50plus LIFE Cumberland County January 2018

Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition

January 2018 • Vol. 19 No. 1

a path well carved page 4

assistance dogs provide help and love page 16

cosmetic surgery after 50 page 18

The Bookworm Sez

Hank & Jim Terri Schlichenmeyer

You and your friend have a lot in common.

You both laugh at the same idiotic things, enjoy the same food and drink (often together), and you share similar experiences.

You’ve taught your friend a lot and you’ve been a willing pupil, too.

If you’re both lucky, as in the new book Hank & Jim by Scott Eyman, it’ll be that way for decades.

Born into a large family in Nebraska in May 1905, Henry Fonda once recalled an aimless, directionless childhood.

That’s surprising, since young Hank was a focused boy who always insisted on perfection in everything he tackled, including hobbies, studies, and acting, which he embraced when a local woman invited him to join the community theater.

When he realized that he loved acting— and he was good at it—Hank received the blessings of his parents to move to New York

Hank & Jim: The Fifty-Year Friendship of Henry Fonda and James Stewart

By Scott Eyman c. 2017, Simon & Schuster 384 pages

Photo credit: Greg Lovett

Hank & Jim author Scott Eyman.

City, to see where his dramatic talents might take him.

James Stewart was born almost exactly three years after Hank, in a similar small town in Pennsylvania. His father was a businessman who owned a hardware store and who made sure that his children weren’t insulated from others unlike them.

Young Jim was an easygoing, affable boy who loved animals and model airplanes; in fact, he’d once considered entering a Naval Academy but, while in prep school, he realized that he loved acting — and he was good at it. Even at college, he wanted to see where his dramatic talents might take him.

While at Princeton, Jim briefly met Hank, but their meeting was unremarkable: They shook hands, exchanged small talk, and then went their separate ways, but they had mutual friends, so it was inevitable that they’d meet again.

Eventually, they shared rooming houses, a love

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of practical jokes and of gardening, and an obsession with flight.

Hank was a Hollywood success first, then Jim. Jim won an Academy Award first, then Hank. They both spent time in World War II, about which they were reluctant to talk. And they shared an obsession with one irresistible woman …

You click through channels on a quiet evening and find an old, black-

and-white movie on TV. Those are fun to see — and so is Hank & Jim. Much like those classic movies, author Scott Eyman takes readers on a trip back to an innocent time, when drama was for stage or camera only and, because few stars bothered with bodyguards, fans enjoyed more accessibility.

It was a time when an actor might be ashamed at his own personal

marry-go-round, while other marriages were forever. But Eyman also lets his subjects romp: We see bed-hopping and scandals here, as well as stories that frame the lifelong friendship of two stars, as told by themselves, friends, and children.

And on that note, readers who are tabloid-familiar with either man may also shed a tear …

This book is a movie buff’s dream:

There are surprises in here, reminisces, and plenty of “awwwwww”-inspiring moments. For Hollywood watchers and bio-fans alike, Hank & Jim is an uncommonly good read.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer.

Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away.

Emergency Numbers American Red Cross (717) 845-2751 Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Cumberland County Assistance (800) 269-0173 Energy Assistance Cumberland County Board of Assistance (800) 269-0173 Eye care services Kilmore Eye Associates 890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 697-1414 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Cumberland County (800) 720-8221 Funeral Directors Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc. 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg (717) 432-5312 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274 Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania (717) 238-2531 www.50plusLifePA.com

Healthcare Information Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500 Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Asbury Home Services (717) 591-8332 Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Salvation Army (717) 249-1411 Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 KeyNet BusinessNetwork (877) 753-9638 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Nutrition Meals on Wheels Carlisle (717) 245-0707 Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011

ewville N (717) 776-5251 Shippensburg (717) 532-4904 West Shore (717) 737-3942 Orthopedics OSS Health 856 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 747-8315 Personal Care Homes

Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019

Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com salons Earl Gibb for Hair 123 Third St., Lemoyne (717) 737-4347 Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110 Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555

Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667

Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040 Liberty Program (866) 542-3788 Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

Passport Information (888) 362-8668 Smoking Information (800) 232-1331 Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100 Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681

Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237

Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Consumer Information (888) 878-3256

Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371

Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233 Drug Information (800) 729-6686 Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 50plus LIFE ›

January 2018

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Cover Story

A Path Well Carved

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 McNallen

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Account Representatives Matthew Chesson Janette McLaurin Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Cheena Wolferd Gina Yocum Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Martha Lawrence

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

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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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January 2018

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By Jason J. Tabor At 52, Paul Waclo radiates an energy and creativity men half his age would be lucky to possess.

Coupled with the business savvy and charm cultivated by a career in design and sales and a general dissatisfaction with working for someone else for a living, Waclo was well equipped to take the plunge and start his own business in 2012. The story of how he “carved” his own path to a better life is an inspiring one.

“Getting pushed to do things that are out of your comfort zone is always how you grow,” says Waclo, the owner of chainsaw sculpture business Chainsaw Carving by Paul.

Waclo now tours the country leaving a trail of sawdust in his wake, creating custom wooden sculptures of animals, people, furniture, tree houses, or whatever creations his artistic impulses lead him to. His sculptures are whimsical and unique; they seem to be imbued with Waclo’s sunny disposition.

He carves downed trees that would otherwise be heading to mulch or firewood piles as well as onsite memorials to loved ones from trees on his customers’ properties.

A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania, Waclo has lived in central Pennsylvania for the past 13 years with his wife, Lori, and their three daughters. The son of a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman, Waclo was diagnosed with Perthes disease, a childhood

Old Man of the Sea for Mariner Point Park in Harford County, Md.

A multiple eagle bench for an industrial park in New Jersey.

A 7-foot bald eagle carving in progress.

disorder that affects the hips and legs, at just 6 years old.

