Northeast Ohio Boomer | January February 2024 by Mitchell Media LLC: Northeast Ohio Parent & Northeast Ohio Boomer Magazines

Boomer Northeast Ohio

THRIVE AFTER 55

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Grin & Share It Laugh More, Live Better

Medical Records | Date Night Dress-Up | Forced Out

Jan/Feb INSIDE

NEO GRANDPARENT

TOO OLD TO WORK?

Bond with a Project

ON THE COVER

GRIN & SHARE IT Find Your Funny

Forced Out

DE PA R T M E N T S 8

WORTH NOTING No Booze, Heroes

Thrive After 55

TECH TALK Medical Records

STYLE STOP Date Night Dress-Up

CAREGIVER CORNER You Are What You Think

BRAIN GAMES Yikes! These are Tough

EDITOR´S NOTE

FUNNY BUSINESS

ver the years, I’ve found many things funny and have occasionally paid a steep price for my misjudgment. When I was old enough to know better, a priest stopped Mass and scolded my cousins and me for our disruptive giggling in the choir loft. He sternly directed us to the front pew; we barely held in our laughter on our walk of should-be shame. Then I spent a summer working off a fine because a police officer said I didn’t seem remorseful when I got caught trying to outsmart a driver’s license examiner. My cool-headed explanation (my opinion) and smirk (his opinion) did me in. Badge beats brash every time. I’ve found humor in traditionally inappropriate situations more times than I can count: funerals, accidents, chemotherapy, broken relationships and broken promises. Like crooked branches that didn’t get pruned, the default-to-funny gene grows throughout my family tree. We joke about most things, even when we probably shouldn’t. All of us find ourselves in awful and absurd places; no two people handle them the same way. Despite my experiences with priests, cops, crabby people and impossible circumstances, my reflex is to look for a thread of humor and hang on to it like a lifeline. RESET What’s so funny? He’s funny in the head. I have a funny feeling. Dark humor. Ill humored. Gallows humor. Humor gets a bad rap and little encouragement. Giggles, goofiness and guffaws are likely to earn admonishment, annoyance and antipathy rather than appreciation. We (most of us) learned that lesson early and carry it like an overstuffed bag, tamping back our inclinations and

Thrive After 55

hoping no one notices our lousy packing job. As we age, we’re counseled to see the humor in life. It’s good for us, experts say. Stress, blood pressure, mental health; the humorbenefit arena is big and encompasses a lot. Our job is to find our way back in. If you’re having a tough time finding your funny, we’ve got a story for you starting on page 18. Two local humor experts talk about the role it’s played in their lives and how they’re sharing it with others. Did you know you can take an improv class specifically for people 55 and older? Now that’s fun. Switching to another topic, we have a story about workplace discrimination that you’ll want to read. I’m hearing more and more about friends and acquaintances getting downsized, demoted or forced out. Is it competence or age at the root of these job shakeups? We explore the differences and what to do about it, starting on page 16. Now that we’re in the thick of winter, I’m badly in need of a good laugh, the kind that makes my eyes cry and my belly hurt. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a giggle fit in church, and I avoid getting on the bad side of police officers, so those options are off the table. I’m iPhone shopping with my 90-year-old dad this week—fertile ground for humor. My concern is that he’ll be the only one laughing. With fewer years of experience under my belt, I may need to dig deep for this project. Dad will be fine. He’s taught me that life is absurdly funny if you stick around long enough to learn the lesson.

VOL. 10, ISSUE 1

January/February 2024 Northeast Ohio Boomer is a property of Mitchell Media LLC

PO Box 1088 Hudson, OH 44236 330-822-4011 NortheastOhioBoomer.com /NEOhioBoomer

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PUBLISHER - Brad Mitchell brad@northeastohioboomer.com 330-714-7712 EDITOR- Marie Elium marie@northeastohioboomer.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR - Estelle Rodis-Brown estelle@northeastohioboomer.com EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS editor@northeastohioboomer.com CALENDAR LISTING SUBMISSIONS calendar@northeastohioboomer.com CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Beach, Margaret Briller, Estelle Rodis-Brown, Kathryn Kilpatrick, Traci McBride, Mike Olszewski, Linda Peavy, Donna Robinson, Tak Sato, Karen Shadrach ART DIRECTOR - Laura Chadwick laura@northeastohioboomer.com ADVERTISING SALES Chris Geer, 330-614-8471 chris@northeastohioboomer.com Janyse Heidy, 330-671-3886 janyse@northeastohioboomer.com Sherrie Kantarovich, 216-299-5455 sherriek@northeastohioboomer.com Samantha Olp, 330-636-6127 sam@northeastohioboomer.com Yvonne Pelino, 440-971-0595 yvonne@northeastohioboomer.com Michelle Vacha, 440-463-0146 michelle@northeastohioboomer.com OFFICE MANAGER Kathleen Mitchell, 440-533-1208 kathleen@northeastohioboomer.com EVENTS MANAGER Lilia Lipps lilia@northeastohioboomer.com DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES info@northeastohioboomer.com PUBLISHER OF PHOTO: MARIE ELIUM

