Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 9, 2014

10

THE GOOD LIFE

Mountain Views-News Saturday, August 9, 2014 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO GET A MEDICARE COVERED 

POWER SCOOTER OR WHEELCHAIR

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … August Birthdays*

Bill Nelson, Karlene Englert, Juanita Fernandez, Jeanette Francis, Joseph Kiss, John Luke, 
Jacquie Pergola, Maury Whitaker, Pat Miranda, Phyllis Chapman, Jerry Burnett, Margaret 
Aroyan, Phyllis Burg, Beverly Clifton, Rosemary Morabito, Susan Poulsen, Dorothy 
Quentmeyer, Genevieve Stubbs, Miep Tulleners, Joy Barry, Ellie Baudino, Marcia Bent, 
Daryls Brechwald, Joan Spears, Ruth Torres, Jane Zamanzadeh and Harry Enmark.

 *To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth 
not required.

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Quote of the Week: I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink.

 Joe E. Lewis

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

 

 YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon 

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

Free Balance Class: Every 3rd Monday, from 11:00 to 11:45 am with Shannon. All ability levels are 
encouraged and welcomed.

Hawaiian and Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10:00am to 11:00am. Join 
instructor Barbara Dempsey as she instructs you in the art of hula.

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00pm. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to 
join. May be canceled if less than 5 people. Canceled on August 5th and 12th.

Free Blood Pressure Testing: Held 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11:00am to 12:00pm. No 
appointment is necessary.

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, August 27th from 10:00am to Noon. Attorney Lem 
Makupson is available for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, 
and Injury. For an appointment call 626-355-7394.

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45 am, except on the third Monday of the 
month when the balance class is held. A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, 
but is not required.

Birthday Celebrations: Every second Thursday of the month the Hart Park House Senior Center 
celebrates birthdays of our patrons. The free birthday cake is provided by the Sierra Madre Civic 
Club.

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:45pm. A regular group of seniors play poker. Other 
games available for use.

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45pm to 1:30pm with Lisa Brandley. The class 
utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All materials for the class are provided.

 

UPCOMING EXCURSIONS

Homeboy Industries and Home Girl Cafe (Los Angeles, CA)

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014

Time: 8:45am to 2:30pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $12.00 (does 
not include lunch). Come venture out and take the Gold Line to Homeboy Industries. You will have 
the chance to see Homeboy’s Programs in-action, gain a better understanding of how the social 
enterprises work, and discover the sense of community that exists for the young men and women 
who come though their doors seeking to leave their gang involvements behind and find hope in 
their futures. Tour is followed by lunch at Home Girl Café, where they provide a wide selection

of choices to choose from. Participants are asked to bring additional money for souvenirs and 
lunch. Last Day to register is Monday, August 18th. Level of Walking: High. Please note: public 
transportation will be used for this trip including MTA buses and the Gold Line; TAP cards will be 
provided to you. If you have any concerns please contact the Senior Center. 

Gondola Getaway (Long Beach, CA) Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 

Time: 9:15am to 3:15pm Meeting Location: Hart Park House Senior Center Cost: $30.00 (does not 
include lunch) The Gondola Getaway brings old world charm and a thousand year old tradition 
to Long Beach. Authentic Venetian gondolas gently cruise the enchanting canals and waterways of 
Naples Island near the resort area of Belmont Shores in Long Beach. Join us for an hourlong cruise 
followed by lunch at one of the charming restaurants in Belmont Shores. Participants are asked to 
bring $20 for lunch. Level of Walking: Low

Excursion Refund Policy: Notification of the cancellation must be made at least 3 business days 
before the excursion. A refund will only be issued 1) for a medical excuse or 2) if the Department 
is able to fill the patrons spot from a waiting list. This refund will be issued in the form of a credit 
which will be applied to the patron’s account with the City, less a $10 cancellation fee. The credit 
will remain on your account for one year from the date issued and the credit may be used for any 
program or service offered by the Community Services Department.

1ST & 3RD WEDNESDAY Shown at the Hart Park House Senior Center 

AUGUST 6TH: LINCOLN (2012)

As the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with 
continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his 
own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. Rated PG-13. Start 
time: 1:00 pm (run time 150 minutes) Featuring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally 
Field, David Strathairn, Tommy Lee Jones.

AUGUST 20TH: PHILOMENA (2013)

A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was 
taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. 
Rated PG-13, Start time: 1:00 pm (run time 98 minutes) Featuring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan.

MARLEY & ME (2008) will also be shown on August 27th as part of the Dog Days


Dear Savvy Senior:

What’s the process for getting Medicare to pay for 
an electric mobility scooter or power wheelchair? 
My 76-year-old mother has arthritis in her knees 
and hips, and has a difficult time getting around 
anymore.

