Milestones Newspaper May 2024

WHAT IS PCA?

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is the Area Agency on Aging for Philadelphia County and is dedicated to serving Philadelphia’s older adults and adults with disabilities. PCA publishes Milestones and offers:

• Care in the home

• Home-delivered meals

• Home repairs and modifications

• Protective services

• Senior centers

• Caregiver support

• Employment and volunteer programs

• Legal services

• Transportation

• Ombudsman services

• Health education

• Information and referral

Call 24/7 to report suspected elder abuse. PCA Helpline: 215-765-9040

Outside Philadelphia toll-free: 888-215-765-9041 (TDD) pcaCares.org

Published by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA President and CEO

PCA Board of Directors 2023-24

Glenn D. Bryan, Chair

Louis G. Colbert, Vice Chair

Eloise Young, Treasurer

Lynn Fields Harris, Secretary

Satya B. Verma, O.D., Immediate Past Chair

Denise Adamucci

Louis A. Bove, Esq.

Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Esq.

Wilmarie Gonzalez

Sandra McNally

Paul Nathanson

Norma D. Thomas, D.S.W.

John Whitman

Jacqueline S. Zinn, Ph.D.

Emeritus: Arthur E. Helfand, D.P.M.

Milestones is published monthly and distributed at more than 1,100 locations throughout Philadelphia.

Check us out online: pcaCares.org/Milestones

Editor: Alicia M. Colombo 215-765-9000, ext. 5081 PCA, 642 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 Email: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org

Advertising: Teresa Heavens 215-765-9000, ext. 5053 Email: Teresa.Heavens@pcaCares.org

Subscriptions & Distributions: Home delivery: $12/year

Celebrate Older Americans Month: Powered by connection

By Najja R. Orr, MBA, DBA PCA President & CEO

Every May since 1963, our nation has celebrated Older Americans Month as a time to recognize the significant contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adult community.

The theme for Older Americans Month 2024 is “Powered by Connection.” According to the Administration for Community Living, this theme “focuses on the profound impact that meaningful connections have on the well-being and health of older adults — a relationship underscored by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.”

The views expressed in Milestones are not necessarily those of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). Milestones will not knowingly accept or publish fraudulent or misleading advertising. Milestones reserves the right to edit, revise or reject ads. Milestones assumes no responsibility for errors, misprints, omissions or misinformation; for failure to publish an ad; or for any damages of any kind. Neither the publisher nor any other party is rendering expert advice in this publication. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced without the permission of PCA. ©2024 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. All rights reserved.

By connecting with the older adults or elders in your lives, you can learn about your family history and what life was like in a previous time period. You can record and share the rich stories that should continue to be passed down from generation to generation. I vividly recall remarkable life experiences that my grandmother and un-

cle used to share with me, including stories related to my uncle being the first African American to integrate one of the schools in our hometown. Their life experiences not only shaped their individual lives, but also helped chart the course for our entire family. Conversely, you can connect with younger generations, such as grandchildren, nieces or nephews, and other young people in your lives, to share your own experiences and learn about new trends or technology. The familial information that is garnered from such intergenerational discussions can then be used for genealogy research to study family history and trace lineage. By further sharing this information with other family members, you can build a record of your ancestry and trace the evolution of your genetic line and ethnic descent.

Keeping these conversations going yearround and documenting the stories told is a great way to preserve your own personal legacy for future generations. There is great power in the wisdom that we share with others.

The arts spark ageless creativity, self-discovery

By Bill Conallen

With a resounding message that creating art is ageless, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA’s) 22nd annual Celebrate Arts & Aging month-long festival in May, empowers older adults to explore their artistic talents. The program has garnered widespread acclaim for fostering lifelong creative expression.

Among the program’s newest artists is Romera Stazzi, who visits the Marconi Senior Center and is a South Philadelphia resident, aged 94. Despite his advanced years, Stazzi embraced his newfound passion for art with unwavering enthusiasm. He had never imagined that he would submit his art for display before and expressed

orful flowers and foliage adorning the front yard. (pictured)

“Art is something that I have had the joy of sharing with my family, friends and everyone at the Marconi Center as a means of communicating my passions with others,” Stazzi said. “As someone who believes in keeping active and engaged every day, my art is a terrific outlet for me to express my artistic side with a community of inspiring older adults who I may not have otherwise ever crossed paths with.”

