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Saturday, December 29, 2012 ��� Daily News 3B Glory Days maturity &lifestyles Senior Sleuths battle fraud against the elderly By Susan Jacobson Orlando Sentinel (MCT) A LTA M O N T E SPRINGS, Fla. ��� When Nola McGhee���s dryer finally conked out, she took $150 she had scraped together for Christmas presents and spent it on a used machine she found on Craigslist. Less than four days later, the dryer stopped working. McGhee ��� 60 years old and disabled ��� tried to get her money back from the stranger who sold it to her with a 30day guarantee. No dice. Then she found Seniors vs. Crime. Within a day, McGhee had her refund. ���I really didn���t expect to get anything back,��� she said. ���I was very grateful. I���ve been able to pick up a few Christmas gifts, and I feel happy inside because the story had a happy ending.��� Seniors vs. Crime grew out of a 1989 task force that found seniors were being targeted by scam artists, high-pressure sales pitches and false advertising. Taskforce member Vern Thornton proposed a volunteer-run crime-prevention program composed of seniors to then-Attorney General Bob Butterworth, who was concerned about the vulnerability of Florida���s sizable older population. Today, Seniors vs. Crime is available to adults of any age, although most clients are senior citizens. ���We teach people to become scam-resistant,��� said David Blacklock, 68, regional director and a retired Orlando, Fla., police sergeant. Several thousand volunteers age 50 and older ��� known as Senior Sleuths ��� operate out of 45 offices statewide, including in Orange, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Polk counties. Occasionally, law officers enlist their help in stings to catch deceptive salespeople, monitor Secrets to living long and well By Mary Meehan Lexington Herald-Leader (MCT) MCT photo You might have noticed that TV weatherman Willard Scott���s morning roll call of people celebrating 100-plus years on the planet seems to grow longer and longer. According to the U.S. Census, the number of American centenarians has roughly doubled in the past 20 years to about 72,000 and is projected to at least double again by 2020. (The same experts, however, also say that that might be a conservative guess.) Linda J. Van Eldik, director of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky, said several factors have contributed to the longevity. First, Americans as a whole are living longer. The average life expectancy has gone from 49 at the turn of the 20th century to 78 in 2012. Also, she said, medical advances have made it possible to routinely cure diseases that once were fatal. Van Eldik said there appear to be some common traits among those who live the longest. Many of them, she said, ���follow a series of good health habits��� such as exercising and eating a balanced diet. She said a positive personality seems to be another common thread. ���They seem to have an increased level of happiness,��� she said. That doesn���t mean that life has not thrown centenarians their share of tough times. But, she said, they seem to have an ability to come back after difficulties with a continued positive outlook. With the first baby boomers having turned 65 last year, she said, that demographic tidal wave is likely to change a lot about how seniors are seen and treated for the better, although it also will create health challenges. Sanders-Brown is a major force in research on Alzheimer���s. Van Eldik said the percentage of American families dealing with Alzheimer���s and other forms of dementia will continue to grow, increasing the demand for services for that population. People who have reached ages 95 to 100 without serious complications of dementia will probably be OK, she said. And, she said, there is good news for those who are decades away from hitting the 100 mark. It���s never too late to start good habits that can contribute to a long, healthy life, or to help the older folks you love make the most of their time. Obviously, exercise and diet are important. But exercise doesn���t need to mean preparing for a marathon, she said. Chair exercises or a walk are simple exercises that most people are able to handle. It���s also important for all of us, especially senior citizens, to stay intellectually engaged, she said. That includes trying new things. Again, she said, it doesn���t have to be something on a grand scale. It could be something as simple as trying out a new restaurant, reading a new author or mastering a new technology, such as an iPad. Another important tool, she said, is staying socially engaged. Play cards or mahjong, go out to lunch, visit with family, volunteer or go shopping with friends. Put these tips into action, and the Willard Scott of the future might have a special birthday message for you. Jim Moreland, 72, left, a retired eminent-domain lawyer and city judge; Linda Parkinson, 67, center, a retired attorney for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration; and Sandi Jernigan, Seniors vs. Crime deputy regional director for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler and Brevard, Fla., sit in the Seniors vs. Crime office. retired president and whether pharmacies are Sheriff���s Office. Parkinson���s job is to chief executive of a comdispensing the prescribed number of pills or check listen to complaints, munity-college district in scanner prices at super- determine their merit and Iowa. Last year, Seniors vs. try to broker a resolution markets. Their work serves ���a that makes both parties Crime, a nonprofit with grand purpose,��� Black- feel like winners. A vic- an annual budget of lock said: righting tim may not know how to $375,000 provided by the General���s wrongs and teaching get redress, but Parkin- Attorney Office, handled 2,425 people how to avoid son won���t back down. statewide. ���Sometimes what complaints being ripped off. Seniors can be easy marks you���re doing is leveling Since 2001, the group has playing field,��� recovered $10 million for because they tend to be the clients and an additional trusting, lonely ��� and Parkinson said. A letterhead proclaim- $8 million in benefits, home to receive solicitaing the group ���a special such as contractors fintions, volunteers said. ���There are so many project of the Florida ishing work they started. Victims in 2011 people out there who are Attorney General��� protrying to make a living vides some heft. So do included: An 89-year-old Polk by cheating people,��� said reminders that Florida Sandi Jernigan, 72, law authorizes a fine of County woman who had deputy regional director up to $15,000 for victim- no driver���s license but for six Florida counties. izing or trying to victim- was talked into buying a ���It���s hard to find jobs. ize someone 60 or older. $7,000 car by a dealerEducation is an ship. It���s easier to make A 91-year-old Volusia money by running important part of Seniors vs. Crime. A bookcase in County woman solicited scams.