Everything you always wanted to know about Confession

What’s Inside PRE-SORT ST ANDARD U.S. POST AGE P AID PERMIT NO. 597 WORC ESTER, MASS. Fifty Plus Advocate • 131 Lincoln Street • W orces ter , MA 01605 CUR RENT RESIDENT OR Solutions (HarperCollins Publishers), said
feelings of guilt should be expected in care-
giving situations. “It’s going to be with you
wherever you go, whatever you do,” she said.
However, knowing your parent is safe is an
important part of being a caregiver. Investigating day care programs is part of that process. “You have to go see the facility
and see if it feels good to you,” Henry said.
“Families need to be able to tell their loved
one, ‘You know what? I’ve gone, I’ve seen it, it feels good to me.’ If it meets your test,
ask your parent to try it out for a couple
of days.” Most seniors will be hesitant about being taken out of their safety zone and into a new
situation where they don’t know anyone.
“They don’t want to be the new kid on the
block,” Henry said. The transition can be
more difficult if hearing, vision or bathroom By Brian Goslow BOSTON — W ith 300-plus locations and 550
volunteers statewide, AARP’s
Tax-Aide program provides an invaluable tax-counseling service for
middle- and low-income seniors. Those
60 and older can have their federal and
state income tax returns prepared free by
IRS-trained counselors. Session times range from 30 minutes to two hours, according to Kara Cohen,
AARP Massachusetts’ community service
director. If someone is unable to travel to a
Tax-Aide site, AARP will send a tax coun-
selor to the person’s home. The program
continues through April 17. The program also provides a seasonal volunteer opportunity. “A lot of volunteers
who return year after year speak highly of
their experience and feel they really make
a difference for people in the community,” said Cohen. “This is one of AARP’s largest
and most significant volunteer community-
service programs.” The program assisted
23,000 people statewide in 2006. Robert and Marian Evans have been AARP Tax-Aide counselors at the Acton
Senior Center for eight years. As seniors
themselves, the husband-and-wife team
is sensitive to aging-related issues. “They
recognize the privacy and confidential-
ity issues and people that have hearing
issues,” said Jean Fleming, the center’s
director. “They have the compassion and
the patience and flexibility that come when
you are providing a service to people.” The Evanses process approximately 30 returns a year on their laptop com-
puter using AARP-supplied software pro-
grammed to automatically put in some of
the appropriate tax credits. “Last year was
the first year we did it with computers,”
Robert Evans said. “Before that, we did it with quill pens, as you might say.” People filing electronically usually get their refund checks quickly. “On the state
level, it usually comes in about a week or
less,” said Marian Evans. “On the federal
level, it might be two or three weeks.” Not all Tax-Aide sites are equipped to provide
electronic filing; if you need your refund
sooner, ask about online filing when sched-
uling your appointment. The Acton couple encourages others to follow in their footsteps by becoming Tax-
Aide volunteers. “We’re both 74,” Marian
Evens said. “One of these days we’re going
to have to stop.” According to AARP and other sources, this year’s federal tax form has a few
changes: •There is a one-time long-distance tele- phone tax refund available to anyone who
paid for long-distance service or a bundled
phone-service package between Feb. 28,
2003, and Aug. 1, 2006. Individuals don’t
supply old phone bills — just check off a
box on the tax form. Refunds range from
$30 to $60. •A tax credit for homeowners who’ve purchased storm windows or doors, insu-
lation and metal roofs if they meet certain
energy efficiency requirements also is avail- By Sondra L. Shapiro I was half-listening to the WBZ-TV 11
p.m. newscast as I was getting ready
for bed, when I heard the anchor say, “Finding quality, trustworthy care for our
elderly is an issue more and more families
are struggling with. That’s what makes this
I-Team investigation both disturbing and
eye-opening.” I stood riveted as the gut-wrenching segment on how hired caretakers ignore
their patients unfolded. The sense of
helplessness I was witnessing was almost
too much to bear, as a very frail elderly
woman was shown roaming around what
appeared to be her living room, saying,
“Where are you?” And “Help me, will you
help me?” What I saw couldn’t help but make me wonder how common was the situation
and what would be the best way to handle
it. The tape was provided by the Wilson family, who hid a surveillance camera in
the living room of their mother/grand-
mother, Irene Freitas, after they discovered
a large bruise on the torso of the 88-year-
old dementia sufferer. The family was per-
plexed, believing ComForcare, the Nashua,
N.H., home care agency they hired, was
providing a safe environment. By Brian Goslow BOSTON — L aurie Galvin of Hyde Park was 93
when she entered the Cooperative
Elder Services Inc. (CES) Adult Day Care Health Program. She had just stopped
driving the previous year, and only then
because of two nasty falls that left her need-
ing constant attention. The loss of her license
was one thing but losing the ability to be
around people was unthinkable to the highly
sociable woman. To her, the Milton-based
facility, which felt like a supervised senior
club, was a godsend. Galvin’s daughter, Judy Swett, had taken a leave of absence from her job at Archbishop
Williams High School in Braintree to look
after her mother. That made her one of the
more than 50 million people that the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services
said provide care for a chronically ill, dis-
abled or aged family member or friend dur-
ing any given year. When the responsibility
began wearing her down, Swett brought her
mom to CES. Having been a devoted 24-7 caregiver, Swett found it difficult to leave her mother
behind. The CES staff had to convince her
she wasn’t abandoning Galvin. “They would
tell me, ‘You need to take care of yourself
as the caregiver,’” said Swett. “‘Go, this is
your time.’” Swett was so impressed with the concept of adult day care, that after her mother died,
she went to work for CES as its social services
coordinator. Stella Henry, author of The Eldercare Handbook: Difficult Choices, Compassionate DAY CARE page 3 February sweeps
report hits nerve
with caregivers REPORT page 10 AARP’s Tax-Aide volunteers offer stress free tax consultations Adult day care allows caregivers critical respite TAX-AIDE page 3 For Advertising Information Call (508) 752-2512, ext. 5 Robert and Marian Evans A hot new way to ‘Cruz’ around town ~ page 6 Navajo healing, clarinet lessons How to maximize medical deductions ~ page 12 Bird watching on Hawaii’s Big Island ~ page 8 Published Bi-weekly / FREE / March 1, 2007 / Vol. 33 / No. 5 / 16 pp. ★★★★★ B Read more online at fiftyplusadvocates.com Editorials
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 14 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12 Feeling Healthy . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6 Home Improvement . . . . . . . . . p. 10 Resource for Caregivers . . . . . p. 7 Travel & Dining . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8 CES Adult Day Care Activities Director, Judy Dempsey, gives guest Anne S. a beauty
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Cash purchases only. 2 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 web site: http//www:fiftypluscaregivers.com Eastern Massachusetts Edition 131 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605 Serving the Fifty Plus Com mu nity since 1975 (508) 752-2512 • FAX: (508) 752-9057 Bookkeeping: ext. 6, Circulation: ext. 7 Sales Manager: ext. 5 Fifty Plus Advocate is published 26 times annually by Mar-Len Pub li ca tions, Inc. 131 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605. Fifty Plus Advocate ac cepts no responsi- bility for unsolicited manu scripts or materials
and does not return them to sender. Re trac-
tions for any inaccuracies will be printed when
necessary. Unsolicited letters to the editor
become the property of this newspaper and
can be reprinted in part or in whole unless
otherwise stated. Fifty Plus Advocate colum-
nists writing under a byline are ex press ing their personal opin ions and not necessarily those of the newspaper. Members of the Associated Press. Publisher: Philip Davis
Executive Editor /
Assistant Publisher: Sondra Shapiro
Editorial Contributors:
Roberta Fusaro, Brian Goslow Copy Editor: Brian Nelson: ext. 133 Art Director: Susan Clapham: ext. 132
Production Assistant:
Karen Benoit: ext. 142 Bookkeeper: Stacy Lemay: ext. 6
Research Study Advertising:
Donna Davis: ext. 130 Boston Metro / Boston South
Sales Manager:
Reva Capellari: ext. 5 Sales:
Liana Jackson: ext. 123 Cara Kassab: ext. 125 Marlene A. Matulis: ext. 127 Sharon Weiner: ext. 141 Read more at www.fi ftycaregivers.com problems exist that would make them feel
inadequate in a public setting. Caregiver Arlene Lodgen told her mother- in-law, Ruth, 83, that CES was a social club;
she’s been there for four years now. “We
never used the term day care,” Lodgen said.
“We told her she’d exercise, have lunch,
play games and communicate with other
people.” Ruth and her husband initially
visited CES for two days. “He was hesitant,
but she was starting to have dementia and
needed the stimulation of being among a
lot of people.” Seeing how the activities there helped improve her sharpness, Ruth Lodgen’s family
asked her to play Scrabble at home. “She beat
us three out of four,” Arlene Lodgen said. “I
know she’s been stimulated. She’s different.
