the magazine for active older adults it’s your lifeit’s ... · art director heidi atwell vital!...

It’s Your LifeIt’s Your Life

V I T A L I N F O R M A T I O N F O R A V I T A L L I F E !

THE MAGAZINE FOR ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS®

A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Spring Fever!Spring Fever!It’s Not All In It’s Not All In

Your HeadYour Head1

Why Boomers Get More Why Boomers Get More From Social SecurityFrom Social Security

Page 8Page 3P 33

MSG: Hiding in MSG: Hiding in Plain SightPlain Sight

Choose Choose HappinessHappiness

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2 A P R I L 2 0 1 4



N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3

Top 10 Gifts for Seniors

Page 13

Social Security as a Survivor Benefit

Page 6Page 5P 55

Helpful Hearing Tips for the Holidays

At Forwood Manor At Forwood Manor They’re Learning, Laughing They’re Learning, Laughing and Loving Lifeand Loving Life

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4

Electronic Gadget

Secrets You Must Know!

Page 16Reinventing

Your LifePage 12

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Measuring Retiree’s Real

Cost of Living

Make Your Make Your New Year’s New Year’s Resolutions Resolutions StickStick

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 4

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Page 8

Open Your Heart:The Power of Forgiveness

Page 7Page 3

Get Fit Faster

Live, Laugh, Love the Possibilities!

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“Smart” “Smart” TechnologyTechnologyOpen Your Open Your World to World to PossibilitiesPossibilities



M A R C H 2 0 1 4

Can You Make Money from Your

Diamond Jewelry?Page 13

March MadnessIt’s Springtime in the

GardenPage 12

Page 3

ExerciseLet’s Take It Outside

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E D I TO R S’ L E T T E R

KARYN CORTEZ AND LINDA PRITCHETT

DELAWARE • APRIL 2014

Unsolicited material is welcomed and is considered

intended for publication. Such material will become

the property of the magazine and will be subject

to editing. Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Vital! Magazine

will not knowingly accept any advertising in violation of

U.S. equal opportunity law.

E D I T O R S I N C H I E F

Karyn [email protected]

Linda [email protected]

C R E AT I V E A RT D I R E C T O R

Heidi Atwell

Vital! Magazine4556 Simon Road

Wilmington, DE 19803302-764-6642

www.vitalmagonline.com

Vital! Magazine is published monthly by Envision Publishing.

Articles are intended for general information purposes

only and should not replace your personal

advisor’s advice.Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without express written

consent of the publisher.

The Magazine for Active Older Adults®

Interested inAdvertising?

We’d LOVE toHear From You!

Call 302-764-6642

We’re Going Nationwide!If you or someone you know has ever dreamed of owning your own business, now is the time!

Call 302-764-6642 to find out how to publish Vital! in YOUR community.

M A R C H 2 0 1 4

Can You Make CaCaCan YoYoou MaMakkeke Money from Your Mooneeyey ffrofrorooom YoYoouur

Diamond Jewelry?DDiammooond Jeewewewelelryry?ryy??Page 13Page 13

March Machchchhhhh dnessMaarcrcchchrcchchhhhhhhhhh Maaddnnesesssss Sprs SprIt’s Spr’s S rIt’s Sprt’t’ Spr’s SprSpr’s Sprr’s Spr’s r’s Sprprprs s Spprppppp gtimegtime gtime ingtime ingtime ingtimegtime e inggtimegtimegtimeeggtimeegtimegtimemeg etimg in the inininiinininininnnnnItItt’tt’’’s’s’’’s’t’’s’s’ss’sssssssssss SSSSSSpSpppppppprrrrrrrrrrrrrrirriiiiiinngnggggggggggggggggtgtgtititimmmmmmeeeeeemeeeeee eee iiiiiinnnnnnnnn ththe

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ExerciseExExeExxerrcirccisseeLet’s Take It Oue It Oue It Out OOuOut OOOut Out Outt OOtt OOOttt uut detstsiddddddtsiddddetsitsiddddddsiddidddLeLeteet’ett’st’s TaTakTakeke e e IIIttt ttttttttt t OOOOOOOOOOOOOuuuuuuuttuuttststtsssssisssssiidiididiiiddddddedddddddddddddddee

Want Home Delivery? Visit

vitalmagonline.com/subscribe or call

302-764-6642

Karyn and Linda

It always amazes me, the chang-

es that sunshine and longer days

bring. I feel it myself and see it

all around me: people are energized,

revitalized, happier (and maybe just

a little more apt to play hooky!).

Turns out it’s not just in our imagi-

nation, either. Spring fever is a real

phenomenon based in physiologi-

cal changes, but that’s not a very

romantic notion, now, is it? Really,

it just feels so much better to say,

“Love is in the air,” not “Seratonin

is in the air.”

We think that every day is a new op-

portunity to examine your life and

start fresh, though, so this month

not only are we bringing you the

science behind that spring fever

(page 11) but thoughtful articles we

hope might inspire you as you while

away a lazy, sunshiny afternoon. On

page 10, Bronnie Ware writes about

her experiences as a palliative nurse

and the insights she gained from

her patients. Every choice you’ve

made in your life has brought you

to the place where you are now; wise

choices now will take you where you

want to be. What do you want your

life to look like in a year? Five years?

More?

Have you told others about those

experiences that make you who you

are? Our friend Myrle Bowe, an ex-

pert on writing your memoirs, takes

the mystery out of getting the shar-

ing started in her article on page 16.

As she says, you don’t have to be

perfect, you just have to start!

Inspired to start giving back and

looking for ideas? The Annual Week

of Service is April 6-12. Check out

page 15 for some unique opportuni-

ties, and visit www.volunteerdela-

ware.org for more. Talk about food

for the soul!

And if you just want to get out in the

fresh air and putter around in the

yard, we’ve got you covered there

too. Page 9 is your go-to guide for

everything you’ll want to do (or at

least think about doing!) in the gar-

den this month.

Here’s to your health, happiness,

and life well-lived!

Happy April!


www.Vita lMagOnl ine.com 3

TO YO U R H E A LT H

By Dr. Chad Laurence

Ever read a food label only to

have no idea what half the

ingredients actually are? Per-

haps you notice words such as hy-

drolyzed protein, sodium caseinate,

monosodium glutamate, or natural

flavorings. What do these ingredi-

ents have in common, and what are

their dangers?

