senior_2010

PI_PROGINDEX/SPECIAL_SECTION/PAGES [T01] | 03/26/10 12:54 | SUPERIMPPB


STATEPOINT

Many experts have sharedtheir conclusions about howcable television and the Inter-net have kept countlessAmericans on their behindsfor longer periods of time.Ironically, while all this hasbeen going on, scientists havebeen discovering the mostabout health and exercise --and how staying active canward off a range of illnessesas we age.

What it comes down to isthis: there are fewer and few-er excuses for letting yourbody run its course withoutexercise. For seniors, in par-ticular, exercise has beenlinked to reduced risk forsuch ailments as prostatecancer, osteoporosis, heartdisease and stroke, amongothers.

There has been much newresearch on the topic, with

all signs pointing seniors tothe exercise mat and awayfrom the couch.

Indeed, with one out of sixmen confronting prostatecancer at some point in life,the Prostate Cancer Founda-tion recently released a new“Nutrition, Exercise, andProstate Cancer” guide, aseries of new strategies thathelp stem the developmentand progression of prostatecancer. Visit www.pcf.org toorder or download a free copyof the guide. The key is com-bining exercise with a dietrich in fruits and vegetablesand low in processed sugarsand refined carbohydrates.

A new study from Dr. Ste-phen Freedland at Duke andthe Durham Veterans AffairsHospital also underscores theimpact regular exercise hasin protecting men from pros-tate cancer, while also mak-

ing the disease less aggres-sive.

More than anything else,the combination of diet andexercise looks to be a strongpre-emptive step againstmany ailments.

With breast cancer a simi-larly daunting disease amongwomen, healthy optionsunsurprisingly have beenlinked to lifestyle, particular-ly exercise and nutrition.With as little as four hours ofexercise a week and a low-fatdiet, the risk of breast cancercan be lessened. Abstainingfrom drinking alcohol hasalso been shown to decreasethe risk of breast cancer.

And there are plenty of ail-ments that plague both oldermen and women that can behelped by exercise. Amongthem is osteoporosis, whichaffects the bone density ofpeople as they age. By focus-

ing on exercises that have adirect impact on the skeleton,like basketball or jumpingjacks, the symptoms of osteo-porosis can be avoided.

New research also showsit’s never too late for seniorsto become active. Even thoseafflicted with Type 2 diabetescan help turn things aroundwith an exercise regimen.And it’s well-known thatexercise can help strengthenarteries and potentiallyreduce the risk of heartattacks and strokes.

Of course, before startingany diet or exercise program,seniors should consult theirdoctors. But when it comes tohealth, a small series of sim-ple lifestyle changes can helpextend your body’s warranty,making a world of differencein your golden years.

Over 60? Extend your body’s warranty

STATE POINT

Exercising can ward off many illnesses.

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Joseph @ Sight n Sound March - October

Chincoteague Seafood Festival May 5

Riverside Dinner Theater - Footloose (Your date)

Comedy Crab Feast July 25

Nascar Watkins Glen August 6-8

Gospel Crab & Shrimp Feast August 22

Shopping Trip September 23 - 25

Cape Cod September 25 - October 1

CMA Awards November 8-11

Macy’s Day Parade in New York City November 24 - 27

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ContactOld Dominion Tours

for moreovernite & day trips

(804) 612-0670

T2 Sunday, March 28, 2010 The Progress-Index, Petersburg, VA


FAMILY FEATURES

Empty nesters, retir-

ees and busy baby

boomers can al l

take advantage of travel

deals to plan a great get-

away. If you’re over age

50, there’s a bargain for

you.

National Parks. The

America the Beautiful -

National Parks and Fed-

eral Recreational Lands

Pass - Senior Pass. For

$10, U.S. citizens or per-

manent residents age 62

or over can get a lifetime

pass to any federal recre-

ation site, which admits

the pass holder and all

car passengers in for free.

It also provides a 50 per-

cent discount on some

fees charged for facilities

and services such as

camping, swimming and

boating. The pass can

only be obtained in per-

son at the park. Visit

www.nps.gov for more

details.

Educational Tours.

Don’t let the name fool

you - Elderhostel offers

nearly 8000 educational

tours in all 50 states and

in 90 countries around

the world. Their Web site,

www.elderhostel.org,

showcases many tours

under $600 including:

• A three-night Napa

Valley winery trip

• A five-night service

trip in Maryland to help

build a Heifer Global Vil-

lage

• A one-night Dine Like

a Critic experience in

Cambridge, MA

• A three-day digital

photography class in

Raquette Lake, New York

Cruises. There are

cruise deals aplenty these

days. Talking with a trav-

el agent and searching

online can turn up some

significant savings. If you

are interested in a spe-

cialty cruise for seniors

only, visit www.cruisec-

ompete.com, a cost com-

parison site. Searching

under the seniors catego-

ry will list offerings from

various cruise lines and

lets you compare features

and pricing. Cruises for

the end of 2009 and well

into 2010 are listed.

Active Vacations. If

sitting around the pool is

too tame for you, look into

the many active vacations

available. The travel site

www.away.com lists the

Top 10 Active Baby Boom-

er Vacations. Affordable

options include biking in

Vermont, birding in

Alaska,trekking the Appa-

lachian Trail in Maine,

horseback riding in Wyo-

ming, hiking in Colorado.

There is also Passport in

Time, a volunteer archae-

ology and historic preser-

vation program of the

USDA Forest Service.

Work with professional

archaeologists and histori-

ans on archaeological sur-

vey and excavation, rock

art restoration, archival

research, historic struc-

ture restoration, oral his-

tory gathering, and analy-

sis and curation of arti-

facts. You must submit an

application, be chosen, and

be ready to pitch a tent or

pay for accommodations

nearby. Find out more at

www.passportintime.com.

