Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Oct. 14, 2017 • The Mall at Stonecrest
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October 7, 2017
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Aging with pizzazz takes center stage
Celebration of the golden years features information, screenings, entertainment and fun during noon - 5 p.m. expo.
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Exhibitors run the gamut from AAA Auto Club to medical centers, health insurers and county government. The Seniors/ Baby Boomers Expo features exhibitors with lots of information about health, open enrollment for Medicare, homestead exemptions, and self improvement classes, among others.
2346 Candler Road Decatur, GA 30032 404-284-1888 Fax: 404-284-5007
www.CrossRoadsNews.com editor@CrossRoadsNews.com The Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Special Section is a publication of CrossRoadsNews, Atlanta’s award-winning weekly newspaper.
Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Editor / Publisher Jennifer Parker Graphics Editor Reporter Curtis Parker JenniferReporters Ffrench Parker Editorial Intern Jennifer Ffrench Parker Rosie ManinsLewis Donna Williams Multimedia Editor Copy Editor Sharif Williams Brenda Yarbrough Multimedia Editor Sharif Williams CrossRoadsNews is published every Saturday by CrossRoadsNews, Inc. We welcome articles on neighborhood issues and news of local happenings. The opinions expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, nor those of any advertisers
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Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Lots to do, see, enjoy at Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo The 50-plus crowd knows how to party and they will be throwing down on Oct. 14 at CrossRoadsNews’ wildly popular Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest. The event, in its fifth year, is presented in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Between noon and 5 p.m., expo goers will find 21 exhibitors with lots of information about health, open enrollment for Medicare, homestead exemptions, and self improvement classes, among others. There will also be food and dance demonstrations and lots of entertainment. Chef Asata Reid will be cooking up something tasty – and healthy – from the stage. Flu vaccines will be available and there
will be free screenings for hypertension and diabetes. The expo kicks off with Rae Rae “the Exercise Motivator” Clark getting seniors moving at the Main Stage near Sears on the mall’s lower level. Emcee Jazzy Jan Martin will keep things running all day and line dancers, ballroom dancers and the Beulah Boys will bring the house down. Seniors will strut their stuff down the runway for the annual Icon Models fashion show featuring the latest fashions from Macys’, Sears and Dillard’s. Jennifer Parker, CrossRoadsNews editor and publisher, says that the Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo is a celebration that is not to be missed.
“Even if you are not a baby boomer, you should come,” Parker said. “This is an expo that highlights people living their lives to the fullest. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?” Exhibitors run the gamut from AAA Auto Club to medical centers, health insurers, county government and the Lou Walker Senior Center. There will be prizes and giveaways, and expo-goers who visit at least 15 exhibitors can enter to win the grand prize drawing for a spectacular Fall/Harvest Gift Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. The expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. The mall is at I-20 and Turner Hill Road. For more information, call 404-284-1888.
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2017 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Exhibitors & Grand Prize Entry Form Visit at least 15 of these exhibitors* at the 2017 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo and enter to win a Fabulous Fall Harvest Basket from the Mall at Stonecrest. The drawing takes place on October 15, 2016, at 4:40 p.m. at the Main Stage in front of Sears on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. _____ AAA Auto Club South
_____ DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court
_____ JenCare Senior Medical Center
_____ B Natural Products, LLC
_____ DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
_____ Kaiser Permanente of Georgia
_____ BSHARP Research - Emory University
_____ DeKalb County Tax Commissioners Office
_____ Lou Walker Senior Center
_____ CCCSD/Greenhaven City
_____ DeKalb Medical
_____ Oakhurst Medical Centers, Inc.
_____ ClearCaptions
_____ DeKalb NAACP
_____ Scentsy Independent Consultant - Margaret A. Brown
_____ CrossRoadsNews
_____ Discover DeKalb Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
_____ United HealthCare
_____ DeKalb County Board of Health
_____ FACDC Food Pantry
_____ WellCare Health Plans
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________________________________________ State __________ ZIP ___________-__________ Email________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Home phone _____________________________________________________________ Cell ______________________________________________________
* Eligible entries must be validated by at least 15 exhibitors and must include your complete name, address, email address and telephone number. Employees and immediate family members of CrossRoadsNews, Kaiser Permanente and the Mall at Stonecrest are not eligible to win. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You MUST be present to win.
