Mind Body +
FALL 2016
THE
GRA Y ISSUE SANDWICH GENERATION PARENTS WHO CARE FOR THEIR OWN PARENTS
BODY WORK WHY WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT
GRAY HAIR
FOR THE OLD AND YOUNG
M+B
contents FA L L 2016
18 FEATURES
18 SANDWICH GENERATION It’s becoming more common for kids to stay in the home longer, and for elderly parents to move back in
ASPIRE
16
EXPERIENCES WASTED ON THE YOUNG
You don’t have to be young to enjoy these activities
22
6
CULTIVATE BUST OR BUY
4
Anti-aging product reviews: Our team tests out products so you don’t have to
28
GRANNY HAIR IS IN
6
The newest trend looks rather old TABOO OF AGING
10
We all know someone who’s had work done, but we don’t talk about it
24 AGING ISN’T ALL THAT SCARY How to work longer and make the best of it
28 HOW TO ENJOY THE SENIOR CENTER You don’t have to be a senior to take advantage of this FoCo facility
NOURISH
30 RETIRED FOR A DAY Just how retiree-friendly is Fort Collins?
32 HEALTHY EATS You don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health
36
DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH
Happy Luckys guide to green tea drinking
39 ON THE COVER Photo by Erika Moore; Model: Skylar Moore; Stylist: Natalie Britt
RETIREMENT IN FOCO: HOW TO DO IT
Scared you haven’t started saving? It’s not too late
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Nonprofit provides door-to-door transportation for seniors
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 1
Mind+Body President/Publisher Kathy Jack-Romero kathyjackromero@coloradoan.com Editorial Director Lauren Gustus lgustus@coloradoan.com Executive Editor/Digital Editor Mollie Muchna mmuchna@coloradoan.com Designer Audrey Tate atate@gannett.com Creative Director Tricia Reinhold treinhold@gannett.com
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2 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
1300 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524 Call (970) 493-6397 | Fax (970) 224-7726
©2015 Coloradoan Media Group. All rights reserved. PLEASE NOTE that the articles contained in this publication are meant to increase reader awareness of developments in the health field. Its contents should not be construed as medical advice or health instruction on individual health matters, which should be obtained directly from a health professional.
EDITOR’S LETTER
The Gray Issue I’M EXTREMELY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF as the new editor of Mind+Body! Already in the short amount of time since I’ve stepped into this position, there have been numerous instances I’ve counted myself lucky to be working with such a great team of contributors. From the writers to the photographers, and to the minds who helped craft the initial idea of this magazine: Thank you. I feel honored to carry on what the many smart women before me have cultivated, and am eager to continue refining the magazine to better meet the needs of our readers. In this issue, one way we’re doing this is by continuing to pick topics that are important in our city, and to you, our readers. That’s how we came up with the Gray Issue. That’s right, we’re unapologetically treading into the waters of aging. Millennials to baby boomers and beyond: We all do it, and we’re becoming more open about how we do it. We explore fun topics such as the new trend of younger generations dyeing their hair gray, to more serious topics, such as how to care for those older folk in your lives. I’m excited for you to dive into this issue. And on that note, I’m always open to feedback or suggestions. I want this to be an opportunity to help further connect myself and the magazine with the greater community of Northern Colorado, and hearing from readers is one of the most important ways of doing that.
FOLLOW MIND+BODY ONLINE
coloradoan.com/ mind-body
Thanks for the warm welcome, and happy reading!
Mollie Muchna Executive Editor mmuchna@coloradoan.com
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 3
C U LT I V A T E GET BEAUTIFUL
WE TRY IT
SMART ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS There are so many products out there, how do you know which ones are worth the time and the money? Three women of the Mind+Body team picked through a sea of products to let you know what actually works — and what doesn’t.
EMILY SHILLMOLLER
EYE CREAM When it comes to anti-aging, I recently became concerned about my eyes. I decided to try Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate because it claims to moisturize, firm and lessen the appearance of dark circles. Also, I chose the product because it claimed it was good for all skin types. Within days, I noticed a difference in puffiness. I love the non-greasy texture, and it is easy to wear under makeup. The product is a little pricey, but you only need to use a small amount. I was able to see results quickly, and would highly recommend this product. Verdict: I’d highly recommend it Available: Sephora at Front Range Village or inside JCPenny Cost: $78
4 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
CLAIRE WHITWORTH
ANTI-AGING SHAMPOO As a kid, I always had thick hair. Since getting older, I’ve noticed my hair is no longer as thick, which started to weird me out. I had been looking around and trying different shampoos and finally tried Klorane Shampoo with Essential Olive Extract - For Anti-Aging/Thinning Hair. Let me tell you: This shampoo works. The smell is fabulous, and I can really tell a difference in the thickness of my hair since I started using it. People are starting to call it thick again. Pro tip: I only use this shampoo a couple times a week and my regular shampoo a majority of the time so it lasts longer. Verdict: I’d highly recommend it Available: Sephora at Front Range Village or inside JCPenny, or Birchbox, at birchbox.com Cost: $15
LAUREN GUSTUS
NAIL STRENGTHENER Somehow, as the years passed my nailes went from white and strong to brittle and breaking. When they inevitably chipped, I would take the clippers and then a file to them to even things out. And they rarely look refined, much less polished. I applied Nail Envy Nail Strengthener for Dry & Brittle Nails from OPI every other day for three weeks. And I’m doing far less clipping and filing. At nearly $17 for the nail polishsized bottle, I was skeptical I’d see significant value. This is probably because most of my beauty purchases are of the drugstore variety. But after about a week, my nails were noticeably stronger. After three, they still chip on occasion but not nearly as often. I’m attributing what chipping is sticking with me to the rough work I put them through – cleaning house, keeping up with two boys and not likely visiting the manicurist as often as I should. The verdict: I’d recommend to friends, with a cautionary note on price. Available: Ulta at Foothills Mall or Front Range Village Cost: $16.95
MB
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 5
gray
C U LT I V A T E GET BEAUTIFUL
GOING
6 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
THE LATEST HAIR TREND IS PUTTING A BOLD TWIST ON TRADITIONAL AGING APPARENTLY OUR GRANDMOTHERS WERE ON TO SOMETHING when they let their hair naturally go gray. What’s often thought of as a negative side effect of aging has become one of the most sought after looks in the beauty industry, even spawning the hashtag #grannyhair. Countless millennials, celebrities, models and women in their 30s are prematurely going gray to capitalize on the latest hair trend. Krissy Herrera, a stylist at Loveland’s TEN Salon and Spa, went silver a couple of years ago, but it took months to perfect the look. It’s not a simple process and as she puts it, can be very “high maintenance.” First, the hair is bleached until it's white. Then a colorist goes back in and add tones of gray, blue or violet, depending on the desired look. “Often times, it takes more than one process to get it right,” Herrera says. “I worked on it for a year, maybe a little over. You have to maintain some level of integrity of your hair, so you don’t want to rush it.” If the color isn't made light enough, the hair takes on a green tone instead of gray. “Granny hair” does not come cheap. In fact, it can be extremely expensive. On the low end, expect to spend at least $150, but the average cost ranges from $400 to $800, depending on hair color and condition. In addition, touch-ups are required about every four weeks, which run about $200 each.
