C a p i ta l D i s t r i c t
Spotlight
Senior A Spotlight News publication in cooperation with
THE RESOURCE FOR SENIORS
APRIL 2020
COMPLIMENTARY
NO. 4
The Frontiers of Light Therapy Changing Your Name Twilight League Pastime
cdseniorspotlight.com APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 1
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2 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
Senior Spotlight 7.375 x 9.875 Due February 5, 2020
Editor’s desk
Sit and wait Life with COVID-19 is constantly changing
Y
es. Something is missing from this edition: calendars. As we worked on drafting this month’s edition, the world outside our office was changing. The world as we saw it walking into our offices was unrecognizable by the time we walked out. It started with the theatres, then restaurants and bars. The places we like to go to socialize, celebrate family or just shake off the stress from a busy work week, are shuttered. The locations and events we feature each month are currently closed. As of print, legislators anticipated such closures into April. For that reason, I decided not to run calendar events. This edition still includes our faithful columnists and several features, one of which includes the topic of the hour: the coronavirus. Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused an upheaval in our everyday lives. There is a good reason for that. Though it means I can’t have my weekly brunch with my father at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, it means he’s protected. It means that our entire community, though facing an incredible inconvenience and horrible financial hardships, is committed to keeping this contagious and harmful virus away from our loved ones. Hopefully, by the time this magazine reaches your hands, it will just be a memory. But, if it is not, try to work on making some more fabulous memories as we all wait this out. Our theatres will return. Our arts scene will florish once again. Right now, we just have to patiently sit and wait. Sincerely, Michael Hallisey, Managing Editor Spotlight Newspapers
April 2020 Features This Is For The Birds
4
Who Stepped On Your Hat?
6
Coronoavirus: Who Is At Risk?
8
Food and Vino: The Perfect Lunch 10 Once A Paper Person
11
Light Up Your Life
14
Columnists A Patriot Remembers
12
Social Security Corner
21
Retiring Retirement
22
publisher - John McIntyre editor - Michael Hallisey advertising sales - Denice Mau art director - David Abbott graphic design - Martha Eriksen Engagement Coordinator - Kaitlin Lembo Capital District Senior Spotlight is a unit of Community Media Group LLC. Published monthly. Deadline for advertising and calendar events is the 5th of the month preceding publication. Display advertising rates are available on request. Capital District Senior Spotlight reserves the right to refuse advertising for any reason. We do not guarantee any of the information, services or products published in this or any issue. The opinions expressed by the contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this paper. Copyright © 2011 by Capital District Senior Spotlight. No portion of Capital District Senior Spotlight may be reproduced without written permission from Community Media Group LLC.
APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 3
Backyard Feature
This is for the birds B
irds are big business. That may come as a surprise to people who have never given much thought to the warm-blooded vertebrates who fly over their heads every day, but tens of millions of people have a passion for birds. A 2016 survey from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service found that more than 45 million people in the United States watch birds around their homes and away from home every year. While statistics aren’t as current in Canada as they are in the United States, past studies have indicated birding is wildly popular among Canadians, with roughly 30 percent going wildlife-viewing while on out-of-town trips of one or more nights. That positively affects the economy, contributing billions of dollars to the tourism industry in both the U.S. and Canada every year.
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The different types of bird feeders While birding trips can help birdwatching enthusiasts see birds they otherwise may never see in person, bird feeders can be a great way to bring more birds into your own backyard. Choice of bird feeder can affect just which birds come to your back yard, and the following are some bird feeder options for birding enthusiasts to consider. • Window feeders: Small and easily attached to windows with suction cups, window feeders are easy to maintain and bring birds
right to your window. Birds that visit window feeders stand in the seed while feeding, so they must be cleaned and refilled on a daily basis. • Tray or platform feeders: The online birding resource All About Birds (allaboutbirds.org) notes that tray feeders attract the widest variety of seed-eating feeder birds. That makes them ideal for birding enthusiasts who want to attract a variety of birds to their properties. Tray feeders are simply platforms that hold seed and provide a place for birds to stand while they eat. All About Birds recommends tray feeders with screened, rather than solid, bottoms, as these trays promote complete drainage.
