50plus Life Lebanon County – April 2023

Nutritional Status Matters in Parkinson’s Disease

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and as such I have been studying the condition to see if there is anything new or of interest, especially in the way of natural medicine.

Parkinson’s disease impacts 10 million people worldwide, and each year, 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with it.

Men seem to be more likely to develop the condition, but according to a new prevalence study, as the population ages, the number of people diagnosed with PD increases with age, regardless of sex.

I looked at a prevalence map, and Montana and North Dakota have the fewest number of people with PD (about 1,400 and 2,000 people, respectively), whereas California and Florida top the list with the most people with the disease (85,000 and

64,000 people, respectively).

There are websites offering much more detail regarding symptoms of PD, but a few telltale signs include tremor in the hands, slowed movements, muscle rigidity, poor balance, fatigue, or a distorted sense of smell.

Among the cognitive signs and symptoms, you may have disturbing dreams, restless sleep, confusion at night, anxiety, dementia, or difficulty with comprehension.

I could write a book on the medications and how to use them properly, but that is not the focus of my article. I’m planning to give you nutritional options and some understanding of vitamin deficiencies and how that impacts your prognosis.

During my research, I discovered some interesting findings about nutrients that might be useful for you.

Here are some nutrients that may play an important adjunctive role in your PD protocol:

Vitamin B12 (or methylcobalamin). We know that the B-complex family of vitamins is important for proper nerve health. There is an important relationship between B12 specifically and Parkinson’s.

We also know that people with peripheral neuropathy are often deficient in B12. And it’s not just peripheral; there was a study in 2014 that found that B12 deficiency is one cause of small fiber neuropathy. Test yourself with a methylmalonic acid test along with a serum B12 test.

Vitamin D. A 2019 study was among several others that determined vitamin D deficiency could impact the outcome for people with PD. Keeping levels of D high enough is difficult for the elderly. It’s hard to get enough sunlight, and even if they do, their body doesn’t sulfate it, or convert it properly, due to mild liver or kidney compromise.

Fish oil. Sometimes tremors respond to DHA fish oil, and this could be a promising strategy to slow down the progression. Remember, even if our PD drugs are useful, they don’t cure it, so this natural omega-3 fatty acid is probably safe and might be slightly effective for the management of tremors and other symptoms in the early stages. Ask your doctor, of course, because fish oils are blood thinners.

If you would like to know more about this, I can email you a longer version of this article; sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options.

Suzy Cohen

Plant and Protect Trees to Honor Arbor Day

Celebrate National Arbor Day, the last Friday in April, by planting new trees and caring for established ones in your landscape and community.

This special holiday was first established in 1872. Arbor Day celebrations continue to recognize the important role trees play in our environment and, more recently, their impact on our mental and emotional well-being.

These long-lived members of our landscapes and communities help combat flooding, shade our homes, reduce energy use, remove pollutants from the air, and so much more. According to the USDA Forest Service, properly placed trees around buildings can help reduce air conditioning requirements by 30% and save 20-50% on energy used for heating.

Trees also help improve water quality and reduce flooding. They lessen the impact of storm water by intercepting rainfall and then absorbing and transpiring moisture from the soil into the air.

National Arbor Day is April 28

Their canopies divert and slow rainfall’s velocity before it hits the ground. This reduces runoff and erosion, allowing more water to be absorbed by the soil instead of overwhelming our storm sewers.

Spending time among the trees also helps boost our immune systems. Studies reveal tree-filled landscapes help decrease domestic conflict, as well as aggression and violence at schools. A mindful walk through the woods, known as forest bathing, helps reduce blood pressure and stress. It increases focus and energy levels, improves sleep, and much more.

When planting new trees, make sure to select ones that will fit in the space when mature and thrive in the growing conditions. Look for those that provide multiple seasons of beauty and support birds and pollinators as they deliver their many other environmental benefits.

Select a planting location away from overhead and underground utilities to avoid future conflicts. Always call 811, a free underground-utility-locating service, at least three business days before putting the first shovel in the ground.

Water new plantings thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to apply the water directly to the soil. Even established trees need to be watered during dry periods. Apply 10 gallons of water for every inch of the trunk’s diameter when the top 4-6 inches begin to dry.

Prevent hungry critters from dining on new and existing plantings. Apply an organic rain and snow-resistant animal repellent like Plantskydd (plantskydd.com). This odorbased repellent deters animals before they take a bite out of your plants.

Protect new and existing trees from mowers and weed whips. Plant perennial groundcovers under the trees, or cover the soil with 2-3 inches of shredded bark or woodchips. Be sure to keep the mulch off the trunk of the tree.

Take time not only on Arbor Day but every day to plant, tend, and enjoy trees that provide beauty, shade, and so many benefits to our daily lives and future generations. Get the whole family involved, and help improve the tree cover in your hometown so everyone benefits.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books and hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD serie s and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care for her expertise to write this article. www.melindamyers.com

‘The King’ Coming to Spring 50 plus EXPOs

Award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist Jeff Krick Jr. will be returning to the 50 plus EXPOs scheduled for this spring. Krick, who appeared in several 50 plus EXPOs in 2022, will perform at:

• The Dauphin County 50 plus EXPO on April 11 at the Hershey Lodge, Hershey

• The Lancaster County 50 plus EXPO (Spring) on May 10 at the Wyndham Resort, Lancaster

• The Chester County 50 plus EXPO on June 6 at Church Farm School, Exton

At age 25, Reading native Jeff Krick Jr. is one of the most successful Elvis Presley tribute artists in the country. Krick began performing professionally as Presley at age 16.

