Senior Digest Tony, the Family’S Three-Legged Toy Poodle
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Connelly Law Offices, Ltd. has satellite offices in Eastern Connecticut and Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts for your convenience. Contact us at 855-724-9400 Volume 16, No. 2 February 2020 Taking Stock of Your Life at the End By Herb Weiss trademark leopard print blouse. He recalls her holding For Senior Digest Tony, the family’s three-legged Toy Poodle. A year later, Mickie and Justin would recruit my twin A few weeks ago, my sister Nancy called to give me brother, Jim and me to be ushers at their wedding in 1968. the bad news that my brother-in-law, Justin Aurbach, was Through the ebb and flow of their life together, from rais- diagnosed with an aggressive and deadly cancer known as ing children, grandchildren and building a successful den- glioblastoma, or more commonly referred to as GBM. This tal practice, he reflected on their 41 year marriage, noting 77 year old Dallas-based endodontist who I knew as rela- ‘how it flew by’ before Mickie passed in 2008. tively healthy, a believer in vitamins and physically active Justin reminded me of the sage advice he gave me before most of his adult life, was now house-bound receiving 24 I entered my freshman year at the University of Oklaho- hour a day care by home health caregivers, along with his ma. “Drink in moderation and put studies before chugging daughters Stephanie and Allison, and his partner Ruth who pitchers of beer,” he said. It is funny the things you tend to were now all part of a revolving schedule of care. remember, I thought. I booked a quick trip to Dallas to sit with him and show As our conversation became more focused on his health, my support and concern. It had been a few years since I Justin thought that the symptoms of the tumor might first had been there and I wondered what the conversation have appeared over five years ago, when he became dizzy Dr. Justin E. Aurbach, DDS. Photo courtesy Herb Weiss. might entail, knowing that our 53-year old relationship while taking a bike ride. Last August, the symptoms re- could cover a lot of ground. Justin and my sister were turned while riding again, and a Cat Scan would ultimately physical shape. While he would acknowledge that he could always collectors of art, and I soon found myself sitting at reveal his tumor. not run a four-minute mile, he joked that he never could a kitchen table, surrounded by colorfully carved images of Turning 60 anyway. As he approached his sixth decade, he admitted watermelons, where he and I reminisced as the time flew In 2003, I had the opportunity to interview Justin about that he played a little golf like many of his friends, walked by. turning age 60 for my weekly senior commentary in the and jogged, and even took time to lift weights. Justin reminded me that we first met in 1967 when he Pawtucket Times. He shared the following thoughts about Dr. Justin E. Aurbach, DDS, had accomplished much in came to pick-up my older sister Mickie, taking her to dine being at the peak of his career professionally, while only his career by the age of 60. As the first endodontist in the at Campisi’s Restaurant, a local pizza hangout. Even five years shy of reaching retirement age. Dallas-Fort Worth area, he was the first in the region to though it took place over five decades ago, he clearly re- In my commentary, Justin said, “It’s great [moving into perform endodontic microsurgery, when at that time there membered first meeting my mother as she greeted him your 60s], however, far too much [cultural] negativity has were only 78 endodontists in the nation performing such from the couch, sitting with her thick soled shoes propped been directed at this chronological age.” surgery. He is past president of the DFW Endodontic Soci- up on the ottoman, smoking a cigarette and wearing her At that time, my brother-in-law was in relatively good See Taking Stock page 6 Healthy Living at The Seasons East Greenwich - Residents of The Sea- Laurie Ann Oliveira, Administrator, “and sons Assisted Living Community partici- what better way to start the new decade than pated in the first monthly cooking demon- with education regarding healthy choices stration of 2020 with a lesson on healthy and a delicious snack with friends?” choices and cooking techniques. After the demonstration, residents tasted Held in the newly-renovated Grandview the meatballs and pasta while being led in Gardens kitchen, traditional and memory a spirited conversation about topics related care residents enjoyed a demonstration led to healthy living, ranging from eating hab- by Culinary Services