The common thread among these

ingredients and others is MSG, or

monosodium glutamate, a flavor en-

hancer first used in Japan in 1908 and

introduced in the U.S. in 1948. Since

then, MSG production has doubled

every decade, even though adverse

reactions including obesity and

numbness were reported as long ago

as 1968. Conditions from ingesting

MSG or processed glutamic acid can

include changes in blood pressure,

rapid heartbeat, chest pains, muscle

swelling, asthma attacks, temporary

blindness, dizziness, headaches, sei-

zures, numbness, anxiety, behavioral

problems in children, hyperactiv-

ity, insomnia, loss of mental acuity,

slurred speech, joint stiffness and

pain, digestive issues, blurred vision,

prostate swelling, memory dysfunc-

tion, obesity, and skin reactions. It

is particularly harmful for pregnant

and lactating women, and infants.

MSG is a neurotoxin that acts like a

poison by stimulating neurons in the

central nervous system to an excit-

able state that can lead to neurologi-

cal degeneration. Its main compo-

nent, glutamic acid, can penetrate

the hypothalamus of the brain (which

regulates weight control) by break-

ing through the natural “blood-brain

barrier,” affecting brain function,

and causing further health issues.

MSG is inexpensive to produce, and

is used by many food manufacturers

as a taste enhancer in frozen dinners,

soups, condiments, infant formulas,

processed baby food, shakes, snack

foods, and other processed foods. It

is also used by many restaurants, su-

permarkets, and school cafeterias.

Research studies have shown:

■ At least 25 percent of the U.S.

population reacts to glutamic acid

from MSG food sources.

■ A study by Ohguro found that

MSG exposure to animals over a

3-6 month period led to signifi-

cant risk for retinal damage of the

eyes.

■ An article in a 1999 peer-reviewed

journal, called “The Toxicity/

Safety of Processed Free Glutamic

Acid (MSG): A Study in Suppres-

sion of Information,” found that

exposed lab animals suffered brain

lesions, neuroendocrine disorders,

and obesity. Disease conditions

such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral

sclerosis, a progressive degenera-

tion of neurons and motor cells of

the brain), Alzheimer’s disease,

seizures, and stroke are associated

with the consumption of gluta-

mate derivatives.

The FDA requires food manufac-

turers to list monosodium glutamate

and hydrolyzed protein on food la-

bels, but they do not have to label

ingredients that contain free glu-

tamic acid, even though it’s the main

component of MSG. In addition, the

FDA allows many ingredients that

contain MSG to be classified and

grouped under the names flavors,

flavorings, natural flavors or natural

flavorings. There are over 40 labeled

ingredients that contain glutamic

acid, but you’d never know it just

from their names alone. Further, in

some foods glutamic acid is formed

during processing and, again, food

labels give you no way of knowing

for sure.

Tips for Keeping MSG Out of Your DietIn general, if a food is processed you

can assume it contains MSG (or one

of its pseudo-ingredients). The other

place where you’ll need to watch out

for MSG is in restaurants. You can

ask your server which menu items

are MSG-free, and request that no

MSG be added to your meal, but of

course the only place where you can

be entirely sure of what’s added to

your food is in your own kitchen.So

if you stick to a whole, fresh foods

diet, you can pretty much guarantee

that you’ll avoid this toxin.

To be on the safe side, you should

know what ingredients to watch out

for on packaged foods.

Here is a list of ingredients that AL-

WAYS contain MSG (monosodium

glutamate):

■ Autolyzed Yeast

■ Calcium Caseinate

■ Gelatin

■ Glutamate

■ Glutamic Acid

■ Hydrolyzed Protein

■ Monopotassium Glutamate

■ Monosodium Glutamate

■ Sodium Caseinate

■ Textured Protein

■ Yeast Extract

■ Yeast Food

■ Yeast Nutrient

These ingredients OFTEN contain

MSG or create MSG during process-

ing:

■ Flavors and Flavorings

■ Natural Flavors and Flavoring

■ Natural Pork Flavoring

■ Natural Beef Flavoring

■ Natural Chicken Flavoring

■ Seasonings

■ Bouillon

■ Stock

■ Broth

■ Soy Sauce

■ Soy Protein Isolate

■ Soy Protein

■ Corn Starch

■ Citric Acid

■ Powdered Milk

■ Malt Extract

■ Malt Flavoring

■ Barley Malt

■ Carrageenan

■ Maltodextrin

■ Pectin

■ Protease

■ Enzymes

■ Anything Enzyme Modified

■ Anything Protein Fortified

■ Anything Ultra-Pasteurized

MSG: Hiding in Plain Sight

Know what you are putting into your

body. Whenever possible, use fresh,

locally grown ingredients. And as al-

ways, understand the ingredients on

your food labels!

References available upon request.


4 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

TO YO U R H E A LT H

KNOWYOU

KNOW YOU NEED THEM.

WHICH ONES.

WE KNOW WHICH ONES.

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Services Performed By Specialists:

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Member of the American Academy of Periodontology

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Harmony Wellness Dental Specialists

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Dear Dr. Kaplan, My teeth have suddenly become very sensitive to both hot and cold, but my mouth is otherwise healthy. What could cause this?

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Visit your dentist to so that you can be diagnosed and treated properly.

Dear Dr. Kaplan, Are seniors more at risk for oral cancer?

Answer: Yes, the risk of oral cancer increases with age. Any lesion found on the tongue or anywhere in the mouth needs to be examined and closely watched. Smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages is also associated with oral cancer. Visit your local dentist for an annual oral cancer screening, as early detection is most important.

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DENTAL WELLNESS By Leonard M. Kaplan, DDS


5

You might have heard about the

Food and Drug Administration’s

(FDA) recent proposal to ban trans

fats in foods in the U.S. But just what

are trans fats, and why are they so

bad for you?

Fat and Cholesterol: Clogging the Pipes Fat and cholesterol travel as a team

through your blood vessels. Choles-

terol is a waxy substance made in the

liver. The body needs some fat and cholesterol, but when you have too much, it

can build up like sticky grease in your sink’s plumbing. Eventually, it’s hard for

blood to flow through the arteries, which can increase your risk of heart disease.

