February 2021 Senior Spectrum

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Medicaid Budget has Serious Concerns for the Disabled

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Connie McMullen

The Nevada 81st Legislature is underway and because of COVID-19, will do the people’s business largely in isolation from visitors, guests, and lobbyist - in person attendance. A few members of the press core will be allowed in to report the people’s business.

This is a huge disadvantage to the constituents in our state as this year the state faces the biggest budget challenge it has ever seen. A large budget deficit looms because of the pandemic, unemployment, reduced revenue, and a host of other very serious issues. One major concern is the Medicaid budget, estimated to cover 30 percent of the state’s budget.

Medicaid is the safety net for vulnerable, low-income residents who depend on the support of the government to live independently. Before the session it was proposed that Medicaid providers would see a 6 percent cut in reimbursement for services provided. Thankfully, that reduction has been taken off the table for the moment. However, there is another service cut that has been discussed regarding a reduction in services for personal care service. It has not been revealed what those reductions will exactly look like, or the scope of how deep services will be reduced until the Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy has its budget hearing.

However, it is known that what is being considered includes; “Modification of the functional assessment in the areas of eating, meal preparation, shopping, housekeeping, and reducing time for laundry by 30 minutes.” This

statement came from Administrator Suzanne Bierman when asked to explain Policy Changes slated for PCS. Additionally, another area that helps people with disabilities age in place is also under consideration for a change.

The budget “also proposes removing all instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) when there is a caregiver in the home,” Bierman said.

Further explaining that the “changes are meant to minimize impact to recipients focusing on those with lower levels of need. These changes would take place at the time of assessment which is every four years; it would be implemented on the clients next assessment,” she wrote in email correspondence.

Administrator Bierman said “The division will hold public workshops and engagement sessions prior to the implementation of this change.”

These proposed actions would do irreparable harm to people aging with crippling illness, young adults and children living with disabilities, as well as, family caregivers who sacrifice to take care of loved one’s so they remain healthy and thriving. These reductions will be deep and damaging to a service that has kept people out of institutions and living in the community. This is an insurmountable request of people who want to live with purpose and dignity in a society that is currently failing many people economically, socially, medically, and spiritually.

This is a hardship that many will fail to overcome.

February 2021 THIS ISSUE Page 3 - Medicaid Budget Page 7 - New COVID Strain Page 9 - Senior Gets Vaccine from Granddaughter Page 11 - Kindle Fire Tablets Help Seniors with Isolation Page 12 - Parkinson’s Disease: Motor Symptoms Page 20 - Tips to Protect Yourself from Medical Scams Page 24 - Loneliness Hurts Page 25 - Amtrak Settlement Page 30 - Museum Exhibit

Every ISSUE

Page 5 - US Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto Page 10 - Aging with Dignity and Independence Center for Healthy Aging Page 14 - Calendar Page 19 - Light at the End of the Tunnel Page 22 - This ‘n That Page 26 - Biggest Little City Page 28 - Tinseltown Page 29 - Resources Page 31 - Crossword Page 33- Simply Smart Travel

Page 4 - Sparks City Councilman, Khristopher Dahir

Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 775/348-0717 email: SeniorSpectrumNV@aol.com Web: SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com Family Publishers Connie McMullen • Chase McMullen Editorial not necessarily the opinion of SSN www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

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Opinion

Facing 2021 and Housing Uncertainty Kristopher Dahir, Sparks City Council Special Guest: T Tran

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s the COVID-19 pandemic lingers and rental homes continue to increase, many of our senior citizens will continue to be at risk of housing uncertainties.

This is not acceptable for me and I want to help assure that our most vulnerable have a safe and healthy place to lay their head. There is a lot of work that needs to take place to see this a reality but in Kristopher Dahir the mean time I hope to arm our seniors with the best information they can have if they are facing eviction or a personal housing crisis. This is why I asked a friend of mine, who is an expert in this area, to join me for a conversation and answer a few of my questions. Her name is T Tran and I hope our Q and A conversation helps equip you with the most relevant information.

Q- What is your background and how does your experience help us today?

A- I’m a native Northern Nevadan, Real Estate Broker and Property Manager and have been licensed for 15 years. I’ve had the opportunity to do everything from leasing Section 42 Tax Credit properties to being the managing Broker for hi-rise condominiums in Las Vegas. Having worked through the Recession in 2008 has made me hyper aware of what is happening in our housing market with the pandemic. I also currently serve on several boards, including the Real Estate Advisory & Review Board for the state, the Review Committee for Washoe County’s Home Consortium and Reno’s Tenant Issues Board.

Q- What are your concerns in the area of senior housing for 2021?

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A- Our lack of inventory and the affordability of what is available. We were actually seeing some stabilization in 2018 in rents but with the combination of the pandemic and the continued influx of people from other states moving here, rents have increased astronomically. Home sales are also at an all-time high in our area, with Reno average sales prices hitting the $500k mark. I’m glad we see continued growth in our area but the rate at which it is happening is alarming.

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Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine When It’s Available

By U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

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eniors in Nevada have endured such a challenging year, but there’s hope on the horizon. Last December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer-BioNTec (Pfizer) and Moderna vaccines, bringing us all one step closer to curbing this pandemic.

Both vaccines are highly effective in preventing symptomatic COVID infection. The Pfizer vaccine showed efficacy of 95 percent and the Moderna vaccine followed close behind at 94.1 percent. Both are equally effective across different ethnic and racial groups.

And both vaccines require two shots: a priming dose, followed by a booster shot.

Catherine Cortez Masto

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also use very similar technology. The vaccines deliver mRNA into our bodies, which give our bodies instructions to make just one of the 29 proteins from the coronavirus. Importantly, the vaccines do not expose us to the entire virus. The instructions for that one protein, known as the spike protein, enter into our cells, and the body builds the spike protein in response to the mRNA’s instructions. Our cells then realize they’ve never seen this spike protein before, sparking an immune response to destroy it. But before our bodies destroy the spike protein, they memorize it for the future, instructing our b-cells to make antibodies and our t-cells to keep a lookout for it. This way, if the coronavirus enters our bodies after we’re fully vaccinated, our t-cells will detect the spike protein on the coronavirus quickly, and the antibodies we’ve already created will destroy the virus before we get infected.

Most Americans are eager to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, especially seniors, but some are still hesitant to receive their vaccine. They may have reservations about everything from the novel approach the vaccine uses to a fear of the syringes used in the vaccine. Black and Latino Nevadans may have unique concerns based on their communities history with medical racism. Still others may be concerned about common vaccine side effects, like fatigue, injection site pain, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain—all of which are actually signs that the body’s immune system is kicking into gear. I want you to know that I hear and understand your concerns, and I’m committed to reassuring Nevada’s seniors that these vaccines are safe and effective.

The evidence? Millions of vaccine doses have been administered to Americans, with minimal problems. As of January,

over 1.8 million vaccines were distributed to Americans, yet only 21 people encountered a significant allergic reaction, all of whom recovered.

Black and Latino health care workers have also been encouraging their communities to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available. In a “love letter to Black America,” Black doctors including Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, who are in key decision-making roles for the Moderna vaccine, are asking their community to trust this science and help in continuing to protect the health and well-being of their community. These coronavirus vaccines are an opportunity to resume our daily lives, but it will be most effective if we all work together.

During these challenging times, we’re reminded of what’s most important in our lives: our loved ones. To protect one another, we all need to get our vaccines as soon as they become available.

I know many seniors across Northern Nevada are incredibly eager to receive their vaccines, and Governor Steve Sisolak and Nevada’s health professionals are working hard to distribute vaccines across the Silver State. Nevada’s new vaccine playbook means that seniors ages 70 and up are the first in line to receive vaccines in the general population, followed by seniors ages 65 to 69.

For information about COVID-19 vaccines, you can visit www. washoecounty.us/health/index.php and click the link attached to “COVID-19 vaccine information can be found here.” There you can find updates on when the vaccine will be available for your age group or occupation if you are an essential worker. You can also read the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Vaccination Program Playbook here or by typing “Nevada COVID-19 Vaccination Playbook” into your preferred internet search engine. In addition, The Nevada Independent has a comprehensive article explaining Nevada’s coronavirus vaccination process that’s updated as more information becomes available entitled, “Indy Q+A: When can I expect to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Who is getting vaccinated now? Is it safe?”

Let’s all help Nevada recover as quickly as we can. We need to work together and encourage each other to make the responsible choice to get vaccinated -- if not for ourselves, for the people who’ve endured the most this past year. I know Nevada’s seniors are eager to reconnect with friends and family, and I’m committed to ensuring they can safely, as soon as possible. www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021

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Housing / from page 4 Our local workers are struggling to keep up with the cost of living and our seniors are typically on fixed incomes, so if there needs to be a change in their housing situation it can prove to be very difficult.

The other obvious concern is for those who have lost income and are facing housing instability now. We are seeing a record high in eviction filings and unfortunately the vast majority of people do not know what to do when they are faced with court paperwork or trying to figure out what their rights are under the law. My company, Imperium Property Management & Consulting launched a program with the City of Sparks that offered mediation services for tenants and landlords. One such example was a gal who was served a notice by her landlord to vacate the property in 30 days. The woman actually hadn’t even fallen behind on rent and was still in an active lease so a 30 day notice was totally inappropriate.

We spoke with the landlord and they rescinded the notice.

We’ve also helped quite a few families obtain rental assistance through the various funds allocated from the CARES Act. A young man had hours drastically reduced at his job and was

looking for another. He was only eating every 3 days when I spoke to him. Within 24 hours, we got him food and had him approved for rental assistance. He actually ended up getting a full-time job by talking to one of our resource coordinators as well. There are so many people in need of some sort of assistance and they just don’t know where to go. That is honestly my biggest worry.

Q- How do we move forward in 2021 and what are the key elements that will help?

A- Continuing to come together as a community is key.

Awareness and education to our community are huge. I know we are all awaiting for aid from the Feds but in the meantime, we need to try and keep communication open. That probably sounds idealistic but our community is still one where there are very few degrees of separation and word of mouth works incredibly well. If someone knows their neighbor needs a little help, let’s try our best to help each other find those resources.

Personally, I am continuing to counsel people in what their next best steps are in their situation, no matter how dire it seems.

Q- If people do need help, what do they do?

A- If someone is behind on rent or afraid they are about to fall behind, they’re more than welcome to reach out to me at: 775-799-5470 or to fill out an intake form on our website www.nncepp.com.

We’ve actually assisted quite a few landlords as well so we encourage them to reach out if they feel stuck. If someone owns their home, they need to contact their mortgage provider and inquire about what their options are, as they do vary depending on the mortgage provider. There are moratoriums on both Evictions AND Foreclosures. So if people have questions, please reach out!

