My Communicator | Winter 2018

Vol. 27, No. 1 | Winter 2019

Feeling Sad? It Could Be SAD PAGE 4

HEALTH & WELLNESS

HISTORY

A Guide to Diabetes

Martin Luther King, Jr.

As many as one in three U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050 if trends continue.

51 years after the assassination of MLK, we look at Ohio's related history.

Diabetes is one of the biggest health issues in American history, and it’s only affecting more people as the population grows. As of 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 30 million Americans have some form of diabetes. That number makes up just under 10 percent of the entire American population. Around 25 percent of those 65 and older have diabetes, the CDC says, meaning about 12 million seniors have the condition. See Diabetes page 6.

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HEALTHY AGING

Seniors, Sex, and STDs Sexually transmitted infections are rising among older adults. How can you stay safe?

PAGE 18

Find us at MySourcePoint.org and follow us on

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CONTENT

Winter 2019

01 A Guide to Diabetes

Health & Wellness

03 New Year, New You? Feature

04 Feeling Sad? It Could Be SAD

Health & Wellness

08 Self-Managing Diabetes

Health & Wellness

10 Open Your Mind and Be Kind

Good Will

13 Fun Facts About Phil

Fun & Games

14 51 Years Later: The Assassination of MLK History

15 blessings and An Ordinary Day

Creative Writing

16 From the Source

News, Program Updates & Special Events

18 Seniors, Sex, and STDs

Healthy Aging

19 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Finances

20 Volunteering Together

Profile

SourcePoint 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware, OH 43015 740-363-6677 | MySourcePoint.org

SourcePoint is the primary resource and starting point for professional expertise, services, and programs for Delaware County adults who want to thrive after 55. SourcePoint is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Services and programs are supported in part by the local senior services levy, corporate and private donations, sponsorships, grants, and by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. SourcePoint is a United Way agency.

2019 Board of Directors President: Roger Lossing, CPA, JD, CFP, Lewis Center Vice President: Frank Pinciotti, Lewis Center Secretary: Gretchen Roberts, MSN, Powell Treasurer: Richard Roell, ChFC, FFSI, RIA, MBA, Galena David Black, Westerville Gerald Borin, Powell Denise Cambier, MD, Delaware Becky Cornett, Delaware Kristina Crites, Powell Carlos Crawford, MS, JD, Delaware Karen Crosman, Powell Anne Farley, LSW, MS, Powell Jack Fette, Lewis Center John McDavid, Centerburg Jane Nance, RN, Westerville Trudy Poole, Lewis Center Carolyn Slone, Delaware Jane Taylor, Dublin Roger Van Sickle, Delaware The board typically meets the last Wednesday of each month at noon. Members of the public wishing to attend may call the executive director at 740-363-6677.

22 5 Ways Giving is Good For You

My Communicator is published quarterly and is made possible through advertisers, donors, and volunteers.

24 Get to the Point!

Nearly 50,000 copies of each edition are printed and distributed throughout Delaware County. My Communicator is available at SourcePoint and more than 60 locations, such as libraries, senior living communities, health care facilities, and nonprofit organizations. To find a nearby pickup site, contact SourcePoint at 740-363-6677. Read My Communicator online at MySourcePoint.org/publications.

Philanthropy

Winter Activities

26 Business is Booming

Nutrition

28 Surprising Benefits of Being a Caregiver Caregiving

30 The Post-Holiday Health Hump

To advertise or submit content, contact Alison Yeager, director of communications and development, at alison@MySourcePoint.org.

31 Video Chat vs. Depression?

The appearance of advertising does not represent an endorsement

by SourcePoint. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising.

Health & Wellness

Technology

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FEAT URE

New Year, New You?

A few modifications may make New Year's resolutions easier to keep.

It's a tradition that is nearly as certain as the New Year itself.

When the calendar flips from December to January, many of us look at the new year as a fresh start—a time to change those things we didn't like about the previous year and look forward with optimism.

That change—at least in the early days of the new year—often comes in the form of New Year's resolutions, those pledges we make to pick up good habits and drop bad ones with the overall goal of becoming a better person.

And they work! Well, for a month or so, anyway.

Whatever improvements we resolve to make in January seem to have fallen by the wayside come spring, and aren't thought of again until...you guessed it, December, when the cycle begins anew.

But some people avoid the cycle altogether, knowing themselves well enough to know the outcome in advance.

"I do not make New Year's resolutions primarily because I would likely not follow up as I should," said Powell resident Ron Smith.

Ostrander residents Randy and Judy Martz also found that following up on their New Year's resolutions was temporary.

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"We would maybe work on our resolutions for three or four weeks, if that," Randy said. "Probably the last time we made resolutions was 40 or more years ago, for both of us."

Delaware resident Matt Meier said he's in the same boat.

"I have tried to make some resolutions in the past.

I found that I would not keep them," he said. "I didn't have the self-motivation to do so, so I gave up making resolutions."

Not surprisingly, they aren't alone. According to an article in Psychology Today, it's estimated that less than 10 percent of New Year's resolutions are actually achieved. And as we get older and more set in our ways, the idea of changing behaviors and routines becomes even more challenging. But for those who have a resolution to actually keep their resolutions, it can be done with the right mindset and the right goals.

If your resolutions typically cover such life improvements as eating healthier, quitting smoking, exercising more frequently, or drinking less, the Psychology Today article states that you want to either change existing habits or create new ones.

See New You page 12.

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Winter 2019

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Feeling Sad? It Could Be SAD Seasonal Affective Disorder is common and treatable.

If you find a case of the holiday blahs has stretched into the winter blues, you may have seasonal affective disorder.

The good news is, SAD is both common and treatable. According to an article published in Scientific American, SAD affects "between 1 and 5 percent of the population in the lower 48," and numbers increase in the northern latitudes where days are shorter and winters longer. (Research shows about 1 percent of Florida residents suffer with SAD, while 9 percent of New Englanders do, and numbers in Alaska can top 10 percent.) Women are affected more frequently than men, by a ratio of 4:1, and women in their childbearing years are most affected.

While researchers haven't confirmed a particular cause of SAD, shorter daylight hours of winter may be a primary culprit. Daylight cues our circadian rhythms, and shortened periods of daylight send those rhythms off kilter, leading to disruptions in serotonin and melatonin that can affect appetite, sleep, and our overall mood.

Factor in other things, such as genetics and climate, and you have a recipe for a SAD diagnosis.

SAD Symptoms Feeling stressed or slightly unhappy during the holiday season does not necessarily mean you have SAD. Dr. Craig Travis, director of behavioral sciences, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center Medical Education, said there are certain symptoms of which to be aware, particularly if they interfere with your daily function. Dr. Travis cited the following things to watch for: • Feeling depressed most of the day,

• • •

•

• • • • • • • •

•

nearly every day.

Feeling hopeless or worthless.

Having low energy.

Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.

Having problems with sleep.

Feeling sluggish or agitated.

Having difficulty concentrating.

Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide.

Having low energy.

Hypersomnia.

Overeating.

Weight gain.

Craving carbohydrates. (Your body's attempt to boost serotonin.)

Social withdrawal. (You feel like “hibernating.”)

"You do not need to experience every symptom to meet criteria for a diagnosis of SAD," Dr. Travis said. "If someone thinks they suffer from SAD, speak with a clinician who can do an assessment and make a diagnosis and recommend possible treatments. If you already have a diagnosis of SAD, I recommend sharing it with a few trusted, supportive friends who can help and encourage you through the winter months."

Because SAD runs on a spectrum, it's likely to affect each person differently.

And, unlike typical depression,

SAD "lifts like a hemline once warmer weather hits."

"Winter is often viewed socially and psychologically as depressing, gray, cold, barren, harsh, and even death-like," Dr. Travis said. "Maybe just us northerners view it that way. But that kind of mindset can set up a depressing mood and that affects some people more than others."

Bidding the Blues "Adieu" Dr. Travis said the obvious way to combat seasonal affective disorder— "Move to Florida."—may not be the easiest or most practical option for most people. With that in mind, he recommended several other options for those who remain in Delaware County year-round: Exercise Starting or maintaining a regular exercise routine can be a great stress, anxiety, and depression buffer, Dr. Travis said.

"It doesn't need to be intense; it can be moderate walking," he said.

The Scientific American article also promoted the benefits of exercise, which could "increase one's sensitivity to light and help restore circadian rhythms and help you achieve a good mood."

Socialize Living in Delaware County—or anywhere in the north, for that

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Winter 2019 matter—means it's easier to want to remain isolated during the winter, which Dr. Travis said can be lonely and depressing.

"Human beings are social creatures and we need connection. It's supportive and validating to us," he said.

Part of that socializing can include volunteering in the community. Studies have shown that devoting time to helping others can improve mental health and create a greater feeling of satisfaction with your life.

Light Exposure Dr. Travis said ideally, and more specifically, increased exposure to sunlight is most beneficial. But he is also aware that sunlight can be difficult to come by when it's overcast, cloudy, and gray. In that case, he recommends light box therapy.

