MARCH/APRIL 2020
The Health & Wellness Issue THE GRAVITY DEFYING
Lorelei Ashe
Can You Age Out of Sex? p. 32
p. 10
for
OUR NEW DIRECTORY
Senior Care p. 25
DEATH ON DISPLAY MUSEUM OF FUNERAL HISTORY p. 16
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS STAYING FIT AS YOU AGE p. 14
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www.nolaboomers.com
| march/april 2020
publisher/editor ANN BOWER HERREN
ann@nolaboomers.com managing editor TIM MEYER
tim@nolaboomers.com executive editor LAURA CLAVERIE
claverip@gmail.com office manager JENNY ZIGLIN
jenny@nolaboomers.com advertising sales ANN BOWER HERREN
ann@nolaboomers.com edit intern GRAHAM ANDREAE GABRIELLA KILLETT designer CAT LANDRUM 2ND STORY CREATIVE ad production SARA YOUNGBLOOD contributing photography TWIRL PHOTOGRAPHY
For reprint information, contact ann@nolaboomers.com Business Office:
8131 Oak St., Ste. 500, New Orleans, LA 70118
504.866.0555
march/april 2020 volume 3, issue 2 The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and/or contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the magazine or its advertisers.
Many years ago, I woke up before dawn after a restless night, and felt like a big, fat blob. I wasn’t a pound overweight, but felt as if my joints were rusty and my muscles had turned to mush. I was a young mother of two small children who had been spending her time and energy on the kids and none on herself. Self-care had long gone by the wayside. It was at that moment that I got out of bed, put on some flimsy tennis shoes and a little-worn sweat suit. I walked my entire Fontainebleau neighborhood and came home winded. I’d walked two-thirds of a mile. Since that awakening, I have rarely missed a day of walking. I swim laps often and take a yoga class twice a week. Self-care enables me to have the energy to work, volunteer, and care for others. This issue of Nola Boomers focuses on health and wellness. Our cover features Lorelei Ashe, a skilled gymnast, trapeze artist, and owner of Cypress Fitness. At 54, Lorelei is as strong, graceful, and limber as she was as a professional aerialist and canon girl with Ringling Brothers Circus. Her students, many of whom are Boomers, praise her skill and patience. Play is a big component of staying fit. Have you noticed the senior playgrounds that are popping up around the city? These playgrounds are often near children’s playgrounds and allow seniors to exercise in an age-appropriate way while keeping an eye on the little ones. You can find these on the Lafitte Greenway, Joe Brown, and St. Roch Playgrounds. Here seniors have no excuses! They can work on leg presses, eye-hand coordination and, best of all, it’s free. Last, maintaining a healthy sex life is important for Boomers and seniors. But often, this part of life goes by the wayside when hormones change or physical ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, or undiagnosed sexually transmitted diseases set in. Our story on this takes a bold look at this part of life and offers hope to those who would like to know more. Staying healthy and fit takes commitment, time, and energy. It may require that you get up a little earlier than usual to exercise before going to work, attending a class, or having a heart-to-heart talk with the one you love, but it’s worth it.
See you on a walking path soon!
Fearlessly Yours,
Laura Claverie
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
A publication of
FROM LAURA
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CONTENTS M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 0
ON THE COVER Aerialist Lorelei Ashe’s defies gravity inside her fitness space in the Lower Garden District. Photo by Twirl Photography.
A FEW WORDS 3
From Laura
5
From the Editor
FEATURES 9
Playtime Playgrounds for Adults
10
Cover Story
Lorelei Ashe
18
Buying Local
Farmers and Arts Markets
20
Legal Documents The Big Checklist
22
Mind, Body, & Soul Care for the Whole You
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REGULAR TOPICS
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6
Freebies
Free and Cheap Things to Do in NOLA
12
Technology
Health Apps
13
Food
The Low-Salt Life
14
CrossFit and You
16
Fitness Travel National Museum of Funeral History
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Aging In NOLA
Hospice Care
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Aging In Nola NEW Care Directory
32
25
Health You Won’t Age Out of Sex On the Go Where, When, and What to Do
CONTRIBUTORS
FR OM THE EDITOR PAMELA MARQUIS, a freelance writer, has lived in New Orleans for more than 40 years.
KEITH MARSHALL began his writing career in 1973 as The Times-Picayune’s representative in Europe. He has also written travel, art and architecture, and feature articles for major newspapers and magazines.
Health and wellness are great and all, but sometimes life gets in the way, especially life in New Orleans. But no matter where we live, no matter how often the festival food venues entice you with a plate of crawfish etouffee inside of a soft, golden brown beignet, the health of our bodies is still important. Our March/April issue focuses on health and wellness and the many aspects of how age affects our bodies. Adult playgrounds and sex might sould like topics of a fun article, but they each represent two different features and trends that impact older adults. Adult playgrounds have spread across Asia and Europe, but have trickled into American cities. New Orleans offers three locations where adults can work on balance while their grandkids play on playground equipment nearby. Sex might be a taboo topic in polite society, but our article about how you can’t age out of sex says that older people are still having and enjoying it. What seems to stay taboo for older adults, however, is the subject of sexually transmitted infections. Older patients just aren’t talking about it with their doctors even though the rate of STIs are climbing for certain age groups. We head down a different path with our next two articles. First, hospice care might be more common than you think. Our article on area resources and trends takes a look at what hospice actually is, who covers it, and how to find local hospice care.
GRAHAM ANDREAE is a student at Tulane University and an editorial intern for Nola Boomers and its sister publication, Nola Family.
Second, did you know that Texas has the largest collection of fantasy coffins outside of Ghana, Africa? Keith Marshall, our travel writer, takes readers along on a trip to the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston for a snapshot of what cultures, especially our own, do after someone dies.
Tim Meyer
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Here’s to Your Health and Wellness,
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s e i b e e r F O SEE T S G N I H T P HEA FREE AND C AROUND NOLA. AND DO
Museums and Exhibits
Docent-Led Drop-In Tour
E-Resources Help
Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Your docent will take you on a tour of the Ogden Museum, home to the largest and most comprehensive collection of American Southern art. Louisiana residents enjoy free admission on Thursdays, courtesy of The Helis Foundation, 2–3 pm.
Mid-City Library. Learn about the many electronic resources, including e-books and audiobooks, available through the Library. Bring your laptop, smartphone, tablet, or e-reader, along with a valid Library card. Repeats on the third Tuesday of each month, 1–2:30 pm.
Free Wednesdays
One-on-One Computer Tutoring
New Orleans Botanical Garden. Free admission for Louisiana residents, courtesy of the Helis Foundation. 10 am–5 pm.
Free Wednesdays New Orleans Museum of Art. Free admission for Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. 10 am–6 pm.
Free Sundays Contemporary Arts Center. Free admission to all Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. 11 am–5 pm.
Museum Partner Pass
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New Orleans Public Library. The Library has partnered with the Audubon Nature Institute, Contemporary Arts Center, Longue Vue House and Gardens, and much more to provide free admission for library cardholders. For more information, visit nolalibrary.org.
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Learning & Resources
Free Admission to the Interpretive Center Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Learn about the native environment of Louisiana. Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–4:30 pm.
Newcomb Art Museum Woldenberg Art Center, Tulane University. Free and open to the public. Open Tuesday–Friday, 10 am–5 pm, and Saturday, 11 am–4 pm.
New Orleans Jazz Museum Old U.S. Mint. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–4:30 pm, $6 for senior citizens, 20 percent off with purchase of tickets for two or more museums.
Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center. Designed for those who are just beginning to learn about technology or who would like to grow their digital skills and utilize the many digital resources the library offers. Reservations required. Mondays & Tuesdays, all day.
Ask About Medicare Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center. Come in for a personalized one-on-one educational drop-in and get answers. Find out what Medicare covers, what it costs, how and when to enroll, and what your options are. Wednesdays, 5–7 pm.
Community Composting with Compost Now Children’s Resource Center Library. Bring your frozen food scraps to a weekly food waste drop-off and reduce your environmental impact. 4–5:30 pm.
Wetlands Walk Barataria Preserve. Every Wednesday–Sunday, join a ranger for a guided walk on a boardwalk trail through wild Louisiana swamp and marsh. Stop by the visitor center or call 504.689.3690 ext. 10. 10 am.
Historic Thibodaux Walking Tour Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. Join a National Park Service ranger for a free one-hour walking tour of historic Thibodaux. Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 10:30 am.
Battle of New Orleans Talk Chalmette Battlefield. Learn about the War of 1812 from visitor center films and exhibits. See a map of the site that includes troop movements as well as outdoor exhibits that provide a self-guided tour. Monday–Sunday, 10:45 am–2:45 pm.
Fitness Fun Nature Center Walking Trails Audubon Louisiana Nature Center. Visit the restored Nature Center’s new walking trails. Free. Open daily. 8 am–4 pm.
Water Aerobics Locations vary. Join one of NORD’s water aerobics classes for non-weight bearing exercise. No prerequisites. Visit nordc.org/aquatics for more information.
Senior Dance Team Lyons Rec Center, 624 Louisiana Avenue, New Orleans. Dance practice for seniors ages 55+. Tuesdays, 12:30 am–2 pm.
Community Yoga Algiers Regional Library. Enjoy a yoga class for all skill levels. Mats will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis; bring your own towel and water. Space is limited. Call 504.596.2596 to register. Free. Tuesdays, 6–7 pm.
Nola Happy’s Running Club Happy’s Irish Pub, 136 3rd St., New Orleans. Happy’s is your weekly, fun and relaxed social run through Downtown, French Quarter, the CBD, or the Riverfront. Route specifics are announced on the Happy’s Facebook page. Wednesdays, 6 pm.
Pickleball Gernon Brown Rec Center. Come and join a game of Pickleball - a cross between ping-pong and tennis. No equipment needed. Mondays 4–6 pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 10:30 am–12:30 pm.
Restore and Relax Nora Navra Library. Reduce stress, improve concentration, and help manage emotions with this mid-day meditation session. Call 504.596.2596 to register. Thursdays, noon–1 pm. East New Orleans Regional Library. The NOLA Library Walking Club will meet at the Library to walk at Joe Brown Park. Prizes will be available. Bring water, and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Free. Wednesdays, 8–9 am.
Senior Choir Milne Rec Center. Seniors ages 55+ of all skills levels who like to sing and have fun are welcome. The Senior Choir performs at NORD and community events. Registration is free and ongoing. Monday and Tuesday, 1 pm.
