Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 36

OVER FIFTY Sunday, December 29, 198S Albuquerque Journal Page 8, Section SOCIAL SECURITY- Medicare Handbook Lists Data It A Ir JOURNAL PHOTO GRANT THERKILDSEN 49 Vi-" a. 5. I '( Cora Barnard, right, works on vocabulary with Armando Najera, 13, an eighth-grader at Ernie Pyle Mid-School. Foster Grandparents Speak English ASSOCIATED PRESS Truesdale Smith, 87, is all smiles after making his 216th parachute jump. 4 Lives Smitty' To Jump Question: When my wife and I were on vacation in Arizona she had to see a doctor there.

We paid the bill and received an itemized statement of the charges. She has Medicare. How do I find out where to send the claim for reimbursement? Answer: Call your local Social Security office and tell them the county and state where your wife received treatment. They'll tell you where to send the claim. This information is listed in the back of the Medicare Handbook.

If you need help completing the claim forms, they'll be glad to help you. Q. My wife and I have a 12-year-old son who is mentally retarded. Our only income is my salary. Could he possibly be eligible for Supplement Security Income? A.

Supplement Security Income payments can be made to disabled or blind children as well as to adults. It is a federal program that provides a basic cash income to people 65 or over or blind or disabled who do not have much income and do not own much in the way of personal or real property. For a child under 18 to be eligible, he or she must have an impairment comparable in severity to one which would prevent an adult from working for a year or more. Part of your income and assets will be considered also. In Albuquerque, call 766-2531.

Q. I'm getting married soon and my husband and I agree that I should continue to use my maiden rather than his surname. Do I need to notify Social Security? A. No. You don't have to change your name on Social Security records if you use your maiden name and Social Security number at your place of employment and when you file your tax return.

Q. What happens to the Social Security benefits of an individual who is deported? A. If a person is deported Social Security benefits are stopped and cannot be started again unless the person is lawfully readmitted to the United States for residence. querque receive a stipend to help cover out-of-pocket expenses, but do not receive enough to jeopardize whatever Social Security or pension they may be receiving, said program director Nina Santiago. Funding comes from city, county, state and federal funds.

A federal Action grant provides nearly half of the program's funding Santiago said the program's use of volunteers is limited by income the program receives from various levels of government. Santiago said about half the foster grandparents work their 20-hour work weeks in APS. The oldest grandparent in the program, 97-year-old Elias Tapia, works at Atrisco with retarded children. Foster grandparents also work at All Faiths Receiving Home, several local hospitals and other agencies, helping children with special needs, said Santiago. "I have kids of my own," said Santiago, "so I know what kids need and know how the grandparents help.

It's really a great program because cf the love the grandparents have for the kids. I like to say love is spoken because sometimes the grandparents don't speak English, but they get along fine." For V2 years Armando Najera has been in Ernie Pyle Mid-School's language program, where Cora Barnard works as part of the foster grandparent program run by the city-county Office of Senior Affairs. Barnard, who was honored at a White House ceremony in October, is one of 103 foster grandparents serving in 21 agencies and Albuquerque Public Schools throughout Albuquerque. She was invited to Washington, D.C., after being named to represent New Mexico at the national celebration of the foster grandparent program's 20th anniversary. Born in the Estancia Valley, Barnard lived on a farm until she was 21, moved to Albuquerque and worked in a neighborhood bakery.

She married and had three sons and a daughter. During the war she was a riveter in a California shipyard. Later, Barnard was active in PTA and community affairs, so when her husband died in 1977, she signed up as a volunteer with the foster grandparent program. The program pairs low-income seniors and children who have special needs. Barnard is assigned to the learning disabled class at Ernie Pyle, where she is known as "Grandma St.

Barnard." Foster grandparents in Albu By Louis Sahagun LOS ANGELES TIMES WASHINGTON POST SERVICE PERRIS, Calif. Truesdale "Smitty" Smith first jumped out of an airplane in 1928, using a parachute slapped together from cheap silk, leather straps and the steering wheel off a model Ford. That jump didn't kill him, and neither did any of the others he made in the next half century. So on Dec. 15, the 87-year-old retired sign painter from Wichita, made his 216th jump with members of the U.S.

world champion skydiving team, over Perris Valley Airport, about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The event was billed as a jump to honor the man purported to be the oldest skydiver in the world. But is seemed more like the celebration of an attitude Still the daredevil showman, Smith was decked out for the occasion in a red-white-and-blue jumpsuit, a combination modeled after one worn by the famed Evel Knievel. "Yahoo!" he crowed as the twin-engine Otter airplane began its ascent. "Stand me up!" he barked at his jump partner, Don Balch, 43, of Perris, when the pilot said it was 13,000 feet and time to go.

Throughout the fall, the back of Smith's suit was connected to the front of Batch's, and they landed together, in a crouched position, in an open field. Then, before dozens of admiring skydivers one third his age, Smith let out a forceful "Phooie!" "I could make one of those jumps every day of the week for 10 years," Smith said, taking off his skullcap and allowing his long gray hair to tumble free. It was startling behavior for a man who seemed as frail as a sparrow. Smith's physical condition is such that he must be led around arm-in-arm to get from one place to another. Friends found that they had to nearly shout into his ear to be understood.

