Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is a nonprofit agency dedicated to serving Philadelphia’s older adults and adults with disabilities. PCA pub
lishes Milestones and offers:
• Care in the home
• Home-delivered meals
• Home repairs and modifications
• Protective services
• Senior centers
• Caregiver support
• Employment and volunteer programs
• Legal services
• Transportation
• Ombudsman services
• Health education
• Information and referral
For more information, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or visit pca Cares.org.
The holiday season presents a great time to reconnect with family and friends, espe cially older adults who you don’t see often throughout the year. While you’re visiting with older loved ones for Thanksgiving, take time to assess what assistance they might need to safely remain in their homes. There are many things to consider when preparing to age in place. This issue of Milestones offers resources and tips for home repairs and accessibility modifica tions, energy conservation and utility bills, care in the home, caregiver support and more. Before speaking with your loved one, it might be helpful to prepare a checklist of things to discuss. It might include questions such as:
the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org for connection to local resourc es. For those outside of Philadelphia, the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator can provide connection to community re sources across the country by calling 1-800677-1116 or visiting eldercare.acl.gov.
Call 24/7 to report suspected elder abuse. PCA Helpline: 215-765-9040
Published by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA, President and CEO
PCA Board of Directors 2022-23
Satya B. Verma, O.D., Chair
Glenn D. Bryan, Vice Chair
Angela Foreshaw-Rouse, Secretary Louis A. Bove, Esq.
Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Esq.
Lynn Fields Harris
Katherine E. Galluzzi, D.O., FACOFP
Sandra McNally Paul Nathanson
John Whitman
Eloise N. Young
Jacqueline S. Zinn, Ph.D.
Emeritus: Arthur E. Helfand, D.P.M.
Outside Philadelphia toll-free: 888-215-765-9041 (TDD) pcaCares.org
Milestones is published monthly and distributed at more than 1,100 locations throughout Phila delphia, Lower Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties.
Check us out online: pcaCares.org/Milestones
Editor: Alicia M. Colombo 215-765-9000, ext. 5081 PCA, 642 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19130
Email: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org
Advertising: Teresa Heavens 215-765-9000, ext. 5053
Email: Teresa.Heavens@pcaCares.org
Subscriptions & Distributions: 215-765-9000, ext. 5081
Email: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org
Home delivery: $12/year
(PCA).
• Do you need help with chores or housekeeping, bathing, dressing, shop ping and meal preparation, managing finances, transportation, or taking medications?
• How often do you socialize with oth ers?
• Are you dependent on another person for care? If so, is that person an appro priate caregiver? Does the caregiver understand the elder’s medical condi tions?
During your visit, keep an eye out for warn ing signs of self-neglect or elder abuse. Make the most of your visits by taking some private time with your older adult relatives to discuss the future. Sometimes, we may not be aware of a gradual decline and may be re luctant or unable to plan for their own need ed care. Support and guidance from family members can help prevent serious accidents and future health complications. Allow time for them to express their anxieties and needs. You can offer assistance to your older relative, if they request help.
Social isolation takes a toll on your over all health, wellness and quality of life. Some studies even show that socially isolated older adults have weaker immune systems, which makes them more susceptible to illness and infection. When you’re isolated from others, your mental health can also be impacted, which can lead to depression, anxiety and higher stress levels.
There are plenty of ways to stay connected with others throughout the winter. Here are some suggestions:
If you don’t have family nearby, reach out to your neighbors. Invite them over for cof fee. Check in on each other regularly. You can also join one of Philadelphia’s senior commu nity centers that offer daily activities and the chance to meet people who share your inter ests.
©2022 Philadelphia
You can also reach out to community re sources and services that can help. Older Philadelphians and their caregivers can call
If you are unable to leave your home, you can enjoy a face-to-face conversation with friends or family using a smartphone, tablet or other internet-enabled device. Even regular telephone conversations with friends, loved ones and support groups can help cheer you up and ward off loneliness.
the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040. “We have seen an increase in need over the last few years and even have developed a waiting list for our SHARP initiative, which emphasizes the importance of early application when it comes to home repair assis tance,” said Myers.