Coastal Issues Book Club Mid-City Library. Interested in the long-term sustainability of coastal Louisiana? The Coastal Issues Book Club reads books related to coastal sustainability. New members are always welcome. Free. Saturday, 2–4 pm.
Typing Club for Adults Main Library. Accurate and efficient typing skills can help you get the job, get a better job, get the resources you need, and stay connected with friends and loved ones. Free. Repeats every month of the first and third Monday through June 2020. 6–7:30 pm.
Urban Fiction Book Club Nora Navra Library. Discuss a new book each month. New members are always welcome. Free. Wednesday, 6–7:30 pm.
In the Garden Writers’ Workshop Alvar Library. Writers of all levels of experience are welcome to attend this workshop that alternates between poetry and prose. Free. Repeats every month on the second Saturday. 2–3:45 pm.
Toastmasters Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center. A public speaking group which empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Free. Monday, 6–7:30 pm.
“Fully Booked” Bring Your Own Book Book Club Robert E. Smith Library. “Fully Booked” is a space for fellow book lovers to talk up their favorite books. New members are always welcome. Free. Repeats every month of the second Tuesday. 6–7:15 pm.
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Talk A Walk at the Library
Book Clubs and Conversation Groups
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Geoffrey Roniger’s
Yoga For Older Adults
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| march/april 2020
Geoffrey’s videos are the perfect way to try yoga from the comfort of your own home.
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New Orleans native Geoffrey Roniger teaches you the basics in ways that are easy to learn – for all ages! Access the following web address from your phone, tablet or computer and do something healthy for yourself today!
http://bit.ly/YogaOlderAdults
Playtime for Boomers Three New Orleans parks unite adults and children through play
It used to be that older adults were the ones trying to keep up with the rest of the world, but in the 21st century, the rest of the world is playing catch up to older adults. They’re more active now with a wider range of interests, hobbies, and influence.
Multigenerational playgrounds allow parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to get in on the action with children. Sideby-side or face-to-face swing sets let adults swing along while wider slides on a longer slope help adults keep up with less stress on their bodies.
A recent trend spreading across the globe is the increasing popularity of senior and multigenerational playgrounds, which are constructed with older adults in mind with a focus on fitness and the ability for grandma and grandpa to play along with their grandchildren.
Playtime in New Orleans
In the 1990s, China initiated a law that mandated fitness programs for all ages, and the senior playground was born. In the 2000s, it spread to Europe. In the U.S., senior and multigenerational playgrounds have been slower to catch on, but through projects from Humana, AARP, and the nonprofit Kaboom, more than 100 senior and multigenerational playgrounds have been built.
In on the Action Senior playgrounds might include a variety of equipment from leg presses and ropes to hand-eye dexterity games. You also might find walking paths and games like frisbee golf and horseshoes. They’re usually built next to or near the children’s playground equipment. Adults can still be active while watching their young charges play.
In 2015, East Baton Rouge Parish’s Greenwood Community Park opened the first senior fitness playground in Louisiana. Called a “motion wellness senior station,” it focuses on reducing seniors’ injuries from falls by helping with balance and coordination. Since then, the NORD Commission has built similar playgrounds in New Orleans, most recently in partnership with AARP at the Joe W. Brown Park in New Orleans East. It includes FitLot exercise equipment, which are designed to be adaptable to meet a wide range of fitness levels and abilities. The St. Roch playground at 1800 St. Roch Ave. also includes fitness equipment for older adults and, connecting the French Quarter to Bayou St. John, Lafitte Greenway’s fitness playground is between North Broad Street and North Galvez Street. Both are built near the children’s playground and offer FitLot equipment. Tim Meyer is managing editor of Nola Boomers and our sister publication, Nola Family.
Lafitte Greenway’s expansive grounds include an adult fitness playground near the children’s playground.
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Defying Age in the Air Lorelei Ashe found her passion of the aerial arts at a young age, but it wasn’t until she visited New Orleans as an adult that she found her home.
Cypress Fitness on Celeste Street is a sparse space. No soft pastel walls, gleaming mirrors, or polished oak floors. No Nautilus circuits or rousing Zumba routines. It’s a place for brute strength and sweaty exercise. But 12 feet in the air on a thin trapeze, Kathleen Parke is showing grace and impressive core strength. Her body moves with fluidity through spirals, splits, and flips. And standing beneath, guiding her every move, is Lorelei Ashe, her instructor. Ashe owns Gravity Defying Fitness and uses Cypress’ space to teach individual and group classes on the trapeze, rings, aerial silks, and the aerial hoop. Her sessions build strength, balance, coordination, endurance, flexibility, and agility. All the classes are based firmly in her dance and circus training.
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“Mostly, I work with women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s,” she says. “I train those women who never thought they had upper body or core strength. My tagline is defy your age, defy your fears, and defy your expectations.”
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The Circus Life
What do you think of when you hear the word circus — comedic clowns, glorious costumes, dazzling tricks? But glitz and glitter aside, so much of circus performance is focused on physical movement, strength, endurance, and all the ranges possible for the human body. It’s no wonder Ashe uses her circus training to help her clients achieve optimum everyday fitness too. Ashe is a retired aerial artist. At the age of four, in New York City, she started taking movement classes with Martha Graham dancer Willa Shulman. Soon she was working in Broadway and off-Broadway shows as a dancer. After a major injury at 17, she switched to modern dance.
“But I couldn’t make a living doing that and I didn’t really warm to it,” she says. Fate stepped in and Ashe found herself at the San Francisco Circus Center. The school offers classes for every level of ability in flying trapeze, acrobatics, aerial arts, contortion, juggling, and many other disciplines. Ashe studied static trapeze and aerial skills. “Aerial arts refers to physical disciplines involving the use of apparatuses that hang down from a rig point,” says Ashe. “Some of the most common are the trapeze — static, swinging, flying, and dance, and aerial silks or “tissus,” the French word for fabric.” Aerial silks is performed while hanging from fabric. Performers climb the suspended fabric without the use of safety lines and rely only on their training and skill. They use the fabric to wrap, suspend, drop, swing, and spiral their bodies in to and out of various positions. “Aerial dance is a powerful lifeaffirming experience that allows people to explore a sense of freedom and liberation,” says Lindsey Butcher, founder of The European Aerial Dance Festival. “It evokes a playfulness that we rarely allow ourselves as adults.” Ashe was thoroughly exhilarated by her time performing with the circus and teaching at the school. She eventually moved on to choreographing numbers for other acts and she still consults with circuses around the world.
New Orleans Connection
Ashe began visiting New Orleans in 1991. That’s when Quinn Early signed on as a wide receiver with the New Orleans Saints. The two were childhood friends growing up in New York.
it was home on my first visit.” “I’ve known Lorelei since we were kindergartners,” Early says. “She’s the type of person that will drop what she’s doing to help a friend. She’s totally selfless and one of my favorite people on this planet.” Ashe loved the joy in the city and the fact that New Orleans is about living life fully. “This multicultural soup is a celebration at its core,” she says. “My soul knew it was home on my first visit. The city has the same sense of community as the circus.” Finally in 2009, the time was right to move her fledgling business to New Orleans. She remembers the occasion with the fond memory of choreographing the first dance for The Sirens of New Orleans, a Mardi Gras krewe of dancing mermaids.
Fitness
Ashe is 54 years old and is a smidge over 5 feet tall. Her weight ranges from 101 to 106 pounds. “I don’t own a scale,” she says. “I know how much I weigh by how easy it is to climb up the tissus. If I’m heavy, it’s a lot harder.” Years of circus training has left her with incredible upper body strength and a solid core. She spends a lot of time upside down doing sit ups on the trapeze and other equipment. “It’s a total body workout,” she says. “And I love working out. I don’t feel right if I don’t find time to work out. The secret is to find something you love doing.” She also finds that working out helps her shed stress from her everyday life. She focuses on her routine and leaves everything else behind. Sometimes her clients come in after a bad day and she just works on finding ways to take the stress out of their bodies.
“She has mastered aging,” says Nicole Dwyer Sanders, who was trained by Ashe and went onto become an aerialist and the Canon Girl, Ringling Brothers’ last human cannonball before the circus closed operations. “She takes pristine care of her body, making sure to sleep and exercise.” Early agrees, “If there is such a thing as reverse aging, Lorelei has captured it in a bottle. Her spirit is that of a 20-year-old. She’s a role model for health and fitness for those of us trying to maintain as we age.”
Volunteering
Besides her work and her workouts, Ashe is an avid volunteer. “I find helping others so gratifying that I tend to dive in here and there because of some sort of personal connection,” Ashe says. “My work helping people is an organic thing. I love helping people and when people I care about are doing that I can’t help but jump in.” Thus, she’s also active with The Ann Early Intervention Foundation, named in honor of Quinn Early’s mother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. Ashe has seen the circus world changed so much in the last 30 years. One thing she’s noticed is the development of social circus, when circuses work as an outreach to underserved neighborhoods. She says the circus arts can offer non-competitive active fun and fitness, artistic expression, social and emotional learning, and enhanced cognitive function. The physical demands as an aerialist and fitness instructor are so much more than people might realize. But Ashe makes it all look effortless. It’s a true testament to her decades of dedication to her craft. “And like most of us our age, she has aches and pains,” says Early. “But physically and spiritually, she is as young as ever.” Pamela Marquis, a freelance writer, has lived in New Orleans for more than 40 years.
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After retiring from the circus, Ashe founded Gravity Defying Fitness, the first aerial fitness studio in the country.
“My soul knew
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APPS for a
HEALTHIER YOU A healthier you is at your fingertips with these health-focused apps that range from monitoring your medical history and glucose levels to helping you quit smoking and tracking your runs.
(Nola Local) My OHN Connect connects its users with the Ochsner Health system for all of their health needs. The app provides access to your medical information so you can stay up to date as you seek health advice. Whatever your platform of choice, it’s available for free on The App Store and Google Play. (Nola Local) Eat Fit provides diet advice and monitoring, complete with a guide on how to buy healthy groceries and where to find restaurants with Eat Fit menu options. For those looking to whip themselves back in shape, the app is free of charge and provided by Ochsner Health Center. It is available on both The App Store and Google Play. The Nike Run Club allows you to track your runs much like many other apps, but where this app shines is its social media component. There is a competitive element in the community both with yourself and with others. This provides even more feedback and motivation to get moving! The app is available for free on both The App Store and Google Play. The Livestrong MyQuit Coach is free and will help you develop a plan to finally quit smoking. The app is physician-approved and helps you track your progress as you try to kick the habit for good. The app is on the The App Store store right now.
