Aging at Altitude - February 28, 2016

Daily Camera

Sunday, February 28, 2016

STAY FIT: Good

ACT YOUR AGE!

physical health keeps you living longer and feeling better. healthy old age.

Story on Page 10.

From left to right Sherry Clark, Ellin Todd, Mike Freece and Trevor Campbell use sticks to do a heel lift exercise during the Boulder Country Club's Athletic Center Club 55+ Balance Class.

Paul Aiken Staff Photographer

INDEX Help with caregiving ......... Page 4 Physical therapy to gain strength, balance ............................... Page 6 Make sex a priority ............ Page 8 Classes to help you stay fit ................................Page 10 Jazz up your meals ......... Page 12 Get a job ........................... Page 14 Flaunt your style .............. Page 15 Find some fun ...................Page 18 Jonathan Castner /For the Camera

Stay independent: Jean Anderson, 82, right, works with Denise Baugh, a physical therapist at North Boulder Physical Therapy.

2 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

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Giving care, getting help About half of Boulder County seniors are caregivers

By Amy Bounds Staff Writer

H

enry Kroll’s wife, Jean Kroll, was diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease almost eight years ago, at age 63.

Since then, he has been her primary caregiver and advocate, learning the necessity both of asking for help and taking care of himself as he came to terms with his new role.

“It was a big challenge receiving the diagnosis,” he said. “I felt very overwhelmed. We were entering the early years of the golden age. I had my own business in that I had to put aside to be a caregiver.”

Kroll’s role as a senior caregiver is far from unusual.

A 2014 community assessment survey of older adults found that about half of older residents in Boulder County are caregivers.

Respondents averaged between 7 and 12 hours a week providing care for children, adults and older adults. About one-quarter of older adults in Boulder County also reported feeling physically, emotionally or financially burdened by their caregiving.

Some seniors find themselves caring for their grandchildren. Others are caregivers for spouses or other relatives or are helping friends.

Boulder County provides help for caregivers, including the Care Connections newsletter, respite programs, caregiver training classes three times a year and a caregiving symposium.

This year’s caregiving symposium is set for May 19 in Longmont and is billed as “one-stop shopping” for caregivers with workshops and a large resource fair.

“Caregiving is not something we receive any training to do,” said Emily Cooper, who manages the county’s caregiver programs.

For seniors, she said, added challenges can include their own health problems, living on a fixed income and less mobility.

Plus, she said, “We work our whole lives and look forward to 4 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Paul Aiken / Staff Photographer

Henry Kroll jokes with wife Jean as she waits for her lunch at ManorCare Health Services.

spending quality time with a loved one. Then health issues come in, and it’s a whole different thing than they thought. It can be really hard to realize your loved one has changed and the roles you’ve had for so long are different.”

For Kroll, who lives in a senior co-housing community in Boulder, reaching out for support proved vital.

“The main concern of seniors in general is isolation,” he said. “The neighbors are young, kids move on, families get busy. One of the spouses hits a health care crisis, and there’s not enough of a support system. It becomes an extraordinary challenge.”

He and his wife have no children and no relatives who live close, so he looked for other options to create a support system.

Resources Boulder County caregiving support • Email: infoCaregiver@ bouldercounty.org • Helpline: 303-441-1617 • Web: bouldercounty.org/family/ seniors/pages/careservice.aspx Alzheimer’s Association • 24-hour helpline: 800-272-3900 • Web: alz.org/co

“We can’t do this alone,” he said.

As his wife’s condition worsened, he made the decision about a year ago to move her to a long-term care home for people with dementia.

The move, he said, means professional staff members handle her personal needs, allowing him to concentrate on simply spending time with her during his daily visits.

It also means he can recharge by taking short trips to the mountains and to visit friends.

As a caregiver, he said, he has learned to focus on what matters.

“Over the years, I’ve adjusted and changed and grown,” he said. “I don’t need to travel around the world. The most meaningful parts of life are right in front of me.”

He began attending a men’s caregiver support group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association. He also found help through the Unitarian Amy Bounds: 303-473-1341, Universalist Church, neighbors and boundsa@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/boundsa friends.

MARKETING FEATURE

Frasier continues its legacy with a new chapter

By L.L. Charles. Photography by Jonathan Castner

T

he residents of Frasier will tell you: their story is a lot like the mythological phoenix rising from the ashes. But instead of ashes, water was the culprit for this premier senior living community in south Boulder. Lots and lots of water. “We are very excited to be looking at this opportunity to emerge from the Boulder historic flood better than ever,� stated Tim Johnson, President and CEO of Frasier.

It took a community to make that happen. And through the challenges, that strong sense of community has brought Frasier forward to this moment. Planning is now underway for new independent residential apartments, an updated Wellness Center, and a new Arts and Education building as part of Frasier’s master plan. These amenities will ensure that Frasier remains a top choice for Boulder’s seniors who value a fulfilling lifestyle. “We’ve been serving the Boulder community since 1960 and we looked at the flood recovery as a chance to grow and reposition, and to address our mission for the next 50 years. We’re committed to our legacy as being one of Boulder’s most vibrant retirement communities,� Johnson says.

A continuum of compassionate care At Frasier, the belief is all residents deserve superior choices in how they live. Frasier provides a continuum of care that allows residents to stay in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Health Care, as needed. Floor plans and levels of care are designed to accommodate their residents’ unique needs and preferences.

Independent Living residents can choose from comfortable apartments

in a range of sizes. From large twobedroom plus den apartments to cozy one-bedrooms, the 65+ senior will find a home with a customized fit.

Amenities include a Wellness Center, indoor therapy pool, salon and spa, well-appointed common areas, a beautifully landscaped 20-acre campus with stunning Flatiron or courtyard views, underground parking, a robust activities program, and flexible meal plans.

Frasier put careful thought into their new Assisted Living and Memory Care community – partnering with premier architectural firms to create a life-affirming atmosphere that’s inviting for those who make it their home. Residents can choose from a variety of studio and one-bedroom private, stylish apartments with access to courtyards and gardens. With 19 apartments each in Assisted Living and Memory Care, the staff focuses on holistic wellness, and works with residents and their families to create a care plan tailored to the individual needs of each resident. Additionally, they consult with experts in the field of memory-related illnesses to ensure that the unique need of residents with challenges like Alzheimer’s and dementia are addressed in every aspect of their environment.

Frasier’s 5-star rated Health Care Center, long considered one of Boulder’s premier skilled nursing facilities, combines modern technology and attentive, compassionate care to ensure that residents can live the highest quality of life that they are able. The Health Care Center offers residents attentive, around-the-clock support in an intimate environment on the campus. Frasier’s staff of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants get to know

Louise Bradley, Jim Wolf, Mary Ide and Bob Ide enjoy a rowdy game of Scrabble in the beautiful living room of Assisted Living.

Hugh Evans, Betty Bramhall and Al LeBlang take advantage of Frasier’s close proximity to downhill slopes and cross country ski trails. residents and their families personally.

This allows for a highly-individualized plan of care.

