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Spring 2020
Dr. Shawn Richey with some of the thousands of patients who have found relief at Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH
Life-Changing Relief from Peripheral Neuropathy At Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH Also in this Issue...
Pittsburgh Pioneers – Influential Women | Step Back into 1970 Transitioning Into Retirement | Spring Happenings
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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PUBLISHER’S NOTES
Welcome to the Spring Issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazine!
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inally, the hours of daylight are increasing, and the temperature is growing warmer! Spring is a wonderful time of the year; the flowers start blooming and beautiful colors from blossoms will start to poke through the ground. As the weather starts to get nicer, many of us enjoy getting out and about to enjoy Mother Nature, but for some of us, getting around can be difficult. Many suffer from peripheral neuropathy. This can be a painful condition that can hinder your quality of life. If you are suffering from this condition, be sure to read this issue’s cover story on Neuropathy Treatment Center of PGH, Life-Changing Pain Relief. With sunnier days ahead, Dr. Maroon has some very helpful tips that will prepare you for the sunshine. Many of our readers are approaching retirement. This issue’s article on Tips for Transitioning into Retirement can help you to make the best decisions that will prepare you for your financial future. “Life is like a camera… In this issue, we Step Back Into 1970! See if you remember Focus on what’s some of the highlights of that important, capture the special year. good times, develop There are many influential from the negatives, and Pittsburgh Pioneer Women who have come from this area. Read if things don’t work the history and contributions out, take another shot.” that these special women have made. Unknown Please enjoy reading all our featured articles as well as our regular columns. Thank you for your support, and together, we continue to make our community an outstanding place to retire and live! Happy Spring! n
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P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722
Phone: 724-940-2444 Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com President & Publisher Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor Janice Lane Palko Managing Editor/Public Relations Coordinator Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator Laura Arnold Marketing & Account Executive Mary L. Simpson Design & Production Kostilnik & Assoc. Graphics, Inc.
Laura Arnold
Mary Simpson
Laura@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
Mary@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
Janice Lane Palko
Paula Green
info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine is published four times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year. The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the people of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest senior publication, Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, health, and recreational needs of seniors in our area. The contents of Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.
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Contents 5
Coraopolis Man Participates in Sixth Great Cycle Challenge USA
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Senior Profile: Marty Tack Janice Lane Palko
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Cover Story: Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH Celebrates Life-ChangING Relief Janice Lane Palko
11 The Sun is Coming; Are You Prepared? Dr. Joseph Maroon 12 Outpatient Therapies Help Redefine What It Means to Be a Senior 13 Senior Care Profiles 14 Are You Allowing Guilt to Get You Off Track? UPMC Senior Services 15 Medicare Rules Changes in 2020 Crystal A. Manning
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17 Newest Ways to Protect Your Pet Marianne Reid Anderson 18 5 Tips for Transitioning into Retirement Ameriprise Financial 20 Now Is the Time for a Move! 26 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents the 34th Annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival
In Every Issue...
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From the Publisher Marion Piotrowski
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Pondering Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Pioneers – Influential Women Paula Green
16 Remember When: Just Take Those Old Records Off the Shelf Janice Lane Palko 24 The Good Old Days: Step Back Into 1970 Paula Green 27 Spring ’20 Happenings
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Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
Coraopolis Man Participates in Sixth Great Cycle Challenge USA John Alan Lovra, 64, of Coraopolis, is planning to ride 300 miles and raise $5,000 during the month of June for Children’s Cancer Research Fund (CCRF) in support of its 5th annual Great Cycle Challenge USA.
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his is the sixth time I have participated in Great Cycle Challenge,” said Lovra. “During those years, I rode 1,239 miles and raised $8,941.35. This year, I am aiming to raise $5,000 and ride 300 miles.” To learn more about John’s Great Cycle Challenge USA and to make a donation, please visit greatcyclechallenge. com/Riders/JohnLovra. Since 1981, CCRF donors have helped fund research that has revolutionized the way childhood cancer is treated worldwide. Visit childrenscancer. org or call 1-888-422-7348 to learn more. Read more about John’s challenge in the May issue of Northern Connection magazine. n
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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PONDERING PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh Pioneers – Influential Women By Paula Green
The month of March is Women’s History Month. It is a time to honor inspiring and dynamic ladies who have made their mark on history. There have been numerous influential ladies that have made Pittsburgh someplace special. Catherine BakerKnoll was a McKees Rocks native. On January 21, 2003, she was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s firstever woman Lieutenant Governor. She held that office until November 12, 2008. Baker-Knoll served under Governor Ed Rendell. Before that, she was Pennsylvania’s 32nd Treasurer, serving from January 1989 to January 1997. Phoebe Brashear supported her husband, John, with love for astronomy. She, too, was a stargazer. The two worked together to perfect a telescope. Brashear High School is named after John, and his dear wife was instrumental in helping him succeed. Nellie Bly was born in Cochran’s Mills, in Armstrong County. She began working for the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1885. Before Bly’s employment, she sent an angry letter to the newspaper in response to an article they printed entitled “What Girls Are Good For.” The editor was impressed with her writing, and he gave her a job. Bly was renowned for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days from November 1889 to January 1890. Rachel Carson was born on May 27, 1907, in Springdale. Carson attended Chatham University. She was an American biologist wellknown for her writings
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on environmental pollution and the natural history of the sea. The Ninth Street Bridge in Pittsburgh was renamed the Rachel Carson Bridge on Earth Day, April 22, 2006. Mary Cassatt was one of the leading artists in the Impressionist movement of the later part of the 1800s. Although she lived most of her life in France, she was born on May 22, 1844, in Allegheny City (Pittsburgh). Martha Graham was born in 1894 in Allegheny City. She was a famous choreographer and dancer. For over 50 years, Graham created more than 180 works, from solos to large-scale works, in most of which she danced. She gave modern dance new depth as a vehicle for the intense and forceful expression of primal emotions. Pauline (Wormser) Frank and her husband, William, were among the first Jews to permanently settle in Pittsburgh. They helped create many of the first Jewish institutions in the city. Pauline wrapped bandages, distributed donations, and mended clothing for Union soldiers during the Civil War. The first Jewish women’s charity was formed in Pittsburgh thanks to her influence. Anna Heinz was the mother of H.J. Heinz. She profoundly shaped his life. Anna knew that her son had a
Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
knack for business, and she encouraged him to follow his dream. She could be credited as a driving force for the Heinz family legacy. Joanne Rogers was married to Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. She voiced characters on Fred’s first show, The Children’s Corner. Joanne also taught at the preparatory school of music at Chatham College. She is an accomplished pianist. Gertrude Stein was born on February 3, 1874, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She was an imaginative, influential writer in the 20th century. Two quotes from her works have become widely known: “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose,” and “there is no there there.” Lois Weber was born in Allegheny (Pittsburgh), June 13, 1881. She was an American actress, producer and director, best remembered for her crusading films of social concern in the early days of the motion picture industry. n Sources: https://womenshistorymonth. gov/, https://www.pennlive.com/ life/2016/08/19_influential_women_of_ pennsy.html, https://www.heinzhistorycenter. org, https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ https://www. britannica.com/biography/Nellie-Bly, https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Baker_Knoll, https://www.britannica.com/biography/ Martha-Graham, https://www.biography.com/ writer/gertrude-stein, https://allthatsinteresting.com/joanne-rogers, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lois-Weber
55+ PROFILE
MULTI-DAY TOURS
(All multi-day tours are priced per person, double occupancy)
Queen Esther in Lancaster Plus
Apr 24-25; Jun 19-20.................................$445
Jekyll Island, Savannah, and Hilton Head Apr 26-May 2; Oct 11-17.........................$1,219
Oh My Gourd! A Murder!
