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Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/PrimeTimeRI 2 | PrimeTime
December 2015
PrimeTime December 2015 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell
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tis the season
MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com
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Editor/ Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com
8 Elves for Elders
WRITERS Michael J. Cerio, Don Fowler, Kelcy Dolan, Daniel Kittredge, Elaine M. Decker, Larry Grimaldi, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell, ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Alex Viscusi Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Bourque Yuettner
La Salette Shrine
More than a holiday destination
Group helps bring holiday joy to local seniors in need
12 Back where it all started
Cranston native Tanzi speaks on groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research
14 ‘Sharing the Journey’
Senior issues
Retirement Sparks....................... 18 Alzheimer’s Association............ 15 RIHCA............................................... 21
LIFESTYLES
What Do You Fink........................ 10 Larry Grimaldi............................... 15 That’s Entertainment.................. 17
professional prospective
Eye on Design..................................7 Your Taxes....................................... 22
The work of Warwick artist Anthony Tomaselli
15 Bringing a home touch
New approach at Saint Elizabeth
A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.
PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.
Cover Artwork By Anthony Tomaselli
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December 2015
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a worthy cause
b y M ichael j . ceri o
La Salette Shrine A long-standing local tradition, La Salette Shrine more than a holiday destination The memories are still so vivid. Each December, my sister and I would wait anxiously for the day to arrive that we had circled on the calendar months before. Sometimes it would be two weeks before Christmas, and sometimes it was the weekend before. Regardless of when, heading up 295 to Attleboro for our annual trip to La Salette Shrine was always met with excitement and a sense of wonder. Perhaps it was the anticipation of seeing what seemed like millions of twinkling lights, or the opportunity to celebrate and reconnect with our faith during a time of reflection and giving thanks. There was also the prospect of getting what I still consider one of the best cups of hot chocolate in New England. Yes, it’s that good. The age-old saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same rings true for me when I think about La Salette. Trips with my parents and sister have been replaced by my wife and me taking our two little ones. But each time I turn onto Park Street, I’m welcomed by the familiar glow that created an annual tradition I’d feel lost without. I can only imagine that the emotions I feel when watching my children take it all in are the same my parents felt all those years ago. Sure, it sometimes feels as though the commercialization of Christmas clouds the true meaning of the holiday. Retail stores, radio stations, and nearly everything in between, race to put up decorations, air the jingles we all know by heart and tout their holiday sales. In fact, in some stores, it’s become common to find Christmas decorations on display next to Halloween candy. In October. In a small way, I’m hoping this month’s feature helps us all get back to the simplicity and true meaning of the Christmas holiday, where we are inspired by the power of faith and togetherness. While La Salette is well known for its Christmas Festival of Lights, it is by no means a holiday-only destination. La Salette is a true gem in our midst; one that can be appreciated year-round. I spoke with Fr. Ted Brown, one of the directors of The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, who shared his thoughts on what makes La Salette so special, what’s in store for visitors this December, and a host of other interesting nuggets. PrimeTime: La Salette holds a special place in the lives of many across our region—what has made the Shrine such an important tradition that spans generations? Brown: La Salette is a place where people can take time and put their lives together again. It is where you can witness the Kingdom of God as we seek to mend relationships in need of healing. The beauty of the place is undeniable. It’s a quiet atmosphere where welcoming staff assist people in seeing that, with God’s 4 | PrimeTime
help, they can start all over again. We unite our gifts and talents with those of the laity to share a message of hope and reconciliation. Our theme for the year is “Mercy Reigns.” PrimeTime: La Salette may be best known for its Christmas Festival of Lights, but the Shrine is actually a year-round destination – is there a challenge in people realizing you are more than a holiday attraction? Brown: Yes, there is definitely a challenge. In a sense, the lights are our brand, and we are always working on ways to use this brand to further our mission. We want people to know that there is a light that shines from La Salette all year long. It is the light of mercy; such as through our soup kitchen and drives to help needy children. The light of forgiveness shines bright. We are also a retreat center, offer youth and young adult worship experiences, and daily services such as mass, reconciliation and prayer groups. PrimeTime: How would you describe the Shrine during nonholiday times of the year? What are some of your most popular programs? Brown: The summer brings nearly 10,000 pilgrims to our Shrine. Vietnamese, Haitian, Hispanic, Portuguese, and Polish groups all organize pilgrimages here for a day of prayer, learning and fellowship. From mid-July through early October, almost every weekend is busy with these pilgrimages. We also see a lot of people
In what has become a tradition that spans generations for many local families, the Christmas display at La Salette Shrine offers the perfect mix of celebrating faith and the holiday for people of all ages.
December 2015
‘tis the season
Featuring nearly 300,000 lights illuminating 10 acres, the Christmas Festival of Lights at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, Mass., is now in its 62nd year. (Submitted photos)
who come to participate in our masses, services and prayer. There’s an extensive events calendar on our website (www.lasalette-shrine. org) that details our happenings each month. PrimeTime: Thinking about the Christmas Festival of Lights, I know there’s a lot of curiosity about how many lights are used in the display – do you have an actual count? I also imagine it’s quite the undertaking to keep so many lights looking beautifully – what’s the process like? Brown: There are a lot of lights; the electricians tell me there are just about 300,000 of them illuminating over 10 acres. As for who works on the display, there are basically five people who do the major work, with a handful of others who help out. Our four facilities people and one Brother spend from early September to just a few days before Thanksgiving preparing and placing the displays. They have become professionals at this! PrimeTime: For anyone who has not visited the Shrine at Christmas time in a number of years, what can they expect this season? Brown: They can, of course, expect a spectacular light display, and warm and friendly volunteers to welcome them. This is our 62nd year of the Festival of Lights. There is also the life-size crèche, “Clopper,” our live donkey at the crèche, and concerts with Father Pat and various artists. This year, we are inviting people who have been away from the church to a short 15-minute “welcome back session.” And, on weekends after the 4 p.m. mass, just prior to the turning on of the lights, there will be a candlelight procession from the church to the crèche. The Christmas Festival of Lights is daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 26 to Jan. 3. It’s free to everyone and donations are appreciated. We’re also offering Christmas Eve masses at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and a midnight mass. On Christmas day, we’ll have mass at 12:10 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. PrimeTime: Any special tips people should keep in mind when December 2015
planning a visit this holiday season? How much of the display changes each year? Brown: The placement of the displays changes from year to year. This year, the backdrop of the manger scene, with two very large angels and a night sky scene, will be on display. It is painted by our artist in residence, Brother Donald Wininski, MS, of the La Salette Retreat House staff. It’s really something everyone should see. I’d say the most helpful hint would be for people to realize that traffic coming in can be quite heavy. We recommend arriving before 4 p.m. if you want to avoid traffic. PrimeTime: How many people visit the Shrine during the holidays? Is it common for people to come from far and wide to enjoy its celebration of faith? Brown: We expect about a quarter-of-a-million people, and they truly come from all parts of New England. We are especially delighted when a person from well beyond the bounds of New England come. It certainly happens. PrimeTime: If people could know or remember just one thing about La Salette, what would you want it to be? Brown: As spectacular as the lights are, we would help everyone leaves La Salette knowing the deep mercy of God. That no matter what has happened in their lives, they can always be renewed and start over again. Mercy Reigns. La Salette shrine is located at 947 Park St. in Attleboro, Mass. Its website, www.lasalette-shrine.org, is full of helpful information for planning your visit or to learn more about the services and programs available. Through the “Christmas Lights” link along the site’s left-hand side, you can find information on an alternate route to avoid traffic during the holidays. La Salette may also be reached at (508) 2225410. PrimeTime | 5
b y kathy tirrell
‘tis the season
Putting some TLC into your Christmas gifts Many people associate the Christmas gift-giving tradition with the three Wise Men traveling to Bethlehem to give baby Jesus their gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. Some think of jolly old Santa Claus loading up his sleigh with great big bags of presents. In modern times, people often feel compelled by radio and TV ads to get out there to the stores and buy, buy, buy! Indeed we’re urged by certain advertisers to “give her (or him) the perfect gift.” Talk about pressure! And too often, buying all those gifts (perfect or not) ends up costing a lot more money than we can afford to spend. But some people have a different take on what it means to give Christmas gifts, choosing to make it a much more personal and meaningful experience. Whether it’s a quilt, blanket, scarf, hat, mittens, handbag or bracelet, taking the time to create something by hand fills the gift-giver with a special feeling that truly reflects the true meaning of Christmas. Terri Wiesemeyer of Murrieta, Calif., crochets baby items, blankets, hats and scarves to give as Christmas gifts. She says it’s in her blood, passed down from her grandmother. “I’ve been making crocheted Christmas gifts for as long as I’ve been crocheting seriously, which is about 30 years,” Wiesemeyer says. “My baby dolls and Barbies were my subjects when I first picked up crochet as a kid.” She says unfortunately she doesn’t have time to make gifts for everyone on her list, so she chooses someone in her family who hasn’t received a homemade gift from her for a while. “That friend or family member will get a nice warm, colorful blanket. Or if you have multiple kids in your family, I will make a set of scarves and matching hats for each child so no one thinks I like them better.” Weisemeyer says she gets started on her homemade projects in October. “I love the fall colors and how the evening rolls around and it starts getting dark early. I turn the lights on and a good TV show, fix myself a warm tea and surround myself with skeins of yarn. Then I think of the person I’d like to make something for and begin to think of color schemes and feel the texture of the yarns between my fingers. I hang a ‘Do Not Disturb Until December’ sign on my lamp by my recliner and go to work.” She said she usually gets rave reviews from the gift recipient and new Christmas orders from jealous family
