Senior Spectrum Newspaper - April 2015 Issue

SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / April / 3

April 2015CONTENTS

THIS ISSUE - Older AmericansMonth Activities for MayPage 10 - Lifetime RetirementHealth Care Costs for SeniorsPage 18 - Less Than Half WithAlzheimer’s Disease Were ToldThe Diagnosis EarlyPage 22 - GPS Footwear TracksPeople With Dementia’sPage 23 - Alzheimer’sAssociation CongratulatesJulianne Moore On “Still Alice”Page 24 - Yerington Woman inFelony Elder ExploitationPage 24 - Grandparent Scam

EVERY ISSUEPage 6 - Opinion: Sen. HellerPage 7 - Opinion: Sen. Reid Page 26 - Calendar

Page 27 - this ‘n thatPage 30 - Biggest Little CityPage 32 - Eclectic ObserverPage 34 - ResourcesPage 35 - CrosswordPage 36 - Seniors4Travel

HEALTHPage 12 - Protect YourselfAgainst Medicare GapsPage 14 - Medical Tourism &Health Care AbroadPage 25 - Ophthalmology

FINANCIALPage 8 - Bradly Anderson, Family Feud: Don’t Let This BeYour Legacy - Anderson &Dorn & Rader, Ltd.Page 17 - AARP - 10 Ways toSave on Health Care Costs

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

775-348-0717SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

[email protected]: Chris & Connie McMullen

Column opinions are writers, not publishers. Copyrighted publication.

17

Editorʼs Desk

course of our lifetime, andnow is the time to make spe-cial moments by enjoyingourselves a little.

There will be so many thingsto do in May. WashoeCounty Senior Services, theCity of Reno Senior Division,Sparks Senior Center, InclineVillage, and other centershave been working feverishlyto guarantee a fun celebra-tion. All gets started May 1,with Opening Ceremonies atthe Reno Senior Center on9th and Wells. There will beentertainment, dignitaries, aninformation faire, and lunch.Last year over 400 peopleattended the celebration

scheduled from 9 - 1 p.m., somake sure to give yourselfplenty of time for parking orscheduled transportation. There will also be manyorganizations and providersoffering information to con-nect you with senior servicesthroughout the community.The annual Older American’sMonth Guide will be givenout listing activities, timesand locations of special pre-sentations, events, fun festivi-ties and gatherings. TheGuide is a must for planningMay programs.

Of special note is the 55 PlusHealth Faire Festival and

(Festivities page 4)

MorningStarSeniorLiving.com

775.626.5665 2360 Wingfield Hills Road 775.626.5665

MorningStarSe

l 236

eniorLiving.com

60 Wingfield Hills Road

Connie McMullen

May is Older Americans Monthand there will be a host of funthings planned for seniors andboomers living in the TruckeeMeadows. There has neverbeen a better time to be proudof the accomplishments wehave contributed over the

and Cinco de Mayo Party May 5th,sponsored by Baldini’s Casino and pre-sented by Senior Spectrum Newspaperand many other community providers.The event will be held Tuesday, on thesecond floor of the Sparks casino. Lookfor the escalator’s for easy access just offRock Blvd.

Seniors can listen to Cinco de MayoMusic, enjoy a Mexican buffet and bev-erages, and enter drawings for prizes.This is the second free event generouslyoffered by Baldini’s Casino. InNovember, Baldini’s Marketing DirectorRandy Wike reached out to our seniorfriends for the Holidays, complete withChristmas Carols, free food, entertain-ment, giveaways, and a drawing; themain prize given away was an outdoorgas grill valued at over $500. Greattimes and all one had to do was attend.

This year there will once again be flushots and preventive screenings, blood

pressure checks, and insurance infor-mation. Vendors will be providingresources and information to keep youhealthy and independent.

The Health Faire Festival and Cinco deMayo Party gets started at 9 a.m. till 2p.m. For more details call Chris atSenior Spectrum at (775) 348-0717.

Older Americans Month was estab-lished in 1963, when only 17 millionAmericans were reaching their 65thbirthday. Much has changed since thenwith advances in medicine and preven-tive screening. Then the month desig-nated to recognize Older Americansand their many contributions to societywas called “Senior Citizens Month,” aprelude to “Older Americans Month.”This years theme is Get Into The Act, aperfect way to segue into a month ofplanned activities, and to highlightthose being offered all year long. Among those planned: • Western Fling, Friday, April 10 at

Teglia’s Paradise Park. Bring a Westerndish and learn to Square Dance! • Sanford Center for Aging, SeniorOutreach Services, April 14, 10 - 11a.m. at the Laxalt Auditorium. Theguest speaker is Cherie Jamason, CEOof the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.• Make it a special day out; catchChicago, and take in All that Jazz, April25, Saturday, 2-6 p.m. at the PioneerCenter for the Performing Arts. City ofReno Scholarships apply. • Join Reno Senior Services in a specialperformance of Nashville Unplugged atHarrah’s Reno, April 30th.• Closing ceremonies of OlderAmericans Month, Neil Rd. Rec. Center

There are also ongoing activities:• Senior Bowling, High Sierra Lanes

Wednesdays, 1 - 4 p.m.• Reno Senior Dance Club, 2nd and

4th Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m., Neil Rd.

So Get into the Act; make new friendsand visit old acquaintances.

4 / April / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Festivities / page 3

I believe it isimportant for allsenior citizens tohave a clear under-standing of the ben-efits they qualifyfor, as well asknowledge onresources helpful in

navigating these benefits. As I travelaround the state, I realize many areunaware of the different programs createdto assist our senior citizens. Programs suchas Medicare are essential in maintainingthe health of older Americans withoutoverwhelming medical costs. My seats onthe Special Committee on Aging and theSenate Committee on Finance allow me tostrengthen and protect this program.

One service available to assist the elderlyin Nevada with Medicare is the State

Health Insurance Assistance Program(SHIP) provided by the Aging andDisability Services Division of theDepartment of Health and HumanServices. This program is a fantasticresource and responds to more than 1,000phone calls every month from beneficiariesand family members regarding Medicare.Trained SHIP volunteers are availableacross the state to help those in need.Beneficiaries can sign up for free one-on-one counseling sessions on topics includingMedicare, supplemental health insurance,and long-term care options. The volun-teers offer guidance on health insuranceneeds and advise on important decisionspertaining to long-term care insurance.Important information on meetings, semi-nars, classes, health fairs, and senior fairspertaining to Medicare is available throughSHIP.

The program also offers assistance withMedicare Part D, which is a prescriptiondrug benefit plan. Open enrollment to signup for this program will be in-betweenOctober 15th and December 7th.Although this is later on in the year, I feel itis important all seniors are preparedbeforehand. SHIP is available to assist bothcurrent beneficiaries of Medicare Part Dand those interested in the program.

SHIP has counselors available at variouslocations in Carson City, Reno, Sparks,Dayton, Elko, Incline Village, Silver Springs,Lovelock, Virginia City, and Fernley.Specific locations and phone numbers canbe found at http://nevadaadrc.com/coun-seling-sites-ship or by calling SHIP at (800)307-4444. As always, my staff and I arehere to help. For assistance, please contactmy Reno office at (775) 686-5770.


