SoMinn LIVING 50+

June 22-23, 2022

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localmatters PAGE B1 JUNE 22-23, 2022

BUILDING TRUST

Senior services try to build trust in communities they had not served before

HAPPINESS

How to create your own happiness.

Social media’s 70-up ‘grandfluencers’ DEBUNKING AGING MYTHS

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June 22-23, 2022

MAYO CLINIC:

Senior services try to build trust in communities they had not served before

By PETER COX Minnesota Public Radio News

A

t her job, Mayla Yang toggles between Hmong and English while talking on the phone.

She’s a community outreach specialist with Trellis, a nonprofit that connects seniors and their families to services that can help improve their quality of life.

Yang is part of a team that helps to make these connections, often by going out to make presentations on Medicare and Medicaid, in English and Hmong.

“I am so honored and privileged to be able to go out to our Hmong communities, the adult day centers, for example, and just be a voice and represent our community,” she said. “Representation is key. And so when you see someone who looks like you, and speaks your language, you’re more willing to open up to them.”

Over the last few years, Trellis, formerly the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, has tried to reach communities it hasn’t always targeted.

“We first began hiring individuals that

spoke the language of the community,” said Jetta Wiedemeier Bower, the volunteer and outreach manager at Trellis.

“Of the four individuals who are on board with us now, we speak six languages, so we’re able to speak with our brothers and sisters in Spanish, Hmong, English, Somali, Amharic and Oromo.”

Trellis has changed pamphlets to better reflect the diversity in the community.

They’re doing presentations on Medicare and Medicaid in different languages. When visiting senior centers, they bring culturally appropriate gifts.

“We’re trying to target communities of color that can’t find us or don’t know how to find us, or there’s barriers in their way,” she said. “We’re targeting organizations that are supporting people in poverty. And we’re supporting the rural pockets of the Twin Cities.”

Minnesota’s 65-plus population is slowly changing, according to Susan Brower, the state demographer.

“Right now, about 7 percent of our older adult population are Black, Indigenous or people of color,” she said. “We expect that will tick upwards year over year toward

Mayla Yang, a community outreach specialist at Trellis, makes a call to a local adult day care center to set up a Medicare and Medicaid presentation.

greater racial and ethnic diversity.”

And in the metro region, the senior community will be even more diverse. According to data from MN Compass, nearly 11 percent of the seven-county metro area is Black, Indigenous and people of color, a number that will rise over the next several years. Immigration will contribute to the growth.

The community organization CAPI works with refugees and immigrants from all over the world who come to Minnesota.

Souwan Thao, a caregiver support advocate at CAPI, assists individuals taking care of loved ones who have conditions such as

dementia. He said people often won’t seek help unless it is from someone they trust and who understands where they are coming from.

“In our culture, we have to show respect toward every individual.” Thao said. “We would call [an older person] uncle or aunt, instead of calling by their name.”

Thao said he builds trust by listening and linking people to the services they need. He said he hopes more organizations working with seniors and their caregivers will work toward cultural competency and giving information in more languages.

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PICKLEBALL taste More and more players find

to their

By PETER COX Minnesota Public Radio News

W

alter Rhodes retired six months ago after several decades working for Ramsey County. Pretty quickly, he found a hobby.

“Now that I’m no longer working, I need to keep busy and keeping busy is playing pickleball and having a lot of fun,” said Rhodes, 72, who clearly loves the sport. “I play seven days a week.”

He’s among the faithful at the Lynnhurst Recreation Center. At a recent outing, about 18 people rotated on and off three pickleball courts in the gym.

The game is a hybrid of racket and paddle sports — with a net that looks a lot like a tennis net, a paddle-like ping pong and a plastic ball that has a bit of bounce.

“The court is about half the size of a tennis court, the net is similar in height, I think it’s slightly lower, and you play doubles,” said Karen Larson. She and her husband Rich help organize the drop-in pickleball at Lynnhurst.

“It’s good exercise, the court isn’t as big, so if you’re not a 25-year-old marathon runner you can move around the court. It’s fast, it’s fun, the games go quickly and you meet lots of really nice people.”

