’s based simply on In addition, required mortgage insurance your age, house value and the amount of makes the program safer. ❏ Eisenberg Assisted Living - Worcester your current mortgage, if any. The biggest The cost of obtaining a reverse mortgage advantage a reverse mortgage is that you are has substantially decreased for borrowers Rest Homes: not required to make any monthly mortgage with lower current mortgages. This makes ❏ Dodge Park - Worcester payments — ever. If you pay your property a reverse mortgage very competitive with taxes, homeowners insurance and maintain Subsidized Apartments: the property, the loan balance is not due until NEW page 21 ❏ Bet Shalom - Worcester ➤ Jobs 42 percent of employers intend to hire ❏ - Worcester temporary or contract workers as part of Colony Retirement Cont. from page 8 their 2014 staffing strategy — a 14 per- ❏ Emanuel Village - Worcester cent increase over the past five years. ❏ Green Hill Towers - Worcester full-time employee. They want contract The issue got the spotlight when work,” said Bruce Josten, executive President Barack Obama in February ❏ Illyrian Gardens - Worcester vice president of the U.S. Chamber of unilaterally upped the minimum ❏ Village @ Ascension Heights - Worcester Commerce. Still, Josten recognizes some wage for federal contractors and their of them “are hoping the contract work employees from $7.25 to $10.10 an will ultimately lead them into a full-time hour, fulfilling a top demand by liberal position.” lawmakers and groups. The higher rates Eastern Massachusetts A recent Federal Reserve study kick in Jan. 1. showed that nearly 7.5 million 55+ Retirement Communities people who are working part time ❏ Fairing Way - South Weymouth — contract workers included — would rather have full-time jobs. ❏ Residences at Wingate - Needham Jerry Jasinowski, who served as president of the National Assisted Living Facilities Association of Manufacturers for ❏ Oosterman’s - Methuen, Wakefield 14 years and later as president of ❏ the Manufacturing Institute, said Residences at Wingate - Needham despite criticism leveled against contract workers from some quar- Subsidized Apartments ters, “I think on balance, they are ❏ Congregational Retirement Home - Melrose a positive reflection of the extent ❏ to which production has become Cushing Residence - Hanover much more flexible, a reflection of ❏ Lamplighter Village - Canton hybrid operations. Some people ❏ don’t like it. But that’s neither here nor “America does not stand still, neither Mt. Pleasant Apartments - Somerville there. That’s where everybody’s moving.” do I,” Obama said. Aides said more than ❏ Sherwood Village - Natick Analysts suggest the increase in con- 2 million employees whose companies tract and “temp” jobs will likely acceler- have federal contracts are affected. ate as more baby boomers retire from Obama’s proposal to raise the minimum their full-time jobs. wage nationally by the same amount Pressure from a company’s share- remains bogged down in Congress. holders — often focused on short-term A recent Brookings Institution study returns — can also lead businesses labeled the first decade of the 21st cen- to lower labor costs by reclassifying a tury a “Lost Decade” for the labor mar- portion of their payroll as part-timers ket. For the first time since World War FREE HOUSING INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY) or spinning them off to a contracting II, the U.S. economy did not have more agency. payroll jobs at the end of a decade than Name at the beginning. And the shadow of the The online job site CareerBuilder. Address com, which specializes in “contract December 2007-June 2009 recession still placement,” cites research showing that looms over today’s labor market. — AP City State Zip Phone

\Attn: Free Fifty Plus Housing Information Read more at Fifty Plus Advocate, 131 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605 *We cannot process without your phone number. It will be used only in regard to the properties that www.fitfyplusadvocate.com you have marked.

Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 FPA z-2/3 3xfullwww.fiftyplusadvocate.com 19 FPA_HousRR_9.14.pdf Money Matters Sponsored by: 5 money saving tips for exchanging currency By Joseph Pisani a large amount of cash is not relevant any- charge fees or advertise really good exchange 3. Find the right card — Get a credit card more,” he said. rates. “Don’t trust it,” said Stan McGahey, an that doesn’t charge a foreign exchange fee. NEW YORK — Here are five tips to maximize your dollars: international tourism professor at Saint Leo Some will charge a 2 percent to 3 percent eaded overseas this season? It’s easy to 1. Get an App — Before boarding the University in Florida. Often, they will offer fee for every purchase made with a foreign get hit with extra fees and expensive plane, download a currency-converting app you a worse exchange rate to make up for currency, said Matt Schulz, a senior analyst exchange rates when switching cur- on a smartphone you plan to use on vaca- the low fees or have caveats that they don’t at credit card comparison site CreditCards. H tion. You can open up the app to see if you’re advertise. Instead of just handing them your com. There are many that don’t. You can rencies when you travel. getting a good deal when exchanging money. money, ask how much you would get for the find a list of them on websites such as With the app, you type in the amount you amount you want to exchange first, McGahey CreditCardInsider.com, CreditCards.com or want to exchange and it will calculate a figure said. That way you will know exactly what Bankrate.com. in the new currency. There are several free you’re getting. Not sure if your card charges a fee? Call ones to choose from, including XE Currency And always do currency exchanges in the and ask. and GlobeConvert. country you’re visiting. You’re likely to get If you don’t have a fee-free card, it may be 2. Ask before you exchange — Be wary of a better rate than if you do the exchange at currency exchange places that say they don’t home, McGahey said. MONEY page 21 What happens to your online accounts when you die? WASHINGTON — America’s electronic footprint. A person’s online musings, photos and Some currency exchange tables in airports ou’ve probably decided who gets the house or that family videos — such as a popular cooking blog or a gaming avatar that has and tourist areas offer bad rates, taking more heirloom up in the attic when you die. But what about your acquired a certain status online — can be worth considerable value of your money. And some credit cards and Yemail account and all those photos stored online? to an estate. Imagine the trove of digital files for someone of histori- banks can add fees when you buy something Grieving relatives might want access for sentimental reasons, or cal or popular note — say former President Bill Clinton or musician with your card internationally. to settle financial issues. But do you want your mom reading your Bob Dylan —and what those files might fetch on an auction block. Your best bet is to bring a credit card exchanges on an online dating profile or a spouse going through But privacy activists are skeptical of the proposal. Ginger McCall, that doesn’t charge currency exchange fees every email? associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in and some cash for backup. Most purchases The Uniform Law Commission, whose members are appointed by Washington, said a judge’s approval should be needed for access, to should be done on the credit card, said James state governments to help standardize state laws, recently endorsed protect the privacy of both the owners of accounts and the people Gambaccini, a certified financial planner at a plan that would give loved ones access to — but not control of — who communicate with them. Acorn Financial Services. That’s because the deceased’s digital accounts, unless specified otherwise in a will. Many people assume they can decide what happens by sharing credit cards offer fraud protection. If you lose To become law in a state, the legislation would have to be adopted certain passwords with a trusted family member, or even making cash, or it gets stolen, you won’t get it back. by the legislature. If it did, a person’s online life could become as those passwords part of their will. But in addition to potentially Lost credit cards, or fraudulent charges, are much a part of estate planning as deciding what to do with physical exposing passwords when a will becomes public record, anti-hacking easily replaced or fixed, said Gambaccini. possessions. “Walking around with a money belt and The question of what to do with one’s “digital assets” is as big as ONLINE page 22

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20 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

