Kansas Senior Press Service News ArticlesKansas Senior Press Service News ArticlesBy Jean Cramer
Kansas Senior Press Service
I went to visit my sister-in-law in Topeka.
We sat down in her modest living-room.
I told her about my granddaughter who couldn’t pay her rent,
She told me about her 56-year-old daughter who just lost her job,
I told her about my swollen aching finger joints,
She told me about her ankles so weak that she wears braces,
I told her about my knee ligaments that hurt when I bend them,
She told me about her miserable digestive system,
I told her about my scary hypoglycemia spells,
She told me about the day her eardrum popped,
I told her about getting my ear wax pumped out frequently,
She was distressed about the cost of maintenance of her home,
I was distressed about whether to move to a smaller place,
She had decided to keep her hair in a bun for convenience,
I had decided to have my hair cut very short for convenience.
We spent some time playing with her two cats,
And went out for fish and chips at a nearby sports bar.
Altogether a very nice day with my dear friend.
Jean Cramer lives in Overland Park. She is 85.
By Marianne Foster
Kansas Senior Press Service
TV talk shows have been discussing “invisible” women lately. Here is the profile of these women: over 50, post-menopausal and with limited appeal. Supposedly no one is interested in the thoughts of those who have arrived at this age — especially the commentators.
The discussion is interesting to me because, while I match the profile, I no longer feel invisible.
I’m glad to be past the angst and uncertainty of a 20-something. At that time, I was invisible to myself. Now one of my great blessings is that I know who I am. My life is centered. I know my strengths and enjoy my weaknesses (Diet Dr. Pepper, coffee, dark chocolate). I am visible to myself. I am less concerned about how others view me or what they think. I’m comfortable with myself and I believe I see myself clearly.
Being a grandmother is one of my great joys. It is true that being a grandparent is much more fun than being a parent; it’s one of the rewards for enduring. It is deeply satisfying to watch your child’s child grow and develop. Grandparents are gatekeepers to the past and the future. I tell the children stories about my grandparents and my mom and dad. The stories give them a foundation for building their lives.
I know and love some of the great women of the world. My friends are accomplished, smart, witty, loving women, comfortable in their skin. We have few unrealistic expectations of each other. Our conversations are wide ranging. Our opinions are varied. Our laughter is frequent. Our support is generously given and gratefully accepted. I doubt I have a single friend who feels invisible — except, occasionally, with a teenager.
Along the way, I learned to love classical and country-western music. Now, thanks to live broadcasts on HDTV and at movie theaters, I am learning to love opera. I’ve learned to grow beautiful flowers in clay soil. I’ve learned that mistakes happen in gardening and in life. I’ve learned the difference between need and want. And I’ve learned that I can survive grief and heartbreaking, gut-wrenching pain and laugh again.
I aspired to perfection — a heavy burden. Learning that mistakes can be survived was a big lesson. I’ve learned that I can ask for help and receive it. Life has a way of helping one become a gentler, kinder person.
So it puzzles me when talk-show hosts refer to women my age as invisible. Certainly that isn’t true when we consider how visible we are to ourselves and others. We have come far; we have learned much. And the opinions reflected in some of the media become irrelevant. In the end, each of us chooses what she thinks is important.
I am not invisible to the people who matter to me. As for the rest, c’est la vie!
Marianne Foster lives and writes in Lenexa.
By
Kansas Senior Press Service
Higher food prices are driving many people back home for dinner. Preparing your own meals at home is a perfect opportunity to put plenty of cancer-fighting vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans on your plate — but where do you begin?
For a focused list, write down the foods by category, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains, canned goods such as beans and fish, and low-fat condiments such as mustard and salsa. Remember that bags of frozen vegetables and fruits (without sugar or fatty sauces) can be used as needed without worrying about spoilage.
Fill two-thirds of your plate with plant foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans) and one-third with lean meat or dairy products. That’s an easy way to get the recommended five servings a day of plant-based foods that are full of fiber, vitamins and phytochemicals that seem to help prevent cancer.
