Lancaster County 50plus LIFE January 2020 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Complimentary | Lancaster County Edition

January 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ Vol. 25 No. 1

Are you ha Medica ppy with you r re cove rage? Do you person want to talk t to h oal healthc elp maximize ive are exp y erience our GGooto topp ? aaggee 132 ttoossee wwee ccaan 1 hahtat nd doo ffoorr eeww yyoouu ..

Read It, Love It, Pass It On page 4

Silver Anniversary: 50plus Life Turns 25 page 3

Gambling Problems in Older Adults page 7

Purring into this Pet of the Month spot is the marvelous Marco Polo. Marco Polo is a dashing 1-year-old neutered male who loves nothing more than finding the world’s coziest beds and being wherever you are. When he is not taking a comfy catnap, he is hunting for the next yummy snack (or, snacks plural …) to devour. If you are looking for a laidback, quiet, loving dude, then look no further — Marco Polo is the cat for you! Marco Polo’s ID number is 225558. For more information, please contact the Humane League of Lancaster County at (717) 393-6551.

January 2020

50plus LIFE •

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Silver Celebration

25 Years of 50 plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers It is with great excitement and gratitude that we at On-Line Publishers, Inc. celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020. When President and CEO Donna Anderson began OnLine Publishers and its flagship publication, then called Senior News, from her home in 1995, it would have been impossible to predict the trajectory the fledgling company would take over the course of 2.5 decades. From 1995-2005, Senior News’ coverage would expand to embrace six central Pennsylvania counties. Now called 50plus LIFE, the newsprint magazine’s current six-county coverage umbrella includes Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine; b magazine, a full-gloss, lifestyle baby boomer publication produced from 2008-16; 50plus Living, an annual guide of residences and care options; and beyond50, a county-specific directory of information about

local products, services, and support, as well as other annual specialty inserts. In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-toface interaction. There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four Women’s Expos, and five Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs each year. The years have brought growth and transformation to our business, but our core mission remains unchanged: to spread needed information and foster community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people we serve. We were honored to receive these proclamations from the Office of the Governor and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorating On-Line Publishers’ 25 years. And special thanks to you, the central Pennsylvania community, for making our silver anniversary possible!

25 th

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50plus LIFE •

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Cover Story

Read It, Love It, Pass It On 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 Email 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 Artists Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

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.

January 2020

50plus LIFE •

By Bart A. Stump Read it. Love it. Pass it on. Rengert had heard of a A premise that can change a group in the Midwest that was child’s world. providing free children’s books These simple words are to impoverished caregivers, found on a sticker attached to and an idea was spawned. each book stored in a brightly With the luxury of time that decorated cardboard box retirement brings, Rengert located in a neighborhood teamed up with longtime laundromat. This inspiring friend Iacobucci to create a message is the guiding plan. principle of the Laundromat “In the early summer A child enjoys LLL-supplied Library League. of 2014, Karen and I were books inside a laundromat Established in 2014, the chatting and reinforced in Mount Vernon, N.Y. LLL is the brainchild of cothe idea … We settled on founders Arlene Rengert and Karen Iacobucci, both laundromats as logical distribution sites because of southeastern Pennsylvania. It has one primary caregivers who have no laundry appliances at home mission: making children’s books available to probably also lack children’s books and/or the time children in homes that have few or none. and budget to take children to libraries.” A decorated “library box” containing 60 books They shared the idea with friends, neighbors, and — ranging from board books for toddlers, picture anyone else who would listen — and the LLL came books for beginning readers, chapter books for to fruition. independent readers, and full-length books for teens There are currently more than 200 LLL sites in both fiction and nonfiction topics — is placed in scattered across 26 states, most of which are in a laundromat once the owner has given permission. southeast Pennsylvania. The books come from a Signs on the box encourage children and variety of sources, including libraries, schools, book caregivers to read a book there, take it home, and sale leftovers, youth groups, and private donations. pass it on to someone else. Books don’t need to be Over 100,000 books have been donated so far. returned, just utilized. Once or twice a month, a Hundreds of additional books in Spanish or with volunteer steward refreshes the contents of the box, multicultural themes or images have been purchased straightens the area, and removes anything that to enrich the libraries. Financial support comes doesn’t belong. from donors, businesses, restaurant fundraisers, While volunteers are the backbone of the LLL, youth organizations, and grants. Rengert is its heart and soul. Raised in suburban In 2016 the LLL incorporated as a 501(c)3 Illinois, she grew up in a town with a welcoming nonprofit so that monetary donations are tax library and parents that read to her every evening. deductible. The basic operating budget covers Earning higher-education degrees in geography storage rental, insurance, materials needs, and and demography, she would go on to chair the website maintenance but does not include purchase Department of Geography and Planning at West of books or postage to mail them to distant sites. Chester University. While raising five children with There is no paid staff, and a local school provides her spouse, George, their home was full of books. no-cost space for sorting and assembly of books and “Reading to children was probably my favorite for dropping off book donations. The school is also thing to do,” Rengert says. where the decorated, filled boxes and replacement Her favorite childhood book? sets of books await pickup by volunteers who deliver “The Little Engine that Could. The ‘I think I to local sites. can, I think I can’ is still something I quietly say to Over 500 volunteers ranging in age from 8-80 myself when confronted with a problem.” collect and organize the books, recruit and steward The problem became apparent early on. laundromats, or donate funds or their professional “My years in West Philadelphia as a young skills, such as graphic arts, accounting, translation, mother probably were when I became personally and the like. exposed to the greater advantages in reading and In September of each year there is a potluck education that some children have. We had friends social held to celebrate the LLL’s anniversary, where of all income levels and races, and yet our house all participants within driving distance are invited. had many, many books and our neighbors down the Twice-monthly updates are sent out with news and street did not,” Rengert says. needs. www.50plusLifePA.com

When asked what she considers the LLL’s greatest success to be, Rengert answers, “Growing itself.” Rengert shares the story of a thirdgrade teacher at a backyard barbecue who related a story to gathered friends. The teacher had assigned students to bring to class something from home that they really loved and to explain why they loved it. One child brought in a book with the LLL book sticker on the front. “This is my book,” he said. “It’s my only book, and that’s why I love it.” As a result of hearing this story, a gentleman who had not previously heard of the LLL acquired a $500 grant for the organization. Rengert listed multiple examples of individuals and groups that have helped grow the LLL. This continuing growth is what keeps Rengert motivated. “Before I die, I want to have children’s books in at least one laundromat in all 50 states,” she says.

Volunteers assemble collections of children’s books into boxes for placements in laundromats.

Laundromat Library League volunteers maintain a book-collection box at a local senior center.

Members of the Crow Peak Valley Rangers 4H Club in Whitewood, S.D., some of the LLL’s newest and youngest participants.

The growth and success of the program is getting noticed. In 2015 the LLL received a literacy award from the Keystone State Literacy Association. Additionally, last March, the LLL was invited to send representation to the LaundryCares Foundation’s Literacy Summit. Here, laundromat owners partnered with the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative and Libraries Without Borders to enhance early literacy efforts in local communities across the country. The LLL (www. laundromatlibraryleague.org) is always looking for volunteers and donations. They can be reached at laundromatlibrary@gmail.com or by calling (610) 696-2282. On the cover: Arlene Rengert, co-founder of the Laundromat Library League, with LLL books available inside the Family Laundromat in West Chester, Pa.

