The Best of Times March 2010

� March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Urgent NeedMinorillnessorinjury(notlife-threateningrequiringemergencyroom)

PrimarydoctornotavailableDon’thaveaprimarydoctor

ConvenienceTwolocations–ShreveportandBossierCityDaily,7a.m.to7p.m.ZipPassonlineregistrationLabandX-rayon-siteCommonlyprescribedmedicationson-site

ReputationPartofWillis-KnightonHealthSystemTop-notchdoctorsCertifiedUrgentCare–UrgentCareAssociationofAmerica

Caring for Adults and Children7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daily

Shreveport1666 East Bert Kouns(In the clock building

just west of Youree Drive)

(318) 212-3520

Bossier2300 Hospital Drive

(In Medical Office Building II, west of

WK Bossier Health Center)

(318) 212-7520

Save Time – Register onlinewkquickcare.com

March 2010 � The Best Of Times


March CcntentsBRIEFly

8 News & Info

10 Eat Like Your Life Depends On It

12 Medical News & Info

dEpaRtmEnts14 Is There a Doctor in the House? SuddenCardiacArrestvsHeartAttack

16 Special Report Medigap:WhenYouHavetheRight toBuy

advIcE18 Marci’s Medicare Answers Colonoscopies,SkilledNursingFacility

Payment,andMedicareCoverage

20 Money Mattersby Jason Alderman DemystifyingCreditScores

22 Laws of the Landby Lee Aronson HomeownersInsuranceWarning

24 From the Benchby Judge Jeff Cox WhyDoIHavetoServeonaJury?

32 Dear Pharmacistby Suzy Cohen Eye-LovingNutrientsCanSaveYour

Sight

34 Consumer’s Cornerby Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell AvoidMedicalIdentityTheft

36 Moving Free with Mirabai by Mirabai Holland TheSkinnyonYourHiddenFat

FEatuRE27 CouncilsonAgingGettothe

HEARToftheMatter by Amanda Newton TheCouncilsonAgingofferawiderange

ofservicesthatmakeatremendousdiffer- enceinthequalityoflifeforareaseniors andtheirfamilies.

columns38 Profile in Pizzazzby Amanda Newton “TheAntiques”ProvideMusicandaLot

ofFun

40 Traveltizersby Andrea Gross TravelingtheWorldWithoutaPassport

42 The Bookworm by Terri Schlichenmeyer “Elvis:MyBestMan”byGeorgeKlein

withChuckCrisafulli

43 Weather Facts for Thought by Al Bolton

45 American Life in Poetry by Ted Kooser “Marginalia”byDeborahWarren

In EvERy IssuE44 What’s Cooking? SavortheFlavorsoftheMediterranean

46 Get Up & Go! Afullmonth’scalendarofplacestogo

andthingstodo

48 Our Famous Puzzle Pages Crossword,Sudoku,andaspecialMarch

WordSearchPuzzle

50 Gold Pages ResourceDirectoryofbusinesses,services, andorganizationsfor“thoseofus50+”

52 The Best of Times & RSVP Salute by Linda Mullican

VolunteeroftheMonthLinda Smallwood

53 Parting Shots Fantasticphotosoffabulousfolks

on the cover

Cover Design:Jessica Rinaudo

Cover Photo:Teresa Micheels

CCOA staff member Deloris Bowers delivers a meal to Alice Myers.

Asalways,Februaryhasbeenablurofactiv-ity.ButIdidslowdownenoughtomarvelattheathletesparticipatingintheVancouverOlympicGamesandtohavealittlefuninthesnowhereathome.

ButI’mdefinitelyasoutherngirlwhopreferswarmweather,soIfindmyselfdaydream-ingaboutfun,faroffplaces.Ifyoutoosufferfromwanderlust,makesuretoseethismonth’sTraveltizershighlightingdomesticplaceswithaninternationalflairorexperiencetheflavorsoftheMediterraneanwithoneofourrecipes.

We’reespeciallyproudthismonthtohonortheCouncilsonAgingandtheirtirelesseffortstoimprovethelivesofolderadults.Youdon’twanttomissAmandaNewton’sinsightfulcenterspreadfeatureofthisremarkableagency.

Onasadnote,pleasejoinusinextendingsympathytothefamilyofMariaLorickwhorecentlypassedawayfollowingacourageousbattlewithovariancancer.Long-timeread-erswillrememberMariaastheformereditorofSenior Scene News(nowThe Best of Times).

Haveawonderfulmonth!~Tina


ExpEriEncE living inaffordablE luxury

24/7 security and staffed gatehouse

Choose from 17 apartment floor plans, many with lake views

Dining options including bistro, fine dining and al fresco dining on the terrace

Housekeeping and linen service

Concierge and private transportation services

Cultural, educational and social programs

Spa & Wellness Center with heated indoor saltwater pool

louisiana-stylE luxuryand grandEur

A new concept in active, healthy living

Call today to schedule your private appointment

600 E. Flournoy Lucas Road Shreveport, Louisiana

(318) 212-OAKS (6257) www.oaksofla.com


SFriday, March 5, 2010 | 7:30 PMRiverview TheaterTickets online atshreveportsymphony.comor call 318-227-TUNE (8863)

Tickets: $15-$40,$10 for students

SHREVEPORTSYMPHONYORCHESTRA

presents

SPONSORED BY

Broadcasting every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

on AM 1130 KWKH, A Gap Broadcasting Radio station

in shreveport, Louisiana.

March � - “2010 U.s. Census” Gabriel Sanchez, Regional Director and Renee M. Clark, Media specialist with the 2010 U.s. Census Bureau in Dallas. www.2010census.gov

March 1� - “Literacy Volunteers Increase Proficiency” Sue Lee & Grace Bareikis. www.shreveportliteracy.org

March �0 - “2010 Outstanding Healthcare Achievers” www.chen-nwla.com

March �7 - “50 ways to Feel Great Today” David B. Bielbel, internationally known author

streaming live on the Internet at www.KwKHonline.comPreviously aired programs at www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Do you have a question for one of our guests? Call 320-1130 during the broadcast or email [email protected] prior to the show.

March 2010 l Vol. 17, No. 3 Founded in 1993 as Senior Scene News IssN Library of Congress #1551-4366

The Best of TimesA monthly publication from

TBT Multimedia, LLCP.O. Box 19510

shreveport, LA 71149(318) 636-5510

www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com

publisher Gary L. Calligas

[email protected]

Editor Tina Miaoulis Calligas

[email protected]

Writer Amanda Newton

account ExecutivePhilip Maxfield

[email protected]

design & layoutJessica Rinaudo

Katherine M. Branch Webmaster

Jason P. Calligas

contributors: Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Al Bolton, LA Attorney GeneralBuddy Caldwell, suzy Cohen, Judge Jeff Cox, Andrea Gross,

Mirabai Holland, Ted Kooser, Linda Mullican, and Terri schlichenmeyer

council of advisors: Terri Brock, senator sherry

smith-Cheek, Clara Farley, Dora Miller, Raymon Owens, Mary Anne Rankin, and Mary Alice Rountree

THE FINE PRINT: All original content published in The Best of Times copyright © 2010 by TBT Multimedia, LLC, all rights reserved. Replication, in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication, TBT Mulitmedia, its publishers or staff. Always consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with all matters financial, medical, legal or emotional. We cannot accept liability for omis-sions or errors and cannot be responsible for the claims of advertisers.

March 2010 7 The Best Of Times


nEW

s

InFo

medicare Information for caregivers now available on nIHseniorHealthIfyou’recaringforanolder

friendorfamilymember,you’veprobably had questions aboutMedicare, the federal healthinsuranceprogramforadults65andolderandpeopleunderage65withdisabilities.WhileyoumayknowthatMedicarehelpspayformedicalandprescriptiondrug costs, you may want tobecomemorefamiliarwiththeMedicarebenefitsandresourcesavailabletoyourfriendorlovedone.

An easy-to-read overview,“Medicare Basics for Caregiv-ers,” is currently available at

NIHSeniorHealth.gov,theWebsite for older adults from theNational Institutes of Health.This brief, yet comprehensiveintroductiontoMedicaregivescaregivers thebasics andhelpsthem find answers to theirquestions.

Additionally, caregivers andothersneedingageneralintro-duction to Medicare can visitwww.nihseniorhealth.gov/medi-care/toc.htmltofindoutaboutmedical and hospital benefits,enrollment,billing,prescriptiondrugcosts,homehealthcareandmuchmore.

Hearing aids are important.That’s just one of the reasons we so very carefully and professionally �t yours.

We o�er FREE screenings and FREE consultations.

2207 California Drive, Suite 6ABossier City, Louisiana 71111

Call (318) 747-9191

Numerousfreeorlow-costtax-preparation services are

available to seniors, militaryand low- and middle-incometaxpayers,including:

IRS-sponsored programs- Search “FreeTax Prepara-tion” at www.irs.gov or call1-800-829-1040.

AARPTax Aide Locator-Thenation’s largest free,vol-unteer-run tax assistance andpreparationserviceisavailabletolow-andmiddle-incometaxpay-ers,particularly thoseoverage60.Formoreinformationvisitwww.aarp.org/money/taxaideorcalltoll-free1-800-227-7669.

Intuit FundWare Project

•

•

•

tax preparation services available-Thewebsiteallowsindividualsto easily prepare and file stateandfederaltaxreturnsforfreeforthosewhoseAdjustedGrossIncome (AGI) is $31,000 orless; or activedutymilitary in2009withanAGIof$57,000orless;orforthosewhoqualifyfor the Earned Income Credit(EIC). EIC and AGI must bebetween$13,440and$43,279.Foradditionalinformationvisitwww.taxfreedom.com.

Military personnel andtheir families worldwide canget free assistance through aprogramoverseenbytheArmedForcesTaxCouncil.Checkwithyourbasefordetails.

•

TheLouisianaDepartmentofRevenue(LDR)encouragesalltaxpayers tofileelectronically their taxreturns for the2009taxyear.LouisianaFileOnlineisthestate’ssingle-sourcelocationforall individual and business tax filing requirements.Visit www.fileonline.revenue.louisiana.govtotakeadvantageofthisfast,easy-to-use,absolutelyfreepublicresource.LouisianaFileOnlineallowstaxpayerstofilereturnsandpaytaxeselectronically.

louisiana department of Revenue Encourages Electronic Filing

Patients and those who care for them should be aware of achange in Medicare’s caps limiting outpatient rehab services.ThesetherapycapswentintoeffectonJanuary1,2010andapplytooutpatientphysicaltherapy,occupationaltherapyandspeech-languagepathologyservices.

Alimitof$1,860inreimbursementappliestoallwhoreceiveoutpatient therapy, with the exception of hospital outpatientdepartments. Thus, those who receive therapy services with askillednursingfacility(PartB),atherapist’sorphysician’sprivatepractice,ahomehealthagency(PartB),orarehabilitationagencyaresubjecttothesecaps.Oncethelimitof$1860hasbeenreached,beneficiarieswhorequireadditionalservicesina12-monthperiodareresponsiblefor100%ofthecost.

Patients who are currently receiving rehabilitation therapyshould:

• Determine whether hospital-based outpatient services areavailableinyourarea.Thesearenotsubjecttothecap.

•KeeptrackofallcostsforphysicalorspeechoroccupationalrehabilitationtherapyservicesasthoseexceedingthecapmaybereimbursableonceCongresstakesaction.

medicare caps on Rehab therapy Reimbursements Effective January 1


February 11th was a special day for local senior citizens asHorseshoeCasinoandHotelhostedaSweetheartLuncheonfortheBossierCouncilonAging(BCOA).Approximately300seniorscameouttotheHorseshoeRiverdometoenjoyahot,deliciousmealservedbyover70HorseshoeandLouisianaDownsemployeesandtodancethemorningaway,butwhattheydidnotknowwasthattheBCOAwouldbesurprisedwithabrandnewtruck.

GenoIafrate,SeniorVicePresidentandGeneralManagerofHorseshoeCasinoandHotelandHarrah’sLouisianaDowns,sur-prisedtheBCOAwithabrandnew2010ToyotaTacomatruckonbehalfoftheHarrah’sFoundationandMealsonWheelsprogram.MaryAnneRankin,ExecutiveDirectoroftheBCOA,acceptedthekeyswithtearsofjoyassheexplainedthattheywereinneedofanewtrucktodeliverhotmealstoseniors.BCOAtrucksareusedforMealsonWheelsandtravelabout500milesperweekdeliveringhotmealstoseniorcitizensofBossierParish.FundsforthepurchaseofthetruckweredonatedbytheHarrah’sFounda-tion,andthenationalprogramofMealsonWheelsnegotiatedallaspectsofthevehiclepurchase.Currently,theHarrah’sFoundationdonatesover$500,000peryeartoMealsonWheels.

Bossier council on aging Receives new 2010 toyota truck

Willis-KnightonHealthSystemhasannouncedamajordona-tiontotheShreveportFireDepartmenttobenefitthecitizensofShreveport. The health system will fund the purchase of sevenSingleParamedicRapidInterventionNon-Transport(SPRINT)vehicles for the ShreveportFireDepartment as this program isimplementedoverthenextfewyears.Threevehicleswillbepur-chasedimmediately.

AccordingtoShreveportFireChiefBrianCrawford,fireenginesweredesignedtofightinfrequentfires,notmakeemergencymedi-calcallsastheydodaily.Thenewvehicleswillallowfirefighterstoprovidemoreexpeditiousemergencymedicalservicesbecausetheyhavetheentiremedicalcapabilityandequipmentofanambulance.TheimplementationoftheSPRINTinitiativeinothermetropoli-tanareashasbeenshowntoprovidesignificantfiscalsavingswithbetteroveralluseofstaffingwhencomparedtodispatchofafireenginetoemergencymedicalcalls.

JamesK.Elrod,presidentandCEOofWillis-KnightonHealthSystem, lauded Chief Crawford and the Fire Department fortheirdecisiontoseekthismoreefficientmethodofrespondingtoemergencycalls.

Willis-Knighton makes donation to shreveport Fire department

10 March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

EaT l

IkE y

ouR

lIFE

dEP

ENds

oN

IT

AMediterraneandietmayhelppeopleavoidthesmallareasofbraindamagethatcanleadtoproblemswiththinkingandmemory,accordingtoresearchersfromColumbiaUniversityMedicalCenterinNewYork.The study found thatpeoplewhoate aMediter-ranean-likedietwere36%lesslikelytohavebraininfarcts,orsmallareasofdeadtissuelinkedtothinkingproblemsthanthosewhowereleastfollowingthediet.Thosemoderatelyfollowingthedietwere21%lesslikelytohavebraindamagethan the lowest group. The Mediter-raneandietincludeshighintakeofvegetables,legumes,fruits,cereals,fish and monounsaturated fattyacidssuchasoliveoil;lowintakeofsaturatedfattyacids,dairyproducts,meat and poultry; and mild tomoderateamountsofalcohol.

mediterranean diet may lower Risk of Brain damage

While it is too early for physicians tostart advising their male patients to takeup the habit of regular coffee drinking,datapresentedattheAmericanAssociationfor Cancer Research Frontiers in CancerPrevention Research Conference revealedastronginverseassociationbetweencoffeeconsumption and the risk of lethal andadvancedprostatecancers.Coffeehaseffectsoninsulinandglucosemetabolismaswellassexhormonelevels,allofwhichplayaroleinprostatecancer.Thestudyfoundthatmenwhodrankthemostcoffeehada60%lowerriskofaggressiveprostatecancerthanmenwhodidnotdrinkanycoffee.Researchersareunsurewhichcomponentsaremostim-portant,ascoffeecontainsmanybiologicallyactive compounds like antioxidants andminerals.

