MT 55 2021

Spring 2021

Quarterly Guide for Seasoned Montanans

What to expect when visiting Glacier National Park this summer Ticket changes and planning ahead

COVID vaccine

Post 55 work force

Rescue Plan Act mt55mag.com

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the magazine for montanans in their prime

publisher jim strauss

Montana 55 is a special publication of Lee Enterprises and the Missoulian.

Copyright 2021.

For advertising information contact Toni LeBlanc 406-523-5242, or email Toni.LeBlanc@missoulian.com www.mt55mag.com

inside

3 COVID vaccine 4 Post 55 work force 6 Glacier National Park 8 American Rescue Plan Act 12 Rest is important 14 Stopping infections

Stopping infections A young body can fight off most infections pretty easily but, just like everything else as you get older, it becomes harder for your body to keep up and fight off illnesses.

Rest is Important

Rest is not only important for your body but it’s also important for brain and emotional health.

Sleep.org says getting good rest and relaxing your muscles and brain can help restore a sense of calm during times of exhaustion, illness or overexertion.

Stopping infections

Benefits of Sleep

Sleep.org says our brains are dependent on quality sleep, which helps remove toxins that accumulate during the day.

Without sleep, our bodies can’t recover or recharge.

Getting good quality sleep has a positive effect on your brain, emotions and body. Getting good sleep helps your body’s immune system and can help protect your body from disease. Sleep can have a direct effect on how you feel during the day. If you aren’t sleeping well at night, you won’t be able to tackle the day effectively.

Sleep.org says deprivation is linked to lower immunity and increases inflammation, which makes us more susceptible to depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. Sleep also effects your weight and heart health.

Getting enough sleep helps your body regulate appetite and burn more calories.

Getting More Sleep

If you aren’t getting good sleep during the night on a regular basis, there are tips and tricks you can try to get you feeling sleepy quicker and sleeping longer.

Sleep.org shares the following tips on how you can get more sleep during the night.

• Avoid using phones, computers or other devices right before you go to bed.

• Adopt a relaxing pre-sleep ritual to help get your mind and body ready for sleep.

• Exercising during the day will help you feel more tired at night.

• Avoid caffeine or tobacco products before bed.

• Nap less during the day; it can have a direct effect on your sleep schedule.

Get more Rest

Resting during the day can be as beneficial as getting good quality sleep. Adopt a rest routine

to help you find a consistent way to feel more sleepy.

Sleep.org says listening to music, reading or taking a relaxing bath will help you sleep better.

Getting away from your stressful work during the day is also beneficial for you. When work becomes overwhelming, take a few minutes to go for a walk or listen to music away from your desk.

Sleep is so important for all aspects of your health. It’s important to prioritize it and make sure you get the sleep you need to get.

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TOM BAUER, Missoulian

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Winter 2021

A guide to dos and don'ts following COVID vaccination Ashley Nerbovig

S

ome precautions taken as part of the coronavirus pandemic won’t be required this summer for people who are fully vaccinated, but that doesn’t mean people should hang up their masks.

As of April 9, Missoula County’s vaccinated population was at almost 27,000 people or about 27% of the county’s eligible residents. The percentage of residents eligible for their second dose was at about 40%, said Hayley Devlin, lead public information officer for the Missoula City-County Health Department Covid Response.

By the beginning of May, Missoula may be close to reaching herd immunity once 75%

of the population is vaccinated, Devlin said.

The health department is still advising people to take caution when in public spaces and when around people who are not vaccinated. Even though a large number of Missoula’s vulnerable and older populations are more protected, the chances the virus will create a new variant is greater the more people contract the disease, Devlin said.

However vaccinated people, including those older than 55, can resume some of the activities previously paused during the height of the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and the health department.

People are fully vaccinated two weeks after their second

dose in a two-dose series such as for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. For a single dose, such as Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, people also must wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated.

After those two weeks, however, vaccinated people can visit inside either a home or a private setting without a mask with other fully vaccinated people of any age. They can also visit without a mask with one household of unvaccinated people who are not at risk for severe illness.

Fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without a pre- or post travel test, without quarantining after travel. This also applied to some international destinations depending

on the country.