In recognition of Older Americans Month in May, Celebrate Arts & Aging showcases exhibits of artwork created by older adults. Creating art is an ageless activity that enhances the quality of life for older adults by providing an outlet for self-expression, stress reduction and relaxation. PCA’s long-time commitment to artsbased programming is supported by research, which has shown that artistic activities can boost cognitive functioning, reduce loneliness and social isolation, and promote overall well-being.

his joy at discovering his creative side late in life.

“Art has given me a sense of purpose and joy in my golden years. I may be 94, but I feel like a young artist discovering the world a new and forging new connections in the process,” Stazzi remarked, highlighting the program’s ability to ignite creativity and community at any stage of life for older Philadelphians. “It has truly taught me that it is never too late to roll up your sleeves and put your imagination on display.”

His latest work, “Ode to the English Cottage,” is a stunning painting that captures the essence of a classic English architecture. The painting features a rustic two-story, eclectic-style house, with col-

Macdonald’s submission, “Twisting Monotype,” uses an artistic method where a unique print is made by applying paint or printing ink to a flat sheet of metal, glass or plastic. The painted image is transferred to paper either by manually rubbing or using a press.

“We believe that age should never limit one’s ability to express themselves creatively,” said Najja R. Orr, PCA president and CEO. “The arts have the power to enrich lives and foster a sense of dignity and belonging – at any age.”

Bill Conallen is the public relations specialist at Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.

“Ode to the English Cottage” by Romera Stazzi

“Twisting Monotype” by Elizabeth Macdonald

Celebrate & Aging Art is Ageless

This year’s Celebrate Arts & Aging festival is a hybrid event, offering opportunities for in-person connection and instant access to a larger audience online. The full collection of original artwork created by older adults is now available for view at pcaCares.org/art.

Celebrate Arts & Aging also features three in-person exhibits of selected artwork on display for public viewing, weekdays in May, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the following locations:

• Parkway Central Library, First Floor, West Gallery, 1901 Vine St. | Artists’ reception: Wednesday, May 8 at 1 p.m.

• South Philadelphia Older Adult Center, 1430 East Passyunk Ave. | Artists’ reception: Thursday, May 23 at 4 p.m.

• Center on the Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave., behind the Presbyterian Church | Artists’ reception: Thursday, May 30 at 4 p.m.

PCA remains committed to promoting the importance of arts engagement among older Philadelphians and challenging societal stereotypes about aging. Through initiatives, like Celebrate Arts & Aging, older adults are encouraged to embrace their creativity and continue their journey of self-discovery without limits.

PCA’s 2024 Celebrate Arts & Aging is sponsored by PECO, Always Best Care Senior Services, and Independence Blue Cross. For more information about the Celebrate Arts & Aging program and other upcoming events, visit PCA’s website at pcaCares.org/ events.

This year’s signature artwork is “Under the Boardwalk” by Philip Cohn. Philip Cohn is a World War II veteran and centenarian who has been painting since he was 19.

Tsiwen M. Law advocates for Asian Americans

By Jay Nachman

Monitors that help with language translation are prominently displayed in the the Public Services Concourse of Philadelphia’s Municipal Services Building, located at 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Visitors to Philadelphia, including many immigrants seeking help, can access information in various languages about the availability of interpretation services.

These language interpretation services, such as those that are now threaded throughout Philadelphia city government, came to be following efforts by Tsiwen M. Law and fellow advocates in the Asian American community. In 1988, Law, 74, became the first chairman of the Philadelphia Commis-

sion on Asian American Affairs, reporting directly to then Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode. Under Law’s leadership, the commission recommended a city-wide system for interpretation services for more than 13 different Asian communities in Philadelphia. The language program has now expanded to serve other minority communities in the city. Also during his three-year tenure as chairman, Law testified before Congress about the shortcomings of the 1990 Census count of Philadelphia’s Asian American communities.