Apr 28-29....................................................$360
National Museum of the U.S. Airforce
May 5-6......................................................$309
Cape May, New Jersey
May 11-15..................................................$945
Senior Profile
Charleston, South Carolina
Marty Tack
July 11-25................................................$2,859
By Janice Lane Palko
May 17-22...............................................$1,050
National Parks Tour
CASINO TOURS Kathy and Marty Tack
Bally’s Atlantic City
Mar 22-25...................................................$295
Tropicana Atlantic City
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arty Tack has always loved the Oldies, and he turned that passion into an encore career. “I retired from Armco Steel Mill and became a disc jockey because of my love of the Oldies, the songs of the 50s 60s and early 70s. I play the music I grew up with and loved,” said Marty, 73, a lifelong Butler resident. Prior to becoming a DJ, he dabbled in the business side of music. “I first started booking bands and singing group for many nonprofits as fundraisers for their organizations in the early 70s. Some of the groups I booked were the Jaggerz, Johnny Angel and the Halos, Magic Moment, and the Elmonics just to name a few,” said Marty who is married to wife Kathy. They have five daughters and eight grandchildren who “think it is cool having grandparents who are disc jockeys.” His enterprise has blossomed. “I started getting jobs for anniversaries, car cruises, birthdays and class reunions. I have played at many locations throughout my DJ career from Butler and surrounding areas in western Pennsylvania. I also volunteer as master of ceremonies at a number of events such as the Cancer Society’s annual Purse Bingo, the Realtor’s Association fundraiser, the Purse Bash for Zachery’s Mission, which is a benefit for fragile babies and various other nonprofits groups,” said Marty. If you regularly read our Senior Happenings column, you will know that Marty also hosts a monthly Oldies
Apr 19-22....................................................$366
Dance. “We are playing once a month at the Ukrainian Hall, 10 Arbor Street, Lyndora, Pennsylvania. Our audience now manly consists of dancers in their 60s, 70s and 80s,” said Marty. “Our attendees come from the Butler area, Cranberry, Pittsburgh, Portersville, Elwood City, New Castle and even as far as Dubois.” Like Marty the people who attend the dances have a love of Oldies and dancing. “Our dancers love to dance or just come to listen to the greatest dance music every recorded. They are friendly and welcoming. Some dance all night. Some only slow dance or waltz. It is a social time listening to great music that brings back great memories. My wife Kathy has been by my side since the very beginning. We both love to dance, so at our dance, we will sneak out on the dance floor every now and then, we also love to attend other dance events,” said Marty, whose favorite song is Heatwave’s “Always and Forever.” The dances provide an affordable evening of socializing, enjoying great music and physical activity. “Our dance is B.Y.O.B. and B.Y.O. Mix. We provide coffee, water, ice, chips and pretzels. Some people will bring snacks to share with their friends. We play from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. the third Saturday of the month with some exceptions (April, the fourth Saturday because of Ukrainian Easter),” Marty said. All of this comes for $9 per person and is open to the public. For more information, call (724) 283-1867. n
ONE-DAY TOURS Sentimental Jukebox JourneyRamada Inn Ligonier
Apr 15.........................................................$127
Queen Esther in Lancaster
Apr 18; Jun 27............................................$267
Simply Sweet – OH Amish Country
Apr 20.........................................................$120
Punxatawney Phil & Jimmy Stewart
Apr 21.........................................................$107
Amish Tea Party
May 2..........................................................$130
Springtime in Amish Country
May 6..........................................................$112
Tootie Fruitie
May 13........................................................$120
New York City Saturday Express
May 16; Jun 20; Jul 25...............................$140
MOTORCOACH-TO-CRUISE PIER 9 Night Bermuda & Bahamas Cruise
Jun 25-July 4......................... Starting at $1,373
7 Night Bahamas Cruise-Oasis of the Seas Aug 8-16................................ Starting at $1,536
Bus to Bermuda Cruise
Sep 12-17................................. Starting at $912
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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COVER STORY
Vince M.
Cindy P.
Linda R.
Cutting-edge, clinically proven and most effective technology that has maximized results for 5000+ patients over seven years.
Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH Celebrates Life-ChangING Relief Helped over 5000 Peripheral Neuropathy sufferers since 2013 By Janice Lane Palko
If you’ve heard or read anything about Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH, you know that for Dr. Shawn Richey and his staff, that it’s all about helping you to reclaim your “ING”—dancing, biking, hiking—but sometimes the simpler “INGs” are the ones that make all the difference in a person’s life who is suffering from peripheral neuropathy.
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pproximately 30 million Americans suffer from peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms of painful cramping, burning and tingling, difficulty walking, numbness and even interruption of sleep. Since 2013, Dr. Richey’s program has had a 90% satisfaction rate, and he has seen thousands of patients suffering with peripheral neuropathy who have tried everything including potentially harmful medications and other painful testing and treatments. This can leave patients still struggling and wandering down the long road of endless disappointment. Now
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patients have hope and are able to have the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy addressed with a successful, non-invasive, painless, drug-free approach that includes the use of light therapy to stimulate tissue repair. Many of those who received relief from those treatments gathered recently and shared their experiences. Each year Dr. Richey hosts a celebration lunch for his patients getting their life back. This year’s event was held on February 13, at Bravo restaurant in Cranberry Twp., and the words “life-changing” were often used
Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
to describe what the treatments have meant to those patients. VINCE M., McCandless, had back surgery two years ago, but he was left with burning feet and legs. He tried physical therapy to no avail. When someone suggested seeking help at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH, he thought why not give it a shot? “It took a while to see improvement, but now I’m 90-100% better. It was life-changing for me. In fact, as I was thinking about coming here today, I realized, at that moment, I had no pain at all!” “The best part,” said Grace, his
Rob S.
