Vol. 30, No. 1 | Winter 2022
Safety at Home Improving the safety of your home as you age, room by room SEE SAFETY ON PAGE 12
VOLUNTEERING
A Pioneering Public Servant Just a few months before 100,000 demonstrators gathered on the Washington Mall to support extending the Equal Rights Amendment, two women were sworn in as Delaware’s first female police officers. Kathy Lieske, the first to take her oath that spring day in 1978, would rise to become the city’s first female police chief.
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“There were a lot of articles written in the Gazette back then that had the word ‘first’ in the headline: first female officer, first female captain,” said Kathy. “I didn’t care for the attention or the reason behind it.” The history of female police officers began in the late 1800s, when New York City hired “police matrons” to guard female prisoners. The matrons were civilians with no policing powers. No woman was granted the power of arrest until 1910, when Alice Stebbins Wells, a 37-year-old minister, convinced the mayor of Los Angeles that women and children would be more comfortable with female officers. See PIONEER on page 4.
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WINTER CONTENT 01 A Pioneering Public Servant Volunteering
03 SourcePoint Celebrates 30th Anniversary
In Our Community
06 Taking the Pedal Off the Metal Safety
07 The Strength of Our Community
Health & Wellness
08 Breast Cancer in Older Adults
Health & Wellness
12 Safety at Home Feature
14 A Simple Guide to Creating Strong Passwords Technology
16 From the Source
SourcePoint News, Programs, and Resources
17 News for an Age-Friendly Community
Age-Friendly Delaware County
18 Prepare for 3G Network Shutdowns
Consumer Guide
19 Elder Abuse in Ohio is Closer than You Think Aging
20 More than Just a Meal
Nutrition
22 Creative Writing: Bridges Arts
23 Sudoku
Fun & Games
24 Your Caregiving Responsibilities at Home Make You a More Valuable Employee Caregiving
25 Build Back Better
Public Policy
26 Top 10 Frauds Against Older Adults
Scams & Fraud
27 Myths About Older Workers Aging
28 'COVID Hit Us Over the Head'
Health & Wellness
30 5 Tips to Stay Motivated to Exercise
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Health & Wellness
31 Dementia-Friendly's Champion Business Age-Friendly
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, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, and United Way of Delaware County. 2022 Board of Directors President: Gretchen Roberts, MSN, NEA-BC, Powell Vice President: Wren Kruse, JD, New Albany Secretary: Alice Frazier, MD, Delaware Treasurer: Dennis Mowrey, Delaware Randy Bournique, Delaware Adrienne Corbett, Delaware Carlos Crawford, MS, JD, Delaware Karen Crosman, Powell Jack Fette, Lewis Center Pamela Foster, Lewis Center Liz Gitter, MSSW, Delaware Roger Lossing, CPA, JD, CFP, Lewis Center Joann Richards, MSN, Powell Richard Roell, ChFC, FFSI, RIA, MBA, Galena Carolyn Slone, Delaware Jane Taylor, Dublin Michael Tucker, JD, Delaware Roger Van Sickle, Delaware The board typically meets the last Wednesday of each month at noon. Members of the public who wish to attend may call the executive director at 740-363-6677. My Communicator is published quarterly and is made possible through advertisers, donors, and volunteers. About 30,000 copies of each edition are printed and distributed throughout Delaware County. My Communicator is delivered to ThisWeek and Sunday Columbus Dispatch subscribers in the county and is available for pick-up at SourcePoint and more than 50 locations, such as libraries, senior living communities, health care facilities, and other nonprofit organizations. To find a nearby pick-up site, contact SourcePoint at 740-363-6677. Read My Communicator online at MySourcePoint.org/publications. To advertise or submit content for consideration, contact Alison Yeager, director of communications and development, at alison@MySourcePoint.org. The appearance of advertising does not represent an endorsement by SourcePoint. We reserve the right to refuse any advertising.
Winter 2022
3
IN OUR COMMUNITY
SourcePoint Celebrates 30th Anniversary
SourcePoint, the comprehensive aging services provider for Delaware County, Ohio, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. SourcePoint currently serves more than 1,800 older adults with in-home care services and 4,600 participants with community programs. As part of SourcePoint’s 30th anniversary celebration in 2022, the nonprofit organization will highlight its impact in the community throughout the year. Select programs and events will be themed around the anniversary, inviting participants to join in on the celebration. Details will soon be available at MySourcePoint.org.
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4
Pioneer From page 1
Alice was given a badge and first aid kit, then assigned humdrum duties like guarding skating rinks and dance halls. She wore no uniform and carried no weapon. While her beat may have been banal, Alice, pictured at upper right, blazed a trail for future female officers by advocating for national inclusion and serving as the first president of what would become the International Association of Women Police. Alice’s torch was picked up by Chicago policewoman, Lois Lundell Higgins. Lois carried a gun, purchased with her own money, and investigated domestic violence cases. She eventually rose to head Chicago’s Crime Prevention Bureau in the 1950s and 1960s. Those two decades saw many “first” appointments of female officers across the country. They were relegated to cases involving women and children, received a lower salary than men, and were not granted their own beats to patrol. It wasn’t until 1972, when Congress amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require police departments to hire women on an equal basis as men, that the role of female officers began to balance that of their male counterparts. “I knew by the age of 13 or 14 that I wanted to be an officer after watching "Adam 12" on TV,” Kathy said. Her parents were supportive but skeptical. Kathy’s mom suggested she pick a backup career, so she went to college for an education degree. Nearing graduation, and with only her student teaching left to complete, Kathy broke the news to her parents that she would never be a teacher. “Well,” bemoaned her father. “That was a waste of tuition money.” Kathy worked days and attended night classes at the University of Toledo until she graduated with a degree in law enforcement and public service. Eager to set foot on her career path, she wrote letters to northeast Ohio police departments. The Freemont, Ohio police chief wrote her
Winter 2022 back, saying that police work was too dangerous for a woman. Even the dispatcher position would be “impossible” due to the proximity of prisoners being brought into the police department. Kathy still has that letter. In the summer of ’74, she approached the sheriff of Ashland County and asked if he would hire her. To her amazement, he agreed. The sheriff’s wife worked in the agency’s civil division and became a mentor to Kathy. Eventually, Kathy worked as a dispatcher and then started to go out on patrol. She gained her certification in law enforcement and received training in hand-to-hand combat. “I remember the training officer telling the deputies that he would teach us just enough to get ourselves killed.” Finding her annual salary of $5,200 lacking, Kathy ventured away from the sheriff’s office. What she found outside of Ashland was fierce competition. Two years and seven civil service tests later, Kathy, pictured at lower left, joined a police force. She had finished second in Delaware’s civil service exam during a year when the agency was hiring five new officers. Delaware would be her last stop. Her boss, the late Police Chief Dick Browning, was a forward thinker who raised standards and modernized the police department. Under his command, she always had equal training and duties. He was rewarded with an officer who embraced the dirty work, was the first to back up fellow officers, and always wanted to be judged by the job she did. There was one group, however, who had to be convinced. Chief Browning dispatched his own wife to have a chat with the officers’ wives. Mrs. Browning assured the wives that Kathy could protect their husbands just like a male officer, and that she wouldn’t have designs on any of the men after spending eight hours a day together in a cruiser. Her first 11 years in Delaware were spent out on patrol, where speeders often did a double take while she wrote their tickets. As to how she was treated, “No one likes getting a speeding ticket, whether it’s from a male or female officer.” When she was promoted to sergeant, Kathy’s father recovered his disappointment and bragged about
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Winter 2022 “my daughter, the sergeant.” The promotions kept coming until Kathy worked her way to the department’s top job. Today, less than 13% of law enforcement officers are female. Why so few? “The job is not for the fainthearted,” Kathy said. “But success is determined by the person’s aptitude and attitude, not by his or her size.” Though her career choice was inspired by a fictional police drama, Kathy says that police work is not about the action. “It’s a serviceoriented job, not about having a gun on your hip. That’s been my attitude for 25 years of service.” That spirit of service continued into retirement. Between travels, where she delights in having her picture taken alongside active-duty police officers from foreign countries, Kathy devotes her time to SourcePoint’s medical transportation program. In the last five years, she has driven over 2,220 miles delivering homebound seniors to medical appointments. “My career was always in
5 service to the community. This is a natural progression from my career. Plus, I like to drive.” Her favorite assignments are the repeats—she takes the same client to dialysis every Friday, others to rehabilitation. During the program’s pandemic-related closure she missed having her transports. When the program reopened, Kathy “jumped in headfirst.” Early in her career, Kathy sat down at her typewriter to draft her personal mantra. The statement, on a yellowed sheet of paper, reads: "I sincerely feel I owe a responsibility to my God, my country, and especially to utilize my life to the best of my ability and contribute anything I can to make my life worthwhile." Kathy Lieske blazed a trail for female inclusion, but her motivation, then and now, was service to her community. For information about volunteering for SourcePoint’s medical transportation program, contact Jill Smith, volunteer recruiter, at jill.smith@MySourcePoint.org or 740-203-2368.
Find Your Center.
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Winter 2022
SAFETY
Taking the Pedal Off the Metal Should older adults stop driving and if so, when? You may have gotten your driver’s license the day you turned 16. By the time you retire, you could have driven daily for more than half a century. But for some people, there comes a time in the aging process when driving becomes dangerous. “On the whole, older drivers are safe,” says Dr. Marian Betz, an expert in healthy aging at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. “They tend to drive slower than younger drivers and have a lot of experience.” But some health conditions common with aging may make it riskier to get behind the wheel. Stiffer joints and weaker muscles can make it harder to steer or brake safely. Eye diseases and some medications can cause vision problems. Hearing loss can blunt the sounds of horns or sirens. And cognitive changes, even mild ones, may impair quick decisions behind the wheel. Deciding to stop driving can be emotionally challenging for older adults, says Betz. “Many people see their car as a marker of independence. Giving up the privilege of driving can feel like a real loss.” People often depend on cars to get them to and from the activities they enjoy. Or to see the people they care about. So stopping driving can lead to isolation. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for alternative transportation. “We don’t want older adults isolated and shut in,” Betz says. “We want people to be emotionally and socially connected, as well as be able to get out and exercise.”
