Lifestyles After 50 Southwest Edition, April 2016

Southwest April 2016 • Vol. 27

Leaving a Legacy

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 2

Unlocking the key to your legacy Dear Readers, They say a writer should always shy away from the outwardly cliche, but perhaps there’s a time and a Amanda Smith, Editor place to embrace many an old adage. Never much an ambassador for proverbial mastery, producing this issue brought me face to face with a truism that may just be one of the oldest sayings around: “Silence is golden.”

When I first heard its sounds I can’t quite recall. But thanks to a vicious showdown this flu season with a brutal bug that appeared out for blood, my familiarity with the sounds of silence returned once more. Bronchitis and laryngitis may have robbed me of my voice - but in exchange, I gained a rather golden opportunity.

The April issue of Lifestyles After 50 is our annual “Leaving a Legacy” issue, which poses the deep - and difficult question of what exactly you plan to leave behind. For some, it’s a question of how you’d like to be remembered, for others it’s about dedicating gifts of generosity.

We probe deeply this issue, asking if you’re embodying your creative potential, serving your community and living true to the values you’d like to pass on.

Not exactly questions for the entertainment section - don’t worry! we’ve still got sudoku! - topics like “Leaving a Legacy” can leave you feeling quite contemplative... luckily, silence is perfect for that! As I experienced the imposed silence of

a super virus, I asked myself - whose legacy did I most admire? I was met with the memories of the two people I loved most - my late grandmother and grandfather on my father’s side.

Proof that leaving a beautiful and memorable legacy has a vast number of permutations, they couldn’t be more different - and yet, more the same. I remembered my grandmother for her laugh, her glow, her patience and her presence. Her reverence for life made every moment with her

his painstaking research produced the family tree to top all family trees, and his hard work and forward thinking helped me to approach the present with an eye on the future.

His death was very much a surprise, and so were his generous gifts to so many - gifts planned long before his passing and gifts that will serve long after. Teaching the valuable lesson of learning from the past and planning for the future, best describing his legacy would be “be prepared.”

Thanks to the silence, and its resulting contemplation, my grandparents came to life again. I realized what was passed on from each of them was incredibly different, but what I loved about them was exactly the same.

They lived true to themselves.

They knew what mattered to them and they aligned their actions accordingly. Sitting in the silence begged the question feel special. Never off in the future - are my priorities straight? Am I or reimagining the past, she was embodying what I claim to be most with you, fully, always. When she important to me? passed, I was prepared, she cherished every moment before her departure This month, as you enjoy Earth Day, and gave me everything from her and reflect on how much the earth wedding dress to her resilience. means to you, and as you enjoy Best describing her legacy would spring, and celebrate how great it is probably be “the power of presence to be alive, perhaps you’ll join me for a little respite in silence and look and the gift of living in the now.” into your heart for a legacy all your My grandfather lived on for over a own. Whether it’s through giving a decade without her. I have to smile generous gift, giving the community thinking of him now, because I your time, or simply giving a smile, remember his laugh just as clearly I hope this issue inspires you to give the gift only you can give - that as his wife’s. Always the planner which is uniquely you. Hint: it’s and the historian, my grandfather’s often found in silence. legacy is one that reveals time as a continuum with the past, the present and the future existing all at once. He Sincerely, gave me the gift of my heritage when Amanda Smith

Southwest Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Amanda Smith editor@lifestylesafter50.com Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104 Distribution Nancy Spencer: (941) 244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 3

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Bark on the Ark. Bring your dogs for a sightseeing river cruise to Picnic Island. $44 includes admission, water, Frisbees and dog treats. 8 - 11 a.m. Marina at Edison Ford, Ft. Myers, 33901. Book tickets at PureFL.com or call (239) 919-2965.

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Movie in the Park: "Big Hero 6". Enjoy a free family night out for a movie at the park. Bring a blanket, chairs, and dinner. 7:30 p.m.

Jim Jeffers Park, 2817 SE 3rd Lane in Cape Coral, 33991. For more details, please call (239) 573- 3123.

Charlotte Chorale’s “School Something Wonderful: Music of Days” concert. The final Rogers and Hammerstein. $35.

7:30 p.m. The Village Church. Visit choral concert of the season will shellpoint.org or call (239) 454 – 2067. present musical selections about colleges and schools across the nation, Knitting and Crocheting Group. with fight songs and alma maters.

All experienced levels are invited Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 701 to stop by and learn or teach how to Carmalita St., Punta Gorda. 33950. knit and crochet - or just join the party. Please call (941) 204-0033 for tickets.

1-3 p.m. Englewood Charlotte Library, – May 1. Hyland’s Leg 34223. To learn more: (941) 681-3736.

Cramps First Annual US Working Waterfront Walking Open Pickelball Championships. Join Tour. Learn about the Marine us for Hyland's first pickleball Science Center and much more on this championship at Naples Community educational walking tour. $15. 9 a.m. - Park, Naples, 34112. Ticket prices 12 p.m. Ft. Myers, 33932. Reservations range. Get tickets & a full schedule at required; please call (239) 765-8101 or UsOpenPickleballChampionship.com visit chamber.fortmyersbeach.org.

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Come join the party from 8 a.m. – 1 Cape Bike Night. Motorcycle p.m. at 2051 Cape Coral Parkway E., enthusiasts unite to listen to live Cape Coral, 33904. For more details on bands, eat and have fun. 5 - 10 p.m. at the market including information on 826 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral, how to become a vendor, please call 33904. Please call (239) 573-3123.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 5

Leaving a Legacy Unique and powerful ways to let your values live on

Give of yourself to friends, family and the community

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fter a chance encounter with an extraordinary 90 year-old woman, renowned gerontologist Karl Pillemer began to wonder what older people know about life that others don’t. He set out on a quest he called The Legacy Project; its mission to compile the insight of over 1,000 Americans ages 65 and up.

Pillemer sought advice on all the big issues: children, love, money, aging - even death. Their uncompromising honesty and moving stories were all compelling, but he said some of the most thoughtprovoking shares were related to what they wanted to pass on when their lives ended. Overwhelmingly, they reported “transmitting their values and core principles as their most important legacy.”

Yet, defining the values and principles of a life well-lived is as unique as the person describing them. A highly individual inquiry, the criteria for living well is not only deeply personal, but may change wildly over time, as fleeting desires prove unfulfilling, or a date with destiny changes one’s course in ways never imagined. As our paths twist and turn, delivering unexpected lessons, we come to realize it often takes a lifetime - and tremendous courage - to truly discover what matters to us the most.

As we amass the precious wisdom gained only through life experience, we become more in touch with who we are and what we value. Interestingly, this carving of character often occurs in tandem with a dawning acceptance that life is finite. The beauty of embracing the startling limitations of individual existence is the chance that it may ignite a fire within us, inspiring us to truly make the most of our unique opportunity to outlive our own life through our deeds.

Now is the time. Outlive your life.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 6

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” - Shannon L. Alder

W As intimate an endeavor as any, leaving a legacy is not a science, but an art.

Some pass on material wealth to their families, fostering educational or entrepenurial opportunities unheard of by previous generations. Some leave seeds of transformation in the hearts of people, or in their social or natural environment.

Some craft artistic masterpieces that transcend their mortality, while others pass on quietly, leaving without a trace.

Pillemer’s wise interviewees understood the true value of leaving a legacy is the chance to immortalize our hardest-won lessons, passing on our greatest wisdom and values to all who follow us.

Make your masterpiece “Creativity takes courage.”

- Henri Matisse

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hether it’s paint you’ve always wanted to splash across a canvas, or words you’ve always wanted to dash across a page, there’s no legacy more uniquely you than your own creative masterpiece. If you’ve always feared but secretly desired - to be an artist, ask yourself what you’ve got to lose by pursuing the creative yearnings that have long stirred your spirit. Writing an autobiography is a wonderful way for future generations to get to know you, and a crafted piece of art or furniture may later become a prized heirloom. If “art” isn’t really your thing, there are plenty of other ways to leave something handmade behind. Try delving into the history of your kin by creating a fascinating family tree that will help your relatives understand their roots. Fulfill a deep part of yourself by pushing the boundaries of your creative limits to offer your family and the world a little piece of your soul.

Support meaningful causes “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa

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great way to leave a legacy is by contributing money (or the equivalent) to a charitable cause that reflects your values. If you lost a loved one to a particular illness you can support research for its cure; or if you greatly benefited from a college scholarship, you can afford a young person from your alma mater the same opportunity. How and what you choose to support can be as unique as you and your life are.

