OutreachNC March 2016 by OutreachNC

COMPLIMENTARY

MARCH 2016 | VOL. 7, ISSUE 3

Spring Greens Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing

Plus

5 WAYS TO AGE IN PLACE

DESIGNING YOUR HOME SWEET FOREVER HOME CAROLINA CONVERSATIONS WITH ACTOR JOHN DAVIDSON

Serving the Southern Piedmont, Sandhills & Triangle

MARCH 2016 |

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best hospitals 2016 Cape Fear Valley tops the list of Best Hospitals in North Carolina in US News and World Report rankings with five quality distinctions.

When seeking a hospital to care for your family, choose one with quality that’s verified by trusted outside sources. You won’t find another health system from the Triangle to the coast with the quality and scope of services offered at Cape Fear Valley. And you won’t find one as committed to your family’s health.

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features MARCH 2016

Universal By Design Issue 30

Better with Age Series: The Cary by Jonathan Scott

Home Sweet Forever Home by Jennifer Webster

5 Ways to Age in Place by Rachel Stewart

Carolina Conversations with Actor and Singer John Davidson by Thad Mumau

A Historic Home Ahead of Its Time by David Hibbard

The Master List: Things to Consider When Caring for an Older Adult by Jennifer Webster

Ready, Set, Play! 2016 Senior Games Spring into Action by Thad Mumau

Comfort is Universal by Rachel Stewart

Century-Old Faith and Lenten Crosses Honor Season 4

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

by Flo Johnston

MARCH 2016 |

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departments March 2016

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” —Charles Dickens

14 advice & health 10

Ask the Expert by Amy Natt

26 life 14

Gentleman’s Notebook by Ray Linville

Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark

Accessible Living by Mark and Karen Caulfield

Literary Circle by Cos Barnes

Resource Marketplace Find the resources you need.

Planning Ahead by Beth Donner

Reading for Generations by Michelle Goetzl

Generations by Carrie Frye

Caregiving by Mike Collins

Cooking Simple by Rhett Morris

Equip Fit by Elizabeth McKinley

Game On by Thad Mumau

Fitness by Howie Shareff

Grey Matter Games Sudoku, Word Search & Crossword

Brain Health by Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP

Over My Shoulder by Ann Murphy Robson

COMPLIMENTARY

3 MARCH 2016 | VOL. 7, ISSUE

Spring Greens Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing

Plus

CAROLINA

5 WAYS TO AGE IN PLACE FOREVER HOME DESIGNING YOUR HOME SWEET JOHN DAVIDSON CONVERSATIONS WITH ACTOR

Serving the Southern Piedmont, Sandhills

& Triangle

MARCH 2016 |

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| OUTREACHNC.COM

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY DIANA MATTHEWS

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

cert!

Con Live In

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from the editor

arch, spring and Easter make this month special as the flowers and trees awaken from winter’s grasp bursting with color. Take in the last of the beautiful camellias before they give way to daffodils and tulips. This month, we also celebrate accessibility with our Universal By Design theme. We go behind the scenes with certified aging-in-place specialists to see how universal design techniques make for accessible living for all, whether building from the ground up or remodeling to add form and function in an exisiting home. Being on the site of a nearly complete home exemplifying universal design at every corner makes me wonder why every home is not held to this standard that makes everyday living so much easier. Kitchens and bathrooms shine with style, quality, safety and the latest innovations. And one need not remodel or build to incorporate some of the universal design principles into their current house. There are enhanced accents like grab bars keenly designed as towel bars, earthen ramps as opposed to wooden ones, or sleek, easy-to-grab hardware for doors and cabinetry to ponder. Away from home, public places generally offer more accessibility. One local gem that gets better with age is The Cary. Downtown Cary’s historic theater reopened in 2014, welcoming patrons to see live performances and movies again after being closed for decades. There is plenty of comfy seating as well as space for wheelchairs and elevator access. Standing outside at sunset, we were able to catch a glow from the street lamps against hues of blue and purple sky as a backdrop to the theater’s marquee for a picture perfect moment. Thank you Diana Matthews! Back at the office, co-editor Jeeves is highly anticipating the warm sunshine, afternoon excursions of chasing birds and squirrels and an Easter basket of surprises that spring brings. We thank you for turning these pages with us! Until next month...

—Carrie Frye

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

Editor in Chief Carrie Frye | carrief@OutreachNC.com Contributing Graphic Designers Nikki Lienhard, Jonathan Scott Contributing Proofreaders Jennifer Kirby, Michelle Goetzl, Kate Pomplun, Jennifer Webster Contributing Photographer Diana Matthews Contributing Writers Cos Barnes, Mike and Karen Caulfield, Mike Collins, Beth Donner, Michelle Goetzl, David Hibbard, Flo Johnston, Ray Linville, Elizabeth McKinley, Rhett Morris, Thad Mumau, Ann Murphy Robson, Celia Rivenbark, Jonathan Scott, Howie Shareff, Rachel Stewart, Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP, Jennifer Webster

Y Publisher Amy Natt | amyn@AgingOutreachServices.com Marketing & Public Relations Director Susan McKenzie | susanm@AgingOutreachServices.com Advertising Sales Executive Shawn Buring | shawnb@OutreachNC.com 910-690-1276 OutreachNC PO Box 2478 | 676 NW Broad Street Southern Pines, NC 28388 910-692-9609 Office | 910-695-0766 Fax info@OutreachNC.com PO Box 2019 | 101-A Brady Court Cary, NC 27512 919-909-2693 Office | 919-535-8719 Fax info@OutreachNC.com

www.OutreachNC.com OutreachNC is a publication of Aging Outreach Services, Inc. The entire contents of OutreachNC are copyrighted by Aging Outreach Services. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial, photographic or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. OutreachNC is published monthly on the first of each month.

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advice

Our Aging Life CareTM Professionals will answer any aging questions you may have.

Email us your questions! ASK THE EXPERT

info@OutreachNC.com

Utilize Resources to Support Aging Parents by Amy Natt, MS, CMC, CSA My dad has been taking my mom to see a neurologist for changes in her memory, but I am not exactly sure about her diagnosis. Will the doctor give me that information? When I ask my dad, he just says she is getting better and not to worry about it. What can I do to help support them?

As an adult child, it can be difficult to know the best way to support an aging parent. You may be very well intentioned and just not know the most effective way to manage that boundary between child and parent. Those roles can shift as a person requires more care and attention. Having access to health information is an important topic in this discussion. Health information is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that was passed by Congress in 1996. HIPAA requires the protection and confidential handling of health information. This would include information from your mother’s neurologist. Typically, a medical provider will ask the patient to complete a form that specifies to whom they have permission to release information. If your mom and dad want you to have access to this information, they need to make sure they have listed you on that form. Without proper consent, the doctor would not be able to provide you with protected health information, such as her diagnosis. You might ask your dad if they have listed you on these forms. Another suggestion would be to ask your dad if you could attend an appointment with them, or ask if they received any type of note from the visit outlining what was discussed. This would allow you to have an open conversation with them about the changes and

what you can do to support them. If your parents executed power of attorney documents that name you, some attorneys will include a separate document to provide access to protected health information. If and when they need you to act in that capacity, this can be a helpful document. If your dad feels she is “getting better,” that may be accurate, he may want to believe that, or he may be trying to protect you from the reality. He may or may not understand the full scope of the change and diagnosis. In some cases, the person is just not ready to accept the diagnosis. The term “dementia” gets tossed around quite a bit, so you want to make sure you have an accurate diagnosis explaining the cause of those symptoms. You can support your parents through this process by having open conversations with them and asking questions and observing changes for yourself. Early and accurate diagnosis with cognitive change is very important for many reasons. It can identify possible reversible causes for the change like depression, vitamin B-12 deficiency or a urinary tract infection as well as provide the best course of treatment for a disease like Alzheimer’s, Lewy body or vascular dementia that is irreversible. Knowing what you are dealing with is the first step in getting the right plan of care in place and identifying what type of support is needed.

Readers may send questions to Natt, an Aging Life CareTM Professional, certified senior advisor and CEO of Aging Outreach Services. She can be reached at amyn@agingoutreachservices.com.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;? Knowing how to age and not being afraid of aging is very healthy. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Evelyn Lauder

As an adult child, these conversations can be difficult, but they are important to have. They are the starting point for many life care issues you are likely to face in the coming years. Planning and open communication are key to continued quality of life and aging with dignity. Try to keep an open mind, be willing to listen and accept the changing roles in your family. Let your parents know that it is OK, and you want to support them. Watch for signs of caregiver stress for your dad, and encourage them both to continue to live life but to modify tasks that become too frustrating. There is a line between taking over or dictating what they should do and being a part of the support team. They may make different decisions than you would, so the goal is to open the door to identify options and resources. You can help provide them with emotional support, educational resources and hands-on support as requested. Taking this approach enables you to address your concerns while allowing them to continue to navigate the challenges of aging. MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 11

advice

ACCESSIBLE LIVING

Make Adjustments with Barrier-free Options

by Mark and Karen Caulfield niversal design-also known as barrier-free • Leave enough space. Avoid narrow design-aims to make homes safe and accessible hallways and entryways. Areas less than for everyone, regardless of age or physical ability. 32 inches wide are hard for wheelchairs Homes built or renovated with universal design and scooters to get through, so make in mind are often more suitable for aging in place, sure that all hallways and doorframes rather than having to move when the realities of exceed that width. Don’t forget to leave aging become too much to handle in a space designed enough space to easily navigate and turn in without those challenges in mind. a wheelchair between counters and cabinets As we age, our home needs change, too. Suddenly, in the bathrooms and kitchen. steep stairs and narrow hallways may be difficult to • Make it adjustable. In addition to maneuver comfortably and safely. Aching joints and installing handles and rails in the shower bones make turning doorknobs a painful task. The risk for safety, make your bathroom more of a fall resulting in a serious injury grows every day. comfortable by choosing an adjustable The combination of a growing desire to remain at home showerhead that can easily be lowered for as long as possible and the safety concerns have to any height or focused in any created a need and strong demand for more accessible direction. homes. Thankfully, it’s becoming easier to have a home that is both safe and stylish. • Consider height. High countertops Keep barrier-free options in mind when renovating or in kitchens and bathrooms can building a home with a few easy tips, including: make things unreachable for

• Fewer stairs. Stairs can become a huge

challenge later in life, so limit the number of stairs or height changes both inside and outside of the home. If you have a front porch with steps, make sure that you install handrails. You might also want to consider installing a ramp at another access point to the home.

