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Helping veterans heal through the power of music page 4
How to find a better medicare plan page 10
The rise of the ‘60s miniskirt page 21
Scenes from the York County 50plus EXPO We were thrilled to be back in person for the 19th annual York County 50plus EXPO on Sept. 23 at the York Expo Center! Did you join us? If so, you might find yourself here! If not, see what you missed — and please, join us next time!
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YORK COUNTY
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Theater Looking for Volunteer Help RSVP – York County is seeking volunteers 55 and over for the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in the city of York. Volunteer opportunities include: ushers, coat checkers, ambassadors, door greeters, ticket scanners, and bag checkers. Volunteers must have proof of COVID vaccination. Volunteer benefits include: transportation reimbursement, free supplemental liability insurance, recognition and appreciation events, assistance with clearances, and improved personal happiness. Contact Scott Hunsinger at (717) 893-8474 or email yorkrsvp@ rsvpcapreg.org.
Visit Our Website At:
www.50plusLIFEPA.com
Central Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication
About Our Company
For more than 25 years, On-Line Publishers, Inc. has celebrated serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50-plus community of central Pennsylvania.
Publications 50plus LIFE is a monthly newsprint magazine touching on issues and events relevant to the 50+ community. Resource Directory is published annually in distinct county inserts inside 50plus LIFE. contains information from local businesses and organizations that meet the needs of caregivers, older adults, and disabled individuals. 50plus Living, an annual publication, is a guide to residences and healthcare options for mature adults in the Susquehanna and Delaware valleys. Caregiver Solutions is an annual magazine distributed throughout south-central Pennsylvania that includes products, services, and organizations that support caregivers. It also contains a directory of providers, book and resource recommendations, and helpful articles. All publications are available in print and digital formats.
Events OLP Events, our events division, hosts 50plus EXPOs, Women’s Expos, and the all-virtual Jobs610 and Jobs717 job fairs. 50plus EXPOs are held annually in Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster (two), and York counties. Entrance to the event, health screenings, and seminars held throughout the day are free to visitors. The Women’s Expo is a one-day event featuring exhibitors and interactive fun that encompass many aspects of a woman’s life. Generally, Women’s Expos are held in Dauphin and Lancaster counties in the spring and in Lebanon, Lancaster, and Cumberland counties in the fall. Jobs610 and Jobs717 are online job fairs during which jobseekers can view an organization’s information, website link, job vacancies, social media links, and contact info to connect one-on-one with company representatives.
For more information, call 717-285-1350 or visit www.onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com
50plus LIFE
November 2021
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Cover Story
Helping Veterans Heal through the Power of Music Corporate Office
P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240 Fax (717) 285-1360 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 Lauren Phillips
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley 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.
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By Gabriele Amersbach
2017. When he moved to Lancaster in 2018, he started another chapter in Lebanon.
A group of six vets are playing guitars as part of ‘We Are in This Together’ downtown Lancaster’s Music for Everyone FridayBowen explains the process. The veterans learn night art celebration. The audience smiles, taps their about the group through a referral from their feet, and hums along as the group plays a crowd primary healthcare provider affiliated with the favorite, John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Veterans Administration. Unfortunately, many have Roads.” to wait for a space to open up in a nearby chapter. Most are not aware they are watching veterans Once accepted, each vet receives a reconditioned who have learned to play the guitar as part of their acoustic guitar and an instruction book and begins healing from the trauma of war. one hour of lessons each week for 10 weeks with a From World War II to Vietnam and the more volunteer instructor. recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, many According to Bowen, “Our members learn a few veterans carry this trauma with them. Some are simple chords, so they in wheelchairs with can play their favorite spinal injuries and songs, but no theory. lost limbs; others They learn how to have brain injuries strum and to play from IUDs that have together as a team. limited their mental Our approach is that skills and caused we are all in this hearing loss. together. Then they Vietnam vets drive the whole family exposed to Agent crazy as they start Orange may now practicing.” endure neurological The classes are damage. Others have usually in the daytime respiratory problems so the participants from chemical and can take public ash exposure in David Bowen, center, with Guitars for Vets transportation to the fires. Some have no musicians performing in downtown Lancaster. VA activity center. outward physical Each vet learns to symptoms but feel play his or her favorite songs, from AC/DC to Garth depression and survivor guilt. All are welcome to Brooks, at whatever pace works best. Bowen helps participate in the Guitars for Vets program. to transpose these favorites into simple three-chord According to the group’s website (guitarsforvets. songs. org), more than 800,000 U.S. veterans struggle with physical injuries, PTSD, and other emotional At the chapter’s weekly meetings (before virus distress. The goal of the program is to engage restrictions), the vets come together to play guitar as veterans in a community so they don’t have to face a group and form friendships and community with the challenges of PTSD in silence or alone. peers who have had similar experiences. By learning to play guitar with other vets, Bowen explains that many participants build program participants start to recover from the confidence and become skilled and confident trauma through the healing power of music, enough to perform at local fundraisers, at “openexplains David Bowen, a Vietnam vet who has been mic” nights at local coffeehouses, in community active in the Guitars for Vets program since 2012. celebrations, and in church praise bands. The group was started by Patrick Nettesheim Some have even learned enough to participate in with his student and friend, Dan Van Buskirk, the program as volunteer instructors for other vets. a Vietnam-era Marine, in 2007. In just 14 years, Guitars for Vets has grown to more than 100 chapters throughout the United States serving both male and female vets. Bowen started a new chapter in Salem, Virginia, in 2012, where he remained as coordinator until
Amazing Changes Bowen has seen amazing changes after just a few months of participation. “Many of my fellow veterans are shy, look inward, www.50plusLifePA.com
and don’t want to step out of the box. The program gives them confidence and hope. I often have a spouse, friend, or child who takes me aside to say, ‘You’ve changed his or her life.’” Bowen describes an early participant who was “listless, slouched in his seat, and didn’t talk when we first met. The guitar and music took him out of his shell. Now he is writing his own songs, performing, and is even on YouTube.” According to Guitars for Vets website, the music program helps decrease anxiety, increase self-esteem, and reduce episodes of panic attacks, nightmares, and flashbacks. A research study of veterans in the program showed a 21% improvement in PTSD symptoms and a 27% decrease in related depression symptoms.
