50plus Life Lancaster County – April 2022

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Complimentary | Lancaster County Edition

April 2022

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Lancaster County 50plus expo preview page 2

how to file taxes securely online page 21

23rd Annual

LANCASTER COUNTY

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Boomers, Seniors, Caregivers Invited to Lancaster County 50plus EXPO The 50plus EXPO, central Pennsylvania’s one-day information and entertainment event focused on the 50-plus community, will return to Lancaster County this spring.

The 23rd annual Lancaster County 50plus EXPO (Spring) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, at Wyndham Resort (formerly Lancaster Host Resort), 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.

Hosted by OLP Events and the Lancaster County Office of Aging, the EXPO’s exhibitors will provide up-to-date information focused on the health, lifestyle, and needs of the local 50-plus community.

Admission and parking are free.

In addition to no-cost health screenings and information, guests can enjoy onstage entertainment and educational seminars, including an interactive fitness demonstration, a presentation on avoiding scams, and performances by an award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist.

Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes & Crematory will be providing free shuttle service from the parking lot to the entrance.

Sponsors include 50plus Life, abc27 WHTM-TV, Blue Ridge Communications, BUSINESSWoman, Highmark BlueShield, Landis Communities, LCTV, and UPMC. To check out door prizes and other updates for the 50plus EXPO, please visit 50plusExpoPA.com.

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Don’t Miss the Great Lineup of Seminars and Entertainment at the EXPO!

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9:45 a.m. – Fitness Demonstration: Sally’s Iron Mustangs and Sensational Seniors Presented by Sally Winchell, Wellness Director, Bright Side Opportunities Center This dedicated group of “fitness freaks” has come to understand the importance of building muscle to be strong for daily living, to rev up metabolism, and to increase bone density.

With twice-weekly workouts, they are not only improving their strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility, but they are also improving their overall health with a lifestyle of regular exercise and healthy nutrition.

10:30 a.m. – The Latest Scams and Fraud Schemes Targeting Older Adults Presented by Jerry Mitchell, Outreach Specialist, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Jerry Mitchell works with community groups, school districts, law enforcement, legislatures, and senior groups to help educate Pennsylvanians on topics ranging from the latest scams to social media awareness to drug trends and the dangers of illegal drugs.

11:15 a.m. – Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Performance Presented by Jeff Krick Jr. At only 25, Reading native Jeff Krick Jr. is one of the most successful Elvis tribute artists in the country. At age 19, Jeff placed No. 6 in the world at the prestigious Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest and in the top 10 at the Images of the King Contest in Memphis. He is a two-time fan-favorite award winner and three-time top 10 finalist at Maryland’s Ocean City Tribute Festival, and Jeff has headlined cruise ships and numerous Elvis music festivals.

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50plus Life

April 2022

3

Cover Story

He’s a Real Phillies Fanatic

By Barry Sparks 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

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50plus Life is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

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April 2022

50plus Life

National League ballpark. His girlfriend, Lauri, who is now his wife, invited him to see the Phillies play at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Her parents live Bob Bogart’s friends tell him he’s the real in the Chicago suburbs.

Phillies Phanatic.

They drove to Chicago on a Wednesday, and the No, he doesn’t dress up in a green mascot Phillies had a game against the St. Louis Cardinals costume, ride an ATV around the outfield, or that night. Bogart listened to the game on KMOX taunt opponents. But he does fit the description of that evening and figured he would be able to hear a Phillies fanatic. the following afternoon Consider the game on the same definition of the word station. fanatic: One having The next afternoon, excessive zeal for or an however, turned out to irrational attachment to be a frustrating one, as a cause or position. even the 50,000 watts “Since I’ve watched of power of KMOX or listened to 5,558 wasn’t enough for him consecutive Phillies to pick up the game games, I guess it’s safe to on his radio. So he sat call me a fanatic,” says in his future in-laws’ the 60-year-old Glen house waiting for CNN Rock, Pennsylvania, Headline News to give man. him updates every Entering the 2022 30 minutes. He was season, he hadn’t missed miserable not knowing a game since Aug. 7, the details of the Phillies 1986. That’s more than game.

35 years. And, before Photo credits: Barry Sparks The following he missed that game (of Bogart with the 1952 Topps baseball cards of the course, there’s a story Philadelphia Phillies. He has the Topps cards of all afternoon, he was much happier sitting behind that), he had a the Phillies since 1954. in Wrigley Field with three-year streak.

Lauri, watching the Phillies and keeping score.

So, in 38 years, Bogart has missed just one His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by Phillies game. the Phillies. In 2000, he was named “Fan of Bogart’s not the casual fan who typically catches the Century” as a result of a contest the club part of a game. He’s there from the first pitch to conducted on its website. The Phillies bestowed the the last pitch. He religiously follows the Phillies on honor on 10 fans, one born in each decade of the their West Coast trips, through rain delays, day20th century. Bogart, representing the 1960s, was night doubleheaders, extra innings, and every other honored in an on-field ceremony on Opening Day. imaginable situation.

Technological advances have made Bogart’s When Bogart worked, he scheduled his vacation quest to watch or listen to every Phillies game days to correlate with the Phillies’ West Coast much easier. When he started his streak in 1986, trips. He would use vacation time to leave work satellite television, the internet, and streaming early when the Phillies played midweek afternoon capabilities were rare or didn’t exist. games.

At the time, Mike Schmidt, Darren Daulton, He typically attends six to 10 Phillies games a and Steve Carlton led the Phillies. Since then, year. hundreds of players have worn the Phillies To document his incredible streak, the retired uniform. Last season, only three Phillies were born government employee keeps score of every game. before Bogart’s streak started.

“Keeping score of the game is a practice my Bogart admits his streak would have ended grandfather, Kenneth Tebo, taught me,” says years ago if not for technological advances. Those Bogart, who grew up in Blossburg, Tioga County. advances have helped him keep the streak alive “He was a Phillies fan as well. He introduced me while on business trips to Hawaii, England, and to the Phillies in 1966 when he took me to Connie New Zealand. On those trips, he would either Mack Stadium when I was 5 years old.” watch the games on a delayed basis (but always So, how did Bogart miss that game on Aug. 7, before the next game) or wake up in the middle of 1986? the night to watch the games on his computer.

One of his goals was to see the Phillies in every www.50plusLifePA.com

Does Bogart feel He also owns any pressure from his an impressive streak? collection of Phillies “Not at all,” he memorabilia. Bogart responds. “The has every Phillies Phillies are part of yearbook from 1968 my life and have to the present, all been for as long as Phillies Topps baseball I can remember. cards since 1954, and Incorporating them every issue of Phillies into my life is no Report, plus loads of more pressure than other items. taking a vitamin every Bogart has day.” compiled a weekly How long will the Phillies Updater, streak continue? And, which he emails to Photo credits: Barry Sparks Bogart keeping score during a Phillies game while his dog, Opal, sits beside him. how might it end? friends upon request, Bogart doesn’t have to for more than 20 worry about being knocked out of the lineup by back spasms, groin pulls, or years. It includes a recap of the week’s games, the television schedule for the being beaned. But there’s always the chance the streak might end. upcoming week, statistics, notable events, oddities, and trivia.

“I really think it would take a life-threatening situation, like me being in Even though the Phillies have lost more games than any other National an accident and ending up in the hospital, for the streak to end.”

League team in history, Bogart’s enthusiasm hasn’t waned.

Yet, the streak did survive an emergency surgery and hospitalization in “I’m not tired of following the Phillies, and I can’t imagine a scenario in 2019. After falling at home, Bogart was transported to York Hospital, where which I would be,” he says. he underwent knee surgery.

“I savor every nugget of Phillies news I can find during the offseason, and After surgery, he asked his son, Ryne, to bring his scorebook from home.

I look forward to every Phillies game. I can’t imagine not knowing what’s Later that night, he was able to watch the Phillies game and keep score. happening with the Phillies.”

