Independence Day 2012

Several things for this holiday so let's get started.

The Fourth of July traditionally means lots of sunshine and outdoor activity - a day of parades, backyard barbecues and fireworks. But for about 90 percent of the U.S., I'm pretty sure that's not as inviting this year as it usually is.

In fact, take a look at this report last week from meteorologist Aaron Justis of CBS 6 News in Richmond, Virginia, keeping his viewers informed about the Armageddon weather in his part of the country.

And he did it all with a straight face. Fantastic.

(Okay, the further joke is that this was done off air in the studio a year ago and it never was broadcast. Doesn't matter - it's still fun.)

Even if you don't count the continuing forest fires in Colorado and the terrible storms in the east that felled trees, smashed homes and killed at least 22 people, the unremitting high temperatures over the past ten days or two weeks would be likely to keep people indoors next to the air conditioner today – that is, if they have power.

I don't mean to rub it in (well, maybe I do), but take a look at this July 4 temperature forecast map from Accuweather:

See that yellow part with a smattering of green in the upper left corner? That's my part of the country, near Portland, Oregon, and we haven't yet had more than two or three days when the thermometer reached higher than 70. Since my personal temperature preference is between 65F to 75F, I'm in high clover.

Since 2010, the fourth of July has taken on an additional significance for me. Today is the second anniversary of the death of a giant among elder advocates, Dr. Robert N. Butler.

You could call him a mentor to aging in general – the man who coined the term ageism giving that idea substance and force it did not have before. A man whose 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Why Survive? is still required reading for anyone intent on understanding what getting old is really like. And the man who created the first department of geriatric medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York.

Dr. Butler was a visionary who radically changed for the better what aging is like in America and in large swaths of the world. Among his many accomplishments was founding the International Longevity Center (now a part of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University).

Each year, the Center holds the Age Boom Academy, a five-day, intensive seminar to educate a dozen journalists about today’s most challenging issues and new research related to aging and longevity. In 2009, I was honored to be invited to attend and hardly anything I have written here since then has not informed by what I learned.

So, on the fourth of July, I celebrate our country's founding and I honor the memory of Dr. Butler.

Of course, it's not the fourth of July without fireworks. Yes, I know this is the 2011/12 new year's display in London and maybe it's a little weird, on the U.S. national holiday, to have Big Ben in the foreground, but it's just so damned beautiful. And anyway, our countries have been friends now for a long time.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Marcy Belson: A Quilter at Heart

Elder Abuse – What is It?

You think you know the answer to that, right? Well, not so fast. I did too until I started looking into elder abuse for us. There are a zillion definitions, several kinds of abuse, no useful statistics and differing laws in every U.S. state.

It's amazing how many ways people can find to hurt others and although I feel I've only scratched the surface, I already know more than I want about this shameful problem that should be of concern to everyone. I'll try not to overwhelm you with too much information all at once.

Over time, I'll break down a complex phenomenon into something resembling coherence. Let's begin today with getting the terminology and basic facts straight.

DEFINITION
There are many definitions of elder abuse. This one is from the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), a program of the U.S. Administration on Aging. It is particularly simple and clear:

”[A]ny knowing, intended, or careless act that causes harm or serious risk of harm to an older person – physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially.”

Elder abuse generally falls into three categories – domestic, institutional and self-abuse which are self-explanatory. Domestic refers to maltreatment caused by someone with a special relationship with the elder - a spouse, a sibling, a child, a friend or a caregiver.

Institutional abuse refers to that which occurs in residential facilities – nursing homes, group homes and varieties of care facilities where the abuse is usually perpetrated by people who have a contractual obligation to provide for elders.

TYPES OF ELDER ABUSE
Here, in no particular order, is a breakdown of types of elder abuse. I had no idea there are so many possibilities:

• Physical abuse - inflicting physical pain or injury such as slapping, bruising, restraining by physical or chemical means.

• Emotional abuse - inflicting mental pain, anguish or distress through verbal or nonverbal acts such as humiliation, intimidation or threats.

• Financial abuse - some call this exploitation but I don't think that makes the point strongly enough. It is the illegal theft, fraud, misuse, concealment or neglect, or use of undue influence to gain control of an elder's money or property for another person's benefit.

• Sexual abuse - non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.

• Neglect - failure by caregivers to provide food, shelter, health care, physical safety or emotional needs.

• Desertion - desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.

What is horrifying to realize is the detail of this list could not exist if these acts did not regularly occur.

In addition, there is “self-neglect” described as the inability of an elder to understand the consequences of action or inaction to such an extent that it will lead to harm or endangerment. For now, I am assuming this item is included because people who should notice and do something sometimes do not.

