Consider this before casting your vote

Listening to the articulate and knowledgeable Kate McEvoy of the Connecticut Agency on Aging discuss the forthcoming changes in the Federal Health Care Program at a recent Guilford VNA symposium, I was both excited and concerned.

Excited because many of the proposed changes which will take effect this coming January will benefit older adults, middle-income individuals, those with pre-existing conditions and seniors who would prefer to receive care at home instead of in a nursing home.

However, I am very concerned that because of the law’s complexities, false information about some of the provisions, our present stalemate in Congress, which will have to approve funding, that hopes for improving our flawed health-care system could be stymied or permanently shelved.

We spend about $7,681 per person on health care ... more than double the spending of European countries, Japan and other industrialized nations. We have the best emergency system, but not the best health-care system, and we are the only wealthy industrialized country in the world that lacks some form of universal health care.

Total government spending per capita in the United States on health care is 23 percent higher than Canada (which is funded by a mix of 70 public and 30 percent private) yet life expectancy is longer in Canada and they enjoy a lower infant mortality rate.

The new law would expand Medicaid coverage to those not historically qualified and by emphasizing preventative care, lower-income individuals would not be using the costly emergency room as their health-care provider. Also of note in this health-care reform is the elimination of deductibles and co-payments for Medicare and covering preventative services. It will also include an annual “wellness” doctor visit and establish tax credits for those with incomes above Medicaid limits. Additionally, as of January 2011, a voluntary, public long-term care insurance program with lower premiums than private insurance and not related to health status, would become available to working individuals.

The average monthly premium would be $123 and offer a benefit of up to $27,000 a year that the individual could decide to use for home care or home modification, as they choose.

To address the increasing shortage of health care workers, there are provisions for scholarships, loans and state grants to providers in medically underserved areas as well as graduate medical education initiatives.

And, (hurrah!) there will also be a schedule in which the coverage gap or doughnut hole, will be gradually closed.

Effective, starting this year, plans cannot impose lifetime or annual coverage limits for a list of essential benefits, and they may not rescind policies.

Premiums may no longer be determined according to health or gender, although they may be higher for the aged. Other excellent provisions include:

-Streamlined access to information rating nursing homes.

-Requirements for national and state criminal background checks for certain employees of home-care and nursing-home providers.

-Continuation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program in Connecticut. This funds the Husky program which helps grandparents raising grandchildren.

None of the proposed changed limit your choice of doctors. However, we certainly need to control spiraling costs. Older women who outlive men by five years or more, are especially at risk since they are more likely to need care, but usually have less income to cover the cost.

The affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama, seeks to change the system in which doctors and hospitals get paid for each service they provide to a comprehensive system whereby they are paid to achieve healthy outcomes in patients, regardless of the number of tests or procedures.

These are all important issues which affect our lives and our pocketbooks. Be sure before voting on Nov. 3 that you know where the candidates stand on these important topics. It might be well to recall the words of Mahatma Ghandhi who said, “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

I'm reading: Consider this before casting your vote

Simply put, a little planning reduces your grocery bill

Not so long ago, midweek grocery shopping for my family of two would have cost about $50. Now, the same shopping rings up $100 at the register. And I’m not fooled by the cheery remark by the checkout girl who hands me the receipt and says, “You have just saved $7.58.”

With grapefruit $1 each, melons at $4 and fish often $9 a pound, I wonder how large families manage, and I have started to look for ways to cut my own ever-higher grocery bills.

Unfortunately, most of the ways to save involve spending additional time, but I am beginning to think that a small investment of time might be worth it.

One book chock-full of ideas (although much of the advice is geared to larger families) is Steve and Annette Economides’ “Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half.” The authors are personal finance experts with five children who they feed on $350 per month. Since most families spend 10-15 percent of their take-home pay on groceries, yearly savings could be substantial if you can learn how to eat well, but save big.

The authors state that in order to “shop to win,” you first must recognize that your grocery store is strategically designed to encourage you to buy the products on which they make the greatest profit so you must be prepared to navigate the detours and distractions. It all starts with a plan and the first step is:

1. Take stock of what you already have. I’m guilty of forgetting what is in the basement freezer or lower pantry and buying two extra when shopping.

2. Review grocery store ads circling needed items; then make a list, by store, of the best buys. This will help determine where you will shop this week.

3. Create a monthly meal plan based on family schedule. (This one would be really hard for me as my schedule changes from week to week, and how do you know you will feel like having spaghetti and meatballs, next Tuesday?)

4. Use seasonal fruits and vegetables and have protein, starch and vegetables at each meal. I could save by following this as I sometimes buy out-of-season fruit, because we like having blueberries or strawberries on our cereal.

