50plus LIFE Chester County September 2018

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

September 2018 • Vol. 15 No. 9

Senior Scams Evolve: Ploys Continue to Defraud Older Adults page 4

art & antiques: the oprah exhibition page 10

what to do when your doctor won’t listen page 14

Grief Relief

How Sheryl Sandberg Made Her Way Out of Grief

Victor Parachin

Personalization – The belief that she was at fault for what happened.

“At first I blamed myself for Dave’s death, worrying incessantly that I could have saved him if only I’d gotten to him sooner after he fell off the treadmill.”

An autopsy proved that her husband died in seconds — not from the fall, but from undiagnosed coronary artery disease.

“Not everything that happens to us is because of us,” she writes.

When Sheryl Sandberg’s husband, aged 47, died suddenly, she experienced a fear that was “constant” and a feeling that the “anguish would never subside.”

Sandberg, an American technology executive, recently authored the book, Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy (with Adam Grant). There, Sandberg explains how she found the ways to climb out of bereavement.

She learned to become more resilient. “Resilience is like a muscle,” she writes. “It can be strengthened.

But planting seeds of resilience and knowing they would eventually yield emotional stamina gave me hope.”

She avoided the three P’s. The three P’s, first written about by psychologist Martin Seligman, Ph.D., were the very tendencies that initially kept Sandberg from moving through grief.

They are:

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Sheryl Sandberg

CA$H IN! Guaranteed to Beat

Pervasiveness – Thinking that a traumatic event will color everything forever.

As she began to blame herself less and as the intensity of grief began to ease, she started to notice that “not everything was terrible. My kids were crying less and sleeping through the night. We had financial resources and a wide circle of support. I have a job I love.”

Premier Orthopaedics is delighted to welcome Dr. Scott Ritterman to our medical staff

Any Legitimate Offer

We purchase gold and silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware and hollowware.

• Class Rings • Bracelets & Chains • Earrings (1/2 pairs OK!) ~ Broken or Not ~ House Calls Available for Larger Estates & Antiques

Glenn E. Lipton, M.D.

5% Paid

Senior Citizens

Additional

10% Paid

Cannot be combined with other Cannot be combined with other offers or used on coins or offers or used on coins or bullion. bullion. Exp. 9/30/18.

Age 62 years & older.

With this ad.

Exp. 9/30/18. With this ad.

OVER 80 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE LICENSED LOCALLY OWNED

PREMIUM PAID FOR ESTATE JEWELRY - Larger Diamonds - Rolex Watches - Patek Phillipe Watches

- Gold Pocket Watches - David Yurman Jewelry

- Tiffany Jewelry - Cartier Jewelry - Original Art & Bronzes

363 E. Lincoln Hwy. (Bus. Rt. 30) Exton, PA 19341

(484) 872-8216 Mon. – Fri. 10-5, Sat. & Sun. by appointment

www.americangoldandestate.com 2

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

Scott A. Ritterman, M.D. Nikos K. Pavlides, M.D.

Linda P. D’Andrea, M.D.

Dr. Ritterman specializes in joint replacement surgery and is trained in all aspects of fracture care, including OPERATIVE and NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENT as well as sports medicine.

We Buy, Sell & Trade Additional

James T. Guille, M.D.

At Premier Orthopaedics we take great pride in delivering the highest quality of care in the community across a full range of services, including: • Joint replacement • Sports medicine • Spine surgery • Hand surgery • Foot surgery • Medicare approved in-office injections for joint pain/osteoarthritis • Bracing and assistive devices • Pediatric, adult, and geriatric sub-specialties within the group

* APPOINTMENTS WITHIN 24 HOURS *

(610) 792-9292

Brandywine Hospital 213 Reeceville Road Suite #14 Coatesville, PA 10320 Lanchester Medical Center 381 Gap Newport Pike Gap, PA 17527

Gateway Medical 142 Wallace Ave. Downingtown, PA 19335

www.premierortho.com Premier Orthopaedics Brandywine Division 1561 Medical Drive Pottstown, PA 19464

Premier Orthopaedics 119 E. Uwchlan Ave. Suite #100 Exton, PA 19341

www.50plusLifePA.com

Permanence – The idea that the grief and pain she felt were permanent.

However, life is impermanent and changing constantly. Gradually, “the fog of intense pain began to lift now and then.”

As she began to feel and function better, she realized “that dealing with grief was like building physical endurance — you discover strength you didn’t know you had.”

She told others what she needed. Sandberg’s struggle and loneliness were compounded by daily interactions with others that made her feel worse “because others weren’t acknowledging what I was going through, out of politeness or awkwardness.”

She decided to write about how she felt on Facebook. The impact of her posts brought immediate, positive support.

“Many began acknowledging what I was going through. They couldn’t make it go away, but they could say, ‘I see it.’”

She followed the platinum rule. Sandberg knew the “golden” rule: to treat others as you want to be treated.

When it comes to trauma, however, “we need to up our game and follow the

platinum rule,” she says. “Treat others as they want to be treated.”

By becoming more in tune with a person’s suffering, we can respond with “understanding and thoughtful action,” she says.

She let herself bounce forward. To do this, Sandberg found that journaling was extremely helpful. Writing about her life after loss helped her “sort through my overwhelming feelings and my all-too-many regrets.”

On a daily basis for six months, Sandberg would write down three things she had done well that day. She learned that “people who suffer can bounce forward.” That’s the goal she had in mind for herself and her children.

She allowed herself to reclaim joy. “Slowly, very slowly, a new sense of perspective began seeping into my daily life,” she writes. “It is the irony of all ironies to experience tragedy and come out of it feeling more grateful.”

Sandberg began experiencing a greater appreciation for the parts of her life she took for granted: “family, friends, and simply being alive.”

Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

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 Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636 Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500

PACE (800) 225-7223

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 436-4510

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852

Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500

Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676

Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662

Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 American Heart Association (610) 940-9540 Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060 www.50plusLifePA.com

JEWELERS American Gold & Estate Buyers, Inc. 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton (484) 872-8216

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100

Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Chester County (800) 720-8221

Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY home equity loans Glendale Mortgage (610) 853-6500; (888) 456-0988 Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804 Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200

Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997 Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350 Orthopedics Premier Orthopaedics Locations in Coatesville and Pottstown (610) 792-9292 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Physicians Gateway Medical Associates Locations in Coatesville, Downingtown, Lionville, and West Chester (610) 423-8181 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 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

September 2018

3

Cover Story

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

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artist Lauren Phillips Production Intern Kaelyn Buskey

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Account Executives Wendy Letoski Janette McLaurin Angie Willis Account Representatives Matthew Chesson Jennifer Schmalhofer Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Kelsey Fishburn

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

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.

4

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

Senior Scams Evolve: Ploys Continue to Defraud Older Adults

By Ismat Mangla Last October, my family members received a phone call from a company dubbed Utility Savings Expert, whose website (utilitysavingsexpert.net) features the tagline, “We are here to help you,” but omits the second half of the sentence: “… separate you from your money.”

The pitch was enticing: Utility Savings Expert claimed they could help customers save up to 50 percent on various bills, including cellphone, cable, electric, and more.

All you had to do was share your account information in order for them to pay the bill on your behalf. Once you checked to make sure the bill was covered, you simply wired the company half the full amount due.

The offer was so tempting that my family members, who are retired and live on a fixed income, decided to try it with their Sprint phone bill. They gave the scammers their Sprint account information, and a few days later, sure enough, their $250 bill had been paid in full.

Satisfied, they agreed to send half the amount to the Utility Savings Expert company. The catch? They could only send payment via wire transfer, not check or credit card.

That should have been a glaring red flag, says Brandy Bauer of the National Council on Aging.

“Legitimate companies won’t require you to pay only by wire transfer or reloadable debit card,” she says.