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Cancer care Lancaster Cancer Center Greenfield Corporate Center 1858 Charter Lane, Suite 202 (717) 291-1313 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 or (800) 801-3070 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900 Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (717) 291-1994 U.S. Financial (800) 595-1925, ext. 2122 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 397-3744 American Diabetes Association (888) DIABETES

www.50plusLifePA.com

American Heart Association (717) 393-0725 American Lung Association (717) 397-5203 or (800) LungUSA American Red Cross (717) 299-5561 Arthritis Foundation (717) 397-6271 Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233 Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services Hanover: (717) 630-0067 Lancaster: (717) 393-3450 York: (717) 751-2488

50plus LIFE •

Home Improvement Haldeman Mechanical Inc. 1148 Old Line Road, Manheim (717) 665-6910 West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148

senior services Lancaster County Office of Aging (717) 299-7979

Housing Marietta Senior Apartments 601 E. Market St., Marietta (717) 735-9590

Travel Conestoga Tours (717) 569-1111 Passport Information (877) 487-2778

Insurance Medicare (800) 633-4227 Vibra Health Plan (844) 660-2961 (TTY: 711)

Supermarkets John Herr’s Village Market 25 Manor Ave., Millersville (717) 872-5457

Veterans Services Korean War Veterans Association (717) 506-9424 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Nutrition Meals on Wheels (717) 392-4842

Volunteer opportunities RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Retirement Communities Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310

yoga Little Yoga Place Semi-Private and Private Yoga Landisville, Pa. (717) 471-8328

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

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Lancaster County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public 2100 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 626-2894

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Lancaster Nar-Anon Family Group First United Methodist Church Second Floor, Room 214/215 29 E. Walnut St., Lancaster (717) 394-7231 Jan. 13, 10-11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Garden Spot Village Concord Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6076 jmorton@gardenspotvillage.org Jan. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Dementia Caregiver Support and Education Group Masonic Village Health Care Center Courtyard Conference Room 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown (717) 367-1121, ext. 33764 Jan. 16, 10-11:30 a.m. Bereavement Support Group Masonic Village Sycamore North Recreation Room 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown 717) 367-1121, ext. 33576 Jan. 16, noon Brain Tumor Support Group Lancaster General Health Campus Wellness Center

Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Keystone Villa at Ephrata 100 N. State St., Ephrata (717) 366-6330 Jan. 27, 2-3 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Garden Spot Village Theater 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6259 slapp@gardenspotvillage.org Jan. 28, 6-8 p.m. Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Support Group Community Meeting Room – Kohl’s Wing 142 Park City Center, Lancaster (800) 887-7165, ext. 104 Jan. 28, 7 p.m. Memory Loss Support Group Landis Homes The Heritage – Warwick Room 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz (717) 581-3939 supportgroups@landishomes.org

Community Programs Free and open to the public Jan. 6, 6 p.m. Red Rose Singles Meeting Centerville Diner 100 S. Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 406-6098 Jan. 8, noon Korean War Veterans Association Meeting Woodcrest Villa – Eagle Commons Room 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 984-2776 pcunningham1841@verizon.net Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m. Music Friday Downtown Lancaster ttps://visitlancastercity.com/music-Friday

Jan. 21, 2-3:30 p.m. Willow Valley Genealogy Club Willow Valley Communities – Orr Auditorium 211 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster www.genealogyclubwv.com (717) 397-0439 Jan. 28, 7 p.m. World War II Oral History Meeting St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Ave., Columbia (717) 319-3430 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Library Programs Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, (717) 626-2255 Jan. 4, 1:30 p.m. – Lititz Historical Foundation Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m. – Mindfulness Class Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. – Concert: Temple Avenue

January 2020

50plus LIFE •

Senior Center Activities Columbia Senior Center – (717) 684-4850 Jan. 6, 9:30 a.m. – Eating Healthy on a Budget Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m. – Pancakes and Pajamas Jan. 22, 9:30 a.m. – Boom Box Bingo Elizabethtown Area Senior Center – (717) 367-7984 Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Wii Bowling Fridays, 5-10 p.m. – Thank Goodness it’s Friday (TGIF) Night Jan. 6, 12:30 p.m. – Walk with Ease: Arthritis Foundation Walking Program Lancaster House North Happy Hearts Club Senior Center – (717) 299-1278 Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – Senior Exercise Class Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. – Bingo and Pinochle Fridays, 12:30 p.m. – Party Bridge Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center – (717) 299-3943 Tuesdays, 8 a.m. – Music Workshop Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – Bingocize Thursdays, 8 a.m. – Sewing Workshop Lancaster Rec. Senior Center – (717) 392-2115, ext. 147 Jan. 7, 1 p.m. – Tai Chi for Arthritis Jan. 8, 1 p.m. – Learn to Play Mahjong Jan. 10, 1 p.m. – Yoga for Seniors Lititz Senior Center – (717) 626-2800 Jan. 6, 9:30 a.m. – Nutrition Program with Penn State Extension Jan. 8, 10 a.m. – Trivia with Bob Reigh Jan. 27, 9:30 a.m. – Healing from Abortion Luis Munoz Marin Senior Center – (717) 295-7989 Jan. 6, all day – Three Kings Celebration Jan. 10, 10:45 a.m. – Fresh Express Jan. 27, 9 a.m. – YWCA Fitness with Terry Millersville Senior Center – (717) 871-9600 Jan. 6, 10 a.m. – Piano Music and Sing-Along Jan. 15, 10 a.m. – Pottery Project with Pottery Works Jan. 29, 10 a.m. – Obstacles as Opportunities with Mental Health America Next Gen Senior Center – (717) 786-4770 Jan. 2, 10:30 a.m. – Old-Time Bluegrass Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m. – Jerry Mitchell from the Office of the Attorney General Jan. 23, 10:30 a.m. – Music with Linda Bradley Rodney Park Happy Hearts Club Senior Center (717) 393-7786 Tuesdays, noon – Pinochle Wednesdays, 1 p.m. – Varied Activities Thursdays, noon – Bingo

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Know When an Older Adult Has a Gambling Problem

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m worried that my 76-year-old husband has become addicted to gambling. He spends at least two days a week at an Indian casino about a half-hour’s drive from his house playing slot machines. What can I do? – Worried Wife

Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) offers a 20-question online test that he can take to help determine if he has a problem. In the meantime, here are some questions you can ask to help evaluate his situation. • Is he preoccupied with gambling, constantly talking about it, or planning to gamble versus doing his normal activities?

Dear Worried, Problem gambling among older adults is unfortunately on the rise. Studies suggest that more than 4 million Americans age 65 and older could have a gambling problem. The reasons behind this growing problem are because seniors have time and money on their hands, and the influx of casinos that have cropped up around the country have made access to gambling much more convenient. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your husband if he does indeed have a problem.

• Is he gambling more and more money to get the same level of excitement? • Is he using his retirement funds or other savings to gamble, or is he pawning or selling personal items to get money to gamble with? • Has he lost control to the point that he can’t set a limit of time and money to spend in the casino, and stick to it?