Director Giulianna its to the health benefits of keeping a posi- Galiano-Gomez and Executive Chef Seth tive attitude and being kind. Chieppa. Residents learned about replacing Residents left the event in high spirits, more traditional ingredients with healthier eager to pass what they had learned on to alternatives, such as substituting turkey for friends and family. Seasons residents and beef in recipes. Turkey and spinach meat- staff look forward to the next demonstra- balls served with whole wheat pasta were tion, which is slated to take place in Feb- on the menu. LDN, CDE. Robyn walked residents your head to the bottom of your feet. A ruary. Giulianna and Seth walked residents through benefits of each ingredient, with well balanced diet is an important part of If you would like the recipe or more through the entire process, from seasoning a particular emphasis on the many healthy healthy aging, and the culinary staff at The information about The Seasons Assisted the meat to choosing a healthy whole wheat aspects of spinach. Seasons is passionate about providing well Living Community please visit our website pasta. Residents were able to ask questions According to Robyn, spinach is an easy balanced nutritious and delicious meals to www.TheSeasons.org. You may also call as the demonstration progressed, building ingredient to add to all sorts of dishes, it our residents every day. 401-884-9099 to schedule a tour! a deeper understanding of each ingredient is high in iron, has no cholesterol, and is “Lifelong learning is an important part of from dietician Robyn Riley Perry, MRSD, heart-healthy. It helps you from the top of celebrating life here at The Seasons”, said See Healthy Living page 9 Hearty Meals “Ask the “There’s no substitute for a great love to Offset who says, ‘No matter what’s wrong with Lawyer” February Winds you, you’re welcome at this table.’” - page 5 - page 19 - Tom Hanks 2 February 2020 • Senior Digest Sharing the Cost to Improve the Benefit A recent article in a re- tion’s top legislative prior- of the care by paying be- when they are sharing in legislators the need for spected publication, Health ity for the 2020 RI General tween $4.50 and $7.50 per the cost. It also decreases expanding @Home Cost Affairs, documented that Assembly session is in- hour for homecare, and be- the “fall off the cliff” effect Share. Our goal is at least a large and growing num- creasing income eligibility tween $7/day and $15/day of a program where some- a thousand signers, some of ber of Americans have for a state program called for adult day service. State one is one dollar over the whom will also come out to not saved enough for their @Home Cost Share. @ Medicaid funds pay the income limit and goes from our 2020 Legislative Lead- likely level of housing and Home is an effective state rest of the cost. The benefit receiving a benefit to re- ers Forum in the spring and healthcare expenses during program that’s not new, but to the state is that it delays ceiving nothing. I saw that show their support for this their retirement. One es- isn’t well-known. It funds or eliminates these seniors effect when I tried to help a legislation. Please contact timate is that nationwide in-home services for se- spending all of their assets constituent who lost having me at (401) 952-6527 or by this group numbers over 40 niors that may include help on community-based care, his Medicare Part B premi- email to senioragendari@ million people. The article with housekeeping, person- at which point state Med- um of $137 per month paid yahoo.com if you want to referred to them as “The al care, and meal prepara- icaid would have to pay because his income was 87 help. Forgotten Middle,” because tion. It also covers adult day 100% of the cost. cents per month over the at retirement they’re not programs outside the home This cost-sharing ar- limit! The hearing officer’s William F. Flynn Jr. is poor enough for Medicaid that offer meals, health rangement is similar to the hands were tied, he couldn’t executive director of the (income below $12,500 for monitoring and care, and “sliding fee scale” based on consider any other factors. Senior Agenda Coalition. a single individual, $17,500 social activities. Currently participants’ income used There was no cost-shar- Contact him at seniora- Senior Digest for a couple), but lack suf- RI seniors are eligible for by a number of social pro- ing program available that [email protected]. 21 Industrial Court ficient savings to pay for @Home if they need this grams such as YMCAs and would have reduced the Seekonk, MA 02771 homecare not covered by supportive care and have community centers.