Good Times for Seniors November/December 2019 by CNG Newspaper Group

November/December 2019

Making music and memories

Ukulele band flourishes in Northeast Pennsylvania A lifetime of music

90-year-old saxophone player shares his story TS_CNG/GOODTIMES/PAGES [G01] | 11/06/19

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Green Space

Bargaining tips for gardeners

Travel club

Good Times Travelers take in Vermontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beauty

contents

In thIs edItIon: FeatureS

coluMnS

saxophonist ........................................... 4, 7

today’s grandparent ............................ 2

Musician and navy veteran shares memories.

Washington Watch ................................ 12

veterans day.......................................... 5-7

green space ........................................... 15

Honoring our veterans.

noveMBer/deceMBer 2019

Today’s GrandparenT

travel

Ukulele band.......................................... 9-10 Kennedy Creek Strummers keep the rhythm.

isolation among older adults ............... 12-13

vermont trip .......................................... 11 coMMunity Caregivers conference .......................... 14

Back to the nest Good tIMes FoR senIoRs a tiMEs-sHaMroCK PUBLiCation

149 penn avenue Scranton, pa 18503 EditoriaL | 570-348-9185 advErtising | 570-348-9100 Managing editor Elizabeth Baumeister x3492 advertiSing SaleS Manager alice Manley x9285

contriButing WriterS: duane Campbell, david deCosmo, Edgar Kearney, Cheryl M. Keyser, Ed and Eleanor rogers and Jack smiles

Good Times for Seniors is a publication dedicated to informing, serving and entertaining active older adults in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties of Pennsylvania. It publishes six times per year — winter, spring, early summer, late summer, fall and a holiday edition. Circulation of this issue is 61,000 copies to more than 125,000 readers aged 55 and over. Advertising rates and deadlines available upon request. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

on tHe cover: Bill Hiller practices a song on his ukulele. Photo by Elizabeth Baumeister.

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BY DAVID DECOSMO

our two oldest granddaughters, however, suddenly disappeared from this holiday season will be espeour daily lives when they went off to cially wonderful for our family becollege this year. cause all the grandkids will be home We’re still in touch of course, again. mostly by text messages. But it’s not i expect many of you know what i the same. We miss their occasional mean. My wife and i never really had visit or seeing them when we visit a chance to experience the “empty their parent’s home. nest syndrome” that many of you have We’re ﬁnally feeling “the empty nest.” endured. How great to have them join their Each of our three children attended siblings, parents and cousins for holilocal colleges and, thankfully, each day gatherings. married and made their homes in our there’s nothing like having the local area. family together again. Hope you will our oldest grandson, like our and that all your news is good! children, went to a local college. His David DeCosmo is a retired TV news reporter. future may include a move but, for He and his wife are escorts for Travelworld now, he’s working locally. Tours.

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Music is life to senior saxophonist, Navy veteran by Jack SmileS

Jack Brogan is 90 years old. To what does he attribute his longevity? “Music keeps me alive,” he said. Music has been fueling him for 80 years, ever since his Aunt Mary Walsh, an Exeter school algebra teacher, bought him a soprano saxophone when he was 10. He still plays it. “She wanted me to be involved in the arts,” Brogan said. “She bought me comic books. If people would say, ‘why do you let him read comic books?’ she’d say, ‘as long as he is reading, I don’t care what it is.’” His aunt and uncle, James Walsh, owned Walsh’s Bar on the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Schooley Street in Exeter. Today it is Gober’s Deco Bar, and it hasn’t changed much since Brogan’s aunt’s family owned it and brought in out-of-town duos to play in the back room. In addition to his aunt Mary, Eileen Space was also a music mentor to him. She was the music and chorus director at the Exeter Schooley grade school. She trained him in singing. Brogan has lived in Exeter all his life. He jokes the family moved to Wyoming once, but moved back to

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jack brogan with Paci's band.

Exeter because “Wyoming was too quiet.” He played in the first Exeter school band before he got to high school. He was so young and small he said, “they made sure I was in the middle so I wouldn’t get lost. I had great instructors in school, in Jay Ledson and Peter Simony.” Following the tradition of his father, Simon, who had been a center for the Avoca Buffalos, in high school, Jack was a 127-pound center and cornerback for Exeter. Against West Wyoming in the Wyoming Bowl, he returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown. Brogan graduated from Exeter High in June of 1946. On July 4, he was sworn into the Navy. He served as a radioman third class on a minesweeper in the Atlantic for two years. He took his sax with him and practiced in his bunk. When he appears at veterans’ events and is asked if he saw any action, he jokes, “Yeah, I spent six months in New Orleans.” On one shore leave in New Orleans, he sat in with a French quarter house band. Discharged from the Navy, in 1949 he married his high school girlfriend and cheerleader, Louise Altoe. Two years later, his father, Simon Brogan, died at age 51. Simon had a successful men’s clothing store on Main Street in Pittston since 1935. Jack Brogan’s uncle, James Walsh called for a meeting and offered Jack two options. He could run his father’s clothing store or take over Walsh’s bar and restaurant. He chose the clothing store. It was mostly a day job which gave him his evenings to pursue music. In 1954, he joined Paci’s Band, an ambition he had since he was a kid. Growing up in Exeter, Cino Paci was Brogan’s next door neighbor. Brogan said at 7 or 8 years old, he watched and listened to Paci’s Band practice under the grape vine arbor in Paci’s backyard and was in awe. “They had homemade wine, and it seemed the more they drank it, the better they sounded,” he said with chuckle. Even then, before he got his sax and began practicing, he established a goal — to one day join

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jack brogan, third from left, with Joe ciraola, Johnny collins and charlo Sciandra.

