50plus LIFE - December 2020 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

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Complimentary | December 2020

— On-Line Publishers —

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How to Tell COVID vs. Flu page 13

Special Section: Orthopedics and Pain page 23

I WEAR A MASK TO PROTECT MY PATIENTS. For more information visit health.pa.gov 2

December 2020

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Support the Troops This Holiday Season! Our troops deserve our help and to know they aren’t forgotten!

Happy Holidays We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2020. We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus LIFE a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in central Pennsylvania. At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

Keystone Military Families, a PA-based nonprofit, encourages you to brighten the holidays for our troops overseas by sponsoring a care package!

00 0,0 ops 1 g t ro . din Sen ings to world k e stoc ver th o al l

Thousands of essential items have been received for veterans, but monetary donations to defray shipping costs are desperately needed.

Registered 501c-3

Please send your monetary donation by Dec. 15 The cost for one box is $27-$77, depending on the destination.

Donations can be made online at We need your www.KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.com help to make or mail checks to: this happen!

Keystone Military Families 331 Main Street, Shoemakersville, PA 19555

For more information, visit KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.com, call (610) 698-2122, or email keystonemilitary@yahoo.com.

Even When You Couldn’t Show Up . . .

p! U d e w o h You S

OLP Events would like to extend a huge thank-you to all the exhibitors and visitors who participated in our virtual 2020 events! Despite the year’s unexpected challenges, together we found a way to continue connecting the community to valuable local resources, businesses, and organizations — even if it had to be online!

We are profoundly grateful for your support in making the virtual 50plus EXPOs, Women’s Expos, Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs, Virtual Open House, and JOBS717 and JOBS610 job fairs a success. More than 10,000 people visited this year’s virtual expos, and the events’ wide range of excellent seminars and entertainment were viewed more than 3,000 times!

——— And a very special thank-you to our event sponsors ———

Lancaster General Health

Hoping to see everyone face-to-face at the 2021 expos!

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

December 2020

Cover Story Corporate Office

P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 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 Connie Molitor Production Artists Renee McWilliams Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley Marketing Consultants Brittney Bonagura 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.

December 2020

50plus LIFE

On-Line Publishers Turns ‘Silver’ — In More Ways than One By Megan Joyce Marking a silver anniversary is a celebratory milestone in the life of any small business, especially one that started in its founder’s basement and flourished into a regional niche-publishing and event-production company commemorating 25 successful years. On-Line Publishers traces its origin story back to 1995, when its now-president and CEO, Donna Anderson, was a volunteer working with seniors in her central Pennsylvania community. “As a volunteer with the Office of Aging for many years, I saw firsthand the wide range of lifestyles of seniors in my community. Some were traveling, taking amazing trips, while other suffered from isolation and loneliness,” Anderson recalled. “I thought I might be able to make a difference for the seniors in Lancaster County by sharing uplifting and relevant information everyone could relate to, no matter what their status in life.” The first issue of 50plus LIFE — then called Senior News — debuted in Lancaster County in December 1995. Over the next decade, the monthly newsprint magazine’s coverage would expand to embrace five more central Pennsylvania counties to form 50plus LIFE’s current six-county umbrella: unique editions for Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. “I couldn’t have imagined in 1995 when I founded the company that we would grow to serve six counties with more than 150,000 readers monthly,” Anderson said. Though its look and its name have changed with the times, 50plus LIFE still brings readers profiles of local individuals and articles on topics ranging from health and wellness, Social Security, Medicare, and financial issues to perspective/humor columns, veterans’ stories, nostalgia, grandparenting, book and movie reviews, nature, and gardening — and, of course, local events and information. “While the information we provide in 50plus LIFE is not late-breaking news, it is information that resonates with baby boomers and seniors in

our community,” Anderson said. “It’s been intensely gratifying when a business tells us that they have grown because of their relationship with our company.” OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine, and b magazine, a lifestyle baby boomer publication produced from 2008-16. On-Line Publishers also produces , a resource directory available in seven county editions, and 50plus Living, an annual guide to housing and care options for seniors, caregivers, and the disabled. Recognizing the increasing impact of online readership in the 21st century, OLP was an early adopter of digital publishing technology. Its publications have successfully made the leap to digital formats so they can be read online and in print. “It’s been interesting to watch the evolution from print to digital,” Anderson noted. “That said, many of our readers still prefer to hold the paper in their hands, which hasn’t changed. Many ‘junior-seniors’ enjoy reading 50plus LIFE online.” The March onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this year brought some changes, both immediate and longer term, to the company’s usual operations. “Everyone in our organization was already set up to work remotely when needed before the pandemic hit,” Anderson said. “It was a relatively easy transition for our team to work from home to remain safe and healthy. It took a bit of time to get into a rhythm, but we haven’t skipped a beat along the way.” Back in 1997, OLP first branched out into events. The first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-to-face interaction. “When visitors to an expo tell me that life has been changed because of our events or something they read in the magazine, my heart sings,” Anderson said. But with COVID-19 jettisoning most brick-

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“The event industry, pre-COVID-19, continued and-mortar events in 2020, five of OLP’s six 50plus to grow as people are living longer, and the demand EXPOs — as well as all four Women’s Expos and for products and services needed to serve this four Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs — made community is growing exponentially,” Anderson the necessary jump to pandemic-friendly virtual noted. “We hosted our events in 2020 on a virtual platforms. platform with great success.” During this time, OLP Events, the company’s Even with the blossoming presence of online events division, also added the 50plus Living Virtual events, Anderson knows the craving for and Open House, which gave baby boomers, seniors, significance of face-to-face interaction is one and caregivers the opportunity to “visit” mature community value even the coronavirus can’t living communities and service providers online conquer. from the comfort and safety of their home or office. “50plus LIFE is important to our readers and And as COVID-19 safety measures shut down advertisers as they endeavor to connect with each businesses and sent unemployment rates soaring other,” she said. this spring, OLP Events added the JOBS610 and “We hope to return to live events in 2021 for JOBS717 online job fairs to connect jobseekers the same reason: connecting businesses with the with regional employers looking to hire. community they serve and helping our visitors learn “From the beginning, my mission was to serve about the variety of products and services that are the mind, heart, and spirit of our community,” available to enhance their lives.” Anderson said. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a The first issue of Senior News, With two and a half decades now reflected team of individuals who see the vision that together December 1995. in her rear view, Anderson confesses that at the we can make a difference.” company’s inception, her predictions for its future focused solely on a simple, The year brought unexpected challenges and opportunities for the company compelling goal to make a difference. and its team during its silver anniversary. “I was driven day in and day out by the responsibility to do what I could But silver — one of the most malleable and transformative of metals with my God-given talents to educate, entertain, and encourage older people — possesses exactly the qualities a company needs to survive the unique in southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania,” she said. disruption only a viral pandemic can bring. Sensing that she has done so, Anderson said, is her greatest accomplishment. With 25 years’ experience in flexibility and innovation, Anderson and her “I was humbled recently when my daughter said I showed her that team were able to navigate the upheaval, rethink the plans, and embrace the ‘intention plus action could breathe life into great ideas.’” new possibilities.

A Calendar of Compassion ... and Prizes! If you’re ready for 2021 – and who isn’t? – the Fifth Annual Homeland “Lottery” Calendar can help you ring in the new year with an opportunity to win prizes and the certainty of doing good for the community.

Thank You, Columnists! 50plus LIFE continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community.

We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus LIFE.

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Tom Blake (On Life and Love after 50) Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) Randal C. Hill (Fifties Flashback It Was 50 Years Ago Today The Reel Deal) John Johnston (Social Security News) Bill Levine (Booming Voice) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)

Development Office: 717-221-7885 | HomelandCenter.org www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior) Melinda Myers (Melinda’s Garden) Robert Naeye (Soldier Stories) Victor Parachin (Grief Relief) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus LIFE are enriched by your contributions.

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

December 2020

50 Plus Senior News 12/20 Crossword CROSSWORD

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Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

December 2020

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A Giving Christmas By Ralph Serpe Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we often meet with donors here at the Adams County Community Foundation to help them and their families find a way to give back and celebrate the season. Sometimes we meet with parents and children, sometimes grandparents and grandchildren, sometimes couples far from their extended family. During this time, I get to work once again with a group of older siblings, brothers and sisters in their 60s. They grew up together in a small town at a time when bedrooms were shared: the boys bunked in one room, the girls right next door. They tell me dinner was mandatory, around the kitchen table, without the sound of a television in the background or interruptions. Their friends knew not to call at the “dinner hour.” Saturday was a day filled with chores. Church and

an extended family dinner were the highlight on Sunday. Today, these siblings are spread out across the country in Pennsylvania, California, Kentucky, and New York. While they each worked for the family business, none of them stayed or remained in the same line of work. They don’t share similar hobbies, incomes, or education levels. Only one married someone of the same faith. They rarely talk politics. As they arrive at the Community Foundation, they seem to have more differences than similarities between them. Which is why what happens next is incredibly heartwarming. Several years ago, the oldest explained, after decades of remembering each other from across the miles with cards, mailed packages, and mail-order goodies, they decided please see Christmas page 11

Community Hosts Veterans Day Event For Veterans Day, Juniper Village at Mount Joy hosted a “Celebrating Our Veterans” Facebook live event to honor the community’s veterans. Juniper’s veterans — John Stauffer, Bill Wealand, Harold Wade, Harry Sheetz, John Kline, Ed Piasecki, and Gerald Reuter — gathered in the

Juniper Village at Mount Joy residents and veterans Harold Wade and Gerald Reuter hold the American flag in commemoration of Veterans Day.

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Connections Room to watch the event, which featured a performance by Nick DiSanto, The One-Man Band. Each veteran received a certificate of appreciation and an American flag pin.

Juniper Village at Mount Joy Connections Associate Buck Strock pins an American flag on resident and veteran John Stauffer in honor of his service on Veterans Day.

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

December 2020

Grief Relief

Victor M. Parachin

Blue Christmas: Tips for Dealing with Holiday Sadness

Though the December holiday season inspires feelings of warmth, belonging, connection, and joy for many people, there are other individuals for whom the month is one of increased stress, sadness, anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Their experience is called a “blue” Christmas, something described by the online Urban Dictionary this way: “It means to have a sad Christmas, perhaps because you are away from family or alone or even filled with thoughts of a happier time that bring tears to your eye. Blue is a symbolic color for [sadness].” While there is no single reason why many experience holiday depression, the month does seem to contain these triggers for sadness: family conflict and dysfunction, heightened feelings of loneliness, additional expense, travel, unrealistic happiness expectations, changes in diet, and increasingly cold, dark winter days. Of course, the most challenging of holiday issues is the “empty chair,” memories of a loved one who has died during the previous months.