Her dementia hasn’t gotten worse.”
Ruth Lodgen is now at the center
five days a week. “She meets new
friends all the time but the old ones
are her comfort zone,” said Arlene
Lodgen, who’s in a good place of
her own knowing her mother-in-
law is safe. “I ask them to tell me
if they notice anything changing in
her. They keep talking with me.” Anything that relieves caregiv- ers’ stress will be beneficial in the
long run. According to the National Family
Caregivers Association, family caregivers
who provide care 36 or more hours weekly
are more likely than non-caregivers to expe-
rience symptoms of depression or anxiety.
For spouses, the rate is six times higher; for
those caring for a parent the rate is twice
as high. Family caregivers who experience
extreme stress often age prematurely. This
level of strain can take as much as 10 years
off a family caregiver’s life. The first program of the day at CES, which operates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m., allows clients or “guests” to warm up
to each other over muffins, coffee and tea,
newspapers and conversation. After morn-
ing exercises, part of the group moves onto
activity time, while separate group stimula- tion activities for those with dementia or
Alzheimer’s are held in a smaller space.
Each CES guest receives attention based
on his or her individual needs. Familiar, themed activities keep their memories engaged. Building a camp-
fire scene out of foil and paper rolls
topped with sticks holding marshmal-
lows brought the participants back to a
familiar place. “They had old campfire
songs going on,” Swett said. Music,
“the universal language,” has proven
invaluable in reaching clients with
Alzheimer’s. The musical gatherings helped invig- orate the fading memory of Francell
Best, 80. “She enjoyed singing those old
hymns and band music from back in the
day,” said Shirley Woodson, Francell’s sister
and part-time caregiver. She was relieved
and unconcerned about her sister’s safety
when she was at CES. “When she felt the need to talk to me, they would
just call me on the phone and say,
‘Francell wants to talk to you.’ I
never felt that was putting them
out.” Best recently moved out of
town and into another day care
program. Swett has to frequently remind Helen S., 77, “We’re here to serve you.” The former nursing home
nurse’s assistant likes to help clean
up after lunch. A live-alone senior, Helen, who asked that her last name not
be used, said CES helps her memory and
appetite. “It helps to talk to people and have
a good nourishing meal of meat, potatoes
and dessert,” she said. “When I get home,
I’m not even hungry because they have great
tasty meals.” She works those calories off
during exercise time. “We sit around in a
circle and touch one arm to the floor, then
the other one. Exercise is good.” There are about 200 adult day care cen- ters around the state. Some are stand-alones,
others are connected with assisted living
facilities or other institutions. The Leominster-based Adult Day Care Center at the Manor on the Hill shares
activities with the Manor’s assisted living
community. Not only does this make for a greater social experience but it also gives
clients a chance to learn more about what
it’s like to live in the residential setting. “A
lot of people who come into day care see
other people living in assisted living, and say,
‘Oh, I could do that,’” said assistant director
and registered nurse Joanne Bangrazi. “If it
fits their lifestyle and situation, it’s a nice
stepping stone into the next step.” Two or three activities are always taking place at the Manor’s day care program. “We
try to gear it to a higher-functioning group
in the sense that I don’t have any bedridden
people,” Bangrazi said. Bowling and volley-
ball games adapted to individual physical
abilities keep clients functioning well biologi-
cally. Those needing memory care participate
in reminiscent programs. Valentine’s Day activities always stir client memories. “We’ll talk about how they met
their spouse,” Bangrazi said. Although their
short-term memory may not be very good,
most people have wonderful long-term
memories, she explained. Carolyn and Ken Racicot have seen many changes in the adult day care profession since
they opened Elder Day Services of Southern
Worcester County Inc. (EDSSWC) in Dudley
in 1989. “People are coming aboard much
older then they did 18 years ago,” Carolyn
Racicot said. “If somebody would come on
in their early 70s then, now they’re coming
aboard when they’re 90. We’re living longer
and we’re in better shape.” Insurance regulations have also affected change at EDSSWC. It used to offer boating
and horse-riding activities, but they’ve been discontinued for safety reasons. Just the
same, clients are kept busy with a wide
choice of activities. “It can be board
games, gross motor games for the legs
and arms (which include horseshoes,
golf, ring toss and balloon volleyball)
or arts and crafts,” Carolyn Racicot said.
As many of its clients need medical
observation, nurses and nurses’ aides
are on duty throughout the day. “There’s no real guide for any of us because every family situation is
different,” said Henry, adding that she
wrote The Eldercare Handbook with baby boomers in mind to provide an
understanding of what they can and cannot do as a caregiver. “Hopefully this
teaches you what to ask of yourself and of
others. Caregivers are not good at asking for
help. They’re extremely idealistic and think
they can do it all and create a problem by
thinking nobody else can do it.” She learned this firsthand, having lost both her parents to Alzheimer’s. As co-
founder of the Casa Del Mar-Residences,
an assisted living and long-term health care
facility in Los Angeles, Henry regularly meets
with families who believe they have tried
everything to help their loved one. The grow-
ing number of day programs is an invaluable
option. “I’ve seen the value of adult day care
centers in the ability to keep people at home
much longer than if that level of care wasn’t
out there,” she said. Not only will the relative be engaged in word games, reading horoscopes and doing
puzzles, they’ll also make things that’ll stay
with the family long after they’re gone. “My mother made a collection of scare- crows and gave them to the children in our
family,” Swett said. “They’re little things that
mean a lot to us.” For more information on the Cooperative Elder Services Inc. day care program, call
617-333-9387. For information on the Adult
Day Care Center at the Manor on the Hill,
call 978-537-1661. For information on Elder
Day Services of Southern Worcester County
Inc., call 508-949-3598 or 888-273-1179.
To find an adult day program in your area on
the Net: www.fiftypluscaregivers.com ➤ Day care Cont. from page One Ruth Lodgen with Saint Nick at a CES Adult Day Care
holiday event Henry able. The maximum credit amount is $500, no more of $200
of which can be attributable to windows. •To encourage saving and to keep better track of refunds, federal tax filers can now target their refunds for direct deposit
in up to three different bank or other financial accounts. “Money
in the bank, often time people say, is better than in my pocket,”
Cohen said. The state-sponsored Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, which was enacted in 2001, has escaped the attention of many homeown-
ers and renters. It allows certain residents 65 and older to claim
a refundable credit for real estate taxes and water and sewerage
use charges. If the credit due exceeds the amount of the total income tax payable, the excess amount is refunded without interest up to
$870. “Oftentimes, our tax preparers might find that a person
didn’t file in previous years, but they would have been eligible
to receive these circuit breaker tax credits,” Cohen said. “The
preparers can help them with past tax returns.” To prepare for the tax session, filers should gather a copy of their previous tax return, a W-2 form from each employer, all
1099 forms, Social Security benefit statements, unemployment
compensation statements, pension and annuity records, child care
provider information and all appropriate tax forms and appropri-
ate booklets. If you plan to itemize deductions, you should bring
receipts or canceled checks documenting medical expenses, taxes
and mortgage interest paid and charitable contributions. To locate the nearest Tax-Aide site, visit the AARP website at ➤ Tax-aide Cont. from page One Gathering records for
tax preparation A checklist of the most common records you’ll need to prepare your 2006 taxes, whether you
use tax software, a professional tax preparer or a
paper tax return: •Copy of 2005 tax return.
•Identifying documents, such as a Social Security card or driver’s license, for you and your
spouse. •W-2s from all employers.
•Forms 1099, 1099-DIV, 1099-R and 1099- G showing dividend and interest paid to you in
2006 as well as any refund, credit, or offset of
state and local taxes. •Receipts indicating the state and local taxes, real estate taxes and personal property taxes you
paid in 2006. •Form 1098 for home mortgage interest and points. •Receipts and documentation for charitable contributions and gifts (cash and non-cash). •Income receipts from any rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporation and trusts. •Records of unemployment compensation, Social Security benefits or other income. •Records of medical and dental expenses if you think you can meet the 7.5 percent adjusted
gross income threshold required for this deduc-
tion. •Documentation of casualty and theft losses.
