Story by By Steven Sibley, MBA/Healthcare Administration

I enjoyed a 36 year career in the military, in the Air Force and Army, on active duty and in the reserve. I was honorably discharged from the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) in 2017 at the age of 61, after 10 years as an Army Reserve Career Counsellor, where my primary duties were recruiting, retention, and educating reservists about their benefits. Now, I do the same for military retirees with their healthcare benefits. While we have great healthcare benefits, many retirees do not access or understand how to maximize them. In my opinion, they make the following three crucial missteps.
First, many retirees fail to use the VA Healthcare System or file for VA disability. Generally, anyone who has served on active duty, is eligible for both these benefits. Veterans can seek care with the Oklahoma VA Hospital by enrolling into the VA’s OKC downtown location, room 1B109. Veterans Services Officers (VSOs) are in the same room who can assist with filing disability claims. Claims can also be file at most VFW and American Legion post’s, the DAV, and the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA).
Secondly, many retirees seek another career after leaving active service. Those employers generally offer healthcare benefits. Since retirees are eligible for Tricare Prime or Select up to age 65, they should carefully review their employer plan with Tricare, to see which offers the best benefits and lowest costs. Once a retiree turns 65, they will convert to Medicare with Tricare for Life (TFL). TFL is a premium free wrap around plan, secondary to Medicare, with prescription drug coverage (aka express scripts). Once on Medicare, there is no need for a retiree to continue paying for an employer health plan, which becomes the 3rd payor. This means they only pay the remaining balance after both Medicare, the primary coverage, and TFL, the secondary pays everything Medicare doesn’t. In this scenario, there would be no unpaid balance, so there would be no claim to file with a 3rd payor. It’s simply insurance you do not need.
The third problem is that there is little clear training given about TFL and exactly how it works. Retirees just know that they go to the doctor, get care, and don’t get a bill. While that’s a great benefit, veterans deserve and can access more from the Medicare portion of their TFL by using Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) which will positively impact their health, wellness, and more.
I offer needed education, along with answers and advice to both veterans and their beneficiaries about their healthcare benefits. No cost, no pressure, just help. We’ll sit down and have a conversation until we are satisfied that you understand all that you need to know to make an informed decision about ALL the great healthcare you’ve earned and deserve for you and your dependents. See my ad on this page, and give me a call at 405-850-1569.

Image by Freepik

Entering the empty nest phase can be both exhilarating and daunting. Parents often experience a mix of emotions, from sadness to liberation, as their children leave home. However, it’s also an opportunity for self-renewal and personal growth. In this helpful guide presented by Senior News & Living OK, we will delve into eight pivotal strategies for making this new stage in life truly fulfilling. These suggestions can help parents shift focus towards their own aspirations.
Unearth Hidden Talents: Cultivating a New Hobby
Ever wanted to write poetry or learn how to scuba dive? Now is your chance! Acquiring a new hobby or skill brings with it a sense of accomplishment. Empty nesters can utilize their newfound freedom to explore interests they never had time for before. From painting landscapes to cooking gourmet meals, this is an opportunity for both joy and self-expression.
Degree of Success: Furthering Your Education
Longing for a career change or promotion? Going back to school may be the right move. With fewer family commitments, it’s easier to focus on academic achievements. Opt for an online program that offers a flexible schedule and suits your specific interests and career goals, such as one with a bachelor’s degree in business. Such programs cater to adult learners and can pave the way for new career opportunities – all on their own schedule.
Wanderlust Unleashed: Visit Your Dream Places
Traveling as an empty nester offers a unique opportunity to rediscover the world and oneself without the constant demands of parenting. The freedom to spontaneously explore destinations or delve into long-desired adventures becomes a reality. For those who’ve dreamt of experiencing the magic without the constraints of child schedules, Disney World stands out as a mesmerizing destination. To make this dream more accessible, there are websites that offer deals and insider tips to ensure an affordable experience; simply click here to start the journey. Embracing this phase of life can be rejuvenating and fun.
Strengthen Family Bonds: Reconnect with Your Kids
Family remains essential, even when the nest is empty. The absence of daily responsibilities presents an opportunity to nurture family relationships in a new way. Empty nesters should prioritize family visits, gatherings, and even vacations. Moments like these strengthen family ties and create lasting memories.
Reinvent Your Castle: Home Revamp
With extra space and time, why not consider a home makeover? You can transform that old kids’ room into a cozy reading nook or a sleek (but functional) home office. Investing in home improvements like kitchen renovations or redecoration projects can be fulfilling. The result is a home that reflects your current needs and aesthetic preferences.
Serenity Now: Embrace Mindfulness
A quieter home offers the perfect backdrop for introspection and self-care. Activities like yoga, meditation, or even simple nature walks can be calming. Empty nesters can channel this tranquil energy towards better mental and emotional well-being. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can yield a balanced, healthier life for years to come.
Expand Your Circle: Make Social Connections
Although your kids might have moved out, there’s no reason to feel isolated. Now is the perfect time to cultivate new friendships and rekindle old ones. Whether joining a book club, partaking in social gatherings, or engaging in community service, social activities can be a balm for loneliness. An expanded social circle can offer emotional support and enrich your life.
Community Engagement: Offer Your Time and Skills
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to give back and stay active. Offering your time to causes you care deeply about can be immensely satisfying. Whether you opt to volunteer at a local animal shelter, school, or charity, your efforts can make a difference. Engaging in community service can also provide a sense of purpose.

