the best of times july 2009

� July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

WK Bossier Health Center� Quick Care Urgent Care

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When you choose Willis-Knighton,good health is nearby.

Choose from a broad level of services – from medical care to fitness to senior lifestyle options – and take advantage of the quality care for which Willis-Knighton has received national recognition.

Four hospitals, two urgent care centers, six wellness centers, four occupational medicine clinics, hundreds of excellent physicians throughout Shreveport/Bossier and North Louisiana, and the addition of Live Oak and The Oaks of Louisiana. Willis-Knighton offers you good health in every direction.

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July 2009 � The Best Of Times


We have, as usual, a pretty terrific and jam-packed issue for you this month. The big event is the cover/centerspread piece on “Finding Love (& Marriage) After 50.” We chose a dazzling prism of color to illustrate falling in love, as that’s how so many

describe the feeling. Being lonely is like living in a black-and-white world, while finding the lid that fits your pot releases prisms of Technicol-or™. We salute the four couples profiled in the feature and only regret that others who initially contacted us decided later against going public with their search methods and results. But know

there are many out there still searching for love, even at our age. Especially at our age. Good luck to all of you.

But the issue isn’t all the gooey sweetness of dating seniors. We also tell you where to

find FREE MEDICAL CARE when you need it (including EYE care), call attention to a novel way to treat arthritis, explain why hydration is important to Those Of Us 50+, and we get very specific about the rights and benefits under MEDICARE HOME HEALTH CARE.

We cover QUARANTINES, identity theft, one cause of un-expected SUNBURN, and GYMS. Then we profile “Dusty” Graham, learn how to quit cooking, have a great lunch at a Vietnamese place, look in on the LEFTOVERS, bring you some puzzles, a calendar of events, and let’s not forget the GOLD PAGES. And there’s more! Whew, I’m tired.


this just in:

l free or low-cost health care may be only a click away

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration offers a free website (www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc) which allows individuals to search for free or low-cost health care clinics

by state and city. Federally-funded health center care is available, even for those who have no health insurance. Payment is based on what the person can afford, based on income. Health centers provide checkups, treatment during illness, care during pregnancy, immuniza-

tions and checkups for children, dental care, prescription drugs, and mental health and substance abuse care if needed. Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas.

l Don’t lose sight of your inDepenDence

EyeCare America’s new promotional campaign, “Don’t Lose Sight of Your Independence,” will run through August 31. This program provides a comprehensive eye exam and care for any disease detected in the initial visit for up to one year, at no out-of-pocket cost, for seniors who are without an ophthalmologist (a medical eye doctor). To see if you, a loved one or a friend, 65 and older, is eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam and care, call 1-800-222-EYES (3937), available 24 hours, 7 days a week, year round.

l louisiana Drivers rank 37th in the nation on national Drivers test

Results from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Driv-ers Test rank Louisiana drivers 37th in the nation for their driving knowledge. Louisiana drivers had an average score of 75.3% (70% or higher is required to pass the test); 28.4% of Louisiana respondents failed the test. In 2008, the state ranked 44th. To take the test go to gmacinsurance.com.

economic Downturn leaDs to worsening of social security long-range financing outlook

The Social Security Board of Trustees recently released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. The Trustees proj-ect that program costs will exceed tax revenues in 2016, one year sooner than projected in last year’s re-port. The combined assets of the Old-Age and Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) Trust Funds will be exhausted in 2037, four years sooner than projected last year. The worsen-ing of the long-range outlook for the Social Security program is due primarily to the recent economic downturn and faster reductions in mortality than previously assumed.

The Transportation Security Administration recently in-stituted the first phase of its new Secure Flight program, in which TSA will take over from the airlines the task of match-

ing passengers names against the government’s terror watch list. This means that all passengers must now make airline reservations using their full name (including middle name or initial) as it appears on the government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license) they will show at

the airport. Beginning in August, passengers must also provide their birth date and gender when booking a flight. The new rules are supposed to reduce the number of people who are questioned because their name is similar to one on the terror list.

lack of miDDle name or initial on airline reservations may spell trouble

family smoking prevention anD tobacco control act now law

On June 22 the Family Smoking Prevent ion and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law. The law allows the FDA to reduce nicotine in tobacco products, ban candy flavorings and block labels such “low tar” and “light.” Tobacco companies also will be required to cover their cartons with large graphic warnings. The historic action is expected to save lives, reduce health care costs, and help reduce heart and lung diseases, cancer, and other tobac-co-related illnesses which kill hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.


The Caddo Council on Aging hosted a Centenarian Celebra-tion Event on Tuesday, June 9 at the Randle T. Moore Senior Center located in Shreveport. Eight-one seniors from in Caddo, Bossier and Webster parishes of Louisiana who were 100 or older were invited to attend this event with 16 attending. They were Belva Allen, Frances Bolt, Early Godfrey, Tony Greco, Sammie L. Holt, Veran Jones, Janie McCoy, Garner Pottor, Pearl Roediger, Dr. Joseph Shavin, Alphonse Smith, Lilla Smith, Annie Spencer, Beatrice Thomas, Ray Tiner, and Mississippi Winn. The oldest attendee was Mrs. Mississippi Winn of Shreveport at the age of 112.

wk Quick care receives urgent dcare DesignationWK Quick Care has been awarded “Certified Urgent Care”

designation from the Urgent Care Association of America for both its Shreveport and Bossier locations. To achieve this des-ignation, Quick Care was required to meet established criteria that affirm its centers are true urgent care centers designed to fill the gap between hospital emergency departments and physician offices. The designation demonstrates Quick Care’s ability to provide patients with access to appropriate levels of care and to provide it in a setting that offers walk-in, extended-hour medical attention with board certified physicians for a large scope of medical conditions. Quick Care now offers expedited registration with Zip Pass, allowing patients to register online at www.wkquickcare.com.

paulette harvey electeD District 50dtoastmaster’s international governorDistinguished Toastmaster, Paulette Santoro Harvey, of

Bossier City was elected to the top leadership position, District 50 Governor, for Toastmasters International. Ms. Harvey, an employee if the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center, has the distinction of being elected the first Toastmaster from Eastern Division to achieve this high office.

area centenarians honoreD

10 July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

new era in hepatitis c treatment For patients with the most common form of hepatitis

C, the addition of a hepatitis C–specific protease inhibitor called telaprevir to the current standard therapy may signifi-cantly improve the chances of being cured, and it does it in half the time of standard therapy alone, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

treating gum Disease may help rheumatoiD arthritis sufferers

People, suffering from gum disease and a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, reduced their arthritic pain, number of swollen joints and the degree of morning stiffness when they cured their dental problems, report researchers in the Journal of Periodontology. It was found that when patients with a se-vere kind of active rheumatoid arthritis eliminated infection and inflammation in the gums, they reported improvement on the signs and symptoms of that disease.

vaccine shows promise against aDvanceD melanoma

A vaccine for advanced melanoma has shown improved response rates and progression-free survival for patients when combined with the immunotherapy drug, Interleukin-2, according to researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

for some, virtual colonoscopy may be just as gooD

CT colonography, a less invasive option to colonoscopy, is an effective way to detect colon cancer in people who have an elevated risk of the disease because of family history or a personal history of colon polyps, new research has found.However, the Journal of the American Medical Associa-tion reports that CT colonography (also known as “virtual colonoscopy”) is less effective at correctly identifying colon cancers in people who’ve had a positive fecal occult blood test, which means they have blood in their stool. A positive FOBT is a strong indicator that cancer might be present.

this just in:

triglyceriDes implicateD in Diabetes nerve lossA blood test for triglycerides - a well-

known cardiovascular disease risk factor - may allow doctors to predict which patients with diabetes are more likely to develop the serious, common complica-tion of neuropathy. In a study in the journal Diabetes, data revealed that if a patient had elevated triglycerides, he or she was significantly more likely to experience worsening neuropathy over a period of one year. Other factors, such as higher levels of other fats in the blood or of blood glucose, did not turn out to be significant. With a readily available predictor for nerve damage – triglyc-erides are measured as part of routine blood testing – doctors and patients can take pro-active steps while interventions can do some good. People can reduce blood triglyceride levels with the same measures that reduce cholesterol levels: by avoiding harmful fats in the diet and exercising regularly.

Each year, 800,000 Amer-icans experience a stroke. It is the leading cause of serious disability and the third leading cause of death. But in women, doctors and bystanders should be paying attention to something else.

The traditional stroke symptoms are well known and include a sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of the body,

women more likely to experience non-traDitional stroke symptoms

trouble talking, loss of vision, or coordination problems. The non-traditional symptom that stood out among women was altered mental status, meaning confusion, disorientation or a loss of consciousness.

Researchers state that the differences in symptoms may have consequences if slow rec-ognition of stroke signs cause a delay in seeking medical atten-tion and delay in treatment.

Severe sleep-related breathing disorders in older men appear to be associated with a greater risk of abnormal

heart rhythms (arrhythmias), according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In addition, different types of breathing problems appear more closely as-

sociated with different categories of arrhythmia.

July 2009 11 The Best Of Times

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less freQuent social activity linkeD to more rapiD loss of

motor function in olDer aDultsLoss of muscle strength,

speed and dexterity is a com-mon consequence of aging and a well-established risk factor for death, dis-ability and dement ia . Yet little is known about h o w a n d why motor decline oc-curs when it is not a symptom of disease. Now, researchers have found that, among the elderly, less frequent participation in so-

cial activities is associated with a more rapid decline in motor function - a more than 40% increased risk of death and a

more than 65% increased risk of develop-ing disability. T h e s e d a t a raise the pos-sibility that social engage-ment can slow motor function

decline and possibly delay adverse health outcomes from such decline (Archives of In-ternal Medicine).

heartburn meDs may leaD to bone breaks

Older patients may have to pass on the heartburn drugs to spare their bones from fractures accord-ing. According to a presentation at this year’s Digestive Disease Week 2009, use of popular acid-

reducing heartburn drugs may raise the risk of hip fractures. The increased risks appeared two years after patients started taking proton pump inhibitors such as Prevacid and histamine-2 receptor antagonists, or H2RAs, such as Zantac and Tagamet. Other proton pump inhibitors include popular brands such as Nexium, Prilosec, Protonix, and Aciphex. The study suggests long-term use of proton pump inhibitors - for at least five years - may raise the risk of hip fractures. Researchers advise patients taking acid blockers to continue treatment at the lowest effective dose, but people at risk of osteoporosis should talk to their doctor about other treatment options

A radical new therapy could improve treatment of people with HIV-AIDS by destroying the viruses circulating in the body as well as those hiding in im-mune system cells, according to a new study. A team of American and Canadian re-searchers have high hopes for a combination of tar-geted chemotherapy and what’s known as highly ac-

new strategy eyeD for aiDs treatmenttive anti-retroviral (HAART) treatments. When HIV viruses hide in immune cells, the re-searchers explained, existing HAART treatments can’t reach them. But the study identified where HIV hides in immune cells and the “stealth” mecha-nisms that enable the virus to elude existing treatments. This finding could lead to new therapies that are different than current treatments, they said.