Adventures In

Boomer

NEO BOOMER EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Northeast Ohio

Thrive After 55

Mindi Axner Executive Director National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland

Coming in the

March/April Issue beginning March 19

Sharon Dundee Director of Marketing & Communications Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

SPRING INTO ACTION Change & Grow Therapy, Dating, Travel

Dr. Ardeshir Z. Hashmi Cleveland Clinic Director Center for Geriatric Medicine Julienne Hayes Content Manager Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging Kathy M. Hirko Owner KAZ Company Kathryn Kilpatrick President Communication Connection LLC Kelsey Loushin President Eldercare Professionals of Ohio

Stephanie Manning The American Heart Association, Cleveland

Bob Pontius Director of External Relations Danbury Senior Living

Candyce Traci Vice President All Media Design Group

Steven Marsh Dr. Steve Marsh, DDS

Leslie Royce Resnik President Royce Public Relations

Nancy Udelson Retired CEO Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter

Fatima Perkins Director of Community Outreach Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

Beth Silver Director of Public Relations and Marketing Menorah Park

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

WORTH NOTING Compiled by Marie Elium

We’ll Drink to That ALCOHOL-FREE, OF COURSE If your post-holiday recycle bin overflowed with empty champagne bottles (love those morning mimosas) and similar evidence of your alcohol consumption, then you may have already discovered Dry January and are considering Cocktail-Free February. Alcoholism is serious; nothing to joke about. But if you want a re-set from the social drinking circuit, you’ve got plenty of incentives to catch up with the rest of us. Just a month-long break from drinking helps us assess the role alcohol plays in our lives while also

Thrive After 55

allowing our bodies to recover, doctors say. Americans 55 and older drink more today than their counterparts two decades ago and drink more than they think they should, according to the Pew Research Center. Social sipping sans alcohol is possible and can taste good, too. You can find mocktail recipes at Ohio Liquor (ohlq.com) or mocktailwiz.com, a website dedicated to nonalcoholic cocktail recipes.

Tuskegee Airmen of WWII were the first African American pilots to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force.

Tuskegee Airmen HONORING HEROES Greater Cleveland is home to more than 100 documented original Tuskegee Airmen and women.

To recognize their service, the North Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen wants to create a mural to showcase Tuskegee pilots, navigators and support personnel and by installing a bronze statue of Cleveland native Benjamin O. Davis Jr., General and Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen

during World War II. He was the first African American promoted to general in the United States Air Force in 1954. Before the Tuskegee Airmen, African Americans were barred from serving in the U.S. Army Air Force and its pilot training because of Jim Crow Laws and other racist laws. The airmen and support staff served bravely and with distinction in every aspect of WWII while simultaneously struggling for their civil rights in this country. Learn more and contribute to NCCTA Cleveland’s Heroes Project at cleredtails.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLEREDTAILS.ORG

Are You Mad? THERE’S A RAGE Frustrated. Angry. Furious. We’ve all been there; some of us more than others. If a well-placed eye roll or a loud sigh isn’t doing the job, then maybe you need to smash a dozen bottles or a bucket of dishes. That’s the idea behind rage rooms. You can grab a hammer, golf club or bat and destroy all sorts of things, depending on your frustration level and budget. A friend recently received a session at the Outrage Rage Room in Kent and had a fine time working through her anger issues. They also offer a Paint Splatter Package for people who want a less violent experience. Angry that Kent isn’t convenient? Try the Akron Break Room, Destruction Zone Cleveland in Eastlake or Break Time in Willowick. There are others, but we’re too frustrated to list them all.

