Author pens new book about children/elderly friendship benefits
2 • Thursday, December 23, 2021 • Active Lifestyles
Active Lifestyles
What’s inside
6 How aging adults can maintain a healthy weight
2 Cover story:
Book shows friendships 5 Safe ways for seniors to volunteer
7 Alleviate everyday aches and pains
Staff ACTIVE LIFESTYLES PUBLISHER Denise VonderHaar dvonderhaar@edwpub.net (618) 463-2500
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ON THE COVER: Author Vickie Rodgers wrote and self published “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad: Friendships Come in All Ages,” inspired by her longtime friend Ruby Foster, with whom Rodgers accompanied on an Honor Flight in 2018. Foster is a retired World War II veteran cadet nurse and Rodgers retired as a professor of nursing from Lewis and Clark Community College last December.
New children’s book shows children/elderly friendship benefits By Jill Moon
jill.moon@hearst.com
MORO — A “bucket list labor of love” resulted in a great love story for children and older adults — “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad: Friendships Come in All Ages.” “I couldn’t find one that was about friendships of children with older adults, how interaction and intergenerational friendships bring sunshine into older adults’ lives. I looked for books like this,” said author Vickie Rodgers, of Moro. “Since I couldn’t find
a book, I thought, ‘I’m going to write one.’” “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad: Friendships Come in All Ages” launched Nov. 8 on Amazon and was a No. 1 New Release Best Seller in nine of the 10 categories under which it was listed, including Children’s and Elderly Care categories. Rodgers’ children’s book is inspired by a longtime friendship with Ruby Foster, 93, of Glen Carbon. Foster’s family members live several hours away. Both Rodgers and Foster share a career in nurs-
ing — Foster is a retired U.S. Cadet Nurse who served during World War II and Rodgers retired as a professor of nursing last December from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey. Rodgers also accompanied Foster on a 2018 Honor Flight in recognition of Foster’s contribution to the war effort. Foster was the first U.S. Cadet Nurse to take an Honor Flight. “Not long after the Honor Flight, I started taking my grandchildren to see Ruby and get to know her,” Rodgers
Active Lifestyles • December 23, 2021 • 3
Photos sumitted | For Active Lifestyles
From back row left to right, the family involved in a new intergenerational children’s book, “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad: Friendships Come in All Ages,” is Avery, 15, Will, 10, author Vickie Rodgers, who is the children’s grandmother lovingly referred to as “Gigi,” Cole, 10, and Caroline, 12. Front row, a good friend to Rodgers, Ruby Foster, was the inspiration for the book.
recalled. “I had also started ‘Something to Do For Others’ with them. They decided they want-
ed to go buy Christmas decorations, a tree and decorate for Ruby. That started their relationship
Ms. Ruby receives a Sunshine Bag from the Gigi Squad.
with her. “Older adults, just, love children, and I watched her interact with them. She just loved it — and so did they,” Rodgers said of her grandchildren and Foster. Rodgers set out to write and self-publish a book about intergeneratioinal friendships. She hired an illustrator, graphic designer and an editor. She also developed her own web page at www.vickierodgers. com, where people can order “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad” and it’s also sold at Amazon as hardback, paperback and ebook. The book is selling locally at The Grapevine Children’s Shop, in Alton, The Charlie Belle Children’s Shop, in Edwardsville, and The Bonar Boutique, in East Alton, as well as available online through Books-A-Million, Barnes
The cover of “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad: Friendships Come in All Ages,” by illustrator Vidya Vasudevan, reproduced from a photograph by Linda Snyder. The book is available at Amazon as hardback, paperback and ebook.
and Noble, and Walmart. The book contains 28 pieces of original artwork by illustrator Vidya Vasudevan. Examples can be found at “Ms. Ruby and the Gigi Squad” Facebook page, at which Rodgers also kept her fledgling 500plus followers informed about what was involved in writing a children’s book. Rodgers recruited graphic designer and author Sarah Kathryn Frey, of Edwardsville, who also inspired Rodgers with her own children’s book about her service dog, “Alice Eloise’s Silver Linings: The Story of a Silly Service Dog.” “She is an amazing graphic designer,” Rodgers said. When Rodgers discov-
ered a YouTube channel, called #LoveWhatMatters with 27.5 million subscribers, she took a chance and sent a message about her labor of love. “They asked if they could interview me and the four kids, and make a YouTube video,” Rodgers recalled. “My oldest grandchild, my 15-yearold granddaughter, talked about stereotypes people have of nursing homes, where it’s not like the stereotypes. “Also you can go anywhere and find an older adult friend,” Rodgers noted. “My goal with the book is to encourage more parents to encourage their children to befriend an older adult, in your church, in your neighborhood.”
