October • 2012 • 3

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

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

S eniorspectrumnewspaper. comPublishers: Chris & Connie McMullen

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

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

This Issuepage 3 - Editor’s Desk: Vote YESon WC-2 for Seniorspage 4 - Nevada Silver State Health Insurance Exchangepage 5 - Roadmaps From Democrats and Republicans: Two Very Different Pathspage 6 - Opinion: The Truth About the Medicare Debatepage 12 - Tools for Your Toolboxpage 17 - Silver Haired LegislativeForum Votes on Prioritiespage 21 - HCQC: Quality Improvement in Nursing Homespage 26 - Medicare is TargetingQuality and Hospital Readmissionspage 27 - Lend-A-Hand SeniorServices Celebrates 20-Years! page 30 - Sparks Senior Center Gets New Improvementspage 32 - SSA: Supplemental Security Income Helps the Needy

Every Issuepage 29 & 31 - Calenderpage 31 - Crosswordpage 33 - Biggest Little City

Harry Spencer page 36 - this ‘n that - Anne Vargaspage 38 - Eclectic Observer

Janet Rosspage 39 - Eydie Scher - Excerptspage 41 - Seniors 4 Travel

Robert Boyd & Carolyn PrusaHealthpage 14 - Health Prevention

Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Aging

page 18 - CMS: David SayenMedicare Questions

page 19 - Caregiving: Dr. MarionBenefits in Volunteering

page 19 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D.

Financial page 7 - Why Everyone Needs

an Estate Plan Bradley B. Anderson

Editor’s Desk:

Vote YES on WC-2

October 2012

Nevada seniors will beasked to vote for anon-binding Advisory

Question this November 6th,asking if Washoe Countyshould increase theGovernment Service Tax(GST) one percent to sup-port seniors, public safety,and infrastructure.

Little is known about theAdvisory Question as it hasnot been given much publici-ty, but when you go to votethis fall, the question will beon the ballot. WashoeCounty seniors should voteYES on this question becauseit will give the existing andnew Washoe CountyCommissioners direction onfunding for senior serviceprograms for residents whoneed it.

Why should you vote forWC-2? Because the fundingis desperately needed. Manyof you may not be aware butbecause of declining propertytaxes and budget cuts,Washoe County SeniorServices is close to cutting,eliminating or contractingout much of its services thatprovide the disadvantagedwith nutrition programs,legal services, adult day care,representative payee, casemanagement, and home care.These programs are a goodthing for low-income elderswho do not have theresources to live without helpduring their retirement years.

Additionally, the popularMeals on Wheels programthat delivers meals to isolatedhomebound elders, and thecongregate meals provided atthe senior center may bescaled back even though thepopulation is growing. Thismeans there is less money,less staff, less resources toprovide nutrition services.Older people will go hungry.

Vote YES on WC-2! If

enacted, the GST will appearon vehicle registration billsfrom the Department ofMotor Vehicles. The aver-age, which means notevery registration bill, mayincrease $43! However itcould generate over $9 mil-lion for vital services.

While it will not benefitIncline Village seniors whoprovided the argumentagainst WC-2, it will supportthose who for whatever rea-son need assistance. Thoseof us who do not need thishelp are indeed fortunate inthese difficult times.

Senior Law ProjectIn October, the Washoe

County Senior ServicesAdvisory Board will hold aseries of meetings to discusswhether the Senior LawProject should be discontin-ued, remain intact, or be con-tracted out to another lawfirm.

A few years ago a similarprocess occurred that includ-ed public meetings and atown hall type of gatheringfor input about the program.Testimony came from staff,clients and previous users ofthe legal firm, that offersservice to low-income sen-iors. Reductions in programfunds and budget cuts haveresulted in the elimination ofstaff and resources. Morerecently, the courts havequestioned if the Senior LawProject can continue to per-form its duties regardingcases brought before it.

Hopefully these series ofmeetings, facilitated by SocialEntrepreneurs, will provide athoughtful recommendationto be forwarded to SeniorServices Director GradyTarbutton and eventually theCounty Commission.Comments should be mailedto www.co.washoe.nv.

36

4 • 2012 • October

The Nevada InsuranceCommissioner is expected toselect and submit to the fed-eral government forapproval health insuranceplans that will be part of theSilver State Health InsuranceExchange to provide cover-age for the states uninsured.

Nevada has received fivegrant awards to build itsAffordable InsuranceExchange totaling over $76million as of August 2012.Nevada’s exchange receiveda Level Two Establishmentgrant to meet certificationrequirements in January2013, provide coverage toenrollees by January 1, 2014,and to achieve self-sustain-

ability by January 2015 asrequired under the federalAffordable Care Act.

In August, the Board ofExaminers approved a con-tract with Xerox StateHealthcare to set up thecomputer system and opera-tions needed to beginenrolling people by October2013.

Nevada Governor BrianSandoval is expected toinclude the exchange in his2013-2015 budget now beingdrafted for the 2013 legisla-tive session. Nevada optedto develop its own exchangerather than letting the feder-al government operate it.

(Exchange page 10)

Update:

Silver State HealthInsurance Exchange

October • 2012 • 5

We urge you to read the fullRepublican and Democraticplatforms found at:http://www.owl-national.org/ OWL hasprepared a few highlightsthat illustrate the contrastbetween the two partieswhen it comes to majorissues affecting womenover 40 and their families.

Social SecurityRepublican

• No changes to current or near-retiree benefits.• Social Security is longoverdue for major change.• Reform should addressmedical advances inlongevity. • Allow younger workersthe option of creating per-sonal investment accountsas supplements to the sys-tem.

Democrat • Seniors earned SocialSecurity.• A commitment to keepingcurrent system.• Opposed to any attemptsto privatize.• Supports making it easierfor people to save on theirown for retirement.

Medicare/MedicaidRepublican

(Note: Medicare and

Medicaid are addressedtogether in the RNC plat-form)• Current course cannot be sustained for either program.• More emphasis on personal responsibility forhealth maintenance.• Call for transition to apremium-support modelfor Medicare, with anincome-adjusted contribu-tion toward a health plan ofthe enrollee's choice.• Move two programs awayfrom a defined-benefit entitlement to defined-con-tribution model.• Reexamine age eligibilityfor Medicare.• Block Grant Medicaid Limit federal requirementson private insurance andMedicaid; remove existingfederal requirements onhow money is spent.

Democrat(Note: Medicaid referencesare part of the healthcaresection in the DNC plat-form)• Oppose efforts to priva-tize Medicare or make it avoucher system.• Oppose efforts to BlockGrant or cut Medicaidfunding.• Affordable Care Act

(Roadmaps page 10)

OWL- Voice of Midlife and Older Women

Roadmaps From Democrats and Republicans: Two Very Different PathsOn November 6, we will choose between com-peting and very different visions of our nation'sfuture. Please take time to study how the majorparties plan to tackle some of the most impor-tant policy issues of our time: Social Security,Medicare/Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

For close to fifty years,Medicare has successfullyand efficiently provided mil-lions of seniors in Nevadaand across the country withquality and affordable healthcare that they have paid intoall their working lives.Medicare helps save lives andhelps older Americans stayhealthy during their goldenyears. Along with SocialSecurity, Medicare is themost important promisewe've made to our seniors.

However, forty-sevenyears after its creation,Medicare is facing the great-est threat to its existence and

is under attack byWashington politicians whoare all-too-ready to turnMedicare and seniors’ guar-anteed benefits over to pri-vate profit-hungry insurancecompanies.

Senator Dean Heller, oneof our state’s highest officials,is one of those Washingtonpoliticians who don’t under-stand how importantMedicare is to our state’sseniors. In fact, SenatorHeller has the distinction ofbeing the only member ofCongress to vote twice forthe plan to end Medicareauthored by Vice Presidential

nominee Paul Ryan, and sup-ported by Presidential nomi-nee Mitt Romney, and evensaid he was “proud” to havethis distinction.

What does the Heller-Ryan-Romney plan, whichHeller “proudly” voted fortwice, seek to do? Accordingto the conservative WallStreet Journal, the planwould “essentially endMedicare” and turn the pro-gram over to the profit-hun-gry private insurance indus-try.

Dean Heller's proposalwould end the promise ofguaranteed benefits for sen-iors by providing a voucherto buy insurance on the pri-vate market. According tothe non-partisanCongressional Budget Office,turning Medicare over to aprivate voucher systemwould raise seniors’ average

health care premiums byover $6,000. In addition topaying more for premiums,Nevada seniors would havehad to pay $15 million morefor prescription drugs in2012 alone under Heller’splan.

Instead of relying onguaranteed benefits to takecare of their health careneeds as they have for morethan four decades, seniorswould be placed at the mercyof private insurance companybureaucrats who would beallowed to come betweenpatients and their doctors.

The reality is thatSenator Heller’s plan termi-nates the Medicare programand creates a system whereprivate insurance companiesare in charge.

Now, after “proudly” vot-ing twice to dismantle

(Medicare page 13)

6 • 2012 • October

OpinionThe Truth About the Medicare DebateScott WattsNevada Alliance for Retired Americans

October • 2012 • 7

Estate Planning. Tomany people, itsounds complicated

and foreign, something onlythe wealthy or the elderlyneed to worry about. It isoften not at the top of the pri-ority list for single people orfor young couples. Even par-ents with young children,who know they should atleast have a Will, tend tothink of estate planning assomehow beyond their reach.