Searching Daughter

 

Dear Searching:

Getting an electric-powered mobility scooter or 
wheelchair for your mom that’s covered by original 
Medicare starts with a visit to her doctor’s office. If 
eligible, Medicare will pay 80 percent of the cost, 
after she meets her $147 Part B deductible. She 
will be responsible for the remaining 20 percent. 
Here’s a breakdown of how it works.

 

Make an Appointment

 Your first step is to call your mom’s doctor 
and schedule a Medicare required, face-to-face 
mobility evaluation, to determine her need for a 
power wheelchair or scooter. For your mom to 
be eligible, she’ll need to meet all of the following 
conditions:

 - Her health condition makes moving around 
her home very difficult, even with the help of a 
cane, walker or manual wheelchair.

 - She has significant problems performing 
activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, 
getting in or out of a bed or chair, or using the 
bathroom.

 - She is able to safely operate, and get on and off 
the scooter or wheelchair, or have someone with 
her who is always available to help her safely use 
the device.

 If eligible, your mom’s doctor will determine 
what kind of mobility equipment she’ll need 
based on her condition, usability in her home, and 
ability to operate it.

 It’s also important to know that Medicare 
coverage is dependent on your mom needing a 
scooter or wheelchair in her home. If her claim 
is based on needing it outside her home, it will 
be denied as not medically necessary, because 
the wheelchair or scooter will be considered as a 
leisure item.

 

Where to Shop

If the doctor determines your mom needs a 
power scooter or wheelchair, he or she will fill out 
a written order or certificate of medical necessity 
(CMN) form for her. Once she gets that, she’ll 
need to take it to a Medicare approved supplier 
within 45 days. If your mother happens to live in 
one of Medicare’s competitive bidding areas, you’ll 
need to get her device from specific suppliers 
approved by Medicare. To find approved suppliers 
and competitive bidding suppliers in your area, 
visit medicare.gov/supplier or call 800-633-4227.

 Once you choose an approved supplier, they will 
send a representative to assess your mom’s home 
measuring her doorways, thresholds and overall 
space to ensure she gets the appropriate mobility 
device. 

 

Financial Assistance

If your mom has a Medicare supplemental policy, 
it may pick up some, or all of the 20 percent cost 
of the scooter or wheelchair that’s not covered 
by Medicare. If, however, she doesn’t have 
supplemental insurance, and can’t afford the 
20 percent, she may be able to get help through 
Medicare Savings Programs. Call your local 
Medicaid office for eligibility information.

 Or, if you find that your mom is not eligible for 
a Medicare covered scooter or wheelchair, and 
she can’t afford to purchase one, renting can be 
a much cheaper short-term solution. Talk to a 
supplier about this option.

 For more information, call Medicare at 800-633-
4227 and request a copy of publication #11046 
“Medicare’s Wheelchair and Scooter Benefit,” or you 
can read it online at medicare.gov/publications/
pubs/pdf/11046.pdf.

 

Medicare Advantage

If your mom happens to have a Medicare 
Advantage plan (like an HMO or PPO), she’ll 
need to call her plan to find out the specific steps 
she needs to take to get a wheelchair or scooter. 
Many Advantage plans may have specific suppliers 
within the plan’s network they’ll require her to use.

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, 
P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit 
SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to 
the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy 
Senior” book.


KATIE Tse..........This and That

FEMALE FELINES & OTHER 

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Not only does driving get you 
from one place to another, but 
it also gives you a chance to 
listen to the radio (something 
that our Sierra Madre reception is not always great at 
providing). My husband and I sometimes listen to Ira 
Glass’ radio program, “This American Life”. One of 
my favorite episodes had to do with misconceptions 
people developed (usually as children) that weren’t 
corrected until much later. The story that stood 
out was of a woman who assumed that the X-ing 
signs were pronounced “zing,” and referred to any 
possible person or animal traveling from one side of 
the road to the other. 

 I related to this, because I never mentally read it as 
“crossing.” To me it’s “X-ing.” A “t” is a cross, a “+” 
is a cross, but an “x” is an x. You don’t say, “Cross 
marks the spot!” But I suppose if they painted 
“t-ing” on the road people would call it “ting.” But 
I digress. So, this woman went through much of 
her life never questioning her interpretation of zing 
signs, until one day she and a friend were stopped 
on a country road as a herd of alpacas crossed by (I 
forget what the actual animals were, but they were 
something unusual). “Ha ha! They should put 
an ‘Alpaca Zing’ sign here!” she said. But instead 
of laughter, her friend gave her a vacant stare. “A 
what?” he asked. Then it dawned upon her...

 While her zing experience is probably not that 
common, there are some misconceptions that 
seem to transcend one’s own upbringing, and 
other cultural variables. A classic example of this is 
the theory that all cats are female and all dogs are 
male. As a child, I believed this for a while! It’s easy 
to see how kids come to this conclusion. Cats are 
meticulous about grooming the way many women 
are about fixing their hair and makeup. They 
are dainty in their nimbleness and even the way 
they move is slinky! Dogs, on the other hand, are 
(generally) slobbery and couldn’t give a hoot if their 
coat is caked in mud. 