When considering charitable donations, always do your research - even if you think you already know who you want to support. It’s advised to build a personal relationship with the charity’s leadership prior to making any longterm financial commitment. Contact charities of interest directly and ask for a tour or overview meeting. When you meet, discern how inspired you feel by their work and whether you believe your money will be well spent. Don’t be afraid to inquire about how well they are progressing towards existing research or development goals and if they are fulfilling their mission. If you don’t want to go onsite, at least ask them to send you an annual report. Here you’ll find out what percent of their proceeds go to funding specific research projects, and how else their financial gifts are allocated.

As for how to donate, there are many options, each with different tax benefits.

See our “Giving Wisely” article in this issue for a brief explanation of some popular approaches, but always talk to your financial advisor about which option works best for you and your family.

hen envisioning your own legacy, it helps to consider those who have passed on before you - especially those you admire the most. Pay attention to what you vividly remember about them, which of their qualities stick out most in your mind. Maybe they accomplished really big things, like starting the family business or getting the family’s first college degree. But maybe you most cherish the so-called small things, like your grandmother’s laugh as she watched you play in the autumn leaves.

Some legacies open doors, funding opportunities otherwise impossible; they can honor our heroes, if we mentor in the community and pass on our skills. Then there are those legacies built not on what was given, but what was sacrificed, in hopes of a brighter future for coming generations. No matter how big or small they may seem, all are legacies of greatness if they embody the lessons and values that have come to shape our character.

After all, we really build our legacy every day, with every helping hand we offer, every dollar we donate and every dream we dare to achieve. Whether your parting gift to the world is an impressive endowment or a sultry sonnet, it’s important to remember we influence far more than we’ll ever know - and maybe, simply living with kindness and a true reverence for life is the greatest legacy of all.

Giving Wisely Deciding how best to support the causes you believe in

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ne of the countless benefits of achieving a certain degree of financial comfort is the opportunity to give monetary support to causes you value. If your hard work has afforded you the ability to make a charitable contribution, you can choose to fund anything from cutting-edge medical research to building a community playground. Your money becomes a way to honor whatever it is that most inspires your generosity.

Once you decide on a cause to support, and complete your due-diligence to identify an impressive and accountable organization to align your financial resources with, it’s crucial to decide how best to give your money. More than simply writing a check, donations may involve updating your will, renaming policy beneficiaries and navigating tax benefits.

With so many ways to give financially, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a list of common donation strategies, along with a brief explanation of each option. This list is by no means exhaustive, and it is always recommended to seek counsel from your professional advisors (lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, etc) before making any major financial commitments. With their help, you can decide which options work best with your personal finances and best achieve your goals for giving wisely.

Life Insurance. A gift of life insurance is made when you name a charitable organization as the beneficiary of your policy, transforming modest premium payments into a significant charitable gift.

Cash and security gifts. Gifts of cash offer immediate use when donated in the form of cash, check, credit card or preauthorized monthly withdrawals. A gift of securities is a cost-effective way to transform an asset into immediate, significant support; anything from stocks, bonds, mutual or segregated funds. By donating publicly traded securities, you eliminate the capital gains taxes assessed if you were to sell these assets on the market and then donate the proceeds.

Retirement funds are one of the best ways to grow wealth during your life but one of the worst ways to transfer wealth to family members, as they are so heavily taxed.

Gifts of retirement plans are made by naming a charity as the beneficiary, thus counterbalancing your final tax return.

Endowments are donations of cash, marketable securities, mutual funds, etc. held in perpetual trust - making it an everlasting gift. Endowments may be general in nature or designated for a specific area or purpose, but no matter how they are used, their donors play a major role in fund allocation, ensuring a consistent flow of financial resources for the future.

Charitable bequests. These are distributions from your estate through your last will and testament. There are different kinds of bequests (general, specific, residuary) but for each bequest, it is important to use very specific language indicating the precise use of your assets to successfully carry out your final wishes.

Charitable remainder trust. In a charitable remainder trust, a gift of trust is made when you decide to make an organization the secondary beneficiary to an irrevocable trust. The primary beneficiary includes you and if applicable, your spouse.

Throughout your lifetime, you receive a pre-determined amount of the trust; and upon death, the identified organization receives the remainder of the trust.

A gift in memory of a loved one honors a close friend or family member who has passed away. Perhaps they lived with a certain disease and you would like to help those diagnosed in the future have opportunities for more advanced treatments.

A gift of real estate is made when you donate property, buildings or land. You will receive a charitable tax receipt to be used in your final income tax return.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 7

By Bill Levy y giving a few hours of their time, seniors in Southwest Florida are making a real difference in their community.

Volunteering with local organizations is not only helping them improve their own neck of the woods, seniors say they also gain personal satisfaction and contribute to a local legacy - a legacy of service.

From aiding animals to helping host events, the older populations of Charlotte and Lee Counties are key to the area’s charitable efforts. Ria Brown, public relations and information manager at Lee County Domestic Animal Services understands the role these volunteers play in her organization.

“They play a crucial role,” she confirms. “In many cases they’re the only ones providing the services they perform.

We rely solely on volunteers as our adoption counselors and to exercise and socialize our shelter pets. Without them the number of animals adopted would drop dramatically. They’re truly lifesavers.”

In addition to saving four-legged friends, community service may help you build a legacy of contributing to your local economy. Sean Doherty, sales and sports marketing manager at Charlotte County’s Tourism Office explains how a thriving volunteer community impacts

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Building a Legacy of Service Seniors’ thriving volunteerism leads to lasting local impacts

the area’s ability to attract outside events.

“With the convention center in Punta Gorda and the renovations of Charlotte Sports Park’s baseball complex complete, we are an attractive spot for groups to host events,” he says. But many of the groups interested in having an event in Charlotte County want assurance they’ll have trusted access to volunteers, Doherty explains.

“They want to know how we recruit volunteers,” he said. “That is often part of the bidding process.“ Doherty says he knows older residents are an integral part of maintaining the large volunteer pool required to win over event organizers.

“There are lots of retirees here who have the time.” he said, adding that Charlotte County is especially fortunate they enjoy giving back to their community.

Acts of service don’t only benefit local animals and the local economy, they’re of huge benefit to the volunteers themselves. Leslee Salyers, a volunteer with Lee County’s animal shelter, says service truly becomes a way of life. “It’s in your blood,” she says. “Once you do it you can’t give it up one bit.”

A retired teacher, Salyers started giving her time at the shelter when she took a stray there 16 years ago, and she’s been volunteering there ever since. Currently

she trains new volunteers and gives tours of the facility. She says the joy she gets from volunteering is truly priceless.

“It’s not about making money,” she said. “People ask me if I would come back to the schools to sub [substitute teach]. I tell them ‘I don’t want to give up any of my volunteer days.”

Salyers thinks the key to leaving a legacy of service is finding a cause that speaks to your heart, and retired nurse turned American Cancer Society (ACS) volunteer leader Gertrude Murphy can certainly attest to that.

“I am passionate about the mission of ACS,” the 15-year veteran volunteer says. “The time and effort I give to ACS, does not compare to the satisfaction I receive. I am honored to have this opportunity. I meet and talk with people in the community, who have been touched with cancer, either personally, or through a family and friend, and hear how much they appreciate what we are doing.”

She knew service was becoming a core part of her character when she took a hiatus, she says, “I took a year off, and found out my life was not complete.”

Build your own legacy through volunteering: visit CreatetheGood.org and enter your zip code to discover exciting volunteer opportunities in your area.

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Celebrate this Earth Day in new and old ways Classic and creative ideas honor the origins of a holiday more relevant than ever 1200 W. Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 10

By Amanda Smith he conception of Earth Day was literally a grassroots affair. Engaged American citizens concerned about the future of their planet declared an annual holiday called Earth Day, intent on sending a clear message to their nation’s political leadership that they expected legislative action and environmental change. Credited with launching the “Environmental decade” with a bang - Earth Day cemented a conservation crusade that affected real legislative progress, as the resulting Superfund law of 1980 cleaned up some of the nation’s most contaminated areas. In spite of impressive environmental activism, modern society’s relationship with the Earth is still very much strained. According to the activist group EcoCycle, in the past 50 years we’ve consumed more natural resources than in all previous history combined.

In an age of inflation, technological takeover and international conflict, it’s easy to deprioritize preserving the planet in the face of what appear to be far more pressing issues. But Earth Day’s annual return reminds us not to lose sight of preserving Earth’s beauty and value, awakening us to all the ways it sustains us. Fortunately, showing green gratitude and doing green good deeds are activities where the more you give the more you get, and time outdoors is almost always time well-spent. Connecting to the earth, whether through preservation efforts or just the sheer enjoyment of it, always offers the opportunity to absorb its peace and tranquility.