At 19, Krick placed No. 6 in the world at the 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 a three-time top 10 finalist at Maryland’s Ocean City Tribute Festival.

Krick has headlined cruise ships and numerous Presley music festivals. For more on Jeff Krick Jr., visit jeffkrickjr.com.

The 50 plus EXPOs will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit 50plusexpopa.com.

Melinda Myers

A hosta garden under a bur oak tree. A very long-lived tree, its fringed acorns are food for wildlife.

Elvis Presley tribute artist Jeff Krick Jr.

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There’s No Place like Gnome

By Lynda Hudzick

Instead of following the yellow brick road to this magical destination, you will have to travel a portion of the Akron Rail Trail. But the journey is worth it once you come upon the delightful home of Nibbles McGibbles and his merry band of gnome friends.

The brainchild of Akron native Don Reese, this gnome village has become a “rail trail destination and has been visited by thousands of people,” Reese said. “They all say it is the highlight of their trail experience, a place that offers an escape from the hectic world around us and transports them to a place where your imagination can run wild.”

The gnome village grew from the humble beginnings of one tree stump on the hill of Reese’s property that he thought had to be removed before the rail trail was completed.

“Turns out, the stump was as solid as a rock, so I went with plan B and made a little house out of it with a couple of gnomes as residents,” Reese said.

The head gnome in charge, though, is Nibbles McGibbles.

Member of

“His life story is simply me recalling what Nibbles himself shared when he first arrived from Austria,” Reese said. “We conducted a thorough background check, which he needed to pass to reside in the village.”

Awards

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The only trouble Nibbles ever got into, according to Reese, was at “Octoberfest in Zurich back in the 1800s, where an inebriated Nibbles took off his lederhosen and danced down Main Street.”

Even though it was just one stump turned into a home for gnomes, Reese said that every time he was in his backyard, he could hear people laughing and taking photos of the gnome house.

“I thought, why not add another building?” he said. “That unleashed a cascade of ideas, and little by little it became the gnome village.”

Reese, also a professional photographer and artist, has always enjoyed the creative process. The village was just one more way for him to share that creativity, and it continues to provide an opportunity to “put a smile on the faces” of the many people who walk the trail, he said.

“The village, much like my photography, is an outlet to share the creative gifts God has blessed me with.”

He and his wife both enjoy landscaping, so working on the village is a fun way for them to imagine something together.

“I do 99% of everything, except the occasional sign my wife paints for me,” he said. “It is a lot of work keeping things clean and fresh … it’s also extra challenging building things on a hill.”

Everything he has built has begun with a crude drawing.

“I just dive in and build as I go, and it has always worked out,” Reese said. “I come up with the décor and do all the upkeep myself. Unfortunately, though, I am getting older and less energetic, but although I have had offers of help, I like being a one-man show where success or failure falls directly on me alone.”

Reese has heard countless stories over the years from people who have expressed “how my village has lifted their spirits,” he said. “I also have had people tell me about a loved one who passed that just loved coming to the village. A little while back I was going to close, but a father stopped while I was working to tell me he reads a new gnome story to his 2-year-old son every night because he loves visiting so much!”

Spring brings pops of pastel colors and whimsical touches to Reese’s village.

“I usually have a bunny wedding in the hobbit hole and a few springy items, and my dragonflies may be up,” Reese said.

Other village features for spring and summer include bicycles, hot air balloons, large flowers, and the life-size fairy Alexandrite.

“You never know what you might see at the gnome village,” Reese said.

The other seasons are well represented in the village too.

Autumn brings its beautiful colors and crisp air to the tiny residents. Reese has also created a Veterans Day tribute, where he lined the trail with luminaries.

“I had a patriotic display set up with music playing, some chocolate treats, and a small fire pit for warmth,” Reese said. “I noticed one lady was actually crying, and she told me she lost someone special in the war, and the tribute meant so much to her.”

And, of course, the gnomes have gotten in the holiday spirit come December.

“I used to do a Christmas display where Santa and his elves would be working in the hobbit hole,” Reese said.

“I also had a mailbox for Santa letters, and kids would amaze me with their notes. One little girl listed several toys she wanted but wrote that if her list was too long, please make sure to take care of other kids in need first.”

The gnome village has featured some funny displays as well, and Reese enjoys playing with those visitors who are fooled by his antics.

if You Go:

Don Reese’s gnome village is located along the Akron Rail Trail, approximately halfway between Main Street and Fulton Street in Akron. The closest parking is along Front Street, which runs parallel to the trail.

“I made a tiny doghouse with a huge chain and a huge tail coming out of the house. I said the guard dog was a mix of Chihuahua and Great Dane, and despite my ridiculous clues, some still believed we had a real guard dog living in there,” Reese said.

Although he could never have dreamed that his little gnome village, overseen by Nibbles McGibbles himself, would have become such a sought-out destination for those who visit the trail, Reese is glad it provides an opportunity for people

to unplug, to get outside and spend time with others while enjoying the fruits of his labors.

“I encourage everyone to reduce their phone time, social media, etc., and actually strive to be a positive force in the world with the gifts you have been given,” he said. “I look back at prior generations and see what they created by having passion for something greater than themselves, and it is mind-blowing what men and women have achieved.

