Senior Spectrum Newspaper - February 2015 Issue

SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 3

February 2015CONTENTS

THIS ISSUEPage 4 - Elder Care MediationPage 17 - Top 10 ScamsPage 22 - Best Kept Secret forLonger Life, Active LifestylePage 25 - Sanford CenterNames Medical DirectorPage 28 - Five Star PremierResidences Renovation

EVERY ISSUEPage 6 - Opinion: Sen. Reid Page 7 - Opinion: Sen. HellerPage 26 - CalendarPage 27 - Eclectic Observer0 - this ‘n thatPage 32 - Seniors4Travel

Page 34 - ResourcesPage 35 - CrosswordPage 36 - Tinseltown

HEALTHPage 10 - Community Giving:Tax Day is ComingPage 13 - CMS: Get HelpPaying Your Medicare CostsPage 15 - Center for HealthyAging: CARE ACTPage 23 - Ophthalmology

FINANCIALPage 8 - Bradly Anderson, Decisions, Decisions, Decisions- Anderson & Dorn

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

775-348-0717SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

[email protected]: Chris & Connie McMullen

Column opinions are writers, not publishers. Copyrighted publication.

3

Editorʼs DeskPersonal Care Agencies

Must be Licensed to Provide Care for Your Family

When hiring a PersonalCare Agency to provide carefor a loved at home, underNevada law those companiesare required to be licensedwith the state.

Oftentimes companieswill try to skirt the law andobtain only a city license.Don’t be fooled. Personalcare companies operatingwithout a license from theNevada Division of HealthCare Quality and Complianceare in violation of the lawwritten under NevadaRevised Statutues.

Under the state law,Personal Care Agencies arerequired to follow rules ofcompliance which include ahealth screening and back-ground check on theiremployees. Another require-ment surrounds hours oftraining. Caregivers aremandated to have initialtraining and continued train-ing annually.

Many states do not havethis requirement and some-times hire caregivers withvery little caregiving experi-ence, often placing the frail,elderly in jeopardy. Hiringexperienced caregivers is veryimportant when it comes toyour loved one. Using a rep-utable company is alsoadvised when opening yourhome to strangers.

Licensed companies arerequired to be bonded andinsured. Most caregivers arecompany employees and notindependent workers. Thismakes a big difference inquality of care should therebe a liability issue.

The Personal CareAssociation of Nevada(PCAN) defines the pitfalls ofhiring caregivers who are notemployees and may not meetthe following criteria.◊ Caregivers are legally in theU.S.◊ Caregivers are properlytrained, background checked,as well as current in CPR andFirst Aid.◊ The agency is properlylicensed protecting the refer-ring facility from possiblefines for directing care tounlicensed providers.

Liability coverage andconcerns of PCAN memberagencies include:• Payroll taxes, unemploy-ment insurance and workerscompensation coverage arepaid by the agency.

• Professional liability cover-age is maintained by theagency.

• Caregivers are bonded andthe agency has put up anadditional bond to guaranteecontinued services until youcan be reassigned to a newagency in the event of theagency closing.

Quality care provided byPersonal Care Agenciesinclude in-home assessments,written care plans and super-visory follow-up. There areback-up employees to pro-vide care if a caregiver can-not make a shift, and in-home supervisory visitsoccur with regularity. Thesethings are important.

More often today families are elect-ing to use Elder Care Mediation tohelp sort difficulties surroundinghealth care, finances, guardianship,Advance Directives and a host ofproblem areas surrounding the careof aging adults and end-of-liveissues.

Elder Care Mediation is an areawhere families can counsel with atrained, experienced mediator toresolve disputes, often plagued byemotions and broken relationshipscreated in the past. Elder CareMediation can work through eco-nomic circumstances, geographicdistance, and family dynamicswhen the best care solutions for an

aging family member seems all butimpossible.

Jeanette Belz, of J.K. Belz andAssociates, provides Elder Care andother mediation services in Reno,Carson City, and Lake Tahoe. Withover 200 hours of mediation train-ing including elder care, foreclo-sure, workplace, divorce andadvanced mediation techniques,other specialities can be found inliving arrangement planning, safety,caregiving arrangements, crisiscommunications, financial manage-ment and estate planning. She hasalso been selected to sit on variouscourt mediation panels in the

(Mediation page 24)

4 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Elder Care Mediation: Families can get along

Connie McMullen

Editor’s Desk host Connie McMullen and Jeanette Belz, Belz andAssociates, talk about Elder Care Mediation on Renegade radio.

Social Security isone of the most suc-cessful programs inthe history of ourcountry, and reflectsthe best of our

nation’s values. It rewards hard work,allowing America’s seniors to retire withdignity and providing vital support forAmericans with disabilities.

I have devoted much of my career tothe preservation of Social Security.However, many in Washington remainhostile to the program despite its longhistory of success. On the very first dayof the new Congress, HouseRepublicans voted to block a routinetechnical correction that has been usedmany times in the past to ensure ade-

quate funding of promised benefits.This maneuver, which Republicanshoped would go unnoticed, now threat-ens a 20 percent cut in benefits for 11million Americans who depend onSocial Security Disability. That wouldimpact the lives of nearly 50,000Nevadans—12,000 of which are seniors,ages 65 and older.

Social Security benefits are not lav-ish but they are profoundly importantto millions of Americans. The averageretiree benefit is less than $1300 month.Unfortunately, many in Washingtonseem to think that's too much forAmericans who have spent a lifetimecontributing to their communities. Icould not disagree more. It is especiallytroubling that many of the same politi-

cians calling for benefit cuts then turnaround and hand out lavish tax breaksfor billionaires and corporations thatship jobs overseas. That’s not justwrong. In my view, it’s immoral.

Working with my Democratic col-leagues in the Congress, I will do every-thing I can to defend Social Security,and to oppose all attempts to undercutor privatize the program. In America,we believe in rewarding work and inkeeping our promises.

I am committed to those Americanvalues. And I will always fight for themen and women in Nevada andthroughout our country who haveworked hard to help make Americagreat.

Sen. Reid

OpinionSenator Harry Reid


Social Security is Important to Millions of Older Americans

Many Nevadans have contacted mewith regard to federal programs such asSocial Security, Medicare, and veterans’benefits. I believe each of these pro-grams is essential to maintaining a posi-tive lifestyle for seniors across the state.My seats on the Special Committee onAging, the Veterans’ Affairs Committee,

and the Senate Finance Committee allow me to strengthenand protect these programs.

While my staff and I are happy to assist you with any ofthese programs, you may also consider contacting the agencydirectly should you need further information on enrollmenteligibility, your current status, or any other program ques-tions that may arise. • Social Security Administration (SSA):

o (888) 808-5481o Logon to: http://www.ssa.gov/

• Medicare:o (800) 633-4227

o Logon to: http://www.medicare.gov/• Veterans Benefits Administration:

o (800) 827-1000o Logon to: http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/

My offices continue to hear concerns about overpaymentissues with Social Security. This occurs when a beneficiaryreceives more money for a month than he or she should havebeen paid. This is not always caught by the SSA in a timelymanner, so it is important to know your benefits.