So in honor of the holiday’s humble beginnings, here are a few everyday ways to affect environmental change in your little corner of the world. This Earth Day, not only will you help the planet, you just might realize new reasons to love it.

2. Turning more trash into treasure If you’re a gardener and you’ve never heard of composting, here’s some good news: not only does it reduce the amount of waste you produce, it also transforms earth-based waste into a product for gardening, landscaping and tending house plants. Make a homemade composter by routinely adding natural waste into large, old garden pots on a daily basis. Stir to help break things down. In a few months you’ll have a fertilizer supplement that you can spread all over the garden as you watch “garbage” become rich dark dirt that makes your garden grow.

1. A crafty way to put less in the landfill If you’ve got an artsy thumb in addition to your green one, here’s a great activity reusing two items that often end up in the landfill - plastic water bottles and old newspaper. Reduce your waste and create unique art all at once by making a beautiful paper mache vase to hold fresh flowers from your garden.

3. Revive the fundamental spirit of Earth Day by getting back to its roots Honor those who envisioned Earth Day by awakening your own inner-activist.

Write letters to policymakers and corporations about key environmental issues.

Research which issues impact your local community most, and do what you can do to make a difference for planet Earth.

T

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Breaking the Taboo: Evolving perspectives on aging and intimacy As life expectancy extends at inconceivable speed, experts deem baby boomers a sexual force to be reckoned with.

Anticipated to abolish the exclusivity of youth centric sexual values, boomers may finally dispel the myth of forbidden senior sexuality.

By Amanda Smith

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years ago, a group of maverick gerontologists published a provocative research review candidly criticizing the ageist, stereotypical view towards sex so pervasive in American culture.

“Sexuality and Older People: Revisiting the Assumptions” openly addressed age-related physiological changes affecting sex habits, but it also illustrated the sweeping consequences of defining sexuality in youth centric terms. Armed with decades of research, authors established that physiological and cultural factors are key determinants of sexual behavior, but ultimately argued advancing age should not reduce the opportunity to enjoy sex.

The study questioned why sexual expression did not evolve with the inevitable bodily changes that accompany age; finding fault in our culture’s narrow conception of sexual expression. Authors also questioned why it was not a priority to reassure the aging population that physiological changes (sometimes drastic) were normal and no indication of their attractiveness or inherent value as a partner. They illustrated the significant effects of a failure to address such a universal issue had by interviewing subjects to establish their knowledge about aging’s changes on biology, the sexual indications of those changes and most importantly, how experiencing these changes affected the ease and confidence with which they approached sexuality. Study after study revealed how the lack of education about normal bodily changes stifled the sexual confidence of the uninformed, who felt “weird,” “unsexy” and “inferior” in light of age’s physiological effects.

What stood in the way of intimacy in old age, they concluded, was the cultural

lens through which we view sexuality as exclusive territory and an exaltation of the young and beautiful. Culturally age averse, we prefer not to confront the inevitability of growing old; so the issue of aging sex is viewed with discomfort or even hostility, and remains a subject largely unspoken of.

Underrepresented at best and pitifully mocked at worst, the sexually-liberated elderly remain illusory in the cultural landscape. This socially-sanctioned taboo subconsciously inhibits an embrace of sexuality with age, creating a widelyheld myths of asexual seniors.

At the dawn of the new century, many believe the conditions neccessary to dispel these myths have finally arrived. Just as the world witnessed the most dramatic increase in human life expectancy ever recorded, a generation of change-makers are entering their later years. With their large population and a marked increase in life expectancy, baby boomers are now the fastest-growing segment of the US population. In 2000, one out of ten Americans were 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; by the year 2030, it’s estimated that one in every five will be 65 or over.

Notorious for their sheer size and influence on social convention, boomers may redefine aging and sexuality as well.

Recent experts say as boomers age, more and more studies dispel the myth that older people don’t have sex or enjoy it. “There is no age limit on sexuality,” reports Stephanie A. Sanders, PhD, and director at a top sexual research group.

She reports that while frequency/ability to perform declines modestly as seniors experience normal changes with age, the majority of those currently ages 50-80 are far more enthusiastic about sex and intimacy than those in the past.

“If you stay interested, stay healthy and have a good mate, you can have good sex all your life,” says geriatrics expert Walter Bortz, geriatrics professor at Stanford Medical School. “Best of all, it’s good for you! There’s strong data all over: It’s a matter of survival,” he says. “People that have sex live longer. People need physical connection.

The more intimate the connection, the more powerful the effects.”

Experiencing their mature years with greater wellness than ever before, boomers are are able to assign increased importance to personal relationships, as their health lasts long past the demanding decades devoted to children and careers.

Modern seniors have more time and energy to explore their love lives and innovate their expression of intimacy.

And the research confirms it, boomers are making intimacy a priority. An AARP study revealed a clear majority of both genders age 45 and up say a satisfying sexual relationship is important to quality of life. Of those aged 45-59 with sexual partners, 56% said they had sex once a week or more; of those ages 60-70 with partners, 46% of men and 38% of women have sex at least once a week, as did 34% of those 70 and up.

Similar findings emerged in a survey conducted by the National Council on the Aging - nearly half of all Americans ages 60 and up have sex at least once a month. Not only were they having sex, they desired to have it more frequently. Another finding: people find mates more physically attractive over time.

As for the act of making love, it just gets better with age, says Cornelia Spindel, 75, who married her husband Gerald, 75, when she was 72. “We feel like young lovers or newlyweds. I felt like I was able to make love better when I was

30 than when I was 20, and now I have a whole lifetime of experience.”

Gerald agrees, and dislikes the patronizing attitude many people display toward older people who enjoy intimacy. “Whenever we’re asked how long we’ve been married, we say ‘two years,’ and they say, ‘Oh, that’s so cute.’

We’re ‘cute?!’ What does that mean?”

Cornelia agrees. “I don’t know anything about being cute. Our love life is very warm. And very satisfying.”

Evolving sexual attitudes have also prompted a more open dialogue surrounding sex and the aging body. No longer viewed as a barrier to a healthy sex life, age-related sexual changes are increasingly treated as a normal part of life by medical professionals. Often, it’s as simple as reassuring couples they are not defective, instead advising them to spend more time on arousal.

Boomers also enjoy medical advances facilitating longer traditional sex lives.

As estrogen levels drop in postmenopausal women, decreasing the physical response to arousal, doctors can offer effective remedies like hormonereplacement therapy. Men may suffer from impotence as blood circulation slows and testosterone levels decrease, but revolutionary drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis have breathed new life into older men - at least the ones willing to approach their doctors. In spite of these hopeful pharmaceutical advances, studies show only a fraction of seniors suffering from sexual dysfunction actually seek medical help.

That’s too bad, experts say, because it’s often as simple as removing excess alcohol and changing medications that interfere with sexual function.

Medical breakthroughs aside, the real sexual contribution of the boomer generation may be their ability to redefine the social concept of “lovemaking” by focusing more on intimacy and closeness instead of sex alone. By normalizing aging’s effect on sexuality, seniors may feel free to transcend the preoccupation with sexual performance in a traditional sense, transforming cuddling, kissing and other methods of sexual enjoyment into celebrated staples of mature sexuality.

Liberated from culture’s rigid definition of sex, boomers may revolutionalize social views on intimacy and sexual expression, redefining yet another cultural convention of American life.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 11

STAYING A STEP AHEAD OF COPD Don’t just treat the symptoms.

Treat the disease itself.

C

hronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has grown in prevalence and is now the third leading cause of death in America. People diagnosed with an incurable illness tend to search for alternative treatments, and this quest for options can beoverwhelming.

Take courage - as you’ll read later, not only the symptoms of COPD, but the disease itself can be treated. First, here are a few coping strategies for managing COPD.

Coping Strategies Stay Positive Talk with someone when feeling anxious or depressed.

Enjoy favorite activities, and explore stress management techniques like yoga, tai chi or meditation that produce holistic benefits. Finding reasons to laugh often and maintain a positive outlook can improve your quality of life.

Bolster Resilience Choose activities that create

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 12

a sense of accomplishment.

For those who love gardening but feel breathless, consider a container garden. Get a friend to help. You could have both healthy, growing plants and a new gardening friend.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Consider pulmonary rehabilitation class to improve lung capacity and blood oxygen levels. Rehab involves improving nutrition with ironrich foods, such as meat and green, leafy vegetables that promote blood oxygenation.

