Pittsburgh 55+ Magazine - Fall 2020 Issue

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Fall 2020

Scott Lammie

Emma Lucas-Darby

Richard Morycz, PhD

Senior Vice President, Business Development and Board Treasurer, UPMC Insurance Services Division

Board Chair, Hill House Association and program transition partners

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Social Work

Creating a Better Life for Seniors

Presented by Also in this Issue...

Avoid Brain Decline | Step Back into 2000 Medicare Advantage Plans | Virtual Programs for Seniors

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

Welcome to the Fall Issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazine!

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all is upon us! Not only have we experienced a very different summer, but it was also one of the warmest in history.

I think fall will be a nice and welcomed weather break, and I am looking forward to crisp fall nights.

This year Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine is proud to partner with UPMC Senior Communities once again as they present the 12th Annual Celebrating Senior Champions. This year’s event will be a little different than in the past due to COVID-19, and the special event will be celebrated online.

Be sure to read more about this year’s event and the wonderful 2020 Senior Champions that have been Creating a Better Life for Seniors!

This issue’s Look Back at 2000, will have you either scratching your head or saying, “That happened that long ago?”, or “Did that not seem like yesterday?” Enjoy reading all the special happenings and events that happened in the year 2000, and see how many you remember and where you were when it happened.

Pondering Pittsburgh “There is a fountain of youth: takes us down a Pittsburgh It is your mind, your talents,the Steelers’ History Trip. creativity you bring to your life Enjoy reading some of the and the lives of the people you special memories from our love. When you learn to tap very own six-time Super this source, you will truly have Bowl Pittsburgh Steelers defeated age.”

Champions.

Be sure to read this Sophia Loren issue’s special features as well as our regular columns.

Thank you for your support, and together, we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live and retire.

Stay safe and enjoy the fall! n

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P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722

Phone: 724-940-2444 Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com President & Publisher Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor Janice Lane Palko Managing Editor/Public Relations Coordinator Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator Laura Arnold Marketing & Account Executive Mary L. Simpson Design & Production Kostilnik & Assoc. Graphics, Inc.

Laura Arnold

Mary Simpson

Laura@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Mary@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Janice Lane Palko

Paula Green

info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine is published four times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region.

Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year.

The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the people of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest senior publication, Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, health, and recreational needs of seniors in our area.

The contents of Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher.

Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

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Contents 6

Cover Story: 12th Annual Celebrating Senior Champions Dinner and Auction

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Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH Celebrates Life-ChangING Relief Janice Lane Palko

10 Act NOW to Avoid Brain Decline Dr. Joseph Maroon 12 Virtual Programming Opportunities for Older Adults and Their Caregivers UPMC Senior Services 13 Senior Care Profiles 15 Welcome to Your Happy Place Weaver Homes 17 Senior Profile: Dr. Carl A. Flecker, Jr., Dentist and Author Janice Lane Palko 18 How Does a Medicare Advantage Plan Work?

Crystal A. Manning

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20 How Soon Should You Start Rehabilitation?

Richard C. Senelick, M.D.

In Every Issue...

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From the Publisher Marion Piotrowski

14 Remember When: Hard Work Janice Lane Palko 22 The Good Old Days: Step Back Into 2000 Paula Green 24 Pondering Pittsburgh: Tackling a Little Bit of Steelers History Paula Green

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events usually featured in our Happenings have been cancelled. Therefore, we have not published that section in this issue. We will update our website when we learn of activities resuming. Also, it would be advisable to check with any business or organization hosting an event to make sure that it is still scheduled.

CORRECTION: in our summer issue in the 1945 Timeline in the sub-header was listed incorrectly – it said Apollo mission is in peril and College campus shooting in Ohio. It should have read FDR dies in office, Truman becomes president and The Second World War ends. We apologize for the error.

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Fall 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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COVER STORY

Creating a Better Life for Seniors

Presented by The 12th Annual Celebrating Senior Champions Dinner and Auction is going virtual for 2020! We will honor distinguished individuals and organizations for their outstanding accomplishments in creating a better life for seniors with a special online event. Hosted by Master of Ceremonies and Pittsburgh Steelers great Robin Cole, the event is a blend of favorite elements from previous celebrations and new features suited to the virtual experience, including tributes to the honorees, a loaded Silent Auction, a Split the Cash Raffle, a prize drawing for ticket holders, and commemorative swag bags for all ticket holders.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 7 p.m. and join the celebration!

The virtual experience creates the opportunity for anyone to participate in the outstanding Silent Auction, which is a highlight of the annual event.

Bidding opens September 22, 2020 and remains open until October 23, 2020. Visit 2020CSC.givesmart.com to participate.

Our honorees Scott Lammie, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Board Treasurer, UPMC Insurance Services Division, will receive the Grand Champion Award. The UPMC Senior Services Grand Champion Award is the highest honor given and is presented annually to an individual who has provided unparalleled leadership in improving the lives of seniors. Scott has worked in the

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Fall 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Master of Ceremonies and Pittsburgh Steelers great Robin Cole

healthcare field for more than 30 years and knows the impact a community can have on its people.

He is not a spectator of life in Greater Pittsburgh; he’s an active participant in making our region a better place for all. Well known for his strong leadership and dedication to community service, Scott has made a lasting mark on the Pittsburgh region through the numerous volunteer boards and committees that he serves.

Paul Winkler, President and CEO of Presbyterian SeniorCare and himself a past Grand Champion, explains, “In recent years, there’s been an epiphany around social determinants of health – the psychosocial and socioeconomic factorss that impact health status. Scott was doing things for seniors related to affordable housing, nutrition, and technology – all social determinants of health – long before there was a name for it, all in the interest of enhancing quality of life.”