Eatingfruit,suchaspomegranates,thatcontainanti-aromatasephytochemicalsre-ducestheincidenceofhormone-dependentbreastcancer,accordingtoresultsofastudypublished in Cancer Prevention Research.Pomegranateisenrichedinaseriesofcom-poundsknownasellagitanninsthatappeartoberesponsiblefortheanti-proliferativeeffectofthepomegranate.Accordingtore-searchersphytochemicalssuppressestrogenproductionthatpreventtheproliferationofbreastcancercellsandthegrowthofestro-gen-responsive tumors. Previous researchhasshownthatpomegranatejuiceishigh

inantioxidantactivity,whichisgenerallyattributedtothefruit’shighpolyphenolcontent.Ellagicacidfoundinpomegran-ates inhibitsaromatase,anenzymethatconvertsandrogentoestrogen.Aromataseplaysakeyroleinbreastcarcinogenesis;

therefore, the growth of breast cancer isinhibited.

pomegranates may prevent Growth of

some Breast cancers

For certain people, dietary oil supple-ments couldhelpwardoffunwanted fat,according to a new study. Obese olderwomen with type 2 diabetes whoadded safflower oil or conjugatedlinoleic acid (CLA) supplements totheir diet either decreased their bodymass indexorboosted theirmusclemass,researchers found. The study appeared onlinein the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.Participantstookeightdietaryoilcapsulesaday,twoateachmealandanothertwoatnight,foratotalofeightgramsofaddedoilperday.Participantsdidn’tchangetheirdietorexercisepatterns,althoughtheykeptdietandexercisediariessotheresearch-ers could account for any change in energy output and calorie

consumption.Bothoilsareconsidered“good”fatswhenconsumedinproperamounts.ThewomenwhotooktheCLAhadasignificantdecreaseintheirbodymassindex(BMI)-abouthalfapointonaverage.Theirtotalbodyfatdeclinedbyabout3.2%.Thesaffloweroildidnotaffecttotalbodyfat,butdiddecreasethetrunk,or

bellyfattissue,by2.6to4.2pounds.Italsoboostedmusclemassby1.4to3pounds.Thesaffloweroilalsoloweredfastingbloodsugarlevelsby11to 19 points. Researchers stressed that the oilsupplementscouldbeaddedtoothereffortstoreduceweightandtightendiabetescontrol.

dietary oils may Help some Fight Fat

coffee associated with Reduced Risk of

advanced prostate cancer

pistachios may Reduce lung cancer Risk

Adietthatincorporatesadailydoseofpistachiosmayhelpreducetheriskoflungandothercancers.AccordingtoresearchersfromtheUniversityofTexas

M.D.AndersonCancerCenter,pistachiosareagoodsourceofgamma-tocopherol.ItisknownthatvitaminEprovidesadegreeofprotectionagainstcertainformsofcan-cer.Higherintakesofgamma-tocopherol,whichisaformofvitaminE,mayreducetheriskoflungcancer.Pistachiosarealsoknowntoprovideaheart-healthybenefitbyproducingacholesterol-loweringeffectandprovidingtheantioxidantsthataretypicallyfoundinfoodproductsofplantorigin.


1� March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

mEd

Ica

l n

EWs

& In

Fo

AnewstudyreportedinInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual SciencefoundthatUV-blockingcontactlensescanreduceoreliminatetheeffectsofthesun’sharmfulUVradiation.Accordingtothearticle,overexposuretoUVradiationcanleadtoharmfulchangesinthecornea,conjunctivaandlens,includingcataracts,themostcommoncauseofvisualimpair-mentaroundtheglobe.Accordingtotheresearcherssomeestimatessaythatbytheyear2050,therewillbe167,000to830,000morecasesofcataracts.Researchersnotedthatwearingsunglassesorhatsmaynotprovideenoughprotec-tionfromthesun,andaddingadequateUVprotectiontocontactlensesmaybeapracticalsolutiontotheproblemscausedbytoomuchexposure.NotallcontactlensesofferUVprotection,and,ofthosethatdo,notallprovidesimilarabsorptionlevels.

Beyond sunglasses and Baseball caps

Treatingacommonheartrhythmdisorderbyburninghearttissuewithacatheterworksdramaticallybetterthandrugtreatments,accordingtoalandmarkstudypublishedintheJournal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).Oneyearafterundergoingatreat-mentcalledcatheterablation,66%ofpatientswithanirregularheartbeatcalledatrialfibrillation(A-Fib)werefreeofanyrecurrentirregularheartbeatsorsymptoms,comparedwithonly16%ofthosetreatedwithdrugs.Resultsweresoconvincingthetrialwashaltedearly.A-Fibsymptomsincludeheartpalpita-tions,dizziness,chestpain,fatigue,shortnessofbreath,faintingandlightheadedness.Inthe

landmark Heart

treatment study

published

Inactive,sedentary,behaviormightincreaseyourriskofdeathfromcardiovasculardisease,accordingtoanAustralianstudypublishedinCirculation.Thestudyinvolvedgatheringdataon8,800healthyparticipantswhowereage25andolder.Participantsweredividedintothreecategories,basedontheir televisionwatchinghabits: 1) those who watched less than twohoursaday;2)thosewhowatchedtwotofourhoursaday’and3)thosewhowatchedmorethanfourhoursaday.Thestudyshowedthatforeveryhouroftelevisionwatched,theriskofdyingfromanycauseincreases11%.Foreveryhourof televisionwatched, the riskofdying

of cardiovascular disease increased 18%. Thosewhowatchedtelevisionformorethanfourhoursperdaywhencomparedtothosewhowatchedlessthantwohoursperday,hadan80%increasedriskofdyingearlyfromcardiovasculardiseaseanda46%increasedriskofdyingfromanycause.Thestudyalsofoundthatevenifyouarehealthyandworkoutfrequently,youarestillatagreaterriskofcardiovasculardiseaseifyouspendmanyhoursadaysitting.Althoughthestudyfocusedontelevisionwatching,itismostlikelyapplicabletomostinactivebehaviorandotherbehaviorsthatrevolvearoundsitting.

sedentary lifestyle might Increase Risk of death

MillionsofAmericanstakeCelebrexforarthritis or other pain. Many, if they aremiddle-agedorolder,alsotakealow-doseaspirin daily to reduce the risk of heartattackandstroke.Yettheymaybegettinglittle protection, because Celebrex keepstheaspirinfromdoingitsjobeffectively,anewstudysuggests.In laboratorystudies,UniversityofMichigan researchers foundthatseveralcoxibs,thedrugclasstowhichCelebrex belongs, interfere with aspirin’sability to discourage blood clots, if theaspirinistakeninlowdoses.

ResearchersnotedthatthegreatestriskishavingpeopletakeCelebrexwhoaretakingaspirinforcardiovascularproblemsthatareknowntobemitigatedbyaspirin,includingpatientswithunstableanginaorthoseatriskforasecondheartattack.

PreviousstudiesofhealthysubjectsfoundnoilleffectonbloodclottingwhenCelebrexwascombinedwithaspirinathigherdoses,specifically adaily “regular” aspirin tablet(324mg).Soitmaybethatahigheraspirindose, or spreading out the time betweentakinglow-doseaspirinandCelebrex,willallowaspirintobeeffective.(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

painkiller undermines aspirin’s anti-clotting action

ablationprocedure,anelectrophysiologistdestroysareasofhearttissuethatarerespon-siblefortheerraticelectricalsignals.Atrialfibrillation(AF)representsanimportantpublichealthproblem,withpatientshavinganincreasedlong-termriskofstroke,heartfailureandall-causedeath.

Anewtypeofbrainscan,calleddiffusiontensorimaging(DTI),appearstobebetteratdetectingwhetherapersonwithmemorylossmighthavebrainchangesofAlzheimer’sdisease,accordingtoanewstudypublishedinNeurology®.ResearchersnotedthatasbettermedicinesforAlzheimer’sdiseasebecomeavailable,itwillbeimportanttoidentifypeopleathighriskforthediseaseasearlyandaccuratelyas

possiblesotreatmentcanbemosteffective.Participantsweregivenverbaltestsandteststhatmeasuredvisualperceptionofspacebetweenobjects.ScientistscomparedthebrainscansandfoundthatchangesinDTIimagingbetterexplaineddeclinesin

memorythandidmeasuringhippocampusvolumethroughatraditionalMRI.

new Brain scan Better detects Earliest signs of alzheimer’s disease in Healthy people

March 2010 1� The Best Of Times

Shreveport Center for Geriatric Health2508 Bert Kouns Industrial

Loop, Suite 303Shreveport

(318) 212-5850


Is th

ere a

doc

tor

In th

e hou

se?

According to researchfrom the Heart RhythmSociety, more than 70 per-cent of Americans believesudden cardiac arrest, SCA,isatypeofheartattack.It’slike comparing apples andoranges. The common mis-understandingbetweenSCAand a heart attack can leadpeopletooverlookimportantriskfactorsthatcontribute

toSCA.Sowhatisthedifference?

In basic terms, SCA is anelectrical malfunction ofthe heart, while a heart at-tack is a blockage in theblood vessels interruptingtheflowofbloodtotheheart–essentiallyan“electricalvs.plumbing”problem.Know-ingthedifferencecouldhelpsave thousandsof lives eachyear.

Unfortunately, not onlyis SCA misunderstood, it’sseverely underestimated. SCAis a leading cause of death intheUnitedStates,takingmorethan 250,000 lives each year.Unknownbymany,SCAclaimsmorelivesannuallythanbreastcancer,lungcancerorAIDS.

InanefforttoraiseawarenessaboutSCAandpromotebetterhearthealth,theHeartRhythmSociety, an organization rep-resenting specialized clinicianstrained to treat heart rhythm

disorders,haslaunchedamulti-yearcampaignaimedathelpingindividualsidentifyriskfactors,understand how to properlyrespondandhowtoeffectivelyprevent and treat SCA. Chiefamongitspriorities,theHeartRhythmSocietyhopestohelppeoplebetterunderstandSCA,andisworkingtoeliminatetheconfusionbetweenSCAanda

heartattack.“Sudden cardiac arrest is a

serious health issue. Unfortu-nately, the public knows littleabout SCA, such as whom itaffects and what can be donetoprevent it,” saysRichardL.Page,MD,FHRS,presidentoftheHeartRhythmSociety.“TheHeart Rhythm Society wouldliketoencourageallAmericansto learn more about SCA bybecomingawareofpreventative

andresponsivetechniquesthatwillultimatelysavelives.”

The Heart Rhythm Societyoffers the following tips andadvice.

Who is at risk of sca?The following risk factors

may indicate an increased riskofSCA:

Previousheartattack

Family history of suddendeath, heart failure or heartattack

Abnormal heart rate orrhythm

Unusuallyrapidheartratethatcomesandgoes

EpisodesoffaintingLowEjectionFraction(less

than35percent)–ameasure-ment of how much blood ispumpedbytheventricleswitheachheartbeat

•

•

••••

sudden cardiac arrest versus Heart attackKnowing the difference can save lives

How to respond to sca Time is critical. The Heart

RhythmSocietyadvisesthefol-lowingswiftactionsinresponsetoSCA:

Know the signs of SCA–victimswillfalltotheground,become unresponsive and willnotbreathenormally,ifatall

Call911AdministerCPR–hands-

onlyCPRisproventobejustaseffective

Useanautomatedexter-naldefibrillator(AED)ifoneisavailable

How to prevent scaTheHeartRhythmSociety

offers the following adviceto decrease the likelihoodofSCA:

LiveahealthylifestyleKnow your f ami ly

historyKnowyourriskofheart

failureTreat and monitor health

conditions thatcancontributeto heart problems, includinghighbloodpressure,cholesterol,andsmoking

Seekprofessionalguidancetocontrolorstopanabnormalheartrhythm

Formoreinformationpleasevisitwww.HRSonline.org.

Courtesy Family Features. Photo Courtesy of Fotolia.

•

••

•

•••

•

•



spEc

Ial

REpo

Rt

by the medicare

Rights center

If you have OriginalMedicare and do not havesupplemental insurancefrom a former employer,you may be able to buya supplemental coveragepolicy called a “Medigap.”

Medigaps fill gaps in OriginalMedicare by covering deduct-ibles, coinsurances and someadditionalbenefits.

Itisimportanttoknowwhenyou have the right to buy aMedigappolicy.Ifyoumissyourwindow of opportunity, yourcostsmaygoupandyoumaynotbeabletobuyaMedigapatall.Ifyouare65orolder,youhavearighttobuyaMedigapatcertaintimes.Whenyouhave

this right, known as“guaranteed-issue,” an

insurancecompanycannotdeny you insurance coverage

orplaceconditionsonapolicy,must cover your pre-existingconditions, and cannot chargeyoumore for apolicybecauseofyourhealthstatus.Youhaveguaranteed-issuerightstobuyaMedigapinallstates:

1. Forsixmonthsbeginningthemonthyouareboth65orolderandenrollinPartB(yourMedigap “open enrollmentperiod”);and

2. Within63daysofwhenyourcoveragefromacurrentorformeremployeristerminatedthroughnofaultofyourown.

PeoplewhojoinaMedicareprivate health plan (like anHMO,PPOorPFFSplan)mayalsohaveguaranteed-issuerights

medigap: When you Have the Right to Buy

iftheirplanterminates,iftheyleavetheplan’sservicearea or if they want toreturntoaMedigapwithin12months.

There are additionalcircumstances that mayqualifyyouforguaranteed-issue rights to Medigap,andsomestateshavestron-gerprotections,includingforpeoplewithMedicarewhoareunder65.TolearnmoreaboutMedigappoli-ciesinyourstate,callyourStateDepartmentofInsur-anceoryourStateHealthInsurance Assistance Program(SHIP).To learn more about Medigaps, and to view a list of questions to ask before purchasing a Medigap, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at www.medicarein-

teractive.org. Medicare Interactive Counselor is a resource provided by the Medicare Rights Center, the largest independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare.


Finding a short or long term placement for a loved one is a difficult decision. Let us help make this transition easier for them and for you.NurseCare of Shreveport offers:

• A separate 44 bed rehabilitation recovery-to-home unit.

• An on-site team of certified physical, occupational, speech therapists and rehab technicians.

• Registered respiratory therapist to care for residents with respiratory illnesses.

• A full time wound care team to care for residents with extensive wounds and burns.

• RNs and LPNS on staff to complete IV infusions including antibiotics and IV fluids.

•A secure unit for Alzheimer’sand Dementia residents.

We welcome you to come visit and take a tour of our nursing and rehabilitation center and meet our caring and sincere professionals who enjoy giving extra attention to service, extra smiles, and that special touch that makes a real difference.

BridgeHospital

Home

BridgeYourYourfromfrom

toto is here atis here atNurseCare of ShreveportNurseCare of Shreveport

HospitalHome

NurseCare of Shreveport(318) 221-1983

1736 Irving PlaceShreveport, LA 71101


mar

cI’s

med

Icar

e an

swer

s

Q: Dear Marci, Does Medicare cover colonosco-

pies? ~DennisDearDennis,Yes. Medicare covers a colonoscopy

onceeverytwoyears(24months)ifyouareathighriskforcolorectalcancer(e.g.,have a family history of the disease orhavehadcolorectalpolypsorcolorectalcancer,orhavehadinflammatoryboweldisease),oronceevery10yearsifyouare

notathighrisk(butnotwithin48monthsof a screening flexible sigmoidoscopy).Thereisnominimumagerequirementforthisscreening.

