September 2022 | DC Beacon by The Beacon Newspapers

Join the club — so many options

IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50 More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater WashingtonVOL.34, NO.9 SEPTEMBER 2022 FREE INSIDE…

By Margaret Foster

Even shy people typically feel comfortable meeting new people on the trail, in small groups, said Malayanur, who leads several hikes every month, mostly in Virginia state parks. “One of the good things about hiking is that people can do whatever they prefer. If they want to chat, they can chat. If they want to hike alone, that’s perfectly okay, too.” Hiking together is a low-risk form of exercise. During a group hike, Malayanur pointed out, “people have a way to get out of their homes and into a relatively safe environment — outdoors — without fear of infection.”Thehiking club offers hikes of different levels of strenuousness at least twice a week (annual membership is $5). Despite the group’s name, its hikes occur all over the Washington, D.C. metro area. Most members tend to be “older,” Malayanur said. “We have people in their 70s doing [even difficult] hikes.”

For instance, people with Parkinson’s disease compare notes once a month via a Members of the Northern Virginia Hiking Club pose on a mountaintop after a recent hike. The group offers hikes of various levels of difficulty several times a month throughout the metro area. Joining local social groups — from hiking clubs to knitting circles — can improve one’s mental and physical health. , page 49 Reﬂections.

Of course, not everyone can or wants to go hiking. People with health problems can find common ground in support groups for conditions from diabetes to addiction to dementia.

Overcome challenges together

See CLUBS

The Call Harmony to learn more about our Signature Memory Care Program—Harmony

Your Questions are Unique and So is Our CareUn UniqY Carear HarmonyatChantilly.com571.441.2875 2980 Centreville Road • Herndon, VA 20171 HarmonyatSpringHill.com571.348.0575 8350 Mountain Larkspur Drive • Lorton, VA 22079 ScantoScheduleaTour CLUBHIKINGVIRGINIANORTHERNOFCOURTESYPHOTO ARTS & STYLE The Color Purple shines at the Signature Theatre; plus, books about aging, and Bob Levey on pet sitting page 45 FITNESS & HEALTH 6 k Gender and Alzheimer’s risk k OTC hearing aids on the way LIVING BOLDLY 32 k Newsletter for D.C. residents LAW & MONEY 35 k Are digital coupons unfair? k Ways to save on drugs ADVERTISER DIRECTORY 55 PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE LEISURE & TRAVEL Explore the white-sand beaches and mangrove forests of Florida’s Paradise Coast; plus, “voluntouring” and fall foliage trips page 41

When Mano Malayanur first moved to America from India three decades ago, he struggled to meet people. Then he learned about a new club at the time, the Northern Virginia Hiking Club, which organized group hikes in the area. He joined one hike and has been a member of the club ever“It’ssince.been fantastic. For me, as an immigrant to the U.S., when I joined the club, it helped me find friends, and we do things together. We’ve formed lifelong friendships,” said Malayanur, now in his 60s and the president of the Northern Virginia Hiking Club. We humans are social beings by nature. Indeed, three years ago, scientists announced that loneliness is as bad for our health as smoking cigarettes or being obese. Another large study in 2018 found that loneliness increases the risk of dementia by 40 percent. But it’s not always easy to make connections with others, particularly with COVID still in the Fortunately,background.many clubs and social groups in our area are available to boost both mood and health. Most clubs welcome people of all ages, and regular attendance isn’t required.

The post-festival events will include intimate author signings and discussions, literary-inspired gatherings such as poetry and high tea evenings, children’s story-times and other similar activities.

Visit the community’s Discover y Center at 129 Ellington Boulevard at the Downtown Crown shopping center in Gaithersburg to view its full-size two-bedroom model showcasing the décor and style to be featured in The Carnegie residences. Open daily to the public.

As a Kisco Signature community, The Carnegie will offer residents a curated selection of intellectually stimulating programming, like lectures developed through partnerships with educational institutions and experts in various fields. Even before The Carnegie’s doors officially open in 2024, the Signature community will advance its vision of culture, intellectual growth and enrichment through its Red Carpet Speaker Series®. This exciting program will feature acclaimed individuals – leaders across all manner of genres – to share stories, presentations and discussions that will captivate and entertain audiences. “Our Red Carpet Speaker Series will illustrate The Carnegie’s approach to intellectual programming and offer a glimpse into the type of opportunities our residents will have in pursuit of lifelong learning,” added Smallwood. “As a Kisco Signature community, one of the most important commitments we will make to our residents will be to offer engagement in intellectual passions, including listening to and learning from the stories that renowned speakers, writers and leaders can share with them.”

The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center is a Kisco Signature Senior Living community that will open its doors to residents in 2024, yet it is already a proud supporter of this impressive Gaithersburg gathering.

Dr. Steve Gillon, author and Scholar-in-Residence at The History Channel and a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma. Gillon is one of the nation’s leading experts on modern American history and politics. He has written and edited nearly a dozen books including The New York Times e-book bestseller, “The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the Rivalry that Defined a Generation” (2008), and more recently, “America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr” (2019). Gillon is a frequent contributor to HuffPost and has made appearances on NBC’s “Today Show” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He has also been a contributor to CNN, MSNBC and Fox News as an expert on issues related to modern American history.

RSVP in advance for the first event in the Red Carpet Speaker Series: September 29 | 12:30 PM Lakewood Country Club Ballroom in Rockville

The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center, proud sponsor of the Gaithersburg Book Festival, will feature reading nooks and a curated library

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman and Sarah Pekkanen, author of “The Wife Between Us,” featured at The Carnegie Discovery Center open house in August at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg. Advertisement

This event is complimentary, but registration in advance is required. Complimentary light luncheon and beverages. Complimentary valet parking. To register: 240-213-7383

“At The Carnegie, we are thrilled to join such a passionate, highly motivated city that advocates the unique impact that literature has on our society,” said Gene Smallwood, regional vice president of sales at Kisco. “Our vision and ideals as a Kisco Signature community align perfectly with the Gaithersburg Book Festival, which prompted us to inquire about a partnership with them. We will not only become a festival Title sponsor starting in 2023, but we also will work with its planners to host post-festival functions at our Discovery Center in Downtown Crown, and eventually at The Carnegie community.”

Spectacular Lecture Hall at The Carnegie will feature ongoing educational lectures and entertainment.

To that end, the Gaithersburg Book Festival is a celebration of literary excellence and the books and writers at the heart of it all. The event attracts more than 20,000 attendees each year and is largely supported by volunteers, donations and community sponsors.

“We are so thrilled with the addition of The Carnegie as a sponsor and partner of our Gaithersburg Book Festival,” said Mayor Ashman. “The festival is a result of this community’s love of books, and so it is fitting that The Carnegie, which will offer programming rich in the arts, music and literature, has already joined us as a partner to ensure this remains one of the most celebrated literary events in the country.”

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman conceptualized the book festival when he was a city council member. Ashman teamed with city staff and a group of volunteers to launch the event, which is free to attend and offers programming for all ages.

The beauty of the literary world lies in the glimpses into faraway lands that imaginative authors’ minds provide, as well as intriguing connections made with fascinating characters. Literature opens windows to history, science, politics, technology and more through written works where we learn about inspiring leaders and experts, phenomenal sports figures and brilliant innovators. The list of cerebral benefits and entertainment value offered by literary pursuits is simply endless.

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lifeatthecarnegie.com/eventsorThhTCitWhiti

The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center: Supporting Literary Passions in Gaithersburg

C t iill bee Carnreggie at Washingtoniann Center w l be oppen for residents in Spring 2024.

The festival, which started in 2010, has become one of the nation’s top literary affairs, attracting hundreds of award-winning and best-selling authors, poets and songwriters from across the country.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes at great gift! 3 RED CARPET SPEAKER SERIES ® EVENT The event will begin with a short presentation about The Carnegie, followed by Mr. Gillon’s presentation, and will conclude with a book signing and reception. Visit our Discovery Center at Downtown Crown in Gaithersburg and tour our full-size two-bedroom model showcasing the décor and style featured in The Carnegie residences. Open daily to the public.America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr. (2019) LIFEATTHECARNEGIE.COM/EVENTS 240.213.7383 SEPTEMBER 29 12:30STEVEPM GILLON LAKEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB 13901 GLEN MILL RD ROCKVILLE, MD DUE TO LIMITED SPACE PLEASE RSVP BY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 COMPLIMENTARY LIGHT LUNCHEON WILL BE SERVED. COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING. NEW YORK BESTSELLINGTIMESAUTHOR OF FEATURING DISCOVERY CENTER AT DOWNTOWN CROWN CORNER OF ELLINGTON BLVD. & CROWN PARK AVE. IN GAITHERSBURG The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center presents an exlusive

At the same time, I knew what the cool kids did. Well, the cool musical kids. They played in the marching band and knew how to improvise jazz. I always envied their latter skill theWell,most.in July I participated in a one week “piano camp” (for aging pianists like me) at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore. We reveled in our shared love of classical music, enjoyed trying out the harpsichords, and eagerly learned about Debussy and 21st-century composers.Butone of the highlights of the week was the first class of each day: Jazz Improvisation 101. Wow, I would finally get to learn how to do what the cool kids did! So imagine my surprise when our daily lessons ended up being about scales, chords, inversions, transposing and more. In fact, it quickly became clear that the basics of jazz involve not only knowing and memorizing all those things, but internalizing them to the extent you don’t even have to think about how to play a D minor seventh half-diminished chord in the second inversion. Sheesh! In addition, it turns out that jazz musicians have to be counting all the time. Have you ever wondered how it is that the different players in a jazz trio or quartet know when to start and stop their turns at improv? I always thought there was some secret signal between the players, but no. There’s a strict method to their apparent madness. For example, in the “blues” style, songs are traditionally made up of 12-measure choruses. After playing it all through once, the improv starts, with one performer allowed to go wild, while the rest of the band keeps the beat going while carefully keeping count (and looking totally relaxed, to boot) until it’s another player’sWell,turn.I was dumbfounded. You mean to tell me all those anti-intellectual, pot-smoking, fun-loving jazz musicians in high school spent hours mastering this stuff? I would never have believed it at the time. At Peabody, our five classes on a simple six-note blues melody got us far enough along that, after days of baby steps, we could actually take turns improvising 12 whole measures over a boogie-woogie bass line. We high-fived each other at our “success,” but really, it was pretty pathetic when you think about it. But it was fun, all the same. And it gave us a glimpse into the hard work it takes to make music sound and look effortless, as jazz musicians do. Thinking back on the experience, I see clearly now that there are important life lessons embedded in learning and playing jazz.To get to the point where you can comfortably riff on any melody, you need a firm foundation in the basics. And the more adept you become at mastering the requisite skills, the better you get at cutting loose and being creative. Isn’t that true about almost everything that qualifies as an art or science?

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The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com

My choice goes to Binney & Smith (manufacturers of Crayola crayons) in Easton, PA. The tour is interactive, educational and fun. Bob Bethesda,SweetMD

Dear Editor: Regarding Bob Levey’s aunt’s Cadillac (in your August issue): Too bad you used a photo of a Lincoln. I hope you know the difference in looks.

RichardViaSincoffemail

Architect Frank Gehry no doubt had to master the rules of architecture and engineering before he could design gravity-defying buildings that appear to be made of folded cloth or crushed boxes. Students at cooking schools start out learning to follow recipes closely, develop their sense of taste and learn the technical elements of cooking and baking before they can ultimately create a menu full of delicious concoctions. The same can be said of pilots, fine painters, good doctors and almost any other profession you can think of. Only after mastering the basics are you truly able to take flight creatively. Oh yes, and play some darn good jazz.

CORRECTION: Last month, the wrong contact number was printed in our health study article, “Study of potential Alzheimer’s treatment.” The correct number is (571) 418-0142. We apologize for the error and any inconvenience.

The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Howard County, Md. and Richmond, Va. Readership exceeds 400,000.

Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 55 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

President/Associate Publisher – Judith K. Rosenthal Executive Vice President – Gordon Hasenei Managing Editor – Margaret Foster Art Director – Kyle Gregory Director of Operations – Roger King Advertising Representatives –Dan Kelly, M.K. Phillips, Alan Spiegel Content Manager – Ashley Griffin Editorial Assistant – Tori Cleveland

The IN FOCUS FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

Beacon

Dear Editor: I am sure the excellent August article on factory tours by Ed Perkins will prompt many readers to submit a favorite tour.

Publisher/Editor – Stuart P. Rosenthal

Letters to the editor

Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Readers won’t be surprised to learn that I was a pretty nerdy kid. All right, a very nerdy kid. In addition to being a diligent student and editor of the school newspaper, I was a classical music buff, very fond of Bach and Beethoven even in my early years.

Oh, but there was one thing I definitely didn’t like about music: what my piano teacher called music “theory.” That involved learning the various scales and keys, chord types and their inversions, how to transpose and lots of other complex stuff.

The first car I drove in 1950 was a 1942 Cadillac Series 75 limousine, with 3-speed column shift. I was 15. It was the family car of my 16-year-old friend. In 1952, my dad bought a used 1949 Cadillac 60 Special Fleetwood sedan. What a lovely car. I bought new Cads in later years. Buyers weren’t always thinking status. We and other owners I knew liked the ride, the features, the style, the luxury, the build quality, the roominess, the quiet.

Music lessons

FROM PUBLISHERTHE By Stuart P. Rosenthal

Dear Editor: Can you tell me how I can get a copy of an article from the June/July Beacon or a back issue if the article isn’t available? In August’s “Letters to the editor,” someone commented about an article on writing memoirs, along with a few tips. I want to start writing my memoir. Would love to read the entire article.

Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.

Anne McHenry Silver Spring, MD Ed. Reply: That was our cover story in June, “Write your memoir — with help.” Our back issues (going back several years) are available on our website, www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com. You may also download entire issues and print articles from the website.

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Over-the-counter hearing aids here soon

• Women have stronger immune systems than men.

NEW CARS Latest automobile technologies prevent crashes and save lives

The devices are intended for adults with mild to moderate hearing problems. The FDA estimates that nearly 30 million adults could potentially benefit from a hearing aid, though only about one-fifth of people with hearing problems currently use“[This]one.

For mild-to-moderate loss

• The amyloid plaques that cause Alzheimer’s disease may be part of the brain’s immune system to fight against infections.

The first and most important reason is that women tend to live longer than men. If you look at actuarial life tables, you can see that a baby girl born in 2019 is likely to live five years longer than a baby boy: 81 years versus 76 years. The greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease is age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s disease. For example, out of 1,000 people, the incidence (the number who develop Alzheimer’s each year) depends on age: • 4 out of 1,000 people ages 65 to 74 develop Alzheimer’s each year • 32 out of 1,000 people ages 75 to 84 develop Alzheimer’s each year • 76 out of 1,000 people ages 85 and older develop Alzheimer’s each year. So, one reason that there are more women than men with Alzheimer’s disease is simply that there are more older women than older men living in our society — 5.7 million more of them — and the older you are, the more likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s disease. But that’s not the whole answer.

By Andrew E. Budson, M.D. Did you know that of the 6.2 million people with Alzheimer’s disease who are age 65 or older in this country, almost two-thirds are women? This means that Alzheimer’s disease is almost twice as common in women compared to men. Why is Alzheimer’s disease more common in women?

By combining all of this information, one possible explanation as to why women’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease is greater than men’s — in addition to women living longer — is:

AP See ALZHEIMER’S, page 7

Different from other dementias

New products expected FDA officials said they expect to see increased competition from new manufacturers as well as new products from existing hearing aid makers.

RINGING IN EARS

One clue to the answer to this puzzle is that your chances of developing dementia from a cause other than Alzheimer’s disease is not greater if you are a woman.

Another clue to this puzzle comes from the work of Harvard researchers, who have suggested that amyloid, one component of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, may be deposited in order to fight off infections in the brain. If their suggestion turns out to be correct, we might think of Alzheimer’s disease as a byproduct of our brain’s immune system.

The Aug. 16 announcement follows prodding from medical committees and Congress, which in 2017 instructed the agency to lay out a plan for over-thecounter hearing devices.

For example, the study examining dementia rates in Sweden found that both women and men were equally likely to develop a non-Alzheimer’s dementia as they aged.

The move follows years of pressure from medical experts and consumer advocates to make the devices cheaper and easier to get.

Putting the pieces together

Amyloid may fight infections

The FDA said it changed several parts of its initial proposal in response to public comments, including clarifying how the rule will impact state regulations.

Why women more at risk for Alzheimer’s

The reason for this difference is not entirely clear, but it is clear that the immune system is generally stronger in women than men, and many autoimmune diseases are more common during pregnancy. It may be that women’s stronger immune system developed through evolution to protect the fetus from infections.

• As part of their stronger immune systems, women may end up having more amyloid plaques than men.

The regulation creates a new class of hearing aids that don’t require a medical exam, a prescription and other specialty evaluations, the FDA said.

Five companies make most of the devices sold in the U.S., Carr noted, though about 80 companies are registered with FDA to market the products.

Women live longer

action by the FDA represents a significant milestone in making hearing aids more cost-effective and accessible,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

So, as part of their stronger immune systems, women may end up having more amyloid plaques than men.

There’s no cure for tinnitus, but there are methods to tune it out

Millions of Americans will be able to buy hearing aids without a prescription later this fall, under a long-awaited Food and Drug Administration rule finalized in August.

That’s expected to increase competition and eventually lower costs. The devices will be sold online or over-the-counter at pharmacies and other retail stores.

Similarly, a study based in Taiwan found that one’s chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease over seven years was greater in women compared to men. And a meta-analysis examining the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in Europe found that approximately 13 women out of 1,000 developed Alzheimer’s each year, compared to only seven men. So, women living longer than men cannot be the whole answer as to why women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer’s disease, because even among individuals who are living and the same age, women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men.

Higher autoimmune disease risk

SNEEZY SEASON Taking zinc at the start of a cold may help reduce its severity

GET IT RIGHT Learn the steps you can take to help prevent medication errors

By Matthew Perrone

That rates of Alzheimer’s disease differ by gender, whereas rates of nonAlzheimer’s dementias do not, suggests that there must be a specific interaction between Alzheimer’s disease and gender.

The FDA first proposed the rule last year, and it will take effect in mid-October.

Health 6 Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

The last piece of the puzzle is that women are about twice as likely to have an autoimmune disease compared to men.

Insurance coverage is limited, and Medicare doesn’t pay for hearing aids, only diagnostic tests.

“The requirement to see a specialist was not only a burden and an annoyance for many consumers, but it actually created a competitive barrier to entry,” said Brian Deese, a White House economics adviser.

Deese cited government estimates that Americans could eventually save as much as $2,800 per pair. But FDA officials cautioned against predicting the size of savings or how quickly they might arrive, noting much will depend on when manufacturers launch products and how they price them.

Higher risk in women Your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease late in life are somewhat greater if you are a woman than a man. One study followed 16,926 people in Sweden and found that, beginning around age 80, women were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease than men of the same age.

The new over-the-counter status won’t apply to devices for more severe hearing loss, which will remain prescription only. Should be more affordable Cost is a big obstacle now. Americans can pay more than $5,000 for a pair of state-of-the-art hearing aids, between the device and professional fitting services. Medical exams and fittings account for about two-thirds of hearing aids’ cost, according to Kate Carr, president of the Hearing Industries Association, which represents manufacturers.

“Given that this has been discussed for five years now, I suspect businesses have had the opportunity to think about their plans and prepare for this,” Carr said.

Consumer electronic companies for years have produced lower-cost “personal sound amplification” devices, but they do not undergo FDA review; and U.S. regulations bar them from being marketed as hearing aids.

Fitness &

Alzheimer’s From page 6 EVENT FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING Are you deaf or hard of hearing? The

(V), (703) 352-9056 (TTY). BEACON BITS Sept. 17

© 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC) is hosting a event, at the Springfield Town Center Springfield, VA, Sat., Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will include and more. more visit email or call (703) 352-9055 106

Exhibitors

free outreach

• Sleep well — and clean those Alzheimer’s plaques out of your brain.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 7 ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ FREE INFORMATION ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★FREEINFORMATION★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE ★ INFORMATIONFREE MAIL OR FAX FOR FREE INFORMATION For free materials on housing communities and health studies, just complete and clip this coupon and mail or fax it to the Beacon. E-mail_________________________________________________________________PhoneCity______________________________________State______Zip________________Address_______________________________________________________________Name_________________________________________________(day)__________________________(evening)_________________________ Please mail this form to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 or fax to (301) 949-8966 WB9/22 ✃ Housing Communities District of Columbia ❏ Chevy Chase House (See ad on page 23) ❏ Vida Senior Residences (See ad on page 19) Maryland ❏ Ashby Ponds/Erickson (See ad on page 12) ❏ Brooke Grove (See ad on page 17) ❏ Brookfield Residential (See ad on page 10) ❏ Cadence Living Olney (See ad on page 14) ❏ Carnegie at Washingtonian Center (See ads on pages 2 & 3) ❏ Churchill Senior Living (See ad on page 21) ❏ Covenant House (See ad on page 19) ❏ Emerson House (See ad on page 19) ❏ Falcon’s Landing (See ad on page 13) ❏ HIP Home Sharing (See ad on page 36) ❏ Homecrest House (See ad on page 23) ❏ Homewood at Frederick (See ad on page 25) ❏ Maplewood Park Place (See ad on page 9) ❏ Park View Bladensburg (See ad on page 29) ❏ Park View Columbia (See ad on page 29) ❏ Park View Emerson (See ad on page 29) ❏ Park View Laurel (See ad on page 29) ❏ Riderwood (See ads on pages 12) Virginia ❏ Ashby Ponds (See ads on pages 12) ❏ Brightview Senior Living (See ad on page 11) ❏ Cadence at Lansdowne (See ad on page 10) ❏ Culpepper Garden (See ad on page 25) ❏ Falcons Landing (See ad on page 25) ❏ Greenspring (See ad on page 12) ❏ Harmony Senior Living (See ad on page 1) ❏ Lockwood House (See ad on page 19) ❏ Sommerset (See ad on page 19) ❏ Tribute at the Glen (See ad on page 14) ❏ Verso Founders Row (See ad on page 7) Health Studies ❏ Hearing Study (UMD) (See ad on page 27) ❏ Fatigue Studies (NIH) (See article on page 27) ❏ VANIR (RSV) Study (See ad on page 27) (888) 563 2450 | VERSOFOUNDERSROW.COM Welcome to a Whole New Falls Church! Verso Founders Row is an exclusive and intimate-sized rental community for adults 55+. Experience maintenance-free living in a vibrant, walkable location steps away from everything Falls Church has to offer. Make friends and neighbors that make every day better than the last! LIVE 1 MONTH FREE OR MOVE FOR FREE!* • Because they may have more amyloid plaques than men, this theory may explain why women end up having a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Please note the words “may” that I have used. Although the ideas I have presented here are logical, coherent and form the basis of a good theory, they have not yet been proven to be correct. More research is needed.Thebottom line: You are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over your lifetime if you are a woman, because women live longer than men and, possibly, because women have stronger immune systems compared to men. How to reduce your risk Does that mean that if you’re a woman, you’re more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and there’s nothing you can do aboutNotit?at all! You can do many things to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s today, including:•Engage in aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, jogging, biking, swimming or aerobic classes at least 30 minutes per day, five days per week.