Altogether, this mix of Independent, Assisted, Memory Care and Health Care Center options allows residents to transition their care while remaining in a familiar community with their friends and peers. “There may be a couple who’ve been in Independent Living for years, and then one of them begins to need a higher level of care that requires Assisted Living. At Frasier, they can still be close and spend their time together each day, allowing them to remain in their accustomed surroundings,� says Kym Hansler, Administrator for Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Fraiser residents enjoy many special amenities: • Salon and spa • Aviary • Full calendar of events and activities • Towne Grille and Dining Room • Beautiful gardens and courtyard • Resident operated microbrewery • Panoramic views of the Flatirons • Close proximity to downtown Boulder and CU’s main campus

A day at Frasier More than 400 people call Frasier their home. Residents come from many backgrounds and have a variety of interests. Frasier’s seniors include artists and college professors, homemakers, athletes, entrepreneurs and retired military personnel.

Frasier offers something for all residents, with stimulating and inspiring events for mind and body. A day might start with a morning stretch class, warm water aerobics or gentle yoga at the Wellness Center. Enjoy a fresh air break with a brisk Nordic walk around Frasier Pond or a day trip to Chautauqua Park.

Sign up for a class in printmaking, join a book club, or grab a laptop and head over to the Cyber Seniors meeting.

In the afternoon, take in an art exhibit. Then meet up with friends in the beautiful courtyard or join in making craft beer lead by a resident brew-master in the microbrewery. It’s a richly rewarding lifestyle and residents never run out of options.

• Wellness Center with heated therapy pool • Woodshop • Book and movie library • Gift shop • Computer center • Chapel

You’re invited to attend Frasier’s community parties!

Want to learn about the new expansion updates at Frasier? Be sure to request an invitation to the upcoming Community Party on April 19 at 2 p.m. or April 26 at 10 a.m. by calling 720.562.4440. Come see Frasier’s new plans and get information on residential availability.

For general information on Frasier or to schedule a tour, call 303.499.4888.

Frasier is located near the foot of the Flatirons at 350 Ponca Place in Boulder.

How to stay independent You can improve strength and balance into your 90s

By Cindy Sutter Staff Writer

J

ean Anderson is proud to say that she can walk two blocks.

Not very long ago, walking any distance was in doubt for the 82-year-old, who lives on her own in a Boulder condo. A problem with her foot that required surgery meant that she relied too heavily on her other leg, putting stress on the knee. After the foot healed, the knee, as well as a continuing loss of strength, remained a problem.

“My leg was so weak it wouldn’t hold me,” she says.

One day, she had a fall. She was fortunate she was near a post and was able to put her arms around it and slide down gently. But the weakness was a wake-up call. She was determined to remain independent and to stay in the condo she and her husband, who died in 1986, had bought in 1978 to live in as they aged.

Anderson went to North Boulder Physical Therapy to work on her strength and her balance, and her therapist, Denise Baugh, helped her do just that. It’s made a huge difference in Anderson’s life, she says, giving her more confidence to leave the house Anderson’s case is common among older people, says Seneca Tatum, also of North Boulder Physical Therapy.

“The big deal from a PT perspective is safety in getting around,” says Tatum, who has a clinical doctorate in physical therapy. “The thing that comes up most for older people is fall risk.”

And, as with Anderson, declining strength can be very dangerous.

“Many of the people in their 80s (who I work with) are very weak,” Tatum says. “The one thing that is a red flag for safety in the home is getting up from the floor,” she says. “If the person can’t get up from the floor independently, then the medical com6 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Kira Horvath / Staff Photographer

Denise Baugh works with 82-year-old Jean Anderson to strengthen her core and legs at North Boulder Physical Therapy.

involves multiple factors. One, according to Tatum, is that balance in general begins to degrade starting at age 25. It’s worse for those who live a sedentary lifestyle, but even among active people, balance can decline as they age.

“I hear things like, ‘Oh, I was hiking on Sanitas. I hit a rock that wiggled, and I went down,’ ” Tatum says. “When they’re performing at a very high level, then take a spill they weren’t expecting to take, that can be the first cue that their balance may not be as good as it once was.”

That means it’s a good time to Kira Horvath / Staff Photographer As part of her therapy, Jean Anderson, 82, learns to balance on soft surfaces. incorporate balance work into gym exercises or even to be checked munity becomes very concerned ble to get out of a chair, use the toi- out by a physical therapist, she about safety in the home alone.” says. let, bathe and even to prepare Dizziness, another frequent meals, since it requires standing.

Leg strength is a big focus of problem, especially among the oldBalance is the other serious physical therapy for older people.

See BALANCE, 7 Having strong legs makes it possi- physical issue and one that often

BALANCE from Page 6 er old, can have several causes. One is vertigo, especially Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in which a small particle called an otolith or “ear rock” comes loose from its nest in the inner ear and falls into the ear canal, causing a spinning sensation. A physical therapist can fix this condition by moving the head quickly and putting the otolith back in place. Often, it resolves on its own.

Physical therapy also can help to retrain the vestibular system — the sensory system that guides balance and spatial orientation.

In additon to vestibular problems, dizziness can stem from medication, something people should speak with their doctors about.

Some meds, such as certain blood pressure medications, require people to get up slowly to avoid getting dizzy, Tatum says.

“When you get up, sit at the edge of the bed before you stand up.

When you stand up, get your bearings before you move,” she says.

Other types of problems can complicate the issue, Tatum says.

An example is urinary incontinence with the sudden urge to go.

That can make people get up too quickly or even try to run to the bathroom, making them more vulnerable to a fall. Although it’s not Tatum’s speciality, other therapists in the practice and elsewhere can

help with exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor and reduce incontinence.

Poor posture also can make the vestibular system worse.

“You have sensors in your neck,” Tatum says. “Your upper cervical spine is a sensory organ for balance. It can tell you where your head is in space.”

Poor posture and even stress in the neck muscles can compromise those sensors, she says: “The message about where the head is in space gets a little muddled.”

After working on both strength and balance, Anderson was able to avoid a fall last month that would likely have ended her independence. She was leaving a doctor’s appointment when she walked up a sloping sidewalk and began to lose her balance. She felt herself begin to tip forward, but she didn’t fall on her face as she believes she would have without therapy.

“I was able to hold that core, and I didn’t fall,” she says with some pride. “(If I’d fallen)I’d probably still be in the hospital.”

Of the therapy practice, she says: “They had my back.”

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Pass on your values – together we make a difference. nature.org/colorado • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 7

The road (back) to intimacy Want to feel young again? Make sex a priority

Overall health As with everything else to do with the body, being in good once attended a baby shower physical shape makes sex easier. in which mothers were asked “Sexual energy is extra energy, to share an observation about so you need to be in good parenthood. health” says local herbalist BriOne person wrote this: gitte Mars, who has written a “Two phrases you won’t be book, “The Sexual Herbal: Preusing for a long time: leisurely scriptions for Enhancing Love and meal and marathon sex.”