working on highly classified projects with intelligence agencies; managing mapping contracts for MapQuest; and reconstructing digital databases of water systems for New York City post9/11. Yet it is his dedication to Guitars for Vets that enlivens his retirement. It helps that his wife, Marsha, is also an instructor, musician, veteran, and retired Army nurse. Bowen, far right, leading a Guitars for “I’ve seen people’s lives improve,” Vets practice session in Lebanon. says Bowen. “Most vets are very grateful. When they get their selfconfidence back, it’s a testament to the program as well as to the other help they receive.” Since 2007, 4,500 vets have participated in the program throughout the United States. Whether they play in church, for family, or just on the porch, all experience the healing power of music. The Impact of COVID For further information about the Bowen is deeply concerned that program, check out the G4V website Veterans of all ages and walks of life benefit COVID-19 may continue to cut (guitars4vets.org/why-guitars); find from the Guitars for Vets program. off the veterans’ access to all VA the program’s Lebanon chapter on programs, including Guitars for Vets. Facebook; and watch Bowen’s 2019 “It worries me,” he says. “For many interview with Comcast Newsmakers vets, the VA is their only social outlet where they do art, write songs, play (comcastnewsmakers.com/videos/2019/10/30/david-bowen). ping-pong, or just BS in the snack bar.” Without vital social interactions that help veterans heal and reenter the wider community, the consequences may be dire. Bowen notes many chapters closed down instruction and meetings during 2020 and into this year. “Now, with the delta variant, it’s dicey,” he explains. “The national folks are pushing us to do virtual lessons. It’s efficient, but it’s hard to show how to put your fingers on the fret board. You just can’t reach through the screen.” With 33 Years of He does teach virtual classes and stays in touch even when the lessons are Real Estate Experience over. “My students are absolutely fantastic, but learning over Google Classroom • 2016 Realtor of the Year is not the same as going to a meeting or a gig. When they play together, even students who are not strong will join right in and learn from each other. You • 2014 President of can’t do that virtually,” says Bowen. Realtor’s Association of
Senior Real Estate Specialist
Support for the Program Bowen notes that the VA has been “110% behind this program, offering meeting space and providing administrative support, publicity, and referrals.” Where chapters face the greatest challenge is raising funds to purchase acoustic guitars for the students. Each chapter receives some administrative and monetary support from the national organization. “However, we are responsible to raise funds and seek donations from the local community,” says Bowen. “I often check out flea markets, eBay, and music stores for old guitars. “I’ve been very lucky. Local vet organizations have been very supportive. And the people at Music for Everyone (music-for-everyone.org) have donated 15-20 new guitars.” As semiprofessional musician, Bowen also publicizes the program at his gigs and on his website, Acoustic Reset (acousticreset.com). Bowen has had a remarkable career that includes teaching at West Point; commanding an Australian Cartographic Squadron in Bendigo, Australia, as an exchange officer from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency; www.50plusLifePA.com
York and Adams County
Paula Musselman Selling or buying a house? Please call me – I’ll guide you every step of the way! Office: (717) 793-9678 Cell: (717) 309-6921
2525 Eastern Blvd. York, PA 17402 pmusselmanrealtor@gmail.com
• Licensed in PA and MD •P roviding Reliable and Trustworthy Contracting and Moving Resources •S pecializing in Senior Moves and Transitions
Taking the time to make your transaction smooth and stress free. Senior Real Estate Specialist ®
50plus LIFE
November 2021
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Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers 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.
Aventura at pembrooke
Bethany Village – The Oaks
1130 West Chester Pike • West Chester, PA 19382 610-692-3636 • www.aventuraatpembrooke.com Number of Beds: 180 Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Short-Term Care: Yes Long-Term Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes
Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Private Rooms Available: Yes Semi-Private Rooms Available: Yes Pet Visitation Allowed: Yes Beauty/Barber Shop: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Comments: In-house dialysis unit with five-days-a-week treatments.
325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.bethanyvillage.org Number of Beds: 69 Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Long-Term Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes
Recreational Activities: Yes Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Private Rooms Available: Yes Semi-Private Rooms Available: Yes Pet Visitation Allowed: Yes Beauty/Barber Shop: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: CARF, Eagle, LeadingAge PA Comments: Maplewood Assisted Living also available.
Homeland Center
1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 717-221-7902 • www.homelandcenter.org Number of Beds: 95 Rehabilitation Unit: Yes Alzheimer’s Unit: Yes Skilled Licensed Nursing: Yes Therapy: Speech, Occupational, Physical Long-Term Care: Yes Short-Term Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes 24-Hour Medical Care: Yes Recreational Activities: Yes
Scheduled Entertainment: Yes Private Rooms Available: Yes Semi-Private Rooms Available: Yes Pet Visitation Allowed: Yes Beauty/Barber Shop: Yes Medicare: Yes Medicaid: Yes Accreditations/Affiliations: AAHSA, LeadingAge PA (PANPHA), NHPCO, PHN, HPNA Comments: A beautiful, full-service continuing care retirement community with a history of more than 150 years of exemplary care.
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.
Social Security News
Sign Up for Medicare Part B Online By John Johnston
You can sign up for Medicare Part B online! If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part A and want to enroll in Part B during the special enrollment period, please visit our Medicare webpage at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare. From there, you can enroll in Part B by completing these forms: CMS-40B (Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B (Medical Insurance) and CMS-L564 (Request for Employment Information). You can also fax or mail the CMS-40B and CMS-L564 to your local Social Security office to enroll. You can find the fax number and address for your local office at ssa.gov/locator. Please contact Social Security at (800) 772-1213 — (TTY (800) 325-0778) — if you have any questions. Note: When completing the forms, state, “I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)” in the remarks section of the CMS-40B form or online application. If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best you can on behalf of your employer without your employer’s signature.
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Submit one of the following types of secondary evidence by uploading it from a saved document on your computer: • I ncome tax returns that show health insurance premiums paid •W -2s reflecting pretax medical contributions •P ay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions •H ealth insurance cards with a policy-effective date •E xplanations of benefits paid by the group health plan or large group health plan • Statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums Please let your friends and loved ones know about this online, mail, or fax option. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.
www.50plusLifePA.com
CROSSWORD
Puzzle Page
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 21. SUDOKU
Across WORD SEARCH
“Y” Words
1. Nile reptiles 5. Pool exercise 9. Protrude 12. Bryce Canyon locale 13. Jai ___ 14. Strays 16. Curly cabbage 17. Norma Rae actress 20. Old West’s Starr 22. Buffoon 23. Kind of pie 24. Huge 27. Suspect’s record, at times
29. Partitioned 32. Legal matter 34. Corn units 35. Not at home 36. Monroe of Some Like It Hot 38. Thickness 39. Family 40. Poetic contraction 41. Sea gull 44. Murphy Brown’s Bergen 46. Ice ___ 47. Exploit 49. Tokyo, formerly
50. Eagle’s nest 51. Lined charts 53. Opposite of 24 Across 55. Ventilate 56. Family dog, for short 58. Vote into office 61. Now, Voyager actress 65. Toboggan 67. Loafer, e.g. 68. Roman emperor 69. Shredded 70. Hither’s partner 71. Retain 72. Sicilian volcano
21. Boy 25. Rio ___ 26. Always, in verse 28. “At Seventeen” singer Janis 29. Nuke 30. Wise one 31. Dissenting vote 33. TV show type, shortly 36. Hr. part 37. Fish story 39. Body Heat actress Turner 41. Mongrel 42. Japanese sash
43. Honey maker 44. Gown’s graduation partner 45. Psyches 46. All About Eve actress Holm 47. Burger side order 48. Uninhibited 50. Completely 51. See 18 Down 52. Blue 54. Fable writer 57. After river or piggy 59. Congeal
Down 1. Razor-billed bird 2. Knife 3. Blanched 4. Cheers actress Long 5. Modern surgical tool 6. ___ mode 7. Buddy 8. Fodder holder 9. TV’s Topper actress Anne 10. Mentalist Geller 11. Palpitation 15. Aspersions 18. Jabber 19. Periodontist’s deg.
Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.
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50plus LIFE
November 2021
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Get Tested for COPD: Your Lungs Will Thank You If you’re often short of breath COPD doesn’t have a cure at during everyday activities, your chest the moment, but if you seek advice feels tight, or you cough a lot, you from a healthcare provider and get may be chalking it up to getting older, diagnosed early, you can slow down having allergies, or being a smoker this progressive disease. (now or in the past). During your appointment, your Fortunately, there’s a way to know provider will talk to you about your whether something more may be at symptoms and your medical history play. Consider getting a lung function and then listen to your breathing. He test to find out if you have a serious or she also may recommend one or condition called chronic obstructive more tests to help diagnose COPD. pulmonary disease, or COPD. Knowing the cause of your cough Spirometry: A Lung Function Test and breathing problems will not only The main test for COPD is help you manage your symptoms — called spirometry. During this test, it’ll help you feel better, too. a technician at your healthcare COPD includes two main provider’s office will ask you to sit conditions: emphysema and chronic down and put a clip on your nose, so November is COPD Awareness Month bronchitis. It’s usually caused by you can breathe only through your cigarette smoking or breathing in mouth. other irritants, such as dusts or The technician will then ask you to chemical fumes. put your mouth around a mouthpiece, In a small fraction of people, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin which looks like the mouthpiece on a snorkel. It’s connected to a machine that (AAT) deficiency plays a role in causing COPD. measures how well you breathe. More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and The technician will ask you to take in a deep breath and then blow all of millions more have it but don’t know it, according to the National Heart, your air out as fast as you can. You’ll repeat that a few times. It’s painless, but it Lung, and Blood Institute. does take some effort.
www.HomelandCenter.org
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www.HomelandatHome.org
www.50plusLifePA.com
Your provider will use the test results to determine how healthy your lungs are, if you have COPD and how serious it is, or if asthma or other conditions are causing your symptoms. Spirometry can also help your provider know if you have COPD before you even have symptoms, so if you’re concerned about your lung health, consider getting a spirometry test. Ask for a lung function test if you: • Are over age 40 • Are or were a smoker • Feel out of breath often • Bring up a lot of mucus when you cough
• Have AAT deficiency • A re concerned about your lung health Another factor to consider when assessing your lung health is COVID-19. Unlike COPD, COVID-19 causes abrupt coughing and trouble breathing, so your healthcare provider may want to test you for it. If you have a chronic lung disease, such as COPD, and get infected with COVID-19, you are at higher risk of getting very sick. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs) and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. NHLBI’s “Learn More Breathe BetterSM” program provides free educational resources about COPD, videos on spirometry, and more. Find them at copd. nhlbi.nih.gov. (Family Features)
• Have already been diagnosed with a lung disease
The Bookworm Sez
First Friends Terri Schlichenmeyer
You’ve been best friends for ages — forever. Long World War I. enough to know your buddy like you know yourself, FDR’s BFF was a woman who was his social equal long enough to trust and be trusted. — and it wasn’t his wife, Eleanor. Loyalty, honesty, laughter, compassion, wisdom, Harry Truman was known to say anti-Semitic kindness … these things make a good friend — and things, though his best friend was Jewish. as in the new book, First Friends by Gary Ginsberg, JFK’s pal, David, was distantly related to the good friends make the man. president by marriage. Say you’ve got a sticky problem. You don’t know Nixon met his best friend because the guy owned a what to do, so whom do you ask? If you’re like a lot of boat. people, you’d seek a friend and you’d listen. And Bill Clinton’s BFF was Hillary’s friend first. For better or for worse, it’s no different when you Why do we like someone? Usually, it’s a natural sit in a swivel chair in the Oval Office, says Gary thing, sprung from mutual interests — or, as author Ginsberg. Gary Ginsberg shows, it can be an engineered feat. It’s been like that for centuries. In that respect, First Friends can be as chilling as it It’s no surprise, really, that Thomas Jefferson was is warm: Some of the “friendships” here are downright pals with James Madison: They had similar outlooks all wrong, and in certain chapters, Ginsberg gives on politics, and both were gentleman farmers your jaw plenty of reason to drop. and “proud sons of Virginia.” Theirs was a deep Most of the pairings inside this book consisted relationship, sometimes contentious, kept alive mostly of “powerful man plus private citizen who had the through letters. powerful man’s ear,” and that, as you’ll see, was Growing up with a father who owned a tavern, loaded with possibilities, both good and bad. Franklin Pierce naturally “wanted everyone to like Surely, those friendships could’ve altered history. him.” Can you imagine? First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung Alas, he was not the most popular, nor the most Then there’s that warmth: In each story here, hair(And Unelected) People Who Shaped well-regarded, president, though he bonded while raising or not, Ginsberg makes room for a soft aura of Our Presidents in college with the writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. humanness, reminders that a man might be a world By Gary Ginsberg Hawthorne stuck up for Pierce, even when their views leader, but he still needs a friend. C. 2021, Twelve on slavery were night-and-day divergent. This book is a peek double-deep inside the Oval 416 pages It’s been long-rumored that Abraham Lincoln and Office, and it’s the kind of history lesson you don’t his friend, Joshua Speed, were lovers, though most often get. For historians and president-watchers, First historians dispute this. Friends is the book you’ve needed for ages. In an astounding move that could never happen today, Woodrow Wilson placed a private citizen, his BFF, Edward “Colonel” House — an inexperienced The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin man whom Ginsberg says craved power and whom Wilson met just one year before his election — in several positions of power and decision-making during with two dogs and 14,000 books. www.50plusLifePA.com
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November 2021
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Dear Pharmacist
Folate Helps with Brain and Personality Suzy Cohen
Everyone knows how important B Did you know that certain drugs affect vitamins are, especially for energy and nerve your ability to absorb folate, as well as other health. One of the most famous vitamins is nutrients needed to make acetylcholine, B9, or what you see on store shelves as “folic your memory chemical? Folate is mugged acid.” by at least 178 different drugs, and probably This is a nutrient that’s required for more. proper spinal development in fetuses and is This is well documented in my world, very commonly suggested by obstetricians and I’ve studied and written a book about as a supplement for expectant mothers. it. A folate deficiency can change your Folic acid is a synthetic precursor to personality. natural folate, or 5-MTHF, which your As for folate versus folic acid, the choice body manufactures in a very complex is clear to me. Take the biologically active biochemical process. form (folate, which is also called 5-MTHF) Now there’s a new scientific paper and spend the extra money to buy the bodythat shows folate can help your brain. ready form of it — otherwise, you won’t get Researchers examined a bunch of clinical optimal effects. Don’t believe people who November is National Alzheimer’s studies in what’s called a “meta-analysis” tell you that your body will convert the folic Disease Awareness Month and discerned from all the data (across all acid to folate. 60 studies/publications) that folate can help Most people are not short on folate. with Alzheimer’s disease. But if you are, then you should be The article is published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. More specifically, they supplementing with the very best and eating foods rich in folate like salads, found that folate levels (tested via blood) were lower in Alzheimer’s patients leafy greens, peas, broccoli, and hummus. compared with healthy controls. If you would like to read the longer version of this article and find out more Alzheimer’s is a memory disorder that affects more than 6 million about other herbs that can support your brain function and cognition, please Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. sign up for my free newsletter at suzycohen.com. On an interesting side note, I can’t help but question how many people This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more with memory disorders are suffering from the “drug mugging” effect of other information about the author, visit suzycohen.com. medications they started a few years ago.
