Assisted Living

Accounts of Mishawaka's ethnic heritage frequently center on the Belgians and Italians and, before them, the Germans and Irish. In 1993 these immigrants' contributions were memorialized with a beautiful sculpture in downtown Mishawaka.

Virtually unnoticed, though, has been the development of the city's small black population, comprising 1.6 percent of the Princess City's 43,000 citizens.

We can examine the beginnings of Mishawaka's black population by focusing on one man and his family, who were at the center of the black community in Mishawaka for nearly 40 years. Elijah Haskins Powell, a Civil War veteran, came to Mishawaka as a barber in 1868 and lived there until his death in 1906.

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Reimburse self for expenses from managing mom's interests

Dear Bruce: Should I be paying myself from my mother's money that I manage? Since moving back to Florida nine years ago, I have had increasing responsibilities for my 92-year-old mother, who lives 60 miles away. I have sold her house, car and moved her twice. I have gotten her an increase in her veteran's benefits. I put her money in CDs at a much higher interest rate than she was getting from her bank. For the past four years, I have had power of attorney. She was diagnosed with slow progressing Alzheimer's and has been staying in an assisted-living facility. I go there every two weeks and take her to all appointments. I manage her affairs and more.

My sister makes one trip here a year from another state, stays at our home and spends a few hours with mother, yet she is listed as executrix in mother's will.

DARK AGES

When the sun sets, apprehension rises among the elderly. "Night is not their friend in many cases," said Dr. John Wiegand, director of geriatric services for Mount Carmel hospitals. "We deal with (nighttime) disturbances weekly." Darkness typically draws a veil on peace for many older Americans with mental and physical disorders. Aletha Newbern of Columbus recently cared for a Canal Winchester man with dementia and Parkinsons disease. During the day, her 86-year-old client played calm music and watched television. At night, however, he suffered hallucinations and paranoia. "He always thought people with guns were in his house, coming to get him," said Newbern, a caregiver for Home Instead Senior Care. "After dinner, he would sit there and say bugs were crawling on the wall." One summer morning, she found him lying outside on his patio floor.

OHSU plans senior tower as 'living lab'

Oregon Health & Science University on Monday launched a partnership to build a senior housing tower that will put hundreds of prospective patients at its South Waterfront doorstep and create what the university calls a "living laboratory" for university researchers.

The arrangement will strengthen OHSU's relationship with Intel, OHSU officials said, as the two can work to develop devices and techniques aimed at making aging easier. Ideas range from computerized gadgets to remind patients to take medication to new drugs or treatments for dementia-related illnesses.

New Hutchens Hybrid device passes safety testing for NASCAR use

A new Hutchens Hybrid head and neck restraint device has passed safety testing and is now available for NASCAR touring series drivers to use in private tests. Safety Solutions and LFT Technologies will work with teams and develop inventory until July 13, when the device will be allowed for use in competition. The Hybrid will join the HANS device as the only head and neck restraint systems allowed by NASCAR.

The quixotic bid by 72-year-old driver James Hylton to make this years Daytona 500 field will be backed by Retirement Living TV, a Maryland-based network aimed at viewers 55 and up. James spirit is everything that Retirement Television stands for, said Ed Beimfohr, vice president of marketing for Retirement Living TV. We believe that you are never too old to go out and accomplish goals.