generations january 2012

2 JANUARY ~ FEBRUARY ~ MARCH 2012 GENERATIONS

INDEXInsurance plans for retirement years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Progress made in health care transformation . . . . . . . . . . 3

2012 schedule for Benton Hospice adult grief

education and support groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

With a little help from my friends (and family) . . . . . . . . . .4

Linn-Benton-Lincoln 211 now available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Book Review “The Lost Continent” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Fit at any stage - exercise classes improve

flexiblity, mobility, balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Tax Aide volunteer Paul Dickey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Financial planning: Strategies for success at any age . . . . .8

Help wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Healthy Aging Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Don’t wait to talk about the care you want . . . . . . . . . . .10

Fitness for aging adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Caring for yourself as you age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Cooking for one? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Legislature to review changes to property

tax deferral program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Dining deals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

The Editorial BoardMarilyn Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Albany City Hall 541-917-7507

Beth Fox . . . . . . . . . . .Linn-Benton County RSVP 541-812-0849

Kathleen Nickerson . . .Linn-Benton County RSVP 541-812-0849

Scott Bond . . . . . . .Senior and Disability Services 541-812-6008

Sharon Bogdanovic . . . . . .Corvallis Senior Center 541-754-1709

Evonne Walls . . . . . . . .Samaritan Health Services 541-768-4241

For more informationCyndi Sprinkel-Hart . . . . . .541-812-6073 or email [email protected]

1400 Queen Ave. SE, Suite 206Albany, OR 97322

GENERATIONSA quarterly publication of Cascades West Senior and Disabilty Services,

local Senior Centers, and Retired & Senior Volunteer Programs

BY CHRIS NORDYKE, LTCP

There's often a disconnect be-tween insurance planning and re-tirement planning.

During one's working life andchild-rearing years, maintainingadequate amounts of life insur-ance, disability and health insur-ance is simply considered bestpractice. Often, though, as peoplestart to make the transition to re-tirement, they become hyper-fo-cused on catching up andpadding their retirement fundsand begin to neglect critical in-surance planning. In doing so,they not only leave the family ex-posed financially, but miss an op-portunity to think more strategi-cally about their financial plan.

What kind of attention haveyou given to the risks that you'llface during retirement? Howcould certain illnesses or acci-dents change your survivingfamily's standard of living?

Three risks warrant careful ex-

amination as you prepare for re-

tirement: serious illness or dis-

ability, premature death, and out-

living your money. According to

AARP in "A Report to the Nation

on Independent Living and Dis-

ability" (2003), the lifetime proba-

bility of becoming disabled in at

least two activities of daily living

or of being cognitively impaired

is 68 percent for people age 65

and older.

The average American house-hold retires with approximately$291,000, not including the valueof their home or a pension (2009Survey of Consumer Finances,Federal Reserve Board of Gover-nors). When you consider thatthe average cost of long-termcare in Oregon is $219 per day(Metlife Market Survey of Nurs-ing Home and Assisted LivingCosts, 2007), the magnitude ofthis risk becomes more apparent.

If both members of the house-hold end up requiring long-termcare, the family's entire nest eggcan be exhausted.

Another consideration is debt.In 2010, consumers age 46 to 64were carrying over $1 trillion inmortgage debt, more than twicethe amount from a decade earlieraccording to the 2009 Survey ofConsumer Finances by the Fed-eral Reserve Board of Governors.In previous generations, retiringwith the home mortgage paid offwas commonplace; not so any-more. For most families, thismeans there's an ongoing needfor life insurance, even after re-tirement. It's best to secure thatcoverage before pre-existing con-ditions make it difficult or cost-prohibitive to obtain.

Finally, insurance can play animportant role in ensuring a re-tiree doesn't outlive their money.With the recent market uncer-tainty, many have turned to an-nuities to supplement their retire-ment income. Annuities are acontract where the individual ex-changes a lump sum of moneyfor a guaranteed stream of in-come. One strategy that has be-come popular is to purchase anannuity that is sufficient to coverall monthly fixed costs, such asmortgage, taxes, insurance andutilities. Remaining investmentscan be used to fuel lifestylespending based on the perform-ance of their investments.

Every retirement is as uniqueas the career that precedes it,and no two plans are alike.

Find a professional you arecomfortable with and begin aconversation about your uniquedesires and circumstances. Thesooner you begin discussing yourgoals, the more options you'llhave to achieve them.

Chris Nordyke is a Corvallis StateFarm agent. He and his team can bereached at 541-452-5200 or

Insurance plans forretirement years

What would you like to see in Generations?

541-924-8421 or [email protected]

GENERATIONS JANUARY ~ FEBRUARY ~ MARCH 2012 3

BY SCOTT BOND

The assignment from GovernorKitzhaber was clear: give theOregon Health Plan a significantmakeover including: improvethe services for patients; spendless money starting July 2012;and integrate new ideas such aspatient-centered medical homesfor the 600,000 Oregonians on theplan.

Over the last year, Oregon leg-

islators, health care providers,

local government officials, advo-

cates and private citizens have

worked to understand the

changes that were started under

House Bill 3650 that outlined the

transformation of the Oregon

Health Plan.