Ray B.
Walt W.
Sewickley/Wexford • Latrobe • Washington • (724) 940-9000 wife, “is that he enjoys going there.” CINDY P., Beaver County, also had back issues. Fourteen years ago, she had back fusion surgery. The surgery was a success, but she was left with numbness in her feet, cramping, pain, burning and a shocking feeling. “I was told there was nothing that could be done about it. The worst of it was the anxiety attacks centered around sleep. Most time sleep is a relief for pain, but my pain was worse at night.” Cindy started treatment at Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH in November 2019 and has already seen vast improvement. “The shocking feeling is gone as is the cramping, and the numbness is almost gone. It’s amazing. It’s been a miracle,” said Cindy who crocheted, read or scanned her phone while being treated. “I’m going to miss going to treatments when I’m done; it’s been such a great experience.” Sometimes neuropathy comes out of nowhere. LINDA R., Cranberry Twp., began to experience numbness and a cramping feel in her toes. “Then I had coldness and red striations appear across my toes. My family physician checked me for diabetes, but I was fine,” said Linda. Someone suggested that she consult with Dr. Shawn. “I started treatment in November 2019 and already I’m 60% better. Before when I was driving, I was having difficulty feeling my feet, and that’s frightening. Now, I’m getting relief and resting so much better.” Like Linda, ROB S’s pain came out of nowhere. “Idiopathic is what they call it,” said Rob, of Wexford, who experienced excruciating pain, a feeling of scraping on the tops of his feet.
“I’m a designer and the pain began to affect my hands as well.” He learned about Dr. Shawn at a Neuropathy Support Group in Irwin. “My relief varies from 60-90% better, but the best part is I’m now getting new clients. I can work again. I also have been able to golf and grip my clubs without any pain.” “I had been praying for relief,” said RAY B., Gibsonia, who has Type 2 diabetes resulting in neuropathy. “I heard Dr. Shawn on the radio and gave him a call.” Ray had numbness in his feet and as a result had trouble keeping his balance. “After the first treatment, I felt a difference. Now, I’m 95-98% better.” WALT W., Glenshaw, sought treatment at Neuropathy Treatment Centers after surgery because the post-op drugs were bothering his legs. “It was uncomfortable walking, and after the first visit, I felt improvement, but what really impressed me is that the center is like a family. We all encourage each other.“ Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body. Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur. A specialized treatment protocol utilizing brand new technologies is available at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH. It includes the combination of very specific, non-invasive, FDAapproved and painless treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms of
peripheral neuropathy. “It’s a blessing to see people come in having difficulty walking and in pain, and then to see them here smiling and doing so much better,” said Dr. Shawn. Dr. Richey has helped thousands of sufferers of peripheral neuropathy throughout the region, and he has expanded his practice to include Latrobe, Washington and Sewickley/ Wexford. Locations of Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH offices are: • Sewickley/Wexford 2591 Wexford-Bayne Road, Suite 207 Sewickley, PA 15143 • Latrobe 1901 Ligonier Street Latrobe, PA 15650 • Washington with Dr. Michael Scarton 1385 Washington Road, #100 Washington, PA 15301 If you are suffering with peripheral neuropathy, why not give Dr. Richey a call for a free consultation? Who knows? Maybe next year you could be at Dr. Richey’s luncheon extolling the “ING” you got back in life—lifechanging pain relief! n
Contact Dr. Shawn Richey and his staff at (724) 940-9000 and your appointment will be made at the location that is most convenient for you. To learn more, visit www.MaryDancedIn.com.
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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Each year, Dr. Shawn Richey of Neuropathy
Treatment Centers of PGH hosts a patient appreciation lunch, celebrating his patients’ renewed life. This year’s lunch was held on Thursday, February 13, at Bravo Restaurant in Cranberry. Approximately 50 patients who had received relief from their peripheral neuropathy symptoms of painful cramping, burning and tingling, difficulty walking, numbness and even interruption of sleep under the care of Dr. Richey and Neuropathy Treatment Center of PGH were there. Attendees were all smiles as they dined on a delicious buffet and won gift baskets in a raffle as well as receiving free health products and posing for group photos. But those smiles paled in comparison to those the guests sported when relating how much their debilitating neuropathy symptoms had been relieved and how grateful they were to Dr. Shawn and his staff at Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH for giving them their lives back.
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Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
YOUR HEALTH
The Sun is Coming; Are You Prepared? by Joseph C. Maroon, MD, FACS
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s spring approaches, we have a lot to anticipate. The returning songbirds, green grass and blooming flowers are all nature’s gifts this time of year. But for us in the northern latitudes, our biggest treat is to see the sun again. Longer days and brighter and warmer sun calls us to come outside and enjoy it. The sun has the power to even reverse certain mood disorders, such as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. SAD is linked to the shorter days and lack of sun in the winter. We have spoken before of the benefits of sunlight to stimulate the production of vitamin D in our skin and its subsequent bone health benefits. Few people realize typically 30 minutes per day in sunlight is enough to produce an adequate amounts of vitamin D. We all love to be outside in the sun, but what about the risk to our skin? With more intense sun and greater exposure to its UV rays (both A and B type), we can risk a host of serious diseases and conditions that are entirely preventable. It is a somber fact that the most common cancer is still skin cancer. Despite most skin cancers generally having a more benign course, the most aggressive, melanoma, can be deadly. Developing melanoma in most cases is linked to sun exposure. In fact, having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for mel
anoma. Overall, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. More than two people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour. Scary facts, but like most cancers, skin cancer is generally a preventable condition. Besides an association with cancer, excessive sun exposure can have a profound effect on our skin aging. Sun exposure, especially on our face, accelerates the skin aging process and is the major cause of skin wrinkles, cracking and pigment changes. The skin on our face is often in the front line from a variety of “attacks.” What the skin “faces” everyday: • Bacteria, viruses and fungus – that may infect us • Oxygen and ozone – that oxidizes us • Sun and UV radiation– burn and dehydrates • Pollution/Smoke – inflames and kills cells It is because of these exposures that the skin has developed a vast array of defenses to protect us throughout our lifetime. It is the outcome this battle that will determine the ultimate condition of our skin as we age. What to DO? As mentioned,, sun exposure can be healthy, but excessive or
long-term exposure is not. If you plan to be in the sun greater than 30 minutes, consider using a sunscreen lotion on the exposed surfaces of your skin. According to the American Cancer Society, choose “broad spectrum” protection, sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher and is water resistant. Other Tips for Healthier Skin Wash your face regularly and gently to remove toxic chemicals, pollution and skin surface exposure to bacteria, viruses or fungus. Moisturize your skin in order to help protect the skin from the environment. Use a glycerin-based moisturizer that can add a protective layer to help reduce water loss. Moisturizers with sunscreen will also block out UV radiation and help maintain hydration. Fight the effects of gravity with exercises. The toning exercises for the face can prevent wrinkles and improves blood supply. Spring is here again, and it’s time to celebrate it. But remember your skin, the body’s largest organ, has a big job to protect us. Keep it healthy and you will enjoy the rewards for many years to come. n
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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YOUR HEALTH
Outpatient Therapies Help Redefine What It Means to Be a Senior
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f there’s one thing Lutheran SeniorLife knows, it’s the value of an independent, active, and abundant life. To help provide it, the organization has three outpatient satellites that specialize in therapies for those 55-plus. “Sometimes, a surgeon or therapist who deals with all age groups doesn’t fully see a senior’s desire and ability to do more. That perception can really shortchange their recovery,” explained Leslie Kisow, Director of Outpatient Therapy Services for Lutheran SeniorLife. A highly-personal approach to outpatient therapies. At Lutheran SeniorLife Outpatient Facilities, therapists create personalized fitness plans based on each patient’s abilities, fitness level, lifestyle, and goals.