��� Last week, volunteer the Altamonte Springs by a roofing company Linda Parkinson, 67, a office is jammed with that took $7,350 for retired attorney for the brochures on how to questionable repairs. An 84-year-old Polk Florida Agency for avoid fraud. Senior Health Care Administra- Sleuths also speak to County woman who tion, answered calls for community groups on bought a $3,190 vacuum help at the Seniors vs. the subject. Lawn and under pressure from water- door-to-door salesmen. Crime office at Alta- landscaping, Sometimes one phone monte Mall. The group purification, drivewayoperates out of the Com- paving and travel-com- call is all it takes to munity-Oriented Police pany services are partic- resolve a dispute. Other times, persistence is Services Center and ular culprits, they say. ���We���ve got to be needed. One identityworks closely with AltaThe Daily News wants monte Springs police and proactive,��� said volun- theft case dragged on for your photos: Cute kids, the Seminole County teer Paul Tambrino, 75, a a year, Jernigan said. ���With some people, a Adorable pets, Inspirational carrot is fine,��� said sights, Any shot you think Senior Sleuth Jim Morereaders would enjoy land, 72, a retired emiYou might just see it in the Daily News nent-domain lawyer and ��� Certain blood pressure med- city judge. ���Other people DEAR DOCTOR K: My daughSend pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption. ications, such as prazosin or cloni- need a stick.��� ter was diagnosed with complex dine. regional pain syndrome after a car ��� Bisphosphonates, medicaaccident. She���s in a lot of pain. tions that reduce bone loss. What do you recommend? ��� Calcitonin, which may slow DEAR READER: Complex bone loss and provide pain relief. regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a ��� Trigger-point injections of an long-lasting condition that causes anti-inflammatory medicine and a severe, constant, burning pain in the affected arm or leg. As in your Dr. K long-acting local anesthetic. ��� Baclofen, which may help daughter���s case, it usually starts by Anthony L. after an injury or other trauma. In Komaroff, M.D. relieve muscle spasms. ��� Tricyclic medicines, which the last 20 years we���ve learned a lot about what goes wrong in the body with this are helpful with many unusual pain syncondition, and about good treatments for it. dromes. ��� A transcutaneous electrical nerve A fun opportunity for residents and visitors alike to share why they love living, But we still don���t have a fundamental underworking or visiting California���s Olive City in 300 (three hundred) words or less. stimulator (TENS) unit may help to relieve First, second and third place winners will be published in ���Corning 2013,��� standing of it, or perfect treatments. What we know is that CRPS is triggered pain. Biofeedback can help to control pain, the annual community resource guide and information directory, by nerve damage in injured tissue. The dam- blood flow and skin temperature. published January 31, 2013. For severe pain that does not respond to Digital version will be published online for a full year, with links to the interactive aged nerves become overly sensitive. Pain signals become more painful. The brain other treatment, a nerve block may help. edition posted on the Corning Chamber, City of Corning and Tehama County websites. experiences common stimuli, such as light During this procedure, a numbing agent is Deadline for receipt of entries: Friday, January 11, 2013 touch, as being painful; stroking the skin used to block the nerves of the sympathetic nervous system, which are part of the pain with a feather hurts! The skin in the affected arm or leg often pathways. If this is effective, a procedure ST ND RD becomes rough, thick and swollen, and the may be done to permanently destroy those muscles lose bulk. Because of pain and nerves. A few newer treatments are available for weakness, the arm or leg is used less often, severe cases. One entails implanting a and this can weaken the underlying bones. The earlier treatment begins, the better. device to stimulate the spinal cord or nearby Maintaining movement is an important nerves. The other involves injecting a drug and goal. This is usually accomplished with that relaxes blood vessels into the space near physical therapy and, eventually, a regular the spinal cord. These treatments do not always work and may cause complications. exercise program. Medications that may help manage pain But if nothing else has helped, the benefits HOW TO ENTER: may exceed the risks. include: Via Email: Send c/o tehama.up@gmail.com Unfortunately, about half of people with ��� Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Via Mail: I love Corning c/o The Daily News, PO Box 220, Red Bluff CA 96080 CRPS continue to experience pain despite (NSAIDs) and other pain relievers. Entries must be accompanied by name of author, address, telephone number and email address if any. ��� Capsaicin, a cream or ointment treatment. It appears that smokers are at thought to interrupt or ���distract��� pain sig- greater risk of getting CRPS if they have an Original work only. All entries become the property of The Daily News and cannot be returned. Entries may be injury. It has not been determined if stopnals. republished by The Daily News in whole or part, and may be afforded to the Corning Chamber of Commerce for community promotional purposes. Selection of winners will be made by a committee composed of representatives ��� Certain antidepressants and anticon- ping smoking improves the symptoms of of The Daily News and Corning Chamber of Commerce. CRPS, but most experts think it would. vulsants used in nerve pain treatment. Oh Snap! Attack pain with arsenal of meds WHY I ��� CORNING! An Olive City essay contest! 1 Prize: $200 2 $100 DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Prize: TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 3 Prize: $50