Planning for IllnessWhat would happen to you oryour family if you becamevery ill – or even if you suf-fered a debilitating injury –

and you couldn’t make yourown financial or medicaldecisions? If you are married,you might assume that yourspouse would automaticallyhave the right to step intoyour shoes and make thesedecisions for you. However,this is not necessarily thecase. If you have accounts onwhich your spouse is not ajoint or authorized user, he orshe would likely hit a brickwall when trying to commu-nicate with your financialinstitutions. The same prob-lems can arise when it comesto talking to doctors oraccessing your medicalrecords. If you are not mar-

ried, your friends or familymembers would face similardifficulties. In truth, regard-less of your age, your situa-tion in life, or your level ofwealth, estate planningaccomplishes certain univer-sal goals.

Without the right plan inplace, financial and medicalinstitutions require a courtorder before they will com-municate with anyoneattempting to make decisionson your behalf. This putsyour loved ones in the posi-tion of hiring a lawyer andspending time and money incourt during an already

stressful time in their livesand yours, simply so that theycan handle your daily affairs.Add in relatives who disagreeover how your affairs shouldbe managed and the troublecompounds.

Whether you are married orsingle, regardless of your age,you should have at minimum,a General Durable Power ofAttorney, a Health CarePower of Attorney, and aHIPAA authorization. In mostcases, a Revocable LivingTrust will also be important.

A General Durable Power of (Estate Planning page 8)

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

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

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan

8 • 2012 • October

Estate Planning / page 7Attorneyallows you toname someoneto manage yourfinancial affairsin case of yourdisability.Banks andother financialinstitutions areoften reluctantto accept a Power of Attorney, howeverthat reluctance is eliminatedwith a RLT (RevocableLiving Trust) because theTrust owns the account. AHealth Care Power ofAttorney lets you namesomeone to make medicaldecisions on your behalf, anda HIPAA authorization letsyou direct your physiciansand medical facilities torelease medical informationto certain, specified individu-als. These documents worktogether to keep the details oflife running as smoothly aspossible for you and yourfamily, without the need for acourt order.

Planning for DeathNobody likes to think aboutdeath, but it can happen atany time. If you have not cre-ated a plan, the family youleave behind will have topick up the pieces. The mostbasic way to plan for death isto create a Will. You use yourWill to leave instructions forwho gets which of yourassets and when, as well as toname a guardian for yourminor children.

A Revocable Trust goes astep further, allowing you todistribute your assets whileavoiding the time andexpense of the probateprocess. An additional advan-

tage of a Revocable Trust isthat, since it is not subject toprobate, the terms of yourTrust remain private. This isnot true of a Will, which isfiled in court during probateand becomes a matter of pub-lic record.

Estate planning does not haveto be complicated, and it iscertainly not only for thewealthy or the elderly.Planning your estate is a mat-ter of putting together a fewelements that will protect youand your family in case theunexpected happens.

An experienced estate plan-ning attorney can help youput a plan in place that is tai-lored to your family’s needs.

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

October • 2012 • 9

10 • 2012 • October

helps state Medicaid pro-grams fund home and com-munity-based services.• ACA provisions strengthen-ing Medicare.• Under ACA, Medicaid willcover more working families.

Affordable Care ActRepublican

• Repeal ACA• Use price transparency tostop over-utilizing expensiveservices.• Cap non-economic dam-ages in medical malpracticelawsuits.• End tax discriminationagainst the individual pur-chase of insurance.• People with pre-existingconditions who maintaincontinuous insurance cover-age should not be discrimi-nated against.

Democrat • Preserve ACA • Improve the healthcareworkforce with emphasis onprimary care.• Eliminate disparities inhealthcare.• Continue access for familiesto mental health and sub-stance abuse services.

JobsRepublican

• Simplify the tax system.• Cut government spendingand regulation.• Promote U.S. productsabroad and secure open mar-kets for them.• Build Federal-State-privatepartnership to invest innational infrastructure.• Overhaul federal trainingprograms for the workplaceof the twenty-first century.

Democrat• Keep provisions of theAmerican Jobs Act alreadyenacted, including payroll taxrelief, tax credits for business-es that hire veterans, and anextension of unemploymentinsurance.• Retain executive orderssuch as expanding access torefinancing for families whohave stayed current on theirmortgages, challengingCommunity Health Centersto hire veterans, acceleratingpermitting for transportationprojects and enabling studentloan borrowers to cap theirpayments at a percentage ofincome.• Invest in national infrastruc-ture.• Supports relief for long-term unemployed.• Supports ban on discrimi-nation against unemployed.

Exchange / page 4Medicaid Expansion

The Nevada StateMedical AssociationCouncil has voted to sup-port Medicaid expansionprovided for in theAffordable Care Act(ACA). In making theannouncement, theNSMA said, “We believethat this is necessary toassure that there is not anew class of uninsuredNevadans crated by a gapin the ACA coverageplan.”

Gov. Sandoval and theLegislature will be consid-ering the impacts ofMedicaid expansion onthe state budget in makinga decision to opt intoexpansion for the unin-sured.

Roadmaps / page 5

October • 2012 • 11

Over 100 health careorganizations, providers andeducators attended aresource forum September25 in Reno titled “Tools forYour Toolbox,” offeringopportunities for profession-als to share skills, servicesand network.

The forum, sponsored bythe Nevada GeriatricEducation Center at theUniversity of Nevada Schoolof Medicine, was said to be afirst in bringing communityproviders together for thepurpose of sharing informa-tion and educating. Amongthe various agencies presentat the forum were represen-tatives of the state Medicaidprogram, the Aging and

Disability Services Division,Washoe County Adult SocialServices, Northern NevadaAdult Mental HealthServices, and Welfare andSupportive Services.Veterans eligibility, serviceconnection and the Aid andAttendance program, as wellas respite and hospice servic-es were explained. Theforum was followed bybreakout sessions providingfurther opportunities toshare information and net-work.

Keynote speaker, David A.Ishida, MA, RegionalAdministrator of the U.S.Department of Health andHuman Services, spoke ofthe new Administration for

Community Living, a fed-eral initiative to help peo-ple live independently toavoid institutionalization.Ishida said the divisionbrings together theAdministration on Aging(AoA), the Office onDisability (OD), and theAdministration onDevelopmentalDisabilities (ADD) todevelop policies andimprove supports for sen-iors and people with dis-abilities.

The federal division hasbeen working to implementinitiatives nationally focusedon nursing home diversion.Programs rolled out over thepast few years include the

Community-based CareTransitions Program to pre-vent hospital readmissions,Consumer Direction andHome and Community-based Services for Veterans.

(Toolbox page 16)

12 • 2012 • October

Tools for Your ToolboxWhat Inquiring Professionals Need to Know

David A. Ishida

Medicare, Senator Heller isattacking Shelley Berkley onMedicare. Senator Hellermust think he can foolNevadans, because hisattacks don’t pass the smelltest and should be dismissedby seniors across Nevada.

The claim that theAffordable Care Act cut $700billion from Medicare hasbeen widely debunked as“untrue,” “misleading” and a“distortion.” The AARP sayswhat Shelley Berkley votedfor is legislation that“cracked down onMedicare fraud, waste andabuse” and “strengthenedguaranteed benefits.”Factcheck.org has calledthe claim that theAffordable Care Act “cuts”billions from Medicare“misleading.” Theyaccused groups who usethis line of attack of mis-leading “seniors by makingfalse claims about the law’seffect on Medicare.”Politifact said, “NeitherObama nor his health carelaw literally ‘cut’ a dollarfrom the Medicare pro-gram’s budget.” TIMEwrote that the idea that“the Affordable Care Actstruck a dangerous blow toMedicare that will changethe program in fundamen-tal ways is untrue.”

While we must makecommon sense improve-ments to strengthenMedicare for future gener-ations, we must not takethe Heller-Ryan-Romneyapproach and dismantleMedicare all together byturning it over to profit-hungry private insurancecompanies. While thisplan might be a boon tothese profit-hungry privateinsurance companies, it is

surely not in the best inter-ests of Nevada seniors, likeme, and middle-class fami-lies, who rely on the guaran-teed benefits of Medicare tomeet their health care needs.

Please join me in support-ing Shelley Berkley thisNovember because she willfight to protect and preserveMedicare, not destroy it likeher opponent would do.

Scott Watts, a resident ofMinden, is the President ofthe Nevada Alliance forRetired Americans.

October • 2012 • 13

“Come in!”

www.PromenadeReno.com

Call 775-786-8853for a personal guided tour!

Welcome to your all-inclusive, locally-owned retirement community!

BrekhusJenny

FOR RENO CITY COUNCIL

jennybrekhus@gmail.comwww.jennybrekhus.com 775.544.1694

Medicare / page 6

14 • 2012 • October

Ibelieve that food and lackof exercise is slowly killingour community. Local governments across

the country are creatingdozens of program experi-ments with money from theObama administration’sAffordable Care Act thatfocus on prevention. It is partof a broad national effort setin motion by the health carelaw. It encourages the healthcare system, that is gearedtoward responding to illness,to move toward, one thathelps people keep from get-ting sick in the first place. Tothat end, the law created the

$10 billion Prevention andPublic Health Fund, thelargest-ever federal invest-ment in community preven-tion.

The effort is long overduein an age where preventabledisease is the single largestcause of death. Indeed,unhealthy behaviors, likesmoking and poor diet,account for 40 percent of pre-mature deaths in the UnitedStates, while poor health careand limited access to thehealth care system accountedfor a tenth of such deaths,according to an analysis offederal data and mortality

studies by the Institute ofMedicine.