• Pay attention to hardware. Grasping

doorknobs or cabinet knobs can be extremely hard on arthritic hands. Instead of knobs, opt for door levers or cabinet pulls that are a little easier on the joints.

those in wheelchairs. Lowering countertops prevents that from becoming a problem.

Even if you don’t currently have any age-related or special physical needs, it’s a good idea to keep universal design in mind if you plan on staying in your home for a long time or if you live in an area with a lot of older residents. If you decide to sell your home, you might see higher offers from those looking for a more accessible home and someone else will be able to benefit from your foresight.

The Caulfields, a husband and wife real estate team at Coldwell Banker Advantage in Southern Pines, can be reached at 910-725-0220 or kcaulfield@homescba.com.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

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life

G E N T L E M A N ’ S N OT E B O O K

Enjoy the Blooms of Winter Until Spring Arrives by Ray Linville

ave you wished during gray winter days that azaleas and other spring flowers were ready to bloom? After visiting Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, I was pleasantly surprised how camellias in bloom brightened its landscape in the winter. Originally from Asia, camellias were first brought into the United States in 1797. In a few years, they were thriving in the gardens of the Carolinas. Camellias, picturesque in the ancient temple gardens of China and Japan, have a long heritage in Asia. After being brought into America, the camellia continued as it had elsewhere as a symbol of elegance and aristocracy, which created the misconception that it’s more delicate and difficult to grow than it is. However, the American Camellia Society says that camellias are easier to grow than azaleas and gardenias. I know that’s true. After planting several camellias, I’ve done little more for more than a decade than a little pruning and watering. They will thrive with a minimalist approach for a long time. In fact, some camellias in Japan live to be over 500 years old. An evergreen shrub that is cold-tolerant, its blossoms show up just as my yard needs color. A camellia is planted next to each corner of the house, so that regardless of which way I’m looking this month, I see a plant in bloom. Camellias bloom well before azaleas even think that it’s time to awaken. In fact, our area can enjoy the blooms of camellias for several months. Bloom colors range from white to many shades of pink and red in our area (and yellow flowers can be found in South China

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

and Vietnam). Flower sizes range from two inches in diameter up to five. Camellias thrive not only in our landscape but also in our popular culture, including literature and sports. For example, the camellia flower is used in “To Kill a Mockingbird” to represent courage. Author Harper Lee plays to the mystique of the camellia when she describes a white camellia, the favorite flower of one character, as it is touched by someone else. Writers also often personify the camellia as Francis Duggan does in his poem “Like a Beautiful Camellia,” when he compares his love to the flower: “So bright and fresh and pretty in the wintry wind and rain.” In sports, the camellia plays prominently during the Masters Tournament at Augusta National each April. The 10th hole, historically the course’s hardest, is named Camellia, and its difficulty prepares the pros for the next three holes, known as “Amen Corner.” You still have time to enjoy the blooms of winter. Visit the 70th annual show of the Fayetteville Camellia Club, which last year featured 452 blooms. Free and open to the public, it will be held at the Ramada Plaza in the Bordeaux Convention Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on March 5-6. In addition, plant a camellia and enjoy its flowers as they brighten the gray days next winter. Retired from the N.C. Community College System, Linville is a contributing writer for the N.C. Folklife Institute and conducts programs on Southern food, history and culture. He can be reached at linville910@gmail.com.

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advice

PLANNING AHEAD

Preserving Independence Takes Planning by Beth Donner, CRPC

he word “independence” implies freedom from the control, influence, support or aid of others. As mature, responsible adults, this is how we have strived to live our lives. Remaining in control of the future can depend on the planning we’ve done and the financial resources available if a healthcare challenge occurs. Due to the prevalence of injuries and illness as we age, our tomorrow may hold the need for long-term custodial care. U.S. Census Bureau projections estimate the number of Americans over age 65 will grow to over 70 million by 2030. Unfortunately, the majority will have a healthcare event, so planning is important. Most retirees report they’d like to stay in their own home as long as they can, but custodial care, even at home, comes at a cost. Knowing the coverage options to pay for custodial care can prove beneficial, so let’s consider how the cost of such care can be covered should the need arise. Medical Insurance: If you are still actively employed and remain on a group health plan and have a significant healthcare event, you or a family member should contact your health insurance plan or the human resources department of your employer. It’s not uncommon for a group plan to offer 30-60 days of skilled care after a hospital stay, and some plans will also cover a similar number of days of home health visits. Disability Insurance: Again, if you are still actively employed and have a group disability plan, this might be an option. Although disability insurance is designed to reimburse you for lost income due to your inability

to work, you can use these monies the way you see fit. Although some of these dollars may be used to pay for your mortgage, food or utilities, they can also be used for home healthcare expenses. Medicare: If age 65 or older and on Medicare, some intermittent, part-time home health aide visits may be covered, but Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of a home health aide unless you’re also getting skilled care such as nursing care or physical therapy. There are restrictions, such as the requirement that you must be home bound, and your need to have continued visits is re-evaluated every 60 days. Long-Term Care Insurance: In contrast to the options above, this is the only kind of insurance specifically designed to pay for custodial care. Today’s policies normally cover home health care to the same extent they cover skilled facility care, securing coverage for what most are seeking-the ability to stay at home as long as they wish. Medicaid: This coverage is intended for the blind, disabled and elderly with limited income and assets. If your total assets are more than $2,000, you likely won’t qualify for financial assistance for any form of custodial care. To determine if you do qualify, you should check with your specific county’s Department of Social Services. Donner is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and can be reached at Beth@DiversifiedPlanning.com or 919-601-0501.

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life

LITERARY CIRCLE

‘Dearie’ and ‘The Art of Hearing Heartbeats’ Book Reviews by Cos Barnes

hat an education reading “Dearie,” Bob Spitz’s tantalizing biography of Julia Child was. I loved every word of his sophisticated vocabulary and his ability to portray this exceptional woman whom many of us knew only as the frumpy TV character who embraced cooking as a ceremonial rite. Talking all the while, she entertained us as well as taught us how to do everything from boil an egg to fricassee meats of every description. We see the evolution of a privileged, spoiled young California woman, equipped with graduations from a finishing school and Smith College, idling away her days as a social butterfly, a true dilettante, to a dynamic and capable civil servant as a clerk for the OSS during World War II. There she met the love of her life, Paul Child, and their marriage became legendary. She, who played down her looks, was 6’3” and described herself as “too long,” developed her own flair for television and after years of hard work and disappointment, she published “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Her pluck and exuberance are so well identified by Spitz. It is a pleasure to read him.

It is special when you study a country that many of your book club members have visited. A description of the country of Burma supplied by them when we talked about Jan-Phillip Sendker’s love story set in Burma, “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats,” and their impressions of the things they saw there were decided additions to the discussion. In this book, a prominent New York lawyer suddenly disappears and the only clue his wife and daughter find is a love letter he wrote years ago to a woman in Burma. His daughter, Julia, traces him to the small town of Kalaw where the woman lived. The book spans the period between 1950 and the present and describes the hardship endured by the characters. You will meet other characters-MiMi, UBa and Tin Win-and witness the power of love. Barnes has been writing for OutreachNC since the first publication in 2010 and currently participates in three book clubs. She can be reached at info@outreachnc.com.

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R E A D I N G F O R G E N E R AT I O N S

Graphic Novels Add Artistic Style to Storytelling Book Reviews by Michelle Goetzl

ne of the biggest crazes in middle grade children’s literature is the graphic novel. These books are told in the artistic style of the comic book with sequential panels and speech bubbles rather than straight text, but they don’t necessarily tell light stories and rarely include super-heroes. One story that children know well, but don’t always comprehend on a variety of levels, is the story of Helen Keller. In “Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller,” the story is told through the eyes of Annie Sullivan and by utilizing the graphic novel format a young reader is able to get a better sense of what life might have been like for Helen before she had the ability to communicate. In this graphic novel, black panels from Helen’s perspective create a sense of confusion that slowly clears as she finally starts to comprehend sign language. Panels from earlier in the story suddenly make more sense and highlight how alone she must have felt. In a completely different type of story, “El Deafo,” by Cece Bell, is a slightly auto-biographical look at a young girl who loses her hearing due to a case of spinal meningitis. It takes readers on the arduous journey of learning to lip read and filter out excess noises. It also adeptly handles what it

might be like for a child to deal with feeling different when, more than anything else in the world, she just wanted to be “normal” and fit in. It’s a powerful story about how to fit in regardless of the issues you face. A perennial favorite in the world of graphic novels is “Smile,” by Raina Telgemeier. After a random accident when she was 12, Raina suffers from many rounds of dental surgery, implants, braces and headgear to fix her teeth. The book focuses on her dental work as a way to also show how her experiences coupled with normal teen issues about appearance, crushes and changing social expectations shaped her life. One important aspect of the story is understanding the value of good friends. Early on, some of Raina’s friends are unkind to her because of her teeth, but it eventually realizes that they aren’t good to her when she makes other friends who accept her. Young readers are often shocked when they reach the end and realize that the book is also an autobiography. Graphic novels are available these days for a wide range of ages, covering topics from growing up to fantasy, and even history. Check out your local library or book store for more titles. Happy reading! Goetzl writes an online blog—”Books My Kids Read.” She loves books and sharing that love of reading with children. She can be reached at booksmykidsread@gmail.com.

MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 19

advice

CAREGIVING CAN MAKE LIFE CRAZY!