Another time, his daughter, Christy, helped save his streak. His flight to Spoken like a real Phillies fanatic.

Chicago was diverted to Rockford, Illinois, because of thunderstorms.

On the cover: Bob Bogart at home with some of his baseball cards, yearbooks, The plane was sitting on the tarmac while Bogart listened to the Phillies media guides, and the Phillie Phanatic. game on XM Radio. He lost the signal and called his daughter at home.

She held the phone up to the television so he could hear the audio from the game.

Once the plane started to fly toward Chicago, he was able to pick up the signal on XM Radio.

His wife, Lauri, and family and relatives are very supportive of his Phillies addiction.

“Everyone is great,” he says. “They understand what it means to me. They go out of their way to accommodate me.”

It helps that his wife is a baseball fan who grew up rooting for the Chicago Cubs. When she and Bogart met at work, baseball was one of their common interests.

“Lauri’s the first woman I ever met who could explain the infield fly rule,” laughs Bogart.

Predictably, Bogart’s love of the Phillies isn’t limited to watching or listening to their games.

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26th Annual Edition

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

50plus Life

April 2022

5

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers.

These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Homeland at Home

OSS Health at Home

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www.homelandathome.org Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008 Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 14 counties.

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

Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes Complementary Therapies: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes Other Certifications and Services: Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a nonprofit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867.

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

We offer 13 months of bereavement support as well as community and staff educational programs. Please call for details.

Year Est.: 2013 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, York RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes

PATRIOT HOME CARE

(717) 406-2537 www.patriothomecare.org Year Est.: 2018 Counties Served: Adams, Berks, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: No Home Aides: Yes

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(717) 397-3044 www.homesteadvillage.org/home-care Medicare Certified: No Other Certifications and Services: Homestead Village is a local name you trust.

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Year Est.: 2010 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: No Home Aides: Yes

Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes Other Certifications and Services: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social work.

Year Est.: 2006 Counties Served: Dauphin, York RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: Physicians; specialists; nursing care; physical, occupational, and speech therapies; personal and home care; medications; meals and nutritional counseling; eye, dental, and foot care; durable medical equipment; and other medically necessary services.

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

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Central Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication 6

April 2022

50plus Life

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CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 25.

SUDOKU

Across WORD SEARCH

Elephants

1. Tennis great Arthur 5. Carry 9. Harpoon 12. Fired a gun 13. Change for a five 14. Oklahoma city 16. Gentle 17. 1961 Hayley Mills family flick 20. Get older 21. Washer cycle 22. Tristan’s love 23. Following 25. Gender (abbr.)

26. Japanese coin 27. Aviator 28. Coffee order 30. Kind of prize 31. 1985 Eastwood epic 35. Surrealist Max 37. Skater Midori 38. Itsy-bitsy 39. 1992 Charles Grodin doggie flick 41. Preserve 42. Sp. Mr. 43. Big name in oil 45. Nile viper

Down 1. The Thin Man canine 2. Carpet type 3. 1990 Macaulay Culkin silliness 4. Season, in France 5. 1937 Cary Grant comedy 6. Walking ___ 7. Sea swallow 8. Compass pt.

9. 2008 Steve Carell movie remake of TV series 10. Division word 11. Young females 15. Florida’s Miami-___ County

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48. Wager 49. Vaughan of jazz 50. French composer 52. Sharpen 53. Marry 56. 1992 Anthony Hopkins film 58. Loathsome 59. Make one’s way through a crowd 60. Asian nurse 61. Emerald ___ 62. Thing, in law 63. Persian spirit 64. Attention-getter 40.

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Nonstop 1982 Ben Kingsley epic Bard’s “before” “___ du lieber!”

Vegas attraction Might Navigational aid French door part Blood pigment Fashion magazine View as Dupe By means of

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50plus Life

April 2022

7

Pennsylvania Ranks No. 3 in Nation for 2021 Retiree Relocations

By Volodymyr Kupriyanov According to recent estimates, COVID forced up to 3 million Americans to retire earlier than planned. This development pushed the percentage of people aged 55 and over who are retired to 50%, which is 2% higher than it was before the pandemic.

All things being equal, this means we’d expect to see a spike in the number of people who moved for retirement, but that didn’t happen.

Quite to the contrary, the number of retirees who moved in 2021 dropped to 226,000 — roughly 43% fewer than in the year previous. It’s also the lowest number of American retirees in the last five years!

Unless otherwise stated, all the data behind the charts in this study was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and its Annual Social and Economic Supplements for 2021.

More Retired, but Fewer Moved The trend for retirees this past year is clear. But what are the causes? There could be a few plausible reasons for this discrepancy.

Why are fewer retirees moving?

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

1. COVID: It may seem like the pandemic is coming to an end, but it’s worth remembering that older Americans were the cohort hardest hit by the virus, with rates of infection, hospitalization, and death highest for folks over 65.

It’s therefore conceivable that many would-be retirees had COVID, had to care for someone who had it, or were otherwise affected by it. This may have undermined their willingness and ability to relocate.

2. Housing market: After a turbulent 2020, to say that the housing market rebounded this year would be a huge understatement. Prices continue to climb at a record pace, especially in the desirable quiet, quaint, low-on-crime, high-onsunshine neighborhoods retirees tend to seek out.

Meaning, despite the fact that most retirees downsize, they may be getting priced out of places where they’d like to retire.

3. Lack of retirement savings: Many Americans lacked retirement savings after having to spend them to sustain themselves or support their families even before the pandemic. This situation has arguably gotten worse in recent years, with one recent study finding that 14 million Americans stopped contributing to their pension plans.

! 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!

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

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.

Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA

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April 2022

50plus Life

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Most Stay Put, But Those that Go, Go Far Despite dwindling numbers of retiring Americans deciding to relocate, those who do make that decision tended to travel a lot farther than a typical person moving in 2021.

Americans moving for retirement were three times more likely to leave their state than those moving for work, family, or any other reason (47% vs. 16%).

This also constitutes a 10% increase on the previous year’s figures, where only 38% of people relocating for retirement decided to move out of their home state.

Tennessee Top State Choice for Retirement Moves Last year it was Virginia, this year it’s Tennessee; the Volunteer State was chosen by 13% of Americans moving out of state for retirement, the highest percentage of all U.S. states.

Tennessee is not only home to vibrant Nashville and Memphis, but is also the state with the lowest tax burden in the country, after Alaska.

Meanwhile, Florida, the staple in any “top destinations for retirement” list, wasn’t that far off the top spot. Of retirees who left their home state, 11% relocated to the Sunshine State in 2021. Pennsylvania (10%), North Carolina (10%), and South Carolina (9.4%) round off the top five.

Pittsburgh Tops Retirement-Destinations City List The city attracting the highest percentage of retirees is in Pennsylvania, and it’s Pittsburgh.

Once ranked as the best place to retire by Bankrate due to its low cost of living, excellent healthcare system, and a significant number of inhabitants being 65 or older, Pittsburgh was the top city destination of choice for 7% of all retirees in the U.S. in 2021 Departing Delaware, Moving Out of Maryland On the flip side, states that saw the highest percentage of retirees choosing to move out for retirement were Delaware and Maryland, where 22% of people moving to retire decided to leave. Utah, which was top of the ranking last year, had a share of 19% defectors.

Following them, a number of states, including Virginia and New Jersey, had 15% of their retirement moves headed outside the state.

To view the entire report, visit blog.hireahelper.com/2021-study-whereamericans-moved-to-retire-in-2021.

Palm Sunday Concert Scheduled

Office of Aging Seeking Volunteer Ombudsmen Volunteers ARE a gift to the community! At the Lancaster County Office of Aging, volunteers are a vital part of our Ombudsman Program. What is an OMBUDSMAN, you ask?