Scott Lammie

Emma Lucas-Darby

Richard Morycz, PhD

Senior Vice President, Business Development and Board Treasurer, UPMC Insurance Services Division

Board Chair, Hill House Association and program transition partners

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Social Work

The UPMC Senior Services Community Champion Award, which is given annually to recognize exceptional organizational leadership to improve the lives of seniors, goes to Hill House Association and program transition partners. Emma LucasDarby, Board Chair for Hill House Association, will accept the award on behalf of the group. Under Emma’s leadership and collaboration with community organizations, the Hill House Association and program transition partners have successfully allowed the continued growth of many services provided to seniors in the Hill District. The impact of the group’s efforts to make the community a better place for seniors is exceptional.

Says William Generett, Jr., JD, Vice President for Community Engagement at Duquesne University, “The Hill House was definitely instrumental in the life and vitality of seniors in providing a wide array of services. The work that Dr. Darby and others did to make sure that those services are continued through partners like Macedonia Family and Community Enrichment Center, ACH Clear Pathways, and the Neighborhood Resilience Project is critical to the well-being of older adults and to the community as a whole.”

Richard Morycz, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Social Work, has been named the 2020 Caregiver Champion. The UPMC Senior Services Caregiver Champion Award recognizes an extraordinary individual who champions for the well-being of seniors through innovative efforts to influence care, including support of caregivers. Dr. Morycz’s outstanding contributions and ongoing work

in the field of gerontology have bettered the lives of countless seniors and caregivers in Pittsburgh and beyond. His untiring efforts have made western Pennsylvania a much better place to age.

Dr. Morycz is one of the co-founders of the Benedum Geriatric Center, a large geriatric ambulatory assessment and treatment clinic. This program started in 1983 and continues to provide excellent inter-disciplinary care to older persons throughout our region. According to Eric Rodriguez, MD, MPH, Geriatrics Medical Consultant at Benedum Geriatric Center, “Dr. Morycz is one of the guiding spirits of Benedum Geriatric Center. Before Benedum was a place, it was an idea, and a big part of that idea was in Dr. Morycz’ head.”

All proceeds from this annual fundraising event help to sustain the UPMC Senior Communities Benevolent Care Fund. The event has presented more than $1.5 million in net proceeds to further charitable care throughout UPMC Senior Communities since 2009.

Tickets on Sale Now! $175 Per Virtual Ticket $1,700 Per Virtual Table of 10 To reserve your ticket, contact Debra Panei, Director of Development for UPMC Senior Services, at 412-864-3524 or PaneiD@upmc.edu, or visit 2020CSC.givesmart.com. www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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55+ FEATURE

Ray B.

Cindy P.

Walt W.

Cutting-edge, clinically proven and most effective technology that has maximized results for 5000+ patients over seven years.

Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH Celebrates Life-ChangING Relief Helped over 5000 Peripheral Neuropathy sufferers since 2013

By Janice Lane Palko

If you’ve heard or read anything about Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH, you know that for Dr. Shawn Richey and his staff, that it’s all about helping you to reclaim your “ING”—dancing, biking, hiking—but sometimes the simpler “INGs” are the ones that make all the difference in a person’s life who is suffering from peripheral neuropathy.

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pproximately 30 million Americans suffer from peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms of painful cramping, burning and tingling, difficulty walking, numbness and even interruption of sleep. Since 2013, Dr. Richey’s program has had a 90% satisfaction rate, and he has seen thousands of patients suffering with peripheral neuropathy who have tried everything including potentially harmful medications and other painful testing and treatments.

This can leave patients still struggling and wandering down the long road of endless disappointment. Now

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patients have hope and are able to have the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy addressed with a successful, non-invasive, painless, drug-free approach that includes the use of light therapy to stimulate tissue repair.

Many of those who received relief from those treatments gathered recently and shared their experiences.

Each year Dr. Richey hosts a celebration lunch for his patients getting their life back. This year’s event was held on February 13, at Bravo restaurant in Cranberry Twp., and the words “life-changing” were often used

Fall 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

to describe what the treatments have meant to those patients.

VINCE M., McCandless, had back surgery two years ago, but he was left with burning feet and legs. He tried physical therapy to no avail. When someone suggested seeking help at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH, he thought why not give it a shot? “It took a while to see improvement, but now I’m 90-100% better.

It was life-changing for me. In fact, as I was thinking about coming here today, I realized, at that moment, I had no pain at all!”

“The best part,” said Grace, his

Vince M.

Linda R.

Rob S.

Sewickley/Wexford • Latrobe • Washington • (724) 940-9000 wife, “is that he enjoys going there.”

CINDY P., Beaver County, also had back issues. Fourteen years ago, she had back fusion surgery. The surgery was a success, but she was left with numbness in her feet, cramping, pain, burning and a shocking feeling. “I was told there was nothing that could be done about it. The worst of it was the anxiety attacks centered around sleep. Most time sleep is a relief for pain, but my pain was worse at night.” Cindy started treatment at Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH in November 2019 and has already seen vast improvement. “The shocking feeling is gone as is the cramping, and the numbness is almost gone. It’s amazing. It’s been a miracle,” said Cindy who crocheted, read or scanned her phone while being treated. “I’m going to miss going to treatments when I’m done; it’s been such a great experience.”

Sometimes neuropathy comes out of nowhere. LINDA R., Cranberry Twp., began to experience numbness and a cramping feel in her toes.

“Then I had coldness and red striations appear across my toes. My family physician checked me for diabetes, but I was fine,” said Linda. Someone suggested that she consult with Dr. Shawn. “I started treatment in November 2019 and already I’m 60% better. Before when I was driving, I was having difficulty feeling my feet, and that’s frightening. Now, I’m getting relief and resting so much better.”

Like Linda, ROB S’s pain came out of nowhere. “Idiopathic is what they call it,” said Rob, of Wexford, who experienced excruciating pain, a feeling of scraping on the tops of his feet.

