greenwich’srobin kencelcrowned ms.connecticut senior america2024
There’s no question that oftenthe spotlight, especially when it comestowomen,tends to focusoncelebrating youthful perfection.Infact, onecould arguethatthe United States lags behind many othercountries when it comestovaluing the experience, valueand knowledgeofour seniors.
Ms.SeniorAmerica seekstochangethatoutlook,one crownat a time.
AccordingtoCTstate director andevent coordinatorDebra Eccles,the pageantaimstohonor womenatthe “age of elegance.”
Eccles,a Sheltonresidentand former Ms.Connecticut Senior Americawinnerherself,saidwinners should “exemplify dignity, maturity,inner beauty andcharity.”
By SusanShultz
Photos ContributedbyDebra Eccles
CT PASSES NEW REGULATIONS FOR NURSING HOME CARE
THE SWEEPING REFORM WILL MEAN INCREASED OVERSIGHT, DECREASED CROWDING
By Susan Shultz
Two bills ordering a series of reforms for how nursing homes operate and their oversight were passed by the Connecticut House and Senate at the end of this past legislative session. They were signed into law at the end of May.
The reforms were initially proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont in February of this year His introductory memo identified the problems with the current nursing home system.
“While many nursing homes provide good care, others have struggled to meet the quality and safety standards residents deserve,” he wrote.
Lamont also noted that lapses in quality nursing home care can lead to infection spread, bed sores, errors in medications, abuse, and neglect.
State statistics say that in 2022, the state received 4,278 complaints from nursing home residents, a nearly 40 percent increase from 2017 One specific problem Lamont pointed out was that when nursing homes suddenly close, their residents are forced to relocate under traumatic circumstances.
“Connecticut must promote a system of care that rewards quality nursing homes, strengthens transparency, promotes industry-leading practices, and holds poor performing homes accountable. We must also ensure that nursing home closures occur with minimum disruption [to] resident care and safety,” Lamont said
One of the more important provisions in the new legislation includes the creation of a home care provider registry by the Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the commissioners of Public Health and Consumer Protection
This link will be posted on the Department of Social Services’ website.
This registry will serve several purposes, including:
Promoting awareness of and access to qualified home care providers who accept Medicaid
Supporting the recruitment and retention of qualified home care providers
Matching criteria of home care providers based on skills, language preferences, and more
Assisting family with the financial process
Assisting the state with background checks
Other important changes include no more than two beds per room, effective July 1, 2025, and an online “nursing home report card” that prospective residents and their families can research before a loved one’s placement. Further changes include ensuring that consumer complaints are fully investigated, and the results are reported back to the appropriate governing body.
Public Act 24-39, An Act Supporting Connecticut Seniors and the Improvement of Nursing and Home-Based Care, and Public Act 24-141, An Act Promoting Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life, will mean many improvements to the overall care of seniors whether they are homebound or in nursing homes
Formoreinformation,visityourtown’ssocialservicesdepartmentorthestate’ssocialservicesdepartmentatct.gov.
FROM PAGE 2
“She is someonethatall seniorscan look up to, andweemphasize that senior womenare avaluable treasure andresourcefor youngerpeople,” Eccles said.
Eccles hasbeeninpageantsthroughouther life andgot involved with theMs. Senior Americapageant in 2015.She earned runner-up honors at firstbut earned thecrown in 2021,representingConnecticut in the national competition, whereshe made the topten
“Every year,Ilearned more what the judges were lookingfor,” Eccles said In earlyJune, Eccles helped crown Ms.Connecticut Senior America 2024,Robin Kencel,a Greenwich resident at this year’s eventatBridgeport’sBijou Theatre.
Becausethe emphasis is on beauty inside andout,the judges focusacertain percentageofscore on four differentbuckets. Contestantsare scored in four weighted categories:interview andtalent, 30%each, andevening gown andphilosophyoflife, 20%each.
Thereisaset time limitonthe talent portion on stageand thephilosophyoflife portion.
