55+ Life Summer 2024

RAINING CATS & DOGS

exploration in arts and culture, you’ll find every opportunity to create a tale that’s all your own.

What’s more, as the only not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in the Mid-Hudson Valley offering lifecare, you can rest assured that you’ll have access to a full spectrum of the highestrated care options, if ever needed — all with predictable and affordable costs for life.

What’s more, as the only not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in the Mid-Hudson Valley offering lifecare, you can rest assured that you’ll have access to a full spectrum of the highestrated care options, if ever needed — all with predictable and affordable costs for life.

Health Care

At Hudson Headwaters, our primary care providers are dedicated to meeting your specific health care needs, and keeping you in good health. We’re here for you—at every stage and every age.

SAY HELLO To Carefree Retirement Living

At Eddy Senior Living our priority is you. Participate in exercise classes, group outings, games, and clubs. Maintenance-free senior living gives you the time to engage in the activities you enjoy and allows you to continue with an active lifestyle. Plus, our residents enjoy peace of mind knowing they have access to a continuum of care to meet their changing needs. SIX EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITIES LOCATED IN:

Discover Waite Meadows

Conveniently located off of Route 146 in Clifton Park, Waite Meadows is an exclusive new community, happily situated in a quiet, picturesque setting.

Just a short drive from downtown Clifton Park, Waite Meadows has easy access to great shopping, dining and the Northway. Large wooded lots, extensive green space and a walking trail make Waite Meadows the perfect spot for both young families wanting to move into the Shenendehowa School District and mature families looking to downsize or“right size.”

• Exclusive 34-home community with large 1+ acre lots

• Great location, close to downtown Clifton Park

• Community walking trail & lots of green space

• Shenendehowa Central Schools

• In-home fire suppression system

• Variety of floor plans (including ranch & primary down)

NEW MODEL HOME/SALES CENTER

8 Scarlet Street, Clifton Park, NY

Open Tuesday - Saturday, 12 pm - 5 pm Sunday by appointment, Closed Mondays Contact Spencer Lewis: 518-512-9646 spencer@belmontebuilders.com

Pinnacle Living at Forts Ferry

Where elegance meets retirement's golden

years

Pinnacle Living at Forts Ferry, conveniently located in Latham, NY, redefines luxury resort-style living for those 55+. Spend your days asking yourself “what do I want to do today?” rather than listing what you have to do. Pinnacle Living features award-winning lifestyle and social programming with our SUN Program® giving our residents all the excitement they crave paired with the privacy they deserve. If you’re ready to create the lifestyle of your dreams all you have to do is take the first step towards Pinnacle!

RESORT-INSPIRED AMENITIES

• Fitness studio & gym

• Community clubhouse

• Movie theater

• Library & lounge

• Community gardens

• Indoor pool & sauna

• 1 and 2 bedroom apartments

• Outdoor entertainment spaces with fire pits

• Continental breakfast 5 days per week

 55+ Life consulting art director Tony Pallone and publisher Alison Michael join NEWS10’s Steve Caporizzo for this issue’s cover shoot at June Farms in West Sand Lake. Also pictured, from left, are Bella, a 16-year-old Shih Tzu, and Gia, an 18-year-old Pomeranian mix. Bella, who is blind in one eye, joined the Caporizzo family in 2007 following a Pet Connection adoption day at Curtis Lumber in Ballston Spa. Gia, who is deaf and has no teeth, came to the family around two years ago “in rough shape,” as Caporizzo says. She had developed mammary tumors during her time spent as a “backyard breeder” in Fulton County.

Cover and Contents page photos by Kris Qua.

Home to a New Generation

Enjoy cottage living, designed for active, independent “55 and better” residents. Life at The Spinney is more than a great home...it’s a community of friends.

Single-story, maintenance-free living with attached garages, patios and decks. Coupled with our lifestyle programming, residents are able to connect through a wellness-focused lifestyle that empowers and inspires.

Pond View amenities include…

• Pet Friendly

• Cable & Internet

• 24 Hour Maintenance

• Front & Back Porches

• Washer & Dryer in Unit

• Community Activities

• Attached Garages

Welcome home to Wellness. The Spinney at Pond View in Castleton pondviewleasing@livewellgroup.com | TheSpinneyatPondView.com

• Snow Removal

• Trash Removal

• Water Usage

• Community Gardens

• 5000 Sq Ft Clubhouse

• Pools

food and drink

29  A Year at Catbird Cottage Recipes & reflections from a Hudson Valley B&B

lifestyle

34  Tough Stuff

Caroline Paul says experiencing the great outdoors is critical to healthy aging for women

38  On Our Nightstand

Three books that dispel aging myths and offer suggestions on living your best life

health and wellness

40  The Simplest, Most Difficult Sport

Why you’re never too old to take up the frustrating, exhilarating game of golf

60  Go Away to Get Well

Places to go so you don’t need a vacation from your vacation

home and garden

47  It (Still) Takes a Village Co-housing and neighborhood networks redefine retirement living travel

53  What’s Trending: Coolcationing

This summer’s hottest (no pun intended!) travel trend

54  Adventure is Calling Celebrating 100 years, New York state parks issue challenge to visitors

columns

14  Publisher’s Note Alison Michael on the power of pets

45  Be Your Best Benita Zahn on self-care vs. selfishness

66  The Vine

Rod Michael on saying goodbye to old friends

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Alison Michael | alison@55pluslifemag.com

Consulting Editor

Traci Neal

Marketing Consultant

Terri Jacobsen

Consulting Art Director

Tony Pallone

Design Consultant

Barb Dunn

Consulting Online Content Producer

Caitlin Manner

Contributing Writers

Robin Catalano

Caitlin Manner

Rod Michael

Traci Neal

Anthony Pioppi

Janet Reynolds

Brianna Snyder

Jan Tormay

Benita Zahn

Connect

Acommunityforallages!

the power of pets

There is something about pets. Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion who’s always happy to greet you with a wagging tail or gentle purr and a curiosity as if to say, “Where have you been?”

Pets have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we had cats, dogs and even a rabbit named Duke. Pets still play a big part in my life. All of my pets — including our dog, Lola, and our rescue cat, Cato, help me be a better person.

Pets do more than keep us company. Their companionship can help prevent illness and, some say, add years to our lives. They decrease our stress and anxiety and help us feel needed and wanted. We are their world, and for many of us, they are ours.

Until

The work they continue to do to help hard-to-place animals find homes is commendable and inspiring.

After summer 2023’s record high temperatures, our new column What’s Trending explores “Coolcationing,” this year’s hot — no pun intended — travel trend in which vacationers seek out cooler destinations during the increasingly sizzling summer months. Many travelers are opting for curated experiences that veer away from popular sunny and sweltering tourist spots. Think Iceland, Antarctica, Coastal Uruguay and Easter Island in Chile.

one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.

— Anatole France

Giving back to pets is something Steve Caporizzo does so effortlessly. Many know him as NEWS10’s chief meteorologist and host of Pet Connection, a popular segment that introduces viewers to pets in desperate need of homes. We had the pleasure of interviewing him to learn more about his mission, how he’s rescued a staggering 30,000 pets, and the impact his own rescues have had on his life. The love that Steve and his wife, Lisa, have for their rescue pets is palpable.

I leave you with a thank you from our 55+ Life team for being a part of our aging journey and for your continued support of this publication. If you love our content as much as we do, be sure to check out our website, 55pluslifemag.com, for even more engaging, educational and inspiring content that you will only find there.

Providing Quality Senior Housing Communities

Since 1995!

Garry J. Kearns, Executive Director

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82 One & Two Bed Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $594–$954* | 2 Bedrooms $1060* 30 Rockrose Way, Malta, NY 12020 | (518) 583-7977

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AND INCLUDE HEAT AND HOT WATER IN

36 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $606–$747* | 2 Bedrooms $871* 120 Northern Pines Rd., Wilton, NY 12831 | (518) 581-8959

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110 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $577—$889* | 2 Bedrooms $686—$1200* 790 Rte. 9W, Glenmont, NY 12077 | (518) 767-0923

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72 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 62 Rent: 1 Bedroom $685—$718* | 2 Bedrooms $837* 360 Whitehall Rd., Albany, NY 12208 | (518) 446-1920

Wilton Commons WiltonCommons@ahfinc.net

36 One & Two Bedroom Apartments | Min. age requirement 55 Rent: 1 Bedroom $598—$723* | 2 Bedrooms $855* 100 Wilton Commons Dr., Wilton, NY 12831 | (518) 581-7696 *Rents are based on income guidelines determined by the area’s median income.

THE MAN WHO RESCUED 30,000 PETS

NEWS10’s Steve Caporizzo on adopting those hardestto-place animals

BY TRACI NEAL

How many rescues have you fostered, and do you have a story of one of your favorites?

Steve Caporizzo dodges the questions. For Caporizzo and his wife Lisa, every single one of the dozens of pets they’ve rescued over the last several decades — mostly disabled, senior and hospice dogs — has had its own meaningful story.

