August 2010

PrimePrimeMontgoMery

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

ColorWorld

ingour

Artist Nan Cunningham

Back in ClassInsIde

n Salad Surprisen Maximize YourSocial Security

n Flying for Bream

(Mid)Life Lessons

Stone ImagesPhotography

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PrimeMontgoMery

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond!

Features

26 back in schoolLearning is a life-long process, and these 50+’ers are moving to the head of the class. By Lenore Vickrey

18 a life in artFor Nan Cunningham art doesn’t imitate life, art IS life.By Jennifer Kornegay

24 a Question of health Who wins when it’s Parsley vs. Cilantro?By Karen Collins

Health/Nutrition

12 marci’s medicare answersHepatitis B, Medicare Summary Notices, and the basics on Medicare/Medicaid.

Medical

On the COver

PrimePrimeMontgoMery


ColorWorld

ingour

Artist Nan Cunningham

Back in ClassInsIde

n Salad Surprisen Maximize YourSocial Security

n Flying for Bream

(Mid)Life Lessons

Nan Cunningham. Photo by Heath Stone. Page 18

14 moneywiseTips to maximize your Social Security benefits. By Alan Wallace

Financial

10 off the beaten PathArm yourself with Wooly Worms, Poppers and Floating Spiders. By Niko Corley

09 around montgomeryUp, up...but she’s definitely not going away.

22 Prime diversionsReviews on new video releases: Clash of the Titans, A Single Man, and Greenberg.By Mark Glass

16 a gracious PlentyMix tasty salads with great friends. Who could ask for anything more?By Patsy Smith

15 dr. marionQuestions to ask before hiring an elder aide. By Marion Somers, Ph.D.

25 in every lifeEight glasses a day keep the doctor away.By Arlene Morris

Lifestyles13 discovering your Past

County records may reveal surpris-ing details about your family history.By Nancy Dupree

23 elder justiceHelp from the feds to pay those nursing home bills.By Jay Ott

Entertainment

10

22

16

Today’s seniors are on the move. And Jackson Hospital helps them stay that way with a complete staff of orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, nurses and our nationally recognized JointCamp® program. Our patients receive specialized orthopedic services with the latest technology for hip replacements, joint therapy and other orthopedic surgeries. The Jackson Hospital orthopedic team is experienced, caring and compassionate, creating a more positive patient experience. Get the orthopedic care that’s keeps you on the move call Jackson hospital at 334.293.8020.

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My Hospital knows exactly how I move.

O R T H O P E D I C C A R E A T J A C K S O N H O S P I T A L

Primemontgomery


August 2010Volume I, Issue 5

PUBLISHERBob Corley

[email protected]

EDITORSandra Polizos

[email protected]

ART DIRECTORCallie Corley

[email protected]

WRITERSJennifer KornegayLenore Vickrey

CONTRIBUTORSNancy Dupree, Karen Collins,

Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Arlene Morris,Jay Ott, Jake Roberts, Patsy Smith,

Marion Somers, Alan Wallace

PHOTOGRAPHERSBob Corley, Heath Stone, Callie Corley,

Prime Montgomery7956 Vaughn Road, #144Montgomery, AL 36116

334-202-0114www.primemontgomery.com

ISSN 2152-9035

Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2010 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contributing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC.

Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Mont-gomery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal profes-sionals. Consult properly degreed and licensed profes-sionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters.

We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.

editor’s note

www.facebook.com/primemontgomery

Great news! We’ve just learned that Prime Montgomery, having applied for membership in the North Ameri-can Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA), received board approval to join this prestigious organization. Prime is now part of an interna-tional, professional group of magazine publishers focusing on the 50+ mar-ket. NAMPA members’ publications are read by millions of people across the U.S. and Canada. Since member-ship is by invitation only, the associa-tion with NAMPA makes us especially proud!

August school bells are ringing across the River Region this month – even for some of us enjoying midlife and be-yond. Our story Back in Class shows an increase in the median age of college students attending public universities in the state, including 3,699 Alabamians over the age of 50 who are headed back-to-school. A classroom with even one 50+’er is different, with their real-life experience supplementing theoreti-cal study, and their eagerness challenging the younger set to push themselves and strive to do more. Don’t miss Lenore Vickrey’s profile of several of these motivated older students, and get connected to a program allowing 60+’ers to enroll in college classes free of charge.

Our cover story, A Life in Art, features Nan Cunningham, a Montgomery-born artist whose talent has received national acclaim. You’ve no doubt seen Nan’s work in boutiques and shops across the River Region, and one contemporary describes her as “a powerful artist who makes any subject her own.” Jennifer Kornegay’s revealing portrait of this regional treasure focuses on the process of Nan’s work, in addition to the much-deserved celebration of her product.

Nan Cunningham believes that we - any of us - can learn to paint, or write, or sew at any age. I agree. While few of us share her proficiency with the brush, or her ability to transform light and color into emotion, we are all creative beings. Though we may never produce an imaginative canvas, our artistry is revealed in how we write a letter to a special friend, how we tie a fly to catch that il-lusive fish, how we dress -- both casually and formally, how we plan an inventive birthday party for a child.... It would be a stark and sad life indeed if the only place art revealed itself was on the page, on the stage, on the canvas, on the screen, or on a CD. You can't stop it, block it, lock it up, or ignore it. Art will come out, regardless, in a thousand different forms. And therein lies the true nature of the creative spirit residing in all of us.

Enjoy August, despite these Dog Days of summer. Patience, my friends. Fall is almost here!

Email me anytime at [email protected] Polizos Editor

Start Your Day with High ProteinA quality, high-protein diet – one that begins at breakfast –

is critical for maintaining muscle mass, curbing hunger, reduc-ing abdominal fat, and preventing and slowing the progression of age-related bone and muscle loss, according to findings presented at the 2010 Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting.

While humans are able to build muscle at any age, the effects of insufficient protein increase substantially in older adults, often leading to muscle and bone conditions such as sarcopenia (the degenerative loss of muscle mass) and osteoporosis.

Protein makes up about 50 percent of bone volume and 33 percent of our body mass, said dietician and sports nutrition-ist Marie Spano, a meeting presenter. “Higher protein diets (optimally, between 25 and 30 grams of protein per meal) are associated with greater bone mass and fewer fractures when calcium intake is adequate.” In addition, replacing carbohydrates with protein can prevent obesity and obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes.

The move toward a more pro-tein rich diet could lower health costs and improve mobility and independence in older adults, said Spano.

Quality, high-protein foods include: eggs (12.5 grams of pro-tein per egg), milk (3.3 grams per 4 ounces), and meats and fish (7 grams of protein per serving). — Institute of Food Technologists

Summer's Heat Is Bad for Your CarEveryone has heard of winterizing cars, but the summer months also cause wear and tear. Small things to keep your car running well in the heat: t Check wipers for cracks and tears. The summer sun often

causes more damage than winter storms, so make sure blades don't skip during wiping or form streaks on your windshield.

t Check all fluid levels and cooling systems. Signs of engine cooling problems include overheating, a sweet smell, leaks, or having to repeatedly add fluids.

t Pack your car lightly to avoid stressing tires and to maxi-mize gas mileage.

For more on summer car care, visit carcare.org. – Statepoint

Dengue Fever Reported in South Florida If you’re planning to vacation in Florida this summer, you

might want to take care that you don’t return with some-thing more serious than a cute pair of Mickey Mouse ears.

