Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma will celebrate 45 years of service to caregivers of elderly and disabled members of our community on Tuesday, October 22nd from 11:30-1:00 p.m.
With four locations, Daily Living Centers stands apart as an affordable non-residential facility that supports the health, nutritional and social needs of adults in a professionally staffed group setting. DLC is an alternative to long-term care solutions such as an assisted living center or nursing home.
“I’m passionate about helping caregivers in our community,” said Daily Living Centers Board Chairperson, Ellyn Hefner. “They provide a service that goes unseen, and having a place where caregivers can take their loved ones while they go to work or run errands is vital.”
The Anniversary Celebration will be held at Daily Living Centers Rockwell location at 3000 N Rockwell Ave., Bethany, OK 73003. The event is free to attend, but guests are asked to RSVP by October 18.
Founded in 1974 as a therapeutic day care center for impaired, homebound and elderly people, DLC is the oldest and largest adult day health care organization in Oklahoma. Because of DLC, caregivers can hold jobs, safeguard their own mental health and maintain a sense of normalcy in their own lives knowing their loved ones are well-cared for at DLC.
Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma is an adult day health non-profit organization offering affordable non-residential facilities that support the health, nutritional and social needs of disabled or elderly Oklahomans in a professionally staffed group setting. For more information please visit, www.dailylivingcenters.org.

www.guardianangelsokc.com

story and photos by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

Winter is coming.
So are changes to virtually every Medicare plan as the annual enrollment window opens.
For several years, MCM Insurance has helped seniors in our community navigate what can be murky health care insurance waters as time ticks down on a decision they will have to live with for an entire year.
“The biggest thing we want seniors to know is that every plan changes in some way, every year,” said MCM owner Ginny Curtis. “They need to know what those changes are before they enroll or stay on the same plan. “They also need to make sure they’re not paying too much for the benefits.”
As 2019 begins to wind down, one of the most important times of the year for seniors is here. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs annually from (Oct. 15-Dec. 7). AEP is a time in which current Medicare beneficiaries can choose to change part of their coverage. They can change their Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) and/or Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). It’s a time to reevaluate based on their benefits, health, and finances. If they find a plan that is a better fit for their needs than their current plan, they can then switch to, drop or add a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
October 1 is the date consumers can start looking over new plans.
During AEP Curtis’ agency goes into overdrive to make sure that everyone that needs help facilitating the changes coming their way is reached.
“It’s very important to us that each person that comes through our agency chooses their plan based on their specific needs,” said Curtis. During an appointment with the agents from MCM, they will compare plans based on the customer’s list of medicines and doctors to narrow down which plan will cover all their needs the best.
In addition to individual appointments, MCM offers no-cost Navigating Through Medicare informational sessions around the metro.
The hour-long informational sessions allow people to become more familiar with the ins and outs of Medicare in a low-key setting.
“I think the big thing we focus on is people know why they made a decision or why they stayed,” said agent Jennifer Melton. “They need to know that.”
Melton recalled a recent conversation with a client who has had the same supplement and drug plan since turning 65.
“That’s OK, but it’s also problematic in that premiums for Part D can be over $100 whereas the average right now is just around $35. They just stay on that because they feel like that’s what they’re supposed to do,” she said.
Answering those questions and comparing plans is paramount.
“The cool part about dealing with a group like us is they can come in here without the fear of just being enrolled or sold something,” Melton said. “We consistently tell people ‘nope, that’s good, stay on that – even if they’re not our client.”
“I feel like it’s a safe place for them to come and say ‘I’ve been on this forever. Is this what I should be doing or do I need to do something different?”
While many appointments are scheduled in the comfort of client homes, Curtis staffs the office at 2232 W. Hefner Road in the Village so that clients can walk in anytime 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and speak with an agent directly without an appointment. During AEP they extend their hours.
Having those free conversations can take a load off of someone’s mind, especially when health care costs are eating into their retirement savings.
“You don’t want to change for the purpose of changing but when it comes to Advantage plans because the plans change and the drugs change every year they need to know the plan they’re going to be on next year will work as good as the plan this year and not all of them will do that,” Curtis said.
“That’s what I want, a whole bunch of savvy seniors that have done their research and know what they’re doing.”
MCM also has agents in Tulsa, Claremore and Lawton. You can reach the OKC office by calling 405-842-0494. You can also view their calendar and get more info on their website at www.mcmmedicare.com as well as www.navigatingthroughmedicare.info.