“I’m a designer and the pain began to affect my hands as well.” He learned about Dr. Shawn at a Neuropathy Support Group in Irwin. “My relief varies from 60-90% better, but the best part is I’m now getting new clients. I can work again. I also have been able to golf and grip my clubs without any pain.”

“I had been praying for relief,” said RAY B., Gibsonia, who has Type 2 diabetes resulting in neuropathy.

“I heard Dr. Shawn on the radio and gave him a call.” Ray had numbness in his feet and as a result had trouble keeping his balance. “After the first treatment, I felt a difference. Now, I’m 95-98% better.”

WALT W., Glenshaw, sought treatment at Neuropathy Treatment Centers after surgery because the post-op drugs were bothering his legs. “It was uncomfortable walking, and after the first visit, I felt improvement, but what really impressed me is that the center is like a family. We all encourage each other.“ Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body. Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur. A specialized treatment protocol utilizing brand new technologies is available at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH. It includes the combination of very specific, non-invasive, FDAapproved and painless treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms of

peripheral neuropathy.

“It’s a blessing to see people come in having difficulty walking and in pain, and then to see them here smiling and doing so much better,” said Dr. Shawn.

Dr. Richey has helped thousands of sufferers of peripheral neuropathy throughout the region, and he has expanded his practice to include Latrobe, Washington and Sewickley/ Wexford. Locations of Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH offices are: • Sewickley/Wexford 2591 Wexford-Bayne Road, Suite 207 Sewickley, PA 15143 • Latrobe 1901 Ligonier Street Latrobe, PA 15650 • Washington with Dr. Michael Scarton 1385 Washington Road, #100 Washington, PA 15301 If you are suffering with peripheral neuropathy, why not give Dr. Richey a call for a free consultation? Who knows? Maybe next year you could be at Dr. Richey’s luncheon extolling the “ING” you got back in life—lifechanging pain relief! n

Call for your FREE in-office or phone consultation to begin your path to recovery. Call Dr. Shawn Richey at 724-940-9000 to schedule your time.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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YOUR HEALTH

Act NOW to Avoid Brain Decline

By Joseph C. Maroon, MD. FACS

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lzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related dementia are associated with progressive impairment of cognitive function. With more than 50 million Americans ages 65 and older, both present a significant health challenge for our nation. The majority of those over 65 with Alzheimer’s disease have no known genetic cause. There is a link, however, between having a specific gene and the protein called apolipoprotein-4 (ApoE4) that increases the risk of developing late-onset AD by a factor of 2 to 3. Fortunately, this can be assessed before AD may or may not occur.

No Drug Treatments for AD – What YOU can do to Help!

Presently, there are no effective drug therapies to prevent or significantly treat these diseases of the aging brain. Lifestyle factors are the most proven method for brain preservation as we age, even for those with an APOE4 allele or even without a genetic risk. I am convinced, that the brain’s neuroplasticity, the ability of nerve cells in the brain to adapt and change over time, can help maintain and even enhance our cognitive function at almost any age.

List of Brain Decline Risk Factors you can Change: • Untreated depression • Poorly controlled diabetes

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• Head injuries • High alcohol consumption • Poorly controlled high blood pressure • High cholesterol • Excessive air pollution • Lack of mental stimulation • Obesity and lack of physical activity • Poor diet • Smoking • Social isolation

How to Boost your Brain Try a Mediterranean diet that emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, along with healthy proteins and fats such as fish and olive oil.

Minimize refined sugars and processed foods. Exercise is the most effective way to increase brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This growth factor is like “Miracle Gro” for the brain. BDNF increases the formation of new brain cells and contributes to neuroplasticity.

Daily physical exercise increases brain blood flow and over time increases the size of the hippocampus, the brain region that forms and solidifies memories. Actively work to reduce stress. Chronic stress is neurotoxic— it destroys brain cells. Try daily meditation, prayer, yoga, or other methods to control stress. Get enough rest.

Adequate rest and sleep are essential for keeping the brain sharp. Sleep

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allows the brain to clear out cellular waste and organize memories. A good night’s sleep lowers brain inflammation, enhances the production of hormones in the brain and improves mental focus.

Set a regular bedtime, avoid using a computer or watching TV just before going to bed and use guided meditations to help you fall asleep.

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, socialization by being outdoors, connecting by phone or other electronic means is critical to reducing stress and keeping your brain engaged.

There is strong evidence that consistent relationships with family and friends pave the way for a more resilient brain. Finally, it is well recognized that excessive toxins like alcohol, smoking, pollution and various types of mood-altering drugs, can have deleterious effects on brain function. The point is you have the power to make a difference in your brain health. Use it or lose it! n Joseph C. Maroon, MD is a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon, Nutritional and Sports Medicine Expert. Dr. Maroon has written and lectured extensively on brain health and healthy life choices. As a competitive Ironman triathlete, Dr. Maroon practices what he preaches and is committed to the promoting healthy choices to his patients and readers.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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YOUR HEALTH

Virtual Programming Opportunities for Older Adults and Their Caregivers UPMC Senior Services

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ave you been exploring the web more than ever lately?

Are you new to computers or already familiar? With social and physical distancing mandates and concerns in place, the exploration for activities or programs has turned towards what is available virtually. Even for individuals who use computers and other technology every day, people may not be aware of current, emerging resources.

Education is another activity that people of all ages are increasingly participating in through online tools. While we are familiar with the online process for paying bills, ordering household goods and supplies, and more recently receiving healthcare services, older adults and their caregivers may not have used technology for live and virtual education previously.

This past May, UPMC Senior Services started to organize and produce webinars. Webinars are organized on topics identified by the community’s feedback and interest. The first webinar was on the topic of resilience. We find ourselves in challenging times brought on the by the COVID-19 pandemic,

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and it is important for each person to find their strength and replenishment.

