LIfestyles over 50 Fall Issue

LifeSTYLES L e h i g h Va l l ey

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Fall 2021 | FREE

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Life Lessons Learned During COVID Medicare & Medicaid Information

Stargazing — the Sky's the Limit

Comedy Shows — Part III

Planning Ahead A head for Housing — and Beyond

Senior Care Questions? 855-233-7034 Lifestylesover50.com

From the Editor Alan Al leg ra

We may be tired of hearing about COVID, but that virus doesn't seem to tire of haunting us.

Although our world has been opening up quite a bit, the threat of new variations remains with us for the time being.

The effects — sickness (and worse), masks, vaccinations, social distancing, and all of the associated controversies — surround us and influence our lives.

This is why we have featured information about COVID in this issue, including one widow's tragedy, as well as highlights of lessons learned during the pandemic.

We intend to show that life goes on, and the path forward can be lined with a pastor's charge to "Take Back Your Life," and our signature features and suggestions, hobbies, and family activities.

There are also some new puzzles, some jokes that may not be so new, and timely health information from local experts.

We and our sponsors are committed to helping you thrive. We want to inform, transform, reform — everything but make you conform to the impression that senior life is the spent rocket of your existence.

Astronomically Comical Universe-ally Bad Jokes

A high school girl, seated next to a famous astronomer at a dinner party, struck up a conversation with him by asking, "What do you do in life?"

He replied, "I study astronomy."

"Dear me," said the girl, "I finished astronomy last year!"

A pair of Martians landed on a country road in Earth in the middle of the night. "Where are we"? one asked.

"I think we're in a cemetery," his companion answered. "Look at the gravestone over there — that man lived to be 108."

"What was his name?"

"Miles to Omaha."

Have you heard about the new restaurant on the moon? The food is good, but there's just no atmosphere.

Copernicus’ parents might deserve some of the credit for his great discovery. Apparently, at the age of twelve, they said to him, “Copernicus, young man, when are you going to realize that the world does NOT revolve around you?”

Q. What did Neil Armstrong say when no one laughed at his moon jokes?

A. “I guess you had to be there.”

A THRIVE Media publication 4847 Hamilton Blvd, Allentown PA 18106 855-233-7034 alan@lifestylesover50.com Li fest ylesover5 0.com

Copyright ©2021 by Thrive, LLC. 4847 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown, PA 18106. The contents of this publication may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher. Thrive, LLC, assumes no responsibility for damages arising from errors or omissions.

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Reflections on Life with COVID-19 "We should have gotten the COVID shots"

Lessons Learned During the Pandemic

My husband and I were scheduled for our COVID shots on Friday. The previous week, I suggested that we be tested for the COVID. The nurse told us that we both tested positive, but I must go to the hospital for more testing. My husband and I did not feel sick. The next day, my son took me to the hospital emergency room and I was admitted. Medication was administered and I was informed that I was diagnosed with pneumonia, COVID, and a pulmonary embolism. My husband and I did not feel ill.

“I learned how to be a bit more patient with everything and less short-tempered. I used to be more snippy with my sisters but we’ve become closer because we’ve spent so much time together during the pandemic.”

Evelyn Schmoyer, aged 14

My husband stayed home, and after a few days, felt worse. I entered the hospital on April 15th and my husband was admitted on April 19th. Every day, I spoke with my husband and FaceTimed him. He was moved from the fourth floor to the fifth floor because of his breathing.

"We moved in the middle of COVID. For us, it was a time of hidden blessings with family members (including college grandsons with muscles) free to help. Our hearts ached for those suffering, but we settled into our new nest with gratitude, and tons of cleaning supplies."

Shirley Leonard "I learned that I don't have to go to every event that interests me. I can fill my days just fine at home."

Jill Davidson

My daughter helped assist me with my oxygen, which was needed 24 hours a day. It was a little difficult learning to adjust to the compressor and the gauges. A feeling of helplessness hovered over me because I wasn't able to visit my husband. My advice to him was to be cooperative and supportive of all assistance and advice given to him.

I feel that I was remiss because I wasn't there to be his advocate. Unfortunately, he was not responding, and entered the ICU. Eventually, my husband's condition worsened. He refused any further treatment and expired from the COVID. All our family has been devastated and shocked that their 80-year-old, healthy father is gone. We have prayed, cried, and said many rosaries for this wonderful man, husband, father, and grandfather.

Life for all of us has drastically changed forever. I would tell anyone to take the COVID shot because it was too late for my husband and don't let it be too late for you or anyone in your family. I hope this helps someone who needs to read this.

Sincerely, Elissa

60+ LIVING IN EMMAUS, PA

The Power of Community

Having a community you can rely on makes all the difference.

Now more than ever, the Chestnut Ridge at Rodale team is here to help you navigate your journey towards the perfect senior living community. With our robust wellness programs and firstrate amenities, you can enjoy the best parts of retirement living.

LEARN MORE

610-686-9060 ChestnutRidgeatRodale.org

WELLNESS-FOCUSED LIVING | UPSCALE APARTMENTS STATE-OF-THE-ART AMENITIES

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

3

Things to Do with Grandkids Fall Into Fun! Okay, that is beyond corny and trite. But it does get the point across that fall is here, and cooler weather means a change of wardrobe but not a change of the need for fun with your grandchildren! Fall means farm festival fun, with amazing mazes, pumpkin patches, and haunted hayrides. For the agriculturally-minded or just plain hungry, farm markets offer pumpkins, apples, corn, popcorn, squash, and mums (Don't eat them!). Here's to a corny fall after all! (Why isn't it called a "maize maze"?) varieties. How about taking a shot at their Farmer's Paintball or Apple Cannons? Bring your camera and sweet tooth! grimsorchard.com/ fall-attractions/ | 610-395-5655.

Farms and farm markets offer classic fall entertainment and goodies. The Lehigh Valley is still a major local agricultural resource, with fresh fruits and vegetables within an easy drive. Be sure to check their websites or call for times and prices.

Bear Rock Junction, 8181 Rte. 309, New Tripoli, offers a corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch (to fix broken pumpkins?), and their famous miniature Fall Glow Golf, with glow-in-the-dark golf balls! Give their corn maze a go and see if you can complete it. Your scavenger hunt skills and trivia knowledge will be put to the test as you attempt to find the hidden clues needed to complete your game card. bearrockjunction. com/fall-fun/ | 610-298-8888 Grim's Orchard and Family Farm, 9875 Schantz Rd., Breinigsville, features an 8-acre corn maze to challenge your hint-hunting skills, a hayride tour, a choice of thousands of pumpkins to pick, and an ample apple orchard with over 20

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Raub's Farm Market, 1459 Tatamy Rd., Easton, offers three themed mazes for all ages on 14 acres, one of the biggest in the area.

