News-Review Senior Times November 2011

of Douglas CountySenior TIMES

of Douglas CountySenior TIMES

November 2011

Roseburg veteran has allegiance to two

branches of service

DOUBLEDUTYRoseburg veteran has

allegiance to two branches of service

DOUBLEDUTY

Page 2–The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg Oregon, Monday, November 7, 2011

MICHAEL SULLIVAN/The News-Review

Roseburg’s Burt Ellis holds a framed photograph of his Navy boot camp graduating class. Ellis enlisted in the Navy in 1947. He providedmedical services to wounded Marines during the Korean War.

BILL DUNCANThe Senior Times

When Burt Ellis celebrated his 17thbirthday, he was standing in line atthe Navy recruiting station in Los

Angeles, waiting to enlist. That was in 1947.After he completed boot camp, Ellis was

selected for pharmacist’s mate school. Whenthat training ended, he was assigned as a corps-man with the U.S. Marines, just in time for theKorean War. He found himself on the frontlines with the Marines, patching up the wound-ed.

He traded his bell-bottomed Navy uniformfor Marine greens when he was issued combatdungarees and went off to war with theMarines. Because the Marine Corps is part of

the Navy, the latter branch of the service pro-vides medical and chaplain services to theMarines.

In Ellis’ case, he kept two uniforms — theMarine greens and his sailor suit — until 1967,when he retired from the Navy after 20 years ofservice.

“In all the years I was in the Navy, I neverserved aboard a ship,” he said. “I was alwaysassigned to the Marines and was billeted onMarine bases, mainly in California.”

This month, Burt will have two celebrationsto honor his service. On Nov. 10, he will joinhis Marine comrades to celebrate the foundingof the Marine Corps by Capt. Samuel Nicholasat Tun Tavern in Philadelphia during the Revo-lutionary War in 1775. The very next day, Nov.11, Ellis will join all who served in the armed

forces in celebration of Veterans Day.In 1958, while Ellis was still on active duty

and stationed with the Marines in TwentyninePalms, Calif., he met Pat, whom he marriedthat same year.

Once he was discharged after his 20-yearNavy career, Ellis returned to his native LosAngeles and went right into a whole new careerworking for the motion picture industry as, youguessed it, a corpsman. Actually, Ellis was amedical aide on standby in case of an accidentat movie and television locations. In 1972, heearned a registered nurse license as he contin-ued working on movie and television sets inHollywood and at remote filming sites.

“I was the only person on the set the

Roseburg veteran has allegiance to two branches of service

DOUBLE DUTY

Please see ELLIS, page 4

Monday, November 7, 2011–The News-Review, Senior Times Roseburg Oregon, Page 3

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Phone: 541-672-3321

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OONN TTHHEE CCOOVVEERR::U.S. Navy and Marine Corps veter-an Burt Ellis is seen recently at his

Roseburg home.MICHAEL SULLIVAN/The News-Review

SSeenniioorr TTiimmeess

directors didn’t want to see working,” he quipped. “I wasthe first responder in case of an accident, but if the injurywas serious enough the injured party was transported to ahospital for more intensive care.”

He worked on the television sets for the “The MaryTyler Moore Show,” a sitcom also featuring Ed Asnerand Gavin MacLeod, and the television show “WKRP inCincinnati,” which followed the adventures of the staff ofa struggling fictional radio station.

Of all the movie and TV sets where he worked, he onlygot picked once as an extra, Ellis said. It was during thefilming of “What’s Up Doc,” the screwball comedyfilmed partly in San Francisco and starring BarbraStreisand and Ryan O’Neal.

“I was needed to stand nearby during a dangerousscene in which a Volkswagen is driven off the end of thepier on Lombard Street,” he said. “My 15 seconds offame was just being a figure on the pier as the carwhizzed by.”

Being onsite for the entertainment industry broughtEllis in contact with Hollywood celebrities. In his homein Roseburg, he has a wall filled with tributes from suchstars as John Wayne, Bob Hope, Henry Fonda, Jack Elamand Elizabeth Taylor. One memento from Burt Reynoldsis signed, “from one Burt to another.”

“When you meet the celebrities on a working basis,you discover they are just ordinary people,” Ellis said.

He worked in the movie industry for 28 years, but tiredof the Los Angeles metro area and its crowded landscape.On one occasion he was exploring the countryside whilevisiting a relative in Roseburg. Pat accompanied her hus-band, but she was more interested in seeing homes andcontacted a Realtor.

“I always wanted a hillside home,” she said. When shesaw the view of the valley from the property they endedup purchasing, she said: “This is my home.”

Her husband agreed. And so it was.It didn’t take long for Ellis to settle into the comfort-

able life of retirement. He became a member of the FleetReserve and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, but also foundhis favorite pastime, cribbage, through other players inDouglas County. Among all of Ellis’ autographed photosof celebrities, he has displayed numerous cribbage tour-nament awards, along with pinochle and bowling awards.

“I am a serious card player and bowler,” he said. His hilltop home is a photo gallery displaying memen-

tos of his military career and his movie career. But inspite of all these treasured memories, Ellis considersRoseburg as home.

Bill Duncan is editor of The Senior Times.

Ellis:CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 ADA DUNCAN

For The Senior Times

Transportation is a vital part ofour existence in this country,and we handle that part of our

life without much thought about whatwill happen to us when we lose thatability. But that dreaded moment willcome for most of us. If our childrenare living far away or tied to a job fora living, what happens when we needto go to the doctor or have run out ofmilk or bread?

That’s when volunteers become alifeline. If you want to fill that criticalneed, pick one of these options:

Dial-A-Ride drivers provide trans-portation in their own communities,to the grocery store, to doctorappointments and to senior centersfor lunch three times a week. Eachcommunity has a fleet of vehicles, sousing your own is not necessary. ForWinston, call Scott at 541-679-8706.For Sutherlin, call Donita at 541-459-242. For Reedsport, call Sam at 541-492-3917.

The VA Roseburg Healthcare Sys-tem needs drivers to take patients toand from appointments in the VA van.You will receive training and have atuberculosis test. Call Voluntary Ser-vices at 541-1000 or Sam at 541-492-3917 for requirements.

United Community Action Net-work Trans Link is looking for one ortwo full-time volunteer drivers forMedicaid transportation Mondaythrough Friday. Volunteers use theirown vehicles. Mileage reimbursementis available. For details, call Cheryl at541-440-6500 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Other places that need helpinghands include:

Sutherlin Senior Center Meals onWheels needs volunteers to delivermeals on Tuesday, Thursday and Fri-day. Duties also include dishwashing,janitorial tasks, or delivering meals tothe homebound. Sign up with Kendraat 541-459-9405 or Sam at

541-492-3917.UCAN needs helpers to coach

clients with recovery, including per-sonal finance, classes on cooking andnutrition, housekeeping responsibili-ties, as well as transporting clientswho need food boxes and assisting onthe MOVES van. Call Sam at 541-492-3917.

UCAN Food Bank is looking forvolunteers to pick up supplies fromdonors, drive the food bank truck, orput orders together for distribution inthe warehouse. Call Jeanine at 541-492-3524 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Family Care Giver Support Pro-gram is offering a two-day trainingworkshop to certify class leaders inthe Powerful Tools for Caregiving.Certified volunteers teach those skillsto family caregivers in four-hourclasses, one day a week for sixweeks. Also needed are people whocan help once a month with thenewsletter for four hours. If eitheropportunity is for you, call Nancy at541-440-3677 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Umpqua Valley Rehab and CareCenter is looking for someone to leada ceramics workshop for the residentsany day or time. The center also seeksa man who can relate to the interestsof the male residents and would liketo visit with them. For more informa-tion, call Gina at 541- 464-7108 orSam at 541-492-3917.