6 | PrimeTime
members. “I love the whole ‘homemade’ gift-giving idea, “ Wiesemeyer says. “You can’t buy homemade at the store, and I love making something uniquely yours that I can brag about the next time I see you.” Jessie VanGyzen of West Warwick also likes to crochet special gifts for people on her Christmas list, along with making jewelry items. “I’ve been making gifts for as long as I’ve been able to buy the materials myself,” she says. “It’s really picked up in the last few years since I’ve learned how to crochet and make jewelry.” When asked how long it takes to make her gifts, she said: “Days! There’s a lot of work that goes into one homemade washcloth or scarf or beaded bracelet. I put a lot of time and effort into them.” But that hard work is worth the effort. As VanGyzen puts it: “If you ever get a gift that was hand-made, even if you don’t like it, you need to remember how much time, energy and love is in that gift. That person made it for you and no one else. It’s worth way more than anything that could have easily just been bought. Above all else, no matter the item, that person has just given you the gift of love.” Kara Nickerson of Warwick likes to make presents that are useful, such as tote bags, pillowcases, and aprons. And how does she decide who gets these special gifts? “I make things for most people on my list. The moms get something a little more special – my mom, step-mom, and my future mother-in-law. I find it easier to make someone a present because I’m not limited to what’s on the shelf and I can show them how much I care and how I feel about them.” Nickerson started making Christmas gifts last year and found the responses to them ranged from surprise to happiness to jubilation. “I love making things for people. It’s not cheaper, but it gives me a fresh perspective on why we give gifts to each other,” she said. “As I was making each one (last year) I was thinking about how happy they would be about their gifts and how much their presence in my life has improved it. They deserve every ounce of effort I put in. When I give a gift I made I’m not giving them just another present, I’m giving them the gift of time I put into making it, and every time they use it, I’m with them.”
December 2015
lifestyles
eye on design b y michelle lee parentea u owner
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michelle lee designs
Think out of the box and break from the traditional ‘red and green’ for the holidays This season why not try adding some color to your wreath or garland in your home or business. The best way to do this is start with your base color, which could be your ribbon for your bow. Take that color and incorporate it into your greenery with some decorative picks. Choose complementary colors that will coordinate with your main color. Some great colors to experiment with are bright blue, lime green, hot pink, and purple. When decorating your tree add some additional color with multi-colored ornaments. On a budget? ... Step into your back yard and use nature for your decorations. Spray pine cones and branches with silver spray paint and arrange them in a vase for a beautiful winter centerpiece. Purchase some inexpensive cylinders from a local craft store, and fill with nuts and cranberries, for a pop of color for your table. When wrapping, tie some hand painted pine cones or sparkly snow flakes around your gift, or add a special ornament. Try making your own ornaments. All you need is a little bit of Styrofoam, fabric remnants, ribbon, and a hot glue gun. Cut the Styrofoam into small squares, wrap the fabric around and glue it. Then add some ribbon to create an ornament that looks like a present. When decorating your tree make sure that your lights are evenly spread throughout the branches. Add an ornament, pick and ribbon to the branches on each side of the tree, creating a triangle when placing them. Continue to repeat the process, and it will make your tree balanced all around with decorations, so each side is evenly decorated. Hottest trends for this season are:
• The Menswear look for ribbon • Using the color Navy for an accent in your ornaments or ribbon • Aqua paired with Brown for a new twist • For a retro feel the colors Black, White and Red. Some other trends this season … Incorporate organic materials, such as jute, burlap and papier-mache’ items. Mixed media is huge right now. Create a rustic look by using elements such as distressed wood, vintage glass, and aged metal. To create a lodge theme add some woodland creatures to your greenery like foxes, squirrels, and owls. Have your kids help too. They can cut out paper snowflakes and make handmade cards for friends and relatives. Enjoy the holiday season and go out and decorate! Michelle Parenteau is the designer/owner of Michelle Lee Designs in Johnston. She can be reached at 401-954-2065 or info@michelleleedesigns.com.
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PrimeTime | 7
b y jessica selby
‘Elves for Elders’ bring holiday cheer to seniors in need
Maxine Hutchins, coordinator of the Elves for Elders program, shares a moment with Mike Filipe, owner of Mission Nutrition, one of the host sites for the program. (Photo by Jessica Selby)
Santa’s elves are so busy making toys for all the little boys and girls on the nice list that he had to recruit a team of elves to take care of the senior population in Rhode Island. The team, known as Elves for Elders, was created 10 years ago as a way to guarantee Christmas gifts for seniors in the state who might not otherwise receive a gift during the holidays. “At this time of year everyone thinks about children, and while that is very important, so too are the seniors in our community,” said Maxine Hutchins, a member of Seniors RULE, the non-profit association that sponsors the event with All is Well Home Care, the company for which Hutchins works full time. “The program is geared to get a gift to a senior that would not otherwise get one.” Hutchins started the program 10 years ago after she realized what a need existed. “I was working in senior housing at a 200-resident site as a social worker and I decided that I was going to hand-make Christmas cards for every resident,” Hutchins said. “People told me I was crazy, but it was something I just wanted to do and I realized after I had, how something so simple can make such a difference.” “One of the women at the facility came to me afterwards and thanked me and told me that that was the only Christmas card that 8 | PrimeTime
she had received and I thought to myself, the only Christmas card, what about a gift?” Hutchins said. “This woman never had any children and most of her friends had already passed, so she really was all alone.” Hutchins left the senior housing some time later and began working in home care, and there, she said, she saw it even more. “It was never about money; these people were not looking for elaborate gifts,” she said. “It was more basic need items that they wanted. The majority of seniors are on a fixed income and they just don’t have the money to buy these very basic items.” Ten years ago when Hutchins started the program, she was operating the event out of her home. In her first year, she said that she basically hand-delivered 300 gifts to seniors around the state. Today, however, the program has grown to include so many seniors that Hutchins has had recruit a team of others to help her with this holiday undertaking. So far this year, Hutchins’ tallies show that she will bring holiday cheer to nearly 900 seniors that reside in 21 facilities across the state. She will not, however, attack this undertaking alone. Seniors RULE is a non-profit association made up of women members who provide services for seniors. The members coordinate various December 2015
‘tis the season programs throughout the year, and at this time of year, Hutchins said, the women focus their attention on the “holiday gift program,” better known as “Elves for Elders.” In their 10th year, Hutchins said that she and the team pretty much have the program systematically laid out. The way it works, she explained, is that Seniors RULE members recruit local businesses and corporations to support and sponsor the program in various ways while other members are working to gather the list of eligible seniors. “Most of the activities directors at the sites that we service know the residents and their family situations so in that case they provide us with a list. In other situations we are familiar with these seniors because it’s not the ones who come in for rehab because of an accident, it’s the long-term residents that have been there for years,” Hutchins said. Once the list of seniors and their wish lists are complied, Hutchins places each senior and their wish onto a star ornament. The star ornaments are distributed to locations around the state. This year, Theatre 82 and Café and Mission Nutrition in Cranston, the Warwick Mall and Emerald Square Mall, as well as the Wrentham Outlets are all host sites for the program. At Mission Nutrition, Mike Filipe, the owner of the nutrition club located on Gansett Avenue, has the stars strung like a garland behind the counter. He said that customers have been coming in and inquiring about the stars and that many have already been taken. “We have had quite a few stars taken, and what I have found is that one person, for example, took a card where a woman asked for a blouse, so the customer came back with two just because she was moved to do that,” Filipe said. “These are not big requests and people, I think, feel that and want to give when they can.” Other items on the wish lists, according to Hutchins, include magazines, word-search puzzles, baby dolls, holiday ornaments, blankets, paper, pens, stamps and December 2015
envelopes, socks, slippers, toiletries and lotions. “Just think about these requests; these people living in nursing homes, they might have access to tissues, but one of the women told me that the tissue was so rough that it hurt her nose so she wanted something softer like Puffs as a gift,” Hutchins said. “Others don’t have access to email, they still write letters and send mail, so they want stamps and paper. We also get a lot of requests for baby dolls because women with Alzheimer’s want to cuddle it like it were their own baby. These are not major requests, it’s just a major task to get all of the requests fulfilled and delivered in time.” Other requests are fulfilled by businesses, like Alex and Ani and Logisticare, which manages the RIDE program in Rhode Island. These companies sponsor entire sites and large groups of seniors. Once all of the gifts are brought back, they are collected by the elves, and this year they have planned to gather at Gentry Moving, one of the members of the Seniors RULE association, for a wrapping and distribution party right before Christmas. Hutchins said the members collect all of the donated items, making sure that they are properly assigned and then wrapped and delivered. “Unfortunately it isn’t until this is all completed that I am able to cross-reference the wish lists with my master list to make sure that all of the resident’s wishes have been fulfilled,” Hutchins said. “It’s then that I learn who is left, and I use the money that has been donated to us to go out and fulfill the last of the requests. That is why it is so nice to get donations.” Anyone who would like to make a donation may send checks payable to Seniors RULE to All is Well Home Care, 510 Post Road, Warwick 02888, care of Maxine Hutchins. Anyone who would like to pick up a star to fulfill the wish of a senior in the program may stop by anyone of the participating locations mentioned above. Anyone with questions can call Hutchins at 401-286-3821.
