centralmature1-17-13

LifestylesThis Month’s Focus: Health+Wellness

A Special Section Focusing on Senior Lifestyles

Hearing loss affects life connections‘People expectyou to hear whatthey have said’BY EMILY HEDGESCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jane Hutar doesn’t take hearingfor granted. With her new hearingaids from HealthInnovations, the74-year-old is reminded just howsweet the simplest sound can be,like your name across a crowdedroom.

“I noticed when I was in a largegroup of people, I couldn’t hear orunderstand one word. That went onfor quite a while,” said Hutar.

She recalls at one gathering, shementioned to the woman standingnext to her that she couldn’t hear.The woman responded that she toowas thinking of getting hearingaids.

“I thought that’s what I shoulddo,” she said. “People expect you tohear what they have said, and it’sso difficult when you don’t hear atall.”

Hutar’s daughter, who works forUnitedHealthcare, told her about hiHealthInovations. She went to theclinic in Eden Prairie and had herhearing tested at no charge.

According to Dr. Lisa Tseng,M.D., CEO, because hiHealthInnovations is part ofUnitedHealth Group they can offerhigher quality at a lower cost. Shealso points to the support infra-

Jane HutarHEARING: TO PAGE 6

January 2013

2 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013 central.mnsun.com

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Learning and loving through dementiaBurnsville woman caresfor her mother dealingwith Lewy Body DiseaseBY EMILY HEDGESCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tammy Lofthus was always hermother’s helper. As a child, she fol-lowed Flo around the garden andkitchen, learning self-sufficiency andresourcefulness as the military familyreinvented itself in communities allover the world.

“I had the most phenomenal child-hood anyone could ask for. I was veryclose to my mom and dad,” said theBurnsville resident.

At 53 years old Tammy is still hermother’s helper, but now she is the onecreating the safe and loving home. Flo,now 83 years old, suffers from LewyBody Disease, a kind of dementia.

“It’s a terrible thing when agingparents suffer from dementia. She hasa good long-term memory, what we didin the past, the places we traveled to,but zero short-term memory,” shesaid.

Tammy is no stranger for caringfor loved ones at home. She grew upwith her grandmother living with herfamily. She watched her mother carefor her until she passed away fromstomach cancer.

“As a young girl and woman, I did-n’t know any different than caring forparents. I knew I would do the samefor my mother,” she said.

As an adult, Tammy was constantlyflying home to Georgia to visit her par-ents and help take care of things. Allthat changed in 2010 when her fatherpassed away unexpectedly.

“I had promised my dad that I’dtake care of her. I brought her back toMinnesota from Georgia, and havebeen her caregiver ever since,” shesaid.

The first thing Tammy did was tomake her home look as much like herparents’ home as possible. Shebelieves the key for her mother is arigid, predictable schedule.

“The more consistent the schedule,the better it is. If everyday we get up tothe same, it lends less confusion forthem, the less they’re upset within the

world they live in, the better,” she said.Every morning Tammy eats break-

fast with her mother, get washed anddressed. When she leaves for her job atKraus-Anderson Insurance, her fiancéstays with Flo until Tammy returnshome at lunch. One or all of Tammy’sthree daughters – two in college andone at Burnsville High School – staywith their Grandmother until she getshome in the evening.

“It definitely takes the entire fami-ly,” she said. “I understand why somefamilies can’t do it. I’m just happy thatwe can.”

Although her mother’s basic needswere being met, Tammy knew Floneeded connections that were lackingsince she moved away from all of herfriends. That’s when she saw an ad forHome Instead Senior Care inBurnsville. She called and spoke witha staff member about Flo’s needs. Ashort time later Uni, a Home InsteadCAREGiver, entered their lives.

“They instantly fell into a one-on-one conversation,” said Tammy. “NowUni comes on Thursdays. I alwayshave some type of dessert for them.She is here for two hours. It’s wonder-ful. It lets my mom talk. My mom hasa friend.”

It also gave Tammy the chance forsome self-care.