Savvy Senior
How to Find a Better Medicare Plan Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, Is it important to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans every year? My pharmacist highly recommends it, but it’s such a hassle sorting through all those different plans. Is there an easier way to shop and compare Medicare drug plans? – Lazy Beneficiary Dear Beneficiary, Because Medicare’s prescription drug plans can change their costs and benefits from year to year, comparing Part D plans every year during the open enrollment
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season (which is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) is always a smart idea. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, there may be other plans out there that you’re not aware of that offer better coverage at a lower cost. You never know until you look. Here are some tips to help you shop and compare Medicare drug plans. Medicare Online If you have internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare www.50plusLifePA.com
drug plans in your area and enroll in a new plan online if you choose, and it only takes a few minutes. Just go to Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and choose the type of coverage you’re looking for. Enter your ZIP code and financial assistance (if you receive any), select the drugs you take and their dosages, and choose the pharmacies you use. The plan finder does the math to identify the plan in your area that covers your drugs at the lowest cost. This tool also provides a five-star rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer-service records and suggests generics or older brandname drugs that can reduce your costs. When you’re comparing drug plans, look at the estimated drug costs plus premium costs that show how much you can expect to pay over a year out of pocket. Also, be sure the plan you’re considering covers all of the drugs you take with no restrictions. Most drug plans today place the drugs they cover into price tiers. A drug placed in a higher tier may require you to get prior authorization or try another medication first before you can use it. Any changes to coverage you make will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year.
Financial Assistance If you’re lower-income and are having a hard time paying your medication costs, you may be eligible for Medicare’s “Extra Help” program. This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles, and copayments. To be eligible, your income must be under $19,320 for single people or $26,130 for married couples living together, and your assets (not counting your home, personal possessions, vehicles, life insurance policies, or burial expenses) must be below $14,790 for singles or $29,520 for married couples. For more information or to apply, call Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or visit ssa.gov/extrahelp. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
Need Some Help? If you need some help choosing a new plan, you can call Medicare at (800) 633-4227, and they can help you out over the phone. Or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling. They also conduct seminars during the open enrollment period at various locations throughout each state. To find a local SHIP counselor, see shiptacenter.org or call (877) 839-2675.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
2022 SEASON
ON SALE NOW!
Ignite your Christmas spirit with the holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street! Based on the beloved movie of the same name, this musical rendition tells the tale of six-year-old Susan Walker, who does not fill her head with romantic notions like believing in Santa Claus. But when she meets the Macy’s Santa, who may in fact be the real Kris Kringle, a wave of love spreads across New York City that melts even the most cynical hearts.
NOVEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 23 Call 717-898-1900 • Order online at DutchApple.com 510 Centerville Road • Lancaster, PA 17601 www.50plusLifePA.com
50plus LIFE
November 2021
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The Beauty in Nature
Native American Farming Clyde McMillan-Gamber
Beside hunting, fishing, and gathering, Native Americans living in eastern forests had a unique, interesting, and ingenious way of growing crops in small fields in those shaded woods. Their only tools, before the coming of European settlers, were stone axes and sharp-pointed sticks. Many forest trees in those long-ago days were huge and impractical to cut down. But forest Indians knew that taking sheets of bark off the trees, all the way around each tree (girdling), would kill those stillstanding giants, allowing sunlight to reach the ground when their dead leaves fell off their twigs. While some Native people girdled tall, stately trees, others gathered dead limbs from the forest floor and burned them in piles under the girdled trees. The burnt ashes helped fertilize the ground. Slabs of bark cut from those large trees were used to build longhouses. Those sheets were tied to flexible poles cut from young trees to make sides and roofs on those houses. Holes were cut in the roofs to let out smoke from house fires.
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November 2021
50plus LIFE
American Indians used pointed sticks to plant corn, bean, and pumpkin seeds in many clusters among the dead, but stillstanding, trees. Cornstalks grew tall and supported bean vines reaching for sunlight. Bean plants took nitrogen from the air and deposited it in the soil, promoting the growth of all crops. And pumpkin vines reached across the ground where their big leaves provided shade, retarding the growth of weeds and the evaporation of water in the soil. Seeds from those crops were stored for winter food. Probably children chased marauding crows, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and other kinds of wildlife out of the fields. And, perhaps, freeloading deer, bears, and other creatures in those fields were killed and eaten by the Native people. But Native Americans and wildlife generally lived in harmony. Fields were minimal because of small populations of people. Several kinds of woodland and edge birds had easy traveling from sheltering woods to those little fields to eat insects and weed seeds. The people’s practice of killing trees to raise crops in abundant sunlight created homes for certain kinds of birds. Woodpeckers chipped into the dead wood to make nurseries to raise young on insects. Some abandoned woodpecker cavities provided homes for other kinds of forest birds, including house wrens, titmice, chickadees, and others, all of which feed on insects. After several years of cultivation, the soil became unproductive and was abandoned. But years of wind-blown fallen leaves and other forest debris decaying in the poor soil enriched it again. Meantime, squirrels buried nuts in the former fields, and berry seeds in bird droppings and windblown seeds in those fields resulted in forests recovering their own where the fields once were. Forest replaced the Native American fields as if they were never there.