From left, Mike Collins, Marty Plitnick, Sharon Larson and Walter Rhodes touch paddles at the end of a pickleball game Wednesday at the Lynnhurst Recreation Center in Minneapolis. Rhodes enjoys the game because he says it combines “all the ingredients of a healthy lifestyle,” which includes exercise and social aspects. (Christine T. Nguyen/MPR News)

Like Rhodes, the Larsons picked up the game shortly after retirement. Karen and Rich come to the gym together, but don’t often play together.

“That’s called divorce court,” she said, laughing. “We play together, but not exclusively. We don’t want to. I see him all day, he’s a lovely man, but … “ Pickleball’s popularity has been growing across all age groups in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. But it’s caught on especially with older adults who are finding it’s a good way to stay in shape and find community.

Minneapolis has six indoor locations that offer pickleball drop-in games during the week. As the sport has grown in popularity, several pickleball-only courts have been built in communities around the state.

Last week, Lori Murphy, of Bloomington, arrived with a friend at the Lynnhurst gym for drop-in pickleball. She knew no one there and had never played the game.

“I kind of figured I’d see some older people, which there are, and I am too. But boy, were they friendly when first I walked in the door,” she said. “I was kind of surprised.

Took away any trepidation I had.”

Soon, she and her friend had paddles and were rotating on and off the courts, sharing Christmas cookies that one of the regulars had brought.

“I will definitely come back,” she said.

Minneapolis resident Miles Johnson, who had back

surgery in 2015, said the sport has helped him recover and kept him healthy.

“We have a great time. You get to know everyone. And this thing sharpens your balance, your reflexes and agility, and builds certain kinds of muscles up at the same time,” he said. “So it’s great.”

Moreover, he said, he’s found a good group of friends.

“You fall in love with it. It’s such a natural kind of experience, where it’s filled with not only a good physical workout, but it’s filled with joy,” Johnson said.

© 2019 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.

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June 22-23, 2022

This photo shows Jessay Martin, 68, from left, Robert Reeves, 78, Michael Peterson, 65, and William Lyons, 77, in Cathedral City, Calif., in November 2020. The four friends, known as the Old Gays, are among a growing number of seniors making names for themselves on social media. (Ryan Yezak via AP)

Social media’s 70-up ‘grandfluencers’

debunking aging myths

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Joan MacDonald’s health was in shambles at age 71. She was overweight and on numerous medications with high cholesterol, rising blood pressure and kidney trouble.

Her daughter, a fitness coach, warned that she’d wind up an invalid if she didn’t turn things around. She did, hitting the gym for the first time and learning to balance her diet with the help of a brand new tool, an iPhone.

Now 75, MacDonald is a hype beast for health with a bodybuilder’s physique and 1.4 million loyal followers on

Instagram.

She’s among a growing number of “grandfluencers,” folks 70 and up who have amassed substantial followings on social media with the help of decades-younger fans.

“It’s so rare to find someone her age being able to do all these things,” said one of her admirers, 18-year-old Marianne Zapata of Larchmont, New York. “It’s just such a positive thing to even think about.”

Both aspirational and inspirational, older influencers are turning their digital platforms into gold.

MacDonald has paid partnerships with the sportswear and supplement brand Women’s Best, and the stress-busting device Sensate. And she just launched her own health

and fitness app not so many years after learning how to use digital technology herself.

On TikTok, four friends who go by @oldgays — the youngest is 65 — have 2.2 million followers, including Rihanna. They have an endorsement deal with Grindr as they delight fans with their clueless answers to pop culture questions.

Others focus on beauty and style, setting up Amazon closets with their go-to looks and putting on makeup tutorials live. Lagetta Wayne, at 78, has teens asking her to be their grandmother as she tends to her vegetables and cooks them up in Suisun City, California, as @msgrandmasgarden on TikTok.

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This photo shows Joan MacDonald, 75, in Tulum, Mexico, on Sept. 1, 2020.

MacDonald is among a growing number of “grandfluencers,” folks 70 and up who are making names for themselves on social media. (Michelle MacDonald via AP)

Wayne, with 130,500 followers amassed since joining in June 2020, owes her social media success to a teenage granddaughter. Her very first video, a garden tour, clocked 37,600 likes.

“One day my garden was very pretty and I got all excited about that and I asked her if she would take some pictures of me,” Wayne recalled. “She said she was going to put me on TikTok and I said, well, what is TikTok? I had never heard of it.”

