Milestones 2
JANUARY 2022
The hope of a new year springs eternal WHAT IS PCA?
By Najja R. Orr, MBA, PCA president & CEO
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) is a nonprofit agency 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 For more information, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or visit pcaCares.org.
Published by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Najja R. Orr, President and CEO PCA Board of Directors 2021-22 Satya B. Verma, O.D., Vice Chair Angela Foreshaw-Rouse, Secretary Glenn D. Bryan, Treasurer Louis A. Bove, Esq. Louis G. Colbert Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Esq. Katherine E. Galluzzi, D.O., F.A.C.O.F.P. Lynn Fields Harris Paul Nathanson Sandra McNally Eloise N. Young Jacqueline S. Zinn, Ph.D. Emeritus: Arthur E. Helfand, D.P.M.
Call 24/7 to report suspected elder abuse. PCA Helpline: 215-765-9040 Outside Philadelphia toll-free: 888-215-765-9041 (TDD) pcaCares.org
Milestones is published monthly and distributed at more than 1,100 locations throughout Philadelphia, Lower Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties. 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: 215-765-9000, ext. 5081 Email: MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org Home delivery: $12/year
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. ©2021 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. All rights reserved.
Happy New Year to all Milestones readers! As we enter 2022 with a clean slate, let’s do so with hope and positivity. This issue of Milestones contains articles that will motivate you to make improvements in your life, including how to break habits, how to pursue lifelong learning opportunities, and how to prepare recipes using fresh produce. Also included are several useful resources for employment assistance and a variety of other programs to assist older adults.
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Put yourself in a state of mind where you say to yourself, ‘Here is an opportunity for me to celebrate like never before, my own power, my own ability to get myself to do whatever is necessary.’
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~ Martin Luther King Jr.
The new year also creates a great opportunity to check on your health. Are you up to date on your eye and dental care? Have you had the necessary health and cancer screenings that are recommended for your age? If you are unsure, make an appointment with your health care provider to discuss a schedule of recommended tests or check-ups for the year. Remember, both physical health and emotional wellness are vital to becoming or maintaining your best self. The City of Philadelphia provides free behavioral health services to residents. Resources for dealing with trauma and loss are available. Mental health services and supports, including counseling and resources for dealing with trauma or loss, can be accessed at HealthyMindsPhilly.org,
DBHIDS.org/boost and 1-888-545-2600. Older adults can help reboot in the new year by taking part in free or low-cost health and wellness programs provided at the 27 PCA-funded senior community centers throughout Philadelphia. To locate your nearest senior center, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/SeniorCenters. The calendar of events center spread also lists January’s PCA health programs. While making plans to better yourself, also think about what you can do to help others. In the words of the great Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Take some time to reflect upon Dr. King’s legacy and his tremendous impact on our society. With that presence of mind, look to 2022 to make a difference in your neighborhood and community. Funded by PCA
Join our Team! Visit pcaCares.org/careers for a list of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s current job openings.