“Hair and fashion are always looking for the next big thing, something shocking to push the boundaries of what is normal or considered socially acceptable.” W RI TTEN BY KYLE EUSTI CE PH OTOS BY STEVEN CO NLEY
Stylist: Natalie Britt, Allegory Salon. Instagram: @natnatkittycatt Model: Paige Christensen COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 7
To Herrera, it was worth it. With her varying tones of pink, violet and denim blue, she was able to use her silver hair as a canvas for pastel colors. “I received nothing but positive feedback,” she says. “They thought it was so cool, and I had a lot of people asking me to do it for them.” Emerging in 2010, the gray/silver hair trend has debunked a societal taboo while being embraced by people of all ages. TEN Salon and Spa’s Director of Marketing and Operations Jeremy Alexander has followed the trend since inception and believes social media has a lot to do with its popularity. “Hair and fashion are always looking for the next big thing, something shocking to push the boundaries of what is normal or considered socially acceptable,” Alexander says. “In this modern era, the line that is drawn between what is widely acceptable and what is not, is rapidly diminishing. The internet gives people a voice and a place to come together and express their creativity and individuality with other like-minded individuals.” While this trend is not limited to only millennials, it is most common among them. Most adults born prior to 1985 understand gray or sliver hair is something that is hard earned, however, that doesn’t mean one should shy away from giving it a try, but it has to be timed well. The next big thing is always looming. “Most people want it instantly, but it takes a long time,” Herrera says. “The trend is now.” MB
8 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
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C U LT I V A T E GET STYLE
BODY WORK
Why we’re shy about plastic surgery
I
WRIT T EN BY K Y LE EUSTI CE
|
PH OTOS BY ERI KA MO O RE
n major metropolitan cities like New York and Miami, plastic surgery is a way of life. For some, it can be akin to getting a haircut. More than 15 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States in 2015, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. While its popularity has soared over the years, that doesn’t mean everyone is necessarily eager to talk about it. In states like Colorado and Wyoming, plastic surgery is not a status symbol as it is in California. James E. McCarthy, M.D., who practices at Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery in Fort Collins, is well aware of the varying geographical responses to aesthetic enhancement. “Within certain cities, like Los Angeles and New York City, in addition to places like Brazil, cosmetic surgery is very, very common,” McCarthy says. “There are certainly different geographic values. For example, in L.A., it is valued to look a certain way.
10 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
James E. McCarthy, M.D., practices at Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery in Fort Collins.
WHAT IT COSTS Most professionals will want to see you before offering price points because exact costs can vary depending on desired results. However, realself.com aggregates final costs shared by patients. A few price points: Breast augmentation:
$6,450 Facelift:
$12,075 Liposuction:
$6,000
Tummy tuck:
$8,100 Brow lift:
$7,100 Neck lift:
$8,225
“What people value in those areas differ from places like Fort Collins or Wyoming, where people probably value other things rather than the aesthetics of someone’s cup size or face.” McCarthy also says sociological variables look different from region to region. In communities like Fort Collins, women and men who get work done tend to be less open. “It goes back to cultural values and norms,” McCarthy says. “The norm in a place like Los Angeles is to have some type of surgery, so when you fall into the norm, you’re accepted. People get noticed when they’re outliers, so in those communities you are abnormal.” In areas where it’s more socially acceptable (in South Korea, it’s a rite of passage for teenage girls to get eye lid reconstruction to look more “Westernized”), some want to make it obvious they’ve had surgery. This can lead to the “over done” look often on display on television shows like E! Entertainment’s Botched or on the covers of tabloids. “In some places, you stand out if you haven’t had some type of surgery,” McCarthy says. “People want to demonstrate they have the financial means or have been to a plastic surgeon to fit in, whereas in places like Fort Collins, plastic surgery is less common, you are an outlier if you look like you had surgery, or if it becomes disclosed you’ve had surgery, you’re then the outlier based on what the regional norm is.” James Howton, D.O, founder and director of Restore Health Center in Loveland, says Colorado people normally share an affinity for outdoor activity. “Make-up isn’t a big deal here,” Howton says. “It’s not a Laguna Beach or Miami. People don’t realize what can be done to look more natural. “Once they start having the conversation and realize
what they can do, they open up about it. They realize procedures can be done in a subtle, gentle and natural way. Some states have been having that conversation much earlier, which is maybe why they’re ahead of us.” Howton’s wife, Andrea Howton, practices along with her husband and has had a handful of cosmetic procedures. She understands what it means to struggle with whether or not to disclose one has had a procedure. “If I run around with a swollen face or red face, it’s a conversation piece to me,” Howton says. “But with my patients, they don’t want their friends or spouses to know. “Hunting season tends to become quite busy because their husbands are gone. In places like Texas or California, they are made up with lots of make-up and their hair is always perfect, I think that’s part of it. We are more of a granola state and it’s almost like you don’t want to look too made up because then you stand out.” Medical Aesthetician and Certified Laser Technician Bobbie Marriott has had a breast reduction, rhinoplasty, body contouring, and several other small cosmetic procedures, including Botox. The 55 year old isn’t ashamed to talk about it, but she recognizes people in states like Colorado may have a ways to go before cosmetic and plastic surgery is embraced. “Colorado is such a beautiful state full of healthythinking people, and I hope the mentality that a healthy lifestyle and cosmetic procedures do not go hand-in-hand is changing,” Marriott says. “We need to avoid being judgmental and allow people to do what makes them feel good ... Above all, we need to help one another to feel good and look our personal best, whatever that goal may be.” MB COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 11
ADVERSTISEMENT
EAST MEETS WEST Marrying Eastern with Western Medicine to Improve Pet Health By Dr. Katie Woodly Veterinary medicine is not all about vaccinations, surgery and providing antibiotics. While these are important pieces to overall care, there is another level that can be provided to pets through Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine like acupuncture, herbal therapy, and food therapy. Many veterinary hospitals are now starting to add these integrative treatment options
to increase the efficacy of treating illness, especially chronic disease, and keeping pets living longer with a good quality of life.