Know Your Fats: Good Vs. BadThe types of fats you eat affect your cholesterol levels—so know what you’re

putting into your body! “Good” fats store energy, help you grow, send electri-

cal messages between nerves and more; “bad” fats raise cholesterol levels and

build up deposits in arteries. It’s important to remember that not all fats are

the same, as the American Heart Association (AHA) advises.

Four types of fats

Fats & Cholesterol: Know The Good from The BannedBig Ban NewsMany restaurants and food makers in the U.S. already avoid using trans fats,

but they still post a big health risk. If you’re not careful, you can eat trans fats

and not even know it.

Under current FDA rules, food manufacturers can list the amount of trans

fats as zero on labels, if a single serving size has less than half a gram. Read

your nutrition labels, but also look at the ingredient list. If you see “partially

hydrogenated oils,” trans fats might lurk inside.

The FDA’s proposed ban would declare trans fats “unsafe” for the food sup-

ply. The FDA would then have to approve products with trans fats before

they’re sold in the U.S. A ban on trans fats could save over 7,000 heart disease-

related deaths and 20,000 heart attacks per year. So make a point to read nutri-

tion labels, make smart food choices, and get a cholesterol screening.

Know Your Number: Get ScreenedYour cholesterol level can creep up without any symptoms. Get to know your

numbers with a simple blood test. Local pharmacies often offer convenient

cholesterol screenings and counseling. Walk in or schedule an appointment

today. The knowledge you gain can help keep you healthy for years to come.

Be well, stay well!

Brought to you by your friends at your local Walgreens pharmacy.

Monounsaturated GOOD

Sources Olive oil, peanut oil, avocados

Benefits/Risk May lower “bad” cholesterol levels and reduce risk of heart disease

AHA Suggests 25%-35% of your daily calories (combined with poly-unsaturated sources

Polyunsaturated GOOD

Sources Plants (nuts, seeds, vegetable oils) and fish (salmon, herring). You might see sources called “omega-3” or “omega-6” fats.

Benefits/Risk May lower “bad” cholesterol levels and reduce risk of heart disease

AHA Suggests 25%-35% of your daily calories (combined with monounsaturated sources

Saturated BAD

Sources Animal products that are high in fat (meat, dairy, eggs), coconut oil

Benefits/Risk Raise cholesterol levels. Diets high in saturated fat have been linked to coronary heart disease.

AHA Suggests Limit to 7% of daily calories—about 16 grams a day (for diet of 2,000 calories/day)

Trans WORST

Sources Mostly processed items like fried food, baked goods (crackers, hamburger buns), stick margarines, mi-crowave popcorn, canned frosting, frozen dinners, coffee creamer

Benefits/Risk Can actually reduce “good” cholesterol in the body. Also raises risk of heart disease by increasing “bad” cholesterol

AHA Suggests Limit to less than 2 grams a day

READ LABELS AND INGREDIENT LISTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE EATING.


6 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

TO YO U R W E A LT H

By Melissa Timm

As an ICU nurse, the death and dying pro-

cess was all too familiar and real for me. I

saw some families and patients who were

prepared for it—they knew they had a terminal ill-

ness—but for many, the event was sudden and fam-

ily members were left with the incredibly difficult

task of deciding what their loved one would want

without being able to talk to them about it.

This hit close to home when my in-laws were in a se-

rious motorcycle accident. Seasoned riders with over

thirty years of experience, their tire blew. My father-

in-law suffered a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, and

was on life support for 2 weeks. His physicians asked

us to start thinking about the type of care he would

or would not want to receive in the upcoming days.

They handed us a copy of an advance directive to fill

out on his behalf. When I approached my mother-

in-law to fill it out, she looked at me and said, “How

could I possibly think about these things at a time

like this?” And she was right. How do you make

tough decisions in the midst of the hardest experi-

ence of your life? And how do you know the deci-

sions you make are the ones your loved one would

have wanted?

End of life care is a foreign concept to most of us. We

think we’re too healthy or too young to consider that

sort of thing. We also have a tendency to think we

are the one exception to the rule—that death won’t

happen to me.

But death is a natural progression to this life we

live. And we should talk about it. It’s all around us,

in movies, video games, and the news, yet we don’t

really talk about it. I think a common denominator

among us all is the desire to lead a life well lived.

And to me, a life well lived should end in a dignified

death.

End of life care planning should start when we are in

good health, both mentally and physically. Early on,

we should have conversations with our family mem-

bers, loved ones, and health care providers about

the type of treatment we would want if we could not

speak for ourselves. We should ask our loved ones

in return what type of care they would want to have.

An advance directive is a vague term for a really

important concept. It is a legally binding document

that spells out the type of care we do or do not want

to receive at the end of life. It also gives us the ability

to choose a person we trust to speak on our behalf if

we can no longer do so ourselves. Advance directives

are not a one-time decision. They can be changed at

any time, and should be reviewed throughout our

lives.

Unsure where to start?Gather more information on advance directives by

talking with your health care provider, a friend who

has completed one, or by looking at some online re-

sources.

Think about what matters most in your life. Do you

enjoy spending time with your family? Painting?

Volunteering? Would you want medical treatments

if they prolonged your life, but you were no longer

able to engage in these activities?

Next, think of someone you would trust to make de-

cisions on your behalf if you were unable to do so.

This person may be a spouse, adult child, friend,

neighbor, or even your health care provider. Talk to

this person about your health care wishes. Ask them

if they would be willing to act as your health care

agent. Do not assume they know you want them to

do this. Choose how much flexibility you want them

to have. Will they make all decisions about your

health or will they simply relay instructions you

have given them?

Write down questions you may have for your health

care provider about advance directives. What is

CPR? What would happen if I could no longer eat

and needed a feeding tube? Can I say no to this type

of treatment? Ask your provider about different

treatment options and what your life would look like

after you had them. Make sure you and your pro-

vider are on the same page in regard to your wishes

about end of life care.

Finally, fill out your state’s advance directive form.

Keep one copy for yourself, give one to your health

care agent, and one to your health care provider.

