Milestones Newspaper July 2022

NEWS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS

A Publication of

JULY 2022 • FREE IN THIS ISSUE

UNMASKING AGEISM

P5 P4 FREE PRODUCE VOUCHERS FOR OLDER ADULTS

P8 MID-YEAR WELLNESS CHECK-UP

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Friendships enrich life at any age Philadelphia’s network of senior community centers provide opportunities for socialization, enrichment and fun.

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JULY 2022

Safety, security for city’s older adults remains a top priority

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

WHAT IS PCA?

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 2022-23 Satya B. Verma, O.D., Chair Glenn D. Bryan, Vice Chair Angela Foreshaw-Rouse, Secretary Louis G. Colbert, Treasurer Louis A. Bove, Esq. Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Esq. Lynn Fields Harris Katherine E. Galluzzi, D.O., FACOFP Sandra McNally Paul Nathanson 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. ©2022 Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. All rights reserved.

Safety is top of mind for all people living, working and visiting Philadelphia.

This is especially true for our city’s older adults, who have expressed concerns for their personal safety amid record-high gun violence and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Neighborhood safety is among the top five areas of concern for older adults, as reported in a survey of advocacy priorities conducted by PCA last year. Improvements, such as reduced crime, better crosswalks and additional curb ramps, would help older adults to feel more safe and secure when they leave their homes.

It’s important to realize that increases in violent crimes have occurred throughout the country over the past two years. In fact, Philadelphia’s crime rate is currently about the same as other large U.S. cities, measuring slightly above average.

City officials and the Philadelphia Police Department have vowed their dedication to reducing crime and making the city a safer place for all, especially for those who are vulnerable.

“For those of us who live here, we know what it really is like all day, every day,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw in an interview for Fox 29.

“I think we have to start looking at crime and public safety in Philadelphia as an ecosystem. It’s not just the police. It’s not just the administration. It’s also community. It’s all of the social services providers. It’s also the other stakeholders in the criminal justice system.”

The City of Philadelphia’s budget has increased funding for violence prevention programs and initiatives by 19%. According to a statement from the Mayor’s Office, “Responding to, and rebuilding from, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, including on gun violence, has been and

will continue to be the mayor’s focus.

Many of the challenges facing Philadelphia — including the uptick in the number of shootings and homicides and the continued impacts of the drug and opioid crisis — are disturbing trends.”

Crime prevention tips

Following are some tips to help keep older adults safe from violence and other crimes in the community: • Always plan your route ahead of time.

• Stay alert to your surroundings. Walk confidently with your head up.

• Have a companion accompany you, whenever possible.

• When traveling at night, stay in well-lit areas.

• Have your key ready when approaching your front door.

• Don’t carry large, bulky shoulder bags or dangle your purse away from your body.

• Carry only what you need: your keys, cell phone, small wallet and other necessities.

• Don’t carry or display large sums of cash when in public or stores.

• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended in a restaurant or store.

• If you see something, say something.

Call 911 to report a crime.

Beat the summer heat

Every year, the summer heat brings health complications for older adults, Continued on page 14

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Courtesy of St. Edmond Senior Community Center

BFFs (best friends forever) Cookie Brawner, left, and Michelle Chance met 10 years ago at St. Edmond Senior Community Center in South Philadelphia.

Friendships enrich life at any age

By Jay Nachman Friendship, whether between individuals, countries or cultures, can inspire peace and build bridges between communities.

This was the inspiration for International Day of Friendship on July 30, which was first proclaimed in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly.

“Study after study demonstrates that people who have robust social networks do better in every dimension of life,” said Dr. Ann Rosen Spector, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Center City

since 1987 and former professor at Rutgers University for more than 20 years.

As people age, they experience a lot of loss and time spent with the family can become episodic or irregular. “What you need are friends every day,” she said. “The ability to add friends can happen until the day you die.”

People are social beings and need to be a part of a community, according to Dr. Rosen Spector. That need can be satisfied with social groups that can include family, friends, members from your house of worship, and/or neighbors from your com-

munity or building/residence. “As long as (older adults) develop and maintain a sense of ‘belongingness,’ it will be beneficial,” Dr. Rosen Spector said. “Many people flourish (socially) in a facility because of the opportunity to make new friends all the time, despite losses that may occur in their lives.”

Many friendships are forged later in life at the network of 28 senior community centers and satellite meal programs that are supported by Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). Here are just a few examples.

“It just happened. You know, there’s some people you click with,” said Michelle Chance about her best friend Cookie Brawner. “She’s my best friend, my confidante, my big sis. All that, rolled up into one. It just clicked.”

Chance, 66, and Brawner, 77, both live in South Philadelphia. They met 10 years ago at the St. Edmond Senior Community Center, located at 2130 S. 21st St. in the West Passyunk section of South Philadelphia.