Two significant realities have

defined this effort from the be-

ginning. The first is that the cost

of providing medical care for an

increasing number of Oregonians

on the OHP is rising very

quickly. The second is that the

medical inflation for the care pro-

vided is rising as well as making

the program more expensive.

The Oregon Health Plan is animportant part of safety net serv-ices for young children, olderadults, adults with physical dis-abilities, and individuals with de-velopmental disabilities as wellas those with mental illness. Inour state, the program providesmedical services for Medicaid-el-igible people, and the costs areshared between the state and fed-eral governments.

In our region, public meetingswere organized to invite ideasand perspective from citizens,OHP participants and the med-ical community. All three meet-ings were well-attended and gen-erated a large number of ideasand suggestions. More meetingsare planned.

The hope of this transformationeffort is that, through integrationof the current health services forOHP participants, services willbe coordinated, and, through co-ordination, the services becomeless expensive overall. Coordina-tion of services could change thecurrent system of care by devel-oping medical homes where a

health care team would be as-signed to help you take care ofyour health. Coordination couldmean that you would have a sin-gle medical record that has all ofyour health and treatment his-tory in an effort to effectivelymanage all treatment. Coordina-tion could mean that a memberof your health team would checkin with you to make sure thatmedications are doing what theyshould, follow-up visits are beingmade and new health concernsare being addressed before theybecome more complex orchronic.

While all the coordination ef-forts are being done to improvepatient care, behind the scenesthere is a hope that less moneywill be spent over time by reduc-ing the number of visits to theemergency room of a hospital,having unnecessary tests and re-ceiving early intervention forhealth conditions that can betreated for less cost rather thanwaiting until the condition wors-ens.

This transformation is meant to

cultivate a shift away from react-ing to medical emergencies tocaring for health conditions earlyand creating a partnership be-tween the medical providers andtheir patients.

The redesign of the OHP willbe reviewed during the Februarysession of the Oregon Legisla-ture. The legislature will have thejob of evaluating how well theplanning meets the intent of HB3650 from last year. There will bedebate over the direction and theexpectations of the work done inthe interim. Additional issuesmay be raised and debated, butat the end of February, a revisedlegislative bill will point the wayfor the next 18 months.

The Oregon Health Plan andthe medical system serving600,000 Oregonians will beginchanging to provide better carefor less cost. Oregon is againleading the way, creating a newdirection for health care deliveryfor those on Medicaid. If success-ful, we may see a new directionfor health care for the rest of usas well.

Progress made in healthcare transformation

Grief is a natural and normalresponse when someone dies,but it is often not well under-stood. Benton Hospice Serviceoffers grief education and sup-port groups to anyone in thecommunity who has experi-enced a loss.

Grief education and supportgroup sessions give participantsthe chance to meet others whoare also mourning a death, talkabout grief in a safe, non-judg-mental environment, receivesupport, offer support to othersby listening and learn about the

grieving process. Sessions lastfor six weeks and meet weekly.

The group sessions for 2012will be held on Thursdays from5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Fridaysfrom 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. The firstsix-week Thursday session be-gins Jan. 12; the first Friday session, Jan. 13.

The groups are open to thepublic and free of charge, butpre-registration is required. CallJoelle Osterhaus, BereavementCoordinator, Benton HospiceService, 541-757-9616.

2012 schedule for BentonHospice adult grief education

and support groups


BY SHIRLEY LOCKHART

Word-of-mouth is, without adoubt, one of the best ways tospread a good idea. A friendtells a friend who tells a friendand good things happen.

A little over a year ago, Linn-Benton Community Collegesent several instructors to theArthritis Foundation’s exerciseinstructor training and beganoffering “Gentle Exercise forBeginners,” the Foundation’sexercise classes, in Corvallisand Albany.

Instructor Monica Whipplebegan spreading the word andsoon, Molly Ward, a friend inWhipple’s film club, signedup. Ward in turn encouragedher friend Helen Blair to jointhe class. Ward and Blair be-long to the Tea Sippers, a 22-member group of British-bornwomen transplanted to Oregonwho meet monthly for lunchand tea. After Blair joined theexercise class, she recruitedTea Sipper Betty Stoddard andthe class list continues to grow.

Blair, 85, loves the class’sgentle emphasis and has foundit very beneficial physicallyand socially. She highly recom-mends the class to those witharthritis or anyone who wantsto begin an exercise routine.Blair “loves the camaraderieshared through jokes andideas,” and wants more peopleto know about the class andhow encouraging it has been toher and her friends. Friendswill continue to tell theirfriends.

Family members can also begreat promoters or persuaders.Bonnie and Brad Coleman at-tend Benton Center’s Strength& Tone class three days aweek. A year and a half ago,their daughter Andrea encour-aged her mom to take the classwith her. Bonnie Coleman saysnow that, if it weren’t for An-drea, she doesn’t think she

would have joined the class,which has become her favoritehard workout. This fall, Bon-nie talked Brad into trying theclass. Eight years ago, Bradsustained severe spinal in-juries in a bicycle crash, leav-ing him diagnosed as an in-complete quadriplegic.