A Long-Term Care Ombudsman is an advocate for residents in Long Term Care Communities (nursing, personal care, assisted living, domiciliary homes, and adult day centers).

They help resolve concerns and improve communication between residents, staff, and families. Ombudsmen also encourage residents to address issues themselves by educating them and their families about resident’s rights.

If you’re looking for a flexible schedule, and have a passion for working with older adults, contact Robin Work, LTC Ombudsman/ Volunteer Coordinator at 717-209-3130. For more information on this essential service, visit our website: https://lancoaging.org/171/ Ombudsman-Program

Westminster Presbyterian Church’s music ministry will present a performance of John Rutter’s Requiem at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

The concert will feature the Sanctuary Choir of Westminster Church and its chamber orchestra.

The event is free and open to the public; a freewill offering will be collected.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is located at 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster. For more information, call (717) 392-5909 or visit westpca.com/concerts. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

April 2022

9

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Protect Yourself against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you tell me about stomach aneurysms? My father died from one about 10 years ago, and I’m wondering if that can increase my risk of developing one myself.

– Almost 60 Dear Almost, While you don’t hear much about them, stomach aneurysms, also known as abdominal aortic aneurysms, are very dangerous and the 10th leading cause of death in men over 55.

They also tend to run in families, so having had a parent with this condition makes you much more vulnerable yourself.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (or AAA) is a weak area in the lower portion of the aorta, which is the major artery that carries blood from the

heart to the rest of the body.

As blood flows through the aorta, the weak area bulges like a balloon and can burst if it gets too big, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. In fact, nearly 80% of AAAs that rupture are fatal, but the good news is that more than 9 in 10 detected early are treatable.

Risk Factors Around 200,000 people are diagnosed with AAAs each year, but estimates suggest that another 2 million people may have it but not realize it. The factors that can put you at increased risk are: • Smoking: 90% of people with an AAA smoke or have smoked.

• A ge: Your risk of getting an AAA increases significantly after age 65 in men and after age 70 in women.

• Family history: Having a parent or sibling who had an AAA can increase your risk to around 1 in 4.

• Sex: AAAs are five times more likely in men than in women.

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April 2022

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Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community Red Rose Screen Printing & Awards The Coterie Club United Zion Retirement Community Visiting Angels of Lancaster County

• Race: White people develop AAA more commonly than people of other ethnicities.

• Health factors: Atherosclerosis (also known as hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels also increase your risk.

Detection and Treatment Because AAAs usually start small and enlarge slowly, they rarely show any symptoms, making them difficult to detect. However, large AAAs can sometimes cause a throbbing or pulsation in the abdomen or cause a deep pain in your lower back or side.

The best way to detect an AAA is to get a simple, painless, 10-minute ultrasound screening test. All men over age 65 who have ever smoked, and anyone over 60 with a first-degree relative (father, mother, or sibling) who has had an AAA, should talk to their doctor about getting screened.

You should also know that most health insurance plans cover AAA screenings, as does Medicare, for beneficiaries with a family history of AAAs and for men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their life.

If an AAA is detected during screening, how it’s treated will depend on its size, rate of growth, and your general health. If caught in the early stages when the aneurysm is small, it can be monitored and treated with medication. But if it is large or enlarging rapidly, you’ll probably need surgery. please see PROTECT on facing page

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5 Things Retirees Will Wish They Had Known Sooner Many people planning for retirement anticipate those post-working years eagerly, ready to veg out after a life of toil. Others plan with greater anxiety, unsure whether they even have an identity without their jobs.

But it may be that retirement these days is far different from what either point of view envisions.

“We all have made decisions based on the information we had at the time, but later realized we would have planned differently if we knew then what we know now,” says Patti Hart, co-author with her husband, Milledge, of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the AntiRetirement Movement.

“That’s definitely true when it comes to planning for retirement.”

The Harts don’t even think of themselves as retirees, but as “resolutionists,” constantly challenging themselves to improve.

“I’m busier now than I’ve ever been,” Milledge Hart says. “I’m using this time to be a better me than I could when my days were structured and my time was spoken for.”

With that said, the Harts share five things future retirees may wish they had known sooner: 1. Retirement isn’t what it used to be. Most people’s vision of retirement is built on what the people around them did, but that vision is outdated.

“Many of us watched our parents or grandparents settle into a quiet, nondescript life,” Milledge Hart says. “We’ve seen the stereotypical portrayal of aging and irrelevant ‘retirees’ on TV shows and in the movies.”

But many retirees today are much more vibrant than those stereotypes and have no intention of sitting quietly on a front porch while the world passes them by.

2. People have more time in this phase of life than previous generations. Anyone who expects retirement to be a few short years tacked on to the end of their working life could be in for an awakening.

In actuality, this period could last 20-30 years or more. The average 65-year-old man can expect to live another 18 years, and the average 65year-old woman nearly 21 more years, according to the Social Security Administration.

And those, remember, are averages.

“Some people could spend more years in their post-career life than they did building their career,” Patti Hart says. “Knowing and understanding what that means will help you plan better.”

PROTECT from facing page AAA Protection While some risk factors like your age, sex, race, and family history are uncontrollable, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from AAAs. For starters, if you smoke, you need to quit — see Smokefree.gov or call (800) QUIT-NOW for help. www.50plusLifePA.com

3. It’s important to constantly prepare for the next phase. The Harts acknowledge they should have been planning earlier than they did. Instead, time slipped by.

“The horizon is closer than it looks,” Milledge Hart says.

So, when should you get serious about planning for those post-career years?

“Right now would be a good time,” he says. “But definitely, the sooner the better.”

4. Retirees need to redefine their metrics. The Harts say it’s important for people to redefine how they measure success in this phase of life because it’s different from how they likely measured success in their career days.

“The goals are likely to be more qualitative than quantitative,” Patti Hart says. “For example, one of our metrics one year was to enhance our celebrations. We found that many holidays and special events were filled with unnecessary stress and were too materially focused. We decided to eliminate event-driven gift giving.”

That simple change, she says, improved their lives substantially.

5. Being a “resolutionist” is fun. If someone had told the Harts when they were in their 30s that their “retirement” years would be filled with so much fun, laughter, and fulfillment, they would have been skeptical.

“We laugh more now than we’ve laughed at any other stage in our life,” Milledge Hart says. “This phase is instilled with so much adventure, and it’s a feeling that comes from within rather than the happiness of achieving a certain stock price.”

“I wish I had known sooner that I could say goodbye to the corporate world and still be interesting and relevant,” Patti Hart says.

“I wish I had known that retirement is yours to define. I successfully defined my role in the business world, but it didn’t dawn on me that I could also reinvent retirement. I don’t know why. It seems perfectly obvious now.”

Patti and Milledge Hart, co-authors of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the AntiRetirement Movement (antiretirement.com), spent more than 30 years as executive leaders in numerous technology and investment-banking businesses. Today, in what they call the “Resolutionist” — rather than retirement — phase of their lives, they are applying their resources and skills to global philanthropic and corporate activities.

You also need to keep tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and if they are high, you need to take steps to lower them through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medication.

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.

50plus Life

April 2022

11

The History of Ordinary Things

Spring Means Baseball Doris Montag

The first official game of baseball was held in 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The evolving rules of the game govern the materials, form, and dimensions of a regulation baseball bat and ball.

Major League Baseball (MLB) requires wood bats, typically made of white ash, maple, or hickory. American bat manufacturing has been dominated by Hillerich & Bradsby Co. and Adirondack.

Adirondack and the ‘Big Stick’ Adirondack was developed by Edwin McLaughlin of Dolgeville, New York, who made billets for baseball bats. In 1945, in partnership with George Millard, McLaughlin introduced quality white-ash wooden bats under the name Adirondack. They added the Adirondack logo in 1958.