“I was bedridden, basically, for about four years of my childhood,” he says. “I spent a lot of time in traction in hospital beds, and at one point my doctor told me I’d probably never walk again.”

While bedridden, he began drawing and sketching to pass the time.

He carried this passion for art into adulthood, long after treatments at Hershey Medical Center alleviated the effects of the Perthes disease and got him out of the hospital rooms that had confined him for much of his childhood.

“I was always outside, being active, doing motorsports, hiking and skiing and building things.

All things that I still enjoy today. As a young person, I was very aware that I’d been given a second chance at life.”

After high school, Waclo studied engineering and design at Penn State. He started his own business after graduating, designing apparel for BMW North America and doing mechanical drafting and design for other clients as well.

His businesses ended up floundering due to his “not having the life skills at 22 to really know how to make it a success.” Eventually, he settled into a successful career in sales, although he sometimes thought of how he might go into business for himself once more.

Waclo’s interest in chainsaw art stemmed from an unconventional source: a TV show called Saw Dogs that his daughter was a fan of and insisted he needed to watch. The show profiles the trials and travails of a www.50plusLifePA.com

team of chainsaw carvers as they are commissioned to complete a series of complex art projects for high-end clients.

After watching just one episode, he was hooked. Soon, he’d purchased a chainsaw and was beginning to attempt his own small carvings on blocks of wood in his driveway.

“Something about it just spoke to me and I wanted to try it. I’d never used a chainsaw before, never even picked one up,” laughs Waclo.

“When I was first learning to sculpt, my main focus was using the saw without killing myself!

Much of sculpting involves using the tip of the saw, which can cause a lot of bounce-back. It’s really quite dangerous when you’re first learning.”

After taming the saw, Waclo’s sculpting skills began to grow by leaps and bounds. He credits his engineering experience, and its reliance on being able to visualize structures in three dimensions, for his rapid progress.

“In order to do what I do, and know where to make the first cut and the second cut, and so on, it’s essential to be able to see these objects in my head and rotate them around. Carving is really just the process of ‘removing’; there may be an eagle or a horse hidden in a block of wood, and it’s my job to carve away everything else that’s there,” he explains.

What began as a hobby in his driveway soon grew into a business as passersby started to notice the artwork he was making and made offers to buy them. He carved a custom bench, which included two friendly, welcoming bears and decorative script, for Brown’s Orchard & Market in Loganville, and suddenly his work was gaining notice and wide visibility.

“If it hadn’t been for Brown’s, this probably would’ve remained a part-time job,” he says. “Things started taking off, and I had to start working faster in order to deal with all of the commissions that began coming my way.”

After 25 years in a successful career, Waclo left the corporate world to strike out on his own, and he hasn’t looked back since. He now www.50plusLifePA.com

works full time to fulfill all of the commissions from art collectors and property owners who want to adorn their yards with Waclo’s unique vision.

“Each morning I sort through all of the Facebook messages, emails, and phone calls I receive from prospective customers,” he explains.

“Then I head to my shop … or hit the road with my mobile workshop if I’m working on site.”

He also incorporates a workout routine and nutrition plan into his daily regimen.

“This isn’t like sitting in an office — you need to be in shape to do this kind of work, and I see myself doing it when I’m 75 or 80.”

He maintains a small inventory of sculptures for sale, but most of his work is done on spec after consulting with a potential buyer.

His sculptures range from small pieces he can complete in a day to works like the Old Man of the Sea, which had to be positioned by crane at Mariner Point Park in Maryland.

As a chainsaw carver, Waclo has joined a small but passionate group of woodworkers referred to as “The Brotherhood of the Saw,” which has allowed him to forge relationships with fellow carvers and customers all around the world.

“I’ve truly become friends with many of my customers.

It’s humbling to be invited into someone’s home and be put up as a guest when you’re creating art on their property.”

He recalls being “treated like a rock star” during a tour of the Stihl Chainsaw manufacturing plant in Germany and, when not carving, gives presentations and seminars on small business around the country.

He’s even become friends with the carvers he saw on TV who inspired him in the first place.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but if you’re able to find something you’re passionate about and make a living doing it, you’ll never have to work. I’m 52 and every day I’ve got a smile on my face, I’ve never felt better, and I feel like my road in life, starting a business at this age, brought me to what I was always meant to do.”

For more information, visit www. chainsawcarvingbypaul.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!

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January 2018

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Fifties Flashback

America’s New Old Hero Randal C. Hill

While numerous historians have portrayed Davy Crockett as a brave folk figure, many others have blasted him as being a self-serving con artist.

When Crockett claimed to have killed 105 grizzly bears in a span of nine months, some later cynics argued that the uneducated pioneer simply couldn’t have counted that high.

In the mid-1950s, though, baby boomer kids embraced only the positive Crockett image.

This was thanks to Fess Parker, a 29-year-old Navy veteran from Texas who stood tall (6 feet, 5 inches), was ruggedly handsome, and exuded a quiet on-screen confidence during ABC-TV’s Disneyland trilogy about the fabled frontiersman.

As Walt Disney’s debut foray into television, each episode of Davy Crockett was shown one month apart,

from December fighting for 1954 until radio airplay; Bill Hayes’s February 1955. rendition It became on Cadence arguably television’s first Records beat the competition miniseries. when it The streaked up the shows hit an Billboard charts unexpected and locked in ratings home the No. 1 spot run when they attracted for five weeks.

Photo of Fess Parker as Davy Crockett from Few knew 40 million the television miniseries Davy Crockett. that Disney had viewers. commissioned Parker’s Crockett — hailed as “the King of the the tune — which took less than an Wild Frontier” — captivated America hour to write — only when the three Crockett shows had run a few minutes like nothing before.

People loved the catchy theme song. short of time before being shown.

