The Best of Times August 2009

� August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

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August 2009 � The Best Of Times


Ok, it’s like this. I’ve been taking a dim view of my Tina ohhing and ahhing over the scads of pictures of PETS & THEIR PEOPLE that were sent in for this issue. She knows as

well as I do that there is no cuter, more cuddly pet in all the world than ME. Well, perhaps except for that delightful dachshund named Hazel, which is owned by our cover kids, siblings Sarah and Ryan Wagley. Yes, Wagley. How perfect is that?!

I noticed she seemed particularly pleased that this “Dog Days of Summer” issue had to add more pages to accom-modate those clamoring to get in. She gives me more treats when that happens!

Tina told Gary that this is one of our

best issues ever. Gary will probably mention that on his radio show. In any event, I’m glad this issue is now in your paws. I’ve been feeling neglected for ten minutes now. Where’s Tina? --Brandi



My husband of 12 years passed away in 2001 and I missed having someone special in my life. One night I

decided to check out the singles sites on the computer. I went to singlesnet.com and found a Jerry Harmon’s profile. He was retired from the Coast Guard, liked music, dancing, fishing and Elvis. Being President of the Elvis’ Angels Fan Club, I was in hopes of finding someone who liked Elvis. I emailed Jerry and received an email back from him. He had read my profile and asked when we could meet. I thought he moved rather quickly, but then laughed thinking that at 60+, time was important if one was really looking for a partner. We agreed to meet at IHOP in the Boardwalk on June 12.

We seemed to hit it off from the first hello. I liked his blue eyes and muscular build. Who knows what he liked about me? He asked when he could see me again as were leaving. I told him I would email him, and did. We saw each other pretty much every day after that and he went with me to

Elvis Week in Memphis. We had a great time and he “passed that test”!

After about 8 months of dating he started talking marriage. I had not really thought much about mar-riage, although I enjoyed being with Jerry. After he asked several times, I jokingly said “OK, on 8-8-08,” but didn’t think he took me seriously.

The next thing I knew we were having rings made and planning our wedding. We couldn’t afford to go to Hawaii, so we had a Hawaiian style wedding, complete with Elvis tribute artist, Richard Cook, singing songs from “Blue Hawaii.” We decorated the church fellow-ship hall and everyone, including the preacher, dressed Hawaiian. We included a joining of our sand ceremo-ny, like they do in Hawaii, and our reception food had a Hawaiian flair. The cake had a Hawaiian couple on top kissing that were magnetic salt and pepper shakers. They sit in our kitchen window to this day.

As we approach out first anniversary, I feel very lucky to have found such a sweet and loving man and one who “puts up with” all my Elvis doings. So the In-ternet is not a bad place to look for the “right one”!


BUZZ couldn’t get much more buzzed than usual (Too. Much. Coffee.), but I’m about to burst with a real honey of a news item. Actually, a trio of ‘em!

l Friday August 21 is James Burton’s Birthday Bash, with local and regional bands performing from six p.m. to midnight at Festival Plaza in downtown shreveport. Mr. Burton will autograph copies of the May 2009 issue at The Best of Times autograph booth for an hour starting at 7:00 p.m. BRING YOUR COPY! (Gary may have a few extra copies available.)

l The Best of Times will broadcast a very special LIVE show from the festival on AM 1130 KwKH. Join us at the Hirsch Coliseum from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on saturday, Aug. 22nd. (FRee ADMIssION) The show is co-hosted by the legendary FRANK PAGE & sponsored by BROCK’S COLLISION CENTERS. (It will be streamed LIVE on www.KWKHonline.com)

l JAMES BURTON & FRIeNDs TAKe ON THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS! At 2:00 p.m., sat., Aug. 22, at the James Burton International Guitar Festival while at the Hirsch, you and your acoustic guitar (sorry, no bass guitars) are invited to join with James and other FAMOUs guitarists to play (in unison) “That’s All Right, Mama” (in the key of A) and “Hound Dog” (in the key of e). will our sheer numbers make the book? Buzz hopes so. we do know

the OLDesT player will get a very special “Goodie Bag” from your friends at The Best of Times and appear in our next issue!

(NOTE: Participants in the Guinness attempt must preregister either online at www.JamesBurtonMusic.com or at the Hirsch Coliseum between 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.)BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

“This event gets bigger every year. It’s great for tourism and it’s all for charity!”


By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”- a cover-age gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap. The AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator, available at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole, guides visitors through their prescription drug options using localized information about their plans and prescriptions to determine if or when they will fall into the coverage gap. In about 15 minutes, visitors can view a graph of their out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for their conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to their doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions.

THiS JUST iN:

l GRANT COMPANiES ExPlOiT CONFUSiON OvER STiMUlUS Bill

Better Business Bureau is warning the public to be ex-tremely wary of companies that offer “free” advice on how to get government grants. Dozens of Web sites claim that, because of the recently passed stimulus package consumers can easily get government grants to pay bills or get out of debt. Contrary to such claims, the federal government does not award grants to help consumers pay general debt and complaints to BBB show that people who sought free advice were ultimately charged as much as $69.95 every month on their credit or debit card. When complainants contacted the businesses about why they were being charged for a “free” item, they were told that they had actually signed up for a “free trial” and they needed to cancel within seven days of or they would be charged monthly.

l MEdiCARE iNFORMATiON FOR CAREGivERS NOw AvAilABlE

For those caring for an older friend or family member, ques-tions about Medicare have probably arisen. Most know that Medicare helps pay for medical and prescription drug costs,

however additional Medicare benefits and resources may be available. An easy-to-read overview, “Medicare Basics for Caregivers,” is now available at NIHSeniorHealth.gov. This brief, yet comprehensive introduction to Medicare gives caregivers the basics and helps them find answers to their questions.

Caregivers and others needing an introduction to Medicare can visit http://nihseniorhealth.gov/medicare/toc.html to find out about medical and hospital benefits, enrollment, billing, prescription drug costs, home health care and much more.

l lA ATTORNEy GENERAl lAUNCHES OPERATION FALSE CHARITy wEBSiTE

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office recently joined with the Federal Trade Commission and other law enforce-ment to participate in Operation False Charity. This is a national effort to crack down on charities and professional solicitors who make misrepresentations in fundraising on behalf of police, firefighters and veterans’ charities. In an effort to help consumers make the most of their charitable donation, and to assist charitable organizations with their registration requirements under Louisiana law, the Attorney General’s Office has dedicated a portion of their website for this information. Visit www.agbuddycaldwell.com and click on “Charities” to access this information.

For a quick overview of what’s available and to help the uninsured find government-sponsored health coverage, the Foundation for Health Coverage Education has a web site at www.coverageforall.org that sum-marizes the types of insurance available in all 50 states. Questions can be answered at any time, day or night, through the Foundation’s U.S. Uninsured Help Line at 800-234-1317. After taking a 5 question eligibility test, counselors help people access government-sponsored health coverage they may not know existed. These people get access to every publicly funded program in the country by state on the website.

lA SAlES TAx HOlidAy SlATEd FOR AUGUSTThe 2009 Louisiana Sales

Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 7, and continues through 12:00 mid-night on Saturday, August 8. By state law, the holiday takes p l a c e e a c h year on the first consecu-t ive Friday and Saturday in August. On these two days, most retail purchases will be exempt from the four-percent state sales tax.

The sales tax exemption applies to the first $2,500 of the purchase price of most individual items of tangible

personal property for non-business use. State sales tax

is to be paid on that portion of the

price - of any individual item - in excess of

$2,500.The exemp-

t ion appl ies o n l y t o t h e four-percent state sales tax.

It does not apply to sales taxes collected by parishes, towns, school boards, and other local taxing authorities.

For more information, visit the 2009 Louisiana Sales Tax Holiday page at www.revenue.louisiana.gov.

NO HEAlTH iNSURANCE? THERE iS HElP

MONEy-SAviNG PRESCRiPTiON dRUG RESOURCE lAUNCHEd


Brock’s Collision Repair Center values their clients, their employees and the community, and feel responsibility to each. In keeping with these ideals, we are proud to announce “we’ve Gone Green”!

At all three Brock’s Collision Repair Centers, we are committed to promoting a “greener” shreveport/Bossier. each of our stores has replaced the traditional solvent-based paints and coatings with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) waterborne basecoat. By using the more environmentally friendly products to refinish our clients’ vehicles, we are able to significantly reduce the emission of VOCs into the atmosphere. This change not only improves the quality of our air, it also contributes to a healthier working environment, and provides a safer place for us to conduct business with our clients.

VOCs are chemical compounds commonly found in paint coatings and cleaning products, and when released into the atmosphere, contribute to the creation of smog and ozone pollution. By switching to a low VOC waterborne basecoat, these emissions can be reduced by up to 80%.

This is a major technological advancement that creates a “win-win” situation all around. waterborne basecoat is the latest coating system used by manufacturers to create the color on vehicles today. This is the first product to be as close to factory paint that has eVeR been avail-able to collision repair shops before. Using waterborne color toners in our centers affords us the ability to achieve more exact color matches and shorter repair completion times.

we are serious about being a “green” business; so we are transcend-ing to paperless working files, recycling parts instead of sending to a landfill, using biodegradable paper cups instead of plastic, and using environment friendly cleaning products.