Passion,” which includes tips on That drew a chuckle from Jenni general health, recipes for foods Skyler, a sex and marriage therathat enhance physical and sexual pist at Boulder’s Intimacy Instivitality, in addition to recipes for tute, theintimacyinstitute.org. such items as homemade masThat’s because it’s a phenomenon sage oil. she frequently sees in her pracMars says many people have tice, and we’re not talking about driven themselves too hard, the forgetting how to book restauresulting in adrenal exhaustion. rant reservations.

To keep going, they often fuel “Sometimes (married) people themselves on caffeine, sugar and lead parallel lives. They wake up alcohol, all of which she says can (and think), ‘You’re like my roomfurther diminish sexual energy. mate.’ ” She adds that your diet should Not only can the sex in their “nourish the water element” and relationship not be characterized that it’s good to eat seeds and by the adjective “marathon,” it’s flowers, which are the fertile, aka libido-related, parts of plants. also not a sprint, jog or leisurely Orange and red foods that are walk. It’s sometimes infrequent high in lycopene are good for the enough to not be much of anyprostate, she says, and she says thing at all. lovers should feed each other Skyler says sexual activity can Laurie McAdam / The Modesto Bee these foods as part of foreplay. dwindle in the middle years with Relatedly, the time of day for the demands of children and lovemaking is important, especialcareer. enough that even couples who not occupy your every waking ly as people grow older. Mars “I have a few couples, recently talk out most differences in a thought as it did when you were says one reason for sexual dissatempty nesters. Their whole focus healthy way don’t attend to the in your 20s, it’s just as worth it isfaction is that people end up was on work or kids. They took problem, which then degrades engaging in what she calls “lefteach other for granted,” she says. when you’re in 60s, 70s and 80s. into a lack of physical affection of over lovemaking.”

And if you’ve been paying atten“They wake up and realize, ‘We any sort. tion, nigh these many years, “People often wait till they’re haven’t had any meaningful conSkyler proposes a solution to you’ve also most likely learned exhausted to make love,” she versation, we haven’t been on this problem, that sex should some things about intimacy you says. “They wait till after they’ve dates, we haven’t put a lot of require a verbal invitation. didn’t understand back in headier fallen asleep watching TV.” effort into sexual and erotic con“That frees up the whole world days.

Instead, she suggests giving sex nection.’ ” of touch.

There’s more affection special priority in various ways Ground rules One difficulty is that desire and more loving,” she says. (the way you did when that marathrives on novelty, excitement and One of the problems Skyler freFor that rule to work for both thon sex came naturally). Her mystery, Skyler says, not exactly quently sees is a discrepancy in partners, though, another has to book has a chapter on feng shui the main ingredients of a busy desires, meaning that one partner accompany it: Designated sexy in the bedroom, and it also dislife. Add to that medical condiwants sex more frequently than time, an erotic date every week. cusses making the bathroom, tions and hormonal fluctuations, the other does. That can lead to “Both partners reliably have where you clean and renew yournot to mention what you might an unhealthy spiral in which the time off and time on,” Skyler says. self, a sensual and beautiful place. call equipment failures, and it’s person who wants sex less freAnd what of the erotic time?

In the same spirit, Mars sugclear that sex isn’t quite as quently hesitates to even kiss or Skyler says some of her clients gests couples’ massage, partner uncomplicated as it was once was, hug the partner, fearing it will be “fly by the seat of their pants,” yoga and even taking a class in or at least as you think it was in misconstrued as an invitation to while others are helped by engag- Tantra. retrospect. sex. Meanwhile, the more desir“It’s all about energizing each ing in exercises to “rebuild a cerWhat any therapist will tell you, ing partner feels constantly rejecttain kind of intimacy.” though, is that while sex might ed. The dynamic can be subtle See INTIMACY, 9

By Cindy Sutter Staff Writer

I

8 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

INTIMACY from Page 8 other on all levels in your life and relationship,” she says.

Specific issues Older age is humbling in many ways, not the least of that is sexually. Men face a slow and continual decline in testosterone, while the drastic and sudden drop in estrogen that women experience deserves a word more akin to “cliff falling” than the bland “menopause.”

In both genders, the lack of hormones makes its presence known, although the effect and its severity varies widely from person to person. In recent years, erectile dysfunction drugs have been a great help to men. For women, there’s no “little blue pill” to help with the libido issues and changes in vaginal tissue they experience after cliff falling.

Dr. Lisa Lepine of Boulder Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, bouldergynecology.com, says many women come to her with sexual difficulties after menopause.

“It’s a major focus of my practice,” she says, adding that she sometimes sees women who “have sex and end up crying, rather than enjoying it.”

That’s because the drop in estrogen can cause a sharp drop in lubrication, as well as making vaginal tissues thin and less flexible. The vagina can even narrow, making penetrative sex impossible without pain.

Starting in the 1960s, many women were prescribed estrogen after menopause, which helped with such issues. However, a large, federally funded study in 2002 linked hormone replacement therapy

to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and blood clots. Many women, on advice of their doctors, quit or never started hormone replacement therapy. As years went on, some doctors prescribed hormones for brief periods of time to help with severe problems associated with menopause, but many prescribed them sparingly, if at all.

Lepine says, though, that there are more specific treatments such as estrogen creams and an estrogen ring that can help with vaginal issues. These topical drugs are absorbed in the vagina but are not systemic like high-dose hormone replacement therapies that affect the entire body.

The topical estrogen can help many women, Lepine

says, but the results are not immediate.

“It takes six to eight weeks,” she says.

Another drug available to women is Osphena, which is taken orally. Lepine says the drug is effective but can increase the risk of blood clots in some patients.

In conjunction with these drugs, doctors often recommend vaginal dilators of increasing size to stretch the vagina. Lepine says the dilators can work, but she says the medical ones are expensive. For this purpose, she recommends vibrators of various sizes, which are a lot cheaper.

One of the most common questions Lepine gets from women of all ages is whether their particular issue is normal.

“One thing I’ve learned in 22 years of practice is

that there’s a huge range of normal,” she says.

Dating The sexual issues men and women face can be particularly vexing if a new partner is involved, whether because of divorce or death.

The upside is that the mystery, novelty and excitement are there. But, somewhat shockingly, many find a new relationship no less an emotional roller coaster than it was in middle school. Sexual insecurity only adds to the bumpy ride.

“If there’s any kind of cancer, they feel like tainted goods,” says Skyler, the Boulder sex and marriage therapist. “If there’s premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, painful intercourse, or if there’s See INTIMACY, 17

MARKETING FEATURE

Boulder nonprofit, AINC, reads the news for blind listeners, provides invaluable audio information throughout Colorado

By Darren Thornberry

I

f you’re reading this article with your eyes, spare a thought for friends, family members, or loved ones who have lost their eyesight.

More than 1,500 people in this state use the audio services of the Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) in order to “read” this and many other print articles.

AINC, a Boulder-based nonprofit, has for 26 years provided blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals independent access to print materials. When the organization was founded by David Dawson in 1990 under the name “Radio Reading Service of the Rockies,” listeners received a pre-tuned receiver for simple access to original programming that was read live or recorded on reel-to-reel tapes. (Teaming with Rocky Mountain PBS, the first broadcast aired in 1991 with eight hours of original programming.)