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My Fitness Pal Calorie counter and Diet Tracker is well-regarded as a calorie counting app by Under Armor. If you’re looking for new ways to track your eating, this is sure to be a great option. Available for The App Store and Google Play, the app is free to download.
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Fitbit Coach offers a host of great workouts for those looking to beef up their routines outside of their fitbit data, but it’s good for all athletes new or experienced. The app is free and available on The App Store or Google Play right now. K Health guides you through the process of diagnoses in an organic, easy to understand way. This app is quite helpful in assessing your health level in any way and after diagnoses you can talk to a doctor as well as providing some solutions. It’s free and available on Google Play. The helpful Glucose Buddy app allows you to track your glucose levels and keep tabs on your diabetes symptoms and treatment. The app is available on both The App Store and Google Play. The app is free of charge with in-app purchases.
Change Your Salty Ways Beet Gazpacho A vibrant and refreshing chilled soup, made even more delicious by a plethora of seasonal toppings. This delicious and healthy lowsalt soup is perfect for those wanting to increase their potassium intake to help prevent or manage high blood pressure or diabetes.
Salt is good for the body, but it might surprise you how little is enough. Mckenzie Ellis writes the Low Salt Kitchen blog, which educates readers on the importance of salt in diets. It also offers recipes that keep the taste, but leave out the extra salt.
Yield: 4
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Ingredients: • 5 to 6 red or golden beets, peeled • 1 large shallot, peeled & chopped • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped • 1 cucumber, peeled & chopped • 3 tablespoons olive oil
Sodium overload is a major health issue in the U.S. We are a salt obsessed society, with 9 out of 10 Americans consuming too much of it. On average, adults 50 and older consume more than 3,000 milligrams of sodium a day — more than twice the 1,500 milligrams, or less than one teaspoon, recommended by the American Heart Association.
Your body needs sodium to maintain critical fluid balances, transmit nerve impulses, and contract and relax your muscles; however, less than 500 milligrams is required each day to perform these crucial functions. Nearly 80 million strong, people 50 and older may have grown up on meatloaf, mashed potatoes, tuna casserole, TV dinners, and salting their already salty food, but times have changed. They’re now mindful about the fuel that nourishes the mind and body and are actively seeking recipes, tips, and tricks to cut down on sodium.
• ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped, plus more for garnish • ½ teaspoon no-salt substitute • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepp
Optional garnishes: avocado, cucumber, beet, chive, dill, olive oil, Greek yogurt or crème fresh, microgreens, hemp seeds or dill croutons for that added crunch. For the Homemade Dill Crouton recipe please visit lowsaltkitchen. com/recipe/dill-croutons/ Instructions: 1. In a large pot, submerge the beets in water and bring to a boil. Cover, and reduce to a simmer for 40 to 50 minutes, or until tender. 2. Remove the beets from the pot and let cool to room temperature. Save the cooking liquid. 3. Save one beet to cube and use as a garnish. In a large pot, place the rest of the beets, shallot, garlic cloves, cucumber, sherry vinegar, dill, no-salt substitute and fresh ground black pepper. Add two cups of the reserved cooking liquid and blend with a submersion blender until completely smooth. Add more liquid as needed. You may also use a blender or food processor for this step. 4. Serve the soup cold with desired toppings. *Opt for fresh beets in the produce isle rather than canned beets. In a pinch, you can use canned beets but be mindful and buy the no salt added to avoid sneaky sodium. *Some common brands of no-salt substitutes are Nu-Salt, NoSalt and Morton’s Salt Substitute found at your local grocery store in the baking isle.
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
An often-unrealized fact is that more than 75 percent of sodium consumption comes from processed foods and eating out, not the salt shaker. About 90 percent of adults 50 and older are consuming too much sodium. That excess can have a lasting impact on our health. Research has shown that too much salt can lead to increased risks for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, kidney disease, kidney stones, and increased water retention.
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more to taste
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COUNTERACTING
Aging Bodies Crossfit may be intense, but with a little adjustment, it can be great for older bodies. Heidi Sherman had a lot of things in her mind in 2005, but her body had other plans. She was diagnosed with lyme disease, which dashed her plans as a competitive athlete. She was frustrated, but was determined not to give up. She fought her way back and by 2007, Sherman was able to work out again after some revisions to her routine. Sherman is now director of Krewe du Crossfit’s longevity program, a fitness program for men and women aged 50 and above. Much like the revisions she had to make to her own fitness routine, this program takes the principles of CrossFit and modifies them for older bodies. A major challenge is making sure that the exercise is challenging, but safe. Lisa Abramson, medical liaison at the Ochsner Fitness Center, outlines some of the obstacles we face as we try to stay fit as we age: decreased cartilage around joints, slower metabolism, and decreased muscle mass. She advises that the best way to combat these changes is aerobic exercise, weight training, as well as nutritional changes. According to Sherman, CrossFit already encompasses all three. But while CrossFit might sound too intense for those over 50, Sherman contends it is just the opposite. What differentiates the 50 and over program is the lack of stress on the joints. She uses non-ballistic CrossFit to provide a way to strength train while mitigating stress on joints. Where normally a CrossFit exercise would ask its members to jump up on a block, the fitness coach’s program suggests that you step up. In this way, the pressure on the body is lessened, but still provides a vigorous workout.
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Sherman went on to say that, “The only way to counteract age is to weight train three times a week,” but the program isn’t all sweat. In fact, the program has game nights for those interested. In all, what her program provides is a workout for those who need to move, but have limitations based on injuries, surgeries, or age.
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The program largely serves a need for those who want to get fit, but don’t have the mobility of younger athletes. With programs like these, it’s possible to be fit at any stage of life, but that’s not the only factor. Another tool to help whip your body into shape is diet. While the body may be facing a number of concerns whether it be metabolically, in terms of fat content, or any of a number of factors, the fact remains that the best way to counter these problems is to exercise vigorously, according to Sherman. Whatever your needs, age, or fitness level, there is a workout routine out there for you, it just takes that first step.
Graham Andreae is an editorial intern at Nola Boomers and our sister publication, Nola Family.
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NMFH’s extensive collection of hearses ranges from the horse-drawn to the gaudy.
FUNERAL
MUS EUM Takes Your Breath Away New Orleans has its love affair with death, but Houston might have the final word on funeral memorabilia.
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Just imagine that your last earthly ride begins with you recumbent in a Harry’s Ace Hardware van, parked behind the stately building that once was the House of Bultman’s oh-so-plush Uptown funeral parlor.
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In the early 1900s, Ronnie Redinger, owner of both a funeral parlor and a hardware store in Seiling, Oklahoma, described the tiny settlement as “a onehearse town.” His glass-sided, horse-drawn hearse/ delivery vehicle, a standout among the extensive collection of vehicles at the National Museum of Funeral History, sports the legend “Redinger Undertaker & Hardware,” touting his ability to sell you nuts and bolts one day and deliver you in style to your final resting place not long after. You might consider a visit to this over-the-top, under-the-ground museum of funerary objects and practices — adjacent to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport — a re-hearse-al for your own shuffling off of this mortal coil.
Our city loves jazz funerals and campy funeral displays. Some of us enthusiastically embraced the spectacles of Treme Brass Band drummer Lionel Batiste and socialite Mickey Easterling, propped up in all their embalmed glory amidst accoutrements of their earthly journeys. New Orleanians should feel right at home amidst the museum’s collections. Showmanship is also part of our past. The 1907 funeral of Captain Joseph A. Bisso, who had died on Christmas Day, rivals any chronicled in the museum’s 15 permanent exhibitions. Burly riverboat men in formal wear lifted Bisso’s casket into a glass-sided, black-lacquered funeral cart as somberly-attired family members stepped into an open black carriage that was drawn, like the cart, by black horses fitted with tall black plumes.
Thanks for the Memories Founded in 1992, the museum features exhibitions in which sobriety frequently combines with hilarity. The original Eternal Flame from the John F. Kennedy memorial in Arlington National Cemetery is in the museum because it just didn’t work so well and had to be replaced; there’s also a copy of the letter
assistance from the Vatican that includes an authentic Land Rover Popemobile, complete with a spot marked on the floor as the best spot from which to take a selfie with the vehicle. Japanese Funerals, Dia de los Muertos, and History of Embalming — which will tell you everything you need to know about Egyptian mummies — all make a stroll through this 35,000-square-foot open-plan museum a day-long experience.
The Meaning of Life Museum gift shop associate Yessenia Gonzales hears from visitors as they enter the exhibition space and as they leave the museum. Her recollections are a mix of solemnity and hilarity, with children asking questions like “How did you get all those cars in there?” and seniors pondering the meaning of it all. The NMFH has the largest collection of fantasy coffins outside of Ghana, West Africa. from Martha Washington complaining about the exorbitant $100 cost of George Washington’s funeral. A 1916 Packard Funeral Bus was designed to accommodate funeral directors, a coffin, and pallbearers, with a plush velvet compartment at the rear for mourners. Described as a great idea on the wrong wheelbase, it tipped backwards on its first trip, hurling pallbearers onto the laps of the grieving. The directors parked it in the countryside, where ranch hands lived in it for decades before the museum acquired it. Of the more than two dozen funeral vehicles on display, museum director Genevieve Keeney’s favorite is the Japanese hearse. “The artistic work and detail,” she says, ”make it one of the most beautiful pieces in our hearse collection.” A former funeral director, she also feels that the museum’s triple casket “tells a powerful story on the impact of grief.”
A dozen or so hand-carved, flashily-painted wooden coffins by Ghanian artist Kane Quaye would put fun in anyone’s funeral. Drive a taxi, how about a Mercedes-Benz box? An airplane is a fitting conveyance for a pilot on his way to the Great Beyond. A sampling of other exhibitions includes Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes, created with
One day, a senior and his adult son visited the museum and conveyed their reaction to the exhibits. “The museum sparked a conversation that they had never had before — the son was glad he finally knew what his father wanted at his final resting.” But it’s important to laugh in the face of death, and the museum’s annual charity golf tournament has featured such funeral-related grand prizes as a classic hearse. A popular gift shop item is the “Any Day Above Ground Is A Good One” mug. So why not sign up for this year’s June 1 tournament and play a round or two like there’s no tomorrow. ‘Cause there just might not be. For more information, visit nmfh.org. Keith Marshall began his writing career in 1973 as The Times-Picayune’s representative in Europe. He has also written travel, art and architecture, and feature articles for major newspapers and magazines.
