senior spectrum newspaper 2014

SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / November / 3

November 2014CONTENTS

THIS ISSUE - Editor’s DeskPage 4 - Operation Sweaters for Our VeteransPage 26 - Nursing Home Report Card: Nevada Earns ‘C’

EVERY ISSUEPage 6 - Opinion: VeteransPage 7 - Opinion: MedicarePage 29 - Biggest Little CityPage 32 - Eclectic ObserverPage 33 & 35 - CalendarPage 36 - this ‘n thatPage 37 - CrosswordPage 40 - Seniors4TravelPage 42 - Resources

HEALTHPage 13 - CMS: Time to Review

Your Medicare CoveragePage 15 - Behavioral, Mental,and Cognitive Senior HealthPage 17 - ImportantInformation Regarding Cholesterol and Your HealthPage 21 - OphthalmologyPage 22 - CMS to ImproveQuality of Post-Acute Care

FINANCIALPage 8 - Selecting an EstatePlanning Attorney - BradlyAnderson, Anderson & Dorn Page 10 - Community Giving:Make a Bright Futurefor the Next GenerationPage 19 - AARP: CreativeHousing Options

Senior Spectrum NewspaperP.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510

775-348-0717SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

[email protected]: Chris & Connie McMullen

Column opinions are writers, not publishers. Copyrighted publication.

40Starting this November 1,

the Regional TransportationCommission is expanding avery popular locals programthat was cutback during therecession. What took yearsto develop for seniors inneed of taxi rides, wasrestructured to limit rides tolow-income residents ofWashoe County.

But that has all changed!Thanks to the expansion ofRTC’s Senior Ride Programmore people will be able totake advantage of discountedtaxi rides. Through this pro-gram, seniors may purchasecoupons, called taxi bucks,

to help cover the cost of taxirides. Under the expansion,the cost of a $20 booklet oftaxi bucks is now beingreduced from $15 to $10.

Even better, the programis now open to people age 60who earn less than $45-thousand a year...and for thefirst time to veterans of allages. This change is signifi-cant to vets who because ofdisabilities cannot reach theVeterans Services Officewhich falls a few blocks out-side the fixed route system.This is a win-win for every-one including the RTC whowants to provide more tran-sit for people with disabili-ties who may otherwise usethe more expensive para-

transit service.Baldini’s Sports Casino

has decided to give back toseniors, holding a freeChristmas Party, December2, 10 - 2 p.m. People 55 andolder can expect healthscreenings, giveaways, enter-tainment, and lunch at nocost. Of course the goal is toget people into the casino,but for those who havenever frequented the Sparkslocation, this is a goodopportunity to have fun andfind out what Baldini’soffers. Cheers!

While I’m at it, kudos tothe Eldorado, Atlantis, andBonanza Casinos for theirgenerosity with Senior Fest.These three family operatedbusinesses are pretty terrificand dedicated to the com-munity.

Applause to the NevadaAging and DisabilityServices Division forincreasing services for sen-iors in its 2016-2017 budget.In fact, the entire Health andHuman ServicesDepartment’s proposedbudget needs a large shoutout. If the recommenda-tions make the Governor’sRecommended Budget,Nevada seniors, adults, andchildren who are low-income and disabled, and inneed of assistance will beginreceiving services the statehas been stingy to provide.Devastating cuts dating to2007 were harsh. If theGovernor approves the rec-ommendations, the nexthurdle is the Legislature!

Winners for Seniors: RTC TaxiBucks, Baldini’s Sports Casino,Aging and Disability Services

Editorʼs Desk

On November 11, Americansthroughout the world willcommemorate Veterans Dayto thank our nation’s veter-ans for service given and sac-rifices made to protect thefreedoms of this nation. Inconjunction with more thana thousand Veterans &Family Memorial Care(VFMC) Providers nation-wide, Walton’s Funerals &Cremations is sponsoring theVFMC Operation Sweatersfor Veterans initiativethroughout NorthernNevada and Susanville.

Now through Veterans Day,Walton’s is collecting new orgently used sweaters andgloves for men and women,which will be distributed toLassen County VeteransServices in Susanville, as wellas the Homeless VeteransOutreach Program in Reno,for distribution to local vet-erans.

“This is just one small waywe can support our heroes,and we’re honored to do ourpart,” said Tammy Dermody,owner of Walton’s.

New or gently used sweaterscan be dropped off at anyWalton’s location. In addi-tion, Walton’s is the OfficialCell Phones for Soldiers dropoff center. People are invitedto bring in their old cellphones to recycle and con-vert into One Hour of FreeTalk time for our heroesoverseas. Everyone in thecommunity is invited to sup-port our veterans and mili-tary heroes by donatingsweaters, gloves and old cellphones at Walton’s.

For more information aboutthe initiative or to find aWalton’s location, please visitwww.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.

4 / November / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Time to review your Medicare plan! Make sure your current plan meets your future needs.

Call (877) 385-2345

Medicare Open Enrollment October 15 to December 7

Local Help for People with Medicare!

Operation Sweaters for Veterans

On Veterans Day, we honor the veteransfrom Nevada, and their families, who havesacrificed to protect the freedoms our coun-try holds dear. Nevada is home to hundreds

of thousands of veterans, and we hope each day that the Nevadanscurrently serving overseas return home safely. When they returnto Nevada, it is our duty to repay their service by ensuring theycan transition smoothly back to civilian life.

As troops return from duty, we must stand ready to give themevery chance to thrive. I have worked to ensure Nevada’s veteranshave access to higher education, quality healthcare, and opportuni-ties to find jobs when they return home. For example, I advocatedfor the 21st Century G.I. Bill, which expanded education opportu-nities for veterans and their families. In July this year, my office co-hosted a Veteran’s Job Fair to connect veterans and their depend-ents to employers seeking to hire them. And I recently announcednearly $10 million in grants from the Department of Labor to fur-ther expand education and employment opportunities forNevada’s veterans.

Unfortunately, current law prevents veterans classified as dis-abled by the VA from collecting both disability pay and retirement

pay, known as “concurrent receipt,” regardless of the fact that theyare eligible for both. As a result, Nevada’s veterans have faced theobstacle of forfeiting retirement pay dollar-for-dollar if theyreceived disability compensation. However, under my leadershipin the Senate, there has been much progress over the past decadeto ensure that our disabled veterans receive both the disability andretired pay that they have earned.

I am pleased that veterans with 50 percent or more disabilityrating are now receiving their full retirement and disability pay-ments but there is still much progress to be made. I introduced theRetired Pay and Restoration Act to permit retired members of theArmed Forces who have a service-connected disability between 0to 40 percent to receive both their military retired pay and full dis-ability compensation from the VA. I pledge to continue my effortsto permit all retired members of the Armed Forces with a service-connected disability to collect the benefits they deserve.

I have numerous veterans on my staff in Washington, and athome in Nevada, to help me serve my constituents. I thank all ofthose who have served our country in the past as well as thosecurrently serving in any capacity in our armed services both homeand abroad.

Sen. Reid

Opinion

U.S. Senator Harry Reid


Working So Our Veterans Receive The Benefits They Deserve

Across Nevada, seniors are animportant contributing community,passing on Nevada pride to futuregenerations. They are parents, grand-parents and friends to many, which iswhy I think they need to be well caredfor by those around them. However,this loving community also faces a

unique set of health care needs, so we must ensure that ourhealthcare system can provide access to the affordable andhigh-quality care Nevada’s seniors deserve.

I believe Medicare offers an important opportunity foraccess to health care benefits for these individuals. Withouthelp to pay for expensive medical bills, many of our seniorsand their families could be responsible for large debt fromjust one accident or medical procedure.

For this reason, I would like to pass along importantupcoming dates regarding Medicare. The open enrollmentperiod this year runs from October 15 to December 7. This isa great opportunity for seniors to enroll in the program,decide which plan best meets their needs, or continue with

their current coverage. This period is a time for each individ-ual to think about what options are available to them anddetermine what will best benefit his or her own well-being.