Frequent cleaning is necessary with tray feeders, as bird droppings can quickly soil seed. • Hopper or house feeders: These feeders are enclosed and feed seed out through the bottom. Hopper feeders are great for people who don’t want to be bother with daily maintenance, as they can hold several pounds of food at one time, greatly reducing the number of times homeowners will need to refill them. In addition, hopper feeders don’t need to be cleaned as often as other feeders. However, All About Birds notes that hopper feeders, which need to be thoroughly cleaned roughly once per month, are harder to clean than other feeders. • Tube feeders: Tube feeders deliver seeds to birds through screens or ports. Small perches attract birds to tube feeders, making these ideal for small birds. Some tube feeders contain perches designed for birds that can feed upside down, potentially attracting a greater variety of birds to your backyard. But All About Birds notes that seed can collect on bottommost feeding ports, providing a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. As a result, tube feeders should be inspected and cleaned regularly. Bird feeders can draw an array of birds to your backyard.
Northeastern New York Chapter The health and safety of our constituents, volunteers and staff remain our driver as we address the COVID-19 outbreak and as we continue to pursue our mission, today and in the longer term. Based on the guidance from local public health agencies, the 2020 Caregiver’s Conference originally planned for April 14 at the Albany Marriott will be rescheduled.
While the Alzheimer’s Association staff is working remote, operations will continue to support our mission. As always, the Alzheimer’s Association is available to you 24/7 for aroundthe-clock care and support at 1-800-272-3900. Please check
www.alz.org/northeasternny
for details on any other meetings and events. 111400_4
APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 5
Lifestyle Feature
Who stepped on your hat? Hipsters. Gentlemen. Women, wear them, too. The flat cap is a trend that won’t go away soon. By Michael Hallisey 6 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
T
he wedge-shaped hat that peaks at the back and slopes down to the brim is a classic style first popular in the waning days of the Victorian Age. People call it by different names. Peaky, poor boy, driver, ivy, newsboy — there are subtle variations that make them different, but look similar enough that people often interchange the names. Steampunk, which dwells within the same turn of the century period, has helped bring it back en vogue. That’s why some have taken to calling them “hipster” hats. “I’ve worn this style of cap almost every day since high school,” said Justin Cook. “I’ve got a couple different styles. My favorite is the Donegal Touring Cap. But, I have a Hanna, Boston Scally and a Peaky.” Albany Symphony’s marketing manager said he was introduced to the style in junior high school, after attending a masterclass with Nick Brignola. The late saxophonist — Justin Cook, was known to wear a similar style. Albany Symphony “It’s a sleek, cool and sophisticated and flat hat style. You can wear it with jeans or a suit.” aficionado The versatile look of the hat allows it to be worn with suits. Cillian Murphy’s character on Peaky Blinders is never without his flat cap as he walks the streets of Birmingham, England in his three-piece suit. Just as “Mad Men” influenced the two-piece suit trend in professional attire, the BBC show has influenced several hat makers like Boston Scally Co. in Pennsylvania to market a hat named after the show. It’s helped casual wear to lean towards a more mature look by deviating from the youthful baseball cap. “Regular baseball caps never suited my face,” said Jeff Nania, who dons the flat hat when he’s not on stage playing his saxophone for Hartley’s Encore. “I just like the way it feels and looks. Simple as that. I will say I find it funny when people assume I am of Irish stock when I have no Irish in me.” Newsboy caps are not exclusive to Irish heritage, though for a long time you were more apt to find a hat in that style only in Irish novelty stores. My first hat came from such a store more than a decade ago. Like the 33 million Americans who can draw their family lines to the Emerald Island, the Hallisey family claims the County of Cork as its homeland and I wanted to find something from home. Jim Gilbert often walks around Nippertown in a tweed ivy cap. It’s for practical reasons, except when he’s forced to take it off while he’s snapping off
“I’ve worn this style of cap almost every day since high school. I’ve got a couple different styles. My favorite is the Donegal Touring Cap. But, I have a Hanna, Boston Scally and a Peaky ... It’s a sleek, cool and sophisticated style. You can wear it with jeans or a suit.”