When this happens, a notice is sent to the beneficiary ask-ing for a full refund within 30 days. The notice does not men-tion other options. To address this, you can call the phonenumber mentioned above or contact my state office in Renoat (775) 686-5770. My staff and I look forward to workingwith you to ensure the continuity of these programs.


OpinionSenator Dean Heller

Sen. Dean Heller

Important Programs to Consider in February

The New Year ishere and now is the

time to think about resolutions andlook towards the future. One NewYear’s resolution you should considerthis year is to think very long term.Instead of just planning for how youcan improve life in the upcoming year,the dawn of a new year is the perfecttime to create a concrete plan to takecare of your family after you are gone.

Here are some statistics to think about:As many as 55 percent of adults inAmerica have no will or estate plan in

place. For minorities, the number iseven higher. A full 68 percent of AfricanAmerican adults and 74 percent ofadult Hispanics have no Will.

Without a plan in place, the state (notyou) gets to decide how your assets aregoing to be divided. You’ll have no sayover who distributes your assets, orover what happens to your property.(You could also cost your heirs somemoney or leave your heirs fightingabout who inherits what.)

So, why don’t more people have a plan?

Some don’t know how to create one,while others are hesitant to make thetough choices about how to distributetheir assets among those they love. Anestate planning attorney can help withthe legal process of dividing your assetsand can even offer advice on some ofthe decisions you’ll have to make whenplanning for life after your death.

Creating Your Last Will & Testament

There are lots of reasons why peopleneed to create a comprehensive estateplan. Around 59 percent of people who


Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Brad Anderson

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

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

plan for the future do so inorder to avoid probate.Limiting family chaos is thesecond most important rea-son people cite for engagingin estate planning. Protectingchildren’s inheritances is aprime goal for around 39 per-cent of estate planners, whilejust 34 percent of people aremotivated by minimizingestate taxes.

Whatever your reasons forsitting down with an estateplanning attorney, some ofthe key decisions you’ll needto make include:1. How to distributeassets: Only 27 percent ofBoomers think about howmuch money they will leaveto others. For millennial chil-dren, 31 percent of whomexpect an inheritance averag-ing over $350,000, this lack-adaisical attitude by Momand Dad may come as a bigshock.

2. Who will make deci-sions after your death ordisability: You may need toname a Trustee, a personalrepresentative or an executorof your estate as part of yourestate plan. You may alsowant to create a durablepower of attorney and desig-nate someone to act as youragent if you remain alive butunable to manage your ownaffairs.

Both of these issues can bereally contentious. For exam-ple, as Reuters explains, dis-inheriting a child could leadto a lawsuit to have your planoverturned (especially if theassets in your estate are largeenough to make a caseworthwhile). At the sametime, sometimes leaving yourkids an equal amount is not

going to be a fair choiceeither, especially if you haveprovided more for one ofyour children over the courseof your life than for the oth-ers. One article on USAToday, for example, suggestedthat parents level the playingfield at death if they paidmore for one child’s educa-tion or if one child took careof them at old age.

When it comes to naming aTrustee, a personal represen-tative, or an executor, familyfighting and chaos could alsoresult if you are not clear onyour wishes.

Fortunately, an estate plan-ning attorney can help you toovercome the challenges increating an estate plan. Asyou consider the future andset your New Year resolu-tions, put it on your list totalk to your lawyer abouthow you can create a com-prehensive plan that will giveyou control over your assetsand avoid fighting amongyour loved ones after you aregone. So, this New Year’s,make your resolution one youcan keep: resolve to makeimportant decisions nowabout life after your death.

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


Decisions / page 8


Most of us usu-ally don’t startthinking aboutApril 15th until theend of January, aswe receive our W-2s, 1099s, 1098s,and other tax relat-ed statements.

For those people who employedgreat tax strategies in 2014, filing theirtaxes this year may be an almost pleas-ant experience. By combining charitablegiving with good tax planning last year,many will save thousands in taxes thisyear.

Although year-end is traditionallythe time people think about charitable

giving, I encourage you to think about itas you are working on your taxes thisyear. I use TurboTax and after enteringmy income and the amount I haddeducted in taxes, I begin to enterdeductions. The number I owe, overand above that already deducted, showsin red; as I enter more deductions thatnumber decreases. I am always hopefulthat the red changes to green, indicatingthat I am getting a refund. Along withmortgage interest, property taxes, vehi-cle license fees, and a couple of otherdeductions, charitable deductions makea big difference.

In addition to tax avoidance anddeductions through charitable giving,charitable gift timing can be a big helpin saving on your taxes. If you have paid

off your home mortgage, the minimumdeduction may be greater than thededuction you can take by adding upyour property taxes with your charita-ble gifts and other deductible expenses.But, if you combine certain expenses inone year, such as prepaying your prop-erty taxes and making a charitable giftto a donor-advised fund, you can take agreater charitable deduction. Then, infuture years you can still take your min-imum deduction while making yourcharitable gifts from your donor-advised fund. There are lots of ways toavoid taxes, but most of us don’t thinkabout them until we get the tax bill.

Did you know that the governmentdeems itself to be a charity?

(Tax Day page 12)

Chris Askin

Community Giving

By Chris Askin, President and CEOCommunity Foundation of Western Nevada

Tax Day is Coming

12 / February/ SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

The government is happy and will-ing to accept your donations, and some-times the government is a good charity.

A few years ago we were approachedby a doctor who worked one day a weekat a government-funded rural Nevadaclinic. The doctor was a generous manand knew that the clinic needed a spe-cial x-ray machine. He wanted to makesure the clinic got exactly the equip-ment needed; so he bypassed the clinic’srequired bureaucratic purchasing sys-tem. Instead of donating directly to thegovernment-funded clinic, he made agift to the Community Foundation. TheCommunity Foundation bought themedical equipment and had it shippedto the clinic. This method even avoidedsales tax since the CommunityFoundation is sales tax exempt.

Nevadans care about water quality.Working with the Truckee MeadowsWater Authority, through the Truckee

River Fund, the CommunityFoundation frequently makesgrants to local governmental agen-cies. Truckee River Fund grantssupport projects to control sedi-ments in the river, invasivespecies, and polluted runoff. Thesegrants help reduce the cost ofcleaning up our drinking waterand improve the environment.Governmental entities often ownthe land and also have other resourcesto help, while the Truckee River Fundgrants leverage public support.

It is necessary to pay our taxes to theFederal government, but you and I mostlikely agree that we aren’t always 100percent sure our taxes are doing asmuch good as the money we give to ourlocal governments to improve our qual-ity of life--and certainly not as muchgood as our favorite charities. As you’reworking on your taxes this year, talkwith your CPA or financial advisor. Askabout strategies you can employ that

will reduce your taxes when the billcomes due. At the end of the day, it’s agreat feeling to pay less tax and increaseyour charitable giving. Charitable givingand tax planning… they go together.