ABOUTROBIN KENCEL
Kencel,anaccomplishedluxuryRealtor in Greenwich, whereshe raised herfamily, has livedinCTall of herlife. Shewas born in NewHaven andraisedinHamdenand hopedtouse this pageantto give back to her homestate
ForKencel, apro-AmAmericanballroom dancer,the talent choice wasclear.Kencel performedadramatic, contemporary dance to “I WhoHaveNothing,“sung by Shirley Bassey Sheviews winningthe pageantasaleadership opportunitytobridgegenerations.
“I am very excitedtosee what we can accomplish in both supporting seniorsaswell as advancingintergenerationaldialogue,”she said.
As ahighlysuccessfulbusinessperson herself, Kencel is approachingher role using theseskills. Sheiscreatinga business plan to
developtactics to achievewhather vision sees as themission
Part of that missionisbringingyoung womeninorganizationsshe alreadysupportsintothe efforts
there’snothing like it,” shesaid.
Kencel said sheislooking forwardtoher year-long“reign.”
Theseinclude youngwomen from Bellarmine College, GirlswithImpactand Teachfor America CT –who will accompanyher to localevents, when feasible,toincreasethatintergenerational dialogue
“Givingyoung womenanopportunity to practice theirpublicspeakingabilities will be an importantcomponent in developing their leadership skills,” Kencel said “Weare very excitedatwhatRobin is doingfor theorganization,”Ecclessaid.
In addition,Ms. Connecticut Senior Americaprioritizes visiting seniorswho arelessmobilein nursinghomes or assisted living andperformingtheir talentsfor them.
Kencel planstocompete in thenationalMs. Senior Americaevent in thefallinAtlanticCity.
HOWITWORKS
Eccles notedthatthe competition is anon-profitand shewould love to seemoreparticipation andespecially sponsors forthe localCTpageant.The pageantalsopaystosendthe annual winner to thenationalevent
“Itwould be greattohaveasponsor fornextyear’spageant,” shesaid.
Eccles usuallybeginstorecruit for theannualJunepageant earlyinthe NewYear, so shehopes thoseout there interested starthoningtheir talents early.
“Itisintimidatingtoget up there, especially if youhaven’t done your talent forawhile or if youdon’t have one,”she said
ButbothKenceland Eccles said theevent is an empowering onethat helpsseniorwomen feel good about themselves
Eccles said it isn’tjustabout winning.
“It’sthe wholeexperience –the comraderyand the friendshipsyou make,
“I look forwardtousing thevoice of thetitle andcrown to encourageand supportCt’sseniorwomen andadvance work in leadership andeducation forthe youngwomen in our state,”she said
Forthose interested in participating, donating or beinga sponsor, please emailDebra Eccles at debra.eccles912@gmail. com. Tolearnmoreaboutthecontestandmoredetailedrules, visithttps://mssenioramericapageant.com.
Sheissomeone that allseniors canlookup to,and we emphasizethat senior women areavaluable treasure and resource for youngerpeople.”
tick bites require vigilance, especially for those over 50 LYME DISEASE CAN CAUSE A LIFETIME OF PAIN IF LEFT UNTREATED
By Susan Shultz
Summertime in Connecticut means eager souls ready to get outdoors and hike, walk, garden, and enjoy the warmer weather. But with the warmer weather, and fewer deep freezes in winter, comes the arrival of ticks, the bane of spring lovers’ existence.
While their bites are painful and annoying, ticks can also carry diseases that could impact us and our pets. The most common of these illnesses is named for a town in Connecticut: Lyme Disease. While children are most at risk for contracting Lyme Disease as per the Global Lyme Alliance, the next most at-risk age group is those over 50 WHAT IS IT?
Lyme Disease was first documented in Lyme, Conn., in 1976, but research from the Yale School of Medicine shows it existed tens of thousands of years before that discovery Yale also reported that deforestation and suburbanization of New England has caused an increase in the deer population, which has helped the disease thrive.
Lyme Disease is found in deer ticks, the pinhead size of ticks, as opposed to dog ticks, which are larger It is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The
Global Lyme Alliance notes that it is important to catch and treat Lyme Disease early for a full recovery. If it is not caught early, it can lead to a chronic illness that can cause serious long-term health problems that can impact the quality of one’s life.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
If you find you have been bitten by a tick, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) recommends removing it carefully with tweezers so as not to leave any of it remaining.