So what is TCVM? Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, or TCVM, is a system of medicine developed by ancient Chinese cultures. Specifically, it is based on the same principles as Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been
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practiced worldwide on humans for more than 3,500 years. It encompasses five fundamental branches: • Acupuncture • Herbal medicine • Tui-Na • Qi-Gong • Food therapy These branches can be used individually
ADVERSTISEMENT
Dr. Katie Woodly is the newest addition to the exceptional team at Advanced Animal Care in Fort Collins. She is a believer in doing what works to help our pets live happy and healthy lives.
or collectively to treat and maintain health in our pets. Due to the thorough understanding needed to practice TCVM safely and effectively, it is important to see a veterinarian who is trained in these modalities. As a veterinary practitioner who is training in Chinese herbal medicine with certification in acupuncture already achieved, I believe it is important to integrate a Western approach
with TCVM. My interest in Eastern medicine began as I saw results in my acupuncture patients when conventional medicine had nothing left for them. I began to wonder what other treatment options were available when there were no other options from conventional medicine. Chinese medicine opens up an array of options for pets who may not tolerate conventional medical treatments. Integrative
medicine is a blend of Eastern models with the Western conventional system. These forms actually work synergistically, each benefiting from the observations, exams, diagnostics and treatment plans of the other. Some of the ailments Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine can help range from behavioral issues such as fear and anxiety, to gastrointestinal disease such as constipation and diarrhea, to arthritis, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. For example, kidney disease is very common in cats as they get older, and conventional medicine is only able to support the system rather than reverse it which numerous herbal formulas can accomplish. This is only one example of integrative medicine helping benefit your pet’s health. As I continue this journey into Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, I am excited to introduce integrative health into the Advanced Animal Care of Colorado clinic. I welcome all clients who are interested in learning about how we can help your pets achieve their best heath possible to make an appointment with me.
C U LT I V A T E HOME
How we live
WR I T T E N BY N I COL E D U G G AN
T
Need is rising
he silver tsunami is coming. This not-so-affectionate term is used by experts to refer to the
aging population of baby boomers, who began turning 65 in 2011. The Boomer population is expected to reach 83.7 million by 2050. Northern Colorado is a recognized destination for boomers.
With the aging tide comes challenges for local communities, including
significant demand on resources for housing, transportation and medical services. We’ll also see impacts to tax revenue and land-use procedures, as the majority of Boomers expect to age in place, avoiding traditional long-term care facilities for their own homes and communities. The future will bring lots of questions about navigating the system for both older adults and their families. The Larimer County Office of Aging hopes to make connections and help folks determine what their options look like.
14 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Linda Rumney, Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) coordinator, said she aims to help aging adults create an action plan and obtain their goals. Demand has grown steadily as seniors search for affordable housing. “We get a lot of calls from people being priced out of their apartments,” Rumney said, “especially from those who are living on a fixed income.” Options facing those needing to leave their home include: • Traditional facilities: From independent to assisted and nursing facilities, Northern Colorado has a vast network of care available for those wishing to leave their
homes. Originally based in Fort Collins, Columbine Health Systems has campuses in Fort Collins, Windsor and Loveland. These traditional facilities can be costly, however, leaving many with lower incomes priced out. • Affordable housing: Some housing units are being built to focus exclusively on elderly and disabled individuals with a low fixed income. One such complex is the Century III Apartments in Windsor. However getting into these units can take time. Century III, which has 72 units available, has a waitlist. • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): More commonly known as “mother-in-law suites,” these units are built into the caregiver’s existing home and are aimed to fill the gap between independence and caregiving. Essentially apartments within a home, the units generally include an independent bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and a separate entrance. The permit and building process can be long, however. Since Windsor passed an ordinance allowing such units to be built in 2012, only one permit has been applied for and approved. Resources available for those who are able to stay in their home have also grown in the community. The ARDC has seen an increase in demand for all of its services, including a first-ever wait list for its Chore Voucher program, which provides financial support to individuals requiring assistance with tasks or around their home. “A couple of hours can make a big difference in the life of a community member,” she said. She pointed to examples of a woman who was able to get her carpets cleaned for the first time, or numerous cases where seniors needed help fixing broken items in their homes. Rumney is reluctant to say the increase in demand is solely due to the aging Baby Boomer population, she says only that the increase of need is clear.
Outside the home The Fort Collins Senior Center was accredited by the National Council on Aging through its National Institute of Senior Centers in April, becoming the first in the state to receive such accreditation. The Senior Center often offers programs and activities aimed at keeping older adults active and engaged in the community. Similarly, numerous programs also exist to provide valuable assistance to the caregivers of older adults, including counseling, consultation, and day-time support. One such program is McKee Medical’s Stepping Stones Adult Day Program, which provides social engagement and activity programming during the week for participants with a wide variety of needs, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. Stepping Stones was established by almost 21 years ago, starting as a one-room operation in Loveland’s First Christian Church, said Program Manager Angel Hoffman.
PH OTOS BY VA LERI E MOSLEY
After seeing a substantial need increase and years of fundraising by the McKee Medical Center Foundation, the program moved in 2014 to its new location at 302 Third St. SE. The move, said Hoffman, increased the space available more than 10 times. The program allows its participants, ranging in age from mid-30s to more than 100, to remain social and also engage in activities from art to music, exercise and games, crafts and even pet therapy. At the same time, primary caregivers are able to work, run errands or simply take a break. “We strive to be flexible and open to their needs,” Hoffman said. The Loveland-based program draws people from all over Northern Colorado without similar services, such as Johnstown, Greeley, Windsor - and even as far as Boulder and Denver. This, combined with the increased awareness of the program and the aging Baby Boomer population, has made demand for the program stronger than ever, Hoffman said. The staff of six and more than 3,000 volunteers serves an average 24 people per day. Participants can attend the program up to five days a week, for either full or half days. Hoffman lauded the commitment and passion of the staff and volunteers who work at the program and the purpose of it in the community. “We’re able to see people get a spark in their eye and become engaged,” she said. “It really feels like we can make a difference.” MB
LEARN MORE For more information on the Larimer County Office of Aging and resources available to older adults in Northern Colorado, please visit lcoa. networkofcare. org or call 970498-7750.
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 15
ASPIRE GET OUT
FROM MINI-GOLF TO CARTOONS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE YOUNG TO FEEL LIKE A KID
7 EXPERIENCES WASTED ON THE YOUNG WR I T T EN BY K R I ST I N OW E N S
KIDS HAVE IT SO GOOD. Remember the good ‘ol times, when you were free from responsibilities and rules? Well, break out of your humdrum, dependable self and have some fun. No matter what your age, here are some guilt-free ideas to feel young at heart.
GO TO THE LIBRARY
PLAY MINI-GOLF
Take a good whiff. Remember that smell? Books with paper! They are still in style. Find the kids’ section and check out one of your old favorites. Take a break from the daily stress and dive into something soothing like Little House on the Prairie, or really any book that can help you relax and provides some perspective. Visit your friends at the Old Town Library at 201 Peterson Street, open daily.
Tough day at work? Leave it behind and try putting through a moving grist mill instead. Fort Fun at 1513 E. Mulberry offers golfing yearround. Keep your sense of silly and try not to get too competitive. A sore loser always looks bad. Plus, no one will want to play with you again, or sit with you on the bus. Need an incentive? The Winner buys the ice cream. Plus, the cost is hard to beat: $8 per personor $7 for those 55 and older.
1
16 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
2
DRESS UP FOR HALLOWEEN
SEE A DRIVE-IN MOVIE
Use your resourceful, innovative brain for something other than grocery lists. Make a costume with only items found at our neighborhood thrift stores like ARC and Goodwill. Treasures await for a fraction of the cost, and your purchases help out the local community. Need an idea? Envision that career you’ll never have, and go for it. You’ll be the coolest 40-year old astronaut ever wearing a fishbowl on your head.