photos of musicians at local venues. It’s also to honor his family’s past. “I am mostly English and Irish,” said Gilbert, who writes and captures photos for the aforementioned website. “My dad wore one, my grandfather, and so forth. I think they are comfortable: warm in winter, the right amount of protection from the sun in summer. Now, the Irish are said to have the gift of gab and take great enjoyment over a good craic. It has to be entertaining, otherwise the story won’t be remembered. There’s some hyperbole interjected. After all, what’s a good fish story without “the one that got away.” For me, I was hooked by the storekeeper educating me on the handcrafted Hanna Hat from the County of Donegal. How, Mr. Hanna stitches each hat by hand despite failing eyesight that’s now limited to his peripheral vision. I imagined Mr. Hanna sewing each of the panels together with his head cocked to the side as I handed over my money. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Hats were a ubiquitous article of clothing in the first half of the 20th century. Men and women did not leave the house without a hat; something that wouldn’t change until a young Irish Catholic from Massachusetts ran for president in 1960. Hollywood has a way of influencing fashion, too. I, for one, have always been a hat person and can admit James Garner taught me a thing or two about wearing one in “Murphy’s Romance.” The man who played the old Western gambling man Bret Maverick from 1957 to 1962 knows how to wear a cowboy hat. In the 1985 film, in which he earned an Academy Award nomination, Garner shared how a hat can speak for a man: push the brim back off from your face to show you’re approachable, pull it just over your eyes to warn people off, and if you wear it tilted to the side, well, you’re a joker. “My story started when I needed a prop for a music video. At the time I was still searching for a look that I could go with and would fit in with the band’s sound,” said Chris Brant, of C.K. & The Rising Tide. The Americana rock band is fronted by Curtis Flach, a poet of sorts in the ilk of a young Bob Dylan. “I thought the hat would work perfectly. [I] have never looked back.” Considering the flat hat’s long lineage, it’s likely to stay around longer than a young man’s affinity towards an IPA. You can retire the hipster jokes, because more people like This Strange Paradise’s Zane Agnew reach down their family trees to find something tangible from the distant past. “I just bought my first one in Ireland,” said Agnew, while visiting. “My great great great grandfather — I think that’s right — John McHugh stowed away on a ship and came to American from Ireland in the late 1800s.” APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 7
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ovel coronavirus, known formally as COVID-19, continues to dominate headlines across the globe. This novel coronavirus first made headlines in late 2019 after an outbreak in Wuhan, the sprawling capital city in China’s Hubei province. The virus has since spread beyond China’s borders, leading to school closures and changes in public life, such as the shutting down of professional sports leagues, that many might never have thought they would see in their lifetimes. Despite the relative infancy of COVID-19, doctors have learned much about it, including who might be most at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, early information out of China revealed that some groups are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 than others. Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions are at the greatest risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are the chronic medical conditions that appear to make people especially vulnerable to sickness from COVID-19. How people in at-risk groups can reduce their risk of getting sick It’s important that elderly people and people with chronic medical conditions take their risk for getting sick from COVID-19 seriously, as the virus had already contributed to thousands of deaths by early March 2020. The CDC notes that it is especially important that people at elevated risk take actions to reduce their risk of getting sick with the disease. The following strategies can be part of a proactive approach that may help at-risk people lower their risk of getting sick from COVID-19. • Stock up on health supplies. Contact your physician and arrange to obtain extra necessary medications so you do not have to leave your home should an outbreak occur in your area. If that’s not plausible, the CDC recommends signing up for mail-order medications. Stock up on over-the-counter medications and medical supplies, including everyday items like tissues, so you don’t have to leave the house if an outbreak occurs. • Stock up on groceries. Make sure you have enough groceries on hand so you can stay at home if restrictions on leaving home are put in place during an outbreak. • Embrace the basics. Basic strategies like avoiding people who are sick; washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or spending time in public; avoiding touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.; and avoiding crowds can help to reduce your risk of getting sick from COVID-19. Since the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China in lateDecember 2019, doctors have learned that certain people are especially vulnerable to getting sick from the virus. Such people can take certain steps that may reduce their risk of getting sick. More information about COVID-19 is available at www.cdc.gov.
