Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the Area Agency on Aging for Philadelphia County and is dedicated to serving Philadelphia’s older adults and adults with disabilities.
PCA publishes Milestones and offers:
• Care in the home
• Caregiver & grandparent support
• Employment & volunteer programs
• Health education
• Home-delivered meals
• Home repairs & modifications
• Information & referral
• Legal services
• Ombudsman services
• Protective services
• Senior centers
• Transportation
• Veteran-directed care
Report suspected elder abuse 24/7 to the PCA Helpline: 215-765-9040.
For general inquiries about PCA or aging services, email AskHelpline@pcaCares.org or call 215-765-9040.
Published by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP President and CEO
PCA Board of Directors 2025
Glenn D. Bryan, Chair
Louis G. Colbert, Co-Chair
Jaqueline S. Zinn, Ph.D., Secretary
Denise Adamucci, Treasurer
Satya B. Verma, O.D., Immediate Past Chair
Patricia Canela-Duckett
Sandra McNally
Paul Nathanson
Norma D. Thomas, DSW
Sharlene Waller
Emeritus: Arthur E. Helfand, D.P.M.
Milestones is published monthly and distributed at more than 800 locations throughout Philadelphia.
Check us out online: pcaCares.org/ Milestones
Editorial & Distribution: Alicia M. Colombo 215-765-9000, ext. 5081 MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org
Advertising: Kristin Long 215-606-7310 Kristin.Long@pcaCares.org
Subscriptions: Home delivery: $12/year MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org
The views expressed in Milestones are not necessarily those of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). Milestones will not knowingly accept or publish fraudulent or misleading advertising. Milestones reserves the right to edit, revise or reject ads. Milestones assumes no responsibility for errors, misprints, omissions or misinformation; for failure to publish an ad; or for any damages of any kind. Neither the publisher nor any other party is rendering expert advice in this publication. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without the permission of PCA.
Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring the past, inspiring the future
By Najja R. Orr, DBA, FCPP PCA President & CEO
In the heart of Philadelphia, where murals tell the stories of our heroes, one image stands out: a depiction of Harriet Tubman leading others to freedom with courage etched on her face. This city is alive with such stories — of resilience, innovation and community. During Black History Month, we celebrate these stories, the legacy of those who came before us and the vibrant cultures that continue to shape our world.
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
– Booker T. Washington
Philadelphia, one of the nation’s most diverse cities, is home to African, Black, Caribbean and Afro-Latin communities whose histories have enriched our families, neighborhoods and traditions. From the
arts to activism, their contributions have transformed our nation into a beacon of progress and possibility.
This year’s Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” highlights the profound impact of Black workers throughout history. From building the foundations of this country to leading industries today, Black labor has always been a force for change, resilience and innovation.
How you can celebrate and advocate
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which founded Black History Month, offers these ways to honor the occasion:
• Discover Black history: Read books by Black authors; watch films by Black creators; or visit local landmarks, like the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
• Support Black-owned businesses: Philadelphia is home to numerous Black-owned shops, restaurants, and service providers — explore and support them!
• Share stories: Whether it’s your own personal history or the legacy of a family member, storytelling keeps traditions alive and inspires younger generations.
• Take action year-round: Commit to learning, advocating and celebrating Black history every day of the year.
This February, let’s draw inspiration from the past to create a more just and equitable future. As Booker T. Washington reminded us, lifting up others lifts us all.
For more resources and ideas, visit asalh. org/about-black-history-month.
Thriving at home: PCA’s support for aging with dignity and independence
By Bill Conallen
Home is more than a place — it’s where life’s most meaningful memories unfold. For many older adults in Philadelphia, the desire to stay in their homes as they age represents a deep connection to independence, community and identity. Turning this vision into reality often requires a network of care and resources. That’s where Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) steps in.
Through a variety of long-term care services, PCA helps older adults navigate the complexities of aging with dignity, comfort and confidence. “The ability to age in place isn’t just a matter of comfort — it’s about dignity and maintaining autonomy,” said Sean Outen, PCA’s director of Long-term Care OPTIONS. “At PCA, we see ourselves as partners in helping peo-
ple live their best lives at home, surrounded by their community and the things that matter most to them.”