• Participate in social activities and novel, cognitively stimulating activities.

For

boleary@nvrc.org

audiologists, cochlear implant companies, ASL instructors, relay services, captioning apps, deaf crafters, support groups, local services

“Celebrate Communication,”

Andrew E. Budson, M.D., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications.

information,

and

nvrc.org,

• Eat a Mediterranean menu of foods including fish, olive oil, avocados, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains and poultry. Eat other foods sparingly.

Other medication errors include confusing eardrops and eyedrops, chewing nonchewable medications, cutting up pills (that shouldn’t be cut), and taking the wrong dose. Don’t assume chewing a pill is as good as swallowing it. Some medications should never be chewed, cut or crushed. Doing so can change how the body absorbs them.

• What should I do if I accidentally take more than the recommended dose?

• any medications that you’re allergic to or that have caused problems in the past.

By Mayo Clinic Staff Dear Mayo Clinic: My friend’s father recently died from a medication error. One of his prescriptions was filled incorrectly and caused a fatal reaction. I take multiple medications for various conditions. How can I reduce my risk for a medication error?

• What is the dose? How long should I take it? • What should I do if I miss a dose?

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To avoid these kinds of problems, it is important to store medications in their original labeled containers and thoroughly read the instructions on how to take medications.

It is important to share the following information:•thename and strength of all medications you’re taking and when you take them, including prescriptions, herbs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines and anything received intravenously, including diagnostic and contrast agents, radioactive medications, feeding tube supplements, and blood products.

Ensuring an accurate dose of liquid medication is critical, so avoid using spoons in your silverware drawer versus a syringe or dose cup, both of which are available at most pharmacies.

How to reduce risk of medication errors

Also, keep a current list of all your medications, including nonprescription drugs and supplements, in your wallet, purse or other safe location. Being prepared and informed are the best ways to avoid health concerns.

Examples of common errors

An example of a medication error is taking an over-the-counter product that contains acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, when you’re already taking a prescription pain medicine that contains acetaminophen. This mistake could cause you to take more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, putting yourself at risk of liver damage.

• What are the possible side effects? What should I do if they occur?

Another example of a possible medication error is taking a depression medication called fluoxetine (Prozac or Sarafem) with a migraine drug called sumatriptan (Imitrex). Both medicines affect levels of a brain chemical called serotonin. Taking them together can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of the dangerous drug interaction include confusion, agitation, rapid heartbeat and increased body temperature, among others.

How to avoid problems Be proactive and review your medications regularly, especially when you start a newAskmedication.yourphysician or pharmacist these questions:•What is the brand or generic name of the•medication?Whatisthe medication supposed to do? How long will it be until I see results?

• Will this new medication interfere with my other medications? If so, how? Your healthcare provider can help prevent medication errors by using a computer to enter and print, or digitally send, prescriptions to the pharmacy, instead of writing them out by hand. When you pick up a prescription, check that it’s the one your healthcare provider ordered. It also helps to save the information sheets that come with your medications. Discuss meds with doctors Another way to reduce the risk of a medication error is to reconcile your medications during each visit with your healthcare provider. This involves comparing the list of medications your healthcare provider has with the list of medications you are taking, which can help avoid medication mistakes.

• whether you have any new chronic or serious health problems.

— Compiled by Mayo Clinic staff Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org.

• Are there any foods, drinks, other medications or activities I should avoid while taking this medicine?

A: Medication errors refer to mistakes in prescribing and dispensing medications. These errors injure hundreds of thousands of people every year in the U.S. Common causes of medication errors include drug names that sound alike, medications that look alike, and medical abbreviations. Most medication errors can be prevented. Knowledge is your best defense against medication errors. One of the best ways to reduce your risk of a medication error is to take an active role in your healthcare. Learn about the medications you take, including possible side effects. Never hesitate to ask questions or share concerns with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Medication errors can happen to anyone in any place, including your home and at your healthcare provider’s office, as well as a hospital, pharmacy or senior living facility.

• being bedridden for long periods because of surgery or illness • sitting for long periods — even three to four hours — in a car, plane or train • getting too little activity and sitting too a medication that promotes blood blood clots also increases with older age, a family history of DVT, a previous DVT, cancer, certain genes, heart failure, obesity, pregnancy, and use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. Here are ways to help prevent getting a clot when you’re stuck in situations that increase your risk, such as a long car ride:

• Stretch your legs. Get up every hour or two and stretch your calves or move your ankles back and forth repeatedly. The calf muscles act like pumps and propel blood through the veins.

Old

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• Pay attention to your position. Avoid crossing your legs, and periodically change your position while seated.

By Howard LeWine, M.D.

• Move your legs while you’re lying down. Bend your knees, or point and flex your feet.

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If you worry that you may have a DVT, call your doctor for medical advice or go to urgent care. The usual symptoms include swelling (edema) in just one leg, leg pain, and a sensation of heaviness in the leg, particularly when you’ve been standing.

Oct. 2

On a plane, train or bus, sit in an aisle seat so you can easily get up and move around every few hours.

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Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, see health.harvard.edu. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. new home is ready: Park Place

• Wear compression stockings . They’ll help prevent swelling, and keep blood from pooling in the legs.

• Stay hydrated. Avoid excessive alcohol intake, and drink lots of water.

Q: A friend was just diagnosed with a blood clot in the lung. She is very healthy. What can I do to prevent this from happening to me? A: It sounds like your friend had a pulmonary embolism. Most blood clots in the lung start with a blood clot that forms in a leg vein, known as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.Preventing a DVT is the best way to avoid a pulmonary embolism, a serious, life-threatening condition. If blood in the deep leg veins doesn’t move fast enough, or if you’re prone to blood clots, a DVT can develop.

Common blood clot triggers include:

If you also have shortness of breath or chest pain, go to the emergency department immediately to get an evaluation for a possible pulmonary embolism.

• Get an aisle seat when traveling.

Yourclottingriskfor

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By Lauran Neergaard

And Manson said more research is needed to tell if there are additional highrisk groups who might benefit.

55+

To address conflicting scientific reports, Brigham and Woman’s preventive medicine chief Dr. JoAnn Manson started the largest study of its type to track a variety of health outcomes in nearly 26,000 generally healthy Americans in their 50s or older.

UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA

The newest findings — added to other trials with similar results — should end that debate, wrote Drs. Steven Cummings of California Pacific Medical Center and Clifford Rosen of Maine Medical Center Research Institute in a commentary in the medical“Peoplejournal.should stop taking vitamin D supplements to prevent major diseases” — and doctors should stop the routine screenings that fuel concern, the pair concluded. They weren’t involved in the latest study.

•

New doubts on high-dose vitamin D pills

More research suggests it’s time to abandon the craze over vitamin D. Taking high doses of “the sunshine vitamin” doesn’t reduce the risk of broken bones in generally healthy older Americans, researchers reported last month in the New England Journal of Medicine. It’s the latest in a string of disappointments about a nutrient once hoped to have wideranging protective effects. That same study of nearly 26,000 people already had found that popping lots of vitamin D pills didn’t prevent heart disease, cancer or memory loss, either. And while getting enough vitamin D is important for strong bones, “more is not better,” said Dr. Meryl LeBoff of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the study’s lead author. An estimated one-third of Americans 60 and older take the supplements, and more than 10 million blood tests for vitamin D levels are performed annually — despite years of controversy over whether the average older adult needs either.

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Barry Gordon, an expert on memory and memory disorders, will discuss ways to delay, prevent and mitigate dementia. He’ll also discuss when to be concerned, and provide information on future treatments and prevention. The session will take place Thurs., Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. online through Zoom. Tickets cost $30 for members; $35 for non-members. For more info, visit bit.ly/UnderstandDementia or call (202) 633-3030.

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Sept. 29

The supplements didn’t reduce the risk of broken hips or other bones, LeBoff reported in the published study. While vitamin D and calcium work best together, she said even the 20% of study participants who also took a calcium supplement didn’t benefit. Nor did the small number of study participants who had low blood levels of vitamin D. Osteoporosis is another matter

—AP

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Overall, “these findings overturn dogma and cast doubt on the value of routine screening for vitamin D blood levels and blanket recommendations for supplementation,” Manson said. “Spending time outdoors, being physically active and having a heart-healthy diet will lead to greater gains in health” for most people.

What amount is right? Just how much vitamin D should people get? The U.S. recommends 600 to 800 international units a day to ensure that everyone, young and old, gets enough. While our skin makes vitamin D from sun exposure, that can be tougher in winter. Milk and certain other foods are fortified with the nutrient to help. The bigger question was whether more than that recommended amount might work better to prevent fractures or maybe other disorders, too.

The latest results compare bone fractures in those who took either a high dose — 2,000 international units of the most active form of vitamin D, called D-3 — or dummy pills every day for five years.

•

BEACON BITS

•

However, LeBoff cautioned that the study didn’t include people who may require supplements because of bone-thinning osteoporosis or other disorders, or those with severe vitamin D deficiencies.

CadenceAtLansdowne.com/Beacon

•

Avoid pricey personalized supplements

Several online companies, promise to tailor supplements to your specific health needs. But they differ greatly in how they determine your individual needs and in the supplements they offer to meet those needs.

Diagnosis via quick quiz

The price for a month’s supply, which can be a single pill or a daily packet of pills, can range anywhere from about $30 to $100, but some companies offer a deep discount on your first order. You can order a one-month supply or set up a subscription, where your pills are delivered monthly. While some personalized supplement companies offer the support of a healthcare professional, including a registered dietitian, most do not. DNA tests are also offered by a couple of the companies for about $150 to $200 to “further personalize” recommendations. But if you’ve already had DNA analysis done, say by a company like 23andMe, you can upload that information instead. However, there is currently no research to show that a DNA test provides a reliable basis for selecting supplements. There’s no question that your medical history and family background contribute to your nutrient needs. But the study of how your DNA affects those needs — called nutrigenomics — is still in its infancy.

The idea of having vitamin supplements formulated to meet your specific nutrient needs is appealing. Are custom supplements truly beneficial and are they worth the price, which tends to be greater than you might find at the local drugstore or health food store?

The quick quizzes typically ask about everything from whether or not you practice intermittent fasting to whether you work out on a regular basis, as well as questions about your sleep, energy level and digestive health. Once you’ve answered the questions, your specific recommendations are generated within seconds.

By Densie Webb

The bottom line There is no evidence to date that personalized vitamins offer a health advantage. In addition, the FDA doesn’t closely monitor or regulate personalized vitamin companies. Neither do they regulate overthe-counter supplements, unless a safety issue arises. Then the FDA has the author-

The supplements provided by these companies include vitamins, minerals, herbal blends, probiotics, omega-3s, protein powders, collagen and electrolytes.

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To determine which supplements are right for you, most companies offer an online quiz that asks questions about your medical history and your current health status.

ity to issue a recall. Your best bet? Consult with a registered dietitian and check with your healthcare provider before taking any of these supplements, especially if you’re currently taking prescription medications.

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Why are we growing stem cells in space?

By Laura Ungar Researcher Dhruv Sareen’s own stem cells are now orbiting the Earth. The mission? To test whether they’ll grow better in zeroScientistsgravity. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles are trying to find new ways to produce huge batches of a type of stem cell that can generate nearly any other type of cell in the body — and potentially be used to make treatments for many diseases. The cells arrived in July at the International Space Station on a supply ship. “I don’t think I would be able to pay whatever it costs now” to take a private ride to space, Sareen said. “At least a part of me in cells can go up!” The experiment is the latest research project that involves shooting stem cells into space. Some, like this one, aim to overcome the terrestrial difficulty of mass producing the cells. Others explore how space travel impacts the cells in the body. And some help us better understand diseases such as cancer. “By pushing the boundaries like this, it’s knowledge and it’s science and it’s learning,” said Clive Svendsen, executive director of Cedars-Sinai’s Regenerative Medicine Institute. A multi-nation effort Six earlier projects from the U.S., China and Italy sent up various types of stem cells — including his team’s study of the effects of microgravity on cell-level heart function, said Dr. Joseph Wu of Stanford University, who directs the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. Wu helped coordinate a series of programs on space-based stem cell research last year. Earthly applications of much of this research may be a ways off. At this point, the only stem cell-based products approved by the Food and Drug Administration contain blood-forming stem cells from umbilical cord blood for patients with blood disorders such as certain cases of lymphoma. There are no approved therapies using the kind of stem cells being sent to space or others derived from them, said Jeffrey Millman, a biomedical engineering expert at Washington University in St. Louis. But clinical trials underway involving stem cells target conditions such as macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease and heart attack damage. And Millman is involved in research that could lead to a new approach for treating Type 1 diabetes. Space solves the gravity problem Scientists see great promise in stem cells. That promise is tempered by a frustrating earthly problem: The planet’s gravity makes it tough to grow the vast quantities of cells necessary for future therapies that may require more than a billion per patient.“With current technology right now, even if the FDA instantly approved any of these therapies, we don’t have the capacity to manufacture” what’s needed, Millman said. The issue? In large bioreactors, the cells need to be stirred vigorously or they clump or fall to the bottom of the tank, Millman said. The stress can cause most cells to die. “In zero G, there’s no force on the cells, so they can just grow in a different way,” Svendsen said. The Cedars-Sinai team has sent up what are called induced pluripotent stem cells. Many scientists consider them the perfect starting materials for all sorts of personalized, cell-based treatments. They carry a patient’s own DNA, and their versatility makes them similar to em-

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A: Skin tags are common and, as in your situation, they can become even more common as people age. It is not known what causes skin tags, but the good news is they are not cancerous and do not pose other health concerns.

TAGS, page

Skin tags aren’t harmful; can be removed

By Jason Sluzevich, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: I have several unsightly skin tags on different areas of my body. As I age, I notice more of these appearing out of nowhere.Whatare skin tags, and are they harmful? Can I do something to get rid of them myself, or do I need to see a dermatologist?

The technique for removing skin tags is simple and usually effective. To avoid unnecessary health risks, however, skin tag removal should be performed under the guidance of a Occasionally,physician.anophthalmologist may have to remove skin tags close to an eyelid. It is not recommended that people attempt home remedies. Skin tags — also called acrochordons, soft fibromas or fibroepithelial polyps — are small noncancerous (benign), skin growths. Usually, they are flesh-colored bumps of tissue connected to the skin’s surface by a narrow stalk. The color, texture, size and width of the base can vary. It may be valuable to talk to a dermatologist about the growths to diagnose whether you have skin tags or another skin disorder that can mimic the appearance of a skin tag. These include benign conditions such as moles, warts and seborSKIN 16 bryonic stem cells, only they are reprogrammed from adults’ skin or blood cells. For their experiment, which is being funded by NASA, a shoebox-sized container holds bags filled with spheres of cells and all of the pumps and solutions needed to keep them alive for four weeks. The cargo will also include neural stem cells originating from Svendsen. The scientists used stem cells derived from their own white blood cells because it was easy for them to give consent. They will run the experiment remotely with a box of cells on Earth for comparison. They’ll get the space experiment back in five weeks or so, when it returns in the same SpaceX capsule.

14 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON See

AP Stem cells From page 12

The work is designed to pave the way for more NASA-funded research. If they are able to figure out how to make billions of cells in orbit, Svendsen said, “the impact could be huge.” Research to keep astronauts well During the same cargo launch, researchers from the University of California, San Diego, sent blood stem cells to the space station, a repeat of an experiment they did last year. They want to find out if low Earth orbit induces faster aging in the cells, leading to problems that set the stage for precancerous changes. One goal is to protect astronauts’Afshinhealth.Beheshti, a researcher at NASA Ames Research Center, said scientists are just beginning to understand some of the risks of space travel. “There’s more unknowns in space than there are knowns,” he said. “Any new type of experiment is going to shed light on how the body responds to the space environment.”

“The sensitivity knobs are turned up so high that neurons begin to respond to the activity of other nearby neurons. This creates the perception of a sound that does not exist in the physical environment. “It’s a classic example of a feedback loop, similar to the squeal of a microphone when it is too close to a speaker,” Polley said. At times, everyone experiences the perception of a phantom sound. If it only lasts fora few seconds or minutes, it’s nothing to worry about. However, if it pulsates in sync with your heart rate, it’s definitely something to get checked out by a physician, Polley said.

If it’s a relatively continuous sound, you should see an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ear/nose/throat specialist). Sound therapy may help There is no cure for tinnitus, but it can become less noticeable over time. Still, there are ways to ease symptoms and help tune out the noise and minimize its impact.

By Matthew Solan, Harvard Health Blog

That recurring sound that you hear but nobody else does? It’s not all in your head. Well, not exactly. You may be one of the estimated 50 million-plus people who suffer from tinnitus (pronounced TIN-i-tus).

Treatments are a trial-and-error approach, as they work for some people but not others. One often-suggested strategy is sound therapy. It uses external noise to alter your perception of or reaction to tinnitus.Research suggests sound therapy can effectively suppress tinnitus in some people. Two common types of sound therapy are masking and habituation.

The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating.

The mysterious condition causes a sound in the head with no external source. For many it’s a high-pitched ringing, while for others it’s whistling, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or even shrieking.

Tinnitus also can be a symptom of Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the balance mechanism in the inner ear. Even old-fashioned aging can lead to tinnitus, which is more common in people 55 and over. As people get older, the auditory nerve connecting the ear to the brain starts to fray, diminishing normal sounds. “Neurons in areas of the brain that process sound make up for this loss of input by increasing their sensitivity,” said Daniel Polley, director of the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

Have ringing or humming in your ears?

• Musculoskeletal factors. Jaw clenching, tooth grinding, prior injury or muscle tension in the neck can sometimes make tinnitus more noticeable. If tight muscles are part of the problem, massage therapy may help relieve it.

some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can be used to mask tinnitus by turning up the volume on outside noises. This works especially well when hearing loss and tinnitus occur within the same frequency range, according to the American Tinnitus Association.•Habituation. Also known as tinnitus retraining therapy, this process trains your brain to become more accustomed to tinnitus.Here, you listen to noise similar to your tinnitus sound for long periods. Eventually your brain ignores the tone, along with the tinnitus sound. It’s similar to how you eventually don’t think about how glasses feel on your nose.

• Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, like white noise, nature sounds or ambient sounds, to mask tinnitus noise or distract attention away from it. Listening to sound machines or music through headphones or other device scan offer temporary breaks from the perception of tinnitus. Household items like electric fans, radios and TVs also can help. Many people with tinnitus also have

One approach to managing this condition is different forms of sound therapy intended to help people tune out the internal soundtrack of tinnitus. What causes the condition? There are many possible causes of tinnitus. Long-term exposure to loud noises is often blamed. But other sources include middle ear problems, such as an infection, a tumor or cyst pinching nerves in the ear, or something as simple as earwax buildup.

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The therapy is done with guidance from a specialist, and the time frame varies per person, usually anywhere from 12 to 24 months. Other possible causes Additional approaches may help. Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor also may recommend addressing issues like these that could contribute to your tinnitus:

You may be able to reduce the impact of tinnitus by treating conditions like depression, anxiety and insomnia.

In some cases, after removal, a specimen may be submitted to a pathology laboratory to rule out the possibility of skin cancer.

The tags are harmless, but they won’t go away without treatment. Reasons for treatment include irritation of a skin tag or if you don’t like the way the skin tag looks.

With freezing or burning, the skin tag may require a short time to fall off, and these procedures have a risk of skin discoloration — darkening or lightening — following the Sometimes,procedure.repeattreatments are necessary if the tag doesn’t fall off or it grows back, or if new tags grow in other areas.

• Medication. Tinnitus can be a side effect of many medications, especially when taken at higher doses. These include aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and certain antidepressants. The problem often goes away when the drug is reduced or discontinued. Matthew Solan is executive editor at Harvard Men’s Health Watch. © 2022 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

rheic keratoses, as well as malignant skin cancers, including melanomas.