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
The Thanks for the Memories exhibition contains printed programs and memorabilia from funerals of such luminaries as Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Whitney Houston, and John Wayne; many tributes are heartfelt and moving. Then, to tickle visitors’ funny bone, there’s the costume of Meinhardt Raabe, the munchkin coroner in “The Wizard of Oz” who certifies the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.
A history of embalming exhibit travels back to the Ancient Egyptians, through the American Civil, to the present.
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Farmers & Arts Markets Here’s a guide to help you make a funfilled day of it as you navigate your way around the best NOLA has to offer - great, fresh, locally sourced food, and some pretty cool arts and crafts, too!
Covington Farmers Market Abita Springs Art and Farmers Market 22049 Main St., Abita Springs; Every Sunday, noon-4 pm 985.807.4447; townofabitasprings.com/farmers-market Locally grown produce, baked goods, meats, dairy, and more.
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Arts Market of New Orleans
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Palmer Park, corner of S. Carrollton and S. Claiborne Avenues, New Orleans; 504.523.1465; artscouncilofneworleans.org Last Saturday of each month, 10 am-4 pm Featuring paintings, photography, jewelry, and more from the region’s best artisans. While you’re browsing, take a break and check out live music by Louisiana musicians and delicious food made by local vendors.
Camellia City Farmers Market Olde Towne Slidell, 1808 Front St., Highway 11, Slidell; 8 am-noon (every Saturday) 985.640.7112; camelliacitymarket.org Food, produce, art, and more!
Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St., Covington; 8 am-noon (every Saturday) Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire Ave., Covington; 10 am-2 pm (every Wednesday) 985.966.1786; covingtonfarmersmarket.org Fruit and vegetables from local producers, and locally produced eggs, milk, cheese, meat, poultry, and seafood. Prepared items include jam and jelly, juice and popsicles, Greek and Mediterranean food, authentic Mexican salsas and tamales, Italian food, bread, pastries, pies, candy, and more, all fresh and produced locally. The market offers a broad selection of live native, ornamental, and culinary plants.
Crescent City Farmers Market 200 Broadway St., New Orleans; 9 am-1 pm (every Tuesday) French Market, 1235 N. Peters St., New Orleans; 1-5 pm (every Wednesday) 3700 Orleans Ave. at Bayou St. John, New Orleans; (every Thursday) 750 Carondelet St., New Orleans; 8 am-noon (every Saturday) 504.861.4488; crescentcityfarmersmarket.org Year-round market featuring seasonal fruits, veggies, and seafood, as well as year-round offerings of baked goods, dairy, exotic meats, grass-fed beef, flowers and plants.
Farmers Arts Metairie Market Bayou Metairie Park, Metairie Road at Metairie Lawn Drive; Please see their website for dates and times. 504.913.4487; oldmetairiegardenclub.com Market’s vender’s offerings from vegan ice cream to produce, arts and crafts, exercise demos and much more.
Freret Market 4421 Freret St., New Orleans; First Saturday of the month, 11 am-4 pm freretmarket.org The market is split along three category lines: food, art, and flea. Besides all of the great shopping every week, the market also hosts local restaurants, live music, and a kids’ area.
German Coast Farmers’ Market Winnwood Shopping Center, 1313 Paul Maillard Road, Luling; 1-5 pm (every Wednesday) Ormond Plantation, 13786 River Road, Destrehan; 8 am-noon (every Saturday) 504.782.8517; germancoastfarmersmarket.org Fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other products.
Gretna Farmers’ Market 300 block of Huey P. Long Avenue, Gretna, Every Saturday, 8:30 am-12:30 pm 504.361.1822; gretnafarmersmarket.com Fresh produce, baked goods, barbecue, prepared goods, gift items, and more.
Harrison Avenue Marketplace 801 Harrison Ave., New Orleans; Second Wednesday of every month, 5-8:30 pm (no market in July and August) 504.535.4486; harrisonavenuemarketplace.org It’s more of a family-friendly “happening” than a farmers’ or art market, with music and entertainment in addition to the vendors offering food and handmade crafts.
Lafitte Street Market
Offerings include locally roasted small-batch coffee, salt-free spice blends and infused oils, natural skin care products, beef jerky, locally made wine, confectionery goodies such as fig cookies, pralines, and anything chocolate, kettle corn, nitro coffee, kombucha, local honey, marinara sauce, fresh-made bread and butter, fresh-grown produce, farm eggs, local soups, tamales, and the list goes on.
Armstrong Park, Bound by St. Philip St., Rampart St., Basin St., St. Peter St., and N. Villere St.; 3-7 pm (every Thursday) 504.286.2100; facebook.com/MarketplaceArmstrongPark Featuring fresh produce, seafood, goods, and prepared foods/beverages.
Rivertown Farmers Market LaSalle’s Landing, 2115 Rev. Richard Wilson Drive, Kenner; 8 am-1 pm (every Saturday) 504.468.7211; visitjeffersonparish.com/event/farmers-market-inkenners-rivertown/1/ Featuring fresh produce, dry goods, plants, and crafts.
Sankofa Fresh Stop 5029 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans; 9 am-1 pm (every Saturday) Summer location: 5200 Dauphine St.; 9:30 am-4 pm (every Monday-Thursday) 504.872.9214; sankofanola.org Open-air fresh produce market with locally sourced produce, eggs, breads, and seafood.
Sankofa Mobile Market Villa St. Maurice, 500 St. Maurice Ave., New Orleans; 3-4 pm (second and fourth Tuesdays) Hollygrove Senior Center, 3300 Hamilton St., New Orleans; 1-2 pm (second and third Thursdays) L9 Senior Center, 1616 Caffin Ave., New Orleans; 11 amnoon (third Thursdays) Royal Castle Childhood Center, 3800 Eagle St., New Orleans; 4-5 pm (first Fridays) Broadmoor Arts and Wellness Center, 3900 General Taylor St., New Orleans; 3-4 pm (second Fridays) sankofanola.org/mobile-market Works with the open-air market to strengthen the community-based food system by linking fresh food to the community of the 9th Ward.
Westwego Farmers & Fisheries Market 484 Sala Ave., Westwego 504.341.9083; cityofwestwego.com A permanent public market that will serve our diverse population, preserve our rich cultural & culinary heritage, enhance quality of life and provide vendors and farmers a convenient and economical venue to sell their products. Products include: prepared foods, seasonal vegetables and fruit, fresh yard eggs, candles, handmade soaps, jelly, plants, crafts, and handcrafted jewelry.
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Across from Mandeville Trailhead, 698 Lafitte St., Mandeville; 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays (985) 630-2990; facebook.com/LafitteStreetMarket
Marketplace at Armstrong Park
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OUR AGING PARENTS
THE BIG CHECKLIST LEGAL DOCUMENTS your parents shouldn’t be without. Taking care of your aging parents is a situation we all may have recognized as a likelihood, but unfortunately only about half of Americans actually have what they need to do so. In order to care for your parents from a legal perspective, there are some documents they must have in place. These documents cover their care from help with managing their money, their illness or incapacitation, to how to handle their estate once they pass. Of course, this article does not constitute legal advice, so please consult with a qualified attorney in the state where your parents reside.
5 THE
MOST ESSENTIAL
DOCUMENTS SHOULD
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YOUR
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PARENTS HAVE
1. Medical Directive Also known as an Advanced Directive. This document establishes the level and extent of care your loved one wants to receive when they become ill or incapacitated. Your Medical Directive will state whether you want artificial support for breathing and eating, such as a ventilator and feeding tube. The Medical Directive ensures the wishes of the elder are respected at the end of life and provides clarity and guidance to family members.
2. Power of Attorney for Healthcare A power of attorney for healthcare allows you to make healthcare decisions for your loved one. By appointing someone in advance with the power to make healthcare decisions for your loved one, fast and effective decisions can be made in the event of illness or incapacity.
3. Power of Attorney for Finances A power of attorney for finances allows you to manage your loved one’s financial affairs, pay bills, sell property, contract for services, rent property, pick a living arrangement, and so on.
FOUR TYPES OF POWER OF ATTORNEY: I. LIMITED. A limited power of attorney gives someone else the power to act in your stead for a very limited purpose. For example, a limited power of attorney could give someone the right to sign a deed to property for you on a day when you are out of town. It usually ends at a time specified in the document. II. GENERAL. A general power of attorney is comprehensive and gives your attorney-in-fact all the powers and rights that you have yourself. For example, a general power of attorney may give your attorney-in-fact the right to sign documents for you, pay your bills, and conduct financial transactions on your behalf. You could use a general power of attorney if you were not incapacitated, but still needed someone to help you with financial matters. A general power of attorney ends on your death or incapacitation unless you rescind it before then.
4. Revocable Living Trust A revocable living trust is one of the single most important documents for older adults — or anyone with assets — to have in their estate plan. It functions as a will, allows their estate to avoid probate, makes a potential guardianship process unnecessary, and gives them control of their assets for as long as they’d like or are able to manage them. They don’t need to be rich or have vast assets — a life insurance policy, checking account, house, or any asset of value merits establishing a revocable living trust.
III. DURABLE. A durable power of attorney can be general or limited in scope, but it remains in effect after you become incapacitated. Without a durable power of attorney, if you become incapacitated, no one can represent you unless a court appoints a conservator or guardian. A durable power of attorney will remain in effect until your death unless you rescind it while you are not incapacitated. IV. SPRINGING. Like a durable power of attorney, a springing power of attorney can allow your attorney-in-fact to act for you if you become incapacitated, but it does not become effective until you are incapacitated. If you are using a springing power of attorney, it is very important that the standard for determining incapacity and triggering the power of attorney be clearly laid out in the document itself.
5. Will A will is a legal document that lets your loved one tell the world who should receive which of his or her assets after death. It is not just for the elderly. Everyone, especially those with dependent children, should have a will because it allows them to name guardians for any dependent children. Without a will, the courts decide what happens to the assets and who is responsible for the kids.
If no one in your family can fill the role of POA, a geriatric care manager can help. You can find one at aginglifecare.org. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Association provides many of these forms free at caringinfo.org. Adding a HIPPA release gives you access to your parents’ health records and is a good idea to get with the POA for healthcare.