OpinionSenator Dean Heller

Sen. Dean Heller

Knowing Your Benefits

The importanceof hard work can-not be understated.America was builton hard work, ourstate is driven byinnovation and an

unwavering commitment to workinghard. After a long period of economicdownturn, the hard work of rebuildingour state’s economy is continuing toyield results. Employers continue toflow back into our communities, promi-nent forward-thinking companies arechoosing to invest in Nevada and ourpopulation is growing. There is stillwork to be done to improve our econo-my and place Nevadans on firm eco-nomic footing, but as we recover it’simportant that we acknowledge oursuccesses as we achieve them together.

We learned recently that Nevada’semployer count hit a record high in thefourth quarter of 2014. Our state pro-duced 61,200 employers in the finalquarter of 2014 according to a reportreleased by Nevada’s Department ofEmployment, Training andRehabilitation. In 2008 Nevada’s high-est employer count was 60,600; thatnumber was diminished to 56,300 by2011.

Another recent report indicates that

Nevada is leading the country in cleanenergy jobs. This did not happen byaccident. It is the direct result of pub-lic-private partnerships and smart fed-eral and state policies. For example, in2009 I worked in the Senate to pass leg-islation to promote lithium recoveryoperations in Nevada. Five years later,Tesla began building a massive lithiumbattery gigafactory in our state. It isexpected to pump $100 billion into theNevada’s economy and create up to22,000 jobs over the next 20 years. Thisproject, as big as it is, will be poweredwith Nevada’s solar and geothermalenergy, which was made available by aenergy development permitting processI led so that projects like the gigafactorycould be possible in our state.

Another strong indication thatNevada is continuing its economicrecovery is oursteady popula-tion growth. Inthe past year ourstate has grown1.5 percent—that’s an estimat-ed 42,334 peo-ple, most ofwhich are readyand willing tocontribute sub-stantially to our

economy if given the opportunity. Wehave no shortage of qualified workers.It is our duty to attract advanced indus-tries to Nevada so that as our popula-tion increases, the personal economy ofNevadans does so as well. As Nevadacontinues to expand into new industriesit is vital that every Nevadan is poisedto take advantage of the opportunitiesnew industries have to offer. That iswhy I have consistently supported taxbreaks for Nevada’s job-providers andjob training programs that teach sector-specific skills to workers so they areprepared to excel in advanced indus-tries.

The road ahead is challenging, butwith a strong commitment to workinghard we can strengthen Nevada’s econ-omy together, one step at a time.


Sen. Reid

OpinionSenator Harry Reid Working Hard for Nevada

The end of the holi-day season can some-

times bring families both sadness andrelief. While the holidays are a timewhen loved ones get together to enjoyeach other’s company, holiday stress cancertainly lead to trivial arguments andmiscommunications. Imagine the dis-agreements that can arise if somethingmore serious were to happen like leav-ing your loved ones behind to divide upproperty if you didn’t plan properly.

A dispute over how your estate is divid-ed can break bonds in even the most

harmonious family. This year, as youlook back on your holiday celebrations,resolve that 2015 is the year that youwill put a plan in place so you can pre-vent family feuding after you are gone.

Dividing Up Estates is a Top Cause of Family Feuds

Family disputes make the papers all thetime, and sometimes the participants inthe fight aren’t exactly who you’dexpect. In 2007, famous real estatedeveloper and hotelier Leona Helmsleydied and left behind a $4 billion estate.Her estate led to lots of trouble when

she left $12 million to her dog, aptlyand ironically named, Trouble.

While Trouble got a very generous gift,Helmsley left nothing to her two grand-children. The fight turned bitter as thegrandchildren resented not even beingthrown a bone… and the poor dogended up getting so many death threatsthat he needed $100,000 worth of secu-rity a year.

After much litigation, the grandchildrenwalked away with $6 million (despite

(Legacy page 9)


Family Feud – Don’t Let This Be Your Legacy

Brad Anderson

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

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

Helmsley’s clear intention toleave them nothing) and thedog’s inheritance wasreduced to $2 million by aManhattan judge, with therest of the money going tocharity.

If even man’s best friend canbecome embroiled in anestate dispute, imagine theproblems people can leavebehind if there is no plan inplace. This is especially trueat a time when USA Todayreports that more than 40percent of adults in Americatoday have at least one step-relative. Blended familiesmean more people trying toclaim a piece of the pie,which can exacerbate analready tense situation.

Protect your family by plan-ning ahead - make it yourNew Year’s resolution to getyour estate plan firmly inplace in 2015. So, what canyou do to keep your familyfights at bay after you aregone? Here’s what you can doto keep family fights a bayafter you are gone:• Getting professionalhelp. You should talk to anexperienced estate planningattorney who can help youmake sure your wishes arerespected, whatever thosewishes may be.

• Communicating withyour family. A writer for theDaily Mail recounted arrivingat her in-laws where kidswere asked by their still-liv-ing parents to place stickerson the property they wanted.This didn’t turn out very wellas the kids began to bicker,but at least it was a goodeffort. While it can beuncomfortable, you need tofind some way to talk to yourloved ones because opencommunication while you are

alive makes it more likelyyour wishes will be respectedwhen you are gone.

• Considering a “NoContest” clause. A “NoContest” clause, also knownas an In Terrorem clause canbe a silver bullet against fam-ily fights after your death dueto the fact that anyone whostarts a fight can be disinher-ited. When a “no contest”clause is included in yourWill, anyone who challengesyour wishes will be left out.

• Updating your estateplan regularly. As your lifechanges, you need to alteryour estate plan to reflectyour new circumstances.Unintentionally leaving outsome family members couldlead to a fight after you areno longer around to correctthe oversight.

You don’t want your family tobecome a cautionary taleafter your death, so don’t putyour loved ones in a situationwhere your case could end upin court. Make and keep aresolution to talk to an estateplanning attorney this year todiscuss ways to protect yourlegacy and future family har-mony. Your loved ones aredepending on you.

The Law Firm of Anderson,Dorn & Rader, Ltd is devotedexclusively to estate planning.We are members of theAmerican Academy of EstatePlanning Attorneys and offerguidance and advice to ourclients in every area of estateplanning. We offer compre-hensive and personalizedestate planning consultations.For more information or toattend an upcoming seminar,please contact us at (775)823-9455 or visit us online atwww.wealth-counselors.com. SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / April / 9


HealthView Services has publishedits 2015 Retirement Health Care CostsData Report, which shows averageexpected retirement health care costsfor Medicare B, D and Supplementalinsurance for a healthy couple retiringthis year at 65 years of age will be$266,589 in today's dollars. For a cou-ple retiring in 10 years at 65, expectedcosts will rise to $320,996, underscoringthe impact of rising health care costinflation. While the report providescomprehensive perspective on overallretirement health care costs, it alsobreaks down these costs into compo-nents to support informed retirementplanning decisions.

The data reveals that retirementhealth care costs are even higher whenexpected dental, vision, hearing, co-pays and all other out-of-pocket costsare included. With these additional

components, total projected retirementhealth care costs rise to $394,954 for a cou-ple retiring this year at age 65. For a 55-year-old couple retiring in 10 years, totallifetime health care costs are expected tobe $463,849. The 2015 report reveals anincrease in total year-over-year projectedlifetime retirement health care costs ofapproximately 6.5 percent. These esti-mates do not include the cost of long-termcare services.

