Complimentary | Chester County Edition
bending with life’s flow page 4
50plus expo highlights page 12
VA Launches New Healthcare Options page 16
July 2019 • Vol. 16 No. 7
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The deadline for older adults and Pennsylvania residents with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2018 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31 this year. The rebate program’s income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 a year for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Spouses, personal representatives, or estates may file rebate claims on
behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2018. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and state legislators’ offices.
Watch for These Hidden Causes of High Blood Pressure Many factors affect your blood pressure, including genetics, diet, and even your sleeping patterns. The Healthline website advises you to be mindful of these possible contributors to high blood pressure as well: Over-thecounter medications. Common medications used to address everyday aches and pains can increase one’s blood pressure. These include antiinflammatory drugs like Aleve, Advil, and Tylenol, as well as decongestants. You don’t have to stop taking them, but check with your doctor.
Caffeine and alcohol. Both of these can heighten your blood pressure. Limit yourself to less than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day — two to three cups of coffee — and one alcoholic beverage a day for women and two for men. Food ingredients and supplements. Some herbal supplements, for example, use licorice, which can raise blood pressure. In addition, some cheeses, cured meats, and also soy products contain high levels of tyramine, which can interact with medications like antidepressants, causing a spike in blood pressure.
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* Savings amounts are averages based on information from The Hartford’s AARP Auto Insurance Program customers who became new auto insurance policyholders between 1/1/17 and 12/31/17 and provided data regarding their savings and prior carrier. Your savings may vary. ** Based on customer experience reviews shared online at www.thehartford.com/aarp as of November 2018. *** The gift offer is good for first time responders who provide a valid email address. Responders will be sent an email to confirm the gift. All responders in IA, IL, MA and RI who do not provide an email address are still eligible to receive the gift The gift offer is not available in GA, ND, NM or PA, but residents may still request a quote. The gift is available only as a limited time offer. Please allow 4-7 weeks for delivery. † If you are age 50 or older, once you’re insured through this Program for ait least 60 days, you cannot be refused renewal as long as applicable premiums are paid when due. Also, you and other customary drivers of your vehicles must retain valid licenses, remain physically and mentally capable of operating an automobile, have no convictions for driving while intoxicated and must not have obtained your policy through material misrepresentation. Benefit currently not available in HI, MI, NH, NC and TX. §§ Limitations apply. AARP and its affliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in CA by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MN, by Sentinel Insurance Company; and in MA, MI and PA, by Trumbull Insurance Company. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. The program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions. 1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, through Hartford Fire General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. 006131
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Discover support and services available to meet challenges you may encounter as a senior, as someone who is caring for an older loved one, or as a person with a disability.
www.ResourceDirectoryPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com
Little-Known Blood Disorder Mimics Typical Symptoms of Aging New research has revealed that hemochromatosis — a genetic condition that causes more than a million Americans to absorb too much iron from their diets — is a much more serious cause of disease and disability than previously thought. Hemochromatosis is an iron-storage disorder that can cause the body to absorb too much iron from foods and other sources, such as multivitamin supplements with iron. This extra iron can gradually build up in the body’s tissues and organs, particularly in the liver cells, heart, pancreas, joints, and pituitary gland. If left untreated, this iron buildup may lead to tissue and organ July is damage over time. Hemochromatosis Hemochromatosis is easy to detect through blood tests and is treated by blood withdrawals, but carriers Awareness Month suffer from a lack of nationwide awareness of the condition. Two new studies, published in The BMJ and The Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, showed that hemochromatosis, previously thought to be a low-level health risk, actually quadruples risk of liver
disease and doubles the risk of arthritis and frailty in older people. It also causes higher risk of diabetes and chronic pain, and a small number of patients develop liver cancer. The research was led by a team from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the University of Connecticut, and the NIA Intramural Research Program. Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused mainly by specific inherited alterations (mutations) in the HFE gene. When an individual inherits two altered copies of the gene — one from each parent — they are at risk of developing high iron levels, which may lead to illness or organ damage over time. However, most people born with two altered copies of the HFE gene will not develop serious complications. People who inherit an altered gene from only one parent are carriers for the disorder, but are not typically affected themselves. please see DISORDER page 9
At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200 Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000 Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954
Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060
Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636
Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801
Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
JEWELERS American Gold & Estate Buyers, Inc. 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton (484) 872-8216
National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994
Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500
PACE (800) 225-7223
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 436-4510
Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100
Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852
Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676
Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213
Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500
Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (302) 573-4027 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 American Heart Association (610) 940-9540 www.50plusLifePA.com
Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997 Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
retirement living Friends Home in Kennett 147 W. State St., Kennett Square (610) 444-2577 Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310 The Hickman 400 N. Walnut St., West Chester (484) 760-6300 Senior Centers Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 889-2121 Kennett Square (610) 444-4819 Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Wayne (610) 688-6246 West Chester (610) 431-4242
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
50plus LIFE u
July 2019
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Cover Story
Bending with Life’s Flow Corporate Office
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
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50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.
