Author Archives: Andrew Dauphinee

About Andrew Dauphinee

Education and learning are passions of mine. Lifelong learning is a core part of who I am and I strive to pass that desire for information on to everyone I meet. As the Instruction and Outreach Librarian, it is my goal to provide quality, informative, and relevant programming to meet the diverse needs of our patrons. Please contact me regarding programming at adauphinee@njstatelib.org.

Simple Safeguards: How to Stay Safe from Identity Theft and Cybercrime

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Thank you to retired FBI agent Jeff Lanza for his presentation on preventative methods from becoming a victim of identity thefy and cybercrimes.  Jeff’s work and experiences provide a unique insight into the ever-growing problem of staying safe online and protecting your identity.  Criminals are always coming up with new ways to steal your identity and money, but by practicing some simple safeguards, you can significantly lower your risk of becoming a victim.

Prevent Identity Theft

There are three main things we can all do to help prevent identity theft.  First, everyone should create an online social security account at www.ssa.gov, especially if you are over 62.  This is important because if a criminal steals your identity, including your social security number, they can sign up for an account and starting collecting your benefits.  Once this happens, it can take years to sort out and you will have lost out on important funds you may need during your retirement.  Therefore, it is extremely important to never give out your social security number to anyone unless there is a legitimate reason.  The Social Security Administration will never contact you by phone so anyone who calls pretending to be from them is just looking to steal your personal information.

The second way to help prevent identity theft is to freeze all of your credit reports.  A freeze is a free service that restricts access to your credit reports and should prevent new accounts from being opened in your name.  Freezing is highly recommended and is a proven way to protect against new account fraud.  You can also unfreeze your accounts at anytime in preparation for any new inquiry or accounts.  You should also check your credit report every 4 months by requesting your yearly free credit report from each credit bureau.  This will help you spot any irregularities that may indicate fraudulent activity on your accounts; the earlier you catch the problem, the better.  In order to place a freeze, you will have to conntact each credit reporting bureau separately in order to place a freeze on your credit:

The third thing we can to do to prevent identity theft is to protect our paper.  Whenever possible, sign up for online statements, banking, and bill payment as it is much more secure than paper statements and mailing checks.  Thieves can easily go through your mailbox and unfortunately, putting the flag up on the mailbox for outgoing mail can make you a target for mail theft.  If you do receive documents with your personal information, you shoulud shred those documents instead of throwing them out.  You should use a secure shredder (micro-cut, cross-cut, or diamond-cut) as thieves can easily reassemble your documents from a traditional shredder.

Watch Out for Tricks

The goal of any scam or fraud is to trick you into falling for their ploy.  The best thing you can do is use common sense, especially since robocalls/messages are at an all-time high.  Do not answer the phone unless you recognize the number; the more you answer, the more calls you will get, even if you select an option to opt out of receiving more calls.  If you do answer the phone and you do not recognize the person or what they are calling in reference to, hang up immediately.  You can always call your banking institution or government agency back at a legitate number to verify the reason you received a call.  Remember, many places will not call you regarding sensitive or personal information, so do not provide any personal information such as social security number, bank account information, or pin numbers over the phone.

Given the global pandemic, there are many scams now related to Covid-19 that can try to prey on our uncertainty.  Ranging from scams related to personal protective equipment, to testing, to vaccines, these scammers try to get personal information or money out of you while promising things that may seem beneficial.  Scammers may even use spoofing, the act of disguising their phone number as coming from a legitimate organization or agency, to convince us of their scam.  If something does not seem right, always hang up and call back from a number you find on their website or bill statement.

Email is a popular way for scammers to try and steal your personal informaiton or implant malicious software on your computer.  The first thing to do regarding any email you don’t recognize is to open it and check the email address; opening the email will not cause you any harm.  If you click on or hover over the sender’s email address, you can quickly determine if the sender is legitimate or not.  Secondly, look for grammar mistakes or oddities throughout the body of the email, especially if important words are mispelled or out of place.

Many scammers will use official logos to make their emails look legitimate so when in doubt, either call the organization from a legitimate number or contact them electronically from an address from their website.  For example, there are about 15,000 fake IRS websites, so if you do click on a link, make sure to look for the lock icon next to the web address in the address bar and click on it to bring up the sercurity certificate, which will show if the site is legitimate.  Do not click on any links in suspicious emails as these will take you to pages where they will ask you to input personal information; instead, visit the official website or use an official app and log in through there.  Lastly, do not open any attachments from suspicious emails as these can install malware or spyware on your computer that can track your online activity, track your keystrokes, and steal information from your computer.

Protect Your Computer

We do so much on our computers these days that they are now prime targets for hackers and identity theives to gain access to our information.  If you can, make sure you have adequate virus and malware protection, especially if you use the internet as your primary means of paying bills, accessing accounts, and connecting with others.  If you want added protection, you can use a VPN (virtual private network) that further encyrpts your information and internet activity.  Also, you should back-up your computer periodically on both an external hard drive as well as through a cloud-service.  This will ensure that if your computer crashes or you are the victim of a ransomware attack, all of your information is safe and secure.

We have all encountered pop-ups while sifting through our emails or surfing the internet.  Pop-ups are designed to gain access to personal information or install malicious programs on your computer.  If you encounter a pop-up, the best thing to do is open your task manager and end the pop-up through there; do not try to click on the “x” in the top right of the pop-up window as this could activate the pop-up.

A great way to keep your information secure is to make sure that you are using strong passwords and multifactor identification for all of your online accounts.  Creating long, complicated passwords for each separate website or app can be annoying and very hard to keep track of so we often use the same password for multiple different sites.  While this is convenient, it makes it much easier for criminals to access all of our accounts if they steal our information from just one source.  By adding extra steps to log in through biometric or pin code verifications, you can make it more difficult for criminals to access your accounts should they steal your username, password, or email address.  Additionally, you can use long phrases that mean something specific to you as the concensus is that passwords over 12 characters are much more difficult to crack.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jeff Lanza at jefflanza@thelanzagroup.com or visit his website at https://thelanzagroup.com/.

Estate Planning Bootcamp Program Recap

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Thank you to Larry Metzler for providing a nice overview of the many aspects of estate planning.  From gifting, to wills and trusts, to taxes, to the general process of probating and dispersing assets, Larry discussed many important considerations that are involved in estate planning.  Oftentimes, there are many myths surrounding estate planning and this can lead to many common mistakes.  Let’s take a look at the 14 most common mistakes as it relates to estate planning.

1.  Procastination

The most common, and perhaps the biggest mistake people make when it comes to estate planning is procrastination.  “What’s the rush?”, “I’m too busy right now”, and “I don’t like to think/talk about it” are all common responses to estate planning.  While it doesn’t seem important at the time, we never know what may happen to us and making sure that our affairs are in order for the inevitable can save our loved ones time, money, and stress in the event of our passing.

2.  Overconfidence

Once we have our estate plan, we may think that everything is finished.  However, estate planning is an iterative process that should consistently be evaluated and, if necessary, changed depending on how our lives change.  It is recommended that wills and trusts be reviewed no less than every 3 years to make certain that your estate plan is still in keeping with your dispositive wishes, changes in the law, changes in the tax code (both federal and state), and changes in your family relationships and/or composition.  Power of attorney and living wills (advanced medical directives) should be reviewed every 2 years to make certain that these documents are in compliance with the current laws and are consistent with your wishes, the changes in your family relationships and composition, and the then current policies of banks and brokerage firms where you keep your investment assets.

3.  Making a Will Disposes of All My Property

Many poeple think that what is contained in a will is the final say, inclulding marital assets and financials such as retirement accounts or life insurance payouts.  In fact, in a typical marital situation, at the death of the first spouse, less than 15% of the total dollar value of the married couple’s combined estates is controlled by the decedent’s will.  There are different asset classes and each one is transferred differently upon death:

  • Probate – made up of your tangible (“stuff”, like jewelry, cars, furnishings), intangible (cash, bank accounts, money market accounts), and real (real estate) property.  These assets are transferred based on what is written in your will.  If there is no will, then they become the property of the estate.
  • Joint – made up of assets that are titled in more than 1 name or held jointy, such as a joint bank account or a residential property.  This also includes residential property that 2 legally married parties are living in, even if the deed is only in the decedent’s name.  The transferrence of these types of property are determined by state laws, irrespective of the directives in a will.
  • Life Insurance, Annunities, and Benefits (Retirement) – These types of financial assets require a contract and will only transerfer ownship or provide monetary payouts to the beneficiaries listed in the contract.

The total value of the above assets represents the gross estate, which is used for Federal Estate Tax and New Jersey Estate and Inheritance Tax purposes.

4.  Significance of How Assets are Titled

It is often assumed that everything should be titled in the decedent’s name or their spouse’s name, but that might not always be best.  For example, if your life insurance goes to your spouse, and they decide to remarry, it could ultimately end up in the hands of your spouse’s new partner.  Additionally, if your spouse has outstanding leins or debts, any money they receive may be subject to creditors.  Perhaps most importantly, depending on how much money you or your spouse has, your estate might be liable for the payment of any state inheritence tax and federal estate taxes at a rate of 40%.