This topic found its way into several other programs, too, including a webinar called “Finding Meaning and Well-being with Late-life Adaption.”

It is no secret that older adults go through many shifts in life, but a focal point of this discussion was how individuals adapt to change. While there is no single answer, we explored positive coping strategies, support systems and continued engagement or education.

UPMC Senior Services’ legal and financial workshop has been an extremely popular program in the past. This program was brought back in a virtual format for the first time. The topics included estate and long-term care planning, trusts and other financial tools. Individuals had a chance to listen live to an elder law attorney and a financial planner and ask some of their own questions.

A vital component of UPMC Senior Services is the ability to connect with individuals. The goal is to be an avenue where individuals can connect with others to receive both education and support. Our four-week long INSPIRE program (Inspiring New Solutions and Providing Individualized Resources and Education) had its virtual debut in June (and will be offered again this winter- please contact us if interested!) This program is designed to help family caregivers who are facing a variety of challenges in caring for their aging loved ones in the home setting. Caregivers can learn with one another and share best practices and discuss struggles in a supportive forum.

Similarly, our Help and Referral Line is a service through which individuals can connect with a healthcare professional to discuss and find support in navigating community resources.

UPMC Senior Services has a new website too. Individuals can review information on a variety of helpful topics including advance care planning, senior living options (including homebased care services) and social and emotional support. Specific for caregivers, information can be found on support groups throughout the state. Additionally, if a caregiver has concerns about a loved one wandering away from home, the wandering information sheet could be important to complete now. Should a loved one wander away, this sheet can be given to authorities to provide personal identifying information in a timely fashion at the onset of the search.

If you are interested in learning about future virtual programs, please contact UPMC Senior Services. If you have questions about community resources, please reach out to us! Our phone number is 866-430-8742, our e-mail is UPMCSeniorServices@UPMC.edu, and our website is UPMC. com/services/seniors. Join our Facebook group for the most current happenings at UPMC Senior Services and for more resources related to successful aging and caregiver support. You’ll find us here: Facebook.com/Groups/UPMCSeniorServices. n

Senior Care Profiles UPMC Senior Communities Make the most of what life has to offer by making one of UPMC Senior Communities your new home.

Choose from a variety of locations around greater Pittsburgh that keep you close to your family, friends, church and shopping preferences. Feel safe and secure in an environment that surrounds you with all the support you need to continue living your senior years to the fullest. Let go of snow shoveling, grass mowing, home maintenance, cleaning and even transportation and cooking if you prefer. Choose from a complete schedule of engaging social and spiritual activities with many new friends. At UPMC Senior Communities, we offer all this and more at reasonable pricing options that enable you to take full advantage of this lifestyle. By offering a variety of facility styles, levels of care and payment options, UPMC Senior Communities can accommodate your preferences. Knowing what is right for you is based on knowing what you need to live life well, regardless of the level of support you require.

Perhaps you are looking to enrich your life with more social activities and interactions, or to move to an environment that enables you to be free of daily obligations, such as home maintenance. You may need some assistance with managing your health and wellness, or you may require more medical help due to more significant health issues. Offering options in independent living, personal care and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing and rehabilitation, this spectrum of living styles is designed to accommodate your needs and provide you with the fullest lifestyle possible. UPMC Senior Communities is proud to be part of UPMC – one of the most innovative and patient-centered health systems in the country. That affiliation brings valuable benefits to our residents and staff. As members of the larger UPMC family, our residents benefit from the opportunities and resources that can only be found in a world-class health system. For more information and to schedule a tour, visit UPMCSeniorCommunities.com or call 1-800-324-5523.

St. Barnabas Communities It’s always the perfect time to enjoy retirement living at St. Barnabas. The beautifully landscaped campuses provide a peaceful space to relax and enjoy Mother Nature. Our residents stroll walking trails with their dog, play bocce with friends, fish at our private pond, golf on one of our two 18-hole golf courses or join neighbors for happy hour on the Crystal Conservatory pool deck. Our indoor mall at The Village includes a bank, gift shop, library, general store, chapel, salon, wine room and three restaurants where residents gather daily for events, entertainment, happy hour and chef-prepared meals. We offer a diverse array of amenities to match your lifestyle and these are just a sampling of the St. Barnabas retirement experience exclusive to our residents. Call 724-443-0700 to find out how you can start enjoying your retirement! www.stbarnabascommunities.org.

Envisiage If you envision a future of living independently in the home you love without being a burden to your family and friends, Envisage may be right for you.

Envisage is a long-term planning solution for adults age 60+ that lets you anticipate your future care needs and plan for them now.

Envisage can help you: • Stay living independently • Age securely in the place you call home • Focus on your health and wellness • Protect your assets for bigger and better things

• Provide coverage for future l ong-term care needs • Minimize the caregiving burden on your family and friends

To learn more, visit www.Envisage.org

Presbyterian Senior Care Network Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is a not-for-profit that’s been focused for more than 90 years on making aging easier®. As the region’s largest aging services provider, we have created a network of interconnected living, service and care options to meet the needs of older adults from all walks of life wherever they are on their life’s journey. Our continuum of care and services includes Independent Living/LifePlan Communities, Service-Enriched Low-Income Housing, In-Home Programs, Personal Care Communities, Skilled Nursing and Short-Term Rehabilitation Care Centers, Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care and Adult Day Services. We are privileged to serve 6,500 older adults annually across 10 Western Pennsylvania counties. Every day lives are being enriched and changed positively by our compassionate and well-trained team members and volunteers – people whose calling is to serve others and whose dedication to excellence is consistent with our faith-based mission of improving the lives. Learn more about our living and service options at www.SrCare.org.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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REM EM BER WHEN

Hard Work

By Janice Lane Palko

Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work - Horace

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ince we’ve just celebrated Labor Day, and it is an election year, we’re hearing a lot about “hard-working Americans” and getting contrasting viewpoints about work in America. Some say that the American Dream, working hard and getting ahead, is a delusion, while others believe that, with hard work, you can achieve your goals in life. I’ll leave that debate to others so that I can talk about hard work.