“We see our patients as individuals, not a number or age.“ Leslie Kisow, Director of Outpatient Therapy Services, Lutheran SeniorLife “We help participants reach beyond their expectations and do more. Our sole focus on 55+ therapies takes away a lot of barriers. Our patients like working out with others in the same age group, the support is phenomenal, and that helps them rise to the challenge.” details Kisow. In addition to pre-surgery conditioning, post-surgery recovery, and flexibility and strength building, Lutheran SeniorLife Outpatient facilities offer therapies for issues related to low vision, balance, posture, and neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s. Kisow adds, “We can almost always help people do more.”
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The more convenient the therapy, the better. When therapy is accessible, patients stick with it and achieve greater results. With that in mind, Lutheran SeniorLife created three outpatient facilities located at St. John Community in Mars, Passavant Community in Zelienople, and the Center at the Mall in Center Township. Both Passavant Community and Center at the Mall offer fitness memberships. Getting started with Lutheran SeniorLife Outpatient Therapy. For more information on Lutheran SeniorLife’s Outpatient Facilities, email outpatienttherapy@lutheranseniorlife. org or call 724-452-3492 n
Personal Care Medical Associates (PCMA)
t’s hard to be your best when you are in pain. At Personal Care Medical Associates (PCMA) at PCMA Advanced Pain Medicine and Wellness Center, they help you to feel and look your best. PCMA provides safe, effective, customized care for their patient’s individual needs. Recently opened at One Adams Place, 310 Seven Fields Boulevard in Seven Fields, PCMA can help those suffering with back and neck pain, osteoporosis, compression fractures, phantom limb pain, neuropathy, osteoarthritis, migraines/headaches and post-laminectomy syndrome. They treat patients with innovative technology and deliver the most advanced minimally invasive, therapeutic and diagnostic services to restore their patient’s function, relieve pain and regain independence. Their team of providers and interventional pain specialists in their state-of-the-art facility brings quality care close to home. A personalized plan of care is developed for each patient and includes personalized, individual evaluations, customized treatments, multimodal approach to pain management and the use of modern technology and advanced procedures. PCMA also offers aesthetic services such as Botox, dermal fillers, PRP, stem cell therapy and more. They are happy to accept new patients. For more information, call (724) 741-0633 or info@pcmanetwork.com. n
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Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
Senior Care Profiles UPMC Senior Communities Make the most of what life has to offer by making one of UPMC Senior Communities your new home. Choose from a variety of locations around greater Pittsburgh that keep you close to your family, friends, church and shopping preferences. Feel safe and secure in an environment that surrounds you with all the support you need to continue living your senior years to the fullest. Let go of snow shoveling, grass mowing, home maintenance, cleaning and even transportation and cooking if you prefer. Choose from a complete schedule of engaging social and spiritual activities with many new friends. At UPMC Senior Communities, we offer all this and more at reasonable pricing options that enable you to take full advantage of this lifestyle. By offering a variety of facility styles, levels of care and payment options, UPMC Senior Communities can accommodate your preferences. Knowing what is right for you is based on knowing what you need to live life well, regardless of the level of support you require. Perhaps you are looking to enrich your life with more social activities and interactions, or to move to an environment that enables you to be free of daily obligations, such as home maintenance. You may need some assistance with managing your health and wellness, or you may require more medical help due to more significant health issues. Offering options in independent living, personal care and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation, this spectrum of living styles is designed to accommodate your needs and provide you with the fullest lifestyle possible. UPMC Senior Communities is proud to be part of UPMC – one of the most innovative and patient-centered health systems in the country. That affiliation brings valuable benefits to our residents and staff. As members of the larger UPMC family, our residents benefit from the opportunities and resources that can only be found in a world-class health system. For more information and to schedule a tour, visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com or call 1-800-324-5523.
St. Barnabas Communities It’s always the perfect time to enjoy retirement living at St. Barnabas. The beautifully landscaped campuses provide a peaceful space to relax and enjoy Mother Nature. Our residents stroll walking trails with their dog, play bocce with friends, fish at our private pond, golf on one of our two 18-hole golf courses or join neighbors for happy hour on the Crystal Conservatory pool deck. Our indoor mall at The Village includes a bank, gift shop, library, general store, chapel, salon, wine room and three restaurants where residents gather daily for events, entertainment, happy hour and chef-prepared meals. We offer a diverse array of amenities to match your lifestyle and these are just a sampling of the St. Barnabas retirement experience exclusive to our residents. Call 724-443-0700 to find out how you can start enjoying your retirement! www.stbarnabascommunities.org.
Envisiage Envisage is your partner for both the good and the not-so-good times that may occur during your life. That’s why we’re taking this time to focus on what’s important. We are committed to bringing you a library of resources, videos and tutorials designed to help you stay socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually well as we work together to flatten the curve. Visit www.Envisage.org/wellness-tips to find the latest resources that will help make this time easier for all of us. Envisage is a long-term planning solution from your leaders in aging services, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and Luteran SeniorLife. To learn more, visit www.Envisage.org or call 866.435.6777
Presbyterian Senior Care Network Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is a not-for-profit that’s been focused for more than 90 years on making aging easier®. As the region’s largest aging services provider, we have created a network of interconnected living, service and care options to meet the needs of older adults from all walks of life wherever they are on their life’s journey. Our continuum of care and services includes Independent Living/LifePlan Communities, Service-Enriched Low-Income Housing, In-Home Programs, Personal Care Communities, Skilled Nursing and Short-Term Rehabilitation Care Centers, Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care and Adult Day Services. We are privileged to serve 6,500 older adults annually across 10 Western Pennsylvania counties. Every day lives are being enriched and changed positively by our compassionate and well-trained team members and volunteers – people whose calling is to serve others and whose dedication to excellence is consistent with our faith-based mission of improving the lives. Learn more about our living and service options at www.SrCare.org.
