Dear Savvy Senior, I recently turned 65 and would like to know if am supposed to get the pneumonia vaccine? And if so, which type of vaccine do I need and is it covered by Medicare? Relatively Healthy

Dear Relatively,
Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does indeed recommend the “pneumococcal vaccines” for pneumonia for adults age 65 and older. They’re also recommended for younger people with long-term health issues or weak immune systems, as well as children under 5 and people who smoke.
Pneumonia, which can happen anytime – not just during the cold months – can be a serious and even life-threatening condition. Each year, pneumonia causes a whopping 1.5 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. and causes roughly 50,000 deaths.
A recent study found that the use of pneumonia vaccines is associated with a 24 percent decreased risk of death, but vaccination rates aren’t that high. Around 67 percent of adults over the age of 65 are vaccinated against pneumonia, and just 24 percent of younger people (19-64 years old) at risk for pneumonia are vaccinated. The main reasons for this are because many people are unsure whether they need the vaccine, while others aren’t even aware a vaccine exists.
Types of Vaccines
There are three different vaccines available, some more appropriate for certain people than others. They are the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine PPSV23 (Pneumovax23), the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) and PCV20 (Prevnar 20). The numbers indicate how many strains, or serotypes, of streptococcus pneumoniae are included in the vaccine.
So, which vaccine should you get?
If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the newer PCV20 is the top choice – it covers the 20 most common serotypes now.
If that vaccine is not available in your area, you can get the PCV15 vaccine, followed one year later by PPSV23.
If you had the earlier PCV13 (but not PCV15), or the PPSV23 at or after age 65, you’re likely eligible to get the PCV20 for increased protection.
But because of the different possibilities, you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the most effective option for you.
Side effects of these vaccines tend to be mild, but may include feeling achy and tired as well as redness, swelling and soreness where the injection was given.
You’ll also be happy to know that Medicare Part B covers both single dose and two-dose pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once. Unlike the flu shot, which is given annually.
Most local pharmacies and community health clinics offer pneumococcal vaccines, but you may want to call ahead just to be sure.
For more information, visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at https://www.CDC.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html.
Other Vaccines
To avoid getting pneumonia as a consequence of a viral infection, you should also consider getting a flu shot, RSV shot and a Covid-19 booster in the fall.
While vaccines cannot prevent every case of pneumonia (or other conditions they’re given for), those who get them usually have milder infections, a shorter course of illness and fewer serious complications than people who don’t get vaccinated.
The flu shot and Covid booster are both covered by Medicare Part B, while the RSV vaccine (which is recommended every other year) is covered under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. All three shots can also be given simultaneously.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit https://savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma Highlights the Benefits of Employing Older

Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care services, a franchise with over 125 franchise partners across more than 35 states and international markets, has grown rapidly in recent years by building a workforce of talented caregivers – most of whom are seniors themselves – who create meaningful relationships with their senior care clients. In celebration of National Employ Older Workers Week, which ran September 22-28, Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma recognizes the contribution of older workers to the workforce and encourages more employers to consider them for employment.
The United States is undergoing a demographic shift, with older Americans staying in the workforce longer and contributing valuable skills, experience and commitment. National Employ Older Workers Week aims to increase awareness of this growing labor segment and to promote the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides job training and employment opportunities to older Americans. Seniors Helping Seniors® services proudly supports this initiative by prioritizing the hiring of active seniors as caregivers.
“Seniors Helping Seniors® locations prioritize hiring active seniors because they bring unmatched experience, reliability and empathy to the caregiving role,” said Kevin Richardson owner of Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Oklahoma. “We encourage all companies to explore the benefits of employing older workers-just as we have seen the positive impact firsthand in our care services.”
Nearly 12 million older, disabled and chronically ill Americans rely on in-home care each year, highlighting the vital role caregivers play in providing essential support. As Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise community continues to grow nationwide, it offers rewarding career opportunities for caregivers who are passionate about helping others while serving as a valuable resource for family caregivers who may be facing burnout.
“Caregivers are the heart of our mission, playing a crucial role in the well-being of countless individuals,” said Richardson. “With nearly half of all U.S. caregivers aged 50 and older, many face their own health challenges. That’s why we prioritize hiring senior caregivers and offering robust support to safeguard their mental, physical and emotional health.”

Call 405-562-6000 or visit www.shscentralok.com to visit with Kevin or the Seniors Helping Seniors staff. You can also email help@shscentralok.com.

By Marise Boehs

With CaptionCall service and phone persons with hearing loss can read their phone conversations in big, clear text with home caption phone service. They can count on instant, accurate closed caption phone calls and can keep up with conversations and connections.