After 75 years of absence, dengue fever has returned to certain parts of the Sunshine State and dozens of cases have been reported this year. Also known as break-bone fever, dengue is a mosquito-borne, tropical disease that afflicts 100 million people worldwide annually.

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“Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquitos, which are present in the U.S.,” said Dr. Bert Lopansri, medical director of the Loyola University Health System International Medicine and Trav-eler’s Immunization Clinic. “These are domesticated mosquitoes that breed in still waters around homes, such as potted plant dishes, vases, bird baths, etc. Draining these water sources is an important measure to prevent infec-tion.”

Symptoms of dengue fever include a high fever, severe headache with pain behind the eyes, a rash and pain in bones and joints, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The incubation period after infection is about four days. There is no vaccine for dengue and physicians mainly concentrate on relieving symptoms. Each year about 25,000 people die from dengue infections.

Since dengue doesn’t spread from person to person, you can take simple steps to protect yourself from infection, Lopansri said.

“Mosquitoes that transmit dengue feed during the day, mostly during the early

morning and late afternoon. Protective measures include wearing clothing that protects all of your body from bites, if at all possible,” Lopansri said. “Also be sure to use mosquito repellant with effective chemicals such as DEET.”

Lopansri said that most people who vacation in Florida have very little to worry about from the dengue fever.

“The situation in Florida is evolving and it seems to be localized in South Florida at this time,” Lopansri said. “For those who are a little concerned about it, just do the things you would nor-mally do to avoid mosquitoes, and then have a good time.” — Loyola University Health System

Pistachios May Reduce Lung Cancer Risk

A diet that incorporates a daily dose of pistachios may help reduce the risk of lung and other cancers, according to a clinical trial conducted at M.D. Ander-son Cancer Center.

It is known that vitamin E provides a degree of protection against certain forms of cancer. Higher intakes of gamma-tocopherol, which is a form

of vitamin E, may reduce the risk of lung cancer. Pistachios are a good source of gamma-tocopherol. Other food sources that are a rich source of gamma-tocopherol include nuts such as peanuts, pecans, walnuts, soybean and corn oils.

Pistachios are also known to provide a heart-healthy benefit by producing a cholesterol-lowering effect and provid-ing the antioxidants that are typically found in food products of plant origin.

Diet Soda, Sodium Tied to Kidney Trouble

Two new studies show that a diet high in salt or arti-ficially sweetened soda increases the risk of kidney func-tion decline. The association between artificially sweetened beverages and kidney function decline persisted when other factors, such as age, obesity, high blood pressure, dia-betes, smoking, physical activity, caloric intake and cardiovascular disease were accounted for.

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She watches over the city, perched atop an historic building with a reasonable view of the river, and a great view of our city’s most recent urban renewal efforts.

She’s thought to be a representation of the Greek Goddess Athena, child of Zeus, who sprang from his skull after he insisted his cranium be chopped open due to a persistent headache. (Where’s a good ENT when you need one?)

Symbols often associated with Athena include the owl, snake, rooster, olive tree, and a shield bearing the likeness of Medusa, a face so horrible it was said those who looked upon her either turned to stone or were paralyzed with fear. The big question is, how could anyone paint or sculpt or draw her likeness if looking on her visage resulted in stoney silence?

Like many Greek deities, Athena was co-opted by the Romans and re-named Minerva. Those sneaky Romans also co-opted a number of others including Hephaestus, who had the honor of splitting open Zeus’ head. They re-named him Vulcan.

Our Montgomery Athena, aka Minerva, gazing down on the streets below, holds no shield and bears none of the images typically associ-ated with her, but let’s assume for the moment it IS Athena/Minerva.

A master weaver, Athena bested Arachne in a spinning contest after the latter boasted of her superior skills. When Arachne lost, she tried to hang herself with her loom (hence the phrase ‘looming death’). Athena intervened and saved young Arachne, then promptly, and without malice, of course, turned the poor girl into a spider. Hence, arachnids.

There is a strong connection between Montgomery’s Athena/Mi-nerva and the very large, very elegant building that supports her. The original tenants of the building were purveyors of Dry Goods, textiles basically, which have to be woven. But not, hopefully, by a psychotic loomer attempting to best a Goddess.

So where is our Athena/Minerva? You’ll have to look up. Not look-it-up, but look UP. When you spot her, take a photo of yourself with her (as close as you can get, which, trust me, will not be very close), and send it to Prime Montgomery. Oh. And watch out for spiders.

around montgomery

athena/minerva guards the cityBy Jake Roberts

“My 11 year old grandson, Matt Deavers found this painting in downtown Montgomery right behind the parking deck for Biscuits baseball,” writes Barbara Deavers. “We were on our way to the Biscuits game on July 9th and saw the painting as we were getting out of our car. We had been looking for it earlier in the day and there it was right in front of us.”

www.primemontgomery.com | August 2010 9

Congratulations to Prime reader Matt Deavers for finding

July’s Around Montomery!

Anyone doubting that the dogs days of summer are upon us need look no further than the nearest out-

door thermometer. Unfortunately, our usual outdoor chores must continue even during periods of extreme heat.

In order to beat the heat, we cut the grass, trim the hedges and water the plants either very early or very late in the day. When the mercury climbs high, fish follow the same “early and late” pattern for most of their feeding activity, making these hours prime fishing time.

One of my favorite ways to catch bream is on a fly rod. Little else in the fishing world is more exciting than having a fish nail a top water fly and then wrestling it in on light tackle. Some folks get turned off to fly fishing because they think it’s gear-intensive and hard to learn how to do properly. Neither of these are true, especially regarding fly fishing for bream, where unlike trout, sometimes the harder a fly hits the water the faster a bream will grab it.

Gear-wise, fly fishing for bream is incredibly simple. Any four-or five-weight fly rod and reel spooled with matching (weight-wise) floating fly line will do. I prefer weight-forward line, and once I add a six pound tapered leader I’m almost ready to catch fish. As long as they are in a feeding mood, bream will often devour most any fly, so your arsenal of bream flies doesn’t need to be diverse. Several floating poppers, floating foam spi-ders and sinking “Bream Killer” or “Woolly Worm” flies will suffice. Now that you’ve assembled your gear, where do you go to catch bream on the fly? Most anywhere, really, as bream are one of the most prolific and widespread fish around. Every farm, suburb and golf course pond you pass likely has bream in it, if nothing else. If you have access to one of these and the proper fishing license and/or permits, you have everything youneed to hone your fly fishing skills on one of the most abun-

dant and fun-to-catch fish in southern waters.Regardless of whether you’re practicing catch-and-release or

taking fish home for supper (I do both, depending on where I’m fishing), fly fishing is therapeutic. For most of us fishing isn’t a necessity and so therefore qualifies as recreation. But fly fishing in particular, beginning with the back cast, mov-ing ahead with the forward cast and watching your line and leader unroll in slow motion and place the fly right where you planned, is indeed an art form. It takes practice to do really well, but it’s also fun to learn. Fortunately, you don’t have to cast like the fishermen in “A River Runs Through It” to catch bream on the fly.

You can get the basic fly fishing gear at most big box retail-ers as well as many local bait and tackle shops. The Bass Pro Shop has such an extensive collection of rods, reels, flies, vests and other fly gear that you could be occupied there for hours just looking over everything. In addition, the gentleman who runs the fly fishing department really knows his stuff and will be incredibly helpful in answering questions and assisting you in selecting any gear you may need.