Here are three tips for dealing with holiday sadness. 1. Plan ahead. Rather than stumble into December and be manipulated by the many events and pressures of the month, pause and plan for the best way to be engaged with holiday festivities. During this season of COVID-19, it is also important to follow carefully the CDC guidelines as well as those of your state when it comes to in-person gatherings. Conduct an examination of your feelings and thoughts by asking these types of questions: • Whom do I want to be with? • Do I need to be at this event? • Which person(s) would be best kept at a distance? • How much money is realistic for me to spend? • Which gatherings do I truly wish to participate in?

If YOU or someone you know is looking for employment opportunities, please visit

Jobs610.com Feb. 14–28

Open to employees in transition, those actively seeking a career change, and those who may consider a change for the right opportunity.

Join Jobs610.com from the comfort of your home or office or on your mobile device.

Employers –

Now taking “space” reservations

Call today!

December 2020

• Choose employers you want to interact with • Explore each employer’s information • Engage one-on-one with company representatives • Upload resume and other documents immediately

For more information, call Kimberly Shaffer at 717-285-8123 or email kshaffer@onlinepub.com 50plus LIFE

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• What steps can I take to maintain balance this month? • Do I really need to travel this long distance to be with family and friends?

• Can I gather safely in person and maintain social distancing recommendations?

Raising and responding to these types of inquiries will create holiday clarity and guide you to experience the month in a way that is most beneficial. Establishing your boundaries will empower you to respond skillfully to any individual who protests or challenges your decision by saying, “Of course you’ll be there!”

AC Y •

R RMENT • P

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

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About Us – The Lancaster County Office of Aging (LCOA) was established 45 years ago as a

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2. Practice self-care. Here are the two huge reasons why self-care is especially important in December. First, the month is filled with more social obligations than normal. Those often lead to overeating and overdrinking. Second, there are many additional year-end work and home responsibilities. The very routines that keep you healthy and happy can easily drift away, increasing your levels of anxiety, stress, and sadness. Take care of yourself — don’t overeat and overdrink, advises psychiatrist Mark Sichel, author of Healing From Family Rifts. “Do your regular routines of exercise and whatever keeps you together during the year,” he adds. As much as possible, maintain your diet, schedule, and routine. If you’ve agreed to attend several social events, be intentional and careful about how much you will eat or drink. And be certain that you get enough sleep. Waking up tired or exhausted every day will only add to your fatigue, reduce your energy level, and lower your resistance to getting sick.

3. Engage in spiritual practices to restore your spirit. Give yourself some quality quiet time for prayer or meditation, or read literature that inspires you and feeds your spirit. Maintaining spiritual strength will prevent you from becoming easily upset by events and frustrated by people, and it will help prevent your mind from magnifying small issues into major tensions. You can’t control and prevent unpleasant experiences from emerging, but you can control how you respond. Finally, honor and accept your feelings as they emerge during December, but don’t allow them to drive you deeply into hopelessness and despair. Manage your feelings rather than have them manage you. By doing that, you will keep the door of your life open for joy that comes your way and joy that you can bring to others.

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

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. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

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

December 2020

The Beauty in Nature

Among Loblolly Pines Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Tall, picturesque loblolly pine trees woods they live in exclusively. They eat dominate Southern lowlands from invertebrates they pull out from under loose Louisiana along the Gulf Coast to northern bark on trees and among twigs and needles. Florida and up the Atlantic Coast to the They raise young in abandoned Delmarva Peninsula, located between the woodpecker holes and other tree cavities in Chesapeake and Delaware bays. pine forests. And because they are so well Forests of this Southern, long-needled adapted to living on trees, all species of pine provide shelter, nesting sites, and food nuthatches are the only North American for a variety of Southern wildlife, most birds that can walk down tree trunks head notably summering chuck-will’s-widow first. and permanent-resident brown-headed A little larger than sparrows, black-andnuthatches and red-cockaded woodpeckers. white-feathered red-cockaded woodpeckers These species of Southern birds are raise young only in maturing pines that adapted to, and favor, living and nesting are infected with red-heart disease, which among loblolly pine woods with a is a fungus. The decaying wood, caused by minimum of undergrowth. There these that fungus, is easier for the woodpeckers Photo: Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) birds ingest insects and other kinds of to chip into to capture invertebrates and to Female chuck-will’s-widow mimicking a cottonmouth snake, invertebrates. create nesting chambers. a strategy used to scare off predators. Both genders of dove-sized chuck-will’sThe hollows they make exude sticky sap widows are mostly brown with darker markings, which camouflage them on that becomes white and seems instrumental in discouraging predators, like needled forest floors where they roost by day and hatch their young. A person black snakes, and cavity competitors, such as tufted titmice, from getting into walking in the woods would almost step on a chuck before it fluttered up and red-cockaded nurseries. away, startling the person. Because of limited nesting sites, this kind of Southern woodpecker forms Each dusk in spring, and on and off through each spring night, male chucks little nesting colonies in maturing pine woods. Red-cockaded woodpeckers repeatedly call out their names as part of their courting of female chucks. It’s are already rare because of their severely limited nesting habits. Seemingly, always a thrill and enjoyable to hear their seemingly unending chants in the if mature pines with red-heart disease were to be nonexistent, this type depths of piney woods in the dark of night. of woodpecker may go extinct. Being restricted in habitat could lead to Each female chuck doesn’t build a cradle but instead lays her two white eggs extinction. Having many choices of habitat leads to success. directly on the needled woodland floor. Those eggs are not visible when she is Chuck-will’s-widow, brown-headed nuthatches, and red-cockaded brooding them. woodpeckers are interesting Southern birds that live and nest in Southern pine Chucks fly through the woods at night to catch moths and other kinds of woods, especially in loblolly pines. larger, flying insects, which they consume. These birds have large, dark eyes so Every habitat has its unique wildlife that are well adapted to it. We they can spot their prey in the near-dark of night. And they have huge mouths can enjoy wildlife in habitats close to home, or travel around the Earth to to engulf their airborne victims. experience wild creatures in many other different environments. A bit smaller than sparrows, brown-headed nuthatches have gray upperClyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist. body feathering and brown heads that camouflage them in the pine

Join the 2021 One Book, One Community campaign by reading The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick.

40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign. Photo credit: Sam Ralph

December 2020

Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

50plus LIFE

A nature blog by Clyde McMillan-Gamber, retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist and longtime 50plus LIFE columnist

NaturesWondersByClyde.BlogSpot.com

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘My Sweet Lord’ Randal Hill

The Beatles ruled the music world from 1963 until 1970, when they released their Let It Be album. With the arrival of that LP, they collectively threw in the towel as the world’s top recording act, and each ex-member then went to work carving out his own solo career path. Leading the way was George Harrison, who had spent most of his Beatle years in the long shadow cast by bandmates John Lennon and Paul McCartney. When Harrison’s first single of “My Sweet Lord” (released from his All Things Must Pass album) streaked to No. 1 right out of the gate, Harrison managed to stand alone in the spotlight for once and bask in the warm glow of worldwide adulation. For a while. Harrison, raised a Catholic, had abandoned the faith when he was 12. As an adult, he chose to embrace Hinduism and, with All Things Must Pass, created a version of the 16-word Hare Krishna mantra while utilizing images of the Hindu god Krishna in his album art. “My Sweet Lord” became the best-known expression of Harrison’s spirituality, his lengthy single (it had a running time of 4:39) detailing Harrison’s desire to become close to God. This is evident in the refrains of “hallelujah” (a Jewish/ Christian term meaning “praise God”) and the Hindu term “Hare Krishna,” which offers devotion

“My Sweet Lord” George Harrison December 1970 to Lord Krishna. Drawing from different religions for his song might have struck some folks as strange, but Harrison apparently wrote his lyrics as a call to spirituality minus the taint of sectarianism. But then the issue of money — lots of it — suddenly raised its (often ugly) head. Some alert listeners noticed that the musical pattern of “My Sweet Lord” was identical to that of the No. 1 1963 Chiffons hit “He’s So Fine.” In 1971, the power people behind Bright Tunes — the company that held the publishing rights to

the Chiffons’ million-seller — sued Harrison for copyright infringement, when his 45 was still on the charts. Harrison tried over and over to settle the issue out of court, but Bright Tunes wasn’t interested in what he had to offer. Finally, in 1976 a judge ruled that Harrison had indeed plagiarized “He’s So Fine” but that he had probably done so unintentionally. Still, the ex-Beatle was ordered to fork over some of the proceeds from All Things Must Pass, plus 75% of the income generated by the tune in question. The total bill came to $1.6 million — quite a punch in the gut, even for such a wealthy musician. For the next three years, Harrison, bitter and discouraged, released no new music to his loyal fans. As he told a Rolling Stone writer, “It’s difficult to just start writing again after you’ve been through that. Even now when I put the radio on, every tune I hear sounds like something else.” By the way, he admitted later that much of “My Sweet Lord” came from the 1969 international hit “Oh Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and not from “He’s So Fine.” Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@ msn.com.

Christmas from page 7 to do something different. Instead of buying something, they simply redirect the money they normally would have spent on one another for Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries into a family charitable fund at the Community Foundation named in honor of their parents. Each year, the siblings give what they would have spent on “stuff” for the others. One might give more one year; someone else might make a small token gift. Each year they give something. Then, once a year, this wonderful family sits down to decide where the money will go. They begin by reminding themselves why they decided to give together. The grant, they www.50plusLifePA.com

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say, should be meaningful. It needs to make a difference in the lives of others. It should honor their family and their hometown. Their common roots. The siblings each suggest a grant and how the gift supports their fund’s mission. One year, they made a grant to the church where their parents were married 60 years before. Another year they supported a small community park that was a family favorite and where their mom loved to sit and read while her children, and then her grandchildren, played. It was enough to buy a bench. Grants have gone to the local animal shelter where they adopted every family pet and to the

local high school to support music education. After this family’s meeting, filled with storytelling and laughter, there is a moment of silence, remembering their youngest brother, whose bequest continues his involvement in this tradition. Then, after some hugs and tears of happiness and excitement, one sibling is selected to deliver the Christmas letter to their parents explaining that a special gift has been made, in their honor, as a thank-you for making their family possible. Now that’s what I call a giving Christmas! Ralph Serpe is president and CEO of the Adams County Community Foundation and wants to know your family’s favorite giving tradition. Share them with him at rserpe@adamscountycf.org.

