The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, Gail S. Ennis, is designating Thursday, March 5, 2020 as National “Slam the Scam” Day, to raise public awareness of government imposter telephone scams across the United States.
These pervasive scams—in which callers pretend to be government employees to mislead victims into providing personal information or making payments—have become a scourge on the American public. The Federal Trade Commission recently reported victims lost nearly $153 million to government imposter scams in just fiscal year 2019. Social Security-related scams in particular have skyrocketed over the past year to become the #1 type of consumer fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration.
To combat these scams, the Social Security Administration and its OIG have undertaken a public outreach campaign to educate the public so they will know how to identify these scam calls. We want the public to know SSA will never:
* Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended, or offer to increase your benefits or resolve an identity theft issue for a fee.
* Call to threaten you with arrest or legal action if you do not immediately pay a debt, fine, or fee.
* Request immediate payment via gift cards, cash, wire transfers, or internet currency like Bitcoin.
* Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem, or tell you to make up a story to tell your friends, family, or store/bank employees.
Social Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is engaging other Federal agencies and the private sector to promote a National “Slam the Scam Day” as a National Consumer Protection Week initiative. On March 5, we plan to participate in a USA.gov-hosted Twitter chat, and a Facebook Live event at Social Security. We want to warnallAmericans to hang up on all government imposters, and ask them to spread the word to family and friends.
“Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers,” said Inspector General Ennis. “Tell your friends and family about these scams and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls.”
We encourage the public to report Social Security scams online at https://oig.ssa.gov. IRS imposter scams can be reported to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and other government imposter scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
Look for us on Facebook and Twitter for updates about National “Slam the Scam” Day events. For questions or interview requests, email oig.dcom@ssa.gov or call (410) 965-2671.
Please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/scam for more information

EMSA and INTEGRIS Health have partnered to develop a one-of-a-kind specialty care transport ambulance. On Monday, this unit, designated “ECMO 1”, will join the EMSA system.
INTEGRIS Health is proud to be the home of a world class ECMO program that offers lifesaving therapies to patients facing imminent death. INTEGRIS is the first in the state to establish a specialized life support program solely devoted to adult patients suffering from heart or lung failure. The program uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, commonly abbreviated as ECMO, as an advanced lifesaving therapy. Since inception of the INTEGRIS ECMO program in 2014, the INTEGRIS team has served over 500 patients with this technology. INTEGRIS’ ECMO team is made up of talented doctors, nurses, perfusionists, and respiratory therapists, who are expertly trained in the field of ECMO and advanced critical care. The INTEGRIS ECMO team is available to serve those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
ECMO provides support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function; perhaps after a heart attack, cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, near drowning or lung-related issues such as flu or pneumonia. The goal is to allow the heart or lungs to rest and recover while the machine does all the work. When the heart or the lungs have healed and can work on their own, the lifesaving support of the ECMO artificial heart/lung machine is weaned then removed.
INTEGRIS Critical Care ECMO team in conjunction with EMSA provides the highest level of complex care in the state. Outside of ECMO transfers, the INTEGRIS and EMSA teams have the capability of transporting patients who require advanced management of ventilator support, IV medications, and cardiac assist devices including intraaortic balloons pumps, impella devices, and LVAD pumps. The expertise of this team allows for safe inter-hospital transfers, so patients can receive the one of a kind care only INTEGRIS can provide.
Previously only done in a hospital setting, technological advances have allowed ECMO to move into ambulances. Together with EMSA, the INTEGRIS ECMO team stands ready to be there anytime, anywhere, for anyone in need of this life-saving care.
EMSA’s ECMO unit specifications were designed in collaboration with the INTEGRIS Health ECMO Team. Special attention was paid to the layout of the ambulance to make sure the patient could receive the critical clinical care needed, could comfortably and safely transport up to five ECMO Team Members in addition to the patient during long distance transports. Additionally, the larger ambulance also has the capacity to carry more oxygen and other medical gasses that are needed for ECMO patients.
When not assigned to ECMO transports, this unit will serve as one of EMSA’s bariatric ambulances for the Oklahoma City area ensuring this unit is able to serve several key roles in the EMSA system.

Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of legal documents do I need to prepare to help my family after I’m gone? I would like to get my affairs in order but could use some help.  Almost 75

Dear Almost,
All adults – especially seniors – should have at least four essential legal documents to protect yourself and your family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them.
Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you to name guardians if you have dependent children.
In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy.
Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial matters if you become incapacitated.
Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” (or health care proxy), which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable.
You should also consider making a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, since advanced directives do little to protect you from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create a DNR, ask your doctor to fill out a state appropriate form and sign it.
Do-It-Yourself
If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for very little money. Some options to consider include Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2020 software (available at Nolo.com) that costs $90 and works with Windows and Macs and is valid in every state except Louisiana. And LegalZoom.com, which offers an estate plan with professional legal guidance with an independent attorney for $179.
Get Help
If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, that can run anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see www.FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Leah Campbell remembers the day she lost her vision. She was a sixth grader, in her bedroom one morning in Altus, when she heard her mother walk in.
“Will you please turn on the lights?” Leah, then 11, asked.
“They are on,” said her mother.
It would take 17 years before Leah and her family would learn what had caused her blindness.
In that time, the little-known disease that took her eyesight would also rob her of her mobility, leaving her confined to a wheelchair.
Neuromyelitis optica, or NMO, occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the spinal cord, optic nerves and, in severe cases, the brain. The illness affects about 4,000 Americans, 80 percent of whom are women. Over time, patients typically develop blindness, muscle weakness and paralysis.
“NMO was initially considered a subset of multiple sclerosis and is so similar to MS that it often gets misdiagnosed,” said Bob Axtell, Ph.D., a scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation who holds a pair of grants from the National Institutes of Health to study the rare disease. “This can be devastating for patients.”
That was the case for Leah. For years, doctors treated her with a common MS medication called interferon beta-1a, or Rebif. But not only does this medication fail to help NMO patients; it actually worsens their conditions.
It wasn’t until 2006, years after Leah had become the first blind graduate of Rhodes College in Tennessee, that scientists developed a definitive test for NMO. The test revealed that she suffered from the disease, and her physician, Gabriel Pardo, M.D., immediately took her off the drug. Instead, he began treating her with rituximab, an immune-suppressing monoclonal antibody known to control NMO disease activity.
While rituximab is not a cure for the underlying condition, in the 13-plus years Leah has been taking the medication, she’s been free of the sudden, violent attacks that had plagued her life until that point.
“Her right side was fine, but on the left, she would sort of vibrate,” said Leah’s mother, Theresa. “Her foot would turn in, her leg would draw up tight, and her hand would clench. Her whole ribcage would spasm uncontrollably.”
Before rituximab, Leah would sometimes experience 40 to 50 of these episodes a day. Since going on the drug, said Pardo, “her disease activity has been fully controlled.”
Still, the disease had already run wild in Leah’s body for the better part of two decades. “She has deficits that date to before she was a teenager,” said Pardo, a neuro-ophthalmologist who treats Leah at OMRF’s Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence, where he serves as director. “The blindness, the paralysis – unfortunately, those are things we can’t reverse.”
Today, at the age of 41, Leah is confined to a wheelchair and lives with her parents in Mustang. She requires regular care at OMRF, as she is at constant risk for fractures, skin ulcers, and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Still, each week, with her parents’ help, Leah also attends aquatic and equine therapy sessions and a Bible study class. This past summer, she started a new job with a company that provides voice-activated smart controls for operating lights, locks, thermostats and other home systems.
She’s particularly excited about her new service dog, a chocolate lab named Seaclaid (Gaelic for chocolate) her parents are training to help her become more independent.
Despite the hurdles she faces, Leah remains optimistic about her future. “I’m just a positive thinker. My cup’s always half-full,” she said.
For OMRF researcher Axtell, patients like Leah drive his search for answers. “The more we understand about NMO,” he said, “the better the outlook will be for people struggling with this horrible condition.”