ELDER ABUSE STATISTICS
There are none. No one knows how many elders are affected. Estimates range from half a million to five million people annually and most experts believe that the majority of elder abuse, maybe as much as 80 percent, goes unreported.

THE LEGAL PICTURE OF ELDER ABUSE
Laws and penalties for elder abuse vary widely across states. There are criminal penalties for some forms of elder abuse and where there are not, a growing number of prosecutors are using other kinds of criminal and civil laws to bring abusers to justice. Perhaps, as this series continues, we can get the TGB elderlaw attorney, Orrin Onken, to address some of this for us.

The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) provide information and some funding to state and area agencies in support of their prevention activities and victim assistance programs.

But although federal laws on domestic violence and child abuse provide federal funds and shelters for victims, there is no comparable or direct federal assistance for elder abuse victims.

The Affordable Care Act, just upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last week, includes the Elder Justice Act which, when enacted, will “help prevent and eliminate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.” Or so says the White House [pdf].

”Specifically, the law requires the secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Labor, to award grants and carry out activities that provide greater protection to those individuals in facilities that provide long-term services and support, and provides greater incentives for individuals to train and seek employment at those facilities. It also requires the immediate reporting of suspected crimes to law enforcement officials.”

The ACA also establishes uniform reporting standards along with a nationwide program for national and state background checks for employees who have direct contact with patients in long-term care facilities.

I suppose that's a start, but it does not address domestic abuse at all.

Here is a short video I would like you to watch. It is from Alberta, Canada and the government intervention does not necessarily apply in the U.S. states. But it gives a good picture of how elder abuse can develop.

So. That's a general overview of elder abuse in the United States. Future posts will deal with warning signs, prevention, local resources, how to report abuse and whatever else I think we should know.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Stroppy: Daintree Country, Ozzie Style

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I won't recount the the plot of this British movie about seven old folks who retire to Jaipur, India. If you haven't seen it, there are at least a million places online you where can find out about it.

It's a surprise hit – well, surprise to Hollywood types who don't believe movie goers want to see old people onscreen. But read this from Hilary, a woman so young – in her twenties – that she says actor Maggie Smith will never be anyone to her but Professor McGonagall:

”I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did – I think I assumed it would be boring...but I truly found it uplifting more than anything else.

“Of course, the Indian landscapes and scenes desperately made me want to travel, but more than that it made me want to experience, if that makes sense. It made me want to believe in possibilities again.

“As a twenty-something, I feel like possibility shouldn’t seem so far off. But it does, nowadays. Maybe it always did once you get to a certain age. I’m already locked into leases and contracts and payments. Already settled into something, though I didn’t realize I was doing so until now.

“All I can say about the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is that it will remind you of the way you plan to live, and the ways you should embrace that plan immediately.”

Doncha just wanna grab Hilary, give her a hug and say, You go, girl. In the space of half a dozen, short sentences, we learn of her doubts, her change of heart, her dreams, her disappointments, inklings of a possible truth, her circumstances and the rekindling of hope.

Who knows if she will act on her realizations, but she has a lot more to work with now after giving a bunch of old people in a movie she thought might be a bore a chance to inspire her.

The best fiction – print or film – has the power to transform us if we are open, as Hilary, to seeing beyond the literal plot and facile applause lines. Which is more than another blog reviewer, someone much older, bothered with:

“'Everything will be all right in the end, and if everything is not all right then this is not yet the end,'” the blogger quotes Sonny Kapur played by Dev Patel. “Words to live by,” writes the blogger. “Get up! Get out! Make the most of your day! Above all do something you love!”

THAT's your bottom-line takeaway from the movie?? THAT's what you want elders to know about The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? For god's sake. Nothing new there. First, the movie is better than that. Second, the character quoted is 22 years old and even he learns, thanks to Evelyn/Judi Dench, that he needs a lot more than his platitudinous drivel to get on with his life.

For those of you who have not seen Marigold, Evelyn becomes an elderblogger when she moves to Jaipur chronicling the experiences and transformations of her little gang of strangers in a strange land.

Old age isn't easy. Among the satisfactions are the inevitable discontents, afflictions and sorrows. Acknowledging such toward the end of the movie and summing up a bit, Evelyn writes on her blog:

”The only real measure of success is how we cope with disappointment...We get up in the morning and do our best.”

That's what I would like you to know from the film. That and what Hilary said.

ENDNOTE: Until someone takes it down, you can watch Marigold online here in English with subtitles of what looks like an eastern European language I can't identify.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Herchel Newman: Change for a Twenty

ELDER MUSIC: Motown Top 20 - Part 2

[Part 1 – songs numbered 20 through 11 – is here.]