As you can tell from our conversation, we are facing a season where having the right information is imperative. T Tran has proven to be one of those local leaders who is willing and ready to help. But if you are in these situations or know someone who is, please utilize the help available. Another tool that is available to help you if you find yourself in a crisis is 2-1-1 Nevada. They have a list of resources available for you including different areas of assistance with housing. To reach them you can either call 2-1-1 or go on the web site https:// www.nevada211.org.

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As the year unfolds, I am hopeful. Yes, we will be facing some difficult times. However, if we will just work together, educate each other, and focus on how to climb the obstacles as a community, we will prevail. Let’s make 2021 a year where we come together and truly function as a healthy and whole community.

Nevada State Public Health Laboratory detects New B.1.1.7 COVID-19 strain in Nevada The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (NSPHL) at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) characterized the first known Nevada case of the new B.1.1.7 coronavirus strain in January. The new strain was detected in a sample that was initially tested in the Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory (SNPHL).

The B.1.1.7 strain first emerged in the U.K. in fall 2020 and has become highly prevalent in certain geographical regions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since December 2020, several other countries, Canada and the United States among them, have reported cases of the virus variant. The variant is listed among others variants found in the U.K. and South Africa that have been identified in parts of the U.S. The specimen was collected during routine community collection activities and tested by SNPHL to determine if it was positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. During testing, it was discovered the specimen was showing characteristics of the variant. It was then sent to NSPHL for sequencing and confirmation.

The NSPHL sequenced the specimen and analyzed the data that detected the new strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Nevada on Jan. 22.

Nevada State Public Health Laboratory Director Mark Pandori, Ph.D. said the lab detected the case as part of its B.1.1.7 strain testing program found in a specimen from a symptomatic woman in her 30s, with an address in Las Vegas.

Dr. Pandori says this strain is more contagious, but it is not yet known whether the variant causes a more severe illness than the reference COVID-19 strain.

“It is copying itself a lot right now, which can lead to mutating," says Pandori. "The more a virus spreads in a community, the more opportunities it has to make mistakes when it copies itself. This leads to what we see here and it's a very natural part of viral evolution.”

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory has been analyzing positive COVID-19 virus samples for the B.1.1.7 strain since mid-December 2020 through whole genome sequencing. The lab is currently working on surveilling as many positive COVID(Lab page 8)

775-323-7189 waltonsfuneralhomes.com www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

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Lab / page 7 19 cases as it can for the new B.1.1.7 strain, first found in Britain and since seen in more than 46 countries and 24 U.S. states.

Health officials in South Carolina have detected two cases of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus that emerged in South Africa. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it had identified one case on January 27, and was notified of a second case the same day by the CDC. The variant, known as B.1.351, was originally identified in South Africa and has since been found in about 30 countries.

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory is responsible for COVID-19 testing and whole genome sequencing of the COVID-19 virus in Nevada.

Photo by Brin Reynolds/UNR Med.

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The U.S. has reported its first known case of the COVID-19 P.1 variant first detected in Brazil. The P.1 variant was reported to be detected in a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil.

While the two coronavirus vaccines now in use in the U.S., developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, appear to be protective against the new variants, they may be somewhat less effective against the one found in South Africa. Moderna has begun developing a new form of its vaccine that could be used as a booster shot against the variant in South Africa. The new variants are also believed to spread more readily than other versions of the virus, and the one found in Britain may lead to more severe disease.

While research and scientific advancements continue to build, Pandori says residents continuing to follow the recommended guidelines of staying home when you can, wearing facial coverings, frequent and proper hand-washing, social distancing, as well as wide-scale testing, contact tracing, and isolation of new cases is among the effective ways we can fight the virus and its variants.

The State of Nevada is receiving limited doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government each week and now part of the allocation will be provided to pharmacies that have agreed to assist in the vaccine distribution process.

Multiple pharmacies have joined in this effort. Information on county-by-county pharmacy participation and information on how to make an appointment will be available on NVCOVIDFighter.org.

If additional assistance is needed call 855-668-5465.

For more details visit NVCOVIDFighter.org at ImmunizeNevada.org for a list of participating pharmacies statewide.

A Dose of Love & PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

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Granddaughter reconnects with grandmother at a vaccination clinic

achel Trendler had last hugged her grandmother, Gloria Forbes, nearly a year ago, just before the pandemic hit. Earlier this January, she got to hold her grandmother’s hand for the first time in a very long time and also administered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Gloria Forbes receives COVID vaccine by granddaughter Rachel Trendler. The Summit Estates team prepared a playlist that included Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

Trendler is a pharmacist for Walgreens in Reno. She joined four other pharmacists and technicians on Jan. 8th to administer 130 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to residents and team members who live and work at Summit Estates Senior Living and Memory Care.

This was the first of two vaccination clinics scheduled in the community.

“We feel so blessed to be part of this effort,” said Trendler. “Administering the vaccine is taking another step toward reuniting everyone with their families.”

Up until the pandemic, Trendler was a regular visitor at Summit Estates, stopping by every two-to-three days with her newborn son to see Forbes. “This was the first time I truly laid eyes on her,” said Trendler. “She looked great, happy, and healthy.”

Administrator Tara Alto said Forbes had an inkling her granddaughter might be part of the Walgreens vaccination team.

She “tracked down Rachel” and was so happy to see her in person rather than via a window visit or video chat.

“Forbes was ‘giddy with excitement,” said Alto, as was the entire community that day. “It was a happy day for everyone. Residents were excited to get their COVID-19 vaccine and they felt hopeful for what this would mean for the future,” she explained.

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“Adding Life to Years” Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging

Aging with Dignity and Independence: What can we Expect and Do?

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ging with dignity and independence is the ability to live life to its fullest in the place you call home, regardless of age, illness, or disability. The largest generation in American history, the baby boomers, are experiencing lower levels of poverty and every day 10,000 Larry Weiss people turn 65 in the U.S. and will make up 20 percent of the population in a couple of decades. In addition, this age group is experiencing greater life expectancy and is living longer than previous generations. Given this fact and that this population has fewer loved ones to help with illnesses that will come with increased age, provision of supportive services is a question.

We all see ourselves staying as healthy as possible as we age.

The truth is that 70 percent of us who reach the age of 65 will need some form of care or services in our lives, for an average of three years. Research shows that 43 percent of Americans over the age of 55 have less than $223,000 retirement, but 40 percent of Americans expect to work past 65 while 14 percent never expect to retire from work. Clearly, elders are not financially prepared for the cost of nursing home care which is $98,000 to $111,000 per year!

Health insurance and Medicare do not pay for these supportive long-term care services over an extended period of time.

Only short-term rehabilitative care at home or in a nursing home are covered by Medicare. Additionally, for Medicare to even pay for these types of care you have to meet certain criteria. Most government assistance for supportive services is linked to poverty. Medicaid is the nation’s primary funder of personal care and supportive services, paying for about half of all services provided. However, should you need care, the only way to qualify is to spend nearly all of your assets. The nest egg you’ve worked hard all your life to build must be spent to qualify for assistance.

Many of us aren’t aware of how to access the care we might need as we get older. Several years ago, surveys indicated that people are just not aware of what they need or what services are available when needed. Even AARP did a poll and found that one in five ever thought about needed services or did not know where they would receive long-term care if they needed it. Just seven percent of the spending for personal care and supportive services comes from private long-term care insurance. This is because less than 10 percent of adults actually have purchased a policy. According to experts, few people purchase it because it is expensive, rates have historically increased rapidly, and potential buyers can be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

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Today, millions of Americans rely on long-term care services and supports. By 2050, it is predicted that 27 million Americans will be using long-term services and supports. America needs a comprehensive system in place that will support our needs as we grow older. In addition, it is projected that the cost will be $684 billion by 2050. Such projections threaten both state and federal budgets. Nevertheless, little has been done in the past 40 years to address this problem and create a healthy network of supports and services allowing Americans to age with services at home. The federal health reform law created a number of opportunities to help older people and adults with disabilities remain in their homes and communities. It includes programs to help states provide more in-home care to low-income adults in need and ways to help those living in nursing homes to return to their homes and communities. But not nearly enough given the wait lists that exist today for these community based services.

Given this tremendous need, what can we do about it. There are several things that we, as aging individuals, can do. Here are a few: First, we need to the have conversations with our loved ones about what is important to us as we grow older and develop illnesses. How will we get services and supports should we need help.

Second, we need to understand the realities of what services we might need as we age, what’s available, how to find them, and how to pay for them allows us to be better prepared for tomorrow. Also, learn more about what’s being done to ensure that as our country ages, a healthy and affordable network of services and supports is available to care for us.

Third, taking care of yourself with a healthy diet balanced with physical activity and regular checkups by your health care provider can be the best means of preventing future health problems. For those facing chronic illness, it is important to develop an effective self-management program with your caretaker that builds confidence in your ability to manage your condition and maintain an active and fulfilling life.

Clearly, we have to grow up and become more educated and aware of the future in order to plan for aging with dignity and independence. What better way to “add life to years”!

Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column. Write to him at larryjweiss@gmail.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.

Kindle Fire Tablets Available to Help Alleviate Social Isolation for those 60 and Older

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eniors in Service has a new program for older adults living independently in Northern Nevada.

The program called SISConnect, was created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to help alleviate social isolation, provide safe access to telehealth, and offer the means to order goods and services online. The program is funded by the CARES Act through the State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division.

Nevadans, 60 years and older, may qualify to receive a Kindle Fire 8” Tablet free of cost. ”We target those experiencing social isolation that do not currently have access

to a smart device,” said Hannah Sweeney, Program Coordinator.

“Common uses include socialization (social media, Zoom, Facetime), virtual medical appointments and downloading books and games.”

Applications can be mailed directly to those interested or downloaded from the SIS web-site, www. seniorsinservicenevada.org.

Contact: Hannah Sweeney at hannah@sisnv. org or 775-358-2768 Mary Brock at maryb@sisnv.org or 775-358-2768 Seniors in Service is a non-profit organization serving Northern Nevada.

Sandy receives a Kindle Fire Tablet at the Seniors in Service office.

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Parkinson’s Disease: Motor Symptoms and Interventions

By Anne M. Pott The Continuum: Part Two

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n this second of a four-part series on the nature of Parkinson's disease (PD), we will provide a brief overview of PD, the benefits of an interdisciplinary team, explore its chief motor symptoms, and share some evidence-based interventions and activities. We hope that this information will be shared and lead to an enhanced quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and greater awareness within our community.

