40th anniversary edition
December 2018
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Vol 40 • No. 1
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Page 1
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www.theactiveage.com Kansas’Award-winning Award-winningTop Top55+ 55+News NewsSource Source Kansas’
Lunch ladies
Mrs. B. H Campbell, right, leads an early Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club
New book celebrates 127-year-old cooking club
ACTIVE AGING PUBLISHING, INC 125 S West St., Suite 105 Wichita, Ks 67213
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wichita, KS 67276 Permit 1711
By Joe Stumpe When members of the Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club first got together 127 years ago, they surely didn’t anticipate that some of their great-granddaughters would be carrying on the tradition today.
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Yet that’s what has happened with the Wichita group, which is thought to be the oldest club of its kind in the United States. At least half of current members have a previous relative who belonged. “It’s been a wonderful experience
for me because my great-grandmother was one of the founders, and my grandmother was in the club as well,” said current president Barb Mohney. “It’s been nice to be a part of the family legacy and generational experience. See Thursday Club, page 8
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Election may boost seniors
The active age The 2018 election could lead to improvements in health care, the legalization of medical marijuana and other changes sought by seniors at the state and local level. Democratic Gov.-Elect Laura Kelly favors expanding Medicaid coverage to some 150,000 state residents. It’s estimated that about 20 percent are between the ages of 50 and 64, too young for Medicare and not eligible for Medicaid under current state regulations. The Kansas Legislature approved Medicaid expansion in 2017, but the measure was vetoed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback and a legislative attempt to override that veto fell short. “As far as Medicaid expansion, that’s been one of our issues for a while,” said Howard Tice, who chairs the Kansas Silver Haired Legislative delegation from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties. “It appears, on the surface anyway, that we’ve got a good See Election, page 10
Oh lordy, the active age turns 40
Illustration By Richard Crowson
Turn to pages 11-13 for more on the active age's history and a special invitation.
Questions about services?
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging or call your county Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372 www.theactiveage.com
By Fran Kentling The active age marks its 40th birthday this month. Strike up the band, blow out the candles and celebrate! First, let’s thank the mother of the active age, the Older Americans Act (OAA). It was passed in 1965 because of Congressional concerns about community social services for senior citizens. This was the first of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society reforms, followed by the Civil Rights and Economic Rights acts. OAA supports such programs as Meals on Wheels, in-home services, transportation, legal services, elder abuse prevention and caregivers’ See 40th Birthday, page 11
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800- 279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655