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Senior Expo 2017 Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo Program Highlights October 14, 2017 • Noon - 5 p.m. • The Main Stage in Front of Sears Lower Level, The Mall at Stonecrest 12:30 p.m.
Warm-up With Exercise Motivator Rae Rae
12:45 p.m.
Bid Whist Players Soul Line Dancers
1 p.m.
Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton
1:15 p.m.
Lou Walker Dance Troupe
1:30 p.m.
Ballroom dancers Johnny Kimbrough & Angela Sanford
1: 45 p.m.
Lou Walker Dance Troupe
Fashion Show featuring styles from Macyís, Sears and Dillardís
2:15 p.m.
Healthy Food Demo w. Life Chef Asata Reid
2:30 p.m.
2nd Line Queen Ora
2:45 p.m.
Emcee Jan Martin
Fashion Show
Smooth Sophisticated Gents
3 p.m.
Christel Finley, Kaiser Permenente Senior Advantage
3:15 p.m.
Highlighters
3:30 p.m.
Hip Hop NaNas
3:45 p.m.
Ballroom dancers Ken Wilson & Diane Gilliard
4: 15 p.m.
Beulah Boys
4:30 p.m.
Line Dance-off
4:40 p.m.
Grand Prize Drawing
5 p.m.
Expo Ends
Antonio “The Chozen 1” Hinton
Johnny Kimbrough Ken Wilson & Angela Sanford & Diane Gilliard
Queen Ora
Tai Chi Demo
Hip Hop NaNas
The Beulah Boys
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“Wherever we go, especially if there are men in the audience, we always tell them to at least get checked.”
Crowd-pleasing Beulah Boys put purpose into their dancing By Rosie Manins
From Decatur to Kentucky, DeKalb’s linedancing Beulah Boys are in high demand these days, but they are never too busy to advocate an important cause close to their hearts: prostate cancer awareness. The seven-member dance troupe, established in 2009, launched its own prostate cancer awareness campaign in July 2016, after three of its members – Herbert Jackson, Chico Hill and Jerry Heard – battled the disease. On Oct. 14, at the CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo, the popular group will once again encourage men their ages and younger to get screened for prostate cancer, which disproportionately targets AfricanAmerican men ages 40 and older. The expo takes place noon to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Mall at Stonecrest. Nick Bowers, the group’s leader, said while all of the Beulah Boys have since been given a clean bill of health, they are passionate about making sure men everywhere get checked annually by their doctors. “When we saw what our members had to go through we just thought it was something we needed to be putting out there ourselves and starting to make men aware of it,” said Bowers, who lives in Lithonia. “Wherever we go, especially if there are men in the audience, we always tell them to at least get checked, and we tell the women in the audience to make sure their men get checked,” he said. The Beulah Boys will be on the expo’s Main Stage near Sears at 4:15 p.m.; their performance is always a treat for expo goers. The group, which just returned from performing in Kentucky, dances up to five
Jennifer Ffrench Parker / CrossRoadsNews
The Beulah Boys will promote the importance of prostate cancer awareness at the fifth annual CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo.