In 1969, Adirondack introduced the batmobile, an Airstream trailer equipped to handturn bats at Major League spring camps. The Hillerich & Bradsby and the Louisville onsite availability converted big leaguers to the Slugger “Big Stick” bat. Between 1968 and 1975, the Andrew “Bud” Hillerich was born in Big Stick logo appeared with the player’s name Louisville, Kentucky, in 1866. His dad had a on the bat. woodworking shop, where Hillerich became Personal/signature models were made for an apprentice. recognized players, including Rico Carty, A Louisville Slugger bat, engraved in Cooperstown, N.Y., In 1884, at 17, Hillerich made his Tommy Harper, Cleon Jones, Willie Mays, and gifted to Doris Montag from a St. Louis Cardinals first professional bat for Pete Browning, Willie McCovey, Felix Millan, Don Money, collector. a megastar for the Louisville Eclipse.

John Roseboro, Ron Santo, and Joe Torre.

Browning’s nickname was the “Louisville Adirondack made standard models for Slugger.” In 1894, this logo became the registered trademark for the Hillerich Aaron, Alou, Cash, Cepeda, Horton, Howard, Rose, Hundley, Kaline, Mantle, bat.

Musial, Robinson, Staub, and Yastrzemski.

In 1905, Honus Wagner, “The Flying Dutchman,” signed a contract with In 1971, Rawlings bought Adirondack Industries. The logo was not changed Hillerich as the first player to endorse a bat (or any athletic product). Wagner to Rawlings until 1983. was a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1897-1917.

Regulations for Bats and Balls Frank Bradsby joined the business in 1911 to add sales and marketing Regulations for baseball equipment were introduced in 1876. Today, the expertise. In 1916, the company was renamed Hillerich & Bradsby Co. (H&B).

MLB regulations require each bat to be a round stick made of solid wood with a During World War I, H&B retooled to make equipment for the armed smooth surface. As of 2010, the maximum diameter of a Major League Baseball services. During World War II, H&B produced M-1 carbine gunstocks, track bat was set to 2.61 inches. pins for tanks, and billy clubs.

In 1869, the maximum length of a regulation baseball bat was set at no more The Louisville Slugger bat was the stick of choice for many MLB players, than 42 inches. This rule continues to this day in MLB. (Youth leagues range including Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Roberto from 26-31 inches; high school and college, 32-36 inches.)

Clemente, Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., and Derek Jeter.

The handle of the bat can be covered with any substance or material, such In 2015, Wilson Sporting Goods bought the Louisville Slugger brand from as pine tar, which improves the grip of the bat. Material for the grip helps to H&B. They continue to produce the Louisville Slugger bat in Louisville, absorb the sting from a hit.

Kentucky.

In the early history of the game, pitchers typically made their own baseballs.

When standards were defined, A.G. Spalding, a pitcher for Boston, convinced For active adults when apartment living is all you need! the league to adopt the ball he had been making as the official baseball. His ball was used for the next 100 years.

Affordable housing for those 62 and older, located in beautiful, historic Marietta Today, MLB baseballs weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces and are 9-9.25 Rents start at $778 and inches in circumference. The center of rubber or cork is wrapped in yarn and include all utilities (heat, covered with natural white horsehide or cowhide or synthetic composite leather. electric, water, sewer, trash), It is bound together by 108 handwoven, typically red-dyed stitches. That off-street parking, on-site number of double-threaded stitches has been shown to generate the best air laundry, community room, and community garden. pressure for the pitcher’s special throws.

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April 2022

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50plus Life

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.

www.50plusLifePA.com

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SPONSOR AND EXHIBITOR RESERVATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED

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April 2022

13

The Beauty in Nature

Peeping Peepers Clyde McMillan-Gamber

I visit the shallows of certain ponds and Some people, including myself, look forward to wetlands in, and bordering, woods in southeastern listening to and enjoying the wild, overwhelming Pennsylvania a couple evenings every April. concerts of spring peepers. That ageless peeping is I sit by those shallows in increasing darkness inspiring to hear on lovely April evenings and into and listen to the wild, almost incessant, chorusing the night. of male spring peepers, a kind of small frog. I Every peep is caused by each male peeper even imagine the peepers’ charming, primordial bulging his throat while his mouth is shut. The concerts transporting me back millions of years to enlarged throat amplifies the sound made by each the age of amphibians. love-struck male peeper.

The loud, simple peeping of many male I’ve seen only a few peepers in my lifetime peepers, in each of several shallows, pulses on and because they are tan, have 1-inch bodies, and are on through the night and on rainy days. Those well camouflaged in the wetland vegetation they ancient, unchanged concerts attract female peepers live among while consuming small invertebrates to males in the shallows to spawn scores of eggs per through the warmer months. female. Many of those eggs soon hatch into tiny, Listen for the wild, ageless dins of male spring brown tadpoles that ingest aquatic vegetation. peepers this April in local, wooded bottomlands.

An adult spring peeper.

Many of the ear-splitting evening dins of male Or be content to know those primordial concerts peepers are accompanied by the background music still exist after many millions of years. And it’s nice of bugling Canada geese, the singing of American robins, and the melodious to know that peeping peepers are another herald of spring! trilling of American toads. Those creatures, along with peeper concerts, add to Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist. our enjoyment of the soft, warm charms and beauties of April evenings.

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June 8

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50plus Life

April 2022

15

Willing to Wander

Happy Trails for You Victor Block

Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes, as others explore history from days of Native Americans to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight, while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water.

Along with its attractive beaches, Panama City, At the end of the day, Fla., boasts a variety of appealing walking trails. many of these visitors to Panama City, Florida, belly up to an oyster bar to enjoy freshly shucked bivalves that have been prepared in a variety of ways.

These seemingly disparate activities and attractions have one thing in common: They’re all taking place along designated trails that focus upon a single thing to do, see, or eat.

Countless trails around the country are available to people with a particular

interest. From food to fashions, covered bridges to Kentucky bourbon, they offer something-for-everyone variety.

No matter how esoteric someone’s passion, there may be a walking, driving, biking, paddling, or other trail somewhere that focuses upon it.

Image credit: Fields of Gold Consider The Fields of Gold Farm Trail promotes the many Panama City agritourism sites and activities in Virginia’s (destinationpanamacity.

Shenandoah Valley. com), a community of about 37,000 residents perched along Florida’s northwestern coast. For a smallish municipality, that town provides a surprising choice of routes that both locals and visitors may explore.

The Oyster Trail alone has enough appeal to bring some travelers to town. A dozen restaurants, ranging from a 10-stool oyster bar to a casual grill to a fine-

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dining establishment, serve time. the fresh-from-the-sea Not to be outdone, food raw, baked, fried, and trails that make their way prepared in other ways. through Ohio (trails.ohio.

Whether visiting org) focus upon interests Panama City for the as diverse as shopping and bivalves or birds, hiking or steam trains, Italian food history, you might find a and ice cream. trail with appeal.

Given the love of nature Restaurants along by many residents of a different oyster trail, Oregon, it’s not surprising which runs through Gulf that among trails within Shores and Orange Beach, its borders are paths for Alabama, bring their own hiking and biking, seeing personal touch to their wildlife and wildflowers, recipes. In addition to and dozens of other routes.

The Oregon Trail was laid by fur traders and trappers Distilleries along the Kentucky traditional preparations, Most famous is the from about 1811 to 1840 and was only passable on foot Bourbon Trail celebrate the some serve them stretch of the Oregon or by horseback. commonwealth’s designation as barbequed, fire-roasted, Trail (nps.gov/oreg) in the “the birthplace of bourbon.”

Alfredo style, and in state, part of the historic ceviche (gulfshores.com). wagon route that began in It’s Louisiana’s rich gastronomic culture that is celebrated along the Cajun Missouri and on which, in the early 19th century, an estimated 400,000 settlers, Bayou Food Trail (lacajunbayou.com). It comprises restaurants that serve local farmers, miners, ranchers, and others followed in their quest for a new life. favorites like gumbo, jambalaya, and pecan pralines. Some family-run eateries From seafood to sweets, berries to beverages, it’s likely that somewhere in the follow recipes that have been passed down for generations. country there may be one or more driving, walking or other trails focused upon Variety of a different kind greets visitors to the Fields of Gold Farm Trail in an interest of yours.