Problem Gambling For most older adults, gambling is simply a fun recreational activity, but for those who become addicted to it, it can be a devastating disease that can financially wipe them out. There are a number of reasons why seniors can be vulnerable to gambling problems. For starters, seniors are often catered to by casinos with free bus transportation, free drinks, discounted meals, special rewards, and other prizes as a way to entice them. In addition, many seniors use gambling as a way to distract or escape feelings of loneliness, depression, or even a chronic health condition. Some may have financial problems they are seeking to overcome. And some may have cognitive impairment that interferes with their ability to make sound decisions. Adding to the problem is that many seniors may not understand addiction, making them less likely to identify a gambling problem. Or they may be confused or embarrassed that they can’t control their urges to gamble and reluctant to seek help because they think that at their age, they should know better. And even if they recognize that they have a problem, they may not know that help is available or where to get it. You should also know that while there are many gambling options for people to get hooked on today, casino slot machines are far and away the most popular among seniors. Slot machines are much more addictive then the old machines of yesteryear with spinning lemons, cherries, and melons. Many of today’s slot machines offer intense sensory stimulation with large video screens, music, and vibrating, ergonomic chairs. Get Help How can you know if your husband has a gambling problem? Gamblers www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

• Does he become uncomfortable or angry or does he lie when you ask him about his gambling activities? If your husband answers yes to any of these questions, he may have a problem. To find help, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling (www. ncpgambling.org), a nonprofit organization that operates a 24-hour national hotline at (800) 522-4700. They can direct you to resources in your area, including counselors who have been trained through the National Certified Gambler Counseling 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.

Are You Reading? Join the 2020 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Heartland by Sarah Smarsh. 40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign. Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

Visit www.oboc.org or your library to learn more

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Grief Relief

Tips for Facing the New Year While Grieving Victor M. Parachin

Grieving is taxing on mind, body, and spirit. While it can be tough to face each new day, the challenge can feel enormous when January emerges and a whole new year is stretching out before us. Rather than allowing Jan. 1 to be a depressing date, consider these positive tips for facing the new year while still grieving.

or on a sofa or armchair. “Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.” – Walter Reisch, director and screenwriter

1. Give yourself the physical rest you need. Grief is exhausting, so slow down your life and bring some relaxation into it, such taking time to read a book, view a movie, visit with a friend, and generally spend more time resting in your bed

We Want YOU! •K orean war veterans (of all service branches) who served anywhere in the world 1950–1955 • Veterans (of all service branches) who served in Korea 1945–present

The mission of the KWVA/USA is to defend our nation. Care for our veterans. Perpetuate our legacy. remember our missing and fallen. Maintain our memorial. Support a free Korea.

Come and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow veterans at a monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA). We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at Wood Crest Villa — Eagle Commons, 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, starting with lunch at noon. This invitation includes spouses/companions and drivers. There is no charge for attendance. Dress code is casual. We currently have 90+ registered members. Come join us. Hopefully, you will find it habit forming.

For more information call: Bill Kelley, VP (717) 560-9424

2. Give yourself the mental rest you need. Grief is a powerfully negative experience. Work to soften that by engaging yourself with positive thoughts, positive people, positive reading material. “Affirm the positive, visualize the positive, and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly.” – Remez Sasson, selfimprovement author

3. Give yourself the emotional rest you need. Rather than go it alone, consider meeting with a grief support group where the members share your burden, provide inspiration, and generate encouragement that you, too, can and will overcome grief. “Ten minutes with a genuine friend is better than years spent with anyone less.” – Crystal Woods, author and public speaker 4. Give yourself the spiritual rest you need. If being part of a faith community has been important to you, remain connected. Worship, pray, study religious texts, consult with your spiritual leader. If you’re the type of person who feels more spiritual than religious, consider spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and spending ample time outdoors in nature. “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda, Hindu monk 5. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. No person grieves perfectly. Grief recovery is a work in progress. There will be some stumbles. Be OK with those. “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” – Neil Gaiman, author 6. Give yourself the choice to heal. While the majority of grievers get through bereavement successfully, there are some who remain “stuck” with their grief. please see New Year page 10

January 2020

50plus LIFE •

www.50plusLifePA.com

Balance: The Often-Ignored Element of Fitness By Kathleen Trotter Use unstable equipment — such as a Bosu balance trainer, resistance ball, or balance board — within your regular routine. For example, instead of doing push-ups on the floor, put your hands on either side of a Bosu, flat side up. Try to keep the Bosu stable as you do your push-up. Train barefoot to strengthen your feet; think of your feet as the “foundation” to your balance “house.”

Balance training is a crucial — and too often ignored — element of training. Too often we associate “working out” solely with traditional gym exercises, such as cardio, squats, lunges, weight machines, and stretching … all (obviously) critical, but not at the expense of balance training. Being able to bench press a certain weight or spend 30 minutes on the elliptical become fairly useless if you fall over putting away the weights or getting on and off the elliptical. Start to think of balance training as a “nonnegotiable” — the fourth “pillar” of fitness that is as important as strength training, cardiovascular training, and flexibility. Why? Balance training is hugely functional, in large part because balance and proprioception are intrinsically linked. Balance training improves the feedback loop (proprioception) between your body and your brain. This loop allows your brain to know where your body is positioned in space, thus allowing your brain to instruct the body to “turn on” When performing balance exercises, it is the specific muscles. “righting” element of wobbling and catching yourself that strengthens your balance. By challenging and training your balance, you also fine-tune your proprioception. This proprioceptive neurological feedback loop is vital for everything from athletic maneuvers, to fall prevention, to improved n posture, to injury prevention and foot strength. Fall prevention is key, especially as we age. According to the CDC, each year over 300,000 older people — those 65 and older — are hospitalized for hip fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada followed up with more than 500 hip-fracture patients a year after their fractures. Of community-dwelling hip-fracture patients more than 50 years of age, 20% had died, 5% had had a second fracture, and 20% had been institutionalized. The outcomes were even worse for those in long-term care.

Triangle balance toe lifts: Standing on your right leg, engage your right butt cheek. Make sure your knee is not caving in; keep the kneecap in line with your middle toes. Pay attention to your right foot. Weight should be evenly distributed between the ball of the big toe, the ball of the little toe, and your heel. Keep your arch lifted. Maintain this position as you lift your right toes up and spread them. Leave the ball of your foot on the floor. Lower and repeat 15 times. Then switch sides. Heel-toe walks: Start standing. Place your right please see Balance page 10

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has earned 3 Mature Media Awards!

Ways to Improve Your Balance For all outlined exercises, allow yourself to (appropriately) wobble outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to let yourself get slightly unstable. If you were training your biceps, you would let your muscles get tired. Embrace that you have to let yourself fall out of balance (slightly) to train balance — it is the “righting” element of wobbling and then catching yourself that helps your balance get stronger. Incorporate a few balance drills into your workout warm-up or while you brush your teeth or wait for the elevator. Warming up the loop between your brain and body will help you perform better during the rest of your workout and your day! Stand on your left leg and lift your right leg off the ground. Hold for five seconds. Lower the foot but don’t touch down. Repeat three to 10 times, and then switch legs. Repeat step one while rotating your head over and then away from the lifted knee. Repeat step one while closing your eyes for two to three seconds. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

2019

Winners

Bronze Award

Merit Award

“A Path Well Carved” by Jason J. Tabor

“Doing the Heart’s Work” by Megan Joyce

Caregiver Solutions 2018

Thank you for supporting our award-winning publications! www.50plusLIFEPA.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

New Year from page 8

Please join us for these FREE events!