By Bill Conallen
Victoria Huggins Peurifoy, 70, lives in an old Germantown home that’s full of character and memories. It’s where she wants to stay for the rest of her life. But the home needs re pair for her to safely age in place. Many other older Philadelphians live in homes that require repairs or modifications to make them ac cessible. Grab bars, ADA-accessible ramps and railings can make a huge difference for an aging resident, but they come at a price that older adults with low incomes may not be able to afford.
“Home repairs can make all the difference to the health and safety of countless older adults throughout the city,” said Mark Myers, director of facility operations and housing programs at Philadelphia Corpo ration for Aging (PCA). “These changes allow older Philadelphians to live a full and independent life in the place where they want to contin ue to live – their home.” Programs that offer help with home repairs and modifications can pro
vide the assistance needed to help older adults remain in their homes as they age. Philadelphia has a wide variety of services and programs available to give aging residents and homeowners a hand with the costs of maintaining a home. Some of these programs may have a long wait time due to high demand.
PCA’s Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP) provides minor home repairs and modifi cations to the homes of income-el igible older adults. Homeowners over the age of 60 with a structur ally sound home can take advantage of this program. For services to be free, residents must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. If residents have a higher income, they may receive these services on a cost-sharing basis. Repairs through SHARP may include installing rail ings, intercoms or grab bars; and repairing or replacing wooden base ment steps, electrical fixtures, or leaky faucets and toilets. To inquire about PCA’s SHARP program, call
Older adults with permanent dis abilities can receive assistance with home modifications and repair to allow for more independent living through the Adaptive Modifica tions Program. Administered by the Philadelphia Housing Devel opment Corporation (PHDC), this program is available to anyone who owns a structurally sound home or who lives in a rental unit where the owner allows modifications. Some of the modifications provided by the program include railings, exte rior wheelchair ramps and lifts, and widened doorways.
The PHDC also administers the Basic Systems Repair Program (BSRP), which provides emergency electrical, plumbing, heating and roofing repairs to eligible Philadel phia homeowners. Repairs may ad dress leaking or broken sewer lines, dangerous electrical conditions, and roof leaks. Applicants must provide basic personal information and proof of the emergency prompting the request. For more information or to apply, call at 215-448-2160 or go to phdcphila.org. For free pre ventive maintenance, repairs and cleanouts of heaters, call PHDC’s Heater Hotline at 215-568-7190. Oil burners, gas valves, thermostats and chimneys are a few of the heat ing-related home parts that are eligi
ble for repair through the program. Providing repairs and revitaliza tion to middle-income neighbor hoods that are often overlooked, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia’s Middle Neighborhoods Initiative works block by block in Northwest Philadelphia. Using both in-house contractors and subcontractors, the program offers free repairs to older homeowners. Work includes energy efficiency improvements, systems repairs, structural repairs and acces sibility improvements. The Middle Neighborhoods Initiative seeks to provide relief on a block-by-block basis. To apply, residents must have at least 10 total eligible homeowners in need of repairs on their block to apply. For more information, call 215-965-0777 or RebuildingPhilly. org.
More help will soon be on the way for older Pennsylvanians thanks to recent legislation designed to aid homeowners grappling with cost ly home repairs. The Whole-Home Repairs Program is being developed to benefit low-income homeowners and property owners in Pennsyl vania. The program guidelines are being created now and are expected to be available in late 2022 with the program opening in 2023.
“This new program is just another sign that, as our population grows older, the need for comprehensive efforts so that older adults can re main as independent in their homes for as long as possible will become an increasingly important priority,” Myers said.
Bill Conallen is the public relations specialist at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.
A care manager with Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA’s) OPTIONS program recently received a thank you note from the daughter of a service recipient, which read, “It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday. I appreciate your kindness, sincerity, efficiency and respectfulness. PCA is very lucky to have you.”