There are also hayrides, a pumpkin patch, fruits, vegetables, desserts, breads, jams, decorations, and concessions. raubsfarmmarket.com/ Corn-Maze.html | 610-253-1419 Seiple Farms, 5761 Nor-Bath Blvd., Bath, boasts a 22-acre maze, straw maze, pumpkin patch, and cool animal stuff, like pony rides and farm animals to visit! You can pick your own pumpkins, gourds, squash, neck pumpkins, Indian corn, and popcorn. There are also Friday Night Flashlight Fundraisers, hayrides, and seasonal items to purchase, as well as vendors and amusement rides. seiplefarms.com/ autumn/ | 610-837-6282 / 0847 Unangst Tree Farms, 7317 Bethlehem-Bath Pike, Bath, is famous

Need Help with Senior Care? 855-233-7034

for their apple cider donuts! Along with their corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin patch, there are opportunities to feed the goats and sheep, as well as watch the pigs and chickens act like . . . pigs and chickens! If you really dig corn, you can visit the Corn Building and dig loose corn with pails and shovels. Concessions and farm produce stands round out the fall fun.

If you're not hip to hayrides and haunts, maybe you'll crave covered bridges. Take a trip to the past on a tour of the Lehigh Valley's covered bridges. Take a drive, a camera, a sandwich, and the kids, and explain what a horse and buggy were. Did you know? Pennsylvania has the most remaining covered bridges in the nation. Pennsylvania also had the first covered bridge, built in 1805 by Timothy Palmer, a carpenter from Massachusetts, that spanned the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. discoverlehighvalley.com/things-to-do/tours/coveredbridge-tour/

Healthy Friendships Lead to Healthier Aging As a senior — or caretaker of a senior — you’re wellaware of the factors that play a role in healthy aging.

From getting quality sleep and eating a balanced diet to consistent exercise and participating in meaningful activities, there are many proven approaches to improving the aging process. But did you know that having strong, supportive friendships can also contribute to living a longer and healthier life? Heather Glen Senior Living breaks down how a senior’s social life (or lack thereof) can impact his or her livelihood. How can a vibrant social life improve the aging process?

Combat isolation and loneliness Many studies show the effects that isolation and loneliness have on the physical and mental health of seniors, including an increased risk of dementia, high blood pressure, depression, weight loss or gain, cognitive decline, and more. Additionally, isolation can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, putting them at risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

But when seniors have at least one dynamic friendship or source of consistent human connection, they’re more likely to be healthier and happier. Social support can encourage seniors to eat well, exercise, and participate in more activities.

Promote cognitive health Our brains are always adapting and growing, even throughout the aging process. One critical component to healthy brain function is using and challenging it — and one of the best ways to do that is through social interaction. By working to develop existing relationships and create new ones, seniors will engage more parts of their brain to tell stories, carry out conversations, and learn more about their friends. Bonds can also be formed through activities like card games and hobbies that also have a positive impact on cognitive health.

Influence habits and behaviors In every stage of life, the people you surround yourself with often have a strong influence on your habits and

behaviors. As we age, this phenomenon has even more of an impact on health and wellness. Being friends with people who are active can encourage seniors to participate in the same activities, like daily walks. If your loved one’s friends eat a balanced diet, enjoy reading, and take care of themselves, they are more likely to do the same.

Where to find friendship and genuine connections Seniors who live alone or have in-home care are much more likely to experience isolation and have difficulty finding companionship outside of their family or caregivers. One of the endless benefits of living in a personal care community like Heather Glen Senior Living is the many ways residents can make friends.

As the premier personal care home in Allentown, Heather Glen Senior Living offers a curated activity calendar to help cultivate friendships and stimulate residents’ minds and bodies. From cooking classes and happy hour to book club and game nights, residents can find companionship through shared interests and team camaraderie. Additionally, our community amenities include an indoor activity area, outdoor walking trail, putting green, indoor lounge areas, reading nooks, a dining hall, and more. These spaces not only make Heather Glen feel like home to seniors, but make it easier to socialize and make friends with other residents and staff members.

If you want to help your loved one make strong connections and improve their health and wellness through the power of friendship, Heather Glen Senior Living is the perfect place for them. To learn more about our services or schedule a tour of the community, contact us online or give us a call at (610) 841-4478.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

5

C. S. Lewis on Friendship

"Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give a piece of advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I should say, "sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends" (The Letters of C. S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves).

"You become a man's friend without knowing or caring whether he is married or single or how he earns his living. What have all these 'unconcerning things, these matters of fact' to do with the real question, Do you see the same truth?" (The Four Loves).

Fellowship Community is pleased to present

“From Frustration to Freedom: Finding Empowerment in Home & Life Transitions”

By Jill Kearney, Founder & CEO of Specialty Moves by Design

Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Fellowship Community Zentz Community Center

Sept. 9

Choosing Your Next Home in Retirement— So, I’m Ready to Move ... But to Where?

Sept. 16

From Frustration to Freedom: The Joy of a Decluttered Home

Sept. 23

Staging to Sell: How to Make Buyers Fall in Love

Sept. 30

The Joyful Move: Avoiding the Chaos of an Unmanaged Move

Oct. 7

Secrets to Successfully Aging in Place: When Moving Today Doesn’t Make Sense

Oct. 14

The NEW Way to Move: Introducing the Specialty Move Manager

About Jill Kearney Jill Kearney is the founder and CEO of Specialty Moves by Design, where she considers her work to be as much a ministry as a business. Together, she and her team have joyfully moved over 1,500 clients from old home to new. A vibrant and engaging speaker, she inspires and encourages those facing home transitions to take advantage of all that is possible in creating a joyful home.

Masks must be worn.

To register, please contact Laura Long, llong@FellowshipCommunity.com or 610-769-4332.

FellowshipCommunity.com • 3020 Fellowship Drive, Whitehall, PA 18052

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Need Help with Senior Care? 855-233-7034

A Life Well-Lived Is a Story Worth Sharing

Luxury Retirement Living Coming to Emmasu

One day, a great deal of vital information about you or a loved one will be needed. Preplanning is a way that information can be preserved and recorded in advance, saving your family and survivors the difficult task of having to compile that information at a difficult time. Preplanning is a loving gift you can make for your family and survivors that provides peace of mind to everyone involved.

Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Phoebe Ministries’ newest option for luxury retirement living, will be located on the grounds of the former Rodale corporate campus in Emmaus. The community will boast 126 high-end apartments and countless amenities for an active adult lifestyle. In addition to an indoor pool, fitness center, and community space to hold events, residents will also be able to partake in group activities and outings around Emmaus and the Lehigh Valley.

You can personalize your plan to reflect your unique personality and spare your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions at the time of death. You can be assured that your personal choices will be respected and fulfilled, without leaving your family to wonder what your wishes might have been. You also have the advantage of paying your funeral expenses in advance. Pre-payment of your funeral through our funeral home will help offset the costs associated with your final expenses. Preplanning can ensure all your personal documents are organized and easy for your survivors to locate, and helps control costs and emotional overspending.

Both you and your loved ones can benefit when funeral arrangements are made well ahead of need. It can be beneficial to include your immediate family in those plans, ensuring those left behind are aware of your wishes and are able to plan a meaningful service that will help them begin to heal. By discussing preplanning in advance, you can take all the time necessary to make decisions about burial or cremation, type of ceremony, and other funeral elements.