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
FINAL NOTES:
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KEEPING P
WITH MIND, BODY, & SOUL
Imagine a place for seniors with food, fun, and staff who are there for one reason: “Caring for those who cared for us.” PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, provides a unique combination of holistic care that helps seniors keep mind, body, and soul together. PACE Greater New Orleans is an affiliated ministry of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans. PACE develops individualized care programs that allow those who qualify to “stay at home with dignity and respect,” rather than going to a nursing home, says Dr. Jeryl Parmenter, the center’s medical director. The mission of PACE GNO is to “enhance the quality of life and autonomy for frail older adults while maximizing their dignity and respect. The PACE organization enables these frail older adults to live in their homes and in the community as long as medically and socially feasible, as they preserve and support the older adult’s family unit.” Participants’ diverse backgrounds include musicians, business owners, Mardi Gras Indians, and medical professionals.
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Daily PACE services begin before participants even leave their beds. Center manager Cheryl Barcomey oversees two dozen workers, including certified nursing assistants and home health staff, who may assist a participant in getting out of bed, bathed, and dressed, ensuring they eat, and helping them onto transportation provided by the center. CNAs may provide light housekeeping and meal prep. Home health nurses oversee medication management and provide some treatments.
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Interdisciplinary Approaches Andrew LeDuff directs the 13 drivers who transport PACE participants to one of two PACE centers — Shirley Landry Benson PACE Center at St. Cecelia and Hope Haven at St. John Bosco Alternate Center — or to subspecialty medical appointments or field trips. Transportation is one part of the interdisciplinary approach that typifies PACE’s robust continuum of care, as Antonio Dias, executive director, explains. Doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, nutritionists, therapists, and drivers provide professional services in what Dias describes as wraparound care.
Tom Vaughn, manager of marketing and outreach, notes that PACE participants must be 55 or older, certified by the state to need nursing home-level of care, meet a medical threshold, and be Medicare and Medicaid eligible. Listening is a key service, as the participants cope with the challenges of aging and a loss of independence. Nasya Henry, certified therapeutic recreation specialist, says, “I get joy by providing things that give them joy and hope, even if it’s just socializing.” CTRS Crystal James says coming to PACE “gives them something to look forward to each day. They’re motivated to get up in the morning.”
Mind, Body, & Soul Instead of spending their days in a rocking chair, participants are more likely to be singing along during karaoke or rockin’ out to the groups — like the Preservation Hall Band — that come to perform. Music is a constant at PACE. Lori LeDuff, a licensed physical therapist who oversees all therapy services at PACE — physical therapy, occupational therapy, and recreational therapy — mentions the African drumming class that resulted in drum circle performances at PACE and Armstrong Park. Other activities include dance, chair yoga, strengthening exercises, and meditation, but programming is participant-driven. LeDuff seeks to “make PACE a place they want to come to bring joy into their lives.” So if seniors want to line dance or form a choir, it’s on. Or they can visit the Cabildo for a workshop on printmaking, attend the French Quarter Festival, or check in at Saints training camp. A partnership with NORD might find them at a recreational facility. Tai chi is popular as well as therapeutic. Studies show brain injuries in the elderly are often due to falls. “Tai chi improves balance to help prevent falls,” LeDuff says. It also helps with arthritis and pain relief. Bingo won’t loosen stiff muscles, but it’s popular, as are movies, bowling, plays, the aquarium, and trips to see holiday decorations. These provide cognitive stimulation to prevent or slow memory loss. “We modify and adapt activities to each person’s functional status to make programs accessible.”
PACE PACE participants won first place in the funniest scarecrow category on City Park’s Botanical Garden Scarecrow Trail. Programs like this contribute to PACE’s “wraparound” care.
Balancing tastes and needs in a food-centric city, Jenry Schorling, registered dietician and nutritionist, coordinates hot meals delivered daily by a local catering company, modifying recipes as needed. Good food and nutrition are essential for this population, so Schorling’s programs include cooking demonstrations in conjunction with the American Heart Association, and PACE can provide home meals and assist participants in online food shopping to ensure healthy choices and meal plans. “We provide nutritional counseling and education,” Schorling says, to offset nutrition risks and help participants with supplements and vitamins.
PACE’s interdisciplinary approach allows staff to collaborate as needed to keep participants’ minds, bodies, and spirits active. “We really are a team in our approach to care,” JoAnne Ault, the lead social worker, says. “We seek each other’s advice. We have an appreciation and respect for each other, and all bring something to the table.” LeDuff’s department might help affix hand bars in participants’ homes and coordinates with outside contractors to install ramps or elevators, provide scooters or extermination services. “It’s an honor and a privilege to work with this population,” Ault says. “This is a place they can share their stories and feel valuable.”
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Chaplain Julia Taylor, head of pastoral care, ensures the spiritual needs of participants are met, regardless of their religious denominations, whether it’s through counseling, prayer, or saying rosaries. PACE hosts an annual memorial service in memory of participants who have passed, provides opportunities for testimonials and sharing moments, and hosts mini-masses and communion.
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Soothing Care at the End of Life
For the general public, hospice care has certain connotations about the prognosis of a patient, but what exactly does it mean? While hospice care isn’t specific to age, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, in 2017 about 64 percent of Medicare hospice patients were 80 or older, making it a very real end-of-life care option for your aging parents. About 42,000 people die in Louisiana a year. Of those, 90 percent experience some kind of terminal phase — more than half go through hospice care. A patient may be referred to a hospice program if it has been determined that they have six months or less to live because of a terminal illness. It doesn’t treat the illness, but the comfort of the patient. Hospice usually isn’t a facility, though some healthcare providers in New Orleans offer inpatient services, but a type of in-home care that employs palliative care, or the mental, physical, and spiritual comfort of a patient. “All of hospice is palliative care,” says Jamey Boudreaux, executive director of the nonprofit Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. But palliative care can begin at diagnosis, in addition to treatment. Hospice care
Hospice Care Resources
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Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 888.546.1500 lmhpco.org
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Hospice Foundation of America 800.854.3402 hospicefoundation.org Medicare medicare.gov/hospicecompare
begins after treatment of the disease has ended. Covered by Medicare Part A, Veterans Affairs benefits, Medicaid, and most private insurances, hospice patients could qualify for doctor and nursing services, medical equipment, medications related to symptom control and pain relief, speech therapy, social work services, bereavement counseling, and more. “Hospice is much more than just managing a condition until a patient dies,” Boudreaux says. “It’s easing the process for the patient — emotionally, spiritually, and physically.” According to Boudreaux, palliative care techniques could be coming to patients with chronic conditions like crohn’s disease and cystic fibrosis, too. A pilot program rolling out to 26 states in 2021 could offer the same soothing-type pain and symptom management used by hospices, but in a hospital setting for patients who visit the daoctor at least two to three times in a 12-month period for their condition. The program is currently accepting applications and final details won’t be available until late this summer.
Hospice Care Programs AmeraCare Home Health & Family 303 W. 21st Ave., Covington 985.893.3301 ameracare.com - Outpatient Care
Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care of New Orleans 3500 N. Causeway Blvd. #650, Metairie 504.483.9792 lhcgroup.com - Outpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
Canon Hospice - New Orleans 3600 Prytania St. #46, New Orleans 504.818.2723 canonhospice.org - Outpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
Notre Dame Hospice 1000 Howard Ave. f10, New Orleans 504.227.3600 notredamehealth.org - Outpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
Community Hospice 3600 Chestnut St., New Orleans 504.899.2011 communityhospice.us - Outpatient/Inpatient Care
Sanctuary At Passages Hospice 617 Dublin St., New Orleans 504.556.0770 passages-hospice.com - Outpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
Compassus 1301 W. Causeway Approach, Mandeville 985.639.8000 compassus.com - Outpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
St. Joseph Hospice 507 Upstream St., New Orleans 504.734.0140 thecarpenterhealthnetwork.com - Outpatient/Inpatient Care - Accepts Private Pay/Insurance
Nursing Home Directory Nursing homes aren’t just nursing homes anymore. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition — a facility could focus on one type of care, but another provides several levels or a combination of care. Rearching what’s best for or your aging parents can be daunting. And for that, Nola Boomers presents our Nursing Home Directory. Here, you’ll find definitions of need-to-know-terms, local and state resources, and a directory of area nursing homes from the Southshore to the Northshore. The directory is formatted by the type of home first, then by the zip code of the address.