“I couldn’t have found a better friend,” said Brawner, who is now retired with four adult children, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. “Since I met Michelle, we have not gone a day without talking, laughing or even arguing. That’s why I say she’s my very best friend. We can joke together and agree to disagree.”

Since that fateful meeting a decade ago, the two friends have enjoyed countless dinners, shopping trips, and excursions to Atlantic City and Baltimore together.

In February, they celebrated Brawner’s birthday in Las Vegas. Brawner won a little money, but the real prize was the time they spent together.

Chance and Brawner are there for each other not only through the good times, but for challenging times, too. Both women have battled cancer in recent years and had a mutual support system in each other.

“With all my sicknesses that I’ve been through since I met her, she’s been right there with me,” said Brawner, who has

JULY 2022

been cancer-free for five years.

When Chance became ill during the pandemic, she moved into Brawner’s home during her treatment and recovery. “She didn’t want to be going back and forth between her home and mine,” Chance said. “She has definitely helped me [over our friendship]. Some things are just meant to be. Friendship, joy, family, everything really. It fulfills a big part of my life.

It makes my life richer.”

Priscilla Lee-Walters, 81, has been a member of PCA’s Southwest Senior Center, located at 6916 Elmwood Ave., for more than 30 years. She’s formed many friendships through participation in the center’s activities. Every Tuesday, she bowls with her friends. She also plays pinochle and is a member of a discussion group.

But her friendship with fellow senior center member Olive Woodards is on an entirely different level. Lee-Walters had lost a few close friends before meeting Woodards. The two began talking and soon began going out to lunch and taking trips together.

“It means a lot to me because I like (to have) someone I can talk to and share with, besides my husband,” Lee-Walters said. *** PCA helps to fund 28 senior community centers and satellite meal sites, conveniently located in neighborhoods throughout the city. Each senior center offers unique programming that promotes socialization and a healthy lifestyle through continuing education, group activities, enhanced fitness classes and more. Senior center attendees can also connect with a variety of helpful programs and services, including transportation, legal assistance and volunteer opportunities. Lunch is served on weekdays at all centers. To find your nearest senior community center, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/senior-centers.

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

JULY 2022

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Ageism unmasked: Broaden your view of aging

By Constance Garcia-Barrio Ageism – discrimination toward anyone based on age – is a sneaky thief. It robs both the young and old of being individuals rather than stereotypes. That’s the view of Tracey Gendron, who holds a doctorate in developmental psychology and is the chair of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gerontology.

Ageism is both a skewed view of youth and a short-sighted assessment of older adults. “We expect young people to (take) uncalculated risks and older people to be content quietly sitting in a rocking chair,” says Gendron, author of the book “Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It.” Ageism’s reductive attitude toward older adults, which stresses physical decline that comes with passing decades, can literally steal years from our lives. A favorable outlook on aging may offer protection.

“People with positive attitudes toward aging live on average seven-and-a-half years longer that those with negative attitudes,” says Gendron, who is 51. “The stress of ageism contributes to an increased risk of chronic disease. It’s also associated with a higher presence of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Our youth-centric culture makes it tough to sidestep the fear of aging, according to Gendron. “We live with quiet, persistent pressure to have our faces Botoxed, lasered and lifted to try to erase passing years,” she says. “Even intended compliments, like ‘You haven’t changed a bit,’ congratulate us for seeming to avoid aging.”

In her writing, Gendron distinguishes between external messages telling us to dread aging and the internal ones we tell ourselves. Advertisements that tout the “wonders” of anti-wrinkle creams or jokes on birthday cards that poke fun at advanc-

ing years hit us with a negative outlook on aging. On the other hand, we may have absorbed the belief that aging devalues us, so we tell ourselves that we’ll have limited lives as we grow older. Both aspects of ageism – internal and external – can cheat us of the fullness of our later years.

“Ageism is a self-made obstacle to a rich and vibrant aging experience,” Gendron writes. But we have a choice to take a different path. “We need to reframe life’s later years, or ‘elderhood,’ by acknowledging that aging is a complex process. Aging (may involve) natural physical decline, but it also means gains. That is the story less told.”

Embracing a fuller picture of one’s later years can make all the difference. “Elderhood involves a dynamic and simultaneous process of decline (and) emotional, psychological and spiritual growth,” Gendron says. It’s a chance to harvest “hardearned life experiences to become our unique selves. As we age, we can regulate our emotions better. Our lived experiences reduce the intensity of negative emotions and (improve the feelings of contentedness), as well as promote happiness and calmness. This is aging.”

It takes work to hit the reset button and choose elderhood. “We have to take off the blinders and become aware of negative messages about aging,” Gendron says.

We must weigh what advertisements, TV, movies, images or songs say about aging against our own experiences and beliefs.

To broaden your outlook on aging, ask yourself probing questions: • How do you feel about yourself as an aging person?

• What do you like more about yourself at this age, compared to 10 or 20 years ago?

• What are your goals?

“As you respond to these questions you start to reframe aging,” Gendron says.

