Story by Darl Devault, Feature Writer

For seniors trying to make a decisive quality of life recovery from pandemic restrictions booking outdoor experiences now is critical because pent-up demand will create a scarcity at premium destinations.
Seniors got to their vaccines first. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions more Americans will be getting outside. This may mean seniors need to act quickly in planning a vacation. (story continues below)

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Going to the Colorado high country in the summer is often on the minds of senior citizens. One of the most memorable experiences available there is taking the narrow-gauge steam locomotive sight-seeing train journey from Durango to Silverton. After a two-hour layover so visitors can eat, it returns to Durango through the scenic San Juan National Forest.
“I rode the train last year under full COVID-19 protocols where it only went halfway to Silverton. It was still a great experience,” said Larry Floyd, 68. The adjunct U.S. history teacher at OSU-OKC said, “This year going all the way on up to Silverton to spend two hours in the historic mining town and coming back would be a great bonus.”
“I also recommend driving up to Silverton to tour the wonderful mining town museum. The jail in the museum really gives you an idea of how bleak jail was at the turn of the last century. Also, only five miles out of Silverton is the Old Hundred Gold Mine tour. You find out what it was like to work underground in search of gold.”
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad also provides visitors an all-inclusive full day of Silverton’s historic mining town highlights. A bus takes visitors to Silverton in the morning. They return in the afternoon on the train.
Riding the D&SNG for three hours and 40 minutes each way at 12 miles an hour is one of the most unique vacation experiences in America. The trains travel at slow speeds along the mountain cliffs due to many sharp turns. The track takes the trains 400 feet above the Animas River amidst steep mountain scenery.
The coal-fired, steam-operated locomotives are 1923-25 vintage. The train offers four classes of service, from a historic private car, first class, recently refurbished deluxe class, to a seat in vintage coach seating or open-air gondola car.
The coaches each feature bathroom facilities as both enclosed and open gondola cars allow a panoramic view of the mountains.
Concessions are available on every train.
A National Historic Landmark and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the railway has been ranked in the top 10 railroad journeys in the nation for many years.
The railway features a 12,000-square foot free railroad museum in Durango near the ticket office matching its historic status. Besides many vintage exhibits, it features an 800-square-foot model railroad.
Last year for the first time in 138 years the train did not make it to Silverton, elevation 9,318 feet. The normal cadre of 159,000 tourists were denied a 45-mile full trip last summer on the 36-inch-wide rails.
The 2021 summer schedule will be released in early March. Seniors should book their tickets while these high-demand reservations are available. This is especially important to seniors who plan for the weekends where a 10 percent senior discount is offered if they book online.
Highway 550 between Durango, Silverton, and Ouray is known locally as the Million Dollar Highway. Some say it is because of the amount of gold ore many thinks is still in the roadway’s fill. Others say the name comes from the priceless views it provides of the San Juan National Forest and the highway’s actual cost through the rugged terrain. It features steep and twisting canyon-clinging roadway through the towering mountains.
From Durango the highway featuring steep drop-offs without guardrails climbs over Coal Bank Pass at 10,660 feet, and Molas Pass at 10,899 feet. Two campgrounds are nearby before the highway descends into Silverton.
Beyond Silverton on 550, drivers climb Red Mountain Pass, at 11,075 feet and descend the steep canyon walls of Uncompahgre Gorge into Ouray. Ouray, featuring a large outdoor natural hot spring, is known as the “Little Switzerland of America.” Bathers at the springs are treated to picturesque mountain views.
One way to see the historic train on its way to and from Silverton each day is to camp at the Durango North Riverside KOA, a convenient 15 minutes north of Durango. Campers can watch the train from their campsites along the gentle Animas river among Ponderosa Pines.
The KOA offers RV sites, lodging and tent sites. If tent camping, campers want a site next to the river where they can sometimes spot wildlife in the pasture across the river.
Many visitors to the area also tour the Mesa Verde National Park nearby. It sees half a million tourists each year. It is one hour and 15 minutes west of Durango by state highway and the Mesa Top Loop Road. The United Nations named the well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings a cultural World Heritage Site in 1978.
Visitors can buy 1-hour, ranger-led tour tickets for the park at the Durango Welcome Center beginning at 10 a.m. up to 2 days ahead in person only and sell out quickly.
Seniors age 62 or over can buy discounted annual and lifetime National Park passes in person at a federal recreation site or through the mail. It provides the pass owner plus any number of accompanying passengers entry in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at all Federal operated recreation sites in America.
Touring the huge Cliff Palace and the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum offers visitors insights into this ancient Native American culture. Many of the dwellings can be seen from the Mesa Top Loop Road. It offers views of the archaeological sites and overlooks. This includes Sun Point Overlook with panoramic canyon views.
Starting just north of Durango, outfitters in town also offer rafting experiences of every level. They also offer guided 4X4 Jeep trail tours, zip line adventures and introductory rock-climbing excursions.
The folks at Mountain Waters Rafting sell a D&SNG Raft and Rail package. After a morning raft trip on the Lower Animas, customers take a shuttle for the scenic ride to Silverton along the spectacular San Juan Skyway. They explore on their own for lunch before catching the afternoon train back to Durango.
The phrase San Juan Skyway also invites visitors to the area to set out on a seven-hour minimum car tour they will not forget. The trip from Durango to Silverton is a small part of the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway System. It forms a 235-mile loop of southwest Colorado traversing the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
Please allow this story to serve as a caution to not show up in Durango and expect to buy a ticket for the train. It just does not normally happen. The train is almost always sold out. It makes sense to book reservations at www.durangotrain.com now to enjoy one of the greatest railroad experiences available.