The Community Foundation ofWestern Nevada is a local 501(c)3 pub-lic charitable foundation that connectspeople who care with causes that mat-ter. We have helped hundreds of peoplejust like you make their giving effective,efficient, and enjoyable. To find outmore, visit us at nevadafund.org or call775-333-5499.

Tax Day / page 10


Did you knowthat you may beable to get helpfrom your statepaying yourMedicare premi-ums? State-basedMedicare SavingsPrograms alsomay pay Part A

covers inpatient hospital stays, care in askilled nursing facility, hospice care, andsome home health care.

Medicare Part A (hospital insur-ance) and Part B (medical insurance)deductibles, is an amount you may berequired to pay as your share of the costfor services after you pay anydeductibles. Coinsurance is usually apercentage (for example, 20%), coinsur-ance and copayments.

If you have income from working,you may qualify for these programseven if your income is higher than theincome limits listed below.

There are four kinds of MedicareSavings Programs:• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary(QMB) Program — Helps pay for yourPart A and/or Part B premiums,deductibles, coinsurance, and copay-ments.

• Specified Low-Income MedicareBeneficiary (SLMB) Program — Helpspay your Part B premiums only.

• Qualifying Individual (QI) Program— Helps pay your Part B premiumsonly. You must apply each year for QIbenefits and the applications are grant-ed on a first-come, first-served basis,

with priority given to people who gotQI benefits the previous year. (You can'tget QI benefits if you qualify forMedicaid).

• Qualified Disabled and WorkingIndividuals (QDWI) Program —Helps pay your Part A premiums only.You may qualify for this program if youhave a disability and are working.

The names of these programs andhow they work may vary by state. If youqualify for a QMB, SLMB, or QI pro-gram, you automatically qualify to getExtra Help paying for your Medicareprescription drug coverage (Part D)plan.

If you answer yes to the three ques-tions below, call your State Medicaid

(Medicare page 14)

Get help paying your Medicare costsDavid Sayen, Regional Administrator

Medicare Region 9

David Sayen

office to see if you qualify for aMedicare Savings Program: • Do you have, or are you eligible for,Medicare Part A?

• Is your income for 2014 at, or below,the income limits listed below?

Do you have limited resources,below the limits below?

The amounts that follow may

increase in 2015. But it's important tocall or fill out an application if you thinkyou could qualify for savings—even ifyour income or resources are higherthan the amounts listed here.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary(QMB) Program:• Individual monthly income limit $993

• Married couple monthly income limit$1,331

• Specified Low-Income MedicareBeneficiary(SLMB) Program

• Individualmonthly incomelimit $1,187

• Married couplemonthly incomelimit $1,593

• QualifyingIndividual (QI)Program

• Individualmonthly incomelimit $1,333

• Married couplemonthly income limit $1,790

• Qualified Disabled and WorkingIndividuals (QDWI) Program

• Individual monthly income limit$3,975

• Married couple monthly income limit$5,329

(Limits are slightly higher in Alaskaand Hawaii. If you have income fromworking, you may qualify for benefitseven if your income is higher than thelimits listed.)

Resource limits for the QMB, SLMB,and QI programs are $7,160 for oneperson and $10,750 for a married cou-

ple. Resource limits for the QDWI pro-gram are $4,000 for one person and$6,000 for a married couple.

Countable resources include moneyin a checking or savings account, stocks,and bonds.

Countable resources don't includeyour home, one car, a burial plot, up to$1,500 for burial expenses if you haveput that money aside, furniture, andother household and personal items.

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


Medicare / page 13

On February 2nd,the new NevadaState Legislature

began its task of passing state laws tomake Nevada a better place to live.Clearly our legislators have a difficultjob of trying to balance fair, necessary,and equitable services within a budget.One area that desperately needs ourattention is family caregiving.

The most recent estimate of the valueof family caregivers' services in the U.S.is $306 billion annually (Arno,Economic Value of Informal Caregiving:2004). In this study done 10 years ago,Nevada had 226,000 caregivers, provid-ing 242 million hours per year, worth$2.4 billion. AARP has conducted amore recent study that states the num-bers of family caregivers has grown to532,000, providing unpaid care valuedat about $4 billion annually. In the last10 years the numbers have doubled,there is every indication that this willdouble again in the next 10 years.Certainly these statistics demonstrate a

tremendous need todeal with the familycaregiving issue andjust not take it forgranted.

As reported in previ-ous articles, theCenter for HealthyAging performed astudy on WashoeCounty employeesseveral years ago thatdemonstrated thatthe stress of family caregivers who areemployed, which equates to about 75percent of all caregivers, has a signifi-cant impact on employers. In our study,we found that Washoe County employ-ees cost the county over $1 millionannually in lost productivity, not evenincluding missed time at work and ter-mination due to the caregiving respon-sibilities. This study collaborates withmany studies done on caregivers andonly reports the financial stress on thebusiness. The impact of caregiving has

many other financial and emotionalimplications on the family caregiver,recipient, and actually the general pub-lic if you take into consideration whatwould happen to the needy elder andthe use of public services. When thereare no caregivers or the family cannotprovide caregiving services the eldersend up in nursing homes at a cost of$70-80,000 per year, most often on thepublic doles. Therefore, we need to pro-vide support to our family caregivers.

(Life to Years page 16)


Larry Weiss

“Adding Life to Years”

Dr. Larry WeissCenter for Healthy Aging

CARE ACT:New Legislation needed!

Nevada AARP has taken family caregiv-ing as their number one issue for the2015 Nevada Legislature. They are pro-posing the CARE (Caregiver Advise,Record, Enable) Act to better support family caregivers and help elders stay athome and out of institutions. TheCARE Act provides education andtraining to the family caregiver so thatthey can provide better care with med-ical needs.

Key provisions of the CARE Act includehaving hospitals record family caregivernames when a person is admitted to thehospital, notify the caregiver of theelder being discharged or transferred,and providing information, explana-tions, and instructions as to the medicaltasks associated with the discharge planthat need to be performed by the care-giver at home. Such issues such as med-ication management, injections, woundcare, and transfers are included in thedischarge planning and training. Thesemedical/nursing tasks were once onlyprovided by professionals in the hospi-tal, but because of the hospitals beingeconomically pressured to reduce hos-pital stays and home health care beinglimited to short-term treatment of acute

conditions, these services are beingplaced into the hands of the family care-givers. Unfortunately, most family care-givers are ill prepared to provide suchservices to their loved one. The CAREAct will provide valuable information,instruction, and training to family care-givers to help improve the quality ofcare and keep their elders at home andreduce the frequency of them beingreadmitted to the hospital.

Family caregivers are now responsiblefor complex management of medica-tions. The caregivers try to make senseout of multiple prescriptions that arenew after hospitalization and about 25percent of the time they are inappropri-ate for that elder – according to anobservation by a certified geriatricpharmacist. In addition to medicationmanagement, the family caregivers areresponsible for wound care, helpingwith assistive devices, preparing specialdiet meals, and operating needed med-ical equipment such as mechanical ven-tilators and tube feeding systems.Clearly these services that are becomingthe responsibility of the family care-givers need to be discussed with thecaregiver, providing explanations and

instructions.