Transitioning into the empty nest phase is an exciting journey into personal freedom and discovery. By venturing into new hobbies, advancing your education, exploring the world, reconnecting with family, sprucing up your home, practicing mindfulness, widening your social circle, and volunteering, you can enrich this chapter of your life. Your nest may be empty, but your life doesn’t have to be. So, why not embrace this new phase and explore all it has to offer?

The OKC VA Healthcare System would like to extend their appreciation to all the Veterans who have trusted their care with us and helped to make the OKC VA HCS the fastest growing health care system in the country.
“We have pushed our community engagement and outreach programs to travel to remote locations to personally reach out to our Veteran population and provide them with the answers to their questions,” said Wade Vlosich, OKC VA Director. “Many Veterans are not sure if they are eligible for VA healthcare or not, and the best way to find out is by letting us help you navigate the VA eligibility process with our expert staff.”
As of August 2023, the OKCVAHCS data results include:

• * OKCVAHCS consists of a 192-operating bed facility, located in central Oklahoma serving 47 Oklahoma counties and two counties in North Central Texas (Wilbarger and Wichita), with a total unique Veteran population over 74,600.
• * OKCVAHCS consists of 15 outpatient clinics, 4 outpatient clinic partnerships with the Department of Defense and a Friendship House/Compensated Work Therapy transitional residence.
• * OKCVAHCS is in the process of procuring space off-site for a Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Program (SARRTP) and Community Living Center.
• * OKCVAHCS currently has outpatient clinics in Ada, Altus, Ardmore, Blackwell, Clinton, Enid, Lawton (DoD), Lawton North (DoD), Norman, North Oklahoma City, North May, Shawnee, South Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Tinker (DoD), Wichita Falls, and Yukon.
  Through the OKC VA partnership with DoD, they have opened clinics on Fort Sill Army Base and on Tinker Air Force Base. OKC VAHCS is a part of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, which includes facilities in Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
  Positive changes and improvements have been made throughout the system to include:
• One of 15 VA Systems in the country to receive the exoskeleton robotic device providing spinal cord injury providing Veterans the ability to walk.
• OKC VA is the only VA to have completed minimally invasive outpatient lumbar spine fusion surgeries.
• Offers VA Express Care Clinic at the main hospital and in Outpatient Clinics. The Express Care Clinic is similar to an urgent care clinic.
• Robust Lean-Six-Sigma management program with a running total of 205 projects.
• Implemented a robotic surgery program.
• OKC VA HCS has sharing agreements with DoD Facilities to increase integration of best practices of health care services to military service members and Veterans.
• In 2020, first VA to deploy and staff mobile ICU on campus to support the Oklahoma City area with additional bed capacity due to increased COVID cases.
• Opened new Veterans Resource Center in 2019 which houses: Veterans Recovery Center, Mental Health Intensive Case Management, Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams, and HUD-VASH.
• Selected as one of 12 sites to receive a Fisher House. This will be the first Fisher House in the state of Oklahoma.