Over the years, technology zipped along and AINC added Informationon-Demand telephone access, live streaming, and podcasting. Today’s listeners may request large button

speakerphones, internet radios and MP3 players in addition to the digital receivers. There is no cost for a listener to use AINC’s audio information services - the only source of these services in Colorado - and applications can be completed online or by phone.

Alberta “Birdie” Knapp is legally blind and relies on AINC to get the news. “Before I found AINC, I felt I was always out of the loop,” she says.

“Now I can join in and know what’s happening. I feel that I’m part of the community, even without sight.”

Dawson, his staff and volunteer readers understand that local and community information is the most difficult to access by blind and vision impaired individuals, and they’re proud to provide these invaluable audio information services to their listeners in Colorado. Bandwidth and transmitters are provided by Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Service to ensure that AINC’s audio programming spans the entire state.

Volunteers read and record all of AINC’s programming either at home or at AINC’s studios. They make everything possible. Local print materials such as newspapers,

grocery/ discount ads and magazines are AINC’s core content. Three regional broadcasts now provide programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In 2015, AINC launched its Spanish website and a 24-7 broadcast/ stream specifically for the Latino/ Hispanic community. The broadcast includes publications produced in Spanish as well as some English publications. Ultimately, it will contain 75-percent Spanish and 25-percent English content. The director of Spanish language services conducts interviews with staff from organizations that provide critical services to the community. Some examples include the Parent Engagement Network,

Grupo Companeras, Colorado DACA Project and Intercambio. Interviews are conducted in both Spanish and English when possible.

Kim Ann Wardlow, AINC’s director of marketing, says that in addition to the expansion of its Spanish-language programming, AINC is also exploring ways that it can be supportive of school districts and fill in information gaps experienced by blind and print-disabled students. Another new initiative supports other non-profit organizations by making brochures and training materials accessible for consumers with vision loss or print disabilities.

In addition to the support provided

by AINC’s incredible volunteer corps, grants from numerous foundations, trusts, and jurisdictions provide a portion of the support needed to fund the service. The organization also welcomes corporate, service club and individual donors. Donations are always welcome, though not required, to use AINC services.

For more information on becoming an AINC listener, donor or volunteer reader, call 303.786.7777 or go online to aincolorado.org.

• FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 9

Fitness for

SENIORS

How to keep moving

By Aimee Heckel Staff Writer

A

lthough Allan Engel climbed rocks for 30 years, he says the idea of hitting a climbing gym at age 72 intimidates him.

Swimming laps and being the slowest in the pool is intimidating, too, says the local man.

As a senior looking to stay active, Engel says he found his fitness home in a boxing gym.

“Boxing is a something new for the environs of Boulder,” he says. “I am not starting out at a big disadvantage.

My personal limitations are less defining.”

Staying active as you age is crucial — not only to physical well being but also socially, fitness experts say. That’s why many local fitness and senior centers offer special programming for the older crowd.

Regular activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of falling, according to the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging.

Exercise also helps seniors fight depression, by maintaining a social community and minimizing isolation, says Carrie Barry, owner of the Corner Boxing Club, where

10 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

chair?” Chinatti says. “I’m in my 30s, but I still can benefit from approaching life a little differently.”

Info: 303-530-4600, bouldercc.org.

• The Area Agency on Aging also offers a program called A Matter of Balance, and other Boulder County organizations offer falls prevention programs, says Melissa Pruitt, the agency’s wellness services coordinator.

Info: 303-441-3560, bouldercounty.org.

• The Area Agency on Aging can also provide a list of more programs, such as FallProof and Neuro Fitness classes at Boulder Community Health.

WALKING • Walk With Ease is the newest offering through the county’s Area Agency on Aging. It’s an evidence-based walking program developed by the Arthritis Foundation.

Info: 303-441-3560, bouldercounty.org.

YOGA AND MEDITATION • Yogi CM Brown teaches two classes a week at the Louisville Recreation Center called Modified Yoga for Seniors.

The classes focus on moving slowly and being present with the experience of the posture and breath to help open and deepen.

Paul Aiken / Staff Photographer “As people get older, the body starts to From left to right Ellin Todd, Mike Freece and Sherry Clark C perform Tai-Chi moves during the Boulder Country Club's Athletic change,” says Brown.

Center Club 55+ Balance Class. See more photos an nd a video at dailycamera.com.

He says his class helps bring awareness to the changing body, as well warm water. Watsu’s movements are for only about 15 percent of Activities for seniors as provide alternative ways to move and centered on your breath, coupled with the gym’s members, they Looking to o get more active? Here are accommodate the changes. principles of alignment, stretching and have extra high participation Brown also teaches a Yoga for Hips some other senior-specific s health and opening the body.

Paul Aiken / Staff Photographer levels and “their energy is and Lower Back class that’s not fitness offerin ngs around Boulder County.

Info: 303-887-7554, Pamela Deis and Joe Negler toss a ball back and forth during the specifically for seniors, although most This is by no o means a comprehensive list contagious,” he says.

Boulder Country Club's Athletic Center Club 55+ Balance Class. facebook.com/essentialelementwellness participants are, as well as a Meditation and is design ned to provide only Plavidal says this series Made Easy class at the Erie Community highlights.

BALANCE replaced Silver Sneakers at mastering new skills.

Engel goes.

Center through the senior center.

• The Boulder County Club has long his club because rent in BoulOUTDOORS More info: 303-954-9005, That class, conducted on chairs, is a The club offers a boxing der is too high to be sustain• Boulder County organizes a free Hike had senior programming, but it just 45-minute guided meditation designed to thecornerboxing.com. kicked off a new offering: Tai Chi Moving class for people with Parkined by a naturalist every for Seniors le able with the compensation Anytime Fitness in Boulder that Silver Sneakers offers. for Better Balance, through a partnership help senior participants become an son’s Disease, as well as a new month. Participants learn about the observer of their experiences, aches, with the CDC. area’s historyy and wildlife. Info: “Old Broads Boxing Class,” as reports a “significant senior Instead, Anytime Fitness pains, thoughts and emotions — to see Classes are free to members of the program” offered for free for bouldercoun nty.org, 303-678-6214, claims to be the second-cheapthe participants in this allthem in a calming, centering, objective club. You can find the class, open to the members six days a week. lcolbenson@ @bouldercounty.org. est health club in Boulder. women’s class asked to playway, Brown says. public, at other centers around town, too.

Classes range from circuit • The Boulder Women’s 40+ Walking The result of the senior profully be called. The senior-speDepression can be common among Right now, the club is conducting a 12training to core work to Hiking Socia al Group on Meetup.com has gramming? cific classes have longer week test of the program’s effectiveness, seniors, says Brown, a senior himself. yoga. Friday even boasts a more than 86 60 members. The club The “massive improvement” warm-ups and more emphasis “There can be a feeling of loss, in the says Michelle Chinatti, group fitness high-intensity interval class, organizes wa alks on area trails of varying of fitness for members age 50 way the body is functioning and the on neurologic challenges and for seniors looking for an director. The program provides difficulty. The ey’re currently organizing a to mid-80s, Plavidal says. changes in relationships ... the loss of a participants graphs to explain risks for dynamic balance (such as bal- extra challenge. new Friday lu unchtime hike.