Law was raised in Manhattan to a father born in Hong Kong and a mother whose parents were from southern China. His lifetime of activism began in 1968 when he attended college at the University of California (UC) at Berkeley and became a member of the Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA).

“It was the first time (I was) introduced (to the) concept of being Asian American and what it meant,” Law said. “I have carried that with me throughout the rest of my life.”

The term Asian American has expanded over the years and now includes people who are natives of South Asia, Hawaii and the Pacific

Islands (including Guam and Samoa).

After a three-month long strike, UC at Berkeley agreed to establish a Department of Ethnic Studies, which included a division of Asian American Studies. After the strike, other colleges and universities initiated similar programs across the United States.

Following graduation from what is now the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, he helped to found the Asian American Bar Association of the Delaware Valley and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

“We weren’t getting Asian Americans sitting on the bench,” Law said. “At the same time, we weren’t getting a lot of the policies that we wanted to be carried out at the federal level. At a national level, we lacked any kind of organized force. To make that change, we had to have (an) organization (setup) just the way the Philadelphia Bar or the Pennsylvania Bar (associations) operate on behalf of lawyers in the state and in the counties. That was the impetus to build our own bar associations so that we could help elevate Asian Americans to seats and vacancies on the federal and state courts and to administrative positions, as well as to workers compensation judges and immigration service judges. All those positions were not being filled by Asian Americans or by people who had any kind of cultural competence or understanding of the Asian Americans that were coming before them in their

courts. There wasn’t any kind of sensitivity to the language issues.” explained Law.

Due to these efforts, a law was signed in 2006 that required competent interpretations throughout the court systems in Pennsylvania by certified language interpreters. Law and his allies also advocated for laws prohibiting ethnic intimidation and hate crimes at the federal level. At that time, few state legislatures had hate crime laws in the books.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain for the Asian American community. There are current attempts to prevent racial minorities from increasing their representation at elite schools and other institutions, as well as in government programs and in private industry, Law said.

“The consequence of (Anti-China and anti-immigrant rhetoric) is usually a lot of anti-Asian violence,” he said.

Law’s efforts have led to a positive change for Asian American communities. On a personal level, the birth of his granddaughter represents the melding of century-old Asian immigrant families and more recently arrived Southeast Asian communities and reinforces the relevance of his Asian American identity that he began to learn about and embrace over 50 years ago.

Jay Nachman is a freelance writer in Philadelphia who tells stories for a variety of clients.

Tsiwen M. Law helped advocate for the Asian American Movement in America.

Stop Older Adult Scams: Preventing identity theft beyond credit cards

By

According to a 2022-2023 report, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found fraud and identity theft make up the majority of scams older adults experience. In fact, according to the Senate Committee on Aging, older adults reported losing more than $1.6 billion to fraud in 2022.

Most people associate identity theft with stolen credit card information and scams. However, there are a variety of other types of identity theft. Read on to learn more about these threats and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Medical identity theft

When someone’s personally identifiable information (most often a Social Security number) is stolen and used to bill Medicare/ Medicaid or a health insurance company for services that were not received, this is a form of medical identity theft. If you receive a bill for medical services that you did not receive, be sure to call your insurance company to question or dispute these charges. You can also call the FTC Complaint Assistance

line at 1-877-438-4338. If you receive printed materials after a doctor’s visit or procedure, be sure to file them in a safe location. Do not throw away medical receipts or paperwork. If you no longer need the physical papers, choose to take them to a secure shredding event or shred the documents yourself with a paper shredder. For more information on shred events near you visit www.papershreddingevents.org.

Estate identity theft

Criminals collect tax returns, Social Security checks and other benefits using the personally identifiable information of a deceased individual. These fraudsters may monitor obituaries, steal death certificates or look up a Social Security Death Index file. The best way to prevent estate identity theft is to have the executor of the estate or next of kin contact all credit and financial institutions associated with the deceased. Notification that the individual has died provides documentation on all accounts to prevent someone from fraudulently using the deceased individual’s personal information, bank accounts or credit.

