Live, laugh, travel
Study reveals upsides — and downsides — to health of seniors who travel / PAGE 8
ON THE COVER: This photo by August Frank, of Golden Times, shows a man relaxing on the deck of the American Pride cruise ship, docked in Clarkston. Studies have shown there can be health benefits to seniors who travel. The story is on Page 8.
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Pride in a local talent turned pro
Here is the Lewiston Tribune headline from the Sept. 1 Labor Day weekend paper: “Clarkston’s Dahmen sponsors local golf event, returns to valley.” Joel’s Dahmen Family Foundation sponsored the 72nd annual Whing Ding Sole Survivor golf tournament held at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club. Joel is a 36-year-old PGA professional golfer, who was born in Lewiston and graduated from Clarkston High School where he won two Washington state championships. He’s also my grandson. This was the rst time Joel has sponsored the tournament, where he has won the Sole Survivor twice in 2007 and 2009, at the ages of 19 and 21.
wife Lona.
My beloved late wife, Barbara, and I have always been thankful, excited, and yes, proud of his success as a golfer, but his sponsoring his home area tournaments I feel is one of the most wonderful things he has ever done. Let’s look at Joel’s trip from Clarkston to being a top professional golfer.
Using some Tribune headlines, lets start with his rst victory. The 2021 headline says, “Stunning yes, but unsurprising.” A photo shows him holding the award at the Punta Cana Resort Club Championship. Geno Bonnalie, of Lewiston, and then Joel got a huge hug from his
A 2019 Tribune headline says about Joel, “Long road to success” and that accurately describes Joel’s golf career. The article says Joel had just won $853,000 in the Wells Fargo Championship for nishing second. “It’s ridiculous,” says Joel, whose dad worked 40 years at the paper mill in Lewiston and his mother was a Lewiston teacher at Whitman Elementary School (his mother’s also my daughter). He says he has never bled from golf, but he has de nitely had tears. A er playing a year at the University of Washington, three years on the Canadian tour, one as Canadian Champion, a battle with cancer, and years on the minor league tour, he made the PGA tour at the age of 29 in 2017. He says that he will not suddenly become a Tiger Woods, but he appreciates the gi -of-golftalent he has been blessed with.
Joel wrote a few pages he called, “I want to talk about my mom.” He talks about he and his brother Zach both beating testicular cancer. When he found out, he said he just wanted to talk to his mom. He has been thinking a lot about life and golf, and golf had a lot to do with her. She was and still is his super hero. She did everything for him and his brother. He says they were “ma-
ma’s boys.” Her name was Jolyn, always the life of the party, and a very true University of Idaho Vandal. She was one of Whitman Elementary’s favorite teachers. She did everything with love, including hosting family holiday dinners. In the summers, she drove Joel around to many junior tournaments. She never missed a hole and took notes about how many greens he hit and how many putts he made. She gave all of the information to his dad. A er each tournament she would ask him if he did his best, and when he said yes, she would say “OK, let’s get a treat from Starbucks then.”
Joel wrote, “She was steady and kept me right where I needed to be. I owe a lot of my success as a junior golfer to her and my dad. Golf has a lot to do with my mom and still does.
“One Friday my parents sat me down and told me that my mom had cancer. I just started crying and hugged my mom for 10 minutes. I just wanted to be with her, to be comforted, her smell, by all the things that made her my mom.
“Six months later my mom died at age 46, I was never able to process any of it, her being sick, growing weak or her dying. I had lost my best friend, the rudder of my life. She and I would watch “Wheel of Fortune”
and “Jeopardy.” That summer I drove to golf tournaments on my own. A year a er I beat cancer, I met Lona who is now my wife and the mother of our one-and-a-halfyear-old son Riggs. Lona is the best thing that ever happened to me. She did not care about golf, but just wanted me to be the best version of myself. She pushed me to get o my rear and get a lesson. I have been on the PGA tour since 2017, living a dream with the best team of Lona, Geno, and everyone else. I advise young people that success isn’t a straight line, and living it will make him a better human.”
Joel goes on to say he will never stop feeling his mother’s presence. He knows that she will always be watching him play golf, no matter where he goes, she will be watching him play, tracking his statistics, waiting with a Starbucks.
Riggs, 90, is a lifelong Lewistonian. He’s an avid Warriors fan, a retired educator, coach and school superintendent and volunteers his time at the Nez Perce County Historical Society. He can be reached at bdriggo@gmail.com.
with
or
August Frank/Golden Times
Joel Dahmen hits his ball down the fairway while playing in August at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club.
Alpine Olympics?
Irecently enjoyed watching the Paris Olympics, which brought to mind a sporting event I attended long ago in the Austrian Alps. It is held every August, and I was there as a spectator, of course.