General Money-

Saving Tips

• Joining AARP nets dis-

counts on hotels, rental

cars, vacation packages

and more. At www.aarp.

org, they also have a Trend

Tracker that lets you eval-

uate the least expensive

hotel and flight prices for

the time of year you want

to travel.

• Combining air fare,

hotel and rental car costs

under a package deal can

often save quite a bit of

money. Do some home-

work, however, and com-

pare the package price

with the total cost of book-

ing each element separate-

ly to make sure you’re get-

ting the best deal.

• Sign up for promotion-

al emails from several

hotel, airline and travel

sites. You’ll receive alerts

on special promotions

and fare reductions.

Bargains fortravelers over 50

FAMILY FEATURES

STATEPOINT

When you think of the Internet, seniors

aren’t the first age group that comes to mind.

But these days, older Americans increasingly

are taking to the Web -- thanks to new free

Web sites that are helping them stay in touch

with loved ones and even keeping their daily

lives organized.

Many of the skeptical seniors that were

initially slow to engage the World Wide Web

head-on are now discovering what they’ve

been missing. In fact, helpful sites are taking

tasks that generally give seniors headaches

and making them considerably more man-

ageable -- and even fun.

Here are just some of the more popular

activities and free Web sites that seniors are

relying on to make life easier:

• Stay in Touch: Connecting with others

has been proven to keep seniors’ minds sharp.

One site that can help is LivingSocial, an

online community where 80 million people

from all over the world can connect with oth-

ers around the things they care about, includ-

ing books, movies, television, music, restau-

rants, and even beer. LivingSocial also offers

a way to save money with daily group cou-

pons for 50 percent off or more at restaurants,

salons, and other goods and services in cities

across the country. The service is available

through LivingSocial.com and through Face-

book and the iPhone.

• Share Photos and Videos with Family:

What better way to stay connected with the

kids and grandkids than sharing recent pho-

tos and videos clips? To help, Animoto.com is

offering a fast and easy way to turn your pho-

tos and video clips into professional-quality

video montages, automatically synchronized

to the song you select. You can even incorpo-

rate text and iconic images from LIFE.com to

make your videos more personalized and sen-

timental. Animoto videos are a great way to

keep in touch and can easily be shared on a

personal Web site or via email.

• Stick to a Budget: It’s the one-word mon-

ster we dare not speak, particularly for

seniors on fixed incomes who often need it

most. But keeping track of one’s finances is

crucial. One innovative site, Mint.com from

Quicken, makes budgeting less stressful by

offering a free tool that is easy to use and

helps you find more money. It keeps you up to

date using email and phone alerts and noti-

fies you when bills are due, credit limits have

been reached or if your bank makes changes

regarding fees. It’s a simple way for seniors to

track spending, enhance their savings and

reduce debt.

These are just a few examples of how

seniors looking to explore the Web can use it

to keep their offline world in balance.

How the Internet is makingseniors’ lives easier

The Progress-Index, Petersburg, VA Sunday, March 28, 2010 T3


BY HARRY JACKSON JR.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

ST. LOUIS — Eleven yearsago, a ruptured brain aneu-rysm nearly killed JacquieCrawford. A pulmonaryembolism, a lung disorder,shortly after brain surgeryadded to her health issues.

Years later, she survived aheart blockage, atrial fibrila-tion, that forced her intomore months of rehab.Then both of her knees hadto be replaced.

In the midst of all of that,she managed to take a tripwith a dogsled team acrossthe frozen Bering Sea innorthern Alaska, becomean on-call chaplain with St.Louis University and St.Alexius hospitals, train dogsand become a tap dancer.

“I believe there is a seedof equivalent benefit inevery adversity,” Crawford

said. “I will not stop lookingfor this benefit for myselfand for others.

“This gives me a positiveoutlook on everything thathappens, keeps me positiveand gives me hope.”

Crawford’s saga began inJanuary 1999, with a head-ache that became so bad shehad to pull off of the high-way and call an ambulance.She was barely able to speakor move by the time itarrived.

At Barnes-Jewish Hospi-tal, her tests showed bloodhad spilled onto her brainfrom a ruptured weak spotin a vessel.

Her priest prayed, friendsvisited to pray, cry and hope.From around her she heardthe whispers from medicalpeople about her bleak out-look, maybe a 1 percentchance of survival, that she

shouldn’t even be alive.When she could speak,

she told children and rela-tives that she was at peacewith whatever happened. “Iwill be waiting for you all inheaven.”

Then came the visit froma close friend she will onlyidentify as Michael.

“There was the sound ofall the pumps in the roomand he walked in, and all thesound was gone. The roomwas just white,” she said.“And Michael looked at meand didn’t crack a smile.”

After some words abouther spirit and divine power,he told her that she was notgoing to die.

“He said it three times.And I blinked my eyes to saythat I understood. And hewas gone,” she said. “I knewI was going to live.”

Medical science has made

strides in preventing deathand disability from rup-tured aneurysms, said Dr.Ralph Dacey, chief of neuro-surgery at Barnes JewishHospital and WashingtonUniversity School of Medi-cine and Crawford’s neuro-surgeon.

“People can make sur-prisingly good recoveriesfrom ruptured intracranialaneurysms,” he said.

Still, Crawford helped herown plight.

“The patient’s positiveattitude has a lot to do withrecovering from any type ofmajor neurological illness,”Dacey said.

While hospitalized, shedeveloped a lung disorder,likely brought on by thetherapy used to quell theeffects of the aneurysm.