Overview According to the Parkinson's Foundation and the American Parkinson Disease Association, nearly one million people in the U.S. live with PD. The number of people living with PD will continue to increase with the rise in global aging. Although there is no known cause or cure for PD, the Michael J. Fox Foundation offers hope. Promising new medical efforts aim to protect and restore dopamine receptors in the brain from Parkinson's destructive path.

lower lip. Some people with PD will experience internal tremors in their limbs, abdomen, and chest.

Second, bradykinesia is slow movements. This slowness of movement lengthens the time it takes to complete daily tasks and generates more fatigue. Parkinson’s Victoria describes several specific ways bradykinesia affects people with PD. Slow movements lead to shuffling steps, smaller handwriting, difficulty rising from chairs and rolling over in bed, and temporary immobility.

Third, rigidity prevents muscles from stretching and relaxing properly. As a result, Parkinson’s Victoria explains that muscles become stiff and inflexible. This rigidity causes changes in posture, walking, and completing tasks requiring fine motor coordination. Tight muscles limit one’s natural ability to express happiness, sadness, anger, or fear through facial expressions.

While PD's non-motor symptoms are significant and frequently overlooked, this article focuses on the motor symptoms.

Parkinson's disease disrupts dopamine's ability to regulate movement. Over time, slow movements, muscle rigidity, tremors, and other secondary impairments develop and become more debilitating.

Interdisciplinary Team Approach An interdisciplinary team of PD specialists and the individual and care partner/family can help develop an effective treatment plan through extensive knowledge, experience, and creative collaboration. These customized plans address the complex and unique ways that PD progressively changes an individual’s overall health.

An essential interdisciplinary team member is a movement disorder specialist (MDS), a board-certified neurologist who completed a specialized fellowship in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. For years, people living with PD have strongly advocated for the University of Nevada Reno and local medical centers to pursue and secure an MDS for Northern Nevada. In late December 2020, Renown Health-Reno welcomed Dr. Christopher Way, a movement disorder specialist!

Three cardinal motor symptoms According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, tremors affect 70 percent of people living with PD. In the early stages of the disease, tremors tend to occur on one side of the body. Typical places a resting tremor exists are in the hands, legs, jaw, and

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Rock Steady Boxing class. https://rocksteadybergencounty.com

Importance of physical activity Since PD affects everyone differently, a customized physical therapy plan is key to managing one’s motor symptoms’ unique mixture, intensity, and progression. Physical therapist, Michelle Sanders of The Continuum, explains, “research shows targeted exercise is beneficial for people with PD and staying active is essential to managing this diagnosis.” A serious concern for people with PD is that they have a higher risk of falls. Physical therapy interventions may help reduce one’s risk for debilitating fall-related injuries. A 2020 study found that over 60 percent of people living with PD fall, some up to three to four times a day. These falls are frequently associated with poor balance, fall-related anxiety, and some PD medications.

(Parkinson’s page 13)

Evidence-Based Therapy Programs Several evidence-based physical therapy programs exist to support the functional health of people with PD. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) Big® breaks from the traditional physical therapy model to carefully train and certify physical and occupational therapists in their specialized approach. The evidence-based treatment focuses on improving and recalibrating specific movements to be bigger and more controlled.

Another Parkinson's specific physical therapy intervention approach is the Parkinson's Wellness Recovery (PWR!) program.

PWR develops and adapts its exercise and wellness therapies based on the latest neurological research on PD. Certified physical and occupational therapists plan customized tasks to prevent falls, improve overall fitness, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Specialized Wellness Activities The Brian Grant Foundation offers certifications for physical therapists, exercise instructors, and personal trainers. Their fitness approach supports people with PD through a combination of physical and cognitive exercises that improve brain health. PMD Alliance recently launched an online health and wellness program called BurnAlong. This program offers a vast digital library of on-demand exercise classes designed to meet people’s fitness needs across the PD continuum.

Many activities promote wellness for people with PD. Rock Steady Boxing aim is to “fight back against Parkinson’s disease.” Their fitness curriculum utilizes non-contact boxing ex-

ercises to improve people’s core strength, stamina, and agility.

Another option is to purchase Imperium Boxing, a three-part fitness video series for people with PD. In addition to non-contact boxing, Several martial arts programs targeted for people with PD use gentle, slow movements that integrate the mind, physical body, and breathing exercises to improve movement.

According to Parkinson’s UK and the Davis Phinney Foundation, research confirms Tai Chi and Qigong’s effectiveness in strengthening balance, walking, posture, and overall flexibility in people with PD. With a community grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation, Tai Chi for Parkinson’s offers live-stream classes twice a week from their YouTube channel.

The Parkinson’s Foundation also describes the benefits of yoga for people with PD. Another activity that offers benefits in flexibility and physical control is Dance for PD®. Professional dancers are certified to lead dance classes for people living with PD and their friends, family, and care partners.

Research shows that staying active is essential for people living with PD as it alters the way people move. Early and ongoing evidence-based interventions help people with PD develop new strategies to move with greater intention, strength, and coordination. With a specialized PD interdisciplinary team and the support of friends, family, and care partners, people with PD can experience improved independence and quality of life.

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Calendar Feb. 1 - Chair Yoga, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 8, 22.

Feb. 1 - Beanbag Baseball, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 8, 22.

Feb. 1 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 8, 22.

Feb. 1 - Pickleball, Session I: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 8, 22.

Feb. 1 - Badminton/Table Tennis: 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 8, 22.

Feb. 2 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 2 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 2 - Shuffleboard, 10-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 2 - Bunco, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 2 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Session 2: 1:45-3:45 p.m., Session 3: 6:15-8:15 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 2 – It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417. By phone (669) 900-6833. Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417. Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club, renown.org/SterlingSilver.

Feb. 2 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 9, 16, 23.

Feb. 3 - Pickleball, Session 1: 9:15-11:15 a.m., Session 2: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 10, 17, 24.

Feb. 3 – Heartfulness Meditation, learn how to meditate, virtual only, 10:30-11 a.m. To join please click: 14 | February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

https://bit.ly/2XqneUN or by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 531 903 850# Feb. 3 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 10, 17, 24.

Feb. 3 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 10, 17, 24.

Feb. 3 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 10, 17, 24.

Feb. 4 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 - Chair Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 - Zumba, 11-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 – Huddle of Hope – virtual, 11:15-11:30 a.m., recurring event, open prayer in Evangelical Christian tradition, non-denominational. To join, click: https://bit. ly/2U3Qm2g. If you do not have a computer, join us by calling 775-325-5409 and when prompted, type in the conference ID: 257 787 299# Feb. 4 – Cancer Support Group – virtual only, 11:30-1 p.m., free, group for patients facing cancer. Call 775-982RSVP (7787) or email at Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 4 – It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 By phone 669-9006833. Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417. Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Sign up to be a member at renown. org/SterlingSilver.

Feb. 4 - Restorative Yoga, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 - Pickleball: Session 1: 12:15-2:15 p.m.; Session 2: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 - Hatha Yoga, 5-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 4 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6:15-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 11, 18, 25.

Feb. 5 - Virtual Fitness Group (weekly event), 8-9 a.m., https://renown.zoom.us/j/93596363065, or call 669-900-6833, meeting ID: 935 9636 3065.

Feb. 5 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 12, 19, 26.

Feb. 5 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1-30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 12, 19, 26.

Feb. 5 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 12, 19, 26.

Feb. 5- Roman Catholic Mass, virtual, 3-3:30 p.m., call 775-982-7787 for Zoom link.

Feb. 5 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 12, 19, 26.

Feb. 8 - Heart to Heart Yoga, 10-11 a.m., recurring virtual event, call 775-982-7787 for Zoom link.

Feb. 8 - Chair Yoga, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 22.

Feb. 8 - Beanbag Baseball, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 22.

Feb. 8 - Cancer Support Virtual Workshop 2: Mind-Body Techniques to Lessen Side Effects of Radiation Therapy, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@ renown.org.

Feb. 8 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 22.

Feb. 8 - Cancer Support Virtual Workshop 4: Caregiver Workshop, 3-4 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 8 - Pickleball, Session I: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 22.

Feb. 8 - Badminton/Table Tennis: 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 22.

Feb. 9 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 9 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 9 - Shuffleboard, 10-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 9 - Mindfulness Meditation Virtual Guided Meditations, 11-11:30 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 9 - Bunco, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 9 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669-9006833. Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Learn more at renown.org/SterlingSilver Feb. 9 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Session 2: 1:45-3:45 p.m., Session 3: 6:15-8:15 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 9 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 16, 23.

Feb. 10 - Pickleball, Session 1: 9:15-11:15 a.m., Session 2: 11-1 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 17, 24.

Feb. 10 - Cancer Caregiver Virtual Support Group, 10-11:30 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@ renown.org.

Feb. 10 - Heartfulness Meditation Virtual Class – Learn How to Meditate, 10:30-11 a.m., recurring, 775-982RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org. https://bit.ly/2XqneUN, ID: 531 903 850#, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

(Calendar page 16)

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

15

Calendar / from page 15

Feb. 10 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 17, 24.

Feb. 10 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 17, 24.

Feb. 10 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 17, 24.

Feb. 11 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 11 - Chair Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 11 - Zumba, 11-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 18, 25.

https://renown.zoom.us/j/93596363065, or call 669900-6833, meeting ID: 935 9636 3065.

Feb. 12 - Advance Directive, virtual, 9-11 a.m., 775-982RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 12 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 19, 26.

Feb. 12 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1-30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 19, 26.

Feb. 12 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 19, 26.

Feb. 12 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 19, 26.

Feb. 11 - Huddle of Hope Virtual Gathering, 11:30-11:45 a.m., https://bit.ly/2U3Qm2g, ID: 257 787 299#, 775982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 15 - Cancer Support Virtual Workshop 1: MindBody Techniques to Less Side Effects of Chemotherapy, 1:30-2:30 p.m., virtual class, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 11 - Cancer Virtual Support Group, 11:30-1 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 15 - Total Joint Replacement Virtual Class, 2-4 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 11 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669900-6833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 Part of Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club, sign up at renown.org/SterlingSilver.

Feb. 16 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 11 - Restorative Yoga, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 11 - Pickleball: Session 1: 12:15-2:15 p.m.; Session 2: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 11 - Eating Well After Cancer Treatment, virtual, Focus on Healthy Fats and Omega-3s and Protein, 775-982RSVP (7787) or email to Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 11 - Hatha Yoga, 5-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 11 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6:15-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 18, 25.

Feb. 12 - Virtual Fitness Group (weekly event), 8-9 a.m., 16

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February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

Feb. 16 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 16 -Shuffleboard, 10-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 16 - Mindfulness Meditation Virtual, 11-11:30 a.m., https://bit.ly/2XqneUN, ID: 531 903 850#, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 16 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669900-6833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 Part of Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club, sign up at renown.org/SterlingSilver.