The CaptionCall phone displays large, easy-to-read text that automatically captions a conversation. It dials, rings, and work just like a regular phone.

There is no cost for service or phone and delivery, installation, training and support are complimentary. The phone is hearing aid friendly and has bluetooth connectivity. Features include speakerphone, answering machine and custom audio

While the “no cost” aspect of this service often leads to skepticism, Lezley Bell, Senior Account Manager for CaptionCall by Sorenson, explains, “This is a federally funded program that is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We have had a tax on all our phone bills, nationwide, every month since 1990.”

No-Cost Closed Caption Phone Service

You decide how you want to use CaptionCall: customize it to your liking and try out all the features or simply pick up the phone and talk. It works like any other phone except the CaptionCall phone that comes with your service has a large interactive screen so you can turn on phone call captioning and read the text of your conversation in real time.

The phone is designed  to be technologically advanced on the inside and simple on the outside. You’ll be comfortably enjoying captioned calls right away, whether you choose our Red Carpet Service installation by one of our trainers or if you or a loved one follow our guided setup.

There’s no cost for people with hearing loss who need captions to use the phone. If you qualify for CaptionCall, you can also get our mobile captioning app, CaptionCall Mobile

How does CaptionCall work?

CaptionCall works just like any other phone call, except you don’t have to struggle to hear it. Your phone calls are transformed into text and displayed on the big, auto-scrolling screen as the person’s talking.

What are the qualifications to receive a CaptionCall phone?

Anyone who qualifies for the CaptionCall service will receive a CaptionCall phone to access their call captioning. To qualify for CaptionCall, you must have hearing loss that necessitates the use of captioned telephone service. You must complete an easy self-certification process and provide other mandatory registration information.

As part of the qualification process, Bell explained, “An applicant must verbally say yes I understand this phone is only for people with hearing loss that need captions for their phone calls.”

Does using CaptionCall impact my phone services?

No. CaptionCall works seamlessly with services from your provider, including call waiting, call forwarding, voicemail, and caller ID.

By Nick Thomas

It’s been 14 years since 85-year-old screen legend Tony Curtis died at his Nevada home on Sept. 29, 2010. The much-loved actor left behind a body of work that included over 150 television and movie roles in such classics as “The Defiant Ones,” “Some Like it Hot,” and “The Sweet Smell of Success.” Curtis remarried for the last time in 1998 and his new bride, Jill Vandenberg, was some 40 years his junior. The pair became inseparable, traveling the world together. But back in Nevada, the couple founded Shiloh, a horse rescue ranch.
“I was horrified to learn that tens of thousands of unwanted American horses are slaughtered each year for human consumption in Asia and Europe,” Jill told me in 2006 when I met her and Tony on their ranch. “I realized I could do more to help horses.”
“We were driving in the car one evening and Jilly told me she wanted to save some of those horses,” Tony recalled to me. “I told her let’s go do it!”
They did, and the couple soon acquired 40 acres of desert outside Las Vegas, eventually transforming the barren area into a nurturing ranch where hundreds of horses were saved. I still recall Curtis’s joy when I asked him to comment on the success of the Shiloh sanctuary: “It picks up my spirits to see the good work done there,” was his reply.
Today, Jill Curtis is now Jill Curtis-Weber after marrying Todd Weber three years after Tony died. The couple met at a country and western club in Vegas and were married six months later. After selling the Nevada ranch and her Las Vegas home, they moved to Deadwood, South Dakota, often romanticized as the heart of the American West with history steeped in gold rushes, outlaws, and frontier legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
“We both loved the history of the Old West and began traveling around selling our horseshoe art,” said Jill, when I met up with her recently at her shop in the heart of downtown Deadwood. “When we came here we loved it and decided to stay.”
Along with her husband and mother, Sally, the trio run “The Lucky Horse Co.,” a thriving Western-themed business specializing in decorative horseshoes and other gifts (see www.shilohhorserescue.com). Their charming little shop, an open-air wooden structure built around a living tree, is located on the main street of Deadwood. It’s filled with hundreds of Western art pieces, showcased by unique horseshoe art – beautifully painted or decorated horseshoes for wall hangings and intricate pieces welded into artistic shapes.
“We make everything here in Deadwood by hand,” said Jill. “Todd does all the welding for the horseshoes and also teaches gold panning to tourists! He built the shop around the tree and based it on an old livery stable from the late 1800’s. The profits go towards supporting Shiloh.”
With her deep passion for horses, it was a natural progression for Jill to expand into Western art. She relocated Shiloh Ranch from Nevada to Newell, about 30 minutes from Deadwood, where the ranch has rescued and rehabilitated over 700 horses since its founding. She remains grateful to her previous husband for supporting her horse rescue efforts and recognizes some similarities between Tony and Todd.
“Todd has the same sense of humor and wit, and is very intelligent and kind,” she said. “I think Tony would have liked him. Todd is very supportive of my past life and has never felt he had to live up to Tony, who had a larger-than-life personality. We were ready to start a new life, a simpler life, in this beautiful historic Old West town. Tony and I watched and really enjoyed HBO’s ‘Deadwood’ series, so I believe he would absolutely love that I now live in the town.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See
https://www.getnickt.org.