My cousin Evi, who lives near Salzburg, invited me to join her. I took the train from Budapest to Salzburg where she picked me up, and we drove to a mountain above Liezen, the hometown of my grandparents. A er stopping in the parking area halfway up, we hiked the rest of the way to the top where the two-story Liezener
Hütte, built 100 years ago, perched at the edge of a broad plateau. I have heard it’s possible to hike across the Alps staying only at high mountain huts and this may have been one of them.
A woman sat at an outdoor table registering entrants, and she was introduced to me as a relative of mine. (I have learned that I am related to a good portion of the population of that area.) Folks of all ages were ready to participate from
young children to an old fellow in his 80s. Various races and jumping events were featured, including a high jump with a landing cushioned by so hay. I watched athletes compete in their choice of sports all a ernoon, and then at suppertime everyone entered the large hut.
once, as if at a signal, and led upstairs. What’s next, I wondered?
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The dining room was ready to serve hungry folks at several big tables. At that time I spoke very little German, and was puzzled when at one point a fellow stepped out of the kitchen, made an announcement, and various people raised their hands. In a little while he returned and served those diners whatever it was that they had ordered. My cousin raised her hand when some dish was announced, then we enjoyed our shared dinner. Jovial chats and visits went on throughout the dining hall that evening until 10 p.m. when everyone rose at
We entered a dormitory type room lled with double beds and double bunks above. The room slept around 50 people. The bathroom had a huge sink with only cold running water, so I made a rudimentary preparation for bed. Back in the bunkroom, everyone was stripping o their clothing and donning pajamas. I was assigned a bottom bunk next to my cousin. Needless to say, it was a long time before I fell asleep serenaded by the music of many snores.
The next morning it was more of the same for breakfast. Few people had their own plates but rather shared with others in their group. People raised their hands when certain dishes were announced, and I shared a plate of eggs and toast with my cousin. Then it was time for awards to be given out before everyone headed back down the mountain to their cars. Before we le , Evi and I made a
little excursion up the hill above the plateau where we saw a gorgeous view of the Totes Gebirge Mountains in the part of Austria called Styria.
I learned that many of my relatives were avid hikers and mountaineers. In fact, Evi’s son was a rock climber, had written a book about that sport and had made a trip to Idaho’s City of Rocks to do some climbing here.
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Besides learning more about my family, I learned several other things during that memorable sporting weekend. One thing is that I can undress in front of 50 other people as long as they are doing the same thing. A second thing, as explained to me by Evi on our hike, is that in mountain areas if you see a place where the earth dips down and is surrounded by large stones, do not go near it. It could be a dolina, which means the limestone beneath has eroded away and could collapse into a sinkhole. And last but not least, when hiking down hill on unstable surfaces, as in skiing, you should lean forward a little or else you will end up falling on your keester. I learned that the hard way while returning to the car.
Johnson, of Grangeville, worked in three different European countries — Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovenia — in the 1990s and early 2000s. She can be reached at johnsondixie@hotmail.com.
The wonders of the radio
Ahuge flashback happened when my granddaughter announced she read the first chapter of a book for an audio recording.
“Really? Is it going to be a video?”
“No, it’s an audio.”
“You mean like the old radio shows I listened to as a kid?”
Well ... she’s never heard one so she wasn’t certain.
every other kid in the world).
Wonderful memories flooded my brain as I recalled after school programing on KRLC, our only local radio station. We were able to get public radio from WSU and sometimes a Spokane station, but they were sketchy in bad weather.
The dramatized kids’ stories stirred my imagination. The music, sound effects and identifiable voices are still stored on the back shelves of my mind. Here’s a few that stuck with me through the years:
“Challenge of the Yukon” with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Sgt. Preston and his lead sled dog, King, always got their man after going through snow, ice, sleet and other perilous situations.
“Lassie,” the wonder dog always came to the rescue. She so impressed me that when I got my dog at the age of 7 — of course, I named her Lassie (like
“The Lone Ranger” — who could ever forget the masked man’s “Hi Ho Silver!” call at the beginning and end of the program or the way he and Tonto worked together to solve crimes of all kinds. The beat of horses’ hooves still run through my audio memory collection.
“Sky King,” the hero of the air, used his war-flight experience to solve enormous problems which gave me a longing to learn to fly like he taught his teenage sidekick.
“Buck Rogers” was exposed to radioactive gas, slept for who knows how long, and woke up in the year 2419. He experienced all kinds of new inventions. Now that we’re closer to that date, his imaginative experience would pale in the face of what is real in the 21st century.
“Tom Mix,” the good cowboy with the white hat, was the man everyone turned to when there was a problem. He never let them down.
“Big John and Sparkie” — Sparkie was an elf and Big John his protector. Together they brought about a lot of good things to the world.