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley (fieldsofgold.org). People may stroll through a After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He farmers market, tour a working spread, enjoy a locally grown meal at a gardenbelieves that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American to-table restaurant, or pick their own fruit at an orchard.

Travel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories Fresh-picked apples, pears, grapes, and cherries are sold at more than two dozen stands located along the colorfully named Hood River County Fruit Loop about them have won a number of writing awards. in Oregon (hoodriverfruitloop.com). The 35-mile trail passes forests, farmlands, and orchards. Vendors also offer flowers, pies, jam, and local artisan gifts.

Berries are used in different ways on a route that leads through Surry County, North Carolina. The colorfully named Surry Sonker Trail (sonkertrail.org) connects a bakery, general store, winery, and other places that serve that quaintly named dessert.

It’s believed the sweet treat was created in the early 1800s by homemakers seeking to stretch the use of fruit or use it before it rotted. Recipes include fruit sweetened with sugar, molasses, and other ingredients blended into unshaped dough so, like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

Where there’s food there often are beverages, and the birthplace of one is acclaimed along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (kybourbontrail.com). Guests may visit a distillery that traces its ancestry back to the 18th century and another Set in Hollywood in the late 1920’s, the story focuses on Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo where they have a tasting while standing in the largest bourbon barrel in the Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood’s leading lady Lina Lamont, who’s lessworld. than-pleasant vocal tones make her an improbable contender for stardom in the new talking Those who like the word “soft” before their drink may prefer to set their sights pictures. This all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza includes memorable songs such as Good on the Coca-Cola Trail (thecocacolatrail.com). Places related to that worldMornin’, Make ‘Em Laugh and the show-stopping Singin’ in the Rain! famous beverage are described in a book of the same name, which can serve as a guide to museums, historic bottling plants, and other destinations around the country.

The story began in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the concoction was first bottled in 1894. Other stops can include the Dawson & Stevens Diner in Grayling, Michigan, which doubles as a Coca-Cola museum, and a former bottling plant in Los Angeles that was built in the shape of an ocean liner.

Not surprisingly, state tourism offices promote the trails concept as a way to attract visitors.

For example, Maine (visitmaine.com) has a driving tour that leads to 34 outdoor sculptures strung out along 273 miles of its coastline; a ThoreauWabanaki Trail, which includes canoe routes the author followed during trips to Get Your Tickets Today! that state in the mid-1800s; and a Freedom Trail in Portland that leads to sites 717-898-1900 • DutchApple.com associated with the Underground Railroad and the antislavery movement of that 510 Centerville Rd. Lancaster, PA 17601

FEBRUARY 25 - APRIL 16

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50plus Life

April 2022

17

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘A Horse with No Name’ Randal Hill

We’ve all been through this before. You hear a new tune on the radio, and it grabs you by the collar, demanding your attention. Soon it’s burrowing deeply inside your brain, to reside there forever. It’s a song you never forget.

But sometimes, when you get to thinking later about its rather puzzling lyrics, you end up scratching your head and asking, “What is this really all about?”

We’re talking here about “A Horse with No Name” by U.K.-based America, a trio of U.S.-born folk singers — Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek — who each had fathers who frequently relocated to military bases around the world.

“The song was born out of pure boredom,” admits leader Bunnell, a Neil Young-soundalike who was just 19 when he created the million-seller.

“I had just graduated high school in London, and my family moved up to Yorkshire … I wanted to stay in London, so I moved into the home of a friend and his family … I wrote the song alone in this guy’s

Photo credit: AVRO, Beeld en Geluid Wiki, an initiative by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.

Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek performing on Dutch TV series TopPop in 1972.

“A Horse with No Name”

By America April 1972

bedroom that I share …

“I wanted to capture the imagery of the desert, because I was sitting in this room in England, and it was rainy. I wanted to capture the heat and the dryness.”

First called “Desert Song,” Bunnell built his odd tale on a foundation of three guitar chords.

In 1971, the trio released their self-titled debut album in the U.K. but, since no issued single had caught record buyers’ attention yet, sales proved lackluster.

However, when “Horse” became a successful British 45 that November, the America LP was reissued to great success, thanks to the Bunnellcomposed hit track.

When Bunnell’s creation was released in the States, it too became an overnight winner; the Warner Records 45 reached No. 1 here for three weeks, and the America album dominated the LP charts for over a month. please see HORSE on facing page

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!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

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April 2022

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Lancaster Children’s Choir to Perform in Hershey The Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster will present their spring concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 10, in the sanctuary at Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey.

The concert is part of the church’s 2021-22 Arts Alive cultural series. A free-will offering will be received.

Under the leadership of artistic director Rosemary Siegrist Blessing, the Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster serves approximately 160 children and youth in kindergarten through grade 12 and represents nearly 65 congregations, 45 schools, and 15 denominations.

The Arts Alive season will continue at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 1, with a recital by pianist Eun Ae Baik-Kim and violinist Audrey Holmes.

Handicapped parking and an elevator are available. Face masks for audience members are optional.

For more information, call the church office at (717) 533-9667 or visit derrypres.org.

HORSE from facing page The song’s imagery had emerged from Bunnell’s childhood at an Air Force base on the damp central California coast.

“We’d drive through Arizona and New Mexico,” he recalls. “I loved the cactus and the heat. [In the song] I was trying to capture the sights and sounds of the desert.”

His free-flowing lyrics were painted with a broad brush and ranged from the elementary-school simplicity of: There were plants and birds and rocks and things and The heat was hot and the ground was dry to the Dylaneque denseness of: The ocean is a desert with its life underground And a perfect disguise above Dewey saw the desert as an existential epiphany but later admitted, “The song was a travelogue with an environmental message in there about saving the planet.”

As to the enigmatic image of the horse?

“I see now that this anonymous horse was a vehicle to get me away from all the confusion and chaos of life to a peaceful, quiet place.”

Come to think of it, though, after all that time spent in peaceful desert solitude, wouldn’t the narrator have eventually come up with a name for his steed?

Just wondering.

The Lancaster County Office of Aging is currently recruiting volunteers for the PA Medi (formerly APPRISE) Program.

PA Medi offers beneficiaries assistance navigating the oftenconfusing Medicare system. They also help with Medicaid and other insurance questions. Topics are discussed in an unbiased and easy-to-understand manner. Our volunteer counselors provide these objective services for free.

One must be available weekdays for online and face-to-face training, shadowing a mentor, and conducting counseling by phone and in person in our interview rooms at the Office of Aging. Most volunteers donate at least 4 hours per week.

Volunteers are trained in these areas: • Medicare eligibility and enrollment • Medicare benefits, services through Parts A and B and Medigap • Prescription Drug (Part D) plans • Medicare Advantage Plans • Medicaid, PACE and other financial assistance programs • Assistance with the Medicare appeal process • Long-Term Care policies • How to make presentations during Open Enrollment

If you have questions or would like to join this fulfilling team of volunteers, please contact: Kim Skinner, Volunteer Coordinator, PA Medi Dept. using contact info below.

We are located at: Lancaster County Office of Aging 150 North Queen St., Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 17603 at kskinner@co.lancaster.pa.us or 717-299-7979

Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

April 2022

19

Grief Relief

Dealing with the Death of a Grandchild Victor M. Parachin

It is estimated that more than 160,000 American grandparents lose a grandchild to death every year.

And when that happens, the grief of a grandparent is doubled. They grieve not only the death of a grandchild but, additionally, they grieve for their child whose child has died.

In spite of this double-grief experience, grandparents are often ignored, neglected, overlooked, and sidelined as invisible grievers.

