By Joe Hutter

Did you know that one-third of Iowans over 65 live alone? These same Iowans, who live alone, are also willing to talk on the phone or at their front door to a stranger. The lowest of the low, of non-violent criminals are those who take advantage of seniors. Seniors usually save some money and live in homes that need some upkeep that they can no longer do themselves. Seniors need to be careful and look out for each other.

The legislators are now back in session, and there are some things that Iowans should do. The law allows the attorney general to seek a civil penalty up to $5,000 against those who commit a fraud against older people. In Illinois, the attorney general can seek up to $10,000. Iowa should increase the penalty for those who commit crimes against seniors over 65 years of age. For other violent crimes committed against seniors, the penalties should be doubled. Iowa ranks fourth in the number of residents over 65 and third in the number of residents over the age of 85. It makes Iowa the place to go for scam artists. Contact your legislators and ask them to consider raising the penalty for people, or should I say scum bags, who commit crimes against seniors. This goes to both Iowa and Illinois residents, as criminals pay no attention to borders.

The River Bend Transit is now providing rides on Sundays for seniors from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., according to Randy Zobrist of River Bend Transit. If you need a ride, call (563) 386-1350. Generations Area Agency on Aging received a grant for this service until June 30, 2012. You need to reserve the day and time to catch a ride in Scott County. Chris Merritt, executive director of Generations, hopes this program is successful so it can continue in the future. Ride the bus and avoid the fuss. The bus can handle up to 15 passengers!

Our S.A.L.T. (Seniors And Law enforcement Together) group will be meeting on February 22, 2012 at CASI at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come, and there are no dues to pay. Members of our local police departments and from the Scott County Sheriff’s office will be there, too! If you have any questions, call Pam at (563) 326-8217.

Take care!

Ella
[Ella can be contacted at ellaweeze@yahoo.com or Ella – 50+ Lifestyles, 804 W Lombard Street, Davenport, IA, 52804]

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Tuscan Bean Soup
(a recipe given to me by my nephew)

1/2 cup kidney beans soaked overnight
1/2 cup cannellini beans soaked overnight
3 tablespoons olive oil,
1/2 pound diced bacon (omit if doing vegetarian)
2 cups diced yellow onions 1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrots 4 cloves garlic, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (14-ounce) can store-bought garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 quarts chicken stock or vegetable stock plus extra water if needed
2 sprigs rosemary 3 sprigs thyme
1 sprig oregano 1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
2 heads kale, stems removed and cut into bite size pieces

Place the kidney beans in a medium pot, add water to cover by 2-inches and bring to a boil. (If using canned kidney beans, skip this step.) Turn the heat down, let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until just-tender. Use the same process for the cannellini beans. In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the bacon, rendering the fat and cooking until slightly crispy about 3 minutes. Saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and
freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Add the diced tomatoes, the cooked and drained kidney beans, cannelloni beans, garbanzo beans, and the chicken stock. Using kitchen twine, tie the herbs and the bay leaf into a bundle and add to the pot. Season with the red chili flakes, salt and pepper. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, then add the kale. Continue cooking until the beans are
completely tender.
Makes about 8 servings

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Skillet Potato Salad

5 slices bacon
1 10.5-ounce can condensed cream of celery soup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon instant minced onion 2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped canned pimiento 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1-pound cans sliced potatoes, drained 1 14-oz. bologna ring

Fry bacon till crisp; remove from skillet; drain and crumble. Drain off bacon fat and return 1 tablespoon to skillet. blend in soup, relish, onion, vinegar, salt and pimiento. cook and stir till mixture comes to boiling.
Gently stir in the sliced potatoes and all but about 1 tablespoon crumbled bacon. Score bologna ring and lay on top of salad in skillet; cover and simmer 10 minutes or till bologna is heated through. Sprinkle remaining bacon over top. Garnish with snipped parsley, if desired.
Serves 6.

What is APRIS? APRIS is a community service of Augustana Public Radio WVIK (90.3FM). It serves those with visual or physical impairments, who live within 45 miles of the Quad-Cities. Using a special radio receiver, APRIS provides these people free service of news read aloud from local and regional newspapers. Papers included are: The Quad-City Times, Dispatch/Argus, Chicago Tribune, Muscatine Journal, and Clinton Herald. In addition, the weekly publications of Orion and Geneseo, Morrison and Prophetstown; Erie and Aledo are read on a weekly basis.

Almost 200 volunteers are involved in the reading of these newspapers to provide the service to those in the Quad-Cities area, who have signed up for this remarkable benefit.