“We are proud to announce that according to FY23 VHA statistics, we are leading the nation in growth but we are even more excited about is the ability to take care of the nation’s most precious resource—our Veterans,” Vlosich said, “Not only do we strive to provide the best medical care for our Veteran population but we are also thinking outside the box on innovative ideas to reach the most rural areas in Oklahoma. The statistics prove that what we are doing here at the OKC VA, is working and we plan on keeping up this positive momentum going forward for 2024.”
For more information about the OKC VA Health Care System and programs, please click the link below or visit the VA website at: Oklahoma City VA Medical Center | VA Oklahoma City Health Care | Veterans Affairs

By Thomas Shevlin, Recovery + Resiliency Director — Mission 22

Duty. Discipline. Teamwork. Loyalty. Sacrifice. Military culture inculcates these values into its members, and they are long cherished even after active personnel return to civilian life. Indeed, most Veterans from all branches of service continue to adhere to these values for the rest of their days.

These values make Veterans excellent citizens, neighbors, employees, and friends. Yet, the challenges of combat can also make it difficult for Veterans to reintegrate into their communities, as the effects of military service — which can be positive as well as negative — last a lifetime.

The good news is that caregivers, retirement communities, and other community members can help their Veterans thrive in civilian life. Below, I explain how.

Develop cultural competence

The first thing Americans can do is understand the unique perspective Veterans derive from their military experience. The military has its own subculture, so when civilian employers and communities inform themselves about its tenets, they build their cultural competency.

Namely, Veterans have encountered distinct life events during their service. For instance, deployment often requires long separations from their significant others and family members. They may also have faced combat, and some may have been responsible for keeping their team alive during hostilities. In consequence, many Veterans may be accustomed to wielding a level of authority that is rare in civilian contexts.

When Veterans’ unique experiences are not just acknowledged and included, but also respected, it has a positive impact by helping Veterans feel understood. This is a solid foundation upon which to build connections with others.

That’s why caregivers, staff at retirement communities, and other community members should take the time to learn about the military histories of each Veteran, which starts with knowing their military branch, rank, and deployments. It should also include any significant events that transpired during their service. Retirement communities should also offer workshops or training programs to help staff understand Veterans.

Create inclusive communities

Veterans often feel isolated and struggle to find ways to participate in civilian communities. As such, the best way caregivers, staff, and other community members can include Veterans is by listening actively to them and offering them both acceptance and empathy.

Toward that end, retirement communities should give staff opportunities to learn about and practice these essential communication skills. Over time, if Veterans see their experiences are valued, they will start to open up and contribute more and more.

Retirement communities should also consider creating support networks specifically for them. These groups foster a sense of camaraderie, making Veterans feel more comfortable and embedded in their new communities.

Normalize asking for help

While many Veterans suffer from mental health issues, they may fear seeking treatment due to the stigma that sometimes surrounds these challenges. That’s why retirement communities should not only provide mental health services, but also encourage help-seeking behavior.

In addition, navigating the healthcare system often presents difficulties of its own. The more communities can make their processes simple, clear, and intuitive, the more likely everyone — not just Veterans — will be able to avail themselves of these services effectively, meaning patient outcomes are likely to improve overall.

In general, caregivers and staff should be knowledgeable about the resources available, both within the retirement community and through external organizations. This includes access to healthcare services, mental health support, and any benefits they may be entitled to as veterans.

Everyone benefits by including Veterans

Civilian communities and employers should value the richness of Veterans’ experiences, the depth of their values, and the nature of their challenges. When they do, everyone benefits, and the whole community thrives.

— Thomas Shevlin, Recovery + Resiliency Director at Mission 22, is a former infantry machine gunner who served in the Marine Corps. He went through two deployments, one in combat. After serving four years, he became a personal trainer and obtained his Kinesiology degree. Having competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting, he has taken the knowledge of physical application and educational application to formulate a structure that is most advantageous for health and fitness goals. Still having a passion for the military, as well as that of health and fitness, he wanted to incorporate the two together in order to help veterans in need.