The difference between the two comes down to choice: Give yourself the choice to adjust, adapt, and move your life forward. “You can’t go back. You don’t get a do-over. This happened to you. So now what? Do you choose to live in pain and grief, or do you choose to heal? Make the choice, every day, every hour, sometimes every minute.” – Amy Florian, author

21st Annual

7. Give yourself the gift of patience. It’s going to take time to heal because the death of a loved one is deeply painful. Pace yourself. Avoid pressuring yourself to “get over it.” And, don’t allow family and friends to rush you through grief, however well-meaning they may be. “Recovery and adjustment can take much longer than most people realize. We need to accept whatever form it takes, both in ourselves and in others.” – Julia Samuel, psychotherapist

LANCASTER COUNTY

April 22, 2020

8. Give yourself the freedom to express gratitude. A small dose of gratitude can offset a large volume of sadness. “Even in the toughest of times, there is something for which you can be thankful. What can you give thanks for today? Did support come from an unexpected place? Did someone say exactly what you needed to hear? Did a robin stop and sing on your windowsill? Blessings come in many forms. You may even wish to begin a gratitude journal in which you record how each day blessed you. Gratitude heals at a very deep level.” – Donna Miesbach, author

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

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

21st Annual

Balance from page 9 heel on the ground in front of you. Flex through your toes so the next portion of your body to touch the floor is the ball of your big toe. As you transition to balancing on your right toes, lift your left foot off of the floor. Don’t roll your foot in or out. Balance for a moment. Repeat by placing your left heel on the floor in front. Repeat 10 times.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Big-toe lifts: Lift your big toe up and down. Keep your other toes still. If you need to, hold your toes down to teach your brain how to only lift the big toe.

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

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January 2020

50plus LIFE •

Final Note If you are feeling overwhelmed — “too busy” to work out, let alone adding balance training to your life — try keeping a “time journal.” Record how you spend your time for two weeks. Most of us fritter away time. As the famous business adage goes, “What gets measured, gets managed.” You can’t possibly manage your time if you don’t know where your time goes. With awareness brings choice. If you want to get on top of your health, you have to get in control of your time. Too many of us let emergencies dictate how our time gets used or have no idea how we actually spend our minutes, hours, days, etc. Time is our most valuable resource — we can’t make more of it. Kathleen Trotter (MSc) is a fitness expert, nutrition and life coach, media personality, and author of two books, including her most recent, Your Fittest Future Self. Connect with her on social media at FitByKathleenT or through her website, KathleenTrotter.com

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Looking on the Bright Side By Dr. Erica Miller • Aches and pains can make life difficult. Another perspective is: Become realistic about life’s challenges without becoming pessimistic about them.

Living long and living well require individuals to adopt a positive attitude and hopeful outlook for the future. And that means facing a certain harsh reality: Even the healthiest person can drop dead from an undetected, asymptomatic brain aneurysm or get broadsided by a drunk driver. Life is full of risks and uncertainties, even for the ones determined to live the longest. The chronologically gifted, those who age well, don’t fear death because they know that life is not infinite. The past is gone, and the future may never be, so the goal is to live in the moment — as if you’ll live forever.

• For some people, getting older means realizing how many opportunities they’ve squandered over the years. Another perspective is: There’s no time like the present to seize the day and make new memories.

Changing Perspectives The chronologically gifted have what psychologists call a “growth mindset.” This is an attitude of continual self-improvement, always preparing today for a better tomorrow. If people simply set their minds to it, they can discover creative ways to live their lives without limitations. For example, consider the following opportunities to see things differently. • Changing bodies means a loss of beauty and attractiveness. Another perspective is: Adopt the belief that attractiveness, at any age, goes far beyond outward appearances.

This is the way longevity all-stars think about life — as something for which they can be authentically grateful, treasuring past memories while looking forward to making new ones, savoring the pleasures of today. There’s no question about it: Positive thinking patterns can form the basis for a cultivated discipline of optimism that, quite literally, can change the world. Time to Get to Work! No one goes from being a pessimist to being an optimist overnight; thought patterns are ingrained habits tied to our environment and personality. But the good news is that even the most deep-rooted habits can be changed. That means if someone is unhappy with the routine thoughts that fill their head today, they can bend their will toward becoming the kind of thinker who please see Bright Side page 18

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On-line Publishers and 50plus LIFE just won 6 awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association! 50plus LIFE:

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Resource Directory for Caregivers, Aging, and the Disabled: • Produced in seven distinct county editions annually, the Resource Directory won second place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

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January 2020

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Telescope Technology Captures Glaucoma-Related Eye Structure Using methods originally In the U.S., it’s estimated developed by astronomers that over 3 million people to view stars more clearly currently have glaucoma, through Earth’s atmosphere, costing the economy over $1.5 optometry researchers at billion annually. Indiana University have To view the trabecular taken the first undistorted meshwork, IU researchers microscopic images of a modified an existing part of the eye involved in ophthalmic laser microscope glaucoma. with a programmable mirror The ability to clearly view able to deform in real time this structure — known as to correct for the eye’s the trabecular meshwork — imperfections. could help improve treatment Astronomers designed the for glaucoma. The work is laser to correct for the same Blind spots and loss of peripheral vision occur when reported in the journal of atmospheric distortions that glaucoma damages the fibers of the optic nerve. Translational Vision Science make stars appear to twinkle. and Technology. “Thanks to this research, January is National “Normally, clear fluid the ocular drainage area circulates inside the eye to of the eye can now be seen Glaucoma Awareness Month supply nutrition and keep with much-improved clarity, it ‘inflated’ to its normal which will improve our shape,” said Dr. Brett King, chief of advanced ocular care understanding of how this essential drainage area is being services and associate clinical professor at the IU School altered or damaged with age,” King said. of Optometry, who co-authored the study. “Alterations of the trabecular meshwork, which allows fluid to drain, elevate pressure in the eye, leading to glaucoma. The problem is the meshwork can only be seen poorly with the normal instruments in your doctor’s office, due to its location where the iris inserts into the wall of the eye, as well as the near-total reflection that occurs when looking through the cornea.” Vibra Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans The result of this low visibility is starting at $0*and include a Member Advocate. a lack of understanding about why age appears to cause the trabecular A Member Advocate offers you: meshwork to function poorly. • Assistance with care navigation and resource referral It also makes it difficult to study • Personalized attention to get you to the right services why certain glaucoma treatments at the right time that target the trabecular meshwork • Information to make healthcare decisions that are right — such as laser therapies or invasive for you and your family surgical procedures — fail while • 7-day-a-week support others succeed. More effective treatments for Call now to reserve a seat at a seminar, or to learn more about how glaucoma are needed since the Vibra Health Plan is in your corner. 1-844-660-2961 (TTY 711) number of people with the condition worldwide is expected to rise from 76 million in 2020 to over 111 million Vibra Health Plan is a PPO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Vibra in 2040, disproportionally affecting Health Plan depends on contract renewal. people in Asia and Africa. *Not available on all plans. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Since 2000, 50plus LIFE (previously Senior News and 50plus Senior News) has won more than 130 awards for its editorial content and design. Here’s a look at an award-winning article from our archives.