“When Uni is there, I try to havelunch with a girlfriend, or go shop-ping. It gives me that time with noworries about my mom. I know she isin good hands,” she said.

Vitaly Salo, executive director ofHome Instead Senior Care, believesthe education and resources they offerto families is one of the most impor-tant factors in helping those familiesprovide better care and enjoy caringfor their loved ones.

“We have a training center withfree education for caregivers. It’simportant for them to be good at whatthey do. This experience will define

them for years as loved ones need thatcare. A few things they learn will go along way,” said Salo. “We want care-givers to enjoy more and be lessstressed. My hope is that more peoplewill come out and learn.”

For Tammy, the built-in supportsystem she has with Home Insteadgives her confidence that no matterwhat happens in the future, she will beable to give her mother the care sheneeds.

“Caring for loved ones at home isnot for the faint of heart, but if youhave a good support system, it’s possi-ble,” she said.

Home Instead of Burnsville offersservices by the hour with rates start-ing at $24 per hour. Overnight servic-es, around the clock care and personalcare are all available.

For more information on HomeInstead, go towww.homeinstead.com/505 or call 952-882-9300.

Tammy Lofthus uses the services of Home Instead Senior Care of Burnsville to help her take care of her mother, Flo, at home.


Hopkins residentteaches aerobics classfor 29 yearsBY EMILY HEDGESCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jean McSwiggen only knowsone way to inspire her senior exer-cise class – by example. TheHopkins resident is known forrarely missing a class in the 29years she has volunteered to teachlow-impact aerobics at theMinnetonka Senior Center. As aresult, the 88-year-old can run upstairs with no problem, and has aloyal following of fellow seniorswho consider her a friend and rolemodel.

“I believe it is the largest seniorexercise program in Minnesota bynumber of students,” said StevePieh, senior services and activitiesmanager for the MinnetonkaSenior Center. “The class draws 75to 80 people a day.”

McSwiggen was first moved tolead a more active life during a tripto Barbados with her husband in1972.

“We were there visiting my sis-ter in the Peace Corps. We walkedthe beaches and I kept gettingbushed. It was hot, but we reallyweren’t doing anything thatextreme,” she said.

From that time on, she beganincorporating exercise into her life.She recalls waking up at 5:30 a.m.and walking four miles beforebreakfast. During bad weather, shewould walk up and down her base-ment steps 100 times. After awhilethat got boring, so she decided tostart going to the MinnetonkaCenter for the Arts in Orono whereher husband was taking classes ofhis own.

She drove regularly to Oronountil the 80’s gas crunch hit, andshe didn’t feel right wasting thegas. She took the opportunity at

church one Sunday to ask the cur-rent director of the MinnetonkaSenior Center if they offered anexercise program there.

“She told me, ‘We need a newleader, and you’re it!’” she said.

McSwiggen went to a trainingprogram for Park Nicollet’s “Over50 and Fit” program, where shelearned the exercise routines.Since then, she has added a feworiginal ones choreographed by thelate Dagmer Locke, who served asher co-leader for a number ofyears.

“Now I can’t find anyone to donew routines for me,” saidMcSwiggen, who volunteers toteach classes on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays from 9a.m. to 10 a.m. and is known foralways showing up.

“I don’t miss because of snow oranything like that because it’s goodfor me. I keep telling the gang that I

wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t doingme some good,” she said.

McSwiggen is no stranger toserving others. The day she turned20 years old, she and a friend wentin and volunteered for WAVES(Women Accepted for VolunteerEmergency Service), a World WarII division of the U.S. Navy.Stationed in Pennsylvania, sheserved from 1944-1946 tracking thelocation of supply ships.

“Women couldn’t join until theywere 20. I already had most of myfamily in the military, includingtwo sisters in WAVES,” saidMcSwiggen.

She returned home and enrolledin the University of Minnesota.However, marriage and the birth ofher first child cut her academiccareer short. After raising eightchildren, she decided to return tothe University in 1974 to get adegree in Political Science.