If you are 50 or older, Medicare alsocoversthefollowingscreenings:

Fecaloccultbloodtest-onceayear(every12months)

Flexiblesigmoidoscopy-onceeveryfouryears(48months)

Barium enema - covered only ifperformedonitsownandnotinadditiontotheothertests

MedicarewillcovertheseserviceswithnoPartBdeductiblerequired.Medicarewillcover100percentofthecostofthefecaloccultbloodtest.(IfyouareinaMedicareprivatehealthplan—HMOorPPO—youmayhaveacopayforthisservice.Callyourplantofindoutwhatyouwillhavetopay.)For theother tests,Medicarewillpay80percentofthecost.Medicarewillcover75

•••

percentofthecostofacolonoscopyorflex-iblesigmoidoscopyiftheprocedureisdoneinanambulatorysurgicalcenterorhospitaloutpatientdepartment.~Marci

Q: Dear Marci, When will Medicare

pay for care I receive in a skilled nursing facility? -Yu

DearYu,Medicaremayhelppayforskillednurs-

ingfacility(SNF)careif:Youneedskillednursingcareseven

days aweekor skilled therapy services atleastfivedaysaweek;

You were formally admitted as aninpatient to a hospital* for at least threeconsecutive days in the 30 days prior toadmission in a Medicare-certified skillednursingfacility;and

YouareeligibleforMedicareatthetimeyouaredischargedfromthehospital.

*Note: If you are admitted to theemergency room under observation orreceiveonlyemergencyroomservices,thistimespentinthehospitaldoesnotcounttowardmeetingthethree-daypriorhospitalrequirementforSNFcoverage.

Ifyoumeetthesecriteria,Medicarewillpaythefullcostofthefirst20daysandpartofthecostofanother80daysofcareinaMedicare-certified skilled nursing facilityeachbenefitperiod.Abenefitperiodbegins

•

•

•

thedayyouentertheSNFandendswhenyounolongerreceiveSNFcarefor60daysinarow.~Marci

Q: Dear Marci, I’ve heard I can change my

Medicare health coverage during the first few months of the year? Is that true? - Olive

DearOlive,Yes.Youcanswitchyourhealthcoverage

onceduringtheOpenEnrollmentPeriod,whichrunsfromJanuary1throughMarch31everyyear.Yournewcoveragestartsthefirst of the month after you make yourselection.YoucannotdecidetoaddordropMedicaredrugcoverage(PartD)duringthistime.Forexample,ifyouhaveaMedicareprivatehealthplanwithoutdrugcoverage,youcanonlyswitchtoaprivateplanwith-outdrugcoverageortoOriginalMedicarealone(nostand-alonedrugplan).

IfyoualreadyhaveaMedicareprivatehealthplanandwanttoswitchintoanewone, you should enroll in the new planwithoutdisenrollingfromyouroldplan.ItisbesttoenrollinanewMedicareprivatehealth plan by calling 800-MEDICARErather thanby calling thenewplan.Youwillbeautomaticallydisenrolledfromyourprevious Medicare plan when your newcoveragestarts.

Under certain circumstances, youmay

colonoscopies, skilled nursing Facility payment, and medicare Health coverage


beeligibleforaSpecialEnrollmentPeriod(SEP)tochangeyourdrugcoverageand/orhealthplan.Forexample,youqualify foranSEPifyourMedicareprivateplancom-mittedmarketingfraudorabuse,orifyouenrollinExtraHelp,thefederalprogramthat helps people with Medicare pay fortheirprescriptiondrugs.WithExtraHelp,youwillalsobeabletochangeyourMedi-caredrugplanoncepermonth.

IfyougetanSEP,yournewcoveragewillstartthefirstofthemonthafteryousignupforordisenrollfromaMedicareprivatehealthplan.~Marci

Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail [email protected].

To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.

�0 March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

mo

nEy

mat

tERs

by Jason

alderman

Although not as uniqueasfingerprintsorsnowflakes,credit scores are highly in-dividualized - and oftenmysterious. Many factorsdetermineyourscore,whichcan change overnight de-pendingoneverythingfrom

lastmonth’screditcardbalances,to opening a new account, toapplyingforacarloan.

To help demystify – andquantify – how credit scoresaredetermined,FICOrecentlysharedinformationontheim-pact certain negative actionscan have. For those not asobsessive about credit scoresasIam,FICOisthecompanywhose proprietary software is

used by major credit bureausto calculate the credit scoresthey sell to potential lendersasa tool fordeterminingyourcreditworthiness.

But as FICO’s Public Rela-tions Director Craig Wattsnoted, the very uniqueness ofeachperson’sindividualsituationmakesitdifficulttogeneralize.“Take two people with excel-lent FICO scores of 780,” heexplained. “One might have amortgage, several low-balancecreditcardsanda20-yearcredithistory; the other has a dozenopen accounts, hefty studentloanbalancesandacarloan,butnomortgage.Samescore,verydifferentcircumstances.”

What they probably havein common, saidWatts, are ahistory of on-time payments,alowratioofoutstandingdebtto available credit, and a cau-

tiousattitudetowardtakingonmoredebt–that,andnomajornegative credit activity: “If youhavelatepaymentsover30days,receive a tax lien, or file forbankruptcy,thetollonyourcreditscorecanbesignificantandlong-lasting.”

Withthecaveatthatactualpoint losses can vary widelydepending on your individualsituation,FICOdidsharebroadranges for two hypotheticalscenarios: One person has a680 score and the other 780,and each has a mortgage, carandstudentloansandseveralcreditcards.Theydifferoverfactorssuchasamountofcreditlimitused,latepaymentrecordandlengthofcredithistory.Overall:

Exceedingacreditcardlimitmightlowerscoresby10to45points.

Asinglelatepaymentexceeding30days–60to110points.Enteringadebt settlementagreementwithacreditor–45

to105points.Losingpropertytoforeclosure–85to160points.

Filing for bankruptcy has the mostdevastatingimpact–anywherefrom130to240pointsinthescenariosgiven.

Surprisingly,peoplewithgood-to-excel-lentcreditscoresoftenlosemorepointsfornegativeincidentsthandothosewithlowerinitialscores.Wattsexplainsthat’sbecauselower initial scores already reflect riskierbehavior;notsoforhigh-scoringpeople,sotheappearanceofnegativecreditactivityontheirotherwisespotlesscreditrecordsmaydroptheircreditscoresfarther.

Themainreasontobeconcernedaboutsignificant point drops is that falling intoalowercreditcategorycouldhamperyourabilitytoqualifyforaloanorcreditcardorreceivelowercreditlimits,aswellasgreatlyincreaseinterestratesyou’recharged.

To learn more about what you can dotoprotect–orrepair–yourcreditscores,visitWhat’s My Score, a financial literacyprogramrunbyVisa(www.whatsmyscore.org.)ThesitealsofeaturesafreeFICOScoreEstimator that can help you approximateyourscore.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial educa-tion programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.

••••

•

demystifying credit scores

March 2010 �1 The Best Of Times

Some see an empty field of dirt. Robbie Brown sees bushels of homegrown tomatoes, foot-long zucchinis and some of the sweetest peas your teeth have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When he’s not driving his tractor or guiding his tiller through the garden, you’ll find him living life to the fullest in some other way. “I do anything I want to do with the legs I get from Snell’s,” Brown says confidently. “I don’t back up for nothing.” It is that same type of commitment that Snell’s licensed practitioners and technicians make to our patients every day. Our staff members take the time to atten-tively listen to the patient to determine what his or her needs truly are. Then,after careful consultation with the patient’s physician, we begin the design and fabrication process. Once the prosthesis or orthosis has been fitted, we work tirelessly with the patient to make sure that it functions correctly. Our investment in new technology and in specialized training for our staff allows us to deliver prosthetic and orthotic devices of the highest quality.Because, as Mr. Brown will attest to…what you invest in today will yieldabundant returns tomorrow.

Reaping What You Sow

ORTHOTICS • PROSTHETICS

www.SnellsOandP.com

Serving Shreveport (2 locations), Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Minden,Natchitoches, Coushatta, and Mansfield.

Returning independence to our patients since 1911

NEW Southeast

Shreveport Office

Now OPEN!

�� March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

laW

s o

F tH

E la

nd by

lee aronson

Ed (not his real name),wholivedinsouthLouisiana,boughtahome.Likemostofus,hecouldnotaffordtopaycashforthehomesohetookout a mortgage. When hetookoutthemortgage,hewastoldthatasaconditionofthe

loanhewouldalsohavetopaythepropertytaxesonthehomeevery year and that he wouldhavetokeephomeowner’sinsur-anceonthehome.ThemortgagelendergaveEdtwooptions:Edcould arrange topay the taxesandhomeowners insuranceonhisownandsendproofofpay-menttothemortgagecompanyeveryyearorEdcouldinclude

thecostoftaxesandhomeown-ers insurance in his mortgagepaymenteverymonthandthemortgagecompanywouldmakesurethatthetaxesandinsurancewerepaidinatimelymanner.

Eddecidedthathewouldpaythetaxesandtheinsuranceonhis own. But for some reasonoranother,Eddidnotpayhishomeowners insurance. AndwhenEdfailedtosendproofofinsurancetohismortgagecom-pany, the mortgage companyrippedEdoffbigtime.

Thefirstthingthemortgagecompanydidwastogooutandbuy homeowners insuranceforEd.Thetypeofpolicytheypurchasedwascalleda“forcedplacedinsurancepolicy.”Forcedplace insurance policies are

muchmoreexpensivethanregularhomeowner’sinsur-ance. And although themortgage company paidthepremiumonthisforcedplaced insurance, thepre-miumamountwasaddedtoEd’smonthlymortgagepayment.Inotherwords,Ed’smonthlymortgagepaymentwentwayup.

ButEd thought that this forcedplaced insurancepolicywasgoingtobeareallifesaverforhim.That’sbecausethehousehehadpurchasedwasinChalmette,asuburbofNewOrleans.Andas anyone from New Orleans can tell you, the combination ofChalmetteandHurricaneKatrinacanmeanonlyonething:majordamagetoyourhome.AndEdwasnoexception.HurricaneKatrinadid thousandsandthousandsofdollarsworthofdamage tohishome.SoaftertheHurricane,hecontactedhismortgagecompanyinordertofindoutabouttheforcedplacedinsurancehehadbeenpayingthepremiumson.

Ed was shocked when his mortgage company told him thatalthoughhehadbeenpayingthepremiumsontheforcedplacedinsurance,hewasnotcoveredunderthepolicy.Hewastoldthattheinsurancecoveredthemortgagecompanyonly.Andalthough

Homeowner’s Insurance Warning

March 2010 �� The Best Of Times

theinsurancepolicywasgoingtopay themortgage companyclose to $30,000, Ed wasn’tgoingtogetanyofthatmoney.Boththeforcedplaceinsurancecompany and the mortgagecompany told Ed that payingtofixhishomewashisproblem.Ed would get nothing for thedamage the storm did to hishome, for the damage to anyofhispersonalpossessionsandwouldbereimbursefornoneofhisdisplacementexpenses.

So Ed sued. He sued boththemortgagecompanyandtheforcedplaceinsurancecompany.But what Ed didn’t know wasthat buried deep in the fineprint of his mortgage was thefollowing language: “If Bor-rowerfailstomaintainpropertyinsurance, Lender may obtaininsurancecoverage,atLender’soptionandBorrower’sexpense.Lenderisundernoobligationtopurchaseanyparticulartypeoramountofcoverage.Therefore,suchcoverageshallcoverLender,

butmightormightnotprotectBorrower,Borrower’sequityinthe Property, or the contentsoftheProperty…Borrowerac-knowledgesthatthecostoftheinsurancecoveragesoobtainedmight significantly exceed thecostofinsurancethatBorrowercouldhaveobtained.”

Thislanguagemeansthatev-erythingthemortgagecompanyandtheforcedplaceinsurerdidwas totally legal.Andget this:thatlanguageisfairlystandardand is probably somewhere inyourmortgagepaperwork.

Bottom line: forgetting topayyourhomeownersinsuranceor forgetting to provide proofof insurance toyourmortgagecompany can be a very costlymistake. Don’t let it happentoyou.

Lee Aronson is an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisi-ana. His practice areas include consumer law, housing law and health care law.


FRo

m t

HE

BEn

cH

by Judge

Jeff cox

Duringthelastfewweeks,wehavebeenhavingjurytrialsatourcourthouse.Numerouspeople have been calling orwriting letters trying to getout of jury duty. Each daythejudgeshavetoturndownnumerousrequests.Asjudges,weknowthatyou

have to work. We know thatyou have families to care forwhetheritisyoungchildrenorelderlyparents.Weknow thattheeconomyistoughandthatyoumustwork.Weunderstandthedifficultiesof life that faceeachfamily.

We, as judges, also havefamilies.Wehavechildrenthat

require us to be at home.Wehavebasketballgamesandsoft-ballgames.Wehavespousesthatneed our help.We do under-standthedifficultiesoflifefacedbyeachpersonalthoughwearenotinyoursituation.

But,asIhavestatedinprevi-ous articles, our UnitedStatesConstitutionguaranteespersonswho are charged with certaincrimestherighttoajuryoftheirpeers. This means you. If youarenothere, then theaccuseddoesnot get a fair trialwhichwillcausealltypesofproblemsforthecourtsinthefutureandultimatelycostsyoumoreasataxpayer.

Why do you have to serveas a juror? The United StatesConstitutionrequiresit.Whatproblemscanbecaused?Ifthe

judgesexcusespersonsfromjurydutywithout valid excuses, the defenseattorneys representing the criminaldefendants may be able to challengethattheaccuseddidnotreceiveafairtrialduetothefactthatacrosssectionoftheparishwasnotrepresented.

Atthetrialcourtlevel,weareseeingcasesthatareyearsoldbeingbroughtbackfornewtrialsonthingsthathappenedyearsearlier.Whennewtrialsaregrantedonyearsoldmatters,thecourtsystemisheavilyburdened.Notonlymustwitnessesberelocated,iftheyarestillalive,butevidencemustbelocatedifitisavailable.Numeroushourshavetobespentretryinganoldcasewhichcoststhetaxpayersoftheparishthousandsofdollars.

In order to avoid this situation, the judges are being morestringentinallowingapersontobeexcusedfromjuryduty.Ifapersonhasamedicalcondition,wearerequiringthedoctortowriteanoteexplainingthecondition.Beforeapersonwillbeexcusedfromjurydutyinthefuture,thepersonwillhavetodocumentwhytheywishtobeexcusedsothattheexcusecanbefiledintotherecordofthecourt.Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Par., Div. C

Why do I Have to serve on a Jury?




hen it comes to government agencies that really impact the lives of seniors, a person would be hard pressed to find one doing more than the Council on Aging. Residents of

Shreveport and Bossier City are doubly blessed since they have two local councils to choose from: Caddo Council on Aging (CCOA) and Bossier Council on Aging (BCOA). The services the councils provide make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for area seniors and for their families.

Councils on Aging were developed as a result of the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965. Under the auspices of the Administration on Aging, local councils were set up across the country. And perhaps now, more than ever, their services are desperately needed.

According to information provided by CCOA, one in every six Americans, or 44 million people, are 60 years of age or older. Though many seniors are active and healthy, many are at risk of losing their independence.

Anyone 60 years old or older is eligible to partake of the services offered by the Councils on Aging, with special consideration given to those with the greatest need.