Medicare was introduced 49 years ago by Congress, whenPresident Lyndon B. Johnson was in office, to provide healthinsurance for seniors ages 65 and up, regardless of medicalhistory or income. As a member of Congress and a son withloving parents, I am a strong supporter of Medicare and willcontinue my work in Congress to protect and preserve thiscritical program.

It is my goal that each of our seniors in need of financialand medical help takes the opportunity to enroll into this sys-tem. Medicare provides Nevada’s seniors with stability andhelps relieve the financial burden for both themselves andtheir families, so that they can focus on their health and well-being instead of unaffordable medical bills.

I am honored to represent Nevada and urge all of our sen-iors to make the most of the Medicare open enrollment peri-od. This is an opportunity for all of our seniors to live ahealthy life with the help of Medicare.


OpinionU.S. Senator Dean Heller

Sen. Dean Heller

Medicare Open Enrollment Season


Selecting an Estate Planning Attorney Wisely

Brad Anderson

Brought to you byBradley B. AndersonAnderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.

When former NFL quarterback, SteveMcNair, died without a Will, his familymembers were left to fight over his expan-sive estate. Immediately after his death,although news reports indicated the NFL-star had provided instructions to his familyand that his wife wasn’t trying to excludehis mother from inheriting, things quicklydeteriorated.

Two years later, on the anniversary ofMcNair’s death, his mother was sued by hiswidow, Mechelle, over property taken froma 45-acre ranch in Mississippi. His mother

said the ranch had been a no-stringattached gift from her son, but she wasevicted from the ranch by Mechelle’slawyers and asked to return $54,363 toMcNair’s estate after she reportedly tookitems she had purchased from the homeupon leaving.

To avoid similar problems, many celebritiescreate a Will. A Will alone, however, is noguarantee that things will go smootherafter death. The case of child-star GaryColeman shows what can happen whenestate planning is not done professionally.

Coleman signed a Will in 2005 naming hisfriend and the former head of his corpora-tion as the executor and beneficiary of hisestate. However, after getting married in2007, he signed a handwritten amendmentto the Will leaving his assets to his wife.The couple divorced in 2008 but continuedto live together. When Coleman died in2010, his ex-wife claimed she should inher-it all of his assets. The dispute, like so manyothers that arise when a Will is unclear,ended up in court as Coleman’s ex-wifeand his friend battled over his home, his

(Estate Planning page 9)

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneyswww.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com

pension, and the intellectual rights to hisworks.

Coleman made the mistake of failing toupdate his Will properly. However, thereare lots of other mistakes that can be madewhen it comes to estate planning. Forexample:

• A Will can be created without followinglegal requirements, including having theWill witnessed properly.

• A new Will can be created withoutdestroying or revoking the old one, leavingbeneficiaries confused about which docu-ment should control.

• A Will could be created that leaves prop-erty to a beneficiary despite the fact thatthe deceased doesn’t actually have the rightto do that. For example, a property held injoint tenancy will pass automatically to aco-owner after death, despite what a Willmay say.

• A Will could be created leaving assets tosomeone even though a beneficiary is des-ignated elsewhere. For example, if youleave an IRA or a life insurance policy tosomeone in a Will, the Will won’t control.Instead, the money will be paid out towhomever was named as the beneficiary ofthe policy or account.

These are just a few examples of the manypitfalls that can occur when you try to han-dle estate planning without advancedknowledge of the law. Don’t make this mis-take – get help from a qualified and experi-enced estate planning attorney. Your bene-ficiaries will be grateful that you plannedand spared them disputes and heartachethat may occur after you are gone

Please visit our website at www.probate-busters.com or call Anderson, Dorn &Rader at (775) 823-9455 if you’d like a freeconsultation about your estate planning.We have helped thousands of families pre-pare for life’s contingencies.


Estate Planning / page 8 About Our Law FirmThe Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn

& Rader is devoted exclusively toestate planning. We are members ofthe American Academy of EstatePlanning Attorneys and offer guid-ance and advice to our clients inevery area of estate planning. Weoffer comprehensive and personal-ized estate planning consultations.For more information or attend anupcoming seminar, please contact usat (775) 823-9455 or visit us onlineat www.wealth-counselors.com.

This article is written by theAmerican Academy of EstatePlanning Attorneys. The Academyregularly publishes articles on vari-ous estate planning topics as a freeresource to consumers. These arti-cles are intended as an overview ofbasic estate planning topics andissues, and not legal advice. We rec-ommend that you consult with aqualified estate planning attorney toreview your goals.


I am proud toshare that both ofmy kids (if you cancall young peoplein their twenties,kids) graduatedfrom college thisyear. They are

both working full-time and living inde-pendently. I have heard all of the sto-ries about how difficult it is to find ajob, but they seemed to find jobs fairlyeasily. That makes me optimistic fortheir future.

Last year we vacationed in Key Westand every morning at dawn we walkedto the White Street Pier to watch thesunrise. One morning I was exclaimingabout the incredible colors in the sun-

rise when a co-traveler remarked that Imust be watching the sunrise throughrose colored glasses… and indeed I was!One look through my glasses and healso saw the most colorful and brilliantsunrise. It’s my good fortune to see theworld through rose colored glasses, inpart because I meet many caring peopleat the Community Foundation ofWestern Nevada.

In our community people really care,and they show it by giving and volun-teering. People care about this place,about our community’s youth, aboutour future, and about the future of thecountry. People just like you and mework with the Foundation to help lift upour youth because their turn is coming.I can’t help but be optimistic.

We have some great young people inour region. They take their educationseriously. They are smart as evidencedby the increasing number of them grad-uating high school, going on to college,and graduating college in less time thanjust a few years ago. Northern Nevada’syoung citizens give and volunteer andare relentless in their support of therevitalization of Reno, particularly ofour downtown and midtown areas.They don’t want to move away; theywould rather stay here, establish smallbusinesses, buy homes, and have fami-lies. Their performance is helping drawcompanies to our region. These youngpeople are Nevada’s talent and treasure.Optimism - they have it in abundance.

(Next Generation page 12)

Help Make a Bright Future for the Next Generation

Chris Askin

Community Giving

By Chris Askin, President and CEOCommunity Foundation of Western Nevada

It is up to mature citizens to makesure all our youth have support in theform of opportunity. The CommunityFoundation of Western Nevada con-tributes by managing scholarship pro-grams supported by dozens of donorsand families in the region. Creating ascholarship and directly lifting a per-son’s life is the most satisfying giving forCommunity Foundation donors. It is agreat feeling to help a young person, toknow their name, learn their story, andsee the world through their eyes.

Former foster youth in our commu-nity are looking for advice, an olderfriend, and help building a network ofconnections. The CommunityFoundation is learning about and sup-porting mentor programs in our region.These youth may legally be adults, butthey still need help getting established.Our young people are our future. TheCommunity Foundation is focusing onlearning more about this population sowe can share ways to help them.

Recently we have been hearing lotsof positive economic news about newcompanies and new technologies com-ing to northern Nevada. Reno is receiv-ing increased focus as a university town.This type of growth brings opportuni-ties and interest in strategic private giv-ing; community conversations will helpbring these helpful changes to fruition.We have organizations in Reno that aredoing a fabulous job of developingregional opportunities, including theYoung Professionals Network, theEconomic Development Association ofWestern Nevada (EDAWN), theUniversity of Nevada-Reno, and dozensof other small enthusiastic networksand associations. Wow, what excitingtimes!

Despite my excitement over ourrosier future, I am realistic about thepersistent challenges in our community.Problems such as the struggles ofhomeless and unsupported youth, liter-acy, struggling low-income families, an aging infrastructure, and persistent

poverty keep us from being all we canbe. The Community Foundation isfocusing on improving the situation forthe homeless and unsupported youthand we will be helping with other issuesas well. There is opportunity here foryou, and I hope you will pitch in.