“I needed to put a period to thatpart of my life. I needed to get thatdegree,” she said.

Whether it’s exercising hermind, or body, McSwiggen is deter-mined that growing older is a timeto thrive.

“As you get older, it gets harderfor your friends to get out, and youneed someone to talk to,” saidMcSwiggen. “Here they have peo-ple to talk to while they exercise,and they do. They talk all the waythrough it.”

She says she enjoys the socialbuzz of conversation.

“I’ve made lots of good friendsthat way. They are my support sys-tem. Everyone needs that,” shesaid.

The Minnetonka Senior Centeris located at 14600 MinnetonkaBlvd. For more information onclasses, call (952) 939-8393 or go towww.eminnetonka.com.

Inspiration by example

Jean McSwiggen leads an aerobics course at the Minnetonka Senior Center. (Photo by Chris Dillmann – Sun Newspapers)


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structure as unique in the industry.“The affordability of our hear-

ing aids and the amount of cus-tomer support we provide set usapart,” she said. “We have free one-on-one phone support from productspecialists, online user videos,daily new user seminars hosted byaudiologists, and in-person supportin many cities nationwide.”

For Hutar, there is no downsideto her new hearing aids.

“I love them. They don’t showeven with my short hair. I don’tthink it would bother me even ifthey did show,” she said. “It’s niceto know what everyone is talkingabout and hear when someone callsyour name. It gives you more of afeeling of being included when youcan hear everything.”

According to Dr. Tseng, seniorssometimes don’t realize that hear-ing loss can impact our closest rela-

tionships.“It’s really hard to be intimate

and engaged when you feel theother person isn’t hearingyou. It’s difficultenough sharing feel-ings without havingto repeat your-self,” she said.

Dr. Tsengpoints out thatthe misunder-standings thatoccur as aresult of hear-ing loss isanother impor-tant reason forseniors to seekhelp.

“Many peoplewith hearing losshave a harder timedistinguishing con-sonants, so they tendto have difficulty cor-rectly recognizing words.Two people can be having a conver-sation and have two differentunderstandings of what went on. It

really can be quite challenging,”she said.

Studies show that untreatedhearing loss can affect a

person’s ability to stayconnected to friends

and family, con-tributing to social

isolation, depres-sion and lowerincome. While 90percent of peo-ple with hear-ing loss canbenefit fromhearing aids,fewer than 20percent cur-rently use them,

according to theU.S. Department

of Health andHuman Services.

The high cost ofmost hearing aids is

one of the reasons manyseniors choose not to seek

help. “It is so important to treat hear-

ing loss. It’s not something you

have to live with,” said Dr. Tseng.Hutar thinks that some seniors

might hesitate because they’veheard they are difficult to set, orthey won’t actually use them, orthey will be self-conscious.

“I suggest going in as soon asyou can. You don’t realize howmuch you miss until you get yourhearing aids. Don’t wait a year orlonger like I did. You’re just losingout.”

hi Health-Innovations alsorecently launched a new programto make hearing aids more afford-able for U.S. veterans and theirspouses. Hearing loss is a growinghealth concern for some veterans,in part because of their history ofnoise exposure during service.Hearing loss is the second mostcommon health condition amongveterans, affecting more than670,000 members of the armedforces nationwide, according toThe Hearing Journal.

For more information on the vet-eran discount program and hearingtests, call 1-855-523-9355 or go towww.hihealthinnovations.com.

HearingFROM PAGE 1

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Marjorie Johnson: A recipe for successful lifeBY EMILY HEDGESCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Marjorie Johnson may beknown as a blue-ribbon baker, butred is definitely her color. Standingonly four feet, eight inches tall, theRobbinsdale senior dons her signa-ture red dress and apron each timeshe appears on one of manynational shows that clamor for heraward-winning desserts and pow-erhouse personality.

“When you’re on TV you aren’tsupposed to wear stripes, plaids orwhite. I noticed in every picture Isee, red stands out. Since I’m small,I thought that a little spot of redwould be a pretty good way to getnoticed,” she said.