Bonnie would come homefrom class and encourageBrad, telling him, “You coulddo this!”. He did, and now hasincreased mobility, strengthand better reflexes. The coupleenjoyed the time together, get-ting stronger and staying fit.

Do you know someonewho has found an exerciseprogram they enjoy? Whynot join them in 2012?

LBCC offers courses fromSweet Home to Corvallis. Visitwww.linnbenton.edu or call 541-917-4840.

With a little help from my friends(and family)

Bonnie Coleman (above)

convinced husband Brad

to come with her

to class.

Helen Blair and Betty

Stoddard (left) enjoy

workouts together.

BY EVONNE WALLS

Bill Bryson, originally fromIowa, has been living in Eng-land for more than a decade.Not too long after the death ofhis father, Bryson decides to fol-low the path of many of hischildhood road trips reminisc-ing about his backseat adven-tures. Ultimately, his travels sethim on a quest for the perfectsmall town.

In “The Lost Continent,”Bryson starts out exploring theeastern, northeastern, andsouthern states, moving on tothe western and southwesternstates in the second half of thebook. In all, he tours 38 states.

This isn’t your typical trave-logue as Bryson’s style isn’t somuch about pointing out all ofthe great places to eat or stayand the must-see sites, but moreor a less a humor-infused guideto what and whom to avoid.While Bryson’s style is humor-ous, it’s important to note thatit often teeters on the line ofpolitical correctness.

What I enjoyed most about

this book were Bryon’s recollec-

tions about his childhood mis-

chievousness and the dynamics

between his parents, much of

which was related to family

road trips. His observations of

what small towns pride them-

selves on and consider tourist

attractions are often hilarious,

making me think back on some

of my own small-town experi-

ences.

What I would say may turn

one away from this book, as I

struggled with it, too, is that at

times I think he comes across as

mean in his observations and

interactions with people during

his quest. I think I can best sum

up his personality in “The Lost

Continent” as the friend who

speaks without a filter and

makes you want to look up to

the sky and turn away hoping

that nobody knows you are to-

gether.

The book started out strong

and was something I could re-

late to – road trips, familial dy-

namics, small town pride – but

it lost steam and turned into a

roast on every person and place

Bryson interacted with.

Solutions to life’s problemsaren’t listed in an instructionmanual. That’s why 211info, anonprofit information and re-ferral call center, provides in-formation about communityservices to those who needhelp. The service began opera-tions in Linn, Benton and Lin-coln counties this year.

Every year, 211info makesmore than 230,000 connectionsto vital services as diverse asforeclosure assistance and themost up-to-date information onflooding or a storm. By 2013,every Oregonian will have ac-cess to 211.

Like 911, 211 is a phone num-ber dedicated to its purpose bythe Federal CommunicationsCommission. Callers are con-nected with a trained, compas-

sionate call center specialist.The specialist will provide anunderstanding of resource of-ferings that fit a full spectrumof needs and help to identifyavailable public and private re-sources. Each person who callsseeking service is given infor-mation about city, county, andstatewide services available tothem, starting with those thatare closest to the individual inneed, along with eligibility re-quirements and the days andhours that each referral agencyoperates.

Through 211info.org, the pub-lic has access to the same com-prehensive and up-to-datecommunity resources that thecall center staff uses. Thesearchable website databasecontains 4,500 programs across1,200 areas of need. Service

providers are able to use thewebsite to update their recordsonline for better accuracy.

Nationwide, 211 covers 80percent of the population. It isavailable in 16 Oregon countiesand two in southwest Washing-ton, which helps the wholecommunity service system op-erate more efficiently. By theend of 2011, 211info will have

doubled the counties served.

In Linn, Benton, and Lincolncounties, 211info is sponsoredby United Way of Linn County,United Way of Benton and Lin-coln counties, SamaritanHealth Services, CentralWillamette Community CreditUnion and the Lincoln CountyCommission on Children andFamilies.


Book Review

Linn-Benton-Lincoln 211 now available

“The Lost Continent” by Bill Bryson


BY MARILYN SMITH

Advancing years too oftenmean a decline in physicalagility and fitness, but it doesn'thave to be that way. People wholive with limited range of mo-tion or agility caused by arthri-tis, injury, chronic pain, or otherconditions can halt and some-times reverse those limitsthrough exercise designed forthat very purpose. Several suchcourses are offered this winterat the Albany Senior Center, 489Water Ave. NW, through AlbanyParks & Recreation and Linn-Benton Community College.

Julia Yee teaches the AdaptivePilates class.

“Adaptive Pilates is a modi-fied form of traditional mat Pi-lates and is suitable for individ-uals with physical limitations,”Yee said.

Exercises are done sitting on aregular sturdy chair using mod-ified Pilates methods and mayincorporate hand weights andresistance bands for an effectiveand thorough workout.

Individuals recovering fromchronic pain and injuries, whohave reduced physical mobility,or who have conditions such asmultiple sclerosis, arthritis,weak knees, and have problemsgetting down on the floorwould benefit from Adaptive Pilates.

"The benefits of this form ofactivity are substantial," Yeesaid, citing improved balanceand coordination and increasesin mobility and strength. Al-though Adaptive Pilates is con-sidered very safe, participantsshould consult a physician be-fore starting any exercise rou-tine.