It’s a brave new world, and it’s not alldoom and gloom. We can make thisplace we love better for us and futuregenerations. Please join me and sharethe optimism. Nothing stays the same,and I feel a sense of hopefulness allaround town. As a parent I’m veryexcited that my kids are now out in theworld exploring and growing. Theyboth want a lot out of life, and I am surethey can find what they’re seeking. I dopledge to do what I can to help them ifneeded, and that is exactly what I doevery day at the CommunityFoundation of Western Nevada. If youwould like to learn more about what weare doing, please give me a call, 775-333-5499.


Next Generation / page 10

SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.coms / November / 13

Medicare’s annualopen enrollmentseason is under-way, and I want toencourage every-one withMedicare to

review their current health and pre-scription drug coverage.

Open enrollment began Oct. 15 andruns through Dec. 7, 2014. If you wantto change your Medicare Advantage orMedicare Part D (prescription drug)plan, this is the time of year to do it.Any new coverage you select will takeeffect Jan. 1, 2015.

If you have Original (traditional)Medicare and you’re satisfied with it,you don’t need to do anything duringopen enrollment.

My agency, the Centersfor Medicare & MedicaidServices, or CMS,announced recently thatthe average MedicareAdvantage premium for2015 is projected to be$33.90 monthly. CMS alsoestimated that the averagebasic Part D premium in2015 would be $32 permonth.

Since passage of theAffordable Care Act in2010, enrollment inMedicare Advantage has increased 42percent to an all-time high of more than16 million people. Medicare Advantagepremiums, meanwhile, have decreased6 percent. The law is also closing thePart D “donut hole,” with more than 8.3

million people saving more than $12billion on prescription drugs throughlast July. Meanwhile, the quality ofMedicare Advantage and Part D planscontinues to improve. This year, peoplewith Medicare who enroll in such plans

(Medicare Coverage page 14)

Time to Review Your Medicare CoverageDavid Sayen, Regional Administrator

Medicare Region 9

David Sayen

will have access to morehigh-rated, four- and five-star plans than ever before.About 60 percent ofMedicare Advantageenrollees are now in plansearning four or more stars in2015, compared to an esti-mated 17 percent in 2009.Likewise, about 53 percent ofPart D enrollees are currentlyin Part D plans with four ormore stars for 2015, com-pared to 16 percent in 2009.

Medicare plans’ coverageoptions and costs can changeeach year, and Medicare ben-eficiaries should evaluatetheir current coverage andchoices and select the planthat best meets their needs.If you think your currentcoverage will meet yourneeds for 2015, you don’tneed to change anything.

A variety of resources areavailable to help you com-pare your current coveragewith new plan offerings for2015. You can:

• Visit www.medicare.gov toreview plans available in yourarea, as well as their costs,and enroll in a new plan ifyou decide to. Open enroll-ment information is availablein Spanish.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to findout more about your cover-age options. TTY usersshould call 1-877-486-2048.Counseling is available in awide variety of languages.

• Review the 2015 Medicare& You handbook. This hand-book has been mailed to thehomes of people withMedicare and it’s also online

at: www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf.

• Get free, unbiased, one-on-one counseling from yourlocal State Health InsuranceAssistance Program (SHIP).Local SHIP contact informa-tion can be found:

❏ At www.medicare.gov/contacts/organization- search-criteria.aspx or;❏ On the back of the 2015Medicare & You handbookor;❏ By calling Medicare (at 1-800 number).

People with Medicare whohave limited income andresources may qualify forExtra Help to pay for theirPart D drug plans. There’s nocost or obligation to apply forExtra Help. Medicare benefi-ciaries, family members, orcaregivers can apply online atwww.socialsecurity.gov/pre-scriptionhelp or call SocialSecurity at 1-800-772-1213(TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778) to find outmore.

Better quality in MedicareAdvantage and Part D plansisn’t the only good news forpeople with Medicare.

For most seniors who haveOriginal Medicare, the 2015Part B premium will stayunchanged for a second con-secutive year, at $104.90.This means more of yourretirement income and anyincrease in Social Securitybenefits will stay in yourpocket. The Part Bdeductible will stay the sameas well. You can always getanswers to your Medicarequestions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).


Coverage / page 13


The Commissionon AgingLegislativeSubcommittee,which I am a mem-ber of, has pro-duced the top eight

“Elder Issues in Nevada” for our stateand local officials. According to thisissue brief, the state has very few servic-es for people requiring assistance due toa diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, otherdementias, mental health issues, orother behavioral issues. As a result,many elder persons who have a cogni-tive, mental, or other behavioral diagno-sis are either not served or shipped offto another state for service. Neither isacceptable. Legislation and resourcesare needed to address these issues.

The Alzheimer’s Association hasreported that there will be 42,000 peo-ple in Nevada with Alzheimer’s diseaseby 2025, a 100 percent increase in inci-dence since 2000. The cost is estimatedto be over $1 trillion to serve this popu-

lation. Clearly, our state needs to payattention to this issue. In addition, thereare many elders that have other formsof dementia as well as many mental andbehavioral health issues that are notbeing treated.

In January 2013, the LegislativeCommittee on Health Care’s task forcedeveloped a state plan to addressAlzheimer’s disease (AssemblyConcurrent Resolution No. 10, File No.42, Statutes of Nevada 2011) that pro-duced 20 recommendations. A coupleof those recommendations dealt withthe review of current funding and fund-ing streams to support the developmentof quality long-term care facilities inNevada. They suggested providingfunding or incentives to encouragelong-term care organizations to developinpatient facilities, and to encourageexisting facilities to increase inpatientcapacity for placement of individualswith Alzheimer’s disease and relateddisorders. In addition, they recom-mended reducing the need for out-of-

state placements in Nevada by review-ing regulatory measures that may serveas barriers to facilities that are willing toretain more behaviorally challengedpatients. The recommendation’s were:Have a higher reimbursement rate as anincentive for facilities to provide spe-cialized care; and develop plans formore adequate placement of individualswith Alzheimer’s disease and relateddisorders, and more behaviorally chal-lenged patients. These were just a cou-ple of the State Plan recommendationsfor Alzheimer’s disease that need to beadopted to create a decent service sys-tem.

In addition to Alzheimer’s disease,many other mental and behavioralhealth problems exist with the olderpopulation. Depression and suicide arerampant. Older adults make up 12 per-cent of the U.S. population, but accountfor 18 percent of all suicide deaths. Thisis an alarming statistic, as the elders arethe fastest growing segment of the pop-

(Senior Health page 16)

Larry Weiss

“Adding Life to Years”

Behavioral, Mental, and Cognitive Health Among Elders: What Needs to be Done?

Dr. Larry WeissCenter for Healthy Aging

ulation, making the issue of later-lifesuicide a major public health priority. In2002, the annual suicide rate for per-sons over the age of 65 was over 15 per100,000 individuals; this numberincreases for those aged 75 to 84, withover 17 suicide deaths per every100,000. The number rises even higherfor those over age 85. Further, elder sui-cide may be under-reported by 40 per-cent or more. Not counted are "silentsuicides," like deaths from overdoses,self-starvation or dehydration, and"accidents." The elderly have a high rateof completing suicide because they usefirearms, hanging, and drowning.

An obstacle faced by mental health pro-fessionals and other caregivers in reach-ing this group is that older adults do notusually seek treatment for mental healthproblems. As such, family and friendscan play an important role in preven-tion. Despite the availability of safe andeffective treatments, late-life mood dis-orders remain a large problem. One rea-son for this may be that the public seesdepression and suicide as normalaspects of aging. A sizeable portion ofthe population views youth suicide as a

greater tragedy than late-life suicide.This way of thinking works againsteffective outreach to elders and effortsto understand and treat their condi-tions. The healthcare system is notmeeting the needs of many elders, anddiscriminatory coverage and reimburse-ment policies for mental health care aresignificant barriers to treatment. Thishas to change, especially in Nevadasince we have one of the highest rates ofelder suicide.