5. Use your cookbook to find new ways to make “sale items.” The author likes “1,000 Best Recipes” from Cook’s Illustrated.

6. The meal is the meal. No special options for finicky eaters. I’m on board with this one, and when raising my brood, always followed the advice of Fran Lebowitz who said, “Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he’s buying.

7. Stay away from extra-priced, small packages. Create your own single-serving chips or crackers by using zip lock bags.

8. Divide up the list with each purchaser assigned a section. Val is no longer well enough to shop with me, but this only works if you have a husband who doesn’t go “off list” and buy herring in cream sauce or Ben & Jerry’s pineapple passion.

9. Shop less often and avoid impulse buys. The authors claim they buy once a month, but I find some fruits go bad in one or two days. They use air-tight plastic containers with paper towels to absorb the moisture when storing lettuce and some fruits. Although I have an extra freezer in the basement, we are definitely spoiled, and neither Val or I ever expect to be short any favorite food which does necessitate many trips to the store. Buying in bulk only works if you have a large family, ample storage room and a basement freezer ... not typical of most retirees.

There is abundant good advice about watching date codes, staying focused at the check out, using rain checks, coupons and store brands and bringing your own bags to save money. Additional chapters cover organizing your kitchen and eating out for less. In summary, a thought-provoking and helpful book in these times of soaring food prices.

I'm reading: Simply put, a little planning reduces your grocery bill

Friesian beauties were the highlight of Vermont trip

This past Saturday, hoping to catch uninterrupted views of the fall colors, which make this area of our country so special, my friend Jo Recchia and I joined T&A Tours for a daylong trip to Vermont. After locating our bus at the crowded commuter parking lot off Exit 10 on Interstate 91 (apparently a favorite meeting place for tour buses bound for many different destinations) we were off to an early morning start on a perfect sunny fall day.

In just under an hour, we entered Vermont and were immediately aware of the pleasant difference that Vermont’s “no billboards” laws make in being able to enjoy the gorgeous scenery.

Missing also, were the usual signs of civilization: CVS, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Walmart. We passed widely scattered homes with vast stretches of land surrounding them on all sides. We learned that Montpelier, Vermont’s capital, has fewer than 10,000 people; less than half the population of my hometown of Branford.

First stop was Basketville, a large and well-stocked store with beautiful baskets of every conceivable size and description, from traditional Nantucket-type handbags to unique and colorful wares from Thailand and Africa. I purchased a stunning, small African basket-bowl for daughter Marianne’s new condo home and some apple chutney- and watermelon-flavored hard candy for housebound hubby.

Not much further en route, it was time for lunch at the Putney Inn, a welcoming landmark in southern Vermont for more than three generations. Deeded in 1752 to an English army captain, this simple, understated building later became a Catholic seminary. When the interstate highway was built in 1961, the priests sold the property, and the building underwent its last transformation and became the Putney Inn. The owners are proud that the great-grandchildren of some of the local farmers still provide the greens and fresh vegetables to the inn, which features local produce as well as free-range turkey and delicious hams.

Two of the longtime farming and apple-growing families in the area each have five sons, resulting in a popular local bumper sticker which proclaims, “Apples Make Boys!” The Putney Inn is not only famous for the excellent food, it also serves as a training ground for cooking interns from famous culinary schools such as the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales.

Our last stop in the tiny town of Townshend, Vt., was the surprise of the day. I knew that we were to visit a place that raised horses, but I was not prepared to see a veritable campus devoted to the breeding, training, selling and performance of a large collection of award-winning Friesian horses. These all-black, magnificent horses which the owner, Robert Labrie, his wife, Laurie, and son, Ben, breed and house in a series of European-style barns and on their extensive rolling property, have won top honors worldwide.

The Friesian breed was the horse of choice in the time of the knights of old: They were sturdy enough to carry a knight in full armor and also quick and smart so that they could be controlled through the seat and knees, leaving the knight’s hands free to fight the oncoming enemy. Many top Friesians are bred in Holland, but the Labrie family is proud that of only nine horses in North America to achieve the rare “Model Mare” status rating, two are from their Friesians of Majesty horse farm. We watched a show of horsemanship in the large performance arena and also visited the stalls to meet, pet and nuzzle the horses, trained from infancy to be people friendly.

Almost as interesting as the horses is the story of the owner, “Bob” as everyone calls him. Obviously passionate about his farm and his horses, I asked about his background.

He grew up on a dairy farm in Massachusetts where although there were many more cows, he much preferred the horses the family kept. A self-starter, Bob had a small driveway paving business as a teen-ager, which he grew into a construction business, eventually employing 65 workers. Ten years ago, he decided to retire, sold the business and his original intention was to have a few horses.