“They’re all special because we know they have no chance, and we know if we didn’t take them, more than likely they wouldn’t be here,” says Caporizzo, NEWS10’s chief meteorologist and host of Pet Connection with Steve Caporizzo, a popular segment that introduces Caporizzo’s viewers to pets in desperate need of homes. “We find it so rewarding to give them an extra six months, a year, two years, and try to make each day the best for them. There’s not one particular one. They’re all special to us.”

Caporizzo, 63, says he and other senior pet parents get as much as — or far more than — they give.

“Every one we have is a therapy dog,” he says of his own rescues. “To come home after a busy day to our dogs and cats brings us so much joy and happiness. We’ve had dozens of pets over

Photo by Kris Qua.

“ We have them for however long we’re lucky enough to care for them.”

— Steve Caporizzo

the years that we’ve fostered in hopes of finding a home. If I told you we (now) have three dogs, five, 10, it doesn’t matter. They’re not with us for a long time. We have them for however long we’re lucky enough to care for them. We just love them, and that’s all that matters.”

More than 30,000 pets have been directly helped since the mid-1980s through Pet Connection and the regional adoption clinics, adoption fee sponsorships and fundraising events that Caporizzo organizes, he says. He works with about 30 regional rescues and shelters to help find homes for some of the most difficult-to-place animals.

“I have a soft spot for senior dogs or dogs with disabilities, or basically any pet having a tough time finding a home,” says Caporizzo. “Anyone can find a home for a puppy or a kitten. So I ask the shelters and rescues to bring in something that needs an extra helping hand. It just takes the right person to see the pet and say, ‘Hey, I need to meet them.’”

In his three-minute Pet Connection segments, which can be viewed on NEWS10’s website, Caporizzo tells each animal’s story — whether they’re surrenders or strays, puppy mill breeders, or spent their lives in hoarding situations, outdoors in the cold, in cages. Many of Caporizzo’s picks need a little extra TLC, he points out to potential pet parents.

He learned his compassion for animals from

his mother who, he says, “was a pet person who taught all us kids that we need to be their voices. That always stuck with me. If she had a dollar in her pocketbook at the end of the month she’d send it to the Humane Society.”

He started Pet Connection in the mid-1980s at another television station in Springfield, Massachusetts, and brought it with him to NEWS10. “And here we are, almost 40 years after the first pet I had on TV,” he says. “My mother was always happy that I did that.”

He credits the network of animal advocates working “in the trenches every single day” who rescue, care for and nurture unwanted pets. “I’m just a little tiny piece of it, the happy ending to the story.”

Caporizzo agrees that adopting a senior or disabled pet or one in hospice is not for everyone.

“It’s difficult,” he says. “My wife and I don’t have children, so our children have always been our pets. With senior or hospice pets, the rewarding thing is that you have a closer bond because you know they depend on you every day, and you know what you have, their good points, their bad points, their medical issues. It doesn’t come as a surprise, so instead of getting upset you embrace that.

“At the end of day or however long they’re with you, as painful as it is, it’s just as painful as if you had a pet for 17 years. At the end you feel you did all you could, you gave them more time, gave them something they wouldn’t have had. It’s not easy, but at the same time it makes us, my wife Lisa and I, better people.” n

News Channel 10 Chief Meteorologist Steve Caporizzo has found homes for thousands of difficult-to-place pets through his Pet Connection television spot. At top center is one of his rescues, Tippy, dressed for the Fourth of July; above is Gabe, a rescue that was near death as a kitten 12 years ago. “He was in such bad shape,” Caporizzo says. “The biggest love.” One of Caporizzo’s favorite hobbies is fishing, as seen at far left. “I always catch and release,” he says.

claire bosma with hershey

the pet who saved mE

When we rescue a new pet, sometimes the pet rescues us

BY JAN TORMAY | PHOTOS COURTESY BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY

ftentimes, when we seek out a new family member at the local Humane Society or animal shelter, we think we’re rescuing a dog or a cat (or some other animal). Sometimes, though, it’s the new pet that rescues us.

After his beloved pit bull, Maia, was euthanized in January 2022 due to cancer, a grieving Pete Murphy of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, decided to give back by volunteering at the Berkshire Humane Society. With no one staffing the front desk, Murphy took a peek inside the kennels and couldn’t help but notice a very overweight dog named Rusev.

Some time later, he returned to BHS to fill out the volunteer application. Volunteering might take his mind off of

Maia’s death and a recent divorce, and help with his alcohol recovery, he thought.

The staff told Murphy they had the “perfect dog” for him and, though unsure he was ready for a new pet, Murphy hesitantly consented to meet him. To his surprise, out came a slimmed-down Rusev, who flopped over next to Murphy for a belly rub. He was a “goofball,” says Murphy.

The 9-year-old pit bull had been surrendered twice to BHS and had been there for more than two months waiting for a forever home. Most people want a puppy, says Murphy, 57, a driver with Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. “Every dog needs a home,” he says.

“If he only has a couple of years,” Murphy told himself, “well, I’ll give him a couple of good years.”

A few days later, Murphy took Rusev home, and the pup

has become his constant companion, giving him unconditional love and, he says, a purpose to get up in the morning.

If Murphy has a bad day, he says he comes home and forgets all about it because Rusev goes “berserko” and is always so happy to see him.

As a registered service dog that still acts like a puppy, Rusev is always with Murphy — except at work. Insisting on riding shotgun in Murphy’s car, the two often go on adventures together — hikes, road trips and visits to parks like October Mountain and Rock Horse Reservation, and even museums.

“He’s my travel buddy. He’s my shadow. He’s my boy,” says Murphy.

Rusev has his own Facebook page, which features many photos with Murphy. His bio says he “studied” at Obsidian K9 Academy and is “in a relationship” (with Sweets, a St. Bernard mix).

Rabbit Therapy

Not as traditional as a dog or a cat, bunnies bring a very different kind of joy, says Bosma. They can be house-trained to use a litter box, she says, and they actually play with toys.

“They’re just like people,” she says. “They all have their individual personalities. If you spend time with them and keep them safe and warm and you interact with them, you’ll have a good pet.”

Reflecting on a recent visit to a nursing-care facility where residents gathered in the community room to meet the bunnies, Bosma says, “You see them waiting and then when we come in, especially if we have the strollers, it’s really funny, because everybody thinks we’re wheeling in our grandkids.”

Davis and Bosma each take one side of the room and meet in the middle — doing their best to answer questions and entertain the residents. “The room becomes illuminated with happy faces,” Bosma says. “Most of them want (the rabbits) on their laps so they can really pet them and ooh and ahh over them.”

After losing her cat and a rabbit in 2023, Claire Bosma, 80, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, visited Berkshire Humane Society twice before adopting a chocolate-colored 4-pound, 8-year-old rabbit in November. The rabbit, which Bosma named “Hershey,” had been surrendered to BHS because its owner was moving out of state and did not want

She’d tried to talk herself out of adopting, telling herself “I’m getting older” and even rabbits are “more work than you’d think.” But, she says with a laugh, “I’m weak.”

For the last five years, Bosma and her friend, Mary Davis, 71, have been visiting nursing homes to show off their rabbits, which they tuck into baskets and wheel around in baby

It’s amazing to see how the bunnies transform the residents, Bosma says. “There could be a woman there that maybe doesn’t know the woman on her right. And when they’re both petting the rabbit, they get to laughing together.

“You can’t have a bad day with a rabbit in the house,” says Bosma. “You’ve got a headache, you’re mad at somebody, you don’t feel good, whatever’s going on with you, just pick up a rabbit.”

She says she and Davis get as much out of the bunny visits as the residents do. “It is extremely therapeutic,” she says.

Crazy About Cats

One by one, the pitter-patter of little paws claimed a piece of Randy Winters’ heart.

The saga began in May 2010 when her nephew, Ryan, asked her to take care of his black 8-year-old cat “Coffy” for about five months.

“I just fell in love with her,” says Winters, 77, of Dalton, Massachusetts. “When (Ryan) got settled and I had to give her up, I was heartbroken.”

So, she went to the Berkshire Humane Society just to “check out” the cats. A little black-and-white tuxedo named Jilly caught her eye. Jilly had been found on the streets in Pittsfield and in her seven months had already been adopted twice and returned because families said she “wasn’t friend-

Randy winters with Jaspurr

rusev

ly.” But she was, insists Winters, who took Jilly home in September 2010.

Six months later, the retired schoolteacher thought Jilly needed a friend and adopted 1-year-old black-and-white Penelope Rose. “She’s the sweetest little thing, so they got along very well from the beginning,” says Winters.

Then, because her nephew got a different job and was working too much, Winters took Coffy back and the three felines got along splendidly until Coffy passed away at age 13 in June 2015.

“The girls and I were grieving and it was very quiet,” says Winters, who decided to “bring a little life back” by adopting another rescue cat, warning with a chuckle, “Be careful what you wish for.”

“Jaspurr” had put on a good act when she met him at BHS. “He just melted” into Winters’ arms like a little “gentleman,”

she says.

“I was hoodwinked,” she jokes. “He’s like a bull in a China shop.”