Comprehensive care
PCA’s long-term care services meet older adults where they are, offering personalized solutions that address physical, emotional and practical needs. A cornerstone of this approach is Older Adult Protective Services (OAPS), which safeguards some of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents. OAPS investigates reports of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation to ensure that older adults can live free from harm and fear.
Another vital resource is PCA’s OPTIONS Program, which provides in-home care, meal delivery, assistance with daily living activities, medical equipment and supplies, home modifications, and
adult day care. With flexibility at its core, OPTIONS tailors services to each person’s unique situation, making aging in place achievable and comfortable.
“The OPTIONS Program is about giving people choices,” Outen said. “It allows them to stay in their homes and communities while receiving the care they need. That is a powerful thing.”
Empowering caregivers
Behind many successful aging-in-place stories is the dedication of family caregivers, who often serve as a lifeline for older adults. PCA’s Caregiver Support Program offers financial assistance, training, and access to resources that help caregivers balance their own needs with the demands of caregiving.
“When we support caregivers, we are really supporting two people — the caregiver and the person they are caring for,” Outen explained. “It is a ripple effect that strengthens the entire community.”
Step by step guidance
PCA’s Long-Term Care Assessment service ensures older adults and their families receive tailored guidance. Trained professionals meet with individuals to assess their needs and connect them with the right services. This personalized approach helps older adults achieve their goals while respecting their independence.
“Our services are not one-sizefits-all,” Outen said. “Each person we help has a unique story, and our job is to craft a plan that respects their individuality while addressing their needs.”
Planning for a bright future
As Philadelphia’s population of older adults continues to grow, so does the need for innovative solutions and partnerships. PCA is committed to meeting these evolving needs by leveraging community resources and exploring new ways to support older adults.
“We’re not just thinking about today’s needs but also about what the future may hold,” Outen said. “Aging is not something to fear — it is a journey. And with the right support, it can be a fulfilling and empowering chapter of life.”
Through its programs — like OAPS, OPTIONS, caregiver support, and personalized assessments — PCA provides a robust safety net that helps older adults thrive in the places they call home.
As Outen reflects on his 35 years of service at PCA, his pride is clear. “At the end of the day, it’s about people— their stories, their struggles and their successes,” he said. “To be a part of that is a privilege.”
For more information about PCA’s long-term care services, visit pcaCares.org or call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.
Bill Conallen is the public relations specialist at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.
LGBTQ+ elders of color face special challenges
By Jay Nachman
Not all needs are the same for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+). People of color face additional challenges, according to Dane E. Menkin, a family nurse practitioner and director of LGBTQ Services for Main Line Health.
Many of these issues are compounded further for older LGBTQ+ people of color. Older members of LGBTQ+ communities can confront isolation, lack of access to social services and financial support.
“Many (older adults) have less access to quality care,” Menkin said. “You see higher rates of people covered under Medicare who are unable to afford quality supplement coverage for their out-ofpocket costs, which limits their ac-
cess to high quality health systems and specialty care.”
Also affecting people of color Menkin said is that “built-in institutional biases unfortunately means different levels of care. If you have an already dwindling social support network, then as soon as you add in that recognizable minority status, then you have added on (the challenges of discrimination). So now you’re older and you’re LGBTQ+, and you have Medicaid or Medicare with maybe inadequate supplements. And now you are a visible, recognized minority. That plays a big role in how you’re perceived. And we know perception is everything in treatment.”
It will take decades before some of the institutional biases and societal racism will be dismantled, Menkin said.
Whether older or not, transgender people of color are at the highest risk of violence, poor or inadequate health care, and poverty, Menkin said.
One patient of Menkin’s provides an instructive example of the challenges LGBTQ+ people of color face. His patient is a transgender woman of color in her early 60s with Type 2 diabetes. She doesn’t like to do a lot of the health screenings and maintenance that comes with that diagnosis, such as mammograms or specialty checkups with podiatrists or optometrists.
The gender marker on her Medicare card remains male. “She feels like every time she accesses any health care services, that gender marker outs her as transgender. This prevents her from pursuing vital screenings,” Menkin said. “She’s not recognizable as any-
thing other than female except in certain vulnerable ways and that’s where she draws the line.”