Story and photo by Eddie Roach, VillagesOKC Member/Volunteer

“VillagesOKC is everywhere!” That’s what we hear from friends who’ve been watching as we’ve grown over the past five years. And, while we aren’t everywhere, we are lots of places with our own events and partnering with others.
Our newest partnerships are with the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City and the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma. The YMCA partnership is intended to foster a sense of community and social connection among members of the YMCA and VillagesOKC. The Neighborhood Alliance partnership includes the opportunity to publish older-adult focused articles in the Alliance’s quarterly newsletter, which has a distribution list of 6,600.
Here are some of the other organizations with which VillagesOKC partners to connect members with information and resources to age successfully – with vitality and purpose.
– Caregiver Ambassadors is a program within VillagesOKC which helps train a network of volunteers guiding faith communities through the challenges of aging.
– Senior Living Truth Series offers two monthly seminars on topics affecting older adults. We are education partners with the Truth Series.
– NewView Oklahoma is a valuable partner that provides services and employment opportunities to empower individuals who are blind or have low vision.
– Oklahoma Senior Journal provides a comprehensive guide to all things senior as well as hosting the Second Half Expo each October.
– OKC Town Hall Lecture Series brings nationally recognized speakers to the city. We are proud to partner with them and promote these stimulating and informative lectures.
– Veterans Initiatives include partnering with Force50 Foundation, Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, Vietnam Era Veterans recognition and pinning, and Path to Freedom hosted by NewView Oklahoma.
Details for all our activities and those of our partners are on the Events Calendar on our website: https://www.villagesokc.org/, or call (405) 990-6637. We’d love to see you!

The Metropolitan Library System is proud to offer the Library By Mail program to help Oklahoma County residents 65 years or older who are homebound get access to library materials.
The Library by Mail program provides materials (like books, CDs, DVDs, and more) by USPS at no cost to library customers who are homebound or are otherwise physically unable to visit one of our 19 library locations. Recipients can simply request materials through the catalog or by phone, and Metro Library will mail them. When the guest is ready to return the materials, they’ll put them back in the bag they received them in, and send them back to the library with no postage required.
Library by Mail also offers monthly newsletters with suggested titles from the Library by Mail collection.
Now, with the integration of Metropolitan Library System’s upgraded catalog (starting Nov. 1), customers will be able to select “Library by Mail” as their pickup location to have their material(s) mailed to them.
To access this service, guests can visit metrolibrary.org/LBM and log in with their library card number and last name.
Interested recipients who are 65 years or older and reside in Oklahoma County can call 405-606-3295 or 405-606-3297 or email askalibrary@metrolibrary.org to consult with a staff member to determine eligibility.
About Metropolitan Library System: The Metropolitan Library System provides library services for more than 800,000 residents of Oklahoma County with 19 physical locations as well as 24/7 access to our digital resources at metrolibrary.org.