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December 2020

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Dumpster or No Dumpster? Holiday Edition Lori Verderame

When cleaning out condition, pieces Grandma’s attic, are included in the set, you making decisions its gauge, and the based on memories, rarity of the Lionel just guessing an train set, it can be object’s value as you worth thousands go? When it comes to when selling online. your valuable objects, would you recognize 2. In the purest the treasures from the definition of the trash? word, which object My quiz game, has been patinated? Photo credit: Staff photographer, www.DrLoriV.com “Dumpster or No Left: Spode holiday platter. Dumpster,” will help A. A Bakelite Right: Shiny Brite boxed holiday ornaments. you use your antiques bracelet knowledge to determine whether you should throw something out or keep it. B. A bronze sculpture of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer You may have already done this when you were downsizing, sorting out belongings during a heated divorce, settling your parents’ estate, or just Answer: B. When discussing sculpture, patina references the application of cleaning out the clutter during the COVID-19 pandemic. pigment on cast metal in a foundry environment. So, do you know if you made the right choice about your stuff? Knowing the vocabulary of antiques helps to properly identify what you Using my education and experience evaluating approximately 20,000 have and find out, with an appraiser’s help, what it’s truly worth. objects every year, many in homes like yours, my job is to research the market and provide accurate appraisals based on actual sales records. 3. Mother is downsizing and moving to an active senior living community If you’ve read my columns over the years, watched me on TV, or attended to be near some of her friends. She tells you and your sister to share the Spode my public-appraisal events, then you know how fun it is to test your holiday china service for 12 featuring the decorated holiday tree. knowledge with the “Dumpster or No Dumpster” quiz. Mother wants to be fair, so she splits up the Spode service evenly between you and your sister. This seems fair, but is this a good idea for long-term value? 1. Your family is cleaning out Grandma’s house. Your brother-in-law wants to throw out Grandma’s vintage Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments from the A. It is never a good idea to split up sets. 1950s. Your sister-in-law wants to throw out Grandpa’s Lionel train set. Who B. It is fine to split up a set as long as it is split equally. is making the bigger mistake by tossing a family heirloom? Answer: A. China sets should be kept intact to preserve value and A. Brother-in-law who wants to toss the Christmas ornaments condition. Keep sets in the same environment so they may age evenly over B. Sister-in-law who wants to toss the Lionel train set time. C. Both brother-in-law and sister-in-law While it is difficult to choose who gets a beloved holiday set of china when it comes to family heirlooms, it is a good idea to gift one sister the entire Answer: C. Both pieces headed to the Dumpster could bring hundreds to holiday china set and give the other sister another family heirloom of similar thousands of dollars. value and equal family and sentimental importance. For instance, if you sell the Christmas ornaments at prime holiday-selling To make things fair, the sister who got the china service can be given the time, from Nov. 1 to Jan. 1, you will do best to bring home a good return. chore of always inviting the other sister over for holiday dinner! And, you should list and sell each ornament individually on eBay, Etsy, or Ruby Lane, highlighting its best attributes in your listing with a clear, closely You stand to lose a lot of money when you play “Dumpster or No cropped photograph. Dumpster” in your grandma’s attic without expert advice, so be sure to ask me For a large collection of Christmas ornaments by Shiny Brite, Christopher if you need to know what goes into the Dumpster and what does not. Radko, and other name brands, you can command several hundreds of dollars Don’t just guess what’s valuable; play “Dumpster or No Dumpster” with me for them at holiday time when people are looking for ornaments that spark regularly on social media and YouTube. memories while decorating the tree. Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on History The value of all of them increases a little more by keeping them in the channel’s No. 1 hit show about the world’s oldest treasure hunt, The Curse of Oak original box. Island. For more information, visit www.DrLoriV.com and www.YouTube.com/ Similarly, your sister-in-law probably doesn’t know that depending on the DrLoriV.

December 2020

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Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Coronavirus vs. Flu: How to Tell the Difference

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you explain the differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu? I’m 70 years old and usually get a standard flu shot but would like to find out what else I can do to protect myself this winter. – Worried Senior

is loss of smell and, often as a consequence, loss of taste, too. To learn more about the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu/ symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm.

Dear Worried, Great question! Because of the dual danger of influenza (flu) and COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health. Understanding this, knowing the differences and similarities between the viruses, and knowing what you can do to protect yourself are the best ways to stay healthy and safe through this difficult time. Flu vs. COVID Because many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, so testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. With that said, here are some similarities and differences you should know. For starters, seasonal flu symptoms come on pretty quickly, whereas COVID-19 develops gradually over a period of a few days and then either fades out or gets worse. Common shared symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, fatigue, and even chest pain. Pinkeye and a dry cough are associated with COVID-19, while it’s now thought that a fever is more likely with the flu, as are diarrhea and nausea. Many people are having their temperatures taken these days before entering public spaces. But fever occurs in only half of COVID-19 cases. Fever does not rule out COVID-19, but the absence of fever makes flu unlikely. You’re also unlikely to have a runny or stuffy nose with the flu, but you may with COVID-19. What sometimes happens within the nose with COVID-19

How to Protect Yourself While there is currently no vaccine available yet to prevent COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So, stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least 6 feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. There’s also evidence that suggests that people who are deficient in vitamin D may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 than those with sufficient levels. So, make sure you take in around 800 to 1,000 international units please see Coronavirus page 15

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December 2020

On Life and Love after 50

Is Your Qualities-Wanted List Up to Date? Tom Blake

In 2003, I published a dating guide book for middle-aged singles that had a chapter devoted to the importance of singles making a written list of the qualities wanted in a potential mate. The purpose of the list was simple: to help singles avoid becoming involved with a person “not right” for them, which could waste time, energy, emotions, and even money. In the chapter, I advised keeping the list simple, 10 items or fewer, in order of importance. Plus, I stressed that the list should simply be a flexible guide and not a rigid qualifying tool. There were no right or wrong lists — everybody is different — but I did suggest some examples of what qualities a middle-aged woman might want a partner to have: • m akes me a top priority • has a positive attitude and a sense of humor

Pets of the Month

Potato and Spud Singing their way to the top as this month’s Pets of the Month are Potato and Spud! These two guinea pig sisters, Potato (227339) and Spud (227337), used to be a trio until their sister went off on her solo career. Potato and Spud wish her the best but really want to keep on singing together! If you are looking to be serenaded, these ladies are for you! Please send your application to adoptlancaster@ humanepa.org, or give the shelter a call at (717) 393-6551 to learn more.

• • • •

i s carefree and relaxed with little drama gives me “my space” and respects me is attractive; I feel chemistry and warmth is financially comfortable

There were two cardinal rules to listmaking. First, follow the golden rule. What a person wanted from a mate, he or she must also give in return. Love is a two-way street. Second, I strongly warned singles to never pull the list out to look at while on a date. Can you imagine someone placing his or her list on the table and saying to a date, “You’re a little weak on item No. 6”? During the pandemic, in discussions with single, senior men, the men have talked about qualities wanted in potential mates. I wondered if the qualities they seek now are different when compared to 17 years ago. Wayne, 72, met a woman online who listed a plethora of things she wanted in a mate — hiking, dancing, being active, going to concerts, picnics, and walking. Plus, she listed, in boldface, that a potential mate had to be of the same political party as she — no exceptions. Wayne didn’t recall political-party preference being much of a factor 17 years ago. He said political-party preference quickly eliminates about 50% of potential mates for both women and men. To avoid wasting time in looking for love, Wayne added political-party preference to the top of his 2020 qualities-wanted list. Larry, a widower in his late 70s, talked about his list of qualities wanted. He asked me if he was wrong by placing chemistry and physical attraction at the top of his list. That was interesting because 17 years ago, people often said to me that chemistry was about No. 5 on their lists (I often wondered if they were being honest, embarrassed to admit they ranked physical attraction much higher). I suggested to Larry that he wasn’t wrong, as long as he was honest about it with the women he was meeting. There were two unacceptable qualities that both Wayne and Larry mentioned. Neither wants to remarry nor to date women whose children or grandchildren were living with them. Oh my, does that now mean senior singles need two lists? One for qualities wanted and one for unacceptable qualities? The question is, will senior singles take the time to make two written lists? Probably not. Just making one list is even a stretch. However, it’s sure important that they know what qualities they want and don’t want, whether they write them down or not. The objective of making lists might be even more important now that we are 17 years older. We want to avoid wasting time — because we’ve got less time to waste. What’s on your qualities-wanted list? For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com.

December 2020

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Senior Community Takes Steps to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease The day’s overcast skies could not keep residents and staff of Senior Commons at Powder Mill from participating in the annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. “We see the effects of Alzheimer’s disease every day, but this disease does not define our memory care residents. I’m hopeful for a cure, and with everyone’s efforts we can help lead the way to Alzheimer’s first survivor,” said Memory Care Director Katy Barrington. This year’s walk was slightly different from previous years, which typically joins hundreds

Photo credit: Senior Commons at Powder Mill

Senior Commons at Powder Mill resident Lou-Rene Meyers, left, and Activities Assistant Susan Hendrix pose with a photo prop to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. Residents and staff recently participated in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Coronavirus from page 13 (IUs) of vitamin D from food or supplements daily, and get outside as much as you can. And to help guard against the flu this year, you should consider getting a flu shot that’s specifically designed for people 65 and older. The Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent or the FLUAD Quadrivalent are the two options that provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. You only need one flu shot, and if you haven’t already gotten it, you should do it now because it takes up to two weeks to build immunity after you receive it. Pneumonia Vaccines If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccines. Both flu and COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, which hospitalizes around 250,000 Americans and kills around 50,000 people each year. But these numbers could be much higher this year. The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered one year apart, protect against different strains of the bacteria to provide maximum protection. Medicare Part B covers both flu and pneumonia shots. To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder (vaccinefinder.org) and type in your location. 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.

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of people from communities all over York County at John C. Rudy Park. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on large in-person gatherings and participants’ safety, the 2020 walk was everywhere, with participants taking to sidewalks, tracks, and trails in their communities. The Senior Commons team happily hit the hallways and walking paths around their senior community. “This was such a wonderful event for such an important cause. I had so much fun!” said resident Judy Jones. So far, the Senior Commons team has raised over $1,600.