This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to take over the column. He's been here each week ever since delighting us with his astonishing grasp of just about everything musical, his humor and sense of fun. You can read Peter's bio here and find links to all his columns here.

---

Today we come to the pointy end of the Motown hit parade as defined by Mojo magazine. As I said last week, I may not agree with the placement of some songs but I’d probably include all the artists.

So here we have what the magazine thought were the best songs ever to come out of that great record company. Counting down from 10 to 1.

10. THE SUPREMES

As good as this song is, there are others of theirs I’d have included ahead of this one. However, this is Mojo’s choice.

This is a Holland-Dozier-Holland song as are a lot of tunes from this label - those that weren’t written by Smokey Robinson, that is. I know, I already said that in Part 1 but coming up with something new to say about their songs or those of The Supremes is a bit difficult.

I’ll just play Stop! In The Name Of Love.

♫ Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love

9. JIMMY RUFFIN

Jimmy Ruffin was the older brother of David, the great lead singer for The Temptations. Jimmy was originally going to sing lead for the Temps until Berry Gordy heard his brother and the rest is history. I guess Jimmy was destined for a solo career.

The song today is easily his most successful, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.

♫ Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted

8. MARVIN GAYE

Marvin’s wasn’t the first version of this song. It was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and had already been a bit of a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Others also attempted the track – The Temptations, the Isley Brothers and even Smokey and the Miracles. Eventually Marvin’s version caught on and it became a hit.

His is the definitive version, with him wavering between pride and paranoia. A masterpiece. Here is I Heard It Through the Grapevine.

♫ Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine

7. SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES

Now to the song that I would probably have put in first place. The Assistant Musicologist disagrees as she’s not such a big fan of Smokey. “He sings like a girl” (but not like a frog – musical joke to amuse myself).

Smokey Robinson was the second most important person at Motown. He was an executive for the company, a record producer, wrote many songs for others (as well as his own group) and was one of their best singers. Here he is with the Miracles with the great song, The Tracks of My Tears.

♫ Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - The Tracks Of My Tears

6. BARRETT STRONG

Another song The Beatles covered in their early days. Barrett was mostly a songwriter, usually in collaboration with Norman Whitfield. However, he recorded a few songs himself. This one was particularly successful for him as dozens of prominent artists besides The Beatles recorded it. A nice little earner I’d say.

Here is Money (That's What I Want) and how appropriate is that.

♫ Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)

5. STEVIE WONDER

I think I would have included Living for the City or any track from Stevie’s “Innervisions” album. However, this is Mojo’s gig so they have the final say.

This song was recorded round about the same time and is taken from his “Talking Book” album which immediately preceded “Innervisions”. The song, Superstition, was a big hit. That’s Jeff Beck playing guitar as he did on the rest of the album.

♫ Stevie Wonder - Superstition

4. THE TEMPTATIONS

By 1972, various artists were breaking the Motown mold, especially the Temps (but so were Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder). Also, there had been some changes in the group. David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks had both left, as had Paul Williams who, unfortunately, was found to be suffering from sickle-cell anaemia.

These were replaced by Richard Street, Damon Harris and some others who came and went. It didn’t affect the sound of the group though and in this year, that created their magnum opus, Papa Was a Rolling Stone.

This was initially written as a normal length song but with Norman Whitfield producing, they came up with a 12-minute version. This was popular in clubs and discos and a single version of only seven minutes was released and became a huge hit. This is it.

♫ The Temptations - Papa Was a Rolling Stone

3. THE FOUR TOPS

Here we have another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition. It’s different from the type of songs the Tops had previously performed; there’s almost a blues element present in the way Levi Stubbs sings/shouts the words. I also like the rolling gait of the backing.

This is the Tops’ signature tune. Reach Out (I'll Be There).

♫ The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)

2. MARVIN GAYE

After seeing anti-war protesters attacked by police in San Francisco, Marvin, along with Obie Benson of the Four Tops, wrote the song What’s Going On. Berry Gordy didn’t release it initially as he thought there might be a backlash against the company with this one and privately said that it was the worst record he’d ever heard.

Eventually it did see the light of day with no fanfare at all. In spite of that, it sold millions. An album was requested, probably demanded, but Marvin wasn’t returning to the standard Motown sound and recorded it outside the company with no input from anyone at Motown.

Berry hated this one too, however, it’s generally considered one of the finest albums ever recorded. It also produced several million-selling singles. I imagine Berry wasn’t unhappy about that. What’s going on, indeed.