Yee said she became interestedin Pilates after a major surgerythat drastically weakened herabdominal strength.

“I felt stiff, my energy levelwas low and I had constantback aches," she said. "Movingaround was not easy. In myquest to rebuild strength andmobility, I chose Pilates becauseof its simplicity, discipline, andconnection --- mentally, emo-tionally and physically."

Yee is certified as an instructorby the Aerobics and Fitness As-sociation of America and the Pa-cific Northwest Arthritis Associ-ation. She has been teaching Pi-lates for almost eight years, lov-ing every moment of it, she said.

"I continue to pursue trainingand certification in group fitnessto keep my workouts currentand fresh," Yee said. "I am espe-

cially motivated to researchmodified forms of Pilates to fiteach person's needs.

"Although we may be dauntedby the thought of trying a newexercise, our success relies onour attitude towards maintain-ing a healthy relationship withphysical activity," she said. "It isultimately the responsibility ofevery participant to achieve hisor her goals and my job as an in-structor to guide you in this en-deavor. With strong adherenceto and control of your fitnesslevel, along with challenge andthe choice of a healthy lifestyle,Adaptive Pilates can changeyour quality of life and health.”

Adaptive Pilates at the Albany

Senior Center begins January

10, at 9:15 a.m. The 50-minute

class will be held Tuesdays and

Thursdays for 11 weeks. Cost is

$51 for Albany residents or $66

for participants who live out-

side the Albany city limits.

Related fitness courses to be

offered this winter include the

Arthritis Foundation exercise

program, also taught by Yee;

early morning fitness; and in-

creasing flexibility and im-

proving balance and posture.

For details, visit

www.cityofalbany.net/parks

Marilyn Smith is public informa-

tion officer for the City of Albany;

[email protected].

Fit at any stage - exercise classesimprove flexibility, mobility, balance

Julia Yee teaches Adaptive Pilates at Albany Senior Center.


puzzlespuzzle solutions on page 15

QUOTE CRYPTOGRAMY D E M W X S X F Y B J Y F K W Y X

Q K W Q M A K D E M Y F K W B S E F S M E , X F M B Y

T M X K T K B C Y X F B S P M M X

CREATORS SYNDICATE

GENERATIONSis published in part by

541-967-8630 or 1-800-638-0510TDD/VOICE in Benton and Linn counties

541-336-2289 or 1-800-282-6194TDD/VOICE in Lincoln County

Senior & DisabilityServices

• Adult Foster Care• Outreach Services• Meals on Wheels• Information and Referral• Medicaid Longterm Care

• In-Home Care• OPI• Adult Protective Services• Community Resources

For more information on:

A program of Cascades West Council of Governments

As a teenager growing up inNorth Little Rock, Ark., PaulDickey vividly rememberswatching National Guardtrucks arrive to protect CentralHigh School students duringthe first Arkansas school inte-gration of 1957.

He later received an appoint-ment to attend the Air ForceAcademy and trained as a nav-igator. He flew on the air refu-eling, military version of theBoeing 707, serving for overfive years including duty inSoutheast Asia. He receivedhis discharge in 1970 and set-tled in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

He worked in various man-agement capacities for Procter& Gamble (P&G). Dickeyhelped P&G start up a newplant in Belleville, Ont., thenmoved to Modesto, Calif., aspart of the start-up team for anew plant in Japan.

Dickey’s volunteer exposurebegan at work; P&G encour-aged community volunteering.He worked with the UnitedWay and was elected to theCity Council in Newman,Calif. Dickey was single then,and his two sons conspiredwith the two daughters of hisfuture wife to get them to-gether. The Dickeys now havefour grandchildren.

Winding up his career,Dickey noted, “I don’t playgolf or fish, didn’t want to re-tire to an armchair…don’thave a TV. I want to be a vol-unteer.”

In 1999, Dickey and his wifemoved to Philomath. A Philo-math mural says “City of Vol-unteers” which piqued their

interest, and they purchasedfive acres of land for their newhome. They love its proximityto Portland, The OregonShakespeare Festival in Ash-land, the coast – and the Cor-vallis Book Bin.

In 2000, an opportunity withthe Philomath Community Ser-vices Board opened, andDickey became the projectmanager for construction ofthe nonprofit’s new building.Dickey serves or has served onseveral boards, including theBenton County Library Foun-dation Board, Benton CountyPlanning Commission, Boardof Directors for OSU FederalCredit Union, and the NorthAmerican and Oregon HeatherSocieties. He and his wife weretwo of the founding membersof the Academy for LifelongLearning, now a program ofthe OSU Alumni Association.He sings in the First Presbyter-ian Church choir, enjoys read-ing, working outside and lis-

tening to a wide variety ofmusic.

Dickey was drawn to theAARP Tax-Aide program aspayback to AARP volunteerswho filed his mother’s taxesevery year in Arkansas. As thePhilomath Library tax site co-ordinator, he wears many hats.He meets with clients, files re-turns, manages volunteers anddoes the quality checks for alltax returns. The pleasure comesfrom helping people receivetheir tax credits and refunds.