"The key here is that it needs to be

5 20- to 60-minute exposure to 10,000 lux—a measure of illumination—of cool fluorescent light, which is more than most household lighting. You can't just sit under a reading lamp," he said.

Serotonin production in the brain is related to light, and the production of melatonin—the sleep hormone—is also regulated by light. A light box can be a good substitute on those days when you can't walk the dog to get some exercise.

Various studies indicate that 30 minutes with a high-quality light box when you first wake up produces positive results, as simply sitting in front of the light triggers changes in your brain and resets your body clock.

Depending on the severity of SAD, you may need to use light therapy in conjunction with other treatments, such as

vitamin D supplements, cognitive behavioral therapy, an exercise regimen, and/or antidepressants.

The medication Wellbutrin has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating SAD, while cognitive behavioral therapy can address the beliefs and habits that may go along with SAD. You should definitely consult a physician to see what may work best before trying any treatments on your own.

With an arsenal of potentially helpful treatment methods at your disposal, you can be happy this winter knowing you have ways to fight the SAD. Jeff Robinson is a feature writer for My Communicator.

To find local opportunities for fitness and friendship, go to page 24.

They probably weren’t thinking about home health care fifty years ago.

At Interim, we were already providing it.

Since 1966, Interim HealthCare has helped families care for their loved ones with a wide range of in-home services, all provided with the highest levels of professionalism and compassion. And, as an industry leader for over 50 years, we offer a level of stability, security, and experience unavailable anywhere else.

PROVIDING HOME CARE NATIONWIDE FOR OVER 50 YEARS 954-000-0000 (740) 990-0403

www.interimhealthcare.com/glensFalls-saratogany www.interimhealthcare.com ©2018 Interim HealthCare Inc. Each office is independently owned and operated. Photo: “A Happy Family”

by Tony Alter, flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/3809376154, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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Winter 2019 doesn’t produce insulin at all, and this is the main factor for developing type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes From page 1

These are astronomical numbers. The World Health Organization expects diabetes to be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. And because so many people have it, Americans spend huge amounts of money on treatment and medication. The American Diabetes Association reported in 2012 that the cost of diabetes diagnoses was $245 billion—nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars.

Worse yet, some experts believe the number of Americans who have diabetes can increase from about one in 10 in 2015 to one in three by 2050, if current trends continue. This is due in part to an increasingly older population—one that is more at risk for developing diabetes as they age. In the very best scenarios, experts believe that one in five Americans will have diabetes by 2050.

“These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type 2 diabetes,” said Ann Albright, the director of CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation.

The first step in combating diabetes is being informed— understanding what it is, how to take preventative measures, and how to treat the disease.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder that affects the body’s metabolism and how it processes food for energy purposes. When you are diagnosed with diabetes, that means that your body has difficulty processing sugars from the food you eat. Because of this, your body’s blood glucose—or blood sugar—levels are too high. Over time, having too much sugar in your blood can have dire effects on your health and can affect your overall lifestyle, from your activity level to your diet.

This is why saying you have diabetes doesn’t exactly paint the whole picture of your symptoms.

There are certain types of diabetes that occur at a young age, such as gestational diabetes, which develops in pregnant women, but we’re going to take a look at how diabetes affects your health as you get older.

Are Seniors at Greater Risk?

How old you are plays a large role in the type of diabetes you’re diagnosed with due to how your body handles insulin over your lifetime. While type 1 is most often developed at a younger age, type 2 is most commonly diagnosed in middleaged and older people. This is due to lifelong eating and lifestyle habits that contribute to diabetes’ development. So yes, seniors are at a greater risk for developing diabetes.

Simply put, elderly people have been exposed to sugar longer than other generations of people, so their chances of developing hyperglycemia—”abnormally high” blood glucose levels—and, ultimately, type 2 diabetes is greater.

Prediabetes Getting diagnosed with prediabetes means that, while your blood sugar is high, it’s not consistently high enough to be considered to have type 2 diabetes. However, it does mean that you should immediately take action to reverse it. When you have prediabetes, your body is either slowly starting to reject insulin as a way of converting sugar to energy or it soon will. The ADA says that half of Americans 65 and older have prediabetes, which means that nearly 25 million seniors are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. That is a staggeringly high number, given that another 25 percent of the senior population already has diabetes. An issue with prediabetes, though, is that there are generally no symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms associated with diabetes, you may already have it.

It is imperative that your doctor stays on top of your blood sugar levels and that you start taking steps to live a healthier life if you are told you are prediabetic.

The main player in processing sugar in your body is insulin.

When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it doesn’t use insulin the right way.

Insulin is created in the pancreas, then released into the bloodstream, where it helps absorb the glucose and converts it to energy and helps keep blood sugar levels normal. This doesn’t always happen, though. When your body doesn’t use insulin properly, that is called “insulin resistance,” which is the predecessor for type 2 diabetes. Sometimes your body

Prediabetes is a condition that is developed over your life, which means there are lifestyle choices combined with family history that play a role in developing prediabetes—and potentially full-on diabetes.

Because prediabetes is the first step to developing type 2 diabetes, the causes of type 2 diabetes are extremely

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Living Well with Diabetes

Are you one of the 30 million Americans with diabetes?

To be your healthiest and feel your best:

Eat more fruits and vegetables, less sugar and salt.

Get physically active—aim for at least 150 min/week.

Take diabetes medicine as prescribed.

similar to prediabetes. Some of the more specific causes of prediabetes include: • Inactivity. The glucose burned for energy with the help of insulin is basically used to help fuel active humans.

When you exercise, your body’s muscles burn more glucose and actually use less insulin in the process, too, which helps reverse insulin resistance. If you’re inactive, your muscles aren’t burning the glucose and instead are storing it, resulting in higher blood sugar levels.

• Sleeping patterns. Researchers say quality of sleep can affect how at risk you are for developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, have been linked to higher blood sugar levels and also play a role in obesity, which is another cause of diabetes.

• Excess fat. This can be associated with inactivity, as a lifestyle full of not exercising while eating fatty, unhealthy foods can cause fat to store and affect your health. Excess fat, especially around the waist area, is harmful to the body and organs by increasing the inflammation it causes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Just because you are diagnosed as prediabetic does not mean you will definitely develop diabetes. You are more likely to, though, and you should start to pump the brakes immediately. As your blood sugar levels are climbing to dangerous levels when you are prediabetic, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help those numbers trickle down to normal levels once again.

Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. It accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases, but it is also the most preventable and treatable form of diabetes

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Make and keep appointments with your health care team.

Check blood sugar regularly.

Know your ABCs: - Regular A1C test - Blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg - Control cholesterol - Stop/don’t start smoking

if blood sugar levels are caught and managed before they reach too high of a level during the prediabetic stage.

This form of diabetes occurs when your body stops using insulin the right way. Because of the high levels of sugar in your blood, your pancreas makes extra insulin as a way of trying to process all the sugar in your blood, but over time, the insulin can’t keep up and leaves high levels of sugar streaming through your veins and vessels. This can have severe effects on your health.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are more likely to gradually onset as blood sugar levels rise over a lifetime to dangerous levels. These include increased urine patterns, extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue, and blurred vision.

Getting Tested If you fear you may have diabetes, bring it up to your doctor.

Typically, your doctor will be on top of your blood sugar levels whenever you go in for an appointment, and if they notice anything is off, they will suggest you get tested. There are several tests your doctor may run, either using one test multiple times or trying different tests to confirm a diagnosis.

Prevention and Treatment There is no cure for diabetes. If caught in time, there are preventative steps you can take in the prediabetic stage.

But for the most part, diabetes cases are treated differently based on which type you have, due to your body’s different needs, blood sugar levels, and health effects stemming from diabetic symptoms.

For tips on how to make adjustments to your lifestyle to prevent or manage diabetes, see page 8. © Copyright 2018 The National Council for Aging Care.

Excerpts reprinted with permission.

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Winter 2019

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Self-Managing Diabetes When it comes to diabetes, self-management is often the preferred approach because it gives you more control over your body and livelihood. But as we age, we’re more likely to develop more chronic medical conditions, making it challenging to keep up with medications and their interactions with each other, as well as nutrition and exercise. About 80 percent of Ohioans age 65 or older have at least one chronic disease and 46.5 percent live with more than one, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

What to do?

Clare Edwards, community education supervisor at SourcePoint, has frequently dealt with this question and has offered advice through Healthy U, a free, community-based workshop that helps participants manage chronic health conditions and feel healthier. Offered at SourcePoint and other locations, workshops are funded through the Ohio Department of Aging and Older Americans Act. “The harsh reality is you need to make dealing with diabetes a priority because no one is going to do it for you,” Edwards said. “It’s all on you.”

Knowing what’s going on with your body and what you’re putting into it is important, Edwards said. “When it comes to diabetes, it’s important to have medication, fitness, and nutrition plans,” she said.