More info: 303-443-1611, partner and friends,” he says. “This helps fall based on certain markers, she says. ance in motion), Barry says.

Info: meetup.com/boulder-womens“Honestly, the most power- anytimefitness.com. people see there is a much deeper “Tai Chi relates to your every day She says exercise also can up. walking-grou ful thing we have here with experience of themselves that does not life. There are a lot of movements where help seniors improve the qual- our club is our fit senior comWATER FITN NESS depend on external circumstances. They you’re standing on your tiptoes to reach ity of life by fostering indepen- munity. It’s awesome,” says Aimee Heckel: 303-473-1359, • For some ething different than aqua can find a place of calm and well being into the cabinet, so how do you keep dence and spark the exciteheckela@dailycamera.com or owner Greg Plavidal. aerobics, tryy Watsu, a gentle, passive within themselves.” yourself from falling over? Or getting out ment of learning and Although seniors account twitter.com/aimeemay blend of Shia atsu and bodywork done in Info: 303-396-9023, of the car, standing up from a

openspaceopenmind.net.

HOME EXERCISE • Gunbarrel-based Body Bar (weighted exercise bars) offers a variety of at-home workouts and DVDs in its Fit For Life exercise series. The series offers various movements to build strength, stability and mobility through functional movements.

Body Bar’s Aquaflex program is also aimed at the aging population.

More info: 303-938-6865, bodybar.com/body-bar-store/fit-for-lifedvds.

• In addition, the National Institute on Aging offers a free exercise booklet and DVD. Info: 800-222-2225, nia.nih.gov.

• Also, check out the senior exercise program on Channel 8, as well as Boulder’s free Forever Fit classes online at bouldercolorado.gov/channel8/ forever-fit.

DANCE • The city of Boulder’s Senior Services offers dance classes, such as Let’s Dance, set to a variety of music (including world music), Line Dancing, Music and Movement (which can be done in a chair or on your feet) and more.

The lengthy calendar also includes ballroom dancing, jazz dance for seniors and Cuban and Cha Cha styles.

Info: 303-441-4150, bouldercolorado.gov/seniors.

SPECIALIZED NEEDS • The YMCA of Boulder Valley offers a wealth of senior programs, as well as a Yoga for Cancer Care class, taught by Cary Paul. The class, for people who have been diagnosed with cancer and are in treatment or recovery, is gentle and focuses on working through scar tissue, building strength and balance, strengthening the immune system, connecting with others in similar situations and managing other side effects of cancer treatments.

Info: 303-442-2778, carypaulyoga.com, ymcabv.org.

• You can find Ageless Grace classes, under the SilverSneakers FLEX program, every week at Joy in Motion Studio in Boulder. Classes run 1:15-2 p.m. starting March 10. Ageless Grace is a brain fitness program based on neuroplasticity that taps into five different functions of the brain, as well as 21 different physical skills.

Info: Contact Laura Olinger for this and other senior-specific classes, 303-8178210, ljolinger@comcast.net, agelessgrace.com.

• FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 11

Good food at home

Spicing up the menu helps the appetite

By Cindy Sutter Staff Writer

F

or those of us who love food, it’s hard to believe that eating can come to seem like a chore.

But for many elders, especially the most elder elders, energy and taste buds seem to decline at roughly the same pace. Add to that the fact that protein is necessary to maintain muscle, yet the prospect of a big slab of meat isn’t appealing to some as they age.

Mary Collette Rogers, a kitchen coach (everydaygoodeating.com) who teaches classes in healthful cooking at local rec centers and at Meals on Wheels through her business, Live Happy, Cook Healthy, says taste is an important part of getting older people to eat but one that is sometimes neglected.

“You go to senior living (facilities) and it seems like the food gets blander and blander with age,” says Rogers. “That’s kind of backward. You need to bump up the flavors.”

Some of it might be generational preference. Before the baby boom generation, food in much of the country was meat and potatoes with fresh produce when you could get it and frozen or canned when you couldn’t. A confounding factor is that many older folks are on low-sodium diets. If they’re unfamiliar with herbs and spices to help compensate, food without salt can be boring, indeed.

Meals on Wheels of Boulder has worked on changing its menu according to the evolving preferences as baby boomers grow older and in need of their services. A look at the agency’s current delivery menu, for example, offers items such as a Cajun skillet, fajitas and mushroom risotto.

Rogers’ class, as well as the agency’s Cafe Classico, are ways 12 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Kira Horvath / Staff Photographer

Mary Collette Rogers cooks a potato and carrot dish with different spice blends at her Boulder home. Rogers, who will teach a cooking class in March at Meals on Wheels, says using spice blends is an easy way to get a good variety of flavors.

potatoes and peas with several different spice blends.

“We made the traditional Indian, What: “Healthy Dishes for Holidays, a sweeter curry, one with herbes Special Days and Everyday” de Provence and the last one a When: 2-4 p.m. March 24 Savory Spice Shop sweet VietnamWhere: West Senior Center, 909 ese curry,” she says. “Everyone Arapahoe Ave., Boulder went crazy for that one.”

Cost: Free Curries, stews and other recipes Info: 303-441-3907 or 303-441in which meats or tofu can be cut 3908 into bite-sized pieces and cooked soft also can be helpful as people get older and may have trouble Meals on Wheels evolves with its with chewing and swallowing. clients.

In terms of nutrition, the main In the most recent class Rogers thing is to make every calorie taught there, she showed students count, Rogers says. Metabolism how different spice blends can slows as people age, meaning peohave a big effect on flavor. She pre- ple need fewer calories to maintain pared a simple dish of carrots, a healthy weight.

If you go

“Your calorie needs go down, but you still have the same nutrient needs,” Rogers says. “You still need vitamins and minerals.

There’s not as much room to binge on a piece of chocolate cake.

That might be 500 calories, maybe with no nutrients.”

For those who live alone, Rogers says part of her mission is inspiring them to make the effort to cook something that appeals.

“It’s still worthwhile and valuable to be taking some time and putting some effort into that cooking,” she says.

Cindy Sutter: 303-473-1335, sutterc@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/cindy_sutter

Indian Spiced Potatoes with Peas and Carrots You can riff on this basic dish by substituting different blends of spices. Experiment with the three options below and see how easily one dish can be turned into four or more, if you add protein.