Alternative Therapy Treating COPD itself - rather than only the symptoms - using the patient’s own stem cells shows promise. The same cells that repair a cut or bruise can promote healing in lung tissue.

Adult stem cells do this naturally, but need a boost to keep up with degenerative lung disease.

One medical clinic, the Lung Institute, uses adult, autologous stem cells taken from the patient’s blood or bone marrow to boost natural healing.

Lung Institute’s Jack Coleman, Jr., MD, recently released a white paper demonstrating the potential of stem cell therapy to improve pulmonary function. Coleman’s paper, “Autologous Stem Cell Therapy and its Effects on COPD: A Pilot Study,” cites results from 100 COPD patients. Within three months of therapy, 84% found their quality of life improved, with an average improvement of 35%.

“COPD is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States, and we give our patients an alternative that doesn’t just mask symptoms,” Coleman said in a press release. “People hear

things like, ‘COPD is a chronic illness that is both progressive and terminal,’ and hear that the traditional options all consist of prescription medications, supplemental oxygen and a highly invasive lung transplant. People are dissatisfied with this prognosis. With a rise in alternative options like stem cell therapy, revolutionary medical advancements to better address COPD could be around the corner.”

The Lung Institute is an innovative leader of regenerative medicine dedicated to providing stem cell therapies & other regenerative treatments for lung diseases. To learn more about this state-of-the-art facility and its internationally recognized physicians, call (855) 313-1150 or visit their website: LungInstitute.com/lifestyles.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 13

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR HOME SWEET HOME Maximize your home’s potential with improvements that actually increase value

U

ndertaking home improvements is no leisurely task, and if you’re making major changes you’re probably talking major bucks. One of the many reasons homeowners invest in such a costly endeavor is because they foresee selling their home in the future - maybe to downsize, maybe to move closer to family - and they want to maximize the market value of the home. However, not all home improvement projects are created equal and it’s all too easy to get it all wrong. While you may think stainless steel appliances will “wow” prospective buyers, if the roof leaks or the air conditioning system in a Florida home is less than stellar, it won’t matter how shiny the kitchen is. If you’re considering home improvements this spring and hope to achieve an impressive ROI, here are our expert tips on getting the most bang for your buck.

Focus on your curb appeal. First impressions are key and your home is no exception. That’s why investing in curb appeal - your home’s attractiveness as viewed from the street - is always wise. Studies show in a buyer’s mind, a home’s interior is only as nice - and as valuable - as its exterior. Buyers won’t even consider viewing the inside of a home if its exterior doesn’t impress.

BOOST CURB APPEAL • Update your front door with a fresh coat of paint and a new handle.

• Manicure the lawn. Mow, prune and weed to show you take pride in your home. You’ll be surprised what a fresh layer of mulch can do.

• Pressure wash the driveway. Oil stains make a bad first impression.

Choose your big projects wisely.

When making upgrades, always consider the ROI potential - even if you don’t plan to sell your home right away.

To predict which projects will pay dividends, balance the trends - see the Top 3 to the right - with factors specific to your home. Ensure that the improvements you invest in are proportional to your home’s estimated market value.

Fix leaks before tweaks. Prioritize your projects and put first things first.

Before spending your entire home improvement budget on granite countertops and fancy appliances, get back to basic and check things most buyers take for granted. In a place like Florida, a weak air conditioning system will overshadow even the most impressive of indulgent home upgrades.

• New entry and garage doors play to the curb appeal factor.

• Decks are such a smart home addition because they increase living area at a minimal cost per square ft.

• New windows are pricey, but the right ones add light & aesthetics - as well as making a room appear larger.

FIX THESE FIRST • Walls and ceilings are all freshly painted and crack-free • All gutters are clean, with functional draining patterns leading away from the house • All windows are in good condition (inside and out), sealed well and have damage-free screens

Don’t price your home out of the market. Having a limitless budget is never a bad thing, right? Wrong. If expensive projects become excessive, you run the risk of raising your home’s market value too far above your neighbors. Then, you’ll alienate buyers in the pricier range (they want to live in higher-priced neighborhoods) as well as buyers who like your area but now can’t afford your home.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 14

MAX OUT YOUR ROI

NICE BUT NOT TOO NICE • Familiarize yourself with your street’s average home price - buyers won’t buy the most expensive house in the neighborhood.

• Consult local real estate experts before beginning renovations.

• If your goal is to sell, choose classic & conservative upgrades..

Navigating Change: LIFE Understanding how new Social Security legislation LONG may affect your benefit claiming strategies QUALITY DOCS

By David Novak

Y

ou may have heard about recent changes to Social Security claiming strategies, but aren’t entirely sure how they affect you, if at all. A subject as complex as Social Security is easy to misunderstand, especially considering that factors like divorce, disability, death - and even your spouse’s earnings history - may greatly alter your benefit eligibility. Notoriously complicated and hotly debated - this federal program recently changed dramatically when new legislation passed in late 2015; rules that may very well alter your optimal claiming strategy. Here’s what you need to know, and how it will affect you.

What aspects of Social Security were altered by the late 2015 legislation?

Back in 2000, the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act was created, intended to avoid penalizing people for working longer. There were two main “voluntary suspension” claiming strategies created by this act, which allowed those who had already claimed Social Security to stop benefit payments and build delayed retirement credits.

• File-and-Suspend. This strategy enables a spouse to file for spousal Social Security benefits before the worker is ready to claim his or her own benefit.

This has allowed spouses the ability to increase their combined net benefit.

• Restricted application for spousal benefits. This enables the higher-earning spouse to receive only the spousal benefit from the lower-earning spouse while his or her own benefit accrues delayed credits. As with File-andSuspend, this strategy also results in a higher overall benefit for the couple.

How have these voluntary suspension strategies recently changed?

As claims grew much faster than contributions, Social Security became more underfunded with each passing year.

Soon, voluntary suspension strategies -

entirely legal under Social Security rules - were labeled as “loopholes” for the affluent, and mounting pressures to resolve a hemorrhaging system resulted in a recent budget deal closing the “loopholes.”

As a result of the new legislation, File-and-Suspend ends on May 1. No more spousal or dependent benefits will be paid from suspended benefits, with one exception: those born before May 1, 1950 will be grandfathered in under old rules. If that’s you, be advised that the deadline to formally apply for Fileand-Suspend is April 30. The restricted application for spousal benefits will also end, and grandfather in some Americans, those born before Jan. 1, 1954. Everyone else entitled to both his/her own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit will now only be paid the larger of the two.

In light of these changes, what do I need to now consider when calculating my estimated Social Security benefits?

First, many of the advertised Social Security calculators available online claim to analyze your personal work history, tax filing status and financial information to offer you a custom optimal claiming strategy. Be aware, many of these online tools may not have been updated to reflect the new voluntary suspension regulations, so verify directly that they apply current legislation before counting on an automated tool’s advice.

Second, since paper Social Security statements are only sent every five years, be sure you’re working with current details. For access to the most up-to-date information, set up a personalized account at SocialSecurity.gov/MyAccount.

Changes like this are a great time to review not only your Social Security claiming strategy, but your overall retirement plan, to ensure you are maximizing income in this new environment.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 15

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 16

April’s “Share Your Story” Challenge:

Ask the Expert: Do I need to get rid of my real property in order to qualify for Medicaid?

By Steven J. Gibbs 1. A primary residence will generally not be defined as a countable asset for Medicaid purposes.

In Florida, a primary residence is often not counted as an asset, but there’s a difference between an asset not being “countable” and an asset being protected from a Medicaid recovery lien. One way to fully protect your home from the lien is to transfer it to a “well spouse.”

2. Real estate assets that are not a “primary residence” may be deemed “not countable” if they Are income properties producing a reasonable return on investment.

Under current regulations, you may keep your real estate and pursue Medicaid qualification if you prove your asset is income property. It must be rented at a reasonable market rate, under an acceptable lease agreement.

ETIQUETTE & ELECTION SEASON “No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting of elections.” - Winston Churchill 3. Family asset transfers or life estate purchases may result in penalties.

In the past, if seniors needed to lower “countable” liquid assets to qualify for Medicaid, they could purchase a life estate from a relative to offload cash, but now Medicaid is more strict, requiring the elderly to actually live in the home they buy from family. There is also a 60 month “look back” period to ensure transfers to children are at fair market value, so penalties can result even from gifting real property to relatives.