While many people might be familiar with one or two programs offered by CCOA and BCOA, the sheer number and reach of the many programs offered is eye-opening. Unfortunately, many of the programs don’t see enough participants to even utilize all the monies budgeted for them. Hopefully, this article will remedy that and encourage all those who are eligible and in need to reach out to the local agencies and utilize them to the fullest.

Through Information and Assistance, BCOA provides clients with current, and accurate, information about many services available to them in the community. Keeping seniors in the loop and up to date ensures that they fully utilize every benefit they are entitled to. CCOA’s Information and Referral program also provides information to seniors and refers participants to the appropriate agencies. The Information and Referral specialist maintains a file on all agencies and programs that can benefit seniors and keeps track of what requests are heard most often, so CCOA can identify areas where there might be gaps in service.

CCOA administers the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), which aids seniors in a nine parish area. The ADRC helps seniors by


providing crises

intervention; assistance

with applications for the Prescription Assistance Program; offers Medicare counseling; streamlines and simplifies the eligibility process for a number of programs; and ensures that clients understand all their options concerning long term care.

A very popular service provided by both the CCOA and the BCOA is the Congregate Meals. CCOA serves a daily lunch at 13 different senior centers and BCOA serves at two locations. This provides seniors with not only a hot, nutritious meal, but also the opportunity to socialize.

Faye Wilson, 100, has been using the services and programs at BCOA since 1997. On a recent morning, she was at the council enjoying breakfast. She shared how on her 100th birthday last year, BCOA hosted her party.

“They told me they were going to show me what a birthday blast was, and I guess they did,” she said.

Carol Coleman, 69, has been enjoying the BCOA services for several years. She loves coming to socialize and enjoys the congregate meals, but couldn’t do so without another of the services BCOA provides.

“I couldn’t come up here if it wasn’t

for the transportation,” Coleman said.In the event a person is able to leave

the house, but lacks transportation to come to the senior center, both councils offer Transportation Services. This service can get seniors up to the centers and home again, and can also take them to doctor appointments and to the grocery store. It is yet another way the agencies help seniors maintain their independence.

James Holbcroft, 86, has been using the BCOA transportation service for about five months. He lives with his daughter and sold his car, so the transportation service allows him to come up to the council without having to rely on his family for a ride.

“They provide good service, you just need to be ready when they come and sometimes be a little patient,” he said.

One of the most popular services provided by the agencies is the Meals on Wheels Program. A hot, nutritious meal is delivered to a person’s home. Five meals are delivered per week, ensuring that homebound seniors are eating well. The service also helps fight the isolation so many homebound seniors deal with.

Lou Anne Casey, 76, has been receiving Meals on Wheels meals from the CCOA since 2001, when she was hospitalized with foot problems and her doctor suggested the program to her.

Her two children live out of town and she is homebound. Her daughter-in-law comes over from Texas a few times and month and gets her stocked up on frozen meals, but the Meals on Wheels program is what she relies on for her hot meals. There are of course other

benefits to the program. “The people delivering

the food are the only people I see during the day,” Casey pointed out. “All the different delivery people I have had over the years have been nice.”

In fact, Casey said the volunteer who is currently bringing her meals made her “an out of this world” peach cobbler for Christmas.

Another great service provided for homebound seniors, particularly those like Casey who have limited interaction with others, is the Telephone Reassurance Program. Regular calls are made to homebound seniors to ensure their security and well-being.

The Homemaker Program provides in-home services for seniors who are frail and homebound due to illness or disability. Visits are generally made to the senior’s home every two weeks. A variety of light housekeeping services are offered. Without this type of service, many seniors would ultimately find themselves in nursing homes.

Seniors who benefit from the homemaker program often also benefit from the Personal Care Program. After a care plan is developed, a care attendant visits the client’s home once a week to aid with bathing and other hygiene issues. While it is difficult to imagine only receiving a bath once a week, without this service, many seniors would have no option but to go into


institutional care. For those families who are caring for

a senior, the never ending responsibility can be quite overwhelming. The local Councils on Aging offer services for caregivers. The Caregiver Program includes options for both respite care and sitter services. Respite care gives the caregiver a chance to leave the home for a specified amount of time to attend to other duties or to just relax. The sitter service brings a professional into the home on occasion to observe, converse and provide food for the client. Both services improve not just the life of the caregiver, but also the quality of life of the senior, as it is very difficult for an emotionally and physically drained caregiver to offer the best care possible.

A very important program

administered by CCOA is the Ombudsman Program. This program is designed to ensure that the rights of residents in Louisiana nursing homes and assisted living facilities are respected. The job of the ombudsman is to investigate and resolve complaints made by seniors residing in long-term care facilities. This type of oversight helps hold facilities to a high standard of care. In 2008, the Ombudsman investigated 142 complaints.

For seniors seeking a non-intimidating way to get in shape, the councils offer Wellness Programs. These classes are tailored to the health concerns and abilities of seniors. The exercises performed during the classes will improve bone density and balance. BCOA offers water aerobics during the summer, a fun and non-weight bearing way to exercise. Countless studies have shown that staying active is the key to staying healthy and independent.

Loretta Deville, 71, has been attending the fitness classes at the BCOA for about a year, after a friend filled her in on the program.

“It gets me up and gets me moving,” she said. “My doctor said this would be good for me and it gives me a little more energy.”

“I like it because it keeps my bones in shape,” added class participant Karen Christian, 73, who has been enjoying the fitness program since 2000.

The Recreation Programs offered at the agencies are a terrific way for seniors to socialize and stay mentally active in a safe environment. Many

seniors gather daily at a number of locations to sew, play pool, and enjoy a card game or a game of bingo. While they are partaking in whatever pursuit meets their fancy, they are also socializing with others. BCOA offers a very popular Thursday night dance with a live band. The dances have been offered for over 20 years and always draw a large crowd.

Fletcher Christian, 63, Karen’s husband, enjoys the recreation program at BCOA and often plays dominos and cards while his wife exercises. He said they are regulars at the Thursday dances.

“There are four or five bands that rotate playing at the dances and they are pretty good,” he said.

A regular at BCOA for about 10 years, Stephen Sipes, 85, comes up to the council for the congregate meals and to play bingo. He said the bingo prizes are usually practical things that seniors can really use, such as toothpaste or boxes of cereal.

“It is just a bunch of old people up here,


that. Everybody else on our team is 75 and older and we won the gold.”

CCOA executive director, Mary Alice Rountree, is very excited about the newly expanded recreation program. The expansion is the result of CCOA teaming up with Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation (SPAR). SPAR is in charge of all the activities and CCOA brings in the food.

“Additionally, the Robinson Film Center has been offering free films and we alternate bringing different sites down to once-a-month classic films,” Rountree said. “The seniors love it and that has been a whole new area of activity for them. You can offer a lot more when it is a collaboration of groups. I just love collaboration. Each one of us can bring one component and add it all together. That expands the services.”

For seniors looking for a way to give back to the community, the councils have two great options: the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Foster Grandparent Program. The RSVP is a national volunteer program

created under the OAA to encourage persons 55 and older to provide volunteer service. There are a wide variety of options available for RSVP volunteers, so a person can tailor their volunteer time to their interests.

The Foster Grandparent Program offers persons 60 years and older, who meet federal income eligibility requirements and serve 20 hours per week, a small tax-free stipend. Foster grandparents give back to the community by volunteering at schools, hospitals, day care centers, and shelter homes.

For when times are tough, the councils offer Utility Assistance. They determine a senior’s need for utility assistance and, when funding is available, financial assistance is provided.

Legal Assistance is another program that can really make a big difference in situations where seniors might feel they are being taken advantage of or their rights are being infringed upon. The legal advice and representation are available for matters including government program benefits, tenant

but we all get along well,” Sipes said with a laugh.

Ten years ago, Marie Diggs, 73, heard about the CCOA recreation program and loves the opportunity it affords for her to socialize in a safe environment.

She drives three other women up to the council and goes everyday as long as the weather is good.

“It is good for people to get out of their house and go up there and mingle,” she said. “Going up there will make your day.”

Diggs also competes on the bean bag baseball team at the

council and her

team recently took the

gold medal in competition.“I will pat myself

on the back about


rights, and consumer problems.When seniors have a need for assistive

devices, such as wheelchairs or walkers, the Material Aid Program can loan such devices out.

Providing these many needed services to thousands of area seniors a day requires quite a bit of money. While city, state, and federal monies do make up a portion of the councils’ budgets, there are shortfalls, especially when budgets get cut.

Mary Anne Rankin, executive director of BCOA, said the council is not currently planning any new programs because they are waiting to see what kind of budget cuts are made by the state

“Right now we are sort of on hold and maintaining until we know where to go. But we always make sure new information gets to our seniors. With the census coming up, we are going to be educating our seniors to make sure they fill out those forms,” said Rankin.

Thanks to an experimental grant, CCOA was able to recently roll out the Community Living Program, said

Rountree. The grant targets seniors in a certain income bracket who are frail and could be qualified to go to a nursing home, but instead attempts to keep them at home.

“(CCOA) has a budgeted amount for each of the 100 program participants and we can do some home modifications, get them meals, and do some personal care,” Rountree said. “It is just a six month grant, but we are hoping that it proves to the government that it is more cost effective to keep our seniors at home.”

Many of the above services have a suggested donation amount assigned to them. This is not a fee, but rather a modest request of money from those who are able. Seniors should never let the suggested donation amount deter them from seeking out these programs and services. The people who work for the councils do so to improve the lives of area seniors. They are happy and willing to find a way to help area seniors. No one gets rich working for the councils; they do this work because

they enjoy making a positive impact on the lives of seniors.

With the growing number of seniorsin this country, and the many issues and problems they face on a daily basis, it is reassuring to know that the Councils on Aging are working every day to lend a hand and to keep seniors as active and independent as possible.

Life is a melody at Horizon Bay. Each week, Jake gets together with

friends and sings from Frank Sinatra’s songbook; the whole place just loves it, and he feels like a star. How will you begin your day?

Offering the perfect balance of supportive services and personalized health care with an active, engaged lifestyle, we empower you to lead the fulfi lling and rewarding life you deserve. We’d love for you to continue your story with us.

INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE

“My life is like a melody with plenty of harmony”

Visit or call today! (318) 747-21142540 Beene Blvd. • Bossier City, LA 71111

www.horizonbay.com

Your story continues here...

Resident experiences portrayed by models.


Q: Dear Pharmacist, My vision is getting

blurry and I have to squint to read. My ophthalmologist says it’s part of the aging process. I don’t want to waste my money, but I’m scared to go blind.

What vitamins will enhance my eyesight? --A.L. Lodi, California

Thebest sight-saversareac-tually pigments, as in ‘dyes’that impartcolortofruitsandvegetables.Likebilberry,whichis a pigment that makes ber-riesblue.Ifyoueat5ormoreservings of colorful organicfruits and veggies, your visionshould improve after a few

by suzy

cohen, Rph

dEa

R pH

aRm

acI

st

Eye-loving nutrients can save your sight

months. Adding high-qualitysupplementswillacceleratethatoutcomeandfurtherreducetheriskofcataracts,glaucoma,eyefloaters, retinopathy andopticneuritis.

Beforeyoubuyanyvitamins,peekinyourmedicinecabinet;some drugs can make yourvisionfuzzy.Amongthem,di-goxin,HCTZ,Dyazide,Lyrica,coldremediesandallergypills.Now,herearethebesteye-lov-ingnutrients:

Bilberry:Protects theretinaand improves night vision;reduces cataracts, maculardegeneration, and glaucoma.Bilberryisrelatedtoblueberriesand it contains “anthocyano-sides” which sweep away freeradicals.Eattheberriesortakebilberry extract, about 80 mg

twice daily. If com-binedwithgrapeseedorlutein,evenbetter!

Z e a x a n t h i n & Lutein:Theseyellow-orange pigments arecalled“carotenoids”andtheyimpartcolortoleafygreenvegetables,brusselssprouts,sweetpotatoes,tomatoes,papayaandcorn.Ca-rotenoidscanquenchfreeradicalsandloweryourriskofcataractsandmaculardegeneration.Goodformulaswillblendthesesisternutrients-about20mgluteinand2mgzeaxanthin.

Beta carotene:Helpfulifyouseea‘haze’orglareinyourvision.Itmakespumpkinsandcarrotsthatfamiliarorangeandprotectsthehumanretina.Drugmuggersofbetacaroteneincludeantacids,refluxmedicine,Questran,mineraloilor thedietpillAlli (andXenical). Definitely supplement if you take those medications.Choose goodbrands, okay? Synthetic beta carotene is harmful,whereasnaturalbetacarotene“fromD.Salina”or“fromanalgaesource”protectsvision.Dosagevariesfrom12-25,000IUtakenoncedaily.

Hyaluronic acid or HA:Thiscompoundmakes the jelly-likeliquid that fills up most of your eye. HA can help maintainmoisture in the skinandeye so it’s great forpeoplewhobuya

lot of wetting formulas likeGenTeal or Refresh.Thoseare excellent fixes, but theirbenefitisfleeting.WhenHAsupplements are combinedwithessentialfattyacids(likeomega3fishoils),youcreateeven more lubrication (anda fantastic defense againstSjogren’sSyndrome).DosageofHA:100 -200mgdailyandfishoil:500-1,000mgonceortwicedaily.

Ginkgo biloba: Protectstheopticnerveand the ret-ina. Particularly helpful fordiabetics and people withmultiplesclerosis.Dosage:60mgonceortwicedaily.Care-ful-itenhancestheeffectofblood-thinners.

This information is not in-tended to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist.” Visit www.DearPharmacist.com. © 2010 Suzy Cohen, RPh. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.


Bossier Council on Aging Bearkat Site (741-8302), 706

BearkatDr.,BossierCity.8:00AM-4:30PM;

PlainDealingSite(326-5722),101E.OakSt.,PlainDealing,9:00AM-1:00PM

Info&referrals-741-8302Transportation-Vansavailable

toseniors60+whohavenomeansoftransportationformedicalappoint-ments,grocerystore,drugstoreandother necessary stops.Wheelchairaccessible. One week notice re-quired.$3roundtripsuggested.AlsothroughreferralsfromMedicaid.

Outreach-Homevisitsaremade

Info&Referral-(318)632-2090;1-800-256-3003.4015 GreenwoodRd,Shreveport71109.Email:[email protected]

Outreach/IndividualNeedsAs-sessment- Explanation of servicesand to enroll the elderly in serviceprograms

HomeDeliveredMeals-5meals/wkdeliveredtohomeboundseniors.Suggesteddonation$1.25/day.

HomemakerServices-Personalcare and household tasks providedfor homebound persons unable toperform tasks without assistance.$5/monthdonationrequested.

Personal Care - Personal careprovided to homebound person.$5/monthdonationrequested.

Family Caregiver - Sitter andrespiteprovidedforfulltimecaregiverofasenior.Donationrequested.

TelephoneReassurance-Volun-teersmakephonecallstoseniorstooffercomfortandsupport.

MedicalAlert-632-2090-Emer-

tohelpqualifyseniorsforservices.Homemaker -Trainedemploy-

ees provide light housekeeping forseniorshavingdifficultymaintainingtheirhomes.$3/visitsuggested.

Caregiver-Supportservicesareprovided for family caregivers in-cludingin-homerespitecareforthecaregiver, education for the family,andmaterial aidand sitter servicesforthepatient.

Legal Services - Education onelderlegalissues.Counselingforin-dividualsisaccessiblemonthlywithalocallawyerorbyreferrals.

Congregate(Site)Meals-Hot,

nutritiousmealsservedat11:30AMatthesites,Monday-Friday.$1.50permealissuggested.