2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds 1 tablespoon canola oil 2 tablespoons hot water To finish the dish: 3 cups chicken or vegetable broth 2 cups tomatoes, cut in 1-inch For the vegetables: pieces or 1 28-ounce can Muir 4 to 5 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, Glen diced tomatoes, with juices baked, cooled, peeled and cut 1-2 cups frozen green peas into K-inch dice ½ teaspoon sea salt (more or less, 1 tablespoon canola oil to taste) 1 medium onion, ½-inch dice 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground 3 cups carrots (about 4 medium pepper carrots), ½-inch dice Garnishes: plain, whole milk yogurt For the Indian spices: or lemon juice 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed Directions: Baked or microwave lemon juice potatoes. Cool, peel and cut into 2 teaspoon grated ginger (about a 2- pieces. Reserve for later. inch pieces), or more or less to For the remaining vegetataste bles: Heat oil over medium heat in a large, deep sauté pan. Add onions 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2-3 medium cloves), more or less and sauté until just beginning to brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add to taste (from about 2-3 medium carrots and sauté 3-4 more minutes. cloves) For the Indian spices: While vege1/8 to ¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes, tables are sautéing, combine spice to taste bloom ingredients, in order given, 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl and stir well.

2 dashes ground cloves Reserve.

1 teaspoon ground cardamom Stir broth into sauteed vegetables,

There are many reasons why we are the longest-serving and most-awarded hearing care professionals.

Here are eight of them.

French Spice Blend 2 tablespoons Herbes de Provence Dash cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon hot water

Directions: Combine ingredients in the order given in a small glass mixing bowl. Stir to combine well.

Allow to sit at least 10 to 15 minutes before using.

Vietnamese Sweet Curry Sauce

Lemon

1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted 1 tablespoon Savory Spice Vietnamese Sweet Lemon Curry 1 tablespoon hot water

Directions: Combine ingredients in the order given in a small glass mixing bowl. Stir to combine well.

Allow to sit at least 10 to 15 minutes before using.

Mexican Spice Blend 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice 2 teaspoons. oregano (preferably Mexican) 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 teaspoon chili powder 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions: Combine ingredients in the order given in a small glass mixing bowl. Stir to combine well.

Allow to sit at least 10 to 15 minutes before using.

Source: Cook Happy | Live Healthy program at everydaygoodeating.org

FIND A FRIENDLY, WELCOMING SPACE TO CALL YOUR OWN The Y is a place of community, wellness and healing, providing people of all ages with warm smiles, expert instruction and opportunities to support the spirit, mind and body. Find your strength in our many fitness classes, including SilverSneakers®, Moving for Better Balance and Fit After 50. Find your community among numerous clubs and social groups.

Voted the best for six years running We service all hearing aids and welcome new patients.

The Y also offers programs that target specific conditions including diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and arthritis.

Call to schedule your complimentary hearing screening.

303.857.5836 Boulder • 3059 Walnut St Broomfield • 300 Nickel St, Ste 15 Lafayette • 2770 Arapahoe Rd, Ste 126

cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 15 minutes until carrots are almost tender when tested with a fork.

Stir in tomatoes, potatoes, salt and pepper. Continue simmering, covered, about 5 more minutes until carrots are completely done.

Stir in peas and cover and cook another 3 to 5 minutes, until peas are tender but still colorful. Add a little additional broth if a thinner stew is desired. Remove pan from heat, stir in reserved spice bloom, salt and pepper. Cover pan. Let sit for 10 minutes for flavors to meld.

Garnish with plain whole milk yogurt or freshly squeezed lemon juice, if desired.

Locally owned and operated since 1963

YMCA OF BOULDER VALLEY ymcabv.org Locations in Boulder, Lafayette and Longmont

• FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 13

Job advice: Serve other elders — and learn computer skills

By Jerd Smith Business Editor

OK. So you’re 50-something, or 60-, 70-, or even 80something, and you still need and want to work.

But the prospect of finding a new job at these advanced ages is terrifying, in part, experts say, because age bias is alive and well and, equally important, the technical skills needed to stay relevant can be tough to acquire and to maintain.

These issues, though difficult, are not insurmountable if you have a few tools.

Jocelyn Talbot, vice president of sales at Waltham, Mass.-based retirementjobs.com, says her company

offers job listings by companies it has certified as “age friendly.”

This means they’re interested in, even eager, to hire, retirees or people approaching retirement age. The criteria by which these “agefriendly” companies are evaluated include whether they offer 401(k) plans, offer flex-time, part-time and telecommute options, and are not the subject of age-bias complaints or lawsuits, among other things.

While online job sites are one way to find “age-friendly” employers, Talbot and others also recommend seeking out companies that serve the people who look

like you.

“A game start-up with 10 folks who just graduated college is not going to hire Robert De Niro (the scenario on which the recent movie “The Intern” was predicated). The movie was cute, but highly unlikely,” Talbot said. “But there is a segment of businesses who understand what its customers want.”

So Talbot recommends looking at banks and investment firms, for instance, whose older clientele want to talk to people who understand their life perspective.

The same is true for eldercare companies and government agencies, such as the

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which serves large numbers of aging veterans, among others.

“Some industries are more attuned to the value of hiring mature workers who stay on the job three times longer. If a company is concerned about turnover and training costs, hiring an experienced, mature employee will solve some of those issues,” Talbot said.

Colorado State University professor Richard Feller works with the American Association of Retired People to help assist older adults in their efforts to enter and stay in the work force. Feller is also the

author of “Knowledge Nomads and the Nervously Employed.”

He believes technology has dramatically disrupted the economy and the workplace.

To combat the problem, Feller advises older job seekers first to find tutors — or grandchildren — from whom they can learn to use social media and any computer apps or languages needed for the jobs to which they’re applying.

Second, he says, is to establish oneself on LinkedIn. “If they’re not on LinkedIn, they don’t exist. It’s that See JOBS, 17T

MARKETING FEATURE

YMCA OF BOULDER VALLEY

A myriad of offerings attracts active older adults

By Judy Finman

S

erving Boulder, Broomfield and Weld counties, the YMCA of Boulder Valley is a tremendous resource and community for older adults.

“The Y is there for all adults whatever their health needs are and whatever they are going through mentally, physically, socially and emotionally,” YMCA Communications Director Andra Coberly says. “There are numerous social clubs and fitness classes for active older adults, and our prevention and healing programs target many different conditions – like heart disease, pre-diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and other conditions and illnesses.”

The Parkinson’s Fitness Program is led by its founder, Gary Sobol, who has Parkinson’s himself. The exercise movements focus on strengthening, balance and flexibility as well as increasing power and agility. He is proof that those with the disease can maintain and/or regain many of their abilities with the help of exercise.

“We have many success stories,” Coberly says. “In our Yoga for Cancer

14 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Care class, one woman had gone through numerous treatments and surgeries during her second bout with breast cancer. She looked for a program in the community to bring her body back. In our yoga class, she developed strength and balance and lost her fear that she would hurt her body. She regained the ability to move and found the person she used to be.”

Coberly emphasizes the importance of “the social aspect, whether it’s our classes or clubs. We have created numerous communities that bring people together around a common situation”.

Active adult programs The YMCA's Prevention & Healing Programs are numerous and impressive. They focus on a variety of conditions, helping participants get healthier, build strength and balance, gain knowledge and address their specific needs. These classes, some of which support people who want to prevent disease from occurring, include: Activate for Life, a program for those who face cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes or obesity.

Participants are referred to this 12-week program by their healthcare provider.

Activate for Life and its parallel program in Spanish, Tomando Control, have been recognized by the Colorado Health Foundation for their value and potential.

