Discovering The Mature Lifestyle
‘All a dance’: Kung Fu, Zumba, Tai Chi Story inside
Health & Exercise January Issue
January 19, 2018
Working with young people keeps Eden Prairie woman active By SUE WEBBER Contributing Writer
Nancy Sward was always into working out, she says. As early as her 20s, she was taking a weight-lifting class. “The more you move, it just feels so good,” Sward said. As a full-time educational assistant at a special education high school, Sward finds herself walking 9,000 steps a day as she helps with volleyball, pickle ball and floor hockey. “I love these kids,” she said. “They’re good kids from unfavorable backgrounds, or they’re physiologically different.” Some are young people who don’t have much of a family life, or who live in a group home. Some are African American students who have never been around an older white woman, Sward aid. “They keep coming to school so they can graduate,” Sward said. “It’s pretty rewarding. We try to make it fun. It keeps me young. I never have the same day twice.” The students have nicknamed her “The Silver-Haired Beast,” she said.
Here is one of Sward’s favorite recipes:
Flourless Blender Muffins
Nancy Sward is an advocate of staying active and eating well. “I’m 62, and I start doing jumping jacks and tell them to get out here and start exercising with me,” Sward said. She has three classes a week, and also works out every day at school, doing push-ups. “I’m self-motivated,” Sward said. “If it’s a nice day, I go for a onehour walk at SWARD - TO PAGE 15 a good pace.
Total time: 20 min. Yield: 8-9 muffins Ingredients • 1/2 cup quick oats or quinoa flakes, loosely packed (40g) • 3/4 tsp. baking powder • 1/4 tsp. salt • 1/8 tsp baking soda • 1 medium (1/2 cup) mashed overripe banana (120g) • 1 can white beans (250g without liquid) or 250g cooked beans • 1/4 cup peanut butter or allergyfriendly substitution • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract • Optional: handful mini chocolate chips, crushed walnuts, shredded coconut, or a pinch of cinnamon. Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350° F and line
eight or nine muffin cups. Drain the beans and rinse extremely well, then pat dry. This is important because it gets rid of any bean taste. Blend all ingredients until smooth in a blender or high-quality food processor. (If using a blender without a tamper, stop occasionally to stir ingredients with a spoon so they will blend evenly). Pour into the muffin cups – don’t overfill or they will rise and then sink in the centers. Bake 20 minutes. They will look underdone – let sit 20 minutes and they will firm up. “I like to bake for only 16 minutes and then refrigerate overnight, because I like the texture a little underdone even the next day,” Sward said. “These muffins are supposed to be fudgy, not fluffy and flour-y like traditional muffins.” Muffins last for three to four days refrigerated, or two to three or weeks frozen.
A Memory Care Community at Vernon Terrace of Edina Providing a secure living community catering to those with memory loss
IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY! IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY! Call TODAY • Studio and 1-bedroom options • Residential setting with controlled access • Activities to enhance resident’s day • ee meals and snacks served daily in our family-style dining room • Family participation in activities and programs encouraged
Ask for Marti 952-358-6122 5250 Vernon Avenue, Edina, MN 55436 www.vernonterrace.com
Property managed by
Page 2 • Thursday, January 19, 2018
current.mnsun.com
Exercise has been a lifelong habit for St. Louis Park man By SUE WEBBER Contributing Writer
Gerald Mortenson has been a fitness buff at Lenox Community Center in St. Louis Park for the last five years. He participates in enhanced fitness, Tai chi, and Zumba gold. On his own, he goes to the gym and does Kung Fu and other martial arts. “The senior exercise program is dance-based,” Mortenson said. “I almost minored in dance at the University of Minnesota Bemidji. Kung Fu is really dancing.” An active lifestyle is nothing new to him, he said. “It’s a lifetime thing you do for physical conditioning,” he said. “I grew up in a rural area next to Maplewood State Park near Pelican Rapids, and there were so many things to do,” Mortenson said. “I was the oldest. We went for walks in the woods. It was a pioneer area, like a step back in time. We made sure we went in a group. You don’t go alone in a rural area.” His mother encour-
aged her children’s outdoor activities, but was opposed to their participating in school sports, Mortenson said. “She would say, ‘There’s enough brain damaged people in the world without adding to it.’” At the time, he recalls, “I was pretty much upset. It took half a century to prove her right. “My father always said, ‘If you keep busy and do something new today, think what you will be tomorrow.’ He guided us by that, and my mother agreed with him.” Mortenson has been involved in Kung Fu since before he was in grade school, he said. “There was a family from China who lived a quarter of a mile from us, and I babysat for the parents,” he said. He has been a trail walker, hunter and ice fisherman along the way, and used to ski, though he said he backed off that because it was too expensive.