Former Governors Share Experience, Wisdom During Fireside Chat

Story and photo by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh, age 96, recalled listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous fireside chats as a child.
Nigh and former Gov. Brad Henry both got to participate in their own “fireside chat” before an audience recently at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie. The event was a fundraiser for the Oklahoma Territorial Museum which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023.
Nigh served as the 17th and the 22nd governor of Oklahoma and as the eighth and tenth lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. He was the first Oklahoma governor to be re-elected and the first to win all 77 counties in the state. Additionally, short term vacancies in the governor’s office twice resulted in Nigh assuming gubernatorial duties while serving as lieutenant governor.
In 1950, at age 23 Nigh became the youngest member of the state legislature when elected to the House of Representatives from Pittsburg County. In 1953 he introduced the bill that made “Oklahoma!” the official state song.
“As a kid in school, I listened every week to Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chat before hardly anybody in this room was born,” Nigh told audience members which included students from Guthrie Junior High, and hardly ever did he attack somebody personally, hardly ever did he call (someone) a dirty word or anything, but he talked about how things were. He basically brought the country through the Depression. Then he brought the country through World War II, and he died shortly before Japan surrendered in 1945. He was not the dictator, he was not the emperor, he was not the king. He was the president. He was an executive. And he led personally and motivated this country.”
Henry, who was the last Democratic governor of Oklahoma, said Nigh was a mentor to him.
“I want to say that he is literally and figuratively my mentor,” Henry said. “When I was a sophomore in college, he allowed me to intern in his office. But it was not your typical intern experience. One of my jobs was every morning to get there a little early, go through the main newspapers and cut out any article that related to the governor or the Legislature, legislation pending legislation, things of interest to the governor’s office. I would copy them all and make it packageable. George would come in and sit down with me while I was reading the paper, and would just visit with me about the day’s news or whatever was on his mind. As you can imagine. It was just absolutely fascinating.”
Henry said Nigh served as a role model for him deciding to run for public office.
“I just had to recognize my friend and mentor George, because he’s a big part of my quest and my decision making and my drive to serve people,” Henry said. “I love the way he puts it. I absolutely agree with him. It’s not about politics, it’s not about being a politician, in my view, it’s about public service.”
Henry said he comes from a public service family.
“I grew up in a family of public servants and I wanted to serve the public,” he said. “My mother was a school teacher. My aunt and grandparents were school teachers. My father was a state representative and a county judge. My uncle was a county judge. My cousin Robert Henry, who you all probably know was state representative then later Attorney General and on and on. I just always wanted to serve.”
Henry initially tried to recruit other Democrats to run for governor, but was persuaded to give it a try.
“The bottom line is I looked back to the service of George Nigh and Henry Bellmon,” he said. “It wasn’t just a Democrat or Republican thing; it was a servant thing. I met Henry Bellmon when I was working for George and became very close and good friends with Henry. I think George and I and Henry are two of the greatest governors that this state has seen. Those two individuals really inspired me to take that risk, take that step.”
Henry told the audience that you sometimes have to take risks for something you believe in.
“I think it’s important to be willing to take a risk to put yourself out there, to be willing to fail,” he said. “Because if you’re not willing to fail, if you’re not willing to make a mistake, you’re never going to make it be successful. And that’s what it boils down to me.”
Nigh said he knew at an early age he wanted to become governor.
“When I was in the ninth grade, I took a vocations class at McAlester,” he said. “You wrote down what you wanted to be when you grew up, this was before Pearl Harbor in 1941. I wrote down that I wanted to be governor, and then you discussed that for the semester.”
Nigh has given commencement speeches across the state and around the country hoping to motivate young people to go into public service during their lifetime.
“I’ve made hundreds of commencement speeches, and what I want to tell these students is you cannot be drafted to be a legislator or governor or President,” he said. “You have to offer yourself. Be involved in serving the people. Yeah, be a politician. Take out an ad, shake hands, kiss a few babies, make a speech, but then be a public servant. And that’s why all 77 counties are important to Oklahoma, not just the one you come from. I want to encourage everyone to get involved.”

John Kilman: 100 years old. John Kilman of Oklahoma City will be 100 on October 11th. Family and friends gathered this weekend to celebrate. John served in the US Army during WWII. He had a career as a typesetter, retiring in 1986. Looking back on John’s 100 years of living, there have been many memorable changes in technology, automobiles, computers and telephones.

Terry Underwood: 100 years old. Terry Underwood volunteered for St. Francis Hospital for 53 years and 32 years for the Red Cross. Words of wisdom for us today: Don’t Ever Give Up; Keep Saying You Can Do It; Be Nice to All Even if They Aren’t; Count Your Blessings; and Be Grateful for What you Have.

Paul Max Dudley: 100 years old. WWI Army Air Corps Veteran, Paul Max Dudley of Bixby retired as Deputy Fire Chief after being with the Tulsa Fire Department for 40 years. Words of wisdom: “Be respectful to others, be humble, be thankful for the opportunities you have, listen and learn!”

Marjorie Anglen: 100 years old. Marjorie Anglen of Broken Arrow had a career as a Drill Press Operator for McDonald Douglas, was an Eastern Star, loved to travel and still loves anything sweet!

KNOW A CENTENARIAN?
If you know of a Centenarian you would like to honor, please visit https://centenariansok.com and download and submit our form.