by Mike Lee, Staff Writer

The holidays are almost upon us. For many it’s a time of family, connections and spirit.
But some or all of that is lacking for many Oklahoma families.
That’s why Liz Banks, volunteer director at the Salvation Army, says now is the time to make your volunteer plans for the holidays.
The Salvation Army’s Central Oklahoma Area Command has a number of volunteer opportunities for the season as well as year-round.
“Volunteers are critical during the Christmas season with our Angel Tree program and Red Kettle campaign,” Banks said. “We treasure each and every individual who gives of their time throughout the year and are so grateful for their support.
Angels are also a priority as each Angel tag on the Angel Tree represents a child or senior who is in need in our community.
“Gift donations to the Angel Tree program not only provide tangible items for the Angels, they are gifts of hope, love and joy for that child or senior who otherwise would not have had a Christmas,” Banks said.
Angels can be adopted at Penn Square Mall or Quail Springs Mall beginning November 12 through December 10.
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma is hosting a Thanksgiving Day Community Meal and all are welcome to join for food and fun. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Outside, families and individuals will be welcome to enjoy coffee, hot chocolate and donuts.
Individuals who are interested in volunteering may arrive at 9 a.m. at the north entrance of The Salvation Army Chesapeake Energy Center of Hope, 1001 N. Pennsylvania. All who would like to volunteer are welcome and calling to sign up as a Thanksgiving Day Volunteer is not necessary.
Christmas is a season with lots of activities at the Salvation Army, none of which could be accomplished without an army of volunteers.
Opportunities include:
Christmas Distribution Center: Come help to prepare each Angel’s gifts at the distribution center. This is for ages 13 and up with dates running from December 2-14.
Angel Tree Family Gift Distribution: Be a guide for the Angel Tree families as they come to receive their gifts. For ages 13 and up. This is a great opportunity for corporations and businesses. Dates are December 15-18.
Ring the Bell: Invite family, friends and coworkers to adopt a red kettle location for four hours, a day or a week. This raises funds for The Salvation Army’s programs like the Client Choice Food Pantry, Senior Centers and Boys & Girls Club. Dates run from November 20 – December 24.
The Salvation Army runs on volunteers like Georgann who only knew about The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles when she first visited.
But since that visit four months ago, she has dedicated herself to serve families in need in our community, even though it means stepping out of her comfort zone.
“It really speaks to my heart. It is hard work but it’s very rewarding,” Georgann shared.
The Salvation Army food pantry has become her favorite place because of the people.
“I began helping a woman in the pantry one day and she shared with me that it was her prayer she receive leg of lamb during her visit,” she said. “As we approached the freezer to look at the meat selection, right on the bottom shelf was a leg of lamb for her to have! It was so neat!”
Though she may have been nervous as a first-time volunteer, Georgann has fallen in love with giving back to her community and sharing with others the work going on here.
“I just hope, as the opportunities come around, I can do more. The people that I visit with at church about The Salvation Army…they’re thinking it’s just the kettle or ringing bells. But, no, it’s a whole lot more than that. We’re just trying to help people.”
If individuals would like to give beyond volunteering or adopting an Angel, giving to the Red Kettle is always appreciated.
The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma is meeting the needs of our community 365 days a year. Donations to the red kettle provides shelter, groceries, utility bill assistance, disaster services and dinner for our community as well as a safe place for children and seniors year round. Donations can be made by visiting www.salvationarmyokcac.org, mailing a check to The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma, Attn: Development Department, 1001 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107 or dropping change in the red kettle beginning November 20.

by Mike Lee
Staff Writer

At 56, Robin L. Byford, CPA, CFP, is senior vice president – wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. in Oklahoma City.
She works with clients of all ages but seniors come to her with a variety of questions. She counsels seniors on making their resources last as long as possible and helps them decide what’s best for them.
A CPA for 34 years, Byford says her No. 1 piece of advice she would give to seniors is to be in the house they want and to have it paid off or almost paid off before going into retirement.
“What we have found just by observation in our practice is that you need to … start landing the plane at age 60,” Byford said. “Because every day after that is almost a gift.”
Byford said by this time the odds of either you or your spouse having a health event are drastically increasing. The odds increase exponentially if you are fortunate enough to have a living parent.
“All of those things will keep you from working full-time,” Byford said.”
About 90 percent of seniors plan to continue living in their own homes for the next five to 10 years, according to an AARP survey. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define “aging in place” as being able to live in one’s home and community safely, independently and comfortably – regardless of age, income or ability level.
The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants recommends addressing four questions to make independent living a more workable reality.
Question No. 1: What really matters to you?
Don’t get hung up on the term “aging in place.” If you want to continue enjoying the people and activities you love, it may not be necessary to remain in the same residence. As a first step in your planning, list what’s important to you in your current lifestyle and the things you wouldn’t mind changing. While selling the family home can be an emotional decision, it may be the best choice if a smaller place is easier to maintain, closer to family and a money saver that could allow you to travel.
Question No. 2: Will your current home accommodate your needs?
It’s important to determine if your current home will still be a good fit if you have problems with mobility or health as you get older. Features that make homes more comfortable for older people include bedrooms and bathrooms that are located on the entry level; few, if any, steps in the doorways or throughout the home; and entryways that are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. Conduct an informal assessment of your home to decide if it’s accessible now or if some remodeling projects could be in order.
Question No. 3: What would renovation cost?
If you don’t think your home will remain easily accessible as you age, consider potential renovation expenses. A MetLife study cited renovation costs at $800 to $1,200 for widening a doorway; roughly $500 for the installation of two bathroom grab bars; and $3,500 to $35,000 for a variety of bathroom improvements – including better lighting and handicap accessible showers, tub seats and sinks. If remodeling seems too costly or complicated, you can downsize homes or change to a location that’s easier to navigate and still remain independent. There may even be other benefits to moving into a different home or neighborhood. For example, a new place in a populous area may give you easier access to social activities.
Question No. 4: Do I have a good support system?
Either now or later, you may need to rely on others to care for you or help with everyday tasks. It will be easier to remain relatively independent if you live near family or friends, home health care providers, doctors and medical facilities. Your planning should include a local support system that meets your changing needs. As part of this effort, investigate local community and government resources, in addition to geriatric care managers. For more eldercare tips and locations, visit www.eldercare.gov and read “Your 1st Step to Finding Resources for Older Adults.”