Paci’s Band. It was an ambitious goal as Cino Paci — an Italian immigrant who played trombone and euphonium in military bands in Italy in 1913 and for the U.S. Army during World War II — and exacting band leader who, it was said, you could have gone to New York and made it big as a full-time professional musician. He formed Pac’s Band with handpicked musicians in 1923. By the time Brogan joined Paci’s in 1954, Paci, who died in 1972, was retired and Ross Tarantino was the band leader. He was succeeded by Joey and Charley Infantino. The band, a Pittston-area institution, was in demand for parades, processions and patriotic concerts. Brogan also played in a succession of popular nightclub dance bands beginning with the Keystonions. That’s not a misspelling, but the band was a butt of jokes about being an “onion” band. His bandmates were Joe Ciraola, Johnny Collins and Charlo Sciandra. They played Big Band, Sinatra, Glen Miller, show tunes and the like. They played wherever they could get a gig. They were occasional at the Flagship in Berwick and regulars at Champi’s on Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston and

Bobby Reeds in the Sinclair House at the corner of Butler and Main in Pittston. “Bobby Reed’s advertised they served food 24 hours,” Brogan said in another of his anecdotes, “but they didn’t have a kitchen. They’d send somebody out the back door to the Majestic to get the food.” The Keystonions provided a nice little part-time income. “At one time were playing Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays getting $15 per man.” Doesn’t sound like much, but $15 in the mid 1950s had the spending power of $300 today. After the Keystonions, Brogan played with the Bell-Tones in a line up with Angelo Alfano, Sam Alba, Jerry Stone and Lino Marchetti. He also played the Caravans, popular at Fox Hill, in the 1960s. Rock ’n’ roll cut into gig opportunities in the 1960s and beyond, but Brogan’s bands continued to work. His last nightclub band, the Big Band Connection, played for ballroom dancers at Genetti’s withJimmy Bone, trumpet; Marshall Kornblat, keyboard; Phil Simon, bass; Charlo Sciandra, drums; and Brogan on sax. Brogan said he doesn’t like Please see Saxophonist, Page 7

The veterans of tomorrow As the U.S. military undergoes sigcivilian life, many of which aren’t adniﬁcant demographic shifts, so too does dressed by existing resources. the veteran population. In honor of The average age of veterans is Veterans Day, celebrated every year on changing Nov. 11, here are some facts about the Currently, people aged 50 to 69 make future of American veterans. up 42 percent of the veteran populaMore veterans are women tion. By 2043, however, the proportion According to the United States of veterans under the age of 50 will inDepartment of Veterans Affairs, the crease considerably, as will the number proportion of of those over the female veterans age of 70. This will almost double means that the by 2043, from services offered nine percent to to veterans will 17 percent. In the need to accomwake of increased modate the enrollment followneeds of a more ing the events of diverse popula9/11, women are tion in terms of actually the fastest age. growing group of Veterans are veterans. They becoming more face particular ethnically challenges when diverse trying to adjust to

“Veterans of all genders, ages and ethnicity have sacriﬁced a lot to keep our country safe. On Nov. 11, take a moment to thank them for their service.”

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Three unique ways to give back to service members Military service in the United States was once more common than it is today. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the draft for military service was ended in 1973, a point in time when 2.2 million men and women made up the country’s active military personnel. By 2018, the number had dipped below 1.3 million. The vast majority of people in countries where military service is not compulsory will never serve in the military. But that does not mean non-military personnel do not appreciate the sacrifices service members and their families make. Service members and their families make many sacrifices to protect the lives and freedoms of their fellow citizens. The following are three unique ways to give back to these selfless men and women, who often benefit greatly from even the simplest of gestures. 1. Serve as a driver for veterans. Unfortunately, many service members return from overseas missions with disabilities, some of which prevent them from driving. Adults who want to help service members can serve as drivers for veterans who can’t drive themselves. Such a gesture ensures they won’t miss any appointments with doctors or physical therapists, helping them get on the road to recovery that much quicker.

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2. Donate your airline miles. Some disabled veterans receive medical treatments far away from home at facilities that specialize in treating certain types of injuries, which can make it difficult for their families to be there for them during their recoveries. By donating airline miles to military families, ordinary adults can ensure injured servicemen and women can still see their families during difficult times in their lives. Access to such support systems can be a big help as veterans work to recover from their injuries. 3. Sponsor a service dog. A significant percentage of veterans return home with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD has been linked to a host of conditions, including depression and anxiety. However, programs such as Companions for Heroes, an organization that places service dogs with veterans, has helped many veterans successfully cope with PTSD. By sponsoring a service dog through an organization such as Companions for Heroes, adults who want to help service members can provide an invaluable service to men and women fighting to regain their quality of life. There are many ways for ordinary citizens to show their support for the brave men and women who selflessly serve in the military.