5.  Failure to Take Full Advantage of the Federal Estate Tax Exemption

Every individual has the ability to shelther up to $11,700,000 ($23, 400,000 for married couples) from the imposition of Federal estate taxes as an exemption in 2021.  However, if one spouse dies, the living spouse’s federal exemption still remains at $11,700,000 unless federal estate taxes are filed and the “portability” benefit is claimed.  Portability allows for any unused exemption from one spouse to be transferred over to the other spouse.  For example, if the decedent only had $1,000,000 for their estate, they can effectively “give” their remaining unused portion ($10,700,000) to their spouse, increasing their spouse’s individual exemption to $22,400,000.

6.  Faiure to Understand and Take Advantage of the Benefits of a Revocable Living Trust

A revocable living trust is a great way to safeguard your money and financial assets, both before and after your death.  There are three parties to any trust – grantor, trustee, and beneficiary.  You can designate yourself as all three should you choose to ensure your assets are handled exactly according to your wishes.  Benefits of a revocable living trust include:

  • Avoids probate (and associated fees) as well as public disclosure of those assets
  • Avoids delays in your spouse’s and/or other beneficiaries’ access to assets and income from those assets
  • Provides a tax effective mechanism to capture the federal equivalent exemption at death of first spouse and maximizes both spouse’s federal estate tax exemptions
  • Provides a tax effective mechanism to create generation skipping trusts or dynasty trusts upon death of first or second spouse
  • Can provide protection of beneficiary’s assets from creditors, future spouses, divorce of children/grandchildren, and poor judgement by the beneficiary

7.  Failure to Understand the Relationship Between Federal Estate Tax Exemption and Any State Estate Tax

Some people assume that there is congruency between the federal and state tax exemptions, but that is not always the case.  As of 2018, New Jersey has eliminated the state estate tax, but this can change at any time.  However, New Jersey still has an inheritance tax in which the transfer of any benefits at death to any non-exempt beneficiary (other than spousal our lineage beneficiaries) are taxed at 15%.

8.  Failure to Understand the Federal Gift Tax Rules

A popular strategy to reduce the value of an estate to avoid paying any federal and/or state estate taxes is to give away assets periodically throughout one’s life.  While this is certainly feasible, there is a federal gift tax exclusion that can change from year to year.  All gifts that exceed (or in the past have exceeded) the annual gift tax exclusion in place in the year the gift was made will be added back to the value of the taxable estate upon your death.  For 2021, the federal gift tax exclusion is $15,000 per year, per donee.  For example, a married couple with 2 children can effectively gift up to $60,000 to their children ($15,000 gifted to each child from each parent) per year for as long as the federal gift tax remains at $15,000.  This can occur even if the asset is only owned by one of the parents.  Additionally, any time you place property in joint name with another person or persons, you are making a gift and depending upon the value of the property at the time of the gift, you may incur a gift tax liability.  However, there is no limit on the transfer, or gifting, of property between spouses.

9.  Failure to Properly Plan to Protect Your Assets from being Spent Down on the Cost of Long-Term Care

While we might like to think that we won’t need nursing care or long-term care, in reality 43% of seniors will require nursing home care and 70% will require long-term care prior to their death.  Additionally, we may drastically underestimate the cost of that care, which can range from from $6,000-$7,000 a month for home care and increas to $10,000-$14,000 a month for nursing home care.  This is a growing problem and depending on how you plan to pay for that care, you may have to start “spending down” your assets many years in advance to qualify for Medicaid.

In order to qualify for Medicaid in New Jersey and have that program pay for home/long-term care, an individual’s income can be no more than $2,205 per month and they cannot have more than $2,000 in assets, including a home.  Medicaid will look back 60 months to ensure that these qualifications have been met; if care is needed before the end of that 60 month period, the individual will have to continue to spend down any assets for the remainder of the 60 month period.  Failure to do so can cause Medicaid toput a lein on a primary residence or deny care, causing the individual to pay for services already rendered out-of-pocket.

According to current rules, primary residences and IRA’s are NOT protected and will need to be spent down/transferred.  Placing an asset in joint name with a child or children will not be protected, unless the child/children can prove contribution to that account.  Additionally, you can no longer transfer assets to your spouse to avoid spending down any excess.  The non-institutionalized spouse can only retain the greater of $26,076 or 50% of the couple’s joint assets, up to a maximum of $130,380 of countable assets, excluding the primary residence.

10.  Failure to Properly Select Fiduciaries

Choosing who will act on our behalf can be extremely important to ensure that your wishes, both while alive and in death, are carried out correctly.  Be sure to choose someone whom you trust wholeheartedly; oftentimes we choose a spouse or child, but those can be the wrong choices, especially if those individuals have problems such as addictions, debts, or trouble managing money.  Fidicuriaries you should consider include:

  • Guardian of the person and estate of a minor child or legally incompetent person
  • Executor named in a decedent’s Last Will and Testament
  • Trustee named in a trust
  • “Attorney-in-fact” named in power of attorney
  • “Medical decision attorney-in-fact” named in an advanced medical directive (living will)

11.  Failure to Have a Power of Attorney and Have it Updated on a Regular Basis

Unless someone is specifically designated as your power of attorney,  the management of your personal, financial, and business affairs is not transferred automatically to next of kin.  If there is no power of attorney in place or it is invalid or out-of-date, someone will have to petition the court to be appointed as your guardian, which can take weeks, even months.  This can tie up your finances and assets from being properly dispersed or your final wishes carried out.  You should have your power of attorney updated every 2-3 years, even if it is the same designee, especailly since most banks, brokerage firms, and insurance companies will not accept a power of attorney that is older than 2-3 years.

12.  Failure to Have an Advanced Medical Directive and Have it Updated on a Regular Basis

Should you become incapacitated or unable to make your own medical decisions, an advanced medical directive is necessary to ensure your medical care wishes are carried out, such as a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate).  This will ensure that all necessary parties clearly understand your wishes and are committed to carrying them out should the time come.  Without an advanced medical directive, your care can be contested between concerned individuals and may be decided by a judge.  As with a power of attorney, your advanced medical directive should be updated regularly, roughly every 2-3 years.

13.  Failure to Properly Plan for the Eventual Income Taxation on the Transfer of IRAs and Other Qualified Assets

While is was legal for beneficiaries to stretch out payments from IRAs and other qualified assets over the course of their lifetime to esapce any income tax liabilities, current law requires that all disbursements be withdrawn within 10 years from the date of death of the account owner.  The IRS rules governing these accounts are some of the most complicated within the tax code so careful planning is needed to ensure that your beneficiaries are able to collect the totality of these accounts with the least amount of tax impact as possible.  Additionally, improper planning of these assets could result in the entire value of these accounts being taxed in one year, creating a large financial problem for your beneficiaries.

14.  Failure to Properly and Legally Name Guardians of the Estate and of the Person for Your Minor Children or Grandchildren

Care of children in the event that both parents are deceased or incapacitated does not automatically revert to next of kin, neighbor, or close family friend.  Even if these parties are willing and able to care for your children, unless they are specifically named in a Kids Protection Plan, minor children can be taken from your home and placed in the care of child protective services, often for days or weeks until the proper parties can petition the court for their care.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Larry Metzler at lmetzler@metzlerlaw.net.  To schedule an appointment with Larry, please visit https://calendly.com/lmetzler-1/60min.  You can view the recordings at the links below:

Part 1 – https://youtu.be/E5wNnXUtHss

Part 2 – https://youtu.be/rFq_vCwXwu0

You can also download copies of the handouts below:

Copy of the Presentation
Estate Planning Questionaire
LIFE Plan 2020
Sequence of Returns White Paper

When Parents Separate or Divorce: Addressing Issues Concerning A Child with Autism Program Recap

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Thank you to Lawrence and Joni Jones for sharing their expertise regarding children with Autism and the impact divorce or separation has onn both the child and the parents.  Divorce or separation can bring up a variety of concerns when a non-Autistic child is involved, but these can be exacerbated when a child with Autism is caught in the middle, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum.

What is Autism?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder of the brain that affects behavior, socialization, social skills, speech, communication, and gross and fine motor skills.  It is a spectrum disorder which means that the symptoms can vary widely, including in their severity.  Therefore, each child will experience the disorder differently and require tailored services or intervention.  While there is no definitive cause or cure for Autism, great strides have been made regarding diagnosis and intervention, giving parents and caregivers more resources and support all for the betterment of the child.