Marjorie’s national fame beganwhen the James Beard Foundationcontacted the Minnesota State Fairfor someone to represent the statein one of its programs. Havingwon more than 2,500 fair rib-

bons including more than 1,000blue ribbons in her lifetime,Marjorie was the ideal person.

She flew to New York City forthe event, and while there volun-teered to do publicity appearancesto promote the foundation’s Mealson Wheels program. She appearedon the Rosie O’Donnell show, andthe two women hit it off.

“She kept inviting me back. Iwas there for the last show in2002,” said Marjorie. “Rosie hadlost her mother. Perhaps shethought of me as a substitute moth-er.”

A producer from the RosieO’Donnell Show went to work forWayne Brady in 2003, and an invi-tation to appear soon followed. Onevisit evolved into a contract toappear 23 times. Amateur bakerscould “Challenge Margie” to a bak-ing contest judged by celebrities.

Marjorie Johnson’s most recent appearance on The Tonight Show occurred on Dec. 20, 2012where she made a Christmas tree cake with Jay Leno and Katherine Heigl. (Photo courtesyNBC Studios)

MARJORIE: TO NEXT PAGE

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She recalls the most memorable bat-tle when Wolfgang Puck pronouncedher pie the winner, complimentingher superior piecrust.

Wayne Brady also began to sendMarjorie as a correspondent to mar-quee events like the Emmys andSundance Film Festival. When theWayne Brady Show ended in 2004,she thought her TV days might beover. Then in 2006 Rosie invited heron The View. Soon after, she wasasked to appear on The TonightShow with Jay Leno.

“I was on in January and they allliked me. I was invited back,”recalled Marjorie. “That March Iwent back on The View to makeRosie’s 45th birthday cake.”

When Marjorie returned to TheTonight Show that May, they askedher a strange question.

“They wanted to know if I knewa lot about sports. They said, ‘We’regoing to send you to San Antonio tocover the NBA Finals.’ I told them ifthey sent me, I’d know all about it.”

The Tonight Show viewers lovedher. She went on to cover MajorLeague Baseball, NBA Basketball,the X Games, and the Las Vegas BikeFest motorcycle rally.

Her most recent appearance onThe Tonight Show occurred on Dec.20, 2012 where she made a Christmastree cake with Jay Leno andKatherine Heigl.

She has also appeared on TheMartha Stewart Show, Dr. Oz, HGTV,the Travel Channel, and Twin CitiesLive.

Marjorie began baking at eightyears old in a family of six girls.

“My mother was a fabulousbaker,” she recalled

Marjorie earned a B.S. degree inFoods and Business with a minor inJournalism from the University ofMinnesota.

“Things have changed so much

since then, but I like to keep up oneverything new in nutrition andhealth,” she said.

Marjorie hasn’t changed her atti-tude towards life in decades. She hasthe same vitality, zest for living,interest in new recipes and perfect-ing her baking as she did when shewas in her 20s.

This is one of the reasons she wasselected for inclusion in the newbook, Awaken Your AgePotential:Exploring Chosen Paths of Thrivers(Beaver’s Pond Press, 2012) by TwinCities author and gerontologist LoriCampbell.

“So many people fret their ‘innerpassions’ are not worthy to promote.Marjorie is a fine example that thereis no passion too big or too small tobring forward and share with theworld,” said Campbell.

In the book, Marjorie sums up her

advice to seniors on how to thrivelater in life: eat healthy, exercise, getenough sleep, think positively, andbe interested in something.

“For me that is baking. You haveto be vitally interested so you willwake up and want to discover and beinterested,” she said. “I expect thebest. There’s always something to behappy about — little things, like awalk, or that first cup of coffee in themorning.”

For more information aboutMarjorie, her award-winningrecipes, and upcoming local andnational appearances, go towww.blueribbonbaking.com or readher book, The Road to Blue RibbonBaking with Marjorie (Oh My Gosh!Press Nov. 2007).