Like children, Winters says each of her three cats is unique and she loves each one for different reasons.

Winters said her cats provide her with love and companionship and “someone to care for.”

She emphasizes that she doesn’t want “to be called a crazy cat lady, but I am crazy about my cats.” n

Contact Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to learn about adopting, fostering and volunteering. The society also offers veterinarian services, dog-training classes, a pet food pantry and more. Call 413-447-7878, or go to berkshirehumane.org.

Have a pet story to share? Email jantormay@comcast.net.

SENIOR TO SENIOR PROGRAM

The Senior to Senior Animal Adoption Program is a joint program between the Saratoga County Office for the Aging and the Saratoga County Animal Shelter to place senior dogs and cats, ages 5 and older, with loving older adults, age 60+. Cost is only $6 for dogs, which covers a New York state dog license, and free for cats. Visit the Saratoga County Animal Shelter’s website or call 518-885-4113 for more information.

Credits, clockwise from top left: adamkaz; Neniya; OpiaKai Studio; tirc83.

Pets Make Us

Smarter, Calmer, Healthier

BY CAITLIN MANNER

Weall intuitively know that animals can brighten our days. The interactions we have with our four-legged family members play a surprisingly large role in our mental and physical well-being, but it can be difficult to pin down the science that proves it. Nancy Gee knows this better than most: She’s the head anthrozoologist and director of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center for Human-Animal Interaction, which studies human-animal relationships.

Gee started out in cognitive and neural sciences, but when she began taking her registered therapy dogs into places like nursing homes and schools, she says, she noticed things.

“It started out kind of anecdotal,” she says. “Like, oh, that seems to make a difference, or that brightened their day ... and I saw some really neat things that made me as a scientist say, you know, I’ve got to do research on this. I really need to figure out if there’s something real here, or if it is just heartwarming.”

THERAPY ANIMALS HAVE MEASURABLE IMPACTS

As it turns out, it’s not just heartwarming, and Gee has the science to prove it. For example, through her research on the efficacy of Dogs on Call, VCU’s therapy dog program, she’s seen that therapy dogs in hospital visitations reduce anxiety

and fear in patients and can reduce the perception of pain, “which is a big deal,” she says, “because if people feel less pain, they require less medication and are easier to treat.”

Gee is also involved in studies to see how therapy animals can impact the release of hormones like cortisol, the “stress hormone” and oxytocin, the “love hormone.” So far, evidence shows that interacting with dogs — even for just a few minutes — can decrease one’s cortisol levels and increase oxytocin. When oxytocin levels go up, executive function tends to increase as well.

“We might have some evidence that dogs make us smarter because executive functioning is related to being smart,” Gee explains. In addition, she says, the animals experience the same positive benefits.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OLDER ADULTS

Everyone can benefit from interacting with a pet, but Gee’s studies are revealing important impacts that animals can have for older adults in particular. The center’s team has contributed extensively to related literature within peer-reviewed academic journals, including research that shows Dogs on Call’s visits reduce loneliness.

In older adults, loneliness is a big deal. Loneliness can be as bad for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, the U.S. surgeon general wrote in a 2023 report, and it’s considered a bigger public health problem than obesity.

“As you can imagine, older adults are seeing things like diminishing social networks, increasing health problems, and all of those things contribute to greater loneliness,” Gee says. Therapy dogs help isolated seniors become more social because the animals inspire them to engage with other humans, usually by sharing a story of a pet they used to have.

“The dog is there, but now they’re telling you the story [about their own dog] and they’re engaging with you,” she says. The same benefits would be experienced by a dog owner simply taking their dog for a walk and, ideally, interacting with people around them.

Gee says there are a slew of other benefits of pet ownership. Older adults who walk their dogs take more steps and are more likely to meet CDC-recommended physical fitness goals.

“They experience fewer sedentary events during the day,” says Gee. “Sitting is the new smoking, right? We need to get up and move.” There’s also some evidence that people who own a pet experience a reduced risk of falls. And, in some cases, owning a pet can aid in grief recovery for people who’ve lost a spouse.

If you’re not really a dog person, finding the right animal for you and your personal circumstances is key to benefiting from pet ownership. Dogs have an advantage, thanks to years of domestication that have allowed them to develop an impressive ability to read our emotional cues and body language, but even fish can affect our health and well-being. (Gee cited yet another fascinating study about how researchers found that putting an aquarium in the dining area of a nursing home led patients with dementia — who often experience diminished hunger cues — to stay at the table longer and consume more calories.)

Perhaps most importantly, pets give us a sense of purpose. “There’s the basic idea that pets kind of give us this raison d’etre,” Gee says. “They require we sort of follow a daily schedule; the dog needs to go out, it needs to be fed. And so we develop these sort of rituals and these routines around the pet. And that can be really important for older adults, especially.” n

A Year at Catbird Cottage

Recipes & Reflections from a Hudson Valley B&B

BY TRACI NEAL | PHOTOS BY MELINA HAMMER

Melina Hammer sat on her deck, nestled on a mossy hillside in the heart of the Hudson Valley, writing the intro to her cookbook, which she calls “a love letter to food.” A Year at Catbird Cottage: Recipes for a Nourished Life is an ode to her and her husband Jim’s decision to pull up stakes, leave their urban jobs and home, and plunk themselves down in nature at the foot of the Shawangunk Mountains (better known as “The Gunks”) in the small hamlet of Accord, New York.

Today, just a few years later, the couple’s quaintly named Catbird Cottage is an idyllic B&B where Hammer hosts — and feeds — guests amid gardens full of an ever-increasing array of edible and native plants.

Through her award-winning photographs and reflections, Hammer records the seasons unfolding, the rhythm and pace of nature’s cycles, and her own relationship to the recipes she creates using ingredients grown in her gardens, foraged from New York’s landscape and recalled from her travels across the globe.

We share here a few of Hammer’s recipes for a dreamy breakfast or brunch created with summer’s fresh bounty.

Pillowy French Toast

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

When I was a child, anytime my Ma made French toast, she would top it with grape jelly and sour cream. Sounds bizarre probably — but playing the game of sweet-versus-tart/savory, it was also delicious. Carrying that tradition forward, I’ve taken it to the next level with foraged wild blueberry compote, paired with a blend of crème fraîche and thick yogurt. You could opt for one or the other dairy in a pinch. Do not skimp on double soaking the bread, however. This step produces toasts that are lush and moist all the way through, an excellent textural contrast once they are well caramelized in the pan.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 eggs

• ½ cup full-fat buttermilk

• ½ cup half-and-half or heavy cream

• Finely grated zest from 1 orange, plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed juice (see note)

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Pinch kosher salt

• ½ cup crème fraîche

• ½ cup full-fat Greek yogurt

• Eight ½-inch slices challah, cinnamon

Wild Blueberry Compote with Wild Blueberry Compote

MAKES 3 OR 4 HALF PINTS

or brioche bread

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil, plus more as needed

• 1 tablespoon salted butter, plus more as needed for pan and to serve

• 8 to 10 tablespoons wild blueberry compote (see below)

INSTRUCTIONS

1 In a shallow baking dish, use a fork to whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, half-and-half, orange zest and juice, cinnamon and salt.

2 Combine the crème fraîche and yogurt in a bowl and whip together until silky and uniform. Place in the refrigerator while the French toast cooks.

3 Dip the bread slices, one at a time, into the egg mixture to coat. Puncture the bread a few times with a fork, turn to the second side and repeat. Transfer the slices to a plate as you work, stacking one on top of the next.

4 Preheat the oven to 180°F. Place a wire rack on top of a sheet pan on the top rack.

5 Heat half the grapeseed oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add half the butter. As it foams, dip three bread slices into the egg mixture, piercing each with a fork again and turning once, then carefully transferring to the pan to cook, three slices at a time.

6 Repeat dipping and cooking slices in batches until deeply golden brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes total per batch. Add a small additional drizzle of oil or dab of butter if the pan looks dry, tilting the pan to coat as the fats sizzle. Lower the heat as needed so as not to burn the toasts while they cook. Transfer the finished toasts to the oven as you cook the remaining batches.

7 Divide the French toast among the plates. Dollop the crème fraîche mixture, then swirl the blueberry compote on top.

Note: It may sound obvious, but always zest citrus before you juice it — it is much easier to hold onto the fruit before its juice has been squeezed.

This compote is a simple method to preserve berries through the seasons, highlighting their peak-ripe glory with not much else in the way of ingredients. That said, you may add herbs to offer further interest to this inky topping. Delicious options include a sprig of fresh rosemary, lavender or anise hyssop, a bay leaf or a few sprigs of thyme, tied in a bundle with kitchen twine for easy removal. The recipe scales up easily for larger batches and can be hot-water processed for 15 minutes for longer storage.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups w ild blueberries

• ½ cup cane sugar

• Juice from half a lemon

• Pinch kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Bring all the ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

2 Once the mixture is bubbling, mash some of the berries using the tines of a fork or a potato masher and turn the heat down so that the mixture simmers. The berries will express more juices as they cook, but this gives them a head start.