Hayes’s success was only the Suddenly nearly two dozen versions of beginning. In a feeding frenzy of epic “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” were proportions, manufacturers rushed a multitude of Crockett products onto the market — much to the chagrin and frustration of the Disney organization. (Since Davy was a historical figure and in the public domain, it was impossible to copyright his name.) Anybody could — and did — put a load of Crockett stuff on the market.

Kids rushed to buy “official” Davy Crockett regalia (buckskin jackets, leggings, moccasins) as well as 3,000 other items that included (deep breath here): lunchboxes, guitars,

wristwatches, coloring books, trading cards, bedspreads, pajamas, bath towels, underwear, jigsaw puzzles, bubble gum, t-shirts — and 14 million hastily printed books.

Essential to any self-respecting young fan was the coveted coonskin cap, a faux fur creation that included a luxuriant raccoon snap-on tail that dangled from the back.

The caps sold at a rate of 5,000 a day, more than 1 million altogether.

Girls as well as boys could show their devotion when they donned Polly Crockett caps of all-white faux fur.

Then, without warning and after sales of $300 million — $100 million from the caps alone — the Davy Crockett fad died. Overnight, it seemed, phones stopped ringing and orders stopped flowing in.

After seven frenetic months, it was over. Davy Crockett had become uncool, and merchants everywhere groaned.

The craze cannot simply be dismissed as a frivolous fad, though. It had become an unprecedented event in the early television age, an example of the power of a TV-product tie-in.

For the first time, baby boomers had — unknowingly — flexed their collective commercial muscles 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.

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January 2018

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Tinseltown Talks

Jay Sandrich Directed Classic Sitcoms Nick Thomas

Starting out as an assistant director on I Love Lucy in the late ’50s probably wasn’t a bad foundation for Jay Sandrich’s television career behind the camera.

“I wrote a letter to Lucy’s company (Desilu) and was invited for an interview,” recalled Sandrich from Los Angeles.

He was immediately offered Publicity still courtesy Paramount Pictures the job despite possessing Jay Sandrich's father, Mark, seated at only a film degree from right, working on Holiday Inn with Fred UCLA and a couple of years’ Astaire and Bing Crosby. experience working on army documentaries.

“It was my first real job in the business,” he said. “The only reason I got it was because the man who hired me had been my father’s assistant, so I got that job thanks to my father.”

But by then, there was no way for Sandrich to thank his dad. Sandrich senior had died a decade earlier when his son was just 13.

Mark Sandrich had been a respected film director in the 1930s and ’40s who worked on five Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films as well as the stillfavorite seasonal musical Holiday Inn. As the rookie second assistant director on Lucy, young Sandrich’s duties included a lot of paperwork and making sure actors were on time for rehearsals.

“Then I got the job of first assistant director the next season. I knew very little, but the previous assistant director, Jack Aldworth — now the associate producer — taught me so much.”

Also filming at Desilu Studios was Make Room for Daddy. Director/ producer Sheldon Leonard invited Sandrich to work on the series as assistant director for more than 160 episodes.

“That’s where I really learned a lot,” he said. “Not necessarily working with actors but with the cameras.”

Throughout the ’60s, Sandrich worked on other hit series, such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Andy Griffith Show. When executive producer Leonard Stern began planning Get Smart, he invited Sandrich to produce the first season.

“But I really didn’t enjoy producing — too many worries,” admitted Sandrich, who went on to direct a half dozen episodes.

In the ’70s, Sandrich guest directed multiple episodes of numerous popular Corrections In the Soldier Stories article in the December issue of 50plus LIFE, nurse Ann Thompson was misidentified in the photo caption. Thompson is pictured on the left; Linda Goodhart is on the right.

Also in the December issue, Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America Peggy Kurtz Keller was reported to have come in fourth in the national competition. Keller was second runner-up.

We regret the errors.

www.50plusLifePA.com

series. He especially left his directorial mark on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s and The Cosby Show in the ’80s/’90s, directing more than 100 episodes of each and winning two Emmys for each series.

Despite spending a career surrounded by actors, Sandrich says emphatically he had no desire to act himself: “I knew how bad I would have been!

Publicity still “I’m 85 now and my wife and Jay Sandrich, right, on the set I have been spending summers of Make Room For Daddy with in Aspen, and I’ve directed a few producer Sheldon Leonard, center. plays,” he says.

“But television comedy has changed so much that I don’t think I’d be good directing it today. I’ve had a great career being involved with some of the best comedy shows ever produced.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 650 magazines and newspapers. advertisement

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January 2018

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Cumberland County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Jan. 2, 6 p.m.

CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786

Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. – Yoga Jan. 5, 8:30 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast Jan. 17, noon – Slips and Falls Presentation

Jan. 2, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Helpers 3806 Market St., Suite 3, Camp Hill (717) 920-0707 Jan. 3, 1:30 p.m.

The Bridges Support Group for the Alzheimer’s Association The Bridges at Bent Creek 2100 Bent Creek Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 795-1100 Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Caregivers Support Group Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1000 Claremont Road, Carlisle (717) 386-0047 Jan. 4, 6:30 p.m.

Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041 Jan. 8, 1:30-3 p.m.

Caregivers Support Group St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church 310 Hertzler Road, Upper Allen Township (717) 766-8806

Jan. 9, 6:30-8 p.m.

Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support Group The Live Well Center 3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle (717) 877-7561 sirbrady12@gmail.com Jan. 10, 1:30 p.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West – Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624 Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Amputee Support Team Meeting HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 834-5705 www.astamputees.com

Branch Creek Place – (717) 300-3563 115 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-5007 20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center (717) 732-3915 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola Mechanicsburg Place – (717) 697-5947 97 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg West Shore Senior Citizens Center (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland

Jan. 16, 1 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880

Free and open to the public

Jan. 23, 6 p.m.