For more information about TheAgePotential Movement, go towww.agepotential.com.


MarjorieFROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Marjorie and her good friend Rosie O’Donnell.

ATTENTION:

LifestylesMARCH EDITORIAL FOCUS:

HOUSING.

If so, please contact Krista Jech at 952-392-6835

or [email protected]

We are looking for people who have added a mother-in law apartment to their home or

have you bought a house specifi cally because it had one?

A recent study conducted by theBankers Life and Casualty CompanyCenter for a Secure Retirement foundthat 67 percent of middle-income babyboomers are expecting a retirementthat is different from the one theirparents enjoyed.

For one thing, the study found thatroughly three-quarters of the genera-tion born between 1946 and 1964believe that financial factors, nottheir age, will determine when theyretire.

Despite these new uncertainties,more than half are looking forward toretirement. If you’re trying to navi-gate plans for the new retirementlandscape, the Minnesota Society ofCertified Public Accountants offersfour key pieces of advice.

1. Be prepared to be the decisionmaker

In the past, workers were askedfew questions about their retirementor health care choices. Employersprovided specific benefits, andemployees could generally count onwell-defined, reliable pension andhealth care coverage. However, allthat’s changed now. Today, workershave more options, greater responsi-bility and higher costs. You may findyourself faced with choices abouthow much to set aside in a health sav-ings or medical spending account orwhich Medicare supplement plan toselect. 401(k) plans and other tax-advantaged retirement options alsoprovide an array of sometimes con-fusing choices. Your certified publicaccountant CPA can explain youroptions and help you with your finan-cial planning concerns, so be sure toturn to him or her with all your ques-tions.

2. Planning is more importantAll of the choices and responsibili-

ties you face make it more criticalthan ever to have a realistic sense ofyour financial situation and whetheryou’re ready for retirement.According to the study, about half ofmiddle-income boomers aren’t cer-tain they will have enough in savingsto guarantee a comfortable retire-

ment. If you’re not sure where youstand, you can begin to find out byusing the tools on the 360 Degrees ofFinancial Literacy website, a publicservice provided by the CPA profes-sion. The site’s retirement pensionplanner, for example, helps you toestimate your savings needs based onfactors such as current age, income,savings rate and expected retirementage. Articles on the site also walk youthrough retirement and estate plan-ning basics. You may learn thatyou’re running a bit behind in yoursavings if you want to reach yourretirement goal. But finding this outnow allows you to consider youroptions and take the steps to get backon track.

3. Get ready to work longerAccording to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, there was a 101 percent

jump in the number of people 65 andover in the workforce between 1977and 2007. Numerous reasons factorinto the escalation in the percentageof people 65 and over staying in thejob market. These include losses inretirement savings due to the reces-sion, recent stock market crashes andchanging attitudes about work amongthose of retirement age. Given thechanging climate, you may have toadjust not only your savings plans,but also your career expectations, asyour professional life is likely toextend longer than anticipated.

4. Make the most of your opportu-nities

Given the new retirement realities,it’s especially important to takeadvantage of any options that willmaximize your financial assets. Thatmeans, among other things, that you

should make full contributions tocompany retirement plans thatinclude a matching employer contri-bution. If you don’t contribute, you’remissing out on free money from youremployer to further feather your nestegg. On the other side of the coin,avoid dipping into your retirementaccount, particularly if doing soentails a penalty for early withdraw-al. The longer the money stays in theaccount, the more time it will have toearn interest or dividends.

You work hard for your money andto secure your future. Your local CPAcan help ensure your efforts earn youthe most comfortable retirement pos-sible. A CPA can help you navigate thecomplexities of retirement planningso that your golden years are indeedgolden.

More information: mncpa.org


Four tips for the new retirementBoomers have different retirement expectations from their parents


BY EMILY HEDGES – CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kay Acton of Columbia Heightsknows what Northeast SeniorServices means to seniors around thearea because she is one of them. As along-time board member, she hashelped design the non-profit from theground up. As a volunteer, she staysconnected by giving rides to thosewho can’t drive or manage publictransportation. As an 80-year-old resi-dent, she uses Northeast SeniorServices to keep herself healthy.