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Add Your Event to our Monthly Calendar for Older Adults! Does your organization have an event of interest to older adults? If so, we want to know about it! All listings must include date, time, location, contact information and any fees. Please do not exceed 90 words per item listing.
For more information, please call Michael Hallisey at 518-439-4949
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Events must be submitted via email to: halliseym@spotlightnews.com Deadline is the first of the month prior to publication.
Food and Vino
The perfect lunch
G
rilled cheese may be a staple of many children’s diets, but with the substitution of different cheeses for the traditional cheddar or American and the inclusion of other ingredients, grilled cheese can enjoy a gourmet, adult makeover. While it is certainly possible to enjoy grilled cheese on its own, the meal is made even better when paired with a favorite soup. Enjoy these two recipes for the perfect soup and sandwich combination, courtesy of “Real Simple: Dinner Tonight Done!” (Time Home Entertainment) by the Real Simple Kitchens.
Mini Grilled Cheese and Chutney Sandwiches Ingredients: makes 8 servings 12 slices white sandwich bread 12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, thinly sliced 1 cup fruit chutney (such as cranberry, fig or mango) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
Form six sandwiches with the bread, fontina, and chutney. In two batches, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook the sandwiches until the bread is golden and the fontina has melted, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cut each sandwich into quarters before serving.
French Onion Soup
Ingredients: makes 8 servings 10 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
4
pounds onions (about 6 medium), thinly sliced
Kosher salt and black pepper 1
cup dry white wine
8
1⁄2-inch thick slices country bread, halved crosswise if necessary to fit serving bowls
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
1⁄2 pound Gruyère or Swiss cheese, grated (2 cups)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions Heat the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions, 11⁄4 teaspoons salt, and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes.
Add the wine to the pot and cook until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and 6 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat broiler. Place the bread on a broilerproof baking sheet and broil until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Sprinkle with the Gruyère and broil until melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Top the soup with the toasts and sprinkle with the thyme before serving.
Closkey. The tuition was $8 a month — my dad would pay $4 and I would pay $4. The other option was I could By JOSEPH E. RAY guy named George Nugent, transfer to Albany High now an Albany police officer, School. I could go for free was my helper. t the age of 12, I and play sports. I was pretty started helping a I worked the paper route good in basketball and base15 year old with for almost two years. When ball. Yet, all my grade school his afternoon I became a freshman in high friends were at Cardinal Mcpaper route. The name of school (Cardinal McCloskey Closkey. I decided to come the paper was The KnickerHigh School), I tried out and up with half of my tuition. bocker News. His route was made the freshman baseball I knew my dad did not have 105 papers, six days a week. team. George got the route any money to give me to go Each paper cost 42 cents. for himself. out. I already had odd jobs You had to collect each week After the baseball season shoveling snow, cutting grass from the customers, mostly ended, I needed to find a and would do anything else on Saturdays. If you were job. My father was a hardfor spending money, i.e. setlucky, sometimes a customer working man with three ting pins at bowling allies or would give you 50 cents; children. My older sister working at VFW Bingo setsome would only give you 40 went to Vincentian Institute. ting up tables and selling hot cents. My grandfather paid for her dogs. Bingo was a big deal in The way to get a paper tuition. the early ‘60s. route in those days was to When my baby sister Looking back now, I start off helping an older kid came along, my dad was sav- should have gone to Albany with their route. When they ing for a house to get out of High School. Life would turned 16, they would find a small two-bedroom flat. He have been easier and when I other jobs. I got the route told me I had to pay half of met my future wife at 19, she when I was almost 14 and a my tuition at Cardinal Mcgraduated from Albany High
Once a paper person...
