50plus LIFE Cumberland County April 2018

Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition

April 2018 • Vol. 19 No. 4

Senior Volunteers Close the Generation Gap page 4

focus on foot health page 6

the amazing survival stories of chieu le page 14

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities in Retirement

Dear Savvy Senior, What resources can you recommend for locating interesting volunteer opportunities? Since I retired, I’ve been doing some volunteer work, but most of the opportunities I’ve tried haven’t been very satisfying.

– Unsatisfied Volunteer Dear Volunteer, For many retirees, finding a volunteer opportunity that satisfies your interests, uses your talents, and matches your availability can be challenging.

To help you find an interesting and satisfying volunteer opportunity, here are some tips and online tools that can help you search.

Getting Started Volunteering is a great way for retirees to make a positive contribution to their community and stay actively engaged — not to mention it’s good for your health, too. But how can you find the right opportunity for you?

Start by asking yourself some basic questions,

such as: What types of organizations or activities are you interested in? What kind of skills can you offer a volunteer organization?

How much time are you willing to give? What do you want to gain from your experience (for example, meet new people, learn new skills, help those in need, exposure to a particular issue)?

Once you get a general idea of what you’d like to do, there are dozens of volunteer websites that can help you search for different opportunities in your area.

Most sites work like search engines that let you choose an area of interest and type in your ZIP code or city and state. The sites will then give you a list of opportunities that you can check into.

Depending on your interest and expertise, here are some top websites to help you get started.

General volunteer-matching sites: To find a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in your community, check out VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org), April is National Volunteer Month Idealist (www.idealist.org), and All for Good (www. allforgood.org), a Points of Light website (the world’s leading volunteer service organization) that lets you search for local volunteer opportunities or start your own project and invite others to help you.

Also see HandsOn Network (www.pointsoflight.org/handsonnetwork), another Points of Light enterprise that connects volunteers to opportunities through more than 250 volunteer centers throughout the U.S. Retiree volunteer sites: If you’re interested in opportunities targeting older adults and retirees, some good options include AARP’s Create the Good (www.createthegood.org), along with Senior Corps (www.seniorcorps.gov), which matches retirees with community projects and organizations that need experienced volunteer help.

Senior Corps offers three different programs: RSVP, which has a variety of volunteer activities with flexible time commitments; the Senior Companion Program, which brings together volunteers with homebound seniors who have difficulty with day-to-day living tasks; and the Foster Grandparent Program, which matchers volunteers with kids in the community who have exceptional needs.

Credit: Readers.com

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Government-sponsored sites: There are also a number of governmentsponsored websites that can help you look for different volunteer opportunities.

To locate dozens of general options in your area, visit Serve (www.serve.gov).

To find natural and cultural volunteer opportunities in places such as national and state parks, see Volunteer.gov.

If you’re interested in emergency preparedness and disaster-response volunteer services, look into Ready (www.ready.gov).

Or, if you’re interested in longer-term volunteer opportunities, check out AmeriCorps (www.americorps.gov) and Peace Corps (www.peacecorps. gov/50plus), which offers a bevy of three-month to two-year programs in the U.S and abroad.

Professional and executive sites: If you have expertise in areas such as business planning and development, marketing, communications, finance, fundraising, web and graphic design, or writing and editing, there are sites — like Catchafire (www.catchafire.org), Taproot+ (www.taprootplus. org), and Executive Service Corps U.S. (www.escus.org) — that can link you to volunteer opportunities with nonprofit organizations in need.

Or, you can help entrepreneurs and small-business owners through the SCORE (www.score.org) volunteer-mentoring program.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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 ›

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Cover Story

Senior Volunteers Close the Generation Gap 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 Executives Wendy Letoski Janette McLaurin Jessica Simmons Angie Willis Account Representatives Matthew Chesson Jennifer Schmalhofer Gina Yocum Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Martha Lawrence

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.

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By Lori Van Ingen

some at the center, and some in their school.

Besides therapy services Chalk it up to the and its preschool/daycare intergenerational allure of programs, Schreiber also cuddly babies and snuggly runs summer camps, a toddlers. bowling program, a social The new infant-care skills program, kids yoga, program at Schreiber and Club 65, a program Pediatric Rehab Center for youth and young has expanded volunteer adults with disabilities to opportunities for area seniors Valerie Korman spends time with experience such activities — in addition to providing Schreiber’s infants, as a swim buddy, and in the center’s preschool program, as going to the movies, out much-needed services for pictured here. to eat, or to a trampoline parents with newborns. park.

Dan Fink, director of Last August, Schreiber marketing and public opened an infant room relations at Schreiber, admits after receiving a $250,000 it’s an easy sell. grant from the Donald “It has been pretty B. and Dorothy L. successful,” Fink said. “Who Stabler Foundation and wouldn’t want to hold a fundraising matching baby, feed a baby?” donations from the Seniors Nancy Vogel, community.

Valerie Korman, Mary Alice Prior to opening the Gerfin, Peggy Toms, and state-of-the-art infant Leon Hutton all agree that room, Schreiber was volunteering at Schreiber’s unable to accept children preschool and new infant younger than 12 months room is an enjoyable old into its daycare experience that keeps them program, Fink said. coming back week after Being a nana is senior week.

Nancy Vogel’s thing, and Schreiber “loves having As swim buddies, volunteers the Rock-A-Baby program seniors in the building, Sherry Sweigart, top, and Colette is “good for nanas and and they love being here.

Lind, bottom, help children learn good for the kids. I dearly It’s been a very successful important swimming techniques. love rocking them. They partnership,” said Fink. need a nana to rock Schreiber Pediatric, them,” Vogel, 74, said. “They just want to be held.” originally known as the Society for Crippled Vogel has volunteered at Schreiber for six months, Children and Adults, began in 1936 as a vision of when she moved to a senior living community. Vogel Edna Schreiber in response to the polio epidemic. said she enjoys volunteering in the Rock-A-Baby Schreiber was a polio nurse (a profession today that program so much that she often goes early and stays would be similar to a physical therapist) and ran the after her 9-11 a.m. shift. clinic until the late 1960s, when she retired.

“There are several ladies who work there, and I The outpatient clinic, which by the 1980s help them feed and get the babies to sleep by rocking was associated with the National Easter Seals them.”

Society, began focusing on specialized pediatric She doesn’t change diapers, but “I usually end up therapy services for children from birth to age 21 on the floor playing with the kids.” with developmental delays and disabilities. The There are generally nine babies, some of whom are organization also began a preschool to include both toddlers who are busy playing with toys and can feed children with and without disabilities. themselves, and some of whom are “lie down” babies In 1994, it disassociated with Easter Seals and who need bottles fed to them, she said. moved to its current location in Lancaster. At that Vogel said she doesn’t like to see babies left to cry time, it was renamed Schreiber Pediatric Rehab to go to sleep, so she rocks them. The toddlers are Center for its founder and first executive director. usually ready to nap and will lie down because they Today, 3,000-4,000 children receive services from want to sleep.