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PrimeTime | 9
LIFESTYLES
wHAT DO YOU FINK? by MIKE FINK No, I wasn’t actually born in the house. I watched it going up when I was three, from the old grey Dodge sedan window as we drove up the hill from Main Street and from a tenement near Roger Williams Park. By now, of course, I know every nook and cranny, and they are all haunted by memories. The cellar held more than one upright piano. A violin lay on top of one of them. We were expected to take lessons. Under the stairs a hidden room contained my collections of abandoned bird nests and bird identification cards. My eldest brother had a tool chest from which he built everything from model airplanes to radio speakers for an audio system. My middle brother painted murals, and upon shelves in a closet our mother stored the jellies and jams she made from the crab-apple trees in the back yard. It was a busy basement. Freud wrote a description of the human soul as a house like ours. The underground cave is the “id,” where energies – from a Vulcan heater to a coal furnace – as well as the powers of poetry, music and art are guarded below the steps among the spiders and silverfish. The attic is the super-ego, where the folklore, traditions, and ancestral memories are preserved … and often ignored, even half-forgotten. The parlor is the ego itself, the proud place and self we show off to guests, with its modest hearth and mantel. It was in the garret that I found the negatives of the honeymoon journey of my parents – after their passing – as they eloped from Montreal, Quebec. I had never seen the prints. The living room I have kept as close to its original furnishings as I (or my wife) can bear. Just now, today, as I write this, I repeated my filial gesture of putting up the draperies that date back to 1936! Long maroon curtains with beige roses, that drag along the
The place I find my deepest identity
floor like a gown with a train. Why do I do this? They are moth-eaten and a bit gloomy by today’s standards, but my loyal house needs its resistance to amnesia. The frayed volumes on the shelves have lost their bindings to the bookworms. We had an open porch before World War II, and the GI vets seeking work closed it off and covered the walls with knotty pine. I put up the art I have collected on the panels along with the diplomas of our three children who have flown the coop and left their youthful souvenirs behind. I have made a few changes over the years: some were improvements, others compromises. The old stoves, on legs with an oven at just the right height have become valuable antiques, but we now sport a new high-tech contemporary model. The most imposing feature out-
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side is … the tall brick chimney of variegated tapestry brick. It has a distinctive shape and style. Several times a squirrel has come down that high chimney, into and all around the interior. My little dog used to chase these intruders in the dust until one of them might leap gaily out a window or through an open door. I have moved most of my mementos to the garage, which serves as a sort of studio with a woodburning Franklin grille and stack. Car trunks pack away old photographs, posters, letters, and phonograph records. Mice make a merry mess of my treasures. My whole life is not compressed into this simple dwelling, and its history does not comprise my entire life history and chronicle. I have lived in, or visited, many lands and stayed in an abundance of chambers. France and Italy, England and the islands of the Caribbean. Cities from New York to Boston, and across the American continent: I have left conversations and encounters in Japan and China. But it is upon my cobbled lane that I find my deepest identity. I return, unpack, and forever hope to share with my ghosts the accounts I bring back. Those who have dined with us or taken tea or sherry (or bourbon or vodka) have left their virtual footprints upon the oriental carpet – likewise balding due to those damned bugs and their larvae – and imprinted themselves upon my soul.
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business Spotlight
West Shore Health Center A Health Concepts, Ltd. facility in Warwick
It is one of those late autumn days when the sun casts long beams of light across the sky and the air has that slight chill that warns of cooler days ahead. On this day, a small group of residents at West Shore Health Center have gathered outside on one of the center’s many terraces to enjoy the waning days of the season. Loved ones who have come to visit huddle nearby, deep in conversation. Sights like this are common at this busy skilled nursing and rehabilitation center in Warwick where the doors are always open. West Shore Health Center, located off West Shore Road, is a member of the Health Concepts, Ltd. network of skilled nursing homes in the state. This center is one of two recipients of this year’s American Health Care Association “Silver” award. This distinction is bestowed upon centers around the country who show an unwavering commitment to the delivery of quality services as determined by such measures as the rate of satisfaction among their residents, the frequency of rehospitalizations and other verifiable data which support the success of their work. West Shore Health Center, along with three other Health Concepts, Ltd. homes in the state, was chosen out of 146 applicants for this award. A well-earned, and welldeserved honor indeed. West Shore Health Center, founded in 1968, has 145 beds spread over two floors and six wings. There are units here specifically designed for traditional long-term skilled nursing, for memory loss such as Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia (this is a secured unit) and for short-term rehabilitation. Residents and patients here are treated with compassion and respect by a dedicated team of nurses, certified medication aides, CNA’s, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, whether this is where they will remain as they age or where they will recover for only a short period of time. If you or a loved one are searching for a post-acute (short term) place to recuperate from a planned surgery or from an unexpected stroke, injury, cardiac or respiratory event, then consider the expert services and comforts of this exceptional center. Here, in West Shore’s rehab unit, you will find a talented team of physical, occupational and speech therapists who work together to make every patient’s recovery and transition to home as smooth as possible. Patients receive comprehensive services in the center’s therapy room where state-of-the-art equipment is used by therapists who have one goal in mind, to restore their patients to full health. For the center’s long-term residents, the staff at West Shore also exert every effort to make what is often a difficult adjustment as easy as possible. Sensitive to the challenges that a move from a life of independence to skilled care can mean, they approach each resident with genuine concern and support, beginning with the center’s administrator Jennifer Campbell and filtering down through the whole team at this close-knit community in Warwick. Come tour West Shore Health Center at 109 West Shore Road. For more information, visit their website at www.healthconceptsltd.com or call 401-739-9440 today.
Highest Quality, Easiest Access Now Accepting Blue Cross/Blue Shield MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (BlueCHiP) • Complete range of the most advanced laboratory tests • 50 locations – No appointment necessary For information on our Patient Service Center Lab locations: Call 401-793-4242 or 1-800-980-4244 or visit www.Lifespanlabs.org *RIH Ventures d.b.a Lifespan Laboratories
Scandinavian Home, inc. skilled nursing & rehabilitation center 1811 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905
401-461-1433
~
assisted living community
50 Warwick Avenue, Cranston, RI 02905
401-461-1444
A Community Built with Care!
www.ScandinavianHome.com
Non-Profit - Founded in 1930
West Shore Health Center is part of the Health Concepts, Ltd family of homes, serving the needs of the community for over 45 years.
Services provided include short term rehabilitation, long term care, Alzheimer’s care, and Hospice care.
Meet the dedicated team of professionals who will care for your loved one at the West Shore Health Center in Warwick ~ schedule your personal tour today.