“We are no different in our potential, but we have to be careful, or the myriad distractions we face can rob us of the limited time we all have.”

On the cover: Don reese with one of the colorful “dragonflies” that will signal the spring season in his gnome village. Photo by Crystle Eby Photography.

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Water Animals

National Wine Expert, Media Personality to Speak at Women’s Expo in York

Award-winning sommelier, author, radio personality, and comedian Laurie Forster will present “Something to Wine About” at the first-ever York County Women’s Expo on Saturday, May 6, at the York Expo Center.

During her free seminar at noon, Forster will share her journey from the suburbs of New Jersey to software sales executive to awardwinning sommelier. She will reveal a few lessons she learned that helped her create a business and a life centered on her passion for food and wine.

Despite her position as one of America’s leading wine experts, Forster is not afraid to admit her first wine came from a box. Her wine career began in Manhattan, where she studied with the American Sommelier Association to obtain her certificate in viticulture and vinification.

Forster has since earned an advanced certificate with merit from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. She has also trained with the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.

Forster is the author of the award-winning book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine, and her mobile application “The Wine Coach” was listed as one of the Top Eight Wine Apps in Wine Enthusiast magazine.

During her Women’s Expo appearance, sponsored by the PA Beef Council, Forster will use her down-to-earth approach to “wine education” to demystify some of the secrets of the wine industry and why she thinks it’s so funny.

Guests will leave the discussion more confident about the wines they like and will understand more about pairing food with wine.

Beef and wine samples will be served immediately following Forster’s talk. She will also be signing copies of The Sipping Point

Forster regularly speaks across the country, with a client list that includes MetLife, Discovery Channel, Microsoft, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, LG Electronics, National Association of Catering Executives, American Cancer Society, and McCormick & Company.

Her edgy approach to demystifying wine led her to guest appearances on Dr. Oz , FOX Morning News, Martha Stewart Living, Today, and ABC News at Noon

For more on Laurie Forster, visit thewinecoach.com and facebook.com/ winecoach.

Brought to you by OLP Events, the York County Women’s Expo will be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the York Expo Center – Memorial Hall East, 334 Carlisle Ave., York.

Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit agreatwaytospendmyday.com, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub. com.

DON’T MISS THESE SPECIAL APPEARANCES!

May 6

York Expo Center

Memorial Hall East

334 Carlisle Ave., York

Event Partner

Something to Wine About

TV personality and award-winning sommelier Laurie Forster will share her passion for food and wine. Using her down-to-earth approach to “wine education,” Laurie will demystify the wine industry and explain which foods pair best with each wine. Beef and wine samples will be served immediately following. Laurie will sign copies of her book, e Sipping Point A Crash Course in Wine

Sponsored by the PA Beef Council

June 3

Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive

Hershey

Dr. Lori’s Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show

Bring your antiques and vintage thrift shop finds for an expert appraisal by Dr. Lori, star appraiser from the the History channel’s e Curse of Oak Island and Pawn Stars Do America. No standing in line! Plus, Dr. Lori shares tips on how to sell your stuff for profit. Dr. Lori’s YouTube channel @DrLoriV has over 32 million views, and she reviews approximately 20,000 objects a year.

For information or to register ahead to attend, go to aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com

Brought to you by:

Hosted by: and

Sponsored by:

Wine expert Laurie forster will speak at the York County Women's Expo on May 6.

Older Adults Drinking in High- risk Ways

By Peg O’Connor

Drinking in older populations has been on the rise since the baby boomers joined the senior ranks.

Seniors’ drinking is often measured and discussed using the same language as collegiate drinking. This choice in terminology is significant; it reveals there are more potential age-related dangers to alcohol consumption than addiction alone and that each group may tend to minimize them.

While most older adults imbibe alcohol at low to moderate rates, a significant percentage (27%) drink in high-risk ways, according to a Harvard study. High-risk drinking in elders is defined as three or more drinks during one occasion or more than seven drinks per week.

Elders are also binge drinking, which is having five or more drinks per occasion. A drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4-5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.

Aging bodies are more sensitive to alcohol and respond differently from younger bodies. Seniors’ metabolism slows, so alcohol sits in organs longer. Moreover, older adults have less muscle to absorb alcohol.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

As people age, they experience a decrease of water in their bodies, resulting in a higher percentage of alcohol in their blood compared to a younger person. Dehydration also compounds the risks of alcohol consumption; alcohol contributes to dehydration and affects kidney function.

Finally, many of the most common medications seniors take warn against

consuming alcohol. Some medications may become less effective, while the side effects are amplified. This is most clearly seen in medications that can cause dizziness or drowsiness.

Approximately 10-15% of people do not start drinking until they are older. Some seniors are just beginning to drink, while others who already drink begin to drink more.

Older adults often experience important existential changes that may factor into new patterns of consumption.

With retirement may come a loss of identity; they may feel as if they have lost an important part of themselves. Formerly productive people sometimes feel they have nothing to offer or that no one wants or values their contributions.

Long-term homes are left or lost, while independence may become interdependence or dependence. Financial insecurity is a major stressor, especially in times of inflation, when it becomes difficult if not impossible to afford basic needs.

Death of spouses and friends can lead to social isolation. Family dynamics change as well. Adult children may move farther away or move back home.