Feb. 16 - Bunco, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 16 - Bingo, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 16 – Cancer Support Workshop 3: Thrivorship – After Cancer Care – virtual only, 3-4 p.m. To receive the Zoom link contact Renie Anderson @ renieanderson@att.net, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 16 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Session 2: 1:45-3:45 p.m., Session 3: 6:15-8:15 p.m., Neil Road Rec.

Feb. 16 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 23.

Feb. 17 - Pickleball, Session 1: 9:15-11:15 a.m., Session 2: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 24.

Feb. 17 – Cancer Caregiver Workshop – virtual only, 1011:30 a.m. Video enable attendance, to receive a Zoom link connect to Renie Anders @ renieanderson@att.net.

775- 982-7787 or email Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 17 - Heartfulness Meditation Virtual Class, 10:3011 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown. org.

Feb. 17 - Mantras and Meditation Virtual Class, 11:1511:45 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@ renown.org.

Feb. 18 - Cancer Virtual Support Group, 11:30-1 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 18 - Huddle of Hope Virtual Gathering, 11:30-11:45 a.m., https://bit.ly/2U3Qm2g, ID: 257 787 299#, 775982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 18 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669-9006833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 Sign up at renown. org/SterlingSilver.

Feb. 18 - Restorative Yoga,12:15-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 18 - Pickleball: Session 1: 12:15-2:15 p.m.; Session 2: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 18 - Hatha Yoga, 5-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 18 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6:15-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 19 - Virtual Fitness Group (Weekly), 8-9 a.m., 775982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 19 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 26.

Feb. 19 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1-30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 26.

Feb. 17 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 24.

Feb. 19 - Dementia Caregivers Virtual Support Group, 1:30-3 p.m., 800-272-3900.

Feb. 17 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 24.

Feb. 19 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 26.

Feb. 17 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 24.

Feb. 19 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 26.

Feb. 18 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 22 - Chair Yoga, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 18 - Chair Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 25.

Feb. 22 - Cancer Support Workshop 2: Mind-Body Techniques to Lessen Side Effects of Radiation Therapy – virtual, 1:30-2:30 p.m., by Zoom by calling Renie Anderson @ renieanderson@att.net.

(Calendar page 18)

Feb. 18 - Zumba, 11-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25.

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

17

Calendar / from page 17

Feb. 22 - Beanbag Baseball, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Renown-RSVP@renown. org.

Feb. 22 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 22 - Pickleball, Session 2: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 22 - Badminton/Table Tennis: 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 -Shuffleboard, 10-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom. us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 This event is a part of Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Learn more at renown.org/ SterlingSilver.

Feb. 23 - Bunco, 12-2 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - Pickleball, Session 1: 1:30-1:30 p.m., Session 2: 1:45-3:45 p.m., Session 3: 6:15-8:15 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24- Badminton/Table Tennis, 6-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 25 - Sit and Get Fit, 9-9:45 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 25 - Chair Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 25 - Zumba, 11-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 25 - Huddle of Hope Virtual Gathering, 11:30-11:45 a.m., https://bit.ly/2U3Qm2g, ID: 257 787 299#, 775982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 25 - It Starts with Hello – virtual gathering series, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at https://zoom. us/j/96269295417 By phone at 669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 This event is a part of Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club. Learn more at renown.org/ SterlingSilver.

Feb. 25 - Restorative Yoga, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 23 - Weight Loss Surgery Virtual Education Seminar, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Dawn Remme, RN, Renown Regional Medical Center, 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@ renown.org

Feb. 25 - Pickleball: Session 1: 12:15-2:15 p.m.; Session 2: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24 – Cancer Caregiver Support Workshop, 10-11:30 a.m., 775-982-7787 or email Renown-RSVP@renown. org.

Feb. 25 - Badminton/Table Tennis, 6:15-9 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24 - Heartfulness Meditation Virtual, 10:30-11 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 24 - Pickleball, Session 1: 9:15-11:15 a.m., Session 2: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 24 - Cancer Support Virtual Group: Caregiver Workshop, 11:30-1 p.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), 18

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February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

Feb. 25- Hatha Yoga, 5-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 26 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 26 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1-30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 26 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 26 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

The ofLight the End of the Tunnel A Dose Love &atPfizer-

Feb. 16 – Cancer Support Feb. 18 - Cancer Virtual Support Group, 11:30-1 p.m., Workshop 3: Thrivorship – 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

After Cancer Care – virtual only, 3-4 p.m. To receive the Zoom Feb. 18 - Huddle of Hope Virtual Gathering, 11:30-11:45

By Paco Lachoy linkAdvisory contactCommittee Renie Anderson a.m., https://bit.ly/2U3Qm2g, ID: 257 787 299#, 775Reno Senior By Paco Lachoy @ renieanderson@att.net, 982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Granddaughter reconnects with Reno Senior Advisory Committee There is light at the end of (7787), the tun- ReThose aged 60+ have accounted for over 80 percent of the grandmother at a775-982-RSVP vaccination clinic deaths in Washoe County.with Hello – virtual gathering series, nel, as Washoe County and the Quad nown-RSVP@renown.org.

Feb. 18 - It Starts There is light at the end ofDouglas, the tunThose aged 60+ have accounted for over 80 percent of the County region (Carson City, every Tuesday and Thursday, 12-12:45 p.m., by Zoom at achel Trendler had last hugged her grandmother, Gloas Washoe County and the Quad deaths in Washoe County.

Lyon nel, and Storey Counties) have begun To schedule an appointment with Washoe By County visitatwww. ria Forbes, nearly a year ago, just before the pandemic Feb. 16 Pickleball, Session https://zoom.us/j/96269295417 phone 669-900County region (Carson City, Douglas, covid19washoe.com or call (775) 328-2427.

In the Quad to immunize Seniors age 70+.

As to hit. Earlier this January, she got to hold her grand1: 11:30-1:30 p.m., Session 6833 Meeting ID: 962 6929 5417 Sign up at renown.

To schedule an appointment with Washoe County visit www.

Lyon and Storey Counties) have begun when canaSeniors get appointments, Counties call (775) or 434-1488 visit gethealthycarson.org. mother’s hand for the first time in very long time Paco Lachoy toseniors immunize age 70+.

Asand to also call (775)or 328-2427.

In the Quad 2: 1:45-3:45 p.m., Session 3: covid19washoe.com org/SterlingSilver. it is all based on the availability of the Appointments are also available through Renown and you when seniors can get appointments, Counties call (775) 434-1488 or visit gethealthycarson.org. administered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Paco Lachoy 6:15-8:15 p.m., Neil Road Rec. don’t have toare have providerthrough from the hospital, simply visit vaccine. There are nearly 52,000 residents 70+ Appointments it is allWashoe based onCounty the availability of the alsoa available Renown and you Center.

Also 23.aged Feb.to18 - Restorative Yoga,12:15-1:30 p.m., Neiland Road vaccine.

ThereFeb. are nearly 52,000 Washoe residents have have a provider from the hospital, simply visitFood and another nearly 28,000 65-69.

It willCounty beTrendler a long process www.Mychartrenown.com.

Walgreens and Smith’s is a 70+ don’t Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 25.

Walgreens and Foodatand another nearly 28,000 65-69. It willhope be a long process www.Mychartrenown.com. but theand State and District Healthaged Departments to get Drug have announced appointments canSmith’s be made various pharmacist have announced appointments can be made at Quad variousCounties. but the-State and moving District Health Departments hope to get Also Drug Feb. 16 Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Rec. Center. locations in Washoe County and several of the seniors immunizations as fast asRoad possible, but please for Walgreens seniors but please locations in Washoe County and Session of 1: the12:15-2:15 Quad Counties.

Feb. 23. immunizations moving as fast as possible, Feb. 18 - call Pickleball: be patient.

For information either theseveral Washoe County COVIDp.m.; line orSession in Reno. She be patient.

For information call either the Washoe County COVID line or 2: 2:30-4:30 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 25. the Quad County line.

Appointments for vaccine shots joined four other the Quad County line. Appointments for vaccine shots must must be made madeininADVANCE. ADVANCE. need to bring your and your On January 20th, Washoe District Health officials said, based Feb. - Pickleball, Session 1:Health 9:15-11:15 a.m., Session pharmacists and be YouYou need to bring your ID andID your On 17 January 20th, Washoe District officials said, based on present supplies of theofNeil vaccine being received, it itAlso will insurance card.

Other locations be available, check 2: on 11:30-1:30 p.m., Road Rec. Center.

Feb. Feb.card.

18 -Other Hatha Yoga,may 5-6may Neilcheck Roadwith Rec. with Center. technicians on 24.insurance locations bep.m., available, present supplies the vaccine being received, willtake take eitherAlso Washoe or the Quad County hotlines. about 8-10 to gettoallgetthose ageage 70+70+ vaccinated for Washoe or the Quad County hotlines. aboutweeks 8-10 weeks all those vaccinated for the Jan. 8th tothe admin-either Feb. 25. first Seniors dose. Seniors should sure they a 130 waiting list of first dose. should makemake sureWorkshop they areare on waiting list ister doses Feb. 17 – Cancer Caregiver –onavirtual only, 10to be notified theyget can the get the vaccine.the Pfizer vaccine The two approved vaccines currently beingbeing administered, in approved vaccines currently administered, to be notified when when they can vaccine.

11:30 a.m.

Video enable attendance, to receive a ZoomThe two Feb. 18 - Badminton/Table Tennis,on 6:15-9 p.m.,inNeil (Tunnel page 21) (Tunnel on page 21) to residents and link connect to Renie Anders @ renieanderson@att.net.

Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 25. team members 775- 982-7787 or email Renown-RSVP@renown.org. who live and work Feb. 19 - Virtual Fitness Group (Weekly), 8-9 a.m., 775at Summit Estates Feb. 17 - Heartfulness Meditation Virtual Class, 10:30982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.org.

Senior Living and 11 a.m., 775-982-RSVP (7787), Renown-RSVP@renown.

Memory Care. org.

Feb. 19 - Tai Chi, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also This was the first Feb. 26. of two vaccination clinics scheduled Feb. 17 Mantras and Meditation Virtual Class, 11:15Gloria Forbes receives COVID vaccine by grandin the community. daughter The Summit(7787), Estates Renown-RSVP@ 11:45Rachel a.m.,Trendler.

775-982-RSVP Feb. 19 - Pickleball, Session 1: 11:30-1-30 p.m., Neil team prepared a playlist that included Pat Benarenown.org.

Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 26. tar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”

The Light atVaccine the End of the Tunnel BioNTech COVID-19

R

Have you tried...

