November 2023 OutreachNC

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Arthritis and Pain: How Physical Therapy Can Help Arthritis is one of the most common complaints doctors hear about and diagnose each year. It is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and stiffness, and these symptoms often increase with age.

Arthritis occurs more often in women and people 65 and older. There are nine types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common form (when the protective cartilage that cushions the end of the bones wears down over time).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2016 and 2018, more than 58 million Americans were diagnosed with arthritis. It is estimated that by 2040, that number will jump to 78.4 million. Surprisingly, the majority of these people live a sedentary lifestyle, with little to no physical activity.

Americans who meet physical activity suggestions (150 minutes each week and 2 days of muscle training) have an 18% rate of arthritis diagnosis. For Americans who live sedentary lifestyles, the rate increases to over 30%.

Arthritis affects the lives of suffers in many ways. For example, daily activities and tasks of living are restricted with arthritis including reaching above your head, being able to sit for 2 hours without discomfort and grasping for small objects. Going up a flight of stairs without stopping to breathe is harder with arthritis, and the ability to stand for 2 hours becomes almost impossible for some. Social participation is often limited by arthritis, as getting out and doing things with friends and family becomes challenging.

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ASK THE EXPERT: ESTRANGED LOVED ONES FEATURE: ARTHRITIS AND PAIN - HOW PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP RECIPES: MONSTER COOKIES AND PEPPERMINT OREO COOKIES

OCTOBER 2022 - 2 Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief, OutreachNC | editor@outreachnc.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Well, it’s official: fall is here. I had my first pumpkin-spiced latte just ture dipped low enough merit Care a fleece.

In November’s Ask the to Expert, Manager Ashley

Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief, OutreachNC | editor@outreachnc.com

November is our annual month of gratitude.

We take a moment to give thanks for our Seaceworry. answers a delicate It was decaf. question from a reader OCTOBERthe 2022 - 2and ONC teams and staff Don’t community, AOS questioning his role in caring for his father. Seace offers Well, it’sYou official: fall is here.

I had and my first pumpkin-spiced latte two days ago, as the and our families. all support our work advice for with just feelings of asevening well temperaOctober is adealing gentle month.

There areresentment constant reminders of change ture dipped low enough to merit fleece. keep us afloat with coffees, afternoon treatsa and setting boundaries forother. the best for both weasare lucky, toward each Weexperience have lingering conversations o constant words of encouragement. One of the the caregivers and loved ones. flames flicker.

Smoke dances around us in a circle. We zip our ja worry. It was decaf. aspects ofDon’t the newsletter we love so much is as a giftfeature, to our readers, we offeran upimportant two of our conversation InFinally, this month’s we’re starting the connection it creates among eachThere of us. are If constant October is a gentle month. reminders of change.

We turn inward, toward warmthSenio and i staff ’s favorite holiday cookie recipes.

We know.

We’re care community for ourselves or a loved one?

Fox Hollow there’s onewething we’ve learned over the years, are lucky, toward each other. We have lingering conversations overperspective tea. We fires and sit silence equally excited about Oreos toburn ourfor grocery Robin Hutchings offersadding inside making thisindecision. it’s the power of connection.

We aredances grateful. the flames flicker. Smoke around lists! us in With a circle.

We zip our jackets and consider hats. the upcoming holiday season, and cookie In Ask the Expert, Amy Natt answers a reader’s question regarding In this month’s wefeature, dive intowe’re an issue exchanges around the corner, givedo these a the try proper In thisfeature, month’s startingaway an important conversation: how werecipes choose senio without any estate planning.

Without a will or access to impo many of us livecommunity and strugglefor with: arthritis. from our family to yours. care ourselves or a loved one?

Fox Hollow Senior Living’s Sales and Marketing Directo No matterRobin our age or circumstances, most of Hutchings offers inside perspective for making decision.

Physical therapist Sara Morrison Total of Body Therapy and We Voltaire offersthis theDr. final word on ourofmonth gratitude, us have felt the twinge of pain associated with potential diagnostic tools used in physical therapy to help diagnose highlighting how much appreciation adds to all our lives: arthritis. We make take a these In Ask thedoctor’s Expert,appointments, Amy Natt answers reader’s question regarding do when a loved passes tools differ from what what otherto doctor’s offices mayone offer. medication, restwithout and tryany ourestate best to recover. Without a will or access to important accounts, what does a family do? away planning.