From local news to news of neighbors, obituaries to grocery ads, religious news to sports, one can stay connected to the community through this outstanding local radio reading service.

The receivers are loaned, free of charge, to the visually or physically impaired individuals, their families or caregivers. There is a daily schedule of the news readings, which air Monday through Friday. Please see the schedule published in this magazine (below).

To seek more information about this free program, please go to www.wvik.org or call (309) 794-7560 to request a receiver or gain more information.

Would you like to be that voice on the radio as a volunteer? APRIS could not operate without the many volunteers, who read the news routinely. This may be just the volunteer situation you were hoping to find. Wait no longer. Call (309) 794-7560 or email apris@wvik.org to ask how you can help today!

The month of February is for Sweethearts. This leads me to share a Sweetheart Story from a couple at Ridgecrest Village Retirement Community.

The Sweetest Smile
By Jack Hebblin

“Helen has the sweetest smile. Even though she has a broken tooth now, she still has the sweetest smile. It is infectious.”

We met by osmosis. In school, I played in a band with Helen’s brother. We would practice at each other’s houses. At that time, I was in high school, and Helen was in seventh grade, I didn’t really notice her, but she says she noticed me. She told me she thought I was really cute.

When I returned home from WWII, I visited one of my old band buddies, Helen’s brother. When I saw her, a young girl had bloomed into a beautiful woman. I was struck immediately. She told me she was, too. We dated every day for two months, until I went to college. On one of our first dates, I asked her if she would like to go on a picnic to Lake Story in Galesburg, Illinois. She said yes then I said, well would you make the picnic lunch. I still have pictures of our first date. We would go to the movies and baseball games. It didn’t matter what we did, we just enjoyed being together.

I went off to college for two years. When I came back to town, Helen was still single. We started dating, and in one month, I proposed. I’ll never forget the day I proposed. I even have a picture of the house where I proposed. One evening, we were sitting on the front porch, and I said, “Well, I suppose we ought to get married, don’t you think?” I don’t think she answered me. I called her on the telephone the next day. She must have figured I was sincere, and four months later, we were married. The wedding was at the very house where I proposed to her. When I saw her come down the stairs, I thought she was absolutely gorgeous.

In my profession, I traveled all week long. I would leave on Monday and be gone for the week. Helen took care of our four children by herself while I was gone. My children recently told me a story; On Monday morning Helen would look beautiful, very feminine, hair, lipstick and all. She would give me a kiss and wave good-bye. Then immediately when they got back into the house, she would go into the bathroom and come out grungy. She would say, “OK, let’s get busy.” Monday is wash day, so they would get busy with the weekly chores; the kids refer to her lovingly as the “task master.” Come Friday, in the afternoon she would disappear to the bathroom and come out completely changed back to that beautiful, feminine woman, lipstick and all. She took care of everything during the week, so when I got home on Friday, we could all spend time together. She made every weekend a vacation. She made our marriage work.

We have had a very loving relationship. I have always tried to be romantic. I think that is what Helen kind of liked. I remember one year it was our 25th Anniversary. I had the children gather up 25 pop bottles. We set them up in a path that led her around the house. Each bottle represented one year of our life together and held one red rose, along with a note describing an event from that year of our life together. When Helen came home from town, she followed the path of roses until she reached the last one. It was dipped in gold, sitting next to our bed.

When I retired, we moved to a family farm. There, Helen and I worked side by side everyday, building a park on our land. We planted trees one by one and built two ponds on the land. Those were fun years. I spent every day with her. We grew something together. The park is still there, today.

It was Helen’s idea to move to Ridgecrest Village. She recognized that we couldn’t take care of the farm anymore. The day we came to look, there it was; the perfect apartment; Just what we were looking for. We would be able to have a garden and sit out on the patio. Yet, we were worry free.

I remember when we first got here, I was so depressed, I wouldn’t even go to dinner. I wasn’t going to go down there with all “those old people.” The funny thing was, we were the same age as of “those old people.” Helen was enthusiastic about being here; she wanted me to be as happy as she was. When I finally started going down to the dining room for meals, we would sit with people I knew. Then we met new people and found we had connections from our past. We quickly became comfortable with our new way of life. I am so happy that we made the move. When Helen was diagnosed with dementia, we knew we had made the right choice moving to Ridgecrest Village; we were with people that loved us. They were going to be here with us every day, providing care and support.