Most people ages 50 and up use technology to stay connected to friends and family, according to a 2019 survey by AARP. But less than half use social media daily for that purpose, relying on Facebook above other platforms.

Just 37% of those 70 and older used social media daily in 2019, the research showed.

Since coronavirus struck, older creators have expanded their horizons beyond mainstay Facebook and gotten more voracious, often driven by the growing number of feeds by people their own age, said Alison Bryant, senior vice president for AARP. In the California desert town of Cathedral City, Jessay Martin is the second youngest of the Old Gays at 68.

“I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life relaxing pretty much, and I do, but this is picking up more for us. I had a very structured week where Monday I worked the food bank at the senior center, Tuesday and Friday I did yoga for an hour and a half, Wednesday I was on the front desk at the senior center. I was just sort of floating by, not being social, not putting myself out there in the gay community. And boy, has the Old Gays changed that,” Martin said.

Like MacDonald, they do a lot of myth busting about what’s possible in life’s sixth, seventh and eighth decades.

“They’re showing that anybody can do these things, that you don’t have to be afraid of aging. The 20 and 30 somethings don’t often think about that,” Bryant said. “The authenticity that we’re seeing in some of these older influencers is really refreshing. That’s part of the complexity of their narratives. They’re bringing other parts of their lives to it. They’re grandparents and great-grandparents and spouses. They’re more comfortable in their own skins.”

Sandra Sallin, a blogger and artist, has slowly built her following to 25,300 on Instagram. Her reach recently extended to the British Olympic gold-medal diver Tom Daley, who raved about her mother’s cheesecake recipe after his coach spotted it online and made DEBUNKING AGING MYTHS CONTINUES ON PAGE B6

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June 22-23, 2022

antihistamines, such as Benadryl; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including aspirin or ibuprofen; certain antidepressants; antipsychotics; and some oral diabetic medications. Other medications can cause dehydration including laxatives for constipation; oral diabetic medications; and diuretics also called “water pills.”

Talk with your pharmacist about your medications’ side effects.

Drink up

With your attention focused on outdoor activities, it’s possible that you will forget to drink water until you begin feeling thirsty.

However, thirst is a sign that you’re already dehydrated.

Carry a water bottle with you to sip throughout your day. And check that your urine is light yellow in color to show that you are well-hydrated.

MAYO CLINIC:

Weave safety into your summer plans

S

ummertime means lots of outdoor time. No one wants warm weather fun to end due to an illness or injury. Weave these safety tips into your summer plans as you soak up your fun in the sun.

Protect your skin

Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation is extreme during the summer, and By JASON WRAYit can take as little RAABOLIE Guest Contributor as 11 minutes in the midday sun to get sunburned. Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of

30 or greater. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you’re sweating.

Don a hat and shades

Make a fashion statement with a large, floppy hat and sunglasses. They can help protect your face and eyes from harmful UVA and UVB sun rays. Sunglasses also protect the delicate skin around your eyes.

Even if the sun doesn’t bother your sight much, it’s still important to keep your eyes safe by protecting them from UV rays.

Know your medications’ side effects

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can make you more sensitive to sunlight or cause dehydration. Plan to apply sunscreen more often if you take

Avoid food poisoning

Foodborne illness peaks in the summer.

It happens because bacteria grow faster in warm summer months, and outdoor activities increase. More people are cooking outside, without the safety controls of a kitchen. Wash hands and surfaces often.

Keep raw meats away from other foods, and cook them to safe temperatures.

Finally, be sure you are keeping refrigerated, perishable food, such as luncheon and cooked meats, chicken and salads, chilled always.

Buzz off stinging insects and bees

Bugs are out in full force during the summer. In most cases, bee and other stings are only annoying, causing a brief, sharp pain along with slight swelling and redness. Home treatment is all that’s necessary to ease the pain.

If you experience breathing problems, swelling of the lips or throat, faintness, confusion, rapid heartbeat or hives after a sting, seek emergency care.

Care options close to home

Illnesses and injuries can happen even if you are careful. Wherever the warm

Michelle, cleared that up. She said it’s what you’re representing, that people can do what they think they’ve not been able to do or were told that they couldn’t do.”