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Combat veterans and PTSD Every day men and women in the military put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives and freedoms of their fellow countrymen. These brave men and women pay a steep price for their service, spending time away from their loved ones and putting themselves at risk of long-term physical and mental injuries. Many men and women, even those who never served in the military, are aware of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event. Combat veterans are vulnerable to PTSD, and the percentage of veterans who deal with it each day is alarming. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as many as 20 percent of veterans who served during Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom have PTSD. In addition, the USDVA notes that estimates now suggest as many as 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime. Though it’s not exclusive to men and women who have served in the

military, PTSD has long been linked to combat veterans. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association notes that PTSD has been referred to as “shell shock” and “combat fatigue” in the past. While the APA notes that a diagnosis of PTSD requires exposure to an upsetting traumatic event, that exposure can be indirect rather than firsthand. Because some people may assume that only firsthand exposure to trauma can lead to PTSD, many may be suffering in silence. That makes it all the more important that people learn to recognize the symptoms of PTSD. According to the APA, symptoms of PTSD, which can vary in severity, fall into four categories. 1. Intrusive thoughts: Flashbacks, distressing dreams and repeated, involuntary memories are examples of intrusive thoughts symptomatic of PTSD. The APA notes that some people with PTSD experience flashbacks so vivid that they feel they are reliving the traumatic experience or that it is unfolding before their eyes. 2. Avoiding reminders: Some

FROM PAGE 4

as a courier for Atty. Mike Cefalo. He still works part time as a helper and hearse driver for Gubbioti’s Funeral Home. And at 90, he still plays out. He gets occasional gigs as a duo with Frankie G. A couple weeks ago, they played a fundraiser for the West Pittston Library at Sabatini’s Bottle Shop and Bar. On Dec. 15, they plan to play a Christmas party at the Dupont Hose Company. They are adding a third member and calling themselves the Jukebox Trio. Through everything, Brogan always remained faithful to Paci’s. Brogan has been a Paci member for 65 years, and has never missed a Paci event. Today he is the band’s business manager. He likes to joke that when he joined, he was the only Irishman in an Italian band, but fit in because, “I spoke perfect broken English.”

heavy rock music, but does like The Beatles. He said he never played or sang rock ’n’ roll, but his son Simon reminded him he sings Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” with St. Barbara’s Church Choir under director Ann Manganiello. He also sings with the Catholic Choral Society. His son, Simon, fronted the local rock band Blue Sugar and his brother Michael “Brogie” fronted Nutz. Both bands had successful runs locally for a decade each. Jack said he got out to see his son’s band a few times and was happy they were involved. He and Louise, who died in 2012, also have a daughter Marguerita. Jack closed his clothing store in 1988, when he was 60. He worked part-time jobs at J. C. Penney’s and

people with PTSD may avoid people, places, activities, objects or situations they feel will trigger distressing memories. Soldiers, for example, may avoid interacting with fellow combat veterans. Avoiding discussions about a traumatic event and how they feel about it is another symptom of PTSD. 3. Negative thoughts and feelings: The APA says that negative thoughts and feelings may include ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; considerably diminished interest in activities previously enjoyed; and a sense of estrangement and detachment from others. 4. Arousal and reactive symptoms: These symptoms may include irritability and angry outbursts; reckless or self-destructive behavior; being easily startled; or have difficulty concentrating or sleeping. PTSD poses a significant threat to the men and women who serve in the military. Additional resources about PTSD are available at ptsd. va.gov andpsychiatry.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Jack Brogan, far right, with Angelo Alfano, Sam Alba, Jerry Stone and Lino Marchetti.

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Trade Wars and Your Investments: How to Cope with Ongoing Market Volatility BY CHRISTOPHER SCALESE Since mid-2018, ongoing trade wars have had a significant impact on the U.S. stock market. When the current administration has announced an update on trade negotiations, we have seen the market either surge or decline by hundreds of points on several occasions. In May, the S&P 500 ended down more than 6% from April highs, while the Dow ended down for the sixth week in a row on May 311. In early October, stocks jumped after President Trump gave a positive update on China trade negotiations2. Unfortunately, this rollercoaster volatility is taking a toll on investors, especially those who own 401(k)s, IRAs or other retirement savings vehicles. As the trade wars continue, how can investors cope with the uncertainty surrounding the markets? What steps can investors take now to help ride out the market’s highs and lows? H o w t o C o p e w i t h M a r k e t Vo l a t i l i t y

1. Understand your risk tolerance – When it comes to market volatility, how do you cope? Can you stomach large swings when the President tweets out an update on the current status of the trade wars? Or does even the thought of a market drop have you feeling anxious about your investments? If you’re one to stress out over day-to-day

market activity, then you’ll want to avoid taking on too much risk. Risk tolerance can go beyond your personal preference as well. Your age can also play a key role in how much risk you can take on with your investments. Typically, as you grow older and draw closer to retirement age, you’ll want to reduce the amount of risk you take on. Taking a chance on the markets when you’re near or at retirement can result in a major loss, right when you need that money the most.

2. Avoid emotional decisions –

Understanding your risk tolerance can also help you determine how susceptible you may be to make an emotional decision about your investments. Emotions should never play a role in your investment philosophy as they can cause you to buy high and sell low. When the market takes a dip, your instinct shouldn’t be to pull the trigger and bail on your investment plan. Conversely, when the market surges, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should switch up your game plan in an attempt to chase gains. It’s important to make practical, well-thought-out decisions about your money based on what best fits your unique needs and long-term goals.