That note is indicative of the praise the agency often receives for its work supporting older Philadelphians and adults with disabilities, according to Sean Outen, PCA’s director of long-term care OPTIONS, which provides an array of services to support aging in place.
“I hear appreciation from family members for the care management, home care and other services that are provided to help with family members’ and loved ones’ quality of life,” Outen said. “These services help older adults remain as independent as possible in the community, rather than having to go into a nursing facility.”
The dedicated work of PCA’s longterm care staff and contracted home care aides is being honored during November, which is recognized as Home Care and Hospice Month by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). Home care workers “make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic care providers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. Join us in honoring these compassionate, tireless workers who play an
invaluable role for their clients as caregivers, companions and friends,” according to a statement by the NAHC.
What is home care?
“Home care is any service that is provided in a person’s home, away from a facility, to support independent living,” said Shani Gilmore, PCA’s executive administrator of long-term care. “Home care can include assistance with such things as bathing, dressing and grooming, which are what we call ‘activities of daily living.’ Other services can include shopping, meal preparation or a little bit of light housekeeping. Providing home care can enable someone to stay in their home for as long as possible, rather than having to seek another less independent living situation, such as a nursing home.”
More than 4,200 people throughout Philadelphia receive services, including home-delivered meals, from PCA through the OPTIONS program. “That number is growing because we are serving more individuals,” said Outen. “We’ve increased our staffing so we’re able to reduce the waiting list. More people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and now feel
We welcome your story ideas, feedback and suggestions. (Story-specific com ments or questions will be forwarded to the writer.) Submissions of letters or articles for publication must be signed and dated and include your address and phone number. Submission constitutes permission to edit and publish in any form or medium.
comfortable accepting in-home services. Of course, people also continue to age and need help to remain in the community.”
All older adults in the OPTIONS program are assigned a PCA care manager who helps them navigate the services available.
To be eligible for the OPTIONS program, individuals must first undergo a comprehensive assessment and be determined to need long-term care services, as well as to be either financially or clinically ineligible for other medical assistance programs.
Those who are not eligible for the OPTIONS program may qualify for other services. In addition, PCA can direct people to resources for home care financial assistance. For more information about long-term care services for older adults, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/services/ help-in-the-home/
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
Send ideas, comments & submissions to:
Attn: Milestones Editor PCA, 642 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19130
Email: milestonesnews@pcaCares.org
Older Philadelphians are often forced to choose between paying for medicine, food, or heat. Please donate today so they won’t have to make that difficult choice.
As we approach the holiday season, there are many among us who face crises on a daily basis. Being on a fixed income, many older Philadelphians have trouble meeting their basic needs for heat, food, prescription drugs, and utilities.
That’s where the Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians can help. Established in 1981, the Emergency Fund provides support to low-income older residents when all other resources or programs have been exhausted. Consumers 60 years or over who are facing a crisis may receive assistance up to $100 annually toward an immediate need for utilities, food, clothing, repairs, medications, or other essential expenses.
The Emergency Fund’s mission is to respond immediately to older adults in desperate situations. By working directly with third party vendors on applicants’ behalf, help is expedited so that services can be provided immediately. During the past year, for example, the Emergency Fund provided approximately $100,000 to consumers in need, and most of those requests were used for life-altering purposes, including nearly $60,000 of oil delivered to keep homes warm this past winter.
If you wish to contribute to assist us in these efforts, please send your gift to the Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians to help prevent the crisis of a winter without adequate heat or enough food on the table. As you and your loved ones enjoy the coming holidays, thank you for keeping older Philadelphians in mind. Please send your gift to the Emergency Fund today so they, too, can experience some comfort during the holidays.
I want to help older adults to stay nourished and warm this winter.
can also be made securely online at www.pcaCares.org/emergencyfund
$1,000 will provide seasonal clothing for 15 older Philadelphians Gift amount:
provides $50
of food
provides 50 gallons of home
helps prevent a utility
10
The Emergency Fund
$1,000 o $500
$300 o $100
$50 o Other: $______________
Weatherizing your home can help cost-conscious older adults save money and improve the comfort of the home. Along with cold and harsh weather, winter also brings higher energy costs. For older adults with limited incomes, the financial strain of winter utility bills can be a huge burden.