www.mcmmedicare.com

by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

Ten years now and closing in on $100,000 raised for Alzheimer’s research and Joan Clarke knows her mission is nowhere near complete.
It’s been 12 years since Alzheimer’s claimed Clarke’s husband.
And for the past decade she’s used the Santa Market Craft Show to honor his memory and push the needle forward on Alzheimer’s research.
“Our family has taken to do this as a positive response to a horrific disease,” Clarke said recently on the anniversary of her husband’s death. “The kids work. The spouses work. Even the grandkids work handing out bags.”
“For us it helps. I like to hope we’re helping other people and making a difference.”
It’s estimated that every 65 seconds another person learns they have the terminal condition which robs them of their identities.
While the disease keeps growing – now registering as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States – the support for the Santa Market Craft Show benefiting Alzheimer’s research is booming.
LONG TIME COMING
For the past nine years the Santa Market has been housed in the Downtown Edmond Community Center.
The show proudly boasted 18 vendor tables that first year.
“We were just a little show trying to get started,” said Clarke, who organizes the event with daughter Megan Nye and Megan’s mother-in-law Molly.
Last year the event took up the entire upstairs, downstairs and – with 101 vendors – poured onto the lawn of the community center in Edmond.
According to the family’s best estimates some 4,000 people attended last year’s market, which focuses on hand-made items perfect for holiday giving.
A new venue was a must so Clarke decided to “go big or go home” and booked space at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.
The Pavilion Building will host this year’s Santa Market Craft Show on November 23 beginning at 9 a.m.
Sponsors have already responded, footing the bill for both admission and parking for attendees.
“We’ve never jumped the gun. We’ve steadily progressed,” Clarke says. “We’ve steadily gotten more sponsors, steadily gotten more people involved and raised more money each year.”
“I feel like we’re paced ourselves really well.”
The steady growth has resulted in some $93,000 raised for Alzheimer’s research. Clarke said the event has already raised $4,000 in sponsorship including Diamond Level Sponsorship by Oklahoma’s Senior News and Living.
By the end of October Clarke already had commitments from 190 vendors scheduled to fill 270 10×10 booths.
From three people running a craft show raising $3,000 in its first year to a year-round, 501(c)3 organization that earned $23,000 for Alzheimer’s last year the Santa Market continues to grow.
A silent auction featuring items like Kendra Scott jewelry to a weekend package at Lake Texhoma serve as top earners.
“We are extremely blessed,” Clarke said. “We get help from so many people. It just never ceases to amaze me. People want to help. They want to donate. They want to be involved.”
“Literally, it’s not just a craft show it’s so many people getting on board with us.”
STAGGERING NUMBERS
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing — and growing fast. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s.
This number includes an estimated 5.6 million people age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
* One in 10 people age 65 and older (10 percent) has Alzheimer’s dementia.
* Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
* Older African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites.
* Hispanics are about one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites.
As the number of older Americans grows rapidly, so too will the number of new and existing cases of Alzheimer’s. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia may grow to a projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s been 12 years since Clarke’s husband has passed and his memory this time of year is even stronger.
“You would think you would get good at these things but you don’t,” Clarke said, wiping back tears. “This never ever stops for us.”