YMCA Diabetes Prevention, a program that helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk of developing the disease.

The YMCA’s program uses a CDCapproved curriculum and is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Enhance Fitness, a proven senior fitness and arthritis management program. It has been recognized by the CDC and other national organizations.

LIVESTRONG at the Longmont Y, which helps cancer survivors on their journey toward recovery.

Parkinson's and MS Fitness Programs, which incorporate exercises that target specific deficits and focus on strength, balance and flexibility.

Yoga for Cancer Care, a drop-in class for those who have been diagnosed with cancer and are currently in treatment or recovery. It is gentler than most yoga classes and is customized to

the needs of the student.

Yoga For Parkinson’s, a drop-in class that includes yoga, qi gong and other exercises specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s.

Social and exercise programs There are many choices of social and exercise programs for active older adults at the Y. Along with the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, many other exercise classes are offered.

Social events include the monthly SilverSneakers® Luncheon with a guest speaker, and Member Clubs, which include book clubs, ping pong, author readings, needlecraft, Nordic walking and lots more.

To learn about the many offerings of the YMCA, contact any one of its three centers: Mapleton Center, 2850 Mapleton Avenue, Boulder, 303.442.2778; Arapahoe Center and Administrative Offices, 2800 Dagny Way, Lafayette, 303.664.5455; and the Longmont Center, 950 Lashley Street, Longmont, 303.776.0370. Visit the website www.ymcabv.org.

Local stylists weigh in on fashion after 50

By Aimee Heckel Staff Writer

One of the most common questions professional stylist Marian Rothschild hears is this: How can I look fashionable but still age-appropriate?

Indeed, just because it’s in style does not mean it’s right for you, and Rothschild says she believes 99.9 percent of the stuff in any given store isn’t flattering for the shopper. The key is finding those few items that do work for you, considering your unique skin tone, style, body

Senior style shape and age.

“Ever ybody has to be picky, and you have to be even pickier when you get into your senior years,” says Rothschild, of Boulder, who is a certified image consultant and the author of the book “Look Good Now and Always.”

Although personal style largely depends on the individual (and pinpointing that is part of her job as an image consultant), she says there are still a few rules that can help guide most seniors.

“You do not have to look frumpy, just because you’re in your 60s or even 80s,” Rothschild says. “But we do need to make some adjustments, because as time goes by, things

change.”

The most obvious alterations are in hem-length, Rothschild says. Ditch the mini skirts and pick skirts and dresses that fall at or just below the knee.

Long-sleeved shirts that cover the upper arm also tend to make many older women feel more comfortable than sleeveless shirts, she says.

And the go-to, on-trend style she recommends for all older women is a longer, tunic-style top, jacket or cardigan that has a defined waist.

Just as important as the cut is the fabric, however, says Rothschild. Flimsy, thin fabric — even on Courtesy photo T-shirts — shows ever y A tunic-style top, jacket or cardigan with a defined waist is See FASHION, 16 flattering for most women, as are knee-length skirts.

Recipe for a happy life: Just add water

Located in Loveland, west of I-25 on Highway 34. Go north on Boyd Lake Ave. and follow the signs to our model homes.

970.775.2947

WonderlandHomes.com

• FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 15

FASHION from Page 15 lump and bump and may not be the best choice.

Instead, Rothschild recommends more structured material.

Of all the ways to sharpen your image, Rothschild says posture makes the biggest impact.

Good posture not only makes your clothes fit and look better, but it has a psychological effect, too, Rothschild says.

“Poor posture not only makes us look and feel older and unhealthy, but it zaps our energy. It takes away not only our physical strength, but our emotional strength, too. Our confidence,” Rothschild says.

Practice standing up straight with your shoulder back by setting an alarm ever y hour to remind you, until your muscles and neurology better retains the habit. Also, she says,

ever y time you walk under a door way, remember to straighten your spine.

Your personal image is not about vanity, Rothschild says. It’s much deeper than that.

“No matter what age you are, you matter. Your thoughts and your feelings and your self-esteem and your ideas and your input —- you being here matters to so many people that you don’t even realize,” she Courtesy photo says. “And when we A modern hairstyle, as well as express confidence and a scarf, can add style to your self-esteem, we feel vital. look.

We feel like we matter.”

Other fashion tips for fit.

• Add some color to your seniors: face with some makeup According to Marian accents. At the ver y least, Rothschild (marianroths apply a bright pop of lipchild.com): stick.

• A strong shoulder • Don’t neglect to apply seam provides a straight, moisturizer twice daily and more pulled-together look sunscreen in the morning. than a raglan or dropped • Wondering whether to

Courtesy photo

Necklaces and earrings add sparkle to your face.

color your hair or let it go gray?

Rothschild says, “If you feel more beautiful, vibrant and vital by coloring your hair, then keep coloring it, as long as it’s flattering for you.”

If you choose to go gray, she says, make sure that you still wear makeup (so

Experience:

Aging answers Information & Assistance for Aging Well

303-441-1617

www.BoulderCountyHelp.org 16 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Commitment: Passion:

you don’t look washed out) and that you have a modern hairstyle.

• Black clothes are only a neutral color if you have black hair. For others, it is too heavy and dark.

Instead, replace black with jewel tones, such as royal blue, garnet, eggplant and emerald green. Unless your hair is gray. Then you will look more balanced with softer colors, such as aqua, mint green, powder blue and coral.

• Accessorize with necklaces and earrings. This brings the focus to your face and adds some sparkle.

• As men get older, they tend to wear clothes that are too big. Your clothes should skim the body, not cling or sag. Also, for a style boost, men should replace black with teal, See FASHION, 17

FASHION from Page 16

INTIMACY from Page 9

replace black with teal, your stylist to recommend (coloronstyle.com): a modern style. blue or maroon.

• Have one spring and • If you’ve had the same According to Boulder one fall scarf, to add more hairstyle for decades, ask stylist Jennifer Krigsman style to a look.

any kind of STD, even common stuff like herpes, (they think) ‘no one will want to date me.’ ” The good thing, though, is that these types of issues and your willingness to discuss them provide a good indicator about whether the relationship is ready for sexual intimacy.

On this point, Skyler references Al Vernacchio, whose TED talks addresses readiness for sex, which is the same for ages 14 to 90.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how many dates you’ve had,” Skyler says. “When you’re mature enough to have that conversation — ‘What’s your sexual health? Have you had any STDs? Do you use condoms? When’s the last time you were tested?’

“When you’re ready to have that mature conversa-

JOBS from Page 14 powerful,” he said.

Third is to demonstrate on resumes and online profiles that you have learned new technical skills and continue to pursue training.

Once companies understand that you’re in the technical know, they no longer will care how old you are, he said.

“Micro-colleges and micro-credentials are really the future,” Feller said.

“Every resume has to include some demonstration that you are learning online or going to school.”

“The disruptive nature of technology has changed all

of work,” Feller said.

“There is not a job I look at that isn’t changing. Part of my job is to keep up with all the new programs. If I can’t learn online, I’m not even in the ballgame.”