What do you consider to be hard work?

If you asked an older person or if you ever had a conversation with your parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents, their idea of hard work may be quite more laborious or less savory than anything people think of today.

For instance, one of my maternal great-grandfathers Oliver Hughes, who was alive until I was 12 and was born in

September & October Events Thurs., Sept. 17 • 4-8 pm Squirrel Hill Outdoor Pop-up Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill

Fri., Oct. 2 • 7-8:30 pm Toto-Thon Fundraiser, Parents in Toto Virtual

Thurs., Sept. 24 • 4-8 pm Zelienople Open Air Markets Main Street, Zelienople

Wed., Oct. 7 Health Care Consortium Presentation

Fri., Sept. 25 • 12-6 pm Certification event with Dr. Warshel Virtual

Fri.-Sun., Oct. 9-11 Fri. & Sat. 12-9 pm; Sun. 12-6 pm Bloomfield Little Italy Days Bloomfield

Fri., Sept. 25 • 4-8 pm Pop Up Event 100 Adios Drive, Washington

Thurs., Oct. 15 • 4-8 pm Squirrel Hill Outdoor Pop-up Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill

Fri., Sept. 25 Sponsoring the UPMC Family Hospice charity golf outing South Hills Country Club

Fri., Oct. 16 • 4-8 pm Pop Up Event 100 Adios Drive, Washington

Tues., Sept. 29 • 2-8 pm Certification event with Dr. Folgueras Virtual

Thurs., Oct. 22 • 4-8 pm Zelienople Open Air Markets Main Street, Zelienople

Thursday, Sept. 17 • 4-8 pm Squirrel Hill Outdoor Pop-up Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill

Sat., Oct. 24 • 7:30-8:30 pm A Night of CommUNITY Young Adult Survivor United Virtual Event

Thurs., Oct. 1 • 4-8 pm Squirrel Hill Outdoor Pop-up Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill Fri.-Sun., Oct. 2-4 Fri. 5-10 pm; Sat. 12-10 pm; Sun. 12-6 pm Rib and Music Festival Butler Farm Show Grounds Evans City Road, Butler

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Mon., Oct. 26 • 6-9 pm Certification event with Dr. Rothschild Virtual Fri., Oct. 30 • 4-8 pm Awesome Night for Autism Annual Gala Virtual Event

Fall 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

the late 1800s, went to work in the mills at the age of six. His job was to bring water to the millworkers. Can you imagine getting a six-year-old up for work and sending them to a dangerous mill? We fret about sending kids that age to school!

His son, my grandfather, Floyd Hughes, went to work at 14 as an errand boy for Eastman Kodak. My paternal grandfather, Albert Lane, went to work for the P&LE Railroad at a young age because by the time he was sixteen, his parents had both died. A relative told me that my grandfather used to walk from his Manchester home on the North Side to the P&LE terminal across our frozen rivers in the winter to save money. My 93-year-old mother-in-law grew up on a farm in Westmoreland County, and her job was to milk the cows—a job that never gives you a day off.

All those jobs were difficult, dangerous, or demanding. We are blessed now not to have the need for young children to go to work or for us to work under unsafe or hostile conditions.

So, in this day and age, what does it mean to work hard?

I believe hard work means going the extra mile. It means showing up for work early, staying later if needed, and meeting deadlines. It means whatever you are doing, doing it with excellence. For instance, when I worked for Westinghouse back in the 1980s, there was a secretary who answered our department’s phones, but she sat a bay one over from the rest of our department. When she took a message, rather than bringing it over immediately, she would hold on to it until she collected several messages, and then she would bring them over and deliver them to the people in our department. She was too lazy to walk the 10 feet after each message. This resulted in people waiting for important calls or some of the messages between callers and the workers getting crossed, resulting in much confusion and more difficulty.

Unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, most of us have had to pay our dues. We’ve had to swallow our pride, start on the bottom, work our way up, and do things we’d rather not do to achieve our dreams. I know I had to.

When I was in high school, I was given the disgusting task of cleaning the bathroom at the Giant Eagle on McKnight Road.

It was the store where Panera is now, and it was not the nice, gleaming bathrooms that you find in the stores today. This was like a third-world toilet. But I did it. Many of you probably have probably had a similar experience.

Ask your friends what their worst job was, and you will get stories told in great detail, much like women swapping labor and delivery stories.

Though the type of work we do may have changed or improved, hard work is still an essential ingredient for achieving success in life. In essence, hard work boils down to sacrificing yourself now for your future dreams. n

REAL ESTATE

Welcome to Your Happy Place

W

e build luxurious single-level homes that are synonymous with happiness — spaces that are open and filled with natural light, private outdoor living areas that beckon you to linger. Our carefree living homes throughout Butler County promote happier, healthier living… with boutique-size communities where neighbors know neighbors, and open-concept designs allow family and friends to come together and feel right at home.

We want your comfortable, personalized Weaver home to be your sanctuary. With us, you don’t just have the choice of floor plan; you have the ability to edit and expand upon it so it fits your unique style. Our level of personalization ensures your home is in sync with your family, and tailored to your tastes.

In our design studio, First Impressions, our design specialist will walk you through all the options you have to make your home entirely your own. This way, when you step inside for the very first time — and every single time after that — you’ll know you’re right where you were always meant to be.