Nutrition Tips: • Maintain a healthy diet that focuses on whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat or fatfree dairy. Try to avoid foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and sodium. (See choosemyplate.gov for more suggestions.)

• Eat foods with more fiber to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Recommended is 20 to 35 grams per day. Good sources of fiber are lentils, beans, avocados, broccoli, berries, pears, oatmeal, and barley.

• Drink more water and less soda or other sugary drinks.

• Go to the grocery with a list and stick to it. Don’t be tempted by salty or sugary snacks.

• Prepare your healthy snacks ahead of time and put them eye level in the fridge. “People don’t hate fruit and vegetables; it’s usually just easier to open a bag of chips than cut something up,” Edwards said.

Fitness Tips: • Make exercise a priority. Schedule it like a doctor’s appointment and write it on your calendar or post it on your fridge.

• Have a rain plan. If the weather is too lousy to exercise outside or travel to the gym, take it indoors. Look up aerobic or strength videos online or dust off an old exercise DVD. You don’t need special equipment—you

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Winter 2019

9 "In just a few weeks, I got back to feeling better-and back to being the kind of person I like to be."

can do chair yoga or lift cans as weights.

• Get an exercise buddy who will help motivate you and keep you accountable.

Diabetes Education Tips: • Make diabetes education a priority, whether by asking your doctor about it, attending a self-help class, or doing your own research. (See sidebar.)

• When visiting your doctor, be your own advocate. Bring a list of questions you have or ask someone to go along to help you get the answers you seek. Keep in mind your pharmacist can also answer drug interaction questions.

• If you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, find out how to make immediate lifestyle changes. “The risk factor goes up if you’re overweight or have a family history, high blood pressure, or are physically inactive,” Edwards said.

Amy Beth Graves is a freelance writer whose passions include reading, hiking, photography, dogs, and volunteering.

Be more in control of your health.

Healthy U: Diabetes Self-Management Tuesdays, Feb. 19‒March 26, 1‒3:30 p.m.

800 Cheshire Road, Delaware

Healthy U has been proven to help you better manage symptoms and improve your health, one step at a time. In this free, six-week series, you'll learn to better manage symptoms and emotions, improve diet and physical activity levels, communicate effectively with doctors, make good decisions, and solve problems related to your health.

Stay active, make healthy choices, and manage your condition.

You can be a more Healthy U. Register online at MySourcePoint.org/EC or call 740-363-6677.

WE BELIEVE I N N EUROSCI ENCE CARE THAT GOES BEYON D MEDICAL TREATMENT

Grady Memorial Hospital At OhioHealth, our collaborative approach helps patients participate in the healing of their minds, bodies and spirits. Whether you are managing a long-term condition like multiple sclerosis or recovering from a stroke, we’re here for you. Our patients get access to advanced clinical expertise from neurosurgeons, neurologists, nutritionists and therapists, and we offer unique wellness programs like neuro yoga and OhioHealth Delay the Disease™, an exercise program especially for those with Parkinson’s disease.

Discover neuroscience care that puts you at the center of your treatment at OhioHealth.com/Neuroscience. © OhioHealth Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. FY19-205317-NeuroWeBelieve. 11/18.

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Winter 2019

GOOD WILL

Open Your Mind and Be Kind The many benefits of performing random acts of kindness.

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

—Princess Diana Before Dr. Maryanna Klatt pulls away from a parking meter, she makes sure she adds time to the meter. She has no idea if anybody will pull in before the time expires but that doesn’t matter.

She knows what it’s like to find a meter with time still on it and likes the idea that she’s paying it forward.

“It makes me feel good. I would encourage everybody to do something for somebody else to practice random acts of kindness,” said Dr. Klatt, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Ohio State University.

For Klatt, her mother was her inspiration to reach out and be kind to others and at the same time feel more connected with herself and the world. She can remember her mother giving money to those in need and the time she gave away her mink coat to someone at a dinner club.

"Open your mind and be kind" is a philosophy practiced by Klatt and Dr. Donald Mack, a family medicine physician at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who specializes in geriatrics and older patients.

“Lots of studies in psychological literature show those who performed more acts of kindness throughout the day were less likely to report negative emotions,” Mack said. “Other research says the more positive outlook you have on life, the more you can decrease stress hormones and by doing that, decrease your risk of the big killers like heart attacks. By reducing stress and being happier, we can live longer.”

Mack, who has been focused on finding ways to decrease stress in the workplace so he can better care for patients, has found inspiration from the Bounce Back Project, which works

Foundation, studies show performing just one act of random kindness per day can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety while increasing the healthy hormones serotonin, which helps you relax and feel good, endorphins, which trigger a positive or euphoric feeling in your body, and oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone.” The end result is both the giver and the receiver are calmer, healthier, and happier.

While Mack can’t remember being the recipient of random acts of kindness, he, like many others, hears about them all the time via articles, social media, and word of mouth. Popular random acts of kindness are buying a stranger a meal or drink at a drive-thru, letting someone cut in front of you at the store, and complimenting someone on their attire. (See sidebar for more random acts of kindness.)

“We are all human and receiving a random act of kindness means you’re being seen as worthy. It’s very gratifying to both give and receive,” Klatt said.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”-Aesop

“She knew the woman admired it and left it for her. The woman was so thrilled,” said Klatt, who is trained in mindfulness and has an adult program, Mindfulness in Motion, and one for children, Move into Learning, that both combine yoga, mindfulness, and relaxing music.

to impact the lives of individuals, communities, and organizations by promoting health through happiness. In describing the benefits of random acts of kindness, he provided a quote from the organization: “Research has shown that performing an act of kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise that has been tested.”

Amy Beth Graves is a freelance writer whose passions include reading, hiking, photography, dogs, and volunteering.

According to the Random Acts Kindness

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10 Random Acts of Kindness 3 4 Every year, Feb. 17 is celebrated internationally as Random Acts of Kindness Day. It’s a day to do something nice for a stranger, coworker, or family member. Below is a list of different ways you can be kind to others.

Remember, it doesn’t have to just be on this day—any day works and the more random acts of kindness you do, the more good will you’ll spread and the better you’ll feel. it backward: buy coffee for 1 Pay the person behind you in line.

2

Compliment the first three people you talk to today.

Let someone go in front of you in line who only has a few items.

Post inspirational sticky notes around your neighborhood, office, or school.

5

Encounter a worker who is especially kind or helpful?

Take an extra five minutes to tell their manager.

6 7

Leave a kind server the biggest tip you can afford.

Send a gratitude email to a coworker who deserves more recognition.

8

Leave unused coupons next to corresponding products in the grocery store.

9

While you’re out, compliment a parent on how well-behaved his or her child is.

10

Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.

Source: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

“I would recommend Willow Brook Christian Village over any other place for rehabilitation therapy.”

- Dr. Bob Caulkins Dr. Bob Caulkins had a challenging year. He broke his leg, then had knee replacement surgery. Each time, Dr. Bob went to Willow Brook Christian Village for rehabilitation therapy. The retired family doctor practiced for 58 years in Delaware and could have picked anywhere for his therapy.

He chose Willow Brook.

Call Nicole Ketron at 740-369-0048

100 Willow Brook Way South, Delaware

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We offer these services: • Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy

Not-for-profit • willow-brook.org

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Winter 2019 provide motivation should you get off track.

New You From page 3

"Habits are automatic, conditioned responses," the article states. "You have already created literally hundreds of habits that you have now, and you don't even remember how they got started, so creating habits can't be that hard or you wouldn't have so many of them."

Successfully creating a new habit involves following three small steps: 1. Pick a small action. Having an overly broad goal, such as "exercise more" or "eat healthier," is a primary reason why New Year's resolutions don't work. When you focus on smaller, more achievable actions, "exercise more" becomes "take the stairs instead of the elevator at work" or "park farther away from the store and walk," as opposed to, say, "run a marathon sometime this year." In the same vein, "eat healthier" becomes "have a fruit smoothie for breakfast every morning" or "eat carrot sticks or an apple with lunch."

2. Attach the new action to a previous habit. If your previous habit is to take an after-dinner walk three times a week, your new action may be to "increase the length of the walk by 10 minutes." So when you get ready to take your walk, per your old habit, you become conditioned to add 10 minutes to the walk, and the longer walk soon becomes habit.

3. Make the new action easy for the first week, or longer.

Establishing a conditioned response means you need to practice the new habit from the existing stimulus from three to seven times before it will "stick" on its own. Referring to the previous examples, you may need to leave a note by your walking shoes that reads "walk for 40 minutes today," or put all of your smoothie ingredients together in one place in your fridge for easy access.

Now that you have some tips on how to better keep those New Year's resolutions, you may wonder what goals you should set for yourself in 2019. The American Geriatric Society's Health in Aging Foundation recommends these resolutions for older adults who want to stay healthy into the New Year and beyond: Consider a multivitamin. Consult your physician to see which daily supplement may be best for you.