A
School the same year that I graduated from Cardinal McCloskey. After I graduated from Cardinal McCloskey, I got a job at General Electric in Albany. I got married, had a little boy and bought a twofamily house. Things changed in a big way. General Electric told me I had to go on nights when I was married for just two years. Neither my wife or I wanted that, so I changed jobs. I got a job at LaSalle School for Boys, which dealt with troubled kids from the state. LaSalle was run by the Christian Brothers, a great group of people. My daughter came along soon after. After some time, the Brothers encouraged me to go to college. They said they would help pay if I agreed to commit to stay with them
Continues on Page 12
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APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 11
A Patriot Remembers
B
Albany Twilight League Pastime
aseball is the American Pastime, sure you’ve heard this phrase. Many have experienced baseball through their early introduction to sports, through their dreams, through their memories. Your fathers and grandfathers have lived Baseball’s American Pastime and now its time to pay it forward. Founded in 1931, the Albany Twilight League is two years shy of being the oldest continuous amateur baseball league in the country. It is the Albany’s Baseball Pastime and the current time for our young high school and collegiate players. Some players move
old in June and the name of Jerry Terry will bring us back to the Twilight glory days. The Albany Twilight League is honoring its 90th season with a commemorative book. A scrap book (over one inch thick) prepared by Richard Barrett and the late Ed Delehanty covered the first 75 years through 2005. We will not match that endeavor but our efforts are to continue Albany’s community pastime so that the league is not a passed time. You may see a future MLB player or a former MLB player’s baseball card in our booklet. Advertising space in our commemorative book is $150 a full 8 x 10 inch page, $100 and
$50 for a half and quarter page. Send advertising or a story to Bill Miles, 8 Criswood Drive, Albany NY 12205 or to me at 17 Glendale Ave Delmar 12054 or fomservice@aol.com. Also for you social media types see albanytwilightleague.com and face book. Remember, “you only become 90 once.” Share the season at ball games at Bleecker Stadium, St. Rose’s Pulmeri Sports Complex or Kelts Field in Waterford. The league has expanded to eight teams and the brand of ball is exciting as I witnessed in the playoffs last August. Thank You and umpiringly yours, Frank.
was too dangerous for me to be climbing on roofs, cutting down trees, etc. Again, God took care of me. My sister-in-law was workfor several years. Little did I step down for health reasons. ing in sales for a newspaper know at the time, I would stay Howard Joyce, the chairman, that is now called, The Spot for over 30 years. I got my told me I achieved more in 518. I got a job at first deliverassociate’s degree from Empire 10 months than some of the ing monthly magazines. Then, State College, followed by my guys who had been there for because delivery people were bachelor’s in arts going to Saint 10 years. For political reasons, leaving, I now have a weekly Rose and SUNY. My wonder- my seat was vacated. I also route in Albany and two magaful wife helped me type my served six years in the National zine routes. Again, the money term papers and corrected my Guard. delivering papers helps me spelling. NO computer back After working 31 years and with family obligations. then — typewriter only — and helping a lot of young boys at At the age of 75, I’m lucky no spell check either. LaSalle School, I was forced to to be with my wonderful Throughout my life, I feel I retire by the new administrafamily. My wife keeps me have helped people in the City tion, a retirement caused by happy and enjoying life. My of Albany. I served as a board health issues. The Brothers granddaughter just graduated, member of the YMCA for 10 were down to just a few and with honors, from Ohio State years; a Democratic Comthe new people in charge were University. She is going on for mittee man for 20 years and business first with the welfare her master’s degree to become served on the Albany Zoning of the boys, second and even a registered nurse, or an RN. Board 18 years. I was also an third. My grandson is a freshman in Albany County legislator for I started a handyman busi- high school and has been on 10 months, filling in for one ness, which lasted six years. I the honor roll since elementary school. I also have another of the members who had to realized at 65 years old that it
part-time job as supervisor of the City of Albany Crossings Guards in the northern part of Albany. Life the title of this story, “Once a paper person, always a paper person.” It helped me pay bills when I was 14 and it’s still helping me now. I keep on working. No retirement from LaSalle, but I did leave with health benefits and knowing I helped a lot of boys go on to better lives. I still see some of them occasionally; a lot are now married with families of their own. When I’m out and about and they see me, they immediately walk over. Sometimes it’s hard for me to recognize them at first, as they have changed from boys to men. Once we connect, the memories come back. They always thank me and that is worth more to me than anything. “God has been good to me.”