Carefully review your options with an experienced attorney before property or applying for Medicaid.

Gibbs Law Office focuses on estate planning issues, including Elder Law, Medicaid and Special Needs planning with offices in Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, & Estero areas. To learn more, call (239) 415-7495 or visit www.GibbsLawFL.com/blog.

Observing the chaos of our current presidential race might make the innocence of America’s earliest election - Washington ran unopposed, heroically agreeing to do so only at the people’s insistence - a little hard to believe. Resembling nothing like the unanimous win of the world’s first popularly-elected president, races run by contemporary Chiefs-of-staff have been called everything from a war to a circus.

Spending billions of dollars and multiple years on political campaigns characterized by massive media exposure, intimate personal investigations and negative advertising attacks, presidential candidates’ bids are being increasingly condemned by critics as boundary-less battles birthing unchangeable domestic shame and irreversible international embarassment.

But is the absense of etiquette from American presidential campaigns really all that new? Rosemarie Ostler, author of “Slinging Mud...Two Centuries of American Politics,” says contrary to

popular belief, campaigns weren’t more gentlemanly in the past and the 1800 race between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is still one of the dirtiest in history.

So this month, we want to know...

Has the etiquette of presidential elections devolved in your lifetime, or is mudslinging the American way? Why? Who is really responsible for fighting dirty media, PACs, special interest groups or the candidates themselves? How can we mend the system to mirror ideal values?

With “Etiquette & Elections” as the subject line, email an essay or response to editor@lifestylesafter50.com for a chance to be published in April’s issue!

LIGHTNING SCHEDULE Apr. 2 Apr. 4 Apr. 5 Apr. 7 Apr. 9 Apr. 12 or 13

New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders at New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils at Montreal PLAYOFFS BEGIN

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 17

Pickleball - The Unofficial Sport of RVers Safety first: caution is key to ver heard of pickleE ball? If you are repreventing sports injuries tired, a baby-boomer or you drive an RV, chances are you have! With over 3,600 locations and 150,000 players, pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. In fact, pickleball is so wildly popular, it has been adopted as the unofficial sport of RVers everywhere.

Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis.

Played with an oversized paddle and plastic ball, pickleball is great exercise and perfect for every level of athleticism.

Donna Christiansen, President of the Pickleball Club in the Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona, boasts the sport as having the largest membership at the Club.

S “We have 32 courts and over 800 players. It’s great for seniors,” says Christiansen. “It’s easy to learn and you can instantly play. Plus, it’s very social.”

How did pickleball, the backyard pastime created by two dads to entertain bored children, evolve into a sport with so many passionate followers and win the hearts of the RV community?

“The rules are simple, and it’s fun for all ages and skill levels. It’s a unique, multigenerational game,” says Rusty Howes of

www.PickleballChannel. com, the sport’s premiere media outlet, dedicated to providing professional online videos and content for pickleball players and organizations nationwide.

“I’ve seen 20-year-olds playing with 70-yearolds. How many sports can you say that about?”

Interested in a friendly game with fellow RVers or participating in a national tournament? Learn more about Pickleball online at www.

PickleballChannel.com or www.USAPA.org.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 18

pring is here, and with this time of year come many of the popular sports activities that we know and love. The great advantage of living in Florida is the endless opportunities to get outside and remain active, but with this opportunity comes the responsibility to ensure that we are taking care of our bodies and taking necessary precautions to avoid injuries.

Unfortunately, even if you are regularly active, you are not completely immune to injuries caused by athletic activity. Seemingly minor injuries, such as a small twist of your ankle while taking a stroll, or a pulled muscle at the gym, have the potential to put you out of commission for days or weeks.

Tips for injury prevention Fortunately many sports injuries can be prevented. The key to reducing the risk of injury or re-injury is to listen to your body and know your limits. Exercise these 10 tips to help you stay in the game: 1. Stretch daily to maintain flexibility 2. Choose the right equipment and protective gear when appropriate 3. Gently warm up your muscles and then cool down after activity 4. Drink plenty of water before and throughout any physical activity 5. Take time to rest and recover after strenuous activity 6. Learn proper sport techniques 7. Maintain a regular fitness regimen to avoid straining sedentary muscles 8. Do not play when injured to avoid further damage 9. Let your body heal; don’t overexert yourself when recovering from injury.

10. Maintain a proper diet so that your body is receiving the nutrients it needs

Treating common sports injuries Many sports injuries, while painful, can be treated with what is referred to as RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. To avoid further damage to an injured muscle, tendon or ligament, stop participating in the activity to and rest the affected area. At home, apply an ice pack or wrap crushed ice in a towel, and place on the injured area several

times a day for 20-minute increments.

Compression means wrapping a sore elbow, ankle, knee or wrist with an ACE bandage. Finally, it’s important to elevate the injured area to diminish swelling. Following these steps can reduce inflammation and limit blood flow to the area, which can provide short-term relief from pain.

Should you call the doctor?

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends consulting a physician for all but very mild injuries. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine suggests that letting an injury go untreated can worsen the injury or lead to more serious complications, so if symptoms persist after a sports-related injury, it is important to contact your doctor to assess the extent of damage. Early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation can allow you to regain full motion and strength. Severe sprains or strains may require a brace, casting or even surgery. Even mild injuries may benefit from modified activity, immobilization and physical therapy.

Athletic Orthopedic and Reconstructive Center (AORC) orthopedic specialists are well-versed in treating pain from sports-related injuries. With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres, AORC is devoted to providing quality care and treatment of the musculoskeletal system which includes your bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves. AORC specializes in total joint replacement, fracture care, sports medicine, hand surgery, neurology, podiatry and general orthopedics. To learn more, call (239)936-6778 or visit www.Bone-Fix.com.

Sharing the fruits of her labor

Northerner turned South Florida edible gardening expert aspires to make the gift of growing your own food accessible to all.

F

lorida retiree Karen Harty is a selfprofessed ‘edible gardening fanatic.’

“I found my love of plants at age 14,” she recalls. “My first job was at a nursery propigating plants and I was in heaven.”

Decades later, Harty’s pastime has led to a mastery of edible gardening, or ‘growyour-own-nutrition’ and she’s sharing a simple message with fellow South Florida gardeners: anyone, anywhere, at any age and experience level can grow a thriving garden capable of producing good food.

“I believe in teaching nutrition anyone can grow,” says Harty, now a Lee County Master Gardener and gardening teacher in Fort Myers. “I want people to know no matter who you are or where you live, edible gardening is possible.”

Harty’s inspiring message was hardly unearthed without effort.

“I moved here from Pennsylvania, and I killed a lot of plants before I ate a thing,” she says, dismissing any notions of a green thumb. “I tell my students I’m very familiar with what it’s like to consider growing in Florida impossible.”

When the Pennsylvania native retired to Lehigh Acres at 50, she confronted a climate and growing conditions with unfamiliar demands.

“I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t having success growing vegetables that I used to grow with ease,” she explained.

“After a lot of failure and frustration, I figured there had to be gardeners out there who knew Florida’s secrets. I just had to find them.”

Not only did she find and learn from Florida experts, she helped countless others by doing it. “I started the Edible Gardening Exchange to share this wealth of knowledge with my community.”

Founded to help gardeners learn from each other and expert guest speakers, the Edible Gardening Exchange helped Harty finally master year-round food production in Florida. Seven years after starting the community gardening program she’s definitely an expert in her own right - and now an Exchange speaker herself.

“My students get to learn from years of mistakes,” she says with a laugh.

Her latest class, beginning on April 21st, is designed to give even the most unlikely of gardeners the confidence to grow their own food. Harty says even a snowbird living in a condo can grow their own food once they know how.

“Most people think growing food is unattainable,” she says. “There’s a common myth that you need a big backyard, lots of time and money and an inherent talent to produce nutritious food - my microgreens class proves that just isn’t true.”

To make her passion more accessible to everyone, Harty offers a low-maintainance, small-space-friendly introduction to edibles by teaching about the mighty microgreen.

“Microgreens are just wonderful,” she shares. “They require such small space, thrive in part shade or almost all shade, they’re incredibly nutritious and best of all, you can’t mess them up.”

Not only will participants have access to untreated organic seeds that Harty says “anyone can grow,” they can also produce up to three small harvests, making microgreens the gift that keeps on giving.

Hardy says she hopes her students leave her class knowing that edible gardening is magical - in that it produces healthy, delicious food - but you’re not required to be magical to succeed at it.

“Gardening is not a perfect thing,” she shares. “And that’s ok. It’s really something for everybody.”