Nature’s Wonders
by Clyde
A nature blog by Clyde McMillan-Gamber, retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist and longtime 50plus LIFE columnist
Each story is like a walk with your own naturalist. NaturesWondersByClyde.BlogSpot.com
www.50plusLifePA.com
VA’s Family Caregiver Program Extends Eligibility The Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program is extending eligibility through Sept. 30, 2022, for veterans who are legacy participants or legacy applicants and for their family caregivers participating in the Program of Comprehensive November is National Family Assistance for Family Caregivers Month Caregivers. This extension applies to veterans who were participating in PCAFC before Oct. 1, 2020; individuals who applied for PCAFC before Oct. 1, 2020; and those who were accepted into the program after Oct. 1, 2020. The extension will provide VA an additional year to conduct required reassessments of this cohort. PCAFC offers enhanced clinical support for family caregivers of eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty and meet other eligibility criteria. Benefits under PCAFC include education and training, enhanced respite care, counseling, a monthly stipend, CHAMPVA (if eligible), and certain travel expenses, among others. All legacy participants, legacy applicants, and their family caregivers will be reassessed based upon the new eligibility criteria resulting from the final rule, which became effective Oct. 1, 2020. “During this one-year period, approximately 19,800 legacy participants, legacy applicants, and their family caregivers will be reassessed,” said VA Caregiver Support Program Executive Director Colleen M. Richardson, Psy.D. The department will initiate a large-scale effort to complete reassessments for this cohort starting this fall. The earlier VA conducts reassessments, the sooner it will be able to assist with discharge planning for PCAFC participants who do not qualify under the new eligibility criteria. Discharge planning may include engaging the veteran and family caregiver in other services to include participation in the Program of Are you 62+ or General Caregiver Support Services, 18 to 61 with permanent which provides caregivers with disabilities? education, training, peer support Welcome to your mentoring, coaching, and self-care new home! courses. utilities included! Questions about PCAFC should Look at all we have to offer ... be directed to local VA facility Newly Renovated Units, Fitness Center, Caregiver Support Program staff or Service Coordinator, and More ... the Caregiver Support Line, toll-free Give us a call and check out our fabulous facilities. at (855) 260-3274. We offer congregate meals to Find a Caregiver Support team or all residents, Mon.–Fri., at 11:30 a.m. Caregiver Support coordinator using b’nai B’rith Apartments the online facility locator at caregiver. 130 South Third Street • Harrisburg (717) 232-7516 va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp. www.50plusLifePA.com
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50plus LIFE
November 2021
13
The Reel Deal
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Randal Hill
In 1984, Ghostbusters was unleashed in theaters throughout the U.S. The supernatural comedy generated rave reviews and became a cultural phenomenon as one of the most successful laugh-fests of the ’80s. A sequel — Ghostbusters II — followed five years later but saw fewer ticket sales and a tsunami of negative reviews. Now, more than three decades later, comes Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The story this time focuses on Callie (Carrie Coon), a single mother, and her children Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace). Evicted from their home, they move into a rundown Oklahoma farmhouse they have inherited from Callie’s father. Before long, they discover the dilapidated building houses an assortment of Ghostbuster gear, and unsettling occurrences soon become commonplace. In time, the children learn of their mysterious grandfather’s secret legacy and his involvement with the original Ghostbuster gang. Ghostbusters: Afterlife — the third offering — was directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman,
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who brought the original blockbuster to life. (The younger Reitman also joined forces with Dan Aykroyd and Gil Kenan to create the Afterlife script.) This time, the kids move about in a world of childhood innocence — think Steven Spielberg’s earlier offerings — in occasional conflict with Stephen-Kingscariness in the form of CGI monsters that could come roaring out of the darkness at any time and conjure moments from the 1984 original. This is a sequel that understands how to pay adequate homage to the original while also being able to stand alone as its own film. There are enough iconic Ghostbusters moments here to satisfy the longtime fans, as well as fresh and unique twists and turns that a new moviegoing generation will enjoy. It’s the done-right follow-up that sci-fi fans have been waiting for. To wit: Movie critic James Preston Poole seemed to be barely able to contain his enthusiasm when he recently proclaimed, “It’s the best of the series … Stupendously well written, not leaning too hard on nostalgia, and telling a story better than even the Images © Sony Pictures or related entities. Used for publicity and promotional purposes. original could muster. A winner in every sense.” Nearly all of the key players from the 1984 classic return here: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts. (Harold Ramis died in 2014.) The movie, which was shot mostly in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was scheduled for a summer 2020 release, but the ongoing pandemic forced schedule changes until now. It’s rated PG-13 for some scary images and a bit of suggestive language, but overall this should be a great choice for everyone from tweens to seniors. Look for the release around the Thanksgiving holiday. Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.
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The History of Ordinary Things
Tramp Art and Hobo Bottle Washers Doris Montag
In the collector’s world, there is a category known as “tramp art,” which includes wire kitchen utensils with a unique bottle-washer end. These were handmade by tramps, or hobos, who rode the railcars circa the 1930s. There were two periods in American history when men camped and traveled by railcar, even though it was illegal and extremely dangerous. The first period started after the Civil War. Many rail lines had been built to transport war supplies and troops, primarily in the North. Returning soldiers hopped freight trains to get home, and many, facing the shame of unemployment and poverty at home, pursued work on the American frontier. Men joined crews building the transcontinental railroad, which was completed in Promontory, Utah, in 1869. The second period of freight hopping, as it was called, was during the Depression era of the 1930s. Unemployed men decided to crisscross the country on the freight trains looking for work wherever they could find it. Most hobos would hide along the tracks outside the railyard. They’d run along the train as it gained speed, grab hold, and jump into open boxcars. They risked being thrown off by sudden turns or stops. This train-hopping lifestyle had a social caste system of hobos, tramps, and bums. • Hobos were migratory workers. There were hobo camps along the tracks, and men moved from job to job with some extended breaks. • Tramps were men who did not seek work but would make and barter crafts. The hobos and tramps were the creators of the bottle-washer utensils.
held with a wire collar that would slide to open, or lock, the wire “fingers” that gripped a rag for washing bottles or lamp chimneys. A wire-twisting gadget existed during this period that must have been used to produce the tight and consistent wrapping of the wire handle. The quality Some handmade wire wisks of the work varied, from featured intricate designs. primitive to finely crafted pieces. It is rare to find a handmade wire bottle washer today. If you see one, check that there is no soldering, as the hobos and tramps did not have the ability to solder in the rail camps. Soldering could be a later repair or the telltale sign of a reproduction. As a side note, over 250,000 adolescent boys rode the rails in the 1930s to escape poverty or troubled families or to seek a grand adventure. Society’s attitude was that the boys should be encouraged to return home, and thus people would not give them work or assist them. These artifacts are material evidence of hard times in our American history and yet remind us of the ingenuity of the human spirit under duress. Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more. Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.
