Featured Stories
In This Issue
Exploring Yosemite In
A Wheelchair
Author Kathy Leong tore her achilles playing pickleball but that didn't stop her from exploring Yosemite in a wheelchair.
Aging Isn't What You Think
Most people think of aging as physical decline, frailty, infirmed and navigating a slow cognitive failure and death. There is much more to look forward to as we age.
Adventure Of A Traveling Nurse
After eight years on the road, travel nurse Cindy Hayes and husband Mark have been bitten by the travel bug. Traveling and working in nine states they never dreamed of. Best part? Learning the cultures and norms in completely different places than Kansas, their home state. Worst thing? Never remembering their address!
Why Home Physical Therapy?
The many benefits include home programs customized to your progress to the kindness and compassion of therapists with a vested interest in you. Private pay therapy gives peace of mind.
The Price Of Electric No One Talks About
We need to question the promise and hype and be concerned and discerning about the price we—and the planet—will pay for an all-electric revolution. Will there be enough electricity when the whole country—and world—drives BEVs?
Discover Resort-style Living For The 55+
The Villages Golf & Country Club in San Jose, CA is one of the best kept secrets for retirement living for the 55+. Learn why.
Why Switch Your Healthcare To The Physicians
Medical Group Of San Jose?
For starters--over 1,000 independent doctors throughout Santa Clara county in over 460 locations. 30+ languages. Over 250 physicians who serve in the capacity of primary care, family practice, general practice, internal medicine or pediatrics. Learn more at PMGMD.
Ask Larry: "Are Timeshares A Scam?"
Not really. But not a good investment either because they are nearly impossible to resell. But people still buy them. Why?
Looking For Independent Senior Living?
at $3,400 per month. Meals included. Home-life environment.
Keep Smiling!
Let me know what kind of stories you prefer to read in The Scoop,
the leading digital publication for boomers and seniors in the SF Bay Area. Please feel free to forward this issue to your family and friends. Subscribe today. It's FREE!
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What Is The First Thing You Think Of
When Someone Says "Old Age"?
Most people think of aging as physical decline, frailty, infirmed states and navigating a slow cognitive failure
and death.
How do I know this?
As an aging specialist, this thinking causes people to run away from me at cocktail parties. When I introduce myself as an aging specialist, I see their eyes dart around the room, looking for anyone who can help them make the great escape from the most boring person in
the world.
At a dinner party about 20 years ago, someone finally decided to chat me up about aging. He asked, "Why do you study aging?"
My answer was just what he expected "to find prevention and cures for depression, to understand better how we can reduce frailty and find new ways to offer end of life care."
He looked back at me, horrified and said, "So we have nothing to look forward to?"
I was stumped. I didn't have an answer and I was really embarrassed at the time because I felt pretty good about my work and what I was giving back to the world. I didn't have anything to say to him about what we have to look forward to.
So, he continued, "You know, I can't imagine why anyone bothers to study aging if we have literally nothing to look forward to." It was like
a slap in the face.
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"My Adventure As
A Traveling Nurse"
--Cindy Hayes, RN
Age: 61
Born: Shawnee, Kansas. Suburb of the big City
Education: Graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1979. Attended University of Kansas for one year. Prerequisites for nursing program done at Johnson County Community College. Graduated 1987 at St. Luke’s College of Nursing, Kansas City, Missouri.
Past Occupations: Secretary/receptionist for a real estate firm learning organizational skills while going to school at night. 19 at
the time. Also, had night job in Baker’s shoe store.
I knew that I wanted more. I just wasn't sure what that was.
Why become a traveling nurse?
I had the best gig ever. Just a great job. No one leaves this job. But after 13 years, I was just ready for a change. Never thought I would make such a drastic change but was getting stale.
Mark and I were both born and raised in Kansas and we discussed traveling. Made the decision in two months. Why not? Let's adventure instead of watching it on TV. Boys were on their own path so, why should we wait?
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Benefits?
Benefits are more than rewarding! We initially had trepidation about our future but soon found out we have a knack for being in new places.
Our first travel was to North Carolina and we loved the East Coast. Seeing places we never imagined, the beauty of the different landscapes. In awe of the scenery everywhere.
We've traveled and lived in many places that we never dreamed of. Best part is learning the different cultures and norms in completely different places than growing up in Kansas. Plus, we get free healthcare from my company. I have a great company that takes care of us!
Disadvantages?
The only major disadvantage is not having a permanent home. Worst thing? I can never remember my address! Usually I stay for a year, if I like the job. It’s also hard to leave friends we have made. Yes, we have to pack up and move but it's always a fun, new adventure.
Hard to not have my holiday decorations which are in storage but
we always buy pumpkins and a Christmas tree and make it like home.
We have so many funny stories. How did we get our cat from Yadkinville, NC? What happened when we had to sleep in the car while driving overnight and I got stuck on the plastic space bags? What about the time our cat poked holes in the perfectly packed space bags and everything started expanding in the back of car? So many good times.