Determination buoys woman’s recovery

Jacquie Crawford and her dog Mini Pearl, pictured Feb.10, in their home in St. Peters, Mo. After a near fatalcerebral hemorrhage and brain surgery in 1999,Crawford mushed sled dogs in Alaska in 2004.Please see RECOVERY, page 11

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When you’re young-er, it seems youcan’t wait until

retirement. After all, whowants to deal with going towork every day and copingwith coworkers and a boss?However, many peopleoverlook the opportunitiesfor socialization that work-ing provides. You get out ofthe house and see people --apart from your family --with whom you can con-verse. Many retirees findthat life can be a bit boringafter the job ends, primari-ly because they don’t haveaccess to the same level ofsocialization as they oncedid.

Making friends can keep

you active and healthy. Ifyou’re a bit rusty in thefriend-making department,it’s pretty much how it waswhen you were younger.You simply must find indi-viduals who have similarinterests and goals.

• Volunteer in your com-munity and you’re boundto find potential friendswho are like-minded.

• Take classes at a collegeor university. Many offerfree or discounted rates forseniors. This is a great wayto meet people of all agesand walks of life.

• Attend clubs at seniorcenters or houses of wor-ship. It’s likely that thereare plenty of other people

looking for relationships.• Think about your inter-

ests. If you like fishing,sewing or boating, join aclub that caters to thoseinterests. Others who shareyour hobbies will be there.

• If you’re new to anarea, host an open-houseparty and invite neighborsin for introductions andsome socialization.

• Join a social network-ing site online. You canconnect with people, poten-tially individuals who liveclose by.

• Ask existing friends ifthey have other friends towhom they can introduceyou.

Making friendsafter retirement

Making friends could involve tapping into hobbies that you enjoy.

METRO CREATIVE PHOTO



METRO SERVICES

Though even the President of the United

States’ wife is publicly taking America’s

obesity epidemic to task, more and more

people in America and across the globe are

trying to tackle their weight problems and eat

healthier. Because kids are naturally more

physically active than their adult counter-

parts, it can be easier for the younger crowd to

get healthier.

For seniors, who no longer have rapid

metabolisms, losing weight or keeping pounds

off is far more difficult. Because even the most

active senior is limited in what he or she can

handle with respect to physical activity, a

greater emphasis must be placed on eating

healthy the older a person gets. Fortunately,

there are many ways for seniors to eat healthi-

er without making drastic changes to their

lifestyles.

Don’t Forget FluidsBe it seniors, young adults or even kids,

water is an essential part of a healthy diet. For

years, the medical profession has said eight

cups per day is what the average adult needs

to keep his or her body working properly. Eight

cups per day should help avoid dehydration,

the side effects of which include dry skin, ele-

vated heart rate, lack of energy, and weak-

ness.

One area seniors should be extra careful

regards their caffeine intake. Caffeine can

make the body lose water, so seniors who still

enjoy caffeinated coffee or the occasional soda

should be aware that it might be costing them

in other areas.

Change Your Shopping HabitsHow a person shops for food can have a big

impact on how healthy that person eats. For

instance, don’t shop when you are hungry.

Doing so often leads to buying more food than

you need and even buying certain foods you

otherwise would not eat.

Seniors typically must live on a budget.

While this can make it difficult to eat healthy,

it’s not impossible. Comparison shopping is

one way to save money and eat healthy at the

same time. Check labels for generic store

brands to see if there’s any difference in nutri-

tional value. Oftentimes there is no difference,

Eating healthier as you get older

METRO SERVICES

Seniors hoping to eat healthier can alter their dietary habits in a number ofways.Please see DIET, page 13

Volunteering your time could be just what youare looking for and a very rewarding way to giveof your time and talent. At Southside RegionalMedical Center we have flexible opportunitiesfor both men and women to help our patients,families and visitors. Whether it is answering thephone, greeting people at our Welcome Center,delivering mail or running errands within thehospital, we invite you to consider volunteeringwith us.Call 804.765.5786 to learn more.with us.with us.Call 804.765.5786 to learn more.

volunteervolunteer

VolunteeringVolunteeringare looking for and a very rewarding way to giveare looking for and a very rewarding way to giveof your time and talent. At Southside Regionalof your time and talent. At Southside Regional

exible opportunitiesMedical Center we have flexible opportunitiesMedical Center we have flfor both men and women to help our patients,for both men and women to help our patients,families and visitors. Whether it is answering thefamilies and visitors. Whether it is answering thephone, greeting people at our Welcome Center,phone, greeting people at our Welcome Center,delivering mail or running errands within thedelivering mail or running errands within thehospital, we invite you to consider volunteeringhospital, we invite you to consider volunteering

Have some freetime in your day?



METRO SERVICES

Soaring unemploymentnumbers, rising prices onnecessities and stricter rulesregarding qualifying for ahome mortgage have becomethe norm. As a side-effect,many adult children are find-ing difficulty making endsmeet. The solution for manyis to ask Mom or Dad if theycan move back home.

Young adults and evenestablished families are find-ing that the economic crunchis taking its toll on their abili-ty to make it on their own.The scarcity of jobs and highforeclosure rates is leading anumber of adult-age childrento solicit their parents for aplace to stay. While the situa-tion is often billed to be tem-porary, the economic down-turn might linger longer thanexpected.

Recent census figures indi-

cate that more than 80 millionparents who generally wouldbe empty nesters actuallyhave at least one grown childliving at home. Whether thisis a result of the economicdownturn, adult children car-ing for aging parents oranother financial situation,the rates are growing. What’shappening is that individualswho grew accustomed to theirindependent lifestyles areforced once again to makecompromises living under thesame roof. The results can betenuous. However, there aresteps to take to help the situa-tion work.

• There has to be a legiti-mate need for children tomove back home. It can’t sim-ply be a whim or lack of ambi-tion.

• Parents should see a realneed to help their child orchildren.

• The situation should bepresented as a temporary one,with a firm deadline. Chil-dren are expected to find newliving arrangements as soonas possible.