If you compare our coun-try with other countries inpotentially preventabledeaths, we perform worse,according to aCommonwealth Fund studyreported in Health Affairs. Inaddition, the pace of improve-ment in preventing deathsthat could be avoided withtimely and effective healthcare is the slowest in the U.S.The critics say consumer edu-cation and efforts to influencebehavior and assume individ-ual responsibility will onlyhave modest effects without

policy measures like taxes onsoda and restrictions on mar-keting to children to changethe food they eat.

Unfortunately, the republi-cans in congress haveridiculed the prevention pro-gram as a slush fund to buildjungle gyms and swing sets.Is this so bad? Don’t we needto embrace the preventionapproach and turn our citiesinto healthy communities?

If we look at the scientificevidence there are only ahandful of published studieson obesity interventions thathave produced results. These

(Life to Years page 15)

Adding Life to YearsHealth Prevention: Its time has come! Dr. Larry Weiss

Center for Healthy Aging

positive results occurredwhen the participants wereintensely engaged. You onlyhave to look at the popularTV program, the BiggestLoser, to see the amount ofwork and effort to shedpounds, but it is critical.

Public health experts saythat the kinds of things beingtried under the Preventionand Public Health Fund lawcould help bring a culturalshift. Perhaps the most signifi-cant cultural behavioralchange in recent times is thedramatic reduction in theshare of Americans whosmoke. This change tookmany years of education, reg-ulation and medical interven-tion. Likewise, only a mixtureof these approaches will havean effect on eventually reduc-ing rates of obesity andincreasing physical exercise.

By 2030, more than half ofAmericans could be obese,resulting in millions of newcases of diabetes, coronaryheart disease, and stroke -- aconstellation of illness thatcould cost the United Statesup to $66 billion in treatmentand over $500 billion in losteconomic productivity.

It's a sobering scenario tosay the least. And it is what isnow being projected by a newreport released in Septemberby The Trust for America'sHealth and the Robert WoodJohnson Foundation titled, "Fas in Fat: How ObesityThreatens America's Future."

"With 6 million new casesof diabetes, 5 million cases ofheart disease and stroke, andmore than 400,000 cases ofcancer in the next 20 years,we are on a tragic course thatwill have a horrible impact onthe quality of life of millionsof Americans and could over-whelm an already over bur-dened health care system,"

said Dr. Jeffery Levi, studyauthor and executive directorof Trust for America's Health.

"Obesity is on the causalpathway to every majorchronic disease that plaguesour society -- heart disease,cancer, stroke, diabetes, pul-monary diseases, arthritis,"said Dr. David Katz, directorof the Yale UniversityPrevention Research Center."So it is best thought of asthe canary in the coal mineof chronic diseases. As goes

obesity, so goes health."A new survey from the

National Council on Aging(NCOA), United Healthcare,and USA TODAY finds thatmost older Americans feeltheir best years are still tocome, but not all are preparedfor the health and financialchallenges of aging. Morethan half of seniors stronglyagree they feel safe walking intheir communities. Close to60 percent never walk toplaces they regularly need to

go. Seniors report mixed feel-ings about the impact theircommunity has on theirhealth. Half of respondentsindicated their communityhelps them live a happy andhealthy life, but nearly asmany (42%) said their com-munity has no bearing ontheir health or happiness.

Clearly the national effortin health promotion and ill-ness prevention that this newlaw is facilitating needs to beviewed seriously.

October • 2012 • 15

16 • 2012 • October

Communities are critical inthe health and happiness ofits residents and individualsneed to take responsibility.Therefore, public health edu-cation and policy have to gohand in hand to make the cul-tural change necessary to pro-mote health and decreasedeath and disability.

Public messages abouthealthy foods and against badfoods such as sugary drinksneed to be plastered on busesand benches. Junk food invending machines in schoolsand businesses need to bechanged. Activity and exerciseprograms need to be encour-aged. Community healthworkers need to identify thecommunity’s highest-riskpatients, connect them withdoctors, and follow up withthem. One aspect of this iscurrently being developed in

northern Nevada by TCONN– Transitional Care ofNorthern NV, a collaborativeof hospitals, doctors, homehealth, senior and social serv-ices, and other communityagencies designed to provideintegrated care from one serv-ice setting to another.

Unfortunately, poverty is abarrier to prevention. Day today living and the short-termthinking means many peopleare shopping at gas stationmini-marts where junk food isthe staple. More money doesnot necessarily help when badfood is the easiest choice.Public health experts say thatno real progress on obesity ispossible unless governmentsregulate junk food, and weeducate our communities asto what are good foods andthe importance of exercise.One example is New YorkCity. They experimented with

some public policies, but theyhave been slow to spread, inpart because of the lobbyingby the food industry.Unfortunately, many peopledon’t change their behaviorswithout a push, so you have tochange what drives anddirects them through policy.

Do support the publichealth promotion and illnessprevention efforts being pro-moted in your community.The Obama administration’sAffordable Care Act has sometremendous positive healthcare changes. This Preventionand Public Health Fund initia-tive is one of those. It willhelp all of us “add life toyears”.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. isCEO of the Center forHealthy Aging. Dr. Weiss wel-comes your comments on thiscolumn. Write to him atlarry@addinglifetoyears.com

or c/o Center for HealthyAging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno,NV 89519.

Toolbox / page 12Aging and DisabilityResource Centers, the singlepoint of entry initiative, workto connect people with infor-mation and referral, assis-tance and advocacy.

“The most importantthing is to understand thatthere are community-basedoptions for care, and that iswhat people prefer no matterwhat age,” Ishida said. “Theyprefer to stay at home, theyprefer to be around theirfamily and in their communi-ty. All they need is somesocial supports.”

Ishida said he would hopethat the emphasis towardcommunity supports be con-tinued as the Affordable CareAct is implemented.

Life to Years / page 15

The Nevada Silver HairedLegislative Forum voted onits priorities in Septemberfor the next LegislativeSession on behalf of thestate’s aging population.

The forum recommendedthey would support legisla-tion enhancing Home andCommunity-based Servicesin Nevada (HCBS); servicesthat enable people to live athome and prevent prematureinstitutionalization. TheNevada Department ofHealth and Human Servicescurrently offers HCBS toseniors and people with dis-abilities.

The forum made recom-mendations to monitor pub-lic utility hearings and sup-

port proposed legislation orpractices that preserve justi-fiable utility rate increasesand consumer safety.

Legislation to create anEndangered PersonsStatewide Alert System wassigned into law last session.The bill was to take effect inJanuary 2012. The forumvoted to request theGovernor assure the bill beimplemented. Additionally,the group wants to revise theprogram by eliminating the60 years of age and the resi-dency requirements.

The Forum made recom-mendations to support legis-lation that improves healthcare for seniors, protectsseniors from fraud and

scams, legislation that pro-motes senior employmentand the expansion oftelemedicine services in thestate.

The forum, created in

1997 by the legislature,works to identify and makerecommendations to theGovernor and legislators onissues of importance to agingpersons.

October • 2012 • 17

Nevada Silver Haired Legislative Forum Votes on Priorities for the Legislative Session

Healthinsurance

isn’t the easiest thing tounderstand. But if you haveMedicare, there’s a variety ofhelp resources you can turnto.

One is Medicare’s toll-free help line, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Trained representa-tives are available 24-hours aday, every day of the year toanswer your questions aboutyour Medicare coverage.

All people with Medicarereceive a copy of the“Medicare & You” handbookin the mail each fall. Thisbooklet has a wide range of

information about whatMedicare covers and what itcosts. It includes detailsabout Original Medicare aswell as privately-runMedicare health and pre-scription drug plans that youcan join.

Another useful resource isMedicare’s consumer-friend-ly website found atwww.Medicare.gov. Amongother things, the website hastools that let you compareMedicare health and drugplans. (You can also look forlocal hospitals, skilled nurs-ing homes, home healthagencies, and dialysis centersthat best fit your needs.)

Yet another terrific way toget your questions answeredis to make an appointmentwith your local State HealthInsurance AssistanceProgram, or SHIP.

SHIP provides free, per-sonalized counseling to peo-ple with Medicare. You canspeak with a trained SHIPcounselor over the phone orin person. The counselor willgive you accurate, unbiasedadvice about your Medicarebenefits and how to get themost out of them.

SHIP counselors can helpyou with questions aboutOriginal Medicare, MedicareAdvantage plans, Medicare

supplement (Medigap) poli-cies, Medicare Part D pre-scription drug plans,Medicare Savings Programs,and long-term care insur-ance.

Got a problem with amedical bill? SHIP can helpyou deal with it. SHIP coun-selors are volunteers andthey’re often enrolled inMedicare themselves, so theyknow the issues. They canhelp you understand yourMedicare rights, file a com-plaint if you feel you gotinadequate care from a hos-pital or other healthcareprovider, or file an appeal if

(SHIP page 20)

18 • 2012 • October

David Sayen

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid

Getting Answers to Your Medicare Questions

By David Sayen

Uveitis isinflamma-tion of the

layer of tissue situatedbetween the retina and thesclera (the white of the eye).This middle layer, the uvea,has three parts: the iris (thecolored portion of the eye),the ciliary body (which makesfluid within the eye) and thechoroid (a layer of blood ves-sels that nourishes the retinaand other important parts ofthe eye). Anterior uveitis, the

most common form involveshe iris and ciliary body.Intermediate uveitis affectsmostly the vitreous humor(the clear gel that fills theeye), and posterior uveitisaffects the retina or choroidat the back of the eye.Symptoms of blurred vision,eye pain, eye redness, photo-sensitivity, and dark floatersrequires immediate attention.Note - Uveitis can result inscarring and blindness if leftuntreated.