Enjoy paying $18 to watch a movie in the theatre? Mutiny! The Holiday Twin Drive-in is located at 2206 South Overland Trail and open nightly. Amazingly, prices haven’t changed much since you were a kid; $7 buys you a double feature. Wear jammies, pack the dog and bring a sleeping bag. Get there early for a good spot. The only downside is vacuuming out concession snack crumbs from the car afterward.
3
4
WATCH CARTOONS 5
6
Instead of fighting over the remote at home, revisit some old favorites at the Lyric Cinema Café at 300 E. Mountain. Cartoon mornings are free daily from 10 to noon, and for a measly $5 you get access to the unlimited cereal bar. The classic storylines remain the same. The Roadrunner still gets chased through the American southwest and Pepé Le Pew is still sadly single. But that’s okay. It’s nice to know that after all these years, somethings never change.
PLAY KICKBALL
Nothing says childhood like getting repeatedly wacked in the head by a rubber ball. Bring back cherished memories and join the local league. Offered through the fall, Go Kickball is Fort Collins’ “Premier Social Experience,” so you will get to be a cool kid (finally.) The season ends with a social and tournament, plus you get to keep the T-shirt. For more info, check out www.gokickball.com/ fort_collins/
EAT ICE CREAM 7
Stop counting calories, fat or carbs and splurge a little. And get a cone – no fancy dish with a utensil. That’s for ... old people. With so many flavors to choose from, go crazy and get a double scoop. Walrus Ice Cream in Old Town will hook you up from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Just hurry up and make up your mind, because you’re holding up the line. MB
Support when you need it most Compassionate professionals at Pathways guide patients and families through life’s transitions. • Palliative care for symptom management • Comprehensive Hospice care • Grief & Loss counseling center for patients & loved ones
Caring for Larimer & Weld Counties since 1978.
www.pathways-care.org (970) 356-4090
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 17
THE
SANDWICH
GENERATION MORE ADULTS ARE CARING FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND PARENTS WRIT T EN BY CASSA NI ED RI NGH AUS PHOTOS BY VA LERI E MOSLEY
MATTHEW AND BONNIE DOZIER’S FIRST GRANDCHILD was born at the same time Matthew’s father, Hank, was hospitalized for a stroke in 2006. Hank, an energetic father of five sons, was the breadwinner before his retirement, ongoing caregiver for his wife, Cecelia “CC,” and a voracious reader whose shelves were lined with more than 1,500 books. After the stroke, he became quiet and, as the years went on, more and more confused. He came to depend on CC, a role reversal for the couple. “It was really hard to see my dad going through that,” Matthew said. “I remember that time in the hospital and the first couple days. He just wasn’t the same man. I could just tell.”
18 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Loveland residents Bonnie and Matthew Dozier sold their home and moved in with Matthew’s parents, Henry and C.C. Dozier, after Henry had a stroke and began requiring more care.
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 19
“PEOPLE FIND GREAT JOY AND GREAT COMFORT IN BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR SPOUSE IN THIS WAY. THERE’S A RICHNESS IN THE EXPERIENCE.” Matthew and Bonnie are part of the so-called “sandwich generation,” a population of middle-aged adults who take part in caring for both their parents and their children. About one in seven of these adults provide financial support both to an aging parent and a child, according to the Pew Research Center.
MOVING IN Matthew and Bonnie first decided to fix up their Loveland home so Matthew’s parents could move in. But they realized the move had the potential to further confuse Matthew’s father. When Hank and CC visited a son in New Mexico, Hank would wake in the morning and repeat, “Where’s my house? Where’s my house?” Matthew, who is a real estate agent with The Group, which has an office in Fort Collins, came in contact with a friend who was looking for a home and whose specifications fit the description of his home with Bonnie. They decided to sell their home — the place where they’d spent more than two decades raising four children — to the friend, and move in with Matthew’s parents. For them, the move was natural. It made sense. They were willing and able to provide the care his parents required. That way, his parents could have the same routine, the same bedroom, the same bathroom. They’d know where to find the coffee pot in the kitchen. “It really wasn’t (difficult),” Bonnie said. “God directed it for us. For me, it was very clear.” For other members of the sandwich generation, care-taking can become taxing and overwhelming to the point that the caretakers themselves are getting sick. In this region, an important resource for caregivers and their families is the Larimer County Office on Aging. It will be an ever more important resource for the county because, according to a 2014 report by the Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults. Between 2014 and 2024, the county’s 60-plus population group is expected to increase by 71 percent. In comparison, the age group 0-59 is expected to increase by just 18 percent. “It’s very stressful to be a caregiver, even if you’re only a caregiver for part of the day or part of the week,” said Linda Rumney, who works in the Office on Aging. “It changes the dynamic of your life.” Through the office, families receive free consultations that address their needs and match them with services offered around the county. The office also connects adults with the county’s Family Caregiver Support Program and various caregiver support groups, both of which can help ease the stress of caring for a loved one. The office’s primary advice is to meet with them before you need to meet with them. They encourage families to make appointments before the crisis time if possible, so they have a plan of action they can fall back on in case something goes wrong. A crisis with a parent or loved one is exponentially more stressful if their caregivers aren’t prepared.
20 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Bonnie takes them where they need to go. She brings them to doctor’s appointments and on errands. On Tuesdays, the trio goes to CC’s Weight Watchers meeting and to the bakery at Sam’s Club. They have pizza and go with such regularity that the bakers recognize them. On Wednesday, they go grocery shopping. At the beginning of the year, CC fell and broke her leg, but she entered into a care facility for the duration of her rehabilitation because of the high level of care she required. The agency’s other chief piece of advice is for adults to put in place advance care directives early and discuss them with their families. Only 32 percent of the county’s adults have one, and only a quarter of them have discussed their wishes with their healthcare providers.