1� July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

here’s to good nutrition:

healthy fats support brain anD boDy functions

Foods rich in certain omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA can reduce cardiovascular disease, improve your mood and help prevent dementia. The best sources for the EPA and DHA omega-3 fats are fatty fish such salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, and some cold water fish oil supple-ments. Additionally, these healthy fats help trigger the rapid transfer of “I’m full” signals to your brain, according to the National Institutes of Health.

fish oil supplements + aerobic exercise linkeD to weight loss

In overweight patients, fish oil supplements and regular aero-bic exercise reduced body fat and improved cardiovascular and metabolic health, accord-ing to the results of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Volunteers took six grams of fish oil daily and worked out three times a week. After 12

weeks, they’d lost an average of 3.4 pounds, while those who exercised exclusively saw minimal shrinkage.

licorice gargle reDuces sore throat pain after surgery

Gargling with a licorice solution can help reduce postopera-tive sore throat, including pain on swallowing - a common and painful complication of anesthesia in patients undergo-ing surgery, reports a study in Anesthesia & Analgesia, the official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). In addition, patients who used the licorice gargle were less likely to develop postoperative cough: 10%, compared to 30% of patients who gargled with water. There were no side effects of the licorice gargle.

For decades, pharmacists have pasted Do-Not-Take-With-Grapefruit-Juice stickers on various pill bottles because it can interfere with the en-zymes that break down and eliminate certain drugs which makes the drugs more potent. In a small, early clinical trial, researchers examining ways to exploit this property at the University of Chicago Medical Center have found that combining grape-fruit juice with the drug rapamycin can increase drug levels, allowing lower doses of the drug to be given, and that the combination can be effective in treating various types of cancer. Some patients did experience elevated blood sugar levels, diarrhea, low white blood cell counts or fatigue.

Cabbage isn’t just a trea-sure trove of vitamins and minerals. It also has antho-cyanins, which help keep hearts healthy. And cabbage even has special phyto-chemicals that may protect against both prostate and breast cancer. Add fermen-tation and you end up with even more health benefits, thanks to the cancer-halting, inflammation-cooling, and immune-system-boosting probiotics that fermenting creates. (RealAge.com tip)

Our bodies need water more than food, sleep or even exercise to stay active. Wa-ter cushions and lubricates brain and joint tissue, and helps regulate body tempera-ture. So this summer, stay hydrated!

Have a beverage that you enjoy with every meal and snack.

Don’t exclusively rely on thirst. As we age, our bod-ies lose the ability to detect thirst. Also, certain medica-tions can cause dehydration.

Eat more fruits and veg-etables. Most fruits have 80 to 90% water content.

Use the color of your urine as a guide. If the color is light yellow or clear, you’re drinking enough fluids. If it is dark yellow, you need to drink more. (MRC)

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grapefruit juice boosts Drug’s anti-cancer effects

invite cabbage to your next bbQ

July 2009 1� The Best Of Times

eating meat not tieD to breast cancer in olDer women

Eating meat doesn’t increase post-menopausal women’s risk for breast cancer. Researchers analyzed data on 120,755 older American women, includ-ing the types of food the women ate, how often they ate certain foods and how they prepared their meat. During eight years of follow-up, about 3% of the women developed breast cancer. The researchers found no evidence that the amount of red or white meat consumed or meat-

cooking methods (such as cooking at high temperature when meat is grilled or broiled) was associated with increased breast cancer risk. (published in the International Journal of Cancer)


meDicare rights centerwww.medicareinteractive.org

Sometimes, people with Medicare need medical care at home. You may have just been discharged from the hospital; or perhaps you’re dealing with a flare-up of a chronic ailment. Medicare covers care and treatment in your home if you meet specific criteria:

First, your doctor must certify that you are home-bound, and that home care is medically necessary. Home-bound means that it requires considerable and taxing effort for you to leave your home. For example, you are home-bound if you need crutches,

•

es, management and evaluation of a patient’s care plan are examples of skilled nursing. If you need only occu-pational therapy, you will not qualify for the Medicare home health benefit. However, if you qualify for Medi-care coverage of home health care on another basis, you can also get occupational therapy.

Third, you must have a plan of care approved by a doctor.

Fourth, you receive your care from a Medicare-certi-fied home health agency (HHA).

Medicare’s home health benefit pays in full for skilled nursing services. Medicare will cover the full cost of physical, speech and occupa-tional therapy in your home to maintain your condition and prevent you from getting worse (you do not need to have the potential to improve to receive these services).

The costs of a home health aide are covered in full only if

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you are also receiving skilled nursing services in your home. A home health aide provides personal care services, such as help with bathing, dressing and using the toilet. If you require only personal care, you do not qualify for the Medicare home health care benefit.

Medicare will also cover in full the cost of medical social services (such as counseling) that help you with social and emotional concerns related to your illness; certain medical supplies (wound dressings, for example) used by the Medi-care-certified home health agency; and evaluations by a skilled nurse or therapist. The Medicare home health care benefit covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for some “durable medical equipment,” such as a wheel-chair or walker.

There are some home care services that are not covered by Medicare’s home health care benefit. These include 24-hour care at home, homemaker or custodial care services (house-keeping services such as cooking, shopping and doing

medicare’s home health care benefit

a walker, a wheelchair or help from another person to leave your home.

Second, you must need skilled nursing care on a part-time (less than eight hours a day) or intermittent basis (as little as once every 60 days to as much as daily, for three week periods, if there is a pre-dictable end to your need for care) and/or you need skilled therapy services (physical, speech, occupational therapy). Skilled nursing services are those services that can only be performed safely and ef-fectively by a licensed nurse. Tube feedings, catheter chang-

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laundry) unless they are part of other home health aide personal care services you receive if you need skilled nursing and/or skilled therapy, or meals delivered to your home. To get most prescription drugs cov-ered, you need to join a Medicare private drug plan (Part D).

If you are eligible for home health care benefits, a Medicare-certified home health agency will draw up a plan of care that describes the types of services that will be provided, how often you need those services, and for how long. A doctor must then approve the plan, which covers up to 60 days of care. At the end of the 60 days, the HHA, with approval from your doctor, can draw up a new plan of care as long as you continue to qualify for the Medicare home health benefit.

To learn more about what is covered un-der Medicare’s home health care benefit, go to Medicare Interactive Counselor at www.medicareinteractive.org. Medicare Interactive Counselor is a resource pro-vided by the Medicare Rights Center, the largest independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare.


by the meDicare rights center(www.medicarerights.org)

Dear Marci,I get sunburned very eas-

ily and have been getting screened for skin cancer since I was young. I will be eligible for Medicare this summer, and I would like to know if Medicare will cover these screenings. --Olivia

Dear Olivia,N o , M e d i -

c a r e w i l l n o t cover screenings for skin cancer. If, however, you see a suspicious-look ing mo le , you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as pos-sible. Medicare will cover a diag-

nostic doctor’s visit and any diagnostic tests your doctor considers medically necessary. You may be able to find a doc-tor who will give you a free skin cancer screening by visit-ing the American Academy of Dermatology’s website (www.

aad.org/public/exams/screen-ings/index.html). ~Marci

Dear Marci,When I see my doctor,

must I pay first and then get Medicare to reimburse me? --Harvey

Dear Harvey, It depends on your doctor

and on whether your doctor accepts Medicare’s payment as payment in full (this is known as “accepting assignment”).

If your doctor accepts as-signment: he or she can ask you to pay only the 20% co-insurance (50% for mental health services) up front (and your Part B deductible if you have not yet reached it—$135 in 2009). Your doctor files the

claims, and Medicare pays the doctor directly.

If your doctor does NOT accept assignment: your doc-tor may ask you to pay the full amount for services in advance and charge you up to 15% more than Medicare’s approved amount under federal law (balance billing). Some states have stricter limits on what your doctor can charge you. Medicare will reimburse you directly for its part of the bill (80% of Medicare’s approved amount for most medical ser-vices; 50% for mental health services). ~Marci

Dear Marci,The hospital my father is

staying in wants to discharge

skin cancer screening, medicare reimbursement, and hospital Discharge

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him. He feels that he is not ready to leave and that they want him to leave too soon. Is there anything we can do? --Natalia

Dear Natalia, If your father feels he is be-

ing asked to leave the hospital before he is well enough to go, he can ask for an immediate (expedited) independent review of his case. It is a good idea to ask a doctor (treating physician would be best) for support. Before being discharged, your father should receive a notice called an “Important Message from Medicare” that describes his rights as a patient as well as how to request an immediate review. (If he was in the hos-pital for more than a couple of days, he should have received this same document within two days of being admitted to the hospital.) If your father makes his formal request within the proper timeframe - by midnight on the day he is supposed to be

discharged - the hospital can-not force him to leave before a decision has been reached. He should be able to stay in the hospital for a few extra days at no charge while his case is being reviewed. Even if it is decided that your father does not need to stay in the hospital, he cannot be charged for any care he receives until noon of the next calendar day after he receives the review decision. ~MarciMarci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center, the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” MRC’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail [email protected]. To learn more, log on to Medicare In-teractive Counselor at at www.medicareinteractive.org.

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by lee aronson, an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana

I probably shouldn’t be writing this. That’s because I don’t want to be a fear monger. So let me start out by being very clear: I think the chances of you or me dying from swine flu are slim to none. Despite all the recent hype about global pandemics, this is not the end of the world. The sky is not falling. I don’t think swine flu is something the average American needs to be worried about.

That being said, there was

one part of the swine flu media coverage that I did find inter-esting. In one foreign country, I forget which but I sure am glad that I don’t live there, the government

actually started quarantining people. So I wanted to know if that could happen here in America. If the government became influenced by swine flu hysteria and thought that I might have swine flu, could they lock me up? In the story I heard about, the foreign country was forcing people into isolation at a hotel. Could it happen here?

Well, Louisiana does have a few different quarantine laws. One of these laws deals with people who have Tuberculo-

sis. Another deals with those affected by venereal disease. And another of these laws, which are referred to as com-mitment laws, deal with people who suffer from mental illness or substance abuse. These com-mitment laws give patients some basic rights that prevent them from arbitrari-ly being locked up against their will. For example, the mental health commitment law allows the government to lock someone up in a psychiatric hospital against their will only after the patient has actually been examined by a doctor. And the doctor must find that the patient is suffering from a mental illness that causes the patient to be either a danger to himself, a danger to others, or to be “gravely disabled” and that the patient is either unwilling or unable to seek voluntary treatment. And if the patient is to be detained against

his will for more than 72 hours, then a second doctor must actually examine the patient and give a second opinion.

But in 2003, Louisiana passed an additional quaran-tine law that didn’t apply to just people suffering from tu-berculosis, venereal disease, mental illness or substance abuse. This law, known as the Louisiana Health Emergency Powers Act, allows for “isolation and quarantine by the least re-strictive means necessary to prevent the spread of a contagious or possibly contagious disease to oth-ers.” But this law doesn’t have many specifics nor many patient protections. The statute merely goes on to state “Individuals may be subjected to temporary isolation without notice, but only when that meets the test of being the lease

Quarantine: keep out!


restrictive means necessary. All actions regarding isolation and quarantine shall receive priority on the dockets of the specified state judicial district courts. Those in isolation or quarantine shall be entitled to adequate communication with family and counsel.”

Can a person be forced into quarantine without first being examined by a doctor? The law doesn’t say. In fact, the law doesn’t even say that you have to be sick in order to be locked up. Nor does it say for how long you can locked up.

