My Communicator | Spring 2023

Taking the Show on the Road

To better serve the community, SourcePoint is offering more off-site

TRANSITIONS IN AGING

Retire with Confidence

You’ve worked and saved for 35+ years and now it’s time to retire. Your heart says yes but in the back of your head there is doubt.

“Will I outlive my money?” or “Do I have enough money?”

Retiring is a huge decision. Don’t just wing it or have the “I’ll deal with it when the time comes attitude.” Retiring with confidence means to eliminate as many of the ‘unknowns’ as possible. The goal is to retire without worry. Worrying about money when you are working is not fun but it’s really not fun when you retire. Have a plan. With a well thought out and constructed plan, you’ll have those answers in front of you. That plan does not have to be complicated or confusing.

See RETIRE on page 6.

Each March, SourcePoint holds a fundraising drive to support the growing need for home-delivered meals. It’s not too late to join us to go the extra mile! Learn more on page 18.

WHAT ELSE IS INSIDE?

Are You an Optimist?

What a Trip!

If You’ve Been Laid Off Drive Your Age

Managing Finances Types of Caregivers ...and more!

SPRING CONTENT

800 Cheshire Road, Delaware

EIN 31-1354284

SourcePoint is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides professional expertise, services, and programs for Delaware County adults who want to thrive after 55, as well as caregivers. Services and programs are supported by the local senior services levy, private and corporate donations, grants, and the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.

2023 Board of Directors

President: Gretchen Roberts, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Powell

Vice President: Alice Frazier, MD, Delaware

Secretary: Pamela Foster, Orange Township

Treasurer: Dennis Mowrey, Delaware

Randy Bournique, Delaware

Bill Brown, Delaware

Adrienne Corbett, Delaware

Carlos Crawford, JD, Powell

Karen Crosman, Powell

Ron Fantozzi, Columbus

Jack Fette, PhD, Orange Township

Liz Gitter, MSSW, Delaware

Anna Horstman, MD, Delaware

Wren Kruse, JD, New Albany

Joann Richards, RN, PhD, Liberty Township

Jane Taylor, Dublin

Cheri Thompson, Delaware

Michael Tucker, JD, Delaware

Roger Van Sickle, Delaware

The board typically meets the last Wednesday at noon for eight months out of the year. Members of the public who wish to attend may call the CEO at 740-363-6677.

My Communicator is published quarterly and is made possible through advertisers, donors, and volunteers. It is available for pick-up at SourcePoint and 50 other 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 that conflicts with our mission.

SourcePoint Announces New CFO

SourcePoint announces the hiring of Tim Patton, CPA, as chief financial officer for the nonprofit organization. In the senior leadership role, Patton is responsible for SourcePoint’s financial and business operations, including management of finance, facilities, human resources, and information technology. Patton succeeds Kimberly Clewell, who will retire June 2 after serving the organization for more than 12 years.

Patton holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has nearly 30 years of experience as a CPA, including a storied career with Laurel Health Care Company, a provider of skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living services. During his 22-year tenure at Laurel, he helped the organization grow from five facilities to 42 across multiple states, with more than 5,000 employees.

“Tim comes to SourcePoint with extensive financial and operational experience,” said Fara Waugh, CEO. “Much of this experience is with a long-term care provider, which makes Tim a valuable addition to our team in Delaware County. He understands our mission and is eager to serve the county in which he’s lived for 34 years.”

Patton will report to Waugh and work closely with the CEO to drive the organization’s overall strategy.

Clewell remains on staff as senior advisor until her retirement in June.

How Sugars Affect Your Health

Most of us love sweet foods and drinks. But after that short burst of sweetness, you may worry about how sweets affect your waistline and your overall health. Is sugar really bad for us? How about artificial or low-calorie sweeteners? What have scientists learned about the sweet things that most of us eat and drink every day?

Our bodies need one type of sugar, called glucose, to survive. “Glucose is the number one food for the brain, and it’s an extremely important source of fuel throughout the body,” says Dr. Kristina Rother, an NIH pediatrician and expert on sweeteners. But there’s no need to add glucose to your diet, because your body can make the glucose it needs by breaking down food molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Some sugars are found naturally in foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk. “These are healthful additions to your diet,” says Dr. Andrew Bremer, a pediatrician and NIH expert on sweeteners. “When you eat an orange, for instance, you’re getting a lot of nutrients and dietary fiber along with the natural sugars.”

Although sugar itself isn’t bad, says Rother, “sugar has a bad reputation that’s mostly deserved because we consume too much of it. It’s now in just about every food we eat.”

Experts agree that Americans eat and drink way too much sugar, and it’s contributing to the obesity epidemic. Much of the sugar we eat isn’t found naturally in food but is added during processing or preparation.

About 15% of the calories in the American adult diet come from added sugars. That’s about 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day.

Sugars are usually added to make foods and drinks taste better. But such foods can be high in calories and offer none of the healthful benefits of fruits and other naturally sweet foods.

Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet. Juices naturally contain a lot of sugar. But sometimes, even more is added to make them taste sweeter. “Juices offer some vitamins and other nutrients, but I think those benefits are greatly offset by the harmful effects of too much sugar,” says Bremer.

Over time, excess sweeteners can take a toll on your health. “Several studies have found a direct link between excess sugar consumption and obesity and cardiovascular problems worldwide,” Bremer says.

Because of these harmful effects, many health organizations recommend that Americans cut back on added sugars. But added sugars can be hard to identify. On a list of ingredients, they may be listed as sucrose (table sugar), corn sweetener, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit-juice concentrates, nectars, raw sugar, malt syrup, maple syrup, fructose sweeteners, liquid fructose, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, or other words ending in “-ose,” the chemical suffix for sugars. If any of these words are among the first few ingredients on a food label, the food is likely high in sugar. The total amount of sugar in a food is listed under

“Total Carbohydrate” on the Nutrition Facts label.

Many people try cutting back on calories by switching from sugarsweetened to diet foods and drinks that contain low- or nocalorie sweeteners. These artificial sweeteners—also known as sugar substitutes— are many times sweeter than table sugar, so smaller amounts are needed to create the same level of sweetness.

People have debated the safety of artificial sweeteners for decades. To date, researchers have found no clear evidence that any artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other serious health problems in humans.

But can they help with weight loss?

Scientific evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest that diet drinks can help you drop pounds in the short term, but weight tends to creep back up over time. Rother and other NIH-funded researchers are now working to better understand the complex effects that artificial sweeteners can have on the human body.

Studies of rodents and small numbers of people suggest that artificial sweeteners can affect the healthful gut microbes that help us digest food. This in turn can alter the body’s ability to use glucose, which might then lead to weight gain. But until larger studies are done in people, the longterm impact of these sweeteners on gut microbes and weight remains uncertain.

“There’s much controversy about the health effects of artificial sweeteners and the differences between sugars and

sweeteners,” says Dr. Ivan de Araujo of Yale University. “Some animal studies indicate that sweeteners can produce physiological effects. But depending on what kind of measurement is taken, including in humans, the outcomes may be conflicting.”

De Araujo and others have been studying the effects that sugars and low-calorie sweeteners might have on the brain. His animal studies found that sugar and sweeteners tap differently into the brain’s reward circuitry, with sugars having a more powerful and pleasurable effect.

“The part of the brain that mediates the ‘I can’t stop’ kinds of behaviors seems to be especially sensitive to sugars and largely insensitive to artificial sweeteners,” de Araujo says. “Our long-term goal is really to understand if sugars or caloric sweeteners drive persistent intake of food. If exposed to too much sugar, does the

brain eventually change in ways that lead to excess consumption? That’s what we’d like to know.”

Some research suggests that the intensely sweet taste of artificial, low-calorie sweeteners can lead to a “sweet tooth,” or a preference for sweet things. This in turn might lead to overeating. But more studies are needed to confirm the relative effects of caloric vs. non-caloric sweeteners.

“In the long run, if you want to lose weight, you need to establish a healthy lifestyle that contains unprocessed foods, moderate calories, and more exercise,” Rother says.

When kids grow up eating a lot of sweet foods, they tend to develop a preference for sweets. But if you give them a variety of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables early in life, they’ll develop a liking for them too.

Wise Choices: Cut Added Sugars

• Choose water, fat-free milk, or unsweetened tea or coffee instead of sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit drinks.

• Reduce sugar in recipes. If a recipe says 1 cup, use 2/3 cup.

• To enhance flavor, add vanilla, cinnamon, or nutmeg.

• Eat fresh, canned, frozen, and dried fruits without added sugar. Choose fruits canned in their own juice rather than syrup.

• Use fruits to top foods like cereal and pancakes rather than sugars, syrups, or other sweet toppings.

• Read the ingredients list to pick food with little or no added sugar.

• Use the Nutrition Facts label to choose packaged foods with less total sugar.

“It’s important for parents to expose children to a variety of tastes early on, but realize that it often takes several attempts to get a child to eat such foods,” says Bremer. “Don’t give up too soon.”