What causes them?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to minimize the risk of developing skin tags. Most skin tags don’t cause symptoms, unless they are repeatedly irritated by rubbing against jewelry, clothing or other items.

• Underlying health conditions

Also, in rare cases, development of multiple skin tags may be a sign of an underlying hormonal or endocrine syndrome, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or acromegaly. So medical evaluation is always recommended before treatment.

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— Jason Sluzevich, M.D., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida

Ways to have tags removed

• Negative thinking. Adopting cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis to redirect negative thoughts and emotions linked to tinnitus may also help ease symptoms.

If the diagnosis is a benign skin tag, treatments include removal with sterile surgical scissors, freezing with liquid nitrogen, and electrical burning, or cautery. These treatments often can be completed with minimal discomfort. Small tags usually are removed easily without anesthesia, while larger growths may require some local anesthesia prior to removal. For multiple tags, applying an anesthetic cream before the procedure may help. If the skin tag is large or has a broad base, a physician may decide that removal by surgical excision is necessary. Removal of skin tags is not completely without risk. A skin tag can be removed immediately in the office with surgical scissors or excision, but minor bleeding or a local infection could occur.

If you’re interested in having skin tags removed, talk to your primary healthcare provider about the best option for you. Perhaps the condition can be treated during an office visit. Or you may be referred to a dermatologist for evaluation. Simple, effective treatments are available.

Friction can play a role in the development of skin tags. Commonly, they are located where skin rubs against skin or clothing.

Frequently, they develop on the neck, underarms and eyelids, as well as within body folds, such as under the breasts or in the groin area. In some cases, skin tags seem to be associated with obesity, and genetic factors also appear to play a role.

Tuesday, September 27 10:30 – 11:45 A.m. Living well webinar VIA ZOOM: “Healthy Hip & Knee Habits” If you’ve ever experienced knee or hip pain, you know how tentative it makes you feel when attempting simple activities such as crouching or walking down the stairs. Explore common causes of joint pain and the steps you can take to reduce that pain and learn exercises you can do at home to lessen the likelihood of further injury. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, this confidential group is designed for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Learn techniques and exercises to improve balance and reduce your risk of falls.

Register as indicated below or contact Toni Davis at tdavis@bgf.org with questions.R egisteras indicated below orcont ac t ToniDav isat td av is@bg f.or gw ith quest iono Tind t a org ns .

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By Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, M.D., Ph.D., Dear Mayo Clinic: I have bad arthritis in my elbow. After several failed surgeries, I have been told that my only option is elbow replacement. I’ve heard others say that elbow replacements do not work. Does Mayo Clinic have experience with elbow replacements?

Traditionally, elbow replacement has been reported to lead to complications more often than replacements of other joints, like the hip or knee. However, modern elbow replacements provide a reliable solution for many patients, and the complication rate with Mayo Clinic patients has decreased.

First and foremost, it is important to make sure your elbow is ready for replacement. Pain and motion in arthritic elbows can be improved tremendously using an alternative procedure called arthroscopic osteocapsular arthroplasty. A camera is inserted in the joint and instruments are introduced through small skin cuts to essentially clean the joint. This procedure allows the surgeon to remove bone spurs, fragments of bone or cartilage, and inflamed tissue.

A: The surgeons at Mayo Clinic are considered world experts in elbow replacement.

Typically, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia through an incision in the back of the elbow. The bones in the elbow are prepared to receive the implants, which are fixed with bone cement.

Unfortunately, in many circumstances the elbow is severely damaged. Elbow replacement is the best option in these cases.

Complications to watch for include infection, nerve injury, tendon injury, and implant wear or loosening. Infection is particularly worrisome in people with rheumatoid arthritis who take medications that affect the immune system.Every effort is made at Mayo Clinic to prevent infection, including careful evaluation of the elbow for possible occult infection when needed, use of antibiotics locally in the wound in addition to through an IV, and meticulous care of the surgical wound. Complete nerve palsy is a rare complication of elbow replacement. However, one of the nerves of the arm — the ulnar nerve — is close to the joint. This nerve is sensitive, and some patients may experience partial loss of feeling or tingling in the ring and small fingers for a few months after surgery. Sometimes this loss can be permanent. To access the elbow joint, the triceps muscle or tendon oftentimes is detached from the bone or divided at the time of replacement. The triceps is reattached or repaired at the end of the procedure, and it heals in most, but not all, patients. One major advance in Mayo Clinic’s practice has been to develop alternative ways to deal with the triceps at the time of the replacement to minimize weakness. Patients seldom disappointed Finally, like other replacements, elbow implants are mechanical devices that are subject to wear and tear after years of use. Luckily, higher-performance implants are available that likely will last much longer. However, common sense would suggest avoiding use of the replaced elbow for high-demand activities, such as weight training or hard manual labor, if possible.

The good news is that people who suffer with pain and stiffness due to severe elbow arthritis are seldom disappointed with the results of elbow replacement: Pain goes away, and movement allows most activities to be Theperformed.keyforsuccess is to place your confidence in a surgeon who performs this procedure regularly and has developed techniques to minimize complications. An elbow replacement is a wonderful procedure for those who need it, and it can provide significant improvement in quality of life from the effects of arthritis.

Replacing the elbow joint Three bones form part of the elbow joint: the arm bone, also known as the humerus; and the two bones in the forearm, the radius and ulna. The ulna and the humerus form a hingelike joint for elbow bending and straightening. The radius supports the wrist and helps the palm of the hand rotate up and down. Elbow replacements provide a new joint between the humerus and the ulna. In certain circumstances, the upper end of the radius, the radial head, is also replaced to avoid any long-term complications.

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Modern elbow replacements are reliable

A high-quality plastic liner forms the new joint against metal. Once the wound is healed, it takes about three months of physical therapy to restore elbow motion, and most patients’ pain completely resolves.

Possible complications

The 164 participants in this study were all considered overweight or obese, and had just finished a weight loss trial to lose 12% of their body weight.

The study participants received food prepared for them for 20 weeks. They had their blood measured for a number of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and a lipoprotein insulin resistance (LPIR) score was calculated using a number of blood markers to reflect the risk for cardiovascular disease. (LPIR is a score that measures both insulin resistance and abnormal blood cholesterol all in one number, and it is used for research purposes.)

• High carbohydrate (60%), low fat (20%), saturated fat comprising 7% of calories: This meets the recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and is a typical high-carbohydrate diet, including a lot of grains, starchy vegetables, and fruits or juices. All food supplied to participants

• Low carbohydrates (20%), high fat (60%), saturated fat comprising 21% of calories: This resembles a typical low-carbohydrate diet and has much higher saturated fat than recommended.

Alas, those who were eating the low-carbohydrate diet were not piling up their plate with steak and bacon, and those eating the high-carbohydrate diets were not drinking unlimited soda (as perhaps happens more often in the real world).

All three diets were high in plant foods and low in highly processed foods (it is easier to stick to a diet when all the food is prepared for you). Even the low-carbohydrate group was eating lentils, a good amount of vegetables, and quite a bit of nuts. Even the two diets with higher than recommended amounts of saturated fats also were high in the healthy poly- and monounsaturated fats as well. For example, the diets contained a combination of higher amounts of healthy (salmon) and a small amount of unhealthy (sausage) choices. In addition, fiber intake (at about 22 grams/day) was slightly higher than the average American intake (18 how great senior living is at one of our affordable apartment communities. Many of our communities feature 24-hour emergency maintenance, full activities programs, spacious floor plans, rents, caring and dedicated staff, and much more. are located near shopping, including grocery stores and pharmacies. help you live life to the fullest. visit web site to these communities:

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Various versions of low-carbohydrate diets have been popular for many years. The details of what is allowed and what is not vary quite a bit, and the amount of carbohydrates also differs.

Call or

Can low-carb, high-fat diets be healthy?

Studying three diets

By Teresa Fung

They were randomly assigned to one of three diets containing different proportions of carbohydrates and fat. Protein content was kept the same (at 20% calories) for everyone. They were not planning to lose any more weight.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 19 Discover

The researchers found that at the end of eating these diets for five months, the participants in each of the three groups had similar values of cardiovascular disease markers, such as the LIPR score and cholesterol blood levels.

The American Heart Association recommends aiming for about 13 grams of saturated fat, which is about 6% of a 2,000- calorieRecently,diet. a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that, at least in the short term, a low carb diet with a higher amount of saturated fat might still be heart-healthy. But is it that simple? Let’s take a look at what this randomized diet trial did and what the results really mean.

Let us

Too often these diets contain plates piled high with bacon, meat, eggs and cheese. Due to the high saturated fat content in these diets, doctors and nutritionists worry about their potential adverse effect on cardiovascular disease.

• Moderate carbohydrate (40%), moderate fat (40%), saturated fat comprising 14% of calories: This is not far from the typical American diet of 50% carbohydrates and 33% fat, and it is quite similar to a typical Mediterranean diet, which is slightly lower in carbohydrates and higher in fat than an American diet.

The three diets were:

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• Different doses or types. Additional research is needed to determine the best dose and ideal way to take zinc.

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Overall, except for saturated fat being higher than recommended, the diet as a whole was quite healthy. The take-home message Striving for a plant-based diet with saturated fat being limited to 7% of total calories remains an ideal goal. But for people who choose a low-carb, high-fat diet to jump start weight loss, keeping saturated fat this low even for a few months is challenging.Thisstudy at least provides some evidence that higher amounts of saturated fat in the context of a healthy diet do not seem to adversely affect certain cardiovascular risk markers in the short term. How it would affect actual disease in the long run — such as heart attack, stroke and diabetes — is unknown. However, there is ample evidence showing that a diet that consists of healthy foods and has moderate amounts of carbohydrate and fat can lower the risk of these diseases. Preventing diseases is a long-term process; a healthy diet must not only be effective, but it should also be flexible enough for people to stick to in the long run.Could a diet with lower amounts of healthy carbohydrates and ample healthy fats with a bit more saturated fat be healthy enough? As the researchers state, we need long-term testing to help answer the question.

Saturated fat

• Small studies of intentional exposure to a cold virus found that zinc did not prevent colds.

See HARVARD Q & A, page 22

• COVID-19. None of the studies in this analysis assessed the impact of zinc on the virus causing COVID-19. Whether you decide to take zinc or not, keep in mind the following tried and true preventive measures and treatments: grams/day).

• On day three of the infection, those taking zinc had milder symptoms. Further, there was an 87% lower risk of severe symptoms among those taking zinc. However, the daily average symptom severity was similar between those taking zinc and those taking placebo. The data quality and certainty of these findings were low to moderate. Before taking zinc, keep these other points in mind: • Side effects. Zinc-related side effects were mild. These included nausea and mouth or nose irritation.

A: This question is timely, as cold and flu season will soon be here again. For many years, there’s been interest in the possibility that zinc, or other supplements, could help prevent or treat colds and flu. A recent analysis reviewed available research and suggested that overthe-counter zinc supplements could be one way to make cold and flu season a bit easier.Published in November 2021 in BMJ Open, the study looks at zinc for preventing or treating colds and flu-like illness. Researchers reviewed more than 1,300 studies and narrowed the analysis down to 28 well-designed trials, which included more than 5,000 study subjects. Here’s what they found.

For preventing colds and flu

Teresa Fung, MS, RD, ScD, is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications.

From page 19

• A few studies suggest preventive effects were largest for reducing severe symptoms, such as high fever.

• Zinc therapy was associated with fewer upper respiratory infections compared with placebo. The effect was modest: about one infection was prevented for every 20 people using zinc. The strength of the evidence was considered low.

By Howard LeWine Q: Does zinc really work for colds and flu?

For treating colds and flu

• Those who took zinc had symptoms go away about two days sooner than those in the placebo group. Of 100 people with upper respiratory infections, an estimated 19 additional people would have completely recovered by day seven with zinc treatment. The strength of the evidence was considered low.

• Cost. Zinc supplements are generally inexpensive. A daily dose of zinc lozenges for a month may cost less than $2/month.

Harvard expert answers reader questions

If your home is hot and dry, consider lowering the temperature and getting a humidifier. Aim for a goal of 40% humidity indoors. When these measures don’t provide sufficient relief, it’s time to see your doctor. Your doctor will consider your medical history, medications or supplements you’re taking, and your lifestyle. It may be necessary to order blood work to check your blood sugar, red and white blood cell counts, and the function of your thyroid, kidney and liver. If you do have a rash or other skin changes, it can be difficult to tell whether scratching the itch was the cause rather than some underlying skin problem. Your doctor or a dermatologist might want to take a small sample of skin for examination under the microscope.

Here are some other reasons for generalized itching:

Itching may be a symptom of liver, kidney or thyroid disease; iron deficiency anemia; or rarely some types of cancer, such as a lymphoma.

• Environment. Very hot, dry environments or lots of hot showers can make the skin dry and itchy, as can excessive exposure to sunlight.

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• Allergens. Detergents, fabrics, cosmetics, dust and plant pollen can cause itching from irritation. A person can acquire an allergic reaction to anything that comes in contact with the skin, and may not notice a rash.

• Psychological conditions . High stress, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are common causes of generalized itching. For people with these conditions, symptoms of any kind, including itching, can be amplified.

Q: I am frequently itchy but don’t see any rash. Why might this be happening?

• Medication. Itching may be a side effect of some drugs. Even if you’ve been taking a medication that didn’t bother you before, manufacturers can change the inactive ingredients, such as the dye coloring the pill, and that may cause the itch.

A: With age, skin loses moisture. A dry skin barrier doesn’t work as well as it used to. Things that may not have irritated you before may now be absorbed in the skin and cause itching. The skin also develops a somewhat impaired immune response, a reduction in fat and blood flow, and altered sensory perception, making it more prone to itching.

A: You probably know that it’s important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar like they have been recently. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Many of us aren’t getting enough to drink, especially older adults. Older people don’t sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they’re on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic. Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly, such as carrying nutrients and oxygen to the body’s cells, maintaining balance of blood sodium levels, helping to regulate body temperature, and preventing constipation. Giving your body enough fluids to carry out those tasks means that you’re staying hydrated. If you don’t drink enough water each day, you risk becoming dehydrated. Warning signs of dehydration include weakness, low blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, or urine that’s dark in color. So how much water should you drink? Generally healthy people should aim for six to seven cups of water per day. You will need to increase water intake significantly when it’s hot or you’re sweating. But it’s also possible to take in too much water if you have certain health conditions, such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver or heart problems; or if you’re taking medications that make you retain water, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiate pain medications and some antidepressants. How much water a day should you drink if you fit into that category? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Water intake must be individualized, and you should check with your doctor if you are not sure about the right amount for you. But even a healthy person’s water needs will vary, especially if you’re losing water through sweat because you’re exercising, or because you’re outside on a hot day. It’s not just water that keeps you hydrated. All beverages containing water contribute toward your daily needs. And know that you also get fluids from water-rich foods, such as salads and fruit. To ward off dehydration, drink fluids gradually throughout the day. An easy way to do this is to have a drink at each meal, as well as socially, or with medicine.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, visit health.harvard.edu.

Q: There seems to be controversy regarding how much water a person should drink each day. What do you suggest for an older adult?

• Neuropathy. Nerve damage (neuropathy) that causes numbness, tingling, weakness or pain can also cause itching.

• Underlying medical conditions

Reducing generalized itching starts with changing your lifestyle. Taking too many hot showers? Reduce the number to two to three per week. Make the water warm, not hot, and use bland soap. If you’re not already moisturizing your skin, it’s time to start. Use an emollient (a mixture of water and oil) every day, especially after getting out of the bath or shower (to lock in moisture).

Harvard Q & A From page 21 22 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON ©

Advanced technologies designed to help drivers navigate intersections could address a third of the crashes that cause older driver injuries and fatalities, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

“Left-turn assist and other, upcoming intersection-assistance technologies could deliver big safety benefits for drivers in their 70s and 80s,” said the paper’s author, IIHS Research Associate Aimee Cox. The number of older drivers in the U.S. is growing rapidly because Americans are living longer and retaining their licenses later in life. That raises safety concerns, as drivers in their 70s and 80s are at a greater risk of certain types of crashes, and are more prone to severe injuries and fatalities than youngerAge-relatedpeople.declines in their vision and cognitive abilities make left-turn crashes more common, for example.

Existing tech can prevent crashes

Most consumers already know several of the features that the researchers examined: Brighter headlights and related improvements allow the driver to identify hazards sooner.

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“These results should spur efforts to roll these technologies out to consumers as rapidly as possible,” said Jessica Cicchino, IIHS vice president of research.

To gain a better understanding of how available and upcoming crash avoidance features might help, IIHS researchers used federal crash data from 2016-19 to compare the types of crashes that are most common for two groups: older drivers and their middle-aged counterparts. They then estimated how many policereported crashes, driver injuries and driver fatalities could be addressed by five existing features as well as two others that depend on vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, a technology that is not yet available. Such connections would allow vehicles to share information with each other about their location, speed and intended path.

Front crash prevention warns the driver or applies the brakes to avoid an impending collision. Lane departure prevention returns the vehicle back to the proper path when it’s veering out of the travel lane. Blind spot detection warns the driver about vehicles that aren’t visible in the side or rearview mirrors. Left-turn assist and other upcoming intersection-assistance features are probably less familiar. Left-turn assist uses a camera and other sensors to detect oncoming vehicles when the driver signals a left turn, warning against proceeding if the software determines a collision is likely.

Future technologies awaited Vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity, which is still on the horizon, would enable similar, more sophisticated features. If the vision of its designers comes to

Features of newer cars

All the features could deliver substantial gains. Overall, about 60% of the crashes involving either age group could potentially be addressed by at least one of the safety features covered in the study. More common ones — like automatic emergency breaking (AEB) and lane departure prevention — were relevant to a large portion of crashes for both sets of drivers. However, such conventional features applied to more crashes of middleaged drivers than crashes of drivers in their 70s and Intersection-assistanceolder. features, which are newer and less well-known, could offer older drivers more help, the data showed. Such features were potentially relevant to 32% of older driver crash involvements, 38% of older driver injuries, and 31% of older driver fatalities. They could also have big safety benefits for middle-aged drivers, as they were relevant to more than a fifth of all crashes for that age group.

New auto technologies improve safety

Vehicle-to-vehicle-enhanced leftturn assist would allow the turning vehicle to know the speed and trajectory of oncoming traffic, even if a hill or obstruction makes it difficult to see.

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Another planned feature — called intersection movement assist — would allow vehicles to warn drivers of possible collisions with others approaching a crossroads from multiple directions at various speeds and with different intentions.

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Using them safely

Car technologies From page 23 See MICROWAVES, page 25

ordering.

There are several things microwave users can do to ensure safe and healthy microwave cooking. When used correctly, microwave ovens are generally safe. Although more people have experienced burns related to use, the emission of radiation has been a real concern, though cases of injury from radiation are rare. Since 1971 (microwaves were commercially launched in 1947), the FDA has regulated the amount they can emit over an oven’s lifetime to a level it has established as safe. And, as an additional precaution, the FDA requires two systems of backup security and monitoring to shut down the microwave if a system malfunctions or a door opens while in use. Proper maintenance and use, as well as standing away from a microwave while it’s in use — which significantly reduces radiation exposure — are the best practices.

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fruition, it would eventually link every vehicle on the road, allowing them to communicate their positions, speed and travel path to each other.

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Healthy way of cooking Cooking food in the microwave does not reduce the nutritional value any more than conventional cooking. Some studies have

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For older drivers, the data showed that intersection-assistance technologies as a group could be relevant to some 650,000 crashes per year as well as more driver injuries than any of the other features covered in the However,study.intersection-assistance features would be relevant to far fewer middle-aged driver fatalities than lane departure prevention — which is designed to address run-offroad, sideswipe and head-on crashes.

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—Courtesy of the Institute for Highway Safety. For more information about the study and to watch a presentation by the author of the study, Aimee Cox, solutions.older-drivers-research-technology-trends-retirementlivingsourcebook.com/videos/visit

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It didn’t take long for the microwave oven to become a must-have home kitchen appliance, not to mention an expected fixture anywhere food is prepared — restaurants, break rooms, dorm rooms, even man-caves — to thaw, heat and cook to near-instant gratification. Yet, a reputation as “nuking” or “zapping” food has cast a dark shadow on this radiation emitter. While health experts — and the FDA — stand behind its safety, it’s important to draw the line between myth and fact when it comes to health and safety concerns.

Energy efficient method Compared with other types of cooking, microwaves use less energy than conventional cooking methods. Microwave ovens cook foods faster, and their energy goes only toward heating the food, not the whole oven Accordingspace.tothe Energy Star program (which rates the energy efficiency of appliances), microwaving small food portions can save as much as 80 percent of the energy a conventional oven would use. Less time and energy mean they are less expensive to use, as most households use them mere minutes in any given day. Microwave ovens have been called a cleaner, more sustainable form of cooking that has a relatively long lifespan of around 12 years before needing to be replaced.

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How microwaves work

Microwave ovens can be safe and healthy

Microwave ovens convert electricity into microwaves — a type of electromagnetic radiation — that are reflected inside the ovens’ metal interior, and are absorbed by food. The microwaves cause water molecules in the food to vibrate, which produces the heat that cooks the food. Contrary to the belief that microwaves cook from the inside out, they actually heat the outer layers, which transfer heat to the inner portions. As a result, as most of us know from experience, microwaved foods are not cooked evenly. Cold and hot pockets are a hallmark of this convenience appliance. But as long as foods are adequately cooked, warmed or cooled enough before they’re consumed, it’s not an issue.

