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Free programs for seniors at local libraries

December 2, 2011 By Judith Eugene

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library offers several free programs to help area seniors stay active and informed. Senior Spot, held every Wednesday at the University Heights Library, offers a variety of classes. Upcoming topics include the “University Circle Arts District” and “New Year Traditions around the World.” Senior Spot also offers a book discussion group, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Whole Foods Market.

A new book discussion group, begun in September, meets at the Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center on the first Thursday of each month. CH-UH librarians drop off copies of each month’s selection at the center two weeks prior to the meeting and then lead the discussions.

The University Heights Library hosts an informative lecture series for seniors on Thursday afternoons, sponsored by the University Heights Senior Adult Network. Lectures are presented on a broad range of subjects, including nature conservation, public television, and local government. The schedule for December is located on page 5 of the December print issue of the Heights Observer.

Other classes of interest to seniors include Getting Started with Medicare, on February 21 at the Coventry Library; Knitting Night, every other Tuesday at Lee Road; Noble Knitting Circle, every other Thursday at the Noble Neighborhood Library; and several introductory computer classes at Lee Road.

In addition to offering discussion groups and classes, the library also tries to provide easier access to reading for seniors. The Lee Road Library placed its large-print book section near the parking lot entrance, making the books more accessible.

The library’s Adult Outreach offers home delivery for seniors who cannot get to the library. Seniors can call the library to order books, which are then delivered by UPS free of charge. The service also delivers books on the third Wednesday of each month to Musicians Towers, Severance Tower, Judson Park, and The Homewood Residence at Rockefeller Gardens.

For more information on programs for seniors, call the Lee Road Library at 216-932-3600.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Filed Under: Blog

Helping Senior Adults Plan for the Future

September 5, 2011 By Judith Eugene

Seniors who are facing changes in their health and mental abilities face several important legal and financial decisions.

They need to let their families know what their healthcare and housing wishes are. They need to plan how to protect their savings and other assets as the cost of their care increases. They need legal strategies to make sure their estate does not get taxed more than it needs to. And they need to appoint a responsible spokesperson to act on their behalf if they become no longer able to do so themselves.

While these decisions can certainly be made with the help of friends, books and Internet forms, it’s also a good idea to consider talking with an eldercare attorney. An eldercare attorney listens to you and your wishes, and helps you think of things you may not have thought of on your own. For example, Beachwood elder law attorney Todd Bartimole advises clients to add a “residuary clause” to their will to cover those things you may have forgotten or things that you acquire after the will is written. An Internet form may not include this.

Eldercare attorneys can help you organize your assets to help you qualify for Medicare and VA benefits. They also help clear up misconceptions about the qualification rules, something friends or books may not be able to do. Beachwood elder law attorney Rachel Kabb said that many people do not realize they can qualify for these benefits even if they have savings.

Many people hesitate to go to an attorney because they think it will be very expensive. In fact, an eldercare attorney can help you create a Last Will and Testament for $100-$250. And they can help you create a complete legal paperwork package for around $300, including a Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney and HIPAA release. It is much less expensive to pay an attorney to put these documents in place now than it is for your family to pay legal fees trying to figure out your wishes later.

Many people also hesitate to go to an attorney because they think the attorney will not really listen to them, and may try to convince them to do something they do not really want to do. These are very valid fears. Most eldercare attorneys are good, honest people, but you should do some research before hiring anyone. You should find an attorney who has been in business for a long time, and who practices elder law as a large percentage of their business (many lawyers practice more than one kind of law). You should call references from previous clients. And it is also a good idea to meet with two or three attorneys before deciding. Said Kabb, “You want to find someone that you feel comfortable with, and that really listens to you.”

One thing all eldercare professionals agree on is that these types of decisions need to be made early, while you are still able to voice your opinion. If you do not spell out your wishes, your family has to guess or the court has to decide. “These documents help you say from paper what you can no longer say yourself,” Bartimole said.

Finding an attorney you trust to help you get your affairs in order can make things much easier on your family later.

Click here to read the full article in the Cleveland Heights Patch.

Filed Under: Blog

96-Year-Old Woman Recalls Life in Early 20th Century Cleveland

August 16, 2011 By Judith Eugene

62d72347f9df058af8c4176361e2b787Elizabeth Rhines has an amazing memory.