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By Jason J. Tabor
restaurant, The Downtown Lounge. After the birth of her first daughter, Sirae, Riley opened her first fitness studio, Jump with Joy, “We are at any given time a sum of our past when she was just 23. experiences. I like to tell my students to gather up She also started a dog-grooming business to help their pebbles of knowledge and eventually it turns into a hill, and that hill will continue to grow into keep the bar afloat during the lean early years of the studio’s operation. Her second daughter, Kayla, a mountain,” says fitness educator Joy Riley. was born shortly afterward. Her own journey for knowledge and self“Striking a balance between family and career discovery most recently led her to the sandy has always beaches been very of Bali, important Indonesia, to me,” she surrounded says. “As busy by turquoise as I was, my waters, rice focus was on fields, and raising my lush greenery daughters to while she be happy and completed a good mothers 200-hour yoga themselves certification by serving as course. a good role Riley has model to spent most of them.” her life sharing Riley began the knowledge building she’s up her accumulated accreditation with others, and teaching currently as certifications, a professor Riley sitting in Sukhasana (comfortable seated pose) leading fitness of physical in the small, bamboo shala where she trained at the and exercise education Power of Now Oasis in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. instruction at one of classes at Harrisburg her studio and local community centers before Area Community College’s campuses, and as becoming an instructor at HACC, where she has a country club’s director of tennis, a recreation taught for the past 15 years. center’s tennis pro, and a yoga instructor. “I love teaching at HACC; each new group A lifelong central Pennsylvanian, Riley was a of students I teach is a new experience with its natural athlete as a child, excelling at swimming, own set of struggles and rewards,” she says. “It gymnastics, and tennis. She swam competitively as a student at Shippensburg University, where she is extremely gratifying to me as an instructor to studied early childhood education and then taught work with students who are working hard to make positive changes in their lives.” pre-k classes for two years after graduation. Most recently, Riley became a yoga instructor at It soon became clear to her that her real passion The Healing Habitat yoga and wellness studio after for teaching revolved around physical education. completing her certification class in Bali. “Even while I was in college, I realized that I “I had some of the world’s best teachers from had really fallen in love with physical fitness,” she India, and when I finished the four-week program, says. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, like I had so much Fittingly enough, Riley met her husband of 37 more left to learn,” she says. years, Pat, when they noticed each other working Riley traveled to Bali in March 2018 to study out at the local YMCA. while her husband, having recently retired after They married a year later, and Riley then selling the bar to one of his former employees, divided her time between starting a family, joined her. teaching fitness, and helping run Pat’s bar and www.50plusLifePA.com
“He got to have a fun vacation while I was hard at work each day,” she laughs. The yoga instruction took place on the beach, starting at 6:30 each morning and lasting until 4:30 in the afternoon. She, along with a group of other students, studied breath work, cleansing meditation, nutrition, and physical exercise each day. “It was very challenging, but so rewarding. Most of my classmates were in their 20s and from all over the world. I took on a bit of a motherly role within the group, but we were all equal as students and learners,” she says. “That role switch — becoming a student again — renewed my compassion for my own students. It reminded me of the importance of empathy for others and understanding other people’s learning needs and individual struggles.” She credits her friend Emilie Charlotte, owner of The Healing Habitat, for inspiring her to go for her certification. “As we get older and joint pain becomes more of an issue, yoga can provide beautiful healing powers for the body. I really fell in love with it, and of course me being me, I had to get certified and teach,” she laughs. Riley views yoga as a philosophy and lifestyle that promotes health of the mind, body, and spirit. “People associate yoga with stretching and poses, and while that is part of it, the physical aspects serve as a way of preparing the body for what is arguably more important: meditation. “When I came out of Emilie’s classes at Healing Habitat, I felt physically, mentally, and spiritually sound,” Riley continued. “It’s a special community that provides support, uplift, and kindness in a safe, welcoming space, and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.” Riley tells yoga beginners that choosing an instructor or class isn’t one-stop shopping. “You need to determine what you’re looking to get out of yoga, and give yourself time to find the instructor you’re comfortable with,” she says. www.50plusLifePA.com
One of the biggest lessons she’s learned from yoga is the importance of focusing on the here and now, being in the present, and appreciating the blessings in her life. “We find ourselves spending so much time concerning ourselves with things in the past we cannot change or worrying about the future, but the only things we can truly control are happening in the present. We can support other people by uplifting them with kindness right now.” Riley now relishes the five grandchildren she and Pat spend time with each week. “I’ve been a grandmother for seven years now, and I love every minute of it,” she says. “They’re the love of my life!” When not doing fitness instruction, Riley likes to recharge during “Riley Sundays,” where family members take turns hosting dinner and spending time together. They have also made a yearly tradition out of taking family trips to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. “I’d like to slow a little bit and spend more time enjoying life with our grandkids, but I’m not ready for retirement yet. The fitness world has a way of keeping you young!” Riley will turn 60 this summer, a milestone that has her feeling reflective, grateful, and optimistic. “I see it as a new chapter … I have raised my family, run my household, and had many exciting careers. I am a survivor, and I still feel strong and capable. Life is not over after 50. “Because our bodies may not be what they once were, we may lose some of our confidence,” she continued. “But stop — and realize that with wisdom and courage, we can enter this chapter of our lives with humility, grace, and pride over everything we have been through and should never feel bad about getting older. “It’s a privilege that is denied to so many. Don’t stop exploring all the possibilities life has to offer.” On the front cover: Joy Riley in front of the Ubud Water Palace, a Hindu temple in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, which was once the home of the royal family of Ubud.
Aug. 27, 2019
Sept. 12, 2019
Radisson Hotel Harrisburg 1150 Camp Hill Bypass Camp Hill
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This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to join us!
The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families. The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.