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Our one level patio homes are luxuriously spacious and elegant. A variety of floor plans are available and all feature a gourmet kitchen, dining room, a spacious main suite with a walk-in closet and main bath, a guest bedroom and bath, covered front porch, patio and over-sized two-car garage. Optional features include a sunroom, a breakfast nook, a single or double-sided gas fireplace, and much more.

• And so much more even shown that microwave cooking retains food nutrients better.

So, go ahead and continue to enjoy the convenience of this 20th century timesaver — but definitely within reason and with precautionary measures. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 1-800829-5384, EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2022 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS Sept. 26 Sept. 27

Learn basic line dance steps while you work out to Golden Oldies music. Come alone or bring a friend. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Free on Tues., Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Ellen Coolidge Burke Library, 4701 Seminary Rd., Alexandria, VA. For more information, visit alexlibraryva.org/event/6838877 or call (703) 746-1704.

Discover why Homewood at Frederick is becoming the region’s choice for retirement. Call the Marketing Office to schedule an appointment to tour a patio home. 7407 Willow Road • Frederick, Maryland See all our residential offerings and amenities at: homewoodfrederick.com (301) 732-6157

Best Senior Care offers: • Companionship • Personal Hygiene • Grocery Shopping/ Errands Home Sweet Safe Home

There are some vitamins and nutrients that break down when exposed to heat, no matter the heat source. But because foods are microwaved for such a short time, the microwave does a better job at preserving them than many other forms of cooking, such as a conventional oven. Adding water when cooking vegetables is another way some vitamins and nutrients are lost. When the heat breaks down the nutrients, they are lost as they leach into the cooking water. Using as little water as necessary, such as when steaming, helps preserve nutrients better.

www.bestseniorcare.us

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 25 Live Your Best Life at Homewood!

Steaming vegetables in the microwave should be quicker than stovetop steaming, so the microwave may still be the better choice. Because it cooks food in the shortest amount of time and can effectively do so with a minimal amount of liquid when cooking vegetables, the microwave can be an energy efficient, healthy cooking method.Occasional cooking with a properly maintained and used microwave is not likely to cause harm or threaten health — in fact, it may boost it and save energy too.

AGING WELL AND MANAGING SETBACKS

No person shall be subject, on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, familia status or disability, to discrimination in the terms or conditions for admission to, treatment or the provision of services in, one of our Communities.

In a free Zoom presentation, Dr. Joe Casciani will offer an uplifting perspective on aging, and highlight strategies for living life well while living longer. The presentation takes place on Mon., Sept. 26 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Email teanna.abraham@montgomerycountymd.gov to reserve a spot. Join with this link: https://bit.ly/AgingWellonZoom, meeting ID: 853 3976 0777 and passcode: 12345. For more information, call (240) 777-6944.

LINE DANCING BASICS

Microwaves

From page 24

Join the Sugarloafers Volksmarch club for an Oktoberfest walk at the Frederick Fairgrounds. The walk will be on sidewalks and roadsides, user friendly for wagons, wheelchairs and strollers. The Fairgrounds will have food and drink, music, dancing, vendors, children’s events and more. Walkers over age 12 pay $3. The walk takes place Sat., Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD. For more information, visit sugarloafers.org or call (301) 385-0054. BEACON BITS Oct. 1

26 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

Throughout the month, while enrolled in the study, study participants will wear a wristband device, which will record their physical activity. This will help determine if the interventions affect physical activity andThissleep.study seeks cancer survivors age 18 to 70 who have been diagnosed with fatigue for at least six months or anyone diagnosed with chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome or autoimmune disorders such as lupus and Sjogren’s. (Some medications disqualify patients from the study, however.)

Learn about a new investigational vaccine called MVA-BN-RSV and whether it can protect people from getting seriously ill from Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. RSV can cause severe or acute respiratory illness in older adults. You may be able to join the study if you:

By Margaret Foster

For cancer patients only

“They’re all trying to better understand fatigue,” said Alex Ross, senior research nurse specialist at the National Institute of Nursing Research, who works in the laboratory of Dr. Leorey N. Saligan, principal investigator of the three studies. “We are trying to understand the entire fatigue experience.”

Health

• Are 60 years of age or older

• The study vaccine or placebo • Close care and follow-up throughout the study Reimbursement for study-related expenses (such as travel and meals) Contact us to find out more: www.careidresearch.com703-560-4821 3289 Woodburn Road, Suite 200 • Annandale, VA 22003

•

BEACON BITS

• Are willing and able to use a smartphone or tablet application to record information during the study Other criteria will need to be met to confirm your eligibility for this study. If you qualify, you may receive at no cost: RSV-MVA-004 Flyer _V1 .0_22MAR2022

“We’ve seen positive results so far,” Ross said. “One patient reached out to [NIH Director] Francis Collins after one infusion, and he blogged about it. It was life-changing for him. Participants are finding some temporary symptom relief” from the study intervention, he said. Personalized treatments In another clinical trial, researchers will look at how fatigue affects people in different“We’reways. trying to find out if there are different types of fatigue,” Ross explained, which may require different treatments. This study requires six to eight visits. Participants will undergo cognitive testing and an optional MRI. They’ll also complete some motivational tasks and have their vital signs, such as blood pressure, recorded. Healthy volunteers will be recruited also to serve as the control group. “At end of this study, we take all of this data and meet with the participants and offer them a one-time referral to a specific service within the [NIH] clinical center to help them manage their fatigue at home,” Ross said. In effect, researchers will give a personalized assessment, he said. “They’ll say, ‘This is what we think will be most effective in getting you on the path to manage your fatigue.’” Ross acknowledges that it may be difficult for people to complete all the in-person visits, so researchers are willing to be flexible. “We don’t want participants who are extremely fatigued to feel like this is overwhelming,” Ross said. “We’ve really tried to make it so people can do things like the questionnaires at home. So, they can do it on their couch, relaxed and comfortable.”

Three NIH studies will focus on fatigue

TECH HELP TUESDAYS Refresh your knowledge, improve your skills and gain a better understanding of tech for free with this online workshop series. Registration is required. Each Tuesday a different tech topic is covered, ranging from using Google apps, DC Public Library goDigital resources, media literacy, and social media. Make sure to have a working knowledge of your device (computer, tablet or smartphone). For more information and registration, visit dclibrary.libnet.info/event/6972569, contact labs.dcpl@dc.gov or call (202) 727-0321.

Ongoing

Your participation can help us learn more about preventing severe or acute illness from RSV

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

A lab at NIH’s National Institute of Nursing Research is currently enrolling people in three clinical trials related to fatigue.

• Are healthy or have one or more chronic medical conditions, including mild to moderate underlying illnesses such as chronic cardiac diseases, lung disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Seeking relief for chronic fatigue In one study, which lasts one month, participants will record their fatigue levels on a questionnaire and then take several tests of their cognition, memory and motivation. Then they’ll be given either ketamine (the study drug), a general anesthetic that has reduced fatigue in depressed people, or the sedative midazolam (the comparison drug), known as Versed. Previous studies have showed that general anaesthetics have reduced fatigue in depressed people. Both drugs will be given intravenously, two weeks apart.

The third study is open to cancer survivors or people undergoing cancer treatment.“It’s important to understand how normal aging contributes to the experience of fatigue, especially in cancer patients,” Ross said. The study requires up to three visits, which can be done entirely from home or in Afterperson.screening, patients will take cognitive tests, strength tests, and answer questionnaires. Dr. Saligan’s team will even travel to patients’ homes to draw blood. Free parking and compensation may be available for these studies. For more information about any of these clinical trials, call NIH’s patient recruitment center at 1-800-411-1222, (301) 4514383 or email ccopr@nih.gov. Studies

Find out today if the VANIR Study is right for you.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 27

If you’re tired of being tired, you’re not alone. Cancer survivors, people with chronic illnesses such as lupus, and many older adults suffer from fatigue.

Call now and receive a utility basket absolutely FREE with your order. Please1-888-632-0937mentioncode601381whenordering.

Crispy, buttery, garlicky panko bread crumbs get a head start in a skillet so they’re golden brown when the fish comes out of the oven. Finally, a mayonnaise and egg yolk “glue” adds rich flavor and helps the crumb topping stay put. Even people who don’t usually like fish will like this dish.

Why take our word for it? Call now, and find out how you can get a Zinger of your very own.

By America’s Test Kitchen

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a cooling rack inside the baking sheet. Spray rack with vegetable oil spray. 2. In a 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add panko, garlic, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often with rubber spatula, until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

Once in a lifetime, a product comes along that truly moves people.

6. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until fish registers 145 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 30 to 40 minutes.7.Remove baking sheet from oven. Place baking sheet on a second cooling rack. Serve fish with lemon wedges. For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. The family of brands — which includes Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country and America’s Test Kitchen Kids — offers reliable recipes for cooks of all ages and skill levels. See more online at americastestkitchen.com/TCA.©2022America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BUSINESSACCREDITEDA+

5. Working with one fillet at a time, coat the top of each fillet with panko mixture. Place fillets, crumb side up, on greased rack in baking sheet.

Crispy Baked Cod Serves Ingredients4 Vegetable oil spray 2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¾ cup panko bread crumbs 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 large egg yolk ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus lemon wedges 4 (6-ounce) skinless cod fillets, 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick

“What my wife especially loves is it gives her back feelings of safety and independence which has given a real boost to her conﬁdence and happiness! Thank You!” –Kent C., California

The first thing you’ll notice about the Zinger is its unique look. It doesn’t look like a scooter. Its sleek, lightweight yet durable frame is made with aircraft grade aluminum so it weighs only 47.2 lbs. It features one-touch folding and unfolding –when folded it can be wheeled around like a suitcase and fits easily into a backseat or trunk. Then, there are the steering levers. They enable the Zinger to move forward, backward, turn on a dime and even pull right up to a table or desk. With its compact yet powerful motor it can go up to 6 miles an hour and its rechargeable battery can go up to 8 miles on a single charge. With its low center of gravity and inflatable tires it can handle rugged terrain and is virtually tip-proof. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life.

Introducing the future of battery-powered personal transportation . . . The Zinger.

in Green, Black and Blue (shown)

Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field. Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough . . . a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

The Invention of the Year

The Zinger and Zoomer Chairs are personal electric vehicles and are not medical devices nor wheelchairs. They are not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. They are not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2022 Journey Health and Lifestyle

Joystick can be mounted on the right or left side for rider’s comfort

The secret to success with this dish is a low-temperature oven (set to just 300 degrees) that ensures that the fish cooks slowly, without drying out.

85246

Now available in a Joystick model (Zoomer Chair)

28 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

The world’s lightest and most portable mobility deviceAvailable

Directions:

Crispy, buttery baked cod cooks slowly

3. Transfer panko mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in parsley and let cool for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, egg yolk and lemon zest.

Browning panko crumbs with butter before putting on fish ensures a crispy coating.

4. Use paper towels to pat fish dry. Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over top of each fillet.

HOWARD COUNTY Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118

BALTIMORE CITY Ednor Apartments I: 410-243-0180 Ednor Apartments II: 410-243-4301

the place to start.

BASICSCOMPUTER you is This free class will parts of computer, basic keyboarding, storage, and parts of the Windows desktop. Handouts will included with websites to practice your mouse skills and typing. Join Mon., Sept. 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria, VA. Registration is required. For more info, bit.ly/ComputerBasics22visitor call (703) 746-1702.

BALTIMORE COUNTY (CONT.) Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. For more articles, visit suzycohen.com.

HARFORD COUNTY Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115

Hear me out: I know it sounds weird, but pickle juice has some pretty amazing and surprising health benefits that you probably didn’t know about. Pickles are fermented cucumbers that have been pickled in salt water.That pickle juice is loaded with minerals, has only 2 grams of carbohydrates, and contains 1 gram of fiber. In most cases, the salt water even contains healthy probioticInstrains.somestates, like North Carolina, where my daughter lives, pickle juice is held in high regard — so much so that there is an annual pickle festival. When dining out in North Carolina, many restaurants have pickle juice mixed with soda on the menu. There’s even a drink called a “Pickleback Shot,” which combines pickle brine with whiskey!

Evergreen Senior Apartments: 410-780-4888

1. Pickles help digestion On some level, the lactobacillus content (while low) still provides a beneficial aid to your intestinal health. If you have an upset stomach, abdominal cramps or low stomach acid production (hypochlorhydria), the acidity in a small amount of pickle juice may restore proper pH, which in turn causes digestive troubles to subside.

RESIDENTIALENTERPRISE

3. Pickle juice might help with Type 2 diabetes Vinegar is part of the pickle brine, and some studies suggest that vinegar can slightly reduce blood sugar spikes that normally occur after meals. Furthermore, vinegar may help with the body’s response to Obviously,insulin. I’m not suggesting this as a chronic, long-term solution. But in a pinch, a sip of pickle juice may be able to dampen blood sugar spikes due to the vinegar content.You may find that you are better able to control your appetite once your blood sugar is more stable. So, a pickle a day can help with cravings. We all probably have a dusty, sealed jar of old pickles that we’ve forgotten about, and if you’re like me, it’s probably sitting in the back corner of your fridge, waiting for a sandwich.Makesure your pickles are fresh and in date, and if you eat these little guys, eat them in moderation because of the high sodium content. But save the pickle juice for a while, in case you have a cramp or your tummy bothers you. If you don’t like the taste of pickle juice straight up, you could pour a few teaspoonfuls into your salad dressing. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 29

BALTIMORE COUNTY Cove Point Apartments I: 410-288-2344 Cove Point Apartments II: 410-288-1660

By Suzy Cohen

Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096 Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384

Pickle juice is a popular folk remedy that supposedly relieves muscle cramps (or reduces intensity), less than a minute after consumption. It works incredibly fast and is faster than water alone when it comes to reducing muscle cramps. It probably works faster than things like Gatorade or other similar sports drinks. Perhaps a few spoonfuls in a cup of water could help someone with mild leg cramps. However, I wouldn’t drink it straight up if you are prone to heartburn or have an ulcer. Pickle juice contains a lot of sodium, and some believe that the sodium triggers reflexes that essentially shut off misfiring neurons quickly, thereby alleviating cramps. I think it could definitely help you recover from a workout or associated leg cramps. That’s probably its #1 folk remedy use.

There are all kinds of specialty drinks depending on where you live. So, while it may sound like a face-puckering thought, pickle juice is utilized for many quick fixes. As for its medicinal benefits, here are three pretty cool ways pickle juice can improve your wellness:

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

Call the community of interest to you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal

the

The Greens at Logan Field: 410-288-2000

The Greens at Hammonds Lane: 410-636-1141 Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411

The Greens at Liberty Road: 410-655-1100

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • 55 & Better Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

PHARMACISTDEAR

The Greens at Irvington Mews: 410-644-4487 Park Heights Place: 410-578-3445 Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400

know little or nothing about computers and want to learn more, this

EnterpriseResidential.orgPET-FRIENDLY

cover

Park View at Towson: 410-828-7185 Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

Pickle juice may improve your health

MOST COMMUNITIES ARE 62 AND BETTER tour.

EASTERN SHORE Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070

2. Pickles help leg cramps Have a cramp?

information

The Greens at English Consul: 410-789-3000

BEACON BITS Sept. 19

The Greens at Rolling Road: 410-744-9988 Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • 55 & Better Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673

Registration for Montgomery County Recreation’s fall programs and activities is now open. Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. Fall offerings include aquatics, fitness, sports, visual and performing arts, therapeutic recreation and more. Online registration is available at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. New this fall, residents can build their own guide filled with programs tailored to their interests. The guide tool allows you to create a personalized program guide based on categories and locations of your interest. To build your guide simply

30 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON Fall Registration Now Open –

Build Your Own Guide!

1.followvisit https://mocorecguide.com andthesesteps: Selecttopicsthatinterestyou.Youmaychoosefromavarietyofcate-gories,organizedbytopic.2.Chooselocations.MontgomeryCountyRecreationhasprogram-mingatfacilitiesacrosstheCounty,includingoursevenseniorcenters. 3.Indicateagerange.4.Reviewyourselectionandcreateyourguide.AdownloadablePDFfilewillbecreatedforyou.

Celebrate Active Aging Week, October 3-9 Open Businessfor Fun! Go, Grow & Get Active: Signature Event at Brookside Gardens Monday, Oct. 3, 2 to 5 mocoparks.org/ActiveAgingWeekp.m. FREE but advance registration is required Participate in activities that will boost your physical and mental wellness through creative expression, exercise and socialization. Montgomery County is excited to celebrate International Active Aging Week from October 3–9. Residents 50+ are invited to attend FREE in-person and virtual activities that help you Go, Grow and Get Active! Montgomery County Recreation and other partners will host several events at senior centers and other sites across the County including yoga, fall prevention exercises, sip and paint, Zumba and more. Some programs require advance registration. For a calendar of events, visit calendar.htmlmontgomerycountymd.gov/senior/https://www. • Beauty Blooms: A Watercolor Workshop • Yoga Dance: Pushing Back the Clock • Wellness Drumming • “Feel the Music” experience • Mini Garden Creation • Photo Scavenger Hunt • Walk with a Doc • Live musical performances • and more…

Wanting to More Fully Engage with the Community

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Fitness & Health 31MONTGOMERY COUNTY RECREATION

The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Throughout the month of October, additional events and programs will be held to celebrate the anniversary. On Sunday, October 30 from noon to 4 p.m., the Schweinhaut Center will host the Beacon’s free annual 50+Expo, featuring informative resources, flu shots, health screenings, giveaways and door prizes, and a keynote by the Washington Post’s popular columnist John Kelly.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a free community event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 8. The event will include an outdoor farmers market, Angklung performances, demonstrations in tai chi, knitting and so much more!

Technology is changing the driving experience. The Smart DriverTEKTM workshop, developed jointly by AARP Driver Safety and The Hartford, will explain the latest high-tech safety features in your current or future car. Learn all about blind-spot warning systems, forward collision warnings, smart headlights andMontgomerymore. County Recreation will offer two, free, 90-minute workshops that will take place at the centers listed below. Space is limited, so pre-registration is highly recommended. Register at activemontgomery.org using the activity codes listed: Clara RecreationNeighborhoodBartonCenter - R07105-103 Wednesday, October 12 10:30 a.m.- noon Damascus Senior Center - R07105-102 Tuesday, October 18 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary on October 8

Montgomery County Government received a federal grant to lend 40,000 computers to any Montgomery County resident (including non-U.S. citizens) age 7 and older without access to a computer. Computers may be used for educational purposes, including: education; learning a language; learning to use a computer and the internet; looking up information online, and other learning purposes. Chromebook computers will be distributed at several county libraries. A resident must have a library card and make an appointment to pick up their computer and must show photo ID at pick-up. The window to make appointments opens on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. The computers do not come with software or anti-virus protection, but Google Chromebooks automatically load computer updates. For older adults who need training to set up email and learn to use the computer, the County offers courses for people 50 years and older through Senior Planet Montgomery in English, Spanish and Mandarin. Free or discounted home or mobile phone internet is available to low-income individuals and families enrolled in benefit programs such as SNAP, Medicaid and SSI through the Affordable Connectivity Program. For more information about the County’s digital equity programs, go montgomeryconnectswww.montgomerycountymd.gov/toorcall311.

Free Computers for Residents

Consider the Benefits of Home Sharing

The benefits of home sharing are many. While creating an additional stream of income for the homeowner, home sharing can help build social connections and lighten the housekeeping load in exchange for reduced rent to the tenant. Average home sharing rents range from $750 to $1250/month, depending on the size of the room and available amenities. HIP Home sharing counselors and case managers employ a thoughtful process to understand a homeowner’s personal preferences and needs to identify potential housemates with compatible interests. They facilitate meetings and help negotiate home sharing arrangements and lease agreements. Background checks are mandatory for both homeowners and home seekers. To learn more, call Michele at 301-85-SHARE (301-857-4273) or go to the website at www.HIPhomes.org/ home-sharing.

The center is named after Maryland State Senator Margaret C. Schweinhaut, who advocated for older adults to have a place to gather and enjoy activities, thus creating the state’s first senior center.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services worked with the nonprofit Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) to launch the Montgomery County Home Sharing Program. The program matches homeowners who have a spare room in their homes with compatible home seekers looking for an affordable place to rent for longer than six months.

Montgomery County Recreation Partners with AARP to Host Smart DriverTEK℠ Vehicle Technology Workshops

Editor

Photographer Richard Williams

On Monday, August 22, the DC Senior Cameo Club hosted the 2022 Queen’s Coronation Luncheon, celebrating the newest Ms. Senior DC, Ms. Vené LaGon. Queen LaGon was joined by her 2022 court as well as other Cameo Club members, friends and family. Congratulations again, Queen LaGon! We look forward to cheering you on at the National Ms. Senior America pageant this month!

