Senior Nation

Senior Nation: Nature’s Many Benefits by Susan Covey

October 4, 2022 by Susan Covey Leave a Comment

Scientific studies have proven that, not only walking, but just being in nature has a profound positive impact on our health. Of course, we know that if we walk at least 15 minutes a day, we will have fewer diseases and are less likely to get cancer, have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke and have better bone density.

But recent researchers are now demonstrating a reduction in stress, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as an upswing in mood and general outlook on life just as a result of being outside. They have also shown a link to longevity and decreased risk of mental illness and depression. (Kuo and Taylor 2004, DeVries et al. 2003) Health benefits of nature may also have relevance to injury prevention and control, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, musculoskeletal conditions, and other maladies, including cancer (Li 2009).

Drawing attention to these benefits of outdoor leisure and recreation for improved health helps shift attention from the downstream costs of health care to the upstream efforts to prevent ill health from occurring. An upstream focus is always empowering and enables individuals to take a more prominent role in our own wellness.

So, take control and get out there! Enjoy everything around you, and take the time to PLAY. After all, you’re never too old to jump in the leaves!

Susan S. Covey is the Director of Health and Fitness at Bayleigh-Chase.

Message to Seniors: It’s Time to Come Back to Your Local Senior Center

September 20, 2022 by The Spy Leave a Comment

Of the countless ways that COVID-19 impacted Mid-Shore communities, the great “senior citizen retreat” into isolation during the pandemic has been the least reported. By late Spring of 2020, hundreds of community elders ended their regular routine of visiting senior centers, such as Easton’s Brookletts Place, and have not been back since.

Their absence is worrisome for Upper Shore Aging’s Teresa Greene and Talbot County’s Department of Social Services Lee Lynch Newcomb. Not only are these seniors prone to more social isolation, but in more than a few cases, they are experiencing self-neglect. Over the past two years, many elders have forgone eating balanced meals, trips to the doctor, and forgetting to take medication and maintain personal hygiene. Without social interaction and contact with peers, there is a growing number of senior citizens trapped in their own homes, even as the dangers of the pandemic have been dramatically reduced.

The Spy drove over to Brookletts Place last week to chat with Teresa and Lee about the dangers of senior isolation and how they are partnering this Fall to get the word out to our aging population that it’s safe to come back and see old friends.

This video is approximately 3 minutes in length. For more information about Upper Shore Aging’s Brookletts Place programming please go here.

Queen Anne’s at Home Installs Three New Board Members

September 15, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Queen Anne’s at Home (QA@H) is pleased to announce the addition of three new Board members to guide its activities and further its mission. There are now 10 members on the Board.

Cathy Dougherty of Grasonville is a retired social worker and the former director of the Queen Anne’s County Department of Social Services. Her strengths lie in developing community partnerships. She plans to help QA@H by furthering connections in the area’s diverse senior community.

Karen Twigg resides in Centreville. She is a registered nurse who serves as the Vice President, Population Health, Community Health, for The Coordinating Center in Millersville. Her expertise lies in the design, implementation, and support of community health programs.

Bonnie Walter of Stevensville has extensive experience working with senior citizens, serving as President of the Queen Anne’s County Commission on Aging since 2016. She is the receptionist at the Queen Anne’s County Visitors Center and is active with the Kent Island Lions Club, Kent Island Elks, and the Terrapin Grove Resident Association.

“The directors and I are pleased to welcome these talented leaders as new colleagues on the Board,” said President Cindy Bach. “These accomplished people will add significant value to our organization, drawing from their experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.” Bach continued, saying, “It truly takes all of us to make a difference. I look forward to the additional insight that these Board members will offer our team as we strive to serve even more seniors in Queen Anne’s County.”