times a week at metro Atlanta senior centers and various events. At its headquarters at Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, a free prostate cancer check drive is held annually. During
this year’s drive on July 22, Bowers said 265 men were screened for the cancer which can be deadly if not caught early. Prostate cancer grows in the prostate gland, located under a man’s bladder, and
is detected with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which detects elevated protein levels made by prostate cancer cells. “We tell men that if they don’t do anything else, they should at least get checked, and that it should be part of every man’s annual physical at the doctor,” he said. Annual testing is recommended for men from the age of 40. In Georgia, there are more than 2 million men who are 40 years and older. Bowers doesn’t know if the group’s prostate cancer awareness advocacy has saved anyone’s life, but several men who have survived prostate cancer have shared their stories and thanked the dancers for pushing the cause. “Prostate cancer is curable but you have to detect it at an early stage,” Bowers said. Nationally, Georgia is one of 12 states with the highest rate of prostate cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The most recent publicly available data shows that 108 out of every 100,000 men in Georgia developed prostate cancer or died from the disease in 2014. Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, killing 28,343 American men in 2014, when 172,258 American men were diagnosed with the disease. Bowers said part of the problem is men don’t like talking about their private parts or going to the doctor, so prostate cancer is often undetected until it is too late. He hopes men can eventually talk as freely about prostate cancer as women do about breast cancer. “By not talking, we miss out on a lot of education,” he said.
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“Audience members can expect to see new, up-to-date styles and movements that will hypnotize them.”
Fashion show to entertain and showcase smart and sexy seniors By Rosie Manins
Up to 50 stylishly dressed seniors will be strutting in the latest fashions at the 2017 Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo at the Mall at Stonecrest on Oct. 14. The fashion show, organized and choreographed by Icon Models & Talent director Jan Reynolds, will feature fashions for every occasion. Reynolds, a former Miss Black Missouri beauty queen, said the amateur models will be fabulous. “Just because we are seniors doesn’t mean we have to dress or behave a certain way,” said Reynolds, 65. “Audience members can expect to see new, up-to-date styles and movements that will hypnotize them.” Reynolds teaches basic and advanced modeling classes at the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia and runs modeling, choreography and pageant courses for men and women ages 3 to 80. Most of her 40-plus Lou Walker students will be sashaying down the catwalk at the expo in styles from Macy’s, Sears and Dillard’s in the mall. Some models will also wear their own clothes. The fashion show will be on the Main Stage near Sears at 1:45 p.m. The senior models will be part of the show that is Reynolds’ fourth expo production since CrossRoadsNews launched the expo for seniors and baby boomers in 2012. Reynolds, who lives in Conyers, says that she mixes it up every time. “Each year I try to do better and do something different than the year before,” she said. “We don’t have a theme, but my models are learning choreography modeling so there will be a lot of movement.”
Photos By Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Most of the models in the 017 Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo fashion will feature styles from Macy’s, Sears and Dillard’s in the mall. Some models will also wear their own clothes.
Reynolds isn’t revealing too much about the clothes to be displayed but she says fall colors like burgundy, green and grey are very popular this time of year and wide-legged pants are making a comeback. “Fashion is always a revolving door,” she said. “Things come and go and come back again.” Reynolds says the fashion show will be entertaining and will send a message to se-
niors that they can be and do anything. “Believe in yourself and whatever you want to do, follow your dreams no matter what age you are,” she said. The expo fashion show will be her students’ 19th public performance so far this year including the National Senior Games in Birmingham, Ala., in June where 29 DeKalb County seniors competed. The Mall at Stonecrest is at Turner Hill Road and I-20.
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The warm kiss of the autumn sun feels so good when you can pause and soak up the rays.
Being good to yourself fosters better vitality, health and energy “Clean eating” doesn’t have to be complicated. Just focus on fresh vegetables and fruits, and eliminate processed foods.
By Chef Asata Reid
One of the ways we can recharge our life is by simplifying and looking at those things we can control. As the saying goes: The six best doctors in the world are Diet, Exercise, Rest, Sunshine, Air and Water.
