Senior Lifestyles Inside... Friends forever
McCann Village residents Florence Koppin and Dorothy Pickett celebrate their 100th birthdays .. p. 2
Traveling again
Bill Prochaska discovers the bluffs and heritage of Decorah with fellow Park Centre residents ................ p. 3
Estate planning
Preparing finances, wills and health decisions are important aspects of the process ............... p. 5
July 2014
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 2
100 years of perspective from two McCann Village residents By Jamee A. Pierson Daily News Staff Writer It has been a busy summer at McCann Village with Florence Koppin and Dorothy Pickett turning 100 years old within weeks of each other. Koppin, originally from the Kellogg area, turned 100 on June 17, while Pickett had a birthday on July 23. Both ladies celebrated with a party at McCann Village on Monday with friends, family and cake for all. Koppin, born in Kellogg, lived in the area her entire life. She attended school through eighth grade while also working on the family farm tending to livestock with her five brothers. Koppin married her neighbor and had one daughter. She spent her time working on her family farm, working with a loom to make rugs and sewing most of her own clothes. “Fabric has always interested me,” Koppin said. Later in life, she moved to Newton and has lived CENTENARIANS See Page 9
Pickett
Koppin
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 3
Former traveler enjoying chance to travel again By Ty Rushing Daily News Senior Staff Writer Park Centre resident Bill Prochaska, 77, admits he doesn’t get to travel as much as he used to now that he’s gotten older and has dealt with few health issues. However, last month Bill got to enjoy traveling again thanks to a trip sponsored by PC’s parent company WesleyLife. Bill, along with Park Centre CNA/CMA Summer Findley who assisted him on the trip, visited Decorah for three days and two nights with residents and staff from other WesleyLife properties. Decorah is located in the northwest section of Iowa and was recently named one of the top 100 small town getaways by Midwest Living Magazine. Summer got to accompany Bill because they have a pretty tight-knit relationship and because she had prior experience assisting residents on overnight trips. While in Decorah, they stayed in townhomes near the Luther College campus and explored the college, local amenities and some of the area’s great natural locales. Bill was especially impressed with the local tour guide who showed them around. “John was very, very knowledgeable about Decorah,” Bill said. “He took us on a bus trip around Decorah, showed us some of the nice places and got us a pizza for supper — more than one.” One portion of the trip that
Bill seemed particularly fond of was a visit to a bluff he estimated was 300 foot high — Decorah is known for its bluffs. “It’s a road, you drive around the cliff so we got to see that,” Bill said. “While we were in that area there’s a waterfall … We had one lady who was 94 years old and when she got off of that bus, she headed right straight for that waterfall. “She took off and it was rough. The ground was really rough, it was at an angle and a lot of big rocks and stuff. She just walked right over the top of them like they weren’t even there.” Bill also said he really enjoyed the visit Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, which is said to be the largest Norwegian museum in the United States. While she may have been on the trip to work, Summer said she had a good time as well. Bill complimented her for not only helping him, but for stepping up and helping the other seniors who were on the trip. This trip is something that the company does annually and primarily funds for its residents and Bill plans on doing it again. “When I got back, the head of nursing asked me, ‘What did you think of the trip?’ I said, ‘I got my name No. 1 on the list to go next year,’” Bill said. Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 6532, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.
Submitted Photo Bill Prochaska recently got the chance to visit Decorah thanks to a program sponsored by WesleyLife, the parent company of Park Centre which is where he resides. The waterfall he is shown visiting was one of his favorite stops.