ROOM FOR THAT

Stamp Collecting LEARN ALL ABOUT IT While you may not know how much a postage stamp costs (68 cents), you’ve no doubt occasionally seen and enjoyed their colorful designs and artwork. Want to learn more about stamps (besides the price)? The Garfield-Perry Stamp Club’s annual show is March 15-17 with a Beginner’s Room where visitors can get free stamps, collections supplies and stamp collecting advice. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at the Best Western Plus Hotel, 15471 Royalton Rd., Strongsville. Admission and parking are free.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

TECH TALK

No Longer a Difficult Patient Make the Most of Electronic Medical Records By Tak Sato

“Seinfeld” episode called “The Package” reminds us how far we’ve come with medical records. While waiting for her doctor to come into the exam room, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss) peeks into a manila folder with her name on it. She sees a notation in her file that describes her as “a difficult patient” just as the doctor walks in and catches her. As she protests the description, the doctor pretends to erase it and walks away making additional, likely unflattering notations. CONNECTED We no longer have to snoop through manila folders to see our medical records. In 2009, health care organizations, under a federal government mandate, started computerizing our medical records and giving us access to them. Younger patients may not even remember health care before electronic recordkeeping. While electronic medical records can be confusing and occasionally glitchy, they’re a goldmine of information. In Northeast Ohio, the landscape changed for the better in 2023 when University Hospitals adopted EPIC EMR and MyChart, joining Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth patients, who have used MyChart all along. As of mid-December 2023, the MyChart website has links to 64 healthcare organizations in Ohio (point your favorite browser to mychart.org/ LoginSignup, select “Ohio,” and scroll through the list to see if your hospital or provider has MyChart). I use doctors and practitioners at two hospitals yet I can use a single MyChart app on my smartphone to access my health records at both

10 Thrive After 55

Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, switching between organizations easily. Each hospital customizes features under the “Menu” selection so images can look slightly different for each person or health care organization. Did you know that MyChart lets us see the appointment “Notes” typed or dictated by the provider? We’ve all heard that it’s a good idea to bring someone with us to a doctor’s appointment so we don’t miss vital information. My wife isn’t usually available to accompany me to appointments. With the “Notes” feature, she can not only hear my version of the appointment over dinner but also read the appointment synopsis/prognosis from my doctor directly. In addition, the “After Visit Summary” that I receive when I leave my appointment is available for viewing, downloading or printing from MyChart, which is helpful if you misplace the paperwork.

MyChart also has a “Messaging” (Cleveland Clinic) or “Communication” (University Hospitals) feature to securely send/ receive messages to your providers. MyChart messaging works like your email, minus the SPAM and phishing. Just remember that Cleveland Clinic, for example, can charge you if your message request or question requires more than a simple response. It’s best for quick requests or follow-up questions after an appointment. I don’t use the Messaging feature to replace an inperson or virtual appointment. The MyChart features I use most frequently are under the “My Record” (University Hospitals) or “My Medical Record” (Cleveland Clinic) categories under the Menu heading. The “Request Refill” selection with a list of your medications makes it easy to request refills. The “Test Results” selection not only has your test results going back years but also the results from tests you take repeatedly, revealing vital health

While electronic medical records can be confusing and occasionally glitchy, they’re a goldmine of information about our health.

trends. Finally, the “Upcoming & Past Visits” (Cleveland Clinic) or “Visits” (University Hospitals) section lets you see and download your practitioner’s “Notes” and “After Visit Summary.” If you have a smartphone or use a computer connected to the internet (the cloud) the MyChart app or the MyChart website are helpful and relatively easy to use. If you haven’t tried it yet, I recommend you give it a spin. P.S. Dear EPIC, if you’re reading this, can you please standardize the category headers and other terms across provider sites? Many Ohioans will be using MyChart and don’t need to be confused when they move from one organization to another through your app or website. — Your Friendly Old Geek

Switching oranizations

Messaging a provider on your health care team

Tak Sato is the founder of the Clevelandarea nonprofit, Center for Aging in the Digital World (empowerseniors.org), which teaches digital literacy to people 60+ through the free Discover Digital Literacy program.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

STYLE STOP

Simple, Fabulous DRESSING FOR DATE NIGHT By Linda Peavy

ove is in the air as we approach Valentine’s Day. If you have a partner or are single in the city, get ready to rock date night. There is no reason to look dowdy, whether this is your first or 50th night out. Here are my fashion ideas to look fabulous with minimal effort. DRESSES Want to look and feel sexy? Then leave something to the imagination. Opt for an empire or A-line dress. The empire dress flatters all shapes because it emphasizes the smallest part of a woman’s body—underneath the bust—and flows downward. The A-line dress is an all-around winner. It is a classic shape that is flattering to the overall body because it makes the waist look smaller while flaring out at the hips. If you are proud of those arms, then go sleeveless. If not, then wear a bolero sweater that falls at the waist. For a killer look, consider a wrap dress that emphasizes every part of the body. How low of a neckline can you go? You be the judge. But remember, showing a hint of skin can also be very sensual.

For casual dates, you can opt for jeans. Bootcut is best as it compliments all shapes and sizes. Pair jeans with a fitted jacket with darts that outline the shape. It dresses up the outfit but still speaks casual.