Most of us plan ahead in life. We plan for our wedding, our children's education and other life events. Call the Stephens Funeral Family today at 610.434.6304 or stephensfuneral.com, and let us help you pre-plan your funeral; for a life well-lived is a story worth sharing.

Monthly book clubs, chef demonstrations and food tastings, community activities, and meditation workshops, are just a sampling of events that are already taking place for soon-to-be residents. Karen Sinkovits, Lifestyle Specialist at Chestnut Ridge, says that these events “help residents to explore their community and learn more about the lifestyle here. We have concerts on the lawn, walking clubs, monthly bingo — something for everyone.”

Chestnut Ridge residents will take comfort in knowing that Phoebe Ministries will be there to help them transition to a higher level of care if needed. Residents have access to Phoebe’s services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. They can even stay at one of Phoebe’s short-term rehabilitation communities if recovery is needed after surgery or an injury.

Chestnut Ridge is a place for independent-living residents to focus on becoming their most healthy and vital selves while living a worry- and stress-free lifestyle.

To learn more about Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, visit chestnutridgeatrodale.org, call 610-686-9060, or drop in to the Sales Center — located at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and S. 10th St. in Emmaus — where you can tour the model apartment today.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

7

Advice for Coping with the Pandemic

by Mary DeHaven, St. Luke's University Health Network The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for older adults, says St. Luke’s clinical therapist Amie Allanson-Dundon, but there are ways you can enhance not only your own mental health, but that of your older loved ones.

Even before the pandemic, older adults were already at risk for serious illness, says Allanson-Dundon, Network Director of Clinical Therapy Services. Add the fear of catching COVID with the normally higher rates of social isolation among older adults, and it’s not surprising that seniors are feeling increased stress. Moreover, the older adult population has suffered the greatest number of severe illnesses and deaths, with many seniors losing long-time friends and loved ones. As a result, they may be coping with feelings of grief and vulnerability.

Fortunately, there are ways to lessen anxiety and brighten moods, starting with family support, Allanson-Dundon says.

“The family plays an integral role for our older adults dealing with COVID,” she says. “For older adults who have families — children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and siblings — make sure you are keeping in touch and reaching out every couple of days. This is key to the mental health of older adults in general, but especially during the pandemic.”

Socialization is important to everyone’s mental health, but, sadly, older adults are more susceptible to social isolation.

Many live alone; some don’t drive or have difficulty getting around physically. In addition, many older adults are staying home out of fear of exposure to COVID. Also, over the past year and a half, they have often been encouraged to limit their exposure to other people and avoid gatherings, she says.

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Allanson-Dundon encourages family members to get their loved one’s devices and teach them to use them. In response to social distancing, our society has used technology to stay connected, reworking how we communicate. However, a lot of the older population either can’t afford the devices or don’t know how to use them.

“Get the easiest tablet you can find and teach them how to Facetime their grandchildren,” she says. “Just the simple stuff like that could be a real game changer.”

For those seniors who do have access to social media, and for those who watch TV news, encourage them to limit the time they spend in these activities and urge them to avoid sources that may not be accurate, such as social media threads with unverified content. Instead, encourage them to listen to trustworthy sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This will help to ease anxiety, she says.

When forced to stay at home for long periods, she advises seniors to get outside. Take a lawn chair into the yard or sit on the porch. If you have to stay inside, restart a hobby that you used to enjoy or start at new one. For example, adult coloring books are popular now. Get colored pencils and books with intricate drawings.

“Doing art projects in the home may help to keep you mindful and present in an activity, rather than have your mind wander or be overburdened with negativity,” she says.

In times when COVID numbers are low in our community, take the opportunity to reconnect with friends that you might not have seen for a couple of years. And to stay safe, if

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Coping continued from previous page you’re not vaccinated, talk with your physician about the best way for you to get vaccinated.

“Make a time to get together for breakfast or have a few friends over for lunch,” she says. “If you have grandchildren, and they’re involved in activities or sports, ask their parents for their schedules and go to their games and events. If you don’t have grandchildren, find your nearest high school and get their schedules for soccer, field hockey, or football, and go. Just get yourself out of the house.”

Loved ones should encourage socialization. If older adults are capable, help them find a place to volunteer or a senior citizen’s group where they can socialize. Also, make sure they are eating nutritious meals, which is a huge part of mental health, she says. Enlist the help of Meals on Wheels or have healthy groceries delivered.

Allanson-Dundon stressed the importance of watching for signs of depression. Family members often attribute such changes to normal aging, or the fact that it’s been a difficult 18 months and not connect them with the need for treatment.

Symptoms of depression include:

about mental health issues and to "keep family business, family business."

“It’s important for older adults to understand counseling can help,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be long-term psychotherapy. It could be just a couple of sessions to learn some coping skills and get things back on track.”

Older adults should consult with their physicians to determine how much social interaction is right for them, given their health conditions and personality. More introverted individuals may need less socialization, while extroverts who thrive on social interaction might need more.

“We may be in this for the long haul, but that doesn’t mean we have to curl up into a corner and lose our sense of self,” Allanson-Dudson says. “We can pivot and reinvent ourselves. It may look a little different, but it’s important to push yourself as far as you’re able.”

For more information, or to contact Outpatient Behavioral Health at St Luke’s University Health Network, call 484822-5700, or St. Luke’s InfoLink at 866-STLUKES (7858537), Option 4.

• persistent sadness or anxiety.

• feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness.

• irritability or restlessness.

• decreased energy or fatigue.

• moving or talking more slowly.

• difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

• difficulty sleeping, or oversleeping.

• changes in appetite.

• thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

“If you’re seeing signs in your loved one that are concerning, first talk to that person and be open and honest with them about your concerns,” she advises. “Then, see if they’d be willing to take a trip with you to visit their primary care physician to discuss what they’re feeling or the family’s concerns.” In addition, Allanson-Dundon says that if someone is expressing suicidal or concerning thoughts, your local emergency room or 9-1-1 are your best and most immediate resources for help.

The family doctor can determine whether there are issues that require psychiatric services, psychological services, counseling, or can be treated right there in the physician’s office. Older adults may be reluctant to get psychotherapy or counseling, however, because many were taught not to talk LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

9

Stay at Home with Home Health Care Services

by Mary DeHaven, St. Luke's University Health Network The availability of home health and hospice services can help patients retain their residence of choice, which is often their own home, but it’s important to have a clear understanding of what each benefit entails.

Lisa Giovanni, MSN, RN, president of St. Luke’s Visiting Association, explains that while both home health services and hospice programs provide medically necessary, intermittent home visits, their focus is quite different. Both services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid and most commercial insurances.

Generally, home health services are provided to patients recovering from an injury, surgery or illness or managing a newly diagnosed, or exasperation of a, chronic disease. To be eligible for services, a physician must order the care and certify that the patient requires skilled care and is homebound and therefore unable to receive the care in another setting. For Medicare coverage, the patient needs to meet the Medicare definition of “homebound,” meaning that leaving the home is “difficult and taxing.” For example, the older adult might need help walk, to exit their home, and also requires another person to help them to get in and out of a car, she said.

