Seniors, Elderly driving: How to steer through difficult turn Delaware County PA, Montgomery County PA, Phildelphia and Chester County

Whether we are going to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, the golf course or to visit a friend, the ability to drive provides us a sense of independence. But as we age, we lose (some of us more gradually than others) physical and mental capabilities essential to safe driving, such as vision, hearing, mental acuity, muscle strength and dexterity.

There likely will come a time when, for safety’s sake, we have to give up driving. Until then there are ways to compensate for some of the changes that come with aging and to continue to drive safely. These include refresher driving courses for seniors, provided by driving schools, through senior citizen centers and healthcare providers. One example is DriveOn, a program of the Rochester (NY) Rehabilitation Center that combines driving skills evaluation with training.

A Car That Fits
Driving a car with senior-friendly features can make a big difference. The American Automobile Association (AAA) and the National Older Driver Research and Training Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville recommend cars that have such features as adjustable pedals, power-operated seats, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, four doors and an accommodating entry height, large or wide-angle mirrors, brake assist, lumbar support, adjustable seatbelts, keyless entry and start, and stability control.

A program called CarFit® provides seniors free 15-minute car “fittings” to determine whether they can be comfortably and safely seated in their car in relation to mirrors, the steering wheel, headrest, pedals and controls. The program was developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. A trial of the program found that 37 percent of participating seniors had at least one critical safety issue. Ten percent did not have proper spacing between the steering wheel and their chest. About 20 percent did not have adequate line of sight over the steering wheel.

Retiring from Driving
Just as we make plans to retire from work—possibly transitioning from full-time to part-time employment before full retirement—it is important to look ahead to retiring from driving. In fact, many seniors choose to limit their driving as they encounter physical and cognitive changes. For instance, they may decide to drive only in daylight when vision impairment makes night-time driving difficult. Or they may decide to drive only in town when high-traffic situations become stressful.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported in a recent study that more seniors are self-limiting their driving and surmises that this could account in part for another finding: Fewer drivers 70 and older died in crashes and fewer were involved in fatal collisions from 1997 through 2006 than in years past, even though this segment of the population grew 10 percent.

It is essential that family and friends of a senior approach with compassion a discussion about driving—being sensitive to the senior’s need to maintain independence. Also approach the subject from a concern for the senior’s and others’ safety.

Easing the Transition
Seniors often fear that when they give up the keys they give up their lifestyle, being able to see friends, go shopping and take part in other activities they enjoy. Family and professional caregivers can help make the transition from driving seem less threatening to independence by offering workable options. This could be as simple as taking a parent on a once-a-week outing for recreation and errands, coordinating other transportation or arranging for delivery of groceries and other needed goods.

In-home care providers like Comfort Keepers® also provide seniors transportation to activities, doctor’s appointments and shopping, as part of their in-home services.

When it comes to a senior who is reluctant to limit or stop driving, despite obvious danger signs, a second opinion from an authority or the counsel of a respected friend, such as a pastor, may be helpful. A friend who has already given up driving can offer the reassuring voice of experience.

Many motor vehicle bureaus offer assessment services for elderly drivers. The senior’s physician may also provide an evaluation and a prescription to cease driving due to safety concerns.

As a last resort—particularly for those who cannot remember that they are not supposed to drive—taking away the keys and removing the car or disabling it may be the only solution. This article was posted by Comfort Keepers of Delaware County. To find out more about Comfort Keepers click HERE.

Adapting Home to seniors needs, helping elderly fix house to make life easier in Aston, Brookhaven, Malvern, Paoli, Berwyn, Devon, Chester, Garnet Valley PA delaware county pa, montgomery county pa

More Americans are choosing to “age in place.” That is, they opt to stay in their homes rather than move to alternative retirement settings.

But that often means they must modify their homes so it is not a danger to their safety and health when their physical abilities change.

A new career field has risen to address this need: the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a program of the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org). CAPS certified specialists assess homes to identify and recommend modifications to prevent injuries from falls and other risks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one third of Americans age 65 and over fall each year. The CDC adds that environmental factors lead to about half of all falls that occur at home. These include slipping and tripping hazards, poor lighting, or lack of needed modifications, such as bathroom grab bars, handicapped showers, stair railings and ramps. (See the CDC’s “Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults” brochure at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/fallsmaterial.htm.)