But it hardly seemed to matter. "A lot of people get old and quit skydiving," said Al Krueger, a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Parachuting Association. "But this guy can hardly wait for the pilot to say 'Ready, set, "I got showmanship in me," said Smith, who began jumping, on a dare, when a friend constructed a parachute for her husband out of spare parts. The husband "chickened out," Smith said and so he took up the offer, and began an off-and-on love affair with barnstorming and parachuting that has lasted throughout his life.

It also began four decades of worry and headaches for his wife. "My mother hated his stunts," said Smith's son, Jerry, 53. "I remember her screaming at him 'I hope you crack up, you To which Smith's typical response was: "Rain on you, big sister." A mishap in 1974 nearly brought an end to the pastime. That was the year Smith blacked out at 3,000 feet fortunately with a chute that was already open. He landed on the city dump at Lincoln, breaking his left leg, hip and pelvis.

Naturally, he quit skydiving for as long as it took to recover. "I'll be making jumps till I'm 100," Smith said. A young woman approached him, asking for his autograph. Smith smiled graciously, grasped the pen firmly with shaking, gnarled fingers, and signed his name and title: "Smitty The Jumper." If you have any questions, call 766-2531 if you are outside the Albuquerque area, call 1-800-432-5900. Or you may write to Social Security Administration, P.O.

Box 26184, Albuquerque, 87125. 'ENIOR ACTIVITIES. Tuesday: Birthday party, 6:30 p.m. Senior Information Services at the Office of Senior Affairs provides information on all available community services for older persons, legal assistance, home care, home visits for the frail elderly, and minor home repairs for persons over 60 who own their homes. Adult Shared Housing assists persons to find a compatible housemate.

Seniors Helping Seniors provides assistance with Medicare claims, counseling about supplemental health insurance, wills and consumer problems. Senior center membership is not required to use these services. Call 242-2266, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for information.

In home recreation is a program assisting homebound elderly maintain their independence by providing leisure time activities. Tender Loving Callers are volunteers who call homebound elderly on a regular basis. Phone Pals are created by matching one homebound elderly to another to become good rends and a support for each other. Adopt-A-Senior is a program of volunteers called Fun Pals who visit a home-bound elderly person on a regular basis and help himher to gain new skills or strengthen old skills in recreation. This includes arts and crafts, exercise, trips or any other leisure time activity.

If you are homebound or if you would like to volunteer for any of the programs, call Mickey Wasinger, 345-9180. Today: Dance to the music of Bob Weiler Los Gatos. Monday: Blood pressure, 10 a.m. to noon; basketball practice at Wells Park, 9 a.m.; musicians' jam session, dancing, 2 p.m. Tuesday: No fishing trip; volleyball practice at Boys Club, 10 a.m.

to noon; movie and refreshments, 1 p.m.; the center will not be open from 6 to 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Wednesday: Closed for New Year's. Thursday: Boarding home program, 9 a.m.; volleyball practice at Boys Club, 10 a.m. to noon; knife and scissors sharpening, 12:30 p.m.; dance, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Walking group, 8:30 a.m.; friendship coffee, 10 a.m.; free legal aid, 11 a.m. Saturday: Trip to KiMo Theatre for "Keeper of the Supreme Degree," 50 cents, 7:30 p.m. Monday: Instructed water therapy classes, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.; knitting and crocheting, 3 p.m. Tuesday: Van service to Winrock and Coronado, 1 p.m.; New Year's Eve party, 8 p.m. Wednesday: Office closed in observance of New Year's Day.

Thursday: Exercise class, 8:30 a.m.; attitudinal healing class, 10 a.m. Friday: Resident Council meeting, 10 a.m.; bingo, 7 p.m. Swimming is cancelled until Jan. 6. The center will be closed from Jan.

6 to 11. Reservations are to be made as soon as possible for the Bosque del Apache trip on Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. The Travel Fair is scheduled for Jan. 11 from noon to 4 p.m.

Monday: Blood pressure screening, 9:30 a.m. to noon; stamp club, 1 p.m.; ombudsman meeting cancelled; lunch roast pork. Tuesday: Hiking out; New Year's Eve dance, $2, with music by Tom Maloney band, snack potluck; lunch shish kebabs. Wednesday: New Year's Day, center closed. Thursday: Rockhounds out; Seniors Helping Seniors, 1 p.m.; cancer health screening, 1:30 p.m.; lunch baked chicken.