Home health patients receive skilled nursing care, physical therapy services or both, and as needed, one or more of the following services: • • • •

home health aide medical social work occupational therapy speech therapy

The doctor, usually the patient’s family physician, provides the home health agency with an order for services

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and specifies within that order the care or treatment that the patient needs. Then the nurse or physical therapist who first visits the patient determines the frequency of visits and creates a plan of care that is individualized to each patient.

“Home health care is intermittent and short-term,” Giovanni said. “It might be a couple of visits to teach a patient or family member how to independently care for an intravenous line or a urinary catheter, or it could be a couple of weeks long and include rehabilitation for something like a joint replacement. But it’s not long-term or ongoing.”

Hospice services, on the other hand, are designed to provide care for terminally ill patients from the time they begin hospice services through the rest of their life. The hospice team includes physicians, certified nurse practitioners, nurses, hospice aides, volunteers, social workers and chaplains. Hospice focuses on pain management and symptom control, as well as emotional, social, and spiritual care, for both the patient and the family. After the patient passes, hospice bereavement services continue for a year to help families and loved ones deal with grief and sorrow and assist them through firsts and milestones like holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.

“Patients who decide to involve hospice earlier, in the last months of life, rather than in the last days of life, are able to reap the benefit of its services because hospice not only cares for the patient, but the entire family unit,” she said.

Services can be provided wherever the patient calls home, including the home of a family member, an assisted living community, and even a skilled nursing facility. Patients may also receive inpatient care or stay in the St. Luke’s Hospice House when more intense symp-

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Home Health Care continued on next page

Home Health Care continued from previous page

tom management is needed requiring the continuous care of registered nurses 24 hours a day.

“The Hospice House is more of an intensive care unit for symptom management,” Giovanni said. “A patient might go there if they need management of pain or other severe symptoms that are unable to be managed in any other setting.”

To qualify for Medicare / Medicaid hospice services, the patient must have a prognosis of six months or less as verified by two doctors, and no longer be seeking curative treatments. If the patient lives longer than expected and beyond the six-month prognosis, there is a recertification process, so the individual can continue to receive hospice care as long as it is still determined by the physician that the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less. Although rare, some patients have received services for several recertification periods, Giovanni said.

After the patient passes, the family continues to receive bereavement services for a year. Services can include phone calls from bereavement counselors, volunteers, and chaplains, to check on the family’s well-being.

Families can also receive bereavement newsletters, and helpful literature, along with attending in-person or virtual support groups. St. Luke’s Hospice hosts an annual luminaria service, as well as several services of remembrance during the year to honor those who have passed away while under the hospice’s care.

“Our hospice team spends their days and their efforts helping patients and their families live every day to the fullest for all of the days that are left,” Giovanni said.

“They help patients understand what to expect as death comes closer, but most of all, they really concentrate on helping the patient to achieve whatever goals they have for their final days.”

Older Adult Meal A Healthy Meal & A Healthy Lifestyle For Adults age 65 and older

St. Luke’s Anderson Campus weekdays from 4 – 6 pm St. Luke’s Monroe Campus 7 days from 4 – 6 pm $3.99 dinner includes entree, salad, side, vegetable, dessert, and 12 oz. drink.

Please indicate you are ordering the older adult meal to the dietary staff

To learn more, contact St. Luke’s Visiting Nurse Association at 484-526-1100 or toll-free at 1-800-211-4788 or visit sluhn.org/vna.

For more information please contact 1-866-STLUKES.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

11

Masters of Mirth, Gurus of Guffaws Wouldn't it be nice if our problems could be solved in 30 minutes? Or we could have the perfect children or spouse? Television allows us to spend a few moments spying on families that are just like ours — or, thankfully, not like ours!

Even when the honeymoon is over, there is still laughter and joy to be found in family life. Regarding the success of family sitcoms in general, the most famous Honeymooner of all, Jackie Gleason, told his writers, "Make it real, make it the way people live. If it isn't credible, nobody's going to laugh."

From the squeaky-clean Father Knows Best to the musically-inclined and acne-free Partridge Family; from the lower-middle-class bigoted Archie Bunker to the upper-class bigoted George Jefferson; there are families that either mirror our own or make us glad we're not like them. In any case, TV families through the years have both mirrored and parodied society.

The Honeymooners began as a sketch on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars. The concept that was meant merely to fill time became a beloved and eternally-syndicated show featuring an irresistible force (Ralph Kramden) and an immovable object (Alice Kramden).

Ralph, played out loud by Gleason, was a bus driver with schemes as big as his bus and a mouth to match. Alice, his attractive homemaker wife played by Audrey Meadows, was a master of put-downs and stoic defiance. Through all the hollering, sneaking, arguing, and perfectly-timed comebacks, their love never failed and usually ended up with Ralph's signature love song: "Baby, You're the greatest!" followed by a big bear hug and a camera-shy kiss.

Of course, Ralph had a sidekick, the slow-witted, naive, but incredibly talented Ed Norton (Art Carney). The anguish of Gleason's own Bushwick, Brooklyn, childhood — his father deserted the family when Gleason was eight, and his mother died 10 years later — fueled the humor of his pipe dreams and bellowing. People could connect with his persona.

Another show based on the reality of its creator was

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The Dick Van Dyke Show. Carl Reiner was looking for a premise to showcase the writing talents he honed on Sid Caesar's variety program.

Living in New Rochelle, NY, and commuting to Manhattan every day, Reiner thought it would be innovative to feature a writer who lived in New Rochelle and commuted to New York. Although the material was good, the networks didn't care for the idea; nor did they care for Reiner starring in his own creation. So, the change was made from a "Bronx Jew" to "a midwestern gentile." Rob and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) Petrie rode the wave of interest in young, handsome, stylish, successful couples — ala John and Jackie Kennedy — to multiple Emmys and perpetual syndication.

The writers drew upon their own experiences, and the actors upon their comic gifts, to take simple, everyday incidents — sneezing, painting a wall, suspected nursery mix-ups, dating, bar mitzvahs — and turn them into classic TV. An up-and-coming stand-up comedian once visited the set of the Van Dyke Show in 1963, leaving the cast and crew laughing, while leaving with inspiration for a show that would bloom 20 years later.

The new formula of using real-life situations and keeping them real, which Bill Cosby spent his entire life perfecting, brought success to Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable and his family in 1984's The Cosby Show. "Cliff" (Cosby) and Claire (Phylicia Ayers-Allen Rashad) raised a family of siblings in an environment that was more gentle and nurturing than the typical dysfunctional TV families, where the kids were rebellious punks and the parents were hapless and helpless. Although the Huxtable children had their own quirks and traits, they were raised by stern and loving parents who taught them the finer virtues while training them to be independent and to keep their noses clean. Cosby fought the impression that "only white people have a lock on living together

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in a home where the father is a doctor and the mother a lawyer and the children are constantly being told to study by their parents." No other sitcom had been so consistently watched by so many, scoring the #1 slot four years straight.