Home modifications help seniors maintain quality of life because they prevent injuries and loss of independence from early admission to an assisted living or long-term care facility.

Following are examples of commonly-recommended modifications:
Install grab bars for toilets and tubs and install a walk-in tub and/or tub seat
Remove unnecessary throw rugs and fasten down rugs or floor runners to prevent slipping
Move furniture to create clear walking paths
Keep objects off the floor and coil or secure cords to the wall to prevent tripping
Replace knobs with lever door handles
Apply non-slip tape on uncarpeted indoor and outdoor steps
Replace standard light switches with rocker-style switches
Increase the width of doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs, and where possible, lower sinks and countertops
Move often-used items to lower cabinets to avoid the need for step stools
Repair or replace loose handrails and install adequate lighting in stairways
Install an elevator or chair lift
Install an elevated dishwasher or one with drawers for easy access
Replace old stoves with induction cook tops to help prevent burns
Replace ceramic tile floors with hardwood or vinyl for safe standing
Shedding Light on Home Modification

When modifying a home for a senior don’t forget the importance of good lighting. Seniors need two to three times as much light to see as well as younger people.

Good lighting—in the form of natural light—provides seniors advantages besides safety:
Sunlight produces a good dose of Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb more calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Choose window treatments that allow in sunlight, without glare, to enhance the health of seniors, many of whom get outside less than they used to.
Daylight also uplifts psychological health. It lessens the energy-zapping effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other forms of depression.

Technology Promises Solution for Childless Baby Boomers in Montgomery County PA, Delaware County PA and Philadelphia

The first of America’s 76 million baby boomers will turn 65 in 2011. This looming challenge to our elder care system will be compounded by another statistic: More baby boomers than previous generations are childless.

According to U.S. Census figures, 10 percent of women age 40 to 44 in 1976 had no children. This figure has doubled to 20 percent, and continues to rise.

So, baby boomers will be less likely to count on sons or daughters in their old age. Fewer will have younger siblings to care for them, as well; the American family has shrunk.

What can an aging, childless baby boomer do?

Many seniors who have no children develop bonds with younger friends or nieces and nephews. They may also have developed ties to church families or community organizations that can come to their assistance.

They also can call on professional caregiving providers such as Comfort Keepers®.

And baby boomers, who have grown up and gone through adulthood with an evolving array of electronic devices, have developed a fairly high level of comfort with and respect for technology.

Today, technology is ready for yet another phase of baby boomers’ lives, whether they have children or not—to help them age in place safely and confidently.

Comfort Keepers’ SafetyChoiceTM line of in-home care technology solutions helps seniors age safely and confidently at home, on its own or as a supplement to care provided by family, community-based volunteer programs or professional caregivers. These products are monitored around the clock by Comfort Keepers’ central monitoring station and are designed to help seniors maintain independence, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and improve quality of life:
The SafetyChoice Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) enables seniors to quickly summon help in the event of a fall, illness or other emergency at home. A push of a button on a wrist band or pendant sends out an immediate call to the central monitoring station, reducing response times of emergency personnel.
For added safety and security, the SafetyChoice PERS system can be expanded to monitor up to 16 additional safety devices. These include motion detectors, pressure-sensitive floor mats, and door and window contacts that can provide home security or monitor people who wander, such as those with Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related conditions. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors also can be added to the system.
The SafetyChoice Medication Management System helps seniors and their caregivers simplify the sometimes complicated process of organizing and dispensing prescriptions and over the counter medications—and reduces the risk of hospital and nursing home admissions that often result from improper use of medicine. The unit provides reminders with an automated voice, messages on a display screen and flashing lights, and has a locked compartment, allowing only one dose to be dispensed at a time.
The SafetyChoice GPS Personal Location Device provides peace of mind that a senior can be quickly located via state-of-the-art global tracking technology. When a senior becomes lost, he pushes a button on the device, sending out a signal that indicates his location to the Comfort Keepers monitoring station. In addition, family members or friends can pinpoint their loved one’s location in real time over the Internet or by calling the monitoring station.
New technologies are being developed and will likely play a growing role in the care of childless baby boomers—as well as other aging Americans.