QA@H is a caring community of seniors who help each other stay safe, healthy, connected, and independent at home. Its mission is to help seniors thrive at home which addresses the number one fear that senior citizens have: “What if I can’t stay in my own home?” Members assist each other with rides to appointments and household chores, among other things. QA@H arranges social activities such as coffee meet-ups, happy hours, and outdoor adventures as well as informational seminars where experts present topics relevant to seniors.

To donate, visit www.queenannesathome.org or mail a check to PO Box 164, Centreville, MD 21617.

About Queen Anne’s at Home

Founded in 2018, QA@H is based on the model of seniors helping seniors to thrive as we age in our own homes. Members offer help as they can and seek help as they need. This reciprocity helps build on QA@H’s three foundational principles of empowerment, connection, and purpose.

The Queen Anne’s At Home Fund is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a public foundation designated as a 501(c)(3) charity. Donations to the Fund support Queen Anne’s At Home’s programs helping seniors stay safe, healthy, connected, and independent at home and are tax-deductible as allowed by law. A copy of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation’s financial statement is available at www.mscf.org or by calling 410-820-8175. Information about Mid-Shore submitted under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Senior Nation: September a Great Time to Start New Fitness Program

September 1, 2022 by Susan Covey Leave a Comment

Not only is September “Healthy Aging Month”, but it is also a great time to start a new fitness program. For one thing, fall can be a treat for the senses: the crisper air, the leaves beginning to change colors. Walking and hiking are both awesome in the fall months.

A FEW TIPS FOR FALL FITNESS:

Try thinking outside the box and learn something new, something you’ve always wanted to try like dancing, horseback riding or biking.

Be an ACTIVE TV watcher. If you’re into fall premiers and plan to sit down to watch for hours , make it a date with exercise AND TV. While you watch, you can walk in place, do standing lunges, triceps dips off the couch, lift weights, or do push-ups and sit-ups during the commercials.

Rejuvenate your mind and spirit as well. Learn to meditate, take an art class or learn a new language.

Strive for the three C’s: commitment, convenience and consistency. Put it on the calendar just like any other appointment; choose an activity that is close by and, when you can’t fit in 30 minutes each day, do 10 minutes rather than skip exercise altogether.

Susan Covey is the Fitness Director at Bayleigh Chase in Easton

Upper Shore Aging’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Seeks Volunteers and Volunteer Stations

August 9, 2022 by Upper Shore Aging Leave a Comment

Volunteering has never been easier! Upper Shore Aging’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), sponsored by Upper Shore Aging, Inc. (USA) and funded by AmeriCorps, spans three counties on the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland: Kent, Talbot, and Caroline. RSVP, launched in 2021, recruits and places older adults (age 55+) in a diverse range of volunteer activities to meet various community needs.

Pictured is Gil Slagle of Worton, an RSVP volunteer, who helps to run the Upper Shore Aging Senior Care Farmer’s Market, held at the Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center in Chestertown.

Mavis Jones joined the program in August 2021 as the Kent County Project Coordinator for Upper Shore Aging’s RSVP. She states, “My job is to recruit and place senior volunteers over the age of 55 to work with nonprofit organizations that are willing to host a senior volunteer. These nonprofits partner with USA to become a volunteer station, signing a Memorandum of Understanding which outlines the organization’s responsibilities.

Currently, in Kent County, these organizations include the Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary, Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center, Meals on Wheels, Kent Association of Riding Therapy (KART), Eastern Shore Rabbit Rescue and Education Center, Main Street Rock Hall, AARP Tax-Aide of the Mid-Shore, and Upper Shore Aging. Adds Jones, “I am also looking to build relationships with any organization that wants to host senior volunteers so that we can expand the volunteer opportunities available.”

Upper Shore Aging’s website for RSVP, volunteersontheshore.org is a centralized place for anyone seeking a volunteer opportunity in Kent, Caroline, or Talbot counties. The site includes information on the enrollment process and a listing under each county of volunteer opportunities.

That is how volunteer Gil Slagle of Worton found the site in May while looking for places to volunteer. Slagle, who volunteers at the Farmer’s Market held at the Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center, recently returned to the area after retiring from a career with Southern States and cooperative agriculture and living in North Carolina.