HomeDeliveredMeals-Mealsprovided 5 days per week for el-derlyhomeboundinBossierParish,$1.50/mealsuggested.

Personal Medical ResponseSystem - With a referral fromBCOA, an auto dial unit is avail-ableforinstallationonyourphone.Necklace,wristband,orpocketclipstyles provided. Press the buttonfor immediate help. $20 fee permonth.

Senior Centers - Recreation,

gency response system thatprotectsseniorsincaseofaccidentorfallsinthehome.$20/monthfee

SenioRX Program - 632-5900or1-800-793-1198-Assists seniorsapplyingforpharmaceuticalaid.

Nursing Home Ombudsman-Professionalvisitstonursinghometoinvestigateandresolveissuesmadebytheelderlyresidentortheresident’sfamily.

RSVP(RetiredSeniorVolunteerProgram) 632-2113 - Providesvolunteer opportunities for persons55yearsofageorolder.

Foster Grandparents (FGP) -632-2199-Seniorsserveasmentor,tutor and caregivers to youth withsocialneeds.FGPsthatmeetspecialrequirements may serve. 20hrs/wkandreceiveastipend.

Legal Services - Referrals forindividualcounseling.

Emergency Blinking Light -FlashinglightinstalledinyourporchlightbytheCaddoSheriffDept.tohelpguideemergencymedicalperson-

nel.Nocharge.SOS Program - Sheriff ’s Op-

erational Safeguard. Helps identifyand reunite lost, memory-impairedpersons with families. Participantsare given a bracelet engraved withthenameandphonenumberoftheSheriff’s Office and an ID number.ConfidentialCall681.0875toregis-ter.Nocharge.

Senior Centers and Meal Sites- 632-2080 - Area sites that offerfun activities, recreation, wellness,exercise, safety programs, sewing,crafts,bingo,andjustplainoldfun.Lunchservedatallsitesfora$1.25donation.Transportationisprovidedtosites,call632-2080tosignupforamealortransporttothesites.

•MyrtleB.PickeringSeniorCen-ter-4017GreenwoodRd,Shreveport.OpenMon-Fri8:30am-3:30pm.

•BlanchardCrossRoadsChurch- 356 Warriner, Blanchard. OpenMon-Wed-Fri9:00am-12noon.

•BroadmoorMethodistChurch- 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.

Minden Senior Center (371-3056 or 1-800-256-2853), 316McIntyreSt.,Minden,LA71055;8amto4pm

Cotton Valley Senior Center(832-4225), Railroad Ave., CottonValley;8:30amto12:30pm

Springhi l l Senior Center(539-2510), 301West Church St.,Springhill;8amto4pm

Transportation – transportingolderpersonstoandfromcommunityfacilitiesandresources.Assistedtrans-portationalsoprovidedandmustbescheduledweeklyinadvance.

Caddo Council on Aging

crafts, educational seminars, andhealthinformation.Also:daytrips,extendedtrips,exercise/danceclasses,bingo, cards, dominoes, healthscreenings,exerciseequipmentroom,Senior Games and Thursdaynightdanceswithaliveband.

MedicationManagement-Sem-inars,brownbagservicesprovidedbypharmacistsandprogramsprovidedbyhealthcareproviders.Drugplanassistanceavailable.

Medicaid Applications - Ap-plicationcenterandassistancefillingout the forms. By appointmentonly.

Open9:30-12:30. • CanaanTowers Apartments

-500NorthDale,Shreveport.OpenMon-Wed-Fri9:30am-12:30pm.

• Cooper Road Commu-nity Center - 1422 MLK Blvd,Shreveport. Open Mon-Friday9:30am-12:30pm

•GreenwoodLibrary-Hwy80,DowntownGreenwood.OpenMon-Fri9:30am-12:30pm

• Mooringsport CommunityCenter-Lattimer Street, Mooring-sport across from the school.OpenTue-Wed-Thurs9:30amto12:30pm

•MorningStarBaptistChurch-5340Jewella,SportOpenMon-Fri9:30am-12:30pm

•NewHillCMEChurch-8725Spring-ridgeTexasLineRd,KeithvilleTue&Thurs10am-1:00pm

• Oil City Community Center-SavageStreet,OilCityOpenMon-Wed-Fri9amtonoon

•VivianCommunityCenter-intheCityPark522E.TennesseeOpenMon-Fri9am-12noon

Webster Council on Aging CongregateMeals–nutritionally

balancedmealsforpersons60+andspouses provided at senior centers,served5daysaweek.

Home-DeliveredMeals–Noonmeal delivered to eligible home-bound elderly (illness, disability orwhile caring for spouse who is), 5daysaweek.

Homemaker services – Pro-videdtothoseclientsmeetingspecificrequirements.

Recreation–Art,crafts,hobbies,games,andtrips.

Wellness–designedtosupport/

improvethesenior’smental/physicalwell-beingthroughexercise,physicalfitness,andhealthscreening.

Family Care-Giver Support– support services that provide atemporarybreakinthetasksofcare-giving.Forfamilycaregiverswhoareprovidingcareforanolderindividualwho is determined to be function-ally impaired because of inabilityto perform instrumental functionsof daily living without substantialsupervision and assistance. Thisserviceisprovidedtopersonscaringforahomeboundrelative60+,fora

relative60+caringforahomeboundchildorgrandchild.

Information and Assistance–Providestheindividualwithcurrentinformation on opportunities andserviceswithinthecommunity.

LegalAssistance–providinglegaladvice,counseling,andrepresentationbyanattorney.Lecturesarescheduledonaquarterlybasis.

Medicaid enrollment center–takeinitialMedicaidapplications

Medical Alert – linking clientswith in-home emergency responsesystem.


con

sum

ER’s

co

RnER by louisiana

attorney GeneralBuddy caldwell

Thereisanewtwisttoidentitytheft-medicalidentitytheft.Medicalidentitytheftcanaffectyourfinancesandyourhealth. Medical identity theft occurswhensomeonestealsyourpersonalin-formationandusesittocommithealthcare fraud.Your personal informationmayincludeyourname,SocialSecurity

number, or your Medicare Identificationnumber.MedicalIdentitythievesmayuseyouridentitytoreceivemedicaltreatment,prescriptiondrugs,orevenscamyour in-

surancecompanybymakingafraudulentclaim.

Repairing damage to your good nameandcreditrecordcanbedifficultenough,butmedical identity theft canhaveotherserious consequences. If a scammer getstreatment in your name, that person’shealth problems could become a part ofyourmedicalrecords.Inaddition,itcouldaffectyourabilitytogetmedicalcareandinsurance benefits, and could even affectdecisionsmadebydoctorstreatingyouinthefuture.Thescamartist’sunpaidmedi-caldebtsalsocouldenduponyourcreditreportmakingyouresponsiblefordisputingthosefraudulentcharges.

Itisextremelyimportanttocatchmedical

identitytheftearlyon.First, read every “Explanation and

Benefits” statement you get from yourhealthinsurer.Followuponanyitemthatyoudonotrecognize.

Atleastonceayear,askthehealthinsurersyou’vebeeninvolvedwithforalistofthebenefitstheypaidinyourname.

Finally,make it a regularpractice tocheckyourcreditreports.Youareentitledtoafreereportfromeachofthethreena-tionwidecompaniesevery12months.Youcanorderyourfreecreditreportfromwww.Annualcreditreport.com.

According to the FederalTrade Com-mission (FTC), the nation’s consumerprotectionagency,youmaybeavictimofmedicalidentitytheftif:

yougetabillformedicalservicesyoudidn’treceive;

a debt collector contacts you aboutmedicaldebtyoudon’towe;

youorderacopyofyourcreditreportandseemedicalcollectionnoticesyoudon’trecognize;

youtrytomakealegitimateinsuranceclaim and your health plan says you’vereachedyourlimitonbenefits;or

youaredeniedinsurancebecauseyourmedicalrecordsshowaconditionyoudon’thave.

If you think thatyoumaybeavictimofmedical identity theft, ask yourhealthcare provider or hospital for your medi-calrecords.Youhavearighttogetcopiesof your current medical files from eachhealthcareprovider,thoughyoumayhavetopay for them.Youalsohavea right tohaveinaccurateorincompleteinformationremoved.

If you are a victimofmedical identitytheft,fileapolicereportwithyourlocallawenforcement agency.Also send thepolicereporttoyourinsurancecompany,medicalprovidersandallthreecreditbureaus.

For more information about medicalidentitytheft,pleasecontacttheLouisianaAttorneyGeneral’sOfficeat800-351-4889orwww.agbuddycaldwell.com.Youshouldalso visit theFederalTrade Commission’swebsiteatwww.ftc.gov.

•

•

•

•••

•

•

avoid medical Identity theft


East texas Eye doctor Helps legally Blind to see againdiplomate in low vision care trains dr. larry chism to help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving.By Elena LombardiFreelance Writer

Carole Buckels wearing bioptic telescope driving glasses.

Paid Advertisement

Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.”

Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquer-que, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more eas-ily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration.

California Optometrist, Dr. Rich-ard J. Shuldiner and East Texas optometrist, Dr. Larry Chism, are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degenera-tion or other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients consider us the last stop for people who have vision loss,” said Dr. Chism, a low vision optometrist who has just completed training with Dr. Shuldiner in California.

“Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the tele-vision better!” Dr. Shuldiner also provided special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read.

Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree

of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images.

When it degenerates, Macular De-generation leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it impos-sible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test.

The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and im-proper nutrition.

Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of pro-gression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins.

A new, proprietary supplement based on the scientific studies is available from these doctors.

Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be sealed with hot or cold laser. Unfortunately it’s a tem-porary fix. Newer treatments, such as Macugen injections try to prevent leakage.

“Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a per-son functioning,” says Dr. Chism. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watch-

ing television, seeing faces, playing bridge…we work with whatever is on the persons “wish list”.

Even if it’s driving. Louisiana and Texas allow the use of telescopic glasses for safer driving.

Carole Buckles, 71 of Arcadia, California came on the advise of a friend. “I wanted to be able to keep driving and do the fun things in life.” One of those fun things is baseball. “I love going to baseball games and now I can see those close plays again,” she says.

Bioptic Telescopic glasses were prescribed to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. As Carole puts it, “These telescope glasses not only allows me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. Definitely worth the $1975 cost. I don’t know why I waited two years to do this; I should have come sooner.”

“Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000”, says Dr. Shuldiner, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass”.

Not all low vision devices are that expensive. Reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires.

Dr. Chism also provides special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read.

Dr. Larry Chism speaks to every patient on the telephone before scheduling the one hour low vision evaluation appointment.

call dr. chism, toll free, at 1-888-243-2020 for a

FREE telephone interview.


Mo

ViN

G f

Ree

Wit

H M

iRA

BAi

by mirabai Holland,

mFa

A too-thick waistline, es-pecially paired with highlevels of a particular fat inthebloodcalledtriglyceridescangreatlyincreaseyourriskofdevelopingcoronaryarterydisease.Triglyceridesarebothproduced by the body andingested through the food

youeat.High triglyceride levels can

increase your risk for heartdiseaseandaremorecommonamong inactive people withlarger waistlines. Normal tri-glyceride levels are below 150mg/dL.Theriskofdevelopingcoronaryarterydiseasedoubleswhen triglyceride levels areabove200mg/dL.

Triglycerides are called the

hidden fat because they aretoo often overshadowed bythehighlypublicizedLDLbadcholesterol.

However triglycerides areabove200mg/dLand “good”(HDL)cholesterolisbelow40mg/dL,apersonisatfourtimestherisk.

Thegoodnewsisthatastudyat Duke University MedicalCenterhasproducedsomesur-prisingandencouragingresults.Moderate aerobic exercise likewalkingahalfhouratleastfivedays a week can significantlyreduce the triglyceride levelsin the blood as well as boostyourHDL(goodcholesterol).Burning200caloriesor soonthathalfhourwalkdoesn’thurteither.

The study also showed that

more intense exercise did help withbelly fatbutproducedonlyhalf thetriglycerideloweringresults.

Somyrecommendationis:consultyour doctor, find your triglycerideslevelandgetclearancetoexercise.

Ifitiselevatedandbellyfatisnotanissuedomoderateaerobicexerciselikebriskwalkingorcardiodance.Ifyoualsohaveextrabellyfat,consideraddingstrengthtrainingexerciseeveryotherdaytohelpyourbodyburnmorefat.

Don’toverdo it.Ease-in.Startwith a fewminutes adayofsomethingfun.Pleasureisthekeytosustainability.

Couplethiswithalowfatdietandmoderatealcoholconsump-tionandyou’vegotarecipeforbetterqualityoflifeandmaybeevenalongerone.Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for people. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. www.easyexercisevideos.com. © 2010

the skinny on your Hidden Fat


Chris Shelby, MDPierremont Eye Institute7843 Youree Dr.Shreveport, LA 1105318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.comSee our ad on page 23.

nuRsInG HomE caRE

Vicki OttNurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center1736 Irving PlaceShreveport, LA 71101(318) 221-1983See our ad on page 17.

John J. Ferrell, M.D.Mid South Orthopaedics7925 Youree Drive; Suite 210Shreveport, LA 71105(318) 424-3400

opHtHalmoloGy

nEuRosuRGERyoRtHopaEdIcs

Dr. Ravish PatwardhanThe Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network8001 Youree Dr., Ste 970Shreveport, LA 71115(318) 797-5543www.neurosurgery.ws

HospIcE

BillBurt,ReverseMortgage ConsultantWellsFargoHomeMortgage8835LineAvenue,Ste100Shreveport,LA71106(318)682-5568www.reverseguy.com

REvERsE moRtGaGEs

Rick BauerLifePath Hospice Care Service8720 Quimper Place, Ste 100Shreveport, LA 71105318-222-5711; 1-866-257-5711www.lifepathhospicecare.comSee our ad on page 15.

In considering a nursing home for future placement of a family member, I am told that I should review the home’s most recent state survey. Where can I obtain one?

Survey results are posted online atwww.medicare.gov/NHCompare.Youmaysearchthesitebycity,zipcode,orthenameoftheparticularhomes.Itwillgiveyouacomparisonofeachhometothestateandnationalaveragesofissuescited.IfyoudonothaveInternetaccess,youmayaskthenursinghomestafftoseethesurveysincehomesarerequiredtodisplay a copyof theirmost recentsurveyinapublicarea.

My daughter has epilepsy. Are there new treatments?

Epilepsyaffects1outof100.Whilemanyhaveseizurescontrolledbymedications,one-thirddon’t.Forthosewhostillhaveseizures,theycan’tdrive,beemployedinunsupervisedpositions,orenjoyindependence(becauseaseizure can occur at any time). For thesepeople,twomorecommonproceduresareoptions.Withcarefulscreeningandamulti-disciplinary team, wehave cured about 8patientsrecentlyusingtemporallobectomy,someofwhohavehadseizuresforover30years...none of these have any permanentproblemsotherwise.Anotheroptionisvagusnervestimulation,whichreducesseizuresbyabout30-60%butrarelycuresthem.Thisinvolves putting a pacemaker-like devicearoundanerveintheneck.

I am 70 years old and am very nearsighted. I noticed that area doctors have been promoting LASIK to correct nearsightedness. Am I a candidate at my age and does Medicare cover any part of the costs?

LASIKisusuallynotafirstoptionforpeopleoverage65becauseofcataracts.ThereisanewMultifocalLensavailablenow called ReStor that allows peoplewithcataractstoseeliketheydidat25!80% of people who have the Restorlensimplantedarecompletelyfreefromglasses.Medicaredoescoversomeofthecostofthenewlens.TofindoutifyouareaReStorcandidate,callourofficeat212-3937forascreeningexam.