This vulnerability happens across the board in many areas of health care, Menkin said, pointing out home care and hospice as other examples. “Now we’re having aides coming into LGBTQ+ people’s homes to provide these services, which raises a whole other level of worry,” he said. “Who am I living with, and what does my house look like? It heightens that level of vulnerability. I think home care and end-of-life care are places that we have not done well by aging LGBTQ+ people in many, many ways. It’s important for our aging community (to receive compassionate services). I do think there is progress, albeit slow. Anytime you raise awareness, you move the needle.”
Support for LGBTQ+ elders of color
Call BlackLine provides a space for peer support, counseling, reporting of mistreatment, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences for people who are the most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black lens. Call 1-800-604-5841, go to CallBlackLine.com or download the app.
SAGE (Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders) partnered with HearMe, an on-demand mental wellness app, to provide compassionate support 24/7. For information, go to sageusa.org/hearme.
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
Forrest Mayo loves the outdoors
By Jay Nachman
At the age of 6, for reasons he doesn’t understand, Forrest D. Mayo decided he wanted a fishing rod. When he got one, he was hooked on the sport.
Mayo, now 89, soon was casting lines in the middle of the street in his Spring Garden neighborhood. Then he began fishing in the Schuylkill River, which was a block from his home. From then on, he has enjoyed a lifetime of outdoor activities and sports.
“I haven’t the faintest idea where that came from, but I knew I wanted to do fishing and everything took off from there,” Mayo said. “I just loved the outdoors and walking through parks. The outdoors just drew me in, big time.”
Mayo, who has a son and a granddaughter, was 21 when he decided he wanted to learn how to swim. Since then, it’s been hard to keep him out of the water and around it.
He got his first kayak for recreational kayaking in the late 1960s. “The tranquility and relaxation of seeing what you can see in nature, from otters to eagles, is unbelievable,” he said about being out on the water.
Mayo gains much gratification
from teaching others to appreciate the outdoors and acquire skills that can bring them a lifetime of pleasure. “I can’t get enough of it,” Mayo said. He currently teaches kayaking, fly casting and archery for L.L. Bean and has been an instructor at Philadelphia Canoe Club since 1993. He taught aquatics for 27 years at Philadelphia’s Central Branch YMCA, as well as archery and fenc ing at the Abington, Germantown and Central YMCAs.
He also enjoys the nature he finds all around him. Recently he spotted a helicopter flying low with an air plane above it. Then, he realized, “It wasn’t an airplane. It was a bald ea gle, right here in Philadelphia. It was an unbelievable sight.”
When the weather turns cold, Mayo, who bought his first bow and arrow in 1965, becomes a self-de scribed big-time hunter. He heads up to his cabin near Elk Mountain, about three hours away in Schuylkill County to hunt with both a bow and arrow and a rifle. And he eats what he kills. He called being in the mountains his heaven.
Please help older adults in Philadelphia stay warm this winter
Ask Mayo to pick a favorite activity, and he can’t do it. “I just enjoy doing what I’m doing when I can do it. That is my joy,” he said, his voice reflecting the passion he finds in his hobbies.
Mayo believes it is never too late to begin enjoying outdoor sports and encourages anyone to participate at any age. ‘’Once you get into it, you will definitely enjoy it,” he said. “It will become a part of you, like it has become a part of me.”
The Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians was created in 1981 to assist older adults who are in crisis. It reduces suffering by providing small grants to older individuals in dire situations. Anyone 60+, on a fixed income, facing a crisis, and meeting the eligibility requirements, can request 100 gallons of heating oil or up to $150 for other immediate needs once a year. Funds can be used for food, vital medications, clothing to stay warm, urgent repairs to keep their home safe, to avoid a utility shut-off, or other life-sustaining expenses.