Im glad youasked, Pete. Volunteering is agreat way to keep your fatheractive, engaged with the sur-rounding community, andinteracting with new people.It will get him out of thehouse, give him a goal, pro-vide structure, and create areal sense of accomplishment.

It usually doesn’t evenmake a difference what thevolunteer function is. Yourfather could volunteer at ahospital, in a school, at a local“Y,” be a big brother, a troopleader of boy scouts, lend ahand at the Red Cross, or justbe an assistant to someonewho needs help. Given yourfather’s expertise in banking,

maybe he can take localschool children on bank toursor even mentor youngbankers just getting started inthe field. When an elderlyindividual volunteers time,knowledge, and experience, itusually results in more per-sonal satisfaction than ifhe/she just gives money to acharity.

Dr. Marion (MarionSomers, PhD) is the author of"Elder Care Made Easier" andhas over 40 years of experi-ence as a geriatric care man-ager, caregiver, speaker, andexpert in all things elder care.Visit www.DrMarion.com formore information.

October • 2012 • 19

Dr. Marion Somers

Ask Dr. MarionDr. Marion Somers. Ph .D.

Benefits of VolunteeringWhere do you suggest my 80-year-oldfather can volunteer his time andexperience? In his day, he was a highlyrespected banker, and he still has a lotto offer. Pete in South Carolina, 49

Ophthalmology UveitisMichael J. Fischer, M.D.

Eye Physician & Surgeon

20 • 2012 • October

SHIP / page 18your Medicare health ordrug plan denied you a serv-ice.

With Medicare openenrollment season comingup (it runs from Oct. 15 toDec. 7), you may be thinkingabout joining a Medicarehealth or drug plan, orswitching from one plan toanother. SHIP can help youchoose a plan that bestmeets your needs in terms ofcost, coverage, and conven-ience. A counselor can sitdown with you and helpcompare various plans untilyou find the right one. Theyalso can help you enroll inthat plan.

Let’s say you take multipleprescription medications. ASHIP counselor can enter allyour drugs into Medicare’sPlan Finder tool (availablethrough www.Medicare.gov)and search for plans that

cover your drugs. The coun-selor will then help you com-pare plans based on monthlypremiums, co-pays, and anyrestrictions that may apply.

If you have a low income,the counselor can help youapply for the “Extra Help”program, which helps payyour costs in a Medicaredrug plan.

You can reach the SHIPoffice nearest you by callingthis toll-free number: 1-800-307-4444 (in Las Vegas, 486-3478).

SHIP is funded throughfederal grants and operatedby the Nevada Aging andDisability Services Division.

David Sayen is Medicare’sregional administrator forArizona, California, Hawaii,and Nevada. If you havemore Medicare questionscall 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

The Nevada State HealthDivision, Bureau of HealthCare Quality andCompliance (HCQC), theregulatory arm that overseeshealth facilities in the state,plans to launch a new initia-tive to improve the quality ofhealth care in Nevada nurs-ing facilities.

HCQC Bureau ChefWendy Simons, in charge ofregulating some 1400 plus

licensed health facilities, saysthe initiative comes withrecognition that the agencyneeds to think differentlyabout how health providersaddress quality of care. Thegoal is to encourage nursingproviders to develop a “busi-ness model” to improvehealth outcomes in the deliv-ery of services.

QUIP, or QualityImprovement Partnership,will begin as a pilot in nurs-ing facilities with eventualexpansion to other providersin partnership with theNevada Aging and DisabilityServices Division (ADSD),and Health Care Financingand Policy (HCFP) orNevada Medicaid.

“There are opportunities

for innovation in gov-ernment,” said Simons,who came from theassisted living industryto work for HealthDivision AdministratorRichard Whitley. Hermother pioneered thefirst residential homefor group care in thestate. Experience is justa small part of the arse-nal of tools she bringsto the job. Simons, her-self a former operator of

October • 2012 • 21

Pilot Project Works on Quality Improvement in Nevada Nursing Homes

Connie McMullen

Wendy Simons

a large assisted living com-munity, has helped write andlobby for regulation yearsbefore joining HCQC.Innovating for change is achallenge that seems to comenaturally.

“There are opportunities

for more collaboration in aprivate sector approach togovernmental processes,” shestates. “For instance, duringmy tenure of 2-years I creat-ed seven advisory councils,bringing partners together towork with the regulatory

agency and the businesses itregulates. The partnershipsthat we are building havereally opened dialogue for alot of initiatives.”

For Simons, it all comesdown to care. “If you ask

(Quality Care page 24)

24 • 2012 • October

someone how they definequality in care, few peoplegive the same answer.” Forthe consumer it means relia-bility, comfort and safety.When the HCQC inspectorssurvey a facility, they’re look-ing for quality, safety, andoutcomes.

If QUIP works asplanned, it will bring aboutimproved care, serving as anew model for best prac-tices. Simons creditsAdministrator Whitley forsparking interest in new ini-tiatives, referring to animproved infection controltool that put Nevada on thecutting edge and the devel-opment of enhanced sentinelevent reporting, events thatshould never have happened.“The Ambulatory SurgicalCenter, infection controlissue that blew up in Nevadain late 2008 – 2009 became acatalyst for greater recogni-tion of responsibility. It isstill on everyone’s radar,understanding the signifi-cance of that event.”

Born out of necessity,QUIP also may curb costlyman-hours the division hasbeen expending inspectingnursing homes and otherhealth care facilities to keep

them in regulatory compli-ance, to avoid expensivepenalties and closure. Theannual surveys have beencontroversial and costly toboth the division and theprovider. She noted "onaverage periodic inspectionsin nursing homes run 210hours, but when facilities are

poor performers, up to 500hours of additional investiga-tion time occurs."

“It is the first time in thehistory of the bureau thatsomebody from the outsidewith a past life of being regu-lated was brought in. As aresult of that, I’ve been hav-ing corporate meetings withmedical providers on inspec-tion history and findings,determining what the cus-tomer perceives they shouldbe receiving from the servic-es provided, and how tomarry customer expectationsand disappointments in areview of the engine thatgenerates our workloadwhich is complaints. Whatis disappointing customersto cause them to complain?What can the industry dothrough us sharing thatinformation to better man-age what the customer isperceiving they are supposedto be receiving?”

Simons reviews a list of health care facility inspections and records of performance.

Quality Care / page 21

October • 2012 • 25

“Our job is customerservice because we are feebased,” Simons said. “Everyentity pays a fee for us tolicense, regulate and inspect.They have customers thatwe, through the regulatoryprocess, want to assurereceive the proper care andservices. It’s all perceptionand customer service.”

How QUIP WorksQUIP is a Nevada Health

and Human Services endeav-or to implement aPrevention Model using amulti-element approach andcompliance when needed.The three agency partnerswill provide technical sup-port and customer service,recognition and reinforce-ment of excellence viaimproved outcomes in deliv-ery of quality health care,and targeted actions toimprove provider perform-ance.

The initiative provides anew opportunity to improvehealth care accountability.Simons says there are only42 hospitals and 52 nursingfacilities in Nevada. “We areunique that we can changethings because we’re not abig state. We don’t have lotsof facilities.” QUIP folds inthe partner agencies using

ADSD ombudsmen andHCQC surveyors to recog-nize activities, such as whoneeds additional help, whatare their deficiencies, andthose who do not commit toa corrective plan of action. Itis a new project that will berolled out in months tocome, with the hiring ofmanpower and planning.The project is not expectedto bring additional cost tothe agencies. Simons says allresources are already in placeand can happen without anylegislative action.

One chain of nursinghomes have already institut-ed the business approach intheir service model. Simonssays HCQC will know soonhow the approach has fairedfollowing inspections andsurveys, whether the facilityscores better, that residentsreceive better care.

“It’s about changingbehavior, getting a commit-ment and greater recognitionof responsibility.”

RENOWN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER1155 Mill Street, Reno

RENOWN SOUTH MEADOWSMEDICAL CENTER10101 Double R Boulevard, South Reno

FASTER.I N T R O D U C I N G T H E R E G I O N ’ S F I R S T A N D O N LY FastTrack ER.

Learn more: TakeMeToRenown.org

WE ARE ER.

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Renown’s FastTrack ER is located within the ER, and is designed to treat patients who need immediate attention for small emergencies, such as:

Minor cuts and burns, including sunburn

Allergic reactions

Sprains and strains

Deep cuts requiring stitches

Ear infections

Rashes and skin infections

Insect stings and bites

The new FastTrack ER for minor illnesses and

injuries at Renown Regional Medical Center

and Renown South Meadows are the only

ones of their kind in the region.

Evolution• 2009 - the Bureau exploded in work andresponsibility, including increased periodicinspection requirements.• May 2011 - Began the development of a Rapid Response Complaint Team approach.• Fall 2011 - Health Division began StrategicPlanning effort for Accreditation - guiding recog-nition of the need for HCQC to think differently...and a “business model approach! was prepared.

Universal CustomerExpectations for

Quality in Health CareCARE IS:

• SAFE• RELIABLE• COMFORTABLE

26 • 2012 • October

Monday, October 1,is the start of thefederal fiscal year,

and with it begins Medicare’sbiggest effort yet at payingfor performance. Medicare iswithholding 1 percent of itsregular hospital reimburse-ments in the new Value-Based Purchasing Program,which was created by the2010 health care law.

Over the course of theyear, money will be returnedto some hospitals based onhow well they follow clinicalguidelines for basic care andhow they fare in patient sat-isfaction surveys. Some hos-pitals will get back some ofthe money that was heldback, others will break evenand some will end up gettingextra.

Medicare estimates about$850 million will be reallo-cated among hospitals underthe program. The amountwill increase in future yearsand Medicare will add innew measures of quality tothe list of measures in placein the program’s first year.