If you fly fish long enough, you’ll eventually begin tying your own flies. Again, the Bass Pro Shop’s fly fishing department has an abundance of fly tying materials for both the amateur and accomplished fly tyer. Creating an imita-tion with your own hands of some bug, caterpillar, minnow or other fish food source found in nature, to the point where you can catch fish with it, is to me the pinnacle of fly fishing success.

So get up early or head out late, beat the heat and give bream on the fly a try

in a nearby pond. The bream won’t be the only thing to get hooked.

Niko Corley is an avid sportsman, spending his free time hunting, fish-ing and enjoying other outdoor activities. In this column, he covers a range of outdoor recreation activities in central Alabama and beyond.

off the beaten Path

Niko Corley (& Bella)

BreamFlyon thePhotos by Niko Corley

Right Hotel, Wrong Room

Q: My family and I visited New York City last week. I pre-paid for a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Manhattan

for four guests. When I checked in, I was shocked to find that I not only had a smoking room, but also a king-size bed. Four people and one king-size bed! Also, I requested a non-smoking room, since I am allergic to smoke.The hotel would not change our room nor would they put us in a different hotel. We were forced to stay there or we would have to pay for a three-day stay, as well as a $250 pen-alty for an early departure.I called the corporate Holiday Inn number and they said ev-erything was up to the hotel. I am in shock. Can you help? — Tammy Bowman, Huntsville, Ala.

A: If you asked for a non-smoking room for four guests, and the hotel confirmed it, then you should have gotten

one.I asked Holiday Inn to look at your reservation, and it

showed that the room was originally booked as a so-called "flow through" room, meaning that no specific room type or smoking preference was assigned. "While the guest did list a total of four people and a king-size bed was originally as-signed, it's possible they may not have had the inventory to work with," a spokeswoman told me.

When you make a reservation — even when you do it on-line, you've paid for it, and you have a confirmation — it never hurts to contact the hotel directly. A hotel employee can make a notation in your reservation that you're traveling with four people and that you're allergic to cigarette smoke, and

you can also note the name of the employee you speak with.If something goes wrong when you check in, you can say,

"But I talked with one of your associates and explained the situation."

The Holiday Inn Express shouldn't have given you a "take-it-or-leave-it" ultimatum. (Actually, it was worse than that - it threatened to extract a $250 early departure fee.) Not only did they give you a room you didn't reserve, but they're also punishing you if you walk away from it.

Once you were at the hotel, you could have appealed to a manager. A brief, polite e-mail to Holiday Inn at the corporate level might have also been useful. Here's the web form where you can contact the company: https://secure.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/guest_relations

I'm not sure what happened during your stay, but the lines of communication weren't exactly open. According to Holiday Inn's records, the property offered you a different room the following evening, but you turned it down.

If you're allergic to cigarette smoke, why would you stay in a smoking room?

I contacted Holiday Inn on your behalf. In addition to the notations I've already mentioned, the hotel said it had no re-cord of you contacting it to resolve this problem. It's possible that you tried to call the property but a formal complaint never was registered. Try writing next time.

Holiday Inn credited you with 50,000 reward points, which is enough for a two-night stay at one of its hotels.

Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Trav-eler magazine. You can read more travel tips on his blog, elliott.org or e-mail him at [email protected]). (c)2010 CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

lifestyles

the travel troubleshooterBy Christopher Elliot

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Marci’s Medicare Answersmedical

Dear Marci,I’m planning to get a Hepatitis B shot. Will Medi-care cover it? — GaryDear Gary,

Your Medicare health coverage (Part B) will cover vaccines to prevent Hepatitis B only if you are at medium to high risk for hepatitis B (you have kidney failure, hemo-philia or travel to countries with high rates of the disease).

In 2010, if you are at medium to high risk, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of your hepatitis B vaccine after you pay your annual Part B deductible. — MarciDear Marci,I just received a Medicare Summary Notice in the mail, and I’m not sure what it is. Is it a bill? — RameshDear Ramesh,

When Original Medicare processes a claim for health care services you received, the claim is detailed in a Medicare Sum-mary Notice (MSN). The MSN is a summary of claims for health care services Medicare processed for you during the previous three months. The MSN is not a bill.

MSNs are mailed four times a year and contain information about submitted charges, the amount that Medicare paid, and the amount you are responsible for.

The most important fields on your MSN explain: - The total amount your doctor or other provider may bill you.- Non-covered charges, if any.Try to save your MSNs for about seven years. You might

need them in the future to prove that payment was made if a provider sends you a bill, or that services were received if you claimed a medical deduction on your taxes. If you have lost your MSN or you need a duplicate copy, call 800-MEDICARE. You will be redirected to the Medicare carrier who originally issued the MSN and can send you a copy. — MarciDear Marci,If I have Medicare, am I allowed to enroll in Med-icaid programs as well? — LorettaDear Loretta,Yes. Medicaid programs can help pay for Medicare’s costs and for services that Medicare does not cover. If you are eligible for Medicare and have low income, you may qualify for help from certain Medicaid programs in your state. In gen-eral, your state will have more than one program that can help people who are eligible for Medicare. Whether you

qualify for a Medicaid program will depend on: - your income (money you take in, for example, from Social Security payments or wages that you earn); - your assets (resources such as checking accounts, stocks and some property); and - if you need long-term care, whether you meet your state’s “functional eligibility” or “level-of-care” criteria–standards for assessing your need for help with activities of daily living (for example, toileting, bathing, dressing) and your need for nursing care. Each state sets its own standards.In general, people with Medicare who have low income may qualify for one of the following: - Medicaid for people who are “over 65, blind or have a disability” and do NOT need long-term care - Nursing Facility Medicaid - Medicaid Waiver Programs for long-term care in your home or community

To find out what Medicaid programs exist in your state, con-tact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (www.shiptalk.org) or local Medicaid office. — MarciDear Marci,I’m at risk for osteoporosis. Does Medicare cover bone density tests? — ShirleyDear Shirley,

Yes. If your doctor believes you are at risk for osteoporosis and orders the test, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of one bone mass measurement (sometimes called “bone density tests”) every two years (24 months), after you pay your annual Part B deductible. Medicare will also cover follow-up measurements or more frequent screening if your doctor prescribes them.

Bone mass measurements show if you need medical treat-ment for osteoporosis, a condition that causes “brittle bones” in many older adults.

Those at high risk for the disease include people who have a family history of the disease, have spinal abnormalities, have certain conditions (such as thyroid disorders) or have taken certain medications for a prolonged period of time (such as a steroid anti-inflammatory). — Marci

Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), 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,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail [email protected].

Researching county records is the way to add leaves to your

family tree. These records can add small pieces to your family tree puzzle, such as dates, places, more names to research, while other records can provide a treasure-trove of information.

Marriage records, while giving dates of marriage, also provide the maiden names of women in your family leading you up new branches of your family tree. Deed records can help pinpoint the location of your family’s land. Other records created at the county level may help identify dates of birth, death, or divorce.

For African Americans whose ancestors were slaves, orphans court/probate court records, estate case files, and wills might provide slaves’ names, their ages, and possibly the names and ages of their children, as well as the slave owner’s name.

For white genealogists those same records might provide the names and ages of heirs, their places of

residence, a legal description of the land the family owned, along with a list of personal property, and how it was disbursed.