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
Events
February 2025
FEBRUARY 1
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
FEBRUARY 4
CARD GAME HOUR
Play any card game with center members. Cards are provided. Noon. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610 | Free
FEBRUARY 5
GUIDED PAINTING CLASS
Learn to paint or polish your skills with this fun workshop. Light refreshments will be served. Noon. Oak Street Health — South Philly. 267-758-7807 | Free
FEBRUARY 6
CHAIR YOGA
This class is for all levels of practice & beginners are welcome. Bring your own mat or borrow one. 3:30 p.m. Whitman Library. 215-685-1754 | Free
FEBRUARY 7
THE POWER OF WRITING
Raheem Curry presents a Black History Month program for all ages on the power of writing to transform lives & overcome obstacles. Writing can be used to channel expression & solve issues in our daily lives in a healthy, non-violent way. 3:30 p.m. Welsh Road Library. 215-685-0498 | Free
FEBRUARY 10
Send your calendar items two months in advance to: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org Questions? Call 215-765-9000, ext. 5081.
ENHANCED FITNESS CLASS
Exercise is a whole lot of fun in this evidencebased exercise program. Participants are led by a certified instructor in an hour-long class focused on dynamic cardiovascular exercise. 9:30 a.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610 | Free
FEBRUARY 11
HEALTH INFORMATION
Philadelphia Department of Public Health outreach staff will be on hand to answer questions & provide resources. 2:30 p.m. West Oak Lane Library. 2:30 p.m. 215-6852843 | Free
FEBRUARY 11
THE LEGACY OF EMMA DUPREE
Celebrate the inspiring story of renowned Black folk herbalist in this hands-on workshop that explores the roles of vinegar & rock sugar in traditional herbalism. Includes sampling herbal vinegars & creating infused vinegar to take home. 5:30 p.m. Falls of Schuylkill Library. 215-685-2093 | Free
FEBRUARY 14
VALENTINE’S DAY
FEBRUARY 16
NATIONAL CAREGIVERS DAY
FEBRUARY 17 PRESIDENTS DAY
FEBRUARY 17
BINGO
Test your luck & have fun in friendly competition. Noon. Martin Luther King Older Adult Center. 215-685-2715 | Free
FEBRUARY 18
STRETCHING CLASS
Enhance flexibility & relieve tension in this gentle class designed for all fitness levels. 11:30 a.m. Center in the Park. 215-8487722 | Free
FEBRUARY 19
DESIGNING PHILADELPHIA
Black Philadelphia architect Julian Abele designed landmarks, including Parkway Central Library & Philadelphia Museum of Art, that have enriched life in the city & shaped its personality for almost a century. 6 p.m. Parkway Central Library, Room 131/132 in Heim Center. 1-833-825-5357 | Free
FEBRUARY 25
POETRY CLASS
Unleash your creativity, explore writing techniques & share your work in a supportive setting. 10:30 a.m. Center in the Park. 215848-7722 | Free
FEBRUARY 26
ZUMBA CLASS
Zumba is a widely popular fitness program that involves cardio & Latin-inspired dance. 9:30 a.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215426-8610 | Free
FEBRUARY 26
LINE DANCE
Step into the rhythm of this fun, upbeat class that teaches popular line dance routines in an easy-to-follow format. 9:30 a.m. Martin Luther King Older Adult Center. 215-6852715 | Free
FEBRUARY 28
BLACK HISTORY MONTH JAZZ CONCERT
Honor African American heritage by celebrating the rich cultural legacy & profound impact of jazz on history. PCA’s Southwest Senior Center. 1-3 p.m. 215937-1880 | Free
FEBRUARY 28
POTTERY CLASS
Discover your creativity as you learn basic techniques to shape & design original clay creations. 11 a.m. Center in the Park. 215848-7722 | Free
FEBRUARY 28
CHAIR ZUMBA
Get moving in a fun, seated workout combining dance & fitness to lively music. 9:30 a.m. KleinLife Northeast Philadelphia. 215-698-7300 | Free
ONGOING BLACK HISTORY EXHIBITS
The African American Museum in Philadelphia preserves, interprets & exhibits the history of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the present. Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 701 Arch St. 215-574-0380 | aampmuseum.org | Seniors: $10
Breathe easier: Explore treatments for sleep apnea
By Jay Nachman
Sleep is essential for good health. But for people with sleep apnea, restful nights can feel elusive. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, according to the Mayo Clinic. It affects men seven times more often than premenopausal women, but postmenopausal women are diagnosed at the same rate as men.