Review it every couple of years to make sure it re-

flects your current wishes about health care at the

end of life.

In reality, most adults will not pass away from an ac-

cident. Chronic diseases, like heart disease, diabetes,

emphysema, and cancer are among the most com-

mon causes of death. It is estimated in a few short

years over 37 million adults living in the U.S. will

have one or more of these chronic conditions. In-

stead of avoiding discussions about end of life care,

we should be proactive and begin talking about this

subject so we know our wishes are clear to our loved

ones and health care providers.

This is a decision we all will face at some time or an-

other. Preparing ourselves early on will make this

process easier when the time comes.

Melissa Timm is earning her doctorate in nursing practice at

the University of Utah. She will be graduating in May and

working in a primary care outpatient setting. Her nursing

career was spent caring for oncology and ICU patients.

On Living and Dying Well Advance

Directives Checklist

■■ Gather information on advance directives to become more knowledgeable (attend advance directives workshop, review fact sheet, visit online resources).

■■ Decide what matters most in life.

■■ Choose a medical decision maker.

■■ Choose amount of flexibility for your decision maker.

■■ Bring questions you might have of your doctor to your next visit.

■■ Bring a family member or friend who knows your wishes to the doctor’s visit.

■■ At the start of your visit tell your doctor you have questions so he or she has time to answer them.

■■ Make sure you and your doctor understand each other.

■■ Complete your advance directive in front of a required witness (competent adult not related by blood).

■■ Tell others about your wishes.

■■ Give copy of advance directive to your health care agent, doctor, and local hospital. Keep the original in a safe place at home.

■■ Review your advance directive every 1-2 years.

Other resources:

• www.prepareforyourcare.org

• www.caringinfo.org

• www.polst.org

• www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/advance-directives



By Debra Scull, Social Security

Manager in Wilmington, DE

Spring is officially here. Before

you get started with your spring

cleaning, perhaps another mat-

ter deserves some dusting off—that

long-term financial plan.

April is National Financial Literacy

Month—the perfect time to spring

into action when it comes to plan-

ning your financial future. If you

already have a plan, this is a great

opportunity to take another look at it

and make sure you’re still “on track”

to reach your financial goals.

According to a 2013 survey by the

Employee Benefit Research Insti-

tute, the past few years have seen a

sharp decline in Americans’ confi-

dence about their retirement sav-

ings. Only 13 percent of workers feel

very confident about having enough

for a comfortable retirement and

28 percent are not at all confident.

More than half of workers have less

than $25,000 in total savings and in-

vestments. Twenty-eight percent of

workers have saved less than $1,000.

If you haven’t begun saving for re-

tirement, now is a good time to

start—no matter what your age. If

retirement is near, you’ll want to

jump into the fast lane right away. If

you’re younger and retirement seems

a lifetime away, it’s still in your best

interest to begin saving now, due to

compound interest. For example, a

25-year old who begins saving $100

a month and earns a modest 5 per-

cent interest will have more than

$150,000 at age 65. Experts agree

that saving when you’re young will

make a world of difference when the

time comes to draw on your retire-

ment savings.

Don’t just take our word for it. You

can check out the numbers yourself.

A great way to start figuring out how

much you will need for retirement

is to use Social Security’s online Re-

tirement Estimator, which offers an

instant and personalized estimate of

your future Social Security retire-

ment benefits based on your earn-

ings record. Try it today at www.so-cialsecurity.gov/estimator.

We encourage saving for retirement,

but there are reasons to save for ev-

ery stage of life. A great place to go

for help is www.mymoney.gov (the

U.S. government’s official website

dedicated to teaching Americans the

basics of finances). Whether you are

looking for information about buying

a home, balancing your checkbook,

or investing in your 401(k) plan, the

resources on www.mymoney.gov can help you.

The Ballpark Estimator at www.choosetosave.org/ballpark is an-

other excellent online tool. It makes

complicated issues, like projected

Social Security benefits and earnings

assumptions on savings, easy to un-

derstand.

If you have to choose between scrub-

bing down the house or scrubbing

your budget to get your financial

house in order, we recommend put-

ting off the cleaning one more day.

Get started on planning your future

right now at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Call the ADRC at 800-223-9074 for a

list of the Delaware agencies that can help

you save for retirement.

Dust Off Your Financial Plan

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8 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

TO YO U R W E A LT H

By Dr. Jeffrey B. Miller

If you were born between 1943

and 1954, it was sometimes

rough going squeezing into

overcrowded housing, schools and

colleges. But in terms of Social Se-

curity claiming choices, no one has it

better than you.

The age at which workers born be-

tween 1943 and 1954 can receive full

Social Security retirement benefits is

66. If workers delay claiming ben-

efits until age 70, they are rewarded

with a whopping 8% increase in ben-

efits for each year delayed. Workers

who are retiring now can get the 8%

increase each year for four years. In

an environment where interest rates

are historically low, the 8% Delayed

Retirement Benefit bonus is one of

the very best bargains around.

This boom time in Social Security

claiming comes about because of

changes in 2008. Before that time,

the Delayed Retirement Benefits —

the additional benefits that a worker

receives each year he or she waits to

claim between the full retirement age

and age 70 — were smaller.

Those with a full retirement age of

66 also have available to them other

strategies that mitigate some of the

cost of delayed claiming of Social

Security retirement benefits. By us-

ing a restricted application, or file

and suspend strategy, one member

of a married couple or a divorcée can

get a spousal benefit while waiting to

claim their Delayed Retirement Ben-

efits. In essence, the spousal benefit

is a subsidy for delayed claiming. In

an earlier article, I discussed the im-

portance of the full retirement age

for married couples, divorcées and

widow(er)s. This article describes

how special strategies can be used

to enhance benefits once someone

reaches full retirement age.

Younger workers have some of the

same strategies available to them, but

they won’t realize as great a benefit.

Under present law the full retirement

age is scheduled to increase in several

stages until it reaches 67 for workers

born in 1960 or later. The increase

in the full retirement age will reduce

the benefits that younger workers

will receive since these workers will

be able to take advantage of Delayed

Retirement Benefits for a maximum

of three years instead of older work-

ers’ four years. In addition, the ben-

efits that they will receive at each age

between 62 and 70 will be smaller

than they will be for workers that are

now between the ages of 59 and 70.