The Center for Disease Control outlines the following immediate symptoms to watch for when finding a tick on your body:
Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and/or joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes
A bullseye (or erythema migrans) rash as soon as three days or as far away as 30 days. The average appearance is seven days.
Longer-term symptoms that could indicate Lyme reported by the CDC include:
Severe headaches and neck stiffness
More rashes
Loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face
Pain in joints, tendons, muscles, and bones
Nerve pain, shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands and feet
TREATMENT
Depending on the intensity of symptoms and length of the illness, Lyme Disease is normally treated with an extended cycle of antibiotics. The CDC offers a guide for recommended treatment cycles as per one’s symptoms
Also helpful when seeking medical advice and treatment is to save the tick to be tested for the presence of the Lyme-causing bacteria. The state of Connecticut offers an info page on how to submit ticks, and a guide on where to submit them, by town at https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/ Tick-Office
PREVENTION
The AARP and the CDC recommend those who were outdoors to conduct a tick check that includes “nooks
Getty Image
NEWCLINICALEGG STUDYREVEALS EGG-CELLENTRESULTS
(BPT)-Americans areincreasinglyaware of theimpactofcholesterol on hearthealthand overall well-being,but it's notalwayseasy to know whichfoods will truly have apositiveeffect. To addtothe confusion, it canfeellikeresearchis always revealingsomething new, so it canbedifficult to keep up.
Eggs,for example, have often received negative pressrelated to cholesterol. However, newclinical research by aleading academic medical center showed eating fortified eggs,likeEggland's Best eggs,did notnegativelyaffectcholesterol levels.Additional findings suggest that eating 12 Eggland'sBesteggsa week canbepartofahealthy diet, even formorehigh-risk individuals. Research also suggestedthat consumingEggland's Best eggs couldpotentially reduce levels of "bad cholesterol" (LDL cholesterol) in olderindividuals andthose with
diabetes,and mayhelpincrease levels of "goodcholesterol"(HDL cholesterol) in olderindividuals
Theconsumption of Eggland'sBest eggs mayalsoincreaseVitamin B12 levels,helping to supportahealthier lifestyle
Registered Dietitianand NutritionistDawnJackson Blatnersaid this clinical studyhelps clarifythe confusionregarding thenutrition of eggs andcan help people feel more
confidentabout includingfortified eggs as part of ahealthy diet,even forpeoplewho areathighriskfor heartdisease.Dawnalsoshared additional tips forpeoplewho may be lookingtolower theircholesterol levels:
1. Eatmorefiber: Fiber-rich foods arekey forahealthy heartand lipid levels.Fiber-richfoods include wholegrains, fruits,vegetables, beans, lentils, nuts andseeds
Mike DeLuca Publisher
Susan Shultz Sponsored ContentProducer
Jennifer VanBomel GraphicDesigner
2. Swapyourfats: Switch to more heart-smartfatstoadd flavor such as oliveoil,nuts, seeds, avocadoand fish.Strivetodecrease foodshigher in saturatedfat like butter,cheese, fattymeats andfried foods.
3. Chooseeggswisely: Notall eggs arecreated equal. Eggland'sBest eggs have more than double the omega-3s andVitamin B12, 25%less saturatedfat,10times more VitaminE,and sixtimes more Vitamin Dcomparedtoordinaryeggs.
JacksonBlatner shares her favorite recipe foradelicious toast that contains healthyfatsand wholesomeingredients like salmon, avocadoand Eggland'sBesteggs: SALMON ANDAVOCADO TOAST
PrepTime:5minutes
CookTime:5minutes
TotalServings:2avocadotoasts
Ingredients:
2Eggland's Best eggs,large
1teaspoonolive oil
2sliceswhole grainbread, toasted
1/2avocado
1cup rawspinach or arugula 2ouncessmokedsalmon Blackpepper, to taste
Instructions:
1. In askillet over medium heat, addolive oil, crackinEggland's Best eggs,and cook untileggsare over-medium
2. Topeachpiece of wholegrain toastwithequal amountsof(in this order):slicedavocado,spinach, salmon,and topwithacooked Eggland'sBestegg andsprinkleof pepper.