Be a Super Caregiver by Mike Collins

ome is where the heart is and, so often today, it’s where caregiving takes place. Many caregivers are faced with the challenge of caring for loved ones at home, which dramatically lowers the chance that caregivers will get a break. What if there was a secret to boosting your confidence, pulling yourself out of the low times, and becoming a Super Caregiver? The secret may be so simple—and, at times, silly-feeling—you’ll have a hard time believing it. Amy Cuddy is a Harvard researcher who has found an interesting connection between body language and confidence. Her TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talk is one of the most-watched, ever. Type this link to your browser and check it out: https://www.ted.com/speakers/amy_cuddy. Cuddy has found that standing in a “power pose”—fists on hips, head up, feet spread—you know, like Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, or any superhero, tells our brains to be more confident. The pose provides an “I can do this!” type of confidence.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

Aren’t there times you could really use a boost? What about those days when caregiving is making life crazy and you need something to show you that it isn’t totally overwhelming? I know this sounds out of the oridinary, but it works! Try it in private. Assume the pose and two things happen: First, you’ll probably start laughing at the whole thing, and laughter is a wonderful antidote to stress. Second, if you hold the pose for a minute, and breath deeply as you do, you’ll find that you actually feel better and more powerful. According to Time magazine, “Using a few simple tweaks to body language, Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy discovers ways to help people become more powerful.” Cuddy’s life story is one of wonderful but unexpected success. Early in her college career, she suffered a severe head injury and wasn’t supposed to be able to finish college. Not only did she complete her undergraduate, master’s, and PhD, she returned to her training as a classical dancer and was wonderfully successful at that. Today, she is a well-respected researcher and teacher at the Harvard Business School. No kidding, you should try this. In the shortterm, assuming a power pose is a wonderful way to find a lighter heart. In the long-term, it can be a powerful weapon in your arsenal of ways to keep caregiving from making life crazy!

Collins is the producer of the video, “Care for the Caregiver,” winner of a National Caregiver Friendly Award from Today’s Caregiver Magazine. For ways to deal with the craziness of caregiving, visit www.crazycaregiver.com.

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EQUIP FIT

Not Your Average Chair

by Elizabeth McKinley

ift chairs have been around for years, providing much-needed assistance to those with mobility issues, and making it a great deal easier to be more agile and less dependent on others. However, when lift chairs first hit the market, they did not come with many options. Quite often, it was difficult to find one that matched a room’s décor, or adjustability was limited so the chairs were not as comfortable as one’s familiar, much-loved lounger. Still, lift chairs were useful and necessary, and made life much better for many people. Advances in technology have dramatically changed the way we live and work, and the evolution of the lift chair is no exception. Today, lift chairs might more accurately be described as power recliners. They are electrically operated, worked via a large-button, backlit hand control (no more fumbling in the dark), and come equipped with one or two motors to give you a variety of options and comfort levels, especially if you sit for long periods of time. With one motor, you can smoothly move the back of the chair and the leg rest at the same time. Two motors allow you to operate them independently, so as the back reclines, the leg rest comes up. This can be invaluable if your feet or ankles often swell and your doctor recommends that you place your feet slightly above your heart when you are sitting-known as zero gravity.

Additional options include heat and massage to soothe those aching muscles and keep them flexible, or ward off a sudden chill. Most of today’s chairs also come equipped with battery backup (using “D” batteries), so that if the power goes out, you can continue to use your chair; you won’t be stuck in it for hours waiting for the power to come back on. But what’s the icing on the cake? Today’s lift chairs are fashionable. They are no longer lessthan-attractive pieces of furniture. They come in all kinds of appealing fabrics, even leather, that fit in seamlessly with the colors and furnishings in the rest of a room. They also come in all sizes, customized to

FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care is a not-for-profit agency dedicated to providing compassionate, quality care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their family. Professionally trained staff and volunteers provide physical, emotional and spiritual assistance to enhance the quality of life of those served in their homes, nursing centers or in our 11-bed Hospice House in Pinehurst. For more information on our services including our Grief Resource & Counseling Center, call (910) 715-6000, toll-free (866) 861-7485 or visit www.firsthealth.org/hospice.

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fit any physique based on height and weight of the user, so a petite person does not have to struggle to reach the floor, and a larger person no longer has to squeeze into a seat that’s too small. Companies offer delivery anywhere in the continental United States, from curbside delivery, to moving your chair inside your home, to unpacking and setting it up for you. This comes in handy if you don’t have anyone around to help you, or if you live alone. Lift chairs can be the answer if you are having difficulty with your mobility, whether it’s due to arthritis, knee or hip surgery, or simply the aches and

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pains that occur as we age. Medicare may reimburse from $250-$300 for the motor (it does not reimburse for the chair itself). Most chairs are priced around $500, and go up depending on the size and options. The right chair may help improve your agility and mobility, and make staying at home much more enjoyable and productive.

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McKinley, director of merchandising at SpinLife®, can be reached at elizabeth.mckinley@revolutions-inc.com or www.spinlife.com.

Pinelawn Memorial Park W. Morganton Rd. • Southern Pines

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Family owned & operated since 1984 MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 23

life

COOKING SIMPLE

Spring Greens Salad with Lemon Honey Dressing by Rhett Morris | Photography by Diana Matthews

Dressing Ingredients zest of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons mustard ½ cup olive oil

Salad Ingredients

1 lb. Green Haven Plant Farm spinach or any variety of spring greens 3 oz. Paradox Farm goat cheese 1 pear, thinly sliced ¼ cup roasted pecans salt and pepper to taste candied orange peel, optional (1 orange, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water)

Directions

Dressing: Place lemon zest, juice, honey and mustard into a bowl and whisk together. Slowly add olive oil and whisk until blended together. Salad: Put sliced pears in dressing and coat. Place spinach, goat cheese and pecans in bowl. Put pears on top. Pour remaining dressing over salad. Candied Orange Peel: With a vegetable peeler, peel the orange rind into strips. In a small pot, heat water and sugar on low. Add orange peel and simmer for 45 minutes on low. Remove peel from liquid and allow to cool. Slice into thin strips and add to salad.

Morris, owner of Rhett’s Restaurant, Personal Chef & Catering, is an award-winning chef, specializing in Southern gourmet fare with fresh ingredients. He can be reached at 910695-3663 or rhett@ rhettsrpcc.com.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

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OutreachNC.com 25

health 7

FITNESS

Ways to Feel Better with Little Bits of Yoga

by Howie Shareff

oga is a practice that often seems confined to a class, to a studio. This life science is a process of building self awareness, through breathing, postures, movements and meditation “on the mat,” and by our actions in the world “off the mat” that helps others. The on-the-mat processes are similar to what we do throughout the day. By learning how to position yourself, whether seated, reclining or standing, you may breathe, think and move more effectively and comfortably. Proper positioning is difficult to develop. It appears that people are slumping over or slouching even more without even realizing it. Our chairs, sofas, car seats, and wheelchairs often encourage a rounded back. Add cell phones, computers and low tables or countertops, and we are perpetually hunched over. However, we were not designed to live this way; our spine is shaped to support us in an upright position. Adaptive yoga is a practice of using props such as pillows, towels, yoga blankets, bolsters and blocks, plus other creative modalities to develop a preferred position while seated or lying down. The intention is to create support for you to experience a neutral spine and to have the natural curves of the bones supporting you without strain. Every person has different medical issues and should review with his or her health provider if any exercise is recommended. Consider this approach to sitting: Build from the feet up toward the crown of your head. The reason-If you have your feet angled, twisted or bent, you can foster tension in your legs, hips, spine, neck and shoulders.

Position your feet flat on the floor and your heels under your knees. This may involve shifting forward on the chair and adding pillows under your bottom or behind you.

YogaFest NC returns to Raleigh April 2. This daylong retreat brings 500 participants of all ages and skill levels to explore and learn yoga and wellness practices. Learn more at www.youcalthisyoga.org.

This little series of positioning, breathing and focus can be practiced anywhere, relieving mental and physical tension, plus building a bit of core strength.

Add pillows under your bottom, or support under your feet, to create a slightly downward slope from your hips to your knees.

Separate your feet and knees the width of your two fists, side by side. This is considered “hip-width” apart, similar to how your legs are positioned while standing upright, also know as “Mountain Pose.” When seated, this is called “Sitting Mountain.”

Position your elbows by your hips or waist, turn the palms of your hands upward, and rest the hands on the tops of your thighs. This opens your chest upward. When you have the hands turned downward, this encourages slouching.

Look forward, and breathe in through your nose slowly to a count of 2, 3, or 4. No strain, please. Then exhale through your nose, if possible at the same pace. Try this a few times.

After several warm-ups, you may press the feet more firmly downward, and as you inhale, raise the spine (not the shoulders) and gently extend the top of your head (not the chin) upward. Slowly lower the spine as you exhale.

You may add lifting your belly up and forward as you inhale, and drawing it back toward your spine as you exhale. This is a new way of exercising your belly muscles, while focusing on the rhythm and ease of your breath. Also known as the “seated sit-up.”