Tax fraud

Criminals can file taxes using a stolen Social Security number or Employee ID number to collect a victim’s tax return. Remember, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send paper mail but will never call or email taxpayers. If you receive unfamiliar tax documents, forms or transcripts, or if the IRS says you’ve already submitted your tax return for the year (when you have not), you may be a victim of tax fraud.

Military identity theft

Criminals may use personally identifiable information to obtain military benefits, including insurance, on behalf of active military and veterans. Criminals may also call, claiming to represent the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and request personal information by phone. If you need assistance with veterans benefits, contact the Philadelphia VA Regional Benefit Office, 5000 Wissahickon Ave., at 1-800-827-1000 or go to benefits.va.gov/philadelphia.

Prevent identity theft

Follow these tips from Identity Theft Resource Center, Take Care America, Nonprofit Financial Education and Experian to protect yourself from identity theft:

• Never provide personal information, including your Social Security, Medicare, bank account or credit card numbers, to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call.

• Secure your checkbook and

other documents containing financial or personal information in a locked location.

• Do not sign any document that you have not read or do not understand.

• Shred papers you no longer need, do not just throw them away.

• Rip up or shred envelopes with your name and address on them before discarding.

• Obtain a free credit report annually to monitor your accounts and credit history for suspicious activity. Once a year, you can obtain a free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion – at 1-800-972-7204 or AnnualCreditReport.com.

• If you suspect financial abuse or fraud, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General at 1-866-623-2137 or email seniors@attorneygeneral.gov. Older Philadelphians may also reach out to PCA’s Helpline at 215-7659040 for assistance.

• Adults, age 60 or older, can also receive help by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-3811. This hotline is a free resource created by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime.

Mary Anna Rodabaugh

Mary Anna Rodabaugh is a writer, editor and writing coach.

Celebrate & Aging

“The Samurai” by Valerie Gilbert “Joy of Flowers” by Leslie Cuthbertson

“Ballroom Bliss” by Cubby

“Dawn in the Countryside of Central Vietnam” by Carolyn Do

“Ancestors’ Bones” by Gregory Maier “9th Street Market” by Warren Veith

Cubby Damato

“Close Quarters” by Ronald Washington

“Sunshine Blues” by Sharon Bennett

Veith

“Little Sparrow” by Josephine Nardi

“Gates of Heaven” by Charlotte Card

Events

May 2024

MAY 1-31

OLDER

MAY 1-31

MAY 8

CELEBRATE ARTS & AGING RECEPTION:

PARKWAY CENTRAL LIBRARY

Exhibit of work by older adult artists on display weekdays in May, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists’ reception: 1:30 -3 p.m. Parkway Central Library, West Gallery. Presented by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. 215765-9000, ext. 5055 | pcaCares.org/art | Free

“The Queen Mother” by Renee Donaldson will be on display at Parkway Central Library

MAY 16

Send your calendar items two months in advance to: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org Questions? Call 215-765-9000, ext. 5081.

CHOICE PANTRY & FARM STAND

Distribution of canned goods, fresh fruits & vegetables, & other food. 9 a.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610 | Free

MAY 17

BINGO

Grab your cards & get ready for a chance to win big prizes. Noon. Martin Luther King Older Adult Center. 215-685-2715 | Free

MAY 17

COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

Health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and BMI; COVID athome test; food; DJ; art show; and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Firehouse Active Adult Center. 215-472-6188 | Free

MAY 20

BILLIARDS PLAY

Join friends & lean over the green felt, aiming with precision, calculating angles & strategizing next moves in an intense game of pool. 9 a.m. Martin Luther King Older Adult Center. 215-685-2715 | Free

MAY 21

MUSIC THERAPY

Settlement Music School therapists use music interventions to accomplish individualized goals. 9 a.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610 | Free

MAY 22

MEMORIAL DAY & SUMMER KICKOFF PARTY

Celebrate with a special yummy meal & entertainment. 11:30 a.m. KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia. 215-698-7300 | Free

MAY 23

CELEBRATE ARTS & AGING RECEPTION:

SOUTH PHILA. OLDER ADULT CENTER

Exhibit of work by older adult artists on display weekdays in May, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists’ reception: 4-6 p.m. South Philadelphia Older Adult Center. Presented by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. 215-765-9000, ext. 5055 | pcaCares.org/ art | Free

“Wine Time” by William McGulkin will be on display at South Philadelphia Older Adult Center.