Since the dementia progressed, my children and I do things with her we know she will enjoy. This year for Christmas, my daughter brought a small pine tree along with small ornaments. Helen decorated it herself. We could see the joy on her face. She knew she was with people that loved her. Decorating a Christmas tree was something she had always enjoyed.

At Ridgecrest Village, I am able to visit Helen every day at Crest Health Center. I go over twice a day and sometimes three times. Our visits are now memories of the past, what we did and the good things we had. We look at pictures together from time to time. Helen remembers the kids; she does not know the others.

I feel fortunate; I have lived a very charmed life. I can’t think of a tragedy that happened in my life, until Helen was diagnosed with dementia. Because we live at Ridgecrest, I don’t call this a tragedy. If we had been living out on the farm, I would call it a tragedy. I have learned to be happy with what you have; don’t cry about what you have lost.

There are two definitions of love; I am experiencing a love right now that I have never experienced before. It’s that utter dependency that she has on me. How she compliments me; “Oh you’re so good to me. I love you for that,” and then she will stroke my hand. Sometimes she will do something funny and make us both laugh. Those are loving things that you can treasure. When I am alone at night and going through pictures, I think about what I had, and I sort of regret that I have lost it. Why did this disease pick us? Why couldn’t we be like other couples? But we can’t be, this is life.

The best part of the love story is that it has lasted 63 years. Helen’s smile is infectious.

Seniors today are fortunate that there are so many choices in senior housing today.

The choices for senior housing have changed significantly over the years. Back in the 1990s, seniors had basically two choices; either live at home or move into a nursing home if their health declined. Twenty years later, there are now many choices for seniors. Home Health Services allow seniors to stay at home and have a visiting nurse come in and assist them. Another option is to move into an independent/assisted living apartment. In this environment they rent an apartment, have home-cooked meals served to them in a dining room, and a nurse supervises their medication administration and activities of daily living.

There are now some independent/assisted living facilities that now accept Medicaid, which is a plus for those seniors on limited incomes.

Nursing homes are now seeing their population change. Seniors, who come to a nursing home, for the most part are in their 90s, compared to in their 80s years ago. Residents, who live in nursing homes, have increased medical needs that require 24-hour supervision. And naturally, the cost of living in a nursing home is greater compared to independent/assisted living due to the increased needs of the resident. Today, the average cost of nursing home care in the Quad-Cities is $5,500 to $6,500 per month. And Medicaid does cover the cost of nursing home care should the resident deplete their assets.

Seniors today are fortunate that there are so many choices in senior housing today. And in the Quad-Cities, there are many facilities to choose from.

At Bettendorf Health Care Center, we provide skilled and intermediate nursing care. We offer private rooms, semi-private rooms and suites. We participate in both Medicare and Medicaid programs. If anyone is looking for long-term care in a homelike atmosphere, they can call us at (563) 332-7463 and ask to speak to Kelsey Snyder for a personal tour.

With all the news about eBooks, many wonder how digital reading affects libraries. The truth is that libraries are a part of the digital world, offering downloadable books to patrons as an additional choice. eBooks and audio titles join the many great choices in regular and large-print books, books on CD, Blu-Rays, DVDS, magazines, CDs and more to check out at your local library.

Libraries in Iowa and Illinois offer the OverDrive digital book and audio collection. In Illinois, the Rock Island Public Library and many others belong to the Online Media of Northern Illinois buying group. Known as Omni Libraries for short, the group offers access to more than 3,500 titles in digital format. Though this is a separate catalog from the RiverShare system, the digital buying group also allows member libraries to share resources and save money. Iowa libraries use the WILBOR consortium. As long as your library belongs to either group, you can check out digital books and audiobooks.

Checking out from a library represents a significant savings. Compatible devices include the Kindle and Kindle Fire, Sony® Reader, Kobo Readers, NOOK™, Android™, BlackBerry® and Windows® Phones, and many tablets, including the Mac iPad®. iPods® and iPhones® are also compatible. Titles can be enjoyed immediately or transferred to a portable device. Titles automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are no late fees.

Information about free OverDrive classes and links to online help are available at www.rockislandlibrary.org. To start downloading, take your library card to the nearest computer and click the OverDrive link.

It’s hard to scan a newspaper or magazine these days without reading about the population trend relating to the growth of the over 60 senior segment. Locally, we see that with the increase in local trade shows and related programs that focus on the needs of the 60-plus group. You may have noticed the increase in advertising for in-home senior services and for products such as bath tubs with a door to facilitate easy entry. Senior services and senior products are an important and ever-growing business. This publication is evidence of the interest in this market segment.