This shift happens because, after menopause, the hormones that help keep the upper airway open decrease, explains Dr. Robert Satriale, a sleep specialist at Temple University Hospital and director of Temple Lung Center in Oaks, Pa. Other factors, such as weight, can also increase the likelihood of sleep apnea. Extra weight around the upper airway makes an already small airway even smaller. Losing weight can often help reduce symptoms.
The effects of sleep apnea
When we sleep, muscles in the airway work to keep it open with every breath. However, as Dr. Satriale explains, “As we get older, the responsiveness to the normal stimuli that causes the muscles to pull the airway open becomes less and less.”
When the airway narrows or collapses, the brain senses that the body isn’t getting enough air. It then signals the chest muscles to work harder, but this effort often causes the airway to close completely. When this happens, the brain wakes the body up just enough to reopen the airway.
This sleep-wake cycle repeats throughout the night, interrupting sleep so briefly that people don’t remember it. Yet the effects are clear: grogginess, daytime tiredness, reduced focus and memory issues.
“There are other cognitive func-
tions that tend to suffer from poor sleep due to sleep apnea,” Dr. Satriale says. Over time, sleep apnea can lead to more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).
Treatment options
The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable, with several options tailored to different needs and preferences:
• CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Machines: CPAP machines are the first line of treatment and the most effective option. They help the muscles keep
the airway open, but symptoms can return if the machine isn’t used consistently.
• Oral appliances: These mouthguards push the lower jaw forward to open the airway and tighten throat muscles. They’re a good alternative for people who have trouble using CPAP machines.
• BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machines: These provide a lower, more comfortable air pressure than CPAP machines, making them a better fit for some individuals.
(Continued on page 12)
SPECIAL
Additionally, take advantage of our FREE Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screening on February 12 and 19, 2025, from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Call (610) 290-4270 to schedule an appointment. Protect your heart health today!
(Continued from page 11)
• Tongue task training: Exercises to strengthen tongue muscles can reduce sleep apnea episodes by up to 60%.
• Surgical options: In severe cases, an implantable device can help keep the airway open. “This works very well in severe cases of sleep apnea,” Dr. Satriale notes.
Better sleep, better life
Addressing sleep apnea can have a profound impact on overall health and well-being, particularly for older adults. “Treating older adults (who have sleep apnea) can improve their function and help them live a better quality of life,” Dr. Satriale says.
If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of persistent snoring, grogginess or difficulty concentrating, talk to a health care professional. With the right treatment, you can take control of sleep apnea and enjoy more restful nights — and brighter days ahead.
sleep study
Temple University Hospital offers select patients the option of a home sleep study to diagnose sleep disorders. To learn more about home sleep studies or to enroll in one, call 1-866-449-3677. Sleep studies are offered at the Temple Lung Center in North Philadelphia and at the Temple Lung Center at Jeanes Campus in Northeast Philadelphia. Home sleep tests are covered by Medicare and most major insurance plans, if prescribed by your doctor for sleep apnea. Home sleep tests may be covered by insurance for other diagnoses.
Advice on navigating complex caregiving
By Jay Nachman Recipe Box
The biggest challenge for someone taking care of a parent or loved one is “accepting your loved one for who they are now. Not who you knew them to be,” said Dr. Kiplee Bell, an internal medicine physician who has created a practice focused on caregiving. She works with caregivers to help them tackle caregiving challenges with peace of mind.
The second biggest challenge for caregivers, according to Dr. Bell, is knowing and taking the steps involved in caring for a loved one. These steps include learning about what resources are available.
Dr. Bell advises caregivers to have important conversations with a parent or other loved one while they are cognitively intact, or when illness is not imminent, about their wishes and desires. It is also important to make sure all legal paperwork is in place.
“(Advance planning) is the greatest gift,” Dr. Bell said, “When you’re at bedside or in an emergency, and the person had a stroke or a heart attack, has been given a terminal diagnosis or there’s been some change on a dime, if these things aren’t in place, it leaves the caregiver feeling exasperated and frantic. It is overwhelming to navigate all the resources that may be available and what route they’re to take.”
It takes courage to have difficult conversations about end-of-life care between adult children and their aging parents. But it’s equally important for those caregivers, who are in their 50s and 60s, to have conversations with their nuclear families about their wishes as they age.