Evelyn Ay – Where is She Now? October 2000 issue Mature Media Awards: Silver Award

By Meredith Westgate

It was September 1954 when 20-year-old Evelyn Ay, of Ephrata, became the pride of Lancaster County, and indeed, all of Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America in the Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ephrata may not have ever before or since seen such a grand celebration as the one that took place the day she returned to her hometown. Sixty thousand people lined the streets for a parade of flower-studded floats while area high school marching bands played triumphant tunes. Carlo M. Sardella, a Press staff writer, called Ay “the People’s Choice.” He wrote, “Riding on a wave of popularity that began with her first public appearance in the [Miss America] parade … Ay copped the Miss America title … before a cheering, whistling, full house.” Ay earned her place in the finals by winning the first-night trophy in the swimsuit competition and earning top points in talent with her dramatic reading of Leaves from My House, a poem about a house and life in the South Pacific. But, it was in the question-and-answer period that Ay clinched the title. “She came through with colors flying so high that there were expressions of amazement up and down press row,” Sardella wrote. As the last Miss America to be crowned before the pageant was televised, Ay represented the end of an era. With the title, Ay was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, a car, and some $40,000 in personal appearance fees during her reign. She traveled 390,000 miles across the U.S., England, France, and Germany, serving as “the headliner” at festivals and charity events. At the time of her crowning, Ay was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. She had never participated in a beauty pageant. Approached by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Ephrata, she was persuaded to compete in the local competition. Advancing to the Miss America pageant was “one big, giant step,” Ay said. Winning was “a serendipity” in her life. With no expectation of winning the pageant, Ay had become engaged on the Saturday before the Miss America pageant. Her fiancé, Carl Sempier, was in officer candidate school at Penn. A November wedding was planned. On the night of the pageant, Sempier and some friends gathered around a radio in Newport, Rhode Island. Ay earned a place in the top 10, the top five, and then the Miss America title. Sempier’s friends told him “he was history,” Ay said, laughing. “They said if I was decent, maybe I would return the ring.” Ay and Sempier postponed the wedding, seeing each other only four

January 2020

Silver Award

50plus LIFE •

times that year. “I looked the world over, but didn’t find anyone better,” she said. They married a year later. From her home in Malvern, Pennsylvania (the Sempiers have resided in the Paoli area since 1962), Ay reflected on the Miss America pageant. The first pageant (1921) was organized by the merchants of Atlantic City to celebrate the most beautiful time of year, Ay said. The first contestants were daughters of summer residents. In 1945, the first scholarship was awarded. “It was this step that enabled the pageant to celebrate 80 years,” Ay said. Today, the Miss America pageant has the largest scholarship foundation exclusively for women in the world, awarding more than $30 million in scholarships annually. In the ’50s, Miss America represented “the Age of Innocence — Donna Reed, family, neighbors, friends,” Ay said. The contestants “were the show,” performing oratory, classical piano, ballet, tap — whatever was “available at their fingertips.” Ay observed, “Singing and dancing were only in the movies.” After her reign, Ay was offered exciting opportunities, but preferred a quieter life. “I enjoyed every minute of my year [as Miss America], but I wasn’t caught up in the glory,” Ay said. A life of “entertainment and exposure had neither the stability nor sincerity” she sought. A devoted supporter of the Miss America scholarship program, Ay attends the Miss America pageant each year. She has judged local, state, and national pageants, and served as Miss America pageant commentator in 1985 and 1987. She accepts numerous speaking invitations annually. She writes her own speeches and presents them from a “very, very personal perspective.” According to her Miss America biography, “Ay is best known as an enchanting and captivating speaker.” The Sempiers raised two daughters and six Great Dane dogs. Their daughters, who both live within 4 miles of their parents, are “beautiful and talented.” The couple enjoys their two young grandchildren. They love to travel and recently vacationed in Italy. Ay, who calls herself a “gray-haired lady,” notes that she is “identifiable as an older person.” Gray-haired or blond, Ay is surely as gracious and charming as she was the day she was crowned Miss America. She laments that life isn’t as carefree as it was then. Now, “young people race from work to daycare to the dry cleaner,” she said. In her speeches, she encourages people to slow down and enjoy life. www.50plusLifePA.com

Join us in celebrating our silver anniversary by taking a look back at life over the last 25 years … as well as a blast from one of our covers past!

2017

25 th

Top Headlines

Entertainment

• In June, President Trump announced the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

• In a mix-up for the Oscar for Best Picture, La La Land was announced before it was revealed that Moonlight actually won the award.

• The opioid epidemic received major news coverage in 2017. In August, President Trump declared the epidemic a national emergency. • Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria pummeled southeast Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean in late summer and early fall.

• The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault began in October with widespread abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. • C elebrity passings included musicians Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Tom Petty, Gregg Allman, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, and Glen Campbell; actors Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Paxton, and Adam West; comedians Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, and Dick Gregory; and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

• On Oct. 1, a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel opened fire on outdoor concertgoers, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500.

• According to the Nielsen ratings, the top five most-watched TV series of 2017 were NCIS, Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor, The Big Bang Theory, and, at No. 1, Sunday Night Football.

Sports • Tennis player Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open final. It was her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking a record set in 1968. • The New England Patriots came back from a 23-8 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. It was the largest comeback and first overtime game in Super Bowl history. • NFL players kneeling during the national anthem set off a national debate after President Trump criticized the players on Twitter. • Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women — including several Olympic athletes. He would be sentenced to 40-175 years in federal prison.

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50plus LIFE •

January 2017

Science & Technology • NASA ran a livestream of the Cassini spacecraft’s final moments as it succumbed to Saturn’s dense atmosphere and heat. • Apple launched the iPhone X, which included facial-recognition technology as a security feature. • A total solar eclipse passed across the United States in late August; it was the first to cross the country since 1918. • A cyberattack on credit-reporting agency Equifax caused 145.5 million American consumers to have sensitive personal information stolen.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2013!

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

The Beauty in Nature

Crows and Geese at Shopping Malls Clyde McMillan-Gamber

As time progressed, succeeding floods Late in the afternoon one day this past of crows from all directions became ever November, noisy multitudes of American larger, noisier, and more dramatic as crows and Canada geese were on a shortthey flowed over the shopping center. grass lawn behind the Red Rose Commons Meanwhile, still other crows were perched Shopping Mall just north of Lancaster city. on the buildings of that mall and on its The crows were gathering on that lawn parking lots and trees. prior to going to roost for the night, while Again, the crows and Canada geese the geese were nibbling the grass. together were a wild sight in a built habitat At that same time, successive flocks as the sun set and darkness deepened. of loudly bugling Canada geese, in tight Wildlife in human-made habitats make strings and V’s, powered off a nearby pond those habitats part of the wild. and landed into the wind among their Being adaptable enough to take fellows on the lawn, while loose sheets of advantage of human-made habitats, crows poured low over the pond and lawn, thousands of wintering crows and heading west. American crow hundreds of wintering Canada geese Meanwhile, other groups of honking have roosted each winter night from early November to mid-March among geese lifted off the short grass and flew out of sight. All those airborne crows shopping malls just north and west of Lancaster city for several years. and geese were beautifully silhouetted before the striking sunset. Some of the geese are permanent residents of the pond at Red Rose And together the birds created exciting, inspiring natural spectacles in a human-made habitat where people wouldn’t expect them to be. please see Crows page 21