We speak this month with Dr. Sara Morrison I’m going to agree with Nathaniel Hawthorne this month, who wro Physical therapist Dr. Sara Morrison of Total Body Therapy and Wellness about howof Total Body Therapy and Wellness helps readers understand potential diagnostic tools used in physical therapy to helptodiagnose and treat You’llaswant to learn how I cannot endure waste anything sopain. precious autumnal sunsh physical therapy can greatly reduce the pain theseoftools differFrom fromdiet whattips other doctor’s offices mayalloffer. spent almost the daylight hours in the open air. and suffering arthritis. to how to get theI’m most out of appointments, going to your agreePT with Nathaniel Hawthorne this month,the who wrote: sunshine, falling leaves and daylight Here’s to enjoying October Dr. Morrison gives us the inside scoop on I cannot endure to waste getting better for fuller, richer lives. anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air. facebook.com/ag

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. ”

Here’s to enjoying the October sunshine, falling leaves and daylight hours.

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We are passionate Aging Outreach Services dedicates each November The Experts in Aging Well about helping older as a time to show our gratitude to our many clients, families, network of colleagues and care providers. navigate the We are passionateadults “Our services are ‘consumer directed’ because many challenges about helping olderthey are truly driven by each client’s individual needs and of requests.

Each person has a unique story, aging. adults navigate the and we are honored to be a part of the journey.”

Natt, CEO & President many challengesAge the Amy Way You Choose D E of aging.

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Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief, OutreachNC | editor@outreachnc.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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ASK THE EXPERT: ESTRANGED LOVED ONES

Ashley Seace, AOS Care Manager – ashleys@aoscaremanagement.com

4 - NOVEMBER 2023

Q

: My dad and I haven’t had the closest relationship over the years. He wasn’t there for most of my childhood. We’re okay now, but he’s getting sick and needs surgery.

He wants me to help out and take time off work, but I feel some resentment. He wasn’t there for me very much as a kid but wants me to be there for him now. Am I being childish?

A

: This is a fantastic question. And you definitely are not being childish.

Navigating a relationship with your parents as an adult can be a challenge, especially if they were not very present in your childhood but now expect you to be there for them as they age and need support. It’s completely normal for you to experience many feelings, including resentment, and to struggle with accepting the idea of helping them.

If you do choose to help with caregiving for a parent, it’s important to set boundaries with your parent early in the process of you taking on a caregiving role. Once you set those boundaries, it is equally as important to not cross them and do more than what you have agreed to do. You need to set limits as to what you are willing and able to do for your dad. You will want to give clear expectations, so that you do not become burnt out or take on more stress than you can manage as the caregiver. Caring for anyone, especially someone whom you might be estranged from, is a physical and emotional commitment.

If you can’t provide all the care your father might need, then you’ll want to let him know so he can make other arrangements and seek alternative support. You may not be able to provide all the care, so finding

other support doesn’t mean you’re not helping. It just means you understand your limits and capacity.

Setting boundaries for yourself might also include some distance from personal, day-to-day care. If it’s easier for you, you could take on the role of managing money, arranging for in-home care, or arranging doctor’s appointments. It is okay for you to delegate the in-person caregiving to someone else in order to protect yourself from a confrontation with your dad or discomfort for either of you.

Prior to beginning to care for your estranged parent, you may want to consider speaking to a licensed mental health professional to make sure some of your unresolved feelings can be addressed. These counselors are trained to help you navigate these feelings, including resentment towards your parent, and can offer suggestions for processing and moving past them. After setting boundaries and sticking to them, it is still important to check in with yourself mentally to make sure you are in a good head space while acting as a caregiver. Again, this might include seeing a licensed mental health professional regularly or joining a support group in your area. It could also mean taking time away from caregiving to focus on the things you enjoy and restore your energy. Whatever it is you choose to do, it’s important to recognize and honor your feelings and pay attention to how caring for an estranged parent affects multiple areas of your life: social, professional, emotional, physical, financial, etc.

If you do not take the time to understand and navigate these feelings, you may begin to harbor more feelings of resentment.

If you find yourself at a loss and you aren’t sure how to do this, you do not have to go at it alone. You might consider working with an Aging Life Care™ professional, who is an expert in aging and can help you make the best decisions for your parent and yourself.

November is for celebrating

Remember the people who lovingly give baths, clean houses, prepare food, shop for, and comfort friends and loved ones.

#CaregivingAroundTheClock

NOVEMBER 2023 - 5

Join us for an event!

At One Medical Seniors, we believe in building strong relationships with our patients and the local community. We are currently offering in-practice and community events to keep our senior population healthy and connected.