People should still refrain from going maskless to visit people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

People should also continue to avoid medium or large gatherings.

It is important to remember children under the age of 16 are not allowed to be vaccinated until further vaccine testing is completed, Devlin said. This includes people in that age group who are at greater risk of complications from the virus, such as those with autoimmune diseases.

To schedule a vaccination appointment, people can visit: covid19.missoula.co

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Winter 2021

Tips for re-entering the workforce post-55 Ashley Nerbovig

M

ature workers looking for employment don’t need to camouflage as the younger generation in their resumes.

“When you talk about tips for people, we tell them to emphasize the value of being a mature worker,” said Bob Davis, an employment specialist with Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Inc. In January, Easterseals-Goodwill began managing the Senior Community Service Employment Program in Montana. The program offers training opportunities to low-income adults aged 55 and older who want to re-enter the workforce.

Workers who are older than 50 can sometimes worry that ageism will hurt them when applying for jobs, Davis said. But, he thinks society is starting to “embrace older workers a little bit more.”

It is important to stress the average benefits of a mature worker, which include an excellent work ethic, rich life experience and a commitment to stay in one job for more than a couple of years, Davis said.

Technology also shouldn’t hinder someone re-entering the workforce, Davis said.

“We’ve found people learn new technology in their 60s, their

70s and their 80s,” he said.

Through the Senior Community Service Employment Program, people can get on-the-job training at nonprofits, community organizations and in government offices, including tribal governments. The federal and state grants that fund the program pay the trainee’s minimum wage during that time.

The program itself is a huge benefit to communities that can have an extra employee without

having to find the money themselves, said Tina Johnson, assistant vice president of workforce development and behavioral health for Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain.

“It is a huge community enhancement,” Johnson said.

For people who don’t qualify for the Senior Community Service Employment Program, missoulaclasses.com hosts the resources of the Lifelong Learning Center, which is part of the

Missoula County Public Schools’ Adult Education Division. The center offers courses in the medical field, office administration and business management.

A generationally mixed workplace is a benefit for all, Davis said.

“Having younger and older workers brings diverse perspectives and a broader range of experiences that really benefits the employer,” he said.

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Glacier National Park, summer 2021

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

8

Winter 2021

mt55mag.com

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Glacier National Park, summer 2021

TOM BAUER, Missoulian

8

Winter 2021

mt55mag.com

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What to expect when visiting Glacier National Park this summer Ashley Nerbovig

G

lacier National Park’s Goingto-the-Sun road will require a ticket starting Memorial Day weekend and lasting through to Labor Day. The tickets are free but include a $2 processing fee. The new ticketed system is

10 Winter 2021

a temporary measure to help reduce some of the gridlock the park can face during its busiest months, said Gina Kerzman, public affairs officer for Glacier National Park.

The tickets will need to be purchased in addition to other entrance fees, including 7-day passes as well as lifetime or annual senior passes. The tickets are per vehicle,

not per person.

It is unpredictable when Going-to-theSun road will open, but for people looking to visit the park at a more relaxed time, Kerzman recommended coming before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. She added any day before 6 a.m. and after 5 p.m. will be less busy as well. Local tribal members

will also not be required to have a ticket for entry.

Going-to-the-Sun Road entry tickets can only be purchased online and will go on sale through recreation.gov starting at 6 a.m. Thursday, April 29 and then on a rolling 60-day window.

For those who are more spontaneous, some tickets will be reserved and sold 48 hours in advance, Kerzman said. However, all tickets must be bought in advance online. The main benefit of the ticketed system is that people won’t be turned away at the western entrance to the park. The

ticket guarantees people will be able to enter the park.

Glacier will offer more services than last summer, Kerzman said.

Interpretive activities will still be held outdoors this year and the visitor center won’t be open for people to mill around, but some exhibits will be available outside instead, Kerzman said. More campgrounds, including backcountry ones, will also be open this year.

A lot of construction will be going on in and around Glacier this season, Kerzman said. While this is great news and will

result in “much needed improvements,” it may change peoples’ experience, she added.

“People will see this throughout America in our national parks," she said. "Patience is definitely appreciated.”