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

Did you know that life expectancy in the United States for men and women increased by about 10 years between 1960 and 2015? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals over 65 accounted for 16.8% of the country’s total population in 2020. Americans are living longer, and often, older adults rely on long-term care during the later stages of life, which is where long-term care insurance can help. There are several factors to consider when considering long-term care insurance.
What is long-term care insurance?
Contrary to what many might think, long-term care encompasses more than care in a nursing home. This type of care usually includes home care, hospice care, or adult day health care. Long-term care insurance helps to cover the cost of this care. It includes policies providing nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination. This type of policy does not include coverage provided under comprehensive or major medical policies, Medicare Advantage, or accelerated heath benefit-type products.
How much does long-term care cost?
Long-term care can be expensive. The Cost of Care Survey by Genworth, which breaks down costs for different kinds of care for each state, found that monthly costs in Oklahoma can range from about $1,800 for adult day health care to almost $7,000 for a private room in a nursing home facility. These are median costs for the state and can vary depending on location and level of care.
Does Medicare cover long-term care?
Medicare generally does not cover long-term care. Medicare Part A does cover skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care (as long as custodial care isn’t the only care you need), hospice care and limited home care. You may qualify for long-term care through Medicaid, but you can opt to purchase a long-term policy from a private insurance company.
Do I need long-term care insurance?
When determining your need for long-term care insurance, consider several factors:
• You should consider your personal health situation. If you need assistance with daily activities due to illness or disability, a long-term care policy might benefit you.
• Your age should play a part in your decision, as your need for care increases as you age.
• You should think about your financial situation. Long-term insurance might be a good option if you can afford premiums without financial difficulty.
Which resources are out there?
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a comprehensive shopping guide to long-term care insurance that can answer many questions about this type of insurance. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living has a Long-Term Care Pathfinder to help locate care and assess needs. As always, if you have any questions about this type of insurance, the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is here to help at 800-522-0071 or https://www.oid.ok.gov.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Xiaoming Zheng, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Navy Office of Community Outreach
Harris attended Moore High School and graduated in 2018.
Harris joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy because my dad was in the Air Force and inspired me to join,” said Harris. “I wanted to see the world and travel.”
Today, Harris serves as a construction mechanic with Naval Beach Unit Seven.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Moore.
“I learned the importance of a strong work ethic and discipline,” said Harris. “Growing up my dad was big on discipline.”
According to Navy officials, Naval Beach Unit Seven empowers forward-deployed U.S. and Allied Forces while providing superior support to military members and their families.
Harris serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”
As a member of the Navy, Harris is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to our national defense because we keep maritime security and freedom of trade,” said Harris.
As Harris and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means doing something bigger than myself,” said Harris. “I never thought I would go to all these places I have been to so far in my career.”
Harris is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my dad,” added Harris. “I also want to thank my grandfather because he told me all the military skills you can transfer to the civilian world.”