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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YOUR HEALTH
Are You Allowing Guilt to Get You Off Track? UPMC Senior Services
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aring for someone with dementia is often referred to as an “emotional roller coaster.” Caregivers may identify the experience with negative emotions such as unsureness, frustration, irritability, embarrassment, grief and resentment. However, guilt is often at the helm of the wheel for this emotional roller coaster. The dictionary defines guilt as “feelings of deserving blame especially for imagined offenses or from a sense of inadequacy.” This definition can take caregivers off track. Guilt can send caregivers down a steep slope of self-doubt where positive and confident emotions from being a care partner are forgotten or not experienced. As a care partner, mistakes are going to be made and decisions are going to be tough. Possibly one of the most guilt inducing decisions is considering nursing home placement. Guilt may be experienced from doubting if you did enough. Guilt might come from a broken promise to “never put me in a nursing home,” or fear that your loved one will further decline or that you will not be there
when your loved one passes away. Taking on the responsibility to care for another person comes with a huge amount of pressure, especially if that person is living with dementia. You are the one making decisions regarding the health, finances and safety of another human being in a situation you have no control over. Coping with the feelings of guilt in placing an individual with dementia in long-term care starts first with resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from a tough situation. Developing skills in resiliency can help you bounce back from the turmoil of a difficult situation without becoming broken. Keys to becoming resilient: • Connect with family and friends • Act on what you can control • Learn from past experiences • Take care of you • Meditation, journaling, connect with nature The truth is . . . you are not perfect. You did not cause this illness or level of decline. We have little to no way of knowing how an illness or disease will progress down the road. Professional care is often necessary for the safety and comfort of an individual living with dementia. They still need you, but now it is as their advocate. Share their life story; communicate with the staff; get to know the Ombudsman, the official who oversees resident rights and quality of care; join a support group. Acknowledge and appreciate the difficult position you are in and accept you cannot live life for others. Donna Schempp, LCSW of the Family Caregiver Alliance, writes, “You need permission to forgive yourself.” Jumping tracks from guilt to forgiveness will allow you to experience the positive emotions associated with being a care partner. Instead of allowing guilt to get you off track, seek out a journey of gratitude. Switching tracks from guilt to gratitude will help bring peace in knowing you did the very best you could. To learn more about support groups, resources and education for older adults, care partners and families, contact UPMC Senior Services at 866-430-8742 or visit UPMC.com/SeniorServices. Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/upmcseniorservices/ n References: Schempp, D. “Emotional Side of Caregiving”. Family Caregiver Alliance. www.caregiver.org.
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55+ FEATURE
Medicare Rule Changes in 2020 By Crystal A. Manning
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here have been changes to the way Medicare plans work this year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) direction toward a structure that holds providers accountable for patient outcomes and costs. Medicare Advantage (Part C) Benefits in 2020 and Beyond Starting last year, new government rules allowed Medicare Advantage plans to significantly increase the types of benefits they cover beyond strict medical care. The new rules opened the door to coverage of services such as adult daycare, home-based care, caregiver support, pain management and safety devices. Before you sign up for one of these expanded plans, be sure you know the limits involved. You still have time to change until March 31 if you are not happy with the plan you chose.
ries need to be aware of changes to their plans each year. Don’t assume that your plan’s formulary (the list of prescription drugs covered by your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan) is permanent. These lists change every year. As do copays or the tier a drug is on. Changes to Medigap in 2020 Many people who choose Original Medicare instead of Medicare Advantage purchase Medicare Supplement insurance, also known as Medigap. There are 10 active Medigap plan types, which are identified by letter – like Plan D, Plan K, or Plan M. Under new rules, Medigap Plans C and F are no longer available for people who are enrolling in Medicare for the first time on or after January 1, 2020. Medicare care can be confusing…an advisor can help with
navigating the do’s and don’ts Ensure that you get the plan that works for you individually, contact Crystal Manning at 412-716-4942 to set up a no-cost consultation or email at crystalmanning33@gmail.com. n
CONFUSED ABOUT MEDICARE?
Medicare is confusing – call for a one-to-one, no charge consultation with a Medicare expert! Remove the FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND COSTLY MISTAKES from the Medicare enrollment process. Crystal A. Manning
Medicare Advisor
Call 412-716-4942 or email crystalmanning33@gmail.com 10008 Pine Ridge Drive Wexford, Pa. 15090
Medicare Part D 2020 Changes: Many plans are showing higher out-of-pocket costs, including a deductible for tiers 3, 4 & 5. The Medicare rates for the so-called catastrophic threshold, (the limit that Medicare recipients pay out-ofpocket for prescription drugs), increased from $5,100 in 2019 to $6,350 in 2020. Most important, beneficia
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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REM EM BER WHEN
Just Take Those Old Records off the Shelf By Janice Lane Palko
I was surprised recently when I went into Target and saw that they were selling vinyl records. Seems vinyl is making a comeback, and for many of us, that is like welcoming back a long-lost friend.
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n 1948, Peter Goldmark invented the vinyl LP (long play) record, and his invention played a great part in my past. My mother had quite an eclectic record collection that included albums from Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, the soundtrack to Porgy & Bess, The Lettermen, The Vogues, Ethel Merman and Perry Como as well as Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. We played them on a huge console stereo system, and it made me good at playing Name that Tune. When I grew older, I began my own record collection but as pre-teen, I favored singles because they were cheaper and portable. I had a plastic record case that housed a stack of hits like “Puppy Love” by Donny Osmond, “Ball of Confusion” by the Temptations, “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies, “Timothy” (the contro-
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versial cannibal song) and the first single I ever bought, “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro. It wasn’t a successful sleepover party unless you showed up with your record collection and spent the night stacking the records on the spindle and dancing all night. As I became a teen, records played an even bigger part in my life as it did with most other teens I knew. I saved babysitting money to buy Elton John’s Honky Chateau, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, The Eagles’ Hotel California, and REO Speedwagon’s You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tune a Fish albums. A great escape for most teens if you were shopping at the mall with your parents was to duck on over to the National Record Mart, where you could lose yourself flipping through the racks and racks of albums, and learn about your favorite artist’s new release, and pick up a copy of the songs on the Top 100 chart. With so much information online today, I don’t think people who didn’t grow up in that era can fully appreciate the joy of buying and opening a new album. I’d spend hours reading the liner notes on the album covers and learning the lyrics, dropping the needle repeatedly on my favorite cut. I haven’t dated in nearly 40 years, so I don’t know how important music is in the love scene these days, but when I was dating in the 1970s, some of the questions that always came up on a first date were: What music do you listen to? Who’s your favorite group? Do you have this album? It was always gratifying to find a kindred music soul. I think if I had told my husband that I liked disco instead of Led Zeppelin, our relationship may not have endured.