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Journaling may help with the process.

We may have aches, but we also have resilience, maturity and wisdom. *** “Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It” by ageism expert and researcher Tracey Gendron, Ph.D., dissects anti-aging messages, helps readers to recognize them, and recommends

ways that each of us can help end ageism to enjoy the riches of elderhood.

Gendron is also a collaborator for the website OldSchool.info, an anti-aging clearinghouse that provides carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it.

Native Philadelphian Constance Garcia-Barrio writes about many topics, including Black history.

Milestones wants to hear from YOU! We welcome your story ideas, feedback and suggestions. (Story-specific comments or questions will be forwarded to the writer.) Submissions of letters or articles for publication must be signed and dated and include your address and phone number. Submission constitutes permission to edit and publish in any form or medium.

Send ideas, comments & submissions to: Attn: Milestones Editor PCA, 642 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 Email: milestonesnews@pcaCares.org

PCA reserves the right to not publish any submission; receipt may not be acknowledged; and submissions will not be returned.

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JULY 2022

Master woodworker creates marvels with his ‘magic’ hands

By Constance Garcia-Barrio Bruce Driscoll, 72, of Roxborough, has created marvels with his hands all of his life. “My father was a do-it-yourselfer, and he had all kinds of tools,” said Driscoll. “I was allowed to use a lathe (wood-turning machine) early. I made my first project — probably a wooden toy — at age 8.”

More than six decades later, Driscoll is now a master woodworker who teaches at Philadelphia Woodworks, a wood shop offering instruction and custom fabrications, located at 4901 Umbria St., in Manayunk.

But there’s more to the story of Driscoll’s supple hands. In his teens, Driscoll conjured creations of another sort by becoming an amateur magician.

“I used to perform at young kids’ birthday parties,” he said. In time, he stepped up his game. “After I moved to Philadelphia (from Ohio, where he was raised,) in 1972, I worked at night clubs, like Starr’s on Fourth Street and Grandma Minnie’s on Chestnut Street in Olde City. I’d do a couple of tricks between the time patrons got their drinks and the waiter brought their dinner.”

High demand kept Driscoll on the road six months out of the year, which meant little time at home with his wife. “I’d kept up woodworking in my leisure, so I switched things around,” he said. “I made woodworking my livelihood and magic my hobby.”

From then on, he’s devoted himself to his craft at establishments in New Jersey and Philadelphia. “One of my favorite pieces from that time is a copy of an 18th-century Chippendale lowboy,” he said, referring to a dressing table, creat-

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ed in the style of famed London cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale.

Driscoll also made a huge breakfront out of genuine, seasoned mahogany, a scarce commodity. “The breakfront contains 500 pieces of wood and a satin finish,” he said. “It took eight weeks to make and cost thousands of dollars.”

While all his work is art in itself, he’s been commissioned to create pieces for Philadelphia museums. Driscoll has made vitrines (or display cases) for the Rosenbach Museum, which houses rare books and manuscripts in two townhouses located on the 2000 block of Delancey

Place.

Visitors to Independence Seaport Museum can see Driscoll’s work there, too.

“I built the case for the diorama of old Philadelphia,” he said. “I made cradles (where display boats rest), as well. It was a challenge using water-based finishes on the wood since they take longer to dry and tend to melt into previous coats.

They’re needed because solvent-based finishes give off gases that damage the museum artifacts. By the same token, you can’t use certain woods in museums, either. For example, red oak releases tannic acid, which could affect some items.”

After a fulfilling woodworking career, Driscoll retired in 2017. “With all I had learned, I wanted to give something back to the art,” he said. “Now, I teach (woodworking skills to) people of all ages, including many retirees. Artistic expression seems to become more important as we age. Some older people are going from something white-collar, where you have a spreadsheet full of numbers to show for your work, to, say, making a saltcellar (a small container for storing salt).

A psychologist who just retired from the Philadelphia School District now spends four hours a day here, turning out small

JULY 2022

Milestones 7

CARING HOMES FOR ADULTS wooden bowls.”

Driscoll’s students are usually eager to handle the fragrant wood, but he spends time talking about intangibles first. “I explain that woodworking requires patience,” he said. “That’s the hardest part of teaching. I had no real disasters during my career because I did research first. You draw what you want to make. You do 17 revisions, so you have a good idea of what you want in your head and on paper.”

Driscoll also stresses that wood has a life of its own. “When I teach a class, I spend half the time talking about the movement of wood. It expands and contracts with the seasons,” he said. “You have to take that into account. If not, the

piece of furniture develops cracks or gets pushed up in the center.”

Woodworking can be deeply relaxing, Driscoll notes. “No matter what your background, if you can handle the tools, you get respect,” he said. “And it’s satisfying to have whatever you have built sitting in front of you. There’s pride in being able to say, ‘I built this with my own two hands.’” *** For more information or a tour of Philadelphia Woodworks, call 267-3315880 or go to PhiladelphiaWoodworks. com.