Selected communities in Florida, Arizona and Texas have long flourished as a result of the economic power of seniors. And late-night comedians have often poked fun at restaurant “$3.99 early bird specials” and the seniors, who will drive for miles, not realizing that one of their turn signals is blinking.

But, seniors are a serious business. And their importance will continue to grow and magnify, as evidenced by the number of over 60s that join our national population daily. At Dan Dolan Homes, we take seriously the needs of seniors and the major economic opportunity they represent. For years now, our town homes have included no-step entry, wider doorways, step-in showers and related features that make life easier for the senior group.

For instance, in response to a growing senior need, we will soon introduce a new model home at Stone Gate East in East Davenport that features a “flex” room on the main floor, along with many upgrades, at an introductory price of $259,900. Historically, many seniors have ignored computers as a tool to help manage their households. More recently, however, seniors have discovered services such as online bill pay as effective management tools. And corresponding with out-of-town relatives (especially grandchildren) has encouraged them to use computers and smart phones to communicate. Accordingly, more seniors now want an “office” space to house a computer, printer and related equipment, though not necessarily a dedicated space that cannot be used for other purposes as well. Our flex room answers that need, by offering a space that can be used as an office, guest room, den, sunroom, hobby room or any combination thereof. And the room is located on the main floor, making it unnecessary to climb stairs to an upper or lower level. One very desirable result of the rise in over-60 consumers is that builders, such as ourselves, will be offering new homes, with new features such as this, to accommodate senior preferences.

The increase in the senior population will have another important benefit, making it easier for more seniors to live at home as they age. That benefit will come in the form of new organizations, with staff that can go to your home to perform selected occasional services. Unquestionably, some of those organizations exist already, and we see some of them in the Quad-Cities. More and more, however, seniors who may now feel that if they need selected help, their only option is to sell their home and move to an expensive independent living facility or “hotel,” may find they have other alternatives. As the senior population grows, so will the range of services offered by a wider array of service companies. Accordingly, more and more seniors will have the best of both worlds—the ability to remain in their own home while having access to selected services when they need them. We believe this will represent a more affordable and more comfortable alternative to breaking up their home and moving to institutional living.

We welcome the opportunity of visiting with seniors and discussing their future housing needs. In Davenport, model homes at our latest development at Stone Gate East are open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For further information, you can reach me at (563) 570-1460, or you can reach my colleague Don Gibeault at (563) 650-8007. Incidentally, we have now begun construction at our new Bettendorf site off Devils Glenn Rd. just above 53rd Avenue. Our model home will be open there in just a few weeks. Watch for our announcement!

Alternatives for the Older Adult is the only agency designated by the Illinois Department on Aging to assist seniors with care planning and is a nonprofit organization.

Care Coordination: Developing a plan of care especially for you. Your Care Coordinator will start wherever YOU are – whether you are in your own home, in the hospital, or in a nursing home.

Your Care Coordinator will:
• Meet with you and get to know your needs
• Gather information, do the footwork, make phone calls, and figure costs for support and sort through it
• Find out if you can receive state-funded services; even if you don’t qualify, we can still find appropriate services for you
• Help you decide what works for you to live better, more independently
• Arrange for the services you prefer such as homemaker, in-home meals, emergency response, etc.

Bill Payer-Assistance: Begin here if handling your finances has become overwhelming.

Your Bill Payer will:
• Visit you personally to get to know your needs
• Become a bill payer or representative payee, if needed
• Help organize and pay bills and/or assist you in balancing your checkbook

Caregiver Support: Start here if caring for an aging loved one is stressful to you.

The Caregiver Counselor will:
• Learn about your care-giving role and provide individual counseling
• Guide you on setting realistic expectations
• Meet with your family upon request
• Link you with services to provide you with relief
• Connect you with a local caregiver support group
• Provide caregiver classes to give you the tools you need for handling any situation

Nursing Home Complaint Resolution: Begin here if you are having a problem with a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Your Advocate will:
• Provide information on your rights
• Investigate complaints and help resolve them
• Provide education to nursing homes about your rights
• Visit you in the nursing home

Protective Services: Start here if you are, or know an older adult who is being taken advantage of, abused or neglected.

The Protective Service Staff will:
• Meet with you about your situation and assist you in resolving problems
• Help with legal options or finding other services
• Provide supportive counseling

For more information on programs offered by Alternatives for the Older Adult, call (309) 277-0167 or 800-798-0988 or visit www.4olderadults.org.