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Spring Creek ..................................................................................................3

Tax deferral program .................................................................................4

Vale Senior Center.......................................................................................5

Unwrapping Vitamin D — the new super vitamin........................7

Onalee Mansor ......................................................................................9, 10

Boomers connect at rapid pace ...........................................................10

Sherri Hironaka .........................................................................................11

Bus Drivers ..................................................................................................12

Heart disease is leading cause of death in United States .........13

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CHERISE KAECHELEARGUS OBSERVER

FRUITLAND

A new assisted living facility inFruitland is expected to helpWestern Treasure Valley residentswho require extra care to stay athome and get services without hav-ing to go outside the area, accordingto Mike Sharp, Regional VicePresident of EdgewoodManagement Group.

His company broke ground lastmonth on the $6.5 million, 53-unitSpring Creek Assisted Living andMemory Care Center, which will benext to the future site of St. Luke’sFruitland Medical Plaza.

Spring Creek will provide servicefor seniors citizens who aren’t ableto stay at home by themselves any-more.

“I’m certainly pleased and happyto see this come to our community,”

Fruitland Mayor Ken Bishop said.“This will provide resources andother services to individuals who

need them, and it’s great for thecommunity.”

Spring Creek will have 19 memo-

ry care and 34 assisted living units,according to a release from the proj-ect developer, Edgewood RealEstate Investment Trust.

The center will have a movie the-

ater, chapel, salon and library. It will

also treat patients who have

Alzheimer’s disease and will be a

fully functional assisted living resi-

dence that serves three meals a day

as well as offering an activity pro-

gram with a full time nurse on staff

who will oversee the clinical part of

the facility, Sharp said.

Additionally, the facility will offer

employment to at least 30 local res-

idents.

Fruitland has recently begun to

grow with the St. Alphonsus

Medical Health Plaza and the St.

Luke’s facility construction under-

way. Spring Creek residents will be

in an ideal location.

“We can see that Fruitland is an

underserved area,” Sharp said.

“There are no assisted living facili-

ties in Fruitland. It is, however, an

area that’s growing. And obviously

with the new St. Luke’s facility, that

was attractive to us. People are go-

ing to be going to that area for

health care.”

“We plan on providing a wonder-

ful service to this area,” Russ Kubik,

chief operating officer of the

Edgewood Management Group,

said.

Spring Creek is expected to be

completed by September.

Edgewood Management is in the

process of purchasing other senior

housing properties which it will

lease to Edgewood Group under

long-term agreements, including

other properties in Idaho as well as

the Mountain West area.

Assisted living center expected to keep residents local

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Employees of the Edgewood Managment Group take the first step for the future as-sisted living center in Fruitland recently at the groundbreaking. The center will be ad-jacent to the St. Luke’s Fruitland Medical Plaza and should be finished by Sept. 1 ofthis year.

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FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

SALEMThe Oregon Department of

Revenue has started its annual re-view of participant eligibility forthe state’s Senior and DisabledCitizens Property Tax DeferralProgram.

About half the cur-rent partici-

pants in

the program soon will receive a one-page recertification letter contain-ing several questions about them-selves and their property. TheDepartment of Revenue will usetheir answers to verify they stillmeet program eligibility criteria setby the Legislature. The rest of theprogram’s participants will receiveletters next year.

The Department of Revenueurges participants who receive a re-certification request to respond

promptly. They have 65days from the date of

the letter tofile the

necessary paperwork.“People who receive this letter

shouldn’t wait until the lastminute,” said Bronson Rueda, theunit manager for the program.“They need to meet the deadline orthey will lose their active status inthe program. If that happens, thestate will not pay their propertytaxes, beginning November 2013and going forward.”

The deferral program also is nowaccepting new applicants for the2013-14 tax year. Those interestedmust file an application with theircounty assessor’s office by April 15.

The Oregon State Legislature es-tablished the Senior and DisabledCitizens Property Tax DeferralProgram in 1964 to help qualifiedcitizens pay their county propertytaxes. Essentially, the state lends the

tax payment to eligible participants.A lien is placed on their property,and they must repay all taxes andfees with interest before the lien isremoved.