Intel, for instance, is looking for opportunities to develop technology that better serves older adults while reducing health care costs. It is approaching this goal from three fronts:
A shift from treatment to prevention
A shift from expensive clinical settings to the home
A shift of some responsibility for care from formal providers to individuals and their family and friends.
These efforts affirm seniors’ desire to age in place and maintain greater independence, as well as the proven benefits of current technologies that complement in-home caregiving.

In partnership with the University of Washington, researchers at Intel Research Seattle are developing technology to track a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Another proposed system would deliver medication reminders by cell phone, TV or whatever device a senior would prefer. Other innovations in the making include wearable wireless sensors that would alert caregivers to a senior’s fall and sensors placed in a senior’s footwear to monitor gait for irregularity to prevent falls and costly hospital stays or nursing home placements.

Artificial intelligence research is being conducted to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease complete activities of daily living, reducing their dependence on caregivers.

More technologies also are becoming available to remotely monitor seniors’ chronic health conditions, such as hypertension. This capability will promote more efficient and effective use of the skills of professional caregivers whose ranks are hard pressed to keep up with the rapidly growing senior population.

Help seniors and elderly prevent return trips to ER and hospital plymouth meeting, king of prussia, norristown, trooper, montgomery county pa, delaware county pa

Helping Seniors Prevent Return Trips to the ER

A study at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, published in Gerontology in 2008, found that seniors who live alone have a 50 percent greater chance of early hospital readmission (within 60 days of discharge) and those with unmet functional needs, a 48 percent greater chance.

Comfort Keepers® can help reduce odds like these.

Our specially trained caregivers – our Comfort Keepers® – help seniors make a smooth transition back home after a trip to the ER or inpatient hospital stay. They provide a wide variety of in-home care services that can help seniors follow doctor’s orders. And, if needed, they can provide these services in conjunction with skilled home healthcare providers, who help clients manage their illnesses.

Here are examples of how Comfort Keepers assist recently discharged clients:

Medication reminders: Comfort Keepers can help make sure clients take their medicine on schedule. Noncompliance with prescriptions contributes to 10 percent of all hospital admissions.

Meal planning and preparation: Comfort Keepers can plan and prepare meals to promote clients’ good health. This is especially important for clients who must stay on a specific diet to control conditions, such as diabetes.

Transportation to doctors’ appointments: Comfort Keepers provide transportation to ensure clients see their doctors as scheduled for follow-up care.

Companionship and conversation: In the course of conversing with clients, as well as providing other services, Comfort Keepers watch for signs of health changes. This way they can help clients get medical attention early on, before it becomes a crisis.

Interactive CaregivingTM : This is Comfort Keepers’ distinctive approach to in-home care, providing clients activities that engage them physically, mentally, socially and emotionally. This care philosophy can enhance a client’s quality of life. Research shows that seniors who stay actively engaged retain better cognitive function, stay healthier and live independently longer. And specifically, exercise has been shown to help prevent falls—a leading cause of hospitalization among the elderly.

Technology solutions: In place of, or to supplement, person-to-person caregiving, Comfort Keepers offers in-home safety technology solutions, called SafetyChoiceTM. These help seniors live independently at home, safely and securely, when a caregiver isn’t present. SafetyChoice includes a personal emergency response system (PERS), Web-based monitoring devices, a portable GPS location device and an automated medication management system that simplifies the sometimes complicated process of organizing and dispensing prescriptions.

Comfort Keepers, through a combination of caregiving services and technology solutions, works with families to help elderly clients continue living independently and safely at home for as long as possible – and to promote quality of life and good health. That includes preventing the need for hospital admissions.

Understanding Differences between in-home care, home health, home care providers in Delaware County PA, Montgomery county Pa, Aston, brookhaven, chester, chichester, garnet valley, lansdowne, drexel hill, norristown and plymouth meeting, pa

Understanding The Differences Between In-Home Care Providers

Unprecedented growth in America’s 65+ population – and the preference of today’s seniors to live independently at home – have led to tremendous growth in the variety of in-home care providers.