Numerous older adults are finding themselves as the “club sandwich” generation. “Younger seniors” may find themselves caring for their own very elderly parents, their adult children, and their grandchildren. Many are bearing

Lend us your ear!

massive burdens and may seek relief with a drink to unwind, get away from it, or reward themselves.

College students often believe they are invulnerable and do not worry about the risks of alcohol. Aging seniors, on the other hand, have begun to experience new and unwanted vulnerabilities, causing them to worry less about the risks.

Older adults may no longer see a difference between the short and long terms and believe drinking is one of their last pleasures, especially if they have already given up or lost so much.

The University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center developed a screening test for older adults (see sidebar). People may take this screening privately, giving themselves permission to be honest in their answers.

Concerned family members or friends can gently introduce the screening tool, asking if they could discuss the questions together. How people discuss these questions matters enormously; it is best to strike a concerned tone rather than a judgmental one. At this early point, the focus needs to be on the person who may have a problem and not how that problem affects others.

One of the greatest challenges is identifying helpful resources, especially with a geriatric focus. Ideally, one’s primary care physician should be well informed of available services.

An excellent online resource is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (samhsa.gov), which has links to senior-related concerns.

Peg O’Connor, Ph.D., is a recovering alcoholic of 34 years and is now a professor of philosophy in addiction studies at Gustavus Adolphus College. She is the author of Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (Wildhouse Publications) and writes a column, “Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken,” for Psychology Today pegoconnorauthor.com

Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test –Geriatric Version (SMAST-G)

Write 1 for yes, 0 for no.

1. When talking with others, do you ever underestimate how much you drink? _____

2. After a few drinks, have you sometimes not eaten or been able to skip a meal because you didn’t feel hungry? _____

3. Does having a few drinks help decrease your shakiness or tremors? _____

4. Does alcohol sometimes make it hard for you to remember parts of the day or night? _____

5. Do you usually take a drink to relax or calm your nerves? _____

6. Do you drink to take your mind off your problems? _____

7. Have you ever increased your drinking after experiencing a loss in your life? _____

8. Has a doctor or nurse ever said they were worried or concerned about your drinking? _____

9. Have you ever made rules to manage your drinking? _____

10. When you feel lonely, does having a drink help? ____

TOTAL SMAST-G-SCORE (0-10) _______

SCORING: Two or more “yes” responses indicate a problem with alcohol.

Source: University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center

Willing to Wander ithaca is ‘Gorges’

In the morning, my wife, Fyllis, and I walked along a path in the middle of town that skirts a series of waterfalls that tumble through the bottom of a deep gorge. That was followed by a stroll in a lovely botanical garden set in an expansive natural environment.

Our lunch consisted of fresh, farm-to-table produce accompanied by cider, for which the destination is famous, and dinner featured similar fare enhanced by equally well-known wine.

This introduction to Ithaca, New York, included some of the attractions for which that small city is famous, but it only scratched the surface.

Many people equate Ithaca (population about 32,000) with Cornell University, Ithaca College, and nearby Tompkins Cortland Community College. Those learning institutions augment, but do not define, what the town has to offer visitors.

Its “Ithaca is Gorges” motto encapsulates both the proliferation of narrow ravines that bisect steep rock walls — many of which are home to cascading waterfalls — and the beauty of the surroundings.

The phrase includes a backdrop of rolling farm fields, grapes growing in vineyards that dot the area, and Cayuga Lake, the longest (38-plus miles) of the 11 narrow Finger Lakes that were gouged out during the Ice Age by glaciers as they moved southward from present-day Canada.

Cayuga Lake is named after the indigenous Cayuga people, who were there when the Europeans arrived and continue to reside in the region.

Early in the 19th century, settlers began to build houses and then mills powered by waterfalls. At one time, dozens of factories manufactured flour, paper, agricultural equipment, and other goods.

Much of the local history comes alive at The History Center, a state-of-theart museum that includes interactive displays, collections of Native American and other artifacts, oral histories, and other exhibits.

But it’s outdoors where the appeals of Ithaca become most evident. For starters, the area in and around the town claims more than 150 waterfalls and glaciercarved landscapes, and the viewing begins right in the town itself.

Aptly named Ithaca Falls, located within the city limits, is the last in a series of cataracts.

Nearby Buttermilk Falls takes its name from the foaming water created as it descends in a series of drops and rapids.

With a vertical plummet of 215 feet, Taughannock Falls is 33 feet higher than Niagara Falls. It’s the tallest single-drop fall east of the Rocky Mountains.

While waterfall watching is a favorite activity in and around Ithaca, an almost alphabet-long list of other things to do also vies for attention. Hiking, biking, and other trails crisscross the woods. An Art Trail leads to the studios of dozens of resident artists, and a Murals Map outlines a self-guided tour to view wall paintings and installations throughout the city.

The Discovery Trail links an enticing and eclectic group of attractions that range from the magnificent Cornell Botanic Gardens and Cayuga Nature Center to the Johnson Museum of Art and a 226-acre ornithology sanctuary, where more than 230 species of birds have been recorded.

Fishermen cast their lines into stream waters and troll for landlocked salmon and trout in Cayuga Lake. Others explore the lake in tour boats, while some view it from hot air balloons sailing above.

A drive through the bucolic countryside that surrounds Ithaca provides an introduction to other things to see, do, and enjoy that might otherwise go unnoticed. Some are off the main roads and, in their way, off-beat.