“We feel so blessed to be part of this effort,” said Trendler. “Administering Feb. 17 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. the vaccine is taking another step toward reuniting everyAlso Feb. 24. one with their families.”

Have you tried...

Bean Bag Bean Bag Baseball?

Feb. - Karate, 4-6Trendler p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Up until17the pandemic, was a regular visitor atAlso SumFeb. 24. mit Estates, stopping by every two-to-three days with her newborn son to see Forbes. “This was the first time I truly laid eyes her,” said Trendler.Tennis, “She looked great, happy, Feb. 17on - Badminton/Table 6-9 p.m., Neil Road and healthy.”

Rec. Center. Also Feb. 24.

Baseball?

Feb. 19 - Dementia Caregivers Virtual Support Group, 1:30-3 p.m., 800-272-3900.

Feb. 19 - Gentle Yoga, 2-3 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Also Feb. 26.

Feb. 19 - Karate, 4-6 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also Feb. 26.

Administrator Tara Alto said Forbes had an inkling her grand-

Feb. - Sit andactivity Get Fit, 9-9:45 Neil Road Rec. It’s a 18 fun filled thata.m., challenges your aimFeb. 22 - Chair Yoga, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Neil Road Rec. daughter might be part of the Walgreens vaccination team.

Center.

Also Feb. 25.

Center. while you down make friends with She “tracked Rachel” and was so those happy toon see your her in team person than via a windowyou! visit or video chat. andrather playing against

Feb.filled 18 - Chair Yoga, 10-11 a.m., Neil Road Rec. Center.

Feb. 22 - Cancer Support Workshop 2: Mind-Body TechIt’s a fun activity that challenges your aim Also Feb. 25. niques to Lessen Side Effects of Radiation Therapy – virCall 775-334-2262 more information. was ‘giddy with excitement,” said Alto,on as was the team while“Forbes you make friends withfor those your tual, 1:30-2:30 p.m., by Zoom by calling Renie Anderson entire community that day. “It was a happy day for every*In-person classes must follow COVID-19 requirements, and playing against you!

Feb. 18 - Zumba, 11-12 p.m., Neil Road Rec. Center. Also @ renieanderson@att.net. one. Residents were excited to get their COVID-19 vaccine which includes wearing a face covering at all times.

Feb. 25.felt hopeful for what this would mean for the and they Call 775-334-2262 for more information. future,” she explained.

(Calendar page 18)

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com ////February || www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com February2021 2021 *In-person classes must follow COVID-19 requirements, which includes wearing a face covering at all times.

17 9

Important Tips to Protect Yourself from Scammers Philip Ramirez, Chief Compliance Officer for Prominence Health Plan

A

s the country continues to grapple with COVID-19, health care officials are reminding people to be on high alert for scammers.

Philip Ramirez

According to a recent study, older Americans lose almost $36.5 billion dollars each year due to fraud and scams.*

Some of the most common scams targeting seniors include strangers claiming to be with Medicare or a health insurance company to obtain personal information, or lure individuals into false investment opportunities through various scare tactics. And, now with the COVID-19 vaccination underway, scammers are reaching out to seniors asking for payment or personal information in exchange for a false promise of being placed at the front of the queue to receive the vaccine.

“guarantees” something. ● Don’t immediately feel compelled to “act now” on an offer. ● Frequently check your financial statements, bills, credit reports and other important documents for any irregularities. ● Unlist your phone number and add it to the Do Not Call list.

COVID-19 Vaccine Tips: ● Consult your state’s health department website for up-todate information about authorized vaccine distribution channels. Obtain a vaccine only through such channels. ● Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at CDC.gov for trustworthy information on the COVID-19 vaccine.

A big part of protecting yourself from scams and fraud is being vigilant and knowing what kinds of scams are out there and how fraudsters operate.

Identity theft comes in many forms, and is often perpetrated in the healthcare industry by criminals attempting to receive healthcare under another person’s identity or even to seek prescription drugs from the hospital or pharmacy. In regards to your healthcare, it is important to know that no one from the government will call or email you to sell you an insurance plan or ask for personal identifying information. In fact, health plans are required by law to obtain permission prior to contacting someone who might be interested in learning more about our Prominence Medicare plan options.

In order to protect you from these scams, here are some steps you can take to prevent being a victim.

General Fraud Tips: ● Do not give out any personal information over the phone or internet, such as social media platforms, to someone you don’t know, including banking or financial information. Keep your Social Security number confidential. ● Do not respond to unsolicited offers or advertisements. ● Do not sign anything you don’t understand or if you are under pressure. ● Take your time to do your research before making the decision to do business with an individual or business. ● Be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true or

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February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

● Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine, so there will be no cost to you. If anyone asks you to pay for access to the vaccine, this is a scam. ● You can’t pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccination. ● You can’t pay to get early access to the vaccine.

If you come across a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local healthcare provider. Prominence Health Plan members may contact us directly at 855-969-5882 (TTY: 711).

Philip Ramirez oversees Prominence Health Plan’s Compliance Office, which serves Washoe, Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Lyon, and Churchill counties in Nevada. To learn more about Prominence Health Plan, call 800-880-7457, Monday-through Friday from 8-8 p.m. *http://documents.truelinkfinancial.com/True-Link-Report-OnElder-Financial-Abuse-012815.pdf

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Call TODAY to Tour Reno’s New Independent Living Community!

An all-inclusive apartment rental community starting at $2,495/month Tunnel / from page 19

two doses, are the Pfizer, given 21 days apart and the Moderna, which is given 28 days apart. Vaccinations must be done at the same location the original was given.

Seniors 65 and older are still being asked to isolate and extremely limit outside activity to reduce the chance of exposure to the virus. Remember to wear a mask anytime your are out of your residence: practice social distancing, staying six feet from anyone you don’t live with, and wash yours hands frequently.

While isolating, if you are looking for something to do, the City of Reno Parks and Recreation Department staff has something for Seniors to pass the time – Recreation –in-a-box. The kits are put together monthly and contain a game, an activity and usually several fun things. January’s bag contained a toy, a winter beanie, a Nevada smiles mask, a checkers game, word puzzles and a candle you can create kit. You also get a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Every month through June, the Parks are Recreation staff theme each bag. With it being February, Love is in the Air and there is Groundhog Day and President’s Day, so the February bag will be fun. The bags are in limited supply.

To request one call (775) 334-2262. Kits can be picked up starting the third Tuesday in February (February 16 as Monday is a holiday) at either Evelyn Mount or Neil Road Recreation Centers.

If you want to get outdoors and get some exercise, the City of Reno has 87 parks scattered throughout the city full of walkways, bike paths and trails to explore safely while social distancing. Remember to wear a mask. There are also many virtual Parks and Recreation programs available online for those with a computer available at Reno.gov/ ParksAndRec.

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www.MountainLakesEstates.net www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

21

Retirement Comm

This ‘n That

By Anne Vargas annevargas.3@gmail.com

Anne Vargas

This is a reappearance of an article from two years ago.

I wrote it then because two friends, both widows, died within weeks of one another because they were unable to summon help when needed.

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oth stories were horrifying, both could have had different endings. I felt strongly about the need for people, especially if living alone, to have access to assistance and started “beating the drum” on the subject.

It worked... I can’t count the number of people who told me they had heeded my advice and gotten some sort of alert device. However, despite my fervor on the subject, I did not. Why? Procrastination? Laziness?

Foolishness!!!

I definitely intended to do that some day but probably felt that since my husband and I were always together, if I needed help he would be there. Then life happened; an unanticipated medical situation put my husband in the hospital for an extended period and suddenly I found myself alone in the house, suddenly, keenly aware that if I slipped on the steps or fell in the shower it could be

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pretty serious. I am among the many who claim my cell phone is always with me.

And it actually is, I even wear a little pouch that holds it across my shoulder all the time. I put it right next to the shower when I get in there.

But you know what? I realize I could still slip and fall and not be able to reach it. So, I resurrected all my rating information, comparison charts on various companies and started all over again. I am not qualified to recommend any particular company but it’s so easy to look it up on the web. Depending on the website you’ll get varying answers as to which company is the best but when studied carefully, most of the same companies appear on the top lists. In my opinion, any one of them would be fine and I finally made the choice that makes the best sense for me.

Now I urge every reader to do the same if you have not done so already.

February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

Some somber stuff to ponder & heed…

Among the many solicitation calls I always ignore is the one about medical alert devices. Later for that; maybe when I’m older. Meanwhile, I just hang up because I don’t need it. Or do I? Horrifyingly, I recently had occasion to understand and appreciate how very important it is to have a life alert system and I am now on a mission to nag everyone I know into getting one.

In less than one month, two people whom we knew had catastrophic events while they were home alone and unable to call for help.

Heartbreakingly, neither one survived. If there had been a Medical alert system in place, the outcome may have been different. It’s distressing to read or hear about stories like this but when you personally know the individuals, it really hits home and gives one cause to pause. Not only did I subsequently decide I (we) needed a medical alert device, I wondered why we hadn’t done this long ago.

And why should I assume that because I live with my spouse its not necessary? A friend fell while in the shower and ended up waiting on the floor for hours, barely covered in the towel she was

able to grab, until her husband came home to assist.

And having a cell phone is of no use unless you have it nearby and can reach it in an emergency.

It was time to pay attention to those phone calls but once I decided to answer them and listen, they stopped. Once again, Mr. Google came to the rescue. Several hours of research resulted in an abundance of information and a multitude of websites comparing the many Medical Alert Systems available. I had no idea there are so many different companies, or how they differ in what they offer.

In a nutshell, a Medical Alert System can help you summon assistance in event of an emergency. When you think of it that way, it would seem common sense would ensure everyone would want this kind of reassurance.

You have a device (necklace, bracelet or pendant) on your person at all times, all of them lightweight, unobtrusive and waterproof. Simply pressing the button and activating it would be a lifeline.

From the Consumer Report website: If you are considering such a system, which should you choose? With the wide

often may not need a mobile Heed Q: Bars?/ from page 22 HELLO Project / from page 24 variety features, options,I havesystem, while older Bars areof really problematic. to tell you, if an youactive look at

online videos and by podcasts.

The important part of mindful and fees offered so many want added some of the outbreaks that we’veadult seen,may it’s when peopleprogo meditation is to truly be in the moment and be patient.

Don’t different companies, it can be tection outside the home. into bars, crowded bars. You know, I used to go to a bar.

I used force it. Justfigure be. Start with 5 minutes and gradually move up to difficult outand what’s to like toto sit at a bar grab a hamburger and a beer. But longer times. best for you.at Before startare leaning #2: Should Be when you’re a bar,you people overYour yourSystem shoulder to shop around, you should Monitored or Not? A Monto get a drink, people next to each other like this. It’s kind of 4.first Your is your temple.