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 4
Steps involved with estate planning Metro Creative Connection Although inevitable, death is an emotional subject that’s difficult to discuss. While estate planning can make people uncomfortable, it is an essential part of securing assets for future generations and can make a death in the family easier for loved ones to handle. Estate planning is an umbrella term that refers to a host of things that must be done prior to a person’s death, including writing a will and even making funeral arrangements. Estate planning attempts to eliminate financial uncertainties and maximize the value of an estate, and allows men and women to state their wishes with regard to long-term healthcare and guardianship for their children. When done right, estate planning can prevent family feuds and ensure that the deceased’s estate stays in the hands of family rather than being relegated to the government. Estate planning can be a complex process, so men and women should seek help to ensure the process goes smoothly. Getting Started Estate planning should begin early in a person’s life, especially for young parents. It’s easy to talk about saving for a home
or retirement, but it’s not so simple to discuss who will care for your children should you die while they are still minors. Those who are not able to sort through these answers on their own should enlist the help of an attorney or a financial adviser, both of whom can take some of the emotion out of the discussion and put it in more practical terms. The Will A will is an important component of estate planning. Without clearly and legally spelling out your wishes, there is no guarantee that those wishes will be honored. It will be up to a state or province to make potentially life-altering decisions that can impact your surviving family members, and the only way to ensure your wishes will be carried out is to put them into a will. Although men and women can write their own wills, many people prefer to seek the assistance of an attorney, who can make sure all necessary details are included in the will. Medical Directives In addition to a will, estate planning includes your wishes if you become incapacitated or suffer from a serious medical condition that precludes you from making decisions about your care and
finances. Spouses can be named to make important health decisions, but you may want to indicate other information, such as life support measures or organ donation, as well. If you have strong opinions on treatment, medical directives and living wills are a necessity. Funeral Arrangements Another aspect of estate planning concerns funeral arrangements. Many people prefer to make their own funeral and burial plans so that these heart-wrenching decisions do not fall on the shoulders of grieving family members. Funeral planning may include choosing a burial plot, selecting a casket, indicating cremation, and paying for everything in advance so there is no financial burden on surviving family members. According to the funeral planning website Efuneral.com, the average cost of a funeral in the United States in 2012 was more than $8,500 for a burial service and $3,700 for a cremation. That’s a considerable expense that you may not want surviving family members to pay. Estate planning is a process that is difficult to discuss, but one that is essential to maximize your assets and ensure your end-of-life wishes are honored.
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 5
Menopause treatment and breast cancer risk Metro Creative Connection Upon reaching a certain age, women go through the natural process of menopause. This change typically occurs when a woman reaches her late 40s or early 50s. The transition to menopause happens over several years and results in Pantone fluctuations of hormone levels in a Pantone355 355MM Pantone PantoneReflex Reflex Blue BlueMM woman’s body. During this transition, many women experience a variety of symptoms, from mood changes to hot flashes to vaginal dryness. These Black Logo Black Logo symptoms can be so severe they impact daily activities and can impede quality Green Hammer Ribbon 1 Green Hammer Ribbon 1 of life. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, may be prescribed to alleviate the side effects of perimenopause and menopause. However, HRT is not without risks, including an increased chance of developing breast cancer. Green GreenHammer HammerRibbon Ribbon2 2 According to The Mayo Clinic, HRT, which includes medications Green Logo Green Logo containing female hormones to replace the ones the body no longer makes naturally after menopause, used to be a standard treatment for women with Green GreenHammer HammerBanner Banner severe symptoms. In the largest clinical Metro Creative Connection trial to date, a combination estrogenHormone replacement therapy can elevate breast cancer risk and may progestin pill was found to increase not be an appropriate menopause treatment for all women. the risk of certain serious conditions, including blood clots, heart disease,
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stroke, and breast cancer. This type of therapy also may make a woman’s breasts appear more dense on mammograms, making breast cancer more difficult to detect. When undergone for more than a few years, HRT has been confirmed by multiple studies to increase the risk for breast cancer. Women concerned about HRT and cancer risk, especially those with a significant family history of breast cancer, generally want to avoid the use of hormone therapies. But what is a person who is experiencing many side effects of menopause that can be so easily remedied by hormone therapy to do? Research into HRT alternatives has discovered a host of natural treatments that can provide relief. Soy: Soy offers some promising results, especially with regard to relieving hot flashes. Soy is very high in phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens. Red clover and flaxseed are other sources of plant estrogens. Phytoestrogens are less potent than pharmaceutical estrogen, and scientists believe they do not contribute to breast cancer in the way natural or pharmaceutical estrogen may. MENOPAUSE See Page 8
