Fifty Plus Advocate August 2021 Eastern Edition

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FREE | Published monthly

Eastern Edition

Vol. 48 | No. 8 | August 2021

Reenactor Brings Martha page 6 Washington to life

Fitness and friendship Women’s group achieves goals, stays fit through cycling

By Debra Roberts Contributing Writer NORTHBRIDGE - On a cold, January day, amid the ongoing pandemic, Kathy MacNeil of Northbridge daydreamed about warmer, happier days ahead. She thought of “her people” — the Worcester County Women’s Cycling (WCWC) group. WCWC is a group of Central Massachusetts women that meets up for weekly bike rides as well as other planned trips.

MacNeil decided on that dreary day to plan something big to challenge herself for her upcoming sixtieth birthday. Her plan was a spring trek across the entire state of Massachusetts from West Stockbridge to Provincetown.

Above: Final celebration at the Aqua Bar in Provincetown. Neide DosReis joined the festivities and awarded those who did the full trek with medals.

Riding group | 4

Left: The women cruise into Provincetown for the final stretch of their trek.

Right: Ten members of the Worcester County Women’s Cycling group members pose ready for their four-day trek from West Stockbridge to Provincetown. From left: Brigette Flick (Gardner), Kathleen MacNeil (Northbridge), Eileen Nikopoulos (Millbury), Jen Schelin (Uxbridge), Ellen Bond (Auburn), Katie Zolnik (Marlborough), Janice Melchiore (Douglas), Anne Marie Cammuso (Millbury), Jen Holaday (Ohio), Debbie Ennis (Barre).

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AARP Research Shows Family Caregivers Face Significant Financial Strain, Spend on Average $7,242 Each Year

By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts

N

ew research from AARP shows that nearly 8 in 10 of those caring for an adult family member (78%) are facing regular out-of-pocket costs, with the highest burden falling on younger caregivers and those who are Hispanic/Latino or African American. The organization launched a national campaign in July urging Congress to do more to support family caregivers. AARP tracked what caregivers pay for using their own money and found average annual spending totaled $7,242, and, on average, 26% of the caregiver’s income. Housing expenses like rent or mortgage payments, home modifications, and assisted living made up more than half of caregivers’ spending, followed by medical expenses at 17%.

This research reflects the incredible strain and sacriMike Festa fices the 840,000 family caregivers in Massachusetts face every day. They are the backbone of our long-term care system, yet their backs are breaking from a lack of support.

Out-of-pocket spending is much greater for some groups of caregivers, either in total dollars spent or as a percentage of average household income.

• Working caregivers who reported two work-related strains from caregiving, such as taking time off or working more hours, spend $10,525 each year on average — twice as much as caregivers who report one or no work-related strains.

• By age, Gen X caregivers spent the most money at $8,502, while Gen Z and Millennial caregivers reported the greatest financial strain, spending a larger share of their household income.

• Hispanic/Latino and African American caregivers also reported greater financial strain than White or Asian American caregivers. Hispanic/Latino caregivers spent, on average, 47% of their household income on caregiving, and expenses for African American caregivers totaled, on average, 34% of income.

• Caregivers caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia or mental health issues tend to spend more ($8,978 per year and $8,384 per year, respectively) than those caring for someone without those conditions.

In addition to direct out-of-pocket spending, caregivers are also experiencing indirect financial setbacks. Nearly half of family caregivers (47%) experienced at least one financial setback such as having to cut back on their own health care spending, dip into their personal savings or reduce how much they save for their retirement.

AARP Massachusetts and our colleagues across the country are calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act to provide some much-needed financial relief to family caregivers who work to help offset the cost of caring.

AARP has endorsed the Credit for Caring Act, which would provide a tax credit of up to $5,000 to eligible working family caregivers for expenses they incur as caregivers. The organization is launching a national campaign urging passage of the act and more support for family caregivers. The campaign involves significant grassroots advocacy, including at least 60 tele-town halls, a major digital and video advertising initiative, and social media outreach through AARP’s national and state offices. Already, more than 100,000 contacts have been made with Members of Congress. In addition, more than 110 organizations, including 36 military and veterans service and support organizations, have joined AARP in asking Congress to pass the Credit for Caring Act. More resources for family caregivers, including a free financial workbook, are available at aarp.org/caregiving.

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Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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Three simple changes to your RV to help keep you safe on the road Owning and operating an RV can be physically demanding, including climbing in and out of a tall RV, leveling the vehicle, raising the top on pop-up campers, filling and draining tanks, fuel hook-ups, or camp setup.

But feeling safe and secure is essential at any age.

Here are three easy modifications for any style RV or motor coach that can minimize risks.

By R. R. Fletcher Contributing Writer

I

n Massachusetts, RV sales topped $69.8 million in 2020, according to the RV Industry Association (RVIA), and the average age of most RV travelers is now below 60.

Unfortunately, for many, the realities of aging usually require people to change their lifestyles — giving up their dreams of adventure. But with a bit of planning, most older individuals can remain active and safe in their RV.

Modify interior and exterior steps Steps are universal when traveling on the road. And if you have hip, knee, or balance issues, steps may cause problems. If you have not purchased your RV yet, look for a single-level floor plan with no steps. If you already have a motor home with steps, here are a few changes that can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively.

Extend exterior steps to the ground for stability. Creating a halfstep or platform that assists entry, is also an option. Even when the RV steps are well-anchored, ensure they offer good traction — through all kinds of weather. High traction materials or non-slip tape applied to each step are quick and easy fixes.

Interior steps can be minimized by adding a half-step or platform or converting the inner step into a ramp. Premade conversion wedges are easy to fit and customizable.

Install handrails everywhere Handholds are another safety feature for anyone needing a little extra help. Some RV exterior steps come with built-in rails for a safe and secure entry and exit. Most RV handrails are easy to install and store. In addition to an entry rail, place grab bars for easy access into the truck cab or for access to overhead beds, platforms, and storage compartments.

Bathroom modifications Many of the smaller RVs are limited to showers in the bathroom – bathtubs are a luxury. However, factory-installed shower stalls usually have a substantial step-up to get into the unit due to layout and construction styles.

Modifying and replacing these showers with “low-rise” or walk-in style designs can help minimize the risk of falls. Also, if you have the room, choose a shower stall with a sit-down bench to enhance safety.

The bathroom is another place to

have grab bars. For added security, opt for installed bars rather than suction bars. And don’t forget the non-slip shower mat or at the very least a few well-placed adhesive anti-slip bath strips for traction. RV bathrooms are designed from tile and fiberglass and can be very slippery.

Do it yourself vs. professional modifications Many additions and modifications to your RV are quick, easy, and inexpensive. Find a reputable RV dealer or modification company if you feel it’s beyond your capabilities or comfort level. One such company is Timbuktu RV. Founded in 1996 and located in Worcester, Timbuktu RV is a full-service RV Center that provides simple repairs and custom modifications for most RV styles and brands.

For the western part of the state, another well-established RV service and sales company is Bob’s Camper in Williamstown. For southeastern Mass., Campers Inn RV in Raynham has been serving the RV community since 1995.