Support and comfort is directed entirely at those regarded as the primary mourners: the parents and the siblings of the child who died.

Here are some suggestions for grandparents who are dealing with the death of a grandchild.

life experience, they simply assume you, as a grandparent, have better skills for dealing with bereavement.

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Read up about grief and the process of grief recovery. Visit a bookstore or library to locate books about loss. The information you glean will be empowering and provide you with an “emotional GPS” for finding your way please see DEALING on facing page

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

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Be understanding when your grief as a grandparent isn’t acknowledged. People don’t intend to be unkind or dismissive of your grief. In reality, they are untutored in the area of grief, particularly that of a grandparent.

As a result, they erroneously think it is not your child who died, so your pain must be less intense. Also, because grandparents have more

Expect a bumpy ride because grieving generates a wide range of confusing and conflicting feelings.

“Grief is a roller coaster of emotions. You may be in denial one day and then sad or angry the next. Unfortunately, experiencing such a painful loss can’t be summed up by one idea or emotion,” Dr. Alejandra Vasquez, J.D., a certified grief counselor, says.

“This process will change often and usually when you least expect it. As time goes on, you’ll begin to have good days … Given enough time, with conscious grief recovery, the pain will subside, and your grandchild will forever be in your heart.”

OT

Lancaster County Office of Aging Maintaining the independence and quality of life for Lancaster County’s aging population through information, protection, services, and community support.

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.

• 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.

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• Long-term living assessments

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• 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

3 Easy Tips on How to File Taxes Securely Online According to the data, over 91% of the 165 million tax returns in the U.S. were filed electronically last year. Due to the ongoing presence of coronavirus, it is expected that an even greater percentage of tax documents will be submitted online this year.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals have become more active than ever this tax season. People doing business online, especially accounting firms, are now prime targets for hackers looking to exploit any vulnerability.

Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity specialist at NordLocker, says that whether you do taxes on your own or employ an accountant, protecting your personal documents should be a priority.

“Many people have lost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and had their personal data stolen through tax scams. It is vitally important to take security into consideration when going about this annual taxpayer duty,” he explains.

Noble offers three basic tips for avoiding tax-filing risks online.

1. Don’t fall for a phishing scam. Phishing is an attempt to steal confidential data from internet users through impersonation. This criminal technique is most often used in emails and text messages.

According to the FTC, the imposter scam is the No. 1 type of fraud in the U.S., costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars.

To avoid having your money or identity stolen through phishing, remember this: • Never click on links you receive in emails, text messages, or social media posts claiming to be from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information from taxpayers through these channels.

• Never send your personal information to any “official” or “representative” by email or a text message.

• W hen in doubt, before doing anything, contact your bank to check the legitimacy of the required actions. Don’t forget that banks, like the IRS, never ask for your personal information by phone or email.

DEALING from facing page through grief.

Some good books include Healing a Grandparent’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Grandchild Dies by Alan Wolfelt; Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love: Daily Meditations to Help You Through the Grieving Process

by Raymond R. Mitsch and Lynn Brookside; Healing Grief by Victor M. Parachin; and Grieving: Your Path Back to Peace by James R. White.

Learn from others who are like you. Try finding other grandparents in your community or your place of worship who have had the sad experience of losing a grandchild.

Two excellent online resources where you can learn from other grandparents are the Compassionate Friends organization (compassionatefriends.org/the-grief-of-grandparents) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (aarp.org).

Honor your grandchild by doing something in their memory. Plant trees; establish a scholarship; self-publish a small photo book of their life; make www.50plusLifePA.com

2. Use a VPN when connecting to your online accounts. As a rule of thumb, never file taxes, submit any personal information online, or log in to your bank accounts over public Wi-Fi. If there’s no other choice, you should use a reliable VPN service to protect your connection.

VPNs (virtual private networks) replace your IP address with a virtual one that fraudsters cannot trace back to you and your data.

But the risks aren’t limited to just public networks. Even your home Wi-Fi may be breached by skilled hackers, so you should always use a VPN to keep your information private.

3. Protect your tax forms and bills. If you’re sending your files to someone, make sure to encrypt them first.

Tax documents can give away a lot of personally identifiable information, which is why they should never be stored unprotected on your computer or in the cloud. Start to employ user-friendly file-encryption tools to effectively protect all your valuable information from prying eyes.

The IRS requires taxpayers to store all documents used for tax credits or deductions for three years.

Luckily, they accept digital copies, so you don’t have to worry about blurry receipts or digging through piles of paper — simply keep your tax return documents, including photocopies of receipts, in a private encrypted folder either on your computer or in the cloud.

“Cyberattacks may be on the rise, but they don’t have to necessarily happen to you. As a taxpayer, you can easily protect your sensitive data with the tools designed for that purpose. Adopting these practices for your online tax returns will also help you watch out for other online threats,” says Noble.

NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end file encryption tool with a private cloud.

It was created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN — one of the most advanced VPN service providers in the world. With NordLocker, files are protected from hacking, surveillance, and data collection. For more information: nordlocker.com

a donation to a nonprofit in their name; advocate for a cause that relates to their death.

Honor your grandchild in whatever way feels comfortable to you.

Remain hopeful that your journey through grief will come to an end.

Vasquez reminds grandparents: “Where there’s light, there’s hope. While you may feel the pain will never end, seek comfort in knowing that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Although you’ll never quite get over losing your loved one, the heartbreak will subside as you learn to accept the loss.

“There’s no actual timeline as to when you’ll get through your grieving process,” she says. “Have patience and know that emotions will improve with time. Learning to appreciate every moment of every day is a great way to keep the memory of your loved one alive. In time, your life will develop new meaning.”

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

50plus Life

April 2022

21

On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

Pennsylvania Woman, 63, Would Like to Meet a Mate

With spring in the air and the COVID-19 pandemic easing, single seniors are starting to think about romance.

Sonia, a Pennsylvania resident, recently emailed me: “I’ve read your articles for years and love them. I am 63 and would like to date someone my age or some years younger.”

I replied: With winter behind us and COVID cases declining, singles will find it easier to meet potential mates as people reenter the dating scene. I suggest you focus on meeting someone who lives within a 50-mile radius of your Pennsylvania home, which would be within a reasonable driving distance.

Long-distance relationships for seniors are difficult; they often require traveling by airplane to see each other. Here are four tips for you to meet potential partners.

When using dating sites, keep your search area within the suggested 50-mile radius.

And speaking of scammers, be careful no matter what online site you choose. There are scammers on every site.

They prey on lonely seniors, primarily widows, so there is risk in online dating.

Trust your instincts. If a man sounds too good to be true, he likely is. If you find someone of interest, do background research on that person to be sure he is who he claims to be.

Don’t ever send a stranger money.

2. To meet new people, get off the couch. Get out of the house and involved in activities you enjoy. When senior singles venture out, their chances of meeting a possible mate increase.

If you see a man who appears to be single — no wedding 1. Try online dating. No masks required. In fact, masks ring, for example — and he appeals to you, be assertive by are discouraged. We haven’t heard that said in a while! saying hello or asking him a question like, “Which wine Sonia Use sites that cater to older adults, such as Silver Singles, goes best with this salad?” eHarmony, Senior Dating, or OurTime (owned by Match.com). Most sites will Start a conversation by being assertive — not aggressive. Be pleasant; always charge a monthly fee. POF (Plenty of Fish) doesn’t initially charge unless you smile. Smiles help open many doors. upgrade, but it has a reputation for lots of scammers. please see PA WOMAN on facing page

69% of Caregivers Receive No Paid Help All Need Products and Services to Help Them on Their Journeys.

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Taking Away Your Parent’s Car Keys

By Dr. Ken Druck Who can forget what it was like to give our kids the keys and watch them pull out of the driveway on their first solo ride?