He recounts one examplewhen a single parent “gavehim a chance to do her taxes,”and when asked what sort ofrefund she typically receives,she said, “not much.” WhenDickey finished her form andasked, “How’s a refund of$2,500 sound?” She started cry-ing. She had never knownabout the earned income taxcredit.

Frequently, Dickey sees peo-ple age 62 and older who arenot aware of the special Ore-gon taxable income deductionfor medical expenses, he said.

When asked what draws himback to help every year, Dickeysaid, “The fact that I can en-sure people are not payingmore taxes than they arelegally required to pay. Ihelped one family man whoseincome progressively im-proved and now I’m doingtaxes for his kids.” Dickey haspersonally filed 575 tax returnsfor clients. For the volunteers,the tax season is like an ex-tended family reunion: 90 percent of the volunteers comeback every year.

This year the tax programneeds help getting the wordabout its services out to the pub-lic. Low to moderate incomepeople of any age qualify forhelp at the eight locations scat-tered throughout Linn and Ben-ton counties.

To find the nearest AARP Tax-Aide tax site, go towww.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide.


Tax Aide volunteer Paul Dickey

Volunteer Tax-Aide Paul

Dickey of Philomath

Financial planning:Strategies for

success at any ageBY LINDA KJERULF

What exactly is a “financialplan?” The term may mean dif-ferent things to different people,but simply put, it is an individ-ual’s personal goals for takingcare of himself or herself finan-cially. It takes a clear and honestassessment of the person’s cur-rent situation. Following thesefive steps will help create a strat-egy for individuals of any age.

1) Create a realistic budget.Review income and expensesover a three-to six-month periodand take the average. Writeeverything down! This createsownership. Effective budgetingrequires knowing where everydollar is going.

2) Establish short- and long-term goals, for one, three, five,10 and 20 years. These can bebrief but need to be writtendown. Monitor the goals annu-ally.

3) Write down the things thatyou love to do: hobbies, inter-ests, activities, what makes lifeworth living! Family, music, fish-ing, travel - whatever those in-terests - write them down! Thisis a very important part of theplan.

4) Be sure to have an up-to-date will and/or trust, with a re-sponsible party named in caseyou are incapacitated. Keep per-sonal documents in a safe orsafe-deposit box.

5) Finally, take action and fol-low through! A house cannot bebuilt without a solid foundation.Write things down, follow abudget, set goals and identifypriorities. Remember, it’s yourplan, no one else’s.

Things change: economic con-ditions, taxes, jobs, goals, priori-ties, but keeping track of short-and long-term goals, at any age,makes a difference!

Linda R. Kjerulf is a financial advi-sor with Waddell & Reed, Albany;[email protected].

Linn and Benton CountyThe Office of the Long-Term

Care Ombudsman advocates

for persons who live in long-

term care facilities. Certified

Ombudsman volunteers com-

plete an intensive training

course, then visit assigned

local facilities to enhance the

quality of life for residents.

They ensure adequate care,

protect rights and dignity, and

receive complaints. Call

Gretchen Jordan at

1-800-522-2602 or gretchen.jor-

[email protected].

HandsOn Linn-Benton pro-

motes volunteerism in both

counties. Members are needed

to help raise awareness of the

HandsOn website, spread the

word through social media, and

assist local non-profits with

volunteer recruitment. Email

[email protected]

.

Volunteers are needed to ed-

ucate the public on identifyingand reporting Medicare fraud,

waste and abuse, which costs

Americans billions every

year. Call Beth Fox at 541-812-

0849 or email bfox@community-

services.us.

Volunteers find immense sat-isfaction in helping the dyingretain some control over theirlives and live out the rest oftheir lives as a person, not justa patient. Each spring, Samari-tan Evergreen Hospice offers aseven-week overview of thephysical, psychological, famil-ial and spiritual aspects ofdying. Independent study isalso available as a training op-tion. Contact Karen McLain,541-812-4677, [email protected].

Benton Hospice Service needsvolunteers to provide compan-ionship, practical support andrespite breaks for hospice pa-tients and caregivers, and foradministrative office tasks. Two-day training is scheduled Tues-day and Thursday, January 24and 26, 8:30 to a.m. to 5 p.m.Registration is required with a$25 materials fee. Contact

Jamey Suderman, volunteer co-ordinator, 541-757-9616 [email protected].

The Transitions program at

Benton Hospice Service serves

people who are not quite ready

or eligible for hospice care. Vol-

unteers provide companionship,

respite for caregivers, do light

housekeeping or cooking, and

other tasks. Training is pro-

vided. Call Jamey Suderman at

541-757-9616.

Benton County

Good Samaritan RegionalMedical Center seeks dedicated

individuals for high-needs serv-

ice areas: coffee cart, family assis-

tance/information desk, flower

delivery, Good Sam’s gift clerk,

No One Dies Alone/Compassion-

ate Companion, Sam’s Espresso

Cabana baristas and as tour

guides for first graders following

puppet shows. Contact Volunteer

Services, 541-768-5083 or GSRM-

[email protected].