Remember to keep a copy of your tax return and supporting documents for at least three years
from the date you file the return. T he simple fact is, tax time can’t be avoided. Make the
most of the occasion and devote a few extra minutes
to checking credit reports, as well as take some easy steps to protect private information. Theft of financial information, along with identity theft, is on the rise. According to the latest Experian-Gallup
Personal Credit Index survey at www.PersonalCreditIndex.
com, one in five consumers report they have had their
financial information stolen, including a bank or credit
card number. Also, one in seven people say they have had
their personal information stolen, such as a birth certificate,
driver’s license or Social Security number. “These numbers are alarming,” said Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for Experian, a global infor-
mation solutions company. “However, there are simple
steps that consumers can take to help protect their financial
and personal information.” While gathering up the forms to complete taxes, take a good look at the information they contain. From credit
card receipts to property tax statements, mortgage interest
statements, W-2 forms and more, the information is a gold-
mine for someone who wants to use another’s good credit
to their advantage. And with the growth of online shopping
and electronic record keeping, it’s not just a paper trail to
be worried about. •Request a credit report at www.Experian.com, and scan the credit history and any recent changes to make sure the
report is accurate. If anything appears questionable, such
as accounts not recognized, it is possible someone has used
stolen information to open accounts. Contact the creditor
and credit-reporting companies to report this; they can
help take the necessary steps to correct the report and pro-
tect accounts. •Always shred sensitive information, including credit Keep personal information safe at tax time, all the time INFORMATION page 13 COME SLEEP WITH US! Must be 55 or older to qualify Brigham & Women’s Hospital needs healthy men and women 55 and older to participate in a research study on the effects of light on nighttime sleep. Participants will spend 13 consecutive days and nights at our facility. Receive up to $2,408 Call Jen at (617) 732-7294 sleep@rics.bwh.harvard.edu SENIORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF AGING AND COGNITION Are you healthy, mentally active, and over the age of 60? The Aging and Cognition Lab is looking for subjects The experiment explores effects of aging on cognition. Noninvasive and no medication involved. • 2 hour time commitment • Provides $15/hour Please Contact Alana Wong (617) 495-3856 Department of Psychology HARVARD UNIVERSITY DIABETIC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CIRCULATION
& NERVE FUNCTION STUDY The purpose of the study is to examine the usefulness and
reliability of a new technique on measuring the function of
nerve fibers. This is an observational study which includes study-related
medical exams, laboratory tests, microcirculation tests and
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Israel Deaconess Medical Center. If you have Diabetes and have little or no neuropathy, please
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site parking at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For more information, please contact Lydia or Tina: (617) 632-7050 Did you know that as we age treating SYSTOLIC blood pressure (when your heart is pumping) is important in preventing stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular and kidney disease? If you’re 65 or older, we may be able to show you the whole picture on treating high blood pressure. Physicians are conducting a research
study evaluating the effectiveness of
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781-505-8710 Seniors with High Blood Pressure Get the whole picture Research . . . the possibilities 4 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 WASHINGTON — H ealth care is expected to account for
$1 of every $5 spent in the United
States in another decade. That means a rise in out-of-pocket expenses, such as the copays for medicine,
from about $850 this year to about $1,400
in 2016, a 5.3 percent annual increase. The cost of health insurance is projected to rise even more quickly during that same
time — 6.4 percent annually. Over the coming decade, spending on health care will continue to outpace the
overall economy. By the year 2016, it will
total nearly $4 trillion, economists at the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
said in a report released last week. Today, the number is closer to $1 out of every $6, or $2 trillion. Consumers are spending more on the latest treatments, despite their rising costs.
For example, federal officials cite a signifi-
cant increase in the use of imaging to detect
blockages or other diseases. Income will also play a significant role in the greater health spending. Historically,
when income rises 1 percent, health expen-
ditures go up about 1.5 percent, officials
said. Dr. Mark McClellan, an analyst who used to oversee the Medicare and Medicaid pro- Health care may be 1/5 of what you spend grams, said greater spending on health care
has its benefits. People are not having heart
attacks because they’re taking medicine that
lowers their blood pressure and cholesterol.
They’re surviving cancer because of more
frequent exams and new treatments. But the United States could be doing much better, he said. “We know that much of the spending is going to treatments that are unnecessary
or lead to medical errors, so we’re not get- ting nearly as much value as we
should,” McClellan said. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the
rising costs are creating anxiety
for everyone as well as a political
will to change that trend. The administration is pushing government agencies, insurers and
health care providers to make
information available that would help con- sumers become good shoppers.
For example, Medicare lists the
percentage of pneumonia patients
at various hospitals who received
a timely antibiotic, an indicator of
the quality of care. The economists predict that government programs will gradu-
ally replace employers when it
comes to providing health insur- ance for millions of Americans. — AP By Kevin Freking WASHINGTON — A group of 10 senators — five
Republicans and five Democrats
— told President Bush they have agreed on a blueprint for increasing health
insurance coverage, and they would like to
work with him on it. The White House, hoping to generate some positive momentum for the presi-
dent’s domestic agenda, quickly took the
lawmakers up on their offer. Spokesman
Tony Fratto said the senators’ letter was
unique in the current political climate and
he hoped that meetings with the senators’
staff could begin soon. “It’s a letter we’d love to get on Social Security,” Fratto said. “Tell me of another
letter like this on an important issue, that’s
bipartisan, and says let’s try to work on a
common problem.” South Dakota Sen. John Thune is among those signing the letter. The senators said they disagreed that the Senate is too divided to pass com-
prehensive health care legislation. Their
blueprint, while vague on many points,
contains two proposals that are essential,
said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The first point was a “big lift” for Republicans, he said. It acknowledges
that legislation should ensure that all
Americans have affordable, quality health insurance, while protecting current gov-
ernment programs such as Medicare and
Medicaid. The second point required compromise from Democrats, he said, because they
agreed with Bush that the current federal
tax rules for health insurance dispropor-
tionately favor the rich while promoting
inefficiency. Bush has proposed a major shift in tax policy that would, for the first time, treat
health insurance costs as taxable income.
The result is that workers’ taxable wages
would shoot up dramatically. But then the president calls for a stan- McClellan Group of bipartisan lawmakers writes health care blueprint GROUP page 5 (Zone 3) www.fiftyplusadvocates.com 5 • Do you have trouble walking more than a few blocks? • Do you have trouble walking up stairs? You may be eligible to participate in a research study to evaluate the actions of testosterone gel on muscle strength and function. Financial compensation is provided. For more information please call: 617-414-1887. Men Over 65 Needed for Research Study Research Study on Type 2 Diabetes Volunteers wanted for a research study that evaluates the effects of type 2 diabetes on blood flow in the brain and cognitive functioning . Looking for 140 participants (age 50-85 years): • who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and who have been treated for more than one year. • who are healthy with normal blood pressure. Study procedures during 1-day overnight stay (24 hours)
at the BIDMC include: Eye exam, cognitive testing, walking test,
ultrasound testing of blood flow in the brain and MRI Stipend: up to $270 for completing the study. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston If interested, please call: Sarah LaRose 617-667-1777 slarose@bidmc.harvard.edu Volunteers wanted for a research study that evaluates the effects of stroke on blood flow in the brain. Looking for 120 participants (age 50-80 years): • who had stroke
• who have not had stroke but are treated for
high blood pressure Study procedures during 2-day overnight stay (48 hours) at the BIDMC include: 24-hour blood pressure, ultrasound testing of blood flow in the brain and MRI Stipend: up to $270 for completing the study. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston If interested, please call: 617-667-1777 Sarah LaRose Research Study on Stroke 55-70 years o1d? Healthy and no medication? COME SLEEP WITH US! Participants will spend 39 consecutive days and nights at our facility for a sleep research study. Receive up to $9,075 Call (617) 732-7991 Sleepstudy @partners.org F REE , N O -O BLIGATION I NFORMATION ON A NY OF T HESE S TUDIES ? SAVE TIME Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Telephone #: ( ) We cannot process without your phone #. It will be used only in regard to the studies you have marked. Fifty Plus Advocate, 131 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605 ✁ CUT OUT THIS COUPON AND MAIL TO: (Check off all studies you would like to receive information on. A research study coordinator will call you.) ❐ Aging & Cognition Study ~ Harvard University ❐ Come Sleep With Us ~ Brigham & Women’s Hospital ❐ Diabetes/Circulation Study ~ Beth Israel Deaconess Med. Ctr. ❐ Healthy Volunteers ~ BU / School of Social Work ❐ Importance of Sleep ~ Brigham & Women’s Hospital ❐ Men Over 65 ~ Boston Medical Center ❐ Stroke Study ~ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr. ❐ Type 2 Diabetes Study ~ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Ctr. z-3 3/1/07 dard tax deduction for those who buy
health insurance — $15,000 for family
coverage and $7,500 for individual cover-
age. The result is that most people would
see a tax break at first. Wyden said the lawmakers were not endorsing the president’s tax proposal.
They only acknowledged that the current
tax rules were problematic. Allan Hubbard, director of the National Economic Council, said Bush was commit-
ted to working with the lawmakers. “The president put his health care pro- posal forward in the State of the Union.
These senators are taking that proposal
seriously, and we look forward to work-
ing with them to find common ground,”
Hubbard said. However, many Democratic leaders have criticized the president’s tax proposal,
and many have predicted little chance of
major health care legislation passing before
the next election. In a recent joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid said health care is a
crisis when it comes to costs and coverage
“and the president’s plan will make both
fronts worse for millions of Americans.” The 10 senators who wrote Bush were Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad of North
Dakota, Ken Salazar of Colorado, Maria
Cantwell of Washington, Herb Kohl of
Wisconsin and Wyden, and Republican
Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina,
Robert Bennett of Utah, Mike Crapo
of Idaho, Trent Lott of Mississippi and
Thune. — AP ➤ Group Cont. from page 4 D octors are still denying older people
the sorts of tests and treatment they
would offer to younger patients, reveals a survey in Quality and Safety in
Health Care. Half of those surveyed were influenced by a patient’s age in their decisions on whether to
send a patient for tests or prescribe treatment.