You may even discover that your great-great grandmother was a “Free Dealer,” a woman who had the legal right to buy and sell property without the consent of her husband.

The Research Room at the Alabama Depart-ment of Archives and History is a central location for Alabama’s county records and is a great place to start. ADAH has local government records on microfilm for every county in the state. The records predate statehood in 1819 and are as late as the 1950s. The Local Government Records on Microfilm database at www.archives.alabama.gov catalogues the records available for each county.

Make your list and check it twice, and come to the Archives to put more leaves on your family tree.

next mOnth we’ll talk about using military re-cords in your genealogy research.

Nancy Dupree is Senior Archivist at the Alabama De-partment of Archives and History.

discovering your Past

Nancy Dupree

was your great-great grandmother a “free dealer”?


moneywise

Social Security (SS) can provide many couples an opportunity to enhance their retirement

income IF they make the right choices. When both husband and wife have paid enough taxes during their careers to collect a benefit, knowing certain rules can help you maximize your retirement benefits. Let’s start with the basics.1. If you paid SS taxes for 40

quarters you’re eligible for SS retirement benefits.

2. You can start drawing benefits as early as age 62, but the amount will be less than it would be if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA).

3. If you draw benefits before your FRA and have more earned income than the allowed annual amount ($14,160 in 2010), your benefits will be reduced by $1 for each $2 that you earn above the cap (discussed in last month’s article).

4. If you are married to someone entitled to SS retirement ben-efits, you’re entitled to a spousal benefit based on your spouse’s tax record.

5. At your FRA, your spousal re-tirement benefit will be 50% of your spouse’s benefit while your spouse is alive.

6. If you start drawing a spousal benefit before your FRA, it will be less than 50% of your spouse’s benefit.

7. The SS Administration will pay you either your own benefit or your spousal benefit, whichever is greater, but not both.

8. When your spouse dies, you will receive whichever benefit is larger, your own or that of your deceased spouse.)These rules interact to create an opportunity. While

wives do not always have lower SS benefits than their husbands, in our example we assume the husband has the larger benefit. If the opposite is true just switch the roles in this scenario. We also assume that FRA for both spouses is age 66.

Facts: The husband has not reached FRA and has not

filed for SS retirement benefits. The wife is age 62, earns less than the annual earnings cap, and her benefit (based on her own tax record) will be less than her spousal benefit when her husband claims benefits based on his tax record.

Strategy: The wife files for early retirement benefits based on her tax record, and the husband files for a spousal benefit based on his wife’s record. When the husband reaches age 66, he then files for retirement benefits based on his own tax record, and the wife switches to collecting the spousal benefit.

Results: Collecting early retirement benefits on the wife’s tax record provides income prior to filing on the husband’s tax record without reducing what they will collect on his record. As long as the wife is not more than 4 years younger than her husband, and the hus-band waits to collect benefits on his own tax record, they will collect benefits that that they would not have

had if the wife had waited until her husband retired to start collecting a spousal benefit. The older the wife, relative to her husband, the bigger the gain from this strategy.

If both husband and wife are still working and earning much more than the annual earnings cap, it may not make sense for either of them to file for benefits before their FRA. If the wife is older than the husband, she

should file for benefits on her own tax record as soon as she will collect a reasonable net benefit, and certain-ly at her FRA. If she is younger and her own benefit is less than her spousal benefit, this strategy will not help them unless her husband defers collecting on his own tax record.

If you’re approaching the age when you can file for SS retirement benefits, talking to your personal financial advisor or someone at the SS Administration could help you maximize your retirement benefits. No one is likely to seek you out to help you with this decision, so take the initiative to look after your own best interest if you need guidance.

Alan Wallace,CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery, Alabama office, 334-270-5960, [email protected].

leave Nothing on the table (Part two of a three-part series)

Alan Wallace

lifestyles

Dr. Marionby Marion Somers, Ph.D

Q: Is there a list of questions you use when you’re hiring an aide? I want to be sure that the aide can handle all of the differ-ent elder care challenges. — Barbara in New York, 61

A: I use the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) listed below to interview an aide so we’re both clear about the elder’s needs. This way, both the aide and I are in agreement as to what activities and tasks will need to be performed. Once hired, I also

ask the aide to write in a daily log or use this list as a check-off so it’s clear what was accomplished each and every day.Go over all details with the aide to ensure that he/she knows how to assist with every task listed below. Note that they’re

listed alphabetically, not in order of importance, and that additional tasks may be needed for your elder.

ADLs TASK LISTR Personal CareR Assist with bath: in bed or in a shower or tubR Assist to bathroom and with toileting: bedpan, commode and urinalR Assist with dressing, putting on or laying out clothesR Encourage the consumption of fluids per doctor’s recommendationR Feeding assistance, including the use of adapted equipment and self feedingR Foot care assistance, including training in podiatryR Hair care, including beauty products, brushing and the beauty parlor/barberR Incontinence careR Nail careR Oral care/denture careR Shaving assistanceR Skincare assistanceR ActivitiesR Assist with ambulationR Assist with range of motion, only with the advice of doctor or therapistR Assist with transfer in and out of chairR Attention to bed rails, which should be up at all times that elder is in bedR Commitment to providing recreation, both in the home, and the communityR Homemaking assignmentsR Clean bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchensR Grocery shopR LaundryR Light housekeeping such as making and changing bedR Prepare meals

A senior’s needs may change on a daily basis, so the aide needs to clearly understand what’s expected of him/her. You also must know if the aide has the training, education and expertise to carry out these ADLs.

Marion Somers, Ph.D. has worked with thousands of seniors and their caregivers as a geriatric care manager and elder care expert. For more information, visit www.DrMarion.org.

what to ask when hiring a senior’s aide


It was another page for the memory book, though Jayne chided that it would

certainly make a short chap-ter because we went to bed way too early.

My husband and I have recently returned from spending a couple of days on beautiful Lake Martin with friends with whom we’ve shared our married lifetime of experiences.

More fun than a barrel of monkeys and a lot more precious, my friends are my treasures. We share each other’s confidences, hopes, joys and sorrows. We enjoy the company of all our children.During that two-day respite we laughed easily, talked endlessly, and did it all without a hint of makeup or well-planned wardrobe. Not needed. Not with this group. It was just time to catch up.

Jayne and James caused it to happen.* They opened their lake home and showered us in their easy way with such gracious hospitality they could have schooled the White House. The

friends kept tables full to overflowing with cool summer fare lest we actually slow our conversa-tions long enough to eat. Or in the event that we needed fortifying after treading water for amazingly shorter periods than we remembered we could.

I’m paying forward the generosity shown to me by sharing our recipes with you.

August is here and summer is full blown in the River Region. Let’s whip up a couple of these cool salads, find respite in the shade, and enjoy conversation with the people we love. Memories are made of this.

Patsy Smith, a Montgomery native, is the author of two cookbooks: A Cookbook for My Southern Daughter and A Southern Daughter Entertains. These books may be purchased at Capitol Book and News, Rosemont Gardens, Southern Homes and Gardens, Jo’s Hallmark, Richardson’s Pharmacy, and other fine book and gift stores, or through her website at south-erndaughtercookbooks.com

*For a picture of Patsy with her Lake Martin friends, see Out and About on page 31.