Story by Van Mitchel, Staff Writer

The fourth annual Second Half Expo will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd Street in Oklahoma City.
The Expo is tailored to people who are in the “second half” of their lives who are looking to connect with the resources needed to live the way that they have always imagined. Up to 130 or more of Oklahoma’s businesses will be present, providing education and demonstrations of the products and services that are available for the 50+ generation.
The day will be loaded with fun and activities, including free educational seminars, food samples, drawings for prizes and music from some of Oklahoma’s best talents.
Robin Gunn, event organizer, said expo attendance grows each year. “Each year attendees are increasing by hundreds,” Gunn said. “We had 1,600 to 1,700 last year. We’re expecting over 2,000 this year.”
Bob Loudermilk, event organizer, said he wanted to bring his experience in the trade-show business from Kansas to help Oklahoma seniors. He began to seek out people that serve the 50+ community in Oklahoma for input. “I met with dozens of people that serve our senior community,” he said. “We scheduled forums to talk about what is needed in the community to serve this demographic. We concluded that a quality, annual event for seniors would be valuable so I teamed up with a local radio host Robin Gunn, who also serves publisher of the Oklahoma Senior Journal, and together we launched the Expo.”
Gunn said she envisioned something different when planning for the Second Half Expo. “We wanted to do something different. I’ve been involved in expos since I started the Oklahoma Senior Journal, for the last 32 years, but they just all seem to be kind of cookie cutter, and the same people were coming to it,” she said. “This is a statewide event, so we’re advertising it all over the state, and we have big coach buses that come. It is heavy on information, education, as well as entertainment, giveaways, door prizes. We’re going to do two live remotes, one from iHeartRadio, the other one from Freedom 96.9 FM, Oklahoma’s Talk Radio, and I’m also the host of that, so I’ll be doing the live remote on that one.”
Gunn said the Second Half Expo will feature several guest speakers. She said the Second Half Expo is supported by knowledgeable experts in their fields of health, business, motivation, retirement planning and more.
“We have our special speakers in breakout rooms with people that are trying to get the word out about scams and frauds, or what’s the difference between home health and home care,” she said. “We will have financial advisors, and Steve Burris will talk about annuities. We want to make it encompassing and entertaining too.”
Gunn said sponsorship and vendors have increased at the expo. “The very first expo was just a break-even expo, but we still had close to 100 vendors,” she said. “We’ve got 134 vendors now. Channel 4 does a spot on us on their morning show. We have handed out over 20,000 postcards for the expo, and we continue to have volunteers doing that for us. We have some great sponsors including Senior News and Living and Oklahoma Nursing Times. Channel 4, the Oklahoman, VillagesOKC, and the YMCA are going to be sponsors. Our main sponsor is Main Street Advisors.”
Gunn said the expo organizers hold monthly coffee talks that are sponsored by different local services in Oklahoma City. “We open it up to have coffee as well as continental breakfast,” she said. “We have a special speaker at our coffee talks.”
Gunn said families are invited along with seniors for the Second Half Expo. “We also like to encompass the entire family because this is a family issue,” she said.
Loudermilk concurred. “For too long, the concept of aging has a negative connotation in the minds of some,” Loudermilk said. “Our mission is to change that outdated mindset. We firmly believe the senior years can be lived with dignity and purpose with the right guidance and resources. We’re (Second Half Expo) here to support seniors and the adult children of seniors who are honoring and assisting their aging parents. The whole idea is to give people above 50 and their families an opportunity, in one day, to explore and visit with organizations that are resources for them, education for them, as well as products and services.”
Admission is free to the 2024 Second Half Expo and attendees are encouraged to RSVP online at https://secondhalfexpo.com.