This is the second year the state ofOregon has asked participants torecertify their eligibility for the pro-gram. Prior to changes the 2011Legislature made, there was no re-certification process; once an appli-cant was admitted to the programthey would remain active until theydied, transferred their property tosomeone else, or moved from theirproperty for reasons not related tohealth.

Applications and informationabout the program can be obtainedfrom County Assessor’s Offices oronline at

www.oregon.gov/dor/scd.

Seniors urged to recertify for tax deferral program

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LARRY MEYERARGUS OBSERVER

VALE

Vale Senior Citizens have beenstruggling with the building thathas been the location of their cen-ter for several years, but are nowlooking forward to a new facilitywhich is expected to be constructedafter years of delay.

Making it more difficult is that inthe shifting or swelling of the side-walk at the current Senior Center,the door to the ramp cannot beused, Sandy Mayo, president of thesenior said, and that had severelycut down the number of peoplewho can attend activities there,such as the meals on Mondays andWednesdays.

While the Senior Citizens grouphas about 70 members, only about20 people show up for the meals be-cause the ramp cannot be used.

Because of the ramp situation,there are no more dances plannedat the Vale Center, but for the fewwho can, they make the rounds ofdances at other senior centers in thevalley and are well-known inPayette, Nyssa, Ontario, Parma,Homedale, Caldwell and Nampa,weather permitting.

But in supporting other groups,the Vale Senior Citizens have re-ceived that support back as in thelast holiday dinner and dance.There were 82 people attending.

“We had a lot of outside people,”Mayo said. “We are thankful for

them. They are wonderful peo-ple.”

Bid opening was scheduled forthis month on the planned new fa-cility, which will be about 4,300square feet and include a large hallfor the meals and dances, a kitchenand space for the store, “SecondTime Around.” The store at the cur-rent center is still open.

The new building has been in the

planning stages for more than 10years. Main funding for the centerincludes a CommunityDevelopment Block Grant, whichwas obtained through the sponsor-ship of the city of Vale. Because thecity was the applicant, it will ownthe building for the first five yearsthen work out some type ofarrangement to turn the buildingover to the seniors.

Vale seniors hope new center yields improvements

LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER

Marion Crampton, a member of the Vale Senior Citizens shows architectural render-ings of the planned new Vale Senior Citizens Center.

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For help finding a doctor in Fruitland or Ontario, or to schedule an appointment, please call (208) 367-DOCS or (541) 889-7300.

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It has been claimed to cure heartdisease, boost your mood, buildyour immune system and protect

your bones.Everywhere we

turn, we seem tofind someone orsomething toutingthe benefits ofVitamin D.Whether we heardit from Dr. Oz orsaw it in the latesthealth magazine,there seems to be awealth of informa-tion surroundingthis new super vita-min. With all of the claims circulat-ing about Vitamin D today, it is im-portant to separate fact from fic-tion to discover the true benefits ofthis incredible vitamin.

So what exactly is Vitamin D andwhere do we find it?

A fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin Dplays many roles in our body. Infact, some research suggests this vi-tamin could be beneficial to ourheart, brain, kidneys and liver tis-sue. While all of these are possiblebenefits, the only proven relation-ship between Vitamin D and ourhealth is in its ability to prevent os-teoporosis.

Vitamin D is found in foods such

as salmon, tuna, beef liver, cheeseand egg yolks. It is also commonlyfound in milk and cereals nowadays— the result of the USDA mandat-ing the fortification of these foodswith Vitamin D following a rickettsand osteomalacia epidemic in the1930s.

Apart from foods, an even biggercontributor of Vitamin D to ourbodies is the sun. It has been sug-gested that spending between 5 and30 minutes twice a week in the sunwould keep our Vitamin D at an op-timal level. Our skin absorbs an in-active form of Vitamin D from thesun which, after being processed bythe liver and kidneys, turns into anactive form that our bodies can use.

According to Dr. Barry Bloom ofHarvard University, as far back asthe early 20th Century, Vitamin D-rich sun rays were being used totreat TB as patients sat in sanitari-ums to soak up the rays. In this dayand age, it can be difficult to eatenough of the right foods to get theVitamin D we need; and let’s face it,excessive, unprotected exposure tothe sun has been proven to causeskin cancer. So where does thatleave us in our efforts to absorb thisamazing super vitamin?