 My mom had some interesting childhood 
theories about the world. She imagined that the 
human torso was completely hollow, so that when 
you ate too much you were literally stuffed. A more 
understandable misconception Mom had included 
old and new water. When it rained, that was “new” 
water, and when it got flushed away that was the end 
of it. But how was she supposed to come up with the 
water cycle all on her own? 

 Not growing up with a lot of “high tech” 
gadgets, I had a lot of learning to do about modern 
innovations such as microwaves and answering 
machines. I remember the odd look one of my 
friends gave me when I placed a tin foil wrapped 
quesadilla in her microwave. And I was always 
careful to be quiet and not let the callers who left 
messages on the answering machine know we were 
actually there. Since I could hear them, I figured 
they could hear me! Also, have you noticed that 
everyone stops talking when someone is leaving a 
message? 

 As adults we tend to forget the funny things we 
thought as children, but working at a school lets me 
watch these early theories unfold. I was working 
with a group of five first graders. There were two 
boys, one tried to be a tough guy, and the other had 
a never ending flow of, what he considered to be, 
factual information (sometimes a little too much!). 
It was around Halloween and I had some stickers 
with photos of cats and dogs in different costumes. 
The little tough guy pointed to a cat with a leather 
jacket, spiked collar, and mohawk. “Check out this 
cool dude!” he said. Little Mr. Information wasted 
no time in correcting him. “Oh no, Tommy. You 
see, this is a cat. All cats are girls.” 


SENIOR 

CINEMA

LUNCH & LEARN PRESENTATION - PASADENA HERITAGE

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 • 12:00-1:00 pm

Take a look back into the history of the San Gabriel Valley and uncover the early beginnings of 
the cities of San Gabriel, Arcadia, San Marino, and Pasadena. Meet the Gabrielino Indians, the 
Indiana Colonists, and the investors who took part in the real estate boom of the turn of the century. 
Discover why the founders, developers and early settlers of the San Gabriel Valley made this area 
their home and why we appreciate, continue to appreciate and preserve it today. If you are interested 
in having lunch with the Senior Lunch Cafe during the presentation please call 626-355-0256 to 
make a reservation; otherwise, you may bring your own.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER • AUGUST 25-29, 2014

Hot dog, it’s HOT out there! Escape the August heat and join us for a fun-filled week of activities!

• Monday, August 25th kicks off our “Cutest Dog Competition.” To enter the competition, either 
bring in a picture of your canine cutie with your name and phone number written on the back 
or email a copy to kschnurr@cityofsierramadre.com. All pictures will be displayed in the Senior 
Center and voting will take place throughout the week. Be sure to come in and cast your vote for 
who’s the cutest! The winner will be announced Friday, August 29th at the Hot Dog Dinner and 
will receive a prize.

• Tuesday, August 26th, 12:00pm– Satisfy your sweet tooth and come enjoy “dog treats” with 
lunch. You are welcome to either bring your own packed lunch or eat from the Senior Lunch Café. 
If you choose to eat from the Senior Lunch Café, please make a lunch reservation at 626-355-0256.

• Wednesday, August 27th, 1:00pm– Marley & Me, a heart-wrenching film about a mischievous 
Labrador, will be shown in the Senior Center at 1 pm. If you haven’t seen it already, it is a must see 
for all ages!

• Thursday, August 28th, 12:30pm– Two therapy dogs from Methodist Hospital will be visiting 
the Senior Center at 12:30pm to sit with anyone who would like a little extra love. 

• Friday, August 29th, 4:30-6:00pm – To cap off the Dogs Days of Summer, Gables of Monrovia 
will be catering a complimentary Hot Dog Dinner. Hot dogs will be served in addition to delicious 
side dishes. Other activities such as a prize raffle are planned to guarantee a fun time. R.S.V.P. to 
Kyle or Tracy at 626-355-7394. All reservations must be in by noon on August 25th.


TECH TALK: TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE

Mondays, August 11th and 25th 2:00 to 3:00 PM

Tech-savvy youth from Sierra Madre Middle School

will provide assistance with the operation of cell

phones, tablets, and computers. Participants should

bring the device with which they need assistance;

computers are available at the Senior Center for

general instruction. The class is free of charge, but

registration is required. To register, or for questions

regarding the program call 626.355.7394.

EYE TESTINGS & READING GLASSES 

FOR ALL 

Tuesday, August 12th from 12:30-2:30pm Sierra 
Madre Rotary Club member Dr. Michael Budincich 
will be offering free eye testings and stock reading 
glasses to all interested individuals. 

 Dr. Budincich will be available Tuesday, August 
12th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm for consultations at the 
Hart Park House Senior Center. Each consultation 
will take approximately 5 min tes. While walk-ins 
are welcome, appointments are encouraged. Those 
who partake will receive a complimentary pair of 
stock reading glasses. To make an appointment, 
please call 626-355-7394.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com