♫ Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

1. MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS

This is one with which the A.M. heartily agrees. She’s not a huge fan of the Motown sound, preferring more blues oriented music, but she surprised me by saying that she’s going to come up with her own Motown Top 10, the ones that should have been there (apart from this track, of course).

That will be coming your way soon. We thought we wouldn’t have three weeks in a row devoted to this single topic.

So, Martha and the Vandellas. Great song. I’d have put it a couple of notches lower, but that’s just me. The song has been covered successfully by a bunch of others, notably the Mamas and the Papas and Mick Jagger and David Bowie.

None of them are anywhere as good as this one. Dancing in the Street.

♫ Martha & the Vandellas - Dancing in the Street

Now, if you disagree with these, don’t blame me, blame Mojo. How’s that for a cop-out?

INTERESTING STUFF: 30 June 2012

KEEPING UP WITH SHIFTING MEDIA CULTURE
The New York Times, this past week launched a Chinese language edition:

Of course, I can't read a word of it (if you don't count the Bloomies ads) but I think it's good to know this exists and you can see it here.

12 ELDER COUCH POTATOES
It's on a public access channel, not network or cable, so few will see this “reality show” on which a dozen Los Angeles elders work to get off the couch and, as the show name states, On the Move to shape up physically.

The program will last only six weeks, so I suppose it will be hard to declare a winner but the reason I'm posting this is because, to me, there is something creepy the the physician/host. See what you think.

You can read more here.

BORN OUT OF HIS TIME
Michael Arenella is a 34-year-old jazz musician and bandleader (the Dreamland Orchestra) from Brooklyn and each summer he hosts a jazz-age lawn part on Governor's Island in New York. No big deal until you learn he is a walking, talking fashion vision of the 1920s and he lives the part year 'round.

"...from shoes both vintage and custom-made. To recreate the jazz age, he not only studies the music of the ’20s and early ’30s but also wears its hats, cuff links and ties...

"He drives the cars, rides the trains (when possible), gets the haircut, plays the horns and sings through the microphones and megaphones (he owns seven) of the period...

"He wears modern clothing only when jogging, “though I do have this fantasy of running the marathon in leather-soled shoes and wool knickers,” he said, laughing."

Take a look:

You can read more about Mr. Arenella here and see more photos of him in a New York Times slide show.

IF YOU DROP YOUR PHONE IN THE TOILET
I don't know who this guy is but he's funny in a lowkey way and for some reason I trust his advice about fixing a mobile phone you've dropped in water:

CENTENARIAN LONESOME GEORGE DIES ALONE
So sad. The tortoise was more than a 100 years old and believed to be the last of his subspecies. Here's the story:

You can read more here.

OFFERED WITHOUT COMMENT
The Vatican has hired Fox News (you know, “fair and balanced”) reporter, Greg Burke, to improve its public relations and, one supposes, pump up its tarnished image. You can read more here and here.

IDENTITY THEFT
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the growing problem of identity theft and now the Federal Trade Commission, which does excellent work in public education, has launched a new identity theft section to its website.

There you will find a lot of useful information including this video (among several others):

There are companion pamphlets on how to prevent identity [pdf], safeguard your children against it [pdf] and what to do if your identity is stolen [pdf]. The website is an excellent resource.

RITA HAYWORTH AND ALL HER DANCE PARTNERS
Nothing like this exists anymore – the kind of gorgeous, choreographed dancing that was commonplace at the movies in our youth. Longtime Elder Storytelling Place contributor, Nancy Leitz, sent this lavish montage of Rita Hayworth doing that beautifully.

HENRI, AGAIN
In an April Interesting Stuff, I included two videos of the charmingly depressed French cat, Henri. Here is a new episode in his life:

---

Interesting Stuff is a weekly listing of short takes and links to web items that have caught my attention; some related to aging and some not, some useful and others just for fun.

You are all encouraged to submit items for inclusion. Just click “Contact” in the upper left corner of any Time Goes By page to send them. I'm sorry that I probably won't have time to acknowledge receipt and there is no guarantee of publication. But when I do include them, you will be credited and I will link to your blog if you have one.

Supreme Court Upholds ACA

The health care law stands. As you undoubtedly know by now, the Supreme Court of the United States in a five-to-four decision yesterday, upheld President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Although it is a giant victory for President Obama and the people of the United States, there are complications. Expansion of Medicaid was rejected and that was a more nuanced decision than I'm prepared to discuss today.

There are many dozens of places online where you can read details, explanations and commentary of the decision, and the full, 193-page decision is posted at the Supreme Court website [pdf].

Most importantly, the individual mandate was upheld but there are questions. It was not under the Commerce Clause that it remains Constitutional, but under Congress's power to tax.