Douglas County Cancer Serviceswants volunteers to greet the patientsand help them with financial and per-sonal needs. Call Dodie at 541-459-1512 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Mercy Medical Center needshelpers for patients and visitors to theEmergency Room, as well as volun-teers to escort patients to their cars orpushing their wheelchairs. Shifts areany day of the week in the followingshifts: noon to 4 p.m.; 4 to 8 p.m.; 8p.m. to midnight. Call Mercy MedicalCenter at 541-677-4465 or Sam at541-492-3917 for more information.

Foster Grandparent Program volun-teers help children learn basic andsocial behavior skills. They also helpthem learn to read and to stay on task.Training as well as a tax-free stipendand mileage reimbursement are avail-able. Service is in a public school oryouth-oriented nonprofit facility andrequires 15 hours per week. ContactBerta at 541-492-3520 for moredetails.

The Umpqua Valley Arts Center islooking for volunteers on Saturdaysto greet visitors and acquaint themwith the exhibits, as well as answerphones and other tasks. Call the artscenter at 541-672-2532 or Sam at541-492-3917.

The Douglas County Library wantsvolunteers to cover new books withmylar plastic on Wednesday, Fridayor Saturday for two-hour shifts.Please call Francesca at 541-440-4314 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Wildlife Safari can use help main-taining the grounds, mowing, takingcare of weeds, planting and assistingin the greenhouse. Volunteer engi-neers are needed to drive the train.Helpers also are needed for the pet-ting zoo or maintaining exhibits. Vol-unteers choose the day and time. CallLarry at 541-679-6761, ext. 210, orSam at 541-492-3917.

Saving Grace Pet Adoption Centeris looking for a clinic assistant techni-cian from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mon-days or Thursdays. Duties includeprepping for surgery, assisting thedoctor and recovery needs. A frontoffice person to greet clients, answerphones, and other duties is also need-ed. To learn more, call Amy at 541-673-3907 or Sam at 541-492-3917.

Boy Scout Troops need your helpto coordinate and facilitate duties ofparents and other volunteers underthe direction of the Scoutmaster ordistrict leader. Commitment requiresone meeting per week from 6 to 8p.m. on Thursdays. For more infor-mation, call Sam at 541-492-3917.

Volunteer opportunities abound in Douglas County


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For more information, or for accommodationsof persons with specialneeds, please call:

541-672-8620(877) 672-8620 Toll-Free(800) 735-2900 TTYOffice hours: Monday-Friday8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Customer Service hours:Monday-Friday8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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ROSEBURGMon: Now thru Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.Elmer’s Restaurant1450 Mulholland DriveThurs: Now thru Nov. 17, and Dec. 1 at 3 p.m.ATRIO Health Plans2270 N.W. Aviation DriveSUTHERLINThurs: Nov. 10 at 12:45 p.m.Sutherlin Senior Center202 E. Central Ave.CANYONVILLEWed: Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.Seven Feathers Truck N Travel130 Creekside DriveMYRTLE CREEKFri: Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.Myrtle Creek Community Center425 N.W. 2nd Ave.

Phil Neiswanger, ATRIO memberDouglas County resident

In addition to attending third grade in1927, l was also enrolled in a privateelocution class on Saturday mornings. I

don’t think it was because my pronuncia-tion was difficult to under-stand. I think it was because apleasant lady at church decid-ed to use her talent and lighta spark of interest in some ofus young daughters of themembers so that we couldlearn to talk with clarity.

The middle-aged woman,Mrs. Butler, often gave enter-taining readings at the LadiesAid Society. The readingsconsisted of a two-character playlet, mem-orized and presented to the female audi-ence using voice changes to portray thecharacters.

When I attended a meeting with mymother, I felt embarrassed to see and hearMrs. Butler pretend to be someone otherthan herself. Soon I was drawn into thestory plot while the audience wasenthralled with her enactment. Conse-quently, a group of us girls were givenshort poems to memorize. In each class wetried to speak these words using expres-sion to satisfy the teacher. The selections

gradually became longer. My way to combat the mental stress of

memorizing was to crawl around andunder two side-by-side dining room chairs

while mother fed me a lineand I repeated it. Speakingclearly with feeling woulddevelop later.

Those weeks of toil finallyended with our performance

of reciting our individualverses into a local collegeradio microphone during aprogram one evening. Mygrandfather reported he

heard mostly static and my effort was notheard around the world.

Nowadays I am aware of how muchenergy it takes to listen to a movie or tele-vision conversations that are not clear tomy aging ears. I would like to shout out,“Speak up, slow down or repeat those mut-tered words.” To acquire patience, maybe Ishould realize most people were notpushed to attend an elocution class as Iwas.

Laura Kruse shares her memories withthe readers of The Senior Times.

Early elocution lessons had one child heard as well as seen

Laura KruseMemory Moments

Driver safetyclasses set

The Douglas County AARP Driver Safe-ty Program in November is offering threetwo-day classes and an all-day session inDouglas County.

In celebration of Veterans Day, the pro-gram is offering free classes all month toactive-duty servicemen and women, veter-ans and spouses, according to Pete Benham,district coordinator. For more information,call Benham at 541-672-1016.

A class will be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 9 and10 in Room 4 at Oakland City Hall, 637Locust St. Bette Keehley will be theinstructor. Call 541-679-9571 to register.

A class will be held from noon to 4 p.m.on Nov. 16 and 17 at Mercy CommunityEducation Center, 2459 Stewart Parkway,Roseburg. Call 541-679-9571 to register forthe class.

A class will be held from noon to 4 p.m.Nov. 28 and 29 at Linus Oaks, 2665 VanPelt Blvd., Roseburg. The instructor will beCharlotte Newkirk. Call 541-677-4800 toregister.

An all-day class will be held from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Tri City Church ofChrist, 180 Briggs Drive, Myrtle Creek.Dean Kenyon will be the instructor. Partici-pants are to bring a sack lunch. Call 541-

679-9571 to register.The driver safety course is designed for

drivers aged 50 and older; however,younger individuals may also take thecourse. You do not need to be a member ofAARP to take the course. Cost is $14 foreach participant. AARP members willreceive a $2 discount.

Oregon law requires all auto insurancecarriers to offer a discount on premiums toqualified graduates, aged 55 and older, ofapproved courses such as the AARP DriverSafety Program. To graduate, a participantmust attend both four-hour classes for thetwo-day classes and the full eight hours forthe all-day class.

Family caregivers meetings planned

Three Family Caregiver Support Groupmeetings will be held in November at vari-ous Douglas County locations. For moreinformation, contact Nancy Hudson at 541-440-3677.

The Sutherlin Family Caregivers SupportGroup will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov.10 at the Sutherlin Community Center, 150S. Willamette St.

The South County Family Caregiver Sup-port Group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m.Nov. 17 in the chapel at Forest Glen SeniorResidence, 200 S.W. Frontage Road,Canyonville.

The Winston Family Caregivers SupportGroup will meet 2 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 23 atthe Winston Community Center, WoolleyBoard Room, 440 Grape Street.

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This year, some two and a half mil-lion Americanswill die. For the

most part, we will suc-cumb to what are called“natural” causes, mean-ing from diseases ratherthan from accidents orfrom being killed by oth-ers or from taking ourown lives. Overall, thenatural causes of heartdisease and cancer willtake almost 60 percent ofus.

If we look at these statistics moreclosely and break them down by age, wefind that the causes of our demise changeas we grow older.

From the time we pass our first birth-days until we are in our mid-thirties, wedie more often from accidents than fromany other cause. The majority of theseinvolve motor vehicles.

Thereafter, and for the next 30 years,there’s a shift. Accidental death numbersof all kinds drop and cancer (lung,prostate/breast, and colon in that order)and then heart disease take over the toptwo positions.