This CARE Act should be a no-brainer for all of us to support -families, professionals, healthadministrators, and the public.It will insure that our systemprovides better quality care forour elders, improves the fami-ly’s role as a caregiver, andreduce the health care expensesassociated with poor post acutecare, including readmissions tohospitals. What a great way to“add life to years”.

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. isCEO of the Center for HealthyAging. Dr. Weiss welcomesyour comments on this col-umn. Write to him [email protected] orc/o Center for Healthy Aging,11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV89519.


Why Nevada Needsthe CARE Act

♥ Most care recipients(69%) did not have ahome visit by a healthcare professional afterdischarge from the hos-pital.♥ Almost half (46%) offamily caregivers per-form medical or nursingtasks for their lovedones with multiplechronic physical andcognitive conditions.♥ Most family care-givers report that theyreceived little or notraining to performthese tasks.

Life to Years / page 15


Financial scams targeting seniors havebecome so prevalent that they’re now con-sidered “the crime of the 21st century.”Why? Because seniors are thought to havea significant amount of money sitting intheir accounts.

Financial scams often go unreported orcan be difficult to prosecute, so they’reconsidered a “low-risk” crime. However,they're devastating to many older adultsand can leave them in a very vulnerableposition with little time to recoup losses.

It’s not just wealthy seniors who are tar-geted. Low-income older adults are also atrisk of financial abuse. And it's not alwaysstrangers who perpetrate these crimes.Over 90 percent of all reported elder abuseis committed by an older person’s ownfamily members, most often their adultchildren, followed by grandchildren, niecesand nephews, and others.

Review our list of the top 10 scams tar-geting seniors.

1. Health Care/Medicare/Health Insurance Fraud

Every U.S. citizen over age 65 qualifiesfor Medicare, so there is rarely any need fora scam artist to research what privatehealth insurance company seniors have inorder to scam them out of money.

In these types of scams, perpetratorsmay pose as a Medicare representative toget people to give them their personalinformation, or they will provide bogusservices for the elderly at makeshift mobileclinics, then use their personal informationto bill Medicare and pocket the money.

2. Counterfeit Prescription DrugsMost commonly, counterfeit drug scams

operate on the Internet, where seniors

increasingly go to find better prices on spe-cialized medications. This scam is growingin popularity—since 2000, the FDA hasinvestigated an average of 20 such cases peryear, up from five a year in the 1990s.The danger is that besides paying moneyfor something that will not help a person’smedical condition, victims may purchaseunsafe substances that can inflict evenmore harm.

3. Funeral & Cemetery ScamsThe FBI warns about two types of

funeral and cemetery fraud perpetrated onseniors. In one approach, scammers readobituaries and call or attend the funeralservice of a complete stranger to takeadvantage of the grieving widow or wid-ower. Claiming the deceased had an out-standing debt with them, scammers will try

(Scams page 18)

National Council on Aging

Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors


to extort money from relativesto settle the fake debts. Anothertactic of disreputable funeralhomes is to capitalize on familymembers’ unfamiliarity with the considerable cost of funeralservices to add unnecessarycharges to the bill.

In one common scam, funer-al directors will insist that a cas-ket, usually one of the mostexpensive parts of funeral serv-ices, is necessary even whenperforming a direct cremation,which can be accomplishedwith a cardboard casket.

4. Anti-Aging ProductsIn a society bombarded with

images of the young and beauti-ful, it’s not surprising that somepeople feel the need to concealtheir age in order to participatemore fully in social circles andthe workplace. After all, 60 isthe new 40, right? It is in thisspirit that many olderAmericans seek out new treat-ments and medications tomaintain a youthful appearance.

Whether it’s fake Botox likethe one in Arizona that nettedits distributors (who were con-victed and jailed in 2006) $1.5million in barely a year, or com-pletely bogus homeopathicremedies that do absolutelynothing, there is money in theanti-aging business.

5. TelemarketingPerhaps the most common

scheme is when scammers usefake telemarketing calls to preyon older people, who as a groupmake twice as many purchasesover the phone than the nation-al average.

With no face-to-face interac-tion, and no paper trail, thesescams are incredibly hard totrace. Also, once a successfuldeal has been made, the buyer’sname is then shared with simi-lar schemers looking for easytargets, sometimes defrauding

the same person repeatedly.Examples of telemarketing

fraud include:• “The Pigeon Drop”The con artist tells the indi-

vidual that they have found alarge sum of money and arewilling to split it if the personwill make a “good faith” pay-ment by withdrawing fundsfrom their bank account. Often,a second con artist is involved,posing as a lawyer, banker, orother trustworthy stranger.

• “Fake Accident Ploy”The con artist gets the victim

to wire or send money on thepretext that the person’s child oranother relative is in the hospi-tal and needs the money.

• “Charity Scams”Money is solicited for fake

charities. This often occurs afternatural disasters.

6. Internet FraudWhile using the Internet is a

great skill at any age, the slowerspeed of adoption among someolder people makes them easiertargets for automated Internetscams that are ubiquitous onthe web and e-mail programs.Pop-up browser windows simu-lating virus-scanning softwarewill fool victims into eitherdownloading a fake anti-virusprogram (at substantial cost) oran actual virus that will open upwhatever information is on theuser’s computer. One example:E-mail/Phishing Scams

A senior receives e-mail mes-sages that appear to be from alegitimate company or institu-tion, asking them to “update” or“verify” their personal informa-tion, such as e-mails that appearto be from the IRS.

Scams / page 18

7. Investment SchemesBecause many seniors find themselves

planning for retirement and managing theirsavings once they finish working, a numberof investment schemes have been targetedat seniors looking to safeguard their cashfor their later years.

From pyramid schemes like BernieMadoff ’s to fables of a Nigerian princelooking for a partner to claim inheritancemoney to complex financial products thatmany economists don’t even understand,investment schemes have long been a wayto take advantage of older people.

8. Homeowner/Reverse Mortgage Scammers like to take advantage of the

fact that many people above a certain ageown their homes, a valuable asset thatincreases the potential dollar value of a cer-tain scam.

A particularly elaborate property taxscam in San Diego saw fraudsters sendingpersonalized letters to different propertiesapparently on behalf of the CountyAssessor’s Office. The letter, made to lookofficial but displaying only public informa-

tion, would identify the property’s assessedvalue and offer the homeowner, for a fee ofcourse, to arrange for a reassessment of theproperty’s value and therefore the tax bur-den associated with it.

Closely related, the reverse mortgagescam has mushroomed in recent years. Asopposed to official refinancing schemes,however, unsecured reverse mortgages canlead property owners to lose their homeswhen the perpetrators offer money or afree house somewhere else in exchange forthe title to the property.