So apparently, if people do not purchase coverage, there is a consequence – a significant tax to be paid. However, there is no penalty for not paying the tax. Or maybe there is. News reports I saw and heard on that point conflict with one another and I haven't had time to follow up yet.

For elders, all our gains from the health care act continue: free, annual, wellness examinations and free or low-cost health screenings such as mammograms, bone-density measurements, diabetes, HIV and obesity screenings among others.

The doughnut hole in the prescription drug plan (Part D) will continue to gradually close and Medicare Advantage plans cannot charge more for chemotherapy, dialysis and some other procedures than allowed under Medicare Parts A and B.

According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), the solvency of Medicare has been extended eight years thanks to this legislation.

One provision I like a lot in today's awful economy is that parents can continue to carry their children under age 26 - more than three million of them - on their health insurance policies. That, of course, continues too.

The Affordable Care Act is nowhere near perfect. I believe a better way to go is single payer, Medicare for All or something similar and I do believe it will be necessary in the future to move in that direction. But now, with this Court decision, that will not happen while I still walk the Earth and this is best we've got. It's better than what the Republicans prefer.

Because I was out of the house most of Thursday with meetings and other obligations, I haven't yet had much opportunity to think about the Court's decision and write anything useful or informative. So I am leaving that in your capable hands today.

What was your reaction to the decision? What did you learn or take away from any of the reporting and commentary? What about the Republican threat to repeal the ACA - is that just defeat bluster or will they try to do it?

What's your take on Justice John Roberts' left-leaning decision and does it signal a change in his future deliberations? How will this decision change healthcare in the U.S. overall? What kind of effect will it have on the presidential election campaign?

Oh, and you might want to comment too on yesterday's nasty bit of business in the House of Representatives instigated by Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) voting to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt over - well, nothing. I was mildly cheered to read that a whole bunch of Democrats walked out rather than dignify the proceeding with their votes.

I'm curious and eager to hear from you all and to read your back-and-forth on this.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Terry Hamburg: Passing Through Puberty

Summer Heat Warnings

HOUSEKEEPING NOTE: Lately, quite a few emails I send – even, occasionally, to people with whom I regularly correspond – have been returned to me as undeliverable. This has also happened several times for contributors to The Elder Storytelling Place when I was trying to notify them of story publication dates.

I apologize for the problem. I'm working on it. It's taking time. Be assured that if what you've emailed requires a response, I'm not deliberately ignoring you.

---

It's that time of year again – hot, hot, hot weather – and we elders need to remind ourselves that our bodies do not tolerate high temperatures as easily as when we were young. It can, in some cases, be deadly for us: each summer in the U.S., there are about 370 heat-related deaths, half of them elders.

One reason is that as we age, our body temperature regulators go a bit wonky. We might not sweat as much as in years past and might not feel thirst when our bodies need liquid. So remind yourself to drink plenty of water during hot weather. If your urine is dark, you're not getting enough liquids.

Here are some other tips:

• Do not drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages; they are dehydrating.


• Wear light-colored, loose clothing.


• Heat waves are not the time to skimp on the electric bill. Turn up the air conditioning when you need it.


• If you do not have air conditioning, find out the locations of your city's cooling centers. Hundreds of cities use school gyms and other large gathering places to help people cool down during the worst of the day's heat.


• You could also go the movies, the mall or visit a friend who has air conditioning during the afternoon.


• If you have air conditioning, consider inviting a friend who does not to visit you for a couple of hours.


• If you must be out and about during a heat wave, do your errands in the early morning. Schedule appointments before the worst heat of the day.


• Eat light meals that do not need cooking. High-water-content foods like cantaloupe, watermelon, apples and other fruits are good.


• Keep window shades and curtains lowered during the heat of the day.


• Some medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions can inhibit the body's ability to cool itself. If your area is experiencing a prolonged heat wave, perhaps ask your physician if you can forgo or reduce the amount of those medications for the duration.

There are two heat-related conditions that are serious and you should know the symptoms:

HEAT EXHAUSTION occurs when the body gets too hot. Symptoms are thirst, weakness, dizziness, profuse sweating, cold and clammy skin, normal or slightly elevated body temperature.

Move yourself or someone experiencing this to a cool place, drink cool liquids, take a cool bath or shower and rest.

HEAT STROKE is a medical emergency. It can cause brain damage so get thee or the affected person to a hospital. It occurs when body temperature reaches 104 or 105 in a matter of minutes.

Other symptoms include confusion; faintness; strong, rapid pulse; lack of sweating and bizarre behavior. Don't fool around with this.

---

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Claire Jean: Age Fixing