Shareff, founder and director of You Call This Yoga, a Raleigh-based nonprofit that helps the physically challenged and underserved improve their life with yoga, can be reached at Howie@youcallthisyoga.org.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

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health

B R A I N H E A LT H

Parkinson’s Disease Is More Than a Tremor

by Karen D. Sullivan, PhD, ABPP

arkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neuropsychological disorder in which the brain does not make enough of a specific chemical, the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is released by the nerve cells in one part of the brain to communicate with nerve cells in many other parts of the brain. Commonly, PD is characterized only by tremor and slowness of movement; however, other symptoms, including those involved in cognition and mood, are increasingly recognized as a fundamental part of the disorder. These symptoms are important to address and treat as they can reduce quality of life and everyday functioning. Motor symptoms: People living with PD have both primary and secondary symptoms that affect movement of the body called motor symptoms. Primary symptoms include: • a resting tremor, with about 70 percent experiencing a slight tremor in the hand or foot on one side of the body, usually when the muscles are relaxed; • bradykinesia, a decrease of spontaneous movement causing short, shuffling steps; • rigidity, stiffness and inflexibility of the limbs, neck and trunk; and • postural instability, a loss of some reflexes needed for maintaining an upright posture, resulting in a tendency to fall. Secondary motor symptoms include: • freezing, feeling as if the feet are glued to the floor when starting to move; • micrographia, a decrease in the size of handwriting that gets worse the more a person writes; and • masked facies, a decrease in facial expressions. Cognitive symptoms: Cognitive change is common in PD and can range from mildly frustrating symptoms to those that interfere with remembering to take one’s medications or pay the bills. These symptoms primarily occur in executive functioning (decreased initiation, multitasking, problem-solving, planning/organization), slowed processing and difficulty with new learning. The rapid retrieval of information, i.e, recall is especially affected in PD often making it aggravating to find the right word “on the spot” or participate quickly in a group discussion.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

Understanding the cause of cognitive changes in PD is a work in progress, although the same brain changes that result in motor symptoms are likely related. Other factors are thought to be sleep disturbance and medication effect, whether for PD or other conditions. It is critical to address and treat any other medical conditions that may be worsening the cognitive symptoms in PD, such as untreated sleep apnea, diabetes and high blood pressure. Mood symptoms: Between 40-50 percent of people living with PD experience depression, anxiety or apathy. These symptoms can occur at any stage of the disease, and in many individuals, may occur before motor symptoms. Scientists believe these symptoms are more related to changes in the brain. A focus of current research is the link between reduced dopamine in the emotional center of the brain-known as the limbic system-and another neurotransmitter, serotonin, known to be essential in maintaining a positive mood. Treatment: Before any treatment can be successful, an individual evaluation is needed to understand each person’s unique issues. Neuropsychologists guide patients, families and other medical providers to the best treatment options and aim to reduce the severity of the symptoms and improve daily life. Recommendations include: • the use of increased coping strategies; • memory enhancing medications such as Exelon; • skills training; • improved sleep; • exercise; • attending a PD support group; • supportive counseling; • social interaction; and • stimulating leisure activities. An excellent resource to find out more on this topic is www.michaeljfox.org. Dr. Sullivan, a clinical neuropsychologist at Pinehurst Neuropsychology, can be reached at 910-420-8041 or www.pinehurstneuropsychology.com.

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Thank you to our Sponsors: The Sanford Herald, All Digital Printing, WBFT-TV46, Nationwide Insurance and Outreach NC MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 29

BETTER WITH AGE SERIES by Jonathan Scott | Photography by Diana Matthews

The Cary

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

t’s easy for Joy Ennis to slip into personification when she talks about The Cary. “The theater is very happy being a theater again,” she says. Ennis, operations and program manager of The Cary, has been in her position since February 2014, when the building at 122 East Chatham Street in downtown Cary reopened as a performance venue for the first time in more than 50 years. When the Town of Cary bought the property in 2011, it had lain vacant for years. The building has housed a clothing store, a recording studio and an auto parts store. “You couldn’t even tell it had ever been a theater,” Ennis says. But it had. Paul Chandler built the theater in 1946 to be just that. For nearly 15 years, The Cary hosted live performances and films. Now, thanks to the Town of Cary’s Downtown Development Program, the building has come full circle. The lights are back on every Thursday through Sunday night, with 200 annual films, 24 singersongwriter performances and 12 live comedy acts. The marquee has been designed to resemble the original art deco look, but, inside, the addition of an elevator and wheelchair-accommodating seating have given the theater a new level of accessibility. “Our goal,” says Ennis, “is to be opportunity driven and community based. It’s a real privilege to be a part of it.” For event information, call 919-462-2051 or visit www.thecarytheater.com. MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 31

Home Sweet

Forever

Home by Jennifer Webster | Photography by Diana Matthews

ging in place isn’t just what people hope to do. It’s where. Prepare a home you love with careful attention to the environment your future self will need. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy it for many more years. Don’t imagine you’ll be installing clunky grab bars or building ugly plywood ramps, either. Accessible design—also known as universal design—is about making spaces where everyone can function fully, no matter their ability level or physical limitations. It’s a set of a design principles motivated by an ethic of function and an ethos of freedom. Look at Sadler Construction’s works and you’ll see space. Airy openness where —as if by accident—there’s plenty of room for a wheelchair to enter and turn. Space for knees under counters, which are low enough to accommodate people sitting down to work. Graceful, curbless entries into marble showers. Lawns sloping majestically, right up to stepless entryways. Behind the scenes, says Lewis Sadler, owner of Sadler Construction, partner with Accessible Design & Build and a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS) in Cary, the houses are structurally ready for future modifications. For instance, structural supports inside walls allow for grab bars to be easily and safely mounted when needed, or closets may be stacked with false floors that can be converted to an elevator space if needed.

Form and Function

Sadler, who exclusively builds accessible houses, discusses both the theory and the nitty-gritty of universal design. First, CAPS certification is given to people, not structures. Homes and other buildings can incorporate various levels of accessibility, from adequate to ample. CONTINUED PAGE 34

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

Kitchens and bathrooms shine with accessible design features, but Lewis Sadler, at left, applies the principles inside and out. For more information on Sadler Construction or Accessible Design & Build, visit www.sadlerconstructionnc.com or www.accessibledesignbuild.com.

MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 33

Stepless entries on the front or back of the home accentuate form and function. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

Minimally, a stepless entry and a wheelchairaccessible bathroom allow basic functionality in the home. However, that’s barely enough, Sadler says. Additional considerations include: • Halls and doors should be wide enough for chairs to move comfortably; Sadler recommends 36-inch-wide doors. • Spaces around doors should include a five-foot turn radius. Bathrooms should also include adequate turning space. • Sinks and countertops should be designed so chairs can “pull up” under them. • Mirrors, electrical outlets, and all other functional items in the house should be at the appropriate level for someone with physical limitations. • Cabinets should include “slide-out” drawers that can be accessed from beside a chair. • Entrance ramps should be placed in the rear of the house, so as not to advertise a disabled occupant. Buildings constructed with accessibility in mind from the start, Sadler says, are more likely to meet

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

and exceed these criteria. He always builds with the future in mind. “We don’t build anything that isn’t completely accessible,” he says. “I can build you a house with all the features you may need for just a little more than one without. If you choose not to do that, it’s the equivalent of buying a car and not getting the airbag. Equally important, spending a little more initially will avoid costly changes down the road.” Accessible design is also an exercise in imagination. For example, what if one person who walks and one who has physical limitations live together and both wish to be active in the kitchen? “If both parties like to participate, you use as many features as you can to allow that, such as multi-level countertops where someone can wheel underneath to prepare foods while the other stands at the stove,” he says. “Every time I build a house for somebody, I bump into someone with different physical issues than others I’ve met. So there is a different area of things we can do to the house to make things easier for them that I have never thought about before. Accessible design features provide a better way to live and accommodate a variety of needs regardless of your stage in life or circumstances.”

Accessories with Accessibility in Mind

A Network of Accessibility With a focus on acessibility, Sadler maintains a network of professionals who can help create universally designed spaces where people of all ability levels can live a highly-functional life, such as: • Cabinetmakers • Companies that modify vans and cars for wheelchair users • Information technology experts • Landscapers who specialize in accessible terrain and gardens • Wireless house monitoring systems • Finding lots, if your desire is to build Sadler has also partnered with Accessible Design & Build as part of its network seeking to make structures and amenities to improve the quality of life at home and in the community. “My job,” he says, “is to provide people with a safe home and a good investment, putting in everything they will need structurally for the rest of their lives.”

s you pile up the years in your beloved home—or move into an exciting new one — you may need to make a few changes so you can still safely do many of the things you love. That’s where professionals like Bee Safe at Home comes in. Owner Michael Harmon, a CAPS-certified physical therapist and builder, offers numerous modifications. “My business is both service- and product-oriented,” Harmon says. “As a physical therapist, I consult with homeowners who perhaps have a new medical diagnosis and need to know how that diagnosis will affect their mobility. If that consultation leads to a home modification project, I can recommend the products that will assist and restore their mobility.” Like Lewis Sadler, Harmon offers unique options for each client, while preserving the sense of the home as a unified whole. “Universal design should be invisible as it fits in and becomes a natural part of the home,” he says. Harmon notes most clients fall into three different categories: • No urgency. These homeowners are “faced with a natural need to remodel and are prescient enough to incorporate universal design,” he says. • Moderate urgency. Perhaps diagnosed with a progressive condition, these homeowners know they need to move toward accessible design, but they have time for deliberation. • Great urgency. These homeowners may be newly disabled young veterans or elderly stroke survivors. They need to make immediate changes to stay in their homes.

Ingenious Inventions

Home modifications from simple to complex may include: • Accessibility features incorporating the home’s original masonry (“This can be particularly valuable if the home is in a gated community where strict homeowner associations restrict the use of modular aluminum ramps,” Harmon notes.) • Earthen ramps to create barrier-free home entries • Grab bars styles that double as towel or toilet paper holders • Stair gliders to convey residents safely between stories • Tub-to-shower conversions, including level entrances, integrated benches and a hand-held shower wand

“The best part of home modification is knowing you can remain in your home as you age, through design and technology,” Harmon says. “If you consider the average yearly cost of a skilled nursing facility is around $85,000, home modifications really start to make sense. By spending a fraction of that expense, you increase your home’s value. The money is not lost—it’s in equity. It truly is a win/win situation.” For more information on Bee Safe At Home, call 336-465-2400 or visit www.beesafeathome.com. MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 35

5 1

Ways to Age in Place

by Rachel Stewart

Identify what changes need to be made.