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Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 6
Restless legs syndrome affects many Metro Creative Connection Millions of people are afflicted with restless legs syndrome, an uncomfortable neurological condition that may lead them to repeatedly move their limbs to find relief. In spite of its name, restless legs syndrome, or RLS, is not limited to the lower extremities, as some of the sensations associated with the condition are felt in the arms as well. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a division of the National Institutes of Health, says as much as 10 percent of the United States population may have RLS. Several studies show that approximately 2 to 3 percent of adults are affected by moderate to severe RLS, which occurs in both men
and women, though incidence of the condition is twice as high among women. Although people of any age can be diagnosed with RLS, it is more often diagnosed in middle-aged men and women and seniors. The most common symptom of RLS is an irresistible urge to move because of uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, sensations deep within the body. The sensations often defy description but can range from pain, aching, creeping, crawling, or prickling feelings. Symptoms may occur at any time but are most evident when the body is at rest, whether sitting down for long periods of time or when going to sleep. Symptoms may increase in severity throughout the night. Those with RLS frequently
experience periodic limb movements characterized by jerking and twitching, which can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Sleep deprivation may carry over into daytime hours and make daily life difficult. Many with RLS also have concentration problems, impaired memory or struggle to perform daily tasks due to exhaustion. RLS symptoms may vary and change from day to day. Symptoms may subside early in the morning, but they often reappear and worsen at night. Considerable evidence points to a dysfunction in the brain’s basal ganglia circuits that rely on the neurotransmitter dopamine,
Metro Creative Connection Restless legs syndrome affects millions of people and can compromise quality of life.
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RLS See Page 8
Living longer doesn’t have to mean getting “old.” What is your age? It goes on everything from your driver’s License to your insurance card! Age is just a number, what really matters is how old you feel. At Park Centre, a Wesleylife Active Living Community, we know Life can be meaningful at any age. Focusing on how to age successfully is core to everything we do. Our services transform the aging experience with a focus on health and well-being.
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Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 7
Things to consider before downsizing your home Metro Creative Connection The decision to downsize a home is often bittersweet. Many couples who downsize their homes do so after raising a family. A home might be filled with memories, but downsizing a home helps couples save more money, and that financial flexibility often allows men and women to more fully enjoy their retirement. But in spite of the financial impact of downsizing a home, there’s more than just money at stake for homeowners thinking of downsizing their homes. The following are a handful of factors homeowners should consider before downsizing to a smaller home. Real Estate Market The real estate market can be a seller’s friend or foe. Many sell-
ers have a sale price in mind when they decide to sell their home, but the real estate market can be fickle, so homeowners should do their research before putting their home up for sale. Will the current market make it easier for you to get the most for your home, or will you have to settle for less than you prefer? How fast are similar homes in your area selling? When studying the real estate market, it’s also a good idea to study the market for smaller homes. If you plan on moving into a condominium but the market is not flush with properties, you might end up paying more than you want to for your new home, which might negate the savings you can expect from downsizing. DOWNSIZING See Page 10
Older couples must consider a host of factors before deciding to downsize their homes.
Metro Creative Connection
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 8
Menopause Continued from Page 5 Black cohosh: Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family and is a perennial plant native to North America. Preparations of black cohosh are made from the roots and underground stems. Black cohosh has long been used by natives of North America to treat malaise, gynecological disorders, rheumatism and other conditions. Black cohosh is now sold as an herbal remedy to alleviate hot flashes and excessive sweating in menopausal women. The National Institutes of Health awarded more than $7 million to the University of Illinois to study the efficacy of black
cohosh and other herbs in treating certain symptoms of menopause. Dong quai: This herb is in the celery family and native to Asia. In Chinese medicine, dong quai has been considered a “female ginseng” because of its way of balancing the female hormonal system. As such, dong quai has long been used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menopause. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, researchers are unsure if dong quai acts like estrogen or blocks estrogen in the body, as studies have produced mixed results. Lifestyle changes: Women may need to dress more lightly, use a water atomizer to spray their
bodies to cool down and keep their bedrooms cold to alleviate hot flashes. Vaginal estrogen: If vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse are the primary symptoms, vaginal estrogen rings or suppositories may be necessary. These provide estrogen directly to the affected area while only allowing very low levels to enter the bloodstream. In turn, vaginal estrogen may not increase breast cancer risk in the same way as other hormone therapies. Hormone replacement therapy can alleviate menopausal symptoms, but also it can elevate breast cancer risk. Other options are available, and women can speak with their doctors about alternatives to HRT.