When our world is a little off, we askbody yourself these three System fun because it’s social, but it’s notitoring fun when this means virus isthat in the tend to put our body on the back burner by not eating well, questions: call button connects air.

So I would think that if there’sthe anything you want to clamp drinking too much, not sleeping oryou exercising too much with someone ator a 24/7 down on, for the time being, it’s bars. too TheWant reality is we all knowDispatch deep down thatOr when #: 1little.

Do You a HomeCenter. youwe can do something to benefit our body, choose like eat abetter orthat exercise Based or Mobile System? system is not Q: Some andhave some statespositive are telling people youand have more, we airlines feel better, a more state of mind Originally, medical alert monitored.

With these, when to get a coronavirus test before you get on the plane or visit are more were productive. systems designed to you press the call button the another state. Does that make sense medically? inside your home withget ondevice automatically dials a Ifwork you’re negative when you theown plane — and except in our the 5.

Be there for telephone. others.

Yes, we live friend our lives have your landline And or family member on rare struggles. circumstance that you’re in that little incubation own there is always someone in a morewindow difficult you canyou stillturn goBut, that route. your pre-programed emerbefore positive — that’s a good thing. position than ourselves.

A simple smile and hello to a stranger But many companies now gency call list. These prodoralso neighbor canoption instantly turn theiructs daycan andoften moodbearound.

And offerhad the of home setitup to If you a national plan forAstesting, what would be? itQ: can turn yours around as well.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, based systems that work call multiple people and to Surveillance flooding system tests.

“The waytesting. tonetwork findLiterally yourself losethe yourself in with the services service overbest a cellular for is tocontact emergency Getting a home test that you could do yourself, that’s highly ofthose others.” who may not have a if you don’t get an answer sensitive and highly specific. And you know why that would landline. With these systems, from someone on your list. beGet terrific?

Because if you being decided that you wanted to have 6. outside.

Sometimes outside is easier than a pressing the wearable call The keyalone difference between small gathering with your mother-in-law and father-in-law and being with people. thatisbeing button allows you Studies to speakhave to shown the two price.outside Monitored a couple of children, and you had a test right there.

It isn’t 100 and connecting with nature perception time and a dispatcher through a baseslows our systems carry aof monthly fee percent.

Don’t letpresent. the perfect be athe enemy ofthe therose good. brings us into the Go for walk, sit in gar-But unit located in your home. in addition to the purchase the risk thatArboretum. you have —A iflittle everyone is tested before you get dens or the time outside each day is good But you also call for help price for the device.

With untogether to sit down for dinner — dramatically decreases.

It for the soul. when you’re out and about if monitored systems, you genmight not ever be zero but, you know, we don’t live in a comusing a cellular network that erally pay only for the device pletely risk-free society. incorporates GPS technology. itself. Monitored systems $2.25 Million ADA Amtrak Settlement This way, if you get lost or may also have other fees, Q: Amtrak There are a number of vaccine candidates that are prombegan acceptpress the call button for help such as activation as well as ising.

But there’s also a lot of skepticism because we’ve seen ing for monetary butclaims are unable to talk, the minimum commitments or the FDA come for under both commercial and, increasingly, pocompensation people monitoring service can find contracts. liticalmobility pressure.

When will we know it’s OK to take a vaccine? with disabilities you. Someone who is frail And traveled which? or wanted to who and doesn’t leave the house #3: Should You Add a Fall-Detravel from or to one of 78 stations and encountered accessibility issues. Claims must be submitted by May 29, 2021.

Under the agreement, Amtrak will fix inaccessible stations and pay $2.25 million to victims hurt by inaccessibility at the 78 It’s pretty easy when stations including the you Elkohave vaccines that are 95 percent effective.

Can’t get much better than that. I think what people station. need to appreciate — and that’s why I have said it like maybe Questions about making 100 times in the weektoor two — is the process by which a claims should be last directed decision is made.

The company looks at the data. I look at the the settlement administradata. the company puts the data to the FDA. The FDA will tor at:Then AmtrakDisabilitySetmake the decision to do an emergency use authorization or a tlement.com; info@AmtrakDisabilitySettlement.com; license application approval. And they have career scientists toll 1-888-334-6165, whofree areat really independent. They’re not beholden to anybody. and 1-866-411-6976.

ThenTTY there’s another independent group, the Vaccines and

tection Feature? mine the most suitable Related BiologicalSome Products Advisory Committee.

The FDAplan. companies offer option well effort. to commissioner hasthe vowed publiclyIt’s that he worth will gothe according 7.ofPractice loving-kindness meditation. Loving-kindness Automatic Fall Detection the opinion of the career scientists and the advisory board. meditation increases making people Afterbysearching severalfeel webfor an additional fee.happiness Manu- in part more connected to others—to loved ones, acquaintances and facturers say these devices sites in search of highly Q: You feel the career scientists will have the final say? rated even strangers.

Research suggests that when people practice I sense falls when they occur Medical Alert Companies, Yes, yes. loving-kindness meditation start automatically and automatically contactregularly, the listthey the following, in alphabetreacting more positively to others—and their Some social have interacdispatch center, just as they ical order. slightly Q: And will the decisions that are being made in this transitions and close relationships become more satisfying. higher ratings would if you—have the distribution tion period like pushed the vaccine planthan — inothers any way call button. but they all did well and each limit the options of a new administration?

8. Be your own #1. “If you make friends with yourself, you will would be worth considering.

No, I be don’t thinkwrote so. I think a new administration will have the never alone,” Maxwell Maltz.

The ability to be alone There are And there are others, as well. choice of doing what they feel.

But I can tell you what’s going with yourself allows you to do whatThey you all please.

You can livewebsohappen, many have their own to regardless of the transition or not, is that we have life to the beat of your own drum. You can do what you want. possible sites for contact information. people totally committed to doing it right thatalone are going tousbe Eat whatand you want.

Go where you want.

Being plans Or check with Mr.allows Google… involved in this.

So I have confidence in that. tooptions truly reset of ourselves it’s and helps us be the best justversions type in “Medical Alert possible. mind-boggling but I strongly Systems” and do your own Q: When do you think we’ll all be able to throw our masks believe in the importance investigation.

I have selected away?

Remember, are not alone. We are in the same place. this that kindyou of reassuring the all company plan that Iof think we’re going to have some degree ofand public health We hope that these tips have helped you.

And if you are lookprotection. best suits our needs and I measures together with the vaccine for a considerable period ing to connect with others in our community, wetoinvite urge readers thinkyou about time. we’ll start approaching normalgathering — if the overtoof join us But on It Starts with Hello, our virtual every PERSONAL NOTE: While this. whelming majority of people take the vaccine — as we get into Tuesday and Thursday at noon.

Please visit hellostartsnow.org gathering this information I themore third or fourth quarter [of 2021].Bay Alarm Medical for spoke toinformation. representatives from Life Alert several companies. In almost You can listen to the full interview on KHN’s “What Life Station Information fromthere this article Ways tothe Ease every instance was antaken from Eight Health?” podcast. the Pain of Loneliness by Emma Seppala, Ph.D., https://greatMedical Alert offer of a fee being waived Elisabeth Rosenthal: erosenthal@kff.org, @rosenthalhealth ergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/eight_ways_to_ease_the_ Medical Guardian (activation, for instance), pain_of_loneliness. something included or a fee MobileHelp lowered (such as Fall DetecPhillips Lifeline tion or Lock Box, etc.) While Rescue Alert still in my nagging mode, I would hope that anyone pursuing such a system (and I hope everyone will) would seriously compare several different companies to deter-

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 | www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com February 2021| 25 25 www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // December//2020 23

The HELLO Project

Loneliness Hurts.

But we have tips to help you overcome the pain.

A

t The HELLO Project, our goal is to connect seniors in our community and help to bring them out of isolation and loneliness. As humans, most of us need that sense of community, connection and giving and receiving love. So, it should come as no surprise that loneliness hurts.

When you feel lonely, review the following tips to help deal with the pain and hurt it may bring.

Connect with yourself 100 percent Often times our initial reaction when we feel loneliness or isolation coming on is to try and distract ourselves. We may turn to “healthy” forms of distraction such as reading, exercising or working, or “unhealthy” forms like drinking, overeating or binge-watching television shows.

We may feel better temporarily, but often will end up with other problems like weight gain, exhaustion or addiction. When

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February 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com

we try to control or bury our emotions, they often stick with us for years. If we pay attention to the emotion and accept it, it could be the key to letting it go.

Here are three exercises for embracing loneliness: 1. Make the emotion is your main focus. This may feel awkward and uncomfortable if you are used to distracting yourself from your feelings. Take in how it is making you feel and accept it. Emote if necessary.

2. Be silent. This can be very hard for some people since we are surrounded in a world of noise, music, dings and alerts.

Plan a specific amount of time to be with yourself in silence.

Go for a walk. Sit on your porch. Or go to the park. Do your best to present and drink in everything around you.

3. Practice mindful meditation. Meditation has become extremely mainstream and there are many forms. You can find guided meditation online videos and podcasts. The important (Hello page 25)

HELLO Project / from page 24 online videos and podcasts. The important part of mindful meditation is to truly be in the moment and be patient. Don’t force it. Just be. Start with 5 minutes and gradually move up to longer times.

4. Your body is your temple. When our world is a little off, we tend to put our body on the back burner by not eating well, drinking too much, not sleeping or exercising too much or too little. The reality is we all know deep down that when we do something to benefit our body, like eat better or exercise more, we feel better, have a more positive state of mind and are more productive.

5. Be there for others. Yes, we live our own lives and have our own struggles. But, there is always someone in a more difficult position than ourselves. A simple smile and hello to a stranger or neighbor can instantly turn their day and mood around. And it can turn yours around as well. As Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

6. Get outside. Sometimes being outside alone is easier than being with people. Studies have shown that being outside and connecting with nature slows our perception of time and brings us into the present. Go for a walk, sit in the rose gardens or the Arboretum. A little time outside each day is good for the soul.

7. Practice loving-kindness meditation. Loving-kindness meditation increases happiness in part by making people feel more connected to others—to loved ones, acquaintances and even strangers. Research suggests that when people practice loving-kindness meditation regularly, they start automatically reacting more positively to others—and their social interactions and close relationships become more satisfying.

8. Be your own #1. “If you make friends with yourself, you will never be alone,” wrote Maxwell Maltz. The ability to be alone with yourself allows you to do what you please. You can live life to the beat of your own drum. You can do what you want.

Eat what you want. Go where you want. Being alone allows us to truly reset and helps us be the best versions of ourselves possible.