Sadly, Cosby's portrayal of family life met with a backlash that illustrated a way of life that was perhaps more realistic (except for the fact that problems were still resolved in under 30 minutes). Programs like Married . . . with Children and The Simpsons brought back the dysfunctional family and the high ratings. But in 1998, another stand-up comic with a past rich with material, the self-proclaimed "domestic gaahdess," the "female Ralph Kramden," hit it big with Roseanne.

The cynical Roseanne Barr left home at age 18, and by age 25 was raising three kids in a mobile home in Denver. She worked as a diner cook to supplement her then-husband's income as a hotel clerk. She had many other traumatic family and personal issues and leads a controversial life.

Her show's philosophy is simply stated: "Shows are dominated by fathers who know best and their wives are so enchanted with everything they do. I wanted to be the first mom ever to be a mom on TV. I wanted to send a message about mothers and how much we do."

The Conners, Roseanne and Dan (John Goodman) were working stiffs at a time when the economy was slumping and morality was shifting.

They fit right in, fighting and belching and welcoming societal outcasts. Interestingly, the show was produced by Cosby producers Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner, and written by ex-Cosby writer, Matt Williams.

Although there have been many family-oriented sitcoms through the years, some believable, some highly sanitized, some forgettable, we cannot leave without examining TV's most famous Italian family, partly the product of a Jewish mind.

Philip Rosenthal teamed with stand-up comedian

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y Facts • Gleason d id not like to re hearse, and o memorized his ften lines minutes before the sho if at all. w— • Morey (Bu ddy) Amsterd am and Rose Marie were ba (Sally) sed on two of Carl Reiner's Show of Show Your s co-writers: M el Brooks and Selma Diamo nd.

• Cosby: "I d on't want sitco m jokes. I don jokes about b 't want ehinds or brea sts or pimples characters sa or ying, 'Oh my G • Ray Roma od!' every oth no had never er line." acted before h Raymond. is role on • "There are a lot more Ro seannes in th world than the e real re are Clair H uxtables" (Pe magazine). ople • Brad Garr ett (Robert Ba rone, Everybo Raymond) po dy Loves rtrayed Jackie Gleason in a biopic.

2002 • "What kee ps [Raymond] from being me is that there's an-spirited commitment to marriage and family. There's love, ultimately " (Pattie Heato n).

Ray Romano to create Everybody Loves Raymond, about a Long Island sportswriter, his wife Debra (Patricia Heaton), and their three children. That wouldn't be so funny were it not for Ray's mother Marie (Doris Roberts) and father Frank (Peter Boyle), an intrusive, overbearing, but loving couple, who happen to live across the street — way too close. Oh yes, and Ray's dour, obsessive-compulsive, gigantic, police sergeant older brother Robert (Brad Garrett). Although they are uncompromisingly Italian, their idiosyncrasies and daily situations are easily recognizable (and claimed) by anyone.

Romano's brother is a policeman; he and his wife have twins; and his parents lived down the street in Queens — once again, art mirrors life. Sixty-nine Emmy nominations and 15 wins prove that life, in the right hands, can be funny.

In our next installment, we look at how sitcoms mirrored and mocked society in the turbulent '60s and '70s.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

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If you are a regular reader of Lifestyles over 50 and enjoy the usual puzzles, don't be puzzled by what you see here. We are offering a variety of new puzzles from different sources in order to stay fresh. Please let us know if you like them, if you don't, if they are too easy or too hard.

Just like all good puzzlers, we need answers!

Email alan@lifestylesover50.com with your suggestions, comments, and encouragment!

J UMB L E

by David L. Hoyt 1

2

TM

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8-23-21

3

4 5

Solution on Page 26 6

7

CLUE

1.

5.

6.

7.

ACROSS

Resistant, exempt Giant ____ Sparkle Copy ____ DOWN CLUE 1. Convey 2. Handled, governed 3 . C l o se st 4. Previous

ANSWER

MUIENM PA A D N MAGEL ROETDI ANSWER

RTMIAP MAGNDEA SARETNE ROFEMR

CLUE: ____ ____ dropped out of Harvard to pursue his acting career.

BONUS

How to play

Complete the crossword puzzle by looking at the clues and unscrambling the answers. When the puzzle is complete, unscramble the circled letters to solve the BONUS. 2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

& Hoyt Designs. All Rights Reserved.

ANSWERS: 1A-Immune 5A-Panda 6A-Gleam 7A-Editor 1D-Impart 2D-Managed 3D-Nearest 4D-Former B-Matt Damon

Send comments to TCA - 160 N. Stetson, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or DLHoyt@HoytInteractiveMedia.com

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Medicaid — With A Community Spouse Annuity You Don’t Have to Wait Five Years

By Stanley M. Vasiliadis, Esq., CELA, Law Offices Vasiliadis Pappas Associates LLC Nursing homes in the Lehigh Valley cost $140,000 – $180,000 a year. Medicare and health insurance don’t pay for this. Fortunately, Medicaid does. But impoverishment is the price of admission into the Medicaid program. While most spend themselves broke, a savvy few manage to qualify for Medicaid without forfeiting their estate. One way to for a married person to do that is to use the couple’s excess at-risk assets to buy a Medicaid-compliant single premium immediate annuity, or “CS SPIA.” Annuity payments go to the Medicaid applicant’s “community” spouse.

Here's how it works. Instead of a married couple spending down excess at-risk assets, the money is paid as a lumpsum premium to an insurance company. Beginning the following month, the insurance company makes monthly payments to the community spouse for a fixed term, perhaps two years. The payments, made in equal monthly installments, represent a return of principal together with some interest. They are almost completely tax-free.

The institutionalized spouse seeking Medicaid qualifies for benefits the day after the CS SPIA is purchased! The assets that would have been paid to the nursing home are instead preserved for the community spouse.

STANLEY M. VASILIADIS is a Certified Elder Law Attorney as accredited by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is a long-time member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, charter member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and Past-President of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Vasiliadis successfully litigated the landmark elder law case, Mertz v. Houstoun, and has received numerous awards in his field, including the Excellence in Elder Law Award by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and recognition as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by Philadelphia Magazine every year since 2005. He is Of Counsel with Vasiliadis Pappas Associates LLC, located in Bethlehem. The firm serves clients in the fields of long-term care planning, trust and estate administration, estate and tax planning, asset protection planning, and special needs planning.

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Join us for a Free Workshop and learn: • Why and when a DST is needed.

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Call 610-868-5801 or visit Silvercrestins.com LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

15

Take Back Your Life!

Chuck Reed, Ph.D. Pastor, First Baptist Church of Allentown I will never forget the moment when I began to preach to an empty room when we recorded the 2020 Easter sermon. It was surreal! Everything was changing for the next few months — so we thought! However, the global pandemic continues to impact our lives, and we continue to learn how to survive and thrive with each new challenge.