The key to good health is eating a wellbalanced diet with a variety of foods and getting plenty of physical activity. Focus on nutrition-rich whole foods without added sugars. Get tips on healthy eating and weight control at win.niddk.nih.gov

Source: National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more at newsinhealth.nih.gov.

Retire

From page 1

Know Your Numbers

“Nobody cares more about your money than you do.”

If you don’t have an intimate relationship with your money, then it’s time to get one. It amazes me how many people put their retirement plan on autopilot and figure if they keep “socking away” that everything will just take care of itself. That approach might work if you’ve “socked away” a substantial amount of money, however you won’t truly know until you do some planning. On the other hand, maybe you’ve oversaved for the retirement lifestyle you want, and you can retire sooner.

There is an old saying that people spend more time planning their annual vacation than they do planning their retirement. In my experience, that is a true statement. But it’s not too late to reacquaint yourself with your money. Grab your quarterly statements, dust off and update those old spreadsheets, and get back to crunching your numbers. Knowing where your numbers are today is going to help you plan for your future retirement.

Using a financial advisor can be great if you’re too busy to invest your money on your own, but don’t just write a check and walk away. You want to be engaged in the process. View your relationship with your financial advisor as a partnership. Don’t disconnect and tell them, “You handle it.” This is a mistake I see many folks make. You work the majority of your life, saving and investing money with the end goal being retirement, but then you put all of your hard-earned money in the hands of a someone you don’t personally know and only check on your money occasionally? WRONG. Stay involved with your money. Know how much risk you are taking, know if your funds are outperforming their index, know the fees you are paying, set goals, and be sure you are hitting them. Get involved and stay involved with your advisor and your money.

Lifestyle Planning

What will you be doing in retirement? Are you going to travel the world? Buy an RV and roam around? Relocate to a different part of the country to be closer to your grandchildren? Or stay where you are and invest in a hobby?

If you have plans for drastic changes in retirement, then you are going to want to know what that lifestyle is going to cost you. Start doing your research now so you can plan accordingly. Again, retiring with confidence is about trying to eliminate as many of the unknowns as possible.

For most people their lifestyle isn’t going to deviate too far from when they were working. There might be a part-time job or a new hobby but with little change to their monthly budget. This makes their retirement planning a bit easier.

If you have big plans in retirement, make sure your new lifestyle fits your budget.

Addressing the ‘What Ifs’ in Retirement

We’ll never be able to predict if an event may or may not happen in the future, but we can prepare for some of the possibilities. It is important to determine what ‘what ifs’ will impact you the greatest and include them into your plan. Plan on an emergency fund to handle the smaller ‘what ifs’. These are just some of the forward-looking questions folks approaching retirement ask themselves:

What if the market takes a dive early in your retirement?

Will this alter your withdrawal plan?

What if taxes are dramatically higher in the future?

How will this affect your income?

What if you need assisted living in 20 years?

Should you look at long-term care insurance?

What if inflation stays historically high?

How will this erode purchasing power in the future?

You Have a Retirement Plan, Right?

A hope and a prayer is not a retirement plan. A true retirement plan is one based on your real numbers, such as your debt, how much income you’ll need and can generate, your current assets, and the cost of your lifestyle.

Your retirement plan doesn’t have to be a 125-page, $3,000-binder that you paid a financial advisor to put together for you. What it needs to be is a carefully thought-out process that includes all your needs and how they are going to be met over the course of the coming decades.

Self-Diagnostic Check

Retiring with confidence isn’t always about your financial numbers. You want to make sure you are mentally prepared to retire. When you arrive at retirement and you know your financial numbers are in order, actually taking the step to retiring from your job might be a little more difficult than you thought. You are about to let go of relationships, a routine, and a schedule that you have gotten used to over the years. The hardest is an identity. You might have been VP of Sales but once you retire, that title is gone.

Most folks aren’t going to have much of an issue with letting go but many will. Make sure you are mentally ready.

You’ve worked for a lot of years and have saved and invested for the moment you can retire. Make sure your financial numbers are where they need to be. Address some of the risks that might be ahead. Get mentally prepared. Enjoy the lifestyle you’ve planned for. When you feel good about your numbers and are mentally ready, rest assured, you can retire with confidence.

How to “Retire with Confidence?”

When I wrote the book “Retire Early: What are you waiting for?” I created a process called D.I.A.L. into Retirement. D.I.A.L. is an acronym for Debt, Income, Assets, and Lifestyle and when you get these four items in sync, you can retire with confidence at any age. What does an ideal D.I.A.L. look like?

Debt: Completely debt free would be ideal, however a small amount of lingering debt isn’t tragic.

Income: Having multiple streams of income is best. Income sources, such as social security, a pension, rental income, an annuity, withdrawals off of your brokerage accounts, and IRAs are diverse and allow you great flexibility in retirement.

Assets: Your assets are there for a few reasons. 1) To create an emergency fund for those unexpected expenses. 2) To set aside money for future expenses, such as a new car or new roof on your home. 3) To generate income off your assets.

Lifestyle: Your lifestyle is your monthly expenses. How are you choosing to live life in retirement and what is that costing you? In an ideal world, your net monthly income is greater than your monthly expenses with a cushion left over.

When your relationship with your money is strong, you know your numbers and your D.I.A.L. are in sync, then you can retire with confidence.

Source: Aging.com. Content is for reference and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for advice from a financial advisor or accounting professional.

Do Saturday, April 29 10 a.m. to noon SourcePoint’s South Parking Lot 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware Sponsored by Learn more at MySourcePoint.org/ready

Plus: Document shredding and small electronics destruction available! (No TVs, please.)

On the Road

From page 1

Since not every Delaware County resident is able to get to programs at SourcePoint’s Cheshire Road facility, the organization is taking more of its programs to residents.

Among SourcePoint’s major strategic goals over the next few years is to continue to improve access to its community programs, meeting those who benefit from said programming where they are within the county. Efforts thus far have resulted in partnerships with such locations as the City of Sunbury, the Delaware County District Library, and, more recently, the Delaware Community Center YMCA.

“One of the ways to go about this continued expansion is to talk about what we’ve already done for years in terms of community engagement,” said Amy Schossler, SourcePoint’s director of community programs. “This would include our caregiving programs and insurance programs, etc.”

SourcePoint’s New to Medicare, Matter of Balance, and senior scams programming are among those that have been taken to remote sites around the county, including different library branches.

“We have used most of the Delaware County district branches for these programs, and will add the new Liberty branch this year,” said Laura Smith, manager of community engagement. “We’ve also worked with the Wornstaff Library in Ashley and the Community Library in Sunbury, and we have an ongoing caregiver support group that meets in Sunbury.”

Smith said as the overall programming offerings at SourcePoint have increased, they’ve responded to “formal and informal ways that the community lets us know that they can’t always get to SourcePoint.” The off-site programming started with community education, such as Medicare classes, and Smith said they’ve recently launched more social programming, including bingo.

“We’re trying to get the programming that’s been requested to the areas asking for it,” Smith said.

Amber Swain, community engagement specialist for the City of Sunbury, said the city’s partnership with SourcePoint has been an asset.

“The partnership has really benefitted the residents in our community,” Swain said. “We have residents who attend that normally wouldn’t be able to because they don’t have the ability to travel to the SourcePoint location. The partnership has also brought the residents together, giving them a chance to form new friendships and grow existing ones. I love being a part of this because it gives me a chance to meet with residents while forming a better relationship with them and the people at SourcePoint.”

SourcePoint’s social activities in Sunbury typically take place on the third Monday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sunbury’s Town Hall (51 E. Cherry St.), while the Caregiver Conversations are on the third Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Community Library (44 Burrer Drive).

Another successful community partnership has been with Preservation Parks, which hosts wellness programming at various locations thanks to a donor who provided SourcePoint with a van—what Schossler calls ‘the Go Van’—to help haul equipment.

“We take the van to the parks for art classes, tai chi, yoga,” Schossler said. “There, we see people who are used to going to the parks but who are not as familiar with SourcePoint. So that helps us to build a broader audience for our programming.”

One of SourcePoint’s newer partners for off-site programming is the Delaware Community Center YMCA. Chelsea Welen, SourcePoint’s administrator of community programs, said having the YMCA facility connected to the National Guard Armory increases the programming possibilities. You do not need to be a YMCA member to attend SourcePoint’s programs there.

“We have our New to Medicare classes going on there in March and April, and the space they have can also accommodate our social programming,” Welen said. “They have the gym where we could maybe offer dance classes, and it’s a great space to launch some of our learning classes.”

Schossler said the success of the existing partnerships has led to programming requests from other communities within Delaware County.

“As we roll out these programs, we have heard from other places like Genoa and Harlem townships that want programming in their town halls,” Schossler said. “We are taking a methodical approach and adding one community quarterly.”

SourcePoint programming can also be found as a component of its existing community cafes, where lunch is served in an off-site setting, such as the Georgetown Apartments and St. Michael’s Community in Delaware and White Lily Chapel in Ashley. Smith also cited SourcePoint’s “out and about” groups that require an off-site location for their activities.