Patsy Smith

a gracious Plenty

cool Summer fare

Wild Rice and Cranberry Salad

Yield 6-8 servings

6 oz. pkg. long grain and wild rice mix

1 c. Craisins or dried cranberries

1 c. fresh broccoli flowerets, chopped

4 green onions, thinly sliced

2 celery ribs, thinly sliced

2 oz. jar diced pimento, drained

1/2 c. Old Dutch dressing (Publix nOrmally has this.)

1 c. toasted pecans, coarsely chopped (Jayne used

Peanuts instead with great results.)

Prepare rice according to package directions; cool.

Combine rice, cranberries, and next 4 ingredients.

Add dressing and stir gently. Cover and chill at least

2 hours. Stir in pecans just before serving.

18 August 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com

Photos by Margaret Ann McGregor

Strawberry – Pretzel Salad

A dessert in a salad

Yield: 18 servings

First Layer:2 c. coarsely crushed pretzels (i Pulse

mine in the fOOd PrOCessOr.)

3/4 c. melted margarine (i melt mine in

a glass CuP in the miCrOwave.)

3 T. sugar1/2 c. chopped pecans (yOu Can buy

these in ½ CuP PaCkages.)

Mix together well and press mixture

firmly in the bottom of a 9x13” Pyrex

dish. Bake for 8 minutes at 400°. Take

from oven and cool completely, until

crust is firm.

Second Layer:8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese

1 c. sugar 8 oz. nonfat sour cream (i use break-

stOne’s.)8 oz. Sugar Free Cool Whip

Beat cream cheese, sour cream, and

sugar. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread

evenly on top of pretzel layer.

Third layer:1 large box strawberry Jell-o

2 c. boiling water1 qt. fresh strawberries, sliced (or you

may use 2 [10 oz.] pkgs. frozen straw-

berries)

Dissolve Jell-0 in boiling water. Pour

over strawberries and stir mixture.

Let this mixture chill until it starts to

thicken.

Pour strawberry mixture over cream

cheese mixture. Distribute strawber-

ries evenly, but carefully. Cover with

plastic wrap and refrigerate until top

layer is firm and you are ready to

serve.

Cut into squares and serve with a

spatula.

Chicken and White Grape Salad4 c. cooked, deboned and chopped skinless chicken breasts (i bOil Or use a Pressure COOker tO COOk the ChiCken, and then i use a fOOd PrOCessOr, using the Pulsing funCtiOn until ChiCken is Just COarsely ChOPPed.)1/2 c. sour cream, or more, if desired, to 1 cup. (yOu may use Plain yOgurt.)

1/2 c. mayonnaise (yOu may use lOwfat.)2 chopped boiled eggs2 c. white grapes, cut in half1 c. chopped celery1/2 t. Mrs. Dash (or salt and pepper to taste)1 t. dried tarragon, optional but good1/2 c. sliced almonds

Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl. Cover with plas-tic wrap and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.Toast sliced almonds by placing them evenly on a cookie sheet and baking in a 350°oven for @ 8 minutes, or until lightly browned.

To serve, mound chicken salad onto a bed of lettuce. Top with toasted almonds.

It is also pretty to fill the center of a scooped out pineapple half when serving as the main course at a luncheon. Accom-pany this salad with fruit and poppy seed dressing.

feature

“It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. Everybody starts at the same place: the begin-ning.”

The statement is profound in its simplicity, and coming from the mouth of renowned Montgom-ery artist Nan Cunningham gave it even more weight. She was addressing the idea that anyone, at any age, can learn to paint…or write…or sew or just about anything else. “It’s just about how badly you want to do it, and if you’ll devote the time,” she said. “It’s never too late to start some-thing new.”

She backed up her theory with the story of her mother’s entree into art. “My mom picked up a brush for the first time when she was 60,” she said. “She started coming to a class I was teach-ing to socialize with her friends. Then she started paying attention. She had quite a successful career,

with museum shows and her works in galleries in Washington D.C. and New Orleans.”

As she bragged on her mother, Nan absent-mindedly stroked her dog Mullet on the head while surrounded by brushes, tubes of paint, stacks of canvases and the other trappings of her life’s work that cluttered her sun-filled studio in Auburn.

Probably best known for her still life paintings filled with color and pattern, Nan also paints and draws other things. In fact, she paints and draws everything. “Anything is a possible subject for me” she said. “I keep a sketchpad with me and draw everyday things all the time. When I was wait-ing in the carpool line to pick my kids up from school, I would draw whatever I could see in my rearview mirror.” Today Nan is inspired to cap-ture animals—horses, dogs and others—on

By Jennifer KornegayPhotos Health Stone, Stone Images Photography


A Life in


canvas. And she still does still lifes as well as land-scapes. “I most often paint what is right around me.”

As her environment has changed through the years, so too have her subjects. When she lived on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, in Josephine, she was constantly painting boats and palm trees. The landscapes she’s currently rendering reflect the rural scenes of Central Alabama.

The Montgomery native began drawing as early as she could hold a crayon. Then she got her degree in Art from Auburn University. When she came back to the capital city after college, she taught a few classes, but she also started working in other jobs, and didn’t devote herself to painting full time until about 20 years ago. But she never stopped painting. “I was always creat-ing, on nights and weekends, even as I had other ‘day jobs,’” she said.

Nan still plays with crayons today. Allowing herself 20 to 30 minutes of “playtime” is an integral part of her process. “I paint every day, and I try to work at least four hours a day. When I first come into the studio, it takes me a bit to get past the daily grind, the ringing phone, the other things I need to do,” she said. “So I play a little. I make collages out of junk mail or doodle with some crayons. That helps me move into the paint-ing mindset. It’s like riding a horse. You have to ‘warm

up.’”Even though she’s quite disciplined when it comes to

her work, she admitted that her art is always affected by her mood. “My emotional state is always reflected in my work,” she said. “I think it is that way for most artists. Our feelings come through, whether we want them to or not. But some of the best work I’ve done has come out of really dark times for me.”

One example is a series of paintings entitled “Portrait of a Cat Killer.” Menacing figures are depicted in ruddy reds and browns, and these somber paintings stand in startling contrast to Nan’s more familiar bright and uplifting works. She painted them in response to an incident she went through a few years ago. A man in her neighborhood killed a little girl’s cat for no reason, and he got away with it. “We couldn’t get the authorities or anyone to do anything about it. It was awful,” she said. “The only thing I could do was paint. That was the way I could tell the story.”

The paintings rank among some of Nan’s most lauded works, garnering several awards. But they served a deeper purpose for Nan. They were her escape. “Throughout my life, my work has been an outlet for me,” she said. “I can honestly express my feelings on the canvas. Creating can really get you through the tough


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times because you feel a con-nection to something greater. When I do a really good paint-ing, I feel as if I’ve received it, that it just flowed through me from somewhere else.”

While she claims those brush strokes of genius are few and far between, a look at even a portion of her large body of work tells a different tale. Her talent and passion are on clear display, and she also generously shares that passion with others, teaching workshops and a few private lessons.

But what she possesses in talent she lacks in conceit. Nan is fully aware how lucky she is. “My art is my lifelong love, and I know how fortunate I am to make a living out of it,” she said. Yet, while keeping the lights in her studio on is important, it’s never really been about fame or money for Nan. “If I won the lottery tomorrow, I’d still come in here and paint every day,” she said. “It’s what I do.”