NEW BEGINNINGS The family — Matthew and Bonnie, four children and three grandchildren — gathered for the last time in their longtime home. They had a party, ate dinner, took a picture and said goodbye. For their children, especially their youngest daughter, it was more difficult to let go. She’ll periodically ask her mother if she can go back and visit her childhood home. “It was letting go of a season in our life,” Bonnie said. Matthew and Bonnie then bought the ranchstyle house in Loveland from Matthew’s parents. They cleaned and finished the basement and moved in August 2013. Right after they moved in, the main water line between the house and the street broke. They had to hire a crew to tear up the driveway and dig down nearly 10 feet next to the foundation to repair the broken pipeline and reroute it from under the driveway. They bought the house so they could take care of significant projects like this one, as well as repairs and yard work. In many ways, though, the two couples live separately. They operate on their own schedules. Each level is essentially its own living space, complete with separate laundry rooms. Matthew and Bonnie have tried to strike a balance between being caregivers and respecting his parents’ autonomy. Neither CC nor Hank drives, though, so
CHANGING LANDSCAPES Bonnie said the couple has bent over backward to be accommodating to her and Matthew in a time that has been trying for them, too. They’ve watched their social activities and independence dwindle. The garage no longer holds their belongings, Hank no longer has his own tool set and CC no longer has the same space for her crafts. CC will try to call a service to drive her so that Bonnie doesn’t have to, even though that’s why she and Matthew moved in. “That can be frustrating to me because I’m here to help,” Bonnie said. “She’s almost too accommodating. That, I haven’t figured out how to deal with yet, because that is why I’m there. I don’t know if I’m making her feel like a nuisance or something like that. If I am, I don’t know what I’m doing to do that or how to undo that.” Lynda Meyer, who also works in the Office on Aging, said despite the added stress from caregiving, people also find happiness in spending additional time with their families. “It’s a very multifaceted issue,” she said. “I think that one of the things we need to be careful of is not painting it completely negatively. People find great joy and great comfort in being able to give back to their parents or their spouse in this way. There’s a richness in the experience.” Matthew and Bonnie echoed this sentiment, too. They’re able to help people who for so long helped them, providing transportation, comfort and weekly outings for pizza. Matthew took them to a Rockies game in September. “Our parents take care of us for so long,” he said. “When they get old, what happens? It only seems right to me that we help while we can.” MB
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 21
ASPIRE GET TO WORK
YOUNG IN FORT COLLINS? HERE’S HOW TO
SAVE FOR RETIREMENT IT’S NO MYSTERY FORT COLLINS IS A NICE PLACE TO LIVE. It also might be a nice place to stay. Choice City residents averaged just 29.5 years of age in 2013, according to the American Community Survey. But experts say many factors — including CNN naming Fort Collins as “One of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire” — are likely to lead to a sharply increasing retiree population. Generation Y, more commonly known as “Millennials,” and those immediately preceding them, Generation X, will eventually lead the charge into retirement. If these generations want to retire in Fort Collins, they’ll need considerable savings. Savings most don’t have. According to a joint 2008 study between ASEC and AARP, only 50 percent of Gen X and
22 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Gen Y save money on a regular basis. A TIAA study found that 35 percent of young people are not contributing to an IRA simply because they don’t know enough about what they are. Still, Jason Speciner, a certified financial planner and founder of Financial Planning Fort Collins, is optimistic about the financial future of fellow Millenials. “Our generation is known for resourcefulness and willingness to work through challenges,” Speciner said. “As the advice of the financial planning industry starts to focus on younger people, the scary idea that they aren’t prepared for their futures will go away.” Speciner works closely with Gen X and Gen Y clients to help educate them on future options. If you haven’t yet, start planning for now. It’s not too late to enjoy a long, happy Fort Collins future.
Much more than a hardware store! Start soon “The greatest advantage young people have is time,” Speciner said. Even so, there is a propensity to delay saving and planning for when one’s financial circumstances might be better. That windfall might never come. “There’s always something that comes up,” Speciner said. “If it’s not student loans, it’s paying off a house, or kids, or teenagers. Whatever it is, there’ll always be a reason not to save.”
Don’t sacrifice future goals A common mistake that Speciner sees is people living outside of their means. While this can come as a natural consequence of living in an expensive town, it can also be the effect of prioritizing immediate wants over long-term planning. “You should never, ever go into debt to have fun,” he said. Create a budget that incorporates saving, and stick to it.
Consider a mixed approach Instead of just focusing on one aspect of financial planning at a time, Speciner says that in some cases a mixed approach can be best. A shocking 83 percent of younger Americans report owing some type of non-mortgage debt, which can include school loans, credit card debt and medical bills. Because of these demands, it can be tempting to focus spending on debt repayment. Strategic planning can help repay debt while at the same time allowing for an emergency fund and some retirement planning. W RI TTE N BY NICO L E D UGG A N
Get smart The most important thing young people can do in planning for their retirement in Fort Collins and elsewhere is to seek further education on the topic. This can come from a quick online search, use of a robo-advisor or meeting one-on-one with a financial planner. Despite the challenges young Americans face in planning their saving for retirement, many remain optimistic about reaching their goals. Of the ASEC-AARP survey respondents, 54 percent believed they will have accumulated more wealth than their parents by the time they reach a similar age. MB
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215 S College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 224-4437 acedowntown.com COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 23
ASPIRE GET TO WORK
AGING WORKERS:
Make the best of it
CHECKING OUT AT A STORE RECENTLY, the clerk asked if I
qualified for their senior discount. “You have to be at least 55,” she said. After I’d finished flinching — this was the first time I’d been asked that question — I proudly told her that no, I didn’t qualify, and that I still had one more year of non-senior-discount life to go. Shortly before I was exposed to a different perspective on aging. A girlfriend and I had made the 10-hour drive to De Smet, South Dakota, to experience parts of my idol Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life. There we were, standing in the Surveyor’s House — one of Laura’s homes growing up — and the tour guide explained that Ingalls-Wilder hadn’t written her books until she was in her 60s. For those not in the know, Ingalls-Wilder’s books have been continuously in print since 1932, have been translated into 40 languages, and have touched the hearts of millions of readers. I’d known she was older when she wrote her books, but in her 60s? My heart leapt for joy; the best of my professional impact could just be starting! In my work, helping individuals along their career paths, I hear concerns about aging at least a few times each week. It seems as though as soon as someone hits age 40, they start to worry that they’ll be passed over or chopped out because they’re too old. This, in fact, may be true. Discrimination exists along the full spectrum of a person’s chronological life. To reference another great author, Robert Southey in his, “The Story of the Three Bears,” no matter what we do, we may be too old, or too young, and rarely just the right age. I tell my clients who are concerned about the number of years they’ve been on the planet that there’s nothing they can do about it, except make the best of it. That’s what Ingalls-Wilder did with her life. As she put it, “It is still best to be honest and truthful and to make the most of what you have.” MB
24 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., is the author of “The Career Coward’s Guides” and provides career and job search support with Career Solutions Group in Fort Collins. Reach her at 970-224-4042 or katy@career solutionsgroup.net.
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Dr. Michelle Glasgow, a family medicine physician with Kaiser Permanente Fort Collins, talks cognitive decline, what’s normal, when to seek help and how to slow the process.