This is our home, and we believe in what we are doing to help make it a cleaner place in which to live. We invite all businesses to join us in this worthy endeavor.

Brock’s Collision Repair Centersshreveport AutoMall south Bossier City8752 Business Park Dr. 740 Bert Kouns 2654 Barksdale Blvd.(318) 798-1353 (318) 687-5070 (318) 742-5575

10 August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

CHOlESTEROl lOwERiNG dRUGS MAy PREvENT STROKE RECURRENCE

People who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins after a stroke may be less likely to have another stroke later, according to research published in Neurology.Those who take statins after a stroke may also be less likely to die within the next 10 years than those who do not take statins.

REd SEA CORAl PROdUCTS MAy FiGHT ANd PREvENT SKiN CANCER

Research suggests a skin cancer curative and preventative can be found in substance found in Red Sea soft coral. Researchers from South Dakota State University found that treating skin cancer cells with different concentrations of sarcophine-diol, made from a substance in Red Sea coral, impacts proliferation of cancer cells.

SENiORS BENEFiT FROM STRENGTH TRAiNiNG

An updated Cochrane review finds that pro-gressive resistance muscle training improves

strength in older adults, even those at the age of 80, and enhances their ability to do daily

tasks such as walking, climbing steps or getting out of a chair. Those with osteoarthritis also reported reduc-tions in pain following progressive resistance training. This form of

exercise has people working against resistance that increases as the muscle gets stronger, usually using exercise machines, free weights or elastic bands. Reviewers noted that seniors should first consult a health or exercise professional.

iMMUNOTHERAPy liNKEd TO lOwER RiSK OF AlzHEiMER’S diSEASE

IVIg treatments, the addition of good antibodies into the blood stream, may hold promise for lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other similar brain disorders, according to research

published in Neu-rology. The study found that people who received IVIg for other conditions had a 42% lower risk of develop-ing Alzheimer’s disease over 4 years compared to those who did not receive IVIg. Additional studies are current-ly underway.

This Just in:

In Louisiana, tobacco us-ers have a comprehensive online cessation source - www.QuitWithUsLA.org - that provides easy access to proven cessation tools and programs that can help smokers quit successfully. The Quit With Us, Louisiana website empowers tobacco users with important infor-mation and tips for quitting, and offers links to online resources and free statewide cessation programs. The Louisiana Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QUIT-NOW offers free, confidential advice and support for Louisiana resi-dents who are interested in or ready to quit smoking. Certified quit counseling is available in English, Spanish and other languages, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

QUiT wiTH US, lA

BE ACTivE, STAy SHARPNot everyone declines in

cognitive function with age. Elderly who exercise at least once a week, have at least a high school education and a ninth grade literacy level, are not smokers and are more so-cially active are more likely to maintain their cognitive skills through their 70s and 80s, according to research published Neurology. People who exercise moderately to vigorously at least once a week are 30% more likely to maintain their cognitive function than those who do not. Those who have at least a high school education are nearly 3 times as likely to stay sharp as those with less education. Elderly with a ninth grade literacy level or higher are nearly 5 times as likely to stay sharp than those with lower literacy lev-els. Non-smokers are nearly twice as likely to stay sharp. Finally, people working or volunteering and who report living with someone are 24% more likely to maintain cog-nitive function in late life.

dRUG-RElEASiNG CONTACTS dElivER MEdiCATiON MORE EFFECTivEly THAN EyEdROPS

New drug-releasing contact lenses are being tested that will ensure glaucoma patients and others get correct and con-sistent dosages of medication. This could be a significant improvement on the tra-ditional eyedrops that ophthalmologists prescribe for these patients, from which the eye absorbs as little as 1% of the dose. The problem with eyedrops is that only a minimal amount of the dose is actually absorbed by the eye. The rest either runs down the sides of the patient’s face, is washed away by reflex tearing or dispersed by blinking. By constantly “oozing out” medicine, the artificial lens is capable of delivering the proper dosage and increasing the effectiveness of treatment. The lens prototype may be fitted for any dosage of medicine and synced with a person’s current contact lens prescription. The findings have been published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

August 2009 11 The Best Of Times

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NEw wAyS TO REPAiR HEART vAlvES - wiTHOUT OPEN HEART SURGERy

According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter new, less invasive ways to repair heart valves are being tested which may soon fundamen-tally transform how this lifesav-ing procedure is performed. Two main problems occur with heart valves: narrow-ing (stenosis) that limits blood flow; and back-ward leaking (regurgitation), where valve flaps don’t close tightly and blood flows in the wrong direction. The new technologies repair heart

valve disorders without open heart surgery.

The new technologies include:

A r t i f i c i a l valve placement via catheter through small incisions without stopping the heart.

T y i n g a n d tightening valves to s top regur -g i t a t i on v i a a device to repair this malfunction.

Clipping the mitral valve if one of the two valve leaflets is floppy and the other one remains healthy. Clips are inserted via a catheter.

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iNNOvATivE TECHNOlOGiES ASSiST diSABlEdAn assistive technology

that enables individuals to maneuver a powered wheel-chair or control a mouse cursor using simple tongue movements can be operated by individuals with high-level spinal cord injuries, accord-ing to the results of a recently completed clinical trial. A unique set of specific tongue movements was tailored for each individual based on the user’s abili-ties, oral anatomy and personal preferences. Researchers reported results at the Rehabili-tation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North Amer-ica (RESNA) annual conference.

In RELATED nEWS: Re-searchers at Toyota have developed a brain-machine interface system that allows for control of a wheelchair using thought. The system processes brain thought patterns (such as the thought of moving one’s left foot) and can turn them into left, right, and forward movements of the wheelchair with a delay as short as one-eighth of a second.

An FDA-approved drug used for preventing recurrence of breast cancer shows promise in fighting

life-threatening fungal infections common in immune-compromised patients. New research from the University of Rochester Medical Center shows

that tamoxifen has antifungal properties and actually kills fungus cells and stops them from causing disease.

1� August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

Here’s to good nutrition:

viTAMiN E, SElENiUM ANd SOy dO NOT PREvENT PROSTATE CANCER

The combination therapy of vitamin E, selenium and soy does not appear to prevent the progression from high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) to prostate cancer, according to new research presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association.

CUTTiNG SAlT iSN’T THE ONly wAy TO REdUCE BlOOd PRESSURE

Most people know that too much sodium from foods can increase blood pressure. A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Researchers found that potassium seems to be effective in lowering blood pressure and the combination of a higher intake of potassium and lower consumption of sodium seems to be more effective than either on its own in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Foods that are especially rich in potassium include potatoes and sweet potatoes, fat-free milk and yogurt, tuna, lima beans, bananas, tomato sauce and orange juice.

GET SKiNNy FASTER - STOP dOwNiNG SOdA

Research shows that cutting beverage calories resulted in more weight loss than cutting food calories. People in the study who cut back on sugar-laden bev-erages like soda, fruit punch, and other sweetened drinks shed more pounds than the folks who kept sipping the sweet stuff during their dieting efforts. Researchers suspect that cutting back on beverage calories does even more good than cutting back on food calories

because solid food does a better job of satisfying hunger than liquids do. Plus, it’s possible that the fructose in sugary drinks may boost fat storage and lead to hormone changes that increase overall food intake. (RealAge.com)

SOy MAy HElP TO REdUCE COlORECTAl CANCER

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine researchers have found that postmenopausal women who consumed at least 10 grams of soy protein daily were one-third less likely to develop colorectal cancer in comparison to women who consumed little soy.

A daily dose of sodium bicarbon-ate - baking soda - slows the decline of kidney function in some patients with advanced chronic kidney dis-ease (CKD), reports an upcoming study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The small study included patients with advanced CKD and low bicarbonate levels (metabolic acidosis). One group received a small daily dose of sodium bicarbonate in tablet form, in addition to their usual care. Rapid progres-sion of kidney disease occurred in just 9% of patients taking sodium bicarbonate, compared to 45% of the other group. Patients taking sodium bicarbonate were also less likely to develop end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Although sodium levels went up, this didn’t lead to any problems with increased blood pressure. The results still need validation in a multicenter study.

BAKiNG SOdA: FOR COOKiNG, ClEANiNG..... ANd KidNEy HEAlTH?

FOliC ACid MAy HElP TREAT AllERGiES ANd ASTHMA

Folic acid, or vitamin B9, essential for red blood cell health, may also suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The research sounds pretty promising, especially considering that other studies have revealed an association between higher levels of folate and less risk of inflammation-related dis-eases, like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Cautioning that it’s far too soon to recommend folic acid supplements to prevent or treat people

with asthma and allergies, researchers emphasize that more re-search needs to be done to confirm their results, and to establish safe doses and risks. Until then, eat folate-rich foods such as spinach, lentils, asparagus, avocadoes and raspberries.