Prime diversions

Mark Glass

A Single Man, Greenberg and Clash of the Titansrecent dvd releasesrecent dvd releases

A Single Man (R) Those of us who are old enough to

have been there can tell you that the free love and other anti-establishment trends we call The ‘60s actually started more than halfway through the decade, and ran well into the ‘70s. After An Education, this is the second first-rate drama set around 1962, reminding us of the extreme quiet just before those social and political storms. Colin Firth stars as a gay professor at a small California col-lege. He’s mourning the death of his lover, though most of the people around him just think of him as a shy academic-type. Old friend Julianne Moore still hopes he’ll turn straight some day, since they’re great playmates and soulmates in every other respect. Meanwhile, a handsome young student (Nicholas Hoult) all but throws himself at the teacher, providing most of the tension - will there be action on the attraction? Should there be?

Everything about the film, from Firth’s understated coping with loss, to Tom Ford’s quietly elegant sets, pace and tone, transcends the time and the climate for homosexuals in our culture. Above all, it’s a moving story about love and survival that resonates across the spectrum of age, gender and orien-tation. Firths’ quiet dignity, with fits and starts, inner conflicts, and external pressures adds up to a marvel of efficiency - conveying more with less. We get to know him as much from flashbacks and the responses of others as from his own words and deeds. His home is a virtual character in the story, adding texture beyond the aesthetics of a set. (7/6/10)

Greenberg (R) An older, wiser version of Ben Stiller

plays an older, yet not necessarily wiser character who had been poised for fame in the LA music scene years earlier, but blew it, and never really recovered. He moved east, became a carpenter and mental patient. Now he’s returning home to housesit for his successful brother, including the family dog, with the help of their amiable assistant (Greta Gerwig). The re-sulting dramedy, co-written and directed by Noah Baumbach, is subtler and more underplayed than Stiller’s fans will recog-nize from even his least zany projects. This film is more akin to Woody Allen’s middle years of semi-comedic musings on life and love among the overly-analytic...or analyzed.

Stiller tries to reconnect with his former friends - including the band that lost its shot at a recording contract when he decided it was selling out. He finds himself vaguely attracted to Gerwig, though unsure of anything about her or himself. He’s extremely uncomfortable in his skin, channeling whatever energy remains into complaints about assorted sore spots,

finding equal fervor for major or trivial grievances. 2-D discontent in a 3-D world. Gerwig’s character is similarly conflicted and tentative, though her insecurities present themselves more charmingly, since they compel her to please others. Stiller’s more of an underaged curmudgeon, who may stumble out of his self-created morass, but you wouldn’t bet the farm on his chances.

Perhaps the most appealing facet of the film is Baumbach’s choice of demographics. Almost every LA - based movie takes place among the celebs and Beverly Hills elite or the opposite extreme of poor, mostly ethnically-defined neighborhoods and gangs. This one shows us life among non-glamorous, over-thirty middle class characters for whom Tinseltown is just a neigh-bor, not a driving factor in their lives. The film is deliberately discomfiting, as we share the inner turmoil of its protagonists. That may not seem like fun - especially for those expecting typical Stiller fare - but it’s a good example of thoughtful, ef-fective film making. (7/13/10)

Clash of the Titans (PG-13) See it in 3-D? 2-D? No matter. The first D is all you need

to know. It stands for DULL. This remake of a retelling of a revi-sion of ancient Greek mythology deploys CG monsters and motion to amazingly little avail. All the king’s techies couldn’t come up with action scenes any better than the claymation used in the 1970s’ version of this saga. As Perseus, Sam Worthington is arguably the least charis-matic hero ever to lead a valiant quest against any foe on any screen - out-drabbing Hayden Christiansen’s Anakin Skywalker, and Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood, among others. But he’s got plenty of company.

The script and direction imbue the entire project with a misplaced sense of self-importance that ranges from annoy-ing to boring. Hysterics and stentorian deliveries don’t elevate drivel above its painfully inadequate level. It combines the pomposity of those cheapie pseudo-epics from the late 1950s to early ‘60s in which a stiff like Steve Reeves played Hercules-type hunks with a surprisingly inept deployment of today’s CGI technology for the parts that should have stirred enough adrenalin to override the cranial malnutrition from the rest. The inevitable “making of” feature on the DVD should be entitled Clueless. If they ever revive Mystery Science Theater 3000, here’s the newest candidate for the snarky droids’ mock-ery. (7/27/10)

• Medicare • Medicare is a federal program to provide medical insurance generally to individuals aged 65 and older. Medicare generally covers the first 20 days a person is at a nursing home following a hospital stay.

• Medicaid • Medicaid is a state-federal partnership that covers major health and long-term care. It primarily covers low income children, the disabled, and nursing home residents. It does not, however, cover all low income or disabled persons. Eligibility is determined by one of the following agencies: the Social Security Administration, the Department of Human Resources, or the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

• Government Assistance •Medicaid applications for nursing home assistance require a

full accounting of all of the assets a person currently has or had in the previous five years. If the person has given away assets or money during the previous five year period, the elderly person will be held responsible to pay that amount of money towards their care at a nursing home.

If the elderly person has assets, they will be required to privately pay the cost of the nursing home until all of the as-sets of the elderly person have been spent down. There must be proof that the money or asset was used for the benefit of the elderly person and not given away. Check all deeds and accounts, including safe deposit boxes, for ownership or ben-eficiary status. Don’t forget to list life estates in real property

which may have been retained by the person.

Medicaid may take a lien on the real property of an elderly person if: (1) they are a patient in a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded; (2) they cannot reasonably be expected to be discharged and return home within 90 days; and (3) they would otherwise meet the Medicaid eligibility require-ments.

Locate all income sources that the elderly person receives, including survivor benefits or veterans benefits for the wid-ows of veterans. Check for other income sources that may have been forgotten.

If the elderly person has income which exceeds the nursing home limit, a Qualifying Income Trust will have to be set up for the elderly person. This essentially takes all of the income which the person receives on a monthly basis and places it in an account.

This account and all of the income which it receives is then paid to the nursing home. Medicaid steps in to pay the rest of the nursing home bill. The Qualifying Income Trust allows people who would be ineligible for Medicaid to become eligible for Medicaid assistance by factoring in the amount of their income.

Montgomery Attorney Jay Ott specializes in the practice of Elder Law/Elder Care, focusing on assisting older individuals and those with disabilities to preserve their dignity, protect their assets, and make good decisions despite increasingly complicated laws. Contact at 334-834-8100, or e-mail [email protected].

elder law

Government Assistance for Nursing Home Care

Jay Ott

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Q: Which adds more nutritional value to a salad: fresh parsley or cilantro?

A: A quarter cup of chopped parsley is a good source of both beta-caro-tene (the plant form of vitamin A) and vitamin C, which are both found

in much smaller amounts in cilantro. Parsley also provides small amounts of folate, potassium and iron that help total daily consumption add up more quickly than amounts in cilantro. Cilantro contains about twice the amount of antioxidant phytochemicals (natural plant compounds) as parsley. Both are great choices to add a fresh taste to salads, salsas, soup (warm or chilled soup for hot weather enjoyment), pasta and more. Use them both and know you’re getting great flavor and nutrition.

Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN, writes this column for The American Institute for Cancer Research. (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk.

by Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDNwhat’s better for you: parsley or cilantro?

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in every life

During hot weather, perspiration is one cooling mechanism your body uses as moisture evapo-

rates from the skin. The amount of fluid lost through perspiration varies indi-vidually, ranging from not enough to be noticed to profuse (diaphoresis).