3. Implement a long-term investment plan – One of the best ways to ride out

market volatility is to implement a long-term

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investment plan that not only helps you accumulate wealth but also helps protect you from unnecessary risk. By creating a plan for the future, you can not only capture gains when the market surges, but you can also protect yourself from a market crash that could wipe out your nest egg. You’ll know your investment plan is working for you when you can confidently say that your plans are on track, regardless of the direction the market is going. Especially at retirement, consistency is much more important than hitting a home run. For many, this can mean a well-diversified portfolio that avoids putting too many eggs in one basket. This can also mean setting some type of benchmark or indicator that lets you know once it’s time to sell out of a particular security or stock. Or it can include investment vehicles that are uncorrelated or protected from market losses. Regardless, it’s important to consult a qualified financial professional to help determine what your long-term investment plan should look like so that you can rest easy, no matter what trade agreement is made.

4. Conduct quarterly check-ins – Even after you’ve implemented a long-term investment plan, your work is far from over. Creating a plan is only half the battle— maintaining that plan is what will help ensure your nest egg is protected as you

transition through the different phases of your life. Whether it’s weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually, put a system in place that allows you to stay on top of your long-term plan. These check-ins can help ensure you are meeting your financial goals and, should an economic policy like a trade agreement occur, you can update your plan accordingly. In today’s economic environment, trade wars aren’t the only thing that are affecting the markets (or your bottom line). Whether it’s interest rates, tax policy, legislative bills impacting retirement policies, it’s important to remember that a proper long-term investment plan can help you ride out the highs and lows and provide you with peace of mind for the future. We are an independent financial services firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of investment and insurance products to custom suit their needs and objectives. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Fortune Financial Group Inc. is not affiliated with the US government or any governmental agency. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM). AEWM and Fortune Financial Group Inc. are not affiliated companies. #324380

Friends and ukuleles BY EDGAR KEARNEY

y day, Olapeju Simoyan, who goes by “Peju,” is a physician practicing her profession at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and Geisinger Marworth. But for an hour or so Tuesday evenings she puts aside that life to perform with the Kennedy Creek Strummers, a ukulele band that calls the Waverly Community House home and gets its name from a creek a few miles away that feeds the lake at Lackawanna State Park. Founded about four years ago by Steve Kurilla, a music teacher at Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School in Scranton, the Strummers entertain at venues far and wide, most recently at Wesley Village retirement community in Jenkins Township and The Gathering Place in Clarks Summit. Most of the 40 or so members hail from Lackawanna County and environs and many, like Peju, play other instruments. The majority join for the fun and camaraderie. Beside

the ukulele, Peju plays piano, guitar and saxophone, though, in her words, “not very good.” For many others in the group, the ukulele is their only instrument. “It’s a welcoming, kind group,” interjected one of the strummers. Newcomers are made to feel at home, regardless of their skill level, or lack of it. Kurilla agrees. In a message on the group’s website he says, “Our goals are to learn about music, have lots of fun, make new friends and play a lot of ukulele.” Strummer Bill Hiller became involved innocently enough, driving his wife Marilyn to rehearsals and performances. Before he realized it, he was strumming along. The group’s repertoire embraces old and more current tunes, from “Buffalo Gal” to Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” to showstoppers like “Hello Dolly” and, naturally, “Blue Hawaii,” to mention a few. Ple ase se e Friends, Page 10

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FROM PAGE 9

Enhancing the enchanting island refrains of the ukuleles are instruments like one or two guitars, banjo, harmonica, whistle and snare drum. Drummer Dave Shulenberger is a relative newcomer with the Strummers, having first sat in about four months ago, rebounding after a fiveyear hiatus. A professional drummer most of his adult life, his career took him to troupes throughout the Poconos and also lengthy stints with the Crystal Band of Scranton and a German band in Binghamton, N.Y., called Musikverein. The Scranton Technical alumnus, whose grandfather helped install a landmark clock atop the steeple of the historic Scranton Lace Co., accompanies the Strummers with a snare drum, a small bass drum and, whenever the arrangement stipulates, a tambourine, cowbell or wood block. Now that he’s on the road back from his hiatus, Dave next hopes to resume singing with the choir at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton. Like Dave, Kurilla is a professional drummer who has performed with the Northeast Philharmonic, The Irish Tenors, the Allentown Philharmonic and with groups opening for Steely Dan, War, the Moody Blues, Rebe Jackson and the Temptations. Besides teaching at Howard Gardner School, the Marywood University graduate also offers private instructions. Always an educator, Kurilla said in his online message, “We’re a beginner/intermediate-friendly group that plays a variety of songs that will help you become a more proficient ukulele player and musician.” Interested? Then don a Hawaiian shirt, grab a ukulele and start strumming.

ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER / STAFF PHOTO

Michele and Ed Fitzgerald strum their ukuleles.

ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER / STAFF PHOTO

Dave Shulenberger adds some percussion to the ukulele band.

ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER / STAFF PHOTO

Barb Nivert, left, and Suzy Mooney practice with the group. ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER / STAFF PHOTO

Strumming their ukuleles during practice at the Waverly Community House are husband and wife, Bill and Marilyn Hiller, retirees from Lake Quinn.

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The multi-talented Neil Burke plays harmonica and ukulele simultaneously.