Patients over 65 were managed differently from those who were younger. The findings are based on a survey of almost 90 general practitioners, specialists in
care of seniors, and cardiologists from across
Southern England and the Midlands. Participants were specifically quizzed about their intended management of 72 fic-
tional patients with angina, using a specially
devised computer program, and face-to-face structured interviews. The fictional patients were all between 45 and 92, with varying degrees of severity of
heart problems. Head-and-shoulders photo-
graphs of people who had agreed to be the
fictional patients were also provided. Overall, older patients were less likely to be referred to a cardiologist and given
an angiogram or exercise-tolerance tests as Doctors still deny older patients tests and treatment middle-aged patients. They were also less
likely to be given revascularization (opening
up of blood vessels). But they were significantly more likely to have their medication changed and told to
come back at a later date. Half of the doctors in each of the three professional groups treated older patients
differently. Those who were influenced by a
patient’s age were on average five years older
then those who were not. The face-to-face interviews revealed vari- ous reasons for differences in treatment, some
of which related to patients’ wishes, potential
complications of treatment and the frailty of
the individual concerned. Two doctors deliberately dissociated the influence of these factors from that of old
age. One doctor commented: “I’d like to think that I would treat the individual. I think
generally you have to try and identify from
an individual what is in their best interests.”
— Newswise 40R Highland Avenue, Salem, MA 01970 For information call (978) 744-7835 An MB Rental Community AFFORDABLE Senior Housing for Over 30 Years • Planned Social Activities
• Off Street Parking • On Site Laundry
• Comfortable Atmosphere • Residential Service Coordinator F F AIR AIR WEA WEA THER THER A P A R T M E N T S 4 North Shore Locations - Danvers • Salem • Peabody • Beverly Company bills new recumbent bike as world’s first Feeling Healthy By Michael Jaenicke LUMBERTON, N.C. — T here’s a new way to wheel around town, and it’s
great fun. The cool and comfy cruise comes aboard
a Cruzbike, the world’s first front-wheel recumbent bicycle. Recumbent bikes place the rider in a seated position, with his/her legs extended forward to pedals that are the
same height as the seat. And unlike with a regular bike,
the rider’s back is fully supported in a chairlike seat. Three Lumberton residents — Jim and Maria Parker, and Rob Redfearn — have partnered with Australian
designer John Tolhurst to design, produce, market and
sell the recumbent bicycle. “Once you ride one of these, you’ll wonder why you rode any other bike,” Maria Parker said. Jim Parker led the development of the company’s prod- uct line. He said recumbent bicycles offer many benefits
over conventional ones. “It is easier to sit for two hours on the seat of a Cruzbike than for 10 minutes on the saddle of a regular bike,” he
said. “A regular bike puts your weight over some of the
most sensitive parts of your body.” Jim Parker, a radiologist for Lumberton Radiological Associates, said nearly 85 percent of recreational rid-
ers have some form of musculoskeletal problems — 49
percent report neck pain and 30 percent complain about
back pain. Serious injuries to the pelvis and genitals are
also frequent. Parker said research shows that genital numbness occurs in 50 percent to 91 percent of cyclists, and erectile
dysfunction in 13 percent to 24 percent of male riders. “Your legs are in front of you, so you’re positioned about the same as you are at home when you’re watching
TV with your feet propped up,” he said. “The weight distribution eliminates neck, wrist, hand, neck and back pain. And our new front-wheel design
eliminates the long chain. It also has other benefits, like
faster turning and better control through turns.” Parker said many bicycle accidents occur when fatigued cyclists drop their head, losing vision momentarily. “You
have a much better sight of vision where you can see
traffic,” he said. “What also helps is the fact that at any time you can put your feet down. You have
much better balance on one of our bikes than
a regular bike.” Cruzbikes’ first shipment arrived at its Lumberton warehouse Dec.
22. The company has two eight-
speed models — the Sofrider sells
for $975 and the Freerider sells
for $995. They accommodate rid-
ers who range in height from 5 feet,
1 inch, to 6 feet, 3 inches. A racing model frame, the Silvio, will be launched this month. Cruzbikes plans to introduce an upscale racing
bicycle sometime this year that will have more gears and
upgrades such as air shocks. The company also plans a
model that will sell for about $500. A kit that will convert
conventional bikes into a recumbent model costs $375.
Conventional high-quality bikes can range from $500 to
more than $2,000. Parker started peddling his pedaled product about two years ago when he converted a department-store
Mongoose-model bike into a recumbent bike. That bike
sits in the recreation room of his home where it doubles
as a stationary bike. Conversion kits to turn a recumbent
bike into stationary model cost about $200. “People initially look at it and laugh,” Maria Parker said. “But young, hip people and the younger crowd think it’s cool. Our market is baby boomers and profes-
sionals in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Really young kids also
think they’re great.” So did early recumbent riders, who were faster than their counterparts in competitive races in the early 1930s. “They are the fastest bike at any distance,” Jim Parker said. “From what I’m told by cyclists they are by far the best on hills. I firmly believe
that — but I’d also like to see more research to further the point.” Redfearn is heavily involved in marketing the bicycles, which for now are sold only from the company’s website. “Our next plan of attack is to hit the approximate 5,000 bicycle
shops in the U.S.,” he said. “For now our biggest competition is companies that sell exercise equip- ment like the Bowflex or the Chuck Norris-type exercise equipment.” Cruzbikes, which are aerodynamically better than conventional bicycles, are designed in Australia,
assembled in China and sold out of the Lumberton
warehouse. “It’s a most interesting concept since there are three countries involved,” Redfearn said. “Yet we communicate
with one another on a daily basis via the Internet as if
we were across town or down the hall. This is the type
of business partnership I envisioned being possible in
Lumberton when I moved here 12 years ago.” Jim Parker said the company has sold bicycles across the United States and in eight foreign countries. “It just shows you what can be done,” Redfearn said. “Here we are in little old Lumberton competing on the
world stage.” — AP J ust because it’s cold or cloudy, doesn’t
mean you can ignore protecting your
skin against the sun. Even on cloudy days, when you may assume you’re at less risk, harmful ultravi-
olet rays filter through the clouds. If you’re
outside, it’s impossible to
totally avoid the sun’s ultra-
violet rays on exposed areas
of skin. So, hit the slopes, smartly. The northern hemisphere points away from the sun in
the winter, and most of the
weaker ultraviolet rays are
blocked by the atmosphere. In higher elevations, however, there is greater risk
for sunburn because there is
less atmosphere to block the
sun’s rays. Add to that the
fact that snow reflects up to
80 percent of the sun’s rays,
and you have a potentially dangerous situ-
ation. Even though it may feel cold, you
can burn quickly. Remember to:
•Cover up with a long-sleeved jacket, hat and gloves. •Wear wraparound sunglasses or goggles •Be sure sunglasses or goggles offer 100 percent UV protection. •Pay close attention to the underside of chin and ears. • Wear sun block such as zinc oxide on exposed and sun-sensitive areas. Stay safe on the seashore.
If your winter includes a respite in a sunny climate: •Pack sunscreen.
•Use waterproof sun- screen if you scuba dive or
swim. •Reapply often if you scuba dive or swim. •Forgo visiting the tan- ning salon before hitting the
beach because a tan from a
tanning booth won’t protect
you from sun exposure and
tanning booths produce UV
rays. Be sun smart all year.
• Wear a full-spectrum sunscreen that: •Blocks both UVA and UVB rays. •Has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. •Avoid peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. •Use sunscreen every day if you will be in the sun more than 20 minutes. •Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors. •Pay extra attention to face, ears, hands and arms when applying sunscreen.
— Newswise Ways to protect your skin in colder months A pril may be the cruelest month,
according to T.S. Eliot, but February
ranks right up there for many people. The excitement of the holidays is
over, spring is more than a month away,
and dreary wintry weather makes getting
out of the house a supreme effort. What can we do to beat the winter blahs? Jon Allen, PhD, senior psychologist
at The Menninger Clinic, offers tips on
how to improve your mood
during the winter months. Enjoy yourself: “Make a list of activities you like
to do, that you know will
improve your mood,” Dr.