Grace Maier, 32, is home full time with her two kids, it for her athletes and staff. Sallin, a lover of lipstick who ages 6 months and 2. She follows Barbara Costello, a focuses on cooking and beauty, also shares photos from 72-year-old Connecticut grandmother who uses the handle her past and other adventures, like her turn last year in a @brunchwithbabs. vintage Spitfire high above the Cliffs of Dover.

“She does these posts, ‘Did your mom ever tell you?’ and “I wanted to expand my world. I felt that I was older, that my world was shrinking. People were moving, people were I followed her immediately on Instagram,” Maier said. “Her content brings me joy! She’s got all of these life hacks and ill,” Sallin said. “So I started my blog because I wanted to tips that remind me of things my grandma shared with me reach out. After that, I heard about this thing called Instabefore she passed. She also doesn’t take herself too seriously gram. It was really hard learning it. I really stumbled my and just seems like the kind of person who would welcome way in. I’m shocked because most people who follow me you into her home.” are 30 and 40 years younger. But there are people who are Mae Karwowski, founder and CEO of the influencer older, who have kind of given up and say, ‘You know, I’m marketing agency Obviously, has more than 100 influencers going to start wearing lipstick.’”

Toby Bloomberg, 69, in Atlanta is a Sallin supporter. She in her network between the ages of 60 and 80. With more than a billion users on Instagram alone, she points to the discovered Sallin after Sallin competed on the short-lived successes on that platform of 93-year-old Helen Ruth Elam Food Network show “Clash of the Grandmas.”

“She talks a lot about aging. That’s quite an unusual phe- (baddiewinkle), 67-year-old Lyn Slater (iconaccidental) and 100-year-old style legend Iris Apfel. nomenon on social media, which is obviously dominated There’s another aspect to the reach of seniors: Grandparby people far younger than we are,” Bloomberg said.

MacDonald said she was surprised at the beginning that ents and grandchildren who have teamed up to share their adventures together, from traveling the world to Nerf gun people actually cared what she had to say. battles.

“Why would people want to follow an old broad,” she “Mainstream media, I would say, presents a really nargiggled from her home in Ontario, Canada. “My daughter,

DEBUNKING AGING MYTHS CONTINUED FROM B5

weather takes you, it has never been easier to stay connected to expert care.

Get back to your summer activities quickly with Mayo Clinic Health System: • Express Care This clinic offers quick, convenient care for common health concerns. You can receive care wherever you are with a video appointment or go to an Express Care clinic in Albert Lea, Austin, Owatonna, Red Wing or Rochester, Minnesota. Check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage of the $69 cost. Schedule Express Care appointments on the Mayo Clinic App or online using Patient Online Services.

• Express Care Online This service offers quick, convenient care for common conditions to patients ages 18 months to 75 years. During business hours, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., you can receive care within one hour of submitting a diagnostic questionnaire. Access Express Care Online on the Mayo Clinic App or online using Patient Online Services.

Check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage of the $49 cost.

• Mobile Health Clinic This fully equipped clinic on wheels provides year-round preventive health screenings, immunizations, acute illnesses and infections, chronic disease management and telehealth to connect patients to health care professionals. It regularly visits Blooming Prairie, Butterfield, Kenyon and Sherburn, Minnesota.

• Other Primary Care options Call your local clinic to speak with a customer service representative about the most appropriate care setting for your needs. They can guide you to the Mayo Clinic Health System’s Nurse Line, local same-day appointment offerings, video appointment offerings or schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.

Jason Wray-Raabolle, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna, Minnesota.

row viewpoint on this age group. What’s great about social media is you can follow a really cool 75-year-old woman who is just doing her thing in Florida and that’s fun. That’s different. And she’s funny,” Karwowski said. “The 21-yearold fashion model influencer is managed. She has a team.

She has designers falling all over themselves to give her everything. She has professional photographers. A lot of these 70-plus influencers are doing it all.”

Candace Cima, 74, taught herself to shoot and edit video for Instagram by watching YouTube tutorials. She hopped on the platform in February 2019 as a fresh voice on fashion and style while encouraging her audience not to be afraid of aging. Her husband sometimes helps out with photos for @styleinyour70s.withleslieb (Leslie is her middle name).