• Bums were men who did not work, nor barter. Often the drunkard, they rode the rails to get out of town. During the 1889 National Hobo Convention, an ethical code of conduct was created, setting forth laws to govern the nationwide Hobo Body. It included: 1. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so, you not only help a business along, but you also ensure employment should you return again. 2. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your talents at crafts. This takes us to the wire kitchen utensils, tramp art, which were bartered with the housewife for a meal, money, or perhaps a night’s rest in the barn. Two pieces of medium-gauge wire were folded in half and formed into a spoon, or spatula, on the folded end. The four exposed ends of the wires were www.50plusLifePA.com
50plus LIFE
November 2021
15
Grief Relief
I’m Alone; Now What? Victor M. Parachin
“My partner has died; my children are grown and gone. Now what?” That question reflects the deep void and accompanying loneliness that many people face as they age. However, actions can be taken to ensure that anyone can live a meaningful, purposeful life after the death of a partner and after the children are grown and gone. Here are 10 suggestions.
Alan Bennet notes: “The best moments in reading are when you come across something — a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things — which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.”
1. Invite people for dinner. This will get you busy planning, shopping, and preparing and will bring energy and vitality into your home. Food is something we all have in common. Everyone must eat, and most people find food pleasurable. Entertaining over a meal provides you a great opportunity to work with new recipes.
3. Go to school. One 67-year-old widow enrolled in a yoga teacher training program. After graduating, she began offering the first yoga classes in her community. Going to school doesn’t necessarily mean attending a building on a campus. There are many other options, including online education, vocational trainings, and certifications in areas such as Pilates, personal training, nutrition, etc.
2. Nurture the habit of reading. Follow your interests: read fiction, nonfiction, self-help, biography, etc. This will keep your mind active and your spirit expansive.
4. Develop a hobby. Consider something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time — photography, coding, art, writing, golf. The opportunities are endless, as author Nicolas
You know a good story when you hear it. Think you or someone you know would make an interesting profile story for 50plus LIFE? We are looking for central Pennsylvanians over age 50 who have a unique hobby, passion, or history of volunteer work, or who are a part of an interesting local club. Ideal story candidates are willing to talk about themselves and to be photographed. Your name: _______________________________________________________________ Your address: ____________________________________________________________________ Your phone: ________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________ Nominee’s name (if not self): ____________________________________________________________________________ Nominee’s town of residence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Nominee’s phone: __________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Why they would make a great story: _____________________________________________________________________ Note: Please get your nominee’s permission before submitting them!
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Please email story submissions to Megan Joyce, editor, at mjoyce@onlinepub.com or send via mail to 50plus LIFE, P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604. 16
November 2021
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Sparks observes: “It can be coins or sports or politics or horses or music or faith ... the saddest people I’ve ever met in life are the ones who don’t care deeply about anything at all. Passion and satisfaction go hand in hand, and without them, any happiness is only temporary, because there’s nothing to make it last.” 5. Contribute to social welfare. Volunteer at a temple, school, or hospital. Become a mentor to a young person. Writers at the Mayo Clinic Health Letter cite the following as health benefits of volunteering: decreasing risk of depression, gaining a sense of purpose, learning new skills, remaining physically and mentally active, living a longer life, meeting others, and developing new relationships. 6. Cultivate your spiritual side. This may be the best time in your life to attend a spiritual retreat or seek spiritual direction from a teacher. Take your spiritual life to a higher level by joining a spiritual group, which could be a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, meditation center, yoga class, or a local group that meets to focus on spiritual issues. There you will gain the additional benefit of social support. Also, having a spiritual community to turn to for fellowship and guidance can provide a sense of belonging and support. 7. Simplify your life. Become a minimalist. How many pairs of socks do you really need? How much furniture is really necessary? Do you really have to have all that “stuff” in your home? Clear up the clutter, and keep your life as simple as possible. “We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties,” is the insight offered by writer Anna C. Brackett. 8. Downsize your house. Living alone in a large house that comes with serious property management may not be desirable at this point in your life.
Consider downsizing. This will take careful research, planning, and creativity on your part. 9. Offer to foster cats or dogs. There is an enormous need for places where unwanted and abandoned animals can live safely while waiting for a permanent family. Sharing your home with a four-legged companion brings both happiness and companionship. 10. Join a gym or health center. You will not only tap into a wide array of group classes and exercise opportunities, but you will also make some new friends. Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.
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Join Jobs717.com from the comfort of your home or office or on your mobile device. • 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
November 2021
17
Tinseltown Talks
Advice from Susan Sullivan Nick Thomas
Best known for her Her experience extensive television with the Smartphone career that includes Theatre production starring roles in shows inspired Sullivan to such as Falcon Crest, continue writing, Castle, and Dharma delving into a personal and Greg, Susan issue many will Sullivan is always recognize. keen to offer advice “My father was an to others, and that alcoholic, and I’ll be includes sharing with doing an upcoming seniors her family’s Zoom monologue experience with health about our relationship,” issues. she said. “He comes ABC publicity. CBS publicity. “Exercise!” she back as a dog to give Cast of the ABC sitcom Dharma and Greg that Robert Foxworth and Susan Sullivan from the declared from her me advice — obviously began airing in the late '90s. Susan Sullivan at left. '80s CBS primetime soap Falcon Crest. home in Los Angeles. a family trait!” “I’m 78, and about Her hope, she says, five years ago Connell is to encourage people (her longtime partner) to explore difficult was suffering from relationships they have back issues, and we with others, including began a program of parents. high-intensity interval “While we should training. A lot of our acknowledge our health issues were parents for their relieved. positive role in our “The benefits to lives, very often we strength, memory, need to forgive a balance, and overall parent for what they well-being from didn’t give us. Has the Photo provided by Susan Sullivan. exercise are well relationship enriched Susan Sullivan, with Mitchell Ryan, David Selby, and Susan Sullivan promoting the TV known. Of course, the you or has it created an Kathryn Leigh Scott, in the Smartphone Theatre 2021 series The Kominsky Method in 2019. difficulty is staying obstacle for you? production of What Friends Do (#Expendables). with it, and I find the “Even people in their mantra ‘just show up’ helps,” she said. 70s and 80s may be still unable to forgive the shortcomings of a parent, a “I know this sounds simplistic, but a little self-talk is encouraging. You see, sibling, or even a slight from a former boss. Perhaps my story will encourage I am also giving rather annoying advice to myself on a daily basis.” others to write their own and release some resentments, the biggest killers of Her passion to counsel was highlighted on-screen earlier this year in love. Let them go. Oh, there I go again.” What Friends Do (#Expendables), a story she wrote and acted in with several With Thanksgiving approaching, I asked Sullivan if her own holiday longtime friends and veteran colleagues for Smartphone Theatre, a livestream memories of growing up were difficult. digital performance platform presented via Zoom and created during the “Our family holidays were usually chaotic,” she admitted. “So, there aren’t early pandemic months (free to watch at smartphonetheatre.com). a lot of good memories to share. But I will share what gets me up in the During the 25-minute story, the characters (portrayed by Sullivan, plus morning if you want to hear it.” Kathryn Leigh Scott, Mitchell Ryan, and David Selby) banter back and forth Naturally, I did. with Sullivan’s art-imitating-life character offering advice aplenty. “It’s basically three things,” she began. “I need to have something to do, “I wrote this play about being a senior and getting back into life,” she something to love, and something to hope for. These, and a good cup of explained. “Like many people, I wasn’t working after the pandemic hit and coffee, allow me to show up and get on with the extraordinary business of was faced with two choices. Part of my brain told me to just collapse into being alive!” myself — stay home, sleep late, and reread my favorite books. Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and has “But another part urged me to remain engaged with friends and to keep written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. my mind active. Fortunately, I listened to myself. And trust me, I don’t See getnickt.org. always.”