Linda Peavy is a Cleveland-based fashion influencer with a global reach, providing body positivity presentations internationally as the founder of Cultured Curves (culturedcurves.com). Linda is an NEO Boomer columnist and blogger with Style Stop, your one-stop source of fashion tips that will keep you looking sensational at any age.

ACCESSORIES Stand out from the crowd with accessories. Give your date something to admire in addition to your lovely face. Try an awesome hat to show your style. Or consider a beautiful print scarf to brighten up a monochromatic outfit.

Jewelry If your outfit is simple with few embellishments, go for a statement necklace. It will be a fantastic discussion starter if you are on a new date, brightens your face, and adds pizzazz to your attire. Pearls always

12 Thrive After 55

answer the call if you prefer a demure and classic look.

Shoes Because you don’t know how or where the dating journey will take you, perhaps dancing the night away or strolling the park, opt for comfort. Consider a wedge heel or kitten heel that is gentle on the feet but high on looks.

Perfume Choose a soft—not overpowering—scent, such as one with floral top notes like Armani/Prive Rose Milano Soie de Nacre perfume. After several dates, get bolder with a sensual musk scent such as Bvlgari Musk Magnifying perfume. Remember, have fun. The date could be the beginning of something special or re-ignite the flames of the love affair you share with your partner. Whatever the case, dress well.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LINDA PEAVY

JEANS CITY CHIC TWEED JACKET AND BOOTLEG PANTS

SKIRTS When choosing skirts, opt for a pencil skirt for an indoor date. This gem outlines a woman’s curves while giving a chic look. Choose one that hits at the knee so that you show off your beautiful legs. If you select a black skirt, pair it with a colorful blouse. Remember, color is your friend. If your day will take you outside, an A-line skirt allows more movement and flow.

CAREGIVER CORNER

Better with Age? ACTUALLY, YES By Jennifer Beach

or the last several years, I have been watching, listening and talking to people between the ages of 50 and 103 about growing older. Nearly everyone I run into— clients, friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, strangers in the grocery store and doctor’s office, you name it—I’m listening and interested in how they view aging. Here’s what I hear, most often from people in their 50s and 60s: I’m too old for ______. I used to do _____, but not anymore. Getting old isn’t easy. Contrast those phrases with what I typically hear from people in their mid70s and older: Why not? I’m willing to try ______. I just started doing _____. I can help. I would enjoy _____. Surveys and studies have documented the connection between age and what psychologists call emotional well-being. This is when a person consistently reports having more positive than negative feelings. Using this measure, researchers discovered that older adults are, overall, happier than younger people. HAPPY AGING A Fordham University study categorized more than 32,000 Americans in age groups and found that 38 percent of people 68 to 77 said they’re “very happy.” Younger adults were

significantly less likely to report similar positive feelings. In another recent study involving more than 10,000 people 45 and older, University of Southern Denmark researchers found that, although older adults were considerably less healthy than younger adults, they reported being happy with their lives. Most middle-aged people have negative views about aging and associate growing older with loss: the loss of strength, abilities, good health, and appearance… The list goes on. As a result, they don’t connect aging with happiness. The surprising news is that researchers say older adults don’t see it that way at all. They’re happy—or at least happier—than they were when they were younger. Surveys measuring life satisfaction find that happiness increases after middle age; this pattern shows up in studies throughout the world. Referred to as the U-Shaped Happiness Curve, studies show that, on average, life satisfaction drops during midlife and begins rebounding around age 55, and continues to peak as we age. Midlife generally is the most stressful period of our lives with work performance demands, caregiving stress, and anxious comparisons to peers and ideals. Studies show that stress peaks at midlife, followed by a mindset and emotional shift trending upward. Researchers have found that older

adults describe themselves as in good spirits despite hardships and physical decline. They’ve developed a habit of focusing on the positive, whether it’s from memories of a happy time in their lives or thinking about their present life. There has been much research to explain this positive outlook, including how the brain changes through aging. So far, experts are finding that happiness is a choice that older people make every day. Each of us has different experiences in our lives, but in general, as we age, we tend to become more aware of small things in life that bring us great pleasure. We realize that less is more: less pressure, less stress to perform and conform. As a result, the later years of our lives often bring us more satisfaction, allowing us to become more of who we are, coupled with an understanding of what matters, and what doesn’t. What a beautiful thing about aging. Why not look, try, and choose to see more positives each day, regardless of age? Getting older may not be physically easy but as we all know that nothing worthwhile is. Jennifer Beach is an Advanced Aging Life Care Professional. She established Advocate for Elders (advocate4elders.com) in Rocky River and has 25 years of experience working with and advocating for older adults and their families.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

Grand Northeast Ohio

Build a Bond

By Karen Shadrach

ackling a project together, whether for just an afternoon or for a longer time, is a good way to build a fun-filled and meaningful relationship with grandkids. A project provides opportunities to talk one-on-one with your grandchild and often becomes a springboard to conversations that may not naturally occur in other situations. Winter is a perfect time to begin because children are back into their normal school routines after the holidays and the cold temperatures and short days tend to keep them indoors.