A group of local churches and com-munity groups formed NortheastSenior Services in 1973. In 1996, Actonwas asked to represent FaithMethodist in St. Anthony Village.

She says her volunteer work hasmade her more aware of the needs ofothers. “It can be really lonely for a lotof people. We provide a pal to go andvisit. People need someone to talk toand discuss things with. You’ve got tohave connections with people,” shesaid.

Kay Anderson, executive directorof Northeast Senior Services, hopes tosee the program expand through vol-unteers like Acton.

“I envision a program where sen-iors can call other seniors and stay intouch,” she said. “Many seniors don’tdrive, so they kind of get stuck intheir house. They need to talk to some-one outside to get them engaged.”

Anderson believes these connec-tions have a direct link with improvedhealth.

“When seniors stay at home toomuch they can get depressed anddon’t eat well. Sometimes they don’tkeep up with doctor appointments.Our program was designed as a wayfor seniors to connect with someone,”she said.

Acton provides door-to-door serv-ice for seniors who need a ride to theirappointments.

“I really enjoy it. I think these olderpeople really appreciate it. Of coursenow I’m 80 myself, but I still feel com-fortable driving,” said Acton, whoseown mother lived to be 106 years old.

Acton said she usually waits at theappointments and reads the newspa-

per unless they will take longer thanabout an hour. In that case, anothervolunteer might do the taking or pick-ing up, or she’ll go home and comeback.

“They all have a story, and I lovehearing them. We just have a nice,pleasant time,” she said. “People feellike you’re a neighbor giving them aride.”

Acton, a retired school nurse,raised five kids in the ColumbiaHeights school system. She has 11grandchildren and four great-grand-children. She served as theRepublican Chairwoman in ColumbiaHeights for many years until finallygetting disillusioned by politics.

“When Nixon did his Watergate

thing, that’s when I left it,” she said. “Iwas tired of politics and went back towork.”

Acton says she has depended onNortheast Senior Services forMedicare counseling, and regularlyuses the exercise program offeredthrough Northeast Methodist Church.

“It’s exercise for seniors. Most of itis sitting in a chair, but it’s a good,hard workout,” she said.

She anticipates needing morefrom Northeast Senior Services asshe ages.

Northeast Senior Services assistsresidents of Columbia Heights, NewBrighton, St. Anthony Village andNortheast Minneapolis. NortheastSenior Home Connection helps with

low-cost yard maintenance, homerepairs, electronics troubleshooting,housekeeping, and housing counsel-ing.

Volunteers like Acton providerides to appointments through theSenior Rides Program. Riders donatewhat they can afford. The suggesteddonation is $8. Seniors can call bynoon on Thursday for rides startingthe next Monday or after.

Northeast Senior Wellness helpsseniors improve their health and con-tinue to live independently. Seniorscan sign up to have a friend to visitwith once per week in-person or byphone.

For more information, call 612-781-5096 or go to www.neseniors.org.

Northeast Senior Services:

Northeast Senior Services gives Kay Acton the chance to give back to her community, and will continue to help her stay independent in her home asshe ages.

Seniors helping seniors


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UCare for SeniorsSM lets you choose from plans that cover prescription drugs, travel, eyewear, dental, fi tness programs like SilverSneakers® and more. There are no co-pays for primary care visits with most plans. And you’ll get to talkto a real person 24/7 when you call customer service. It’s just what you’d expect from health care that starts with you.

Learn more about the benefi ts of UCare for Seniors in our new eGuide to Medicare at ucareplans.org/eguide. Or call (toll free) 1-877-523-1518 (TTY) 1-800-688-2534,8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

UCare Minnesota and UCare Wisconsin, Inc. are health plans with Medicare contracts. ©2012, UCareH2459 H4270_ 090512 CMS Accepted (09102012)

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