Seven million Americans over the ageof 65 suffer from depression. Unlikemany other groups, elder depressionoften goes unrecognized or is mistakenfor another condition. While the ratesof depression are fairly low for eldersliving on their own—between one andfive percent—they rise dramaticallywith the loss of independence. Variousstudies have found that 50 percent ofelders living in nursing homes sufferfrom depression. Up to 90 percent ofpeople who suffer from depression laterin life don’t receive adequate care, with78 percent receiving no treatment at all.Elders diagnosed with major depressivedisorder (MDD) spend nearly twice as

much on health care as those withoutthe disease. In addition, the suicide rateamong people over 75 is higher thanthat of any other group—more than oneand a half times the average.

Neurotransmitters linked to well-beingand happiness—such as serotonin,dopamine, and norepinephrine—become less abundant as people age.Many medications taken by the elders,including steroids, benzodiazepines,and beta blockers may cause depressivesymptoms. So too can life changes suchas loss of independence, social isolation,and bereavement. Ten to 20 percent ofthose who have lost a spouse will devel-op significant depression within thefirst year after the loss. Left untreated,depression increases the likelihood thata person will become disabled or placedin a nursing home. It also increases therisk of death from all causes. Forinstance, depressed patients are at fivetimes the risk of dying from a heartattack than those who aren’t depressed.

Don’t these statistics hit you over thehead? It did me. Shouldn’t we developeducational and training programs for

our health care professionalsand the public about theimportance of recognizingthese diseases and treatingthem? We should also adoptthe plans developed over thelast couple of years and putmore resources into services.It certainly will “add life toyears” for many elders andtheir families and ultimatelyreduce costs for all of us. Soask your legislators for helpin curbing these publichealth issues!

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. isCEO of the Center forHealthy Aging. Dr. Weisswelcomes your comments onthis column. Write to him [email protected] c/o Center for HealthyAging, 11 Fillmore Way,Reno, NV 89519.


Senior Health / page 15

In last monthsissue I discussedsome of the risksassociated with tak-ing certain pharma-ceuticals and theexploitation of sen-iors. Many people

have read the article and are asking if cho-lesterol is so important then why are somany being told that it is bad and must belowered? Unfortunately, there is no easyanswer available without speculation andtaking into account, frankly, ignorance orlack of knowledge. Your body does requireit.

First, lets look at why we need choles-terol. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is asteroid when viewed by Biochemist. No,we're not getting into the specific carbon

chains and its structure. Cholesterol is the'parent' steroid from which other steroidsare synthesized. That being said, there isonly one kind of cholesterol, and it does farmore good than harm.

When the press refers to “good” and“bad” cholesterol, it is actually referring todroplets in the blood called lipoproteins,which are a complex of cholesterol, fat,phospholipids, and protein. So-called badcholesterol refers to low-density lipopro-tein (LDL), which has a high ratio of lipidto protein and contributes to cardiovascu-lar disease. So-called good cholesterolrefers to high-density lipoprotein (HDL),which has a lower ratio of lipid to proteinand may help to prevent cardiovasculardisease. HDL cholesterol functions intransport of cholesterol to the liver formetabolism to bile acids. Even when food

products are advertised as cholesterol-free,they may be high in saturated fat, whichstimulates the body to produce more cho-lesterol. (As an aside—Palmitic acid seemsto be the greatest culprit in stimulating ele-vated cholesterol levels, while linoleic acidhas a cholesterol-lowering effect.)

Cholesterol is a natural product of thebody, meaning the body makes it. Onlyabout 15 percent of our cholesterol comesfrom the diet; the other 85 percent is inter-nally synthesized. So even if you ate acompletely cholesterol-free diet, your bodywould make the approximately 1,000 mg itneeds to function properly. Your body hasthe ability to regulate the amount of choles-terol in the blood, producing more whenyour diet doesn't provide adequateamounts. The regulation of cholesterol

(Cholesterol page 18)


Dr. Saville

Important Information Regarding Cholesterol and Your Health

Dr. Sandra Saville, DC, CNI


synthesis is an elegant process that is tightlycontrolled.

In addition to being the precursor ofother steroids, cholesterol is an importantcomponent of the outer coating of cellmembranes and is required for propernervous system function. What are thoseother steroids that are formed from choles-terol? Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone,cortisol, and Vitamin D. Additionally, cho-lesterol makes up the bile acids that workto digest food in the intestines.

So as you can see, cholesterol is animportant and NECESSARY componentof what the body requires for proper func-tioning. That being said, how much is nec-essary and how important are your num-bers? Is cholesterol the true villain of yourbody? What about triglycerides? How dothey come into play, and what is its role?

Triglycerides are a type of fat found inyour blood. Your body uses them for ener-gy. When you eat, your body converts anycalories it doesn't need to use right awayinto triglycerides. They are stored in yourfat cells. Later, hormones release triglyc-erides for energy between meals. If you

regularly eat more calories than you burn,particularly “easy” calories like carbohy-drates and fats, you may have high triglyc-erides.

Bottom-line, the difference betweencholesterol and triglycerides: triglyceridesstore unused calories and provide yourbody with energy, and cholesterol is usedto build cells and certain hormones.Neither dissolve in the blood, they circulatethroughout your body with the help of pro-teins that transport the lipids (lipopro-teins).

So you ask again what should be consid-ered good numbers? As a functional medi-cine practitioner, I look at the levels of cho-lesterol and triglycerides differently. In myopinion, optimal cholesterol levels shouldbe between 150.0 – 220.0 mg/dL.Triglyceride levels should be 40-60% ofTotal cholesterol. It is both bad to have toohigh levels AND too low levels.

What disorders or factors can be attrib-uted with your numbers not being opti-mal?

Elevated cholesterol/triglycerides:! Diabetes! Hyperlipoproteinemia

! Thyroid Hypofunction! Obesity! Biliary stasisDecreased cholesterol/triglyc-

erides:! Poor hormone production! Vegetarian diets! Decreased immunityAnother interesting note as a functional

medicine practitioner to consider, choles-terol is generally increased with organ andendocrine hypofunction (especially thyroidand pituitary) and decreased with organand endocrine hyperfunction.

A true indicator to look for when wor-ried of heart disease is increased level ofLDL with increased levels of triglycerides,not total cholesterol greater than 200mg/dL.

If you are looking for alternatives orhave questions don't hesitate to call Dr.Saville's office at (775) 410-4969.

Dr. Sandra Saville DC, CNIM is a prac-ticing Chiropractor and Neurophysiologistwho specializes in functional medicine andnutrition at Integrated Wellness andNutrition at 305 W. Moana Lane, Ste. B-3,Reno, NV 89509.

Cholesterol / page 18

The choices forhow and where to liveas an older adult aregrowing.

In her book With a LittleHelp From Our Friends:Creating Community As WeGrow Older, author and jour-nalist Beth Baker observes that,as roughly 10 thousand babyboomers a day are turning 65,“a significant cultural shift isunderway.”

The current and cominggeneration of older adults isrealizing, says Baker, “that theycan make other choices aboutwhere and how to live. Withintention and planning, peoplearound the nation are creatingways to live in community,alternatives that give themmore control, more compan-ionship, more dignity andchoice than generations past.”Here, adapted from Baker’sbook is a brief guide to whatsome of these creative optionsare called and how they work.

1. CohousingIn a cohousing situation

each person or family purchas-es a residence — be it an apart-ment, townhouse or even a sin-gle-family house — which con-tains everything a typical homewould have (i.e., a kitchen,bathroom, bedroom and livingroom). However, the residencesare linked to a shared space,such as a yard and gardens, anda large common room, diningarea and kitchen that canaccommodate group meals orgatherings.