"The report demonstrates that healthcare costs will account for a very significantand growing portion of retirees' budgets,"said Ron Mastrogiovanni, Founder andCEO of HealthView Services. "The dataalso shows that Medicare-related costs areonly part of the story. Retirees need toplan for health-related expenses not cov-ered by Medicare, and the potential impactof income-based Medicare surcharges."

Lifetime Retirement Health Care Costs for an Average 65-year-old Couple Retiring in 2015


Medicare helps topay for a widevariety of healthservices, from flushots to hospitalstays to hospicecare.

But it doesn’tcover everything.

And it doesn’t cover all your out-of-pocket costs.

Many services covered by Medicarerequire co-payments, coinsurance, anddeductibles. You can purchase supple-mental insurance to cover these “gaps”in Medicare. Such insurance is calledMedicare Supplement Insurance, orMedigap. Some Medigap policies alsocover certain benefits that Medicare

doesn’t, like emergency care in a foreigncountry.

If you have Medicare and you buy aMedigap policy, Medicare will pay itsshare of the Medicare-approvedamount for covered health services.Then your Medigap policy pays itsshare.

You have to pay for Medigap yourself,and it’s sold through private insurancecompanies. You can buy it only if youhave traditional Medicare, not MedicareAdvantage, which is managed care pro-vided by private insurers.

Every Medigap policy has to follow fed-eral and state laws designed to protectyou. Medigap insurance companies cansell you only a “standardized” Medigap

policy identified in most states by theletters A through D, F through G, and Kthrough N. Each standardized policymust offer the same basic benefits, nomatter which company sells it.

So beware when you’re shopping for aMedigap policy: Cost is usually the onlydifference between Medigap policieswith the same letter sold by differentcompanies.

And there can be significant differencesin how much various insurers chargefor exactly the same coverage.

Here are some of the costs thatMedigap policies often cover:• Medicare Part A (hospital) coinsur-

ance and hospital costs for up to 365(Medicare page 13)

Protect Yourself Against Medicare “Gaps”David Sayen, Regional Administrator

Medicare Region 9

David Sayen


days after Medicare benefits run out;

• Medicare Part B (medical) coinsur-ance or co-pays;

• Blood (first three pints);

• Part A hospice care coinsurance orco-pays;

• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance;

• Part A and Part B deductibles.

Medigap policies generally don’t coverlong-term care (like care in a nursinghome), vision or dental, hearing aids,eyeglasses, and private!duty nursing.

The best time to buy a Medigap policyis during your six-month Medigap openenrollment period, because you can buyany Medigap policy sold in your state,even if you have health problems. Thisperiod automatically starts the monthyou both turn 65 and are enrolled inMedicare Part B, and once it's over, you

can't get it again.

Medigap insurance companies are gen-erally allowed to use medical under-writing to decide whether to acceptyour application and how much tocharge you for the Medigap policy.However, if you apply during yourMedigap open enrollment period, youcan buy any Medigap policy the compa-ny sells, even if you have health prob-lems, for the same price as people withgood health.

Some other points to keep in mind: • You must have Medicare Part A andPart B to buy a Medigap policy;

• A Medigap policy only covers oneperson. If you and your spouse bothwant Medigap coverage, you must eachbuy a separate policy;

• You pay the private insurer a monthlypremium for your Medigap policy, inaddition to the monthly Part B premi-um that you pay to Medicare;

• Any standardized Medigap policy isguaranteed renewable even if you havehealth problems. This means the insur-ance company can't cancel yourMedigap policy as long as you pay thepremium.

David Sayen is Medicare’s regionaladministrator for Arizona, California,Hawaii, Nevada, and the PacificTerritories. You can get answers to yourMedicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Last yearat thistime, Iwrotemy arti-cle on“MedicalTourism:BoomersWithout

Boarders” and presented thetopic at the Aging InAmerica national conference.Our workshop was jammedwith interested persons andmuch discussion. In this arti-cle I want to focus on someof the critical issues, process-es, consequences, and out-comes of receiving medicaland healthcare abroad. I amalso personally interestedsince I need knee replace-ments. A knee replacementcosts $34,000 in the U.S., butjust $19,200 in Singapore,$11,500 in Thailand and$9,500 in Costa Rica, accord-ing to Patients BeyondBorders, a consultancy. Evenwithin Europe savings are tobe found: a hip replacementis $4,000 cheaper in Spainthan in Britain.

Factors that have led to theincreasing popularity ofmedical travel include thehigh cost of health care, longwait times for certain proce-dures, the ease and afford-ability of international travel,improvements in both tech-nology and standards of carein many countries, and

incorporating scenic travelwith the medical procedure.The avoidance of waitingtimes is the leading factor formedical tourism from theU.K., whereas in the U.S., themain reason is cheaperprices abroad; and in thesecases insurance companiesand employers are jumpingon.

Medical or health tourismproviders help you in theplanning of your medicaltravel. They offer informa-tion on the medical facilities,service providers, travelagencies, resorts,medical/travel insuranceoverseas and locally. Healthtourism providers makeinformation available aboutthe hospitals and the doctors,but the extent and quality ofthe information providedvaries enormously. Hospitalquality indicators can includewhether they have been sub-jected to independent inter-national healthcare accredi-tation, practice evidence-based medicine, and goodgovernance. Companies thatfocus on medical travel typi-cally provide nurse casemanagers to assist patientswith pre- and post-travelmedical issues. They mayalso help provide resourcesfor follow-up care upon thepatient's return to their homecountry.

Medical or health tourism 14 / April / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Larry Weiss

“Adding Life to Years”

Dr. Larry WeissCenter for Healthy Aging

Medical Tourism andHealth Care Abroad

has seen a surge in popularity over thelast 10 to 15 years, as many discover thesavings that can be enjoyed by travelingabroad for medical and dental work.InternationalLiving.com has its 2013and 2014 Health Care Survey, lookingnot only at the affordability of medicalservices and procedures abroad, but atthe cost of living and real estate valuesas well. With expats and experts alikeweighing in, International Living haslisted the top seven countries for high-quality healthcare overseas. Thosecountries are: Costa Rica, Malaysia,Panama, France, Uruguay, Mexico, andEcuador.

Harvard law professor Glenn Cohen,author of Patients with Passports:Medical Tourism, Law, and Ethics andThe Globalization of Health Care statesthat the revenues generated by thistrade are staggering. According to theWorld Travel & Tourism Council, med-ical tourism contributed 9 percent ofglobal GDP (more than $6 trillion) andaccounted for 255 million jobs in 2011.However, there are risks of medical orhealth tourism. Those risks depend onthe area being visited and the proce-dures performed. Some general issuesare communication, where you do notspeak the language fluently increasesthe chance that misunderstandings will

arise about the care. Medications may be of poor quality in some countries,even though many people buy medica-tions from other countries because theyare much more affordable. Antibioticresistance is a global problem, andresistant bacteria may be more commonin other countries than in the UnitedStates. The blood supply in some coun-tries comes primarily from paid donorsand may not be screened, which putspatients at risk of HIV and other infec-tions spread through blood. Anotherrisk is flying after surgery whichincreases the risk for blood clots.