Seventy percent of theratings are based on“process” measures thatshow how frequently hospi-tals performed recommend-ed protocols. A few of themeasures include the percentof heart attack patients givenmedication to avert bloodclots within 30 minutes ofarrival at the hospital, the

percent of heartattack patients

given percutaneous coronaryinterventions within 90 min-utes of arrival, the percent ofheart failure patients giveninstructions on dischargeabout how to take care ofthemselves. These are a fewof the measures listed forhospitals to document.

The other 30 percent of ahospital’s value-based pur-chasing payment will bebased on how it scored onrandom surveys of patientstaken after they were dis-charged. Survey questionsinclude: how well nursescommunicated with patients,how well doctors communi-cated with patients, howresponsive hospital staff wereto patients’ needs, etc.

Also on October 1,Medicare is applying a sepa-rate penalty to 2,211 hospi-tals with higher than expect-ed readmission rates.Hospitals with the highestrates for heart attack, heartfailure and pneumoniapatients will lose 1 percent oftheir regular reimburse-ments. The ReadmissionsReduction Program was alsoestablished by the health carelaw. Medicare expects hos-pitals together will forfeitabout $280 million this year.The maximum penalty growsto 2 percent next year and 3percent in October 2015.

With nearly one in fiveMedicare patients returning

to the hospital within amonth of discharge, the gov-ernment considers readmis-sions a prime symptom of anoverly expensive and unco-ordinated health system.Hospitals have had littlefinancial incentive to ensurepatients get the care theyneed once they leave, and infact they benefit financiallywhen patients don’t recoverand return for more treat-ment.

Nearly 2 million Medicarebeneficiaries are readmittedwithin 30 days of releaseeach year, costing Medicare$17.5 billion in additionalhospital bills. The nationalaverage readmission rate hasremained steady at slightlyabove 19 percent for severalyears, even as many hospitalshave worked harder to lowertheirs.

The penalties are part of amultipronged effort byMedicare to use its financialmuscle to force improve-ments in hospital quality.Overall, Medicare has decid-ed to penalize around two-thirds of the hospitals whosereadmission rates it evaluat-ed, the records show.

The penalties will fallheaviest on hospitals in NewJersey, New York, the Districtof Columbia, Arkansas,Kentucky, Mississippi, Illinoisand Massachusetts, a KaiserHealth News analysis of therecords shows. Hospitalsthat treat the most low-income patients will be hit

particularly hard.Kaiser Health News has

published the 2013 readmis-sion penalties for all hospi-tals. The downloadable PDFcan be found at: www.kaiser-healthnews.org/Stories/2012/August/13/medicare-hospi-tals-readmissions-penalties.aspx .

Medicare’s Pay For PerformanceEffort Begins, Targeting Quality and Hospital ReadmissionsBy Jordan RauKaiser Health News

Transitional Careof Northern NV Transitional Care of

Northern Nevada is a Centerfor Healthy Aging programin Reno working to preventhospital readmissions.

TCONN helps patientsmanage their health careafter they are dischargedfrom the hospital so theycan continue on their path ofrecovery, avoiding additionalhospitalization.

To learn more aboutTCONN, contact LawrenceJ. Weiss, Ph.D., CEO of theCenter for Healthy Aging, 11Filmore Way, Reno, NV89519, or call 775-376-3210.Write to larry@addinglife-toyears.com for programdetails.

October • 2012 • 27

In tough economictimes, Lend-A-Hand Senior

Services hit a mile-stone in Septembercelebrating 20-years ofdoing business in theReno-Sparks area, pro-viding caregiving serv-ices for people in need.

Lend-A-Hand openedits doors September15, 1992, offering non-medical care by send-ing caregivers into thehome of seniors toprovide assistance withbathing and personalcare, grocery shop-ping, transportation,

and housekeeping.Lend-A-Hand special-izes in dementia care,stroke care, and activi-ties of daily living.

A first to offer caregiv-er services in theTruckee Meadows,Lend-A-Hand ownerTammy Sisson said, “Itis amazing to me thatafter all these years I’venever lost passion forthe seniors we serve.”Sisson has also neverchanged the businesspractice she says isdriven by integrity.“We are family owned,not a franchise.

Caregivers drive thebusiness.”

While the businesspractice has notchanged, Sisson admitsit is harder for familiesto afford home servic-es. “We’re seeing lesspeople who need serv-ices but we’re still pro-viding the care theyneed to keep themindependent in theirhome.” In spite of highunemployment, Lend-A-Hand has retainedthe staff they haveemployed for severalyears. “Sixty-three

(Caregiving page 28)

Lend-A-Hand Senior Services CelebratesTwenty-Years of Caregiving Business

Paul and Tammy Sisson

28 • 2012 • October

Caregiving / page 27percent of the people whowork here have beenemployed two-years orlonger. We are keeping thefamily together,” she said.“And we just don’t hire care-givers off the street.” Sissonprides the company in set-ting a standard of care,doing background checkson caregivers and conduct-ing good hiring practices.“We are a leader.” Caregiversare also strategicallymatched to people whoneed the services; they workclose to home and live inthe community whereclients need them.

Lend-A-Hand employs 72caregivers in the Reno-Sparks area. Because thebusiness is not a franchisewith corporate headquarterslocated in another state,Sisson says the money thebusiness earns, the peoplehired, and taxes paid arekept in Nevada.

A past accomplishment sheis proud of is the passage ofa bill that required PersonalCare Agencies (PCA) belicensed in the state. Todaylicensing of agencies hiring

personal care attendants towork in the home is a prac-tice regulated by the StateHealth Division. In the nearfuture, Sisson and husbandPaul plan to start a trainingprogram for caregivers.Through their non-profit“Nevada Senior CareFoundation”, they plan tolaunch the programICareSafely.com. It willoffer personal care atten-dants employed by alicensed agency trainingthat meets state regulations(NRS 449). The trainingprogram will consists of 16training modules, a finalexam, and certificate ofcompletion.

Recently Lend-A-HandSenior Services passed astate survey with a perfect“A”, meaning there were zerodeficiencies found by theBureau of Health Care,Quality and Compliance. “Itwas very exciting and a realreflection of what this com-pany is about,” Sisson said.

Lend-A-Hand SeniorServices, located at 145 Mt.Rose Street, Reno NV89509, can be reached at(775) 322-8414.

Tammy and Lend-A-Hand caregivers at a recent gathering.

October • 2012 • 29

CalendarOctober 15 - December 7 - Medicare Enrollment,trained volunteers to assist, Monday - Friday: MondaysNoon - 2 p.m., Tuesdays 10 - 2 p.m., Wednesdays 9 - 1p.m., Thursdays 10 - 2 p.m. and Fridays 10 - 1 p.m.Reno Center, 1155 East Ninth Street, call 1-877-385-2345.

October 9 - Knitting Group, 5:30 - 7 p.m., Sun ValleyLibrary, (775) 851-5190.

October 9 - Lifescapes Senior Writing Program, SparksLibrary, 2 - 4 p.m., (775) 352-3200.

October 9 - Food Bank Truck (CSFP) – Sparks SeniorCenter - Second Tuesday, 11:45 - 12:30 p.m.

October 9 & 29 - S.T.E.P. Out to High Sierra SwingDance Club! Let’s cut loose! Seniors Programs is pro-viding transportation to High Sierra Swing DanceClub’s, Club Night! We will depart the Rec. Center at4:30 p.m. and arrive at El Charro Avitia Restaurant inCarson City to enjoy socializing and dancing. To regis-ter please call (775) 832-1310, or come in and visit theParks & Recreation Counter, 980 Incline Way Incline,Incline Village NV.

October 10 - It’s Your Estate, Northwest Reno Library,11:30 - 1 p.m., (775) 787-4100.

October 10 - Fall Financial Series: It’s Your Money,Downtown Reno Library, 2:30 - 4 p.m., (775) 327-8300.

October 11 - Landlord/Tenant Seminar, 2 p.m., RenoSenior Center, Art Rm., (775) 328-2608.

October 11 - Conversation Cafe, Current Events, 10 -11a.m.; October 18: Fraud & Abuse of Medicare Card -Dena Miguel, Senior Medicare Patrol; October 25: Faith-- Moderated by Michael Keaveny. Aspen Grove, 960Lakeshore Blvd., Incline Village, (775) 832-1302.

October 11 - Lifescapes Senior Memoir Writing, SouthValleys Library, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m., (775) 851-5190.

October 11 - Free Caregiver Support Group, 5:30 - 7p.m., South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, 3050 Hwy. 50,South Lake Tahoe, (530) 621-6151.

October 12 and 19 - Senior Dance Club, 8-11 p.m.,Fridays, Reno Senior Citizens Center, (775) 328-2575.

October 12 - Candidates Forum, Questions & AnswerSession, County Commission, City Council candidates,9:30 - 11 a.m., Reno Senior Center, (775) 328-2575.

October 12 - Bridge Group, South Valleys Library, 1 - 4p.m., (775) 851-5190.

October 16 - Lifescapes: Senior Writing Program,Spanish Springs Library, 2 - 4 p.m., (775) 424-1800.

October 16 - Emergency Food Pantry – Reno Center,Third Tuesday. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Gross monthlyincome limits are: $1,180/mo. (one person) or $1,594(two people). Only one set of bags per household.Limited to the first 300 people.

October 16 - Food Stamp Workshop – Reno Center,Third Tuesday - 8:30 - 10 a.m.

