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When is the right time to give up the keys?BY WILLIAM HAGEMAN

of The Chicago Tribune

We all remember when we got our driver’s license. It’s one of life’s greatmoments, a giant step toward adulthood.

Decades later comes a related rite ofpassage that generates considerably lessenthusiasm: The day you stop driving.

Most older drivers are aware when thattime is approaching. They recognize theirdiminishing skills; maybe they have aclose call or sometimes can’t find the wayhome. Most relinquish their keys or makeconcessions to age and adjust their drivingpatterns.

But others, no matter how many timesthey get lost, blow stop signs or gethonked at by fellow motorists, want tokeep that grip on the wheel.

“I think most people understand thepoint when it’s unsafe for them to drive,”says Moraine Byrne, senior vice presidentfor Covenant Retirement Communities, anonprofit organization that sponsors theWeb site havingtheconversation.com.

“They’re more often afraid they mighthurt someone else. They make the decision on their own or cut way back.”

Giving up driving can be difficult.People fear a loss of independence and theability to participate in longtime activities. They worry about being able todo their shopping, visit friends or keepdoctor appointments.

All good points, all needing to beaddressed during any family discussion.

“Unless there’s a real emergency, I recommend the family plan to start theconversation slowly,” Byrne suggests. “Askquestions, (don’t) come in with a set planin mind, but come in with an open mindso the parent doesn’t feel they’re beingattacked. You really need to have severalconversations, unless there is an emergency situation. You have to haverespect for a parent’s position.”

Jodi Olshevski, a gerontologist andassistant vice president of The HartfordAdvance 50 Team, a group of experts onaging that works with the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology AgeLab, says thatsometimes the conversation should not beabout taking away the keys, but aboutfinding ways to encourage safe driving.

“We’re trying to promote options forpeople who are concerned about their

driving,” she says. “I think that as gerontologists we realize that driving issuch an important activity, a link to beingindependent and a social connection. Andall of those things are necessary for anindividual to age well.”

Before any discussion or decision, it’simportant to go for a spin with dad ormom to assess his or her driving skills.

“Rather than assume the parent is anunsafe driver, ride with them,” Byrne says.“They may be doing much better than youthink they are. Age doesn’t really haveanything to do with this.”

Also a good idea: an assessment by atrained occupational therapist.

“There are two parts; it’s a pretty in-depth evaluation,” explains Olshevski,who says the Web site safedrivingforalifetime.com has a link tohelp find an occupational therapist.

“The first part is a clinical assessment,and that includes an evaluation of a person’s cognitive abilities, their motorfunction, just their physical status. Thesecond part involves an on-the-road test,where an occupational therapist gets inthe car and observes the driving.

“Once those two pieces are done, thetherapist sits down with the driver andtalks about what can be done to keep themsafe on the road for as long as possible.”

When the evidence is in, the familymay realize that stopping cold turkey isn’twarranted. If a person’s skills are onlystarting to erode, there are alternatives.

Curtail higher-risk driving situations,for example. Recent research from theMIT AgeLab and The Hartford found that69 percent of drivers older than 75 and 58 percent of those between 65 and 74self-regulate their driving.

That means avoiding driving at nightor rush hour, taking only familiar routes,limiting trips to a certain distance, andkeeping off expressways and highways.

Then there are classes where olderdrivers can brush up on their skills. AARP(aarp.com) offers a classroom and onlinecourse aimed at older drivers.

“I’ve known several people who havetaken it who said it helped them remainfocused and helped them to think differently,” Byrne says. “I’ve looked at thecourse work, and it looks like a tremendous program.”

2 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010

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Making end-of-life decisions now will help laterBY KRISTEN JORDAN SHAMUS

of The Detroit Free Press

Each of us comes with an expirationdate. We just don’t know when it is.

Death can steal you away in yourprime, as it did my mother’s sister,Louise. She was driving on a countryroad on a summer day when a tire blewout on her station wagon. In aninstant, she was gone. She left behinda husband and three small children —along with the lingering feeling thatlife isn’t fair or predictable.