3 Reduce the heat to low as needed to avoid scorching the compote. Simmer, reducing the liquid by a third, 8 to 10 minutes or until somewhat thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.

4 Spoon the compote into three or four half-pint jars and allow to cool to room temperature. Seal and refrigerate or use a hot-water process for 15 minutes.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

Scarlet runner beans are one of my favorite crops. Not only do their flowers lure hummingbirds through their extended season but the young pods burst with a juicy crunch. When allowed to mature, they make an excellent shelled bean whose pattern is reminiscent of pink and black leopard print. The whole experience is Gezamkunstwerk, basically, a total work of art. This simple but lively breakfast makes use of stale bread, transformed into a crunchy topping you’ll want to sprinkle onto everything.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs

• 10 to 12 scarlet runner beans or 20 to 24 tender green beans, stem end trimmed

• Extra-virgin olive oil, for sautéing

• Freshly ground black pepper and flake salt

• Herbed bread crumbs (see below)

INSTRUCTIONS

1 Crack the eggs into two small shallow bowls and set aside. In a medium-heavy skillet over medium heat, sauté the scarlet runner beans in oil until tender but still bright green, 7 to 9 minutes (if using green beans, cook for half as long — no more than 5 minutes). Turn the beans periodically as they cook. Halfway through, add a tablespoon of water to help them along — the steam produced from the vigorous bubbling will soften their membranes.

2 Using tongs, hold a bean at its center to see if there is a slight droop. If so, they are ready. If not, cook another 1 to 2 minutes.

3 Push the beans to the perimeter of the pan, drizzle a little oil in the center and add the eggs. They should immediately sizzle upon contact. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 5 minutes. Once the whites closest to the yolk are set, remove the pan from the heat.

4 Shower the pan with the crispy bread crumbs and season with ground black pepper and flake salt. Bring to the table, set on a trivet and divide between two plates.

Herbed Bread Crumbs

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 heel of stale sourdough bread

• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

• Pinch kosher salt

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1 Carefully dismantle the small sourdough heel, pressing the tip of a chef’s knife to divide it into small chunks, and go gently bashing away using a mortar until it’s a mix of chunky and fine crumbs. You’ll end up with more herbed bread crumbs than called for — any leftovers can be stored at room temperature in a sealed jar for up to a week.

2 Make the herbed bread crumb mixture: In a small cast-iron skillet set over medium heat, drizzle the oil. Once the pan is hot, add the bread crumbs and stir until uniformly coated. After cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, add the red pepper flakes and kosher salt, stir to combine, and continue cooking until golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally so that the crumbs brown evenly. Transfer to a small bowl to cool. Once they’re at room temperature, add the chopped parsley and stir to incorporate. n

Turns out our mothers were right. Sure, they may have been motivated by the dream of uninterrupted child-free time when they said, “Go play outside! Now!” But they also intrinsically may have known that the outdoors, specifically playing in the outdoors, was just as good for us as having an empty house for a few hours was for them.

Getting outside is a behavior many women lose as they age. Decades of driving to and fro, along with putting others’ needs before their own, conspire to make many women less outdoorsy in their activities and, as a result, more risk-averse.

That has got to change, says bestselling author Caroline Paul. She outlines exactly how and why in her informative new book, Tough Broad, From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking — How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age.

gyrocopters — these women are grabbing aging by the horns. Dot Fisher-Smith, 93, is a hiker, while 80-year-old Louise Wholey is a scuba diver. Drew Brooks is 51 and a BASE jumper — as in someone who likes to jump off tall structures, like the 3,000-foot-high El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, and free fall until finally pulling a parachute cord.

While these women obviously like a touch of adrenaline with their outdoor exercise, Paul says you don’t have to be a parachutist to reap the benefits of spending time outside. “Just getting outside your front door [helps],” she says. “This book is all about how to adapt based on your outdoor experience. This is all about tiny steps, if that’s necessary.

Tough Stuff

“This is not just an adventure book,” she says. “This is really about how the outdoors marries with fulfilling aging.” Healthy aging, she notes (and she includes plenty of research in her book to back her point) requires community, novelty, purpose and good health. “The final [requirement] I’ve added is a positive mindset about your own aging,” she says. “It turns out that being outside is the perfect answer to all that. It keeps all those aspects in our life, which tend to fall away as we age.”

Caroline Paul says experiencing the great outdoors is critical to healthy aging for women

BY JANET REYNOLDS PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAROLINE PAUL

In her book, Paul profiles older women who are living proof of the benefits of exploring the outdoors. Like Paul — a former San Francisco firefighter who surfs and flies experimental

“This book is full of science and psychology. It’s about fulfilling aging,” she continues. “This is a book about how to find exploration and exhilaration in this stage of life — and don’t we all want that? [Outdoor experiences] expand your whole life. Outdoor adventuring in one fell swoop touches on all the pillars of healthy aging.”

Virginia Rose, 64, who has been using a wheelchair since a horseback riding accident when she was 14, is just one illustration of Paul’s point that anyone can get outdoors. An avid birder, Rose created Birdability, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities get outdoors through the joys of birding. “Birding can fill an entire life, learning all the birds, learning all the songs, all the bird habitats, educating yourself on the mannerisms,” she says of her discovery of birding in her early 40s. “Nature, in such a unique way, offers

“ Outdoor adventuring in one fell swoop touches on all the pillars of healthy aging.”

— Caroline Paul, author

top tips

FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO GET BACK OUTDOORS

l Bring a friend. Having a friend with you can make any challenge seem more doable.

l Hark back to what you enjoyed doing as a child. “If you don’t know what that might be,” Paul says, “try something that would feel rewarding to you.”

l Start slow. “Even if there’s a little fear [about what you might try],” Paul says. “Fear is not a reason to say no. Sometimes it’s a reason to say yes.”

that kind of lifelong purpose.”

Paul admits meeting our bodies where they are can be difficult. She spent much of her 40s on crutches, she says, thanks to firefighting injuries. The body feeling as if it’s working against you, she says, “can happen at any age. But we blame too much on aging. We should stop that. That’s not a reason to be disheartened.”

Our bodies may not be quite as agile as they once were but that’s no excuse for falling into negative internal ageism beliefs, Paul notes. Beliefs too easily influence behaviors, and it becomes “hard to directly counter your own messages. That’s why if you get outside, it will do it for you,” she says. “Being out there is a direct rebuke to all those false beliefs. At a certain point you can no longer believe you’re frail and boring if you’re playing in the waves in San Diego with 10 friends on boogie boards.”

“Every woman told me that being outside challenged what they thought they can and cannot do,” Paul says. “They started realizing, ‘What else can I do?’ The world opened up for them.” n

MYTHS ABOUT CARBS

1. You can’t lose weight while eating carbs.

2. Carbs cause fat gain.

3. All carbs are created equal.

4. Carbs aren’t good for your health.

5. There’s too much sugar in carbs.

FAST FACTS ABOUT CARBS

Minimally processed carbs rich in fiber like whole grains and legumes offer a blend of sustained energy and essential nutrients.

Balancing carb intake with protein and fats and total calories supports overall dietary harmony.

Your unique biology, activity level, preferences, and goals influence your carb intake for optimal well-being.

Minimally processed fibrous carbohydrates increase satiety and help maintain steady blood sugar levels and a healthy body composition.

Different sugar structures—as well as the food source they come from—can have an effect on your perceptions of texture and sweetness and enzymes in your mouth and digestive system.

A good general guideline is for carb intake to represent about 35 to 50 percent of your daily calories. (If you’re eating a 2,000-calorie diet, this translates to about 175-250 grams of carbs). The minimum recommended intake for fiber is 25 grams per day. The optimal amount is around 35 grams/day for women and 48 grams/day for men.

 Clockwise from left: SCUBA diver Louise Wholey; wing walker Cynthia Hicks-Mason; birder Virginia Rose. Tough Broad by Caroline Paul is available from Bloomsbury Publishing.

AgePage

Three books that dispel aging myths and offer suggestions on living your best life

BY JANET REYNOLDS

Whether it’s a meme on your Instagram account or one of the myriad advertisements we’re bombarded with daily, aging “well” is in our collective zeitgeist. Underlying this concept is ageism, the implication — direct or covert, depending on the message source — that getting older is one big slippery slope that you — yes, we’re talking to you, person-over-50 — need to desperately avoid sliding down.

Enter articles about building your core, word games you must play daily to offset the inevitable cognitive decline and “dressing your age” (whatever that means). It can feel more than a bit overwhelming and, on days in which we directly encounter ageist behavior, depressing, These three books offer advice and suggestions in bite-size pieces to help you make your next chapter the one you want — and maybe help you educate the people you love not to be unconsciously ageist themselves.

Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Live

by Becca Levy | William Morrow | 294 pages

If you want to understand how you might be your own worst enemy as you age thanks to unconscious internal ageist beliefs that impact your behavior and health, this is the book to read. Becca Levy is an award-winning professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and a psychology professor at Yale University who has done decades of research on aging. Her book offers solid science about how believing negative aging ideas can literally reduce your longevity and negatively impact your health. Written in a conversational style, the book offers suggestions for how to change that behavior in yourself, and how that change ripples out to help combat the rampant ageist messages people over 50 receive daily.