At age 65 and from then on, heart dis-ease and cancer change places, and heartdisease becomes the number one threat toour mortality.

So what does all this mean in terms ofwhat kind of efforts we put forth to stayalive?

It would seem that if we accept whatthe experts say, the use of seat belts andrestraints cuts the risk of car accidentdeaths in half. That’s a behavior that allof us, but particularly those younger thanthe mid-30s, needs to embrace. And weseem to have gotten that message for the

most part. It is estimated that today, some83 percent of us driving or riding around

in a car are using seat belts.Not a perfect number, butcertainly a whoppingimprovement over the 15percent usage estimated just30 years ago.

Lung cancer takes morelives than breast, prostate,and colon cancer combined.Number one risk factor forlung cancer? No surprise,smoking. And we seem tohave gotten that message to

some degree since 1954, when it wasestimated that 45 percent of Americanssmoked. Today, it is down to 21 percent.

As for heart disease, which is ourgreatest enemy, both overall and forthose older than 65, we can stop pattingourselves on the back for doing such agreat job at prevention because thebehavioral risk factors for heart diseaseafter smoking are diet, physical inactivi-ty, and obesity. You have to be living onMars to not know how we are doing inthose areas.

While everything we do to stay alive isworthy to some degree, don’t you won-der — as we wipe down the shoppingcart handles with the disinfectant wipesand grab paper towels to protect ourhands from the public bathroom door-knobs and we attach water filters to ourfaucets and worry about some exotic andeven mad cow disease — are we reallygoing after what matters, or are we justexhausting ourselves?

Gloria May is a registered nurse with amaster’s degree in health education. Shealso holds a certified health educationspecialist designation.

Certain age-appropriatebehavior keeps us going

Gloria MayNurse News

NANCY HUDSONFor The Senior Times

Former first lady Rosalynn Carteronce said: “There are only four kindsof people in the world — those who

have been caregivers, those who are cur-rently caregivers, those who will be care-givers and those who will need care-givers.”

This startling statement may be a revela-tion to some, but to others it is a reality.Author Beverly Bigtree Murphy, whocared for her husband when he hadAlzheimer’s disease, has written “the greatreality of life” is that “we are all going todie someday, and although the vast majori-ty of us would choose to die in our sleep,without pain, with our family relationshipsintact, our cognitive functions in order, andable to wipe our own bottoms, the fact isfew of us will have that sort of death.”

The question is, who, exactly, is going toprovide this nurturing care?

Certainly care comes to us in the form ofdoctors, nurses, child care workers, socialworkers, home care workers, psycholo-gists, and members of the clergy.

Suzanne Mintz, president and CEO ofthe National Family Caregivers Associa-tion, asks, however, that although thesepeople provide care, are they really care-givers? She states that “family” caregiversare those individuals who provide care to aloved one who is chronically ill or dis-abled. She says further that “family care-giver” is really an umbrella term thatincludes close friends, neighbors and part-

ners, anyone who has an emotional attach-ment to the care recipient and who actslike family. In other words, family care-givers are nurturers —those people who,through a bond of love, provide a safe andcaring environment for the person in need.

National Family Caregivers Month,observed every November, is a nationallyrecognized time to focus attention to themore than 65 million family caregiverswho provide 80 percent of our nation’slong-term care services. Family caregiversnow provide more than $375 billion annu-ally in free caregiving services.

The fact is caregivers need all the helpthey can get. As you consider ways to helpthe caregiver you know, keep in mind thatsome may have a difficult time acceptinghelp, mistakenly believing they should doeverything themselves. When you contacta caregiver with your offer of help, be spe-cific.

Barry Petersen, correspondent with CBSNews and caregiver for his wife, explainsthat people in a caregiving situation some-times lose themselves. “So if you call themup and say, ‘Can I help?’, their answer isgoing to be, ‘No, I am fine.’ Call them upand say, ‘I am bringing dinner on Thursdaynight, or I’ll stay with your loved one, yougo to a movie,’ ” Barry said.

Sometimes just sending a card or mak-ing a phone call to check in on a caregiverhelps them know they are not all alone. Ofcourse, a personal visit is even better.

Nancy Hudson is the Douglas CountyFamily Caregiver Support coordinator.

Giving and receiving careis a universal experience

Lifetime passesoffered at parks

Lifetime passes to America’s nationalparks for senior citizens and Americanswith disabilities are now available throughthe mail, according to National Park Ser-vice Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

“National parks have much to offer,”Jarvis said. “They are places to share withchildren, grandchildren, and other familymembers. They facilitate recreation andhealthy living. Many parks, including Yel-lowstone, Shenandoah, and Denali, havetrails that are accessible to people withlimited mobility and to wheelchair users.We also have many accessible campingand picnic areas.”

The Senior and Access passes provideadmission to, and use of, federal recreation

sites that charge entrance or standardamenity fees. Pass users also receive a 50percent discount on some amenity fees foractivities such as camping and launching aboat. They are available to citizens andpermanent residents of the United Statesage 62 or older or who have permanentdisabilities regardless of age.

The Senior and Access versions of theAmerica the Beautiful Pass — the Nation-al Parks and Federal Recreational LandsPass — are good for a lifetime. The Accesspass is free and the Senior pass is $10.There is a $10 processing fee to receiveeither pass by the mail.

To get a Senior pass through the mail,submit a completed application, proof ofresidency and age, and $20. The fee coversthe cost of the pass and a document pro-cessing fee. You can print an applicationfrom this web site:http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html. Thepass will be mailed once the applicationpackage is received and the documentationverified.

SSEENNIIOORRSHORTS

The USA Today cover story in one ofits October editions had this head-line: “In Boston, airport security

now begins with a ‘chat.’” The pros and cons of potentially new

and contro-versialscreenings atU.S. airportsare beingevaluated. Ithought Ihad betterwrite mythoughts onthe subjectbefore myphone startsringing withquestions from fellow travelers.

What do I think? I am fine with it. I am a little concerned,

however, about the man who is training theTSA. That’s Rafi Ron, former director ofsecurity at Israel’s international airportnear Tel Aviv.

I reflect on my trip to Tel Aviv severalyears ago. I was traveling with my daugh-ter, Hilary, who was at the time living inCairo and studying Arabic. When securitypersonnel took one look at her passportfull of Arabic country stamps, she and Iwere literally hauled out of line, separatedfrom each other and each assigned aninterrogator.

The questions were not asked politely;in fact, they were screamed: “Why are youtraveling with only one backpack?” “Howcan you afford to travel such a long dis-tance from your home?” “Why are youtwo women traveling alone?” Every replyeither of us made resulted in a longer listof questions. Our separate interrogatorswould occasionally contact each other tocompare our answers, then return to ask useven more questions.

After one hour of intense questioning,we were each ushered to individual boothsand assigned female searchers who askedus to disrobe. Yes, we were strip-searched.When no contraband was found, we were

allowed to dress, and once again interro-gated for another hour with a final, in-my-face shout, “You do understand planes doget bombed.”

Hilary and I were allowed to board El AlAirlines for our flight back to Cairo, butnot allowed to sit next to each other. Dur-ing the flight, the attendants watched usvery closely.

Because Hilary and I are both seasonedtravelers, we remained calm and gave cor-rect answers. Because our answers weretrue, when the interrogators comparednotes, they received the same responsesfrom both of us. Even when they wereshouting at us, we remained pleasant.Nonetheless, it wasn’t a fun experience,and I can only imagine how a lesser-expe-rienced traveler would cope with such ver-bal abuse. I hope the training that the TSAreceives from Mr. Ron will be conductedin a more appropriate manner.

Many European airports have done “chatdowns” for quite a while. My husbandrecalls being treated poorly in a Paris air-port. The agent got right in his face anddemanded how he got to Paris, how longhe had been there and why he could speakFrench so well. On one occasion I was

strip-searched andon another enthusi-astically patteddown in the Frank-furt airport.