Feeling disconnected can lead to poorer health. Studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation are linked to higher risks for some health problems. These include heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline. There are many alternatives to driving. Some areas provide free or low-cost bus or taxi services for older adults. Some communities offer a carpool service, or scheduled trips to stores or the doctor. Rideshare service may also be an option. Betz and her colleagues are currently testing an online tool to help older adults and their families make decisions about driving. “We’re not telling people ‘you need to stop,’” explains Betz. But they hope to make people feel comfortable and empowered when they do decide to stop driving. “That makes such a decision more likely to stick,” Betz says. Options for getting things done without leaving the house have also boomed recently. Grocery delivery, telehealth visits, and online social hours can reduce the need to drive every day. Online options can’t—and shouldn’t— replace everything, says Betz. “But some of these things are good solutions for people to reduce their need to drive.” If you’re wondering whether it may be time for you or someone else to stop driving, see the Wise Choices box at right for questions to ask. Source: NIH News in Health. Read more at newsinhealth.nih.gov.
Wise Choices: Is It Time to Stop Driving? If you answer “yes” to any of the below questions, it may be time to consider stopping driving: Do other drivers often honk at you? Have you had some accidents, even if they were only “fender benders?” Do you get lost, even on roads you know? Do cars or people walking seem to appear out of nowhere? Do you get distracted while driving? Has anyone told you they’re worried about your driving? Do you have trouble staying in your lane? Do you have trouble moving your foot between the gas and the brake pedals, or sometimes confuse the two?
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Winter 2022
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
The Strength of Our Community COVID-19 has changed us. It tested us, sometimes broke us, and forced us to make changes to how we live our lives. Each one of our communities, each one of our households, every business, has made sacrifices and choices to stay safe. At our hospitals like OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, or with the Delaware Public Health District, we have fought every single day, with you and for you. We still do. Delaware County has a story to tell. And that story, regarding COVID-19, is one of hope and pride. We lead the state of Ohio in engagement with the health district, with awareness, and with vaccinations. It’s because of you. We rolled up our sleeves for ourselves, our family, our kids, and our seniors. Recent data shares Delaware County has the highest percentage of those vaccinated in the areas closest to our county by 11%, and 77% of those eligible are now fully vaccinated. Our COVID-19 hospitalized patients per 100,000 are the lowest in that same region. Our COVID-19 positivity rate per 100,000 is the lowest in the region. We know vaccines work. Even in COVID-19 breakthrough cases, which are defined as a case after being fully vaccinated, they can lessen the impact from the infection, and have been very effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19 that lead to hospitalization or death. Our data shows 94% of cases in the county are those who have not been vaccinated, with only 6% considered breakthrough. Your support of vaccinations, masking, and social distancing is evident in these numbers. Thank you.
And despite this positive momentum in our community, it does not underscore what we, along with our friends and neighbors, have lost. Lives were taken from this horrible infection. We missed graduations, weddings, the “normal” lives we knew. Our health care staff is overwhelmed, both physically and emotionally. They are some of the best people you will find anywhere. They care so much for you and your families and despite all of the death and severe illness they’ve seen, and the stress they carry home with them after another long shift, they bravely come back the next day ready to save another life and make a difference. These losses will not be forgotten. This hard work will not be taken for granted, ever. We hope you feel proud, Delaware County. We were strong before this pandemic and it shows. As we hopefully come out of this fourth surge, we emerge changed. But we should emerge with the knowledge and hope that Delaware County is a shining example of health care, government, community, businesses, and so much more, coming together to be the best of Ohio. We can’t thank you enough for what you have brought to the battle against COVID-19, and for what you have done for each other. Delaware County is home for us. It’s special here and nothing can take that away. Ever. Armin Rahmanian is the president of OhioHealth Grady Memorial and Dublin Methodist Hospitals and Shelia L. Hiddleson is the Delaware Public Health District Health Commissioner.
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Winter 2022
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Breast Cancer in Older Adults Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in elderly women. A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer over her lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. The older a woman is, the more likely it is she will be diagnosed with the disease. On average and across all races, there is about a 9% chance that a 60-year-old woman develops senior breast cancer over her next 20 years. Nearly 275,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year, with more than 3 million survivors of the disease living at any given time, according to the American Cancer Society. About half of the newly diagnosed breast cancer cases come from women over the age of 60, and another 20% come from women over 70 years old. At age 80, the chances of you developing breast cancer over the rest of your life begin to decrease, according to Harvard Medical School. Unfortunately, women over 65 who are diagnosed with early onset breast cancer are more likely to pass away due to the disease. Women in that same age group are more likely to have the cancer recur, as well. More than 40,000 women die from breast cancer every year. It’s vital that women—and their loved ones—know the warning signs, causes, and different types of breast cancer, as well as how and when to get tested, and how it can be treated and prevented. TYPES OF BREAST CANCER Breast cancer is a blanket term for any form of cancer that develops in and around the breast, such as the lobule, the part of the breast that makes milk, or the milk ducts, which carry the milk around the breast, though there are specific forms of the cancer that affect different parts of the breast. Generally speaking, breast cancer is either: • Invasive: The cancer spreads to healthy tissue. • Non-invasive: The cancer is localized to the milk ducts and cells of the breast. One of the most common forms of breast cancer is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). This form of breast cancer starts in the milk ducts and moves to other healthy tissue. There is a non-invasive form of this type of cancer that starts in the milk ducts, too, but BreastCancer.org notes that most breast cancers are invasive. Other important forms of senior breast cancer include the following:
INVASIVE LOBULAR CARCINOMA: Similar to IDC, this form of cancer can spread to other parts of the breast, but it starts in the lobules. There is a noninvasive form, too, meaning the cancer stays in the lobule where it started. INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER: This is a rare form of breast cancer that makes up about 1% of all cases. It starts with a reddening and inflamed breast and then spreads quickly to surrounding tissue, such as the lymph nodes. Within a few days or a week, it can spread from the breast to other areas. PAGET’S DISEASE: This is a rare form of cancer that affects the nipple. It starts in or just behind the nipple and can spread to other parts of the breast. ANGIOSARCOMA: While this is an overarching term for any form of cancer that affects the blood and lymph vessels in your body, it can occur in the breast, though it’s rare. Any of these cancers can recur, even if treated in the early stages. The cancer may recur in the same spot as before or in a different area if leftover cells survived after the cancer previously spread. There is also a form of breast cancer that occurs in men, but it makes up less than 1% of all related cases. If a man does develop breast cancer, it almost always starts in the undeveloped milk ducts. Women are 126 times more likely to be diagnosed and die due to breast cancer than men. CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER Breast cancer is caused by a mutation of cells in the breast, but it’s not exactly clear what causes that mutation. Whereas with lung cancer, for example, it’s easier to point to an activity like smoking as the root cause, the same does not hold true for breast cancer. However, there are risk factors for senior breast cancer and they include: GENDER: Breast cancer occurs almost exclusively in women. More than 99% of breast cancer cases happen in women.
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Winter 2022 AGE: The older you get, the more likely it is you will develop breast cancer. However, once you reach 75 years old, the chances of getting breast cancer over the remainder of your life starts to decrease. GENETICS: The American Cancer Society says that about 5 to 10% of all breast cancer cases are inherited. The mutated genes most likely to be passed on that indicate a higher likelihood of having cancer are BRCA1 and BRCA2. You have about a 70% chance of getting breast cancer by 80 if you have one of these gene mutations. Men with the BRCA2 mutation have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than men without it, too. PREVIOUSLY HAVING BREAST CANCER: If you’ve had breast cancer in the past, you’re more likely to get it again.
9 of the lump is often seen during mammograms before they develop into lumps on the breast. So while lumps can be a sign, there are other signs on and around the breast that can indicate the presence of senior breast cancer. These include:
LUMP ON THE BREAST: The most common symptom is a lump forming on the breasts. While 20% of lumps are cancerous, the risk increases with age.
DISCHARGE FROM THE NIPPLE: Any sort of nipple discharge, whether it’s clear or discolored, runny or thick, can be an indication of breast cancer. However, the cause can also be a side effect of other medical issues or from breastfeeding, especially if it’s a milky color.
SWELLING AND SORENESS: Breast cancer can cause a general swelling or soreness. The swelling would be significant enough to change the size of the breast affected, even if one is already a different size than the other. The swelling can affect the whole breast or part of it, and can change the overall size and shape.
NIPPLE INVERSION: The composition of your nipple can change based on the presence of breast cancer. The cancer cells can affect the area right behind your nipple, causing it to turn inward or start inverting.
RACE: White and African-American women have higher rates of breast cancer. DENSE BREASTS: Dense breast tissue can be a risk factor for breast cancer. Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue than they do fatty tissue. FAMILY HISTORY: If a close family member, such as your mom, sister, or grandmother, have had breast cancer, your chances of getting the disease are higher. REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY: If you started your period before age 12 or started menopause after age 55, you are more likely to get breast cancer. Women who have never been pregnant have a higher risk as well. It should be noted that these risk factors are not direct causes of breast cancer. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER One of the most important steps in beating breast cancer is catching it at the earliest possible stage. This is why it’s vital to know the signs and symptoms of senior breast cancer. The most common symptom is a lump on your breast. While most lumps on the breast are benign, about 20% are cancerous. They’re especially concerning if you’re over 40, because it is more likely the lumps are connected to cancer rather than an injection or benign tumors. The root cause
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See CANCER on page 10.