Although water comprises about 40-60% of older adults’ bodies, the percent decreases with age, making replacement of fluid imperative to avoid dehydra-tion. Fluid depletion can lead to decreased circulating blood volume which can decrease your blood pressure. Significantly decreased blood pressure impacts circulation to vital organs such as the kidneys and brain (which can then lead to an increased risk for falls). Severely decreased fluid volume such as from heavy perspiration, diuretic therapy, vomiting, and/or diarrhea can lead to hypovolemic shock, which is a medical emer-gency.

Early symp-toms of de-hydration are confusion, dry mouth, dry tongue or mucous mem-branes, de-creased weight, fever, restless-ness or agita-tion, weakness, an increased pulse rate and decreased blood pressure, hard-ened stools, decreased urine volume, or concentrated urine with a darker color.

Awareness of the need to replace your fluid is the first step in preventing a negative fluid balance.

Many aging persons experience a decrease in thirst, even when their bodies need fluid. Unless you have specific fluid restriction (such as for heart, lung, or kidney disease), fluid intake per 24 hours should be between 1500 and 2000 ml (six to eight 8 oz. glasses).

Drinking every one to two hours can help maintain a fluid

balance throughout the day, and helps prevent fluid causing a feeling of fullness at mealtime before eating the needed nutrients. Ending fluid intake four to five hours before bed-time may allow time for your kidneys to process the last fluid intake. If not, you may experience some ankle swelling or have the need to eliminate urine throughout the night. Elevating your legs assists with return of fluid to your kidneys.

Although fluids other than water can meet your body’s need, avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavily sweetened beverages. Alcohol and caffeine act as diuretics to increase urine out-put, and each cup should be replaced with the same amount of other fluid. Increased sugar leads to weight gain and an increased risk for diabetes.

Flavoring water with squeezed lemon, lime or orange slices or using decaffeinated coffee or tea can provide alternatives to water.

The balance of electro-lytes (includ-ing sodium and potas-sium) in your body fluid will be influenced by either fluid loss or excess fluid replace-ment. If you are taking a diuretic medication or have a fluid or sodium restriction, you may need to discuss this with your healthcare provider and obtain labora-tory values

periodically. Benefits of adequate fluid intake include reduced risk for

dehydration, thromboembolism, dizziness when standing, constipation, or changes in effects of your medications. The simple solution is to remember to actually drink throughout the day, especially during hot weather!

Arlene H. Morris, RN, EdD is a Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, where she enjoys teaching content regarding gerontology and professional nursing issues.

Quench that thirst

Arlene Morris

Been in a college classroom lately? Chances are, there are more than a few gray heads sitting at the desks.

Tim Gotkiewicz is such a student. At age 52, the retired Navy commander master chief is on track to earn his bachelor’s degree in management of human resources from Faulkner University.

“My classmates tell me I study way too much,” he said, laughing. “But I love it.”

Last year, Gotkiewicz moved from Florida to Montgomery with his wife so he could pursue his dream of earning a college degree, something he never completed during his 29 years in the Navy.

He’d always wanted to go to Faulkner, but finan-cially couldn’t swing it. With the help of the new GI Bill and the Veterans Administration, however, Gotkiewicz got the financial help he needed to enroll in classes in September 2009. He’s prob-ably the oldest person in his Monday night class, but that’s fine with him.

“Being retired, I get the opportunity to do a

lot more preparation and I take full advantage of that time,” he said. “At my age, I know what this education really means.”

It’s a familiar refrain with other over-50 stu-dents enrolled in Montgomery area colleges who’ve gone back to the classroom either to complete a degree, earn a new degree, or simply audit classes for their own enjoyment. Several campuses offer accelerated degree programs de-signed for older students who want to complete degrees on a fast track.

Nationally, the college student population is older than a generation ago, according to the American Council on Education. In 2007, more than a third of people studying for an associate or higher degree were 25 and older, and this group is expected to grow 20 percent by 2017, according to the U.S Department of Education

In Alabama, 3,699 students over the age of 50 are currently enrolled in public two and four-year college classes, according to the Alabama

Navy veteran Tim Gotkiewicz is fullfilling his dream of earning a college degree.

older adults go back to school

Back in Class

By Lenore Vickrey

feature

Commission on Higher Education. That represents about 2% percent of the total enrollment, but doesn’t count private institutions.

“Institutions are accommodating students at all levels despite reduced funding and limitations brought on by the economy,” said Gregory G. Fitch, executive director of the Alabama Com-mission on Higher Education. "We do see overall growth which includes older students.”

Dr. Olin Wesley, Director of Continu-ing Education at Alabama State Univer-sity, noticed this trend three years ago as older students increasingly sought

to take classes in computer and finance courses, in particular. While the cur-rent economy has somewhat slowed this trend, he says ASU still attracts older students, especially those seeking degrees in education and pre-licensure certification for the Alabama real estate exam.

“The older students are typically more motivated than the youth,” Wesley says. “They have more stick-to-it-tive-ness because they see the long-term benefit. They’re also more inquisitive.”

Pam Tharp, 50, was definitely moti-vated when she registered for classes at Troy University Montgomery after being

out of school for more than 30 years. “Had I chosen to go to college right

after high school, like so many of my friends did, I don’t believe I would have done as well or accomplished as much as I have in my first two years at Troy. I know in my heart at 18 years old I would not have been half as dedicated or determined and committed as I am now at 50,” she said.

Tharp, an English major who wants to be a writer, is one of the nearly 200 students over the age of 50 enrolled at Troy Montgomery, according to Vice Chancellor Ray White. She is typical of students who’ve been out of a school environment for many years, but who, with their youthful years behind them, come to the classroom “as more mature individuals who are ready to learn. They are also more fully aware of the benefits and the importance of getting the col-lege degree to enhance their careers,” he said. Troy Montgomery “has always been suited for the older working adult because this is the group that typically works all day, has a family, and goes to school at night.”

The older adult student can bring “years of work experience to the classroom, which greatly enhances the textbook instruction,” White added. Plus, “they are great mentors for the younger students who haven’t had the same level of experiences in life and the workplace.”

Like many of her classmates, Tharp works full time while pursuing her de-gree. She works at the college cafeteria, convenience store and as assistant in catering and events, and also writes po-etry and sells her original bookmarks at bookstores and gift shops. She expects to graduate in 2012 or 2013, and is excited about the experience and what lies ahead.

“In my second year as an English major, I am learning how to be the best at what I do while building a confidence and foundation within myself to see it through,” she said.

Berenice Artis, 53, is a single parent and retired Army staff sergeant who works full time for the Department of Corrections while working toward a degree in criminal justice through Faulkner’s accelerated degree program. On Tuesdays and Thursday, she leaves work at 5 p.m. and gets to campus

English major Pam Tharp balances work and classes, a common situation for adult students.

in time for her first class at 5:40 and won’t leave until 10 p.m. By December 2011, she will have a bachelor of science degree and then plans to earn a master’s by 2012.

“Having two degrees will help me get a promotion, and it will help me be familiar with and have insight into the criminal laws,” she said. “I associate what I’m learning with what I’ve seen at my job.” Classes last eight weeks. “It’s a lot of information in a short time span.”