The point of cohousing iscommunity and being able tolive independently without liv-ing entirely alone. Cohousingsetups are typically intergenera-

tional and don’t involve staff-provided services, but they canbe age-specific. A few “seniorcohousing communities” havebeen built, and some allow resi-dents to hire household andcare services as needed.

2. House SharingIn these arrangements a per-

son who has a home may invite

a friend or family member, oreven a tenant, to move in andhelp with expenses and chores.The setup might involve peopleof the same age or generationand the arrangement is one ofpeers residing together forcompanionship and cost effi-ciency. Sometimes two or morefriends actually purchase orrent a residence together and

becomehousemates.

Another house sharing sce-nario can revolve around theneeds of an elderly propertyowner who doesn't want torelocate but can no longer carefor herself or a large home entirely on her own. A younger (Creative Housing p. 20)


6 Creative Housing OptionsBy Amy Levner

person (and younger can evenmean someone who's 60 orolder) may be willing to pro-vide some caregiving and trans-portation assistance inexchange for affordable or flexi-ble housing.

3. Housing CooperativesThese types of member-

owned, resident-governed non-

profit communities are com-mon in certain cities (NewYork for one) and are generallynot age-specific.

A co-op can be made up ofhousing that ranges from apart-ments to single-family housesto mobile homes. The co-opboard, typically consisting ofelected residents, decides whatshared services the co-op willprovide (such as social activi-

ties and maintaining thegrounds) and often hasapproval rights over potentialhome buyers. Mobile homecooperatives are spreading inrural areas, and senior housingcooperatives have taken root,particularly in the Midwest.

4. Naturally OccurringRetirement Communities (alsoreferred to by the acronymNORC)

Neighborhoods or locationsthat just happen to have a sig-nificant number of older peo-ple (hence, the community'scommonality is naturallyoccurring or organic) create anetwork of shared supportservices, such as helping oneanother — or sharing hiredhelp — for grocery store runs,transportation to medicalappointments, or lawn-mow-ing. By working together, eachperson is enabled to safely andcomfortably “age in place.”

5. Niche RetirementCommunities (also calledAffinity RetirementCommunities)

A traditional retirementcommunity is an age-restricted,usually 55-plus community thatenables older adults to liveindependently but with accessto social activities and commu-nity amenities, such as yardmaintenance services or fitnessand recreation facilities.(Retirement destinations suchas Florida and Arizona havemany such places.) A “niche” or“affinity” retirement communi-ty is one where residents sharea common interest, religion oridentity. The link may revolvearound, for example, sharedethnicity, sexual orientation,occupation or hobby.

6. VillagesFounded in the Beacon Hill

neighborhood of Boston in2002, the Village model of“neighbors-helping-neighbors”provides a way for older adultsto stay in their homes and com-munity. There are upwards of125 Village communitiesthroughout the nation today,with 100 more getting started,most operating via a mix ofpaid staff and volunteers whoassist older residents witheverything from transportationand technology training tohome repairs and groceryshopping. Villages frequentlyprovide social activities andclasses as well. Members payannual dues and are encour-aged to volunteer themselves.

You can read a longer ver-sion of this article at aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/creative-age-friendly-housing-options. For moreabout Beth Baker’s book, “Witha Little Help From Our Friends:Creating Community As WeGrow Older” (VanderbiltUniversity Press, 2014), visitbethbaker.net.

Housing / page 19


Age-related maculardegeneration, the mostcommon cause of blind-ness among older adultsin the United States,occurs when an area nearthe center of the retina(called the macula) deteri-

orates over time.


Ophthalmology

Nutrients thatlower AMD risk

Dr. Michael J. Fischer, M.D.Nevada Eye Surgery Center

Michael J. Fischer

As it progresses, those withAMD are likely to experienceloss of central vision as well asthe ability to discern finedetail.

Because this eye disease isso prevalent and potentiallydebilitating, nearly everyoneshould be interested in takingsteps to prevent it from occur-ring.

One significant step in thisdirection, according to recentresearch, involves consumingplenty of fish rich in omega-3fatty acids (such as tuna andsalmon). Omega-3 fatty acidsmay help ensure proper bloodvessel function in the retinaand reduce inflammation.

It should be noted thatrecent research also suggestthat vitamin D lowers AMDrisk by reducing inflammationand/or preventing the growthof new blood cells in the reti-na.

If you would like furtherinformation on today’s topic,please call my office at (775)882-1726. We are convenient-ly located at 3839 N. CarsonStreet, in Carson City, 89706.

Hours open are8-5 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday byappointment.Master Card, Visa,and MedicareAssignment areaccepted.

Two Medicare QualityImprovement InitiativesThe Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services (CMS)have announced two initia-tives to improve the qualityof post-acute care. First, theexpansion and strengtheningof the agency’s widely-usedFive Star Quality RatingSystem for Nursing Homeswill improve consumer infor-mation about individualnursing homes’ quality.

Second, proposed new con-ditions of participation forhome health agencies willmodernize Medicare’s HomeHealth Agency Conditions ofParticipation to ensure safedelivery of quality care tohome health patients.

“We are focused on using asmany tools as are available topromote quality improve-ment and better outcomesfor Medicare beneficiaries,”said Marilyn Tavenner, CMSadministrator. “Whether it isthe regulations that guideprovider practices or the

information we providedirectly to consumers, ourprimary goal is improvingoutcomes.”

Nursing Home Five-StarRating System

Beginning in 2015, CMS willimplement the followingimprovements to the Nursing Home Five StarQuality Rating System:

• Nationwide FocusedSurvey Inspections:Effective January 2015, CMSand states will implementfocused survey inspectionsnationwide for a sample ofnursing homes to enable bet-ter verification of both thestaffing and quality measureinformation that is part ofthe Five-Star Quality RatingSystem. In Fiscal Year (FY2014), CMS piloted specialsurveys of nursing homesthat focused on investigatingthe coding of the MinimumData Set (MDS), which arebased on resident assess-ments and are used in thequality measures.

• Payroll-Based StaffingReporting: CMS will imple-ment a quarterly electronicreporting system that isauditable back to payrolls toverify staffing information.This new system willincrease accuracy and timeli-ness of data, and allow forthe calculation of qualitymeasures for staff turnover,retention, types of staffing,and levels of different typesof staffing. Implementationwill be improved by funding

provided in the recentlyenacted, bipartisanImproving Medicare Post-Acute Care TransformationAct (IMPACT) of 2014.

• Additional QualityMeasures: CMS willincrease both the numberand type of quality measuresused in the Five-Star QualityRating System. The firstadditional measure, startingJanuary 2015, will be theextent to which antipsychoticmedications are in use.Future additional measureswill include claims-baseddata on re-hospitalizationand community dischargerates.

• Timely and CompleteInspection Data: CMS willalso strengthen requirementsto ensure that States main-tain a user-friendly websiteand complete inspections ofnursing homes in a timelyand accurate manner forinclusion in the rating sys-tem.

• Improved ScoringMethodology: In 2015,CMS will revise the scoringmethodology by which wecalculate each facility’s quali-ty measure rating, which isused to calculate the overallFive Star rating. We alsonote that sources independ-ent of self-reporting by nurs-ing homes already areweighted higher than self-reported components in thescoring methodology.

(Initiatives page 28)22 / November / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

Administration to improve quality of post-acutecare for Medicare beneficiaries

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Families for Better Care, a Florida-based nursing home resident advocacygroup, has published its second annualstate-by-state nursing home reportcard. Nevada, which earned an F onthe first report card, was graded a C.

The group scored, ranked, and grad-ed states on eight different federal qual-ity measures ranging from the numberof hours professional and licensed nurs-es averaged to the percentage of facili-ties with deficiencies.