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January 2020

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The Bookworm Sez

This Tender Land Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Tell me a story!” It was never enough when someone read a story to you when you were a child: A tale from the heart was always better. Every time the story was told, it was a little bit different, a little braver and a lot more exciting, and with This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, you’re in for a good one. Every child at the Lincoln Indian Training School feared what Odie O’Banion called “the quiet room.” They feared it, because it was rarely quiet: Usually, someone was sobbing from the beatings, or worse, that they endured in that dirt-floor cell, or because of the rats there, This Tender Land by William Kent or because of the dark. Krueger; c. 2019, Atria; 450 pages The first time he was tossed into the room, Odie was 8 years old and his then-12-year-old brother, Albert, was inexplicably tossed in with him. It was 1932, and they’d been told that they were the only white boys at the Indian school in northern Minnesota because the county had nowhere else to put them after their parents died. Odie had only known a mother’s love for a few short years of his life; Mrs. Brickman, the owner of the school, didn’t love him, or any of the children there. Odie doubted that the “Black Witch” was capable of love. She was surely capable of cruelty, though, and part of that was in loaning children to work for nearby farmers. If the Black Witch meant to punish a boy, he was sent to the Bledsoe farm; if it was a good day, Odie, Albert, and their friend, Mose, would go to Mrs. Cora Frost’s farm, to help out there. As far as Odie was concerned, Cora Frost was an “angel.” A widow with a 5-year-old daughter, Cora made the boys feel like family, and for story-loving Odie, that was heaven. But when a tornado came through and took that family away, he knew that only one thing could happen next: It was time to escape … Which is exactly what you want in a novel: to be transported to another time and place, to escape. Happily, you’ll find plenty of that inside This Tender Land. You’ll also find a lot of “ish” in this novel: an Oliver-Twist-ish open with a Snape-ish character in charge. Adventure that’s quite Mark-Twain-ish and a sweet, puppyish love story. There’s history and culture that may be newish to the unversed, wrapped into a tale that alternates between sentimentalism and wincing. Placing this all solidly on a factual base, author William Kent Krueger then plops his readers down in a period when the Depression caused families to www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

disintegrate and roving bands of kids were not uncommon. And we wander here, too, through a timeline filled with murder, crime, faith, heart-pounding chase scenes, and just a little magic. That could feel overdone and may be a little overwhelming for some readers, so give yourself room with this book. You’ll want that anyway — some room to enjoy, if you love stories. For you, This Tender Land is a good one told.

Photo Credit: Photography by Diane Krueger

This Tender Land author William Kent Krueger.

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.

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January 2020

Social Security News

By John Johnston

Online Reporting Form Now Available for Scam Calls

Andrew Saul, commissioner of Social Security, and Gail S. Ennis, the inspector general for the Social Security Administration, announce the launch of a dedicated online form at https://oig.ssa.gov to receive reports from the public of Social Security-related scams. These scams — in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems — skyrocketed over the past year to become the No. 1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration. To combat these scams, Social Security and the OIG will use the new online form to capture data that will be analyzed for trends and commonalities. The OIG will use the data to identify investigative leads, which could help identify criminal entities or individuals participating in or facilitating the scams. Saul and Ennis encourage the public to use the new online form to report Social Security phone scams, including robocalls and live callers, as well as email, text, and in-person scams. The form allows people to create a unique personal identification number (PIN), so if OIG contacts a person about their report, they will know the call is legitimate. Social Security employees do occasionally contact people — generally those who have ongoing business with the agency — by telephone for business purposes.

However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up. Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. Social Security will not: • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended. • Contact you to demand an immediate payment. • A sk you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. • Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash. • Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe. • Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, please see Scam Calls page 22

Bright Side from page 11 consistently opts for hope, where others settle for despair. In time, they’ll find that their routine thoughts — their equilibrium state — will have changed to reflect a more optimistic outlook on life, and they’ll have more resources for dealing with adversity. Here are a few ideas for increasing optimism. 1. Keep a thought journal. Start thinking critically about your thought patterns. Some people may be more optimistic than they realize, in which case a thought journal may help replicate more positive thoughts throughout the coming weeks. But others might discover they’re far more pessimistic than they imagined. In that case, a thought journal can be documentary evidence to motivate individuals to look for new ways to frame the way they deal with their world. 2. Inventory the chronic stressors in your life. Make three columns to help keep your list organized: places where you feel tense, things that stress you out, and people who create tension in your life. Places can be general, like crowds, or specific, like movie theaters. The “things” column could include tangible objects you see and touch as well as intangibles, like ideas, categories, and discussion topics. The people column is often the most difficult to name. You know deep inside the damage some can cause but are reluctant to list and release them. This realization is itself a source of stress. When people have relationships with those who are toxic to their goals of living longer, better lives, it is important to move toward ridding themselves of those negative individuals.

January 2020

50plus LIFE •

3. Smile more often. It has become a cliché at this point, but it’s actually true. Laughter is powerful medicine for the body as well as the soul. Just the physical act of smiling makes our neurons fire and can literally make us feel better. The Bottom Line People who live longer, more fulfilling lives know that pursuing personal goals regularly is a huge secret to longevity. It removes chronological age from your mind and calls attention to the better person you’re becoming. And that helps keep your thoughts optimistically focused toward realizing your inner potential — something that comes with age the longer you live. It’s not difficult to work out the profound behavioral ramifications of learned helplessness and explanatory style. Optimists are the ones who can “take the hit” of adversity without missing a beat, while pessimists will be defeated every time. For pessimists, adversity is the norm, and even the biggest victories are just exceptions to the rule. For optimists, victory is normal, and adversity is just a challenge to overcome. What kind of person do you want to be? Decide now, because your life depends on it. Dr. Erica Miller holds her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has written extensively on topics of positive psychology, longevity, overcoming challenges, and living life to its fullest. Her most recent book, Chronologically Gifted: Aging with Gusto, made her an international bestselling author. For more information, visit www.drericamiller. com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

The Reel Deal

The Last Full Measure Randal Hill

In 1999, Todd Robinson, the director/screenwriter of when I knew there was a story to tell.” The Last Full Measure, learned the story of William H. The narrative was compelling to Robinson, as was the Pitsenbarger. Robinson had been researching a military aftermath tale, when wives of the surviving soldiers learned movie and visiting training schools. that Pits had been given an Air Force Cross — the second “Nearly every place I went, the young trainees wanted highest honor — for his ultimate sacrifice. It wasn’t good to be sure that I knew the story of William Pitsenbarger,” enough, they protested. Robinson explained to Air Force Magazine. Encouraged by their spouses, numerous veterans Called “Pits” by his comrades, the 21-year-old medic, subsequently petitioned Congress to elevate Pits to the already a veteran of over 250 combat missions, was aboard Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration. On Dec. 8, one of two helicopters summoned to evacuate wounded 2000, the medal was posthumously awarded to William H. soldiers after they were ambushed in a Vietnam jungle in Pitsenbarger, 34 years after his death. April 1966. Robinson and producer Sidney Sherman pitched the movie When the last helicopter was ready to lift off, the selfless idea to over 50 production companies, but nobody showed Pits, already under heavy Viet Cong fire, volunteered to stay interest. Still, Robinson had such faith in Pits’s story that he behind to tend to the wounded and hold off the advancing went ahead and wrote a script anyway. He then embarked on enemy. He was killed within 90 minutes. over a decade of arm-twisting to line up funding. Images © Lionsgate or related entities. Used for Robinson later heard the airman’s father, William F. Finally, by 2017, things had fallen into place. Jeremy publicity and promotional purposes. https://www. movieinsider.com/photos/552172 “Frank” Pitsenbarger, speak about his son’s legacy at a New Irvine would portray Pits, with Christopher Plummer as Mexico airbase. Pits’s father and Diane Ladd as Pits’s mother. The cast was rounded out with “The whole thing jelled for me at that moment,” said Robinson. “That’s

please see Full Measure page 22

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

CROSSWORD

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Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 24 SUDOKU

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Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