(Calendar page 31)

30 • 2012 • October

Sparks Senior Center Gets Needed RenovationMore Funding to Keep Center Open in Afternoon

The Sparks Senior Centerhas a new look! The Chamberof Commerce Reno-SparksLeadership (RSL) class pickedthe center to spruce up as acommunity project.

Michelle McDonald, RSLclass, joined community lead-ers in a ribbon cutting onSeptember 5. McDonaldspearheaded the project thatincluded new paint, carpet, areception counter, and art-work. The RSL class receivedover $18,000 in donations, andin-kind contributions of$15,000. The Sierra NevadaJob Corp painted the insidebuilding. Paint was donatedby the Reno Paint Mart.

The senior center, built in1991, is the central gatheringplace where seniors participatein recreational activities, arts

and crafts, cardplaying, andcongregatemeals. Over thepast few years,the future of thefacility hascome in ques-tion due tofunding cut-backs.

The facility isstaffed and pro-grammed byWashoe CountySenior Services.Recently, theSparks CityCouncilapproved allo-cating $21,000to help staff the facility to keepit open from 9–3:30 p.m.,Monday through Friday. The

center hours were to bereduced from 9-1 p.m. Thecenter is located at 97 Richards

Way, in Sparks. The ribboncutting was an exciting day forthe senior center seniors.

Michelle McDonald (center right) and Shirley Hendrix (left), Sparks Special Seniors, and theChamber of Commerce Reno-Sparks Leadership class cut the ribbon celebrating the renovations.

October 16 - Oktoberfest ThemedCatered Dinner, the Chateau, 5:30 - 9p.m., Incline Village, (775) 831-1258.

October 17 - Food Bank Truck (CSF)Sun Valley - Third Wednesday, 9 - 10a.m. Gross income limits are: $1,180(one person), or $1,594 (two people) –Sign up at the Truck.

October 18 - Living WillSeminar, Reno Senior Center,2 p.m., RSVP at (775) 328-2592.

October 18 - HealthInsightWorkshop, 8:30 - Noon,Hyatt Place, Reno.

October 25 - The InclineVillage/Crystal Bay Veteran’sClub will be meeting atAspen Grove, 960 LakeshoreBlvd on the last Thursday ofthis month from Noon -2p.m. To register please call(775)832-1310

October 26 - Nevada Day

October 30th- The Hunter’sMoon - 55+ Full Moon Hike:Wine & Cheese Socials! Feeis $16, $11 w/IVGID Pass. Toregister please call (775)832-1310, or come in and visitthe Parks & RecreationCounter, 980 Incline WayIncline, Incline Village NV.

October 31 - Halloween

EntertainmentNow - November 13 - JerseyNights, Eldorado HotelCasino, 1-800-879-8879.

October 12 - CarrieUnderwood, 7:30 p.m., RenoEvents Center,$62.50/$52.50/$42.50.

October 13 - Society of 7,Best Show in Waikiki,Atlantis Casino Resort Spa,(775) 824-4467, $40 inadvance, $45 at the door.

October 19 - Jay Leno, 8p.m., Silver Legacy GrandeExposition Hall, $67.50/$50,(775) 325-7401.

October 20 - BonanzaCasino’s Samuel AdamsBrewmaster Dinner,Branding Iron Cafe, (775)323-2724, ex. 134.

October 26 & 27 - ThunderDown Under, 8 p.m., Atlantis

Casino Resort Spa, (775) 824-4467,$35 in advance, $39 at the door.

November 9 - BB King, 8 p.m., SilverLegacy Grande Exposition Hall,$80/$65, (775) 325-7401.

November 11 - Eric Church, Blood,

Sweat, & Beers Tours, Atlantis CasinoResort Spa, (800) 723-6500.

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 20 - January 1 - Aladdin,Eldorado Hotel Casino, 1-800-879-8879.

December 1 - Randy Travis, 8 p.m.,Silver Legacy Grande Exposition Hall,$59.50/$39.50, (775) 325-7401.

December 3 - Bonanza Casino’sDuckhorn Vineyards, WinemakerDinner, (775) 323-2724, ex. 134.

October • 2012 • 31

The Social SecurityAmendments of 1972created a new federal

benefit program. This month,that program — theSupplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) program — cele-brates its 40th anniversary.

Administered by SocialSecurity, SSI is a needs-basedprogram for people 65 orolder, blind, or disabled whohave limited income andresources.

For income, we countthings such as wages, SocialSecurity benefits, and pen-sions. However, Social

Security does not count all ofyour income when it decideswhether you qualify for SSI.For example, we don’t countfood stamps or most homeenergy assistance.

For resources, we countthe things you own, such asreal estate (other than thehome you live in), bankaccounts, cash, stocks, andbonds. A person withresources worth no more than$2,000 may be able to get SSI.The resource limit is $3,000for couples.

To qualify for SSI, you alsomust live in the United States

and be a U.S. citizen ornational. In rare cases, noncit-izen residents can qualify forSSI. If you live in certain typesof institutions or live in a shel-ter for the homeless, you mayqualify for SSI.

People with blindness or adisability who apply for SSImay be able to get free specialservices to help them work.These services may includecounseling and job training.

The monthly maximumfederal SSI payment is thesame nationwide andamounts to $698 for an indi-vidual and $1,048 for a cou-

ple. However, the amount youreceive depends on factorssuch as where you live, yourliving arrangements, and yourincome. Some states addmoney to the federal pay-ment.

Funding for the SSI pro-gram comes from the generalrevenues of the U.S. Treasury,not from Social Security pay-roll taxes.

To learn more about SSI,read the online publication,You May Be Able To GetSupplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) at www.socialse-curity.gov/pubs/11069.html.

32 • 2012 • October

Supplemental Security Income: Forty Years Of Helping People In Need

Social Security Administration

Rita MeierPublic Affairs Specialist

The above title refers tothe excellent biograph-ical book on the late

Bill Raggio asauthored bywriter MichaelArcher.

In his volumi-nous tome ofmore than 600pages Archerdoes a magnifi-cent job of com-bining one indi-vidual’s life withthe riveting history of earlyday immigrants to Nevada.

Since I first met Raggio in1957 when he was serving asan Assistant DA and subse-quently handled his cam-paigns for District Attorneyand U.S. Senate, I best knewhim during the twelve-yearspan he served as DA ofWashoe County. That beingthe case I was especially inter-ested in that portion ofArcher’s book which toldmany of the DA stories.Although there were manyhighlights during those dozenor so years, one incidentdeserves further elucidation.

One of the most interest-ing times was the occasionwhen Bill and I traveled toHollywood, California to filmTV commercials for one ofhis re-election campaigns.We were summoned to lotus-land by Frank Sinatra whohad volunteered to do thefilming at Paramount Studios.Since we were both busy atour regular jobs, we decided it

would be easy to write thescripts for the filming on theairplane ride to Southern

California.Accordingly Ibrought my trustyyellow pad to theairport, and Bill andI began the writingas the plane took off.I asked him whatcopy he wished todo first. He said, “Iwant to do a fullexplanation of the

burning of Joe Conforte’sMustang Ranch whorehouse.”As Bill rambled on I notedthat we were approaching tenminutes of TV time. He saidthat didn’t matter as he want-ed to go into complete detailon the event. Finally we

ended the script at about 25minutes. I explained to himthat we would have to buyone-half hour of TV time inorder to screen it, and thatthe only time that a segmentof that length was availablewould be late night or early inthe morning. Bill said it didn’tmatter since we were going towrite about a half a dozen 60-

second commercials to beaired in primetime.

We barely finished all ofthe scripts before the planelanded. We were met at theairport by several mendressed in fedoras and over-coats and taken to two wait-ing limousines. I shared oneof the cars with the producer

(Raggio page 34)

October • 2012 • 33

BIGGEST little City

A Man of His Word

Harry Spencer

of Frank’s movie that wasshooting “Come Blow YourHorn” whose name happenedto be Howard Koch. He askedto see the scripts that we hadwritten, and I was sure he fig-ured he would have to do a lotof rewriting or editing for thetwo bumpkins from redneckNevada. As we motored tothe studio he said, “This ispretty good. I’ll put in direct-

ly on the teleprompter.”When I asked him what ateleprompter was he saidthat it was the techniquethat had replaced the idiotcards of which I was famil-iar.

In the meantime Raggiohad been placed in theother limo and drivendirectly to Sinatra’s dressingroom for makeup. As Kochand I entered the sound-stage I was impressed withthe replication of Raggio’s

office that had been set up.The only addition was theplacement of an Americanflag and the Nevada stage flagon either side of the desk.Once I had settled in besideKoch and the full shootingcrew of “Come Blow YourHorn”, which was on over-time, Raggio made his appear-ance. His face was well cam-ouflaged behind heavy make-

up. We adjusted theteleprompter to his deliverycadence and Koch asked,“What do you want to dofirst?” I replied that weshould probably shoot the 25minute segment while Raggiowas still fresh. Accordinglythe cameras rolled and Billdid the long spot in the first“take”. He received a rousingovation from the entire crewas well as the director Koch.Howard then turned to meand said, “I was going to can-cel a dinner engagementbecause I didn’t know howlong this would take, butapparently you can handle therest of the shooting yourself.”I said that I could. He offeredme his chair and said, “Just tellthe cameraman when tozoom in and out.”

We wound up the com-plete shoot in less than twohours following which Bill

and I went to dinner. Frankcould not join us as he washospitalized at the time fromtotal exhaustion.

Later when the filmarrived at the Reno TV sta-tions, people marveled at thequality. Our cover story atthe time was that we hadfilmed them at an obscureHollywood location.

Following is a poem thatbest summarizes Raggio’slife.