The TSA agents atAmsterdam’s airportdo a thorough “chat-down.” While theyare very seriousabout their ques-tions, they arerespectful. In fact,on my last transferthrough Amsterdam,the female TSAagent was soenchanted by thefact I had been trav-eling in Europe for amonth and was car-rying only one back-

pack with no luggage checked, she calledher fellow agents over. They lightheartedlyquizzed me about how to travel light andasked if I could stay in Amsterdam a fewdays to give them lessons.

I enjoy chatting with people, so if a TSAagent wants to talk, bring it on, I am ready.But I hope that while the Boston airportofficials get their training from Mr. Ron,they will also take a lesson from thePhoenix airport TSA agents. They are very

polite, helpful and kind. I am perfectly fine with full-body scan-

ning. I have had it done, and it doesn’thurt. I don’t mind taking off my shoes. Iam not crazy about my carry-on bag beingsearched only because the searchers rarelyput things back, and I like my things in mybag in an orderly fashion, but I can livewith it. In all my travels, I have found thatmost people in the world are nice people.But because of the terrorist threat and as afrequent flyer, I appreciate all safety pre-cautions.

So if you find yourself chatted, patted,stripped or scanned, try not to take any ofit personally. The agents don’t care whatthe answers to the questions are; in fact,you can refuse to answer at all and still getto travel. They are looking for behavioralclues, deception and hostility. Really, it isin our best interest to be polite, even if theagents might not be.

Travel, especially air travel these days,isn’t easy. As I always say, if you wanteverything to be perfect, you should stayhome.

Gloria Johnson is a tour conductor andworld traveler. Her next group trip is toNew York City from May 28 to June 3. Shecan be reached at [email protected] for details of the trip.


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It’s best to stay calm even when TSA agents are not

Gloria JohnsonAround the World

The Associated Press

Airport security, while sometimes an inconvenience, is bestapproached in a calm manner.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many babyboomers say they’re likely to stay put inretirement amid a shaky economy. Thosewho hope to buy a new place are lookingfor a smaller home somewhere with a bet-ter climate that’s more affordable and closeto family, a new poll finds.

The 77 million-strong generation bornbetween 1946 and 1964 is increasinglyworried about retirement and their financesin light of the economic crisis of the pastthree years. Just 9 percent say they arestrongly convinced they’ll be able to livecomfortably when they retire, according tothe Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.compoll.

Shelley Wernholm, a 47-year-old singlemother of two who works for a healthinsurance company in Cleveland, said shewanted to retire and move to a new homeby 60. But her pension was eliminated fiveyears ago, her personal investments tankedduring the recession and her home of 21years has lost more than half its value.

“I was hoping I’d be moving to a beachsomewhere, anywhere, preferably a warmone,” Wernholm said. “But I’m not mov-ing. I can’t. It’s hard to remain optimistic.”

Overall, about 6 in 10 baby boomers saytheir workplace retirement plans, personalinvestments or real estate lost value duringthe economic downturn. Of this group, 53percent say they’ll have to delay retire-ment because their nest eggs shrank.

Financial experts say those losses,including home prices that have droppedby a third nationwide over the past four

years, have left boomers anxious aboutmoving and selling their homes.

“There’s a mistrust of the real estatemarket that we didn’t have before,” saidBarbara Corcoran, a New York-based realestate consultant. “There’s a concern aboutwhether people will get money out of theirhouse. They envision the home as a prob-lem, not an asset, and this unshakablebelief in homes as a tool for retirement hasbeen shaken to the core.”

Fifty-two percent of boomers say theyare unlikely to move someplace new inretirement, unchanged from March. And 4in 10 say they are very likely to stay intheir current home throughout their retire-ment.

Older boomers are more apt to saythey’re already settled in for their goldenyears; 48 percent say it’s extremely or verylikely they’ll stay in the home they live innow throughout their retirement, comparedwith 35 percent among younger boomers.Those who’ve lived in their current homefor 20 or more years are also more likelyto say they’ll stay.

Midwestern and rural baby boomers aremore inclined to stay put, too.

Not surprisingly, higher-earningboomers who make more than $100,000 ayear are more likely to buy a new homeduring retirement.

Overall, boomers are just as likely to saythey expect to buy as rent their retirementhome: About 3 in 10 say it’s at least some-what likely they will buy, and about asmany expect to rent.

Why buy a new home? About 4 in 10 ofthose who say it’s likely they’ll buy a newhome would prefer a smaller one. Other

important considera-tions include a differ-ent, and perhapswarmer, climate (30percent); a moreaffordable home (25percent); and beingcloser to family (15percent).

Just 8 percent ofthose surveyed arelooking for a largerhome and only 10 per-cent are searching fora city with more serv-ices.

John Fortune, a 60-year-old small busi-ness owner in ScotchPlains, N.J., outsideNewark, said he’d ide-ally like to move in hisretirement years. Buthe’s unsure about thefuture and whetherhe’ll have any moneyleft over after puttingthree kids through col-lege.

“I don’t expect tofully retire,” said For-tune, who runs a busi-

ness that sharpens knives, tools and othercutlery. “It just depends on what happensto the economy. I’d like to find someplacethat is warmer and doesn’t have the hightaxes but we’ll just have to see.”

Regardless of whether they are likely tomove, boomers’ top priorities for theirretirement home is to be near their children(50 percent), not have any stairs (46 per-cent), and close to medical care (39 per-cent) and shops and services (38 percent).

Mothers were far more likely thanfathers to say that living near their childrenwas an important consideration in planningretirement housing.

When those kids have left the nest, babyboomer parents are most likely to turntheir children’s rooms into new guest bed-rooms — perhaps because 3 out of 4 saythey would prefer visiting friends and fam-ily stay with them instead of at a hotel.

Many boomers are saying they’ll keepworking during retirement: a total of 73percent in the new poll, compared with 67percent in March. That’s more than in anyother generation.

Sherry Wise, a 53-year-old agriculturaleconomist in Lorton, Va., a suburb ofWashington, said she is worried she willhave to work well into her 60s and beyondin order to continue paying her mortgage,keep up an investment property in NewMexico and look after her two daughters.

“The one thing I know is that you can’tcount on anything anymore. This economyhas gotten so screwed up,” Wise said.“We’re just going to try to earn as muchmoney as possible.”


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Many boomers expect to retire where they are


Pamela Blackburn and her husband, Charles, stroll past their home in Danville, Ky.

The News-Review discontinued oneof my favorite cartoon strips,“Tiger,” drawn by Bud Blake and

featuring a scrappy group ofneighborhood pals, a mix ofboys and girls. I enjoyed thatcomic strip. It was about sixtypical pals and Stripe, Tiger’sfaithful, lazy, ever-present spot-ted mutt.

The characters were Tiger,his younger brother, Punkinheadand Hugo, Tiger’s redheadedbest friend, and Julian, thebespectacled neighborhoodbookworm. And who could for-get Bonnie, the pushy, wisecracking girland soft-spoken Suzy with her black leo-tards and white Mary Jane shoes.

Blake died at age 85 in 2005, but thecomic strip continued with reprints fromold cartoon strips. Eventually The News-Review dropped the strip and I had to dowithout my favorite character, Tiger.

The cartoon I cherished most was about

autumn, when Hugo was raking up theleaves. Halfway between his house and theneighbor stood a tall tree. The tree was on

Hugo’s side of the prop-erty, but its limbs spreadover into the propertynext door. The girl nextdoor stood on the fencethat separated the twoyards. In a snooty toneof voice she shouted:

“When you get donethere, come over here andrake up the leaves.”

Hugo replied: “I will, when you give

back the shade you hadall year.”