Look into an exercise routine. Even mild to moderate physical activity can improve your health and help with such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis. Tai chi, water aerobics, walking, and stretching are examples of beneficial activities, and your insurance company may even cover the SilverSneakers program and allow access to a local fitness center. Being in physical shape will also help you to guard against falls, which affect one in three older adults each year.

See your health provider regularly. Regular visits can provide an opportunity to talk about any medications you're taking and whether you need any immunizations or screenings.

Give your brain a boost. Mental health is just as important as physical health as we age, and frequent crossword puzzles and Sudoku challenges can do wonders, as can regular socialization. If lifelong learning is your thing, local colleges and universities may allow you to audit classes at no charge.

Toast with a smaller glass. The Foundation reports that excessive drinking can make you feel depressed, increase your chances of falling, affect your sleep, and contribute to other health problems. The recommended limit for older men is 14 drinks per week—one drink equals 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor—and for older women, it's seven drinks per week.

An AgingOptions article states that you also shouldn't try to cram all of your habit changes into the month of January. The selfimprovement part of New Call Your Pain & Injury Specialists Year's resolutions should be an ongoing process, and WALK-INS WELCOME trying to do everything at Available Every Friday 12 - 3 p.m. once increases the chances Urgent Appointments Mon. - Thurs.

X-RAY of giving up completely. It ON SITE also is suggested to have an "accountability partner" to 1871 W. William St., Delaware, OH 43015 help keep you on track and 740.363.4373 | www.FAAWC.com

If a Fall Should Happen...

Even if you didn't have specific resolutions in mind when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, it isn't too late to make small changes, create new habits, and make 2019 your best year yet!

Jeff Robinson is a feature writer for My Communicator.

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FUN & GAMES

Fun Facts About Phil Without the groundhog, Feb. 2 would be just another day on the calendar, but the adorable rodent is also our harbinger of warmer weather to come. Will he see his shadow? Will he not? Why do we care so much?

Punxsutawney Phil, has a ridiculously long official name.

His full moniker is "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary."

We probably ask ourselves these things every single year.

Besides banishing us to the doom and gloom of another six weeks of winter or giving us hope for an early spring, there are some other quirky facts surrounding the holiday:

The original Groundhog Day involved eating groundhogs.

After sightseers celebrated Punxsutawney Phil's weather prediction in 1886, they all headed over to Gobbler's Knob to dine on a feast made up of a variety of groundhog dishes and equally delicious-sounding groundhog punch.

The Germans started the whole Groundhog Day thing.

Sure, Americans started in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but the see-his-shadow-or-not concept stems from Germany and the holiday Candlemas. Early European Christians believed that if the sun came out on Candlemas on Feb. 2, winter would last for another six weeks.

They later expanded on Candlemas Day by taking meteorology cues from a hedgehog. When German immigrants began to settle in Pennsylvania in the 1880s, they adapted the custom to use the more common groundhog.

The groundhog really can predict the end of winter.

Just not with his shadow. Because groundhogs hibernate every winter, the fact that he'd bother to leave his hideaway is a natural sign of spring to come. The furry critter is also easy to find—groundhogs live in the majority of central and eastern U.S., plaguing gardeners everywhere.

Punxsutawney Phil is just a nickname.

Pennsylvania's famous weatherpredicting groundhog,

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Punxsutawney Phil isn't the only weather predictor.

A few states use their own groundhogs to celebrate the holiday rather than relying on Phil. Other weather oracles include General Beau Lee of Atlanta, Georgia, Sir Walter Wally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Birmingham Bill of Birmingham, Alabama, and, of course, Buckeye Chuck from Marion, Ohio.

Flipping a coin is more accurate than Phil.

The National Climatic Data Center compared U.S. national temperatures from 1988 to 2012 to determine the accuracy of Phil's predictions, and he's only been proven correct 39 percent of the time—significantly worse than chance.

Punxsutawney Phil may know the secret to everlasting life.

Loyal fans swear there is only one Phil and that he's been making weather predictions since 1886. But since the average groundhog living in captivity can live up to 10 years, that means that if each Phil lived a decade, there have been about 13 groundhogs.

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Winter 2019

HISTORY

51 Years Later: The Assassination of MLK On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. As word of his death spread, an uneasiness settled across the country. How did Ohioans react to this moment in history?

“I’ll never forget that day how it got dark early,” said one Columbus man, who recalled the sadness around him. “I’ll never forget my father’s silent tears falling onto his plate. I’ll never forget it, it’s almost like when you lose a relative.”

hearts for years; that is the feeling that if racism and hatred prevail in America, then let every city in America burn. There are people who once denounced violence but are now the advocates of violence.”

While African American leaders like Zebbs understood the impetus for these riots, they also worked around the clock to ensure that the riots did not come to their cities. As Stokes told the Call and Post, “I’m tired, but I can’t stop now because there is too much at stake to let things get out of hand.”

A similar grief was felt across the state. The Call and Post, an African American newspaper published in Cleveland, featured images of Mayor Carl B. Stokes crying openly at a local service honoring Dr. King. One of the nation’s first African American mayors, Stokes had been elected only a few months earlier in 1967.

Unfortunately, riots did come to Cincinnati. On Monday, April 8, four days after King was shot, the Avondale neighborhood held a service for King, arranged only for African American residents. Everyone was prepared—the Avondale Community Council’s security force was on hand and nearby roads were blocked to traffic. However When a loved one dies, as the service ended, shots some react with tears and rang out nearby. It would others with frustration. At be discovered later that, Toledo’s Scott High School, in an unrelated incident, when a group of students Hattie Mae Johnson Smith realized the flags had not had been shot by her been lowered to halfThe Black Panther Party, Lima, Ohio. husband. However the staff on the day after King crowd became tense after died, they refused to go hearing the shots, and a rumor that a white police officer had to class. The students attempted to recruit other teenagers shot a black woman quickly spread. The riots ended within from Libbey High School as they moved through Toledo’s 24 hours, but by then a curfew was in place and the National West End, often throwing stones at cars. Eventually Scott Guard had made it to Avondale.

High School let out for the day, under the determination that “many of the students were upset and disturbed by King’s Not every member of the African American community death.” The situation quickly calmed as local reverends and agreed with the riots around the country, in fact many felt civil rights leaders spoke to the students and calmed their rioting ran counter to King’s message and mission. But often fears and frustrations. even those who disagreed understood why the riots were happening. As State Representative William Bowen said of These Toledo students were not alone. Around the country, Avondale, “I hate to see it happen, but you have to consider at the news of Dr. King’s death, many large cities experienced the frustrations and emotions of the past two or three days. riots. In the Call and Post, Rev. Arthur Zebbs of Columbus The shooting was the spark which ignited things and a chain explained the frustration and hopelessness that lead to reaction took place.” these riots, writing, “Even black folk who have good jobs are now articulating what has been lying dormant in their For years, civil rights organizations had discussed the merits

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Winter 2019 of nonviolence. Should it be a strategy or way of life? Would the same strategy that had struck a blow to Jim Crow in the south help end segregation in the north? Was King’s death a sign that nonviolence could not succeed?

Many turned to new strategies in the coming years, bringing about increased political mobilization and participation in the Black Power movement.

15 CREATIVE WRITING

blessings fuzzy slippers on the floor an extra blanket on the bed two sweet kitties purring a pile of books still unread

In the time preceding his death, King’s tactics had begun to change, as well. He, like many other leaders, turned to northern cities where he found communities oppressed by poor education, unfair housing, and segregated neighborhoods. In fact, at the time of his death, King was in Memphis, striking with sanitation workers who were requesting the treatment and pay they deserved and that could help lift their families out of a cycle of poverty.

food in the pantry chocolate now and then kindred spirits and a dear dear friend

No one knows what King may have achieved had he lived, but we still use his memory in many ways. What would King have thought of Black Power? What would he think of the Black Lives Matter movement?

zinnias and sunflowers springtime flowers and autumn leaves all the people who love me

It is impossible to know, yet we continue to try. As with many national figures, King's memory has been used to justify many different trains of thought. From the high school hallways in Toledo to the streets of Cincinnati, April 4, 1968, was a day that permanently changed the course of history.

What does Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mean to you?

Donna Bingham is a SourcePoint member in creative writing.

Excerpt from an article by Karen Robertson, Ohio History Connection manuscripts curator. Reprinted with permission.

Delaware Court - Where Caring Comes First

Skilled Nursing & Therapy Services Provided with the comforts of home!

Schedule a tour and learn about our Return to Home services by calling (740) 369-6400.

butterflies and birds mugs of hot tea sunny days and winter snow belly laughs and memories

so many blessings all the little things that keep life worth living

An Ordinary Day An Ordinary life And a bird sings.

Then a child laughs.

An Ordinary Night An Ordinary sky Then there is light.

A super-Moon appears.

An Ordinary Morning An Ordinary yard Dew shimmers And a crocus blooms.

An Ordinary Person.