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www.veteransexpo.com
Brought to you by:
(717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
50plus LIFE u
July 2019
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The Bookworm Sez
The Trial of Lizzie Borden Terri Schlichenmeyer
But did it get so bad that, five years later, Lizzie Borden Twelve people just like you. took an ax and … ? At trial, each of them will hear the same words. They’ll see At the inquest, most evidence pointed to a resounding the same evidence and watch the same witnesses, but they’ll “yes.” each embrace different things. District Attorney Hosea Knowlton questioned Lizzie at How will they judge? Guilt, innocence, or, as in The Trial great length about where she was, what she was doing, and of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson, will the end of the story how it was that she saw and heard nothing while her father come as a surprise? and stepmother were bludgeoned to death. Were she a child of today, Lizzie Borden would be considered spoiled. During the questioning, she appeared to be either crafty or addled, contradicting herself, doubling-back on answers, and Her father, Andrew, was a parsimonious, dour man frustrating the district attorney with her befuddlement. of means who was quite surprisingly generous to his two Investigators and observers were sure that Lizzie was a motherless daughters, but he favored Lizzie, who once killer. admitted that she always got what she wanted. Her trial would prove otherwise. That was not the case, however, with Andrew’s second For sure, readers of this book’s first pages will be amazed wife, Abby, a plump former spinster who was forced to make do with a small allowance to run the family’s sizeable at that outcome from more than a century ago. The evidence, presented at trial and again by author Cara Robertson, still household. overwhelmingly seems to point to guilt, but The Trial of Though Abby was, by most accounts, a pleasant-enough The Trial of Lizzie Borden: Lizzie Borden, a day-by-day account of the then-sensational woman, her existence seemed to upset the Borden girls, both A True Story courtroom proceedings, explains what happened. of whom were disdainful of her. By Cara Robertson c. 2019, Simon & Schuster And that’s a fork in the road for readers. As the girls matured, the atmosphere at the Borden home 400 pages Generations of true crime fans have devoured the story of was often tense, becoming worse in 1887 when Andrew Borden’s supposed “hacks,” and they’ll be delighted with this helped his wife’s half-sister financially: Lizzie and her sister, detailed retelling of her life, of the bloody crime, and of the weeks before arrest Emma, were reportedly very jealous and, although their father tried to soothe and trial, all of which take up much of the front half of the book. angry feelings and offered monetary gifts to the girls, the situation simmered As soon as Robertson gets to the trial, however, this account becomes more for months. about proceedings and legalities and less about the crime itself. That isn’t a bad thing at all for deep courtroom-drama fans, but it could overwhelm true-crime devotees. Ultimately, be aware of what you want out of this book, and proceed accordingly. The Trial of Lizzie Borden is an excellent addition to this gruesome Where you live may determine how happy you are. story, but wise readers will reserve their personal judgment. The WalletHub website examined data on such factors as economic, emotional, physical, and social health to find the states where people are The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years happiest. old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin Money, it turned out, wasn’t the most significant factor. The data showed with two dogs and 14,000 books. that happiness increases with wealth only up to an annual income of $75,000. The 10 happiest states?
The Happiest State
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Hawaii Utah Minnesota North Dakota California Idaho Maryland Iowa South Dakota Nebraska
The unhappiest state? West Virginia.
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www.50plusLifePA.com
Fifties Flashback
Mr. Disney’s ‘Black Sunday’ Randal C. Hill
July 17, 1955, was intended as an invited-guests-only, media-oriented day to celebrate the long-awaited opening of Disneyland. Technically it was called the “International Press Preview,” but Disney employees — and even Disney himself — would afterward come to label it “Black Sunday.” During the 1930s and 1940s, Walt Disney had visited several amusement parks with his wife and their two daughters. What he saw often tended to be rundown, trash-littered places that usually focused on scary “thrill rides.” Disney began to envision something better. In 1948, he sketched out a small place that he dubbed Mickey Mouse Park, its primary attraction to be a boat ride. Over the years, though, his once-simple plan morphed into a spectacular venue that would draw people from around the world. To raise much-needed cash, Disney sold his vacation home and borrowed against a life insurance policy. Then, in October 1954, the fledgling ABC-TV network helped by offering priceless promotion for Disney’s dream through an hourlong Wednesday-night show called Disneyland. In 1953, Disney had purchased 160 acres of orange and walnut trees near the farming town of Anaheim, 22 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. With a crew of 1,200 workers, construction began the next year. By opening day in 1955, Disneyland’s price tag had reached $17 million (about $125 million in today’s money). Disneyland officials expected 15,000 of their invited guests to show up for the opening, but over 28,000 excited folks, many wielding counterfeit tickets, jammed into the overcrowded park that day. One enterprising man charged $5 to people who wanted to climb a back fence by www.50plusLifePA.com
Coke and Pepsi,” he grumbled, “but they can’t pee in the streets. Finish the restrooms.” ··· After opening day, adult park visitors paid a $1 admission fee — kids were 50 cents — while the park’s 35 rides each carried a separate cost of 25–35 cents each per adult, with children paying 10–25 cents each. Two months after opening, the Magic Kingdom had welcomed its 1 millionth customer, the debacle of Black Sunday mercifully forgotten.
Photo courtesy Orange County Archives.
Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Disneyland, 1959.
using a ladder that he brought. Much to Uncle Walt’s chagrin, his troubles were just beginning that day. Around the park, workers frantically slathered on paint and hastily planted trees, and beds of weeds suddenly bore signs with Latin plant names. Many rides were still under construction, and those that operated sometimes broke down. Too many passengers aboard the Mark Twain Steamboat nearly caused it to capsize. Every park restaurant and concession stand ran out of food and beverages within hours. A small fire broke out in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Adventureland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland had to shut down for the afternoon due to a gas leak. The temperature that afternoon reached a sweltering 101 degrees, with the now-sticky fresh asphalt seizing women’s high-heeled shoes. While drinking fountains were available around the park, none worked on that fateful day. Plumbers had gone on strike, and Disney had to choose between working water fountains and working toilets. “Well, you know they could drink
Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.
Stories of ordinary men and women called to perform extraordinary military service. From 1999–2016, writer and World War II veteran Col. Robert D. Wilcox preserved the firsthand wartime experiences of more than 200 veterans through Salute to a Veteran, his monthly column featured in 50plus LIFE. Now, for the first time, 50 of those stories— selected by Wilcox himself—are available to own in this soft-cover book.