I laughed so hard that the tears rolleddown my cheeks. I clipped the cartoon outof The News-Review and I still have it.

Ronald K. Culbertson, the retired CEOof Umpqua Bank, shares his musings withthe readers of The Senior Times.

Dear Reader,My grandson, Paul, and I have

been making five-finger turkeys forour Thanksgiving table. Each turkey has aspace in the middle to put aname. I’ll be using themfor place cards at the table.

Paul patiently holds hishand still on the paperwhile I trace an outline.Then he adorns the fingerswith feathers, an eye thatjiggles or winks on the topof the thumb (feather), addssome extra design withcrayons, and voila! — aturkey ready to strut its stuff at the table.

I’m an advance planner when it comes

to holidays. In addition to starting on thetable decorations, I’ve started planning mymenu, too. Cooking for a holiday. All ofour family is getting together, including

my husband’s brother, Jim,who’s flying in from NewYork.

So the sooner I begin plan-ning, the longer I have tosavor and anticipate the bigday.

I will be using my very spe-cial recipe for Crock PotDressing as part of the fami-ly’s traditional Thanksgiving

dinner.Here is my recipe:

Crock Pot Dressing1 cup butter or margarine, melted 2 cups chopped onion2 cups chopped celery1/4 cup parsley (fresh or dried)2 cups canned mushrooms, drained 2 eggs, beaten3 1/2 to 4 1/2 cups chicken broth (or

enough to moisten well)13 cups cubed dry bread1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning2 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons sage1 teaspoons thyme1 teaspoon pepper1/2 teaspoon marjoramMelt butter or margarine in large frying

pan and sauté onion and celery until soft.

Mix with remaining ingredients and tosswell. Place in large crock pot.

Cover. Cook on high for 45 minutes,then turn to low and continue cooking forsix to eight hours.

It’s great and never dry.Thanks for reading with me. It’s so good

to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher provides the onlinebook club for the Douglas County Librarysponsored by The Senior Times in cooper-ation with the Friends of the Library.Nationwide the book club has 350,000members. To learn more about the bookclub [email protected] or thelibrary branch nearest you.


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A dressing recipe that could start a Thanksgiving tradition

Suzanne BeecherCommentary

‘Tiger’ always ready toturn over new leaf

Support groupsset for bereaved

A Bereavement Support Group willmeet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the chapel ofthe Main Building at Linus Oakes, 2665N.W. Van Pelt, Roseburg. The support

group will also meet on Nov. 22 at thesame time and location. Call 541-677-2384 for more information.

A support group luncheon is plannedfrom 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16 atKaren’s Coffee Cup, 2445 N.E. DiamondLake Blvd., Roseburg. Call 541-677-2384for more information.

An ongoing grief support group meetsfrom 10 to 11:30 p.m. each Monday inConference Room C, Mercy Medical Cen-ter, 2700 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg. Call541-677-4810 for more information.

SSEENNIIOORRSHORTS

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Even though it is one of the mostnutritious vegetables with powerfulantioxidants, most people don’t reg-

ularly eat kale. Perhaps that’s because ofkale’s ratherdistinct flavor(it is, after all, amember of thecabbage family)or just becauseit is green. Theextraordinarynutrient densi-ty puts kale atthe top of thelist of mostrecommendedvegetables.

Kale is high in beta carotene, absorbablecalcium, vitamins C and B6, potassiumand manganese, as well as folic acid. It isalso available almost year-round, as it is ahardy plant that will keep producing newleaves far into the winter. Some think thatkale tastes best in winter after frosts haveencouraged the leaves to produce moresugars.

One easy and delicious way to prepare

kale is by braising it with garlic and onion.Just sauté a couple of chopped garliccloves and half an onion in a littleolive oil until theonion is soft andcaramelized.While the garlicand onion arecooking, rinsethe kale toremove thebits of dirt.

Then

remove the tough center stem either with asharp knife, or by pulling the stem. Thekale leaf should come off with little effort.Roughly chop the kale, then add handfulsto the skillet of sautéed onion to finishbraising.

The bits of water left on the kale isenough to braise the kale. Add a pinch of

salt and some red pepper flakes, if youlike. A splash of balsamic

vinegar is also a nicetouch. Any leftovercooked kale can beadded to mashed

potatoes,includedin an

omelet,oraddedto abean

soup.Another,

more interest-ing, way to prepare kale is

to make kale chips. This is eveneasier than skillet braising kale. I’ve

found that substituting Swiss chard for thekale also works nicely. Enjoy!

Nancy Goodale Graham is a registereddietitian at Cardiovascular Wellness andRehabilitation at Sacred Heart MedicalCenter at RiverBend in Springfield.

Nutritious kale’s distinctive taste can be enhanced

NancyGoodale-Graham

Nutrition

Creative Commons

KKaallee CChhiippss

1 bunch (4 to 5 cups) kale1 tablespoon olive oil1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 (or less) teaspoon red pepper

flakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.With a sharp knife, remove the stem of

the kale leaf. Wash the leaves, then drythoroughly. The drying can be easily donein a salad spinner. Stack the dried leavesand cut them into pieces about 3 incheslong and 2 inches wide.

You can transfer the leaves to a medi-um mixing bowl or just pile them onto alarge baking sheet. Add the olive oil, salt,and red pepper flakes, if desired. Withyour hands, toss the leaves to coat withthe oil and seasonings. The leaves shouldglisten a bit.

Place the kale in a single layer on thebaking sheet, giving the leaves plenty ofroom to roast. Cook for eight to 10 min-utes, or until crispy. Watch closely to pre-vent burning. Remove from the oven andenjoy.

One of my recent articles addressedthe situation that arises when a giftunder a will is to go to a certain

charitable entity, such as a local religiousschool, and that school is closed or nolonger exists after thedeath of the donor. Insuch a situation, a courtmay direct a differentvesting of such legacy,unless the donor hasspecified an alternativerecipient in such event.

What would beinvolved in changing aperson’s will to specifythat a donation would goto a particular charitableorganization?

This can be easily accomplished throughpreparation of a codicil to the person’sexisting will. A codicil is an addition to ora qualification of a person’s last will andtestament. A codicil typically adds to oramends one or two limited portions of anexisting will. In Oregon a codicil must beexecuted and witnessed with the same for-malities as a will. However, in many cases,it is a quicker and cheaper alternative thanredrafting a person’s entire will.

In the case of providing for a charitable

donation, such an amendment to a will canbe accomplished through the use of a codi-cil.

Another example of a situation where acodicil could be used would be to attach a

condition on a particulardevisee’s inheritance, a condi-tion under which unpaid loansfrom the decedent to thatdevisee be deducted from thatdevisee’s inheritance. Adevisee is someone named as abeneficiary in a will. Codicilsare also often used to change arepresentative named in a will,such as when the original rep-resentative has passed away orbecome incapacitated.

Codicils can be prepared more than oncefor the same will and are typically referredto as “first codicil,” “second codicil,” etc.However, if too many different clauses ofa will become encumbered by codicils, thewill becomes confusing and unwieldy. Atthat point it is usually more efficient to doa new will.

Bruce R. Coalwell is a Roseburg attor-ney who writes about elder law for TheSenior Times.

Where there’s a will,there’s a way to amend it

Bruce CoalwellElder Law

‘Marilyn is Moving” is a storyabout a little girl who is mov-ing, a learning subject for

children inthis mobilesociety. Iread thisbook to mygreat-grand-daughter,Neilsenna,who likes totravel. Whenshe listenedto the adven-tures of Marilyn, she thought it must beexciting to have so many different placesto choose when you are buying a newhouse. However, Neilsenna would rathervisit and then return home.