All of these details (and many others) were supposed to be addressed in a State “plan for responding to a pub-lic health emergency.” And for reasons that are beyond me, the law gave the respon-sibility for this plan to the subcommittee on Chemical and Biological Terrorism of the Homeland and Security Advi-sory Council, which is part of

the Louisiana Governor’s Of-fice of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. But when I contacted that office, a spokeswoman was unable to provide me with plan because she couldn’t find it. I don’t think she was sure that the plan even existed.

Now I still don’t think you need to be worried about swine flu. Nor do I think you need to spend one second worrying that you will be quarantined. But if we are going to have these laws on the books, then they ought to be well thought out and with enough detail so that they balance our freedoms as American citizens as well as giving the government author-ity to do what is reasonable and necessary to protect the health and safety of its citizens.

Lee Aronson’s practice areas include consumer protection law, housing law and health care law.

�0 July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

by jason alDerman, director of ViSa’s financial education programs

hard times embolden identity thieves

Unfortunately, as people become increasingly desper-ate during tough economic times, crime rates rise. What’s worse – those being targeted are often in dire financial straits themselves.

One of the most finan-

cially devastating ways people are vic-timized is identity theft, where someone steals your personal information and uses it to open accounts, take out loans, make

purchases or rent an apartment, among other offenses.

It might take months to discover you’ve been hit and by then you could be out thousands of dollars and have severely damaged credit – not to mention having to spend

hundreds of hours sorting it all out.

Here are a few precau-tions you can take to protect your personal identity:

Think “low-tech.” Surprisingly, although high-tech crimes like com-puter hacking get more publicity, old-fashioned thievery accounts for the vast majority of identity thefts. Watch out for:

Pickpockets targeting your wallet, purse, checkbook and credit or debit cards.

Intercepted mail containing checks or personal informa-tion to and from banks, government agencies, retailers, medical

providers or insurers. Some thieves even fill out change-of-address cards to redirect your mail, so pay attention when expected bills or correspondence don’t arrive.

People rifling through your trash. Always shred sensitive paperwork – and never leave purchase receipts behind at the store.

Strangers (and even personal acquain-tances) who have access to your home or workplace – always lock up sensitive information.

People who “shoulder surf” while you enter passwords at ATMs or retail card machines. Always shield the keypad.

Sound the alert. Keep handy phone numbers you can call to quickly report lost debit or credit cards or checks; also program them into your cell phone in case you’re away from home. In addition, if you are a victim of identity theft contact the three major credit bureaus and ask them to place fraud alerts on your files: They are Equifax (www.equifax.com, 888-766-0008), Experian (www.experian.com, 888-397-3742) and TransUnion (www.transunion.com, 800-680-7289).

To monitor your credit and spot errors or fraudulent activity, order one free credit re-port per year from each of the three bureaus at www.annualcreditreport.com. Each bu-reau tracks slightly different information, so it’s a good idea to stagger ordering reports from each throughout the year.

Say no to “phishing.” Be suspicious of realistic-looking emails – supposedly from trusted sources – that ask you to supply or confirm account information, log-in IDs

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July 2009 �1 The Best Of Times

or passwords. Legitimate businesses and government agencies will never ask you to verify sensitive information by email. When in doubt, contact the organization yourself: Never click on the link provided within the email – it could take you to a copycat website capable of infecting your computer.

The same advice applies to phone callers purporting to represent companies with which you do business: Before verifying or supplying any private information, call the main information number yourself (it’s usually toll-free) and verify that the call was legitimate. The Security and Ex-change Commission’s Web site, www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/phishing.htm, discusses how to spot and avoid phishers.

These are only a few of the precautions you should routinely take to protect your personal information. For more tips, visit Practical Money Skills for Life, a free personal financial manage-ment site sponsored by Visa Inc. (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/security). Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial educa-tion programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.

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by suzy cohen, r.ph., author of “The 24-hour Pharmacist”

many medicines spark nasty sunburns

Dear Pharmacist,I just started taking “dox-

ycycline” for acne. The prescription label says to “avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight” and the guys in my apartment are razz-ing me because I won’t play tennis with them any-more. My room mate says he took doxycycline before going on a cruise and noth-ing happened to him. He bet me $100 to go outside for an hour, to show me that I won’t get a sunburn reaction. Should I? CN, Gainesville, Florida

Don’t take the bet because if you lose, you lose big time. Only you, not your room mate, run the risk of turning into a blistering red-faced Gator. Photosensitivity is a fairly common skin reaction that is sparked by taking medicine that interacts with

the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. It hap-pened to me, luckily just on the top of my hands and I can tell you the burning pain of it, and associated

pins and needles sensation rendered me out of writing commission for two days.

Photosensitive reactions are very unpredictable. Some people get severe sunburns and brown splotches in their skin, some get redness, tenderness, a rash, hives, or other types of inflammation (such as swelling or generalized pain), while oth-ers, like your goading buddy, experience no reaction whatso-ever. Some skin reactions are permanent. Also, just because you do not have a problem with medication now, doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing every time you take it. See why I told you not to take the bet?!

There are hundreds of other offender drugs, here are some relatively common ones:

Antibiotics: Sulfa drugs, tetracycline, doxycycline, cip-rofloxacin and nitrofurantoin

Antidepressants and

•

•

anti-anxiety meds: Elavil, Nor-pramin, Sinequan, Effexor, Zoloft, Remeron and Xanax

Accutane and Retin A used to improve skin

Allergy meds: Zyrtec, Benadryl, Claritin

Blood pressure pills: Ca-poten, Vasotec, Accupril, Altace, diltiazem, nifedipine

Diabetic drugs: Glipi-zide, glyburide, tolbutamide, glimepiride

Birth control pills or meno-pausal drugs

Statin cholesterol drugs: Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor

Diuretics: HCTZ or furosemideAnti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs: Ibuprofen, naproxen

and prescribed agentsIf you are taking a medication that causes photosensitivity,

please plan ahead by using sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats as well as clothing that covers you up well. If you happen to get a mild reaction, and it’s a small area, try applying aloe right from the plant. You can also rub pure essential oil of lavender on it. This almost instantly relieves the pain and speeds healing. Make a cool compress with a few drops of lavender oil in it, or a compress with baking soda to help take the sting out of the burn. You can bathe in oatmeal (Aveeno bath packets) or apply a pain-relieving spray like Solarcaine or Dermoplast.

Did You Know? Cooking with fresh rosemary herb could very well protect against breast cancer and reduce inflammation.This info is not intended to treat, cure, or diagnose your condi-tion. Visit www.DearPharmacist.com. ©2008 Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.

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July 2009 �� The Best Of Times

Here’s a glance back at our July re-cords. Our hottest July temperature of record was 107°. It was recorded four times - on the 16th and 17th in 1875, on

the 13th in 1901, and on the 31st in 1998. The coolest temperature of record was 58° on the 7th in 1922. The wettest was indeed a soaker...25.45 inches in 1933.

Are you making plans for July? The average daily normal high temperature is 93°. The average daily normal low temperature is 72°. Last July our hottest temperature was 103° on the 27th. It was one of four 100°+ days. The others were 102° on the 28th, 100° on the 29th and 100° on the 31st. The lowest temperature was 64° on the first. It was a very dry month. The official rainfall measurement was only 1.1 inches.

When thunderstorms are in the area, al-ways remain alert. Here are a few lightning safety tips to a keep in mind. Go indoors if at all possible. Don’t seek shelter under a tree. Don’t be the highest object around, that is, don’t stay on a hilltop, in an open field, or on a boat. Get off of motorcycles, bicycles, farm and construction equip-ment. Don’t get near wire fences as they might conduct electricity to you from a distance. Don’t use golf clubs or other metal objects.

A severe thunderstorm watch means that there is a possibility of one or more severe thunderstorms developing within a designated area. A severe thunderstorm warning means that a thunderstorm has reached severe intensity and is capable of producing very heavy rain, strong winds, hail and the possibility of a tornado. The outline of a severe thunderstorm watch area is shown on television weather broad-casts, as is a tornado watch area.

by al bolton, member of the american

Meteorological Society and the National Weather association


simple summer shape-up

by mirabai hollanD, m.f.a., www.MovingFree.com

Summer is one of the best times to jumpstart an exercise program. You can enjoy the weather while you get into shape.

Here are 5 easy ex-ercises to tone you up; no equipment neces-sary. Try doing them every other day. For the first three, start off with 8 reps and build up to 16. For the last 2 (isometric exercises) hold for 10 seconds and build up to 30 seconds.

With all these exercises, remember to exhale on the exertion.

In a matter of a few weeks you should feel your body getting stronger and see it get shapelier.

Warm-up by taking a 10-minute walk. By the tenth minute it should be brisk enough for you to just barely carry on a conversation.

Stop at a wall, a tree or a fence, and do these 5 ex-ercises: two for your upper body and three for your lower.

Standing Push-ups: Stand facing a surface, with legs hip width

apart and place hands shoulder width apart. Keeping your body straight, lower yourself down to the surface and then push back

upright again. Muscles Worked: Chest, Triceps, and Shoulders

Calf Raises: Face surface and hold on for bal-ance. With feet together pointing straight ahead, slowly lift your body up on to your toes, while tightening calf, abs and buttocks muscles. Then slowly lower yourself back down again. Muscles worked: calves, abs, and buttocks.

Squats: Face surface, legs hip with apart. Hold on for balance.

Shift weight back into heels. Keeping back straight, abs pulled in; gently bend at the knees and squat to about a 90-degree angle. Hold for a moment, then, using just your leg muscles, return to an upright position. Muscles worked: Front of thigh (Quads), Back of thigh, (Ham-strings) Buttocks, Abs.

Wall Sit: Stand against surface for back support. Holding on as needed for balance, slide down to a sitting position against wall, knees at about a 90-degree angle. Pull your abs in and


hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Muscles worked: Thighs and Abs.

Upper Back Squeeze: Stand with your back to the surface, feet shoulder width apart. Place hands behind you on surface. Straighten your arms be-hind you and squeeze your

shoulder blades together. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Mus-cles worked: Back, Shoulders, Back of arms (Triceps).

Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fit-ness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for people. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a move-ment experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. www.easyexercisevideos.com


When you were in your teens and 20s, dating was probably pretty easy. People expected you to date. Your friends knew lots of single people to introduce you to and there always seemed to be opportunities to meet singles your age in fun and safe places.

So what happens now that you find yourself single in your 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s?

Is dating out of the question? And if not, how in the world do you go about finding someone to date?

To answer the first question; no, dating is not at all out of the question. Whether you find yourself single due to divorce or the death of a spouse, dating is still a very viable option for you. If it is something that you want to do, then, by all means, put yourself back out into the dating game.

The second question is a bit more complex. Finding someone to date or have a relationship with as an older single is not quite as easy as dating was during your school days. That is not to say it is impossible, but rather, it takes a bit of effort, some thinking outside the box, and maybe a bit of luck, too.

Lynda Herzog-Pope was a “very young” 55 when she placed an ad in the Shreveport Times personals 14 years ago. At the time, the personals were free for those wanting to place ads and Herzog-Pope figured it was a safe way to meet potential suitors.

She made a three minute recording that men could call and listen to. If they were interested, they could pay to leave a recording of their own for her to retrieve. The header for her ad read “Young for 50ish.”

It pays to be honest when posting an ad of this type, or a profile on a dating site, and Herzog-Pope was.