Native Philadelphian Constance Garcia-Barrio writes about many topics, including Black history.

An accidental woodworker Five years ago, Mathew Meltzer, 68, of Wyndmoor, took an unexpected turn onto Umbria Street one day while coming home from lunch with friends. “I saw the Philadelphia Woodworks sign and stopped in for a tour,” he recalls.

Meltzer soon became a regular woodworker. “I never knew I had an artistic side until I began woodworking,” said the retired financial advisor. “You take a chunk of wood, turn it on the lathe and create something. I make bowls, sometimes ornamental, sometimes functional. I also make boxes, about five or six square inches, that I call ‘memory boxes’ to hold small mementos for family and friends. You can put lots of design enhancements on the box.” He likes working with walnut and cherry, but bocote, a wood from Mexico, Central America and the West Indies, is his favorite material. “It’s a hard, heavy, dense, wood,” Meltzer said. “You can’t

Photo from Mathew Metlzer’s Facebook page.

Dom Care (Domiciliary Care), provides adults with disabilities a supporting, caring and comfortable home with a family or individual.

Dom Care home providers give support to adult individuals, 18 and older, who are unable to live independently because of a physical or mental disability. Home providers are responsible for most of the person’s daily needs, including meals, laundry, personal hygiene and medication administration. In return, home providers receive a monthly stipend.

Individuals will receive emotional support, assistance with daily needs and the opportunity to live in a homelike environment within the community. Eligibility for participation in the Dom Care program is determined through an assessment completed by PCA’s Long Term Care Access Department.

tell what grain pattern you’ll discover until you open up the wood. I like the surprise.”

Meltzer also values the workshop’s camaraderie. “There are all kinds of people here, including lots of women and older adults. It’s like a social club with sawdust.”

To learn more about becoming a Dom Care home provider or resident, call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 or go to pcaCares.org/DomCare.

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Vouchers for free produce available to older Philadelphians Each year, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) distributes more then 25,000 free produce vouchers to income-eligible older Philadelphians. The vouchers can be redeemed for $24 worth of local produce from 34 certified farmers markets throughout Philadelphia. Philadelphia’s annual distribution of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) produce vouchers will begin July 5.

After two years of distributing the produce vouchers by mail only due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the vouchers will be distributed both by mail and at local senior community centers in Philadelphia.

Those who received SFMNP produce vouchers in 2021 will receive an application in the mail. Applications are also available at participating senior community centers, online at pcaCares.org/produce, and by calling the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040.

To qualify for the vouchers, adults must be 60 or older by Dec. 31 and have a household income of no more than $25,142 for one person or $33,874 for two people. The vouchers are limited to one set per person and must be redeemed by Nov. 30.

Completed applications can be submitted by mail, email or dropped off at a

Crossword Puzzle Solution (See page 15 for clues)

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participating senior community center.

Vouchers will be distributed on a firstcome, first-served basis. Mail-in applications will be processed in the order they are received, and vouchers will be mailed to eligible recipients within 30 days of application receipt.

A list of participating farmers markets, where the vouchers can be redeemed, will be mailed along with the vouchers. You can also visit www.pafmnp.org or download the free app on Google Play or the App Store by searching “PA FMNP Market Locator.”

SFMNP vouchers are made available through funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The following senior community centers in Philadelphia will distribute SFMNP produce vouchers this year: • Mann Older Adult Center (located at Juniata Park): 1251 E. Sedgley Ave. | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

• Juniata Park Older Adult Center: 1251

E. Sedgley Ave. | Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The Center at Journey’s Way: 403 Rector St. | Wednesdays, 1-3:30 p.m. and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• On Lok House: 219 N 10th St. | Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Northeast Older Adult Center: 8101 Bustleton Ave. | Application drop-box only; No in-person distribution.

• Peter Bressi Northeast Senior Center: 4744 Frankford Ave. | July 11, 14, 18 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.

• Norris Square Senior Citizen Center: 2121 N. Howard St. | Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Lutheran Settlement House Senior Center: 1340 Frankford Ave. | Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Marconi Older Adult Center: 2433 S. 15th St. | Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Philadelphia Senior Center – Allegheny Branch: 1900 W. Allegheny Ave. | Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Philadelphia Senior Center – Arts Branch: 509 S. Broad St. | Mondays,

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2-4 p.m.

• West Philadelphia Senior Community Center: 1016-26 N. 41st St. | Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m • Firehouse Active Adult Center: 5331 Haverford Ave. | Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• South Philadelphia Older Adult Center: 1430 E. Passyunk Ave. | Weekdays, 12:30-2 p.m.

• Northern Living Center: 827 N. Franklin St. | Mondays and Wednesdays, 12-2 p.m.