For example, when a worker born

between 1943 and 1954 waits until

70 to claim, the benefits are 32% (=

4x8%) higher than they would be if

the worker claims at 66. Once the

full retirement age becomes 67, the

increase in benefits for waiting until

70 will be 24% (3x8%). In a recent ar-

ticle, “Social Security’s Real Retire-

ment Age is 70,” noted researcher

Alicia Munnell calculates that when

the full retirement age moves from

66 to 67 this will reduce benefits at

each claiming age by about 7% on

average.

There have been discussions about

changing the full retirement age to

help bring the Social Security pro-

gram into long term financial bal-

ance. But for the time being, it’s

boom time for baby boomers.

Jeffrey B. Miller earned his doctorate in

economics from the University of Pennsyl-

vania in 1976 and taught at the Univer-

sity of Delaware for 36 years. In 2009 he

co-founded Social Security Choices, a firm

that specializes in providing customized

information to assist people in formulating

their best strategies for claiming Social Se-

curity benefits. Dr. Miller worked at So-

cial Security after graduating from college.

If you have a question for Dr. Miller email

him at [email protected].

Why Boomers Get More From Social Security



Gardening Tasks and Projects for April

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At long last, spring has arrived! As you look out upon your garden, does the nagging question of “where do I even begin” sound familiar? The first and foremost thing to do is to stand back for a moment and simply enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature has given us. Listen to the birds as they sing you a spring melody, dream a little, and then put on the gardening gloves and head on out to get your hands dirty!

Shrub and Tree Care❁ There’s still time to plant trees and

shrubs. However, by the middle of this month it’ll be a little late to transplant large trees or shrubs, so do them now.

❁ The months of March, April and May are ideal for pruning ever-greens. If you have juniper, cy-press or other conifers that need shearing or pruning, this is a good time to do it. Remove all dead, diseased, and undesirable wood.

Broadleaf and coniferous ever-greens benefit most from lightly spreading a high nitrogen fertilizer around their bases.

❁ Prune your forsythia after it fin-ishes flowering.

Caring for Your Annuals, Perennials and Bulbs❁ April is the month for planting

summer flowering bulbs like dahl-ias, gladiolas and lilies. Mix bulb fertilizer, processed manure and peat moss into the planting soil.

❁ Tuberous begonias and canna should not be set outdoors until all danger of frost has passed, so wait until next month.

❁ Plant annual seeds of asters, cos-mos, marigolds and zinnias in the garden.

❁ When they have finished bloom-ing, you should deadhead your spring flowering bulbs. Do not cut off the green foliage yet! These

green leaves continue to grow for a few weeks, and provide the bulb with food for flowering next year.

❁ Divide perennials like daylilies, delphiniums, iris, chrysanthe-mums, daisies, and phlox.

❁ Hybrid tea roses should be fertil-ized prior to buds beginning to bloom. Using a systemic fertilizer will help prevent insect infestation later in the summer at the same time that it feeds your roses. Plant new rosebushes before growth starts and buds swell.

❁ If you have a pond or pool, you should set aquatic plants any time after the middle of the month.

Fruit and Vegetable Gardens❁ Control weeds and aerate the soil

by cultivating between the rows of plants.

❁ Select and plant fruit trees and berry plants. Fruits and berries do best when planted in full sun.

❁ Plant perennial vegetables like asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish. It’s also time to plant peas, carrots, beets, spinach, cauliflower, and cabbage. Root crops like potatoes, radishes, parsnips and onions can be planted at anytime. Late this month you can plant beans and corn.

❁ Warmer weather crops like toma-toes, squash, cucumbers and pep-pers should not be planted until next month.

❁ As your direct-seeded crops sprout, be sure to keep them thinned out to avoid crowding.

April Lawn Care❁ The application of a spring type of

lawn fertilizer should perk up the lawn and improve its overall color and appearance. If there is moss growing in the lawn, use spring lawn fertilizer that has the moss-killer included, so you can do both jobs in one easy application.

❁ Thatch buildup can smother your lawn and provide an environment for diseases. Remove thatch with a brisk raking, or with a dethatching machine.

❁ Overseeding will help fill in the

lawn and deter the regrowth of moss and weeds. Use about one pound of quality grass seed for every 300 square feet of lawn area. Apply a light compost or soil over the seed to keep it moist and in place.

❁ Aerating the lawn will allow water to penetrate deeper into the lawn soil and reduce the need to water during the drier months ahead. Use a garden fork and punch holes over the surface of your lawn.

❁ As mowing becomes necessary, be certain that the blade is sharp to prevent tearing the grass tips. Set the blade on your lawnmower to cut the grass at 2 1/2 inches to avoid scalping. A mulching blade will eliminate the need to rake or bag the clippings, prevent thatch buildup, and the clippings will provide food for the lawn.

Odds and Ends Around the Garden❁ It seems that different states can’t

agree to a universal Arbor Day, but more than likely an Arbor Day ex-ists in your individual state at some point in this month, so plant a tree!

❁ Although we think of this as a rainy month, it can fool us. Keep transplanted flowers well watered during dry spells. Be sure to take a little time to check the plants in containers and those under the eaves of the house and under tall evergreens to see that they are get-ting enough water.

❁ If you receive some mail-order plants or can’t resist the urge to pick up a few perennials before you’re ready, make a trench and heel them into the ground in a protected area.

❁ Driving around the neighborhood, or visiting a local nursery may give you some great ideas of what you’d like to have blooming in your yard at this time next year.

Remember that whatever you ac-complish in the garden now will definitely cut down on yard mainte-nance later this season!

Source: thegardenhelper.com

I N T H E G A R D E N


10 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. “When questioned about any regrets they had or any-thing they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.” Among the top, from men in particular, is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.’

Choose HappinessHere are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself,

not the life others expected of me. “This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few real-ize, until they no longer have it.”

2I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. “This came from every

male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwin-

ners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the tread-mill of a work existence.”

3I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. “Often

they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giv-

ing friendships the time and ef-fort that they deserved. Every-one misses their friends when they are dying.”