“We have a bowling social group that meets on the second Sunday of the month at Penn Lanes, and three different groups that meet at restaurants for meals,” Smith said. “There’s a ‘Let’s Wine About It’ group that visits a winery and has a social gathering, a traveling golf league, and a fairly new group called Men on the Move.”

To learn more about all of SourcePoint’s programming, including its offsite activities and schedules, visit MySourcePoint.org.

Jeff Robinson is a feature writer for My Communicator.

In addition to its partnership with the City of Sunbury, SourcePoint is expanding off-site programs to Genoa Township for Delaware County residents, 55 and better. You are invited to attend!

Registration is required at MySourcePoint.org/EC or with customer service at 740-363-6677.

Programs are subject to change.

CAREGIVER CRASH COURSE

Wednesday, April 19, 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Genoa Township Hall, 5111 S. Old 3C Highway, Westerville.

All you need in the time you have: A one-hour class for new, current, and future caregivers that includes information on safety, falls, getting organized, legal information, community resources, and self-care.

SENIORS AGAINST SCAMS

Wednesday, May 17, 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Genoa Township Hall, 5111 S. Old 3C Highway, Westerville. New scams are created every day. This program is designed to provide a basic understanding of the types of scams targeting older adults and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

FALLS FREE ZONE – HOME HAZARDS

Wednesday, June 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m. at Genoa Township Hall, 5111 S. Old 3C Highway, Westerville. Each year, more than 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older have a fall. Falls are the number one cause of injury and death among older adults. We created the Falls-Free Zone curriculum to provide comprehensive information to help prevent falls. This module speaks on hazards in the home that can lead to falls, followed by free walker and wheelchair tune-ups. May extend past the hour.

MySourcePoint.org | 740-363-6677

SourcePoint is proud to serve older adults in Delaware County— where you are!

Helping GENOA TOWNSHIP live well after 55.

Are You an Optimist?

Could you learn to be? Your health may depend on it.

When you think about the future, do you expect good or bad things to happen?

If you weigh in on the “good” side, you’re an optimist. And that has positive implications for your health in later life.

Multiple studies show a strong association between higher levels of optimism and a reduced risk of conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and cognitive impairment. Several studies have also linked optimism with greater longevity.

One of the latest, published this year, comes from researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with colleagues at other universities. It found that older women who scored highest on measures of optimism lived 4.4 years longer, on average, than those with the lowest scores. Results held true across races and ethnicities.

Why would optimism make such a difference?

Experts advance various explanations: People who are optimistic cope better with the challenges of daily life and are less likely to experience stress than people with less positive attitudes. They’re more likely to eat well and exercise, and they often have stronger networks of family and friends who can provide assistance.

Also, people who are optimistic tend to engage more effectively in problem-solving strategies and better regulate their emotions.

Of course, a feedback loop is at play here: People may be more likely to experience optimism if they enjoy good health and a good quality of life. But optimism isn’t confined to those who are doing well. Studies suggest that it is a genetically heritable trait and that it can be cultivated through concerted interventions.

What does optimism look like in practice? For answers, I talked to several older adults who identify as optimists but who don’t take this characteristic for granted. Instead, it’s a choice they make every day.

Patricia Reeves, 73, Oklahoma City. “I’ve had a fairly good life, but I’ve had my share of traumas, like everyone,” said Reeves, a widow of seven years who lives alone. “I think it’s my faith and my optimism that’s pulled me through.”

A longtime teacher and school principal, Reeves retired to care for her parents and her second husband, a Baptist minister, before they died. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, “I’ve been developing my spirituality.”

When I asked what optimism meant to her, Reeves said: “You can see the good in each situation, or you can see the negative. When something isn’t going the way I wish, I prefer to ask myself, ‘What am I learning from this? What part did I play in this, and am I repeating patterns of behavior? How can I change?’”

As for the challenges that come with aging—the loss of friends and family, health issues—Reeves spoke of optimism as a “cando” attitude that keeps her going. “You don’t spend your time concentrating on your health or thinking about your aches and pains. You take them in as a fact, and then you let them go,” she said. “Or if you’ve got a problem you can solve, you figure out how to solve it, and you move on to tomorrow.”

“There’s always something to be grateful for, and you focus on that.”

Grace Harvey, 100, LaGrange, Georgia. “I look for the best to happen under any circumstances,” said Harvey, a retired teacher and a devoted Baptist. “You can work through any situation with the help of God.”

Her parents, a farmer and a teacher in Georgia, barely earned enough to get by. “Even though you would classify us as poor, I didn’t think of myself as poor,” she said. “I just thought of myself as blessed to have parents doing the best they could.”

Today, Harvey lives in a mobile home and teaches Sunday school. She never married or had children, but she was surrounded by loving family members and former students at her 100th birthday party in October.

“Not having my own family, I was able to touch the lives of many others,” she said. “I feel grateful for God letting me live this long: I still want to be around to help somebody.”

Ron Fegley, 82, Placer County, California. “I’m positive about the future because I think in the long run things keep getting better,”

said Fegley, a retired physicist who lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills with his wife.

“Science is a very important part of my life, and science is always on the upwards path,” he continued. “People may have the wrong ideas for a while, but eventually new experiments and data come along and correct things.”

Fegley tends a small orchard where he grows peaches, cherries, and pears. “We don’t know what’s going to happen; no one does,” he told me. “But we enjoy our life currently, and we’re just going to go on enjoying it as much as we can.”

Anita Lerek, over 65, Toronto. “I was a very troubled younger person,” said Lerek, who declined to give her exact age. “Some of that had to do with the fact my parents were Holocaust survivors and joy was not a major part of their menu. They struggled a lot, and I was full of resentment.”

When I asked her about optimism, Lerek described exploring Buddhism and learning to take responsibility for her thoughts and actions. “Mine is a cultivated optimism,” she told me. “I go to my books—Buddhist teachings, the Talmud—they’ve taught me a lot. You face all your demons, and you cultivate a garden of wisdom and projects and emotional connections.”

At this point in life, “I’m grateful for every moment, every experience, because I know it could end any moment,” said Lerek, a lawyer and entrepreneur who writes poetry and still works part time. “It boils down to, ‘Is the glass half-empty or half-full?’ I choose the fullness.”

Katharine Esty, 88, Concord, Massachusetts. When Esty fell into a funk after turning 80, she looked for a guide to what to expect in the decade ahead. One

didn’t exist, so she wrote “Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness.”

For the project, Esty, a social psychologist and psychotherapist, interviewed 128 people in their 80s. “The more people I talked with, the happier I became,” she told me. “People were doing interesting things, leading interesting lives, even though they were coping with a lot of losses.

“Not only was I learning stuff, having this purpose and focus brought me a tremendous amount of joy. My vision of what was possible in old age was greatly expanded.”

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

Part of what Esty learned is the importance of “letting go of our inner vision of what our life should be and being open to what’s really happening.”

For example, after stomach surgery last year, Esty needed physical therapy and had to use a walker. “I had always prided myself on being a very active person, and I had to accept my vulnerability,” she said. Similarly, although her 87-year-old boyfriend thought he’d spend his retirement fishing in Maine, he can’t walk well now, and that’s not possible.

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!

“I have come to think that you choose your attitude, and optimism is an attitude,” said Esty, who lives in a retirement community. “Now that I’m 88, my task is to live in the present and believe that things will be better, maybe not in my lifetime but decades from now. Life will prevail, the world will go on—it’s a sort of trust, I think.”

Source: Judith Graham at KHN (Kaiser Health News), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Read more at khn.org/news.

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.

Where to Invest Your Money in 2023

With the Federal Reserve raising interest rates to their highest level in decades to fight inflation (which is already at 8.2%), economic turmoil in Europe, continued political tensions with China, and ongoing COVID concerns—the global economy is up in the air.

Not to mention that after a 12-year bull run, many economists believe we may finally be heading into the long-predicted recession the U.S. government has tried so hard to stall.

If you’re anything like most retirees or pre-retirees, you’re probably feeling just a tad bit anxious about the resilience of your portfolio and the durability of your retirement savings in these trying times.

Faced with all this market uncertainty, here are some things to consider when managing your money and investments in 2023 and beyond.

1. Parking Cash in High-yield Savings Accounts, CDs, and Bonds

If you’re not too keen on dipping your toes into the freefalling stock market, then you we would be well advised to take advantage of these historically high interest rates while they last.

After all, when the Fed raises interest rates, your savings accounts will automatically put more money back in your pocket. As of Q4 2022, the best high-yield savings accounts are offering 2.5–3.11% in annual APYs, according to NerdWallet.

But with inflation above 8%, earning even 3.11% annually still leaves you in the red. Fortunately, there are plenty of other options that offer higher interest rates than your current go-to savings account,

including but not limited to: Certificates of deposit

(CDs) – A CD is an FDICinsured savings account that offers a fixed interest rate typically higher than what your bank will offer you for a fixed period of time. Most CD term lengths are 5–10 years. The tradeoff? Your cash is locked in until the CD term expires.