TAKE FiSH Oil SUPPlEMENTS FOR HEART HEAlTH - wiTHOUT THOSE FiSHy BURPS

According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, fish oil supple-ments are good for those who want the heart health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids but don’t like to eat fish. Fish oil supple-ments often are prescribed for heart attack survivors and for people with high triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. But the supplements are often too...well...fishy.

Tips to avoid fishy aftertaste or burps include:Swallow the capsule frozen.

Take capsule at the beginning of a meal. Try an “odorless” supplement.

A different brand may taste less fishy. For fish oil purists, some manufacturers make a pure omega-3 fatty acids product that doesn’t taste fishy, although it is likely to cost more than standard products. (www.mayoclinic.org)

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August 2009 1� The Best Of Times


wHAT iS GERd?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chron-ic digestive disease.

The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. When swallowing, the lower esoph-ageal sphincter - a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esopha-gus - relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach. Then it closes again. However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weak-ens, stomach acid can flow back up into the esophagus, causing frequent heartburn and disrupting daily life. This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of the

esophagus, causing it to become inflamed (esophagitis). Over time, the inflammation can erode the esophagus, causing complications such as bleeding or breathing problems.

People will experience heartburn symptoms when excessive amounts of acid re-flux into the esophagus. Many describe heartburn as a feeling of burning discomfort, local-ized behind the breastbone, that moves up toward the neck and throat. Some experience a bitter or sour taste of acid in the back of the throat. The burn-ing and pressure symptoms of heartburn can last for several hours and often worsen after eating food.

Virtually everyone will have occasional heartburn. However, frequent heartburn occurring, two or more times a week, may be associated with the more severe problem of GERD. Signs and symptoms include:

a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to the throat, along with a sour taste in the mouth

chest paindifficulty swallowingdry coughhoarseness or sore throatregurgitation of food or

sour liquid (acid reflux)sensation of a lump in the

throatConditions that can increase

the risk of GERD include obesityhiatal herniapregnancysmokingdry mouthasthmadiabetesd e l a y e d s t o m a c h

emptyingconnective tissue disor-

ders such as sclerodermaand Zollinger-Ellison

syndromeAnyone, including infants

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and children, can have GERD. In some cases, medicines or surgery are needed. Lifestyle changes that can improve symptoms include:

Avoid foods that trigger heartburn such as alcohol, spicy, fatty or acidic foods, chocolate, garlic and onions, coffee, and peppermint

Eat small, frequent mealsWait at least 2 - 3 hours

after eating before lying downRaise the head of the bed

6 to 8 inches by securing wood blocks under the bedposts. Extra pillows will not help

Main t a in a hea l thy weight

A v o i d t i g h t f i t t i n g clothes

Stop smoking as tobacco may stimulate stomach acid production and relax the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach, permitting acid reflux to occur.

Over time, chronic in-flammation in the esophagus can lead to complications, including:

n a r r o w i n g o f t h e esophagus.

an esophageal ulcer which may bleed, cause pain and make swallowing difficult.

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precancerous changes to the esopha-gus called Barrett’s esophagus. These changes are associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.

The doctor may be able to diagnose GERD just from the signs and symptoms. Other tests and procedures used to diag-nose GERD, include:

An X-ray (sometimes called a barium swallow or upper GI series) of the upper digestive system.

Endoscopy which involves passing a flexible tube equipped with a light and camera down the throat and examining the inside of the esophagus. The doctor may also use endoscopy to collect a sample of tissue for further testing.

Ambulatory acid (pH) probe tests use an acid-measuring device to identify when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus.

Treatment for heartburn and other signs and symptoms of GERD usually begins with over-the-counter medications including:

Antacids, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums which neutralize stom-ach acid and may provide quick relief, but they won’t heal an inflamed esophagus. Overuse of some antacids can cause diar-rhea or constipation.

H-2-receptor blockers reduce acid production and include Tagamet HB, Pepcid AC, Axid AR or Zantac 75. These medications do not act as quickly as ant-acids, but provide longer relief. Stronger versions are available in prescription form.

Proton pump inhibitors block acid production and allow time for damaged esophageal tissue to heal. These include Prevacid 24 HR and Prilosec OTC.

If there is no relief within a few weeks, the doctor may recommend prescription-

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strength medications, such as:Prescript ion-strength H-2-re-

cep to r b locker s . These inc lude prescription-strength Tagamet, Pepcid, Axid and Zantac.

Prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec Rx, Protonix and Aciphex.

Prokinetic agents which help the stomach empty more rapidly and help tighten the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. Side effects, such as fatigue, depression, anxiety and other neurological problems, limit the usefulness of these medications.

Because drugs work in different ways, combinations of medications may help control symptoms. People who get heart-burn after eating may take both antacids and H2 blockers. The antacids work first to neutralize the acid in the stomach, and then the H2 blockers act on acid production. By the time the antacid stops working, the H2 blocker will have stopped acid production. A health care provider is the best source of information about how to use medications for GERD.

Most GERD can be controlled through medications. In situations where medica-tions aren’t helpful or for those who wish to avoid long-term medication use, the doctor may recommend more invasive procedures, such as:

Surgery to tighten the lower esopha-geal sphincter to prevent reflux by wrapping the very top of the stomach around the outside of the lower esophagus.

Surgery to create a barrier preventing the backup of stomach acid.

A procedure to form scar tissue in the esophagus. The scar tissue helps to strengthen the muscles. (MayoClinic.com; National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse)

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MEdiCARE RiGHTS CENTERwww.medicareinteractive.org

Will you be traveling soon? Whether traveling abroad or staying within the U.S., check your health and drug plans before you leave so you will know what they will cover when you’re not at home. If you have Original Medicare, you can travel

anywhere in the U.S. and its territories and get the medical care you need from almost any doctor or hospital. If you are in a private health plan such as an HMO, you are usually only covered for the care you get from doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that

are in the plan’s “network.” Except in emergencies, if you use out-of-network doctors and facilities, you will pay the full cost of the care you receive.

Usually, Medicare does not cover medical care you get outside the country. There are a few exceptions. Medicare will cover your care if you are on a cruise if: (1) the ship is registered to the U.S.; (2) the doctor is registered with the Coast Guard; and (3) you get the care while the ship is in U.S. territorial waters. This means the ship is in a U.S. port or within six hours of arrival at or departure from a U.S. port. Medicare will pay for emergency services in Canada if you are traveling a direct route between Alaska and another state. Medicare may also pay for non-emergency in-patient services in a foreign

hospital (and connected physician and ambulance costs), if it is closer to your residence than the nearest U.S. hospital that is available and equipped to treat you medical condition. This may happen if, for example, you live near the border of Mexico or Canada.

Some supplemental insurance may cover emergency care abroad. In most states, Medigap plans C through J (Medigaps are private Medicare supplemental insurance) cover 80 percent of the cost of emergency care abroad during the first two months

of a trip. They have a $250 deductible and cover up to $50,000 in a lifetime. Some Medicare private health plans cover the cost of emer-gency care abroad, but most do not. Call your plan to find out about their rules. You may want to buy separate travel insurance if you will be away for an extended period of time.

Also make sure you have enough medicine to last you through your trip. Some Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) have nation-wide networks, so if you travel frequently or for long periods of time, these may be better suited for you. Most of the time, if you go out of network, you will have to pay the full cost of your drugs yourself. But if you need an emergency prescrip-tion, your Part D plan should still help cover the cost of your prescriptions if you

Travel and Medicare Coverage


cannot reasonably be expected to access an in-network pharmacy and you do not routinely use out of network pharmacies. It would be “reasonable” for you to go out of network if, for instance, you are not within reasonable driving distance of a network pharmacy because you are away on vacation. You will probably have to pay up front and then ask your plan to reimburse you. Make sure you keep your receipt. Then call your plan to find out what paperwork you need to submit to get your money back. Keep in mind that you will probably pay more for a drug at an out-of-network pharmacy than you would at a pharmacy that is in your plan’s net-work because the plan has not negotiated prices with that pharmacy. So, before you go out of town, always call your plan to ask if they have any network pharmacies where you are going. If your plan allows you to get prescriptions by mail-order, it may be a good idea to get a 3-month sup-ply so that you will not run out in case an unexpected trip comes up. To learn more about Medicare coverage while traveling, go to www.medicareinterac-tive.org. Medicare Interactive is a resource provided by the Medicare Rights Center.


By THE MEdiCARE RiGHTS CENTER(www.medicarerights.org)

Dear Marci,My father is hard-of-hearing. I

would like to install a flashing doorbell signal so that he can tell when someone is at the door. Will Medicare pay for this? --Kristin

Dear Kristin, No. Medicare generally does not pay

for any assistive equipment that is not strictly “medically necessary.” Medicare will never cover home modifications (like the installation of a stairlift or grab bars near the toilet or tub) or assistive devices (like large-button telephones or in your case, flashing doorbell signals for the hard-of-hearing).

Hearing loss, Medicare Savings Program, and Receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination

Medicare will cover durable medical equipment (DME) - equipment that is medically necessary, able to withstand repeated use, and is gener-ally not useful to someone in the absence of illness or in-jury. DME includes items like wheelchairs, walkers, scooters and hospitals beds. ~Marci

Dear Marci,I applied for a Medicare

Savings Program a few months ago, and was told that I did not qualify because I had too much in my savings account. My sister applied for one recently, and was told she qualified. But she has more savings than I do. Was I given

wrong information? --KellyDear Kelly, Does your sister live in a different state?

Eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) - programs that help pay for the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare - is based on your income and assets. However, income and asset limits can vary by state. Most states deny MSP coverage to indi-viduals with incomes above $1,219 per month ($1,640 for a couple) in 2009. But in some states, there is no asset limit eli-gibility requirement for some or all MSPs. For programs that have no asset test, sav-ings will not be counted. Call your local Medicaid office or SHIP (State Health

Insurance Assistance Program) for more information about eligibility requirements. You can also see the Medicare Savings Programs income limits for each state here: http://www.medicareinteractive.org/uploadedDocuments/mi_extra/msp_chart.html ~Marci

Dear Marci,I am wondering if Medicare will cover

my hepatitis B vaccination. I am going to India in the fall and would like to receive the shot before I go. --Zahava

Dear Zahava,If you are at medium to high risk for

hepatitis B (you have kidney failure, he-mophilia or travel to countries with high rates of the disease), Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of your hepatitis B vaccine after you pay your annual Part B deductible. ~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,” MRC’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail [email protected]. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medica-reinteractive.org.


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�0 August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

By lEE ARONSON, an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana

Let’s say that I decide to quit my job and open up a store called Lee’s Hamburg-ers and Scented Candles. And let’s also say that I don’t like old people. As a result, every time a senior citizen comes in and wants to buy something, I charge more. A hamburger will cost a senior $12 but everyone else only has to pay $5. Is that legal?

It sure is.You see, here in America,

we have a law called the Federal Civil Rights Act.

This law prohibits price discrimination and other forms of discrimination based on race. But it says nothing about age discrimination. Hence the senior discount is le-gal but a “white people

discount” would not be legal. Nor does this law prohibit religious price discrimination. (However, according to the United States Supreme Court, the Act does protect Jews because when the law was passed, Jews were considered a separate race.) This means that I can’t charge Jews or Af-rican Americans more for my hamburgers, but it’s just fine to price gouge the elderly.

Now let’s change the situa-tion just a little bit. Wimpy, an elderly fellow who happens to

be one of my best customers, will gladly pay me Tuesday for a ham-burger today. Can I charge Wimpy more because he’s a senior? Not in this case. That’s because I’m extending credit to Wimpy by giving him a hamburger today but not require payment until next Tuesday. When credit is involved, (i.e. a purchase in which payment is deferred) a law called the Equal Credit Opportunity Act will apply. And this law does not allow credi-tors to discriminate based on age (or race, religion, national origin, sex or marital status.) Because Wimpy is buying on credit, I can’t age discriminate against him due to his age and charge him $12 instead of $5.

Of course, I could refuse to allow any of my customers to buy on credit and demand Wimpy pay $12 up front for his burger. But I couldn’t say, “No credit for you Wimpy; you’re too old. But I have no problem with credit for young people.” That’s because the Equal Credit Opportunity Act also makes it illegal to discriminate based on age in any aspect of a credit transac-

Price Gouging the Elderly

August 2009 �1 The Best Of Times

tion, including an application for credit or standards for creditworthiness.

Oddly enough though, if I’m in the credit business, although I can’t discriminate based on age, I can give special favorable treatment to people 62 and older. For example, Popeye and Brutus are exactly the same in every way. They have the same income and the same credit history. Both want to borrow $10,000 from me in order to buy a boat. The only difference between them is that Popeye is 62 years old and Brutus is 55. Can I charge Brutus 8% interest and Popeye only 6% interest?

I sure can because the Equal Credit Opportunity Act allows me to charge a lower interest rate (or give a higher line of credit) to applicants 62 or older. But I can’t do the exact opposite: 8% for the older Pop-eye because of his age but only 6% interest for the younger

Brutus would be illegal credit discrimination.

And finally, let’s say that in-stead of being in the hamburger and scented candle business, I went into the real estate busi-ness. That would subject me to the Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing as well as other real estate related transactions. But this law only prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, familial status or national origin. Not age. So if I don’t want to rent any of my apartments to old people, I’m A-OK: the Fair Housing Act doesn’t prohibit age discrimination and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which does prohibit age dis-crimination, doesn’t apply to apartment leases.

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

�� August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

by Linda Fayard, M.S.What are your first feelings and

thoughts when you wake up every morning? Are they about the joy and excitement that the coming day holds for you, or more of dread and anxiety for all the pressure and responsibilities you’ll have to shoulder? If finding joy in your life is difficult for you to do, it may be time to take steps to become more aware of the joy that should be a part of all our lives.

The term “joy” is more than just feeling happy about something. Joy can be experienced emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is an emotion that

includes feel-ings of peace and satisfaction, as well as our

old friend happi-ness. It is a positive

feeling that should encompass all your daily activities.

Life is too short to spend it stressed,

depressed, and so busy that you don’t

experience the joy that it holds. In actuality,

most of us have more joy in our lives than we realize, but often are too stressed and moving too fast to pay attention. We sometimes develop a tunnel vision that keeps us from recognizing the joy we could be experiencing.

Your first step in achieving joy should be in distinguishing what joy truly means to you. It’s not the same for everyone. Think for a minute about what brings joy into your life. Close your eyes and think about pleasant people, things, places, and experiences until you discover a smile spreading across your face. These are the things that bring you joy.

While being happy is a nice thing, it’s not necessarily joyful. You may feel happy

when the evening commute is quicker than usual, or when you find you’re having a favorite food for dinner. But joy is a higher level, more intense degree of happiness. That happiness over the commute prob-ably disappears when you pull into your driveway, but a true feeling of joy stays with you, coloring the activities in your life and helping you to see all of your daily activities in a more positive light.

Obviously, we all have different things that bring joy to us and we all experi-ence various levels of joy. Our sense of joy grows from our emotional, physical and mental well-being. In line with that, there are a number of things we can do to enhance our awareness of the joy in our lives:

Take time to relax. Take a long hot bath, listen to favorite music, enjoy a few quiet moments with your children or pets.

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“THE COUNSEliNG CORNER”by the American Counseling Association

Finding the Joy in your life

Enjoy your relationships. Make an effort to look for the things in the relation-ships with your family, your friends, even your job, that are important to you, that you are thankful for, and that you enjoy.

Look for the positive. Take the time to see what’s good and makes you feel

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August 2009 �� The Best Of Times

good in even the little things that are part of your daily life.

Whenever possible, avoid nega-tive things and negative people. Life is simply too short.

Seek peace in your life. Take time to watch a sunset, to appreciate the beauty of nature. Spend a few moments mediating each day on what’s good in your life.

Enjoy a hobby. Make time to discov-er and explore things you truly enjoy.

Take care of yourself. Healthy eat-ing, regular exercise and plenty of rest all help you feel better and more easily find the joy in your life.

Keep a daily journal. Every evening record 3 to 5 things that you were thankful for that day. This simple activity helps you become more aware of the positive things going on around you.

Make time for you. It’s difficult to appreciate and enjoy all the positive things in your life when you are going non-stop. To find the joy in your life, you need the time to reflect on all the good things that are there. Rushing from one activity to another only builds stress and

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tension, not joy. You may have to learn that sometimes saying “no” to the many demands upon your time is sometimes necessary to reduce stress and increase your level of joy.

Do some self-reflection and measure how the stress in your life balances against the joy. Finding more joy in your life means actively seeking it out, in both the big and little things. If you sit back and wait for the joy to appear, you’ll miss out on a lot of joyful opportunities. The goal is

to actively seek out joy on a daily basis.

“The Counseling Corner” is provided as a public service by the American Coun-seling Association, the nation’s largest organization of counseling professionals. www.counseling.org. Linda Fayard is a counselor who owns her own consulting firm, specializing in advising businesses in the areas of anger/stress management and diversity issues. She can be reached at [email protected].


By JASON AldERMAN, director of VISA’s financial education programs

One way the government hopes its 2009 economic stimulus plan will help jumpstart the economy is by investing billions of dollars in industries that support en-ergy efficiency – everything from electric car battery technology to wind turbines to modernizing the country’s power grid.

Corporations aren’t the only ones receiving incen-tives, however: Individual taxpayers can reap consider-able tax benefits by improving their home’s energy effi-ciency – not to mention the long-term savings they’ll incur from reducing their utility and fuel bills.

Highlights include:The total tax credit you can

claim for many energy-effi-ciency home improvements made during 2009 and 2010 has increased from $500 to $1,500. That’s a cumulative total of $1,500, so you can break it up between the two years however you choose.

You may now claim a tax

credit for 30 percent of the purchase price for a variety of home im-provements, u p t o t h e $1,500 limit.

Credit for installation costs is also allowed in certain cases, such as for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air condition-ing) systems, biomass stoves, water heaters, solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, wind energy systems and fuel cells.