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Carole and bill repecki of dickson City pause to look over some of the goods at the Vermont Country store. by Ed and ElEanor rogErs

The itineraries for the two groups were identical with visits to the Vern early October, 100-plus Good Times mont Teddy Bear Co. factory, the Ben travelers went to Vermont to view and Jerry’s ice cream plant, Orton’s the autumn foliage. They accomVermont Country Store, the Killington plished this but the women in the group ski area and several smaller museums. did a lot of shopping, too. Also included were luncheon buffets on Many came home with shopping bags Lake Champlain. stuffed with teddy bears, maple syrup The biggest complaint, and maybe and candy and other assorted items. the only one, was that TravelWorld’s The agenda, arranged by TravelJohn Madden packed so much into World, was so popular two trips, a week the three days the group was in the apart, were needed. Rutland was the Green Mountain State that there wasn’t home base for both. enough time to shop. The first was marred by rain and cold The Teddy Bear factory at Shelburne weather which put a damper on some of produces almost 500,000 teddy bears the planned activities. The second, how- each year. It is one of Vermont’s most ever, was just the opposite with sunny popular tourist attractions. skies and normal New England autumn Guests are taken on a tour of the temperatures. production area during which each Vermont’s foliage was just beginning step of the manufacturing process from to turn when the first group motored up cutting the furry material to stuffing the Route 7 from the New York border. The finished bears is explained. colors had begun to intensify when the On the first Good Times trip, the second group followed the same route a factory tour took so much time there week later. There was not as much red wasn’t much left for the gift shop. This from the maples as the Northeastern was remedied on the second by schedulPennsylvania people expected; yellow ing the gift shop first. from the ash and aspens and some orPle ase se e T ravelers, Page 13 anges seemed to predominate.

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Washington Watch BY CHERYL M. KEYSER

The icon that can be seen on the website is a red circle with a white ANOTHER SCAM hand. According to Medicare, this will SOCIAL SECURITY HEADS UP There is a new scam to be aware of help identify a problematic nursing The annual cost-of-living adjustment – genetic testing. Scammers tell people home and create an incentive for all (COLA) for Social Security will inthat free genetic of DNA testing is cov- nursing homes to be extra vigilant in crease by 1.6% (roughly $24.00 a month) ered by Medicare. But, Medicare only avoiding such problems. at the start of 2020. This covers some 63 covers such tests in limited situation This is one element in a five-part apmillion beneficiaries and 8 million SSI and only when ordered by a doctor. proach that Medicare has developed to enbeneficiaries. The Administration on Community sure safety and quality in nursing homes, In addition, the maximum amount Living (formerly the Administration on said CMS Administrator, Seema Verma. of earnings subject to payroll deducAging), provides the following examFor further information, visit cms. tions for those in the workforce, will ples of how the scam can be avoided: gov increase from $132,900 to $137,700. ■ Refuse a cheek swab offered at any PET ADVANTAGES The annual increase is based on the community event, such as a health fair. Consumer Price Index as determined Researchers at Florida State Uni■ If you are sent a genetic test by by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. How- mail, refuse it and record the sender’s versity have found that having a pet ever, there has been a long-standing can ease the feelings of depression or name and the date you return it. effort by aging organizations to change ■ Never provide anyone, unless it is loneliness after the loss of a spouse. the basis used to determine the COLA. your physician or hospital, your MediAccording to Dawn Carr, Ph.D., peoMax Richtman, CEO of the National care number. ple without a pet experienced greater Committee to Preserve Social Security sadness and withdrawal from society If a company bills Medicare for and Medicare, calls this percentage than those who had pets. genetic testing and Medicare refuses “paltry” and “a disappointment for “In everyday life, having a cat or dog to pay for it, the beneficiary could have older adults.” may not make you healthier,” said Carr, to pay for the test, some of which run Richtman supports what is known “but when facing a stressful event, one more than $10,000. as the Consumer Price Index for the Elmight lean on a pet for support. You ABUSE ALERT derly (CPI-E), which has been discussed can talk to a dog - or you can pet your Medicare announced that it will use cat and its calming.” in Congress for more than 30 years. a special icon on its Nursing Home This would substantially increase the Having to care for a pet also offers Care website to identify those homes COLA, by at least 6% if adopted. The other important benefits - following which have been cited for cases of CPI-E, according to Richtman, would a routine for feedings or walking an abuse, neglect or exploitation. better reflect the spending priorities animal can contribute to feelings of This comes after years of reports of seniors, including healh care, as well-being and socialization. of nursing home abuse which have not opposed to the current formula which Carr also suggested that older adults been made public and rely, often, on is based on the expenses of younger in senior living residences are allowed nursing home personnel or families urban wage earners. to have a companion animal. who will also report a problem. For more information, visit ssa.gov For further information, visit The and ncpssm.org.

Gerontological Society of America’s website.

PEARLY WHITES There has been increasing interest over the past few years to broaden Medicare coverage to include areas of health that are now excluded. One of these is oral care. For many adults, missing or loose teeth, ill-fitting dentures and lack or periodic cleanings may leave them unable to eat properly. It is estimated that 70% of all Medicare beneficiaries lack or have expensive private dental care. “Oral health is an essential part of overall health for people of all ages, especially seniors. Adding a dental benefit to Medicare is necessary to achieve health care for the millions of older adults who rely on Medicare,” said Jennifer Goldberg, directing attorney for Justice in Aging. Surveys have also shown that Medicare beneficiaries would support adding oral health coverage, especially for checkups and pain treatment. Dentists also support the addition of this benefit, in just about the same degree as participants, with 71.2% willing to adhere to Medicare policies and practices. Such a benefit would provide the same coverage as other outpatient services. For further information, visit the website at justiceinaging.org.