55+ FEATURE
But it did, and one of the signs of the seriousness of our relationship was when we thought about the future and merging our record collections. The first summer we dated, I distinctly remember going to the National Record Mart, and my future husband suggesting that I buy the Journey Escape album and he buy the Foreigner 4 album and then we could share. Could an engagement ring be far behind? It wasn’t; we were engaged two months later. When we got married, one of our first major purchases was a “sound system”—a $600 tower of equipment that included a turntable, equalizer, tuner and enormous speakers. And how delighted I was when I learned that he was bringing to the marriage Elton John’s double album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” that I never quite saved up enough babysitting money to buy back in 1973 and every Led Zeppelin LP ever recorded.
Newest Ways to Protect Your Pet By Marianne Reid Anderson
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nce our dog wandered off because the gate blew open, and once he crawled under the fence to go visit his friend down the street. Both times the stress and distress were overwhelming. It was past time to act. Besides reinforcing the gate and fence, here are some of the precautions that we took to protect our furry family member: LATEST IN ID TAGS – The most common form of pet protection is to have an ID tag (also known as “dog tags”) hanging from your pet’s collar and engraved with your contact information. Should your pet become lost and is found, you can easily be contacted. However, in the case where you move, or otherwise, change any of your contact information, you need to be sure and get a new ID tag. Today, you can order engraved ID tags online or purchase one at the many pet stores that have automatic engraving machines where, in just a few moments, you can have the new ID tag ready to go. COLLAR-BASED GPS TRACKERS – Just as your car or your cell phone can give you directions to where you’re going, you can get a pet tracker that clips onto your pet’s collar to tell you where your pet is at all times. The particularly great thing about these devices is that anytime your pet leaves their home area, you are automatically notified that your pet has left the area and shows you where your pet is currently located. This way should your dog become lost or stolen, your dog can be retrieved because you know exactly where they are. Granted, you will be notified that your pet has left home even for a walk or a trip in the car, but these are great reminders that the pet tracker is working. “Whistle” is the industry leader and can be found at: https://www.whistle.com.
But time moved on and things changed. We have a rack of CDs in the game room and songs on our phones, but none of that has ever surpassed the charm of buying and playing a new LP. I don’t know why, but we never got rid of our albums. And now they’re back! So welcome back my old vinyl friends, and I hope that the next generation of music lovers enjoys your charms as much as I did. n
MICROCHIP REGISTRIES – To protect your pet because they slipped through their collar or if their ID tag is out-of-date, microchips are ideal. Your veterinarian can insert a microchip into your pet just as if your pet was receiving a shot. Then, when authorities find your pet, they can scan the microchip for your information and contact you. It is very important, however, to register the microchip online. Preventive Vet recommends registering your pet’s microchip with both the manufacturer of the microchip and the Found Animals registry. Via these online registries, you can also update your contact information as needed. Be sure to have a conversation with your veterinarian to see if a microchip is right for your pet. To learn more, visit https://www.preventivevet.com. As a pet lover myself, I hope awareness of these new, easy-to-use technologies will help you keep your furry family members safe and findable. n Marianne Reid Anderson is a freelance, high-tech writer. Her background and published works can be found on LinkedIn or through her website at www.maritom.com. www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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YOUR FINANCES
Tips for Transitioning into Retirement Ameriprise Financial
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etirement brings the end of a chapter in your career and the start of a new lifestyle. This unique transition can bring a myriad of emotions, most commonly ones of excitement and apprehension. If you’re pondering retirement in the next year or so, here are five tips to help you transition smoothly into retirement. Know the transition could take weeks – or months. You likely spent decades forming a routine around your work schedule. Establishing
your new normal of volunteer work, an encore career or helping family will take time. If you are married, remember that your retired status may affect your spouse’s routine too. Talk openly about how you’re feeling about the transition to keep him or her in the loop. Communicate your retirement plans with family members. Your parents, kids or other family members will likely be interested in how you intend to spend your retirement days. Will you be
visiting grandkids more often? Starting a business, you’ll want support with? Continuing to host family get-togethers? Planning to move or purchase a retirement home? As you share your plans, don’t forget to touch on your financial picture. The benefits of open communication are three-fold: it reassures your kids that you’re financially prepared; allows you to introduce (or remind) your family about your estate and legacy plans; and it establishes a safe space for both sides to discuss potentially challenging money topics. Maintain healthy habits. Staying diligent with the activities that help you feel your best is important as you shift into retirement. Prioritize eating healthy, sleeping well, staying fit and maintaining friendships in your new routine. Evaluate your finances. Prior to retirement, you likely outlined how you will manage your cash flow. (If not, today is the day to put a plan in place.) As you enter retirement, review your expenses to ensure they’re aligned with your plan. It’s common to revise your spending and activities after experiencing the first few weeks away from your primary job, so it’s okay if you need to adjust how much you withdraw from your accounts each month. If you want to increase your spending, calculate what that means for your later retirement years, as you don’t want your savings to come up short. Consult a financial advisor for guidance on
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how to make your money last while living the lifestyle you desire. Reset your attitude. Retirement is not the ultimate finish line, even if it may feel like one at times. Experiencing a lot of emotions is common, but try to focus on what you’re excited about in this next chapter. And, remember you’re not alone. Talk to friends, family and professionals in your life for support along the way. n Antonio C. Aiello, CFP®, CRPC®, Private Wealth Advisor and Lisa A. Brooks, CFP®, CRPC®, Financial Advisor are with Premier Wealth Partners, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They specialize in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and have been in practice for 20 years. To contact them, please visit www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/premierwealth-partners or call 412.922.7700. Their office is located at 1570 Omega Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2018 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2020
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YOUR FINANCES
Now Is the Time for a Move! It’s spring, a time when people like to take stock and do a good spring cleaning. While you are sprucing things up, you may want to take some time to examine your finances, especially where it concerns interest rates.