“I had said I was high maintenance, a social butterfly and a fashion freak,” she recalled.

She received a total of 114 replies and promptly wrote up a 100 question survey of things she wanted to know about these men before she met them. Based on their survey responses and a phone call to hear their voices, she ended up meeting 20 of them in person.

Then, she went back and listened to the response left by the last person to respond to her ad.

“His voice was so inviting and professional,” she said. “He had lost his wife three months prior to the day he saw my ad. He was looking in the car ads and his eyes somehow just went to the personal ads. He had been married 24 years and his wife, prior to her death, had been ill 10 years. I thought he sounded like a very devoted and loyal person.”

by amanDa newton

�� July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com�� June 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Internet dating is no longer viewed as an unusual way to find love or a suitable partner. As more and more single seniors enter the world of on-line dating, several sites are working hard to tailor their services to this growing demographic. As with any-thing, there are pros and cons to on-line dating.

One of the main benefits to on-line dating is the large number of potential dates and future partners available. Sometimes, just knowing there are so many people in the same boat as you are is reassuring.

There are free sites available for singles, but the fees charged by the specialized dating sites are relatively low. Some even offer money back guaran-tees if they are unable to match you successfully with some-one within a certain time frame.

By read-ing the profiles other single se-niors post on dating sites, you get a good idea of not only their

interests and lifestyles, but also their communication style. You get this kind of peak into the personalities of others before you even

speak with them or meet them.

Lastly, and one of the main benefits of on-line dating services, is that com-municating through e-mail is a safe, non-threatening way to get to know some-one. If you do click with someone, then by the time the first meeting occurs, you know enough about each other to avoid that awk-wardness that many people go through on first dates.

There are, of course, a few drawbacks to on-line dating. If you go into it knowing that there are a few things to watch for, then your experi-ence has a better chance of being pleasant.

While there are free sites for people to post on-line dating ads, be aware that these sites may often contain the ads of people who would be weeded out by sites with a fee and strict screening process. Also, a married person who doesn’t want their spouse to see a charge for a fee-based site would be most likely to post on a free site.

If you are living on a strict budget, the fees for some of the more reputable sites can be off-putting. You are often able to view several profiles on a site before joining, so carefully read and examine a site before you relinquish your credit card number. Be fully informed about all the fees involved and the rules of the site. Find out if your membership will be auto-matically renewed. If so, that means you will be automati-cally charged a fee again. Also, make sure you know how to go about cancelling your membership and if there is any type of refund available.

After calling up the man Herzog-Pope now refers to as “The Pope,” they talked for three hours and she agreed to meet him.

She had a friend drop her off at a local restaurant. Soon, a man walked in and caught Herzog-Pope’s eye.

“Over leg of lamb we sat there and talked until we closed the place,” she said. “That is how it started. We have been married for 13 years and not apart since we met. When we fell in love it was almost at first sight.”

Herzog-Pope and “The Pope” dated almost a year before mar-rying. She “had been married many times before” but has now found lasting love - and through the personal ads no less.

“I could never get past the seven year mark with any mar-riage but I have almost doubled it with him. He is the end - the living end. I just wish everyone the same luck I had or that fate treats them so well.”

Back when Herzog-Pope was using the newspaper personal ads, internet dating was not yet available. Today this option can be very useful for single seniors wishing to meet new people.

Internet dating is what brought Shreveport residents Bob and Wilma Hicks together, despite the fact they were separated by about 2,000 miles when they first “met.”

Bob, 79, was divorced and living in Santa Rosa, Calif. He had been on one dating site that was “ungoverned and had lots of wild stuff on it.” He quickly ex-tracted himself from that site and found Christian Singles Dating, a site that was “a real clean operation. The least little thing and they will boot you right off the site, which I appreciated very much.”

Meanwhi le , in December of 2002, Wilma, 74, was wid-owed and living in Shreveport. A friend mentioned that several people she knew had used Christian Singles Dating and she helped Wilma set up a profile.

It wasn’t more than a few weeks before her profile caught

finDing love after 50(ContInued froM prevIous pAge)


July 2009 �� The Best Of TimesThe Best Of Times

Finally, just as people occasionally lie in their daily life in order to make themselves sound and look better, people will do the same on-line. The photo some people post might have been taken 10 years ago. They might also pad their accomplishments a bit or embellish when it comes to their social life.

If you go into on-line dating aware that what sounds too good to be true usually is - and really, that is true with everything - then you are more likely to spot the less than honest posters and zero in on the ones who portray themselves in an honest manner.

Three Online Dating Sites That Do a Good Job of Marketing to Seniors:

match.com has more than 15 million members and is one of the largest general interest dating sites on the Internet. Match.com reports that people 50 and older represent its fastest growing user segment. Match.com allows you to restrict your search to people in a specific age group. It is free to post a profile, browse the site, and search for matches. If you decide to contact one of the people who have posted a profile, you will need to pay a membership fee. There are a number of membership packages available and a basic one-month subscrip-tion is $29.99.

senior friend finder has nearly 500,000 members and claims to be the largest senior dating service on the Internet. Standard member-ship in Senior Friend Finder is free and allows you to post your profile, access chat

rooms, have limited use of search tools, and gives you the ability to respond to 10 e-mails from interested members every 24 hours. If you choose to upgrade to a premium membership, you will gain unlimited commu-nication, technical support and advanced search tools. The premium memberships average between $20 and $25 a month.

eharmony sets itself apart from other sites by using a scientific ap-proach to matching people. eHarmony has 15 million registered members. You begin by filling out a 436-question relationship questionnaire that focuses on 29 key dimensions of compatibility. These dimen-sions are divided into core traits such as character, intellect and humor. Once eHarmony matches you with people of likely com-patibility, you can choose guided communication or open communication. With guided communica-tion, eHarmony walks you through the initial commu-nication process. It is free to fill out the eHarmony questionnaire, receive your personality profile, and be matched up with prospec-tive partners. You pay when and if you want to com-municate with any of your matches. eHarmony offers four subscription rates: $59.95 for one month, $110.85 for three months, 173.70 for six months, and $251.40 for 12 months. The subscription is auto-re-newed on all four rates and charged to your credit card at each new billing period until you cancel your mem-bership.

Bob’s eye and he sent her a virtual bouquet. They began e-mailing back and forth and then Bob asked

for her phone number and they began calling each other, some of the conversations lasting two or three hours.

After two months, Bob said he would like to come out to Shreveport to meet Wilma. She reserved a motel room for him and they met at the Flying J.

“I don’t think either of us was a bit nervous,” Wilma said. “When you get this age you don’t get too nervous over things like that.”

The visit was apparently a good one because Bob told Wilma his trips would be more frequent.

“I told her that I would most likely not let more than two

weeks go by that I was not here to see her,” Bob said. “We courted for six months and saw each other every two weeks, at the most every three weeks. I thought it was the best if I traveled, but she did come out (to California) with her son and her sister.”

About five months after their first in-person meeting, the question was popped and the couple celebrated their sixth anniversary this year.

Friends and family had some mixed emotions at first about the couple marrying after meeting on the internet.

“There was general approval, but some disapproval,” Bob said.

“I think a lot of times people remember the instances where there have been bad results from people meeting on the internet then planning to get married,” Wilma said “I have two sons and they were a little frightened for my sake and said I didn’t know anything about this man. They didn’t realize he and I had really been truthful with each other. We had really tried to be detailed in our life with each other before we decided to get married.”

“It was not as if we were total strangers,” Bob said. “At least that’s how I felt. We were very up front and honest. And our ages kind of dictated that…I think all the game playing that people might do in their teens or twenties - that is out the window. At least it was as far as I was concerned. And remember, it was a Christian site.”

Both Hicks think people’s ideas about internet dating have


changed over the years as more people become familiar with the concept.

“I would hasten to say, along the way when we have had occasion to visit with people about this, I have always suggested to them to always to be cautious, especially the women,” Bob said. “I think we were both cautious.”

While internet was very successful for the Hicks, it doesn’t work for everyone.

LaMerle Rupe, 56, has tried internet dating for over six months without any success. After not meeting anyone for several years, she decided to give eHarmony, a popular dating site, a try but has not been pleased with the experience.

“I went ahead and signed up and sent them payment,” Rupe said. “I started talking to people on the computer. I would get to talking to somebody and about the time I would get to know them, I would get a message that they had been dropped. No explanation; they had been dropped from eHarmony. Com-munication would shut off. I couldn’t get to touch with them and they couldn’t get in touch with me.”

Rupe paid about $300 to use eHarmony and said she does not plan to give them another cent. Even though she has seen several people’s profiles on Match.com, another dating site, that she likes, she has decided not to put any more money into the endeavor.

Rupe has been divorced for over 20 years and said it is very difficult to find suitable people to date. As a homebound teacher,

a teacher who teaches students too sick to attend school, she has limited contact with people during her work week.

She is a member of her church’s singles group and goes out with them once a week. Still, she doesn’t feel that she has a safe way to meet new people, she said.

According to Matt Day, who runs the singles group at Broadmoor Baptist Church, that is a common problem for the people in his group.

“The goal of our singles group is not for people to meet and date, but for them to meet each other and connect with each other,” he said. “The hardest thing for senior singles, and even younger singles, is to find a safe place to meet other singles. Of course, some people do meet at church and in fact, I met my wife at church.”

Rupe is looking for some-

one at this point that she can be friends with and marriage is not what is on her mind now.

“As a homebound teacher I have days that are bad because those kids are in bad situations and it affects me more than I want to think about,” she said. “I am looking for somebody I can be a friend to - someone that I won’t mind picking up the phone and calling if I have had a bad day and I just need to talk.”

If a friend of hers was thinking of computer dating, Rupe said she would steer them away from it. But she

finDing love after 50 (continued)


hasn’t given up on finding the right person.

“I will just leave it up to the fates. It will get better.”

The fates certainly played a part in Jonnie Marshall’s

current happiness. Marshall’s first love, her boyfriend when they were both 17 years old, is now back in her life. When he was abruptly sent off to college at LSU, the relation-

ship pretty much ended. Marshall enrolled in nursing school here in Shreveport and later served as a cadet nurse at Centenary during World War II. He was drafted into

the Navy but did send her an engage-ment ring in the mail.

“I told him it

was too small and he got another and sent it back, thinking I was talk-

ing about the size and I was talking about the diamond,” she recalled with a laugh. She still has the ring.

Both eventually married other people and lived happy

lives. Marshall, 83, raised a daughter and worked up until about 6 years ago as a nurse. Two years ago, Marshall had been widowed for 14 years when John Jackson, her teen love, came back into her life.

“Women can live by themselves,” she said. “I was accus-tomed to my life; did my charity work, traveled and spent a lot of time with my grandchild. I was happy with my life.”

Jackson, who still lives in their hometown of Winnfield, had kept in touch through mutual friends with Marshall and began courting her again.

“We have a good relationship,” she said. “It is nice to have

someone to take you out. It is a very relaxed atmosphere - very easy going.”

Although Jackson wants to get married, Marshall said she is very happy with the way things are now. They have a lot of fun together and have gotten to know each others’ families.

If a friend in a similar situation asked for her advice, Marshall has some at the ready.