At first Marilyn objected to moving andleaving her friends behind. She argued,saying she didn’t want to move. Marilynbecame melancholy and cried and criedover the prospect of change. She loved liv-ing in her Cape Cod home with a whiteside porch swing. But Marilyn soonlearned that when your home is sold, youcan’t change anything and you must goalong with the plan. Her mom persuadedher it would be exciting and fun. Finally,Marilyn liked the idea and began lookingand searching for a new home with herparents.

There were places by the sea called bun-galows. They looked at a duplex, but theneighbors next door played music and thedrumbeats actually shook the floor.

Her dad liked a log cabin nestled deeplyin the woods. But Marilyn and Mom want-ed to look some more. Mom fell in lovewith a beautiful two-story Tudor. Dad andMarilyn thought the house didn’t suit theirfancy. Marilyn wanted a candy-covered

house of gingerbread. Sometimes she evenmentioned living in a shoe. This searchcould go on forever, and the family had todecide what to do.

Their adventure took them to a down-town location, but Marilyn rejected theidea because it would mean she’d be in adifferent school.

They all thought that a Victorian-stylehouse Marilyn’s Mom loved would bequite nice.

Oh, where, oh where, will Marilyn’snew home be? You’ll have to read thebook to find out.

Children have special friends and

schools they don’t want to leave, familiarfaces and familiar places. Reading thebook about Marilyn will give children aninsight that can be helpful if they too aremoving.

The book takes the reader through all thestages a child feels — anger, objection,and general opposition. The illustrations,done by the author, are delightful, withbright colors and cartoon characters. Thebooks ends on a happy note that childrenwill approve.

Irene Agapion-Palamaris is a real estatebroker who sees life in cartoon form. Overthe last 22 years, she has assisted in therelocation of thousands of families. Inaddition to being a housing advocate, sheand her husband, George, support manychildren’s organizations. A portion of theproceeds from the sale of the book aredonated to Habitat for Humanity.

Della Neavoll is the Reading Grandmawho reviews children’s books.


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Online genealogical research is funand often rewarding, but there isnothing that com-

pares with personallyspending time in yourancestors’ backyard.Recently my son, Ken,visited the town where hisgreat-great-grandfatherhad lived.

While at that stop, mygrandson, Paul, called toask for some family infor-mation. He said the familywas in the Bitterroot Genealogical Societyin Hamilton, Mont., and had found thenewspaper obituary of my great-uncle,Frank. From that source I discovered amissing fact in my own research — thename of Frank’s wife.

This is an important lesson in genealogi-cal research. Genealogy is like solving a

murder mystery. Often it is the little cluefound that fills in the blank. Never assume

you have all the facts with thefirst, second or maybe eventhird go-around.

This is especially true whenspending time in a historicalsociety. They are wonderfulplaces full of intrigue, andthey are constantly adding to

their collections. Most of themdo not have their holdingsonline thus their records arenot available unless you actual-

ly pay a visit. This method of research isdifferent from an online experience.Knowing your ancestors lived in the samearea often gives a surreal feeling. You canalmost feel their presence.

A historical society is a place that gath-ers and houses information of a localnature. Newspapers, photos, school, mili-

tary and cemetery records can be foundthere. Biographies, naturalization requestsand more are collected and stored therealso. Anything relating to the history of thearea is preserved. Local history books areusually available to view, if not to buy.And there are people who know the areaand can offer tidbits of information notavailable in any other way.

Most societies must have income inorder to keep their doors open, so there arecharges for services. The personal are usu-ally very helpful, but the legwork is yours.Actually it is more fun that way and youmay spot information they may havemissed. No one knows what you are look-ing for better than you.

If you plan to travel to an area whereyour ancestors lived, you will want to dosome homework. First, does the area havea historical society? Cyndislist.com hasquite a few listed. Go to the site, choose

categories, scroll down and click on “soci-eties & groups,” then choose the town ofinterest from an alphabetical list. Fromthere, you will find the website for thattown’s society.

Be sure to note the address, directions,phone number or name of contact personand take it all with you. And, of course,take what you know about the person fromwhom you are seeking more information.Computer genealogy programs, laptopsand zip drives make this easy to do.

Be prepared to share the informationyou have gathered with the historical soci-ety you visit.

Maybe you will leave some clues tosomeone else’s family history.

• Beverly Wellington is director of theRoseburg Family History Center. For moreinformation about the Family History Cen-ter, call 541-672-1237.

Do your homework before leaving for field research

Beverly WellingtonFamily Tree

Moving can be a daunting adventure for children

Della NeavollReading Grandma

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Medicare prescriptionsavings pass $1B markWASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare says

seniors with high prescription costs havesaved more than $1 billion thanks to thenew health care law.

President Barack Obama’s health careoverhaul provides Medicare recipients inthe coverage gap called the “doughnuthole” with a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs this year, and a smaller breakon generics. The discounts graduallyincrease until the coverage gap closes in2020.

Officials said Friday about 2 millionpeople with Medicare saved more than$1.2 billion on prescriptions through theend of September, averaging $550 per per-son.

The biggest category accounting for thesavings was diabetes medications. Choles-terol drugs and medications for asthma andother lung diseases came next.

Next year, seniors will get the same 50percent discount on brand drugs, and abigger one on generics.


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F O R C O M P L E T E FA M I LYE Y E C A R E S E E U S

PALATKA, Fla. (AP) — In this sleepy,riverside town in northeast Florida, 86-year-old Betty Wills sees the advertise-ments of obstetricians and gynecologists onthe main road’s billboards and has foundspecialists ranging from cardiologists tosurgeons in the phone book.

But there’s not a single geriatrician — adoctor who specializes in treating the elder-ly — in all of Putnam County, where a fifthof the county’s 74,000 people are seniors.

“I looked,” Wills said. “I didn’t findone.”

It’s a nationwide shortage and it’s goingto get worse as the 70 million members ofthe baby-boom generation — those now 46to 65 — reach their senior years over thenext few decades.

The American Geriatrics Society saystoday there’s roughly one geriatrician forevery 2,600 people 75 and older. Without adrastic change in the number of doctorschoosing the specialty, the ratio is projectedto fall to one geriatrician for every 3,800older Americans by 2030. Compare that topediatricians: there is about 1 for every1,300 Americans under 18.

Geriatricians, at their best, are medicine’sunsung heroes. They understand how anolder person’s body and mind work differ-ently. They listen more but are paid lessthan their peers. They have the skills toalleviate their patients’ ailments and living

fuller, more satisfied lives. Though not every senior needs a geriatri-

cian, their training often makes them thebest equipped to respond when an olderpatient has multiple medical problems.Geriatricians have expertise in areas thatgeneral internists don’t, including thechanges in cognitive ability, mood, gait,balance and continence, as well as the

effects of drugs on older individuals.But with few doctors drawn to the field

and some fleeing it, the disparity betweenthe number of geriatricians and the popula-tion it serves is destined to grow evenstarker.

“We’re an endangered species,” said Dr.Rosanne Leipzig, a renowned geriatricianat Mount Sinai Medical Center in NewYork.

Geriatricians rank among the lowest-paidmedical specialties, with a median salary of$183,523 last year, according to the Med-ical Group Management Association,which tracks physician pay. That soundslike a lot, but many other specialties paytwo or three times more, while the averagedoctor graduates with $160,000 in studentloan debt.

Just 56 percent of first-year fellowshipslots in geriatrics were filled last academicyear, according to a University of Cincin-nati study, while the number physicians onstaff at U.S. medical schools’ geriatric pro-grams has generally been trending down-ward.

Many young doctors aren’t receivingeven basic training in caring for olderpatients. Only 56 percent of medical stu-dents had clinical rotations in geriatrics in2008, according to the study.

Various efforts around the country haveaimed to increase both those choosing the

geriatrics specialty and the level of trainingall doctors get in treating older patients.