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 486-3596 apcoulson@comcast.net

Wednesdays, noon SilverSneakers Exercise Class Susquehanna View Apartments Community Room 208 Senate Ave., Camp Hill (717) 439-4070 jesseswoyer.com@gmail.com

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Library Programs Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 Jan. 2, 9, 23, 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Upstairs Stitchers Embroidery Group Jan. 5, 7 p.m. – Music at Bosler Jan. 10, 1-2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday

Please call or visit their website for more information.

Community Programs

Jan. 10, 11:30 a.m.

NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 7530 4545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 774-4031 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.

Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 Jan. 12, 4-7:30 p.m. – Blood Drive with the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank Jan. 18, 9:30-11 a.m. – Grandparent Group Jan. 26, 2 and 7 p.m. – Foreign Film Friday New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. –Write-On Writer’s Workshop Jan. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Monday Great Books Discussion Group: The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Jan. 17, 6:30 p.m. – How to Keep the “Pre” in Pre-diabetes

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January 2018

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Such is Life

Every Day is a Milestone Saralee Perel

My husband, Bob, will turn 70 soon. He’s been refusing to get out of bed.

Today I pulled his covers down. “Bob, 70 is the new 50.”

He pulled the covers back over his head and muffled, “What’s 80? The new dead?”

“Bob, look what you’re missing out on right now. A wonderful day with me. Come on. Get dressed and we’ll go to Four Seas Ice Cream.”

Four Seas is probably one of the most popular ice cream parlors on Cape Cod, where we live.

I said, “I’ll even treat you to one of their t-shirts. What color?”

“Black noir.”

“What size?

“Old.” Later, he said, “I don’t feel 70.”

“What’s 70 supposed to feel like?”

“As cuddly and adorable as a tick.”

“I’m getting you out of this funk. We have this very moment to be in love with each other.

I’m not missing out on it.”

That lifted Bob’s spirits. He held my hand as we walked to our car.

He joyfully said, “We fell in love when we saw each other at Four Seas.

Remember?”

“Oh yes,” I said, suddenly feeling a little wistful.

“You ordered extra cherries for your hot fudge sundae. They fell on the floor and you stepped on them. Everywhere you walked, you left little red dots behind you.”

“It seems like yesterday,” I said.

This 70 thing couldn’t be bothering me instead of Bob, could it? That feeling of wistfulness was now replaced by wanting to throw up.

Choking on my words, I said, “The place was packed. We locked eyes just as if we were the only ones there. You were wearing your light-blue work shirt and it matched your blue eyes.”

“That was over 40 years ago,” he said.

My shoulders did a grand slam slump. Then I ever-so-slowly put myself prone and face down in the grass.

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“Saralee! Pull yourself together.” He helped me up and gave me a hug.

By the time we got to the ice cream shop, I was uncontrollably sobbing.

“Boy, will your birthday be rotten.”

He snuggled with me in the front seat. “All I want for my birthday is you.”

That’s all I needed to hear.

And so, just like the pair we were 40 years ago, we sat at the counter and had our ice creams. I had a hot fudge sundae with extra cherries, which didn’t fall off.

Bob’s birthday will be a day to cherish, when two people in love share one fine occasion filled with dreams of long ago, the exquisite present tense, and courage for the days to come.

Nationally syndicated, award-winning columnist Saralee Perel can be reached at sperel@saraleeperel. com or via her website: www.saraleeperel.com.

COCKLIN

FUNERAL HOME, INC. Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Scott D. Brenneman

Becky J. Cocklin

Funeral Director, Supervisor

Funeral Director

Serving Dillsburg and the Surrounding Area Since 1935 • Pre-Arrangement Counseling • Cremation 30 N. Chestnut Street Dillsburg, PA 17019 (717) 432-5312

www.cocklinfuneralhome.com 50plus LIFE ›

January 2018

9

Dear Pharmacist

7 Lifesaving Reasons You Should Eat Cauliflower

Suzy Cohen

I was eating dinner with my husband, Sam, and having homemade chicken soup with a slice of sourdough bread and melted butter. It was simple and delicious. We ate silently.

Toward the end of the meal, he says to me, “We always eat our soup and bread silently because we are mentally calculating how to time the last bite so it’s perfect.”

Ha! So true. We usually chatter during meals, and tell funny stories, but when soup and bread hit the table, it all goes to silence. I like to time my last bite so it’s soup (to wash down the bread).

Regardless, about this homemade chicken soup … that’s what I really want to talk about.

Tonight we made it differently, with peas instead of celery (because you need something green) and with red onions instead of white ones. We used shredded cauliflower instead of rice — that was the biggest and most pleasant surprise because I didn’t think it would actually work.

You can buy shredded cauliflower now in bags in the produce department

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ONE WEST PENN APARTMENTS For seniors 62 and over

WE OFFER:

• Maintenance-free living • Safety and security • Elevator-assisted living • Community room with kitchen • Fitness center and wellness program • Social activities • Courteous and helpful staff • Small pets and service/emotional support animals welcome (guidelines apply) Residents pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent and utilities. Income limits apply. Annual incomes under $26,150 for one person and $29,900 for 2 persons.

To submit an application, please go to www.cchra.com or call (717) 249-7797.

One West Penn Apartments One West Penn St. Carlisle, PA 17013 10

January 2018

50plus LIFE ›

of your grocery store. Someone should have bagged this stuff decades ago!

Anyway, the cauliflower holds up remarkably well, even days later. It acts just like rice except with cauliflower, you get the most incredible health benefits. It’s a crucifer, like its green cousins broccoli and Brussels sprouts, so it has the same cancer-fighting properties.

I want you to start cooking with cauliflower. Here’s why.