“I’m still in that learning curve, I have to be honest. Two and a half years ago, I didn’t even know what an influencer was,” said Cima, in Ithaca, New York. “I’ve always had a lot of ideas about aging. I don’t understand why aging has such a negative connotation.”

With 37,900 followers, some of her youngest fans have shared with her why they care: “They don’t want to age the way they saw their relatives aging,” Cima said. “They feel like they can learn something.”

Reach Regional Managing Editor Suzanne Rook at 507-333-3134. ©Copyright 2021 APG Media of Southern Minnesota. All rights reserved.

June 22-23, 2022

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MAYO CLINIC:

How to create happiness

I

t may seem hard to believe, but there is a lot of truth behind the idea that happiness is a choice. Although genetics and life circumstances play a role in your level of happiness, you can take steps to increase your enjoyment of life.

It’s unrealistic to expect to snap your fingers and decide to be happy.

But if you bring consciousness, gratitude and even frivolity to your day, you’ll likely feel more joyful.

The bulk of

By SISSY YANG what determines Guest Contributor happiness is due to personality, and thoughts and behaviors that can be changed.

You can learn how to be happy — or at least happier. But how can you do that?

Take time to reflect on these questions to find ways to boost your happiness:

• What are things that you might be able to reconnect with that bring you joy?

• How might you stay focused on tasks at hand when life continues around you?

• How might you find novelty in everyday life?

• What would it look like if you put yourself first instead of making everyone and everything else a priority?

• When is the last time you spent time immersed in nature?

If you’ve been looking for happiness, the good news is that your choices, thoughts and actions can influence your level of happiness. It’s not as easy as flipping a switch, but you can increase your happiness level.

Surround yourself with happy people.

Being around people who are content raises your own mood. And by being happy yourself, you give something back to those

around you.

Make a commitment to practice gratitude. Identify at least one thing each day that improves your life. When you find yourself thinking an ungrateful thought, try substituting a grateful one. Think about what you’re grateful for when you wake up in the morning and before you go to sleep at night.

Don’t postpone joy waiting for a day when your life is less busy or less stressful. Look for opportunities to appreciate the small pleasures of everyday life. Focus on the positives in the present moment, instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Spending time with friends or family, creating a grateful attitude and an optimistic outlook, focusing on your purpose, and living in the present can help you take steps toward being happier.

Exercise improves mood and provides an emotional lift in your day. Physical activity releases chemicals in your brain that can lead to feeling happier, more relaxed and less stressed. You may feel better about yourself when you exercise regularly, which can result in improved self-esteem and a boost in confidence.

Now make a commitment to yourself to find happiness in each day. Use this list to get started: • Make a list of activities you used to enjoy but have given up in recent years.

Choose one to reconnect with, and dedicate at least two weeks to it. See if this activity makes you happier, and consider making time for it again.

• Spend at least 10 minutes a day outside. Pay attention to the trees, grass, water, breeze or whatever else surrounds you.

• Consider things that have made you happy and unhappy in the past. Make a list, and let it guide your path to happiness.

Sissy Yang is a certified nurse practitioner in family medicine with the Mayo Clinic Health System.

MANKATO CLINIC:

Sunscreen looks good on you

A

s we take a few more trips around the sun, we may notice some signs that our skin is getting older.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, an estimated 90 percent of skin aging is actually caused by the sun.

Many signs of aging are harmBy PAUL BANDELIN less – age spots, Guest Contributor skin tags and wrinkles. Unfortunately, skin cancer is not harmless, and 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. People of all skin color can develop skin cancer, but people with fair

skin and freckles are at a higher risk.

Now for the good news. Studies show that people who use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher daily have 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily. And sun exposure is cumulative throughout your life. That means it’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen and limiting exposure to the sun.

Here’s how to take care of your skin:

Choose it and Use It. Choose an SPF 30, or higher, broad spectrum sunscreen that protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays which cause skin cancer. Reapply every 2 hours, more often if you are sweating or SUNSCREEN LOOKS GOOD ON YOU CONTINUES ON PAGE B11

Colon cancer is preventable.

It starts with screening, because early detection saves lives. With advancements in technology and a variety of screening options, there’s no excuse to delay. If you’re 45 or older, prioritize your health and discuss your colon cancer risk and screening options with your primary care provider. mayoclinichealthsystem.org

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June 22-23, 2022

MAYO CLINIC:

Answering your FAQs about robotic joint replacement

D

oes a robot perform the surgery?