From page 11 ...
on to professional leagues and sometimes return to continue their youthful pastime. Let’s keep our Albany Twilight League in our hearts and minds and appreciate our youth trying. As a great coach name Vince Lombardi said “Winning is not everything. The desire to win is. It is the only thing.” This is a very noble concept to cherish so our youth will strive and compete – honestly. Recently, I was introduced to a veteran of the Albany Twilight League and a veteran of WWII through the Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club (exists over 25 years). The player will be 100 years
Frank DeSorbo
Once a paper person
12 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
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APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 13
Light Up Your Life Mariana Figueiro, With $3M NIH Grant, Pushes the Frontiers of Light Therapy
14 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
Provided photos
By
Rebekah Mullaney
Tailored light improves sleep quality, depression and memory
W
ith the support of a recent $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Dr. Mariana Figueiro is perfecting a treatment she developed for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease that helps to regulate sleep and reduce depression — and may even improve working and long-term memory. Dr. Figueiro, the Director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has demonstrated that carefully timed light exposure improves sleep quality, and agitation, while decreasing symptoms of depression. “What we have proven is that light therapy makes a significant difference in the health of older adults living with Alzheimer’s,” she said. “People we talk to are hoping to be able to reduce the number of pills they take every day. And we tend to forget how hard this disease is on caregivers. In addition to helping the patient, finding ways to help caregivers is very important.” In Dr. Figueiro’s new study, she is investigating whether carefully timed light exposure will improve sleep, cognition, and memory in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer’s. She is currently recruiting participants over age 60 for a paid research study. She will provide participants with a lighting system designed to help with sleep and memory. Participants can live at assisted living facilities, nursing homes, retirement communities, or at home with a caregiver. Participants, including caregivers, will be compensated for their time. Sleep–wake disturbances are common in individuals with cognitive impairment. Healthy sleep could improve both working and long-term memory, and in a best-case scenario, prevent onset of Alzheimer’s. Light is the main factor impacting a per-
son’s sleep–wake cycle, telling the body when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Disruption of sleep–wake and rest–activity rhythms are not only consequences of Alzheimer’s but may drive disease pathology. Recent research suggests a bidirectional relationship between sleep disruption and the deposit of amyloid beta, the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Figueiro’s previous research has shown that “tailored lighting” which delivers bright light during the day, especially in the morning, and dim light in the evening before bedtime, significantly improved sleep, and reduced depression and agitation in people living with Alzheimer’s. The flat, constant light found in most homes isn’t strong enough to properly regulate the body’s circadian rhythms. “What’s happening with Alzheimer’s patients is that they are in constant biological darkness when it comes to their circadian systems,” she said. “They have enough light to see, but indoor lighting is typically too weak to contribute to good health.” The “tailored lighting” proposed in the present study could have a significant impact on the quality of life for individuals living with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s. “Tailored lighting, when properly designed to deliver the correct amount of light at the right time, can positively impact health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Figueiro. “We have seen firsthand the many benefits of lighting, but it is important to get the right lighting to see the positive effects.” Dr. Figueiro is among the world’s
Continues on Page 18 APRIL 2020 — CDSENIORSPOTLIGHT.COM 15
Crossword & Crypto Answers on Page 22 Clues Down
CRYPTO F UN
1. One thousand cubic feet (abbr.) 2. Polite interruption sound Clues Across 3. Extremely small amount 4. Very short period of time (abbr.) 1. A way to wound 5. Fires have them 5. Hormone secreted by the 6. Sacred place pituitary gland (abbr.) 7. Island capital 8. Shows the world 8. Volcanic craters 11. Decided 9. Arthur __, Wimbledon champion 13. Indigenous person of 10. Bullfighting maneuver NE Thailand 12. Midway between east and 14. Dough made from corn flour southeast 15. Honors 14. A ceremonial staff 16. Political commentator Coulter 19. Cheap prices 17. Expresses pleasure 23. North Atlantic fish 18. Heavy clubs 24. Oil company 20. Defunct phone company 25. A federally chartered savings bank 21. Algonquian language 26. Paddle 22. Salts 27. Where UK soldiers train 25. Act of the bank 28. One point north of due east 30. Danced 29. Attention-getting 31. Drummer Weinberg 34. Ballplayer’s tool 32. Small goose 35. Sun up in New York 33. Helps evade 36. Where golfers begin 38. Certified public accountant 37. Soviet Socialist Republic 41. Periods of time 39. Represented as walking 43. Kids’ book character (animal) 45. Type of beer 47. Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea 40. Craftsman 41. Unit of force (abbr.) 49. A way to attack 50. Talk radio personality Margery 42. Dueling sword 44. Houston hoopster 55. Whale ship captain 45. Stone building at Mecca 56. Request 46. __ and flows 57. Large underground railstation 47. “Beastmaster” actor Singer in Paris 48. American state 59. BBQ dish 51. Swiss river 60. No (Scottish) 52. U.S. island territory 61. Jewish spiritual leader 53. German physicist 62. Tool used to harvest agave 54. One point east of northeast 63. Explosive 58. Get free of 64. A reward (archaic)
Earth Day
WORD SEARCH
Solve the code to discover words related to the Environment Each number corresponds to a letter. (Hint: 15 = e)
16 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
TREE AIR CLEAN EARTH NATURE PLANET PROTECT APRIL CLIMATE ENERGY OCEAN PLANTS RECYCLE VOLUNTEER WATER BOTTLES COMPOST ENVIRONMENT OXYGEN PLASTIC REDUCE CANS CONSERVATION LAND OZONE POLLUTION REUSE
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From page 15 ...
Light Up Your Life
“What we have proven is that light therapy makes a significant difference in the health of older adults living with Alzheimer’s. People we talk to are hoping to be able to reduce the number of pills they take every day. And we tend to forget how hard this disease is on caregivers. In addition to helping the patient, finding ways to help caregivers is very important.”
— Dr. Mariana Figueiro, Director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
leading experts in the area of light and health, with a focus on bridging science to practical applications aimed at improving human quality of life. She has made a significant impact on this developing field and continues to actively expand her influence through translational research and teaching. She is principal investigator of various research projects, including three R01 grants and a Training Program (T32) grant from the National Institute on Aging and an R01 grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. In 2017 Dr. Figueiro was named Director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, overseeing the entire 30,000-sq.-ft. research center and its faculty and staff.
Participate in a Lighting Research Study
Do you know someone who may benefit from being enrolled in a lighting research study? Dr. Figueiro is recruiting participants over age 60 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer’s for a paid research study, testing a lighting system designed
An exciting new era is coming soon.
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An example of tailored lighting to depict day and nighttime. Such variance in light can impact a person’s sleep–wake cycle. Provided photo to help with sleep and memory. Participants can live at assisted living facilities, nursing homes, retirement communities, or at home with a caregiver. Participants, including caregivers, will be compensated for their time. We are accepting participants on a rolling basis throughout the year. Give us a call. We would love to hear from you! Please contact Barbara Plitnick, R.N., at 518-2767166 or email plitnb@rpi. edu. Visit us on the web
at https://www.lrc.rpi.edu/ ALZ.asp
About the Lighting Research Center
The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the world’s leading center for lighting research and education. Established in 1988 by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the LRC conducts research in light and
Continues on Page 20
• Assisted Living • Memory Care • Enhanced Care • Respite Care
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UPCOMING
Monthly Deadlines May
Deadline:
June
Deadline:
July
Deadline:
August
Deadline:
APR
From page 19 ...
6
Light Up Your Life human health, transportation lighting and safety, solid-state lighting, energy efficiency, and plant health. LRC lighting scientists with multidisciplinary expertise in research, technology, design, and human factors, collaborate with a
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To advertise in one or more of these issues please call:
Denice Mau at 518-439-4940 or email: maud@spotlightnews.com 110510_4
20 SENIOR SPOTLIGHT — APRIL 2020
Provided photo
logical research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and more than 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal Provided photo of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner global network of leading manufacturers and govern- in Physics. With nearly 200 ment agencies, developyears of experience advancing innovative lighting ing scientific and technosolutions for projects that logical knowledge, Rensrange from the Boeing 787 selaer remains focused on Dreamliner to U.S. Navy addressing global challengsubmarines to hospital neo- es with a spirit of ingenuity natal intensive-care units. and collaboration. About Rensselaer Rebekah Mullaney is manager in research comPolytechnic Institute Founded in 1824, Rens- munications at the Lighting selaer Polytechnic Institute Research Center at Rensselaer is America’s first technoPolytechnic Institute.