Allen said. “For example,
you might enjoy reading a
novel, going to a movie or
getting a massage. Make it a
priority to do the things you
take pleasure in and sched-
ule these fun times, like you
would a work appointment
or doctor’s visit.” Exercise — Get the blood pumping with a quick walk around the
block, or by participating in your favorite
sport. Exercise is nature’s caffeine and
mood booster, but better. It increases
energy, but unlike coffee, decreases ten-
sion. Limit alcohol — Don’t turn to the bottle to lift your spirits. Drinking alcohol in
moderation will temporarily improve your mood, but too much will bring it down. Sleep — Get a good night’s sleep for a much better outlook on life. “Try to sleep at
least seven or eight hours a night, although
the amount of sleep may vary from person
to person,” Dr. Allen said. “When you
don’t get enough sleep, your mood suffers
as well as your general alertness, reaction
time, concentration, memory and ability
to problem solve.” Call on the troops — For a quick “pick me up,” call a friend or a family member
to chat. “Interacting with other people is
the most important way to lift your mood,”
Dr. Allen said. “Supportive relationships,
connections with others that provide emo-
tional comfort, practical help and compan-
ionship, unquestionably promote physical
and mental health.”— Newswise Five ways to beat the winter blahs 6 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 Resource for Caregivers B uild it, and they will walk. That’s the
message from a new study that sug-
gests communities that make it easy for seniors to walk will end up with more
active residents. The researchers weren’t able to determine if walkable communities also translate to
fewer fat people. But the findings still will be
useful for planners and others who want to
create better neighborhoods, said lead author
Ethan Berke, M.D., an assistant professor at
Dartmouth Medical School. “What this says is that where you live might have an effect on your ability to be
active,” Berke said. “I can’t go as far as to
say that walkability (relates to) obesity
or causes you to be more or less active,
but this is a study that at least discovers an association.” Berke, a family physician, said he’s long suspected that
obesity is caused by more
than just one’s personal
choices. Other factors play a
role, including “the influence
of environment and where
people live on their ability
to be active and (take part
in) activities.” To get a handle on the effects of neighbor- hood design, Berke and a team of University
of Washington urban planning specialists
created a measurement of neighborhood
walkability and applied it to communities
in the Seattle region. The measurement looked at about 200 factors, including slope of
the land, mix of residents
and businesses and proxim-
ity to grocery stores. The concept of walkabil- ity is “more than just being
near a hiking trail or bicycle
trail,” Berke said. “It’s having
an opportunity to walk to
places you’d have to go to
anyway — a school, bank, post office or restaurant.” The researchers then looked at the results of a survey of 936 people, ages 65 to 97,
to see how the walkability scores of their
neighborhoods affected their lives. The study findings appear in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Men living in more walkable neighbor- hoods were about six times more likely
to walk for exercise, and women were 75
percent more likely to walk for exercise. In recent years, housing developers have been trying to create pedestrian-friendly
neighborhoods, said Kim Kilkenny, execu-
tive vice president with the Otay Ranch
housing development near San Diego. Some developers have returned to grid systems, while those sticking with
cul-de-sacs have equipped them with
pass-throughs so they aren’t dead ends for
pedestrians. “A neighborhood works better if you can walk around the block,” Kilkenny said.
— Newswise Pedestrian-friendly communities create more active older adults L onely individuals may be twice as likely to develop
the type of dementia linked to Alzheimer’s disease
in late life as those who are not lonely, according to an article in the February issue of Archives of General
Psychiatry. Social isolation — characterized by a small social net- work, being unmarried and participating in few activities
with others — has been linked to an increased risk for
dementia, according to background information in the
article. “In contrast, little is known about the association of dementia with emotional isolation, or loneliness, which
refers to perceived social isolation and feeling discon-
nected from others — that is, to dissatisfaction with
social interactions rather than their absence,” the authors
wrote. Robert S. Wilson, Ph.D., of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues analyzed the association
between loneliness and Alzheimer’s disease in 823 indi-
viduals with an average age of 80.7. At the beginning of the study and every year after for up to four years, participants underwent evaluations that included questionnaires to assess loneliness, classifica-
tions of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and testing of
their thinking, learning and memory abilities. Loneliness
was measured on a scale of one to five, with higher
scores indicating more loneliness. The data were
collected between November 2000 and May
2006. At the first examination, participants’ average loneliness score was 2.3. During
the study period, 76 individuals developed
dementia that met criteria for Alzheimer’s dis-
ease. Risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease
increased approximately 51 percent for each
point on the loneliness score, so that a person
with a high loneliness score (3.2) had about 2.1
times the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than a
person with a low score (1.4). The findings did not change significantly when the researchers factored in markers of social isolation, such
as a small social network and infrequent social activities. Autopsies were performed on 90 individuals who died during the study. Loneliness during life was not related to any of the hallmark brain changes associated
with Alzheimer’s disease, including nerve plaques and
tangles, or tissue damaged by lack of blood flow. “The results suggest that loneliness may contribute to risk of an Alzheimer’s disease — like dementia in late life and does so through some mechanism other than Alzheimer’s disease pathology and cerebral infarction,” or the cutoff of blood supply to the
brain, the authors wrote. The mechanism that does link dementia and loneliness is unclear. Because loneliness levels remained relatively stable even in individuals who developed dementia, it seems unlikely that loneli- ness is caused by dementia, the authors noted. “In human beings, loneliness has been associated with impaired social skills,” they wrote. “Thus, neural systems
underlying social behavior might be less elaborated in
lonely persons and, as a result, be less able to compen-
sate for other neural systems compromised by age-
related neuropathology. Further clinicopathologic and
clinicoradiologic research is needed to investigate these
and other possibilities.” — Newswise Loneliness associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s Many job opportunities exist outside of the legal field that utilize skills developed in the practice of law such as analytical skills, advocacy, communication and research. Join us for a panel discussion to explore alternative career options for lawyers. Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007
Time: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
At: Combined Jewish Philanthropies 126 High Street Boston
Registration: $15 Contact: Bellie at 617-399-3101 or register via email
cmovesmail@jvs-boston.org
visit our web site: www.career-moves.org Career Moves at JVS presents Alternative Careers for Lawyers When your grandchild opens a personalized Create-a-book
and sees that they are the hero of the story, the magic
begins. Create one online now in about 5 minutes.
Story includes child's
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you, and more! Wooden trains,
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Puzzles & more! Go online now or call 508-854-1020 . www.CreateCity.com Gifts that Nurture a Child's Gifts Free shipping for the 1st order Our friendly caregivers are fully screened, bonded and insured For more Information Call - (508) 651-1020 Serving the Greater Metrowest Area www.comfortkeepers.com Each Office Independently Owned and Operated Let Us Help You by providing… • Companionship Services • Personal Care • House cleaning • Transportation • Bathing and Dressing And so much more … Why is Framingham Such a Great Place to Live? Accepting Applications Studio and 1 Bedroom. Must be 62 or over, handicapped or disabled and meet income eligibility requirements of Section 8 Program. We Offer: • Convenient to Downtown Restaurants and Medical Facilities • Small Pets Welcome • On-Site Management • Attractive Community Room with Full Kitchen for Recreation and Programs • Well Lit Grounds,Walks and Parking Area For applications visit, call or write Phil Verzani: Framingham Green framingham@peabodyproperties.com 136 Maynard Road, Framingham, MA 01701 • 1-508-872-0500 Travel and Entertainment Chinese Cuisine At Its Best Luncheon Buffet $6. 95 A LL Y OU C AN E AT ! Mon. thru Sat. 11:30a.m.-3:00p.m. Dinner Buffet $11. 95 A LL Y OU C AN E AT ! Thurs. & Sun. 5p.m.-9:00p.m. MILFORD MANDARIN RESTAURANT Mandarin, Szechuan, Hunan Cuisine C OCKTAIL L OUNGE AND P OLYNESIAN D RINKS Open: Mon. - Thurs. 11:00AM to 10:00PM Fri. & Sat. 11:00AM to 10:00PM, Sun. 12 Noon to 10:00PM 196 East Main St., Quarry Sq., Milford, MA Take Out & Reservations 508-478-8893 • 508-478-5430 By Jeannette J. Lee WAIMEA, Hawaii — B irdcalls ricochet among the trees in a patch of
native forest on Mauna Loa’s lower slopes, but
the birds themselves are so evasive we sometimes
spend minutes scanning the towering koa canopy to glimpse even a flicker of their small shadows. A phalanx of binoculars goes up as a far-off silhou- ette wings closer and lands on a high branch overhead.
The bright red bird with a slender, curved bill, an i’iwi,
matches the coloring of the pom-pom-shaped lehua blos-
soms whose nectar it sips. The i’iwi perches for less than a
minute, then launches off the branch
and flits out of view on its black-
edged wings. I’iwi birds are common during winter when lehua blossoms flower
on the ohia trees in this kipuka, a
tract of Hawaiian forest protected
from marauding herbivores by an
old lava flow, said our birding guide,
Garry Dean. “In winter there are so many of them flying around, that’s when they
become ‘trash birds,”’ Dean said.