Simply complete and mail this form with your payment to the address below to order Salute to Our Veterans. On-Line Publishers • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Name_ _______________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________ City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ ______________ Phone_ _____________________ Email______________________________ Number of copies_ ______ (Please include $20.80 for each copy) Credit card #______________________________________ Exp. date________ Signature of cardholder_________________________________CVV #________
Or send a check made payable to On-Line Publishers, Inc. You can also order online at www.50plusLIFEpa.com! 50plus LIFE u
July 2019
7
Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
Adaptive Gardening: Tips and Tools for Older Gardeners
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good tools and tips for senior gardeners? My 77-year-old mother loves to work in the garden but over the past few years has been plagued by injuries. – Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Aches, pains, and injuries are not uncommon among older gardeners. Because gardening is such a physical activity that often requires a lot of bending and stooping, squatting and kneeling, gripping and lifting, it can be extremely taxing on an aging body. Back pain and knee injuries are most common among older gardeners, along with carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. To help keep your mom injury-free this summer, here are some tips and gardening equipment ideas that can make gardening a little easier. Warm Up With gardening, good form is very important as well as not overdoing
Please join us for these FREE events! 23rd Annual
Sept. 18, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
LANCASTER COUNTY
Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim
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Sept. 25, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
YORK COUNTY
York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York
20th Annual
Oct. 16, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available (717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240
8
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July 2019
50plus LIFE u
any one activity. A common problem is that gardeners often kneel or squat, putting extra pressure on their knees. Then, to spare their knees, they might stand and bend over for long stretches to weed, dig, and plant, straining their back and spine. To help your mom protect her body, she needs to warm up before beginning. Start by stretching, focusing on the legs and lower back. And keep changing positions and activities. Don’t spend hours weeding a flowerbed. After 15 minutes of weeding, she should stand up, stretch, and switch to another activity, like pruning the bushes, or just take a break. It’s also important that she recognizes her physical limitations and doesn’t try to do too much all at once. And, when lifting heaver objects, she needs to remember to use her legs to preserve her back. She can do this by keeping the item close to her body and squatting to keep her back as vertical as possible. Laborsaving Tools The right gardening equipment can help too. Kneeling pads can protect knees, and garden seats or stools are both back and knee savers. Lightweight garden carts can make hauling bags of mulch, dirt, plants, or other heavy objects much easier. And long-handled gardening tools can help ease the strain on the back by keeping your mom in a standing, upright position versus bent over. There are also ergonomic gardening tools with fatter handles and other design features that can make lawn and garden activities a little easier. Easier Watering The chore of carrying water or handling a heavy, awkward hose can also be difficult for older gardeners. Some helpful options include lightweight fabric hoses instead of heavy
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rubber hoses; soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden; thin coil hoses that can be used on the patio or small areas; a hose caddy and reel for easier hose transport around the yard; and a self-winding hose chest that puts the hose up automatically. There are also a variety of ergonomic watering wands that are lightweight and easy to grip, and they reach those hard-to-get-to plants. To find ergonomic gardening tools and the recommended watering aids, check with local retail stores that sell lawn and garden supplies or try online retailers like Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners.com) or Radius Garden (www.radiusgarden. com).
Container Gardening If your mom’s backyard garden has become too much for her to handle, she should consider elevated garden beds or container gardening — using big pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, barrels, or tub planters. This is a much easier way to garden because it eliminates much of the bend and strain of gardening but still gives her the pleasure of making things grow. Trellises are another nice option that would allow her to garden vertically instead of horizontally.
“There’s no place like home.” We agree. –L. Frank Baum
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
DISORDER from page 3 In a study about 10 times larger than any previous look at hemochromatosis rates, the team reviewed data on 2,890 British people who carried the two mutations. They found that 1 in 5 men and 1 in 10 women with these mutations developed additional diseases as they got older, compared to those without the genes. Hemochromatosis sufferers were also more likely to have chronic pain, decreased muscle strength, and to be frail as they aged. Hemochromatosis symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle and joint pains, are easily confused as part of typical aging, and the disease often goes undetected until damage is done. Men and women have the same chance of inheriting two copies of the altered HFE gene. However, men are more likely than women to develop complications and at an earlier age because women lose excess iron in the blood naturally during menstruation and pregnancy. Men usually begin displaying symptoms between ages 40 and 60, whereas women typically present symptoms after menopause. Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States. Known in Ireland as “the Celtic Curse,” people of Northern European descent have a higher chance of having an altered HFE gene. Hereditary hemochromatosis is more common among U.S. nonwww.50plusLifePA.com
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis • Lack of energy • Abdominal pain • Memory fog • Loss of sex drive • Heart flutters • Irregular heartbeat
Hispanic whites and is less common among African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indians. Researchers hope that this increased awareness of the scope of the problem can help lead to increased testing and treatment, which should improve quality of life and reduce frailty and disability rates for those with genetic risk for hemochromatosis. Anyone with a family history of the condition should talk to their doctor and consider being tested for hereditary hemochromatosis if they are experiencing severe fatigue, unexplained cirrhosis, joint pain, arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, or erectile dysfunction. For more information, visit Hemochromatosis.org.
That’s why Harrison Senior Living strives to provide warmth, comfort, and exceptional care from people you can trust, making our communities the next best thing.
www.Harrisonseniorliving.com Harrison House—Chester County 300 Strode Avenue East Fallowfield, PA 19320 610.384.6310 Harrison House—Christiana 41 Newport Avenue Christiana, PA 17509 610.593.6901
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Traveltizers
Starstruck in Hollywood South By Andrea Gross
Some people prepare for trips by researching facts and reserving accommodations. I prepare for them by watching movies. I hope that, in some mystical way, the film will help me better understand the culture of the place I’m about to visit. This explains why the night before my husband and I leave Elvis Presley sang “Crawfish,” the opening song for Louisiana, with in the 1958 movie King Creole, from a grillwork my suitcase still not balcony in New Orleans. packed, I’m watching Steel Magnolias. The film takes place in Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish), a small town 75 miles southeast of Shreveport. It was written by native son Bobby Harling, depicts local events, and was
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filmed there, thus showing the society as well as the scenery. For millions of fans, Natchitoches represents the archetypical Southern community. More important, the film pumped money into the town’s economy. State officials took note, and today Louisiana is one of the major film-producing areas in the world. A shoot-out scene from Hard Target was filmed on Indeed, it is often Frenchmen Street near Decatur, not far from the called “Hollywood French Quarter. South.” Thus my husband and I embark on a road trip through Louisiana that takes us to places where many of these motion pictures were filmed. We begin in New Orleans, hopping aboard a 10-passenger van that’s outfitted with video screens in front of each seat.