Try some of the more unusual whole grains such as barley, bulgur and quinoa. Add some hearty beans to satisfy your appetite. Most beans have plenty of fiber, protein and folate, a B vitamin that may protect against cancer. Choose from kidney, black, white, pinto, navy, lima, chickpeas and many others.
Some meal ideas:
Spicy gazpacho
2 lbs. ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced, with their juice
2 large cloves garlic
1 slice stale white bread, crust removed*
1/2 cup reduced-sodium tomato juice
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
4 tsp. white horseradish
2 tsp. white distilled vinegar
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup finely diced peeled cucumber
1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
4 Tbsp. whole-wheat croutons
In blender, whirl tomatoes and garlic to a coarse puree. Tear bread into 1-inch pieces and add to tomatoes. Add tomato juice, tomato paste, horseradish, vinegar, oil and cayenne pepper. Whirl until soup is a fine, pulpy puree. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer soup to a container, cover and chill three to four hours to overnight. It will keep up to two days.
Divide chilled soup among four soup bowls. To each bowl add 1 tablespoon diced cucumber, pepper and onion. Top with 1 tablespoon croutons and serve immediately.
*If bread is not stale, set it on rack in a 225-degree oven until dry and hard, about 20 minutes.
Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 120 calories, 3.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 18 g carbohydrates, 4 g protein, 4 g dietary fiber, 250 mg sodium.
Source: American Institute for Cancer Research
By
Kansas Senior Press Service
Q: I have Medicare, but a friend told me I might also qualify for Medicaid to help pay for my health care costs. What is Medicaid and how does it work with Medicare?
A: If you have a low income, you may qualify for certain Medicaid programs, depending on your health care needs. Medicaid is a federal and state program that covers medical care for certain people with low incomes. Each state runs several Medicaid-funded programs for different groups of people.
If you qualify for a Medicaid program, Medicare will pay first for your health care and Medicaid will pay second. In many cases, for services that both Medicare and Medicaid can cover (such as doctors’ visits, hospital care, home care and skilled nursing facility care), Medicaid will protect you from owing any Medicare co-insurances and co-payments to your doctor or hospital.
Medicaid may also pay for some additional services that Medicare does not cover, such as dental care or transportation to and from doctors’ appointments. Depending on which program you qualify for, Medicaid may cover extended long-term care services.
If you have Medicaid, in many cases you will be enrolled automatically in a Medicare savings program (the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, or QMB). QMB will offer additional assistance by paying your Medicare Part B premium, deductibles, co-insurances and co-payments. You will need to meet the guidelines for QMB eligibility.
If you have Medicare, Medicaid and QMB, you should be able to go to any doctor or provider who takes Medicare, Medicaid, or is in your Medicare private health plan’s network without having to pay the Medicare co-insurances or deductibles. You may still have to pay the Medicaid co-payment for the service. However, most providers who take Medicare and Medicaid bill correctly. If you have Medicaid and are still paying your Part B premium, contact your local Medicaid office to see about enrolling in QMB.
Medicaid can help cover your prescription drug costs. If you have Medicare and qualify for a Medicaid program, you automatically qualify for Extra Help, the federal program that assists with the cost of Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). If you will lose your retiree or union coverage by enrolling in a Medicare private drug plan, you may not have to take Medicare drug coverage. Contact your Medicaid office to find out.
To find out the exact Medicaid programs you may be eligible for, contact your local Medicaid office and speak to a counselor. Financial eligibility guidelines and covered services vary greatly. Be aware that you may be able to have a higher income than general eligibility guidelines suggest, because certain income may not be counted, or you may be able to qualify another way — for example, by “spending down” your income on medical expenses.
For additional information or assistance in Kansas, contact Medicaid Consumer Assistance at 800-766-9012 or Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) at 800-860-5260.
Source: Medicare Rights Center
These articles are also available electronically at the Center on Aging Website: http://www2.kumc.edu/coa/Senior_Press_Article/Topic_Index.htm