About 50 adorable four-legged creatures live at the Cabin View Alpaca Farm. In addition to simply watching those endearing animals graze and gambol about, human guests may interact with the residents by feeding or leading them on a walk.

Victor Block

Boats docked in Cayuga Lake.

The Taughannock falls are 33 feet taller than those at Niagara.

The Cornell Botanic Gardens are one attraction along ithaca’s Discovery Trail.

A tile mosaic in downtown ithaca.

Smaller but equally cute four-legged residents wait inspection and interaction at the Lively Run Goat Dairy. Its menu of to-dos includes giving adult goats corn and, in spring, bottle-feeding baby animals, along with cheese tastings and even goat yoga.

Bees rather than bleating goats are the main attraction at the quaintly named Honeybee Embassy in nearby Trumansburg. In addition to selling honey, teas, candles, and other goodies, it conducts tastings that can challenge the imagination along with your palate.

And while the farmers market in Ithaca is operated by a cooperative of about 150 vendors, the weekly Trumansburg version makes up in small-town charm what it may lack in size.

The food treats available in this tranquil setting hint at the focus on field-toplate pleasures that greet visitors to the Ithaca area. Throw in magnificent samples of Mother Nature’s handiwork and a lengthy list of activities and attractions, and it becomes clear that the “Ithaca is Gorges” slogan is as true as it is catchy.

For more information, log on to cityofithaca.org.

24th Annual It’s

DAUPHIN COUNT Y

April 11, 2023

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive Hershey

The ithaca area is abundant with fresh produce.

A mural of Cornell University and Tompkins County Public Library founder Ezra Cornell on the library’s corner.

Home Care ServiCeS & HoSPiCe ProviderS

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.

DEDICATED NuRSINg ASSOCIATES, INC.

(570) 523-1810

www.dedicatednurses.com

Home Aides: Yes

Year Est.: 2006

Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York

RNs: Yes

LPNs: Yes

CNAs: Yes

Medicare Certified?: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: DNA is dedicated to all of your homecare needs. Our services include, but are not limited to: bathing, dressing, feeding, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands, respite, community integration, socialization, recreational activities, and appointments.

HOME INSTEAD

(717) 832-2222

www.homeinstead.com/696

Year Est.: 2010

Counties Served: Lancaster

RNs: No

LPNs: No

CNAs: No

Home Aides: Yes

HOMESTEAD VILLAgE HOME C ARE

(717) 397-3044

www.homesteadvillage.org/home-care

Medicare Certified: No

Other Certifications and Services:

Homestead Village is a local name you trust. Now offering homecare services that come to you! Support after surgery, support with pet care, companion transportation, meal prep, laundry, housekeeping, and more!

PATRIOT HOME CARE

(717) 406-2537

www.patriothomecare.org

Year Est.: 2008

Counties Served: Lebanon

RNs: No

LPNs: No

CNAs: No

Home Aides: Yes

Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Respite care, companionship, light housekeeping, personal care, medicine reminders, meal prep, dress assist, transport services, community engagement.

HOMELAND AT HOME

www.homelandathome.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

Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Act 150, aging waiver, OBRA waiver, COMMCARE waiver, independent waiver, and attendant care waiver. Meal prep, companionship, light housekeeping, laundry, medication reminders, errands, bathing, community engagement, and personal care.

SENIOR LIfE YORk

SENIOR LIfE HARRISbuRg

(717) 757-5433

www.seniorlifepa.com

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.: 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.

SPIRITRuST LuTHERAN HOME CARE & HOSPICE (800) 840-9081

www.spiritrustlutheran.org

Year Est.: 1978

Counties Served: South central through northeastern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland

RNs: Yes

LPNs: Yes

CNAs: Yes

Home Aides: Yes

Medicare Certified?: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: Home health care, in-home support, hospice care, palliative care, grief support, medicaid certified. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Home

Care

ServiCeS & HoSPiCe ProviderS

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.

VISITINg ANgELS

(717) 652-8899

www.visitingangels.com/harrisburg

Year Est.: 2003

Counties Served: Cumberland, Dauphin

RNs: No

LPNs: No

CNAs: No

Home Aides: Yes

Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels is a leading provider of elder care since 1998. We help older adults live independently and comfortably in their own homes. Services are customized and tailored for best outcomes.

The Beauty in Nature Eastern Coyotes

I have enjoyed seeing several eastern coyotes at Lake Onalaska off the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, at Rowe Sanctuary along the Platte River in Nebraska, at deer feeders in Maine and Iowa, and at other places through live cameras and our home computer screens.

To me, they are impressive as they trot along, tirelessly. I admire them.

Eastern coyotes are intelligent, adaptable, and opportunistic and explore every niche of every habitat, including in fields, suburbs, and big cities throughout the United States, including southeastern Pennsylvania. Those traits make them successful as a species.

But coyotes are mostly nocturnal; they are cunning and seldom seen. Many folks don’t know they have coyote neighbors, including in this area.

These adaptable, handsome creatures are about the size of medium-sized dogs but are leaner and longer-legged. And coyotes have keen senses.

They are skilled hunters of a variety of wildlife, including rodents and rabbits. But eastern coyotes also ingest berries and fruit, birds’ eggs, road-killed animals, and garbage. And they prey on smaller domestic animals.

Their eating most anything, most anywhere, is another reason for their success across North America.