Huntingdon College also offers an accelerated degree option through its Adult Degree Completion Program, with classes lasting five weeks, meeting one night a week for four hours, according to Tommy Dismukes, director.

“Classes are all in person, not online,” he said of the program that’s been going on for about eight years. Designed to match the lifestyle of working persons with families, the program has about 300 students enrolled at sites in Montgomery, the Birmingham area, Clanton, Pell City, Enterprise, Bay Minette, Brewton and Daphne.

Jackie Kennedy Amis, 56, coordinator of community and public affairs at WVAS radio, is working towards a bachelor’s degree in business management at Hunt-ingdon.

“I’m finishing my third year now,” she said. A former journalism major, she always regretted not getting a degree in business, but is now taking classes once a

week to fulfill her goal. She’ll even be commuting to Huntingdon’s Birmingham campus for her next class in statistics.

Going back to school in her 50s hasn’t been that big of an adjustment, she said, even though she’s likely older than her classmates. Once, when one of her instructors asked the class if they’d done their homework, the teacher seemed amazed that they had done so. Jackie assured her: “We’re here not because mama made us, but because we want to be!”

Not all older adults in the classroom

Local educational institutions offer a variety of classes and programs for senior adults, from degree-granting to one-day classes, in courses from computer skills to swimming. Visit these web-sites for more information:

alabama state university www.alasu.eduamridge university http://www.amridgeuniversity.edu/auburn university mOnt-gOmery www.aum.edufaulkner university www.faulkner.eduhuntingdOn COllege www.huntingdon.edusOuth university http://www.southuniversity.edu/montgomery.aspxtrOy university mOntgOm-ery www.troy.edutrenhOlm state teChniCal COllege www.trenholm-state.eduvirginia COllege http://www.vacollege.net/

Berenice Artis’ BS degree will be the first step in her career plan linking work and school.

Like many adult students, Jackie Kennedy Amis’ busy day includes working and studying.28 August 2010 | www.primemontgomery.com

Register at www.aum.edu/coned or call 244-3804Not valid with any other discount.

Excludes online classes and any classes for which you are already registered.

Preview Night August 26, 2010 Join us for a free preview of the courses and certificate programs offered by Continuing Education at Auburn Montgomery. You will have an opportunity to meet our instructors and staff, as well as receive information about specific courses and a discount for classes.

Your center for lifelong learning

We invite youto Fall Preview Night

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are there to earn credits or are interested in getting a degree, however, and there are places for them as well. Harry Truslow retired in March 2009 after 22 years with the U.S. Department of Justice. He’d already given 20 years to the Air Force. At age 65, he was looking for “productive ways to spend my free time in retirement.” He found it at the Senior Guest Program at Auburn University Montgomery.

Designed for adults 60 and over, the program gives seniors the chance to enroll, at no charge, in regular college courses without credit or required tests or assignments.

“We do pay for our books,” Truslow said. “I have taken one class each semester: International Relations, History of Conflict, Applied Ethics.” He’s currently taking a class on Vietnam on Mon-day and Wednesday mornings, which is of special interest to him as a Vietnam veteran.

“I simply review the schedule each semester and pick out a couple of classes I think would be interesting and see which are available,” he said. “I enjoy the interaction with other students and learning more about a variety of topics.”

Other universities also allow auditing of classes, and admission requirements and cost vary. Adults 60 and older are also eligible for the Senior Adult Scholarship Program through Alabama’s Community College System. This program covers tuition for certain classes based on space availability.

ACHE’s Fitch says colleges and universities will continue to adapt to the demands of older and working students by offering classes at night, weekends and online.

Education, whether for career advancement or personal growth, is not a destination, but a journey of discovery.

Above - Harry Truslow in Vietnam, 1971.Right - Truslow reading before the start of his third class taken under AUM’s Senior Guest Program. The subject...? Vietnam.

out and about

Eastdale Estates5801 Eastdale Drive

Montgomery, AL 36117Contact Larry or Judy, 334-260-8911

1. Care•free (adj.) - untroubled, relaxed2. In•de•pen•dent (adj.) - self-determining3. Com•for•ta•ble (adj.) - a state of physical ease

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1. Authors Carole King (R), and Karren Pell, interviewed by WSFA-TV 12 at Capitol Book & News during the release of their book Montgomery’s Historic Neighbor-hoods.2. Authors King and Pell sign books and chat with guests.3. Sail and power boats line the ‘wharf ’ as Montgomery RC model boat club members enjoy a sunny weekend at Blount Park.

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1. Patsy Smith and friends catch up during a leisurely Lake Martin weekend. (front, l-r) Jayne Blake, Beth Edwards, Portia Goss, Norman Goss; (back) James Blake, Jim Edwards, Bill Smith, and Patsy Smith. 2. Staff celebrate Pajama Day at Capitol Grill, with workers and diners clad in their favorite PJs.3. Residents at John Knox Tower prepare for a friendly game of cards. From left, Mrs. Mulleck, Mrs. Guntharp and Mr. Miller.

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Montgomery Ballet presents “Carmina burana” october 16th with the Montgomery chorale

“sleeping beauty” october 17th for the whole family

At the Historic davis theatre...Call 334.409.0522 for tickets

Montgomery Ballet in Gloria, photo by Chris Helton

2.

August Community

Doings

First Three Weekends in August Wetumpka Depot Players perform “Big River,” 334-868-1440. www.wetumpkadepot.com

August 7Old Alabama Town, History at High

Noon, Dr. Alan Gribben: “Mark Twain on the Move.”

August 14Old Alabama Town, Music Jam 9 a.m. to

Noon. History at High Noon, McDow-ell Crook “Walking the Appalachian Trail.”

August 19ArchiTreats: Food for Thought. Archives

and History. Noon. Karen I. Henricks and “The Impact of New Deal Money on ‘Small Town’ Alabama.”

August 21Old Alabama Town. History at High

Noon, Dr. George Cully, “The History of Maxwell Field”

Allison Bonds•334-270-9100•[email protected]

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August 28 - September 5The Montgomery Ballet, under the direction of Elie Lazar, performs by invitation

at the “Pietrasanta in Danza International Dance Festival” in Italy

Through September 3Summer Blossoms: A Bouquet for Alabama. Alabama Council on the Arts, Art-

ist Gallery, RSA Tower downtown.A presentation of glass, pottery, painting, and metal sculpture. Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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CROSSWORD CLUESACROSS 1 PC drive feed 6 Fruity confection 15 Listened to attentively 16 Slumber party 17 Two quartets together 18 Refinement 19 Luau staple 20 James of “The Godfa-ther” 21 “I Remember Mama” character 22 Flourish 25 Answer to an accusa-tion 27 Dandy of song 30 One of a flight 31 Having ability 35 Reef predator 36 Coffee concoction 38 River of Devon 39 Barely good enough 42 Philippines machetes 44 Hidden influence 47 Take stock of 50 Person on the lam

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26 Draft choice 28 River romper 29 Type of bran 32 Uses the transporter 33 Free from blame 34 Warship 36 Striplings 37 Lunched 40 Majestic 41 Young followers? 42 Subscription form: abbr. 43 __ pro nobis 45 Thurible 46 Dos Passos trilogy 47 Slack off 48 Actress Braga 49 Casino staples 52 Emotional condition 53 Tree-trimming time 56 Beatles song, “__ Blues” 57 Med. procedure 58 __ Dhabi 59 Operate

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Answers for both puzzles can be found on page 24.


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