“I was born and raised in Kent County and was looking for a way to give back. I got on the Internet and searched for volunteer opportunities and this program came up,” he states.

“I enjoy interacting with the seniors coming through the Farmers Market and helping them with their produce. I am interested in doing additional volunteering with the Chester River Hospital Center Auxiliary.”

In addition to the Amy Lynn Ferris Adult Activity Center, volunteers can work at several other locations, including the Eastern Shore Rabbit Rescue and Education Center in Rock Hall. Here they can feed and groom the bunnies, clean cages, and provide rotational play time in a large pen. At the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, volunteers can assist nurses and other hospital staff by performing messenger duties, patient, and specimen transportation, and conducting COVID screening of visitors.

Jones adds that RSVP is always looking for new organizations to place volunteers with so that the program can get volunteers in the right places right off the bat.

“The benefits of the RSVP are that I can screen them to determine what might be a good fit for their volunteer service and help them navigate getting connected to that organization. This can be a real timesaver as there are a lot of nonprofits in Kent County. Our volunteers also become part of a network of volunteers,” Jones comments.

“This program serves a dual purpose. It’s not only giving the senior volunteer a meaningful volunteer experience that suits them, it’s serving the needs of the organization, which also means meeting critical community needs.”

Some of the advantages of being an RSVP volunteer are that the volunteers are covered under a supplemental accident and liability insurance policy, they can get meal and mileage reimbursement, and they receive volunteer recognition and ongoing support.

Currently, there are between 25 and 30 people in the program and the average age of RSVP volunteers is in the 60s. Jones schedules each volunteer commitment based on the terms of the volunteer.

“I’m finding with senior volunteers that they want flexibility – some just want a few hours at a time and others want to give more of their time. The majority probably also want to do something different from what they’ve done in their careers.

Upper Shore Aging serves Kent, Talbot, and Caroline counties, so the RSVP has coordinators like Jones in each of the counties to help match volunteers to services. Volunteer service opportunities are as diverse as the communities in which volunteers serve and can include areas such as delivering meals to the homebound, offering to transport a senior to an appointment, helping with a home repair, socializing with a senior in person or by phone, teaching or leading an activity at a Senior Center, assisting with tax preparation, or offering legal aid, helping with a community garden, packaging and distributing food at a food pantry, tutoring or mentoring a child, supporting a child in school or during a summer program, or working with developmentally disabled children or adults.

In Kent County, RSVP is looking for volunteers to help with the senior care programs, senior reassurance phone calling, answering phones, making calls, and greeting visitors at Upper Shore Aging’s office, as well as engaging seniors in an activity at the Senior Center.

“Anyone with crafting abilities, health promotion skills, or any kind of special talent is welcome to come to offer that to our seniors,” Jones adds.

Jones, a retired public health nurse took this volunteer coordinator position because she was not ready to stop working completely herself. “I love working with the volunteers – just the whole networking part of this. I still think that we have not tapped into the growing number of volunteers out there who want to volunteer but just haven’t pulled the trigger yet,” she states.

“We have got a lot of organizations doing a lot of good things, but they are sort of operating in silos. I like the idea of trying to bring people together to serve the needs of the county. For organizations that become a part of RSVP, they become aware of some other organizations that are doing something similar so that they can coordinate services.”

According to Andy Hollis, Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging, “We are currently looking for people to serve as project coordinators in Caroline and Talbot counties. It’s a great opportunity for someone who is connected to their community. We are not only looking for volunteers in each county for this program, but we are also looking at developing new relationships with volunteer organizations to serve as volunteer stations.”

To volunteer or to become a volunteer station in Kent County, call Mavis Jones at 410-708-6610. If you are interested in applying for a position as a project coordinator for the RSVP, contact Andy Hollis at (410) 778-6000. For further information, visit volunteersontheshore.org.