AllergyInfo:noaddedsugar(can begluten-freeifgluten-freebreadis used)
To learnmoreabout this study from aLeading Academic Medical Center,visit EgglandsBest.com/ EggStudy
JULY2024
shadesofgray: WHAT CAUSES OURHAIRCOLOR TO CHANGE AS WE AGE? GettyImage
By SusanShultz
“You’regivingmegrayhair”
is an oft-heardphrasewhenone is stressed,particularlyfromaparent to achild.
Butcan stress actually causegray hair?And what actually causes our hair colortochangeasweage?
Here is some info on thesestealth invaders of ourlustrouslocks HAIR CAN’TTURNGRAY.
Despiteour parents’ laments andmanymovie andtelevision storylines with characters’hair turningcolor post-trauma, hair can’tturngray. That’s whyyou
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don’tsee half-grayand half-natural coloredstrands
Gray hair is afullstrandofhair that growsinreplacement of a strand that hasfallenout.How earlyorlateour hair turnsgray hasmuchtodowithour genetics, accordingtoa report from Harvard MedicalSchool.
Ourhairturns gray because ourhairfollicles producelesscolor as they age. So as ourstrands go throughthe naturalfalling-out process, they maybereplacedbya gray hair.
Gray hair notonlylooks different, butcan have adifferent texture, accordingtothe hair expertsatJohnFreida. Another impact of agingisthatour scalp’soil glands producelesssebum,anoily substanceonthe skin that protects it from drying out. This could causeyourgrayhairtobedrier and rougherintexture,experts say.
Luckily, variouscompanies make products specificallyfor gray hair care
THESTRESSFACTOR
HarvardMedical School notes that stress cannot causeanincrease in gray hair or change thecolor of hair that is alreadygrown out. What stress candoiscause an increase in hair loss,and depending on one’sage,those replacement hairscan come in gray.
To accept or to submit:thatisthe question
Thesignofthe firstgrayhaircan be traumaticregardlessofage,asit is areminderofthe passageoftime. However, expertswarnthe solution is nottopluck it out. Plucking it
outcan at worstdamagethe follicle andevencause apimple. At best, anothergrayhairwilllikelyreplace it
Many people,especiallywomen, opttoget routinecolor treatments to covertheir graysastheygrow in.There is,however,atrend that involves embracingone’s gray hair. Forone thing, routinetreatments canbeexpensive.
In betweenbeautyexperts offer less expensivetouch-ups usingcolor pens,rootcoloring, andover-thecountersuggestions.Ifyou want to boldly go gray andmakeitastyle choice,JohnFriedahas some tips.
Theoverall urging forthose who choose to go gray is patience,as thein-betweenstagestakeawhile It maytakeayearand ahalfto grow outyourgrays completely Anotherkey pointistomakesure your hair staysdeeplyconditioned andhydratedgiven themorebrittle textureofthe hair
Butaccepting your newshade of gray canbeliberating, both mentally andphysically. In fact, theWallStreetJournal recently reported that in thecorporate world, womenleaning into their gray hair is considered apower move
TheAmericanAssociation of RetiredPersons (AARP) recently posted an articleabout howmany celebritiesare also embracinga freerlifewithout thestressof dyeing theirhairand thedamageit cando. So if youdecidetogogray, know youwillbeingoodcompany
ticks FROM PAGE 6
and crannies” like the ears, backs of knees, and the belly button The CDC also recommends showering right after coming inside, and putting the clothing worn outdoors into a hot dryer for 10 minutes.