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RLS Continued from Page 6 which helps regulate muscle movements, as a contributor to RLS. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease often have RLS as well. RLS may be a genetic condition, as it seems to run in families. Pregnancy, chronic diseases and medications can also aggravate symptoms of
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Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 9
Centenarians Continued from Page 2 the past two years at McCann Village. She enjoys playing bingo and cards with the other residents. Pickett was born in Lynnville and lived there until the age of 8, when the family moved to Newton. Her father worked at the Maytag plant, and she has vivid memories
of walking to the plant at lunch time to deliver his pail. She had to push through a heavy door to get in, and she just walked right through the plant to get it to her dad. She also has fond memories of a tennis court her father built on their property for her and her four sisters to play on. “My dad played tennis with us. Two of the girls became very good tennis play-
ers,” Pickett said. “My father, even though he worked at Maytag, he would play tennis with us, and a lot of parents wouldn’t do that.” After leaving home, Pickett tried to find work as a school teacher and ended up getting married to her husband, originally from Unionville, Mo. She has two sons, four grandchildren, six great-grandchilden and three great-great-grandchildren,
with the youngest being under a year old. Pickett can remember the huge celebration at the conclusion of World War II and said President Carter was her favorite because she met him and his family, although President Franklin D. Roosevelt always made an impression on her. Technology has not escaped Pickett, but she wouldn’t call herself a “te-
chie.” She has a cell phone that she uses when she needs it but doesn’t think it is a necessity. Both women said they did a lot of hard work throughout their lives but felt they had lived full and active lives with much more to come. Staff writer Jamee A. Pierson may be contacted at (641) 7923121, ext. 6534, or at jpierson@ newtondailynews.com.
Study: U.S. Alzheimer’s rate seems to be dropping The rate of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is falling in the United States and some other rich countries — good news about an epidemic that is still growing simply because more people are living to an old age, new studies show. An American over age 60 today has a 44 percent lower chance of developing dementia than a similar-aged person did roughly 30 years ago, the longest study of these trends in the U.S. concluded. Dementia rates also are down in Germany, a study there found. “For an individual, the actual risk of dementia seems to have declined,” probably due to more education and control of health factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure, said Dr. Kenneth Langa. He is a University
of Michigan expert on aging who discussed the studies Tuesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Copenhagen. The opposite is occurring in some poor countries that have lagged on education and health, where dementia seems to be rising. More than 5.4 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. It has no cure and current drugs only temporarily ease symptoms. A drop in rates is a silver lining in the so-called silver tsunami — the expected wave of age-related healthproblems from an older population. Alzheimer’s will remain a major public health issue, but countries where rates are dropping may be able to
lower current projections for spending and needed services, experts said. Recent studies from the Netherlands, Sweden and England have suggested a decline, and the new research extends this look to some other parts of the world. The federally funded Framingham study tracked new dementia cases among several thousand people 60 and older in five-year periods starting in 1978, 1989, 1996 and 2006. Compared with the first period, new cases were 22 percent lower in the second one, 38 percent lower in the third and 44 percent lower in the fourth one. The average age at which dementia was diagnosed also rose — from 80 during the first period to 85 in the last one. During that time, there were de-
clines in smoking, heart disease and strokes, factors linked to dementia, and a rise in the number of people using blood pressure medicines and getting a high school diploma, which reduce the likelihood of developing the condition. “The results bring some hope that perhaps dementia cases might be preventable, or at least delayed” by improving health and education, said the study leader, Claudia Satizabal of Boston University. Dallas Anderson, epidemiology chief at the National Institute on Aging, agreed. “For those who get the disease, it may come later in life, which is a good thing. Getting the disease in your 80s or 90s is a very different than getting it in your early 70s,” he said.