Death can wait until you don’t thinkyou can’t bear another day of life, as itdid with my father’s sister. Susan hadsuffered for months with pancreaticcancer, enduring chemotherapy andincredible pain. Just a few days beforeChristmas, her son told her that she didn’t have to keep on fighting throughthe holidays. He told her that if shewanted to let go, it was OK. Theywould be all right. And so she did. Andit was merciful.

Death answers to no one. My grandmother, who will be 92 next

month, says she’s lived as long as sheneeds to. She keeps asking us all topray that God will take her soon. Ican’t bring myself to do that.

My grandmother was hospitalizedwith pneumonia this winter, and that’swhen doctors realized just how poorlyher heart is working. They asked herchildren whether, if the worst happened, she should be resuscitated.She made her wishes clear: “Get a bigstick and hit me over the head.”

Even knowing what she wanted, itwas hard for her children to answer thedoctors. Her daughters finally agreedto do as their mother asked. Not thatthey went into the woods looking for ahefty branch, but they did sign a do-not-resuscitate order.

And yet, death continues to eludethe woman who says she wants so verymuch for it to come. Her struggleshave me thinking quite a bit latelyabout end-of-life issues — not the sort of thing anybody enjoys talkingabout over dinner, or anytime for that matter, despite the inevitability ofit.

It’s something we all have to face.People we love will die, even whenthey have so much to live for. Andsooner or later, death will take us, too.

The truth is, you never know whichapproach death will take. It could betoday or tomorrow, sudden or slow. Itcould be in another 50 years. But whenever it is, do the people you lovethe favor of making it as easy as youcan for them.

Have you prepared? Have you leftyour family in a good position sothey’ll know your wishes — not justabout who gets your fabulous crystalvase, but for what really matters, likeyour kids, your pets?

If you don’t have a living will,consider addressing that now. If youfeel strongly about being resuscitatedor kept alive on a ventilator, put it inwriting. Learn about power of attorney.

For help, contact the nonprofit CareConnections at www.caringinfo.org or(800) 658-8898 or check out theAARP’s Web site, www.aarp.org/families/end—life.

THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 3

Don’t let aches, painsslow you down this spring

We all know the feeling that comes withthe first great day of spring. When the sun isshining, the air smells sweet and fresh andthe temperatures are warm, we all feel theurge to get outside and throw off the confinement of the winter months.

No one is immune from the desire to getoutdoors and do something active whileenjoying the weather — and that includespeople with chronic pain issues. Whetheryou’re dealing with arthritis or trying to treatcarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the threat ofpain is one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome for those who want tolive an active lifestyle.

The important thing is to consult yourdoctor and to work out a plan together thatwill let you get the exercise you want andneed without worsening your pain.

For people suffering from CTS, support-ive splints can provide the relief they need.One example, IMAK’s SmartGlove, featuresa comfortably flexible support splint thatkeeps hands in a good position withoutbeing stiff, and helps to relieve or preventcarpal tunnel syndrome. It’s ideal for activelifestyles because it is breathable and washable, and it’s an effective non-surgicaltreatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

— ARAcontent

4 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010

THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 5

Six tax tips just for retireesIf anyone needs a little extra tax help this

year, it’s retired Americans. The value ofinvestments and retirement accounts built-upthroughout their careers have been halved ordisappeared altogether, thanks to the recession, floundering employers and dead-in-the-water house sales.

For example, many retirees may wronglythink they no longer need to file a 1040 formbecause they’re not earning a regular paycheck. It’s important to note deductions formedical expenses, retirement-account losses,and other 50-plus specific situations.

Here are tips to help maximize deductions.1.Who should file: Social Security

income generally isn’t taxable, but there areexceptions. It all depends on outside income,such as dividends, earned income, pensionsor other sources of money.Your annual SocialSecurity statement provides additional direc-tions and information.