The federal health overhaul law alsoincludes a number of provisions aimed atincreasing geriatric care. Last year, underthe law, 85 grants totaling $29.5 millionfunded a range of geriatrics training pro-grams for doctors, dentists, mental healthprofessionals and other medical workers.

For now, though, the shortage continues. “The shifting demographics is causing

other primary care physicians to focusmore on frail older adults but they do nothave the training or experience to managecomplex older adults with multiple chronicdiseases,” said Dr. Peter DeGolia, directorof the Center for Geriatric Medicine at Uni-versity Hospitals Case Medical Center inCleveland.

Karen Roberto, director of the Center forGerontology at Virginia Tech, said doctorswho aren’t trained in geriatrics might havea tendency to discount an older person’sproblems as normal symptoms of aging,when in fact they can be treated. Shereceives calls from people around the statelooking for geriatricians, but oftentimescan’t offer a recommendation.

“Going from specialist to specialist is notthe answer,” she said. “Older adults needproviders with comprehensive knowledgeof their problems and concerns.”

Boomers’ aging drawing attention to geriatrics shortage


Dr. Brian Kiedrowski, right, walks withpatient Victoria Cohen, 100, in Miami.


Pam Speta, AAMS®Financial Advisor.

2510 NW Edenbower Blvd Ste136Roseburg, OR 97471541-957-5225

www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

SILENCE MAY BE GOLDEN,BUT NOT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR ESTATE.

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A local estate-planning attorney also will be available to answer your questions.

Date: November 10, 2011Time: 6:30 PMLocation: Roseburg Country Club 5051 Garden Valley Road Roseburg, OR 97471RSVP: Sue or Linda 541-957-5225 or email [email protected] [email protected]

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Call today to reserve space for yourself and a guest at this free educational seminar.

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Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should contact a qualified tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.

It is easy to become absorbed in ourproblems, punishing or feeling sorry forourselves. But what I find more often

than not is there is always someone who isin a worse predicament.And when you are at yourlowest, they tend to appearwith a healthy dose of per-spective.

A case in point is myson’s experience a fewweeks ago. He, like manyOregonians, has been outof work for more than ayear and a half, save for aseasonal job. He hasapplied to dozens of places,some more than once, been on severalinterviews and job fairs. He does somecomputer technical work when he can findit, he accompanies on the piano and otherodd jobs to get by. It has been very dis-couraging and demoralizing.

One day he gave a co-worker a lift homeafter one of his out-of-town jobs. Thewoman was hoping they would makeenough in tips so she could buy her son abirthday gift. They didn’t. She began totell my son the challenges of being a singlemom in this economy. She faced losingeverything if she didn’t find steady worksoon. She cried as she told her story andmy son listened, admittedly uncomfortableas most men are when a woman cries. Hedidn’t really know the woman that well,and here she was pouring her heart out inthe front seat of his car.

“Mom,” he told me, “It made me realizehow really blessed I am.”

I found that odd since he is in a similarsituation. His daughter turned 2, and theywere unable to afford a big birthday partyfor her. His sister and I put together a cakeand some balloons and made a veryimpromptu party at Great-grandma’shouse. It was perfect for a 2-year-old.

I reminded him that his situation was notthat different from the co-worker. Helooked at me and for the first time, I sawmy son as a man.

“But I have family,” he said. During the Depression of the 1930s,

family life changed dramatically. Womenfound it easier to find work than men.Families moved in together. Childrenworked. They would eat mashed potatoesfor breakfast and lard sandwiches with abit of sugar for lunch. In his essay on the

Great Depression, Peter Filene wrote abouta farm woman in Berea, N.C., who saidthey didn’t have money for stamps, so theywould put the letter in the mail box along

with two eggs. That is whenfirst-class postage was 3cents.

So yes, there is reason tobe grateful and feel blessedeven in the worst of times.What impressed me themost was that my son recog-nized the blessing of family.It is easy to overlook or takefor granted those we seeevery day or whom weexpect to always be there

when we need them.Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night talk show

host, recently talked to kids about politics.He asked the kids several questions aboutbeing president of the United States. Hethen asked them to which party theybelonged. The number one answer was“family.” Jimmy chided the kids by tellingthem he was a member of the BirthdayParty and they ate cake, but the kidsremained steadfast in their Family Party,despite the temptation of sugary treats.

Kimmel also asked if the kids wereunemployed. At first they were unclearabout the meaning of the word, until Kim-mel explained it meant they had no job.The response again was unwavering.

“At home, I set the table for dinner,”said one little girl, and another quicklyagreed. One little boy said he kept a smallbox of stuff that he and his sister collected.The two sold the items in the box and thenhid the money. All agreed that in one wayor another, their job was helping the fami-ly.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Inthe broad sense, we are all family. Bless-ings also come in different forms: a des-perate person who needs our help, settingthe table for dinner or stashing a little extracash for a rainy day. Recognizing theblessings of family can often be quite chal-lenging. When we sit down this Thanks-giving, look around the table and see ifyou recognize any of your blessings.That’s what a wise grandma would do.

Eularee Smith is the grandmother of six,a teacher and executive director a UpStartCrow children’s therapy theater in Eugene.

Cheer up, there are always peopleworse off than you

Eularee SmithWise Grandma

CHICAGO (AP) — Assisted living maybe in your future.

That may not be an ideal scenario formost retirees, given its association with aloss of independence. But it’s becomingreality for many as living in retirement fordecades becomes more common.

There are close to a million residents insome 38,000 assisted living facilitiesacross the country, according to theDepartment of Health and Human Ser-vices. That population is expected to soaras the number of retired baby boomerscontinues to grow.

But even before their own retirement,many boomers are having to deal withplacing elderly parents in an assisted livingor other type of care facility. That meansit’s time to do some homework on this res-idential option — an intermediate stepbetween independent living and nursinghome care — and in many cases to castaside preconceived ideas.

“The name has a connotation of ‘I can’tlive by myself any more,”’ says EllenEichelbaum, a Northport, N.Y.-basedgerontologist whose company, TheSpeakEasy Group, consults on agingissues. “But an assisted living facility pro-vides a lot of the social and security issuesthat seniors are worried about.”

It takes away the burden of having tocare for your home and allows you to bepart of a community, she says. And if you

don’t feel well, help is just a button away.“You can still be near your kids,”

Eichelbaum says. “You can still go foodshopping, you can go to the movies. Youjust won’t have the burden of your house.”

Here are some things you should knowabout assisted living facilities.

WHAT THEY AREAssisted living facilities are residential

communities that offer different levels ofhealth or personal care services for seniorswho want or need help with some dailyactivities — anything from cooking totransportation to dressing and bathing.

What they’re not is nursing homes thataddress major medical needs. They aredesigned to provide a home-like setting forresidents who want to live independentlywith minimal assistance.

WHO LIVES THEREThe average age of residents in assisted

living facilities in 2009 was about 87,according to the National Center forAssisted Living, an organization represent-ing long-term care providers. Three-quar-ters of the residents are female. They stayat the assisted living residence for an aver-age of about 28 months, and the majoritythen move on to a nursing facility.

SERVICES PROVIDEDServices offered vary widely but typical-

ly include 24-hour emergency care, somemedical services and help with medica-tions, limited assistance with personalcare, meals, housekeeping, laundry, trans-portation and recreational activities. Largefacilities may have private apartments aswell as shared and private rooms.

FIRST STEPSAARP suggests checking with a state or

local agency on aging, the yellow pages,the Assisted Living Federation of Americaand the American Association of Homesand Services for the Aging, as well as withfriends, neighbors and books on retire-ment.

If looking on behalf of your parents,check your own local neighborhoods first.Most residents of assisted living facilitiesin urban areas who have children livewithin five to seven miles of them, accord-ing to Eichelbaum.