Diet You are what you eat. Every cell of your body depends on you to fuel up with proper nutrition in order for it to operate at peak performance. Many people report improved vitality simply by cleaning up their diet. “Clean eating” doesn’t have to be complicated. Just focus on fresh vegetables and fruits, and eliminate processed foods. Consider going green and eating vegan (no animal products including dairy) for a week and see how your energy shifts. Don’t forget the Meatless Monday global movement and look to social media for the millions of people who go meat-free once a week. Exercise Not having energy is a vicious cycle: You know you need to exercise, and that movement will give you more energy, but you don’t have the energy to exercise! At some point you have to draw a line in the sand and move something. Start simple and take a walk, park at the far end of the parking lot, take the stairs at work. If you have mobility issues, pull up YouTube videos and search for chair exercises, gentle tai chi/ chi quong, and easy yoga/stretch. If you are always on the go, download workout apps that can be done in 10 minutes or less like 7FIT. Movement is a natural part of who we are, so find something that you can
do anywhere at any time to keep your body healthy because. A body in motion stays in motion, so use it or lose it!
Rest We are so busy being busy that sometimes we feel guilty for stopping to smell the roses.
Don’t. You deserve rest. You need sleep. You have to recharge your batteries or you will simply burn out. Lack of sleep stresses your immune system, is linked to hypertension, and contributes to elevated stress hormones. Being super busy can overwhelm your brain and forgetfulness, clumsiness and anxiety can increase. Give your sleeping quarters a makeover to set the stage for a good night sleep: dark, cool environment without digital devices. Consider adding mindfulness exercises to your routine at the end of the day to calm your mind and body such as gentle stretch, journaling or meditation. For help with guided meditations check out apps like Headspace and Calm. Mindfulness exercises have proven to lower stress hormones, decrease pulse and blood pressure, improve focus and concentration, and elevate negative moods.
Sunshine The warm kiss of the autumn sun feels so good when you can pause and soak up the rays. We generate Vitamin D from sunshine, and with our mostly indoor lifestyles about 40 percent of Americans are reportedly deficient in vitamin D which helps our bodies absorb calcium, magnesium and phosphate. A lack of sunshine can also impact your mood. Some people are so sensitive to the change in sunlight that happens in the fall
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and winter, that there is a category of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Another benefit of seeking out sunlight is that it will move you outdoors where there is plenty of room to exercise. Other outdoor activities that can enrich your life include gardening, walking a pet, playing with kids, or checking out a sporting event.
Air
We take air for granted with every breath. Dust, pollen, dander, mold, spores and all manner of noseeums are in our living and work spaces. Be sure you are changing your air filters on a regular basis. Aromatherapy can scent your air with essential oils from plants that have shown to have mood lifting benefits. Try florals like lavender, famous for its calming effect, or warm scents from spices like vanilla or cinnamon which evoke positive memories. The aromas of mint and rosemary are supposed to improve memory and recall. Living in a city means we are exposed to some pretty nasty air on a regular basis, so get out into the countryside from time to time and smell the sweetness of the great outdoors.
Water Water is necessary for life. When dehydrated, you can experience fatigue, confusion, agitation, poor memory retention, and elevated blood pressure. Muscle cramps, constipation and dry skin are also signs of dehydration. None of that sounds fun! Water helps your body to metabolize and digest food properly, and flush toxins from your body. Water is essential in weight loss and healthy weight management. Studies have linked hydration to cognitive function in school children. Water is the best drink for your body, whether you’re thirsty or not, so try to get the recommended 64 ounces in each day – that’s eight 8-ounce glasses of water. They say the best things in life are free, and as you can see from our list, it’s true. Be good to yourself, and you’ll reap the benefits of vitality, health, and energy. Here’s to a long and prosperous journey! Asata Reid is the Nutrition Health Educator at the Healing Community Center in Atlanta. She is the Chef and Nutrition Educator at Life Chef and has been teaching healthy eating and cooking in the community for more than a decade. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @chefasata.
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High-dose flu vaccines, which boost the immune system faster, are recommended for people 55 years and older.