So what can you do if you are planningto travel to another country for medicalcare? One of the first things to do is seea travel medicine practitioner at least4–6 weeks before the trip to discussgeneral information for healthy traveland specific risks related to the proce-dure and travel before and after the pro-cedure. Check for the qualifications ofthe providers who will be doing theprocedure and the credentials of thefacility where the procedure will bedone. Make sure that you have a writtenagreement with the facility or the grouparranging the trip, defining what treat-ments, supplies, and care are covered bythe costs of the trip. Determine whatlegal actions you can take if anythinggoes wrong with the procedure. If you

go to a country where you do not speakthe language, determine ahead of timehow you will communicate with yourdoctor and other people who are caringfor you. Obtain copies of your medicalrecords, which should describe anyallergies you may have. Prepare copiesof all your prescriptions and a list of allthe medicines you take, including theirbrand names, their generic names,manufacturers, and dosages. Arrangefor follow-up care with your localhealth care provider before you leave.Before planning "vacation" activities,such as sunbathing, drinking alcohol,swimming, or taking long tours, findout if those activities are permitted aftersurgery. And finally, get copies of allyour medical records before you returnhome.

It is estimated about 750,000 U.S. citi-zens seek medical procedures aboardeach year and that number is growing.If you are considering becoming a med-ical tourist, please do your due diligenceso you can add life to your years.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of theCenter for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weisswelcomes your comments on this col-umn. Write to him at [email protected] or c/o Center for HealthyAging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV89519.


Medical Tourism / page 14

How many of us are still stick-ing to our New Year’s resolu-tions to live healthier? I, forone, have good intentions, butI’ve been struggling to get tothe gym as often as I want.What has motivated merecently is getting a greaterunderstanding of how a health-ier me can lead to big savings inhealth care costs.

AARP’s Health Care CostsCalculator can help you under-stand what your health carecosts will be in retirementbased on your medical condi-tions AND show you how get-ting certain conditions undercontrol can affect your bottomline. Check it out atwww.aarp.org/HCCC. In themeantime, here are 10 ways tostart saving money on healthcare and expand your possibili-ties:1. Ask about generic drugs. Ifyour doctor prescribes a med-

ication, ask if there’s a suitablegeneric alternative. The price isusually lower, as well as thecopayment (how much you payeach time you fill the prescrip-tion). You can also use theDrug Savings Tool atwww.aarp.org/drugsavings anddo a quick search yourself tosee if there is a less expensivebut equally effective medica-tion you can use.

2. Don't smoke. The costsassociated with smoking gowell beyond the price of a packof cigarettes. Smokers pay morefor health insurance coverageand we all pay for the healtheffects of both smoking andsecond-hand smoke. Each year,our economy takes a $289 bil-lion hit in direct medicalexpenses and lost productivity.Find out how much kicking thehabit can save you with AARP’sHealth Care Cost Calculator,www.aarp.org/HCCC. Checksmoking cessation resources atBeTobaccoFree.gov.

3. Take advantage of wellnessbenefits. These days everyonehas a growing interest in keep-ing you well rather than caringfor you only when you are sick.For example, employers offerwellness benefits like healthscreenings or gym membershipdiscounts. Find out whatprograms your employer offers.Similarly, Medicare provides a“Welcome to Medicare" pre-ventive visit within the first 12months you have Part B. Youare also eligible to receive freeyearly "Wellness" visits andmany preventive screeningservices for free, such as flushots and blood pressurescreenings. Finally, check withyour health insurance provider:they too might offer discountsand other wellness benefits.


10 Ways to Save on Health Care CostsBy Nicole Duritz


4. Get recommended pre-ventive screenings. Becauseof the Affordable Care Act(ACA), most insurance plansnow cover a wide range ofimmunizations and preventivescreenings. For adults, theseinclude colonoscopies (age 50and over), diabetes and highblood pressure screenings, flushots and more. You can findmore information about thebenefits and protections of thelaw at www.healthlawanswers.org.

5. Take your medicationsregularly. If you have a chroniccondition, it’s important to takeyour medications exactly asprescribed. You can avoid cost-ly hospital visits that oftenresult from skipped doses. It’salso smart to keep an updatedlist of all the medications youtake, including dietary andherbal supplements, and bringit to your doctors’ appoint-

ments. You may want to usethe AARP Rx app and takeadvantage of the electronic orprint medication record.Simply go to the App store onyour device and download itfor free.

6. Eat healthy and exercise.Eating a healthy diet and get-ting enough exercise canimprove your overall health,which will in turn improveyour bottom line when itcomes to health care expenses.Many chronic conditions canbe managed or eliminated byeating better and becomingmore physically active.

7. Stay in your plan’s net-work. Most health insuranceplans offer in-network and outof network coverage. If you staywithin the network ofproviders your plan offers, youcan save big on out-of-pocketexpenses.

8. Sign up for Medicare atthe right time. If you are near-ing Medicare eligibility, youhave a seven-month window tosign up. This is the threemonths before your birthmonth, your actual birthmonth, and the three monthsthat follow. During this time,you can call Social Security at1-800-772-1213, go online atwww.socialsecurity.gov/med-icare or go to your local SocialSecurity office to apply. If youmiss this window, your month-ly Medicare payments (yourpremiums) may be higher. Forhelp from AARP on yourMedicare questions, check outwww.aarp.org/MedicareQA.

9. Check out programs thatreduce health costs. If you gethealth coverage in the HealthInsurance Marketplace, youmight be eligible for help withyour monthly insurance pay-ments. You may qualify for

lower out-of-pocket costs, too.Your eligibility depends on yourannual income and family size.Find out more at www.health-lawanswers.org.

10. Review your health cov-erage every year. Your insur-ance coverage may changefrom one year to the next, so it’simportant to review your cov-erage during your open enroll-ment period. Those changescan affect your monthly premi-ums, the services covered byyour insurance, and the list ofdoctors that participate in theinsurer’s network. Avoid costlysurprises by reviewing yourcoverage every year.

Whether it’s small acts or biglifestyle changes, you can savethousands of dollars in healthcare costs in retirement by tak-ing action today. Here’s to ourhealth – and healthy cost sav-ings!


Diagnosis DisclosureRates forAlzheimer's areSignificantly Lowerthan the Four MostCommon Cancers

The “Alzheimer'sAssociation's 2015Alzheimer's Disease Factsand Figures” report foundthat only 45 percent of peo-ple with Alzheimer's diseaseor their caregivers say theywere told the diagnosis bytheir doctor. In contrast,more than 90 percent of peo-ple with the four most com-mon cancers (breast, colorec-tal, lung and prostate cancer)say they were told the diag-nosis.

"These disturbingly low dis-closure rates in Alzheimer'sdisease are reminiscent ofrates seen for cancer in the1950s and 60s, when evenmention of the word cancerwas taboo," said BethKallmyer, MSW, VicePresident of ConstituentServices for the Alzheimer'sAssociation. "It is of utmostimportance to respect peo-ple's autonomy, empowerthem to make their owndecisions and acknowledgethat people with Alzheimer'shave every right to expecttruthful discussions withtheir physicians. When adiagnosis is disclosed, theycan better understand thechanges they are experienc-ing, maximize their quality oflife, and often play an active

role in planning for thefuture."