By Jessica Smith, Interim Director DC Department of Aging and Community Living

The Cameo Club hosted the 2022 CoronationQueen’sLuncheon

32 Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

MESSAGEDIRECTOR’S

Happy Healthy Aging Month, seniors! At DACL, healthy aging means more than just getting to 100 years old — it means aging well and living well. And to ensure DC seniors can age well and live well, we’re making sure that our city is a great place where older adults can live and thrive, at every age and every ability. So, what does healthy aging look like? It looks like Safe at Home, our signature program focused on creating safer homes in the communities older adults already know and love. It looks like decreasing senior hunger, by creating access to healthy and nutritious meals. It looks like combating senior isolation, by having places to go like community dining sites and senior wellness centers, where older adults can engage in fun programming and connect with friends. And it looks like supporting you, no matter how you choose to age. This month, we’re celebrating healthy aging in a number of ways. First, seniors across the District have been working hard to play in our 5th Annual Brain Games — our citywide, Jeopardystyle trivia competition where they’ll represent all eight wards to compete for the title! Then later this month, we’re celebrating National Falls Prevention Week, hosting a series of screenings and conversations on balance, vision, and blood pressure to help lower the risk of falls, which is a common fear the older we get. And we can’t celebrate healthy aging without celebrating our centenarians! National Centenarian Day is September 22 and we’re honoring the lives and legacies of our city’s oldest residents, age 100 years and older. For the third year in a row, we’re teaming up with the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs to make safely masked visits to each centenarian’s home. We’ll be celebrating the longevity and the contributions of more than 50 centenarians. And while you may not be a centenarian (yet!), I invite you to join the celebration with us by checking in on one of the centenarians in your community. You never know what lessons, or even secrets to get to 100, you’ll learn. Healthy aging is happening all throughout our city and in so many different ways. With support from you and with you, we can make sure that all of us are aging well and living well — not just in September but every day. Cheers to healthy aging! Jessica

INTERIM

Living Boldly is published by the Information Office of the DC Department of Aging and Community Living for DC senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the DC Department of Aging and Community Living or by the publisher. 500 K St. NE, Washington, DC 20002 | (202) 724-5626 | www.dacl.dc.gov

Interim Director Jessica Smith DACL External Affairs

•

On Thursday, August 18, DACL honored the seniors of Bernice Fonteneau with an ice cream social! During Pride Month, these seniors worked tirelessly to ensure their wellness center was a place that was inclusive and welcoming for all seniors, including our LGBTQ+ older adults. Chosen by the LGBTQ Senior Advisory Committee, these seniors won the first prize of the DACL Pride Makeover contest, earning a day filled with ice cream sundaes provided by Everyday Sundae DC, music, dancing and fun. Congratulations again BFSWC!

September 22 is National Centenarian Day. As we salute the District’s oldest residents, we invite you to celebrate with us! Safely visit a centenarian in your community or follow us on social media to see who we’re honoring. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @dcagingnews.

Join Mayor Muriel Bowser for the 5th Annual Maternal and Infant Health Summit DACL Honors Wellness with to Dr. Imani Woody, LGBTQ Advocate and founder of Mary’s House for Adults, for winning the 2023 national award honors five people age 50+ who have been advocates in their communities.

Bernice Fonteneau Senior

Centers Living Boldly

September 19 – 23 is Falls AwarenessPreventionWeek

National

Center

Ice Cream Social Dr. Imani Woody Awarded 2023 AARP Purpose Prize! Congratulations

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 33

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Falls Prevention Trivia Tuesday, September 20 at 12 p.m. All Senior Wellness Centers and Community Dining Sites Falls and Aging: A Conversation with Dr. Lara Thompson Wednesday, September 21 at 12 p.m. Virtual. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/FallsandAgingDC

In honor of National Falls Prevention Awareness Week, DACL is partnering with Home Care Partners and Trinity University to bring you a host of activities and conversations, all to support you in lowering your risks for falls. Join us at the following events: more information, please contact your lead agency.

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Join Mayor Muriel Bowser at the 5th National Maternal & Infant Health Summit! This year’s summit will feature panel discussions and community-led sessions dedicated to connecting District residents with local and national resources and supports needed so families have what they need to thrive. Visit dcmaternalhealth.com to register.

For

Celebrate CentenariansDC’s

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Older

AARP Purpose Prize Award! This

Falls Prevention Screenings and Activities Thursday, September 22 at 12 p.m. DACL Senior Wellness

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34 Fitness & Health | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON Bring Community Home | To learn more about this event and all our virtual offerings, visit aarp.org/nearyou /AARPVirginia/AARPVa Be a Fraud Fighter! Protect against scammers Learn how to proactively spot scams, get guidance from our fraud specialists if you’ve been targeted, and feel more secure knowing that we advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to protect consumers and enforce the law. Visit us at the Beacon 50+Expo! Learn more about fraud by visiting: www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or aarp.org/va

As The New York Times reported recently, unlike paper coupons, digital coupons can be “personalized and aimed at specific demographic profiles.” Digital coupons also link to the shopper’s supermarket loyalty card, so it’s easy to tell if that coupon did its job and got the customer to switch brands.

The savings can be significant — often 50 cents to $1 off, sometimes more.

What can you do about it? Is there anything shoppers can do about this? There seem to be two options: Complain to the corporate office of the store or switch to a supermarket that doesn’t use digital-only coupons. It’s not your imagination. Manufacturers are cutting back on coupon promotions, both paper and digital, especially for food, according to the mid-year report by Kantar, a marketing consulting firm. The most notable decline was for cereal coupons. The face value of food coupons, both digital and print, also dropped.

“They’re awful,” she said. Suzie told Checkbook she suspects many older shoppers see the digital-only price in the store ad or on a shelf tag and assume they’re getting that great deal simply by having a loyalty card. Yet you have to have a smartphone that can scan the bar code on the shelf tag to get the discounted price; otherwise, you’ll pay $3 more.

—Based on income: Almost a quarter (24%) of the adults in households with incomes below $30,000 a year don’t own a smartphone. About four-in-10 don’t have home broadband services (43%), or a desktop or laptop computer (41%).

price

A growing problem for many Consumer World, a consumer advocacy website, checked weekly circulars at more than 50 supermarkets across the country in June, including Acme, Albertsons, Food Lion, Fred Meyer, Jewel-Osco, Kroger, Ralphs, Safeway, Shaw’s, and Stop & Shop, and found that two-thirds of them advertised digital-only discounts.

Move to digital coupons costs shoppers

Dworsky told us he’s called supermarkets around the country, including those owned by Albertsons, and found that it’s hit or miss whether a store will provide the digital discounts without going through the online procedure. “That’s a real problem,” Dworsky said. “Supermarkets must recognize that millions of their shoppers are not technology savvy and may be on fixed incomes. All the chains should offer a simple offline alternative so those folks can take advantage of the advertised savings.”

At a time when consumers are especially focused on saving money at the supermarket, some shoppers — those who are tech-challenged or digitally unconnected — are unable to access “digital only” sale prices advertised in weekly store circulars. For decades, supermarkets have offered lower prices on certain items to members of their loyalty rewards programs, which require a phone number to join. Those discounts are featured in the weekly circulars and on shelf tags.

The use of digital-only offers featured in weekly circulars (separate from any manufacturer’s coupons available on the supermarket’s website) appears to be accelerating, according to Consumer World’s supermarket survey.

A few chains, such as Albertsons and Giant Food, use “clip or click” coupons in their weekly ads in some locations. This gives customers the option to choose how to redeem their coupons.

Some supermarkets have not adopted digital-only deals, many are using them sparingly, and some have created offline alternatives, Dworsky noted.

“Digital discounts are no deal for millions of shoppers, especially seniors and low-income individuals who don’t have online access, a smartphone to use the store app, or simply can’t follow the cumbersome online procedure, even if they do have the proper technology,” said Edgar Dworsky, founder and publisher of Consumer World. “They are a clever ploy by big supermarket chains to get people into the store, knowing full well that many of them will wind up paying more than the advertised price.”

“How many people see $1 off and assume it’s going to come off the price at the register, not realizing they need to have downloaded a digital coupon? I mean, it’s ridiculous,” she said.

Suzie, a senior shopper on the East Coast, uses coupons to stretch her food budget, but said she can’t take advantage of digital discounts because she can’t get the store app to download in her phone.

Money Law &

“I only have a flip phone and wouldn’t know how to download that stuff if you paid me,” George told Washington Consumers’ Checkbook . “I don’t appreciate being a second-class citizen, especially when this affects people like me, who really need these discounts the most.”

The new technology lets companies better track and understand their customers. And many shoppers like digital discounts, even if that means the store and manufacturer can collect more data about them. So why provide savings that some customers cannot access? Checkbook asked the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), an industry trade group representing manufacturers and “Grocersretailers.offertheir customers options for getting deals both online and in-store,” said Heather Garlich, a senior vice president at “We’reFMI.meeting 100 million households where they are, and how they shop, several times a week.” Digital coupons do two things for retailers, Garlich told Checkbook: “They create process improvements at retail, and they reduceWhateverfraud.”the business justification, digital-only coupons foster the digital divide because they don’t provide savings to every customer. Some in the industry are willing to acknowledge that. “Coupons are a great way for people to save money and for manufacturers to move product, but we need to be careful not to leave anyone behind,” said Bud Miller, executive director of the Coupon Information Corporation, a nonprofit created by the industry to fight coupon fraud.

Where is this headed? No way to tell. Many brands that have pulled their print coupons are slowly moving to digital.

In the past, George said, the cashier would let him have the digital-only discounts, but not anymore. “If that isn’t discrimination, tell me what is,” George said. (Kroger did not respond to our requests forAtcomment.)somestores, digital coupons for instore purchases are available on dozens of items, including meat, fish and poultry.

Herb Weisbaum is a contributing editor of Washington Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org, a nonprofit organstores are requiring the use of a smartphone to get an advertised sale

To get these digital deals, the customer must go online or use the store app to “clip” the digital coupons or offers they want and load them onto their account before they George,shop.asenior who lives in Carlsbad, Calif., and shops at Ralphs (owed by Kroger, the fourth-largest grocery chain in the U.S.) admits to being tech-challenged — and he doesn’t like being left out.

Now, the industry is moving into digital marketing by advertising in their circulars sale prices that require internet access.

In some cases, the number of digitalonly discounts doubled or tripled in June 2022 compared to the same week last year. “With inflation at a 40-year high, it’s time to stop discriminating against the digitally disconnected, particularly seniors, and offer them the same discounts already enjoyed by tech-savvy shoppers,” Dworsky said.

See DIGITAL COUPONS, page 37 More

Albertsons, the country’s fifth-largest supermarket chain, which operates more than 2,200 stores in 34 states, including Safeway, Vons and Acme, told Checkbook that customers who do not have access to digital coupons can present the ad to the cashier and get the discount(s) at the register. A Checkbook undercover shopper tried it at a Safeway store in the Seattle area, and the clerk gave her the discount.

“It’s right to want equal treatment, and it’s right to want to make sure that you have access to things,” David told Checkbook. “Companies need to be aware of all ages and what their capabilities are, and make sure that whatever they’re designing for… it’s an age-inclusive design.” It’s only just begun

By Herb Weisbaum

Why is this happening?

Seniors recognize the need for new technology, but Patty David, director of personal fulfillment at AARP, wants companies to invest in “age-inclusive designs” that ensure what’s developed can be used by everyone.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 35

Two surveys by the Pew Research Center in 2021 documented how many older and lower-income Americans don’t have the technology so many of us take for granted: —Based on age: 39% of those 65 and older don’t own a smartphone, and 25% don’t use the internet.

The idea for the account holder is to let it sit and grow tax-free as long as possible before tapping into it. (There is no RMD for a Roth IRA account holder, although there is one for the Roth 401(k) and those inheriting Roths.)

The IRS requires any Roth conversion to have occurred at least five years before you access the money; otherwise, you may be charged taxes or penalties for withdrawals. When you convert a traditional IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA, you’ll owe income taxes at your ordinary tax rate for that year on the amount you converted. But to many people, it’s worth it on the back end. There is no limit on the amount you can convert in a given year, but it usually makes sense to execute the conversion over several years in order to lessen the tax hit. Converting a large amount in one year might push you into a higher tax bracket.When doing Roth conversions, it’s important to consider what the funds will be invested in after you convert them. And given the growth potential in a Roth, it’s wise to start making some annual Roth conversions from tax-deferred accounts during your buildup years toward retirement — the earlier, the better.

Roth IRA or 401(k) comes last A prudent retirement income and tax strategy maximizes tax-advantaged growth while maintaining the flexibility of funding some portion of your retirement expenses with non-taxable income. It’s doable due to a Roth conversion strategy, in which you convert portions of tax-deferred accounts to a Roth account. Money in Roth IRAs or Roth 401(k)s is not taxable income when you withdraw from them as long as you follow the rules, meaning account holders must be 59½ or older and have held the account for at least fiveWithdrawalsyears. are tax-free for your heirs, regardless of their age, if the original account was opened at least five years before.

You work hard for decades and save diligently for retirement, but unfortunately, you can’t retire from paying taxes. An important part of enjoying a fruitful retirement is understanding how taxes apply to different types of income and planning accordingly. Having sizable amounts of money in various accounts is wonderful, but taxes can eat away at them quickly if you don’t have a sound tax strategy heading into retirement. And sadly, many people don’t. One survey found that 42% of current retirees reported they did not consider how taxes would impact their retirement income. Don’t get caught off guard and let taxes adversely affect your golden years. One of the keys to developing a good tax strategy for retirement is understanding the order of withdrawals you should follow. Knowing when and how to draw on your various assets can have a big impact on how much in taxes you’ll owe from year to year. Take from taxable accounts first Non-qualified or taxable accounts — those that are not tax-advantaged — include checking and savings accounts, standard or joint brokerage accounts, and employer stock purchase plans. Taxable brokerage accounts are your least tax-efficient accounts, subject to capital gains and dividend taxes. By using these funds first in retirement, you give your tax-advantaged accounts (IRA, Roth IRA) more time to grow and compound. Brokerage accounts will never grow as quickly as tax-advantaged accounts because they are subject to the annual drag of taxation on interest, dividends and capital gains. Use tax-deferred accounts next Here we’re talking about the traditional IRA, 401(k) and 403(b), all of which are subject to ordinary income tax rates when you withdraw money from them. One reason you withdraw from tax-deferred accounts second is that you’ll know roughly what tax rates are going to be in the short term. Those rates are relatively low now; the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of 2025. From a tax perspective, it doesn’t matter whether you start withdrawing first from a traditional IRA or 401(k), but keep in mind that required minimum distributions (RMDs) for both accounts begin in the year you turn age 72 (or 70½ if you reached that age before Jan. 1, 2020).

By John Carruthers

The bottom line By planning ahead with a sound strategy, you could minimize your taxes in retirement and increase your financial security. After spending so many years working and focusing on saving and investing, you owe it to yourself to investigate various tax scenarios that await in retirement and to consult a qualified financial adviser to help you devise a plan. Dan Dunkin contributed to this article.

36 Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON The Career Gateway! features small classes, 30 hours of intensive training over two weeks, a long-term mentor, and valuable take-home materials FOR MORE INFORMATION Call (301) 255-4215 or e-mail Career.Gateway@AccessJCA.org Made possible by generous funding from Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Next50 Initiative, and the Jewish Council for the Aging® ® • turbocharge your resume • hone your interviewing skills • learn how to network • discover the hidden job market • develop personal job search plans...and more This hands-on, five-day course will help you: WHEN: Multiple sessions offered: 2022 Sessions: #1:*September 12, 14, 16, 19, 21 (Interactive and Online) #2:October 31 & November 2, 4, 7, 9 2023 Sessions: #3:January 17, 18, 20, 23, 25 #4:February 27 & March 1, 3, 6, 8 #5:April 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 #6:June 5, 7, 9, 12, 14 Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) www.AccessJCA.org ONLY $75 *As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, classes will be conducted through an interactive, Zoom™, online experience with other students, our trained facilitator, presenters, resume reviewers and mentors. Prior online sessions have been a resounding success! When we return to full in-person classes, they will be held at JCA’s facility at 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD. Call or Email to learn if future sessions will be in-person or virtual. All classes (virtual or in-person) meet from 9AM until 4PM each day. Check whether future sessions will be in-person or virtual. PLUS: Optional employment-related tech classes available.

A tax-smart way to tap retirement funds

• What does it represent?

For kids a little older, take them to a dollar store and explain why it is now the $1.25 or $2 store (and how it used to be the “five and dime”). Help them understand the concept of inflation and that a dollar today isn’t going to be worth as much when they are all grown up. That will lead to a discussion about investing.

• Where does money come from?

The value of money We probably all heard the line “Money doesn’t grow on trees” over and over when we grew up. But kids need to learn so much more, like:

• What can it buy? Have a conversation with a daughter, son or grandchild. Play the game “How much do you think this costs?” in the grocery store. Explain why one item might be more expensive than another. Help them understand the basics of supply and demand. For example, the more people want something (i.e., high demand), the more stores can charge for it. Or if an item is hard to find (i.e., scarce supply), the store can also charge more for it. Give examples of the opposite too.

Things to teach grandkids about money

• How do you get it?

Even a lesson about day-old bread can help children understand the value of the bread (and money). Ask, “Would you want bread that just came out of the oven or bread that has been in the store for a week?” Then ask, “How much more would you pay for the fresher bread?”

Spending doesn’t bring happiness

Ask a kid, “Does eating chocolate cake make you happy?” Likely the answer is “yes.”Then get them to understand that happiness from eating that one thing doesn’t last forever. It’s the concept of “fleeting happiness” that you want them to grasp. Now take that lesson and apply it to shopping. Explain that there is a shortterm happiness people receive when buying the things they want. Most times that happiness fades. Help them understand that, just like eating too much cake can lead to bad things, buying too many products (and services) can also led to unhappiness.

What are the most important lessons you can teach your children or grandchildren about money? How we act later in life often can be directly correlated with what we learned earlier in our youth. Here are a handful of things to teach the young ones you love:

Lessons on saving (at the store and in the bank) Before sixth grade, help a child understand the concept of brand names. While quality might be better with certain companies, sometimes items are identical, but the brand name costs more. Give an example of a T-shirt: A shirt without a logo on it might cost $10, but the same shirt with a logo on it might cost $25. Help kids understand they are paying extra, and let them make up their mind if that is worth it.

When they get older, take them to the grocery store and give them $100 to buy groceries, but again, they can’t go over what they have. Later, in the teenage years, help them understand what a budget is and how to live within it. Before completely moving out on their own, let kids know what happens when one spends too much on credit cards. Show them how the debt builds up and interestExplaincompounds.whatacredit score is and how those scores can impact them later in life when they want to buy a car or a house.

Overspending often leads to stress and anxiety. It can ruin credit ratings, lead to high interest rates on money owed, and even lead to bankruptcy. Before children get themselves in trouble later in life, take time to talk to them about spending when they are in elementary school. For example, take them to a penny candy store and give them a dollar and say, “You can only buy a dollar’s worth of candy.”

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Law & Money 37 I will bring cash to you for old comic books andcardsports/tradingcollections. I will also consider buying collections of old books, art, toys or other collectibles. I can even help you retrieve items you wish to sell from the attic or basement. Call me at (301) 517-6203 or request a visit at: www.PotomacCollector.com See MONEY LESSONS, page 38 ization with a mission to help consumers get great service and low prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates. Beacon readers can view Checkbook’s ratings and advice free for 30 days via Checkbook.org/promo/beacon. Also, check out the Consumerpedia podcast for more consumer news you can use at bit.ly.com/consumerpedia. Digital coupons From page 35

By Barbara Shapiro

Living within a budget As a financial planner, one of the saddest things I see is when people, even with wealth, cannot live within their means.

At an early age, this concept is hard to grasp. A child really understands it when he or she sees the person benefiting from theFordonation.example, make a donation to a soup kitchen, but also volunteer there so the child can see the money goes to help feed those that are struggling. They might see another kid their age and likely get a “warm fuzzy” feeling from helping someone in Haveneed.other good tips for children to learn about money? Please email me at bshapiro@hms-financial.com. I’d love to read them.

38 Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

Without confusing them, it does also help them to know that buying the cheapest item is not always the best decision, especially if it is an inferior product or service. As kids become teenagers, help them understand that there is a big difference between the words “need” and “want.” If they can get the lesson of “buy what you need, but don’t always buy what you want,” they will likely save more. Help them understand that happiness then comes from having some savings, because it leads to “peace of mind.” Before kids move out on their own, let them know they are making decisions now that impact themselves when they are older. If they do not save for retirement, they are likely cheating themselves out of some happiness they deserve later in life.

By Kiplinger Consumer News Service

Post office rates rise for ‘holidays’ again

For the third year in a row, the United States Postal Service has announced a rate increase for what they call “peak holiday season.” If you think that means shipping is going to cost more after, say, Black Friday, you’re wrong: Surge pricing starts Oct. 2 and runs through Jan. 22, 2023. The end date is a new twist: In 2020 and 2021, these surcharges ended Dec. 26. As the calendar years might indicate, these price surges have their origins in “increased expenses and heightened demand for online shopping package volume due to the coronavirus pandemic and expected holiday ecommerce,” to quote the USPS in 2020.The 2022-2023 increase is explained as necessary “to cover extra handling costs to ensure a successful peak season.” The increases vary by package size, service and zone, and the range can be seen at this link: bit.ly/USPSrates. Retail consumers — that is, people using USPS to ship their own items — may most directly notice the increase of $0.95 to every USPS Priority Mail flat-rate item. Commercial rates are also due for increases.Theprice surge still needs approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which is almost certain to give its okay. But that process reflects USPS’s singular status as a government agency. Private shippers can — and do — raise rates when they feel they can. A range of surcharges from UPS and FedEx are already currently in effect. If you have complaints, compliments or suggestions for the USPS, call 1-800-ASKUSPS (1-800-275-8777). With rate-related comments, see prc.gov or call (202) 7896800.

Discuss — and demonstrate — giving Spending money does not always have to be self-centered. For example, donating to support a charity can bring happiness, even though that money is going to help other people.