It wasn’t until about a month and a half after they wired the money that they noticed something wrong.

Sprint was charging them an additional $250 because a payment made on their account weeks ago had been reversed.

Here’s what most likely happened: The scammers called the issuer of the credit card they used to make the payment and alleged that it was a fraudulent charge — so the bank reversed the charge.

Of course, the victims were out the money they wired and still had to pay their Sprint bill.

New Twist on a Familiar Scam Phone scams targeting older Americans are certainly not new.

In fact, a 2015 study by True Link Financial estimates that seniors lose more than $36 billion each year to various kinds of financial abuse, including scams that prey on victims by luring them to send money over the phone.

And that’s just the ones that are known: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that only 1 in 44 financial crimes against elders is

actually reported.

What is new, however, is the way fraudsters lure their targets. Criminals continually invent new ways to entrap unsuspecting Americans — very often seniors — into giving out personal information or money over the phone.

The Evolution of a Scam Scammers are also experts at developing sophisticated and convincing stories to persuade you to work with them. When I called Utility Savings Expert posing as a customer to inquire about their services, I asked how they were able to offer these discounts.

“We have accounts and contracts with service providers all over the U.S.,” said Naveed, who declined to give me his last name. He added that the company earned gift cards from these contracts, which they used to pay the bills.

They could then pass on the savings to customers, whom they only charged half the price of the bill due. This explanation was convincing enough for my relatives to fall for the scam. (When I called the company a second time, no one answered or returned my calls.)

None of the scam experts I spoke to had ever heard of this particular phone scam, nor did a Google search turn up any information on the company. But neither were they surprised by the phone scam’s new incarnation.

“I’ve heard and seen a lot of phone scams, but not that one,” says Curtis Bailey, an elder law attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, who also hosts a fraud podcast called Scamcast.

“These scammers just continue to evolve and change. I can see how easy it would be for people to fall victim to this one, because who doesn’t want to pay less for a phone or utility bill?”

Frank Dorman, of the Federal Trade Commission, which handles these types of scams, says that the agency has never logged this particular scheme.

The FTC advises never to do business with someone unless you know and trust them — and especially never to send money or financial account information.

“In this case, a phone call to the utility company should reveal whether or not the utility has an arrangement with a third party, and if not, which is likely, report the scam to state and local law enforcement and the FTC,” says Dorman.

Another twist in this particular scheme: The scammers spoke to my relatives in Urdu, which is their native language. Bailey says that doesn’t surprise him at all, as fraudsters will often exploit affinity relationships to build trust. www.50plusLifePA.com

“A lot of people don’t understand that what makes scammers more effective is that they will push certain emotional levers, like fear and greed. But another one is sympathy,” says Bailey. “A victim might think, ‘I identify with the caller and trust him because he’s speaking my native tongue.’

“This is just another tactic these criminals use to generate a false sense of trust so the victim will be manipulated into sending money or give out personal information.”

The Likely Victims Indeed, True Link Financial’s study concluded that $6.7 billion worth of senior scams occur because the criminals take advantage of a trusting relationship to scam seniors.

Amy Nofziger, a fraud expert at AARP, says that scammers specifically target older Americans because they are more likely to be successful with them.

Older adults often don’t want to seem rude on the phone, and they are often more vulnerable because they are living on fixed incomes. Many older Americans have also built up some wealth, making them an attractive target.

And while cognitive decline can certainly contribute to a victim’s vulnerability, you don’t have to experience cognitive decline to be a victim. In fact, a new study in the American Journal of Public Health concluded that each year, 1 in 18 “cognitively intact” older adults becomes a victim of financial scams or abuse.

And once someone is the target of a phone scam or other fraud scheme, it’s very likely they will be targeted again, says Nicole K. Parshall, a staff attorney who specializes in consumer protection at the Center for Elder Law and Justice in Buffalo, New York.

“These criminals share ‘suckers’ lists — they are a commodity bought and sold between various scammers. They also target people who engage in certain activities, like playing the lottery or things like Publisher’s Clearing House,” she says.

Because these crimes often go unreported and cause a lot of shame and embarrassment to the targets, they are even more susceptible to falling victim more than once.

How to Avoid Being Scammed Whether a phone scammer is enticing you to save money on your utilities, threatening to shut off your electricity unless you pay an outstanding bill immediately, or pitching an unbelievably “low-cost” vacation opportunity, the most important thing you can do is to simply hang up the phone.

“We tell people to screen their calls and not pick up unless they recognize the number,” says Parshall. “And if you did pick up, the second someone asks for any personal information or anything to do with money, just hang up.

Don’t feel bad about it — you did not invite them in. They’re entering your space.”

If you have entered into a conversation with someone who is trying to sell you a product or convince you to engage in a service, tell them you need some time to think about it. No legitimate offer or service is going to evaporate after you hang up the phone.

“If something sparks your interest, hang up anyway, do your own research, and run it by a family member or friend,” says Parshall. “Sometimes just hearing yourself say it out loud is enough to give you pause.”

Giving yourself time also allows your more rational urges to kick in.

And remember that no legitimate company is going to limit your payment method, which is what Utility Savings Expert did. They claimed they could not receive payment by check or credit card — only wire transfers.

Similarly, a legitimate operation will never ask you to volunteer personal information, like your Social Security number or even account data. That’s another huge red flag.

If your utility company, for example, needed to contact you for an outstanding balance, they would never do it over the phone until you’d received numerous written notices from them. And even then, they would never ask you to offer personal information. www.50plusLifePA.com

If you are concerned, hang up and call your utility company using the number indicated on your written statement.

What to Do If You Become a Victim Prevention is vital in these situations because in most cases, it can be difficult to recover swindled money.

But if you have been defrauded, the first thing you should do is file a police report. That is an important step in getting things on the record — and may help in getting your money back from the bank.

For example, my relatives should file a police report and then take it to their bank to demonstrate that they were defrauded. In some cases, the bank might make you whole.

“With a wire transfer, your recourse is to go back to the bank, show them the police report, explain everything that happened, and they might replace the money,” says Bailey. “Every bank treats these kinds of situations differently.”

Parshall adds that while some police departments may give you pushback, persist in getting that report filed because it can be used to help you set up a permanent fraud alert, and as evidence, if the issue comes back to haunt you further.

Next, you may also want to report it to the FBI or to relevant state and federal agencies. You can file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission.

Your state’s attorney general office is also a good place to log the incident; they may have a division devoted specifically to such scams.

You should also check with your county or state to see if they have an organization devoted to helping seniors with financial fraud. Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services’ Adult Protective Services agency can be reached at (717) 736-7116 or (800) 490-8505.

“The biggest hurdle we have in getting people to open up and report these things is that they’re embarrassed, angry, [and] fearful, which makes them reluctant,” says Bailey.

“But we encourage people to speak out. The key is to be vigilant, be educated, learn as much as you can about the scams out there. Be open. Don’t be afraid to talk to your family about it. It goes both ways — from kids to parents and vice versa.”

I talked to my own relatives about their experience, who did feel some embarrassment at being duped. But they also said they learned their lesson and don’t plan to answer phone calls from people they don’t know in the future — a lesson that cost them $200. It’s a mistake they don’t plan to repeat.

This article originally appeared on the Experian blog (www.experian.com/blogs/ ask-experian/my-relatives-fell-for-this-new-scam-be-on-the-lookout).

Ismat Sarah Mangla is an award-winning veteran journalist whose writing has appeared in Time, Fortune, Money, CNNMoney, Quartz, MarketWatch, Al Jazeera America, International Business Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Detroit Free Press, and Michigan Alumnus magazine.

Like 50plus LIFE? Then “Like” 50plus LIFE!

www.facebook.com/50plusLIFEPA “Like” us on Facebook to receive a free 6-month subscription!