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I look out the The most opulent window to see a pink plantation is Houmas building with a green House, home to a balcony, and then museum-quality switch my eyes to the collection of art, video screen to see magnificent gardens, Elvis standing on that and an awardvery balcony as he winning restaurant. croons the opening It’s mostly used as an song of his 1958 hit entertainment venue movie, King Creole. and wedding site, In short order, we which made it the see the French Market, perfect place to film where Clint Eastwood ABC’s Revenge of the filmed Tight Rope; Bridesmaids. The antebellum mansion on Houmas House St. Louis Cathedral appears in reflected glory in Frenchmen Street, En route to Plantation, as well as the magnificent gardens, This Property is Condemned, a 1966 film starring Shreveport, the where Jean-Claude Van makes it attractive as a location spot for projects Natalie Wood and Robert Redford. Damme had a shootnorthwest hub of ranging from films to TV series and commercials. out scene in Hard Louisiana’s film Target; and the cemetery where industry, we stop in Baton Peter Fonda rendezvoused with Rouge, the film site of Showing his dead mother in Easy Rider. Roots, starring Elizabeth Jonathan Rae, owner of New McGovern and Cicely Tyson. Orleans Movie Tours, hands out Like Steel Magnolias, Roots bags of popcorn, and we munch celebrates life in a small away as we drive through the Southern town, one where Garden District, where the real community — and beauty stars are the grand old houses. parlors — are a fact of life. Scenes were filmed in But it’s in Shreveport where virtually every room of the we see the true magic of the film house that was used as a industry, for while New Orleans retirement center in The Curious can turn its business district into Case of Benjamin Button, a generic downtown, Shreveport possibly giving it more on-screen has doubled for the North Pole, time than the star-of-record, the Bering Sea, and even the Oak Alley Plantation has been featured in films and TV programs starring heavyweights Brad Pitt. Biblical City of Sodom. such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Fay Dunaway, and John Travolta. Finally, we drive down a Before ending our starstreet in the Central Business studded Louisiana tour, we District, which often is used to represent Chicago in one movie, Dallas or New make our way to Natchitoches. The houses that were used in the film are private York in another. homes, and the people strolling down Front Street don’t have the dazzling smile “People don’t notice details,” Rae explains. “A row of tall buildings could be of Magnolias star Julia Roberts. But the atmosphere still resonates. anywhere.” I ask a resident what it’s like to live in Natchitoches. Like French director Jean-Luc Godard said, “Cinema is the most beautiful “Have you seen Steel Magnolias?” she asks. “That’s what it’s like. We’re a small fraud in the world.” Southern community.” Sometimes it really is a good idea to prepare for a trip by watching a movie. ··· Photos ©Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (andreagross.com).
Of the hundreds of movies that have been filmed in Louisiana, only one has won the film industry’s big prize, the Oscar for Best Picture. That’s 12 Years a Slave, which was filmed on 11 Louisiana sites: five in New Orleans and six on various Louisiana plantations. We stop first at the closest of these, Destrehan, located on the Great River Road that runs 70 miles between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. There we see the grand eight-columned main house, the slave quarters, and many of the outbuildings, including the mule shed that was used in the film to represent the gin house. But it’s at Oak Alley, where films such as Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and Interview with a Vampire were made, that I feel as if I’m living on a movie set. There’s the stately plantation home filled with elegant antiques, six reconstructed slave quarters, and Oak Alley Plantation, with its quarter mile of 300-year-old trees that frame the house so perfectly as to please the soul of the pickiest cinematographer. www.50plusLifePA.com
Where friends become family. A MISSION TO SERVE This vibrant senior community provides for the needs of older men and women with independent living, personal care, and skilled nursing. Residents enjoy a homey atmosphere with a Quaker mission. AN ADAPTABLE APPROACH & A HEART FOR COMMUNITY Rather than having residents adapt to Friends Home, we work to adapt our environment to their individual interests and needs. In addition, residents actively participate in various intergenerational programs throughout the community and enjoy giving back.
147 West State Street, Kennett Square 610.444.2577 | www.FHKennett.org Independent Living | Supportive Independent Living | Personal Care | Skilled Nursing
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50plus EXPO Reveals Hidden Community Resources to Boomers, Seniors By Megan Joyce Irene Dubree said she attends the 50plus EXPO for, as she put it, the “who knew?” factor. “It opened my eyes to a lot of availability of businesses that you don’t even think about,” the Douglassville resident said. “The vendors are all so pleasant … I enjoy coming and walking around.” Church Farm School in Exton welcomed baby boomers, seniors, and caregivers recently for the 16th annual Chester County 50plus EXPO. The free, one-day event, which provided information and resources for the area’s 50+ community, was hosted by OLP Events. More than 80 exhibitors displayed products and services in travel, housing, medical services, nutrition, home improvements, finances, and healthcare. Michele Bucci, medical biller and medical assistant with Digestive Disease Associates, said the practice decided to sponsor the 50plus EXPO to educate the 50-plus demographic on the importance of colon cancer screening and the availability of lifeimproving gastroenterology services. “There are a lot of simple procedures that can cure a multitude of things, and a lot of people don’t know [about them],” Bucci said. Attendees were eligible for door prizes and took advantage of free health screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, genetic disease predispositions, and more. Eric Hofer, of Exton, said a visit to the 50plus EXPO a few years ago introduced him to a health service he still uses today — and probably would not have connected with on his own. “A chiropractor gave a free evaluation, and it turns out he is within a mile of me,” Hofer said. “I went back to him for the free visit, and I’m still going; in fact, I was just there this morning. And I never would have otherwise.”