There’s that step that’s extra slippery during cold weather, or the lighting fixture that seems to use extra light bulbs, leaving you in the dark unexpectedly. These are small examples of home safety issues that could affect your health now and down the road. Find ways to fix these nagging issues once and for all. Try LED light bulbs before buying a whole new light fixture, or add non-slip mats to those stairs. Other important home modifications include sturdy handrails in the bathroom, or adding a trash compactor or garbage disposal. If there’s an upgrade that could make your life easier or make you feel safer, consider making it-and enjoy the extra comfort.

Use technology to your advantage.

From managing your bills online to ordering groceries on your smartphone, handling errands is easier than ever. Amazon Pantry allows you to pick food stuffs, and even offers automatic delivery so your pantry is never empty. Grocery shopping services like Shipt have recently expanded to the North Carolina area and allow you to send a list to a shopper who does all the leg work and delivers right to your doorstep. Other options include Reminder Rosie, a clock programmed to remind you it’s time to take your medications (let your loved one add a customized message) and Lifeline, the home alert system that calls police or emergency services if you need assistance.

Look beyond your home. Is your car overdue for a tune-up? Is it

time to downsize to a smaller, more reliable vehicle? Taking care of your primary mode of transportation can keep you safe, too. Use a calendar or your smartphone to track when it’s time for a tune up or oil change. Car in the shop but don’t have a loaner? Download the Uber app to have a driver pick you upit’s quicker and cheaper than a taxi.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

Consider a new-to-you home. Are you ready

to move downtown where you can stay active by walking or biking around town? Or would you prefer to move to a quiet townhouse or condo? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late for a fresh start. If it feels like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to find a new place to hang your hat, talk to your loved ones. Newer real estate is more likely to feature universal design elements that take aging into mind.

Tap into local and government resources.

Sometimes little tasks build up over time-or you might need some additional help after an illness or medical procedure. Ask friends and family for help when you need it. For extra assistance, the National Agency on Aging recommends finding your local Agency on Aging. Call the Elder Locator Program at 800-677-1116 or visit their website, www.eldercare.gov to see what services are available to you. Or try the Aging Life Care Association-www.aginglifecare.org-to find professionals in your area.

MARCH 2016 |

OutreachNC.com 37

Carolina Conversations with Actor and Singer

John Davidson by Thad Mumau

ohn Davidson, hugely popular for decades as a star of stage, screen and television, appears in the Judson Theatre Company production of “On Golden Pond” later this month. Davidson, 74, will portray Norman Thayer in Ernest Thompson’s story of an aging couple returning to their summer home on Golden Pond. Their daughter and fiance leave his teenage son behind while they go to Europe. The play, which is touching and funny, is about generations of a family learning to communicate and care. Davidson takes the stage in “On Golden Pond” Thursday, March 24, through Sunday, March 27, at Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst. Davidson debuted on Broadway in 1964 and in movies in 1967. He is well known for his lengthy and convincing bluffs on the TV quiz show Hollywood Squares. Over the years, he was frequently seen on TV, in sitcoms, game shows and variety shows. He was a guest host 87 times for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” A singer as well as an actor, Davidson has recorded 13 albums. ONC: Your looks, smile and personality have always given you kind of a golden boy image. Have you enjoyed that? JD: I think we all have to to deal with how people receive and perceive us. I have found, I guess, that

a smile works well with the traffic cop, with adults, employers and the girl you want to get to know. A person who sulks, or is morose or exudes negativity, constantly, is not someone I would want to be with. I do think it matters to me whether people like me. That may not matter to everybody. But I think it does to most performers. We need people to like us. I tend to reach out perhaps more than even other performers, I guess. I like being open and positive. Do you think those above characteristics have slighted you in terms of being recognized for your talent?

No. I feel whatever talents I have, have been appreciated. It’s been a wonderful 50-year ride for me in practically all parts of this crazy business. I’m not even sure I know what talent really is. Is it a trick or trade you learn to do well? Is it an ability at something that wows? Is it admirable or just what comes out when someone does what they truly love? I find that when I am giving my all to a role or show, and I’m really into it, I am recognized a lot and have enjoyed the attention I have gotten from people who matter to me. Do you enjoy singing or acting more?

Not sure. I like acting out a song. Singing without acting is pretty flat. Who cares? But there is something about singing that really feels good in my chest, my face, my mouth, my lungs. The total coordination of singing really feels great for me. Physically. I have spent years studying vocal technique so that now it is free enough to allow me to act. Acting feels great when it is really free, when you really know the lines, when it really plays without any self consciousness.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

What are your favorite accomplishments?

My three children. My marriage of 32 years. My Spanish. Songs I have written. My one-man performance as Teddy Roosevelt in “Bully.” Navigating my own boat on a nine-month cruise from L.A. to Miami through the Panama Canal. My wife and I created an educational geography card game called Borderline USA. You seem to have numerous interests. Tell a little about non-career things you most enjoy.

Aside from the above list, I have to say that my obsession is singing folk songs with my guitars. I have a Taylor six-string and a Takamine 12-string. I have sung with symphonies and Las Vegas 20-piece orchestras, but I really love performing and practicing with just my guitar.

Has being so well recognized for so many years affected your relationship with your children— positively or negatively?

I guess you would have to ask my children. My family life is very important to me, and I think they have enjoyed whatever perks my career has brought. How early in life did you decide to be an entertainer, and why did you want to do that?

I went to college (Denison University) just to get a liberal arts BA. I started as a philosophy major. I got into theater because I liked theater people and I enjoyed plays about philosophy of life and human conflict. But I was very shy as a kid and I guess once I got myself up on stage, I liked the fact that people listened to me. No fight for attention. Can you share a few singers and actors you most admire and why?

Al Jolson for his voice and showmanship. Jack Nicolson and Meryl Streep for their freedom, candid performances and total immersion in roles. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mandy Patinkin for their voices. John Denver for his voice and song writing.Johnny Mathis for his pure vocal tone. Sammy Davis, Jr. as a performer. And Harry Belafonte as a concert performer. CONTINUED PAGE 40

MARCH 2016 |

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

On Golden Pond was a classic movie as much for its cast as its plot. How much of Henry Fonda will you inject into Norman Thayer?

I loved the movie, but I have no desire to play Henry Fonda. I guess I see Norman Thayer Jr. as me. I am so much like him it is embarrassing. I don’t intend to act in this play. I hope to be free enough to just be. What a role. What a play. What dialogue. I can’t wait. Does playing a role previously portrayed by such a respected actor take on special significance for you?

When I played Harold Hill, I didn’t play Robert Preston. When I played Curly in “Oklahoma” on Broadway, I didn’t play Alfred Drake. When I did “Man of La Mancha,” I didn’t play Richard Kiley. Thankfully, I have enough ego to consider the role is mine. How active are you professionally these days?

I just finished three contracts over the last two years as the Wizard in the national tour of the Broadway hit musical, “Wicked.” It was really fun. I also do a lot of concert dates. Aging is not always well received. How would you say you have handled getting older?

I do a very funny segment on aging in my concerts. It ends with my song, “Seventy Sucks.” But that is just for laughs. I’m glad to be alive. What are things you would like to do that you haven’t yet?

Norman Thayer Jr. is a biggie for me. I hope to do many more productions of this wonderful play. I am in the middle of rehearsal now and can’t tell you how much I love this role. I have five more years until I hit his age, 79! How would you sum up your life and the person you are?

Life is about change and growing and discovery. I always want to know more.

Judson Theatre Company brings John Davidson and “On Golden Pond” to the stage March 24-27 in Pinehurst. For tickets or more information, visit www.judsontheatre.com.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

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A Historic Home

Ahead of Its Time

by David Hibbard | Photography by Diana Matthews

visit to Joy Weeber’s home in the Historic Oakwood section, just blocks from downtown Raleigh, is simultaneously a trip back in time and a bold leap into the potential the future might hold. At first glance, the ShoreKeil House doesn’t look much different from the other homes in one of Raleigh’s most iconic neighborhoods. Built just after the turn of the century in 1907, this Neoclassical Revival cottage is still painted today in its original colors and retains its original louvered shutters. On the inside, an observant eye, coupled with an enthusastic Weeber acting as tour guide and tireless advocate, reveals features you’re not likely to find in many other houses. Take the bathroom, for instance, where there’s no tub to climb into, no step or ledge to be negotiated on the way into the shower. All that separates the part of the bathroom meant for bathing from the rest of the room is a shower curtain, a gradual slope towards the floor drain and a visible change in the floor tile to make clear the distinct purpose of this area. The kitchen, where all the cooking utensils are within arms’ reach of the stove, the countertops are four inches lower than standard homes and there are no overhead cabinets. For Joy Weeber, who has walked on crutches and braces her whole life because of polio, and also uses a scooter, these modifications truly make this house a home she thrives in. CONTINUED PAGE 44

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“They’re all common sense, when you stop and think about it,” says Weeber of the modifications. “But they’re not necessarily things that homebuilders have thought about throughout the years.” It’s a concept called universal design, espoused by Weeber’s late husband, Ron Mace, who lived in the house from 1979 until his death in 1998. Mace founded the Center for Universal Design at N.C. State University and was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 for his trailblazing work on the architectural standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Universal design takes into account the abilities and challenges of all people, with the idea of making homes, places of business and public spaces accessible for everyone. Some of these features, like curb cuts and electric doors, have become staples of everyday life. However, many of these concepts have yet to find their way into private homes. 44

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After a fall resulted in a broken leg, Weeber says she “got serious” about incorporating the principles of universal design into the house. In 2009, she undertook an extensive renovation of the home’s interior, adding a variety of features that make the house more accessible for her. In addition to the changes in the bathroom and kitchen, there are other innovative twists. Doors have drawer pulls on them, placed near the hinged side of the door, to make them easier for someone using a scooter to close. Pieces of furniture with storage space close to the floor substitute for overhead kitchen cabinets, providing a home for dishes and cookware, and Weeber keeps cups and glasses in drawers. Light switches are placed lower than those in a standard house, while electrical outlets are higher than usual. Accessibility extends outdoors to the backyard, where a large, welcoming deck has no steps to navigate, and lightweight patio furniture that’s easily moved. A low ramp along the garage makes the patio and house completely accessible. Weeber even found that a house built more than a century ago unintentionally incorporated universal design into its plan. “The door frames in this house are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs,” Weeber says. “But it’s that way because they were made to accommodate the wide women’s skirts of the period. Most of the door frames in modern homes built today are too narrow for a wheelchair.” Weeber is a staunch proponent of universal design, lobbying for its use to designers, builders and civic leaders. In recent years, she has put her home on the Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour, an event held over a weekend every December that opens select neighborhood houses to the general public for tours. Weeber points out that many universal design concepts also make it easier for older adults to stay in their own homes as they grow old, even if they don’t have a specific condition that limits accessibility. Letting people see her home, on the tour and at other times, “is a way of innoculating people from the fear of growing old,” Weeber says. While her own home works well for her, it’s often hard for her to visit others in their homes, which haven’t been designed for people who have accessibility challenges. “Visitability,” defined by ConcreteChange.org as a movement to change home construction practices so that all new homes have a few features that make it easy for mobility-impaired people to visit or live in, is an idea Weeber hopes to see expand in the coming years. “I host all the parties, because it’s easier for me to have people come here,” Weeber says. “That’s the challenge many people face. They don’t get to enjoy going to other people’s houses, because they’re not designed in a way that makes it easy for them to get inside. Or, if they can get inside, they may find the bathroom is inaccessible. I’m working to change that.”