“I would tell them if they found the right person that they could have fun with (to go out with them), but not just to go out to take up slack in their time. They could devote their time


in some other way unless it is a special person.”Apparently Jackson is a really special person.For senior singles, especially those who have lost a spouse,

the fear that their dating might upset their children or grand-children might hold them back. It really shouldn’t.

In fact, Marshall’s daughter, Margaret John, couldn’t be happier about her mother’s relationship with Jackson.

“I think it is wonderful,” John said. “It doesn’t take the place of my father, but it gives my mother someone she can feel comfortable with to do things with. I don’t see it as a replace-ment; I just see it as something that is good and healthy for her. It keeps her young.”

The relationship has benefits for John’s son as well.“He will go to my son’s ball games which is good because

both of my husband’s parents are dead, so my son really doesn’t have a grandfather. He is like a surrogate grandfather.”

Most adult children want their parents to have a full life of their own. John sees her mother’s new relationship as a great way for that to happen.

“It gives her an outlet besides me. Since I am an only child, it gives her another way to go and have fun. Then we can talk about the good times she had. It gives her something apart from me and my family to add to the conversation - another dimen-sion to her life.” Sheri Davidson, MSW, LCSW, has a local practice and specializes in aging and care giving. She said the biggest challenge facing senior singles is that they haven’t

been out in the dating game in a very long time. These singles want to meet people but wonder how you go about that and how you know who is safe.

Both the death of a spouse and a divorce bring about chal-lenges for the newly single.

“Being a widow or wid-ower is a difficult issue but also very common,” she said. “With the loss of a spouse, there is a lot of grieving that goes on and that makes it difficult to know whether it is alright (to date). I think there are some conflicted issues about that.”

Davidson said we have been taught to think of mar-riage being to one person and being forever. For some people, if they lose their life partner, they might feel that dating again is a betrayal of that person who has passed away.

Also, the grieving process used to be something that a person did for the rest of their life. If you think you are supposed to grieve forever, it can be hard to accept that you have a desire to become social again. There are guilt issues that must be dealt with.

Women tend to live much longer than men and it is not uncommon to lose a spouse in ones 60s and continue to be widowed for 20 or 30 years..

“Very often, what I will say to a patient is ‘What do you think your husband or your wife would want for you. If you are going to live another 15 or 20 years, do you think that they would want you to be isolated and alone?’ Usually the answer to that is no.”

finDing love after 50 (Conclusion)


Companionship and socialization are very important in mental

health, Davidson added. You don’t want

to let an older person become isolated.

“If you stop inter-acting with people, you essentially stop using your brain, which puts you at great risk for dementia,” she said.

Senior singles who choose to re-enter the

dating game are people who want

a full life, she said. They do not necessarily want to remarry, but not necessarily for the reasons people think. Sometimes it is an economic issue. If you remarry, you give up the benefits a spouse might have had and that is not always an economically wise thing to do.

One thing Davidson wants all people to understand is that older people still have a sexual life and still have sexual activity. It is, she said, a very important human experience. “Having a sex life past the age of 60 is not at all unusual. It changes, but is still a very important part of their life. Elderly sex is a very vital part of moving on with your life.”

“The thing that comes with that that is most concerning to me in dating and sexual activ-ity after the loss of a spouse is, for some reason, older

people don’t think about the necessity of safe sex,” she cau-tioned. “Safe sex is very important. Not because you are going to get pregnant. That is not going to happen, of course. The fact is the elderly population is a very high percentage of those who are contracting STDs, including AIDS. It is merely because we haven’t really educated the elderly public and nobody is talking to them about the fact they can get all of the same things that younger people can get if they have sex.”

Safe sex is something you have to do throughout your life-time, Davidson said. It is important to ask any potential partner if they have had other partners, and if they have been checked and tested. Although it is horrifying to many older people, they must visit their doctor and find out what they need to do to have safe and protected sex.

“A lot of doctors are uncomfortable with this,” Davidson said. “We have made it such a taboo that we don’t even allow the ideas of older people having sex, much less being concerned with the same things younger people are. Older people so often can’t imagine that the person they are going to be having a relationship with could have contracted a disease, and, of course, they can.”

Ultimately, if a person can get past the initial grief after the loss of a spouse, they will find themselves feeling open to the idea of dating again.

“Generally, if you have been in a relationship and it has been a good relationship, you have expectations of being able to love again,” Davidson said. Have you got a story? share it with us! [email protected]


when home-maDe workouts just Don’t Do it.

Staying in shape is a great way to save money. The healthier you are, the lower your

medical bills and medi-cation bills. If you want to get back into a fitness

regimen, or if you are an exercise newbie, there are

many gyms and fitness centers in the area which offer special rates

or programs tailored for seniors. Remember, if you are beginning a new

fitness program after years of inactivity, or you are thinking of trying a more strenuous exercise program than what you are used to, be sure and clear it with your doctor first.

abc fitnessOffers seniors a discounted rate of $25 a month plus tax. Contracts are avail-able for one or two years. 8967 Greenwood Rd, Greenwood (318) 938-5330

anytime fitnessFor members 55 years of age or older, there is a 10% discount on member-ship fees. Some locations offer seniors half-off enrollment and availability of personal trainers.5212 Airline Dr # E, Bossier City (318) 549-12472091 Stockwell Rd, Bossier City (318) 752-66504970 Barksdale Blvd # 900, Bossier City / (318) 746-1886 9250 Ellerbe Rd, Shreveport (318) 677-2600

christus schumpert wellnessOffers a senior rate to people 60 and older. A six month contract is $217.79 and a $100 enrollment fee. A 12 month contract is $411.37 and the enrollment fee is waived. Monthly payments can be electronically drawn from your bank account. Enrollment includes an initial free assessment, an explanation of cardio exercise opportunities and an explanation of the weight machines.2541 Viking Dr,Bossier City (318) 848-2900

curvesOffers women a 30 minute workout that includes strength training, cardio and stretching. Curves participates in the SilverSneakers Fitness Program.5510 Airline Dr # 103, Bossier City (318)742-2693 2034 Highway 80, Haughton (318) 949-3131 9464 Mansfield Rd # A1, Shreveport (318) 686-7920 3000 N Market St # 186, Shreveport (318) 670-2005 1903 Benton Rd # C, Bossier City (318) 752-99065300 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City (318) 841-2878 1409 E 70th St # 101A, Shreveport (318) 629-2222

Drew le blanc’s elite fitnessParticipates in the Humana Sterling program (similar to SilverSneakers). 9025 Mansfield Rd, Shreveport (318) 688-7714

element fitness Participates in the SilverSneakers Fitness Program. 990 Quail Creek Rd, Shreveport (318) 861-3535

femme uniqueOffers a discount to senior women 50 years and older. A 3 month plan is $105, a 6 month plan is $160, and a one year plan is $217. There are “Super Senior”


classes offered each week.2369 Airline Dr, Bossier City / (318) 747-4653

fit nationParticipates in the Silver-Sneakers Fitness Program. A trainer will walk new mem-bers through circuit training, strength training and aerobic programs.1701 Old Minden Rd. Bossier City / (318) 741-2494

fitness ladyOffers a discount to senior women. The enrollment fee is $99, but is discounted by 50% when you show your AARP card. The monthly rate is $40. They offer water aero-bics and hydraulic weight machines. 1700 Old Minden Rd #180 Bossier City / (318) 747-1897

fitness worldOffers a senior rate to those 60 and older. The rate is $34 a month and the enrollment fee is $45, but is often waived for seniors (ask to have it waived). Enrollment includes 5 sessions with a trainer. Water aerobics are offered. 1450 E. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport(318) 524-0000

plex fitness centerParticipates in the Silver-Sneakers Fitness Program. 2015 Meriwether Rd, Shreveport / (318) 687-2582

ron Dunigan’s fitnessOffers a senior discount to those 62 and older. There

is no enrollment fee and the senior monthly rate is $27. Three sessions with a personal trainer are included when you sign up for a membership. 1453 E Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport (318) 798-6064

willis-knighton fitness & wellness centers

For those 60 and older, the enrollment fee is $95. The monthly senior fee is $35. Members of Willis-Knighton Fitness and Wellness Centers can use any of the four area locations. Water aerobics classes are offered and chair aerobics classes are also offered. Chair aerobics is a program with a slower pace that includes both cardio and hand weight exercises.2450 Hospital Dr, Bossier City / (318) 212-74759130 Susan Dr, Shreveport(318) 212-54758001 Youree Drive, Shreveport / (318) 212-34752474 Greenwood Rd, Shreveport / (318) 212-4475

ymcaSeniors 65 and older get a special senior rate of $37 a month. There is a $30 enroll-ment fee. Water aerobics are offered. Memberships can be utilized at both area YMCA locations with fitness facilities. 215 Carroll St., Shreveport(318) 674-9635400 McNeill St., Shreve-port / (318) 674-9622

In the list above, several of the businesses are listed as participating in the SilverSneakers Fitness Program. It is available at no additional cost to individuals who belong to participating Medicare health plans or Medicare supplement carriers. when you enroll in silversneakers, you receive a free basic membership at a local participating fitness center with access to all amenities available in regular memberships. If you belong to a Medicare health plan that offers silversneakers, you can enroll in the program by visiting a participating fitness center with your health plan membership ID card. Just tell the person at the front desk you want to enroll in silversneakers and start getting fit at no cost to you. Now that is a deal! --A.N.


After her retirement from the telecommunications industry, Dustine “Dusty” Graham had earned the right to put up her feet and relax. Of course, that is not what she has done. Sitting around is not really in her nature.

A few years ago Graham was reading the local paper and saw an ad for people to serve as extras in the film “Factory Girl.” Graham, 64, thought that sounded like something that might be fun. That resulted in her first of almost 30 jobs as a movie extra.

The local movie industry has kept Graham pretty busy in her retirement, although there was a time during that first movie when she won-dered what she had gotten

herself into. “After my first day, one of

the young extras came up to me and said, ‘They offered me $150 to do a nude scene,’ and I kind of froze,” she recalled. “I asked if he did it and he said no, it was an orgy scene. I thought I probably wouldn’t call the relatives to brag about being in this movie. When it came out, and by then I had a pretty good idea of what it was about, I was at the premiere and there was a reporter from the “Shreveport Times” who wanted to interview extras. I put my hoodie over my head and ran out.”

She said she has gotten over that initial embarrassment she felt when she worked R-rated type movies. In fact, after working as an extra in “Harold

and Kumar 2: Escape from Guantanamo Bay,” a movie that made it clear it set out to offend everyone; she proudly shocked a policeman at the movie theater.

“My girlfriend and I, who is about my age, the first day the movie came out we had to go see it to see if we were in it,” Graham said. “When we got to the theater there was a police-man on each door and one of the policeman said, ‘I think you have the wrong theater.’ We looked up and said, no, this is “Harold and Kumar.” He asked if we knew about this movie. We said, yes, and my friend said that we were in it-in the nude pool party scene. The policeman just kind of stopped and my gi r l -friend told him she was kidding about the scene, but that we were in the movie. We were prob-ably the only two people over 40 in the entire theater.”

Graham feels that everybody who wants to work as an extra should do it, but she doesn’t want to make extra work sound glamorous. Nor does she want it to sound terrible either. “For every time I have had to use a nasty outhouse and provide my own toilet paper, the next job was working in resort type ac-

commodations, so it balances out,” she said.