The book is not only the story of four children — the Gigi Squad, named for their grandmother known as Gigi — who befriend a World War II veteran nurse, but also is chock full of practical and fun ideas of how children can engage meaningfully with the elderly. And also how the elderly help children. The book contains all kinds of goodies, such as a letter from the Gigi Squad at the beginning of the book, ideas for a “Sunshine Bag,” which can be filled with all kinds of things, such as adult coloring books, personal care items and scarves, just to name a few, and in the back of the book, it features questions for discussion, ideas to put inside a Sunshine Bag, and Kindness Projects, such as a memory making project. “Research shows if young adults have an older friend it helps with depression, to have one single adult who cares, believes and listens to them.” Rodgers recalled a review given her book by an older female author who gave a Ted Talk. “This woman did a Ted Talk two years ago, and seemed like she was doing it on this book I’m doing right now,” Rodgers said. “I messaged her and she read my book. I was so humbled by the wonderful review she gave my book, because she gets it.” Rodgers has done book signings at The Grapevine, Charlie Belle, Bonar Boutique, BooksA-Million and The Very Merry WinterWonderland Extravaganza, in Edwardsville.
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4 • Thursday, December 23, 2021 • Active Lifestyles
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Active Lifestyles • December 23, 2021 • 5
Safe ways for seniors to volunteer with the people they help and work alongside is what Charitable organizations drives many volunteers to rely on the efforts of volunlend a helping hand. That’s teers to meet their missions especially so for seniors every day. People of all ages whose children have grown can volunteer, and a great up and moved out. In person number of volunteers are interactions may be too risky seniors. during the pandemic, but The rollout of various seniors can still volunteer via COVID-19 vaccines has contactless opportunities. allowed vaccinated individFor example, in lieu of delivuals to return to a certain ering meals by hand, seniors degree of pre-pandemic norwho work with organizations malcy. However, the threat such as Meals on Wheels can posed by strains of the virus deliver prepackaged meals like the Delta variant has outside recipients’ residencmade some seniors apprees. Being hensive about returning to the• Pitch in with fundraisvolunteering. Though each ing. A report from Giving individual should consider USA released in 2021 various factors before return- revealed that Americans ing to volunteering during gave more to charity in 2020 the pandemic, the following than in 2019. That increase are some optionsThrough seniors can the Now New Year came in spite of an economic consider as they aim to safely downturn that saw millions pitch in once again. of people lose their jobs or • Look for contactless take pay cuts as companies opportunities. Interactions scrambled to deal with lost For Active Lifestyles
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revenue related to the pandemic. Though giving might have increased in 2020, many nonprofit organizations, including local community theaters, likely suffered due to cancellations and audience restrictions. As a result, many local nonprofit organizations are in need of financial support. Seniors who want to pitch in but stay safe can volunteer to help local organizations raise funds. Seniors can participate in fundraising efforts from the comforts of their own homes. • Offer professional expertise. Many seniors retired after spending decades mastering their crafts, and that experience can be an invaluable resource to local nonprofit organizations. Seniors can offer professional advice and mentor youths remotely Heapps ar wlike hatZoom via matwithout ters most putting their physical health at risk.