Figuring out where to start and how to weatherize your home for winter can be daunting. Read on for resources and tips to effectively reduce energy costs and increase comfort, while safeguard ing your health and safety.
Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort and create a healthi er indoor environment. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and ef fective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment. Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings between stationary house components, such as around door frames and win dow frames. Weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows.
Programmable thermostats help your heating system operate more efficiently. These inexpensive, easy-to-install tem perature modulators can help you save on heating and cooling costs. You can set the thermostat to drop to a lower temperature when you are away and at night while you’re in bed under the covers.
Many people only use ceiling fans in the summer to help keep their homes cool. But a ceiling fan can be useful to regulate your home’s temperature yearround. In the winter, the direction of your ceiling fans can be changed by flipping the switch on the unit, so it ro
tates the rising hot air down to heat the room.
Weatherization professionals also rec ommend that homeowners change the air filter in their furnace every three months and check filters monthly. A dirty air filter slows down air flow and makes your heating system work hard er. This will waste energy and increase the cost of utilities.
Several free weatherization and utili ty resources are available to help older adults stay warm this winter without breaking the bank. These programs ed ucate consumers on the proper use and maintenance of weatherization mea sures, as well as how to reduce energy waste every day.
The Pennsylvania Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), offered through the Energy Coordinating Agency in Philadelphia, helps re duce heating and cooling costs for in come-eligible renters and homeown ers by providing free services to help conserve energy and improve safety. On-site energy audits are conducted to assess conditions in homes and to iden tify the most cost-effective energy-sav ing measures to be implemented. Pri ority is given to higher-risk residents, including older adults, adults with disabilities, families with children and high-energy users. For information, call 215-609-1000 or go to EcaSavesEn ergy.org/pa-energy-services.
The Low-Income Home Energy As sistance Program (LIHEAP), provid ed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services, is anoth er resource that helps individuals and families living on low incomes pay their heating bills by issuing a cash grant. Households in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants. LIHEAP cash and cri sis grants are one-time payments sent directly to the utility company or fuel
provider to be credited on your bill. These grants range from $500 to $1,500 based on household size, income, and fuel type. For information, call 1-866857-7095 or go to dhs.pa.gov/liheap.
As part of its commitment to support ing and empowering older Philadel phians, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) established the Emergen cy Fund for Older Philadelphians to aid those in crisis who have exhausted other resources in paying for necessi ties, such as utilities, food, and med icine. In 2020, The Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians provided $135,759 in crisis assistance to 1,134 households. Of those funds, 63% went to pay for home heating oil, and util ities.
“For many older Philadelphians who are in a financial crisis, the Emergen cy Fund is a critical resource that prevents them from having to make difficult decisions between using lim ited funds to pay utilities or even pur chasing life-saving medications,” said Wanda Mitchell, PCA’s community engagement director and chair of the Emergency Fund Coalition for Old er Philadelphians. “This fund helps to
ease those burdens, so that older adults have an easier time meeting all their needs.”
Assistance from the Emergency Fund is granted only in response to referrals from a recognized social service agen cy or member of the clergy.
For more information about the Emergency Fund for Older Philadel phians or to make a donation to help an older adult in crisis, see page 6, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/support-pca.