Tax credits for many energy-efficiency home improvements that were previously allowed in 2006 and 2007 but then disallowed in 2008 are once again eligible during 2009 and 2010. Some common covered expenses include:

Home shell improvements designed to prevent heating and cooling leaks, including insulation, metal and asphalt roofs, exterior and storm win-dows, doors (including patio and sliding glass), skylights and weather stripping.

HVAC systems, includ-ing central air conditioning, air-source and geothermal heat pumps, and natural gas, propane and oil furnaces.

Gas, oil, propane, solar and electric heat pump water heaters.

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Biomass (plant matter) stoves.

O t h e r r e -newable energy technology includ-ing small wind generators and pho-tovoltaic systems.

Hybrid, diesel, battery electric, al-ternative fuel, fuel cell and plug-in electric cars.

Note that there are specific requirements and restrictions for each of these products, so be sure to do your research before purchasing them. For example, with vehicles, there are only a finite number of credits available per manufacturer, so verify with the dealer.

A good resource for rules is the government’s Energy Star website, which has detailed information on the various tax credits available (www.energystar.gov/taxcredits).

A few additional tips:Experts agree that before making major investments like

HVAC systems or solar panels, you should first improve your home’s insulation. Proper insulation can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 20 percent or more.

Save all receipts and ask contractors to separate labor and materials costs in case you are ever audited. Also keep copies of manufacturer certification statements for your records.

Even though they aren’t covered under the federal tax credit program, many other Energy Star appliances like refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers may qualify for certain state and local rebate programs. These energy-efficient appliances consume up to 50 percent less electricity and water than standard models. Ask for details where you buy the appliance.

Feel good about the impact you can have on the environment – and on your wallet – by taking advantage of these energy-ef-ficiency tax credits.Sign up forJason Alderman’s free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.

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Stimulus Plan Provides Energy Efficiency Tax Credits



When I read that the Au-gust issue was about pets and their people, I thought about what I could write for this issue relating to pets. Then I thought about the following story.

A young boy who lived

in a small town in Web-ster Parish was fortunate enough to have a black lab named Amy. Amy was a hunting dog but was allowed to play with the young boy. In fact this boy couldn’t remember a

time that Amy wasn’t around. Everywhere the boy went, Amy wasn’t far behind.

When the boy went to play at neighbor’s home, Amy was there. When the boy went fish-ing in the local ponds, Amy was close behind. When the

boy got home from school, Amy was there to greet him. Amy was a constant compan-ion to the boy. In fact, anytime the boy’s parents needed to find him, all they had to do is look to see where Amy was sitting.

One year, Amy had pup-pies and the boy got to see life brought in the world. The boy’s father eventually sold all but one of Amy’s puppies and the boy learned a little about losing something he loved.

As time went on, the boy grew and Amy got older. She started to get grey hair in her muzzle. Amy started to walk more stiffly on frigid days and didn’t want to jump in the water as much to hunt. The boy watched as Amy aged. Eventually, Amy got so weak that she couldn’t even stand. The boy was twelve years old. The boy’s father told his son that Amy was dying. The boy couldn’t believe how weak Amy had gotten but came home one day to find that Amy had died. It felt as is if a part of the boy’s heart was gone. The boy learned about death and loss.

That boy was me.Our pets teach us so much. They show

unconditional love when no one else seems to care. Pets are like family members. They have personalities of their own. We laugh at them when they are puppies, love them as they grow, and cry when they are gone. Every pet leaves a memory that never leaves its owner no matter how long that owner lives.

I now have a black lab named Lily. Lily has been with us since my son was four years old. Lily is getting older but she has been a constant companion to my children, especially my son. In fact, I see a lot of similarities between Lily and Amy. Hopefully my son will have some of the same memories about Lily that I have about Amy.

Enjoy your pet! Each day is a gift with them. Make sure to give them plenty of water this summer and if you can, make sure they have a shady spot outside of the sun. If your pet is like ours and is spoiled, make sure they stay on their bed while they enjoy the air conditioning.

By JUdGE JEFF COx, 26th Judicial District Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Parishes, Division C

A Story About a Boy and His dog



By SUzy COHEN, R.PH., author of “The 24-hour Pharmacist”

Top 10 list to Protect your Kidneys

Dear Pharmacist,I’ve had diabetes for 12

years and now I have kid-ney disease. My doctor just prescribed lisinopril. I’m concerned that there is more I should be doing. What else should I consider?

The kidneys continuously filter your blood to strain out waste products. Without functional kidneys we would die within minutes. Many people, including non-dia-betics, have the beginnings

of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and don’t even realize it. For example, fatigue, itchy skin, ankle swelling, puffy face, back pain, brain fog and any

change in urination includ-ing frequency, urgency, volume, or color changes could indicate trouble. You could easily be mis-diagnosed, so see a kidney specialist (nephrologist) at least annually, but es-pecially if you have these symptoms.

Here is my top 10 list to protect your precious kidneys:

1. Bring blood sugar down. A reduction of “hemoglobin

A1c” from 7% to 6.4 % reduces your risk of kidney disease, eye damage and nerve pain by up to 25%.

2. Eat a low-fat, low-protein diet rich in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables along with healthy nuts and seeds.

3. Avoid regular table salt and salt substitutes because they may cause water retention or ruin your mineral balance. Sea salt is healthier.

4. Medications such as ACE inhibitors (lisinopril, enalapril or Altace) can protect the kid-neys, lower blood pressure, and reduce protein spillage. Side effects include dry cough, headache, elevated potassium levels and weird changes in taste. Newer medications such as Diovan, Cozaar, Avapro or Atacand can achieve similar

benefits with fewer side effects. 5. L-carnitine is an amino acid found in all your cells.

Supplements may improve symptoms of heart failure or angina


which can occur in people with kidney failure. When your kidneys tire out, supplemental forms may become useful. Dosage varies and is based on your individual kidney func-tion so ask your doctor.

6. Horsetail or Equisetum arvense: This ‘diuretic’ herb helps your kidneys filter the blood while providing silica to help strengthen hair, bones and organ tissue. You can drink tea or take supplements but ask your doctor first because diuretics usually enhance the side effects of medications.

7. Thiamine (vitamin B1)- It’s not typically considered a kidney-loving vitamin but ‘cutting edge’ is my middle name. This natural nutrient was just shown to have dramatic ef-fects on the body’s ability to excrete albumin and reverse early-stage kidney disease in some type 2 diabetics.

8. Antioxidants such as resveratrol, astaxanthin, ubi-

quinol (CoQ10) and vitamin E may protect kidney cells against free-radical damage.

9. Pau D’Arco – which is an herb from the Amazon rainforest touted for its ability to boost red blood cell pro-duction and improve oxygen flow. Supplements may have a blood-thinning effect.

10. The sun- it allows you to make vitamin D, which helps diabetics improve blood sugar control, wound healing and kidney function.

Reader Request: Please send me your favorite, amaz-ing folk remedies. Email to: [email protected] and I’ll publish the best ones in a future column.

This information is not intend-ed to treat, cure, or diagnose your condition. For more information visit www.Dear-Pharmacist.com. ©2008 Suzy Cohen, R.Ph. Distributed by Dear Pharmacist, Inc.


August 2009 �1 The Best Of Times August 2009 �1



�� August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com�� August 2009 TheBestOfTimesNews.com

August 2009 �� The Best Of Times August 2009 �� The Best Of Times


August 2009 �� The Best Of Times August 2009 �� The Best Of Times


August 2009 �� The Best Of TimesThe Best Of Times

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

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Orthopedic problems are a major health issue worldwide. This is a growing problem particularly among baby boomers. Both women and men are at risk. Job-re-lated conditions like standing all day or performing re-petitive motions can lead to overuse injuries. And being out of shape and overweight are leading contributors to orthopedic injuries and chronic orthopedic problems. But active adults are not immune. Pushing too hard when you workout or play

sports instead of staying in your comfort zone can do you more harm than good. In fact there are about 28 million reported orthopedic injuries each year in the USA alone. Accidents happen and ex-

cellent rehab is available. But a lot of orthopedic problems are preventable.

Muscles and tendons are connected to the brain by a complex system of sensors called proprioceptors, capable of detecting the slightest dif-ference in muscle length, or tension on a tendon. The pro-prioceptors exist to help your body avoid injury. Those little strains and pains you begin to feel when you push too hard are telling you “Back off” you need more conditioning before you can perform at this level.

Pushing through the pain is flirting with serious injury.The proprioceptors also, tell the brain just where a limb is in

space at any given time. A well-trained proprioceptive sense helps a tennis player get to a ball and return it without having to think through each step. The body knows the way.

Prehab is one of the best ways to avoid Rehab. Developing your proprioceptive sense-awareness of where your body is in space - is a good start. There are exercise programs that focus on proprio-ception like my own Moving Free® technique, Tai Chi and certain yoga exercises. It helps you avoid awkward movements that can cause injury and perform daily tasks with ease and grace. And it improves your sense of balance to help prevent falls

Here’s an example: Close your eyes. Hold out your

arm in front of you. Your brain knows your arm is in front of you without you having to see it. Keep your eyes closed. Now circle your index finger. Your brain knows where your finger is

Prehab to Avoid Rehab

By MiRABAi HOllANd, M.F.A., www.MovingFree.com


through the full range of motion without looking. That’s your proprioceptive sense at work.