• The children contribute tothe household in a tangiblemethod. This can involvefinancial contributions,housework, caring for parentsor a combination of factors.

• It is important for thechild to have a good relation-ship with Mom. Studies indi-cate that a happier householdis indicative of mother andchild cohabitating well. Therelationship with the fatherisn’t as important, behaviorexperts say.

• The parents’ relationshipshould be strong and estab-lished. Newlyweds welcomingan adult child (who will be astepchild to one parent) couldface tension.

• Set ground rules for thehouse. Remember, the child isliving under his or her par-ents’ roof. Parents’ rulesapply.

• Give each other the spaceneeded. Three or more adultsliving in a space can eat awayat nerves, especially if every-one has their idea of howthings should be done. Respectothers’ privacy and spendtime alone when possible.

• Parents should not feelobligated to care for theiradult children’s kids if theyare moving in as well. Don’ttake over responsibility ordiminish your child’s author-ity over his or her own proge-ny.

• Do not sacrifice your ownfinancial future to help yourchildren. Decide how muchyou want and can afford tohelp.

When the empty nest becomes full again

METRO SERVICES

Many empty nesters are finding their adult children

need to move back home for one reason or another.

Hopewell102 North Main Street Plaza

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(804) 524-8959Appointments may be requested online at www.uro.com or by calling 804-288-0339

Michael Franks, MD

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Mark Monahan, MD

Eugene Kramolowsky, MD

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Virginia Urology treats the full range of urologic conditions in both men andwomen offering today’s most advanced minimally invasive and robotic

procedures to leading edge diagnostic techniques. Virginia Urology has been atrusted resource for over 70 years.



METRO SERVICES

Ask anyone what they envision doingmost in their retirement, and chancesare travel will be at the top of their

list. For those who have already retired, trav-eling is a luxury many no doubt look for-ward to.

Seniors about to take to the road, however,should consider the fol-lowing tips beforeheading off to partsunknown.

• Pack medicationsin your carry-on. Pre-scription medicationsshould be packed inyour carry-on whenev-er traveling to preventlosing vital medica-tions should yourchecked bags be lostduring your travels.

• Consult with yourphysician and create alist of past and cur-rent conditions andany medications. Inthe unfortunate eventyou lose any of yourmedication or fall illduring your travels, alist of all current and

past conditions and medications can helpthe physician who will be treating you betterunderstand you and your medical history.Be sure to inform any traveling companionsabout this list, and keep it on you at all timeswhen traveling.

• Figure out time zones and a medicationschedule ahead of time. When traveling to

different time zones, it can be dif-ficult to adhere to a medicationschedule. Before leaving, workout a new schedule that takesinto account the different timezones you will be visiting duringyour travels.

• Be sure your vaccinations areup to date. Certain countriesmandate your vaccinations areup to date before you can enterthe country, and some requirevaccinations be administered as

early as 6 weeks before yourvisit. Be sure all vaccinationsare updated in adherence to theguidelines of any country youwill be visiting.

• Remain hydrated. Planesoften have dry air, which cancause dehydration and muscleaches. So be sure to drink plen-ty of water to guard againstdehydration.

Medical travel tips for senior citizens

Seniors readying themselves forvacation should take steps toensure their prescriptions andadditional medical services areavailable wherever it is they aregoing.

American Senior Care provides the highest quality in homerehabilitation, nursing and education available to patients and theirfamilies. We are proud to be owned and operated by a nurse andtwo therapists with over 40 years combined experience and strivefor superior clinical outcomes in the home health setting. Our staffwill assist you in achieving a successful recovery from illness,injury, or surgery while you enjoy the comforts of being at home.

Services:• Skilled Nursing

• Physical Therapy

• Occupational Therapy

• Speech Therapy

• Home Health Aide

• Medical Social Work

Richmond Area500 Libbie Ave., Ste. 1-CRichmond, VA 23226Phone: 804-562-4252Fax: 804-562-4290

Medicare certified and state licensed



‘Take a Cruise’

dance for

older adultsC H E S T E R F I E L D —

Adults aged 55 and older areinvited to attend the “Take aCruise” semiformal dance,Friday, April 23, from 7-10p.m., at Thomas Dale HighSchool, 3626 W. HundredRoad, Chester. Music will beprovided by The Lyrics.

This dance is being spon-sored by the ChesterfieldCounty Department of Parksand Recreation, ChesterfieldCounty Public Schools, andthe Office of the SeniorAdvocate. The dance is free,and preregistration isrequired. For more informa-tion, or to register, call 804-751-4135. Registration dead-line is April 16.

Alzheimer’s

Association

upcoming

programsCOLONIAL HEIGHTS –

The Alzheimer’s Associationwill offer the following pro-grams to the general public inApril. Advance registration isrequired. Call 804-526-2359 oremail [email protected].

• Lunch & Learn Series –“Dementia: What is it?” willbe presented from 11:30 a.m.to 1 p.m. April 8 at DunlopHouse Assisted Living andSpecialized Alzheimer’s andDementia Care, 235 DunlopFarms Blvd. This program isfree and lunch is provided.

• “Putting the PuzzleTogether (Part 2) — CareIssues” will be presented from2-5 p.m. April 20 at ColonialHeights Health Care andRehabilitation Center, 831Ellerslie Ave. Light refresh-ments will be available. Thecost is $20 per person for theseries.

The Alzheimer’s Associa-tion is the first and largestvoluntary health organiza-

tion dedicated to finding pre-vention methods, treatmentsand an eventual cure forAlzheimer’s. For more than25 years, the Alzheimer’sAssociation Greater Rich-mond Chapter has servedthose in the community whoface the day-to-day strugglesof Alzheimer’s disease andrelated dementias. The chap-ter provides five core servic-es: information and referral,support groups, educationalprograms, care consultation,and the National Safe ReturnProgram.