Still not sure this matters? Here are just a couple of facts Levy notes in her book:

• On average those who have more positive age beliefs live 7.5 years longer than those who harbor negative age beliefs.

• Those w ith positive age beliefs score higher on basic memory tasks than those with negative age beliefs.

• Those carrying the gene putting them at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease are 47% less likely to develop dementia if they have positive age beliefs.

Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It

by Tracey Gendron, Ph.D. | Steerforth Press | 180 pages

Tracey Gendron also wants to unmask ageism — what many have labeled the last acceptable prejudice — in the hopes of ending the many ways in which age bias hurts both individuals and society at large. Her book, like Levy’s, is simultaneously conversational and scientific. She examines the roots of ageism in history, looks at the pervasiveness of various (mostly negative) ageist beliefs, and, finally, offers solutions for change.

Once we all have a better awareness and understanding of ageism, she posits, we can make more conscious decisions about how we experience aging ourselves and how we regard aging if we are still not officially over 50. She suggests using the term elderhood to describe the developmental stage that includes older age. Doing that, Gendron suggests, enables us all to regard the many facets that include physically getting older without lumping all older people into one homogeneous group.

The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond

by Louann Brizendine, M.D. | Harmony Books | 310 pages

Imagine if menopause — a term filled with negative stereotypes and realities about the inevitable changes that hormonal phase brings — were instead called the “Upgrade.” You’re already feeling better about it, right? Well, that is precisely the intent behind Brizendine’s new book.

A New York Times best-selling author of The Female Brain and The Male Brain, Brizendine started this book as she entered the second half of her life and began to experience “the invisibility uniquely experienced by women of a certain age.”

“This was not a slow decline toward the end,” she writes. “I was staring down the most vital, confident and wise phase of my life.”

The book is a primer on how to become your best self in this life phase. Brizendine clearly and succinctly describes terminology every woman should understand during this phase, which includes perimenopause (now called “the transition”) and menopause (which also has phases). She outlines the potential benefits that occur during the Upgrade, from developing directness (thanks to the decrease in estrogen, which literally changes how women handle anger and disappointment) to the return of fearlessness (now that women’s brains are not being hormonally altered by 25 percent each month during periods).

This book should be required reading for everyone of every age. Full stop. n

THE SIMPLEST MOST DIFFICULT SPORT

Why you’re never too old to take up the frustrating, exhilarating game of golf

BY ANTHONY PIOPPI

Golf can at once be maddening, frustrating and exasperating. It can also be exhilarating, exciting and downright fun.

Does that range of emotions sound like something you want to experience, maybe even within a five-minute span? If you’re thinking of learning to golf, you’d be joining 26.6 million other people who played in 2023, according to the National Golf Foundation. Many of them were newcomers: 3.4 million played on a course for the first time last year. The total rounds of golf played in the U.S. during 2023 was a record 531 million, a testament to the sport’s booming popularity.

The fact is you’re never too old to learn the game of golf, one of the greatest of Scottish inventions, right up there with the pneumatic tire and Scotch whisky. It is a pastime that one can learn at any age and there are so many reasons to tee it up.

“The biggest is to stay healthy. Even riding in a cart, you walk,” says Rich Scott, the owner and head golf professional at Fox Run Golf Club in Johnstown, New York.

It’s true: Trek an 18-hole round carrying a bag or pushing a trolley and the distance is roughly six miles. The game is also a great outlet for those who, later in life, still have a competitive nature.

“It’s a game where you can compete against yourself, your

“There are a lot of people who really enjoy struggling at golf.”

— Noel Gebauer, Town of Colonie Golf Course

spouse or with your friends,” says Noel Gebauer, head golf professional and general manager at the 36-hole Town of Colonie Golf Course.

Socializing before, during and after the round is an inherent part of the experience. Teeing up with old buddies or new acquaintances, such as in a league, is a great way to stay connected and broaden your friend group. Gebauer says his two public courses host three nine-hole leagues four days a week, and most of the participants are 50 years of age and older.

Another plus to golf is that it is played outdoors in the sunshine (and for the completely obsessed, also in rain, drizzle, sleet and snow).

It may be daunting to think about picking up golf now but there is a highly recommended way to get introduced, says Scott. “Find a PGA of America pro to get you started right,” he says. “Then grab three friends and go take lessons together.”

In the golf boom that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, two of the largest growth segments have been women new to the game and women returning to golf. For many, group lessons are a popular way to get into (or back into) the sport.

Even with lessons and a modicum of athletic ability, however, there is no way around it: Golf is not easy. But it can still bring immense enjoyment, and being good at it is not a prerequisite for finding fun.

“It’s hard,” admits Gebauer, who brings his new golf students out to the course to watch golfers at all levels in action.

The lesson, he says, is that it’s not necessary to be a perfect golfer to enjoy the sport.

“If they take the time to look around, there are a lot of people who really enjoy struggling at golf,” Gebauer says. “We watch balls in the water, running along the ground, getting hit sideways into the woods. You don’t have to hit the ball like people on tour to enjoy golf and be comfortable.”

Scott agrees. “Don’t put pressure on yourself to be the next Tiger Woods,” he says.

There are many ways for beginners to ensure that the game is enjoyable.

One tactic comes directly from Bobby Jones, an American amateur golfer who was among the sport’s most influential figures. In 1930, Jones became the only player ever to win the “Grand Slam” — winning all four major golf tournaments of his era. His salient piece of advice for anyone, but especially beginners, seems counterintuitive: Put down the scorecard and pencil.

“Don’t worry about par. The practice of printing par figures is literally a mental hazard,” Jones advised.

Just getting out and swinging a club, learning and understanding the rules and etiquette is enough. There is no need to count the shots. When the time comes that keeping a tally matters, disregard par (the number of strokes it takes a topnotch golfer to play a hole) on the scorecard and create your own par based on your previous scores. If the hole is a par 4 (two shots to the green and two putts), and you play it be-

tween six and seven shots, then your par can be 6 or 7.

Another way to ease into the game is to make the course as short as possible. “Move up to the front tees,” Scott advises, pointing out that on a 300-yard hole, “if you hit three 100yard shots, you’re on the green.”

He also suggests using a “scramble” format when playing golf with friends who are also new to the game. That means instead of playing your own ball from tee to green, the group plays as a team. It works like this: Everyone in the group tees off. Then everyone hits their second shot from the location of the best drive of the group. The third shot is hit from the spot of the best second shot. Keep going in this manner, even if the ball is on the putting surface, until the ball is holed.

The goal of each round should be having fun. “For so many, that’s all they want out of it,” Gebauer says. “It’s almost more important to know where the beverage cart is as the next tee.”

Another key is to avoid overdoing it. Even for seasoned players, 18 holes of golf can be long and daunting. Playing nine holes is perfectly acceptable. In the post-COVID world, the number of nine-hole rounds has shot up, even exceeding 18-hole rounds at many facilities. Where once playing “only nine” was frowned upon, it is now encouraged.

Golf, as a whole, has become more welcoming in recent years. Much of the clichéd staid and uptight attitude has lessened significantly. Most facilities now allow music on the course. The use of cellphones, considered a high crime not long ago, is welcomed during the round, including for scorekeeping. Hey, it’s a great way to call your drink order into the halfway house while you’re playing so it will be ready when you arrive.

One mistake to avoid when taking up the game, though, is thinking that it can be mastered. It can’t. Not even by the best.

“Golf is a puzzle without any answers,” Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player once said. “I’ve played the game for 40 years and I still haven’t the slightest idea how to play.” n

“The American Italian Heritage Museum celebrates the Italian-American experience. Our historic building houses exhibits on immigration, folk arts, music, military service, and more! Visit our gift shop and thrift store with many unique items. Custom tours with dining and food options are available for groups.

Self-care ≠ Selfishness

Why it’s important to put our own mask on first

BY BENITA ZAHN

When you get on an airplane, the attendants always go through a preflight routine to remind passengers about seat belt use, flotation devices and oxygen masks. They make it very clear to put your own mask on first. If you pass out from lack of oxygen, you can’t help others. Yet, too many of us think we should help “the other” — our spouses, kids, aging parents, bosses or co-workers — before ourselves. In essence, we are confusing self-care with selfishness, but if we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of others.

Think of self-care like the gas tank in your car. When the needle heads toward empty, we fill up the tank. We don’t berate the car for needing fuel. Yet, that’s just what we do to ourselves. We somehow mistakenly believe we can run on fumes. But just like our car, no fuel means no go.

SELFISHNESS VS. SELF-CARE

Let’s unpack the two words: selfishness and self-care. Selfishness is when we prioritize our needs at the expense of others. We may use others solely for our own purposes. Selfcare, on the other hand, is when we fill our tanks so we can support others. When our tanks are full, we can perform at our best.