December 2015
2015
SILVER
2015 Recipient of the AHCA/NCAL Silver Quality Award for demonstrating a commitment to quality care.
109 West Shore Rd., Warwick
401-739-9440
www.healthconceptsltd.com and like us on Facebook PrimeTime | 11
b y D aniel K ittredge
Back where it all started Cranston native, renowned Alzheimer’s researcher Tanzi shares message of hope
Imagine, in the future, being able to determine one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease years in advance, through a simple blood test – and then being prescribed medication that works in the same way cholesterol-lowering drugs help stave off heart disease. Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, a native Cranstonian, says recent developments have put that vision within reach. As one of the world’s foremost Alzheimer’s researchers, he had been at the vanguard of critical breakthroughs. “I guarantee you that by the time we’re done this evening, that you will know as much about Alzheimer’s disease, what causes it, and how we’re going to stop it, as anybody on the planet,” he told an audience Oct. 28 at Cranston High School East. “What we’re really going to try to do is stop this disease from ever striking anyone again. By 2025, that’s our goal.” Tanzi is a 1976 graduate of Cranston East. He serves as director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, and as the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. This year, he was named to TIME magazine’s list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” and delivered the commencement address at the University of Rhode Island, where he received an honorary doctorate. Tanzi’s visit to his hometown – and his “Ending Alzheimer’s Disease by 2025” program – was part of the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center’s “55+ Living Better, Living Longer: A Celebration of Fitness for the Body and Mind” initiative, which began in late September and early October with the 20th annual Cranston Senior Games at Cranston High School West. At the outset of the program, Mayor Allan Fung presented Tanzi with a proclamation and a key to the city. “He has made our city and our state so proud,” the mayor said. “The work of Dr. Tanzi has made such a meaningful impact, not only for Cranstonians, not only for all Rhode Islanders, but all mankind. That’s something that should be recognized.” Scores braved the windy, rainy night to watch Tanzi’s presentation, during which he outlined the history of Alzheimer’s research, the symptoms and impacts of the disease, and the role he and his fellow researchers have played in recent, groundbreaking discoveries that have led to unprecedented hope for a way to stop it. Tanzi recalled performing on the Cranston East stage decades ago with his high school band, Asylum, during a benefit for the Meeting Street School. He noted that several of his former teachers and coaches were in attendance, along with his mother, Ann, and twin sister. “The last time I was on this stage was almost 40 years ago … I got started loving science here at Cranston East,” he said. “This is a little surreal, to look out and see so many people I know out in the audience while I talk about Alzheimer’s disease.” Using startling statistics, Tanzi outlined the enormity of Alzheimer’s as a public health issue, calling it the “most disastrous unmet medical need in this country.”
12 | PrimeTime
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi told those on hand that recent developments in Alzheimer’s disease research have made hopes of ending the disease closer than ever to being realized. (Photo by Daniel Kittredge) There are 5.3 million victims of the disease in the United States, he said, and a new diagnosis is made roughly once every minute. In 2015, the disease claimed 700,000 lives, affected 15 million caretakers, and cost $226 billion. Tanzi said worldwide, 40 million people are victims of the disease, and that figure is expected to rise to 100 million by 2040. Women make up two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases, he said, and “we’re still trying to figure out why that is.” Tanzi said Alzheimer’s is “really the most common form of dementia in the elderly,” and 40 to 50 percent of all people age 85 and older will develop the disease. He said the pathology in the brain that leads to Alzheimer’s “begins in all of us after 40 years old,” so as life expectancy continues to rise, the incidence of the disease will grow as well. “When we model Alzheimer’s and do genetics, we don’t ask, ‘Are you going to get the disease?’ but ‘When?’ So that’s kind of scary,” he said. Tanzi’s description of what Alzheimer’s disease does was also sobering: “This disease is the worst thing … All your experiences, all the choices you make, lead to interactions in your brain between nerve cells. You have 100 billion nerve cells that are interacting, and form connections called synapses, trillions of them, hundreds of trillions of these connections. So what’s happening is your brain network is forming a tapestry that’s creating who you are your whole life … Alzheimer’s comes in and just rips that tapestry apart, thread by thread. You lose yourself. And those who know you and love you also lose you. There’s nothing worse.”
From there, however, Tanzi pivoted to a message of hope. “I want to give you good news tonight, that we’re kicking ass,” he said. “Things are going really well.” Tanzi has been involved in a number of major discoveries during his career, including genes linked to Huntington’s disease, Wilson’s disease and several forms of Alzheimer’s. In the case of Alzheimer’s, he said, a major obstacle for decades had been a debate over the causes of the disease, and the role played by two of its key physical features – known as plaques and tangles, or hard clumps and spaghetti-like coils – in disrupting the normal function of nerve cells in the brain. Tanzi described the dilemma scientists faced as follows: “Martians come down from space, and their goal is to understand soccer. And they get to Cranston Stadium, the soccer game was at 4 o’clock, and they get there at 7 o’clock. The game’s over. No one’s even there. And they’re looking around, and they see some turf dug up, some things here … but you have no idea what soccer is. You’re trying to reconstruct it, and the game is already over. You just see the aftermath. That’s where we were for 80 years.” In the 1980s, while still a student at Harvard, Tanzi discovered the first Alzheimer’s gene. He said that gene and others identified since, all either increase production or inhibit the clearance of a protein fragment, or peptide, which Tanzi dubbed APP, or “amyloid precursor protein.” “These genes opened the doors,” he said. “Finally, we had some clue about how this was happening in the brain. That broke everything open … [and] changed everything in the field. It was like finding a soccer ball.” What remained unproven, however, was the precise nature of the relationship between the plaques and tangles. The theory was that APP led to the buildup of plaques and, in turn, the formation of tangles, which essentially choke off nerve cells in the brain and disrupt their ability to communicate. Tanzi said testing with mice did not demonstrate a direct link between the presence of plaques and the formation of tangles, which led to renewed doubts about the link between the two. An attempt was made to essentially replicate a human brain in a petri dish, growing nerve cells in liquid, but that also proved fruitless. Then, one of Tanzi’s colleagues, Doo Yeon Kim, made a game-changing observation. “All the greatest discoveries are simple,” Tanzi recalled. “He said, ‘Dr. Tanzi, the brain isn’t made of liquid’ … This was really his brainstorm, his baby.” The brain, Tanzi said, is “like three pounds of Jell-O.” So the researchers attempted the petri dish experiment again, this time using a gel rich with brain nutrients. The results were astounding. The nerve cells created networks like those seen in the brain, communicating with one another. With the introduction of Alzheimer’s genes, plaques developed, followed by tangles and a steep decline in brain activity. The researchers could see the progression of Alzheimer’s, as had been theorized.
December 2015
senior
issues
“Yes, the plaques come first, the plaques cause tangles … By modeling this disease for the first time in a dish, we settled that debate,” Tanzi said. “The pathology is completely stopping these nerve cells from interacting.” The implications of the discovery have been enormous, bringing what Tanzi described as “clarity of vision” to the field. Testing of Alzheimer’s drugs, he said, can be done “10 times cheaper, 10 times faster” than ever before, and can be easily targeted at any of the mutations linked to the disease. There is renewed interest from the pharmaceutical industry. One drug, he said, is going into clinical trials in humans next year – and it is also effective against the rare, early-onset varieties of Alzheimer’s. “Now we have hope … that we can stop Alzheimer’s disease even in those people who are doomed to get the disease,” Tanzi said. “Now we can look forward to the right trials, where you’ve got the right drug, the right patient, at the right time … This is a transitional period. I couldn’t have given this talk last year at this time.” Tanzi said a key piece of the equation is early treatment. He said research has shown drugs meant to stave off increases in APP must be taken early, as soon as there are indications of its buildup or of a genetic predisposition for that to occur. That led him to the comparison with cholesterol and heart disease. “Amyloid is the cholesterol of Alzheimer’s,” he said. Also vital, Tanzi said, are several lifestyle factors. In addition to the plaques and tangles, he said inflammation in the brain constitutes one of the three key physical features of Alzheimer’s. He told those present that exercise, a healthy diet, social engagement, and sleep – particularly deep sleep, which he called “mental floss” – are essential in maintaining brain health. Learning new things is also vital, he said – “Every time you learn something new, you make new synapses … [and] reinforce the synapses you already have” – as is reducing emotional stress through practices such as yoga or meditation. He pointed to an unpublished research paper that found the positive impact of meditation in particular to be “profound.” Tanzi also spoke of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, especially in contrast to a “senior moment.” “It’s OK to forget a name, or a word. That happens to all of us as we get older,” he said. “But if you’re having trouble assembling language, or following a conversation, that’s when there’s a warning sign.” Tanzi said withdrawal, problems with judgment and mood, and issues comprehending space and time are also signs of Alzheimer’s. Several dignitaries were in attendance for Tanzi’s presentation, including former mayor and current School Committee member Michael Traficante; former Division of Elderly Affairs director and candidate for lieutenant governor Catherine Taylor; and Rhode Island AARP Director Kathleen Connell. Tanzi’s list of honors is lengthy. He has received the two highest awards given in the field of Alzheimer’s research, the Metropolitan Life Award and The Potamkin Prize, and he and Kim are being honored with a Smithsonian magazine American Ingenuity Award. He also leads the Alzheimer’s Genome Project and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund Research Consortium. Other honors include being listed among the “Harvard 100 Most Influential Alumni” by 02138 magazine; being named one of the “Rock Stars of Science” by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation in GQ magazine; and being voted one of the “Most Influential Scientific Minds in the World.” Tanzi also co-authored “Decoding Darkness: The Search for the Genetic Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease” with Ann B. Parson, and the New York Times bestseller “Super Brain” with Dr. Deepak Chopra. The latter has been produced as a television show for PBS under the same name. He has authored a second book with Chopra, called “Super Genes,” which was released in November. Tanzi has additionally been afforded unique opportunities musically. He has performed and recorded with the band Aerosmith, and co-wrote the song “Remember Me” with recording artist Chris Mann. Proceeds from sales of the song – which Tanzi used to conclude last week’s program – are going to benefit the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, and more information is available at curealz.org/rememberme.