Plus, you’ll receive event updates, story links, and more!

50plus LIFE u

September 2018

5

Fifties Flashback

‘Don’t Worry … He Sees Us’ Randal C. Hill

Two more Dean films followed. Rebel Without a Cause, Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper once saw his ticket to stardom, had him (at age 24) playing troubled James Dean as an obnoxious attention-seeker in the Marlon Brando vein (she abhorred Brando) and even labeled Dean adolescent Jim Stark. In Giant, Dean portrayed Jett Rink, a Texas ranch hand who strikes oil and becomes rich. “another dirty shirttail actor.”

Away from the movie set, Dean nurtured a second Then she saw East of Eden, underwent an instant passion: auto racing. On Sept. 30, 1955, he and Porsche conversion, and enthused, “I couldn’t remember ever having seen a young man with such power.” mechanic pal Rolf Wutherich roared north from Los Angeles, bound for a race in Salinas, near the Bay Area.

James Byron Dean was born in Marion, Indiana, on Feb. 8, 1931, the only child of Winton and Mildred Dean. The Dean was behind the wheel of his powerful new Porsche 550 Spyder. family moved to Santa Monica, California, where Winton That afternoon, at a deserted intersection near the central worked as a dental technician.

California village of Cholame, Dean ran his car into a 1950 Mildred died of cancer in 1940, and Winton sent his Ford being driven by college student Donald Turnupseed, young son back to Indiana to live with his grandparents on their Fairmount farm. who had turned into the Porsche’s path.

Turnupseed and Wutherich survived the crash, but Dean At Fairmount High School Dean excelled in dramatics and public speaking and lettered in baseball and basketball. broke his neck and died at the scene. His ironic final words James Byron Dean to Wutherich: “Don’t worry, that guy’ll stop. He sees us.”

After his 1949 graduation he returned to California to live At the time, only East of Eden had been released, and with his father and stepmother.

Dean wasn’t famous yet. Rebel Without a Cause — his best-known work — Dean considered becoming a lawyer but eventually pursued a stronger premiered three days after his demise, and Giant wouldn’t open until 1956. passion when he enrolled at UCLA to study drama.

Early in 1951 he left school to chase his acting dreams. He moved to New But his death created a tsunami of posthumous worship, and he remains to York, won some minor TV roles, and studied method acting in Lee Strasberg’s this day one of the iconic Tinseltown superstars of the 1950s.

James Dean once said, “If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, Actors Studio, where Dean’s idol, Marlon Brando, had once been a student.

I mean, if he can live on after he’s died, then maybe he was a great man.”

In 1954 director Elia Kazan sought “a Brando” for the role of Cal Trask in Kazan’s forthcoming movie East of Eden, based on John Steinbeck’s novel.

Kazan hired the churlish actor, later allowing him to improvise a few East of 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.

Eden scenes. (Steinbeck had instantly disliked the sullen superstar-to-be when they first met.)

Registration Open for Pa.’s LGBTQ Aging Summit Registration for Pennsylvania’s Inaugural LGBTQ Aging Summit is now open.

As a result of grassroots efforts made by numerous LGBTQ and senior advocacy groups, the summit will be held Oct. 9-10 in Harrisburg.

“As we developed Pennsylvania’s 2016-2020 State Plan on Aging, we heard from many stakeholders who were calling for increased cultural competency, a better focus on serving diverse and hard-to-reach populations, and overall improvement of awareness and access to services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer older Pennsylvanians and their caregivers,” said Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne.

“We intend for this summit to serve as the catalyst to connect the aging-services network directly with the LGBTQ senior community so that together we can help drive much-needed change to better serve this population.”

To plan for the summit, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging partnered with numerous LGBTQ and aging stakeholders.

“The summit will present a great opportunity for LGBTQ older

6

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

Pennsylvanians to directly engage with the provider networks responsible for caring for us as we grow older,” said LGBT Elder Initiative founder Heshie Zinman.

“By bringing together LGBTQ older adult communities and aging-services providers, we have the opportunity to better understand barriers to accessing services and to develop strategies that will improve the care of our LGBTQ seniors statewide.”

In addition to coordinating the first statewide LGBTQ aging summit, the Department of Aging is represented on Gov. Wolf’s LGBT Workgroup, has held training sessions to improve cultural competency inside aging services for LGBTQ older adults, and has participated in roundtable discussions to hear directly from the LGBTQ community on how to better meet

their needs.

To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Inaugural LGBTQ Aging Summit or to register to attend, visit ltltrainingpa.org. For more on the Department of Aging, visit aging.pa.gov.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Dear Pharmacist

Vitamin K2 is a Powerful Prostate Cancer Fighter

Pet of the Month

Ella This spunky 5-year old lives life to its fullest and makes every ballgame a competitive match.

Ella is outgoing and enjoys people big and small.

Her favorite dog match-ups are laid back in play style, and she needs a home without cats.

Ella is ready to make someone a

Suzy Cohen

Couples have I’m sure you won’t plans, but after see commercials the C-word is about it. dropped, those And K2 is not plans change to something you unite a couple have to buy; it’s in the medical commonly found process. in foods that most After skin of us already enjoy, cancer, prostate such as salads, green cancer is the most vegetables, and September is Prostate widespread cancer green super-foods, Cancer Awareness Month as well as some meat among men, affecting 1 in 7 and cheese. every single year. Prostate cancer is There are also supplements sold also the third-leading cause of cancer without a prescription at health-food death, after lung and colorectal cancer, stores; however, I encourage you to according to the American Cancer ask your physician if these are right for Society. you, as K2 can interfere with bloodThe good news is some significant thinning medications. strides are being made in the For people with cancer in the prevention of prostate cancer as well healing process, their No. 1 goal is as the treatment of advanced prostate to stop the spread of cancer to other cancer. In fact, we have now learned organs and tissues, termed metastasis. that one remarkable nutrient can When prostate cancer is caught early have wondrous cancer-fighting and on, before it has spread to many other preventative properties for all kinds of organs, the interventions are more cancers. useful.

You might have thought vitamin C Vitamin K2 has also proven to have or D3, but you’d be wrong. It’s actually neuroprotective effects upon the brain: vitamin K2. lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Vitamin K2 is proving to be a dementia; shuttling calcium out of marvelous ally in the war on prostate the arteries and to the bones, where cancer. In fact, K2 and vitamin D3 it hardens and strengthens them; work harmoniously together for a wide helping wounds and bones heal faster; range of diseases. improving skin; and — now hear this Higher levels of K2 and higher — reversing wrinkles as well. intake of K2 are associated with lower Vitamin K2 is found in foods such prostate cancer risk, and vitamin K2 as dairy products, meat, and dark, leafy deficiency status has been found in green, such as Swiss chard, spinach, most men with aggressive prostate and other greens. It is found in very cancers. high concentration in a popular Asian Researchers for the European fermented-soy dish called natto.

Prospective Investigation into Cancer Other foods high in vitamin and Nutrition have also found that K2 include ground beef, liver, and increasing one’s intake of vitamin K2 chicken, as well as cheese, egg yolks, may lower the risk of getting prostate and butter. cancer dramatically: by up to 35 This information is not intended to percent. diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease.

With a 1 in 7 risk of developing For more information about the author, prostate cancer in a man’s lifetime, visit SuzyCohen.com this is an encouraging discovery! But because we’re talking about a vitamin, www.50plusLifePA.com

wonderful companion.

For more information, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) 302-0865 or www.bvspca.org.

advertisement

AFFORDABLE CREMATION SERVICES If you want a funeral with an expensive casket and embalming, go to a funeral home!

If you are interested in affordable cremation services, we are the name to remember!

We specialize in cremation only, statewide, no removal fees.