“Tarzan and Jane” opened the jungle world to me. I’d never had the
real experience. The sounds of the animals and the scream of Tarzan as he swung on vines through the trees will always be another sound implanted in me.
Saturday morning held the anticipation of “Howdy Doodie” time and the “Buster Brown Gang” with the dog, Tag. Buster Brown and Tag was actually a half-hour commercial story that promoted the Buster Brown kid’s shoes. I never had a pair. They were too expensive.
On public radio from WSU, I first heard the story of the “Littlest Angel.” I remember crying as a 6-year-old, sympathizing with the main character because it seemed so unfair to be little.
Look at all those heroes planted in my life through what we now call voice acting and sound effects. There were cowboys, horses, dogs, Indians, jungle creatures, a pilot, a masked man, police, an angel, science fiction characters, a forest ranger and even a wooden puppet who shaped my confidence that there would always be someone to rescue me should I ever need it.
With only voices and cleverly created sounds of movements and action, those radio “actors” stim ulated my imagination. I literally saw the story with my ears. The pictures were vivid in my mind.
When I got older, Mom and Dad let me listen to
“The Shadow.” I thought, is there a real shadow? Does he know when I do something wrong or something’s going to happen to me? “Only the shadow knows.” (Was that a foreshadowing of God’s character? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
I’m excited that voice acting storytelling is making a comeback. I looked up “old time radio shows,” and discovered many have
been preserved and are available on CDs. Now I know what I’m going to get my family and the neighborhood kids for Christmas. Will they see with their ears or does the brain need to recalculate information? What will their reaction be?
Chase Hoseley is a freelance writer and retired kindergarten teacher who lives in Clarkston. She can be reached at shoseley8@gmail.com.
THINKING OUT LOUD
Sharon Chase Hoseley
Looking for buried treasure
My parents used to say that you can’t ask God for more if you don’t take care of what you’ve already been given. We lived through the Depression where everything was worn out, used up and, even so, one would find a way to reinvent a use for almost anything.
GALLIVANTING GRANNY
I suppose that’s reason or excuse for allowing accumulation to engulf my home. After closing the estates of others, I know that there is much to be said for downsizing.
And even after auctions and yard sales, I still brought home more “stuff” that held memory. I’ve come to understand that it’s not the physical that holds the memory, just that it allows the mind to recover it. Letting go has never been easy for me. It’s the time of year when even trees let go of the
old in preparation for the new. Knowing that I’ll likely be inside for a lengthy time during cold weather, this year I’m determined to let go of the accumulation of items no longer needed. Sometimes that job seems overwhelming. There are so many places I’ve stuffed things, like I’ve stuffed feelings for years. Drawers are full to the point of being difficult to open. Closets are cluttered until I can’t find something that I know is in there.
I’ve started with my sewing cupboard where there are projects stashed that I always thought I’d get done. Does anyone still embroider? There’s that shirt that no longer fits, but the lace is magnificent. Will I ever get it repurposed I asked myself.? The answer was not affirmative. I pulled out the baby quilt I started when my son was born and I finish it even though
I’m not sure anyone will want it. The temptation to put most things back tugs me. The goal to make room for something new prods me forward. There are things in this space that I don’t even remember having and can’t imagine where they came from.
Next came my office, where old tape recordings from seminars I’d given or attended are stored. I doubt I can even find the player. A box of old John Wayne movies sits in a corner with another full of music cassettes. Newer technology isn’t useful for these either. Bookshelves are full of dog books that I know my kids will never read, and since I’ve retired, I doubt I’ll need them for reference. Who uses carbon paper? There’s a new box in a drawer. Hanging file folders just take up space. I’m praying for patience and strength as I wonder how I let this happen and
try to make necessary adjustments.
Purses hang on a rack. I just counted. There are 15, most never used, while others have worn straps because they were my temporary favorite. Some are small and beaded, others huge and used for travel. How many should I keep? Decisions need to be made, but it’s so easy to put them off. What woman doesn’t like purses and shoes?
If you have collections of value, it might be time to label them. Mark old photos with dates, places, meaning and the names of people. If you’re reading this and are closing an estate, please think twice about discarding old ledgers, obituary books, family tree records or other written documents. I did that in my early years and now that my older blood relatives are gone, there are so many questions that can’t be answered that could have been found therein. Family history seems to have more value as one ages. Some things are worth keeping. I promise I’m trying to sort this all out. Sometimes you just dig yourself a hole so deep that you can’t see daylight. I swear there’s buried treasure here somewhere. Kids, if you don’t find it, sell it all by the pound. You will probably come out ahead.
Christiansen lives in Lewiston. She can be reached at petpal535@gmail.com.