Upper Shore RSVP is managed by Upper Shore Aging, Inc., with funding by AmeriCorps, a federal agency that seeks to “Bring Out the Best in America.” Upper Shore Aging, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Talbot, Caroline, and Kent counties, Maryland, serving a potential market of nearly 31,000 persons over the age of sixty years. The organization develops and manages a coordinated program of services that work together to help elders to remain, and live well, in the community for as long as possible. Upper Shore Aging, Inc. works closely with the Maryland Department of Aging to serve the needs of its clients.

Senior Nation: Water Workouts by Susan Covey

August 6, 2022 by Susan Covey Leave a Comment

Did you know you can get all the cardiovascular, muscle strengthening and flexibility benefits you need in water? Done correctly, water workouts can give you the same fitness gains as land workouts, including improving balance.

Water’s buoyancy supports the body’s weight and significantly reduces stress on weight-bearing joints, bones and muscles. For those with injuries, the pressure of the water also reduces swelling. If the water is warm, then the heat relaxes muscles and eases joint stiffness.

We all need resistance training to keep us from losing muscle and strength as we age. Water offers that resistance which strengthens our muscles as we move through it. And get this, simply walking in water will strengthen those hard-to-work abdominal muscles! That not only beats doing sit-ups but may offer greater benefits because the abdominal muscles are being strengthened in the same way we naturally use them—by holding our bodies in an upright position.

Water workouts can help us reach our fitness goals without pain or injury. They can add cross-training variety to our existing routine or offer a safe and fun way to start an exercise program.

So, come on in, the water’s fine!

Susan Covey is Director of Health and Fitness at Acts-Bayleigh Chase in Easton.

Life at Bayleigh Chase: A Chat with Director George Clemes on Talbot County’s Special Retirement Community

August 3, 2022 by The Spy Leave a Comment

While the Bayleigh Chase retirement community in Easton has long supported the Talbot Spy Senior Nation section for many years, it has been our disappointment that it has taken some time to profile this remarkable home for hundreds.

One reason for this omission has been its transition from its early days as William Hill Manor, started by Dr. William Hill in 1981, to became part of Integrace in 2014, and then more recently, Acts Retirement-Life Communities, which also manages the popular Heron Point community in Chestertown.

In fact, the non-profit Acts has been one of the nation’s most progressive leaders in full-service retirement communities when it was started 50 years ago by a Philadelphia-based pastor with the Church of the Open Door, a nondenominational church. The founders wanted to find a better way of living for their retired church members, providing a fulfilling and meaningful independent living lifestyle with a quality professional health care environment that would be available if ever needed.

That simple mission has now grown into 26 communities operating in nine states.

In our Spy profile, we talk to George Clemes, executive director of Bayleigh Chase, about his community’s unique approach to retirement, health, and spiritual life on their 35-acre campus off Dutchman’s Lane. George also highlights the significant improvements taking place on-site to honor Acts 50th anniversary.

This video is approximately minutes in length. For more information about Bayleigh Chase and other Acts Retirement-Life Communities please go here.

Queen Anne’s at Home Launches “Operation Outreach”

July 13, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Queen Anne’s at Home (QA@H) is pleased to announce the launch of Operation Outreach, a program designed to increase awareness of the organization and reach a large, diverse population of senior citizens in Queen Anne’s County as well as people and businesses who support them.

QA@H is a caring community of seniors helping each other stay safe, healthy, connected, and independent at home. Its mission is to help seniors thrive at home which addresses the number one fear that senior citizens have: “What if I can’t stay in my own home?” Members assist each other with rides to appointments and household chores, among other things. QA@H arranges social activities such as coffee meet-ups, happy hours, and outdoor adventures as well as informational seminars where experts present topics relevant to seniors.