FINANCESThe cost of assisted living facilities

varies greatly depending on size, locationand services. The median rate for a privateroom is $3,261 a month, or just over$39,000 a year, according to GenworthFinancial Inc., which compiles an annualcosts survey among long-term care serviceproviders. If you need a home health aideon top of that, the median cost nationwideis $19 an hour.

Neither Medicare nor health insurancepolicies pay for assisted living. Medicaidcovers only some services, and not inevery facility or every state.

Long-term care insurance may covermost of the costs, depending on your poli-cy. But if you haven’t bought coveragewell ahead of time, you may not be eligi-ble and able to afford it.

AARP says four out of five residentspay for assisted living out of pocket. Veter-

ans who need assistance can qualify for upto $1,949 a month if married, $1,644 ifsingle or $1,055 for surviving spousesthrough the Aid and Attendance Pension.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONThere are three basic types of living

options for seniors as they age: independ-ent living, assisted living and skilled nurs-ing. To avoid needing to move every timemore assistance is needed, continuing careretirement communities are worth consid-ering. They offer a variety of services forall three levels within one community. Butthis tiered approach is expensive. Entrancefees can range from $100,000 to $1 mil-lion, and monthly charges can range from$3,000 to $5,000, increasing as needschange.

ADVANCE PREPARATIONSDo the research before you have an

immediate need. Having an idea of thecost and availability of options in yourcommunity is essential. If local facilitiesaren’t appropriate or affordable, it may beworth considering relocating to a commu-nity with one that fits you or your parentsbetter.

It’s probably too late for your elderlyparents to obtain long-term care insurance,but getting it for yourself in your 50s orearly 60s is an important step to financeyour own future care in an assisted livingfacility or elsewhere.

Getting siblings to agree ahead of timeto a plan for an aging parent and how tofinance it is important too, says AmyGoyer, AARP’s family expert. “If you waituntil the crisis time, often the burden justfalls on who’s closest,” she says. “That canbe much harder and unfair for some familymembers.”


Assisted living options: What you need to know

Pre-op classes scheduled

A total hip replacement pre-operativeeducation class will be held from 3 to 4:30p.m. Nov. 8 at Mercy Community Educa-tion Center, 2459 Stewart Parkway, Rose-burg. Call 541-677-4546 to register and formore information.

In addition, a class on the same topicmeets from 3 to 4:30 p.m. the secondWednesday of each month at the samelocation. Call 541-677-4546 for moreinformation.

Sleep apnea group gathers

A.W.A.K.E. , a sleep apnea supportgroup, will hold its semiannual meetingfrom 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in Room 1and 2 of Mercy Community EducationCenter, 2459 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg.Call 541-677-4314 for more information.

Blood pressurescreening offered

The Mercy Medical Center Auxiliaryprovides free blood pressure screenings onthe following days times and locations:

• Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rose-burg Valley Mall

• Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dou-glas County Central Family YMCA

• Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Wal-mart

For more information, call 541-677-4464.

SSEENNIIOORRSHORTS


1970 W. Harvard Ave • Roseburg541-672-2500

www.riverviewterrace.com

Elegant RiversideRetirement Community

Pancakes with bacon or sausage, juice and coffee

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Thank you for your service.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s flu vaccinetime again — and some lucky shot-seekerswill find that the needle has shrunk.

The first flu shot that works with a less-scary skin prick instead of an inch-longneedle is hitting the market this fall. Sorrykids, this option so far is just for adults,and it’s so brand-new that it will take somesearching to find a dose.

But there are plenty of the other varieties— standard shots, a special high-dose shotfor seniors and the needle-free squirt-in-the-nose option — to go around. At least166 million doses of flu vaccine areexpected to be produced this year.

The big question is whether people willget it. Usually each year’s flu vaccinevaries from the previous versions as differ-ent influenza strains emerge. This year, thevaccine’s a duplicate because the three flustrains that sickened people last winter stillare circulating.

Scientific studies aren’t clear about howmuch a person’s immunity wanes over ayear, although it varies by age and overallhealth. But federal health officials and theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics weighedthe evidence and say don’t skip this year’svaccination — it’s the only way to be sureyour immune system remains revvedenough for the best protection.

“You’re not going to be able to count onthat vaccine protecting you throughout a

second season,” says Dr. Lisa Grohskopfof the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention.

A yearly vaccination now is recom-mended for virtually everyone, exceptbabies younger than 6 months and peoplewith severe allergies to the eggs used tomake it. Last year, 49 percent of childrenand 41 percent of adults were vaccinated.

Say you never catch the flu? You couldbe a carrier, unknowingly spreading themisery when you feel little more than a

sniffle, says Dr. WilliamSchaffner of Vanderbilt Uni-versity, president of theNational Foundation for Infec-tious Diseases.

“You should be vaccinatedeach and every year to ensureboth you’re protected andyou’re giving the maximumprotection to people aroundyou,” he says.

Here are some questions andanswers about flu vaccina-tions:

Q: How does the new skin-deep vaccine work?

A: Sanofi Pasteur’s FluzoneIntradermal uses a needle lessthan a tenth of an inch long toinject vaccine just below theskin’s surface. This layer,called the dermis, is so rich in

a certain type of immune cell that the newshot uses a lower dose of the same vaccinethat’s in regular flu shots. Studies found ittriggered as much protection as full-strength muscle shots — although it didcause more skin reactions like redness,swelling and itching. There’s little data onpain perception.

But it’s only for 18- to 64-year-olds. Ithasn’t been studied in children’s more-ten-der skin. Sanofi estimates it will sell less

than 1 million doses this year while intro-ducing the newly approved product to doc-tors, before a full market launch next fluseason.

Q: For older adults, does CDC recom-mend the high-dose shot?

A: The immune system weakens withage so that it doesn’t respond as well to anordinary flu shot. Sanofi’s Fluzone High-Dose is a standard into-the-muscle shot butit contains four times the usual dose, tospur more immune response in people 65and older. First sold last year, studies stillare under way to track if that translatesinto fewer illnesses and hospitalizations. Itcan cause more of the typical flu-shot sideeffects. The CDC says it’s OK for seniorsto choose either a high-dose shot or theregular shots from a variety of manufactur-ers.

Q: Who’s at highest risk from the flu?A: Young children, anyone 50 or older,

anyone with chronic medical conditionssuch as asthma and certain heart or kidneyproblems, and pregnant women. A flu vac-cination during pregnancy has the addedbenefit of passing some protection to thebaby.

Q: When should I get vaccinated?A: Anytime, but it takes about two

weeks for protection to kick in. Flu typi-cally starts circulating around November,and peaks around January.

Time for flu shots, and some may get a tiny needle


George Eberhardt, 107, of Chester, N.J., is givenhis annual flu shot by nurse Bettie Donnelly inMendham, N.J., last month.


Jon-Marc Weston, MD, FACSSteven Tronnes, OD, FAAO

• Cataracts• Glaucoma

• Macular Degeneration• Dry Eyes / Low Vision

Medicare Assignment Accepted | Certified Ambulatory Surgical Facility

2435 NW KLINE, ROSEBURG

541.672.2020

Douglas County’s Specialists in:

“I’ve never seen a more skilled ophthalmologist than Dr.Weston.”

Retired Roseburg

ophthalmologist John

Unruh was back in the

operating room recently,

this time as a patient

of Dr. Jon-Marc Weston.

“I’ve observed cataract

procedures all over the

world, and I’ve never

seen a better surgeon,”

Unruh said. “I now

have perfect vision!”

When asked about

operating on Unruh,

Weston said, “During his

career, Unruh was the

fi rst in Oregon to perform

modern cataract surgery.

It is now considered the

standard of care, and it

was an honor to restore

his vision using the

technology he pioneered.”

Documents

News-Review Senior Times November 2011