Karen Harty teaches edible gardening at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center through the Edible Gardening Exchange.

Fee for six classes held at 5:30 p.m. every third Thurs. of the month from Apr. - Sept. is $10. Lee Parks & Rec. lifetime membership card ($10) also required. Microgreen supplies can be purchased at class. To learn more, call/text Karen at (610)530-8883.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 19 R

Dry Eye Center of Excellence at Frantz EyeCare Offers Most Advanced Treatment in Southwest Florida

By Jeffrey B. Robin, MD

ment. Dry eyes can occur when there is too little aqueous (salt water) tear he majority of the patients sitting production and/or too rapid tear evapin eye doctors’ waiting rooms are oration, which often results in chronic, suffering from some sort of low-grade inflammation of dry eye issue. Frantz EyeCthe eyelids and particular are has revolutionary new oil-producing meibomian technologies that offer resiglands in the lids. dents of Southwest Florida If you have chronic dry the most advanced and efeye problems or think you fective ways of treating may be experiencing sympchronic dry eye problems. toms of dry eye, call our These include LipiView, main office at (239)418which evaluates the structure Dr. Jeffrey B. Robin 0999 or visit BetterVision.net. and function of the eyelid oil-producing glands; LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation Jeffrey Robin, MD, is a LASIK and Dry System, which removes blockages of Eye Specialist who works with Jonathan the meibomian glands and restores M. Frantz, MD, FACS. He and the team normal gland function; and BlephEx, of doctors at Frantz EyeCare offer a which exfoliates and deep cleans the broad spectrum of patient-focused comeyelids to remove debris that frequently prehensive care from eye exams and eyecontributes to chronic obstruction of the wear to bladeless laser cataract removal, bladeless WaveLight LASIK laser vision meibomian glands.

As a LASIK and Dry Eye special- correction, treatment of eye diseases, dry ist, I head up the team at Frantz EyeC- eye treatment, and facial and body rejuare who works directly with patients venation with office locations in Ft. Myto determine the cause of their dry eye ers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh and then plan the best course of treat- Acres, and Naples.

T

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 20

The secret habit of the happiest couples

A pair of relationship experts claim a willingness to fight - fairly - may be the key to unlocking relationship bliss.

T

here’s always some new relationship advice out there, but this one might take the cake. A married pair of relationship experts just put out a new book called The Heart of the Fight, because, according to co-author Dr. Judith Wright, “Arguing is the most powerful tool that a couple has for growing stronger. Only when a couple masters the art of productive fighting can they reach the highest levels of intimacy and closeness.”

Much like mine, if your eyebrows raised at this premise, Dr. Wright elaborates: “Happy couples are happy because they’re willing to fight! It’s actually how you fight that really matters.”

Her new book is not so much about fighting advocacy as it is about how to turn ugly fights into golden opportunities for greater intimacy. Here’s a brief rundown of The Heart of the Fight’s “Seven Rules for Fighting Fair.”

1. Reduce negativity. Avoid destructive tactics (blaming, sarcasm, etc.) No fight is perfect but low blows get you nowhere.

2. Promote positivity. Pair each complaint with a way your partner matters to you.

3. Never take or give over 50% of the blame. It’s not easy, but if you can stick to this rule, you’ll be amazed how much more productive your fight will be.

4. Be 100% responsible for your own happiness. It’s your job. If you need help, a partner is not a mind reader. Be direct.

5. Express & agree with the truth, always. Fights reveal a lot of truth, but we don’t admit it. If you were wrong, fess up.

6. Fight for, not against. Identify your desired outcome and go towards that.

7. Assume goodwill. Extend the benefit of the doubt by keeping in mind your love.

The new adventure seekers The active senior travel movement reveals a legion of athletes, trailblazers and explorers unencumbered by age.

By Amanda Smith

T

he days of dismissing senior travel as nothing more than a trip to the grandkids’ house, the casino, or the golf course are over. Health-conscious, highly educated and culturally-curious, modern-day seniors can now be found embarking on exotic adventures - with an element of intense physical challenge - thanks to “active senior travel,” the explosive travelling trend they inspired.

Now accounting for over 50% of the Western world’s discretionary income, seniors (ages 50-80) cite “travel” as the number one way to spend their extra cash, giving them plenty of purchasing power to redefine “the older traveler.”

And travel companies are taking note. Besides responding to their clear desire for trips of substance (50% of senior travelers surveyed said they won’t even consider a trip that’s not “a meaningful, stimulating holiday”), travel companies are also responding to the impressive physical condition this gen-

eration of seniors have maintained.

Aimed at those well-educated, fitnessfocused, energetic baby boomers responsible for cultural catch-phrases like “60 is the new 40,” active senior travel provides off-the-beaten-path small group cultural immersions to those seniors with a taste for adventure and a body that can keep up. Instead of bus rides to historical landmarks or booze-cruises to the Caribbean, active senior travel trips include exciting expeditions by icebreakers to Antarctica or active hiking treks through the Himalayas..* For those seeking a tamer trip without the international price tag, there’s a great six day bike through California wine country or a six day walking tour featuring a visit to a ghost ranch as you conquer New Mexico’s Taos and Santa Fe.** With so many different difficulty levels, international and domestic destinations, and plenty of price points - deciphering your best bet for trying active senior travel quickly becomes an adventure all its own. Here are two companies we’ve deemed safe bets to consider.

VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations With award-winning vacations and glowing reviews, VBT is a great way to dip your toe in the world of active travel. They specialize in walkGet ready for an adventure of a lifetime with active senior travel. ing and biking tours, and their website offers a comprehen- over 100 countries, and over 25 years of sive overview of what to expect from succcess. Evidence of their success is the their truly all-inclusive packages. Their list of clients who’ve completed over 30 prices are some of the best in the busi- trips, and an impressive repeat customer ness - one reviewer writes, “VBT could rate of 75%. President Gary Murtagh honestly stand for ‘Value Bicycling says he’s definitely seen a shift in senior Tours’...they give you that much bang travel. “When we started, 50 was old. for your buck.” Other perks: Guides tend Today, our adventurers are 60, 70 - even to be local; there’s usually a cooking 80 - and they go just about anywhere we lesson and a language lesson on the trip. offer.” Elder Trek trips include strong el- and they’re got solid bikes, good direc- ements of sustainability, wildlife consertions and a strong emphasis on safety. vation and charitable efforts, delivering that sense of meaning boomers long for.

Elder Treks One of the earliest 50+ active travel- So, who’s ready for an adventure? specialists, Elder Treks boasts a senior- *Elder Trek trips. Visit ElderTreks.com. centered adventure model with trips to **VBT tours. Learn more at VBT.com.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 21

Arches National Park in Utah: Prepare to be astounded

D

riving through Arches National Park in Utah is nothing short of surreal. With the highest density of natural stone arches in the world (more than 2,000 of them) you’ll feel almost as if you’ve landed on another planet - especially when compared to the Florida landscape. The park is named for its sandstone arches that awe visitors, frame horizons and cast precious shade in the summer months, all while nobly withstanding the withering forces of nature and time. Arches is our pick for the best

Celebrating the Centennial

100

years ago, the United States created the National Park Service, a federal agency designed to preserve the breathtaking beauty of the American landscape. Visit LifestylesAfter50.com for our Celebrate the Centennial series as we highlight our favorite parks all year long.

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS Unexpected paths to cancer prevention

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he central focus of most common cancer prevention strategies is to live a healthier life. While timeless tenets like eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting adequate rest, and avoiding too much alcohol or sun exposure are unrivaled pieces of advice, those at high risk for cancer - and those who have already survived it - often seek additional ways to protect themselves from this difficult disease.

In an effort to treat an illness of such massive proportions, researchers are approaching cancer from every angle - in search of innovative ways to cure it, and prevent it. By studying the relationship between cancer and the complex systems that comprise our bodies, unexpected - and clinically-proven - ways to reduce cancer risk have revealed themselves. Here’s a few of the top new tips.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 22

park to visit in April because you’ll just beat the start of the busy season, and the arches look even wilder when surrounded by nothing but natural expanse. Temperatures are a delightfully mild 60 degrees and if you missed a snow sighting this past winter, the La Sal Mountains in Utah are still snow-capped. A staple of any nature photographer’s bucket list, Arches is a camera lover’s dream and spring can deliver some pretty startling photographs as the orange sandstone arches pop against a backdrop of white-kissed La Sal peaks.