Join us for an upcoming event and bring your friends and family!

These events are for you if: You just aged into Medicare You just moved to the area You just retired and are Medicare eligible You have questions about your current plan

To learn more, call 704.274.2814 or scan the QR Code with your phone to RSVP.

6 - NOVEMBER 2023

A R TH R ITI S A N D PA I N How Physical Therapy Can Help

by Amy Phariss

NOVEMBER 2023 - 7 Physical therapist Dr. Sara S. Morrison, of Total Body Therapy and Wellness, treats patients every day who struggle with arthritis and want to feel better, move better and live better. We reached out to Dr. Morrison to find out how physical therapy can affect arthritis and what we need to know to make the most of the therapeutic options available.

pain. Dry needling is another option. There is a lot of research on Dry Needling, especially for improving knee arthritis pain.

Dry needling is especially helpful for knee pain.

This interview has been edited for length.

We use it on many different joints like the shoulder and spine, and hip, too.

ONC: Tell us about the link between physical therapy and arthritis.

ONC: What are we failing to see or missing about arthritis?

SM: With arthritis, what happens is that when it starts to bother you, you have pain. You sit down more and have less activity. Your joints are stiffer and weaker. This causes a vicious cycle of pain, weakness and more pain. Slowly, you stop performing activities. First, it’s not going to exercise class. Then, before long, you’re not taking care of your yard or going out with family. You end up sitting more. With therapy, we try to reverse this equation. We try to get you strong so that when you move the pressure is on your muscles and not wearing down your bones.

SM: So, arthritis is going to affect your joints, right? As we get older, a lot of times, our muscles get weaker. This places even more pressure on your joints and causes more pain, worsening our arthritis. We need to find a way to take the pressure off. Strengthening the area around the joints is the best way to unload it with arthritis.

ONC: What is the biggest myth about arthritis you’ve seen?

SM: I think it’s the idea that nothing can help me.

People think “I have this. It’s forever. I’m just going to get worse”. But that’s not true.

There is a lot that can be done to help arthritis pain. It won’t go away but there is a lot you can do to get stronger and have less pain.

ONC: What are some examples of what you can do?

SM: Heat and cold are really helpful. Any kind of heat: hot pack or a hot shower. We can place Kinesiology tape around the joint to keep it in the right alignment and protect it. Topical gels such as Biofreeze help relieve pain. Orthotics in your shoes can help properly align your foot arch.

This will align your ankle, knee, and hip, as well as your back. With arthritis, your joint begins to wear away but not evenly. This can start to deform your leg, for example, if you have arthritis with the knee. Your knees can bow out or shift inwards.

Orthotics can help realign the leg to improve that

A lot of times, it’s just getting yourself on a good exercise program.

As soon as you find out you have arthritis, you should get on a good exercise program so you can maintain what you have and prevent decline.

So, imagine you just found out you have arthritis, and you go to PT before things are hurting bad.

We can design a program for you to perform to get your muscles strong and your joints in alignment.

You can then maintain this at home, setting you up for less pain in the future. If anything changes you can always come back in for help. So, it doesn’t have to go on for weeks and weeks. On the same token, if you do hurt a lot, we can do therapy and slowly progress your pain, movement and strength. When you’re not hurting anymore, we can put you on a long-term program you can keep up at home.

ONC: Is there any way to use PT to decrease the level of arthritis?

SM: Once you’re at a level, you’re there. But we can always help reduce your pain. The degeneration will be there, but we can help with the pain and swelling. When you have swelling, tightness and weakness it will make you walk funny.

Then, this messes up the surrounding areas. So, the pain spreads. We can stop that spreading from happening.

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You’ll always have the arthritis, but physical therapy can make it so you don’t have the pain and the swelling.

Another big thing we do is teach you how to manage it. You’ll know what you need to do to keep everything steady. So, if you have a good day, you’ll know what to do. You don’t go clean out the whole garage and flair everything up.

The point is to have more good days than bad days and how to keep steady.

ONC: This sounds like an empowering approach.

SM: Exactly. If you can take control of your arthritis and you know what to do, you have control over it. It’s not controlling you anymore.

ONC: Talk about the mental effects of arthritis or pain.

SM: Sometimes it feels like all of a sudden you’re hurting one day and it came out of nowhere, and you have no control over pain. It’s really depressing and disheartening. You have your plan for the day, and it can be thrown off by this pain whenever it feels like it. But most times, there is a reason for good and bad days. We can teach you what those reasons are, so you’ll know. You’ll know: “I can do this activity and be fine tomorrow”. Or, “If I push it now, I will hurt tomorrow”. You can then make a choice and be in

control of how you feel.