No Embalming

No Caskets

Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. serving all of chester county since 1981 Largest in the state of PA

For FREE brochures and pricing, call:

1-800-720-8221 (toll-free) or mail us ...

Please send me FREE brochures and pricing! www.cremationsocietyofpa.com Name______________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________ _______________________________ Phone (

)_________________

4100 Jonestown Rd., Hbg., PA 17109 Shawn E. Carper, Supervisor

50plus LIFE u

Code CSN

September 2018

7

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

Sept. 11 and 25, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Sept. 4, 1:30 p.m.

Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216

Sept. 12, 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 Mondays, Wed nesdays, and Fridays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. – Going Fit Exercise Program Sept. 6 and 20, 11 a.m. to noon – Veterans Coffee Club Sept. 12 and 26, 1-2 p.m. – Bingo

Sept. 5, 6 p.m.

Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

Sept. 12, 7-8:30 p.m.

Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester (610) 444-445 www.hearinglosschesco.com

Sept. 4 and 18, 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.

Sept. 4 and 18, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226 Sept. 10 and 24, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

Sept. 18, 6 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 Sept. 26, 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 Free and open to the public Sept. 1 and 15, 5-10 p.m.

Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174 Sept. 4, 11:30 a.m.

West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@ verizon.net

8

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Compassionate Friends Valley Forge Chapter Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 132 E. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia (484) 919-0820 www.tcfvalleyforge.org Sept. 18, noon AARP Valley Forge Chapter Meeting St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 203 N. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 647-1823

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown www.downingtownseniors.org Mondays, 1-3 p.m. – P.M. Art Thursdays, 9-10 a.m. – Meditation Class Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – Historical Study of Biblical Times 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 www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – SEPTA Key Card Event Sept. 20, 4-7:30 p.m. – Spaghetti Dinner West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester www.wcseniors.org Thursdays, 1 p.m. – WCASC Chorus Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub. com.

parks and recreation Sept. 7, 6:30-8 p.m. – Friday Night Park Picnic, Warwick County Park Sept. 9, 1-3 p.m. – Nature Photography Class: Beginner, Springton Manor Park Office Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p. m. – Community Day, Warwick County Park

Library Programs Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m. – Crafters Maker Space Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. – Reading the Classics Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 2967996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Wildlife on Our House Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Sitting on our lawn one evening this summer, I thought about the adaptable wildlife that recently raised young or lived in sheltered places on the outside of our house in a suburban area. These common creatures provided much entertainment and intrigue to us, right at home.

These animals used several parts of our home, including the deck and porch, an old gas vent, an awning over a door, two window air conditioners, the chimney, and the attic.

Female carpenter bees chewed round holes in the undersides of wooden porch railings until those structures were removed.

Each bee made a few compartments in a railing, where she deposited balls of flower nectar and pollen and laid an egg on each ball. Each resulting

Cottontail rabbit

Carpenter bee

larva consumed its ball of food, pupated in its wooden cell, and later emerged as a grown carpenter bee.

At dusk in summer, spiders of a couple kinds spin webs in corners of our porch and deck. The webs’ function, of course, is to snare flying

insects, right on those outdoor structures.

Over the years, permanent resident pairs of house sparrows nest on support posts under our frontporch roof. These birds create bulky nurseries of dead grass, feathers, and

other soft materials and raise up to three broods in a summer.

A resident pair of lively Carolina wrens seeks shelter under our deck.

The male chants vigorously the year around to announce his territory, providing us with his beautiful melodies.

Traditionally a bottomland woods species, Carolina wrens nest in many sheltered places, including crevices in rock piles, in brush piles, and under fallen logs. They also hatch young in sheltering, human-made structures, such as in garages and sheds and under porches.

I’ve noticed that a cottontail rabbit and an opossum live under our deck, but maybe not at the same time.

These field and woodland creatures please see WILDLIFE page 16

Our beautiful new Anna T. Jeanes building is now open.

Welcome to the future of senior living in West Chester.

Located in a tree-lined neighborhood in the heart of West Chester, The Hickman is setting the pace for affordable senior living.

Our new building on campus adds 74 studio and one-bedroom suites, including a secure dementia care program and outdoor garden located on the first floor.

“A feeling of belonging, comfort and caring… that’s The Hickman.”

Exerpience a warm welcome at The Hickman. Call today:

(�8�) �6�-6���

www.WelcomeToTheHickman.org www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE u

September 2018

9

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

The Oprah Exhibition Lori Verderame

“Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture” exhibition opened in June at the National Museum of African American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the exhibition will be on view through June 2019.

The exhibition explores the era that shaped Oprah Winfrey’s life and early career in television and continues to highlight the impact of her long-running television talk show, which dominated daytime television for 25 years.

Also, “Watching Oprah” shows how Winfrey and her work in broadcast journalism have influenced American popular culture.

Featuring original artifacts from Harpo Studios in Chicago and from the Smithsonian collections, such as photographs, video clips, other vintage materials, the exhibition was co-curated by Rhea Combs and Kathleen Kendrick.

Artifacts have been part of Winfrey’s allure for some time, and the television powerhouse is no stranger to art, antiques, and collectibles. At a recent auction of her personal belongings, Winfrey sold off many items that no longer fit the way she wants to live.

As is the case with many of my

appraisal clients, Winfrey found as she prepared to sell her objects that the items she had bought and lived with sparked emotions, carry memories, and are difficult to part with.

An important tip I share with my clients when I consult with them and conduct in-home appraisal sessions or video chat appraisals is to select 10 precious objects that you just will not give up. After that, prioritize objects that you can sell by getting input from family members.

Photo credit: Lindsey Koren (Smithsonian) Did you know that Winfrey loves The exhibit features video clips, interactive interviews with Winfrey, dolls? She noted in an interview costumes from her films, and artifacts from Harpo Studios in Chicago. that she was not allowed to have dolls growing up, so as an adult, she collected antique and vintage dolls. Winfrey’s rare, dark-skinned Jumeau doll from the 1800s was an object she put a high priority on and was not willing to sell. You may have items like this in your collection too.

Winfrey sold off a massive 19thcentury French crystal chandelier attributed to Baccarat; an original canvas banner for her film, The Color Purple; a brass bed designed especially for napping; comfy sofas from her movie-screening room; Photo credit: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of Photo credit: Lindsey Koren (Smithsonian) African American History and Culture, gift of Oprah Winfrey. a set of library steps; armoires in Oprah Winfrey speaking in June at the Suit worn by Winfrey on the opening reception for the “Watching various woods and styles; chairs car-giveaway episode, 2004.

Oprah” exhibit at the National from her office at Harpo Studios Museum of African American History dating to circa 1996; Staffordshire and Culture of the Smithsonian lions; and the list goes on.

Institution in Washington, D.C. Winfrey likes fine French antiques, such as a French Empire period chaise with melon-shaped th feet and a set of six 18 -century Louis XVI-style armchairs with hand• Comfortable embroidered upholstery.

• Homey The auction raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to further the education

• Great care when needed of all the graduates of Oprah’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.

The exhibition at the Smithsonian will certainly attract many visitors and

• Independent give patrons a look at how a talk show host with a vision can have a major

• Personal Care impact on American culture and the future of education around the globe.

• Skilled

Where friends become family.

Call (610) 444-2577 for more information or to schedule a personal tour.

Friends Home in Kennett | 147 West State Street | Kennett Square, PA 19348 Phone: (610) 444-2577 | Fax: (610) 444-2856 | www.friendshomeinkennett.org

10

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

Dr. Lori Verderame is the author, Ph.D. antiques appraiser, and award-winning TV personality on History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. Dr. Lori provides expert appraisals and consulting services for art/antiques. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Live Your Best Retirement If you have paid off your home and have no mortgage, you have done well and should feel proud of your accomplishment. It took faithfulness and sacrifice to achieve that mile marker.