10
Winter 2022 MAMMOGRAM: A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast(s). The process starts with you standing in front of an X-ray machine and placing your breast on a clear plate. The machine then moves another clear plate on top of your breast, which is flattened with a little bit of pressure. This process can be uncomfortable and sometimes even painful, but it will only take a few seconds once the breast is in the right place. The machine takes photos of both breasts from the front and from the side.
Cancer From page 9
REDNESS OF THE SKIN: One of the primary effects breast cancer has on the skin is a general redness, especially in the area where the cancer cells are affecting the lymph nodes. This can be one confined area or across the whole breast(s).
SKIN DIMPLING: This occurs when parts of the skin on the breast invert and create a small dimple. Like the inversion of the nipple, this can show where the cancer is present. These dimples can also indicate that the cancer is aggressive.
OTHER CHANGES TO THE SKIN: In addition to redness, swelling, and dimpling, breast cancer can reveal itself through peeling, flakiness, and crustiness in the area surrounding the areola and other areas of the breast.
SWELLING IN THE UNDERARM: The first place cancerous cells usually travel after affecting the breast is to the lymph nodes in the under arm. Swelling or tenderness in the region can suggest breast cancer is present and has spread.
HOW TO GET SCREENED FOR BREAST CANCER If you notice you’ve experienced some of the symptoms of breast cancer, visit the doctor as soon as possible. Not next week, not next month. As soon as the doctor can fit you in. When making the appointment, you should note the symptoms you have experienced. You should also get a yearly test even if you aren’t showing any symptoms. Your doctor will perform a handful of tests to determine if your symptoms are the result of the presence of cancer in your breasts. Some of these tests include:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that you avoid wearing deodorant, perfume, or any powder the day of the exam as they can alter the image and raise false flags. They also suggest avoid wearing a dress to the exam, and that you schedule the exam at a time when you aren’t on your period, during which your breasts can swell and be tender. There are no strict guidelines for when a woman should start receiving a yearly mammogram, though it’s recommended that yearly exams start at age 45. They can move to every two years when you reach 50 to 55 years old. When you turn 75, there aren’t any guidelines for a yearly or every-otheryear mammogram, and getting a screening at that point is up to you and your doctor’s discretion. You may want to start getting mammograms earlier than 45 if you have a family history of breast cancer, though that is up to you. If you’re unsure when you should start, consult your primary care physician. BIOPSY: This type of exam is performed to confirm a breast cancer diagnosis. It’s usually the step that follows all of the other types of exams when a doctor notices something that may be breast cancer. During a biopsy, a doctor will extract cells from the area he or she believes the cancer is in your breast with the help of a needle and an X-ray. The cells will then be tested for cancer at a lab, which will either confirm or disprove the diagnosis. If confirmed, the test results will show if the cancer is invasive or non-invasive and how far along the cancer has developed, according to the Mayo Clinic. BREAST EXAM: This is a physical exam done by a doctor, who will feel for any lumps, bumps, dimples, skin deformities, or other problems. He or she will also feel around the lymph nodes of your armpits, which is typically the first area that invasive cancer spreads to outside of the breast. Breast exams are suggested for adult women before age 40. They are typically done in conjunction with mammograms.
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Winter 2022 ULTRASOUND AND MRI: Ultrasounds and MRIs are exams that help get a deeper image of the breast. Ultrasounds use soundwaves to depict clearer images of a lump on and inside the breast, while MRIs use radio waves to accomplish a similar task. Neither of these tests use radiation. BREAST CANCER TREATMENT AND PREVENTION Once a breast cancer diagnosis is confirmed, treatment starts almost immediately. Treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage it is in, the size of the tumor and if it has spread, and the type of tumor. All of this information helps doctors determine how to best move forward in your treatment. Treatment options for breast cancer include: MASTECTOMY: This is surgery that removes the whole breast affected by the cancer. There are different kinds of mastectomies where the removal of tissue will move up to the lymph nodes in the armpit area. If the cancer has spread to the muscles behind the chest wall, surgeons may remove that, too. If cancer is present in both breasts, the surgery is known as a double mastectomy. Some people will have a mastectomy if it’s believed there is a high chance they will contract the disease due to family history. LUMPECTOMY: This is another form of surgery on the breast—it’s a partial removal of breast tissue. It’s typically done on patients with less invasive forms of breast cancer in their earlier stages. The goal of a lumpectomy is to remove all the cancerous tissue while making sure the breast looks the same as before. CHEMOTHERAPY: Chemotherapy drugs and treatments are meant to attack and kill cancer cells. It can be administered intravenously, with a pill, through an injection, with a cream, and other ways. The most common side effects include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and hair loss. RADIATION: This form of therapy also aims to attack and kill cancer cells, only this treatment is more localized. Radiation uses highenergy beams to attack the area where the cancer cells are present. It’s often done in conjunction with lumpectomies to make sure the area where the cancer is present receives the full force of treatment. Side effects can include coughing and shortness of breath.
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11 HORMONE THERAPY: Two of every three cases of breast cancer are “hormone-receptor positive,” according to the ACA, which means the tumor and cells respond to high levels of hormones in women, particularly estrogen. The high levels of hormones can help the cancer spread. Hormone therapy is a way to balance that. The drugs used for hormone therapy block the hormone receptors on cancer cells to help stop them from growing. They may also lower your hormone levels to help accomplish the same task. You may also be treated to help manage any pain, eating issues, weight loss, or other physical and mental side effects that arise due to treatment. Not every breast cancer will require the same type of treatment and, ultimately, the choice is up to you what course of action you want to take. Your doctor should discuss all available treatment options, how they will help reduce the presence of the cancer, and how the treatment will help ensure the cancer will not resurface if the treatment is successful. Unfortunately, there is no clear, defined way to prevent breast cancer. However, there are suggestions made by researchers and doctors in order to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. According to the CDC, these include: • Maintaining a healthy weight. • Not smoking. • Limiting alcohol intake to one or fewer drinks per day. • Being physically active. • Breastfeeding (if you have children). If you have any questions regarding breast cancer, contact your primary care physician or get in touch with an oncologist in your area. Source: Aging.com.
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Safety From page 1
Every day in the United States, 10,000 more people reach their 65th birthday. Equipping your home with tools to make it easier to live in as you age, or helping a friend or relative adapt their home, is going to become a necessity. There is an easy way to do this: think about each room in your house and make a list of "aging-in-place amenities" that you can install. The Front Door/Foyer The first thing to think about in terms of making a house more accessible is just that: how accessible is your house? Is the front entrance at the top of a set of stairs? Is there an entrance between the garage and the house? Is there a side or back entrance that is more easily accessible than the front one? It is not always cost-effective to install a feature like a ramp before you need one. But you can make sure that staircases are free of stumbling hazards and any banisters currently in place are sturdy. Although carpets and other non-slip mats can be tripping hazards, you might want to consider having some in place as needed on porches that can get icy and on garage floors that can get wet. Within an entrance, foyer, or mudroom, make sure there are no pieces of furniture protruding into walking paths. Have a place to set wet or dirty footwear so that it is out of the way. Clean out closets so they are not difficult to open or so full that it is difficult to find outerwear that you use regularly. Somewhere within the house, in a location that you can use so
Winter 2022 consistently that it becomes a habit, dedicate an area to hold anything you need when going out. A small basket on a hallway table or entryway bench can hold keys, masks, a cell phone, and even gloves and a hat during cold-weather seasons. The Living Room When making age-in-place adjustments to a house, the process often seems to be about adding safety tools. In the living room, however, the biggest adjustments to be made are often ones of minimizing. Adapting your house to your needs as you age doesn't mean you have to make it a sterile, unfamiliar environment. On the contrary, you are trying to make your house more comfy and livable. In the living room, make sure you have enough room to leave wide and unobstructed walkways. Arrange your furniture so that it is useful to you, even if those arrangements aren't conventional. What chair do you sit in most? Put it in front of the television or right next to your computer table or end table. Making a house easier to live in also means making it easier to clean. Although you'll want to keep any items that spark joy, you may want to consider gifting or otherwise removing some of your knickknacks, books, or even pictures. Keep any end tables near your favorite places to sit clear so they can hold just the necessities, like a tissue box, a place for a drink, your remote controls, or a phone.
The Kitchen If you face mobility or eyesight challenges, the kitchen will probably be the place where you need to make the most changes. Again, you do not need to approach the kitchen with major changes like lowering countertops or changing light fittings in mind. Those changes can be made later, if necessary. What you should consider is downsizing; do an extensive cabinet and drawer cleanout and keep only the utensils and appliances that you use regularly. If you haven't made waffles with your waffle iron for years, the chances are fairly good you may not need the waffle iron. Organize cabinets so that the foods and spices you use most often are at the very front of the shelves and are easy to see. Print up ready-made grocery lists that you can simply scan every week as reminders for what you might need. Invest in measuring cups and spoons with large and easy-to-read numerals. Make sure any carpets or mats that you use in the kitchen have good quality non-slip backings. Use them only where necessary; rugs can be a tripping hazard. Make sure all the lights you have in the kitchen are working, and add under-cabinet or other portable touch-lights wherever necessary. Keep a magnifying lamp nearby to help you read recipes. There are also great automatic shut-off devices available for many kitchen appliances. Always address any maintenance issues immediately. Be on the watch for leaks from your sink, dishwasher, or refrigerator, and ask for assistance when making sure there are new batteries in any smoke detectors every spring and autumn.