Also, she says one of the reasons she has worked on almost 30 films is that casting companies know when they call her she will show up on time and won’t complain about working conditions.

“I know it is a day or two and I will get a paycheck,” she said. “It is a job. Fifty percent of the movies I worked in, I ended up on the cutting room floor.”

The film work doesn’t make her rich, but it does bring in a little fun money. She worked on “The Mist” for three and

a half weeks of long days. That paycheck en-abled her to rent a condo in Florida for a trip with her four grandchil-dren and bought her a little piece of jewelry, she said.

Her next big trip is a bit more

adventurous and one she is really excited about.

For their 40th wedding anni-versary, the Grahams are going to Cost Rica for two weeks. They visited almost 15 years ago and vowed to go back.

The trip won’t be a highly planned tour excursion; rather they will hit the roads of Costa Rica alone in a rented car.

“We will drive all over the country by ourselves,” she


said. “That is how we always vacation. We spend the major-ity of our money on a rental car so no matter where we are, we can go see everything that we want see and go everywhere we want to go. Because of our lim-ited vacation budget, we know that we will probably go every place just one time. When we leave, we don’t want to say we missed something.”

Sounds like the ideal way to travel for Graham, who said, “You have to have some adventure in your soul.”

Graham’s proudest accom-plishment is her family and she says her passion in life is people. The two often seem to go hand in hand, with her helping both family and friends get through the rough spots in life.

“Right now I am not in-volved in any group charity activity,” she said. “I feel like it is important that you give back, and the way I am giving back right now is by helping my friends. If they are having a problem, I don’t care what I am doing, I am going to take the time to sit down and listen. I don’t always give advice because I think most people just need somebody to listen to them. Part of my work before I retired was benefits. So I help my friends with their benefit problems, like why their insur-ance is denying a claim, etc. I kind of consider that my char-ity and it satisfies my need to give back.”

Graham is helping raise her oldest son’s two daughters and while it is not something every retired grandmother might choose, Graham seems to think of it as a blessing. It wasn’t always easy, though.

When her oldest grand-daughter came to live with her, Graham was still working full-time, sometimes 60 hours a week. I little girl, a demanding job and menopause were a lot

to deal with, Graham said. “It finally dawned on me

that I didn’t have to work 60 hours a week and others wanted that overtime,” she said. “My priority was raising a little girl. When I started getting my priorities straight, it wasn’t a problem anymore.”

While still in the workforce and raising a little girl, Graham saw several co-workers going through similar experiences. The difference between her and others though, was pretty profound.

“I had a couple of acquain-tances at work that basically had the same thing happen to them. All the sudden they had a grandchild they had to raise, either because of drugs, or children in jail, or because their kids just had more children than they could support. They were too embarrassed to reach out for support. I was pretty good about reaching out for help.”

Graham said a lot of older people don’t want to admit their own child is not raising their child and they have to do it for them. They are embar-rassed because they feel they must have done something wrong and fear that everybody will look at them as a failure as a mother, she added.

Graham wishes they didn’t have these feelings. She said there is help out there for grandparents who find them-selves in these situations. If the shame they felt was removed, she thinks more of them would reach out for the help.

Graham is extremely close to her oldest granddaughter and tells her she is like the daughter she never had. This summer, she is looking forward to spending lots of time with all four of her grandchildren and maybe doing a little more movie work, too. It’s a busy schedule and that is just how Graham likes it.


As we’ve discussed here before, there are certain foods that create a craving. Once you give them a try you discover that you want to do that again. And again. Until there you are, “addicted” to Indian food, Chinese buffet, Tex-Mex, Southern “comfort” foods, spicy Cajun, cheeseburgers, or, in this case, Vietnamese.

So it was a recent Sunday noontime, that I checked my dipstick and found that I was a quart low of Phở, the sen-sational soups of Southeast Asia.

Tina, your favorite editor, is also so addicted and has a favorite place to supply her needs. We rounded up the usual lunch bunch and retired to Danh’s Garden Asian Noodle House for a Phở-down.

Danh’s is an unassuming place in a nondescript strip mall along Youree Drive (you’ve driven by it a thou-sand times). It’s tidy inside

and out, and the welcome is warm and sincere. A very good sign: There are Asians eating here.

The lady who so smilingly greeted us as we arrived turned out to be Lu, one of the most efficient and solicitous of any wait staff anywhere.

With satisfyingly prompt service, our table soon was groaning under huge servings of classic Viet and Thaì dishes.

Of special note: In addition to the fresh, beautifully prepared food with intriguingly exotic boundaries, I also enjoyed one of the most unusual sessions of “background music” ever. There he was, in full-throated glory, Frank Sinatra singing about Chicago, following num-bers by Prez Prado, Brenda Lee, The Broadway Cast of “The Pajama Game,” and oth-ers obscure and ear-catching. It was like “America’s Top 40 of 1960,” as programmed by Dr. Demento’s dad. Seriously, even if slightly too loud, the wry-free music (it’s not intended as some sort of a cute gimmick) is worth stopping by for Spring Rolls.

Speaking of Spring Rolls, we got four containing lettuce, noodles and succulent shrimp for $5.95, with a delicious peanut dipping sauce.

Four svelte Egg Rolls for the same price, with a sweet chili sauce, were crispier-than-usual delights. Great tooth appeal.

The menu is quite ambitious, covering a wide range of Asian cuisines, but the Vietnamese

side of their interests is where their greatness meets the day. My suggestion is to bring the ladies to lunch at this Phở case,

(as seen in the photos above). The soups can be anything from creamy to fiery; from fascinating to familiar, but all of them are irresistibly delicious. Such a spot not only exemplifies the current maxim “frugal is the new chic,” but it’ll also give you something to talk about for weeks! ...Then you’ll find yourself going back... Alone if necessary. And again... Uh oh! You’re hooked!


east texas eye Doctor helps legally blinD to see againDiplomate in low vision care trains Dr. larry chism to help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving.By Elena LombardiFreelance Writer

Carole Buckels wearing bioptic telescope driving glasses.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.”

Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquer-que, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more eas-ily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration.

California Optometrist, Dr. Rich-ard J. Shuldiner and East Texas optometrist, Dr. Larry Chism, are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degenera-tion or other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients consider us the last stop for people who have vision loss,” said Dr. Chism, a low vision optometrist who has just completed training with Dr. Shuldiner in California.

“Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the tele-vision better!” Dr. Shuldiner also provided special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read.

Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree

of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images.

When it degenerates, Macular De-generation leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it impos-sible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test.

The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and im-proper nutrition.

Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of pro-gression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins.

A new, proprietary supplement based on the scientific studies is available from these doctors.

Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be sealed with hot or cold laser. Unfortunately it’s a temporary fix. Newer treatments, such as Macugen injections try to prevent leakage.

“Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a per-son functioning,” says Dr. Chism. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watch-

ing television, seeing faces, playing bridge…we work with whatever is on the persons “wish list”.

Even if it’s driving. Louisiana and Texas allow the use of telescopic glasses for safer driving.

Carole Buckles, 71 of Arcadia, California came on the advise of a friend. “I wanted to be able to keep driving and do the fun things in life.” One of those fun things is baseball. “I love going to baseball games and now I can see those close plays again,” she says.

Bioptic Telescopic glasses were prescribed to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. As Carole puts it, “These telescope glasses not only allows me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. Definitely worth the $1975 cost. I don’t know why I waited two years to do this; I should have come sooner.”

“Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000”, says Dr. Shuldiner, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass”.

Not all low vision devices are that expensive. Reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires.

Dr. Chism also provides special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read.

Dr. Larry Chism speaks to every patient on the telephone before scheduling the one hour low vision evaluation appointment.

call Dr. chism, toll free, at 1-888-243-2020 for a

free telephone interview.


Some see an empty field of dirt. Robbie Brown sees bushels of homegrown tomatoes, foot-long zucchinis and some of the sweetest peas your teeth have ever had the pleasure of meeting. When he’s not driving his tractor or guiding his tiller through the garden, you’ll find him living life to the fullest in some other way. “I do anything I want to do with the legs I get from Snell’s,” Brown says confidently. “I don’t back up for nothing.” It is that same type of commitment that Snell’s licensed practitioners and technicians make to our patients every day. Our staff members take the time to atten-tively listen to the patient to determine what his or her needs truly are. Then,after careful consultation with the patient’s physician, we begin the design and fabrication process. Once the prosthesis or orthosis has been fitted, we work tirelessly with the patient to make sure that it functions correctly. Our investment in new technology and in specialized training for our staff allows us to deliver prosthetic and orthotic devices of the highest quality.Because, as Mr. Brown will attest to…what you invest in today will yieldabundant returns tomorrow.

Reaping What You Sow

ORTHOTICS • PROSTHETICS

www.SnellsOandP.com

Serving Shreveport (2 locations), Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Minden,Natchitoches, Coushatta, and Mansfield.

Returning independence to our patients since 1911

NEW Southeast

Shreveport Office

Now OPEN!


SUDOKU - Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9.

(Solution on page 47)

AdoreAffection

AmourAttractionBelovedCherish

CompanionDating

emotionsenchanted

FeelingsFlame

FondnessHeart

InfatuationLove

Match makingPassion

RelationshipRomance

singlessoul mate

suitorsweetheart


By David W. Cromer; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

(Solution on page 47)

enD of the roaDAcross1 Window treatment6 Beat walkers10 Pen pal?13 Accelerated19 Causing goose bumps20 Came down21 Tide alternative22 1959 Steiger title role23 Device using pulleys26 Self-conscious question27 Carrere of “Wayne’s World”28 Cuarenta winks?29 Buds31 Tale spinner32 Like most light bulbs35 Peruvian pack animal37 Publisher __ Nast38 Ming 2-Down39 1957 novel with the working title “The Strike”42 Arid Israeli area45 Windblown soil46 Crew tool47 Plan likely to fail51 Takes in55 Net grazer56 __ Lama57 Like some boots59 Film involving stage scenes60 Extent63 Comic Johnson64 Dance, facetiously71 Log variety72 Preminger et al.73 Averse74 Puts dividends to work78 Bluster79 Previously82 Takes umbrage at83 Break in87 Deli bread88 Actress Davis89 Lies next to

90 Though not yet in force, one was adopted by the UN in 199695 Snack in a shell97 They’re not behind you98 Pie __99 Pushes back, as a deadline103 Hair line104 Like a good loser?105 Fuel rating109 Yves’s yes110 Actor Estevez112 One who’s halfway home?116 Evangelist’s admonition117 Wily118 ‘70s pinup name119 Jousting pole120 Two-handed hammer121 Driver’s gadget122 Soapmaking compounds123 Jouster’s ride

Down1 Possible result of big losses2 Artifact3 Like heavy surf4 Photo5 “A mouse!”6 Mutt, e.g.7 __ English Bulldogge8 Refueling places9 ASAP relative10 Ind. neighbor11 “No thanks”12 Ocular signs of planning?13 Biol. and astr.14 Faux __15 Final words16 Overly attentive17 Like a teen’s bed, probably18 Looked carefully24 Tag sale caveat25 Sent (for)30 City SSE of Islamabad

33 Holiday precursors34 Signaled from across the room, say36 Colleen37 Big name in skin care products39 Jai __40 Rocky peak41 Hardly well done42 Red Wings’ org.43 Want ad letters44 Kind of feeling48 Inaugural event49 Head for the hills50 Tire-kicking areas51 Took advantage of the buffet52 Secret supply

53 Suit basis54 Org. probing for outer-space life57 Coppertone abbr.58 71-Across mo.59 Starts the bidding60 U.S. Army E-561 Funny Margaret62 NBA tiebreakers64 Norse god of war65 Regretful type66 First name among ‘70s netmen67 “__ only a game”68 Role in the musical “Two By Two”69 Stun, as a perp70 Draw

75 Words of action76 Grammy- winning New Ager77 Big stink78 Musical place, briefly79 “The Simpsons” Kwik-E-Mart operator80 Understand81 CIA forerunner83 Ball user, maybe84 Patricia of “Everybody Loves Raymond”85 Hudson Bay prov.86 An orchestra tunes to one88 Fine particle90 Gets to the point?