Weather has a huge effect on arthritis. So, knowing the weather and how it affects pain helps with planning. You don’t have to get down mentally.

People get mentally down with arthritis. They think it won’t get better, but there is always hope, no matter where they are, if you’re willing to put in the effort.

ONC: What do spouses or caregivers need to know about arthritis and how to interact with a loved one?

SM: Arthritis sufferers need to be on a steady exercise program, so anything they can do to support that is good. Arthritis doesn’t like a lot of heavy weight, and it doesn’t like a lot of repetition.

So, if your husband has arthritis, and there is something heavy, maybe he doesn’t need to lift it.

Knowing your loved one’s limits and respecting that is important. But also, knowing when to push is important, so they’re not on the couch all day.

Sometimes, we need a little bit of that tough love.

It’s a balance.

ONC: What are the biggest barriers to accessing PT for arthritis?

SM: I think knowledge is the biggest thing. A lot

NOVEMBER 2023 - 9 of the public doesn’t know exercise is good for arthritis. If you’ve been hurting for a long time, you think there’s nothing you can do. If you don’t mention it to providers, the providers won’t help them with anything. Some providers still aren’t aware of how beneficial exercise is for arthritis.

Some will offer pain medicine but not encourage exercise.

In this day and age, we must be our own advocate for our healthcare.

So, knowing about exercise, and asking your doctor about it….we all need to learn how to do that.

ONC: What exercise is especially helpful?

SM: Walking is wonderful. Walking, biking (stationary or road) and swimming. Those are all low-impact exercises. There isn’t a lot of slamming or jumping. With swimming, there is no impact in the water. Biking is no impact on your legs, either.

It’s a wonderful way to get stronger and get more motion without adding further damage to your joint.

ONC: What about weightlifting?

SM: It’s great. You want to start out with light weights until you see where your comfort zone is,

and we want to make sure you’re doing it right.

A lot of people start on their own and develop poor form. This can make things worse instead of making it better. It’s best to have someone who knows how to exercise show you the right way to do it.

ONC: Are there other lifestyle changes people can make?

SM: Definitely. Of course, hydration is good.

There are a lot of different ways to eat better for your arthritis pain as well. Low inflammation diets are great to keep that inflammation at bay.

Maintaining a healthy weight is also important.

One pound of weight on your abdomen is going to equal five pounds of pressure on your knees. So, if we can take some of the extra pressure off, you will feel better. Even losing five pounds in an area is going to unweight your knees a whole lot.

Once people start losing weight, that’s a huge difference on arthritis pain.

ONC: Does weight gain lead to arthritis?

SM: No. Arthritis is a disease process. Not everybody is going to get arthritis; although it’s extremely common. But extra weight certainly doesn’t help. Let’s say you have arthritis in your family and you know you’ll get it at some point,

Dr. Sara S. Morrison, T, DPT, CDT, FCE, CFT, Cert DN, Cert FMT | Owner -Total Body Therapy & Wellness

PT: WHERE DO SYMPTOMS COME FROM?

10 - NOVEMBER OCTOBER 2022 -2023 10 No onecan likes to be in that pain.process In fact,and I have the extra weight accelerate make spent the past 20+ years helping people get you feel that pain sooner. out of pain. The most common question I ONC: What canissomeone in apain PT to go away?” hear “How canexpect I get this appointment for arthritis?

The answer to this is simple. We first need to know Why you are hurting. Then we can SM: Your evaluation will go over your medicines and figure out how to stop the pain. So, why are past medical history. We’ll talk about where your pain you hurting? There are many different reasons is and what makes it better and worse. We will assess for pain to occur in our bodies. Pain can your motion, strength, posture, and walking. We’ll be due to a problem in the Muscles, Joints, talk about your goals as far as what you want to do Tendons, Organs or Nerves. It can also be that you’re having trouble doing. Do you want to get due to Medication, Psychological reasons, or better to play with your grandkids more, work in the Nutrition yard or other things.

Many health care professionals diagnose pain The keys to building a plan include adding motion,

by Special Tests. During these tests, your strength and walking, reducing pain and taking practitioner will use their hands to push, pressure off joints. pull and twist the areas that are causing you pain. These are verythose useful to find what We will develop a plan tests to improve things.

We’ll structure is causing you pain.