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Downsizing Continued from Page 7 Furniture When downsizing to a smaller home, many couples realize their current furniture is unlikely to fit into a smaller home. That means couples will have to sell or donate their current furniture and then buy all new items for their new home. If it’s been a while since you purchased new furniture, you might be in for some sticker shock on your first visit to the furniture store. Another thing to consider regarding your furniture is which items you simply can’t live without. An antique dinner table might have been the centerpiece for your family holidays over the last several decades, but there’s no guarantee it will fit into your
smaller home. You may want to pass this down to your son or daughter, but that’s only possible if he or she has the room for it. Before deciding to downsize, consider your attachment to certain items that you may or may not be able to take with you to your new home and the emotional toll that selling such items might take if you’re left with no other options. Proximity to Family When downsizing to a smaller home, many couples move out of the suburbs and into cities or towns with more ready access to culture and restaurants. While that accessibility is great, grandparents may find that it comes at the cost of less time with their grandchildren. That’s a steep price to pay for doting grandparents, and it may also impact your
children if they frequently rely on grandma and grandpa for babysitting. Before downsizing, consider if you’re willing to move further away from your family. If not, you likely can still find a smaller home in close proximity to your current home and any nearby family members. Medical Care Many older men and women must also consider the effect that moving may have on their medical care. Downsizing to a home in the country may make it harder to maintain contact with your current physician, and rural areas typically have less medical practitioners than more densely populated towns and cities. In addition, if you have been visiting the same physician for years, you may not want to move and have to start all over again with a phy-
sician who is unfamiliar with your medical history. Consider how much maintaining your existing relationship with your physician means to you, and if your next home will provide the kind of access to medical
care you’re likely to need. Downsizing a home is not just about moving into a smaller property. To ensure you’re making the right decision, many factors must be considered before downsizing.
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Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 11
Nearly half of senior home accidents are preventable, ER doctor survey says Special to the Daily News Nearly 20 million seniors ages 65 and older visit the emergency room each year with almost a third of the visits related to injuries, many of which are sustained in the place seniors are meant to feel the safest: their home. In fact, 65 percent of senior homes have at least one potential safety issue, according to adult children of seniors surveyed by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network. However, almost half of all home accidents by seniors (48 percent) can be avoided according to a recent survey of emer-
gency room doctors, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These preventable home hazards, such as throw rugs or loose railings, can be particularly harmful, leading to falls and injuries that can impact seniors’ ability to live independently. However, the majority of seniors (85 percent) haven’t taken any steps to prepare their homes for their changing needs as they grow older. “The home should be the safest and most comfortable place for aging seniors,” said Jonna Wisnieski of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Mar-
shall, Jasper, Poweshiek, Marion and Mahaska counties. “It is critical for families and seniors to invest the time in identifying the necessary home safety modifications to ensure it stays that way.” Senior home safety experts recommend that adult children of seniors take at least one day each year to perform a thorough safety check of their parents’ home. To help families accomplish this goal and help seniors reduce the risk of injury in their own homes, the local Home Instead Senior Care office is offering free home safety checks conducted by local senior care
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experts. The safety checks will be provided at no cost on a timeavailable basis. “An annual safety check can help seniors avoid dangers that could threaten their independence,” Wisnieski said. “When we go into homes, we see a lot of red flags that are easily overlooked by those who are familiar with the home. Most of the time, these are relatively easy and affordable fixes — and they could be the difference between a trip to the emergency room and staying safe at home.” The most common issues found in seniors’ homes are tripping hazards, bathrooms with-
out assistive equipment, such as grab bars on the shower or tub, and storage that’s too high or too low. A free home safety checklist, online safety assessment and recommendations for inexpensive modifications that could ensure the safety of older loved ones are also available at www.makinghomesaferforseniors.com. These free safety checks and support resources are part of Home Instead Inc.’s broader Making Home Safer for Seniors program. To request a free home safety check or the home safety checklist, please call the local Home Instead Senior Care office at (641) 792-1800.
Senior Lifestyles • July 2014 – Page 12
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