The Alzheimer’s Association’s new report, The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on Medicaid Costs: A Growing Burden for States, released today, found that between 2015 and 2025, Medicaid costs for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will increase in every state in the U.S. and the District of Columbia.
In Oklahoma, Medicaid spending on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will increase by more than 40 percent over the next 10 years. This year, spending will total $437 million, increasing to $613 million in 2025.
“With the quickly rising Medicaid costs for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Oklahoma needs to continue to refine The State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease in Oklahoma, enhance standards of quality care, as well as attack the disease through research,” said Mark Fried, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Oklahoma Chapter.
Seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias rely on Medicaid, which is funded by state and federal governments, at a rate nearly three times greater than other seniors due to the long duration of the disease, the intense personal care needs and the high cost of long-term care services. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, by the age of 80, 75 percent of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will be admitted to a nursing home, compared with just four percent of the general population.
Alzheimer’s is a triple threat, with soaring prevalence, lack of treatment and enormous costs that no one can afford, but we are here to help. Beyond funding vital research, the Alzheimer’s Association offers free resources to guide the over 60,000 Oklahomans living with Alzheimer’s and their more than 220,000 unpaid family caregivers, including:
Alzheimer’s Association Helpline (1-800-272-3900): This toll-free 24/7 Helpline is the one of its kind; the Helpline is staffed by masters-level counselors and provides information and guidance in more than 170 languages and dialects.
Support Groups: Connect with others going through the same journey and get support through the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Education Programs: Attend caregiver education classes and workshops to learn about connecting with and caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
To find a local list of education programs and support groups, visit alz.org/CRF
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

by Bobby Anderson
Staff Writer

In a world where seniors often decide it’s time to sit back and relax on a bench, 51-year-old Christy Hadley is working on improving how much she can bench.
During the day, Hadley works as an assistant secretary to the principal at Briarwood Elementary in Moore. But at night, a few mornings and nearly every weekend she’s running, lifting and having the time of her life.
“Age does not have to make you feel helpless,” Hadley said. “At 51 I think I feel fierce.”
The fierceness comes from Hadley’s five-year-love affair with Crossfit, a strength and conditioning program used by many police academies, tactical operations teams and even military special operations units.
Her husband, Rodney, doesn’t mind though. He does it right along with her as does son, Cody, and daughter, Cassidy.
Hadley became interested in Crossfit when her husband and son started at Crossfit Exile in Moore.
“The enthusiasm when you get there and the young people rallying around (is amazing),” Christy Hadley said. “I never felt like I was an outsider. I felt like they were pulling for me to reach the goals I set myself.”
Hadley admits it can be intimidating but the beauty of Crossfit training is that it meets each individual athlete where they are and builds from there.
Owner Andrew Nicholas meets with each new athlete and works out a progression plan. For many who walk into the gym it’s been quite some time since they last worked out.
But it’s the camaraderie of going through difficult things with others that hooked Hadley for life.
“It was the atmosphere and the support and cheering and rallying you get behind you,” Hadley said. “It was also coming to the realization that I’m getting ready to be in the prime of my life. This is what God has given me, now it’s up to me to see what I can do. It was pushing myself farther and seeing how much I could change myself.”
Last summer, Hadley let her husband post a picture of her in a bikini on Facebook for the first time. She’s also been known to rock the occasional miniskirt.
“I have more confidence at 51 than I ever had in my 20s or 30s,” Hadley said.
It’s that kind of confidence that Marcie Billen focuses on specifically with seniors at Exile’s sister gym, Norman Strength and Conditioning.
Her Silver Strength program is designed for ages 55 and up to improve energy levels, balance, flexibility, core strength, and quality of life. She has a passion for inspiring others to achieve their goals and extend their active years well into their 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.
Growing up an only child, Billen said she formed a close bond with her grandparents. In college she volunteered at Full Circle Adult Day Care.
She became a personal trainer to focus on seniors.
Her first client was 69.
“In strength training they have more balance and it comes with the fact that lifting weights you have to be able to balance the weight and stand up straight,” Billen said.
And with weight training comes increased bone density, something she’s sure to point out to clients.
The statistics back up the case for weightlifting, particularly in females
Women ages 65–69 who break a hip are five times more likely to die within a year than women of the same age who don’t break a hip, according to a Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
This paper breaks down death risk by age group. In addition to the finding for women ages 65–69, it finds that for women ages 70–79, a hip fracture doubles the risk of dying within a year. Most women 80 and older have the same risk of dying within a year whether they fracture their hip or not, but for women 80 and older who are in excellent health, a hip fracture nearly triples the risk of dying within a year.
Billen says clients most often remark about increased energy levels after working out.
“Some of the stuff I heard them say is ‘I can garden for five hours now without getting tired,’ or they’re doing races with their grandchildren,” Billen says. “They’re excited about these every day tasks.
“It’s just exciting for me to see people take back control of their lives when, before, they thought they were on a path to the grave,” she said.