• Center in the Park: 5818 Germantown Ave. | July 11-15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• King Older Adult Center: 2100 W. Cecil B. Moore Ave. | Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Nativity BVM Senior Citizen Center: 3255 Belgrade St. | July 5 and 12, 1-2 p.m. | Center members only: July 8 and 14, 12:30 p.m.

For full SFMNP produce voucher program information, please visit pcaCares. org/produce.

JULY 2022

Recipe Box

Medical Supply Inc.

Use fresh, seasonal produce to create healthy, colorful meals With the start of PCA’s free produce voucher distribution this month (see left), it’s a great time to take advantage of the bounty of seasonal Pennsylvania produce that’s available in the summer. Vouchers can be redeemed for many of the fruits and vegetables needed to make these meals!

Red, White & Blue Summer Salad

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This salad combines traditional Caprese flavors – basil, tomato and mozzarella – with summer blueberries and peaches.

White balsamic vinegar keeps the colors bright in this sweet-salty salad.

Ingredients: 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil ½ cup fresh basil, sliced thin 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup mint leaves, sliced thin, plus more for garnish 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. sea salt 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. pepper 2 cups cherry tomatoes 8 cups fresh arugula 1 carton (8 ozs.) fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, drained 2 medium peaches, sliced

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Tart cherries are only in season for one month – July – in Pennsylvania. So, take advantage of the bounty while it lasts!

This frosty sweet-sour sorbet is a healthy, refreshing treat on a hot summer day.

Directions: Place frozen cherries in a food pro-

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Milestones 10

JULY 2022

Navigating a world without hearing

By Constance Garcia-Barrio When a fire truck roared by a few feet away from Jay Basch, then 2 years old, his mother realized he didn’t react to the noise. He just kept his eyes fixed on a Woolworth’s window display. Jay’s parents

Courtesy of Jay Basch

The Basch family, clockwise from bottom right, Jay and Marilyn with children Shari and Bruce.

took him to Shriners Children’s Hospital, where tests showed a profound hearing loss.

“The doctor told them, ‘Your son is healthy in every way, except he can’t hear,’” Jay said through a sign language interpreter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program estimates that 1.7 out of every 1,000 babies screened are diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss each year. This early detection and intervention helped Jay, now 89, and his wife, Marilyn, 88, who’s hard of hearing, to lead very full lives.

The Basch family had the good fortune to live on West Gowen Avenue in Mount Airy. “Our house was right across from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf [PSD],” Jay said. “When I was 3, my parents hired a PSD teacher to come to the house after school and teach me.”

Jay entered PSD at 6, the earliest pos-

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sible age at that time, and studied there for 10 years.

“PSD built up my self-confidence … and prepared me for challenges in the outside world,” he said. “(Before I graduated), my father took me to different high schools.

In the 1950s, before technological aids, like text mesCourtesy of Jay Basch sages, learning was a chal- Jay Basch as a chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. lenge.” Friends Select, with its small classes and empathetic teachers, preter, could understand and communiproved a good, but demanding, choice for cate with Jay. Some people understand him when he speaks, and some don’t.”

Jay. USDA’s Eastern Regional Research Later, at the University of Pennsylvania, where Jay majored in zoology, he sat Facility in Wyndmoor hired Jay. While beside girls and copied their notes. “Girls working, he attended night and weekend were better note takers than boys,” he said. classes in chemistry to earn a master’s deHe finished his bachelor’s degree in five gree from Drexel University and a doctorate from Temple University. years.

Meanwhile, Jay had met his wife Mar“After graduating from Penn, Jay interviewed with the U.S. Department of Agri- ilyn, who is hard of hearing, at Philadelculture (USDA),” said Jay’s daughter Shari. phia’s Silent Athletic Club. “Before I was “The personnel staff brought in someone married [in 1957], I worked at New York who, though not a sign-language interContinued on page 14

Resources for deaf, hard-of-hearing community The Community College of Philadelphia, 1700 Spring Garden St., offers courses and a program in American Sign Language/English Interpreting (INT). 215-751-8000 | ccp. edu/academic-offerings.

The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, 100 W. School House Lane, hosts public events that increase attendees’ understanding of deafness.

215-951-4700 (voice) | 267- 331-4748 (videophone)| psd.org The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities advocates for policies, programs and systemic changes that maximize independence and community integration for Phila-

delphians with disabilities. 215-6862798 | phila.gov (type “disabilities” in the search box).