While the majority of agencies offer a similar mix of homemaking, companionship, personal care and specialized services, the providers vary a great deal in how they operate. This can make a great difference in convenience of service for seniors and their families, quality and training of staff and overall costs of service.

It pays families to weigh the pluses and minuses of in-home care providers before selecting one. To help sort out the differences, the following is a summary of the three primary types of in-home care providers – independents, registries, and employment-based agencies, which include local, regional and national corporations or franchise operations, such as your local Comfort Keepers® office.

Employment-Based Agencies

These organizations – which includes Comfort Keepers – employ caregivers and offer clients a turnkey solution. In this arrangement, the organization – not the client or family—is responsible for:
Tax withholding and compliance with employment laws
Insurance coverage
Rigorous background checks, interviewing and reference validation
In addition, these agencies typically:
Train caregivers before placing them, and provide ongoing training
Make certain caregivers are properly licensed or certified
Maintain a large roster of caregivers who can substitute when the regular caregiver is unavailable
Provide ongoing oversight of caregivers

Independents

These are individuals, unaffiliated with an organization, who provide in-home care.

Generally, independents charge lower hourly rates. But this doesn’t always translate to a net savings. When a client hires an independent provider, he becomes the employer and is responsible for:
All employment taxes and deductions for the caregiver.
Insurance coverage such as workers’ compensation to cover on-the-job injuries, and general liability insurance to cover property damage caused by the caregiver. Most homeowners’ policies do not provide the needed coverage in such cases.
Arranging for background checks and validating that the caregiver is a capable, appropriately trained and licensed, quality care provider. While not required, this is advisable for the client’s safety and security.
Another consideration when hiring an independent is whether a qualified backup caregiver could be readily available when the caregiver is ill.

Registries

Registries build and manage databases of caregivers but do not employ them. Depending on the registry the client may or may not be considered the employer and responsible for tax withholding and insurance. These are important issues to check out.

Most registries typically complete background checks on the caregivers but generally do not provide training or ensure a caregiver’s proficiency. The registries act as “match makers,” providing options for families to consider. The registry can offer alternative caregivers if the original choice becomes unavailable due to illness or other reason.

Being A Patient Advocate Can Make A Big Difference For Seniors

Being A Patient Advocate Can Make A Big Difference For Seniors

For any patient, a hospital stay can be overwhelming, filled with tests and procedures and doctors and nurses coming and going.

This whirlwind of medical activity can be especially distressing for elderly patients. However, a family member or caregiver who sits vigil bedside can calm a senior patient’s anxiety, both as a reassuring presence and as an advocate who makes certain that hospital staff respond effectively to the patient’s questions, needs and concerns.

An advocate can serve as a spokesperson and provide a second set of ears when a doctor or other medical professional explains procedures, tests, diagnoses or treatments. When the explanations aren’t clear, the advocate can follow up with questions. That is not easy for a patient to do when confined to bed.

And if there is not time at the moment, the advocate can set another time to meet with the doctor or nurse.

An elderly patient’s advocate also can help by providing at registration:
A complete list of the patient’s prescription and over-the-counter medications, with dosages, frequency and start dates. (And the advocate can keep tabs on additional medications that are prescribed during the hospital stay, making sure the doctors are aware of the other drugs the patient is already taking.)
Any known allergic reactions to medications
The patient’s written medical history with a list of current medical providers’ phone numbers
The advocate’s role can be especially important when he or she holds medical power of attorney for the patient. Medical power of attorney allows the advocate, or another legally specified individual, to make decisions about the patient’s care if the patient is ever unable to. Families should always be encouraged to discuss ahead of time end-of-life decisions with one another, and set up living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, to make certain their wishes are followed in the event of a medical crisis.

Also, an advocate can be there to observe any changes in the patient that may not be apparent to staff. After all, a family member or caregiver is very familiar with the individual, and better able to detect subtle changes than overworked hospital staff.