Hazel Christiansen
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
WA-ID Volunteer Center, in the Lewiston Community Center at 1424 Main St., strives to provide individualized volunteer opportunities for those wishing to serve in Lewiston, Clarkston, Asotin, Pomeroy, Moscow and the Oro no area. Information and other volunteer openings can be found at waidvolunteercenter.org or by calling (208) 746-7787.
Volunteer needs include:
Tutors — Help students to be pro cient readers by the third grade. Oneon-one reading tutoring in schools for students below reading grade level. Volunteers need to be able to commit to at least an hour a week for the school year. Background check required.
Food bank help — Volunteers are needed to repack frozen and dry foods for distribution. Front counter volunteers and drivers for morning food pickups also are needed.
AARP tax preparer — Do you feel comfortable with computers? Can you spare a couple of mornings a week? AARP Tax Aide Program needs volunteers to help prepare free basic tax returns for seniors and low-
income individuals. No experience necessary. Training and materials are provided.
Project Warmup — Cra ers are needed to make hats, scarves, mittens and lap blankets (yarn is provided). Completed items are donated to local nonpro t agencies. If you have yarn to donate our volunteers will put it to good use.
Companions — The Senior Companion program provides companionship and respite care to the elderly and disabled. It allows lowincome senior volunteers an opportunity to assist those who need minor help to continue living independently. Senior Companions visit clients in their homes, but it is not an in-home care program.
Medicare counselor — The State Health Insurance Bene ts Advisors (SHIBA) program trains volunteers to assist local seniors with Medicare questions for Asotin, Gar eld and Whitman counties.
Local hospital auxiliary — Volunteers are needed to greet people, deliver owers, sta the courtesy cart, deliver mail, assist in the gi shop, create baby and
child items, do clerical work, provide hospital tours and more.
Lewiston City Library — Volunteer needs include circulation support, tech tutors and programming support.
Museum docents — Skills include meet-andgreet abilities, friendly personality and the ability to answer questions about the displays at the center. Training is provided.
Transportation — Drive seniors or disabled community members to and from destinations across the LewistonClarkston Valley. You must have a valid
driver’s license and auto insurance.
Garden and park volunteers — General lawn maintenance, weeding, sweeping, etc. Training provided. Community service approved.
Interlink Inc. is a nonpro t organization in Clarkston that matches community volunteers to people needing assistance to remain independent in their own homes.
For information about becoming a volunteer and volunteer opportunities, call (509) 751-9143.
Volunteer applications and additional information
also can be found online at interlinkvolunteers.org. Volunteer needs include:
Drivers to transport senior citizens to appointments. Drivers are paid a mileage stipend.
People who can do small home safety repairs for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Volunteers interested in serving as volunteer helpers in the Interlink o ce.
Volunteers willing to help compile a Senior Social Directory.
Volunteers interested in working on fundraising events, especially this year’s Christmas Concert.
Richard Lassiter
Health and healing
Study finds leisurely travel activities have been shown to reduce the effects of premature aging
By MIA TAYLOR TRAVELPULSE
While travel junkies probably don’t need another reason to justify their wanderlust, it seems there’s new research out showing that being a globetrotter can be a great way to prevent premature aging.
A study published by Science Daily shows that leisurely travel activities can help alleviate chronic stress, reduce overactivation of the immune system and even promote the healthy functioning of the body’s self-defense system.
“Forget about retinol night creams, researchers from Edith Cowan University believe travel could be the best way to defy premature aging,” says the publication.
Science Daily goes on to point out that for the first time “an interdisciplinary study has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.”
What took them so long to confirm what we all know?
For those not familiar with the term entropy, it is classified as the general trend of the universe
“Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health.”
FANGLI HU, LEADER OF THE STUDY PUBLISHED BY SCIENCE DAILY
toward death and disorder, says Science Daily.
And it seems that the entropy research suggests tourism could trigger entropy changes, including positive travel experiences mitigating entropy and enhancing health.
Conversely, negative experiences may contribute to entropy increase and compromise health, per the study.
“Aging, as a process, is irreversible. While it can’t be stopped, it can be slowed down,” says Edith Cowan, university doctoral candidate, and study leader Fangli Hu.
Hu also pointed out that positive travel experiences can potentially enhance one’s physical and mental wellness through exposure to novel environments, engagement in physical activities and social interaction. And as an added bonus, travel can
foster positive emotions.
“Tourism isn’t just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people’s physical and mental health,” Hu added. Travel as anti-aging therapy
Let’s take a deeper dive into the good news from the study.
It seems travel therapy can actually serve as a “groundbreaking health intervention when viewed through an entropy lens” says Hu.
“As an important aspect of the environment, positive travel experiences may help the body sustain a low-entropy state by modulating its four major systems,” she says.
That’s because tourism typically exposes globetrotters to new surroundings and if all goes well, also to relaxing activities.