14 Thrive After 55

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN SHADRACH

Easy projects for every age

FUN WITH THE GRANDKIDS

WRITE A BOOK

MAKE YOUR OWN GAME

Regardless of age, writing and illustrating a book with your grandchildren is not only fun, but it also creates something that they can enjoy years later. You can make up a story or write about your family history. If you are tech-savvy, use the online Shutterfly app to type in the story then import photos of people, pets or your grandchildren’s illustrations. With embellishments provided through the app, you create a hardcover book that they will love to read again and again while remembering the fun they had making it with you. Young children enjoy doodling and drawing. Make a simple book with them by taking 2-5 pieces of white paper, folding them in fourths, placing three staples along the folded side, and cutting open the bottom folded area. Short on ideas? The books can be pictures of things they love (help them spell the names of the objects), a story about one of their pets, or a made-up story. Older grandchildren may want to interview you, ask about traditions, record family stories and include photos of relatives.

Do your grandkids like board games? Invent your own. Put all those delivery boxes to use and cut a shape for your board. Create a theme and design squares and pictures with directions along the way for your tokens to travel from start to finish. Use coins, small toys or buttons for markers. Better yet, make your own from more cardboard pieces. The one we made cost us nearly nothing, yet my grandchildren love to play it. Need something simpler? How about putting together a puzzle? For big puzzles, use a puzzle roll-up mat to store and then finish at a later time. Save completed puzzles by coating them with a coat or two of Mod Podge, air drying, and then hanging them up in a playroom or bedroom.

SHARE A FAMILY RECIPE A great one-day project is to cook or bake a favorite family recipe together. A bonus is that you all can eat your project when it is finished. Make a familiar recipe or explore options from online food subscription services that offer meals and snacks from around the world and information about the featured countries. Try Raddish Kids (raddishkids.com), Little Passports (littlepassports.com) and Universal Yums (universalyums.com).

BUILD TOGETHER Build something with your grandchild, such as a model or a LEGO set. Models (cars, boats, planes, etc.) are available for a variety of abilities. Most have to be worked on in stages to allow glue and paint to dry. The process can stretch over several days and has multiple components: assembling and building, applying designs and paint, and completing other details. LEGO sets also come in various levels of difficulty. My grandsons, for example, were obsessed with the Titanic, so we assembled a Titanic that took us weeks to complete. We’ve since moved on to sports arenas and college buildings. The granddaughters enjoyed making Disney’s “Frozen” LEGO castle. Whether it’s writing, building, cooking, creating a game or solving a puzzle, a project can lead to love- and laughter-filled memories with your grandchild this winter.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY The Rink at Wade Oval. Take winter out for a spin on the fresh ice. Through 2/25. Cleveland, universitycircle.org. $2-10

1/31 Discovery Days: It’s Winter. Let’s unwrap the cold blanket of snow to see what wintery things we can find. Ages 3-6. 11 a.m. Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, 4524 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., clevelandmetroparks.com. FREE

2/2 Groundhog Day Open House. Live animal viewing, woodchuck games, crafts, and listening for nighttime animal calls. 5-7 p.m. Sippo Lake Park Wildlife Conservation Center, 800 Genoa Ave., Massillon, starkparks.com

THROUGH 2/25 Cool Adventures. Bundle up, get outside, explore, enjoy and connect. Beech Creek Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 11929 Beech St. NE, Alliance, beechcreekgardens.org

THROUGH 3/17 3D Movie: Flight of the Butterflies. Be captivated by the true and compelling story of an intrepid scientist’s 40-year search to find the monarchs’ secret hideaway. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, cmnh.org

Karen Shadrach is a Northeast Ohio on-the-go, in-the-know grandmother of two sets of twins. Read her grandparenting blog at northeastohioboomer.com.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

Forced Out WORKPLACE AGE DISCRIMINATION By Donna L. Robinson

ge discrimination in the workplace is a hot topic, especially today, when many older adults are looking for work or staying in jobs far longer than in previous generations. Economics is one factor; improved health and longer lifespans are others. The number of workers 65 and older has more than doubled in the past two decades; the increase is similar for people 75 and older, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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OLDER WORKERS An example of this trend and someone who employs older workers is Roger Sustar, who founded Fredon Manufacturing Corp. in Mentor and has been its CEO for 54 years. “We do have some people who have been with us for years that are still working full-time. My secondshift supervisor is 67 years old and has been with us over 30+ years, and my first-shift lead man at 70 years old has been with us 50 years or more,” Sustar says. “Many of the instructors at AWT (Alliance for Working Together), the manufacturing sister organization for Fredon Corporation, are retired