Welcome to your happy place. Make yourself comfortable. We think you’ll be staying for a while. n

To get started building your dream home visit WeaverHomes.com

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Deb Walton, SRES®

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SENIOR PROFILE

Senior Profile

Dr. Carl A. Flecker, Jr., Dentist and Author

By Janice Lane Palko It’s always intriguing when you come across a person who has disparate interests such as former Steelers great Lynn Swann, who not only was an NFL standout, but was also a ballet dancer, or the late actor Omar Sharif ,who was not only a Hollywood star but also a world-class Bridge player. Dr. Carl A. Flecker, Jr., is not only a dentist but also a writer of detective/thriller fiction.

D

r. Flecker, 78, O’Hara Township, grew up in East Liberty, and is a graduate of Notre Dame University and the University of Pittsburgh school of Dental Medicine as well as the Wecht Institute of Forensic Science at Duquesne University Law School, and he doesn’t see that being a dentist as well as a writer as that unusual.

“Most people think dentistry is a left-brain dominant career, but it’s also creative. When I’m creating dentures for someone, it takes artistry to make teeth that look natural,” said Dr. Flecker, who is the father of seven children.

When he was 46, he began to think about his future, what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He wanted something he could do in retirement. So, he had a little pow wow with himself. “I went to North Park and took a sheet of paper and divided it into two columns. On the left side I jotted down, in one or two words, 10-12 things that I loved, and then I picked out one or two that I was interested in developing. Reading was on that list; I have always been a voracious reader, and I thought why not try writing?”

Initially, he wrote a nonfiction inspirational book, and then he tried his hand at fiction, creating the character Crete Sloan, who Dr. Flecker describes as being an “international mercenary for the good guys.” Sloan is sort of a recluse who is persuaded into fighting for the underdog—finding kidnap victims, bringing justice to victims of rape and murder, and returning stolen property to its rightful owners.

Dr. Flecker said Sloan is modeled after him. “Sloan is me except I’m not a tough guy. I live a relatively Spartan life, and I also need lots of ‘alone time.’” That “alone time” has allowed Dr. Flecker to write six books thus far. All of his novels take their titles from 1950s Doo-wop songs, such as his first novel, My Special Angel.

What keeps Dr. Flecker motivated is the satisfaction he gets from the creative process and from the feedback he gets from his readers, who love his books. Writing enables him to engage his creative side, constructing characters and plots, and his analytical side doing research and revising his drafts.

He works four days a week in his dental office and three days writing. He is at work on his seventh novel.

Dr. Flecker doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I have

an innate drive to work. I have to have something to do. I plan to keep on writing as long as I’m mentally and physically able.

I have pretty good genes in my family, so I hope that’s a long time.”

The Crete Sloan book series is available at amazon.com. n

CALL NOW

to reserve your advertising space for the next issue!

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CONFUSED ABOUT MEDICARE?

55+ FEATURE

How Does a Medicare Advantage Plan Work?

Medicare is confusing – call for a one-to-one, no charge consultation with a Medicare expert!

Remove the FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND COSTLY MISTAKES from the Medicare enrollment process.

By Crystal A. Manning Crystal A. Manning

Medicare Advisor

Call 412-716-4942 or email crystalmanning33@gmail.com 10008 Pine Ridge Drive Wexford, Pa. 15090

If you would prefer an all-in-one benefits package for your Medicare insurance, you may want to consider enrolling in Medicare Advantage (MA).

Many Medicare recipients who get Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) through Original Medicare most likely enroll in a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) and/or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. These plans cover nationwide doctor and hospital networks, with little or no copays. Medicare recipients who prefers to have all their benefits bundled into one package may investigate another option — a Medicare Advantage plan.

M

edicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer Medicare recipients a way to bundle their Original Medicare coverage with a variety of additional benefits. They are required by law to include at least the same Part A and Part B benefits as Original Medicare, but additional coverage may include routine vision or dental services, hearing exams, fitness club memberships, or more.

Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D prescription drug coverage as a way of offering a more comprehensive option to interested recipients. You will find that most Medicare Advantage insurers offer a variety of options with varying price points in monthly premiums

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Fall 2020 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

MULTI-DAY TOURS

and deductibles so they can appeal to the broadest range of needs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unlike Original Medicare, MA plans have an annual outof-pocket maximum limit, but these limits may vary based on the plan you choose.

Monthly premiums for MA plans are separate from the Part B premium or, if you do not qualify for premium-free coverage, the Part A premium.

Typically speaking, you can expect more benefits and fewer cost-sharing obligations with plans that have higher monthly premiums. When comparing plans each year make sure that the copay, deductibles and maximum out of pocket (MOOP) still fit your needs.

Usually the MOOP goes up each year, but the specifics are unknown until new plan information comes out.

Can I Switch Medicare Plans?

If you decide that you would like to switch Medicare plans, you have a few options available to you. When switching plans, you will need to aware of the different enrollment periods and which ones allow you to change your existing coverage.

What Enrollment Periods Occur Throughout the Year?

From October 15 to December 7 each year is the Annual Election Period.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period This open enrollment period applies to recipients who are currently using a Medicare Advantage plan. This period lasts from January 1 to March 31 each year, and during this time, you can make one change to your healthcare coverage.

Keep in mind, you are only able to make a single change to your coverage.

Enrolling in a New Medicare Plan If you decide that you would like to switch plans during an enrollment period, the process is quite simple. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage and are simply switching to another Advantage plan, all you need to do is enroll in the new plan, and you will be automatically disenrolled from your previous plan. However, if you are ceasing to use Medicare Advantage, you will need to notify your plan in writing to be disenrolled.