Working Together

The most important aspect regarding divorcing individuals is their ambicability and willingness to work together and communicate, especailly regarding children.  If parents can peacefully arrive at decisions regarding custody, child support, and more specifically, services for an autistic child, oftentimes agreed upon through mediation, it is oftentimes better for the child since the parents who are most familiar with the needs of the child are at the forefront of the decisions.  If there is too much conflict between the parents, the divorce may go to trial where a judge will dteremine issues related to custody, child support, parenting time, and possible therapy for the child.

The later situation can be especially impactful for a child with Autism, especially if the judge is responsible for making medical or therapy decisions and does not know the particulars of the child’s condition or is not familiar with Autism.  Also, if one parent is dismissive or refuses to accept the diagnosis, this can lead to the child not receiving the appropriate amount of services or care.

Considerations Regarding Custody

In the eyes of the law, there are two types of custody – residential and legal.  Residential custody refers to where the child resides while legal custody determines who makes all the decisions for the child.  Either of these can be joint with an even split or one parent can have primary custody.  If custody arrangements cannot be agreed upon, separate hearins will be needed to determine these by a judge.  Custody is probably the most difficult part of divorcing while having a child with Autism, especially since residential part may have to revolve around the therapy and other services the child requires.

Routine and structure can be very beneficial for a child with autism and the change caused by divorce, especailly related to residential custody, can cause additional hurdles and challenges for the child.  This can cause different demands being placed on the child between school and each parent’s household, creating a lack of consistency that is so important for the development of the child. This can lead to aggression, regression, or slowed improvement in the child’s behavior. However, creating multiple environments through gradual exposure may help the child in the longterm by increasing socialization and exposure.  The ultimate goal is to create an environment for the child where there is as much consistency as possible between the two households.

Other Considerations

There are other considerations related to the separation of parents, especially related to children with autism.  The roles of the parents in the child’s life and routine may change and can be difficult for all parties to adjust to.  For example, one parent may work to provide for all of the expenses while the other serves the role as caregiver, forcing each parent to adjust to new roles and letting go of old ones.  This may require both parties to engage in co-parenting counseling, which many mistake for marriage counseling.  Co-parenting counseling recognizing the marriage is over and focuses on helping parents work through issues to arrive at strategies for working together for the interests of the child.

Child support can be another important consideration for divorced parents of a child with Autism, especially because some services or care may cause additional monetary expenses.  The courts have a chart that is used to determine base child support that takes into consideration each parent’s income.  In the case of a child with special needs, it may be determined that the ordered amount of child support is above the base child support amount, assuming that the parties can afford those services.  However, if the financials of the parents are unable to support the expenditures, the amount of child support may not increase.

If you have any questions regarding child and divorce, or further resources regarding Autism, please contact Lawrence Jones at ljonesesq@aol.com.  You can view a recording of the program at https://youtu.be/iI7SXb2NliQ.  You can download a copy of the handout at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Autism-and-Divorce-Handout.pdf.  

Diabetes: Medication, Nutrition, and Activity Program Recap

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Thank you to Laura Moran and Mindy Komosinsky from Capital Health for diving deeper into different aspects surrounding diabetes.  Dibetes affects millions of Americans each year, whether it is Type 1, Type 2, Pre-Diabetes, or Gestational Diabetes.  In many cases, diabetes can be managed throught medication, diet, and physical activity; it can even be reversed.  So let’s dive in and find out more!

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease related to how our bodies produce insulin, use insulin, and regulate blood sugar (glucoose) levels.  When we eat carbohydrates, which are found in a wide variety of foods, our stomach breaks them down into a sugar called glucose.  Glucose is an important fuel source for our body, but cannot be used by our cells without the help of insulin.  Insulin is produced by the pancreas and acts as a “key” that allows glucose to enter our cells.  If we cannot produce enough insulin or our body cannot effectively use insulin, this can result in elevated levels of glucose in our blood, which can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, stroke, cardiac issues, and even death.

There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2, also know as Insulin Deficient and Insulin Resistant respectively.  In Type 1 (formerly called Juvenielle Diabetes), the pancreas does not produce enough insulin and insulin injections are needed for the rest of a person’s life.  In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces enough insulin, but the body does not effectively use it to remove glucose from the blood stream, which over time, can cause significant health problems.  Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscles or converted into fat.  Each type of diabetes has its own treatment plan so please consult your physician.

Medication – Type 1 Diabetes

As mentioned before, individuals with Type 1 diabetes will need to receive insulin injections every day for the rest of their life.  There are two types of insulin injections:

  • Basal or Background
    • Long-acting insulin that provides low levels of insulin throughout the day
    • Injected once per day, sometimes twice
    • Names include Lantus, Basaglar, Levemir, Tresiba, Toujeo, NPH
  • Bolus
    • Rapid-acting insulin to provide faster and stronger coverage at mealtimes
    • Last about 4 hours
    • Names include Apidra, Admelog, Humalog, Novolog

Insulin can only be delivered through injections, but there are two options – vial and syringe or insulin pen.  When using a vial and syringe, it is important to use a new syringe for each injection.  Once you draw the insulin up from the vial, make sure to remove any air bubbles.  Use a 2 finger pinch to ensure you are injecting into fat tissue and inject at a 90 degree angle.  If you are using an insulin pen, make sure to use a new needle for each injection and perform a 2 unit test before injecting.  You do not need to pinch your skin and the injection should be at a 90 degree angle.

Injections must occur in fatty areas of the body, which include the abdomin away from the belly button, front and outer thighs, or back of the arm.  You should practice site rotation with your injections as injecting in the same spot can lead to liphypotrophy, or a hardening of the fatty tissue.  This can cause the insulin to be absorbed less effectively and may result in unnecessary dosage increases.

Unopened insulin must be refridgerated as soon as possible and will last until the manufacturer’s expiration date.  Once insulin is opened or used, it must stay at room temperature; this does not include keeping it in your pocket.  Opened/used insulin will expire faster, depending on the type and delivery device so be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Medication – Type 2, Pre-Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes

Unlike those suffering from Type 1 diabetes, individuals with Type 2 and other forms of diabetes generally produce enough insulin, but need help in either using it more effectively or removing excess glucose from the body.  Oftentimes, these conditions can be treated through the use of oral medications:

  • Metformin
    • Most common medicatoin
    • Prevents the body from making too much glucose and prevents some of the glucose from being absorbed
    • Must be taken with food and increase dose slowly
    • Names include Metformin, Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet
  • Solfonylureas
    • Increase the amount of insulin body will make
    • Important to take at consisent times and eat consistent meals throughout the day to reduce risk of hypoglycemia (love blood glucose level)
      • If taking twice daily, spread out doses such as breakfast and dinner
    • Names include Glimepiride(Amaryl), Glipizide (Glucotrol), Glyburide (Glynase/Micronase)
  • Meglitinides
    • Increases the releae of insulin from the pancreas
    • Specifically designed with a shorter duration to be used for mealtime coverage
    • Take up to 15 minutes before your meal and skip if not eating a meal
      • meals should be spaced 4-5 hours apart throughout the day
    • Names include Prandin (Repaglinide), Starlix (Nateglinide)
  • DPP-4i
    • Allows the insulin you have and make to work longer in the body
    • Reduces hormones that help the body make more sugar
    • Slows emptying of food and inreases feelings of fullness
    • Once per day and can take with or without food
    • Names include Januvia (Sitagliptin), Tradjenta (Inagliptin), Onglyza (Saxagliptin), Nesina (Alogliptin)
  • GLP1a
    • Injectible version of DPP-4is
    • May cause abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
    • Start at a low dose and slowly increase to desired dose
    • Names include Bydureon, Victoza, Trulicity, Oempic, Adlyxin, Rybelsus (oral)
  • SGLT2i
    • Works with the kiden to help the body excrete more glucose through urination
    • Works similarily to water pill so take first thing in the morning
    • Urination tends to be more severe after a high carbohydrate meal
    • May lead to UTI, gential infection, renal impairment, or hypoglcemia
      • discontinue if you experience chronic wounds
    • Names include Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance, Steglatro
  • Thiazolidinediones (TZD)
    • Less common
    • Improves body’s response to insulin already produced
    • Takes about 8-12 weeks to reach a therapeutic level
    • Names include Actos (Pioglitazone), Avandia (Rosiglitazone)
  • Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors
    • Delays/prevents absorption of CHO and glucose from GI tract
      • Can cause severe flatulence
    • Take with first bite of food and skip if not eating a meal
    • Names include Precose (Acarbose), Glyset (Miglitol)

Nutrition

Maintaining a healthy diet can be an effective way to reverse Type 2 or Pre-diabetes and help combat health complications from diabetes, including obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues.  Additionally, many of the recommendations shared by Mindy can be applied to everyone to maintain a healthly lifestyle.

Ironically, how much you eat can be just as important, if not more important,than what you eat.  Many of us were told as children to eat everything on our plate, but that is not always the best choice.  We often tend to eat more than we should because we don’t feel full even though we actually are.  It takes about 20 minutes for our stomach to tell our brain that we are full, giving us amble time to overeat.  To help prevent this, we can drink a glass of water before our meal, put the fork down until we finish chewing, or eat a salad during or before a meal.  It is also a good idea to use a smaller plate (6-8 inches) so that our mind thinks that we are getting a large enough portion.