The Corvallis SustainabilityCoalition Waste Prevention Ac-tion Team is launching Recy-

cling Block Captains. A few

times a year, volunteers distrib-

ute information to neighbors

about the importance of recy-

cling. Handouts provided; vol-

unteers pick delivery areas and

how many to visit. Contact

Andrea Norris, 541-737-5398;

[email protected];

or visit sustainablecorvallis.org.

Dial-A-Bus seeks volunteers

to deliver clients to medical ap-

pointments, meal and social

programs, and adult daycare.

Most contribute one four-hour

shift per week. Vehicles and in-

surance provided. CPR and first

aid training, drug and alcohol

screening and a good driving

record are required. Call 541-

752-2615.

Dozens of mock interviewersand speakers are needed for theBenton County Career Conven-tion for more than 850 highschool juniors on Feb. 29 at OSULaSells Stewart Center and the

CH2M Alumni Center. Visitwww.bchscc.org.

Linn County

SHEM – Sweet Home Emer-gency Ministries seeks strongvolunteers to assist with foodshipments and stockingshelves, meeting with clients,daily cleaning, maintenance,computer support, clericalwork and data entry. Four-hourshifts available Tuesday,Wednesday and Saturday, andevery other Friday. The Boardof Directors also seeks newmembers. Contact Peggy Blairor Cindy Rice, 541-367-6504.

Albany Call-A-Ride seeksdispatchers and drivers. Dis-patchers must be detail ori-ented, able to multi-task, havesome knowledge of computersand telephone skills. Driversmust have a valid driver’s li-cense and a clean drivingrecord. Cars and insurance pro-vided. Call Ted, 541-917-7638.

Volunteer Caregivers of Al-bany needs help transporting

seniors to medical appointments

and building ramps. Drivers

may request mileage reimburse-

ment; builders work in teams

with provided materials. Call

541-928-2173 or email

[email protected].

Albany Meals on Wheelsneeds two Friday volunteers: a

greeter and kitchen volunteer.

Greeters work a 90-minute shift;

kitchen volunteer, 3.5 hours.

Contact Maureen Bromley, 8

a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday, 541-967-7647.

Albany Parks & Recreationworks with individuals and

groups to maintain parks, natu-

ral areas and urban wildlife

habitat. People with back-

grounds in the natural sciences

and/or a love for the outdoors

often take on or serve as con-

sultants in monitoring, planning

or management projects. Con-

tact Rick Barnett, 541-917-7763,

or [email protected].

RSVP’s Albany office seeks a

volunteer with computer and

organizational skills to help

with episodic projects, three to

four hours per week. Training

provided. Call Beth Fox, 541-

812-0849 or email bfox@commu-

nityservices.us.

Meals on Wheels volunteers

needed in Lebanon, Brownsville,

Sweet Home and Mill City. Call

1-888-251-8392.


Help Wanted


What would you like to see in

Generations? 541-924-8421

or email [email protected]

Heartspring Wellness Center in Albany and Corvallis offers an in-tegrative medical approach to promote wellness in mind, body andspirit. Some of Heartspring’s providers answer common questionsabout maintaining good health as we age:

What can I do to promote healthy aging that doesn’t involvepharmaceutical drugs?

Beth Laurenson, naturopathic doctor:Eat a plant and vegetable-based diet, keep your weight down, ex-ercise and find joy in life.

Shaun Wilcox, massage therapist: Focus on lifestyle – find the right amount and types of food and ex-ercise. Also, spend time with people who make you laugh – a lot!

Seishiro Hokazono, acupuncturist:Do at least 30 minutes of walking or exercise a day. How and whatyou eat are critical. Chew 30 times with every bite you eat anddon’t stuff your mouth or stomach. It’s also important to avoidprocessed foods with sugar, fats and chemicals.

I often feel tired and sluggish. How can I improve my energylevel?

Christy Rummel, family nurse practitioner: I find that poor sleep is a major cause of fatigue. So how are yousleeping? Think about good sleep hygiene: don’t watch TV or readin bed and make sure the bedroom is cool and very dark. Try to goto bed and get up about the same time each day. Are you gettingenough vitamin D? Vitamin D can significantly help improve en-ergy levels. Talk with your provider about checking your levelsand find out how much daily vitamin D is right for you.

Wilcox:Lots and lots of coffee. Just kidding. Ask yourself and really listento the answer, “What is it in my life that is making me tired andsluggish?” Then take steps to remedy the situation. These could bemajor things in life like work, friends, or partner, or seeminglysmall things like the wrong types of food or not enough exercise.

Laurenson:Get out and walk; even a little natural light is helpful. Have yourvitamin D levels checked, and if they are deficient, take appropri-ate supplementation. It’s also helpful to eat brightly-colored fruitsand vegetables, decrease grain products, and to drink four to sixglasses of water each day.

I’ve been feeling stressed and a bit down recently. What can Ido to improve my emotional health?

Lisa Battaglia, acupuncturist:Having acupuncture on a regular basis and eating a healthy, bal-anced diet will support healthy aging. You will increase your en-ergy level and help decrease the effects of stress.

Hokazono:Stress management is an essential skill in modern society. Taking amindful meditation class, doing yoga and getting massage canhelp. I see my patients feeling less stressed and more emotionallystable after acupuncture treatment. Your mood is also affected bywhat you eat so consume less refined food and eat more whole-some options. It’s also important to be able to talk with someoneyou feel safe and secure with about stress and emotional distur-bances.