Social Security Corner
What’s In a Name? How To Change Your Name On Your Social Security Card
A
Social Security number is important because you need it to work, collect Social Security benefits, and receive certain government services. The information on your Social Security card must always be up-to-date and correct. If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order, or any other reason, you must tell us right away so you can get a corrected card. You cannot apply to change your name online. To update your Social Security card, you need to: • Show the required documents, including proof of your
identity. Sometimes you may also need to prove your current U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status. See what documents you need at www. socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm. Under the heading, “Type of Card,” select “Cor-
rected” for a list of the documents you need. • Fill out and print the Application for a Social Security Card at www.socialsecurity. gov/forms/ss-5.pdf. • Take or mail your applica-
Elizabeth Pivonka tion and documents to your local Social Security office. You can use our field office locator at www.socialsecurity.gov/ locator For complete instructions, visit our webpage at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. You can also read the publication Your Social Security Number and Card at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10002. pdf. Remember, never keep your Social Security card in your wallet or purse. Keep it in a safe place to avoid identity theft. Elizabeth Pivonka Social Security Administration
HELP & ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS WHO WANT TO KEEP LIVING SAFELY AT HOME Eddy SeniorCare is a local non-profit that supports older people who want to stay in their homes, and avoid nursing home placement. Our assistance includes many different services, plus help and support for caregivers... and it’s all covered by Medicare and Medicaid. We send nurses, therapists and aides to your home We provide transportation to and from important medical appointments We cover medical care, prescriptions, dentures, hearing aids, eyeglasses and even some over-the-counter drugs Learn More. Call Today. We’ve just expanded to s in serve senior and y an both Alb y ad ct ne he Sc s! ie Count
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Retiring Retirement
Heart Never Given In Vain “I Wanted To Be An Elder At 32”
“W
hen I was 32,” Dr. Perry Sherman says, “I actually thought I wanted to be an elder. I had to wait a couple of decades!” So great was the impact of Iron John and its author Robert Bly’s men’s week on the now 60 year-old Sherman that he craved the wisdom and sturdiness of older men that he had met at the retreat. “A young man thinks he changes the world,” the Delmar psychologist said. “But even at that time, I had already encountered disappointments. For example, I thought my life would have made more of
an impact by then, that I’d be married and that the church community would be using my gifts more.” Sherman, a successful Stealth Bomber engineer at the time, also felt some betrayal from the business and faith communities because many older men were protecting their turf. The Bly retreat offered a sharp contrast because the concept of an “elder” was that of a man who was confident in himself and committed to raising up younger men through what the growing men’s movement termed “initiation.” That process included generous portions of validation and blessings.
“Just when I thought I couldn’t trust older men,” Perry reflects, “I saw sincere guys who taught on the value of betrayal and how it didn’t make them bitter. They grew through it and became older souls.” It was shortly after this time that Sherman made the courageous decision to switch careers and immerse himself into psychology and into the delicate and ancient concepts of masculinity, initiation, femininity and aging. Armed with a new understanding of healthy aging, Sherman no longer feared losing his youth to the cheapened ideal of a fat retirement. Instead, he leaned into his own
Robert LaCosta challenges of being single and all of the humbling that came with starting at the bottom in a new career in a new state in a town called Delmar. With a Ph. D. in hand, he would now discover over the next couple of decades that these difficulties would layer him in humanity, transform him into a tender-hearted counselor and slowly usher him into the coveted role of “Elder.” Robert J. LaCosta’s daily devotional, “Portals to Heaven,” is free by writing to norepcom@ gmail.com . Suggestions for seniors for this column are welcome.
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Health care coverage anywhere With a $0 PPO plan from CDPHP, you can: f See any doctor nationwide that accepts Medicare f Access emergency care anywhere in the world f Receive no-cost health screenings and preventive visits f Have dental, hearing, vision, and prescription drug coverage in one plan
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