An Ode to Billy JackIt was 1926 in old

Reno townWhen a ray of sunshine

coruscated down.It was a bouncing baby boy

That brought his parentssuch great joy.

Both friends and neighborswere taken aback

When his mom and dadnamed him Billy Jack.

From the start he excelled in schoolAnd proved to be

nobody’s fool.

At scouting he did hisvery best

And proudly wore an Eagle on his chest.When his country

called he went to warBut never left his

native shore.

At law school he amazed his peers

And happily received theirmany cheers.

As D.A. many miscreantscrossed his path

And all fell victim to his noble wrath.

He was an excellent MCwhenever he saw fit

And no one was safe from his piercing wit.And if you were

making a speech this was his advice

“Never use one word when10,000 will suffice.”

He aspired to be gubernatorial

But had to settle for senatorial.

He could be serious or even hammy

Especially when he rendered “Tammy”.

His coiffure was his crowning glory

But its true color was another story. In Carson City he would sally forthEarning the title

“Sentinel of the North”.

He was neither bellicoseNor overly verbose.

He looked forward to roasts with great glee

Even when he was the roastee.

During his life he triumphed in every imbroglio

After all, his name wasWilliam J. Raggio.

34 • 2012 • October

Seloc, May 12, 2011

October • 2012 • 35

Meet the newest member of our surgical team.

Minimally invasiveLess scarring

Faster recovery

Advanced surgical technology specializing in women’s and general surgery procedures.

bartonhealth.org/daVinci

htteeM emtsewene ruoforebme maetlacigrus .m

Wasn’t it just theother day when shewas a toddler, a

first-grader, a Brownie, ateen-ager? (And aren’t par-ents of fifty-year olds sup-posed to be old? I couldn’tpossibly qualify!) She does-n’t look fifty; she’s in greatshape, slender and lovely,the busy mom of two activeboys, a television newsanchor juggling maniacschedules but managing tosqueeze in trips to the gym.(Her mom, on the otherhand, could probably use alittle more exercise.) Now asignificant birthday waslooming, requiring a signifi-cant remembrance. Butwhat?

It didn’t take long to thinkof the perfect gift.

Unfortunately, I shouldhave thought of it fiftyyears ago. I have a lot offriends who must havesomething in their DNAlacking in mine. Theyreturn home from trips andcompile albums displayingphotos of the places theywent and the people theymet. Those albums areusually neatly stored nextto all their other albumscataloguing the events oftheir lives. When theirchildren want to see whatthey looked like in kinder-garten or at their firstprom, those photos canbe instantly found. Not soin our house…not so.

Our family lived in 24houses during the 30 yearsof my husband’s militarycareer. Our children werestudents in schools all overthe world because we spent16 of those 30 years over-seas. Somewhere there is aphoto of this daughter andher brother, at ages 2 and 3,in Kimonos when we livedon Okinawa. Somewherethere are photos of the twoof them along with their littlesister learning to ski inAustria, playing sports,cheerleading, graduatingfrom High School.Somewhere. But where?

During all those gypsyyears photo takingdid occasionallyhappen, with cam-eras of a differentera that involved rolls of film.They were often lost beforebeing developed, or if theywere, it might be a year ormore after the photo hadbeen shot. Photo organizingconsisted of dropping thephotos that did get devel-oped randomly into boxes,boxes that would usually bere-packed and the contentsdumped into yet another boxas we roamed around theworld.

Reaching intoany of them, Icould easily finda snapshot from early mar-riage next to a photo fromthe rehearsal dinner for ourson’s wedding along with a 36 • 2012 • October

this ‘n thatby Anne Vargasannevargas3@gmail.com

My first-born is Fifty~

How can that be?

lot of photos of people I nolonger remember. It’sactually a great mentalexercise, challengingmyself to remember thewho, what, when andwhere in each as I findthem. I’m not proud of thisserious lack in memory-keeping but I am truthfulabout it and our far betterorganized children havebecome resigned to thisdeficiency on their moth-er’s part.

And now I thought Icould put together a photoalbum for her birthday? Adubious venture at best,but it would really be theperfect gift so I decided togo for it .

The subsequent days(and nights) were spent on

the floor surrounded by thecontents of all of thoseboxes. Attempts toarrange them in any kindof “people” order werefrustrating but it was nec-essary to look at every sin-gle photo in order toensure I had found every-thing I could use. (Myhusband took a photo ofme buried in the middle; itwill probably end up in oneof the boxes.)

When I had locatedeverything I could use, I

went to CVS toscan them onto aCD. It wasn’t diffi-cult but it wasextraordinarily time-consuming, not tomention the result-ing aching back.And that was theeasy part. Then Ihad to sort throughand arrange themin the order I want-ed, after first select-ing an album typeand style. At theend of the very sec-ond long day, Iemerged with aphoto book in handand took it immedi-ately to the post office forovernight express; it wasnow September 5th andthe birthday wasSeptember 6th. Ironicallyshe had called the daybefore wistfully askingwhether I might one dayfind time to go through oldphotos and send hersome; I assuredher I would reallyget around todoing that soon.

The followingmorning she was present-ed with a cake on GoodMorning America so thebirthday was no secret,although there was justone candle instead of fifty.When we called thatevening to sing our cus-tomary, long-establishedand expected off-key birth-day wishes, she told usshe was just about to openthe package we had sent.

Her father and I got tolisten to her delighted (andincredulous) reaction tofinding an album full ofphotos I had put togetherchronicling her life frombabyhood to motherhood.It was worth every momentof the effort and I enjoyedmaking it every bit as

much as she enjoyedreceiving it. I have subse-quently learned there areeasier ways to do it withiPhoto and I am starting towork on albums for each ofher siblings. I realize now,belatedly but finally, what a

wonderful way this is tocapture family history, whata gift It can be to every-one…if only I had startedthis fifty years ago.

“A photo has the magicto make a moment last for-ever.”

October • 2012 • 37

Elizabeth Vargas blows out birthday candle held by her son on Good Morning America.

Elizabeth Vargas

38 • 2012 • October

October, according tothe (ancient) Romancalendar, is the

eighth month of the year,from the Latin for octo,meaning eight. So how didOctober end up being num-ber ten on our calendars?According to Wikipedia, theinsertion of January andFebruary by Julian and

Gregorian calendars, shoved poor old October into thetenth spot. It did get 31days, though, an honor ofsorts reserved for six othermonths.

This month has a goodshare of national days, how-ever. China, Cyprus andNigeria claim the first fortheir celebrations. Following

on through the month areGermany, Portugal, Croatia,Taiwan, Spain, the State ofAlaska on the 18th, Niue(find this country on a map -it’s in the South Pacific),Austria, St. Vincent, theGrenadines, Turkmenistan,Turkey, and Slovenia..

What has happened ofhistorical significance duringOctober? Once again, I drawon the ubiquitous Wikipediato discover that the RussianRevolution took place in

October, 1917, thus giving usthe term “Red October”.Even more significant, atleast for sports fans, Octoberis the one month of the yearwhen all four professionalNorth American Sportsleagues schedule games withbaseball ending and basket-ball beginning this month.

If you were born inOctober, your birth stone iscommonly pink tourmalineor the sometimes consideredunlucky Opal. For a floweryou get the golden-yellowCalendula, while your Zodiacsign is either Libra orScorpio.

There are all kinds of“special” designated days inOctober including a NationalChildren Appreciation Dayon the 9th (are gifts inorder?), shared with LeifErikson Day, followed byColumbus Day on the 10th.It might be better ifFreethought Day on the 12thpreceded National ComingOut Day on the 11th. Ofcourse Halloween is alwaysOctober 31st and back in thelate 1960s when we lived inEngland my children wereinconsolable to miss Trick orTreating. Times havechanged and this Americancustom has now crossed theAtlantic to be observed inEngland, Ireland and France.

For those into socialmedia the abbreviation OCTdoesn’t signify the month ofOctober, but “On CompanyTime.” Who knew? Not me.

In Nevada, Octobermeans magnificent fall colorand a big parade in CarsonCity to celebrate Nevada Dayon Saturday, October 27th.(We became the 36th Statein the Union during the CivilWar, on October 31, 1864.)Happy October to all!

THE ECLECTIC OBSERVERby Janet Ross

The buoy line sits life-less. Boats surroundit but it has none

attached. On the shore, thedinghy languishes on theedge of the lake, unused allsummer, a summer filledwith the promise of waterfun shattered by the severeforces of Mother Nature.

Let me take you back toMay. It’s a glorious weekend.The boat slides into the lakeand sits beautifully by thebuoy. The photo is taken. Iinclude the picture in myJune story. The story comesout with the boat photo.The boat looks pristine per-fection. We can’t wait to takeit for a spin around the lake.Memorial Day Weekendlooms ahead.

Memorial Day Weekendputs on its usual show forour area. A few years ago, itgives us snow. This time, itis close. Winds and rainpummel us and we cancel aSaturday date with the Lake.Sunday proves a bit betterbut still comes up cold,

windy and rainy. Our mindsdrift to a nice quiet lunch onthe Lake at Chamber

Landing. Despite Lakewind advisories, we will

not be deterred.The dinghy empties out a

! foot or so of rainwater andis ready for occupancy. Noproblem rowing her out to

the boat. Ummm, Davidmuses. The boat seems to sitlower in the lake. Promptly Iagree. I board first. Nothing

(Float? page 40)

October • 2012 • 39

Eydie’s ExcerptsEydie Scher

Will the Boat float? This is No Joke!You’re never too young ortoo old to start readingSenior Spectrum!