We also have to listen to our inner voices, which often sabotage our ability to embrace self-care. Are you speaking kindly to yourself? We all have two inner voices. One supports and encourages us; the other tears us down. For myriad reasons, many of us let that nasty voice ring out. But words have power and they can hit hard. Think of it this way: Would you be friends with someone who verbally runs you down? Remember, those words inflict bruises. So the next time your inner voice drowns out the supportive voice, stop and take note. Tell it to quiet down. Listen for encouragement. Yes, it will take practice. But supporting that nasty voice drains us.

Always being on the go for others is also draining. Taking time to recharge — which may feel selfish — is actually the pause that refreshes so we can keep going.

There are times when canceling a commitment or saying no to a request is critical to our well-being. Consider the im-

portance of sleep to health. Being tired interferes with our ability to focus and can impact memory and weaken our immune system. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night is considered the sweet spot for heart health. And let’s face it, being tired makes us crabby, and that can impact our relationships with loved ones.

That’s also a good reason to find some alone time. Sometimes being with people can be exhausting. Evaluate your needs. Simply drawing a bath or curling up with a book may be the best medicine. Here are some other ways to fill your tank:

• Get outside. Daylight, especially first thing in the morning, helps our internal clock. It has also been shown to improve our sleep. Look at it as a different spin on facing the day. Rather than thinking of all the tasks ahead, embrace the morning sunshine as an elixir.

• Consider forest bathing. Simply put, forest bathing is a way to be out in nature among the trees. Research finds it can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure and even help with depression. Being in the midst of the green helps to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline and, in turn, dials down our fight-or-flight response. Those hormones, while revving us up, also rev up inflammation in our bodies and can increase the risk of developing belly fat.

• Practice mindfulness. Simply put, mindfulness means being aware of ourselves and being in the moment. Too often we get caught up in the buzz of busyness and miss the lovely grace notes all around. Pause, take it in, be mindful. That pause can refresh.

There is no cost to self-care. The cost is in confusing it with selfishness and subsequently running around with our tanks near empty, drained of energy, missing the color in our days, putting aside moments of delight. We have 1,440 minutes every day. Embrace them. n

BENITA ZAHN is a certified health and wellness coach working in the Capital Region. Visit benitahealthcoach.com.

It Takes a Village (Still)

Co-housing and neighborhood networks redefine

retirement living

BY BRIANNA SNYDER

Did you know the biggest factor in health and happiness is … your friends?

“Contrary to what many people think, it’s not career achievement, or exercise, or a healthy diet,” wrote the authors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a decadeslong study of what makes us happy. “One thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: good relationships.”

As members of the baby boom generation enter their golden years, the importance of community and support has nev-

er been more visible. With an increasing proportion of the population reaching retirement age and beyond, the question of where we’ll all live — and how — is more urgent. Thriving in your later years isn’t just about physical health, but also about maintaining a sense of belonging, purpose and connection to others.

In the Capital Region, some folks over 55 are establishing their own networks, converting neighborhoods into de facto retirement(ish) communities. The Albany Guardian Society, which has been serving the region for nearly 175 years,

is a major facilitator of (and occasional benefactor to) these communities, which the society calls “the village movement.” (The agency also offers a range of services and programs designed to promote the well-being and independence of older adults, including a comprehensive housing directory that spans the entire Capital Region and includes a wide range of types of housing. This directory, broken down by county and type of service, helps seniors and their families find the most appropriate living arrangements for their unique needs and circumstances.)

The Guardian Society has helped develop five villages in the Capital Region, each tailored to the specific needs of the community. Mary Moller, who’s led the organization as its executive director for three years, describes the village movement as a “wonderful model” for senior living: “It’s a neighbor-helping-neighbor model,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just a group of people that live near each other and they come together and they decide to develop a village to help each other age in place.”

One such village is Bethlehem Neighbors, initially formed in 2014 by residents of the hamlet of Glenmont. “There was this initial group and they thought it was a great idea to have a village,” says Gail Myers, 67, the current president of Bethlehem Neighbors. So in 2019, Myers and a few others who had been involved in aging-related organizations recognized the potential of Bethlehem Neighbors and decided to take action. “We took it over and expanded it to the entire township,” she says. By 2020, they were ready to start collecting membership dues of $25 a year, but the COVID-19 pandem-

ic hit, forcing them to adapt.

“We got Zoom (videoconferencing) going and built a community that way in the town,” Myers explains. As the pandemic risks decreased, they implemented volunteer activities and now provide social programming and assistance to members more than 100 times a year.

In closer quarters, where rents are high and real estate is hard to come by, New York City has a popular program that pairs seniors aged 65 and over with a roommate. This homeshare program has been supported by the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens for four decades.

“It’s the original dating service,” says Linda Hoffman, president of the foundation. Over the years, the organization has matched more than 2,500 people with a “99 percent success rate,” Hoffman says proudly.

This unique initiative matches people who have extra space in their homes with renters who are looking for affordable housing — the match can happen between any two people as long as one of them is age 65 or older. By carefully screening potential matches and providing ongoing support, the program ensures that both hosts and guests benefit from the arrangement.

“When we first started back in the 1980s, people were more interested in relieving feelings of depression and loneliness,” Hoffman says. “As time has gone on, there’s much more of a need to help themselves financially and to maintain and remain in their homes.”

The program not only addresses the practical needs of affordable housing and financial stability but also provides a

powerful antidote to the social isolation faced by many older adults. By bringing people together based on common interests and compatible lifestyles, the program creates opportunities for meaningful connections and friendships to develop.

“The thing that we learned, and maybe it wasn’t a surprise, is that common interests are the No. 1 reason that people seem to be a good match,” Hoffman says. “It has nothing to do with age or background. It’s shared interests.”

Moller, of the Albany Guardian Society, agrees that shared interests and connections are what bond members of the “village movement” here in the Capital Region.

The villages — a collection of homes in about a six-mile radius — are self-governing, built on the principle of “neighbors helping neighbors.” At the heart of each village is a network of volunteers, often village members themselves, who provide transportation, friendly check-in calls and visits, light home maintenance and repairs, and assistance with shopping and technology. By leveraging the skills and expertise of its members, the villages create a supportive environment in which seniors can both give and receive help, fostering a sense of purpose and reciprocity, social engagement and community building. Members have access to social and educational events, such as book clubs, fitness classes, museum visits and group meals.

“When you’re younger and you have children, you often make friends through your kids’ activities,” Myers says. “That’s where your network besides work friends comes from. When your children grow and (you) retire, you don’t have all those opportunities … The village is a natural, welcoming entity.”

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The success of the village model lies in its adaptability and responsiveness to the unique needs of each community. Villages in the Capital Region, like Bethlehem Neighbors and another similar group, the Shenendehowa Neighbors in southern Saratoga County, are geographically defined, serving areas ranging from a few blocks to entire neighborhoods, towns or regions. This local focus allows villages to tailor their services and programs to the preferences and requirements of their members, ensuring that the support provided is relevant and effective.

Myers, who works full time in addition to her responsibilities at Bethlehem Neighbors, is deeply committed to the organization’s future. “I am really paying this forward,” she says. “I spend a lot of time thinking about where the organization will be in five years or 10 years or 15 years because I’m hoping that I’m up and active enough that I don’t need help, but want to make sure that when I do need help, there are folks that I

have a relationship with through Bethlehem Neighbors and get the help myself.”

Looking ahead, Myers hopes to see more villages like Bethlehem Neighbors emerge in the 518 area. “We’re relatively young and we’re ready to mentor people along,” she says. Ultimately, the success of programs like those offered by the Albany Guardian Society and the Foundation for Senior Citizens underscores the importance of community and social networks in promoting the well-being of older adults.

“Having this program is like finding gold in the street,” says Hoffman of the New York Foundation’s home-share program. “We’ve seen so many beautiful friendships blossom.”

“The number of things we’re doing is quite amazing,” Myers says. “We started out with just a handful of people needing a handful of things and now we’re becoming essential.”

For some 20 years, Albany’s Whitehall section has been home to a unique naturally occurring retirement community, or NORC, a roughly three-square-mile neighborhood where care for aging adults goes above and beyond. The community, formed with the goal of supporting older residents, is one of several throughout the state and part of a senior housing movement that got its start in New York City in the 1980s.

The key words here are “naturally occurring.” These aren’t retirement homes, nursing facilities or preplanned villages created for the purpose of housing

older adults. Rather, they are already existing areas — a building or group of buildings or a geographically defined neighborhood — with a growing population of seniors who have sought the formal NORC designation.

NORCs are created through a partnership of residents and organizations such as a lead nonprofit social service agency (Albany’s neighborhood NORC is administered by Jewish Family Services of Northeastern New York), housing associations and owners, building managers and other community leaders. They receive local or state funding for things like free care management, health-

care assistance and advocacy, and a full calendar of social and cultural events and programs to help residents stay connect ed with their neighbors and age in place.

Albany’s is one of 43 sim ilar NORCs throughout the state serving thousands of residents. To learn more or to get involved, call 518-516-1114 or email nnorc@jfsneny.org.

New York’s Office for the Aging can provide more information about NORCs throughout the state and whether your neigh borhood or building qualifies for designation. Call 800-3429871 or email NYSOFA@aging. ny.gov.