What are the symptoms and treatment of torn cartilage?

Meniscustearsarethemostcommonsurgical condition involving the knee.Medialmeniscus(inside)tearsare3-4times more common than lateral tears(outside).Themeniscussupport50%ofthebodyweightwiththekneeextendedand90%withthekneeflexed90°.Be-causethemeniscussupportsbodyweighteveryattemptshouldbemadetorepairormaintainasmuchmeniscustissueaspossible. Popping, giving way, locking,tendernessatthejointline,stiffness,andswellingaresomeofthesigns/symptomsofcartilagetears.Arthroscopicsurgeryisgenerallydoneonanoutpatientbasisandrecoveryisfromafewdaystoaweeks.

Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise it first?

Themostfrequentcommenthospiceagencieshearfromtheirpatient’sandfami-liesis“IwishIwouldhaveknownabout‘it’sooner.”In2008,35.4%ofthoseservedbyhospicediedorweredischargedinsevendaysorless-atimeframewaytooshorttorealizethefullbenefitsofhospicecare.Ide-ally,discussionsaboutaddingthebenefitsofhospiceservicestoanindividual’scareregimen should begin when it appearsthatacuremaynotbepossibleforalife-limitingillnessandwithinthecontextanindividual’sgoalsfortreatment.Itwouldnotonlybeappropriate,butalsoprudentto initiate the conversation with yourphysicianabouthospiceservices.

What are the benefits of a Reverse Mortgage?

Someofthebenefitsofareversemortgageinclude:

retain ownership of & title to yourhome

receive tax-free funds to use howeveryouchoose

receive payments instead of makingthem

receive a lump sum, monthly install-ments,lineofcredit,orcombination

loanproceedsarenotconsideredincomeanddonotaffectSocialSecuritybenefits

proceedsmaybeusedtofundlong-termcareneedsorlongtermcareinsurance

areversemortgagemaybeusedtoen-hanceyourfinancialstrategyforretirement

Fora“FREE”ReverseMortgageGuide,calltollfree1-866-910-8192.

•••••••


pRo

FIlE

In p

Izza

zz by Amanda NewtonOn a recent Saturday morning, the

weather outside might have been lessthancheerful,withacoldwindblowingand a gray sky dropping rain, but theatmosphereinthelobbyoftheOvertonBrooksVAHospital couldn’t havebeenbetter.Thecheerindoorswasduetothelivelymusicprovidedbyavolunteergroupofmusicians known as “TheAntiques.”EachandeverySaturdaytheycanbefoundinthatlobby,performingatwo-hoursetofcountrywesternandgospelmusic. It is theonly

location where you can hear thegroupplay.

Thegroup ismadeupof sevenguitar players: Doug Kolb, KenBowen,MarthaLawrence,FrankJobe, Joe Leach, Jim Kobs andWarrenGrafton.Andfrom10a.m.tonoontheygivepeopleareasontoslowdown,stopandlisten,andwalkonwithasmileontheirfaces.

WarrenGrafton,72,isaretiredsurgicalpathologist.Hefirstjoinedupwiththegroupabout12yearsagowhenhefoundthemplayingatanantiquesstoreinBossierCity,hencethename.

Whentheantiqueshopclosed,thegroupneededanewvenuefortheirweeklyjamses-sion.TheycalleduptheVAandaskediftheycouldperformthere.TheVAadministrationwashappytoobligeandtherest,astheysay,ishistory.

Graftonisquicktopointoutthatthereis no group leader. Everyone contributes

equallytotheweek’sperformance.“Wearealoosekindofgroup,”hesaid.

“Whoever showsupplays andwe just goaroundthegroupandpeoplepickthesongstheywanttosing.”

Graftonhasbeensinginghisentirelife,butdidn’ttakeuptheguitaruntilhewas60.Hefrequentlyperformsforchurches,nurs-inghomesandseniorcitizenlunches.Hesaidthechurchesoftenwanttopayhim,buthe

alwaysjustasksthattheymakeadonationtohis favoritenon-profit initiative,ReachOutandRead,instead.

Graftonhasahugenotebookfilledwithsongsthathebringseachweek.Whilesomepeoplemightnot like the thoughtof lug-gingaguitarandheavynotebookaround,Graftonwouldn’tmissit.

“ThisisthemostfunthatIhaveallweek.IlookforwardtoSaturdaymornings.”

MarthaLawrence,67,isthelonefemaleinthegroupbutseemstomeshquitewell

withallthemen.Whenaskedtogatherforapicture,itislittlewonderthatallthemengatheredaroundher,assheistheprettiestone(withtheprettiestguitar,too).SheplaysinavarietyofjamsessionsbutreallylovesherSaturdaymorningsplayingwiththegroup.

“IhavemissedveryfewSaturdaysupattheVA.Ilovetoplay.Wedon’ttakeitrealserious;itisjustaveryrelaxedthing,”shesaid.

Lawrencehasalwaysbeenabletocarryatuneandlovestospendherfreetimeathomesingingandplaying the guitar. She recentlyimpressedher twogrowndaugh-ters by taking on a new musicalchallenge.

“They areboth impressed thatI am now learning how to playtheviolin.JoeLeachusedtobuildviolinsandheisteachingmehowtoplay. It ismuchmoredifficultthan the guitar,” she said with alaugh.

Lawrence and her husbandvolunteer for Habitat for Humanity andworkingonahousemightsometimespro-hibitherfromplayingwiththegroup,butthatdoesn’thappenoftenifshecanhelpit.

“Playingmusic is justwhat I do and Iwouldmuchratherbeuphereplayingthandoingjustaboutanythingelse.”

WhenbandmemberJimKobs,83,retiredfromrunninghisownbusinessin1983,itenabledhimtogetbacktoplayingtheguitar,somethinghehadn’tdonesinceleavingthemilitaryin1954.Itwasinthemilitarythat

“the antiques” provide Great music & a lot of Fun


hefirstgotatasteofplayingprofessionally.In1952,whileinamilitaryband,hespent$280,“alotofmoneybackthen,”tobuythebestguitaravailableatthetime,aGibson.

KobsdoesmissoutonSaturdaysplayingwith“TheAntiques”inthesummer,whenheandhiswifetravelupnorthintheirRVtoWisconsin.Whileoutoftown,Kobsstillfindsmanyopportunitiestoplaytheguitarandentertainpeople.

“IplaydancemusicregularlyataresortinDanbury,Wis.,andalsomanagetoattendquiteafewmusicfestivalsonourtripsnorth.Thegreatthingaboutmusicfestivalsisthattherearelotsofjamsessionsgoingonandyoucanjustgofromgrouptogroupuntilyoufindonethatplaysthekindofmusicyouliketoplay.”

Kobs is originally fromMinnesota andwhenaskedhowhemanagedtoendupwaydown south in Louisiana, he had a greatexplanationforhismigration.

“I got on a troop transport train (afterjoining themilitary) upnorth in JanuaryandcamedownsouthtoabaseinTexas.Igotthereandyoucouldstillkickupdustwith your foot; the ground wasn’t frozensolid.ThenImetarealprettysoutherngirlandthenhermothercookedmesouthernfriedchicken.ThatwasthreestrikesagainstMinnesota.”

DouglasKolb,58,hasbeenplayingtheguitarsincehewas16yearsold.Hisfathertaughthimhowanditisaskillthathehasalwaysappreciatedhaving.Hestillremem-berspaying$35forhisfirstguitar,purchasedfromtheWesternAuto,anditdidn’tevenhaveabrandnameonit.

Kolb, an employee at Northwest StateUniversity,hasbeenplayingwith“TheAn-tiques”almostsincethegroupfirstformed.Helikesthegroupandlikesthetalentwithinthegroup,hesaid.

“Theyallseemlikegoodfolksandthey

keepgoodrhythm,andthatisveryimpor-tant,”hesaidofthegroup.“Itistruethatthemore youplaywithotherpeople, themoreyou learn.Playingwithothershelpsyourrhythmimprove.”

Kolbsaidhealwayskeepsaguitarsittingoutonhiscouchathomeandpicksitupwhenever something new pops into hishead.Asfarashismusicaltastegoes,heisprettyopen.

“Ilikeplayingcountryandgospel,butIwillplayalittlebitofanythingthatisgoodmusic.”

Ontherecentmorningwhentheweather

outsidewasmuchlessthanperfect,anursestoppedKolbinthehallofthehospitalandsaidhowgladshewas that thegrouphadcometoplaythatday,despitetheelements.Judgingfromhowmuchfunthegrouphastogether,itishardtoimaginethereismuchthatwouldkeepthemaway.

“Seeingpeopleenjoythemusicjustmakesallthedifference,”Kolbsaid.

IfyoufindyourselfinthevicinityoftheVAHospitalonaSaturdaymorning,stopbyand listen.Youwillbe treated togreatmusicandthe joyofseeingpeoplewithalotoftalentgivebackbysharingit.

Each office independently owned and operated. © 2009 CK Franchising, Inc.

W e A r e C o m f o r t K e e p e r s®

W W W . C o m f o r t K e e p e r s . C o m

In-Home Care tHat’s

Call Us Today!318-934-0090


tRav

EltI

zERs

Texas’FrenchHamletCastroville,Texas,25mileswestofSan

Antonio,wassettledinthemid-1840sbyfolksfromtheFrenchprovincesofAlsaceand Lorraine. Like their homeland, thisareaofTexasboastsfertilefarmlandtuckedbetweenariverandthemountains.

Theweather,however,isdifferent-afactofwhichthenewcomerswereunaware.Theybuilthousestoppedwithsteep,snow-shed-

dingroofslikethoseinAlsace,notrealizinghowunnecessarythiswouldbeinsouthernTexas.TheVisitorsCenterdistributesafreebookletthatdetailsthehistoryofmanyofthesehomes,aswellasthatofthechurch,schoolhouse,store,saloonandhotel.

Novisit toFrance,whether inEuropeorTexas, would be complete withoutgreat food. Castroville boasts two Frenchrestaurants extraordinaire- La Normandie, whichspecializesintraditionalFrenchcuisine,andTheAlsatian,whichfeatures“German food with aFrenchflair.”Contact the Castroville Chamber of Commerce at

Story by Andrea GrossPhotos by Irv Green

traveling the World Without a passportThe street is lined with quaint little houses, and a gracefully Gothic Catholic Church domi-

nates the town square. “Bonjour,” says a woman, as she strolls by, a fresh baguette in her mesh bag. I smile, feeling as if I’m in a small French village. Instead I’m in southern Texas, indulging in one of my current, recession-induced passions. I’m exploring the world without

leaving the United States. To date I’ve “visited” more than 20 countries on four continents, all without once using my passport. Below, four of the best:

What’s Next provides an excellent marketing venue for those wishing to reach influential people and companies serving the needs of baby boomers and seniors.The 2010 program will showcase the cutting edge tools, business models, and go-to-market strategies that boomer-centric organizations need to achieve successin today’s marketplace.

Join the prestigious organizations proudly sponsoring and exhibiting at the 2010 What’s Next Boomer Business Summit:

March 19, 2010, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, IL.

The Seventh Annual What’s Next Boomer Business Summit

A S� cial InvitationA S� cial Invitationfor readers of this publication in partnership with Mary Furlong

Register NOW!Seats are going fast!

To receive a special rate enter discount code: MPR9

Microsoft ®

Caring.com

i.e. – Innovating Engagement

firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond ®

Southwest Airlines

Verizon

Posit Science

Myine Electronics

ReadHowYouWant

Wellcore

AARP

SeniorCareMarketer.com

Sign-up for the Boomer Business Summit, March 19Mary Furlong, ProducerWhat’s Next Boomer Business Summit(415) 902-8671 or [email protected] more information about the What’s Next Boomer Business Summit,visit www.boomersummit.com.

(800) 778-6775 or www.castroville.com.

Florida’sGreekGulfSure, Disney World has theme parks

that showcase far-off lands, but Disney’sworlds are make-believe.Tarpon Springs,100 miles west of Orlando, is the realdeal-agenuineGreekcommunitysettledby Greekislanders,whocametoFloridain

theearly1900stodiveforsponges.

Today boats takevisitors out on thewaterforsponge-div-ing demonstrations,whilethetown’smainstreet, Dodecanese

Boulevard, has shops


mer, street fairs feature lively Portuguesedancing.

ThePortuguesefirstcametoNewEng-landintheearly1800s,sea-savvyworkersonYankeewhalingships.Time-travelbacktothosedaysattheNewBedfordWhalingMuseum to view the skeleton of a giantbluewhaleandclimbintothefo’c’sle[livingquarters]ofawhalingship.

Then, for a glimpseof today’sEurope,meanderthroughneighborhoodsfilledwithsmallMediterraneangardensrepletewithfigtreesandgrapearbors.

The historic area of Fall River has aLisbon-feel with cobblestoned sidewalks,globe-shaped streetlights and, best of all,performerswhosingfado[Portuguesesongsofloveandloss].Contact the Southeastern Massachusetts Con-

vention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 288-6263 or www.bristol-county.org.

Kentucky’sAustralianOutbackAussieanimalsandAus-

sie customs prevail in theunlikely“outback”ofsouth-central Kentucky, where

Judy and BillAustin havecreated Ken-tucky DownUn d e r, a na t t r a c t i o nthat appealsas much toadults as tochildren.

Cove r ing600-acres,theparkhopswithhoppingwithkangaroos,someofwhichareamenabletobeingpetted.Therearealsovisitor-friendlyemus(whichlooksuspiciouslylikeSesameStreet’sBigBird)aswellassheepandthebordercolliesneededtoherdthemduringregularly-scheduleddemonstrations.

But KDU is much more than a zoowithanAustraliantheme;it’salsoaplacetolearnaboutAboriginalculture.VisitorscanlistentoAboriginalstories,participatein traditional dances, sling a boomerangor play a didgeridoo (a large bamboo orwoodentrumpet).

Allinall,avisittoKDUisquitearipper,astheAussieswouldsay.Contact KDU at (800) 762-2869 or www.kdu.com. Admission.

filledwithspongesofallshapesandsizes.OtherstoresfeatureMediterraneanimports,while restaurants offer to-die-for souvlaki(skewedmeat andvegetables) and spana-kopita(apastrywithspinachandfeta).Atnightthere’sbellydancing.

Butthetown’sHelleniccharacterisstron-gestinthenearbyneighborhoods,wherethemarketsarefilledwithKalamataolivesandsesamecandy,oldfolkstellstorieslacedwithGreekwords,andsmallshrinesaretuckedawayinhiddencourtyards.Contact the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce at (727)-937-6109 or www.tarponspringschamber.com.

Massachusetts’PortuguesePocket

The yeasty aroma of bolos levedos[Portuguese muffins]fills the air in NewBedford and Fa l lRiver, Massachusetts,whilerestaurantsserveheartyportionsofba-calhau assado [saltedcodfish]andescalopesa angolana [Angolanscallops].Inthesum-


The organ starts to play and you’renervous.

You shouldn’t be, though.You’re inloveandthisquickly-assembledLasVegasweddingprovesit.You’vegottheministerwhobarelyknowsyouandyou’restandinginachapelyou’veneverseenbefore.

Ifthat’snotlove,whatis?You’veevengotElvisholdingtheweddingring.

No,notsomeonewholookslikeElvis.TherealElvis,andhepaidforthewedding,justashepaidforyournose.Hisgenerositydidn’tsurpriseyou,though.It’ssomethingaguygetsusedto,asyou’llseeinthenewbook“Elvis:MyBestMan”byGeorgeKleinwithChuckCrisafulli.