Wine of the Month Sponsored By ATWOOD
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Winemaking Notes:
The wine comes from the Veneto-Fruili region near Venice.
Tasting Notes:
This wine is dry, fresh and crisply aromatic with scents of white fruits and mandarin, giving a nicely balanced taste.
Food Pairings:
be merry
Martini & Rossi Prosecco is the ideal accompaniment for casual meals with friends or in our holiday cocktail, The Sparkling Pear.
THE SPARKLING PEAR
ingredients
1 part Grey Goose La Poire Vodka 1 part Martini & Rossi Prosecco splash St-Germain liqueur
directions Tanzi signs a copy of his book “Super Brain” for Ellen Grizzetti, president and CEO of Hope Alzheimer’s Center in Cranston. (Submitted photo)
December 2015
1.) Combine Grey Goose LaPoire Vodka and Martini & Rossi Prosecco in a tall glass 2.) Add a splash of St-Germain liqueur & serve!
PrimeTime | 13
b y j o hn h o well
people & places
‘Sharing the Journey’ on Canvas & Over Coffee The scenes flashed on the screen for no in his career, Tomaselli said, his goal was to have his work longer than four or five seconds. Some were carried in some of the prestigious New York galleries. It was An art career has local land and seascapes such as fields in South the early ‘90s and his bank was one of those shut down by the County, Plum Point Light and the Jamestown late Gov. Bruce Sundlun. Tomaselli’s paintings depicted insider been a wonderful journey Bridge, and the sunrise over Conimicut Point. deals of hazy figures conversing in hallways. The work, which Others were of traffic in New York City, Venice, Tomaselli describes as “drippy,” illustrated the frustration of – Anthony Tomaselli and of Greek islands. Mixed in were pictures of many. One of the television stations featured him, labeling his people, and every so often a painting – usually of work, “DEPCO art.” He used his art to comment on American one of the photographic images, such as WaterFire in Providence or a boat pulled involvement in the Middle East with paintings of soldiers in gas masks, guns and up on the beach. tanks. The photographs and the paintings are the works of Warwick artist Anthony “I didn’t care about selling. It was not something people really wanted,” he Tomaselli, who lives with his wife Tina in Conimicut on the water. Tomaselli is said. He still has many of the large canvases, which have been used in movie sets. known for his paintings, and he and his wife – Tony and Tina – are also known Meanwhile, Tomaselli pursued the goal to have his work carried in recognized for their restaurants, T’s. They have three restaurants in Rhode Island, employing galleries. He became a member of the Providence Art Club. He started painting 104. landscapes. The Bayview Gallery in Camden and Brunswick, Maine, began Both painting and cooking are forms of art, as is running a business. showing his paintings. His works sold. Tomaselli touched on all three as he addressed the Warwick Rotary Club this “People buy them,” he said of landscapes, but that wasn’t the goal although past fall. Yet, it was how he got to where he is and his philosophy of life that was welcome. the story. “We don’t do it for the red dots,” he said of stickers used to indicate a painting Tomaselli started his story as a dishwasher at Duncan Fyffe. It was 1981, and has been sold. “We do it for the doing.” Tina worked there, too. Today, Tomaselli’s work is carried in galleries in six states. He paints 60 to 80 “I fell in love immediately,” he said. paintings a year. The following year, the couple took a 10-week, cross-country trip, returning “An art career has been a wonderful journey,” he says. to Rhode Island to an uncertain future. In an action that to this day amazes Tomaselli finds he has changed. He’s not compelled to use his art to comment Tomaselli, his father came up with $15,000 to buy a variety store, “the shack,” on on current events. His outlook has changed with age. He paints places he likes to Budlong Road in Cranston. Tomaselli flashes a picture of the T’s Variety on the be. screen, and from the nods it’s apparent the place is remembered. It’s there that the “Painting is not relaxing,” he says. “When you can’t get what you need,” he Tomasellis went into the restaurant business, albeit in a small way. As the store says of seeking to achieve a hue of blue, “you feel you have failed.” had no kitchen, Tony’s mother helped make calzones in their nearby home for Among his mentors, Tomaselli’s website lists Gene Tonoff, an artist and sale at the store. philosopher; Joseph Rotundo, a truck driver and artist; Frank Leone, chef and The story bounces around a bit, which becomes all the more understandable owner of Duncan Fyffe; Linda Lorenzo, a high school English teacher; and Henry when Tomaselli tells his audience he has ADHD, attention deficit hyperactive Pinardi, a professor and comedian. disorder. He says the disorder should be renamed to ADHG, as not being able to His work has an ethereal quality. Skies dominate many of his paintings, and sit still is really “a gift.” objects – whether boats, buildings, cars, and even people – are defined by color and In 1986 the Tomasellis opened T’s on Park Avenue in Cranston. They didn’t shadows. There are few hard lines. It’s active, even the scene of the orange tanker see how they couldn’t succeed with so many people driving past the place. They moving up a fog-shrouded bay. You expect the ship to disappear before your eyes. had visions of making lots of money. Tomaselli enjoys teaching. “No one came in; oh my God, and there was nothing,” Tomaselli said. “I like inspiring young artists,” he says. But he also enjoys kindling the fire of People didn’t care to order at the counter and get served coffee in paper cups. older people who have spent their lives feeling they have a creative streak, but never They wanted table service. They changed, catering to their customers. having the time to cultivate it. All the while, Tomaselli pursued his passion for painting. “They have a pent-up passion,” he said. He finds many of them, especially He earned a bachelor of arts degree in studio art at Rhode Island College in after giving one of his talks and a demonstration. They gather around, wanting to 1976, and went on to study architecture at Boston Architectural Center. Earlier learn more. “That’s what we do, we share,” Tomaselli says, underscoring a tenet to not only his art but also the restaurants that his wife runs and his son and daughter work at. “As seriously as we take this art,” he tells Rotarians, “there’s nothing better than a cup of coffee.” That’s what he looks to achieve with both the restaurants, and what he puts on canvas – “to share the journey.”