We can also try using the Plate Method to ensure that we are eating the right types and amounts of food.  With the plate method, half the plate should be non-starch vegetables while the other half should be split between lean protein and starches.

When it comes to what types of food to eat, we should look to eat a wide variety of foods, including more plant-based foods.  Focus on green, leafy vegetables to get more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  We should also try to eat more lean protein, such as fish, turkey, or skinless chicken, which will help us feel full for longer.  Whole grains such as oats, quinoa, and whole grain pasta are less processed and tend to not raise blood glucose levels as high.  Beans and lentils are another great, healthy source of protein that can be added to a variety of dishes, including soups, chili, and salads.

In additon to what and how much we eat, we should also focus on when we eat.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, giving us fuel to start our day and start our metabolism, which can lead to maintaining a healthly weight.  We should also try to eat a meal every 4-5 hours and if needed, snack lightly.  If you are monitoring your blood glucose levels, it is recommended to test before a meal and then 2 hours after a meal to help determine how the foods and portions you are eating at different times affect your blood glucose levels, giving you more information to help you manage your diabetes.

Physical Activitiy

Physical activity has a plethora of health benefits, especially in relation to diabetes, helping stave off conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and psychological stress.  Additionally, being phsycially active can improve your blood glucose control, strengthen your heart, and improve your immune function.

We should strive to achieve 150 minutes of physical activity a week, which sounds daunting.  However, if you divide it by 5 days, thats only 30 minutes per day, which you can divide further into 2 or 3 quick sessions each day.  However, we can much more easily start out at a more realistic goal of 10 minutes a day.  Once we start getting into good habits regarding phsyical activity, we are more likely to keep up with those activities and even start new ones.

One easy and popular way to boost our physical activity is trying to increase our steps per day, using a pedometer or FitBit.  10,000 steps roughly equals 5 miles, and while that may seem intimidating, there are many simple ways to increae our steps.  We can park further from an entrance, use the stairs instead of an elevator, take a lap around the building before using the bathroom or using an upstairs bathroom, march in place while watching TV or cooking, going for a walk after lunch or dinner, or walk around while on the phone.

More Information

For more information on any of these topics or diabetes in general, please reach out to Laura Moran, lmoran@capitalhealth.org, or Mindy Komosinsky, mkomosinsky@capitalhealth.org.  You can also view other Capital Health diabetes educational opportunities at https://www.capitalhealth.org/medical-services/diabetes-education.  To view a recorded version of the webinar, please visit https://youtu.be/PVDFMX3Mq7E.  You can also download a copy of Mindy’s Meal Planning Tips at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Meal-Planning-Tips.pdf.

Why Garden Off the Ground? Program Recap

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Thank you to Patricia Donahue from the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County for her presentation on gardening off the ground.  For many of us, gardening in smaller, self-contained areas is more conducive for our lives and can be just as fruitful and rewarding.  Raised gardening has its own set of challenges and considerations, but can have many advantages that will save you time and effort.

Raised Bed Basics

Raised beds offer many advantages over ground or plot gardening, especially if your soil is rocky or your yard has poor drainage.  These advantages include:

  • Ability to garden anywhere
  • Find the right place for the right plants
  • Less labor intensive
  • Better soil quality and easier weed control
  • Easier access, especially for watering
  • Grow more in less space

When deciding where to place your raised beds, and other types of off-the-ground gardens, it is important to consider the following things:

  • Amount of sun – try to locate your garden/containers where there is full sun, unless you are specifically focused on full/part shade plants.  It is recommended that your garden have a North-South orientation and have at least 6 hours of full sun; 8 hours for vegetables.
  • Access to water – make sure your location is close to a water source so it does not become a burden
  • Animals – what types of animals may try to get into your garden
  • Level site – try to ensure your garden is on a level area

Creating Your Raised Bed

There are many ways to create a raised bed, from wood (rot resistant or untreated), cinder blocks, bricks, stone, or steel/aluminum.  Depending on the size of your garden, the cost of materials may have a greater impact on your decision.  You want your raised bed to be at least 6 inches deep, with 10-14 inches being preferable so that you do not need to water as often.  Each bed should be no more than 4 feet wide so that you can easily access all parts of the bed for water, weeding, and other care.  In the same light, you should leave ample space between beds, especially if mobility issues are a concern.

Once you have your bed build, the next important step is to prepare the bed and soil.  To get a better understanding of your soil, you should test your existing soul for nutrient levels and pH.  It is strongly recommended to not exclusively use existing soil to fill in the beds or brand-name commercial mixes.  Instead, create your own mix by using 60% existing soil, 30% compost, and 10% potting soil (peat moss, perlite, vermiculite).  If you want to conserve moisture, you can use trickle irrigation.  Additionally, you can use mulch or bark chips on the surface to reduce water loss.

Straw Bale Beds

Straw bales (DO NOT USE HAY!) can be a great way to create raised beds with additional advantages over traditional raised beds.  Straw tends to warm earlier than the ground so it can extend your growing season.  Because the straw acts as the soil, you do not have to worry about soil borne diseases and you can plant in the sides of the bales.  They also hold water very well, are easier to weed, light weight, and overall less labor intensive.  Straw bales, however, also come with some important disadvantages to consider:

  • Dry out quickly and need to water more often
  • Need to add fertilizers and other conditioners, such as compost
  • Need new bales every 1-2 years
  • Cannot plant perennials
  • Disposal of old bales

If you want to create a straw bale bed, you should do it over a hard surface such as concrete to prevent unwanted weeds/plants from growing up through the bottom.  If you have to place them on your grass or yard, place the bales on top of weed paper, newspaper, cardboard, or other durable coverings.  Be sure to leave the bales tied and if you are planting on a slope, make sure the bails follow the slope up and down.  Before planting anything in the bales, they should be conditioned with water and liquid fertilizer with a 2 week waiting period before planting.  While many vegetables and plants can successfully grow in straw bales, you should avoid top heavy plants like corn and running or vining plants that spread by offshoots.

Container Gardening

For some of us, we only have space for containers, which can offer many advantages, including:

  • No digging or tilling
  • Weed free and inexpensive to start up
  • Container location
  • Plant protection and season extension

Just like with any garden or planting, the most important thing to make sure you pick an optimal location.  Make sure the area is well-lit and near a source of water because they will need to be watered every day.  Make sure they are on a level space, but be aware that draining water can stain concrete and wooded decks, so you may wish to use trays.

There are a wide variety of containers from light-weight plastic to heavy wood, clay, ceramic, and metal.  Depending on what you wish to grow, you will need a different container for each plant.  For example, peppers need a minimum of a 2 gallon container while radishes only need 1 pint.  When filling your container DO NOT USE garden soil as it is heavy, brings in weeds and soil disease, and does not drain well.  Instead, use commercial soil-less mixes because they are lightweight, drain well, and hold water and nutrients.

To view a recording of this webinar, please visit https://youtu.be/bf-aquwyeOc.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County at Catherine.VanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us.

New Jersey Makers Day 2021

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The New Jersey State Library is thrilled to virtually participate in this year’s New Jersey Makers Day.  While we do miss having everyone come to the library and experience a variety of fun-filled and simple activities that can be easily replicated at home, we still wanted to celebrate New Jersey Makers Day by providing activities that you and the whole family can do on a budget.  Below, you will find instructions/directions for each activity as well as an embedded video that is available on our YouTube page.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at adauphinee@njstatelib.org.  We hope you enjoy our videos and look forward to having everyone back next year for more fun with all things making!

 


Granny Square Crochet

Granny Square Instructions and Diagram Handout

Materials:

  • Yarn – Worsted/Medium weight, acrylic yarn is a good choice for crochet beginners, as it is usually cheap and easy to work with
  • Crochet Hook – Consult your yarn’s label for recommended hook size
  • Yarn Needle
  • Scissors

Abbreviations (US):

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • dc – double crochet

Directions:

  1. Create a slip knot
  2. Make Foundation Circle – ch 6, join with sl st in 1st ch to form circle
  3. Make Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc in circle, *ch 3, 3 dc in circle, repeat from* 2 more times, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to join row.
  4. Make Round 2: ch 3, 2dc into corner space to the right of sl st, *ch 1, 3 dc in next corner space, ch 3, 3 dc in same corner space, repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, 3dc in next corner space, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to join row.
  5. Make Round 3: ch 3, 2dc in corner space to the right of sl st, *ch 1, 3 dc in next side space, ch 1, 3 dc in next corner space, ch 3, 3 dc in same corner space, repeat from * 2 more times, ch 1, 3 dc in next side space, ch 1, 3 dc in next corner space, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to join row.
  6. Round 4+: You can continue adding more rows to make your square as large as you want by using these general rules:
    • Start each row as you began rows 2 and 3 (ch3, 2 dc in corner space to the right of sl st).
    • Work along each side making 3 dc in each side space and working 1 ch over each 3 dc cluster.
    • Work 3dc, ch 3, 3dc into each corner space.
    • End the round by sl st into the 3rd chain of your initial ch 3.