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The onstage entertainment and presentations began with Anthony W. Luker, from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, who focused on the latest phone scams. Luker addressed the prevalence of “call spoofing,” where scammers can program their calls to show up as a local number — even including the name of a recognizable company — on the recipient’s caller ID. “When someone is calling you, you always want to make sure that you’re vetting them first before you give them any information from yourself,” Luker said. David Johnson, CHC advocate at CARIE, provided an overview of Community HealthChoices, Pennsylvania’s new, mandatory managed-care program for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. The program was introduced in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties in January. Johnson talked about the changes CHC brings and how to access its benefits, as well as consumers’ rights under the new program. “If you just have Medicare coverage, you are not affected,” Johnson explained. “This is a program for people who are 21 and older and are receiving Medicare and Medicaid; they are getting care at home or in the community through a waiver program; or they are living in a nursing home that is paid for by Medicaid.” Jena Wood, ShopRite registered dietitian, outlined how to incorporate the MIND Diet into everyday eating patterns. The nutrition provided by the diet — which includes whole grains, lean meats and fish, nuts, leafy greens, and berries — is proven to play an important role in brain health and cognitive function. Senior living was a wellrepresented topic on the EXPO floor, and Lindsey Poeth with Oasis Senior Advisors Mainline outlined the differences among today’s senior-
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living options and stressed the importance of planning for future care. “We have a huge number individuals that are going to need some degree of senior living,” Poeth said. “We have 46 million Americans today over the age of 65, and that’s going to double in the next 40 years, which is unbelievable.” Poeth noted that every day in the United States, 4,000 people celebrate their 85th birthdays. “We have a very aging population … chances are, 70% of our seniors are going to need some sort of assisted living, and that’s a very different expectation from [what]
seniors themselves [predict],” Poeth noted. The EXPO stage’s programs closed with an interactive exercise presentation led by YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Sharyn McLaughlin. McLaughlin’s routines focused on improving coordination, balance, and strength, all key elements to healthy aging. OLP Events’ 50plus EXPOs will return in the fall: in Lancaster County on Sept. 18, in York County on Sept. 25, and in Cumberland County on Oct. 16. For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com. Hosted by:
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1969: A Space Odyssey Some Little-Known Stories about the First Moon Landing, 50 Years Later By Randal C. Hill By the early 1960s, America was trailing the Soviet Union in space development. This undoubtedly played a part in President John F. Kennedy’s appeal on May 25, 1961, to a special joint session of Congress when he pronounced, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.”
Rocks, Walks, Heat Following NASA’s directive, Armstrong and Aldrin loaded nearly 50 pounds of moon rocks and soil into the Eagle, took photographs, and conducted tests. The hardest task then facing the two was the planting of the American flag (which had come from Sears). The moon’s surface was rock-hard, and the astronauts only managed to hammer Old Glory a few inches into the surface, where it subsequently fell over from the Eagle’s takeoff blast. The pair spent 21 hours and 36 minutes — almost a full day — on the moon. They stayed in their craft for over six hours after they landed, and they also took frequent breaks when they walked on the surface. The thermally cooled underwear they wore inside their spacesuits helped them fend off the potentially lethal 200-degree Fahrenheit lunar surface temperatures, but Armstrong and Aldrin were always aware that their cooling properties could fail at any moment, so they purposely kept their ambles brief.
400,000 Helping Hands Eight years later, at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 9:32 a.m. on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 thundered off the launch pad in a billowy cloud of smoke, destined for immortality. Neil Armstrong, a 38-year-old civilian research pilot, led the three-man crew, which also consisted of Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, 39, and Michael Collins, 38. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Media coverage naturally focused on the astronauts, but the total number of scientists, engineers, and service and Homeward Bound construction workers involved in the Apollo 11 project had surged to more than The men returned to the lunar module by 1:11 a.m. Then, just before they 400,000 by that crisp, clear summer morning. secured the hatch, Aldrin accidentally tripped the circuit breaker used to In the next 76 hours, the astronauts soared 240,000 miles, averaging over activate the main engine; after a moment of panic, though, he was able to push 3,100 miles per hour. They entered a lunar orbit on July 19, and the next day, the breaker back into the correct position with a felt-tip pen. at 1:46 p.m., their lunar module, Eagle, separated from the command module, Besides the American flag, the astronauts left behind several other items, Columbia, where Collins remained on board to monitor the situation. including a plaque that read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon — July 1969 A.D. — We came in peace for all mankind.” 25 Seconds to Go Armstrong and Aldrin reconnected successfully with Collins and Columbia, The Eagle began its descent to the lunar surface two hours later. and at 12:56 a.m. on July 22, Apollo 11 began its journey home, safely However, when Armstrong prepared to set the craft down, he realized splashing into the Pacific Ocean at 12:50 p.m. two days later. that boulders and craters were scattered throughout the landing site, posing a It is estimated that over 550 million people worldwide had followed the potential hazard. He eased his craft over to a flatter, safer place nearby, but that history-making event on television. maneuver burned fuel that was already running dangerously low. When the Eagle finally settled onto the moon’s Sea of Tranquility, the I Don’t Believe It! remaining fuel would have only lasted another 25 seconds before the landing Though etched in our collective consciousness, the celebration this month would automatically have been aborted in order to guarantee adequate fuel for of the 50th anniversary of the historical milestone will probably not change the the return flight home. Armstrong immediately radioed Mission Control in Houston with his now- minds of a small group of conspiracy theorists who, to this day, and contrary to abundant evidence available, believe that NASA faked the July 20, 1969, moon iconic announcement, “The Eagle has landed.” landing. In 2002, the Washington Post featured a news item concerning Buzz Aldrin. What’d I Say? The former astronaut was leaving a Beverly Hills hotel when he was accosted by At 10:39 p.m., Armstrong descended from the ship as a television camera a conspiracy theorist who shrieked, “You’re the one who said you walked on the attached to the Eagle beamed the astronauts’ progress back to Earth. moon when you didn’t!” When he opened the hatch and stepped onto the moon’s surface, he After calling Aldrin a liar, the man waved a Bible in Aldrin’s face and maintained that he had intended to say, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” but a possible momentary microphone glitch had him insisted that he swear the truth on it. The former astronaut settled the matter by knocking the accuser to the ground with a well-placed right cross to the jaw. announcing to the world, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Aldrin followed Armstrong 19 minutes later, being careful not to lock the Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. Eagle’s hatch, as there was no outer handle … and no Roadside Assistance number to call 240,000 miles away. www.50plusLifePA.com
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Calendar of Events
Chester County
Support Groups Free and open to the public
Senior Center Activities
Mondays (except holidays), 10-11:30 a.m. Sunshine Memory Café United Methodist Church of West Chester 129 S. High St., West Chester (610) 349-3401 adean0413@gmail.com
July 9 and 23, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226
July 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216
July 10, 1:30 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801
Coatesville Area Senior Center (610) 383-6900 250 Harmony St., Coatesville www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Mon days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. – Going Fit Exercise Program July 10 and 24, 1-2 p.m. – Bingo July 18, 11 a.m. to noon – Veterans Coffee Club
July 2 and 16, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226
July 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church, Second Floor 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester (484) 402-4907 hlaaachesco@gmail.com www.hearinglosschesco.com
July 3, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994 July 8 and 22, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044 July 9 and 23, 5-6:30 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Main Line Unitarian Church 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 585-6604 phoenixbereavement@yahoo.com Nondenominational; all are welcome.