Universal design is based upon these seven guiding principles: 1. Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities 2. Flexibility In Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities 3. Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills or current concentration level 4. Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities 5. Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions 6. Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue 7. Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture or mobility

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ou park in your Aunt Judy’s driveway. In the house, she’s sitting at her dining table, oddly calm after her trip to the hospital. She looks at you—you, her closest relative, here on a weekend trip to take care of her during a brief illness. Yet, it’s clear she’s going to need a lifetime of care. She speaks articulately, but she can’t open the medicine bottle in her hands. The only foods in her well-appointed kitchen appear to be yogurt, crackers and canned tuna. You feel like you’ve unexpectedly adopted a child—a long-distance, specialneeds child with an adult’s social and emotional complexity. You don’t even know where she keeps her house keys. “I don’t want to go into a home,” she says. What next?

You’re not alone. Plenty of adult children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren — even neighbors and close friends—find themselves in the position of caring for an older adult. First, consider enlisting professional help. “Care managers offer a full needs assessment,” says Jennifer Tyner, a certified care manager with AOS Care Management. “It takes you through your loved one’s support structure, their history, their activities of daily living, driving, medical history and medication. We take the information we gather and provide suggestions and recommendations, both of what services we can offer and community resources and services available within the local area.” Trained and certified professionals, care managers can nevertheless be quite diverse, with backgrounds ranging from psychology to social work, so it makes sense to search for a good match. Check that your care manager is certified with a national association, such as the Aging Life Care™ Association—you can even find one on their website, www.aginglifecare.org. Whether your care manager started out as a nurse, minister, social worker or counselor, he or she should be “expert in all things aging,” Tyner says. Before you start delving into the details of medication lists or arranging the socks in your loved one’s dresser drawer, your care manager can help you get a bird’s-eye view of all the areas of life where your loved one needs help. Then you can break it down. What tasks can you perform? Where can you enlist a friend or relative? Where do you need to obtain professional help?

t s i L r e t s a The M

by Jennifer Webster M atthews Photography by Dia na

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The List of Lists If your loved one plans to stay in his or her home, but needs help, a master list is a great way to ensure all his or her needs are being considered.

Identify helpers. As you discern what tasks you need to manage, create a care team. Everything mentioned below will need to be addressed by someone. “Find out who can offer assistance in what areas,” Tyner says. “Transportation, yard and housework, medical care … you also want to make sure the team is aware of the [other] services the person is trying to manage and how they are interacting together.”

Emergency contacts. Learn which family members, friends or medical providers should be contacted in an emergency. Make sure your loved one has a copy of that list readily available. Make another copy for yourself. If you don’t live locally, Tyner adds, leave a third copy with a neighbor or other local contact person who can contact you if a problem arises. This person may be your geriatric care manager.

Sorting and organizing the food in a client’s kitchen is one of many tasks Jennifer Tyner may complete in a her day as a care manager.

Nutrition. See whether your loved one needs help with grocery shopping or meal preparation. Tyner advises checking the kitchen for expired foods. Make sure the foods available are nutritious and well-balanced. If you don’t live near enough to cook for your loved one, meal preparation can be covered by a housekeeper, a restaurant with a catering service or a group like Meals on Wheels. Or maybe you’ll find that a grocery delivery service is all your loved one needs — she’s a great cook but she just can’t drive much any more.

Scheduling. Create a calendar of your loved one’s activities and appointments. Tyner recommends making a copy for yourself and one for your loved one. An electronic format may be easier for the two of you to share, or your loved one might like a big desk calendar better. Your care manager can even help you keep calendars coordinated long-distance, Tyner says.

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“ ” Care managers often refer to ourselves as ‘surrogate daughters’ to our older adult clients without family nearby. We become their family. It gives the adult children peace of mind to know there is somebody locally who can look in on their parents. —Jennifer Tyner, CMC

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Personal care. “Monitor personal care needs,” Tyner says. “Are they showering routinely? Do they look and smell clean? Are they toileting appropriately?” If not, your loved one may need extra personal care in the home. They may need help organizing their personal care tasks, or perhaps they need a physical assist, such as a grab bar to get into the tub safely. “We think of showering as one task, but there are hundreds of smaller tasks involved,” Tyner says. “You have to take your clothes off, turn the water on, step over [the edge of the shower], wash each body part … and even a task like taking off a shirt can be further broken down: you pull one arm out, then the other … ” Family members may not have the training to think through seemingly simple tasks like this and discern where the problem is occurring. A certified care manager is experienced in just this kind of granular thinking, Tyner says.

6 7 8 9

Legal matters. Your loved one will need healthcare and financial powers of attorney, a living will and funeral prearrangements. “Make sure you are aware of their wishes and where their documents are located,” Tyner says.

Finances. Review your loved one’s financial situation. Make sure their bills are being paid regularly. Keep a sharp eye out for possible exploitation. Medical needs. If you can, attend medical appointments with your loved one. Obtain a medication list, and ensure medicines are being taken.

Future plans. Even if your loved one intends to stay at home, he or she may have changing needs in the future, so consider touring assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, Tyner says. However, she assures her clients that, in many ways, working with a care manager is much like an assisted living program, but with a better patient-provider ratio. “We are professionals who can oversee what’s going on in the house,” she says. “The clients we care for are receiving one-on-one care and the same services they would receive in an assisted living.” Care can be increased stepwise as clients’ circumstances evolve. An average client may see his or her care manager once a week, while others only contract for on-call care with quarterly check-ins, Tyner explains. Some clients may need more frequent attention. The very nature of a care manager is to adapt to the client’s needs and situation.

The Next Step

Now that you’ve made your master list, you may be thinking: “That’s a lot of responsibility.” It sure is. But, hopefully, you’ve identified plenty of helpers. And if you’ve ever raised a child, you know you didn’t start out knowing how to do everything for your baby—you grew into the role. It just takes time, patience and effort. Maybe the very next thing you need to do is to call a professional to help you take the next step.

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

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GAME ON

Ready, Set, Play! 2016 Senior Games Spring into Action

by Thad Mumau | Photography by Diana Matthews

ne of the rites of spring in this state is the annual Senior Games. Beginning in 1983, thousands of athletes 50 years of age and older have gathered for local events all over North Carolina, competing in individual and team sports as well as creative endeavors. Most of the Senior Games are in April, with some of the competition carrying over into May. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for various age groups in each event. Qualifiers may compete in the state finals in Raleigh in the fall. Every two years, winners at the state level earn the chance to represent North Carolina in the national senior games. More than 3,000 athletes participated in this state last year. For many reasons. Some-once an athlete, always an athlete-seek the thrill of victory. Or, at least, the thrill of competing. Others find the competition an exciting way to get more exercise, and thus, be more healthy. For just about all, though, there is the camaraderie and the meeting and making of new friends. Tracy Davis has been the coordinator of the Mid-Carolina Senior Games, which cover Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties, since 2001. She has seen the program grow in popularity and participation, while adding a wide variety of events. Mary Crusius

OutreachNC.com | MARCH 2016

“The Senior Games is an awesome health promotion program,” she says. “I really enjoy talking with and getting to know our participants, many of whom have tremendous obstacles in their lives ... like heart disease, strokes, diabetes, arthritis and other chronic conditions. These people manage and overcome these conditions and still train hard to compete in the games. “One of my favorite things is giving out the medals and seeing the faces of the participants as their names are called. Seeing how happy they are with their accomplishments is one of the best feelings I have as a coordinator.” Davis thinks the games are kind of a testimonial of senior citizens’ spirit. “I believe the Senior Games stand for pride,” she says, “no matter the age. These people prove they are still capable of doing things they enjoy. These games offer seniors the opportunity to show off their skills and talents.” Mary Crusius is a wonderful example. The 87-yearold “kid” bubbles over with enthusiasm and energy, and if she isn’t competing in one sport or another in and around Southern Pines, she is spreading the good news of the Senior Games. “I tell people, ‘You need to be doing something. Don’t waste your time just sitting around. Life is so full of adventure. Staying active keeps you healthy, and there’s no better way than getting involved in the Senior Games. There is something for everyone,’” she says. Crusius had a knee replacement five months ago but bounced back quickly.

Joan Harmon

“I made up my mind to work as hard as I could,” she says. “The Senior Games were coming up, and I had to get ready.” These days, she competes in pickleball, table tennis and tennis. It wasn’t all that long ago that she was also entering the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, the discus throw and the standing and running broad jumps. “I did as many events as I could,” Crusius says. “I’ve been doing Senior Games close to 20 years, and it has been the most fun. It’s competitive, but it’s friendly competition. Everybody has the same ultimate goal, which is to stay active and keep going.” Crusius was instrumental in introducing pickleball to a large number of seniors in Moore County. She won a silver medal for singles in the sport at the National Senior Games last year in Minnesota as well as a bronze for singles in table tennis.

