worth noting

Have You Planned Your Vaxication?

According to Frank Bastone, chief vacation therapist and travel specialist for baby boomers and seniors at Pinnacle Trips in North Salem, NY, a new word has been added to our lexicon: vaxications refer to the first vacations people plan to take once fully vaccinated.

With so many of us overly fatigued of being handcuffed to our homes for 16 or more months, vaxicationers are planning longer trips than usual. Says Frank, the more popular destinations include Hawaii, Greece, Croatia and, of course, the east and west coast beaches of the U.S.

Multigenerational travel is also on the upswing as grandparents – who were mostly kept apart from their grandchildren throughout the pandemic - are eager to connect in person once again. Concerned about a safe vacation experience, Frank tells us there’s an increased interest in villa and private home rentals – both domestically and abroad, which typically provide plenty of outdoor private space.

And what about cruises? Judge for yourself: Silversea’s 139-day world cruise in 2023, with 66 destinations in 34 days, sold out on the first day. Royal Caribbean’s request for volunteer passengers for their test sailings drew 200,000 eager respondents. That said, the cruise lines are promising reduced capacity, especially for their larger ships, as well as smaller sized group excursions.

To learn more about what’s going on with post-Covid travel options, reach out to Frank at 914-589-7149 or email him at frank@pinnacletrips.com

Shakespeare in the Park Returns

An uplifting and celebratory indication of re-openings and a return to live performances, New York City's Public Theater has announced free Shakespeare in the Park, at the infamous Delacorte Theater. Running from July 6 through August 29, Merry Wives – a fresh adaptation by Jocelyn Bioh of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor – will beckon theatergoers to the outdoor venue in Central Park. Merry Wives, featuring an eclectic community of West African immigrants living in South Harlem and being performed in the heart of the city, will rejoice with laughter and vitality – all the more so as life resumes post-pandemic. The performance schedule, safety protocols and free ticket distribution will be forthcoming.

Visit www.publictheater.org for more information.

ASK THE DOC

What are the signs of a heart attack?

Dr. Roger Cappucci, Cardiologist at Scarsdale Medical Group and Chief of Cardiology at White Plains Hospital, answers your question and explains how heart attack symptoms may differ in women and in men. If you believe you are having a heart attack – be safe – call 911.

In a survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92% of respondents recognized chest pain as a major symptom of a heart attack. However, only 27% of respondents were able to identify all the symptoms and most didn’t know when they should call for help.

“A heart attack can present very differently for a woman than it does for a man, so it’s important to know the signs”, says Dr. Cappucci. Men commonly get that ‘Hollywood heart attack’, whereby he clutches his chest and has trouble breathing. But the signs are not always that obvious. Women often get obscure symptoms that wouldn’t necessarily make you think, “heart attack”. In fact, chest pain is absent in 43% of women having a heart attack. More often, women will feel a little chest tightness or some weakness, shortness of breath, or pain anywhere in the upper body, like the back of the neck or jaw. They may also experience nausea, toothaches or pain in one or both of their arms.

“If something seems off to you, or you suspect you’re having a heart attack, play it safe and head to the ER immediately.”

1. CHEST PAIN OR DISCOMFORT

Most heart attacks involve pain or discomfort in the center or left-center of your chest. A person may feel tightness, heavy pressure, or a crushing feeling, with pain ranging from mild to severe.

KNOW THE SIGNS

If you’re not sure - call 911

2. UPPER BODY PAIN

3. SHORTNESS OF BREATH

When there is a problem with the heart, pain can be felt elsewhere as surrounding nerves are triggered. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath can sometimes be an accompanying symptom to unusual fatigue in women. During a heart attack or heart failure, fluid may leak into the lungs, causing a feeling of breathlessness.

4. NAUSEA OR DIZZINESS

Nausea, indigestion, vomiting, or dizziness can occur during a heart attack. Night sweats are also a common symptom as pumping blood through clogged arteries takes more effort from the heart.

To find a cardiologist, call 914-849-MyMD or visit wphospital.org

Appanage Innovative Living Expands Now in Scarsdale for Baby Boomers and Seniors

Appanage, a new wellnessoriented living/housing model for baby boomers and seniors has opened its first Westchester location, at Popham Hall in Scarsdale. And they're ready for residents!

This innovative living experience includes access to private, fully furnished turnkey residences in luxury [intergenerational] buildings, dedicated wellness experts, along with wellness programming for its member residents. Appanage now has buildings in Manhattan and Flushing, Queens, in addition to the Scarsdale location. The company plans to expand further in New York and to unveil residences in several major markets across the U.S. by the end of this year. Their members have access to flexible living options which allow them to live in one location or between Appanage destinations across the country as the portfolio expands.

Appanage co-founder Daniel Stern noted, “Appanage is a vibrant community filled with dynamic and like-minded people of different ages that encourages the cultivation of new friendships and hobbies.” Programming is designed to engage, motivate and support an active and healthy lifestyle for ages 55 and older. Appanage wellness professionals guide members toward improving their daily lives through cultivating friendships and relationships; managing and connecting with resources and services; assisting with shopping, appointment scheduling and the like; coordinating nutrition in conjunction with a registered dietitian; help in finding healthcare providers; facilitating access to transportation; scheduling curriculum such as yoga, theater trips, book clubs, movement classes, along with other services.

Current monthly pricing for Popham Hall in Scarsdale, which includes the furnished apartment and amenities, wellness programming and services, starts at $5,620 for a one-bedroom and goes up from there for larger apartments. For more information, visit www.appanage.live or schedule a tour by calling 833-233-1242.

Kusama's Cosmic Nature

NYBG welcomes contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, along with her monumental and immersive sculptures in KUSAMA: COSMIC NATURE. Her Dancing Pumpkin and I Want to Fly to the Universe sculptures transform NYBG’s 250-acre landscape through October 31 of this year. Kusama’s lifelong fascination with the natural world began in childhood, when she was surrounded by the greenhouses and fields of her family’s seed nursery. She is now one of the most critically acclaimed artists in the world.

Following New York Sate and City guidelines for social distancing and visitor safety, there is also an interior Kusama installation: Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart.

There will be pop-up performances on Saturdays and Sundays between 11a.m and 4p.m. For more information and tickets, go to www.nybg.org/event/ kusama/plan-your-visit/

Virtual Vitality with Phelps

This summer, you can continue to count on virtual programming from Phelps Hospital/Northwell Health Vitality. Zoom in for a variety of classes, lectures and support groups: Laughter Yoga; Memory Fitness; the Breakfast Club (featuring some keynote guests including Westchester’s Assistant District Attorney Gary Brown who will talk about protecting yourself from scams on June 10); Osteoporosis Support Group; Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group; Holistic Pain Management (with a tai chi class in June); Parkinson’s Support Group; and a Bereavement Support Group.

For more information on exact dates and times for each program, to sign up for the zoom links or other questions, contact Ellen Woods at 914.366.3937 or email her at Vitality@northwell.edu