By being a good advocate, you can help relieve a person’s anxiety, confusion and feelings of helplessness in the hospital—and make sure he or she gets the best care possible.

Tips for Trouble Free Senior Travel, Elderly on vacation suggestions for safety

No trip or vacation is complete without a checklist. So here is one custom-made to help seniors make their trips as healthful, safe and trouble-free as possible.

Plan for Your Health
Your prescriptions—do not leave home without them. Keep them in their original containers so they are easy to identify, and to help you get refills if you stay longer than planned. If you are flying, pack your medications in your carry-on to make sure they do not get lost. Do not forget your doctor-approved over-the-counter meds, such as pain relievers, antihistamines and antacids.
Check with your doctor before you leave. If you have pre-existing conditions, make sure you are good to go.
Ask your doctor to provide you a summary of your medical history—past and current conditions and how they are being treated, along with a list of drugs you are taking, with the doses. This will help in the event you need medical attention while away. If you are crossing time zones your doctor can advise you on when to take your medications.
Talk with your doctor about prevention of deep-vein thrombosis, a dangerous condition in which blood clots form in veins, usually in the legs. Sitting for a long time on an airplane or train can contribute to this.
Update your vaccinations. You may need vaccinations for overseas travel. Plan on receiving the vaccinations up to six weeks before departure.
Stay hydrated. If you are vacationing where it is warm, carry water with you, and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Keep in mind that: many medications can make you more susceptible to heat-related medical issues. When out and about, wear a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
If you have mobility issues, tell your travel provider up front. They will be glad to make special arrangements to help you.
Check your insurance. Ask your health insurance provider if you are covered for medical care and medical evacuation if you become ill during an overseas vacation—or if you need to buy emergency coverage. For country-specific health insurance information, visit the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov.
Protect Yourself and Valuables
Prevent identity theft by bringing only the ID and credit cards you will need. Leave anything with your Social Security number at home. Use prepaid or stored-value travel cards and keep the issuers’ phone numbers in a safe, accessible place.
Beware of pickpockets. Keep your passport and other ID, credit cards and cash in a money belt worn under your clothing and carry an inexpensive decoy wallet.
Do not stand out. Leave expensive jewelry at home and dress in clothing that does not shout “tourist!”
Make copies of important documents, like passports and tickets. This will make it easier to replace them if they are lost or stolen. Give a copy of your passport to a friend or relative and carry one with you. Also keep a list of credit card and transportation contact numbers.
Do not open your hotel door to strangers. Use the door viewer to see who is outside, and do not trust anyone claiming to be a hotel employee if you are not expecting one. Call the front desk to check. Keep the door to your room locked at all times, and turn the deadbolt and fasten the security chain when you are inside.
Use the main entrance when leaving your hotel after dark.
Consider group travel for ease of transportation and safety, but do check to make sure the itinerary is at the right pace for you.

Last, if you feel you need another person with you on the trip to assist you with activities such as standing, transfering, wheelchair or walker, you could hire a Comfort Keepers, a bonded and insured caregiver to go with you. To find out more about our caregiving services while travelling or to help take care of a loved one at home while you are travelling, click HERE and then find a location near you.

Dana M. Breslin: she lends a helping hand to Delco elderly,Delaware county elderlaw attorney, pa, mainline elderlaw

Delaware County attorney who finds senior citizens fascinating has been tapped by an advocate to provide vital legal advice for the elderly.

Dana M. Breslin, of Wallingford, with a law office in Brookhaven, first met Carl Clauss, also of Wallingford, at a now defunct community service program about ten years ago.

Clauss had launched a new program at Senior Community Services (SCS) a couple of years ago to assist the elderly with their financial, legal and medical assistance issues.

“Dana is my prime elder law attorney,” Clauss said. “She handles most of the legal problems they are having. I’ll talk to Dana or Linda (Anderson) and get some help with providing a source of information.

“We are very fortunate in Delaware County to have an elder law group who really are concerned about representing their constituency. If somebody is having problems with a home or taxes at their house, or I see they are having problems handling their own affairs, I call Dana.