WhenGeorgeKleinwasyoung,hewasfascinated with music and the radio DJsthatplayedit.Moreover,hewasfascinatedbyanemerging“fad”calledrockandroll.Kleinknewhewantedtobepartofthat,

and it set the course of his life. Thoughhe’d gone to school with Elvis Presley, itwas through radio thathegottoknowPresleywell.

AndwhenKleinlostthatcovetedradiojob,Elvis spontaneouslystepped in and hiredhim as a “travelingcompanion”.

Elvis’motherdidn’twant her son in anairplane, so Elvisand Klein traveledby car and train toconcerts(therestoftheentourageoftencaughtflights).Be-cause they sharedrooms as well astime, the two be-came close. Kleinsupported the singer, counseled him,andbroughtgirlstohotelpartiesheldwithchastekissesandnoalcohol.

Butthesupportwentbothways.When-everKleinfeltthepullofradio,Elvisalwaysurgedhimtoreturntothatcareer,butwithanopen-doorinvitation:Kleincouldreturntothefoldanytime.

Andhedid.WhocouldgiveupthelifeofaKing?

ElvisPresley,saysKlein,wasthekindofguywhogavepeoplecarsandposedforner-vousfans’cameras.Hewasagentlemanlyladies’manwhorespectedhisdate’sprivacy.ButElviswaseasilyangered,quicklyjealous,

tHE

Bo

oK

Wo

Rm

“Elvis: my Best man” by George Klein with chuck crisafulli

©2010 Crown Books $25.00 307 pages, includes index

by terri

schlichenmeyer

andhismoodcouldgodarkinablink.HewasastaranddemandedtreatmentassuchbutKleinstuckbyhim,asfriendsdo.

Then, in a quirk-of-fate, circle-of-life way,Klein learned from aradioDJthathisfriendwasdead.

Ifinditamazingthat,thirty-plus years afterPresley’sdeath,peoplearestill writing books abouthim.Inthecaseof“Elvis:MyBestMan”,I’mglad.

Not just another my-friend-Elvis memoir, thisbook is really only halfdedicated to Presley. Inaddition to anecdotes andlittle-known insider tidbitsaboutElvis,authorsGeorgeKlein andChuckCrisafullialsotellthestoryofrock&rollandthebirthofakindof

radiowecan’timaginelivingwithout.Whatmakesthisstorywonderfulisthatit’slively,gently-told,andnotonebitpandering.

If“LongLivetheKing”isyourmantraandyoucan’thelpfallinginlovewithbooksabouthim,you’lldefinitelywantthisone.Missingthis“Elvis:MyBestMan”mightmakeyouallshookup.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books.


This is yourLouisiana.

Come discover the magic of your Louisiana. The food, the music, the

art, the festivals, the state parks, the history...they’re not just for visitors. Go to LouisianaTravel.com to learn more about “Your Louisiana” today.

© 2008 The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Louisiana Main Street Communities Louisiana Main Street is a community-driven revitalization program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional commercial districts in Louisiana. “Main Street” improves downtown economic management in fun places to visit for tourists and residents alike. There are nearly three dozen Main Street communities statewide.

* Eunice sits in the heart of what’s called southwest Louisiana’s “Cajun Prairie.” Among offerings are the Jean Lafitte Prairie Cajun Cultural Center museum and the historic Liberty Theater’s weekly “Rendezvous des Cajun” music show.

* Pontchatoula, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, boasts a quaint downtown antiques and arts district. The town each spring also hosts the Louisiana Strawberry Festival, of the state’s biggest food and music celebrations.

* Natchitoches, established in 1714, is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Visitors to the central Louisiana city find shopping and entertainment downtown and historic Creole plantations on the town’s outskirts.

For information on Louisiana Main Street communities and the Main Street program, visit www.crt.state.la.us/hp and www.louisianatravel.com.

al Bolton’s Weather Facts for thought

Thesnowcoverwasmostinter-esting to see on Friday, February12th.TheShreveportWeatherOfficemeasured 5.4 inches. Shreveport’sheaviestsnowfallofrecordwas11inches, measured on the 21st and22ndofDecember,1929.OurlatestsnowfallofrecordwasonApril12,1933,but itwas just a trace...notenoughtomeasure.

Have you ever been curiousabouttheshapeofaraindrop?Highspeed photographs taken whenraindrops were near the groundshow themtobeflattenedon thebottom with a mushroom shapetop.Itencounterstheresistanceoftheairwhichflattensthebottomofthedropandcauses it tobulgeatthetop.Araindropisgenerallylessthan2/100ofaninchindiameter,but they can only get so large. Ifit’slargerthan¼ofaninch,itwillbreakup intosmallerdropswhenmeetingairresistance.

WhatdoyouthinkwecanexpectduringthemonthofMarch?AsforMarchrecords,ourhottestMarchtemperaturewas92°onthe31stin1974.ColdestMarchtemperaturewas15°recordedonMarch3,1943.Our wettest March of record was12 inches in 1945. Last March,our warmest temperature was 83°on the 10th. Coldest temperaturewas29°onthe1st.Rainfallmeasure6.48inches.NormalMarchrainfallis4.15inches.

I know you’ve noticed that thedaysaregettingalittlelonger.OnMarch1st,sunriseisat6:43.Sunsetisat6:13.OnMarch31st,sunriseisat6:05.Sunsetisat6:34.

Thisfootnote:TheSpringseasonwillbeginonMarch20th.Al Bolton, a member of the American Meteorological Society and the Na-tional Weather Assn, began reporting with KSLA-TV in Feb. 1954 and for The Best of Times in Feb. 2002.


WH

at’s

co

oK

InG

?

Italian-Style Soup With Turkey SausagePrep: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings1tablespoonoliveoil8ouncessweetorhotItalian-styleturkey sausage,cutinto½inchthickslices½cupchoppedonion1can(32ounces)reducedsodiumchicken broth1can(15½ounces)redkidneybeans,rinsed anddrained1can(141/2ounces)nosaltaddeddiced tomatoes,undrained1teaspoonOreganoLeaves1teaspoonRosemaryLeaves,finelycrushed1teaspoonThymeLeaves1package(6ounces)babyspinachleaves½cupuncookedsmallpasta,suchasmini bowtiesorelbows

1.Heatoilinlargesaucepanonmediumheat.Addsausage;cookandstir3minutes.Addonion;cookandstir3minuteslongeroruntilonionistenderandsausageisbrowned.

2.Pourchickenbroth,beansandtomatoesintosaucepan.Stirinoregano,rosemaryandthyme.Bringtoboil.Reduceheattolow;sim-mer10minutes.

3.Stirinspinachandpasta.Returntoboilonmedium-highheat.Reduceheattolow;coverandsimmer10minutesoruntilpastaistender.

Mediterranean-Spiced Artichoke Bake

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes. Makes 8 (2 Tbs. servings)

1teaspoonGarlicPowder1teaspoonOreganoLeaves½teaspoonRosemaryLeaves,crushed½teaspoonThymeLeaves,crushed1package(8ounces)frozenartichoke

hearts,thawed,coarselychopped3ouncesNeufchâtelcheese,1/3less

fatthancreamcheese,softened1/3cupreducedfatmayonnaise1/3cupgratedParmesancheese2tablespoonsslicedgreenonion

(optional)2tablespoonschoppedtomato

(optional)1.Preheatovento350°F.Mixgarlic

powder,oregano,rosemaryandthymeinsmallbowl.Setaside.

2. Place artichoke hearts in foodprocessor; cover. Process until finelychopped. Add cream cheese, mayon-naise,Parmesancheeseandherbmixture;cover.Processuntilwellmixed.Spreadmixtureevenlyin9-inchpieplate.

3.Bake15minutesoruntilmixtureisheatedthroughandedgesaregoldenbrown.Sprinklewithgreenonionandtomato,ifdesired.Servewithpitawedgesorassortedcrackers,asdesired.

Mediterranean-Style Stuffed PeppersPrep: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1¼ hours

Makes 8 servings2teaspoonsRosemaryLeaves,finelycrushed1teaspoonGroundCinnamon1teaspoonOreganoLeaves½teaspoonseasalt1poundleangroundbeef1can(14ounces)nosalttomatosauce1/3cupgoldenraisins¼cuptoastedsliveredalmonds1cupcookedbrownrice1egg,beaten4mediumgreenbellpeppers,halved lengthwise,stemandseedsremoved½cupcrumbledreducedfatfetacheese

1.Mixrosemary,cinnamon,oreganoandseasaltinsmallbowl.Setaside.Cookgroundbeefinlargeskilletonmedium-highheat5to7minutesoruntilnolongerpink,stirringoccasionallytobreakupmeat.Drainfat.Addspicemixture;cookandstir1minute.

2.Stirintomatosauce,raisinsandalmonds.Bringtoboil.Removefromheat.Addriceandegg;mixwell.Arrangebellpepperhalves,cut-sideup,in13x9-inchbakingdish.Spoonbeefmixtureevenlyintobellpepperhalves.Pour1/4cupwaterintodish.Coverwithfoil.

3.Bakeinpreheated375°Foven45minutesoruntilbellpeppersaretender.Sprinklefillingwithfetacheese.Bake,uncovered,12to15minuteslongeroruntilcheeseislightlybrowned.

Savor the Flavors of the MedITerrAneAn

Mediterraneancuisine,featuringabundantfruitsandvegetables,andrichlyflavoredwithherbsandspices,ishailedbychefs,nutritionistsandhealth-mindedAmericansasthe“goldstandard”ofhealthyeating.HereareafeweasytipstohelpspiceupmealstheMediterraneanway:

Makegreattastingroastedchicken.Beforeroasting,brushchickenwitholiveoil.Sprinklealloverwith2teaspoonscrushedrosemaryleaves,½teaspoonthymeleaves,seasaltandgroundblackpepper.

MakeaGreekvinaigrettedressingbystirring½teaspoonoreganoleavesand1to2tablespoonsreduced-fatfetacheeseinto½cupbottledvinaigrettedressing.

ServebreadwithMediterraneanspicedoliveoil.Mix¼cupoliveoil,1teaspoongratedParmesancheese,½teaspoongarlicpowder,1/8teaspooncrushedredpepperandseasalttotasteinsmallshallowdish.Find more simple, flavorful ideas at www.spicesforhealth.com. (Family Features)

•

••


BYTEDKOOSERU.S.POETLAUREATE,2004-2006

As we all know, getting older isn’t hard to do. Time continues on. In this poem, Deborah

Warren of Massachusetts asks us to think about the life lived between our past and present selves, as indicated in the marginal comments of an old book. There’s something beautiful about books allowing us to talk to who we once were, and this poem captures this beauty.

MarginaliaFinding an old book on a basement shelf --

gray, spine bent -- and reading it again,I met my former, unfamiliar, self,

some of her notes and scrawls so alien

that, though I tried, I couldn’t get (behindthis gloss or that) back to the time she wroteto guess what experiences she had in mind,

the living context of some scribbled note;

or see the girl beneath the purple inkwho chose this phrase or that to underline,

the mood, the boy, that lay behind her thinking --but they were thoughts I recognized as mine;

and though there were words I couldn’t even read,blobs and cross-outs; and though not a jotremained of her old existence -- I agreed

with the young annotator’s every thought:

A clever girl. So what would she see fitto comment on -- and what would she have to say

about the years that she and I have writtensince -- before we put the book away?

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright (c)2008 by Deborah Warren, whose most recent book of poems is “Dream with Flowers and Bowl of Fruit,” University of Evansville Press, 2008. Poem reprinted from the “Hudson Review,” Vol. LXI, no. 3, Autumn 2008, and reprinted by permission of the author and publisher. Introduction copyright (c)2009 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

American Life in Poetry


Health andWellness Fair – Screen-ing for vision, hearing, blood pressure,cholesterol, bone density and many oth-ers! Saturday March 6 from 10 am - 3pm.LSUHSC-SSchoolofAlliedHealthProfessions – 1450 Claiborne Avenue,Shreveport.Opentothepublicofallages– “mini” hospital activities for children;freegiveawaysandsnacks.Freeofcharge!Pleasebringacannedgoodtobedonatedto the Food Bank of Northwest Louisi-ana.Amap anddirections canbe foundonline at www.medcom.lsuhscshreveport.edu/cfide/alliedhealth

LaBoheme-March13,2010.River-view Theatre, 600 Clyde Fant Parkway,Shreveport.7:30p.m.AccordingtoOperaAmerica, it isthesecondmostfrequentlyperformedoperaintheUnitedStates,justbehind Madama Butterfly.The story issetinParisintheperiodaround1830.Itessentiallyfocusesonthelovebetweentheseamstress calledMimì and thepoetRo-dolfo.Theyalmostimmediatelyfallinlovewith eachother, butRodolfo laterwantsto leave Mimì because of her flirtatiousbehavior.However,Mimìalsohappenstobemortallyill,andRodolfoalsofeelsguilt,sincetheirlifetogetherlikelyhadworsenedherhealthevenfurther.TheyreuniteforabriefmomentattheendbeforeMimìdies.$10-$85.(318)227-9503.

Shreveport Opera Xpress (SOX)-Barnes&Noble-March19,7:00p.m.FREE.

seminar

Benefits

driving class Health FairAARPDriver SafetyProgram -An8

hourclassroomrefreshercoursefordriversage50+whichmayqualifyparticipantsforanautomobile insurancepremiumreduc-tionordiscount.Where2daysarelisted,participantsmustattendbothdays.Partici-pantsmustpreregister.$14fornon-AARPmembers;$12forAARPmembers(AARPcardrequiredatregistration).

March 4 - 8:30 a.m. 4 Hour Class.Summer Grove Baptist Church, 8924JewellaAve.,Shreveport.Contact:MurrayHodge 318-686-1470; Instructor: RayBranton.

March 11- 12:00 Noon. Four HourClass. Bossier Council on Aging, 706BearkatDr.,BossierCity.Contact:KathyThomas–318-741-8302;Instructor:RayBranton.

March 29 - 8:30 a.m. Four HourClass. Broadmoor Baptist Church, 4110Youree Drive, Shreveport. Contact: Sue–868-6552,ext.143;Instructor:MalcolmG.Parker.

CirquedelaSymphonie-ShreveportSymphony. Friday, March 5. 7:30 PM.RiverviewTheater,500ClydeFantParkway,Shreveport. Music and motion united asnever before! An international array ofbreathtakingaerialfliers,acrobats,jugglers,anddancersstrikeaRESOUNDingchordwithyour innerchild.MusicbyDvorak,Bizet,JohnWilliams,andmanyothers.Thisproductioniswinningravesfromsold-outaudiences across the country. $40 - $15.Call318-227-TUNE(8863).

•

•

•

opera

symphony

VeteransBenefitsSeminar-Wednesday,March31st at10:30 amatHorizonBayat2540BeeneBlvd inBossierCity.Freeadmission,butseatsarelimited.Call(318)747-2114toreserveyourfreeseatatthisin-formationalseminartolearnaboutveterans’benefitsforyouoryourlovedone.

MonopolyforMeals-Saturday,March27.6:00p.m.BenefittingCaddoCouncilon Aging Meals on Wheels program.Sponsored by Chesapeake Energy at theElDoradoCasinoandHotel.Guestswillbe wined and dined, followed by speedMonopoly forprizes.Table (for6)Spon-sorship$500.IndividualTickets$60each.Dress is business casual, or cocktail-lite,yourchoice!Foradditionalinformationortosecureatableorindividualtickets,call318.632.2090 or go online to www.cad-docoa.orgtopurchaseticketson-line.