91 Painter’s choice92 Indication of rank93 Having status, in a way94 Desire95 Court sport96 Lets go100 Dismal turnout?101 Blockhead102 Threw in (with)104 Shopper’s convenience106 Texting device107 Where Helen was taken108 Top-shelf111 __ Direct: online bank113 Science guy Bill114 High trains115 Jazz fan


places2go, people2see, things2Do

festival

theatre

theatreluncheon

Driver safety krewe of elDers

exhibits

silver screenings

AARP Driver Safety Program - An 8 hour classroom refresher course for drivers age 50+ which may qualify participants for an automobile insurance premium reduction or discount. Where 2 days are listed, participants must attend both days. Participants must preregister. $14 for non-AARP members; $12 for AARP members.

July 20 & 21 - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. First Baptist Church, 301 Pennsyl-vania Ave., Minden, La. Contact: Cydni 318-377-4434; Instructor: James Smith

July 21 & 22 - 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. St Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3625 North Market Street, Shreveport. Contact: Pastor Barry Chance 318-221-3357; Instructor: Claire Maisel

July 23 & 24 - 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Paradise Baptist Church, 1706 Hol-lywood Avenue, Shreveport. Contact :Sammie Robinson - 318-868-2229; Instructor: Malcolm Parker

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marDi gras

cultural evening

Summer Party - The Krewe of Elders is having a party on July 19 from 1 - 6 p.m., at the American Legion Hall; 5315 South Lakeshore Drive. Hank Bowman band. $7.00 per person. Cash bar, raffle and door prizes. Food available for pur-chase. For info call 635-4901, 752-9175 or 518-8092.

Breast Cancer Survivors Luncheon - “Celebrating Life’s Gifts” honors breast cancer survivors and celebrates their courage and strength. Shreveport Bossier City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 11:30 a.m. on July 29 at the Eldorado Resort Casino. Tickets are $10 for breast cancer survivors and $20 for guests. Proceeds benefit the Shreveport Bossier affiliate. To make a reservation, mail your name, address and payment by July 17th to Shreveport S.G.K. for the Cure, Attn: Survivor Luncheon, P.O. Box 4269, Shreveport, LA 71134. If including guests on your reservation, please include the name and address of each guest with payment. For more information, call 318-746-2588 or 318-635-1933.

Upcoming Special Events at R. W. Norton Art Gallery - Admission and all special events are free. 4747 Creswell in Shreveport

First Saturday Guided Tour - Sat-urday, August 1, - 2 p.m. The Dog Days of Summer Tour. Come inside and enjoy the air conditioning, the cool hues of the paintings, and the fresh musings of vari-ous authors about the laziest of summer days. Reading and art will illuminate the doldrums that accompany the end of the summer.

Second Saturday Speaker - Saturday July 11th - 2 p.m. “Shedding Grace: The Unlikely Stories of Our Unoffical Anthems “ by Michael Lasser. In asso-ciation with the special exhibition “Stars and Stripes: The Fabric of the American Spirit,” NPR’s Michael Lasser will present a lecture covering what every red, white, and blue-blooded American should know about Old Glory and her hymns.

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The Secret Garden - presented by the Performing Arts Center at First United Methodist Church, July 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 @ 7:30 pm and July 12 and 19 @ 2:30 pm. Call 318-429-6885, Tickets are $18 for Adults and $9 for Children.

Krewe of Artemis-Springhi l l “Half-Way” Party - August 1. Com-munity Activities Center, 301 Church Street, Springhill, LA. The Krewe will introduce their King, Queen and the Royal Court that will reign over the 2010 Mardi Gras festivities. Additional info may be obtained by calling 318-539-4717.

“The Quiet Man” - Tuesday, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport The Academy Award winning 1952 film, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, will be screened from a rare 35mm film print, followed by a seated luncheon at Abby Singer’s Bistro. To reserve tickets – $14 for lunch and film or $5.75 for film admission only – call (318) 459-4122. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

2009 James Burton International Guitar Festival - August 21-23. Munici-pal Auditorium in downtown Shreveport. Three days of incredible music to benefit The James Burton Foundation. On August 21 there will be “The James Burton Birth-day Bash” with local bands in concert. On August 22 at 2 pm, there will be an attempt to exceed the Guinness Book of Records for the most guitar players on stage play-ing the same song. On August 22, “The Tribute to Elvis Show” with noted celebri-ties and guest artists. For more info, call 318-424-5000 or log onto the website at www.jamesburtonmusic.com

Bollywood Night - The LSU Shreve-port India Studies program will host “Bollywood” Night Saturday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the LSUS University Center Ballroom. Buffet dinner and popular dance numbers from Bollywood films. Dress is evening casual or Indian attire. Tickets are $25 and the deadline to purchase is July 9. Tickets may be purchased at Asian Groceries, Heart of Bossier Mall with cash or check payable to the LSUS Foundation only. Checks may be sent directly to LSUS at One University Place, Shreveport, LA 71115. For more information, contact Sanjay Menon at 318-797-5186, Asian Groceries at 318-752-8556 or Jesh Jesty 318- 655-6648.


Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East

Haughton, LA 71037(318) 949-9415

Centuries Memorial8801 Mansfield

Shreveport, LA 71108(318) 686-4334

have you made prearrangements for your family, or do you still have that to do?

leaving these decisions to your children on the worst day of their lives is a

terrible emotional burden.

Call Today To Receive a FREE Family Planning Portfolio


Each office independently owned and operated. © 2009 CK Franchising, Inc.

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W W W . C o m f o r t K e e p e r s . C o m

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Chris Shelby, MDPierremont Eye Institute7843 Youree Dr.Shreveport, LA 1105318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.comSee our ad on page 33.

nursing home care

Vicki OttNurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center1736 Irving PlaceShreveport, LA 71101(318) 221-1983See our ad on page 7.

John J. Ferrell, M.D.Mid South Orthopaedics7925 Youree Drive; Suite 210Shreveport, LA 71105(318) 424-3400

ophthalmology

neurosurgeryorthopaeDics

Dr. Ravish PatwardhanThe Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network8001 Youree Dr., Ste 970Shreveport, LA 71115(318) 797-5543www.neurosurgery.ws

“You’ve got questions, we’ve

got answers”

How can people partner with health-care centers to make them a better place to live?

Visit, visit, and visit. Choose a healthcare center and indicate your interest to the Administrator, Activities or Social Services Director. Indicate if you have any special talent or gift, or if you just want to befriend someone. They can likely find a need you can fill that will give some residents a smile and a sense of gratification for you.

Are there any new treatments for epilepsy?

Epilepsy affects 1 out of 100. While many have seizures controlled by medica-tions, one-third don’t. For those who still have seizures, they can’t drive, be em-ployed in unsupervised positions, or enjoy independence (because a seizure can occur at any time). For these people, two more common procedures are options. With careful screening and a multi-disciplinary team, we have cured about 8 patients re-cently using temporal lobectomy, some of who have had seizures for over 30 years...none of these have any permanent prob-lems otherwise. Another option is vagus nerve stimulation, which reduces seizures by about 30 - 60% but rarely cures them. This involves putting a pacemaker-like device around a nerve in the neck.

I have heard about a couple of supplements that have been adver-tised on the radio that may help with eye problems. Can they help me?

This is a very common question. Certain forms of Macular Degen-eration can be helped by using high doses of antioxidant vitamins. A daily multivitamin and a healthy diet is usually enough to satisfy the daily requirements. If you have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, you can purchase Ocuvite or other eye vitamins at a health food store or drug store. Regardless of your ocular status, it’s always a good idea to take a daily multivitamin.

My grandchild complains of shoulder and back pain when in school. Could this be due to his heavy backpack?

Yes. Backpacks are designed to dis-tribute weight to larger muscle groups that can handle the load. Backpacks should have 2 padded wide shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist strap (for heavier loads). Also backpacks should light and not add to the load. Roll-ing backpacks are an alternative, although stairs are a problem. Your grandchild should use both shoulder straps, tighten straps so the pack is 2 inches above the waist and closest to the body, not pack more than 20% of the child’s body weight in the backpack, and pack only what he needs. Pack heavier items close to the back and unpack unnecessary items in the locker.


Bossier Council on Aging Bearkat Site (741-8302), 706

Bearkat Dr., Bossier City 8 AM - 4:30 PM; Plain Dealing Site (326-5722), 101 E. Oak St., Plain Dealing, 9 AM - 1 PM

Info & referrals - 741-8302Transportation - Vans available

to seniors 60+ who have no means of transportation for medical appoint-ments, grocery store, drug store and other necessary stops. Wheelchair accessible. 3 day notice required. $3 round trip suggested. Also through referrals from Medicaid.

Outreach - Home visits are made to help qualify seniors for services.

4015 Greenwood Road, (318) 632-2090. www.caddocouncilonag-ing.org [email protected]

Info & Referral - 632-2090 Outreach/Individual Needs As-

sessment- Explanation of services and to enroll the elderly in service programs

Home Delivered Meals - 5 meals/wk delivered to homebound seniors. Suggested donation $1.25/day.

Homemaker Services - Personal care and household tasks provided for homebound persons unable to perform tasks without assistance. $5/month donation requested.

Personal Care - Personal care provided to homebound person. $5/month donation requested.

Family Caregiver - Sitter and re-spite provided for full time caregiver of a senior. Donation requested.

Telephone Reassurance - Volun-teers make phone calls to seniors to offer comfort and support.

Medical Alert - 632-2090 -Emer-gency response system that protects

Homemaker - Trained employ-ees provide light housekeeping for seniors having difficulty maintaining their homes. $3/visit suggested.

Caregiver - Support services are provided for family caregivers including in-home respite care for the caregiver, education for the family, and material aid and personal care for the patient.

Legal Services - Education on elder legal issues. Counseling for individuals is accessible monthly with a local lawyer or by referrals.

Congregate (Site) Meals - Hot, nutritious meals served at 11:30 AM

at the sites, Mon - Fri . $1.25 per meal is suggested.

Home Delivered Meals - Meals provided 5 days per week for elderly homebound in Bossier Parish, $1.25/meal suggested.

Personal Medical Response System - With a referral from BCOA, an auto dial unit is available for installation on your phone. Necklace, wristband, or pocket clip styles pro-vided. Press the button for immediate help. $20 fee per month.

Senior Centers - Recreation, crafts, educational seminars, and health information. Also: day trips,

seniors in case of accident or falls in the home. $20/month fee

SenioRX Program - 632-5900 or 1-800-793-1198 - Assists seniors applying for pharmaceutical aid.