Growing up, Mortenson enjoyed chemistry and biology in school and wanted to work in a scientific field. “My first choice was to be an attorney, but you simply have to come up with the money for law school,” he said. Now retired, Mortenson worked in medical
RIGHT: Gerald Mortenson is shown (in the back) doing Tai Chi with instructor Rand Adams (foreground).
research for 15 years and in the motorcycle industry for another 15 years, as well as at Best Buy and Carlson Marketing. “I had the most fun being in the motorcycle industry,” Mortenson said. “It really started to become a cultural event, and everyone was so ex-
Gerald Mortenson (left) was recognized for contributing 250 volunteer hours to the St. Louis Park Senior Program. (Submitted photo)
cited. I had my trusty Harley Shovelhead. I sold it eventually, and I’m sorry about it to this day.” He also enjoyed power boating and archery. He works at having meals with several courses and lots of vegetables, and no bacon or pizza. “Rather than eating out, we eat in – nice simple meals,” he said. Mortenson, who has two daughters, a son and six grandchildren,
is an unabashed Minnesota booster. “Why would you live in one of the most beautiful spots on earth without taking advantage of it?” he said. As for getting involved in physical activity, he said, “If you get exposed to it, those are the things you choose to do. That’s the important thing, rather than sitting around. There are so many things to do.”
It’s time to speak out against elder abuse Villa Centers offer quality post-acute and long-term care. Our focus is providing exceptional clinical services, by people who truly care, in an environment that promotes healing and wellness.
Schedule your tour today
612.861.1691 7727 Portland Avenue S. Richfield, MN 55423
We Make People Better.
Who would want to have been victimized hurt a sweet little old by some form of finanlady? Or steal from a cial fraud alone. “It’s harmless old curmud- clear that elder finangeon? Apparently, a lot of people Guest do. column According to the Minnesota ... by Bob Elder Justice Center, one in ten Ramsey adults over 60 is a victim of elder abuse. Worse yet, a re- cial abuse is becoming cent study sponsored more commonplace, by Allianz Insurance and, it appears to be indicates an even higher greater than we thought incidence. The research in scope and impact,” found nearly one-third explained Allianz CEO of elderly Americans Walter White.
To make matters worse, the perpetrators of financial exploitation of senior citizens are often family members, friends or other trusted adults who have an existing ongoing relationship with the victim. What kind of society robs from its own grandmas and grandpas? The truth is we don’t know the full extent of
ABUSE - TO PAGE 16
current.mnsun.com
Thursday, January 19, 2018 • Page 3
Staying active ‘key’ in later years SWARD - FROM PAGE 13 “I came from a family of five that were all very into stuff,” Sward said. “They weren’t very sedentary. It was always go, go, go. I do it because it feels good and gets the stress out and helps you destress,” she said. At the Eden Prairie Community Center, she
enjoys Zumba and rowing. “I love music,” she said. “Dancing is always fun.” Although she says she’s not a purist when it comes to food, Sward adds, “I’m very much into eating good. Salt is my downfall. But not sugar. I’ve never had a craving for that stuff. I cook very healthfully, a lot of basic veg-
etables and fruit, and not a lot of red meat. “I use Pinterest for recipes and also love this site for healthy recipes www. gethealthyu.com.” She and her wife, Amy, enjoy spending time at a cabin in Wisconsin, where Sward fishes and maintains a big perennial garden. A native of Pasco,
Washington, Sward said she lived in Cottage Grove for some years and now has lived in Eden Prairie for 30 years. She studied art and data entry after high school, which led to jobs with an insurance company, a 10year stint selling cars, and a four-year job with an optical company. “The key for anyone is
staying active,” Sward said. “I know that it looks different for every person, but find activities that make you feel happy, energized, in touch with nature. I love taking Zumba at the community center. Such a wonderful community of woman and really fun instructors. Not to mention great music and you leave the class feeling like you
got a great workout. It’s important to keep the legs, arms and your core strong as we age. I also like the exercise bands for working out. “I tell myself that as long as I feel good, I’m going to have fun and laugh.” Nancy Sward, an Eden Prairie resident, is an advocate of staying active and eating well.
HEALTH NOTIFICATION ARE YOU HARD OF HEARING?
A major name brand hearing aid provider wishes to field test a remarkable new digital hearing instrument in the area. This offer is free of charge and you are under no obligation. These revolutionary 100% Digital instruments use the latest technology to comfortably and almost invisibly help you hear more clearly. They have been clinically proven to increase speech understanding and reduce background noise. If you wish to participate, you will be required to have your hearing tested in our office FREE OF CHARGE to determine candidacy and report your results with the hearing instruments each week for a three week period. At the end of this period, you may purchase your instrument, if you so desire, at a reduced charge. Otherwise, there is no charge whatsoever for participating in this field test. Special testing will be done to determine the increased benefits of this technology. Benefits of hearing aids vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing test, and proper fit. This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing help is available for your hearing loss while you evaluate your performance with this technology.