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n recent weeks, the Federal Reserve bank cut interest rates. Since the first of the year, mortgage rates have fallen to the lowest average since 2016. What does that mean for you? If you are considering a move, maybe a downsize, now may be a good time to do it. Buyers will be looking for homes especially since the rates are low and homes should be priced and ready to move. For those who don’t want to move and still have a mortgage, you may want to check your interest rate. Generally, it makes financial sense to refinance if you can reduce your interest rate by 2%. With interest rates falling iit may also be a good time to get a home equity loan. Although home equity loan rates are traditionally higher than mortgage rates, the interest rates for home equity loans are reasonable. Perhaps you need to make some much-need house repairs or pay off some higher interest debt. A home equity loan can free up some cash. Whatever your financial needs, with interest rates falling, it may be a wise move to talk with your financial professional to see if you should take advantage of the lower interest rates. n
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Building Lifestyles People Love
Millcreek Farms
The Courtyards at Willow Grove
Millcreek Farms is your opportunity to have your ideal ‘weekend get-away’ be your everyday home! Thoughtfully situated on 32 majestic acres. Millcreek Farms will be a new lifestyle community that promises the seclusion of the countryside with the convenience of access to local shopping, entertainment and golf. With quick access to Route 228 and Route 8 you will be minutes from Cranberry Township, Hampton or Butler areas.
Livable luxury is the statement at Willow Grove. One level living at its finest with the option for a basement or second floor. This quaint community of 22 homes provides all lawn care and snow removal services so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Conveniently located next to North Boundary Park, minutes to I-79 and Route 19, get out and enjoy life without the burden of outdoor chores.
Patio & Courtyard Homes Butler County/Middlesex Township
A large community clubhouse will host a fully furnished community room, exercise facility and an in-ground swimming pool. The clubhouse becomes a place to build new relationships with neighbors, host family gatherings and a great place to spend a hot summer day. Millcreek Farms offers multiple home styles that allow you to ‘right-size’ and pick the best fit for exactly how you want to live. Whether it is a single family one-level living or open concept patio home, easy living is at your door step. Throw away your snow shovel and lawn mower and grab your sunhat and cards because this new lifestyle is all about easy living.
The Villas at Spring Valley Patio Homes Butler County / Jackson Township
Enjoy a simpler and more enriching life! Equipped with a clubhouse, in-ground swimming pool, and fitness center, Spring Valley will give residents a warm and welcoming sense of community. These amenities offer places to gather, foster relationships with friends and neighbors, or just relax! Spring Valley is the maintenance-free neighborhood you’ve been waiting for!
Courtyard Homes Butler County/Cranberry Township
Scenic Ridge
Patio & Courtyard Homes Butler County/Lancaster Township Scenic Ridge is a lifestyle community. A lifestyle of low maintenance home ownership allows you the opportunity to enjoy the amenities included such as the pool, clubhouse and fitness center. All of our homes afford the ease of one level living and some allow the customization to add a second floor if you need more space. Put away the lawn mower, snow shovels and rakes and break out the sunscreen and party wear. Our patio home designs offer an open floorplan which includes a bright veranda flanked with windows, cathedral ceilings throughout and an expanded two car garage that offers a host of storage space. Enjoy single level, single family living with our Courtyard Series homes. These homes give you the outdoor space you desire, without the maintenance. There are many configurations of six different floorplans that are bound to fit your desires.
Call 724-609-5261 | WEAVERHOMES.COM
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Step Back Into... Apollo mission is in peril. College campus shooting in Ohio By Paula Green
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pollo 13 was launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 11, 1970, but the lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank in the service module (SM) failed two days into the mission. The crew commanded by Jim Lovell instead looped around the Moon and returned safely to Earth on April 17. Four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured on May 4, when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd gathered to protest the Vietnam War.
Average The average income was $9,400. Cost of a new home $26,600. The average cost of a new car $3,690. Gasoline was 36 cents per gallon. A dozen of eggs was 62 cents. A gallon of milk was $1.15. Two-pound can of coffee was $1.79. One-pound loaf of bread was 25 cents. Ketchup sold for 19 cents and a pound of bacon was 80 cents per pound. The price of a first-class stamp was 6 cents.
Firsts The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22. IBM introduces the floppy disk. The first jumbo jet, the 747, entered service on January 22, on Pan Am’s New York–London route. Concorde makes its first supersonic flight (700 mph/1127 km/h). The first computer chess tournament takes place.
U.S. events Jimi Hendrix (Sept. 18) and Janis Joplin (Oct. 4) both die from drug-related deaths at age 27. The age of voting is lowered to 18 in the U.S.
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The Environmental Protection Agency is established. On Nov. 14, a plane carrying members of the Marshall University football team crashed. Charles Manson and members of his family are convicted of murdering Sharon Tate, her unborn baby and several others.
World News Egyptian President Abdel Nasser dies and is replaced by Anwar el-Sadat. Bar codes are introduced for retail and industrial use in England. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect after ratification by 43 nations. The Isle of Wight Festival was held Aug. 26-31 off Britain’s south coast and featured The Who, the Doors, Supertramp, Chicago, the Moody Blues and other popular musicians.
Entertainment The Beatles breakup and all four members go solo. Midnight Cowboy wins the Best Picture Oscar, the first and only time an X-rated movie received the honor. George C. Scott gives a memorable
Spring 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com
performance in Patton. He won Best Actor Oscar for his role, but refused the gold statuette. Other popular films – M*A*S*H, Love Story and Airport.
Television Monday Night Football debuted on ABC. Other TV shows that premiered in 1970 include - All My Children, Dan August, Flip, Josie and the Pussycats, Make Room for Granddaddy, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, McCloud, Nanny and the Professor, The Odd Couple and The Partridge Family.
Songs Record of the Year: Aquarius by the Fifth Dimension, Blood, Sweat and Tears by Blood, Sweat and Tears. Popular songs: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Close to You, American Woman, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, War, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.
Publishing The New English Bible is printed. Popular books: The Bluest Eyes, Jonathan Livingston
Seagull, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Ringworld and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Sports Super Bowl Champs – Kansas City Chiefs; NBA Champions – New York Knicks; World Series Winner – Baltimore Orioles; Stanley Cup Champs – Boston Bruins. On Sept. 13, the first New York City marathon was run.
Politics President – Richard M. Nixon, Vice President – Spiro T. Agnew.
Quotes: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” – Ali MacGraw, Love Story “Houston, we have a problem!” – Jim Lovell, Apollo 13, commander “I started the band. I disbanded it. It’s as simple as that.” – John Lennon
Sources: https://www.infoplease.com/ year/1970, http://www.thepeoplehistory. com/1970.html, www.1970sflashback. com/1970/economy.asp, https://www. metv.com/quiz/how-much-did-these-itemscost-in-the-1970s, http://www.classic70s. com/1970s-prices.html, https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/inventions-of-the-1970s, http://www.beatles2020.net/beatles-breakup.html, www.inthe70s.com/generated/ time1970.shtml.