COOL CATIONING “ ”

This summer’s hottest (no pun intended!) travel

trend

BY CAITLIN MANNER

After the record-breaking scorcher that was summer 2023, travel experts are predicting an upward trend in people seeking to vacation in cooler, more moderate climates.

“Coolcationing” has become summer 2024’s new buzzword, signifying the trend for vacationers to opt for more bespoke, curated experiences that veer away from the typical sunny — and sizzling — tourist destinations.

Effects of the Climate Crisis

Last summer, the world experienced its hottest stretch of months since modern record-keeping began in 1880, leading to climate-related disasters like devastating wildfires and prolonged and deadly heat waves.

It’s becoming clear that global warming is going to continue to impact travel patterns worldwide. People don’t want to gamble their hard-earned money on vacations that could be canceled due to weather events or rising temps.

Travel Prices Are Up

Martin Messner, a top Travel Leaders agent based in Schoharie, New York, notes that prices are way up right now.

“Travel is more expensive, it’s harder to plan, and the deals aren’t as frequent as they used to be,” he says. Citing the post-COVID travel boom as part of the problem, Messner says that many of his clients are opting for cruises in particular, despite the increased cost. “We’re seeing a lot less deals for cruises in general, but you can still find them if you’re really flexible about when you’re going,” he says. “Off-season

is always a little bit cheaper.” Off-season is often “a little bit cheaper” merely because tourists aren’t guaranteed warm, sunny skies for the entirety of their travels.

Where People Are Going

Opting for destinations that are a bit off the beaten path has several advantages — in addition to moderate temperatures. There are typically fewer crowds to battle, and many of these places offer unique, exciting opportunities that you just can’t get on a crowded beach. For example, the northern lights have become a popular attraction, and elsewhere adventure enthusiasts can try their hand at things like dog-sledding or hiking snow-capped mountains.

British travel company Iglu Cruise says it saw demand for Arctic destinations increase 235% in 2023 compared to 2022, along with an increase in the number of people requesting tours in Canada, the British Isles, the Norwegian fjords and Alaska. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators reports that a record 105,331 people visited Antarctica in 2023, continuing a rapid rise.

Northern European countries like Amsterdam and Iceland offer countless things to do and see, not to mention downright chilly summer temps from 40 to 65 degrees. And don’t sleep on Southern Hemisphere destinations, either. Coastal Uruguay has become a global foodie destination and offers mild 60-degree days in the middle of July. Easter Island in Chile, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has similar temperatures and is home to 1,000 iconic statues carved by the indigenous Rapa Nui people. n

AdventureIs

Celebrating 100 years, New York state parks issue challenge to visitors

BY ROBIN CATALANO

Commemorating a piece of legislation doesn’t usually rank high on anyone’s list of summer fun. But when it’s a celebration of New York’s spectacular state park system, and the wealth of outdoor recreation and nature conservation it provides, I’m all in.

To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of New York’s 1924 Bond Act, which allocated $15 million to build and improve the original network of state parks, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has introduced the Centennial Challenge, which serves as both an invitation to explore and an opportunity to win an impressive prize haul.

This parks initiative encourages adventures, big and small, throughout 360,000 acres in 180 natural areas across the state, from forests to walking trails to beaches. Thirty-five historic sites are also part of the parks system, including Olana in Hudson and Clermont in Germantown. While you

probably already know parks like Niagara Falls and Saratoga Spa, the Centennial Challenge emphasizes visiting some of New York’s lesser-known and new-to-you green spaces. There are plenty to choose from within an hour’s drive of the Capital Region.

Hudson River Islands State Park

Coxsackie

Want to get away — far away — from it all? Hudson River Islands State Park, on the Hudson River, is for you. The catch: You’ll need a boat — of the human- or engine-powered variety — in order to visit.

You can hike, fish, picnic and relax at the park, which is spread over two islands: Stockport Middle Ground and Gay’s Point. Because the island ecosystems are fragile and contain rare and endangered plant and animal species, camp-

Above: View from the overlook at Thacher State Park.

Photo by Matt H. Wade, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

ing isn’t allowed, and you must take everything you bring in — including trash — with you when you leave. Four-footed besties are allowed, but they must be on a leash and can only visit day-use areas.

 Cherry Plain State Park

Petersburg

I have a soft spot for Cherry Plain, which is only 15 minutes from my home. The beach side, located along Black River Pond, can get crowded on summer weekends, but for most of the season, the park is blissfully tranquil. On weekday mornings, I’m often one of just a handful of visitors.

My favorite features of Cherry Plain State Park are its 6 miles of hiking and biking trails, which vary from a shady amble over packed ground to a waterfall, to moderate inclines and rocky paths along an active stream. The park also

has a picnic area, boat launch, bridle paths and a dock that makes it easy to launch a kayak without jockeying for space with boaters. You can fish and camp in Cherry Plain, as well.

 Peebles Island State Park

Cohoes

Five miles north of Troy, where the Hudson and Mohawk rivers meet, you’ll find this small but mighty park. Walk the gently rolling 2-mile trail around the island’s perimeter, which overlooks portions of both rivers and their rapids, and the Erie Canal. Keep an eye out for the bald eagles, great blue herons, osprey, beavers, gray and red foxes, white-tailed deer

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and snapping turtles that call the island home.

City dwellers often flock to Peebles Island to beat the summer heat, but even on busy days the park isn’t overrun. Come for the woodland walks, hiking and fishing, or rent the picnic pavilion for larger gatherings.

 Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site

Fort Hunter

The development of the Erie Canal was central to 19th-century New York’s transformation into a commerce giant, giving rise to a number of delightful upstate communities. The waterway is now mostly used for recreation, and you don’t have to be an expert paddler to use it for exploring a plethora of underrated parks.

Among these, Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site has opportunities for paddling, boating, hiking, birding and exploring Erie Canal history. Stop at the visitor center to view historical exhibits or hop in your watercraft of choice to get up close with traces of the past, such as boat locks and the remains of the Schoharie Aqueduct, which once spanned more than 600 feet and carried the canal’s waters over the Schoharie Creek.

Saratoga County Fair

Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Grafton Lakes State Park

Grafton

If you’re unfamiliar with Grafton Lakes State Park, on the eastern edge of Rensselaer County, you’re in for a treat. An underrated 2,500-acre gem with a sizable beach and six ponds for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing, Grafton Lakes is large enough to provide plenty of interest for visitors of all ages, and small enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Hit one or more of Grafton Lakes’ 24 hiking trails or its ADA-accessible boardwalk trail, go geocaching, enjoy a picnic in its pavilions, or climb the historic 1924 fire tower for views of three states. The welcome center, added in 2018, has education spaces and a small menagerie of wildlife — including Patch, a barred owl that was rescued after being hit by a car.

How to win centennial swag

While completing 24 “missions” at state parks might seem daunting, it’s actually pretty easy. Either download the Goosechase app or print out a paper checklist from the Parks, Recre-

John Boyd Thacher State Park

Voorheesville

Being one of the better-known Capital Region green spaces hasn’t translated to overcrowding at Thacher State Park — and this is just one of the reasons why I love it. Not only is Thacher scenic, with dramatic limestone cliffs and open meadows, but it’s also located atop the Helderberg Escarpment, one of the richest fossil-bearing formations on the planet.

Families flock to the park for its volleyball courts, ball fields, zip lines, picnic areas and playgrounds. The panoramic views, which include the rocky slopes of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the jagged peaks of the Adirondack and Green Mountains, are stunning. Take a guided tour of Indian Ladder Trail to learn about the park’s geological importance and human history. n

ation and Historic Preservation

website. Then visit the parks and participate in activities like hiking, wildflower sketching, camping, birding or even talking to a park ranger. Tally up your total and submit it by January 10, 2025, after

which you’ll earn a commemorative centennial sticker, plus entry into a drawing for a centennial swag bag and a three-year Empire Pass, a $240 value that gains you free entry to all state parks.

Roads were made for journeys.

Get Well

Go Away to Places to go so you don’t need a vacation from your vacation

BY CAITLIN MANNER

Vacations are all about recharging, unwinding, relaxing. But too often we return home exhausted and burnt out from trying to see and do and eat and cram a year’s worth of experiences into a whirlwind weeklong trip.

What if instead of needing a vacation after your vacation, you came home refreshed, energized and revitalized, feeling better than ever? It’s possible, thanks to a multibillion dollar travel trend that promotes maintaining or enhancing one’s health as the primary objective for travel.

Wellness tourism essentially takes the idea of a spa day to a whole new level, encouraging travelers to prioritize their physical, mental and emotional well-being. But don’t let the phrase “spa day” deter you; a wellness vacation is whatever you need it to be, whether that includes a wilderness retreat, a vegan cleanse or a high-tech molecular body scan.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few of the more out there destinations you could consider for your next trip, along with one that is a bit closer to home.

Chenot Palace 

WEGGIS, SWITZERLAND

Weggis, Switzerland, is a sleepy town at the foot of the Alps, situated alongside picturesque Lake Lucerne. It is also home to Chenot Palace, a next-generation health and wellness retreat that draws people from all over the world who are looking to enhance their longevity.