Open your Ordinary eyes And become Awestruck By all there is And all You are.

4 New Market Drive, Delaware, Ohio 43015 • (740) 369-6400 www.delawarecourt.com

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Judy Allen is a SourcePoint member in creative writing.

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Winter 2019

FROM THE SOURCE News, program updates, and upcoming special events at SourcePoint.

In-Home Care Services

Medicare Education

SourcePoint’s in-home services are designed to help older adults remain living safely at home. We provide access to services, as well as referrals to community resources and answers to your aging-related questions.

SourcePoint's classes take the mystery out of Medicare and empower you to make sound insurance decisions.

Why SourcePoint?

Care. Our licensed social workers and counselors, called care consultants, work one-on-one with each client to customize a plan of needed services. They specialize in issues associated with getting older.

Free classes are held at SourcePoint and other locations throughout Delaware County.

New to Medicare? Learn the basics in this popular class.

Whether you're becoming eligible for Medicare for the first time or assisting a loved one with insurance needs, this is the place to start.

Convenience. Care consultants handle all service arrangements, including facilitating appointments and customer service with providers.

Find Your Plan. Did you know Medicare beneficiaries should do a plan comparison each year? Learn how to use the Plan Finder Tool on Medicare.gov so you can run your own.

Cost. SourcePoint’s services are available to all Delaware County residents age 55 and older. Eligibility is based on need, not income, and services are available on a sliding fee scale.

Fill the Gap. If you're looking for a Medicare Supplement Plan to help cover costs, this workshop gives you a better understanding of supplements, including terms and how to obtain rates.

Learn more at MySourcePoint.org/care or call 740-3636677 to talk to an information and referral specialist.

To learn more, go to MySourcePoint.org/insurance for a schedule of upcoming classes. Registration is required for all classes. Register online or call 740-363-6677.

Family Caregiver Support Are you caring for a loved one? Could you benefit from a "crash course" on caregiving?

Join SourcePoint for a one-hour class about where to start.

The class is packed with information for new, current, and future caregivers, including safety, falls, getting organized, basic legal information, local resources, and self-care.

The next class is Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 9 to 10 a.m., at SourcePoint, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware. Register

by Jan. 14 at MySourcePoint.org/caregiver or call 740-363-6677.

Monthly caregiver support groups also are available in Delaware, Powell, and Sunbury. Learn more online or call Jessica Adams at 740-203-2399.

Caregiver Concepts MySourcePoint.org

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2019 Grant Awards In December, SourcePoint approved $615,792 in grant funding for 18 senior service programs in Delaware County. SourcePoint provides annual funding to other nonprofit organizations as a cost-effective, efficient way to address the needs of local seniors. As the leader of Delaware County’s aging services system, SourcePoint’s grant program helps foster a more comprehensive and coordinated system of care for local older adults and their families.

Each year, the board of directors reviews grant applications and selects those organizations that fill service gaps in the community, providing valuable services to older adults. Those awarded grants for 2019 include the Alpha Group, the Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Social Services, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Common Ground Free Store, Delaware Area Transit Agency, Delaware County Juvenile and Probate Court, Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, Drug-Free Delaware, Family Promise of Delaware County, Grace Clinic, HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus, Lutheran Social Services, the OhioHealth Foundation, and People In Need.

Learn more about the 2019 grantees at MySourcePoint.org/2019-grants.

Don't Be Afraid of Falling:

It's All A Matter of Balance.

Have you limited your activity for fear of falling? Do you want to improve balance, flexibility, and strength?

A Matter of Balance is for you!

Tuesdays, Jan. 22 through March 12, 10 a.m. to noon, at SourcePoint, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware.

In this free series, you'll learn to: • View falls as controllable.

• Set realistic goals for yourself.

• Reduce risk factors.

• Exercise to increase strength and balance.

Register online at MySourcePoint.org/EC or call 740-363-6677.

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Winter 2019

HEALTHY AGING

Seniors, Sex, and STDS Blame Viagra, or just the fact that Americans are living longer, healthier lives. For many reasons, sexually transmitted diseases—more accurately referred to as sexually transmitted infections, because it's possible to be infected without developing any signs or symptoms—are rising among older adults, with potentially serious health consequences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports significant increases in STDs between 2010 and 2014 among adults 65 and over: • Chlamydia infections increased by about 52 percent.

• Syphilis infections rose by about 65 percent.

• Gonorrhea cases increased by more than 90 percent.

In sheer numbers, young adults ages 20-24 still hold the STD heavyweight title by far. They contracted about 686,722 million cases of those three STDs in 2014, compared with 2,616 cases among people 65 and older.

Another way of looking at it: Seniors had a fraction—far less than 1 percent—of the number of STDs that young adults did.

Still, the increases concern health officials because STDs were rare among seniors in the past. And as reports about STDs in older people made headlines over the past few years, seniors also woke up to the risk. The Department of Health and Human Services notes that 2.2 million Medicare beneficiaries received free STD screenings and counseling sessions in 2011 and 2012—about the

same number that got colonoscopies. And more than 66,000 received free HIV tests. Disturbingly, 27 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. in 2013 were among people age 50 or older.

What’s causing the increase?

Well, for one thing, Americans are living longer in better health. As a result, more are remaining sexually active well into the golden years. About 53 percent of people over 65 say they are sexually active, and a quarter of those over 75 say they still have sex, according to a survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine. For those who need an assist, there are drugs, such as Viagra and Cialis, to help a man get and keep an erection.

There are also more divorced older people than there were in past decades. Couples over 65 were more than twice as likely to go through a divorce in 2014 than they were in the 1990s. So more are on the market.

Also, older baby boomers came of age when birth control pills were widely accepted; they are not a generation raised on condoms. Sexually active older adults have the lowest rate of condom use compared to all other age groups, according to the 2010 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior.

expectations that older people don’t have—or even want to talk about—sex. In a New England Journal of Medicine survey, only 22 percent of women and 38 percent of men said they’d talked about sex with their doctor since they’d turned 50. And doctors might not routinely ask questions about a senior’s sex life during exams. That silence may be a particular problem for women. The vaginal lining thins after menopause, which can make older women even more vulnerable to infections than younger women.

Getting the word out on safe sex for seniors.

The CDC and other organizations, such as Safer Sex for Seniors, are working to raise awareness of STDs among older adults. The message: Keep condoms handy, whatever your age. It’s a small price to pay for the assurance that sex—safer sex—can keep going long after that AARP card comes the mail. © Copyright 2018 Wellness Letter and Remedy Health Media. Reprinted with permission. To read more articles like this, go to BerkeleyWellness.com; to subscribe to the print Wellness Letter, call 800-829-9170.

Part of the STD problem among seniors may also have to do with past societal

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FINANCES

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Do you need help preparing your taxes?

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program will provide free tax preparation assistance to low- and moderateincome residents of Delaware and Union counties at SourcePoint Feb. 6 through April 11. IRS-certified volunteers will assist in preparing your federal, Ohio, and school district income taxes for 2018. This service is open to the public and is available by appointment only.

There are three ways to make an appointment: 1. In person Jan. 7-11 and Jan. 14-18, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the

5

lobby at SourcePoint, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware.

2. Online at bit.ly/2019TaxAide.

3. Beginning Jan. 14, call 614-3000214 and leave a message with your name, phone number, and a brief message with the best day of week and time of day for us to return your call.

You must bring the following to your appointment: Government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID card for you and your spouse; Social Security card for every person listed on the tax return; all 2018 tax

documents, such as W-2s, SSA-1099, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, etc.; your 2017 federal, Ohio, and school district tax returns; and a blank check if you want any refunds directly deposited to your bank account. If you’re married, you and your spouse should both attend to participate and sign the returns.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program also provides this service at the Andrews House (740-369-4520), Orange Branch Library (740-549-2665), and Sunbury Community Library (740965-3901). Please call those sites in mid-January to make appointments for the 2019 tax filing season.

programming & courses at DACC

DACC’s programming & courses change at the speed of business & industry. Some of our newest programs include Engineering, Bioscience, Cybersecurity, & Medical Assisting.

What We Offer

DACC offers 26 high school courses and a variety of adult education courses ranging from agriculture, to manufacturing, information technology, engineering, medical, and public safety.

Adult Education Adult students can become more employable or change careers altogether with continued education.

Faculty

High School Courses

High school students get a head start on college by earning high school and college credits. They can also jump right into a sustaining career through internships and early job placement.

Need & Interest

DACC instructors have DACC responds to the needs of Go to MySourcePoint.org/caregiver towith find the experience in the field business & industry, along they teach, bringing student interest. Being able to adjust resources available to you. knowledge & connections as needed means we can always offer to the classroom. courses in areas of high demand. ™

@DelawareAreaCC

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www.DelawareAreaCC.org

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Winter 2019 PROFILE

Volunteering Together After an adulthood of separate careers, retired couples looking to volunteer must decide whether to combine their individual energy and passion or divide and conquer. Despite differing career paths, Doug and Karen Lay opted for the former, finding a common cause in fighting senior hunger.