— Take advantage of a state pharmaceutical assistance program to reduce your drug costs. D.C. residents can save up to 75% at pharmacies; download a free card at msdc.org or call (202) 466-1800. For Maryland’s senior prescription assistance program, see marylandspdap.com or call 1800-551-5995.

✓ ✓ FREE to all age 50 & better and to ALL Employers, including Fed/State/Local Governments

— Apply for a prescription exception. Several readers have been successful in reducing their Part D drug expenses using the “prescription exception” process. Suppose you wish to be prescribed a drug that is too expensive for you in your Part D plan or is currently unavailable through your Part D plan. You may ask your doctor to document the necessity of that specific drug, indicating why an alternate cheaper drug is not effective.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Supported by The Morris and Gwendo Friday, October 14, 2022, 10 a Friday, February 17 & April 14, For

One reader indicated that, using this process, the monthly cost of her Eliquis prescription was reduced from $700 per month to Details$48.ofthe program can be found at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website, CMS.gov. Search on terms “CMS prescription exceptions.” Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com. © 2022 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

— Find a drug plan that offers additional coverage in the Medicare drug coverage gap. When you enter the drug coverage gap, the cost of your medications increases. There may be a plan that reduces your costs in the gap. However, you have to determine if it carries a higher premium that outweighs the benefits. Medicare.gov, a website operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has a page that allows you to explore plan options and determine if there is a one that will reduce your overall costs.

attend

Workshops

Northern Virginia Expos

Steps to lower prescription drug costs

and Reinvent YRetool,

The Virginia Drug Card is a free prescription assistance program for Virginia residents; see virginiadrugcard.com or call 1-866-413-9778.

By Elliot Raphaelson

current trends

Yoourself

Jobseekers

— Apply for Extra Help. Medicare and Social Security offer a way for families with limited resources to get help that will reduce drug cost. Your income level and level of some financial resources will determine your eligibility. If you are eligible for Extra Help, your out-ofpocket drug costs will be reduced, and in some cases your costs for a specific drug can be completely eliminated. To find out more, go sentativetion.applybymedicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs.toYoucanapplyatyourlocalSSAofficeorphone.Youcancall1-800-772-1213tobyphoneorobtainmoreinforma-Icalledthisnumber,andtherepre-Ispokewithconfirmedthatyou

•••moreVisitEmaCal(703s lyn Cafritz Foundation .m. - 2 p.m. 2023, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. information ab our website il SeniorExpo@Acc l Ann Happ (301) 2 3) 652-1518 out the 55-4209essJCA.orgExposor

Jobseekers, morning on and relevant to age with from Noon - 2:00 p.m. ge,Rechar at

can apply for this program by phone.

topics

Made possible by a grant frroom the Montgomery County Govt.

Employers

See our website for additional date

Contact your drug manufacturer to determine if there is an assistance program for your expensive drugs. Medicare.com also has a webpage to assist your search using the drug name as a keyword.

JCACAA’’S VIRTUAL 50+ EMPLOYM

ENT EXPOS

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Law & Money 39 REGISTERVirtualExpos.AccessJCA.orgWEBSITE:OURatYAYTODA

If you use Part D of Medicare to help cover your prescription costs, Medicare suggests five ways to lower your costs.

Montgomery County, Maryland Expos

— Switch to a generic prescription. If you’re using a name-brand prescription that is expensive — the costs of many have increased recently — ask your doctor if there is a generic alternative. You can also determine whether using a mail-order pharmacy will reduce your costs.

— See if your drug’s manufacturer has a pharmacy assistance program Many manufacturers offer assistance programs, based on your financial situation, that will reduce your costs. For example, readers who take the prescription drugs Eliquis and Dexilant have found programs that reduce their costs significantly.

50+ Jobseekers! Network

40 Law & Money | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

I often work with my clients three to five years ahead of their anticipated retirement to fine-tune their plan, reviewing everything from financial expectations, probable lifestyle changes or decisions, to oftenoverlooked non-financial considerations.

It may take decades over the course of a career to save for retirement, but there is a small and defined window of time leading up to one’s golden years that is exceptionally critical when it comes to planning.

Another element to proactively plan for is building a larger cash nest egg that can be pulled from early in retirement. Once someone starts spending from their portfolio in retirement, I recommend having six to 12 months of cash to cover upcomingAmidexpenses.thecurrent market environment, if someone has the financial wherewithal while on a steady income stream, sock away these future funds that may be tapped later in life. What are your expectations? Being financially prepared to retire is one thing, but being emotionally and mentally ready is another. Retirement can be a sizable time frame of one’s life — 20 to 30 years or even more. Often, I see people entering retirement and asking themselves, “Now what?” Not only can this be a financial detriment (perhaps leading to frivolous, unorganized spending on travel or hobbies), it can leave a person feeling unfulfilled during this stage of life. In the years before retirement, determine what your ideal lifestyle should look like. How do you want to spend your days? What is important to keep you mentally stimulated? Will your spouse/partner join you?

While inflation and a potential recession may be on the minds of many today, it’s important to remain disciplined in an investment approach. Keep a long-term perspective and don’t let current market noise distract or influence notable portfolio changes. At most, the current market environment may lend an opportunity to rebalance. If a pre-retiree investor is now underweight in stocks due to the market dip, they should consider allocating more bonds to stocks to get back to their target allocation.

By Julie Virta

How will the current market environment affect your future?

Planning to retire in the next 3-5 years?

Having a map or outline defined in the years before retirement will ultimately provide financial and emotional comfort and stability for the future. Below is a roundup of significant elements to think through in the final years ahead of retirement:

Three to five years before retirement, if time allows, treat this window as a dress rehearsal. For example, if volunteering is important, join one or two organizations in advance to ensure that the activity and time spent will align with your future retirement objectives. Is your spouse on the same page? I recently had a client couple decide to retire at the same time, even though one partner was almost 10 years away from traditional retirement age. The rationale? It was imperative for this couple to experience this new phase of life together. While this scenario may not work for all, think through the relationship dynamic years before you plan to leave the workforce. For some, having one spouse continue in their career and remain in that “9 to 5” mindset works; it doesn’t upset the household balance that was in play for years prior. For others, it might spur a range of emotions that otherwise weren’t thought about in advance. Of equal significance is discussing longterm lifestyle plans. Upon retirement, will you move to be closer to children and grandchildren, or move to a more tax-advantageous state? Will you travel internationally or purchase a vacation home? Think about retirement goals and what they look like both individually and as a couple. Mapping this perceived lifestyle out in advance will help both partners stay on the same page to enjoy a successful retirement.

By Alice Shapin

An easy walk from Third Street South is the iconic Naples Pier, which attracts anglers and sightseers. The pier, made of Brazilian walnut hardwood, now stretches 1,000 feet out into the Gulf of Mexico and has restrooms and a concession stand selling bait, food and beach supplies.

The beach scene Naples has a slew of first-rate beaches, each offering something a little different, so you’ll find no shortage of choices. If you like lively, you’ll enjoy five-acre Vanderbilt Beach Park , near many hotels and restaurants.Wantaplace with no high-rises or development? Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, located on a barrier island, provides a pristine habitat that attracts bald eagles, ospreys, owls, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees and, yes, nature lovers. It also has some of the best swimming beaches in the area. There are concessions with snacks, drinks and rentals of umbrellas, beach chairs, paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! 41

From April to June, you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins and stingrays. It’s also one of the best places to view a magical sunset.

Leisure & Travel Leisure &

We had read the exceptional reviews for LaPlaya’s signature restaurant, so we decided to stay for dinner. A splurge, the restaurant with a terrace afforded us grand views of the beach. Sipping a “Cocotini” (made of Ciroc Coconut Vodka, Sobieski vanilla Vodka and Coconut Cream) next to lit torches added to the tropical feeling. The servers were very attentive, and my filet mignon was so tender that I didn’t need a steak knife.

FLORIDAVISITOFCOURTESYFARRELL,PATRICKANDCROSSW.PETERBYPHOTO

The area is a blend of historic and modern architecture, showcasing columns, archways, recessed plazas with fountains, whimsical public art, and pedestrian-friendly promenades — all overflowing with a kaleidoscope of colorful tropical blooms. A great way to experience this area is to stroll and wander in and out of the shops. We often sat outdoors at a café in the evenings: the perfect front-row seat to people-watch. You’ll definitely see lots of paisley prints and pink and greens that scream Lilly Pulitzer.

Catch a sunset at a waterfront restaurant on Marco Island, the largest among the few inhabited islands among Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands in the Gulf of Mexico.

Clam Pass Park is home to wildlife, native plants, a long boardwalk, and a perfect white powdery sand beach. To get to the beach, you can take a tram or walk three-quarters of a mile on a scenic boardwalk lined with mangroves and coastal habitats. It’s a great bird- and sunsetwatching spot. Lowdermilk Park is located in a beautiful residential area. The wide beach offers visitor parking, public restrooms, a snack bar, and a large rental area for chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. More beauty awaits at the Naples Botanical Garden. The 170-acre oasis features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics from around the world. There are water features and waterfalls. And if you always have an orchid blooming at home like I do, you’ll love the LaGrippe Orchid Garden.

Paradise Coast: Naples and Marco Island

Public golf resorts Being experienced hackers, we were excited to play golf, since some say Naples is the Golf Capital of the World (but a lot of places claim that). While many clubs are private, 30 out of 90 clubs are open to the public. Three luxury resorts, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, the Naples Grande Beach Resort and the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, which we played, have championship courses.

Now is the time to plan a fall foliage trip. See our advice on page 44. See FLORIDA, page 43

A dolphin plays in the bow wave of a boat off the coast of Naples, Florida, part of an 18-mile stretch on the Gulf side of the state called its Paradise Coast. Naples is known for top-notch beaches, excellent seafood and its 90 golf courses.

It had been two years since my husband and I had flown anywhere for a vacation. We felt like bears emerging from hibernation — or maybe more like Rip Van Winkle. So, last spring, not quite ready to travel abroad and risk being stranded if we got Covid, we chose as our first venture the “Paradise Coast” of Southwest Florida. Along this 18-mile stretch are a pair of gems, Naples and Marco Island, each with its own vibe. Both have beautiful sugar-soft white beaches, warm Gulf waters and great golfThecourses.Naples area offers miles of beaches, calm waters, culture, top-rated restaurants, and an abundance of championship golfIncourses.1887,agroup of wealthy Kentuckians purchased the entire town of Naples. They immediately built a pier 600 feet into the Gulf of Mexico with an unusual “T” shape, allowing large ships to dock, importing goods and wealth to the area. Over the years, Naples became an “it” winter escape for the rich and famous: Thomas Edison, Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr and Gary Cooper. A place to people-watch Today, Naples is home to the second highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the U.S. The city displays its wealth with multimillion-dollar mansions, perfectly manicured landscapes and upscale shoppingNaples’districts.artsand music scene thrives on Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, with dozens of art galleries and several live music venues.

42 Leisure & Travel | Subscribe online! See how below SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON WB922 See VOLUNTOURING, page 43

• Determine if the sleeping arrangements are compatible with your needs. You may sleep on cots, in single beds or tents, for example, or you may have a roommate.

• Determine if meals can accommodate special needs.

• Understand the costs and what your payments cover. Transportation to and from the site? Insurance? Some expenses may be tax deductible.

Unique experiences await Many projects take place off the usual tourist tracks. In Botswana, we camped three hours from the capital city, Gaborone. We visited a village in the bush of thatchroofed rondavels, some made of cement reinforced with bottles and cans. People cooked outdoors, and many sat on grass mats on the ground when socializing.

A few tips:

Mentally and physically challenging Since volunteer projects are led by experts, they’re usually a learning experience.

What to expect Thoroughly researching the project ahead of time can enhance the experience.

Experiences like these can get you out of your usual bubble, promote cross-cultural understanding and friendship, and build respect for other cultures. Some people do not have compatible travel partners. For singles, volunteer vacations are a way to travel without a companion and be with like-minded people. Lifelong friendships and even romantic matches have been made on some voluntouring projects. Volunteer travel requires the resources to travel, but equally important, it requires a willing spirit and an open mind. A volunteer vacation can be a once-in-a-lifetime, transformational experience.

• Understand weather conditions and your tolerance for hot, cold, wet or windy days.

By Glenda C. Booth At nighttime in Botswana’s pitch-black Okavango Delta, I sat astride a 1,000pound Nile crocodile while a scientist probed the croc’s posterior. A hippopotamus snorted within earshot.

• Understand the physical requirements and be realistic about your capabilities. Projects may require strenuous walking, standing for extended periods, or lifting heavy equipment, for example.

“Voluntouring” for mind, body and spirit

In the French Alps, I studied marmot behavior, videoing their antics when they popped out of underground dens. There’s hardly anything more enchanting than two marmots frolicking against the backdrop of an alpine wildflower meadow.

For “citizen science” projects, volunteers help professionals answer questions, analyze trends and advance scientific knowledge. In the Andorran Pyrenees, for instance, I measured the girth of trees so scientists could analyze how climate change is affecting alpine habitat. In Andorra, checking traps and tagging small mammals in mountain pastures tells scientists if climate change is affecting the animals’ range and movement. In the Galapagos Islands, I learned about Charles Darwin’s natural laboratory and threats to these precious islands as I macheted invasive vines to save native plants. Volunteering enhances physical health as well. A 2017 Purdue University study found that people ages 70 to 85 who volunteer regularly are healthier than those ages 58 to 69 who volunteer infrequently.

Years later, while visiting California’s Catalina Island, I searched the sand on hands and knees for nurdles, plastic orbs the size of a pencil eraser. On both trips, I was helping scientists with their field work on a so-called volunteer vacation. In the past decade, I’ve volunteered for eight projects with Earthwatch, a nonprofit that pairs volunteers with researchers all over the world.There’s a range of opportunities all over the globe that combine travel and volunteering (nicknamed “voluntouring”), from repairing hurricane-damaged roofs to teaching English. For many, these mindexpanding adventures beat golfing or sipping margaritas poolside. Whether it’s building homes or counting birds, volunteer vacations can be a way to make the world a better place. You can help with medical care, work with youngsters, or save endangered turtles. Most volunteers come home feeling that they’ve made a difference.

These trips often require physical activity; for instance, in Andorra, my group hiked three to six miles a day to research sites. In the Galapagos Islands, we navigated over sharp-edged, volcanic, vine-covered rocks. Helping on a Colorado archaeological excavation, I had to squirm around in a one-square-meter hole and haul buckets of dirt to the However,sifter.most projects also offer more passive activities. Archaeology volunteers can either dig in the sun or help organize and label artifacts instead. Some projects require volunteers to mark checklists and enter data. Typing numbers into boxes on a computer screen can be mind-numbing, but not in a Galapagos laboratory amid inquisitive scientists. Other programs, especially surveys, strengthen observation skills. In Greece’s Amvrakikos Gulf, observing dolphins as they arced out of the water, I had to look for distinguishing marks or nips on the fins to identify dolphins individually.

In Vonitsa, Greece, I could eat like a local at many traditional outdoor restaurants, where managers and patrons were very welcoming. In the French Alps, I got spoiled on fine cheese fondues, area specialties.

For a Louisiana loon-counting project, we eschewed busy New Orleans, and were stationed 63 miles south in watery Venice, a fascinating area where many Vietnamese refugees settled and now fish as they did in their home country.

• Make sure the insurance provided by the sponsoring organization is comprehensive. Buying travel insurance and extra health insurance can give you some peace of mind.

al-solutions.unteerforever.com/program/cross-cultur-volFlorida From page 41 Voluntouring From page 42

Other favorites were oysters, tropical ceviche, fresh bread and pan-seared red snapper.

•

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Makes a great gift! | Leisure & Travel 43 LIVE ADVENTUREYOUR

• Plan for emergencies. Health care facilities, medicines and medical personnel abroad might not be comparable to what you have near home. Take all supplies recommended, especially footwear and outerwear. Some projects require specialized gear like headlamps for night work. But don’t overpack, since you’ll likely be lugging your luggage yourself. Expect to be with others and busy. You may not have much privacy or down time. If traveling abroad, study beforehand the country, its governance, culture and possible expectations based on your age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion. To search for a trip, go to volunteerinternational.org, voluntourism.com, or earthwatch.org. Road Scholar offers some “service learning” vacations at roadscholar.org. Also consider cross-cultural trips at

Marco Island’s natural beauty South of Naples, Marco Island is the largest and only developed land in Florida’s “Ten Thousand Islands.” Don’t be put off by its high-rises, malls and shopping strips. Concentrate on the fact that the island is surrounded by the Gulf on one side and pristine mangrove estuaries on the other. Despite the proximity of two beautiful public beaches, we immediately wished we had a boat. Just about every house on Marco Island has a canal in its back yard that weaves out to the Gulf. Many homes are available to rent through Vrbo, Airbnb or local rental sites. Make sure a boat is included (or at least a kayak). Or rent one for your stay. Luckily, we learned about several boat tours, from fishing excursions to shelling and birding tours. You can even take a guided kayak tour through mangroves (which grow where saltwater and freshwater meet), where you’ll learn about bottlenose dolphins, manatees, sea otters, white pelicans, egrets and more. We took a day trip to Keewaydin Island, a barrier island between Naples and Marco Island. With no cars, roads or bridges, it’s accessible only by boat. You can take the Hemingway Water Shuttle or rent a Thereboat.you’ll find soft sandy beaches for swimming, unique shells galore, stretches of beach to walk along or relax on, and local wildlife, including frolicking dolphins. Instead of food trucks, food boats docked on the shoreline serve grouper sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and more.Back on Marco Island, fresh local seafood is king, and it’s easy to find a restaurant with great views. Shrimp, grouper, snapper, mahimahi and sea bass are on every menu. And of course, key lime pie is a must. If you go Southwest Airlines has direct flights from BWI to Fort Myers (RSW) starting at $260 round-trip. Naples is located 43 miles from the airport; Marco Island is 47 miles.

Indoor fun While I love being outdoors, Naples does offer places to visit if you want a little culture or a respite from the sun. For an all-encompassing look at both local and international art, visit the Baker Museum. The museum’s lobby showcases a signature piece by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. Depending on the schedule, you may catch first-rate traveling exhibitions from major collections. If you want to learn about the history of Naples, take a guided tour at The Palm Cottage House Museum, the oldest building in town. In the northern section of the city is The Philharmonic Center for the Arts, where you can go for theater, dance and classical and popular music concerts.

During peak season, December through April, temperatures are comfortable, but prices are high. In the fall and spring, the temperatures are in the 80s. Winter temperatures are in the mid-70s. After spring break, the rates at hotels and rentals drop, but summer temperatures are in the 90s with high humidity. Unless you have a free place to stay, it’s best to choose Naples as a home base. It has plenty of condos and homes to rent, hotels from high-end to more “reasonable” depending on the season, and cuisine for all taste buds. And it’s a short distance to other fun and adventurous places. If you don’t want to stay in Naples’ highend hotels, two more moderately priced hotels are Cove Inn on Naples Bay and Inn at Pelican Bay. On Marco Island, high-end resorts include JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, Marriott’s Crystal Shores, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, and Marco Beach Ocean Resort. For more information about the area, visit paradisecoast.com.

•

Time to plan fall leaf-peeping excursions

When to go Most of the usual fall foliage “best times” maps haven’t yet posted 2022 data and cover only 2021. The best nationwide current-year source I’ve found is outdated.Ozarksfromandfoliage,seeker.io/places-to-see-fall-whichprovidesdatesplacesfor14topcentersNewEnglandtothetoGlacierPark.Adate-limitedsearchfor“2022fallfoliage”returnsabunchoflocalcurrent-yearsummaries—especiallyforNewEngland—butsofar,thenationwidestuffisstill

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Local tourist trains Most of the country’s popular tourist trains have reopened, and many of those feature local fall color trips. Among those recommended pre-Covid: Mount Washington Cog Railway (thecog.com); Durango & Silverton, (durangotrain.com); Adirondack Scenic Railroad, (adirondackrr.com); Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (brscenic.com); Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (cvsr.com); and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (gsmr.com). But dozens of others also feature fall foliage packages, many behind vintage steam locomotives. In almost all cases, these are short, one-day out-and-back excursions. Whatever your preference, start planning. But be warned: Some sources say that the unusually hot weather in much of the country this year means that leaf displays will be less colorful than usual. Send email to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and check out Ed’s website at rail-guru.com. © 2022 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TIPS By Ed Perkins

In case you haven’t already started, it’s time to plan for any fall foliage trips you might want to take. Although New England has pushed the idea that it is fall foliage central, you can find good fall foliage viewing throughout much of the U.S. and Canada — maples, oaks and such east of the Mississippi; aspens in thePeakRockies.times typically move from north to south between mid-September and mid-November. And you can view foliage displays as a road trip, bus tour or train ride. You can make it an extended week-long tour or a day trip.

TRAVEL

A big advantage of a package is that operators normally secure accommodations in destination areas that can sell out early to the general public. Amtrak itineraries I’m a big fan of rail travel, so I spent some time looking for Amtrak options. This year, one itinerary looked promising: the newly extended Ethan Allen Express between Burlington, Vermont and New York via the Green Mountains and the Hudson Valley, coupled in a loop with the Vermonter between Essex Junction (just six miles from Burlington) and New York via the Berkshires and western Connecticut. Unfortunately, schedules for both full-day trips favor southbound travel. Both trains require reservations. Equally unfortunately, Amtrak still hasn’t resumed its pre-Covid consensus favorite foliage trip — the Adirondack from New York to Montreal — that used to carry a dome car on alternate days. For an out-and-back day trip, consider a Downeaster round-trip from Boston to Brunswick, Maine.