That’s one of the questions about robotic surgery most frequently asked by Mayo patients.

The short answer is no. However, robot-assisted joint replacement is an advanced technological tool for orthopedic surgeons in Mayo Clinic Health System to help produce the best possible outcomes for our patients, including quicker recovery, less pain, more stability and better range of motion.

Here are answers to other questions patients frequently ask about robotic

By MICHAEL

By RYAN FOLEY surgery: ECKSTROM Guest Contributor Guest Contributor What is robotic surgery, and how does it work?

Robotic-arm-assisted orthopedic surgery is used for partial and total knee replacements, as well as total hip replacements.

This advanced surgical tool provides many advantages, including: • Consistent, precise alignment of • Enhanced stability • Improved mobility the prosthesis • Less bone loss • Quicker recovery • Reduced soft tissue injury • Improved safety • Less pain Surgeons can align the implant and match it more precisely to the patient’s anatomy. One of the most important aspects of joint replacement surgery is placing the individual components of the artificial joint in the best possible alignment, as well as achieving the best soft tissue balance around the joint for improved motion and stability.

The robotic arm uses a computerized 3D reconstructed image of the patient’s hip or knee and matches this image to the actual joint at the time of surgery. The robot then guides the surgeon’s use of tools during the surgery to precisely place each compoKnee comparisons nent.

Once surgery is underway, the robotic arm controls the direction of the bone cuts to an accuracy of a half-millimeter and protects tissue around the cuts, according to the plan on the computer screen. The goal is to give patients a joint that feels as close to their natural knee or hip as possible.

This tactile, visual and auditory feedback from the robot helps the surgeon achieve the desired precision alignment while minimizing excess bone loss. This can enhance stability, mobility and outcomes, and lead to quicker recovery and hopefully longer life of the joint replacement.

The robot also adds safety for patients. Using the 3D model, the robot outlines a safe zone around the joint that is being replaced. This prevents the use of the surgeon’s implements outside of the safe zone, which protects vital structures such as ligaments, blood vessels and nerves.

Does a robot do the surgery?

No, the surgeon still performs the surgery with assistance from a computer-controlled robotic arm.

ROBOTIC JOINT REPLACEMENT CONTINUES ON PAGE B9

June 22-23, 2022

SOUTHERN MINN

MAYO CLINIC:

How much stuff is too much stuff?

E

veryone likes to acquire and hold on to things for a variety of reasons. This item is unique.

It reminds me of an important event in my life. It’s a great deal. I could have a use for it one day.

Yet sometimes too much is just that: too much. With age, it’s not uncommon to look around your home and wonder how you got so many possessions.

Or feel overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering or purging decades of acquired items.

Most people

By DAGOBERTO have a balance HEREDIA among what they Guest Contributor obtain, hold on to and let go. Your comfort level with home inventory is different than others. Most of the time, this doesn’t affect daily life, except for causing occasional aggravation over a misplaced item.

By CRAIG However, for some, having too SAWCHUK Guest Contributor many possessions can lead to significant problems in day-to-day living.

These people may have a hoarding disorder.

It affects about 3%–6% of the population.

Common characteristics of hoarding include:

• Excessive acquisition of items with limited objective value or immediate use.

• Difficulties discarding, giving away or recycling accumulated items.

• Problems with organization, attentiveness, memory and decision-making.

• Excessive buildup of clutter in living spaces.

• Avoidance of managing the clutter.

Hoarding disorder isn’t the same as being a collector or pack rat. Collectors tend to focus on a specialized area of interest rather than a wide range of different things. They also may collect items that have recognized value. Pack rats may hold on to many sentimental items, but it may not result in problems with their living spaces.

With hoarding disorder, living spaces can no longer be used for their intended purpose due to excessive clutter. For example, a person’s kitchen counters and stove become so cluttered that meals cannot be prepared.

A bathroom is so filled with miscellaneous office supplies that the toilet or shower cannot be used.

The most hoarded items are information, including books, magazines, mail and scraps of paper; clothing; household items, including coffee mugs, towels and pens; and crafts. In more serious cases, some people excessively accumulate food or pets, which can result in unsanitary living conditions.