A few months ago, I preached a sermon series called, "Take Back Your Life." The series was a response to the corporate lament I was seeing in the body of Christ.

Laments are a part of life for every believer. The Psalms even provide guidance on how to lament well. We should all be good at lamenting by now! We have all had a lot of practice!

God was in control in the high-stress situations they engaged every day. Sound familiar?

When I read Paul’s exhortations to the churches in his letters, I am always interested in the “Why?” In Colossians 3, the “Why?” of Paul’s exhortations is found in the middle of the chapter (3:15 – 17). In these verses, Paul is calling the people of the church out of the stress One weekend, we talked about the importance of prayer of the chaos that surrounds them and into a peace that as we navigated the chaos. In Colossians 4:2, Paul gives only Christ can offer. After he had challenged them the people of Colossae to “let the peace of Christ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good three exhortations as they rule in their lives,” he work in you will bring it to completion at the day of do life together. First, he presents three crucial priJesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). challenges them to “conorities in every believer’s tinue steadfastly in prayer.” I was told by my doctors life: discipleship, worship, and Christ-like behavior. to stay home for an extended time during the summer When I read these passages, I see the call on all our of 2020 because of some health issues. I worked in my lives in this season of constant change. Paul’s words backyard most of the time, and I found myself in the call us to prayer, seasoned with urgency and gratitude.

Psalms, focusing on prayer more than any time in my There is also a call to authenticity as believers in Jesus, life. That season of lament has changed the trajectory and a declaration that engaging God’s peace is realized of my relationship with God. The busyness of life had in a recognition of God’s sovereignty in every moment dissipated and the discipline of prayer flourished. As of our lives. we transition out of this season, my prayer is that our So, take back your life by making your prayer life a desire to spend time with God in prayer does not get priority in your walk with God, knowing that He Who crowded out with the busyness of life. began a good work in you will be faithful to complete The next exhortation for the church is to “be watchful.” it (Philippians 1:6).

These two words give us insight into the oppression God bless you! present in this first-century culture. These words were Pastor Chuck a call to boldness in their prayer lives. Paul finishes up with a call for thanksgiving as they prayed. They were First Baptist Church is located at 1808 N. 19th St., to pray with an attitude of gratitude, recognizing that Allentown, PA 18104 | 610-432-3414 | fbcatown.com

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While you're sampling some of the autumn fruits and vegetables, enjoy a sampling of jokes from some of our funniest comedians. You'll fall over laughing!

Woody Allen "I went to a psychoanalyst for years, and it helped. Now, I get rejected by a better class of girls."

"They kidnapped me when I was a kid. As soon as my father got the ransom note, he sprang into action: He rented out my room."

"I have a lovely gold watch, a family heirloom. My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold it to me."

Morey Amsterdam "People who live in glass houses — might as well answer the doorbell."

Bill Cosby "We had a teacher in school who hated kids.

He caught me reading a comic book in class and snatched it away from me. 'You'll get it back at the end of the semester.' 'Why, is it going to take you that long to read it?'"

Burns and Allen "Gracie, what's this check stub, one pullover, $25? I don't want to be a cheapskate, but isn't that a lot of money for a pullover?"

"The man on the motorcycle said it was the regular price."

"You got it from a man on a motorcycle?"

"Yes. I went through a red light and he drove up and said, 'Pull over!'"

Steve Allen "Dolly Parton asked me out. I was in her house at the time."

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

17

All of the answers can be found in articles and ads in this issue!

Solution on Page 26 1 2

3

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5

6

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9 10

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www.CrosswordWeaver.com

ACROSS 2 4 6 7 11 12 13

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A type of rehabilitation A bond between buddies Another name for "corn" The current flu bug A city in New York A surprising way to relieve pain Looking ahead to final arrangements

DOWN 1 A type of shower that doesn't involve water 3 Widespread disease or plague 5 Interacting with other people 8 A feeling of being unsafe 9 Dan Conner 10 The location of an ancient church

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Fallen Phrase

We've Fallen and We Can't Get Up! The letters on the board fell on the ground, and you have to help them back on the board in the correct order.

Happily, the letters fell directly under the columns where they were on the board. HINT: The phrase can be found somewhere in this issue!

,

G D I A T F A R I E G N T S U O B N B N G A I M A OO R

C F K J O MW L R T I O D O U S T H I E E S P O E C H

I R N S I O N S

A Y H E T O U TW I E D A H T T A T H H L L WY O

The answer can be found at the bottom of Page 26, under the crossword puzzle answers.

Diakon Senior Living Services

Mom seems so lonely and isolated since Dad passed ...

There are personal care and memory care options available. Our experts can help you find a solution.

Call today! – (484) 357-1815 One South Home Avenue Topton, PA 19562 www.LutheranHomeAtTopton.org fallen-phrase

Diakon Senior Living Services is a non-profit organization that offers consultation services at no charge.

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A safe, secure environment focused on making sure your loved one thrives!

Diakon does not discriminate in admissions, the provision of services, or referrals of clients on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other classes protected by law.

9-0_10-0 LHT-Lifestyles Over 50-SeptOct-2021.indd 1

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

8/16/21 Fall 2021

19

2:59 PM

Finding Relief from Painful Spine Fracture

by Mark Richens, Medtronic

Nancy is one of more than 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, a disease marked by porous, brittle bones that can break more easily than healthy bones. Women over 50 have a 1-in-2 chance of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.1 Osteoporosis is sometimes called a “silent disease” because it has no symptoms before a fracture occurs.2 That’s what happened to Nancy.

“I was walking in a parking lot, and I stepped on something that tripped me up,” says Nancy, 73, “and I fell very hard.”

The fall caused Nancy severe pain.

“I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do anything, I was basically house-bound and couch-bound, I couldn’t drive, nothing.”

Nancy says she finally broke down and told her husband to take her to the emergency room.

“I said, ‘Please, X-ray my spine!’”

The ER doctors found the source of Nancy’s unrelenting pain: a compression fracture of her T9 vertebra — in other words, a broken back.

Nancy went to see an interventional radiologist who ordered an MRI to get a better look at Nancy’s spine. Because her fracture was still acute and her pain was a 10 out of 10, the radiologist recommended she undergo Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP).

Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure for the treatment of spinal fractures due to osteoporosis, cancer, and non-cancerous tumors. The radiologist punctured Nancy’s back with a needle to insert a tiny balloon into the damaged vertebra. He then used a pump to inflate the balloon and restore the original height of the vertebra. Then, he injected acrylic bone cement into the balloon to create an internal cast to repair the fracture.

The procedure takes only about an hour. It typically requires only local anesthesia, and it’s often done on an outpatient basis in a clinic or office.

Medtronic developed Balloon Kyphoplasty, a minimally-invasive procedure that reduces and stabilizes VCF related to osteoporosis, cancer, and non-cancerous tumors.