Fostering independence is one of the most important parts of raising a teenager. If our kids act responsibly, they win our trust and earn more privileges. If they don’t, we’re in for a long ride, holding them accountable at every turn.

When our mother and father get older, some of us find ourselves in the same position, except this time it’s with our aging parents.

We get complaints about Dad’s erratic driving from our mother, who’s terrified of getting into the car with him — or from our father telling us, “Your mother’s driving 40 miles an hour on the freeway. Cars are honking and speeding past us at 75, and she won’t listen when I tell her to get out of the fast lane!”

Talking to your aging parents about the changes in their lives like this can be difficult, but it’s a critically important part of being a good son or daughter.

Whether precipitated by a harrowing drive with Dad or a new health concern that could render them dangerously unfit to drive, we need to have “the talk” about giving up driving. And when we do, it’s essential to approach it with patience, understanding, and loving support.

7 Guidelines for Having ‘the Talk’ 1. Summon the courage and set a gentle tone for an exploratory conversation with your parent, where you can calmly express your concerns, talk about options, and propose constructive solutions.

To prepare, organize and write down simple, clear talking points you will want to convey.

2. Show compassion, sensitivity, and empathy for how difficult this loss of independence and freedom might be for your parent. Have practical suggestions available for helping your parent adjust to the possibility that their driving days may be coming to an end.

The emotional tone will, of course, depend on your parent’s ability and willingness to face the problem and take action.

3. Decide who is best suited to have this talk with your parent. Might the best person to talk with them be you, or maybe it should be a trusted family member, physician, priest, minister, rabbi, or close friend?

It must be an effective communicator your parent trusts and who can reason with them about something as sensitive as this. Come up with an effective plan for who and how to best approach your parent before rushing into this.

4. Make sure everybody (in your family and who is caregiving your parent) understands what’s going to happen and what role, if any, they will play. Hopefully, things will go well and you’ll come to an agreement — but this isn’t always the case. It may be necessary to resort to a tough-love approach.

Your parent may become angry and defensive — like your kids did when you took away their car keys — because they view this as a major loss of independence.

5. Be loving and supportive but also direct and factual, with a concrete suggestions and a plan for modifying their driving habits. If you are met with resistance, suggest going for an eye exam, taking a driving test, or leaving the decision to their doctor or the DMV. Set a positive, caring tone at the outset. Be direct in voicing your concerns, but don’t allow the conversation to escalate into an argument. If things are going sideways, step back and allow some breathing room.

A few open-ended questions, such as, “Mom, do you understand why we’re concerned?” or, “What do you propose as a solution, Dad?” or, “What would you do if it were your father and you were worried about his safety?” might get the discussion back on a good track.

6. As you wind down the conversation, summarize what’s been said and decided in a clear statement to your parents, family, caregivers, and anybody else who’s involved so that everybody understands what is now going to happen.

7. Follow through on everything that has been discussed and decided.

Continue to help your parents adjust to their new life, acknowledging the benefits that will accompany this change. And continue to hold them accountable.

Take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

Being a good son or daughter is sometimes very difficult. So is watching your parents get older.

You can take pride in knowing you’ve done the right thing in assuring their — and other people’s — safety, and in helping them make difficult but necessary quality-of-life decisions and changes.

Dr. Ken Druck is an international authority on healthy aging and author of the new book Raising an Aging Parent (kendruck.com/programs/products). He has spent four decades helping people grow into the more courageous, compassionate, and resilient version of themselves by transforming adversities and losses of every kind into opportunities.

PA WOMAN from facing page

meet new people.

Also, volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people. And you’ll be helping others as well.

So, Sonia, be as visible as possible. Keep your expectations in check. Don’t go out with the express purpose of meeting a partner. Go out to enrich your life. Be friendly and have a positive attitude. Don’t give up hope.

Sonia shared her photo with us. If any of our Pennsylvania-area readers would like to contact her, email me at tompblake@gmail.com, and I will forward the email to her.

3. Network. Ask your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances if they know of someone who is near your age and single and who might be a nice mate for you.

And don’t stop asking, because as we age, people’s lives change in an instant.

Some become widows or widowers, and others have relationships that end.

4. Attend classes. When the weather is warmer, you can sign up for classes such as tai chi, yoga, and pickleball, for example. You’ll get exercise, and you’ll www.50plusLifePA.com

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to findingloveafter50.com.

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April 2022

23

Why Letting My Aging Father Make Bad Decisions Was a Very Good Decision

By Amy Cameron O’Rourke

When my father was in his 80s, he experienced ongoing numbness in his feet due to neuropathy.

His legs stopped working well, and he had difficulty getting around, even with a walker.

Simply trying left him exhausted.

But he believed there was a cure. So when his cardiologist recommended heart valve surgery, he convinced himself the surgery would improve his legs, too.

His trusted, longtime dermatologist told him, “Your life will not be the same if you go through with this surgery.” My sister, a nurse, and I also explained the risks. To all of our dismay, Dad went ahead with the operation.

No surgery is minor or routine for a patient in their 80s. After my father’s surgery, he was never as strong mentally or physically again.

In what is known as the “flat affect” that can result from medications and anesthesia, he seemed to lose a lot of his spark and developed a lingering, vacant look. Sadly, none of his mobility or stamina problems improved.

Yet, aside from making our cases about the surgery’s risks, those of us who were close to him did not try to control his actions or impose our will.

From my 40 years of experience as a care manager to older adults, I know all too well that most efforts to control aging parents’ behavior are met by resistance.

Time and again I’ve seen my clients try to protect their parents from countless potential dangers: driving when their eyesight and reflexes are not what they used to be, climbing ladders to clean out the gutter of their home, keeping — and eating — expired food in the fridge.

These things happen. All the time.

So do lifestyle changes affecting older loved ones’ health and fitness that younger generations wish they could fix. Refrains like “Stand up straight, Mom,” “Let’s go to the gym together,” “Try walking three times a day,” and “What if you got meals delivered?” are all too common.

But adults in their fragile years resist attempts by their children to help them stay healthy and safe because they fear help is a sign that the end of life is approaching and that they’re no longer in control.

Watching a parent who was once strong, upright, and clear-thinking diminish is painful and sad. And trying to get the parent to not decline, and to stay clear of dangers, is a normal response.

But when is — or isn’t — it the right thing to do?

I’m a firm believer that it’s best for adult children to give up any thought of “controlling” their aging parents, even if this means allowing them to make bad decisions. Trying to control them will ultimately prove as futile as telling kids what to do over and over again.

Instead, my advice is to work with them to help them feel more comfortable with assistance and advice.

Navigating this process takes patience and skill. Here are a few steps I recommend, from my experience as both a professional caregiver and a daughter: Get involved early in the game. For years I made trips once or twice a year from my home in Florida to visit and stay with my dad in Michigan. He would also come visit me in Florida each winter. This ongoing involvement

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helped him trust me and open up more about his condition as he grew older.

In contrast, I was once assessing an older woman on her daughter’s request, and the woman said to me, “My daughter thinks I am dying, doesn’t she?” The daughter hadn’t visited in three years. Her sudden involvement was a red flag.

If you are involved on a regular basis over the years, your presence and support will not be alarming, and your parent will be more inclined to cooperate with your initiatives rather than resist.

Spend some extended periods of time with your parent. During one of his trips to Florida, my dad did not want to play golf — one of his all-time favorite activities. Because I had spent extended stretches of time with him, I knew this was unusual.

In his book My Mother, Your Mother, Dr. Dennis McCullough lays out a 72-hour visit concept, encouraging adult children to spend time with their parents over extended periods of time. No judgment, no convincing them to do anything; just be there. You can observe, get a better sense of your parent’s capacities, and build trust.

Just listen — and don’t try to fix anything. When my dad said he didn’t want to play golf, I simply listened, refraining from trying to troubleshoot or offer solutions.