Eastern coyotes have a mixed ancestry. They descended from coyotes in the deserts of the American Southwest, an area free of wolves. But as wolves were exterminated in the American West, desert coyotes spread north into southern Canada, where some mated with wolves.

The young were bigger than their coyote parents. And those coyote/wolf descendants spread into eastern Canada and the United States.

Some coyotes mate with dogs, which descended from wolves. Coyotes, wolves, and dogs are closely related and interbreed, with fertile young, which adds to the genetic mix. Like wolves, eastern coyotes hunt wildlife in family groups and howl to rally family members together.

Efforts are made to eradicate eastern coyotes, but to no avail. Their intelligence and adaptability serve them well.

Eastern coyotes, like their relatives worldwide, are intriguing and admirable. Some eastern coyotes could be readers’ neighbors, wherever you live. Long live eastern coyotes, which are a mix of coyote, wolf, and dog heredity.

Nature’s Wonders

Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Eastern coyote

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

byClyde

Value Trends in 1980s Jewelry

Today’s jewelry trends cater to designs that are dainty, diminutive, demure. That was not the case in the 1980s. Big, brash, bold, powerful statement jewelry was popular in the decade when Michael J. Fox went Back to the Future

Jewelry of the 1980s had an evident structure and weight. Large pieces, like big, gold cuff bracelets and bold Cuban-link necklaces, were in vogue as ’80s supermodels like Cindy Crawford, Kathy Ireland, Iman, Renee Simonsen, and Elle Macpherson struck a pose.

The 1980s saw great change, particularly in the realm of all things shiny and bright — that is, jewelry. These trends were

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• Your focused message reaches its targeted audience.

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• Year-round distribution — annual Women’s Expos and 50 plus EXPOs, local offices of aging, and other popular venues.

sparked by artists, designers, and even celebrities.

Madonna, the singer/ songwriter/entertainer, made rosary beads a fashion statement in the 1980s. Once viewed as old fashioned, the religious beads associated with Christian prayer were worn as an accessory amid big hairstyles and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans.

In addition, celebs and fashionistas of the 1980s wore oversized hoop earrings; mammoth, chain-link necklaces; neon; and jelly bracelets.

Other jewelry trends included single-strand pearl necklaces worn over Fair Isle sweaters; bold, gold jewelry pieces with silk blouses; diamond tennis bracelets for the preppy set; and for the beachcombers, sporty Swatch wristwatches and the ever-popular cowrie and puka shell necklaces.

Another fashion trendsetter, Great Britain’s Princess Diana, wore large, faceted-cut, prong-set choker necklaces and cocktail rings of high-quality gemstones. Her famous engagement ring featured at her 1981 wedding was an impressive blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds, which is now worn by HRH Princess Catherine.

Like Diana, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson had an equally showy ruby engagement ring featuring diamonds. The ruby color recalled the Duchess’s red hair.

Following the royals’ lead, many 1980s jewelry enthusiasts around the world wore both real and costume jewelry in the big, bold style, featuring prong-set gemstones of alluring colors ranging from emeralds to colorful diamonds.

As we approached the end of the 20th century, major cultural changes took place. Power players in the market were not men buying jewelry gifts for others but, in fact, working women, who became the main customers for jewelry designers.

Working women, while still enjoying gifts of jewelry, began also purchasing it for themselves instead of waiting to receive bling from a loved one on a special occasion.

Prior to the ’80s, fine jewelry was not marketed specifically by brand. But this movement opened the jewelry world to designers who were catering to women directly. It sparked the rise of women as fine jewelry designers too.

Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning media personality Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide and appears on History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and Pawn Stars Do America. Visit www.drloriv.com, watch her Real Bargains show on youtube.com/drloriv, or call (888) 431-1010.

Lori Verderame

1980s style icon Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing the now-famous “Travolta dress” (in which she danced with actor John Travolta) at the White House, 1985.

Photo credit: Staff of drloriv.com

The add-a-bead gold necklace, a must-have preppy accessory of the early 1980s.

Photo credit: Staff of drloriv.com Omega-style gold bracelet, 1980s.

Last House Left

Bill Levine

On a recent Sunday morning, cars were parked all over our short residential street. All 15 houses, built circa 1926, had parking spaces blocked, save for the driveways. This irritant was because of an estate-sale blowout at the house on our street corner.

I decided to walk down and confirm it was more than garden gnomes that could bring out such a crowd on a dreary morning.

The sign at the property’s entrance had more rules than a motel-pool warning notice. I only remember its commandment that CARS SHOULD NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS. Right away the garage caught my attention, as it was completely stuffed with piled-high furniture — not exactly an Ethan Allen gallery.

The garage was just the appetizer for hungry bargain hunters. The main course was in the living room. I first noticed a tourist gift shop’s worth of figurines displayed on several tables. I was drawn to a Boston terrier piece, as we collect them, being Boston owners. Alas, I didn’t think we needed another one and left it alone.

I didn’t wander into the kitchen, but I’m sure all culinary items were for sale except for the kitchen sink.

After leaving this sale and then suffering my wife’s chagrin for not adding to our Smithsonian of a Boston terrier collection, I did have to take stock of how our neighbor’s enormous clutter was transformed into a giant, professional estate sale.