Independent recreational travel remains hugely popular in Massachusetts and beyond. And a few changes can ensure safety on the road at any age.

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Women’s cycling group traverses Massachusetts during four-day trek

Riding group | from page 1

“I’m a very goal-oriented person,” she said.

Promoting her birthday challenge She started with an inquiry on WCWC’s private Facebook page about a plan to ride across the state of Massachusetts. The response from the group was overwhelming. “The funny thing is, it was early January, and everybody’s got their New Year’s resolutions. I was getting like 60 people interested — and I was like, what did I get myself into?” she recalled.

However, the actual number of participants gradually whittled down to 10 women committing to the full ride and eight more that joined one of the four legs of the trek.

Planning The one-way aspect of the fourday trek, which took place June 1013, involved dropping off cars at the end location of a leg of a trip and be-

Kathleen MacNeil poses June 10, the first day of her trek, in Tyringham.

ing dropped off at the starting point.

A friend of a daughter of one of the participants towed a trailer with the bikes, water, ice, and changes of clothing. During the trek, some members stayed overnight in between trip

adventurous energetic

WCWC members pose in front of the Trainmasters Inn in Palmer ready to begin the second leg of their trek.

legs and others went home after each day.

“Price is important to a lot of people,” MacNeil said. “So we weren’t talking about a lot of money. This was a way to do it on a really low budget.”

Group motivation The WCWC group, MacNeil emphasized, has been instrumental in her ability to stay fit. A runner since high school, she found that she had to seek alternatives after she tore her meniscus.

“I had to lose weight. My cholesterol was up. I didn’t want to go on medication,” she said.

Someone she knew suggested biking. She found the biking group online and was intimidated at first.

“I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t

think I was good enough,” she said. “I had to keep pushing myself and then I slowly found my people. I found people that were my pace and a similar age group, and it really kicked off for me. That was six years ago.”

“The nice thing about group rides,” she explained, “is it motivates you because you told somebody you’re going to be there, so you’re more likely to show up. Finding a group of women to exercise with was a game changer.”

Everyone is welcome Though MacNeil said WCWC welcomes members of all ages, the women she rides with are predominantly in their fifties and sixties. She attributes this to the fact that women in this age range are no longer “carting kids around to soccer games on the week-

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Riders approach the Sagamore Bridge, which they walk across with their bikes to enter Cape Cod.

ends” and finally have more time for themselves.

“I didn’t start riding a bike as an adult until I was 56 years old,” said Ellen Bond, another WCWC member. “Joining WCWC has given me the opportunity meet new friends with shared interests and explore new geographies. I challenge myself to achieve goals that I would never have thought possible.”

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The group grows to 18 for the Wrentham to Provincetown legs of the trek.

They pose at a bike path in Yarmouth with Travis Mortell (in yellow shirt), who transported all of the gear.

Helping a friend One of the WCWC women who had signed up for MacNeil’s trek was Neide DosReis. DosReis was diagnosed with lymphoma in March and had to drop out. MacNeil made a pledge to donate one dollar for every mile that each woman completed in the trek to help cover DosReis’ chemotherapy copayments.

In the end, $2000 went to DosReis,

and another $2000 was raised for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in DosReis’ honor.

DosReis did manage to join the other women in Provincetown to cheer them on at the finish line.

“These women are my best friends, my family, my sisters,” she said. “The support and love they are giving is beyond me. I feel blessed to have WCWC in my life.”

The women cruise into Provincetown for the final stretch of their trek as visitors in the crowd cheer them on.

Reflections “Each of the participants had their own story and reason for this challenge,” MacNeil said. “Unlike a charity ride, there were no lush rest stops, t-shirts, or bragging rights. But like a charity ride, we dedicated the ride to Neide, our member who had her own challenge, fighting cancer.”

“The ride became a symbol to me of the power of women, agelessness, dedication, caring and support of each other.”

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Stoughton historical reenactor brings Martha Washington to life

By Sherri Coner Contributing Writer

monuments dotting the landscape of what some people still call “the birthplace of the American Army.”

Watching a Revolutionary War reenactment that day with her dad had a lasting effect.

“That was my first experience with living history,” Spector said. “And I never lost the desire to be a part of it.”

STOUGHTON - When Sandy Spector dons favorite items from her wardrobe, such as heavy wool skirts that sweep the floor, high collar satin blouses, elegant gloves and maybe a long black cloak in cold weather, her identity merges perfectly with Martha Washington’s life.

“There is something very familiar and comforting about it,” Spector said of reenacting President George Washington’s wife. “Clothing plays a big part of it for me. When I dress in 18th century clothing, I feel complete, at home.”

Childhood history lessons lead to adulthood interests Living across the road for a while from Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania provided unique opportunities for Spector to fall in love with American history. When she was a first grader, Spector’s father introduced her to the creative magic happening at the sprawling 3500-acre historic site. In awe, she took in the stories and the

From reenactment fan to participant As a young wife and mom, Spector met John Koopman III in 1999. She was enthralled by his participation in the 10th Massachusetts Regiment, reenacting scenes from the Revolutionary War. When Koopman invited the Spector family to try reenacting, Spector’s husband, Michael, and their two oldest offspring -- both preschoolers at the time -- dressed in period clothing and stepped into yesterday. But just as quickly, they all stepped out again.

Though her family preferred cartoons, running water and electricity, Spector discovered her niche. “I found my happy place,” she said. “I was an active member of the regiment for years.

Martha Washington | 7

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Only one lady came to mind. Sandy is not only the right height, but she already had some personality traits of Martha.

— John Koopman III

Sandy Spector as Martha Washington with her reenactor partner John Koopman III as George Washington.

Martha Washington | from page 6

Then I moved on to interpreting civilian life with other groups.”

Becoming Martha Washington Though Koopman played George Washington for 11 years in various reenactment roles, he always knew the role would be greatly enhanced if Mrs. Martha Washington could be added to the scenes. Without a Martha character

in the mix, many stories about the couple’s 40 years together were simply left untold. When he considered possibilities for who might play Martha Washington best, “Only one lady came to mind. Sandy is not only the right height, but she already had some personality traits of Martha,” Koopman said.

Thrilled by Koopman’s invitation, Spector wasted no time gathering history about Martha, such as the fact that

Martha was a 25-year-old widow and mother of four when she and George tied the knot. However, they never had a child together. Of course, studying historical facts about Martha was important, but just as Koopman expected, Spector’s personality brought Martha to life. Bubbly and social like Martha Washington, Spector also adores children and joyfully lives life, which is exactly how Mrs. Washington is remembered.

Martha goes virtual While adhering to pandemic home restrictions for more than a year, this non-profit administrator for various Jewish organizations started thinking about how to take Martha Washington’s persona to places she had never seen before. Spector chose some of Martha’s clothing, tied back her naturally curly tresses and easily slipped

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into Martha’s character. And then, Mrs. Washington virtually began to visit classrooms, senior centers, civic clubs and library programs using the Zoom video meeting platform.