Nursing Home Ombudsman - Professional visits to nursing home to investigate and resolve issues made by the elderly resident or the resident’s family.

RSVP (Retired Senior Volun-teer Program) 632-2113 - Provides volunteer opportunities for persons 55 years of age or older.

Foster Grandparents (FGP) - 632-2199 - Seniors serve as mentor, tutor and caregivers to youth with social needs. FGPs that meet special requirements may serve. 20hrs/wk and receive a stipend.

Legal Services - Referrals for individual counseling.

Emergency Blinking Light - Flashing light installed in your porch light by the Caddo Sheriff Dept. to help guide emergency medical personnel. No charge.

SOS Program - Sheriff’s Op-erational Safeguard. Helps identify and reunite lost, memory-impaired persons with families. Participants are given a bracelet engraved with the name and phone number of the Sheriff’s Office and an ID number. Confidential Call 681.0875 to regis-ter. No charge.

Senior Centers and Meal Sites - 632-2080 - Area sites that offer fun activities, recreation, wellness, exercise, safety programs, sewing, crafts, bingo, and just plain old fun. Lunch served at all sites for a $1.25 donation. Transportation is provided to sites, call 632-2080 to sign up for a meal or transport to the sites.

• Myrtle B. Pickering Se-nior Center - 4017 Greenwood Rd, Shreveport. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-3:30pm.

• Blanchard Cross Roads Church - 356 Warriner, Blanchard. Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9:00am-12noon.

• Broadmoor Methodist Church - 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.

Minden Senior Center (371-3056 or 1-800-256-2853), 316 McIntyre St., Minden, LA 71055; 8 am to 4 pm

Cotton Valley Senior Center (832-4225), Railroad Ave., Cotton Valley; 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Springhil l Senior Center (539-2510), 301 West Church St., Springhill; 8 am to 4 pm

Transportation – transporting older persons to and from commu-nity facilities and resources. Assisted transportation also provided and must be scheduled weekly in advance.

Caddo Council on Aging

extended trips, exercise/dance class-es, bingo, cards, dominoes, health screenings, exercise equipment room, Senior Games and Thursday night dances with a live band.

Medication Management - Semi-nars, brown bag services provided by pharmacists and programs provided by health care providers. Drug plan assistance available.

Medicaid Applications - Appli-cation center and assistance filling out the forms. By appointment only.

(AARP) Money Management - Financial assistance to seniors: bill paying, balancing checkbooks, etc.

Open 9:30 - 12:30. • Canaan Towers Apartments

- 500 North Dale, Shreveport. Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9:30am-12:30pm.

• Cooper Road Community Cen-ter - 1422 MLK Blvd, Shreveport. Open Mon-Friday 9:30am-12:30pm

• Greenwood Library - Hwy 80, Downtown Greenwood. Open Mon-Fri 9:30 am - 12:30pm

• Mooringsport Community Center-Lattimer Street, Moor-ingsport across from the school. Open Tue-Wed-Thurs 9:30am to 12:30pm

• Morning Star Baptist Church - 5340 Jewella, Sport Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-12:30pm

• New Hill CME Church - 8725 Spring-ridge Texas Line Rd, Keith-ville Tue & Thurs 10am-1:00pm

• Oil City Community Center - Savage Street, Oil City Open Mon-Wed-Fri 9am to noon

• Vivian Community Center - in the City Park 522 E. Tennessee Open Mon-Fri 9am-12noon

Webster Council on Aging Congregate Meals – nutritionally

balanced meals for persons 60+ and spouses provided at senior centers, served 5 days a week.

Home-Delivered Meals – Noon meal delivered to eligible home-bound elderly (illness, disability or while caring for spouse who is), 5 days a week.

Homemaker services – Provided to those clients meeting specific requirements.

Recreation – Art, crafts, hobbies, games, and trips.

Wellness – designed to support/

improve the senior’s mental/physical well-being through exercise, physical fitness, and health screening.

Family Care-Giver Support – support services that provide a temporary break in the tasks of care-giving. For family caregivers who are providing care for an older individual who is determined to be function-ally impaired because of inability to perform instrumental functions of daily living without substantial supervision and assistance. This service is provided to persons caring for a homebound relative 60+, for a

relative 60+ caring for a homebound child or grandchild.

Information and Assistance – Provides the individual with current information on opportunities and services within the community.

Legal Assistance – providing legal advice, counseling, and repre-sentation by an attorney. Lectures are scheduled on a quarterly basis.

Medicaid enrollment center – take initial Medicaid applications

Medical Alert – linking clients with in-home emergency response system.

�0 July 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com�0 June 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Ambulance Services

Balentine Ambulance service

(318) 222-5358More info on page 13

Artificial Limbs and Braces

snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics


Associations and Organizations

BluePrint Louisiana(866) 483-3920

More info on page 39

Bossier Council on Aging


Caddo Council on Aging


webster Council on Aging


NwLA employment Opportunity Network


Robinson Film Center (318) 424-9090


The Best of Times(318) 636-5510

More info on page 6

Care Providers

Comfort Keepers (318) 934-0090


Family Care services (318) 671-1799

More info on page 9

Home Assistance services


Northwest INCs, Inc.(318) 636-0390


ResCare Home Care(318) 678-1890


seniors Club Personal Care services


Cemeteries/Funeral Homes

Centuries Memorial


Hill Crest Memorial(318) 949-9415


Counseling Services

The Center for Families(318) 222-0759


Credit Unions and Banks

Tes Regional Healthcare Federal

Credit Union (318) 681-4335


Educational Courses

Bible Correspondence Course


Emergency Response Systems

Acadian OnCall1-800-259-1234


Financial Planning/Legal Services

Genworth Financial T. wayne DesLattes


serio Investments Phillip serio


The singleton Law Firm(318) 631-5200


The Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul(318) 222-2100

More info on page 5

Flowers

Flowers Forever, LLC(318) 925-2323

More info one page 23

Fitness Centers

Curves(318) 670-2005


Curves(318) 629-2222


Curves(318) 752-9906


Curves(318) 949-3131


Fitness Lady(318) 747-1897


Hearing Care Services

shreve Hearing Aid service


Home Maintenance and Repair Services

C & C electric(318) 424-4406


Gutter Helmet of North Louisiana


Lex Plant Farm(318) 797-6035


Miller Tree service(318) 747-1568


simmons Cleaning services


stanley steamer Carpet Cleaner(318) 631-6655


Home Health Agencies (Medicare Certified)

American Nursing services


Ark-La-Tex Home Health


synergy Home Care (318) 550-0285


Hospice Providers

Hospice Compassus(318) 524-1046


Odyssey Healthcare(318) 868-8788


st. Joseph Hospice(318) 222-8723


willis Knighton Hospice of Louisiana


Home Infusion Services

IV Plus(318) 683-5139


Hospitals

Brentwood Hospital(318) 678-7500


willis Knighton Medical Center – North(318) 212-4000

More info on page 2

willis Knighton Medical Center – Bossier(318) 212-7000

More info on page 2

willis Knighton Medical Center – south(318) 212-5000

More info on page 2

wilis Knighton Medical Center – Pierremont


Insurance

Humana(800) 301-8998


Insurance Agent Bobbie Thomas(318) 344-6633


Insurance Agent Jennifer Doolittle


sterling Health Plans(866) 217-3666


Medical Supplies and Equipment

Home Health Medical supply (318) 631-1466


MedtronicsXsTOP spacer(866) 580-5242

More info on page 3

July 2009 �1 The Best Of Times June 2009 �1 The Best Of Times

shoeBooty’s Restaurant, Bakery,

& Catering(318) 550-0444


Senior Living Options

Azalea estates Assisted Living(318) 797-2408


Kingsley Place of shreveport


NurseCare of shreveport

318) 221-1983More info on page 7

The waterford at shreveport


Skin Care

Jean y Mitchell’s skin Technology


Mary KayCindy Dawson(318) 578-5965

More info on page 8

Travel Services

Cruises, Inc(318) 746-3745


Red River Coaches(318) 221-5797


Telephone Book

User-Friendly Phone Book


Weight Loss Counselors & Centers

The Center for Medical weight Loss


Physician Services

Cardiovascular Consultants, LLP

Dr. Phillip Rozeman(318) 631-6400


Dr. Britain P. Auer(318) 798-4623


Dr. Bryan Vekovius(318) 675-3733


Dr. Gary Booker(318) 227-9600


Highland Clinic (318) 798-4500


Mid south Orthopaedics


Pierremont eye Institute

Dr. Chris shelby(318) 212-3937


Vision sourceDr. Larry Chism(800) 243-2020


Radio Stations

KwKH AM 1130 Radio station318) 688-1130

Real Estate Agents

Century 21Judy Holland


Restaurants and Catering

Cupcake Gallery and Coffee shop(318) 752-2253


Imperial wok Chinese Restaurant



Sat, June 6 vs Corpus Christi 7:00 PMSat, July 4 vs Amarillo 5:00 PM

Sat, July 25 vs Arkansas 7:00 PM

Wall-to-wall fun for the entire family!

CenturyTel Center • Bossier City, LAFor tickets or more information

1 - (l to r) Valarie Gunn, Former NFL quarterback Doug Williams & Scholar-ship Committee member Candy Welch at the Shack Harris & Doug Williams Scholarship benefit. The annual event benefits children and families in greater Shreveport.

2 - Pam Parsons celebrates her birth-day at Superior Bar and Grill with tennis friends (seated l to r) Jan Glasgow, Pam, Mary Lou Kizzia, Debbie Grand; (standing) Tina Calligas, Debbie Blum and Pat Laborde.

3 - U. S. congressmen Rodney Alexan-der and John Fleming were the speakers at a Healthcare Forum held at Christus Schumpert in Shreveport on May 28th.

4 - Empty Bowls, the annual fund raiser for the Food Bank of NW Louisiana was held on June 4 at the Eldorado Casino and Hotel. (a) Food Bank Executive Di-rector Martha Marak with Ray Bragg, Chairman of the Board; (b) Rachel Scott, Alan Prater, and Paul Young.

5 - Ava Scott and Latonja Gafford from WK Progressive Care attend the CHEN University CEU Educational seminar on June 16th.

6 - The Best of Times Radio Hour producer Angela Thomas with guitarist James Burton when he appeared as a guest on the show.

7 - Carolyn Grimsley (left) with Susan Miller at the American Heart Association booth at the Ladies, A Fair! Resource Fair at the Bossier Civic Center on June 6.

8 - The 2nd Annual Author Author Book Festival on June 13th at the Municipal Auditorium. (a) Bill Keith (left), author of The Commissioner with Chester T. Kelley; (b) Authors Anne Wilson and Steve Smith.

9 - Jonathan Alexander Mijalis of Baton Rouge was introduced to friends and family at a gathering in his honor on June 6. (a) (l to r) Great-aunt Christine Cosse, and Great-Grandmothers Ntina Kastanos and Mary Mijalis. (b) Host-ing the event were grandmothers Peggy Heacock (left) and Lily Mijalis.

10 - Area centenarians+ were hon-ored by the CCOA. Among those being honored were (a) Sammie Holt; (b) Pearl Roediger; (c) Early Godfrey; (d) Veran Jones; (e) Belvia Allen; (f) Tony Greco; (g) Alphonse Smith; (h) Beatrice Thomas.


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