Strengthening areas at risk for orthope-dic injury is another component of Prehab. This kind of Prehab comes in two forms:

General Prehab for daily living as part of a personal wellness program, looks at the body as a whole, and develops it as a whole to maximize quality of life. This often includes strength training, cardio conditioning and core training, as well as some proprioceptive exercises.

Activity Specific Prehab designed to get you ready for the rigors of a particular sport or physical endeavor. Good Activity Specific exercises pay special attention to the body parts most involved in that activity without ignoring the concept of training the body as a whole.Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fit-ness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and reha-bilitative exercise for people. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn’t feel like work. www.movingfree.com. © 2009

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up to

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Health costs keep rising every year. The best way to save on health costs is to get regular check-ups, exercise and eat right. However, there will still be times you need prescription drugs, either long-term or short term. Many pharmacies are helping their customers save money by offering discounts or generic drug savings plans.

Don’t be put off by us-ing generics. Of course you should check with your doctor to make sure a generic would work for you or is available, but generics are just as safe as name brand drugs. The FDA says, “A ge-neric drug is identical, or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and in-tended use.”

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Senior Care at Brentwood Hospital

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Warning SignsThat May Indicate the Need for Treatment

• Depression, extreme sadness• Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating• Hallucinations; hearing voices• Misuse of alcohol or medications• Disorientation• Numerous unexplained physical ailments• Difficulties coping with daily living• Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness

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• Outpatient


If you want to feel a little like an underachiever, have Burtie Smith-Griffin tell you what she has been up to. Smith-Griffin, 81, doesn’t look her age and certainly doesn’t let her age slow her down.

Her current career involves running her own credit union

auditing business and her own tax business. She works out of her home and schedules her credit union work around tax season.

When she is not up to her eyeballs in numbers, she might be found painting, or running, or collecting stuffed animals for donation, or maybe even

installing her life-size nativity scene in her front yard. Yes, this mother of four, grandmother to 10 and great-grand-

mother to 20, does stay very busy. Smith-Griffin, a resident of Haughton, grew up in Red Chute

during the Depression, when paper and drawing supplies were in short supply, but that didn’t stop her from expressing herself artistically.

“I used to draw in the dirt,” she said. “I would go out in the yard and draw in the dirt and then go in and get my mother to show her. I could barley talk. When I got older, every time we would go up to the store, I would ask the meat market man for a piece of paper off that roll they used to wrap meat and I would draw on it. My family would always encourage me and get me colors and left over paint when they could. I always loved drawing and painting.”

Beginning in 1962, Smith-Griffin studied painting for 19 years under Louis G. Sicard. Dur-ing that time she also attended as many painting workshops as she could. As her skills grew, so did her love of painting and in 1982 she published the book, “Discov-ering the Joy of Oil Painting.” She taught children’s art lessons from 1962 into the 1980s. Then she began giving art lessons to adults. She did that up until her second husband passed away.

She does still have one special adult art student of whom she is very proud.

“I started teaching Mike Hilburn, from Springhill, 23 years ago,” she said. “He is in a wheelchair and paints with his toes. He has come a long way and has a lot of accomplishments. He does really nice work and some of his work is in the governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.”

She beams with pride when speaking of Hilburn. In 2002, he presented her with the President’s Committee on Mental Re-tardation “People Who Make a Difference Award.” It is an award she is clearly proud of, mainly because it represents all the effort Hilburn puts into his work.

When Smith-Griffin met her second husband he was active in distance running. He told her if she wanted to run with him, he would keep her in his sights.

“I never did get out of his sights,” she said. “I’m a fast starter and we did a lot of 5Ks and 10Ks. And this is all after I was 67.”

(She was also 67 when she earned an associate degree in accounting after six years of correspondence work. Obviously, that year was a big one for her.)

She laughs when she tells people that what she likes about running is not the run-

A Senior Olympics champion, Burtie

also runs her own

business and is an

accomplished artist and author.


ning itself, but the feeling she has when she finishes. She is now a regular competitor and winner in Senior Olympics competi-tions. She has so many local medals that she keeps them put up and just displays the state and national medals - and there are about 30 of those.

She has already booked the tickets to compete in the upcoming National Senior Olympics in San Francisco.

“What I have found out about myself is that I am highly competitive with me,” she said. “It is like I have to do my personal best.”

She bested herself at the most recent regional competitions when she ran the 100 meter in “18.something” seconds. That beat a time of 19 seconds when she ran it 14 years ago. Yes, she is faster now than she was 14 years ago and how many people can say that.

“It is hard to find competition in my age group, but it thrills me when I outrun somebody 20 years younger,” Smith-Grif-fin said. “I shouldn’t say too much about that, but it does.”

Her love of beating her personal best found her running on her wedding day a year ago.

“Mr. Griffin and I were getting mar-ried on Saturday, May 17, and I thought I needed to run in the local Senior Olympic competition to qualify for state and the locals were scheduled for the morning of May 17. So I ran that morning, we finished up about 11 a.m. and I beat it to the church to get married at 2 p.m. They sang “Here Comes the Bride” when I finished that run.”

Smith-Griffin said she is blessed to have no chronic pain and only requires a brace for her knee when running due to a little arthritis. She and her husband love to Cajun dance and jitterbug and frequently attend the dances held at the Bossier Council on Aging.

“An active life has kept me young,” she said. “Exercising and eating right is important, but you also have to keep your mind challenged.”

Oh, and about that nativity scene….drive by Smith-Griffin’s house around Christmas and you will be rewarded with the most amazing life-size nativity scene set up in her front yard. She painted every character from the angels, to the donkeys and the wise men. It is just another way she stays active and a part of the community.






Unlike the calculated expressions of feeling common to its human masters, there is nothing disingenuous about the way a dog praises, celebrates, frets or mourns. In this poem David Baker gives us just such an endearing mutt.

Mongrel HeartUp the dog bounds to the window, baying like a basset his doleful, tearing sounds from the belly, as if mourning a dead king,

and now he’s howling like a beagle – yips, brays, gagging growls – and scratching the sill paintless, that’s how much he’s missed you, the two of you,

both of you, mother and daughter, my wife and child. All week he’s curled at my feet, warming himself and me watching more TV,

or wandered the lonely rooms, my dog shadow, who like a poodle now hops, amped-up windup maniac yo-yo with matted curls and snot nose

smearing the panes, having heard another car like yours taking its grinding turn down our block, or a school bus, or bird-squawk,

that’s how much he’s missed you, good dog, companion dog, dog-of-all-types, most excellent dog I told you once and for all we should never get.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poet-ryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the De-partment of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Reprinted from The Southeast Review, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2005, by permission of the author, whose new-est book of poetry is Midwest Eclogue, W. W. Norton (2005). Copyright © 2005 by David Baker. Introduction copyright © 2009 by The Poetry Foundation. The

introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

By TEd KOOSER, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2004-2006


August is well known to be a very hot, dry month. In August, 1954, we had eleven consecu-tive days with the temperature reaching 100° or higher. In

August, 1956 there were fifteen consecu-tive days with the temperature reaching 100° or higher, which was a record num-ber for August. The highest temperature during that period was 103° on the 16th. Our hottest August temperature of record was 110° on August 18, 1909, which was also our all-time high temperature. The record low temperature was 53° on August 17, 1992. Wettest of record was 10.9 inches. Normal August rainfall is 2.71 inches.

Last August our hottest temperature was 105° on the 2nd. The coolest tem-perature was 70° on the 16th and 17th. Rainfall last August measured 5.63 inches. Louisiana’s hottest temperature of record was 114° at Plain Dealing on August 10, 1936.

There had to be a lot of sunshine dur-ing those scorching days. As you well know, we have many sunny days during the year, but not as many to rank with the cities known to be the sunniest in the United States. They are Yuma, Arizona; Tucson, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; Red-ding, California; Las Vegas, Nevada and El Paso, Texas.

When it’s raining, have you ever won-dered how large those raindrops are? The diameter can range up to 1/4 of an inch. Any drop larger than that will break up into several smaller drops when it encoun-ters the resistance of the air as it falls.Al Bolton is a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association.