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The Bathroom Changes in the bathroom can be some of the most unsettling to make because they can make the room look different and make you very aware of possible hazards. You have to remind yourself that the changes and additions within each room are meant to make your life easier. Some items you may want to install in your bathroom include a talking scale (very handy when tracking weight for health or medication purposes), a raised toilet seat, a walk-in bathtub (this will require expert installation), handheld shower wands, and grab bars. Consider installing a new non-slip floor, and make sure any carpets or bathmats have non-slip backings. If you have a service that allows you to call for help with a button, consider ordering an extra button to leave in the bathroom at all times in the case of a fall. Make sure all of the lightbulbs are working and install a night light. The Bedroom The bedroom is another area of your home where a few smart purchases will help you adjust more easily to aging. Although one of the bigger-ticket items is an adjustable or medical bed, there are also several smaller items that can make aging in place easier in your bedroom. An additional phone or smart device on a bedside table can provide a lot of peace of mind, as can an additional life-assist button that remains there (in addition to any such button you wear).
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS
Home Safety Tips Remove furniture from high traffic paths.
Remove throw rugs or use nonslip tape so rugs won’t slide. Put a non-slip mat in your bathtub, and non-slip strips where floor levels change.
Remove objects from the floor, and tape cords next to the wall. Add hand rails along staircases, and clear items from the steps. A night light in the bedroom or nearby bathroom is a necessity, and it may also be useful to keep a working flashlight within reach of your bed or a favorite chair. As always, make sure that walkways around your bed and between your bed and the bathroom are clean, and no electrical cords are running across your usual path. Make sure any appliances used in the bedroom, like room humidifiers, are in good working order and are cleaned regularly. Go through your closets and dressers and remove any clothing or items that you no longer use. Make sure clothing items you use frequently are in the front of your closet or at the top of your drawers, and try to remove any unnecessary clutter from your vanity
SourcePoint can help! Call 740-363-6677 for a free home safety check.
table or nightstand. If you do not have a sturdy chair in this room, consider adding one; sitting down can make it easier to get dressed. Making these and many other adjustments to your home to make it easier to stay in it can feel like an overwhelming process. Try to keep your overall goal in mind, which is staying in your own home environment as long as possible. With a few quick and low-cost adjustments, you can vastly improve the safety and comfort of your own home.
Free monthly support groups for Delaware County caregivers and caregivers whose loved ones reside in the county. Available in-person on the days and times below and online the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. Delaware SourcePoint 800 Cheshire Road 2nd Tuesday, 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.
Polaris SourcePoint South Office 1070 Polaris Pkwy, Suite 200 3rd Thursday, noon.
Sunbury Community Library 44 Burrer Drive 3rd Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
Find more information and register online at MySourcePoint.org/caregiver.
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TECHNOLOGY
A Simple Guide to Creating Strong Passwords Most of us know that choosing strong passwords is important. However, if you’re not techsavvy, the topic of password security can feel overwhelming. Not to worry! We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide on how to use passwords. These smart password tips will help you keep your information safe and enjoy more peace of mind in this increasingly digital world. Understanding passwords: The what, why, and how We use passwords every day—to log into our computer, access our smartphone, make online purchases, and get money out of the ATM. But what is a password and what is it for? A password is a string of characters used to authenticate you—or confirm you are who you say you are—when you’re using a computer system. Most passwords are made up of letters, numbers, and symbols and don’t include spaces. Passwords are a type of single-factor authentication that falls into the category of “what you know.” Other ways to authenticate you include “what you have” (e.g., a bank card you insert into a machine) and “who you are” (e.g., biometrics such as fingerprint scans). These authentication factors can also be combined to create multifactor authentication. What is multifactor authentication? It’s an approach requiring you to confirm your identity from at least two different categories. For example, when you visit an ATM, you must enter a PIN (personal identification number) in addition to inserting your bank card. Multifactor authentication is stronger than single-factor authentication because it provides another layer of security. The (big) trouble with passwords today It may surprise you to know that passwords weren’t created for computers. They are a very old concept, first used by the military in ancient times. While we’ve eagerly put passwords into practice in the digital age, they’re not without their pitfalls. Here are the primary ones: We use passwords everywhere, from online shopping to news and social media sites. This means most of us have to remember countless passwords so that we can use them at
any given time. That’s a lot of information to juggle, and trying to recall various passwords for different applications can be difficult and stressful. Since we have so many passwords to manage, some of us take the simple route by re-using passwords we’ve already created for other applications. Or, we may come up with weak passwords that are easy to remember. Reused passwords are a danger because once they’re cracked or stolen, they can be used to gain entry on multiple sites. Weak passwords are easy for hackers to guess or crack using modern password-cracking tools. Given the rise in data breaches by sophisticated hackers, stolen passwords are now a big problem. According to the website haveibeenpwned.com, more than 11 billion accounts have been stolen to date. When you combine this with password reuse, it can be easy for a cyberthief to break into multiple accounts and wreak havoc with someone’s life and finances. How to create a strong password: 3 key tips Although passwords have their shortcomings, we won’t be getting away from them any time soon. That’s why it’s essential to know how to create a strong password for any website or digital application. Here are some password best practices to help you keep your accounts safe and sound: 1. Instead of using a word, use a phrase. This phrase should contain a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols to make it harder to break. Use clever shorthand to create a string that’s meaningful to you, such as 2BorNot2B?74. Aim for something that’s at least 12 to 15 characters long. Other strong password examples feature something called “the sentence method.” The idea is to think of a random sentence and transform it into a password using a specific rule. For example, if you take the first two letters of every word in “The Old Duke is my favorite pub in South London,” you’d get: ThOlDuismyfapuinSoLo. To anyone else, it’s gibberish, but to you it makes perfect sense. 2. Use multifactor authentication, especially for your email account. Even if someone has your username and password, multifactor authentication can prevent them from logging
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Winter 2022 in as you because they lack the second factor. A couple of things to keep in mind: Having the site owner (e.g., your bank) send you a text message with a verification code—which you then enter at login to gain access to the site—is a common two-factor authentication approach. However, using an authentication app is a safer and more secure way to protect your account. This is because attackers have turned their attention to textmessage authentication and are learning to crack that code.
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MAKE YOURSELF
AT HOME
Remember your email account is the most valuable account you have! If an attacker has control of it, they can take over every other account that uses it for password resets. 3. Use a password manager. What is a password manager and how does it work? A password manager is a type of “identity manager.” It takes on the job of handling your passwords, making it easier to have strong and unique phrases across many applications. The best part? You only have to remember your master password. Here’s how to set up a password manager effectively: • Create a very strong master password using the tips discussed earlier in this article. If that password is stolen, all of your identities can be hijacked. • If you need to, write down your password and keep it in a highly secure spot in your home. That risk is acceptable if it helps mitigate other risks to your identity. • Use multifactor authentication with your password manager. • If your password manager has recovery options, set those up as soon as you can. That way, you’ll be protected if you misplace or forget your master password. (Remember, if you lose that, you’re locked out of everything!) • Make sure that the email account attached to your password manager is also well secured. Source: National Council on Aging. Read more at ncoa.org.
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Whether you’re at Ohio Living Sarah Moore for assisted living, long-term nursing care, or short-term rehabilitation, one thing remains the same — we don’t believe that you’re living in our facility. We believe that we’re working in your home. So we do everything we can to make you feel at home whenever you’re on our campus, from comfortable furniture on our iconic front porch, to seeing your favorite foods on the menu, to staff members who feel like friends and treat you like family.
Call 740.362.9641 to schedule your tour today!
26 North Union Street Delaware, Ohio 43015 ohioliving.org
Assisted Living | Short-Term Rehabilitation Long-Term Nursing Care | Home Health & Hospice
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FROM THE SOURCE The latest news, programs, and resources available at SourcePoint.
Medicare Toolkits SourcePoint offers three free toolkits designed to provide unbiased insurance education and empower you to make sound decisions about Medicare.
When to Enroll in Medicare Decisi on Tree | Septem ber 2020
UNDER 65 AND DISABL
START HERE: Are you... ED
TURNIN G 65
Are you on Medica
re?
YES
Will you continue
NO
How to Save Mone y on Medicare Have Part A, need Part B due to spouse retirement , job or insurance loss?
YES
Have you been on SSA disability for 24+ months?
NO
YES
Enroll in Part B at SSA.gov or over the phone●
YES
Educational Tool kit
Enroll in Parts A & B at SSA.gov or over the phone
NO
No need to enroll as long as your or your spouse’s coverage is active
Not eligible
September 2020
65+ Are you still working
?
YES
How many employees does your employer have?
<20
Lost job/asked to retire early/ losing coverage or spouse coverage?
NO
Enroll in Parts A & B at SSA.gov or over the phone
>20
Enroll in Parts & B at SSA.gov
A or over the phone
YES
We hope you find
YES
Part A Part B
No need to enroll as long as your plan is considered group health coverage,
helpful, and if you
Terminate Medicare
coverage
Are you enrolled in Medicare?
NO
this decision tree
Previously retired and on Medicare, but going back to work?
NO
confirm with HR
Free download at
NO
Will you maintain employer coverage?
NO
You will automatically be enrolled in Parts A & B
working?
YES
Enroll in Part B at SSA.gov or over the phone
No change needed
● = CMS-L564 Request For Employment Info ◊ = CMS-1763 Request
For Termination See next page for important rules to remember.
have any additional questions, your SourcePoin Visit us online at MySource t insurance
Point.org/insuranc
e or call 740-363-6677.
specialists are always
here to help!
MySourcePoint.org/insurance
The Edie Balser
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Making programs available to all.