Dr. Bell practices what she preaches. As a child, she would accompany her mother, who was an in-home private duty nurse for decades, as
(Continued on page 14)
Atakilt Wat: Ethiopian Cabbage, Potato and Carrot Stew
This vegan variation of a popular, traditional Ethiopian stew is recommend to be served with flatbread.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 yellow onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. ginger, grated
½ tsp. ground cardamom
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground turmeric
4 potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 carrots, peeled and chopped
½ green cabbage, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Cook until
onion is softened, about three minutes.
Add cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and turmeric. Stir 1 to 2 minutes.
Add 2/3 cup water. Stir to loosen the onions, then add the potatoes, carrots and cabbage. Season with salt and pepper.
Cover pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Enjoy while hot.
Source: “Vegan Africa” cookbook by Marie
Kacouchia
(Continued from page 11)
she worked. Watching her mother, Dr. Bell learned early on how to navigate care between clinicians and families, de-escalate matters between family members regarding bedside care, and solve related issues that come with being a caregiver.
Now she is caregiving for her 89-year-old mother, who has vascular dementia, and also manages the care from afar of her aunt, 96, who lives in Texas. Dr. Bell has written a book, “The Work of My Mother’s Hands: A Caregiver’s Journey,” in which she shares her caregiving experiences and insights.
In between learning from her mother and taking care of her, Dr. Bell earned bachelor’s degrees in sociology and biology, as well as board certification as a physician assistant from Drexel University’s College of Medicine. She also was
clude an adequate understanding of how to navigate the social service and health care systems.
For these reasons, Dr. Bell reiterates her advice to have conversations with loved ones about caregiving early and often.
She also advises family members to define care roles. One family member may not be able to stand the sight of blood but is a great accountant. Another family member might be a good organizer, while another is resourceful and can develop solutions for day-to-day challenges. Assigning roles can prevent volatile situations when the person being cared for becomes ill.
Dr. Bell provides guidance, resources and inspiration for caregivers and those supporting them
through her websites, ImpactfulCare.com and ImpactfulCaregiving. com, and her podcast CAREPOD. Knowledge is power, but applied knowledge is even more powerful. Dr. Bell said: “It’s close to my heart to empower all people to understand the resources that are available to them.”
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s Caregiver Support Program assists adults caring for older loved ones and older adults raising young relatives. For information, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.
(See page 15 for crossword)
awarded a master’s degree in gerontology from St. Joseph’s University and received her medical doctorate from the International University of the Health Sciences.
“Members of the Black and brown communities have their own specific caregiving challenges due to social disparities in health care,”
Dr. Bell said. For example, they often don’t have access to higher-end facilities and 55-plus active adult communities.
It’s not uncommon, according to Bell, for minority community members to live in multi-generational households. Additionally, in some homes, grandparents are raising grandchildren. Then there is the flipside, where young children are helping to take care of their older family members.
And when English is not a native tongue, language barriers can pre-
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
Our hearts are healthier together
Source: National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Each February is American Heart Month, an observance to raise awareness about heart health and encourage Americans to reduce their risk for developing heart disease. Taking care of your heart health is vitally important. There’s a lot you can do to prevent heart disease. Check out these ideas to honor American Heart Month:
Set up a support group with friends near and far to encourage each other in your goals to manage your weight, eat healthier, quit smoking or exercise.
Commit to a walking schedule with a friend or family member, even if you can’t walk together.
Try a new recipe weekly. Ask friends and family to share their favorite hearthealthy recipe with you. NHLBI offers a variety of recipes on its website at HealthyEating.nhlbi.nih.gov.
Make television watching more ac-
Fun with words
tive by walking in place during the commercials. Just standing up and stretching periodically during seated activities, such as reading or computer work, will add activity to your day.
Sign a social support contract with three family members or friends who also want to lose weight.
Blog about it. Write a social media post or journal entry about Heart Month, the risk factors for heart disease, and how you’re making heart-healthy changes in your life.
Attend a cooking class – online or in-person – to learn new heart-healthy recipes.
Plan a healthy date. Go for a walk or cook a heart-healthy meal with your significant other for Valentine’s Day.
For more heart health information and tips, go to nhlbi.nih.gov/heartmonth