Story and Photo by Van Mitchel, Staff Writer

There may not be a better endorsement for Villagio of Bradford Village located at 300 Enz Drive in Edmond than long-time resident Hulda Hamilton.
Mrs. Hamilton, 99, has been a resident for 30 years in both the Independent Living cottages and now Assisted Living at Villagio of Bradford Village.
She and her late husband Bill Hamilton moved to Villagio of Bradford Village to simplify their lives, and to travel when they wanted.
“We liked to travel. We did not just want to depend on our kids to take care of things when we were gone because we were gone quite a lot,” she said. “We’d just never know when we were going to go to Australia or go to Hawaii or go to Eastern Europe. It’s the most stress-free life you could have, to live here. It is completely stress-free.”
Villagio of Bradford Village offers Independent Living cottages which are designed around residents’ personal history, cultural heritage, and interests.
Assisted Living offers residents a little extra support when needed for a successful aging journey, attentive, 24-hour caregivers are available to help with many of the activities of daily living.
“There isn’t a person that works in this building that doesn’t like old people,” Mrs. Hamilton said. “Every person employed here loves old people. I am convinced of that because they are so kind.”
Respite Care Services are also available at Villagio of Bradford Village giving caregivers a needed break, and ensuring their loved ones have safe care.
Caitlin Cairns, Director of Community Life, said Mrs. Hamilton is one example of how seniors living in Independent Living cottages transition to Assisted Living care successfully.
“Hulda and a lot of our other residents started out in the community in some of the cottages around here,” she said. “Hulda lived in her cottage for 29 years. She decided that it was time to move here to just get that little extra bit of support. We’ve had a lot of residents do that. They will live in the cottages and be members of the community for years. Sometimes people choose to stay in our cottages and have home health come in to assist if they need it. Or sometimes people choose to move to assisted living if they need a little more support.”
The Assisted Living wing was built in 2000.
“This place is different from most senior places,” Mrs. Hamilton said. “It was built with Christian principles. I was living in Edmond when this place was built. I came to the opening ceremony. The people that moved here all try to help each other. Everybody here is friends. If they don’t see somebody, they want to know why. If they do see somebody, they want to know how you are doing. Everybody here cares about you.”
Mrs. Hamilton said she and Bill knew they wanted to come to Villagio of Bradford Village to live when they were ready to give up their home.
“We knew what this place was all the time,” she said. “I had friends here. Even before I got together with Bill, I knew when I got ready to retire, this was where I would come. I just loved the place.”
Mrs. Hamilton said she and Bill loved to go round dancing.
“Round dancing is ballroom dancing to cues. You have a leader, a teacher. He could be on the floor dancing, or he could just use a microphone,” she said. “He tells you what steps to take with each movement. If it’s a waltz, he’ll tell you what type of waltz, what step to do. It’s just a lot of fun.”
Mrs. Hamilton said one of the attributes she cherished about Bill was his desire to give back.
“I loved his absolute unselfishness and thinking to help others,” she said. “Whatever he could do to help somebody else. He volunteered for everything there was to volunteer. He volunteered with the church, he volunteered at the hospital, he volunteered to be a driver for Mobile Meals. Finally, he couldn’t drive anymore because he was losing his vision, so they asked me to drive, so I did. I drove too. Anybody that needed assistance, he worked for. That was his life.”
Cairns said each new resident in the Villagio of Bradford Village community is welcomed with a personal gift.
“Every time a resident move into the community, we get them a personalized ornament and it has something to do with a story from their life,” she said. “Hulda’s is a glass etching of a couple dancing together. We have somebody else that is a neuropsychologist, and I found an ornament that is a metal sculpture in the shape of a dopamine molecule. We find the most unique things and then we use those to decorate a resident Christmas tree together. Then we keep them from year to year. Hulda’s had her ornament for several years and whoever is moved in, in the past year will get a new ornament presented to them this year. We just keep them and keep adding them.”
Cairns said the ornaments are displayed even after a resident has passed away.
“If a resident passed during the year, we move their ornaments,” she said. “We have memorial wreaths that we keep with their ornaments. The ornament tradition is one of my favorite things here.”
Mrs. Hamilton is not alone at Villagio of Bradford Village. Her children ages 79, 78, and 76 live nearby; one of them (Frances Ray) resides in an independent living cottage with her husband.
“I have children who are very caring and helpful. My only success in life is my kids. I just could not do it without them,” she said. “How many parents get to celebrate their kids’ lives in their late seventies? See how blessed I am.”
Mrs. Hamilton said faith has guided her through her lifetime.
“God has been with me 99 years and He’s not going to forget me,” she said. “I still have a life, and I’ll do the best I can with it.”