When it comes to health insurance, there are lots of terms that get thrown around and many unknowns. However, not all of them are a simple as they seem. Contact Crystal Manning Licensed Medicare Advisor at 412-716-4942 or email crystalmanning33@ gmail.com for a no charge consultation or with your questions or concerns. n

(All multi-day tours are priced per person, double occupancy)

Queen Esther in Lancaster Plus

Oct 16-17................................................................$445

Ark Encounter & Creation Museum

Oct 21-22................................................................$375

Christmas at the Biltmore

Nov 9-12.................................................................$885

Newport’s Gilded Age Christmas

Nov 30-Dec 4..........................................................$879

Cape May Sugarplum Memories

Dec 2-4...................................................................$633

Williamsburg at Christmas

Dec 4-7...................................................................$675

Tara-A Country Inn Christmas

Dec 6-7...................................................................$208

CASINO TOURS Seneca Niagara 1 Day

Oct 5.........................................................................$74

Hard Rock Casino Atlantic City

Oct 18-22................................................................$567

Resorts Casino Atlantic City

Nov 15-18...............................................................$321

ONE-DAY TOURS Queen Esther Lancaster

Oct 10.....................................................................$267

Fall Fun in the Laurel Highlands

Oct 15.....................................................................$116

Goblin’ Up the Music

Oct 28.....................................................................$142

Castle Noel Christmas

Nov 7.......................................................................$150

Christmas Treats in Amish Country

Nov 14.....................................................................$140

Holly Jolly Showtime

Nov 14.....................................................................$135

The New Amish Country Theater

Dec 1......................................................................$143

The Spirit of Christmas

Dec 2......................................................................$109

Dazzling Diamond Christmas

Dec 5......................................................................$115

Have a Merry Ligonier Christmas

Dec 10....................................................................$105

Amish Christmas Tea

Dec 12....................................................................$145

MOTORCOACH-TO-CRUISE PIER 12 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise

Feb 6-18.............................................Starting at $1,357

8 Night SE Coast & Bahamas Cruise

Mar 18-26...........................................Starting at $1,166 *Includes port charges, taxes, fees, & shipboard gratuities!

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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55+ FEATURE

How Soon Should You Start Rehabilitation?

Published on April 23, 2020 at https://blog.encompasshealth.com

By Richard C. Senelick, M.D.

You or your loved one just had a stroke and you want to know how soon you should start rehabilitation. Is it possible you could cause more damage if you start too early? Here are the facts. For practical purposes, you can’t start too early.

There are some animal and human studies that suggest that the first 24-48 hours after a stroke may be too early, but the reality is that most patients are either too sick or have too much going on to participate in exercise and rehabilitation at that time. After that point, it is time to get things going.

I

n an ideal world we would start rehabilitation in the intensive care unit. It’s important for acute care hospitals to realize this and have physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy see the patient in the ICU. Some progressive hospitals will walk patients who are still on a ventilator.

What can you do in an intensive care unit or shortly after a stroke? You can start with simple things like range of motion exercises, but there are many other things that can start at the bedside. Learning to sit on the edge of the bed, regaining postural control, positioning and weight bearing of the affected upper extremity are all things that can start immediately. People frequently wait to involve speech therapy, but they too should be part of the initial rehabilitation team. We need to start with a cognitive evaluation. Is Mr. Smith different than he was before his stroke? We want to evaluate speech and swallowing to determine if he is safe to start eating? The speech therapist can start to work on paying attention, following directions and finding objects in a visual field. Many patients can get out of bed, stand and walk with an assistive device while they are still in the ICU. Several years ago, I had a personal experience with my wife as a patient in an ICU for a prolonged period.

Her intensivist was very progressive and believed in the therapeutic value of sunshine and fresh air. As she was improving, but still in the ICU, we went outside one-on-one with a nurse and a physical therapist to their garden to perform therapy. After a month in the ICU, the combination of sun, crisp clean air plus therapy was terrific.

There’s a lot you can do and the sooner the better. Patients who start rehab early have better outcomes and will reach a higher functional level. You don’t have to wait to go to the rehabilitation hospital to get a head start. n Richard C. Senelick, M.D. is a neurologist, author, speaker and teacher. As the Editor in Chief of Encompass Health Press, the publishing arm of one of the nation’s largest hospital systems and the author of more than 15 nonfiction books, Dr. Senelick is one of the leading experts on neurorehabilitation.

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www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Fall 2020

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THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Step Back Into...

Y2K passes without any serious problems The presidential election was the one of the closest in U.S. history.

By Paula Green

A

rare century leap year date occurs. Usually, 00 years are not leap years due to not being exactly divisible by 400. 2000 is the first such year to have a February 29 since the year 1600, making it only the second such occasion since leap years were introduced in the late 16th century.

Average The average income was $40,343. Cost of a new home $134,150. The average cost of a new car $24,750.

Gasoline was $1.26 per gallon. A pound of bacon was $2.97. A gallon of milk was $2.78. A loaf of bread cost $1.72. A dozen eggs was 89 cents. The price of a first-class stamp was 33 cents. A movie ticket cost $5.39.

Firsts Colin Powell was the first African American appointed as the U.S. Secretary of State.

2000 was the first year Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all 50 states.

The first camera phone officially became available.

The first USB flash drive was sold in the United States by IBM. Major mobile carriers and manufacturers began incorporating Bluetooth into their products.

U.S. events California suffers the first of two years of rolling blackouts.

America Online and Time Warner combine.

Microsoft releases Windows 2000.

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On Feb. 12, Charles Schulz, the cartoonist who created the “Peanuts” comic strip, dies in his sleep after a battle with colon cancer.

Parents, Mission Impossible II, The Nutty Professor II, The Patriot, The Perfect Storm, Remember the Titans, Scary Movie, What Lies Beneath and X-Men.

The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, leaves his position as CEO.

Television

Angelina Jolie marries Billy Bob Thornton on May 5.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston wed on July 29.

World News Pope John Paul II visits Israel and prays for forgiveness for the sins of those involved in the Holocaust.

Concorde Air France Flight 4590 crashes just after takeoff from Paris killing 109 aboard and five on the ground.