CALL NOW IF YOU WISH TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS FIELD TRIAL TEST
FIELD TRIAL IS AVAILABLE: January 22-26, 2018
We are providers for Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, EPIC, Hearing Care Solutions, HearUSA, AARP, and many others. We meet and/or exceed most insurance and discount benefit programs like Silver Plans, Gundersen Lutheran Senior Preferred, United Health Care, Health Traditions, Medicare Advantage, and prescription drug plans.
Evenings,weekend, and in home appointments available. WHITE BEAR LAKE 1310 E. Hwy 96
PLYMOUTH 12805 Hwy 55
BURNSVILLE 13755 Nicollet Ave. S.
COON RAPIDS 10026 University Ave NW
ROSEVILLE 1700 W. Hwy 36
BLOOMINGTON 8100 Penn Ave S
FARMINGTON 408 3rd St.
1-800-334-3795 Reservation Code: ERH126
Senior abuse unreported due to fear, shame ABUSE - FROM PAGE 14 physical, mental, emotional or financial elder abuse, because masses of cases go unreported and undetected. Many victims remain in denial, are too embarrassed or ashamed to admit their vulnerability, are afraid of retaliation, or feel the subject is too personal and private (family business) to go public. Other barriers to
reporting include ageism and excessive false pride. This lack of reporting is allowing crimes against older people to become an “invisible epidemic.” In many ways, elder abuse is the new frontier for fraud in America. There are more older adults living longer, with more money than ever before. And many are physically, mentally or emotionally compromised. This makes
seniors tempting targets for an assortment of abuses including scams, extortion, identity theft, physical or sexual assault, neglect, bullying, emotional abuse and, even, spiritual abuse. Unfortunately, where one form of abuse exists, there are usually other forms as well. Based on this data, it’s almost certain that I know someone who has experienced elder abuse. You
probably do too. Yet, I don’t know who these victims are. The victims may not know it themselves. Maybe no one knows. Someone should know! That’s the only way that this societal sickness will be surfaced and solved. That’s why the Elder Justice Center wants everyone to know that it’s OK to report and talk about suspected elder exploitation. The signs to look for range from physi-
cal evidence (e.g. bruises, unexplained accidents, etc.) and financial clues (e.g. unusual withdrawals) to changes in personality and social isolation. The experts all agree that anyone who suspects elder abuse should report it. It’s easy—just contact the Minnesota Elder Justice Center at 651-410-9304 or the Department of Human Services at 844-880-1574. Elder abuse can only be as rampant as we allow it to be. So we need to step up, stand up and speak up against elder exploitation—and speak loud
enough for legislators, lawyers, litigators and law enforcement to hear. Noise attracts attention; and attention is the first step to action. After all, most seniors have spent a good deal of their adult life looking out for others; now, it’s time for others to help look out for them. Bob Ramsey is a lifelong educator, freelance writer and advocate for “Vital Aging.” He can be contacted at 952-922-9558 or by email at joyrammini@ comcast.net.
Heritage of Edina is a senior living community, consisting of three different, but connected buildings. Each one has a distinctive look and feel of its own which is conducive to a certain quality of care, such as Independent, Assisted, or Extended Assisted Living. Every Resident and potential Resident is assessed, so that they are placed in the best area for safety and care, including our new Comfort Care Suites for endͲofͲlife hospice care. Because we are so adamant about giving everyone the best care, we get many letters of thanks from the Residents and their families, such as this one:
1960 to 2018 Dear Lynn,
1960 to 2018
It’s been a month now since our Mom passed away peacefully after living in the Heritage community for several years. This “anniversary” has prompted me to reflect on her time there and, in particular, the last years of her life living in the Tiffany Building. She was no longer herself and hadn’t been for a long time, but my experience whenever I was there was that she spent the time receiving the best of care and, in fact, on the day she died, I realized that the people that work so lovingly in the Tiffany building had become her family too. I myself was offered so much support by the people around me that day and I am so grateful for that. Heritage of Edina’s relationships with Bluestone Physician Services and St. Croix Hospice are amazing. Our greater experience was with the St. Croix Hospice and they supported our Mom and our family so beautifully. Please accept my heartfelt thanks on behalf of my brother, my sisters and myself and pass on that thanks to the amazing people who worked with our Mom over the years. She was surrounded by real life angels and her passing was made a much more spiritual experience because of their presence in her life.
We appreciate getting letters like this as the staff works very hard to give the best care to the Residents and families, and thankͲyous help make a difficult job so much easier and help create a loving relationship between caregiver and careͲreceiver.
Rembrandt
Serving
Since
Seniors
1960 Manor
Visit us on the web at http://www.heritageofedina.com
Heritage of Edina, Inc.
To make reservations for a tour and complimentary lunch call 952-920-9145
Tiffany