Schreiber Pediatric — some in their own homes, www.50plusLifePA.com

“It’s amazing there are no screamers,” she said. “I couldn’t get that done at home. These girls (Schreiber employees) are so good.”

Senior Valerie Korman was an elementary school teacher for many years.

“You become younger as well when you begin to deal with kids,” Korman said. “After retirement, when you can’t interact with kids, it’s like losing your left arm.”

Therefore, rocking babies after she retired in 2012 was her goal.

But because of HIPAA regulations, Korman said hospitals wouldn’t accept people coming in to rock their babies.

So she started volunteering at Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center instead. When Schreiber opened its infant room, Korman, 62, jumped at the chance to rock the babies there.

While Schreiber doesn’t mind if its volunteers miss shifts, she said she has missed only a handful of times when traveling.

“I want to go (to rock the babies); it’s very settling. You don’t mess with the time I go to Schreiber.”

Korman tries to find the babies who are extra fussy to help the women who work in the infant room. She feeds the babies with bottles as well as with spoons, puts the babies to sleep by rocking them, and plays.

“I sing songs, read poems, and do art projects,” she said.

Korman also volunteers in the preschool room. The children have free play and are then off to the room’s various centers to learn about the alphabet, numbers, counting, colors, and shapes. She also helps with hand washing, giving the kids snacks, filling backpacks, and zipping coats.

“I look forward to going. It’s so varied between the two programs,”

Korman said.

Once a month, Korman also serves as a swim buddy with the 3- to 5-year-olds.

“I help change 10 kids into their swimsuits, take off their shoes and socks, and stay with the children. I do whatever I can to help,” she said.

When they get into the warm, 85degree pool, they have group time and then practice jumping up and down, putting their faces in the water, doing back and front floats, kicking their legs, and jumping into the pool and getting out of it — survival techniques. Then they enjoy 45 minutes of playtime.

Schreiber is a special place for 75year-old Mary Alice Gerfin: Her 15year-old grandson has been going to Schreiber for years, and her husband, Michael, had been treated by founder Edna Schreiber when he was a young man.

For the past few years, Gerfin and her husband have volunteered for Schreiber’s annual Rubber Duckie Race. While she sells tickets, her husband, who is a member of Schreiber’s board of directors, prepares the local park for the fundraising event.

In addition to the race, the retirement community resident now also volunteers in Schreiber’s new infant room. For two hours every Wednesday, she cuddles the babies, helping them to settle down, and feeding them.

“When I saw they were opening an infant center, it was just a normal thing to do for me,” said Gerfin, who has been volunteering in the infant room since the first week it opened.

“It’s natural for me. I love babies and love to cuddle them. It uplifts me to see their dear little faces smile at

you. I can’t imagine not wanting to do this.”

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., “cuddler” Peggy Toms also can be found in Schreiber’s infant room.

“I sit in a rocker and they bring the babies to me,” the 89-year-old said.

“I sit there and hold them close until they settle down. I also feed them with a bottle to settle them down.”

Prior to her retirement, Toms worked with children at the Intermediate Unit for 20 years and always enjoyed children of any age, she said.

Now Toms has found that rocking babies is something she loves doing.

“I really do,” she said. “It’s something I’m able to do without a problem, and, fortunately, they say they can use the help.”

Retirement community resident Leon Hutton also enjoys sharing his time with the young children at Schreiber’s preschool.

When the weather is good, the older children go outside to shoot basketball, pick up sticks, or pretend to make a fire, Hutton said. There’s also a gym set that they can walk on, plus a sliding board.

When inside, Hutton reads books to them. He learned to read familiar stories, such as Frosty the Snowman, upside down so the children could see the book’s pictures.

“The good Lord wants us to help someone else. We can express ourselves and help them a little bit.

It’s also a generational thing. Their grandparents may not be here, so we can fill in and be part of their learning and see their growth,” Hutton, 89, said.

Not only does volunteering help the children, but “it does me so much good to associate with the youth, their cuteness, innocence. They are beautiful children,” Hutton said.

“When you are in a retirement home with no car, no wife now — it’s good to get out. The kids are good for you. It’s terrific therapy for me.

It keeps me active, my mind going, my legs going ... They do wonders for you.”

On the cover: From left, volunteers Valerie Korman, Peggy Toms, and Nancy Vogel spend time each week in Schreiber Pediatric’s infant room, rocking, feeding, and playing with the center’s infants and toddlers.

DO YOU HAVE MEDICARE? Do you have questions about your coverage or current plan? Do you want to know if you are eligible to save money on your prescription drug costs and/or your Part B premium? Are you currently in the donut hole and need assistance? The APPRISE PROGRAM can help!

APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help all Pennsylvanians with Medicare. APPRISE counselors are specially trained staff and volunteers who can answer your questions and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information.

You may qualify for financial assistance programs!

Call today to get connected to the APPRISE program in your area:

1-800-783-7067

APPRISE is a free service provided by the PA Department of Aging, and is funded in whole or part by a grant through the Administration for Community Living.

www.50plusLifePA.com

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National Foot Health Awareness Month Foot Health: Common Issues and Treatments

By Dr. Meredith Warner As we get older, our feet tend to change for the worse.

Our feet bear the weight of our bodies every day of our lives. Most of us will neglect to take the best care of our feet and often take them for granted. We wear ill-fitting shoes that constrict bones, muscles, and tendons, leading to painful problems and conditions later in life.

Your Shoes Can Make a Major Difference Due to our choice of shoes, as we age, the foot tends to change shape slowly.

You are probably familiar with calluses and bunions. Both appear when our shoes have constricted the natural movement of our feet during our walk cycle.

Bunions are common in people who have a history of wearing narrow-toed dress shoes, popular in both men’s and women’s fashion. A bunion occurs when the big toe curves in toward the center of the foot, causing the toe joint to become more prominent.

Most of these fashionable dress shoes are lacking in arch support, which

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April 2018

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can lead to wider, flat feet later in life. In most cases, these issues can be treated with a proper-fitting orthotic shoe or shoe insert that is structurally supportive and cushioned for comfort and shock absorption.

It is best to speak with a foot professional if your pain persists after stabilizing your feet with orthotics, as they can offer more options based on your specific needs.

Take Time to Pamper and Care for Your Feet As we age, our circulatory system has more difficulty pumping blood to our extremities, including our feet. Some common symptoms include swelling, foot fatigue, and a higher risk of infection.

For swollen and fatigued feet, I highly recommend the use of foot baths and compression socks. A warm foot bath with Epsom salts warms the feet, promoting increased blood flow, which can reduce swelling and aches.