Boomers and seniors whom we hire to train students, are still glad to work, and we are glad to have them. People with age experience (who are) giving their knowledge back to apprentices are precious. Both Fredon Corporation and AWT look at the Boomers’ and seniors’ qualifications, what they bring to the table, and experience more than their age, even with new hires,” he adds. Not every employer shares this attitude. One local woman who wants to remain anonymous described her experience with workplace discrimination. “In my late 50s and early 60s, I

was employed as a nurse manager in a long-term care/skilled nursing facility from 2011 to 2013. I was very qualified for my job, and had the knowledge and nursing skills when I was hired as a manager in a memorycare unit, which was perfect for me...but then shortly after that, was moved to a lower-level skilled unit.” She continues, “I felt overwhelmed fairly quickly, and as a salaried employee, worked many long hours. My job as a nurse manager was my sole income. I was demoted at about the two-yearthree-month mark or so. The only reason I remember getting demoted was they needed an R.N. as manager, and the person who took my place was a friend of the director of nursing. I was on my feet almost the entire shift, seldom had time for meals or breaks, and was physically in pain from lifting patients.

“When I had an opportunity to speak with the nurse who hired me after I left, I mentioned I thought they pushed me out because I was older and making more money than the younger nurses that had been hired. She stated that it could have been very well true.” Another local worker, who also wants to remain anonymous, was 72 when he applied for a job as a bartender with an Ohio-based company that operated restaurants with large bars. “I sent the restaurant manager my resume along with a picture of myself and a copy of my licenses in mixology, and I passed the Ohio Safe Serve Test. I felt I absolutely had the qualifications for the job I applied for, based on education, prior experience, talent and skills.” He didn’t get the job and the company wouldn’t tell him why. “After looking at the ages of the

staff, it was apparent why I was not hired. Furthermore, some of the bar staff have no experience as to how to properly greet a patron, present a menu to them, properly prepare the bar rail for the drink preparation, how to mix a drink correctly, and how to present the drink to the patron. “I did feel that I was treated unfairly and I felt that the manager broke a law by not hiring me because of my age. I was qualified. All of the workers at this establishment are very, very young. “Age discrimination is deplorable. Many younger hires—and I am using my words very carefully—can’t work well at all. It is we older people who can still bring out the work ethics in a job we would work at.”

Donna L. Robinson is a Northeast Ohio writer.

Is It Your Age, Or You? Identifying Workplace Discrimination We talked to business and employment litigation attorney Max E. Dehn, a shareholder at CavitchFamillo Durkin Co. in Cleveland about workplace discrimination. Q: What is, or is not, age discrimination in the workforce/workplace? A: It is the imposition of an adverse job action such as termination, demotion or lower pay, because an individual is over 40 years of age. It is not the imposition of an adverse job action undertaken irrespective of age. An example of the latter is an older employee who is laid off because his salary is higher than a younger employee who is retained. It is permissible to make decisions based on cost so long as they are independent of age considerations. Q: What can someone do if they are a target? A: The employee may make a record of their allegation of being targeted, either to HR (human resources), ownership or a supervisor. The employee should call a lawyer if they believe that their rights have been violated. The employee may also file a complaint with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

OCRC: civ.ohio.gov/how-to-file-a-charge/ filing-a-charge EEOC:.eeoc.gov/filing-charge-discrimination Q: How common is age discrimination? A: Employers often make decisions based on the age of employees or applicants for employment. Such decisions are often discriminatory, but not always actionable. Q: How can someone recognize age discrimination and what can they do about it? A: The obvious sign of discrimination is disparate treatment. Younger employees are treated differently; younger applicants are hired ahead of applicants over 40, etc. The employee should call a lawyer if they believe that their rights have been violated. The employee may also file a complaint with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. An individual with age discrimination concerns should contact an attorney. There is also a lot of information available on the internet. A good start is the EEOC at eeoc.gov/law s/guidance/fact-sheetage-discrimination.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

What’s So Funny? COMIC RELIEF TO THE RESCUE

By Estelle Rodis-Brown

18 Thrive After 55

It’s time to lighten up, my friends. No, seriously. If you want to make a meaningful change this new year, strengthen your funny bone. Get your sense of humor in good shape by finding joy hidden in plain sight all around you.