Isolation among older adults BY CHERYL M. KEYSER

U.S. Census, some 11 million people 65 and older live alone. And, although Probably one of the most worrithere are no current statistics availsome symptoms of aging is isolation. able, more and more older adults do It often comes after the loss of one’s not have children. spouse, but it can also be another One of the main reasons older relative or even the loss of an adult adults feel alone is due to widowchild. It is the sensation of being hood, followed closely by a living disconnected from everyone who does spouse who may be either chronicalnot share the same experience of loss, ly ill or have dementia. The dedicaunknown and forgotten by the world tion to caregiving also results in the at large - even relatives and friends well spouse feeling isolated due to close to home. the demands of providing 24-hour-aBelieve it or not, according to the day care.

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Well-meaning friends of a family may feel it is intrusive to visit someone who is caring for another adult. Children may not live near enough to provide assistance to a parent. Because of caregiving, a spouse is also most likely unable to work. Unfortunately, as a job would at least offer some social interaction. Nor do health care personnel always understand or sympathize with a caregiver patients. One nurse suggested that the caregiver take a break from their duties and recommended three house

of respit a week. Studies indicate that the result of this type of situation may also lead to premature death with a mortality rate comparable to smoking and twice as dangerous as obesity, according to the Senior Living Blog at A Place for Mom. It can also result in diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and other health conditions. Loneliness and social isolation is not necessarily the same. Dr. John Please see Isolation, Page 13

FROM PAGE 11

Vermont cheddar cheese and locally produced maple syrups are mixed with modern clothing and appliances. There were free samples of food everywhere including cheese, chips, fudge, cookies, nuts and other items. That the store is a shopper’s paradise was verified by the number and size of the bags the travelers brought back to the bus. What they couldn’t buy in the store, they probably can find what they want in the 100 page catalogue most came away with or by now have received in the mail. Next stop was the Killington ski resort where the Good Times people were booked on the K-1 Gondola which travels up hill to the highest Vermont peak serviced by a chairlift. The gondolas accommodate eight people for the mile and a quarter ride to the top of 4,241-foot Killington Peak. On a clear day passengers can enjoy views that stretch into five states and Canada. On the first trip, much of the view was obscured by fog and rain. The second was just the opposite. It was magnificent. Because of time restraints, the NEPA group members didn’t get out of the lift at the summit. Following lunch at local restaurants, they were off to the New England Maple Museum and the

Vermont Marble Museum. The maple museum offers a trip through more than 200 years of maple sugaring history starting with the Native American discovery that maple sap cooked over an open ﬁre produces a sweet syrup. Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States with an annual yield of half a million gallons. The museum is another of the region’s top tourist stops attracting 200 tour buses carrying 30,000 visitors every year. The next stop was the Vermont Marble Museum with more than 100 displays including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Hall of Presidents exhibits. One of the largest marble quarries is nearby. According to Ray Komski, the TravelWorld escort, at one time visitors were taken there on a narrow gauge train to see how the stone is obtained. Nearby the museum are a bridge over Otter Creek constructed mainly of shiny white marble and a ﬁre station which has the same distinction. While in Vermont the Good Times groups had an opportunity to view examples of the state’s all-out effort to use renewable energy and to grow crops to replace the rapidly declining dairy industry. Last year saw a 10 percent decline in

the number of dairy farmers. The number dropped from 1,100 in 2008 to 694 in May of this year. One of the ideas to replace the dairy farms is to grow hemp for food for humans and animals and to manufacture a dietary supplement rich in CBD, or cannabidiol which is thought to be effective in preventing epileptic seizures and pain from arthritis. The state’s program has already registered 570 hemp growers and 158 processors in more than a dozen locations from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts state line. En route to Rutland, the Good Times travelers passed a number of greenhouses in which hemp seedlings were being started. They also passed acres upon acres of solar panels that are part of the state’s mission to produce 75 percent of its energy from renewables by 2032. In addition to the big arrays, many home owners have installed panels on their rooftops. Once back into New York state, the Good Times travelers stopped in Saratoga Springs to try their luck at the casino and for lunch at the town’s restaurants. Then it was back to Scranton and Wilkes-Barre to unload the packages and put them away for the holidays.

FROM PAGE 12

ics Core Laboratory at the University of California notes. that “loneliness acts as a fertilizer for other diseases. The biology of loneliness can accelerate the build up of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inﬂammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s Disease.” This is a frightening thought. But, there is hope, which Cole deﬁnes as “working for a social cause or purpose with others who share your values to help develop a greater sense of community.” “People who engage in meaningful, productive activities with others tend to live longer, boost their mood and have a sense of purpose. These activities seem to help maintain their well-being and may improve their cognitive function,” according to Cole. But, what does that mean and how can it be achieved? There are a number of alternatives that are recommended to help one climb up that ladder of loss and isolation and look forward. And, of course,