MAY 24

ENHANCE FITNESS CLASS

Exercise is a whole lot of fun in this evidencebased fitness program. Participants are led by a certified instructor in an hour-long class focused on dynamic cardiovascular exercise. 9:30 a.m. Lutheran Settlement House. 215-426-8610 | Free

MAY 28

LINE DANCING CLASS

Lively dance class, where enthusiastic participants rhythmically move in sync to country tunes, their feet tapping & bodies swaying in harmony as they learn intricate steps & choreography. 9:30 a.m. Martin Luther King Older Adult Center. 215-6852715 | Free

MAY 29

SPRING INTO CAREGIVING WORKSHOP

Topics include: safety & smart-home technology for independent living, kidney health, & movement for caregivers. Free parking & lunch included. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. RSVP: 215-765-9000, ext. 4391 or RSVPcaregiverworkshop@ pcaCares.org | Free

MAY 30

CELEBRATE ARTS & AGING RECEPTION: CENTER ON THE HILL

Exhibit of work by older adult artists on display weekdays in May, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists’ reception: 4-5:30 p.m. Center on the Hill. Presented by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. 215-7659000, ext. 5055 | pcaCares.org/art | Free

MAY 30

CREATIVITY DAY ON DISPLAY

Celebrate National Creativity Day by putting your art on display! Whether you are a painter, photographer, knitter, sculptor or other artist, we want to showcase your talents. 12:30 p.m. KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia. 215-698-7300 | Free

“Citrus Symphony” by Alfreda Henighan will be on display at Center on the Hill.

“Spring Time” by Anita Mariani

Getting started with a walking program

By Mary Anna Rodabaugh

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults aged 65 and older need at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking. While this is the recommendation, there are options to consider when starting a walking program. Before you choose to incorporate a walking program into your daily life, be sure to consult with your doctor.

“The beautiful thing is you can always initiate the walking program based on your comfort level,” says Melissa Smith, DPT, GCS, CEEAA, geriatric clinical specialist, certified exercise expert for aging adults, and owner of Age Well Physical Therapy.

Many people think walking to a neighbor’s house and doing things around the house is enough to keep the heart healthy. These tasks are not really considered exercise; they are activities of daily living and part of a healthy, active lifestyle. This type of regular activity would not be considered an exercise program. Exercise is purposeful, consistent and should slightly exert the body to get a health benefit, such

as increased cardiovascular health, increased endurance, and stronger bones or muscles.

“There are plentiful advantages to walking for promoting healthy aging,” says Alex Bendersky PT, DPT, director of clinical interventions at Luna Physical Therapy. “Walking is a gateway to health by engaging and optimizing multiple bodily systems through low-im pact physical activity. Developing a tolerance for walking various dis tances enhances well-being, adds health value for seniors and fosters healthy aging.”

Getting started

Check with your health care pro vider prior to starting a walking program. Take all your prescribed medications as usual. If you require emergency medications or oxygen, be sure to bring these items with you on your walk.

Smith says that once cleared by your physician to initiate a walking program, there are a few things to consider: safety, duration, intensity and consistency.

For anyone who uses an assistive walking device, bring it along for your walk.

Decide if you want to walk inside, outside or near your home. If you have mobility challenges, you can walk in place while holding onto a walker, countertop or sturdy piece of furniture, lifting your knees as high as you can.

When walking outdoors, select a location that is quiet with minimal distractions. A busier environment will have more noise and distractions, which can increase the risk of falls or accidents. If you are able to drive or travel to a walking location, a soft track is ideal to prevent excess pressure on your joints.

your muscles and prevent stiffness and soreness, recommends Eric Ramos, certified personal trainer and senior group fitness instructor.