Vitamin D supplements can befound in most grocery and nutri-tion stores; however it is only rec-

ommended that these be used ifyou have a Vitamin D deficiency.Recommended intakeAccording to the American

Institute of Medicine, the recom-mended dietary intake of VitaminD for men and women:

• ages 14 to 50 should be 200IU• ages 50 to 70 should be 600IU• ages older than 70 should be

800IU.How can you know if you have

a Vitamin D deficiency?It is recommended that you

should be screened regularly if you:• are elderly• do not go outside much• are at risk for osteoporosis

(post-menopausal women andmen over 65)

• are considered obese• have a history of multiple falls• have a dark skin complexion. If you fall in one of these cate-

gories it is important to talk to yourmedical provider about yourVitamin D level.

There is a simple blood test thatcan reveal this level and, as needed,your provider can make appropriaterecommendations regarding yourVitamin D intake. It is important tobe aware that too much Vitamin Dcan be harmful. Studies have shownthe people with toxic amounts ofVitamin D are at risk for anorexia,weight loss, heart arrhythmias,stroke and kidney stones. Be sure tospeak with your provider prior tostarting any supplement.

Additional research is being con-ducted to study possible links be-tween Vitamin D and the preven-tion of colon, breast, and prostatecancer, as well as its ability to boostthe immune system, combat season-al depression, control diabetes, andmaybe even prevent dementia.

Whether we get our Vitamin Dfrom the foods we eat, the sun welive under, the supplements we take,or a combination of all three, it isimportant to recognize its provenability to prevent osteoporosis.

Talk to your provider to find outif you are getting enough of this su-per vitamin and stay tuned as re-searchers continue to discover themany benefits of Vitamin D.

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WILLIAM LOPEZARGUS OBSERVER

PAYETTE

For most people, working and vol-unteering time to serve the commu-nity are two separate entities. It’stypical for people to go to work inorder to provide a level of supportto their household, and then, if theychoose, volunteer their time to bet-ter the community they live in, of-ten enriching their own lives in theprocess.

There a lucky few, however,where work and community serviceare one and the same. That’s thecase for Onalee “Onie” Mansor, aretired employee from MalheurBell, who, since 2004, has workedfor The Family Place.

The story of this 63-year-oldPayette resident begins in Quincy,

Ill., where she was born. Her step-fa-ther was in the military, so Mansormoved all over the country until she

was 15 years old, after which herfamily moved to France for a yearand then Germany for more than

two years.When Mansor was 18, her family

settled in California, where she mether husband while working at thebase exchange at Travis Air ForceBase, she said. He was a militaryman, and the two moved to Boise in1972.

Together, they had four children,two boys and two girls, and Mansornow is the proud grandparent of12, she said.

“My grandchildren are very im-portant to me,” Mansor said.“They’re actually a part of why I dowhat I do, because I think it makesthe world a better place and a safeplace for them.”

Mansor began to work part-timeat Malheur Bell and their familyeventually moved from Boise toWeiser, where her husband man-

When work and service are one and the same

WILLIAM LOPEZ | ARGUS OBSERVER

Onalee “Onie” Mansor watches as a recently struck pool ball glides into the side pock-et during one of the three weekly pool leagues in which she’s involved.

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aged the local airport, she said. In the early ‘80s, Mansor and her

husband divorced, after whichMansor started working full time atthe phone company in Ontario.

She started at the lowest payingposition, which was an order writerand retired in 2002 at one of thehighest paid positions, an engineer-ing specialist, Mansor said.

It was during her time at MalheurBell, primarily during the ‘90s, thatMansor volunteered heavily at thelocal Project Dove organization. Sheeven sat on its board of directorsfrom 1991 through 1998, she said.

Shortly after retiring, Mansorsaid she was asked to head the KidsSafe Program, which was in its in-fancy at the time. She served as theprogram director for 18 monthsand was instrumental in its success,before turning it over to another in-dividual and joining The FamilyPlace, her current passion.

“The Family Place has a philoso-

phy that’s very much in line withmy own,” Mansor said. “The mis-sion is to strengthen and empowerfamilies and it’s been a good fit forme.”

This is a small non-profit organi-zation and Mansor is currently afamily support specialist and com-munity program manager, she said.

She conducts home visits, teachesparenting classes and is in charge ofthe food pantry.