Alzheimer’s

Association

support groupsThe Alzheimer’s Associa-

tion sponsors the followingsupport groups in the Tri-Cities area:

• April 6, 3 p.m., River Viewon the Appomattox NursingHome (conference room), 201Eppes St., Hopewell.

• April 22, 11:30 a.m.,Greenfield Reflections ofPetersburg, 550 Flank Road,Petersburg. Lunch will beprovided if you call 526-2359to RSVP.

• April 28, 6 p.m., DunlopHouse Assisted Living andSpecialized Alzheimer’sCare, 235 Dunlop FarmsBlvd., Colonial Heights.

Home safety

seminarCHESTERFIELD — Ches-

terfield TRIAD will offer afree safety seminar on Mon-day, April 12, from 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., at ChesterfieldHeights Retirement Living,901 Madrona St., Midlothian.The purpose of the seminarwill be to educate older adultsabout safety in their homesand will include tips on safecooking, candle and fireplaceburning, and the preventionof falls. The seminar is opento the community.

There also will be informa-tion about Chesterfield

BRIEFLY

Please see BRIEFLY, Page 10



County’s EMS Passport program— a subscription service that mayhelp some people defray out-of-pocket expenses associated withambulance transportation — andother programs of interest to olderadults. Chesterfield Heights willprovide free lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Registration is required by April8. Call 804-768-7878 to sign up.

For more information aboutChesterfield TRIAD, call Sgt. Law-rence Taylor with the ChesterfieldCounty Sheriff ’s Office at 717-6266.

TRIAD is a statewide network ofpublic-safety and older-adult orga-nizations that works to enhance thequality of life for and reduce crimeagainst senior citizens.

Country dancesDINWIDDIE — The Dinwiddie

Diamonds sponsor a monthly coun-try dance from 8 to 11 p.m. thefourth Friday of each month at theEastside Enhancement Center, 7301

Boydton Plank Road. Music isalways provided by The Antiques.

This is an alcohol- and smoke-free event. Concessions are avail-able.

Grandparent

ConnectionCHESTERFIELD — The Grand-

parent Connection group, a sup-port group for grandparents rais-ing their grandchildren, meetsfrom 4:15-5:45 p.m. the first Thurs-day of each month in the Chester-field County Juvenile and Domes-tic Relations District Court Build-ing, 7000 Lucy Corr Blvd.

Free childcare is provided on siteduring the meeting and refresh-ments are served. For more infor-mation or to reserve a place, call(804) 768-7878.

Arthritis Foundation

exercise classesPETERSBURG — The Appomat-

tox Area Health & Wellness Center,321-C Poplar Drive, hosts ArthritisFoundation exercise classes from

10:30 to 11:30 every Tuesday andThursday. The classes are led by anArthritis Foundation exerciseinstructor. This program is freeand is held at the Appomattox AreaHealth & Wellness Center, locatedbetween the Children’s HospitalTreatment Center and PoplarSprings Hospital. Programs areopen to citizens in the Tri-City andsurrounding areas.

Pre-registration is not required.For more information, call (804)279-9516.

Recreation programsCHESTERFIELD — The Ches-

terfield County Parks and Recre-ation Department offers a varietyof recreation opportunities foradults age 50 and older at HuguenotRoad Baptist Church, 10525 W.Huguenot Road.

Activities include games,healthy-aging programs, fitnessclasses, entertainment and more.Programs run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.each Monday.

Tabletop and card games includepinochle, canasta, bridge and domi-noes.

Sunshine meetingsCHESTER — The Chester Vil-

lage Sunshine Club meets at 9:30a.m. every Thursday at Chester Vil-lage Clubhouse, 11701 Chester Vil-lage Drive. This club is for seniors62 and older. Coffee and refresh-ments are provided.

Tips for living with

osteoarthritisToday, more than 10 million

Americans suffer from osteoarthri-

tis of the knee, making it the most

common form of arthritis in the

U.S. What are frequent causes of

this type of arthritis, and what can

you do to protect your knees,

reduce the symptoms, and support

your doctor’s treatment?

With advice from some of the

world’s leading knee specialists,

the American Arthritis Society has

compiled useful and practical tips

for self-care.

These and many more sugges-

tions regarding osteoarthritis can

be viewed online at: www.america-

narthritis.org.

Need help with

taxes?Community organizations part-

ner with the IRS. Tax Counselingfor the Elderly (TCE) programsassist individuals 60 and over withtheir 2009 income tax return prepa-ration and electronic filing. Manyof these sites have Saturday hourswhile others offer assistance atvarious times during the week. Tolocate the partner sites in yourarea, call 1-800-906-9887.

Benefits of

volunteeringCHESTERFIELD — On April 20,

from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Chester-field County’s Senior Advocate willtalk about the joys and benefits ofvolunteering and let you knowmany of the volunteer opportuni-ties available in the county.

Refreshments will be served andregistration is not required. Thisprogram is recommended foradults aged 55 and older.

For more information, pleasecall (804) 717-6381.

BRIEFLYContinued from



STATEPOINT

With more older Ameri-

cans remaining in their

homes as they age, it’s

important for their houses

to be equipped to deal with

their changing needs.

The number of Ameri-

cans age 65 and over will

reach more than 70 million

within the next 20 years,

with almost all Baby Boom-

ers (90 percent) hoping to

live in their current home

for as long as possible,

according to statistics from

the Delaware Valley Region-

al Planning Commission

and AARP.

“With Boomers leading

this trend of ‘aging in place,’

they are realizing home

modifications are essential

to maintain independence

as they age,” says EricMcRoberts, incoming chairof the American Instituteof Architects’ (AIA) Com-mittee on Design for Aging.