Born in 1915, she can still remember in vivid detail the Cleveland neighborhood where she grew up. Rhines has been traveling down memory lane quite a bit lately, writing her memoir for a class at the Cleveland Heights Senior Center. Her childhood memories provide a very interesting snapshot of life in Cleveland in the early part of the 20th century.

Rhines, now 96 years old, was born in a house near the Farmers Market. At that time the market was at East 120th Street and Superior Avenue.

She remembers waking every morning to the sound of roosters crowing, and the clattering of horse-drawn wagons bringing food to the market. Because there were very few automobiles in those days, the produce was all locally grown and in season. Mothers would bring the food home from the market in their childrens’ wooden wagons.

“Children were never given the chance to be bored back then,” Rhines said. “We were always given chores to do.”

Girls helped their mothers clean the house, beat the rugs and wash the windows. Boys were required to sell newspapers. Back then Cleveland had three different newspapers, and they were published several times per day.

“There were paper boys at almost every intersection,” she remembers. “And sometimes on all four corners.”

Rhines recalls winter in Cleveland as being a fun time for children. The city did not have snow plows, so many streets would remain snow-covered all winter. The area of East 120thStreet between Superior and Beulah Avenues was a winter playground, where children would take their sleds and toboggans, she said. After the snow finally melted in the spring, the city would fix the potholes with hot tar carried in horse-drawn wagons.

Going to the park was a common pastime for Cleveland families in the early 20th century. Gordon Park, which still exists today, was a popular place to go. With a beautiful lake view, ballfields and picnic areas, the park provided an entire day’s worth of entertainment.

The Rhines family, like most families at the time, did not own an automobile.  They took the East 79th Street streetcar to the end of the line to get to the park.

Luna Park, at East 110th Street and Woodland Avenue, was also a popular destination for Cleveland families of the time.  The amusement park sat on top of a large hill. The area was all countryside and farmland back then, so Rhines remembers it being a big excursion to get to the park. There were many different kinds of rides, a large monkey exhibit and a dance hall where national Jitterbug and Charleston contests were held.

Rhines, who has lived in Cleveland all of her life, has been a resident of Cleveland Heights for the past 12 years.  Like most of the other students in her class at the Senior Center, writing a memoir is something she has been thinking about doing for years.

But, like most, she didn’t think her life was interesting enough to write about.

“I’m very excited to learn that it’s really worthwhile to write this down, and that people are really interested to hear it,” Rhines said.

She couldn’t be more correct.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Filed Under: Blog

The story of a lifetime–writing your personal legacy

August 9, 2011 By Judith Eugene

Memoir Writing Class at Cleveland Heights Senior Center
Memoir Writing Class at Cleveland Heights Senior Center
Memoir Writing Class at Cleveland Heights Senior Center

Everyone has a valuable story to tell. The experiences, accomplishments, and lessons we have learned throughout our lives are unique. Recording your life story is a way for your loved ones to learn more about who you are and what is important to you. It is also therapeutic to reflect on your life’s progress, and to analyze what you have accomplished and what you would still like to accomplish.

Whether you decide to write as a gift to others, or simply as an exercise in personal reflection, there are many ways to record your personal legacy. Autobiographies, family histories, ethical wills, and memoirs are four common formats your story can take. Deciding on a format is a matter of personal preference, and depends on how much material you want to include, how much time you have to write, and your desired deadline for finishing.

Autobiographies are overviews of your entire life written in chronological order, beginning with your earliest memory and concluding with the present. Family histories are similar to autobiographies, and include autobiographies of other family members as well as yours. Ethical wills are descriptions of your beliefs, ethics, values and insights. They describe why you are who you are, and are illustrated with stories from your life. Memoirs are a blend of autobiographies and ethical wills. They combine factual accounts with thoughts and feelings. Unlike autobiographies, when writing ethical wills or memoirs you can decide which parts of your life you want to include and which parts you want to omit.

Many people are hesitant to write their personal legacies because they are not experienced writers. In truth, anyone can write a legacy. Unlike professional publications that take certain formats and engage the reader in certain ways, legacies can take any format you wish and be written in whatever style suits you. The best format is one that follows your natural speaking style, because then it is truly an expression of yourself.