Board member Russ Mail said, “There are many seniors in our county who are isolated and need support. We want them to know that they are not alone. Through Operation Outreach, we’ve launched a social media initiative to spread the word to seniors as well as their adult children who want their parents to be safe and connected at home. Plus, we’d like to expand our circle of influence and help more seniors by reaching out to community groups. We’re searching for people to make a difference as we work toward achieving our goals to empower seniors, connect them, renew their sense of purpose, and have fun doing it.”

One of the most significant programs that QA@H members enjoy is creating the Senior Navigation Action Plan (SNAP). It helps seniors get organized by helping to plan, collect, and organize vital information to ease communication with partners, family members, doctors, and others. QA@H President Cindy Bach said, “This provides peace of mind for our members as well as their families, knowing that all of the vital information is in one place and easily accessible.”

Bach noted that the organization is conducting a fundraising drive to support Operation Outreach and to serve more members as they join. “As our membership grows, there is a greater need for support as well as staff to make it all happen. We’re confident that the people and businesses of Queen Anne’s County care about the senior population and will rally to support them.”

Bach continued, saying, “Our organization is vibrant and growing, and we want to involve more seniors with a passion for our community and an innovative imagination for making progress. We’re currently searching for active, talented, and connected people in the county to assist in various capacities including communications, fundraising, and grant writing. We’re also looking for Ambassadors to welcome new members and administrative staff to help implement the valuable programs that make a difference in seniors’ lives.”

In 2021, QA@H held more than 60 events, answered dozens of service requests, provided many hours of tech support, formed a walking and outdoor club, and offered informational seminars on brain health, memory, and more.

Those interested in volunteer opportunities should call 410-635-4045 or send an email to OurQAH@gmail.com. You may also connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QueenAnnesAtHome.

To donate, visit www.queenannesathome.org or mail a check to PO Box 164, Centreville, MD 21617.

About Queen Anne’s at Home

Founded in 2018, QA@H is based on the model of seniors helping seniors to thrive as we age in our own homes. Members offer help as they can and seek help as they need. This reciprocity helps build on QA@H’s three foundational principles of empowerment, connection, and purpose.

Senior Life: Three Important Facts You Should Know by Susan Covey

July 11, 2022 by Susan Covey Leave a Comment

Three Important Facts You Should Know

1. The American Heart Association cites physical inactivity as the 5th major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The top four being: family history, high cholesterol, high fat and smoking.

2. From Age 65-84, the average decline in strength equals 1.5% per year. These declines are linked with increased risk of falls, increased frailty and loss of functional independence. It’s a proven fact that physical INACTIVITY accelerates age related decline in strength.

3. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death among adults over 75 years of age. One in three older adults will fall at least once a year and over 50% of those hospitalized from a fall will die within one year.

The good news in that even frail seniors aged 72-98 have shown remarkable improvements as a result of strength training. For instance, an increase in strength of 113%, an increase in walking speed of 12% and an increase in stair-climbing power of 28%! Also, age-related decline in bone density can be significantly impacted by strength training, so…

GET STRONGER AND LIVE LONGER!

Susan Covey is the Director of Fitness at Acts Bayleigh Chase

Londonderry on the Tred Avon Named “Best Retirement Community” by What’s Up Eastern Shore

June 10, 2022 by Londonderry on the Tred Avon Leave a Comment

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is pleased to announce that it has been named the “Best Retirement Community” by the readers of What’s Up Eastern Shore magazine for the seventh consecutive year.

“Londonderry is a special place, and we couldn’t be prouder to be recognized over the past seven years by our friends and neighbors on the Eastern Shore,” said Rachel Smith, Sales and Marketing Director. “It means the world to our residents and team that our community recognizes our commitment to creating a thriving campus that supports healthy aging.”

What’s Up Eastern Shore readers, as well as the general public, had the opportunity to vote for their preferred businesses, vendors and organizations earlier this year in a variety of categories.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is a vibrant, independent living cooperative community for adults ages 62+ that promotes wellness of mind and body. Londonderry offers a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information, visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.

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