Since the initial technology launched in 1998, Medtronic

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has developed better balloons, an improved cement delivery system, and added access tools shown to reduce hand radiation exposure for the surgeon. Over the years, studies comparing Balloon Kyphoplasty to non-surgical management have shown Balloon kyphoplasty produced better pain relief and quality of life for patients with acute VCF, compared to patients treated with non-surgical management.3 – 5 Although the complication rate for BKP is low, as with most surgical procedures, serious adverse events, some of which can be fatal, can occur, including heart attack, cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), stroke, and embolism (blood, fat, or cement that migrates to the lungs or heart).

Other risks include infection; leakage of bone cement into the muscle and tissue surrounding the spinal cord, and nerve injury that can, in rare instances, cause paralysis; leakage of bone cement into the blood vessels resulting in damage to the blood vessels, lungs, or heart.

Nancy had a dramatic improvement in her pain.

“I was able to exercise in the pool, and I was able to drive again and resume my normal activities: grocery shop, the usual. I would absolutely recommend Balloon Kyphoplasty to someone who needs it.”

References 1US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General. Bone health and osteoporosis: A report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: US GPO; 2004, p. 436. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45513/PDF/TOC.pdf.

2National Osteoporosis Website. https://www.nof.org/patients/ what-is-osteoporosis/ 3Berenson J, Pflugmacher R, Jarzem P, et al. Balloon kyphoplasty versus non-surgical fracture management for treatment of painful vertebral body compression fractures in patients with cancer: a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2011 Mar;12(3):225-35.

4Boonen S, Van Meirhaeghe J, Bastian L, et al. Balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of acute vertebral compression fractures: 2-year results from a randomized trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26(7):1627-1637.

5Van Meirhaeghe J, Bastian L, Boonen S, et al. A randomized trial of balloon kyphoplasty and nonsurgical management for treating acute vertebral compression fractures: vertebral body kyphosis correction and surgical parameters. Spine. 2013;38(12),971-983.

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Be sure to visit the farm markets listed on Page 4 with your family and anyone else you like! Supporting the local farmers of the Lehigh Valley helps our economy and our hardworking neighbors. Show the kids what life was like before Walmart. Enjoy the fresh, homemade specialties and desserts made with love and natural ingredients. Play games that are not on screens and meet some farm animals. Enjoy the color and variety of autumn leaves that someone else has to rake!

Too bad this little fella is too young to help rake . . . Or is he?

MANAGE YOUR PAIN DIFFERENTLY Oral opioids are not the only option for treating fractures.

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis (low bone density) and have also tried treatments like rest and oral medication for more than a few days and still have sharp back pain, you may have a spinal fracture, also known as a vertebral compression fracture (VCF).

Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) is a treatment for spinal fractures due to osteoporosis, non-cancerous tumors, and cancer. BKP has been shown in clinical studies to alleviate pain and reduce prescription opioids, compared to patients treated with non-surgical management, such as bracing and bed rest.1-3 While not all treatments have the same benefits for everyone, talk to your doctor about your options and whether BKP may be an option for you.

Although the complication rate for balloon kyphoplasty is low, as with most surgical procedures, serious adverse events, some of which can be fatal, can occur, including heart attack, cardiac arrest (heart stops beating), stroke, and embolism (blood, fat, or cement that migrates to the lungs or heart). Other risks include infection; leakage of bone cement into the muscle and tissue surrounding the spinal cord, and nerve injury that can, in rare instances, cause paralysis; leakage of bone cement into the blood vessels resulting in damage to the blood vessels, lungs, and/or heart.

LEARN MORE:

MEDTRONIC.COM/ MANAGE

1. Boonen S, Van Meirhaeghe J, Bastian L, et al. Balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of acute vertebral compression fractures: 2-year results from a randomized trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26(7):1627-1637.

2. Wardlaw D, Cummings SR, Van Meirhaeghe J, et al. Efficacy and safety of balloon kyphoplasty compared with non-surgical care for vertebral compression fracture (FREE): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2009;373(9668):1016-1024.

3. Van Meirhaeghe JV, Bastian L, Boonen S, et al. A Randomized trial of balloon kyphoplasty and nonsurgical management for treating acute vertebral compression fractures. Spine. 2013;38(12):971–983. © 2021 Medtronic. UC201909020a EN

Need a Lift? Do you have trouble with stairs? POWER STAIR LIFTS

provide accessibility with many lift options for residential and commercial applications. Locally owned and operated.

Call 484-895-1188 for a free assessment.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

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Fall 2021

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Sudokus Each row, column, and square, must be filled out with the numbers 1 through 9.

Numbers cannot be repeated within any row, column, or square. Use a pen — only if you dare!

Sudoku solutions can be found on Page 26.

Puzzle 2 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.62) Puzzle 2 — Hard

Puzzle 1 — Easy

Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.45)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 9 20:08:19 2021 GMT. Enjoy!

8

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9

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Sep 9 20:08:19 2021 GMT. Enjoy!

TV Jumble Answers Jumbles: MOTHER BOTTLE PRIVATE ACADEMY Actor: BRAD PITT

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Medicare Enrollment

Life in the Rolling Countryside

Preparing for the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment

Wellness, Comfort, and Endless Possibilities!

Every year, Medicare changes the benefits on A and B, often increasing the deductibles and copays for medical services. In addition, they change when a person will enter and exit the coverage gap under Part D. Medicare must allow Part D and Part C plans to adjust for the changes in the Medicare program, resulting in the Medicare Annual Enrollment period. During this time, you can change from Part D to Part D, Advantage to Advantage, from Advantage back to original Medicare, or from original Medicare to an Advantage plan.

Part D and Part C plans must inform enrollees of plan changes no later than September 30th by sending out an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). The ANOC provides enrollees a side-by-side comparison of their current plan vs. next year's plan. For those wanting to change, there is a seven-week window from October 15th – December 7th. Changes become effective January 1st.

The Lutheran Home at Topton, located within the rolling countryside of Berks County, is a community filled with activity and connections. We provide countless ways to lead a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle. Life at our community offers generous opportunities to enjoy friendships, improve your health, and nurture your passions.

Our cheerful and sophisticated residents enjoy a variety of well-designed homes and a lifestyle that is truly worry-free. It’s why our residents say, “This is the way to live!”

We are a Continuing Care Retirement Community, offering a comprehensive range of exceptional lifestyle options and solutions: independent living, personal and memory care, short-term rehab, and skilled nursing.

With us, you have it all! A beautiful, maintenance-free home. A carefree lifestyle. Opportunities for personal growth. And the security of future health-care services.

At Diakon, you get to enjoy retirement your way.

The Lutheran Home at Topton offers a beautiful rural setting with easy access to the social, cultural, and recreational attractions of the region’s bigger cities. Our campus is just a short drive from grocery stores, shopping, and banking, as well as five colleges. Residents can attend world-renowned lectures as well as theatre and art events — or cheer for a favorite college sports team!

With proximity to hiking, golf, biking, and professional sporting events, it’s easy to stay active and involved.

Our sister community, Luther Crest in Allentown, is a short distance from our campus, so you can also enjoy the amenities, events, and programs on that campus that interest you. We’ll provide the transportation!