9. Sweepstakes & Lottery ScamsThis simple scam is one that many are

familiar with, and it capitalizes on thenotion that “there’s no such thing as a freelunch.” Here, scammers inform their markthat they have won a lottery or sweep-stakes and need to make some sort of pay-ment to unlock the supposed prize. Often,seniors will be sent a check that they candeposit in their bank account, knowingthat while it shows up in their accountimmediately, it will take a few days beforethe (fake) check is rejected. During that

time, the criminals will quickly collectmoney for supposed fees or taxes on theprize.

10. The Grandparent ScamThe Grandparent Scam is so simple and

so devious because it uses one of olderadults’ most reliable assets, their hearts.Scammers will place a call to an older per-son and when the mark picks up, they willsay something along the lines of: “HiGrandma, do you know who this is?”When the unsuspecting grandparentguesses the name of the grandchild thescammer most sounds like, the scammerhas established a fake identity without hav-ing done a lick of background research.Once “in,” the fake grandchild will usuallyask for money to solve some unexpectedfinancial problem to be paid via WesternUnion or MoneyGram.

If you suspect you’ve been the victim ofa scam, keep handy the phone numbersand resources you can turn to, includingthe local police, your bank, and AdultProtective Services (888-729-0571).


The Best Kept Secret for a Longer and More Active Lifestyle

By Dr. Lawrence Davis, Davis Chiropractic

Aging As we get older our muscles, tendons,ligaments and other soft tissues getstiffer. When they get stiffer they getweaker, making it difficult for us to stayas active as we like, for as long as welike. We become more fragile and vul-nerable to new injuries. This is specifi-cally true regarding the deepest soft tis-sue structures which support and oper-ate our spine from the very top of ourneck to our low back, hips and pelvis. Exercising and stretching are vital forour external muscles as we age. The factis that these activities are not effectivein improving or maintaining the deepligaments, tendons and other soft tissuestructures for our spine which actuallycontrol how flexible and strong ourbodies can be.

Mobility versus Range of Motion [or Flexibility]

Doctors examining spines will measurewhat is called range of motion [ROM].What we have discovered is that apatient may display a normal neckROM [in this example we will use theneck although this is true throughoutthe spine] and can turn left and rightapproximately 80 degrees. It would be amisdiagnosis to assume that a normalROM measurement also means theneck has normal mobility.

Here is why: Each individual bone orvertebra in our neck must contribute itsindividual movement or mobility tomake up the total measurement of theROM. If one vertebra is working at 50percent less mobility but several othervertebra are over compensating by overstretching to make up the difference wehave several diagnostic issues which arenot normal. We have a stiffening joint atone vertebra and we have over workingjoints at several additional areas.

Degenerative Disc DiseaseStiffening joints can lead to loss of discspace and fusion. Joints are designed toallow motion up to a certain point.Keeping joints moving properly helpskeep the joint healthy and it also helpskeep the discs [which are like shockabsorbers between the vertebrae]healthy. Discs rely upon motion inorder to acquire their nutrition andhydration. Loss of normal mobility willlead to discs getting less nutritionbecoming dehydrated. This leads to apainful and debilitating condition com-monly referred to as degenerative discdisease [DDD].

Degenerative Joint DiseaseOverworking joints lead to pain. If ajoint is not doing its job but is calledupon to over work to compensate forstiffer neighboring joints it causes irrita-tion leading to inflammation which weknow is painful. A persistent state ofdamaging over use leads to what iscommonly referred to as degenerative

joint disease [DJD]. X-ray shows bonespurs growing out from the afflictedvertebrae at a progressively acceleraterate compared to non afflicted vertebraein the spine. The afflicted vertebraljoints can eventually fuse together.

Spinal Manipulative TherapyAn effective treatment to address thisextremely common situation in agingspines of DDD and DJD is spinalmanipulative therapy [SMT]. There area number of ways to safely administerthis therapy to Senior age patients.Doctors of Chiropractic are highlytrained in SMT and are considered thenumber one health care delivery profes-sion to utilize this care.

A spinal correction called an “adjust-ment” is delivered for the purpose ofrestoring proper mobility to individualspinal joints. This rehabilitates under-performing or stiff joints which allevi-ates the damaging stress on joints that

(Staying Active page 22)22 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

“Uveitis” isinflammation inthe layer of tissuesituated betweenthe retina and thesclera (the whiteof the eye).

This middlelayer, the uvea, has three parts: theiris (the colored portion of theeye), the ciliary body (whichmakes fluid within the eye), andthe choroid (a layer of blood ves-sels that nourishes the retina andother important parts of the eye).

“Anterior” uveitis, the mostcommon form, involves the irisand ciliary body. “Intermediate”uveitis affects mostly the vitreoushumor (the clear gel that fills theeye), and “posterior” uveitis affectsthe retina or choroid at the backof the eye.

Symptoms of blurred vision,eye pain, eye redness, photosensi-tivity, and dark “floaters” requireimmediate attention.

It should be noted that uveitiscan result in scarring and blind-ness if left untreated.

If you would like further infor-mation on today’s topic, pleasecall my office at (775) 882-1726.We are conveniently located at3839 N. Carson Street, in CarsonCity, 89706.

Hours open are 8-5 p.m.,Monday through Friday byappointment. Master Card, Visa,and Medicare Assignment areaccepted.

Michael J. Fischer

Ophthalmology

UveitisDr. Michael J. Fischer, M.D.Nevada Eye Surgery Center

are over working to compensate for theunderperforming joints. Diagnosis isperformed using standard orthopedictests to determine mobility as well asROM and using X-ray to determine ifthere is absolute evidence of DJD andDDD.

Spinal RehabilitationPatients with DDD and DJD, followingproper care, report greater ability to per-form activities of daily living, greaterendurance, significantly decreased or

even alleviated pain levels and a generalsense of well being similar to how theyfelt when much younger. With follow upcare based upon progress exams manysenior patients report that these benefitsare very long lasting. Significantlyimportant is that on follow up X-rays wesee that the progressive accelerated DJDand DDD appear to stop progressing atan accelerated rate and in some cases wesee healing and restoration evidenced byimproved structures.

SafetySpinal Manipulative Therapy can besafely delivered to even very advancedcases of DJD and DDD and does notneed to involve what is traditionallythought of as twisting, popping orcracking. As part of a healthy lifestyle, aswe age, I believe you will see that a visitto evaluate your level of progressiveaccelerated spinal degeneration and sub-sequent care to address these conditionscan lead to a longer and more activelifestyle.

Staying Active / page 22


Second Judicial District Court ofWashoe County to provide mediationservices in guardianship, custody, anddependency.

Belz, a lobbyist, decided to learnabout mediation after listening totestimony in a legislative hearing.“There are always techniques to helpwhen people are at an impasse andcannot move forward,” Sheexplained. “People in dispute oftenengage each other by posturing or

even pushing eachother’s buttons.Things can degen-erate pretty quick-ly.”

And nothing canrise quicker to thesurface that pastfights of siblingswho have carried alifetime ofgrudges. “Itsounds pretty sim-ple but if theycould figure outhow to resolvetheir conflict ontheir own theywould,” Belz said.