Thanks to the contributions of generous donors, the Edie Balser Scholarship Fund helps individuals with modest incomes participate in a variety of rewarding programs at SourcePoint. There is no annual fee for Delaware County residents ages 55 and older to join the enrichment center. A free community pass provides access to the center, as well as numerous free programs. Select programs, including some fitness, arts, and education classes, require a fee. For qualifying individuals, scholarships help with up to 50% of program fees. If you or a loved one could benefit from participating in additional programs at SourcePoint, we can help! For more information or to apply for assistance from the Edie Balser Scholarship Fund, visit the customer service desk at SourcePoint or call 740-363-6677. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to MySourcePoint.org/give.
Day and Overnight Trips How does a change of scenery sound? An escape to relax, refresh, and renew? Would you like to make new memories, new friends, and discover interesting destinations? Some upcoming trip highlights include: • Immersive Van Gogh Columbus and Lunch at Carfagna’s on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Registration through Jan. 5. Fee: $50 for members; $70 for non-members. • Broadway in Columbus: “Come From Away” on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Registration through Jan. 25. Fee: $70 for members; $90 for non-members. • Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Registration through Feb. 2. Fee: $25 for members; $45 for non-members. • Cherry Blossom Festival DC April 6-10. Fee: $1,399 per person based on double occupancy. Other rate info available on flyer. • Nova Scotia and Maritimes of Canada July 7-14. Fee: $2,899 per person based on double occupancy. Other rate info available on flyer. • England: The British Invasion Oct. 8-16. Fee: starting at $3,449 per person based on double occupancy. Other rate info available on flyer. • New York Holiday Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Fee: starting at $1,299 per person based on double occupancy. Other rate information available on flyer. Let SourcePoint help you explore our world with trips in 2022! Adventure awaits. Read more about trips at MySourcePoint.org/EC and find additional details on overnight trips on separate flyers. Questions? Contact Mary Ann Evans at 740-363-6677.
Find visitor guidelines and related updates at MySourcePoint.org/restart. Questions? Call us at 740-363-6677. MySourcePoint.org
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News for an Age-Friendly Community Small Steps. Big Impact.
HOME SAFETY CHECKS The purpose of a home safety check is to inform and offer solutions to fall risks to keep older adults safe in their homes.
You’re in the right place!
During a home safety check, the focus is on 3 Rs: Risk, Recommendation, Referral.
Delaware County is the best place to thrive after 55.
The objective during a home safety check is to evaluate your home environment for fall risks and offer recommendations and refer to partner agencies to assist based on each modification need.
We’re just a click or call away! MySourcePoint.org/55 | 740-363-6677
Community members can contact SourcePoint to schedule a home safety check. Family and friends can call on someone’s behalf, but consent must be given by the person receiving the home safety check.
NEW ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS ON OUR WEBSITE
For more information, please call SourcePoint at 740-363-6677.
TAKING SOURCEPOINT ON THE ROAD We are bringing SourcePoint to you, reaching every part of the county with education and information about our services. For more information, reach out to Clare Decker at cdecker@MySourcePoint.org.
Recently, we’ve added an accessibility menu to the SourcePoint website. There are different options available for individuals with impaired eyesight and dyslexia. To access this menu, click the blue accessibility logo on our home page.
UPCOMING: SOURCEPOINT COMMUNITY SURVEY Be on the lookout for a SourcePoint community survey coming in early 2022. We are planning for our future as Delaware County continues to grow and change, and your feedback is valuable!
MySourcePoint.org/age-friendly MySourcePoint.org
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Winter 2022
CONSUMER GUIDE
Prepare for 3G Network Shutdowns If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service. For more information on your mobile providers' plans for 3G retirement and how you can prepare, contact your provider directly. What is happening? Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which rely on older technology, to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. As a result, many older cell phones will be unable to make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911, or use data services. This will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice over LTE (VoLTE or HD Voice). Learn more about other connected devices, such as medical devices and security systems, that may be impacted: When is it happening? As early as Jan. 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change. Consult your mobile provider's website for the most up-to-date information. AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022. Verizon announced it will finish shutting down its 3G network by Dec. 31, 2022. T-Mobile announced that it will finish shutting down Sprint's 3G CDMA network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint's 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network by July 1, 2022, but has not yet announced a shutdown date for its 2G network.
If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Many carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile networks. (Note: These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Carriers may begin retiring parts of their networks sooner.) What do I need to do? Contact your mobile provider or consult your provider's website for more information about their 3G retirement plan and whether your phone, or other connected device, may be affected. It is important to plan now so that you don't lose connectivity, including the ability to call 911. Some carrier websites provide lists of devices that will no longer be supported after 3G networks are shut down. You may need to upgrade to a newer device to ensure that you can stay connected, and carriers may be offering discounted or free upgrades to help consumers who need to upgrade their phones. Some devices may only require a software update to enable VoLTE or other advanced services. If you purchased your phone independent of a mobile provider, you should be able to check whether your device is 4G LTE (with VoLTE or HD Voice) enabled by checking your phone's settings or user manual, or by searching your phone's model number on the internet, to determine whether you need to
purchase a new device or install a software update. Does this just impact phones? No. Other devices, such as certain medical devices, tablets, smart watches, vehicle SOS services, home security systems, and other connected products may be using 3G network services. And don't forget about devices that use cellular connectivity as a back-up when a wired internet connection goes down. If the device is not labeled, contact the monitoring company or other service provider to confirm how the device connects and whether your device may be impacted. Why are 3G networks being phased out? As mobile carriers seek to upgrade their networks to use the latest technologies, they periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G. Similar transitions have happened before. For example, some mobile carriers shut down their 2G networks when they upgraded their networks to support 4G services. Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands. Need other help staying connected? As mentioned above, your mobile service provider may be offering special deals on new devices, including some deals that might include a free cell phone.
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Winter 2022 In addition, although they do not cover the cost of new devices, other FCC programs may be able to assist eligible consumers with the cost of phone or internet services: The FCC's Lifeline program may be able to assist eligible consumers in getting connected to phone and internet services. The program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family, and emergency services. You can learn more about the Lifeline program and find out if you may be eligible at fcc.gov/ broadbandbenefit. In addition, the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional Resources • To learn more about 5G, visit our FAQs page at fcc.gov/5g-faqs.
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Lifeline and Medical Alert Devices Lifeline, a program used by many older adults, utilizes major service providers like AT&T and T-Mobile, which are included in the shutdown. iPhones older than the iPhone 6 will no longer work for calls and data. Medical alert devices, watches, and home security systems that utilize 3G may also be impacted. Individuals who utilize such systems should log into their accounts to check whether they use 3G. Consumers can also contact the individual carriers and reach out to product companies to determine if their device will be affected. For people with limited resources, this change could present challenges if they have to spend money on new products. Some carriers are offering free or discounted replacement phones. Older adults and low-income individuals may qualify for the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which could help them get discounted, updated devices. Many libraries have technology lending programs, which could help keep people connected.
AGING
Elder Abuse in Ohio is Closer than You Think 1-855-OHIO-APS. Remember that number. Store it in your phone. I hope you and your loved ones never need it, but if that day comes, you’ll be thankful you have it. It is the Ohio Adult Protective Services hotline, and it could save a life. Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation is widespread and under-reported. Nationally, an estimated 1 in 8 older adults suffer from elder abuse. Given that rate, census data suggests more than 200,000 Ohioans age 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse. Yet county departments of job and family services received just 34,000 calls in 2020. This suggests that tens of thousands of instances of elder abuse went unreported.
• For more on the FCC's 5G strategy, visit the FCC's America's 5G Future at fcc.gov/5G.
This is an alarming trend and, frankly, is unacceptable. The time is now for all Ohioans to be aware of the types of elder abuse, recognize the warning signs, and know who to call when they suspect someone is in danger.
• For more information on consumer issues, visit the FCC's Consumer Help Center at fcc.gov/ consumers.
Elder abuse refers to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Put simply, elder abuse occurs when someone intentionally acts in a way that harms an older adult.
Sources: Federal Communications Commission and Amy Goyer, AARP. Read more at aarp.org.
Abuse can be physical, emotional, or sexual. It includes neglect and isolation, as well as financial abuse and exploitation. Warning signs of abuse include signs of physical harm, sudden changes in behavior, increased involvement of other family members in their lives or decisions, lack of hygiene, unclean or unsafe living conditions, missing money or property, and increased isolation. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services operates our state’s Adult Protective Services. APS serves Ohioans age 60 or over who live in their own homes and communities. APS staff investigate reports of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, and partner with appropriate agencies to address the situation. Call the toll-free state APS hotline at 855-OHIO-APS (855-644-6277). There’s no requirement of physical proof, and callers can choose to be anonymous. A single call can save a life. Check on the older adults in your life and don’t hesitate to make that call if you think there’s a problem. Learn more at aging.ohio.gov/elderabuse.
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Winter 2022
MORE THAN JUST A MEAL MEALS ON WHEELS MENU & MEAL OPTIONS • Six menu choices daily: Hot, cold, low-sodium hot, low-sodium cold, carb-controlled hot, and carb-controlled cold. • Two vegetarian options daily. • Weekend “heat-and-eat” meals. • Holiday frozen meals. • Shelf-stable meals for emergency closures. • Mechanically altered meals: Chopped, ground, or pureed. • Weekly delivery program of up to 14 frozen meals per week. • Wide selection of drinks that are vitamin-fortified: Apple juice, orange juice, chocolate milk, skim milk, and 2% milk. • Personalized meal plans allowing up to 14 meals weekly. But that’s not all—SourcePoint’s Meals on Wheels program is more than just a meal!