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Jonn and Becky Hendrickson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

Jonn and Becky Hendrickson of Fayetteville are among the throng of seniors who are wild about pickleball. The married couple is the two-time defending State Senior Games mixed doubles champion. Both retired school teachers are 61. They have been doing Senior Games for four years, and have gone from entering just about everything on the sign-up sheet to concentrating on pickleball. “I think it was 23 events my first year,” Jonn says, “but we were driving all over the place to get to the different events, and that got to be kind of a hassle. Becky and I love pickleball, so now we compete as a mixed-doubles team as well as in doubles and singles.” “We’re pretty tough competitors,” Becky says. “We like to win. But we also like the fact that we’ve met a lot of nice people in Senior Games. Last year, I did maybe 19 different events. Now, it’s just pickleball. 52

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“The thing about the sport is that when you pick up a paddle for the first time, you can have immediate success,” she adds. “It doesn’t require special skill, and you don’t have to cover a lot of ground. It is a great sport for seniors.” Joan Harmon, 62, is a relative newcomer to Senior Games, as this is her second year. After retiring as a school counselor in 2009, she worked part-time for four years and then took on projects around her house. “A year ago in January, I felt I needed to get some exercise, to move some,” she says, “so I signed up to swim at Campbell University. It’s the only indoor pool in Harnett County. Then, I thought I needed a goal, something to push me, and I went on the Internet. “Something about Senior Games popped up, and I wondered if they had swimming. When I saw that they did, it was exciting. I said, ‘I can do that.’ My husband, Bennie, got involved, and we both did the softball and football throws.

“In the Mid-Carolina Games, I entered five swimming events and won five gold medals. When I went to the State Games in Raleigh, my goggles fogged up, and I panicked. I couldn’t see, but I was determined to finish. A woman in my age group was nice enough to let me use her anti-fog spray. That’s the way most people in the Senior Games are. Competitive, but nice. “I’m competitive too,” Harmon says. “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to give it the best I have. These Senior Games have got me going. I’m on fire right now.” A sentiment hundreds of senior athletes in North Carolina are sharing this time of year.

2016 Senior Games By County

Visit www.ncseniorgames.org for a complete list of state games. CHATHAM: April 15-29, Lindsay Hickling, 919-542-4512 CUMBERLAND, HARNETT (MID-CAROLINA GAMES): April 6-25, Tracy Davis, 910-323-4191 HOKE, ROBESON (LUMBER RIVER GAMES): April 21-May 5, Michelle Gaitley, 910-618-5533 LEE: May 10-20, Jimmy Solomon, 919-776-0501 MONTGOMERY (UWHARRIE GAMES): April 9-29, Oliver Webster, 704-984-9562 MOORE (SENIOR GAMES IN THE PINES): April 14-May 12, Joseph Keel, 910-944-7275 ORANGE: April 2-23, Latonya Brown, 919-245-4270 RICHMOND: April 18-May 5, Pete Wheeler, 910-206-2224 SCOTLAND: April 25-May 19, Kisha Williams, 910-369-0686 WAKE: April 1-22, Jody Jameson, 919-469-4081 MARCH 2016 |

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Comfort Is Universal

by Rachel Stewart

ove your home but worried you may have to move on as you age? You’re not alone. More than 90 percent of baby boomers surveyed by AARP wished to continue to age in place. Adding universal design concepts to your current home can buy you extra time and memories in your home. Worried remodeling will take away from cozy surroundings? The point of universal design is to maximize a person’s mobility, while providing extra stability. While it may be daunting to consider changing aspects of your home, new elements could actually make it easier for you and your loved ones to complete daily tasks or kick back and relax. Before diving into a remodel, consider your or your loved one’s health needs: • Have you experienced changes in your vision? • Do you use an assistive device to walk sometimes? • Are you prone to slipping in the bathroom after bathing or using the bathroom? • Are you scared to complete certain activities when you’re in the house by yourself for fear of falling or other injury? Asking these types of questions can be hard at first, but it’s important to be honest about any limitations that could be affecting your life at home. The sooner you address any issues, the quicker you can begin to feel more relaxed and less stressed.

Simple Ways to Streamline Your Home Sweet Home The smallest details can have the biggest impact in your day-to-day life. Examples include:

• Widened doorways, hallways and closets. Canes, walkers and wheelchairs may be needed to increase mobility as people age. Adding a few extra inches to doorways and closets can make it easier for people to maneuver. Widening hallways may encompass a larger remodel project, such as reimagining a home with an open floor plan. The National Association of Homebuilders recommends doorways and hallways be at least 32 inches in width to accommodate a 36-inch wide door.

• Lever-style door knobs. Traditional handles may be harder to turn for people with arthritis or decreasing feeling or strength in their hands. Levers are easier to lift up or push down to exit and enter the home. 54

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• Rocker panel light switches. This smooth panelled switches are easy for people of all ages to click off and on-and even dim or brighten to enhance vision. These switches can also be easily labeled, if needed.

• Stepless entry. Seniors are at a higher risk for falls than their

younger counterparts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 2 million people over the age of 65 are seen in emergency rooms annually for falls. If possible, consider a remodel that reduces the number of steps or eliminates them all together so you or a loved one can walk freely or carry in packages or groceries with less likelihood of tripping or falling.

• Grab bars in the bathroom. Easily installed, these bars can

provide stability to someone getting in and out of the shower or tub, and prevent slipping or falling on hard tile. This style of supports could also be installed by the toilet or by the sink, too.

• Light sensors and timers. Darkened hallways or rooms could

lead to bumping into walls, countertops or other furniture, especially for people with age-related vision issues. Extra sensors could allow a person to enter the room without fumbling for the light, while timers could keep the house lit until bedtime.

• Adjustable or handheld showerheads. These provide

more control while bathing and can accommodate a person who may be sitting or standing. Other easy fixes include upgrading appliances with large digital screens that are easier to read or products featuring builtin safeguards, such as a coffee pot with auto shut off or faucets with anti-scald sensors. Adding brighter or more concentrated lighting above work areas-such as the kitchen counter, stove, and in the laundry room-can provide better visibility to complete chores. CONTINUED PAGE 56

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 55

One Floor, Multiple Options For major overhauls or remodeling, the onefloor living plan is a popular way to modify a home so everything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed-kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, laundry room-is on one floor. Typically, since many master bedrooms are on the second level of the home, a new bedroom will have to be created. Garages can be remodeled into a master suite, complete with large bay window where the garage door used to be. Other rooms, such as a home office or exercise room, could also be modified into a new bedroom. This allows younger family members or friends to enjoy the living spaces upstairs during visits or holidays, and then these areas can be shut off when not in use, saving energy expenses.

Defining Universal Design Like the name evokes, universal design is an architectural concept appropriate for homeowners of all ages and activity levels. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only about aging in place-itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making your home comfortable for all family members and friends, so both gatherings and daily living are stress-free. The concept grew from the barrier-free design concept dating back to 1961, which focused on altering living environments to people living with disabilities. The term universal design was coined in 1997 by Ronald L. Mace, who founded the Center of Universal Design at North Carolina State University. Considering remodeling your current home or building a brand new dream home featuring universal design elements? The National Home Builders Association can locate Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists near you. Visit www.nhba.org/capsdirectory to get started.

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Century-Old Faith and Lenten Crosses Honor Season by Flo Johnston Photography by Diana Matthews

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ifteen handcrafted crosses, a unique grouping of the world’s most recognizable Christian symbol, are on display during the Lenten season in the sanctuary of White Hill Presbyterian Church in Lee County. The crosses, ranging in size from 30 to 36 inches, were created by different members of the congregation. All are made from wood but the collection includes a variety of colors, a decision left to each artisan. The Cross of Lorraine, for example, used in France and in the Crusades, is bright red. The display is on the sanctuary walls between the church’s spectacular stained glass windows and has been part of White Hill’s Lenten observance for more than 10 years, says Mary Alice Wicker, a church leader whose artistic talents show up throughout the 135 yearold church located between Sanford and Carthage on U.S. 15-501. The cross project at White Hill came about after Wicker, a retired public school librarian of 38 years, read a newspaper story about a similar display at Binkley Baptist, a church in Chapel Hill, and decided it would be a good project for her church. It was an idea that fit right into Wicker’s notion that churches need to be more welcoming, not austere, formal and foreboding. She admits, however, that she has a “thing” about crosses and can visualize them in all kinds of unexpected materials and in different spaces and places in the church. A cross made from walnut shells and one made from horseshoes are part of the decor in the church’s fellowship hall, and a cross made from twigs with a purple ribbon is hanging on the church’s front door during Lent.