“I enjoy everything I do rightnow,” Mansor said. “That’s kind ofthe beauty of being retired. I’ve de-cided that life is way too short andyou should enjoy what you do. Plus,I think I’m making a difference inpeoples lives.”

Aside from community serviceand her line of work, Mansor saidshe is an active pool player and iscurrently on three leagues.

“Pool and my grandchildren takeup a lot of my free time,” Mansorsaid.

(BPT) — Even though they'restill common, jokes about clue-less baby boomers calling theirkids to figure out how to usetechnology are starting to feeloutdated. While today'syoungest generations are prac-tically born with tablets, smart-phones and laptops in theirhands, grandparents are alsoadopting technology at a star-tling pace.

Boomers' enthusiasm to con-sume new technology is growingand changing as fast as the fieldof new products available. Infact, a 2012 Forrester Researchtechnology survey found 78 per-cent are online, and of those, 54percent own laptops. Tablet useamong boomers is growing too;11 percent already own one and

another 15 percent plan on buy-ing one soon.

While the boomers' genera-tional trait of progressivenesshelps to explain this tech rush,more practical reasons demys-tify it as well. Many among thegeneration are at the peak oftheir earning power, withmore money to spend on tech-nology than other age groups.A 2012 survey by Nielsenshowed that within five years,approximately 50 percent ofthe U.S. population will be 50or older, and they'll control 70percent of disposable income.For this generation, a forward-thinking mindset has alwaysbeen a common trait, so cross-ing the digital divide wasbound to happen.

Boomers connect at rapid pace

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JESSICA KELLERARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIO

Although Ontario resident SherriHironaka retired from the OntarioSchool District in 2008, it was nev-er her intention to withdraw.

Hironaka said she likes being in-volved and helping where she canand she feels she has an obligationto the community to do so.

“I just knew I was retiring fromthat job but never the community,”Hironaka said. “I knew that I wouldpick something and go with it.”

While Hironaka is involved inmany things, her primary focus isthe Friends of the Ontario Library,where she serves as the treasurer.

“Most of the activities we sponsorare free for the community,” shesaid.

For the last two years she has alsobeen working for EducationNorthwest, a consulting company,and when the Oregon Departmentof Education gave the OntarioSchool District SchoolImprovement Grant funds, the dis-trict hired her as one of the leader-ship coaches. Last year she workedat May Roberts Elementary School,and this year she is working withthe leadership team at OntarioHigh School.

“This is one ofthe most gratify-ing things I’vedone in educa-tion,” Hironakasaid.

She said herwork requiressix to 10 hoursa week. Shesaid it hasbeen a littlebit differentfor her be-cause manyof the staffrememberher as a for-mer districtadministra-tor, and shehas to workwith themin an entirely differentcapacity now.

“My interest is to make the prin-cipal and the school successful,”Hironaka said, adding that is easierto accomplish as a third party. “Sothat’s really fun.”

Even before she retired, Hironakabegan consulting for Lewis andClark College teaching or arrangingarea classes for teachers who wantto be administrators.

“That’s another way I’ve stayedconnected with the education com-munity,” she said.

She also volunteers at AikenElementary School when she can,beginning last year as a LunchBuddy. She also helps out whereverelse she is needed, and she said shethinks principals in the school dis-trict know they can call her forsomething, and if she can’t help, shewill try to find somebody who can.

Hironaka also helped revive thefloundering Foster Grandparentsprogram in the school district andstill helps out there if she is need-ed.

Most recently she worked onMalheur County Circuit CourtJudge Lung Hung’s campaign,which she said was interesting.

“And the only people unhappywith all that are my grandchildrenwho can’t understand why grand-ma can’t come stay with them amonth at a time,” Hironaka said.

Her husband, Dennis, however,understands her need to still partic-ipate in the community, Hironakasaid.

“He says he keeps the bathroomsclean so I can go out and save theworld,” Hironaka said of her hus-band.

Sherri Hironaka doesn’t retire from community

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Ontario resident Sherri Hironaka and Ashlyn Uyeki, 4, look at books together atthe Ontario Community Library recently. Hironaka, a retired educator, remainshighly involved in the education community in her retirement and also current-ly serves as the treasurer for the Friends of the Ontario Library.