David and Cory LeNorman have a unique perspective on the critical nutritional needs of newborns and a heightened awareness of the demand for extraordinary care. Their daughter, Quincy, was born 24 weeks into pregnancy, much earlier than the 38- to 40-week period considered optimal by neonatology experts. The family’s personal experience was the driving force behind their dream, and motivated the $1.5 million gift made to establish the Quincy LeNorman Nutrition Center at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medicine. The gift will significantly advance the care provided at the nationally ranked hospital, adding state-of-the art technologies that further elevate best practices in nutritional science.
“We’re both grateful and delighted to accept this generous gift presented by the LeNorman family,” said Jon Hayes, president, The Children’s Hospital. “It perfectly joins the long-held, shared vision of hospital and physician leaders with the heartfelt desire of the LeNormans. Thanks to this funding, we’ll realize a mutual goal to build upon and expand nutrition services that are vital to health and healing of the children we care for at The Children’s Hospital.”
Born weighing less than two pounds, Quincy LeNorman, the center’s namesake, spent the first 88 days of her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s. Now 17, she thrives as a student who plays high-school soccer, with no evidence of an early struggle for life. Quincy’s mother, Cory LeNorman, said her pregnancy was normal in every respect, with no hint of trouble until two days before delivery.
“The reason Quincy is here today is because of the great support we received – skilled and dedicated nurses, doctors and other personnel, and a facility that was equipped to provide the best possible care.”
Nearly three months after her birth, Quincy was discharged from the NICU. But the LeNormans never forgot the labor of love that gave Quincy a chance at life. In years that followed, David and Cory began to consider ways to give back that would match their keen interest and address identified needs at The Children’s Hospital.
At the same time, NICU personnel and hospital leaders envisioned better ways to meet their patients’ diverse nutritional demands. Laying the groundwork to bring the vision to reality, leaders toured several NICU centers in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, observing best practices in neonatal nutrition handling, touring thoughtfully planned facilities, and identifying a model to emulate at Children’s.
Trent Tipple, M.D., neonatology specialist and chief of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, The Children’s Hospital, said, “The Children’s Hospital is where the state’s tiniest and most vulnerable patients come for the level of care their complex conditions require. The future center represents another major step forward in neonatal nutrition. Thanks to the LeNorman family, we will have greater capacity to deliver life-saving technologies and redefine excellence in neonatal care.” One of the significant components that will distinguish the new nutrition center will be its use of sophisticated software that will track and analyze detailed metrics information. A human milk analyzer will determine how and to what extent milk must be fortified to meet specific nutritional needs. It will also identify babies whose growth is not progressing adequately.
Jamie Kilpatrick, M.S., R.N., CENP, director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s, said, “Currently, formula and human milk preparation for neonates is done in a small human milk lab, which we have already outgrown. Feeding preparation for other hospitalized children occurs in a separate area. All services are performed by excellent and expert hospital team members who follow best practices to meet high-reliability nutrition demands. However, a more seamless operation – more centralized and expanded for greater efficiency – will support our capacity to supply the best nutritional services possible on a broader scale.” The proposed nutrition center will benefit not only babies receiving care as NICU patients, but other infants and pediatric patients who face a range of complex feeding needs. These special needs may be related to specific treatment, care or rehab related to surgery, or due to other unique nutritional deficits or sensitivities.

www.harborchase.com

Agnes Baker

(Right) 100 years old. In Stroud today, having lived her life in Lincoln County. In her century, she recalls helping her parents pick cotton; riding to school in a covered wagon; marrying her husband; becoming a mother; leaving her home to move into assisted living and the Covid shutdown.

Marci D. (Pruitt) Coppedge

(Left) 100 years old. She is blessed with two children, 5 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren & a host of extended family & friends. Her words of wisdom for younger people: “Live your life the best you have at the time; when things change, adjust & go on!”

Gilbert Mike “Choc” Charleston

(Right) 100 years old. He is a full-blooded Choctaw & his heritage permeates his life. He & his wife of 79 years, Billie, owned & operated Choctaw Trading Post providing authentic Indian artifacts attracting visitors from around the world. This is a man who put his heritage & service to his country & to others first. He was a spokesperson for the OK Department of Tourism.

Bill Stoddard

(Right) 100 years old. Originally of Connecticut, now lives in Owasso. He celebrated his 100th birthday today with his family. He is a military veteran having served four years during WWII and in Korea with the Army and Air Force. Bill’s words of wisdom for us today are: Don’t Drink or Smoke. Thank you for your service.