The 2015 Facts and Figuresreport also found that peoplewith Alzheimer's or theircaregivers were more likelyto say they were told thediagnosis by their doctorafter the disease had becomemore advanced. According toKallmyer, this is a problembecause learning the diagno-sis later in the course of theprogressive brain disease maymean the person's capacity toparticipate in decision mak-ing about care plans, or legaland financial issues, may bediminished, and their abilityto participate in research orfulfill lifelong plans may belimited.

One of the reasons mostcommonly cited by healthcare providers for not dis-closing an Alzheimer's diag-nosis is fear of causing thepatient emotional distress.However, according to thenew report, "studies thathave explored this issue havefound that few patientsbecome depressed or haveother long-term emotionalproblems because of the[Alzheimer's] diagnosis."

Benefits of Disclosing anAlzheimer's Diagnosis

According to the Alzheimer'sAssociation, telling the per-son with Alzheimer's thetruth about his or her diag-nosis should be standardpractice. Disclosure can bedelivered in a sensitive andsupportive manner that

Report Finds Less Than HalfWith Alzheimer's DiseaseWere Told the Diagnosis

avoids unnecessary distress. "Based onthe principles of medical ethics, there iswidespread agreement among healthcare professionals that people have theright to know and understand theirdiagnosis, including Alzheimer's dis-ease," said William Klunk, M.D., Ph.D.,Chair of the Alzheimer's AssociationMedical and Scientific AdvisoryCouncil. "The findings from this reportshine a light on the need for more edu-cation for medical students and practic-ing health care providers on how toeffectively make and deliver anAlzheimer's diagnosis."

Dr. Klunk is a Distinguished Professorof Psychiatry and Neurology at theUniversity of Pittsburgh School ofMedicine in Pittsburgh, PA, where healso is Co-Director of the Alzheimer'sDisease Research Center.

The benefits of promptly and clearlyexplaining a diagnosis of Alzheimer'shave been established in several studies.

Benefits include better access to qualitymedical care and support services, andthe opportunity for people withAlzheimer's to participate in decisionsabout their care, including providinginformed consent for current and futuretreatment plans. Knowing the diagnosisearly enables the person withAlzheimer's to get the maximum benefitfrom available treatments, and may alsoincrease chances of participating inclinical drug trials that help advanceresearch.

The Alzheimer's Epidemic and Its Impact

The 2015 Facts and Figures report pro-vides an in-depth look at the preva-lence, incidence, mortality and econom-ic impact of Alzheimer's disease andother dementias – all of which continueto rise at staggering rates as theAmerican population ages.

"Alzheimer's is a triple threat unlike anyother disease – with soaring prevalence,lack of effective treatment and enor-

mous costs. Promising research is readyfor the pipeline, but there's an urgentneed to accelerate federal funding tofind treatment options that effectivelyprevent and treat Alzheimer's. Congressmust continue its commitment to thefight against Alzheimer's by increasingfunding for Alzheimer's research by$300 million in fiscal year 2016, includ-ing increased federal research fundingfor better Alzheimer's diagnostic toolsto increase the certainty of diagnosis,"Kallmyer said.

Prevalence, Incidence and MortalityAccording to the report, an estimated5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer'sdisease in 2015. This includes an esti-mated 5.1 million people age 65 andolder, and approximately 200,000 indi-viduals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's. Barring the develop-ment of medical breakthroughs, thenumber will rise to 13.8 million by2050.

Source: Alzheimer's Association


Diagnosis / page 18

If you’ve ever been chargedwith the care of person withAlzheimer’s, dementia, Autismor another cognitive disorder,you know the importance ofkeeping a close eye on yourloved one. But even the mostdevoted caretaker may go tobed worrying what they’redoing isn’t enough.

Luckily, Smart WearableTech - satellite monitoring andreal-time tracking, location-enabled technologies can be

your backstop. While aconnected device orsolution will neverreplace a human’s care, itcould help find someonewho has wandered andmay not be able to findtheir way home. GTXCorp offers a GPSfootwear system that canhelp pinpoint a person’slocation in an unobtru-sive way.

GPS SmartSoles come prein-

stalled with a miniaturizedGPS/Cellular tracking devicethat sends a signal relaying loca-tion coordinates to a central-monitoring station, which youcan be accessed via a web por-tal, tablet or smart phone andapp.

Depending on your serviceplan, GPS SmartSoles updatetheir location every 10-30 min-utes and contain a rechargeablebattery. To keep even bettertrack of the device and its wear-er, download the free SmartLocator mobile app for smartphones and tablets. The solu-tion gives you, as a caregiver,access to the location of yourloved one with the touch of abutton; it will even tell you ifthe wearer is moving or stand-ing still.

Theresa Cooke, of CookeElder Care Navigation Services,is the Nevada distributor forthis product in Reno. Visitcookeldercarenavigation.com or call at (775) 762-9258.


GPS Footwear Tracks People with Dementia’s


Alzheimer's Association CongratulatesJulianne Moore On “Still Alice”

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TheAlzheimer's Association congratulatesJulianne Moore on winning the Oscarfor Best Actress at the 87th AnnualAcademy Awards. Playing the titlecharacter in the film "Still Alice,"Moore's poignant portrayal of awoman diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease illustratesthe impact of Alzheimer's, the sixth-leading cause of death in the UnitedStates, on individuals and their fami-lies.

"On behalf of the more than 5 mil-lion Americans living withAlzheimer's disease and their 15 mil-lion caregivers, huge congratulationsto Julianne Moore for winning anAcademy Award," said AngelaGeiger, chief strategy officer,Alzheimer's Association. "Her beau-tiful and thoughtful performance inStill Alice resonated with filmgoersand helped to elevate awareness, andfoster much needed conversationabout Alzheimer's disease."

As the bestselling novel by LisaGenova was adapted into film, theAlzheimer's Association was proudto provide guidance to Julianne

Moore, and KristenStewart, who por-trayed her daughterwho helped to carefor her mom.

Alzheimer's disease affects women dis-proportionately: More than two-thirdsof people living with Alzheimer's arewomen, and 3 in 5 unpaid caregiversare women.

Photo: Sony Pictures Classics

Nevada Attorney GeneralAdam Paul Laxalt announcedthat former FinancialHorizons CreditUnion employeeDaylene Tibbals,29, of Yerington,has entered a nocontest plea onone felony countof the fraudulentuse of a creditcard to obtain$3,700. At a hear-ing before LyonCounty DistrictCourt Judge LeonAberasturi,Tibbals admitted she entereda no contest plea to avoidpotentially being found guiltyof more serious chargesinvolving the misuse of hergrandmother’s life savings

“This office is an active par-ticipant in the Nevada ElderAbuse Task Force, and worksto ensure that all Nevadansare protected and healthy intheir homes, whatever theirage and living arrangements,”said Laxalt. “We will contin-

ue to protect the most vul-nerable in society by safe-guarding seniors in our com-

munity through the investi-gation and prosecution ofthose who seek to defraud orabuse Nevada’s elderly popu-lation.”