Cauliflower contains sulforaphanes; that’s the compound that gives it a funky sulfur smell. This compound has been isolated and studied. It clearly demonstrates cancerfighting promise, especially for breast, prostate, and other reproductive cancers. This has been shown repeatedly, in both animal

models and test-tube studies.

Cauliflower contains antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. There are many antioxidants present in cauliflower, but among the more recognizable, we

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Call: (877) 753­-9638 1409 State St., Harrisburg, PA 17103

www.keynetquote.com

What’s Your Name?

We asked for your preferred term for an aging adult, and you chose:

Readers born before 1946:

Readers born 1946–64:

SENIOR CITIZEN!

BOOMER!

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find quercetin, vitamin K, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and kaempferol.

That last one is incredible — it’s rarely talked about, but kaempferol has evidence behind it to show that it can block the production of VEGF (a signaling protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels) in your body and “suppress ovarian cancercell metastasis in vitro,” according to one research study.

Another article suggests kaempferol could interact with estrogen receptors on the cell and slow the growth of cancer!

Cauliflower protects your bones because it is a rich, natural source of vitamins K and C, as well as minerals like potassium, manganese, and phosphorus.

Cauliflower gives you a low-carb alternative to digestible fiber, so it will help you achieve regular bowel

movements while eliminating toxins stuck in the deep crevices of your gut.

In fact, sulforaphanes and glucosinolates found in cauliflower fight Helicobacter pylori, and that fact alone should reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Cauliflower contains I3C (indole3-carbinol), which helps metabolize estrogen into anti-cancer byproducts, and that’s good for both men and women. I3C has been studied for its role in cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis.

If you’d like to get some of my recipes using cauliflower, sign up for my newsletter and I’ll email them to you.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease.

For more information about the author, visit SuzyCohen.com

Senior Living Community Opens in Lemoyne

KEIy eLAM O R E ssociates Medical • Diagnostic testing • Disease evaluation • Routine eye care • Emergency care and treatment

Surgical Ed Yarish, Artis’s president of operations, and Frank Wehr, COO, holding the ribbon, with Don Feltman, president of Artis, and Gail Gallo, mayor of Lemoyne, cutting the ribbon.

Artis Senior Living recently held a ribbon cutting at their new West Shore community.

Artis provides a living option for people with Alzheimer’s and other

forms of dementia. Artis embraces the “neighborhood” layout, each distinctive in color and character so residents can familiarize themselves to their surroundings.

• Cataract removal and intraocular lens implants • Retinal injections (macular degeneration) • Glaucoma surgery

Optical • Complete optical department • Contact lens dispensing and instructions • Authorized Sports Eye Injury Prevention Center

Eye Care for Life!

Subscribe Online At:

50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

V. Eugene Kilmore, Jr., M.D. • John W. Pratt, M.D. • Foster E. Kreiser, O.D. Ryan J. Hershberger, O.D. • Michelle A. Thomas, O.D.

890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (717) 697-1414 • www.kilmoreeye.com

50plus LIFE ›

January 2018

11

You and Your Adult Child: The Why of Estrangement and How to Heal

By Kathy McCoy, Ph.D.

• Parents and adult children are less likely to become estranged as the result of verbal arguments than they are from a conflict of needs: This is often the need of the adult child to be independent and in control of his life and the need of the parent to remain closely connected and, ultimately, in control.

Estrangement hurts every day of the year. But the pain can be particularly intense during the holidays with empty places at the holiday table, a phone that doesn’t ring, and unanswered texts.

And afterward, you’re left wondering, “Why?” Many parents contend that they’ve been blindsided by estrangement, that there’s no reason for it. But, in fact, there’s always a reason. Sometimes it’s hard to see and accept.

Numerous studies have examined common triggers for estrangement with some surprising findings: • Fathers are more likely to become estranged from their grown children as the result of divorce, either when the children were young or due to a late-in-life divorce.

• Mothers are more likely to become estranged from their adult sons and daughters due to giving unsolicited advice or having a clash in core values— particularly regarding religious beliefs or lifestyle choices.

Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one.

This desire to stay close may increase with the parents’ age, coming at a time when adult children have increasing responsibilities for their own families and careers.

Helping an adult child financially can actually increase the likelihood of estrangement. This can happen because financial help may be an expression of power between the generations.

Also, an adult child’s financial neediness can spark conflict with and sometimes between parents.

A good relationship in the growing-up years doesn’t guarantee you’ll never be estranged: Marriage and new in-laws can lead to conflict and estrangement.

Also, some forms of mental illness that can make relationships difficult do not appear in young adults until their 20s.

Whatever the reasons for your estrangement from an adult child, what can you do to heal the rift?

Healing the Rift 1. Be the first to reach out and say, “I’m sorry.” Even if you feel your adult child is to blame, realize that you may want to heal the rift more than your child does and so need to make the first conciliatory move—as hard as that may be.

2. Accept responsibility for your part in the current conflict or estrangement. Remember that the only behavior over which you truly have control is your own. Think of new ways to make a positive difference.

Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

3. Practice letting go. Let go of old roles, the need to be right, and the need to have the last word. Respect your child’s independence and adult choices.

4. Learn to live with differences. Just because we’re related, doesn’t mean we’ll always have the same opinions and beliefs. Part of growing in love is learning to tolerate differences.

You may have a long wait if you expect your child to agree with you. If you put your love for your adult child first, before your beliefs, you may find your way back to each other.

5. Accept boundaries and limits now that your child is grown. Such acceptance can increase closeness. Don’t drop by without calling. Don’t give advice unless asked. Respect their independence while celebrating what you can and do share.

22nd annual edition

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Healing Yourself When Estrangement Persists 1. Forgive yourself and your adult child. This is very hard, but it is necessary to keep from getting stuck in pain and bitterness.