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14 | PrimeTime
December 2015
lifestyles b y L arry G rimaldi
HallowThanksChristmasNewYear In late September, I walked into a big box store to buy a bathroom plunger. What I saw froze me in my tracks. There before me was a chilling display of snow shovels, snow throwers, ice melt, windshield scrapers and washer fluid, and other winter battle gear. All that was missing was a fake storefront where Rhode Islanders could practice their sprints to the market for milk and bread when more than an inch of snow is forecast. Hard by this display of wintery tools though, was an even more disturbing array of merchandise … Christmas trees, wreaths, ornaments, and other Yuletide decorations! Had I somehow missed all of those other holidays in between Dec. 25? Was I in a time warp? At that moment, I was reminded that times really had changed. We have now entered into an amorphous holiday season that begins on Labor Day and ends on Jan. 1. It’s called HallowThanksChristmasNewYear. While Halloween marks the unofficial start of the holiday season (a kind of spring training for the days ahead), Thanksgiving kicks the holiday season into high gear. Remember Thanksgiving? Before it was merely day of rest
before thundering herds stampeded through retail outlets in a feeding frenzy quite appropriately named Black Friday? Thanksgiving used to be a day spent with family and friends around a noisy dinner table with a feast that lasted for hours. Thanksgiving had its own place in American history, its own fall textures, and its own menu filled with savory foods and seasonal treats. New Year’s Day is notable only closing the holiday cycle and for making resolutions that are inevitably abandoned a week later. So, let’s move on to Christmas. My memories of the Christmas as a child, the Ghost of Christmas Past if you will, are still very vivid. After the customary pilgrimage through the Outlet department store, we would drive to the Farmer’s Market near the Providence Uniroyal plant on Valley Street to pick out our Christmas tree. Given my mother’s superior negotiating skills, I can’t remember ever paying more than seven dollars. The tree was set up and decorated in the living room. In an early version of energy conservation, the living room was normally closed off during the winter to conserve heat. Sliding open those hidden wooden doors for a few weeks
was an annual ritual. Of course, there was the timehonored Italian tradition knows as the Feast of the Seven Fishes held on Christmas Eve. As delicious as Thanksgiving dinner was, La Vigilia was the gastronomic high point of the year. Much to delight and despite her Irish and French roots, Kathy has adopted the La Vigilia tradition. The only caveat is that I have to handle the preparation of the eels! The Ghost of Christmas Past also draws out the memories of arduous 1 a.m. sessions spent assembling toys. I am mechanically challenged and unable to comprehend the “insert flap A into flap B and fold into flap C” instructions. These sessions were often filled with tension and aggravation that was sometimes expressed by a distinctly un-Yuletidelike vocabulary. The Ghost of Christmas Present bears the precious gift of time spent with our children and grandchildren. Our sons Matt and Ben arrive home for Christmas from Las Vegas and New York City. Seeing the boys, my daughter Kate and her husband Ray, our 12-year-old granddaughters Kailyn and Sophia, and five-year-old Nicholas together for a few days is the holiday
b y C amilla F arrell d e v e lo pm e n t d i r e c to r , a l z h eimer ’ s association ri chapter
moment is our favorite holiday present. As a bonus, we are no longer are awakened at 6 a.m. (after a toy assembly session that ended only a few hours before) to see what treasures are under the tree. Thankfully, that tradition now takes place at my daughter’s house! With any luck, the Ghost of Christmas Future will bring with it more joyous moments with our families and friends. The moral of my Christmas Carol is simple. “Cross HallowThanksChristmasNewYear” off your calendar and take the time to celebrate each holiday for its uniqueness. With proper apologies to Charles Dickens, the Ghost of Christmas Past is a reminder of quieter times when Christmas was a not a commercial venture and public displays were not lightning rods for faith-based controversies. The Ghost of Christmas Future holds the promise of creating memories that connect the culture and traditions of the past to the hope of days to come. Most importantly, The Ghost of Christmas Present reminds us to savor each day, live with joy in the now, and tell our family and friends how much they mean to us. As Clement C. Moore proclaimed, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
senior issues
The Caregiver Alliance of Rhode Island honors two very special caregivers during National Family Caregiver Awareness Month On Monday, Nov. 2, Karen Friend won the Family Caregiver of the Year Award in the Governor’s Reception Room at the State House and received a Special Citation from Congressman James Langevin. The Alzheimer’s Association proudly nominated Karen Friend. She is not only an exceptional caregiver for her husband Jake – who started showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease in his 40s – but is also an adoring wife, advocate, philanthropist, and volunteer. Last year, more than 15 million family and friends provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care to our loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, and Karen is one of them. She wants to make a difference in the world of caregiving and to bring recognition to this disease so
December 2015
more money will be appropriated for research. Karen’s husband Jake was diagnosed at 54 years old with Young Onset Alzheimer’s disease. From that point on, it was Karen’s mission to find the best care by talking to people in the community, researching on the Internet, and meeting with several professionals to see if Jake was eligible for clinical trials. She and Jake stood on the steps of the State House in Rhode Island and told their story. They were also interviewed by Mike Montecalvo on WPRI12 to bring attention to the disease. Karen and Jake worked with former Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts to advocate for resources for people with young onset. When CVS Executive Tom Ryan and his wife donated 15 million to the University of Rhode Island for
Alzheimer’s research, Karen spoke about the importance of research in an interview on 50 Plus Prime for ABC. Karen continues to strive more awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and better care for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Jodi DiRaimo received the Recognition of Excellence in Caregiver Support as a Professional Caregiver. The staff at the Lighthouse of Lincoln organized a reception in her honor with her family and friends to receive the Certificate from Langevin’s office. The Alzheimer’s Association nominated Jodi, who is in charge of “resident engagement” at Lighthouse of Lincoln. Jodi goes above and beyond her job description to ensure her residents are fulfilled, cared for, and content. Jodi’s mission now is to spread the word and
to teach others in the community what it means to have dementia, or Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. Jodi has made it her mission to educate church communities and the ladies guild on warning signs of Alzheimer’s, communication techniques and the importance of spirituality, solace and tranquility. She has also reached out to local schools to speak to soccer, hockey and football coaches about the dangers of concussion and dementia. “Awareness empowers me,” Jodi said. “Our one goal is to be the bridge from their past to their present. It is their world not ours. We truly need to focus on the individual and uplift their whole person concentrating on their ability not the disease.”
PrimeTime | 15
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December 2015
lifestyles
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BIRTHSTONE of the MONTH SPONSORED BY:
by DON FOWLER
Winter at the Philharmonic There is something warm and comforting about classical music that helps me make it through the cold winter months. We have been fans of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra for nearly 50 years, and have watched the orchestra grow into one of the finest in the country. Much of the success is due to maestro Larry Rachcleff, who over the past twenty years has led the orchestra to new heights, attracting some of the best soloists in the world to join him. Rachleff is concluding his final year with the RIPO, and there are only a few more opportunities to see him. He will be conducting the orchestra on Feb. 20, 2016 in a program titled “Ride of the Valkyries,” which will include selections by Wagner, Mozart, and Shostakovitch, featuring violinist Angelo Xiang Yu playing Mozart’s Violin Concerto. Rachleff returns on March 19 with Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto and Brahm’s Symphony No.1. On April 9, cellist Julie Albers will join the orchestra in Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. Also on the program will be Sibelius’ “Finlandia” and Nielson’s Symphony No. 4 (The Inextinguishable). The maestro’s final concert, sure to be a sellout, will be on May 7, when the Providence Singers join the RI Philharmonic in Beethoven’s Ninth. Philharmonic tickets make wonderful Christmas presents, and may be purchased by calling 248-7070, online at riphil.org, or at the box office. If you want a gift that is more timely, the Jan. 16 concert will feature guest conductor, Grant Llewellyn, featuring Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 ( “New World”), plus Lizt’s “Les Preludes” and Schumann’s Piano Concerto. One of the cultural highlights of the Christmas season in Rhode Island is the Philharmonic’s presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” The event takes place under the leadership of Christine Noel, conductor. (What an appropriate name for the Christmas concert). Noel is also the artistic director of the Providence Singers, another outstanding Rhode Island contributor to the arts. The event, like all of the RIPO performances, is at the Vets. The date is Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
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From left, Wilfrid Hebert, WWII U.S. Army veteran and ex-POW, and Michael Riel, U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sergeant, raise “Old Glory” at the grounds of the Villa at Saint Antoine. (Submitted photo)
Villa at Saint Antoine dedicates ‘Old Glory’ to those who serve on Veterans Day 2015 The Red, White, and Blue is proudly waving for everyone to see on the grounds of the Villa at Saint Antoine due to the generous donation of its resident, Wilfrid Hebert, World War II veteran and ex-POW. On Tuesday, Nov. 10 “Old Glory” was raised during a solemn ceremony attended by the Villa’s residents, staff, and friends. “It’s a great honor to raise Old Glory and show respect for what its stands,” Herbert said. All the Villa’s veteran residents were in attendance and it was a day to remember in a community that has provided care for many Rhode Islanders in the past 102 years. Tammy Summiel, the Villa’s administrator, was delighted to see one of her many goals for the Villa come to a completion as she stated to the attendees: “Having ‘Old Glory’ fly on the grounds of this assisted living was a dream I had the minute I started my position, all veterans are close to my heart, especially since both my dad and husband also have served.” The ceremony was concluded with a Benediction by the Most Rev. Louis E. Gelineau, D.D., J.C.L., S.T.L. The Villa at Saint Antoine is located on 400 Mendon Road in North Smithfield. It’s part of the Saint Antoine Community comprising the Saint Antoine Residence, Saint Antoine Rehab Center, and the Villa at Saint Antoine. It features 76 assisted living apartments and it’s a health ministry of the Diocese of Providence.