Send your calendar items to MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org by the 25th of the month (for publication in month after next) Questions? 215-765-9000, ext. 5081November 2022
Recognize and honor family caregivers across the country, as well as raise awareness of caregiving issues. CaregiverAction.org/national-familycaregivers-month
Join Siempre Salsa Philly & Dance Republic for an outdoor group dance lesson. 7-10 p.m. Love Park. 215-910-2200 | Free
NOVEMBER 4
Learn this empowering & fun exercise that can improve strength, balance and co ordination. 1-2 p.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610, ext. 1206 | Free
The nation’s oldest continuously inhab ited residential street hosts artists, makers & antiques vendors from around the region. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elfreth’s Alley. 215-574-0560 | Free
Cookies, muffins & bread for sale to benefit senior center activities. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215426-8610, ext. 1206 | Prices vary
Have fun with friends & win prizes. 12:45-2 p.m. Juniata Park Older Adult Center. 215-685-1490 | Free
Celebrate Veterans Day with a special performance by the Jukebox Legends playing from the 1950s, ‘60s & ‘70s. 1 p.m. Raymond & Miriam Klein Center. 215-698-7300, ext. 193 | Free
The polls are open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Election & voting information: 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) | vote. pa.gov.
Climb aboard the cruiser Olympia to honor all those who have served & con tinue to serve in the U.S. armed forces. 10 a.m. Independence Seaport Museum. 215-413-8655 | Free
Juried art show & sale of museumquality handmade jewelry, textiles & mixed media. Pennsylvania Convention Center. 215-684-7930 | $20-$25
Includes samples of smoothies & oth er treats created for a healthy lifestyle. 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Juniata Park Older Adult Center. 215-685-1490 | Free
Performances by up-and-coming classi cal musicians. 7:30 p.m. Esperanza Arts Center. 215-324-0746 | Students & seniors: Free; Others: $10
60th Anniversary Jubilee festivities con tinue with readings in English or Hebrew. 7:45 p.m. Congregations of Shaare Sha mayim. 215-677-1600 | Free
Before watching the Philadelphia Eagles on TV, see real birds in Northeast Phila delphia along the Delaware River. 9-11 a.m. Pennypack on the Delaware. 215425-8350 | Free
Learn how to make handcrafted holiday greeting cards. 1-3 p.m. Journey’s Way. 215-487-1750, ext. 1101 | $2
Celebrate November birthdays with bingo games. 12:30 p.m. Raymond & Miriam Klein Center. 215-698-7300, ext. 193 | Free
Be thankful among friends & share a feast, with all the trimmings, together. 11:30 a.m. Raymond & Miriam Klein Cen ter. Register by Nov. 15: 215-698-7300, ext. 193 | Free
Repertoire includes opera, Broadway & sacred classics. 1-2 p.m. Philadelphia Senior Center – Avenue of the Arts. 215546-5879 | Free
Everyone is welcome! Discuss your LGBTQ+ experience or support others in a friendly, welcoming environment. 12:30 p.m. Raymond & Miriam Klein Center. 215-698-7300, ext. 193 | Free
IT’S NOT ABOUT GETTING OLDER. It’s about living—supported by primary care that takes the time to know you. It’s about removing the inconvenience of driving, parking, waiting, and then rushing through your appointment.
Patina is virtual-first, so you can access primary care wherever you are via video, chat, or phone. We’ll even come to your home for in-person visits when needed.
Welcome to Patina: a bold new approach to personalized primary care, purpose-built for people 65 and older.
CALL US AT 800.476.7992 OR VISIT PATINAHEALTH.COM TO LEARN MORE.
The number of Americans pro viding unpaid care for a loved one has increased by 21% over the past five years, according to the Nation al Alliance for Caregiving. If you’re among the nation’s 53 million care givers, you could likely benefit from information and resources to help manage the challenges of caregiv ing.
Philadelphia Corporation for Ag ing’s (PCA’s) Caregiver Support Program can help by providing unpaid, primary caregivers with a wide array of resources, including education and training, financial as sistance, caregiving support groups, and respite care services.
A special spotlight is being placed on caregivers throughout the month of November, which is National Family Caregivers Month. This pe riod of reflection marks a time to celebrate and honor family care givers across the country. Special emphasis is placed on the need to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.
Caregivers provide care for some one with an injury, illness or dis ability. Caregiving tasks can include helping an older adult with house work, such as cleaning and laun dry; bathing and dressing; financial tasks, such as paying bills; admin istering medication; and so much more.