5I wish that I had let myself be happier. “This is a sur-

prisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘com-fort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

Based on the response to this article, Bronnie has written a book titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying—A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness. Choose NOW.

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles is now issuing more secure, federally compliant driver licenses and identification cards.

In order to obtain your new driver license or ID card, you will need to collect and bring a few important source documents to provide proof of:

Identity (Name and Date of Birth)

U.S. citizenship/Legal presence

Social Security Number

You can find everything you need to know at SecureID.dmv.de.gov

or call toll free 877-477-7117

2 proofs of Delaware residency

Name change documents (if applicable)



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• All day restaurant-styledining

• Complimentarytransportation toappointments and shopping

• Daily Housekeeping andweekly laundry services

Spring fever—It’s that restless

feeling inside where you sud-

denly feel revitalized, energetic,

yearning for passion and that some-

thing that you just can’t quite qualify.

It might not technically be a medical

condition, but the sudden change in

weather, longer days and more sun-

shine do have a very tangible and

physiological impact on our bodies.

Not only do we experience longer

days when we change the clocks for

daylight savings time, but the change

in seasons, marked by the vernal

equinox on March 20, prompts a

readjustment in the body’s internal

chemistry. In fact, that’s when the

population as a whole starts to report

a higher energy level, decreased sleep,

reduced eating and an alleviation of

depression.

What’s Happening InsideJust as your body’s reveling in

soaking in the sun, our brains are

busy processing the bright light as

well. The increased sunshine signals

the body to produce less melatonin,

which plays an important role in

sleep. “There’s more daylight, so

people have more energy, sleep a

little less,” says Sanford Auerbach,

M.D., director of the Sleep Disorders

Center at Boston University. With

less melatonin pumping through

your veins, you may also feel a lift in

your mood and a more revved-up sex

drive.

Another chemical change that seems

to occur during the transition to

spring is an increase in serotonin.

A 2008 study found that in the fall

and winter, there is a greater level of

what’s known as serotonin transport-

er in the brain, which removes more

serotonin than during the spring and

summer.

Known for its role in mood, sero-

tonin is likely involved in that sud-

den happiness and lust for life we

feel in springtime, according to the

Los Angeles Times. It may also ac-

count for the increase in energy that

makes some people feel restless and

distracted, just itching to spend time

outdoors.

Likewise, people also experience an

increase in the release of endorphins

and hormones such as testosterone

and estrogen. This explains why

people feel a sudden increase in their

energy and sexual appetite by the

time March and April roll around.

What’s Happening OutsideSome would argue it’s not just hor-

mones at work, but that there’s an-

other possible reason people are hap-

pier. With more time spent outdoors

on a sunny day, it’s likely you’re log-

ging extra hours exercising.

Of course exercise itself has mood-

enhancing powers. Couple that with

a healthy dose of vitamin D and it’s

all the reason you need to delight in

lingering sunshine, warm breezes

and bare legs.

Spring (Fever) Is In The Air!

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

—Mark Twain


12 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

We’ve all seen the com-

mercial where the wom-

an cries, “Help! I’ve

fallen and I can’t get up!” We might

have laughed, but the danger is real.

What happens if someone falls and

they’re home alone, or can’t get to

a telephone to dial for help? What

happens if someone has a heart at-

tack, stroke, or another emergency?

This is where a Personal Emergency

Response System (sometimes known

as Medical Alert or Medical Emer-

gency Response System) comes in. A

PERS will instantly summon help in

the event of an emergency.

How? Emergency Response Systems

have three components: a small radio

transmitter (a help button carried or

worn by the user); a console, or base

station, with speakers that connects

to the user’s telephone; and an emer-

gency response center that monitors

calls. If you are the wearer and emer-

gency help (medical, fire, or police) is

needed, you just press the transmit-

ter’s button. You don’t need to get to

a telephone. Some systems can even

place a call for help if they detect a fall

and you’re unable to push the button

yourself. The transmitter triggers

the console to automatically dial the

emergency response center. Most

systems can dial out even if the phone

is in use or off the hook (called “seiz-

ing the line”). The console typically

has speakers so that you can hear con-

versations on the other end of the line

and the operator can hear you.

Purchase, Rent or LeaseA PERS can be purchased, rented,

or leased. The purchase price for a

PERS can range from $200 to more

How to Choose a Personal Emergency Response System

than $1000, depending on the manu-

facturer, the features included and

the seller’s integrity. In addition to

the initial investment, most systems

require that the user pay a monthly

monitoring fee, which can range from

$15 to $50. Presently, neither Medi-

care nor Medicaid will cover the costs

of PERS, nor will most private in-

surance policies. It may be possible,

however, for low-income persons in

some areas to obtain a PERS at a sub-

sidized rate from local agencies.

Many consumer groups strongly

recommend that consumers rent or

lease a system on a short-term basis

because of the possibility that any

manufacturer may go out of busi-

ness, taking its monitoring center

with it, leaving the consumer with a

useless system.

Rentals are available through nation-

al manufacturers, local distributors,

hospitals, and social service agen-

cies. Monthly fees may range from

$15 to $50 and usually include the

monitoring service.

Be a Smart ShopperThe Federal Trade Commission

(FTC) recommends the following

when shopping for a PERS:

■ Check out several systems before

making a decision.

■ Find out if you can use the system

with other response centers. For

example, can you use the same

system if you move?

■ Ask about the pricing, features,

and servicing of each system and

compare costs. Ask if the monthly

cost will increase. Some compa-

nies raise the monitoring fee every

year.

■ Make sure the system is easy to

use.

■ Test the system to make sure it

works from every point in and

around your home. Make sure

nothing interferes with transmis-

sions.

■ Read your purchase, rental, or

lease agreement carefully before

signing. Before purchasing, rent-

ing, or leasing a system, check

the unit for defects. Ask to see the

warranty and service contract and

get any questions resolved. Ask

about the repair policy. Find out

how to arrange for a replacement

or repair if a malfunction occurs.

Lease agreements can be long-

term or lease-to-purchase. If you

lease, review the contract carefully

before signing. Make special note

of cancellation clauses, which may

require you to pay a cancellation

fee or other charges.

Ask Questions About the Response Center■ Is the monitoring center available

24/7?