SourcePoint is the most comprehensive aging services provider in Delaware County, Ohio. Our nutrition program provides a variety of healthy options for county residents ages 55 and older, including:
Meals on Wheels Pet Food & Care Community Cafes Farmers Market Vouchers For more information, call SourcePoint at 740-363-6677 or go to MySourcePoint.org.
MySourcePoint.org
Winter 2022
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“MORE THAN JUST A MEAL” EXTRAS
PET FOOD & PET CARE
• More than just a meal—a friendly visit and wellbeing check.
• Dog and cat food delivery.
• No-show follow-up calls to ensure safety.
• Annual Santa Paws program with Hospets.
• Change-of-condition monitoring.
• Low-cost veterinary care and grooming.
• Monthly treat program and birthday recognition.
COMMUNITY CAFES
• Periodic “goody” bags with cards, activities, treats, and gifts.
• On- and off-site cafes.
• Nutrition education materials provided.
• Monthly special events at on-site cafe.
• Daily meals handcrafted by our experienced chefs. • Dedicated and friendly staff.
• Weekly activities at off-site cafes. • Quarterly special events at off-site cafes.
• Kind, courteous, and passionate delivery drivers.
FARMERS MARKET VOUCHERS
• Referral to SourcePoint’s in-home care service coordination.
• Each season, SourcePoint provides free vouchers for fresh food from participating farmers markets throughout the county.
Nutrition with Heart
A client’s wife recently contacted SourcePoint about altering her husband’s food after he was released from the hospital. He was down to 97 pounds and did not like the pureed food he was served at the hospital. Our staff altered only the food necessary, rather than the entire meal. The client began eating more and gained 18 pounds. His wife felt his increased appetite was due to his ability to recognize the food he was eating, which made it more appealing.
March for Meals with Us!
Across the country, Meals on Wheels programs come together each March to celebrate the community-wide collaboration that ensures older adults can live healthy, happy, independent lives at home, where they want to be. You are part of this collaboration. We do this for you—and because of you!
MySourcePoint.org
The Impact of a Daily Visit
Recently, a client was a no-show at meal delivery and we were unable to reach them. The client’s emergency contact, their son, was alerted and went to check on the client. The client was found on the floor, delirious, and was admitted to the hospital. Without our nutrition staff’s follow-up, the outcome may have been very different.
We need your help to support Meals on Wheels: • Feed one neighbor for a year with $3,000. • Feed one neighbor for a month with $250. • Feed one neighbor for a week with $60. Go to MySourcePoint.org/give to make a difference today!
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Winter 2022
ARTS
One Step More
Bridge of Dreams
Standing at the edge of the worn, weathered bridge, I am frozen by the possibility of what lies ahead, but that small brave part of my soul nudges me forward. Don't look down! I don't even think about looking back—I know what is there. Ahead is the unknown.
The cold waters swirl below the solid structure. Dreams are often fuzzy, unfocused, and ethereal. This is where I come to sift through the debris of decisions. The should-I, could-I thoughts swirl along the nooks and crannies of the rocks, tangling with mud and branches snagged along the waterway. Dreams, like the creek, are sometimes slow moving on their journey. Crashing and cracking into barriers, backtracking and reorganizing along the way. The questions flow along with the water. How can I fulfill this hazy dream with its uncertain future and its blurred margins and boundaries? I ponder. I regroup. I sigh. I breathe. I cry. I don’t want to lay down the burden of my dream for if I do I fear it will be too heavy to lift again.
Will this bridge stand? Will my body be able to get beyond the broken boards I see ahead, the loose wooden slats that take me on to the hope and promise that lie beyond the end of the bridge? Where exactly does it go? After all the risks and danger, where will I emerge? At the edge of a meadow filled with luxurious wild flowers? Or a jagged cliff dropping off the trail into a swirling rush of angry river? We do not always know where our path will lead, but we bravely move forward because standing still is not an option. One tenuous step more...and another... Paula Hofmann is a creative writing participant at SourcePoint's enrichment center.
Donna Bingham is a creative writing participant at SourcePoint's enrichment center.
MySourcePoint.org
Winter 2022
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FUN & GAMES
Sudoku EASY
HARD
Discover
See Sudoku Solutions on page 31.
THE PERFECT BALANCE Independent Living with Support Services With onsite services like UCH Cares and Service Coordination, United Church Homes, The Polaris Community offers an independent setting with additional services as needed.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
CALL TODAY TO LEARN MORE
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MySourcePoint.org
24
Winter 2022
CAREGIVING
5 Ways in Which Your Caregiving Responsibilities at Home Make You a More Valuable Employee For many people, the pandemic brought additional responsibilities in caregiving. Working from home, people found they needed to keep an eye on the children and elderly family members, and even needed to offer emergency help to friends or neighbors. These responsibilities, for some, have exacted costs—they have been unable to engage fully with their jobs and reach for career growth. According to the American Association of Retired Persons, about 30 million people who offer care to their family members have jobs outside of the home. More than half of these people are women, and the average giver of child care spends about 60 hours a week on the activity; caregivers to the elderly spend 28 hours a week on the service, according to a study by the Fidelity insurance company. Across the population, such unpaid care would, if it were paid, be worth a half-billion dollars a year. According to the study, 1 in 3 caregivers are aware their caregiving causes them to lose out on career advancement. Parents taking care of their children also are aware that helping their children learn and go to their activities makes it harder for them to compete with colleagues at work who do not have these responsibilities. Being responsible for caregiving doesn't always harm your career, however. There are ways in which it can help you develop important skills, too— ones you can transfer to your job. Understanding how, and learning how to articulate this insight to your employers, can help you make caregiving a career growth experience.
The ability of caregiving experience to enrich your resume A study by In-Credible, an organization that helps people understand how to demonstrate that their caregiving experience translates into skills that help them at work, shows that caregiving boosts your resume in the following ways.
balance it alongside other responsibilities. Taking care of temperamental adults or children can be stressful in its own way, too. Nevertheless, it is stress that needs to be contained while care is given with gentle patience. This is experience that can help greatly in any stressful, work-related scenario.
Leadership skills: The study finds that caring for the elderly and navigating their health care needs requires leadership skills. The ability to persuade a loved one on the merits of a caregiving plan, and engaging them in the actual care is often not straightforward work. It requires an ability to motivate the receiver of care, and help them understand how it's a good idea for them to cooperate. These abilities can directly translate to useful skills in the workplace.
Communication skills: Children and the elderly in need of care, can resist attempts by caregivers to help them in the ways they need. It can take considerable conflict management skills to smooth over problematic resistance and deliver the care needed. Conflict management experience tends to be an in-demand skill in many parts of work.
Empathy: Successful caregiving isn't just about doing the work necessary; instead, it is about doing it all with empathy. Empathy is an important ingredient of success in any business. Leaders who feel and demonstrate empathy tend to help their businesses along the road of innovation and employee retention. It's possible to quote such studies at work to make the case that your caregiving experience gives you an empathetic edge that can help you be more effective at your job. Tolerance to stress: Caregiving may appear to be quiet, simple work, but it can be stressful. You need to
Communicating to employers how your caregiving makes you a more valuable worker Caregiving gives you a great set of skills relevant to any job. You do need to make it easy for your employer to understand how this is true, however. It can help to try the following approaches: • Since you may have worked reduced hours at the office in order to accommodate your caregiving responsibilities, you need to be open with your employer about how exactly you spent your time. It's important to be confident about how your caregiving priorities have potentially made you a more valuable employee.
MySourcePoint.org
Winter 2022 • You can talk about how your communication and time management skills have improved through caregiving, and give you an edge with the specific responsibilities you seek. • Offer your employer specifics about the times your storytelling abilities helped your child become more involved in their academic work and brought about better results in school. You could also describe how seeking the right treatment plan for an elderly relative required you to advocate for their cause with their doctors. • Talk about how challenging it can be to stay committed to the wellbeing of your family members, and how hard work stemming from this commitment helped you create a greater outcome for them. Proof of ability to commit can be a valuable quality at work. It's important to understand that caregiving isn't necessarily time out from work. It doesn't have to make you less valuable to your employer. The way you approach your caregiving responsibilities can help you grow in ways that give you an edge over others who don't have these responsibilities. Understanding how your work in the home contributes to your professional abilities can help you advance in the workplace.
25 PUBLIC POLICY
Build Back Better: Rosie the Riveter is Now Cristina the Caregiver With her blue overalls, flexed bicep, and steely gaze, Rosie the Riveter defied stereotypes of her time. Her image exuded grit and determination, and it sent a clear message—women power America’s economy. Rosie became an iconic figure in American history, and hundreds of thousands of Rosies helped us win World War II. For almost two years, America has been engaged in another war—this time against COVID-19. And another army of women has been waging battle to keep our communities strong and productive: Cristina the Caregiver. Hundreds of thousands of home and community care workers have continued to feed, administer medication, and provide some of the only human contact possible for our socially isolated parents, grandparents, and loved ones with disabilities. Like Rosie the Riveter, Cristina the Caregiver does the work that makes all other work possible. And we’ll need even more Cristinas to recover from the pandemic.
Cristina the Caregiver may look a little different than Rosie the Riveter. Instead of a rivet gun, she may be holding a walker or a glass of water and medicine. But just like Rosie eight decades ago, today’s Cristina is strong and proud, and she is making American families better, stronger, and healthier. We will continue working to ensure that Congress passes the Build Back Better Act with robust investments in the care economy, including paid family and medical leave, and continue fighting until all people can access care at every stage of life.