March for Meals - March 24th @ 12noon.TheMarchwillbeginonTexasStreetin front of the courthouse, marching tothe entertainmentdistrict under theRedRiverBridge.BringyourcontributionandwalkingshoestothecourthouseonTexasStreet..sonoseniorgoeshungryinCaddoParish!Ifyoucan’tfindyourwalkingshoesonMarch24th,mailyourdonationto4015GreenwoodRoad,Shreveport,LA71109.Yourdonationwillbe100%taxdeductible.AlsoonThursdayMarch25thatRaisingCanes,15%oftheproceedsofallsalesfrom3pm-7pmwillbedonatedtotheMealsonWheelsProgram.


theatre

by Bernard SladeJANUARY 8 - 17, 2010Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm

by Marc Camoletti adapted by Robin HawdonAPRIL 30 - MAY 9, 2010Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm

MORE SHOWS... MORE FUN 2009-2010

by Ray CooneyNOVEMBER 6 - 15, 2009Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm

It Runs Familyin the

Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. SchultzDECEMBER 3 - 13, 2009

Music & Lyrics by Roger Miller Book by William HauptmanFEBRUARY 11 - 21, 2010

A CHRISTMAS CAROLBased on the Novel by Charles DickensDECEMBER 17 - JANUARY 2, 2010

SLT Lagniappe SERIES

by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten

MARCH 5 - 14, 2010Fri - Sat 8pm I Sun 2pm

For more information or to purchase tickets, call our Box Office at

424-4439

visual arts

silver screenings

“The Dixie Swim Club” - Presentedby Shreveport Little Theatre and stagedatWomen’sDepartmentClub,802Mar-garetPl.,Shreveport.March5,6,12,13at8p.m.March7and14at2p.m.FiveSouthernwomen,whosefriendshipsbeganmanyyearsagoontheircollegeswimteam,setasidea longweekendeveryAugust torechargethoserelationships.It’sahilariousandtouchingcomedyaboutfriendshipsthatlastforever.Call424-4439fortickets.

“Vertigo” -Tuesday, March 16th at10:30 am. at the Robinson Film Center,locatedat617TexasindowntownShreve-port. Monthly senior citizen matineeand lunch. Additional activites include amini-healthfair,aswellasnumerousdoorprizedrawings.The$14priceperpersonincludesthefeaturefilmandlunchatAbbeySinger’s Bistro.To reserve tickets for thisSilver Screenings event, please call (318)459-4122.Seatingis limitedandreserva-tionsarerequired.

Purse and the Person: A Century ofWomen’sPurses-ThroughSunday,April18.Monday-Friday,9am-4pm;Satur-day-Sunday,Noon-4pm.PresentedbyLouisiana State Exhibit Museum, 3015Greenwood Road, Shreveport. FREE!318-632-2020.

Fantasies and Fairy-Tales: MaxfieldParrishandtheArtofthePrint-ThroughSunday,April11.TuesdaythroughFriday,10amto5pm;SaturdayandSunday,1pmto5pm.PresentedbyR.W.NortonArtGallery,4747CreswellAvenue,Shreveport.FREE!318-865-4201.

FirstSaturdayTourSeries-NortonArtGallery, 4747 Creswell Ave., Shreveport.First Saturday of every month at 2:00 -3:00p.m.Alltoursmeetinthelobby.Noreservationisrequired,thoughgroupsof10ormoreareaskedtocallahead.Thistour,likealltoursandadmissiontotheNorton,isFREEofcharge.

Saturday,March6-2:00p.m.GreatArtistsWhoJustHappentoBeWomen.Ex-ploreworksbythefairersexincludingMaryCassatt,RosaBonheur,AngelicaKauffman,KatherineAugustaCarl,andothers.

•


puzz

lE p

aG

EsBy Peter Wentz; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

(Solutiononpage51)

ACROSS1 Kept afloat7 Big sizes13 Things drawn across windows19 Like books for long- distance road trips20 Bob Hope Airport city21 Savor22 Martial artist’s autobio- graphy?24 Combo wager

25 “Attention!”26 1973 Stones ballad27 Columnist Bombeck29 Short timetable?30 Theater level32 Foofaraw33 Formal orders36 “College GameDay” football analyst Corso37 Protest against fiery roadsters?40 Neruda works42 ATF employee45 Like dried soil46 Emotional work47 Try to keep, as a title49 Madden coached them in the ‘70s51 Pirate riches53 When Hamlet feigns insanity56 Not marked up57 Really cool security device?60 Mortar trough61 “Classic” drinks62 “The queen of sciences”: Gauss63 Thought- revealing drama techniques64 Genre of the band Fall Out Boy65 Charlemagne’s reign: Abbr.66 Come out with

67 Check for authenticity68 Sibs, uncs, etc.69 Boxing writer Fleischer70 Piercing cry73 Storage facility75 Curing solution77 Vow after reading vows78 Price tag in the meat department?80 Entrepreneur’s goal81 LL Cool J label83 Actor Feldman or Haim84 Jewish pancake85 Alarm setting for one with a paper route, maybe88 Strew seed89 Globule90 That ship91 __ brulée: custard dessert93 Communication from perverts?97 Over there, back when98 Gear on the slopes100 Google had one in Aug. 2004101 W. Coast enforcer104 Letter sign-off106 Organic compound107 “__ the Boys”: Katy Perry album109 Didn’t hold, as dyes111 It’ll put you under113 Competition for greased-up pooches?117 Energizes118 Sky lights119 “Knocked Up” director Judd120 Does an usher’s job121 Football bettor’s concern122 Buds at sea

DOWn1 Inclusive choice2 Doff a bowler3 Castmate of Gasteyer, Ferrell et al.4 Gas bag5 Dermal opening6 Prefix with -gon7 Son8 Impulse9 W.’s degree10 Blackball11 Batting next12 Got around13 Night vision?14 Latin king15 “Unfortunately ...”16 Preserved a liquor bottle?17 High regard18 Hipster’s accessory20 It may be circled on a calendar23 Special gifts28 Remote control?31 Break

33 Got a B-minus, say34 Summer refresher35 Traces38 Tavern flier39 Hound41 Niagara Falls prov.42 Spider, e.g.43 Drink named for a football team44 Aggressive policy to increase box office sales?48 Phase50 John or Jane51 Series of jokes52 Football stat.54 Emulate Don Juan55 Gas mileage calculating aid57 Can’t tell which __ up58 Onions partner59 Had too much62 Old school add-

on?66 Humiliate70 They may be close71 And so forth: Abbr.72 Convention booths73 Misrepresents74 “I’m talking to you!”75 Like some gowns76 Director Howard79 Swindler80 Seating __82 Bowie at the Alamo84 Parent’s reminder86 J __ Juliet87 Brunch drinks89 Humans and ostriches, e.g.91 Many a sci-fi villain92 Former “At the Movies” co-host94 Bring to the

majors95 “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer O’Connor96 Experimental runner99 Stays fresh102 Fundraising dinner unit103 Plastic duck, e.g.105 Subdue by shocking107 Fried Cajun veggie108 Flat beer’s lack110 Mountain __: sodas112 King whose tomb was found in 1922114 Bargain bin abbr.115 “Take This Job and Shove It” songwriter David Allan __116 College résumé fig.

GRoss IncomE


SUDOKU - Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9.

(Solutiononpage51)

BasketballBeer

CloverEmeraldFlowersGreen

Holiday

IdesIreland

IrishLambLentLionLuck

Senior Care at Brentwood Hospital

Call us, we can help!

BrentwoodSenior Care Unit(318) 678-7500

Warning SignsThat May Indicate the Need for Treatment

• Depression, extreme sadness• Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating• Hallucinations; hearing voices• Misuse of alcohol or medications• Disorientation• Numerous unexplained physical ailments• Difficulties coping with daily living• Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness

Levels of Care• Inpatient

• Partial Hospitalization(Day Treatment)

• Outpatient

MarchMadnessPisces

PotofGoldSaintPatrickShamrocks

SpringWindy

�0 March 2010 TheBestOfTimesNews.comTheBestOfTimesNews.com

Ambulance services

Balentine Ambulance service

(318) 222-5358

Artificial Limbs and Braces

snell’s Orthotics and

Prosthetics(318) 424-4167

Associations and

Organizations

Aging & Disability Resource Center(318) 632-59001-800-793-1198

BluePrint Louisiana

(866) 483-3920

Bossier Council on Aging(318) 741-8302

Caddo Council on Aging

(318) 632-2090

shreveport Little Theatre(318) 424-4439

shreveport Opera

(318) 227-9503

shreveport symphony(318) 222-7496

The Robinson Film Center

(318) 424-9090

The Best of Times (318) 636-5510

webster Council on Aging

(318) 371-3056

Care Providers

Comfort Keepers(318) 934-0090

elite Health solutions

(318) 213-5483

entrum Care, Inc.(318) 949-1828(866) 949-1828

Family Care services(318) 671-1799

Home Assistance

services (318) 682-8182

Interim Healthstyles

(318) 741-3776

Northwest LA INCs, LLC(318) 636-0390

ResCare Home Care

(318) 678-1890

seniors Club Personal Care services

(318) 635-0010

Cemeteries/Funeral Homes

Centuries Memorial

(318) 686-4334

Hill Crest Memorial(318) 949-9415

Counseling services

The Center for Families

(318) 222-0759

educational Courses

Bible Correspondence Course

(318) 797-6333

emergency Response systems

Acadian OnCall1-800-259-1234

Financial & estate

Planning/Legal services

serio InvestmentsPhillip serio

(318) 221-0889

The Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul(318) 222-2100

Flowers

Flowers Forever, LLC(318) 925-2323

Hearing Care services

Better Hearing systems

(318) 747-9191

shreve Hearing Aid service

(318) 797-7733

Home and Business Products and services

Gutter Helmet of North

Louisiana(800) 284-9777

stanley steamer Carpet

Cleaner(318) 631-6655

Home Health Care

(Medicare Certified)

Ark-La-Tex Home Health, Inc

(318) 747-6180

Medistar Home Health(318)742-4026

synergy Home Care

(318) 550-0285

Hospice Care Providers

Circle of Life Hospice(318) 869-4012

Hospice Compassus(318) 524-1046

LifePath Hospice(318) 222-5711

st. Joseph Hospice

(318) 222-8723

willis Knighton Hospice of Louisiana

(318) 212-4697

Home Infusion services

IV Plus(318) 683-5139

Hospitals

Brentwood Hospital

(318) 678-7500

willis Knighton Medical Center – North

shreveport(318) 212-4000

willis Knighton Medical

Center – Bossier(318) 212-7000

willis Knighton Medical Center – south

shreveport(318) 212-5000

wilis Knighton Medical

Center – Pierremont(318) 212-3000

Insurance

Humana

(866) 836-7908

Medical supplies and equipment

Fastserv Medical(318) 741-9586

Home Health Medical

supply(318) 631-1466

Medtronics – XsTOP spacer

(866) 580-5242

Physician services

Dr. Gary Booker(318) 227-9600

Dr. Jeff Overdyke(318) 212-5850

Mid south Orthopaedics

(318) 424-3400

Pierremont eye InstituteDr. Chris shelby(318) 212-3937

Vision – sourceDr. Larry Chism(888) 243-2020

Radio stations

KwKH AM 1130 Radio

station(318) 688-1130

Real estate Agents

Century 21 Judy Holland

(318) 349-6983

Restaurants

Cupcake Gallery and Coffee shop

(318) 752-2253

Imperial wok Chinese Restaurant

(318) 687-6668

senior Living Options

Azalea estates Assisted Living

(318) 797-2408

Horizon Bay Assisted Living

(318) 747-2114

Kingsley Place of shreveport

(318) 524-2100

Leslie Lakes Retirement Center

(318) 263-9581

NurseCare of shreveport(318) 221-1983

Princeton Place

Rehabilitation Center(318) 255-4400

southwood Gardens

(318) 682-4022

southwood square(318) 671-1888

The waterford at

shreveport (318) 524-3300

spas/skin Care

Jeany Mitchell’s skin

Technology(318) 347-3567

Travel services

Cruises, Inc

(318) 746-3745

Telephone Book

User-Friendly Phone Book(318) 865-1280


Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East

Haughton, LA 71037(318) 949-9415

Centuries Memorial8801 Mansfield

Shreveport, LA 71108(318) 686-4334

Have you made prearrangements for your family, or do you still have that to do?

Leaving these decisions to your children on the worst day of their lives is a

terrible emotional burden.

Call Today To Receive a FREE Family Planning Portfolio


The Best of Times & caddo/Bossier Rsvp

salute volunteer of the month

linda smallwoodby Linda Mullcan

YoucancomebytheCaddo/BossierRSVP’sofficeonGreenwoodRoadanydayandyouwillseethesmilingfaceofLindaSmallwood.Sheisalwayswillingtohelpwithanyproject,bigorsmallthatcomesalong.ShehasbeenanRSVPvolunteersince2001andhasearnedthePresident’sVolunteerServiceLifetimeAwardin2008.Thisawardisgiventovolunteersthathavevolunteeredatleast4,000hours.Since2008shehasvolun-teeredover1,000hoursatover45ofRSVP’smorethan70stationssuchasLAStateExhibitMuseumandShreveport’sMunicipalAuditorium.

Shehasservedfor6yearsontheCaddo/BossierRSVPAdvisoryCouncilwhereshehasgenerouslygivennotonlyhertimebuthasbeeninstrumentalingettingdonationsfortheannualCaddo/BossierRecognitionParty.SheisagreatadvocateoftheCaddo/BossierRSVPpro-gramandwilltellanyonethatbecomingavolunteerhassavedherlifeinthefactthatafterretiringshefoundherselfstayinghomeinherapartmentinGreenwood,Louisianaandbeingnotonlyboredbutbecomingdepressed.WhensheheardtherewasanutritionsiteforseniorsinGreenwoodshestartedgoingandbecameanRSVPvolunteerhelpinginthesite.ShedecidedshewantedtobranchoutanddomorevolunteerworkandcametotheCaddo/BossierRSVPofficeandhasbeenthereeversince.Shelovesvolunteer-ingandhelpingothersandwillvolunteeranywhereasked.If you are interested in volunteering please call or e-mail the Caddo/Bossier RSVP office at (318) 632-2113 or e-mail [email protected].

“A Resource You Can Trust”

6425 Youree Drive, Suite 585 Shreveport, LA 71105

318-213-5483www.elitehealthsolution.com




HMO, PPO and PFFS plans with a Medicare contract. A sales person will be present with information and applications. *Some exceptions may apply. This is an advertisement. M0006_GHA07BDHH 02/10

Is your Medicare health planright for you?If not, there is still time to switch to Humana.

But mark your calendar! You only have until March 31 to change your plan for 2010.*

Humana offers a variety of Medicare Advantage health plans. Our licensed sales representatives are happy to meet with you and help you find a plan that best fits your needs and budget.

Join us to find out why Humana is right for you.

For more information, reservations or for accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call:

1-800-301-8715 (TTY: 1-877-833-4486)8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week

ShreveportPiccadilly Cafeteria

1133 St. Vincent Ave.March 12 at 11 a.m.

ShreveportShreve Memorial Library

2111 Bert Kouns Industrial LoopMarch 22 at 11 a.m.

ShreveportJohnny’s Catfish & Seafood

5130 Bert Kouns Industrial LoopMarch 11 & 25

at 2 p.m.

ShreveportClarion Hotel

1419 E. 70th St.March 8 & 22

at 10 a.m.

MindenCissie’s Exacta Inn1404 Sibley Rd.March 8 & 22

at 1 p.m.

Documents

The Best of Times March 2010