Mad Cow disease causes alarm in Europe.

A destructive computer virus ILOVEYOU spread by email shuts down computers worldwide.

Entertainment Popular films – Best in Show, Big Momma’s House, Cast Away, Charlie’s Angels, Chicken Run, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Dinosaur, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator, Highlander, Endgame, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Klumps, Meet the

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Popular shows – Ally McBeal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ER, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, Law & Order, Malcolm in the Middle, Monday Night Football, Law & Order, The Sopranos, SpongeBob Square Pants, Survivor, The West Wing, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and The X-Files.

Songs Billboard Hits – Breathe, Smooth, Maria Maria, I Wanna Know, Everything You Want, Say My Name, I Knew I Loved You, Amazed, He Wasn’t Man Enough, Higher, Try Again, Jumpin Jumpin, Thong Song, Kryptonite, There You Go, Music, Doesn’t Really Matter, Back at One and Bye Bye Bye.

Publishing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is released. Other popular books – The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big

Difference, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Girl with a Pearl Earring, A Storm of Swords and Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Sports Super Bowl Champs: St. Louis Rams, World Series Champions: The New York Yankees, Stanley Cup Champs: New Jersey Devils, NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers. Tiger Woods becomes the youngest player to win a Grand Slam in Golf. The Summer Olympics are held in Sydney Australia.

Politics George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by five electoral votes but lost by .5 percent of the popular vote. The recount! The 2000 matchup was narrowly won

by Bush after a controversy over Florida’s electoral votes spawned a recount in the state introducing the term “hanging chad.” Gore received 543,816 more votes than Bush but lost on the electoral map.

Quotes: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

– Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) ~ Gladiator “We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about.”

– Sherri Ann Cabot (Jennifer Coolidge) ~ Best in Show Sources: http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/2000.html, https://anitome. com/2016/05/08/year-2000-baby-bookjournal-filler/, entrepreneur.com, https:// https://www.quotegarden.com/election-2000.html, https://www.thrillist.com/ entertainment/nation/best-movie-quotes, https://www.infoplease.com/year/2000, https://www.shmoop.com/quotes/whatwe-do-in-life-echoes-in-eternity.html, wiki/ Billboard_Year_End_Hot_100_singles_ of_2000, www.goodread.com/book/popular_by_date/2000

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PONDERING PITTSBURGH

Tackling a Little Bit of Steelers’ History

By Paula Green

The Pittsburgh Steelers were founded on July 8, 1933,

by Arthur J. Rooney. The team’s original name was the Pirates, after the city’s baseball team. Back then, it was a common practice for the NFL and MLB to share titles.

Interestingly, the Pirates was not the only name that the team was given.

H

ere we go, Steagles! Here we go! This strange chant sounds familiar, but we’re used to cheering for the Steelers.

For one short year in 1943-1944, the team was known as the Steagles.

During this season, the cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia had a shortage of players because many of the NFL players were fighting in World War II. As a result of the shortfall, The Steelers and Eagles were forced to merge in order for both teams to survive.

Throughout that season, the

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team was known as the Eagles, Eagles-Steelers, or the SteelersEagles. The NFL never registered “Steagle” as a trademark; however, the official NFL record book refers to the team as “Phil-Pitt.”

This battling Pennsylvania team finished with a 5-4-1 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. They ranked third in the NFL Eastern Conference. The Steagles’ 1943 season was the first winning season in the history of the Philadelphia franchise and the second in the Pittsburgh franchise’s history.

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The following NFL season, 194445, the Steelers were merged with the Chicago Cardinals. They finished their season with a pathetic record. Card-Pitt went 0–10 the Western Division, which led sportswriters to derisively label the team the “Car-Pitts,” or “carpets.”

Besides name changes, the Steelers went through a transition with regards to women – specifically cheerleaders. Currently, out of the 32 NFL teams, six of those don’t have cheerleaders. These teams include the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers did, at one time, have cheerleaders. They were among the first teams to have cheerleaders in the 1960s. The Steelerettes were formed in 1961. They disbanded in 1969, and the team has never started another squad.

So far, we have taken a brief look at events from the Steelers’ yesteryear. One item that is still thriving, and most likely will never go away, is the beloved “terrible towel.”

This staple in “Steelers Country” is entertaining because many folks

believe if you desecrate it, you will be cursed.

The terrible towel was the brainchild of sports broadcaster Myron Cope, who was often referred to as “the voice of the Steelers.” The idea of the yellow towel embossed with black writing was a gimmick Cope created to excite the fans during a 1975 playoff football game between the Steelers and the then Baltimore Colts.

The curse started back in 2008 when Tennessee Titans running back LenDale White and Keith Bullock disrespected the towel after beating the Steelers. They ended up losing their next games, including the playoff one. Their misfortune carried into the next season when they started 0-6. Several other teams have disparaged the towel, and they have all faced bad luck as a result.

In 1996, Cope gave the rights of the terrible towel to the Allegheny

Valley School in Coraopolis. The school cares for people with mental retardation and physical disabilities. Cope’s son, Danny, is a resident of the school. On April 1, 2018, AVS went through a name change; it is now called Merakey Allegheny Valley School. Over the past 24 years, the terrible towel has helped raised millions of dollars for this special needs school. n Sources: https://howtheyplay.com/teamsports/STEAGLES-The-1943-NFL-Team-thatcombined-players-from-the-Pittsburgh-Steelersand-Philadelphia-Eagles, https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Card-Pitt, https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Phil-Pitt_ Steagles, https://americanfootballdatabase. fandom.com/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers, https://www.sportscasting.com/the-chillyreason-why-6-nfl-teams-dont-have-cheerleaders/, http://www.brooklineconnection.com/ history/Facts/Steelerettes.html, https:// www.liveabout.com/origin-of-the-terribletowel-2708461

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