More information about Going-tothe-Sun road’s new ticketed system can be found at nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ticketedentryfaq.

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12 Winter 2021

American Rescue Plan Act benefits older Americans Ashley Nerbovig

T

he American Rescue Plan Act could benefit older Americans with its investments in health care, financial relief and equity.

The act is a $1.9 trillion stimulus package meant to mitigate some of the financial and physical consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. After the House of Representatives passed the bill on March 10, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said the bill would “greatly benefit Americans 50+.”

President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on March 11.

“The bill includes numerous provisions to help (seniors') health and financial condition,” LeaMond said.

She highlighted the bill’s direct payments, SNAP food assistance benefits as well as meal delivery, and the provided pension relief.

“Importantly, it also includes support for improving infection control in nursing homes and allowing more people to remain in their homes and communities,” LeaMond said.

Justice in Aging, a legal advocacy group for seniors, also released a fact sheet about the benefits of the bill. Grandparents in particular received attention,

with the new law creating a technical assistance center for grandfamilies and kinship families. This will provide training, technical assistance and resources to government programs, community-based organizations, as well as Tribes and Tribal organizations that serve grandfamilies and kinship families in which the primary caregiver is an adult age 55 or older or the child has one or more disabilities.

People receiving Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, railroad retirees and those receiving veterans benefits will automatically receive a $1,400 stimulus payment as part of the bill. Payments are allowed to go to people who live in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, prisons and other institutional settings.

The bill also included $37 million in funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which funds food for low-income individuals over 60 years old.

Another $750 million was directed to nutrition programs under the Older Americans Act. The child tax credit will also benefit grandparents who are raising grandchildren. Grandparents can receive $3,000 per child aged 6-17 or $3,600 per child under the age of 6.

The law also passed $250 million to states to create “strike teams” to improve resident and employee safety in nursing homes. Another $200 million will pay for Health and Human Services to develop and send out protocols to prevent and mitigate COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities.

The Older Americans Act was bolstered with $1.4 billion in increased funding. About $460 million will go toward supportive services, which will include COVID-19 outreach and coordination efforts to address social isolation, according to the Justice in Aging fact sheet.

The law also included $276 million to fund the Elder Justice

Act and $50 million for grants to public transit systems to improve transportation access for older adults and people with disabilities.

The law also provided $20 million for Tribal elders to preserve Native American languages that have diminished due to COVID-19.

“The law provides states, local, tribal, and U.S. territory governments $360 billion in aid and includes a number of additional provisions and investments that will significantly improve access to health care and increase economic security for older adults during the pandemic,” Justice in Aging wrote.

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Rest is important

Rest is Important Rest is not only important for your body but it’s also important for brain and emotional health.

Sleep.org says getting good rest and relaxing your muscles and brain can help restore a sense of calm during times of exhaustion, illness or overexertion.

Getting More Sleep If you aren’t getting good sleep during the night on a regular basis, there are tips and tricks you can try to get you feeling sleepy quicker and sleeping longer.

Sleep.org shares the following tips on how you can get more sleep during the night.

• Avoid using phones, computers or other devices right before you go to bed.

• Adopt a relaxing pre-sleep ritual to help get your mind and body ready for sleep.

• Exercising during the day will help you feel more tired at night.

• Avoid caffeine or tobacco products before bed.

• Nap less during the day; it can have a direct effect on your sleep schedule.

14 Winter 2021

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Benefits of Sleep Sleep.org says our brains are dependent on quality sleep, which helps remove toxins that accumulate during the day. Without sleep, our bodies can’t recover or recharge.

Getting good quality sleep has a positive effect on your brain, emotions and body. Getting good sleep helps your body’s immune system and can help protect your body from disease. Sleep can have a direct effect on how you feel during the day. If you aren’t sleeping well at night, you won’t be able to tackle the day effectively.

Sleep.org says deprivation is linked to lower immunity and increases inflammation, which makes us more susceptible to depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. Sleep also effects your weight and heart health. Getting enough sleep helps your body regulate appetite and burn more calories.

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This project was supported in part by grant numbers 90MP0163 and 90MP0015 from the U.S. Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their finds and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.

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