THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 17 DANGER | FROM Page 13 1. On Dec. 31, 1980, what author of the expressions “global village” and “the medium is the message” died? 2. Which president and former TV host resigned from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists? 3. Alewives are members of what fi sh family? 4. Hoppin’ John is a traditional Southern New Year’s Day dish that mainly includes what? 5. What is a decennial? 6. Eff ective Jan. 1, 1966, what U.S. item for sale had to include a health warning? 7. In what country was the piano invented? 8. What is the Cresta Run? 9. What U.S. city had the first hotel with indoor plumbing and running water (1829)? 10. Rosehips have lots of what vitamin? 11. How are the Challenger Deep and the Mariana Trench related? 12. On Jan. 2, 1975, what winter destination of miAnswers grating monarch butterfl ies was discovered by tagging their wings? 13. What eight presidents were born in New England? 14. On Jan. 3, 1888, Marvin Stone invented what tubular utensil that had been made of rye grass? 15. Which has more coastline, Maine or California? 16. January 4 is World Braille Day; Louis Braille was born on Jan. 4, 1809, in what country? 17. What pie is not really a pie? 18. On Jan. 5, 1943, African American George Washington Carver died, who urged planting of what two products to replenish soil in the South? 19. What poet from the Middle East, who moved to Boston in 1895, said, “Kindness is like snow – it beautifi es everything it covers”? 20. On Jan. 6, 1878, in Illinois, who was born who wrote the poems “Fog,” “Grass” and “Chicago”? Deciphering Senior Housing Options Dear Savvy Senior, Can you decipher the different types of housing options available to seniors, and recommend some good resources for locating them? I need to fi nd a place for my elderly mother and could use some help. Overwhelmed Daughter Dear Overwhelmed, There’s a wide array of housing options available to seniors, but what’s appropriate for your mom will depend on her needs and fi - nancial situation. Here’s a rundown of the diff erent levels of senior housing and some resources to help you choose one. Independent living: If your mom is in relatively good health and self-suffi cient, “independent living communities” are a top option that can off er a sense of community. Typically available to people over age 55, this type of senior housing is usually apartments or town homes that are fully functional. In addition, many communities also off er amenities such as meals served in a common dining area, housekeeping, transportation and a variety of social activities. To locate this type of housing, contact your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number), or use an online search tool like Caring.com. Most of these communities are private pay only and can vary greatly in cost ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 per month. Assisted living: If your mom needs some help with daily living chores, she’ll probably need an “assisted living facility.” These facilities provide help with the activities of daily living – like bathing, dressing, eating, going to the bathroom – as needed, as well as meals, housekeeping, transportation, social activities and medication management. Many facilities also off er special “memory care units” for residents with dementia. Costs for assisted living usually run between $3,000 and $6,000 per month depending on location and services needed. Most residents pay for assisted living from personal funds, while some have long-term care insurance policies. And many state Medicaid programs today also cover some assisted living costs for fi nancially eligible residents. Another similar, but less expensive option to look into is “board and care homes.” These off er many of the same services as assisted living facilities but in a much smaller home setting. Your Area Aging Agency is again a good resource for fi nding assisted living facilities and board care homes, as is Caring.com. Nursing homes: If your mom needs ongoing medical and personal care or has very limited mobility, a nursing home, which provides 24-hour skilled nursing care is the next option. To fi nd a good one, use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, it also provides a 5-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffi ng, quality of care, and overall rating. But be aware that nursing home care is very expensive, costing anywhere between $4,500 and $13,000 per month for a semi-private room depending on where you live. Most residents pay from either personal funds, a long-term care insurance policy or through Medicaid after their savings are depleted. Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRC’s): If your mom has the financial resources, a “CCRC” is another option that provides all levels of housing (independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing home care) in one convenient location. But these communities typically require a hefty entrance fee that can range from $20,000 to $500,000 or more, plus ongoing monthly service fees that vary from around $2,000 to over $4,000. To search for CCRC’s visit Caring.com. Need Help? If you’re not sure what your mom needs, consider hiring an aging life care expert (AgingLifeCare.org) who can assess your mom and fi nd her appropriate housing for a fee – usually between $300 and $800.Or you can use a senior care advising service like A Place for Mom (APlaceForMom.com) for free. They get paid from the senior living facilities in their network. 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. pills are easy to purchase, widely available, often contain fentanyl or methamphetamine and can be deadly. Fake prescription pills are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them available to anyone with a smartphone, including minors. Many counterfeit pills are made to look like prescription opioids – such as oxycodone (Oxycontin®, Percocet®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®) and alprazolam (Xanax®) – or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall®). Legit or counterfeit Authentic oxycodone: synthetic opioid drug prescribed for pain as OxyContin®, Tylox® and Percodan®. These drugs are derived from one species of the poppy plant and have a high potential for abuse. Counterfeit street names: 30s, 40s, 512s, Beans, Blues, Buttons, Cotton, Greens, Hillbilly Heroin, Kickers, Killers, Muchachas, Mujeres, OC, Oxy, Oxy 80s, Roxy, Roxy Shorts, Whites. Authentic alprazolam: depressants that produce sedation, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and prevent seizures. Available in prescription pills, syrup and injectable preparation. Prescribed as Valium®, Xanax®, Restoril®, Ativan® and Klonopin®. Counterfeit street names: Bars, Benzos, Bicycle Handle Bars, Bicycle Parts, Bricks, Footballs, Handlebars, Hulk, Ladders, Planks, School Bus, Sticks, Xanies, Yellow Boys, Zanbars, Zannies and Z-Bars. Authentic amphetamine: prescription stimulants used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Used as a study aid, to stay awake and to suppress appetites; prescribed as Adderall®, Concerta®, Dexedrine®, Focalin®, Metadate®, Methylin® and Ritalin®. Counterfeit street names: ATrain, Abby, Addy, Amps, Christmas Trees, Co-Pilots, Lid Poppers, Smart Pills, Smarties, Study Buddies, Study Skittles, Truck Drivers and Zing. CAUTIOUS | FROM Page 9 information, birthdate, address or Social Security/health insurance/Medicare number with an unsolicited caller. • Be social media smart. Make use of privacy settings on social media and only connect with people you know. Be careful about including personal information in your profi le and never reveal address and other sensitive information – even in a “fun” quiz. Scammers may use this information to make themselves pass as a friend or relative and earn your trust. Also, be careful when buying products you saw on social media. BBB Scam Tracker has received thousands of complaints about misleading Facebook and Instagram ads. 1. Marshall McLuhan 2. Donald Trump 3. Herring 4. Black-eyed peas, rice and pork (sometimes also collard greens and cornbread) 5. A 10-year anniversary 6. Cigarettes 7. Italy 8. A toboggan run in St. Moritz, Switzerland, that has been built from snow annually since 1885 9. Boston (the Tremont House at Beacon and Tremont Streets) 10. C 11. The Mariana Trench is the earth’s deepest ocean trench; the Challenger Deep is the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. 12. Mexico 13. John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush (Massachusetts); Franklin Pierce (New Hampshire); Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge (Vermont); George W. Bush (Connecticut) 14. The paper straw 15. Maine 16. France 17. Boston cream pie 18. Peanuts and sweet potatoes 19. Kahlil Gibran 20. Carl Sandburg
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