These settings, it seems, can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body’s self-organizing capabilities. These things may also trigger an adaptive immune system response.
All of this “improves the body’s ability to perceive and defend itself
Continued on Page 10
healing from travel?
A Science Daily published study has shown that some travel activities can help relieve chronic stress, reduce overactivation of the immune system and potentially promote the healthy functioning of the body.
Schantalao/ Dreamstime/ TNS
lmtribune.com:
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against external threats,” explained Hu.
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Adams, Valley, Benton, Franklin, Yakima, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Whitman, Spokane, Asotin and Surrounding Counties Lewiston Office,ID: 208-746-3050 Kamiah Office,ID: 208-935-2204 Walla Walla Ofice, WA 509-525-3388 Moscow Office, ID: 208-882-0616 Tri-Cities Office,WA: 509-735-3388 • Yakima Office,WA: 509-469-3388 Spokane, WA: 509-315-1235
“Put simply, the selfdefense system becomes more resilient. Hormones conducive to tissue repair and regeneration may be released and promote the self-healing system’s functioning,” says Hu.
Some of the healthiest forms of travel include physical activities such as hiking, climbing, walking and cycling.
This physical exertion can boost metabolism, energy expenditure and material transformation — and all of this is good for you.
“Participating in these activities could enhance the body’s immune
function and self-defense capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks,” Hu said. “Physical exercise may also improve blood circulation, expedite nutrient transport, and aid waste elimination to collectively maintain an active selfhealing system.”
Moderate exercise is also bene cial to the bones, muscles and joints, in addition to supporting the body’s anti-wear-andtear system.
Of course, it’s not all rainbows, butter ies and anti-aging when one travels. We’ve all had a travel setback or two. And in those cases, your body may not be getting the full anti-aging bene ts
revealed by Hu’s study.
The research has pointed out that tourists could face challenges such as infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement.
“Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase,” said Hu. “A prominent example is the public health crisis of COVID-19.”
But on balance it seems, there’s even more reasons to travel the world when you can.
Golden Times file
A man waves his hand in the air looking back toward the terminal as he boards the inaugural Delta flight from Lewiston to Seattle in 2023
Nez Perce, Latah, Clearwater, Lewis, Idaho,
Cottonwood Community Hall
506 King St., basement, Cottonwood, (208) 7922465, meals at noon Tuesdays.
Craig Mountain Senior Center
413 Nezperce St., Winchester, (208) 9246581, meals at noon Wednesdays.
Daley Senior Care
30302 Harley Lane, Culdesac, (208) 791-7438, meals at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
Friendly Senior Citizens of Troy
100 S. Main St., Troy, (208) 835-6092, dinein or pick-up; noon Wednesdays.
Grangeville Senior Center
108 Truck Route, Grangeville, (208) 9832033, meals are at noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Juliaetta-Kendrick Senior Citizens Center
104 S. Sixth St., Kendrick, (208) 289-5031, meals from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.
Kamiah Senior Center
125 N. Maple St., Kamiah, (208) 935-0244, meals at noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Lewiston Community Center
1424 Main St., Lewiston, (208) 7436983, meals at noon Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays.
Moscow Senior Center
412 E. Third St., Moscow, (208) 882-1562, noon Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Nezperce Senior Citizens
501 Cedar St., Nezperce, (208) 9372465, noon Mondays and Thursdays.
Orofino Senior Center
930 Michigan Ave., Orofino, (208) 476-4238, noon Tuesdays and Fridays.
Palouse Senior Meals
220 E. Main St., Palouse, (509) 878-2301, meals at noon Wednesdays.
Pomeroy Senior Center
695 Main St., Pomeroy, (509) 843-3308, noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Potlatch Senior Citizens
Potlatch Senior Citizens Meal Site, 645 Pine St., Potlatch, (208) 875-1071, meals at noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Pullman Senior Center
190 SE Crestview St., Building B, Northside Entrance, Pullman, (509) 338-3307, meals at noon Tuesdays and Fridays.
Riggins Odd Fellows Building
Spud Hill Seniors
401 Line St., Deary, (208) 877-1717, meals at noon Tuesdays.
Senior Round Table
549 Fifth St., Clarkston, (509) 295-8685, noon Tues-days, Thursdays, Fridays.
Weippe Hilltop Senior Citizens Center
115 First St. W., Weippe, (208) 435-4553, meals noon Mondays and Thursdays.
Pullman Meals on Wheels (509) 397-4305.
121 S. Lodge St., Riggins, (208) 628-4147, meals at noon Tuesdays.
Valley Meals on Wheels (208) 799-5767.
For the LewistonClarkston Valley
> Monday-Friday
Co ee, 10 a.m. to noon, Valley Community Center, 549 Fi h St., Clarkston.
> Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Co ee, 10 a.m. to noon, $1 donation, Sixth Street Senior Center, 832 Sixth St., Clarkston.
Fit and Fall Proof, 9-9:45 a.m., Congregational Presbyterian Church, 709 Sixth St., Lewiston. Fit and Fall Proof,
10:45-11:30 a.m., Orchards United Methodist Church, 1213 Burrell Ave., Lewiston.
> Mondays and Wednesdays
Yoga/low-impact exercise, 9-10 a.m., Valley Community Center.
> Mondays and Thursdays (starts Oct. 14)
S.A.I.L. (Fit & Fall Prevention) class, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Valley Community Center.
> Mondays and Fridays
Fit and Fall Proof, 10-11 a.m., Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2200 11th Ave., Lewiston.
> Mondays
Painting group, noon to 4 p.m., Valley Community Center. Dance practice, 6:30-8 p.m., Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Tuesdays
Blood pressure checks, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Valley Community Center.
> Tuesdays and Thursdays
Fit and Fall Proof, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Elks Lodge, 3444 Country Club Drive, Lewiston.
> Wednesdays Bridge, 12:30-4 p.m., Valley Community Center.
Line dance, 2-5 p.m., Sixth Street
Senior Center. Zumba, 5:30 p.m., Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Thursdays
Footcare, Valley Community Center. By appointment only: (253) 218-7091.
Line dance, 10:3011:30 a.m., Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Fridays Country jam, 10 a.m. to noon, Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Saturdays Sons of Norway, 12:30-3 p.m., Valley Community Center.
> Sundays (starts Oct. 13)
Night club 2-Step, 3 p.m. for intermediate, 5 p.m. for basics, Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Oct. 6
East Coast Swing classes, 5 p.m., Sixth Street Senior Center.
> Oct. 9 and 23
Foot care, Valley Community Center. By appointment only: (253) 218-7091.
> Oct. 22
Karaoke, 6:309 p.m., Valley Community Center.
> Oct. 28
Seaport Quilters, 6-9 p.m., Valley Community Center.
> Oct. 31
Halloweenthemed dance, 6:309 p.m., Sixth Street Senior Center.
To submit your event for the senior calendar, email goldentimes@ lmtribune.com. For more information about events at the Sixth Street Senior Center, see the calendar at sixthstreetsrcenter.com.
Many Americans live by themselves as they age
By JUDITH GRAHAM KFF HEALTH NEWS
Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old.
But her first marriage ended in divorce, and her second husband died more than 30 years ago. When a five-year relationship came to a close in 2006, she found herself alone — a situation that has lasted since.
“I miss having a companion who I can talk to and ask ‘How was your day?’ or ‘What do you think of what’s going on in the world?’ ” said Norington, who lives in an apartment building for seniors on the South Side of Chicago. Although she
has a loving daughter in the city, “I don’t want to be a burden to her,” she said.
Norington is part of a large but often overlooked group: the more than 16 million Americans living alone while growing old. Surprisingly little is known about their experiences.
This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a KFF analysis of 2022 census data.
If help at home isn’t available when needed — an altogether too common problem — being alone can magnify these difficulties and contribute to worsening health.
Studies find that seniors on their own are at higher risk of becoming isolated, depressed, inactive, having accidents and neglecting to care for themselves. As a result, they tend to be hospitalized more often and suffer earlier-than-expected deaths.
Getting medical services can be a problem, especially if older adults living alone reside in rural areas or don’t drive.
Continued on Page 14
Too often, experts observe, health care providers don’t ask about older adults’ living situations and are unaware of the challenges they face.
During the past six months, dozens of older adults who where interviewed said they live alone either by choice or by circumstance — most commonly, a spouse’s death. Some have adult children or other close relatives who are involved in their lives; many don’t.
In lengthy conversations, these seniors expressed several common concerns: How did I end up alone at this time of life? Am I OK with that? Who can I call on for help? Who can make decisions on my behalf if I’m unable to? How long will I be able to take care of myself, and what will happen when I can’t?
This “gray revolution” in Americans’ living arrangements is fueled by longer life spans, rising rates of divorce and childlessness, smaller families, the geographic dispersion of family members, an emphasis on aging in place, and a preference for what Eric Klinenberg, a professor of sociology at New York University, calls “intimacy at a distance” — being close to family, but not too close.
lion women. (The figure doesn’t include seniors living in institutions, primarily assisted living and nursing homes.)
By contrast, 1 in 10 older Americans lived on their own in 1950.
This is, first and foremost, an older women’s issue, because women outlive men and because they’re less likely to remarry after being widowed or divorcing. Twenty-seven percent of women ages 65 to 74 live alone, compared with 21% of men. After age 75, an astonishing 43% of women live alone, compared with only 24% for men.