Adult Daycare Centers Facilities that provide meals, structured activities, transportation, and social interaction for people with cognitive or functional impairments, usually serving those 80 and older. Adult daycare centers also offer a safe place to go when family caregivers are at work, run errands, or just need a break. On-site and on-call medical professionals, transportation, and field trips and activities are provided. Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St., New Orleans 70115 504.897.0535, poydrashome.com Total # of Beds: 110, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home & Rehabilitation Center 612 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans 70118 504.891.7400 Total # of Beds: 102, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts
Assisted Living
Focused on daily living tasks, including bathing, dressing, and eating. Residents usually live in their own rooms and share common areas. They have access to three meals a day; help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry; 24-hour supervision, security and on-site staff; and social and recreational activities. Sunrise of Metairie 3732 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie 70002 504.273.4366, sunriseseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 72, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay The Atrium Assisted Living 6555 Park Manor Dr., Metairie 70003 504.454.6635 Total # of Beds: 78, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
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PACE Greater New Orleans 4201 N. Rampart St., New Orleans 70117 504.941.6507, pacegno.org Total # of Beds: N/A Payment Accepted: Medicaid, Medicare
Kingsley House 1600 Constance St., New Orleans 70130 504.523.6224, kingsleyhouse.org Total # of Beds: N/A Payment Accepted: Private Pay, Medicaid, VA Contracts
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Laketown Village 1600 Joe Yenni Blvd., Kenner 70065 504.467.1000, pegasusseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 25, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Avanti Senior Living at Covington 2234 Watercross Pkwy., Covington 70433 985.317.6110, covington.avanti-sl.com Total # of Beds: 98, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Tranquil Living 4500 Leo St., Marrero 70072 504.304.9925, tranquelliving.net Total # of Beds: 10, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington 70433 985.898.0515, christwoodrc.com Total # of Beds: 223, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
St. Margaret’s at Belleville 813 Pelican Ave., New Orleans 70114 504.362.7166, bellevilleno.org Total # of Beds: 53, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
St. Anthony’s Gardens 601 Holy Trinity Dr., Covington 70433 985.288.1075, stanthonygardens.org Total # of Beds: 99, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, VA Contracts
HomeLife in the Gardens 1101 Aline St., New Orleans 70115 504.894.6100, homelifeinthegardens. com Total # of Beds: 95, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, VA Contracts Ville St. Marie Senior Living Community 4112 Jefferson Hwy., New Orleans 70121 504.834.3164, villestemarie.com Total # of Beds: 87, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
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Vista Shores 5958 St. Bernard Ave., New Orleans 70122 504.288.3737, vistashores.com Total # of Beds: 162, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, VA Contracts
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Good Samaritan Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 4021 Cadillac St., New Orleans 70122 504.246.7900, goodsamaritanrehabandnursing.com Total # of Beds: 180, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
St. Francis Villa Assisted Living 10411 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge 70123 504.738.1060, stfrancisvilla.com Total # of Beds: 65, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, VA Contracts
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The Trace 19432 Crawford Rd., Covington 70433 985.241.4310, thetraceseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 77, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Village in the Oaks 75520 Highway 1081, Covington 70435 985.871.0111, villageintheoaks.com Total # of Beds: 34, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Beau Provence 100 Beau West Dr., Mandeville 70471 985.778.0755, beauprovence.com Total # of Beds: 46, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Brookdale Mandeville 1414 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 70471 985.200.0203, brookdale.com Total # of Beds: 107, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 70471 985.624.8040, windsorseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 136, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Retirement Communities/ Continuum Of Care Retirement Communities A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves. Activities and socialization are often provided. Continuing care retirement communities offer different levels of service in one location, which varies by facility. A resident might move from level to another depending on their specific needs. Healthcare services and recreation programs are also provided. Nouveau Marc 1101 Sunset Blvd., Kenner 70065 844.292.0638, holidaytouch.com Total # of Beds: 110, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Laketown Village 1600 Joe Yenni Blvd., Kenner 70065 504.467.1000, pegasusseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 25, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Landing at Behrman Place 3601 Behrman Pl., New Orleans 70114 504.208.1075, sunshineretirementliving. com Total # of Beds: NA, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Woldenberg Village 3701 Behrman Pl., New Orleans 70114 504.367.5640, touro.com/woldenbergvillage Total # of Beds: 120, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Medicaid, Medicare, V.A. Contacts
St. Anna’s at Lambeth House 150 Broadway, New Orleans 70118 504.865.1960, lambethhouse.com Total # of Beds: 72, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Chateau de Notre Dame 2832 Burdette St., New Orleans 70125 504.866.2741, cdnd.org Total # of Beds: 171, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Medicaid, Medicare JoEllen Smith Living Center 4502 General Meyer Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.361.7923, jesliving.com Total # of Beds: 176, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, V.A. Contacts Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington 70433 985.898.0515, christwoodrc.com Total # of Beds: 223, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay The Trace 19432 Crawford Rd., Covington 70433 985.241.4310, thetraceseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 77, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Village in the Oaks 75520 Hwy 1081, Covington 70435 985.871.0111, villageintheoaks.com Total # of Beds: 34, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay St. Anthony’s Gardens 601 Holy Trinity Dr., Covington 70471 985.288.1075, stanthonysgardens.org Total # of Beds: 99, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, V.A. Contacts The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 70471 985.624.8040, windsorseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 136, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St., New Orleans 70115 504.897.0535, poydrashome.com Total # of Beds: 110, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Ville St. Marie Senior Living Community 4112 Jefferson Hwy, Jefferson 70121 504.834.3164, villestemarie.com Total # of Beds: 87, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
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Memory Care Homes Memory care is a distinct form of long-term care designed to meet the specific needs of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other types of memory problems.
Wynhoven Healthcare Center 1050 Medical Center Blvd., Marrero 70072 504.347.0777, wynhoven.org Total # of Beds: 166, p rivate/semi-private rooms available Payment: Medicaid, Medicare
Sunrise of Metairie 3732 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie 70002 504.273.4366, sunriseseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 72, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
The Suites at Algiers Point 813 Pelican Ave., New Orleans 70114 504.362.7166, algierspointsuites.com Total # of Beds: 53, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Academy House 4324 Academy Dr., Metairie 70003 504.884.1063, theacademyhouse.net Total # of Beds: 6, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Woldenberg Village 3701 Behrman Pl., New Orleans 70114 504.367.5640, touro.com/woldenberg-village Total # of Beds: 120, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Medicaid, Medicare, V.A. Contacts
St. Anthony’s Healthcare & Rehab Center 6001 Airline Dr., Metairie 70003 504.733.8448, stanthonynh.com Total # of Beds: 124, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, V.A. Contacts The Atrium Assisted Living 6555 Park Manor Dr., Metairie 70003 504.454.6635 Total # of Beds: 78, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Bayside Health Care 3201 Wall Blvd., Gretna 70056 504.393.1515, baysidehealthcare.net Total # of Beds: 150, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Medicaid, Medicare
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| march/april 2020
Laketown Village 1600 Joe Yenni Blvd., Kenner 70065 504.467.1000, pegasusseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 25, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
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Harvard House 5304 Erlanger Rd., Kenner 70065 504.884.1063 Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Marrero Healthcare Center 5301 August Ave., Marrero 70072 504.341.3658, nexion-health.com/marrerohealthcare Total # of Beds: 105, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
HomeLife in the Gardens 1101 Aline St., New Orleans 70115 504.894.6100, homelifeinthegardens.com Total # of Beds: 95, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, V.A. Contacts Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St., New Orleans 70115 504.897.0535, poydrashome.com Total # of Beds: 110, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay St. Anna’s at Lambeth House 150 Broadway, New Orleans 70118 504.865.1960, lambethhouse.com Total # of Beds: 72, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Vista Shores 5958 St. Bernard Ave., New Orleans 70122 504.288.3737, vistashores.com Total # of Beds: 162, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, V.A. Contacts St. Joseph Nursing & Rehab Center 405 Folse Dr., Harahan 70123 504.738.7676, stjosephofharahan.com Total # of Beds: 192, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare Peristyle Residence Lakeview House 858 Mouton St., New Orleans 70124 504.517.3273, peristyleresidences.com Total # of Beds: 7, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, V.A. Contacts JoEllen Smith Living Center 4502 General Meyer Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.361.7923, jesliving.com Total # of Beds: 176,
private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, V.A. Contacts Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center 5600 General de Gaulle Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.394.5991, olwhealth.org Total # of Beds: 138, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay, Medicaid, V.A. Contacts West Bank Lighthouse New Orleans 1712 Holiday Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.931.6048, westbanklighthouse.com Total # of Beds: 7, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay
Nursing Homes Nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services, which varies by location. Their services focus on medical care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Most nursing home residents live there permanently. Bayside Health Care 3201 Wall Blvd., Gretna 70056 504.393.1515, baysidehealthcare.net Total # of Beds: 150, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Medicaid, Medicare
Avanti Senior Living at Covington 2234 Watercross Pkwy, Covington 70433 985.317.6110, covington.avanti-sl.com Total # of Beds: 98, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Maison De’Ville 2233 8th St., Harvey 70058 504.362.9522 Total # of Beds: 100, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts
Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington 70433 985.898.0515, christwoodrc.com Total # of Beds: 223, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
West Jeff Healthcare Center 1020 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey 70058 504.362.2020 Total # of Beds: 104 Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
The Trace 19432 Crawford Rd., Covington 70433 985.241.4310, thetraceseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 77, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay Pontchartrain Healthcare Center 1401 Hwy 190, Mandeville 70448 985.626.8581, pontcare.com Total # of Beds: 127, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
Heritage Manor of Mandeville 1820 Causeway Approach, Mandeville 70471 985.626.4798, heritagemanormandeville.com Total # of Beds: 145, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 70471 985.624.8040, windsorseniorliving.com Total # of Beds: 136, private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay
Marrero Healthcare Center 5301 August Ave., Marrero 70072 504.341.3658, nexion-health.com/marrerohealthcare Total # of Beds: 106, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare Wynhoven Healthcare Center 1050 Medical Center Blvd., Marrero 70072 504.347.0777, wynhoven.org Total # of Beds: 166, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Medicaid, Medicare Covenant Nursing Home 5919 Magazine St., New Orleans 70115 504.897.6216, covenantnursinghome.org Total # of Beds: 96, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Brookdale Mandeville 1414 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville 70471 985.200.0203, brookdale.com Total # of Beds: 107 private/semi-private rooms available Payment: Private Pay, V.A. Contacts
Chateau Living Center 716 Village Rd., Kenner 70065 504.464.0604, chateaulivingcenterkenner.com Total # of Beds: 250, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
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St. Jude’s Health and Wellness Center 1539 Delachaise St., New Orleans 70115 504.895.3953 Total # of Beds: 116 Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home & Rehabilitation Center 612 Henry Clay Ave., New Orleans 70118 504.891.7400 Total # of Beds: 102, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts St. Margaret’s at Mercy 3525 Bienville St., New Orleans 70119 504.321.6555, stmmercy.org Total # of Beds: 112, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay, Medicaid Jefferson Healthcare Center 2200 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson 70121 504.837.3144, jeffersonhealthcarela.com Total # of Beds: 220, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare Good Samaritan Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 4021 Cadillac St., New Orleans 70122 504.246.7900, goodsamaritanrehabandnursing. com Total # of Beds: 180, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
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| march/april 2020
St. Joseph Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 405 Folse Dr., Harahan 70123 504.738.7676, stjosephofharahan.com Total # of Beds: 192, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
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Lafon Nursing Facility of the Holy Family 6900 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans 70126 504.241.6285, lafonnursingfacility.com Total # of Beds: 148, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts Ferncrest Manor Living Center 14500 Hayne Blvd., New Orleans 70128 504.246.1426, ferncrest.com Total # of Beds: 258, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare Carrington Place of New Orleans 5301 Tullis Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.394.5807 Total # of Beds: 160, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Medicaid, Medicare Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center 5600 General de Gaulle Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.394.5991, olwhealth.org Total # of Beds: 138, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay, Medicaid St. Luke’s Living Center 4201 Woodland Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.378.5050, stlukesno.org Total # of Beds: 101, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare, VA Contracts Heritage Manor of Mandeville 1820 Causeway Approach, Mandeville 70471 985.626.4798, heritagemanormandeville.com Total # of Beds: 145, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, Medicaid, Medicare
Personal Care Homes Assisted living and personal care homes offer seniors many of the same services as independent living communities, but with the addition of assistance with daily needs. These are usually smaller, more private facilities, providing beds for around five to 20 residents. Lake Villa House 4212 Lake Villa Dr., Metairie 70002 504.884.1063 Total # of Beds: 6, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Serenity Senior Residences 3949 Meadowdale St., Metairie 70002 504.495.5522, serenityres2.com Total # of Beds: 12, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Academy House 4324 Academy Dr., Metairie 70003 504.884.1063, theacademyhouse.net Total # of Beds: 6, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Fidelis Care IV4801 Tartan St., Metairie 70003 504.304.7862, fideliscaregroup.com Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Schouest House 7004 Schouest St., Metairie 70003 504.884.1063 Total # of Beds: 6, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Fidelis Care I 916 Martin Behrman Walk, Metairie 70005 504.301.2123, fideliscaregroup.com Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Harvard House 5304 Erlanger Rd., Kenner 70065 504.884.10163 Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
West Bank Lighthouse New Orleans 1712 Holiday Dr., New Orleans 70131 504.931.6048, westbanklighthouse.com Total # of Beds: 7, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay Solution Care Homes, River Forest Home 5 S. Division Dr., Covington 70433 504.278.0309, solutioncarehomes.com Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay Note: Long-term or permanent-stay facilities are included only.