it is up to each person to decide what is best for him or her. Here are a few suggestions: ■ Seek out activities to become more involved, such as a senior center. ■ If the individual has room, perhaps have a student live in who could do chores in return for companionship. ■ A pet such as dog, cat or even a hamster could ease depression and give one a sense of control over his or her life. ■ Go with friends to the movies or lunch (one suggestion is to drive others to appointments, as is done with Silver Ride in San Francisco). ■ Engage in music with groups like the New Horizons band, take educational courses at a community college, or check out the National Center for Creative Aging to ﬁnd a list of programs nationwide. Fortunately, isolation is not a normal part of aging. In fact, in some cases the opposite may be true. Everyone has heard of the Merry Widow, well some spouses may feel that

way and choose to remarry. Visiting websites, such as OurTime.com, the over-50 dating site, is one way to enter into a new relationship. One woman, or better said, one couple, met that way, finding each other on that website. She was a very upbeat former art teacher, he was a former minister. They met for lunch at a place equidistant from where each lived in different states. When they finally decided to set a date, they consulted with a financial advisor who suggested they marry after the first of the year as it would prove more financially advantageous. They married on Jan. 1. This may not be appealing to everyone, but it does expand the opportunities to meet new friends. The hardest part of aging alone and isolated is getting up and doing something. The best part, however, is that it not only alleviates loss, but leads to new friends, new opportunities and new avenues to discover. For further information, visit nia. nih.gov.

From the Teddy Bear factory it was a quick ride to the shores of Lake Champlain at Burlington to board the Spirit of Ethan Allen for a luncheon buffet and a narrated cruise. Then it was off to Waterbury for a guided tour of the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream plant which ended with a free sample of the firm’s famous dessert. From the crowds and number of cars and buses in the parking lot, it was obvious that this also is one of the most popular tourist stops in the state. It was a 90-minute ride along Echo Lake and several streams back to the hotel. Damage caused by Hurricane Irene in August 2011 is still very visible. The storm dumped as much as 11 inches of rain causing the streams to overflow, washing away the embankments and filling the channels with boulders. The next day started with a visit to the Orton Vermont Country Store at Weston which has the distinction of being America’s first restored and fully operational country store and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The store is stocked with everything from the traditional soup to nuts. Items from yesteryear such as Pledge polish and Beeman’s gum that are difficult to find anywhere else; homemade fudge,

Cacioppo, formerly of the Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience at the University of Chicago (now deceased), specifically defined the differences. “Social isolation is the objective physical separation from other people (living alone), while loneliness is the subjective distressed feeling of being alone or separated.” Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo, Ph.D., has continued her husband’s work. She notes, this is a fairly new field of study, with only two decades of scientific investigation supporting it. She notes that “the misery and suffering caused by chronic loneliness are very real and warrant attention. And she maintains that “treating loneliness is our collective responsibility.” According to Dr. Lisabeth Nielsen, Ph.D. of the National Institute of Aging (NIA), loneliness and social isolation are “two independent processes affecting health differently (and it is not known whether) loneliness provides a pathway for social isolation to affect health.” Dr. Steve Cole of the Social Genom-

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Five myths about Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease is poorly understood. To prevent stigmatizing those afflicted, here are five long-standing myths about it that need to be dispelled.

many years after the disease is detected.

“People with Alzheimer’s disease are violent.” Alzheimer’s disease manifests in varying ways among different “Alzheimer’s disease only affects people. Some individuals diagnosed with it memory.” While memory loss is the may express their frustration in aggressive symptom that’s most often associated with ways, but this doesn’t occur universally. Alzheimer’s disease, the condition can cause a Ensuring those with Alzheimer’s have a host of other cognitive issues. For instance, it calm and stable environment will reduce the may manifest as a loss of interest in one’s likelihood of violent behavior. favorite pastimes, a loss of coordination such “It’s possible to prevent Alzheimer’s as difficulties with eating or getting dressed, disease.” There’s no way to entirely preword repetition, getting lost in familiar survent Alzheimer’s. However, it’s possible to roundings and becoming easily agitated. significantly reduce your risk of developing it “Only seniors are affected.” We tend by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stay active, to think of Alzheimer’s disease as only eat well, and above all, avoid smoking. Tobacco affecting the elderly. However, while smoking increases your risk of developing people over 65 years of age are more likely to cognitive disease by up to 45 percent. Mainbe diagnosed, early-onset Alzheimer’s can taining a healthy social life is also important. afflict people in their forties or fifties.

“Life stops at diagnosis.” A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t mean the individual’s life is over. With treatment and close monitoring, it’s possible to pursue projects and live a fulfilling life for

Learn more Close to 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease. To learn more, visit alzheimers.net/resources.

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Caregiver Conference coming to Scranton The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Conference will take place on Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marywood University, Latour Room in Nazareth Hall. This conference is free to family or friends caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. Throughout the day, participants will hear the latest updates and trends in Alzheimer’s care and support while participating in a variety of activities designed to have them leaving rested and rejuvenated. The featured speaker is Evan Bass Zeisel, an actor, writer, producer, educator, researcher and entrepreneur. More than ﬁve million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 400,000 people living with the disease and 676,000 caregivers. To register for the conference, call 800-272-3900 or visit bit.ly/32VAgKA.