People who hoard hold strong beliefs about their possessions, including their uniqueness, future use and not wanting

ROBOTIC JOINT REPLACEMENT CONTINUED FROM B8

Who qualifies for robotic surgery?

Almost every patient who is a candidate for total or partial joint replacement will qualify for robotic surgery. Your surgeon can discuss these rare exceptions with you.

Will I have to stay in the hospital?

There’s an increasing trend for outpatient total joint surgery. About 35% of patients can go home the same day. Discuss this option with your surgeon to determine if you’re a candidate.

What is the role of the patient?

As with traditional joint replacement, the patient Hip replacement and surgeon partner to achieve surgery goals and ensure overall satisfaction with the results. For the patient, this may include physical therapy before surgery. After surgery, the patient is still responsible for working to reduce swelling, rebuild strength and regain range of motion.

Patients who are eligible for this innovative surgery should discuss options with their orthopedic surgeon.

Michael Eckstrom, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota; and Ryan Foley, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minnesota.

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to be wasteful. They also tend to have a strong degree of emotional attachment to their possessions, feel highly responsible for retaining their items, and can become increasingly territorial when there is any threat to discarding or losing their things.

Continued hoarding behavior increases the risk for other health and safety problems, including:

• Narrow pathways between piles of newspapers, books and bags of clothing can be a significant fall risk, especially for the elderly and others with mobility problems.

• Attempts to conceal hoarding from others can result in isolation and feeling more disconnected from others, increasing the risk of depression.

• Financial struggles can result due to spending money on storage facilities for their possessions rather than covering important expenses, such as food and utilities.

Hoarding behaviors can start during the teenage years. However, the problems with clutter in living spaces and other responsibilities in life gradually develop over time, so impairment usually starts to show up in middle-aged and older adults. Hoarding is equally common in men and women, and often is associated with other mental health problems, such as depression.

Researchers have found that hoarding may be related to family history, personality and stressful life events. Hoarding tendencies or the full disorder may tend to run in families. This may be due to shared genetics or by learning patterns of acquiring and retaining items. Indecisiveness and perfectionism are common traits among those

PAGE B9 who hoard. Finally, significant losses in life, such as the death of a family member or destruction of possessions in a fire or natural disaster, can increase the risk of developing hoarding disorder.

Hoarding disorder is a treatable but challenging condition. Treatment can be challenging since the problem usually has been going on for several years in private. Plus, the prospect of decluttering can be distressing for some people due to the high degree of emotional attachment to their items, general avoidance tendencies, and strong beliefs about acquiring and retaining. Sometimes treatment is motivated by external factors, such as the threat of eviction, legal action or frustrated family members. Addressing personal motivators for treatment is essential for engagement.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most evidence-based treatment approach for hoarding. It tends to be more intense and takes longer than other anxiety conditions, such as panic, post-traumatic stress or social anxiety disorders. No medications are indicated for hoarding, although the use of antidepressants may help when a depressive disorder is present. In some cases, family therapy also can help.

Talk with your health care team if you are concerned that you or someone you love has a hoarding disorder.

Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P., is a clinical psychologist in Primary Care in Rochester and Kasson’s Division of Integrated and Behavioral Health at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Dagoberto Heredia Jr., Ph.D., L.P., is a clinical psychologist in Psychiatry & Psychology and Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

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Proudly serving the St. Peter and surrounding communities.

50+

June 22-23, 2022

Bethany Whittier, D.D.S. Kyle J. Rasmussen, D.D.S.

Wednesdays are seniOr disCOunt day!

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Enjoy the freshest selections in Bakery, Deli, Produce, Meat and Seafood.

Try out our online grocery ordering with delivery or pickup.

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612 S. Minnesota Ave. St. Peter 507-931-5541

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(507) 931-5646 217 Nassau Street • St. Peter

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To make getting settled in as easy and safe as possible, we have: • Helpful staff ready to work with you every step of the way • Strong protocols in place that are keeping the community as safe as we are able • Clear processes that make moving safe, efficient and stress free Call NRC at 507-664-3466 or visit us online at northfieldretirement.org.

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June 22-23, 2022

50+

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LEGACY MONUMENT SALES:

Your final resting place is something worth considering early

By LEON BOHLMAN Guest Contributor

N

o one likes to think about death, but some day all of us will go through a Last and Final Chapter. Planning for this involves some very personal decisions with financial implications. Doing your planning now can provide peace of mind for you and may save you thousands of dollars.