2. Break your isolation by reaching out to others. Letting shame and www.50plusLifePA.com

sadness keep you away from new experiences and other people you love perpetuates the pain.

friends, and from pets. This is all love to be treasured and can help your healing.

3. Take care of yourself. Exercise.

Eat healthy meals. Live as full a life as you possibly can. This gives you the strength to carry on and makes a good life, despite your underlying pain, possible.

5. Let joy balance the pain in your life. Nonstop suffering will not bring reconciliation with your adult child, and it certainly impairs the quality of your life. Allow love, fun, and joy into your life — to soothe and strengthen you.

4. Let love into your life. There’s a temptation to shut others out when your beloved child is estranged from you. Value all the love in your life — from your partner, from other children, from extended family, from

Dr. Kathy McCoy is the author of We Don’t Talk Anymore: Healing after Parents and Their Adult Children Become Estranged (Sourcebooks 2017). Visit her at www.drkathymccoy.com.

VA Hotline Now Fully Staffed and Operational The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that the White House VA Hotline is now fully staffed with live agents working to serve veterans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The hotline, which became 24-hour operational in mid-October, is now staffed by a team consisting of 90 percent veterans or employees who have a veteran family member, and is in response to veterans’ requests to talk to agents who could relate to their experiences.

“The White House VA Hotline provides our nation’s veterans with a direct, dedicated contact line that allows them to interact with highly trained, live agents to answer their needs and concerns,” said VA Secretary David J. Shulkin.

The hotline can be accessed at (855) 948-2311 and is VA’s first nonclinical, nonemergency, aroundthe-clock call center. It provides veterans a supplemental option to report issues if they are not being addressed through VA’s normal customer-service channels. www.50plusLifePA.com

“Since the initial launch of the hotline in June, we listened to our veterans, who indicated that they prefer speaking with other veterans and veteran family members, and we adjusted our hiring based on that feedback,” added Shulkin.

Since fulltime coverage began in October, the hotline has served more than 10,000 callers.

Hotline agents answer inquiries; provide directory assistance; document concerns about VA care, benefits, and services; and expedite the referral and resolution of those concerns.

Agents undergo regular updates and training on VA services based on hotline trends and are assisted by newly implemented tracking software to help VA capture and improve its response, referral, and resolution processes.

The hotline’s agents are located at a VA facility in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

The hotline also generates realtime reports to VA experts, who can help address the specific issues of veterans as well as make betterinformed decisions on where program improvements are needed.

Who Has the Best Bites in Central PA? Help 50plus LIFE celebrate the local eateries that deserve national fame!

Where do you frequent for: Breakfast__________________________________________________ Lunch_____________________________________________________ Dinner_ ___________________________________________________ Ethnic Cuisine______________________________________________ Celebrating________________________________________________ Bakery_ ___________________________________________________ Coffeehouse_ ______________________________________________ Fast Food__________________________________________________ Seafood___________________________________________________ Steak_____________________________________________________ Outdoor Dining_ ___________________________________________ Romantic Setting___________________________________________ Smorgasbord/Buffet_ _______________________________________ Caterer____________________________________________________

Please return your completed entry form by February 23, 2018 to: 50plus LIFE 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512

Your Name___________________________________________________ Address_ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Phone_______________________________________________________

Or, save a stamp and submit your entry online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com!

This information is strictly confidential.

50plus LIFE ›

January 2018

13

Booming Voice

Heart to Heart Bill Levine

Recently, during my 9-yearold Boston terrier’s second echocardiogram appointment, I was not, unlike the first appointment, focusing on the intimacy of Cookie’s beating heart tissue and blood flow on the screen.

At this six-month checkup there was less awe and more trepidation on my part. Cookie’s last echo showed that she had a leaking mitral valve, a bane of her breed, which indicated the beginning of congestive heart failure.

Thus, this time I was paying more attention to Dr. M., the vet, as she jotted down numbers from the ultrasound procedure. I was hoping the numbers would add up to stability in Cookie’s condition. They didn’t. “Cookie’s leakage has increased

since last time,�

Dr. M. said with professional concern.

Not wanting to dive into the ultimate prognosis, I waded into the shallow end of the pool, asking Dr. M. if we needed to change Cookie’s meds.

She became more upbeat, saying that as long as Cookie is not showing any symptoms, like shortness of breath, we could

keep her on the same meds, and even if she did begin to retain fluid in her lungs, there were meds that could mitigate this congestion for a while.

I looked at Cookie on the examining table, reassuring myself that she could jump off it, her leaping ability still halfcat and halfdog.

Even at 9 ½, at home she

still does the not-stupid dog trick of jumping on a chair and then onto the dining table to pilfer my meal with a gastronomic interest ranging from salads to stroganoff. Then, when yelled at, she can, with aplomb, dive off the table to stake out her position for dessert.

My initial echocardiogram four years before Cookie’s was nervewracking. A day out of surgery for a broken ankle, I was wheeled on a tortuous gurney journey to a deserted wing of the hospital, where the echocardio room resided.

The echo was uneventful, except for the cold jelly on my chest applied by the showerhead-like device. After the echo, my gurney was moved to the long, empty corridor, and I was assured transportation would be right down.

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After waiting 20 minutes, though, I would have welcomed even the spooky corridor’s resident 100-yearold troll to extricate me from this vast nether land.

This experience was in contrast to Cookie’s echo, which was done in the loving care of the vet and the vet tech.

Thus, Cookie was told at her discharge how cute she was and given a treat, and afterward there was no waiting in creepy isolation. I just whisked Cookie into my car and deposited her in her familiar frontseat lookout position.

Several months after my initial echocardiogram in 2011, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia, which can be mostly controlled with a daily dose of a beta blocker.

When I occasionally feel dizzy, I monitor my heart rate with a finger pulse oximeter, and if it’s beating at 130 beats per minute, I take special, quick-acting beta blockers.