“Questions on should someone have power of attorney can be answered. Living wills are easy, but seniors have to very careful,” Clauss said.

Breslin, who co-chairs the Delaware County Bar Association Elder Law Committee with Anderson, received her bachelor’s degree from Immaculata in 1972 and her law degree from Villanova University in 1975.

1975 was a monumental year for Breslin who was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and became actively involved in the Delaware County Bar Association (DCBA) where she continues to serve on a variety of committees.

Since 1996 Breslin has been deemed a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a Fellow with American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), and a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the PBA.

She chaired the PBA Elder Law Committee in 1999, was the first chair of the Elder Law Section of PBA in 2000 and continues to serve on the council of the Elder Law Section. For the last ten years, Breslin has been an active member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

According to Breslin, the DCBA has a variety of committees to address special concerns including Elder Law, Family Law and others.

“We started the Elder Law Committee eight to ten years ago so we could have training and discussions on issues concerning the elderly,” Breslin said, naming Medicare Part D as an example. “It’s a complicated government system. Attorneys can be more aware.”

Breslin is a frequent lecturer and current vice president for the Delaware County Estate Planning Council.

A faculty member at the Estate Law Institute, Breslin also serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and Senior Community Services Inc.

“I like reaching out to seniors who need help,” Breslin said. “Some senior citizens get caught up in an economic bind and it started before the economy went sour. Some people are using their credit cards for pharmacy bills.

“Carl will call me when he’s at the center and needs an answer right away or he has a Social Security problem. I’m not the only one he calls. Carl is excellent in coordinating.”

Breslin cited other attorneys on the Delco Elder Law Committee who have assisted Clauss including co-chair Linda Anderson, Harris Resnick, Cyndi McNicholas, Jeff Lewin, Rob DeLong, Janet Lis, Dave Hennessey, Mike Defino, Ross Schmucki, Mike Friedman and Bob Gasparo, who have all helped.

Clauss has partnered with SCS, Widener University School of Law, the Elder Law Committee of Delaware County Bar Association, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and COSA, the County Office of Services for the Aging, to offer assistance to older adults.

Both Breslin and Clauss have a special place in their hearts for the elderly who are particularly vulnerable to the problems that arise due to the lack of income.

“I wanted to focus my work on an individual basis to help seniors,” Clauss said, noting he established the program together with other resources to assist senior citizens with all their problems.

“The Widener Law Clinic and the Elder Law Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association have been very supportive of the program,” Clauss said. “Recently Professor Nick Nichols of Widener obtained funding for two fellowships this summer for two law students that have completed their second year. We have arranged for them to work with the elder law attorneys and me at the senior centers to expand our counseling program for legal, medical and financial help.”

According to Clauss, Widener is presenting a program for seniors on avoiding debt collectors.

“I like working with the elderly,” Breslin said. “When I was in law school there was not anything on elder law. Older people tend to take more time. I find them fascinating; they have more life experiences.”

Breslin sees the biggest issue facing senior citizens is how they will pay for long term care.

“Their fear is that the nursing home will take it all,” Breslin said. “The most recent problem, financial abuse of the elderly, starts with marketers who sell products like annuities, certain types of annuities, or the living trust mills to family members who are taken advantage of due to economic times.”

Right now Breslin is concerned about House Bill 1351 introduced by Dwight Evans regarding estate recovery.

“When someone 55 and older needs help at home or a nursing home, the state seeks to reimburse,” Breslin said. “HB 1351 expands to non-probate access. The bill is really detrimental especially to the surviving spouse when a house is held jointly by husband and wife. The state would have an invisible lien. There’s been a state outcry.”

Breslin continues to be at the forefront in developing continuing legal education courses for attorneys in the estate and trust areas and is the course planner for the Pennsylvania Elder Law Institute that encompasses the whole spectrum of estate and financial planning for the elderly.

It’s comforting for Clauss and Delco elderly residents to know they have someone on their side.

Dana Breslin, Esq. To read more about Dana, go to www.pappanoandbreslin.com or see this original story by Linda Reilly of Delaware County Press by going to: http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2009/08/07/media_town_talk/news/doc4a7b32fae379b628343628.txt