He fell in love with the Friesian breed, studied and became a certified breeder and now has a thriving business and 60 horses. In addition to the breeding and sales of his special horses, Friesians of Majesty horse farm offers riding lessons, special “weekend camps” and carriage or sleigh rides.

Information as well as performance schedules are at www.friesiansofmajesty.com or call (802) 365-7526. After spending almost three hours with the amazing Friesian horses, our bus headed back to Connecticut.

When I finally reached home well after 8:30, I felt tired, but also the exhilaration one feels when having had a complete vacation from the usual routine — a sort of, other world, change of pace.

I'm reading: Friesian beauties were the highlight of Vermont trip

Abuse comes in many forms, so be on the lookout and then get help

Would it surprise and shock you to learn that there are more than 4,000 known victims of domestic violence per year in our small state? And, incidents of domestic violence which involve acts of abuse against another person in order to gain power and control, is on the increase with victims of every age, race, gender, sexual orientation and economic status.

The encouraging news is that Connecticut has an extensive and varied system of prevention and help to combat this problem.

At a most-informative, three-hour workshop held recently at the Guilford Women and Family Life Center, I listened to several experts in the field. Local policemen and women who are trained to answer domestic violence calls and counselors at the Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, spoke about the complex process of recognizing and then helping, when domestic violence occurs.

While 85 percent of the domestic violence victims are women, no one deserves to be hit, beaten, threatened, humiliated or otherwise subjected to physical or emotional harm. Teen-agers who are inexperienced in handling relationships can be especially vulnerable as can elders who may be financially and physically dependent on caregivers. And because our culture is so couples oriented, many people would rather be in any relationship, than be alone.

Some warning signs demonstrated by abusive people:

-Destructive criticism. Verbal attacks such as name calling, yelling, mocking and swearing.

-Pressure Tactics. Rushing decisions, “guilt-tripping,” sulking, manipulating the children, withholding money.

-Disrespect and emotional withholding. Not listening and responding; giving the “silent treatment,” interrupting, putting the person down in front of others. Not expressing feelings, not giving compliments, support or attention.

-Abusing trust. Lying, withholding information, cheating or being overly jealous.

-Breaking promises. Refusing to help, maintaining economic control, interfering with or not allowing the other person to work, taking their money, car keys, etc.

-Self-destructive. Abusing drugs or alcohol, threatening self-harm.

-Isolation. Preventing person from seeing friends or relatives, monitoring phone calls, telling you where you may or may not go.

-Harassment. Uninvited calls or visits, checking on you, embarrassing you in public.

-Neglect. Ignoring personal care and health needs. Withholding medicine, abandonment for extended periods.

-Minimizing, denying and blaming. Making light of their behavior, saying the abuse didn’t happen or saying you caused it.

Even if violence doesn’t happen often, it remains as a hidden and constant terrorizing factor. Children who witness domestic violence in their home are at risk for long-term physical and mental health problems.

Unfortunately, although it may be hard for others to understand, victims of domestic violence often have great difficulty leaving the relationship with an average of leaving seven times before going for good.

They have also usually called the police or the local domestic violence agency on numerous occasions before taking action. Now, however, the laws have changed. Before 1986, the victim had to press charges.

A case in Torrington brought about an important change when, after constant cries for help, a wife had her throat slashed. Today, if a woman shows signs of physical abuse, the police must take immediate action; with family violence arrests getting the next scheduled court date, usually the following day. The police may also now set the conditions for the abusers release.

Employees of the local domestic violence agency play an important and difficult role; they are the only ones with whom a conversation may remain completely confidential. They try to help victims with safety issues — not who was right or wrong.

Many women regret it if a partner is arrested; they are ashamed in front of the neighbors, worried about payment of bills, child care and the effect on the children, and they only want their partner to get help. Others fear for their safety and need a place to stay. There are confidential emergency shelters where battered women and children may stay for up to 60 days.

Here in Connecticut, there is help whether the abused individual is a teenager in a bad relationship, a family in turmoil or an elderly person dependent on care from the abuser. The 24-hour hot line for Domestic Services of Greater New Haven is 203-789-8104. You may remain anonymous if you so desire and only speak to someone with whom you wish to have a helping conversation. The Elder Abuse Hotline is 1-800-677-1116, and the Elderly Protective Care Services number is 203-974-8027.

Sandra Koorejian, the director of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven, says that everyone can help stop abuse by supporting prevention and education programs and speaking out against the violence in our advertising, music, television, Internet games and movies. All too often in our society, violence is seen as an acceptable way to solve problems.

Be sure to take the opportunity to see the movie, “Telling Amy’s Story,” a documentary about a domestic violence homicide — followed by a discussion with a panel of experts on Oct. 27 from 7-9 at the Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford.

I'm reading: Abuse comes in many forms, so be on the lookout and then get help