Your home is likely your greatest asset, and yet the money that is in the home, your equity, is tied up with no way to access it without a payment except by selling.

Then the question becomes, “Where will we live?” Many people are in the situation where they are “house-rich and cash-poor.” They have paid off the house but are not enjoying retirement due to the constraints of a fixed income.

The equity in your home is your money. Why not put it to work for you?

A home equity conversion mortgage converts some of your equity into a usable asset — either as a lump sum, a growing line of credit, a monthly income stream, a reverse mortgage, or a combination of the three.

The line of credit will grow at about 5 percent a year, creating a nice nest egg for the future. The amount of

equity you can draw is established by the age of the youngest borrower, the value of the property, and what is owed, which, in your case, is zero.

Substantial equity Rob Miller, President always remains in the home. This is your equity. No one owns the home but you, and you can will the property to your heirs, who never inherit any debt. The house you paid into for so long becomes an asset that pays you back for the rest of your life.

You owe it to yourself and your family to know your options so that you can live your best retirement. Give me a call so we can discuss the specifics of how this will benefit you.

Call Rob Miller, NMLS No. 142151, president of Glendale Mortgage, NMLS No. 127720, and Reverse Mortgage Specialist, to learn more.

(610) 853-6500, (888) 456-0988, RMiller@GlendaleMortgage.com, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Put Your Equity to Work!

Get Tax-Free Cash for Any Purpose

P A re you 62 years old or

older?

P Do you need more monthly income, and want to retain ownership of your home?

P D o you own your home

and live there?

PW ould you like to remain in your home and eliminate your mortgage payment?

Call today to receive a FREE consultation!

Contact Rob Miller at Glendale Mortgage to learn about the benefits of obtaining a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.

ROB MILLER, NMLS #142151

President, HECM Mortgage Specialist

Direct: 610.853.6500 Toll Free: 888.456.0988 RMiller@GlendaleMortgage.com

Your Financial Partner Glendale Mortgage NMLS 127720 is an Equal Housing Lender. Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval.

Terms and conditions apply. If you qualify we will reimburse you for the cost of the appraisal at closing. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, State of Delaware Bank Commissioner, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options

We Cover What MEDICARE Does Not At last! Affordable coverage1 for the important health services2 that Medicare does not cover.

23rd annual edition

DENTAL: Use any dentist – including your own! Cleanings, evaluations, x-rays, fillings, extractions crowns, bridges, dentures & more! Up to $2,500 annual benefit.

VISION: Our plan helps with exams, lenses, frames, contacts,

fittings & more!

HEARING: Hearing exam and hearing aids up to $500 annually as part of your policy-year maximum benefit.

Online & In Print. onlinepub.com * reserve * Must reserveby byAug. Sept.26, 30, 2016 2018, Call about Must to receive early-bird savings. to receive early-bird savings.

Early-Bird Closing date: Nov. Closing date: Nov.4,2,2016.

2018 Savings!

Street date: Jan.2017 2019 Street date: Jan. *

Get more information at:

www.WeCoverDVH.com/50plus 1. Policy provisions and benefits may vary from state to state. Some benefits may not be available in all states. 2. Dental and Vision plans may be purchased individually. Hearing plan available as part of a Dental/Vision package.

AW18-1008

www.50plusLifePA.com

Your inclusion in 50plus Living will help professionals, boomers, and seniors as they move through life’s stages.

To be included in the 2019 edition of 50plus LIVING, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com 50plus LIFE u

September 2018

11

You’re not just a business.

You’re not just an organization.

You’re a resource.

You provide valuable services to seniors, the disabled, caregivers, and their families.

Help them find you by being included in your county’s most comprehensive, affordable annual directory of resources.

• Your company’s information reaches those in the decision-making process • Anywhere, anytime, any device access

•O nline Resource Directory—Added benefit to all packages for greater exposure • Supports local agencies and promotes efficient coordination of services • Print edition distributed at hundreds of 50plus LIFE consumer pick-up sites, OLP’s 15 annual expos, and community events • Produced by a company that has been dedicated to the area’s 50+ community for more than 20 years

Sponsorships available for greatest exposure Individual full-color display ads and enhanced listings also available

Ad closing date: Oct. 12, 2018 Contact your account representative or call 610.675.6240 now to be included in this vital annual directory.

717.285.1350 • 717.770.0140 • 610.675.6240 info@onlinepub.com • www.onlinepub.com

12

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

The Bookworm Sez

Retirement Reinvention Terri Schlichenmeyer

You’ve handed in your Open a small keys. business, become a tour It was a bittersweet guide around town, get moment, that passa pet, or find a volunteer along. Cleaning out your position with animals; in workspace was no big fact, volunteer anywhere deal, a last trip to the you feel there’s a need. lunchroom felt like any Finally, before you other day. But those keys do anything at all, … that part really got to “test-drive first.” Try on you. new tasks. Rent before Retirement Reinvention buying. You’ll have a

by Robin Ryan will help happier retirement when when your next thought you step carefully. is, “Well, now what?”

Two or three decades Retirement Reinvention Even for the happy of not hitting an alarm

By Robin Ryan retiree, that’s a hard clock: It’s a wonderful c. 2018, Penguin 284 pages question to answer, and thought — for a while, it’s doubly hard if you and then it might be were forced to leave your job. “What scary. Oddly enough, it seems like next” needs planning — financially, leaving the work world can be a fullpersonally, and socially — and you time job in itself, but Retirement need to be sure that you don’t “fail at Reinvention will make it all right. retirement.”

With most books on retirement, To begin, push aside the myths money issues are front and center, you’ve heard, and figure out what your but author Robin Ryan focuses on new life looks like. Who will you be happiness within financial concerns: when you’re retired? What will make You’ll absolutely find money advice you happy? here, but it’s mixed with reminders What will you do with the next 20- that your future could be wide open.

30 years? How will you stay relevant If it gives you a burden-off-yourand engaged while avoiding the stress shoulders feeling, all the better. Ryan of your old career? is quick to seize that as she throws If you are part of a couple, keep in thought-starters at readers who need to mind that you will be together a lot rein in panic and find the silver lining more. If you are single, you may miss in their golden years. the social connections of work. It’s best Readers without a plan will get the to recognize issues now and learn to most out of Retirement Reinvention, adjust to new ways of being. but there’s really something for Downsizing may be in your everyone here. It’s easy to understand, plans for the near future, but Ryan quick to read, and entertaining, and recommends you put that on even 40-somethings will find useful temporary hold. Moving is expensive, info here. hard, and a big adjustment; leaving a To get the most of your post-work beloved home and a beloved job at the future, a book like this one may be same time could be very difficult. key.

Make your hobbies pay off — and The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. if you need ideas, start on page 49.

Terri has been reading since she was 3 Consider working part-time for a years old, and she never goes anywhere temp agency that will take advantage without a book. She lives on a hill in of your interests and latent skills, or Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 look for a “helper” position that allows books. flexibility. www.50plusLifePA.com

Kids at Risk? Grandparents to the Rescue

By Robert Martin

you were growing up. Showing your vulnerability will help them open up.

Grandparents today are taking a larger role in the 3. Celebrate what they do well. Encourage your lives of their grandchildren, sharing the kids’ worries grandkids to share what they love to do and uplift and joys, giving them love and support, and helping them with praise for good grades in school, acts of out harried and exhausted parents. good citizenship with their friends and classmates, and With the retirement of the baby boomer their creative endeavors. By praising your grandkids generation, there are more grandparents than ever — for specific accomplishments, you can help them an estimated 70 million in the U.S. understand the difference between recognition that is Compared to previous generations, today’s earned and hyperbole. grandparents are generally younger, more active, and more affluent, allowing many to travel frequently to Some additional ways you can be a loving, involved visit their kids and grandkids. grandparent for the kids in your life: One in five grandparents provides childcare regularly to their grandchildren, while increasing • Help them with their homework. Maybe you can numbers are raising their grandkids alone, U.S. Sen. help tutor them, provide an extra pair of hands for Susan Collins testified last year before the Senate their school projects, or brainstorm ideas together.