The majority — 80% — of people who live alone after age 65 are divorced or widowed, twice the rate of the general population, according to KFF’s analysis of 2022 census data. More than 20% have incomes below $13,590, the federal poverty line in 2022, while 27% make between that and $27,180, twice the poverty level.
Of course, their experiences vary considerably. How older adults living alone are faring depends on their financial status, their housing, their networks of friends and family members, and resources in the communities where they live.
The most reliable, upto-date data about older adults who live alone comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to its 2023 Current Population Survey, about 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves, including slightly fewer than 6 million men and slightly more than 10 mil-
Attitudes can make a difference. Many older adults relish being independent, while others feel abandoned. It’s common for loneliness to come and go, even among people who have caring friends and family members.
“I like being alone better than I like being in
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relationships,” said Janice Chavez of Denver, who said she’s in her 70s. “I don’t have to ask anybody for anything. If I want to sleep late, I sleep late. If I want to stay up and watch TV, I can. I do whatever I want to do. I love the independence and the freedom.”
Chavez is twice divorced and has been on her own since 1985. As a girl, she wanted to be married and have lots of kids, but “I picked jerks,” she said. She talks to her daughter, Tracy, every day, and is close to several neighbors. She lives in the home she grew up in, inherited from her mother in 1991. Her only sibling, a brother, died a dozen years ago.
In Chicago, Norington is wondering whether to stay in her senior building or move to the suburbs a er her car was vandalized this year. “Since the pandemic, fear has almost paralyzed me from getting out as much as I would like,” she told me.
She’s a take-charge person who has been deeply
involved in her community. In 2016, Norington started an organization for single Black seniors in Chicago that sponsored speed dating events and monthly socials for several years. She volunteered with a local medical center doing outreach to seniors and brought health and wellness classes to her building. She organized cruises for friends and acquaintances to the Caribbean and Hawaii in 2022 and 2023.
Now, every morning, Norington sends a spiritual text message to 40 people, who o en respond with messages of their own. “It helps me to feel less alone, to feel a sense of inclusion,” she said.
In Maine, Ken Elliott, 77, a retired psychology professor, lives by himself in a house in Mount Vernon, a town of 1,700 people 20 miles northwest of the state capital. He never married and doesn’t have children. His only living relative is an 80-year-old brother in California.
For several years, Elliott has tried to raise the prole of solo agers among Maine policymakers and senior organizations. This
began when Elliott started inquiring about resources available to older adults living by themselves, like him. How were they getting to doctor appointments? Who was helping when they came home from the hospital and needed assistance? What if they needed extra help in the home but couldn’t a ord it?
To Elliott’s surprise, he found this group wasn’t on anyone’s radar, and he began advocating on solo agers’ behalf.
Now, Elliott is thinking about how to put together a team of people who can help him as he ages in place — and how to build a stronger sense of community. “Aging without a mythic family support system — which everyone assumes people have — is tough for everybody,” Elliott said.
Read the full story at lmtribune.com.
VALLEY MEALS ON WHEELS — OCTOBER MENU
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Menus are prepared by St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and are subject to change. Meals are delivered to established clients between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 365 days of the year, with delivery guaranteed by 1 p.m. each day.
HOT: Ham/scalloped potatoes/ broccoli
SACK: Roast beef/pasta salad/Jell-O fluff 6 7
HOT: Lasagna/ squash
SACK: Tuna salad/green salad/ apple
HOT: Cheeseburger casserole/corn
SACK: Turkey salad/pea salad/cottage cheese 1
HOT: Chicken pot pie/green beans
SACK: Egg salad/ broccoli salad/cookies
HOT: Chicken strips/mac and cheese/peas
SACK: Egg salad/green salad/lemon pudding 2