“The pandemic has underscored the essential work that Cristina the Caregiver does to keep our families safe when doing so puts her own health—and the health of her family—at risk for exposure to the virus. Cristina is powering an economy that is still struggling to rebound.” The Build Back Better Act, passed by the House on Nov. 19 and now before the Senate, includes an historic investment in Medicaid home care. This down payment on our country’s care infrastructure reflects just how much care is now recognized as the heart of our economy, the thing we all need, and a job-enabling industry that can jumpstart our economic recovery.
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Investing in home and communitybased care is an economic, practical, and moral imperative. We are grateful to the administration and Congressional champions who have worked to ensure that more women of color will benefit as our economy recovers, more families will have economic security, and more people will have the opportunity to work with the dignity and pay they deserve.
Source: National Council on Aging. Read more at ncoa.org. Read more about the Build Back Better Act at whitehouse.gov/build-back-better.
26
Winter 2022
SCAMS & FRAUD
Top 10 Frauds Against Older Adults Last Year Dollar losses grew amid pandemic, isolation Older adults lost $600 million to fraud in 2020, when the pandemic fueled spikes in almost all top categories of fraud, federal officials say. The figures are from the Federal Trade Commission, which noted that losses in many top categories of frauds spiked in 2020 compared to a year earlier. According to the FTC, online shopping scams rose 12%; business impostor frauds 88%; investment frauds 84%; romance scams 66%; tech-support scams 55%; sweepstakes and related frauds 35%; and family and friend impostors 20%. Losses in two categories—timeshare sales and timeshare resales—inched upward by 3% year-over-year, and in one top category, government impostor frauds, losses declined by 5%. There is no mistaking the pandemic’s impact on frauds impacting adults ages 60-plus, with losses of $104 million arising from some 26,518 complaints. The problems included undelivered protective gear, false claims about COVID-19 treatments and cures, and scams involving government relief programs, among others. Overall, there were 334,411 fraud complaints from adults 60-plus in 2020, up from 318,850 in 2019, when there were $440 million in losses for this group. The findings were presented in September during a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), committee chairman, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), said in a joint statement that the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated risks for older people and made them “even more vulnerable to scammers and schemes.” Fraudsters ‘pounced’ “Fraudsters saw an opportunity and pounced,” Casey said. “They preyed on the fear and uncertainty surrounding the disease, as well as the loneliness and isolation that resulted from the pandemic. People were longing for human contact and a friendly voice on the phone or a beckoning message on Facebook became harder to turn away from.” Scott added: “It’s just disgusting and heartbreaking to hear so many stories from so many seniors who had had to deal with the challenges of fraud.” Other key points at the hearing Social media increasingly is being used to target adults 60-
plus for fraud, with 5,169 reports in 2020 compared to 1,955 a year earlier. Alarmingly, there have been 5,998 complaints involving social media during just the first six months of 2021, an FTC official said. Reports of bank transfers and payments made by older adults in fraud cases more than doubled in 2020 to $31 million, compared to a year earlier, and cryptocurrency payments more than tripled to $12 million during the period. The growth in romance scams drove these increases. Victims most often paid fraudsters using credit cards, incurring $44 million in losses in 2020, but a less common method of payment, wire transfers, led to steeper losses— $112 million. Government impersonators a big problem The Senate committee also released the top scams reported to its fraud helpline, 855-303-9470, from 2015 and 2020. These scams and the number of complaints were: • Government impersonators, 3,383. • Sweepstakes scams, 639. • Illegal robocalls and unsolicited phone calls, 636. • Computer scams, 445. • Grandparent scams, 368. These statistics, and helpful advice from the committee on how to fight fraud, are in a downloadable report at aging.senate.gov. With respect to the FTC statistics, it’s important to know that they do not reflect all frauds impacting adults ages 60 and older because only about 45% of complainants in 2020 specified their age. The statistics represent complaints to the FTC and its public and private partners, including AARP's Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Consumers may file a report to the FTC online at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Source: AARP. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Oct. 20, 2020 and since has been updated with new figures concerning top scams targeting older adults AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Sign up for free Watchdog Alerts, review our scamtracking map, or call our toll-free fraud helpline at 877-9083360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim.
MySourcePoint.org
Winter 2022
27 AGING
Myths About Older Workers This year, more than 27% of Ohio’s labor force will be age 55 or older. Rapidly changing demographics and Ohio's economic realities require employers to challenge stereotypes about employing older workers. MYTH: Older workers are sick more often and cost more to employ. REALITY: Older workers generally use fewer sick days than younger workers. They also tend to have lower health care costs, as most do not have children as dependents on their health care plans. In addition, workers age 65 and older are eligible for Medicare, which can further reduce an employer's health care costs. MYTH: Older workers are not quality oriented and have difficulty solving problems, evaluating information, and making decisions. REALITY: Older adults tend to have superior interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and are generally better able to deal with coworkers and customers than their younger counterparts. Patience learned through years of experience is a valuable attribute in stressful situations that require objective thinking over emotional reaction. The 10 costliest scams for adults ages 60-plus.
MYTH: Older workers are not as productive as younger workers. REALITY: Workplace wisdom often is the greatest asset of an older worker. Every aspect of job performance improves with experience, especially productivity. Older workers generally know where to invest time and effort in order to avoid costly mistakes. They generally are better able than younger workers to avoid nonwork distractions. They also know how to maintain contacts and relationships and seek help when necessary. MYTH: Older workers struggle to learn new skills and technologies. REALITY: If they've been in the workforce for a while, they've seen many technologies and techniques come and go. Experience with other ways to do things, coupled with awareness of related topics, gives them an edge when it comes to learning new approaches. As a result, training costs related to older workers are typically lower. MYTH: Older workers are more likely to quit their jobs, so training is not a worthwhile investment. REALITY: A 50-year-old employee is likely to remain with an employer longer than a 20- or 30-year-old. MYTH: Older workers are less physically capable and more prone to accidents. REALITY: While it is true that we all experience physical and cognitive changes as we age, experience very often helps older workers more fully compensate for loss of ability. Older workers are less likely than younger workers to have workplace accidents, and the causes of those accidents differ. Source: Ohio Dept. of Aging. Read more at aging.ohio.gov.
MySourcePoint.org
28
Winter 2022
HEALTH & WELLNESS
‘COVID Hit Us Over the Head With a Two-by-Four’ Addressing ageism in health care with urgency Earlier this year, the World Health Organization announced a global campaign to combat ageism— discrimination against older adults that is pervasive and harmful but often unrecognized. “We must change the narrative around age and aging” and “adopt strategies to counter” ageist attitudes and behaviors, WHO concluded in a major report accompanying the campaign. Several strategies WHO endorsed— educating people about ageism, fostering intergenerational contacts, and changing policies and laws to promote age equity—are being tried in the United States. But a greater sense of urgency is needed in light of the coronavirus pandemic’s shocking death toll, including more than 500,000 older Americans, experts suggest. “COVID-19 hit us over the head with a two-by-four, showing that you can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results” for seniors, Jess Maurer, executive director of the Maine Council on Aging, said in an October webinar on ageism in health care sponsored by KHN and the John A. Hartford Foundation. “You have to address the root cause—and the root cause here is ageism.” Some experts believe there’s a unique opportunity to confront this concern because of what the country has been through. Here are some examples of what’s being done, particularly in health care settings: Distinguishing old age from disease. In October, a group of experts from the U.S., Canada, India, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
called for old age to be removed as one of the causes and symptoms of disease in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, a global resource used to standardize health data worldwide. Aging is a normal process, and equating old age with disease “is potentially detrimental,” the experts wrote in The Lancet. Doing so could result in inadequate clinical evaluation and care and an increase in “societal marginalisation and discrimination” against older adults, they warn. Identifying ageist beliefs and language. Groundbreaking research published in 2015 by the FrameWorks Institute, an organization that studies social issues, showed that many people associate aging with deterioration, dependency, and decline—a stereotype that almost surely contributed to policies that harmed older adults during the pandemic. By contrast, experts understand that older adults vary widely in their abilities and that a significant number are healthy, independent, and capable of contributing to society. Using this and subsequent research, the Reframing Aging Initiative, an effort to advance cultural change, has been working to shift how people think and talk about aging, training organizations across the country. Instead of expressing fatalism about aging (“a silver tsunami that will swamp society”), it emphasizes ingenuity, as in
“we can solve any problem if we resolve to do so,” said Patricia D’Antonio, project director and vice president of policy and professional affairs at the Gerontological Society of America. Also, the initiative promotes justice as a value, as in “we should treat older adults as equals.” Since it began, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Associated Press have adopted bias-free language around aging, and communities in Colorado, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and Texas have signed on as partners. Tackling ageism at the grassroots level. In Colorado, Changing the Narrative, a strategic awareness campaign, has hosted more than 300 workshops educating the public about ageist language, beliefs, and practices in the past three years. Now, it’s running a campaign calling attention to ageism in health care, including a 15-minute video that launched in November. “Our goal is to teach people about the connections between ageism and poor health outcomes and to mobilize both older people and health professionals to advocate for better medical care,” said Janine Vanderburg, director of Changing the Narrative. Faced with the pandemic’s horrific impact, the Maine Council on Aging last year launched the Power in Aging Project, which is sponsoring a series of community conversations around
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Winter 2022 ageism and asking organizations to take an “anti-ageism pledge.” The goal is to educate people about their own “age bias”—largely unconscious assumptions about aging—and help them understand “how age bias impacts everything around them,” said Maurer. For those interested in assessing their own age bias, a test from Harvard University’s Project Implicit is often recommended. (Read more at implicit.harvard.edu.) Changing education for health professionals. Two years ago, Harvard Medical School began integrating education in geriatrics and palliative care throughout its curriculum, recognizing that it hadn’t been doing enough to prepare future physicians to care for seniors. Despite the rapid growth of the older population, only 55% of U.S. medical schools required education in geriatrics in 2020, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr. Andrea Schwartz, an assistant professor of medicine, directs Harvard’s effort, which teaches students about everything from the sites where older adults receive care (nursing homes, assisted living, home-based programs, community-based settings) to how to manage common geriatric syndromes, such as falls and delirium. Also, students learn how to talk with older patients about what’s most important to them and what they most want from their care. Schwartz also chaired a committee of the academic programs in geriatrics that recently published updated minimum competencies in geriatrics that any medical school graduate should have.