Magnet Marbles

Magnet Marbles Handout

This project was taken from http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets/.

Materials:

  • Mesh bag of ¾ inch clear flat glass marbles (in florist section of Michael’s or in
    mosaics section)
  • Mesh bag of ½ inch clear flat glass marbles – you might want to clean them off
    before using and avoid any that look scratched.
  • ¾ inch round strong magnets (comes in 10 pieces per package)
  • ½ inch round strong magnets (comes in 10 pieces per package)
  • Glue – I used Aleene’s Jewel-It embellishing glue. You can also use other types of glue like a silicon sealer made by Crazy glue.
  • Scissors to cut out pictures
  • Toothpicks to spread glue with.
  • Piece of paper to squeeze glue onto. It’s less messy than squeezing it out of the bottle directly on the magnet.
  • Tiny pictures cut out of old magazines, or return address labels you get in the mail, or anything that has the sized picture you want. You can even draw the pictures yourself.
  • These look good in Altoid-sized tins to give away. Otherwise, just stick them on your refrigerator or school locker, etc.

Instructions:

  1. Place the magnet on the picture you want to use and trace around it with a pencil.
  2. Cut the picture out, cutting it just slightly smaller than the magnet so the picture doesn’t stick out (although it probably won’t show on they’re stick on the refrigerator or in a school locker, etc.)
  3. Use toothpick to spread a thin amount of glue on the magnet, and place picture on top of it and press down for a few seconds to let it adhere to the magnet.
  4. With the toothpick, dab a little bit of glue in the middle of the picture.
  5. Press the clear flat marble on top of it and hold it there a minute. The glue will spread out so you don’t need to add a lot. It should dry pretty quickly.

3 Ingredient Cookies

Taken from https://acleanbake.com/3-ingredient-detox-cookies/

Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe bananas, about 1 1/2 cups puree, mashed or pureed until smooth
  • 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter. Substitute almond butter for paleo or Whole30 compliance., unsweetened
  • 1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder
  • Handful coarse sea salt, for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to thoroughly combine the first three ingredients until it reaches a smooth and uniform consistency.
  3. Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a greased or lined cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart.
  4. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with a pinch of sea salt.
  5. Bake for 8-15 minutes (see note) until cookies lose their sheen.
  6. Allow to cool and set on the cookie sheets for 3-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Troubleshooting Tips:

  • If your cookies are too lumpy, try running the dough in the food processor for 30-60 seconds.
  • The moisture content of the dough may vary (for example if your large banana is bigger than they ones I used). If the batter is too thin and watery, you can try two things: add more cocoa to absorb the moisture, and/or bake for longer.
  • Make sure you thoroughly stir your peanut butter. If it is too oily (such as from the top of a new jar), that might be another reason why your batter could be too runny.
  • On the other hand, if your PB is the right consistency, it can be tough to stir into the batter. Try microwaving it for 15-20 seconds until it’s smooth and easier to work with.
  • Depending on the moisture content of your bananas, your baking time could vary from 8 minutes to 15 minutes.
  • If your dough is more like a thick batter, just plop the portions of dough on the cookie sheet and they will spread out by themselves. No need to flatten with a fork.
  • If you don’t want to garnish your cookies with salt, add a pinch to the batter.

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Materials:

  • Natural pinecones – avoid ones from wreaths or other pre-made decorations or crafts as these may be treated with scents or other chemicals
  • Bird seed
  • Yarn or string
  • Peanut butter – avoid brands with added sugar
  • Spoon
  • Containers

Instructions:

  1. Tie the yarn or string around the base of the pinecone to make large loop.
  2. Spread peanut butter all over the pinecone using a spoon.  It recommended to hold the pinecone upside down and start at the base of the pinecone, working down toward the tip.
  3. Roll the pinecone in a container of bird seed or sprinkle bird seed over the whole pinecone until it is covered.
  4. Hang it up outside and watch the birds and animals!


Stress Management 101 Program Recap

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Thank you to Dr. Rajiv Vyas from Capital Health Behavioral Health Specialists for presenting on the topic of stress management.  We all experience stress in our lives, yet with the current pandemic, many of us have found new or worsening levels of stress for a variety of factors.  While stress will never go away, we can help our minds and body by learning to identify what stress is, the impact of stress on our minds and body, and ways to help manage and reduce stress.

What Is Stress

According to Merriam-Webster, stress is a bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.  Essentially, stress is one way our body responds to a challenge or threat.  While we often think of stress as negative and having an adverse affect on our health, there are certain circumstances where stress can be positive and motivating.  Perception plays a key role in how our mind and body interprets stressful situations, and working to change how we perceive things can ultimately change how our body reacts to stress.

There are many factors that can cause stress and our response to stress is mediated by complex interactions between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.  Stress can have a wide-range of consequences on our body, mind, and behavior, including fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and drug or alcohol misuse.  Generally short-term or acute stress has little or no lasting effect on us, such as an argument or upcoming deadline, and our bodies are evolutionarily suited to handle acute stress.  Long-term or chronic stress can have a lasting impact on us and can arise from repeated acute stress triggers, such as health problems, toxic home environment, or unhealthy relationships.

Results of Stress

Stress can affect us in a variety of ways and each person’s response to stress is different.  Stress can compound upon other health or mental issues we may have, worsening their effect.  For example, stress can affect your heart in direct and indirect ways, most commonly causes increases in inflammation which can cause high blood pressure.  Additionally, stress can lead to poor sleep, poor diet, reduced exercise, smoking, and alcohol use.  Because of this, chronic stress can increase your risk for hearth disease, cardiac arrest, and even stroke.

Stress can have a lasting impact on our mental health as well and may lead to the development of cognitive distortions.  Some distortions include:

  • All or none thinking – everything is black and white, and more often black than white
  • Mental filter – instead of seeing things positively (rose-colored glasses), stress trains our brain to interpret things and events negatively (dark glasses)
  • Overgeneralization – one event, oftentimes negative, predicts all events
  • Disqualifying the positive – seeing negative in something positive
  • Magnification (catastrophizing) or minimization – “making a mountain out of mole hill”
  • Emotional reasoning – feelings start to dictate how we interpret reality

Chronic stress can also lead to a variety of other mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, or addiction.  As these conditions get worse, they can lead to the same effects of poor sleep, diet, substance abuse, etc., that can aversely affect our bodily health.

Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress will always be around and no matter how hard we try, we cannot avoid it.  However, learning to recognize how we react to stress and manage our responses can significantly improve our quality of life.  First, let’s look at some ways physical strategies to reduce stress.  Exercise is one of the most important ways to reduce stress in our body because it provides so many other health benefits.  It bolsters our immune system, release serotonin and endorphins which improve our mood, it decreases tension in the body, and helps improve our sleep.  Additionally, exercise has an antidepressant effect that can help those struggling with depression.

Some ways to ease into becoming more active that have also help reduce stress include relaxation exercises, yoga, and tai chi.  Yoga is an effective way to improve our physical and mental health because of its activation of our parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) while dampening our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).  Other ways to help manage physical stress include getting adequate sleep, eating a healthy, anti-inflammatory diet, and being outdoors.

While reducing physical stress is important, making sure we effectively deal with mental stress is just as important.  Engaging in relaxation techniques can help activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which slows our heart rate, breathing, and brings about a return to our equilibrium.  These techniques include meditation, deep breathing, guided visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, prayer, and yoga.  One popular technique is mindfulness, where you focus our mind and body on the present by pushing away from outward thoughts and feelings and focusing on inward attention and awareness.  Additionally, mindfulness involves acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations without judgement by letting go instead of holding on.

There are natural supplements that have a proven record of helping us manage results of stress, including anxiety and depression.  Ashwagandha root extract has shown benefits related to improving anxiety and sleep.  Cannabidiol (CBP) has also shown to have positive effects when trying to improve anxiety.  In regards to depression, there is less proof regarding Omega-3 fatty acids and folate or folic acid.  Additionally, supplements such as St. John’s Wort and L-tryptophan, while shown to have positive outcomes with mild depression, can still have side effects similar to antidepressant medications as well as adverse reactions with other medications.  As with all supplements, it is important to know that the are NOT regulated by the FDA and companies can make claims about benefits without evidence.

While this program was not recording, you can download a copy of the presentation slides at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Stress-Management-101.pdf.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Capital Health Behavioral Health Specialists at https://www.capitalhealth.org/our-locations/behavioral-health-specialists.

COVID-19 Scams and Older Adults

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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives and caused many of us to adapt to a new normal.  Similarly, the pandemic has brought out new forms of scams and fraud that can result in devastating consequences, especially for older adults.  Additionally, many people have fallen on hard times and are struggling financially.  To lessen the burden of the economic impact, there are many tips and programs available to help.

