Chesapeake Style Online

Spring 2013 19
Department. Perhaps the most
famous of the ''redesigned''
standardbreds is Sergeant York. His
original name was Allaboard Jules
($14,881). is pacer was donated
to the U.S.Army in 1997 and is now
the principal riderless horse and
he is considered priceless. He has
served in thousands of military
Earned Income Tax Credit~Is It For You?
By Jean Duggan
If you haven’t yet led
your income tax, you still
have time to nd out if the
Earned Income Tax Credit
(EITC) is for you. EITC is a
tax credit to help you keep more of
what you earned. It is a refundable
federal income tax credit for low to
moderate income working individuals
and families. Congress originally
approved the tax credit legislation in
1975 in part to oset the burden of
Social Security taxes and to provide
an incentive to work. When EITC
exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it
results in a tax refund to those who
By Frank McCarthy
When you think
of your aging
loved ones, what
do you worry
about most?
Is it a heart attack or stroke cutting
short their life, or perhaps cancer?
While these illnesses are very real
worries for everyone as they age, it
may surprise you to discover that
falls are the second leading cause
of accidental death in the United
States, and 75 percent of these falls
occur in the older adult population.
Falls are the single largest cause of
injury among seniors. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) National Center
for Injury Prevention and Control,
older adults are hospitalized for fallrelated
injuries ve times more often
than they are for injuries from other
causes. One-third of older adults
ceremonies and most notably as
the riderless horse in the funeral
of President Ronald Reagan.
Retired racehorses, whether they
be standardbred or thoroughbred,
can adapt very nicely to a new
vocation. There is a nasty rumor
going around that retired racehorses
are jumpy, hard to handle or just
claim and qualify for the credit.
e EITC is the largest poverty
reduction program in the United
States and has had a signicant
impact on the lives and communities
of the nation's lowest paid working
people. e Census Bureau, using
an alternative calculation of poverty,
found that the EITC lifted 5.4 million
above the poverty line in 2010.
Of course there are specic
requirements to qualify. You must
le a tax return, even if you do not
owe any tax or are not required to
le. With the exception of some who
receive certain disability income,
you must have earned income from
who fall, sustain a hip fracture and
are hospitalized, die within a year.
Even if a fall does not result in
hospitalization, fear of falling can
become a major factor in seniors’
quality of life. Fear leads to inactivity
and loss of condence which in
turn produces a cycle of fear, loss
of self-condence and inactivity.
Dr. Roberta A. Newton, Ph.D.,
Temple University College of Health
Professions in Philadelphia has
spearheaded eorts to study and
research why falls occur and how
they can be prevented. Recognizing
the importance of preventing falls,
Visiting Angels, a national network
of non-medical senior homecare
agencies, has partnered with Dr.
Newton to increase the public
awareness and importance of this
sometimes overlooked issue.
As our loved ones age, it is
important to recognize that things
not good for anything, not true.
There may be one bad apple in a
bunch but the majority are loving
horses that are eager to please.
Give a retired racehorse a chance
and adopt or sponsor one today!
Dot Morgan, Executive Director,
Standardbred. 937-947-4020 dot@
horseadoption.com. Our mission is to
employment, self-employment or
another source and meet certain
rules. Also, you must either meet the
additional rules for workers without
a qualifying child or have a child that
meets all the qualifying child rules
for you. Workers who made less than
$50,270 should see if they qualify.
Filing taxes can be a daunting
activity for most of us and it
becomes even more challenging
when tax credits are introduced
to the mix. Tax assistance for lowincome
wage earners and seniors
is available at no cost through
Bay Aging. Saundra Wilson has a
dedicated cadre of volunteers who
like throw rugs, certain medications,
clutter, can be a major source
of hazards. Mobility and agility
limitations require a fresh look at
the everyday contents of the home.
To help seniors and their families
nd out more about falls and how
to prevent them, Visiting Angels
NNMP conducts free fall prevention
assessments and publishes helpful
informational brochures for seniors
and their families. Here are some
easy tips to help minimize the risk of
life-altering falls for your loved ones:
√ row rugs can be a tripping
hazard. Either remove them or make
sure they are securely tacked down.
√ Add hand rails to all stairs.
√ Clear clutter from walking
paths, and make sure hallways
and stairways are well-lit.
√ Eliminate long extension
cords that snake across a room.
Plug lamps into outlets near the
stand in the gap for noncompetitive,
often injured racehorses providing
a peaceful environment and skilled
hands to assist in their development
as pleasure mounts. To place these
horses in experienced loving homes
that will continue their education so
each has a skill and therefore, a future.
are available to help you get the
most of your hard earned dollars.
Filed your taxes already? It never
hurts to become informed now to
be ready for next year’s tax season.
Even though you don’t qualify,
you may know of a hard working
family who could benet from a
having more cash in their pocket
through EITC. Please let them know
about this opportunity. Ms. Wilson
and her professionally trained
volunteers are eager to help.
Call Saundra Wilson at 804-758-4495
or email swilson@bayaging.org today.
Preventing Falls Is Important To Seniors’ Health
wall so cords are tucked away.
√ Add grab bars next to the
toilet, tub and shower.
√ Getting in and out of the tub
can be hazardous. In addition to
grab bars, make sure the tub has
non-skid mats. A tub seat may
make showering easier, too.
√ Trade in oppy slippers for
well-tting slippers with non-skid
soles. Also, avoid night clothing
that drags on the ground.
Visiting Angels is offering free
consultation to help you assess your
situation and address the issues that
are important to you and your family.
To arrange for a free Fall Prevention’
consultation, contact Visiting Angels
Kilmarnock, 435-2229, Warsaw 804-
313-8808, Gloucester 804-695-2889.
Frank McCarthy is Director of
Visiting Angels of the Northern
Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Contact him at 804-435-2229.