Duration

“Don’t make it too hard the first time,” Smith says. “Take it easy and get your body used to it.”

Smith suggests finding your baseline status. Start walking at a comfortable pace and time yourself. Stop walking when you feel tired. Stick to that duration for about a week until you feel comfortable to increase your walking time.

“If you feel comfortable and you feel your body is ready, maybe add another 30 seconds,” she says.

(Continued on Page 13)

Less Waiting. More Living.

Choose supportive and comfortable walking shoes. You want shoes with good traction, shock absorption and plenty of support.

(Continued from Page 12)

Intensity

There are three levels of physical intensity: low, moderate and high. If you are walking at a low intensity, you should be able to carry a conversation with ease.

Walking at a moderate intensity will increase your heart rate, so you will not be able to carry on a regular conversation. You may be able to say a few words, but your breathing will be more rapid. At moderate intensity, you should still be comfortable enough so you do not have to stop to catch your breath.

“Most aging adults are doing something in the low to moderate intensity,” Smith says. “If you are someone with cardiovascular disease, it is always best to start with low-intensity exercise.”

Moderate intensity is best for cardiovascular health. It is most effective in improving the function of heart muscles and increasing the ability of your lungs to work better.

Unless you are trying to lose weight or improve endurance, it is not necessary to workout at high intensity. You will see this level with athletes who are training for a sport, and it may leave you gasping for air.

Make walking work for you

Set achievable goals for yourself, such as walking for a certain amount of time or distance each day or week.

“Celebrate your progress along the way,” says Ramos, who is CEO of Impact Total Fitness in Philadelphia. “Also, listen to your body. Pay attention to how your body feels during and after exercise. If you experience pain or discomfort, adjust your routine accordingly and rest when needed.”

If you don’t enjoy walking alone, you can make it a social activity and invite friends along. If you cannot walk outside due to safety concerns or weather, consider walking around your home or in place. If you have painful joints, consider joining a gym or facility with an indoor pool. You can walk through the water at the pool and eliminate stress on your joints, while still enjoying the benefits of exercise.

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation maintains more than 60 outdoor pools in Philadelphia, which typically begin opening in late June. For information and locations, call 215683-3600 or go to phila.gov/parks. There are also five YMCA locations in Philadelphia with indoor pools. For information and locations, call 215-918-7453 or go to PhillyYMCA. org.

Older Philadelphians can visit any senior community center to join a walking group or use a treadmill. You can also participate in fitness classes, many led by Ramos. For locations, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/ senior-centers.

A walking program will strengthen muscles; help prevent weight gain; lower the risks of falling, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and osteoporosis; and improve balance. If you’re concerned about starting, after speaking with your physician or primary care provider, you can always see a physical therapist for gait training or a balance assessment to get you started.

Mary Anna Rodabaugh is a writer, editor and writing coach.

Join the pro-aging movement

By Jeremy Rodriguez

People are living longer, healthier lives while maintaining a positive view of their own aging. Yet, research shows that the public’s perception of aging is negative, according to the National Center to Reframe Aging. To illustrate the problem with ageism, consider this hypothetical example of an older person who is experiencing knee pain. Many older adults may attribute pain to just getting older and accept it as a fact of life.

“You still need to go get that knee pain checked out,” said Trish D’Antonio, executive director of the National Center to Reframe Aging. “We agree that you’re getting older. We accept your assessment that you have pain in your knee. One is not necessarily the reason for the other. (You may) delay therapy or treatment for yourself because you just attribute it to aging. There are lots of things where ageism can really cause harm —

socially and health wise — that we really have to think about.”

The National Center to Reframe Aging is an organization aimed at ending ageism by providing tools and communication strategies to address negative perceptions of aging.

Through research, D’Antonio said they learned that people don’t think much about ageism and that the public thinks of aging as a “battle.” This way of thinking comes from “cultural models that are deeply ingrained in us from when we were very young” that paint a picture of what society envisions as an older person.