The Lifestyle You Want for Today — The Confidence You Want for Tomorrow From our wellness-focused approach and active social calendars to our talented staff and convenient location, our vibrant community is the perfect place to start your retirement adventure. We offer a worry-free retirement lifestyle full of activity and excitement, along with the security of knowing that health-care services are on-site.

Visit LutheranHomeAtTopton.org to learn more!

Why would I change?

Carefully review your ANOC. If you have a Part D plan, do they still cover all your medications? Did the premium increase substantially? Are your preferred pharmacies still in network? (Remember, if you have Medicare as primary with a supplement, this means you.)

Medicare Advantage plans update networks each year. Are your doctors still in network? Have the benefits changed in a way not suitable to you and your needs?

AEP is NOT for Medigap plans. Medigap plans do not change your benefits each year and do not require an enrollment period. You can review your Medigap plan premium anytime during the year. I recommend you stay away from doing that during the AEP because agents and companies are swamped with calls and applications.

Sign up for a mymedicare.gov account. This allows you to see claims during the year and research your drug plan and save your drug list. If you need help, contact your agent and if you don’t have one, feel free to contact Daniel Banks, President, Silver Crest Insurance, Inc., 610-868-5801.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

23

Astronomy: Fun and Educational for All Ages, Through the Ages

by Eric Loch, Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomy Society

Humankind has been looking up at the night sky forever in awe and wonder. The earliest records of this date back thousands of years — Cave drawings have been found showing constellations, to which some cultures gave names of gods and animals. Others used the movement of the sun and stars to determine when to plant and when to harvest. At the same time, astronomers were asking questions about the nighttime sky — especially, “What’s out there?”

Astronomy is an ever-changing science as we learn more and more about not just the Milky Way Galaxy that we live in, but our entire universe. Aristotle learned that the world was round by studying the phases of Venus. He noticed it would cycle like our moon. The famous Hubble Telescope Deep Field image is a great example of our knowledge being changed forever. Hubble was pointed at an area of the sky about the size of a postage stamp, expecting not to see too much. To our amazement, the image was filled with thousands of galaxies pictured at right.

Astronomy can be enjoyed by all ages.

I remember showing a 70-year-young gentleman Jupiter for the first time, through a telescope. He was in awe at being able to see this. Listening to the “Oh wow” of someone when they see craters on the moon for the first time — I’ve never tired of that "Oh wow" moment.

few minutes east of I-78 on East Rock Rd. The non-profit LVAAS has been serving the Lehigh Valley since 1957, hosting numerous activities throughout the year. LVAAS is a group of hard-working volunteers dedicated to helping our community enjoy and learn about astronomy.

Each month, from spring through fall, we host a public Star Party. We do two planetarium shows — the first geared towards children, and the later show geared towards adults. There is a speaker between shows. Once that is over and the skies are clear enough, we start enjoying the night sky. LVAAS has three telescopes on site, and some members bring their own scopes and set them up for everyone to enjoy. We have snacks and drinks available for purchase, as well as clothing articles. Attending one of these star parties is a great way to test the waters of astronomy before diving in. For the time being, our Star Parties are limited to members only, hoping that by September or October we can return to normal.

If you or someone in your family decides they like astronomy but aren’t sure how to go about it, our members are a wealth of knowledge. If you choose to join LVAAS, we have a selection of telescopes that members can rent. Perhaps you have a cabin up north where the night skies are darker. You can rent a scope for your journey as a member of LVAAS. Membership is very affordable.

OK, now that I have your interest, how can you, your children, and grandchildren, enjoy this lifelong hobby?

In the Lehigh Valley, that answer is very easy: the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomy Society (LVAAS), conveniently located on the top of South Mountain, just a

Hey, What about backyard astronomy?

If you can see stars in your backyard, you can still have fun with astronomy. A great start is learning the constellations and naming the stars in them. When do they appear in the sky during the year? Why do they move?

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What is the story behind the name of the constellations?

Who was Hercules, anyway? Many of these stories are embedded in Greek mythology. Ursa Major, The Great Bear, or the Big Dipper — How do all these names apply to one constellation and why? Did you know that the middle star in the handle of the Big Dipper has another, fainter star very close to it? The story is that Native Americans used this as a vision test for young braves. If they could see both of those stars, their elders knew they had vision good enough to hunt for game.

Have a few reclining lawn chairs? Get them ready, bundle up, and go out and watch for the Perseid meteor showers! Are they every night? No, they are only at a certain time of year. Well how do we know when to watch?

This has never been easier, with numerous programs, apps, and publications that tell you what’s in the sky tonight — where, when, and how long it will be visible.

A very nice and simple program to use is called "Stellarium." It is free and you can load it on a computer or phone. You can set the time and date for any day or time you wish and see what will be in the sky that night.

An app like Sky Safari will also help you find items in the night sky because it has a compass mode. You just point it at the sky and it will tell you what you are looking at. More advanced users can even control their telescope with these programs. Two very good magazines that make excellent gifts for budding astronomers are Astronomy and Sky and Telescope.

So, if you want to relive what our relatives saw thousands of years ago, just step outside, look up, and imagine what might be there.

Upcoming sky spectaculars Meteor showers occur throughout the year and can vary in intensity from year to year. Meteor showers occur when Earth is passing through debris left from an asteroid or comet as they orbit the sun and lose some of their material. The Orionids this Oct. 21st and 22nd will be passing through debris from Halley’s Comet. Meteor showers are rated by intensity or number of meteors per hour. These are just best guesses since we have no way of knowing how many dust particles the earth will actually be going through. A fun fact of meteors is, when you see one, keep in mind that most meteors are no bigger than a grain (meteoroid) of sand streaking across our atmo-

sphere. A meteor that is brighter than Venus is called a Fireball. It is rare for any of these items to actually make it through Earth’s atmosphere and fall to Earth. Meteors that reach the surface of Earth are called "meteorites."

How to observe a meteor shower • Get a very comfortable reclining lawn chair.

• Dress warm because you could be sitting out a long time, even in the summer.

• Look to the part of the sky that the meteor shower is coming from. Ex. Leonids come from near the Leo constellation.

• Hope that you have a clear dark sky. Both the moon and local light pollution can have a huge impact on how many, if any, meteors you will see.

Upcoming showers this fall 1. Oct. 7th The Draconids 2. Oct. 21st and 22nd Orionids 3. Nov. 4th and 5th Taurids 4. Nov. 17th and 18th Leonids Another fall event will be a partial lunar eclipse on Nov. 19th. This will be fully visible from our location between 2 and 6 A.M. A lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes between the moon and the sun. Our shadow blocks out the moon either fully or partially. The moon typically takes on a reddish hue in the area of the shadow.

So, prep your favorite lawn chair, sit back, and enjoy the "stellar" star shows this fall.

For more information, go to LVAAS.org or call 610797-3476 and leave a message.

LIFESTYLES OVER 50

Lehigh Valley

Fall 2021

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If you want to receive a weekly call or become a Volunteer Caller:

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Call the Lifestyles over 50 Care Team toll free at 855-233-7034

LifeSTYLES

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