Visitors to SourcePoint’s community lunch spot, Cafe 55, will find the Lays at the helm of the cafe line every Thursday. SourcePoint’s food services manager, Jason Relford, says Doug and Karen are a huge asset. “They'll do anything we ask, even if they’ve never done it before.”

Doug has applied this “try anything” attitude for most of his life. He enlisted in the Army and was deployed to Korea for 14 months. Doug was assigned to an artillery unit along the Demilitarized Zone and later was attached to an infantry unit as a recon sergeant.

Following his tour in Korea, he was assigned to a base in Texas. Doug voluntarily deployed to Vietnam with a Light Infantry Brigade, and returned home after a 12-month tour as a decorated, combat-wounded veteran.

Following his military service, Doug was employed with various companies and later owned his own business. During those years, he became involved with Veterans Affairs and concluded after 30 years as the Director of the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission.

tools to apply for employment. He has served on many local boards, state boards, and commissions, and remains actively involved with the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Karen pursued a career in the medical industry as an executive assistant. At one point in her career, she acted as executive assistant to the vice president of a distillery. Karen has been a Presiding Precinct Election Official for the past six years.

Together, they've found a strong passion for volunteering at SourcePoint’s Cafe 55. For some diners, “This is the only decent meal they may get,” said Karen. That's why it's important to the Lays to not only serve the meal, but serve the meal with friendly smiles.

Service with a smile.

During this time, Doug founded a nonprofit organization to help homeless veterans, which provided assistance with housing, clothing, and aided in giving them the necessary

Nearly 8 percent of seniors are food insecure, consuming too few calories, often derived from meals lacking

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in key nutrients. SourcePoint’s five community cafes are open to any Delaware County resident over 55 years of age. Payment is donation-based, regardless of personal income.

The cafes warm, healthy—not to mention tasty—meals feed both the stomach and the soul. Social isolation is also a serious health risk, afflicting seniors of all income levels. The community cafes are gathering places where friendships form and loneliness is relieved.

Chef Redford knows volunteers like the Lays contribute greatly to the success of Cafe 55.

Volunteers are needed in Delaware County!

Can you help?

“You can see how much they care,” he said. “People come through the line with smiles on their face after being served by Doug and Karen.”

For the Lays, finding a shared passion for a good cause has allowed Doug and Karen the satisfaction of serving alongside of each other.

“We love volunteering together,” Karen said. “We try to make it fun for the people coming through the line, which is fun for us! We enjoy each and every smile we may send people home with.”

Jill Smith is the recruiter for volunteer services at SourcePoint.

New Volunteer Open House Monday, Feb. 4, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

800 Cheshire Road, Delaware Make a difference in the lives of older adults in our community by volunteering for SourcePoint, your local aging services organization.

Come to our next open house to learn more about current volunteer opportunities, including: Meals on Wheels | Medical Transportation | Medicare Class Leader Kitchen Assistant | Home Chores | Caregiver Relief Companions Meet with staff and current volunteers, enjoy refreshments, and take a tour of our center.

Walk-ins s are alway welcome!

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Call 740-203-2368 to RSVP! Learn more at MySourcePoint.org/volunteer.

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Winter 2019

PHILANTHROPY

5 Ways Giving is Good For You Did you enjoy shopping for gifts this holiday?

Studies attest to the benefits of giving—not just for the recipients but also for the givers’ health and happiness, and for the strength of entire communities.

Of course, you don’t have to shop to reap the benefits of giving. Research suggests the same benefits come from donating to charities or volunteering your time. Here are some of the ways that giving is good for you: 1. Giving makes us feel happy. A 2008 study

by Harvard Business School found that giving money to someone else lifted participants’ happiness more that spending it on themselves. Happiness expert Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, saw similar results when she asked people to perform five acts of kindness each week for six weeks. (See page 10 for more on random acts of kindness.)

These good feelings are reflected in our biology. In 2006, the National Institutes of Health found that when people give to charities, it activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure, social connection, and trust, creating a “warm glow” effect.

2. Giving is good for our health. A wide range of research has linked different forms of generosity to better health, even among the sick and elderly. In his book “Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post, a professor of preventative medicine, reported that giving to others has been shown to increase health benefits in people with chronic illness, including HIV and multiple sclerosis.

A 1999 study found that elderly people who volunteered were 44 percent less likely to die over a five-year period than were nonvolunteers, even after controlling for their age, exercise habits, general health, and negative health habits like smoking. Stephanie Brown of the University of Michigan saw similar results in a 2003 study on elderly couples. She and her colleagues found those individuals who provided practical help to friends, relatives, or neighbors, or gave emotional support to their spouses, had a lower risk of dying over a five-year period than those who didn’t. Interestingly, receiving help

wasn’t linked to a reduced death risk.

Researchers suggest that one reason giving may improve physical health and longevity is that it helps decrease stress, which is associated with a variety of health problems. In a 2006 study by Johns Hopkins University, people who provided social support to others had lower blood pressure than participants who didn’t, suggesting a direct physiological benefit to those who give of themselves.

3. Giving promotes cooperation and social connection. When you give, you’re more likely to get back.

Several studies have suggested that when you give to others, your generosity is likely to be rewarded by others down the line—sometimes by the person you gave to, sometimes by someone else.

These exchanges promote a sense of trust and cooperation that strengthens our ties to others—and research has shown that having positive social interactions is central to good mental and physical health.

What’s more, when we give to others, we don’t only make them feel closer to us—we also feel closer to them.

According to Lyubomirsky, “Being kind and generous leads you to perceive others more positively and more charitably.”

4. Giving evokes gratitude. Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of a gift, that gift can elicit feelings of gratitude. And research has found that gratitude is integral to happiness, health, and social bonds.

Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, codirectors of the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness, found that teaching college students to “count their blessings” and cultivate gratitude caused them to exercise more, be more optimistic, and feel better about their lives overall.

5. Giving is contagious. When we give, we don’t only help the immediate recipient of our gift. We also spur a ripple effect of generosity through our community.

A study published by Harvard shows that when one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave

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generously later, toward different people. In fact, researchers found that altruism could spread by three degrees—from person to person to person to person.

“As a result,” the study said, “each person in a network can influence dozens or even hundreds of people, some of whom he or she does not know and has not met.”

Giving has also been linked to the release of oxytocin, a hormone that induces feelings of warmth, euphoria, and connection to others. Laboratory studies have found a dose of oxytocin will cause people to give more generously and to feel more empathy towards others.

So whether you buy gifts, volunteer your time, or donate money to charity, your giving is more than just a seasonal chore. It may help you build stronger social connections and even jumpstart a cascade of generosity through your community. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself benefiting from a big dose of happiness in the process. © 2018 The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

Independent Living

Enhanced Services

Assisted Living

Where community becomes family Opening Spring 2019 Call today to learn more 614-602-7544 | www.polarisretirement.com 9180 Antares Avenue, Columbus, OH 43240 A Sweetbay Senior Living Community

Patricia & Robert, Caregiver

SourcePoint Stories “Some friends told us about different programs that SourcePoint had. I didn't do anything about it at first. I needed a little prodding to go back and take advantage of some of the services. But I'm glad I did. SourcePoint has helped a lot. It helps relieve my mind from worrying about Pat, and helps me to know she is in good hands. I didn’t know it would be this helpful, but it is.”

MySourcePoint.org

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Winter 2019

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Get to the Point!

Financial Assistance Available

SourcePoint’s enrichment center provides opportunities for social connection, intellectual stimulation, physical wellbeing, and adjustment through the transitions of aging for Delaware County residents ages 55 and better.

SourcePoint has scholarship funds to help make programs available to every Delaware County resident age 55 and better, regardless of your financial circumstances.

The 44,000-square-foot center offers a fully equipped fitness center, warm-water exercise pool, and spaces for activities, such as dance, aerobics, billiards, music, and more.

The center also is home to Cafe 55, one of SourcePoint’s community-based cafes.

Assistance may be used to cover the cost of a membership, as well as program fees.

Winter session runs Dec. 31 through March 30. Full program details can be found at MySourcePoint.org/EC.

Engage Fitness & Wellness Golf Travel League Meeting—Wednesday, March 20, 10–11 a.m.

Personal Training Series—This new package includes an initial consultation with a trainer and five one-hour training sessions. The trainer customizes a fitness regiment just for you to progressively expand your knowledge and comfort with the fitness center, as well as weight training.

Water Wellness—Fridays, 10‒10:45 a.m. Renew and refresh yourself with the restorative influence of the water combined with rejuvenating movements of Tai Chi, yoga, stretching, and breathing exercises.

Express Yourself with Art Creative Writing—Mondays, Jan. 28, Feb. 25, and March 25, 2‒4 p.m.

Paint Pouring: Think Vacation—Wednesday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m.‒noon. Try trendy paint pouring on an 8 by 10inch canvas. Dress for mess!