“But today they are one of our target
birds.” Dozens of bird species once filled the formerly thick forests of the Hawaiian Islands before logging, cattle
ranching and feral animals introduced in the last two
centuries — such as European boars, sheep and goats
— razed and uprooted most of the birds’ habitat. But now 28 percent of Hawaii’s 93 native bird species are extinct and another one-third are listed on the federal
threatened and endangered species lists, according to
figures released in 2000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The Hawaiian Islands harbor 317 of the nation’s 1,264 endangered and threatened plants and animals, according
to the agency’s latest figures from this year. More than half
of the 31 avian species on the list from Hawaii are small
forest birds. Today the novice Hawaii bird-watcher is wise to use a guide to search for these rare and hidden soloists. Fumble
with a birding guidebook and you risk missing the mul-
tihued creatures, many of which stand just a few inches
high and tend to hop quickly and sporadically among the
leaves. Dean recognizes a variety of Hawaiian birdcalls and can identify a species by its characteristic movements,
talents that come in handy when a bird is backlit by the
midafternoon sun or partially blocked by foliage. The nature tour company’s Rainforest and Dryforest Birding Adventure begins at the western end of the ser-
pentine Saddle Road, so named because it traverses the
saddle between the massive volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea
(white mountain) and Mauna Loa (long mountain). Our first “target species,” Dean tells us, will be the pueo, or Hawaiian short-eared owl, which is found
throughout the islands. The diurnal owl likes to sit on
fence posts or the rocky outcrops of old cinder cones now
domed and covered with tall grass. “There’s one,” someone in the van yelped. Dean brakes and reverses to line us up with a pueo sitting straight-
backed and stoic on a fence post. Later we see another flapping in the distance, searching
for rodents in the yellowed grass.
I end up seeing 11 pueo over the
course of the day. Spotting them is
almost worth the tour’s $155 price. We pass old cowboy housing and drive through the U.S. military’s
training site at Pohakuloa, spotting
introduced game species of franco-
lin, wild turkey and pheasant. The road crosses from Mauna Kea to Mauna
Loa’s hardened
old lava flows. A thick mist bears down on the jagged a’a and
ropy pahoehoe, the two types of lava
produced by Hawaii’s volcanoes. We reach the trailhead that heads into a forest low on Mauna Loa’s
northeastern slope. There, Dean
hands out rain jackets, sweatshirts,
pre-ordered sandwiches and walk-
ing sticks. The trail, lined in sections
with scraggly ohia trees, leads over
the lava field toward the oasis of
native forest. Ferns and lichen, nor-
mally the first colonizers of cooled
lava, grow in clumps where the trees
thin out. Our group picks its way across the cracked lava, stop- ping occasionally as we near the kipuka to examine bird
specimens in distant trees. As the shade of the koa trees closes over us, Dean, who also expounds upon geology, plants and Hawaiian
lore, says we are entering a place native Hawaiians call
the “wao akua” or “realm of the gods.” We tramp the winding path through the forest. Browned sickle-shaped koa leaves (which are technically
stems, Dean said) pad the trail. Dean, a tall, energetic guide who’s originally from Canada, stops us every few minutes to scan the trees.
I squint dutifully into the forest canopy, but see only a
shadowy mat of koa and ohia blocking the sky. The quick eyes of Dean picks out many native birds over the next couple hours: the grayish oma’o,
which feeds on berries; the brown elepaio, trimmed
with black and white; the bright red i’iwi and like-
hued, but shorter-beaked apapane, found often near
lehua blossoms; the yellow and fairly common amak-
ihi; and the endangered Hawaii creeper, one of the
plumper forest birds. Dean spots the endangered akiapola’au, one of our target birds, creeping along a branch. The yel-
low-green bird, who does the job of a woodpecker,
begins hammering away at the bark with its lower
beak. Termed the “Swiss Army knife” of Hawaii’s bird world by scientist and photographer Jack Jeffrey, the akiapola’au uses its long, curved upper beak to spear
grubs. The akiapola’au flies off before I can train my binocu- lars on it. Dean steers us off the trail in pursuit, hacking
away at the introduced thorny blackberry bushes with his
machete. The search ends with the decision to take our
lunch break in a meadow pocked with lava rocks. We drive next to Puu Laau, a dry upland forest on Mauna Kea, with stands of mamane, naio and sandal- wood trees. Puu Laau is the only
place to find the endangered palila,
a yellow-headed, white-breasted
bird that feeds on the mamane’s
orange-yellow seeds. Dean’s tenac-
ity pays off this time while tracking
the palila. He leads us to a family
of three — a male, a female and a
juvenile. We even get to watch one
wrest open a mamane seed pod. There were no great photos or commemorative trinkets to take
home. In fact, I only got one grainy
photo of a pueo and can’t even
remember what some of the birds
looked like in the sights of my bin-
oculars. But a reminder of our trek was a checklist of Big Island birds provided by the tour com-
pany, which I admittedly enjoyed filling out on the flight
back to Honolulu. — AP If You Go ... Hakalau Forest Wildlife Refuge was the first National Wildlife Refuge established in the United States for forest
birds. The tour is offered 18 times annually as the refuge
requires an access permit. On the Net: Hawaii Forest &
Trail, www.hawaii-forest.com. Phone: 800-464-1993.
•On Your Own: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for most of the Big Island’s native forest birds, plus black
noddies nesting along Chain of Craters Road. Check
out the volcanoes, too. On the Net: /www.nps.gov/havo/
Phone: 808-967-7311. Aimakapa Pond near Kona for water birds such as pied-billed grebes, Hawaiian stilts and Hawaiian coots.
Call Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. On the
Net: www.nps.gov/kaho/. Phone: 808-329-6881. Puu Waa Waa along Mamalahoa Highway between Kailua-Kona and Waimea for the Hawaiian hawk, Pueo
and Hawaii’s state bird, the endangered nene goose. Puu Laau on Mauna Kea, off the Saddle Road between Waikii and Pohakuloa is the only place to see endangered
palila. •Getting There: Most major domestic airlines fly into Honolulu and from there you can take a connecting flight
to Kailua-Kona or Hilo. Palila Liwi Akepa 8 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 We are currently looking
for candidates with excellent driving
records to drive standard and automatic vehicles
on company property.
We are also recruiting — responsible individuals with clerical background
to process paperwork or assist in the auction block. The Hawaiian Islands harbor 317 of the nation’s 1,264
endangered and threatened plants and animals. (Zone 5) www.fiftyplusadvocates.com 9 1-888-BUS-2-FOX ✦ www.foxwoods.com BONUS PACKAGE $ 34 * Ride. Relax. Play! * Vouchers for bus tickets can only be purchased at Foxwoods Wampum Rewards
locations. Voucher purchase does not guarantee a bus seat; seating is by a first come
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Keno plus $10 Food or FREE Buffet. Packages apply to patrons 21 years or older.
Offers apply to participating line runs and are subject to change without notice. Atlantic Coach Ride 6 times to Foxwoods,
Ride the 7th time for FREE! Valid 01/01/07 through 03/31/07 617-926-6900 • 800-843-4002 Watertown Peter Pan 800-343-9999 www.peterpanbus.com
Boston, South Station, Needham & Newton Brush Hill Tours 800-343-1328 • 781-986-6100 Peabody, Saugus, Lynn,
Revere, Somerville, Medford,
Everett, Malden, Randolph,
Hingham $ 15 Round Trip Valid 1/15/07 thru 3/31/07 By Roger Petterson T he approach of spring in
the Northeast is heralded
by the running of sap in certain trees and the produc-
tion of maple sugar, a ritual
that makes a perfect excuse to
pack up the car and head out
for a weekend or a weeklong
getaway. Tree-based sweetener is such big business in New England that
the Vermont Maple Foundation
is having a statewide open house
— www.vermontmaple.org/
open-house.html — so you can
watch the process on the week-
end of March 23-25. Whether
you go to Vermont on that weekend or some other time
of the year, the New England Maple Museum at Rutland
— www.maplemuseum.com/ — has exhibits, demonstra-
tions and tastings. And when your appetite takes over,
you can go to its gift shop and buy syrup by the gallon.
Next, click on “Area Attractions” for links to Chambers of
Commerce for places to stay and other things to see and
do, like shopping in Killington or taking in the Vermont scenery all over the region. Would you rather stop off in neighboring New Hampshire?