To view the sanctuary display is to learn about church history. Under each cross is its name and a short narrative about how Christianity, as it has spread around the world, has influenced cultures, especially in the areas of art forms and symbols. The display speaks to the diversity among Christian traditions that have created crosses unique to their own heritage. It highlights the rich diversity in Christianity. Crucifixion crosses, including Latin, Saint Andrew’s, Saint Peter’s and Tau, as well as ceremonial and symbolic crosses, are in the display. Among ceremonial and symbolic ones are the Anchor used by first century Christians; Canterbury used in England and South Africa; Ethiopian, used by Coptic Christians in Egypt and Ethiopia; Greek used in the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Orthodox Church and

Baltic countries; Maltese, used in Malta and other Mediterranean countries; and Pueblo, used by native Americans of the Southwest and in Mexico. The Jerusalem and Huguenot crosses have intricate and beautiful designs, but it’s the Latin Cross, plain and simple, that is most familiar in American churches. Presbyterian churches, however, often use the Celtic cross from Scotland and Ireland. There are no specified hours for the public to visit the sanctuary display. White Hill is always open, and visitors are always welcome. “We think the church should be open so folks can come in to meditate or to pray,” Wicker says. “A group working at the church one day heard someone in the sanctuary. It was a woman who said she often stopped in when passing by to meditate and to sit in silence.” MARCH 2016 |

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GREY MATTER See Grey Matter Puzzle Answers on Page 62

Active Acts Ages Aunt Bass Boil

Bowed Bread Cane Carpets Chest Cloudy

Clump Comic Cords Dads Dates Dear

Deny Done Drum Earn Enters Erases

30. “The English Patient” setting 32. Formal politeness 34. Criticism 36. Symbol of Americanism 39. Easily tamed birds 43. One who fries 44. Anita Brookner’s “Hotel du ___” 46. Female demon 47. Guns 48. Church part 50. Bite 51. 1969 Peace Prize grp. 52. Anyone 54. Deck (out) 55. One who provides the food 57. Slippery 59. Prestigious school 60. Exceed 61. Hose material 62. Breed of dog

DOWN

1. To expel from the legal profession 2. Seaport in Italy 3. Popeye‚ food 17. Cover with a new 24. Orange crablike ACROSS 4. “___ Gang” Pokemon character 1. To not follow orders coat 5. Radar image 18. Big ___ 25. John Paul II, e.g. 8. Having different areas 6. Bar, at the bar 19. Cheer accessory 26. Like some potatoes 13. Driving force 7. Flunky 21. Same old, same old 28. “___ a chance” 14. Mexican-American 8. Numbers on letters 22. Kuwaiti, e.g. 29. Dry 16. Distilled liquors

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Escaped Finger Flags Foam Gases Goal Granny Grip Guard Hops Inch Israel Keys Lamp Laws Lazy Legs Lids Lift Lime Maiden Mask Melt Nail Navy

Needs News Only Operas Park Pass Playful Prism Pull React Ride Roar Rural Seen Sell Sort Stem Stew Sweets Tide Tidy Ties Under Votes Wednesdays

9. Mozart’s “L’___ del Cairo” 10. Capital city of Kenya 11. Encircling band in architecture 12. Popular gambling game 14. Republic in SE Europe 15. Cluckers 20. To generate 23. Parish officers 25. Skunk 27. Not as wet 29. Kind of rug 31. Death on the Nile cause, perhaps 33. Animation 35. To expose to public derision 36. ________-American 37. Office of a Christian clergy 38. Of vital importance 40. Amorous 41. To beat another (2 wds.) 42. A tool used for ceramics 45. Synonym for Spelunkers 48. “Beg pardon ...” 49. Musical show 52. Small songbird 53. Bluster 56. Tokyo, formerly 58. Boozehound

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GREY MATTER ANSWERS

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OVER MY SHOULDER

Myths to Live By by Ann Murphy Robson

ho among us has not been delighted to catch sight of a rainbow? In almost every culture, the rainbow is a sign for good things to come. Of course, the Irish have added special meaning with the theory of finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The Irish believe the gold is guarded by leprechauns who constantly change its location. To date no one has actually seen the gold nor a leprechaun but any good Irish person will tell you, indeed even convince you, that there is gold to be found. Scientists take delight in proving that finding anything at the end of a rainbow is impossible because what we see is an illusion caused by the refraction of sunlight on raindrops. They also want us to know there is no end to a rainbow, which is a full circle of which we can see only part. So, just as a circle has no beginning and no end, so it is with a rainbow. Historians are quick to point out that several cultures around the world have various, often religious, meanings for rainbows. Greco-Roman mythology holds that the rainbow is a path linking earth and heaven. Norse mythology says that rainbows connect the homes of the gods with those of humans. In Chinese mythology, rainbows are slits in the sky sealed by the goddess Nuwa using stones of 500 colors. Of all the stories told about rainbows, my personal preference is the Irish one. Who doesn’t want to believe that there might be one for which you didn’t need a lottery ticket? Although we did see a rainbow in Ireland, and drove toward the spot we thought the rainbow touched the earth, we didn’t find the treasure. I’m reasonably certain there were some of the wee folk cackling in the hedgerows about three more foolish tourists. The Irish have many other symbols that are real but have some mythology buried in their meanings. The Claddagh Ring is a very special ring showing two hands holding a heart with a crown on top of the heart. There are several explanations for this ring, which signifies whether the wearer’s heart has been taken-crown on top of heart, facing inward toward the person-or if worn facing away from the wearer, it’s a sign that the heart has yet to be taken. It’s a very convenient way of finding out whether someone is available or not. The story behind the ring that I was told was that in the time of Cromwell when the English were pillaging much of Ireland, there were a few jewelsmiths in the town of Claddagh, near Galway, who hid their tools from the enemy and years later began making the Claddagh rings again. I learned that from a group of elderly nuns at a tea shop on the road to Galway. Surely, these charming, smiling women of God wouldn’t lie to us. Whether you believe in the magic of rainbows or the romance of the Claddagh ring, may you and yours enjoy St. Patrick ’s Day. Robson is the author of “Over My Shoulder: Tales of Life and Death and Everything In Between.” She can be reached at overmyshoulder@charter.net

life

B E L L E W E AT H E R

Curvy Barbie, Great! Now Where’s Dadbod Ken?

by Celia Rivenbark

lot has been written about the new Barbies. The “curvy” one even made the cover of Time magazine, a spot usually reserved for the Pope, Putin or pop stars. There’s also a tall and short new Barbie, but it’s the fat one that’s getting most of the publicity. She’s pretty with a full face, big butt and a thick midsection. Picture every woman ever cast as “supportive best friend” in a movie with a skinny, blond lead actress. She’s the one who hears you got dumped and is on your doorstep in under an hour toting spinach dip she made herself, and it will even be in a bread bowl she hollowed out. What’s not to love? The new tall and short Barbies aren’t nearly as different looking as the curvy one but they do share an admirable commitment to normal calves and smaller busts. Much smaller. Proportions are more girls’ lacrosse. At the press conference introducing the three new shapes of Barbie, Mattel execs practically dropped their mics before leaving the room. All you hater millennial moms? We heard you. Done. I hate to be the poo in the punchbowl here, but there’s one teensy little problem with all this fanfare about Barbie’s momentous makeover: They’re still selling the original. While Mattel is acting like it had a burning bushstyle conversion on the road to profitmaking, it’s not exactly sincere when you’re still mass-producing a doll with real-life measurements of 39-18-33, a size so top-

heavy one researcher noted that “she’d have to walk on all fours.” Mattel is committed to making Barbie more realistic to please the moms who have taken their money elsewhere, particularly in the past few years. But I haven’t read anywhere that they’re shutting down production on the doll they now call “Original Barbie.” No way Mattel is going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg even if the egg has been more gold-tone lately profit-wise. So, let’s not get too braggy, Mattel execs. As long as there’s still a porn-star looking Barbie doll crawling on all fours to the door to greet her friend with that spinach dip, we’re not going to give you too much credit. Meanwhile, the whole world awaits the unveiling of “Dadbod Ken.” It’s only fair that Barbie’s longtime beau should also get a more realistic overhaul for the new millennium. No more 12-pack abs, board shorts and chiseled jaw. “Dadbod Ken” will keep it real with a slightly receding hairline and a wardrobe dominated by billowy Polo-style college logo shirts that almost but not quite conceal a pudgy midsection, the result of too many pitchers and chimichangas. What’s good for the goose... Rivenbark is the author of seven humor collections. Visit her website at www.celiarivenbark.com. ©2016 Celia Rivenbark. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MARCH 2016 |

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Generations

by Carrie Frye

OutreachNC asked adults and children our March question. Share your answer on our Facebook page.

What do you love most about spring? Sitting on my deck, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the daffodils and bluebirds! —Beth, 56

We don’t have to wear jackets. —Morgan, 8

Getting the garden ready! —Kathryn, 59

—Serenity, 8

Flowers and trees waking up from their winter’s sleep.

In the spring, you can do a yard sale. —Thaddeus, 8

The beautiful awakening and rebirth of all vegetation.

When we get to go to the beach and put my feet in the sand. —Katelyn, 8

—Jan, 71

—Diane, 58

The beauty, warm breezes, light rain and golf. —Nancy, 80 I like the sense of renewal the season brings, along with the warmth and beauty. —Sylvia, 50

I like to read in the grass, and the grass tickles my feet. —Kenzy, 8

When my dad buys a punch buggy. —Sarah, 8

Pretty flowers, plants and sunsets. —Ben, 69

We get to go camping in the woods. We can count clouds and climb trees. —Lillian, 8

Nature vividly reminds me that all things can bring abundant life by adding just a bit more light. —Mark, 61

When it is warm, and I can ride my bike. —Rebekah, 8

Invigorating-makes me want to do things. —William, 79 Celebrating Christ risen on Easter. Next to that would be the spring weather, not too hot, not too cold, which results in lower power bills. —Mike, 53

I love spring! —Amir, 8 I can keep a butterfly in a jar. —Kaiden, 8 Going to the ocean and find a sharkstooth. —Keontae, 8 I love spring because the rabbits come out. —Aaditya, 8

I like the warmer days with new buds of color sharing the sign that there is still hope-the hope that overpowers that which appears dead and desolate. —Pam, 52

When I get to play outside, and no mud is nice. —William, 8

Warmer weather and the beautiful flowers. —Jenny, 60

Animals are cool, but you have to take care of them.

Planting season on the farm and green leaves. —Craig, 62 Warmer weather , birds singing , flowers of beautiful colors and the start of baseball. —Edna, 87 Warmer days, cooler evenings and floral blooms. —Carol, 66

The daffodils and tulips blooming. —Gaye, 54 March Madness! —Annie, 76 Hope. —Lori, 56

When it rains, because I can jump in mud puddles.

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Flowers grow, birds sing and spring is pretty. —Adrian, 8 —Kimberly, 8

When we go to Chuck E. Cheese. —Amerah, 8 The weather, beautiful sky, soft grass and nice sunshine. —Jessiah, 8 Chasing birds and squirrels.

—OutreachNC Co-editor Jeeves, 2

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