The role of a caregiver can be re warding and meaningful, but it can
also be stressful. That’s why it’s im portant for caregivers to maintain a healthy and caring environment. In many cases, caregivers need to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This may leave little or no time for caregivers to take the best care of themselves, as well as to pursue personal interests, exercise, religious services, work or school. Even some of the most seasoned caregivers can experience moments of stress that can take a toll on their mental well-being if not effectively managed.
“There is no one way to experience caregiver stress,” said Samson Baby, PCA Caregiver Support Program supervisor. “You may feel waves of emotions, from frustration to an ger to helplessness. You may feel as if you are not prepared to perform the role, or that you lack adequate medical knowledge. Every situation is unique, so it is important to be on the lookout for signs of caregiver stress and to address it right away.”
Resources allocated through the Caregiver Support Program help ensure that caregivers take care of themselves, in addition to their loved ones. The education and train ing provided enhances caregiving skills, while alleviating stress, creat ing a well-rested, renewed and more informed environment. By noticing
the signs of caregiving stress, care givers can stay happy and healthy while providing the care their loved one needs.
As a caregiver himself, first for his father and now for his mother, Baby can attest to the relief that programs offered through Area Agencies on Aging, like PCA, provide. “I was spending a lot of time worrying about how to properly allocate re sources toward caring for my par ents,” he said. “The program has provided countless hours of relief. Some of the caregivers have spoken to me about how positively impact ful the support has been.”
Baby has seen first-hand, both per sonally and professionally, the ex tent to which these services can help both caregivers and care receivers in ensuring both dignity and quality of life are maintained.
“Being a caregiver is such a tre mendous investment in an individ ual’s time and resources,” Baby said. “It’s imperative that caregivers are equipped with as many resources as possible in order to perform their responsibilities to the best of their ability for those they love, while also taking care of themselves.”
PCA’s Caregiver Support Program provides caregivers of older adults and of adults with disabilities with emotional support, reimbursement for caregiving services and supplies, training, and benefits counseling. The program also supports adults 60-plus who are raising grandchildren or other young relatives under the age of 18. For more information, call the PCA Helpline at 215765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/caregivers.
According to the Centers for Dis ease Control and Prevention, the best defense against the flu is to wash your hands often, avoid touching your face and get vaccinated. With winter right around the corner, now is the time to get your annual flu shot. Most local pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, provide flu shots at no cost with a health insurance card.
Philadelphia’s City Health Centers (listed next column) also provide flu shots for free. Proof of Philadelphia res idency is required. You do not need to have health insurance. Face masks must be worn inside the building. Walk-in vaccination hours are 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Flu vaccine appointments can also be made by calling 215-685-6784.
Health Center 2: 1700 S. Broad St., Unit 201 (at Tasker Street)
Health Center 3: 555 S. 43rd St. (at Chester Ave.)
Health Center 4: 4400 Haverford Ave. (44th St.) | Walk-in vaccinations begin at 8 a.m.
Health Center 5: 1900 N 20th St. (at W. Berks Street)
Health Center 6: 301 W. Girard Ave. (at 3rd St.)
Health Center 9: 131 E. Chelten Ave. (at Lena St.)
Health Center 10 Annex: 2230 Cottman Ave. (at Oakland st.) | Walk-in vaccination hours: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Strawberry Mansion Health Center: 2840 West Dauphin St. (at 28th St.)
Health Center 1 only provides STD testing and treatment. There are no health centers 7 or 8.
For more information about the flu and to access the City’s interactive flu clinic map, go to phila.gov and type “flu” in the search.
Mary Anna Rodabaugh is a writer, editor and writing coach.
The
Allegheny West Plaza Apartments offer safe, affordable
for adults 62 and older.
2221-2231 W. Venango St. Philadelphia, PA 19140 Call us: 1-888-530-4913 Email us: info@NewCourtland.org
Visit NewCourtland at 6970 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119 and go to the Administration Building or call 1-888-530-4913.