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LARRY MEYERARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIO

Two have had previous driving

occupations but four drivers have

happily found new careers working

for Malheur County

Transportation Services, which is

provided under contract by

Malheur Council on Aging and

Community Services.

Transportation Supervisor Dale

Abney has only been working at the

agency for a year, having been a

long-haul truck driver and owner.

“This was open at the time,” he

said. “It seemed like a good fit for

someone in transportation.”

While he mainly supervises the

system, Abney said he drives occa-

sionally when there is a need. There

are nine other drivers besides him-

self. They operate with 12 vehicles,

ranging from mini-vans to 18-pas-

senger diesel buses.

“We do demand response, Dial-A-

Ride and access plus,” he said.

Demand response is for medical

rides in and outside of Ontario,

Dial-A-Ride service is for anybody,

also inside and outside of Ontario,

and access plus helps people get

from their homes to the routed bus

service. People are asked to sched-

ule their trips 24 hours in advance

to get them scheduled.

“Our main function is to provide

transportation for elderly, disabled

and low-income people,” he said.

There is also service between

Ontario, Nyssa and Vale, separate

from the routed service in Ontario,

which is provided by another

agency under contract.

Don Reynolds, Ontario, who has

been a driver since August, was se-

mi-retired after 20 years at the co-

op and had done some

traveling, but then de-

cided it was time to go

back to work.

Most of his passen-

gers are elderly he said,

and finds the people in

the valley, “very, very

nice.” For Reynolds,

his interest and con-

cern for the people he

drives around goes

beyond just provid-

ing a ride for them.

He will on occasion

stop in at a person’s

house to see how

they are doing, he

said.

“Lately, I’ve been working five

days per week, but may not work

eight hours per day.”

Ben Condie, Fruitland, is another

retiree, having worked for Boeing

Aircraft Company on the military

side.

“I’m full time,” said Condie, who

has been with Malheur County

Transportation Services for five

years. He is classified as the lead

driver and heads the safety commit-

tee.

“I was bored in retirement,” he

said, explaining why he applied for

a position.

“I enjoy the people I meet — being

able to help people. People just need

assistance and a way to get around,

get places and do things they want

to do.”

Mike Prosser, Payette, was a

school bus mechanic and driver in

Redmond for 18 years and, having

lived in Emmett, decided to move

back to Idaho when he retired.

He enjoyed driving bus, he said,

and decided to find another driv-

ing job, one where he could relate to

the people he was hauling.

“I’m kind of all over,” Prosser

said, but one specific assignment is

driving the Bureau of Land

Management “crew.” And he re-

cently drove a group of senior citi-

zens to the Winter Carnival in

McCall. “I just enjoy it,” he said.

Prosser said his wife’s comment

was, “You like to drive and like to

talk. This is the perfect job for you.”

To schedule a ride with Malheur

County Transportation Services,

call (541) 881-0000.

The driving force behind county transportation

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Malheur CountyTransportation Services Dale Abney, left, is joined by three ofthe drivers with one of the mini-vans used to provide rides to people needing toget to medical appointments and other places. From second left are DonReynolds, Mike Prosser and Ben Condie.

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• Water Rights • Natural Resources Land Use • Public Lands Grazing Permits • Hazardous Waste Commercial Transactions • Liens • Family Law

Carl Burnham, Jr.Cliff Bentz

Tim J. HelfrichBruno J. Jagelski

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ONTARIO

In recognition of February beingHeart Month, Saint AlphonsusMedical Center – Ontario encour-ages the community to be aware ofthe steps each of us can take to re-duce the risk of heart disease andrecommit to better heart health.

Every year, heart disease claimsthe lives of over half a millionAmericans. It remains the leadingcause of death in the United States.Heart disease leaves no one un-touched; its victims are fathers anddaughters, grandparents and sib-lings, cherished friends and com-munity members across our coun-try. While genetic or hereditary fac-tors play a part in many instances ofcardiovascular disease, high choles-terol, high blood pressure, physicalinactivity, obesity, tobacco use, andalcohol abuse are major risk factors

that can be prevented or controlled.Avoiding tobacco, moderating alco-hol consumption, and working witha health care provider can also helpprevent or treat conditions that canlead to heart disease.