2. Standard deduction: If you were 65and older by the end of the year and aren’titemizing, you’re entitled to a higher standarddeduction.You get an additional $1,250 if youare single and not a surviving spouse and anextra $1,000 if you’re married or a survivingspouse. Those filing single receive a standarddeduction of $6,250, instead of $5,000, andmarried couples filing married jointly — where

both spouses are 65 and older — can deduct$12,000 instead of $10,000. If you and/or yourspouse are blind, you’re entitled to an evenhigher deduction.

3. Elderly or disabled tax credits: Youmay qualify for the Credit for the Elderly orDisabled if you and/or your spouse are atleast 65 years or are considered permanentlyand totally disabled. This credit doesn’t appearon the short 1040-EZ form, so you must com-plete the long 1040 or 1040A forms.

4. Accelerated death benefits: If you ownlife insurance with cash value and becometerminally or chronically ill, you might be qualified to use that cash value tax-free to paymedical and other personal expenses.

5. Annual changes: The Tax Code is con-stantly in flux, with changes that affect almosteveryone. Recent changes involve retirementaccounts and tax credits, with a prime exam-ple being the 2010 conversion rule for RothIRAs. The AARP.org offers excellent aides tohelp you track these changes.

6. Get free help: Many communitygroups, senior centers, libraries and othernon-profits offer free tax assistance to seniors.Call (888) 227-7669 or search AARP.com forassistance in your area.

— Kate Forgach, http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/

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6 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010

Boomers driving makeover of American volunteerismBY ROBERT ROSENTHAL

of VolunteerMatch

Baby boomers have been rewritingAmerican culture for decades. Now, as thefirst wave of retiring boomers leaves thework force and the next wave is reachingthe 55-plus mark, they are redefining yetanother great American institution — volunteerism.

In 2002, Dom Gieras retired from hisjob with the State of New York after 30 years. Where once his volunteeringrevolved around his family’s needs —including stints managing his son’s base-ball teams — today, he is a volunteer tech-nology consultant with the ExecutiveService Corps of the Tri-Cities. Gierasconsults on projects for local nonprofitagencies, is a volunteer Webmaster for aliteracy organization, and the creator ofthe Capital District Nonprofit TechnologyAssistance Project, a Web site that servesas a reference guide to technology solu-tions for local nonprofit professionals.

An avid reader, Gieras, now in his 60s,says his original plan for retirementinvolved just the tutoring and literacywork. “But when I discovered the state oftheir technology I decided they needed memore there,” he says.

Now that baby boomers like Gieras

have more time of their own, they areincreasingly looking for innovative ways toserve nonprofits in causes they care about,volunteering experts say. And, like Gieras,many are choosing opportunities that aredeeply rooted in the skills and experiencesthey acquired in the working world.

“Boomers came of age in an era ofactivism and involvement,” says JillFriedman Fixler, an expert on boomer volunteering trends. “As boomers reachthe later years of their work they are begin-ning to think about their legacy, how theywill be using their time and skills to impacttheir community and skilled volunteeringis the most logical way to contribute.”

In 2009, Friedman Fixler partneredwith VolunteerMatch, a nonprofit organi-zation (www.volunteermatch.org), torelease “Boomer Volunteer Engagement:Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.” Thebook helps charities recognize opportuni-ties for deep engagement with older adultsand reorganize their volunteer programs tosupport more skilled volunteering.

More than 200,000 older adult volunteers currently use VolunteerMatch.Using just a few key words, volunteers cansearch for opportunities based on geographic region, cause, and the types ofskills they have to offer.

THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 7

• 24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care• Restorative Programs• Out Patient Therapy• Physical, Occupational, Speech & Recreational Therapy• Medicare, Medicaid & VA Certified• New Therapy Enrichment Area• Respite Care, Hospice and Comfort Care• On Site Transportation

Please feel free to stop by anytime, we look forward to visiting with you!

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Whether your visit to Butte Convalescent Center is a short or long term stay, our goal is to share in the joy of the lives we’ve touched ....that’s what we’re about!