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

On November 17, 2019, Colony Community in Action, L.L.C., will host preview II, an exhibition of works to be displayed at The Sovereignty Symposium 2020 by Oklahoma Artists, Patrick Riley and Jim Van Deman. The exhibition will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm in the Kauger Building in downtown Colony, Oklahoma. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to attend. This event is an example how Colony, Oklahoma is turning into at Art Colony.
The repainted Kauger Building and the old Payne’s Store building host murals by Comanche artist, Eric Tippeconnic. “The Hunt” and “The Horse Capture” are featured on the store building and “The Grand Entry” has been started on the Kauger Building. It also boasts “Colony 1886” completed in 1994, and refreshed by Patrick Riley and the people of the community in 2017. The names of some of the helpers are included in the mural, giving it a real home town feel.
Patrick Riley is a nationally recognized artist and art educator. He has maintained a strong and expressive visual arts career and artist/teacher career and has taught students of all grade levels. He has completed residencies focused on many disciplines including pottery, drawing, printmaking, painting, sculpture, leather masks, and totems. In 2012, he completed a 28-foot-tall stainless steel mask sculpture of an eagle for the Oklahoma Judicial Center in Oklahoma City. In 2010, he designed a special leather mask that was gifted by the Ford Center of Oklahoma City to celebrity performer Lady GaGa. During his art career, he has exhibited masks in many galleries throughout the United States including New York City and Washington D. C.
Jim Van Deman, great grandson of Black Beaver, depicts his Delaware heritage and other American Indian subjects in a broad range of creations from impressionist to mainstream abstract paintings. He is also known for his handcrafted flutes, unique banjos, and American Indian hand drums. He was recently honored as the “2016 Red Earth Honored One.” In addition to creating art and instruments, Van Deman is also an aspiring writer, with many short stories and poems to his credit, with several novels in the works as well. Both Van Deman and Riley are schedule to be in attendance.
Additional art can be seen next door in the old historic renovated Colony Post Office which has been the Gallery of the Plains Indian for several years. The Old Post Office built in 1927, was used to store feed by Payne’s store for many years. It was given by John Kauger to his daughter, Yvonne. She converted it into the Gallery of the Plains Indian in 1982 and refurbished it in 2017. It is considered to be the genesis of The Red Earth festival held annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Before the Colony Gallery was establish, Yvonne Kauger held many Native American mini gallery exhibitions in her Edmond home.
Currently, the Gallery features a permanent exhibit of the Colony Pow Wow, by Terry Zinn, which was first exhibited in 1986, at the Omniplex in Oklahoma City, and dedicated to John and Alice Kauger by the photographer. His photographs of the Red Earth festival are also on display, by the difficult in the camera double exposure technique to illicit a spiritual nature. As a consequence of serendipity, Ann Shadlo, the mother of Harvey Pratt, appears in full regalia in one of the Pow wow photos.
Terry Zinn currently holds the distinct pleasure of being the only artist to have a permanent collection installed in the Gallery of the Plains Indian Art Gallery in Colony. Zinn is currently looking for a permanent home for his the other extensive Photographic portfolios of: the late Oklahoma International Artist, Harold Stevenson; Oklahoma Performer and Voice Professor, Florence Birdwell; and 4 seasons of 1980s Lyric Theater. His work has been exhibited in many Oklahoma venues including the State Capitol and has also appeared in many publications. His travel writing and photography were awarded recognition at both the 2004 and 2007 Travel Media Showcases.
In 1886, John Homer Seger brought the first Arapaho to Colony. The Cheyenne followed shortly thereafter. Ultimately, the federal government built a beautiful campus with over eighty structures for the first vocational agricultural school in the United States at Seger Colony which was completed in 1892. When the school closed in 1932, the Colony School District took over the site. It was one of the first entities to be placed on the National Historical Register. Today, only the water tower remains.
In the 1920s, Fred Kauger, a German from Russia immigrant who came to Colony in the 1890s, constructed several buildings on Seger Street. Today, only three of them remain. The reception is held in two of them with the Gallery of the Plains Indian next door in the old Post office.
Lonnie Yearwood, Colony Mayor and Great Grandson of John Homer Seger says, “Our goal is to renew a sense of community by attracting artists to use our town as a canvas, and as an inspiration for creativity.”

As you can see Colony, Oklahoma is turning into quite the destination for art and historical creations as an Art Colony. Colony, Oklahoma is only a short drive south of Weatherford, Oklahoma off Interstate 40.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
http://realtraveladventures.com/author/zinn/
www.okveterannews.com – www.martinitravels.com

A change of weather and watching the grounds how they change. Jan Welch

It’s in March – but, we’ll be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. I think we’re going to make it. Nancy Markum

Ballgames with OU – football and then basketball season. Todd Markum

The only project I have going is feeding the ducks. Frank Kalies

Good Shepherd Clinic recently presented its Hope Award to Dale Bratzler, D.O., MPH, OU Medicine enterprise quality officer, in recognition of his work as a clinic volunteer. To honor his legacy, the Hope Award will become an annual event in Bratzler’s name, with proceeds placed in the Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH Endowment Fund.
The Good Shepherd Clinic in Oklahoma City is a free, full-time clinic serving uninsured residents of the community. The clinic offers medical and dental services, provided by healthcare professionals who donate their time and skills to ensure that financial concerns do not become barriers to receiving care in a timely manner.
Bratzler began volunteering at Good Shepherd in 2015, believing that healthcare should be available to all members of the community, beyond the emergency room and regardless of ability to pay. As a result of Bratzler’s persistence, the Unity Clinic will launch early in 2020. This initiative will use campus-wide, interprofessional teams of healthcare providers, faculty and students from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, to provide patient care in partnership with Good Shepherd.
Pam Timmons, executive director of Good Shepherd, described volunteers as the heartbeat of fulfilling the clinic’s mission. She commended Bratzler’s charitable efforts, his contributions that have enriched a community desperate for quality healthcare, as well as his leadership and commitment to inspiring and educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“We can’t begin to say how grateful we are for all of the selfless acts of kindness Dr. Bratzler has provided through the years. His commitment just continues to grow,” Timmons said.
The endowment in Bratzler’s name will help the clinic thrive and become more financially sustainable. Endowment funds will be matched at five cents ($0.05) for each dollar processed, by Communities Foundation of Oklahoma – up to a maximum of $50,000 in any given year. This designated fund will generate annual income in perpetuity from the earned investment income to help secure the future of Good Shepherd.
Timmons said, “Dr. Bratzler’s legacy of providing high quality health care for the underserved will continue by his encouragement and empowerment of the next generation of health professionals.”