Martha’s visits spanned several states, and audience interest in her fun, warm persona was immediate. This Zoom-based history lesson is so popular that Spector launched the website www.themrswashington.com to help her reach a broader audience with her virtual programs.

Despite the demands of her day job and Martha Washington programs, Spector still finds some time to spend with her children, and go on hiking adventures with her husband. Yes, her life can be hectic. But it is overflowing with all that she loves best. “Everything I am involved in is something I believe in one hundred percent. How many people get to say that?” she observed.

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Financial advice proves helpful for self-employed individuals planning for retirement

By Leslie Anderson Contributing Writer REGION - Operating a successful business reflects long-held goals for many people. Working for oneself provides a certain satisfaction of offering a special product or service to happy customers.

Plus, many entrepreneurs enjoy the experience of seeing something grow over the course of years or even decades.

The challenge On the other hand, one drawback is retirement planning. And as we age that planning becomes all the more important. The guesswork is taken out of the equation when you have a job that offers a pension or employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. However, retirement savings falls on the shoulders of the business owner when you are self-employed. Therefore, how does a small business owner or “solopreneur” plan for retirement?

The good news is people in this situation have options that best fit their goals and current income status.

Whether you do your own research or work with a financial planner, retirement planning is possible with any of the following options.

The Simple IRA One choice the IRS offers is the Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees or Simple IRA. In this plan, both employers and employees can contribute to a traditional IRA set up for employees. It is ideal for when a business has less than 100 employees and no other retirement plan in place.

How this IRA works is quite simple (no pun intended). If the employee contributes to it, then the employer must match up to three percent of his or her annual pay. However, if the employee chooses not to contribute, then the employer matches up to two percent.

Generally, the employer has no requirements for filing, which makes this one of easiest plans to set up. He or she then chooses which financial institution to serve as trustee. Then he or she executes a written agreement with employees using the correct documents (Forms 5304 or 5305).

The SEP IRA Along similar lines, business owners can also opt for the Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA. “There are a few things to consider, but generally speaking, a SEP IRA is a great way for self-employed individ-

uals to save for retirement,” said Jon Wolff, a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, which has numerous offices in Massachusetts.

This choice also presents an easy-to-follow procedure for both a freelancer and a small business with employees. The owner contributes a maximum of $58,000 or 25 percent of the employee’s pay. For the solopreneur or independent contractor, 25 percent of his or her net earnings can go into the SEP. Set-up is quite easy with very little paperwork required. This plan tends to work best for freelancers or small businesses with very few employees.

cent limit, the business owners can contribute up to one hundred percent of their annual salary which allows for “catching up” if they are over age 50. Thus, when looking at retirement planning late in the game, this presents an ideal route.

The Defined Benefit Plan When combined with a 401(k), the Defined Benefit Plan gives the owner the chance to maximize contributions by allotting funds to both plans. Just like the Individual 401(k), this plan benefits married couples if both spouses run the business. It also proves to be useful when one spouse is employed, and the other is an independent contractor.

Participants in the gig economy might find themselves better equipped to choose a plan under a financial advisor’s guidance. Otherwise, researching on their own through the IRS’s website or another source could prove to be fruitful. Nevertheless, an advisor already possesses the latest knowledge of account set-up and tax laws. Either way, planning for retirement for the self-employed can definitely become reality.

And it’s never too early to start.

The Individual or Solo 401(k) For the business owner who is looking to make larger contributions, the Individual 401(k) offers some advantages. This plan also works well for couples who jointly own a small company and are looking for tax-planning opportunities. Likewise, for the couple where one spouse is employed by another company, the Solo 401(k) provides tax savings when maxed out.

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Cape Cod’s best lobster rolls appeal to a variety of tastes Quahog Republic Dive Bar in Onset’s Monsta Lobsta Roll is piled high with perfectly cooked lobster.

By Sandi Barrett Contributing Writer

O

verstuffed, gorgeous lobster rolls are synonymous with New England oceanside vacations. On a recent trip to Cape Cod we set out to find some of the best lobster rolls in this vacationers’ paradise.

Whether you are a butter topped lobster roll aficionado or a mayonnaise dressed lobster roll lover, the list below is a great jumping off point as you crisscross the Cape in search of your personal favorite. The list is in no particular order. There are many wonderful establishments that serve excellent lobster rolls and the list below represents our Cape Cod favorites.

Quahog Republic Dive Bar, Onset

The Monsta Lobsta Roll for Quahog Republic Dive Bar is piled high with perfectly cooked lobster. The huge chunks of tail and claw fill the classically grilled hot dog roll. Quahog serves their lobster undressed with a side of clarified butter for your dipping pleasure. There is so much lobster in this roll, you will need a knife and fork. The house fries are super crispy and well seasoned, making a perfect addition to your enormous plate of goodness.

Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar, Eastham

At Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar, they cover both the buttered and mayo dressed version. The Jumbo Warm Lobster Roll is served bathed in butter and their Jumbo Cold Lobster Roll is lightly dressed in mayo.

Plated with crunchy coleslaw and classic French fries, these beauties are high on everyone’s list as an excellent Cape Cod lobster roll restaurant.

Arnold’s is more than just a fish shack, they have an excellent raw bar, premium ice cream, and a mini golf

want a great take-away lobster roll.

Line up to order your expertly crafted lobster roll from their quintessential Cape Cod shack. With options for both a mayo or butter dressed version, your outdoor dining experience is enhanced by the busy harbor activities. Catch ‘em, cook ‘em, eat ‘em — the freshest, most succulent lobster rolls in town.

The Lobster Pot, Provincetown

PHOTO/SANDI BARRETT

course rounding out this fun-in-thesun, Cape Cod destination.

Sesuit Harbor Cafe, Dennis

When you want to relax by the water and enjoy an absolutely delicious lobster roll, Sesuit Harbor Cafe is a must-visit. The cafe is an old-fashioned seafood shack that serves up amazing lobster rolls with a casual, laid back vibe. Queue up to order, then scout out a picnic table along Cape Cod Bay for a sumptuous breakfast, lunch, dinner, or mid-day lobster snack.

A classic grilled bun with a lightly dressed lobster, piled high with lobster meat, is Sesuit Harbor’s signature lobster dish. They do not serve adult beverages; however, you are more than welcome to bring your own. Many guests pack a small cooler, order perfectly cooked seafood, and enjoy a sunset picnic on the bay.

with a fork. Enjoy your delectable treat on the sweet patio tucked away in the Popponesset Marketplace, an old time Cape Cod village where you can end your meal with a delicious ice cream and some mini golf.

Chatham Pier Fish Market, Chatham

Chatham Pier Fish Market is exactly what you think of when you

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Summer time and fresh caught Cape Cod lobster are a perfect match.