The first decision is what you would like done with your body after you pass away.

A traditional funeral versus cremation is a personal choice, and your loved ones need to know your opinion. Determine your preference and make it known.

Next, choose your final resting place.

Consider if there is a cemetery where loved ones are already buried that you would also like to rest in. Think about if you want to rest near where you live now or if a location closer to living relatives makes more sense. Discuss it with your family. Take the time to explore the various locations in the area that you choose. Arrange a tour with each cemetery sexton to view the options available. You may see a columbarium, which is an above-ground granite structure with small niches for individual cremated remains. Alternately, a single cemetery lot can hold two cremains. Some cemeteries require a vault if your urn is buried in the ground, but others do not. Lot sizes can also vary to accommodate mixed burial combinations if you and your spouse have differing burial preferences. As you tour the cemeteries, pay attention to the monuments you see, as that is your next decision to make.

A family monument can be a lasting representation of your personality and values.

The size, shape, style, and color combine

into a one-of-a-kind legacy. Similar to buying a car, the details matter. You would not want anyone else to customize your car for you. So do not leave such decisions to your loved ones, especially in their time of loss. When you choose companies to work with for your End-of-Life Planning, be sure to ask about their years of experience with monuments. Make sure you are getting a high-quality stone that will stand the test of time from a company who will stand behind their work.

Planning your resting place and monument now is a financial investment in your family’s future. These costs will never be cheaper than they are today. Prices have increased roughly 10% over the last few years, and this trend will likely continue. A highquality stone should come with a guarantee against chipping, cracking, and fading. For other damage like vandalism or lightning, monuments can usually be covered as personal property under your homeowner’s insurance policy. In short, you can capture today’s prices on something that will never devalue.

And this investment can be made and kept even if you are running out of capital.

Before going on county assistance, Minnesota laws allow you to purchase a cemetery lot and a monument as part of your required spend-down of your cash and assets. And already owning a cemetery lot does not count against you. You can rest easy knowing your remains have a place to go, even if all of your money gets spent.

Do not leave these choices for your loved ones. In doing so, you will leave them a pile of stress at a much higher price tag. Instead, start exploring these decisions today. There is no other purchase that is a better or more secure investment.

Leon Bohlman is the owner of Legacy Monument Sales.

neck, hands and arms, skin that’s most often exposed to the sun. swimming. Lotions provide better coverage Know your ABCDEs. This is an easy way to remember the signs of melanoma, the most than sprays. Don’t forget the tops of your dangerous, but least common, type of skin hands, feet and ears! To protect your lips, cancer. use a lip balm with SPF 15+.

A = Asymmetry (one half of the growth Lessen sun time. The sun’s rays are stronlooks different from the other half) gest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try to avoid B = Borders that are irregular working and playing outside during the C = Color changes or more than one color peak times if possible. If you are outside, D = Diameter greater than the size of a wear a hat that shades the face, neck and ears, wear sun glasses and find some shade. pencil eraser Or put up beach umbrellas and canopies.

E = Evolving; this means the growth Watch for signs of skin cancer. While skin changes in size, shape, symptoms (itching, cancer is very common, it’s also very curable tenderness), surface (especially bleeding), or when found and treated early. The first two shades of color types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma Check it out. If you notice any of these and squamous cell carcinoma – grow slowly signs or something just doesn’t look right, and rarely spread to other parts of the body. contact a dermatologist or your primary Pay attention to changes in your skin – a care provider right away. Early detection new blemish or mole, a sore that doesn’t and treatment is best! heal, or a change in an existing mole. These Have a good summer. cancers are usually found on the head, face, SUNSCREEN LOOKS GOOD ON YOU CONTINUED FROM B7

When you open a First Choice Checking account, you will receive special discounts, offers, and educational opportunities to reward your hard work and careful money management. This unique account for customers age 50 and above also provides fun and creative activities made available to you as a First Choice Club member.

Visit us today to learn more!

SOUTHERN MINN

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50+

June 22-23, 2022

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ALL OUR PROVIDERS ARE WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS. Nancy Nelson, MD Pediatrics

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