Alzheimer’s Association Offering Virtual Webinars

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, in conjunction with the Greater New Jersey and Delaware Valley chapters, is offering free virtual webinars this month. • Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body – Dec. 1, 10-11:30 a.m. • Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Dec. 2, 6-7:30 p.m.; Dec. 8, 10-11:30 a.m. • Legal and Financial Planning – Dec. 9, 6-7:30 p.m. • Dementia Conversations – Dec. 15, 10-11:30 a.m. • 10 Warning Signs – Dec. 16, 6-7:30 p.m. Registration for the webinars is required. Visit www.alz.org/crf or call the Alzheimer’s Association at (800) 272-3900.

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

December 2020

Social Security News

Seasonal Work while Getting Social Security By John Johnston

Many people pick up side jobs when the holiday shopping season comes around. It’s a good way for you to make some extra income during the busy season. Or you can ease back into work if you have been out of the labor force for a while. We’re here to help you navigate seasonal employment if you get Social Security. You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But if you’re younger than full retirement age and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced, although not dollar for dollar. Your benefits could increase when you reach full retirement age. You can read more about employment while retired at www.socialsecurity. gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html. Special rules make it possible for people who receive Social Security disability benefits to work and still receive benefits. The same goes for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Read Working While Disabled at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-

December 2020

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10095.pdf or visit our Ticket to Work website at www.choosework.ssa.gov for more information. We also have an easy-to-share video introducing people to Ticket to Work at choosework.ssa.gov/library/meet-ben-anintroduction-to-ticket-to-work. Keep in mind that you must report all earnings, including your seasonal earnings, to Social Security. Your earnings also count toward your future benefits. You earn Social Security credits when you work in a job and pay Social Security taxes. We use your total yearly earnings to figure your Social Security credits. You can learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf. Employment can bring positive change to your life in many ways, providing independence and community involvement. Social Security is here to help. Please share this information with friends and family. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

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Support Available for Lewy Body Caregivers Feelings of isolation, depression, fatigue, and anxiety are wearing down family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even without the stress of the pandemic, the burden is very high and the support needs are unique for those caring for loved ones with Lewy body dementia, the second most common form of progressive dementia. Like Robin Williams’ wife experienced before he died, caregiving for a loved one with Lewy body dementia is isolating, challenging work. With anxiety, depression, and suicidality for caregivers at an all-time high, those caring for people with LBD need to know virtual support is available to them through the Lewy Body Dementia Association. The LBDA Lewy Line connects callers with experienced LBD caregivers. These “Lewy Buddies” offer emotional support by listening compassionately and confidentially to the challenges of LBD caregivers and their families and sharing their own personal experiences with LBD. Lewy Buddies also refer families to

additional LBDA programs, services, and virtual support groups. LBDA also hosts events, including podcasts, webinars, and virtual symposiums on various LBD-related topics. LBD is the most misdiagnosed form of dementia affecting more than 1.4 million families nationwide. According to Angela Taylor, senior director of research and advocacy at LBDA, “One of the reasons for the lack of awareness is because LBD has mixed elements of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, so it is frequently misdiagnosed.” The symptoms of Lewy body dementia include dementia, cognitive fluctuations, behavioral changes, hallucinations, delusions, changes in mood, sleep disorders, and autonomic disruptions. While there is currently no cure, recognizing symptoms early can help ensure quicker, appropriate treatment and caregiver support. To learn more, visit the LBDA website at www.lbda.org or call the Lewy Line at (800) 539-9767.

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December 2020

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!

1996 Top Headlines

Entertainment

• Alarmed by an outbreak of “mad cow” disease in Britain in March, the European Union banned worldwide exports of British beef. The disease was fatal to cows and linked to a variant, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, known to be fatal to humans. The ban would not end until 1999.

• Actor and dancer Gene Kelly died Feb. 2; actor, comedian, and singer George Burns died March 9; legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald died June 15; and rapper Tupac Shakur died of gunshot wounds Sept. 13.

• Caused by a fire in its cargo compartment, ValuJet Flight 592 crashed into the Florida Everglades May 11, killing all 110 passengers; all 230 passengers aboard Trans World Airlines Flight 800 perished when fuel vapors in the plane’s center fuel tank exploded and caused the jet to crash into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, N.Y., on July 17.

• On Feb. 8, President Clinton signed into law the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which significantly deregulated telecommunication to promote competition among broadcasters and reduced prices and higher-quality services for consumers. Under FCC pressure, broadcasters also agreed to schedule three hours a week of educational children’s programming. • T he “Tickle Me Elmo” craze seized America when the fast-selling doll suddenly sold out the day after Thanksgiving. During the holiday shopping season, the doll was selling for thousands of dollars; people were injured and arrested as fights and frenzy ensued.

• England’s Prince Charles and Princess Diana were officially divorced in August. The couple married in 1981 but had separated in 1992. As part of the divorce agreement, Diana lost the title of “Her Royal Highness” but retained the name “Diana, Princess of Wales.” • Incumbents President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore won the Nov. 5 presidential election over Republican nominees Bob Dole and Jack Kemp. Clinton was the first Democrat since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win two straight presidential elections.

• Popular films of 1996 included Independence Day, Twister, Mission: Impossible, Jerry Maguire, The English Patient, The Birdcage, The Rock, Scream, The Edge, Trainspotting, Evita, Romeo + Juliet, A Time to Kill, and The Nutty Professor.

Dec. 1996

Science & Technology

Sports • The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX, held Jan. 28 in Tempe, Arizona; the Seattle SuperSonics fell to the Chicago Bulls in the 50th NBA Finals, held June 5-16 in Chicago, Illinois.

• The Blizzard of 1996, a severe nor’easter, walloped the East Coast of the U.S. Jan 6-8, dumping between 1 and 3 feet of wind-driven snow across the region. Philadelphia received 30.7 inches, the most of any major city in the storm’s path; city trucks had no choice but to haul cleared snow into the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.

• Golfer Nick Faldo won his third Masters Tournament, held April 11-14 in Augusta, Georgia, defeating runner-up Greg Norman. Norman’s loss of his initial six-shot lead would become one of the most infamous collapses in golf-championship history.

• Nintendo released its 64-bit home video-game console, Nintendo 64, in Japan in June and in North America in September. Initially priced at $250, the system launched at $199.99 to compete with console offerings from Sony and Sega. Time magazine named Nintendo 64 its Machine of the Year.

• In both teams’ first Stanley Cup Finals appearance, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers in a fourgame sweep on June 11; the New York Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves, four games to two, to win the World Series on Oct. 26. • The United States hosted 10,320 athletes during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, July 19 – Aug. 4. The games would be remembered for the July 27 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park, which killed two people and wounded 110.

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• NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor on Nov. 7. The robotic spacecraft’s mission included taking high-resolution photos of Mars and mapping the planet while in orbit. It would arrive at Mars in September 1997. • American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and poet Carl Sagan died Dec. 20 in Seattle, Washington, of pneumonia after suffering from myelodysplasia blood cancer for two years. He is credited with popularizing science as co-writer and narrator of the 13-part television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, which aired on PBS in 1980.

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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.

Solace for Wounded Spirits In Crises, Volunteer EMS Chaplain Offers Comfort September 2012 issue Mature Media Award: Bronze Award

By Lori Van Ingen

Frank Poley is there for families, patients, and EMS staff whenever tragedy strikes. “When suddenly someone loses a husband, wife, or even a child, I’m there for them. I feel for them. I stay on the scene until a coroner comes, and I stay with the family as long as they want,” the volunteer chaplain said. Poley, an ordained chaplain with the Penn Del district of the Assemblies of God, doesn’t have any special training in chaplaincy. “What prepared me is my deep faith in the Lord above. All I do is open my mouth, and God takes care of it. The right words come out,” he said. “One thing God has given me is an overdose of compassion.” Losing children is the hardest. The youngest one was only 5 days old when there was a home accident in which a parent fell asleep and accidentally smothered the child. He also helped the family of a 1-month-old, where it was later determined the baby died of shaken-baby syndrome caused by the father. “The EMTs were crying their eyes out. They could be anywhere else, but they chose to be first responders,” Poley said. “The doctor gave me the sign the baby was dead, and I had to tell the dad. I also had to reach out to the mom, who was incarcerated. The warden allowed her to come to the hospital with two guards. “I only hug, hold, and love ’em,” Poley said. He also prayed over the infant and was asked to tell the 6-year-old daughter. When he told her he was a chaplain, she said she knew him because he had prayed over her previously when she was sick. She asked him how her sister was. “I said, ‘Jesus came and took your sister, but you’ll have a chance to see her again.’” Poley recalled another incident when he was called during off-duty hours. “The husband died at the kitchen table while the wife was there. I just held her and reached out to her pastor. I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible. She got one of my hankies — my pants are loaded with pockets, and I always have a few hankies since I go through them. “Two or three weeks later, a box arrived with a note which said, ‘You were there when I needed you. Enclosed find all my dead husband’s hankies. I’m sure you’ll put them to good use.’” The EMS chaplaincy program began in 2008 after a local pastor told EMS Chief Bobby Pine about his brainstorm following a bad accident in the area. “He thought there should be an outlet for providers to have counseling, someone to talk to, after a bad call,” Pine said. There were chaplaincy programs for police departments, but none for EMS since they are “two different animals,” he said. At first, the program took heat from EMS personnel because they didn’t think chaplains belonged in the ambulances, and there was a fear of the chaplains being overtly religious and pushy. But after a few months, the fears were gone. The EMS chaplains are all trained in CPR and basic first aid so they www.50plusLifePA.com

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could help if they would ever be needed, but their main responsibility is to provide comfort, spiritually. “It’s easier on my crew. We fix something and transport. We’re not grief counselors. Dealing with family is not our forté. The chaplains go (to the family) and allow us to do our job with the patient,” Pine said. Poley sometimes prays with his charges, “but I’m not pushy. I ask them, ‘Do you mind if I pray for you?’ If they don’t want me to, I back off.” “We’re blessed to have Frank,” Pine said. “Frank is dedicated to us, and it’s worked really well for the program.” Poley volunteers eight to 10 hours a day three days a week, plus call-outs, which are typically bad

situations. “In today’s day and age, with time demands, it’s an unusual perk to have from a volunteer,” Pine said. The chaplains have become an integral part of EMS. “They are always there for us and us for them,” Pine said. EMS provides the chaplains with uniforms and helps with joint fundraising with an area church. As an EMS chaplain, Poley is there not only for the bad news, but the good news as well. Poley has performed marriages at the station and gave another away since her father couldn’t be there. “They are like my kids, the paramedics and EMTs. They are very special people,” Poley said. “I’m thrilled to be doing this. It has given me an extended family (in addition to his five daughters and seven grandchildren).” Poley was born and raised an Orthodox Jew but later converted to become a Messianic Jew while living in Florida. He retired as a Messianic rabbi with ties close to the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues. After he moved to Pennsylvania to be with his wife’s elderly mother, Poley worked for two years at Hersheypark driving a tram. One day one of his passengers fell off the back of the tram. Since she was wearing a large cross, he asked if he could pray for her while they waited for an EMT. After they arrived, she told him he should become a chaplain. Not long after that, the EMS started its chaplaincy program, and Poley knew that was where he belonged. “I’m in my 70s. I can give a family comfort. Why can’t others? There’s no need for special training to love someone in troubled times,” Poley said. There are so many out there who think retirement is a time to relax and do nothing, Poley said. “Anyone can just sit around, read, or watch TV and let their life go by — why not walk up to somebody and hold onto them?” As long as you have the strength, Poley believes you should take it and do something with it. “You are in the fourth quarter, and the game is not over yet,” Poley said, quoting Coach Bill McCarthy, founder of Promise Keepers.