The AIA recommendsBoomers make their homesand communities safe andnavigable -- despite age orphysical ability -- by follow-ing four steps:

Clear Your PathsRemove clutter that can

obstruct your home’s path-ways, such as plants, maga-zine racks and small homeaccessories. If one of thehome’s residents uses awalker or wheelchair, allowat least 36 inches betweenobjects. Make sure to havelots of light to ease strain onolder eyes and install wallswitches at all room entry

points.Adopt Universal DesignSmall adjustments and

basic retrofits can trans-form first or ground floorsinto everything a personneeds -- namely, a bedroom,bathroom and kitchen. Uni-versally designed rooms fea-ture elements such asdropped countertops, grabbars, level door handles,step-less entryways, widehallways and curbless show-ers for safety and accessibil-ity.

In multi-level homes,upstairs rooms are oftenconverted into guest bed-rooms or hobby areas thatare seldom used. Using thisrightsizing concept, McRob-erts says, “An architect canhelp homeowners craft theirphysical environment so it’s

increasingly friendly tothem as they age.”

Get Eco-FriendlySeniors also are encour-

aged to make eco-friendlyadjustments to help lowerenergy costs.

“Boomers are an espe-cially astute group when itcomes to green buildingdesign and sustainability,”says McRoberts. “Manymake environmentallyfriendly purchases not justto save money, but becausethey see it as the right thingto do.”

Some small changes withbig impact include substi-tuting traditional lightbulbs with energy-efficientones, replacing old appli-ances with Energy-Star cer-tified appliances and mak-

ing sure renovations involve

environmentally friendly

materials, such as bamboo

flooring or VOC-free paint.

Good landscaping can

create natural shading for

the home, while tightly

insulating doors and win-

dows can significantly cut

energy waste. A simple con-

sultation with a profession-

al can uncover additional

ways to turn short-term

investments into long-term

savings.

Prepare Your

CommunityThe record number of

Americans expected to

retire in the coming years,

combined with their desire

to stay in their homes, will

result in sweeping changes

to their houses as well as

their communities. The con-

cept of livable communities

-- areas containing cultural,

civic and sporting activities

connected by public trans-

portation -- is expected to

gain momentum.

Boomers who lobby local

leaders today for communi-

ty friendly public bus sys-

tems, accessible parks and

pedestrian friendly walk-

ways will help themselves

and others in the future. “If

Baby Boomers make senior-

focused programs and ini-

tiatives a priority now, it

will be a win-win, not just

for their golden years, but

for the entire community,”

says McRoberts.

Making your home senior-friendly

Continued from page 4

The conditions led to weeksof rehabilitation; she lived fora time with a daughter.

Jump to her returninghome. With the new life, shestepped up her activities:working as a chaplain;increasing support and visitsto single mothers in Guate-mala and Mexico. She alsowent to Mississippi to helppeople there deal with povertyand abandonment.

She continued training andfostering long-haired Chihua-huas.

In 2003, she was watching amovie, “Sled Dogs,” with CubaGooding Jr. The film reawak-ened a dream from her child-hood in Minnesota. Shebooked a six-day dogsled tripacross norther n Alaskaknown for its minus-60-degreewind chills, and desolation.

She still finds it amazing,even prophetic, that on Jan. 9,2004, five years to the day ofher stroke, she was on a fro-

zen Bering Sea approachingthe end of her trip _ on St.Michael’s Island.

In 2006 she had anotherchallenge; her heart began tofail. Doctors used a new formof surgery to fix it. After moreweeks of rehabilitation sheaccelerated back to full speed_ until her knees began to fail,the result of a 30-year-oldinjury.

Two surgeries monthsapart replaced both her kneesin time for her to tap dance inthe St. Louis Senior Olym-pics.

“God is going to see methrough no matter what elsehappens,” she said. “Just thefact that I’m going to continuetrying until I can’t do it any-more.

“I don’t do it alone. I get bywith a little help from myfamily and friends and a lotof help from my God whoeither clears the way for meor gives me the strength totrudge through it.”

Recovery: With help fromfamily, friends and faith

Rev. Jeffery L. Dodson, Sr.J.L. Dodson & SonsFuneral Establishment

219 N. County Drive, Waverly, VA 23890

Serving the Tri-Cities, Sussex, Waverly,Wakefield, Surry, Ivor, Smithfield, Prince

George, Hopewell, Charles City

Call804-834-3330

J.L Dodson & Sons

In Petersburg call 804-732-5959www.jldodsonandsons.com

• In home funeralarrangements• Pre-need funeralfunding.• We accept existingpre-arrangements.

“Women of God: Walking In Faith”TBC Women’s Day Conference

Come and CelebrateWomen’s Day 2010

Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2

Tabernacle Baptist ChurchBeginning at 8:00 a.m.

($60 Registration fee due by April 15th)

Prayer Breakfast Speaker: Rev. Dr. Rebecca Branch-Griffin, Pastor,Oak Street A.M.E. Zion Church, Petersburg, VA

Workshop Leaders: Rev. Jennell Whitfield Riddick, First Lady,First Baptist Church, Franklin, VARev. Dr. Antrynette Walker-Hall, Interim First Lady,Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, VARev. Angel E. White, Associate Minister,Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA

Luncheon: Bettie P. Lanier Banquet Room

Sunday Morning Worship: Bishop Vashti McKenzie, PresidingPrelate Thirteenth District African Methodist Episcopal Church

For more information or registration forms, call the churchoffice at (804) 733-6541 or log on to www.tbcptg.org

Tabernacle Baptist Church418 Halifax Street

Petersburg, VA 23803

Rev. Dr. Robert A. Diggs, Sr., Pastor

at



METRO SERVICES

The adage, “you can’t teach an old dognew tricks” is apparently a misconception.When you consider how many people of thesenior demographic are continually tryingnew things, such as making green changesto their lifestyle, it would seem that changeis possible no matter a person’s age.