Remember, you are not alone. We are all in the same place.

We hope that these tips have helped you. And if you are looking to connect with others in our community, we invite you to join us on It Starts with Hello, our virtual gathering every Tuesday and Thursday at noon. Please visit hellostartsnow.org for more information.

Information from this article taken from Eight Ways to Ease the Pain of Loneliness by Emma Seppala, Ph.D., https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/eight_ways_to_ease_the_ pain_of_loneliness.

$2.25 Million ADA Amtrak Settlement Amtrak began accepting claims for monetary compensation for people with mobility disabilities who traveled or wanted to travel from or to one of 78 stations and encountered accessibility issues. Claims must be submitted by May 29, 2021.

Under the agreement, Amtrak will fix inaccessible stations and pay $2.25 million to victims hurt by inaccessibility at the 78 stations including the Elko station.

Questions about making claims should be directed to the settlement administrator at: AmtrakDisabilitySettlement.com; info@AmtrakDisabilitySettlement.com; toll free at 1-888-334-6165, and TTY 1-866-411-6976.

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

25

BIGGEST Little City

by Zach Spencer

Q & A with Harry Spencer V

Hello again readers, my name is Zach Spencer and this is a continuation of my interview with my dad Harry.

Z. When we finished up last month you were telling me about the “hijack” of the Russian Press Corps during the 1960 Winter Olympics. Any other Olympic news?

Z. Any other celebs you can think of?

H. Well, one of them would have to be Art Linkletter, who was big on TV at that time.

Z. What did Linkletter have to do with the Olympics?

Z. Did you ever see much of the Olympic Games yourself?

H. When Walt Disney was put in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies and the nightly entertainment for the athletes, he immediately chose Linkletter as his right hand man. Consequently, Art came up numerous times prior to the Games and always stayed at the Mapes. I had the pleasure of showing Art Linkletter him around Reno and visiting with him about show business. I stayed in touch with him for some 25 years after 1960.

H. Only on one occasion. That was when Mapes and I watched the hockey match between the USA and Russia.

Z. You keep saying 1960 was Reno’s greatest year. What happened after the Olympics?

Harry Spencer

H. Yes, since I made it a practice of going up to Squaw Valley each day I would usually take celebrities such as Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Barbara Rush, Sammy Davis and Mickey Rooney as well as a couple of hotel staff. While the celebs were watching the Games, I would visit Walter Cronkite who was covering the event for the first time the Olympics had ever been telecast.

H. I didn’t think we could top the Olympics, but several months later I got a call after midnight from the manager of the Mapes. He asked me to come down to the hotel immediately. I asked, “Couldn’t it wait until morning?” He said, “No, it’s too important!” When I got to the hotel, he was waiting for me in the lobby in his overcoat. I asked him where we were going and he replied, “Over to the Holiday Hotel.” When I asked what was over there he answered a couple of guys with their luggage. I asked, “Couldn’t you send a bellboy?” He answered, “You’ll find out why.”

The US team won the men’s ice hockey competition. Here we see some of the team members celebrating their success on the final buzzer.

Z. What was the result?

H. The USA won and it was a big upset because most of our guys were young amateurs playing a bunch of older professional Russkies. After the match I guided Mapes to the rear entrance to the Russian dressing room which had been revealed to me by one Gordon Butterfield, and an Olympic publicity guy. Once inside we were at first not welcome, but when Mapes began handing out small binoculars to members of the team the mood changed.

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When we arrived at the Holiday we met two individuals. By name they were Doc Ericsson and Tommy Shaw.

We helped them pick up their bags and return to the Mapes. After we checked them in, we went to the Coach Room for a couple of drinks and I found out they were advance men for a motion picture to be shot in northern Nevada that summer. The flick was to be called, “The Misfits” starring Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Eli Wallach and Thelma Ritter. The director was to be John Huston and the writer of the screen play was Arthur Miller, who happened to be Monroe’s husband at the

Biggest / from page 26 time. In addition to the stars, there would be some ninety crew members all of whom would be staying at the Mapes.

Mapes Hotel

Z. Wow! That was your second successful “hijack” then.

H. Yes and it was also the longest running publicity story that Reno ever received. Not only did the Hollywood Press come up, but also the International Press, mainly from Europe.

Z. What was more important, working with the stars or taking care of the Press?

H. The Press, because it was my job to get them to mention the Mapes Hotel as often as possible.

Z. Did you watch any of the filming?

H. Only one day and that was for the scene at Wallach’s house.

Z. Any special events during the time the company was in Reno?

Z. How did you get all those people up to the lake?

H. I got several limos for the stars and three buses for the crew. When we arrived at the Lodge, Wingy had several Klieg lights and the names of the stars on his outside marquee. In addition there were three or four hundred people waiting to see the stars.

Z. How did you handle that?

H. I had the buses empty out at the front entrance and had the limos go to the back entrance and the stars go through the kitchen to the showroom.

Z. What did you do with the crew?

H. Wingy told me to keep the crew on the porch adjacent to the show room until his good customers were seated.

Z. Did that work?

H. It worked well until somebody jimmied the French door to the showroom and the crew took all of the best seats. Wingy was not too happy.

(To be continued)

H. The most important one that occurred was when I got a phone call from Wingy Grober, the manager of the Cal Neva lodge at Lake Tahoe. He said that Frank Sinatra, who was appearing at the Lodge, wanted to invite the principals of the movie to his Saturday night dinner show as his guests.

I told Wingy I would contact the stars and get back to him. I checked with everyone, got their ok and saved Gable for last because he was the easiest to deal with.

When I informed him of Frank’s request he said he would only go if the entire crew could be Frank Sinatra became the majority stakeinvited. holder in the Cal Neva Lodge in 1960.

Z. How did that go over?

H. Not too well with Wingy when I informed him Gable would only come if the crew of 90+ could also be invited. After exploding over the phone, Wingy said I’ll have to check with Frank and get back to you. About an hour later he called and said Frank okayed it.

www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

27

Tinseltown Talks:

By Nick Thomas

A bumpy road led Hank Garrett to ‘Car 54’ and beyond

R

aised in a rough Harlem neighborhood in the 40s and 50s, childhood proved challenging for Hank Garrett.

“We lived in the slums and I’d walk into the kitchen in the mornings to find the floor covered with roaches,” said Garrett from his home in California. “And I still remember waking up one day with a weight on my chest – it was a rat.”

As outlined in his 2020 autobiography, “From Harlem Hoodlum to Hollywood Hank Garrett Heavyweight,” other hardships dogged young Hank throughout his troubled teen years.

“I saw fights, stabbings, and shootings – it was a daily situation,” recalled Garrett. But he endured, including a later near fatal car accident, eventually turning his life around to focus on physical fitness and becoming a professional wrestler before turning to acting.

During a brief time on the New York police force, Garrett auditioned for “Car 54, Where Are You?” a new television comedy series that debuted in 1961.

Series creator Nat Hiken hired Garrett as Officer Ed Nicholson. “So I went from real cop to reel cop!” said Garrett.

The show also starred Fred (later ‘Herman Munster’) Gwynne and Joe E. Ross who were partners in the series.

Garrett and Deanne-Marie

“Fred was very soft-spoken and Smith - provided by publicist truly a gentleman who also wrote and illustrated children’s books,” he said. “He lost a child who drowned and we were shooting when the news came. We were all devastated and shared his pain.”

As for Ross, “what a character,” said Garrett with a laugh. “Joe would bring in ladies of the evening and at one point asked if one could be put on the payroll as his acting coach! The producers didn’t go for it. And, of course, he could never remember his lines and that’s why he always went ‘ooh! ooh!’ until the words came to him.”

Numerous other roles came Garrett’s way, often being cast as the bad guy opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Kirk Douglas in “A Lovely Way to Die” (1968) where a stray punch from Douglas gave Garrett a bloody nose. But Hank got even with the A-lister crowd several years later in a memorably violent fight scene in “Three Days of the Condor” breaking Robert Redford’s nose.

Playing the ‘heavy,’ he says, wasn’t a stretch given his tough childhood. Nor did he forget his troubled past and has worked tirelessly for years with prisoners, veterans, and at-risk youth he calls Hankster’s Kids (see www.hankgarrett.biz).

Car 54’ - Hank Garrett with Fred Gwynne and Joe Ross

“When I told my commanding officer I had a chance to work on a television series, he looked at me and said, ‘tough decision isn’t it Hank – to become a television star or stay a cop in New York!” Garrett recalled. “‘Car 54’ opened up an acting career for me.”

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“I hope people will be interested in my book because the proceeds will go to disabled vets and the kids.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and writes features, columns, and interviews for newspapers and magazines.

- Direct # 702-868-5179

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The British are Coming: ‘Victorian Radicals’ Visit Nevada Museum of Art

T

ouring the United States from Birmingham, United Kingdom, “Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement” will be on view at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, March 7 – May 30, 2021. This stop represents the last chance to see the exhibition on the West Coast.

This spring, Nevadans will have the rare opportunity to engage with works from a dynamic period of British art. Drawn from the collection of the city of Birmingham, United Kingdom, Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement showcases works by three generations of young and rebellious artists and designers whose response to the increasingly industrial world around them revolutionized the arts in Britain. The exhibition brings together more than 145 paintings, works on paper, and decorative arts — many never-before-shown outside the UK. Victorian Radicals will be on view at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, March 7 — May

30, 2021. The Museum is the second and final West Coast venue to host this exhibition of unparalleled historical and visual richness.

Through the works of pioneering artists including Ford Madox Brown, Kate Elizabeth Bunce, Edward BurneJones, William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, William Morris, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, among others.

Victorian Radicals represents the spectrum of avant-garde practices of the Victorian Rossetti_Proserpine period, emphasizing the response of Britain’s first modern art movements to unfettered industrialization. These artists’ attention to detail, use of vibrant colors, and engagement with both literary themes and contemporary life are illustrated through a selection of paintings, drawings, and watercolors presented alongside superb examples of decorative art.

Victorian Radicals underlines the ideas that preoccupied artists and critics at the time—the relationship between art and nature; questions of class and gender identity; the value of the handmade versus machine production; and the search for beauty in an age of industry. These issues remain relevant and actively debated today.

“This is Birmingham Museums Trust’s largest ever touring exhibition,” said Toby Watley, Director of Collections at Birmingham Museums Trust. “It brings the story of the city’s pioneering artistic figures to America, for the first time in this depth: from the progressive work of the Pre-Raphaelites to the inspiring designs of the Arts and Crafts movement. This is an exciting opportunity for Birmingham, helping to raise the profile of both the city and its collection internationally.”