Tibbals is scheduled to besentenced on April 20, 2015,and faces a potential sen-tence of up to four years instate prison or probation. Ano contest plea is treated thesame as a guilty plea at thetime of sentencing.


Yerington Woman in FelonyElder Exploitation Case

Daylene Tibbals

Grandparent ScamNevada Attorney GeneralAdam Paul Laxalt warnsNevadans about an old scammaking new rounds inNevada. Because the scamfrequently targets seniors, theoperation is known as the“grandparent scam.” A callerclaims to be a relative of thealleged victim. The callerstates they has been injuredor arrested in another state

or country. In many cases,the caller asks the victim notto tell any relatives of thecaller’s situation, and thenproceeds to ask the victim towire thousands of dollars tosomeone claiming to be apolice officer, attorney, legalaid worker, customs officer,or hospital employee. Oncethe money is sent, it cannotbe traced nor recovered.

Dry eye syn-drome ischaracter-ized by per-sistent dry-ness thatmakes eyeslook red andfeel gritty, as

if they were coated with a for-eign substance. While thecause may be a chronic condi-tion that is not completely cur-able, dry eyes can be managedwith artificial tears and othermeasures. Prescription eyedrops containing the drugcyclosporine may help increasenatural tear production.Another treatment involvestiny hydroxypropyl cellulose

beads that are placed in thepocket of each lower eyelid. Asthe beads dissolve, they contin-uously release moisturethroughout the day. In addi-tion, temporary or permanentsilicone plugs inserted in theeyelids’ lacrimal (tear) drainageducts help keep moisture onthe eyes by prevention tearsfrom draining away too quickly.P.S. - The ophthalmologist mayuse the Schirmer test, whichinvolves placing a thin strip offilter paper under the lowereyelid, to measure tear produc-tion.

If you would like further infor-mation on today’s topic, pleasecall my office at (775) 882-1726.


Ophthalmology

Gritty Determination Dr. Michael J. Fischer, M.D.

Michael J. Fischer

April 3 - April 19 - TheProducers, Mel Brooks,Truckee Meadows CommunityCollege: April 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 17,18 @ 7:30 p.m.; SundayMatinees: April 12, 19 @ 2 p.m.,tickets available online atshowtix4u.com or (775) 673-7291.

April 4 - Sesquicentennial ofthe Civil War, 11 – 4 p.m., spe-cial event, Carlin, Camp 25.

April 6 - AARP Driver Safety,9 - 2 p.m., Reno Senior Center,$15 members, $20 non-mem-bers, (775) 786-3509; April 25,9:30 - 2 p.m., Neil Rd. Rec.Center, Reno.

April 7 - April 30 -Cooperative Extension’s‘Grow Your Own, Nevada: April 7: GMOs: Facts andFallacies; April 9: Compostingand Vermicomposting; April 14:Weeds, Critters and Insects;April 16: Growing Garlic inNorthern Nevada; April 21:Wine and Beer Making; April23: Fruit Trees for High DesertOrchards; April 28: BerryProduction; April 30: Walapinis:Experience With a BelowgroundGreenhouse, (775) 784-4848,[email protected]/

April 8 - Musical Heavenwith iTunes, class offered 1 -3:30 p.m., TMCC MeadowoodCenter, $39, register, (775) 829-9010.

April 14 - May 7 - SilverYoga, class offered 10:30-11:30a.m., TMCC MeadowoodCenter, $79, register, (775) 829-9010.

April 16 - Shootout withNeal Cobb, Nevada HistoricalSociety, noon - 1 p.m.; April 25,Young Chautauqua, 1 - 3:30p.m., (775) 786-3509, $15 mem-bers/$20.

April 16 - April 30 - ThePleasures of Poetry, class

1 - 3 p.m., TMCC MeadowoodCenter, $49, register, (775) 829-9010.

April 18 - 2nd AnnualRoadmap toHomeownership Event, FreeHomebuyer’s Expo, 1 - 4 p.m.,Sparks Nugget, Bonanza Room,(775) 887-1797.

April 21 - Washoe County’sOlder American’s MonthProclamation, 10 a.m., CountyCommissioners regular meeting,BBC Chambers, Bldg. A, 9thand Wells, Reno.

April 21 - 26 - Chicago,Pioneer Center for thePerforming Arts.

April 23 – 9th Donkeys v.Elephants BasketballClassic aka The Battle ofthe Legislators, 7:30 p.m.,Carson City High School, $10per adult/$5 children, seniorsProceeds benefit Seniors inService, contact Mary Brock at(775) 358-2322 [email protected]/

April 28 - June 11 - SilverTai Chi, 4 - 5 p.m., TMCCMeadowood Center, $79, regis-ter, (775) 829-9010.

May 5 - Health Faire, Baldini’sSports Casino, second floor, 9 -1 p.m., call Senior Spectrum,(775) 348-0717.


CALENDAR

Tax-Aide ProgramAARPʼs Tax-Aide program

will once again provide freetax assistance and prep forNevadans. The service isavailable to anyone in thecommunity filing a simplereturn – you do NOT have tobe a member of AARP or asenior to utilize the service. Those interested can visitwww.aarp.org/findtaxhelp orcall 1-888-227-7669 to find asite in their area.

I hadn’t hada night ofhealthy,restful sleepfor so long Ididn’t real-ize I wasmissing it. I was so

accustomed to dozing off anytime I sat down and takingnaps whenever possible I hadconvinced myself that wasnormal, at least for me. Sowhen my doctor gently sug-gested I might have a sleep dis-order I ignored him.

Those gentle suggestions pro-gressed to irritating naggingabout participating in anovernight sleep study. Ourconversations went like this:

He: Sleep apnea is a seriouscondition that can cause orlead to all kinds of life-threat-ening issues and I think youshould be tested for it. Me: I don’t have sleep apnea; Iam just tired because I get uptoo early.

I did reluctantly admit thatsome of the symptoms ofchronic sleep deprivation hithome but I was still resistant.Several friends had been diag-

nosed with sleep apnea andhad told me they slept withsome sort of a mask, whichhelped. I was glad they hadfound a resolution (which Ienvisioned with horror) butthat was nothing I wouldever consider doing.

But my doctor kept on nag-ging so I eventually gave inand made an appointmentto spend the night beingobserved while I slept.Then I cancelled it. I re-scheduled only after spend-ing a night (at home) witha monitor on my finger

(Sleep page 27)


A good night’s sleep...And what happens if you don’t get it...

this ‘n that By Anne Vargas [email protected]

Anne Vargas

proved I wasn’t getting enough oxygen.

Ultimately, grumbling all the way, Ichecked into the Pulmonary Medicine Associates Sleep Center and was escort-ed to one of the eight rooms that wouldbe mine for the night. It was pleasantlycomfortable, set up with a bed, TV,bedside table and light. There is one technician/attendant for every two

patients; the one assigned to me was apleasant young woman who attached 27wires to my head and body. Thatprocess took nearly an hour and as wechatted she explained that I would bemonitored throughout the night from aremote site but wouldn’t be disturbedunless they felt I was in any “distress” inwhich case she would come in to put aCPAP (Continuous Positive AirwayPressure) mask on me.