The green movement in the media tendsto beskewedtowardtheyoungerdemo-graphic.However,plenty ofolder indi-vidualsare mak-ingstrides toadoptearth-friendly changes and spread the word abouthelping the environment. Seniors comprisea considerable chunk of the population. Forinstance, nearly 13 percent of the UnitedStates. is over the age of 65. Also, with highnumbers of seniors retired or working min-imal hours, they are a demographic thathas a lot of time to devote to going green.

Seniors are not new to the issues of goinggreen. Many grew up during the GreatDepression, when recycling and reusingwere par for the course. However, doing soback then was a necessity rather than awidespread social movement. Seniors arealso less reticent to go without modern con-veniences that may do more to hurt theplanet than protect it. They are used towalking or bicycling to get around. And theconcept of hopping on a train or businstead of driving individual cars is some-thing many embrace.

Retailers, housing developers and otherbusiness-minded individuals are findingthat it pays to target the senior market in

terms of going green. This demographicthat grew up on being frugal finds manybenefits to incorporating green conceptsinto their lifestyle.

A popular housing builder and HarrisInteractive polled Baby Boomers ages 45 to62 in 2008 about their interest in the envi-ronment. Some findings include:

• 94 percent of Boomers had taken stepsin the last 6 months to go green.

• 79 percent wanted to do more to reducetheir carbon footprint.

• 81 percent were concerned about whattype of world they’re leaving for theirgrandchildren.

• 25 percent said that a green house is oneof the smartest investments a person canmake.

With that in mind, here are some waysseniors can make environmentally friendlychanges around the house in an effort toboth save money and help the planet.

• Look for a retirement community orassisted living facility that boasts greenpractices. It has become commonplace forthese communities to use solar panels toharness energy and green building materi-als to compromise the majority of the struc-ture.

• Beef up insulation and weather-strip-ping. Replace drafty windows and doors tosave considerably on heating and coolingcosts.

• Consider using low VOC paints and car-pets made of organic materials. Fewerchemicals in the air make for a safer livingenvironment and world.

• A high-efficiency dishwasher may useless water than washing dishes by hand.Wait until the dishwasher is full before run-ning a load.

• Now is the time to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances to use less energy andsave money in the long run.

• Go yard sale shopping. Furnish thehome with items that may be someoneelse’s trash but your treasure. You will limitthe number of things that end up in land-fills.

Golden yearsare turning intogreen years

METRO SERVICES

A growing number of seniorsare interested in ways to gogreen.



METRO SERIVCES

At one point in the2008 Oscar-nominat-ed film “Frost/Nix-

on,” former President Rich-ard Nixon, played by FrankLangella, says, “Retired peo-ple are the most bored peo-ple in the world.” Whilesome retirees might scoff atthat remark, others nodoubt agree there’s an ele-ment of truth to it.

Perhaps boredom is onereason many seniors con-tinue to work past retire-ment age. According to theCongressional ResearchService (CRS), 47 percent ofmale seniors and 34 percentof female seniors wereemployed in 2007. That thosefigures were from 2007 issignificant, as it indicatesthis was before the econom-ic downturn of 2008-09, aconsequence of which wasmore seniors returning tothe workforce.

For many seniors, though,working isn’t simply ameans to earn money. Infact, seniors who continuedworking past the age of 70earned an average of just$20,000 in 2007. Seniors alsotend to work to have some-thing to do. For seniors look-ing to do just that, there area host of employment oreven volunteer opportuni-ties that can help seniorsstay busy and possibly put alittle extra money in theirpockets.

• Local park service.Many local park serviceshire seniors to help keep theparks clean. These are oftenseasonal opportunities,making them ideal forseniors who live in differentcities depending on the sea-sons.

• Golf course. Golf cours-es are other seasonal busi-nesses, at least in much ofthe country, that also boastlots of part-time opportuni-ties for seniors. For exam-

ple, golf courses need rang-ers, who ensure all golfersplay by the rules and respectthe course, and even main-tenance staff, who do every-thing from cut the grass tomaintaining gardens. Thesecan also pull double duty,providing seniors with dailyexercise to help them stayhealthy.

• Volunteer. Many pro-grams that help indigentcitizens get by every daywelcome seniors as volun-teers. Meal delivery servicesand other programs thatcater to the sick are often inneed of a helping hand.

• School systems. Localschool districts also havevolunteer opportunities thatcan be ideal for seniors.Positions such as crossingguard or even helping outwith the local athletic teamsdon’t require much of acommitment and can berewarding and fun forseniors.

• C o n s u l t a n t wo rk .Seniors who miss the thrillof business don’t have togive it up completely simplybecause they’re retired.Many seniors earn a hand-some amount of money byworking as consultants,using their vast experienceto help the next generation.What’s more, consultantsoften work on their ownschedule, an ideal situationfor seniors with a passionfor business but an equalpassion for the positives ofretirement.

• Library. Libraries mightnot be as popular as theyonce were, but many arestill going strong, and someeven use volunteers andpart-time employees to keeptheir operations runningsmoothly. Many librariesprefer hiring seniors thanksto their reliability and goodattitude.

Job opportunities abound for seniors

Seniors looking to work or volunteer should consider

working at the local library.

METRO SERVICES

Continued from page 6

and the generic brandsare significantly cheap-er.

When buying fruit ,buy fruit at various stag-es of ripeness. That way,you can eat one ripepiece of fruit today andone that will be ripetomorrow.