If you place start you on an exercise program that you can do at stress onhave a structure andprogram it increases home. Then, we’ll a different thatyour we’ll pain, it is likely that structure is contributing do in the clinic. to your symptoms. Although helpful, many of ONC: What do you see tests as the factors in these special arecommon only 60-80% accurate. success, inWhile patients manage their thiswho maysuccessfully look good at first, changing arthritis with PT? the way the question is framed will show that

thisthing also means arethe 20-40% inaccurate.

SM: The first is doingthey what therapist says be very costly.

At best they need Misdiagnosis to do as often of as pain they can suggest doing it. They it keeps you in pain longer, while in other need to attend their therapy appointments regularly. cases it can allow symptoms to intensify.

There is a reason for the appointments.

We’re When you are dealing with pain, missing your favorite constantly updating your program and giving you activities and sleepless advice to handle your arthritis at nights… home. you want to be as accurate as possible!

The treatment in the office is also really important. of Diagnostic Imaging in StretchingThe andaddition massaging the joints, these are big Physical Therapy has revolutionized parts in reducing pain and feeling better. That’sthe way addressed.

By utilizing Diagnostic somethingpain you is can’t do at home.

You need to have the Imaging, PT’s are now able to look inside you

and diagnose 98% accuracy. therapist helpyour you pain get towith thatover point.

That means that we can find the real problem, or ONC: So,and it’s aaddress team effort? problems, them from the beginning.

No more trial and error. No more “try this for a SM: Yeah. Really, you’ll get there as long as you’re on few months and if it doesn’t get any better we will board and you’re willing to try. Unfortunately, there try to get an MRI”. With the addition of Diagnostic are a lot of people who could feel better but they’re imaging, your Physical Therapist can now say “From not ready to try and make the effort. my evaluation it looks like you have a problem in ____.

Weare aretimes going in to life do awhen Diagnostic Ultrasound There our health has to be and confirm this and fully check your joint. ” the top priority so we can get back to the other Inthings a matter a few days, we can have your test we of love. performed, results given to you and a new, more ONC: What would say to ayour reader who has comprehensive plan you to improve pain. arthritis but hasn’t tried PT? Diagnostic imaging in physical therapy includes: SM: I would definitely say to try physical therapy 1.because Musculoskeletal (MSKUS) they have noUltrasound idea how good they can feel once they’re stronger, have more motion and are on a good program. I’ve never seen anybody put in the effort who hasn’t been happy that they did it in the end.

In North Carolina, you no longer need a doctor order to go to physical therapy, with any kind of Medicare, Medicare Advantage or commercial insurance (BlueCross, United, Cigna, Medcost, etc.) With Tricare and the VA, you need an order, but with other insurance, you do not need an order.

If there is something you want to take care of, you can MSKUS is a safe, non-invasive, and painless just call and make an appointment without a doctor diagnostic tool. It is used to diagnose structures order. Removing a barrier like this is often what will such as tendons, muscles, bursas, ligaments, nerve make people successful. In a couple days, you can get entrapment/pinching and joint structure changes. into PT and start feeling better. Knowing what to do Like a video, MSKUS captures real-time images of just feels so much more empowering. It makes your body structures and can assess a joint/area while it outlook so much better. moves. This feature is especially useful as many times pain does not occur at rest, only with movement.

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Monster Cookies

NOVEMBER 2023 - 11

We knew the weather was changing when we saw my mom gather all the ingredients in the buggy at the store for these cookies. I would sit on the counter and watch my mom assemble the enormous cookies, feeling the crisp breeze blow into the open kitchen window. The bliss of cooler weather, pumpkin carving, and the sweet smell of sugary goodies in the oven filled me with an inner calm. For me monster cookies represent memories of coziness and joy of the festivities to come.

-Ashley Culbreth INGREDIENTS • 1 cup sugar • 1 cup packed light brown sugar • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature • 3 large eggs • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or chunky) • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract • 2 teaspoons baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 4 1/2 cups oats (Old Fashioned or Quick) • 1 cup mini M&Ms • 1 cup mini-chocolate chips • (Optional) Toffee chips DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 2. Beat the sugars and butter together until smooth (about 3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time until fully mixed. Add peanut butter, vanilla, baking soda and salt and mix until comined.