Resources Louisiana Department of Health ldh.la.gov, 225.342.9500 On its website, you can find regional offices’ locations, apply for services, file a complaint, report fraud, and more. According to the department, there is currently a moratorium in place for nursing facilities in Louisiana. No new nursing homes will be built or licensed in the near future. Louisiana Nursing Home Association lnha.org, 225.927.5642 The LNHA is a nonprofit headquartered in Baton Rouge, and represents more than 250 nursing facilities and assisted living communities by providing public policy advocacy, education, professional development, quality initiatives, and other services. Nursing Home Rating System medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare Medicare and Medicaid-certified only nursing homes are subjected to annual surveys and a five-star rating system. A nursing home’s overall rating is based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Ombudsman ltcombudsman.org Also directed by the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, the Ombudsmen are trained advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Their services are confidential and free of charge. Ombudsman Coordinator for the New Orleans region Tanya Hayes, 504.736.6519
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
Fidelis Care II 4000 Kent Ave., Metairie 70006 504.218.7951, fideliscaregroup.com Total # of Beds: 8, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Pay
Peristyle Residence Lakeview House 858 Mouton St., New Orleans 70124 504.517.3273, peristyleresidences.com Total # of Beds: 7, private/semi-private rooms available Payment Accepted: Private Insurance, Private Pay, VA Contracts
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You Won’t AGE Out of SEX
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER the more you know, the more sex, or better sex, you could be having after 60.
Your friends may not talk about it, but a lot of them may still be having sex. In fact, according to the University of Michigan’s 2018 National Poll On Healthy Aging, 40 percent of adults aged 65 to 80 are sexually active, and 54 percent of them say sex is important to their quality of life. “It’s still very much a taboo subject across the board,” says Amanda Fitzgerald, a local pelvic floor physical therapist whose majority of patients, men and women, are over 60. But she says sex is imporatnt to bring up during doctor appointments. Hormones, erectile dysfunction, overall health, and natural aging can all challenge the mood. Learning some of the obstacles that sex and aging present can help you lead a better sex life.
Hormones and changes to the body.
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| march/april 2020
For women, levels of estrogen decrease during menopause. The vaginal walls get thinner and drier, which can make sex painful, Fitzgerald says. For men, testosterone and estrogen also nosedive. This can make it difficult to get an erection.
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Lubed condoms, water-based lubricating jelly, and vaginal moisturizers could bring the pleasure back to the bedroom. Other remedies to discuss with a doctor include vaginal estrogen, which comes as a cream, a pill or tablet, or an insert. Erections just don’t pop up as much anymore. The penis might not get as hard or able to stay as rigid as long. Fitzgerald says that about 1 in 7 men admit to taking some form of ED medication. Of the ED medications available, some could clash with drugs that contain nitrates, so it’s important to talk about with a doctor.
Health. Diabetes, especially type 2, can also cause ED. Over time, poor blood sugar can damage nerves and blood vessels that supply sex organs. Women with diabetes can also have less feeling in their genitals. It also causes more vaginal yeast infections. According to WebMD, a heart attack during sex is unlikley to happen. However, it does narrow and harden the arteries, making erections more difficult. Weight gain, arthritis, chronic pain, bladder control, cholesterol levels, side effects from medications, depression, and stroke are all factors that impact sex life.
Sexually transmitted infections. A study from the University of Virginia says that patients over 60 make up the largest increase of in-office treatments for sexually transmitted infections. Diagnosis rates for herpes simplex, gonorrhea, syphilis, and more rose 23 percent between 2014 and 2017. By contrast, the entire age range from 13 to 59 reported only an 11 percent increase during the same period. One cause for this increase may be from a lack of awareness among people 60 and older, especially for married couples. Reentering the dating scene after a decades-long monogamous relationship could have prohibited someone from learning about STIs and prevention. They simply didn’t need to know before. “Sexual health is directly related to physical health,” Fitzgerald says. You can have sex for as long as you like, no matter your age, if you’re paying attention to the signs.
Tim Meyer is managing editor of Nola Boomers and our sister publication, Nola Family.
The first day of spring is March 19, and the month offers plenty of plant-focused sales, festivals, and workshops.
On MARCH
Meet the Author: Richard B. Frank National World War II Museum. Join for the launching of military historian Richard B. Frank’s new book “Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia–Pacific War.” The reception and presentation are open to the public. Registration required. 504.528.1944 x 412. 5–8 pm.
MARCH 4 - WED
MARCH 5 - THU
Take a Walk at the Library
Discuss the New Yorker
East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. The NOLA Library Walking Club will meet at the Library to walk at Joe Brown Park, weather permitting. Prizes will be available. Bring water, and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Meets each Wednesday. 8–9 am.
Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center, 4300 S. Broad Ave. Copies of The New Yorker are available at the Library and on nolalibrary.org using the digital magazine service, Flipster. Limited to 15 participants. Registration required. Email j.henree14@gmail.com. Continues each Thursday. 1–2:30 pm.
Finding Focus at Longue Vue
Longue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd. Join a guided meditation by Mollie Williamson. Sometimes seated, sometimes walking, this class will use seasonal aspects of the garden as well as fixed features to explore types of meditation. Feel free to bring a mat or something to sit on. $10/person, free for members. 5:30–6:30 pm.
Thursdays at Twilight Banu Gibson
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. A superior and swinging jazz singer, Banu Gibson is one of the few vocalists of her generation to maintain loyalty to songs of the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
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MARCH 3 - TUE
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MARCH 6 - FRI
The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)
Woldenberg Riverfront Park. This free event raises funds for charities that make a powerful impact in the community. For more information on the band line up, artists, festival tents, and charities, visit ahavafest.com. 11 am–7 pm.
MARCH 7 - SAT
National World War II Museum. Join area knitters and crocheters for an afternoon of knitting at The National WWII Museum. Noon–3pm.
East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. Before first responders arrive, you can save a life by knowing how to provide hands-on CPR, administer Naloxone, and stop bleeding. No medical background is needed. To register, visit ready.nola.gov/stayconnected/training. 10 am–noon.
Natural Edible Gardening
Longue Vue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd. This Spring mini-festival features activities for everyone and information on how to get your personal garden started. Tickets include all-day admission and a docent-led house tour. $30/adult, $20/ members, $10/child (12 and under), $5/ child member. 10 am–1 pm.
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Freret Market
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(Continues March 8)
Teatro Wego, 177 Sala Ave., Westwego. From the high-brow to the low, program covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare and Molière to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin to The Daily Show and Anthony Weiner. Seating is general admission. Tickets start at $20. Showing each weekend in March.
Bystander Response Training
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AHAVA Music & Art Festival: Love Celebration
Freret St. and Napoleon Ave. The market is split up along three category lines: food, art, and flea. Besides all of the great shopping every week, the market also hosts local restaurants serving up unique cuisine. 11 am–4 pm.
Soul Fest presented by AARP
(Continues March 8) Audubon Zoo. Music, food, and fun are served in great supply during this annual festival celebrating AfricanAmerican culture. Admission is included with zoo admission. 11 am–4 pm.
Knit-In at the Museum
The Music of John Williams
(Continues on March 8) The Orpheum Theater. John Williams has scored soundtracks to some of the era’s most well-known films. Experience his unforgettable music performed live by the LPO. Tickets start at $39. 7:30 pm.
MARCH 8 - SUN
Adloyadah Purim Carnival
New Orleans JCC-Uptown. Bring the entire family for a fun-filled afternoon of food, music, games, and activities for all ages. Open to the public. A children’s all day play pass is $12, or $10 with a donation of nonperishable items for the Broadmoor Food Pantry. 11:30 am–3:30 pm.
MARCH 9 - MON
Lunch and Learn: Intro to iPad/iPhone Goldring-Woldenberg JCC-Metairie. Interested in learning more about specific applications on your iPhone or iPad? Bring your lunch and join for a course that will explore how to use Contacts, Calendars, Safari, and the Camera features. Bring your own device so you can follow along. 12:15– 1:45 pm.
MARCH 11 - WED
Seniors GEAUX Outdoors Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd. Enjoy canoeing, fishing, and a potluck style BBQ with other seniors from the community. 11 am–2 pm.
Ask About Medicare Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center. Find out what Medicare covers, what it costs, how and when to enroll, and what your options are. Educational materials are also available. Occurs each Wednesday. 5–7 pm.
Great Decisions with the World Affair Council of New Orleans Milton H. Latter Memorial Library. Designed to create a more informed and engaged citizenry by bringing people together to talk about global affairs. A facilitator will give an overview of a topic then lead the discussion about it. 6–7:30 pm.
MARCH 12 - THU
Bookie Boomers Book Club Milton H. Latter Memorial Library. Discuss a new book each month. New members are always welcome. March’s selection is “The Signature of All Things” by Elizabeth Gilbert. 11 am–noon.
Thursdays at Twilight Paul Soniat and Special Guests New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. The Garden’s own singer/ songwriter Paul Soniat will be joined by “The New Orleans Mystics.” Together they will perform a few of Soniat’s original songs. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
MARCH 13 - FRI
Old Garden Rose Sale New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. The first plant sale of the year is exclusively roses, mainly garden roses propagated from the New Orleans Botanical Garden. All roses are $20 each including tax. 4–6 pm.
MARCH 14 - SAT
Garden Volunteer Day
Longue Vue House & Gardens, 7 Bamboo Rd. Come learn ecological landscaping principles with longtime practicing permaculture enthusiast,
and Longue Vue’s garden manager, Kasey Mitchell. For more information please contact Kasey at kmitchell@ longuevue.com. 10 am–noon.