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the nation’s largest civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, provides a range of information [in English and Spanish] for deaf and hard of hearing people, their families, and friends. Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, NAD provides some services specifically for older adults who are deaf. 301-338-6380 | videophone: 301-587-1788 (Purple/ ZVRS); 301-328-1443 (Sorenson) | nad.org/contact-us | email: nad. info@nad.org

JULY 2022

July 2022

Events

Send your calendar items to MilestonesNews@pcaCares.org by the 25th of the month (for publication in month after next) Questions? 215-765-9000, ext. 5081

JULY 9-10 HISPANIC FIESTA

JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY WEDNESDAYS STARTING JULY 6 BASIC CERAMICS CLASS

Create, sculpt & design your own clay formations. 10 a.m. Star Harbor Senior Center. 215-727-0100. (Cost: $2 per class; $5/3 classes)

JULY 8 SILVER CELEBRATION BIRTHDAY CLUB

5-8 p.m. Oak Street Health Club. 267225-3448 (Party for older adults held the second Friday of each month)

Celebrate the diversity in Philadelphia with a series of cultural festivals presented by PECO. 2-8 p.m. Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing. 215-922-2FUN. Free

JULY 11 MINI CARNIVAL

Food games & prizes. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Nativity BVM Senior Community Center.

215-426-9799

JULY 27-31 SHAKESPEARE IN CLARK PARK

“The Taming!” is a comedy in two very different acts: Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” & John Fletcher’s revenge play “The Tamer Tamed!”

7 p.m. Clark Park. 215-764-5345

JULY 28 RESOURCE & UTILITIES FAIR

Assistance for rent & bill payment.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oak Street Health Club. 267-225-3448. Free

JULY 29 LIVE ON COBBS CREEK

Live performance. 5 p.m. Oak Street Health Club. 267-225-3448. Free

JULY 19 DAY TRIP TO CAMP LADORE

Swimming, hiking, paddle boating, bingo, games & other activities. Includes transportation, lunch & resort day pass.

8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Departs/returns from Star Harbor Senior Center. Register: 215-727-0100. (Cost: $67.50)

JULY 9 GLOBAL CRAFT MARKET

Local immigrant artists & micro-importers sell handmade, fair-trade crafts to celebrate & sustain craft-making traditions & artisans from around the world.

12-5 p.m. Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Presented by The Welcoming Center.

215-922-2FUN. Free

Milestones 11

JULY 21 BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nativity BVM Senior Community Center. 215-426-9799. Free

JULY 31 EAST PASSYUNK CAR SHOW & STREET FESTIVAL

South Philly’s largest summer festival & block party. Live music & DJs, family entertainment, regional crafters, street food & drinks, up to 200 antique, show, classic & custom cars, trucks & motorcycles. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Passyunk Avenue between Broad & Dickinson streets. 215-336-1455.

Free for spectators

Milestones 12

JULY 2022

It’s time for a mid-year wellness check-up!

By Mary Anna Rodabaugh Summer is usually associated with leisure activities. But this is also the perfect time to do a midyear health and wellness checkup.

First, conduct a self-assessment.

Think about the past year. Have you had any trouble doing things that you enjoy? Reflect upon your daily tasks to determine if some seem harder than others, as compared to last year. For older adults with a support system, ask someone you trust to provide feedback on how you seem to be doing, physically and mentally.

“Take a global look at your functional status,” recommends Susan Parks, MD, director of geriatric medicine and palliative care at Jefferson Health.

Functional ability refers to basic activities of daily living, including feeding, dressing and personal care. Instrumental ability refers to more complex tasks, such as shopping, meal preparation and housekeeping.

“Ask yourself, ‘Am I still doing the same tasks that I used to? Or, am I having a bit more difficulty?’” Dr. Parks says.

It is also important to reflect on your hobbies and interests. For example, if you enjoy crossword puzzles but find yourself having difficulty seeing the clues or concentrating, you may want to mention this to your physician.

Yearly check-up

The annual wellness visit is a Medicare benefit that provides a great opportunity to make sure your health screenings are up to date. If you haven’t already had your wellness visit for this year, schedule one soon.

“The annual wellness visit is a nice

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early,” Dr. Parks says. “MCI can be (a symptom of) other things, such as anxiety and depression, and these things are very treatable and reversible.”

Physical wellness

time to sit down with your provider, talk through all (the recommended) health maintenance items and determine what makes sense (for you), because everyone has different health priorities,” Dr. Parks says.

Health screenings

There are screenings for many different types of cancer, including colon, prostate, breast and cervical cancer. You also may want to ask your practitioner about having an annual skin cancer screening with a dermatologist.

As we age, it is important to monitor our bone health. A DEXA scan measures bone mineral density as a screening tool for thinning bones and osteoporosis.

When considering your overall wellness, your emotional and behavioral health are equally as important as your physical

health to monitor and maintain.

“There are screening tools in primary care that we use for depression as part of annual wellness visits,” Dr. Parks says.

“Most of the time, cognitive screenings are completed on a case-by-case basis.”

At the Jefferson Center for Healthy Aging, 33 S. 9th St., adults 55 and older are eligible to participate in the Memory and Aging Evaluation Program. Caregivers are welcome to accompany their loved ones to the evaluation.

“We do an evaluation and full screenings for memory loss while helping diagnose conditions, like mild cognitive impairment and dementia,” Dr. Parks says.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurs when a person develops thinking and memory problems that do not interfere with daily functions.

“It is important to catch these things

Maintaining strength and balance is very important as we age.