HOT: Teriyaki meatballs/rice/ peas
HOT: Philly steak and onions/potatoes/cabbage
SACK: Uncrustable/carrot almond salad/cake 3
SACK: Chicken salad/ chips/pineapple 4
HOT: Salisbury steak/ mashed potatoes/ green beans
HOT: Spaghetti with meat sauce/ mushrooms
SACK: Pastrami/threebean salad/cookies 5
SACK: Uncrustable/ chips/peaches 9
HOT: Chicken and rice casserole/cauliflower
SACK: Ham/potato salad/chocolate pudding 10 8
HOT: Tuna noodle casserole/carrots
SACK: Pastrami/ cucumber and tomato salad/fruit cobbler 11
12
HOT: Stroganoff/ noodles/lima beans
SACK: Turkey salad/celery and carrots/banana
HOT: Roasted turkey/yams/ green beans
SACK: Seafood salad/ coleslaw/pudding
20
HOT: Pork loin/ mashed potatoes/ squash
SACK: Tuna salad/pickled beet salad/applesauce
HOT: Chicken cordon bleu/ peas
SACK: Egg salad/ chips/pears 14 15
HOT: Pesto chicken casserole/ cauliflower
SACK: Pastrami/ broccoli salad/pear 21
HOT: Stuffed peppers/rice/ broccoli
13 16
SACK: Turkey/chickpea salad/Jell-O
HOT: Cheeseburger casserole/corn
SACK: Turkey salad/pea salad/cottage cheese 22
HOT: Beefy mac and cheese/cauliflower
SACK: Chicken salad/spinach salad/ cookies
HOT: Chicken strips/mac and cheese/peas
SACK: Egg salad/green salad/lemon pudding 23
HOT: Chicken tetrazzini/carrots
SACK: Roast beef/potato salad/ orange 17
HOT: Philly steak and onions/potatoes/cabbage
SACK: Uncrustable/carrot almond salad/cake 24
HOT: Taco casserole/corn
SACK: Uncrustable/yogurt/ peaches 18
HOT: Salisbury steak/ mashed potatoes/ green beans
SACK: Chicken salad/ chips/pineapple 25
HOT: Vegetarian lasagna/mixed veggies
SACK: Ham/crudite cup/ fruit salad 19
26
HOT: Spaghetti with meat sauce/ mushrooms
SACK: Pastrami/threebean salad/cookies
27 28
HOT: Ham/scalloped potatoes/ broccoli
SACK: Roast beef/pasta salad/Jell-O fluff
7 Orange chicken
14 Eggplant parmesan
HOT: Lasagna/ squash
SACK: Tuna salad/green salad/ apple
8 Orange chicken
29
HOT: Chicken pot pie/green beans
SACK: Egg salad/ broccoli salad/cookies
9 Beef enchiladas
15 Meatloaf 16 Ham
21 Chicken pot pie 22 Broccoli casserole
28 Chicken lasagna 29 Swedish meatballs
30
HOT: Teriyaki meatballs/rice/ peas
SACK: Uncrustable/ chips/peaches
HOT: Chicken and rice casserole/cauliflower
SACK: Ham/potato salad/chocolate pudding 31
LEWISTON SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM — When: Noon, Mon./Tues. and 11:30 a.m. Wed.
23 Shepherd’s pie
30 Barbecue chicken
All meals served with: hot veggies, salad, fruit and bread.
WSENIOR ROUND TABLE NUTRITION PROGRAM — When: Noon, Tues./Thurs./Fri.
• Where: Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main St., or call for delivery at (208) 743-6983. On-site meals are every Monday through Wednesday. • Cost: $4 suggested for seniors 60 and older; $5 for nonseniors • Note: Menu is subject to change.
SENIOR MENUS FOR OCTOBER
• Where: Valley Community and Senior Center, 549 Fifth St., No. F, Clarkston, or call (509) 758-3816 for delivery. • Cost: Donations appreciated for seniors 60 and older; $7 for nonseniors • Note: Menu is subject to change.
8 Sausage french onion casserole/broccoli/ cauliflower/Jell-O with fruit/rolls
15 Meatloaf/roasted red potatoes/peas/ mandarin oranges/cookie
10 Sweet-and-sour chicken over rice/veggie medley/pickled beets/peach crisp
17 Pork fritters/mashed potatoes/corn/ applesauce/roll
M W TH F M
22 Barbecue meatballs/fettuccine alfredo/veggie medley/pears/juice/roll
29 Birthday dinner: Roast pork/mashed potatoes/carrots/juice/roll/cake and ice cream
24 Chicken bacon ranch/green beans/ pickled beets/fruit salad
31 Chili dog/tator tots/fruit salad/ Halloween dessert
When: Noon, Tues./Thurs.
11 Corn chowder/salad bar/ cheddar biscuits
18 Chicken and wild rice soup/ salad bar/garlic toast
25 Cream of asparagus soup/ salad bar/cheddar biscuits
Where: 1912 Center, 412 E. Third St. or call (208) 310-3779 for delivery. Cost: $5 suggested for seniors 60 and older; $7 for nonseniors. • Notes: Soup (starting at 10:30 a.m.), salad bar (at 11:30 a.m.) and dessert are available daily. Menu is subject to change. • Online: users.moscow.com/srcenter.
8 Beef lasagna/cauliflower/carrots/garlic french bread
15 Lemon herb chicken thigh/rice pilaf/carrots/garlic bread
22 Mushroom ravioli/sliced melon/macaroni salad
29 Meatloaf/mashed potatoes/peaches/roll
10 Tilapia/white rice/sliced peaches/flour torillas
17 Cheese omelet/sausage links/potatoes/english muffin/fruit
W TH F
24 Spaghetti/roast zucchini and yellow squash/bread stick
31 Chicken enchiladas with green sauce/rice/black beans/tortillas