3x6 FPA z-3 3x6 FPA z-5 DCSD_3x6_3.14.pdf OostermanRH_3.12 Avoid inheritance misconduct by grandchildren By Linda T. Cammuso to let them know what your hopes are for how they plan to manage the funds. Try to ith the economic challenges fami- determine if they even have a rudimentary lies face today, grandparents are understanding of handling finances. Do they Wincreasingly looking to leave an have a checkbook and know how to reconcile inheritance for their grandchildren — wheth- bank statements? Do they have loans and er to help pay for education, or just to alle- are they wise in their borrowing decisions? viate their children’s financial burdens. You Are they diligent in paying on time? Are may have thought about leaving something to they credit-card savvy — how many cards your grandchildren, but are concerned about do they have and what are they used for? how they will use it — and with Do they have a respectful relationship with good reason. Young adults their finances? often lack the maturity to Today many people are crafting their handle money responsibly. estate plans According to statistics, to avoid mis- inherited money is spent Legal Briefs management of at a significantly faster rate inheritances by than a person’s earned or their heirs by including a trust to protect saved money. Whether your their legacy. With a trust arrangement you grandchildren are too young to man- can protect your heirs from themselves and age money responsibly, are in debt or strug- ensure that they may use their inheritance gling with an addiction, you are right to fear methodically and responsibly. that they will spend your inheritance before A properly developed estate plan will even they realize the opportunities they’ve ensure that you are in control and, at the wasted and cannot rectify their foolishness same time, provide you with the peace of … after all, to a young person it’s much like mind that the money you worked so hard winning the lottery. to accumulate will be handled responsibly. You worked hard throughout your life to save money that you could leave for future Linda T. Cammuso, a founding partner at generations, not so it can be squandered, Estate Preservation Law Offices and an estate but so it can create opportunities. If you planning professional, has extensive experience are wondering what your heirs will do with in estate planning, elder law and long-term money you might leave for them, you could care planning. She may be reached at www. start by having a conversation with them. Tell estatepreservationlaw.com or by calling 508- them what your mindset is in leaving them 751-5010. Archives of articles from previous assets. Ask them what their goals would issues may be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate. be for using their inheritance — it is valid com. ➤ Money think it is being used fraudulently and tempo- rarily block your card from making charges.) Cont. from page 20 4. Say no to hotel exchanges — If a hotel or another business asks if you want them worth applying for one, said John Ganotis, to convert the bill into American dollars for founder of credit card comparison site you, decline. The exchange rate can be bad, CreditCardInsider.com. As long as you’re not Gambaccini said. Instead, let the hotel bill charging more than you can afford to pay, it you in the country’s currency and let your could be a better deal than exchanging cash. credit card do the exchange. Most credit cards designed for travelers let 5. Check out checking accounts — As you earn benefits, such as miles or points to with credit cards, make sure your bank use for a future trip, Ganotis said. doesn’t charge foreign exchange fees if you Another benefit: credit cards often will plan to use a debit card. Some may charge a offer exchange rates that are an average over flat fee for using a foreign ATM on top of a the past month. That could be helpful if you percentage for currency exchanges. Checking are traveling to place where the currency is accounts at online banks, such as Capital One volatile, including some South American 360 and Charles Schwab Bank, don’t charge countries, Gambaccini said. foreign transaction fees. Call your bank and (Incidentally, you should call your credit ask if you’re not sure if they charge fees. card company before traveling to let it know Personal finance website NerdWallet.com where you are going. If the credit card com- publishes a list of banks that don’t charge fees. pany doesn’t know you’re traveling, it could — AP ➤ New events or children needing money; Main office in Worcester MA, with satellite •Have funds available for home improve- offices in Leominster, Braintree and Cape Cod. Cont. from page 19 ment and possible home care needs; •Increase the potential of maximizing traditional home equity lines. Social Security benefits; and How can I use the proceeds? •Enjoy having a few extra dollars each Seniors and their trusted advisors now month. view reverse mortgages as an integral com- A reverse mortgage is not for everyone. ponent of retirement planning and are taking But for qualified homeowners it is an excel- advantage of the flexible options. Below are lent way to get extra cash, without the bur- common examples of how a reverse mort- den of monthly mortgage payments. gage may be used: •Be able to afford to stay in your home; Alain Valles, CRMP and president of •Increase monthly cash flow by paying Direct Finance Corp., was the first designated off an existing mortgage and debts; Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in •Receive monthly funds for life; New England. He can be reached at 781-724- •Reduce pressure on your retirement 6221 or by email at [email protected] or funds during a down market; visit www.lifestyleimprovementloan.com Read •Utilize a reverse mortgage line of credit additional articles on www.fiftyplusadvocate. for unforeseen expenses such as healthcare com.

Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com 21 Home Improvement Cooking up a color-happy kitchen By Kim Cook com) and green fused-glass tiles as a counterpoint and 19th-century kitchens,” she said. (www. Fans of metallics might go for Blue Star’s to a rustic, Old World-style metal and wood thisoldhouse.com) itchens in traditional and vintage dramatic collection of ranges, wall ovens kitchen island, glossy black cabinetry and “Painting the floor — either one color homes often are dressed in conserva- and hoods in copper, gold and a chocolate-y citrine wallpaper in an Art Deco-era home. In or in a pattern like checkerboard — can Ktive garb: neutral hues, stainless steel, ginger, as well as several hundred other colors another home, she mixed sleek teal-and-white reinforce the vintage look too,” she noted. white-on-white or beige-on-beige. and finishes. (www.bluestarcooking.com) glass with farmhouse blue cabinets. (www. Options include graphic designs or stencils, Historically, however, kitchens were actu- Kitchens of any vintage can look great with megcaswell.com ; www.hgtv.com) or illustrated rug motifs. Better Homes & ally pretty peppy, according to Deborah colorful walls. Pumpkin, cobalt and deep Baldwin, of This Old House, advises paint- Gardens’ website has lots of ideas. (www.bhg. Baldwin, editor of This Old House magazine. Prussian blue enhance all kinds of woods, ing upper and base cabinets different colors, com/kitchen) “Pastel greens, blues, whether you’re work- or painting an island or hutch in a contrast- If you’re in a rental with limited decorat- creams and peaches ing with 19th century ing shade. ing options, go for color accents like Fiesta reigned until the early pine, Craftsman-era “This helps reinforce their freestanding ware, rag rugs, a couple of snazzy stools, and 1930s, when casual, oak or midcentury furniture look, which harks back to 18th- counter appliances in candy hues. — AP built-in eating areas were walnut. painted Kelly green, red Or consider the ➤ Online But the courts aren’t convinced that a com- and even black,” she said. ceiling. In a small gal- pany supplying the technology should get “We have readers who ley kitchen, bold color Cont. from page 20 to decide what happens to a person’s digital are introducing brightly on the ceiling creates assets. Enter the Uniform Law Commission. colored cabinets and appli- a “jewel box” effect. laws and most companies’ “terms of service” According to the proposal, the personal ances in tomato, pumpkin Deep hues like egg- agreements prohibit anyone from accessing representative of the deceased, such as the and daisy,” she added. plant, navy, magenta or carmine compliment an account that isn’t theirs. That means loved executor of a will, would get access to — At this spring’s Architectural Digest Home white cabinetry in a large kitchen, and look ones technically are prohibited from logging but not control of — a person’s digital files Design Show in New York, manufacturers great in both natural and artificial light. onto a dead person’s account. so long as the deceased didn’t prohibit it in were showing lots of vibrantly hued kitchen New York designer Gideon Mendelson Several tech providers have come up with the will. The law would trump access rules equipment. applied a pea-green gingham canvas cloth to their own solutions. Facebook, for example, outlined by a company’s terms of service Bertazzoni’s Arancio range came in orange, the ceiling of a country house kitchen, and will “memorialize” accounts by allowing agreement, although the representative would burgundy and yellow. Big Chill displayed a painted the island in a similar shade. With a already confirmed friends to continue to view still have to abide by other rules including wall full of paint-box hues including jadite collection of vintage baskets displayed along photos and old posts. Google, which runs copyright laws. (a milky green), cherry and pink. AGA’s the tops of snowy wood cabinetry, the vibe Gmail, YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, That means, for example, a widow could Signature line of beefy, professional-grade is relaxed, fresh and contemporary. (www. offers its own version: If people don’t log on read her deceased husband’s emails, but ranges comes in intriguing colors like auber- mendelsongroupinc.com) after a while, their accounts can be deleted or couldn’t send emails from that account. gine, duck-egg blue, heather, pistachio, claret Meg Caswell, a designer and host on shared with a designated person. Yahoo users And a person could access music or video and British racing green. (www.bertazzoni. HGTV’s Great Rooms, loves to add color to agree when signing up that their accounts downloads, but not copy the files if doing so com; www.bigchill.com; www.aga-ranges. kitchens. She used a backsplash of crisp, blue expire when they do. violated licensing agreements. — AP

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24 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) September 2014 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com