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

December 2020

A Growing Family From Camp Hill to Carlisle, Dillsburg to Duncannon, Marysville to Mechanicsburg, Holy Spirit Hospital has cared for families on the West Shore and beyond for the past 57 years. We’ve helped you have the health you need to enjoy another family dinner, cheer on your favorite team and cherish quiet moments with the ones you love. We’ve held your hand when you needed it the most, offered compassionate healing when you were sick and given you a kind smile on a bad day. Through the best and worst of times, our every intention is to be with you for life. This is why we have joined the region’s largest team of expert providers. Patients will now benefit from the combined expertise, close collaboration and advanced research — all right here — now that Holy Spirit has become part of the region’s only locally based, university-affiliated health system.

Because you deserve the best that life has to offer. And this is the health we need to live the way we want.

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Orthopedics & Pain Approaching Exercise with Back Pain during a Pandemic By Dr. Kirstie Griffiths More than 80% of adults suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the leading cause of disability worldwide and a condition further aggravated during the coronavirus pandemic as people experience increased stress, have transitioned to working from home in spaces lacking proper ergonomics, and face reduced access to healthcare and fitness. Today we are moving less and stressing more, and this creates a perfect storm in the development of back pain. We know that exercise can be extremely effective for back pain, but sifting through information online can be challenging, and many people find themselves unsure of whether movement will be helpful or make things worse. Below are six tips for safely approaching exercise with back pain, supported by the latest research.

1. Learn There are many myths and misconceptions floating around on how to manage back pain. The problem for most people is that they are attempting to treat it the wrong way. Did you know that bedrest after a back injury actually delays healing and makes things feel worse? If you saw your doctor 20 years ago with back pain, bedrest would have been recommended, but we now know this is one of the worst things you can do â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the longer you stay in bed, the more muscle mass you lose, and the harder it is to recover. 2. Move Now we recommend that people begin movement right away, first in an effort to control pain, then with the please see Exercise page 26

For active adults when apartment living is all you need! Affordable housing for those 62 and older, located in beautiful, historic Marietta Rents start at $745 and include all utilities (heat, electric, water, sewer, trash), off-street parking, on-site laundry, community room, and community garden. Two-bedrooms start at $895. For applications and information, please contact:

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December 2020

Orthopedics & Pain Chronic Pain Management Can’t Wait for Pandemic’s End When COVID-19 halted all nonessential health services, it begged the question: What types of care can’t be delayed? Treatment for chronic pain, for one. Not only is pain management essential care, it’s even more critical during stressful times. The good news is the pandemic has inspired innovations, such as telehealth and minimally invasive treatments for long-lasting pain relief, to help suffering patients, says the American Society of Anesthesiologists. “The anxiety and isolation caused by COVID-19 add to chronic pain, which is further compounded by reduced access to strategies, such as physical

therapy, exercise, and even visits with the grandkids or other loved ones, that help people manage their discomfort,” said David Dickerson, M.D., pain medicine specialist and vice chair of ASA’s Committee on Pain Medicine. “As a result, they may be more likely to turn to medications or alcohol, increasing the risk of misuse and abuse. Physician anesthesiologists who specialize in pain medicine have gotten creative to ensure their patients have access to the safest and most effective care.” please see Chronic Pain page 27

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! NEUROSURGERY Perry J. Argires, MD, FACS Brain and Spine Surgery

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Our award winning Neurosurgical team was founded by Dr. Perry Argires and Dr. Lou Marotti. Both have been consistently voted the Best of Lancaster County. In addition, Dr. Steven Falowski has been elected to the board of directors of the International Neuromodulation Society (INS).

Jack Smith, MD Pain Medicine

For Dr. Smith, considering each patient on an individual level and creating a customized plan of care is key to his patient philosophy. “My approach is: listen to the patient first, and then consider all options, keeping in mind the final goal of them living happier, more fulfilled lives,” he said.

Brendan Garrett, MHS, PA-C Physician Assistant

160 NORTH POINTE BLVD., SUITE 200 • LANCASTER • (717) 358-0800 • ARGIRESMAROTTI.COM

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Orthopedics & Pain Exercise from page 23 purpose of increasing strength and stability, and finally with the intention of improving mobility. This movement should be gradual, progressive, and specific, as there are some exercises, such as sit-ups, that can make back pain worse. 3. Make it a Priority With full schedules and busy lives, it is easy to put the needs of others before yourself and to place your own well-being on the backburner. Health is created by the choices we make day in and day out, and if yours is consistently being placed last, you will begin to feel the toll it takes on your life. Sometimes this requires a mindset shift that involves treating your health like any other commitment; it can be helpful to schedule a fitness class or meal prep into your calendar and work your other events around it. This takes some practice, but instead of canceling your fitness class because it interferes with dinner plans, communicate your intentions to take the class and ask if it is possible to change the timing on dinner so that you can uphold the commitment you have made to yourself and to your health. 4. Create a Movement Space at Home The changes related to the pandemic have made it more difficult to access our usual spaces designed for fitness. Creating a space designated for movement within your home can be a motivator to get you moving.

Trust your feet to Accurate Foot and Diabetic Care

You can also incorporate household items in place of gym equipment, reaching for food items in the cupboard as handheld weights or using a belt or towel in place of a yoga strap. 5. Listen to Your Body You know your body best. Before you listen to the suggestions provided by a fitness instructor, check in with what feels right for you and your body. Know that it is OK to reduce the number of repetitions, the speed at which you perform a movement, and the length of time you hold it, even if it puts you off-pace with the instruction. Do movements that feel good, and don’t do movements that don’t feel good. If something is painful, try backing out of the position slightly first to see if that relieves the sensation, and if it does not, come to a place of rest. Finding joy in movement and choosing activities that feel good for your body will allow exercise to be something you look forward to, rather than another chore on your to-do list. 6. Meditate Most of us lead high-stress lives that are focused on task completion and to-do lists. We are living in a state of chronic stress, and the over-activity in that part of the nervous system is strongly linked to a wide range of health conditions, including back pain. Meditation and mindfulness practices are incredible tools for shifting the nervous system into a state of rest and relaxation and are used effectively in the management of back pain. If you have questions on whether an exercise program might be a good fit for you, always consult a healthcare provider — they will be able to provide specific recommendations and guidance as you transition into a movement practice that supports your overall health. Dr. Kirstie Griffiths is a Canadian chiropractor and yoga instructor who helps people manage back pain using a holistic, heart-centered, mind-body approach. She is the founder of Yoga for Back Pain (programs.yogachiropractor.com/yoga-for-back-pain), a specialized online program that combines education, movement, and meditation designed specifically for people with back pain.

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West Chester Podiatry Office Accurate Foot & Diabetic Care 839 Lincoln Ave., Suite A West Chester, PA 19380 (610) 436-5883

Drexel Hill Podiatry Office Springfield Podiatry 648 Childs Ave. Drexel Hill, PA 19026 (484) 521-0233

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Virtual Pilot Tutoring Program Needs Volunteers RSVP – York County is seeking volunteers for its Virtual Pilot Tutoring Program with the City of York Public Schools. Volunteer tutors should have knowledge of computers, and material for tutoring will be provided. The City of York Public Schools will provide technical training to volunteers for this program. Students in grades K-3 will participate in the pilot program, and an assistant will help in the classroom during tutoring sessions. Bilingual ability is a plus but is not necessary. Volunteer benefits include: free supplemental liability insurance, recognition and appreciation events, and assistance with clearances. For more information, contact Scott Hunsinger at (717) 893-8474 or yorkrsvp@rsvpcapreg.org. www.50plusLifePA.com

Orthopedics & Pain McKenzie and Aquatic Therapies Put Patients Back in Charge of Pain Management By Megan Joyce When it comes to navigating your own health, there’s something to be said for the restorative powers of self-management. As much as it wears you down physically, chronic pain can have a corrosive psychological effect as well, as it begins to feel like the pain is simply happening to you without you having any role to play in its mitigation. Being actively engaged in the eradication or lessening of your pain is a part of most physical therapy in general, but its importance is especially highlighted in aquatic therapy and in therapeutic settings that use the McKenzie method. Developed by New Zealand physical therapist Robin McKenzie in the early 1980s, the McKenzie method centers around the premise that most musculoskeletal disorders are mechanical in nature and can be managed successfully by the patients themselves once they are taught how.