• Access to supportive services
• 24-hour security access and emergency call services during business hours
• Apartments feature central air, heat, and are equipped for phone, cable, and internet service. All kitchen appliances and garbage disposal are included.
• Ample onsite parking
•
Senior-friendly community with easy access to shopping and transportation
• Wheelchair accessible
familial status, physical handicap or national origin.
An apple eaten right out of your hand hits the spot on a crisp fall day. But when you’re craving something sweet, try this inventive rec ipe. Plain apple slices get an upgrade when drizzled with nut butter and yogurt sauce, then topped with decadent dark chocolate shavings.
At 200 calories and four grams of fiber per serving (approx. 12 apple slices), these apple nachos are a healthier way to indulge after dinner or at snack time. You’ll love the sweet, nutty flavor in every crunchy bite.
Ingredients:
4 apples, cored and thinly sliced
2 tsp. cinnamon
4 tbsp. almond butter or other nut butter, warmed
¼ cup dried cranberries
2 tbsp. crushed pecans
1 tbsp. dark chocolate, shaved
¼ cup cranberries
2 tbsp. honey
¼ cup plain yogurt
Directions: Line a cookie sheet with parch ment paper. Wash and core apples, then thinly slice and lay slices on the cookie sheet.
Next, make the yogurt-cranber ry sauce by adding cranberries, honey and plain yogurt to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and drizzle with warmed nut butter.
Finally, drizzle the cranberry yogurt sauce and top with dried cran berries, crushed pecans and dark chocolate. Serve immediately.
DailyBurn.com | Supervisor
According to Philadelphia’s Of fice of Homeless Services, there are about 5,700 people who are home less in the city, including about 950 who are unsheltered and liv ing on the street. What’s especially troubling is the number of home less adults over 55, who often have chronic or disabling conditions that require attention. In fiscal year 2021, the City of Philadelphia re ported that 3,167 older adults lived in shelters.
Philadelphia has the lowest num ber of street homeless individuals per capita of the largest U.S. cities. However, any person without a home or shelter from the elements is still a major concern.
With the adoption of a Hous ing First approach, there has been some success at addressing the is sue of homelessness. “If we can keep somebody stabilized in housing for a year, there’s a 90-95% chance that they’ll never be homeless again,” said Bill Maroon, chief operating officer for Pathways to Housing, a Philadelphia agency that’s empow ering people with disabilities to improve their housing stability and achieve better health.
Philadelphia was one of the first cities to adopt the Housing First model, which Maroon said works better than the traditional homeless services system that includes shel ters.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness describes Housing First as “the foundation for life im provement that enables access to permanent housing without prereq
uisites or conditions beyond those of a typical renter. Supportive ser vices are offered to support people with housing stability and individ ual well-being, but participation is not required as services have been found to be more effective when a person chooses to engage.”
Research shows that providing housing without supportive services is not successful at ending the cycle of homelessness. “If you just do the supportive services without con necting it with housing, it doesn’t work either,” Marroon said. “It has to be housing and the supportive services together. Even if [a housing recipient] refuses support services, we still engage with them every month to ask if they are ready to accept other services besides hous ing. Our experience is that eventu ally participants accept our help and services. Many of those who don’t accept services return to homeless ness.”
The reasons for homelessness are varied, including poverty and the lack of affordable housing. Fall ing outside the benefits system can make it more difficult to meet re quirements for housing. Sometimes, mental illness contributes. The opi oid crisis has also caused many new people to become homeless.
While rents are increasing for apartments, the federal govern ment’s voucher rates are increasing too and that provides a fair market rate for rent. The bigger problem is there are not enough vouchers. If more vouchers were made available, housing agencies would be able to find apartments for people expe riencing homelessness and devel
opers would build more affordable housing units because rent is guar anteed, Maroon said.
Pathways to Housing provides apartments for 500 people who were formerly homeless, 78 of whom are over 65. The number of homeless older adults needing housing is expected to double in the next five years.