Foot massages will also help reduce swelling and loosen stiffened bones and muscles. Use oil or moisturizing lotion during the massage. Try coconut oil or shea butter, but avoid oils and lotions with added fragrances, as they can dry out your skin.

Reduced blood circulation can make a small cut or blister dangerous. These wounds can take longer to heal, making infection more likely.

Be aware of the condition of your feet. Keep them clean and moisturized to prevent cracked and blistered skin. As you age, your immune system has a harder time fighting off foreign bacteria, and the smallest cut could cause serious health issues if not properly addressed.

If you ever notice any drastic changes to the appearance of your feet, like discolored toenails or skin, you should contact a doctor for an examination to be safe.

With Age Comes an Increased Risk for Arthritis One of the most common conditions I see in older patients is arthritis.

Arthritis is a condition onset by a deterioration of the padding in your joints.

Joints will rub together, causing pain and stiffness.

Arthritis foot pain can originate in the feet, knees, and hips. Typically, this stiffness is more prominent early in the morning and late at night. The pain usually will lessen as you move throughout the day and worsen during rest.

Recommended treatments for arthritis include anti-inflammatories, shoe inserts, massages, and stretches. Another option that could alleviate arthritis pain is weight loss, as it will lighten the load on the joints.

Plantar Fasciitis Can Present Painful Problems with Age Another common condition I see in many of my patients is plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative condition that affects the band of tissue that connects the toes to the heel, causing stabbing heel pain. This heel pain is the most painful in the morning when taking the first step out of bed and will usually decrease throughout the day as it stretches while walking.

While plantar fasciitis does not strictly affect older patients, it is more common among older populations. Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or level of physical health; however, effective www.50plusLifePA.com

National Foot Health Awareness Month treatment methods can be harder to find for older individuals.

The most common forms of treatment include steroid injections, surgery, and physical therapy. You can alleviate the pain of this condition by performing daily stretches and wearing well-fitting shoes with structural support. You can easily find plantar fasciitis braces, shoes, and inserts in stores and online. In some cases, patients will need custom shoes or orthotics.

If you ever have questions about your current foot health, visit a foot-care

professional as they will be able to evaluate your situation and give you the best options for your path to relief and recovery.

Dr. Meredith Warner is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, specializing in foot and ankle conditions, and the founder of Warner Orthopedics & Wellness in Baton Rouge, La. She is also the creator of The Healing Sole, flip-flops designed to treat plantar fasciitis. www.warnerorthopedics.com

Diabetes and Your Feet If you have diabetes, here’s a way to keep standing on your own two feet: check them every day — even if they feel fine — and see your doctor if you have a cut or blister that won’t heal.

There’s a lot to manage if you have diabetes: checking your blood sugar, making healthy food, finding time to be active, taking medicines, going to doctor’s appointments.

With all that, your feet might be the last thing on your mind. But daily care is one of the best ways to prevent foot complications.

Between 60 and 70 percent of people with diabetes have diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). You can have nerve damage in any part of your body, but nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can cause you to lose feeling in your feet.

Feeling No Pain Some people with nerve damage have numbness, tingling, or pain, but others have no symptoms. Nerve damage can also lower your ability to feel pain, heat, or cold.

Living without pain sounds pretty good, but it comes at a high cost.

Pain is the body’s way of telling you something’s wrong so you can take care of yourself. If you don’t feel pain in your feet, you may not notice a cut, blister, sore, or other problem. Small problems can become serious if they aren’t treated early.

Risk Factors Anyone with diabetes can develop nerve damage, but these factors increase your risk: www.50plusLifePA.com

• Blood sugar levels that are hard to control • Having diabetes for a long time, especially if your blood sugar is often higher than your target levels • Being overweight • Being older than 40 years • Having high blood pressure • Having high cholesterol Nerve damage, along with poor circulation — another diabetes complication — puts you at risk for developing a foot ulcer (a sore or wound) that could get infected and not heal well.

If an infection doesn’t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or part of your leg may need to be amputated (removed by surgery) to prevent the infection from spreading and to save your life.

Tips for Healthy Feet Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any other change to the skin or nails. Use a mirror if you can’t see the bottom of your feet, or ask a family member to help.

Wash your feet every day in warm

(not hot) water.

Don’t soak your feet. Dry your feet completely and apply lotion to the top and bottom — but not between your toes, which could lead to infection.

Never go barefoot. Always wear shoes and socks or slippers, even inside, to avoid injury. Check that there aren’t any pebbles or other objects inside your shoes and that the lining is smooth.

Wear shoes that fit well. For the best fit, try on new shoes at the end of the day when your feet tend to be largest. Break in your new shoes slowly — wear them for an hour or two a day at first until they’re completely comfortable. Always wear socks with your shoes.

Trim your toenails straight across and gently smooth any sharp edges with an emery board. Have your foot doctor (podiatrist) trim your toenails if you can’t see or reach your feet.

Don’t remove corns or calluses yourself, and especially don’t use overthe-counter products to remove them — they could burn your skin.

Get your feet checked at every healthcare visit. Also, visit your foot doctor every year (more often if you have nerve damage) for a thorough exam, which will include checking for feeling and blood flow in your feet.

Keep the blood flowing. Put your

feet up when you’re sitting, and wiggle your toes for a few minutes several times throughout the day.

Choose feet-friendly activities like walking, riding a bike, or swimming.

Be sure to check with your doctor about which activities are best for you and any you should avoid.

When to See Your Doctor If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t wait for your next appointment. See your regular doctor or foot doctor right away: • Pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity • Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet • Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well • A change in the shape of your feet over time • Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs • Dry, cracked skin on your feet • A change in the color and temperature of your feet • Thickened, yellow toenails • Fungus infections, such as athlete’s foot between your toes • A blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn, or ingrown toenail Most people with diabetes can prevent serious foot complications.

Regular care at home and going to all doctor’s appointments are your best bet for preventing foot problems (and stopping small problems from becoming serious ones).

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Cumberland County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Sundays, 7:15 p.m.

Outreach Al-Anon Family Group Meeting Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at www.pa-al-anon.org

April 5, 6:30 p.m.

Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041

Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville

April 9, 6 p.m.

“A Touch of Sugar” Diabetes Support Group Wegmans 6416 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (717) 763-2466 https://events.geisinger.org

April 25, 9:30 a.m. – M indMatters: Child Survivors and Writers of the Holocaust

Mondays, 7 p.m.

Hope on Simpson Al-Anon Family Group Meeting First United Methodist Church 135 W. Simpson St., Mechanicsburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at www.pa-al-anon.org Tuesdays, noon Anchor Al-Anon Family Group Meeting The Harbor 55 W. King St., Shippensburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at www.pa-al-anon.org April 2, 4-5 p.m.

Caregivers Support Group Messiah Lifeways Meetinghouse 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle (717) 243-0447 April 3, 6 p.m.

CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786 April 3, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Helpers 3806 Market St., Suite 3, Camp Hill (717) 920-0707 April 4, 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 April 4, 7 p.m.

Caregivers Support Group Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 1000 Claremont Road, Carlisle (717) 386-0047

April 9, 1:30-3 p.m.

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

Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 April 8, 1:30 p.m. – Mindfulness Matters Workshop April 16, 7 p.m. – F olk Music April 19-22, times vary – Book and Media Sale

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April 11, 9:30 a.m. – Office of Aging and Community Services Presentation

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

April 10, 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

Mechanicsburg Place – (717) 697-5947 97 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg

April 11, 1:30 p.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West – Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub. com.

April 19, 1 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880 April 24, 6 p.m.

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 486-3596 apcoulson@comcast.net 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 April 2, 7:30-8:45 p.m. – M onday Bosler Book Discussion Group April 6, 7 p.m. – Music @ Bosler April 27, 1-2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club

April 10, 10 a.m. – Free Hearing Tests

New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 April 11, 6:30 p.m. – C reative Collage: Crafting for Adults April 22, 3-4 p.m. – Philadelphia to Hollidaysburg: On the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal April 25, 6-9 p.m. – Pennwriters Writing Group

West Shore Senior Citizens Center (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland

Community Programs

Free and open to the public

Mondays and Wednesdays, noon SilverSneakers Exercise Class Susquehanna View Apartments Community Room 208 Senate Ave., Camp Hill (717) 439-4070 jesseswoyer.com@gmail.com April 9, 7 p.m.

Opioid Addiction: When the Crisis Hits Close to Home Messiah College High Center, Parmer Hall 1 College Ave., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6036 www.messiah.edu/caring April 11, 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.

April 21, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Pre-retirement Workshop Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees Dauphin and Cumberland County Chapters Mechanicsburg Middle School 1750 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg Preregister: dplum733@gmail.com

www.50plusLifePA.com

Grief Relief

Victor Parachin

9 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Compassion while Grieving

Grieving is very hard. It taxes the entire person: body, mind, spirit, emotions.

For that reason, it’s vital that every bereaved person appreciates and cultivates the fine art of self-compassion.

Grief is not a time to be “tough” on yourself.

Here are nine quick tips for practicing self-care:

In her book, When Will I Stop Hurting?, June C. Kolf writes: “Some people may think laughter has no place in grieving. Indeed it does! Human beings can use laughter as a release from stress.

“The mind and body have limits to the anguish they can withstand. When facing the loss of a loved one, laughter can remove the cork from the bottle and allow some of the pain to bubble out.”

1. Be patient with yourself. This is the place to start. The death of a loved one is a major life challenge. You will heal, but it is never as fast as one wishes. Be patient with yourself.

9. Practice compassion toward those who don’t understand grief. Some people just don’t know what to say or do when someone is grieving. As a result, they may say and do nothing or they may say something awkward, clumsy, uncomfortable, and inappropriate.

Avoid becoming upset with the individual, as that only builds more stress inside yourself. Rather than feeling angry and harsh about the person, allow compassion to surface, reminding yourself they are simply confused about ways of responding wisely.

2. Recognized your limitations. Grief can be exhausting.

If you’re employed and have some vacation time, don’t hesitate to take a day off when you simply need to rest.

Avoid doing things socially that you currently find stressful and unpleasant.

3. Respond to your needs. If you need to talk, find a compassionate listener and talk. If you need to cry, allow the tears to flow freely and without any sense of shame. And, if you need to reminisce and remember, pull out old albums, letters, and notes, and look them over.

A friend of mine who had a happy, decades-long marriage was widowed when her partner died suddenly. She told me that “one of the things which helped me greatly during the first six months was sitting in his — not my — recliner every evening when I watched television.”

4. Give yourself a treat. While respecting your finances, consider paying for something that lifts your spirits. This could be a massage, a spa treatment, a facial makeover, or a membership to your local botanical garden, a place you could visit regularly.

5. Get physical. Movement is therapy. Exercise is healing. If you already have a gym membership, go there and work out. If you have a bike, get on it and go for a ride. If you enjoy walking, put on your walking shoes and head outside.

And, if you just don’t feel like you have the energy to exercise, find a gentle yoga class or a tai chi group.

6. Maintain a healthy diet. Two things often take place when one is grieving: a great decrease in appetite or a desire to eat sweet, salty “junk” foods.

When it comes to diet, the wisest approach is to eat balanced, nutritious meals. As much as possible, prepare your own meals using fresh and natural ingredients. Eat out only on special occasions.

7. Turn to your friends. Do this not only for social company, but also for emotional support.

“The common denominator of grief is loneliness,” Rabbi Earl Grollman, a noted grief authority and author, observed. “A special person — your loved one — can no longer share your life. You are bereft, alone. Talk to a friend. Share your feelings. Let the right people know that you need support and feedback.

They cannot bring you comfort unless you allow them to enter your sorrow.”

8. Laugh. If you can’t laugh a lot, try laughing at least a little. www.50plusLifePA.com

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

Historic Iroquois Hotel Senior Apartments DOWNTOWN NEW CUMBERLAND Age 62+ rental community now accepting applications

Located at 202 Third Street, New Cumberland

1-bedroom apartments with affordable rents and the utilities are included. All units are wheelchair accessible. Two units are specially designed for individuals who are mobility impaired. One unit is designed for individuals who are hearing/vision impaired.

Non-smoking facility • Secure entry • Electric, heat, A/C, water, sewer, trash included in rent • Community room • On-site laundry facilities Central air • Maintenance-free living • Helpful, courteous staff Small pets welcome (guidelines apply) Professionally managed by Cumberland County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities.

Income restrictions apply.

If interested in an application, please call Shelley Bishop at (717) 774-4500 www.cchra.com

50plus LIFE ›

April 2018

9

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April 2018

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Traveltizers

By Andrea Gross

Finding India in Artesia

I pass on wearing a bindi (red much works of art as items of apparel. dot) on my forehead, because in My husband and I inhale the sweet many parts of India it has a religious smell of incense, as a turbaned man, significance, carrying a tall but I do want stack of white to don a sari. bakery boxes, rushes by.

I raise my arms as a “Pardon,” salesperson he says in takes a 9-foot heavily accented strip of rubyEnglish. red silk, makes I ask him a few deft what’s in all the moves, and boxes. He smiles within minutes and points to transforms me a nearby shop.