Series I bonds – While there are many different types of government bonds, U.S. Treasury-issued Series I bonds carry the least risk. Investors can buy up to $10,000 worth of fixed-rate I bonds annually with terms of up to 30 years. The nice thing about I bonds is that the Treasury will also pay an additional “inflation rate” twice per year.

Corporate bonds – Just about every household brand you can think of issues corporate bonds, which typically offer higher interest rates than government bonds, but at the cost of higher risk. After all, if the company goes bankrupt, your corporate bonds could wind up worthless since corporate bonds aren’t FDIC-insured.

2. Dollar-cost Averaging (DCA) Into the Market as it Goes Up and Down

If you’ve ever dabbled in day trading or swing trading, you may have come to realize that dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is the easiest way to “fire and forget” when it comes to your investments.

“If you like spending six to eight hours per week working on investments, do it. If you don’t, then dollar-cost average into

index funds,” Warren Buffet famously remarked.

DCA refers to the practice of allocating a fixed amount of money monthly (or weekly, since it’s up to you) into a specific basket of stocks, ETFs, REITs, and/ or index funds. It doesn’t matter what the market is doing or where it’s going: the name of the game is to stick to the plan and invest the same amount, spread across the same portfolio, every single time.

What stocks should you invest in? Buffett recommends not stock-picking at all, but dollar-cost averaging into a portfolio of index funds to increase diversification and lower risk.

If you do want to invest in specific stocks, then you have to do your own due diligence. Well-established, profitable companies with growth potential (like “blue-chip” Fortune 500s) are going to be relatively safer than untested startups with a lot of VC funding or companies that are shooting up for no reason (like Gamestop and Bed, Bath & Beyond did back in 2021).

If you aren’t already familiar with them, look into ETFs, REITs, and index/mutual funds to see what makes the most sense for your portfolio.

3. Buying/Renting Out Real Estate for Appreciation and Passive Income

Did you know that investing in real estate has historically been one of the most dependable ways to build generational wealth? Over a century ago, billionaire

steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie estimated that 90% of the world’s millionaires achieved their wealth through owning properties.

If you’re retired or about to retire, chances are you already own your own home or you have the means to purchase a property if you wanted to.

Of course, knowing what type of property to buy, where to look for it, and who to rent it to is easier said than done. Here are some things to keep in mind: While the U.S. real estate market has plateaued a bit in 2022, with some of the top metro areas in 2021 either losing value or slowing down significantly, there is still plenty of opportunity if you follow the news.

Properties in growing metros like Dallas, Austin, and Miami may appreciate in 2023, retain their current value, or only go down slightly. The long-term implications of evolving remote and hybrid workplace habits mean that former “secondary” markets will continue attracting new residents and businesses due to their lower cost of living.

Many experts believe that the U.S. housing market will go down more in

Caregiver Groups

2023, especially if the predicted recession sets in. Others believe the housing market won’t crash the way it did in 2008 because today’s lenders are incredibly picky with mortgage approvals.

Whatever the case, if you’re interested in investing in real estate, it pays to arm yourself with the right team of agents, lenders, and advisors. You could do all the research on your own, but you might not know what you don’t know.

4. What About Crypto, Blockchain Companies, and High-flying Startups?

Most financial advisors agree that everyone from college students to preretirees should allocate around 10% or less of their portfolio to “fun money” investments. After all, we’re only human.

What are “fun money” investments?

Basically, any security or investment that could be considered higher-risk or untraditional. Over the past few years, some of the most popular high-flying investments included:

• “Hyped” but untested startups with VC funding and zero profitability

• Private equity crowdfunding (anything from startups to real estate)

• Cryptocurrencies and the blockchain companies behind them

• Decentralized finance (DeFi) startups

• Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)

While you can certainly allocate some of your spare cash to these types of investments, never bet more than you can afford to lose. There are too many nightmare stories of gullible people who bet their mortgage money or kid’s tuition on an all-in gamble and lived to regret it. Before allocating money to higher-risk investments, you should speak with your financial advisor to determine, based on your monthly spending, what percentage of your portfolio you can safely allocate to these types of investments without compromising your passive income in retirement.

Source: Aging.com. Content is for reference and information purposes only. Do not rely solely on this content, as it is not a substitute for advice from a financial advisor or accounting professional.

Grief Support

Groups meet at locations throughout Delaware County. They foster supportive conversations, allow you to share experiences, meet other caregivers, and ask questions.

Caregiver Conversations, led by a professional. Caregivers from the Heart, a peer-led group. Caregiver Circle, a private Facebook group. Plus one-on-one discussions with a professional.

When one journey ends, another begins. SourcePoint provides wraparound services for you throughout your entire caregiving journey, including dynamic support groups and a six-week book club course.

FROM THE SOURCE

The latest news, programs, and resources available at SourcePoint.

FARMERS MARKET VOUCHER PROGRAM

2023 VOUCHERS COMING SOON!

To qualify, participants must be a Delaware County resident, age 55 or older, within 200% federal poverty level. Drive-thru distribution will occur in May.

In April, more information and applications will be available at MySourcePoint.org/farmers or by calling 740-936-7117.

Empower Transitions in Aging

HEALTH IN ACTION: BETTER HEALTH SELFMANAGEMENT SPECIAL WORKSHOP

Thursdays, April 20–May 25, 1–3:30 p.m.

Take the steps to a healthier lifestyle in six weekly sessions to better health self-management! Problem-solve your health challenges with the support of other participants. Individuals with chronic conditions and caregivers are welcome. This no-cost workshop series provides you with the tools to make an action plan for better health, including healthy eating, physical activity, better breathing, medication management, communicating about your condition, and more!

THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE NEW RETIREMENT

Wednesday, June 21, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

This 30-minute presentation, followed by Q&A, explores how retirement is changing and the four pillars that can impact your quality of life during retirement. Explore each pillar, why they matter, and ways you can tend to each of them.

Presented by Brian Cahal, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones. Cahal and Edward Jones are not endorsed by SourcePoint. Learn more and register at MySourcePoint.org/EC.

Engage Fitness & Wellness

WU TAI CHI

Tuesdays with Mimi, 11–11:45 a.m.

A powerful, graceful, and ancient movement art to develop and maintain strength and flexibility, balance and stamina, mindfulness and stress-reduction. Harvard University calls it “the perfect activity for the rest of your life.” Wu-style tai chi’s soft, relaxing movements are easily adapted for anyone.

Fee: $36 for the one-day per week series.

ZUMBA

Thursdays with AnaJaye’, 11–11:45 a.m.

Beginner-Advanced. A dynamic total body workout— cardiovascular, muscle conditioning, balance, and coordination. A mix of easy-to-follow low and high intensity rhythms to boost energy and have fun! If you love to move your body to the music, then Zumba is right for you.

Fee: $36 for the one-day per week series.

GOLF: TRAVEL LEAGUE INFORMATIONAL MEET & GREET

Tuesday, April 4, 9–10 a.m.

Come meet fellow golfers and review the season’s schedule.

GOLF: TRAVEL LEAGUE

Wednesdays, April 26–Oct. 11, start times vary per course. The SourcePoint traveling golf league is a fun, flexible, convenient, and semi-competitive way to connect with golfers of every ability, to play at six different area courses in Delaware County, and improve your game. Registration remains open after start date.

Fee: $10 one-time registration fee; plus green fees each week.

GOLF: HIDDEN VALLEY LEAGUE

Fridays, May 5–Sept. 22, start times between 8:30–9 a.m. The SourcePoint Hidden Valley League meets at the beautiful executive, 9-hole course nestled in Delaware’s hidden valley. A pond, mature trees, and sand traps make this course a challenge for beginners, as well as advanced golfers. Registration remains open after start date.

Fee: $5 one-time registration fee; plus green fees each week. Learn more and register at MySourcePoint.org/EC

Help researchers understand aging and participate in a cognition study

This non-invasive, no-medications study is funded by the National Institute on Aging to learn more about how perception, attention, numbers, and memory affect your ability to make decisions.

The study consists of 3-4 one-hour sessions and you will be compensated $18 per session. Sessions are scheduled at convenient times and locations for you.

You may qualify if you are Participation involves

 60-90 years old

 Have no history of neurological disorders

 Are a fluent English speaker

- Using a computer to complete decisionmaking tasks

- Answering questionnaires

- No risks

Use this QR Code to visit our website to learn more about the Cognition Aging Lab and our work. If you are interested in participating, contact us at 614-292-7518 or CognitionAgingLab@osu.edu

Friday, April 21st 10:00am - 1:00pm at SourcePoint in Delaware 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware OH

View 3-dimensional examples of:

Learn:

Speak with a variety of specialized staff to:

OSU Cognition Study

CognitionAgingLab@osu.edu

OSU Cognition Study CognitionAgingLab@osu.edu

OSU Cognition Study CognitionAgingLab@osu.edu

SPEAKERS BUREAU

SourcePoint, the comprehensive aging services provider in Delaware County, provides free presentations to community groups and employers. Our aging experts are available for in-person or virtual events and can customize presentations based on your needs.