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Cognitive decline is a normal, if unfortunate, part of the aging process. Dr. Michelle Glasgow, a primary care physician with Kaiser Permanente, Fort Collins, spoke with Mind+Body about cognitive decline, normal aging, and how to help preserve cognitive health as we age. Cognitive decline is a blanket term for the normal changes in cognitive function that occur as we age. “We classify cognitive decline as anytime we feel our memory is not as good as it once was. The gradual decline is normal, but rapid changes are cause for concern,” Dr. Glasgow said. There are many different things that can lead to rapid Michelle cognitive decline, from Glasgow, M.D., tumors to strokes is a family medicine to West Nile Virus, physician to diseases such practicing at the Kaiser as Alzheimer’s or Permanente dementia. “Alzheimer’s Fort Collins Medical Offices. and dementia are specific conditions that are diagnosed through extensive evaluations that take into account many different kinds of activities and tasks. Some of the early symptoms are similar to a more normal decline, but they progress in specific ways,” Dr. Glasgow said. Dr. Glasgow emphasizes the need to see a physician as soon as possible when changes in cognitive abilities become apparent. “These kinds of abnormal changes aren’t things like ‘I can’t find my keys,’ but are more instances of ‘I can’t find my way home,’ even when they are driving the same route they take every day,” Dr. Glasgow said. These changes are usually noticed by the family first, because there are
times when the affected individual might try to compensate or cover up their struggles. “Most times when people invest in hiding their struggles it is because they want to stay independent,” Dr. Glasgow said. Luckily, there are certain clues that family members can pick up on even if they only speak over the phone. “I always recommend to people to take note if the individual has fallen out of a normal routine, especially if they are coming up with strange excuses for their abnormal behavior. If your mother calls you at 4 pm every day, and she
are prepared for them, it becomes too difficult for people to heat up meals safely so they stop trying,” Dr. Glasgow said. While Dr. Glasgow emphasizes the need to go to the doctor if you suspect there is a problem, there are lifestyle changes that will help maintain healthy cognition. The main thing to consider is that an active brain is a healthy brain, so helping the brain stay active and engaged is important. “There is a reason that senior living facilities try to keep residents doing activities all the time. Social interaction, enjoyable activities, games, music, reading, and even just talking to one another is important to keeping brains happy and healthy,” Dr. Glasgow said. While lots of activity, along with a healthy diet, is important for slowing decline, slowing cognitive function with old age is inevitable. There are
“Social interaction, enjoyable activities, games, music, reading, and even just talking to one another is important to keeping brains happy and healthy” starts missing those calls it should be a sign that things are not right,” Dr. Glasgow said. “If you are listening to a story you have heard a million times and they start changing the way the events happen, it is another sign that things aren’t right. It may mean they are forgetting the details and making something up to continue the story and cover it up.” Unexplained weight loss is another sign of rapid cognitive decline. “Sometimes people just forget to eat. Other times, even when meals
some medications available that help slow down the process of decline, but there is no way to completely halt the progress of decline. Dr. Glasgow encourages family members to stay attentive to the mental state of aging loved ones, and not to hesitate to contact a physician if they suspect a problem. “A doctor will be able to help recommend the best next steps in care for a loved one as they age. They are there to help, and can be the best ally family members have in caring for aging loved ones,” Dr. Glasgow said.
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 27
ASPIRE GET OUT
5 WAYS ANYONE CAN ENJOY THE FORT COLLINS SENIOR CENTER
From whittling away in the woodshop to hitting the gym, here are some unique Senior Center offerings. WRIT T EN BY ERIN U DELL
28 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
BUILD YOUR OWN FURNITURE
TAKE A PARENTING CLASS
A woodshop open to members features tools available not only for woodworking, but also jewelry making and stained glass art. Classes that introduce you to the shop are available for beginners and those on intermediate levels in the Fort Collins Recreator. For those who are familiar with the shop tools — and who have a Senior Center membership — open shop hours occur weekly.
While the Senior Center’s primary programming is centered around seniors 50 and older, the facility is open to anyone 18 and up. And, while the center offers educational programs for its older members, like computer classes, it has also opened up parenting classes for younger members.
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Note: Activity classes are not paid for through annual membership fees ($25 for those 50+ and $49 for people 18 to 49).
People participate in a yoga class at the Senior Center.
COOK AROUND THE WORLD 5
The swimming pool is open to swimmers of all ages. Classes are even offered for parents with infants. Coloradoan File
3
MANAGE YOUR HEALTH
Wellness programming at the Senior Center — offered in conjunction with Columbine Health Systems and UCHealth — is growing on up. Lowor no-cost offerings that range from classes on disease-prevention to fitness testing has shot up from last year, going from operating 10 classes a quarter last year to offering about 70 a quarter this year, Stieber said.
4
GET IN SHAPE
As part of the Senior Center’s expansion, which was completed in 2014, 2,900 square feet of cardio and weight room space was added to the facility. It includes accessible, age-friendly gym equip ment, city recreation supervisor Katie Stieber said. The center also offers free fitness equipment orientations five days a week.
With a full-sized catering kitchen, the Senior Center serves up cooking classes that go around the world from Thailand to India and others that focus on nutrition or themes, like a special mother-daughter class. Look for upcoming offerings like “Root Vegetables 101,” “Tacos Non Traditionale,” and “Thanksgiving Side Dishes,” in this season’s Recreator. MB
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 29
NOURISH GET CENTERED
HOW RETIREEFRIENDLY IS FORT COLLINS? REPORTER ERIN UDELL, 26, RETIRES FOR A DAY TO SEE JUST HOW FRIENDLY FORT COLLINS IS TO BOOMERS AND BEYOND W RI T T EN BY ERI N U D E LL
PH OTOS BY CH E LSAE K E TCH UM
Well, I did it. At the ripe age of 26, I retired. For a day. It was something I’d been pushing for a while. I’d seen Fort Collins make list after list hailing it as one of the best places in the country to retire — most recently, Value Penguin. I’ve heard people tout how retirement-friendly my city was and know plenty of baby boomers who, as retirees, have made Fort Collins home. But where’s the fun in lists when you can take a day off and play pickleball instead? I did a fair amount of research on what to do on my day of retirement. I talked to a recreation coordinator at the Senior Center, combed through its list of daily activities, asked readers on Facebook and even ended up calling my stepfather, retiree extraordinaire Steve DeHaven, who was, of course, golfing at the time. My day started with drop-in novice pickleball play at the Fort Collins Senior Center around 10 a.m. A group of women were clustered in chairs along the gym room wall as the nets were being set up and, almost like it was
30 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
on cue, I overheard one telling another why she moved to Fort Collins. Judy Jones, 70, later gave me the rundown. A native of Virginia Beach, Jones moved to Louisville, Kentucky a few years after retiring to be closer to her kids and grandchildren. When her son-in-law got a job offer in Fort Collins, Jones and her son-in-law’s mother moved with them in March. Since then, Jones has thrown herself into activities at the Senior Center. She plays pickleball at least twice a week, is part of its chat groups, takes classes, quilts and is also looking to become a volunteer at the Lincoln Center. “We told them (my daughter and her family), if you move, we’re staying here,” she said with a laugh. Spread out across the gymnasium floor, pickleball nets spring up and two people take their spots on either side of each. When describing it to friends later, I’m at a loss. “It’s like volleyball, but like tennis, too?” I say, completely butchering the rules I still had yet to grasp after 30 minutes volleying, serving and sweating at the Senior Center.
YOUR KITCHEN STORE AND MORE
Loretta Baily explains the rules of pickleball to Erin Udell to kick off being retired for a day in Fort Collins. The city consistently tops the lists of retirementfriendly cities.
My next step was to take this party outside and do something I was even more uncomfortable with than pickleball: golf. As a child of golfers, my mom put me into golf day camps during my childhood summers. I was resistant, though, and did the bare minimum. Years later, all I really remember is how to grip a golf club and enjoy the scenery. Sorry, Mom. Around 11 a.m., I headed to City Park Nine with a bag of borrowed golf clubs, picked up a bucket of balls and settled in at the driving range. There was an older man and young teen behind me both absolutely killing it. I managed, but mostly worked on my grip and taking in the scenery. One thing I did take away from the driving range, though, was how great it felt being outside in the middle of a work day with nothing set in stone on my schedule. I could go see a movie if I wanted or feed the ducks or apply to volunteer somewhere.