That state has its own Maple
Producers Association —
www.nhmapleproducers.com/
— where you want to click
on “Events.” You might want
to look for “Sap Season” to
learn about when and why the
sap runs in the spring. Visit
the state’s Division of Travel
— www.visitnh.gov/ — to pick
up maps and ideas for places to stay. Maybe you could even get
in some late skiing. Massachusetts has a two- weekend Maple Days festival,
March 17-19 and March 24- 26, at Sturbridge — www.sturbridge.org/mapledays.
htm — about 60 miles west of Boston. Click on “Golden
Maple Treasure Trail Map” for local lodging packages, the
Maple Days Baking Competition and a map. Along with
the maple festival, there’s a “Shopping” to click on to see
where you can browse through antique and specialty shops
in the area. Then hit “Points of Interest” to pick up some
extra things to see including the Old Sturbridge Village history museum, two-century-old Rider Tavern and the
Worcester Art Museum. Turn west and you can visit maple producers all over New York state during its Maple Weekend — www.maple-
weekend.com/ — which is two weekends this year, March
17-18 and March 24-25. Click on “Locations” to choose
your weekend destinations from a list of 40 counties. Then
try “Pancake Breakfasts” to see where you can eat your fill
before a hard day of sightseeing. And if you can’t wait for
their breakfast, try out some of their recipes. You’ll have to hustle to get a representative sample of Maine sugarhouses, because instead of a weekend the state
just has a single day, March 25, for its promotion. At the
state Department of Agriculture — www.getrealmaine.
com/ — click on “Maine Maple Sunday” to search by
county or town. Bookmark that website for reference later
in the year for pick-your-own farms, Great Maine Apple
Day and Tomato Tasting Week. For more information on
places to go and stay, the Maine Office of Tourism — www.
visitmaine.com/ — has guides, an interactive map and
“Getaway Packages.” If you want to turn this into a longer trip, head north. In the province of Quebec — www.quebecweb.com/tour-
ismeang.html — click on “Activities” and look for “Sugar
Shacks.” For Ontario — www.ontariotravel.net/ — look
for “Festivals and Events,” then “Celebrate the Seasons”
and check out the links for spring. — AP Maple syrup time is a great reason for a weekend getaway By John Raby CHARLESTON, W.Va. — W henever Harold Spiker spots
another cautious, gray-haired
snowboarder at Snowshoe Mountain resort, he goes out of his way to
offer an encouraging word. On a recent trip up the mountain, he swapped stories with a fellow baby boom-
er from Maryland. Meet Snowshoe’s unofficial ambassador to the older snowboarder. The 60-year-old
Spiker is not the anomaly he once was
in a sport still dominated by the younger
crowd. “Evidently it must be catching on,” Spiker said. “It’s amazing how many peo-
ple you meet with common interests.” The number of U.S. snowboarders grew from 2.8 million in 1995 to 6 million in
2005, according to the National Sporting
Goods Association’s annual household
survey. About 7 percent were 55 and older
in 2004, and that figured dropped to 2.6
percent in 2005. They may be small in numbers, but they are big on influence. Baby boomers represent an estimated $2.3 trillion in disposable income, with
the potential to drive businesses interested
in corralling their dollars. “It’s silly to ignore them,” said Matt Thornhill, president of the Boomer Project, a market research and consulting firm in
Richmond, Va. The challenge for reaching older snow- boarders is to ignore their age, because
it doesn’t indicate where they are in life
— they could be grandparents or first-time
parents, he said. “A way to reach these guys is to market toward their attitude, to their lifestyle,”
Thornhill said. “They’re snowboarders. It
doesn’t matter how old they are. They’re
buying the same stuff that other snow-
boarders buy.” With a variety of half-pipes, jumps, rails and downhill thrills, snowboarding
requires plenty of nerve, but older adven-
turists see it as safer than skiing and easier on the knees. It also requires less physical
conditioning, learning and equipment. Bill Langlands opened a snowboard shop in 1991 in Killington, Vt., and has
since opened two more. A little less than
one-third of his customers are over 40. “We’re not a small segment in the market anymore,” said Langlands, 54.
“Everybody thinks snowboarding is for 22-
year-olds. But it’s not. “For the baby boomers, it brings us back to our youth, that free living that we
had back in the ’70s.” They can afford the high-performance outerwear and share the same passion for Older snowboarders telling markets to cater to us, too SNOWBOARDERS page 13 In Vermont, sap was once gathered from buckets
using horse drawn wagons. Some still use that
method. Home Improvement Lower stress by decreasing the mess F or those hampered by household clutter, decreasing the
mess also can reduce stress, according to organizational
expert Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a health psychologist at the University of New Hampshire. “There is a connection between mess and stress. Life is substantially more stressful when chaos reigns. You end up taking longer to do the same
amount of work,” Kendall-Tackett
said. “When your home is well-
ordered, people and things get to
where they need to be, tasks get
done and family life is cherished.
Organization allows you to have
a life.” While in school, Kendall- Tackett cleaned houses, sold
kitchen supplies and worked as
a home health aide — jobs that
gave her license to open drawers,
root around in cupboards and look under sinks. “The suggestions I offer come from the real world and my own attempts to streamline my work at home,” she said. She
is the author or editor of 15 books, including The Well-Ordered
Home and The Well-Ordered Office. Why is it so difficult to be organized? According to Kendall-Tackett, our lives are quite different than they were
a generation ago. People simply have more to deal with. “The amount of paper that comes into our lives every day is staggering: families now handle six times more than
families in the 1950s. On an average day, a person handles
about 300 sheets of paper. That’s 660 pounds of paper a
year,” Kendall-Tackett said. “In addition, Americans have the longest workweek of any industrialized nation. With limited time at home, we are
often forced to choose between time taking care of families
and sorting household debris. Household debris usually
loses,” she said. Finally, the size of American houses has increased. In the 1950s, the average home was 900 square feet. In contrast, the
average new home is more than twice that size; some are even
larger. “While more space can be a plus, it’s also tempting to
fill all that lovely space with more stuff,” she said. Kendall-Tackett offers the following tips for getting organized: •Have what is needed.
Each room should have a trashcan, and each floor should have a duster and spray cleaner. Keep vacuums
near where you need them. For rooms with
specialized light fixtures (e.g., bathroom, din-
ing area), keep a light bulb supply nearby so
they can be replaced immediately. Keep a caddy of cleaning supplies in each bathroom — paper towels and rags; cleanser
for the toilet, sink and shower; glass cleaner
and squeegees; a toilet brush and plunger. Keep
extra toilet paper handy. Keep a small stash of office supplies (stamps, return-address labels, envelopes) where mail is
sorted so mail responses can be sent immediately. •Use active storage.
Keep things used most often in the most accessible places. Frequently used items go in the front, on low shelves and
in the middle. Items used less often go toward the back, up
high, and even in a different area of the home. Keep cutting boards, knives and colanders near the prep area. Keep soap, dishrags and drying racks near the sink.
Keep pots and pans, potholders, and stirring spoons near
the stove. Store infrequently used items elsewhere. Clothing that currently fits and is appropriate for the season goes in the middle of the closet and in drawers. Everything
else goes to the sides or back. If closet space is tight, move
seasonal clothing, outfits for special occasions and clothing that doesn’t fit out of this space. •Get rid of clutter.
“Clutter is perhaps the single-largest impediment to becoming more organized. Unfortunately, clutter dramati- cally increases the time you spend in any
task,” she said. But what to get rid of? Before chucking items, consider the following: •If you put it in a handier place, would you use it? •Are you missing something you need in order to use it? Can you get what you need? •Is it obsolete for you? If so, could someone else use it? “Going through what you own can be wonderfully freeing. If you notice that you have made some unwise purchases (and we all have), become
aware of that, resolve to do better next time and then let it go.
You’ll save time and be able to share some of your abundance
with others,” Kendall-Tackett said. When just beginning to organize, Kendall-Tackett suggests selecting an area of the house used every day. “If you organize
your kitchen or bedroom instead of the attic or garage, the
impact will be immediate and you will know right away that
you are making progress,” she said. She also said novice organizers should give themselves a break. “We often believe that we ‘should know’ how to do
things the first time we attempt them. Rubbish! Make mistakes
and learn from them. Give yourself room to experiment. Be
flexible and adapt as you go,” she said. — Newswise Kendall-Tackett The tape revealed plenty. The first night showed the home-care worker arriving for her shift with a cell phone
glued to her ear. After talking for almost two hours, the
worker grabbed a pillow and blanket, turned out the
light and left Freitas to fend for herself for four hours. It
was much the same the second night, but with a different
worker. This blatant abandonment goes against the 24/7 care that Freitas requires, since the Wilson family told
ComForcare that the frail woman was not steady on her
feet and would always need help with walking. The home
surveillance tape showed Freitas shuffling around without
her walker and at one point leaving the room to go into the
kitchen, where the dangers of an unlocked door and stove
provides potential disasters for someone with dementia. I was just working out my anger, when I heard the announcer single out Elder Services of Merrimack Valley.