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the leading association for long term and post-acute care, recently held its 70th Annual Convention & Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Representatives from Golden Age Nursing Facility of Guthrie, Oklahoma were on hand to accept the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award during the National Quality Award Ceremony on October 15, 2019. This year, more than 800 member centers across the nation were recognized with a Quality Award, including 615 Bronze, 184 Silver and an elite group of five at the Gold level. Golden Age Nursing Facility was distinctive as the only facility in Oklahoma to receive the Silver Award this year. The Silver Award is the second of three progressive award levels through the National Quality Award Program, honoring association members that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors. The Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award was earned by Golden Age in 2017.
The National Quality Award Program, which AHCA/NCAL established in 1996, is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The Baldridge program helps organizations in different business sectors improve and achieve performance excellence. As a recipient of the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award, Golden Age may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award criteria.
Care Providers Oklahoma President and CEO Nico Gomez said he was glad Golden Age Nursing Home is being recognized for their hard work and dedication to resident care. “The staff at Golden Age Nursing is delivering excellent care and raising the bar for quality services,” said Gomez. “Their residents are benefiting from the staff’s hard work and receiving a better quality of life.”
“We are proud of our Golden Age team,” said Golden Age administrator Linda Smith. “They have shown the dedication and motivation it takes to achieve such a prestigious distinction. Our team will continue to provide compassionate care and services to our residents, families and the community we are blessed to serve.”

www.meadowlakesretirementvillage.com

by Dr. C.V Ramana

Cancer is an abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells that can occur in almost any part of our bodies. Sometimes the abnormal growth is a result of a mutation in our genes that we inherit from our parents. In some cases, it is due to a mutation or alteration in our DNA in our lifetimes. This mutation can occur after we are conceived, due to exposure to radiation, harmful ultraviolet light from our sun, harmful chemicals in our atmosphere, in our water, in our food or from smoking or chewing tobacco. Sometimes it develops as a result of chronic overstimulation of cells due to longstanding inflammation or infection.
Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth of cells in breast tissue. It can occur in both men and women but is much more common in women. There are many different types of breast cancer due to the multiple types of cells in the breast tissue. The type of cancer depends on the cells that are growing abnormally. This can happen in the lobules which make breast milk, the ducts which transport the milk, or in the surrounding supportive tissue of the breast.
Who is at risk for developing breast cancer?
There is a very strong component of inheritance or family history of breast cancer. The most well-known inherited examples are the BRCA1 gene and BRCA2 genes (which we inherit). These genes code for a protein that helps repair DNA. The presence of this mutation markedly increases the risk of developing breast cancer. An individual with the mutation in either of these genes has a 70% risk of developing breast cancer.
What is the likelihood of developing breast cancer in our lifetime?
In the United States, about 1 in 8 (or 12%) of women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. For men, the lifetime risk is 1 in 1000. Early diagnosis is very important so that it can be treated when it is small and contained in a small area in the breast. Breast cancer is not easy to detect early. Screening is essential.
Screening methods include breast self-exam, healthcare professional exam, mammography, ultrasound, MRI, genetic screening for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, and known family history of breast cancer.
How is it treated?
Treatment depends on the type of breast cancer, its aggressiveness (how fast it grows, how fast it spreads, and how it spreads), its size at time of diagnosis, and staging (identifying whether, and where it has metastasized in our bodies). Staging involves diagnostic testing such as mammography, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, PET scan, Bone scans. Biopsy is an essential part of the diagnosis. A biopsy is done to confirm its presence, the type of cancer, and its aggressiveness. This may also help identify what type of treatment is likely to be most effective.
Treatment methods include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of the area around the tumor. Mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts and axillary dissection is the removal of the lymph nodes or glands and lymphatic tissue in the arm pit. Chemotherapy treatment most commonly involves a combination of pills and intravenous infusions of medicines that have been shown to be effective at killing the abnormal cells. Experimental techniques include targeting the abnormal cells through antibodies and “killer cells” that are engineered to recognize and attack the abnormal cells. Radiation therapy is the treatment by exposure to high doses of x-rays (far higher than the amount used in diagnostic imaging) to the area of the cancer.
Breast cancer is usually treated through a team approach and can include radiologists, surgeons, and oncologists (cancer specialist). Through prevention, early detection, and treatment there are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Dr. C.V Ramana is a vascular and interventional radiologist with more than 20 years of practice experience. He has expertise in all areas of vascular and interventional radiology. Dr. Ramana has a Ph.D from Yale University and MD from CWRU in Cleveland, Ohio where he subsequently completed his fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the Cleveland Clinic.
NAADI HEALTH is located at 1 NW 64th Street in Oklahoma City. Call (405)-608-8884 or visit https://naadihealthcare.com