I also learned how to take Cookie’s

heartbeat manually by placing my hand on her abdomen and counting exhales for 15 seconds to extrapolate the rate per minute.

In song, a heart skipping a beat can be sublime, but in real life, an arrhythmia can create vulnerability.

It did in my life. I went from a healthy middle-ager to a balding 60year-old when I got my diagnosis.

My atrial vulnerability made me more aware of Cookie’s precarious existence due to her more serious heart condition.

So, in the future I will walk Cookie more frequently, and she will run and jump at the sight of a leash in anticipation of a favorite pastime.

We will stop to smell the roses, the garbage cans, and maybe even any roadkill scent that Cookie favors.

Maybe.

Bill Levine is a retired IT professional and active freelance writer. Bill aspires to be a humorist because it is easier to be pithy than funny.

VA Community Clinic Relocating in 2018 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Lebanon VA Medical Center has announced it is relocating its current Cumberland County VA Community Clinic in Camp Hill to a new and expanded facility in Mechanicsburg.

The new clinic will be located at 5070 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg.

Veterans are slated to transition to the new facility for appointments in 2018.

The new Mechanicsburg-based Cumberland County VA Community

Clinic will provide a full range of onsite primary care and telehealth services for veterans in Cumberland and surrounding counties to include mental and behavioral health, laboratory, and women’s health services.

The new clinic will be approximately 25,000 square feet and is projected to serve more than 9,300 enrolled veterans within the first year.

For more information, call the Lebanon VA Medical Center at (717) 272-6621.

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!

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April 9, 2018 NEW C LO ATION!

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

This event is FREE to attend.

Veterans (of all ages) and 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.

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

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

50plus LIFE ›

January 2018

15

Savvy Senior

Assistance Dogs Provide Help and Love Jim Miller

Here’s a breakdown of the different types of assistance dogs and what they can help with.

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about assistance dogs for people with disabilities? My sister, who’s 58, has multiple sclerosis, and I’m wondering if an assistance dog could help make her life a little easier.

– Inquiring Sister Dear Inquiring, For people with disabilities and even medical conditions, assistant dogs can be fantastic help, not to mention they provide great companionship and an invaluable sense of security.

Here’s what you and your sister should know.

While most people are familiar with guide dogs that help people who are blind or visually impaired, there are also a variety of assistance dogs trained to help people with physical disabilities, hearing loss, and various medical conditions.

Unlike most pets, assistance dogs are highly trained canine specialists — often golden and Labrador retrievers and German shepherds — that know approximately 40-50 commands, are amazingly well behaved and calm, and are permitted to go anywhere the public is allowed.

Account Representative

January 2018

50plus LIFE ›

Hearing dogs: For those who are deaf or hearing impaired, hearing dogs can alert their owner to specific sounds, such as ringing telephones, doorbells, alarm clocks, microwaves, oven timers, smoke alarms, approaching sirens, crying babies, or when someone calls out their name.

Finding a Dog If your sister is interested in getting a service dog, contact some assistancedog training programs. To find them, Assistance Dogs International provides a listing of around 65 U.S. programs on their website, www. assistancedogsinternational.org.

After you locate a few, you’ll need to either visit their website or call them to find out the types of training dogs they offer, the areas they serve, if they have a waiting list, and what upfront costs will be involved.

Some groups offer dogs for free, some ask for donations, and some charge thousands of dollars.

To get an assistance dog, your sister will need to show proof of her disability, which her physician can provide, and she’ll have to complete an application and go through an interview process.

She will also need to go and stay at the training facility for a week or two so she can become familiar with her dog and get training on how to handle it.

It’s also important to understand that assistance dogs are not for everybody.

They require time, money, and care that your sister or some other friend or family member must be able and willing to provide.

If you are hardworking, positive, outgoing, and enjoy selling products you believe in, please email your resumé and compensation history/requirements to danderson@onlinepub.com or mail to D. Anderson c/o On-Line Publishers, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

16

Guide dogs: For the blind and visually impaired, guide dogs help their owner get around safely by avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs and steps, negotiating traffic, and more.

Seizure alert/response dogs: For people with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, these dogs can recognize the signs that their owner is going to have a seizure and provide them with advance warning so he or she can get to a safe place or take medication to prevent the seizure or lessen its severity.

They are also trained to retrieve medications and use a preprogrammed phone to call for help. These dogs can also be trained to help people with diabetes, panic attacks, and various other conditions.

On-Line Publishers, Inc., a 22-year-old publisher and event-production company, is seeking an account representative to sell our award-winning 50plus LIFE, Resource Directories, events, and websites.

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Service dogs: These dogs are specially trained to help people with physical disabilities due to multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, chronic arthritis, and many other disabling conditions.

They help by performing tasks their owner cannot do or has trouble doing, like carrying or retrieving items, picking up dropped items, opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, assisting with dressing and undressing, and helping with balance, household chores, and more.

EOE

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18

SUDOKU

Across 1. Cigar future 4. Sharp curve 7. ___ knows?

10. Samoan capital 11. Genuflected 13. Present 15. Actor Bruce or Laura 16. Daisylike flower 17. Persia, now 18. Dry runs of a play 21. Sheep 22. Beer measure 23. Equilibrium

27. Natural gift 31. Flair 32. Minerals 34. ___ collar 35. Ireland 36. Extinct N.Z. flightless bird 37. Filmed 38. Want 39. Heels 40. Solar disk 41. Peril 43. Ugliness

45. Harvest 47. Dignitary (abbr.)

48. Indisposed 56. Beef or pork 57. Sea duck 58. Oleaginous 59. Shaft 60. Lamentably 61. Bear dipper 62. Distant (pref.)

63. Parcel of land 64. ND Indian

19. Aquatic bird 20. Genetic material (abbr.)

23. Bib. town near Jerusalem 24. UFO occupant 25. Medical condition 26. Decay 28. Anesthetic 29. Not anybody (two words) 30. Explosive (abbr.)