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

(Solution on page 55)

BarkBirdCatDog

FerretFish

GerbilGroomer

Guinea pigHamster

HorseIguanaKittenMeow

Monkey

MousePet Shop

PonyPuppyRabbitSnakeTurtle

Veterinarian


By Nora Pearlstone; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

(Solution on page 55)

MidAFTERNOONSAcross1 Mollusk shell materials7 “Piece of cake”14 Charts with axes20 Maintain21 What a stalwart won’t give?22 Liturgy23 Temporary solution25 Harlem theater26 Arnold Palmer’s Pennsylvania birthplace27 “Lemme __!”28 Physicist with a law30 Fraternal org.31 Golf iron socket32 Do not disturb34 W, vis-ˆ-vis E36 Money pile?: Abbr.37 With 81-Down, game played on a three-walled court39 Govt. division41 Hardly an idler42 Title woman about whom Clapton sings “You’ve got me on my knees”44 Year in Augustus’ reign47 Political payoff49 Felt contrite about51 Goneril’s victim54 Controversial excavation method58 Not sing.59 Bit of folk wisdom60 Half of Bennifer61 Erotic god62 Recipe meas.63 Pencil puzzles64 Old Boston Garden nickname67 Like horseshoes70 Both: Pref.72 Connections73 Uto-Aztecan tongue

75 Capital of Yemen77 Not too soft79 CCX x V + I80 Long-necked runner82 Nautical ladder rung84 Court period: Abbr.85 Israeli port city87 Fantasy sprite89 “Sleepy Hollow” actor90 “Say what?” sounds92 Piques93 Kung __ chicken94 Key equivalent to B-flat99 Aware of100 In the 60s, say102 Chemical suffix103 Shortsighted one104 Snapple’s __ Madness106 French military cap109 Vegas contraption offering the best odds?111 Whammy112 USCG rank114 Jupiter, e.g.115 East German secret police117 Violinist’s aid120 Not stifling122 109-Across charge124 Emerald Isle125 Woozy128 Low-level clouds130 It can help you organize windows and wallpaper133 Puts on ice134 Best135 It’s fixed by a bank136 Per se137 Annual Georgia tournament, with “The”

138 La Scala offerings

Down1 Pelé’s org.2 B.C. neighbor3 One concerned with duds?4 Printer’s proof5 Toaster waffles6 Lobster habitat7 __ de plume8 Actress Tatum9 Not off one’s rocker?10 Not tricked by11 Digital food additive code used in Europe12 Horiz.13 Kojak, to friends14 Family nickname15 Pants problem16 Phrase indicating small progress17 Startling Stories, e.g.

18 Saintly rings19 Tart fruit24 Speaker since 200729 One making a large withdrawal?33 Blow one’s stack35 Giza attraction37 “__ Boys”: Alcott novel38 Colony resident40 Whale of a guy?43 Yeats’s “__ and the Swan”45 Exquisite gem46 Rank above Pfc.48 Early Arizona natives50 Joy Adamson lioness52 Bond and others53 Headlands55 Sass, with “off”56 Stock phrase57 Caribbean nation64 Tangle up

65 Intravenous solution66 Maker of Marlboro68 Laptop power saver69 Goes out with71 Censor’s insert74 Schubert vocal work76 First in a series78 Think piece81 See 37-Across83 Classic toothpaste86 “__ girl!”88 Parents91 “I wonder ...”95 Spruce up again, as a hedge96 “Sands of Iwo Jima” costar97 Unveil, in poems98 T. __101 Can’t abide105 Simple card game107 “Sit!”

108 “Am I the only one?”110 State of Grace?112 First to stab Caesar113 Cores116 “__ Time”: Hemingway work118 Wall St. “500”119 “Do __ to eat a peach?”: Eliot121 Korean border river123 Ancient Dead Sea land126 Sixth Greek letter127 “__ Tu”: 1974 hit129 Tot’s need, often131 Govt. emissions watchdog132 Times of day hidden in eight puz. answers


PlACES2GO, PEOPlE2SEE, THiNGS2dO

FESTivAl

TOURS

COMMUNiTy FORUM

dANCE KREwE OF EldERS

SEMiNAR

HEAlTH FAiR

ExHiBiTS

Krewe Party - Sunday, August 16, from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m . Sponsored by The Krewe of Elders. American Legion Hall located at 5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport. Bobby Langston Trio. $7.00 per person. Cash bar, raffle and door prizes. Food available for purchase. Everyone is invited. Info: 635-4901, 752-9175 or 518-8092.

The Krewe of Elders Coronation Bal - Saturday, August 22 from 6:00 until 11:00 p.m, at the American Legion Hall, 5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport. Louisiana Outlaws Band, theme and royalty presentation, buffet, silent auc-tion, cash bar, raffle. Everyone is invited. Tickets are $40.00 in advance, $45.00 at the door. Info 635-4901, 752-9175 or 518-8092.

•

•

“DJ Fun Dance” - Saturday, Aug. 15. Sponsored by Cajun Footwork Dancers. Promenade Hall, 5400 Benton Road, Bossier City. Lessons by Champ & JoAnn Crossno from 6 - 7 p.m.; Dance 7 - 10 p.m. Admission $5 per person includes food & drinks. For more infor-mation: [email protected]

Ark-La-Tex Genealogical As-sociation Seminar - All day seminar on Saturday, August 8. Guest speakers will be Buford and Lynda Suffridge, professional genealogists and lectur-ers. Pierce Activity Hall, Broadmoor Methodist Church, 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport. Registration is from 8:00 a.m. - 8.45 a.m. Cost is $35.00 For further information, call 746-1851. To register for the seminar, make checks payable to Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Assn., P O Box 4463, Shreveport, LA. 71134-0463. Space is limited. You may list 4 surnames you are researching

Multiple Sclerosis Health Fair - Saturday, August 15th from 9 am to 1 pm, Steen Hall Eye Institute, 2661 Greenwood Road in Shreveport. Spon-sored by National Multiple Sclerosis Society at Willis Knighton Hospital. Presentations, luncheon for attendees, vendors. There is no admission fee to attend, but you must RSVP by Tuesday, August 11th by calling toll free 1-800-344-4867, Option 1, or by emailing to [email protected]

James Burton International Guitar Festival - For additional information on all events or for tickets: (318) 424-5000

Friday, August 21, 6 p.m. The James Burton Birthday Bash. Featuring local and regional bands. Festival Plaza. Admis-sion: $5

Saturday August 22, 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Guitar Showdown (Talent Competi-tion) hosted by Tipitina’s Shreveport Music Office Coop. Hirsch Memorial Coliseum, State Fair Grounds. Live Music 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM; Guinness World Record Attempt at 2:00 PM. Hirsch Me-morial Coliseum. FREE Admission.

Saturday August 22, 7:00 p.m. James Burton & Friends Concert, Municipal Auditorium. Tickets available: $25; $75; $100.

•

•

•

The Shreveport-Caddo Master Plan Forum - Saturday, August 22nd from 8:30 am to 3:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Conven-tion Center. The Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission of Caddo Parish (MPC) is sponsoring the creation of a 20-year master plan for Shreveport and parts of Caddo Parish! Everyone is invited to attend. This forum will allow residents to vote electronically on important issues. Free admission and includes continental breakfast, box lunch, parking, and child-care. Reserve your spot by registering online at www.shreveportcaddomaster-plan.org or call 318-673-6468.

Albino R. Hinojosa: An American Realist - August 11 - September 20. R.W. Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport. Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays and national holidays A native of East Texas, and now residing in Ruston, Louisiana, Albino Hinojosa can easily be classified as a “photo-realist” based on his works included in this exhibition. He paints what motivates him to self-expres-sion while his work brings to light many common everyday scenes with which we can all identify. On Saturday, August 15 at 2:00 p.m. lbino Hinojosa will lead an informal talk amongst his paintings on display in the Special Exhibition Albino Hinojosa: An American Realist. Stroll down memory lane with the artist as he chats about everything from what inspires him to his favorite painting techniques to the challenges of the photo-realistic format. FREE.

First Saturday Tour - Saturday, September 5 at 2:00 p.m. Norton Art Gal-lery. The frame that surrounds a painting not only adds to the experience of the work, but is often a work of art in its own right. On this tour, well explore the art of frame-making and look at some of the Gal-lerys most spectacular examples. FREE.

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Shreve Town Ghost Walk - Through Saturday, October 24. 7 p.m. every Sat-urday night. Tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Walks are conducted in the downtown area, covering half a mile in total length, starting and ending at the Caddo Courthouse, located at 501 Texas Street. Begin at the front steps, by the Confederate Monument. $10 per person, children 12 and under $5.

Oakland Cemetery tour, 1 p.m. Sat-urdays at Oakland Cemetery on Milam St., across from the Municipal Auditorium. 90 minute tour. $10 per person, children 12 and under $5.

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Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East

Haughton, LA 71037(318) 949-9415

Centuries Memorial8801 Mansfield

Shreveport, LA 71108(318) 686-4334

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

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

terrible emotional burden.

Call Today To Receive a FREE Family Planning Portfolio


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

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

Info & referrals - 741-8302Transportation - Vans available

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legal Services - Referrals for individual counseling.

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

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

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

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

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

• Broadmoor Methodist Church - 3715 Youree Drive, Shreveport.

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

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

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

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

Caddo Council on Aging

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Webster Council on Aging Congregate Meals – nutritionally

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

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

Homemaker services – Provided to those clients meeting specific requirements.

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

Wellness – designed to support/

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

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

relative 60+ caring for a homebound child or grandchild.

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

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

Medicaid enrollment center – take initial Medicaid applications

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


Chris Shelby, MDPierremont Eye Institute7843 Youree Dr.Shreveport, LA 1105318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.comSee our ad on page 36.

NURSiNG HOME CARE

Vicki OttNurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center1736 Irving PlaceShreveport, LA 71101(318) 221-1983See our ad on page 13.