Did you know that with the help & encouragement from our dedicated team, over 75 individuals who visited our facility within the last year, have returned home or to a lesser level of care?

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Butte Care and Rehabilitation Center

Use caution when taking medicineOne of the common misconceptions sur-

rounding poison centers is that they are aimedprimarily at children who’ve gotten into some-thing they shouldn’t have.While poison centersdo take such calls, they also take plenty of callsfrom people who’ve made mistakes when tak-ing their medicine. In 2008, 10.6 percent of allpoison exposures occurred as a result of “ther-apeutic errors,” including taking the wrong med-icine or inadvertently taking doses too closetogether.

The American Association of PoisonControl Centers offers the following tips aimedat taking medicine safely:

■ Never take medicine that isn’t intendedfor you, and never give a person medicine notintended for them. Do not use another person’sprescription, even if it is similar to one you maybe taking.

■ Never use a household spoon to measure liquids because the volume in such aspoon could vary widely and the dose wouldnot be accurate.

■ Make sure after refilling a prescriptionthat the pills look the same as the previousmonth. If the directions are not clear or appearto have changed, ask the pharmacist or yourdoctor as soon as you notice it.

■ Some drugs include warnings that theyshould not be taken with certain drugs, supple-ments, foods or alcohol. Be sure you know if

this applies to your medicines.■ Never take medicine in the dark, and use

glasses or a magnifier to read the label if necessary before taking each dose. Some poison exposures occur when people acciden-tally take medicine intended for their pets.

■ Maintain an up-to-date list of all medicines for each family member, includingprescription and over-the-counter drugs, aswell as supplements. Show the list to your doctor at clinic visits, and verify each time yougo to the pharmacy for refills or buy a newmedicine. Be sure you have any allergies listedas well. Having this information when you travelis also very important.

■ When using medicine administered by a“patch,” take off one patch before applying thenext one. In the case of topical products, washoff the skin before applying more.

■ Don’t flush old medicines down the toilet.Instead, hold them for a local medication dis-posal event, or mix them with an inedible sub-stance like coffee grounds or kitty litter, thendispose of them in a sealed bag or other con-tainer in the trash. Call your local pharmacy tosee if they have tips on proper disposal as well.

Poison centers offer free and confidentialservices 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ifyou have a question, call your local poison center at (800) 222-1222.

— American Association of Poison Control Centers

8 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010

Con men prey on the

elderly, so be alertBY TIM DARRAGH

of The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)

The scams: We’re reaching into themailbag and covering the voice mailboxtoday. Maybe it’s the nice weather, but itseems there are more rip-off attempts outthere. Here are a few.

How it works: A man called on Bea,telling her she needed her chimneycleaned. A senior citizen, Bea couldn’trecall when her chimney was last cleaned.She set up an appointment, even thoughhe didn’t inspect the chimney. Not a goodidea.

Another “salesman” went aroundtelling elderly homeowners that he couldget them a better electric rate plan.

Other seniors called us to report thatthey were getting suspicious offers tolower their credit card interest rate, makepayment plans for items they hadn’t pur-chased and follow instructions to collect

riches in lotteries they hadn’t entered.What to do: The common thread

through all these reports is that the victimsare elderly. Seniors are frequent targets forcon men, so the first thing to do is remem-ber: If it sounds too good to be true, itprobably is. Don’t let a salesman talk youinto something you don’t know if youneed. If they want your business, legiti-mate salesmen will give you time to checktheir offer. And don’t believe “surprise”notices that you won money. You didn’t.

The Office of Consumer Protectionunder the Attorney General’s officeenforces Montana’s consumer protectionlaws and regulations related to: Deceptiveand misleading advertising; unfair acts bya business; door-to-door sales; and tele-marketing, including running Montana'sdo-not-call list, according to its Web site.For more information call (800) 481-6896or go online to www.doj.mt.gov/consumer/consumer/default.asp.