On June 27, his forty-fifth anniversary of ordination to priesthood, Father Mark Mason began experiencing chills despite the fact that it was nearly 100 degrees outside. He thought perhaps he was having an allergic reaction to the hot herbal tea he was sipping. It wasn’t his usual orange spice. He tried putting on heavier clothing and went to lay down, but the chills persisted – even under thick blankets.
Mason had a houseguest at the time, and as his condition deteriorated that evening, the guest made the wise decision to take him to the INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center Emergency Department.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying symptoms of the virus has been like trying to hit a moving target. A fever over 100.4 was one of the telltale signs early on, but chills didn’t make the list until April. Fortunately, by June, INTEGRIS emergency caregivers were well-versed in the multiple symptoms of COVID-19 so they tested Mason for the virus right away. He tested positive.
Mason knew precisely when he had been exposed to COVID-19. He had recently eaten dinner with individuals who later tested positive. They were all asymptomatic at the time of the meal. Mason had planned on getting tested himself, but the virus beat him to it.
After spending a few hours at INTEGRIS, Mason began to improve. Because his symptoms were not serious enough for him to be admitted, he was sent home and told to self-quarantine, which he did. Something that is not easy to do when you are a Catholic Priest at multiple parishes, including St. Francis Xavier and St. Gregory Catholic Church.
Mason was recovering well at home. It had been several days since his diagnosis, and he thought he was over the worst of it. But he underestimated the power of the illness.
On day 10, he wasn’t feeling well. His doctor, INTEGRIS physician Jon Mills, D.O., recommended he use a pulse oximeter to measure his blood oxygen levels at home since, at 71 years old, Mason is at higher risk of serious complications from the virus.
His blood oxygen levels were falling, and he was having trouble breathing. At the urging of Dr. Mills, he returned to the Emergency Department at Bass and was quickly admitted. Mason spent 15 days at INTEGRIS recovering from COVID-19 —eight of those days were in the Intensive Care Unit.
Mason was placed in a negative air flow room, a room that pulls air inward from the hallway, to decrease the risk of him infecting other patients. INTEGRIS had already prepared for patients like Mason by converting extra rooms to negative air flow and made additional preparations in the event of a surge.
Mason narrowly escaped being put on a ventilator but was given a life-saving cocktail of Remdesivir, convalescent plasma, steroids and anti-inflammatories.
“I was very lucky to be at this hospital when I came down with COVID-19,” declared Mason. “I feel like I received the best treatment in the world.”
“Father Mason is a great example of how quickly patients with COVID-19 can become severely ill,” said INTEGRIS pulmonologist, Sarah Matousek, M.D. The team of pulmonologists at INTEGRIS were key players in his survival. “Part of the reason he did so well was because he was in good physical shape prior to his illness, but he also stayed in in touch with his physician and they closely monitored his symptoms, taking action when necessary.”
Mason was released from the hospital on July 23. He continues to have lingering effects from COVID-19 but is certainly on the road to recovery. He wants to thank everyone involved in his care, especially his team of caregivers in the ICU, Edward Payton, Hannah Kokojan and Alaina Maxey. He is also grateful to the Enid community for their continued prayers, as he feels confident the community played a major role in his success.

By Marise Boehs

INSPIRE was giving free blood pressure checks.

Cody Metscher, Clinical Liason, said INSPIRE comes monthly to HLN to give No Charge blood pressure checks to persons wanting them.

For more information:
www.inspirehospital.com

Liz Barfield, Founder, Better Bites, was in the Center’s kitchen
preparing tasty snacks.

Better Bites offers locally made, well-balanced individually portioned meals to fit any lifestyle and nutritional goals.

www.betterbitesbylizb.com

Mark Cope, Nerve Renewal, talks to attendees about neuropathy pain.

Nerve Renewal offers long-term relief from chronic nerve pain and numbness with advanced therapy for peripheral, diabetic, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy pain.

Nerve Renewal has offices across the Metro as well as in Shawnee, Stillwater and Broken Arrow.

To find a Nerve Renewal office near you and for more information about threatments available, check out their website at www.nerverenewalnow.com

Ryan Adkins, Nutritional Health Coach, Natural Grocers, talks with an attendee. Natural Grocers offers free Nutritional Health Coaching Sessions. For more information or to find a store near you, log on to www.naturalgrocers.com

Lezley Bell, CaptionCall, talks with attendees about the service they offer – a phone that displays large, easy-to-read text that automatically captions your conversation. The sevice and phone are no cost to you. For more information, email Lezley at lbell2@sorenson.com or call her at 580-302-4283.

ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING NORMAN
The mission of Healthy Living Norman is to promote the health and well-being of adults aged 50 and older by providing opportunities for physical activity, social engagement, and lifelong learning at the Adult Wellness and Education Center.

CENTER AMENITIES
Warm Indoor Saltwater Pool
Demonstration Kitchen
Fitness Center
Land and Water Fitness Classes
Health Screenings
Seminars and Events
Billiards
Indoor Walking Track
Outdoor Pickleball Courts
Fireplace and Lounge Area
Small Gathering Spaces
Art and Educational Classes

CLASSES  The center offers a variety of art and craft classes.

Fitness classes include water exercise as well as land exercises like yoga, pilates, tia chi, aerobics and line dancing or belly dancing.

Check out the entire list and  schedule of classes at www.healthylivingnorman.com