Don’t Forget DairyWhile many seniors

struggle to digest dairyas they get older, there

are ways to still get thehealth benefits of dairy,including stronger bones,and not struggle withdigestion. When eatingdairy, eat smaller amountsmore times per day. Also,eat dairy products with ameal and not alone. Thiscan help ease digestion.For cheese afficionados,eat aged cheeses likeSwiss or cheddar insteadof mild cheeses, which aremore difficult to digest.

Diet: Eatingsmaller amounts



METRO SERVICES

Today’s seniors might

cringe at the escalating

costs of necessities

such as prescription medica-

tion and even higher utility

bills, and understandably so.

However, savvy seniors can

save by taking advantage of a

host of discounts exclusive to

the those over the age of 65.

• Travel perks. Many

seniors love to travel, and can

even do so at heavily dis-

counted prices. Larger hotel

chains often offer seniors dis-

counts as high as 10 percent.

Unfortunately, many U.S.

domestic airlines, facing

higher fuel prices and dwin-

dling business due the global

economic downturn, ceased

offering senior discounts in

2009. However, certain air-

lines, including Southwest

Airlines, still offer discounted

rates to seniors. These dis-

counts can be as much as 10

percent. It’s also common for

car rental agencies to offer

senior discounts.

• Transportation. Many

communities provide heavily

discounted, if not free, rates

to seniors for public transpor-

tation. Consult with your

local government to deter-

mine if you qualify for senior

discounts.

• Food. Grocery stores com-

monly offer discounts to older

customers, and many times

you don’t even need to be a

senior citizen to qualify. In

general, chains offer senior

discounts, including special

days for seniors to shop, to

anyone over the age of 55.

Restaurants are also known

to offer senior discounts, and

often these discounts extend

beyond “early bird special”

discounts of yesteryear.

While early bird specials still

exist, many chain restaurants

offer discounted prices to

seniors regardless of time of

day. In many cases, these dis-

counts aren’t listed on the

menu, but it never hurts, and

typically saves, to ask.

• Arts and culture. Seniors

looking to spend a day or

night on the town and take in

some culture can typically do

so at a discounted rate. Muse-

ums and National Parks typi-

cally offer discounted admis-

sion to seniors, as do movie

theaters and even some con-

cert halls.

Common discounts availableto senior citizens

METRO SERVICES

Restaurants are also known to offer senior discounts, and

often these discounts extend beyond “early bird special”

discounts of yesteryear. While early bird specials still exist,

many chain restaurants offer discounted prices to seniors

regardless of time of day.

The senior population is

one of the fastest-growing

demographics, thus making

it a very influential one.

There are currently about

500 million people age 65 or

older around the world. And

many seniors are living lon-

ger than ever before. Statis-

tics project that there will be

580,605 centenarians in the

United States in 2040. Also,

by 2050, seniors will make up

21 percent of the population.

While there is no singular

reason for seniors living lon-

ger, advancements in medi-

cine no doubt have played a

major role in the average life

expectancy increasing over

the last several years. Accord-

ing to a study from the Amer-

ican Cancer Society released

in 2010, age-standardized can-

cer death rates have been

decreasing since the early

1990s, a welcome develop-

ment the study’s author feels

is a direct result of reduc-

t i o n s i n t o b a c c o u s e,

increased cancer screening

that help detect cancer earli-

er and improvements in

treatment for specific can-

cers.

Did youknow?

METRO SERVICES



METRO SERVICES

Perhaps no medical issue flys under the

radar more than stress. A recent survey by

the American Psychological Association

found that one-third of Americans are liv-

ing with extreme stress, while close to half

of all survey respondents felt their stress

levels are on the rise.

While stress is a problem many feel

stems from work, stress is not solely a

byproduct of work, and those without

work-related stress can still be over-

whelmed by feelings of stress. Simply put,

stress can affect everyone, even the nation’s

retirees. While retirement is often seen as a

chance to relax and enjoy the fruits of a

life’s worth of labors, retirement can also

be a stressful time for many people. Getting

Don’t succumb to stress after retirementby on less income can be stressful, as can

health issues that might arise as we age. In

fact, a person’s ability to relax after a stress-

ful event actually becomes more difficult

the older we get. Such a reality only under-

lines the importance of stress prevention

for retirees, who can decrease their risk of

stress or stress-related illness with some

common preventive measures.

• Diet and exerciseWhile seniors might not be able to do all

that they used to when it comes to exercise

and athletics, daily exercise combined with

a healthy diet can go a long way to prevent-

ing stress. When exercising, be careful not

to over-exert yourself but be sure to include

exercise as part of your daily routine. Exer-

cise can include a daily walk out in the

fresh air, or a trip to the gym for some light

weightlifting and cardiovascular work.

Seniors should always consult a physician

before beginning an exercise regimen.

With respect to diet, avoid sugar, fried

foods and overconsumption of alcohol, as

each of things can aggravate an existing

condition, increasing the health-related

stress many seniors feel as their immune

system weakens and they become more

susceptible to disease or additional ail-

ments.

• Be sure to socializeStress doesn’t just come from work or a

physical ailment, it can also be the result

of a mental ailment, such as depression

resulting from loneliness. Just like every-

one else, seniors need to share their prob-

lems and concerns as well as their good

times with others. Just because you’re

retired from work does not mean you’re

retired from life. Stay actively involved in

your community, and be sure to maintain

regular contact with friends and family

members. Socialization comes in many dif-

ferent forms, and seniors should take

advantage of community-based programs

to connect with other seniors or even share

their experience with younger generations

whenever possible.

• Develop a daily routinePart of the joy of retirement is having

the freedom to do whatever you want when-

ever you want to do it. However, many retir-

ees find that a daily routine helps them

instill a sense of order in their lives and

avoid stress. The daily routine can include

a morning round of golf, a weekly lunch or

dinner with the kids, or anything else that

promotes a sense of purpose.

METRO SERVICES


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