There are numerous studies that show exercises, like tai chi, are great for preventing falls. Strength training, targeting your quadriceps, can improve balance and increase strength for standing.

“I also want to stress the importance of good hydration for older adults. You do not have a strong thirst mechanism as you get older.

I really want to encourage people to stay hydrated, especially as the temperature continues to rise,” Dr. Parks says.

In addition to drinking water throughout the day, you can increase your water intake by eating foods with a high water content, such as celery, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

Vaccines

The last component of a mid-year health and wellness check is to review your vaccination record to see if you are due for any shots. Be sure to stay up to date on your pneumococcal vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine and booster, shingles vaccine and flu shot. Ask your health care provider if there are additional vaccinations you should consider. *** For more information about the Jefferson Center for Healthy Aging, call 215955-6664.

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

JULY 2022

Milestones 13

Annual health and wellness checklist Recommended checkups:

Eye exam – Annually Hearing exam – Every two to three years Dental exam – Two teeth cleanings annually Wellness visit – Annually

Recommended vaccines:

Flu shot – Annually COVID-19 and booster(s) – As recommended by your health care provider Pneumococcal vaccine – After age 65, administered in two doses given one-year apart Shingles vaccine – After age 50, administered in two doses given two to six months apart Tetanus booster – Every 10 years

Recommended health screenings:

Blood test for lipids – Annually (during wellness visit) Breast cancers screening (mammogram) – Every one to two years Cervical cancer screening (Pap test) – Annually Colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy) – Every 10 years, starting at age 45 DEXA (bone density) scan – Every 15 years, after age 65 Lung cancer screening (low-dose CT scan) – Annually, age 55-74 for smokers or those who quit within the last 15 years Prostate cancer screening – Every two to three years, after age 50 Skin cancer screening – Annually Emotional and behavioral health screening – Annually (during wellness visit)

Discuss your annual health and wellness needs with your physician. Some checkups, vaccines and/or screenings may be recommended more frequently due to your health conditions, family medical history and other risk factors. Source: Healthline.com

PCA CAREERS IN AGING SERVICES OPEN POSITIONS MAY INCLUDE: • Accountant II • Administrative Assistant | Secretary • Assessment Worker • Care Manager | CM Case Aide • Director of Business Administration • Firehouse Center Program Coordinator • Fleet Mechanic • Intake Worker Protective Services • Meal Distribution Center Manager • Older Adult Protective Services: Investigator | Nurse Investigator |

BENEFITS:

• Health Benefits • 13 Paid Holidays

Supervisor • Quality Assurance Manager • Scheduling Support Coordinator | Supervisor • Senior Center Supervisor • Senior Companion Program Manager • Service Coordinator | SC Supervisor • Share Housing Counselor • Support Clerk • Victim Support Program: Coordinator | Supervisor • Paid Sick/Vacation Leave • Tuition Reimbursement

APPLY ONLINE: pcaCares.org/careers

Milestones 14

Can you hear speech in background noise?

Temple University is seeking adults aged 60 to 85 to participate in a hearing research study. The focus of the study is to examine our ability to perceive and understand speech in noisy conditions. Testing will take place on the Temple University campus. Compensation provided for eligible participants.

For more information, contact the Speech Perception and Cognition (SPAC) Lab 215-204-1478 or spaclab@temple.edu Speech Perception and Cognition Lab Jing Shen PhD, Principal Investigator

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Safety

• continued from page 2

whose bodies have difficulty regulating temperatures. Pre-existing conditions and medications can further complicate this, making older adults more vulnerable to heat-related illness from extreme temperatures. That is why PCA has special provisions in place for when the temperatures climb, including our Heatline (215-765-9040) that goes into effect when a Heat Health Emergency is declared for the city.

Here are some tips to help you stay cool in the summer heat: • Avoid direct sunlight when outdoors.

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings.

• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.

• Drink plenty of water.

JULY 2022

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks.

Know the signs of heat-related illness and seek emergency medical attention if you experience the following symptoms in yourself or others: • Heavy sweating.

• Pounding headache.

• Weakness, fatigue and/or dizziness.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Very high body temperature.

• Confusion.

• Unconsciousness.

I want to also encourage everyone to continue checking on your older friends and neighbors who may be homebound, isolated or depressed. Let’s support each other and have a wonderful summer!

Funded by PCA

Hearing loss • continued from page 10

Life Insurance,” said Marilyn. After marriage, she stayed home until Shari and her brother, Bruce, were preteens. During that time, Marilyn volunteered with the Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and school activities.

“Later, I worked at the Ashbourne Market, a gourmet food store in Elkins Park,” Marilyn said. “I wore a hearing aid, and I could communicate with my bosses, co-workers, vendors and customers, especially since the interactions were face-toface vs. by phone.”

While working at the USDA’s Animal Protein Pioneering Section, Jay focused on dairy products. He devised a method to detect the adulteration of many kinds of cheeses. He also found ways to boost the benefits of dairy products.