33. Effortless 35. Finish 39. Packing boxes

40. Orient 42. Always (poet.)

44. Each and ____ 46. Medical bottle 48. Kill Bill’s Thurman 49. Succeeding 50. Valley 51. Taro root 52. Raised mark on the skin 53. Employ 54. Other 55. Swedish shag rug

Down 1. Copycat 2. Patriarch 3. Grimm characters 4. Noun suffix 5. Osiris’ evil brother 6. Catch some Z’s 7. Political campaign circuit 8. Wife of Zeus 9. Spoken 10. Append 11. Actress Allen or Black 12. Attributes 14. Printer’s marks

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January 2018

17

Age is Nothing but a Number: Cosmetic Surgery after 50 By the California Association of Orthodontists Getting on social media isn’t the only way older people are keeping up with the younger generation — doctors are reporting a recent rise in the number of older patients looking into cosmetic procedures, many of them in their 90s.

Dr. Joshua Zuckerman, a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Manhattan, reasons that the stigma for plastic surgery is fading fast. Combined with an increase in less invasive procedures, both surgical and nonsurgical treatments are becoming more common with older men and women.

Zuckerman says that wrinkles, sunspots, and loose, flabby skin are often the biggest complaints for older patients, but it’s not uncommon to perform facelifts, eyelid lifts, facial fat transfer, breast lifts, tummy tucks, and thigh lifts on them, too.

Cosmetic surgery is often traditionally associated with major procedures like these; however, the rise in popularity of noninvasive procedures — such as braces, dental implants, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and injectable fillers such as Botox or Xeomin — have made aesthetic improvements even more accessible and affordable to anyone that wishes to take advantage of them.

Cosmetic procedures may be more in demand than ever before with over-60s, but there is a lack of information about the effects, risk, and results for older generations that take the plunge.

So, we spoke to the experts and asked them to break everything down for us.

How Risky is It? The risk really depends on the procedure that you choose. Body-altering surgeries, such as facelifts or tummy tucks, require anesthesia, which is riskier for older patients, who are more likely to have heart problems, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

“Age is also an independent risk factor for forming a clot during surgery,” says Zuckerman, “so patients over 50 must get proper preoperative medical clearance from their primary-care doctor and/or cardiologist.”

Extreme measures don’t have to be taken to alter appearance, though. Braces are a relatively low-risk way to bring change to a face or even mitigate health concerns, such as sleep apnea or jaw pain caused by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Dr. Robert Sunstein, San Diego-based orthodontist and member of the California Association of Orthodontists, says that “there is no increased risk in getting braces later in life and, at most, the procedures can be tiring.”

One of his patients, an 84-year-old, opted to go home for a nap before returning and finishing the bracket adjustment.

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January 2018

Is it Effective for Older Patients?

Younger patients have the benefit of higher levels of collagen and elastin in their skin, meaning that their results will last longer, but Shah does say that older patients can, in some instances, have equivalent results to younger generations with procedures such as tummy tucks or breast lifts.

Results, he notes, can vary for patients of different ages and sizes.

Sunstein states that, in comparison to surgical procedures, braces are known to be effective at any age.

The key to achieving a well-aligned smile with braces or dental implants, such as veneers, is having healthy teeth and gums as a foundation for any orthodontic work. Regular visits to a dentist, an effective oral-care routine, and consistent follow-ups with an orthodontist will ensure that every patient’s treatment is a success.

Should I Do It? Age has no impact on wanting to look as good as you feel, and luckily, there are now so many options out there that offer results for all comfort levels.

Whether you’re ready to go full force into liposuction and a tummy tuck or would prefer to start small with fillers or a chemical peel, you can find a procedure that’s right for you.

Once all of the risks have been assessed against the benefits, there is no reason that anyone over 60 can’t have a positive experience with cosmetic surgery, should they want it.

The California Association of Orthodontists is a chapter of the American Association of Orthodontists. It represents more than 18,000 orthodontist members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. For more information, go to www.caortho.org.

Did you know?

Puzzle Solutions 18

What Does Age Mean for Recovery?

As with any healing, as the body ages, the process becomes slower. Recuperation from anesthetic can also take longer, but it’s not all bad news.

New York-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Philip J. Miller says that “surprisingly, recovery from procedures is as varied across the board as one sees in the sub-65-year-old population. There are those who recuperate very quickly and those who take a little longer, both in terms of the incision healing, bruising, swelling, and recuperation from anesthesia.”

So, while extra caution must be taken, recovery time is a very individual process. Surgeon Dr. Manish Shah does note that his older patients tend to have a much higher pain tolerance, however.

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Volunteer Spotlight Children’s Advocate Helps Kids through Tough Times

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Her greatest reward is when her She particularly appreciates client children are adopted, which the support teams that provide enables them to have some closure positive guidance to enable the and get a fresh start with a caring children to build their self-esteem family. and ultimately become productive Sprecher has lived in Carlisle adults. most of her life. Her husband of Her first case involved two little 40 years is very supportive of her girls. One morning, while sitting compassionate efforts. She has three on the floor playing with dolls, the daughters, five grandchildren, and 4-year-old looked up at Sprecher one great-grandson. She enjoys and asked if she could let her doll crafting, reading, taking walks, and smoke crack. Sprecher asked her if time with her feline friends: Smokey she thought it was a good thing to and Snowflake. do.

If you would like to learn about The young girl replied: “No, it’s RSVP’s volunteer opportunities in dirty and smells awful when my Cumberland County, contact Becky mommy and her boyfriend smoke Gibbons at (800) 870-2616 or it.” perrycumb@rsvpcapreg.org.

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