Violin: Basics—Saturdays, Jan. 12, 19, Feb. 9, 16, and March 9, 16, 10‒11 a.m. Learn the basics of the violin with Kathleen Mergler. Bring a full-size, four-string violin and bow. No prior lessons required.

To check your eligibility, call 740-363-6677.

We want YOU to get to the 'Point!

Enhance Learning

Drug Awareness: Hidden in Plain Sight—Wednesday, Jan. 9, 1‒2:30 p.m. A drug awareness presentation for grandparents to become aware and comfortable searching their teen’s room for clues that indicate drug or alcohol use. Training, provided by a police officer, includes a “real-life” teenager’s bedroom filled with paraphernalia often disguised as everyday objects. Learn about hidden apps and texting codes related to drugs.

Suicide Awareness—Wednesday, Jan. 23, 10‒11:30 a.m. or Monday, March 25, 6‒7:30 p.m. Eileen Brenner discusses signs and symptoms of suicide. Learn about QPR: Question, Persuade, and Refer.

Ted-Talk Talks—Thursday, Jan. 3, 1‒2 p.m. Join Joy from the Delaware County District Library for a short Ted Talk, then join in on the discussion.

Enrich Social Connections

LIVE ON CHESHIRE—Thursdays, 5:30–7:30 p.m. A night of live music, dancing, and popcorn. Bring a friend and your choice of refreshments.

Member Happy Hour—Third Tuesdays, 2‒4 p.m. Meet new friends and catch up with old ones in an informal setting with toe-tapping music.

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The Effectiveness of Personal Training "Numerous studies now document the ability of older, frail adults to improve their level of strength through participation in a moderateto high-intensity strengthtraining program. High-intensity strength-training on strengthtraining equipment has been reported to improve functional status, increase activity levels, counteract weakness, and decrease physical frailty in older adults. These findings suggest that in an elderly population a community-based, low-cost strength-training intervention using free weights can bring about improvements in functional performance comparable to those gained from using large strengthtraining equipment."

—Clinical Feasibility of a Free-Weight Strength-Training Program for Older Adults, Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine

We specialize in: Stairlifts Liftchairs Ramps Adjustable Beds Scooters And more!

“People who are initially afraid of free weights can usually overcome their fear with proper instruction. Free weights are particularly important for training the muscles of the body to work in unison, especially in lifting or in other activities in which gravitational resistance is a major factor, such as sprinting and jumping.”

—Roundtable Discussion: Machines versus Free Weights, Strength and Conditioning Journal

Plan a Staycation For some, winter means slipping on ice, dreary days, cold nights, and the flu. That’s why many experience depression, especially in the winter. Seasonal affective disorder and the post-holiday blues can affect our energy levels, appetite, and sleeping habits. We can become irritable or lose interest in participating in activities and socializing.

But there are ways to warm the winter blues, including having an event to look forward to. We’ve got you covered!

We’re planning a tropical excursion at SourcePoint— Staycation! The week of Jan. 28, wear your Hawaiian shirt and travel through special events, activities, and surprises, in addition to our regular programming. So, while meteorologists predict cold, wintry weather, SourcePoint forecasts sun and fun at Staycation. Watch for more details.

The party doesn’t end there—Tuesday, March 5 is Mardi Gras and we’re celebrating with a Mardi Gras Masquerade dance complete with New Orleans-style appetizers and a jazz band.

SourcePoint can help keep your spirit high this winter. Go to MySourcePoint.org/EC for details on winter quarter programs and trips. Let’s stay happy and healthy this winter—together!

Mary Ann Evans is a program assistant at SourcePoint.

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Winter 2019 NUTRITION

Business is Booming

The number of Meals on Wheels served in Delaware County is growing each year.

SourcePoint’s nutrition program saw huge growth in 2018, with more than 250,000 meals and 1,400 clients served. This was a 16 percent growth over 2017. If the population growth estimated for Delaware County is correct, 2019 will be just as busy.

Each day, Monday through Friday, SourcePoint serves more than 1,000 meals to seniors in their homes and at five community cafes. The cafes are located in Ashley, Delaware, and Sunbury, including one at SourcePoint’s Cheshire Road headquarters. It takes a large team of committed staff and volunteers to make this possible.

It begins at 6 a.m. each morning as kitchen staff and volunteers arrive to prep food for the home-delivered and cafe meals. SourcePoint offers nine meal options each day and with 85 percent scratch cooking, you can imagine the time and talent it takes to prep and cook more than a thousand

meals each day. Once the meals are prepared, they’re hand packed and sealed into trays for delivery.

Around 9 a.m., a team packs the trays into bags for 33 delivery routes. Paid and volunteer drivers begin leaving at 10:30 a.m. to deliver meals. Each driver receives a minimum of three bags with hot and cold meals, as well as drinks.

Twice a week, drivers have extra meals to deliver, with frozen meals for the weekends delivered on Thursdays and Fridays. Each route takes approximately one to two hours and covers between 10 to 40 miles.

While the kitchen prepares and packs meals, office staff answers phones to track meal changes, cancelations, and cafe reservations. Staff also receive calls from delivery drivers when clients don’t answer their door. In that case, staff call to ensure the client is safe. If the client can’t be reached, their care consultant—a licensed professional

who manages the client’s in-home care services—is alerted to follow up.

Delivery drivers develop friendly relationships with their clients and often notice a change in their condition. They report any changes to the nutrition staff, who in turn alert the client’s care consultant. Follow-up is completed to ensure the client is safe and does not require any additional care or services.

All of this would not be possible without a dedicated team of staff and volunteers committed to SourcePoint’s mission of helping Delaware County thrive after 55.

Karen Pillion is the nutrition program administrator at SourcePoint.

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BOXED LUNCH

Fundraiser Save the date...

to support Meals on Wheels April 3-4 with our annual Boxed Lunch Fundraiser.

Your support helps provide hot, delicious meals delivered by a caring volunteer.

Meals on Wheels also provides family the security of knowing someone is regularly checking on their loved one. It’s truly service with a smile!

Look for more details and place your lunch order in March at

MySourcePoint.org/lunch With support from

Does your business advertise to Delaware County adults ages 55+?

Advertise in My Communicator!

Learn more at

MySourcePoint.org/ publications MySourcePoint.org

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Winter 2019

CAREGIVING

Surprising Benefits of Being a Caregiver Caring for an aging or disabled loved one comes with an array of challenges, and can be incredibly taxing physically, emotionally, and financially. This is especially true for those who are full-time caregivers for their loved one.

“With more than 43.5 million people having provided unpaid caregiving within a 12-month period, it is clear this is a responsibility that will fall to many of us at some point in our lives,” says Angela Norris, senior vice president of a senior living community in Texas.

Norris strongly recommends acknowledging both the emotional and logistical challenges of caregiving, as well as the opportunity to expand your emotional and spiritual understanding of your relationships with family.

Despite the challenges, about half of family caregivers who live with the person they’re caring for said they were happy to give back to someone who has given them so much, and about 40 percent said they believe families should take care of one another no matter what, according to the results of a 2016 Caring.com survey.

Those findings are a good starting point for understanding the benefits of being a caregiver. You might be surprised to know that as a group, family caregivers live longer and are healthier than their peers, according to research conducted

by Lisa Fredman, Ph.D., a professor in the department of epidemiology at Boston University’s School of Public Health.

Fredman and her sister spent 13 years caring for their father, who lived in an independent living facility for most of that time. She admits that their caregiving journey wasn’t always smooth, but says her research into caregiver experiences, plus her own caregiving experience, revealed more positives than she expected.

1. Caregivers may be healthier and live longer than their peers.

“The scale I was using in my research helped me isolate and separate caregiving from stress. Once I was able to do

that, we noticed that the caregivers were having lower rates of mortality than the noncaregivers,” Fredman says.

She double-checked her results, because at first she didn’t believe them. “I just kept finding our caregivers walked faster, they walked more, and they had better cognitive functioning, especially on cognitive performance measures.”

2. Caregivers feel purposeful.

Fredman also looked at some of the ideas about aging found in psychological literature—which suggests that as people age, they begin to focus on what makes them feel useful and how they can leave a legacy for future generations. For many caregivers, the caregiving role helps them find that meaning and purpose.

“It doesn’t mean that it’s making you happy,” Fredman clarifies. Caregiving has its ups and downs, she says, but that sense of purpose can be a common thread throughout all those experiences.

3. Caregivers give back.

“Being a family caregiver is a way of giving back to the person who has given so much to you,” says Eddie Chu, owner of a home health care organization in Canada. “It is a tangible way of showing your love for that person and brings a feeling of satisfaction knowing you are doing your best to care for them.”

Plus, he points out, if your aging parent’s first language is not English, you also might be able to bring them comfort that others are unable to provide if you can speak to them in their mother tongue.

Fredman says that these results helped her develop a richer view of her own role as a caregiver, enabling her to see that caring for her father also helped her.