Learn more and reserve a speaker today at MySourcePoint.org/speakers

What a Trip!

SourcePoint’s travel excursions—from day trips to overnights—are growing in popularity

As SourcePoint continues to offer more activities and programming off site, there’s also a growing interest in those activities that regularly take place way off site.

SourcePoint’s trips are a great way to take in live shows, check out new restaurants, and visit out-of-state destinations. And since day trips resumed in July of 2021 after a pandemic-related hiatus, SourcePoint Trips Specialist Mary Ann Evans said the excursions are becoming more and more popular.

“We were fortunate to begin resuming day trips a couple years ago,” Evans said. “We offered 13 trips at that time and momentum has built significantly since then.”

Trip offerings grew in 2022 to 48 (37 daytrips and 11 overnight outings), along with a travel-related open house where participants were asked to complete a survey to help plan future trips.

“We had 119 surveys completed,” Evans said. “The whole focus was for people to give me their top three destinations. Our members have spoken and have their fingerprints all over where we’re heading.”

The 2022 trips calendar kicked off with an outing to a Columbus Blue Jackets game on Jan. 4 and continued all the way through a Broadway in Columbus production of “Elf” on Dec. 13. In between, travelers ventured to places inside the outerbelt (Franklin Park Conservatory, National Veterans Memorial

and Museum, the Ohio State Fair), outside the outerbelt (The Wilds, Put-in-Bay, Circleville Pumpkin Show), and beyond Ohio (Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park, Albuquerque Balloon Festival).

“Word is spreading about our trips program and how robust it is,” Evans said.

Part of the popularity and word-of-mouth advertising for the trips program can be attributed to the attention to detail that Evans provides with each trip, including whether someone uses a mobility device or needs an assistive listening device, and whether there are travel companions with whom you want to be seated.

“We most recently saw the musical ‘SIX,’” said Annie Horstman, MD. “It was one of the best musicals I have seen, but the added bonus was being dropped off right at the theater’s door and being picked up right outside at the conclusion. You can’t beat that when it’s cold and dark outside.”

“We had great bus transportation, reserved seats, all details covered by Mary Ann, and wonderful company,” said traveler Eileen Summerhill, who’s been taking trips for close to a year after being introduced to them by a neighbor. “I only wish I discovered SourcePoint sooner.”

Evans said Summerhill’s sentiment is shared by many travelers, particularly those who may be reluctant to sign up for their first trip.

“I have a lot of solo travelers, and I mention that because I really enjoy encouraging people that they will find community among other like-minded people 55 and older,” Evans said. “In some cases, I see people struggling with widowhood, and it’s great to see them make connections. It’s about being alive and starting again and having that courage it takes to get off the couch.”

Once those connections are made, many of them continue long after the trips have concluded. Traveler Anne Marie Reames values the group of friends she’s made on SourcePoint’s trips.

“One is a widower and three are divorced. One is raising her granddaughter after her daughter died. We support each other and check in on each other, and we have more events planned together,” Reames said. “I moved to Delaware during COVID and knew very few people. SourcePoint cured that!”

“I made friends with two people I now consider good friends,” Summerhill said. “One of those new friends and I went on the Put-in-Bay trip and talked nonstop the entire way. Two SourcePoint strangers sat down with us on the boat and we spent the day together laughing, becoming the best of friends. Several other trips together have solidified that friendship,

and they are friendships I wouldn’t have without SourcePoint.”

Upcoming daytrips on the SourcePoint calendar include the Honda Heritage Center (April 6), hiking at Shawnee State Park (April 24), and the BalletMet production of “Swan Lake” (April 28). Longer excursions planned in the months ahead include trips to Ireland (April 15-23), Colorado (billed as a “train adventure,” July 5-12), and New England and Nova Scotia (Oct. 11-20). Trips are open to SourcePoint members and non-members who reside in Delaware County, and Evans said fliers that provide more detail come out monthly and can be found in five locations around

SourcePoint and are also on the SourcePoint website and social media pages.

“By the last Monday of every month, my new trip flyer announcing trips and registration is out,” Evans said. “If you know that you want to be on a particular trip, don’t delay. Register early!”

Nelson Katz said he and his wife registered for a trip after reading about all of the fun outings the travel groups were taking.

“My wife and I plan on taking many more trips with SourcePoint,” Katz said. “They are so well thought out and planned. And what a bargain!”

If there’s any drawback to the frequency and variety of trips available through SourcePoint, it’s that you may have little room on your calendar for anything else once you get registered.

“Most of my calendar is filled with SourcePoint events,” Horstman said. “They add so much for the mature adult’s social, mental, and physical well-being.”

Jeff Robinson is a feature writer for My Communicator.

Seeking Support for Local Meals on Wheels

Throughout the month of March, SourcePoint is raising funds in support of the organization’s Meals on Wheels program. In 2022, SourcePoint provided over 276,000 meals to older adults in Delaware County—a 20% increase over the previous year. To support the growing need for home-delivered meals and the importance of a daily well-being check, SourcePoint invites the community to “go the extra mile” by donating to the program. SourcePoint’s fundraising campaign, sponsored by OhioHealth, coincides with Meals on Wheels America’s national campaign, March for Meals. The national campaign celebrates the historic day in March of 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act to include a national nutrition program for adults 60 years and older.

SourcePoint is the Meals on Wheels provider in Delaware County, annually serving more than 1,500 adults 55 years and older. The program provides vital nutrition to older adults, with

a variety of menu choices to meet both personal preferences and medical needs. In addition, the daily delivery of meals by SourcePoint’s volunteers helps combat social isolation and enable independence of those served.

“We are fortunate to have such a generous community,” said Fara Waugh, CEO of SourcePoint. “We have over 400 volunteers who help us prepare and deliver meals. In addition to the valuable time and efforts of those volunteers, we also have many individuals and local businesses who donate to Meals on Wheels. Every dollar received is vital to aging services, especially in today’s economy, where rising food and fuel costs affect our budget significantly.”

To donate to SourcePoint’s Meals on Wheels program, go to MySourcePoint.org/give, send or drop off a donation to 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, or call 740-363-6677.

Going the extra mile... because of you!

Dividing and Conquering Community Service

Retired couples looking for community service opportunities often opt to volunteer as a team. Frank and Delma Jackson, who recently celebrated 59 years of marriage, took a divide-and-conquer approach to volunteering. Frank was first to retire and sought out an opportunity that would give him direct contact with those he was serving. SourcePoint’s Meals on Wheels and medical transportation programs fit the bill. For Meals on Wheels, Frank delivers hot lunches in the countryside outside of Sunbury. This area’s need for home-delivered meals has expanded exponentially since the pandemic quelled, leading to the creation of new Meals on Wheels routes that are based in Sunbury. “I like helping other people who need help, meeting people, and finding out if they are okay. I always ask how they are doing, which can lead to a long conversation.” Especially in outlying areas where the drive between delivery stops can be 10 to 20 minutes, Frank says, “I might be the only person they see that day.”

Medical transportation is a volunteer service that involves transporting homebound seniors from their homes to crucial medical appointments in Delaware, Marion, or Franklin counties. Non-driving or limited-driving seniors can find it hard to access transportation. Even seniors with family in the area can be challenged with commandeering them for daytime rides. Knowing this, Frank finds his role very rewarding. “I’ve met interesting people and have really good conversations. One of my first transports was a vet who flew 19 missions as a boomer pilot for RAF. Another senior I transported went ashore in Normandy the day after D-Day.”

Another perk of medical transportation that Frank enjoys is the opportunity to pursue his favorite pastime while waiting at doctors’ offices: study. His wife, Delma, says, “Frank has been studying since I met him.” Frank brings along his tablet and streams online educational courses, taking the classroom with him wherever he goes. He likes to learn “anything and everything,” taking courses in Egypt, math, biology, law, and whatever else sounds interesting. He waits at the appointment location whether it be an hour-long doctor visit or a three-hour dialysis treatment, absorbed in learning while the time flies by.

When it was Delma’s turn to retire, she followed Frank to SourcePoint but choose the lesserknown assignment of delivering 18-pound cases of Ensure and Glucerna to seniors in Delaware County while Frank was out on his meal routes. Delivering Ensure and Glucerna to homebound seniors is a labor of love, and a service Delma continues to provide 14 years in. Like Frank, she specializes in remote rural routes, which can be logistically difficult. Delma often delivers four or more cumbersome 18-pound cases to individual clients on her route. With her small handcart, the 79-year-old balances her cases while navigating hills, steps, no sidewalks, dogs, mud, snow, rain, and so forth, driving 20-60 miles for each route. Cases are heavy for many seniors to lift and carry and can be difficult for arthritic hands to open. By delivering these cases right to the door—or the kitchen table—Delma continues to provide an essential service to homebound seniors. When needed, she brings the cases into the clients’ homes and cuts open the boxes for easy access. She is always happy to stop for a friendly chat along the way and looks forward to visiting repeat clients.