Flu vaccines, and free health screenings available at expo Adults 55 years and older can get flu shots and free screenings for hypertension and diabetes at the 2017 CrossRoadsNews Seniors/Baby Boomer Expo on Oct. 14 at the Mall at Stonecrest. The DeKalb Board of Health will be offering regular and high-dose flu vaccines for seniors with insurance or medicare cards. Those without insurance can pay with cash or checks. DeKalb Medical and Oakhurst Medical will offer free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. The 2017-2018 flu season which is under-
way now through spring 2018, is expected to be a busy one. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which helped kick off the National Foundation for Infectious Disease 2017-2018 Flu Vaccination Campaign on Sept. 28 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., recommends flu vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. It says that getting an annual vaccine is the first and best way to protect you and your family from the flu. Because the flu can be extra debilitating for seniors, Pat Josephs, the DeKalb Board’s
manager of clinical nursing services, says high-dose flu vaccines, which boost the immune system faster, are recommended for people 55 years and older. She said they will have both regular and high dose vaccines will be available during the expo. This season, the CDC is recommending only injectable flu vaccines (flu shots), and no nasal vaccines. The expo takes place between noon and 5 p.m. on the mall’s lower level between Dillard’s and the former Kohl’s location. CDC Influenza Division Director Dan Jernigan The mall is at Turner Hill Road and I-20. got his annual flu vaccine at the Sept. 28 For more information, call 404-284-1888. kickoff of this year’s flu vaccination campaign.
Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15, expo providing some answers By Rosie Manins
gram from the expo Main Stage at 3 p.m. Because open enrolment does not begin until Oct. 15, Kaiser staff will only be able to explain details of various Medicare plans and the enrollment process in general. They will also share dates, times and locations of Kaiser Permanente’s straight-talk seminars, and schedule appointments for enrollment. Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover all medical costs, but Medicare-eligible individuals can buy more coverage through Medicare-approved private health plans, called “Medicare Advantage” plans, such as Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Advantage plan which has 1.5 million people enrolled nationwide. Kaiser Permanente’s plan covers parts A and B of Medicare, as well as parts C and D, including prescription drugs.
Open enrollment for Medicare takes place Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 and seniors weighing their options can get answers to some of their questions at the CrossRoadsNews 2017 Seniors/Baby Boomers Expo on Oct. 14 at the Mall at Stonecrest. Staff with Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Advantage, which offers extra coverage to seniors on Medicare, will provide information about the program and field questions during the noon to 5 p.m. expo which takes place on the mall’s lower level. During the annual open enrollment period, seniors can join, drop or switch plans. Coverage and changes take effect on Jan. 1 the following year. Christel Finley Christel Finley, Kaiser Medicare Open Enrollment Q & A Permanente’s Senior Advantage account Q: When can I enroll? executive, will provide details about the pro- A: Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
Q: What can I do during open enrollment? A: Join, drop or switch plans. Any changes made are effective Jan. 1. Q: Can I enroll outside the open enrollment period? A: People who qualify for the special enrollment period have recently moved out of their health plan’s service area, are entitled to both Medicare and Medicaid, qualify for extra help with their drug plan costs, and lose their employer group or trust fund sponsored coverage to enroll as an individual. Q: What is Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Advantage plan? A: A health insurance plan for Medicare beneficiaries that affords them extra coverage and benefits, including parts C and D, prescription drug coverage, $0 monthly premiums, $0 annual deductibles, $0 copays for preventive care, and a fixed annual limit on out-of-pocket expenses. Q: What does Kaiser Permanente coverage include?
A: A wide selection of doctors and specialists who work together as a team to share information and give members optimum care. Twenty-five medical facilities in metro Atlanta where members can see their doctor, get labs, X-rays and prescriptions all under one roof. A growing number of virtual care options like video and telephone consultations. Q: How do I qualify for Senior Advantage? A: Have Original Medicare (parts A and B), live within Kaiser’s Senior Advantage service area, and not have end-stage renal disease. Q: Where can I enroll with Kaiser? A: Attend one of Kaiser’s straight-talk seminars on Medicare and its associated plans, request a home appointment with a local licensed agent, or enroll online at kp.org/Medicare. Q: Where can I find more information on Kaiser’s plans? A: Call 1-800-232-4404 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or visit kp.org/Medicare.
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