Special Committee on Aging.

These “custodial grandparents” are called on to • Support them by attending their sports, dance, and help for a number of reasons, including alcohol and other extracurricular events. drug addiction, physical abuse, incarceration, divorce, • Model healthy, active lifestyles by taking them financial difficulties, military deployment, and even hiking, fishing, skating, walking dogs, or doing death. other fun activities.

When grandparents are forced by often tragic circumstances to take on the role of parents, it’s an • Teach them the value of good nutrition by preparing Grandparents Day is extremely challenging situation for both kids and the and cooking healthy meals together.

Sunday, Sept. 9 grandparents who raise them.

• Join them in creative projects, writing a story, However, as Collins pointed out, “Grandparents drawing a picture, or creating a song, skit, or video. who help raise grandkids together with the child’s parents can support healthy aging and be a positive experience for all •V olunteer as a tutor or mentor at a local school or Boys & Girls Club. concerned.”

Millions of grandparents intentionally live close to their children and As a grandparent, you can be a wise friend, a playful elder, and the go-to grandchildren so they can give much-needed help. person for your grandkids when their parents aren’t available. By spending time This includes offering support to many of the estimated 21 million children together and staying in touch, you can uplift them and give them the sense of being raised by 13.6 million single parents in the U.S., as well as in households safety and stability they need to thrive and grow. where both parents work fulltime. Grandparents can provide childcare while parents work, transport kids to and from school and appointments, attend Children’s advocate and author Robert Martin writes books with his granddaughter, school events and teacher conferences, and give parents a much-needed break.

Keira Ely, including the bestsellers The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels and Many parents today raise their kids without much community support or in SuperClara — A Young Girl’s Story of Cancer, Bravery and Courage. SuperClara was the face of negative influences, such as poverty, gangs, crime, and drugs. And inspired by his other granddaughter (and Keira’s younger sister), Clara, who lost her regardless of socioeconomic status, all kids face challenges — some old, some battle with brain cancer in 2017. Martin founded the nonprofit Bridge to a Cure new.

Foundation to encourage the development of pediatric cancer treatments and cures.

Bullying has always existed, yet previous generations did not have to cope www.RobertMartinAuthor.com with cyberbullying or contend with the amplifying effect social media has on who feels “in” and who is “out.”

Do you know a 50+ volunteer In a time when the worst kinds of negative influences are a click away for who gives selflessly to others? many kids, grandparents can provide love, support, and positive influences.

Here are some ways you can show your grandkids you love them, care about Tell us what makes him or them, and are there for them: 1. Listen non-judgmentally, rather than correcting or disputing their ideas. Sometimes you may have to be a disciplinarian. But when your grandkids share thoughts, ideas, and feelings, put away criticism. Just listen, reflect, and ask questions.

2. Share compassionately. If you ask how they are doing, kids’ response will almost always be “fine.” Getting them to open up means first earning their trust. Try sharing a story about how you went through something similar when www.50plusLifePA.com

her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight!

Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged.

Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

50plus LIFE u

Time is a Priceless Gift

Volunteer Spotlight September 2018

13

What to Do When Your Doctor Won’t Listen

By Claire Galloway Being sick is bad enough. When your illness is difficult to diagnose, it’s even harder. But when you’re sick, suffering from mysterious symptoms, and your doctor dismisses your concerns — and you — it’s worse still.

“Of course doctors can’t know everything,” says activist Claire Galloway, author of A Call to Mind: A Story of Undiagnosed Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury (Brandylane Publishers, 2017). “But when patients — often women — find their condition undiagnosed and have their concerns dismissed, it can be truly disorienting.

“Untrained in medicine ourselves, we rely on doctors to help us when we’re sick,” says Galloway. “Most of the time, that system works. And, most of the time, our bodies would heal even without help.

“But, when they don’t, we need these doctors, and we rely on them to believe what we report to them. When they don’t, we initially feel humiliated to be discredited, but over time that humiliation grows into self-doubt.”

If you are struggling to make your doctor listen to your health concerns and take them seriously, Galloway says you can take action today.

These tips will help you advocate for yourself and your loved ones when you’re experiencing chronic or hard-to-diagnose symptoms.

Make a plan. As you notice symptoms, take the time to write them down; note the time of day and if there was an obvious trigger. Reread the notes to determine if there are correlations in time or activity day-to-day.

Take your notes and observations to your medical appointment, and prioritize your questions and concerns in order of importance to make the best use of time.

When you have an appointment, don’t go alone. “Bring your spouse, a family member, or neighbor who can corroborate the symptoms you are reporting,” says Galloway.

“Having a trusted companion in your corner will help you present a united front that will be more difficult for the doctor to dismiss. In some cases, hiring a professional patient advocate might be advisable.”

Keep an updated log that highlights important details. Include a timeline with important dates, symptoms, doctor and hospital visits, and new prescriptions.

Need more LIFE in your life?

Get 50plus LIFE sent straight to your mailbox!

Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: 50plus LIFE • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Call (717) 285-8131, or subscribe online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com!

Email it to yourself whenever you update it and keep a few hard copies to hand to doctors. Mark key words in bold to make it easier for the doctor to scan items of importance.

Do your own research. Go to the library or go online to learn all you can about your (or your loved one’s) symptoms. Make copies of supporting evidence.

You might also want to contact local or national medical agencies to gather substantive information that matches your concerns. Take this documentation to your medical appointments as supportive evidence.

Try to maintain composure. Staying calm during your appointment and presenting your concerns in a quantitative and objective manner, rather than emotionally, will help.

When you feel frustrated in the midst of being dismissed and ignored, take a deep breath to maintain composure and refocus your energies back to what is important.

Repeat yourself when necessary. “Speak up, even interrupt, during your allocated short appointment time,” says Galloway. “Make sure your concerns are being heard correctly and understood. Don’t be embarrassed to repeat yourself.

“Ask questions that reflect concern, like: ‘How will this medicine or treatment help?’ Or, ‘Why is my loved one not getting this treatment?’”

Make sure you understand instructions and the diagnosis. Repeat back your understanding of what the doctor is saying, so they can correct you if you have misunderstood.

If you feel uncomfortable, say so. If your doctor is being condescending, you can speak your mind. Simply say, “I’m uncomfortable with the way you are speaking to me.”

Ask for access to your medical records. You have the right to review your medical records (with a few exceptions) through the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but these can be difficult to obtain.

Some doctors maintain access through an online patient portal, though sometimes the doctor’s notes are not included. You can also go through a patient records department and might be charged a fee.

If you think the information in your records is incorrect, HIPAA gives you the right to request amendments to your records. Some doctors may have left a note in your records that could be hindering you from being taken seriously.

Even if a note by a previous doctor can’t be taken off, knowing it is there gives you the opportunity to explain and discuss it when you go in for an appointment with a new doctor.

Address_ _______________________________________________________

“If you feel like your doctor isn’t taking your concerns seriously, it’s crucial not to give up or start doubting yourself,” concludes Galloway.

“You know your body better than anyone else, and you have every right to fight for the correct diagnosis. These tools can help you keep advocating for yourself or for someone you love.”

City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ _______________ Please specify edition: oChester oCumberland oDauphin oLancaster oLebanon oYork

Claire Galloway is the author of A Call to Mind: A Story of Undiagnosed Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury. She has been advocating for greater awareness of closed-head traumatic brain injury in children since 2008. www.acalltomindtbi.com

Name_ ________________________________________________________

14

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

www.50plusLifePA.com

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

The Multitalented Richard Herd

A supporting nuclear power actor for much plant accident of his film career, — was produced Richard Herd during a time of has worked with heightened public actors such as Jack concern over the Lemmon, Rod environmental Steiger, Robert impact of nuclear Redford, Sylvester power and fueled Stallone, and by real nuclear Robert Duvall. incidents.