Cassie is reading Senior Spectrum at 10months old.

unusual. David opens theengine compartment. Waterfloods through it. The boatwon’t start. The bilge pumpsmake an awkward try atpumping out the water butfail. I check out the cabin.Horror fills my scream. Thecabin has over 4 feet of waterin it. Questions buzz in ourheads. How could this hap-pen? Pumping begins inearnest. Our only savinggrace is to bail the water outby hand. Now imagine this!A scoop fills up quickly andwe dump the lake water overthe side. No dent is made inthe amount we have to getout. A hand pump worksjust a bit better. We bail intandem. David pumps and Ipour the water back in theLake. This is not working.

The boat we depend on for20 years could possibly sink.Fear grips me as I scan for alife jacket. The lake is icycold this time of year and Ihave no desire to be in it.The dingy sits ready foraction and we may need it!

By this time, David and Ipump out the cabin. Muchmore water sloshes aroundin the other compartments.

David uses his cell to callour friend who takes care ofthe boat. “Get the boat outof the lake,” he yells when hecalls back! “It needs to be ondry land.” How do we dothat? We didn’t even takethe truck and we’re clear outalmost in the middle of thelake with no power.Thankful that his cell batterystill works, he calls and gets

through to the insurancecompany on a Sunday duringthe Memorial Day Weekend.A towboat is coming andwould take us to the marina.Fortunately, David paid $25extra to the insurance com-pany in case we needed atow. Get this! The chargefor the tow is $1,600. Canyou believe that? Our bot-tom line is zero for the tow.

Okay, now, once we get tothe marina, what happens?Our friend will pick up ourtrailer with his truck, andbring it to the marina. Hewill pull the boat out of thelake.

Could the boat reallysink? Someone tells us aboutboats sinking from the previ-ous day’s storm. It’s a goodthing we go up that day or itcould have been ours sittingat the bottom of the lake.Perish the thought!

We visit the boaton land. It is still filledwith water. The boatsits on land while wetravel to the EastCoast for a plannedvacation. Upon ourreturn, the news isunbelievable. Repairson the boat wouldcost $20,000 to$25,000 and it stillmay not run proper-ly. This is a job forinsurance.

The summerslinks by. The insur-ance check “is in themail”. Finally it is inour hands. Poetry inMotion is sold for amere $3,000 includ-ing the trailer but atleast it is no longerstaring us in the facewhenever we go to Tahoe.The new owner is a mechan-

ic. He will take good care ofher and repair her over thewinter but she is no longerours.

This is the first summerin 40 years that we’ve beenlandlocked. Our puppy Bellahas demanded time andattention so we’ve kept busy.

Fall flickers over the Lake.Soon the winds of winter willwash over it.

Before this happens, weget a new used boat. It isperfect. It runs flawlesslyand fast during the demo.Someone else has taken overour buoy but we get the boatin the lake and tie up toanother one nearby. It’s asuperior September Day andwe are thrilled to be backcresting the Lake. The boatwill be moored for the winterhere in Sparks.

She will carry the name.Traditions will continue.

Comments are alwaysappreciated: eydies@aol.com

40 • 2012 • October

Float? / page 39

Bye Poetry in Motion

Hello Poetry In Motion 2

In our family, especially atour ages, birthdays are nottreated lightly. September

16 was Robert’s 88th birthday.Statistically, that is about 10years beyond a man’s averagelife expectancy. A birthday tocelebrate!

Where better to do so thanLas Vegas? We’d lived in theso-called Sin City from 1994-1996 and although we’veretuned for an occasionalvisit, we hadn’t driven fromone end of the state to theother since our move to Reno.Besides, we’d read about theopening of the refurbishedMizpah Hotel in Tonopah andwanted to check it out on theway. The plan for our LasVegas road trip was quicklyhatched.

Local press rated Socorro'sBurger Hut in the communityof Mina as having some ofNevada’s best hamburgers.We made it our lunch stop.Look for a small red buildingwith a window for placingorders and sheltered picnictables to eat at (no indoordining). Socorro's Burger Hut710 Front St, Mina, NV89422. Tel: 775-573-2444.

Word of advice, don’t gasup your vehicle in Minaunless you’re desperate. Planahead and you’ll find gas fortycents a gallon cheaper inTonopah. That’s where wespent two nights – one on theway to Las Vegas and again onthe way home.

The Mizpah Hotel is onthe National Register ofHistoric Places. It was built in1907 shortly after Tonopahwas founded, to provide lodg-

ing, libations and entertain-ment to fuel the greatNevada silver rush. After one

hundred plus years of ups anddowns, ownership changesand calamities, Fred andNancy Cline purchased theMizpah in 2011 and restoredit to its former glory. Onemight not expect to find a finewine list in rural Nevada. Butthe Clines, who also ownCline Cellars and JacuzziFamily Winery in SonomaCounty, have seen to it that ifyou’re of a mind to unwindwith a nice glass (or bottle) ofwine after spending hours rid-ing in the car, the Mizpah willbe happy to provide it. Mizpah Hotel100 Main St., Tonopah, NV89049. mizpahhotel.net.mizpahhotel.wordpress.com.Tel.775-482-3030.

Day two-six: Las Vegas. Thanks to our WorldMark

timeshare membership,home-away-from-home forthe next five days was a com-fortable one-bedroom condo-minium in a quiet neighbor-hood near the Strip but noton it, and not in a casinohotel. As we prefer.

Viva Las VegasWe’re attracted to Las

Vegas for its spectacularshows. We opted for Le Reve(The Dream, in French) atThe Wynn. The Wynn the-ater-in-the-round encompass-ing a million gallon pool isitself something to behold.While some performers riseand descend from the ceiling,others perform in and underthe water. It is a high energy,multi-faceted show with lav-ish props that kept our atten-tion throughout. We loved it.

We enjoyed NathanBurton, a low budget, come-dy/magic show at theFlamingo Casino. Burton is aLas Vegas local who got hisstart on the television show,America’s Got Talent. Twotimes daily he puts on an

entertaining (and affordable)show for the entire family.

Happy Birthday, Robert!Robert’s birthday dinner

was at the Mon Ami GabiRestaurant in the Paris HotelCasino. Given the option ofindoor or patio dining, we satoutdoors and were enter-

tained by the hustle and bus-tle of the Las Vegas Strip aswe enjoyed our meal.Final Thoughts

Las Vegas is still a greatplace to visit but we’re happyto call Reno home. For more information:VisitLasVegas.com/Entertainment.

October • 2012 • 41

Seniors4TravelRobert Boyd and Carolyn Prusa

42 • 2012 • October

Season Subscriptions Are On Sale Now!

BROADWAYComes To Reno!

FEB. 22 - 24, 2013 APR. 5 - 7, 2013 MAY 3 - 5, 2013

Follow Us

For Subscription Information CALL 775-686-6609

www.pioneercenter.comwww.pioneercenter.com

NOV. 25, 2012 JAN. 4 - 6, 2013

RENO IS GETTING A MAKE-OGRE!

*Must be at least 50 years old. Must earn 25 points on your Gold Rewards card in Carson City and 50 points in Reno on the designated day to receive one of the free menu items. See Gold Rewards Club for complete details. Management reserves all rights. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2012, Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.

CARSON CITY WEDNESDAYS 8am-8pm

RENO WEDNESDAYS 11am-4pm

Find the Fountain of FunFind the Fountain of Fun

Guests age 50 and up, get in the game with our Slot Tournament to win your share of up to $500 cash!

Plus, enjoy a FREE MEAL at the Grille!* Choose from a variety of entrées including:

Petite American Breakfast Platter Fish and Chips

Burgundy Beef Tips And More!

FREE DESSERTWITH YOUR FREE MEAL!

Expires: 10/31/2012. Valid at Gold Dust West Reno and Carson City only. Redeemable only if tournament qualifications have been met.

Redeem coupon at the Grille. Limit one per member. Copies are invalid. While supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer.

Reno 4th & Vine Street 775.323.2211www.gdwcasino.com

Carson City 2171 E. William Street 775.885.9000 877.519.5567

G

50 d i h

i h

BPetite Ame

ChoosePlus,

ournamSlot TToGuests ag

Anips Burgundy Beef Terican Breakfast Platter

e from a variety of entréeenjoy a FREE MEAL at th

ment to win your share oge 50 and up, get in the g

d More!Fish and Chips

es including:he Grille!*

of up to $500 cash!game with our

REEF

nna. Ctsas leilppue slihWe Ght tn aopuom ceedeR

fy ilne olbameedeRila. V2102/13/0: 1seripxE

OYHTIW

RESSED

rn oopuor cehty onh atid wenibmoe ct bonvne irs aeipo. Crebmer mee pnt oimi. LellirG

ten meee bvas hnoitacfiilaut qnemanruotytin Cosrad Cno anet Rset Wsud Dlot Gd a

!LAEMEERFROU

R

.reffr o.dilav

..ylny o

T

dlr o1 oe 2t bsu. Msthgirvieceo ry tad detangisedrae0 yt 5saet le at bsuM*

ytin CosraC

-008-l 1la? Cmelborg Pnilbma. Gelbmao gr teawed Rloe Ge. Ssmetu inee mere fhf te one ovawed Rlor Guon ys otnio5 pn 2rat esu. Mdls o

teertSmailliW.E1712y

nisacwgd.wwwteerte Snih & Vt4oenR

cn, Itnemniatretns Eboca, J2102. ©0074-225t nemegana. Msliatee dtelpmor cob fuls Cdraonen Rs itnio0 pd 5ny atin Cosran Cd iras cdra

765.5915.7789000.588.577

mco.o12123.23.757

.clls aevreser

ehn to o

7