“We’re trying hard to prepare for additional older adults who will need housing and all of the chal lenges that come with it,” Maroon said.
Right now, Pathways to Housing has 16 clients who use wheelchairs and another 78 clients who use an other kind of mobility device, such as a walker or cane.
“One of our biggest challenges now is determining how to help people age in place a find ADA/accessible units or properties,” Maroon said. “It’s just going to get worse. That population is going to double for us in the next five years. A huge part of my job is preparing for the future.”
Technology will play an import ant role in aiding older adults in the
future. “Pathways to Housing is ex perimenting with devices to assess their usefulness,” Maroon said.
One such tool is medication ma chines that dispense medicines in people’s apartments. The machines work in different ways. With one, a light may go on and stay on until a medication is picked up. Another machine records when a medication is picked up off the tray.
GrandPads, iPads with larger but tons for easier use, can help older adults and people with disabilities to easily access telehealth and to communicate with staff members, among other uses.
“We think we can monitor people and serve them better using tech nology,” Maroon said. “We have to serve an aging population better in the future.”
***
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, please call Project HOME’s Homeless Out reach Hotline at 215-232-1984. For more information, go to Pathways ToHousingpa.org.
Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.
When you quit smoking, you may need more help to cope with your body’s desire for nicotine. Nicotine replacement products help some smokers quit. You can buy gum, patches or lozenges over the counter.
Quitting smoking at any time improves your health – it doesn’t matter your age or how long you’ve been smoking. When you quit, you are likely to add years to your life, breathe more easily, have more energy and save money.
Research supported by the National In stitutes of Health (NIH) confirms that even older adults who have been smoking for decades can improve their health by quitting. The benefits include better blood circulation, taste and smell, and a lower risk for cancer, heart attack, stroke and lung disease.
The first step to quitting smoking suc cessfully is to make a firm decision to quit.
The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17 would be a great day to start your smoke-free life. Make a plan to deal with the situa tions that trigger your urge to smoke, and be prepared to cope with cravings. You may need to try many approaches to find what works best for you. For example, you might:
• Read self-help information.
• Go to individual or group counseling.
• Download the mobile apps or sign up for the text messaging service at SmokeFree60+.
• Ask a friend for support.
• Make a plan for the money you spend on cigarettes and set up a rewards sys tem.
• Take a walk or try a new physical ac tivity you enjoy.
There are also prescription med ications that may help you quit. A nicotine nasal spray or inhaler can reduce withdrawal symptoms and make it easier for you to quit smoking.
Other drugs may also help with with drawal symptoms. Talk with your doctor about which medicines might be best for you.
Electronic cigarettes, often called e-cig arettes or vape pens, deliver nicotine, fla vor and other chemicals that are inhaled by the user. They may contain harmful substances, such as lead and cancer-caus ing chemicals, in addition to nicotine, which is addictive. Some flavorings in e-cigarettes have been linked to lung disease. Scientists are still studying the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administra tion has not approved e-cigarettes as a quit-smoking aid, since there is limited evidence that they help smokers quit.
Trained counselors can help you stop smoking or stay on track.
• The National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline: 1-877-44U-QUIT (448-7848) | cancer.gov
• State Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) | SmokeFree.gov
• Veterans Smoking Quitline: 1-855-855-QUIT-VET (784-8838) | veterans.SmokeFree.gov
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Par isian cop
Italian resor t
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Indiana university
Divi-divi, e.g.
Progresses wearily
Nurse Cavell
Peter, on the 88
Inundates
Hoarse
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Flooded
Notable decade
Regal garb
Eskimo
Family member 28 Tuscany river 29 Nettled 30 Passé 31 Bellson dr um 33 Baker y unit 34 Catch 35 Enrage
Put on double shift
Gobi stops 43 Phooey!
Class paper
Result from 47 Clobbered, à la Samson
Listener’s treats
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Club for Faldo
Wire spiral
Vronsky’s beloved
Sandwich order