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November 2021
50plus LIFE
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Virtual Fall-Prevention Workshop Offered The York County Area Agency on Aging is offering Healthy Steps for Older Adults, an evidence-based program that reduces fall risks among adults age 60 and older, on Fridays, Dec. 3 and 10, from 1-3 p.m. This free, two-day program will be held online. Participants will need an email address and a computer, laptop, iPad, or tablet with a camera. Reliable internet access is necessary. This workshop, held for two hours each day, is designed to be fun, social, and validating. It is open to any adult age 60 and older. Participants will learn how to exercise safely at home and will be provided information on ways to improve health and well-being. Discussions will include home and medication safety, as well as appropriate foot care and footwear. Participants will take a functional physical assessment to determine their fall-risk score and will be referred to appropriate healthcare professionals and community resources as deemed necessary. Preregistration is required by Nov. 22; call Faye Kinard at (717) 771-9610, ext. 1044.
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
Because in print or online, newspapers are
the most trusted source of news and information among all age groups.1
To advertise your products and services, call 717-285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA
Help Available in York County during Open Enrollment PA MEDI (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight), formerly called APPRISE, will offer free, personalized counseling during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which began Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7. Trained PA MEDI counselors will offer this service through the York County Area Agency on Aging. Medicare beneficiaries have the option to compare and switch their Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan with upcoming plans for 2022. Premiums, deductibles, cost sharing, and drug formularies are just a few aspects of a Medicare plan that can change yearly. All beneficiaries are encouraged to ensure their plan fits their needs and budget. Even those satisfied with their current plan should compare options and review their plan to see what changes will happen in 2022. To protect clients and counselors from the community spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), plan comparisons will be conducted remotely. Inperson plan reviews may be available upon request. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling the PA MEDI scheduling line at (717) 771-9042 or (800) 632-9073. www.50plusLifePA.com
Are you getting your share of the
SILVER ECONOMY? Which buyers make up the Silver Economy? • 962 million men and women over the age of 60 • A group with 11 times more wealth than millennials • Persons with a life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78.87 years • Persons who prefer in-person contact when possible • A group that wants to age at home as long as reasonable
Why do you want to reach these buyers? • They are free of many economic burdens • They like to take care of themselves, be active, eat well, be fashionable, and have fun • They have more free time • They are looking for products and services to help them age well
What sectors are on the rise? The obvious:
The not-so-obvious:
• Home improvements/renovations • Tourism and leisure activities tailored for them • Caregiver solutions • Financial products geared for seniors • Retirement living
• Security technology – mobile apps, sensors, wearable devices, smart clothing, etc. • Pet care – pet sitting, walking, grooming, food, accessories, etc. • Gardening/lawn services combined with snow removal • Mobile esthetic and concierge services – hairstylist, manicurist, massage, facials • Personal services – running errands, shopping
What are you waiting for? 51% of people aged 52-70 spend fewer than 11 hours a week online. While businesses need an online presence, print adds power to a media campaign. Most boomers and seniors are open to and love classic media.
50plus LIFE—Covering Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties—is an excellent venue!
Call to learn how we can help you reach our 150,000+ readers of 50plus LIFE! 717.285.1350 or email info@onlinepub.com
50plus LIFE
November 2021
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Cumberland County Women’s Expo is Back in Person This Month
10th Annual
omen’s Expo Cumberland County
By Megan Joyce
Nov. 13, 2021 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle
Women’s Expo
Please, join us! It’s a time to rejuvenate your spirit and: t %P TPNF TIPQQJOH t $IFDL PVU XIBU T OFX JO GBTIJPOT t -FBSO BCPVU MPDBM CVTJOFTTFT t #F TPDJBM BHBJO t BOE NPSF $IBU XJUI FYIJCJUPST XIP PòFS QSPEVDUT PS TFSWJDFT UIBU UPVDI KVTU BCPVU FWFSZ GBDFU PG B XPNBO T MJGF JODMVEJOH
Health & Wellness t Finance t Home Technology t Beauty t Nutrition Home-Based Businesses
and more! Skip the line and register online to attend—it’s free!
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The Cumberland County Women’s Expo has come back from the virtual world to return as an in-person event for 2021. A blend of information, entertainment, shopping, socializing, learning, and fun, the 10th annual Cumberland County Women’s Expo will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K St., Carlisle. After the COVID-19 pandemic jettisoned many brick-and-mortar events in 2020, the organizers of the Cumberland County
omen’s Expo
are excited to once again welcome the women of Cumberland County and surrounding areas to a day of socialization and rejuvenation at the free, one-day event. Brought to you by OLP Events, the Women’s Expo invites women of all ages and interests to a lively experience of shopping, inspiration, and relaxation and to learn about products and services. Guests can connect with representatives from participating businesses and organizations in home improvement, finances, health and wellness, beauty, nutrition, fitness, fashion, retirement living, leisure, entertainment, and more. Visitors will also be eligible for a variety of door prizes, and main-stage entertainment and seminars will be back. The event committee is working to put together a well-rounded lineup for guests’ enjoyment, including a presentation on handwriting analysis, a seminar on developing self-confidence, a book signing with local author Allison B. Hanson, and more. Sponsors for the 2021 Cumberland County Women’s Expo include 50plus LIFE, BUSINESSWoman, Homeland Center/Homeland at Home, HOT 106.7, NASH 93.5, Procter & Gamble, T-Mobile, UPMC Magee-Womens, WellSpan Health, WHTM abc27, and WINK 104. Admission and parking at the Women’s Expo are free, but visitors are encouraged to preregister online at aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com. Check the website, visit the Women’s Expo on Facebook (facebook.com/ womensexpos), or call (717) 285-1350 for more information.