The following information is from the “COVID-19 Scams and Older Adults” webinar put on by the Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau, in conjunction with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living.  You can view a recording of the webinar at https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2021/02/webinar-consumers-covid-19-scams-and-older-adults.

How Scams Work

Scams work by tricking you into giving out personal information or money, usually under the guise of a legitimate agency/organization.  Generally, scams are done through email, text messages or robocalls, with the scammer attempting to conceal their identity by using official looking websites, logos, and phone numbers.  A popular tactic during the pandemic is the use of robocalls, calls that are made with an autodialer or that contain a message made with a prerecorded or artificial voice.

Oftentimes, scammers with engage in spoofing with robocalls.  Spoofing occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity.  While this is legal in some instances, such as a doctor disguising a personal number for their office number, it is illegal when done with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value.

Types of Scams

In the age of COVID-19, pandemic related scams have morphed as things have changed.  First, scams started appearing about testing, including at-home tests or scheduling services for testing.  Sometimes, scammers pose as pharmacies, providing “special offers” for testing or other programs, seeking to gather personal information.  Additionally, scammers also pretended to be from insurance companies, offering “help” with scheduling tests or promoting “free” at-home test kits for providing personal or financial information.

Next, as the federal government passed the CARES Act and disbursed Economic Impact Payments, scammers adapted to pretend to be able to get your payment faster, offer an advance, or looking to confirm personal information in promise of a coming payment.  Scammers posed at federal officials from the IRS or Social Security Administration, banking institutions, or cash-advance companies.  They ask for personal information to confirm your identity or ask for banking information to ensure you will get your EIP.  They may also try to convince you that you have unclaimed unemployment or other benefits.

As the disease progressed and state health departments started instituting contact tracing programs, this provided another cover for scammers to obtain your personal information.  Scammers would inform people that they were possibly in contact with someone and needed personal information for their system.

Recently, with the nation-wide rollout of several vaccines, scammers are now shifting their focus to vaccine-based scams.  These can range from payments to secure “reservations”, move up in line, or join a clinical trial.  Additionally, some scammers are using discarded vaccine vials to “sell” vaccines illegitimately.  If you are on Medicare, you do not need to pay anything extra for the vaccine,

There are few other continuous scams related to COVID-19 that you should be aware of.  Scammers may try to sell you special air filters or purifiers that are specifically designed to rid your home or office of the coronavirus.  While mostly occurring at the outset of the pandemic, some scammers promote natural or homeopathic cures to the virus, all of which are unproven.   Scammers also may target older adults by promising to offer errand services, such as grocery or pharmacy delivery.  These scammers will take your money and run!

In response to emergencies and disasters, many charities emerge to help, yet some are also scams.  If you receive a phone call, text, or email from an individual or organization asking for donations, be sure to research them first or give to an established charity that you know or trust.

Helpful Scam Tips and Resources

Use the following tips regarding vaccine scams:

  • Always check with your state or local health department to learn when and how to get the vaccine. You can also talk with your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or health insurance provider.
  • You can’t pay to skip the lie, reserve a spot, or join a clinical trial
  • Be wary of any calls or texts that ask for your SSN, financial details, or insurance information to reserve a spot

Here are some general tips:

  • Don’t answer calls from a number you don’t recognize; if it’s important, they will leave a voicemail
  • If you do answer, hang up!
  • If you answer and are asked to press a button to stop getting calls, hang up as it may actually increase the amount of calls you get because you are flagged as an active number.
  • Never provide personal information such as DOB, account numbers, SSN, passwords, security question answers or other identifying information
  • If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be from a company or agency and asking for personal information, hang up. Look up the phone number on their website, recent statement, or phonebook.  Remember, scammers can spoof legitimate numbers so always call back to confirm.
  • Scammers try to use high-pressure situations to obtain information or payment so use caution if you are told you need to act now or send money immediately
  • Ask your phone service provider what call blocking tools they offer and check to see what apps are available on your mobile device

If you believe that you are a victim of a scam, report it at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.  If you wish to file a complaint about robocall or text scams, visit www.consumercomplaints.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL-FCC (225-5322).

Financial Tips and Help

Financial uncertainty is a very real consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and even almost a year later, many people continue to struggle to pay the most basic of bills, especially older Americans on a fixed income.  If you are experiencing financial hardship, you need to contact your lenders, loan servicers, or other creditors to discuss your options; they will not contact you!  Be prepared to explain:

  • Your financial and employment situation
  • How much you can afford to pay
  • When you are likely to restart regular payments
  • Income, expenses, and assets
  • Experiencing financial hardship because of the COVID-19 emergency

If you have a mortgage on your home, it is recommended that you continue to pay the mortgage if able.  If you cannot afford your mortgage or can only afford a portion of the payment, contact your loaner servicer immediately.  You may be eligible for forbearance, which can lower or stop your payments for a period of time  However, you will be required to pay those balances back, possibly in a lump sum at the termination of the forbearance period so make sure you read the fine print!  If you have a federally backed mortgage, there is currently a moratorium on foreclosures so you cannot be forced out of your home if you cannot afford to pay your mortgage.

If you have debt that is now in collections, you are not alone.  You should contact the collection agency and work to identify a realistic payment plan.  You also need to understand your rights, as protected in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – debt collectors are not allowed to use unfair practices in trying to collect debt, such as harassing phone calls, posing as an attorney, or threatening arrest or criminal action.  There are debt settlement organizations that will offer to settle your debt for less, but oftentimes, you will end up paying the debt settlement company more in the long-run so be aware.  Before making a decision, be sure to consider all of your options, including consulting with a non-profit credit counselor.

With an increase in frauds and scams, especially regarding identity theft, it is as important as ever to protect your credit.  The best way to do this is to periodically get a copy of your credit report.  You can get free, weekly reports at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ through April, 2021.  If you find any discrepancies in your report, contact the credit bureaus and the lender/creditor immediately in writing to dispute the error.  It will also help to have all agreements with any lenders/creditors in writing, especially in the terms of the loan or debt has changed due to the pandemic.  The CARES Act also provides some protection regarding the reporting of your credit from lenders/creditors, specifically those organizations must continue to report your accounts as current if you are currently in an agreed-upon forbearance program.

Aging and Disabilities Network Help

The Administration for Community Living in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , through the Aging and Disabilities Network, provides help and assistance to the elderly and disabled in a variety of ways.  The Civil Legal Assistance helps clients who are defrauded by using consumer protection interventions, including:

There is also the Senior Medicare Patrol that helps to prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, available at https://www.smpresource.org/.  For those living in a senior living or assisted living facility, the federal government has the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.  The LTCOP is made up of advocates for residents of long-term care facilities and work to resolves their complaints.  They also act as a trusted source of factual information for residents, families, and facility staff, especially regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccines.  The LTCOP is connected with local resources, including collaborations with agencies that address fraud, waste, and abuse.

 

The Magic of Seeds Program Recap

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Thank you to Karen Prager from the Rugters Master Gardeners of Mercer County for a jam-packed presentation on all things seeds.  Starting your plants and garden from seeds can be a very rewarding and satisfying experience, but takes time, commitment, and perseverance.  You can also save money by growing your own seeds and grow varieties that may not be available in local nurseries.  Let’s jump in and see what Karen has to say!

Know Your Plants and Location

Before you begin the process of growing seeds, it is important to have a solid understanding what and where you are planting.  In some case what you want to plant will determine where you will plant, and vice-a-versa if you having an existing garden.  Vegetables, flowers (annuals, perennials), and ornamental grasses will all have different requirements in terms of when to sow, where to sow, amount of sunlight, and maintenance.  For example, vegetables can range anywhere from 4-8 hours of direct sunlight and while flowers have a similar range, they may also need light during a particular time of day.   You can find much of this information in seed catalogs or on the seed packets themselves.

There are many different classifications of seeds that may determine what seeds you wish to buy:

  • USDA Certified Organic – seeds from organically grown plants.
  • Open Pollinated – field pollinated/naturally pollinated.  Will breed true to type.
  • Heirloom – Seeds from older varieties and open pollinated with a history.
  • Hybrid – Joins characteristics from two parents.  Will not breed true to type.
  • Non-GMO – Seeds unmodified by genetic engineering.

Once you have an idea of what you want to plant, it is time to plan where you are going to plant.  When picking a place to plant your garden, you should look for the following things:

  • Full sun, low wind
  • Fertile, well-drained soil
  • pH from 6.2-6.8
  • Near a water source
  • Few weeds

You can have your soil tested, which will indicate the Lime Requirement Index (buffering capacity, resistance to pH change, if limestone is needed) as well as the macronutrients present (phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium).  Once you have a spot picked out, starting mapping out where you want to plant certain flowers/vegetables to ensure you have enough space.