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The Raw Bar, Mashpee

The Raw Bar in Popponesset, an enclave in Mashpee, serves up a Colossal Lobster Roll for your dining enjoyment. It is so packed with lobster salad, the Raw Bar serves their rolls

When you find yourself in Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod, and in need of a lobster roll fix, the Lobster Pot is the perfect spot for a delicious lobster treat. You can get the Classic Hot Lobster heaped high with perfectly cooked lobster meat or a refreshing Lobster Roll Salad. Alternatively, you can opt for something less traditional like their Lobster Grilled Cheese or their Lobster Rueben.

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Paddleboarding

Enthusiasts say it’s good for both the body and soul

By Peg Lopata Contributing writer REGION - The temperatures are in the nineties. There’s hardly a breeze. You could hide out in the air conditioning, if you’ve got that, but you want to be outdoors. Here’s something to consider: paddleboarding!

John Levy of Charles River Canoe and Kayak says paddleboarding puts him into a Zen state of mind.

From nine to ninety There’s evidence paddleboarding or SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) was once enjoyed by people centuries ago, but lucky for us it’s been recently re-discovered.

It’s a sport for everyone, according to Aaron Mearns, owner, Coast to Coast Paddle, Beverly and Salem.

“We’ve put everyone on the water from children age three to an adult in his nineties,” he said.

But it’s especially good for those fifty and older.

Says Abigail Golde, 74, who’s been paddleboarding almost a decade, “You can regulate just how much you want to exert yourself.”

Of course, it’s for those who love

the water, want to cool off, get some exercise and keep their balance working well — without spending lots of money. Rentals at Coast to Coast, for example, start at $20 an hour and group lessons are $35, including all the equipment.

For a strong body “Paddleboarding is one of the best full body workouts out there,” said Deb Laufer, general manager of Paddle Boston. “It has a relatively low impact on your joints. It’s a great way to maintain strength and balance — balance is like a muscle and it’s hard to gain back if you’ve lost it.”

Additionally, Ryan Burch, owner of SUPfari Adventures Cape Cod, Brewster and Orleans, notes that this sport keeps your reaction time quick.

“Many of us walk on sturdy ground all the time so certain muscles do not get tested,” Burch explained.

“As we age, these muscles begin to weaken and our reaction time slows down. With paddleboarding, the platform is in constant motion so we have to use these muscles to find our

balance and make their reaction time quicker.”

Coastal cruising for a sound mind Does a platform in constant motion under your feet sound scary? Not if you accept that you may fall in — at least once — and that keeping your knees bent keeps you on the board.

Some wear personal flotation devices. With a good instructor, you’ll be taught to keep safe and learn tips to keep your balance on the board.

And for a mind that’s become unbalanced — paddleboarding may do you some good in that regard as well.

Though some may get nervous about falling in, once you get over that, what could be more calming than having water surround you on a hot day and the horizon to gaze at?

“It shoots off juices in your head that’ll calm you down,” said John Levy, 65, of Charles River Canoe and Kayak. “I go into a Zen state when I’m paddling.”

For Mearns, paddleboarding is Paddleboarding | 11

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• 11

Boston-based ‘friendship’ organization helps older adults avoid social isolation

By April McQueen Contributing Writer

Janet Seckel-Cerrotti is the executive director of FriendshipWorks, a Boston-based non-profit that matches volunteers with older adults for friendship and support.

BOSTON - At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, people of all ages suffered from isolation because of lockdown restrictions, but the older adult population was affected perhaps more than any other group.

“Social isolation comes from not having someone who connects with you on a regular basis,” said Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, the executive director of FriendshipWorks, a Boston-based non-profit.

“For older adults it depends a lot on their health in terms of connection. It’s harder to make new connections later in life. They have a lot more losses than gains.”

Seckel-Cerrotti shared what she believes are three basic things that she feels are important and necessary to avoid being socially isolated but are not always easy to attain. First and foremost, “Everybody would have a friend, and nobody would be alone unless they choose to be,” she stated. Second, “That everybody has some interdependence — someone to call to help out with the small things.” Finally, that “Everybody has someone to talk to as part of a meaningful relationship.”

A long history of helping older adults Seckel-Cerrotti has been with FriendshipWorks since 1984, when the agency began, and became executive director in 1991. Its mission is to reduce isolation, enhance the quality of life, and preserve the dignity of older adults in the Greater Boston area, including Boston, Brookline, Newton, Somerville,

PHOTO BY MERI BOND PROVIDED COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIPWORKS

and Cambridge. It accomplishes this by recruiting, training, and matching volunteers of all backgrounds with older adults for friendship and support.

“One of the most important factors for how people coped during the pandemic was what their level of activity and physical connection with others was before the pandemic,” according to Seckel-Cerrotti. “We are trying to reach people most at risk of isolation and loneliness.” She noted that other factors that influence this include health, losses, networks of friends and family members, living situation — alone, or with others they love and care about — and connections to services.

Adapting to the times During the worst parts of the pandemic, before vaccines were available, in-person visits between volunteers and older adults typically weren’t possible. FriendshipWorks sought to provide continuity of connection through adapted programs that included frequent phone calls, handmade cards, letters, FaceTime video calls, group learning on Zoom, and other methods.

“Technology has a lot more to do

Paddleboarding Paddleboarding | from page 10

peaceful because it connects him to beautiful coastal waters. It’s also beautiful that this sport doesn’t require much gear: the ocean, a river, pond or lake, a board and a paddle.

Ready yet?

Lessons are not very expensive, there are a wide range of prices for the equipment, and you can explore waterways of all kinds. And if you’re the curious type, you can also see what’s going on below the surface. You can fish from a paddleboard, snorkel, and even bring your dog along.

If you have some medical issues,

ask your doctor if there’s any reason you shouldn’t try paddle boarding. Then take a lesson, start off slowly, be prepared to fall in at least once, build up your strength and stamina, have fun and maybe find that Zen state.

Or, warns Golde, “Get ready for a new compulsion.”

Check out the following websites to begin your paddleboard adventure: Paddle Boston: https://paddleboston.com/ Coast to Coast Paddle: http://www. coasttocoastpaddle.com/ SUPfari Adventures Cape Cod: https://supfariadventures.com/

FriendshipWorks volunteer Jae Jung shares a laugh with his match Anne Umansky.

with income than age,” Seckel-Cerrotti noted. “Where you live in terms of accessibility, and then the cost of adding another bill,” are factors in technology being used by older adults, she ex-

PHOTO BY RACHAEL CERROTTI PROVIDED COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIPWORKS

plained. “We were very sensitive to the fact that many older adults we serve did not have technology, so reaching out through phone calls, print newsletters, and cards and letters was essential Friendship | 19

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Hearing loss intervention can be life changing for older adults

By Liz Nolan Contributing Writer REGION - It is common for people to experience hearing loss as they age.

Proper evaluation, diagnosis, and rehabilitation are key to the journey to better hearing. The cost of hearing aids should not deter anyone from investigating the current technology and price tiers available.

Hearing Instrument Specialist and founder of Westborough-based Professional Hearing Healthcare Associates Peter Lee has over 20 years of experience in the field. Trained and licensed by the state of Massachusetts, he has witnessed how life changing the proper intervention to hearing loss can be.