July 16, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 July 31, 6 p.m. Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Community Programs
Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – Exercise Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – Scrabble Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Cards Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square http://kennettseniorcenter.org Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. – Paint Class Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville http://phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester http://wcseniors.org Thursdays, 1 p.m. – WCASC Chorus Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.
Free and open to the public
July 2, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Call for location (610) 269-1503
Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown www.downingtownseniors.org Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – B alance and Flexibility Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – Chorus Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. – Core and More
July 6 and 20, 5-10 p.m. Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174
Library Programs Avon Grove Library, 117 Rose Hill Ave., West Grove, (610) 869-2004 July 9, 6 p.m. – Intro to Canning Food July 10, 17, and 24, 11 a.m. – Tai Chi Class July 20, 1 p.m. – Meet James Madison Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 July 16, 10-11 a.m. – Book Walkers July 16, 6:30 p.m. – Crafters Maker Space July 18, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library’s Writers Group Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times West Chester Public Library, 415 N. Church St., West Chester, (610) 696-1721
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Puzzle Page
CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 16 SUDOKU
WORD SEARCH
Veggies
Across 1. Quiz 4. Discharge 8. Verb preceder 12. Roman god of war 14. Like the White Rabbit 15. Frost lines 16. Ivy League university 18. S-shaped moldings 19. Newton or Stern 20. Garment workers 22. Clock standard (abbr.) 23. Texas cook-off dish 24. Monty Python airer 27. “Cogito ___ sum”
29. Housefly larva 33. Baseball stat 34. Horse of a certain color 35. New money 36. Reindeer country 38. Bug 41. Turkish cash 42. Hospital supplies 43. ___ Anne de Beaupré 44. Mystery 47. Orchard item 48. Word on a Ouija board
49. Israeli port 51. Pen point 53. Floral envelope 56. Tabloid twosomes 59. Bring to bear 60. Painters’ equipment 64. College bigwigs 65. Disney output, briefly 66. Gin flavor 67. Concludes 68. Peccadilloes 69. Flock member
17. Photo starter 21. Deadeye’s forte 23. Bamboozle 24. Scarlett O’Hara, e.g. 25. Genius 26. Bay of Naples isle 28. Roam (about) 30. Bold 31. Emulate Cicero 32. Drinks too much, old style 37. Hats and chickens 38. Minute 39. Abadan natives 40. Blue moon, e.g.
42. Bathroom installation 45. Milkshake types 46. Be bedridden 50. Diets 52. Panhandles 53. Surrender 54. Yoked beasts 55. Interpret 57. Stubborn sort 58. Winter blanket 61. Polynesian paste 62. King Arthur’s lance 63. Bishop’s jurisdiction
Down 1. Concert prop 2. Delhi dress 3. Malayan dagger 4. Kind of microscope 5. Welcome ___ 6. Four-time Japanese prime minister 7. Common fraction 8. Peignoir 9. Sundae topper, perhaps 10. Exploitative type 11. Costner role 13. Glitch 15. “Behold!”
Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (610) 675-6240 for more information.
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VA Launches New Healthcare Options under MISSION Act The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched its new and improved Veterans Community Care Program on June 6, implementing portions of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act), which both ends the Veterans Choice Program and establishes a new Veterans Community Care Program. The MISSION Act will strengthen the nationwide VA healthcare system by empowering veterans with more healthcare options. “The changes not only improve our ability to provide the healthcare veterans need, but also when and where they need it,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It will also put veterans at the center of their care and offer options, including expanded telehealth and urgent care, so they can find the balance in the system that is right for them.” Under the new Veterans Community Care Program, veterans can work with their VA healthcare provider or other VA staff to see if they are eligible to receive community care based on new criteria. Eligibility for community care does not require a veteran to receive that care in the community; veterans can still choose to have VA provide their care. Veterans may elect to receive care in the community if they meet any of the following six eligibility criteria: 1. A veteran needs a service not available at any VA medical facility. 2. A veteran lives in a U.S. state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility, specifically, veterans living in Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 3. A veteran qualifies under the “grandfather” provision related to distance eligibility under the Veterans Choice Program. 4. VA cannot furnish care within these designated access standards:
5. The veteran and the referring clinician agree it is in the best medical interest of the veteran to receive community care based on defined factors. 6. VA has determined that a VA medical service line is not providing care in a manner that complies with VA’s standards for quality based on specific conditions. In preparation for this landmark initiative, senior VA leaders will visit more than 30 VA hospitals across the country to provide in-person support for the rollout. The VA MISSION Act: • Strengthens VA’s ability to recruit and retain clinicians • Authorizes “Anywhere to Anywhere” telehealth across state lines • Empowers veterans with increased access to community care • Establishes a new urgent care benefit that eligible veterans can access through VA’s network of urgent care providers in the community VA serves approximately 9 million enrolled veterans at 1,255 healthcare facilities around the country every year. For more information, visit www.missionact.va.gov.