The Global Lyme Alliance suggests several behaviors to avoid a tick’s bite. Ticks thrive in wooded areas, bushy areas, stone walls, and their perimeters The alliance also recommends wearing light-colored clothing outdoors to make the ticks easier to spot, tucking in clothing at the waist and ankles, tying back hair, and wearing closed-toed shoes. Finally, wear an effective tick repellant approved by the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency. You can find a list of EPA approved repellents at https://www.epa.gov/ insect-repellents/ PETS
Don’t forget about your pets. Dogs, cats, and other outdoor
animals are just as likely to get bitten by a tick and contract Lyme Disease. They can also bring ticks into your home, so make sure to do a tick check after a walk, or if your cat ventures outdoors. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine offers a guide to safe and effective pet prevention treatment here.
TICK ILLNESSES
The Global Lyme Alliance offers a guide to the various types of ticks and the possible illnesses they may carry. It is better to be safe than sorry when spending time in the outdoors, so use as many precautions as possible to enjoy the warm weather, pain-free. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor diagnose any condition.
Getty Image
FROM THE BIG TO THE SMALL
twilight wish is making dreams come true for seniors
WHETHER IT’S A NEW BED OR A HORSE-DRAWN SLED, THIS NON-PROFIT CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN
By Susan Shultz
At age 104, Farmington resident
Bertha Komor certainly had led a full life. Her husband passed away after 72 years together, and in earlier years at her community, Village Gate, she helped other residents with activities there. Bertha was a popular community member. But there was one thing she hadn’t experienced yet in life – and she wanted to, because “they are adorable and my favorite animal,” she said Bertha wanted to pet a penguin. Yes, that’s right, a penguin. Penguins are not known to inhabit residential Connecticut neighborhoods so that wasn’t as easy as it sounds. That’s when Twilight Wish stepped in. The non-profit which seeks to fulfill wishes for seniors was able to work with the Mystic Aquarium to provide special environmental transport to connect Bertha
with her precious wish. This story, which went viral on media and was even covered by People Magazine, is only one of so many that the organization has made possible Andrea Hoisl is the Chapter Director of the Twilight Wish Central Connecticut Chapter. The organization founder, Cass Forkin, said she always felt that she was destined to help others. She began to feel led to work with seniors after working in several eldercare facilities and noticing that many never get a visitor. Then in 2001, she was in a diner and witnessed several senior ladies having lunch together counting their money to pay. Forkin opted to pay for their lunch. When the seniors found out she had done so, they hugged and thanked her. “We didn’t know there were people like you and anymore, ” they said.
Photo Contributed by Twlight Wish
Residents of low-income senior housing Barnum Housing in Bridgeport, Connecticut had their wish for a ferry ride granted thanks to Twilight Wish and discounted tickets from the ferry company. They took the ferry from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson, New York and back, enjoying lunch on the trip.
Eventually,alight bulb went off that therewas no non-profitthat made wishes come true forseniors She filedpaperwork to getTwilight Wish incorporated in 2003 in Pennsylvania.
Currentlythe bulk of chapters areinPennsylvania, anditisstill growing. In addition to CT,there areseveral chapters covering New York,Massachusetts,Rhode Island, Maryland andDCand thecriteria to submit is ages 65 andover.
Forkin wasrecentlychosenas a Loreal WomanofWorth Honoree in 2023 forher work with Twilight Wish
CT CHAPTER
Andrea Hoisl firstcametolearn aboutthe organization when she sawastory aboutaConnecticut womanwho hadrelocated to California andwantedtoreunite with hertwo sistersinher home state.
“Theywereall in their80’sand thesisteralsoneededahealthaide to travel safely,” shesaid. Twilight Wish made it happen
“Irealizedthere were no chapters in NewEngland of this great organization,” shesaid. Hoislruns the WesternCTChapter on a volunteerbasis andhas anetwork of othervolunteersthroughoutthe statetohelpfacilitate.
THEPROCESS
Wishes caneitherbesubmitted by therecipient or canbeasked on someoneelse’sbehalf. Thewish is submittedand then acentral committeereviews them,and approvedwishesare then sent to the relevant chaptertohelpexecute Though it is allbased on volunteerwork, Hoislsaidoften the wishes take on alifeoftheir own andthe communitycomes together
Arecentexample is Norman Bramley, aWestHartfordresident andWorld WarIIveteran who wasturning 100inAugust2022. Bramley’sneighborwantedhis birthday celebrated as they knew he livedalone so this wassubmitted to Twilight Wish.After allwas said anddone, Hoislsaidthe birthday partyturnedout to be afulltown patrioticcelebration.