She showed mewhat it looked likewhich cementedmy resolve to livewithout it. Iassured her I wouldnot be in any “dis-tress,” that I wouldsleep peacefully allby myself and proveeveryone wrong. Ihad even broughtalong my own spe-cial pillow to tuckunder my chin, myown self-diagnosissolution.

The prospect ofsleeping whilebeing observed canbe unnerving soparticipants in thestudy are encour-aged to take a sleepaid if necessary; infact they will evengive you a pre-scription but I justopted for TylenolPM. I took one,read a few pagesof my book andturned out thelight, eager to getthe night and thesleep study overwith. I didn’t haveany difficultyfalling asleep, butthen I never do.Sleep deprivation?

Around midnight the door flew open,the light came on and my techniciantold me I needed the mask. She wasnot allowed to explain why and I wastoo sleepy to care but I was concernedthat my claustrophobia might kick in soI took a second Tylenol PM and wentback to sleep.

I was astonished when I looked at theclock; it was nearly seven a.m. -- Inever sleep that late. Maybe it was dueto the Tylenol PM, but I felt really rest-ed. I also felt alert and I stayed that wayall day—lots of energy, no naps. Andthis was after just one night with thatmask. Unfortunately that didn’t last.

A week later I returned to the clinic toget my test results from thePulmonologist. He told me he hadrather expected me to “flunk” (mywords, not his) but my sleep studynumbers were alarmingly worse than heanticipated; I was clearly suffering fromObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), themost common type. Within hours Iwas sitting in a medical supply officebeing fitted for that mask I had sworn Iwould never wear.

My wonderfully supportive husbandwas terrific; he went with me to learnhow the mask works, asked the ques-tions I was too fuzzy to think of anddidn’t laugh when I put it on whereas Irefused to look in the mirror (oh vanity,vanity!) He has helped me come togrips with the fact that this will be apermanent part of my life by remindingme to focus on the positive. This is agood thing. It will help me sleephealthily, improve the quality of my lifeand hopefully preclude a lot of frighten-ing health issues.

Despite my claustrophobia concerns, Ihave had no trouble becoming accus-tomed to sleeping with the maskbecause I quite literally saw immediateresults. I had no idea that resting prop-erly every night could have such animpact. I wake up with energy, I thinkmore clearly and I feel better than I


Sleep / p. 27


have in years.

I share this story not because I thinkpeople want to know about my lifebut to encourage anyone who mightbe struggling with a possible sleepdisorder to get tested. More than 18million Americans have sleep apneaand the likelihood sharply increaseswith age.

It is a potentially life-threateningmedical disorder that can lead tostroke, heart attack, diabetes, hyper-tension, headaches, excessive day-time sleepiness, diminished mentalclarity and lack of energy. It pre-vents airflow during sleep when tis-sues in the back of the throat col-lapse and block the airway, reducingthe amount of oxygen delivered to allof your organs including your heartand brain. These breathing pausestypically last between 10 to 20 sec-onds and can occur up to hundredsof times a night, jolting you out ofyour natural sleep rhythm.

As a result, you spend more time inlight sleep and less time in the deep,restorative sleep you need. It alsoprevents the brain from being able to“clean house,” which is supposed totake place during sleep. If that does-n’t happen the result, according toone neuroscientist, can be a “murkymind”. (Mine had been murky for along time!)

I am grateful I had the test, grateful Iam getting treatment. And I amespecially grateful I have doctor whowas so relentless in his pursuit of mygood health.

The Renoarea wasonce noted

for the variety of racing events inwhich it was involved.

Back in the late 50s, hydroplane and

speed boat races were introduced toLake Tahoe primarily by Reno hotelowner Charles Mapes. The races wereheadquartered at the Boatworks inTahoe City and the Mapes Cup was avalued trophy among the Hydro crowd.

Hydroplane racing probably reached itspeak in 1963 when the coveted“Gold Cup” event was held atPyramid Lake. The Gold Cup isthe Super Bowl of Hydro racingand is traditionally held in Seattle,WA at the end of the racing sea-son.

In order to get the race moved tothe Pyramid Lake venue, a contin-gent of Renoites journeyed toSeattle the previous year to make apitch. The main ingredient of thatoffer was more prize money. Irecall several members that madethe journey to the Northwest andthey included Mapes, PeteVarengo, Newt Crumley and thewriter.

Since the highly technical Hydroscould not perform at top speed in

the thin air of Tahoe, it was decided torent the Pyramid Lake site from theIndian tribe that controlled it.Fortunately I had previously played CityLeague basketball with one of the topmembers of the Paiute Tribal Council.His name was Earl Dunn, who laterbecame one of the best Indian athletesin the country.

The races at Pyramid were a great suc-cess up until the final day. Fierce windswhipped the surface of the water intolarge whitecaps. Drivers were offeredthe option of cancelling the races ortaking their chances on the rough sur-face. They decided to continue and theresult was that three of the Hydroplaneswere sunk in the final heat. Fortunately,we had several helicopters monitoringthe event and they were able to fish outthe lucky racers. As far as I know, thethree boats that sank are still at the bot-tom of Pyramid.

Another racing event, this one on dryland, was the annual “Reno Day at theRaces” held at the Bay Meadows thor-oughbred race track in the Bay Area.

(Races page 31)


Biggest little CITY

By Harry SpencerA Day at the Races

A large group of Renoitesattended and the entire dayof racing was devoted to TheBiggest Little City. Eachindividual race was spon-sored by a hotel or casino inReno and the winnerreceived flowers and a horseblanket emblazoned with thesponsor’s name. Since theMapes Hotel had the finaland premier spot on the pro-gram, I was dispatched toSan Francisco the day beforeto coordinate the event withthe race track’s publicityman.

On race day, the Nevadanswere seated in the owner’sbox and I had the assignmentof escorting each of thesponsors to the Winner’sCircle. While down there, Igot some excellent tips onthe potential winner of thenext race.

One of the more interestingracing events was the annual“Snail Race” held in SanFrancisco the afternoon priorto the opening of the Operaseason. It was a lunchtimeaffair at the Le Triagnonrestaurant. About two weeksbefore the race, we decidedto enter a snail representingThe Mapes. We startedreleasing Press reports aboutour snail that were more fic-tion than fact. His name was“Lucky Pierre” and we hadsupposedly purchased him inFrance. However, on his tripto this country we noted thathe had been imprisoned inEngland for lack of a pass-port. The amenable Pressran worldwide photos ofPierre weeping behind bars.Just in time, through deviousdiplomatic moves, wesecured his release and sup-posedly he arrived in SFready to race.

The race itself was attendedby a large contingent of BayArea Press and numerouscelebrities. Champagne andhors-d’oeuvres were servedand spectators watched theslow-motion race. The racecourse was set in a table-topwooden model called the“Snail-a-Drome” that resem-bled an Olympic Stadium.On the floor of the stadium,which was about two feetlong, were balsa wood rails,which were greased with a

sugary liquid in order tospeed up the slow-movingentrants. Fitted into thegrooves were tiny two-wheeled chariots with astring that was looped overthe neck of the snails. Fanscould wander about therestaurant and come backperiodically to see if theirracers had moved more thanan inch.

As I watched the excitingfinish of one race, I heard a

soft voice behind me say,“This is the only event I’veseen where the entriesbecome entrees.” I turnedaround and the speakerproved to be TV mogul EdSullivan.