Artesia’s Little India is from a khakiWe follow approximately 20 miles from bedecked his finger to downtown Los Angeles. tourist to a Bombay Sweets classically clad & Snacks, Indian woman. where we’re “Try putting confronted it on yourself,” with a nearshe says. overwhelming choice of I do, and tempting after a half-hour pastries. of winding, pleating, and Do we want tucking, I cardamom or look like a coconut, dry or Christmas syrupy, crunchy Indian fabrics come in vivid colors, from present that’s or chewy? We majestic mauve and royal purple to deep settle on a limecome undone. turquoise and rich gold. green cookie I admit and a pale-pink defeat and mini-cake before heading down the go outside to further explore “Little street to try another one of Artesia’s India,” a community that looks as most popular desserts: ice cream. if it’s thousands of miles away in south Asia but instead is in Artesia, Ice cream isn’t a traditional treat California, just 20 miles from in India, where many people don’t downtown Los Angeles. eat eggs, but Saffron Spot makes an eggless version that features IndianHere, within a five-block stretch inspired flavors such as jackfruit, along Pioneer Boulevard, women lychee, masala tea, and mango. with brightly colored saris (the traditional dress of southern India) In line with our philosophy that stroll the streets alongside others in we should test foods that have names salwar kameez, the tunic-and-pants we can’t pronounce, we share a small ensemble that is increasingly popular scoop of rajbhog ice cream, which in northern India. contains a chunky mix of pistachios, cashews, and almonds spiced with They shop in family-owned saffron and cardamom. Delicious. businesses filled with fabrics that are so vividly colored, richly embroidered, But we really don’t want a meal of and laden with beads that they are as snacks and sweets; we want something www.50plusLifePA.com

more substantial. My husband has read about thali, an Indian specialty consisting of several small dishes surrounded by various condiments. I want a frankie, a popular street food in India that’s usually made from vegetables wrapped in a crepe. (Think Indian burrito.)

We finally decide on Ashoka the Great, a lunch buffet that offers a wide variety of choices. There we taste-test everything from chicken tikka masala to saag paneer, vegetable samosa to goat stew.

Afterward, we wander into a market, intending to buy take-home spices, but we’re distracted by bins of veggies with unfamiliar names like karela, tindora, raviya, and turai. There are also seven kinds of mango pulp, several brands of ghee, and piles of fresh roti (unleavened bread).

We finally find the spice section and, after much sniffing, select Markets in Little India are filled with veggies small bags that a young that are unfamiliar to most visitors. woman tells us are “Bombay Masala” and “Tandoori Spice.”

A sign directs us upstairs to a shop called “Moon, Gems, and Rudraksh,” where we find items related to astrology (the moon), 22-karat gold jewelry inset with brilliant rubies, emeralds and sapphires (the gems), and necklaces made from seeds of the rudraksh tree.

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“These seeds have medicinal power. They are used for prayer,” says storeowner Mahesh Goel.

He gives us a crash course in Hindu philosophy before suggesting that we visit the nearby Swaminarayan Hindu Temple, the closest of four Hindu temples in the vicinity of Artesia.

We enter to find men and women sitting separately but praying together to the rhythm of beating drums and shaking tambourines. Despite the syncopated sounds, the atmosphere is relaxed, almost tranquil.

Before we head back to downtown Los Angeles, we return to the store where we began our day.

I’ve given up on outfitting myself in a sari and opt instead for a salwar kameez.

“Easier to put on,” says the salesperson, chuckling as she remembers my The Swaminarayan Hindu Temple tangled tries with a sari. welcomes visitors.

“Easier to use,” I say, as I imagine myself gracefully serving guests masala tea while outfitted in exotic Indian clothes.

But first I’ll have to learn to make rajbhog ice cream.

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50plus LIFE ›

April 2018

11

The Beauty in Nature

Birds at Fort Sumter Clyde McMillan-Gamber

In the middle of April a few years ago, my wife, Sue, and I took a bus trip to Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.

One afternoon when visiting Charleston, we took a boat ride to Fort Sumter, at the mouth of

Charleston Harbor, for a history lesson. On the way out to the fort, we saw a few bottlenose dolphins rolling up to get air, and then sliding down in the water as they swam through the harbor.

When we arrived at Fort Sumter,

Volunteer Spotlight Coupon Program Benefits Military Families The Cumberland/Perry Volunteer a regular group of volunteers that come in every Wednesday to cut, Spotlight for April features seven dedicated volunteers from the count, and sort coupons.

Additional Central Perry volunteers who Community are unable to Senior Citizens come into the Center in New Bloomfield. center also help to cut, They support count, and sort Troopons, an coupons in organization their homes. that distributes In this coupons brief time, the to military families.

Central Perry Volunteers from the Support Our Community The Support Troops Troopons program include, Senior Citizens Our Troops from left, Barb Swarner, Carrie Byers, Center has sent Troopons B.J. Berquist, Donna Cromer, the Support program Sandra Kemrer, Joan Liddick, enhances the Our Troops and Myrtice Clouse.

Troopons well-being of overseas and domestic military program coupons worth more than families by sending them food, non- $360,000! food, baby, and pet-manufacturer If you are interested in learning coupons to make their hard-earned more about how you can volunteer and support this program, or if you dollars go further.

The senior center started clipping have coupons to donate, contact Becky Gibbons at (717) 541-9521 or coupons in August 2016 with only perrycumb@rsvpcapreg.org. a few volunteers. They now have Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or 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.

12

April 2018

50plus LIFE ›

I saw many coastal birds on sandbars That mandible snaps shut against the and mudflats near that structure. At upper one when the skimmer feels a that point, I concentrated on the small fish bump its lower mandible. birds.

Gulls drop feet-first from the air The birds were of two kinds, to pick up small fish, but they also divided by the food they ingest. They scavenge dead fish. were ones that catch fish with their Most of these species, except the bills and sandpipers, which use their cormorants, may stay in the vicinity long beaks to pull invertebrates out of Charleston to nest. Pelicans, of sand and skimmers, mud. and terns raise Most of young on the fishsandbars and eating birds, similar niches including near the ocean brown and estuaries. pelicans, Laughing gulls doublerear offspring crested in salt marshes cormorants, between black sandy barrier skimmers, islands and the royal terns, mainland. least terns, The Brown pelican. laughing sandpipers on gulls, and sandbars and herring gulls, mudflats near rested and Fort Sumter, digested in including little flocks willets, ruddy of their kin turnstones, on sandbars and least and mudflats sandpipers, between continued to feeding poke their bills forays. into mud and Laughing sand to snare gulls and invertebrates the terns to eat. kept the Only Willet shorebird. air vibrant some of the with their willets will constant stay around calling, which was thrilling to hear.

Charleston to nest in salt marshes.

Each kind of fish-eater snares its The rest will migrate farther north finny prey in its own way. Pelicans to hatch babies, including the least and terns, for example, dive beaksandpipers on the Arctic tundra. first into the water from the air.

I was thrilled to see so many Cormorants slip under water from its migrating coastal birds around Fort surface.