Delma says that as she has gotten older, she has reduced the size of her garden, let some of her land go to meadow instead of mowing, and doesn’t like the cold. But cutting back on serving her neighbors is not an option. At age 83, Frank still enjoys his rambling country meal route and doesn’t mind the challenges of navigating outlying properties, but does prefer dry weather conditions. He considers volunteering a payback for a good, lucky life. “I need to give back and these are great ways to give back.” After over 17 years of volunteering, Frank has paid in full but still shows no signs of slowing his service to his community. Between the two Jacksons, Frank and Delma spread their goodwill far and wide.

For information on Meals on Wheels, medical transportation, or other volunteer opportunities, please contact Jill Smith, volunteer recruiter, at jill.smith@MySourcePoint.org or 740-203-2368.

If You’ve Been Laid Off

A 7-point unemployment checklist for older adults

Whether you caught wind of it early on or it took you by surprise, getting laid off or terminated from a job is never easy. But it’s nothing to be ashamed of. A sudden job loss can happen to the best of us, and often has nothing to do with your value or performance as an employee.

If you’re an older adult who has recently found yourself unemployed, don’t panic. We’ve created a practical, seven-point checklist to help you ease the financial stress of being out of work.

1. See if you qualify for unemployment benefits

Unemployment insurance provides temporary cash benefits to unemployed workers. Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility, payment amounts, and benefit period. Generally, older workers can collect these benefits just like younger workers. In most states, you are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits if you continue to work after age 62 and then lose your job.

One factor that could impact your ability to get unemployment compensation is the “why” behind your job loss. If you were laid off through no fault of your own, such as in the case of company downsizing, you should be eligible for unemployment in most states. However, if you quit for no good cause or were fired due to misconduct, you probably will not qualify for benefits. Check with your state labor office to find out what their requirements are.

What if you currently receive Social Security payments? Can you still collect unemployment benefits?

The answer is yes. If you’ve reached the minimum age for collecting Social Security, these benefits will be in addition to any unemployment benefits you qualify for. That said, if you received a severance package upon your layoff or draw a pension from your company, your unemployment compensation payment amount may be reduced.

If you’re eligible for unemployment, file your claim during the first week you’re out of work to ensure you don’t lose any benefits. Many states offer the convenience of filing an unemployment claim online or by phone.

2. Make sure you have continued health coverage

If you had employer-sponsored health insurance and were laid off, you may be able to continue your coverage through COBRA for a period of time (you could, however, be required to cover the full premium amount). You can also enroll in a new health plan through federal or state health insurance marketplaces. If you’re 65 or older, you have the option to apply for Original Medicare or buy a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan through a private carrier.

3. Tally

up all your monthly expenses

It sounds obvious, but many older adults don’t fully understand where their money goes every month. Seeing the numbers in black and white is a critical first step in making the changes necessary to navigate a period of unemployment.

Start by going through your bank statements, check register, and other financial records and write down everything you spend money on—including rent or mortgage, groceries, insurance, utilities, and entertainment. Go back at least three months to get a solid picture of your finances.

4. Look for ways to immediately slash your spending

Even if your budget is already tight, chances are there are expenses you can cut to create more financial breathing room. Here are some ideas:

• Food and groceries: Prune your food costs by skipping restaurant meals and takeout and preparing meals at home instead. Take advantage of senior discounts offered by many major grocery chains and learn the art of coupon clipping. Contact your local food bank and Meals on Wheels program to learn how you can access free or low-cost foods and meals.

• Cable and internet: Whittle down your cable bill by asking your provider if there is a lower service tier available—or a slower internet speed that will suit your needs just as well as high-speed.

• Auto insurance: Compare auto insurance plans to confirm you’re getting the very best deal available. Ask about discounts for clean driving records, older vehicles, and low mileage.

• Phone: Ask your cell phone carrier if there are lower-tier plans that will allow you to maintain service while reducing your bill. You might also consider pre-paid or pay-as-you-go plans to help you control your costs. If you have a home phone (landline) you never use, consider cancelling that service and cutting your monthly bill even further.

• Subscriptions: Shrink your monthly subscriptions, whether they’re for magazines or that “fruit of the month” club. It’s likely you’re still actively paying for services you no longer use.

5. Create a budget calendar

A budget calendar is a simple moneymanagement tool that allows you to predict and map out your cash flow each month. This makes it easier to plan expenses, adjust your spending as needed, and pay your bills on time. When you have more control over your finances, you have less anxiety about money.

Creating a budget calendar is something anyone can do at home; you don’t need an accountant or even a computer. All it requires is a basic desk or wall calendar. You can find our step-by-step guide for creating a budget calendar on our website

(ncoa.org). Or, explore the envelope budgeting system—another low-tech method for budgeting your monthly spending.

6. Contact your credit card companies

Are you carrying credit card debt? The last thing you want to do while unemployed is fall behind on your payments, since this can negatively impact your credit score. To avoid this, determine what you can comfortably afford to pay back each month. If you can’t at least cover the minimum payments, reach out to your creditors to explain your situation and ask for help.

Many creditors have special programs designed for customers experiencing financial hardship. They may allow you to make smaller payments or payments every other month. Some might even reduce your interest rate. If you agree on new terms with your creditor(s), be sure to get it in writing.

If your debt is extensive, consider contacting a credit counseling service. They can help you create a personalized debt management plan that makes it easier to meet your financial obligations. Always be sure to choose a reputable credit counseling organization with certified, trained counselors.

7. See what money-saving benefits programs you qualify for

Did you know millions of older adults are likely eligible for, but not enrolled in, benefits programs that can help them save thousands on food and groceries, housing, health care, medicine, property taxes, utilities, and more? Many of these programs are income-based and may be a good option when you’re unemployed for an extended time. They include:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• Medicaid

• Medicare Savings Programs

• Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help)

A job layoff can be a stressful life event. But often, when one door of opportunity shuts, another swings wide open. It may be time for you to pursue a better, more lucrative role—or switch careers entirely.

Did

County

Source: National Council on Aging. Read more at ncoa.org. MANOS, MARTIN

& PERGRAM CO., LPA Attorneys at Law

Client Focused, Client First Since 1951

50 North Sandusky Street, Delaware, Ohio 43015-1926

Phone: 740-363-1313 Fax: 740-363-1314

Turkey Chili Stuffed Sweet Potato

This recipe makes four servings.

1 pound ground turkey

2 cups dark kidney beans

½ small yellow onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons garlic

2 tablespoons oil

1 can diced tomatoes or diced tomatoes with green chilis

½ cup tomato sauce

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Black pepper to taste

2 large or 4 small sweet potatoes

Garnish Options:

Shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese

Sour cream

Green onions

Cilantro

Avocado

Diced jalapenos

1. Wash the sweet potatoes.

2. Cook in a 350 degree oven about an hour until soft.

3. If sweet potatoes are small, split down the middle and cut in half (should still open like on a hinge), unless potatoes are large, then cut in half.

4. Sauté ground turkey in small amount of oil—be sure to stir and break up the meat so it is not chunky.

5. Once cooked, drain if necessary.

6. Dice onions and peppers and sauté them in small amount of oil with the oregano. When about done, add garlic.

7. Once cooked, add the rest of the ingredients, including the turkey. Do not drain beans.

8. Let cook for a little while.

9. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.

10. Top with desired toppings and serve.

Notes: Other meat can be used, such as ground or shredded chicken or beef. To make this recipe vegetarian, make without the turkey and add other beans, such as pinto or light kidney beans. Other veggies can be added, too, such as zucchini or cauliflower. Serving chili with a sweet potato adds a little sweet creaminess to the chili.

BBQ Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl

This recipe makes four servings.

2 cup cooked quinoa

1 red bell pepper, sliced

1 green bell pepper, sliced

1 tablespoon oil

½ red onion, sliced

½ cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)

BBQ sauce

1 can garbanzo beans

Ranch

Garnish Options:

Tortilla strips or crushed chips

Avocado

Monterey jack cheese

1. Follow directions on packaging and cook quinoa.

2. Thinly slice the peppers and onions and sauté over high heat in pan with oil.

3. Add the corn to the sauteed veggies and finish cooking.

4. Drain and rinse garbanzo beans.

5. Toss garbanzo beans in desired amount of BBQ sauce.

6. In a separate pan, heat garbanzo beans and BBQ sauce over medium heat.

7. To serve, layer starting with ½ cup of quinoa, then top with the vegetables and finish with the BBQ garbanzo beans on top. Drizzle on top with ranch.

Notes: Feel free to change garbanzo beans to shredded chicken, pork, or beef. You may also add veggies like roasted sweet potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, or broccoli. Top with tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch, or avocados and jalapenos for something fresh. Another option could be to cool ingredients and add romaine to turn it into a salad.

Enjoy these nutritious meals and more at SourcePoint!

Cafe 55 is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For Delaware County residents 55+, lunch is available on a donation basis. (Suggested donation of $5.) Those under 55 may purchase lunch for $8.