Puzzles shown on page 15
Puzzle Solutions
• Drive time to a specific VA medical facility
• Thirty-minute average drive time for primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended-care services • Sixty-minute average drive time for specialty care • Appointment wait time at a specific VA medical facility • Twenty days from the date of request for primary care, mental healthcare, and non-institutional extended care services, unless the veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA healthcare provider • Twenty-eight days for specialty care from the date of request, unless the veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA healthcare provider
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Bill Would Expand Access to Assistive Technology for Seniors, Disabled In mid-June, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), the ranking member and chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act, which would increase access to assistive technology — devices or services that help seniors and people with disabilities maintain their independence and live where they choose. The bill, which comes following a hearing in the Aging Committee on the topic, would also help reduce the low employment and high poverty rates of older adults and people with disabilities by helping them live independently and maintain employment. “Assistive technology helps millions of people live independently and remain engaged in their community, and improves the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Casey. “It is important that we update this bill to support the advances in assistive technology over the last 15 years, so that those who need it can be full participants in every aspect of their lives.” “As our population ages, the need for care and support is
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increasing,” said Collins. “Advances in technology are working to bridge the ‘care gap,’ improving function in activities of daily living, helping to manage multiple chronic conditions, reducing risk of hazards, and making homes safer for seniors.” The 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (S.1835) Act would update the Assistive Technology Act by clarifying that the program serves all people with disabilities, including veterans and older adults who developed disabilities later in life. The Assistive Technology Act would also increase the funding authorized for programs that serve rural areas. Assistive technology refers to any piece of equipment, product, or service that helps someone with a disability or functional limitation accomplish their daily needs, such as wheelchair ramps, hearing aids, screen readers, and even smartphones.
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Guidelines Proposed for Newly Defined Alzheimer’s-Like Brain Disorder By Joe Balintfy A recently recognized brain disorder that mimics clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease has for the first time been defined with recommended diagnostic criteria and other guidelines for advancing and catalyzing future research. Scientists from several National Institutes of Health-funded institutions, in collaboration with international peers, described the newly named pathway
to dementia, Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy, or LATE, in a report published on April 30 in the journal Brain. “While we’ve certainly been making advances in Alzheimer’s disease research — such as new biomarker and genetic discoveries — we are still at times asking, ‘When is Alzheimer’s disease not Alzheimer’s disease in older adults?’” Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the National Institute on Aging, said. “The guidance provided in this report, including the definition of LATE,
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SAVE ON YOUR NEXT PRESCRIPTION! World Health Link. Price Match Guarantee! Prescriptions Required. CIPA Certified. Over 1500 medications available. CALL Today For A Free Price Quote. 1-866-293-9702 Call Now! MobileHelp, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1-855-401-6993 DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures.888-623-3036 or http://www.dental50plus.com/58 Ad# 6118 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 877-929-9587 A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459 DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply 1-800-718-1593 BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 WANTED Automobiles Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing! We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330. CASH FOR CARS: We Buy Any Condition Vehicle, 2002 and Newer. Nationwide Free Pick Up! Call Now: 1-800-8645960.
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is a crucial step toward increasing awareness and advancing research for both this disease and Alzheimer’s as well.” Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which is the loss of cognitive functions — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — and everyday behavioral abilities. In the past, Alzheimer’s and dementia were often considered to be the same. Now there is rising appreciation that a variety of diseases and disease processes contribute to dementia. Each of these diseases appears differently when a brain sample is examined at autopsy. However, it has been increasingly clear that in advanced age, a large number of people had symptoms of dementia without the telltale signs in their brain at autopsy. Emerging research seems to indicate that the protein TDP-43 — though not a stand-alone explanation — contributes to that phenomenon. What is TDP-43? TDP-43 (transactive response DNA binding protein of 43 kDa) is a protein that normally helps to regulate gene expression in the brain and other tissues. Prior studies found that unusually misfolded TDP-43 has a causative role in most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. However, these are relatively uncommon diseases. A significant new development seen in recent research is that misfolded TDP-43 protein is very common in older adults. Roughly 25 percent of individuals over 85 years of age have enough misfolded TDP-43 protein to affect their memory and/or thinking abilities. TDP-43 pathology is also commonly associated with hippocampal sclerosis, the severe shrinkage of the hippocampal region of the brain — the part of the brain www.50plusLifePA.com
that deals with learning and memory. Hippocampal sclerosis and its clinical symptoms of cognitive impairment can be very similar to the effects of Alzheimer’s. “Recent research and clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease have taught us two things: First, not all of the people we thought had Alzheimer’s have it; second, it is very important to understand the other contributors to dementia,” Nina Silverberg, Ph.D., director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program at NIA, said. LATE: A New Research Priority The authors wrote that LATE is an under-recognized condition with a very large impact on public health. They emphasized that the “oldest-old” are at greatest risk and importantly, they believe that the public-health impact of LATE is at least as large as Alzheimer’s in this group. The clinical and neurocognitive features of LATE affect multiple areas of cognition, ultimately impairing activities of daily life. Additionally, based on existing research, the authors suggested that LATE progresses more gradually than Alzheimer’s. However, LATE combined with Alzheimer’s — which is common for these two highly prevalent brain diseases — appears to cause a more rapid decline than either would alone. “It is important to note that the disease itself is not new. LATE has been there all along, but we hope this report will enable more rapid advancement in research to help us better understand the causes and open new opportunities for treatment,” Silverberg said. For more information about participating in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias clinical research, go to the NIA website (www.nia.nih.gov). Joe Balintfy is a senior public affairs specialist for Alzheimer’s and related dementias with the NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison.
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