“It’s important that we remember that we’re all aging,” D’Antonio said. “We’re aging from birth on. When we (think of) older people (as ‘others’), that kind of puts (forth) a model that we’re not aging, and that it’s somebody else. When, actually, it’s all of us.”

The National Center to Reframe Aging works with local and na-

tional organizations and communities to enhance the way in which they talk about aging and to better understand implicit bias about aging.

The NCRA suggests ways in which the public can change ageist language to be more age inclusive. Instead of using negative phrases, such as “tidal wave,” “silver tsunami” and similarly catastrophic terms to describe the growing population of older people, it is suggested that people speak affirmatively about changing demographics, such as “As Americans live longer and healthier lives.”

The center underscores the importance of defining “ageism” whenever using the term: “Ageism is discrimination against older people due to negative and inaccurate stereotypes, and it has a significant impact on health.”

DiAntonio said, “We know from our research that if we start to use well-framed language about older people, that starts to get people to think differently, and people will model our language. People (will) recognize this is something that we all have to pay attention to, and it impacts everyone.”

He noted how the center has worked with organizations, including The Associated Press (AP), to update their style guides for journalists to use when writing news stories. The current edition of the AP Stylebook recommends using the terms “older adults” and “older people” in place of the terms “elderly” and “senior citizens.” However, even though journalists

typically follow AP’s guidance, sometimes the people who write the headlines for these articles may use problematic language to solicit clicks from online readers. This is due to search engine optimization (SEO), which is often dictated by the terms that people search on the web or by which links get clicked the most.

D’Antonio thinks this mentality can eventually be changed as the movement to fight ageism evolves. “As we continue to grow the movement – we really see this as a movement – and readers start to say, ‘I am not going to read something like that,’ norms change and people start correcting themselves and use less derogatory descriptions of older adults,” she said. “It just takes time. This is a long-term cultural change. We know that changing culture like this takes at least a generation.”

To learn more about the National Center to Reframe Aging, visit ReframingAging.org.

(See page 15 for crossword)

Jeremy Rodriguez is a freelance journalist, blogger, editor and podcaster.

Ways to manage high blood pressure ABT

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a symptomless “silent killer” that quietly damages blood vessels and leads to serious health problems. There is no cure for hypertension. However, using medications as prescribed and making lifestyle changes can enhance your quality of life and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other conditions, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Know your numbers

Is your blood pressure in a healthy range? The best way to know is to get your blood pressure checked by a medical professional.

If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should monitor your blood pressure regularly. Knowing your blood pressure numbers can alert you to any changes and help you detect patterns. Tracking your results over time will also reveal if the changes you’ve made are working.

Here’s what the blood pressure numbers mean:

• Normal blood pressure: Lower than 120 systolic (upper number) AND lower than 80 diastolic (lower number).

• Elevated blood pressure: 120-129

systolic AND lower than 80 diastolic.

• Hypertension stage 1: 130-139 systolic OR 80-89 diastolic.

• Hypertension stage 2: 140 or higher, OR 90 or higher diastolic.

• Hypertensive crisis – Consult your doctor immediately: Higher than 180 systolic and/or higher than 120 diastolic.

Managing blood pressure is a lifelong commitment. To help keep your blood pressure in the normal range, the American Heart Association recommends making the following lifestyle changes:

• Eat a well-balanced diet that’s low in salt.

• Limit alcohol.

• Enjoy regular physical activity.

• Manage stress.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Quit smoking.

• Take your medications properly. If you have high blood pressure, it’s vital that you listen to your health care professional. Remember: You’re a part of your health care team. You and your health care professional are partners. Educate yourself about hypertension and learn how to monitor your blood pressure at home. Armed with this information, you can commit to a hearthealthy lifestyle and reap these benefits:

• Prevent, reduce or delay the development of high blood pressure.

• Enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.

• Lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney damage, vision loss and sexual dysfunction.

(Source: The American Heart Association –1-800-AHA-USA-1 (242-8721) | AHA.org)

By Neil R. Manausa