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

When one becomes a senior in age and experience, there comes a knowledge of what works for you and what doesn’t, which influences your choices for entertainment and travel. Recently returning from my first cruise of the new decade of 2020, I’ll share some reflections that might prove beneficial to fellow seniors. To add to my professional travel writer credentials, I was not given any special monetary discounts for my editorial evaluations.
As you recall from my Senior News and Living January edition, “To Cruise or Not to Cruise” (https://okveterannews.com/020215/travel-entertainment-to-cruise-or-not-to-cruise/), there were a number of choices one must make when booking a cruise, as it pertains to individual preferences. Even with the convenience of online booking, there is an educational learning time needed as to how each cruise line sets up their own online booking arrangements.
I found the Celebrity online website a bit daunting at first, but after using it first in September of 2019, and becoming familiar with its style, it is a fast and convenient way to book a cruise, with a down payment to reserve your choices. Of course if educating yourself with online booking is not your thing, you might set up a relationship by phone to help you out with many questions that might arise. When I started my booking it was during a bad weather period as some offices were shut down due to the September Hurricanes. With long wait times on the phone, this was not my preferred booking option.
On a peraonl note I chose the Celebrity Equinox Cruise ship as I had a college friend that was employed in their theatrical cast. This gave me a primal interest in the Equinox, so that I might not only enjoy the lux life of cruising the Caribbean but share in the talents of a friend, with his theatrical performances.
With that decision made, and the best specific January dates needed, I got serious as to cabin location and class. Here again many choices and many price levels. With past cruise experiences with upscale lines such as Regent and Royal Viking, I found paying a few hundred dollars more for a high class cabin is a good investment. I discovered Celebrity has an Aqua Class which is just a step down from their top tier of cabins in the suite category. Aqua Class offers the advantage of special boarding and departing options, no extra charge room service, which is so comforting when you are not up to going to one of the many dining options. It is convenient for your time and energy restraints, and Aqua class also offers other exclusive dining options.
Aqua class offers the dining option of the exclusive Blu Dining room with excellent service, gourmet food options and an elegant atmosphere. The only draw back is that it is first come first serve with no reservations, so picking an off peak dining time is recommended.
Other specialty dining options, with an up charge of from $30 to $40 above your cruise charge, includes: Italian, a continental, steak and sushi dining options. Timed reservation are taken there, which can adjust to your own schedule. When booking you are asked if you want early or late dining seating at the all ship option of the silhouette dining room where the menu changes each night. Luncheon options are also available in other venues which I will describe in more detail next month in part two.
You can explore and reserve and pay for shore excursions on line. The pre cruise online shore excursions are very limited, so you might wait on all your choices until you board where an extensive list of on shore tours are offered and can be paid for at the guest services desk several decks below your cabin level. Prepaid tours and dining options are non refundable.
Another choice to be made is your Beverage Package. It’s an economical no worry way to prepay your beverages. You probably already know if you want upscale wines and spirits, or if ordinary brand spirits and wines are more to your liking, or if you only want a soft drink package. This prepaid option goes along with your mandatory gratuity charges, which also can be prepaid so there is no shock at the end of the cruise with your bill, which is billed to the credit card you signed on with. A few days after returning home you will receive an email with an itemized list of your on board charges. I find this most helpful and eases any idea of undue charges. I found no undue charges in my bill. Celebrity is interested in how you evaluate your cruise and sends you a survey. Be sure and be honest for praises and short comings. I did.
Of course with the uncertainty of travel relating to weather and airline delays, you should consider arriving at your port of call city the day before the start of your cruise. An inexpensive hotel in the area is a good insurance policy against ‘missing the boat.’ Celebrity also offers their own travel insurance if you feel the need for health reasons. Requesting a wheel chair for getting on and off the ship is also offered and I recommend such, as there is a long walk up and down the gang way.
Next month I’ll explore my dining and activity and tour options. Feel free to check out the Celebrity website to explore the many ships and destinations Celebrity offers: (www.celebritycruises.com) or call 1-888-751-7804

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
https://realtraveladventures.com/?s=terry+zinn
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www.martinitravels.com

https://legendseniorliving.com/

Themed Event to Celebrate “Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip”

HarborChase of South Oklahoma, a new luxury senior living community, is hosting “Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip” from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday, March 12. In honor of the community’s grand opening, the event will feature live entertainment, community tours, cocktails, chef-prepared cuisine and a celebration of the iconic sights of Route 66. HarborChase of South Oklahoma City is managed by Harbor Retirement Associates (HRA), a regional senior living development and management company based in Vero Beach, Florida.

“We’re very excited to host this Grand Opening Celebration as we formally open the doors to HarborChase of South Oklahoma,” said Willie Ferguson, Executive Director of HarborChase of South Oklahoma City. “This is truly going to be an evening to remember for our friends, associates, residents and family members. This festive event will pay homage to the beloved and iconic ‘Mother Road.’ We look forward to introducing new friends to the unsurpassed hospitality and luxurious amenities of HarborChase.”

During the event, HarborChase of South Oklahoma City will host community walking tours of its grounds and amenities. The celebration will feature live entertainment and a variety of themed food and beverage stations, each one celebrating one of Route 66’s iconic sights or exits. Guests will have an opportunity to win prizes with a series of prize drawings. Space is limited. For more information or to RSVP, call (405) 259-2309.

Located at 10801 South May Avenue, HarborChase features 24-hour staff, supportive services, scheduled transportation daily, housekeeping service, concierge services and the exclusive Chef’s Fare Dining program with customized dining experiences in multiple restaurants. It also includes HarborChase’s signature Life Enrichment program, designed to provide social, devotional, fitness and recreational opportunities that have a positive impact on residents.

For more information on HarborChase of South Oklahoma City, visit www.HarborChase.com.