4. Caregivers build self-confidence.

Caryn J. Golden, who authored the caregiving memoir "One Pedal at a Time," says that her experience of caring for her husband after a series of cancer-related strokes broadened her awareness of her capacity to be there for him.

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The 73-year-old says she found herself actively researching her husband’s care needs and advocating for him—for example, by making it possible for him to successfully rehabilitate at home even when many in his medical team advised against it.

To learn about local caregiver resources, go to MySourcePoint.org/caregiver. hoped—people typically don’t know what caregiving for a spouse or aging parent entails until they do it themselves.

“I wasn’t perfect by any means, but I was strong, because I pulled myself together and I allowed my friends to help me,” she says.

8. Caregivers can get closure—sometimes.

Let’s be frank—families are messy. Fredman points out that caregivers may find that their new role, even when shared with others, can bring up unresolved difficulties from the past. If your caregiving role is triggering old emotions and worries, talk to a counselor or mental health professional about how to proceed. These unpleasant emotions could lead to growth and closure later on.

5. Caregivers are role models for their families.

“Your loving care can be a model for the rest of your family— your children especially—and can bring the whole clan together,” says Chu. Golden reported that being able to care for her husband Joe at home allowed their adult children and their grandchildren to feel more connected to him, despite the hospital bed and the wheelchair.

6. Caregivers get to know aging parents better.

9. Caregivers can make a plan.

Rick Lauber, a former caregiver for his aging parents and author of “The Successful Caregiver's Guide” and “Caregiver's Guide for Canadians,” cites a deepened relationship with his parents as one of the main benefits of caregiving.

“I had always found both my mother and father quite private people who did not always speak openly about their lives, their likes and dislikes, their own parents, their beliefs, and so on,” he says. “At first, I felt resentment, but came to learn that my parents were the best parents they could be—given what they were given in life.”

Golden says she became a caregiver in the way many people do—without any forewarning or training, and without her husband’s input, since the strokes made it temporarily impossible for him to communicate.

And while this is a common experience, Fredman argues that there are lessons you can draw from that feeling of being unprepared. The most important one, she says, is to use what you have learned to document your own wishes for care so that your loved ones will have guidance if they need to make decisions for you.

You may not see the positives of caregiving every day, but you can get there.

If you’re struggling, consider joining a support group, journaling or expressing yourself in some other creative way, and making time for your own relaxation and respite.

Beautifully

7. Caregiving builds empathy.

Since becoming a caregiver, Golden says she now has a much deeper understanding of family caregivers, and of the ways in which people react. She recommends being forgiving of yourself and others if responses are not what you would have

MySourcePoint.org

614-276-1439

modlich-monument.com

Columbus | Delaware | Grove City | Westerville

Madeline Vann, MPH, is a health and medical writer whose work has appeared in the HuffingtonPost, Everyday Health, and numerous newspapers and news sites.

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Winter 2019

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Post-Holiday Health Hump The holiday season has come and gone.

Hopefully you had a great time with friends and family. Now comes what some consider a challenging time when it comes to their health.

Many people try and make some sort of New Year’s resolution. (See page 3.)

Often that includes a focus on eating right and getting extra exercise with the hopes of losing weight and being healthier. Now comes the real question: How do you do it, and how do you keep it going beyond just a few days or weeks?

Here is some real advice from a real doctor: Rather than make a traditional New Year’s resolution this year, target lifestyle changes you can actually put in place, keep, and find success with.

As we age, our metabolism slows, as well as our digestion.

So trying to drop some extra weight, especially after the holiday season of see-food-eat-food, can be tough. This lifestyle change needs to be something you look at with a long-term lens. And we can keep it simple with eating right and exercise.

First and foremost, exercise is a huge component of a successful game plan. Of course, it's something that can be difficult when the weather in the first quarter of the year favors snowy conditions and freezing temperatures.

Here's the good news!

Many community centers in central Ohio, including SourcePoint, are great places for working out and walking. There are rowing machines, stationary bikes, treadmills, and more. And, of course, they are indoors where you can work up a

sweat and not freeze. Make this a regular part of your weekly routine, and it will help you make that lifestyle change. Also, find a friend. The chances of you skipping weekly exercise goes down if you have a partner to hold you accountable.

Now—food. Many people during the holiday season tell themselves, "I’m going to eat what I want, and just enjoy my friends and family." If that sounds familiar, don’t beat yourself up; it happens. But now, it might be time to do something about it.

If you want to focus on what you're eating and how much, plan ahead. Before you start your week, know how many calories your dishes have. Decrease your calories in the morning, so you have a little more wiggle room in the evening at dinner time. Planning ahead can also include meal planning, or cutting up fresh fruits and vegetables, so you have easy access to snacks. The one thing we need to control, above nearly everything else, is portions.

I mentioned earlier you have to be willing to forgive yourself.

This goes for not only the holiday season, but as you are making your lifestyle changes with diet and 50% off a Balance, Posture & Fitness Assessment. exercise. If you fall off the Call 740-971-1966 wagon once in a while, ”My fitness journey changed when Dave Lewis at Fit Fam became don’t give up on your diet. my Personal Trainer. The key word in that phrase should be personal...

Get yourself focused, find which Dave understands & practices.

First, he evaluates you carefully support in friends and from head to toe & interviews you to determine your personal goals. Then family, and get back on it. he designs your workouts to improve your weak areas including a focus You can do it! on balance & strength. His Christian ethic & genuine concern strengthen your spirit & resolve as well. Dave’s passion for relieving pain & helping individuals attain better fitness is the key to his success… he is devoted to improving the quality of life for all of his clients no matter their age or abilities.

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Dave & Lindsay Lewis, Certified Personal Trainers

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Balance, Low Back/Core Strengthening, Total Body Strength Training & More. Call 740-971-1966 to schedule a session!

MySourcePoint.org

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TECHNOLOGY

Video Chat vs. Depression?

Research has found using video chat, such as Skype or FaceTime, to communicate with family may help reduce symptoms of depression in seniors.

Led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, the new study set out to investigate whether using certain types of online communication technology could help reduce depressive symptoms in seniors, with estimates suggesting that almost 5 percent of adults aged 50 and older lived with major depression in 2015.

For the study the researchers recruited 1,424 adults with an average age of 64.8 who completed a set of questions about their use of technology, including video chat, email, social media, and instant messaging.

Participants were then questioned again two years later to measure, among other things, depressive symptoms. The findings, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, showed that seniors who used video chat had approximately half the probability of depressive symptoms at the two-year follow-up compared to nonusers, as well as those who used email, social media, and instant messaging.

Use of email, social media,

MySourcePoint.org

and instant messaging were not associated with a lower risk of depression, with participants who used these methods of communication technology showing virtually the same rate of depressive symptoms as those who used no communication technology at all.

“Video chat came out as the undisputed champion,” said lead author Alan Teo, MD. “Older adults who used video chat technology had significantly lower risk of depression.”

Quality Care at Your Fingertips Whether you’re recovering from illness, injury or surgery, the Rehabilitation Center at Ohio Living Sarah Moore provides the perfect setting from a convenient location in downtown Delaware, Ohio.

Private and semi-private rooms offer personal space for recovery, and our experienced therapy team provides one-on-one care to help you establish and meet your goals.

You can feel confident knowing that you’ll receive the highest quality care and services in a beautiful environment, with the goal of helping you get home as quickly as possible.

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“To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a potential link between use of video chat and prevention of clinically significant symptoms of depression over two years in older adults,” the authors wrote.

Teo added that the findings are not surprising, given that video chat offers users face-to-face interactions with loved ones.

“I still maintain that faceto-face interaction is probably best of all,” Teo said. “However, if we’re looking at the reality of modern American life, we need to consider these communication technologies. And when we do consider them and compare them, our findings indicate that I’m better off Skyping with my dad in Indiana than sending him a message on WhatsApp.”

Save the date!

Saturday, April 27 9 a.m. to noon 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware Do you plan to retire in the next 10-15 years?

Join us for SourcePoint’s premiere Retirement Ready Expo, an event for those who are planning now for a better retirement.

Featuring exhibits about your recreational, educational, residential, and financial planning options.

Learn more at MySourcePoint.org/ready in March.

Sponsored by AlerStallings Treplus Communities Fidelity Federal Savings & Loan The Inn at Olentangy Trail Parkside Village Senior Living Peak Financial Partners

WE BELIEVE YOUR CANCER FIGHT DESERVES EVERY EXPERT ON YOU R SI DE

Grady Memorial Hospital At OhioHealth, our affiliation with MD Anderson Cancer Network® allows our physicians to review your diagnosis and treatment with their peers at the nation’s top cancer hospital. That means you’ll benefit from the latest research and expertise from leading physicians in the area.

Because we believe exceptional cancer care should be close to home and the ones you love.

Make a personal connection at CancerCall at 1 (800) 752.9119 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or visit OhioHealth.com/CancerCare.

MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center © OhioHealth Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. FY19-166697-CancerWeBelieve. 11/18.