healthy sense of humor is a state of mind. If it’s weak, now’s the time to strengthen it. Laughter does your body and mind more good than you realize. Sharpening your sense of humor can improve your quality of life and creative intelligence, neuropsychologists say. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body, strengthening your immune system, boosting your mood, alleviating pain, and relieving stress. Need more evidence? Laughter lights up the anterior cingulate cortex, an area of the brain associated with attention and decision-making, researchers have found. At a cellular level, laughing releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals your body produces to make you happy. After your heart rate and blood pressure fluctuate during laughter, the result is ultimately calming and tensionrelieving… the best kind of cardio workout around. Perhaps laughter really is the best medicine, a cure-all that’s easier to swallow than apple cider vinegar, and more fun, too. Beyond improving our mental and physical health, studies have shown that a sense of humor boosts attractiveness, improves performance in social interactions, enhances leadership skills, and increases self-esteem. It makes us feel more positive, competent and less anxious. Scientists and their research provide the facts, but how do we

generate laughter in real life? We’ve found two Northeast Ohio humorists who have found the funny in life and say we can, too. Humor writer Erin O’Brien of Broadview Heights and comedy coach Dave Schwensen of Vermillion have the magnetism, warmth, kindness, empathy, presence, professionalism, and yes—humor— that overflow with feel-good endorphins. Just talking to them cheers you up. Like cats chasing a laser light, they are agile and alert, pouncing on any mundane thing that strikes them as funny. Within the last year, each has developed a new vehicle to showcase their talents and share their insights. For O’Brien, it’s a blog. For Schwensen, it’s a stand-up comedy workshop for people 55 and older.

ERIN O’BRIEN - erinobrien.us QUESTION: “What’s so funny about growing older?” O’Brien (with a hearty laugh): “What’s not funny about growing older? I mean, c’mon…” Erin O’Brien has always been sharp and witty but she wasn’t always a writer.

After excelling at Lakewood High School then earning her electrical engineering degree at Ohio University and working eight years as a field engineer for Standard Oil Company of Ohio (Sohio), O’Brien felt “the cloak of corporate life was lined with thorns. I started to get bitter around the edges and fell into joyless drinking,” as she explains in her memoir. “Then one day as I sat in front of the box watching Lucille Ball and Tallulah Bankhead settling into coffee at the kitchen dinette, the perfect solution loomed. I decided to become a housewife.” And that, according to O’Brien, is how her humor writing career was born. “In the early days of blogging 20 years ago, writing humor launched my blog and my career in earnest,” she recounts. “I loved to muse on the ironies of being a housewife, working from home with my daughter.” Since then, as a freelance writer, columnist and editor, O’Brien’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Free Times, Inside Business Magazine, hiVelocity, Broadview Journal and FreshWater, among other publications. O’Brien has authored two books: “The Irish Hungarian Guide to the Domestic Arts” (2012) and “Rust Belt Burlesque - The Softer Side of a Heavy Metal Town” (2019). Her current blog, The Epistolary, is a weekly letter to whomever she pleases, written for her growing online readership. In her “Irish Hungarian Guide,” O’Brien’s lively prose brings a gritty,

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

working-class, Cleveland kind of humor to an otherwise warm, witty and homey memoir reminiscent of Erma Bombeck. “I’m a Rust Belt old-timer,” O’Brien says. “I can always find a kernel of something that makes me laugh. Take my coffee pot, for instance. You can’t take my Polly Perk percolator coffee pot outa my gonzo-housewife hands.” With equal measures naughty and nice, O’Brien’s Epistolary blog is dedicated to making grand things small and small things grand. In it, she employs humor to ponder the human condition in all its perplexing complexities. If you’re tempted to assume that O’Brien maintains her hearty sense of humor because she must live a charmed life, think again. One of O’Brien’s funniest coconspirators in life was her big brother, John, who wrote “Leaving Las Vegas.” He committed suicide shortly after selling movie rights to his novel; the film later starred Nicholas Cage. Their father died suddenly a couple of years later. The list goes on. “The plenum between what makes you laugh and what makes you cry

20 Thrive After 55

is very thin,” O’Brien says. “I’ve faced a lot of tragedy. I’ve lost a lot of my family. Loss is something you carry with you. Laughter can be hard to find. Sometimes, when I do my best comedic writing, I feel like I am honoring my brother. I feel Johnny right next to me in those moments. He was such a funny guy. Humor writing allows me to revisit happy moments with my departed loved ones. Everybody’s there. It’s a way to keep them alive.” O’Brien says that laughter—even a giggle—is a celebration and evidence of inner joy. You can reframe loss through reflection and a redirected mindset. The joy is not only in there but also out there. Just keep going and you will find it everywhere. So, how do you harness this ability to find the funny in everyday life? “There’s magic all around you,” O’Brien says. “The trick is this… this is what makes it all possible: You have to believe the magic is there. I already believe the magic is all around me, so I’m good at finding it. Then when I write about it—exposing those deep human things from the details of my own experience (from a coffee pot to a recipe for a cold meatloaf sandwich

or a string of Christmas lights)—it resonates with my readers. If I draw someone in, now they believe it. Now we’re getting somewhere. Therein is my success.” O’Brien writes about real things in a fresh way we can relate to and laugh about. Her joyful expressions are the essence of a life well lived, come what may.