The annual Oklahoma Czech Festival returns to Yukon, Oklahoma on Saturday, October 5, 2024, bringing a day full of celebration and cultural activities. The festival will kick off with a vibrant parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street, featuring a colorful array of floats, costumes, and performances that honor the rich Czech heritage of the community.
This year’s festival introduces a reimagined Pivo Garden, also known as a beer garden, where visitors can enjoy traditional Czech dinners and beverages available for purchase. Adjacent to the Pivo Garden, Oklahoma Czech, Inc. will host live Czech performances with authentic folks singing and dancing, providing attendees with an immersive experience into the unique cultural traditions of the Czech community.
“Sharing Czech culture and heritage with our community is what drives the Oklahoma Czech Festival,” said Kim Rex, president of Oklahoma Czech, Inc. “2024’s Festival is shaping up to be one of the best as we make changes to improve accessibility, walkability, and safety, all while sharing Czech traditions and culture.”
To enhance accessibility and walkability, the 2024 festival has relocated the carnival portion of the festival to the north side of Main Street. This change also addresses safety concerns, allowing for a more enjoyable experience for all attendees.
Returning to the festival is the beloved arts and crafts show, featuring more than 150 artisans and crafters selling handmade products. From traditional Czech crafts to contemporary creations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
The Oklahoma Czech Festival is a family-friendly event celebrating the heritage and traditions of the Czech community in Oklahoma. Since 1966, Oklahoma Czechs, Inc. has hosted the Oklahoma Czech Festival to preserve and share the customs and heritage the Czech and Slovak immigrants brought from their homeland. Yukon is proudly known as the Czech Capitol of Oklahoma and celebrates its rich culture throughout the year. For more information, visit
https://www.czechfestivaloklahoma.com.

Community Health Centers, in partnership with the Community Health Recreation andWellness Center and Arts Council Oklahoma City, is excited to announce the inaugural Oklahoma Older Adults Arts Festival, a two-day celebration of artistic expression for seniors. The event will take place on October 26-27, 2024, from 8 AM to 6 PM at the Community Health Recreation and Wellness Center, located at 3748 N. Lincoln Blvd,Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
This free event is open to the public and will feature a diverse array of visual art exhibitions by talented artists aged 50 and older. There will also be live performances, culinary arts, and presentations on art history. The festival is designed to honor the creativity of older adults and showcase their contributions to the arts.
In collaboration with several older adult-focused organizations, including The Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma, The Oklahoma City Department of Veterans Affairs, Oklahoma State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute,Acclaim Living, The Mansions at Waterford, Metropolitan Better Living Centers, and The Historical Society, the festival will also highlight art created by clients from these institutions. Additionally, individual artists over the age of 50 have been invited to participate as exhibitors.
The Oklahoma Older Adults Arts Festival not only celebrates the artistic achievements of older adults but also aimsto raise awareness about the benefits of creative aging, a field that promotes arts and cultural programs for older adults. The event seeks to foster community engagement, promote inclusivity, and encourage more older adults to explore their artistic potential.
Join us for two days of creativity, culture, and community as we celebrate the vibrant artistic talents of Oklahoma’s older adults! For more information, please contact: Madison Stockton at mstockton@wellnesschc.com

Harvy Brown

(Right) 100 years old. Harvey Brown, a WWII veteran, was inducted into the Centenarians of Oklahoma Hall of Fame at 100. A retired engineer, he enjoys volunteering, woodworking, and making jewelry. His advice: “Find a church home and get involved” and “Put down your phone and speak to real people.”

Marie Wyatt

(Left) 100 years old. Marie Wyatt, ‘Aunt Martie,’ was honored at Char-Lin Ranch, her birthplace, on September 14, 1924. Her family ran a dairy farm near Ripley. Her sisters and her graduated from Ripley High. After 24 years of teaching and being named Teacher of the Year, she retired but continued volunteering. Sharing wisdom through sayings and songs, like “A Bushel and a Peck”.

Ray Olsen

(Right) 101 years old. Celebrating Ray Olsen’s 101st birthday, a proud US Navy veteran who served during WWII on the USS New York and USS Alaska. He played football for Tulane University and earned a business degree. Admiral Jay Bynum presented him with an Oklahoma state flag, while Norman Administrator Michael Russell awarded him an ODVA challenge coin for his service.

Dorothy Allen

(Right) 100 years old. Dorothy Jane Allen, a Wellston resident, celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. A US Navy WAVES veteran who served as an office clerk during WWII, she later married Army veteran Gene Allen and became a homemaker. Dorothy also worked as an admissions clerk and nurse assistant and volunteered making quilts for veterans. She fondly remembers remote-controlled televisions and lives by the motto: “Be kind to one another!”