■ What is the average response time?

■ What kind of training does the

center staff receive?

■ What procedures does the center

use to test systems in your home?

How often are tests conducted?

Other Questions■ Is the emergency button large and

easy to see and press? Are there

any complicated instructions, but-

tons on the console or other fea-

tures that might be troublesome?

■ Most accidents happen in the

bathroom. Can the transmitter be

worn in the bath or shower?

■ Are repairs or replacements in-

cluded in your contract?

■ How long has the company been

in business?

■ Can the system be used away from?

Some companies offer a small base

unit that is the size of an answer-

ing machine. If your system works

in all 50 states, you can take the

system with you when you travel.

A PERS is a great way to help pre-

serve independence, and in the end,

isn’t that what we all want?

C A R E G I V E R ’S CO R N E R



Remote control? Or telephone?

For a person with Alzheimer’s or related dementia, this could be mistaken for a telephone. Seems harmless

enough, but what if there’s an emergency and they try to dial 911? Don’t wait for a crisis to make the decision for

you, talk to Arden Courts. If you’d like more information, or to schedule a personalized tour, please visit us at www.arden-courts.com. We know. We understand. We can help.

©2011 HCR Healthcare, LLC

Arden Courts of Wilmington

302.762.7800

edia

you, t

By Sally Williams

If you’re caring for someone

with dementia, you’re continu-

ally losing pieces of your loved

one. Educating yourself about the

illness and preparing yourself for

the pain of loss doesn’t minimize

your feelings of grief. It may help,

however, to understand the phases

of grief that you may experience.

1Unfolding Grief In some cases,

dementia may progress rapidly,

but Alzheimer’s disease can be a

long and insidious disease, with life

span extending 2- 20 years from

time of diagnosis. Unfolding grief

comes as you experience the many

additional losses caused by the ef-

fects of the person’s dementia. For

instance, not only are you slowly

losing a parent, spouse or friend,

you’re also losing the role of daugh-

ter, son, wife, husband, or friend,

along with the relationship that you

had prior to the diagnosis. You may

be losing the spouse who handles

all the household fi nances, or the

mother who loves to make Christ-

mas cookies with you, or the father

who works on your car or projects

around the house.

2Anticipatory Grief A caregiver

experiences anticipatory grief

with every passing day, knowing

that there is inevitable death ahead.

Sometimes there is a deep regret

that no matter how well you care

for your loved one, he or she is fac-

ing the sunset of his or her life. It

is normal to experience regret and

guilt, not only when you wish this

person would be relieved of his or

her suff ering, but also when you

have expectations of someday be-

ing released from your role as the

care provider.

3Acute Grief It can be agonizing

to watch the dying process as

the body shuts down. Acute grief

comes as the physical death takes

place and you face the fi nality that

your loved one is gone. A combina-

tion of guilt and relief come from

anticipatory grief and acute grief.

The situation is often compounded

by painful emotions and the losses

of the caregiver’s role and sense of

identity. There are also many peaks

and valleys in the magnitude of

grief that we feel.

It’s normal to experience the fol-

lowing emotions:

■ After the loss, you may feel un-

comfortable or afraid to show joy

because it seems to be dishonor-

ing the person you have lost, or

because you’re worried about

how others will perceive you if

you don’t behave in the manner

they think is appropriate.

■ You might feel badly because

deep down you’re relieved that

The Three Phases of Grief in Dementia Careyou’re now fi nished with a very

frustrating and unhappy role

into which you were thrust.

■ Alternately, you might have

found caregiving to be very re-

warding, off ering unexpected

closeness and treasured times

with your loved one. Now that

he or she is gone, you may feel

empty. Some people may try to

encourage you to “move on”

or “be thankful that your loved

one is in a better place” or assure

you that “this is a blessing; they

were suff ering” and that “time

heals.” Realize that there will

be days when you you want to

avoid contact with other people

just so you will not have to listen

to their “helpful” advice.

People’s grieving experiences may

have similar emotions, but every

journey is diff erent. Do not treat

the grief that you are experienc-

ing as an illness or weakness.

Grief is a normal and necessary

response to collective loss. Grief

is not the price we pay for loving

someone…it is a natural and in-

escapable part of being a human

being.

Arden Courts Memory Care Community,

located at 700 ½ Foulk Rd., Wilmington,

is part of the HCR ManorCare family.

The HCR ManorCare health care family

comprises centers that are leading pro-

viders of short-term post-acute services

and long-term care. With 60,000 care-

givers nationwide, the HCR ManorCare

centers are preeminent care providers in

their communities. Quality care for pa-

tients and residents is provided through a

network of more than 500 skilled nursing

and rehabilitation centers, assisted living

facilities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics,

and hospice and home health care agen-

cies. These locations operate primarily

under the respected Heartland, Manor-

Care Health Services and Arden Courts

names. For more information on Arden

Courts, call Janice Clay or Jean Youkers

at 302-761-4805.

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN VITAL!?

EMAIL [email protected] OR CALL 302-764-6642 FOR DETAILS.


14 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

H AV E S O M E F U N

Crossword By Dave Fisher

ACROSS

1. Handguns

5. Unit of capacitance

10. Pulp

14. Wings

15. Alpha’s opposite

16. Savvy about

17. Container weight

18. Absolution

20. Trampled

22. Saliva

23. Type of dog

24. Fails to win

25. Relating to theology

32. Intoxicating

33. Housemaids

34. Barely manage

37. Makes a mistake

38. Tropical vine

39. Implored

40. Dawn goddess

41. A skin disease

42. Levelled

43. Compulsively

45. Caused by streptococci

49. Night before

50. Most destitute

53. Vibrating effect

57. Air

59. Distinctive flair

60. Deceased

61. Moses’ brother

62. Agreeable

63. Feudal worker

64. Ancient Greek unit of length

65. Playthings

DOWN

1. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

2. Winglike

3. Tropical tuber

4. Legumes

5. Relinquish

6. Ends a prayer

7. Scarlet

8. How old we are

9. Humid

10. Slogan

11. Pieces

12. Filched

13. Sharpens

19. Tablets

21. At the proper time

25. You (archaic)

26. Protagonist

27. Hearing organs

28. Advances

29. Picture

30. Flogs with a stick

31. “Eureka!”