Peter Lee of Westborough-based Professional Hearing Healthcare Associates has witnessed how life changing the proper intervention to hearing loss can be.

Negative effects of untreated hearing loss Not treating hearing loss can have negative effects, including depression and anxiety, and has been linked to increased risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline. People may feel disconnected from family and friends.

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Taking the first step It is typical for people to wonder why they waited so long to get them after they made the decision to do so. “It gives us such great enjoyment and satisfaction when someone comes in and leaves happy because they reconnect with the world again,” said Lee. He does recommend people choose a provider they can trust and one that PHOTO/GEOFFREY SUGARMAN Modern hearing aids are very small offers a service comand unobtrusive. ponent. Hearing aids typically last four to six years and almost all hearing aids are missing soft speech, like whispering, programmable. The settings can often are typical signs of hearing loss. be reprogrammed instead of having to replace the devices. Regular mainEvaluation and treatment tenance and service will help provide Some hearing issues may be good years of use. linked to medical conditions, such as “It’s a journey to better hearing,” diabetes and cardiovascular disease so said Lee. “We are a guide and navigate seeking intervention is important. Lee the speed bumps along the way. The said a common cause for hearing loss provider is the interface to make sure is ear wax, but most hearing loss only you will be successful.” gets worse and not better. And not all Lee currently does free, no pressure hearing loss is correctable. hearing screenings in conjunction with Determining when hearing is local senior centers, including Westbornot in the normal range for certain ough, Shrewsbury and Northborough. situations and frequencies is importYour primary care physician can check ant so the best recommendation can your ears for physical causes of hearing be made. Understanding a patient’s loss and perform a basic hearing test unique hearing needs is part of the when you have your routine physical. evaluation process.

He or she can also refer you to an audi“Our society is not a quiet sociologist if necessary. ety,” said Lee. “All those noises interThe state of Massachusetts has a fere with our ability to hear, even as website with an abundance of helpsimple as a motor running.” ful information about hearing aids at Lee said that digital hearing aids https://www.mass.gov/service-details/ can be individually manipulated for information-for-hearing-aids. the patient. “It doesn’t restore hearing You can also find useful informaback to normal, but you will hear bettion on the website of the Central Master,” he noted. “In certain situations, it sachusetts chapter of the Hearing Loss will still be a struggle.”

Association of America: https://hearinglosscentralma.wordpress.com.

Financial aspects Better quality of life because of improved hearing is a plus; however, the cost of hearing aids may be a deterrent to some even when needed.

Cape Cod’s best Massachusetts mandates health lobster rolls insurances to have a hearing aid benLobster | from page 9 efit for children with hearing loss up until age 21. The cost of hearing aids is famed Massachusetts vacation desticovered by Medicaid and Massachunation. setts state employees have coverage.

When you are visiting Cape Cod, Medicare does not cover hearing aids. selecting a centrally located, getaway Lee acknowledged the financial stay is key to enjoying your visit. challenge of obtaining hearing aids.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Cape Cod “There are different tiers of hearing Hyannis enjoys exceptional guest retechnology,” he said. “There is a valviews and is close to everywhere you ue set of aids. They don’t need to be want to be while on your Cape Cod $4,000 to $5,000. You can still hear getaway stay. better for less. There is a solution for Tip: Keep in mind, many of these everybody.”

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Art for Art’s Sake

By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes

Earth, without Art is just ‘Eh’ — Demetri Martin

A

few years ago, some of our elderly residents started coloring. It was not an activity we promoted or arranged; we did not provide the materials — they just started on their own. Then they started getting together to color in groups.

Now, the activity has gained momentum and coloring groups are sprouting up at other buildings multiple times per week. Some residents display their creations in the dining rooms, and I’ve had a few bring me some prized pages as gifts for my office walls.

Because coloring has long been associated with children, many look at the activity as infantile and unworthy of consideration as an activity to be promoted for seniors. I did not believe so, so I went in search of research to determine if there were benefits of coloring that were unsung.

A quick search on Google and I was able to find several articles that listed benefits of coloring.

It turns out that many psychologists and other mental health practitioners use coloring as a tool to help their patients. They noted that both in the therapeutic and home setting, coloring can help people promote some or all of the following: • Muscle control, including coordination and dexterity – as we age, or after medical episodes like strokes, coloring could help retrain our muscles and our brain. Some proponents note that coloring uses both sides of the brain — one for the creativity and one for the logic and patterns.

• Self-expression and imagination – coloring can create an avenue for communication if there are deficits in the language centers of the brain. Colors used can be used to gauge mood for people who are nonverbal. And promoting creativity can help elders cope with other changes in aging.

• Increasing focus and stress relief – many articles argue that the mindfulness of coloring (including focusing on things other than life’s stressors) could lower blood pressure. Carl Jung, a 20th century psychologist employed coloring as a relaxation technique.

Scott M. Bea, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist, noted, “Adult coloring requires modest attention focused outside of self-awareness. It is a simple activity that takes us outside ourselves.”

• Socialization – one of the easiest benefits to understand is the benefit of socialization. Residents who color in groups get to sit together and chat, and each benefits from the giving and receiving positive feedback.

• Explore forgotten memories – one article noted that the simple act of coloring could promote an opportunity to see yourself across your lifetime and reexamine who you are and how you have brought creativity through your life.

The articles I found did not note another benefit that we see in our community — pride and increased self-worth. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing one of our residents show off their newest creation to the staff or their families. If coloring begins to be viewed as a more valid creative endeavor, this could increase the purpose and happiness they feel in later years.

One of our residents, Karyl, noted yet another benefit of coloring, “People who see this as un-purposeful are missing the point. It is important to take time out from being busy and rediscover your playful side. We talk about stopping to smell the roses; coloring is a way to appreciate the beauty we create and retrains us to see the colors and designs all around us.”

• 13

I was interested to note, however, that the articles were clear to suggest that coloring “may” and “might” have the benefits listed. It seems, so far, that there is little available research to determine the psychological and medical effects of coloring.

It will be of interest to see if researchers can prove these claims. Since adult coloring is somewhat new, it may take some time for researchers take note of this new activity and determine if it truly has health benefits. Until then, perhaps we can view coloring as truly Art for Art’s Sake.

Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com.

Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com

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viewpoint

Summer insects; some are magical

By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer

I

awoke around midnight and, unable to sleep, I watched out the window as flickering lights floated above the grassy patch behind our house.

Fireflies seem magical in the silent dark.

We were in that quiet season after the spring peepers finish their nighttime symphony, and before the start of what I call the “August buzz,” the cicadas, crickets, and katydids who fill the late summer night – magically, it seems to me – with chirps and raspy murmurs.

Not all summer insects are magical. In my opinion.

Japanese beetles, for example. I first met beetles as a child living in our grandfather’s house. The beetles insisted on nibbling Grandpa’s grapevines. Each evening, he poured a bit of

kerosene into a Maxwell House coffee can and, one by one, escorted the beetles into the can from which there was no return. Once, he invited my sister and me to help. That night I dreamed I was wearing a dark green sweater covered with vengeful Japanese beetles.