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29 Altering professional requirements. Dr. Sharon Inouye, also a professor of medicine at Harvard, suggests additional approaches that could push better care for older adults forward. When a physician seeks board certification in a specialty or doctors, nurses, or pharmacists renew their licenses, they should be required to demonstrate training or competency in “the basics of geriatrics,” she said. And far more clinical trials should include a representative range of older adults to build a better evidence base for their care. Inouye, a geriatrician, was particularly horrified during the pandemic when doctors and nurses failed to recognize that seniors with COVID-19 were presenting in hospital emergency rooms with “atypical” symptoms, such as loss of appetite and delirium. Such “atypical” presentations are common in older adults, but instead of receiving COVID tests or treatment, these older adults were sent back to nursing homes or community settings where they helped spread infections, she said. Bringing in geriatrics expertise. If there’s a silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that medical professionals and health system leaders observed firsthand the problems that ensued and realized that older adults needed special consideration. “Everything that we as geriatricians have been trying to tell our colleagues suddenly came into sharp focus,” said Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, a professor of geriatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Now, more Mount Sinai surgeons are asking geriatricians to help them
manage older surgical patients, and orthopedic specialists are discussing establishing a similar program. “I think the value of geriatrics has gone up as institutions see how we care for complicated older adults and how that care improves outcomes,” Leipzig said. Building age-friendly health systems. “I believe we are at an inflection point,” said Terry Fulmer, president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, which is supporting the development of age-friendly health systems with the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. More than 2,500 health systems, hospitals, medical clinics, and other health care providers have joined this movement, which sets four priorities (“the 4Ms”) in caring for older adults: attending to their mobility, medications, mentation (cognition and mental health), and what matters most to them—the foundation for personcentered care. Creating a standardized framework for improving care for seniors has helped health care providers and systems know how to proceed, even amid the enormous uncertainty of the past couple of years. “We thought the pandemic would slow us down, but what we found in most cases was the opposite—people could cling to the 4Ms to have a sense of mastery and accomplishment during a time of such chaos,” Fulmer said. Source: Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News. Read more at khn.org.
30
Winter 2022
HEALTH & WELLNESS
5 Tips to Help Older Adults Stay Motivated to Exercise According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older men and women—even those with arthritis and other chronic medical conditions—can benefit from regular exercise. Why is it important for older adults to exercise? Physical activity can help improve your mood, energy levels, and self-confidence— and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Cardiovascular and strength exercises for seniors can also prevent bone loss, relieve arthritis pain, and boost immunity and heart health. It may even reduce the risk of falls by enhancing balance and coordination. Sometimes, however, mustering the motivation to work out isn’t easy. When you’re busy, tired, or struggling with aches and pains, exercise may be the last thing you want to do. So if you’re wondering how to find the motivation, read on: How to overcome lack of motivation to exercise 1. MAKE IT FUN. Do you find treadmills boring? No motivation to work out at home in front of the TV? A big part of sticking to any exercise regimen is doing activities you enjoy. Variety will help keep burnout from setting in, so don’t forget to change up your routine. Aim for a new adventure or experience every week. Here are some ideas to get you started: • • • • • • • • •
When playing golf, skip the cart and walk instead. Take a Zumba class at your local community center. Walk a local nature trail and take photos. Sign up for a dance class. (You don’t need a partner!) Stroll around the mall and check out the displays. Schedule a weekly tennis date with a good friend. Take your dog (or a friend’s dog) for a long walk. Go swimming—one of the best exercises for older adults. Ride your bike around your neighborhood or a local bike trail.
2. MAKE IT SOCIAL. A 2018 study found that people who routinely walked with companions were more likely to stick with it compared to people who walked alone. Exercising with a partner or group is not only enjoyable, it can help you stay accountable. For example, if you’re having trouble finding motivation to exercise when tired, knowing a friend is counting on you will help give you a boost. The COVID-19 pandemic inspired many gyms and fitness studios to offer live-streaming and on-demand virtual classes. If you’re homebound or if the weather is unfavorable, set up virtual fitness dates with friends to help keep you on track.
Are you a social media user? Make your new commitment to fitness known by posting about your goal or your latest workout. Knowing that others are cheering you on can be enough to ignite your motivation—and you may even inspire family and friends to follow in your footsteps. 3. ENVISION A STRONGER, HEALTHIER YOU. Sometimes all it takes to overcome a lack of motivation is picturing the payoff in your mind. Called visualization, this basic yet powerful technique can help you harness your inner drive. In other words, think it—and you can achieve it. Imagine yourself dancing the night away at an upcoming wedding or being able to lift and snuggle your grandchildren. Set your sights on a stronger, more vibrant you. 4. SET ATTAINABLE GOALS. Going from no exercise to exercising for 30 minutes a day can feel overwhelming for some. That’s why it’s a good idea to create smaller, realistic goals for yourself. And be specific about what you want to accomplish. For instance, vow to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator anywhere you go during the week. Pick the furthest parking spot at the store instead of the closest. Pledge to take a 10-minute walk every day after lunch. In a couple of weeks, increase it to 15 minutes. Start small, and then expand your goals as your confidence and fitness level grow. 5. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. Log the details of your exercise sessions in a journal or use a fitness tracking app or pedometer/steps tracker. Research has linked wearable fitness trackers with significant increases in activity levels. Logging your exercise activity can help you monitor your progress over time and see how far you've come. You can even build in rewards for milestones achieved. For example, if you reach 10,000 steps daily for an entire week, treat yourself to something you enjoy, such as a hot bath, new shoes, or that new bestseller you've been dying to read. As you age, exercising regularly is one of the most important things you can do to look and feel younger and stay active for longer. It’s a worthwhile investment in you. Whenever you’re wondering how to overcome a lack of motivation to exercise, revisit the five tips above. These simple steps can help encourage you to dust off those sneakers and get moving. Source: National Council on Aging. Read more at ncoa.org.
MySourcePoint.org
Winter 2022
31
AGE-FRIENDLY
Meet Dementia-Friendly's Champion Business Why do you think this initiative is important? It raises awareness of dementia and takes away some of the stigma. It will take away some of the misconceptions that are out there.
Based on the current population of Delaware County, it’s estimated there are approximately 12,000 local people impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease, including persons living with the disease and their caregivers.
What type of changes do you see your business making? We want to become more of a focal point for the community. We've got a great corner here in Powell, with high visibility and a lot of traffic, so we have a great opportunity to raise awareness with banners, with marketing.
Last year, Age-Friendly Delaware County launched a Dementia-Friendly Powell pilot. Its mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive, compassionate community, where people living with dementia and care partners are supported in the City of Powell. Age-Friendly Coordinator Jackie Haight recently interviewed DementiaFriendly's "Champion" business, Calvin Gebhart, regional president at First Citizens National Bank, pictured far right with his team, to discuss why this initiative is so important in the community. What made you interested in becoming the DementiaFriendly Champion business? Part of our goal and role at the Powell office is to be engaged in the community and with the community. Part of our outreach is to manage, negotiate, and partner with other businesses and projects in the community. Anne Farley from Ganzhorn Suites, who is part of the steering committee, has a tremendous amount of passion and energy for raising awareness of dementia. This looked like a great opportunity for us to be of service to the dementia community in Powell and Delaware County.
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Do you have an example of how this training might affect your work in the bank? Part of the training for banks is making sure we understand elderly people's needs and are aware of common frauds and scams. Dementia-friendly training will help us remain sensitive to certain situations and be more aware of what might be happening with an individual. What did your staff take away from the training? We're not always aware of the needs, so trying to be sensitive to that and be more consciously aware of an individual when they come in, to make sure we respond correctly, is important. The training had a positive influence on all of us. Slow down just a little bit, listen just a little bit more, and be a little more understanding so that we can assess a situation correctly and address what the customer needs.
Caregiver Concepts Free Class! Wednesday, Feb. 9, 1-2 p.m. SourcePoint South Office 1070 Polaris Parkway, Suite 200 Join in-person or online Register at MySourcePoint.org/caregiver
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MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY, TOO:
[ TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS ] Nearly
15 million
Americans provide
unpaid care
Caregivers who provide substantial care are more likely to have
to an older adult.
physical & emotional health problems.¹
New day and time!
National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2011
¹ Substantial care refers to involvement in health care activities, including care coordination and medication management.
Take care of yourself. It is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver.
Ask for help when you need it.
Being a caregiver for a loved one takes time, effort, and hard work. And you don’t have to do it alone!
In SourcePoint's free monthly support groups, family caregivers meet others, share experiences, discover new resources, and ask questions.
When?
Join us on your lunch hour in-person or online the third Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m.
Spend time with friends.
Where?
Our south office is conveniently located at 1070 Polaris Parkway, Suite 200, Columbus. You can also log in and join virtually!
Join a support group— in person or online.
How?
Register at MySourcePoint.org/caregiver or call 740-203-2399.
Take breaks each day.
Prefer another day or location? Additional support groups are available in Delaware, Sunbury, and online.
Keep up with hobbies.
Use these tips, and learn more about caregiving at www.nia.nih.gov/caregiving.
National Institute on Aging
SourcePoint’s caregiver programs are funded in part by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.
