You At Your Best

Some people think a will is all they need to handle their personal affairs. Others think they don't have enough assets to justify creating a trust. Most retirees don't even consider the ramifications of a guardian being appointed to make decisions on their behalf as a result of failing to plan. The March 12 seminar in the free Senior Smart Talk series will address what planning and legal instruments senior adults should have in place. The seminar is intended to dispel some common myths surrounding trusts, wills and guardianships and to help educate senior adults about their options. A panel of local experts will address these and other issues related to estate planning documents. "A key to making informed decisions about what you want in retirement is advanced planning and education," said seminar series moderator Alison Van Hecke. "It's important to know your options and take action while you have the ability to do so on your own terms." "Most people think these documents are for when we are no longer here; however, many are very important for the living," Alison added. The seminar runs from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. There is no cost to attend for those age 55 or older. Registration for professionals is $25. Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required at www.senior-smart-talk.com or by calling 479- 717-7710. Follow us on Facebook for regular updates and seminar information. Upcoming Senior Smart Talk seminars include "Let's Talk: Selling the Family Home" on April 9, 2020, "Let's Talk: Nutrition and Overall Wellness" on May 14, 2020 and "Let's Talk: Going from "WE" to "ME" on June 11, 2020. Sponsors of the series include: Lighthouse Group NWA - Keller Williams Market Pro Realty; Circle of Life; Grandbrook Memory Care; Home Instead Senior Care; RMP Law; Todd Whatley, PA; Senior Services NWA; Springwoods; Handle With Care Move Management, The Meadows in Bentonville, and Village on the Park. let's talk: alison Van hecke, lMsW, cshp, sres sponsor content Getting your personal affairs in order The American Heart Association is fighting for the country's young people and against the vaping epidemic by funding millions in new nicotine research, working to strengthen laws and policies nationwide and exposing the e-cigarette industry's lies. With funding of $20 million, the End the Lies Youth Vaping and Nicotine Research Initiative will fund groundbreaking projects that focus on understanding how nicotine impacts young people. "This research project, one of the largest ever funded by the association, will help us answer critical questions about the health consequences of e-cigarette use and nicotine addiction, particularly in youth," said Serena Munns, executive director of the American Heart Association in Northwest Arkansas. The effects on the heart, brain, lungs and blood vessels are not well understood, especially among children and adolescents. The recent spate of vaping-related lung disease and deaths are a tragic validation of this knowledge gap. Priority areas for the research initiative include: nicotine's impact on adolescent brain development, intelligence and learning; the impact of nicotine and other e-cigarette compounds on the cardiovascular system; and how device types, flavors and other e-cigarette chemicals and byproducts influence addiction, Munns said. The AHA is also joining forces with Kaiser Permanente in the Preventing Youth Nicotine Addiction Policy Fund, which aims to ensure federal, state and community lawmakers and policymakers do their part. "Strong regulation and oversight can help prevent youth access and avoid a lifetime of nicotine addiction that can begin with vaping," Munns added. The fund will support continuing advocacy efforts to: restrict tobacco sales to adults 21 and older; prohibit marketing to kids; include e-cigarettes in comprehensive smoke-free laws; and tax e-cigarettes at the same rates as traditional tobacco. To engage support at the grassroots level, the #QuitLying community engagement campaign was developed. The campaign will help people share the lies and facts about e-cigarettes on social media. "E-cigarette companies lie to our kids when they falsely claim their products are safe, and they deceive parents by marketing devices that look like USB drives, pens and eye liner," Munns said. Teens, parents and educators are encouraged to learn more and join the campaign at QuitLying.org. Story and photo courtesy of the American Heart Association aha tackles youth vaping crisis with massive new initiative satUrday, feBrUary 29, 2020 | March - natUral health & Wellness nWadg.coM/yoUatyoUrBest | yoU at yoUr Best | 5 L O C A T I O N & T I M E : Call 479-717-7710 to reserve your seat. Or register online at www.senior-smart-talk.com LO C AT I O N & T I M E : Embassy Suites - Rogers 3303 S. Pinnacle Hills Parkway 10-11:30 AM JOIN US FOR A SERIES OF CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH LOCAL EXPERTS FOCUSED ON THE UNIQUE AND COMPLEX ISSUES FACING NWA'S SENIORS. FREE Seminar! March 12th SeMinar: Getting Your Personal Affairs In Order Sometimes there can be complexities related to the transfer of assets. is is especially true when multiple decision makers are involved or capacity or in- heritances are questioned. More times than not families try to solve these problems during a crisis, but creating a plan in advance is a far better way of dealing with this. Join us to hear first hand from legal and tax experts about how to avoid common challenges faced by NWA families. Future Free eventS: april 9th: Selling the Family Home May 14th: Nutrition and Overall Wellness June 11th: Going from "ME" to "WE"

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