“This year’s report card reinforceswhat we discovered last year, and that’smore staffing translates into better carefor residents,” said Brian Lee, Familiesfor Better Care’s executive director.“The difference between quality nursinghome care and subpar care boils down

to an average of 22 extra minutes ofdirect care per resident daily.”

“The obvious solution to make nurs-ing homes safer and more life enrichingfor residents is to hire more frontlinestaff,” Lee stated.

But staffing numbers are widely con-sidered to be inflated as the data areself-reported by facilities and are oftenunaudited by the states or by the Centerfor Medicare and Medicaid Services.The skewed data mean that consumersare given a fuzzy nursing home picturewhile residents have even fewer staffcaring for them than is fully realized.

Although there was little movementat the top and bottom of the overallrankings, all but seven states shiftedposition over the last year.


New Nursing Home Report Card Nevada earns a C on quality measures

Key Findings• Nevada’s nursing homeranking surged to #26 over-all, up from #43, making it2014s biggest mover.

• Nevada showed improve-ment in five of eight qualitymeasures.

• Nevada’s direct carestaffing hours increased anextra 10 minutes per residentevery day.

• Despite the improvement, 1in 5 Nevada nursing homeswere cited a severe deficien-cy and nearly every nursinghome was cited one or moredeficiencies.

Report Card / page 26

“Despite improvement in some states over the last year,nursing home grades and rankings again fell woefully short inmany states, underscoring the fact that far too many nursinghome residents are living in dangerous conditions.” Lee stat-ed. “States with failing or below average grades must takeimmediate and decisive action to keep their elderly safe; theycan start by enacting tough staffing standards or by enforcingcurrent staffing standards, citing nursing homes for not hav-ing ‘sufficient’ staff.”

Highlights included:Top nursing home states were Rhode Island, New Hampshireand Maine while Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana languishedat the bottom.

States with the biggest gains in overall ranking were Nevada(17), California (16), and the District of Columbia (16) whileSouth Dakota (-19), Alaska (-15), and Oregon (-12) sufferedthe biggest losses.

Four of last year’s best nursing home states slid out of the topten, including Alaska—2013s highest ranked nursing homestate—which plummeted to #16 overall. The remaining stateswere Idaho, South Dakota, and Oregon.

Other key findings:More professional nursing staff are needed—Only threestates provided more than two hours of professional nursingcare per resident per day.

An abundant lack of staffing—92 percent of states offeredresidents fewer than three hours of direct resident care perday.

Frequent violations—Nearly two-thirds of all states with 90percent or more of their nursing homes were cited a deficien-cy for violating federal or state laws.


Nevada is still rated the worst nursing home state in the Pacific region,

scoring the region’s worst grades in 4 of 8 quality measures.

“Nursing homes are workingto improve their quality, andwe are improving how wemeasure that quality,” saidPatrick Conway, M.D.,deputy administrator forinnovation and quality andCMS chief medical officer.“We believe the improve-ments we are making to theFive Star system will addconfidence that the reportedimprovements are genuine,are sustained, and are bene-fiting residents.”

Home Health Conditionsof Participation

The proposed Home HealthConditions of Participationwould improve the quality ofhome health services forMedicare and Medicaid ben-eficiaries by strengtheningpatient rights and improvingcommunication that focuseson patient wellbeing.Currently there are more

than 5 million people withMedicare and Medicaid ben-efits that receive home healthcare services each year fromapproximately 12,500Medicare-certified homehealth agencies.

The proposed regulation, tobe displayed as of Monday,October 6, at the FederalRegister, would modernizethe home health regulationsfor the first time since 1989with a focus on patient-cen-tered, well-coordinated care.

Elements in the regulationinclude expansion of patientrights requirements; refocus-ing of the patient assessmenton physical, mental, emo-tional, and psychosocial con-ditions; improved communi-cation systems and require-ments for a data-driven qual-ity assessment; and the per-formance improvement(QAPI) program.

For more information, visit:http://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Home-Health-Agency-HHA-Center.html

• Proposed Rulemaking onConditions of Participationfor Home Health Agencies:Revision of RequirementsFact Sheet:http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2014-Fact-sheets-items/2014-10-06-2.html

• CMS’ Five Star Quality RatingSystem for Nursing HomesHomes Fact Sheet:http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2014-Fact-sheets-items/2014-10-06.html


CMS Initiatives / page 22

Members of the area’siconic Good OldDays (GOD) Club

were treated to a quartet ofspeakers at their Octobermeeting. The four speakersincluded well-known Nevadahistorian Ron James, presi-

dent of Comstock Mining Corrado de Gasperis,artist Steve Saylor and Gold Hill Hotel managerClay Mitchell.

James started things off by giving a thumbnailversion of how Nevada achieved early statehood.He noted that the Federal requirement for suchstatus was that the territory to be designated astate should contain a minimum of 200,000 resi-dents. But at that time, in 1864, as he put it,“Nevada probably had more jackrabbits thanpeople.” It would have been impossible to meetthe population threshold. The primary reasonthat statehood was pushed forward so rapidlywas to give the uncertain Lincoln another votefor his reelection. Probably the gold and silverbullion that helped finance the Civil War mightalso have been another reason.

James added that after Nevada achieved state- (Biggest Little page 30)

Nevada Birthday Bash


Steven Saylor’s painting Nine Cheers for the Silver State is set in the Cobb Mansion and depicts (in no particular order) Governor Brian Sandoval, U.S. SenatorsHarry Reid and Dean Heller, Mark Amodei, Governors Paul Laxalt, Bob List, Dick Bryan and Bob Miller, First Ladies Dawn Gibbons and Dema Guinn, JohnWinfield, Corrado de Gasparis and Ron James.

Biggest little CITY

By Harry Spencer

Harry Spencer

hood status, it was later threatened with aremoval of that standing because of theinadequate population.

Since retiring from his post as a historianfor the State of Nevada, James has assumedthe role of president of the ComstockFoundation. That Foundation is dedicatedto preserving and refurbishing many of the

Comstock’s historical sites. While it isprimarily funded by Comstock Mining,there have been many other contribu-tors.

James then introduced de Gasperis,who cited the names of projectsalready completed and those that werecurrently in the pipeline. He explainedthat the theory behind the project wasto give people the opportunity to seehow mining has progressed from itsearliest days to the current high-techindustry that it is today.

Since Virginia City and its environsdepends mainly on tourism for its eco-nomic liability, he felt that those proj-ects would increase visitor attendance.Comstock has also purchased thefamous, previously operated Cabin inthe Sky Restaurant once owned by JoeConforte. It plans to make the structure

a comprehensive Visitors Center.

James then introduced artist Steve Saylor,who has painted an historical piece tocommemorate the 150th birthday. Saylorhimself is a former Reno commercial artistwho now resides in the oldest house inDayton, Nevada. He said that it took himseven months working seven days a weekto complete the painting. Additionally, only150 prints of the original will be offered tothe public at a price of $1500. The originalwas to be unveiled at the Gold Hill TrainStation of the V&T Railroad.

Next at the podium was Clay Mitchell,who, in addition to his hotel duties, is alsoserving as the marketing director in thesale of the artistic prints and a special silvermedallion commemorating the 150thanniversary. The metal in the commemora-tive coin came from Comstock Mining andis 99.999% pure silver.

James wrapped up the meeting by sayingthat the prints and coins would be availablefor sale to the public through the offices ofthe Gold Hill Hotel.


Biggest Little / page 29

As the days grow shorter, Novemberseems a good time to explore theincreasing darkness with a selection of“dark” book titles. First up is I Can Seein the Dark by Karin Fossum. TheNorwegian author presents a one-off

from her regular police detective serieswith a psychological study of a sociallydisturbed individual. Riktor works in aconvalescent home where he secretlytortures the residents; he’s accused ofmurdering one but that’s not his realcrime.