Where to go If you aren’t sure where and when you want to go, a good place to start is TripSavvy’s “Complete Guide.” Individual pages summarize “state-by-state guide,” “best places,” and “best National Parks” lists. Although the current posting dates from 2020, the basic “best place” information doesn’t change much from year to year.

Road trip or tour package Most people think of fall foliage as a road trip. Local-area fall foliage websites typically include driving directions, many with links to local visitor activities, tours andLockaccommodations.inyouraccommodations as early as you can, and take care to avoid football weekends at big-time college towns. Day trips out of your hometown or some other center are easy to find, and if you want to visit, say, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, you can fly to Knoxville and rent a car. If you plan a longer trip, your main challenge will be to lock in hotels at popular spots. Tour operators great and small operate foliage tours in the most popular spots, ranging from day excursions to week-long regional trips. A quick search of “Fall foliage tours,” including a base city, will return a bewildering variety of options, ranging from budget to luxury. Almost all will be entirely or mostly by tour bus; the few that advertise “rail” trips usually include only a day or two of rail travel, with the rest by bus. And most extended tours include a lot of nonfoliage stops.

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The Color Purple blossoms at Signature

“Mysterious Ways,” sung brilliantly by the company, represents gospel; “Push Da Button,” sung with energy by Danielle J. Summons, represents rhythm and blues, and “Miss Celie’s Pants,” sung and danced beautifully by Nova Y. Payton, represents swing.

By Mark Dreisonstok Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel The Color Purple is a story of triumph in which a young Black woman overcomes seemingly impossible circumstances, including abusive relationships, racism and personal tragedy, to grow into a beautiful, independent woman. Stephen Spielberg directed the 1985 film adaptation, starring Whoopi Goldberg as the protagonist Celie, and Oprah Winfrey as her friend Sophia. Twenty years later, a musical based on the book and movie ran on Broadway for three years; in 2015 it won a Tony Award for best revival.

While this show, which runs at the Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia, through October 9, is extraordinarily compelling, it also contains a number of disturbing situations and mature themes that may be inappropriate for young Performanceschildren.are Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $40 to $108. For more details and tickets, go to sigtheatre.org or call the box office at (703) 820-9771. See page 46. Y. Payton stars as Celie in The Color Purple, a musical based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Alice Walker. The Signature Theatre’s production runs through Oct. 9. Here, sisters Nettie (Kaiyla Gross) and Celie share a laugh. (202)

282-3080. BEACON BITS Sept. 19

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“The Color Purple: A New Musical,” a film version of the musical presented by Winfrey, will debut in movie theaters in December.Thisfall, Arlington’s Signature Theatre is offering a production of the musical that warms the heart. While the novel relates Celie’s story as a series of letters, and the film adaptation does so via an epic narrative, the musical by Marsha Norman relies on music to drive the story. Varied styles of music Different songs are written in different styles, representing the rich and varied contributions of Black American composers.

The gospel element is particularly strong, as the play ends with the company singing a resounding “Amen.” A live orchestra, conducted by keyboardist Angie Benson, enhances the musical experience. The cast is extremely talented, both in terms of acting and voice. Payton convincingly portrays Celie’s journey from lack of self-confidence to self-worth in voice, movement and gesture. Torrey Linder is equally moving as Celie’s initially brutal husband, Mister, who also evolves through the course of the show to a form of redemption. Frenchie Davis, as Sofia, is a standout character who also reveals two sides, first opposing and later encouraging Celie’s growingDanielleindependence.J.Summons is compelling as the passionate Shug Avery, a character who helps Celie in her journey to selfworth. The two actresses have an unusual chemistry as their characters bond over their personal tragedies.

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Say you saw it in the Beacon 45

There is much discussion of the search for God, ranging from despairing comments, to the notion of God imbued with love and with nature itself. As the preacher in the play says, “No one knows what the Lord has in store for us.”

The show is admirable for its convincing portrayals of the hardship of the lives of characters caught in the racism and lack of opportunity in the South in the first half of the 20th However,century.theshow is also universal in its themes of triumph over despair, yearning for love, self-discovery, and the quest for self-worth, exemplified during the course of the show as purple blooms appearing on a once-barren tree.

Arts & Style Play the accordion or mandolin? There are groups you can join.

Kaiyla Gross, as Celie’s deceased sister Nettie, is similarly excellent. Clever, effective set

The scenic design by Tony Cisek is a wonder. It at first seems to be a spartan porch with a few chairs. However, the siding of the house opens periodically to show scenes from the past, or in far-away places. Coupled with lighting effects, this is extremely effective in conveying different times and places.

SCHULMANMARGOTBYPHOTO WNO ATON S GE Based onthehitmotionpicturestarring PatrickSway Order 2 for ticke WhoopiGandze,DemiMoore online at TobysDinn e W ON SNOSeason Su b023 ts call 10-730-83114 wsall shotrical bookings,ture of theao the naDue t oldberg! ALE!rTheatre.comscriptions or visit o changet tjecs are subateand d STUDIO ART CLASS Join Dominique Hughes in reviewing methods of drawing, paint application, color formation and visual representation at the library. Bring your own pad, pencils, erasers, sharpeners; supplies may be available. The class takes place Mon., Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Register for free at dclibrary.libnet.info/event/6858805 or call

DiGiovanni is especially fond of the accordion because it is so versatile. It can “simultaneously produce melody, harmony and rhythm in a huge variety of ways and is very expressive,” he explained.

The Mandoleers, a Washington-area mandolin and guitar orchestra, was founded in 1923 by Herman von Bernewitz as the Takoma Mandoleers. He served as its conductor for the next 73 years.

By Glenda C. Booth

The mandolin originated in Italy. Smaller than a guitar, it is similar to the lute and oud, an Arabic string instrument. The Chinese version is called a “pipa.” A mandolin has eight strings and is tuned like a violin. Mandolin players use a pick to make sound. Performers Falk and Graham play vintage mandolins, made in the 1920s. Their repertoire includes classical music by composers like Beethoven, Bach, Sammartini, Telemann and Brahms. They also play waltzes and rags, and pop tunes like the Beatles’ “When I’m 64” and “Hey Jude,” as well as a Russian folk tune titled “Bright Shines the Moon.” During her career, Falk worked at the Voice of America and had jobs tutoring and in real estate. Graham was a budget officer for the federal government prior to her 2015Falkretirement.andGraham play in the orchestra “for the joy of making music with others and for others,” Graham said. Falk said she likes making new friends of all ages while learning to play a new instrument: “It’s never too late to learn.” For forthcoming events and to explore playing in the orchestra, visit mandoleers.org.

WMAS meets once a month at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church in Falls Church, Virginia, for a “playalong,” or jam session. They also perform concerts when invited and always hold a December member concert. It was “divine intervention” that got DiGiovanni into playing the accordion in retirement, he said. He worked for Mobil Oil for 32 years, retired in 2000 and joined the board of directors of a Mobil retirees’ club. His first task was to organize a Christmas party and find some entertainment.

Playing music for others and with others

Accordion aficionados Peter DiGiovanni believes that “music is a unique form of communication.” The retiree from Oakton, Virginia “communicates” by playing an accordion with the Washington Metropolitan Accordion Society (WMAS), a group founded in 2003. Today, the group’s 20 to 50 musicians range in age from their mid-20s to their 80s. “We all love music,” said DiGiovanni, president and music director of the society. “An accordion just makes it sound better.”

DiGiovanni invited the Washington Balalaika Society, and he played piano. “As a lark,” he took his father’s accordion along, which he had played by ear off and on as a teenager, and played some songs on it. Soon after the holiday party, he went to a WMAS gathering, joined, and is now president. DiGiovanni can play 1,500 songs by ear. Most members of the WMAS are not professional musicians but play for fun and get together once a month. A few are paid to play at restaurants and Oktoberfest events. The accordionists play “just about everything,” DiGiovanni said: American standards, rock and roll, light classical, Broadway, Cajun, Irish, ragtime, jazz, polkas and waltzes.“Weplay for the occasion,” DiGiovanni said.“I enjoy playing for others and with other musicians. It is very satisfying to take something that is part of me and share it with others.” The club’s next guest artist concert, featuring Stas Venglevski, will be on September 25. Their next member concert will be at Oktoberfest on October 16. For more information, visit washingtonaccordions.org.

The first time Alexandrian Lynn Falk, 87, heard a mandolin orchestra’s tremolo at a concert, “It was like butterflies singing. It was so beautiful,” she said. That was 40 years ago. She’s been playing a mandolin ever since with The Mandoleers, a Washington-area orchestra. Her friend Kathleen Graham was moved as well when she attended a concert at the Smithsonian Institution. “It was like a little harpsichord — so beautiful,” Graham recalled.She found a mandolin at an estate sale, took lessons in 1995, and today is the orchestra’s first chair mandolinist. After hearing her first concert, “There was no turning back,” said Graham, a resident of Mount Vernon, Virginia.

A new conductor, Nicoletta Moss Miller, has just come aboard. She was an assistant conductor for the Greensboro, North Carolina, Symphony Orchestra and a guest conductor for the Washington-area Levine School of Music. What’s a mandolin orchestra?

In a mandolin orchestra, the instruments are the mandolin, mandola, mandocello, classical guitar and double bass. Each musician has a specific seat and plays a part, like in a symphony orchestra. The Mandoleers usually have around 20 musicians, but that number can vary.

46 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

“It sounds like no other instrument. This translates into a positive listening experience for our audiences.” The instrument is known colloquially as “the squeezebox” because musicians squeeze the bellows in and draw them out.

EventsSep/Oct

NSO Pops Presenting Sponsor

Concert Hall

Leonard Bernstein’s MASS

John Storgårds conducts Rachmaninoﬀ & Prokoﬁev | Leila Josefowicz plays Adams

The NSO Music Director Chair is generously endowed by the Roger and Victoria Sant Trust.

The NSO Season Opening Gala is always a must-see event, especially when one of today’s most in-demand artists joins the party! Be part of the excitement as Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov returns to electrify D.C. audiences with Rachmaninoﬀ’s thrilling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Sep. 24 | Concert Hall

Julian Rachlin plays Tchaikovsky | Noseda conducts Respighi & Casella

Yo-Yo Ma and Paquito D’Rivera

Kennedy-Center.org (202) 467-4600 Groups call (202) 416-8400For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales

NSO Labor Day Concert

Join us for a FREE concert at D.C.’s state-of-the-art Entertainment & Sports Arena, presented as part of the NSO’s In Your Neighborhood series! This performance will be conducted by Kellen Gray and feature a local Gogo band plus special guest singers. Arrive early to enjoy pre-concert festivities and events! Sep. 22 | Entertainment & Sports Arena Season Opening Gala Concert: Gianandrea Noseda & Daniil Trifonov

Join us for a FREE outdoor concert at D.C.’s Fort Stanton Recreation Center—presented as part of the NSO’s In Your Neighborhood series! In Your Neighborhood is a Kennedy Center engagement initiative that celebrates local communities through music with free concerts, chamber performances, in-school visits, masterclasses, and more. Arrive early to enjoy preconcert festivities and events! Sep. 21 | Fort Stanton Recreation Center

Virtuoso violinist Leila Josefowicz performs the spellbinding Violin Concerto by her frequent collaborator, Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer John Adams. Renowned conductor John Storgårds leads the program, bookended by Prokoﬁev’s playful “Classical” Symphony and Rachmaninoﬀ’s vivacious, melancholic Symphony No. 3. Sep. 29–Oct. 1 | Concert Hall

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack join the NSO for a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration! Each night, the rock and roll legend will present a completely unique set featuring hits from the expansive Grateful Dead catalogue, Bobby’s solo albums, and more. Original orchestration will be provided by Stanford professor Dr. Giancarlo Aquilanti. Oct. 5–9 | Concert Hall

Imagine spending your birthday at the museum! Join Mason and his friends for a musical and scientiﬁc scavenger hunt through the many exhibits that make any museum special in this National Symphony Orchestra concert with music and story by Karen LeFrak based on her book of the same name. Oct. 15 |

The NSO’s free annual Labor Day weekend concert returns to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol! This year’s event features Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leading the orchestra in music by Aaron Copland, John Williams, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, and others. Special guest Jimmie Herrod (Pink Martini, America’s Got Talent) joins the celebration to perform favorites by Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell, and more! Sep. 4 | West Lawn of the US Capitol

NSO Family Concert: Sleepover at the Museum

NSO Pops: Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack

Noseda leads Prokoﬁev’s rarely performed Symphony No. 6, a masterpiece hailed by many as his greatest symphony. Profoundly relevant for our times, the work depicts Prokoﬁev’s spiritual journey to understand the tragedies of war and the mystery of death. David Hardy takes the spotlight in Britten’s intense, gorgeous Cello Symphony. Oct. 22 & 23 |

Noseda conducts Prokoﬁev’s Sixth Symphony | David Hardy plays Britten

Blue Series Sponsor

MaPaquitoD’RiveraJoseLuisGomez

NSO In Your Neighborhood

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 47

As the concluding event of Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Leonard Bernstein’s MASS returns 51 years after its world premiere at the Center’s 1971 opening gala. Directed by Alison Moritz and choreographed by Hope Boykin, this monumental work returns to the Concert Hall in a dynamic staging and features the NSO and conductor James Gaﬃgan along with 2020 Marian Anderson Award winner Will Liverman as the Celebrant. Sep. 15, 17 & 18 | Concert Hall NSO In Your Neighborhood

Two superstars LIVE! Join cellist Yo-Yo Ma and clarinetist/composer Paquito D’Rivera in the world premiere of D’Rivera’s The Journey. This inspired evening also includes the NSO performing works by George Gershwin, Arturo Márquez, and Leonard Bernstein— along with D’Rivera’s gorgeous orchestral piece The Elephant and the Clown Sep. 8 | Wolf Trap

NSO at Wolf Trap: The Journey:

Concert Hall

Experience the ﬁre and passion of Tchaikovsky’s spectacular Violin Concerto performed by “charismatic and captivating” violin star Julian Rachlin (Bachtrack). The program also includes music by Italian composers Respighi and Casella, making an inspired showcase of Gianandrea Noseda’s vision and admiration for his native country. Oct. 27–29 | Concert Hall

Yo-YoDaniilTrifonov

The Clarice Smith Opera SeriesSupport provided by The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts, and The Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation

FREE opera and fun at Audi Field! Carmen Sun., Sep. 25, 2022 at 4 p.m. Gates open for pre-opera fun at 2 p.m. Celebrate the 17th season of free opera broadcasts by joining Washington National Opera on the Field! Gates open early for tons of entertaining activities including photo-ops, chances to win fabulous prizes, performances, and more. Then settle in for a broadcast of Carmen, Bizet’s blockbuster opera. Visit Kennedy-Center.org/OperaOnTheField for more information.

48 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON WNO’s Presenting Sponsor Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars Washington National Opera thanks Mrs. Eugene B. Casey for her extraordinary support

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One member said that before she attended Good Company, she expected to hear “a bunch of seniors complaining,” Rice remembered. But after the hour was up, she said, “I’ve never been around a group of more positive and engaging people.”

Beacon | Arts & Style 49 Air Force Memorial ~ FUTURE CONCERTS! ~ Chamber Players Series September 22, 29 at 7:30 p.m. The Lyceum | Alexandria, Virginia October 14 at 8 p.m. Old Town Hall | Fairfax, Virginia THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND WASHINGTON, D.C. THE U.S. AIR FORCE 75th BIRTHDAY CONCERT Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. www.music.af.mil/USAFBand ~ COONCEERTS Chamber PlayersSeri FREE! No tickets needed. ies ember 22, 29 at 7:30 p.m ceumm Alexandriia, Virginia October 144 at p.m Oldd Townw Halll Fairr ffax, V w ww.music.af.mil / U S AFBan d Pl s Seri For more info, please visit our websiteFor more visit our website. Dance • Entertainment • Theatre • MusicF. SCOTT FITZGERALD THEATRE ROCKVILLE’S HOME FOR THE ARTS 603 EDMONSTON DR. www.rockvillemd.gov/theatre 240.314.8690 6 FridaysSept.Performances:23-Oct.2&Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. TICKETS: $22 Adults; $20 Seniors (62+) and Students WWW.RLT-ONLINE.ORG Rockville Little Theatre PRESENTS By Ken Ludwig Clubs From page 1

“This group is very upbeat,” Goldberg said. “Someone was very nervous to come — he was struggling with it — and a guy said, ‘Look at me! I’ve had it for 20 years.” From their Zoom rectangles, each person asks questions, offers suggestions, recommends doctors, and talks about what exercises help. “With Parkinson’s, it’s not an exact science,” Goldberg said. “When people offer each other ideas, it’s sort of like troubleshooting.” Find Good Company on Zoom When the pandemic hit, Goldberg and a colleague at JCS decided to do something positive: start a conversation group for ordinary people over 60 who may be stuck at home.Three years later, about a dozen people continue to meet on Zoom on the first and third Wednesdays of each month for a lunchtime conversation called Good Company.“We always start by introducing ourselves and catching up on what’s new,” said the group’s facilitator, Rozi Rice, volunteer coordinator at JCS. “I’m there to encourage conversation, but we don’t put anyone on the spot…I have some icebreaker prompts to encourage conversation. We’ll play Family Feud or Jeopardy, so the hour goes quickly.”

Another participant said that since the pandemic, “she has more virtual friends now than she has real-life friends,” Rice reported.Rice, who is herself an older adult, said, “I get as much out of it as they do. It’s wonderful to see older adults who are active and interesting and engaging — and they’re all Althoughwelcome.”JCSis based in Baltimore, Good Company is open and free to anyone, anywhere. “We would love to have anyone join us. We’re always happy to have new people,” Rice said.

Quilting makes friends of strangers Every day, Charlene Marshall walks to the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center in Washington D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood to meet with her close-knit (pardon the pun) quilting group.

“We were strangers, but now most of us have been friends for over 10 years,” said Marshall, who has taught a quilting class at the center for 11 years. “We’re a social group. We sew; we talk; we have made articles for the community and for the homeless.”Marshall’s grandmother taught her how to sew, and as Marshall got older, she became interested in quilting. She took a class at G Street Fabrics. To keep learning, she joined several quilting groups, known as bees or guilds. When the senior center opened, the city wanted to hire someone to teach a quilting class there, and a friend suggested Marshall.All abilities are welcome in the quilting room, Marshall said. “Some people just come down to the room and just sit there, not necessarily sewing; they sit there just to talk. They crack jokes and tease each other, but we still have fun.” Most senior centers offer an array of classes and groups, from crafts to a nature appreciation club. When people see each other week after week, they tend to look after each other, Marshall said. “We keep in touch when we’re not there.” To join the Northern Virginia Hiking Club, visit nvhc.com. For more information about Good Company or the Parkinson’s support group, call (410) 843-7325 or visit jcsbalt.org. Contact the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center at (202) 727-0338 about knitting class or visit your local senior or recreation center for similar classes and programs.Meetup.com is also an excellent resource for local clubs. you saw it in the

Zoom session hosted by Baltimore-based Jewish Community Services (JCS). Michelle Goldberg, senior manager of community engagement and partnerships, oversees JCS’s dozen support groups and facilitates the Parkinson’s group.

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I reply that the beast is my son’s/my daughter’s. And I really hoped I’d still be asleep. And I really am expecting my Father of the Year trophy to arrive any day now.Then there’s the inevitable trip to the pet store for restocking of supplies. This usually takes the form of kitty litter, which apparently isn’t sold in bags that weigh less than 300 pounds. One time, I paid for a bag and hoisted it onto my shoulder to carry it to the car. It broke. Litter scattered everywhere. The staff cheerfully cleaned up the mess and replaced the bag. What they could never clean up was the language I uttered. Let’s just say you won’t find any of it in the Agreeingdictionary.totake a pet once does not exempt me from taking that same creature twice. The dam has been breached. Grumpy Old Dad has backed down. My children, wonderful as they are, have advanced degrees in personal diplomacy. They don’t push too hard. They don’t ask too often. But the warning signs are always the same. They look at the floor. They bring their eyes up to meet mine, with seriousness and purpose written all over their faces. And they say: “Dad, I promise not to ask again any time soon. But do you think you and Mom couldGlibly,possibly...”Ihave told friends in my age group that there’s one good thing about your kids growing up and leaving home. You don’t have to have pets any more. I have done my time, gentle reader. I tolerated goldfish when the kids were young. And hermit crabs. And cats of every description. Even frogs. So, haven’t I earned time off for good behavior? Evidently not. The worst part of it is that I was honest once. Our son left his cat with us for a week (it felt like two). I was watching a pro basketball game on TV. The cat was camped on the couch beside me. The referee missed an obvious foul. I yelled at him via the TV screen. The cat fixed me with a baleful look that said, “You know they never call fouls in the NBA.” I laughed for an hour. Stupidly, I told both kids what had happened. Do you think that they have ever let me forget it? “See, Dad, you secretly LOVE taking care of (fill in the blank).” No, I don’t. No, I won’t. This doesn’t make me a bad person. It just makes me an old guy who has to draw the line somewhere, and has. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist. SEE IT By Bob Levey

50 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON

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By the time we reach a certain age — and I’ve reached it — we stop apologizing for our crankiness and our crustiness. We dig in. We don’tWhichbend.is my way of saying that I will not — repeat NOT — take care of the pets of my adult children. I have told them until I’m blue in the face that their precious beasts are not my grandchildren. Or my grandpuppies. Or my grandkitties. I like their pets just fine — at their houses. I even scratch them behind the ears once in a while. But host Bubba, The Wonder Dog so his human family can go to the beach for a week? Take Avon, The Super Mutt so our daughter can do the same? Do I look like I’m made of tissue paper? My backbone is firm. My resolve is total. No, no, a thousand times no. Of course, that declaration is never the end of it. Cajoling soon follows. Then pleading. Then guilt-tripping. That latter is actually quite imaginative.“Dad, I don’t understand why you’re saying no. Bubba just lu-u-u-u-vs you.” “Dad, be reasonable. Cats require no attention. I don’t ask you for much, Dad...” Not for the first time, and not for the last, the children head straight for the soft spot — my wife, who doubles as their mother.They go behind my back. They cajole, plead and guilttrip. Not for the first time or the last, I am lobbied hard, and I fold. We suddenly have an unwanted houseguest. I glare at the furry beast. This does not improve his behavior one bit. When he wants/needs to be walked at 5 a.m., guess which fast-asleep human he nuzzles to get that message across. That same human is outside at 5:03, his pants thrown on in a tizzy and a wrinkled T-shirt pulled quickly over his head. His sneakers are not tied — not enough time forAndthat. there we are, beast and Mr. Grumpy Grouchy, ambling along, until the poor dear deigns to do his business on a piece of turf that meets his specifications.Meanwhile, passersby can’t resist commenting. They almost burst into song. “Oh, your dog is so cu-u-u-te! How long have you had him?”