If you’re more of the adventure type, Arches is conveniently situated next to the small town of Moab, lovingly known as Utah’s “adventure capital.” Moab is a great base from which to explore by foot, and the town also offers rentals on anything from a bicycle, to a balloon, to a watercraft - even a four-wheeler. In fact, we encourage you to satisfy your urge for excitement in Moab so you may

Arches National Park, Utah - Home to over 2,000 water and wind-carved sandstone formations. better experience the natural peace and serenity available at the arches.

Speaking of natural beauty, one of our favorite activities in Arches won’t cost you a dime - the truly world-class stargazing in Utah, thanks to minimal light pollution.

Just remember to bundle up for your evening of astronomy; temperatures steadily drop as the sun goes down.

If you still need a little convincing, keep in mind Arches really won’t be around forever - at least not as it

stands today, anyway. Nicknamed “Treasures Hanging in the Balance,” Landscape Arch and Balanced Rock are two stone formations that look like they might topple tomorrow, and they could! The water and wind-carved natural formations of the park erode and evolve constantly, offering all of Arches visitors a unique and unforgettable adventure.

Do you have a favorite National Park?

Memories of a special visit? Email your story to Editor@LifestylesAfter50.com.

1

Amp up your protein intake. Often associated with muscle-building efforts, protein-rich diets aid more than athletic performance and the crafting of an impressive physique. Fuel for cellular maintenance and repair, vital to fluid balance and antibody production, and key to transporting iron and oxygen to every cell, protein powers a whole host of physiological processes. Since your body is best at staving off any disease when it’s in optimal condition, incorporate at least 6-8 oz. of high-quality protein (especially those rich in omega-3s) into your daily diet.

Keep your bedroom dark and your sleep schedule strict. Nightly exposure to light may lead to increased risk of ovarian and breast cancer in women, research reveals. Light suppresses production of melatonin - the brain chemical that regulates human sleep cycles - which could increase the release of estrogen-fueled cancer. One study demonstrated increased breast cancer risk among women who didn’t sleep during times when their melatonin levels are naturally the highest - levels begin to rise in the evening, remain high for most of the night, and then drop in the early morning hours - so maximize health with a sleep schedule attuned to your body’s natural rhythms.

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Making friends with Prebiotics & Probiotics. Colon, rectal and colorectal cancer are now understood to be linked to microbial problems in the gut. Studies show those diagnosed with these cancers have less “good gut bacteria” and increased harmful gut strains known to be linked to cancer. Because beneficial flora (probiotics) may prevent the growth of these harmful strains, they’re increasingly recommended for cancer prevention. They modify the overall balance of gut bacteria in favor of the beneficial kind, and are thought to help prevent harmful enzyme activity in the gut, prevent damage to gut cells, and promote beneficial interactions with the cells of the colon. Recently, prebiotics and probiotics have been found to stimulate the immune system and several other biological processes important for maintaining good health and preventing can-

cer. Try to include regular sources of probiotics and prebiotics in your diet, like asparagus and banana (prebiotics) and coconut water and yogurt (probiotics).

Get 15 minutes of sunlight every day. Almost 90% of your body’s vitamin D is absorbed directly from sunlight - not food or supplements.

And research reveals a deficiency in it lowers cellular communication and cooperation, which allows cancer cells to spread. Proper levels of Vitamin D promote proper cell maturation and reproduction - both of which prevent cancer growth - and people with Ddeficiency have a higher risk of many cancers: breast, colon, prostate, ovarian and stomach, as well as osteoporosis, diabetes and high blood pressure. But avoid overexposure, which can cause skin cancer - 15 minutes a day is all you need for adequate levels of vitamin D.

4

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 23

The Voices of Lifestyles After 50: “Share Your Story” winner Paula Timpson

March’s “Share Your Story” column invited readers to address “mind over matter” - a transcendence of physical or situational limitations through the power of the mind. A woman of deep religious faith and devotion, poet Paula Timpson offers her passionate point of view below - asserting transcendence is limitless if we maintain the heart of a child.

Thanks to all who participated - we hope you will continue to “Share Your Story.” - Editor

Be a child daily, that’s the secret

By Paula Timpson

M

ind over matter is about being at peace daily, in spite of circumstance. Being a child of God creates and sustains a peace deep within. With innocence and honesty, children know how to live, eat, love, pray and just simply be themselves.

If I decide I will be a child today, I am free. At almost 50, my heart stays young as I work at peace daily through prayer and positive thoughts.

With a racing creative mind, and the speed of modern culture, life is far too fast. But when I make my mind still, I truly feel and see life as it is - simple.

As a traditional woman, I am the nurturer and the heart of my home.

Thanks to my faith in God, I affirm mind over matter daily, knowing I can create a warm and loving home no matter what challenges my family and I face. Each morning I wake up ahead of my family to pray, trusting in God that I will make each day the best I can.

To show my son everyday is worth celebrating, I do special things to bring creativity and wonder to life. Yesterday was a butterfly-themed day, I made all kinds of butterflies. I also make an effort to do good deeds whenever I can, to teach our son to be a giver - not just a taker - in life. I know my prayers are not for naught when I recently saw my son

give a homeless man a homemade pack he put together with all the essentials, a bible, a toothbrush, a granola bar and soap. The man smiled widely when our son handed him the special pack, and I could see our son felt the happiness of helping others inside his heart. Him practicing “love thy neighbor” made our day.

To me, this is mind over matter. In spite of living in a time when the news reports nothing but frightening stories of a world gone mad, I refuse to let fear control my days and I choose to focus on the things I can do to live with the heart of a child, and the random acts of kindness we are all capable of, like helping the homeless or simply choosing to smile. Life can be so simple really, if we stop and slow down like turtles and stay steady on the path to being good people.

God Bless, Paula Timpson For more wise words from Paula, visit her online at paulaspoetryworld.blogspot.com.

Florida Gardening Guide: Tips & Tasks for April L ast month’s issue featured a calendar devoted to gardening in the Sunshine State, complete with Floridaspecific tips and unique monthly tasks to keep your garden growing all year

April in the Garden: Start warmseason plants, like papaya (pictured), and order seeds for fall Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 24

long. April invites you to start seeds of warm season plants (papaya, spinach & okra) now, and order fall garden vegetable seeds so you’re prepared for later.

For expanded advice on April’s tips and more words of gardening wisdom, visit LifestylesAfter50.com where you can download a free copy of our “Florida Gardening Guide” calendar and follow along online for more detailed tips every month. Have you grown a great garden with tips worth sharing? Email a photo to editor@LifestylesAfter50.com.

Get Tech Savvy: 2016 Guide to Technology APRIL: Manage all things home right from your phone T

aking care of your home is a lot like taking care of your body if you’re disciplined about doing a few little things each day and you actually keep to a schedule for your annual check-ups, most likely you’ll catch a lot of the little things before they escalate into big, scary expensive things. That’s what makes routine upkeep and seasonal home maintenance so important. But just like exercise, sometimes “life happens” and our best intentions gets pushed by the wayside. So why not let technology give you the little push you may need to keep your home on track? As technology seeps into every area of our lives, we’ve selected three of the top (free!) apps designed to help you keep your home happy and healthy all year long.

Automate maintenance & much more BrightNest, from HomeAdvisor Tackle important home tasks with easyto-follow instructions, a highly customizable schedule and helpful reminders.

From maintenance recommendations based on the seasons and your region, to cheap cleaning tricks and creative home decor ideas, this app really does do it all - and with an attractive aesthetic to top it all off. The shiny simplicity of the apps design along with the all-in-one functionality thanks to such vast content areas, this app definitely tops our list.

All your home information, organized.

LifeChest, by Erin Cole Owning a home involves a lot of paperwork. With everything from appliance instruction manuals to utility company account numbers, it can start to seem endless. Lifechest solves your information overload with its organizational storage software designed to keep all of your important documents in one place.

There’s a place for receipts for previous home repairs, as well as a contact sheet to list all your trusted vendors - so when the toilet stops working, you won’t have to search for the plumber’s number. We especially like that this app does more than manage home documents, it also has a place to store health and insurance information - and even end of life care.

Let Reader’s Digest’s “Family Handy Man” save you time, hassle and $$$ DIY Tip Genius, Reader’s Digest Sometimes you just want to do it yourself (DIY). Often thought of as a way to save money, if you take on a DIY project you can’t handle you may end up spending even more to fix it. The DIY Tip Genius app wants to help you to get your hands dirty and earn the satisfaction only DIY projects can bring, but not without a little expert know-how to keep you safe - and thrifty.

