August 2011 - OutreachNC Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

24 OutreachNC • August 2011 Senior Moments Barb Cohea Once again, I am adding to the long list of things I should no longer try at home. Mountain biking. I’m sure on hardpacked trails of . . . say, a mile or so and FLAT, it can be fun, but like many other of life’s activities, there is a fine line between a good time and wishing you were dead. Day before yesterday, I crossed that line. It was a cool day, no breeze, and both my husband and I had the day off —a combination for disaster, especially the part where we’re both off. My husband is a thrill-seeker, which means he always looks for trouble. So much so that if there was a king of thrill seeking he would be it. When we go out to have fun, if he doesn’t see the bright lights and hear the dead relatives calling, it hasn’t been a good time. For me, a near death experience in no way enhances my day off, and mostly, that’s due to the possibility of death. Some people have memories of walks on moonlit beaches. I remember the time we slid down a mountain Introducing Now serving Cary, Apex & Sanford as your reliable source for Private Duty Caregivers From companions to R.N.s, We can match your care needs As a division of Moore Registry, LLC, Connected Care-Cary is an accredited registry 101-A Brady Court • Cary www.AgingOutreachServices.com Providing directed care through the challenges of aging in Cary, Apex, Sanford, as well as Moore & Hoke Counties AOS Care Management is a group of professionally trained and Certified Geriatric Care Managers, who implement plans to assist older adults and their families with all aspects of aging. Beware of mountain biking in sand 919.535.8713 877.405.0665 until tree branches stopped us just short of a cliff. Then there was the offshore trip. We ran into the Pacific Ocean’s version of the perfect storm. Thirty-six hours of screaming winds, raging 30-foot seas while we drifted toward Japan, and I hurled the entire contents of my colon. Ah . . . the good life. And so we got out the mountain bikes, whose use had pretty much been, up to this point, restricted to city streets (and not ones in the mountains either). Our destination was a lake four miles down a one-lane sand track into the wilderness. Note: the use of the word “sand.” Maybe I should add “dry” sand, very dry, in several long stretches. And the sand was thick, very thick and loose like the kind you walk through up by the dunes and your legs ache. That kind. It was fun for about the first 15 seconds. I had the thrill of moving and birdsong and dappled shade surrounded me. I felt powerful, and then it started getting hard to move the pedals in a circle, which would also move the tires in a circle and propel me forward. As my bike wobbled, my husband yelled, “Put it in the lowest gear.” Besides the fact that I don’t know what that means as I just flip the gears all over the place until it’s easy to pedal, I believed it was in the “lowest gear.” Unless, of course, “lowest” means harder to pedal, and he was trying to kill me. My legs finally got “warmed up.” They were really burned up, but what with the heavy breathing, and sweat pouring off my person, what’s the difference? “See? It’s getting easier now,” My husband said, sucking air. I would’ve responded, but the options were breathe and pedal or speak and fall off bike, which did happen every time the sand got thick enough and the pedals wouldn’t move at all. We actually had to walk. Did you know it takes longer to walk a bike than to simply walk? Scientifically proven. I would have quit and walked back to the starting point, but my beet-colored husband, sweating like a large piggy in the 90 degree heat, proclaimed he was having fun. Got to the lake, got back and I remember nothing in between. My legs sure do, but they ain’t talking. Ah, good times! Cohea, a freelance writer, can be reached by e-mailing a37_tao@hotmail.com. www.OutreachNC.com
Five important estate planning documents It may be the subject matter —death, incapacity and taxes— that causes us to avoid estate planning. However, the fact is that, no matter what your age or how much wealth you’ve accumulated, you need an estate plan to protect yourself, your loved ones and your assets — both now while you’re still active as well as after your death. Having an effective estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for your family. Being organized may make your meeting with your attorney more productive and may expedite the planning process. But before visiting with your legal counsel, you need a basic understanding of the documents he or she may recommend for your plan. 1. Will. A will simply provides instructions for distributing your assets to your family and other beneficiaries upon your death. 2. Durable power of attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document in which you name another person to act on your behalf. This person is called your agent or attorney-in-fact. You can give your appointed agent broad or limited management powers. 3. Health care power of attorney. A durable power of attorney for health care authorizes someone to make medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so yourself. 4. Living will. A living will expresses your intentions regarding the use of lifesustaining measures in the event of a terminal illness. It expresses what you want but does not give anyone the authority to speak for you. 5. Revocable living trust. By transferring assets into a revocable trust, you can provide for continued management of your financial affairs during your lifetime (when you’re incapacitated, for example), at your death and even for generations to come. www.OutreachNC.com Once you have executed the appropriate documents for your planning needs, you should review them periodically to ensure they remain up to date. Baker, a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in Pinehurst can be reached at (910) 692-3000. OutreachNC • August 2011 25 Wells Fargo Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice. Be sure to consult with your tax and legal advisors before taking any action that could have tax consequences. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state. Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2010 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. State-of-the-art wound healing centers in Pinehurst & Rockingham Every wound has its unique set of circumstances. FirstHealth of the Carolinas’ Wound Care & Hyperbaric Centers are equipped and staffed to address them all, with most treatments covered by Medicare/Medicaid, HMOs, and other private insurance plans. We are experts at caring for people whose open sores have resisted traditional treatment. For more information, call (910) 715-5901 in Moore County or (910) 417-3636 in Richmond County. www.fi rsthealth.org/wound Planning Ahead James Michael Baker 612-40-11
Page 1 and 2: Aging Outreach Services AUGUST 2011
Page 3 and 4: www.OutreachNC.com OutreachNC • A
Page 5 and 6: Q : It seems like every time I turn
Page 7 and 8: Moore caregiver nominations due Sep
Page 11 and 12: Make time for activities that mean
Page 13 and 14: Never too early to have life in ord
Page 15 and 16: OutreachNC • August 2011 15 MoVE
Page 17 and 18: Literary Circle OutreachNC • Augu
Page 19 and 20: OutreachNC • August 2011 19 He ha
Page 21 and 22: Creative Retirement The 5th Annual
Page 23: OutreachNC • August 2011 23 “We
Page 27 and 28: An alternative to traditional LTC i
Page 29 and 30: Regular check-ups best medicine in
Page 31 and 32: OutreachNC • August 2011 31 Photo
Page 33 and 34: Reap health benefits of volunteerin
Page 35 and 36: OutreachNC • August 2011 35 “Ha
Page 37 and 38: Latest treatment for degenerative d
Page 39 and 40: OutreachNC • August 2011 Outreach
Page 41 and 42: “I thought, ‘This could work,
Page 43 and 44: OutreachNC • August 2011 43 Altho
Page 45 and 46: “I like having my own business af
Page 49 and 50: Asking for help can reduce caregive
Page 51 and 52: OutreachNC • August 2011 51 Outre

August 2011 - OutreachNC Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?