“For patients with heart disease itis important to follow your doctor’sinstructions and stay on your med-ications,” said Mark Parent, MD,Saint Alphonsus InterventionalCardiologist. “By eating a healthydiet that includes plenty of fresh

fruits and vegetables and exercisingregularly for at least 30 minuteseach day, you can have a significantpositive impact on your hearthealth.”

Physicians also encourage all pa-tients to talk to their health careprovider about heart care. Talk tohim or her about monitoring yourblood pressure, testing your choles-terol levels and regularly monitor-ing your blood sugar levels if youhave diabetes.

Saint Alphonsus Medical CenterOntario is a 49-licensed bed com-munity hospital providing care forthose in eastern Oregon and south-western Idaho. Saint AlphonsusHealth System is a four-hospital,714-bed regional, faith-basedCatholic ministry with over 4,300associates and 950 medical staff.Saint Alphonsus Health System iscomprised of Saint AlphonsusRegional Medical Center, Boise;Saint Alphonsus Medical Center –Nampa; Saint Alphonsus MedicalCenter – Ontario; Saint AlphonsusMedical Center – Baker City; andSaint Alphonsus Medical Group,with more than 275 primary careand specialty care providers at 35clinic locations. Saint AlphonsusHealth System is a member ofTrinity Health, Novi, Mich.

Heart disease is leading cause of death in the United States

Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario encourages community tobe aware of family’s heart health during February Heart Month

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Your mother

scared the

daylights

out of you last

week. She said she

was going for a

quick walk, but

when she didn’t re-

turn three hours

later, you went

looking for her.

You were frantic,

she was confused,

you were embar-

rassed. She has

early-stage

Alzheimer’s. You’re trying to cope,

but things are getting worse for her.

Things are getting worse for you.

You never thought you’d have to

be a parent to your parent, but here

you are. And in the new book “Dr.

Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s

Caregiver” by Dr. Ruth K.

Westheimer with Pierre A. Lehu,

here’s some help.

It’s not the job you grew up want-

ing but you’ve taken the responsibil-

ity anyhow. Being a caregiver for

someone with Alzheimer’s may be a

burden and there may be joy in it —

but however you see it, you’re not

alone. Dr. Ruth says there are some

15 million people just like you, car-

ing for a parent, partner, spouse or

relative. That amounts to over $183

billion of unpaid care each year.

And that can be overwhelming.

For starters, the authors say, don’t

“draw lines in the sand.” Remain

flexible, figure out other ways to do

what needs doing, and never turn

down offers of help; even delegat-

ing the tiniest chores will feel like a

relief. And don’t even think about

doing housework when you’ve got

some precious time to yourself.

“Alzheimer’s

is a terrible

disease, but it

mustn’t claim

two victims,”

say the authors.

Ignoring that

fact may lead to

caregiver burn-

out.

Recognize that

your feelings are

probably going

haywire. You

may have crush-

ing guilt, anger,

or sadness. You

might feel lonely,

shameful, or de-

pressed. Maybe

you’re filled with

grief. Don’t re-

press those feelings; instead, man-

age them by preparing for or de-

flecting them. Preparing early for

other inevitabilities will help, too.

Learn to understand Alzheimer’s

and its stages, as well as possible

treatments. Teach children and

grandchildren to adapt, and learn

how to get siblings to pitch in. Find

a good lawyer. Know how to deal

with combativeness, frustration,

and when it’s time to seek new ac-

commodations.

Let’s lay this on the table: “Dr.

Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s

Caregiver” includes information on

sex. You’d be disappointed if it did-

n’t, wouldn’t you?

The thing is, that’s not the focus

in this fine book.

With extreme sensitivity, authors

Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Pierre

Lehu offer comfort and direction

for caregivers who want to avoid be-

ing overwhelmed by their situa-

tions. This

book

touches on

a lot of as-

pects on

both sides:

there’s

personal

and prac-

tical info

for care-

givers, as

well as

insight

on how

the pa-

tient

might

be feel-

ing. I liked the individual stories in-

cluded here, and the authors’ ad-

vice seems sound – even when the

advice is to ask a professional.

Overall, this is one of those books

you hope you’ll never need, but

you’ll be glad you’ve got it if you do.

For Boomers, elders, and caregivers

now and in the (possible) future,

“Dr. Ruth’s Guide for the

Alzheimer’s Caregiver” sheds a lot

of light.