There are manymediation tech-niques to resolvedisputes, and theparent or familymember of con-cern is invited toattend the sessions

unless there is a competency issue.

The role of the mediator is:• To guide the process, not the outcome– that’s up to the parties.

• Ask lots of questions – both to clarifyissues as well as reframe.

• Example: Party: My brother doesn’t listen to

me.Mediator: I hear your frustration.

What could your brother do to show heis listening?

• People in conflict often describe theirperspective in a negative manner.

Party: Mary is taking advantage ofMom and using up all of her money.

Mediator: What I am hearing you sayis that Mom’s financial welfare is impor-tant to you.

• Reframing is to re-word or re-statewhat the person has said more con-structively.

If mediation services are something thatcan help your family work through diffi-cult issues regarding care and finances,contact J.K. Belz and Associates - Cell:775-232-1662 / Office: 775-329-0119.Office location: 121 Washington Street,in Reno (by appt. only), orhttp://www.jkbelz.com/


Mediation / page 4


Steven L. Phillips, M.D.has been named medicaldirector of the new geriatric

assess-mentand caremanage-mentclinic attheSanfordCenter

for Aging at the University ofNevada, Reno. In this role,Phillips will lead the devel-opment of the clinic’s servic-es, protocols and policies,provide oversight of the clin-ical staff, as well as qualityassurance and improvement.

Phillips has worked in thefield of long-term care medi-cine for the past 25 years as

a clinician, researcher andadministrator. He remainsinvolved at a local, state andnational level with an inter-est in policy development,quality improvement andpopulation based approach-es.

He is the founder andCEO/President of GeriatricSpecialty Care (GSC) inNorthern Nevada. GSC is an“Office Without Walls” serv-ing the frail and home-bound elderly residing in pri-vate residences, group carehomes, assisted living facili-ties and nursing facilities. Inaddition, he serves as med-ical director for theHealthInsight NevadaEnhanced CareCoordination Program.

Sanford Center names medicaldirector for geriatric clinic

Steven Phillips

Feb. 2 - AARP Driver SafetyClass, 9-2 p.m., Reno SeniorCenter; Feb. 28, 9:30-2 p.m.,Neil Road Recreation Center.

Feb. 3 - Sanford Center forAging DistinguishedSpeaker Series, AliveInside, 6:30 p.m., NightingaleConcert Hall, register by Jan.27, at http://aliveinsidereno.eventbrite.com.

Feb. 2 - 14 - 2015 SeniorWinter Games, Circus Circusrooms, registration, Archery,Baggo, Beanbag Baseball,Bowling, Cards (Cribbage &Poker), Cross Country Skiing,Hockey Slap Shot, IceSkating, Pickleball, Ski &Snowboard Racing,Snowshoeing and TableTennis, www.reno.gov/seniorgames.

Feb. 6 - Dancing With TheStars, 8 p.m., Silver LegacyResort, $67.75 - $77.75.

Feb, 6 8 Memphis,Broadway Comes to Reno,Pioneer Center for thePerforming Arts, Reno.

Feb. 7 - Todd Snider,Nugget, Sparks, $39.

Feb. 7 - RadiationScreenings, UNR School ofMedicine’s Family MedicineCenter, 7:30 a.m. till 2:30p.m., (702) 992-6887.

Feb. 8 - Tribute Concert toMaytan Music Center, DGKicks Band, Nightingale Hall,UNR, 3 p.m., free.

Feb. 9 - Senior Day atNevada Legislature,Commission on Aging, 7:30-5p.m., Legislative Bldg., room3100.

Feb. 10 - Senior TaxPreparation Assistance, 9-11:15 a.m., NRRC, (775)762-7146.

Feb. 10 - SOS EducationTalk, Jane Gruner, ADSDAdministrator and GradyTarbutton, Washoe CountySenior Services, 10 - 11 a.m.,UNR Laxalt Auditorium, (775)784-7506 or [email protected].

FEB. 11 - CooperativeExtension training on pesti-cides, 4955 Energy Way,Reno, 7:30 a.m., (775) 336-0247.

Feb. 13 - 20th Annual BrewHaHa, Sierra Arts, Nugget, Rose Ballroom, 20 micro-breweries, tickets $50, VIP$65.

Feb. 14 - History in the Buff,5 - 9 p.m., Wilbur D. MayMuseum, $40 per couple,(775) 785-5961.

Feb. 14 - Valentines Day

Feb. 17 - Senior ServicesMonthly Food Pantry, GrossMaximum Income --1 person -$1,245 per month; 2 people -$1,681 per month, 60 or older(or have spouse 60+), twobags per household, ID andproof of income, 9 a.m., RenoSenior Center, 1155 E. 9thStreet.

Feb. 19 - Food Truck(CSFP), Food Bank ofNorthern Nevada, thirdThursday of each month 9:30-11 a.m., (775) 331-3663

Feb. 19 - Rockapella Singsthe Hits, Harrah’s Reno, din-ner and show, 6 p.m., RenoSenior Programs.

Feb. 21 - Los Lobos,Harrah’s South Shore Room,Lake Tahoe.

Feb. 21 - Registration clos-es for Adult Softball, City ofSparks Spring Adult SoftballProgram, games held in Aprilthrough June, Golden EagleRegional Park and ShadowMountain sports complexes,call (775) 353-2385.

Feb. 22 - 23 - NevadaWomen’s Lobby/GrassRoots Lobby Days, 7:30-5p.m., Legislative Bldg., room3100.

Feb. 24 - CooperativeExtension Master Gardener,Liz Morrow, growing condi-tions and care, BartleyRanch, (775) 784-4848.

Feb. 27 - Nevada Health Dayat Legislature, LegislativeBldg., room 3100, 7:30-9 a.m.

March 16 – Alzheimer’sAdvocacy Day, NevadaState Legislature, 8 - 4 p.m.,Legislative Council BureauBldg.


CALENDAR

MyfriendPeggy diedlast January.Peggy hadbeen a spe-cial part of

my life since we first met inAugust 1973. At the time wehad just moved to Sparks and Iwas fortunate to find a job atthe Library there. Peggy wasalready on staff, younger than I,with two small children and aJordanian husband. Far wiserthan her years, it was Peggy'sgentle intervention that savedme from permanently alienat-ing another employee. It wasPeggy, too, who listened to myanguish as my marriage dis-solved. A few years later I wasable to extend a helping handto Peggy when she was in needof a job and I introduced her tothe crazy world of seminarmarketing. As the years passedwe stayed in contact, but infre-quently as friends sometimesdo. When she moved to LasVegas with her daughter's fami-ly a few years ago I looked for-ward to her annual Christmasletter and poem. Over the yearsI kept many of the poemsPeggy shared; all reflected herunique view of life and ourworld. This year her family sentPeggy's last poem. I'd like toshare it with you.

You can get on a busIf a bus stop is nearOr you can hitchhike if abductionIsn't something you fear.

You can also call a cabIt's one option to be admiredBut you must plan aheadAnd substantial funding lis required.