He has also Incredibly, less been a frequent than two weeks Photo credit CBS Paramount guest star on TV after the film’s Herd as Admiral Owen Paris on Star Trek Voyager. series since the release on March early 1970s. He 16, 1979, the worst is probably best nuclear accident recognized as a in U.S. history cast member on occurred following several TV shows, a partial meltdown such as T.J. Hooker, at Pennsylvania’s SeaQuest DSV, Star Three Mile Trek: Voyager, and Island Nuclear Seinfeld — for his Generating reoccurring role of Station.

Mr. Wilhelm.

“That made The “Seinfeld was China Syndrome Photo credit NBC a film everyone one of the best Richard Herd in Seinfeld as jobs I ever had,” wanted to see,” Mr. Wilhelm. said Herd from said Herd. “I his home in Los received many Angeles. “It got me offers to do other a tremendous amount of recognition films because of its impact on the and still does because it plays all the public and the titans of Hollywood.” time. There were no ‘stars’ on that Herd estimates his total number show; they were all genuinely nice of film, TV, and stage credits at over people to work with.”

500. But it’s a career that almost never Herd’s film appearances include happened due to a childhood illness. hits such as All the President’s Men, “I had osteomyelitis, a serious bone Private Benjamin, and The China infection, and almost didn’t survive,” Syndrome. He rates the latter as “one recalled Herd, who was sent to a the best parts, to this day, that I ever special school in second grade for had in a star-filled film” and still young people with various ailments. recalls rushing to an audition at the “I was in and out of Boston studio’s request.

Children’s Hospital. Lying there, “There sat the director Jim Bridges, month after month, you become Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, Michael very stoic. It really stimulated my Douglas, and several producers,” said imagination and I think actually Herd, who was offered and accepted helped me later as an actor.” the part of McCormack, the devious Fortunately, in the early 1940s, a chairman of the film’s California Gas new wonder drug became available & Electric Company. please see HERD page 19 The film — which dealt with a www.50plusLifePA.com

Please, join us!

This combined event is FREE for veterans of all ages, active military, and their families.

Nov. 1, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Farm and Home Center 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster

NEW LOCATION!

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Principal Sponsor:

Sponsored by: Blue Ridge Communications • Fulton Financial Corporation Disabled American Veterans • LCTV Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW WFYL • WHTM ABC27

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

50plus LIFE u

Brought to you by:

September 2018

15

WILDLIFE from page 9 often live under sheds and decks on people’s lawns.

Traditionally another woodland species, resident Carolina chickadees eat invertebrates and nest in tree cavities, bird boxes, and other sheltered places among trees. For a few years, a pair of chickadees lived in an unused gas vent leading into the house, offering more beauty and enjoyment to our family.

Over the years, pairs of house finches raised young in twig cradles on supports of an awning over a door to our house. Male finches have pink feathers and sing lovely songs early in spring.

Mourning doves and house sparrows rear offspring in spaces between two air conditioners and the two windows they project from. Parent doves feed a mix

of predigested seeds and throat phlegm to their two youngsters in a brood. And doves produce a brood every month through the warmer part of each year.

This summer, a few chimney swifts flew down our chimney at dusk to spend nights in safety. Swifts also hatch babies down the inside of sheltering chimneys, as they do down the inside of hollow trees.

Some summers, we have a couple of little brown bats resting by day in our attic and flying out to feed on flying insects at night. These interesting little mammals want only to be left alone.

These are some of the critters on our house. Readers probably have these same animals or other kinds. One has only to watch for them and enjoy.

Classifieds

help wanted General PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000 Weekly Mailing Brochures From Home! NO Experience Required. Helping home workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity. Start Immediately! www.MailingOpp.net 25 DRIVER TRAINEES NEEDED NOW! Earn $1000 per week! Paid CDL Training! STEVENS TRANSPORT COVERS ALL COSTS! 1-877-209-1309 drive4stevens.com $500 - $1000 Daily Returning Phone Calls! No Selling, No Explaining! Not MLM! Call 1-844-427-0313 Notice Miscellaneous MEDICAL BILLING & CODING TRAINING! Train at home to process Medical billing & Insurance! CTI can get you job ready! 1-833-766-4511 AskCTI.com HS Diploma/HSD/GED required AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704 Over $10K in debt? Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay nothing to enroll. Call National Debt Relief at 866-243-0510.

OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds!

FAA approved! FREE info kit: 844-558-7482 LIVING WITH KNEE OR BACK PAIN? Medicare recipients that suffer with pain may qualify for a low or no cost knee or back brace. Call 844-308-4307 HARRIS 5 MINUTE BED BUG KILLER! Professional Exterminator Formula. Available: Hardware Stores BUY ONLINE: homedepot.com INVENTORS - FREE INFORMATION PACKAGE Have your product idea developed affordably by the Research & Development pros and presented to manufacturers. Call 1-888-501-0236 for a Free Idea Starter Guide. Submit your idea for a free consultation.

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring &

seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 888-912-4745 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN - ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE! Take the first step into a new career! Call now: 855-669-2185 DIATOMACEOUS EARTH-FOOD GRADE 100% OMRI Listed-Meets Organic Use Standards. BUY ONLINE ONLY: homedepot.com 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 FDA-Registered Hearing Aids. 100% Risk-Free! 45-Day Home Trial. Comfort Fit. Crisp Clear Sound. If you decide to keep it, PAY ONLY $299 per aid. FREE Shipping. Call Hearing Help Express 1-855-409-6129 NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit!

Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 866-951-7214 HOME SECURITY - Leading smart home provider Vivint Smart Home has an offer just for you. Call 888-508-5259 to get a professionally installed home security system with $0 activation.

SUPPORT our service members, veterans and their families in their time of need. For more information visit the Fisher House website at www.fisherhouse.org 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.

Placing your classified ad is as easy as 1,2,3!

1. Choose a Category

COST

$50 for up to 45 words.

MAIL

50plus LIFE Attn: Classifieds 3912 Abel Drive Columbia, PA 17512

FOR SALE o Antiques o Appliances o Automobiles o Boats o Computers/Electronics o Furniture o Household Goods o Lawn & Garden o Sporting Goods

o Tools o Miscellaneous HELP WANTED o Business Opportunities o General

NOTICE o Announcements o Garage/Yard Sale o Lost & Found o Miscellaneous o Services Provided REAL ESTATE o Apartment for Rent o Foreclosures

o o o o o

House for Rent House for Sale Land Miscellaneous Timeshares

WANTED o Automobiles o Miscellaneous

2. Write Your Ad (45-Word Maximum)

______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Provide Your Information and Submit

PHONE

717-285-8130

Your Name ___________________________________ ­­­­­­­­­­­­­

# of Months to Run ____________________________

Address ______________________________________

Check Enclosed o or

City ________________ State ____ Zip __________ ­­

Credit Card # _________________________________

Phone _______________________________________

Exp. Date _______________ CVV Code __________

Email ________________________________________

Authorized Signature __________________________

On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. A $30 service charge will be added for any returned checks.

16

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Mountain Biking

Across 1. Mountain peaks 8. Venus to Serena, briefly 11. Children’s game 14. Dresses and hats, e.g.