December 2015
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PrimeTime | 17
Happy Holidays from
Westbay community action senior nutrition Program
Westbay Café…More than a Meal Making a luncheon reservation at our eight Westbay Cafes is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Special
December Meals
Bring A Friend Day - Wednesday, December 9 Fresh Fruit, 1/4 Rack BBQ Ribs, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Dessert or Spa Option: Waldorf Salad Happy Holiday Luncheon - Thursday, December 17 Italian Wedding Soup, Baked Ham with Pineapple, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans Almandine and Holiday Pastries Dessert Our caterer provides the following three options (two each day) for your meal • Hearty Traditional Meal – Appetizer, Main Entrée with sides (potato, vegetables) • Pub Option – Delicious Sandwich • Spa Option – Lighter, healthy option for those on the go All luncheons include an appetizer, bread, dessert and coffee or tea
For more information, please call patty martucci, Assistant Director of Senior nutrition program
401-732-4666 ext. 142
Senior CenterS Charlestown 401-364-9955 East Greenwich 401-886-8638 Jamestown 401-423-2658 The Center–S. Kingstown 401-789-0268 West Warwick 401-822-4450 Westerly 401-596-2404 Senior ApArtmentS (you do not have to be a resident) Park View-Westerly 401-596-4918 Shalom Apartments 401-737-0180
We invite seniors age 60 and older and individuals with disabilities to join us at these Cafes for a nutritious lunch. The suggested donation is $3/person. Reservations are necessary and should be made by Thursday for the following week.
senior issues
retirement sparks b y elaine m . decker
Untrimming the Tree Untrimming the Christmas tree is one of the highlights of the season for me. Many people find it a depressing task, coming as it does after the holiday festivities are over. They dread the day the tree starts going “Plink! Plink!” when anyone bumps into it. For me, that plinking heralds a quiet evening of cherished memories. Every year I have a trimming party built around a different theme. The guests really do decorate my tree. I’m usually kept busy refilling punch bowls and chafing dishes. The untrimming becomes my special time to renew acquaintances with old friends—both ornamental and human. Over the years my ornaments have come from many places and many guests. Some locations, like Cape Cod, are where I vacationed regularly and found instant relaxation each time I returned. Others are locales I visited but once, perhaps on a business trip. The giving guests, similarly, range from trimming “regulars” whom I see off-season, to friends with whom I’ve since lost touch. As I take each ornament off the tree, I think of the person or place it came from. These memories trigger others, often having nothing to do with Christmas. Not all are happy ones, but all are treasured. Three small glass balls that hung on my family’s tree when I was young remind me of the year Santa brought me Zippy the Chimp. Anyone who can sing “It’s Howdy Doody Time” will remember Zippy. So will my nephew, who is a generation removed from Howdy. As a toddler visiting his grandparents, he became attached to Zippy, long abandoned in my old bedroom. The chimp was relocated to Vermont and was well-loved (and wellworn) before his second owner, too, outgrew him. A chartreuse clay cow is among the ornaments I’ve had the longest. One of my Jewish classmates brought it to my first tree trim, my Senior year in college. It was twenty years after graduation before I saw her again at a reunion, but I’d been with her in thought every Christmas in between. Two eggs decorated with dried flowers are from Scranton, Pennsylvania, where I was on a consulting assignment for several months. In the shopping mall, I bought a small, artificial Christmas tree and selected trimmings to send to my cousin, who was fighting in Viet Nam. I set the tree up temporarily in my motel room until I could figure out how to ship it. It was early November, and I wondered if the cleaning staff thought I didn’t expect to live until Christmas. I prayed that my cousin would. He did, but he’s gone now. A naked, anatomically correct angel made from cookie dough was a gift from my exhusband (after we had separated, but remained friends). He found it in Greenwich Village and we both thought it was hilarious. I still smile when I look at it. Thanks to Facebook, I know that he now has grandchildren to help share his Christmases. A Norman Rockwell ball reminds me of a coworker who moved to California with her husband. In the cards we used to exchange, she wrote she thought of me when she hung the dough ornaments I’d made for her. We recently reconnected through Facebook, too. A Coalport china bell and lantern were gifts from my former significant other. He was my lighting, star-on-the-top and tree disposal specialist. On one of our our vacation trips, we drove from Switzerland to Austria and passed up lunch to avoid having to change currency. In Innsbruck, we discovered we’d lost an hour due to an unexpected time-zone change, but I managed to score a few purchases before the stores closed. So, the wax ornaments from Innsbruck are mine only because of a skipped lunch. A tiny clay wreath with a bright red bow was a gift from my niece. She made it herself when she was a small child. She’s married now, with a daughter and tree of her own. I’ll probably return the wreath to her someday, but I’m not ready to part with it yet. I have nine silver snowflakes that my father gave me from the Metropolitan Museum, one for every year from 1976 thru 1984. They ended the Christmas after he died. It’s still painful to touch those snowflakes every January, but it’s as though I’m still touching a small piece of him, too. Year after year, more happy memories help ease the pain. As I carefully wrap each ornament in tissue, I savor these recollections. The happy and the sad. The recent and those from the dim past. I think ahead to next year’s trim, wondering what theme I’ll decide upon and what memories will be created. But mostly I look forward to next year’s untrimming and renewing the memories I already treasure. Copyright 2015 Business Theatre Unlimited. Elaine M. Decker’s books—Retirement Sparks Redux (published in December, 2014), Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks and CANCER: A Coping Guide—are available at SPECTRUM-INDIA, on the East Side of Providence, on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions, and by special order through your local bookstore. One of her essays appears in the anthology: 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.
18 | PrimeTime
December 2015
senior issues
b y j o hn h o well
Bringing a home touch to nursing homes: The Green House Homes at Saint Elizabeth Home A new concept in nursing home care Vacations, even a mini vacation of only four days, can change things. In this case, a trip to Falmouth on the Cape in September of 2009 became the genesis to a new form of nursing home care that is expected to become a reality in 14 months at Saint Elizabeth Community. “It was one of the best work days ever,” recalls Sarah Bowater, a certified nurse assistant at Saint Elizabeth, who joined four other staff and six nursing home residents for the trip. The “vacation” was the suggestion of Steven J. Horowitz, president and CEO of Saint Elizabeth. Doing it required approval from the Department of Health and renting a house in Falmouth. Of course, there was more than renting a house and driving to the Cape. Families of the residents gave their approval, and the husband of one of the residents decided to join the group. “These pioneers’ ages ranged from 67 to 93,” Horowitz said, “and had medical conditions ranging from arthritis, mild dementia, to congestive heart failure. We needed to get an exception from the health department to take this trip, and the planning addressed every possible detail.” What happened is what Bowater believes will be replicated with completion of four homes, each providing 12 residents with their own private room and bathroom adjacent to the hilltop site of the Saint Elizabeth 120-bed nursing facility in East Greenwich. Friendships and relationships were made over meals and just in having time together during that mini vacation. Barbara DiMaio, who is a resident at Saint Elizabeth, was one of the six who made the Falmouth trip. The trip expanded her horizon, and she and Bowater later traveled to Oregon for her granddaughter’s wedding. That trip ended up being longer than expected because of Hurricane Sandy, which delayed their return. DiMaio was delighted with the extended trip. “It’s the best,” DiMaio said following an October groundbreaking for the $12.5 million project. In his comments under a tent alongside a phalanx of giant, yellow, earthmoving machines, Horowitz elaborated on that vacation. “It took a while for the structure to go away. At first, the ‘pioneers’ wanted decisions made for them, but after a day the staff reported that the residents were making their own decisions, choosing what they wanted to do and when. Walkers were not being used as December 2015
often and appetites improved. An impromptu trip to Martha’s Vineyard was taken. The general sense of independence and well-being just improved for each resident,” Horowitz said. He recalled what Matt Trimble, administrator of Saint Elizabeth Home said: “This trip, to me, was much more than a few days on the Cape…it was a taste of how quality of life for nursing home residents could greatly be enhanced through smaller home environments and empowered/cross trained employees.” While Saint Elizabeth had been exploring options to nursing home care since 2006, it was the experience of “the vacation” that convinced them smaller, more intimate homes was a direction they wanted to pursue. They ended up partnering with The Green House Project, whose founder, Dr. Bill Thomas, launched the program to build smaller nursing homes. To date, The Green House Project has partnered with organizations in 28 states to build 185 houses with 10 to 12 residents in each house. Another 150 homes are in development stages in six states, according to Susan Ryan, senior director of the project. Ryan said the homes are staffed 24/7, and residents receive more direct care than in a conventional nursing home setting. She said homes are centered on the “hearth area” that serves as the core where residents have meals and join in activities. Residents can bring their own furniture to the homes and even their pets. Ryan said traditional nursing homes are modeled after hospitals that look to gain efficiencies through volume. But that doesn’t necessarily translate into higher costs with the far smaller homes Saint Elizabeth will build. Ryan points out in The Green House Project model, occupancy rates are higher and the rate of staff turnover is reduced resulting in an improved way of life. She said the role of The Green House Project is to set standards and to serve as consultants. While prototypes are available complete with construction plans, she said most partners prefer to use their own architects and build projects they believe fit to their community. SWBR of Rochester, N.Y., is the architect and Calson Construction the builder for Saint Elizabeth. Funding will come from a combination of traditional financing and a capital drive. The Washington Trust Company will finance the project with a tax-exempt bond that was approved Oct. 22 by the Rhode Island Health and Educational
Each of the four Green House Homes will have 12 private bedrooms and bathrooms and a “hearth” area to come together for meals and activities. Cooking will be done in each home’s kitchen and residents will be encouraged to join in meal preparations should they choose. Building Corporation. But there were hurdles to overcome, as Charles Fogarty, director of elderly affairs, explained and Horowitz expanded upon. In 1995, the General Assembly enacted a moratorium on additional nursing home beds, which Horowitz said had the “unintended consequence” of stifling innovation in the industry. Legislation introduced by state Rep. Joseph McNamara allowed for the future use of beds that had been removed from the long-term care system, opening up 140 beds. In 2014 the state Department of Health sent a request for applications to current skilled nursing facilities. The application to utilize some of the pooled beds had to include an innovative or new way of providing long-term care, explained Horowitz. It was at that point that Saint Elizabeth partnered with The Green House Project and worked with their architects to come up their proposal. It was the only application to gain approval.