“Just do something you feel really guilty about doing in the middle of the day during the middle of the week,” my stepdad told me when I called him, overwhelmed with my choices of what to do next. Do what I want? Oh, alright. So I took myself to lunch. In a city like Fort Collins, new restaurants spring up almost weekly. I wanted to take advantage of this and go someplace I’d never been. I landed on The Loafing Shed, a casual eatery in Jessup Farm’s Artisan Village near the intersection of Prospect and Timberline Roads. As I settled in, cracked open my new library book, read and waited for my fig and prosciutto pizza, I thought about what other things I could do later. Grab my bike and ride to a brewery? Take a little afternoon hike? Window shop in Old Town? Just then, two men took the seat next to me, likely on their lunch break from work. “Chumps,” I thought to myself. “Thank God I’m retired.” MB
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COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 31
NOURISH GET H E A LT H Y
HEALTHY RECIPES BY TRISH O’NEILL, THE COOKING STUDIO
Pasta with Sardines 32 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
NOURISH GET H E A LT H Y
PHOTOS BY ERIKA MOORE
EATS Feeding our bodies nutrient-packed food is a vital part of maintaining our overall health as we age. But sometimes piling on the nutrients means sacrificing on the taste. M+B met with Trish O’Neill at The Cooking Studio so she could share some of her favorite healthy eats. From breakfast to
STEEL CUT OATMEAL BLUEBERRY MUFFINS Servings: 12 | Difficulty: Medium INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 ⅓ cups buttermilk ¼ cup canola oil ¼ cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup cooked steel-cut oats
dinner, these recipes have you covered. And
1 cup blueberries tossed with 1 teaspoon flour
good news, you don’t have to give up pasta.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with the rack in the upper third. Oil, spray or butter 12 muffin cups. Sift together your flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk (or yogurt and milk), canola oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Quickly add the dry ingredients with a whisk or a spatula. Don’t beat, just mix, stirring up from the bottom until you can’t no see any flour. It might be a little lumpy and thats okay. Fold in the cooked oats and the blueberries. Spoon into muffin cups, filling them to just below the top. Place in the oven, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until nicely browned. Take out of the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before unmolding. Cool on a rack, or serve warm.
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 33
Steel Cut Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins 34 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
NOURISH GET H E A LT H Y
KALE AND BRUSSELS SPROUT SALAD Servings: 8 - 10 | Difficulty: Easy INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon minced shallot 1 small garlic clove, finely grated 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning Freshly ground black pepper 2 large bunches of Tuscan kale (about 1 1/2 pounds total), center stem discarded, leaves thinly sliced 12 ounces brussels sprouts, trimmed, finely grated or shredded with a knife 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/3 cup almonds with skins, coarsely chopped 1 cup finely grated Pecorino DIRECTIONS
Combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl. Stir to blend; set aside to let flavors meld. Mix thinly sliced kale and shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl.
PASTA WITH SARDINES
plus more for garnish
Servings: 4 - 6 | Difficulty: Easy DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS Salt ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ cup bread crumbs, ideally made from stale bread 1 onion, chopped Freshly ground black pepper 1 pound long pasta, like perciatelli 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons drained capers 2 cans sardines packed in extra virgin olive oil (about 1/2 pound) ½ cup chopped fresh parsley,
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put half the oil (2 tablespoons) in a medium skillet over medium heat. When it’s hot, add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, less than 5 minutes, and then remove. Add the remaining oil and the onion to the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just tender; drain, reserving
some of the cooking liquid. Turn the heat under the onions to medium-high and add the lemon zest, capers and sardines; cook, stirring occasionally, until just heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the pasta to the sardine mixture and toss well to combine. Add the parsley, most of the bread crumbs and some reserved water, if necessary, to moisten.
Measure a one half-cup oil into a cup. Spoon 1 tablespoon of oil from cup into a small skillet; heat oil over medium-high heat. Add almonds to skillet and stir frequently until golden brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle almonds lightly with salt. Slowly whisk remaining olive oil in cup into lemon-juice mixture. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Add dressing and cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Garnish with almonds.
Taste and adjust seasoning, garnishing with more parsley and bread crumbs.
Do Ahead: Dressing, kale mixture, and toasted almonds can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover dressing and kale mixture separately and chill. Cover almonds and let stand at room temperature. MB
Source: Paprika Recipe Manager. http://www.paprikaapp.com
Source: Sent from Paprika Recipe Manager. http://www.paprikaapp.com COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 35
NOURISH GET H E A LT H Y
Health benefits of
36 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
Green Tea Drinking green tea for your health is about as well-known about as eating an apple a day. But what are the specific health benefits?
The list is extensive, says Andy Boone, the general manager at Happy Lucky’s Teahouse and Treasures in Old Town. Some of these health benefits include regulating blood-sugar levels, reducing sugar cravings as well as being a cancer preventative. And of course, there are antioxidants which contain anti-aging properties.
Plus, you can expect to have an energy boost that is a bit calmer and doesn’t have the same caffeine crash as coffee oftentimes can. Boone didn’t want those looking for a boost to be fooled: most bagged green tea won’t offer much by way of health benefits and will often leave drinkers with an unsatisfying and sometimes bitter cup of tea. So before you roll your eyes, or say you’ve never really liked green tea, hear this: You’ve proably been making it wrong. It’s easy to make it wrong, Boone noted. However, if you head into Happy Lucky, opened by coowners Kari and George Grossman in 2009, they’ll show you exactly how to brew a proper cup. Or, they will brew you a nice matcha latte, which has even more health benefits than regular green tea because the ground matcha powder includes the whole plant, not just the leaf. Not to mention it’s a nice treat on brisk, fall day. But all sorts of teas beyond the green varieties have health benefits. “I encourage people to find what they like, if you find what you like, you’ll drink more of it and get more benefits from it,” Boone said. Which is why the slogan of Happy Lucky is Nourish Your Happy. Kari Grossman said it was chosen because they believe the bottom line of health is happiness, “and we believe that starts with sitting down and having a cup of tea.”
5 TEA TIPS Don’t overheat the water. Green tea water should never be at a boil. Don’t steep for too long. Most green tea doesn’t need to be steeped more than a minute or so. If you let the tea oversteep, it can take on a bitter flavor. Use a small amount of tea. No need to make a big pot. By using smaller amounts of tea, you can steep multiple times and get the most bang for your buck. Drink tea you enjoy! Try out a few kinds and decide which you like best. The more you like it the more you’ll drink it and reap more benefits. Buy loose leaf tea. Bagged tea just isn’t the same, from a taste or health benefit standpoint. To get the most out of your tea, always choose loose leaf. WRITTEN BY MOLLIE MUCHNA PHOTOS BY ERIKA MOORE
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 37
CITY DRUG
“I encourage people to find what they like. If you find what you like, you’ll drink more of it and get more benefits
Caring About Your Health For Over 30 Years!
from it.”