34. If not

35. Ship part

36. Countercurrent

38. Chemist’s workplace

39. Sidewalk

41. Broods

42. Rend

44. Calm

45. Garden tool

46. Carries

47. Ancient empire

48. Wear away

51. Resorts

52. Not this

53. Stepped

54. Hodgepodge

55. Delicate

56. 1 1 1 1

58. Historic period

Answers on page 13

©www.mirroreyes.com

NO-CREAM PASTA PRIMAVERA

Spring veggies benefi t from a quick roasting in olive oil and herbs before being tossed with penne. No cream here—just the fresh fl avors of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon. A beautiful dish.

PREP TIME: 25 MinutesCOOK TIME: 35 MinutesREADY IN: 1 Hour SERVINGS: 6

INGREDIENTS• 1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta• 1 yellow squash, chopped• 1 zucchini, chopped• 1 carrot, julienned• ½ red bell pepper, julienned• ½ pint grape tomatoes• 1 cup fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces• 5 spears asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces• ¼ cup olive oil, divided• ¼ teaspoon salt• ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper• ½ tablespoon lemon juice• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning• 1 tablespoon butter• ¼ large yellow onion, thinly sliced• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced• 2 teaspoons lemon zest• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar• ½ cup grated Romano cheese

DIRECTIONS1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet

with aluminum foil.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. In a bowl, toss squash, zucchini, carrot, red bell pepper, tomatoes, green beans, and asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Arrange vegetables on the baking sheet, and roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until tender.

4. Heat remaining olive oil and butter in a large skillet. Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook until tender. Mix in cooked pasta, lemon zest, basil, parsley, and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with roasted vegetables and sprinkle with Romano cheese to serve.

Allrecipes.com



Annual Week of ServiceApril 6-12, 2014

Every person can make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities. It is our hope that each citizen who volunteers this week will carry on volunteering not just for a week, but for a lifetime. To learn more about these and other volunteer opportunities, visit www.VolunteerDelaware.org.

Project Consultants for Nonprofits (marketing, business planning, research, board development, IT, program development)Have a lifetime of business experience you’d love to share with others? Project Consultants for Nonprofits is a group of volunteers ages 50+ who as a team serve as consultants for local nonprofits assisting them with short-term projects. For more visit go to www.newarkseniorcenter.com/PCN.html.

Delaware Foster Grandparent ProgramThe Delaware Foster Grandparent Program is now accepting applications from people age 60 or over to mentor/tutor with special needs children in day cares, Head Starts, schools, and detention centers. Foster Grandparents must be willing to serve between 15-40 hours a week. In turn, eligible Foster Grandparents will receive a tax-free stipend of $3.45 an hour, sick time, vacation, holidays and mileage reimbursements. For more information visit www.volunteerdelaware.org.

Archaeology Lab AssistantThe volunteer would be independently working with the ar-chaeologist and six other volunteers to help preserve the ar-tifacts from the Roosevelt Inlet shipwreck (a merchant ship that sank off the coast of Delaware in the late 1700s). The processing of artifacts will include extracting an artifact from a ‘blob’ of organic material which was once underwater for centuries. This kind of work will require small detailed clean-ing and scrubbing. You will definitely get your hands dirty!

The lab volunteer will help to put together an inventory data-base of the artifacts (tobacco pipes, bowls, ceramics, plates, cups and much more) to better assess the consumer habits of 18th century Americans. We will provide gloves, necessary tools, and proper training. Our schedule is very flexible, as long as it is during the regular lab hours of 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. However, because of the nature of the project, we would like the lab volunteers to commit to more than four hours per week. For more information about the shipwreck, please visit http://history.delaware.gov/ar-chaeology/shipwreck1.shtml.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (302) 736-7411 or [email protected].

G R E AT WAYS TO G I V E B AC K

Answers on page 13

Sudoku Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

(courtesy of KrazyDad.com)


16 A P R I L 2 0 1 4

www.hcr-manorcare.comwww

A P R OV E N L E A D E R

Heartland Home Health Care and Hospice – Newark256 Chapman RoadSuite 102Newark, DE 19702302.737.7080

Heartland Hospice House5661 Ochletree LaneWilmington, DE 19808302.239.2961

ManorCare – Pike Creek5651 Limestone RoadWilmington, DE 19808302.239.8583

ManorCare – Wilmington700 Foulk RoadWilmington, DE 19803302.764.0181

Arden Courts of Wilmington700½ Foulk RoadWilmington, DE 19803302.762.7800

in the continuum of care

Your Crazy Quilt of a LifeBy Myrle Bowe

Think back on all the crazy

things that have happened

to you over the years. Have

you told those stories to your family

and friends? Shared your views on

life with younger generations? Don’t

lose those stories! Instead, take

some time to write memoirs—liter-

ally “memories.” Writing a memoir

doesn’t mean writing your complete

autobiography, beginning with, “I

was born on a snowy Tuesday.” In-

stead, they’re stories about episodes

or periods in your life.

“But I can’t write,” you protest. Yes,

you can—it’s like telling stories to

your grandchildren. Grammar and

punctuation are important here for

clarity, not for formal style. A mem-

oir writing workshop can provide

help and inspiration, not to mention

the social interaction so valuable to

your well-being. The stories people

share there may stimulate memories

of your past, too—laughter, fond re-

membrances, as well as more somber

times.

Memoir writing is more interest-

ing when it includes vivid descrip-

tions of places and people in your

life, particularly when it incorpo-

rates the thinking and motivation

of those close to you. The essential

framework for understanding all this

is the context, or times when it took

place. A Victorian crazy quilt is an

apt metaphor for memoirs: the quilt

has a collection of pieces in random

varied shapes, textures, and colors,

embellished and held together with

intricate embroidery, finished with

a border of a fabric and color which

enhances and emphasizes particular

pieces.

It’s essential for many reasons to pre-

serve your stories on paper. Record-

ings are important, but they are often

stored or lost, or technology may not

be available to access them in the fu-

ture. That said, however you choose

to leave a record of your memories,

just do it. The first version probably

won’t be perfect, but you can always

edit later. And who knows—you

may decide to publish!


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