Author Deborah Crombie is anAmerican who writes fascinating policedetective novels about a pair of BritishDIs. In her latest novel, To Dwell inDarkness, her married couple face dif-ferent cases in addition to problems intheir personal life. What I find amazingis how well Crombie writes with suchskill about London life (as does anotherAmerican, Elizabeth George, who’s hadgreat success with her Inspector Lynleyseries). If you like Crombie’s style, goback to the first book in this series tosee how her characters develop overtime.

John Harvey is well known for his DICharlie Resnick series and the latest isDarkness, Darkness. Resnick retires,almost, in this one that revolves around

(Eclectic Observer page 34)


THE ECLECTIC OBSERVERBy Janet Ross

CALENDAR


November 2 - ChristmasSenior Celebration, Baldini’sSports Casino, 10 - 2 p.m.

November 4 - SanfordCenter for AgingDistinguished Speaker Series,Dr. Bill Thomas, 5:30 p.m.,UNR, (775) 784-4774.

November 5 - Arts &Flowers Luncheon, AtlantisResort, 10:30 - 2 p.m., (775)398-7218.

November 7 - SeniorCoalition, Nevada Health Link,AARP presentation on care-givers, 8 a.m., Renown MackAuditorium.

November 9 - ThanksgivingFamily Program, make a funturkey theme crafts for the

table, all ages, SpanishSprings Library, 1 - 2 p.m.,(775) 424-1800.

November 10 - VeteransDay Celebration, veteransand active military invited, 9 -10 a.m., Fernley IntermediateSchool, 320 Hwy. 95A South,Fernley, (775) 575-3390.

November 10 - BowlingNight, Incline Village GeneralImprovement Dist., 4 - 6 p.m.,(775) 832-1310.

November 11 - VeteransDay Parade, 11 a.m., SouthVirginia St., downtown, Reno.

November 12 - MysterySleuths Book Group, 5:45 -6:45 p.m., North ValleysLibrary, (775) 972-0281.

(Calendar cont. page 35)

34 / October / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com

an acrimonious cold case that dates to theMiners’ Strike thirty years ago. Harvey,another prolific author, is a bonafide Britand a master of the genre.

A Dark and Twisted Tale by Sharon Bolton(another Brit) is set along the ThamesRiver with Lacey Flint, a marine police offi-cer who lives on a houseboat and swimsthe river (a dangerous pursuit and illegal).Flint finds herself being stalked - in thewater - by a serial killer who leaves his vic-tims in the river. The unusual settingmakes this an interesting read.

David John Mark sets his Dark Winter inthe gritty port of Hull, England. HisDetective Sgt. Aector McAvoy finds him-self confronted by a series of suspiciousdeaths, confirming that winter can be darkindeed.

Kept in the Dark by Penny Hancock tellsthe frightening story of a seemingly “nice”woman who kidnaps a teenaged boy in thissuspenseful, psychological thriller.

Back in the good, old USA - in the BigApple no less - we have Carol O’Connell’sIt Happens in the Dark. With NYPDDetective Kathleen Mallory as the leadcharacter, a woman with an unusual pastand unique personality, this book is the lat-est in a series about Mallory’s exploits. Toget acquainted, do consider reading booknumber one from O’Connell.

All titles are available from Washoe CountyLibraries and, if you check the on-line cata-log you’ll find complete lists of all the men-tioned authors’ additional titles.(http://library.washoecounty.us) ______________________________

Friends of Washoe County Library Booksale

Thousands of books at 50 cents and $1.Date: Saturday, November 8 throughSunday, November 16Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. dailyLocation: Reno Town Mall, SouthVirginia and Peckham across from theAtlantis.

Eclectic Observer / page 32

November 13 - HIPAA andDementia: PlanningStrategies for Caregivers, 1 -2 p.m., webinar, consultantKammi Rencher, JD, NevadaGeriatric EducationConsortium, call (775) 682-8472 or [email protected].

November 13 - Tech Cafe,trouble with mobile device?10 - 11 a.m., Downtown RenoLibrary, (775) 327-8300.

November 13 - DigitalPhotography Club, 6 - 7:30p.m., Aspen Grove, 960Lakeshore, Incline Village,(775) 832-1310.

November 13 - Lifescapes,11:30 - 1:30 p.m., writing pro-gram for seniors, SouthValleys Library, (775) 851-5190.

November 14 - Retired andSenior Volunteer Program,Volunteer RecognitionLuncheon, 11 a.m., TheGrove, 95 Foothill Rd., Reno,RSVP (775) 784-1807.

November 15 - Blue JeansBall, 5:30 p.m., AtlantisResort, (775) 856-2000, ext.332.

November 15 - ArtReception for Mark Vollmer:Landscapes, Skyscapes &Great Escapes, 3 - 4 p.m.,South Valleys Library, (775)851-5190.

November 18 - 9th AnnualCaregiver Awards Luncheon,Atlantis Hotel, noon - 1:30p.m., call (775) 829-4700.

November 20 - SeniorHealth Fair, 9 - 12 p.m.,Basement Auditorium C,Saint Mary’s RegionalMedical Center, (775) 770-3262.

November 27 -Thanksgiving Day!

On Going Reno Senior Center• Medicare/SHIP Counseling -10 - 1 p.m., Tues. - Friday,except 3rd Tues., call (775)328-2575,

• Stretch & Tone - 9 - 10 a.m.,M/P Room, Mon., Wed., Fri.,(775) 328-2575.

• Sit & Get Fit - M/P Room,Tues. and Thurs., 8:30 - 9:30

a.m., (775) 328-2575.

Sparks Senior Center• Bingo - 9 - 11 a.m., M/PRoom, Mon., Tues., Thurs.,(775) 353-3110.

• Bridge, Tues., 9 - 2 p.m.,Game Room; Wed. 12:30 -3:30 p.m., Game Room;Thurs. 9:30 - 1:30 p.m.,Game Room, (775) 353-3110.

Pulmonary Exercise, 2 - 3:30p.m., Mon.; 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.Wed.; M/P Room, (775) 353-3110.

Sun Valley Senior Center• Bingo, 9:20 - 11:30 a.m.,(775) 673-9417.

• Blood Pressure Check, 3rdWed., 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.,(775) 673-9417.

• Food Truck, 3rd Wed., 9 - 10 a.m.

Neil Rd. Rec. Center• Veterans Service Officer, 10- 1:30 p.m., (775) 328-2575.

• NV Legal Services, 9:30 -11:30 a.m., Mon. & Fri.


CALENDAR - p.33

Maîtred'hôtelOn a

cruise ship, the responsi-bilities of that positioninclude arranging theseating and ensuring theguests are satisfied, thelatter part being the bigchallenge. The worstday of a cruise for themaître d’ is usually thesecond when passengerscome to complain andrequest a table change.This is less of an issuenow than in the pastbecause many or mostcruise lines offer “openseating”, meaning youcan eat whenever youlike, with whomever youchoose, but for many

years assigned seatingwas the norm. Firstnight jitters; it is disqui-eting to initially meet thepeople with whom youwill presumably be diningfor the duration of thecruise. In mostinstances strangersevolve to being friendsbut not always. Overthe years we’ve beenseated with groupings ofall kinds; large, small,delightful, dull, bizarre,interesting and just plainstrange.

A number of yearsago, when assignedseating was still custom-ary, we took three back-to-back cruises, eachtwo weeks long. We hadbeen on that ship beforeand knew we were in thecapable hands of Putu,an exceptional maitre d‘who had the unique (andrare) ability to size peo-ple up and “just know”who would be suitabletablemates for whom,but we still askedwhether it would be pos-sible to sit by ourselves.

In response to ourrequest Putu assured usthat we could have atable for two on the sub-sequent cruise but hehad someone special hewanted us to dine withfor this one, which ishow we met Jim.