Sumter in the mouth of the outlet to The lower mandible of the beak of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. To me, each skimmer cuts through the water they were one of the highlights of our as the bird flies just above the surface. trip south. www.50plusLifePA.com

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Honey’ Randal Hill

Many music fans think “Honey” is a true story. It isn’t.

Nashville songwriter Bobby Russell one day just happened to notice how tall a tree planted in his front yard had grown since it was a sapling.

From that serendipitous observation came the inspiration to write the world’s bestselling song of 1968.

--Born in Marianna, Florida, in 1941, Bobby Goldsboro spent his teen years in Dothan, Alabama, where he excelled in baseball at Dothan High and dreamt of a career in the major league.

But music also drew his attention, and Goldsboro formed a rock band called the Webs. (“We had a big spider web on the drum.”) The Webs often backed up musicians who drifted through town. One such artist was Roy Orbison, who would later hire Bobby in the early 1960s as part of his backup band.

As a solo artist Goldsboro later signed with United Artists Records and, beginning with the Top 10 song “See the Funny Little Clown” early in 1964, racked up half a dozen Top 40 discs before spending 1967 without a single hit and finding his career on the wane.

Bobby Russell was one of Goldsboro’s pals. Russell had written

“Honey” for exappreciating those we love while they Page), and even Kingston Trio are still with us, others have blasted some soul stars member Bob (Four Tops, Aaron the storyline as being schmaltzy and Shane. Russell often deride such lyrics as, “She was Neville). wasn’t impressed always young at heart/Kinda dumb Half a century with Shane’s and kinda smart” or “One day while I later, though, version and was not at home/While she was there “Honey” often later admitted, appears on “worst and all alone/The angels came.”

“It didn’t really These last lines prompted one songs of all times” thrill me all that Internet wag to ask, “Did this babe lists, along with much because it die or did she leave with the Hell’s such ridiculed was so overdone, Angels?” recordings as overproduced, Bobby Goldsboro has his own take “MacArthur lots of drums and on the song, one that is no doubt Park,” “Convoy,” “Honey” things.” and “Disco shared by most people: “Actually, Bobby Goldsboro But Goldsboro what it is, very simply, is just a Duck.”

April 1968 felt that Russell’s guy remembering little things that So why, tune had the happened while his wife was alive.” like Rodney potential to return him to the hit Dangerfield, does “Honey” get no Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian charts with a different, simpler respect from some folks? who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be approach.

While many people feel the song reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

When Shane’s version bombed, is a touching tribute to the idea of Goldsboro rushed into a Nashville advertisement studio and nailed “Honey” on the first take. In three weeks, Goldsboro’s version rocketed to the top of the Billboard charts, where it remained at No. 1 for five weeks and became If you want a funeral with an expensive casket Goldsboro’s signature song — and biggest single ever. and embalming, go to a funeral home!

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April 2018

13

Soldier Stories

The Amazing Survival Stories of Chieu Le Robert Naeye

It’s difficult to imagine a more desperate situation than the one facing South Vietnamese Air Force pilot Chieu Le on April 30, 1975.

Fleeing the communist forces who were taking over his country, Le was flying his jam-packed helicopter in thick clouds over the South China Sea, looking for the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.

Then the 20-minute fuel light came on. Unless Le could find a ship Le in a TH-55 helicopter at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1971. soon, he would be forced to ditch his chopper in the ocean, with dim prospects for rescue.

And that was not even his closest brush with death. That would come 26 years later, when he literally died at his local hospital.

“I’m not afraid of being killed; I should have been dead already,” says Le. Le was born in 1951, when Vietnam was fighting for independence from French colonial rule. Le’s father was captured by the French that same year.

After his release in 1954, he allied himself with revolutionary leader Ho Chi

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.

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Or send a check made payable to On-Line Publishers, Inc. You can also order online at www.50plusLIFEpa.com!

14

April 2018

50plus LIFE ›

Minh and remained in North Vietnam. Le never met his father, who died in 1984.

Le grew up with his mother and half-brother in the hamlet of Ben Tre, in the far southern part of Vietnam. The first few years of childhood were peaceful. But at age 8, Le and his relatives had to flee across the Mekong River by boat to escape Viet Cong guerillas.

“We ran around — we kept Le, seated far right, at a refugee camp in May 1975. avoiding the VC. I was too young to understand, but the eldest people knew the danger of living with the VC, so I just tagged along,” recalls Le. Le joined the South Vietnamese army at age 18, in 1969. He started off in the infantry but later passed English-language and physical tests to join the air force as a helicopter pilot, despite being told that “helicopters fall like autumn leaves.”

As Le explained, “You’re going to die sooner or later, but you don’t want to die a coward.”

After training at two U.S. Air Force bases in Texas and then an Army air field in Georgia, he returned to Vietnam in February 1972.

For the next several years he flew hundreds of combat missions on Huey helicopter gunships, with a co-pilot and two gunners. Most of his missions involved infantry support or medical evacuation.

Le would need all of his training. His Huey chopper was shot down by enemy ground fire on Jan. 27, 1973, the day the Paris Peace Accords were signed to end direct American involvement in the war. Le says his crew was observing a ceasefire.

“They were shooting at us, but we were not allowed to shoot back,” he says.

“That’s how I got shot down.”

And that was just the first of four times his helicopter was shot down.

Each time he was able to land safely by using a maneuver learned in training called autorotation, in which the rotors turn without engine power, somewhat analogous to gliding.

Le was flying a mission on April 30, 1975, when his country’s president went on the radio and ordered all South Vietnamese forces to surrender to the communists. But for Le, surrender was not an option.

“I would have been put in a concentration camp, or I might have been killed,” he explains. “Either way was terrible.”

Instead, he took off with his crew from his base at Sóc Trăng for the island of Côn Son, 50 miles off the coast. The island was a scene of chaos, packed with refugees desperate to escape the communists. He refueled and picked up 23 passengers, joining his three crewmates. With all the added weight, his chopper was barely able to take off.

He knew the U.S. 7th Fleet was in international waters, but he didn’t know where. He flew east-northeast at 1,000 feet for nearly two hours through thick clouds and rain, burning precious fuel every second.

And then his 20-minute fuel light came on. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the chopper emerged into sunlight. The U.S. fleet had picked up his Huey on radar. A radio officer on the USS Midway guided Le to a safe landing — the first time he had ever touched down on an aircraft carrier. He had about 15 www.50plusLifePA.com

minutes of fuel to spare. weeks later. Soon after, he called his “I owe my life to the U.S. Navy mother in Vietnam to let her know and to God,” says Le. “I think my he was still alive. But she thought whole life is in God’s hand; he carries someone was pretending to be her me everywhere.” son because nobody in Vietnam Le was flown to the Philippines could have survived his illness. and then Guam for processing. He To confirm he was still alive, Le spent nearly a year working odd visited Vietnam with his wife for the jobs at Fort Chaffee Army Base in second and final time in 2003. His Arkansas. mother died the following year.

