April 2017
Vol. 44, No. 3
Formerly Senior Focus
Published by The Daily Herald and Senior Services of Snohomish County
Senior Services to launch new brand Page 2
A house filled with pets — and love Page 7
Tips for boosting your recall ability Page 10
Program stimulates seniors with memory issues Page 12
www.homage.org
Walker, 90, keeps on truckin’ Page 13
Columns
PUBLISHED BY THE DAILY HERALD AND HOMAGE SENIOR SERVICES
Husband has a wondrous appreciation for all things ordinary. Page 5
Everett threw a gigantic welcoming party when Old Ironsides visited. Page 6
You can find spirited adventures along the Bourbon Trail. Page 8
Heartburn can indicate you need lifestyle changes or medical help. Page 9
Still considered risky, reverse mortgages draw renewed attention. Page 12
Safeguard your data when preparing to discard a digital device. Page 13
Columns
Washington Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Savvy Senior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tech Talk .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Senior Focus is a publication of SENIOR SERVICES OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY 11627 Airport Rd., Suite B Everett, WA 98204-8714
NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SOUND PUBLISHING 98204
Learn about programs and services available to seniors by visiting www. homage.org.
Broadway Plaza.
By Caitlin Tompkins
Herald Writer
Pam Timm is standing door with a cart of brown at his front grocery bags. “She’s my favorite lady,” Mike Kerasotes, 67, said. Timm, 66, delivers meals to him each week. She has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for six months. During that time, Kerasotes has battled cancer. “When you get $80 in food stamps, it doesn’t go very far. Without you, I wouldn’t have made it through radiation,” he said to Timm. Last year, Meals on Wheels volunteers
and staff served more than ple throughout the county 1,000 peoof 152,000 meals. Senior — a total Snohomish County has Services of managed the local chapter of Meals on 42 years. Each of the meals Wheels for is approved by a nutritionist. Most are low sodium and have helped diabetics blood sugar under control, keep their said Martha Peppones, director of the nutrition program.
“That’s 60 too many,” Peppones said. “Those are people who still need The program may be facing meals.” tial financial cuts if PresidentsubstanDonald Trump’s proposed budget approved. Nearly half of for 2018 is the program’s funding comes from the ernment through the Olderfederal govAmericans Act and Community Development Block Grants. The grants are removed under the budget slated to be plan. That would affect 150 meal recipients in Snohomish County, Peppones said. “Fortunately, it’s only a proposal,” she
Learn about programs and services available to seniors by visiting www .sssc .org .
Since the program started, been a growing demand. there has Staff were able to bring the waiting list about 300 to 60 people last down from year.
SHIBA volunteers dedicated to guiding Medicare choices Adaptation helps couple battle
Music wellness facilitator Noah Plotkin leads a drumming and singing session with Michael Folio as Cheryl Levin-Folio looks on.
Chicago Tribune
HIGHLAND PARK, Illinois Levin-Folio can’t anticipate — Cheryl milestone of memory loss every new as she and her husband, Michael Folio, navigate his Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes quick thinking comes in handy, as it did when Michael forgot one day to take off his clothes before stepping into the shower. Rather than correct her husband, Cheryl joined him in the shower with her clothes on
NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SOUND PUBLISHING 98204
(Mark Ukena, Chicago Tribune)
By Rashod Ollison
Homage Senior Services (formerly Senior Services of Snohomish County) sponsors the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor Program in Snohomish and Skagit counties. The program provides free, unbiased and confidential help with Medicare and health-care choices. Known as SHIBA, it is part of the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Protection Division. The SHIBA program, or SHIP as it is called in other states, started in Washington and became the model for other state health
insurance programs in the nation. Volunteer advisers assist consumers in the following ways: ■ Help them assess their health care coverage needs. ■ Determine eligibility for health care coverage plans and programs. ■ Screen for income guidelines, being mindful of programs that might help them pay for Medicare and help with fraud and general complaints. ■ Talk to Medicare on clients’ behalf. ■ Provide enrollment help when clients first come onto Medicare and annually during open enrollment make referrals to other agencies and programs. SHIBA is a noteworthy program in