and
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November 2021
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Sixties Flashback
Skirting the Issue Randal C. Hill
Miniskirts were not born, as many of us believe, Quant’s skirts were often worn with flat Mary Janes or during the U.K. youthquake (as it was called) of the zip-up knee-high boots and thick, brightly colored tights. frenzied ’60s. Thanks to such fashion icons as Twiggy and Jean Over the years, archeologists have unearthed shortShrimpton, miniskirts quickly captured the zeitgeist of skirted European figurines created between 5400 and ultra-hip London during the Beatles era, and before long, 4700 BC. Some ancient Egyptian frescos have depicted the fashion trend surfed the slipstream of the British female acrobats wearing them as well. Invasion to seemingly become mandatory dress for ladies During the 20th century, the “flapper” era saw worldwide for years to come. entertainer Josephine Baker shock Parisian audiences To its wearers, the miniskirt wasn’t only “groovy,” it with a miniskirt made of bananas when she performed in also showed support for female liberation — something the Folies Bergère. long overdue in the hearts of many. Women’s movement Sci-fi movies of the ’50s, such as Flight to Mars and pioneers such as Gloria Steinem and Marlo Thomas Forbidden Planet, also featured the controversial clothing. tacitly endorsed the skirts when they made public A decade later, Mexico City fashionistas were wearing appearances in them. skirts that stopped far above the knee. The short-dress trend lasted throughout the remainder Modern cultural historians, though, have given British of the decade, thanks in part to Goldie Hawn. She fashion designer Mary Quant much of the credit for this prolonged the fashion fad as a pop-culture phenomenon worldwide clothing revolution. on TV’s Laugh-In, with young women often embracing Since 1955, she and husband Alexander Plunkett Hawn’s signature skirts. Greene had operated Bazaar, an upscale boutique in The fashion world is ever-changing, of course, and the Chelsea area of London. (Bazaar was one of only by the end of the ’60s, hemlines fell to the ankles in a two such shops there that catered to the young.) Quant style dubbed the “maxi,” with skirt lengths becoming initially offered the short dresses to allow wearers to run the longest since for city buses more quickly. World War I. The term “miniskirt” was derived from Quant’s No problem for favorite British car, the popular Mini Cooper. Quant, though; Credit: Jac. de Nijs / Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL (In 1988, Quant would design the interior of a by then, she had The “Diabolo” minidress, modeled with sheer pop socks, at a Mary Quant created another limited-edition Mini. Of the 2,000 built, each featured fashion show in Utrecht, Netherlands, fashion rage: black-and-white-striped seats with red trimming, red in March 1969. seatbelts, and Quant’s signature on the driver’s and short shorts. Or, passenger’s seats. These rare vehicles have now become as they came to coveted collector’s items for certain nostalgia buffs.) be known, “hot pants.” By the ’60s, Chelsea was emerging as a place of beatnik joints, cellar music Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in clubs, and fashion shops. Young women who shopped there became known the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, as Chelsea girls, and Quant was more than happy to outfit them in ribbed Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@ poor-boy sweaters, fishnet gloves, patterned stockings, and, due to increasing msn.com. demand, coquettish miniskirts that measured up to 10 inches above the knee.
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50plus LIFE
November 2021
21
Thank You For Your Service
Veterans Day Nov. 11
The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options.
Volunteer Spotlight Helpline Thanks its ‘Designated Hitter’ Dave Hunter is a loyal Orioles for the Highmark Walk for a baseball fan. You will see him Healthy Community. Today, they sporting his team’s hats, shirts, and still assist with volunteer training, jerseys. When he often doing role relocated to the plays with trainees Harrisburg area to develop their from Maryland, he active-listening did not abandon techniques. his favorite baseball Once retired club, but he did from the Navy base join another team. in Mechanicsburg, Hunter became Dave Hunter filled a part of the in for staffers on CONTACT the housing line, Helpline Volunteer completing the Phoneworkers team training necessary in June 1986. A to become a Dave and Linda Hunter few years later, he housing specialist became a volunteer on the PA 211 line training consultant. Hunter enjoyed in 2017. bringing new volunteers to the For three years, he worked an CONTACT team and modeling hour a day, or one full day per effective active listening for trainees. week, or even five days per week Over the years, Hunter’s support during staffing transitions. of the CONTACT mission Hunter is CONTACT Helpline’s included chairing the technology designated hitter. In his 35 years of committee and serving as board service, he has always been ready president. to step up when needed, whether it He recruited his wife, Linda meant fixing a computer problem, (a Phillies fan), to join the setting up a mail merge, or moving CONTACT Helpline Volunteer furniture in the office. team. She also became a helpline Hunter is still an avid Orioles specialist, and they work together to fan. He also enjoys making pottery, support CONTACT’s fundraising gardening, and being a grandfather. and social activities. Most of all, Hunter likes helping In particular, for many years others and making a difference in they organized a walking team the community. Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17601.
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November 2021
50plus LIFE
25th Annual Edition
Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com
! r a e r u o y s u d Len 50plus LIFE and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania have partnered to bring you weekly audio readings of 50plus LIFE’s editorial content!
Listen to the livestream Thursdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at www.vrocp.org! The program will repeat 3 times that day and Saturdays from 11-11:30 a.m.
For more information, call Vision Resources at (717) 238-2531 and listen at visit www.vrocp.org. www.50plusLifePA.com
Vibra Seminar Dates and Locations: November 8 • 11:00 a.m. Hampton Inn & Suites 876 Schechter Drive, Wilkes-Barre 18702 November 9 • 1:00 p.m. Comfort Inn 50 Pine Drive, Greencastle 17225 November 10 • 1:00 p.m. Four Points Sheraton 1650 Toronita Street, York 17402 November 11 • 1:00 p.m. Hilton Garden Inn Gettysburg 1061 York Road, Gettysburg 17325
For Love of Family
November 15 • 1:00 p.m. Comfort Suites Bethlehem 120 West Third Street, Bethlehem 18015
Devotion. Compassion. Dignity. When your loved one needs help, join hands with Homeland at Home. We are privileged to be part of your caregiving team.
November 17 • 1:00 p.m. Hampton Inn Pine Grove 481 Suedberg Road, Pine Grove 17963 November 18 • 1:00 p.m. The Center Hotel 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville 18031 November 23 • 11:00 a.m. Holiday Inn Express Dickson City 1265 Commerce Boulevard, Dickson City 18519 November 24 • 1:00 p.m. Best Western Premier 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg 17111
717-857-7400 | HomelandatHome.org
December 2 • 1:00 p.m. Four Points Sheraton 1650 Toronita Street, York 17402
Hospice volunteers are always welcome.
Community Outreach of Homeland Center
| Harrisburg, PA
December 3 • 1:00 p.m. The Center Hotel 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville 18031
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www.50plusLifePA.com
50plus LIFE
November 2021
23
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1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2021. 2 “How might my oral and dental health change as I age?”, www. usnews.com, 11/30/2018. 3 American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2018 Survey of Dental Fees, Copyright 2018, American Dental Association.
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