How could elder neglect be equated with a state-run Area ➤ Report Cont. from page One REPORT page 14 10 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 (Zone 3) www.fiftyplusadvocates.com 11 The Eliot
Healthcare Center “It will be my pleasure to schedule a tour of
our facility.” — Tammy Pozerycki Director of Admissions 168 West Central Street Natick, MA 01760 508-655-1000 www.eliothealthcare.com “Thanks to everyone for making
our mother’s recovery such a
successful one. She has made
great strides in her recovery
and we owe it all to you.” — Cathy R Caring for loved ones like family • Short term rehab
• Medicare certified
• Long term skilled nursing care • 42 bed secure Alzheimer’s dementia unit Eliot Rehabilitation Staff FREE HOUSING INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY) • Phone # optional Name Address City State Zip Phone Attn: Free Fifty Plus Housing Information Fifty Plus Advocate, 131 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605 Zone 3 3/1/07 Please check off all the facilities that you would like to receive free, no obligation
information from. You can check off as many locations as you like. Your name will not be
used for any other purpose. Assisted Living Facilities ❏ Christopher Heights - Assisted Living, Worcester
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❏ River Bay Club - Assisted Living, Quincy Fair Market Apartments ❏ Endicott Green - Danvers
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❏ Tribune Apartments - Framingham fifty plus Free Housing Info DOUGLAS HOUSE HAMILTON-WADE HOUSE 20 Haverhill St., Brockton, MA 02301 “Call today to discuss this housing opportunity with us!” (508) 588-2974 • (508) 587-3186 • TDD (24 hrs) 800-232-0782 Apartments designed for your Comfort & Convenience Apartments for Elderly and Disabled / Handicapped Adults. Sec. 8 (HUD) program provides rent (with heat included) based on
percentage of verified income. WASHINGTON — D rawing a special comb over a
balding pate could restore some
real hair, accord- ing to a Florida com-
pany. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) has
cleared for sale a handheld
laser device to promote hair
growth. Called the Hairmax Lasercomb, it increases the numbers of thick
hairs on the scalp, according to
26-week clinical trials conducted by its manufacturer, Lexington
International LLC. As the device’s name sug- gests, it combines a low-level laser with a comb. When drawn through the hair, the laser strikes the scalp to promote hair growth, according to the company. The device, sold on the Web for $545, is the only drug-free product meant for home use in combating hair loss that’s won the endorse- ment of the FDA, the company said. — AP W hen it comes to body fat,
today’s older adults face a
double whammy, according to a new study from Wake Forest University
School of Medicine and colleagues. Up
until 80, older adults not only gain fat as
they age but also begin their older years
fatter because of the obesity epidemic. The result is an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pres-
sure, arthritis and disability, according to
Jingzhong Ding, M.D., Ph.D., lead author
and a researcher on aging at Wake Forest. The study, reported in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, focuses on changes in body
composition related to aging and in the
population over time. It is significant
because the researchers used dual-energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to measure
actual body fat to determine the propor-
tion of fat vs. lean mass (muscle and
organs). The measurements were made on 1,786 seniors from Pittsburgh and
Memphis, Tenn., from 1997 to 2003.
Participants were 70 to 79 at the time
of enrollment, a critical period for the
development of disability. Body composi- tion — especially the combination of too
much body fat and a decrease in muscle
— is believed to contribute to disability. In addition to measuring the effects of aging on body composition, the research-
ers also looked at the effects of the
obesity epidemic, which most scientists
agree began in the late 1970s. Between
1976-01980 and 1999-2000, the rate of
obesity doubled in older adults. The scientists divided participants into 10 groups based on their birth years
(from 1918 to 1927). They found that
at the same age, those born later — who
had spent more years during the period
when obesity was increasing — had a
higher percentage of body fat. For example, among 80-year-old men, those born in 1927 had about 10 pounds
more fat and 3.75 pounds of muscle,
compared to those born in 1918. The research was supported, in part, by the National Institute on Aging.
The researchers analyzed data from the
Health Aging and Body Composition
Study, a large study investigating the
effects of body composition on morbid-
ity, disability and mortality in seniors
— Newswise. Adults face double whammy when it comes to body fat FDA approves laser to treat baldness Money Matters By Eileen Putman WASHINGTON — W hat do doctors’ visits, Navajo healing ceremo-
nies and clarinet lessons have in common? All
can qualify, under the right circumstances, as tax-deductible medical expenses. It’s not that easy to take the deduction — medical expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross
income before they can be deducted. On the other hand,
taxpayers can cast a wide net to reach that threshold, so
it may be easier than you think. Costs for elastic hosiery, seeing-eye dogs, stop-smok- ing and weight-loss programs, lead paint removal, spe-
cial mattresses for relief of arthritis or spine problems,
reclining chairs prescribed by a doctor — all have been
permitted by either the Internal Revenue Service or the
U.S. Tax Court, where tax disputes are heard. “If it was prescribed for a medical purpose or to alle- viate a condition, you have a good chance of getting it
through,’’ said Donna LeValley, a tax attorney and con-
tributing editor of the J.K. Lasser tax publications. The key is whether the expense involves the diagno- sis, cure, treatment or prevention of a disease or health
condition for you, a spouse or a dependent. Don’t stretch it too far. Health clubs, therapeutic dance lessons, marriage counseling, tattooing, sex-
change operations and diaper services don’t qualify as
medical expenses. Costs of divorce, even if recommend-
ed by a psychiatrist, don’t qualify; neither does a hotel
room used for sex therapy. Also not deductible: funeral and burial expenses, toothpaste, toiletries, cosmetics and most cosmetic sur-
gery, unless necessary to improve a disfigurement from
disease, birth or accidental injury. Still, legitimate expenses do add up. They can include air conditioners for relief of allergies or breath-
ing problems, hearing aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses,
Braille books, adapters for closed-caption service for the
deaf, orthopedic shoes, crutches, wheelchairs, wigs for those who’ve lost hair through disease, and legal fees for
guardianship of a mentally ill spouse. Deducting clarinet lessons was permitted because a dentist recommended them for treatment of tooth
defects, LeValley noted. “You can see how that might be a little iffy, but it made sense
once you see what the dentist
was trying to achieve,’’ she said. Traditional health expenses — doctors’ visits, laboratory tests
and prescription drugs — qualify,
but so do alternative procedures
like acupuncture, Navajo healing
“sings,’’ electric shock, whirlpool
baths, hydrotherapy and heat
treatments. (But marijuana isn’t
deductible, even when prescribed
by a doctor in a state permitting the prescription.) Health insurance premiums, including Medicare B supplemental insurance and Part D prescription drug
insurance, are deductible. But you can’t deduct insur-
ance premiums paid by an employer-sponsored health
insurance plan unless the premiums are included in Box
1 of your Form W-2. Also, be sure to subtract insurance company reim- bursement from the expenses you submit for the medi-
cal expenses deduction. Keep in mind that no medical expenses can be deducted until the 7.5 percent adjusted gross income
threshold is reached, and even then only by taxpayers
who itemize deductions. (For more information, see the
IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.) With those caveats, here’s a list of some deductible medical expenses: •Fees paid to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiroprac- tors, psychiatrists, psychologists and Christian Science
practitioners. •Hospital services, certain long-term care services, nursing services and laboratory fees. •Acupuncture treatments or inpatient treatment at a center for alcohol or drug addiction. •Costs of stop-smoking programs and drugs pre- scribed to alleviate nicotine withdrawal, but not for
nicotine gum and nicotine patches, which don’t require a prescription. •Costs of participating in a weight-loss program for a spe-
cific disease, including obesity,
diagnosed by a physician, but
not the cost of purchasing diet
food items. •Transportation expenses such as tolls and parking fees, taxis,
and bus, train and airplane fares
for trips to doctors’ offices, health
care facilities and laboratories.
Either auto mileage or actual out- of-pocket costs for gas and oil for such trips also can be
deducted. •Ambulance fees.
•Meals and lodging charged by the hospital or simi- lar institution if your main reason for being there is to
receive medical care. •Insurance premiums for accident and health or qualified long-term care insurance (but not for life insur-
ance, policies providing for loss of wages because of ill-
ness or injury, or policies that pay a guaranteed amount
each week for a sickness). •False teeth, prescription eyeglasses and contact lens- es, laser eye surgery, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs,
and guide dogs for the blind or deaf. •Canes, walkers, orthopedic shoes and other equip- ment for the disabled. •Nursing home expenses incurred primarily for medical care. •Over-the-counter medical supplies like bandages and aspirin. •Costs of home renovation to improve handicapped access. — AP Medical expenses add up to tax deduction if you cast a wide net 12 Fifty Plus Advocate (Zone 3) March 1, 2007 With more than two decades of
experience, our unique team of
Certified Elder Law Attorneys can
help you and your family plan for and
manage the complex issues of aging:
■ Securing your future
■ Preserving independence
■ Protecting your savings
■ Maintaining your dignity
We believe in treating all of our clients
with compassion and special attention to
their individual circumstances. Our goal
is two-fold: to deliver expert legal services
and to provide you with peace of mind
during life’s inevitable transitions and
challenges. Please call us today at 617-776-3300
for a consultation at our offices or
your home. *Certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as recognized by the American Bar Association. This Certification is not recognized by the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. A privately-owned apartment

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