What sets Chenot Palace apart from some other wellness destinations is its emphasis on scientific research and state-of-the-art medical therapies. Over the last 50 years, Henri Chenot and his wife Dominique developed and implemented what they call the Chenot Method, a process that uses advanced diagnostic tools to look at an array of biomarkers within the body to determine how lifestyle is impacting the aging process. The resort’s doctors then create a system of personalized treatments and a detoxification regimen for visitors to undergo during their seven-day stay.

Although you will be staying in the lap of luxury, the process is not about indulgence, it’s about resetting your body. One of the main pillars of the program is a cleanse diet designed to promote autophagy, a process in which cells, in essence, repair themselves. Meals are limited to 850 calories and made without salt, sugar or animal proteins. Caffeine is off the menu. That is one of the reasons the resort encourages visitors to stay for at least seven days: As intense as the reset can be, it takes the body that long to get past the discomfort and really begin to feel the healthful effects of the program.

According to Emma Haefeli, the resort’s director of marketing and public relations, the results are a jump-start to a healthier life. “Really the week is about a cleanse and a reset, and then giving you all of the information that you need to live a healthier life when you leave,” she says. “We’re always talking about adding more life to your years, rather than just adding years to your life.”

The resort also offers body scans that can reveal how your lifestyle is impacting

Chenot Palace

photo by Fabrice Fouillet.

A sweet suite balcony view at Chenot Palace Weggis.

“ We’re always talking about adding more life to your years, rather than just adding years to your life.”

— Emma Haefeli, Chenot Palace

your body. “After doing all of these diagnostics we can give you your sort of vitality score, give you a picture of how you’re aging. And then we’ll do treatments that support this kind of cleansing, detoxing, healthfully aging concept.”

The treatments available at Chenot Palace are extensive. They range from laser and cold therapy to acupuncture and cupping. The Chenot Method is a holistic approach, using a combination of diagnostic tools and therapeutics and traditional Chinese medicine practices.

 Spa Land

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA

South Korean culture — like ours — places an emphasis on looking your best, but goes about it a little differently. Instead of “fixing” aesthetic issues after they’ve occurred, it relies more on preventive measures and treatments. So if you’ve ever thought about a wellness trip to that part of the world, you’ll definitely need to spend some quality time in a South Korean spa.

First, you should understand some local nomenclature. If you search for a South Korean spa or bathhouse, you might see the words “jjimjilbang” and “mogyoktang” used interchangeably. All jjimjilbang will contain a mogyoktang, but not all mogyoktangs will have a jjimjilbang.

Mogyoktangs are public South Korean bathhouses. They are usually basic facilities with an area for bathing or showering, and there may be hot tubs, steam rooms and an area for body scrubbing. (Many travel blogs highly recommend the sesin, or traditional body scrub. It is usually provided by women known as ajummas — dressed in lingerie, apparently — and will make your skin smoother than a baby’s

Spa Land photo ©

Korea Tourism Organization; Castel Clara photo by Marco

Strullu.

Spa Land in Busan, South Korea, is a modern oasis with thermal water pumped from 1,000 meters underground.

bottom.) Mogyoktangs arose because in the past, modern amenities like hot water and heated bathrooms were in short supply. Be prepared: Mogyoktangs are gender-segregated because all patrons are expected to be completely nude.

On the other hand, jjimjilbang are more like supersized spas. They consist of heated rooms and traditional kiln saunas of varying temperatures and properties that are enjoyed by all genders together, wearing uniforms provided by the facility. In addition to the heated rooms and saunas, there are usually other amenities available, like massages, entertainment and meals. Commonly, people shower in the mogyoktang area first, then head to the jjimjilbang to relax, sweat, eat and socialize.

Spa Land in Busan is one of the better-known jjimjilbang, with ultra-posh amenities that spread over two massive floors of the world’s largest department store, Shinsegae Centum City. This modern oasis has 22 hot spring baths and two types of thermal water pumped from 1,000 meters underground. One is known as the “beauty bathtub,” with all-natural spring water that contains bicarbonate sodium and is reputed to remove dead skin cells and make your hair shiny. The other is the “hot bathtub,” a hot spring that contains sodium chloride (similar to seawater), which is good for blood circulation and pain relief.

Castel Clara 

BANGOR, FRANCE

This luxury sea resort on Belle Island off the coast of Brittany in northwest France specializes in thalassotherapy, an array of alternative treatments that harness the soothing properties of the sea. Thalassotherapy can take several forms: bathing or swimming in seawater; applying marine products like seaweed, mud or sand to the body; spending time near the ocean; and taking supplements that contain substances from the sea.

At Castel Clara, several different treatments purported to

Castel Clara specializes in the therapeutic use of seawater, also known as thalassotherapy.

cure common ailments are offered. The “Magnesium Cure” regimen, for example, uses marine magnesium treatments to address issues like sleep disorders, stress, anxiety, tension and muscle cramps. The “Calcium Cure” addresses common aging complaints like wrinkles and aching joints. A typical course of treatment at Castel Clara usually incorporates a combination of therapies, including seaweed or algae wraps, hydromassage, hydrojet massage beds, reflexology sessions and cold therapy, as well as options for more physical exploits like open-water swimming and water aerobics.

 Wildflower Farms

GARDINER, NEW YORK

After piquing your interest in vacation options that would enrich your body and soul, we thought it was only fair to let you know that upstate New York is quite the wellness destination as well. Wildflower Farms, tucked away on a river-crossed, 140-acre plot in Gardiner, is a luxury resort dedicated to wellness with a focus on seasonal local products and attractions.

While here, you are invited to stay in one of the 65 free-standing cabins that dot the pastoral property with a range of views, including their namesake wildflower fields.

According to Charlotte Eccles, who does PR for the resort, most people choose to stay for a few days in order to enjoy all the outdoor amenities the area has to offer. “Some people

come as an overnight staycation, but it’s hard to stay for just one night. What we found is, when people come here, there’s so much to do, like hiking, biking, rock climbing, antiquing … whatever suits people’s fancy.”

The spa at Wildflower Farms, called Thistle, has three unique offerings in addition to those that you might expect elsewhere: Body Botany, a treatment that melds the therapeutic benefits of slow and deep massage with a healing, locally produced poultice; the Shawangunk Wellness Revival, which features acupuncture, cupping, flower essences and chakra balancing; and Forest Immersion, a Shinrin Yoku experience on Wildflower Farm’s trails that offers a unique blend of conscious observation and meditation bookended with Reiki healing sessions.

In addition to the therapeutic spa treatments, Eccles says visitors enjoy “the chance to reconnect with the self and feel what it means to be alive. Just, you know, as a creature that eats and sleeps and breathes and hears sounds and can smell beautiful things.”

The best way to experience this, Eccles says, is to sign up for some of the activities Wildflower Farms offers: outdoor meditation sessions, group Pilates, guided nature walks. Some guests even help on the farm by feeding the animals — chickens, Icelandic sheep and a family of donkeys — that call Wildflower Farms home. (Helping on the farm will certainly help you connect to the earth, but it might not be the best time to try and “smell beautiful things.”) n

The fitness studio at Wildflower Farms.

BY ROD MICHAEL

The Melody Lingers On

How many times have we all been captured by the melody of a great song? When we hear it again on the radio or streaming from a playlist on our phone we are immediately taken back to some very special moments. Our friendships in life are much the same. “The only danger in a friendship is that it will end,” said Henry David Thoreau.

I recently lost a very close friend of 40-plus years. At our age, this happens more than I would like. Our friendship grew out of a chance meeting at a gas station and my interest in waterfowl. I had stopped for gas and spotted a sticker on a nearby car for the conservation nonprofit Ducks Unlimited. I chatted up the guy, got his phone number and the rest is history.

We had similar interests — from fishing to hunting dogs to waterfowl. Our membership in Ducks Unlimited brought us into contact with many new places and people — a broad brotherhood across New York state. Even our wives became friends. It was truly a life gift to meet so many wonderful people. Friendships were born in the moment and chapters in our books of life were written.

who died, but I will give thanks that such a man lived. We must follow our hearts, take that journey into the unknown and welcome serendipity. He was a man who took chances and engaged anyone in conversation. He was always looking for the next adventure, the next laugh, the next bird dog and yes, the next cocktail. He made decoys, took up painting, was a good mentor at casting a fly and made a great Caesar salad. He had a way with words and he was a bit of a pontificator at times, but hey, we all can be. Before he moved to Florida for his final years, he gifted me with a lovely wildlife print from an artist we had met together many years earlier. I welcomed that print into my collection and remembered that cherished weekend in Vermont where I met another brother from Buffalo, New York.

My friend’s departure is a reminder of the fleeting nature of our existence. Even though his tale with me has ended, it will continue to resonate in my heart forever. I give thanks for his friendship and will continue to do my best at being the best friend that someone needs.

I will not mourn for long the man

To my dear friend, I say: So long for now. Please pet that dog, and we will catch up later. And thank you. n

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