I’ve recovered from this nightmare. As an adult, I’ve spent many evening hours flicking Japanese beetles off our raspberry bushes into buckets of soapy water, kerosene being, I’m quite sure, environmentally incorrect.

And I remember our springtime mud wasp adventure when Dick and I were first married. Our house had been built the summer before. One night, we noticed a small dark spot on the cream-colored hall wallpaper.

The spot was rotating. A mud wasp was chewing its way out of the drywall: chew, rotate, chew until its head popped out. Then came its front legs.

It pushed its legs against the wall, trembling with the effort. A black body grayed with drywall dust slowly emerged and plopped into the empty jar we had so thoughtfully provided.

We went to bed, wondering if a wasp army was chewing its way into our hall. We closed the bedroom door, not wishing to see a row of mud wasps glaring at us from the foot of the bed.

But this one was alone apparently trapped on the drywall is a pupa when the house was being built, birthing itself into an inconvenient environment.

Okay, so maybe that mud wasp seemed a little bit magical, spending the entire winter quietly developing in the drywall.

But I don’t find anything magical about fruit flies. Any ripening – or rotting or fermenting — vegetable or fruit is prime real estate to a fruit fly.

It’s a fine place for Mama Fly to lay

100 to 1000 eggs that become adults in about a week, mate in two days, fly around my kitchen being very annoying, and die a few days later but not soon enough for me. Fortunately, they can be trapped in red wine or cider vinegar containing a drop of dish detergent. They die well-fed and happy.

The least magical of insects — in my opinion — is the tick. It’s said that Mother Nature has a use for every creature, but she might have messed up with this one.

I’m proud of my Dead Tick Collection. I saved the deer tick that bit me, because you’re supposed to do that for future reference, though I took the prescribed double dose of antibiotics. The other ticks in my collection are deer ticks and wood ticks that I’ve found, fortunately, pre-bite. Here’s how to capture a tick. Pick it up with the sticky side of a piece of tape, fold another sticky side over it. One less tick to plague the world.

I do not kill insects indiscriminately. I dispatch only insects that (a) want my food or (b) consider me food.

Anybody else is magical.

Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net

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“WHERE DID IT GO?” (answers on page 19)

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• 15

New medication for early-stage Alzheimer’s brings both hope and controversy

By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer REGION - Aging can bring lots of joyfilled changes: retirement, grandchildren, time to travel. But it can also be a time of unwelcome bodily challenges — many of which modern medicine has the answers for. Bad knees? Fix with knee replacements. Cataracts? Remove them. High blood pressure? Take a pill.

But what about Alzheimer’s disease? This dreaded condition afflicts about six million Americans and has no fix. But a new drug, Aduhelm, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) though not a cure, may help slow the progression of this disease that destroys the brain. The medicine is promising for those in the early stages of this disease with mild memory or thinking problems — that’s some 1.5 million people.

A medicine makes history Aduhelm was created by two pharmaceutical companies: Biogen Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Eisai Co, Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan. It’s the first approved treatment to slow the progression of the disease for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It doesn’t address symptoms — it works to rid the brain of what causes the symptoms.

According to Jim Wessler, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter, “This is the first treatment approved for Alzheimer’s disease since 2003 and the first to address the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease.”

He was pleased when he first heard that Aduhelm received FDA approval.

The controversy But that wasn’t the case with everyone. Some scientists say there’s not enough evidence that proves Aduhelm works. In fact, three experts resigned from an FDA independent advisory committee over the approval. Other experts counter by saying not only is it effective, its approval will lead to more

Aduhelm is the medication recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Jim Wessler, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter, says the high price of Aduhelm jeopardizes patient access to the medication.

scientific research that will perhaps advance even better treatments.

Wessler concurs. “History has shown us that approvals of the first drug in a new category will invigorate the field, increase investments in new treatments, and generate greater innovation,” he said. “For example, there were questions surrounding the effectiveness of the first treatment for HIV. But AZT’s approval stimulated the development of additional treatments and combination therapies that have resulted in a nearly two-thirds decline in the number of HIV deaths since 2000.”

The high cost Though the Alzheimer’s Association believes the FDA was right to grant approval for Aduhelm, they and many others have voiced strong disapproval for the price of this medicine. The annual cost at list price would exceed $60,000 for the average patient. Some say it could even bankrupt Medicare.

“This price complicates and jeopardizes sustainable access to this treatment, and may further deepen issues of health equity,” said Wessler. “We call on Biogen to change this price. We are also working with Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and with the private payer community to remove barriers to

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coverage for those who would benefit from this treatment.”

How your brain functions To understand how Aduhelm works, here’s a basic explanation of brain science. Your brain has about 100 billion nerve cells connected like branches — like a neuron forest. Alzheimer’s disrupts the signals that travel in this forest — signals that carry your memories, thoughts and feelings. The result is a brain that loses nearly all its functions.

One theory is that the disruption is caused by plaques — protein fragments that build up in the brain. But what if these plaques could be reduced or eliminated? What could that mean for those

with Alzheimer’s in the early stages? Since on average a person with Alzheimer’s lives four to eight years after diagnosis but can live far longer — even twenty years, that could mean a lot.

Early stage sufferers are hopeful Wessler sums it up.

“This approval could mean more time for individuals to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence and hold on to memories longer.”

If Aduhelm can get rid of braincell killing plaques for people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, that’s 1.5 million people who have good reason to seek out more information to see if Aduhelm will help them.

“We’ve heard from many people who are in these early stages,” Wessler explained. “They are very pleased that now there is a therapy that may make a difference.”

Learn more about Aduhelm and Alzheimer’s: www.alz.org or the Alzheimer’s Association help line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 800-272-3900.

16 •

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Feeding hungry folks is a lifelong mission for Catherine D’Amato

By Kelley Walker Perry Contributing Writer

Early lessons She learned the correlation in early childhood. People hoping to trade work for food often knocked at the back door of D’Amato’s Restaurant in Redding, California. Vincent D’Amato, who drove a bread truck to support the family during hard times before opening the restaurant, had another idea.

He brought these hungry folks inside, sat them down at a table, and offered them respect and a nutritious meal. No charge.

Vincent taught his daughter to work hard — often starting preparations at the restaurant by 5 a.m., before the breakfast rush — and to always

Hunger has no political affiliation. It can show up at anyone’s doorstep. It can happen to all of us.

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BOSTON – Hunger sometimes keeps Catherine D’Amato awake at night, but the suffering is not her own.

Empathy — and feeding hungry people — come naturally to D’Amato, who is president and chief executive officer of the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). As the granddaughter of Italian immigrant farmers and the daughter of restaurateurs, she has always known that food and love go hand-in-hand.

Volunteers at Greater Boston Food Bank practice social distancing.

Catherine D’Amato, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Boston Food Bank.

help others. Their own family had food, shelter and plenty of love to go around.

“We each have our own journey that informs our choices. It’s no wonder that I committed my life’s work to helping others gain access to food,” she said.