Friday: Advisory Council, 1 p.m.; black-and-white photography, 1 p.m.; new participant reception, 3 p.m.; lunch baked fish. Saturday: Tennis, 8 a.m.; quilting, 9 a Dancercise, 9 a.m.; table tennis, 10 a.m.; baseball meeting in lounge, 10 a.m.; pool lessons, noon; NARFE meeting, 1 p.m.; dance with music by Tom Maloney band, $1.25, 8 p.m. Friday: Frank Johnson will conduct a class in vocal harmony at Highland Senior Center, 131 Monroe NE. Senior Arts Inc. is a non-profit organization bringing art activities and performances to senior centers throughout Albuquerque.

All events are free and open to all senior citizens. For information call Yvonne Metivier, 884-3310. Monday: Van service for grocery shopping, 1 p.m.; combo practice, 3 p.m. Tuesday: Van to Winrock, 1 p.m.; New Year's Eve party, 9 p.m. Wednesday: Office closed in observance of New Year's Day.

Thursday: Creative reading class, 10 a.m.; Encino sing-along, 2 p.m. Friday: Exercise class, 9 a.m.; bingo, 7:30 p.m. The Office of Senior Affairs Ombudsman Program is an advocacy program for residents of nursing homes, boarding homes and adult residential shelter care homes. Help is given on alternatives, problems and information if a relative needs placement in one of these homes. Needed are volunteer ombudsmen, who will receive extensive training on an ongoing basis.

Call Elois at 242-2266, Ext. 229, for information. Monday: Exercise, 9 a.m.; journalism, 1 p.m.; Italian, 1 p.m. Tuesdav: BlooJ pressure screening, 10 a.m. to noon; closed at 4 p.m.

The center will be closed Wednesday for New Year's and open on Thursday and Friday. A pancake brunch will be the only meal served Tuesday. Hours are 9 to 11:30 a.m. The center will be closed Wednesday in observance of New Year's Day. Reservations are being accepted for "Annie" at Pope joy Hall on Jan.

5 and for the Bosque del Apache trip on Jan. 9. Monday: A new stained glass class begins, 9 a.m.; photography class meeting, 9:30 a.m.; organ and piano lessons, 10 a.m. Tuesday: Exercise to music, 10 a.m.; rap session, interested persons invited to "Come chat about whatever ails you or whatever doesn't," 3 p.m. Thursday: Mostly Music, 1 p.m.; table tennis, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Seniors Helping Seniors, 10 a.m.; beginning German, 2 p.m.; fun dance, 2 p.m. Saturday: Exercise to music, 9 a.m.; table tennis and bridge, 12:30 p.m.; fly tying, 1 p.m.; Armchair Travel, 2 p.m Ceramics and swim therapy classes are cancelled until Jan. 6 and guitar until Jan. 7. Reservations are being taken for an in town surprise trip to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History on Jan.

16. A guided tour will be provided. The cost is S1.50. The Senior Multi-Service Center Advisory Council is selling tickets for a New Year's Eve dance at the center. The Gold Stars will play for dancing.

Admis- sion is $2.50 a person. The center will be closed New Year's Day. Monday: Hair cuts, 9 a.m.; food stamps, 9:30 a.m.; GED class, 9 a.m.; shopping, 1 m. Tuesday: Bingo, 10 a.m.; sing-along, 12:30 p.m.; fishing club out. -Thursday: Flea market, 8 blood pressure, 9 a.m.; bingo, 1pm.

Friday: Dance, 1:30 p.m. The Office of Senior Affairs Nutrition program prepares and serves hot noon meals Monday through Friday at 16 locations throughout Bernalillo County. Meal site events, in addition to the daily meal, include a wide range of support services and recreation activities. For eligibility information and meal site locations, call the Office of Senior Affairs Nutrition Program, 714 7th SW, 242-2266. The menus for the week of Dec.

30 to Jan. 3, all including bread, dessert and milk, follow: Monday: Polish sausage, boiled potatoes, cabbage. Tuesday: Posole with red chile, pinto beans, tossed salad. Wednesday: New Year's Day, closed. Thursday: Baked ham and scallop potatoes, peas and carrots.

Friday: Tuna casserole, pickled beets and onions. The Office of Senior Affairs Senior Day Care Program offers a therapeutic setting for the care of frail and dependent elderly 60 and older. Senior Day Care is a social model program offering a wide variety of recreational activities at two sites: 714 7th SW, 242-2266 ext. 245, and 10000 Candelaria NE, 766-5065. A hot lunch is provided daily, as well as morning and afternoon snacks.

Also scheduled is a daily gentle exercise program. There is a suggested donation of $5 a day. For information regarding Senior Day Care call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 m. Senior Activities lists only the special events at the Senior Citizen Centers.

Calendars of regularly scheduled activities are available each month at the centers. Membership in the city centers is open to citizens 55 and over. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional information is available by contacting the centers: Palo Duro Senior Citizen Center, 5221 Palo Duro NE, 888-8104; Senior Multi-Service Center, 714 7th SW, 242-2266; North Valley Senior Center, 3825 4th NW, 766-7986; Highland Senior Center, 131 Monroe NE, 766-7985.

'iday: Service with Sister Bea, 9 to r. bingo, 7 p.m. 'lii sday: Birthday party, 5 to 7 m..