You can ask a friendly neighborIf they will give you a rideOr hold a sign on a cornerIf you swallow your pride.

The solution for meWas the luckiest oneI moved in with my daughterWho gets my errands done

And she chauffeurs me aroundWhen I have to goSo I traded my independenceFor a sweet row to hoe.


THE ECLECTIC OBSERVERby Janet Ross

A Sweet Row to Hoe … by Peggy Martin

I gave up my carAlmost five years agoAnd there are things I have learnedThat I thought you should know.

If you're a marathon runnerWhen you don't have a carIt's a fact of life You can't go very far.

A 14-month, five million dollar ren-ovation of Five Star Premier Residencesof Reno was unveiled on January 22,featuring new amenities and services.The senior living community, formerlyClassic Residence by Hyatt, is centrallylocated in southwest Reno where it hasprovided independentand assisted living serv-ices for the past 26years.

In celebrating the“Grand Re-Opening,”new additions wereintroduced that includea movie theater, cornercafe, and expandedphysical therapy, occu-pational therapy, speechtherapy and BiodexBalance/Fall prevention

program. Showcasedaminities include:• Corner Cafe - Serves HubCoffee and Reno Provisionspastries along with Five Starsoups, salads and sandwich-es. The new dining venue

will be open seven days a week from 7-2p.m. for residents, families, guests andstaff.

• The Piano Lounge - The long-estab-lished gathering spot now has a fullservice bar serving cocktails and wine

(Five Star page 29)


Five Star Premier Residences of Reno Showcases New Five Million Dollar Renovation

Five Star Theater for movies and lectures.

The Piano Lounge offers a full service bar.

(and non-alcoholic beverages), aswell as tapas-style appetizers. Theintimate lounge overlooks a gardencourtyard and patio fire pit.

• The Sagecrest dining room andprivate dining room. Scheduledsoon to be delivering all day dining,residents and guests can enjoy gour-met dining and a full-service menuany time of day. Soon to be openfrom 7-7 p.m.

• Five Star Theater - Watch favoritemovies or enjoy a lecture from ourextensive list of educators, worldtravelers, historians and other speak-ers. With state-of-the-art audio,video and web-based capability toenhance the viewing experience.

• Five Star Wellness andRehabilitation - Five Star Wellnessand Rehabilitation offers a full range

of on-site wellness and rehabilitationservices with a team of physical,occupational and speech therapists atthe Vitality Center.

The Five Star community has 170independent and 35 assisted livingapartments.


The Biodex fall risk screening and condi-tioning program helps determine if resi-dents are at risk to fall, and aids one toreduce risk factors and improve mobility.

When afriendtold me

her gym was offer-ing a new class onaging, my admitted-

ly smart-aleck response was: “I don’tneed to take a class to do that, I’maging quite steadily all by myself!”

Her gym is also my gym, Sports West.I have been faithfully going thereearly every morning for years, assur-ing myself that my pre-dawn waterbobbing in the pool was sufficient inway of exercise, even worthy of admi-ration; doesn’t a four a.m. workoutsound impressive? But that “work-out” doesn’t really involve much morethan jumping around with waterweights; there is no actual swimmingbecause I don’t know how. For theremainder of my day I subscribe toPhyllis Diller’s philosophy: “My ideaof exercise is a brisk sit," so I cer-tainly wasn’t interested.

Then I was given the opportunityto write this article about that newclass in order to get the word outthat something fresh and innova-tive by way of exercise was beingoffered. But in order to do that, Iobviously had to attend some ses-

sions so Ireluctantlyagreed toshow up.Very reluc-tantly!

I alwaysthink of any gym

class as involving a lot of perspirationand way too much work. I was wrongabout that; no huffing/puffing here. Ialso don’t like not being in control,

which extends to feeling “trapped” inany kind of class, so what I initiallyliked best about this one was the factthat it was only 30 minutes (45 min-utes is about an hour longer than 30minutes as far as I’m concerned.)

This class is called “FunctionalFitness for Active Aging” and isquite delightfully different from whatI had anticipated.

Every morning on my way to the poolI see people (younger than I am peo-ple) enthusiastically grappling with ahuge, alien apparatus. It is in steadyuse throughout the day by all thosesuper fit athletic types, but gentletraining for the rest of us in smallgroup sessions is now offered, andthat’s what I was there to find outabout.

The apparatus is known as a SpaceStation and it looks very intimidatingto a novice, which is why I had nevereven considered approaching it. It’s

designed for single or multiple usersto perform body weight/suspendedexercises in a safe (so you don’t fall)and purposeful manner. It vaguelyresembles neighborhood jungle

gyms of childhood days but it is apowerful training tool intended toproduce maximum results with everyworkout, training muscles to worktogether by simulating commoneveryday movements. While usingvarious muscles in the upper andlower body at the same time, theexercises also emphasize core stabili-ty. On this page of my calendar sta-bility sounds good; my diminishingsense of balance is a new and unwel-come issue.

Sandi Meyer is the Functional Fitnesstrainer at Sports West and I thor-oughly enjoyed my introductory ses-sions with her; in fact I enjoyed themso much I decided to sign up for aseries of classes, which says a lot.

Sandi is well qualified to do what shedoes. She has a degree inExercise Science from theUniversity of Colorado, iscertified by Aerobics andthe Fitness Association ofAmerica (AFFA) and has aSeniors FitnessCertification from theAmerican Senior FitnessAssociation. Most impor-tantly, she has a specialinterest in working withthose of us who are nolonger 21, firm in herbelief that the process of

aging can be a positive one. Shemade a hopeful believer out of me.

Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, (Vargas page 31)


this ‘n that By Anne Vargas [email protected]

Anne Vargas

Actively aging or aging actively?

I found the class to be funand the exercises both easyand effective; muscles thathad been taking a nap for along while were awakenedand energized. Not only didmy body respond well, itseemed to be telling me itwanted more.

These small group classes(maximum of eight partici-pants) work well because theSpace Station is designed formultiple users; everyoneworks on something differentand then rotates to the nextstation, all under vigilantdirection and supervision.The sessions I attended hadonly five or six people, whichwas ideal. We all workedwithin our own capability atour own pace and there is nosense of competition.

Twelve 30 minute sessioncost $168 for Sports Westmembers, $180 for non-members. Private sessionscan also be arranged. Thereare other gyms in town thatalso may offer classes like thisbut I am not familiar withthem.

This is the second month of theNew Year. I no longer make reso-lutions because breaking them, as Ialways do, is disheartening. A“goal” sounds much more do-ableso I have set a couple. This will bethe year of 75 candles on the cakeso the first goal is to blow themout. The second is to make it theyear of the body; treating it well soit will treat me well. So off I go,mindful of a couple of favorite quotes:

“As soon as you feel too old to do athing, do it.”

and“I don’t care about being

big and strong, I just want to look good naked.”


Arecenttravelcolumn

for ShermansTravel Company lists Bentonville,

Arkansas as one of five up-and-comingAmerican cities gaining recognition inthe areas of arts, food, and beverages.