for a laugh. “I think the next time we our clothes off,” she gently should take told him. “I made light of it,” she said. “I never correct him. That’s not fair to In the five years since Michael.” Michael Folio was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at age 56, the Park couple has adapted Highland routine many times over. their daily They’d been together for years, but married less than four months, when CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
Music therapy enables stro to regain some languag ke patients e through song
The Virginian-Pilot
By Michelle Frye Homage Senior Services
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
early-onset Alzheimer’s
By Karen Berkowitz
years, who sits within arm’s reach
of him, nodding. They’re all in a small NORFOLK, Virginia — When the Johnny Cash room inside Fort Norfolk melody frustrates James Medical Center — RodriRodriguez, he chuckles, guez in his wheelchair and shakes his head and says, Bowdish on a low stool sandwiched between “I don’t know.” an Tracy Bowdish gen- imposing keyboard and a tly pushes him, taking computer desk. Bowdish is his hand into hers as she a music therapist with Sentara’s Music and Medicine leans closer and sings in bell-clear perfect pitch lyr- Center. In a promotional ics from “I Walk the Line. clip for the program, she ” The goal is to get Rodri- mentions that her blindguez to find the words, still ness helps her to engage patients, to “see who they a difficult task since Music therapist Tracy J. his Bowdish plays the guitar stroke in summer 2011. are beyond the stroke.” As Bowdish holds Rodri- leads James “Jim Bob” Rodriquez in singing songsand But his progress has been during their session “remarkable,” says San- guez’s hand, singing lyrics in Norfolk, Virginia. at Sentara Neurology Specialists Rodriquez suffered a stroke dra, Rodriguez’s wife of 47 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 2011 and Bowdish is helping him regain some in speech through music. (Bill Tiernan / The Virginian-Pilot)
that it’s made possible by the dedication of volunteers who receive intensive, ongoing training provided by the Insurance Commissioner’s office and its regional training staff. Volunteers begin by taking two days of basic training and then mentoring with a volunteer who has been with the program five years or longer. New volunteers are typically mentored a minimum of three months, coming once a week for three- to four-hour shifts. They then attend monthly training meetings one day a month and then volunteer once a week. Forty-eight percent of the advisers have been CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Your help’s needed around the house Some occupants have difficulty keeping up with the demands of yardwork By Nicole Warren Homage Volunteer Manager Are you a community group or corporate organization looking for a meaningful way to give back? Along with the nice weather comes lots of yardwork for most homeowners. When older adults and people with disabilities are unable to keep up with the physical demands of yard work, there is nowhere to turn, no services to help. So Homage Senior Services is calling on the community to fill in the gap. Homage Senior Services recently hosted a group of Wells Fargo employees for a day of service helping clean up the yard of an older adult with mobility issues. Before, the yard was an eyesore to the neighborhood with overgrown blackberry bushes, waist-high weeds and debris scattered across the lawn. The Wells Fargo group immediately got their hands dirty and worked tirelessly mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, cutting down trees and trimming hedges. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Volunteers from Wells Fargo recently spent a day pulling weeds and cleaning up the yard of an older adult with mobility issues. (Homage photo)
O u r H om eto wn Choice
My commitment to our great city: • •
•
Support & strengthen our Police to ensure your safety Reduce homelessness with a balanced regional approach: Housing - Treatment - Jobs Develop a long-term, sustainable budget so your tax dollars are spent wisely
See more of my vision at my website: judytuohy4mayor.com
Endorsed by Rep. June Robinson Paid for by the Committee to Elect Judy Tuohy for Mayor of Everett, PO Box 12401, Everett, WA 98206
1900702
Page 2
for Lorna Jenkinson at
| VOL. 44 NO. 6 | JULY 2017
The Focus is a publication of SENIOR SERVICES OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY 11627 Airport Rd ., Suite B Everett, WA 98204-8714
Commentary: Rewrite of health-care bill doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Formerly Senior Services of Snohomish County
Savvy Senior . . . . . . . . . . 3 History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Washington Watch . . . . . 6 Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Tech Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Meals on Wheels volunteer Pam Timm places food (Dan Bates / The Herald) in the refrigerator and freezer
Meals on Wheels’ future uncertain under president’s propos ed budget