Caretaker Sarah Bowater and Barbara DiMaio share a laugh at groundbreaking ceremonies Tuesday. Bowater and DiMaio were among the “pioneers” who took a vacation trip in 2009 to Cape Cod that played an important role in Saint Elizabeth Community’s decision to build smaller nursing homes. As for applications for prospective residents at the Green House Homes, they won’t be posted on the Saint Elizabeth Community website until 2016 as the project nears completion.
Officials, staff and residents of Saint Elizabeth Community gathered under a tent Tuesday for groundbreaking ceremonies for four Green House Homes at their nursing home facility in East Greenwich. (Photos by John Howell) PrimeTime | 19
Elderly Housing Must be 62 years of age or older. Rents are based on 30% of adjusted household income.
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20 | PrimeTime
December 2015
senior issues
b y kerry park
‘Very moving’: WWII veteran gets hero’s welcome in DC thanks to Honor Flight This year, Veterans Day evoked some very different memories for World War II vet, Ellsworth Garrity. Though he still carries emotional scars from the war with him, he had something a bit more pleasant to reminisce about this past Nov. 11. Sandra Soares, the director of social services at Eastgate Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where Garrity resides, attended a presentation earlier this fall by George Farrell, a retired firefighter who started the Rhode Island Honor Flight chapter. Inspired by Farrell and the work he had put in motion to honor Rhode Island’s military vets, she wasted no time sending the organization an application for an upcoming flight on Garrity’s behalf. Weeks later, he found himself bound for Washington, D.C., on Honor Flight “Kilo.” The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization that pays tribute to veterans for their service by transporting them on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the nation’s war memorials. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 World War II veterans die each day. Top priority therefore, is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors like Ellsworth Garrity, along with veterans who may be terminally ill. Though Garrity’s trip began at 4:30 a.m. and didn’t finish until 5:45 the next morning, the 88-year old Army veteran had no complaints. Greeted at dawn at T.F. Green Airport by bagpipers and a crowd who woke before the sun rose to see the vets off, he was overwhelmed by the attention paid to them. In a fitting tribute, dozens of representatives from the State Police, Rhode Island Fire Chiefs, National Guard, Boy Scouts and more, lined the hallway as the Honor Flight travelers made their way to the plane. “Everywhere we went there was a double line of people to go through and 50, 75, 100 people clapping for us. It was very moving. Everything was done first
class,” Garrity said. In total, the travelers on Honor Flight Kilo visited five war memorials and witnessed the Changing of the Guard at Arlington Cemetery, where the group had a front-row seat to the ceremony. Afterward, they were treated to a tribute dinner where piles of “thank you” cards were delivered to each of them. Dozens of staff, friends, and students who visited Eastgate wrote to Garrity expressing their gratitude for his sacrifice. And he returned with other memorabilia to remind him of his trip – a sweatshirt and hat noting his status as a World War II veteran, a citation from the governor honoring him for his service, books about the various memorials, and of course, a plethora of pictures. “Impressive. Really impressive.” That’s how he described his recent trip to Washington, D.C. It had been nearly 70 years since he served there during the war and his job in the Army had not been an easy one. He was responsible for escorting coffins from the ships returning to the nation’s capital to their final destination. Such a grim task would be hard on anyone. Garrity, just a teenager at the time, found it almost unbearable. “I remember greeting wives who had their little kids by the hand, crying because their babies had never met their father,” Garrity recounted. “Some wanted their children to see their father before they were buried but in most cases that just wasn’t possible. It was a tough job but somebody had to do it. You couldn’t do it very long because you just couldn’t handle it,” he said with tears in his eyes. Though his time in the service was decades ago, the memories still clearly haunt him. He had gone to Washington for the first time as a young boy. Nearly 70 years later, he returned a hero, and thanks to Soares and the Honor Flight Network, he received the recognition befitting one.
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donnaz@rhodybeat.com (401) 732-3100
December 2015
PrimeTime | 21
Meals on wheels restaurant prograM Serving Seniors Across the State Since 1969
Meals on Wheels has expanded its restaurant program from Providence into other areas of the state. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible, for suggested donation of $5, to obtain a voucher to participating restaurants where they get a meal. The restaurants offer a variety of meal options that meet nutrition standards. Participating restaurants are Newport Creamery locations, except for Barrington, Middletown, and Newport; and IHOP restaurants in Warwick and Providence.
To learn more or to obtain a voucher, visit Meals on Wheels, 70 Bath St., Providence or call Pauline Asprinio at 401-351-6700 Meals on Wheels of RI is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the Administration on Aging and state funds through the RI Division of Elderly Affairs.
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b y meg chevalier
Most retirees need to take required retirement plan distributions by Dec. 31 The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers born before July 1, 1945, that they generally must receive payments from their individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by Dec. 31. Known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), these payments normally must be made by the end of 2015. But a special rule allows first-year recipients of these payments, those who reached age 70-1/2 during 2015, to wait until as late as April 1, 2016 to receive their first RMDs. This means that those born after June 30, 1944 and before July 1, 1945 are eligible for this special rule. Though payments made to these taxpayers in early 2016 can be counted toward their 2015 RMD, they are still taxable in 2016. The required distribution rules apply to owners of traditional, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs but not Roth IRAs while the original owner is alive. They also apply to participants in various workplace retirement plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. An IRA trustee must either report the amount of the RMD to the IRA owner or offer to calculate it for the owner. Often, the trustee shows the RMD amount on Form 5498 in Box 12b. For a 2015 RMD, this amount is on the 2014 Form 5498 normally issued to the owner during January 2015. The special April 1 deadline only applies to the RMD for the first year. For all subsequent years, the RMD must be made by December 31st. So, for example, a taxpayer who turned 70-1/2 in 2014 (born after June 30, 1943 and before July 1, 1944) and received the first RMD (for 2014) on April 1, 2015 must still receive a second RMD (for 2015) by Dec. 31, 2015. The RMD for 2015 is based on the taxpayer’s life expectancy on Dec. 31, 2015, and their account balance on Dec. 31, 2014. The trustee reports the yearend account value to the IRA owner on Form 5498 in Box 5. Use the online worksheets on IRS.gov or find worksheets and life expectancy tables to make this computation in the Appendices to Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). For most taxpayers, the RMD is based on Table III (Uniform Lifetime Table) in IRS Publication 590-B. So for a taxpayer who turned 72 in 2015, the required distribution would be based on a life expectancy of 25.6 years. A separate table, Table II, applies to a taxpayer whose spouse is more than 10 years younger and is the taxpayer’s only beneficiary. Though the RMD rules are mandatory for all owners of traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs and participants in workplace retirement plans, some people in workplace plans can wait longer to receive their RMDs. Usually, employees who are still working can, if their plan allows, wait until April 1 of the year after they retire to start receiving these distributions. See Tax on Excess Accumulations in Publication 575. Employees of public schools and certain tax-exempt organizations with 403(b) plan accruals before 1987 should check with their employer, plan administrator or provider to see how to treat these accruals. Find more information on RMDs, including answers to frequently asked questions, on IRS.gov.
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December 2015
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24 | PrimeTime
December 2015