Joe Parker, 75, is a Longmont-based lifelong entrepreneur. With a partner he is developing a product that will make it easier for companies such as Hershey’s to keep its chocolate bars cool during shipping more efficiently and at a lower cost than traditional packaging materials now allow.

But he’s also interested in energy savings and new

technologies.

He continues to work because he wants to.

“A lot of my friends are retired. They keep asking me why I keep working and I tell them, ‘It’s fun; it’s creative; it’s exciting.’ ” It also requires a passion for learning. Days before he went in for a hip replacement, he drove to Norlin Library at the University of Colorado-Boulder and downloaded 35 research papers to read.

Immersing himself in the research, he said, ““is an opportunity to see what’s happening and to keep up.”

tion about sex, to put language to it, you have the emotional maturity to do it.”

Redefinition

Skyler adds that many couples are stuck in a script: “Sex has to be only intercourse. You have to ascend the stairs, kiss, take off your clothes, touch just so and have a mind-blowing orgasm.”

“Sex doesn’t have to be like that whatsoever,” she says, adding that it could be a sensual shower, oral sex, touching — whatever brings pleasure and closeness.

As herbalist Mars puts it: “It’s all about weaving your lives together. There are many ways of making love.”

Cindy Sutter: 303-473-1335, sutterc@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/cindy_sutter

Kaiut Yoga EVERY

• FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 17

Yes, fun can get old Groups help seniors find their artful side

By A.H. Goldstein For the Camera

There’s a logic behind Sandy Hale’s refusal to divulge her age during casual conversation.

It’s not a question of pride or vanity for Hale, a longtime Boulder resident who came to Colorado after successful careers in advertising, academia, the arts and seemingly every profession in between.

Instead, Hale keeps her personal data private for a different reason, a critical cause that helped drive her in the establishment of the VIVA theater troupe in 2002.

As the official theater company of the Society for Creative Aging, VIVA is dedicated to giving older adults full access to the art and craft of theater. That mission aligns with the larger philosophy of the SCA, which seeks to connect seniors with the mental and physical benefits of art.

“I believe in the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy when it comes to sharing my age,” said Hale, who currently sits on the board of directors for VIVA. “Too often, people take age as a yardstick to measure who you are.

I think part of our job in VIVA is to debunk those stereotypes, to prove that you can do whatever you want and that age should not dictate what you do.

“That’s the good thing about the arts — they’re a lever to greater things. You can be involved at any time in your life,” she added.

The past several years, there have been a wide range of productions by the troupe, shows that range from unique takes on classic stories such as “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “The Wizard of Oz” to spins on works by Nora Ephron and original shows about the history of Boulder.

Recently, the company mounted a radio production of “Alice In Wonderland” that featured a cast ranging in age from 10 to 93.

According to Hale, the theater company serves an audience and performer base that’s rapidly grow18 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

Courtesy photo

Simone D.G. Key, left, Kelly Catlin, center and Jo Zender perform in VIVA’s recent radio-play version of “Alice in Wonderland.”

ing.

“The last few years, we’ve had several shows sell out. We’ve had to turn people away,” Hale said. “We also have a lot of seniors who want to be in our performances. We try very hard to include almost everybody — we make the effort to have enough parts for everybody.”

Hale and the rest of the crew at VIVA aren’t the only ones in Boulder County working hard to connect local seniors to the arts. From local orchestra series that cater specifically to older audiences to coffeehouse poetry readings geared toward participants older than 60, opportunities abound for audiences and artists of all ages.

For those involved, such activities are much more than simple distractions. The arts serve as a valuable therapy for many facing common challenges associated with aging.

Something as seemingly simple as a play, an art class or a poetry reading Courtesy photo can serve as the antidote to all-too- Circle of Care offers activities such as Elder Adventures, an outdoor arts and See FUN, 19 nature program.

FUN from Page 1 common feelings of isolation that can come with getting older.

“The culture of aging in our country has changed, because we have the largest age-60-plus population at any time in our history,” said Joan Raderman, founder and director of the Boulder-based nonprofit Circle of Care. “Simply, an issue that really has never been addressed is the impact of social isolation on the health and well-being of people as they age.”

The question of isolation and its impact on the well-being of a huge segment of the population was a driving force for Raderman when she established Circle of Care in 2004. The award-winning organization is dedicated to connecting seniors to art on all levels, and Raderman is quick to explain that the effort involves much more than buying tickets to a show.

The everyday logistics of Circle of Care include such simple steps as coordinating transportation to a given concert or theatrical performance. Raderman and her staff have organized poetry readings and art classes, all for the sake of a simple core mission.

“Circle of Care’s work is to bring seniors back in to the circle of community,” Raderman said. “It’s mobilizing the arts for community development. Circle of Care gives seniors the opportunity to feel like they’re part of something. The ripple effect has been astounding to me.”

Since 2004, that has included the

Intergenerational Voices series, a program that gives participants a platform to share stories, songs and monologues in an open-mic setting.

It’s included the launch of art classes and workshops, activities that proved to be a sorely needed boon after the Boulder floods of 2013. Circle of Care also has helped coordinate trips to countless plays, concerts and other cultural activities, thanks to partnerships with more than 50 art organizations across the region. For example, the Dairy Arts Center’s “Soundscapes” concert series, which features classical and choral performances, is a regular destination for Circle of Care participants.

All of these options have affected more than 2,500 seniors since the nonprofit formally launched more than 10 years ago. If the ever-expanding demand of organizations such as Circle of Care and VIVA is any indication, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to seniors who are taking full advantage of the impressive power of the arts.

“I think it’s just recently that marketers are realizing that seniors are an excellent group,” said Hale, who hosted a program dedicated to seniors’ issues on a local PBS station for many years.

“Seniors subscribe to the arts,” she said, adding that the proof is in the audiences for every VIVA production. “We reach out to the retirement communities, and many of them will bring busloads.”

50 AND OVER? DO YOU KNOW

WHERE YOU ARE

GOING? I CAN

HELP YOU GET THERE.

50plus Integrative Health targets the specific health and wellness issues of the second half of life.

Offerings include Integrative Coaching for Midlife and Beyond, Neuroscience-based Interventions, Mindfulness,Yoga Therapeutics and Physical Rehabilitation.

Robin Saltonstall, PhD 50plus Integrative Health

3985 Wonderland Hill Avenue Boulder, CO 80304 USA

303 544 0402

robin@50plusIntegrativeHealth.com 50plusIntegrativeHealth.com • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 • 19

Creating connections.

Honoring lives.

Embracing possibilities.

You’ve spent a lifetime of becoming the person you are today. And at Frasier, we celebrate this. This is the time to explore your passions and expand your life in any direction you choose. And, through your retirement years, our expert continuum of care is here to offer you security and peace of mind. It’s all of this and so much more that make Frasier such an extraordinary place to call home.

Frasier offers a full continuum of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Health Care Center.

Call 303.499.4888 for an appointment or tour.

20 • FEBRUARY 28, 2016 •

350 Ponca Place | Boulder, Colorado FrasierMeadows.org