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6 • Thursday, December 23, 2021 • Active Lifestyles
How aging adults can maintain a healthy weight For Active Lifestyles
Calorie-counting and watching one’s weight is often seen as a young person’s game. But even aging men and women should recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. Older adults may experience weight gain or unintentional weight loss. Understanding how to address each in healthy ways is important. Weight loss tips More than two-thirds of Americans, including adults age 65 and older, are overweight and obese, according to U.S. News & World Report. A combination of factors can contribute to weight gain in older adults, including a slower metabolism and a tendency to be more sedentary with age. Empty nesters also may be less likely to cook their own meals, relying on convenience foods — some of which may be high in fat and/or calories. Sustained healthy weight at any age is linked to improved heart health, mental health benefits like increased self-confidence, healthy joints, and much more. These tips can help aging individuals maintain healthy weights. • Incorporate strength or resistance training into your weekly routine. Hormone production slows down as the body ages, and that may result in a loss of muscle mass. Lifting weights or engaging in resistance training with elastic bands or body weight can restore muscle tone and speed up metabolism. Adults should aim for strength training twice a week. • Monitor sugar and starch intake. Many older adults have elevated blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance. When cells become resistant to insulin, glucose doesn’t get used up and remains in the blood. Eventually this can lead to pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Many people with these conditions have a hard time losing weight. Avoiding added sugars and extra carbohydrates could help.
• Practice portion control. A 60-yearold can’t eat the same way he or she did at age 30 or 40. Nutritionists say that, with every decade that passes, people generally need about 100 fewer calories a day to maintain their weights. Cutting calories slowly and steadily helps people maintain healthy weights, especially when they couple this with exercise. Avoiding malnutrition-related weight loss
Malnutrition is a common component in unintentional weight loss in aging populations. Reduction in senses of small and taste, smaller appetites and lack of desire to make meals can contribute to malnutrition and weight loss. Underlying health problems also may lead to unwanted and unhealthy weight loss. Tracking weight loss and getting sufficient nutrients is vital to aging adults’ overall health. A 2014 study published in the Amer-
ican Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that having a body mass index at the lower end of the recommended age for adults increased risk for mortality more so than being overweight. Individuals whose BMI is less than 23 could be putting themselves in jeopardy. Older adults need to adjust their routines as they age in order to maintain healthy weights. Such adjustments can reduce seniors’ risk for disease and improve their quality of life.
Active Lifestyles • December 23, 2021 • 7
Alleviate everyday aches and pains For Active Lifestyles
Pain occurs for a variety of reasons. Pain may be a byproduct of overuse of a particular part of the body, or it could signal an underlying illness or condition. Sometimes injury is at the heart of aches and pains. Daily aches and pains may be seen as a normal byproduct of aging, but that does not mean aging individuals should simply accept pain. In fact, daily discomfort can be remedied with some relatively easy techniques. • Get moving. Lower back pain is common among adults, and most often appears when individuals are in their mid-30s and 40s. Strength training and cardio exercises can remedy this pain because these activities increase blood flow and help build core muscles, which support the spine. Support can alleviate pressure on the discs in the back. Exercising also will build strength in other areas of the body and support joints. • Practice good posture. Sitting and standing with optimal posture can help the body feel better. The body is designed to stand in a “neutral” position that stacks the pelvis, head and torso, according to DMC Healthcare. When posture is out of whack, this puts undue stress on muscles, leading to pain. Dropping your head or shoulders also can create unnecessary tension that leads to headaches. Good posture can alleviate this. • Exercise more often. Certain pains arise when exercising for the first time or performing a new activity. Allan H. Goldfarb, Ph.D., a professor and exercise physiologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, says when you do the same activity again and again, your muscles will start to get used to it and soreness will be reduced. Don’t give up on exercise too soon, but include off days in your routine to give your body time to become more acclimated to increased physical activity. • Get tested. Speak with your doctor if you have chronic pain in one or more areas. Such pain may be a sign of osteoarthritis, an inflammatory condition that is associated with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions can cause aches and pains as well, leaving the joints and tendons inflamed and a body with low energy. A doctor can rule out these conditions or help you get the therapy and medications you need. • Increase stretching and movement exercises. Incorporate stretching and movement exercises like yoga or tai chi into your daily regimen. These activities slowly stretch areas of the body and can improve range of motion and flexibility over time. These are just a few ways to address common aches and pains. Medical interventions, physical therapy, occupational therapy and ergonomics assessments, and massage therapy also may help to alleviate aches and pains.
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