Download this app to make your next DIY home improvement project a winner.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 25

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 27

Sudoku #261 Solution #260

SUDOKU

Last Month’s Answers

9 8 Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

6 The object of the game is to fill all the 3 Cheyenne Curran blank squares with the correct numbers.

7 is last month’s winner!

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Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th will win.

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: Lifestyles After 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN GREAT PRIZES! SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 20TH OF THE MONTH.

# 262

Question: When was Earth Day first celebrated? (hint: the answer is in this issue) Your Answer: Send in the correct answer to be entered in a drawing to win a prize each month!

Deadline for entries: Apr. 16, 2016. Drawing held Apr. 20, 2016.

Name Address City

State

Email

Phone Mail to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL, 33583

Gary Anderson Jr. from Ocala is last month’s winner!

The answer was: Hawaii and Arizona Play more trivia online and win more prizes at www.lifestylesafter50.com

Click on the Trivia Palooza button and answer a Trivia question each week for a chance to win a prize at the end of each month.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 28

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Seniors Getting Together WOMEN SEEKING MEN 4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN. Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with PhD in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.

4521 W, WIDOW, 5’5”, 132 LBS., LATE 70s. Wants to meet W, widower, late 70s - early 80’s. I am R, P, intelligent, yes attractive, great SOH, NS, SD. Enjoy music, sports, reading, walking. Please respond with telephone number.

4520 H, F, LOOKING TO START A GOLDEN GIRLS HOUSE IN CAPE CORAL. I am 65, still working full time but would like the company. Must like pets. Please NS, SD, SOH, females only.

4531 UPBEAT, INTELLIGENT, COMPASSIONATE, ASIAN. Enjoys travel, outdoors, sports, theatre and dining etc. 60s.Seeks NS man with similar interests for relationship.Naples area.

4530 - WF, LATE 60s. Enjoys movies, dinners, sunsets, cruising and weekends

away. Honest, caring, attractive, fun loving with SOH. ISO gentleman, similar interests.Late 60’s early 70’s.NS, SD, NDrg. FF but ultimately LTR. South Fort Myers.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4452 MAN, 71, NS, SD Likes music, movies, books, plants, animals, evening classes. ISO woman, 55 – 72, NS, NDrg, SD for FF, who looks good in shorts or a skirt, likes bicycle riding, kissing, touching, hugging, going out to a pub for a bite & light social drinking. Port Charlotte area.

4499 THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. ISO LTR, non judgmental, SOH, free spirit, literate, enjoys water, kayak, canoe, sailing, swimming. Likes to walk, ride bicycle, explore the inner and outer worlds, toned, yoga, into foreign films, theatre, concert, art, ballet, someone to talk to, organic, non GMO, gluten free.

4498 NEW TO FLORIDA. W, M, 70 YO, enjoys sports, movies, dinners, music and having fun. Honest, NS, SD, NDrg. ISO lady, fun-loving with similar interests. Fort Myers area.

4526 – W, M, WW, C, NS, SD, NDrg, SOH, 73 young, 5’11”, 190 lbs, good condition, daily workout, brown hair, blue eyes, easy going. ISO lady, enjoys travels, movies, sports, dining, reading, talks, walks, 60 – 70 LTR. Letter/Photo.Cape Coral area.

4532 – MAN, NS, SD. Active 91, too healthy to qualify for assisted living community. Living alone in a big house.

Seeking lady, NS, SD, 65 – 75 to live rent and board free in return for cooking and housekeeping.Private BR, bath, den

Commonly Used Abbreviations: F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SDSocial (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrgNo Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

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Lifestyles After 50 P.O. Box 638 Seffner, FL 33584 Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 29

Tis the season with this light spring salad

Celebrate spring with a seasonal salad that’s both delicious and nutritious

Seasonal salad nutrition benefits:

W

ith all of the amazing produce available at springtime, one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a fresh seasonal salad. It can be as simple as tender greens tossed in oil and vinegar, or you can step up your salad by adding seasonal treats like leeks, radishes, and cucumbers. But to really maximize the nutritional benefits of your veggie assembly, you better throw an egg on top.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition furthers prior research about the benefits of eating fat and vegetables together, by demonstrating higher absorption of certain antioxidants when a salad is eaten with eggs as opposed to without. Because antioxidants are fat-soluble compounds, the fats from the yolk help them enter the blood stream. So this spring, make the most of all that delicious and nutritious seasonal produce with our simple spring salad recipe - complete with egg.

Simple Spring Salad (Serves 12) • • • • • • •

2 heads of romaine lettuce 2 med. (1½ lb.) cucumbers ½ lb.green onions, diced ½ lb.young leeks, thinly sliced 5 (¼ lb) radishes, sliced ¼ cup of parsley, diced 6 hard-boiled eggs, halved

• ¾ cups olive oil • ¾ cups red wine vinegar Instructions: • Evenly split first seven ingredients into 12 small salad bowls, arranged in the order listed (lettuce on the bottom of the bowl; half an egg at the top).

• Mix olive oil & red wine vinegar for a basic dressing accenting the veggies.

• Cucumbers contain fisetin, an antiinflammatory flavonol believed to play an important role in your brain health; as well as polyphenols called lignans, which may help to lower risk of breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

• Radishes contain significant amounts of vitamin C and a few not-so-familiar phytochemicals such as detoxifying indoles and the powerful antioxidant flavonoid beta carotene. They also contain an important antioxidant called sulforaphane, a proven cancer fighter. A true health-giving workhorse, radishes aid in other healthful tasks like purifying kidney and urinary systems, regulating blood pressure, relieving congestion, and preventing respiratory problems including asthma and bronchitis.

• Leeks contain notable quantities of antioxidants, and vitamins A and K, along with healthy amounts of folic acid, niacin, and magnesium. Like onions and garlic, leeks have mighty sulfur-containing compounds - such as allicin - that fight dangerous free radicals in your body and protect your heart.

Oh, that crazy cucumber!

By Teri Pizza

C

ommonly conceived as a vegetable, originating from the gourd family and technically a fruit, although its contents are actually 96% water, the widelycultivated cucumber definitely qualifies as crazy!

Adding to its identity crisis, even the cucumber’s status as a food is limiting - it’s been used as aromatherapy, a beauty secret to treat puffy eyes; when rubbed across the bathroom mirror, a cucumber slice will even defog the view of the your reflection after a shower. Legend has it, it’s even a hangover cure (if eaten before going to bed).

When not beautifying and detoxifying, the cucumber also serves as formidable defender of gardens, scaring away a variety of grubs and slugs. To make use of them this way, just lay a few slices of cucumber in an aluminum pie pan and place them in your garden. Combining cu-

cumber and aluminum gives off a scent that makes pests eager to leave the area.

Known for their hydrating and energizing properties, cucumbers are even handy when kicking a coffee habit - their high nutrient density makes them an instant pick-me-up with lasting energy.

To use this way, throw peeled, sliced and diced cucumbers in a pitcher of ice water as an alternative to your favorite caffeinated beverage.

Try energizing cucumber water as a healthy caffeine alternative.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 30

Types of Cucumbers This all-purpose plant comes in three basic types: the slicers, the picklers and the burpless variety. Slicing cucumbers are the long, straight cucumbers commonly seen in supermarkets.

They’re bred for fresh eating, with thin, non-bitter skins and slow-developing seeds. Pickling cucumbers are shorter, stouter and have more spines, as well as drier flesh that allows them to soak up more of the brine they’re pickled in. “Burpless” cucumbers are technically slicing cucumbers, bred to produce less of the bitter chemical that releases gas in the stomach.

Selecting and Storing When selecting cucumbers from the garden or the farmer’s market, try to avoid the “fruits” with yellow or shriveled skin. Choose those even in color, without bruises and firm to the touch.

Once in the kitchen, don’t wash your cucumbers until you are

ready to use them. Wrap whole cucumbers in plastic and store them in your refrigerator for up to seven days. Cut cucumber will store no more than two days.

Produce Powerhouse Cucumbers are pretty impressive in the nutrition and health department. They contain most of your daily vitamins, including vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 & C as well as folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Its high water content also makes the cucumber a dieter’s dream, great for both di-

gestion and cleansing the bowel.

If all that’s not enough, the cucumber’s photochemicals kill the bacteria responsible for bad breath just like a breath mint!

With its endless uses and potent nutritional value, this puzzling cucumber surely deserves a little space in your refrigerator.

It may be crazy, but it’s one produce powerhouse!

Find more great tips on 70 varieties of produce in Teri Pizza’s new book Simplicity of Fresh Produce, available at www.Amazon.com. Teri resides in Ocala.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 31

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