5 Tips for Choosing Healthier Foods as You Age

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Drive Your Age

Driving is important to your independence. It is an ability that most want to hold on to as long as possible. Unfortunately for many, aging may threaten driving independence. Your age, though, is not the only basis for deciding whether you can continue to drive safely. Like most older drivers you may be very capable and have many miles of driving experience under your belt. For some though, age may bring changes in our physical fitness, vision, hearing, and reflexes that may challenge our safe driving ability. Evaluating your own fitness to drive is essential to understanding how to self-manage your driving to reduce risks to yourself and others.

As you age, watch for changes in your physical fitness. Discuss with your doctor how any changes may affect your driving. You should understand how medications and/or supplements you are using can interact or have unwanted side-effects threatening driving ability. You should check annually for vision conditions associated with aging. In Delaware County, you can participate in a CarFit to

ensure correct adjustment of your driver seat, mirrors, and car instrumentation. Consulting with an occupational therapist at a CarFit may also identify aids to safely buckle seat belts, adjust mirrors, utilize car controls, and get in and out of your vehicle.

Today, distraction is a driver safety buzz word, but distraction has always been a part of driving. The challenges of distraction increase with age-related changes. Those changes may pose a threat to driving safety because your reaction time has slowed. Adjusting your driving behavior may help to counter those changes. For example, do not add activities while driving like talking on the phone, eating, or having a pet in your lap. Plan your route when visiting somewhere unfamiliar. Limit driving in heavy traffic,

adverse weather, and during dawn or dusk. Compensate for slower reaction times by leaving more room to stop between you and the car ahead. Choose to make left turns at intersections with protected arrow signals or avoid a left turn completely by making more right turns to get to the same place. Most new vehicles also have driving aides built in to avoid blind spots during lane changes, unintended lane departures, and speed control.

For more information on how to continue to drive safely as you age, contact SAFE Delaware County Coalition Coordinator Jackie Bain at jbain@delawarehealth.org or call 740-203-2083.

The SAFE Delaware County Coalition will provide free, drive-thru CarFit evaluations at SourcePoint’s Health & Wellness Expo on Saturday, June 3, from 9‒11:30 a.m.

Advertising Opportunities in Delaware County

Online Tool Helps Older Adults Manage Finances

Last year, the National Council on Aging launched Budget CheckUp, a free online tool that gives older adults practical tips on how to create a monthly budget and manage their money. A grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation helped fund the tool’s development. “Many older adults live on a fixed income, which is challenging when the cost of living and inflation are on the rise. Budget CheckUp (ncoa.org/budgetcheckup) can help them stretch their dollars every month” said Josh Hodges, NCOA’s Chief Customer Officer.

Users answer questions about their goals, such as what expenses they’d like to decrease, whether they are retired or a full-time caregiver, what benefits

programs they are enrolled in, their age, and household income. Their responses generate a personalized plan of action to make the most of their budget. NCOA does not collect any personally identifiable information, but users can create accounts to save their plans.

Budget CheckUp is one of NCOA’s suite of online tools that are part of the Age Well Planner, which includes:

• Job Skills CheckUp, which offers older jobseekers tips on how to create a resume, interview, and find a job.

• Medicare Cost Estimator, which helps older adults see how much various plans might cost, depending on their health conditions.

• Falls Free CheckUp®, which empowers

adults to discover their risk of a fall.

• BenefitsCheckUp®, a separate online tool, enables older adults to see if they may be eligible for benefits programs to cover daily costs such as food and health care.

The National Council on Aging is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults.

What Type of Caregiver Are You?

Whether it’s a professional or a private endeavor, when taking on a caregiving role, most people fall into one of five categories. Author Rick Lauber breaks this down in his book, “The Successful Caregiver’s Guide,” sharing where each style of caregiving is successful and what we can learn from each other.

“By understanding your caregiving style, abilities, preferences, and physical location, you will be far better prepared to tackle tasks that come your way,” explains Lauber, “and decide whether you want to leave them or delegate the jobs to someone else who may be more willing and capable of doing the work than you.”

Answer these questions:

1. When it comes to doctor’s appointments, what are your primary responsibilities?

a. I schedule the appointment, transport the person in my care, and communicate with the doctor. I take on all the work!

b. I share some of these responsibilities with another caregiver, so I am not the only coordinator or transportation for these appointments.

c. I don’t go to every appointment. A private companion or nurse often coordinates and attends these for me.

d. I make sure the schedule is in line by setting up all the appointments after I have researched the doctors and exactly what my loved one may need.

e. Transporting the person in my care is not easy, and the language these doctors speak is often over my head. I have instructed a professional to handle these things, as they will know better than I do how to handle everything.

2. The person in your care wants to try a new activity or hobby. You...

a. take on the activity with them! You pick up any supplies they’ll need, drive them wherever they’ll need to be, and stick around to make sure things go well.

b. are taking turns with a sibling or partner to make the new activity possible.

c. are glad because you know that a senior activity coordinator or private caregiver will make sure this new endeavor goes smoothly.

d. are doing all the research to find out if this is the best option for them or if there is something better. You’re making phone calls to get all your questions answered before taking

on the new endeavor.

e. coordinate transportation if necessary and hire a professional to walk them through this new endeavor.

3. If there is an emergency medical event with your loved one, what role do you play?

a. I am by their side immediately for assistance.

b. Either I am there immediately or I am in communication with my sibling or another family member who can take over.

c. I am in contact with a live-in nurse or companion who is keeping me updated on the situation until I can be there.

d. I have already called the necessary doctors, I’m reading through medical records and researching the best next steps.

e. I know that I am not equipped to handle the situation as well as the professional I have hired. Though I am available for support, I will be hands-off as emergencies are not my expertise.

4. The person you care for needs something from the grocery store. You...

a. are on your way to the store to pick it up.

b. just went to the store for them last week. Your sibling will step in and go this time.

c. call the care facility to see if they can send somebody to the store.

d. tell them to check their pantry because you keep them organized, and you know what they’re looking for is already at home.

e. already have a delivery system in place so they have everything they need when they need it.

If you answered mostly ‘a’ it’s likely you’re an independent caregiver.

If you answered mostly ‘b’ it’s likely you’re a sharing caregiver.

If you answered mostly ‘c’ it’s likely you’re a collaborative caregiver.

If you answered mostly ‘d’ it’s likely you’re a coordinating caregiver.

If you answered mostly ‘e’ it’s likely you’re a delegating caregiver.

Here is a look at each type of caregiver, strengths, weaknesses, and best practices going forward.

Independent caregiver

Typically adult children find themselves in this category. The independent caregiver may feel resistance to asking for help or sharing caregiving responsibilities. Sometimes they may feel and appear confident and in total control with handling all the important affairs.

“The truth of the matter is, independent caregivers will be stretched to their very limits and must become even more flexible with balancing their time and lives. Independent caregivers, more so than other types of caregivers, can be called on at a moment’s notice,” says Lauber. Though adult children may feel more in control and comfortable as independent caregivers, it is not sustainable, and thus imperative to seek and secure the help of others.

Sharing caregiver

The sharing caregiver is on a team, able to collaborate and balance the responsibilities of caregiving and life outside of this role. Often siblings on good terms find themselves as sharing caregivers.

“This caregiving arrangement requires partnering, working together, and compromising,” says Lauber. “It’s always easier to carry a heavy load with assistance. This works best if the family members live relatively close to each other and the parent.”

Even if the caregiver doesn’t have a partner in caregiving close by, some responsibilities can still be shared. For example, if one sibling is doing most of the driving and errands for a parent, a regular payment for gas or groceries is a simple way for a faraway sibling to help out. If it’s available, a long-distance sibling may lighten the load by funding a grocery delivery service. However this situation is handled, any extra help increases balance and truly benefits everybody.

Collaborative caregiver

A collaborative caregiver typically has a similar responsibility load to the sharing caregiver. Collaborative caregivers are resourceful and realistic. Lauber says those who fall into this category are the lucky ones.

Collaborative caregivers do participate in caregiving, but unlike the independent caregiver, they will have the necessary resources to call on many others to provide proper care.

“This is one of the best approaches with elder care as it is not a job to undertake independently,” says Lauber.

Collaborative caregivers benefit from having some time away from caregiving duties, meaning they’re better off when returning to the role.

Lauber shared advice for all types of caregivers:

“If you are not a collaborative caregiver, try becoming more of one. Doing so is certainly advantageous because it will benefit your own physical and mental health. Your own workload will be reduced resulting in your not being as busy or emotionally taxed. Such an arrangement works well to help you ease your stress.”

Coordinating caregiver

This is the type of person who researches, analyzes, and organizes everything. The coordinating caregiver wants to learn all they can about matters relevant to their loved one in order to choose the most appropriate course of action. This type of caregiver is hyper-organized; Lauber suggests there is likely a set of color-coded files in the coordinating caregiver’s home.

“You will collect data and compare options such as researching medical advances, learning the possible side effects of prescribed medication, visiting long-term care facilities and assessing their suitability, or evaluating different models of motorized scooters,” he says.