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

OPHTHAlMOlOGy

NEUROSURGERyORTHOPAEdiCS

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

“You’ve got questions, we’ve

got answers”

Will Medicare cover my father’s care in a nursing home?

While Medicare does not pay room & board fees for one actually “living” in a nursing home, there are portions of nurs-ing home care that are covered. Medicare covers 100 days of skilled nursing care when the doctor feels that either nursing or rehabilitation services for Medicare Part A insured persons are needed following a recent hospitalization of 3 or more days. Additionally, Medicare Parts B & D may pay for your father’s medications and physical, speech or occupational therapies ordered by a physician while he is in a nurs-ing home. Depending upon the financial situation, nursing home room & board is generally paid by the individual, Medicaid, or Long Term Care Insurance.

Who are candidates for balloon ky-phoplasty to relieve back problems?

The best candidates for balloon kypho-plasty are those who have new (within a few days or a couple of weeks) fracture. Fractures are most common in older patients with osteoporosis and the typi-cal symptom is severe, immediate onset back pain. Kyphoplasty has to be one of the most satisfying procedures - there is practically immediate relief in most cases, and people go home with only 2 tiny needle incisions. We treat other back-related problems which affect pain down the legs of ‘fatiguing” down the legs, and not every patient needs surgery - just an honest assessment.

I have heard that glaucoma is a painless disease. How often should I get checked for glaucoma?

Glaucoma is considered the silent thief of sight. It is painless, pro-gressive, and can cause complete blindness. Every person over the age of 40 should be checked, if they have never had a glaucoma check, and then every 2 - 3 years after that. Glaucoma is more prominent in the elderly, so persons over the age of 65 should be checked yearly, especially if you have a family member with the disease. Glaucoma can be successfully treated with medicine and/or surgery to help prevent the loss of sight.

I broke a bone last year. Do I have osteoporosis?

This is a question that should be asked after a fracture? In certain high risk groups the risk of a serious fracture can double after a first fracture. Those who experi-ence an osteoporotic hip fracture have a 24% increased risk of dying within one year following the fracture. This is not only a disease of aging white women. Osteoporosis occurs in all racial groups and men have a 1:8 chance of having an osteoporotic fracture. Although there is no specific cure, you can: Get enough Vitamin D and Calcium. Get regular exercise (weight bearing and low impact). Do balance exercises to avoid falls (Tai chi decrease falls in older individuals) and if you have a broken bone talk to your doctor about a bone density test.

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

W e A r e C o m f o r t K e e p e r s®

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

In-Home Care tHat’s

Call Us Today!318-934-0090


Ambulance Services

Balentine Ambulance service

(318) 222-5358More info on page 60

Artificial Limbs

and Braces

snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics (318) 424-4167

More info on page 39

Associations and Organizations

BluePrint Louisiana


Bossier Council

on Aging(318) 741-8302


Caddo Council on Aging


NwLA employment

Opportunity Network(318) 677-2559


The Robinson Film Center


The Best of Times (318) 636-5510

More info on page 4

webster Council on Aging


Automobile Care and Repair

Brock’s Collision Centers

(318) 798-1353(318) 742-5575(318) 687-5070

More info on page 9

VM services(318) 820-9187


Care Providers

Comfort Keepers (318) 934-0090


Family Care services (318) 671-1799


Home Assistance services


Northwest LA INCs, LLC


ResCare Home Care


seniors Club Personal Care services


Cemeteries/Funeral

Homes

Centuries Memorial(318) 686-4334


Hill Crest Memorial(318) 949-9415


Counseling Services

The Center for Families (318) 222-0759


Educational Courses

Bible Correspondence Course


Thru the Bus Radio

Program(318) 222-2744


Emergency Response Systems

Acadian OnCall1-800-259-1234


Financial & Estate Planning/Legal Services

serio Investments

– Phillip serio (318) 221-0889


The singleton Law Firm(318) 631-5200


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


Flowers

Flowers Forever, LLC(318) 925-2323

More info one page 57

Fitness Centers

Curves( 318) 670-2005


Curves(318) 629-2222


Curves(318) 752-9906


Curves(318)949-3131


Fitness Lady(318) 747-1897


Hearing Care Services

shreve Hearing Aid service


Home Maintenance

and Repair

Gutter Helmet of North Louisiana


Lex Plant Farm(318) 797-6035


stanley steamer Carpet Cleaner(318) 631-6655


Home Health Care (Medicare Certified)

Ark-La-Tex Home Health


synergy Home Care


Hospice Care Providers

Hospice Compassus


Odyssey Healthcare


st. Joseph Hospice


Home Infusion Services

IV Plus


Hospitals

Brentwood Hospital


willis Knighton Medical Center – North

shreveport(318) 212-4000

More info on page 2

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

More info on page 2

willis Knighton Medical Center – south

shreveport(318) 212-5000

More info on page 2

wilis Knighton Medical Center – Pierremont


Insurance

Humana(800) 301-8998


Insurance Agent – Bobbie Thomas


Insurance Agent

– Jennifer Doolittle(318) 458-7738


sterling Health Plans(866) 217-3666


Medical Supplies and Equipment

Fastserv Medical(318) 741-9586


Home Health Medical supply (318) 631-1466


Medtronics XsTOP spacer


Pet Care and Services

Airline Animal Hospital



Lil’ Rascals Pet Care(318) 573-6672


Pharmacies

Medic Pharmacy(318) 222-8477


Physician Services

Cardiovascular Consultants, LLP

Dr. Phillip Rozeman (318) 631-6400


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


Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600


Mid south Orthopaedics


Pierremont eye Institute

Dr. Chris shelby (318) 212-3937


Radio Stations

KwKH AM 1130 Radio station

(318) 688-1130

Real Estate Agents

Century 21Judy Holland


Restaurants and

Catering

Cupcake Gallery and Coffee shop


Imperial wok

Chinese Restaurant(318) 687-6668


shoeBooty’s Restaurant(318) 550-0444


Senior Living Options

Azalea estates Assisted Living (318) 797-2408


Kingsley Place of shreveport


Leslie Lakes

Retirement Center(318) 263-9581


NurseCare of shreveport


Princeton Place

Rehabilitation Center(318) 255-4400


The waterford at shreveport


Spas/Skin Care

Jean y Mitchell’s skin Technology (318) 347-3567


Mary KayCindy Dawson(318) 578-5965


Travel Services

Cruises, Inc(318) 746-3745


Red River Coaches (318) 221-5797


Telephone Book

User-Friendly Phone Book



1 - Elaine Adkison was recently named a 2009 School Volunteer of the Year by A+PEL She was one of 10 state Volunteers of the Year by the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana.

2 - Sue Watts (seated center) celebrated her birthday at Superior Steakhouse with the Wednesday morning tennis gals. They are (seated) Pam Parsons, Sue, Jan Glasgow; (standing) Hannah Speer, Debbie Grand, Van Johnston, Pat Laborde, and Mary Lou Kizzie.

3 - Garladen Story presented Michael Jones with an appreciation award for sup-porting People Helping People outreach which helps women and children.

4 - The Senior Adult Ministry of Asbury United Methodist Church - J.O.Y. Club (Just Older Youth) celebrated “Our Flag” in July. (a) J.O.Y. Club Coordinator Marilyn Rech and Speaker, Pat Berry; (b) Shirley Swaty, Claudine Bond, Kathy & Barry Welch.

5 - Ken Maher and wife Diane Sino, Gloria and E. J. Nosser celebrate the 4th by watching the fireworks from the University Club.

6 - Candace Marshall and Council-woman Joyce Bowman at the Southern University Shreveport Foundation 10th annual Cooking Classic.

7 - Lois Jackson, Faye Crager, Gloria Leach, and Jack Huffman are some of the door prize winners at Silver Screenings at the Robinson Film Center.

8 - (a) Robert Duvall, Jr and Robert Duvall, Sr at an educational seminar on the latest treatments of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis; (b) orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Britain Auer with Ladore Leone.

9 - Pyra Calligas celebrates her 91st birthday with grandson Jason Calligas, granddog Brandi, and son Gary.

10 - Angelo Cascio and Franklin S. Adams discuss their WWII days and enjoy the Farmer’s Market in downtown Shreveport.

11 - Kay Kemp and Doreen Ginn enjoy attending each and every Silver Screenings at the Robinson Film Center.

12 - Daryl Cooper hosted a Cheese-burger in Paradise party with wife Jean and Sue and Clarence Babineaux. Enjoying the Cross Lake sunset with Daryl (left) are Debbie Davis, Claudia and Ted Lyles.

13 - Jerry Welch (left), Gwen Wil-liams and Alonzo Williams at the Kidney Awareness Dinner Fundraiser benefiting the National Kidney Foundation of LA.




Are you about to become eligible for Medicare? Humana offers a variety of Medicare health plans and the experience to help you find the right plan that meets your needs. And our licensed representatives still make house calls!

Call today:

8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday - Friday

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a Medicare health plan.

Humana can help.

Medicare-approved HMO, PPO, and PFFS plans available to anyone enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Medicare through age or disability. Enrollment period restrictions apply, call Humana for details.

M0006_GHA04A8HH_2R 6/09

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