Chronic Pain from page 24 Here are three ways pain management changed due to COVID-19. Greater Access to Providers through Telehealth When the COVID-19 pandemic suspended in-person visits, physicians and specialists turned to secure video meetings or telephone calls to consult with patients. Led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, health insurance companies revised their coverage to include telehealth to ensure this vital care. Using telehealth visits, pain medicine specialists see the patient face-to-face via video, ask and answer questions, and formulate a plan. They can refer those struggling with stress from COVID-19 to psychologists who also can counsel them via telehealth. Telehealth also removes some barriers to care during a pandemic. Patients don’t need to worry about getting to an appointment or sitting for long periods in crowded waiting rooms. Via telehealth, they wait in a virtual waiting room in their own home. Specialists can easily access patients’ electronic medical records while talking to them virtually. As a result, 95% of people seeing pain-medicine specialists have continued to do so, many of them via telehealth, which likely will remain an option for the foreseeable future. Pain-Medicine Specialists Expand Role to Meet Patients’ Needs During the pandemic, many patients have put off seeing their primary care physicians, so pain-medicine specialists have been helping fill that role. They’re getting patients to understand the importance of seeking necessary treatment, such as visiting the emergency room if they are experiencing signs of stroke or angina, a symptom of heart disease. www.50plusLifePA.com

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When first meeting a new patient, McKenzie therapists use an evaluative process that relies on the therapist’s ability to identify and differentiate mechanical issues in the body after observing the patient perform a series of movements and exercises. The examination system is based on symptom pattern behavior and the mechanical response, said Michael Cario, therapy director for the OSS Health outpatient therapy clinics. Cario treats patients at OSS Health in York. “Basically, we determine what effects certain movements have on the patient’s symptoms,” Cario said. “The clinician then develops a plan to correct or improve the patient’s mechanics through the application of a series of forces in a specific direction, allowing the reduction of the patient’s impairment.” After obtaining a thorough patient

please see McKenzie page 30

As in-person medical appointments resume, many pain-medicine specialists have revised their office-visit practices, requiring masks and staggering appointments, to keep patients safe. Although telehealth remains an option, having the patient come into the office is preferred in some instances. For example, pain-medicine specialists can more readily treat those with addiction issues in person. During this national health emergency, the number of patients needing treatment for pancreatitis — painful inflammation of the pancreas often due to excessive alcohol use — has increased dramatically. Early evidence suggests drug overdoses, including those from opioids, may be increasing as well. Long-lasting, Minimally Invasive Techniques Reduce Visits and Hospitalizations To reduce the frequency of visits while keeping patients out of the hospital, pain-medicine specialists are focusing on office-based treatments that can ease pain for six months or more. For example, rather than giving patients a series of injections that require regular office visits, pain-medicine specialists can perform procedures in one visit. Some of these treatments include a procedure called percutaneous imageguided lumbar decompression (PILD), neurostimulation, and radiofrequency ablation or neurolysis. “Treatment for debilitating pain is complex in any circumstance and even more so during this health crisis,” said Dickerson. “Physician anesthesiologists and other pain-medicine specialists can ensure proper and effective approaches to care that improve quality of life during the pandemic and beyond.”

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

December 2020

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

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

Diakon Senior Living Services

Bethany Village — MapleWood

Frey Village 1020 North Union Street, Middletown, PA 17057 717-745-2080 • pavalkom@diakon.org www.FreyVillageSeniorLiving.org

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Personal Care Home: No Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 40 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Homeland Center

The Bridges at Bent Creek

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org

2100 Bent Creek Blvd. • Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 717-795-1100 • www.thebridgesatbentcreek.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Homelike setting; personalized, tailored care and healthcare; secured memory supports; and peace of mind. Call today!

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A regional leader in all aspects of memory care and a program designed for optimal engagement and socialization.

Homestead Village

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Diakon Senior Living Services

Cumberland Crossings 1 Longsdorf Way, Carlisle, PA 17015 717-245-9941 • StantonM@diakon.org www.CumberlandCrossingsSeniorLiving.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 48 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

December 2020

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Beautiful setting; lots of activities; indoor pool.

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Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 150 years. Our continuum of care includes therapy services, skilled rehab, 24-hour medical staffing, plus Hospice, HomeHealth, and HomeCare outreach programs. All-private rooms include a full bath and kitchenette.

1800 Village Circle • Lancaster, PA 17603 717-397-4831 • www.homesteadvillage.org

2990 Carlisle Pike • New Oxford, PA 17350 717-624-5436 • www.crosskeysvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 123 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Nonprofit CCRC with private and semi-private rooms in a small, family-oriented environment.

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom deluxe and studio apartments available! Secure personal care memory support also available.

Homewood at Plum Creek

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewoodplumcreek.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 92 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

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

Normandie Ridge

Landis Homes

1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 • https://normandieridge.org

1001 East Oregon Road • Lititz, PA 17543 717-569-3271 • www.LandisHomes.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 97 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes

Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Attached to wellness center and pool without going outside.

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 27 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Our dementia care residence features the Kaleidoscope therapeutic engagement program designed for our residents.

Mennonite Home Communities

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.

Virtual Workshops Will Encourage Healthy Aging The York County Area Agency on Aging will host free educational workshops to learn about the “10-KeysTM to Healthy Aging.” The workshops will be taught by a certified health ambassador through the Area Agency on Aging. These free workshops will be held virtually 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 8 through Jan. 5. Each session will cover two topics. A computer and internet access are required as the class will be held via Zoom. Developed by the Center for Aging and Population Health at the University of Pittsburgh, along with the CDC Prevention Research Center, this healthpromotion program for those 60 and older provides many no-cost and low-cost preventative services to promote www.50plusLifePA.com

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successful aging. Each of the “10 Keys”TM is an important step in preventing disease and improving quality of life. They include: lowering systolic blood pressure; stopping smoking; participating in cancer screenings; receiving regular immunizations; regulating blood glucose; lowering LDL cholesterol; being physically active; maintaining healthy bones, joints, and muscles; combating depression; and maintaining social contact. A free resource manual will be provided that provides a wealth of information on preventative, proven strategies that work. Preregistration is required. Call Megan Craley at (717) 771-9610, ext. 1017, to register.

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

December 2020

McKenzie from page 27 history, the clinician asks patients to perform repeated movement testing in which he or she identifies the patient’s baseline pain or motion deficits. “Should one direction of movement positively or negatively change the patient’s baseline symptoms, the patient is then classified into subgroups based on their movement assessment,” Cario said. “Treatment is then initiated in the movement direction that improves the patient’s condition.” After the assessment, the therapist classifies the patient’s condition in one of four “syndrome” categories: • The derangement syndrome – An internal obstruction or blockage is causing a disturbance in the normal position of an area of the body • The dysfunction syndrome – A deformation of soft tissue over time is causing contraction, scarring, adherence, or shorting of the affected area • The posture syndrome – Pain is the result of a mechanical deformation arising from prolonged positional or postural stresses to areas of the body • Other – All non-mechanical issues Depending on the classification of the patient’s symptoms, Cario then “prescribes” a series of movements or specific exercises that address the individual’s needs. The McKenzie method can be used to treat all musculoskeletal impairments of the neck, back, and extremities, including the shoulder, knee, and ankles, but Cario warned patients with serious pathologies — such as spinal or joint pain caused by cancer, infection, fractures, neurological deficits, or non-mechanical pain — may not respond to the method. The overall goal, he added, is not only to recover the patient’s functioning and prevent symptoms from recurring, but also to “educate and empower our

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December 2020

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patients to reduce, maintain, and prevent further injury through self-guided forces and movements.” McKenzie practitioners, including Cario, encourage patients to continue the therapeutic exercises from home. In fact, their success largely depends on them doing so. “The McKenzie Method relies on the education, empowerment, and compliance of patients to maintain their reductive strategies or load progression,” Cario said. “Patients are encouraged to perform self-treatment techniques when outside of the clinic … consistency and frequency of movement [lead] to a successful outcome using the method.” In aquatic therapy, the patient partners with the supportive and rehabilitative properties of water to improve their condition. Aquatic therapy has been shown to be beneficial for a wide variety of ailments, including degenerative joint disease, autoimmune disease, neurological conditions, acute or chronic pain, balance deficits, and musculoskeletal conditions including tendonitis, sprains, strains, and postoperative orthopedic conditions, said Meg Mylet, full-time aquatic therapy lead clinician at OSS Health York. “An aquatic program is a rehabilitative treatment approach using water principles and properties of a controlled environment in a pool,” Mylet said. “Patients are able to engage muscles for resistance strengthening, stretch muscles with proper relaxation techniques, perform gait and balance training, and unload joints to improve symptoms. Think of it as getting the benefits of movement and exercise while in a pool!” Many of those benefits are imparted by the nature of water itself. Warm water temperature enhances muscle stretching and relaxation, decreasing pain levels. The buoyancy of the water helps support weak muscles or unstable joints and aids in ease of certain movements. Water’s viscosity creates resistance against which the patient performs his or her exercises; the addition of specific equipment can generate even more drag. “This allows muscles to be challenged to overcome an increase in force, promoting strength gains,” Mylet explained. Water creates hydrostatic pressure perpendicular to the body, allowing for strengthening of muscles in all directions, Mylet said. Hydostatic pressure also enhances the patient’s joint positional awareness, improving his or her proprioception — the sense of self-movement and body position — which is especially helpful for patients with joint sprains and torn ligaments. “In addition, hydrostatic pressure aids in reducing edema with compression of soft tissues and blood vessels,” she added. For postsurgical patients, aquatic therapy can begin after a degree of softtissue and incision healing has taken place. “With physician clearance/recommendation and proper dressing of incisions, aquatic therapy can be initiated as early as a few days after surgery,” Mylet said. “We typically see patients start an aquatic program between two and four weeks postoperatively, still considering incision and soft-tissue healing principles.” Aquatic therapy is not recommended for patients with cardiac disease, fevers, infections, or incontinence — or for those who cannot swim. But for those for whom aquatic therapy is an option, Mylet has seen the rehabilitative benefits. “We have observed the achievement of positive outcomes in countless patients,” she said. “Patients are afforded the opportunity for early ambulation post-surgery in the water. Patients have responded to aquatic therapy by experiencing decreased joint forces, resulting in pain reduction, decreased fear of falling due to improved balance, and increased strength of weak muscles due to the support, assistance, and resistance of the water. “Aquatic therapy is a successful therapeutic intervention to regain movement and strength for patients, allowing patients to return to a desired level of function.” www.50plusLifePA.com

No Pandemic Shutdown for Scammers By Chris Orestis COVID-19 may have shut down portions of the economy and put restrictions on Americans’ daily lives, but cyber scams and other efforts to defraud people continue to thrive. “Scammers are tapping into the uncertainty related to the global pandemic,” says Chris Orestis, president of LifeCare Xchange. “They are using social engineering to target people with tactics that take advantage of today’s technology. Seniors need to be especially mindful of the mechanisms that have been explicitly designed to target people in retirement.” Some scams to be on the lookout for include: Dishonest retailers. Many dishonest retailers and fake products are popping up, Orestis says. “The shortage of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, and masks at the beginning of the quarantine resulted from people’s panic,” he says. “The fear of scarcity created a gateway for scammers. Fraudulent online retailers are showcasing these items as bait, especially medical supplies.” But they don’t have any inventory, so stick with reputable stores, Orestis says. Scammers also try to sell products to prevent or cure COVID-19, even though they do not exist. “Anyone who receives a message from someone selling any of these items should not respond,” Orestis says.