Before you begin to write your legacy, you need to gather your ideas. Make a list of the people, events, or thoughts you want to include. This can take place over several weeks to several months. Keep a notebook or a journal with you so that you can record an idea whenever occurs. When you have finished gathering your ideas, group them into logical chapter titles. Then organize your chapter titles into a logical sequence, or outline.

Once you begin to write, you don’t need to write your chapters in order. Start with whichever chapter naturally calls to you. You may choose to write by hand, type on the computer, or write by hand and have someone else type it for you. Another option is computer software that automatically types when you speak into a microphone. Whatever format you choose, you may also wish to include photos, letters, newspaper articles, or family trees to help illustrate your story.

When you are finished writing it is a good idea to have a professional writer, editor, or a friend who is good at writing look over your work. It is often hard to detach from what you are writing and see it from an unbiased point of view. Your editor can verify whether your organization makes sense and whether you have gotten your ideas across clearly. He or she can also help with grammar and spelling, if you need it.

There are several options for publishing your legacy once it is finished. You can make simple stapled photocopies, take it to an office supply store and have it bound, or make professional-looking hardcover books online. Whatever format your legacy takes, it will be a unique gift to share with friends and family, and will surely be treasured for years to come.

 

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Filed Under: Blog

Heights offers many referral services for senior adults

July 4, 2011 By Judith Eugene

Mike Cosmo, Senior Comfort Guide Vice President (left), talks with a client about thier services (photo courtesy Senior Comfort Guide)
Mike Cosmo, Senior Comfort Guide Vice President (left), talks with a client about thier services (photo courtesy Senior Comfort Guide)
Mike Cosmo, Senior Comfort Guide Vice President (left), talks with a client about thier services (photo courtesy Senior Comfort Guide)

Many families feel confused, pressured, and frustrated when it comes to deciding how best to care for an aging parent who is becoming more dependent. There are many questions that need to be answered: How will we make the time? How do we decide between home care and assisted living? How do we know when a parent has dementia or Alzheimer’s? What legal and financial issues do we need to be concerned about?

Fortunately, Heights-area families have local resources to help with such difficult issues. One is the Cleveland Heights Office On Aging (216-691-7377), which employs two social workers. “We are an information and referral service that directs families to the apprpriate resources, based on the needs of the individual and the family,” said social worker Cathy Katz. Recommendations cover such issues as home healthcare, housing, legal issues, finances, meal assistance and home repair assistance.

The Senior Comfort Guide (www.seniorcomfortguide.com), founded in Beachwood, is an online guide to help families compare available options. Its extensive list of housing, home healthcare, day care, counseling, and providers of other services enables families to compare the features and benefits of each without having to make individual visits. “This is especially helpful for busy working families, and families that live out of town,” said Max Compton, ipresident o the guide. Families can search the database by city or zip code, and do not need to enter any personal information in order to use the website.

For people seeking more than resource referrals, Eldercare Coaching is a new service available to families. Kelsey Loushin, president of Eldercare Professionals of Ohio (440-212-4987), helps families navigate the maze of senior adult agencies, businesses, hospitals and living communities to come up with an actual plan for care.

Loushin gathers information about the senior’s physical and mental medical history, living situation, and the family’s short- and long-term goals. She then develops a plan to help the family take the most appropriate action. “Families get a tremendous amount of relief and hope when they realize they’re not alone,” said Loushin.

Other local referral services include First Call For Help (211 on the phone or www.211.org), a telephone hotline operated by The United Way. The Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services  (216-420-6750), located downtown, operates several senior programs. The Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (216-621-0303) publishes a comprehensive guidebook, The Older Adults Resource Guide.

The most important advice that all of these services offer is the recommendation to start research early. “Most eldercare decisions are crisis driven,” Loushin said. “It’s an emotional time, and it’s easy to make a wrong decision.”

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Filed Under: Blog

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Welcome to The Loving Hands Group

We are a collaboration of professional artists and holistic healing arts practitioners who teach a unique selection of educational and life-enriching classes, activities and therapies.

We serve senior adults, people of any age with disabilities, and their caregivers. We work with them individually or in groups, bringing our programs directly to them wherever they live, work or play throughout the northern Ohio area. We also provide community-integrated activities for people of all ages and abilities. Through video platforms we are also able to serve individuals and groups worldwide.

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The Loving Hands Group

2959 Hampshire Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

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