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55+ FEATURE
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents the 34th Annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival
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he Pittsburgh Cultural Trust recently announced the return of the annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival on May 14-17 throughout the Pittsburgh Cultural District. Now in its 34th year, this Festival fosters imagination through high-quality professional theater performances from around the world, including Australia, Japan, Scotland, South Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States. Highlights of the 2020 Festival include six featured performances tailored to children of all ages: Emil and the Detectives, Origami Tales, White, Nest, in addition to sensory-friendly performances of Doodle POP! and Dan + Claudia Zanes, over fifty free hands-on activities and experiences, as well as The Way of Color, an interactive art installation composed of colorful rainbow sand. “This edition of the EQT Children’s Theater Festival offers performances for everyone, ages 0 through adult,” says Pamela Komar, Director of Theater, Music, and Youth Programming for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Audiences will discover adventurous shows that include music, humor, puppetry, storytelling, interactivity, imagination, wonder, and so many “aha” moments. The Festival is a terrific way to inspire family time away from our individual screens.” For a full list of showtimes, performance descriptions, and directions to all locations visit Pghkids.Trustarts. org or call 412-456-6666. n
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SPRING ’20 HAPPENINGS Collections
Health & Wellness
Meals on Wheels
North Hills Community Outreach is collecting safety items for seniors, for details visit nhco.org or call Cathy, at (412) 307-0069 x3313.
Free Services for Seniors through North Hills Community Outreach. Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. Call Cathy at (412) 307-0069 ext. 3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an inhome registration visit.
Aspinwall Meals on Wheels provides home cooked, home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled. Services Blanox, Aspinwall, Fox Chapel, Sharpsburg, and O’Hara. Call (412) 820-8350.
Counseling Just Ask Julian: Elder Law Questions Answered, 1 p.m., April 16, Cumberland Woods Village. For info, visit ThelegacyLineup.com or call (412) 635-8080.
Exhibits Pennsylvania Goes to the Polls: A Visual Journey of PA Presidential Artifacts, throughout the month of April, Sewickley Heights History Center 1901 Glen Mitchell Rd, Sewickley. For info, call (412) 741-4487.
Healthy Start Café, 8:45 a.m., every Mon & Thurs, St. John Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd. Presented by Lutheran SeniorLife & St. John Lutheran Church of Highland. Call (412) 364-1606 or (412) 3071797. North Hill Community Outreach provides Safety Checks for Seniors. Interested seniors who reside in northern Allegheny County should email Cathy at clpschirer@ nhco.org or call (412) 307-0069 x3313.
McKnight Meals on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled. Services Ross Twp., Berkeley Hills, Swan Acres, McCandless, Shaler & Hampton Townships. Call (412) 487-4088. North Country Meal on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound & disabled. Services Marshall, Pine, Richland, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, parts of McCandless, West Deer, Cranberry, Adams, Seven Fields, Mars & Valencia. Call (724) 935-1877. (Continued on page 28)
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Medical North Hills Community Outreach offers free medication safety screenings for seniors living in northern Allegheny County, north of the city of Pittsburgh. For details contact, Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313.
Parkinson’s Support Groups Beaver County, 1 p.m., 2nd Tues of each month, Pathway Church in Chippewa, 239 Braun Rd., Beaver Falls. Contact Sarah, at (724) 728-7550.
Oakland, 1 p.m., 1st Wed. of each month, Rodef Shalom, 4905 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. Contact Casey, at (412) 8372542. South Hills, 1 p.m., 2nd Wed. of each month, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2040 Washington Rd., Upper St. Clair. Contact Karen, at (412) 8351498.
Seminars
Kittanning, 1 p.m., 3rd Thurs. of each month, Richard G. Snyder YMCA, 1150 N. Water St., Kittanning. Contact Ann, at (724) 548-8467.
Bridges From Around the World 11 a.m., April 14; Stealing Lincoln, 11 a.m., April 28; The Bald Eagle: The Return From Near Extinction, 11 a.m., May 12, Cumberland Woods Village, 700 Cumberlands Woods Dr. For info, visit ThelegacyLineup.com or call (412) 635-8080.
Monroeville, 1 p.m., 2nd Fri. of each month, Forbes Hospital, 2570 Haymaker Rd., Monroeville. Contact Casey, at (412) 8372542.
Protecting Seniors, 10 a.m.noon, Apr. 8, St. Barnabas Theatre, 5847 Meridian Rd., Gibsonia. For info, visit StBarnabasHealthSystem.
Seniors for Safe Driving Course, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Apr. 2, Shaler Township Municipal Building, 300 Wetzel Rd., Glenshaw. For info, call Rep. Lori Migorski office, at (412) 487-6605.
Social Great Fellowship Social Club, meeting noon, 2nd Sat. each month in Wexford, Bella Frutteto, 2602 Brandt School Rd., 15090. Live music, Dixieland, Jazz, & Eclectic sounds. $25 entertainment with a choice from Bella Frutetto’s special events menu. All are welcome! Cash bar opens at 11:30 a.m. For info, visit www. fellowsclub1904.com.
Spiritual 2nd Act, ages 55+, 10 a.m.noon, 2nd Thur. thru May 14, Wexford, lobby, Orchard Hill. Fosters spiritual growth thru music, inspirational speakers & outreach projects. For info, visit orchardhillchurch.com.
Senior Facilities UPMC Senior Communities offers independent living & personal care. For details, call 1-800-324-5523.
Senior Meetings Cranberry Township 55+ Club meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. The club features activities, social events and local trips. For info, call Bill at (724) 776-1933. Friends and Fun 55+ Singles meet at 7 p.m., every 1st Friday, at St. Ferdinand’s, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. Call (724) 816-2159. Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. from 1:15-3:15 p.m., The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon., 1-2:30 p.m., at Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, Sangree Rd., Ross. Call (724) 444-0064.
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Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. Call (412) 7414900 or visit http://www.ccgf. org.
Social Groups AUP Club, have fun & meet new people with the Association of University People/AUP. We are looking for single, 4-year college graduates over 50 to join us for monthly dinners, meet at various social spots, gatherings and Scrabble. For info, call (412) 734-8445 or visit us at www. aupsinglespittsburgh.org. Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, has dances, retreats and plays various sports and other great events. Visit their website http://www.cacpittsburgh.org/.
Support Groups Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. Call Suzie, at (724) 799-7049. Bereavement Support Group (for Widows/Widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300. Home Instead Senior Care® has a program to help families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com. Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 7795020.
Tax Prep AARP & Northland Library tax prep for seniors & low-income residents, 9 a.m.-noon, Tues & Thurs., thru Apr. 14, at Northland Library. NO Walk-ins! Call State Senator Lindsey Williams’ office to schedule your appt (412) 3640469.