DAVE SCHWENSEN thecomedybook.com If you want to let loose and have a good time, call Dave Schwensen. That’s what program directors at senior centers say. After a long and storied career as talent coordinator and manager for the legendary Improv Comedy Club in New York then Hollywood and on to The Flats in Cleveland, Schwensen has been on the cutting edge of comedy “from coast to coast to coast,” as he likes to say. In his heyday, he was rubbing shoulders with comic legends Rodney Dangerfield and George Carlin, and up-and-comers Dave Chappelle and Carrot Top. He also was a talent coordinator for the television show “A&E’s An

Evening At The Improv,” discovering new comedians and getting them on national television. Since returning home to Northeast Ohio, he has leveraged his know-how by writing six books on comedy and The Beatles. This led to him providing educational programs, intensive three-week comedy coaching workshops, and Beatlemania programs… often to audiences that are 55 and older. So last year, he started providing one-hour comedy workshops for lifelong learners. This fast-paced interactive program encourages audience members to bask in the stand-up comedy spotlight as a star of the show, telling their jokes and favorite funny stories. Schwensen leads novice comics through the paces, each telling stories through a funny lens; a script with blanks in it, reminiscent of Mad Libs. Participants love it, whether they take a turn on stage or soak it all in as part of the audience. Jennifer Yoo, program planner at Westlake Community Center, booked Schwensen for a comedy workshop last fall as part of a calendar of events the city provides to help combat the isolation and loneliness many people 50 and older have been experiencing, especially since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. She says, “I can’t say enough good things about Dave. He’s very engaging. You instantly like him, you laugh and have fun. I wouldn’t hesitate to have him back again. The seniors came out of his workshop saying, ‘We need more programs like this to make us laugh,’ ‘It’s so nice to

have a diversion like this because we are bombarded with negative news stories all the time,’ and ‘That’s just what we needed right now. He made us laugh.’” Last January, Schwensen provided his first one-hour comedy workshop at Pioneer Ridge retirement community in North Ridgeville. His calendar is filling up this year with shows for audiences 55 and older throughout Northeast Ohio, New York, Florida, Chicago and Los Angeles (check his website for workshops near you). What kind of hunger is Schwensen tapping into? Why all this funny business when we’ve got grave issues to grapple with? It’s simple. It’s about reclaiming joy in the journey. “I encounter these old grumps who look and act miserable,” Schwensen explains. “What’s the point in that? Let’s laugh and have some fun. Because when you laugh, you feel better. “When I put in a funny movie, laughing clears my mind; it refreshes me and takes my mind off whatever was bothering me. It’s good for people to laugh.” “I have dealt with people who have their arms and legs crossed; they’re closed off,” Schwensen says. “Listen, I’m getting older, too. I’m not going to waste my time on them. There are others capable of finding joy in life. I’m hanging out with them. I don’t have time to sit around the house and be depressed. When we share our humor and laughter, we all enjoy a mental recess. We get to take a break from all the bad things in the world and enjoy the good.” To live fully, Schwensen says we need to switch from being passive to active. Practice looking for humor in daily life; something unexpected someone says or a crazy situation that pops up without notice. What is funny? Make a note of it. Hold onto it. Stretch it out. Share it. As time goes by, Schwensen is more convinced that laughter is the key to a long and happy life. “I’m old enough now to know there’s no turning back,” he says. “I’m going full speed ahead.” And he’s laughing all the way.

Power Up Your Humor Potential Erin O’Brien and Dave Schwensen say these habits stir their pots of laughter: Take long walks - Get outside, move around, breathe fresh air, observe the details along the way, wander off course. Be authentic - Tell your own story, your way, honestly. If you have conviction and believe your own words, you can discuss anything and stand firm. You are free. Laugh at yourself - Don’t express humor at someone else’s expense. Don’t take yourself so seriously or try to justify yourself by putting others down. Laugh at yourself first. Get busy - Get out there; get involved in something bigger than yourself. Volunteer. Don’t waste time - Laugh when you have the opportunity. Look for those openings and seize the day.

Estelle RodisBrown is NEO Boomer magazine’s associate editor.

January/February 2024 | NortheastOhioBoomer.com

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22 Thrive After 55

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