Phone scams. Phones are still the No. 1 way scammers target seniors, both through calls and text messages. The Federal Communications Commission warns about these methods being used by people who claim to be the IRS or have coronavirus treatments, at-home testing kits, and vaccinations. “If you receive a robotic voice call, do not press any buttons or return any calls,” Orestis says. “Hang up immediately. If you receive text messages regarding this information, do not respond or click on any links.” “It’s important to be wary of these and other scams, both off and online,” Orestis says. “The more conscious people are of how scammers are trying to trick them, the less likely they are to fall for one of those tricks.” Chris Orestis, known as the “Retirement Genius,” is president of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized healthcare expert and senior advocate. He has 25 years’ experience in the insurance and long-term care industries and is the author of Help on the Way and A Survival Guide to Aging.

Phony advertisements. Scammers also try to advertise hard-to-find products through social media, email, or ads that pop up on certain sites. Avoid clicking on anything unfamiliar because cyber criminals may be trying to steal your personal information or infect your computer with a virus, Orestis says. “Be cautious of people who try to contact you under odd usernames and do not have a profile picture,” he says. “If anyone asks for your personal information or invites you to click on a link, block them immediately or report them as spam.” Government or organization disguises. Is a government official or someone from the CDC or from the World Health Organization trying to contact you? Maybe, but probably not. Scammers often try to convince potential victims that they are with a legitimate agency or group, Orestis says. “For example, an email might claim that there have been new COVID-19 cases in your area and ask for your personal information to see if you have been in contact with anyone infected,” he says. “Be suspicious of any COVID19-related emails, and use only official government websites to get information about the virus.” Fake charities and crowdfunding. Criminals have also created counterfeit charities and crowdfunding sites. They ask for money in the form of cash, gift cards, and wire transfers. “Real charities will never use these resources,” Orestis says. “Be sure to use reputable sites and research the charities you want to donate to for coronavirus relief.” www.50plusLifePA.com

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

December 2020

Tips to Spend Less, Enjoy More in the COVID Era Among predictions for the 2020 holiday season, the pandemic is expected to set new records for e-commerce while straining delivery capacity. It also has people reevaluating what really matters in their lives, Pamela Yellen, financial expert, speaker, and author, says. “Every crisis presents us with opportunities. The pandemic has resulted in a jump in the savings rate, most of which is in accounts earning little to nothing. And the shutdown made many of us realize that we can get by just fine without some of the things we once viewed as ‘necessities,’” she says. Now is a good time to start thinking about better ways to celebrate. Here are some of Yellen’s tips for creating holidays with meaning that won’t leave you drowning in bills in the new year: 1. Get clear about wants vs. needs: “Those slick Madison Avenue types would have us believe that we ‘need’ lots of things, from the latest technogadget to that trendy new shoe. They tell us that we’re not sexy/successful/cool without what they’re selling … “What do we really need? Stop and think about it, and get clarity for yourself. And if you have children and grandchildren, teaching them the difference between needs and wants will empower them for life.”

Why Newspapers?

84%

of Baby Boomers have taken action as a result of seeing an ad in a print newspaper in the past 30 days.2

3. Wrap your charge cards: “Some financial advisers tell you to leave your cards at home to avoid temptation … I prefer to wrap my cards in my goals,” Yellen says. “Every time I take a card out, I see a picture or some words that represent a goal that’s important to me. I get the opportunity to stop and decide whether what I’m about to purchase is more important than that goal. “If it is or it doesn’t undermine my goal, I might go ahead and buy it,” she continues. “If it isn’t, I get the satisfaction of knowing I’m a step closer to my goal because I chose to not purchase the item.” 4. Distinguish “Big Happy” from “Little Happy”: “The Big Happy for most of us is having memorable experiences and being with the people we love. That other stuff we chase? That’s usually Little Happy — fleeting and not very fulfilling.” 5. Be consistently, consciously grateful: “When we practice gratitude, we feel ‘wealthier’ and more prosperous in all ways. Our self-esteem is greater, and we just generally feel happy and appreciative of many aspects of our lives. Because of this, we’re less likely to crave material goods to feed an emotional need,” Yellen says. “And studies have shown that having a grateful attitude actually enhances our ability to make good decisions.” 6. Create value comparisons: “Rather than falling for some marketer’s value comparison, how about setting up your own? Put a price tag on some things you really enjoy and value.” 7. Know your spending triggers: “Do you feel driven to buy extravagant gifts as soon as the mall’s Santa shows up or when holiday decorations pop up in the stores?” Yellen asks. “When you have a rough day at work, do you crave some retail therapy to feel better? When you’re out with old friends, do you order the most expensive item on the menu? Are you triggered to overspend in a bookstore, hardware store, or swap meet? “‘Know thyself’ — and especially know your spending triggers so you can outwit them.”

Because in print or online, newspapers are

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Pamela Yellen is founder of Bank On Yourself, a financial investigator, and the author of two New York Times bestselling books. Her latest is Rescue Your Retirement: Five Wealth-Killing Traps of 401(k)s, IRAs and Roth Plans — and How to Avoid Them. www.bankonyourself.com, www.pamelayellen.com

Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA

2. Curb the impulse, break the spell: “Next time you feel the urge to buy something you hadn’t planned to buy, simply clench your fist or flex your bicep. Voila! The spell is broken and you can actually think clearly again!”

December 2020

50plus LIFE

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’Tis the Season: What We’re Celebrating this Month Hanukkah. An eight-day Jewish holiday beginning this year at sundown the day before Dec. 10, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over the Maccabees in 165 BCE. Each night, families light one candle on the menorah, observing the traditional story of how the one-day supply of oil for the temple’s eternal flame burned for eight days. Christmas. This Christian holiday, observed on Dec.25, celebrates the birth of Jesus between the years 7 and 2 BCE. The date may have been chosen

Area Hospice Selected for National Hospice Care Improvement Project

Homeland Hospice has been selected to participate in the initial testing phase of a new national tool to standardize the collection of hospice patient data. Homeland is one of 20 hospice programs chosen nationally and is the only hospice program in Pennsylvania participating in the project. The tool, titled the Hospice Outcomes Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool, is a project led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It is designed to better understand care needs throughout a patient’s dying process and contribute to the patient’s plan of care. The HOPE tool also will allow CMS to analyze data between patients and hospice programs across www.50plusLifePA.com

the country. “A core goal of the HOPE tool is to understand how a hospice team works together to put the patient’s needs first,” said Mary Peters, MSW, assistant director of social services for Homeland Hospice. The HOPE tool alpha testing — called alpha because it is early on in development — involves three phases including training, data collection, and a forum scheduled in June 2021 to review the data and offer feedback. Homeland has completed training and is in the data-collection phase, during which a patient’s primary hospice team — including a registered nurse, social worker, and spiritual counselor — is present for each patient assessment.

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to correspond with the winter solstice or to coincide with a Roman holiday honoring the sun during the same period. Christmas became a federal holiday in the United States in 1870. Kwanzaa. A sevenday celebration of African heritage and culture, Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan.1. Activist Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 to emphasize African Americans’ shared history and experience. The name Kwanzaa is derived from “matunda ya kwanza,” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”

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December 2020

s 12/20 Sudoku

PuzzleJunction.com

Tipping during the Pandemic

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box Many workers on tips to make must containdepend the numbers 1 to ends 9. meet. During COVID-19, tips

are even more important, considering the added risks of some jobs. U.S. News & World Report shares these guidelines for tipping service workers:

8 1

Grocery deliverers. People who work for Instacart and the like rely on tips. Although some of what you pay goes to the delivery person, it may not be very much. Consider tipping at least 20% or more to your order.

8 6 7 2 Delivery drivers. U.S. Postal Service carriers aren’t allowed to accept 1 7 6 2 3 Pet of the Month 9 Malaki 2 4 Malaki is for a 3 5 1 looking new family after losing his home years due 4 9 ofto five his owner’s illness. 1 2 3 9a sweet, He’s easygoing boy Copyright ©2020 PuzzleJunction.com who is ready

to fit right into a home. He’s housetrained and crate trained, and he knows his basic commands. Malaki has done well in our dog playgroups and would be

open to meeting other dogs in a home. For more information, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) 302-0865 or bvspca.org.

tips, but you can still leave something for them when they deliver packages to your door. Wiped-down bottles of water, containers of hand sanitizer, or individually packaged snacks can show your gratitude. Restaurant workers. When you order takeout, consider doubling the usual 5–10% tip for the people who bring the food to your car or run the cash register. Healthcare workers. You’re not going to hand your doctor or nurse a $20 bill, but you can show your appreciation in other ways. Thank them generously, and write a note to their supervisor explaining what a good job they did and how satisfied you are with their help.

Feed Your Community at Dauphin County Library System Dauphin County Library System has partnered with several local organizations this fall to help meet the community’s food needs. Until Dec. 16, library visitors can donate shelf-stable food at all eight libraries during open hours. The library’s Harrisburg and Colonial Park locations — McCormick Riverfront, Madeline L. Olewine Memorial, Kline, and East Shore Area libraries — are collection points for the Bethesda Mission Food Drive. The northern Dauphin libraries — Johnson Memorial, Elizabethville Area, and Northern Dauphin — are collecting for the Northern Dauphin Human Service Center’s Snack Pack program. The William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library collects year-round for the Lower Dauphin School District’s Falcon Packs and the Hummelstown Food Bank. A list of suggested food items based on library location and each organization’s needs can be found at dcls.org/fooddrive.

For additional information, Solution call the library at Solution (717) 234-4961 or email czeiders@dcls.org.