Jim was extraordi-narily tall, or he hadbeen at one time, butnow he was so bent for-ward from a spine dis-

(Stories page 38)

this ‘n that By Anne Vargas [email protected]

More stories...Strangers in the Night


ease he walked almostat an angle. He woredenim pants and one ofthree shirts to dinnerevery night, dinnerbeing the highlight of hisday. We’ve never seenanyone appreciate foodquite as much as Jimdid; he loved to eat andpreferred to skip break-fast and lunch in orderto truly savor every biteat night, always orderingseveral entrees, pro-claiming each dish a“mustee” meaning hemust have another, andour understanding waiterenjoyed accommodatinghim. He had married at17 and supported hiswife and eight childrenby working in theKentucky coalmines buthad always dreamed ofgetting an education.When the last of thechildren had gone to col-lege his wife insisted hefollow that dream andyears of night schoolresulted in a degree anda position teaching thefifth grade. Now a wid-

ower, his children hadgiven him this cruise, hisfirst, as a birthday gift.It was a privilege tohear his story and itremains one of myfavorites.

Day one, Cruise two:Putu again assured uswe could have that tablefor two “soon”. For now,however, there wasagain “someone special”he wanted us to dinewith and he escorted usto a table where a younggirl and an older womanwere seated. Mandywould soon be a juniorin High School and wastraveling with her grand-mother, who wasted notime telling us in greatdetail about Mandy’solder sister who wasapparently poised, slen-der, beautiful, extremelyintelligent and a perfecttraveling companion.

Mandy would lookdown at her plate duringthese soliloquies, a platefilled with the food hergrandmother had sug-gested and she continu-ally reminded Mandy to

watch her calorie intake.The first few dinnerswere painful for usbecause they were soobviously painful forMandy. By the thirdevening we started gen-tly interrupting hergrandmother, urgingMandy to tell us aboutherself; her interests,her dreams, etc. Welavished compliments onher attire, her ideas andsought her opinionsabout the tours she hadtaken during the day.The young Indonesianwaiters also enjoyedtalking to a girl close totheir age, which mighthave been a new experi-ence for her.

During those twoweeks we felt we werewatching a minor mira-cle; Mandy blossomed atbeing the center of posi-tive attention, somethingwe suspect hadn’t hap-pened often for her. Shebegan to smile--a lot.Initially her grandmotherwasn’t thrilled to besomewhat ignored by usas we concentrated onher granddaughter butshe began to listen moreand talk less and latertold us she realizedthere was a lot aboutMandy to be appreciat-ed. Mandy kept in touchwith us for severalyears; she went to thecollege of her choice andwrote to tell us she hadlearned to like herselfand to even like her sis-ter.

And then there wasBabalu. We didn’t sharea table with him becausehe insisted on eatingalone by the kitchen,possibly because he wasso strangely unusual heknew guests tended toavoid him. A refugee

from Viet Nam, he hadarrived in Californiayears ago. He was com-ically tiny in stature withtwig-like limbs so thinthey looked as if theymight break. Despitehis toothless mouth helooked younger than hereally was. His bizarreappearance combinedwith his accent madeconversation virtuallyimpossible and the pas-sengers understandablystayed away from him.Until they learned hisstory.

Babalu loved tocruise and he loved todance although no oneever knew how thosepassions came about.He was not a gooddancer, in fact he wasquite dreadful. Heflailed his arms & legswildly in uncontrollablejoy at being on thedance floor, usuallyalone unless someonewho knew him wouldagree to be his partner.He worked as a janitorin a Los Angeles schoolwhere he slept in thefurnace room and savedevery penny in order totake one cruise everyyear. Since he alwayschose the same ship thestaff and crew had cometo know and love him,always watching out tomake sure he was treat-ed kindly, that no onemade fun of him. Thenews of his death wasmet with sincere sad-ness; he was hit by acar while en route toboard a ship for his nextcruise.

Day one Cruisethree: We didn’t evenask...we knew therewould be another specialsomeone we would befortunate to meet.


Stories / page 36


There are thoseplaces you dreamof visiting. Then

you do, and once wasenough. Then there areplaces one seems drawnto, time and again. Forus, New Orleans is oneof those.

Known for its distinct Frenchand Spanish Creole architec-ture, as well as its cross-cul-tural and multilingual her-itage, the city is oftenreferred to as the "mostunique" in the United States.

Who can forget watching itlive on national television in2005 when 80 percent ofNew Orleans was underwater, a result of HurricaneKatrina and the breaching ofthe federal levees. Puzzlingthing, major TV networkcrews were on the scene inshort order, but it seemedagonizingly long before aidarrived. About 1800 peopledied across the Gulf Coast,and property damage sur-passed $180 billion, makingHurricane Katrina the costli-est natural disaster in U.S.history.

We spent a week in NewOrleans this September. Thespirit of the people who stillcall ‘The Big Easy’ homeappears to be stronger thanever.

We stayed at the AvenuePlaza Resort (2111 St.Charles Ave., New Orleans,

LA 70130, tel. (504) 566-1212; avenueplazaresort.com)located in the GardenDistrict, one of the city’smost desired neighborhoods.Our mode of transportationwas primarily the St. CharlesStreet trolley and foot power.

We found it interesting thatwhile we were in NewOrleans, the St. Charlesstreetcar line was grantednational historic landmarkstatus on September 30,2014. Designated the oldestoperating streetcar system inAmerica, the St. Charles Lineis also significant for its 35arch-roofed, steel-bodiedPerley Thomas streetcars,continuously run on the line'stracks since 1923-24.

The Garden DistrictThe Garden District, or‘Lafayette City’, as it was onceknown, is one of the nation’smost beautifully preservedcity districts. Most guidebooks (such as Frommer’s)have suggested walking toursof the district.

Lafayette Cemetery, 1400Washington Avenue

Within the Garden District isLafayette Cemetery.Established in 1833, this so-called “city of the dead” isone of New Orleans’s oldestcemeteries. It has examplesof all the classic above-ground, multiple-burial tech-niques.

The French Quarter We took the St. Charles trol-ley to the end of the line,

Taking Life Easy in

‘The Big Easy’Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa

eastbound. From there itwas a short walk to thefamous French Quarter,replete with its abundance ofgalleries, restaurants anddrinking establishments. TheQuarter is a Mecca for peo-ple who like Jazz and bluesmusic. The legendary JazzPreservation Hall is at thecorner of Bourbon and St.Peter Streets.

Locals cite Lafitte'sBlacksmith Shop (941Bourbon Street) as the oldestwatering hole in the country.Named for legendary pirateJean Lafitte, the bar servesup a powerful concoctioncalled the "Voodoo Daiquiri".

The heart of the FrenchQuarter is Jackson Square,named for President AndrewJackson, hero of the Battle ofNew Orleans. In the centerof the square is a larger-than-life statue of Jackson liftinghis hat and saluting the areaaround him. A variety ofstreet performers entertainhere on a daily basis.

Near the north entrance to

Jackson Square is the St.Louis Cathedral (615 PereAntione Alley). The oldestcathedral in the UnitedStates, Pope Paul VI desig-nated it as a minor basilica.

Swamp TourWe opted to go on a swamptour, a first for us. PearlRiver Eco-Tours providedvan transportation from ourhotel for the trip 30 or somiles to Slidell, Louisiana,and the Pearl River-HoneyIsland Swamp. There wemet our guide and boardedthe 20 passenger flat-bot-tomed boat. The guide’sknowledge of the ecosystemand his way of conductingthe tour was both entertain-ing and educational.

We would never haveguessed that alligators likemarshmallows.

We heartily recommendPearl River Eco-Tours, 55050Highway 90, Slidell, LA.(985) 649-4200 or (504) 581-3395. www.pearlrivereco-tours.com


Andrew Jackson monument, New OrleansPhoto: Poco a

senior spectrum newspaper 2014

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