What You Should Avoid Prior to Surgery and Lab Tests • • • • • •

I recently wrote about some impressive tests that you can self-order, thus taking the headache out of getting lab tests. But what about the important instructions that come with some lab tests, and what are the best instructions to follow if you have a surgery scheduled? Medication Cessation The most common inquiry is this: Do I really need to stop all my medications before this test? This question isn’t easy to answer because some medications are needed for comfort and well-being. For example, what if you are reliant on your morning pill for acid reflux? You can safely stop it abruptly, but if you don’t take it, you will be very uncomfortable. Another example is with analgesics like tramadol, oxycodone, and morphine. You can’t just suddenly stop those or you’ll slip into withdrawal pretty quickly! Ask if you’re allowed to take those the morning of your procedure. You also cannot suddenly stop an antidepressant or antiepileptic drug. These and many other medications all require slow tapering to get off. If you suddenly discontinue certain drugs, then you could encounter dangerous withdrawal symptoms, even seizures. I can see why this question comes up a lot for patients. Ask well before your surgery so you don’t have to reschedule due to this type of oversight. Blood thinners are the most dangerous ones to remain on if you’re having surgery or some procedure that requires an IV drip or a blood draw, like a colonoscopy, for example. You do not want your blood to be super thin when you go in for these procedures or the bleeding could become profuse or internalized. So for sure, you do not want to be on these blood-thinning drugs for at least three days prior to some tests: • Anticoagulants • Warfarin (Coumadin)

Enoxaparin Clopidogrel Ticlopidine Aspirin Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs Dipyridamole

Another category of medications that people don’t usually warn about, but I feel should be included in this conversation, are those drugs that slow down your heart rate. My reasoning is that anesthesia also slows down your heart rate, and the combo could lead to severe bradycardia. I’m referring to “beta” and “calcium” channel blockers.

No Food or Drink? Another important question is, “Should I really stop eating and drinking before a test?” The blanket answer is yes! If the facility or hospital puts that request on your instruction sheet, you should follow it. Eating and drinking too close to surgery could force a reschedule of the surgery. The worry is aspiration. As for other tests, it becomes less clear. For example, if you are scheduled to have a pelvic ultrasound to see your cervix or ovaries, I’m not sure why food would be a problem! And likewise, I do not understand the need for “no food or drink” if you’re having a thyroid blood test. You probably should eat before that type of test; the results will be more realistic. There are certain things you should not take or eat before a urine test. The list is very long, but generally speaking, avoid beets, coffee, caffeinated tea, and B vitamins. For a much longer version of this article, sign up for my free newsletter (www.suzycohen.com) and I’ll send you the comprehensive article by email. This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

Crows from page 16 Commons, while the crows raised young in forests in Canada. But both species became accustomed to traffic, lights, and people on their wintering grounds and learned to benefit from a little extra heat from the sun-heated blacktop parking lots, buildings, vehicles, and lights. Plus, those birds enjoy wind breaks from the buildings and safety from predators and people shooting at them. Wintering American crows and Canada geese consume corn kernels lying in harvested cornfields. www.50plusLifePA.com

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But crows also ingest acorns off lawns, dead animals on roads, and edible garbage from garbage cans, dumpsters, and landfills. Geese also eat short grass on lawns, as stated earlier, and aquatic vegetation. Wildlife is always exciting and inspiring to experience, including in human-made habitats. And great numbers of certain species create wonderful pageantry. Beauties and intrigues in nature are where you find them. Canadian geese

Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County parks naturalist.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Scam Calls from page 18

March 31, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to join us!

The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.

in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. People should never provide information or payment over the phone or internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it. The Social Security OIG will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste, and abuse in Social Security’s programs and operations. A separate online form for those reports remains available at www.ssa.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_ fraud_reporting/form.htm. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

Full Measure from page 19 such acting icons as Samuel L. Jackson, William Hurt, Ed Harris, and (in his final role) Peter Fonda. The Last Full Measure story unfolds through the perspective of Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), a young Pentagon official assigned to investigate the unique and complicated case that sought the elevating of the prestigious award. Roadside Attractions executives Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff proclaim, “Everyone should know about William Pitsenbarger’s bravery and life, and it’s a privilege to bring this film to theaters, where it should be seen.” The movie opens nationwide on Jan. 17. Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Reading Makes People Better, Study Suggests 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

January 2020

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Do you read a lot? If so, chances are you’re more kind and empathetic than most people, according to a study reported on the Peace Quarters website. Researchers in Great Britain asked 123 people about their reading or television watching habits. Then they analyzed participants’ social skills, asking questions like, “How often do you consider other people’s points of view versus your own?” and “Do you go out of your way to actively help others?” The results showed that

the book readers, usually considered introverted and antisocial, displayed more empathetic traits than people who primarily watch TV. The genre of books seemed to make a difference, with readers of romance and drama showing more empathy and skill at seeing things through another person’s eyes. Of course, it could be that empathetic people tend to read more, instead of reading creating more empathy. Either way, it’s good news for bookworms. www.50plusLifePA.com

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Snowy-Season Collectibles Lori Verderame

It’s funny, but everyone seems to have a different calendar when it comes to decorating for the season. Some stores start decorating for the holidays in midOctober, while others wait until the chilly winds of early December arrive. Whether winter decorations brighten your home as early as Halloween or linger through Super Bowl Sunday, decking the halls is a tried-and-true seasonal favorite. With guests coming and going as we usher out the old and ring in the new year, the age-old question of when to deck and when to deinstall the holiday wreaths, ornaments, figurines, etc., is one of personal preference.

Shakable Snow Globes Snow artistry has taken on many forms when it comes to winter collectibles, including the everpopular snow globe. Snow globes, snow domes, or, as the Germans call them, schneekugeln, were first introduced in France during the early 1800s as a successor to the handblown glass paperweight. At the 1889 International Exposition in Paris, the snow globe got worldwide attention as a souvenir. This World’s Fair snow globe featured a model of the newly built Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel, inside. Initially, snow globes consisted of a heavy, leadglass dome placed over a ceramic tableau. The globes were filled with water and then sealed. The snow inside the globe was created with bone chips, porcelain pieces, or non-soluble soap flakes.

Byers Choice Ltd. Carolers Winter collectibles are popular and speak to our image of the holidays. Byers Choice Ltd. carolers, a Bucks County, Photo credit: Staff photographer at www.drloriv.com. Pennsylvania, mainstay and international favorite, Vintage snow globe with snowman. are popular collectibles featuring moveable figurines on solid bases. The heads of the singing carolers are hand-painted and made of clay. Tom & Randi Each caroler is handmade by a skilled artisan at the Byers Choice Ltd. workshop in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and visitors can watch figures being produced on the shop floor during a self-guided tour of Byers Choice Ltd. Carolers are produced and marketed by theme — carolers by the sea, Charles Dickens characters, American patriots, etc. — relating to the Christmas holiday and are widely collected throughout the year. That Famous Snowman It is widely believed that collectible snowmen were first catapulted into the public eye in the early 1950s, well into the postwar period in America. Today, many folks have taken snowman collecting to a new level. Arguably, the most famous snowman of all time is Frosty the Snowman. This snowman was actually first introduced as a song before becoming the pop culture icon that we all know and love. The wintery-themed novelty song was produced by Steve Rollins and Jack Nelson and recorded by cowboy crooner Gene Autry in 1950. Trying to capture the success of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a recording that sold 2 million copies, Autry recorded the quintessential snowman’s theme song. Related cartoons and children’s books about Frosty the Snowman soon followed. In 1954, UPA animation studios made Frosty the Snowman the central character of a three-minute animated short film. By 1969, the animation company of Rankin/Bass produced a half-hour TV special featuring Frosty the Snowman and the unmistakable voices of Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon. The rest of this snowman celebrity story is corncob-pipe history. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

please see Collectibles page 25

LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC”

Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. Looking for entertainment?

Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019. We have many variety shows featuring the music from the 1930s to the 60s. Songs by legendary artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Kay Starr, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and the Mills Brothers. Specialty shows include …

Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

Phone: (717) 846-6126

E-mail: memrymusic@aol.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Pet Insurance on the Rise The most common coverage was for accident and illness plans. Accident and illness premiums for dogs came in at $566 yearly in the U.S. and $734 in Canada. For cats, the U.S. premium was $354, and the Canadian rate was $400.

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Puzzle Solutions

The North American Pet Health Insurance Association reports that total premiums for pet insurance have hit a new level, reaching $1.42 billion in 2018. In the United States, pet insurance increased 18% for 2.43 million pets. In Canada, the rate grew 10.9% for 277,000 pets.

R RMENT • P

Lancaster County Office of Aging Maintaining the independence and quality of life for seniors through information, services, and protection since 1974.

About Us – The Lancaster County Office of Aging (LCOA) was established 45 years ago as a result of the passage of the Older Americans Act. This act directed states to develop a network of services and supports to help keep older adults healthy and independent. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging was created to fulfill this mandate. In turn, a network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) was established throughout the commonwealth to carry out this mission at the local level. Funding for aging-related services is a combination of state and federal monies, with the Pennsylvania Lottery providing the major source of funding. In Lancaster County, the AAA is part of county government. We are dedicated to providing Lancaster County residents, 60 years of age and older, with a wide range of informational resources and services as well as advocacy efforts and elder abuse protection. The LCOA offers the following services:

Our Philosophy:

• Information and referral services

u Support

the older person’s right to decide his/her own destiny. Encourage consumer self-determination and choice.

• Long-term living assessments • H ome and community-based support services

u Support

the older person’s right to risk.

• Protection from abuse and neglect

u Promote

independence and dignity.

• A PPRISE, Medicare, and related health insurance counseling

u Avoid

unnecessary/inappropriate institutionalization.

• Senior center services

• • • • • • • •

Adult daily living services Caregiver support Employment Ombudsman services Transportation Legal services Health and wellness programming Volunteer opportunities

For more information, please call us Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 717-299-7979/1-800-801-3070, visit our website at www.lancoaging.org, or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us.

January 2020

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Participants Needed for Master Watershed Steward Program Penn State Extension and the Lebanon, Lancaster, and Dauphin County conservation districts are excited to launch the Master Watershed Steward Extension for the Lower Susquehanna. Similar to the Master Gardener program, the Master Watershed Steward program is a collaborative effort designed to train people in a formal way about the basics of water resource stewardship, creating an energized and educated group of citizens. Currently, the MWS program is in 18 counties across the state and has 302 volunteers. The program is recruiting 20-25 interested people for the class of 2020, which will be a joint program between Dauphin, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties. The class will consist of 40 hours of training on various topics, including water quality, stream health, groundwater, native plants, and recreational resources. Once this part of the training is complete, trainees perform 50 hours of volunteer service on selected projects such as:

• Assisting in stream restorations • Organizing educational workshops addressing topics such as rain barrels, pollution prevention, invasive plant control, and storm-water management Applicants are welcome from people of all backgrounds. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian or adult. The program will start Tuesday, March 3, 6-8:30 p.m., and will continue every Tuesday through May. There will be several Saturday field trips as well. Informational sessions will be held at these locations on the following dates: • Jan. 8, 7 p.m., Lebanon County Extension Office, 2120 Cornwall Road, Lebanon • Jan. 14, 7 p.m., Dauphin County Extension Office, 1451 Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin • Jan. 21, 7 p.m., Lancaster County Extension Office, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster

Registration for these meetings can be found at: https://extension.psu.edu/ master-watershed-steward-information-meeting. If interested, please contact Casey Clauser at (717) 639-3589 or cmc7444@psu.edu.

• Organizing and executing stream cleanups • Designing and installing demonstration rain gardens

Collectibles from page 23 More recently, the snow inside a typical snow globe is produced from tiny pieces of white plastic and enhanced with distilled water and glycerin to make the water denser and the snow appear to realistically move within the globe atmosphere. In the Victorian era, the British called the collectible tableaus “snowstorms” as they gained popularity from circa 1890 to 1901. Despite their European beginnings, snow globes were mass produced in the U.S. thanks to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native Joseph Garaja. The first massproduction patent for snow globes featured Garaja’s new base, which allowed the globe to be screwed into it like a light bulb. In the 1940s, snow globes were produced as advertising paperweights, travel souvenirs, and vacation keepsakes. Today, snow globes are traded and collected worldwide; specialty annual snow globes, featuring products and characters from companies like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Disney, are big gifts with collectors. Some range in value from $500 to $5,000 at auction. Whether your winter is filled with days building your own Frosty on the front lawn or sipping hot cocoa by the fire, snowy-season collectibles are fine additions to your home and will surely satisfy your need to decorate with a seasonal flair.

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! Name_ ________________________________________________________ Address_ _______________________________________________________

Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and weekdays on Doctor and the Diva. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show to audiences nationwide. Visit www.drloriv.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

No Need for Disguises. We’re Pet Friendly!

At Harrison Senior Living, we believe that your four-legged friend can improve your overall health and happiness; that’s why we pride ourselves on being a pet-friendly community. After all, your pets are family too.

www.Harrisonseniorliving.com

300 Strode Avenue East Fallowfield, PA 19320 610.384.6310

See our website for more locations and information.

January 2020

United Zion Retirement Community has announced Heather Brown as the director of nursing of their recently renovated healthcare center. “Heather’s deep experience with residents in long-term care settings shows her commitment to the mission of caring for seniors,” Sue Verdegem, United Zion CEO, said. “She places a special focus on rehabilitating

residents to their highest possible function.” Brown is a registered nurse with over 21 years of experience, mainly in longterm care. Most recently she served at the RN nurse manager at Stoneridge Retirement Communities and the director of nursing at Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one. Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

Independent Living Personal Care Respite Care

UZRC Announces New Director of Nursing

50plus LIFE •

24th annual edition

25 th

Call today for your free copy! (717) 285-1350

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Tests Confirm Cats’ Attachment to Humans Do you ever wonder whether your cat really likes you? Numerous studies have looked into the nature of attachments between dogs and people, but few have examined attachment in cats — probably because of the stereotype that cats aren’t social animals. Researchers decided to study the bond between cats and their owners with a simple experiment: Eighty humans brought their kittens into an unfamiliar room, played with them for two minutes, then left. After two minutes, they returned to play with the kittens again. The unfamiliar environment

made many cats anxious, as demonstrated by loud meowing and other stressedout behaviors. Some of the cats remained anxious when their humans returned, while others avoided them. But about two-thirds greeted their humans and relaxed, exhibiting playfulness and exploration of the environment. That’s about the same proportion that dogs and babies have displayed in similar tests of attachment. The researchers point out that we can’t really know whether our cats truly like us, but the results do suggest that they form a real bond with their humans, much like dogs.

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WestShoreHome.com/onlinepub Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

This is Kristaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happily ever after. Finding new ways to help people like Krista beat cancer. This is why weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re continuing to innovate, expand and invest in the people of Central PA. Because this is the health we need to live the way we want.

This is Penn State Health.

PennStateHealth.org/CancerInstitute

CAN-14388-19-111241-0319

Cancer Institute