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER IS a freelancebook reviewer. She can be reached in care of theArgus Observer, 1160 S.W. Fourth St., Ontario,OR 97914. The views and opinions expressed inthis column are not necessarily those of theArgus Observer

‘Dr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver’

THE BOOKWORM

SEZ

TerriSchlichenmeyer

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Pre Planning

www.Lienkaemper-Thomason.com

Pre-planning ensured that your wishes are precisely followed, while your family is not burdened with the

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When you’re living on afixed income, the chancethat you’ve been selected

in a sweepstakes can create a bit ofexcitement.

Joe Volkert, of Boise, says the let-ter from Reader’s DigestSweepstakes Award, looked to bereal. It stated that he was the right-ful owner of a $920,000 grandprize. All he needed to do was con-tact Anthony Williams or StacyAnderson.

“Contact our office and our repre-sentative will assist you with insur-ance fee, legal fee, and documenta-tion fee as well as your taxes,” hesays.

And to top it off, “Enclosed is acheque” to help pay all fees.

Joe was alert if you win a sweep-stakes you don’t have to pay any-thing. It’s a sweepstakes, but the

tipoff was theCanadian spellingfor “check.” The let-ter was signed DavidWilliams, vice-presi-dent.

Joe folded up theletter and accompa-nying check andmailed it to BBB.

Better BusinessBureau is warningresidents about the

sweepstakes scam. The letter bearsa Reader’s Digest letterhead and aNew York City address, and con-tains a check for more than $9,000,supposedly issued by Tower HillInsurance. Neither company is in-volved in the phony sweepstakes.

Reader’s Digest issued the state-ment saying, “the reputations of le-gitimate corporations whose names

are being hijacked are also tar-nished. Our own company,Reader’s Digest, has fallen victim tothese thieves, as have other well-known firms.”(http://www.rd.com/advice/consumer-alert-dont-be-fooled/)

The phone number to call is regis-tered for the Vancouver, BritishColumbia, area.

When consumers call a telephonenumber on the document, they areurged to deposit the check draftedon a Wachovia Bank account that isprovided to aid in the mandatorypayment of the insurance and ad-ministrative fees. Tower HillInsurance, in this instance, has is-sued a statement(https://www.thig.com/about-tower-hill/news-and-events/check-scam-includes-tower-hill-select-name) and is working dili-

gently with national law enforce-ment to help solve these crimes.

BBB’s advice is simple: • Never wire money to someone

you don’t know personally andtrust completely. Once the money iswired, it’s gone.

• Don’t believe claims that youmust pay the prize company for“taxes.” The IRS will contact youabout any taxes that are due.

• If you have to pay to get a lot-to/sweepstakes prize, don’t fall forit: it’s a scam!

Reader’s Digest encourages con-sumers who have fallen victim tofile a report at www.fraud.org.

Better Business Bureau serves theSnake River Region from Ontarioto Jackson, Wyo. For more informa-tion visit bbb.org or for informationcall 800-218-1001.

Reader’s Digest sweepstakes letters offer no returns

Better

BuSineSS

Bureau

Robb Hicken

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PROTECT SENIORS IN THE YEAROF ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION

PREVENTING ISOLATION IS KEYIsolation makes an elder vulnerable to abuse. The best thing you can do is “Be a Friend”. Help your elderly neighbors maintain their friendships and, if possible, add new friends. Drive them to the senior center or to a church function. Even dropping in on your elderly neighbors for short chats is bene� cial. Consider including them in your family activities.

Consider volunteering for Malheur Council on Aging & Community Services Friendly Visitor program where you participate on local senior outings and Volunteer to be a friendly visitor to a nursing home resident or homebound elder in your community. Make Reassurance Telephone Calls. This is a daily phone call to make sure elders are OK.

PROTECT SENIORS IN THE YEAROF ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION

ELDER ABUSE HAPPENS, BUT EVERYONE CAN ACT TO PROTECT SENIORS.

EVERY YEAR AN ESTIMATED 2.1 MILLION OLDER AMERICANS ARE VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR EXPLOITATION. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as � ve cases go unreported.

ELDER ABUSE HAPPENS, BUT EVERYONE CAN ACT TO PROTECT SENIORS.

The Malheur Council on Aging