He settled permanently in central Le has been in better health ever Pennsylvania in 1976 and became since. He retired from Armstrong a professional photographer and an and the U.S. military in 2006, with a electronic technician for Armstrong rank of chief warrant officer 3.

World Industries.

Le says He earned his Vietnam today “is U.S. citizenship at the bottom.” in 1982.

He thinks South In 1985 Vietnam would he resumed have prospered his career as like South Korea a military and Singapore helicopter pilot, had his nation this time in the and its American Pennsylvania allies prevailed.

Army National He says North Guard. He Vietnamese feels deep and Viet Cong patriotism and communists gratitude toward constantly America for the lied and broke opportunity it Chieu Le now serves as a member of negotiated gave him to build the Red Rose Honor Guard, which agreements. performs military honors at local a good life.

To Le, veterans’ funerals.

Le returned American to Vietnam in involvement in 1998 with his wife. He enjoyed an Vietnam was a noble endeavor to save emotional reunion with his mother, his country from communist poverty the first time he had seen her in 23 and oppression. And with most of his years. But he was diagnosed with family long gone, he has no reason to hepatitis after his return to the return to his native land.

States. He believes he contracted this “You have to watch who you talk potentially deadly liver disease during to and where you go,” he says of this trip.

Vietnam. “There are always eyes on Le’s health was rapidly you. I watch myself like a hawk.” deteriorating while he was Le appears on both episodes of hospitalized in late December 2001.

The Vietnam War: WITF Stories, On Dec. 27, he was legally dead half-hour programs produced by the for nearly a minute after a piece Harrisburg public television station of chopped meat lodged in his that aired before episodes of the windpipe. recent Ken Burns series The Vietnam But doctors revived him, and he War. came back to life. But thoughts were To learn more about the racing through Le’s mind during experiences of Chieu Le and other those fleeting moments: veterans, visit https://vietnam.witf.

“I went through a tunnel to a org/stories. bright area. I saw my history, my life, in front of me like a screen. It was Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist fast forward; it only stopped at the living in Derry Township. He is the important points of my life. It was former editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope amazing.” magazine.

Le received a liver transplant a few www.50plusLifePA.com

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April 2018

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Our company is fully insured and bonded. Call now for a free in-home consultation!

Comfort Keepers

(717) 299-4007 www.lancaster-402.comfortkeepers.com Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: We provide compassionate, in-home care that helps seniors live safe, happy, and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. Companion care, light housekeeping, personal care, in-home safety solutions, incidental transportation, dementia/Alzheimer’s care, ongoing staff training. Member: Home Care Association of America

Homeland at Home

Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 13 counties.

CNAs/Home Aides: Yes Direct Care Workers: Yes PT/OT/Speech Therapists: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: Health and wellness coordination, transition services, homemaking services (shopping/ errands, companionship/conversation, cooking, laundry, light housekeeping, gardening, pet care), transportation services, personal care services (bathing, dressing, personal hygiene), medication reminders and coordination.

Landis at Home

(717) 509-5800 www.landisathome.org Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: A licensed home-care agency, offering a variety of services to persons in their homes within 15 miles of the Landis Homes campus. Services, provided by carefully screened and qualified caregivers with oversight from RNs, may be used for a short visit or up to 24 hours a day. Call for a free, in-home consultation. A home-care service of Landis Communities.

(717) 560-5160 www.mediqueststaffing.net

Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008

LPNs: Yes

Year Est.: 2009 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

MediQuest Staffing & Homecare

www.homelandathome.org

RNs: Yes

(717) 397-3044 www.homesteadvillage.org/home-care

Other Certifications and Services: Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a non-profit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867.

Our expert team is dedicated to providing a continuum of At Home services—from non-medical personal assistance to skilled nursing and compassionate hospice and palliative care. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones … any place you call “home.”

We offer community and staff educational programs, including a “My Reflections” end-of-life planning workshop, as well as 15 unique bereavement support groups.

Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes

Year Est.: 2002 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Our experienced caregivers will provide the level of care for your specific needs, including memory care, transportation to and from appointments, outpatient procedures, personal care, respite, and more. Services are provided wherever you reside. All caregivers are comprehensively screened, bonded, and insured. Call for a FREE RN assessment. Member: Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 770-0140.

Complementary Therapies: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

Pleasant View Care at Home

Visiting Angels

Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster, Lebanon RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

(717) 664-6646 www.pleasantviewrc.org/care-at-home

(800) 365-4189 www.visitingangels.com

Other Certifications and Services: Caring and professional staff provide supportive services to help maintain independence within the comfortable setting of home.

Personal services, companion care, dementia care services, and transitional care offered — call for a free consultation.

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

10 Keys for Surviving a Parkinson’s Diagnosis

By Robert W. Smith What should you do when you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease?

Author and Parkinson’s patient Robert W. Smith, author of The Parkinson’s Playbook, offers the following 10 guidelines for effectively managing your diagnosis.

behavior changes that arise from how the medication is interacting with your basic physical and mental makeup.

Make for a safe home. The first priority is to make your home safe to move around in by keeping walkways clear of obstructions, as well as removing rugs or other floor obstacles that are tripping hazards.

Install grab bars and railings where there are critical areas of movement or changes in April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month direction.

Form a team. You cannot do it alone. From physicians to family, it takes teamwork and specialists to put Parkinson’s on the defense.

Work on postural alignment.

Better known as posture, this can be improved by sitting up straight with your shoulders back, chest out, and head back.

Remind yourself every day to be conscious of your posture, and over time you will see a difference.

Standing tall with your shoulders back presents the image that you are Parkinson’s-free. People will notice your improved posture and it will have a positive impact on your attitude.

Know your medications. There are two basic categories of Parkinson’s medications: dopamine agonist and carbidopa/levodopa.

Over time, the type and dosage of your Parkinson’s medications will change as effectiveness evolves. Pay special attention to any compulsive

Follow a fitness plan. The goal of a fitness plan is to have a body that is lean, flexible, and strong.

The ideal fitness plan encompasses a variety of exercises for the entire body. Going to the gym five days a week for two hours will enable you reach an ideal level of fitness.

Understand your diagnosis. Take a deep breath and ask what stage you are and what symptoms were used to make the diagnosis.

Based on your condition, determine which medications are recommended and their side effects. Ask about alternative natural treatments for Parkinson’s (versus traditional medicine) and their availability.

Ask what type of lifestyle changes slow down Parkinson’s, such as level of fitness, the role of exercise, and what types.

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Pay attention to nutrition. A balanced diet is important to provide your body with the fuel and strength necessary to deal with Parkinson’s.

Ideally, meals should be spread out throughout the day to provide a steady flow of nutrients. Snacks of nuts, fruits, and berries supply a boost during the day. Reducing alcohol consumption, sugar, and fried foods will also benefit your health.