“I kept gettingcalls –can they EagleScoutscome, canthe Boyand GirlScoutsmakehim cards, can thehighschoolbands perform?” shesaid. Musicwas playedand West Hartford Quilters gave him an American PrideQuilt.Locals donatedfoodand drinks.Bramley died in December 2023
WISH CATEGORIES
Hoislsaidwishescan cost relatively nothingto costing thousands. Some of them arejust basicmedical needsand some canbe moreinvolved. Often, communities andorganizations will donate what they can, such as when thepenguin wastransported,the Mystic Aquarium donatedthe costs. Other examples caninclude things like aneedednew roof,which alocal rooferalsorecentlydonated. Some oftenjustneedanew bed, newsheets, or newappliances. Manyfulfilled wishes aremedical lift chairs.
Others aremorecreative–on Connecticutwoman wanted to visit the memorial in Italycreated for herhusband wherehewas shot down in WorldWar II.Thiswas acelebration of theorganization’s 20th year andits 5,000th wish
AnotherConnecticut manwanted to writeabookabout hisand his late wife’s love story– Twilight Wishhelpedhim executethatand then arranged abooksigning. Some want to spendtimewith family,insomecases forthe last time.TwilightWishjustenabled a womantogovisit herailingsister in Peru
Otherwishesare simply small luxuriesthatothersmay take for granted. Severaljustwantedto spend aday at aCTcasino, and anotherwantedher hair done in realsalon forthe day– things that mightbeout of pocket on a fixed income
Twilight Wish also can fulfilneeds of elderresidential communities, sometimesdelivering onart supplies or otheractivity needs. Recently,the organization surprisedaseniorlivingfacility with anew television.
“Itisthe
feelinginthe entire world. Everyone whovolunteers or donatesand goes to awish celebration,you arechanged forever.”
HOWYOU CANHELP
Thoseinterestedinvolunteering cansignuponthe site.Ifyou don’t have thetimetodevotehours,you candonatefunds.There is aspace to simply donate to theorganization, or youcan view unfulfilled wishes that areassigneda certainmonetary valueand youcan donatetothose specificwishes. Thereisaspecific veterans’program to offer Twilight Wishes here.
Youcan also sign up to start anew chapterifyourareaisn’t currentlycoveredhere.
Some of theitems that arealways on hand andneededinclude full-and queen-sizedbedding,and gift cards to chaingrocery stores that Twilight
Wish will hand outasneeded. If youhavethese to donate,visit twilightwish.org.
WHYDOIT
Despiteall this work,onlya handfulofthe Twilight Wish staff, in themainoffice,ispaid. Allof this work is done by volunteers. Hoislsaidthatdespite that,she is certainlycompensated emotionally everytimeshe helpsawishcome true.
“Itisthe best feelinginthe entire world. Everyone whovolunteers or donatesand goes to awish celebration, youare changed forever,”she said “Itisjustawin/win.Seeingthis person getwhattheywantedor
somethingontheir bucket list and allowing thepeoplewho donated to seeit–itissuchanamazing moment,” Hoislsaid.
“These seniorsare oftenso underserved andundervalued.We should puttheminthe spotlightas much as we can,”Hoisl said.
Shenoted that so oftenseniors in thenewsare negative portrayed, beingthe victim of ascamora crime.
“Thisputstheminapositive light,”Hoisl said.
Andthe positivity keepscoming –upnext, aretired CT high school teacherwants to tour herformer workplace, whichhas been made possible by Twilight Wish.And overthe summer,the organization is puttingtogetherawedding fortwo blushing 80 somethings in Hartford.
“Theymet afacilityand fell in love.Theywanttoget married. We said,why not?”Hoisl said Whynot,indeed.
Formoreinformationorto donate,visittwilightwish.org.