Puzzles shown on page 6

Puzzle Solutions

Solution

4 3 8 5 7 2 9 6 1

December 2020

2 1 6 9 4 8 3 5 7

5 9 7 1 3 6 4 8 2

3 8 5 7 1 9 2 4 6

9 6 1 8 2 4 5 7 3

7 2 4 6 5 3 1 9 8

6 7 3 4 9 1 8 2 5

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8 4 2 3 6 5 7 1 9

1 5 9 2 8 7 6 3 4

T B S P A L A I N O R T H B I T E A T O R E R A B E T R I C H S T E E D P R E C C A T A L A A B A C O N S L I T E L S

E R S E S H A M P O L E A R N O D Y O S R I E L M E S A R E N P D E L E S G A R P O S A S I Z E S

G I B I L N E E T S S E A M T E R T E A T

I G D O L O L A S D I E E R N O N A G A S S A B U I T E M S E L S E R I C

N I N A

D O R C A K E

S U C S J T O R T O I S E R T

O A B A L L I R O G K S O D O

B E L E P H A N T H N L O O D

G D R A A E E T R A I L M W B

P T N S H R B G K A P P P J Q

G D E U R Y I E Z H R W P R E

A A D E H R E R I E W N V O C

L N G R A X S N H Z Z E B R A

I I R F A Y W T A I A N Y S Z

T M F M C P N P N C N N T S L

U E S O O A O N O J Z O U O B

F V X N P B G E I G L R A Y I

I M Y K Z P Z B L G L N X L R

L I G E U U K L P A A I Z E D

F V H Y M B F Q W K L Z G L S

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Grandparents: Test Your Safety Savvy By Sandra Gordon Among all the duties you may have as a grandparent — such as chief cookie baker, babysitter, homework helper, and siblingsquabble referee — you’re the safety police, too. When your grandchildren come to visit, it’s up to you to keep them safe. Take this room-by-room quiz to find out if you’re aware of the ways you can protect your grandkids from household accidents and injury. The Kitchen T or F: It’s OK to keep household cleaners under the kitchen sink if they have childresistant packaging. Answer: F. Child-resistant packaging isn’t childproof. Persistent toddlers may be able to pry them open. Lock household cleaners, any type of liquor, and vitamins and medicine — even those with childresistant packaging — in their original containers in a cabinet out of your grandchild’s sight and reach. The Bedroom T of F: Using a sleep positioner in your grandchild’s crib or bassinet helps protect her from SIDS. Answer: F. Sleep positioners don’t protect babies from SIDS, and they’re a suffocation hazard. A bare crib or bassinet is best. That means no sleep positioners, bumpers, blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals should be in your grandchild’s crib or bassinet. Dress your grandchild in a swaddle or sleep sack for warmth instead of using a blanket.

Also, get a cover for the bathtub’s spout to protect your grandchild from its heatconducting metal and hard edges.

of flame-resistant material. That’s because it doesn’t trap the air needed for fabric to burn and reduces the chances of contact with a flame. Infant sleepwear smaller than 9 months is exempt from government flammability requirements because infants aren’t mobile enough to expose themselves to an open flame. It doesn’t have to fit snugly or be flame resistant. T or F: By age 5, it’s safe for grandkids to sleep in the top bunk. Answer: F. Children shouldn’t be allowed to sleep in the top bunk until they’re at least 6 years old. But even then, it’s a risk. Every year, nearly 36,000 children are injured in bunk-bed-related accidents, according to a recent Journal of Pediatrics study. Kids under age 9 report the most bunk-bed injuries, but they happen at all ages.

It’s safe to let your grandchild sleep in pajamas that aren’t flame resistant if: A. They’re made of organic cotton. B. They’re snug-fitting. C. They’re size 9 months or smaller. D. They’re size 10 or larger. E. Both B and C.

The Bathroom To help prevent burns, what’s the maximum temperature your home’s water heater should be set to if you have grandkids? A. 90 degrees F B. 130 degrees F C. 120 degrees F D. 150 degrees F

Answer: E, both B and C. The Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations dictate that children’s sleepwear sizes 9 months to size 14 must be either made of flame-resistant fabric, which doesn’t ignite easily and must selfextinguish quickly when removed from a flame, or fit snugly because loose garments are more likely to catch fire. Snug-fitting sleepwear doesn’t have to be made

Answer: C, 120 degrees F. Children can get scalded easily by hot water because their skin is thinner than an adult’s. If you have young grandchildren, turn the water heater down to 120 degrees F or lower to prevent scalds from faucets. To test your home’s water temperature if you don’t know what it is, run the hot water for a minute and collect it in a cup. Test the temperature with a cooking thermometer.

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All Around the House Children can strangle on window-blind cords from draperies or blinds that can form a loop. In fact, window cords kill an average of 12 children annually in the U.S. To protect your grandchild: A. Teach your grandchild to stay away from window-blind cords by warning him of the danger. B. Eliminate this risk from window blinds by getting cordless blinds or using a cord winder (a plastic gadget that moves the cord out of the way). C. Cut looped cords in half to form two strings or roll cords up, tie them with rubber bands or twist ties, or mount a cleat (hook) high out of the child’s reach to secure the excess cord. D. Both A and B. E. Both B and C. Answer E, both B and C. You can’t teach a baby or toddler to stay away from strangulation dangers, so eliminate this risk by getting cordless blinds, using a cord winder, cutting the cords in half, or rolling up the cords with a cleat, says injury-prevention expert Meri-K Appy. You can also visit the Window Covering Safety Council’s website (windowcoverings.org/retrofityour-windows) to order a free retrofit cord-repair device. T or F: If your grandchild is advanced for his age, it’s fine to buy a toy that’s meant for an older child. Answer: F. Take the age recommendation on a toy package seriously. It’s more than a friendly hint. It can alert you to a possible choking hazard, the presence of small parts, and other dangers. It also affects a toy’s play value. Although you might think a more advanced toy will present a welcome challenge, it could be a source of frustration if it’s inappropriate for your grandchild’s stage of development. Also, think twice before buying a toy with small parts for a child older than 3 who has a younger sibling. The younger child will probably find a way to get the toy. Keep all small, round, or oval objects — including coins, balls, and marbles — away from kids under 3.

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

December 2020

Traveltizers

Eating Good in the Home of Breaking Bad By Andrea Gross

I’m standing on the observation deck Nevertheless, we’re not as interested atop Sandia Mountain, surrounded in Walter White’s dining habits as we by sky that, in days gone by, I’d have are in those of Bryan Cranston, the said was the color of turquoise. Thus actor who plays White. I’d have paid homage to the Native Therefore, we head to El Pinto’s, American culture of Albuquerque, which is not only a Cranston favorite, some 5,000 feet below me. but also a favorite of politicians such as But today, since the city has the Clintons, the Obamas, and George achieved fame as the location of the W. Bush. Bush liked it so much that he award-winning TV series Breaking asked the manager to prepare a meal in Bad, another metaphor comes to mind. the White House for a Cinco de Mayo My husband and I are surrounded by festival. sky the color of crystal meth. Since the manager isn’t likely In fact, “Blue Sky” is the street name to come to our house to prepare a for the methamphetamine cooked up Southwestern meal, we decide we’d by America’s most famous fictional better learn to cook our own. drug lord, Walter White. That’s why on day four of our New The series, which ran on AMC from Mexico sojourn I find myself in Jane 2008-13, follows White, a high school Butel’s kitchen, using a pair of tongs The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway takes people on a 2.7-mile chemistry teacher, as he turns to methto lower a rectangle of soft dough into ride into the mountains surrounding Albuquerque. making in order to pay for his cancer a deep pot of hot oil. Within seconds, treatments and provide for his family if the dough puffs up, a light golden ball the treatment fails. of fried flour, a true sopapilla, ready While numerous companies give to drizzle with honey and pop in my tours of Breaking Bad film sites, we mouth. I feel like a magician. choose to explore on our own. Butel (www.janebutelcooking. Our first stop: Albuquerque’s Old com) is the acknowledged guru of Town where, amongst galleries filled Southwestern cooking. She’s starred with Native American art, we find in a weekly TV cooking show, served The Candy Lady, the small shop that as a consultant for companies such produced the meth lookalike used as Del Taco and El Torrito, and has during the initial years of the show. written 22 cookbooks on Southwestern Later proprietor Debbie Ball began cooking. selling “Breaking Bad Candy,” a Oh, yes, she also helped Julia Child confection that looks like drug crystals start her first cooking school in Paris. but incongruously tastes like cotton Now she holds weekend courses in her candy. (Ball carefully explains that home, which is in Corrales, a few miles her candy is not promoting drugs north of Albuquerque. but rather a show that shows how In short order we learn the following destructive drugs can be.) We plunk tidbits: The observation deck atop Sandia Peak provides a panoramic view of the Land of Enchantment, now also known as the Home down a dollar for a mini-bag of fake of Heisenberg (the fictional Walter White’s alter ego). meth. • Mild chiles have broad shoulders and Then, in search of something more blunt tips, while hot ones have substantive, we go to the nearby Dog House, a greasy-spoon place frequented pointed tips. “The sharper the point, the spicier the taste,” says Butel. on screen by White’s sidekick, Jessie Pinkman. We pass on the Frito pie, nibble on a mustard dog, and move on to • If your mouth burns from too-hot chili, numb the pain with sugar, acid, or Garduño’s, the site of a tense meeting between four of the main characters, fat. Folks have learned to pair hot food with margaritas, which contain lime who are so intent on their discussion that they leave the taquería’s famous juice (acidic) or with cheese and sour cream, which contain fat. guacamole untouched. How unfortunate for them. The dip is prepared tableside, exactly to our • Capsaicin, the substance that gives peppers their bite, has been shown to liking.

please see Eating Good page 38

December 2020

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

December 2020

Eating Good from page 36 relieve headaches and arthritis, fight cancer and sinus infections, and burn calories. Butel divides us into three groups and tells us to don new red aprons. As we drink and munch our way through the weekend, I become competent, if not exactly proficient, at making perfect margaritas, to-die-for guacamole, and nachos with three kinds of salsa. On our final day we work together to prepare a main course that is as full of Southwestern color as it is of Southwestern flavor: red chile, blue corn and jalapeno skillet bread, and chicken fajitas with tricolor pepper sautéed with pico de gallo. As for dessert, we feast on our miraculous sopapillas. We’re eating good in the land of Breaking Bad, and we’re also going to eat good when we get back home. www.newmexico.org Photos ©Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (andreagross.com). www.traveltizers.com

Photo credit: The Candy Lady

The shops in Albuquerque’s Old Town still feature items related to the town’s Native American heritage, but now they also sell items related to the TV series Breaking Bad.

The Candy Lady sells bags of blue candy that look like the crystal meth cooked up by Walter White and his accomplices in Breaking Bad.

Bryan Cranston, the lead actor in Breaking Bad, enjoys the music as well as the food at El Pintos.

Jane Butel teaches a weekend class in Southwestern cooking from her home in Corrales, just north of Albuquerque.

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