Rummel:Vitamin D plays a major role here as well. Other essentials for men-tal health are B vitamins and fish oil. Physical exercise again is sig-nificantly helpful, as well as a balanced diet that isn’t high in car-bohydrates and sugars. If you’re really struggling with your emo-tional well-being, think about seeing a counselor.

To find out more about Samaritan Heartspring Wellness Center,go to www.samhealth.org/heartspring; call the Albany clinic, 541-812-5656; or Corvallis, 541-768-6412.

Healthy Aging Q&A

Unfortunately, the followingsituation is one that’s far toocommon and happens everyday all across the country: afamily is gathered by the bed-side of a loved one who hasbeen seriously ill and now islikely near the end of life. Eachfamily member has a differentidea of what should be doneand what their loved onewould want. Throughout thecourse of the illness, the familynever discussed what the carepriorities should be in the finalmonths and weeks of life.

Even in the final days of life,these important decisions gounaddressed. This can leave adark shadow over the death ofa loved one that can lingerlong in the memories of familyand dear friends. No onewants to think they might havedone more after a person is al-ready gone.

“These are challenging situa-tions,” said Micky Shields, ex-ecutive director at Benton Hos-pice Service. “It’s difficult toknow that more could havebeen done.”

One recommendation offeredby professionals who care forthe dying is to learn moreabout hospice care long beforeyou or your loved one mightneed it.

“Don’t wait until there is ahealthcare crisis to talk aboutyour wishes with your lovedones. One of the most frequentcomments we hear from fami-lies is ‘we wish we would havehad hospice sooner,’” Shieldssaid.

When a family is coping witha serious illness and a cure is

no longer possible, hospiceprovides the type of care mostpeople say they want at theend of life: comfort and dig-nity.

Considered the model forhigh-quality, compassionatecare for people with a life-lim-iting illness, hospice includesexpert medical care, pain man-agement, and emotional andspiritual support. Care is pro-vided by an interdisciplinaryteam of professionals andtrained volunteers. The wishesof the patient and family arealways at the center of care.

Most hospice care is pro-vided in the home, where themajority of Americans havesaid they would want to be iffacing a life-limiting illness.Hospice care is also providedin nursing homes, assisted liv-ing facilities, and hospice cen-ters.

The National Hospice andPalliative Care Organizationreports that more than 1.5 mil-lion people receive care fromhospice every year.

Hospice providers can helpwith information about careoptions and choices and ensurethe client lives as fully as pos-sible. They make sure lovedones receive support as well.

Shields said, “It is importantto talk to your family membersto be sure they know what youwant if there comes a time thatyou need others to make med-ical decisions for you.”

To learn more, contact BentonHospice Service at 541-757-9616 or visit www.bentonhos-pice.org.

Don’t wait to talk aboutthe care you want


BY REP. ANDY OLSON, ALBANY

Many state legislators haveheard from constituents thesepast few months regarding theOregon Property Tax DeferralProgram. House Bill 2543 madea few changes to help the Ore-gon budget, but in doing this,homeowners with reverse mort-gages have been impacted on avery high level.

One can see how complicatedthis situation is. Of the 10,358Oregonians who once qualifiedfor the Property Tax DeferralProgram, only 4,606 remainqualified. Although this reformwas much needed in order tohelp balance the Oregon budget,there are a few adjustments thatmay need to be made to HB 2543in order to help Oregonians. Forexample, the participants who

once qualified for this programbut who were recently disquali-fied due to having a reversemortgage will hopefully get a lit-tle more leeway.

The Revenue Committee will

be investigating this issue dur-

ing the February special Legisla-

tive Session in hope of discover-

ing a more efficient solution

which could help the 1,727 par-

ticipants who were rejected from

the deferral program because of

reverse mortgages.

It will be interesting to see

what happens with HB 2543,

and if an alternative solution can

be created, given the recent eco-

nomic forecast. It is extremely

important for us to take care of

our seniors and protect them in

the best way possible.

Legislature to review changes to property tax deferral program

One thing you’ve learned bynow is that life is full ofchange. As your body and lifeare changing, how do you takecare of yourself? Eat, sleep, hy-drate, exercise and connect.

Eat. “An apple a day keepsthe doctor away.” This is stilltrue – so to speak. Your body isa finely tuned machine and itstill needs the right fuel to keepyou going strong.

Sleep. Not too much and nottoo little. Six to 10 hours is justright. Make sure to listen toyour body, and relish those catnaps.

Hydrate. Make sure you’redrinking enough water. Eight8-ounce glasses a day is ideal. Ifthis is a struggle, try mixing a

flavored drink powder with thewater, with your doctor’s ap-proval. Just don’t be tempted toreplace water intake with coffeeor soda.

Exercise. Even if your bodyhas some limitations, you canadapt exercises so that you’restill able to reap the many ben-efits. Water aerobics, for exam-ple, is easy on joints. Be sure toconsult a doctor before begin-ning any new exercise routines.