3. Add the oats and mix again.

4. Stir in the M&Ms, mini chocolate chips and toffee chips (if using), until combined.

5. Scoop 2 tablespoon mounds of dough onto prepared cookie sheet, roughly 2 inches apart.

6. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, until they look “set.” Don’t overbake. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-7 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

t peantuer t bu

12 - NOVEMBER 2023

Peppermint Oreo Cookies

These cookies are just incredible. The first time I made them was my last Christmas before I moved out here from Oregon. I wanted to bake some special treats with my family to celebrate our last Christmas at home together, and these will be a tradition every year from here on out! - Jennifer Safley Ingredients: • 1 box Pillsbury white cake mix • 8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened • 1 large egg • ½ Tsp peppermint extract • ½ Tsp vanilla extract • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened • 1 cup Oreo cookie chunks • 1 cup crushed Andes mints + extra • ½ cup dark chocolate chips + extra

Instructions: 1. Combine the cake mix, butter, egg, extracts, and cream cheese. Mix until a soft dough forms.

2. Stir in the Oreo chunks, Andes mint chunks, and chocolate chips gently. Refrigerate the dough for at least 60 minutes. The longer the better.

The dough should not stick to your hands when rolling.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

4. Scoop or roll the dough into 24 balls. Place 12 on a baking sheet and the other 12 into the fridge.

5. Bake for 10-11 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE. The cookies will be very soft and look undone when you take them out.

6. Let the cookies sit on the hot baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then gently remove and place them, with a thin metal spatula, onto parchment paper on the counter.

7. If the cookies are extra puffy, tap the tops with the bottom of a flat spatula. Press extra chocolate chips and Andes mint pieces into the top of the cookies. Let them sit until completely cool.

Store in a sealed container.

NOVEMBER 2023 - 13

GRAY MATTER GAMES

ACROSS 1. Bent 5. Certain surgeon’s “patient” 9. Marienbad, for one 12. Clearasil target 13. Angry, with “up” 15. Blue hue 16. Little sister, for example 18. “Cogito ___ sum” 19. Clod chopper 20. Black cat, maybe 21. Avenue 23. Some Olympians, nowadays 24. Try, as a case 25. _____ ID 28. Marine crustacean 32. “Mi chiamano Mimi,” e.g.

33. Breed 34. Gladly 35. Jiffs 36. Whacks 37. Data 38. Jersey, e.g.

39. Affectedly creative 40. Campus military org.

41. Satisfies 43. Catch, as in a net 45. Attired 46. “Guilty,” e.g.

47. Kind of wit 50. The “C” in U.P.C. 51. 20-20, e.g.

54. “Pumping ___” 55. Type of way to prepare oats 58. ___ mortals 59. Carries 60. Abstruse 61. Convened 62. Makeup, e.g.

63. Elizabeth ___, English suffragist DOWN 1. Shellacking 2. An aviation organization 3. A chip, maybe 4. Undertake, with “out” 5. Aftershock 6. Marriage and others 7. Brio 8. Moray, e.g.

9. Arid 10. Beep 11. Bunches 14. Abandons 15. Firm or solid earth (2 wds) 17. Elders’ teachings 22. “The Joy Luck Club” author 23. Synthetic material for wax modeling 24. A shrew

25. Port holders 26. “Gladiator” setting 27. Allowed 28. Fires 29. Birchbark 30. Holds up 31. Methuselah’s father 33. Bit 36. Inflammation of a mucous membrane 42. A pint, maybe 43. Firstborn 44. Call for 46. Surveys 47. Brinks 48. Length x width, for a rectangle 49. After-dinner drink 50. Hint 51. Old Chinese money 52. Any thing 53. Catch a glimpse of 56. ___ grass 57. “___ to Billie Joe”

14 - NOVEMBER 2023

Gray Matter Games Solutions

Accessible Communication with Captions!

RESOURCES. EXPERIENCE. SOLUTIONS.

We’re here to help you navigate all things aging! www.AOSNC.com

info@AOSNC.com | 910.692.0683 Relay Conference Captioning Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service is available for individuals who have a hearing loss or a speech disability to actively participate in teleconference calls or webinars by reading live captions on their laptop, mobile device or tablet.

To inquire, contact kim.m.calabretta@t-mobile.com or visit relaync.com/rcc

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NOVEMBER 2023 - 15

Nov. 15 5:00 - 8:00pm McKenzie Bros Band Cash bars, Guys welcome!

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Some Eye Diseases Have No Warning Signs or Symptoms.

We value your trust and loyalty. Our commitment to your safety remains our number ONE priority.

We're excited to welcome you back to a safe We are happily accepting new patients!

Eye diseases like Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma can cause irreversible blindness. However, treatment options are available if the disease is caught early on.

Don’t Wait! Schedule An Eye Exam Today!

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16 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022 -2023 16

Make Every Day Five Star

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