D’Amato earned her undergraduate degree in Theology at the University

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of San Francisco. Her education allowed her to explore the moral issues of justice and equity. It also honed her natural skills in critical thinking and deductive reasoning.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the job market,” she admitted.

Finding her purpose She soon realized that her particular skill set would be better devoted to food banking than to a faith-based career. “Hunger is agnostic, even in this period of extreme beliefs that polarize us,” she said. “Hunger has no political affiliation. It can show up at anyone’s doorstep. It can happen to all of us.”

At Harvard University and Smith College, she learned how to manage a nonprofit business. From running a small food pantry in California in the 1970s, to establishing the first food bank farm in the United States in western Massachusetts, to providing transformative leadership at GBFB since 1995, D’Amato’s lifelong career has been about feeding large numbers of hungry people.

Pandemic presented new challenges And then came COVID-19. Soon, the food bank was overwhelmed with those in need. Normally they maintained five or six weeks’ worth of food inventory; now they ran on enough stock for one week and prayed for the supply chain to hold. “Nobody was prepared. It required incredible fortitude. We just ran ourselves ragged,” she said.

It took about seven months to assess the supply and demand in order to meet the community’s new level of need. D’Amato just gritted her teeth

and tightened an already tightly-run ship. “Before COVID, it was about resiliency and pivoting. Now, we’re persevering,” she said.

But under D’Amato’s guidance, nothing simply perseveres — it flourishes. From people to vegetable gardens to nonprofit food banks, everything she touches experiences new life. Growth at the food bank has doubled in less than 10 months, and lost inventory is practically zero.

Nothing goes to waste — even genuine garbage has a purpose. It’s a lesson she learned early at the family restaurant, and one she tries to impart to others.

Eradicating food insecurity is D’Amato’s ultimate goal. “Issues of equity are very important to me, and I am more conscious of them in this present stage of life,” she said.

But, she admitted, another human rights issue or environmental challenge might spark a fire for others.

Inspiring others “We all have it in us to do something,” she told young graduates during a baccalaureate speech at Boston University in May. “Don’t be indifferent.”

D’Amato practices what she preaches, although her idea of “doing something” is extraordinary. Besides running New England’s largest hunger relief organization, she’s also sung the national anthem at Fenway Park, received honorary doctorate degrees and various prestigious awards, and influenced the world around her for permanent good.

She is considering retirement soon.

But her life’s work, spanning over 40 years, will continue to grow.

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• 17

The challenge of finding the right home care services With some help from loved ones and professionals, people can determine the best home care option for their families.

By Leslie Anderson Contributing Writer REGION - Home is a place like no other.

It is the place where a person’s life foundation is constructed. It is the place where one returns at the end of the day. Understandably, home is also the first place you think of when pondering proper care for yourself, a spouse, or aging parents. And with people living longer, increasingly there’s two generations of older adults in a family — children in their fifties and sixties, and parents who are in their seventies, eighties, and nineties.

Fortunately, living at home during our later years has become more of the norm than the exception. And finding the best home care has become easier.

But how do you go about finding the best home care for you or your loved ones?

Elder services organizations One way is to contact one of the 25 Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point organizations, such as Elder Services of the Worcester Area, Baypath, which serves MetroWest communities, or South Shore Elder Services in Braintree. The process starts by contacting one of these agencies and being assigned a case manager. Then an assessment by the case manager at the potential client’s home is scheduled.

From there eligibility for services is determined, and the agency can make recommendations and help coordinate services.

Additionally, you can take a few other routes.

Select a caregiver agency One option is to find and narrow down a list of agencies by location, offered services, and client reviews. A positive aspect about agencies is that most require their caregivers to be licensed. Plus, they would have conducted the necessary background checks.

Furthermore, family members can re-

quest this information while interviewing an agency’s representative.

Contract directly with a caregiver This measure allows more management on the client’s part but presents more of a challenge. Family members would have to request (and possibly pay for) the background check. Along with this, they would have to conduct all interviews and scheduling.

Nonetheless, this option also offers many rewards when it comes to finding the perfect fit for whoever needs care.

Furthermore, another step can be added to the vetting process which includes a visit with the client and his or her relatives in the home. Those who oversee the selection of a caregiver can see firsthand how well the situation would work.

You don’t have to post a job ad in the local paper to find a caregiver — though that is a viable option. Potential clients can find caregivers through sites such as care.com, joinhonor.com, and carelinx.com. A bonus to such sites is that they have already conducted the background checks and vetting. However, the caregivers present their own profiles and outline their services. Thus, the client still contracts directly with the caregiver.

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Attempting to coordinate all care Managing all aspects of care is possible but contains more complex obstacles. However, with careful planning and communication, barriers can be overcome.

For example, relatives who live in the same area as the elder needing services can coordinate with each other and plan a schedule of shifts. In addition to the “core team,” the caregivers can seek out respite through additional family members and friends. If com-

munication is clear and consistent, loved ones would be cared for by those who are most familiar to them. Vetting would not be necessary.

Along the same lines, a combination of family members and hired caregivers offers a viable and affordable option. One individual or a small group of individuals would not have to go it alone while caring for aging parents. A trusted team, overseen by the family, would be in place.

What would this situation look like? As an example, the family cares for Mom and Dad during the day, and the home care person takes over at night.

Or the opposite can occur. Nonetheless, flexibility can make this scenario work out for the person in need of care.

Finding the best home care for parents or for yourself can be a challenge.

However, you can consider and even try various options for providers. With some help from loved ones and professionals, people can determine the best home care option for their families.

To find the Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point organization that serves your community, go to: www. mass.gov/location-details/aging-services-access-points-asaps-in-massachusetts.

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Don’t become a victim of Internet fraud

By Brett Peruzzi Associate Editor

T

he con artists of times past haven’t gone away; they’ve just gone online. And older adults are increasingly becoming victims of Internet fraud, also known as cyber scams.

What it is The FBI defines it as “the use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them.”

Nearly 800,000 complaints were received by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center last year, resulting in over $4 billion in losses. At least $650 million is from online fraud committed against older adults, and the real cost is likely much higher, because many crimes are not reported, often out of fear of embarrassment or loss of independence.

“Senior citizens, like all groups in our communities, are impacted by cyber scams,” said Chief David Giorgi of the Marlborough Police Department.

“Unfortunately, however, seniors are more likely be financially victimized by cyber scammers, which often result in financial loss for the seniors.”

Types of Internet fraud There are several common types of Internet fraud. At least one of them, however, while it may also involve using the Internet, starts with using technology that has been around for nearly a century and a half: the telephone. “For a telephone scam, the callers pretend to be law enforcement officers, IRS agents or other government officials,” explained Giorgi.

“They tell the senior that they need to transfer a specific amount of money to a bank account to prevent a warrant from being issued for their arrest.”

“Another common telephone scam is known as the ‘grandparents scam’” said Giorgi. “The senior receives a telephone call from someone who pretends to be a police officer or a frantic grandchild who tells them that their grandchild has been arrested or kidnapped and needs money in order to be released.”