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"Discover The Benefits Of Home Physical Therapy"
By Saili Gosula
When considering in-home physical therapy, an excellent option is a private pay therapist. Such a therapist is able to offer a client/patient more time, energy and individualized care because he or she is not expected to have a quota of daily visits.
Many patients are seeking private clinicians to come visit them at home or in a private setting and are willing to pay for the security and privacy that comes along with it.
Private therapy means that your therapist designs a program specifically for you. The opportunities for regression are reduced because care is ongoing. There is no entity (such as Medicare) limiting the number of visits you can have.
When you pay for private therapy, you’re ensuring a compassionate, timely progressive home exercise program that matches your needs, hands on treatment, exceptional quality and skill, and time.
Finding a private in-home physical therapist can put to rest many anxieties. From progressive home programs that are customized to your progress to the kindness and compassion of therapists with a vested interest in you. Private pay therapy gives peace of mind.
Learn more about the benefits of doing physical therapy in your
“My father has worked with two different therapists at Active In-Home Therapy. He has multiple medical issues since he had a stroke three years ago. The therapists’ knowledge and compassion never cease to amaze me. Even on his bad days, my father seems ready to get to work when his therapist arrives. Both therapists have been helpful educating both my Father’s caregiver and other family members.” ~ Sara A
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John Donaghue is an award winning creative art director and creator of Under Cardiac Comics appearing in The Scoop. For a chuckle or two, go to: undercardiacarrest.com
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Exploring Yosemite
In A
Wheelchair
By Kathy Leong
ADA Services: Some Good.
Some Not So Good
You’ve planned a trip to Yosemite National Park and a few weeks before you travel, you tear your Achilles tendon and wind up in a wheelchair.
Do you cancel?
Fortunately, Yosemite is set up with ADA services and after I popped my Achilles on the pickleball court, I was still eager to go. I never had to use a wheelchair so, this experience would be a first.
There were advantages and disadvantages to the weekend which tells me that Yosemite’s approach is good, but still needs improvement.
First, my husband and I booked a heated tent cabin in Curry Village. When my accident occurred, I called to revise our reservation to secure an ADA cabin but that was already taken.
So, we maintained the heated tent cabin and that proved to be quite dicey. There are about three wooden steps that lead up to each cabin’s door. I had to grab my crutches and leap up, step by stressful step. I was not adept using these aids.
My suggestion? Perhaps the park services at Curry Village can purchase and store a portable wheelchair ramp and have it ready just in case. One plus was that the housekeeping services helped us out with its golf cart and a wonderful staffer drove us and our luggage right up to the door.
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Why Switch Your Healthcare To Physicians Medical Group Of
San Jose?
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We connect you to the Bay Area’s leading doctors. Our doctors learn about your health history from you, not a chart.
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We focus on prevention. Our doctors believe in the philosophy of preventative medicine. Our goal is to keep you and your family healthy and living active and productive lives.
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We support people who are living with an illness. Our doctors host many programs that assist with ongoing management of chronic diseases.
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We help you get the right care at the right time. Our doctors make sure you get the services and care you need. Coordinating care for you —in the setting that’s best— is the way we make care management work.
Who is the Physicians Medical Group of San Jose (PMGSJ)?
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose (PMGSJ) is a trusted medical group that has been serving Santa Clara County for over 42 years.
As the largest Independent Physicians Association (IPA) in Santa Clara County, PMGSJ aims to make quality care accessible to as many people as possible.
Our diverse team of doctors collectively speak over 30 languages
and dialects, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Hindi, Korean, Farsi, and Urdu.
PMGSJ is a committed group of over 1,000 physicians with advanced training across multiple specialties. There are over 250 physicians who serve in the capacity of primary care, family practice, general practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics.
Plus, over 800 specialists that cover more than 40 disciplines, including obstetrics/gynecology. For the convenience of our patients, we have over 460 office locations across Santa Clara County where patients can receive expert care. We are honored to care for over 100,000 Santa Clara County residents.
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Discover Resort-Style Living For The 55+ in San Jose, CA
Luxury properties, professionally landscaped, golf course views, city views, openness of the community, trees and waterfalls.
We have many properties for sale at The Villages Golf & Country Club. Resort-style senior living for the active adult 55+ years. Mid $400,000s to $1,000,000+.
To receive an exclusive tour of the community and preview selected properties, call Carla Griffin today. 408.274.8766.
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Chateau-Cupertino
Senior Independent Living Community With a Flair
Senior living doesn't get any better than living at Chateau-Cupertino whether you're in retirement or just ready for the next great phase of your life. Enjoy a home-life environment in your own senior apartment with three fresh served home-style meals daily.
Housekeeping and laundry services, all basic utilities, great activity programs, game rooms and transportation--all included starting at $3,400 per month.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cupertino is one of the best places to live in CA--home to world famous Apple company.