HOW I

These three books approach the subject of aging from three perspectives: sharing life lessons, advocating against the mistreatment of elders, and encouraging physical activity to enhance health.

By Dinah Rokach

The Second Half: Forty Women Reveal Life After Fifty, by Ellen Warner, 242 pages, Brandeis University Press hardcover, 2022 Be inspired by the stories of women over age 50 from an array of diverse backgrounds. In their own first-person accounts, these 40 women articulate their deepest thoughts, review the past and look forward to the future. They offer sage advice based on their personal experiences. Readers will become aware of the issues they themselves may confront as they Accompanyingage.

BIBLIOPHILETHE

BEACON

Sept.Ongoing20+

Join the DC Public Library for free beginner-level American Sign Language classes on Zoom. Choose a class on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. from Sept. 8 through Nov. 17, or Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5. Must have a working web camera on your computer. For more info, visit bit.ly/ASLonlineDC or call (202) 7270321. Contact DCPLaccess@dc.gov to receive the link.N. VIRGINA 50+ VIRTUAL JOB FAIR If you’re over age 50 and looking for employment opportunities, don’t miss JCA’s free Virtual 50+ Employment Expo for Montgomery County residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 20. A similar virtual event takes place for N. Virginia residents on Fri. Oct. 14. You must register to participate at virtualexpos.ac cessjca.org. For more information, email SeniorExpo@AccessJCA.org or call (301) 255-4209. BITS

See BIBLIOPHILE, page 53

Books with good advice on healthy aging

Visit Green Spring Gardens for the annual Family Fall Festival. The free festival will have activities for the entire family, including classes for children and adults, a silent auction, a book sale and a bake sale. Vendors will also be selling plants and other items. The event takes place Sat., Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. For more info, visit friendsofgreenspring.org or call (703) 642-5173. BITS Sept. 17

in the Beacon | Arts & Style 51

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AMERICANVIRTUAL SIGN CLASSESLANGUAGE

each of the profiles is a full-page black-and-white photograph by septuagenarian Ellen Warner, an accomplished photojournalist. The portraits show older women in a positive light; their faces reflect lives well lived. Each chapter covers one woman. We are introduced to her by name, the age at which she was interviewed, her profession and place of residence. The women range in age from 53 to 107. They are politicians and publishers, housewives and decorators, documentarians and authors, a farmer and a farrier, a housekeeper and a nomad, a painter and a shaman, a publican and a spiritual healer, movie stars and jet setters — each with a unique life story.Every woman addresses the same set of questions: describing her life after 50, lessons learned from her first five decades, her greatest pleasure, the happiest and saddest times, how she would like to be remembered, and advice she would impart to younger women. Their answers run the gamut. Ponder your own responses. Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It, by Tracey Gendron, PhD, 180 pages, Steerforth hardcover, 2022 Have you ever felt patronized on account of your age? Were you forced into retirement to make way for a younger worker? Do you feel ignored in a social setting because you are gray-haired? Here’s a book from a 50-year-old gerontologist who will reinforce the outrage you may feel. Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Dr. Tracey Gendron condemns society for the way elders are mistreated.Shedecries humor at our expense, the media’s exclusion of the frail and physically infirm, and the hawking of cosmetics and other anti-aging potions that implies wrinkles and other signs of aging are unattractive.Gendron advocates addressing ageism head-on. Recognizing and pointing out negative stereotypes of elders will raise awareness and make others sensitive to these misconceptions. you saw it

WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Say

BEACON

52 Arts & Style | Subscribe online! See how on p. 42 SEPTEMBER 2022 — WASHINGTON BEACON Scrabble answers on p. 55. Crossword Puzzle Find a new crossword every day on our website at www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com/puzzles. Answers on page 55. Ordinarier Things Stephen Sherr 1.Across Very pleased with oneself 5. Musical staff symbol 9. Video file format on the ‘net 13. Letter after eta 14. Like a Dark Magician Yu-Gi-Oh! card 15. One of the folk-singing Guthries 16. “He’s ___ nowhere man” (according to John Lennon) 17. Arab ruler 18. Another nickname for “N’awlins” 19. “Hey, it’s just business” 22. Start a legal process 23. One in the L column 24. The beginning of -space 25. Like one with a bigger umbrella 27. You ___ My Sunshine 28. Member of a 3 Down football team 31. Item on a bride’s shopping list 35. Guest at a quinceanera, probably 38. Letter after sigma 39. Lost setting 40. “There are no rules here” 45. Poem meant to be sung 46. Spanish article 47. Carpenter’s machine 50. First letters of letters in 13 and 38 Across 52. Keg contents 54. Losing row in tic-tac-toe 56. Bread product that David Gussin claims to have invented in 1980 60. Italian city with a tower 61. Put your mind at ___ 62. To the nth degree 63. Has more s’mores 64. Part of a molecule 65. Aphrodite or Venus 66. “If all ___ fails ...” 67. Say it isn’t so 68. Matches a bet 1.DownWrap for a mummy 2. Attendee at a new student mixer 3. State with the youngest median age 4. He said “Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe” 5. Rock climbing sites 6. Homes for genies 7. Lake with several nearby wineries (and its name is contained within “wineries”) 8. Car “borrowed” by Ferris Bueller 9. Bruce Wayne’s residence 10. Me, myself, and I 11. Fitzgerald, The First Lady of Song 12. Soccer announcer’s scream 13. Uses a ProSun Onyx 32 SLi bed 20. Regular at Cheers 21. “You ain’t ___ nothin’ yet” 26. Is not, shorter 27. “Come closer and give me ___” 29. Rolodex no. 30. Farm female 32. Sicilian volcano 33. Playground game 34. Main point of a message 35. Chinese “way” 36. Finale 37. Their letters keep getting smaller 41. One of Donald Duck’s nephews 42. “I like throwing touchdowns ___ of running them” (Lamar Jackson) 43. Fashion designer Cassini 44. iPhone accessories 48. Perform a rodeo maneuver 49. Puts forth effort 51. Use the backside of a pencil 52. Yellowstone residents 53. Foe 55. Oil of ___ 56. Dueling sword 57. Potion container 58. Yoda says it leads to suffering 59. Sheltered, nauticallyJumble answers on p. 55. 1234 5678 9101112 13 14 15 16 17 18 192021 22 23 24 2526 27 282930 31323334 353637 38 39 4041424344 45 46 474849 5051 5253 5455 56575859 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

MEDICARE PRESENTATION

Oct.Oct.12+38

TUTORS URGENTLY NEEDED

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WASHINGTONbit.ly/NIHfreebooklet.BEACON—SEPTEMBER 2022 Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style 53 ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick

The MLK Library Chess Club welcomes chess players of all ages and skill levels. Meet every second Saturday of the month to play chess and learn basic techniques of the game. Brief one-on-one coaching is available. Join Sat., Oct. 8 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC. For more information, visit bit.ly/MLKchessDC or call (202) 727-0321. Sept.

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Get Fit for Life: Exercise and Physical Activity for Healthy Aging, by National Institute on Aging, NIH, 122 pages, U.S. Government Publications paperback, 2020 Be inspired by this book — no matter your age, physical condition or previous degree of physical activity — to start an exercise program. Learn the importance of motion to maintain good health, reverse deterioration that comes with aging, improve certain chronic conditions and open a new vista of emotional satisfaction and mental acuteness.Thisisnot a bromide hawked by TV infomercials, but a serious, science-based approach. Its aim is to inspire independence and a goal-oriented lifestyle. Fit for Life addresses older adults’ fears about embarking on something new. Positive change at this stage of life can reap beneficial rewards.

Bibliophile From page 51

LEARN HOW TO DIGITIZE YOUR ARCHIVES

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Medicare 101 is for individuals and their care partners who will soon be eligible for Medicare or who have Medicare and would like to learn more about it. This free class is taught by Fairfax County staff who are SHIP (State Health Insurance and Assistance Program) Counselors. The event takes place Mon., Oct. 3 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and is available virtually and in-person at Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA. Registration is required for all attendees. For more information, visit bit.ly/VICAPmedicareFairfax or call (703) 573-1060.

Back-to-school time brings an urgent need for volunteers to support children and teenagers in the area. With at least two out of three DC children reading below grade level, the need is great. The DC Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative (DCTMI) connects volunteers with tutoring and mentoring organizations in Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. They want to have 1000 new volunteers by October. You can make a difference with just an hour of time per week, or even a couple of hours a month. For more information, visit bit.ly/DCTMIvolunteer or call (202) 688-1261.

Do you have boxes with photographs and slides in your basement or attic you want to put in order? In this online workshop, you will learn principles of personal archiving, and learn more about equipment and free resources available to digitize your photographs and documents. This free workshop will take place Thurs., Sept. 15 from 10 to 11 a.m. through Zoom. Space is limited. Registration is required. For more information, visit dclibrary.libnet.info/event/6796056 or call (202) 727-0321.

At the same time, those who are frail and can no longer live independently should not be warehoused away from the general population to be forgotten — or, worse, mistreated. Oftentimes caregivers are neither trained, licensed nor adequately paid. While we embark on the arduous mission of changing society at large, we ourselves should not internalize these stereotypes. Elders, their loved ones and caregivers should embrace aging as a stage in the life cycle of spiritual growth and contentment.

New 4 You Thrift Boutique is an all-volunteer nonprofit benefitting local charities in Montgomery County. Volunteer positions are now open. No special skills needed; training is provided. Schedules are flexible. The shop is located at 4909 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD. For more information, visit new4youthrift.org or call (301) 656-2002.

Sept. OngoingOngoing15

Join an upcoming session of the University of Maryland’s “Solar Workshop Series.” University Extension Specialists and industry representatives will discuss the opportunities, challenges and practical applications for using solar power. One session will take place Mon., Sept. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Serenity Farm, 6932 Serenity Farm Rd., Benedict, MD. Another takes place Tues., Sept. 13. For details, visit go.umd.edu/Solar2022 or contact Drew Schiavone at dschiavo@umd.edu, (301) 432-2767.

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STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-844-485-7035.

STAMP COLLECTIONS PURCHASED AND APPRAISED. U.S., Foreign, and Worldwide, stamps, covers, - anything philatelic! Also autographs, paper memorabilia (except sports cards); Longtime APS member; E-Mail ARogolsky@gmail.com or phone Alex at 301-309-3622.

The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Obituaries; Personals; Person al Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 55.

Home/Handyman

COINS, PRE-1970 BASEBALL CARDS & comic books, also buying jewelry men’s wristwatches, old toys, military items, antique Asian items, old books, serving MD, VA, DC, long time beacon advertiser, Tom 240-476-3441. Thank you. WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-464-0958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com).

ComputerFinancialForSaleServicesCaregivers

Home/HandymanHealth Services

LITTER CLEANUP Start your Saturday by doing good. Join the Barrett Branch walking and litter pickup club “Trash Trekkers” to clean up trash around the Barrett Branch Library. The cleanup will be Sat., Oct. 1 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St., Alexandria, VA. Dress for the weather. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Register online at bit.ly/TrashTrekkersOct1. For questions and more information, mzimmerman@alexlibraryva.orgemail or call (703) 746-1703.

BEACON BITS Oct. 1

PersonalsServicesTV/Cable Wanted

MiscellaneousWanted

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For Sale Services Personal Services Legal

TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, ARTWORK and unusual and rare things including decorated crocks and stoneware, antique clocks and music boxes, classic cars, coin operated devices, toys and dolls, furniture, lamps , art glass and pottery. I am 69 years old, well educated [ law degree ] financially capable and have over 40 years in the business. Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your valuables with no hassle? If you have something rare, unusual and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan 301 279 8834. Thank you.

SLOWING DOWN AFTER 40 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs mainly residential but will do some commercial. Will work all over DC area. $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Andy 703-906-5429.

CASH FOR ESTATES; I buy a wide range of items; jewelry, silver, art, rugs, furniture, cultural items, collections, etc. Buy out/clean up. I have trucks, a crew & insurance. Website; theatticllc.com. Gary Roman; 301-520-0755

VOW TO LEARN TO SEW. Saves you money, helps you see better 3 dimensionally. It is a lifelong skill. Must own your machine. Cost is $50/hr. in your home. $45/hr. in mine. All levels. Call 703-368-7152, leave a message on voicemail. Would like to stay within 25 miles of Manassas.

WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack (301) 279-2158, leave message & phone number (please speak slowly). LOOKING FOR 2 BEDROOM 2-Bath condo in Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Germantown area. Call 240-801-2288.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting dis crimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

BURIAL SITES LOCATED AT NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK, Falls Church, VA - 4 Choice Burial Spaces - which are 2 actual burial sites, where each site is double-decked with vaults. They are located in Evergreen Gardens, Sites 945/946. The current market value is $12,995 per site (double-decked w/vault) and selling each site for $6,995/each OBO and willing to negotiate. If interested, please make an appointment with a counselor at National Memorial Park to be taken to the site.

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PACKING, MOVING & UPACKING SERVICES, HOME ORGANIZATION & DECLUTTERING. Professional Services Created Just For Seniors! Maryland Senior Concierge Services. 301.452.5730 or ccallahan@mdseniorhelp.com SMALL DECORATOR JOBS. Pillows, cushions, table skirts, valances, etc. Do you need draperies shortened/lengthened with that new move? Experienced seamstress. Do you need some design or color advice? Do you need minor alterations on some garments? Need a dress hemmed for an upcoming wedding? Call 703368-7152, Leave a message on the voicemail. WE ARE A TO Z PERSONAL ORGANIZERS, bringing order to your life and to the life of your loved ones. We specialize in relocation services for seniors. Check us out on the web at A2Zorganizers.com, or give us a call at 240.432.4920

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UP TO $15,000.00 OF GUARANTEED LIFE INSURANCE! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Call Physicians Life Insurance Company866-212-1092 or visit www.Life55plus.info/beacon

LADY WHO LOVES PRETTY THINGS would like to buy yours. Dishes, figurines, pottery and similar. Favorites are bone china cups and saucers and old Christmas and Halloween decorations. Especially love Herend, Meissen and Shelley. Also, midcentury smalls of all kinds. Have to clear a house in a hurry? Would be happy to take a look at anything you have. Please call Susan, (301) 785-1129.

BUYING VINYL RECORDS from 1950 to 1990 JAZZ, ROCK, BLUES, R&B, DISCO, SOUL, REGGAE, & GOSPEL, ANY VINYL FORMAT 33 1/3 RPM Albums, small 45 RPM’s & some 78 RPM, Also CD’s, Prefer LARGER COLLECTIONS AT LEAST 100 items, PLEASE CALL JOHN 301-596-6201

A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. 15 years’ experience. 2405336599)

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883). CASH FOR RECORDS, CDS AND DVDS. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music {33, 45, 78 & CDs.} Also buying turntables and stereo equipment. Will make house calls with CURBSIDE PICKUPS. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403.

HELLO EVERYONE, I’m looking for an English writing tutor in George Mason, Fairfax, Arlington area. If someone tutors or knows some who dose, Please message me. Thank you. Cell 571-508-8133.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!

THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-866-944-0699

FOR SALE MOBILITY SCOOTER “DRIVE”. Latest technology, automatically opens, folds. Brand new. Original price $2,650 selling for $2,000. Available in Catonsville, MD. Please Contact mawsm46@gmail.com, Cell (443) 929-3991 Waseem. NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK CEMETARY, 2 Choice Sites in Desirable Block D, Regular $6495; For Sale For $2995 ea. OBO. Contact 540-748-1659.

DIVINE HEALTH MEDICAL AND SPA. New business in Rockville MD. We do wound care treatment with Stem Cells for faster healing (not from aborted fetus!). Call (240) 6696598 for a free consult and discover what we can do for you. Mention this ad and also receive a free vitamin injection. MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189.

DOWNSIZING OR LIQUIDATING AN ESTATE? Doing it yourself? DON’T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY! Our specialists know the current trends in today’s market! Our easy process determines what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard. Services include: estate liquidation, downsizing, junk removal, estate sales, and consignment of collectibles. We buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. Call/text Philip 301-219-3600 DownsizingSpecialists.com. One person’s trash is another’s treasure, and we know the difference!

A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in. Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235

BEGINNER ADULT PIANO LESSONS. Learn to play classical and popular pieces from music and by ear. Classically trained teacher with 40 years’ experience. Price: $40/60 min. Home studio, 2 blocks from Cleveland Park Metro Station, DC. Call or text Neil Berger, 202669-2962.

VIVINT. SMART SECURITY. Professionally installed. One connected system for total peace of mind. FREE professional installation! Four FREE months of monitoring! Call now to customize your system. 1-844-758-7925.

PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843.

DIRECTV for $79.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-888-572-4953.

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

ALOE CARE HEALTH, medical alert system. The most advanced medical alert product on the market. Voice-activated! No wi-fi needed! Special offer call and mention offer code CARE20 to get $20 off Mobile Companion. Call today 877353-2589.

DON’T LET THE STAIRS LIMIT YOUR MOBILITY! Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today! 1-866-365-5170.

The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not in vestigate any advertisers or their prod ucts and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

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I BUY OLD GUNS (Military/Civilian) and MILITARY medals, uniforms, insignia & books from all time periods. I have a Federal Firearms License to legally purchase firearms. Tim 703447-7243www.midatlanticmilitaryantiques.com Historian1975@gmail.com

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WASHINGTON BEACON — SEPTEMBER 2022 Say you saw it in the Beacon 55 Clinical Studies Hearing Study (UMD) . . . . . .27 VANIR (RSV) Study . . . . . . . .27 Employment JCA Career Gateway . . . . . . . .36 JCA Virtual 50+ Employment Expos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . .15 Events Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Montgomery County Recreation Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . .30-31 Funeral Services Going Home Cremation . . . . .16 Government Services DC DISB Flood Insurance . . .40 DC Living Boldly . . . . . . .32-33 Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services . . . . .15 Ride On Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Home Health Care/Companion Services Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . .25 Decena Home Care LLC . . . . . .9 Radiocw Health Care . . . . . . .11 Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . .15 Housing Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . . . . .12 Brightview Senior Living . . . .11 Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Brookfield Residential . . . . . .10 Cadence Living Olney . . . . . .14 Carnegie at Washingtonian Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 3 Chevy Chase House . . . . . . . .23 Churchill Senior Living . . . . .21 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . .25 Enterprise Residential . . . . . . .29 Falcons Landing . . . . . . . . . . .13 Greenspring/Erickson . . . . . . .12 Harmony Senior Living . . . . . .1 HIP Home Sharing . . . . . . . . .36 Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . .23 Homewood at Frederick . . . . .25 Maplewood Park Place . . . . . . .9 Park View Apartments . . . . . .29 Quantum Property Mgmt . . . .19 Riderwood/Erickson . . . . . . . .12 Sommerset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . . .14 Verso Founders Row . . . . . . . . .7 Legal Services Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman . . . . . . . . . .39 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . .38 Medical/Health Adventist Healthcare . . . . . . . . .8 Giant Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . .12 Montgomery County Booster .26 Silver Spring Medical Center .14 Steven Friedman, DDS . . . . . .18 Memory Care Brightview Senior Living . . . .11 Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . . . .14 Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart . . . . . . . . . .38, 51 Retail Perfect Sleep Chair . . . . . . . . .50 Potomac Collector . . . . . . . . . .37 SoLite Scooter . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 UpBed Independence . . . . . . .24 Zinger Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Senior Resources AARP Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . .34 JCA Senior Helpline . . . . . . . .42 MontgomeryAge-FriendlyCountyNewsletter . . .20 Montgomery County Aging & Disability Services . . . . .15 Montgomery County SHIP . . .40 Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Brooke Grove . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 ProMedica Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation . . . . . . . .18 Subscriptions Beacon Newspapers . . . . . . . .42 Theatre/ Entertainment Ford’s Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre . . .49 Kennedy Center, The . . . . .47, 48 Senior Zone Radio Show . . . .49 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . .45 US Air Force Band . . . . . . . . .49 Travel Global Wanderer Travel . . . . .43 Travel WV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Vamoose Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Utilities Lead Free DC Water . . . . . . . .56 Montgomery County Home Energy . . . . . . . . . . .11 Pepco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 We thank our advertisers who make our publication possible. Please patronize them and let them know you saw their ad in the Beacon!

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