Starting From Seeds

There are 3 main parts of a seed: seed coat (protection), embryo (tiny plant inside) and endosperm (food source).  While the seed does have its own food source for it’s initial growth, it will need light (or dark), warm temperature (or cold), water, and oxygen to continue its development.  You can provide these elements in many different ways, both indoors and outdoors, but the most important thing to pay attention to is timing.  Starting your seeds at the right time is key to ensure that your plants take when transplanted.  Know your area’s Last Spring Frost Date (April 29th for Mercer County) and count backwards based on the seed packet; for example, 8 weeks before last frost date in Mercer County will be March 5th.  Always remember, “A little later is better than a little earlier.”

If you want to use harvested seeds from last year’s plants, do a germination test.  Take 10 seeds and cover in a damp paper towel, placing in a warm area for 4-6 days.  Then unwrap the seeds and count how many have roots: 80% germination is good/40% germination is poor.  You can always increase the amount of seeds you place in the towel or double/triple up the amount of seeds you plant in a single hole to increase your chances of successful germination.

To help promote root development, you can perform scarification where you soak the seeds for 24 hours then use a knife or sandpaper to gently scar or nick the protective coating.  You can also try cold stratification, which essentially tricks the seed into germinating by using cold to break seed dormancy.  You can plant seeds in the fall and hope they survive the elements or you can do this indoors by placing seeds in a plastic bag with a moist paper towel, sphagnum moss or sand, and refrigerate for 4 weeks.  Be sure to let them sit at room temperature for a couple week before planting.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Many people choose to start their seeds indoors.  Regardless of how you grow your seeds indoors, there are two essentials that everyone should follow:

  1. Use cell flats, seedling trays, or pots with drainage holes.  You can also use plastic bottles or jugs, but the most important thing is ensuring proper drainage.
  2. Soilless potting mix.  Seeds have their own food source and a soilless mixture will help ensure the seed gets enough oxygen.  You can purchase pre-made mixes or make your own (1/3 peat moss or coconut coir, 1/3 screened finished compost, 1/3 Vermiculite or perlite).

When starting your seeds, make sure to follow the directions on the seed packet regarding depth and number of seeds per hole.  Ensure all of our containers are sterile, using a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach to prevent fungal infections and other diseases.  Make sure that temperature is between 65-75 degrees (try a waterproof heating pad) and the seed containers are covered to ensure high humidity.  Make sure to keep the containers moist but not wet; pour a little bit of water into a tray and let the soilless mixture soak it up.  Also, make sure to dump any standing water.  To encourage healthy air flow, you can use a small fan to help circulate the air.  Do not put them under direct lights yet!

Once the seeds start to emerge, remove the heating mat (if used) and transfer them to a well lit area, using grow lights instead of a southern-facing window.  As they start to develop true leaves, move them into stronger light, keeping the light 2-3 inches above the seedlings.  Make sure to remove any coverings, fertilize with a water soluble solution, and only water after they dry out a bit.  You can continue using a fan on the lowest setting to remove built-up carbon dioxide and increase oxygen in the soil.

Beyond Seedlings

Once your seedlings are established, you can start pricking them out.  A few hours before starting, moisten the soil.  Next, pick out your healthiest sprouts (fewer than 5 leaves) and carefully remove them by gently prying out each seedling, pulling from the leaves rather than the stem.  If seedlings are too crowded or there are weak ones, you can use scissors to thin them, trying not to break the roots of the healthy seedlings.  Immediately transplant them into new pots without any fertilizer.  Ensure they are watered and move them into a cooler place at night (between 55-60 degrees).  As the seedlings continue to grow, ensure that artificial lights are raised to keep within 2-3 inches of the tops of the plants.  A week before you transplant the seedlings outdoors, they need to harden off.  This consists of gradually exposing the seedlings to outdoor conditions, for about 3-4 hours a day.  Try to find a place that is generally shaded and free of wind.  Hardening off will help strengthen the cell walls and stems while also stimulating root development.

Now that your plants are ready to be transplanted outdoors, it is important to first make sure the soil is ready.  Make sure that is it moist, weeded thoroughly, and the holes are amended with compost.  Try to transplant early on a warm, overcast day as this will help give the plant’s roots time to settle in.  After the seedlings are transplanted, make sure to soak the soil around the seedling and fertilize with phosphorus if needed.   Sit back and watch your hard work come to fruition, remembering to water and maintain as directed on the seed packets.

Due to the pandemic, the Master Gardeners of Mercer County’s HelpLine is unavailable so if you have any questions, please email Margaret Pickoff, mpickoff@mercercounty.org, or Karen Prager, kprager@gmail.com.  Please visit their website, https://mgofmc.org/, for a variety of helpful resources, including Tip of the Month, talks, articles, and other resources.  You can view a recording of the program at https://youtu.be/brJ1w7ibpow and download a copy of the handout with live links at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Magic-of-Seeds-Handout.pdf.

 

 

Hidden Figures Revealed Program Recap

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Thank you to Janice Cross-Gilyard, president of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society – New Jersey Chapter, for her fascinating and well-researched look into notable African American figures from Summit New Jersey.  Janice has only uncovered the tip of the iceberg, yet the fruits of her research are enigmatic of the entire story of the African American experience, not only in New Jersey, but throughout the country.  While only a few of individuals are covered below, please feel free to watch a recording of the presentation at https://youtu.be/IPcKzbBTf1E.  If you have any questions, please contact Janice at aahgs.njchapter@gmail.com.


Reverend Florence Spearing Randolph

Florence Spearing Randolph (August 1866 – December 28, 1951) was an American clubwoman, suffragist,, ordained minister, and pastor of the Wallace Chapel AME Zion Church in Summit.  She was the first woman in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church denomination to be ordained as a deacon and an elder, as well as licensed to preach.  She was a delegate to an international ecumenical conference in London in 1901.  She was also the head of the New Jersey Women’s Foreign Missionary Society and set up the Bureau of Supplies to collect and distribute donations for missionaries.  Florence also served on the executive board of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association.

Violet A. Johnson

Though Violet was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, she became a servant for the John Eggers family in New York, before she moved with them to Summit in 1897.  She organized a Bible study group that became Summit’s first African-American church: Foundation Baptist Church.  As a result, she was the founder and president of the missionary society and president of the Deaconess Board.  Later, she joined the all-white New Jersey Women’s Suffrage Association, helping transform New Jersey’s suffrage movement into a multi-racial movement.  During World War I, she organized black women and girls for  war relief work.  In the late 1920s, Violet Johnson established the Girls Industrial home, a school for training African-American women and girls for domestic work.  She also was a founder and officer of the Summit chapter of the NAACP.

John Mallory

John Mallory was a high-school sports star that eventually made his way into professional football.  At Summit High School, he won honors in football, basketball, and track.  While playing football at West Virginia University, he ranked among the nation’s best punt returners and became an All-Southern Conference first team and Associate Press All-American honorable mention defensive back in his junion year, after only playing 3 games.  John was drafted in the 10th round of the 1968 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.  After playing 14 games his rookie season, he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons and became their all-time punt return leader.  He was inducted into the West Virginia University Hall of Fame in 2001 and inducted into the School of Physical Education Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bill Robinson

Bill Robinson is a tenor jazz singer and despite a long career, continues to perform in his 80s. Cab Calloway.  He has performed with jazz pianist Betty Liste, jazz guitarists John Zweig and John Carlini, violinist Marion Mansfield, and many others.  He signs in a variety of jazz styles, including the Great American Songbook, jazz standards, bluegrass music, classical music, gypsy music, Brazilian jazz, and others.  Bill Robinson has performed at the Apollo Theater in New York and opened for comedian Jackie Mason and jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.

Norman Hill

Normal Hill, born in Summit in 1933, was one of the first African-Americans to graduate from Haverford College in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.  After serving in the military, he moved to Chicago to join the Civil Rights Movement and pursue a master’s degree at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Welfare.  However, he dropped out to pursue more direct social action and held various positions in projects around Chicago, including Youth March for Integrated Schools, Secretary of Chicago Area Negro American Labor Council, and Staff Chairman of the Chicago March Conventions.  Norman Hill joined the Congress of Racial Equality in the 1960s and served as the first East Coast Field Secretary, moving his way up to National Program Director.


8 Great Websites for Health Program Recap

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On February 2, 2021, the New Jersey State Library presented 8 Great Websites for Health.  Thanks to all who attended!

A Pew Research Center study from 2012 found that 72% of internet users have looked for health information online. Although this is an older study, it is still likely true that the internet is used by many of us when seeking health information.

The CRAAP Test

We first discussed the importance of evaluating health websites using a helpful device known as the CRAAP Test.

  • C = Currency – When was the site last updated?
  • R = Relevance – Is the site right for your needs?
  • A = Authority – Who is the author/publisher of the site? What does the URL indicate?
  • A = Accuracy – Does the information seem biased? Can it be verified?
  • P = Purpose – Does the site state its objective?