Delegating caregiver

The delegating caregiver runs a tight ship. This is the confident leader of several people who all care for one person. “This individual is the least hands-on because he or she assigns or hires people to provide the necessary care,” says Lauber. “Bringing in someone else for support isn’t a bad thing at all; you may be uncomfortable with the necessary tasks or realize that others are infinitely more qualified (or have more time) to do some work than you are.”

If it’s possible, being a delegator can ensure safer practices when it comes to caregiving, especially when special medical care is needed. Delegating also immensely lightens the load of the caregiver.

Reprinted with permission from Caregiving.com. Caregiving.com cares for you as you care for family and friends. The original article can be found at caregiving.com/posts/what-type-ofcaregiver-are-you-and-why-is-it-important.

Alcohol Use Among Older Adults

The Delaware Public Health District’s Community Health Assessment reported in 2022 that 33% of male adults stated they had five or more alcoholic drinks and female adults reported four or more alcoholic drinks on a single occasion in the past month—making them what would be considered binge drinkers.

In response, the Health District’s Community Health division, along with Drug-Free Delaware, joined forces with Prevention Awareness Support Services (PASS) to address adult binge drinking.

PASS offers the program Minimize Risk, Maximize Life (MRML), an evidencebased, low-risk drinking program designed with respect toward adults. MRML consists of one two-hour session that covers alcohol-related topics through guided discussion.

“Alcoholic beverages are the most used and abused substance for people of all ages and its consumption is normalized in social context,” said DPHD Community Health Specialist Aly Sawyer. “But it can render severe consequences for individuals, families, and communities.”

Sawyer added that by applying MRML, adults will learn how to minimize their risk for alcohol problems while maximizing the quality of their lives.

The Health District finds it imperative to share information regarding alcohol use among adults, but specifically within the population of older adults. As our bodies change with age,

so

does the way it metabolizes alcohol.

According to Harvard Health in 2021, agerelated changes in the body place older adults who drink alcohol at additional risk. Older adults have heightened sensitivity to the effects of alcohol because their bodies metabolize alcohol more slowly. The effects of alcohol are also felt more quickly by older adults due to changes in body mass since there is a depletion in muscle mass that can absorb the alcohol, even when lower amounts of alcohol are consumed.

The National Institute of Health points out that older women are particularly at

Because many older adults are prescribed medications, another important concern for the older population is the dangerous and sometimes fatal result of combining medications while drinking alcohol. The most common medications that interact with alcohol include high blood pressure medications, sleeping pills, anxiety medications, pain medications, skeletal muscle relaxants, diabetes medicine, cholesterol medications, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.

The 2020-2025 dietary guidelines for Americans who drink alcohol recommends that men should consume no more than two standard drinks a day, and women should consume no more than one a day. A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, ale, or hard seltzer; 8-9 ounce can or bottle of malt liquor; 5 ounces of wine; or 1.5 ounces of spirits. These dietary guidelines are for those without any other contraindications; individuals who are taking medications that interact with alcohol, or those who are managing a medical or mental health condition that can be made worse by drinking, should avoid drinking alcohol entirely. Individuals interested in learning more about MRML may contact Aly Sawyer at asawyer@delawarehealth.org.

PASS is a nonprofit that provides education, programs, and resource referral for critical issues. Learn more at passaah.org.

changes in the body place older adults who drink alcohol at additional riskwith a higher risk in women compared to men

adults have heightened sensitivity to the effects of alcohol because their bodies metabolize alcohol more slowly Effects of alcohol are felt more quickly due to the depletion in muscle mass.

to physical changes in the body, older adults who drink alcohol are more susceptible to falls, bone fractures, and other unintentional injuries.

TECHNOLOGY

Online Dating Tips To Keep You Safe

The dating game has completely changed since Match.com launched its online dating site in 1995. Since then, dozens of new sites have emerged targeting every kind of dater, including those specifically catering to people over 50 like SilverSingles and OurTime. Meeting someone this way can be fun and exciting but can also come with emotional and financial risk if you skip over the dos and don’ts of online dating. Here’s how to keep yourself safe.

Don’ts: Steps To Prevent Online Dating Scams

In the online world, it’s easy to feel that you know someone well, but you really don’t. It’s safest to regard someone you met online as a stranger and be cautious about what you share with them.

• Don’t send money or anything of value.

• Don’t share valuable personal information like account passwords, social security numbers, bank card numbers, PINs, or verification codes.

• Don’t send intimate photos or videos.

Just like spam email and texts, online scammers may try to get access to your financial information through purchases on fake websites or by infecting your tech with malware to access bank and credit card numbers and passwords.

• Don’t open websites, apps, games, files, or other links. Another tactic of scammers is to give the appearance that they are part of your larger social circle and are familiar with you and your lifestyle. They do this based on what you’ve told them or by combing through your social media posts and making them seem familiar because they know so much about you. You can take a few steps to make this harder for them.

• Don’t accept friend requests on social media from people you don’t know.

• Don’t share personal identifying information (last name, home address, names of family members, birthdate, where you work) until you’ve been able to verify details of who they say they are.

• Don’t reveal exploitable personal information about your health, your financial situation or income, divorce

settlement, or assets.

• Don’t forget to use the privacy settings on all social media and online accounts to maximize your security.

Do’s: How To Date Online Safely

There are also steps you can take to make the online dating experience a good one. It starts from the very beginning when you pick which site to use.

• Do stick to well-known, well-established online dating sites that take their members’ security and safety seriously and have protocols for reporting unwanted behavior.

• Do double check the URL of the website you’re looking at to make sure it’s the legitimate site and not a decoy. Fake dating sites are out there!

Once you’ve picked a site and set up your profile, be choosy when assessing potential matches.

• Do match only with verified profiles on the dating apps.

• Do skip over profiles that seem suspicious or your gut tells you something is off.

• Do ignore, block, and report strangers who send texts or direct messages (especially if the messages are complimentary and flattering) on an online dating site or directly to your social media personal page.

When you’re ready to connect with a person you’ve matched with, take your time and let the relationship evolve slowly. Spend some time getting to know the person. Even then, make sure they are who they say they are.

• Do ask questions and look for inconsistent answers that don’t match what they’re saying or doing.

• Do independently verify what they say about themselves through searches on Google, LinkedIn, or social media.

• Do conduct your own detective work using reverse image searches using Google and reverse phone lookup tools to verify a person’s identity.

• Do check that the same image isn’t appearing across a variety of online profiles but under different names.

Stay proactive to keep your online dating experience a safe and enjoyable one. The dating apps all have information and tools to keep yourself safe, avoid theft, and report fake profiles and scammers. Build these checks into your online dating experience.

• Do review the safety features of an online dating app or social media site you’re using.

• Do regularly review the latest research and articles on dating scams, especially safety information provided by the dating app you’re using. There is up to date information at ftc.gov/ romancescams and bbb.org/all/romance_scams

• Do change your account passwords for all online accounts on a regular basis.

Enlist your friends and family to help you out. It can be easy to miss signs of fraud or unsavory behavior. And, once you’ve connected with someone and your emotions become involved, it’s difficult to evaluate a person objectively.

• Do talk to someone you trust about a new love interest.

• Do take the concerns of friends or family seriously if they see red flags in a person’s behavior.

How To Report Scammers

Everyone can do their part to help protect themselves and others by reporting online dating scams. If you experience any of these things, report it.

• All suspicious or unwanted behavior including requests for financial assistance, personal information, or photos

(especially intimate photos).

• Harassing, threatening, or offensive messages, or attempts to intimidate you in any way.

• Profiles that appear to be fake.

• Attempts to sell you products or services.

Take screen shots of the accounts and correspondence and provide the images with your report. Report suspicious profiles or messages to the dating app or social media platform.

Report theft or fraud to:

• The Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov

• The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov

• Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.

When looking for love online, it’s important to balance being cautious with all the benefits of being in a relationship. The good news is there are many more singles than ever before in their 50s, 60s, and 70s looking for a companion or life partner. Paying attention to the dos and don’ts of online dating can make the dating experience safer and ultimately, keep the focus on meeting the people who are genuinely looking for a loving relationship.

Source: Aging.com.

Sudoku Solutions

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

We love our volunteers! Join the winning team that makes our community the best place to thrive after 55.

SourcePoint’s volunteer orientation includes a presentation, tour, and the chance to sign up for various areas, from meal delivery to cafe host; medical transportation to home chores; fitness monitor to activity leader!

Mondays, April 13, May 15 & June 12, 11 a.m.

Learn more, apply, and sign up at MySourcePoint.org/volunteer

Saturday, June 3

9‒11:30 a.m.

800 Cheshire Road, Delaware

Healthy Eating. Active Living. Delaware County adults 55 and better, save the date and join us for free health screenings and activities!

Presented by

Making Sense of MEDICARE

SourcePoint’s free classes take the mystery out of Medicare and empower you to make sound insurance decisions. Classes are held at SourcePoint and other locations throughout Delaware County.

Learn more and register for free at MySourcePoint.org/insurance Questions? Call 740-363-6677.