Ski races,snowmo-bile races,quarter horse races, air races,camel races and off roadevents will be described in alater column.


Whilereadinga short

story that featureda Chimney Sweep,

memories returned of my own inter-actions with Sweeps in England andGermany while living in rental housesin both countries. I realized, too, I'verarely lived in a house that didn't have

a fireplace.

Home number three in California wasbrand new and our family made themove from the Bay Area to aSacramento suburb shortly after theend of World War II. The one-hun-dred mile-plus drive in a pre-warPlymouth made for an interesting trip;in the front seat were Dad, as driver,Mom, and our Cocker Spaniel puppy.The back seat was filled to capacitywith me, my younger brother and sis-ter, assorted blankets and pillows, andmy cat, Nipper. I remember Nipperbeing an unhappy traveler so it wasn'tsurprising that on arrival at our newhome, he fought his way from myarms just inside the front door andheaded straight for the fireplace wherehe promptly disappeared up the chim-ney. Nipper found a sanctuary insidethe unused chimney on an out-of-sight narrow ledge. He remained therefor at least a day while the entire fami-ly attempted to coax him out withofferings of raw hamburger. We musthave used that fireplace for its realpurpose eventually and I'm fairly sureits chimney must have been swept (bysomeone), but it wasn't until I wasmarried with children of my own andliving in England that there was anoth-er episode with a fireplace.

My husband's job as a telephone engi-neer took us to England in the late1960s and we rented a two storeyhouse in the town of Woodbridge,East Anglia. The house had been rent-ed to American servicemen for severalyears and suffered from a neglect ofgeneral maintenance. “Central heat-ing” was provided by a coal boiler inthe kitchen, additional heat came froma coal fed fireplace in the living room.The inside of the house was coldenough that both my daughter and Isuffered from chilblains. When I com-plained to the rental office that the

(Eclectic page 33)32 / April / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVERby Janet Ross

Janet Ross


heat was totally inadequate, I wasinformed it was probably because weneeded the service of a ChimneySweep. Kind neighbors suggested thename of a reliable Sweep and he arrivedwith assistant in tow. Both men wereattired in tweed jackets, wearing dressshirts and ties, the normal mode ofdress for this occupation. What theydidn't realize was that years of neglectfor the fireplace and boiler chimneysmeant years of accumulated soot anddebris. They shook the black gunkloose, filled our small garbage can, andleft the remaining mess around the fire-place and boiler for me to deal with,and we had company coming for dinner.I called my husband at work, in panicand tears. What did I expect him to do?Wave a magic wand, I suspect. His curtreply let me know the problem wasmine to solve, and covered in soot fromhead to foot, I did.

A few years later we were living in arural area of West Germany. Our home

there had both indoor and outdoor fire-places and a flat roof. I should mentionthat essential to our hassle-free survivalin a country where our facility with theGerman language was minimal, wewere fortunate to have a bilingualGerman neighbor willing to translatewhen problems or questions arose. Oneday, as I sat reading in the living room,there were heavy footsteps overhead.Who – or what – was on the roof?Moments later the doorbell rang andwhen I opened the door there was asight straight out of a fairy tale. In frontof me stood a handsome, blue-eyedyoung man dressed in pants and a jack-et of black suede, wearing a black suedetop hat, his face and hands liberallycoated in soot. He addressed me in thelocal dialect and I could only respond,“Ein moment, bitte.” I put in a quicktelephone to Frau Schafer next door andshe graciously explained the situation.Each year the city of Prum required allresidential chimneys to be swept, sotheir Sweeper would arrive without

prior notice, sweep the chimney(s) andcollect his pre-arranged fee. All I had todo was pay him and say, “Danke.” I wishI'd had the presence of mind to take hispicture.

Our home in Sparks has a rarely usedfireplace and I'm sure we had the chim-ney swept at some point in the lastforty-two years, but it can't have been amemorable occasion or I'm sure I'dremember.

Tell us about some ofyour travel destina-tions of the past year,

and reasons for choosingthem. Were the travels onyour own or with a travelcompany? Which way doyou prefer to travel?

These were questions werecently posed to a friend.She and her husband are fre-quent travelers, and weappreciate her thoughtfulresponse.

Our friend, who we will referto as M.N., began by sayingthey travel on their own attimes, but often use tourcompanies, particularly whentraveling to a country where

they’ve never been beforeand want to see as much aspossible. “They (tours) arenot for the faint-of-heart,”M.N. cautions. “You putyour bags outside your hoteldoor at 7 or 7:30 a.m. and areon the bus an hour later.”

We recall past experienceswhen traveling on our own,schlepping our own luggageand navigating language bar-riers while attempting to finda hotel and public trans-portation. We once pur-chased train tickets fromFrankfurt to Prague in anover-night sleeper car – pri-vate, or so we thought – onlyto find ourselves in a com-partment with six bunks,

thankfully only occupied bytwo other people. We need-ed the extra bunks to storeour large, heavy luggage. (Ashas been said, when readyingfor a trip, pack half as manyclothes as you think you’llneed and twice the money.)Lesson learned.

We were fortunate that ourbunk mates – one Czech,one German – both spokeEnglish and we had a pleas-ant conversation on the wayto Prague. On a train thatstopped at every little village– not express as we assumed,sleep was impossible.

For us the question of whichoption is more for the faint-of-heart – a tour company’sregimen or challenges oftraveling solo in an unfamil-iar country – is not debat-able.

But, we digress. Back to ourfriend who declared, “All ofour travels have one thing incommon. They don’t costmuch per day.” This couplehas been with tour compa-nies to such faraway placesas Thailand, Turkey, China,and Russia, so that is saying alot.

What’s their secret? By sub-scribing to travel companies’email specials and matchingthem to places on their travelbucket list, and being able topack up at the drop of a hatand take advantage of lastminute offers. Also, by being

flexible with that bucket list.Thailand was nowhere nearthe top of their list but a verylow priced trip came up thispast year, and as M.N. said,“We jumped on it.” And, ithappened that Thailandbecame one of their morememorable travel experi-ences thus far. “Our tourguides have always beengood and our Thai guide wasexcellent,” M.N. said. “Shegot us into Myanmar(Burma) and kept our pass-ports safe with the Thai bor-der patrol. She took us to anamazing Elephant Camp. She told us when we coulddrink the water (a series ofStarbuck-like coffee shops)and when we should orderbottled water. We went bytrain to the River Kwai andtook water taxies to a float-ing market. The Thai hotelswere wonderful. One wasonly accessible by boat.”

For those looking for adven-ture, this tour with Gate OneTravel would be one to con-sider. Gateonetravel.com

When comparing offers bytour companies, M.N. advis-es to look at how manynights are included, ratherthan days. The Thai tour, forexample, listed travel daysincluding crossing theInternational Date Line,which had the tour startingthree days before they evengot to Thailand. “Getting onthe plane counts with them,”she said. “Not with me.”


Solution from page 35

Seniors4Travel

Travel Tour Company or On Your Own? Destination Matters

Robert Boyd and Carolyn Prusa

Senior Spectrum Newspaper - April 2015 Issue

Documents

Transcript of Senior Spectrum Newspaper - April 2015 Issue