Email “phishing” scams are also quite common, in which people unwittingly provide personal and confidential information to scammers. “For an email scam, the senior citizen may receive an email from a credit card company, bank, or organization which tells the senior that their account has

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Marlborough Police Chief David Giorgi explains how Internet fraud targets older adults.

PHOTO/VICKI GREENE

Older adults are increasingly becoming victims of Internet fraud, also known as cyber scams been compromised and that they need to login using an attached Internet link which will allow the sender to verify the senior’s identity,” Giorgi noted.

“The email often asks the senior to enter personal identifying information, such as date of birth, Social Security number or account numbers, which is then stolen by the sender and used to establish another fraudulent account.

The email’s form and visual images look authentic, and it may be difficult to tell if they are real or fraudulent.”

Rather than the in-person scams of decades past, using telephones and the Internet to initiate a scam, and often obtain payment, makes it much easier for scammers to disguise their identity. And because these criminals are often outside of the US, it is much harder to catch and prosecute them.

Older adults are often more trusting and polite, deferential to perceived authority figures, and may not be as tech savvy, and less likely to report the crime.

If you fall victim to a scam What should people do if they become the victim of Internet fraud? “If they have transferred any money, they should immediately notify their bank that they may been victimized and sent money to someone as part of a scam,” Giorgi emphasized. “The bank may be able to freeze or reverse the transfer if it is done in time.” He also urged people to report the crime right away to law enforcement. “Immediately call your local police department and ask to have an officer come to your residence and speak with you. Provide the officer with as much information as possible to help with the investigation.”

Assistance is also available at the state level. “We urge any seniors who

How to avoid becoming a victim of Internet fraud David Giorgi, chief of the Marlborough Police Department, offered these suggestions to avoid becoming a victim of Internet fraud.

• Be cautious when you receive an email or telephone call from someone who is asking you to transfer money to a bank account or provide them with personal identifying information.

• Never give someone your date of birth or Social Security number over the phone or in an email.

• If it doesn’t feel right, doesn’t sound right, or makes you question yourself, then don’t provide any information.

• Don’t answer the email, hang up the telephone and call your local police department to speak with an officer.

have concerns about fraud and scams to reach out to the Attorney General Office’s Elder hotline number at (888) AG-Elder or (888) 243-5337,” said Assistant Attorney General Bill O’Hearn.

He is also chief of the Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division. “Elders should also report any online scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3. gov),” said O’Hearn.

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• 19

Author, artist Jackie French Koller turns another page

By Kelley Walker Perry Contributing Writer

artistic license. Instead, she carefully researches, grounding the stories in truth.

She feels a responsibility to reality, she said.

Some of her work — such as “The Liberty Pole,” a serialized novel — has been included in Massachusetts school curricula. Koller is rewriting the book for a slightly older audience. It’s longer and more detailed about Colonial American families to make it as accurate as possible while still remaining a work of fiction. Besides that, Koller isn’t writing much anymore.

BOXBOROUGH - Jackie French Koller’s imagination has made her life story anything but dull.

“I’ve had an unusual career,” she admitted.

She loved to draw as a child and contemplated becoming an artist, but her pragmatic father, an electrical engineer, informed her that “art is a hobby.” So, Koller shelved that dream and entered the insurance field. She lived in Connecticut, after all, where there was no dearth of that type of work.

“Art stayed on the back burner for years and years,” she said.

A new vocation Koller discovered a new ambition while raising her three children. They would bring home stacks of books from the local library. Reading them, she knew she could make up stories at least as good — maybe better. Because her kids ranged in age from kindergarten through junior high, they inspired constant writing ideas to satisfy every age group.

Although Koller was an avid lifelong reader, she was surprised to discover that she was a natural-born author. “It just never occurred to me that I could become a writer,” she said.

She certainly never imagined that she would have a thriving career as a children’s book author. It took 10 years to get noticed by publishers; but after her first book, “Impy for Always,” was accepted, others soon got snapped up.

It helped that Koller was a more prolific writer than most, producing several stories in a single year.

Her most successful novel, “Nothing to Fear,” follows a teenage boy and his struggling family in New York during the Great Depression.

She interviewed her own mother to glean firsthand information. Senior

Answers to Super Crossword (puzzle on page 14)

Jackie French Koller signs copies of her books.

PHOTOS/COURTESY JACKIE FRENCH KOLLER

Koller’s former art gallery, bookstore, and café, the Little Black Dog Gallery in Westfield.

citizens check out the book more often at libraries than the sixth- and seventh-grade students who were the intended audience.

“It’s kind of a crossover,” she said.

A variety of genres Koller’s work spans several different genres. She has written over 30 award-winning picture books, young

adult novels and a popular fantasy series called “Dragonling.” The series, in print for over 30 years, was just reissued in 2020. One of her books became a Disney Channel movie, and people are still reading aloud her fantastical stories on YouTube.

When it comes to historical fiction — especially about her native New England — she prefers not to take much

Another reinvention After her last child left for college, she began a new chapter in creativity and attended watercolor classes at the Springfield Museum School of Fine Arts.

“I just loved it and found out I could do it, and that I was good at it,” she said.

In 2004, she opened the Little Black Dog Gallery in Westfield. The gallery, namesake of her runty Labrador retriever, was housed in a lovely old Victorian building — the perfect setting for art, a small café and bookstore. It was a dream fulfilled for Koller, and soon became the neighborhood hangout.

Although the gallery is closed, Koller continues to paint watercolors of her favorite things: mostly, the landscape around her Cape Cod cottage, where she spent idyllic summers with her late husband George and, of course, dogs.

She volunteers her time and expertise at Household Goods, where people in need can get items to make a house a home. “I am, surprise, surprise, in the art department,” she chuckled. When people donate art, Koller takes the pieces home, cleans and refurbishes them with love.

Soon, the versatile 73-year-old plans to turn another page by raising Labrador puppies. After 12 months, she will release them to be used as service dogs for blind, hearing impaired and autistic clients.

“The hardest part will be giving them away,” she said.

Boston-based ‘friendship’ organization helps older adults avoid social isolation Friendship | from page 11

to alleviating loneliness during an unprecedented time.”

The “magic of the match” Seckel-Cerrotti attributes the success of her organization’s services to what she calls “the magic of the match.”

FriendshipWorks asks for an eight-to-ten-month commitment from the volunteer who is matched with an older adult. “Only one time did someone say he had ‘finished his commitment’ and then quit early,” said Seckel-Cerrotti.

“There is a sense of obligation and responsibility. It’s oneon-one and our matches last.”

Older adults are bouncing back, according to Seck-

el-Cerrotti, based on the high number of recent referrals for people to participate in the organization’s programs. So what’s the secret to the program’s longevity of volunteer commitment and service to the older adult population?

“The volunteers are making a difference in some way,” she said. “There is a stigma to being lonely or isolated. Volunteering starts out by connecting based on interest; and then you are interested in people’s lives; and next you are sharing in them.” For both the volunteer and the older adult receiving the visit, “It is something to look forward to each week,” she concluded.

For more information about FriendshipWorks, visit http://www.fw4elders.org.

20 •

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