I love gardening and flowers. My front flower bed at my house I thought was pretty nice. Elaine Rowton

The biggest thing I like is the appearance of life and I love seeing everything growing and blooming. Ruby White

It’s silly but spring is my favorite time of year because I do wild turkey hunting. Dave Childress

The beautiful weather with all the flowers and trees turning green and children out playing and enjoying themselves. Pearline Childress

by Nick Thomas

When Universal Pictures assembled the cast of the popular TV series “The Munsters” for the big screen adaption in the 1966 film “Munster, Go Home!” another actress replaced Pat Priest as Marilyn Munster.
“I was devastated not to be in the film,” said Priest from her home near Boise, Idaho. “We were on the set filming the end of the season and the producers sent one of their guys down to tell me. I was 29 and my contract was up for renewal, so I think they wanted a younger actress and didn’t want to pay me more.”
Priest says fellow cast members Fred Gwynne (Herman Munster) and Al Lewis (Grandpa) “went to bat for me” but “that’s just the way it goes in this business.”
While her role throughout “The Munsters” series was often small, Priest has always been upbeat about the experience.
“Occasionally, there was a show built around me, but I usually didn’t have a lot of lines and I just accepted that,” she said. “On a positive note, I could learn my three or four lines on the freeway on my way to the studio!”
Nevertheless, Priest still has fond memories of working on the show, although there was a brief early encounter with Yvonne De Carlo (Lily Munster).
“She was a major movie star from the 40s and 50s,” explained Priest. “My first day on the set the two of us were in a scene together and the director asked me to move forward into the light.
Yvonne turned to me and said, ‘Let’s get something straight right now young lady, don’t you ever upstage me.’ Man, I jumped back and didn’t care if I spent the rest of the series in the dark! However, we eventually got along well and often had lunch together. But Fred and Al would always tease her about being a diva.”
Gwynne and Lewis had previously starred in “Car 54, Where Are You?” and Priest says it was clear that the pair had on-screen chemistry.
“They played off one another so beautifully, were best friends, and their families were all very close,” she said. “But interestingly, while the rest of us would later meet at TV conventions and autograph shows, Fred didn’t want anything to do with ‘The Munsters.’ He preferred to be known as a fine actor, not just identified with the Munster character, and would never sign autographs or be interviewed about the show. He wouldn’t even stand beside Al to have his picture taken even though they remained good friends.”
After “The Munsters,” Priest continued in commercials and took on mostly small acting roles, but she looks back on her acting career as a wonderful experience.
“I’ve done everything I wanted to do and gone everywhere I wanted to go,” she said. “I’m 83 now and whatever happens in the future is all just pluses.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 750 newspapers and magazines.

https://www.safesolutionswalkintubs.com/

Project funded by nearly $5 million in donations

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital recently announced the opening of a newly expanded area designed to enhance exceptional care for cancer patients. The opening of the newest addition to the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute was commemorated in a blessing ceremony on Friday, February 14.
The expansion of the Institute was necessary to respond to the growing number of patients needing cancer care at St. Anthony Hospital. With the opening of the new clinical space, the Institute more than doubles its size to nearly 16,000 square feet. The cancer program moved from its former location on the ground floor to a spacious third floor space with natural lighting and many amenities conducive to healing and comfort.
“We are pleased to expand the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute to enhance the exceptional care and comfort for our patients and their families,” stated Tammy Powell, President, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital. “The project was made possible by generous donations to the SSM Health St. Anthony Foundation from The Chickasaw Nation, the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation, the Tom and Judy Love Family, physicians, employees, board members, volunteers, patients, individuals, businesses and Foundations.”
Foundation Board members Mike Milligan and Jamie Farha, along with Dr. Thy Nguyen, Section Chair of Oncology, led the philanthropy efforts to fund the expansion. The Institute’s team of medical oncologists Dr. Michael Bowen, Dr. Thy Nguyen, Dr. David Lam and Dr. Todd Kliewer were actively involved in all aspects of the design of the expanded space, being mindful of the overall experience of both patients and staff. The physician offices will be adjacent to a chemotherapy infusion area for patient comfort and convenience.
The space features updated finishes that extend beyond the clinical space into the four-story atrium. REES Architecture & Design served as the architecture firm for the project, and Waldrop Construction was the general contractor. The atrium acts as a physical connection between the various floors that make up the Institute. A refreshing palette of bright whites and creams is contrasted by rich navy blue. Crisp wood tones and dramatic lighting are evident throughout the space. Beyond the aesthetics, the space was carefully planned to focus on the needs of patients and their families seeking treatment, as well as the staff dedicated to their care.
For more information about the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute or for a physician referral, call 405-231-8866.