“I studied the homogenization of milk, where fat globules are broken up so that they don’t separate into cream,” Jay said.

“You want the fat globules to stay large enough so that they pass through the body and don’t get stuck in blood vessels.”

The U.S. Civil Service Commission named Jay its Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee of the Year in 1969, one of many awards he won during his career.

“I communicated with my colleagues by using my voice and lip-reading,” Jay said.

“If necessary, we wrote things down.”

Amid their busy lives, the Basches still found time for enjoyment. “My parents have literally traveled to the seven continents, including Antarctica,” Shari said.

“My mom signed for my dad. They would let tour guides know about their hearing losses, and they found that locals were quite accommodating.”

Though the passing years have brought changes, the couple remains determined.

“My mom has experienced a decline in her hearing,” Shari said. “My dad has been deaf from birth, and his deafness hasn’t caused further challenges as he gets older. Thankfully, with today’s technology, such as texting on smart phones, they can communicate with others.”

After retirement, Jay and Marilyn volunteered at many places, including the Hebrew Association of the Deaf; Deaf and Hard of Hearing Senior Citizens of the Delaware Valley; and the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, where Marilyn was the volunteer manager of the monthly alumni newsletter for several years.

Native Philadelphian Constance Garcia-Barrio writes about many topics, including Black history.

JULY 2022

Milestones 15

Crossword

Health Brief iStock

Solution: The solution can be found on page 8.

Body Parts Across

1 Piece of cake 5 Sternward 10 Binge 14 Monterrey money 15 Pacific island group 16 Cautious 17 Frenzied 18 Horrifying spectacle 20 French illustrator/ engraver

21 Nobelist poet’s monogram 22 Rush 23 Vintage car 25 Market 26 Unyielding 31 Protrude 34 Gemstone measure 35 Irish assembly 36 Mediocre 37 Guinness and Baldwin

38 Time abbreviation 39 Of bees 40 Single 41 Hic, ___, hoc 42 Hollywood’s Hope or Jessica 43 Dir. 44 Merciless 46 Axes 47 Turn right 48 Ready to travel 51 Jeanne d’Arc, for short

53 Part of a secret?

57 Rabble-rousers 59 Sacred bird of Egypt 60 Terpischore, for one 61 Member of an Eastern church 62 Failed Supreme Court nominee 63 Let it stand!

64 Lawyers’ concerns 65 Bishoprics

1 Surveyor’s nail 2 Verne hero 3 Hebrew lyre 4 Inscrutable facade 5 English choreographer 6 Ovine speech 7 Gallic girlfriend 8 In favor of 9 North Carolinian 10 Wield a baton

11 Kiln 12 City south of Moscow 13 Ancient Phoenician seaport 19 ___ lang syne 24 Newts 25 Bandleader Henderson 26 Climb 27 Claw 28 Dunne or Castle

29 Mystery writers’ awards 30 Examined surreptitiously 31 Hip, e.g.

32 Habitual practice 33 Modulated pitch 36 Cut of meat 39 Winglike structures 41 Press release 44 Damage 45 Discharges

46 Midshipman counterpart 48 Eleemosynary donation 49 Match 50 Yorkshire river 51 Commotion 52 Singular of those 54 Reed instrument 55 Beget 56 Inquires 58 Numero ___

Down

New guidance issued on daily aspirin use in older adults According to new guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adults 60 and older should not start taking daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular events, like heart attacks or strokes. People who are currently on a daily aspirin regimen should consult their doctors about whether to continue.

Low-dose aspirin had previously been recommended for older adults as a heart disease prevention measure. However, growing evidence now shows it has “no net benefit” and increases an older person’s risk of internal bleeding in the stomach, intestines and brain, which can be life-threatening.

For adults aged 40 to 59, a daily aspirin may have a “small net benefit,” according to the task force.

The new guidelines do not apply to people who have already had a heart attack or stroke. They also do not advise adults who are currently taking daily aspirin to stop taking it. However, the task force does caution that because of increased bleeding risk with age, patients may need to consider stopping daily aspirin use around age 75.

Whether or not you choose to take aspirin

depends on your cardiovascular risk and should be decided with your doctor.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S., accounting for more than 1 in 4 deaths. Each year about 600,000 people in the U.S. have a first heart attack and about 600,000 people experience a first stroke.

The science has changed since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released its last guidance on taking aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease in 2016. According to Dr. Salim Virani, a cardiologist at Baylor College of Medicine, the benefit of taking aspirin has become marginal because we have these other therapies that reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes, such as statins. But the bleeding risk associated with aspirin therapy has persisted.

“This is not a blanket recommendation that everyone on aspirin should stop their aspirin,” cautions Dr. Virani. “This information should just make you have a conversation with your physician.”

For more information, go to UsPreventiveServicesTaskforce.org.

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force