Several public programs hosted on Zoom are planned in connection Victorian Radicals. All online talks for this exhibition are FREE for Museum members. Pricing for the general public is $10.

(Art page 32)

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2/21 Crossword

When One Isn’t Enough Across 1 Cockeyed 6 Roly-poly 9 The Monkees’ “___ Believer” 12 Rome’s river 17 Unsaturated alcohol 19 Caustic chemical 20 “___ so fast!”

21 Speechify 22 A short distance?

26 Small graceful hawks 27 Barbecue site 28 Upper limit 29 Starter’s need 30 Dazzles 32 Kind of gloves 33 Voting district 34 Bowling target 35 One of L.B.J.’s beagles 38 Ticket seller 41 Stock unit 43 Membership fees 44 Mariner’s dir.

45 Arctic hut 46 Eschew 47 Pinniped mammal 48 Punching tool 49 It’s for the birds 50 Random or unknown people 55 “___ y Plata” (Montana’s motto) 56 Simmers 58 Babe in the woods 59 Before Anna or Barbara 60 “Platoon” setting 61 Docs’ org.

62 Riding the waves 63 Ginger cookie 64 Severn feeder 67 Utmost degree 70 Prince Valiant’s son 71 Many a tournament 72 Barbershop sound 73 Plummet 75 ___ Jones 77 Record players, in brief 80 Think tank nuggets 82 Bad thing to blow 83 More eccentric 85 ___ Tomé 86 America’s flag 89 Roundish 91 “For the Boys” subj.

92 Gangster’s gal 93 Charity 94 Celts 95 Ike’s W.W. II command 96 Cow’s neckwear 97 Post-op time 99 Removes from some beans 100 Three Gorges project 101 First Lady before Eleanor 102 Wordplays

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Hearty brew Brass component Family card game School grp.

King preceder Venusian, e.g.

Springtime Longed Velvet finish?

“Days of ___ Lives” Ready to eat Sanctify Zoologist’s foot Sugary drink Aegean vacation locale Gray spray “That’s enough!”

Visored cap Once, long ago Moo goo gai pan pan Plant fiber Writer Rand Clarinetist Lewis Wound Pitcher’s place You can bank on it Casino coins Camera part Cricket club Printemps follower Legal matter

18 23 24 25 31 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 45 46 47 51 52 53 54 57 65 66 68 69 71 72

Boundary Crash site?

Seaweed substance New Guinea native Manipulates Comb stoppers Potter’s tool With complete faith Enfold completely Be dependent Plato’s plaza Pessimist’s prognostication Daughter of Theia Youngster’s classroom activity Sings, kind of Like someone who wants to stay out of a bad situation?

It’s pumped in a gym Flower holder Winter Olympian One ___ million ___ Grande, Ariz.

Metal fastener Elizabeth I’s mother Whip but good Penthouse feature Brightly colored fish Courtroom event Warning device Be in debt Time out in Mexico?

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Walker, briefly Praiseful poems Slammers Lays down the lawn Hearst Castle locale, San ___, CA Cantina cooker Scalawag Like many a mistake Original name of North Hollywood Scornful cries Batman after Michael Window coverings Altercations Hydroxyl compound Kinship groups Blender button Loss leader?

Zorro’s marks Combustible pile Not quite closed Vermeer’s “Woman With a ___” Dill seed Police alert, for short Rapper ___ Kim Chemical suffix Sparkle Bygone bird TV setting Calendar abbr.

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Art / from page 30 EXHIBITIONS: Turning Pages: A Monthly Reading Group • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: Tuesday, February 9, and Tuesday, March 9 | 6 p.m.

• North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell: Tuesday, April 13, and Tuesday, May 11 | 6 p.m.

• Escape into the era of Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts & Crafts Movement through classic literature. Each novel comprises two meetings.

Dystopia to Utopia: How Radical Victorians Transformed the Industrial World Thursday, March 11 | 4 p.m.

Learn why the Victorian Radicals found followers all over the world, from Britain to the USA, Japan, and India, with curator Dr. Tim Barringer, Paul Mellon Professor and Chair of the History of Art at Yale University. He will detail the development of a socialist and ecological critique of capitalism in Victorian Britain that produced some of the most spectacular artworks of the industrial era.

Living with the Industrial Revolution Thursday, March 25 | 4 p.m.

Professor Dennis Dworkin of University of Nevada Reno, Global Studies is an intellectual historian of Britain, Ireland, and Europe who specializes in cultural theory. From this informed perspective, he will explore the working-class, conservative,

SOLUTION FROM PAGE 31 and liberal responses to a changing social landscape during

the Industrial Revolution.

Pre-Raphaelite Girl Gang: Fifty Makers, Shakers and Heartbreakers from the Victorian Era Friday, April 2 | 12 p.m.

Art historian and author Kirsty Stonell Walker explores the colorful histories of women of the era in her book, Pre-Raphaelite Girl Gang.

She will introduce an enchanting and revolutionary band of women -- artists, sculptors, inventors, models, wives, sisters, ElizabethBunce_Musica. and muses – who provide inspiration for groundbreakers and troublemakers today.

Women and the Arts and Crafts Movement: “What Can a Woman Do?” Thursday, April 22 | 4 p.m.

What was the role of women designers and artists in the Arts and Crafts movement? Wendy Kaplan, LACMA Department Head and Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, explores Victorian women’s leadership in social and economic reform as well as restrictions they encountered that prevented their full participation.

Victorian Radicals and the Cult of Beauty Thursday, May 13 | 4 p.m.

Melissa Leventon, co-founder of Curatrix Group and former Curator-in-Charge of Textiles at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, is a specialist in European and American costume and textiles. She will take audiences on a journey into the unconventional creativity of the British Aesthetic Movement, a revolution in fashion and decorative arts.

An exhibition catalogue accompanies Victorian Radicals and is available for purchase in the Shop. This generously illustrated and exciting new study of the Victorian era features rarely seen works, provocative essays, and a striking, period-inspired design.

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The touring exhibition is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Simply Smart Travel

By Jeff and Virginia Orenstein

San Francisco, California Note: Even though San Francisco is a great place to visit, travel to the area should not be undertaken now. On December 30, 2020, the Department of Public Health updated an order to extend the previous travel quarantine and the Bay Area Regional Stay Home Order to Mid-May. Essential activities only are permitted and most businesses are closed or restricted.

All non-essential employees must work from home. Gradual reopening is planned during the late spring and through the summer if conditions permit.

S

an Francisco’s legendary prominence in American song and culture is well-deserved. This gem of a city overlooking picturesque San Francisco Bay is built on seven hills.

It is a must-visit place for simply smart travelers for its beauty alone. Add in a really great restaurant scene, a fascinating mix of cultures and neighborhoods, museums, unique architecture and proximity to too-many regional attractions to visit in a single trip and you have a real bucket-list-worthy place to visit.

Famous for its cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, the marketplace at the Ferry Terminal, Coit Tower, the financial district, “painted lady” Victorian houses and many other scenes often portrayed in movies and TV, this bustling city is also a crossroads of culture and a busy center of maritime commerce.

While San Francisco is on the pricey side if you choose to limit yourself to world-famous hotels and eateries and shop only at Union Square boutiques, the city also boasts a staggering array of excellent lodging, entertainment, shopping and restaurants that are reasonably affordable. Purchasing a San Francisco Municipal Public Transportation Passport gives you affordable and convenient access to cable cars, buses, streetcars and the Metro. Similarly, a San Francisco City Pass (citypass.com) gives you transportation access plus museums and a bay cruise.

Located on the Pacific Ocean, this eclectic city is also a great place to base yourself for day trips to explore the many attractions that surround this city by the bay. They range from distinguished centers of leaning like the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford to the high-tech palaces of Silicon Valley, the majestic redwoods at Muir Woods and, of course, the nearby California wine country.

Before you visit in person, visit the web sites: • https://sf.gov/step-by-step/reopening-san-francisco

A typical street scene from San Francisco since it is built upon seven hills. They are Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Rincon Hill, Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson and Lone Mountain/Mount Sutro.

Credit: Jeff Orenstein, Simply Smart Travel

• https://www.sftravel.com/ • https://www.visitcalifornia.com/region/discover-san-francisco-bay-area/ • https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/spend-threedays-touring-san-francisco/ Getting There San Francisco is a west-coast crossroads can be easily reached by highway, air, cruise ship or train.

• By air, the nearest airport is San Francisco International (SFO) at 15 miles away. Oakland International (OAK), is 20 miles away from the Financial District.

• By train, Amtrak has a station in Oakland at Jack London Square. It is connected to San Francisco by Amtrak bus and other public transportation. From Oakland, there is frequent service to the entire west coast and beyond.

• By car, San Francisco is on interstates 280, 580 and California 101.

• Cruise ships (not currently operating) sail from San Francisco’s cruise terminal, 1.5 miles distant.

(Smart Travel page 34) www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com // February 2021 |

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Smart Travel / from page 33 Must-Sees if You Only Have Two or Three Days: • Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 (touristy but a must-see for first-timers). Check out the sea lions.

redwoods) and then into wine country in Napa and/or Sonoma counties. A full agenda will require at least an overnight stay in wine country.

• A hop-on-hop-off bus tour of the city (bring a sweater).

• A sightseeing boat trip around the bay, weather permitting.

• Exploring Chinatown, preferably on foot.

• Visiting Lombard Street, preferably via the Powell-Hyde Cable Car line that starts at Fisherman’s Wharf.

If You Have Several Days, enjoy: • Walking, shopping and eating in some of the city’s more interesting neighborhoods, including Castro, Haight-Ashbury and Chinatown.

• A day-trip to vibrant and trendy Oakland. Be sure to catch Jack London Square and Lake Merritt.

• A drive through Golden Gate Park.

• Amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge from Land’s End.

• An excursion north, over the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop in Sausalito, then continue on to the Muir Woods (towering

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the Marin Highlands, across the mouth of the bay from San Francisco. Credit: Jeff Orenstein, Simply Smart Travel

Ginny O’s Tips For Dressing The Simply Smart Travel Way: Resort casual dress is fine for most things in San Francisco, except for the most upscale restaurants and arts events.

Over 50 Advantage: A worldly city with great shopping, restaurants and excellent cultural attractions.

Mobility Level: Moderate to high because of the steep hills.

Simply Smart Travel Tip: Don’t drive in the city if you can avoid it. Parking is scarce and expensive.

The public transit system is good. BART goes throughout the region and the ferries cross the bay.

When To Go: Fall is usually good and spring is a close second.

Jeffrey Orenstein, Ph.D. and Virginia Orenstein are husband and wife travel writers from Sarasota, Florida.

Reach them at jorenstein@ SimplySmartTravel.com.

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