Connect. Physical health andmental health are intricately in-tertwined, so it is critical totake care of your spirit. Checkout the local newspaper at asenior center or with friends tofind free events to connect withother people with similar interests.

Caring for yourselfas you age

BY JOSHUA GUSTAFSONAs people grow older, flexibility

and bone density decreases, sta-bility and balance is affected bymuscle loss, and cardiovascularand circulatory systems are not asefficient as they once were. As wesearch for the secret to feeling bet-ter and living longer, time contin-ues to pass us by.

The good news is, there is afountain of youth – it’s called ex-ercise. Regular physical activitycan prevent diabetes and heartproblems, increase life ex-pectancy, and reduce arthriticpain, depression and anxiety.

A regular exercise routine is thekey to improving overall healthand well-being. Incorporatingcardiovascular exercise such aswalking, jogging or biking willproduce weight loss and improveheart and lung strength. Strength-ening exercises such as resistancetraining will help rebuild musclelost due to aging and improve

bone density. Flexibility and sta-bility training will improve bal-ance and increase range of motionin pesky stiff joints.

The benefits from just 30 min-utes of daily exercise can reduceweight, improve self-perception,and decrease the chance ofchronic conditions such as heartdisease and diabetes. The trick isto start small, with two or three10-minute increments of exerciseon most days of the week. Fromthere, increase the duration fol-lowed by increased intensity. Re-member to always exercise withinyour limitations, maintaining bal-ance and proper form. Followingthese basic steps will help youfind that fountain of youth!

Josh Gustafson is a physical activ-ity in public health specialist andcertified personal trainer. He over-sees the operation of SamFit, a 24-hour fitness center on the Samari-tan Health Sciences campus inLebanon.

Fitness foraging adults

Eating healthy balancedmeals every day is importantfor good health at any age. Fix-ing those meals when you livealone or as part of a couple,however, can be a challenge.

The Corvallis Senior Center,in cooperation with BentonHospice, will offer Cooking forOne at the Corvallis ChintiminiSenior Center on four Wednes-days, Feb. 8 to 29, 2012. Classesare at 1:30 p.m.; fee is $9 per

class. Chef Bre Huffman willteach easy cooking techniques,how best to use leftovers, howto make an easy-to-follow gro-cery list, and show how cook-ing can be fun.

Pre-registration is required.

Stop by Corvallis Chintimini

Senior Center at 2601 NW

Tyler Ave.; go online at

www.ci.corvallis.or.us/sc

or call 541-766-6959.

Cooking for one?


CRYPTOGRAM: I used to think I had it bad because I had no

shoes, then I met a man with no feet

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

BY SHARON BOGDANOVIC

Beat the chill and warm upwith a hot lunch or dinnerwhile sticking to your budget.

One of the newest restaurantsin Corvallis was suggested bya reader as a dining deal. TheLaughing Planet Café, 127NW Second St., is a quick-serv-ice restaurant that serves nutri-tious fare such as tasty burri-tos, bowls, soups, salads andsmoothies. The staff is dedi-cated to making wholesomefood affordable and socially re-sponsible. All entrees have theoption of added Draper Valleynatural chicken, organic tofu ororganic tempeh for $2.50. Bur-ritos and bowls start at $4.50.A gluten-free menu is alsoavailable. The Laughing PlanetCafé is open daily, 11 a.m. to 9p.m.

Located near the OregonState campus at the corner of14th and Monroe, Roxy Dawgsoffers food specials and morethan 10 authentic sausagesmade from pork, beef andchicken, and a veggie dawg -all nitrate free! Specials include$5 for a dawg, drink and chips;$6.45 for a dawg, fries or a delisalad, and a drink. Happyhour is 4 from 6 p.m. with $2beer and wine. Roxy Dawgs is

committed to the naturalworld, using compostable foodcontainers and materials withthe goal of becoming a zero-waste establishment.

Flat Tail Sports Pub andBrewery, 202 SW First St., has anew menu that features a $6lunch special Monday throughFriday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. OnMonday, get a grilled hamand cheese with choice ofsoup, salad or fries. Wednes-day, get the shrimp andsausage jambalaya or fish andchips on Friday. More diningdeals are available duringhappy hours, 3 to 6 p.m. and 9p.m. to close. The happy-hourmenu includes a choice ofthree flavors of macaroni andcheese for $4; chicken tamalesmothered in guajillo chilesauce and cotija cheese for $3;chicken tenders and fries for$3; and pub salad for $2. FlatTail is at the corner of First andMadison in downtown Corval-lis, across from the river.

Please share ideas for dining-out deals with me or let meknow if you try one of thesesuggestions: [email protected] at the Corvallis ChintiminiSenior Center, attentionSharon.

Dining deals

Western author Zane GREY (43Across) was a descendant of thefounder of Zanesville, Ohio. NorthernSpay and Johnathan APPLES (76Across) both ripen in the fall. BATIK (15Down) is created by using wax as a dyerepellent; the word comes from theJapanese language.

You may contact puzzle editor StanleyNewman at his Internet website:WWW.PUZZLESATRANDOM.COM.Or write him at P.O. Box 69, MassapequaPark, NY 11762. Please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wouldlike a reply.

generations january 2012

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