I pondered how we will impossibly triage our cluttered stuff, accumulated over 35 years, such as the now-quaint family photo albums, our kids’ gold-star worksheets from elementary school, dubious unopened gifts, languished door prizes, two huge storage bins of old-but-once-important folders, gardening and kitchen implements our kids will politely refuse, furniture that won’t fit our downsizing, and 30 years of pet smells.

The corner house on our street was a multi-generation home spanning over 40 years; its vacancy leaves us as still only the fourth-oldest household on the street. Thus, my wife and I have recently discussed whether we want to have the grand/dubious distinction of being possibly the last house left from when we moved here in the 1980s.

Working against us becoming the neighborhood old-timers are several facts: our home is too big for two; taxes are too high; and we are disinclined to become crotchety “get off my lawn unless you have a leaf blower” oldsters.

The pros of staying in our house until we are carried out are: a smaller home in our area would be expensive; we could charm newcomers with tales of when the town was dry and basements were wet; and we could procrastinate cleaning out our home forever.

Perhaps the last, but certainly not least, factor in deciding whether to sell earlier rather than later is our integration into the neighborhood today as opposed to our heyday as parents of school-age kids. Those were the days when everyone knew your name and your kids’ teachers’ names.

Today, though, as neighborhood elders, we know fewer names and look on wistfully as the coffee-clutching parental group bids goodbye to the school bus. We feel so off-the-current of activity here that our lights are dark on Halloween,

with not even a perfunctory outdoor pumpkin.

That said, perhaps by working toward becoming a lovable old couple, we could flourish in our neighborhood and stay until we have The Last House Left. We could resume going to the annual block party that is a September ritual. We were regular attendees until our kids belatedly outgrew the piñata smashing.

Not sure how our pendulum will swing in the next few years, but it’s more likely, health willing, that we will be hosting neighbors on our porch — who want know what the neighborhood was like when Reagan was president — than suffering in the midst of “packrat withdrawal,” cursing Marie Kondo as we start the downsizing ordeal.

Bill Levine is a retired IT professional and active freelance writer. Bill aspires to be a humorist because it is easier to be pithy than funny. He may be reached at wlevine0607@comcast.net

The History of Ordinary Things Traditions of Decorated Eggs

Today the decorated egg is a well-recognized Easter symbol. Many of us have spent Easter week boiling eggs to paint in colors from pastel to army green (the result of mixing all the colors together).

Some of us don’t really care about the hardboiled egg itself, and with the current cost of eggs, we may be more judicious.

Many cultures have decorated eggs; eggs with scratched designs have been discovered that date back to the middle Stone Age. The tradition of egg decorating, originally as a celebration of spring, originated in pagan times, predating Christianity.

Easter was named as the greatest Feast Day in 325 AD during the Catholic Council of Nicaea. Easter’s connection with eggs is tied to the early Catholic Church rule that forbid eating eggs during the 40 days of Lent.

As a result, in the days coming up to Ash Wednesday, eggs were given out to children as treats. This used up any excess eggs before the fasting began.

During Lent, families with chickens naturally accumulated a lot of eggs. They were boiled to preserve them until Easter. Early Christians often painted

the eggs during Easter week as we do today. The decorations also encouraged eating the eggs, which had already been stored for weeks. In some cultures, cracking the hard-boiled eggs symbolized the rebirth of Christ.

Ukrainian egg decorating, called pysanky, is thought to predate Christianity. Pysanky means “to write,” which refers to the hand-drawn and painted designs on the eggs.

The artists, traditionally only women, use pencil to draw the intricate grid design directly on the egg. Each line is traced over with a light line of beeswax, and then layered with natural dyes in bright colors.

These eggs, with their geometric patterns and sometimes Christian symbols, are a popular image of Orthodox Easter. Pysanky eggs from Ukraine and Western Europe are among the most elaborate wax-resist designs found anywhere.

In the late 1700s, chocolate eggs appeared at court in France. Empty chicken eggshells were filled with molten chocolate for royal treats. In 1873, J.S. Fry & Sons of England introduced the first chocolate egg, but it was Cadbury, in 1875,

you know a good story when you hear it.

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Ideal story candidates are willing to talk about themselves and to be photographed.

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Doris Montag

Photo credit: “Pysanky 2011” by Luba Petrusha, licensed under CC-BY-SA-3.0. A mix of traditional Ukrainian, diasporan, and original pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs).

who introduced the chocolate Easter egg.

Cadbury had created a new recipe for chocolate using pure cocoa butter and no starchy ingredients. It could be molded into smooth shapes. The recipe made Cadbury a leader in the chocolate industry. By 1893, Cadbury had 19 varieties of the chocolate egg. They still use the recipe today.

The most famous jeweled eggs are the celebrated Fabergé eggs commissioned for the Russian Imperial family between 1885 and 1916. The renowned Fabergé Jewelry House employed expert artisans in jewels, gold, porcelain, and diamonds.

The Fabergé House made 50 ornately adorned eggs for the royal family. Forty-three are known to exist today and are held by European museums and some private collectors.

The Fabergé eggs are regarded as masterpieces of the decorative arts, and it is worth the time to look them up. They are exquisite. (P.S. There are no actual eggs involved.)

Honor the traditions and get out the dye. It is that time again!

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.

Homemade dye recipe:

• ½ cup boiling water

• 1 tsp. white vinegar

• 10-20 drops food coloring

Allow to cool

russia’s Tsar Nicholas ii presented this egg to his mother, the dowager empress Marie fedorovna, on Easter 1901. The egg opens to reveal a miniature gold replica of the palace at Gatchina.