15. Free, legally 17. Attractive force 18. Soft Italian cheese 19. Botanist Gray 20. Tactful 21. Knowledge 23. Showered 24. Positioned

27. Arrive 31. Electrify 32. Kings Peak locale 33. Irritate 34. Obese 35. Predatory fish 36. Gossip 39. Dejected 40. Feudal estate 42. Zilch 43. Kind of nut 44. Courtyards 46. Asian cuisine

48. Lighter fuel 50. Bring to bear 51. Adulthood 54. Groove 56. Marine rock-clinger 57. Aardvark fare 61. Less cloudy 62. Gambled 63. Moray, e.g.

64. Commercials 65. Spaghetti sauce ingredient

20. Short run 21. Persian Gulf kingdom 22. English cathedral city 23. Wild hog 24. Tel Aviv port 25. Summer month 26. Bake sale organization 28. Theater sections 29. Contract provision 30. Windbreak 36. Kind of pool 37. College major 38. Halloween sound 41. Leg bone

42. Kooky 45. Sky lights 46. Supplies food 47. Eggnog additive 49. Pronged 51. Riot spray 52. Proficient 53. Old Chinese money 54. Bring up 55. Exhort 57. Low card 58. Author Levin 59. Gymnast’s goal 60. Old Tokyo

Down 1. Kind of wheel 2. Mar. follower 3. Health resort 4. Wise one 5. Eye part 6. Salad cheese 7. Cunning 8. Fairytale figure 9. Gaelic 10. Goal-oriented activity 11. Carry 12. ___ meridiem 13. Weed eater 16. Abut

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

Please call (610) 675-6240 for more information.

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE u

September 2018

17

Fresh Fare

Make it Mediterranean Just like forward-thinking culinary artists, many at-home chefs seek out the next trendy flavor to provide friends and family gathered around the table.

When pondering which trend you’ll dive into in the future, consider incorporating tastes from an especially influential international location: the Mediterranean Sea region.

Considered by the experts at Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) in the organization’s 2018 Trends Report to be one of the most influential parts of the world on the American food scene, flavors from the Mediterranean Sea focus on a diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds, and nuts.

Take this hummus recipe, for example, which involves processing a host of beans, seeds, and seasonings to create a light, smooth dip to serve with anything from vegetables to crackers.

Because the fare is typically lighter, small bites and salads such as this tomato, feta, and basil salad provide easy-to-prepare versions of Mediterranean cuisine.

Incorporating vegetables (tomatoes and basil) along with the salty, milky flavors of feta cheese makes the salad a distinctly Mediterranean dish.

Find full results from the report and learn more about the organization at LDEI.org.

• 3 teaspoons sea salt

Tomato, Feta, and Basil Salad Recipe courtesy of Beth Vlasich Pav of Cooking by Design, LLC, on behalf of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Servings: 15-20

• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

• 8 medium-size tomatoes, sliced into 1/8-inch slices • 1 block (8 ounces) feta cheese, sliced into 1/8-inch pieces

• 1/4 cup olive oil On large platter, arrange slices of tomato and feta so they overlap. Place basil leaf between each tomato and feta slice. Repeat.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately.

Hummus Recipe courtesy of Beth Vlasich Pav of Cooking

by Design, LLC, on behalf of Les Dames d’Escoffier International Yield: 2 cups • 2 cans (15 ounces each) garbanzo beans • 1 medium garlic clove, peeled • 1 teaspoon sesame oil • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice • 2 teaspoons sea salt • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Drain garbanzo beans, reserving 1/2 cup liquid.

In food processor, process garbanzo beans, garlic, Photos courtesy of Beth Vlasich Pav. sesame oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until incorporated. Stop and scrape down sides of bowl. Add garbanzo liquid and process until smooth.

Scoop mixture into medium bowl, add black sesame seeds, and mix gently.

Serve with drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top.

Family Features

Puzzles shown on page 17

Puzzle Solutions

• 2 small packages fresh basil, leaves picked off stems

• 2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper

18

September 2018

50plus LIFE u

www.50plusLifePA.com

HERD from page 15 says he to treat continues infection, and young Herd to look for interesting roles was one of and has worked the earliest on several films patients to in production receive the medication. this year, including The “Penicillin Silent Natural, knocked out The Oath, the infection and The Mule and saved my with Clint life.”

Eastward, in Given a youthful which he plays Photo provided by Richard Herd Eastwood’s second Richard Herd in his home studio. best friend. chance, Herd “You have to seek your was determined to succeed in his individuality and find what works career goals. In addition to acting, he is a musician and singer. He crafts for you, whatever your career goal,” he adds. “You won’t succeed jewelry, writes poetry and plays, and is an established artist with many unless you have heart and soul, and understanding and desire.” exhibitions to his credit (see www. richardherd.com).

“I’m a primitive abstract Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn impressionist and work with oil and University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews acrylic.”

Herd, who turns 86 in September, for over 700 newspapers and magazines.

“There’s no place like home.”

We agree.

–L. Frank Baum

‘Invisible’ Heart Attacks Pose a Stealth Risk A heart attack is a terrifying, life-threatening experience.

It can be even scarier — and more dangerous — when you don’t realize it’s happening, and that’s apparently more common than had been thought.

A study of almost 1,000 elderly men and women in Iceland found that 17 percent had suffered an unrecognized heart attack caused by blood vessel blockage that had scarred their hearts, identified by MRI scanning.

Fewer than 10 percent of the subjects had experienced any clear symptoms of heart distress. www.50plusLifePA.com

Of the more than 150 people who’d had heart attacks they weren’t aware of, 44 had died within eight years.

Symptoms of heart attack can be mistaken for heartburn or the flu: chest or stomach pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, lightheadedness, sweating, and nausea.

Don’t take any chances. Even if you’re not reeling with pain from any of these warning signs, getting to an emergency room right away is essential to receiving the care you need.

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

50plus LIFE u

September 2018

19

HEAR BETTER FOR ONLY $299 EACH! America's Best Value in Hearing Aids!

FDA Registered, 100% Digital Hearing Aids Shipped Direct to You.

45-DAY

E E R F K RIS L TRIA

The Apollo-6200 is the perfect FDA registered digital hearing aid if you want the BEST technology for the BEST price. American Made electronics give you advanced technology in a durable, easy to maintain hearing aid. Includes four channel compression for crisp, clear sound and feedback cancellation that virtually eliminates squeal. Discreet slim-tube design gives you the most natural sound with total comfort.

R

D

R

STE EGI RE

D

SEND Buy direct from NO MONE manufacturer Y N OW! 100% Risk-FREE FOR QUALIFIE D BUYERS. 45-day home trial Payment Payment plans available Licensed professionals FREE shipping No restocking fees

The typical hearing aid costs at least $2,300 but your price is nowhere near that with this special offer! Try the Apollo-6200 with NO MONEY DOWN completely Risk-FREE for 45 days in the comfort of your own home and see if it’s everything we’ve promised. Call today: 1-888-847-1189 and mention promo code 10-290.

STE EGI RE

High-quality American Made electronics

SAME HIGH-QUALITY HEARING AIDS OFFERED BY AUDIOLOGISTS AND ENT’S.

“I can hear again. The size is so discreet.

Noticed my TV volume is lower and I feel more comfortable in conversations.”

R.R. – Altoona, PA “Easy to use volume control. Affordable price.

I can hear clearly and people don’t need to repeat themselves.”

W.W. – Orrstown, PA

Trusted Since 1979

• Hearing aids by mail for 39 years • Over 750,000 satisfied customers

Try our Apollo™-6200 hearing aid risk-free for 45 days.

If you like it then pay only $299 per aid or simply send it back.

By phone (Mon-Fri • 8 am - 5 pm Central Time)

1-888-847-1189

Order online

Expires: 11/30/18

PROMO CODE

10-290

www.HearingHelpExpress.com

45-DAY RISK-FREE HOME TRIAL

A+ Rating

Satisfaction

Better Business Bureau

GUARANTEED

100%

Licensed hearing aid specialists on staff