It’s not the first time the small Southern

city of Bentonville (population 34,000)has gotten accolades as a tourist desti-nation. For a town once known only forbeing Walmart's headquarters, the com-munity has much to offer.

We’ve visited Bentonville on a few occa-sions – and will be heading that wayagain come spring. Full disclosure:daughter Ann and family live in theBentonville area, giving us the perfectexcuse to spend time in that scenic partof the country.

Bentonville is in the northwest OzarkMountain region near lakes, state parks,and numerous outdoor opportunities.Five or more public and private golfcourses are in Benton County.

Bentonville: Steeped in HistoryBentonville was established in 1836 asthe first county seat in Arkansas.Steeped in history, the town has man-aged to maintain its charming, ancestralcharacter. Within the city limits, thereare no less than 72 historical buildingsand homes.

Within Benton County, there are 140Civil War sites. The Battle ofBentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865,was the last full-scale action of the CivilWar in which a Confederate army wasable to mount a tactical offensive. Thismajor battle, the largest ever fought inNorth Carolina, was the only significantattempt to defeat the large Union armyof Gen. William T. Sherman during itsmarch through the Carolinas in thespring of 1865.

150th Battle of BentonvilleReenactment Event

Date: March 21 & 22, 2015Address: 5466 Harper House Rd. Four Oaks, NC 27524

The 150th Battle of BentonvilleAnniversary reenactment will be held at

(Seniors4Travel page 33)32 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Bentonville, ArkansasRobert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa


Bentonville Battlefield State HistoricSite. The event is open to the public.For information: Friends of BentonvilleBattle, phone: 910-594-0789;www.fobb.net/150th bentonville.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Thanks to the Crystal Bridges Museumof American Art, Bentonville is quicklygaining its reputation as a destinationfor art lovers.

The building itself, a series of connectedpavilions, two of which function as“bridges” over ponds built into the for-est site, is considered a work of art. Thename is borrowed from the nearbyCrystal Springs. Three miles of pedes-trian, sculpture and biking trails windthrough the 120 acres of forests, gar-dens, and interactive education areasthat surround the museum and connectto nearby neighborhoods and down-town Bentonville.

The permanent Crystal Bridges collec-

tion features American master-works dating from the Colonialera to contemporary times.We’ve found iconic images suchas Asher B. Durand's KindredSpirits, Rosie the Riveter byNorman Rockwell, and AndyWarhol's Dolly Parton. TheMuseum's collection also show-cases major works by modernand contemporary Americanartists, Roy Lichtenstein, JamesTurrell, and Georgia O'Keeffe, to namea few.

Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworksfrom the Albright-Knox Art Gallery:

February 21, 2015 - June 1, 2015We are excited that a temporary exhibit,“Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworksfrom the Albright-Knox Art Gallery”,will be at the museum during our visit.The exhibition features masterpieces bysome of the most prominent names inart history including Vincent van Gogh,Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe,Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, Andy

Warhol, and Mark Rothko.

Crystal Bridges Museum of AmericanArt was founded by Alice Walton,daughter of Walmart's founder, SamWalton. She also serves as chair of theCrystal Bridges Board of Directors.

The museum is open Monday,Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday andFriday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed onTuesdays, Thanksgiving Day andChristmas Day. Admission is free.Crystal Bridges' trails are open fromsunrise to sunset, every day.

Rose Garden/Maria Oakey Dewing: 1901

At age 76, veterancomedian andimpressionist Rich

Little is still zigzagging thecountry doing one-manshows.

Impressions have beenLittle’s stock and trade sincehis school days in Ottawa,Canada.

"I would answer teachers'questions in their own voic-es," said Little, from hishome in Las Vegas. "Prettysoon, they stopped askingme questions!"

That was over 60 years ago.Today, crowds still flock tosee the man who claims arepertoire of over 200 voices.Unlike ordinary comedians,Little says impressionistshave double-duty on stage.

"You've got to do a convinc-ing impression and also telljokes in that character," heexplained. "It's really allabout concentration whenyou do impressions andbecoming the person.Sometimes when I really getinto Johnny Carson, I'll comeoff stage and find myselfwriting out an alimonycheck!"

While Little's performancesfocus mostly on deceasedactors, celebrities, and politi-cians such as John Wayne,Jimmy Stewart, GeorgeBurns, and Ronald Reagan,he also tackles more contem-porary personalities.

"You have to keep it topical,"

he said. "I don't know whatthe future holds for me, butif Hillary becomes president,I may be in big trouble!"Although Little does somefemale impressions, such asDr. Ruth, Carol Channing,and Jean Stapleton, he saysMrs. Clinton is tough tomimic. "She needs to developa lisp or a rasp or twitch tomake her a little more dis-tinctive.”

While he does a convincingJack Nicholson, ArnoldSchwarzenegger, WillieNelson, George Bush and BillClinton, impersonatingtoday's younger stars is chal-lenging due to their lack ofdistinguishing voices andbody language.

"So many of the stars of thesilver-screen era had distinc-tive voices, walks, hand ges-tures, and facial manner-isms," noted Little. "But howdo you do Brad Pitt, JohnnyDepp, or Leonardo Dicaprio?Their voices just aren’t thatdistinctive. Even RobertRedford is near impossible todo."

In addition to his vocal tal-ents, Little also draws sketch-es of celebrities.

"I've dabbled in art all mylife, charcoal portraits most-ly," he said. "I've done hun-dreds of sketches over theyears. I guess I have thesepeople in my head and I canput that down on paper aswell as voice. I've also donepeople other than the ones I

(Little page 37)

Tinseltown TalksBy Nick Thomas

Rich Little Still Impresses


Rich Little

Solution from page 35

imitate, like MerylStreep and TomCruise. I did a pret-ty good portrait ofTom, but it wasn'teasy because hekept bouncing upand down on thesofa!"

Despite the strainimpressionists placeon their vocalchords, Little sayshis voice has heldup well over theyears. He has nevertaken voice lessonsor studied the sci-ence of speech, rely-ing on natural talentand hard work. "Ijust listen over andover again to a newvoice and practiceuntil I get it right.”

And no, his voice isnot insured. "I oncecontacted Lloyds ofLondon, but theywanted something like $50,000 ayear to insure my voice," said Little.

So has Rich ever been tempted touse his talents to mimic a celebrityfor personal gain? Well, sort of, hesays.

"Years ago when I was starting out, Iordered room service as Gary Grant– and found he got much fasterservice than Rich Little usually did.When the food arrived and theyasked for Mr. Grant, I just took thefood and said he was in the shower."

Of course, not all his impressionscommanded the same respect."I once ordered a cheeseburger asRichard Nixon," he recalled. "I'mstill waiting for it."

To find out more about Rich Littlevisit Little's website at: www.richlit-tle.com. SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 37

Rich Little and Friends: Left, Jack Nicholson, Humphrey Bogart, Richard Nixon, Jack Benny, and John Wayne.

Senior Spectrum Newspaper - February 2015 Issue

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