Green Space by Duane Campbell

need an electric drill and a masonry bit you can get at any building store. Put a any people think that the half inch of water in the soon-to-be pot, price on the sticker in a garto keep it cool, put it on a soft surface den center is the price they like the lawn, and drill. When the water must pay. Foolish people. I look at such suddenly disappears, you have a pot with stickers as a challenge, not a mandate. proper drainage. You can’t just call over the nearest perAll the books tell you to put drainage son with a vest and a name tag and offer material in the bottom. This admonition half the listed price. That’s for amateurs. was first written somewhere around 1870 First you have to get to someone who can when potting soil was what you dug up make decisions. Then you need to come from the garden, and successive generaup with a plausible reason or an offer tions of garden writers have passed it on. they can’t refuse. Don’t do it. Today’s light, well drained Thus it was recently at a Lowes. (Don’t potting soils don’t need it, and it’s even bother with bargaining at Home Depot; detrimental now. corporate policy prefers Dumpsters to Beyond these elementary essentials, deep discounts.) I needed a particular the pot should be the right size and shape. pot for a begonia that was straining at its What is right depends on the plant. roots, and I had looked for weeks for just Cactus and succulents prefer to be the right one. I found the perfect pot, and underpotted, roots tightly squeezed, and I would have paid the list price of $20, but in shallow pots. If the pot looks too small it was on sale for half price. A journeyfor the plant, you’ve got it about right. If man bargainer would have been happy it looks ridiculously small, it’s time for with that, but I’m holding a master class repotting, but only in an ever so slightly here. larger pot. If the roots expand to the These were fiberglass pots that had extent that they break the pot, you waited been stacked, and the stacking had a bit too long, but only a bit. caused barely visible hairline cracks in For normal leafy plants, if the proporthe rims of several, mildly cosmetic but tion of pot to plant looks about right it not at all fatal. I found the department probably is. For those who don’t trust manager, chatted a bit, pointed out the their judgment, check the roots. They’ll problem, and offered two bucks each for tell you. Some roots wrapped around the the half dozen ever so slightly damaged outside of the soil is to be expected, but pots. He agreed immediately, which is if there is a thick mat of roots around always unsettling, leaving me to think I the outside of the root ball, it is time for a should offered a dollar. I once negotiated larger container. two dozen six dollar ferns for a quarter There are choices of materials. Plastic each, a personal best. is cheap, easy, often good for the plants, I have a motto I live by: Right pot, right but seldom very attractive. plant. Others might have loftier life prinI absolutely love terra cotta. There are ciples, but that works for me. That means few plants that don’t look as if they benot only the right size and configuration, long there. Group several pots, different which are important, but also the right shapes and sizes, aged and new, simple or look. Pot and plant should complement fancy, from Italy and China and Mexico one another, be comfortable together, fit together and they look like a matched set. like that old jacket your spouse wants you Unfortunately uncommon terra cotta to throw out. has virtually disappeared from mass First, pots must have a hole in the market stores the last couple of years. bottom. If it doesn’t, it’s a jardiniere, Nothing to be found but machine-made, something decorative you put a pot in. standard “flower pots” which are fine for These are useful when you bring a pot geraniums, even right for geraniums, but inside and want to protect whatever you too mundane for treasured plants. set it on, but you must be careful that waI have stuck with terra cotta for ter doesn’t linger there. Sometimes you decades, but maybe their scarcity is a will find a jardiniere that really wants to good thing for me. Not only does it save be a pot, and you can help it. Drill a hole. me money every spring to spend on more Simple in plastic and composites, a little plants, but as I have gotten older my tricky in ceramic or terra cotta, but only plants have gotten bigger, needing bigger a little. containers, and terra cotta has gotten With ceramic and terra cotta you

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Remember those souvenirs you brought back from Florida and didn’t know what to do with? heavier. As much as I love really big clay planters, they don’t like me so much anymore. As I need new large planters for newly large plants, I am looking more kindly at the new materials, ﬁberglass and composite, which once caused me to turned my nose up. They are light, easy to work with, attractive, in various colors and patterns. I still don’t like the pretend terra cotta-colored ones because they don’t “age,” one of the charms of real terra cotta, but black and gray and tan have their place. Even red, if you have the right plant. You may still ﬁnd some deeply discounted back in the corner behind the plastic Christmas trees. Which brings us to the esthetics of it all, and my score at Lowes. The pot I had been seeking for weeks was for a rex or rex-ish begonia, stunning but now so exuberant that the pot couldn’t be seen. This was a pewter leafed beauty that deserved something better than the nearest pot the right size, so I was looking for weeks. It’s not as if I’m not in a garden center from time to time. I found the right one. Six, in fact, at 90 percent off. Fortunately I had several fancy begonias, happy with their summer vacation outside, and now they are in matched pots. An even longer search was necessary for my Agave ‘Victoria Regina’, a stunning and rare succulent that I had grown for many years. It had been in the same pot for a decade, so there was no special hurry, no need to settle on something less

than right. And I finally found it, but not in a garden center. What I found was a bathroom waste basket. White, to match the veining in the agave, tall to accentuate its shape, a heavy duty plastic of some kind. No hole, but easy to drill. Then began the delicate task of transplanting with as little blood loss as possible. My special agave is now in its new home where it will remain for many years, worth the wait for the right home. The point of all this … if there is a point … is that a pot and a plant are a relationship, and you can’t go to Match. com to find the perfect match. You have to look, look hard, hold out for the right one – the right size, right color, right texture, right style, right weight. And if you are lucky, find them on sale, but if necessary just the right pot deserves (choke) full price.

a bargain find for begonia pots.

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