Artist Workshop Series: Free the Form – A Morning of Figure Drawing in the Round
Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Join museum educator, Mikhayla Anderson, for an exploration of figurative works in the Museum’s galleries, followed by life drawing in the Patrick F. Taylor Library. For adults 18 and up. $40/ member; $45/nonmember. 10 am–1 pm.
India Fest
NOMA, City Park. This vibrant festival of Indian arts, culture, and cuisine features a wide variety of performances, activities, and programs, including a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, classical and Bollywood dance, sari demonstrations, henna applications, yoga, lectures, film and more. $10/general admission, $5/ members, and free for visitors age 19 and under. 10 am–4 pm.
Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade Enjoy this truly essential New Orleans St. Patrick’s Day cultural tradition and catch throws, which include flowers, beads, kisses, cabbage, and much more. 1 pm.
Pelican Greenhouse Plant Sale New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. This plant sale features plants propagated from The New Orleans Botanical Garden. They will be selling an array of annuals, perennials, natives, succulents, and edibles. Quantities are limited. 4–6 pm.
Boomers aren't just hanging around waiting for something to do.
info@nolaboomers.com 504.866.0555
magazine
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
So advertise with us, and catch up to them.
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Ogden After House: The Dirty Rain Revelers
Ogden Museum of the Southern Art. Based in New Orleans, The Dirty Rain Revelers embodies the unified musical collaboration of husband/wife team, Matthew and Melissa DeOrazio, both on guitars and vocals. $13.50/adult, $11/senior. 6–8 pm.
MARCH 25 - WED MARCH 18 - WED
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
(Continues through March 22) Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate and feature local flavor and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines. Over two dozen restaurants feature special dining evenings throughout the festival. For more information, visit nowfe.com. Ticket packages vary.
Lunchbox Lecture National World War II Museum. From battle flags and wristwatches to machine guns and hand grenades, this lecture will not only explore the vast array of artifacts soldiers brought home, but will also dive into the colorful stories of how and why Americans took war trophies on such an enormous scale. Open to the public. For more information call 504.528.1944 x 229. Noon–1 pm.
MARCH 19 - THU
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| march/april 2020
New Orleans Book Festival
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(Continues through March 21) Tulane University. The New Orleans Book Festival will bring the world’s leading authors to Tulane University for a multi-day celebration. For more information, visit bookfest.tulane.edu.
Thursdays at Twilight New Orleans Mystics
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. Buy your tickets early so you will not miss this show featuring the music of Motown. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
Meet the Author: Mary M. Lane National World War II Museum. Writer and journalist Mary M. Lane presents her recent book “Hitler’s Last Hostages: Looted Art and the Soul of the Third Reich.” Open to the public. Registration required. 504.528.1944 x 412. 5–8 pm.
Art in Bloom 2020
(Continues through March 29) NOMA, City Park. Art in Bloom showcases spectacular floral designs created by over 100 exhibitors that remain on display at NOMA for four days. Proceeds benefit educational projects and exhibitions at NOMA and community projects of The Garden Study Club of New Orleans. $20/adult, $15/senior, free for members.
MARCH 26 - THU
45th Annual Louisiana Crawfish Festival
(Continues through March 29) 8245 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette. Featuring boiled crawfish with all the fixins and crawfish dishes such as crawfish bread, crawfish pasta, crawfish pies, crawfish rice, and crawfish jambalaya. Times vary by day.
Thursdays at Twilight Phil Melancon
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. Melancon performs the musical spirit and style of his hometown, New Orleans. As complex as gumbo, he cooks up a variety of musical flavors for your enjoyment. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
Ogden After House: Book Signing with Author William Dunlap
Ogden Museum of the Southern Art. Author William Dunlap will be signing his book “Pappy Kitchens and the Saga of Red Eye the Rooster.” $13.50/adult, $11/senior. 6–8 pm.
MARCH 27 - FRI
Hogs for the Cause
(Continues March 28) UNO Lakefront Arena. Kick off festival season right with music, barbecue, and community! Hogs for the Cause returns with 85 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories. Proceeds to support families with pediatric brain cancer. Tickets start at $30.
New Orleans Home & Garden Show
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. This 65th annual event brings an unparalleled variety of homerelated services and products under one gigantic roof with everything needed for home remodeling, green building, decorating, and landscaping. For more information, visit neworleanshomeshows.com. $25/ adult, $10/military, free for kids 12 and under. Noon–7 pm. Continues March 14, 10 am–7 pm and March 15, 10 am–6 pm.
MARCH 28 - SAT
Big Bass Fishing Rodeo and Fishtival
New Orleans City Park. The 73rd annual Big Bass Rodeo is the oldest freshwater rodeo in the country. Visit the free Fishtival with exhibitors, vendors, raffles, fishing tackle for sale, and more. $10/adult, $5/child ages 12 and under. Tournament hours 6:30– noon, festival hours 9 am–noon.
Party for the Planet Audubon Nature Institute. Guests will enjoy hands-on discovery with local exhibitors and fun opportunities to experience nature including a complimentary night sky demonstration in the Planetarium. 11 am–3 pm.
MARCH 29 - SUN
Woofstock Pet Festival
APRIL 2020
APRIL 3 - FRI
WYES Victoria & Albert Gala
Castine Center in Pelican Park, Mandeville. Part festival, part lowcost vet clinic and mega-adoption event, Woofstock 2020 will include fun for the entire family. Patrons enjoy delicious food, beverages, a children’s area, raffles, and a vendor market for your four-legged companions. 8:30 am–3 pm.
WYES Paulette and Frank Stewart Innovation Center for Educational Media, 916 Navarre Ave. Step into the Town & Country world of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the original “it” couple. General admission. The Patron Party begins at 6:30 pm. $500/ patron, $225/jr. patron (ages 21–40). General admission Gala begins at 8 pm. $200/person, $100/jr. gala (ages 21–40).
MARCH 31 - TUE
APRIL 4 - SAT
Japanese Tea Discovery Class and Tour
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. You will taste a selection of teas produced on small scale farms in Wazuka, Japan, and also sample a cherry blossom tea from the Japanese seaside town of Odawara, Kanagawa. $40/person. 6–8 pm.
APRIL 2 - THU
Thursdays at Twilight Wanda Rouzan and a Taste of New Orleans
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. Rouzan is known as one of Crescent City’s premier musical ambassadors. She and her band, A Taste of New Orleans, have taken their music all over the world. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
March for Babies New Orleans
City Park Festival and Recreational Grounds. Hosted by the March of Dimes, Louisiana Chapter. Registration starts at 7:30 am and the walk starts at 8 am. Join after for a ceremony and celebration.
Songs That Won the War
National World War II Museum. The Victory Belles bring to life the songs that inspired the Allies to victory Various shows are available in April. Tickets start at $33.51.
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NOMA Egg Hunt and Family Festival
NOMA, City Park. Bring your family for a fun-filled day featuring egg hunts, a petting zoo, face painting, painting, crafts, activities, and more. $10/ member (advanced), $15/nonmember (advance). 10 am–1 pm.
Howling Success Gala
Orpheum Theater. Celebrate The Wizard of Paws at the 41st Annual Howling Success Patron Party & Gala to support the life-saving mission of the Louisiana SPCA. For more information, visit laspca.org/howlingsuccess. 7–11 pm.
APRIL 6 - MON
Lunch and Learn: The Advantage of Medicare Advantage Goldring-Woldenberg JCC-Metairie. Choosing your Medicare coverage is an important decision. Bring your lunch and the Goldring-Woldenberg JCC staff will help you understand your options and show you why a Medicare Advantage plan could be right for you. 12:15–1:45 pm.
APRIL 8 - WED
Seniors GEAUX Outdoors Joe W. Brown Park, 5601 Read Blvd. Enjoy canoeing, fishing, and a potluck style BBQ with other seniors from the community. 11 am–2 pm.
APRIL 9 - THU
www.nolaboomers.com
| march/april 2020
Bookie Boomers Book Club
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Milton H. Latter Memorial Library. Discuss a new book each month. New members are always welcome. April’s book selection is “Hag-Seed” by Margaret Atwood. 11 am–noon.
Thursdays at Twilight Tim Laughlin
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. One of the brightest of the New Orleans-based clarinetists to emerge during the 1990s, Laughlin’s compositions and recordings have made a strong impression on the traditional jazz scene. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
“42nd Street”
Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Pennsylvania and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? Tickets start at $20. Showing April 10–11 and 17–19.
APRIL 16 - THU
Thursdays at Twilight Boogiemen Swing Band
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. The Boogiemen will perform the music of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., and more. Don’t miss this special night of music! $10/person. 6–8 pm.
APRIL 18 - SAT
Dine & Dance with the Victory Swing Orchestra
National World War II Museum. The Victory Swing Orchestra celebrates the great big bands of the WW II era. This amazing ensemble of talented New Orleans musicians will have you in the mood to dance the night away. 6 pm, dinner seating; 7:30 pm, showtime.
APRIL 21 - TUE
Swing in the Oaks New Orleans City Park. Bring your blankets, chairs, and picnic fare to this free annual concert on Goldring/ Woldenberg Great Lawn presented by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and City Park. 6 pm.
APRIL 23 - THU
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. The first weekend of Jazz Fest kicks off with performances by The Who, Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Brandi Carlile, The Avett Brothers, Erykah Badu, H.E.R., The Beach Boys, The Revivalists, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello and hundreds more. $75/single-day admission on April 23, 24, or 26. $80/ single-day admission on April 25.
APRIL 24 - FRI
The Comedy Zone
(Continues on April 25) Teatro Wego, 177 Sala Ave., Westwego. Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy from the nation’s largest comedy network. $20/person. 7:30 pm.
APRIL 29 - WED
Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Dachau National World War II Museum. Author Jack Sacco will be speaking at the National WW II Museum to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Open to the public. 5:30–7 pm.
APRIL 30 - THU
Thursdays at Twilight Patrice Fisher with Cuban Musicians from Miami
New Orleans City Park, Botanical Garden. Special guests will join harpist Patrice Fisher to perform a blending of music from Central, South and North America. $10/person. 6–8 pm.
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. The first weekend of Jazz Fest features performances by Dead & Company, Stevie Nicks, Lizzo, Lionel Richie, The Lumineers, The Black Crows, Trombone Shorty, Nicky Jam, Irma Thomas, Of Monsters And Men, John Prine, and more. $75/single day admission on April 30, May 1, or 3. $80/single-day admission on May 2.
march/april 2020 | www.nolaboomers.com
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