Get a good night’s sleep.

Nighttime sleep is critical for the body to restore and rejuvenate the energy needed for the continual fight with Parkinson’s.

Unbroken sleep for seven to eight

hours is a necessity and does not include daytime naps.

Master the mental and emotional game. One of the hardest parts of Parkinson’s is dealing with depression, stress, and anxiety.

Patients are constantly barraged with negativity throughout the day, from the Parkinson’s itself to the news to diminishing physical and cognitive influences.

One way to combat this is through the field of positive psychology, which teaches us how to incorporate happiness into our lives on a daily basis.

Stay committed. Improving your health and daily life requires an unwavering commitment. The most important factor in putting Parkinson’s on the defense is to make a commitment to fitness and exercise on a daily basis. It will fuel your happiness and lead to a fuller life.

Robert W. Smith is the author of The Parkinson’s Playbook (https://goo.gl/ WGNN44). Smith’s own diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease has inspired him to be a mentor to those suffering from the same condition. Smith is also a fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects. He currently lives in Denver, Colo.

50plus LIFE ›

April 2018

17

On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

Should Widow Allow Her Man-Friend to Move in?

Sally, a widow of four years, emailed: “I am financially secure, healthy, fit, and attractive. I have been doing volunteer work for the last two years, which is how I met the man I am now seeing.

“In April 2017, a man I will refer to as D walked into the museum where I volunteer as a docent. We talked at length, and when he returned to the museum three weeks later, I was on duty again. We exchanged phone numbers. He lives 34 miles away.

“After a few good phone conversations, we had a picnic. Our next date was a classic-car show! We have seen one another almost every weekend since the middle of May. “I like the way our relationship is now. He is 56 and I am 69! He says

the age difference is not important.

“He is patient, kind, and loving.

He loves my dog and helps me around my home. We took some swing dance lessons and went to a few dances.

We have had some misunderstandings but have worked through them and grown our relationship as a result. We have built friendship and trust between us.

“We took a trip together last November to Kansas to visit his

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mother and sister.

We enjoy being together and doing ‘ordinary life’ activities, and are planning trips to Hawaii and California.

“D is very affectionate, a good listener, and we are able to talk and resolve differences so far.

He is hard working and loves his 86year-old mother and his sisters.

“He is not as financially secure as I and he still works full time, which is good. I am a retired teacher and I own a nice, large, mortgage-free home.

“We get a chance to miss one another because we don’t live together.

He has never married. My late husband and I had a solid and loving marriage for 39 years, and then he became ill and died suddenly.

“I always felt I would never marry or live with a man again, but I did want to find a special person with whom I could share a committed relationship.

“I think D is that person for me.

We have been serious about one another for eight months. He wants to move in with me, and so we are ‘discussing’ it.

“I know what it is like to be married and D does not. He has had live-in relationships of a few years a few times, and I wonder, is this a red flag? I used to think there was something wrong with a man who had not been married by age 50.

“What are your thoughts on his moving in with me?”

Tom’s response: In my complimentary e-newsletter, I asked my readers for their opinions. Thirtytwo subscribers, of whom seven were

men, responded. Not one of the 32 thought it was a good idea. And I don’t either.

The readers’ reasons included: Dating only eight months is too soon, his previous live-in relationships haven’t worked out, and even though you only see each other on weekends, you’ve already had differences.

In my opinion, the main issues are: You enjoy your LAT (living apart together) relationship the way it is.

You look forward to seeing each other; you have fun and do things together.

Does he think, by moving in, the relationship will get better?

I also worry about his track record with the “few” live-in relationships he’s had; none has lasted more than a few years. What is different here?

Twice, you mentioned you’ve already had differences in eight months.

I also feel the age gap is significant.

Why is he interested in a woman 13 years older? With all due respect to you and your wonderful qualities, I think he likes that your home is paid off and you are financially set. Do you want to risk the financial security you worked so hard to accumulate by having a man living under your roof?

Keep in mind that moving someone into your home is easy.

Getting them to move out can be a nightmare.

If he moved in, would that mean he would commute 68 miles roundtrip to work? Or, would he retire and be around the house seven days a week?

That would drive you crazy because you treasure your private time.

Too risky, and too many issues, Sally. Give it some time. Take more trips together. See how you get along.

And, even then, proceed with caution; you’ve got too much to lose and too little to gain.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.

FindingLoveAfter50.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Fresh Fare

Natural Ways to Get a Good Night’s Rest With nearly one-third of Americans suffering from sleep disturbances, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now is the time to rethink your bedtime routine and consider more natural ways to get a good night’s rest.

However, implementing those changes doesn’t have to mean overhauling the way you live.

Consider these simple tips that can help you sleep better and longer: Set a comfortable temperature.

Making changes in different aspects of your life to achieve better sleep is a fine plan, but it may not make much difference if you aren’t comfortable in your own bed.

Be sure to maximize comfort for a full night of sleep by finding a temperature that works for you, but in general, the National Sleep Foundation recommends a bedroom

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temperature between 60-67 degrees F. Tweak your diet. Making simple changes to what you eat and drink can be a positive, healthconscious decision that helps you get better sleep.

For example, Montmorency tart cherries, which are available year-round, are one of the few natural food sources of melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone. New research from the American Journal of Therapeutics shows that insomniacs who drank U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherry juice for two weeks extended sleep time by 84 minutes.

Consuming two 8-ounce glasses of Montmorency tart cherry juice as part of your daily diet, once in the

morning and once at night, can help enhance your sleep time and efficiency.

It can also be added to your favorite morning smoothie or a soothing nighttime beverage, such as this Tart Cherry Moon Milk. For additional information and recipes, visit www. choosecherries.com.

Try bedtime yoga. Rather than scrolling on your smartphone or staring at the TV, consider a different routine before heading to bed.

Implementing a brief yoga session is one way to clear your mind each night prior to getting quality shut-eye.

Tart Cherry Moon Milk Recipe courtesy of Amanda Paa of

Heartbeet Kitchen Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 1-2 • 6 ounces almond milk • 4 ounces Montmorency tart cherry juice • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup • 1/2 teaspoon ashwaganda (Indian ginseng) • dried culinary rose petals In a small pot, heat almond milk and tart cherry juice over medium heat.

Remove from heat and whisk in honey and ashwaganda. Top with rose petals and drink warm.

Note: For a frothier beverage, blend mixture in blender before topping with rose petals.

Family Features

50plus LIFE ›

April 2018

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DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about $1 a day* Keep your own dentist! You can go to any dentist you want No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow

Coverage for over 350 procedures – including cleanings, exams,

fillings, crowns…even dentures

NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits you can receive

FREE Information Kit

1-855-995-0759 www.dental50plus.com/73

*Individual plan.

Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096E-0917 MB17-NM008Ec