The Great 8

We reviewed these 8 great online sources:

  • Reference Solutions – U.S. Healthcare (previously Reference USA). This is a NJ statewide database available to New Jersey residents at www.jerseyclicks.org. NJ State employees and Thomas Edison State University students and staff also have access from NJ State Library A-Z Databases. Use the U.S. Healthcare option to find doctors or dentists based on specific criteria such as geographic location, primary specialty and board certification.
  • New Jersey Health Care Profile – New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
    Find information about NJ doctors, podiatrists and optometrists. Information includes education, license and practice information, and disciplinary actions.
  • DailyMed – National Library of Medicine
    Geared to health professionals, but also helpful for consumers, this site provides package insert information for FDA approved drugs.
  • Drugs.com
    This resource includes a pill identifier, drug interactions checker, and has a broad range of information for consumers and health professionals. It also has information for veterinary drugs.
  • About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    Find information for consumers and health professionals on herbal products, vitamins, and more.
  • The Nutrition Source – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
    Comprehensive coverage of nutrition topics including foods, drinks, vitamins, carbohydrates, diets, sleep and exercise.
  • NIMH – National Institute of Mental Health
    This extensive government site provides information on specific conditions, funding, news and outreach information relating to mental health.
  • MedlinePlus – National Library of Medicine
    The premier consumer health website from the NLM has high quality information on health topics, and also has information on drug and supplements, genetics, medical tests, organizations and more.

Other Resources

Here is follow-up information based questions – thanks for your participation!

Sources for Multimedia:

CDC – Social Media at CDC
MedlinePlus – Videos and Tools
National Institutes of Health – Free Web Content

Resources to find a therapist:

American Psychological Association – How Do I Find a Good Therapist?
American Psychological Association – Psychologist Locator
Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Find a Therapist
Mental Health America – How Do I Find a Therapist?

Sources for Hospital Information:

Medicare.gov – Compare Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Other Providers
The LeapFrog Group – Health Care Ratings and Reports
American Hospital Directory – Free Hospital Profiles

If you have any questions, please reach out to Martha Sullivan at msullivan@njstatelib.org.  A recording of the webinar is available at https://youtu.be/dyztszGYjG4.  Also, please down a copy of the handout, which includes many of the links above, at https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/8-Great-Websites-for-Health-Handout.pdf.  If you are looking for more health-related resources, please visit our Health and Medical Resources Research Guide.

Home Buying Program Recap

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A big thanks to James Goodman, Home Finance Consultant for The Credit Union of New Jersey, for his comprehensive overview of the homebuying process.  Buying a home can be a stressful experience, especially for first-timers, so it is important to be well-informed and choose the right agents along the way.  While buying a home can be a major milestone in your life and serve as an investment for the future, it is important to ensure that you can financially afford it.

Key Players

There are many people that are involved in the home-buying process:

  •  Buyer and seller (can be an individual person or an organizations such as a bank)
  • Realtor – often referred to as a buyer’s or seller’s agent responsible for finding homes and drafting your offer.  They often earn a commission on the sale of a house.
  • Lender – Organization that is providing you with any money needed to purchase the house.  This will include a loan officer in charge of your account and processor who takes all your information and determines if you qualify for a loan and how much.
  • Attorneys – It is required in New Jersey to have a real estate attorney who will finalize the contract, ensure all documents are signed, ensure that all money is appropriately distributed, and ensure your receive your keys.
  • Home Inspector – Does a walk-through of the home to ensure that the home is up to code and can identify current and potential problems with the home.
  • Appraiser – Assesses the value of the home to determine the fair market value of the home.

Pre-Qualified vs. Pre-Approved

It is recommended to receive a pre-qualification letter from a lender before shopping for a house.  A pre-qualification letter will give you an idea of how much you can afford and determine if you will qualify for any of the lender’s loan programs.  Generally, this involves a verbal account of your income and debts as well as hard inquiry on your credit.  Many sellers like to see a pre-qualification letter since it indicates that you are a suitable candidate.

Pre-approval is a more in-depth process that actually approves your for a specific loan amount.  This requires the submission of a variety of documents including your past 2 years of tax returns, a month’s worth of pay stubs, statements from your bank accounts, a hard inquiry on your credit, and other documentation as required by the lender.  Your account then undergoes an underwriting process where all of your financial information is examined to determine what your debt to income ratio is to see if you actually qualify for a specific loan.  Often referred to as PITI, the pre-approval process will take into consideration the Principle, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance related to the house and corresponding loan and compare that your current income and monthly debt.  The calculation consists of your:

  • Monthly Income/12 months
  • Total monthly debt
  • Front end ratio – Mortgage (PITI) is no more than ___ % of your monthly income
  • Back end ratio – Mortgage (PITI) and your monthly debt is ___ % of your monthly income

While the ration can range between lenders, a good rule of thumb is 29% front end/45% back end.   If you are over these numbers, especially the back end ratio, it is likely that you will not be approved for the loan; however, if you are on the cusp, you may receive approval.

Types of Lenders and Loans

When shopping for loan, there are many types of lenders out there.  Conventional lenders are often private lenders, such as bank or credit unions, in which the loan is not sponsored or secured by a government entity; the exception to this are the federal agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack.  There are also unconventional or governmental lenders such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and VA (Veterans Administration) that offer loans to those that may not qualify under a conventional lender, but may also require additional monthly payments called PMI (private mortgage insurance) to help the lender in the event you default on the loan.

Generally there are 3 types of loans – fixed, adjustable, and jumbo.  Fixed rate loans have a set interest rate for the life of the loan, which can be 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years.  Generally, the longer the length of the loan, the lower the monthly payments, but the more you will pay in interest.  Adjustable rate loans start off with a lower interest, but will be adjusted at certain intervals based on market conditions.  These can be 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, or 10/1, with the first number being the interval at which the interest rates are adjusted.  However, as you build equity in the home, you may qualify to refinance your loan at a lower interest rate or transfer to a different loan type.  Jumbo loans are loan amounts generally over $424,100 in most counties, and may required certain restrictions in order to qualify, such as a larger down payment or higher PMI.

Closing Costs

Many people are unaware that they will owe money at the closing, above and beyond any down payment, which can lead to a host of problems.  During the entire home-buying process, especially when you are under contract, there are many agents that are performing a variety of tasks that will need to be paid during the closing.  Here are some of the costs that may appear:

  • Lender fees – these can include application fee, processing fee, appraisal fee, and others
  • Inspections – some home inspectors require up-front payment at the time of inspection or some may be filed with your attorney.  These generally range from $500 – 700.
  • Pre-paid interest – You will have to pay for the interest on your loan for the remainder of the month in which you purchase the home.  Many people try to close at the end of the month to reduce this amount.
  • Title – Fee for the title agency to run a title check to ensure that the property is free and clear of any liens and judgements.
  • Escrow – Mortgage company will ask you to prepay your first property tax payment in case the seller has not paid property taxes for the current term.
  • Attorney fees – These generally range from $900 – 1,000.
  • Survey – In conjunction with the appraisal, a survey is done of the property to determine your property lines.  This survey may be needed for future improvements such as fences.
  • Recording fees – Fees charged by the county to register the deed in your name.

Generally, the total of these fees range from $4,500 – 6,000, but can be more.  Additionally, at the time of closing, you will be required to furnish the amount of your down payment.

The Mortgage Process

So what does the entire mortgage process look like?

  1. Application – You will fill out an application for a specific loan with a specific lender.  It is important to shop around before filing out any application since each application will cause a hard inquiry on your credit and can potentially lower it if too many are made in a short period of time.
  2. Processing and documentation – Your loan officer will request a variety of documentation from you to submit to the underwriter.  These will include tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, and proof of identity.
  3. Home Appraisal – The value of the home will be assessed and if it is appraised lower than the seller’s asking price, you attorney may use this to negotiate with the seller.  If the seller refuses, you can use this discrepancy to back out of the contract without penalty.
  4. Underwriting and Approval – Once both parties agree to the contract and final price of the house, the underwriting process starts to approval you for the requested loan amount.  During this time, you may be required to explain large deposits in your bank statements, such as gifts or settlements.  Additionally, if you are receiving funds for a down payment as a gift from someone else, you will need to provide a gift letter to explain those funds.  Additionally, you should not make any major purchases using your credit or open any new lines of credit as your credit score will be checked again at the end of the process.  After the underwriting process, if you meet the ratio requirements from the lender, you will receive your approval letter.
  5. Closing – You will meet with your attorney to sign a variety of paperwork to finalize the sale.  Additionally, you will need to bring all money owing and due, including down payment and closing costs.  Once all papers are signed and money is parceled out, you will receive the keys to the house.

 

If you have any questions on the home buying process, please reach out to James Goodman at JGoodman@mortgagedept.com.  You can view a recording of the webinar at https://youtu.be/drJ80TwG2dI.