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The Hidden Price For Going All Electric No One Talks About
By Evelyn (Evie) Preston, Money Lady
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I was ahead of my time! In our 1979 house addition, we installed clean, swift, zonal electric heat. Turn a dial and ta da! Heat for a single room—like turning on the lights. I begged for the same method when my radiant heat died in 2005 but the City only permitted the standard, gas-heated water system because electric was too expensive! Now,
in the 2020’s we’re all pushed to toss out gas…heat, stoves and especially cars…for…you guessed it! Electric!
Yet at the recent Climate Summit in Egypt, only 29 of 123 countries were on track to trade engine emissions for BEV’s (battery electric vehicles.) In Western nations searching for the best formula to combat climate change, many believe electric cars are the answer; to others, they’re not the main panacea for our planet.
As a low mileage driver, I stick with my thrifty Toyota. My savvy-shopper friend, Julie, embraced the new and drives a Chevy Bolt.
She shared her in-depth research to pinpoint why electric cars cost more.
1) BEV’s require more sophisticated technology and costly components—at least $10K more—than conventional cars. While Goverment rebates and tax credits help offset “sticker shock,” they don’t cover much for upscale Tesla’s, the market leader.
2) Higher accident insurance premiums prevail. Electric cars require the same costly parts to fix as to build, require skilled technicians with higher charges for labor and parts.
3) Car Registration Fees are added in addition to regular DMV fees to make up for the lost revenues from gas taxes. Also add express lane costs where BEV’s have access. Literally, there’s no free ride.
4) To date, charging fees remain nominal as an incentive from businesses and communities to “buy electric.” To insure adequate charger access, an “at home” installation costs a few thousand dollars. Although much less than gas, electricity bills increase.
My own research points to potential problems with the heart of BEV’s, the batteries.
1) The driving range on a single charge, approximately 300 miles, remains the main concern for most drivers. Gas stations mushroomed as private enterprises and competition spurred “one on every corner.” Now, Government has a hand in charging stations nationwide via $5 billion over five years for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to help states create a network of EV charging stations along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, particularly along the Interstate Highway System. Availability and charging time remain iffy, a downside for many.
2) Batteries now promise at least eight to ten years of viable life or replacement. However, as the technology advances to extend battery life, there’s a race to find and mine the “rare earth” metals intrinsic to production. China dominates the markets and is making inroads in Africa for these hard-to-find, polluting and expensive-to-excavate materials.
3) Only 2-3% of our population now drive electric but use will surge as consumer resistance shrinks. In a short time span, “dead” batteries may stockpile. Now it’s too costly and time-consuming to break down units for their small amount of precious metal. Picture mounds of old batteries like those huge hills of used tires!
Q: Considering a momentous surge toward “green” energy, will there be enough electricity when the whole country—and world—drives BEVs?
People seem to gloss over the actual source for all this enormous amount of power needed to fuel zillions of cars—and much more. Neither mined nor grown, electricity is produced from coal, natural gas, nuclear, sun, wind and water. As the “green” sources unfortunately generate much less than the “dirty” fuels, basic electricity must be produced in ever-increasing quantities.
I enjoyed the efficiency of electric heat and adore my hybrid gas/electric stove. Our future’s clear--be it electric, solar, hydrogen or yet another alternative. As consumers, taxpayers and stewards of the earth, we need to question the promise and hype and be concerned and discerning about the price we—and the planet—will pay for an all-electric revolution.
Evelyn (Evie) Preston is a financial columnist for A050 and worked as a financial advisor for over 25 years. Reach her at Evierp100@yahoo.com.
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ASK LARRY
--Larry Hayes, A050 CEO/Publisher
“Are Timeshares
A Scam?”
—R.A, San Jose
No. But Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware).
While in Hawaii on vacation, my wife and I attended
our first Timeshare presentation. Hard to turn down
a free Hawaiian Maui show for two hours of our time.
Our mind was made up from the get-go not to sign up so,
we easily resisted two hours of a high-pressure sales pitch.
It was the last Timeshare presentation we attended but
felt that the free hotel show we later saw was worth our time.
Timeshares are still popular so, what's the downsides?
• No investment value. The minute you sign the contract, the value goes down drastically.
• Near impossible to resell because of the huge resale market meaning your $20,000+ investment may be worth $10,000 or less.
• High yearly maintenance fees.
• Forever contract, making it very difficult and expensive to
get out of.
Note: If you don’t mind putting up with 2+ hours of a Timeshare
presentation, go for it. You don't have to buy. It’s a good way
to get some 'freebies" while on vacation.
Q: What do you think about moving out of state
to retire?--D.Z, San Jose, CA
Usually not a good idea unless you move to be near family or friends. Many of our SF Bay Area friends now regret moving away from their family, friends and community--the most important things in life. It's your decision but weigh the pros and cons very carefully.
Got a Question? Ask me anything. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask someone who does. Ask Larry is written by Larry Hayes, CEO/Publisher of A050. Email: larry@activeover50.com. Visit: ActiveOver50.com
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