This helped me gain valuable information about his condition and reinforced for him the notion that my presence was a safe place for him to talk about the changes he was experiencing — laying the groundwork for me to better assess new situations as they arose.

Proceed slowly. When it came to talking about touchy subjects, such as money or my father’s medications, I found it best to start by testing the waters.

I’d make a comment in passing and see how he reacted. If a conversation started, I would not push to take it further than my father was ready for.

Ratcheting down and going slowly can allow you to seek solutions that are small in size and build from there.

Pick your battles. Looking back, there is only one battle I would have fought if needed: the decision to move my father into a nursing home.

Fortunately for us, it wasn’t necessary; my father took that initiative on his own.

I’m certain that letting my father make his own decisions — no matter how bad they seemed — was the best choice I could have made for our relationship and quality of life. Our relationship remained steady and affectionate throughout his fragile years, and my family and I had the gift of accompanying him lovingly to a peaceful end-of-life.

Amy Cameron O’Rourke (agingexpert.com) is a nationally known pioneer and advocate for senior care in the U.S. A professional care manager with over 40 years of experience, she is founder and president of The Cameron Group: Aging Life Care Services in Orlando, Fla., and author of The Fragile Years, which is available on Amazon.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Big Bucks for Pokémon Lori Verderame

Pokémon, or Pocket Monsters, the famed card evaluators who are also collectors or dealers who game and collectibles that originated in Japan, want to buy your cards may not have your best remain popular with collectors. interest at heart. Make sure your appraiser is not Pokémon cards are widely traded and derived also a Pokémon collector. from Japanese anime art. The trading card game How do you tell if your Pokémon card is and collecting category have dedicated collectors, valuable? It isn’t just one factor that impacts value; and they are ready to spend big for that important it is many. For instance, when considering the value card. of Pokémon cards, collectors look for cardstockRecently, a rare Pokémon card brought $375,000 paper thickness, no ink-loss areas or print skips, no from a collector with deep pockets. Judging from rips or tears to the card. Creases are a no-no too. this sale, that collector wanted to line his pockets And yes, there are fakes out there. Fake cards with a collection of pocket monsters. don’t have the quality printing that authentic The very valuable Pokémon card that sold for Pokémon cards have. If a card is printed on a type nearly $400,000 actually was a card that featured a of see-through paper, it’s probably a fake too. print error. The card was supposed to show the title Like the all-important tags on collectible Ty Inc. at the top as Trainer, yet it reads Illustrator instead. stuffed toys that feature printing errors, Pokémon This unnumbered card was rare because only trading cards that have printed errors are the talk of a limited number of them were made. It was also the collectibles market, too. Mistakes and misprints rare because it was sold from the collection of may appear on Pokémon trading cards, so look for one of Pokémon’s developers. This card was first them. distributed to those elite few who participated in And the presence of certain print techniques is Photo credit: Staff of drloriv.com Pokémon contests. important to establishing authenticity of Pokémon The back of a Pokémon trading card.

The prize card was one of only 41 ever made, and trading cards, such as a shadow placed around the it has some special symbols and information that pocket monster’s image. For instance, a printed excite Pokémon collectors. shadow placed around an image of Pikachu or Magikarp on a trading card When it comes to valuable Pokémon cards, your collection of trading indicates the card is not the rarest type, as the earliest Pokémon cards did cards can have good value too. What are some of the traits to look for when not have shadows. identifying the most valuable Pokémon cards?

When it comes to Pokémon cards, make sure you know what you have Look at the front and the back and make sure the printing and imagery before you trade or sell them. Keep collections together, and remember that are crisp and sharp. Condition is always a vital factor, and those Pokémon the condition of your Pokémon trading cards will contribute to their value in cards that are PSA graded will command the highest values in the the market. marketplace.

There’s more information about the complexities of Pokémon cards on my Get an appraisal before you invest money in a Pokémon card or any YouTube channel. trading card that is PSA graded. You’ll be glad you did. If you are going to Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori sell valuable cards, grading is a must. appears on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She gives appraisals at While many factors impact Pokémon card values, remember that

Puzzles shown on page 7.

Puzzle Solutions

drloriv.com, youtube.com/drloriv, or call (888) 431-1010.

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April 2022

25

Tinseltown Talks

Claudia Wells Went ‘Back to the Future’ Nick Thomas

When the Los Angeles Elisabeth Shue in Parts II Hollywood Museum and III. reopened last August, “I’ve met fans who having closed its doors to remember watching the public during much Part II when it came out of the pandemic, Claudia and didn’t even notice a Wells was one of many different actress was playing guests invited to celebrate Jennifer,” Wells said. “But the event that included a others told me they were Back to the Future exhibit. screaming at the screen Wells appeared in the wondering why there was a original 1985 movie as different Jennifer.”

Jennifer Parker, girlfriend Despite bumping into to Marty McFly, played by other cast members of the Photo courtesy Universal Pictures.

Photo courtesy the Hollywood Museum.

Claudia Wells and Michael J. Fox in 1985’s The Hollywood Museum in the historic Michael J. Fox, who starred trilogy while traveling the Back to the Future.

Max Factor Building. in the beloved movie film-convention circuit over trilogy. the years, the two Jennifers Diagnosed with have never met (who knows April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month Parkinson’s disease in what that might do to the 1991 at age 29, Fox space-time continuum!). later established the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research “I’d love to meet Elisabeth because I think she’s just a brilliant actress, and I (michaeljfox.org), which was also presented with a $5,000 donation during the was actually quite flattered when they cast her in the role.” event.

After an acting “I’m a big gap of about cheerleader for 20 years, Wells the Back to the returned to film Future trilogy,” and television. said Wells from She also opened Los Angeles (see and still runs claudiawells.

Armani Wells, a com). “So, menswear store anything I can do in Studio City, to promote the California. movies and help “The store support Michael, turned 30 years I’m there with old in December. bells on.”

I am so fortunate Back to the to have found Photo courtesy the Hollywood Museum.

A film-used DeLorean was on display as part of the Future was Wells’ two different The Hollywood Museum lobby.

Back to the Future exhibit. first movie role. careers that Her scenes were brief but memorable, as was her first day on the set. are completely “It was the last scene of the movie with me, Michael, and Christopher Lloyd fulfilling.” in the car,” she recalled. “I remember when [Lloyd] got out of the car and Wells says she was thrilled to be included in the reopening of the Hollywood raised up those metal glasses on his face, it ripped the old-age makeup on his Museum, especially with its Back to the Future exhibit and its support of the forehead, and we had to wait for hours for him to get the makeup redone to Michael J. Fox Foundation. shoot again.”

“Michael was able to hide the disease for a number of years, and I was She also recalls meeting Fox for the first time. absolutely flabbergasted when I first heard he was diagnosed,” she said.

“They were filming the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea’ dance scene at a “He was so good at physical comedy and so healthy. But he has not only church, and I was sent around to meet Michael. He came outside, gave me a been an inspiration to others who have Parkinson’s, but has encouraged hug, and told me he was looking forward to working with me. He was very research that will hopefully lead to a cure one day.” positive, upbeat, kind, funny, natural, and great fun to work with.”

But when time came to reprise her role four years later in Back to the Future: Nick Thomas has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See tinseltowntalks.com.

Part II, Wells was unavailable due to a family illness and was replaced by

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And as a university-affiliated health system connected to Penn State College of Medicine, we also give you access to innovative clinical trials—with the latest treatments and new hope.

Get peace of mind close to home at a location near you.

Penn State Health Neurosurgery Milton S. Hershey Medical Center 30 Hope Drive, Entrance B, Suite 1200 Hershey, PA 17033 717-531-3828 American Office Center 423 N. 21st Street, Suite 300 Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-763-2559 St. Joseph Medical Center Medical Office Building 2494 Bernville Road, Suite 201 Reading, PA 196053 610-378-2557

NEU-16797-22 173620 022822 50+LM