An advertisement for Cadbury chocolate from a July 1890 edition of The Graphic, a British illustrated weekly newspaper.

Savvy Senior How to Cover Dental Care in retirement

Dear Savvy Senior, I had dental insurance through my work for many years but lost it when I retired and joined Medicare. Where can retirees find affordable dental care?

– Uninsured Al

Dear Al,

Unfortunately, about two-thirds of U.S. retirees don’t have dental insurance today. Without coverage from traditional Medicare, and with private dental insurance typically costing too much to be feasible, most seniors are stuck paying full out-of-pocket prices every time they visit a dentist.

While there’s no one simple solution to affordable dental care, there are a variety of options that can help cut your costs. Here’s where to look.

Medicare Advantage: While dental services are mostly excluded under original Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans do provide coverage for dental care, but it’s usually very limited.

Medicare Advantage plans are governmentapproved health plans (usually HMOs and PPOs), sold by private insurance companies, that you can choose in place of Original Medicare. To shop and research Advantage plans in your area, visit medicare.gov/plan-compare or call (800) 633-4227.

Dental insurance: If you have gum problems and need extensive dental care, a dental insurance plan may be worth the costs versus paying for care yourself. Monthly premiums for individual plans range from about $20 to $80. A typical plan includes two or three cleanings and checkups per year, but these plans will likely have a waiting period — anywhere from a few months to a few years — before coverage for more expensive procedures kicks in. To find dental plans in your area, check with eHealth (ehealthinsurance.com).

Dental savings plans: While savings plans aren’t as comprehensive as insurance, they are a good option for those who don’t have dental insurance.

How this works is you pay an annual membership fee — around $80 to $200 a year — in exchange for 10-60% discounts on service and treatments from participating dentists.

To find a savings plan, go to DentalPlans.com, where you can search for plans and participating dentists, as well as get a breakdown of the discounts offered. You can also call them at (888) 632-5353.

Veterans’ benefits: If you’re a veteran enrolled in the VA healthcare program or are a beneficiary of the Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA), the VA offers a dental insurance program that gives you the option to buy dental insurance through Delta Dental and MetLife at a reduced cost.

The VA also provides free dental care to vets who have dental problems resulting from service. To learn more about these options, visit va.gov/dental or call (877) 222-8387.

Cheaper dental care: Because prices can vary by dentist, one way to ensure you get a good deal on your dental care is to call multiple providers and compare prices. To get an idea of what different dental procedures cost in your area, see FAIR Health Consumer at fairhealthconsumer.org.

If you’re paying cash, it’s also perfectly reasonable to ask your dentist for a discount.

There are also a number of health centers and clinics that provide low-cost dental care to those in need.

And all university dental schools and college dental hygiene programs offer dental care and cleanings for less than half of what you would pay at a dentist’s office. Students who are supervised by their professors provide the care. See Teeth Wisdom (teethwisdom.org) to search for a center, clinic, or school near you.

Jim Miller

Dating Dilemma: What to Do with Photos of a Deceased Spouse?

Widowed people often face a dilemma when they start dating again and new love interests visit them. What should they do with the pictures of their deceased mates that are scattered throughout their homes?

Cheryl emailed: “My husband, Matt, is a widower, and I am divorced. Matt was married for 25 years. I was married twice — for 25 years and then for 18 years.

“Matt commented to me this morning, ‘It is possible to still love a previous spouse but also love and appreciate a new partner.’

“I moved into the house that Matt and his wife lived in. It was a house that Matt had not been enthused about but she ‘loved it,’ and he bought it for her. I admit when I moved in, I felt to some extent like I was living in ‘her’ house.

“An issue came up between Matt and me when we decided to put family pictures on the refrigerator. Matt put pictures of his deceased wife on the fridge.

“Initially I didn’t think it would bother me, as I knew he loved me and was devoted to our relationship. Eventually, however, I realized that it bothered me a little seeing pictures of her every time I opened the fridge door!

“So, we talked about it, and I asked him to keep pictures of her in his office, which he understood and agreed to do. I had not put pictures of my exhusbands where Matt could see them.

“Regarding one of my ex-husbands, occasionally issues have arisen concerning my reaction to some of Matt’s comments that reminded me of my ex’s behavior.

“Matt has responded by saying, ‘I’m not your ex,’ and we have been able to talk about my reaction and feelings. I think especially in the case of a divorce, there are negative experiences that can trigger a reaction.

“The key is to be able to talk about feelings and reassure each other of the love you share and be able to comfort each other for what was lost and/or experienced in the previous relationship. Whether a person has been widowed or divorced, grief is experienced over the loss of a loving relationship.

“Entering a new relationship as a ‘senior’ has different challenges compared

to when we were younger. What to do with a former love’s pictures is one of those issues.”

Tom’s comment: Cheryl’s story emphasizes the need for open and honest communication between older couples, which includes how to deal with each person’s photographs of deceased or former loved ones around the house.

This is especially true when two older adults move in together, but it’s also true when they are in a committed relationship but living apart. The pictures of ex-spouses will be a subject to discuss and agree upon.

A widow recently said to me, “It shouldn’t even matter if the pictures are on the refrigerator door. You just can’t wipe away the years you had together with a person you loved.”

She’s right, but it is a touchy subject requiring compromise.

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

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Tom Blake