Come in & experience the difference of a family owned & operated, neighborhood drug store.
MATCHA LATTE INGREDIENTS 2-3 tablespoons Organic Matcha powder from Happy Lucky ($15)
•
$4 & $10 generics available
•
Vitamins & nutritional supplements
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Compression stockings
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Post-mastectomy swimsuits
8 oz. milk or milk substitute of choice
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Special & hard to find medical supplies
sugar, or another sweetener substitute
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THE PERFECT CUP OF GREEN TEA INGREDIENTS 1 cup water 1 tablespoon loose leaf green tea (Beginner green tea drinkers, try the Gunpowder or the Tranquility, both under $3.50/ounce)
CITY DRUG 209 N. College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-482-1234
DIRECTIONS
Heat the water to 180 degrees. Place 1 tablespoon of loose leaf green tea into a tea strainer (approximately 1 tablespoon/cup.) Once water is at the correct temperature, place the tea in a strainer. Steep in the water for 1-3 minutes. Remove strainer with tea leaves and enjoy. Repeat as desired, resteeping the same tea leaves. TIP: One way to make sure your water isn’t too
Mon- Fri: 9am - 6pm Sat: 10am - 5pm Sun: 12pm - 2pm 38 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
hot is to boil water, transfer to a Pyrex or other glass container before pouring on your tea. This will shock some of the heat out of the water.
1/4 cup water DIRECTIONS
Pour matcha powder into a bowl or container. Using a fork or spoon, tamp out any of the lumps in the powder. Mix ¼ cup water into the container, and whisk the matcha powder with a bamboo whisk (available for $15) until top gets frothy and the color lightens. Heat milk to desired drinking temperature. Add matcha concentrate to milk and sweeten to taste. MB
NOURISH GET CENTERED
NONPROFIT PROVIDES DOORTO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION FOR QUALIFIED SENIORS
PROJECT: PURPOSE
BEING A SAINT WR I T T E N BY K E V I N D UGG A N
I would never claim to be a saint. Over the years, I’ve made far too many poor choices and done far too little good to deserve that label. But I know a SAINT, as in Senior Alternatives in Transportation. SAINT provides door-to-door transportation for qualified seniors and residents with disabilities. It fills an important niche by helping folks who can’t or shouldn’t drive get around town, be it to a doctor’s appointment, the Senior Center, grocery shopping, or work. The service is free of charge to clients. SAINT is a longtime local nonprofit funded through grants and charitable donations. It has a small, dedicated staff, but it is powered by volunteers. I volunteer with SAINT as a driver. My work schedule, while fairly flexible, does not allow me to commit to driving during a specific time on a specific day of the week. So I fill in where needed. If a regularly scheduled driver cannot cover his or her four-hour shift, folks like me pick it up. SAINT has 355 clients in Fort Collins and another 301 in Loveland. During its last fiscal year, SAINT provided about 17,000 rides in Fort Collins and about 10,000 in Loveland. Demand for its service is likely to grow in the years to come as the population ages. Some volunteer drivers provide than 200, 300 or 400 rides a year. Drivers may be reimbursed for mileage, although many choose to not put in for it. Driving for SAINT has been incredibly rewarding for me. I’ve met some very interesting, friendly people with great stories to tell.
HOW TO HELP SAINT is accepting drivers. All rides are given by volunteers driving their own cars. Volunteers can pick a time from Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. You must have a clean driving record to participate. For more info, visit www. saintvolunteertransportation.org or call (970) 223-8604.
I’ve also seen parts of town that are new to me. It’s not necessarily easy work. One has to follow a pretty tight schedule and be responsible for the safety of other people. SAINT has about 105 drivers in Fort Collins and about 45 in Loveland. It’s always looking for more help. Indeed, SAINT’s ability to supply rides is limited only by its number of volunteers. Volunteering might not get a person closer to sainthood, but it certainly couldn’t hurt. MB Kevin Duggan is a Coloradoan senior reporter. This column originally appeared in the Coloradoan. Follow him on Twitter @ coloradoan_dugg and on Facebook at Coloradoan Kevin Duggan.
COLORADOAN.COM/MIND-BODY Mind+Body 39
FINAL WORD
TO AGE GRACEFULLY,
YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LET GO W RI TTE N BY KRI STIN OWE N S
I WILL NEVER BE A BROADWAY DANCER. It’s too late for me. In my 20s I was a dancin’ fool. Now in my 40s, I only shimmy while unloading the dishwasher. There is a time in life when one realizes that some dreams just won’t come true. Time is ticking and aspirations have an expiration date. Over the years, while fantasizing about stardom and fame, I got old. How disappointing. When does one officially become old? Is it based on a number? I am hoping it hits with a bang so I can relax on the downslope. But so far, an expensive Hallmark card with glitter congratulating me has yet to arrive. I hurry to think of what needs to be crammed in before it’s too late. This inevitably leads to defining measures of success. Should I write a book? Adopt a child? When has one become the person they were meant to be? Is there enough time? Overwhelmed, I want to take my bucket list and shred it. At the crossroads of young and old, I find myself realizing there are fewer opportunities for glory. In a desperate attempt to be someone I am not, I fully committed to a triathlon. Now, keep in mind, I could never do these things, ever, even in my youth and/ or 20 pounds ago. However, this was a dwindling chance to prove any kind of youthful athleticism. I sauntered, skipped, dog-paddled. To my surprise, I completed it ... albeit in an abysmal time and subsequently vowed never to compete again. My medal swings nicely on a hook in the now defunct basement gym. Surely, it’s a sign of age ... when the day arrives and you finally accept limitations with
40 Mind+Body OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2016
a resigned shrug, replying, “At least I’m healthy.” In addition to my dwindling repertoire of physical activities, my looks are also on a new journey. Cute laugh lines have transitioned to full-on wrinkles. In the last six months I’ve spent more money coloring my hair than on my freshmen year tuition. Nevertheless, a passing glance in a mirror reflects my mother. Also, comfort is winning out. I now opt for Dansko sandals instead of fashionable Franco Sarto heels. I do miss Franco. Still the older I get is directly proportional to the less I care about other’s opinions. Including mine. It’s not all bad. I feel comfortable in my skin ... crepey as it is. Youth is exciting, but also unnerving and unpredictable. Plus, there are many benefits that come with age. Like experience. The more life lessons learned, the fewer future surprises. Another is amazing resources. If you don’t know, then surely you have built up a lifetime worth of people who do. For instance, ask me about a good hair stylist – I can refer you. Though on days when I feel especially creaky, I envy the young guy swirling advertising signs on the corner of Harmony Road and College Avenue. What a great gig, dancing and singing, waving to people all day. Even as I roll my old bifocaled eyes, I can’t help but be jealous. To entertain people and get applause, it must seem like being on Broadway. Maybe he’s living his dream. Good for him. He’s still young and has time on his side. And my high-kicking days are over, so please pass the Motrin. MB
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